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Michael Sam is no longer attached to an NFL team and none of them appear to want to pick him up because his sexual orientation causes too much distraction, claims a Buffalo Bills star. Offensive lineman Eric Wood goes on, more specifically, to blame the media for focusing on the personal life of the NFL's first openly gay draft pick. 'Blame that on espn,' Wood tweeted in response to Sam's inability to find an NFL home. 'No one wants the distraction.' Wood's comment came after sports . commentator Ross Tucker publicly wondered on Twitter why 'Michael Sam . performed much better than most expected and still isn't even on a . practice squad?' Blames the media: Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Eric Wood (right) believes ESPN and not the inherent bigotries of the NFL is to blame for Michael Sam (left) losing out on playing this season . Why wasn't he picked up? Wood tweeted his opinion on the Michael Sam saga in response to football commentator Ross Tucker's public questioning of the gay athlete's misfortune . The comments also hark back to ESPN's report on Sam's locker room habits earlier this month and their subsequent apology. Instead . of focusing on the St. Louis Rams' first round of cuts, reporter Josina . Anderson chose to feature Sam's shower etiquette. 'Another . Rams defensive player told me that “Sam is respecting our space” and . that, from his perspective, he seems to think that Michael Sam is kind . of waiting to take a shower, as not to make his teammates feel . uncomfortable,' Anderson said. The reporter said she also asked other players about Sam's showering schedule. After . public outcry, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz wrote in a statement that . the network 'regrets the manner in which we presented our report.' 'Clearly, . yesterday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in . reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports,' he added. 'Sam is respecting our space': Reporter Josina Anderson delivered the report that forced ESPN to apologize for focusing on the showering habits of Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay athlete . While . getting cut by the St. Louis Rams means Sam's dreams of becoming the . first gay NFL player have now been placed on hold, he was undeterred. He posted a message of positivity to his Twitter account over the weekend despite his obstacles. 'The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I've always known. The journey continues,' he wrote. His . boyfriend, Vito Cammisano, also showed his support for Sam by tweeted a . picture of the couple together, wearing shirts from the University of . Missouri, where they both attended college. Sam showed up for his face-to-face exit meeting with St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, a few hours after clearing waivers. Sam . arrived at Rams Park via through the media entrance Sunday afternoon . still looking right at home clad in T-shirt, shorts and flip flips. He . shook hands with two reporters and accepted well wishes but declined . further comment before heading upstairs to see the coach who wasn't . afraid to add the first openly gay player to the roster. All 21 players released Saturday cleared waivers. Sam's future was a major topic on Twitter, some of it vitriol, some reasoned. The Rams appeared unlikely to re-sign Sam to the 10-player practice squad because the defensive line is their strongest unit and they need help elsewhere. Support: Vito Cammisano uploaded this picture of boyfriend, Michael Sam, on Saturday, after the NFL player was cut by the Rams during pre-season . Upbeat: Despite his obstacles, Sam tweeted a message of optimism over the weekend as ever NFL team overlooked him despite a surprisingly strong pre-season performance . The meeting with Sam meeting was postponed a day so he could attend Missouri's opening victory over South Dakota State. The 7th-round draft pick has been outspoken and confident as his progress was watched as closely as any rookie in the league. He has been cheered by athletes and celebrities. In the end, the defensive end couldn't make a team stocked with pass-rushers. The news was first reported by ESPN. Sam still has a chance to get picked up by another team or to make the Rams' practice squad. On Saturday, he attended Missouri's opener in Columbia, a 1 1/2-hour drive west on I-70 from Rams Park. He was introduced to the crowd at the cut down deadline in the end zone alongside defensive E.J. Gaines, a sixth-round pick who made the team. Sam blew a kiss and waved to the crowd, then walked back to the sideline. He posed for a few pictures then started looking at his phone and headed for the locker room. The Rams selected Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year at Missouri, with the 249th overall pick out of 256 overall during May's draft. Sam came out following his final season at Missouri. Historic: Sam, who came out in the months leading up to his drafting, celebrated with his boyfriend Vito Cammisanoon live television when he got the girl of his initial selection in May. However ESPN received complaints about airing a kiss between the pair . The call: Both Sam and his boyfriend Vito Cammisano cried tears of joy as they received the good news of his drafting in May . Rams coach Jeff Fisher was proud to have made the landmark pick, but he made clear from the start that he chose Sam because he thought he had the talent to make it. The Rams selected Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year at Missouri, with the 249th overall pick out of 256 overall. He kissed his boyfriend as a national television audience looked on, and arrived brimming with confidence and with a quick retort for anyone who contended he was in the NFL only because he came out. The cameras followed, but the extra attention did not seem to faze Sam or his teammates. Veteran defensive end Chris Long noted rosters are always made up of players from different backgrounds. One by one, players said Sam was now part of their family. Coach Jeff Fisher called the draft pick a 'second historic moment' for a franchise that signed running back Kenny Washington in 1946 as the league's first black player in the modern era, but he was most interested in describing Sam as a way to upgrade the Rams' defense. So was general manager Les Snead, who referred to Sam after the draft as a 'designated pass rusher'. Sam recognized the challenge, so he shed weight to be faster for special teams duty, reporting at 257 pounds. After the Rams' first preseason game, a 26-24 loss to New Orleans, Fisher said Sam played 'pretty well' but also made his share of mistakes. Sam, who was credited with one tackle and one quarterback hit in the game, emerged with confidence. 'You know, I can play in this league,' Sam said. 'I can play in this league.' Sam told his teammates at Missouri that he was gay before his senior year, and judging by the results it was no distraction at all. Dreams on hold: Sam still has a chance of being picked up by another team, despite being cut by the Rams. The Rams may still choose him for practice squad . The Tigers made a seven-win improvement and tied the school record with 12 wins. Sam had 11 1/2 sacks and the lightly-regarded Tigers won the SEC Eastern Division, a huge step forward after going 5-7 during the first season in their new conference. More than 100 coaches and players kept the revelation to themselves. Sam came out in February. 'If you look at our season, it didn't hurt us at all,' recalled cornerback E.J. Gaines, a fellow rookie and former Missouri teammate. 'If anything, it brought us closer.' Sam was lightly regarded out of Hitchcock, Texas, a town of about 7,000 along the Gulf Coast about 40 miles southeast of Houston. His first two years at Missouri, Sam backed up Aldon Smith and Jacquies Smith, both of whom are in the NFL. The Rams drafted Sam even though they didn't need help at defensive end, where they have a pair of first-round picks as starters. The Rams were so well-stocked with picks, taking 11 players overall, they had leeway to take a shot. Fisher said Sam's value as a player 'was off the charts'. Michael Sam, the first openly gay athlete drafted into the NFL, was cut by the St. Louis Rams as the team trimmed its roster ahead of the start of the 2014 season . 'I'm determined to be great,' Sam said at his introductory news conference, packed with reporters. 'I understand that right now you guys want to make a big deal of it.' From the start, teammates seemed to like having Sam around. His energy was infectious and, if there were problems, they stayed behind closed doors. Publicly, Sam was just another late-round pick trying to make the Rams, which, like other NFL teams, held sensitivity training early in camp. The Oprah Winfrey Network put off a planned documentary on Sam, saying it would allow him to focus on his dream of making the team. At one point, Sam's Rams jersey was the No. 2 seller among rookies at NFLShop.com, trailing only Cleveland's Johnny Manziel, and Sam was among just 10 draftees selected by the NFL to be featured on commemorative coins. Sam headed to the ESPY Awards to pick up the Arthur Ashe Courage award. He got a hug from Hall of Famer Jim Brown on his way to the stage and fought back tears throughout his speech. 'Great things can happen when you have the courage to be yourself,' he told the audience. | Michael Sam, 24, was the first openly gay athlete drafted into the NFL . He was cut by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday as the team trimmed its roster ahead of the start of the 2014 season . No other team took their opportunity to pick him up and he appears not to be joining any practice squad . ESPN aired a live celebratory kiss between Sam and his boyfriend, Vito Cammisano, when he was drafted in May . | 259e9ca5cea58e9eb369201a18c90c5135d7b681 |
(CNN) -- As the Pentagon launched a barrage of airstrikes into Syria late Monday, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, who was an early backer of President Obama's first presidential campaign and his hand-picked chairman to run the Democratic National Committee, says he is concerned about presidential military action into Syria without congressional authorization. "The point I think is so critical is the President shouldn't be doing this without Congress and ... Congress shouldn't be allowing it to happen without Congress," Kaine said Tuesday at a form at the liberal leaning Center for American Progress. Kaine, however, said he is supportive of ongoing talks between the administration and congressional leadership on a possible new congressional war authorization. The House and Senate left town last week so that members could go home to campaign for the midterm elections. Before Congress left, both chambers voted on a narrow measure that gave Obama the authority to train and arm Syrian rebel groups. Congress did not act on a more broad measure that would have given the President the authority to expand its effort against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. While Obama said he would welcome congressional authorization, Republicans and Democrats were split on whether he had authority from existing authorization focused on al Qaeda. Some thought that the President needed additional congressional approval. Most members of Congress expected the airstrikes to occur after they returned home to their districts, and privately, many of them conceded that they were relieved not to have to vote on a controversial topic just weeks before voters were to go to the polls in November. U.S.-led airstrikes on ISIS in Syria: What you need to know . House and Senate leaders said they were open to voting on a new measure giving new parameters for military action against ISIS, but not until after the election. Criticism of the air strikes is bipartisan, ranging from concern over mission creep to waging war unilaterally. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Michigan, a tea party favorite, ripped congressional leaders for skipping out on a debate on military action. "It's irresponsible & immoral that instead of debating & voting on war, congressional leaders chose to recess Congress for nearly two months," he said in a tweet Monday night. Anti-war Republican, Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, who like Kaine and Amash voted against arming the moderate Syrian rebels, said he was "disappointed" that the administration carried through with the airstrikes without congressional support. He co-authored a letter to House Speaker John Boehner urging a vote on war authorization. "This reminds me of the Bush administration," he told CNN, referring to another expansion of military action. "I am not sure how much more we can ask of the military and the taxpayers without Congress having a debate." While supportive of the strikes, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Democratic House leadership, warned of mission creep, saying in a statement and in a tweet that the House should vote on a new war authorization that precludes any possibility of putting U.S. combat troops on the ground. U.S.-led airstrikes on ISIS in Syria: Who's in, who's out . Obama's supporters . Obama's supporters are usually his detractors. Most of the positive reaction from lawmakers came from those who have been the most strident in their push for military action were the first to respond, and they did so enthusiastically. On Monday, President Obama personally called House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to notify them that the military operation inside Syria would begin in the evening. Boehner said he supports the airstrikes, "understanding that this is just one step in what must be a larger effort to destroy and defeat this terrorist organization." Democrats and Republicans who lead key committees approved of the President's move, including House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, who said "this is one step in what will be a long fight against ISIL," another acronym that refers to ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Share your view of the conflict . Before the strikes, Vice President Joe Biden reached out to one of the administration's most vocal critics, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, who told CNN's Dana Bash that Biden told him the airstrikes would be "intense" and a "sustained effort." Graham said he told Biden he was "very supportive" of the administration's move and would do what was needed of him to corral Congress if further congressional authorization is needed. Campaign politics . ISIS has emerged as a campaign issue. Senate candidate Scott Brown, R-New Hampshire, released a television advertisement just after airstrikes in Syria commenced. While the ad didn't mention expanded military action into Syria, it tied his challenger, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, to the President, who has low approval ratings in New Hampshire. "Anyone who turns on the TV these days knows we face challenges to our way of life. Radical Islamic terrorists are threatening to cause the collapse of our country. President Obama and Sen. Shaheen seem confused about the nature of the threat. Not me," Brown says in the ad. Shaheen, meanwhile, continues to insist that a hard line be taken against ISIS, saying she has "supported and will continue to support aggressive action to destroy ISIL." Maps: Arab nations join U.S., expand fight against terror to Syria . CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report. | Congress had already left town as airstrikes started in Syria . Most statements of support came from congressional Republicans . Obama notified House speaker and House minority leader . The vice president notified Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Obama's fiercest critics . | dab0d31c604fba42f4aeaa0bb244fe2b8a15cbd5 |
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Sen. Charles Schumer said Sunday the Bush administration is trying to "blame the fire on the person who calls 911" by suggesting he had a role in one of the costliest U.S. bank failures. Sen. Charles Schumer said the OTS "ought to stop pointing false fingers of blame." Federal regulators with the Office of Thrift Supervision were "asleep at the switch" when it came to IndyMac's "reckless" behavior, the New York Democrat complained. The OTS announced Friday that it was taking over the $32 billion IndyMac and transferring control to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The OTS pointed the finger directly at Schumer for the failure, accusing him of sparking a bank run by releasing a letter that "expressed concerns about IndyMac's viability." Watch what's next for IndyMac » . "In the following 11 business days, depositors withdrew more than $1.3 billion from their accounts," the OTS said in a statement announcing the California-based lender's takeover on Friday. The statement included a quote from OTS Director John Reich saying, "Although this institution was already in distress, I am troubled by any interference in the regulatory process." Schumer, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, chairman of Congress' Joint Economic Committee and the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, rejected any suggestions of responsibility for IndyMac's collapse . "OTS ought to stop pointing false fingers of blame and start doing its job to protect the future of the banking system, so that there won't be other IndyMacs," he said. Schumer's June 26 letter said he was "concerned that IndyMac's financial deterioration poses significant risks to both taxpayers and borrowers." In a Sunday news conference, he said everything in his letter was already known to the public. "IndyMac was one of the most poorly run and reckless of all the banks," he said. "It was a spinoff from the old Countrywide, and like Countrywide, it did all kinds of profligate activities that it never should have. Both IndyMac and Countrywide helped cause the housing crisis we're now in." The embattled Countrywide Financial Corp. was recently purchased by Bank of America. Schumer argued that the "breadth and depth" of the problems at IndyMac were "apparent for years, and they accelerated in the last six months." But OTS, he said, "was asleep at the switch and allowed things to happen without restraint. "And now they are doing what the Bush administration always does: Blame the fire on the person who calls 911." The White House had no immediate response. Schumer said OTS is "known as a weak regulator," and added, "my job was to try and toughen them up and that's what I tried to do." IndyMac, with assets of $32 billion and deposits of $19 billion, is the fifth bank to fail this year. Between 2005 and 2007, only three banks failed. And in the past 15 years, the FDIC has taken over 127 banks with combined assets of $22 billion, according to FDIC records. IndyMac will reopen Monday with a new charter and a new name -- IndyMac Federal Bank. | FDIC taking control of the $32 billion IndyMac . OTS accuses Sen. Charles Schumer of sparking a bank run . Schumer: IndyMac "one of the most poorly run and reckless of all the banks" Schumer rejects any suggestions of responsibility for IndyMac's collapse . | 6e930c55a62640d218e4b94f39cb7c83b6ad9117 |
By . Sam Peters . Martin Kaymer does not conform to stereotypes. The German does not drink beer, enjoys a laugh with his Scottish caddie and considers playing golf in England as ‘coming home’. ‘It’s a strange thing for me as a German; I don’t really like beer that much,’ he said. ‘I don’t drink a lot of alcohol. I know I should do as a German but I just don’t like it. I guess that’s a good thing.’ After winning the Players’ Championship in May, Kaymer put in a dominant display to win the US Open at Pinehurst last month by eight shots. Hitting form at the right time: Martin Kaymer celebrates with the US Open trophy after his eight-shot win . Beaming: The German stands in front of the leaderboard at Pinehurt after his stunning victory . He celebrated his Players’ win by having a quiet dinner with Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and his caddie, Scotsman Craig Connolly, before being spotted the next morning — £1 million richer — sitting on the floor at Dallas Airport playing on his phone while waiting for a delayed flight. Connolly will again be on the bag at Hoylake for the Open this week — where Kaymer, 29, will start among the favourites — after successfully rekindling their partnership following a one-year break which coincided with a slump in form. Perfect conditions: Kaymer hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during his final round at the US Open in June . ‘These days, a lot of golfers are so into themselves, doing their own thing, it’s not often that people laugh,’ said Kaymer. ‘Craig enables me to laugh. He has a great sense of humour and brings a great spirit to the course. Sometimes it’s nice for someone to loosen you up a bit. ‘There’s a balance to find between getting too frustrated if things aren’t going well and not getting too happy in the good times. But it all comes down to experience and knowing how you react in certain situations. ‘Having Craig on the bag helps me achieve that. He’s a very fine caddie but also he’s a nice guy who keeps things in perspective. ‘It’s so important to have respect for each other and keep a distance as well. You can’t get too close. We are doing business together and we both want to be successful. Winner: Kaymer celebrates with his trophy at Pinehurt as the sun sets behind him . ‘I’ve never been to Hoylake and I don’t know the course. But for me, playing the Open always feels like I’m coming home. It’s real golf where you have to feel the course and play with all the conditions. 'Playing the Open is about playing the game of golf. It’s a mental battle and a fight. The fans really know golf. The Open week says so much about golf. It would be amazing to win it one day.’ He blushes at comparisons with Nick Faldo but, with a re-modelled swing, Kaymer is in the process of forging a career every bit as impressive as Europe’s most prolific post-war Major winner. Last month’s US Open triumph confirmed that the former world No 1’s resurgence from a slump was complete. It marked the end of a miserable spell for Kaymer, who struggled to cope with the weight of expectation after winning the 2010 USA PGA and reaching the summit of the world rankings before making the controversial changes he knew he needed to stay at the top. Technique: The German in action at the BMW International Open in Cologne last month . Two years after re-modelling his swing to add a draw as well as a fade, just as Faldo did as a young man, Kaymer is now the complete player. ‘I have a lot of respect for Nick Faldo’s achievements,’ said Kaymer. ‘He had the same ambitions as me in the past when he made his changes to his swing. ‘I could have played the way I was playing for 20 years but I would have always asked myself “what might have been?” ‘People have made the technical alterations I made sound worse and more extreme than they were. I just added another shot to my repertoire. That’s it. Now I’m very comfortable with hitting any shape.’ Victory this week would see Kaymer claim his third Major — just three behind Faldo. He said: ‘I believe in my ability and trust in my skills. Then it’s just a matter of doing it and being brave.’ Coming home: Kaymer tees off during the last day of the French Open on July 6 . | US Open champion considers playing golf in England as 'coming home' Kaymer arrives at Hoylake in brilliant form having won the Players' Championship in May and the US Open a month later at Pinehurst . He will be helped by his Scottish caddie and friend Craig Connolly . The 29-year-old is one of the favourites to win The Open at Hoylake . | 503bf8c0bc223de1362b40fc6737dd30cf4ed53c |
By . Sami Mokbel . Follow @@SamiMokbel81_DM . Hull have launched another raid on Tottenham as they look to land defender Michael Dawson. Having already completed a move for midfielder Jake Livermore and signed Tom Huddlestone last summer, manager Steve Bruce has turned his attentions to luring Dawson to Humberside. The FA Cup finalists are understood to have already made contact with White Hart Lane officials about a swoop. Exit: Dawson celebrates after captaining Spurs to a win against Aston Villa, but he could be on the move . Signed: Steve Bruce secured Livermore on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell . Former spur: Huddlestone has become a first-team regular since his move from White Hart Lane . New Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has set his sights on signing two new centre-backs this summer - with Southampton's Dejan Lovren high on his wanted list. The Argentine's desired changes to his defence has cast serious question marks over Dawson's role at the club next season. Dawson has been a key player for the White Hart Lane club in recent seasons but Pochettino's high-pressing game may not be suited to the defender's qualities. Spurs target: Pochettino is lining up a move for Southampton and Croatia centre-back Lovren . Keeping an eye on things: QPR boss Redknapp is also monitoring Dawson's situation at White Hart Lane . Queens Park Rangers are also monitoring Dawson's situation. QPR boss Harry Redknapp worked with Dawson during his time at Spurs. | Last summer Hull bought Tom Huddlestone from White Hart Lane . Jake Livermore made his loan move permanent last month . New Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino wants two new centre-backs . This would clear the way for Dawson to leave the club he joined in 2005 . | 09c1895d32128a654cf94f4a7e8bbe713d2dda52 |
A man held in solitary confinement for two years and forced to pull his own tooth because he was denied dental care has been awarded $22million for violation of his constitutional rights. Stephen Slevin, 58, from New Mexico, was given the payout after accusing Dona Ana County jail of essentially forgetting about him after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated, not giving him the healthcare he needed and treating him inhumanely. The settlement is one of the largest federal civil rights awards in history involving an inmate. Scroll down for video . Ordeal: Stephen Slevin, pictured near the time of his release, was held in solitary confinement for two years and forced to pull out his own tooth . Traumatic: Stephen Slevin, looked remarkably different in August, 2005, at the time of his arrest for drunken driving . Outside the federal courthouse in Santa Fe today, Mr Slevin said it was never about the money for him but more about sending a message that prisoners should be treated more humanely. He still suffers from Post Traumatic . Stress Disorder stemming from what he says was physical and mental . mistreatment by corrections officials in Dona Ana County, in the . southern part of the state. He told KOB4.com: 'It was never about the money. We made a statement about what happened to me. 'Prison officials were walking by me . every day, watching me deteriorate. Day after day after day, . they did nothing, nothing at all, to get me any help.' The 58-year-old was arrested in . August 2005 and charged with driving while intoxicated and receiving a . stolen vehicle near Las Cruces. His lawyer said that, due to his history of mental illness, he was placed into solitary confinement. Civil rights attorney Matthew Coyte revealed it was here that his client started to deteriorate. He said: 'They threw him in solitary and . then ignored him. He disappeared into delirium, and his mental illness . was made worse by being isolated from human contact and a lack of . medical care.' Justice: Stephen Slevin, pictured in 2012, said it was never about the money for him but more about making a statement that it was not acceptable to treat prisoners in this way . While Mr Slevin was in solitary . confinement, his toenails grew so long they began to curl around his . feet, he developed bedsores, fungus and dental problems and lost a lot . of weight, according to the lawsuit. He was eventually released after 22 months as a pre-trial detainee and the charges against him were dismissed. Battle: Civil rights attorney Matt Coyte said that his client had shown great courage through his case against the Dona Ana county prison system . It was upon his release that he filed the lawsuit, claiming his rights of due process were violated since he was not given a hearing before being placed in solitary confinement. The county had recently offered to settle the case for $2million, according to CNN, despite previously denying there was a lack of medical care and that, as government employees, county officials deserved immunity from liability. Mr Coyte told KOB.com that he hopes Mr Slevin's court victory will send a message throughout the state. He said: 'I have never been with or seen a braver man who stood up to these guys for what they did to him. 'It affects everybody and it's not good for this country. 'It's not good for Mr Slevin for sure and it's not good for this country. It has to stop.' Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | Jail forgot about him after his arrest for drunken driving . Stephen Slevin was forced to pull out his own tooth because he was denied dental care . One of the largest federal civil rights settlements in history involving an inmate . | 1be524f2e6cbf7c09394266d264e6b3f720669a4 |
PUBLISHED: . 10:14 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:35 EST, 8 February 2013 . Pretty Tabby Kemp already tips the scales at 26 stone but she wants to pile on more weight, because her curves are helping make her a small fortune. The 25-year-old started glamour modelling four months ago after surfing the net and stumbling upon the 'BBW' (big beautiful women) community - a group who find overweight and obese women sexually attractive . The blonde who also works as a full-time administrator, started selling pictures of herself in underwear to online admirers and has already made £5,000. Scroll down for video . Size 28 Tabby Kemp refuses to diet and is on a mission to gain more weight to boost her income as a plus size model . Tabby, who is 5ft 6in tall, eats 5,000 calories a day and has put on one stone since she started modelling in October. Yet she intends to put on even more weight to make her more attractive to her 'fat admirers'. Tabby, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, has said: 'The bigger you are, the more you make. When I reach 30st and a size 36, I’ll be able to charge at least £700 . for five photos. I’ve spoken to other large women and they make a . fortune.' Today size 28 Tabby appeared on This Morning to talk about her new career and defend her body. She said: 'Everyone should be happy with the size they are. Tabby already tips the scales at a huge 24 stone which means she is more than double the average weight of women in the UK (11 stone) The blonde who also works as a full-time administrator, started selling pictures of herself in underwear to online admirers and has already made £5,000 . Tabby appeared on This Morning today to defend her size and argued that she healthy and happy . 'My mother instilled a good body image in me and so I have always felt that I was pretty and I have never had problems finding a boyfriend . 'I went online to look at dating sites and saw that these 'BBW' women were making so much money just from taking pictures of themselves. 'It's empowering and such a confidence boost that men want to see me like that. 'I wouldn't do anything that you wouldn't be able to see on the beach. I draw the line there.' BREAKFAST: . Toast with butter and jam . One big bowl of sugary . cornflakes . Half a packet of biscuits . Two cherry Bakewells . LUNCH: . One large BLT sandwich . Crisps . One Snickers bar . One can of Coke . Sweets and biscuits . DINNER: . Two bowls of pasta with . cheese sauce and garlic bread . Two bowls of Eton Mess . Two bowls of ice crem . On the show Tabby came under fire . from journalist Liz Fraser who was concerned about the health . implications of Tabby being so large. She said: 'You may be making money . now but you are very young. You may well look back and regret it.' But Tabby, who currently makes £350 . for a set of 10 glamour pictures, insisted that she was happy with her . size, she said: 'I am genuinely very happy. I am a very confident person. 'I'm taking full responsibility for being fat. 'I am very focused on my health, I do exercise, I work full time. 'If I felt I was unhealthy I would lose weight.' Earlier this week in an interview with Closer magazine Tabby explained how she would expect the NHS to help her if she ever suffers from ill health as a result of her size. She said: 'I’m happy and healthy now, so I’ll keep gaining weight while it pays. 'I know that as I get bigger my health might suffer but, if I get ill, the NHS will help me – it’s my right as a British citizen. It’s a great system – you put money in and you get treatment when you need it. 'I’ve paid tax since I was 18 – and, as a model, I’ll earn more the bigger I get, so I’ll be paying even more tax. Most people cost the NHS something – people who take drugs, smoke or drink too much. Tabby, who has a BMI of 60 (the healthy BMI range is 18.5 - 25), admitted to Closer that she is overeating daily on her mission to weigh 30 stone by the end of the year. She said: 'Sometimes, it makes me feel sick and I find it hard to eat as much as I do, but I’m focused – I want to make more money.' | Tabby, 25, from Tunbridge Wells, works as a glamour model in the BBW (Big Beautiful Women) community . Started modelling four months ago and has already made £5,000 . Charges men £350 for 10 photos . Currently dress size 28, Tabby wants to reach size 36 so that she can earn more for her pictures . | 5b3766542fbb8d6cbaae8b7d6032d75f2672913d |
(CNN) -- American Airlines announced Tuesday it will resume commercial flights into Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Friday, making it the first airline to do so. Commercial flights ended on January 12, when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed more than 200,000 people and damaged many of the country's buildings, including some at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, in the capital. The first flight will depart Miami International Airport in Florida at 6:40 a.m., arriving at 8:35 a.m. in Port-au-Prince, American Airlines said in a news release. "This is that crack in the dam that we so badly needed and our passengers so badly wanted, to start moving regularly scheduled traffic into and out of Haiti," spokesman Tim Smith told CNN Radio. "We'll start out with three main flights a day from south Florida, two from Miami and one from Fort Lauderdale. Then we'll also fly a JFK New York flight into Haiti four days a week." Smith said that, despite damage to the airport, the airline was prepared to deal with passengers. "One of the things we did very soon after the earthquake is that, as we were going in carrying relief supplies, we also sent in some American employees and folks from a construction firm that we worked with on the mainland to actually begin working to repair our facilities there at the Port-au-Prince terminal." Haitian customs officials will work out of a cargo facility because of damage at the main terminal, Smith said. "These flights serve as major milestones toward helping the country rebuild," Peter Dolara, American's senior vice president for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, said in the news release. "With commercial air service restored, we can better connect loved ones and provide consistent transportation to and from Haiti." Also beginning March 12, American Eagle will commence new service into Port-au-Prince from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and daily flights from the Dominican Republic cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago. "We have begun our journey to recover from the catastrophic earthquake, but with support from companies like American Airlines, we hope it won't be nearly as long," said Ralph Latortue, consul general of Haiti in Florida. American has served Haiti since 1971 and employs more than 100 people in Port-au-Prince, according to the airline. Since the day after the earthquake, American Airlines and American Eagle have continued flying into and out of Haiti -- carrying relief workers, medical personnel, humanitarian aid and evacuating hundreds of people. A spokeswoman for Spirit Airlines, which had a daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince, said the company was working to gain approval to resume its flights beginning Friday. "We're awaiting the response from the airport," said spokeswoman Misty Pinson. A spokesman for Delta Air Lines said it was working with Haitian authorities to reinstate service "as quickly as possible." The work on the American Airlines terminal was carried out by Odebrecht, a Sao Paulo, Brazil-based construction company that built American's terminal at Miami International Airport, said spokeswoman Renata Pinheiro. A cargo building that was undamaged by the earthquake was transformed into a terminal, and immigration and customs services were located there, she said. A terminal that suffered only minor damaged was fixed. "It wasn't a reconstruction of the airport itself, it was really making it operational," she said about the effort. The company's workforce of 75 included 30 Haitian baggage handlers who "became construction helpers," she said. "Odebrecht's people trained them to do welding and painting. The really cool thing that we're super happy about is the fact that the whole thing came about in just three weeks." Among the toughest challenges was finding construction supplies, the company said in a news release. Odebrecht solved that by obtaining materials in Puerto Rico and sending them by barge to the Dominican Republic, then moving them by truck to the Haitian capital. "This has been a genuine labor of love, but also one of absolute commitment," said Antonio Pinto, Odebrecht's project executive in Haiti. "In the most basic human terms, it is essential to reopen this airport and to reconnect the people of Haiti with their families and friends abroad." The company's other projects include rebuilding and fortifying levees in New Orleans, Louisiana, under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. | American will resume service Friday morning . The airline has been working to repair earthquake damage to the terminal . Spirit Airlines is waiting for approval to resume daily flight from Florida . | 420425e97607b2673e93c365ba19a5c18f25734a |
A key witness who helped jail Dale Cregan, who killed two woman police officers, is homeless abroad after fleeing Britain because of threats . A key witness who helped jail one-eyed police killer Dale Cregan is now living with her children in a garage abroad after fleeing Britain in fear. The mother and her children were threatened on Facebook after giving evidence against Cregan, who was jailed for the murder of police officers Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, as well as two men. Terrified of reprisals, the woman spent more than a year living in six towns and cities across England but eventually fled Britain to avoid revenge attacks and is now homeless. The woman braved death threats to give four days of evidence at Cregan's trial in February 2013. The gangster was jailed for life and told he would never be released after he was convicted of murdering the police officers, as well as his rival Mark Short and Short's father, plus three separate counts of attempted murder. Cregan, with the help of Damian 'Scarface' Gorman and Luke Livesey, who were both jailed for at least 33 years, shot dead Short Jr in a pub in May 2012. Months later he killed Short's father David. On September 18 that year, Cregan made a hoax call to the police, with officers Hughes, 23, and Bone, 32, arriving shortly afterwards to investigate. When they arrived, the murderer shot both women at least eight times and threw a grenade at them, killing both women. The witness' evidence ensure Cregan was convicted, but now she is homeless, destitute and living in a garage abroad with her children. She says the witness protection programme cut all financial help soon after she left the UK a year ago. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, who chose not to disclose which country she now lives in, the mother said she wanted to return to Britain, but needs money from the Government to do so. Police killer: Cregan shot and threw a grenade at PCs Fiona Bone (left) and Nicola Hughes (right), killing them . She said: 'I've told the police we're in serious trouble here. There are no jobs. My kids aren't in school. 'There are no places for them. We're sleeping on a mattresses and a couch in someone's garage. I don't care about myself. I just want something better for my children. I want them back in the UK. That's where their lives are. 'We're getting food from a local family and a church. We didn't celebrate on Christmas day. 'I've paid a very high price for helping the police, too high. I will always stick to my principles and I want the law to prevail but I've had to pay too high a price. 'I can't keep watching my children suffering every day. I don't want to blame the police but I feel abandoned by the Government itself. 'I'd rather risk it in England than see my children suffering. I'm at the point where I think they're better off without me. 'I'm in turmoil because I opened my mouth and put a thug behind bars. Cregan and the rest have food, clothing and even education in prison. Their wives and girlfriends have lives and jobs. What have I got for my trouble? Humiliation. 'They have a better situation than we have by far. I would rather be in their shoes, any day. It's a humiliating position to be in and the children are suffering. I've handed my CV into 73 different places without any joy. There is just no work.' A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police, speaking for the north west regional witness protection service, said: 'We do not comment on any witness or witness protection measures.' Murdered by Cregan: Mark Short (right) and his father David . The key witness helped put Cregan behind bars for the killings that shocked the nation, but came under intense threats from gangland thugs before the trial. On the night Mark Short was shot dead, the woman saw one of Cregan's co-accused, Damian Gorman, outside her house with two other people. Giving evidence to the trial via video link, she said she also found clothes dumped in a garden next to her home the next day. She said she faced threats after Short was killed, including one of the 'one-eyed Scotchman' - a reference to Cregan - paying her a visit. The trial heard Gorman had told her: 'You better make sure that you keep your f****** mouth shut or you're dead... You see these people, what they are capable of. You're f****** next. You and your f****** kids.' 'He said, "Be careful because you don't want the one-eyed Scotchman coming to [your] door"... If I said anything to the police,' she said. She said he pulled his finger under his chin and across his throat and told her: 'You don't want to die and you don't want your kids to die.' 'He was always threatening me. The message he gave me was clear,' she added. | Key witness who helped jail Dale Cregan is homeless after fleeing Britain . The woman and her children fled after receiving threats on Facebook . She now lives in a garage and wants to return to Britain with financial help . Gangster Cregan killed police officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes . Police killer had previously murdered a rival thug and the man's father . | 231ae6ebb8f09f14f549220b0a62c740d3c4575e |
A group of Texas gun activists have taken to confronting officers on the streets, armed with video cameras - and assault rifles. The 'Cop Block' videos that they shoot and post online are meant to hold police accountable and combat police brutality. The activists say they're well within their rights to do it while openly carrying rifles, shotguns and antique pistols. The activists in the Dallas suburbs carry police radios so they can track the movements of police and film officers making arrests and conducting traffic stops. They also try to find police drunk driving checkpoints and speed traps and warn drivers about the officers up ahead. Jacob Cordova flashes the peace sign in front of two Texas police officers while he carries a weapon strapped to his back . Cardova was arrested last week after he pulled up to film a traffic stop while carrying a black powder revolver on his hip - which he says is legal under Texas law . Kory Watkins, a Texas gun activist, has already made a name for himself by carrying an AK-47 in public - as is legal under state law . One video shows a 'Cop Block' activist being arrested after arriving at a crime scene with a camera wearing a black powder handgun on his belt. He hurls insults at the officers as he tells them that the weapon is legal to carry openly in the state of Texas. 'What crime have I committed?' the activist, Jacob Cordova shouts at cops who are handcuffing him. 'You're carrying a firearm,' an officer responds. 'It's not a firearm, it's a pre-1899 black powder pistol (which is legal to openly carry under Texas law),' Cordova says. The officer replies: 'We'll figure it out.' Cordova shouts back: 'You better f***ing figure it out, ya douchebags!' He then proceeds to call one of the officers 'a little c**k s***er.' Videos posted on Kory Watkins' YouTube page show several confrontations with officers when they showed up at traffic stops and filmed the police while armed . Watkins, seen here talking to a police officer while armed, is one of several Texas libertarians who have seized on police brutality civil rights issues . Among the activities that the group undertakes is warning drivers about speed traps and DUI checkpoints - while armed, of course . 'The police department in Arlington is out of control and keeps wrongfully arresting people for doing things that are well within their rights. It’s wasting taxpayer money and it’s violating the rights of the people,' the group's leader, Kory Watkins, an Olive Garden bartender, told the Daily Beast. The activists, who often identify themselves as Ron Paul libertarians or members of the Tea Party, say they've picked up the mantle of civil rights activists protesting alleged police brutality against unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York. They've even taken up the mantra of shouting 'hands up, don't shoot' and 'I can't breathe.' Cops say the activists have, at times, been a threat to officers who are just going about their jobs. Several members of the group have been arrested for various charges - disturbing the peace, and police fear that their interactions are becoming increasingly hostile. Jacob Cordova, the 27-year-old Air Force veteran who was caught on video being arrested for carrying an antique handgun, pulled up to a police traffic stop and pulled up his vest to show them that he was armed, police say. 'When you see somebody being aggressive, interfering with a stop, and armed with a deadly weapon, the officer can’t just ignore that,' Arlington police Sergeant Jeffrey Houston told the Daily Beast. Cordova denies that he did anything illegal. | Libertarians outside Dallas have taken up the civil rights cause of police brutality and begun filming officers on the streets - while armed . Several members have been arrested on a variety of charges during the activism . Police say the group is becoming increasingly confrontational . Protesters flaunt their rights under Texas law to openly carry assault rifles and antique pistols . | b71dd136b768b14ff587f0e9bd67b7386e1fa463 |
By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 08:04 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:49 EST, 10 December 2013 . Paving slabs bearing lyrics written by convicted paedophile Ian Watkins and laid in his home town will be torn up following complaints from disgusted residents. The words - once read with pride in a street in the singer's home town of Pontypridd, South Wales - now serve as an unwelcome reminder of the town's links to the former Lostprophets frontman, they say. Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court last month to a host of sickening offences including two counts of attempted rape of a baby. Parents in the hometown of paedophile rock star Ian Watkins are calling for paving slabs bearing his lyrics to be ripped up from their high street . The disgraced Lostprophets singer allowed his lyrics to be engraved in the shopping centre pavement just months before he was arrested for 'depraved' child sex offences . The 11th-hour admissions, which have shocked and sickened fans and the general public alike, came as he was about to stand trial accused of 24 separate sex offences. And details of the singer's perverted sexual appetite have continued to emerge. Family, friends, fans and former bandmates have all spoken of their shock and horror at the despicable secret life of debauchery he led for years. Watkins will be sentenced on December 18. The 10 paving slabs transcribed with lyrics from the song Streets Of Nowhere were laid with pride in Taff Street last year. Part . of a civic regeneration project seeking to highlight the area's culture . and successes, Watkins' words state: 'Every time I walk these streets I . know they're mine.' Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court last month to a host of sickening offences including two counts of attempted rape of a baby . His words are on public display along with lyrics from Green Green Grass Of Home, a hit for Sir Tom Jones, another local. 'I think that the paving was originally put down in good faith when there was a lot of pride locally surrounding the Lostprophets,' said Labour AM Mick Antoniw. 'Since then there have been a number of concerns raised and quite a lot of shock in Pontypridd about the detail of what he did. 'This was something that was put in . place and intended for people to take pride in. The feeling is that it . should be ripped up now. 'It's . not something that the council should make a song and dance about but I . think that these pavings should be discreetly removed.' Moira . Jenkins, 53, said: 'The town was very proud of Ian and his band for . doing so well but now we just want to wash our hands of him. 'What he did was beyond sick and he should be scrubbed from the town's history. His pop lyrics 'Every time I walk these streets I know they're mine' now have a sinister double meaning after he prayed on fans and their babies . 'He doesn't deserve to sit alongside the likes of Tom Jones.' Claude Knights, chief executive of the child protection charity Kidscape, said Watkins's crimes are 'appalling' and had 'tainted' his songs. He said: 'It would be wise for the council to consider taking the slabs up. His work has been tainted.'It should be removed for the sake of the local community.' Lostprophets were founded in Pontypridd in 1997 and the band sold about 3.5 million albums worldwide. His former bandmates have turned their back on him - saying they are 'heartbroken, angry, and disgusted' at his sex crimes and have urged more of his victims to contact police. Claude Knights, chief executive of the child protection charity Kidscape, said Watkins's crimes are 'appalling' and had 'tainted' his songs. He said: 'It would be wise for the council to consider taking the slabs up. His work has been tainted.'It should be removed for the sake of the local community.' A council spokesman said: 'Rhondda Cynon Taf Council can confirm that granite paving featuring song lyrics written by convicted paedophile Ian Watkins will be removed from the streetscape of Pontypridd as soon as possible.' | Watkins pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to sickening child sex acts . Words serve as an unwelcome reminder of the town's links to singer . Watkins' words state: 'Every time I walk these streets I know they're mine' | 28cf74a1b2fe52504fa4b66625ef87671eb79902 |
Target has been heavily criticized by customers after listing a black Barbie doll on its website for two times the price of the near-identical white alternative. According to Buzzfeed, the glaring error was first brought to the attention of the retailer - and the public - by Cincinnati resident Warren Johnson, who noticed the bizarre price discrepancy when he logged onto the Target website to buy a Christmas present for his daughter. After noticing the difference in cost between the Barbie Fashion Design Maker Doll, which was until recently priced at $23.49, and the Barbie Fashion Design Maker African-American Doll, which was priced at $49.99, the outraged 30-year-old contacted the store to ask why there was such a difference in price between the two toys. Spot the difference: Target had listed these two near-identical dolls for two very different prices, with the black version costing more than double the price of the white one . 'It rubbed me the wrong way': Cincinnati resident Warren Johnson was furious when he saw the difference in price between the two dolls . The 30-year-old spoke to three different stores and while two told him the price difference was an error, a third admitted that the white doll was cheaper because it was more popular with customers. An official spokesperson from Target's corporate office was quick to reject this theory however, but admitted that she could not give any real reason as to what could possibly make one doll so much more expensive than the other. '[The Target saleswoman] was speechless and said she really didn’t have an explanation and she was apologetic, and she told us that a change would be made,' Mr Johnson told Buzzfeed. 'Then she gave us the doll for the price that the white doll was.' He added to local Cincinnati news station WPCO: 'When my daughter asked the question "Why is the black doll more expensive than the white doll?" I really didn't have an answer. 'It kind of rubbed me the wrong way.' Target later released a statement blaming the shocking price discrepancy on a 'system error'. 'It is never our intention to offend our guests with our product assortment,' the spokesperson said. 'Both dolls should have reflected the same pricing, however, due to a systems issue this change did not occur. Repeat offender: Amazon currently list the black version of the doll for $49.99, more than double the price of its white counterpart . Discriminatory pricing: Online retail giant Amazon has priced this white Barbie at $17.88, which is almost a third of the price of the black alternative . 'We appreciate the guest bringing this discrepancy to our attention and have since adjusted the pricing and product detail listing. If you have any further questions about these items, please let us know.' The retailer's explanation did little to placate its outraged customers, many of whom took to Twitter to voice their anger at the error. Hundreds of people responded to Mr Johnson's original tweet, which featured a picture of the two dolls and their different price tags accompanied by the comment 'Whats wrong with this picture?' with many saying that Target should be made to undergo an official investigation. 'Target should be fined twice as much,' one user wrote, while another added: 'What is wrong with you, Target??' Shockingly, Target is not the only retailer to have made the error; Amazon is currently listing the two dolls for two completely different prices, with the white toy listed for the bargain price of $17.88, while the black option is still on sale for the full price of $49.99. | The retailer has now increased the price of the cheaper, white doll to match its black counterpart . Both toys are currently on sale for $49.99 each on the Target website . A spokesperson for the store blamed the price discrepancy on a 'system error' Amazon also lists the two toys with different prices . | a5631f4d170a1c218c31ca21186fa67e3276e5ca |
A letter from Henry VIII’s first wife Catherine of Aragon begging the Pope to block their divorce is expected to fetch up to £35,000 at auction. In the note dated October 3, 1529, the Spanish-born Queen asks a cardinal from her home country to seek the pontiff’s help in halting the king’s bid to annul their marriage because she had failed to produce a son. Pope Clement VII’s eventual refusal to grant the divorce led to a schism with the Roman Catholic Church, with Henry appointing himself head of the Church of England. A letter from Henry VIII’s first wife Catherine of Aragon begging the Pope to block their divorce is expected to fetch up to £35,000 at auction . The Ader Nordmann auction house in Paris expects the letter, dated October 3, 1529, to fetch between £25,000 and £35,000. The letter is among more than 1,500 from royalty and celebrities to go under the hammer in Paris next week. The letter is among more than 1,500 to go under the hammer in Paris. In one written by Brigitte Bardot in 1967, she asks a record company not to release her steamy duet ‘Je t’aime moi non plus’ with Serge Gainsbourg . It was re-recorded after Bardot's husband Gunter Sachs objected. Jane Birkin, who later became Gainsbourg's wife, then featured on the song . In one written by Brigitte Bardot in 1967, she asks a record company not to release her steamy duet ‘Je t’aime moi non plus’ with Serge Gainsbourg after husband Gunter Sachs objected. It was re-recorded with Jane Birkin who later became Gainsbourg's wife. The auction, which also includes missives from Coco Chanel and author Victor Hugo's mistress Juliette Drouet, will take place in Paris on November 18 and 19. | The note from the Spanish-born Queen is dated October 3, 1529 . In it she asks a cardinal from her home country to seek the pontiff’s help . King was trying to annul marriage because she had failed to produce a son . | 1c1384905794cfb9a025afe4c4c42891261942a0 |
(CNN) -- Glynis Freeman stands on a tower balcony in nighttime London, peering down at the dizzying lights hundreds of feet below. The distant rumble of city traffic rises up from the streets. A gust of wind brushes her hair. Freeman smiles while swiveling her head in all directions to take in the view. "That was cool," she said a few minutes later. "I want to go back to London." That's because Freeman was never physically in London. The Marietta, Georgia, woman was 4,000 miles away in an Atlanta hotel lobby, wearing a headset and trying out a demonstration of new technology that can place people in exotic virtual settings almost anywhere on the planet. It's all part of a new experiment by Marriott, the global hotel chain, to let guests sample virtual destinations with the Oculus Rift, a headset whose high-definition, 3-D display immerses wearers in a lifelike interactive world. "We really want to appeal to the next generation of travelers," said Karen Olivares, director of global brand marketing for Marriott. Virtual travel is in its infancy and a long way from being mainstream. But the travel industry is intrigued by its potential, which goes far beyond Google Street View or online "virtual tours" of hotels and resorts. The idea is not that virtual travel will replace real-world travel, because nobody in the industry would go for that. Instead, the travel industry hopes that people who sample virtual snippets of alluring vacations -- say, rafting the Grand Canyon or hiking the Great Wall of China -- will be persuaded to splurge on the real thing. Behind the Oculus Rift . Driving this trend are next-generation systems such as the Oculus Rift and Sony's Project Morpheus, which promise a leap forward in virtual-reality technology. The much-hyped Oculus Rift headset looks like something a skier or scuba diver might wear and fits snugly over the wearer's face, paired with headphones. Its crisp 3D display immerses you in an interactive world -- a medieval village or a tropical jungle -- which you sometimes can navigate with the help of a game controller. The goggles come packed with a 100-degree field of view, extending beyond viewers' peripheral vision. They have an accelerometer, gyroscope and compass to track the position of your head and sync the visuals to the direction where you are looking -- allowing Oculus to improve on the sometimes jerky visuals of other virtual-reality systems. The Oculus Rift was designed to enhance video gaming. But Facebook paid $2 billion for its maker, Oculus VR, in March, seeing the device as a potential future communication platform. One developer for the Oculus Rift is excited about the technology's long-term potential to tranform travel. "I could go for a run in the morning in some exotic beach and in the evening stroll the streets of some city ... I could be a virtual storm chaser close to a tornado and even travel deep in the ocean," the developer wrote in an online forum. "In fact these experiences will be so real, without risk, and of course cheap that I might actually have second thoughts about traveling ... Antarctica without the cold ... Jungles without the heat and bugs ... And people who will provide (this) content will make millions." Virtual journeying . Consumer versions of the Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus -- which works in much the same way -- aren't expected on the market until 2015 at the earliest. But that hasn't stopped the travel industry from tinkering with prototypes. Thomas Cook, the international travel agency, announced a trial program in August that will allow customers at one of its stores in England to don Oculus Rifts and experience a flight on one of its airplanes or tour a Sentido resort. And Marriott has been touring U.S. cities this fall with its "Teleporter," a booth that invites visitors to climb inside, strap on an Oculus Rift and take a virtual tour of Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach in Maui and Tower 42 in London. Viewers watch a 90-second video produced by Framestore, the British creative studio that has done visual effects for "Gravity" and other movies. To make the experiences feel more lifelike, fans in the booths blow soft breezes while misters recreate the feel of ocean spray. Whether such virtual-reality glimpses inspire someone to take a real trip remains to be seen. But visitors to the booths on a recent weekday in Atlanta came away impressed. "That was truly amazing. It reminded me of something from 'Star Trek,' " said Lisa Lewis of Monroe, Louisiana. "London has always been a dream destination of mine. And just to get a feel for a place -- it was much more than I imagined." | The travel industry is letting customers "sample" potential trips through virtual reality . Guests wear headsets such as the Oculus Rift and are immersed in a virtual world . Marriott spokeswoman: "We really want to appeal to the next generation of travelers" | 50acefa6e06d5513c68649406bd549e15ea8c5e3 |
A surfer has been airlifted to hospital after being attacked and bitten by a Great White Shark off the coast of California. Kevin Swanson of Morro Bay was on his board near the Montaña de Oro State Park which is 200 miles north of Los Angeles when he was bitten by the 10ft animal. It had swum underneath the 50-year-old's board, dug teeth into his hip and then dragged him under the water. Kevin Swanson, pictured being treated by medics, on his board near the Montaña de Oro State Park which is 200 miles north of Los Angeles when he was bitten by the 10ft animal . The shark had swum underneath the 50-year-old's board, grazed his hip and then dragged him under the water. A picture of his board shows bite marks next to the tail fins . Mr Swanson was submerged for a several seconds, a witness told The Tribune, before managing to resurface. He then yelled 'shark attack' and frantically paddled back to the shore with the rest of the group. Andrew Walsh, who was surfing with Mr Swanson at the time, said when he reached the beach managed to create a tourniquet for his leg using the leash on his surfboard. He told the paper: 'It was really radical. I was about 10 feet from him, and it was absolutely quiet. … (The shark) came straight up out of the depths and got him and took him under the water. That was the amazing part: this big giant side of the shark just curving up out of the water. 'Two doctors who happened to be walking along the beach at the time ran over to help before more medical assistance arrived. Mr Walsh added: We're really blessed that he was still able to get himself to shore. I was a few feet behind him, and we grabbed him and got him out of the water, obviously, up on the sand, and very quickly these doctors where there, helping out and calling 911.' He was then airlifted to the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo with lacerations to his hip. Officials at the hospital said he was in a 'fair' condition as of 3pm Pacific Time. The authorities did not close the beach as a result of the attack, but instead sent out notifications to others in the area. Mr Swanson (left) was airlifted to a local hospital where his condition was described as 'fair' | Kevin Swanson was on his board near the Montaña de Oro State Park . The shark then came up from underneath him and bit into his hip . He was then dragged under water as others surfers watched horrified . Seconds later he emerged and yelled 'shark attack' before swimming back . Two doctors walking on the beach at the time helped treat him before he was airlifted to hospital . | 07e40e0be49392168f8ac97c8c1433670ef1bee3 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:52 EST, 28 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:29 EST, 29 October 2013 . Chris Brown has had his assault charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanour. The singer was arrested outside a five star hotel in Washington, D.C. on Sunday morning after he allegedly punched a man and broke his nose. According to TMZ Brown pleaded not guilty and was released from custody without bail, and he was pictured smiling as he left court on Monday. Scroll down for video . Released: A smiling Chris Brown is pictured leaving court in Washington, D.C. on Monday . The website also reports that the 24-year-old has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from the alleged victim. While it is not yet clear why Brown’s charge was reduced, TMZ reports it may be because the injuries were minor. The victim apparently claims Brown broke his nose but according to the publication, the police have stated that the man was treated for a fractured nasal bone. The original police report allegedly stated that it was Brown’s bodyguard who threw the punch, but the bodyguard's charge has also been reduced to a misdemeanour. Media frenzy: Brown was surrounded by photographers, reporters and his entourage as he left the courtroom . Good news: The singer's assault charge has been reduced from a felony to a misdemeanour . It's not over yet: Brown has been released without bail but has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from the alleged victim . The R&B singer along with . Christopher Hollosy allegedly punched a man outside the upscale W Hotel . in Washington at 4:25 a.m. Sunday, law enforcement sources have said. However there have been conflicting witness accounts and Brown has apparently denied punching the alleged victim, claiming the man tried to board his tour bus and his bodyguard 'handled it'. Brown, who will appear in court again on November 25, has also been accused of making a homophobic slur during the altercation that led to his arrest. The alleged victim, Isaac Adams Parker, 20, of Beltsville, Maryland, told police the Brown commented: 'I’m not down with that gay s**t,' when he attempted to get into a picture that the singer was taking with a female fan. Conflicting accounts: Chris pleaded not guilty. It is unclear whether it was him or his bodyguard who threw a punch at the alleged victim, which the victim claimed broke his nose . Minor injuries?: It has been claimed that Brown and his bodyguard's charges may have been reduced because the victim was allegedly treated for a fractured nasal bone rather than a broken nose . Parker claims he replied: 'Why you hoing?' and Brown answered: 'I feel like boxing.' Parker alleges he was punched by . Brown and then his bodyguard, and that the singer then went and stood . behind the bodyguard and told Parker to 'walk away'. TMZ further reports that the Los . Angeles County Probation Department are now launching an investigation . to determine whether the charges violate the terms of the probation he . is currently on. The website claims the Probation . Department was informed of the arrest by Brown's lawyer Mark Geragos, . and he allegedly could face up to four years in prison if it is decided . that his probation should be revoked. Homemade signs: Brown supporters made signs urging his release . Showing support: Rapper and actor Trey Songz arrived at the courthouse to support Brown . Addressing the press: Brown's attorney Danny Onorato is pictured speaking to media outside the H. Carl Moultriel courthouse . His probation was briefly revoked in . July after he was involved in a hit-and-run incident in Los Angeles, but . it was later reinstated in August. The star was charged on May 21 with a . misdemeanour hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence following . the accident in the San Fernando Valley. Though he refuted claims by the other . driver involved, insisting he 'followed the proper procedures' and . exchanged information with the owner despite there being no damage to . his car. After being . arrested for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in February 2009, the . Turn Up The Music singer pleaded guilty to a felony and accepted a plea . deal. On August 25 he . was sentenced to five years' probation, one year of domestic violence . counselling and six months' community service, while his five-year . restraining order remained. Upscale: The incident happened outside the city's plush W Hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning . | Brown was released from custody but ordered to stay 100 yards away from alleged victim . Victim claims Brown broke his nose but police said he was treated for fractured nasal bone, according to reports . Bodyguard's charges were also reduced amid conflicting witness accounts, as it is unclear who threw the punch . Los Angeles County Probation Department will now decide if singer has violated the terms of his probation . If Brown's probation is revoked he could face up to four years in prison . The 24-year-old will appear in court again on November 25 . | d70617fedb8b22cf41caa3dfb452bc95dc790ed1 |
By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 06:08 EST, 3 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:05 EST, 3 July 2013 . A family escaped being hurt after a runaway car ploughed into their sitting room seconds after they left the room to go and inspect the father's DIY in a bedroom. Dylan Harries, wife Jody, and his stepchildren Sam, 19, and Hannah, 15, had just nipped upstairs to admire Mr Harries' work when the Citroen C4 smashed into their house in Penarth, south Wales. The car took out the front wall of the house in a quiet residential street, shattering the windows and television and leaving the room littered with broken glass and splintered wood. The Harries family had left the sitting room just before a car ploughed into the house in Penarth, south Wales . Wreckage: The wall, windows, television, DVD player and ornaments were all smashed in the accident . Mr Harries, 31, a painter and decorator, said: 'I can't bear to think about what might have happened.' He said it sounded 'like a bomb exploding' when the accident happened at 11.45pm on Saturday night. The family ran outside and watched as the driver of the car attempted to reverse out of the wreckage of the house. Mr Harries said they saw a man from the back seat collapse out of the car, and a woman in the front passenger seat. A doctor eating at a restaurant over the road saw what had happened and ran over to help the man from the back seat until an ambulance arrived. Mr Harries said: 'Our whole home is a complete disaster. Everything has been ruined and there is rubble everywhere. What a mess: The accident happened after Mr Harries had spent hours decorating his step-daughter's room . Structurally unstable: The house is now said to be unsafe and the Harries family are staying with family nearby . 'There is no front wall and he took out the windows too, as well as the TV, the DVDs, the surround sound system, all the ornaments - all have been destroyed.' He added: 'We don’t have contents insurance so that’s all gone, but also priceless stuff like ornaments the kids had given my wife, and the only framed photograph I have of my late dad - all ruined.' After the car was recovered from the house there was a large hole in the front of the £700-a-month rented semi, leaving it structurally unstable, so the Harries family is now staying with family nearby. Police said Sean Richard Sweeney, 30, from . Llandough, has been charged with failing to provide a specimen for . analysis and dangerous driving. He will appear before Cardiff . Magistrates Court on July 18. The car was removed from the house by a crane, leaving a gaping hole in the front wall of the property . The rented semi-detached house is in a quiet residential street in Penarth, south Wales . | Dylan Harries was upstairs with family when Citroen smashed into lounge . Mr Harries, 31, had asked his wife and children to admire his handiwork . Their rented house in Penarth, south Wales, now 'structurally unstable' Sean Richard Sweeney, of Llandough, charged with dangerous driving . | c86f2995eb9109b0d5f2625a5b161c39ec4863f1 |
Gus Poyet has assured Sunderland fans that he is still in the hunt for Liverpool’s Fabio Borini. The Black Cats have had a £14million bid accepted for the striker who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light. Borini, though, is yet to decide where his future lies, and Poyet, whose side kick off at West Brom on Saturday, said: ‘It’s still ongoing. I can assure the supporters it’s not over. In the hunt: Gus Poyet is still keen on signing Fabio Borini, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, from Liverpool for a £14m fee . Make your mind up: The Italian striker has yet to decide whether to move to Sunderland permanently . ‘Please trust me, I can’t tell you everything because it’s not fair on everybody. ‘It’s not that Borini doesn’t want to come. I have talked to him and things are clear, but it’s a matter of doing it at the right time. ‘In any case, he is just coming back to fitness and wouldn’t be available against West Brom. ‘We need a player in that position and we are ready to move on and have another option. It’s impossible to say it will happen tomorrow, Monday or the 31st of the month.’ Thumbs up: Sunderland start their Premier League campaign at West Bromwich on Saturday . Stay or go: Poyet is keen to keep Connor Wickham on Wearside and the club rejected a £5m offer from West Ham this week . Poyet, however, wants to keep Connor Wickham on Wearside. Sunderland rejected West Ham’s £5m bid for the striker this week, and Poyet added: ‘I’m ready for somebody to come in for any player because that’s football. ‘When you start the season with the transfer window open, you have to be ready for bids. Connor has been in my plans from the last eight games of last season. I am looking forward to seeing the same kind of form - playing for us and scoring goals.’ | Manager says Sunderland are still keen on bringing Borini to the club on a permanent basis following last season's loan spell . £14m bid was accepted by Liverpool but Borini has yet to make up his mind . Poyet keen to keep Connor Wickham despite £5m bid from West Ham . Sunderland open Premier League campaign at West Brom on Saturday . | e8e0c65bd956546ea81e8d2bd81f6aaec94831d5 |
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Technology’s attempt to thwart the best efforts of thieves can often fall short. But a new smart lock could change that by being able to protect against every possible theft attempt on a bicycle. Berlin-based group LOCK8 claims its device is the world’s first ever alarm protected, trackable, smart bicycle lock. Scroll down for video... Safe: A high-tech bike lock has been invented to combat thieves - by sending a message to the owner every time someone tries to tamper with it . Power: Built-in rechargeable LIfePo batteries . Casing: Industrial strength Polycarbonate shell . Connectivity: Bluetooth, GSM, GPRSE . Sensors: Three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer, vibration trigger switch, light sensor, temperature sensor . System capability: Apple iPhone 4S or later with iOS 6 or greater and Android 4.3+ devices with Bluetooth 4 available soon . Alarm: Audible up to 120dB . The triangular device – which is compatible with 95 per cent of bikes - is attached to a normal bike chain and equipped with Bluetooth technology. It can be locked and unlocked remotely using Android or iOS smartphones and tablets, and has special sensors to detect thieves. For instance, a smart cable will warn if a thief attempts to use a bolt cutter, an accelerometer can detect drills, while a temperature sensor alerts the owner to blowtorches. The black, triangular device is attached to a normal bike chain and equipped with Bluetooth technology . LOCK8 will then send a text message to the owner and sound an ear-splitting alarm to let passers-by know that a theft is taking place. Given that 91 per cent of today people keep their mobile phone within 3 feet of them, 24 hours a day, the feature means that owners will always know whether their bike is safe. If the thief does manage to get away with the bike, the device also uses GPS and GSM technology allowing bike owners to find where it has ended up. Users can swipe the app to or set up the system to automatically unlock when they get within a few feet of the bicycle. The clever gadget runs on reusable batteries that can be charged through a USB lead. It was created by Franz Salzmann and Daniel Zajarias-Fainsod, who came up with the idea after their bikes were stolen. Users can swipe the app to or set up the system to automatically unlock when they get within a few feet . Lock8 was created by Franz Salzmann (left) and Daniel Zajarias-Fainsod (right), who came up with the idea after their bikes were stolen . Mr Salzmann, 28, from Berlin, said: 'We were talking about bicycle locks and wondered why there wasn't a smart bike lock, so we decided to invent one. 'When triggered a push notification is sent to your smartphone and a painfully loud alarm is sounded on the bike. 'When it is released it will work with iOS and Android and we are planning that a Windows version will be available in the future. The Lock8 could also be used by bike-rental agencies as a way to keep track of their fleets and keep them from being stolen. 'We have had requests from cities from all over the world wanting to use LOCK8 as a cornerstone of their bike sharing scheme,' said Mr Salzmann. The device costs around £110 and is available for pre-order. The Lock8 could also be used by bike-rental agencies as a way to keep track of their fleets and keep them from being stolen . If the thief does manage to get away with the bike, the device also uses GPS and GSM technology allowing bike owners to find where it has ended up . | LOCK8 can be locked using Android or iOS smartphones and tablets . It sends off a loud alarm to let passerby know that a theft is underway . The device uses GPS allowing bike owners to find where bike has ended up . | 7821574b062a0bb8c843b3e609e0fb1b97eb4d63 |
(CNN) -- My dad told me real men don't hit women. He believed that because men were physically stronger and mentally tougher, men had the obligation to shield women from harm. I didn't buy the mentally tougher part, but I did embrace the idea that men were born with a kind of wonderful genetic code that made it impossible for them to pummel any woman, least of all a woman they cherished. I believed this all the way through grade school and high school. I believed it until my college boyfriend, in a jealous rage, threw me against the wall and knocked me out. It only happened once, but I remember how it felt. I always thought I was a physically strong woman, but I could not defend myself against a man who outweighed me by 70 pounds. Which brings me to star running back Ray Rice. When video emerged of the Baltimore Ravens player dragging his unconscious fiancée from an elevator, I thought the whole world would be horrified. I thought the National Football League would come down hard on Rice. Rice indicted on assault charge . I was wrong. Rice will sit out two games and pay a fine. It reportedly will cost the multimillionaire athlete $529,411.24. The Ravens' head coach, John Harbaugh, summed it up this way on ESPN: . "It's not a big deal. It's just part of the process. We said from the beginning that the circumstances would determine the consequences. There are consequences when you make a mistake like that. I stand behind Ray. He's a heck of a guy. He's done everything right since. He makes a mistake. He's going to have to pay a consequence." (In May, Rice pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree aggravated assault and was accepted into a pretrial program for first offenders.) Plus, come on! The guy went to counseling and married his victim, for goodness sake. Say what? In a wonderfully headlined post, "The NFL Thinks Smoking Weed Is Eight Times Worse Than Beating a Woman Unconscious," the website sports.mic contrasted Rice's situation with that of Josh Gordon, a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, who "is facing a 16-game suspension ... for testing positive for marijuana ..." Actually this strange kind of "justice" meted out by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't bother me as much as what the Ravens posted on their Twitter feed. According to whoever tweets for the Ravens, Janay Rice herself "deeply regrets the role she played the night of the incident." Perhaps the new Mrs. Rice really does feel that way, but the Ravens' "helpful" tweet is as tone deaf as John Harbaugh's Rice "made a mistake/he's a heck of a guy" comment. Ayonna Johnson, director of legal services for the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, says, "When it comes to ... professional sports, unfortunately we're still in a male-dominant society." A girlfriend or a wife, she says, "has to bend themselves down, bend herself lower, and make her partner and her love interest shine a little brighter." Even when her manly, wealthy, successful husband is clearly wrong. Put more bluntly, take the blame, Honey, you probably deserved it. I don't say that lightly. After my boyfriend knocked me out, I expected my friends to rally around me. Most did not. "He's such a nice guy," they told me in disbelief. "You must have made him really mad. You say some mean stuff. He really loves you." ESPN's Stephen Smith played the role of my callous former friends on his show, "First Take." He assured his audience that, PERSONALLY, "as a man raised by women," he knows full well there's never an "excuse to put your hands on a woman," except, that is, when you must. Smith blathered, "We also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about elements of provocation." In other words, Ladies, don't provoke your man or he'll deck you. Smith's colleague -- and my new hero -- Michelle Beadle tweeted, "I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend ... I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so." Smith tried to apologize, but the damage was done. Perhaps the NFL will try to apologize too, but again, the damage is done. So, Mr. Goodell, a few facts for you to ponder for the future: According to safehorizon.org, one in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. One-third of female homicide victims are killed by their current or former partner. According to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, boys who witness domestic abuse are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults. It's why I thank God every day I married a man whose father was as old-fashioned as mine. Gordon Snyder taught his sons a slightly different version, though. Gordy said, "A man who hits a woman never hits a man." Are you listening, Mr. Goodell? | Baltimore running back suspended for two games after domestic violence incident . Carol Costello: I thought men didn't attack women they loved, until it happened to me . Costello: In my case, as in others, the woman victim wound up getting blamed . Fathers have to teach their children that violence against women isn't OK, she says . | a799dbc5de1bc2b5e7ac862a13d94ef228f50a45 |
By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 12:16 EST, 27 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:35 EST, 27 January 2014 . A blind mechanic has told how he still fix cars - purely by feel and the sound of the engine. Edsel Hammond, 45, from Charlotte, Vermont, lost his sight after setting up a business in his 20s. But instead of letting the rare and debilitating condition, called scotomas, prevent him from doing the job he loved, Mr Hammond relied on his other senses. Sense: Blind mechanic Edsel Hammond relies on touch and feel to find the problem . The father-of-two described the horror of waking up one morning when he was 24 to discover his eyesight was failing. Mr Hammond told WCAX.com: 'I woke up one morning and the eye that . had the spot in it was completely black. 'I couldn't see anything out of . it. And then the other eye was starting to have issues and that was very . scary.' The rare degenerative disease - which leaves sufferers with large dark patches of vision - has robbed Mr Hammond of much of his vision now. Inspiring: Edsel Hammond, 45, lost his sight when he was 24 but the condition did not prevent him from continuing as a mechanic . Adapting to adversity: Edsel Hammond has specially adapted tools to enable him to find it quickly when he is under a car bonnet . But he has developed new skills and techniques which enable him to solve almost any mechanical problem with which he is presented. He listens to the sound of the engine and feels parts to determine what fault needs repairing. And his condition has not deterred any customers from using his car repair business. Edsel said: 'If I look right at you I don't see anything. I have what they call central scotomas, where I can't see anything. Vocation: Mr Hammond, of Charlotte, Vermont, was named after the 1958 motorcar and loved to fix vehicles from a young age . 'If I look to the side a little bit I can see kind of a blurred, like an old grainy television and some of your outline, but I don't see any details.' Mr Hammond, whose father and grandmother were mechanics, was born to work with cars - and was even named after a 1958 Edsel car, widely recognised as one of the worst cars made. He grew up on his family's gas station in Shelburne and it appears the mechanical bent is in the genes. Both his sons have followed in their father's footsteps and become car mechanics. | Edsel Hammond lost his sight after setting up as a mechanic . 45-year-old uses feel and sounds to identify problems with vehicles . Mr Hammond, named after a 1958 Edsel car, still drives around his yard . | b6ff1b4619436a61c02443586427734015d1b3d7 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:39 EST, 18 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:41 EST, 18 June 2013 . These two bangles that could be mistaken for cheap glow-bands have sold for an incredible £3.7million pounds. The bright green bands are a far cry from the plastic bracelets commonly seen in nightclubs and are actually made from an extremely rare gemstone. They were carved from a huge piece of jadeite found in Burma, which is the most expensive and rarest form of the gemstone jade. Jade a fortune: The bangles were carved from a huge piece of jadeite, which is the most expensive and rarest form of the gemstone jade . As almost all of the world's jadeite is found in the small country, the mines have been exhausted and top quality pieces now sell for huge sums of money. The bracelets, which are just two inches in diameter, are a translucent green colour, which is a shade considered to be one of the most prized forms of the precious stone. They were purchased by a phone bidder at the Tiancheng International Auctioneers sale in Hong Kong for an all-in fee of £3,732,365. Ellen Sin, director of the jewellery department, said: 'Around 99 per cent of the top quality jadeite is only found in Burma, including this pair of jadeite bangles. 'As the supply of high grade jade keeps dropping and the mines are being exhausted, exquisite jadeites become highly sought after. 'They were carved from the same piece of rough and each highly translucent cylindrical jadeite bangle is suffused with a rich bright green colour. Going, going, gone: A screen at the auction house shows the final price the bangles went for . 'Their size is large and as they were carved from the same rough, it would have had to be very big so that there was enough material to carve two similar bangles. 'The two bangles have a fine texture and translucent with very few impurities, the most desired quality of jadeite. 'It is so rare to find a big rough with very fine quality texture. 'They are top quality and when they are carved from the same piece of rough they are invaluable jewels. 'As its appreciation overtakes that of diamond and gold, this makes jadeite greatly favoured among the wealthy who regard it as one of the major investment items. 'The beauty, rarity and unique locality of fine jadeite contribute to its collectible value.' | Jadeite is the rarest form of the gemstone jade, mainly found in Burma . As mines have become depleted, the value has rocketed . | d16fbd3815d8ecca6671ca6885a2053a2beef560 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . California police are investigating after multiple families reported porcelain dolls that resemble their little girls were left outside their homes. As many as 11 California families from a gated residential community in San Clemente, Orange County, have come forward to report finding the creepy dolls on their doorsteps. The mysterious person behind the creepy gifts has since been found by police, who say she had never intended to scare anyone. Disturbing: This doll was left outside of a home in California where a little girl lives with her family - 10 others have also been found . Mystery: At least 11 porcelain dolls were left outside homes in this gated California community . The dolls began appearing on doorsteps on July 16. All the girls who received one were aged around 10 years old, and some attend the same elementary school. KTLA reports that the initial number of dolls was four, but the figure has been revised to 11. 'Families in each of the homes where porcelain dolls were left voiced concern that the dolls resembled their daughters,' the Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release. Photographs of two of the dolls provided by police show one curly-headed and dressed in a pink nightie with bunny slippers, and the other in a ruffled blue dress. So far, the distribution of the unwanted gifts is not being considered a crime, but the police department was initially concerned by the events. After finding the person responsible, the police said the dolls had been left outside the homes as a 'gesture of goodwill'. Bizarre: Police don't know if the dolls are meant as gifts or indicate something more concerning . The dolls are currently being stored in the police department's evidence room. Families who received one of the dolls helped solve the mystery, after realizing that many of them attended the same church. Police contacted a woman who was part of their church, and who the families said may have been behind the gesture. According to the OC Register, the woman admitted she had left the dolls outside the houses, and told police she had just been trying to get rid of her collection. She also said she had tried to match up dolls with the girls living at the homes, but had not meant to scare anyone. Investigation: Police were called by concerned families after dolls resembling their children were left outside houses . Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Jeff Hallock said the police became involved because the case appeared to involve children. 'Obviously, there’s an indication by some the parents that the dolls resemble their daughters. We’re talking about children here. Anything that has the potential to involve children causes us some concern,' he told KTLA. The dolls were first reported on Tuesday and have been taken as evidence by police. | Police were called in after 11 dolls were left on doorsteps in San Clemente . The dolls resemble the little girls who live in the homes . | 456370864e5bc6f42f287a7c348967fb8d4e8eae |
Maddie the Koala found she had triple the load when two wandering joeys attached themselves to the mother-of-one at the Australian Reptile Park. Marsupial keepers at the park on NSW central coast thought they were seeing triple when they discovered Maddie all of a sudden had three babies vying for her attention. The staff got quite a shock to see Milly, Molly and Theresa - all less than one-year-old - hitching a ride on the back of Maddie. Scroll down for video . Maddie the Koala found she had triple the load when two wandering joeys attached themselves to the mother-of-one at the Australian Reptile Park . Despite the two young koalas obviously finding the wrong way back to their tree after going off on an expedition, Maddie didn't question her new extra demanding role - she just soldiered on like a trooper while the energetic joeys kept her very busy. The mother showed equal affection to all three babies - providing lots of group hugs as the babies vied for her attention. Four koalas have been born at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby this year which is welcome news considering the impact land clearing is having on numbers. The staff got quite a shock to see Milly, Molly and Theresa - all less than one-year-old - hitching a ride on the back of Maddie . Maddie just soldiered on like a trooper while the three energetic joeys kept her very busy . | Maddie found she had triple the load when two other joeys joined her . New mother-of-three was kept busy with Milly, Molly and Theresa . Adorable scene was at the Australian Reptile Park, central NSW coast . The staff got quite a shock to see Milly, Molly and Theresa - all less than one-year-old - hitching a ride on the back of Maddie . | 6538f7ff3c68ebfc507a4ffbee565469af20dca3 |
Greenville, South Carolina (CNN) -- Lauren Zanardelli and Graham Foster are the kind of customers the government needs to make Obamacare work. The chefs own and operate a bright orange hipster magnet called the Neue Southern Food Truck. The farm-to-table vehicle stands out in Greenville, South Carolina, even among the new gastropubs that dot the city's charming Main Street. Today Zanardelli and Foster are zooming around their rented kitchen on the edge of town, preparing deep-fried Brussels sprouts, Ramen with seaweed and pumpkin sweet rolls. They won't have time after their 12-hour work day to explore the new health insurance marketplaces that opened this morning, but they look forward to seeing what Obamacare can offer them. And that's good news for health care insurance companies. Young and fit people like Zanardelli, 31, and Foster, 28, have to buy into the system to support the law's mandate that all people must have health insurance next year. Under Obamacare, companies can no longer deny policies to people with pre-existing conditions, and some 48 million Americans are uninsured, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures. What insurance companies will save on medical costs for the healthier population will help pay for the older, sicker people who are entering into the insurance market for the first time. But because they're young -- and don't foresee getting sick any time soon -- some Millennials may decide to skip insurance and risk paying a fine. Zanardelli and Foster have health insurance now, but it's pricey and "it covers nothing," Zanardelli said. She hasn't been to the doctor in years and shells out about $200 a month. Her policy doesn't cover prescriptions either. "If it's not generic, I can't afford it." She says her family warned her about this when she left her teaching job in Charlotte to follow her passion for cooking. "One of the first things my parents said was that I was really going to miss that good health insurance, and they were right. I'm healthy, but I really do," Zaradelli said. "Ultimately, though, it's worth it. ... This doesn't feel like work to me. I love what I do. New insurance will make this even better." The owners of Neue Southern met in 2011 when they enrolled in the culinary arts program at Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte. The two chose to move to South Carolina after working under well-known chefs in New York. The foodie fast lane, they decided, wasn't for them. When they scanned the country for opportunities, the food trucks in their East Village neighborhood inspired them. Why not bring a slice of the East Village to Greenville, where Foster got his first taste of cooking in the kitchen of his German-born grandmother? They were true foodie pioneers. Zanardelli says the people of Greenville welcomed their European take on old Southern favorites, but when it comes to health insurance they may have been better off somewhere else. South Carolina ranks near the bottom in the nation when it comes to access to care and health outcomes, according to the latest edition of America's Health Rankings. While Obamacare is federal legislation, the Supreme Court ruled that states could decide how they would handle the implementation. Leaders in South Carolina have been downright antagonistic to the legislation. "Just because the Supreme Court says something is constitutional doesn't make it constitutional," one South Carolina state senator, who introduced an anti-Obamacare bill this year, told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. The senator's bill failed, as did others -- one of which would actually have made it a crime for a state or federal official to implement any provision of Obamacare -- but the state did successfully refuse to expand Medicaid. It has not set up its own health care marketplace. Obamacare exchanges 101: What you need to know . "We don't talk politics around here because there goes half our client base, either way," Foster said while mixing the base for the Ramen. "But politics aside... we need something better than what we have." For the more than 726,000 people in South Carolina without insurance there are parts of the federal legislation that will help them. Many will be able to buy policies through the federal health insurance marketplaces. And many, such as the chefs of Neue Southern, will be eligible for tax breaks and subsidies to help them pay for any policies bought through these marketplaces. The policies themselves will also be much more comprehensive. All health insurance plans will now have to cover preventative health care and at least nine other kinds of care, including hospitalization, outpatient care, emergency services, mental health and substance abuse care, maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs, lab tests, rehab, and pediatric care. Premiums will vary depending on the depth of coverage. Out-of-pocket costs for an individual are capped at $6,350. Infographic: Obamacare insurance rates . When Zanardelli and Foster do get a break from work they say they will shop around and figure out which policy best fits their needs. Health care coverage could come in handy right now for Foster. He struggled with a double ear infection for weeks. A doctor at the local urgent care center told him ear drops would cost him $130; he paid to avoid permanent damage to his ears. Now he has a sinus infection. Unfortunately, even if he were to buy insurance through the exchanges today, the policies won't kick in until January. Not having insurance, they say, is not an option -- even if the fine would be a lot cheaper than the least expensive policy option. "I think of this as an investment in our future health care," Zanardelli said. "Most of the younger people we hear object to Obamacare are looking at the present and how it affects them now. We are relatively healthy, but in a few decades we will likely need medical attention." "We feel optimistic it will be something that can work better for us health wise and be affordable," she continued. "That would be a beautiful thing." | Insurance companies will save money on young to help pay for older, sicker population . Under Obamacare, companies can no longer deny people with pre-existing conditions . South Carolina ranks near the bottom in the nation when it comes to access to care . State has refused to expand Medicaid and has not set up its own health care marketplace . | 64f969adaf944a7c93effeffb48b38a7082be0c5 |
Using a computer, tablet or smartphone in the hour before bedtime significantly delays sleep onset, according to research . Teenagers who spend more time watching TV, using tablets such as iPads and playing electronic games take longer to fall asleep and get poorer quality rest, warn researchers. Screen time of more than four hours a day results in a 49 per cent greater risk of taking longer than an hour to go to sleep. In particular, using a computer, smartphone or Mp3 players in the hour before bedtime significantly delays sleep onset. Researchers are calling for improved guidelines on the healthy use of electronic devices. Some experts in child health recommend against having a TV or computer in children's bedrooms to reduce screen exposure before bedtime. The latest study says this advice should be extended to other technology including smartphones. A new study suggests the growth in use of electronic media devices by children could harm physical and mental health. In the US, paediatric guidelines recommend that total screen time should be limited to less than two hours per day of educational, nonviolent programmes. There are currently no formal guidelines in the UK. The latest study from Norway involved almost 10,000 teenagers, all of whom were part of the youth@hordaland study in 2012. The 16-19-year-olds were asked how much screen time they spent outside school hours, and on what activities, for any of six electronic devices: computer; tablet, smartphone; Mp3 player; games console; and TV. They were also asked questions about their sleep routine on weekdays and at weekends: when they normally went to bed and got up; how much sleep they needed to feel rested; and how long it took them to get to sleep. Girls spent significantly longer on their computers chatting online while boys spent longer playing games on consoles and computers. Almost all of the teens said they used one or more electronic devices within an hour of going to bed. The study found poorer quality sleep was significantly linked to more time spent on such devices, and it often took more than an hour to drop off. A period of more than half an hour is normally defined as long 'sleep latency' in adults, say the researchers in the online journal BMJ Open (to subs must credit like this). Total daytime screen use of more than four hours was linked to a 49 per cent greater risk of taking longer than 60 minutes to fall asleep. Spending more than two hours on screen devices after school was strongly linked to both longer sleep onset latency and shorter sleep duration. On average, the teens said they needed 8-9 hours of sleep to feel rested. But those who spent more than two hours emailing or chatting online were more than three times as likely to sleep for less than five hours. Screen time of more than four hours a day results in a 49 per cent greater risk of taking longer than an hour to go to sleep . Those spending more than four hours in front of any screen were 3.5 times as likely to sleep for less than five hours. Computers were the device most likely to cause problems. Multi-taskers who used more than one device were also more likely to take longer to fall asleep and get less rest than those on one device. Teens who used four or more devices were a quarter more likely to take more than an hour to fall asleep than those who used just one. Using two to three devices increased the risk by a half of getting less than five hours rest and four or more devices increased the risk to 75 per cent. Dr Mari Hysing, of Uni Research Health, Bergen, said screen use may simply replace sleeping time or it may interfere with sleep by stimulating the nervous system. It is also possible the light emitted from electronic devices may interfere with a teenager's body clock, or circadian rhythm. Greater parental involvement in technology use could be the way forward, she added. She said 'The recommendations for healthy media use given to parents and adolescents need updating, and age specific guidelines regarding the quantity and timing of electronic media use should be developed. 'The current recommendation is not to have a TV in the bedroom. 'It seems, however, that there may be other electronic devices exerting the same negative influence on sleep, such as PCs and mobile phones. 'The results confirm recommendations for restricting media use in general.' | Watching TV and using tablets means it could take longer to fall asleep . More than four hours screen time a day can delay sleep by an hour . Study by University of Bergen, Norway, involved almost 10,000 teenagers . Using a computer, smartphone or Mp3 can also have 'significant effect' Growing use of electronic devices could harm physical and mental health . | 9c152edd3619d36ced73b1c833b5ecd794cc4e0b |
With Halloween just weeks away, parents across the country will be no doubt planning to turn a pumpkin or two into Jack O'Lantern to scare would-be trick-or-treaters. But anyone wanting to use this particular vegetable for their frightful plans may want to start carving now. The giant vegetable stands one metre high and weighs more than 1,100lbs. Ian and Stuart Paton, 51, who grow flowers for a living, have nurtured . the gigantic vegetable for the past six months in their bid to grow the . largest one for miles around. Toddler Bailey Martin is dwarfed by the giant pumpkin, which weighs 1,100lbs . Ian, from Pennington, Hampshire, has been growing pumpkins - which are part of the squash family - for 40 years and currently holds the national record for a 1,300lbs specimen. The gardener has been hard at work all year to overcome the poor weather conditions in his attempt to retain the winning title at the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s pumpkin festival next month. He said: 'This year was not very good because of the weather. We got three good pumpkins after planting out six. 'That’s really important. But there are a couple of other good growers around that we need to watch out for.' 'Our secret is just very good feeds and keeping them topped up with a balanced diet of waters and fertilisers. Ambition: The growers hope to break the world record next year . Toddler Bailey Martin, one, was pictured having fun climbing over the gigantic gourd - which sits at a staggering one metre high - at their nursery near Lymington, Hampshire. The record for the world's heaviest pumpkin has been shattered twice in the US in the past five days. On Sunday, organisers at the Topsfield Fair in Rhode Island said Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island, had broken the world record with a pumpkin weighing in at 2,009lbs. Just a few days earlier, on Thursday last week, a pumpkin grown by Steve Geddes of Boscawen, New Hampshire, weighed in at 1,843.50lbs. Organisers at the Deerfield Fair in New Hampshire claimed then that Geddes' gourd had broken the world record. Despite this year's poor weather, Mr Paton has stated his determination to beat the world record next year. He added: 'We’re going to put the flowers under a shade and put buckets of ice with the plants to keep them nice and cool. 'Because we grow flowers for a living, we have a bit of an advantage. 'We’re definitely going to go after that world record next year - we want to be remembered in the books. 'It’s a costly hobby, keeping a 650sq foot greenhouse going, but its worth it to see the kids’ faces at the show.' The brothers will be using a small truck and a forklift to carry the pumpkin, plus its 800lbs and 900lbs neighbours, to the show. In previous years, pumpkins have been carved into miniature boats with motors and massive jack-o-lanterns. The pair have said that all money raised will go straight to charity. Some of the UK's most super-sized vegetables are showcased every year at the UK National Giant Vegetables Championships. The monster veg can be so gigantic that forklift trucks are used to move them into display. A new world-record breaking 18.5ft parsnip was one of more than 200 vegetables unveiled at the competition in the Somerset town of Shepton Mallet last month. The . root vegetable is an eye-popping 36 times bigger than the standard . parsnip and was lovingly grown by Peter Glazebrook, 68, from Newark, . Nottinghamshire. The retired chartered surveyor has previously held the world record for a 8lbs 40oz potato. He has also been the double Guinness World Record holder for the heaviest parsnip, at 13lb, and the longest beetroot, at 21ft. The veteran grower's record-busting reputation is rivalled by Joe Atherton, 56, from Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire. He snapped up the world record for the longest carrot, which he grew to an enormous 19ft 2inches in 2007. He also held the world record for the heaviest leek, at 6.6kg, in 2001. | The pumpkin was grown by twins Ian and Stuart Paton . Ian currently holds the national record for a 1,300lb specimen . World record recently set at 2,009lbs by a grower in Rhode Island . | 8b1f2b714c2021148842179020e6325f221806c7 |
One out of every five children rely on food stamps to stay fed, according to numbers released by the Census Bureau on Wednesday. The agency released statistics on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as food stamps, showing 16million children relied on SNAP in 2014, the most since 2008. The program saw a sharp increase in registration at the outset of the recession—the 2007 Census found 7million children on the program—and has hovered at higher levels ever since. Food assistance: The Census Bureau released statistics Wednesday showing that one in five children relied on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps, in 2014 . The data shows that 8million children, half of those receiving SNAP benefits, lived with only their mother, while 5million lived with married parents. Though the numbers are currently still high, participation and spending in the program appear to be declining, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The agency announced this week that $76billion was spent on SNAP in 2014, down 8 percent from the previous year. Though SNAP has been a target of conservatives—concentrated cuts in 2014 trimmed $8.6billion over 10 years—more scrutiny is expected in the Republican-controlled Congress. The new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Representative Mike Conaway, told Politico he's already planning to review food stamps for the 2019 Farm Bill, the omnibus spending bill that covers food assistance along with various agriculture programs. 'We ought to do a soup-to-nuts review of the entire program,' he said in November. 'What works? What doesn’t work? Are there moral hazards baked into the system?' Need: Though Republican lawmakers like Representative Mike Conaway say they are looking to review and overhaul the program, supporters say levels of fraud and waste are low . Spending: The Congressional Budget Office announced this week that spending was down 8 percent in the program compared to 2013 . In spite of high levels of spending on the program, progressive think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities argues that few benefits go to those who don't need it. 'Fewer than 1 percent of SNAP benefits are issued to households that do not meet all of the program’s eligibility requirements,' the organization states in a policy report. Food stamps spending cuts came about as a compromise between House Republicans and Senate Democrats in the 2014 Farm Bill, which also cut around $19billion in direct payments to farmers. A significant amount of spending cuts, however, were offset by increases to government subsidies that covered deductibles farmers pay for crop insurance, according to the Washington Post. | The agency announced Wednesday that 16million children relied on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits . The number is at its highest since the start of the recession in 2008 . Program spending was down 8 percent at $76billion in 2014, according to the Congressional Budget Office . The Republican-controlled Congress is expected to further review—and make cuts—to the program ahead of the 2019 Farm Bill . | 210ff6879e6db5f16ea299124fa8b797f014d6ff |
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said it would not be 'appropriate' to publish list of names . IRA suspects who were sent official letters telling them they were not wanted by the authorities cannot be named because of their ‘human rights’, a minister declared last night. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she had seen the list of names but it would not be ‘appropriate’ or ‘helpful’ to publish it because it could breach their right to life and their right to privacy under the Human Rights Act. In a statement to MPs, Miss Villiers said anyone who received a letter could still face prosecution and possession of one did not amount to a ‘get out of jail free card’. The existence of the letters, which were sent to nearly 200 IRA suspects after the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, only emerged last year after a failed prosecution. Police arrested John Downey, 62, from Donegal as he passed through Gatwick Airport last year over the 1982 Hyde Park bombing in which four British soldiers were murdered. But the case was thrown out by a senior judge after Mr Downey revealed the existence of a ‘comfort’ letter sent to him, by mistake, despite an outstanding warrant against him from the Metropolitan Police. Miss Villiers made her statement in an effort to make clear the letters could not be relied upon. She said: ‘No one should take any comfort from these letters, no one should rely on them.’ ‘To all those who have a letter I say, if the police or prosecuting authorities have evidence which is available today or becomes available in the future to pursue you, they can and will pursue you.’ She said decisions by prosecutors and the police would not be influenced by the letters and a suspect could be prosecuted if there was enough evidence against them. She also said publishing the list could undermine any future prosecution. But her refusal to name those on the list of suspects enraged Unionist MPs on the Northern Ireland Committee, who asked what message it would send to victims of unsolved terror attacks. But Lady Sylvia Hermon MP, of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, criticised her decision, saying that not revealing the names gave little comfort to the victims of the IRA. Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley demanded to know if there was a specific security threat against anyone on the list and suggested senior Sinn Fein leaders such as Gerry Adams could have been sent a letter. John Downey, 62, was arrested last year over the 1982 Hyde Park bombing. The case was thrown out after he revealed the existence of a ‘comfort’ letter sent to him, by mistake, despite an outstanding warrant against him . In July, a judge-led review of the scheme found that it was systematically flawed in operation but not unlawful in principle. The ‘on the runs’ scheme saw names of individuals passed to the Government, mostly through Sinn Fein. Anyone found to not be wanted was given a letter of assurance. | Theresa Villiers said it would not be 'appropriate' to publish list of names . She said it could breach right to life and to privacy under Human Rights Act . Recipents of letter - sent to 200 IRA suspects - could still face prosecution . The refusal has enraged Unionist MPs on Northern Ireland Committee . | a1a791c44e26fe66ddb64b4ad744145fbc1563d9 |
A businessman accused of trying to deprive his former wife of a huge payout gave his pole dancer girlfriend £250,000-worth of shares in his company. Multi-millionaire Christopher Nightingale left his wife for the Moroccan after meeting her in a seedy Soho strip club and getting her pregnant, the Daily Mail has learnt. He then supported her right to remain in the UK and claimed his ex-wife, Sally, was no longer entitled to the £1.6million promised to her from a share sale – and instead cut it to just £83. Affair: Sally Nightingale (left) challenged an offer of just £83 - while Massahine Bojji (right) was handed shares . Settlement: Mrs Nightingale lives in the Grade I listed Appleby Castle in Cumbria, pictured . Mrs Nightingale has since taken her husband of 25 years to the High Court in London, claiming he has ‘piles of cash’. Yesterday, the pair reached a confidential out-of-court settlement after five hours of private negotiations. Mr Justice Mostyn told them: ‘I’m pleased that you have settled the case, and I hope that you’re able to move forward with your lives now.’ Mahassine Bojji was introduced to the 55-year-old tycoon after he paid her £500 for a private dance at the Windmill lap-dancing club in London’s West End in 2007. Tycoon: Christopher Nightingale, 55, offered his ex-wife Sally just £83 from a shares deal . Mr Nightingale, a former lawyer based in Singapore who has a chateau in France, became besotted with Miss Bojji – known as Kelly – and set her up in a luxury home in west London while still married. She fell pregnant and gave birth to their son, Faris, now five, in February 2009. Mr Nightingale divorced his wife a year later. Mrs Nightingale now lives in Grade I listed Appleby Castle, set in 29 acres of grounds in Cumbria, which she received as part of her divorce settlement. He said: ‘I had effectively lived separately from Sally for a long time, with Sally living in England and myself living in Singapore. I met Kelly in 2007, after my marriage had already broken down.’ In the same year he got divorced Mr Nightingale gave Miss Bojji, who is in her early 30s, 42,318,000 shares in his company Alternative Energy, registered in Singapore, worth around £252,000 at the time. The High Court heard how the financial aspects of the divorce appeared to have been settled in 2009 but Mrs Nightingale, 54, was still due a sum from the sale of shares in Citadel100, a Dublin computer systems firm her husband helped to found. In emails last July he told her she would receive more than £1.6million, almost a quarter of the £6.6million sale price for the shares. But he cut her payout to just £83 after claiming that he received only £330 because the sale had been ‘very hard work’ and more complicated than expected. In December, the High Court froze his British assets, and in a hearing in January a judge criticised Mr Nightingale for making such vastly different offers. It is not known how much money Mrs Nightingale will receive as a result of yesterday’s settlement. Mr Nightingale said his ex-wife, whom he has three children with, didn’t appreciate money as she’s ‘never had to work’. And he denied that Miss Bojji was an exotic dancer, saying: ‘Kelly is a bright and intelligent lady and as far as I am aware she has never been a pole dancer.’ Court fight: Sally Nightingale with her son Eddie at her Grade I listed home in Cumbria, Appleby Castle . He said he had given her shares in his company, saying ‘she is after all the mother of my child’, but said the shares were currently suspended from trading and therefore not worth anything. He also said his ex-wife was entitled to shares in the company. ‘Sally actually got a settlement worth many millions when we broke up,’ he said. ‘I was generous in order to enable Sally to retain the castle, where I hope she can enjoy a good quality of living. She and the children love it and if we had fought over it she would have had to sell it.’ Mrs Nightingale had previously said that she needed the payout to pay for the upkeep of Appleby Castle. ‘I’m not greedy,’ she said. ‘I’m asset rich but cash poor.’ Mr Nightingale, a qualified lawyer, claimed he did not even have the money to pay his lawyers. | Christopher Nightingale cut payout to ex-wife Sally from an initial £1.6m . But he gave lap-dancer Mahassine Bojji 42,318,000 shares in energy firm . Tycoon, 55, paid Miss Bojji £500 for a private dance in London club . He denied his lover was a pole dancer after case reached High Court . | 2023c33609184e198f20542b2413c2a12a9065be |
By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 10:48 EST, 18 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:17 EST, 19 February 2014 . Taking action: Julie Gayet has filed a complaint against the photographer who snapped President Hollande outside her flat . The photographer who exposed Francois Hollande’s secret affair with an actress is potentially facing criminal charges following a complaint by the President’s lover. Sebastien Valiela, a veteran media operator with high-powered contacts in France’s political establishment, is suspected of compromising the privacy of 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet. Valiela, who took the photographs of Hollande meeting Ms Gayet is being questioned by police today as part of a criminal enquiry into the scandal. ‘He’s been taken in for questioning,’ said a police source, who said the BRDP, a specialist brigade which examines crimes against individuals, was leading the enquiry. But the involvement of the police in what is now widely viewed as a matter of huge public interest is being viewed by many as an attack on press freedom. Mr Hollande, 59, regularly met his younger lover without bodyguards in a Paris apartment rented by a woman linked to the Corsican mafia. ‘From the moment he was in the apartment his security detail left,’ said Mr Valiela, saying an attack on the Socialist head of state would have been easy. Ms Gayet’s long relationship with Mr Hollande led to his former girlfriend, 49-year-old Valerie Trierweiler, losing her title as first lady of France after Mr Hollande announced their split in an 18 word statement. Ms Trierweiler felt so humiliated by photos exposing the scandal that she smashed up furniture in the Elysee Palace before checking herself into hospital for eight days. After Mr Valiela's photos of Hollande meeting Ms Gayet were published by French Closer, his partner Valerie Trierweiler was to shocked she was hospitalised . A court in Nanterre, the Paris suburb, has opened an enquiry into the publication of images showing Mr Hollande visiting his love nest on the back of a moped while wearing a crash helmet as a disguise. Ms Gayet, who had continually denied having an affair with Mr Hollande – including on national TV and on the radio – is determined to see those who exposed it punished. Her civil claim against Closer magazine, which first published the pictures, has seen her claiming the equivalent of just over 40,000 pounds in damages and interest. The editor of a publication found guilty of invasion of privacy under criminal law faces a possible one year sentence and a fine of up to 40,000 pounds. Mr Hollande said earlier this year that it would be unfair for the President, who has immunity from prosecution, to take legal action against someone else. | Photographer may face criminal charges over photos that exposed affair . Sebastien Valiela 'compromised the privacy' of Hollande's alleged mistress . President Hollande was photographer meeting actress Julie Gayet . | 17b2da8b2d2401c9515c6a68522e7bc3ad3a972c |
(CNN) -- I remember a chalk line drawn on blacktop by a group of kids at recess when I was young. The message was clear: This is the line you do not cross. If you stepped over it, you would face the wrath of those kids in whatever game we were playing. Now turn that line crimson and color it toxic. This is the adult version of "do not cross." This is the infamous red line. We first heard about it in terms of Syria a year ago. President Barack Obama said that the use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad would cross a "red line" that would have "enormous consequences." As chemical weapons were deployed in Syria in August, Obama's tripwire was triggered. Then Obama told reporters: "First of all, I didn't set a red line. The world set a red line." When Obama says "the world" did it, he was indicating that much of the world long ago decided chemical weapons were an abhorrent thing to unleash in war. More than 160 countries signed a treaty attesting to this view. But why has "the world set" this one line in the blacktop, and not others? The United States and its allies ignore the violation of treaties all the time. They ignore the use of other terrible weapons in global conflicts daily. As someone who grew up wondering why we intervened in Bosnia but not Rwanda, as someone who directs a project on rape in war, I want to know: How do we decide what suffering matters enough to get a red line? At the Women's Media Center's Women Under Siege project, we've been keeping a live crowdmap of sexualized violence in Syria. I've personally reported multiple stories of rape in which women were hung by their wrists or burned. We've also documented how hundreds of thousands of women have been raped in 16 years of fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yet Congress is not debating whether to intervene in Congo. It is not struggling over what to do about the rape and torture of women and men in Syria or anywhere else. Why? Here's one gut-wrenching answer: . "People divide their understanding of militarized violence into normal and not normal, acceptable and not acceptable," says Yifat Susskind, executive director of women's human rights organization MADRE. Susskind argues that violence against women has been "normalized," especially in Africa. "World leaders, like representatives in Congress, have turned a blind eye to the violence in DRC for a simple reason: It does not disturb their preconceived notions about where violence is normal," she says. If this statement makes my heart hurt, I'm not sure I can imagine what it means to the people of Congo. I spoke to Eve Ensler, the founder of V-Day. She conceived of the City of Joy, which empowers survivors of sexualized violence, and built it with the women of Congo. Just returned from there, Ensler says she witnessed a kind of dismay about the recent U.S. response to Syria's use of chemical weapons. "Although the Congolese I spoke to felt great empathy for the Syrians, they felt confused by the U.S.'s immediate and overwhelming reaction when -- after 16 years and 8 million people dead -- they have been waiting and demanding that the U.S. stop supporting Rwanda," she says. Ensler and others have long argued that the United States reconsider its relationship with Rwanda, which they say supports the rebel militia M23, one of the main perpetrators of atrocities in Congo. They are pushing for the opposite of military intervention -- they want a political intervention based on human rights violations. "For how many years have we been banging on the doors of the White House, saying thousands and thousands of women have been raped?" she asks. Unlike the obvious effects of chemical weapons use, the fallout of rape is often invisible: It doesn't always leave marks, and it is so heavily stigmatized we don't see how it psychologically, and physically, tears women apart. With chemical weapons, gases seep in an indiscriminate cloud and infect whoever is in their path. They've been called "weapons of mass destruction in slow motion," says Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Lewis argues that "the goal is to have a world in which people don't settle for disputes with violence," but he recognizes that "we're a way off" from such a day. "We still need to prevent a world that uses the very worst weapons," he says. But "worst" is subjective. "There's a hierarchy of sensation around weaponry," Ensler says. "But in my mind chemical weapons and mass rape are both weapons of mass destruction." You could argue that the United States gets involved in wars based on careful geopolitics. You could argue, as many do, that the United States intervened in Bosnia because there was a politically viable solution on the table. You could say we stayed out of Rwanda because it was "messy." It's a nasty kind of calculus, this business of deciding the red line of intervention, of what kind of pain matters most. Ultimately, however, it may not be as complicated as it first appears. "Do the people at risk matter to the people in power?" Susskind asks. "Does intervention serve the political aims of the powerful? In that calculation, human rights fall far behind." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lauren Wolfe. | Lauren Wolfe: Obama says world set "red line" on chemical weapons that can't be crossed . She asks: Why does world have no such red line on abhorrent weapon of mass rape? She says in Syria and Congo, rape is "normalized," doesn't draw threat of intervention . Wolfe: U.S. should rethink ties to Rwanda, which backs Congo militia known for atrocities . | dfa218e033a9dbf128c3c81cd98c9bcccf6cdd0f |
(CNN) -- Donny Moore watches at least part of every NFL game, every week, every year. After all, it's part of his job. You may not have heard of him. But while Moore is watching the best football players in the world, they're watching him, too. "I get a lot of feedback from Twitter," said Moore, the so-called ratings czar for "Madden NFL," the uber-popular video game franchise that rolled out its 25th annual edition on Tuesday. "Guys like (Seahawks cornerback) Richard Sherman, (Cowboys wide receiver) Dez Bryant -- these guys all follow me and make sure to give me feedback. "They always want to know ahead of time: 'What have you got me at?' " That's because it's Moore's job to come up with the numerical ratings -- from 1 to 100 -- that determine how skilled players, and by extension their teams, are at various facets of the game. It's a unique challenge. Although there are shooter games that emulate real-world weapons and military units, only sports games require their creators to assess, and then re-create, real-life humans as virtual avatars. That's bound to rankle some folks -- if not the NFL players themselves, then "Madden" gamers who are often their most rabid fans. By most accounts, though, Moore and his team at EA Sports, publisher of the "Madden" series, do a good job. "EA is not just pulling numbers from a hat," said T.J. Lauerman, host of That Sports Gamer Show. "Gamers are uptight about their favorite team's ratings because ... they see their team's running back make one great spin move that completely fakes out a defender, and when they try it in a game, they fail. They look up the player attributes and realize he has a 64 Spin Move, then they get angry and tweet Donny Moore." That's all part of the job, says Moore. "If you're a Falcons fan who was mad some Falcons were underrated, we're probably doing our job," he said. "Everybody can't be a 99." Moore has a lot of raw data to work with. In addition to on-field stats, there are 40-yard-dash times, scouting-combine scores for rookies, injury reports and the like. And a whole host of websites have sprung up to hyperanalyze performance, breaking down stats into super-specific categories, like "downfield passing completion percentage." But football is also a game of intangibles. Sometimes it takes watching a player accomplish things on the field that the raw data don't show. Moore is thankful for Madden's weekly online updates (a feature that earlier versions obviously didn't have), which let him tweak player stats based on their performance throughout the season. He cites Alfred Morris, the lightly regarded sixth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic University who ended up tallying 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns last year for the Washington Redskins. "There was not a whole lot of buzz around him, really; he ran a terribly slow time at the combo," Moore said. "Then, he started blowing up." Morris started the season on "Madden" with a 65 rating. By the end of the year, thanks to weekly updates, he'd risen to an 89. "We were wrong about him to begin with, but the whole league was," he said. "(Redskins head coach) Mike Shanahan was probably surprised. Pleasantly surprised." After actually watching on-field performance, Moore said, his best tool for adjusting player ratings may be those same fans who argue with him online. He adopted a stock response to fans who thought a player on their favorite team should have his numbers moved up. He says " 'OK, give me five up and five down,' " he said. "When you made the fans give you the guys who should go down, that was some of the best feedback ever." But it's always more amusing when it's the players themselves complaining, especially when it's over something relatively ridiculous. Every player gets a rating in every category, meaning kickers are rated for Trucking -- the ability to bull over defenders -- and 300-pound defensive linemen get Spectacular Catch scores. But that didn't sit well when New York Jets defensive back Kerry Rhodes saw his Throwing Power rating of 21 and 23 for Throwing Accuracy -- a full 17 points behind Nick Mangold, a Jets offensive lineman. Rhodes played some quarterback in college and high school and posted a good-natured video titled "WTF Madden!" In it, he and Mangold go through a series of passing drills, in which he predictably beats his 307-pound teammate. And it worked. "After that, I bumped up Kerry Rhodes' power to way outdistance Mangold," Moore said. "But it was still terrible. You'd never play him at quarterback." That's a silly example, but illustrates a bigger point: There are a lot of eyeballs on the best-selling "Madden" game series. Moore has worked at EA since 1999, when he was hired for the "Madden" testing group after winning an "NCAA '99 Football" tournament. He says that, for him, making the game as close as possible to the real thing is serious business. "I treat it with a lot of pride," he said. "I know what's at stake here. I just want to get it right." CNN contributor Larry Frum contributed to this report. | Donny Moore is the "ratings czar" for "Madden NFL 25" Moore says players sometimes ask, complain about their scores . He watches every NFL game and studies stats . With weekly updates, mistakes can be fixed quickly now . | 8977221e4b284c131e400c91a286c6b7a876aef2 |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Forty seven-year-old Australian "adrenaline junkie" Sean Langman will attempt to break the 50-knot sailing speed barrier with his half sailboat, half plane, after a serious crash last summer. The half sailboat, half plane uses technology known as supercavitation -- sailing just above the water's edge. Langman, a shipyard owner and yachtsman, is intent on beating the French-set record within the next few weeks, with the "Wot Rocket," a canoe-style pod with a nine meter-long rigid sail. The Wot Rocket is waiting for confirmation from the World Sailing Speed Record Council to attempt, once again, an unprecedented technology known as "supercavitation" -- sailing just above the water in a gas bubble created by the deflection of water. This is to to reduce the drag which is around 1,000 times greater in the water than in the air. "Wot Rocket is so exciting as we push to sail up to three times the speed of the wind," Langman told CNN. In October last year Langman and his co-pilot crashed when they lost control of the vessel at 42 knots -- over 60 miles per hour. But after re-building and perfecting the vessel at a cost of half a million dollars, Langman is ready to try again. "The exhilaration of sailing/flying is so big, you don't think about danger," he told CNN. Langman is certain that this time around he will beat the record. "My only concern is we won't be able to keep control of the craft." In case the pilots crash again, Langman says the most thing is to remain calm. "Last time I felt a mild panic as we were underwater. I just hoped the paramedics would get there in time. "But really I feel very safe doing anything on water as that what I've done my whole life. I feel most 'in tune' when I'm on water," he added. The idea for Wot Rocket was conceived four years ago by Langman after he was inspired by the story of Burt Munro, the New Zealander who set a world land speed record on his modified Indian Scout motorcycle in 1967 -- played by Antony Hopkins in the 2005 Hollywood movie "The World's Fastest Indian." Do you think the wotrocket can beat the record? "I came up with the idea in the shower. So I presented it to a group of engineers and said 'this is what I believe.' Most said I'm a lunatic but one said 'I want to work with you'." Langman joined forces with leading Australian designer Andy Dovell and sought input from Boeing 747 pilots for their aeronautical knowledge. He then had the "Wot Rocket" built using the staff and facilities at his various Shipyards. Finally, he teamed up with Wotif.com founder Graeme Wood who invested in the project because, as he explained, he "likes leftfield ideas." "My family think I'm crazy, but every time I've had an idea it's taken me somewhere. It's really about ideas versus science and trying to make it work," Langman explained. "And no one remembers the second man to walk on the moon." | Half sailboat, half plane will attempt to break the 50-knot sailing speed barrier . Pilot Sean Langman crashed dangerously last year but is confident he can make it . "Wot Rocket" uses technology called "supercavitation:" sailing just above the water . | 1008fea6d8460559370f75430b2da2fe8053d311 |
All of the crew aboard the world's largest purpose built livestock carrier, that caught ablaze, have been accounted for according to the ship's owner. Firefighters battling the blaze on Wellard's Ocean Drover, at Fremantle Port, are struggling to contain the fire. Eight trucks rushed to the scene after the blaze erupted just before 8am. The ship's company have confirmed the fire started in the accommodation area and all crew have been evacuated from the vessel. The Ocean Drover livestock carrier ship (pictured) on fire in Fremantle Port, Western Australia. No livestock were on-board although several people have been taken to Fremantle Hospital . All of the crew aboard the world's largest purpose built livestock carrier, that caught ablaze, have been accounted for according to the ship's owner . A man watches smoke billow over Fremantle Harbour as emergency personnel attempt to extinguish a blaze that broke out on board livestock ship Ocean Drover just before 8am . A St Johns Ambulance spokesman said one man in his 40s was rushed to Fremantle hospital suffering burns and smoke inhalation while several crews members were treated by paramedics. Six others are still being assessed by paramedics at the scene and two of them will be taken to Fremantle hospital. They said the unfolding emergency is being treated as a major incident. 'We're sending our emergency management team down to help cope with the casualties there,' he said. 'It's kind of chaotic.' The ship's company, Wellards, have confirmed the fire started in the accommodation area and all crew have been evacuated from the vessel . Crowds watch the action unfold as smoke billow over Fremantle Harbour as emergency personnel attempt to extinguish the blaze that broke out on board the livestock ship, Ocean Drover . A Tug boats in Fremantle Harbour unleash a stream of water on livestock ship Ocean Drover as firefighters prepare to extinguish a fire that broke out onboard . A department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said it was unclear whether additional fire trucks would be needed. 'It's a bit hard to tell at this stage,' she told AAP. 'No livestock are on board.' The nine-deck vessel is capable of transporting 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle and has a crew of 45 people. Residents living northeast of the harbour are asked to remain indoors due to fumes in the air. One man in his 40s was rushed to Fremantle hospital suffering burns and smoke inhalation while several crews members and passengers were treated by paramedics . A smoky haze : the Ocean Drover (pictured) cause ablaze Thursday morning. A man in his 40s was taken to Fremantle hospital with burns and smoke inhalation . Emergency personnel watch on as firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire that broke out on board livestock ship Ocean Drover . The nine-deck vessel Ocean Drover (pictured) is capable of transporting 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle and has a crew of 45 people but no livestock was on board . | All crew accounted for aboard Ocean Drover which caught ablaze . Firefighters continue to battle the fire which is believed to have started in the accommodation area . Man in his 40s rushed to Fremantle hospital with burns and suffering smoke inhalation . The unfolding emergency is being treated as a major incident . No livestock are onboard . | efbd4995e9ceb5c630db1dd7910a89ebfc87854f |
By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 1:54 PM on 24th September 2011 . Almost three years ago millions of Americans were marking a supposed new dawn as they celebrated voting in their first black president. But Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman claims racism in the U.S. has actually got worse since Barack Obama took office in January 2009. The film star, who played Nelson Mandela in 2009 film Invictus, told CNN the President has become a target for the Tea Party's ‘racist’ aggression. Scroll down for video . Film star: Actor Morgan Freeman claims racism in the U.S. has actually got worse since President Barack Obama took office in January 2009 . Not happy: Mr Freeman, who played Nelson Mandela in Invictus, told Piers Morgan the President has become a target for the Tea Party's 'racist' aggression . He backed President Obama during his election campaign and said the Tea Party’s anti-Obama stance is racist, reported the Huffinton Post. ‘Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term,’ he told Piers Morgan on CNN. Is America more racist under Obama? ‘What underlines that? “Screw the country. We're going to do whatever we can to get this black man out of here”.’ Mr Morgan is concerned by the rise of the Tea Party, a right-wing Republican arm that supports presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. ‘It just shows the weak, dark, underside of America,’ he told CNN. ‘We're supposed to be better than that. We really are. Famous appearance: Mr Freeman starred as anti-apartheid South African President Nelson Mandela alongside Matt Damon in 2009 film Invictus . Under-fire: More than 50 per cent of Americans say President Obama, pictured today, is at fault for the dismal state of their economy, a poll revealed this week . ‘That's why all those people were in tears when Obama was elected president. "Ah, look at what we are. Look at how this is America." 'Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term. What underlines that? “Screw the country. We're going to do whatever we can to get this black man out of here”' Morgan Freeman . ‘And then it just sort of started turning because these people surfaced like stirring up muddy water.’ Mr Morgan said that Americans would be ‘shooting themselves in the head’ if they get rid of President Obama next year after just one term at the White House. More than 50 per cent of Americans say President Obama is at fault for the dismal state of their economy, a poll revealed on Thursday. This was a majority for the first time since he took office and will be another concern to a President with an ever-growing list of problems. See video here . | Says Obama is 'target for Tea Party's racist aggression' Film star backed Obama in run for White House in 2008 . Claims Tea Party shows 'weak, dark, underside of U.S.' Piers Morgan's full interview with Morgan Freeman will be broadcast at 9pm Eastern and Pacific Time tonight on CNN . | 2276a07c5b2c1559eb18684099a2f55e2c645959 |
Dublin, Ireland (CNN) -- The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton of the Irish rock band U2 was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for stealing 2.8 million euros (about $3.45 million) of Clayton's money. Carol Hawkins, 49, was convicted last week of 181 counts of theft from Clayton's bank accounts over a four-year period while she worked for him. The jury at the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin was told that Hawkins embezzled the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including luxury holidays, cars, shopping at designer boutiques in New York and buying 22 horses. In the sentencing, Judge Patrick McCartan said that "these were crimes rooted in greed and nothing else." "Nothing, frankly, could explain away the scale of this dishonesty other than the greed in pursuit of a lavish lifestyle that was no responsibility of Mr. Clayton's," the judge said. The judge also ordered that the proceeds of a sale of an apartment in New York bought by Hawkins be handed over to Clayton. Clayton -- the bass guitarist with U2 -- wasn't in court for sentencing but had given evidence for the prosecution during the case. Hawkins, who is originally from England but lives in Dublin, has insisted on her innocence. The court was told that the mother of two had gained the musician's "absolute trust" during the 17 years she worked for him. However, her deception emerged in 2008 when she confessed to booking herself flights worth almost $19,000 on his account to visit her children in the United States and London. Jurors were told that Hawkins was a signatory on two of Clayton's bank accounts and wrote 181 checks to deposit into her own accounts. She was originally employed as a housekeeper for Clayton in 1992 but her duties eventually evolved to include helping to take care of Clayton's accounts. CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report. | Carol Hawkins, 49, was the personal assistant to U2's Adam Clayton . "These were crimes rooted in greed and nothing else," the judge says during sentencing . "Nothing, frankly, could explain away the scale of this dishonesty," the judge adds . Hawkins is convicted of 181 counts of theft from Clayton's bank accounts over four years . | 2a22054193afd7c5c5bf24be323e774943ef30a5 |
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) -- Auto insurers report that about 60,000 vehicles were stolen in just over a year in Mexico, the highest figure in the past decade. Mexico City, Mexico, has a well-deserved reputation for heavy traffic. Now car thefts may be added to the list. That's no surprise to Guillermo Cruz, who has bought two new cars this year: the first after his original car was stolen, and the second three months later after two armed men pointed guns at him, got in and drove off with Cruz inside. "They dropped me off in the street and I thought they had already left, and I went back" to where they had taken it, he said. "And still they hadn't left; they were inside the car. And one man said to the other, 'Let's shoot him because he's becoming annoying.' " According to the Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions, the capital of Mexico City is a favorite site for car thieves to work. "If we talk about data from the federal district, we can say that we have 16,000 automobiles stolen, an increase of 10 percent from October 2007 to September 2008," said Recaredo Arias, a spokesman for the association. He said drug traffickers have contributed to the increase by pushing other bands of criminals into new lines of business. "Perhaps they are taking up so much space from the point of view of the sources of income as from the point of view of supply and distribution of drugs to these bands and, as a result, the bands are looking for other types of crimes," he speculated. Authorities say they are making efforts to fight the crime, though some observers predict that the incidence of car theft will rise further as the world economic crisis worsens. | About 60,000 vehicles were stolen in just over a year, Mexican insurers report . The problem is particularly acute in the capital of Mexico City . Observers predict car thefts will rise further as world economic crisis worsens . One Mexican man says he's had two new cars stolen in three months . | 27d7f005f5e28d8c3d4678e17e648389083b6842 |
By . Steph Cockroft . A five-year-old boy was banned from his school canteen and allegedly given bread and water for lunch after the school refused to accept a 'late' dinner money payment from his mother. Callum Slater, a pupil at Longmoor Community Primary School in Walton, Liverpool, usually goes to the school canteen each day for a tuna and cheese wrap, as well as a pick and mix salad from the salad bar. But the young pupil was made to eat an alternative lunch outside his headteacher's office after his mother Lesley tried to pay his £9 dinner money five hours 'too late'. Callum Slater, five, was made to sit outisde his headteacher's office and was given bread and water for lunch after his mother Lesley handed . in the £9 payment for the forthcoming week's meals 'too late' The school asks parents to pay money for the forthcoming week's meals by the Friday before. But when Ms Slater tried to pay the amount at the end of the day, instead of in the morning, the school refused to accept it. Despite assurances from the school that his mother's 'missed' payment would not leave her boy without the usual school dinner, Callum was stopped from eating in the school canteen the following week. Callum’s . grandmother Sheila said the family was now considering moving Callum to another school after she claims he was given a bread roll and water for his lunch. In a statement, a spokesman for the . school denied the claims and said Callum had been given the same lunch . as everyone else that day - which included a tuna baguette, juice and . ice cream and fruit for dessert. But the 68-year-old from Aintree, Liverpool, said: 'They gave him a brown barmcake and a glass of water. Callum was so upset and he was saying ‘what have I done?’ Longmoor Community Primary School in Walton, Liverpool, said the move was to stop children being embarrassed at not having their usual lunch and have now apologised for the incident . 'When we took him to school the next day he kept saying ‘have I got to sit outside the headteacher’s room?’ 'He’s . only five so he’s not old enough to understand. He didn’t understand . why he couldn’t sit with his best friend like he normally does.' Mrs Slater said parents had not been told there was a time deadline for the payment and the only specification was that it was paid on Friday. The school confirmed there had been a 'misunderstanding' in regards to the payment. Mrs Slater said her daughter was also reassured that Callum would still be given his lunch and would not be left on his own. On the Monday, because his account was 'in credit' from a previously missed lunch, Callum was allowed to chose his lunch from the canteen. 'He’s . only five so he’s not old enough to understand. He didn’t understand . why he couldn’t sit with his best friend like he normally does' Sheila Slater, Callum's grandmother . But the following day, Mrs Slater said she discovered Callum had spent lunchtime on his own outside headteacher Alison Johnson’s room. Callum was then given packed lunches all week until his mother could pay the next lunch money instalment the following Friday. Mrs Slater said: 'It says in the school newsletter that the children’s dinner money has to be paid on a Friday but it doesn’t say what time. 'My daughter hadn’t forgotten all year but last Friday she forgot to take it in with her in the morning. 'When . she went to pick him up at 3.30pm she went to the office but the . headteacher said ‘you’re too late’. She said ‘it’s still Friday’ but she . said it had to be in by lunchtime. 'They just wouldn’t take the money off us. He was being punished for something he hasn’t done and we want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.' The school said the move was to prevent . children from being embarrassed in front of other pupils if they did not have . their usual lunch. The statement said: 'Pupils whose parents have forgotten to pay for school dinner are given a more basic packed lunch made up of a sandwich, a drink and a piece of fruit. 'To avoid embarrassment, pupils in this situation have their lunch away from other children. However, in this specific instance, due to a misunderstanding by a supply teacher, the child had the same lunch as every other pupil that day - a baguette, drink and a dessert. 'We have apologised to the parent and the child for any upset and confusion caused and taken steps to make sure the system for payment is communicated consistently in future.' | Lesley Slater tried to pay for Callum's school lunches for forthcoming week . But Liverpool school refused £9 payment because it was five hours 'late' Was assured her son wouldn't go hungry - but he was banned from canteen . Was also made to eat outside headteacher's office away from his classmates . Longmoor Community Primary School said Callum was given same meal as the other children . But it apologised for any confusion caused over the payment issue . | 83cae749ce8b1966156cc3d41ed6bfccfcf02e42 |
By . Sarah Johnson . PUBLISHED: . 16:31 EST, 23 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:18 EST, 24 November 2012 . Breaking into a bookshop before sitting down to read a copy of Fly Fishing by J R Hartley can hardly be described as a typical Saturday night out. But that’s what one drunk man ended up doing before he called the police to confess his crime. Clive Crittenden had been out drinking in Tonbridge, Kent and was on his way home in the early hours with a kebab in hand when he broke into the Mr Books store. Scroll down for video . Not your average Saturday night: Clive Crittenden broke into Mr Books in Tonbridge, Kent before he started reading a copy of Fly Fishing by JR Hartley . Shop owner Mark Richardson told the . Kent and Sussex Courier that books were thrown around the shop, items . swept off the counter and an antique bookslide and a wooden box . containing small change smashed during the 3.30am incident. The 50-year-old said: ‘The first I . knew of it was about 9am on Sunday when I found answering machine . messages from my landlord and the police. ‘My initial feeling was of shock and sheer horror and I was worried about what damage had been done. ‘It's fortunate that he hasn't damaged . any of the really valuable stuff as he must have been blundering round . in the dark. It's just a mess, really.’ The shop owner said that books were thrown around the shop (interior pictured) and items swept off the counter during the incident . After stealing some £1 coins, Crittenden settled down to read the book which was immortalised in the popular 1983 . Yellow Pages TV advertisement. Mr Richardson added: ‘He actually said to the police he was sitting in my shop reading Fly Fishing by JR Hartley. ‘I think they thought he was taking the mickey at first but there is actually a copy right by the phone. ‘It’s a book that I’ve had in the . window before because it symbolises that I can get anything for you. His . choice of book adds to the bizarreness of the whole situation. Crittenden sat reading the book with a kebab in hand. The title was named after the book in 1983 Yellow Pages advert (pictured) ‘I even think in a strange sort of way that might have brought him to his senses.’ The book was written by author . Michael Russell under the pseudonym of JR Hartley to cash in on the . success of the TV advertisement which shows an elderly man calling round . various bookshops looking for a copy of a ‘rather old’ book that he had . written years before. He is told by all that the book is . not in stock and it is only when his daughter picks up a copy of Yellow . Pages that he tracks down a copy. When the advertisement was aired, . the book was purely fictional but in 1991, Mr Russell published Fly . Fishing: Memories of Angling Days. The advert (pictured) showed the fictional author JR Hartley trying to track down a copy of his book about fly fishing . After spending some time reading . the book, while eating a kebab and drinking a bottle of water, . Crittenden was ‘overcome with remorse’ and dialled 999 from the . bookshop’s phone to confess the crime. According to owner Mr Richardson, . Crittenden told police that he was reading Fly Fishing by JR Hartley and . that officers initially thought he was joking when he called at 4am. He added: ‘The detective described . it as a one-off, what with him phoning to get himself arrested. It . sounds funny after the event but it isn’t really funny at all.' Crittenden admitted burglary at . Sevenoaks JPs on Tuesday this week and was handed a one year community . order and ordered to attend a course called Reducing Offending. Now watch the 1983 Yellow Pages advert . | Clive Crittenden stole some £1 coins before sitting down with the book . Ate a kebab while reading the title made famous in 1983 Yellow Pages ad . But, he felt 'overcome with remorse' and dialled 999 to confess the crime . | 93c6bcb94c84ec51cd5d6c0a41f434ba50603c93 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:39 EST, 10 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:43 EST, 10 July 2013 . Stunning murals estimated to be nearly 1,500-years-old have been discovered buried with a Chinese warlord and his wife. The orate drawings were painted on the wall of a doomed tomb in Shuozhou City, about 200 miles (330 kilometres) southwest of Beijing. Their original colours are largely preserved - the murals are in a remarkable condition given their age. Discovered: A colourful, well-preserved mural tomb, where a military commander and his wife were likely buried nearly 1,500 years ago, has been uncovered in China . Condition: The domed tomb's murals was discovered in Shuozhou City, about 200 miles (330 kilometres) southwest of Beijing . Preservation: The original colours are largely preserved in the spacious tomb which opens out at the end of a passage . Researchers estimate that the murals . cover an area of about 860 square feet (80 square meters), almost the . same area as a modern-day bowling. Although some of the pictures are damaged due to the age, many of the depictions are remarkably well preserved. One of the images shows a battle scene as two men hold out black batons and spar. Another one of them depicts a horse pulling a carriage along followed by a several other horses - again it looks like a battle scene. In the tomb, items such as pottery figurines, pottery models and glazed ceramic vessels were also found when it was unearthed in 2008. Impressive: Although parts of the mural are missing due to the wall cracking the tomb is generally in a good condition . Coverage: Researchers estimate that the murals cover an area of about 860 square feet (80 square metres), almost the same area as a modern-day bowling lane . Burial: Archaeologists believe the couple buried at the site consisted of a military commander, in charge of the Shuozhou City area, and his wife . Archaeologist Liu Yan, who reported the discovery, said that the tomb had been robbed three times before he got to it. Most of the grave goods, including . the bodies, were gone and thieves were making preparations to steal the . murals too, but they were halted after the discovery. 'Tomb robbers had already made preparations for removing the murals. The blue lines that were drawn to divide the murals into sections for cutting and the gauze fabric used for reinforcing the murals before detachment still remain on the surface of the walls,' said Yan reported the Huffington Post. The structure of the tomb, murals, and tomb furnishings suggest that the tomb was built in the late Northern Qi Dynasty. Archaeologists . believe the couple buried at the site consisted of a military . commander, in charge of the Shuozhou City area, and his wife. Shuozhou is a city in the north of Shanxi Province in North China, located on the upper reaches of the Fen River. Display: The 1,500-year-old murals discovered in an excavated Northern Qi Dynasty tomb on display at the Shanxi Museum, China . Ruling: The Northern Qi Dynasty ruled northern China from 550 to 577 . | The domed tomb's murals were discovered in Shuozhou City, about 200 . miles (330 kilometres) southwest of Beijing . Archaeologists believe the couple buried at the site consisted of a military commander and his wife . Researchers estimate that the murals cover an area of about 860 square feet (80 square metre) | d4104c0342819bfed9812e7a2324accedd41c20a |
By . Paul Thompson . PUBLISHED: . 15:29 EST, 10 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:36 EST, 10 November 2013 . Designer: Alexandre Herchcovitch claims to have developed a pair of jeans that combats cellulite . They would appear to be the answer to many women’s prayers - a pair of stylish jeans that can smooth away cellulite. Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch claims to have developed the world’s first jeans that combat the dreaded 'orange peel'. His so-called 'beauty denim' harnesses body heat and turns it into infrared rays that are relayed back to the skin and stimulates the areas most at risk from cellulite. The effect, he claims, is to increase microcirculatory blood flow and cellular metabolism and so prevent cellulite from building up. Unveiling the anti-cellulite jeans at a fashion show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mr Herchcovitch claims five years of research into the product has proved it is effective. However, medical experts are skeptical, saying there is no miracle cure for cellulite which can be caused by poor diet, bad circulation and slow metabolism. Cellulite is thought to affect around 90 . per cent of women over the age of 30 in Britain - with a range of . lotions, creams and even surgery aimed at combating it. Herchcovitch’s jeans use a manmade . fibre called Emana yarn that was developed in Brazil and has already . been used in sports clothing and lingerie. Common: Cellulite - which often results in 'orange peel' skin - is thought to affect around 90 per cent of women over the age of 30 in Britain. It can be caused by poor diet, bad circulation and slow metabolism . The synthetic Emana yarn is said to absorb the electromagnetic waves emitted by the human body, known as Far Infrared Rays. When these invisible rays come into contact with the body they provide stimulation of tissue - therefore preventing a buildup of cellulite. Leggings made from Emana yarn can be bought in the UK from an online retailer and are sold at Harrods. Herchcovitch has not said when his designer jeans will be on sale or how much they will cost. Exhibit: Mr Herchcovitch, right, appears on the catwalk after presenting his 2014 winter collection last week . But he is not the first fashion label to try and market a pair of jeans that can eradicate cellulite. In . 2004, the Miss Sixty clothing company introduced a range of jeans, . trousers and skirts which it claimed could smooth away cellulite. Its products contained an 'anti-cellulite serum' called Skintex made from retinol. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A which is used in many skincare products to stimulate collagen production. 'Marketing ploy': In 2004, Miss Sixty introduced a range of jeans, trousers and skirts which it claimed could smooth away cellulite. However, medical experts dismissed the clothing line as a marketing ploy . MIss Sixty claimed when the wearer of the jeans moved, the friction made the Skintex capsules burst. This released cream which was then absorbed into the skin. However, medical experts dismissed the clothing line as a 'marketing ploy' and it was dropped after a year. | Alexandre Herchcovitch says the jeans prevent cellulite from building up . Claims they harness body heat and stimulate areas most at risk of cellulite . Unveiled his so-called 'beauty denim' at a fashion show in Rio de Janeiro . | 27980909da0e1cb1e9a30df63aabe1cf09b24c64 |
By . Keith Gladdis . PUBLISHED: . 17:57 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:57 EST, 17 July 2013 . Killed by the State? Dr David Kelly, who was found dead a decade ago today after leaking that the Blair government had 'sexed up' the Iraq dossier . Doctors campaigning for an investigation into the death of Iraq weapons expert Dr David Kelly believe he was the victim of a Hillsborough-style cover-up. The group says it would be ‘shameful’ if the truth about the death was suppressed in a similar way to that of the 1989 football stadium tragedy in which 96 Liverpool fans died. The doctors claim to have ‘multiple serious concerns’ over evidence used in the case and fear there were ‘serious deficiencies’ in the investigation by police. The group is calling for a full inquest into Dr Kelly’s death in woods near to his Oxfordshire home and a review of the investigation by Thames Valley Police. The chemical and biological weapons expert was found dead a decade ago today, shortly after being exposed as the source of a BBC claim that Tony Blair’s Government had ‘sexed up’ the case for war in Iraq. The Hutton Report later found that Dr Kelly, a member of a UN inspection team sent to Iraq to unearth weapons of mass destruction, had committed suicide. However, many still believe the 59-year-old scientist may have been murdered by the security services. The group of doctors, which is led by the radiologist Stephen Frost and includes Andrew Watt, David Halpin and Christopher Burns-Cox, says Dr Kelly’s death is ‘a matter of continuing public and professional concern’. Their statement said: ‘In the interests of justice, both an inquest into Dr Kelly’s death and an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into what we consider to be a deficient and dishonest investigation by Thames Valley Police are required. ‘The British public had to wait 23 years for the truth about the Hillsborough disaster to emerge. ‘It would be shameful if the truth about the suspicious death of Dr David Kelly were concealed for a similar length of time.’ Dr David Halpin, a member of the group of doctors that is group is calling for a full inquest into Dr Kelly¿s death in woods near to his Oxfordshire home and a review of the investigation by Thames Valley Police . A silent vigil is due to be held today in support of the campaign outside London’s High Court, where the Hutton inquiry was held. Alastair Hay, a close friend of Dr Kelly’s, has called on conspiracy theorists to accept that the scientist took his own life. | Biological and chemical weapons expert was found dead ten years ago today . His death came shortly after he told BBC of 'sexed up' Iraq dossier . Official inquiry later found he committed suicide in woods near his home . | 07e2556b4bc71a9da52d72c8630fcea6947269c8 |
Ralph Ellis runs you through what we learned from the weekend's football... Phil Jones was one of two Manchester United players to run faster than 20mph during the Red Devils' defeat by Swansea, Gareth Barry is closing in on 100 career yellow cards while Sam Allardyce has looks to have changed his style at West Ham. 1. Louis van Gaal’s top priority in the transfer market will be to inject pace into Manchester United’s team. Apart from West Brom all the Premier League sides who played on Saturday had a player who produced a swifter sprint than Ashley Young’s top speed of 20.7mph. Top speed: Phil Jones was one of two Man United players to get over 20mph against Swansea at Old Trafford . The only other United player to get above 20mph in the EA Sports ratings was defender Phil Jones - not all that encouraging when you think the 3-5-2 system that van Gaal has brought from the World Cup relied on the searing sprints of Arjen Robben. His fastest sprint was recorded at more than 22mph. 2. Gareth Barry looks stitched on to become the Premier League’s all-time most booked player, and the first to reach a century, by the end of this season – if not sooner. The former England midfielder was lucky not to get sent off for a clumsy challenge on Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez a few minutes after getting carded for blocking Leonardo Ulloa. The yellow he did get was the 95th of his career, now just two behind Paul Scholes and four off joint record holders Kevin Davies and Lee Bowyer. In the book: Everton midfielder Gareth Barry (left) is close to picking up a century of yellow cards . 3. Kieran Richardson has spent the last four years of his career at either left back or on the left of midfield but Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert found a new job for him at Stoke. The 29-year-old played just behind the centre forward, and not only blotted Stephen Ireland out of the game but set up a chance that Gabby Agbonlahor should have put away. Richardson hasn’t played in a central role since he first moved from Manchester United to Sunderland – when Lambert’s new No 2 Roy Keane was the boss. Middle man: Kieran Richardson played just behind the centre forward for Aston Villa against Stoke . 4. Sam Allardyce is under instructions to deliver a less direct style of play at West Ham and he’s clearly following orders – despite the disappointment of losing to Tottenham. Hammers attempted 483 passes against Spurs, 150 more than they did in the same fixture at Upton Park last season. Their average number of passes per game last term was just 325. Following orders: Sam Allardyce's West Ham attempted 483 passes against Tottenham on Saturday . 5. Morgan Schneiderlin continues to be linked with Tottenham and made little secret of his desire to follow former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino to White Hart Lane. But the French midfielder’s performance at Liverpool made sure that, in the meantime, he couldn’t be accused of failing to give his all to Saints. Schneiderlin ran 7.7 miles in the game, more than half a mile more than any other player involved at Anfield. Going the extra mile: Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin ran further than any other player during Southampton's defeat at Anfield . 6. Vincent Kompany was Manchester City’s key defender away from home last season and it doesn’t look as if this year will be too much different. The Belgium skipper made a series of blocks and tackles to help City keep a clean sheet at Newcastle as around him Gael Clichy and Martin Demichelis didn’t always look comfortable. City will worry that a hangover from the World Cup gives Kompany no fitness issues. Last season they took just four points from five away games he missed, compared with 30 from the 14 in which he played. Brave: Captain Vincent Kompany dives in to deny Newcastle frontman Ayoze Perez at St James' Park . VIDEO Pellegrini happy to escape with three points . 7. Billy Sharp could be a bargain replacement for £11million Ross McCormack at Leeds after marking his debut following a £450,000 move from Southampton with the winner against Middlesbrough. Sharp could feel hard done by for never getting a chance at Saints despite scoring nine in 11 starts after a £1.8m move from Doncaster in 2012. The 28-year-old still scored an average of a goal every three games in loan spells at Forest, Reading and back at Doncaster and his career record remains a goal in every two starts. Easy does it: Billy Sharp slides the ball home to give Leeds a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Elland Road . 8. When Steve Coppell took Reading into the Premier League for the first time in 2006 the club’s chairman Sir John Madejski insisted that a large chunk of the TV cash was invested in building the club’s Academy facilities. Eight years later the decision is paying dividends. Jake Taylor, who got the winner against Ipswich, was one of 12 players in manager Nigel Adkins’ 18-man squad who have come through the system. 9. Striker Joe Garner has been struggling to reach agreement over a new contract at Preston despite top scoring last year with 24 goals. With a year to go on his current deal, and other clubs monitoring the situation, he did his case for a pay rise no harm by scoring twice in the 4-0 victory at Scunthorpe. That already takes him to three goals in two League One matches, as his agent will no doubt be pointing out to Deepdale chairman Peter Ridsdale. Earning his money: Joe Garner (right) celebrates after scoring during Preston's 4-0 win over Scunthorpe . 10. Nigel Worthington’s York players need to learn that the game lasts longer than 90 minutes these days. Marc Richards’ injury time free kick that snatched a point for Northampton was the third time in as many games in a week that York had thrown away a game by conceding late on. | Phil Jones one of only two Manchester United player to run faster than 20mph during 2-1 defeat to Swansea . Everton midfielder Gareth Barry closes in on century of bookings . Kieran Richardson deployed behind striker for Aston Villa's win over Stoke . Sam Allardyce had West Ham playing less direct football against Tottenham . Morgan Schneiderlin put in the hard yards for Southampton at Anfield . | 2d6bd1bf6dcfc5aa959db0826f84be3eda6fff61 |
On Election Day, marijuana enthusiasts rejoiced as Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana. (Ballot initiatives in Oregon and a medical initiative in Arkansas did not fare so well.) From the federal government's perspective, however, marijuana remains illegal. It is anyone's guess what the Obama administration's next move will be, but it is important to understand that this president has long stated his opposition to marijuana legalization. When it came to medical marijuana expansion in several states, Obama's Justice Department sent out strongly worded letters warning that even medical marijuana was in "violation of federal law regardless of state laws permitting such activities" and that "this includes prosecution of business enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana." Why the opposition to marijuana legalization in the first place? First, we know that legalization would dramatically decrease the price of marijuana and increase use, according to a 2010 study from the Rand Drug Policy Research Center. And today's marijuana is not the marijuana of the 1960s; potency has tripled in the past 15 years, according to a 2009 report from the U.S. government . This is not reefer madness thinking. High-potency marijuana has contributed to addiction for one out of six kids who start using it in their teens, direct IQ loss (an 8-point loss among kids using regularly), car crashes, and mental illness. Many who support legalization have claimed that we could control marijuana use, especially among teens, if only we regulated it through legalization. Sadly, however, the provisions passed in Colorado and Washington do everything but control marijuana. If these state laws were enacted, in fact, we could face a major industry commercializing and promoting marijuana to kids. As we know from alcohol and tobacco, even when age limits are in place, getting people hooked young is a key long-term strategy for profiteers. Indeed Big Tobacco, for one, has long been perched and ready to make some serious cash from marijuana sales: According to internal documents released during its historic court settlement, in smoking's heyday, Big Tobacco considered marijuana legalization a golden opportunity. Opinion: U.S. should honor states' new pot laws . "The use of marijuana ... has important implications for the tobacco industry in terms of an alternative product line. (We) have the land to grow it, the machines to roll it and package it, the distribution to market it. In fact, some firms have registered trademarks, which are taken directly from marijuana street jargon. These trade names are used currently on little-known legal products, but could be switched if and when marijuana is legalized. Estimates indicate that the market in legalized marijuana might be as high as $10 billion annually," said a report commissioned by cigarette manufacturer Brown and Williamson (now merged with R.J. Reynolds) in the 1970s. If increased use and addiction might be unwelcome results of legalization, what hoped-for results might not materialize? Many have already begun touting tax revenues from legal marijuana as a major plus of the recently passed state laws. Sadly, however, we know that vice taxes rarely pay for themselves. The $40 billion we collect annually from high levels of tobacco and alcohol use in the U.S. are about a tenth of what those use levels cost us in terms of lost productivity, premature illness, accidents and death. Additionally, our experience with many state lotteries has shown that promised funding for schools falls well short of expectations. As the California Department of Education said recently: "Although the public still perceives the lottery as making a significant difference in the funds available for education, it is a minor source that cannot be expected to provide major improvements in K-12 education." School officials are not happy about this: "We thought that it would be a windfall," said Michael Johnson, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards. "The general public -- they were fooled by this." Opinion: The end of the war on marijuana . We also know that the promise of ending violent cartels is far from reality. A recent RAND report showed that Mexican drug trafficking groups only received a minority of their revenue from marijuana. So they are likely to stay around, legal marijuana or not. Voters have been sold a false dichotomy: "You can either stick with failed, current policies, or you can try a 'new approach' with legalization." Sadly, this kind of black-and-white thinking betrays the fact that there are better ways than legalization or prohibition to deal with this complex issue. Legalization may not be the answer, but that also means that former users with an arrest record should not be prevented from getting a job or accessing social benefits. We need to have an adult conversation about marijuana arrests among disadvantaged communities, too, to ensure equal justice under the law. Increased education and treatment will work better than incarceration and a sole reliance on the criminal justice system. Indeed, we can reform the worst part of our current laws without increasing rates of addiction and harms. Let's think before we legalize. Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion. | Kevin Sabet: Pot still illegal from a federal perspective, despite laws in some states . He says Obama adminstration has been clear on this: Pot carries serious health dangers . He says legalization doesn't bring tax windfall states imagine; Big Tobacco eager to market pot . Sabet: We must fix worst part of current laws, like penalties, without upping addiction rates . | 3a975800551de3dde41e293406ca0952cb2bf77b |
By . Mario Ledwith . and Sophie Jane Evans . A dog believed to belong to British Special Forces has become an unlikely prisoner of the Taliban. Footage posted online shows bearded gunmen parading the unfortunate animal as a trophy after it was taken during a failed Nato raid in Afghanistan. The subdued dog, named Colonel, is seen wearing a specially adapted flak jacket as it is held on a chain by one of the fighters. Scroll down for video . Taliban fighters claim to have captured a British military dog which was armed with four guns and grenades . It is understood to be attached to an . elite unit, believed to be either the Special Air Service or its naval . counterpart, the Special Boat Service. Locals in Alingar Valley, in the Laghman province, say the dog is being held by a notoriously brutal Taliban commander known as Abu Zarqawi, according to The Telegraph. But despite their concern, the animal's captors claim it is healthy - and is being fed a diet of chicken and beef kebabs. Speaking from an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the dog had become separated from its handlers during the fierce raid in December. The dog, which was wearing an equipment vest, appeared to be in good condition and did not seem distressed . Unconfirmed reports have suggested that the captured dog was with British forces . 'Right now we are keeping the dog and . trying to look after him,' he told the newspaper by telephone. 'We haven’t decided what to do with it yet. Maybe we will keep it and use it ourselves because it has been trained.' He added that the fighters had been preparing 'proper food' for the dog, including kebabs. In . the video posted by the Taliban's 'cultural arm', an insurgent can be seen holding up . a GPS tracking device that formed part of the animal's uniform. The . jacket also contained a torch and video camera, which are often fitted . in order to capture reconnaissance material as the animals move around . on a battlefield. A Taliban fighter brandishes a pair of grenades which they say were captured along with the dog . Fighters can also be seen brandishing weapons allegedly seized at the time, including two . assault rifles similar to those used by US special forces and a number . of hand grenades. Dogs have been deployed by the British Army since the First World War, when they were used to carry messages. Some . 11,000 canines work in the UK's Armed Forces, sniffing out drugs, . helping with search and rescue, and searching suspicious buildings . before soldiers enter. Dogs can be strapped to their handlers' chests and parachuted into combat zones. They . have reportedly been trained to attack people who are armed, but are . mainly used to sniff out explosives or explore territory, sending images . back from cameras attached to their heads. Armed: Insurgents claim the dog was carrying four guns including an assault rifle, left, and a sniper rifle, right . Their . sense of smell is 40 times better than a soldier's, meaning they scent . enemies up to two miles away. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence . said: 'We do not comment on the activity of Special Forces. We cannot . confirm the nationality of the animal.' Meanwhile, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force confirmed that an animal went missing during a raid in December. A Taliban spokesman added: 'This dog was very important to the Americans. Once we got this dog, the Americans tried their best to get it back but . they did not succeed.' The . Ministry of Defence said last year that four dogs have been killed in . service in Helmand province since March 2011 – two labradors, a German . shepherd and a springer spaniel cross. One of the four was apparently . shot by the Taliban on a mission. But while some may fear for the Taliban's most recent detainee, an Australian dog captured in Afghanistan had a lucky escape. After being adopted by a Taliban leader, black labrador Sabi was eventually rescued by an American soldier. Dogs have been used in war since military records began, and are particularly useful in special forces operations. In . 2005 in Iraq, one such animal was killed when he detected an ambush . that even a soldier using night-vision goggles could not see. The dog ran ahead to attack and was riddled with AK-47 fire, betraying the sniper's position in the process. Dogs also led the way when the US Navy SEALS raided Osama Bin Laden's Pakistani hideout in 2011. Animal rights campaigners have expressed their outrage at the use of dogs by British forces in Afghanistan. People . for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said: 'Dogs are not tools . or "innovations" and are not ours to use and toss away like empty . ammunition shells.' | Video posted on Taliban website shows a dog wearing equipment vest . They claim to have seized four guns including sniper and assault rifles . ISAF confirms military dog went missing during a mission in December . Taliban spokesman said animal was healthy and being well treated . Claimed the dog was being fed a diet of chicken and beef kebabs . | dcc79815dd5f06935d8d64871935f6afe7d898e8 |
(CNN) -- Manchester United needs a miracle to win the league title this year according to manager Louis van Gaal -- so what better way to start off than with the arrival of an angel. Angel Di Maria, the Argentina winger, completed his £59.7 million ($98.7m) move -- a British transfer record -- from Real Madrid Tuesday on a five-year deal, the club announced on its official website. "I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for," said Di Maria. "Angel is a world-class midfielder but most importantly he is a team player. There is no doubting his immense natural talent," Van Gaal said after clinching the signing. "He is an excellent addition to the team." But on the day the 26-year-old arrived at Old Trafford, the club suffered an embarrassing exit from the English League Cup at MK Dons -- thrashed 4-0 by the third flight side. Goals from Will Grigg in either half and a late double from Benik Afobe saw an admittedly understrength United team humiliated. The shock defeat comes after United failed to win either of its two Premier League games following a home defeat by Swansea and a draw at Sunderland. The arrival of Di Maria is something of a coup for a club without the lure of Champions League football given the Argentine was recently described by his fellow countryman and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone as Real Madrid's "best player." He also starred for Argentina in its run to the World Cup final in Brazil, but missed the semifinal win over Van Gaal's Netherlands and the final defeat to Germany due to a thigh injury. However there are reservations over whether United should have used the money to improve other areas of the squad. "I think he himself is an excellent signing," Miguel Delaney, football writer for the Independent and the Blizzard told CNN. "It remains staggering that Real are selling him, given he tied their formation together last season -- but it sums up so much of the current United that a signing like that can still leave so many questions. "He is now the club's primary signing, yet it hasn't addressed the two primary issues with the squad -- central defense and central midfield. "At the very least, he offers pace, and trickery, and will give the side some of the thrust it lacked against Sunderland. "But United also needs players further back to offer that platform. It's difficult to have any quibbles with the signing of Di Maria. You can, however, have quibbles with signing him without purchasing more necessary players." United endured a disastrous time last season as David Moyes, the man who replaced Alex Ferguson, was sacked just 10 months after taking over at Old Trafford. The club finished seventh in the Premier League and missed out on qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 1995. Ryan Giggs took over the reins following Moyes' exit in April before van Gaal was appointed in July. United have brought in midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao, teenager Luke Shaw from Southampton and defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon. But Di Maria is the marquee signing -- the winger who played such a key role for Argentina in the World Cup and Real Madrid's Champions League triumph. Real paid around $60 million for Di Maria in 2010 following the player's successful time with Benfica in Portuguese football where he won the league title and the domestic cup on two occasions. During his time in the Spanish capital, Di Maria became an important part of the side which won the Spanish league title in 2012. He was also a key member of the team which won "La Decima" -- Real's 10th European Cup triumph with a dramatic victory over Atletico Madrid in the 2014 final. But his chances of first team football with Carlo Ancelotti's side have been limited since the arrival of James Rodriguez. The Colombian, one of the stars of the World Cup in Brazil, joined the club last month in a deal worth a reported $121 million. Real also completed the $34 million signing of Germany World Cup winner Toni Kroos in July as it bolstered its midfield options. Di Maria will hope to make his United debut against Burnley on Saturday at Turf Moor, with Van Gaal hoping his team can hit back after its sorry start to the season. The previous British transfer record was set by Chelsea in 2011 when they paid £50 million ($83m) to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool. | Manchester United has completed the signing of Angel Di Maria . Fee paid for Real Madrid star is British transfer record of £59.7 million ($98.7m) Chelsea's £50m ($83m) signing of Fernando Torres was previous highest fee paid by British club . NEW: Man Utd loses English League Cup match 4-0 after Di Maria's signing . | 9b81edaea3aabc9f7251023dde7caebf5a692877 |
(CNN) -- High tax is hurting European competitiveness in the energy sector, according to Iberdrola chief executive Ignacio Galan. Galan, boss of Spain's largest energy company, said European governments are over-taxing the industry because they believe utility businesses are "too rich." Galan added the industry: "Is not as competitive as the American one... we are paying approximately 50% taxes when the American system is 10%." Spain -- where Iberdrola is headquartered -- is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy with unemployment at 26.1%, second only to Greece in the single currency bloc, according to Eurostat data. Iberdrola combats some of that slump, Galan told CNN. the sector employs "750,000 people directly so we can already help the governments to create wealth and to create jobs." But in 2012, the company was hit by a 36% fall in earnings within Spain, despite investing 20 billion euros [$27 billion] into the country since 2001. And Galan stresses that European governments, not just Spain, should consider the impact of taxes on corporate cash flows and reinvestment. "If they are already taking money in cash flows, in taxes, then this money cannot flow into investment." Based in the Basque city of Bilbao, Iberdrola is also the world's largest producer of wind energy. Galan told CNN that today, less than 40% of the Iberdrola's business is dependent on the eurozone as the company diversifies its risk in other countries including the UK, U.S., Mexico and Brazil. He added that the taxes imposed by European Union governments are not making reinvestment in Europe an attractive option. "If we are not generating enough cash flows, then we are not going to invest in those areas," he said. | Based in Bilbao, Iberdrola is also the world's largest producer of wind energy . Iberdrola reported a 36% fall in net profits in Spain for 2012 despite heavy investment . Spain -- where Iberdrola is headquartered -- is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy . | 8591f6d3339917add534114b020137dd8efc4acb |
(CNN) -- The president of the Central African Republic has fled the country's capital and rebels have seized control of the city, a government official said Sunday. President Francois Bozize crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo, said Jules Gautier Ngbapo, a spokesman for the government's territorial administration minister. He declined to disclose Bozize's location Sunday. Read more: What's behind the unrest? "The Central African Republic has just opened a new page in its history," said a written statement from Justin Kombo Moustapha, secretary general of the Seleka rebels. The statement described Bozize as the country's former president and urged residents of the landlocked country to remain calm and prepare themselves to welcome rebel forces. Word of Bozize's surprise departure came as violence erupted in the capital, Bangui. Read more: Who are Seleka? Witnesses reported hours of gunfire, and Ngbapo said at least seven civilians were killed as rebels and local residents looted shops. Some South African soldiers were killed in clashes, according to a statement from the office of French President Francois Hollande. South African officials could not be immediately reached for comment. A United Nations spokeswoman based in Bangui described the situation as confusing and very tense. "A number of U.N. offices have been looted as well as residences of some U.N. personnel," spokeswoman Uwolowulakana Ikavi said. Sounds of fierce gunfire rang out for hours Sunday, she said. The country has been on edge since rebel fighters pushed their way into the capital. The wave of unrest started in December, when the Seleka rebel coalition launched its offensive. The rebels accused Bozize of reneging on a peace deal and demanded that he step down. The rebel group, based in the country's north, managed to take control of several towns and move toward Bangui in the following weeks. The Seleka and the government brokered a new peace deal in January, agreeing to form a unity government led by Bozize. But that peace deal also fell apart. On Saturday, about 150 French troops secured the airport in Bangui. France also asked for an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting to address the crisis in its former colony. Hollande's office said the French president had spoken Sunday with South African President Jacob Zuma, expressing condolences for the soldiers' deaths. "They called on all the parties to be calm," the statement from Hollande's office said, "to stop looting and to respect the political accords of Libreville," where leaders signed a peace deal in January. Read more: French troops deployed to Central African Republic . The African Union condemned the Seleka rebels' renewed offensive and also announced a travel ban and asset freeze against political and military actors involved in violating humanitarian rights or the January peace agreement. Meanwhile, on Sunday, U.N. officials in the Central African Republic were preparing to evacuate. U.N. staff on the ground in Bangui are not allowed to leave the compound, Ikavi said, and non-essential staff will be evacuated or relocated once the security situation allows. "As a human being, I am afraid," Ikavi said. "No one can stay calm when you hear heavy shooting not far from the place that you are staying." CNN's Jennifer Deaton contributed to this report. | NEW: Rebel official: "The Central African Republic has just opened a new page in its history" NEW: U.N. offices are among the targets of looting, a spokeswoman says . Rebels seize control of capital of Central African Republic, official says . President left Bangui via the Democratic Republic of Congo, an official says . | 11ff3c7f91e708529da24be9f362082ef3ee914e |
By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 07:11 EST, 12 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:09 EST, 12 July 2013 . A Canadian engineer has defied gravity in a human-powered helicopter to scoop a long-standing international aeronautical prize. The team from the University of Toronto has made aviation history to win the long standing AHS Sikorsky Prize with a flight lasting 64 seconds and reaching an altitude of 3.3 metres. Todd Reichert, 31, provided the pedal power for the crazy aircraft to make the first ever sustained flight of a human-powered helicopter. Scroll down for video... A team from the University of Toronto has won the long standing AHS Sikorsky Prize with a flight lasting 64 seconds and reaching an altitude of 3.3 metres. Todd Reichert (pictured) provided the pedal power for the crazy aircraft to make the first ever sustained flight of a human-powered helicopter . The AHS Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition began in 1980 to find the first successful human-powered helicopter that can fly over three metres in height while hovering for at least one minute in an area of ten square metres. The $250,000 prize has not been awarded since the competition began and creative engineers have been competing for the title for over three decades - with very few coming close to winning. AeroVelo, a team made up of past and present students from the University of Toronto, competed with a team from Maryland University in a bid to take the coveted prize. The team's helicopter, nicknamed Atlas, measures 47 metres across but weighs just 54 kilograms. The super light-weight frame is made of carbon fibre tubes that connect the four rotors to the central bike, used to power the hand-made aircraft. It relies on the pilot's physical strength to keep it airborne. Mr Reichert said: 'As you spin your legs, you're spinning the rotors. 'It's very much an exercise in mental and physical control, at the same time as an all-out physical effort,' according to The Ottawa Citizen. Despite the huge amount of physical exertion, he described hovering in the air as an 'incredible feeling'. Mr Reichert said: 'This isn't something that you're going . to commute to work in any time soon, but it's an exercise in really . pushing the limits on what's physically possible, and what you can do . with lightweight materials and really creative design.' 'Winning this competition really is a catalyst to keep doing the things we love. 'Our goal is to take on projects that really inspire people to follow big dreams' The small Canadian team worked on the helicopter for more than a year and endured plenty of slow changes to perfect the prize-winning design as well as two crashes that wiped out their work each time. The team's chief structural engineer, Cameron Robertson, said: 'I hope that this inspires not only our fellow Canadians, but also global citizens to do more with less.' The team said: 'We came into this very confident that . we were capable of winning this prize. 'We realized that . the prize was a lot more difficult than we originally anticipated, but . at every step we were able to overcome the difficulty and get even . closer and closer to the prize.' The Atlas helicopter (pictured) measures 47 metres across but weighs just 54 kilograms. The super light-weight frame is made of carbon fibre tubes that connect the four rotors to the central bike, used to power the hand-made aircraft. It relies on the pilot's physical strength to keep it airborne . Dozens of students at the university worked on the AeroVelo Atlas project. Professor David Zingg of the university's engineering department, said: 'This . is a tremendous accomplishment. 'It . is a great technological achievement, requiring ingenuity, knowledge, . and experience in a number of challenging technical areas. 'Through . accomplishing such a challenging feat, Todd and Cameron have provided . tremendous inspiration for young engineers both in Canada and around the . world.' Mr Reichert and Mr Robertson have set up a company called AeroVelo and plan on developing different human-powered vehicles. They hope that human-powered vehicles will be seen as a viable alternative or supplement to those burning fossil fuels. It is not the duo's first record-breaking win. In 2010 they created a human-powered ornithopter called Snowbird - an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings - and made aviation history by achieving human-powered bird-like flight. The Canadian team are the first to win the AHS Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition which began in 1980. The team including Mr Reichert (pictured) managed to fly over three metres in height while hovering for at least one minute in an area of ten square metres to scoop the $250,000 prize . | The AeroVelo team's human-powered helicopter won the $250,000 AHS Sikorsky Prize with a flight lasting 64 seconds and over metres high . The team's helicopter, nicknamed Atlas, measures 47 metres across but weighs just 54 kilograms . Engineer and pilot Todd Reichert made the first ever sustained flight of a human-powered helicopter . | 3f90ff62f18bbedcb5ee40c6aa6b0ab3db989d10 |
By . Thair Shaikh . PUBLISHED: . 13:39 EST, 16 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:30 EST, 16 November 2012 . This isn't a job for the feint hearted - cutting branches while balancing 100ft in the air on a swaying tree trunk. Thankfully, there wasn't a strong wind blowing when this tree surgeon took his razor-sharp chainsaw to this eucalyptus tree in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Slowly, branch by branch, he gave the 35-year-old tree a good haircut, some might call it an old-fashioned short, back and sides. This tree surgeon isn't fazed by the height or swaying trunk as he takes his chainsaw to the 35-year-old eucalyptus . Success: Another branch gone... slowly but surely the tree surgeon makes headway . Eucalyptus trees, like the one pictured here, are evergreen and are grown mainly for their foliage and peeling bark. They're famous - or infamous - for their rapid growth and can quickly become unmanageable if left unpruned. But they do have desirable traits, such as being a good source of wood, producing oil that can be used for cleaning and as a natural insecticide. Another big branch gets the chop and the tree slowly loses its foliage . Eucalyptus trees like the one pictured are evergreen and are grown mainly for their foliage and peeling bark . What branch is next? It must be tiring work all this pruning, but then it was a big tree . They've even been used to drain swamps and thereby reduce the risk of malaria in some countries, although some plant lovers have criticised them for being 'invasive water-suckers'. This particular eucalyptus however has had its day. After the severe haircut, the tree surgeon turned his lethal chainsaw on the trunk, slowly chopping it down. After several hours of chopping and pruning the once mighty 100ft tree was no more than a stump. These trees are a good source of wood, producing oil that can be used for cleaning and as a natural insecticide . Almost all gone: Just half the trunk remaining before this tree ends up as a stump . | 100ft eucalyptus tree in Essex gets the chop by brave tree surgeon . The 35-year-old tree was hacked back to a stump just a few feet high . They're known for their rapid growth and can quickly become unmanageable if left unpruned . | 175eb5eb1f23db1eae3f7333d7067e0cb61bd70e |
By . Hilary Freeman . When I introduced my boyfriend Mickael to my father, I desperately hoped they’d get on. I feared my dad might take umbrage at his modest job as a hotel receptionist, or his thick French accent — but I could never have predicted what actually set him off: Mickael’s looks. ‘He’s very handsome,’ said Dad. ‘Are you sure he’s faithful to you?’ This was three years ago and Mickael and I were in a long-distance relationship at the time. I lived in London, he was 650 miles away in Nice, and my father simply couldn’t accept that ‘someone as good-looking as Mickael’ wouldn’t be cheating on me at every opportunity. Hot topic: Hilary and 'Le Hunk' Mickael . I was devastated that he could say something so insensitive, and offended because I was very aware he wouldn’t have said it had my boyfriend looked like John Major. A wave of insecurity flooded over me. What did Mickael, now 38 see in a diminutive, curly-haired specimen like me? At 6ft 2in tall, with broad shoulders, black hair, a Roman nose and incredible blue eyes, Mickael is the living embodiment of tall, dark and handsome. He isn’t just good-looking, he’s movie-star handsome. At college, he was picked to play Rhett Butler in a Gone With The Wind adaptation and he’s been approached by model scouts wanting to sign him up. I know I sound smug, but bear with me. Because having a handsome boyfriend isn’t all it is cracked up to be. As I’ve learned to my cost, people make assumptions about good-looking men. Most of them, in my experience, are false and offensive. Just as blonde women are pigeon-holed as being stupid, handsome men are written off as lacking moral fibre. Most people assume they can’t be trusted around the opposite sex. They are also assumed to be shallow, vain and sex-obsessed. As a drop-dead gorgeous man’s girlfriend you have to be tough. You need a thick skin, high self-esteem and the ability not to care what other people think. Unfortunately for me, I possess none of these qualities. To paraphrase the 18th-century novelist, Samuel Richardson: ‘Handsome boyfriends often make a girlfriend’s heart ache.’ Mickael constantly tells Hilary shes pretty and says all his friends and family think so, too. He even loves her 'gappy teeth and big nose' Especially if said girlfriend is 42, 5ft 3in, with a big nose, hair that’s prone to frizz and gappy teeth. I’ve never had a problem attracting men, but I’m not conventionally beautiful and certainly not leading-lady material — unless that leading lady is Barbra Streisand. In a romcom, I’d be the kooky best friend, not the girl who gets the guy. If I were to award myself marks out of ten, I’d be a six — six-and-a-half on a good-hair day. Mickael would be a nine. In other words, he’s ‘out of my league’. But he doesn’t seem to care. More important to us is the silly sense of humour we share that can have us both in fits for hours. He constantly tells me I’m pretty and says all his friends and family think so, too. He even loves my gappy teeth and big nose. Now, that should be enough shouldn’t it? And, most of the time, it is. I know, without a doubt, that Mickael loves me. We’ve been through a lot together, including the stillbirth of our daughter 18 months ago. He’s given up his job at a hotel in Nice, his friends and his home country, and moved to London to live with me in Camden Town. So I know I shouldn’t feel insecure. Yet I often do. Men who feel they've 'lucked out' by marrying attractive women are more likely to care about their wives' needs, says a US study . We live in a shallow, looks-obsessed society, in which being beautiful is the most valuable currency. People stare at us in the street and — call me paranoid — I can tell that some of them are wondering what someone so handsome is doing with ordinary little me. Through the grapevine, I’ve heard reports of acquaintances making nasty, jealous comments about us, such as: ‘She’s punching above her weight.’ Although all of my previous partners have been attractive in my eyes, until Mickael I’d never had a partner universally considered handsome. Everyone, from friends — both straight and gay — to my 95-year-old grandma, has commented on his good looks. Friends have even nicknamed him ‘Le Hunk’. Several have even sent me emails — usually drunken — which begin: ‘I know this is probably really inappropriate, but can I just say that your boyfriend is really hot.’ Sometimes this makes me feel like I’m the owner of a prize bull at the county fair. People have actually congratulated me on my ‘achievement’, as though snaring a good-looking man is like winning an award, or gaining a promotion. Pleasing as it is that other people appreciate my good taste and good fortune, all this hyperbole means I’m only too aware that if our relationship were ever to go wrong, there would be a long queue of women ready to take my place. I’m not naturally jealous, but it’s hard not to look over my shoulder.And then there are Mickael’s beautiful exes who, through no fault of their own, make me feel inferior. At least two of his ex-girlfriends have modelled. He’s still good friends with one of them: a tall, sexy, willowy girl, ten years my junior, with thighs the size of my arms and men trailing in her wake wherever she goes. ‘I’m with you, not her,’ Mickael pointed out, when in a moment of weakness I confessed my sense of inadequacy. And that is true. But sometimes — usually when I’m contemplating my cellulite or finding a new grey hair — I can’t help wondering why a man who could have someone like her would want someone like me. Hilary says: 'Several have even sent me emails - usually drunken - which begin: 'I know this is probably really inappropriate, but can I just say that your boyfriend is really hot' I also worry more than I should — or ever have before — about getting fat, developing wrinkles and becoming middle-aged. Mickael reassures me by saying how much he loves my eyes and my smile, and reminding me that he can’t keep his hands off me. He talks of growing old with me and I know that, being French, he thinks older women can be just as attractive as younger ones. Supermodels aren’t even to his taste — he finds the majority superficial and lacking in character. To state the obvious, a good-looking man is no different from any other man, and a handsome face and a good character aren’t mutually exclusive. As I pointed out to my dad, just because good looks afford you more opportunities to cheat, it doesn’t mean that you’ll take them. If anything, I think the opposite is true. When you are attractive, and you can have pretty much anyone you want, there’s less motivation to do so. In my experience, it’s the insecure men, the ones who aren’t confident in themselves or their looks, who need to chat up women in order to prove their own self-worth. That’s why so many balding, paunchy men have mid-life crises and go after younger women. Mickael knows he’s handsome, but he isn’t arrogant, or vain. He cares about his appearance, but isn’t obsessed with it. He has the confidence and self-assurance of someone who has never had to try too hard. Believe it or not, he tells me he’s never actively chatted anyone up and can only remember one occasion when he was rejected by a woman. If he likes someone, and they’re single, it usually goes without saying they will like him back. The downside is that he’s been sexually harassed by strange women in bars (one thought it was fine to stroke him, without even saying hello first), and he often has to fend off the attentions of men, too. Being handsome can be dangerous. Mickael spent a week in hospital, and still has a pin in his jaw, after being punched — from behind — by a man who took offence when he made polite smalltalk with the man’s girlfriend. In some workplaces, he has been met with cold, aggressive behaviour from other guys. One colleague told him: ‘If I had a face like yours, I’d keep my mouth shut.’ A former friend admitted he liked going out with Mickael, not so much because he enjoyed his company, but because it helped him to pull women. As a friendly, loyal and sociable person, Mickael finds these attitudes hard to deal with — and so do I. But it might not be a problem for too much longer. Even movie star looks fade. As he nears the end of his 30s, he has started to sprout random hairs from his ears, is growing wayward, Denis Healey eyebrows, and he is battling against the development of the family double chin. He is near-sighted, suffers from a bad back and his love for French food and wine means that he doesn’t have anything resembling a six pack. And for these flaws, I am truly thankful. The fact is I don’t love Mickael because he’s handsome, although it doesn’t hurt. I love him because he’s funny, kind and thoughtful. It’s when I’m lying in his arms, in the dark — when I can’t see him — that I am at my most content. As the old proverb goes: ‘Handsome is as handsome does.’ I am absolutely certain that if he lost his looks tomorrow, I’d love him as much as ever. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Hilary Freeman, 42, says a handsome boyfriend comes with problems . Says their relationship is constantly judged by others . Many ask question if he is a cheater or vain . To go out with a good-looking man, Hilary says you need thick skin . | df2a4bd16519aeddb8ff4b07152e546490c89ab1 |
By . Ian Sparks . PUBLISHED: . 13:04 EST, 12 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:04 EST, 12 December 2012 . Revered culinary tradition: A bakery in southern France is selling stale, one-day old baguettes to cash-strapped customers . A bakery in southern France has broken with one of the nation’s most revered culinary traditions - by selling stale, one-day old baguettes. Cash-strapped customers can buy the tough, date-expired loaves for half the price of fresh bread at the shop in the city of Nimes. Staff then advise people to ‘run the bread under the tap’ before re-baking it for two minutes in the oven to make it more edible. The baguette is a prized symbol of French identity, and is considered spoiled the day after it has been made. But . the popularity of the cut-price deal at the Au Pain de la Veille bakery . - meaning 'Yesterday’s Bread’ - is the latest sign of the dwindling . spending power of many French families. One . pensioner told France 24 television she had a baguette, a flan and a . cheese-filled loaf from the store for €4 - about £3.40 - half the normal . price. She told the TV channel: 'They bake up so well you can hardly tell the difference.' The shop has a chain of five fresh bakeries in Nimes, and sends all its unsold stock to its new discount bread outlet. A sales assistant there said: 'One-day old baguette is considered the anti-Christ of bread by many French people. 'But . the financial crisis has hit us so hard that our goods are proving very . popular with many of the less well-off in this city.' A Saturday food market in Nimes. In the latest sign of the dwindling spending power of many French families, people are choosing to buy stale instead of fresh bread . The bakery doesn't just sell bread but also pizzas, cakes and pastries. The town of Nimes is one of the worst-hit cities by the country's financial crisis, suffering one of the country’s highest unemployment rates. Nimes, one of the oldest cities in Europe, is named after the Roman God Nemausus, and is becoming increasingly popular as a weekend destination. | Cash-strapped customers buy tough bread at Au Pain de la Veille bakery . Bakery in city of Nimes has chain of five fresh bakeries and sends all its unsold stock to its new discount bread outlet . | 68bbd3c35908d3e2f9dc6e7cda9471b0bc6c2493 |
(CNN) -- South Africa declared national days of mourning Saturday to honor Albertina Sisulu, an icon of the anti-apartheid movement who died this week. Sisulu was 92. The president said flags would fly at half-mast and mourning would last until her burial, which will take place with military honors. Funeral plans for Sisulu, who died Thursday, have not been finalized. Sisulu was married to anti-apartheid leader Walter Sisulu for nearly 60 years. The couple played a pivotal role in the anti-apartheid movement, and her husband was imprisoned for decades with former South African President Nelson Mandela. Affectionately called "Ma Sisulu," she was also detained numerous times and was held in solitary confinement for seven weeks in 1963, the ruling African National Congress said. As soon as she was free, she took to the streets to rally against the trials of anti-apartheid movement leaders. "Soon after her husband was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, Albertina was served with a harsh five-year order prohibiting her from attending any gatherings of more than two persons, confining her to her location and preventing her from any political activities," the ruling party said. Years later, she faced various bans, including one confining her to her home at nights, weekends and public holidays. Despite the bans, she continued with her quest for liberation. "Although politics has given me a rough life, there is absolutely nothing I regret about what I have done and what has happened to me and my family," she said, according to the ruling party. "Instead, I have been strengthened and feel more of a woman than I would otherwise have felt if my life was different." Sisulu and her husband dedicated their lives to the struggle for freedom in South Africa, and endured banishment, detention and humiliation, said President Jacob Zuma. "Mama Sisulu has over the decades been a pillar of strength not only for the Sisulu family, but also the entire liberation movement as she reared, counseled, nursed and educated most of the leaders and founders of the democratic South Africa," Zuma said. The president said the nation has lost a leader and a role model. Sisulu founded the Federation of South African Women and other civic groups. She gave political guidance and served as a mother figure to activists and other civic organizations, the African National Congress said. "South Africa remains eternally grateful and indebted to this stalwart of the liberation and an assuming leader of all races of our people," Zuma said in a statement. Sisulu is survived by her children and grandchildren. Her husband died in 2003. | Albertina Sisulu and her husband played a pivotal role in the fight to end apartheid . President Jacob Zuma declares days of national mourning . He says flags would fly at half-mast until the day of burial . | cc520e91382d76f649c98dfeb0d3295f71aa696c |
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 20:12 EST, 10 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:13 EST, 10 April 2012 . Colombian authorities have been frustrated in their attempts to file criminal charges against the young father of a baby born to a 10-year-old ethnic Wayuu girl. The Wayuu people have their own justice system and rarely co-operate with agents of the Colombian state in such matters, Maria Gladys Pabon, chief prosecutor in Riohacha, the regional capital, said yesterday. Under Colombian law, any sexual relations with a child age 14 or younger is a crime punishable by at least nine years in prison. Frustrated: The Colombian authorities say they are not getting any co-operation from members of the Wayuu tribe as they investigate the young father of this baby born to a 10-year-old girl . Mother: The girl, a member of the northern indigenous Wayuu tribe in the La Guajira Peninsula, was 39 weeks pregnant when she underwent a Caesarean . But legal and indigenous affairs experts say that under Colombia's 1991 constitution the Wayuu have jurisdiction. The girl, who cannot be identified by law, gave birth on March 29 via Caesarean section and is one of the youngest mothers on record. The father, who authorities say is 15, also cannot be identified. The baby weighed 5.6lbs (2.6kg) and measured 14.5ins (47cm), said Dr Fabio Gonzalez, who delivered the child in a private clinic in Riohacha, on the Guajira peninsula in Colombia's northeast coast. Dr Gonzalez said 'she barely understood what was happening' at the moment of birth. He added he had to operate because at that age the pelvis is still growing 'and it's too small for the fetus to pass through the vaginal canal.' Home: The town of Manaure is in the northern La Guajira Peninsula of Colombia . He said the mother, who was discharged from the clinic in good health, is also relatively short at 4ft, 7ins (142cm). When nurses took the newborn to her mother 'it was as if a doll was being given to her,' said Dr Gonzalez. 'She has no idea. She doesn't understand anything and that's normal,' he added. The doctor said it was not the first time he had delivered the baby of a 10-year-old girl. He said he had a similar case last year. In the latest case, the girl's parents took her to the clinic from their hometown of Manuare. Shame: The birth has been painful for the Wayuu (file picture), who mostly live on the Colombia-Venezuela border. But they do not believe she was raped . A Wayuu tribal leader, Rosa Iguaran, said the parents were refusing to speak to the media out of shame. She said the incident was also painful for the Wayuu, who number about 350,000 and mostly live in the Colombia-Venezuela border region. They don't consider that the girl was raped but rather that the baby was conceived in consensual sex. It will be up to the parents of both the boy and girl to decide whether the two should be married and what the boy's family owes the girl's family, whether it be 'necklaces, cows, goats, whatever the family agrees on,' said Iguaran. Pabon, the prosecutor, said the family of the girl has refused to co-operate with her in her investigation. She said she would not seek to arrest the father of the newborn without speaking with Wayuu leaders. Colombian constitutional law experts say such cases are always very complicated. Former Constitutional Court magistrate Rodrigo Escobar said that 'what the Indians can't do is submit a defendant to degrading treatment or the death penalty.' The world's youngest mother in a medically documented case was Lina Medina of Peru, who in 1939 produced an infant at the age of five years, eight months, according to the Guinness Book of Records. | Young mother gave birth to daughter two weeks ago . She is in Wayuu tribe which has own justice system . They refuse to help in under-age sex investigation . | 73115ac1846ca9106f9391f7a627e3f7c6a6b206 |
A family who moved home so they could send their son to a primary school found they were still outside the catchment area - and now face 12 bus journeys a day to take him elsewhere. Parents Kelly, 26, and David Taylor, 33, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, uprooted so five-year-old Aiden could go to the same school where he attended nursery. But the family soon found out that they were still outside the catchment area - by just a dozen houses - and were refused a place after a council allocated them a school further away. Bus stop: Kelly Taylor, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, is pictured with her five-year-old son Aiden. The boy's father faces 12 bus journeys to take Aiden and his brother Justin to school . Because of the decision, Mr Taylor will now have to make 12 bus journeys a day - two buses in each direction, six times - to get both Aiden and his younger brother to the correct school and back. The family moved in May last year to ensure that Aiden was able to go straight from nursery with his friends to St Thomas Church of England Primary School in the Bradley area of the town. But Aiden has been home-schooled since September while his parents battle to get him into the school where he went to nursery. His brother Justin, three, currently attends the nursery where his mother and her siblings also went to school. But the couple have lost an appeal for Aiden to attend - as the school is said to be full. However, the family home is about half a mile from St Thomas - while Rawthorpe St James Church of England School, which has been offered by Kirklees Council, is around 1.5 miles away. And if Aiden ends up having to attend Rawthorpe St James, the family will also move Justin there, resulting in the 12 bus journeys for Mr Taylor each day. 'He's bored': Aiden's parents moved house so he could go to the same school where he attended nursery - but the family soon found out that they were still outside the catchment area . Map: As a consequence of the council's decision, Mr Taylor will now have to make 12 bus journeys a day across Huddersfield in order to get both Aiden and his younger brother to the correct school and back . Justin, three, currently attends nursery at St Thomas Church of England Primary School, which is half a mile from the family home. Aiden, five, is currently home-schooled. If Aiden ends up going Rawthorpe St James Church of England School, which has been offered by Kirklees Council, the family will also move Justin to the nursery there. Two buses are required to make it from the family home to Rawthorpe St James. And because Justin will take part in half-day nursery, the father would have to take him into school separately to Aiden. This would therefore result in: . Aiden was first on the list for a place at St Thomas but the family have heard that another child has moved into the catchment area and leapfrogged them despite living further away from the school. Mother-of-two Mrs Taylor, a senior healthcare support worker, said: ‘If Aiden got in then there would be more chance that Justin would get in because he would have a sibling there. ‘We've all got links to the school and we still think it is a really good school. I would say it is a slim to none chance that he will get in now that he has dropped down to second place on the list. ‘Another child has moved in to the catchment area but they are further away from the school than us. The road opposite us are in the catchment area and if we had moved into the end of our road we would have been fine. ‘The council allocated him Rawthorpe but it is much further from us then St Thomas is. When we moved we just assumed it was ok because it is so close to the school. ‘It's hard to get hold of a map of the catchment areas and the first time we saw one was when I registered him for the reception. He was already in the nursery and we just assumed he would move up. ‘The woman at the school showed me a map and I thought it won't make much difference but we got a letter through from the council saying he had been allocated Rawthorpe. Mummy: Mrs Taylor said the family are 'devastated' at not being able to get Aiden into their preferred school . Where Aiden's parents want him to go: The family moved to ensure Aiden was able to go straight from nursery with his friends to St Thomas Church of England Primary School (pictured) in Bradley, Huddersfield . ‘The school said “oo you're just outside” and I never thought it wouldn't make a difference. If you look at the map it's such a small difference you might not even see it. The line on the map just skips our house.’ 'Devastated': Mrs Taylor, pictured with Aiden, said the family spent £1,000 to move closer to the school . The family spent £1,000 to move closer to the school and are not planning to move again as they do not believe it will guarantee their children a place. Mrs Taylor said: 'We are devastated. We have considered moving again to be inside the catchment area but we have worked out it would cost us £1,380 and that would only move him up to first, not guarantee a place.’ If the family accepted the council's offer, they would also put Justin in the Rawthorpe Nursery, which would involve a total of 12 buses a day for the boys' self-employed car valeter father, Mr Taylor. There is a school bus but Aiden is said to be afraid to travel alone. Mrs Taylor said: ‘I can't drop Aiden off at school due to my working hours and his father doesn't drive, so it would mean 12 buses a day for David including half-day nursery for Justin. ‘Aiden has a phobia, he won't go alone on the school bus, and he doesn't adjust very well to change. I explained all this at the appeal but they didn't seem interested. ‘He's getting bored of being home schooled and he just wants to see his friends. I'm trying to keep him interested and keep him in a routine but it would be better if he was in a school. ‘It did start off very well but now we are very concerned as Aiden seems bored, and his behaviour has drastically deteriorated. We are constantly trying to keep him cheerful, but it is stressful.’ The appeal officers also suggested Aiden could attend Christ Church Academy in the Deighton area of Huddersfield, despite being told it was full by the Kirklees officer present. Further distance: The family home is about half a mile from St Thomas School - and Rawthorpe St James Church of England School (pictured), which has been offered by Kirklees Council, is around 1.5 miles away . Gill Ellis, the council's assistant director for Learning and Skills, said: ‘Children are more likely to be allocated to a particular school if they live within the catchment area. ‘All reception places at St Thomas were already full. Places were allocated based on the school's oversubscription criteria and we were unable to allocate any more - an independent appeals panel has supported that decision. ‘Our advice to parents is always to state more than one preference when applying for a school place. When an application only names one preferred school, and when that school is full, parents can only be offered a place at the nearest available school. ‘If a family also name a school that is within their catchment area, this can help in securing a place nearer to home. Whilst we sympathise with any family in this situation, it does highlight the important of naming more than one school preference.’ | Parents moved house so Aiden could go to same school as nursery . But found out they were still outside catchment area - by 12 houses . Refused place after council allocated them a school 1.5 miles away . Aiden is being home-schooled while parents battle to change school . | fcc3431493112a44058075c368046f7d78e20d36 |
By . Steve Doughty And Becky Barrow . PUBLISHED: . 11:46 EST, 28 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:40 EST, 28 May 2012 . We live in a country four times wealthier than it was when the Queen came to the throne, according to an official count produced for the Jubilee today. But we are more likely to make our money out of shops than the metal-bashing and manufacturing that dominated our commercial life 60 years ago. We have nearly four times as many divorces, about a third fewer marriages, and a country where people are likely to be much older than in the 1950s. The breakdown of the differences between Britain in 1952 and Britain now was produced by the Office for National Statistics and other Whitehall departments to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which reach their climax next weekend. Experience: The Queen has seen her country change so dramatically since her Coronation ceremony in 1953 . It showed that when the Queen came to the throne the wealth of the nation was, in raw figures, about 100 times less than it is now. Gross domestic product totalled £15,983 million, against £1,507,585 million in 2011. However inflation has taken a very large bite out of the value of the pound over 60 years. A 1952 pound is worth £24.34 today – so that the national wealth is really only slightly under four times greater now than then. There are nearly 600,000 men now working as shop managers or assistants or in sales, the figures showed. Retail jobs did not figure among the top five occupations for men 60 years ago. Instead, there were more than 400,000 men in metalworking, engineering and electrical trades, and nearly 400,000 more classed as unskilled industrial labourers. Different industries: Sixty years ago there were more than 400,000 men in the metalworking industry whereas now more men work in retail . Non-committal: We have nearly four times as many divorces, about a third fewer marriages than in 1952, according to the Office of National Statistics . In 1952 there were more than 370,000 women working as domestic servants and 215,000 classed as charwomen or office cleaners. Today, there are more women working as domestic cleaners – 384,000 – and a further 446,000 in the booming care industry, working either as care home assistants or home carers. A second report, from the Department for Work and Pensions, reveals the scale of the extraordinary social change in Britain as people are living longer than ever before. In 1952, there were just 300 centenarians in England and Wales. Today there are around 13,420 people alive today who have celebrated their 100th birthday. Women's work: In 1952 there were more than 370,000 women working as domestic servants but today 446,000 work in the care industry . Inflation: A 1952 pound is worth £24.34 today so that the national wealth is really only slightly under four times greater now than then . Over the last 60 years, the department estimates the Queen has sent around 110,000 telegrams and messages to people who have reached the landmark birthday. But she will be writing to record numbers each year as the number of people who are expected to survive until 100 is set to balloon. A baby boy born in 1952 was expected to live to the age of 78. A baby boy born today is expected to live to 91, with around 32 per cent reaching 100. Meanwhile, a baby girl is living for 11 years longer than in 1952, with life expectancy at birth rising from 83 to 94. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) £15.9 million . Life expectancy (boy) 78 . Life expectancy (girl) 83 . People aged 100 and over 300 . % of pensioners in population 14 . Employment (men) 400,000 in metalworking, engineering and electrical trades . Employment (women) 370,000 domestic servants and 215,000 charwomen or office cleaners . GDP £1.5 billion . Life expectancy (boy) 91 . Life expectancy (girl) 94 . People aged 100 and over 13420 . % of pensioners in population 20 . Employment (men) 600,000 as shop managers or assistants or in sales . Employment (women) 384,000 domestic cleaners and 446,000 care home assistants or home carers . Soaring life expectancy means pensioners make up one in five of the population, compared to only one in seven – or 14 per cent – in 1952. Experts warn children may live to 100, but they will not get their State pension until they are ‘70 or beyond’. The State pension age is already rising to 66 for both men and women by 2020, rising again to 67 in 2028 and will continue to rise as life expectancy increases. | We now have four times as many divorces and about a third fewer marriages than in 1952 . A 1952 pound is worth £24.34 today . More men now work in retail whereas in 1952 the majority had skilled industrial jobs in factories . In 1952 there were 300 centenarians in England and Wales. Today around 13,420 people alive today have celebrated their 100th birthday . | 64a0b0e08fda8da4820492f2d6675df26615c71f |
By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 11:08 EST, 15 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:30 EST, 15 January 2014 . Police had to rescue an Indian butler after he was allegedly kidnapped by wealthy politician Gajraj Singh Jadeja's family when they realised he had left the domestic help his entire £59 million fortune. The butler, Vinu Bhai, who worked for Jadeja for 40 years, said he had no idea he was suddenly to become so rich. He said: ‘When I heard he was ill and then that he had died I expected to be without a job and I was wondering how I might manage to pay to keep my family and children with a roof over their heads. In the money: Vinu Bha and his wife, with a picture of their benefactor, politician Gajraj Singh Jadeja, whose generosity has transformed their lives . But according to the will he told me that he saw me as a son and my children as his. I always knew we were close but I am enormously honoured that he chose to do this for me.’ Jadeja was the Congress leader in India's western Gujarat state before he died last year on September 21. But when his will was read three months later his many relatives were in for a shock when it was revealed they were to get nothing. Jadeja had no children and had decided instead to reward his loyal servant by giving him his property, including land and buildings, cash and shares. Bond: Jadeja (left) said in his will that he saw butler Bhai (right) as his son, and Bhai's children as his . The relatives allegedly kidnapped the butler to force him to admit the will was a fake, said police, but the man had been freed after he was spotted being bundled by force into a car by hired thugs. Bhai's son Amit Jaipal said: ‘There were eight men, they forced their way into our home and took my father away. It took police a day to find him and free him but he didn't suffer from the ordeal thank goodness.’ A police spokesman said that the eight had been arrested and were facing charges of kidnapping, but declined to name them all or confirm their relationship with the dead man. | Vinu Bhai worked for wealthy politician Gajraj Singh Jadeja for 40 years . Jadeja left Bhai his entire fortune, saying that he considered him to be a son . The politician's family were convinced that Bhai had forged the will . They allegedly dispatched eight thugs to kidnap him to force a confession . | dd78fa6c8a9f6d0692600428e814b30d15d8e6e7 |
The former Baywatch star is back in action, but this time instead of rescuing swimmers from the water, he's saving you from your pesky cough. In a new advert for Bronchostop cold medicine, David Hasselhoff makes a special appearance - in an attempt to help take the 'hassle out of coughs.' 'Have you ever had a scenario where you were unable to decide if your cough was dry or chesty?' the presenter questions at the start of the video. 'I know I have.' The former Baywatch star is back in action - this time, helping cold sufferers battle their pesky coughs . In a new advert for Bronchostop, David Hasselhoff makes a hilarious special appearance . 'Well now, Bronchostop has taken the hassle out of coughs - ' he begins. At this point, he is cut off by The Hoff himself who steps into the frame. 'Did someone say Hasselhoff? I'll take it from here.' Together, David helps the presenters to explain the benefit of the Bronchostop brand and its various cold remedies on offer. 'It relieves any kind of cough,' he concludes. 'We've literally taken the hassle out of the hoff.' Or, er, cough. 'I love taking the #hassel out of life... now I can have the #hassel taken out of my cough... #NoHuskyHoff #HassleOutOfCoughs' he Tweeted following its release. 'Bronchostop has taken the hassle out of coughs,' the presenter begins by sharing . David then interrupts, boasting that he can take the 'hassel' out of 'the hoff' | Former Baywatch star now acting as spokesperson for Bronchostop . Makes a special appearance in commercial for the UK cold brand . In humourous advert, David claims to take the 'hassel' out of coughs . | b0b9504ade4ba9e94e16b606e12d9b3ca849ee98 |
Washington (CNN) -- For the past 30 years, Chris McDaniel has attended the West Ellisville Baptist Church -- a house of worship that held a fish fry this month for the congregation's widows and widowers and where kids attend vacation Bible school in the summers. Such things are important to folks in McDaniel's hometown of Ellisville, Mississippi, population: 4,448. It is a town named for a Mississippi senator, Powhatan Ellis -- a relative of Pocahantas, but which proudly goes by the nickname "The Free State of Jones" thanks to Jones County's role in opposing the Confederacy during the Civil War. Raised in an environment where both conservative Christian values and an independent streak run deep, it is perhaps little wonder that one of the city's native sons would challenge long-serving Sen. Thad Cochran for office. And, if the money pouring into McDaniel's campaign coffers from conservative groups is any indication, hopes are high among such organizations that McDaniel just might pull off a rebellion of his own in Tuesday's runoff. "It's all in God's hands," McDaniel told CNN. "...God has a plan. We pray to find his will, and his will will be done. We're going to fight, every day he gives us, and we believe we're going to be victorious, pursuant to his will." McDaniel, a conservative who has the grassroots support of the tea party, the Club for Growth and Sarah Palin among others, is challenging Cochran, a septuagenarian, who has the backing of such groups as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Mississippi Conservatives, a super PAC headed by the nephew of former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. 'The indifference that comes from a long-term incumbent' McDaniel has "been able to capitalize on the indifference that comes from a long-term incumbent," said John Bruce, chairman of the University of Mississippi's political science department. "He's also been able to capture some of the more national anti-establishment Republican movement." Tea party conservatives -- who were dealt setbacks in Republican primaries in Kentucky and other states in the spring -- are banking on Mississippi as the best chance to eject another "establishment" Republican. The group's organizers are galvanized by a surprise upset in the Virginia GOP primary when House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost to tea party-backed political newcomer Dave Brat. "McDaniel reflects that change momentum we're seeing all over the country," Sal Russo, co-founder and a chief strategist for the Tea Party Express told CNN. Cochran's "been a distinguished senator over the years but he's lost track with where the people of Mississippi are." If McDaniel and Cochran's inability to net 50% of the vote in the June 3 Republican primary is any indication, then the people of Mississippi are split. Blogger's arrest shakes up Mississippi Republican primary . It's also a race that, at times, waded into the Mississippi mud. Last month, political blogger Clayton Kelly was arrested after authorities charged him with breaking into a nursing home where Cochran's wife, Rose, has lived for roughly 14 years. Photos of the elderly woman ended up in a political attack ad on YouTube, according to the Clarion-Ledger. Both Cochran and McDaniel denounced the act, but the fallout prompted both campaigns to accuse the other of playing dirty politics. But in Jones County at least, where Ellisville is located, the odds are in the hometown boy's favor. Daniel handily won his home county in the June 3 primary with 11,519 votes to Cochran's 1,941, according to the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. Native son . McDaniel is the grandson of country music star Luke McDaniel, who went by the stage name "Jeff Daniels." He grew up as an only child whose parents worked at Jones County Community College. His was a religious upbringing and, according to his campaign's Facebook page, he "committed his life to Jesus Christ at the age of 13." He was also an athlete who excelled in basketball and won a scholarship to attend the University of Mississippi. He eventually earned a law degree from Ole Miss and married Jill, an educator and former beauty pageant queen who was once "Miss Mississippi." The couple are raising their children Cambridge and Chamberlain back in Jones County. In addition to practicing as an attorney, McDaniel was also a syndicated conservative radio host of "The Right Side Radio Show," which says it offers "today's news commentary from the Southern side of Christian conservative politics." Back then, his knack for hammering liberal policies caught the attention of local conservatives. "I'd hear him on the radio, and I'd think 'that guy's a true conservative,'" said Grant Sowell, a longtime associate and chairman of the Tupelo Tea Party. Complete coverage: 2014 midterm elections . McDaniel's on-air comments would later come back to haunt him. Earlier this year, a radio clip surfaced of McDaniel vowing "I ain't paying taxes," if his taxes increased because reparations were paid to the descendants of Africans who were enslaved. He also made fun of Spanish and said "a dollar bill can buy a mansion in Mexico." In the spotlight . McDaniel was thrust into the national media spotlight. Campaign spokesman Noel Fritsch blew off the blowback. "The liberal press clearly loves to attack conservatives of all types," Fritsch told the Wall Street Journal. "When Chris got into this race he knew they would throw mud, so it's no surprise they'd dredge up decade-old comments made on conservative talk radio. McDaniel burst onto the Mississippi political scene in 2010 as a freshman state senator when he challenged Gov. Haley Barbour's veto of a measure that would block the state from using eminent domain to take land to be used by private companies. That effort failed but inspired a grassroots-backed initiative which was ultimately successful. That same year, he led the legal effort in his state to have the courts declare Obamacare's insurance mandate unconstitutional. He has vowed to work to appeal Obamacare if he is elected to the Senate. Much like the senator he is challenging, McDaniel sat on his state legislature's Senate appropriation committee. Like Cochran, he's also pulling in star power to help out in the final campaign push. Chuck Woolery -- who hosted "Wheel of Fortune," "Love Connection" and "The Dating Game" -- campaigned for McDaniel this weekend. Key races to watch in 2014 . The McDaniel campaign did not respond to CNN's questions about his tenure in state office or his plans should he be elected to the U.S. Senate. Still, supporters such as Sowell hope that voters will recognize what he sees as McDaniel's "authentic conservative voice." And, as for those who question what McDaniel as a congressional neophyte who eschews pork barrel spending will be able to accomplish for Mississippi, Sowell said McDaniel would serve the state's interests well while steering clear of government waste. "Thad did not hang the moon," Sowell said. "And Chris McDaniel cannot take it down." Sen. Thad Cochran, a quiet pragmatist facing re-election challenge . CNN chief congressional correspondent Dana Bash contributed to this report. | The Mississippi Senate runoff is June 24 . Chris McDaniel is challenging Sen. Thad Cochran in a tense showdown . McDaniel is a lawyer, former radio host and grandson of country music star Jeff Daniels . McDaniels is no stranger to taking on veteran politicos . | eec7805feecb30289081e732c305bf9155cd80fe |
Lizzy Yarnold surged to victory in the first race of the World Cup skeleton season in Lake Placid on Friday. In her first race since claiming Olympic gold in Sochi in February, Yarnold finished 0.77 seconds clear of Canadian World Cup debutant Elisabeth Vathje after recording the fastest time in each of her two runs. Yarnold is the hot favourite to retain her overall World Cup title following the retirement of her closest rival, American Noelle Pikus-Pace, in the wake of the Sochi Games. Lizzie Yarnold celebrates after winning Olympic gold in Sochi in February of this year . Yarnold finishes a run during the Women's Skeleton on Day Seven of the Winger Olympics in Russia . But Yarnold said: 'With it being the start of the season I was a bit apprehensive that I wouldn't be quick enough or think quick enough. 'There have been so many retirements that it's not the same as before, but these younger athletes are so good so I knew I had to bring my best performance, which I did.' Yarnold now faces a flight back across the Atlantic in order to be present for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in Glasgow on Sunday night, for which she is one of 10 nominees. The skeleton champions poses with her gold medal in the wake of the Olympics . Multiple exposures show Yarnold competing in her final run during the Sochi Olympics skeleton competition . She will then return to north America and bid to continue her winning streak at the second World Cup of the season in Calgary at the end of next week. Yarnold's Great Britain team-mate Rose McGrandle dropped one place on her second run to finish in sixth place with Laura Deas further back in 12th. | Lizzie Yarnold won Olympic gold in Sochi in February of this year . Yarnold is now the hot favourite to retain her World Cup title . She surged to victory in the first race of the season in Lake Placid . Yarnold will now travel back to London for Sports Personality of the Year . | 50d8ec5f3de937ecd1101ffc03fef6212c88132f |
The number of eggs a woman has may not just indicate her fertility, but overall life expectancy . Women who go through an early menopause may be ageing faster generally, scientists have discovered. They say the number of eggs a woman has may not just indicate her fertility, but overall life expectancy. Specifically, it may predict the risk of a heart attack, New Scientist reports. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have and the number declines with age. Previous research has suggested the average woman is born with 300,000 potential egg cells. Going through the menopause anywhere between 45 and 55 is considered the norm, while experiencing it before the age of 40 is known as a premature menopause. A study from the University of Alabama found women who go through an early menopause run twice the risk of a heart attack or stroke in later life. A possible explanation is the reduction in a woman's natural supply of oestrogen at a much earlier stage of life than would normally occur at the menopause. The ovaries make the hormone oestrogen, the hormone that regulates a woman's periods. So when the ovaries stop functioning, the level of oestrogen drops. However oestrogen also has a protective effect on the heart - so after the menopause, the risk of heart disease increases. Post-menopausal women often experience weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, which can contribute to poor health. The new study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Hawaii, takes this ageing concept a step further. The researchers investigated whether women who have early menopause are ageing faster generally. 'Perhaps women who go through menopause early are intrinsically ageing at a different rate,' lead researcher Professor Marcelle Cedars, of the University of California, San Francisco, told New Scientist. The ovaries make the hormone oestrogen, which has a protective effect on the heart. Levels of the hormone drop after the menopause, raising the risk of heart disease . She and her team analysed blood samples of more than 1,000 women aged 25 to 45 for their level of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which estimates the remaining egg supply. The number of eggs was then confirmed using an ultrasound and each woman's biological age was estimated by assessing her telomeres. These are tiny structures that protect DNA from damage and are an indicator of health. Scientists have discovered the reason why women find it difficult to conceive later in life - they have used up 90 per cent of their 'ovarian reserve' by the age of 30. This ovarian reserve - the potential number of eggs women are born with - declines faster than many people realise, the study by the University of St Andrews and Edinburgh University, found. By the age of 30 there is only 12 per cent left on average and by the age of 40 just three per cent, they warned. Found at the ends of chromosomes, they protect the DNA in them from damage, much like the caps on the ends of shoelaces prevent fraying. As we get older, our telomeres get shorter and shorter, leading to DNA becoming damaged and raising the odds of age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's, diabetes and heart disease. Shorter than average telomeres are seen as a sign of ill health and premature death. Three to five years later, a quarter of the women returned to have their risk of heart disease calculated, based on factors such as weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The researchers found women with lower egg counts were at a higher risk of heart disease. However they also had shorter telomeres - meaning they were at higher risk of conditions such as Alzheimer's and diabetes. Professor Cedars said: 'We think the ovary may be more sensitive to the processes of ageing,' says Cedars, making it like a canary in a coal mine for a general state of accelerated ageing. | Was known that hormone oestrogen has a protective effect on the heart . So an early menopause puts woman at greater risk of heart problems . New study found early menopause may signal faster ageing generally . These women had shorter telomeres - tiny structures that protect DNA from damage and an indicator of health and life expectancy . Short telomeres raise the risk of conditions like Alzheimer's and diabetes . | 751654d85a597003e539e25a3c244f56e28b0e27 |
(CNN) -- My favorite part of academic debate has always been the cross-examination period. We got a little piece of that (but not enough) in the Republican presidential debate Tuesday hosted by Bloomberg and the Washington Post. The presidential hopefuls were allowed to ask an opponent one question. Mitt Romney faced seven opponents, and four of them directed their questions at him because he is seen as the frontrunner. While this can be a good idea in theory to try and trip up the frontrunner, it actually helped Romney. The only two people to get significant air time in the first hour were Romney and Herman Cain. So by asking Romney more questions, the other candidates gave him even more time to present his case to the public. The strategy of the other candidates might have worked if he was on the ropes or was stumbling in the debate, but Romney had not given his opponents any obvious openings. In his answers to the four questions from his opponents, Romney did well. His answer to Newt Gingrich's question was one of Romney's strongest moments of the debate when he highlighted how his economic plan would help the middle class. He underscored that the middle class has been hit the hardest by the economic downturn, so any presidential candidate should begin by focusing on helping them. Herman Cain is pretty clever in these exchanges. You can tell he has a few lines that are well rehearsed. In fact, when it was his turn to ask a question, I actually thought he might try to ask himself the question. That way he could insert 9-9-9 into both a question and an answer (which would be a feat even for him). Instead he asked Romney if he could list off all 59 points of his plan. This question was designed to showcase the simplicity of Cain's plan in comparison. The question was effective enough, but might have backfired when Romney used it to his advantage to say that simple answers are oftentimes inadequate. Romney took a unique approach. His question was directed at Michele Bachmann. On its face, it seems like a puzzling approach, but I actually like the strategy. It gave air time to someone Romney does not think will be a factor, thereby taking time away from his main rivals. Plus, he simply asked Bachmann how she could help the economy by putting people to work, which guided her answer away from attacking Romney in her free time. It was a smart choice. Three of the candidates used their questions to also make solid points. Ron Paul asked Cain about his time spent chairing a Federal Reserve Bank, which is a negative with Paul. Paul's question made the argument that he was correct all along about not trusting the Federal Reserve. Michele Bachmann used her question to attack Rick Perry and remind everyone that she has always been a conservative while Perry used to be a Democrat working for Al Gore. Rick Santorum also asked Cain a question that made an argument. As part of his question, he attacked the 9-9-9 plan by asking the audience who wanted to pay a 9% sales tax. Santorum then asked the audience if they believed the federal government would stick to a 9% income tax. He used their silence to question and attack Cain. Share your view on the debate . Rick Perry doesn't seem to get any part of these debates right, and that included the section where he was allowed to ask any other candidate a question. Perry asked Romney a question about health care, but he failed to have depth in his question or attack. Perry failed to make a positive point about his own health care policy and forgot that in answering the question, Romney would get to freely blast away at the lack of health care for children in Perry's home state of Texas. This was a perfect example of the person answering the questions turning it against the questioner. As is becoming a trend in these debates, Perry came out on the wrong end of that exchange. Presidential candidates should get to ask each other more questions in the future. Such an approach would add substance, and allowing follow-up questions by the candidates would be even better, since we could more easily judge the depth and knowledge of each candidate. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Todd Graham. | Todd Graham: Candidates directed their questions at front-runner Romney . He says Romney handled the questions deftly . Graham says Cain seems well prepared while Perry fares poorly . He says candidates should get to ask each other more questions in the future . | 35f70f5d9903c87dce4bf91e5aea4d7a61525693 |
They are renown as gas guzzling heavyweights which run at just seven miles per gallon. But Hummer is about to be re-invented as one of the world's greenest vehicles. A revolutionary new electric version of the car has gone on sale in the UK. Scroll down for video . Electric shock: Hummer's revolutionary new electric car has gone on sale in the UK on fullycharged.com . And far from being a pollution menace, the vehicle qualifies for free parking, no road tax and is exempt from the London congestion charge, all because it is so green. Ben Jaconelli, of fullycharged.com which is selling the cars in the UK, said: 'They are really cool versions of the Hummer. They look almost identical but are environmentally friendly and ideal for driving round a city.' Unlike it's US military counterpart which can get up to 70 mph, the electric Humvee has a top speed of 35 miles per hour. It also comes equipped with a special dual golf bag holder, carbon fibre dashboard and Pioneer sound system. Going green: The Hummer has a range of 40 miles, which can be doubled to 80 miles if upgraded to a Lithium battery . The vehicle qualifies for free parking, no road tax and is exempt from the London congestion charge, all because it is so green . Unlike its bigger relative, the e-Humvee only seats two people . It has a range of 40 miles, which can be doubled to 80 miles if upgraded to a Lithium battery. But unlike its bigger relative, the e-Humvee only seats two people. However it does come with the Hummer grille, and custom wheels, seats and floor mats and leather interiors. The vehicles are on show at fullycharged's pop up show in Globe House, Bermondsey Street, London. Hummer's trucks, 4X4 vehicles and luxury SUVs 'combine off-road capabilities and interior comfort, creating the ultimate in rugged sophistication' Until its demise in 2009 the Hummer vehicle by General Motors was an iconic gas guzzler in the United States . Following the purchase of the rights to the design by UK manufacturing and design firm Prindiville, it has now been reinvented as a two-seater electric vehicle . The vehicles are on show at fullycharged's pop up show in Globe House, Bermondsey Street, London . Ben Jaconelli, of fullycharged.com which is selling the cars in the UK, said: 'They are really cool versions of the Hummer' Mr Jaconelli added: 'They look almost identical but are environmentally friendly and ideal for driving round a city' | The Hummer vehicle by General Motors was an iconic gas guzzler in the United States . But now a revolutionary new electric version of the car has gone on sale in the UK . It qualifies for free parking, no road tax and is exempt from the London congestion charge . | b5c357594965d3acf733f3d1ef7f36ce315e8d8c |
(CNN) -- Portuguese football coach Jose Mourinho caused outcry this week when he substituted Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari due to his low-energy levels -- which were a result of fasting. Muntari is a practicing Muslim who, like many of the same faith around the world, is currently not eating during the hours of daylight to mark the Ramadan holy period. The midfielder is not the only high-profile player who will be fasting, check out Fanzone's First XI of Islamic stars.. | Jose Mourinho substituted Sulley Muntari because he had been low energy . The Ghanaian midfielder is a Muslim and had been fasting during Ramadan . France international Franck Ribery is another high-profile Muslim . | d0592f7af19092ee907743cb89b6e72376e15415 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 15:47 EST, 6 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:14 EST, 6 February 2014 . A former SAC Capital Advisors portfolio manager has been convicted of helping his company earn more than a quarter billion dollars illegally through insider trading. Mathew Martoma was found guilty on Thursday on two counts of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, putting an end to his three-week long trial that capped a decade-long investigation into SAC Captial. While he remained expressionless as the verdict was handed down, tears streamed down the face of his wife, who sat with her hands folded on her yellow dress. He could face up to a decade behind bars. The courtroom examination of the . trades focused largely on his dealings with clients pertaining to the . secret testing of a potential breakthrough Alzheimer's drug. The . trial also contained frequent mentions of SAC Capital's billionaire . founder, Steven A. Cohen, who is one of the richest men in the country . with an estimated personal net worth of $9.4billion. Verdict: Mathew Martoma, 39, was found guilty on two counts of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud but his sentence has not been handed down . Defense lawyer Richard Strassberg said in his closing argument Monday that Cohen was the real target of investigators. He said his client was victimized by the testimony of doctors who traded their credibility for plea deals that left them beholden to the government. He said the doctors learned 'just how frighteningly scary it can be if you get in the way of a government investigation that's targeting someone like Steve Cohen.' Founder: SAC Capital Advisors is led Steve Cohen, one of the richest men in the country . Sidney Gilman, an 81-year-old former professor of neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School, testified that he gave Martoma the secret results of the drug trial sponsored by drug makers Elan Corp. and Wyeth nearly two weeks before they were publicly announced. He said he was charmed by Martoma, 39, . who seemed more knowledgeable about his work than hundreds of others in . the financial community who paid Gilman more than $1million over . several years for consultations. Gilman . said he could not recall giving similar information to anyone else, . though he conceded that he 'perhaps unintentionally... may have slipped . here and there'. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arlo . Devlin-Brown told the jury that after the doctor showed Martoma the test . results in one of 43 consultations the pair had, Martoma sent Cohen an . early morning email asking: 'Is there a good time to catch up with you . this morning? It's important.' A half hour later, they spoke for 20 minutes on the phone. The . next day, Devlin-Brown said, Martoma and SAC Capital began selling all . their shares in Elan and Wyeth and building a short position that would . make millions of dollars when the stock of both companies plummeted . following the public announcement of the drug trial's results. The government said the trades on both ends earned $275 million in profits, enough to score a $9.3 million bonus for Martoma. 'Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Martoma, though all of this circumstantial evidence, has been caught with his hand deep inside the cookie jar, and defense counsel wants you to think that maybe he was just putting the cookie back,' Devlin-Brown said in his closing. Headed in: Martoma, joined by his wife Rosemary, was charged over his dealings on a specific Alzheimer's drug . The prosecutor said Gilman, formerly one of the top Alzheimer's researchers in the world, has all but ended his career. 'He's 81, and he's humiliated,' Devlin-Brown said. Strassberg told jurors Gilman's 'story at its heart makes no sense' because his memory was flawed when he met with Martoma in 2008 while he was undergoing chemotherapy for successful cancer treatments. Another doctor, Joel Ross, testified that he also gave Martoma secrets about the Alzheimer drug test, in part because he hoped Martoma would connect him with biotechnology companies that might provide business for his new drug research center in Eatontown, New Jersey. SAC Capital pleaded guilty in November to fraud charges and agreed to pay $1.8billion to settle charges that it allowed, if not encouraged, insider trading for more than a decade. Cohen has not been criminally charged, but the Securities and Exchange Commission has accused him in a civil action of failing to prevent insider trading at the company, which he founded in 1992 and bears his initials. Cohen has disputed the allegations. Upset: Martoma, whose wife wept openly when the verdict was handed down, paid a researcher more than $1million for consultations on yet-unreleased drugs to help him advise his clients . The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan praised Thursday's verdict, comparing Martoma's actions to buying an answer sheet before an exam. 'As the jury unanimously found, Mathew Martoma cultivated and purchased the confidence of doctors with secret knowledge of an experimental Alzheimer's drug, and used it to engage in illegal insider trading,' the prosecutors said in a statement. 'In the short run, cheating may have been profitable for Martoma, but in the end, it made him a convicted felon.' There was no mention at trial of Martoma's educational record at Harvard Law School, where he was expelled in 1999 after he used a forged transcript he claimed he created to impress his parents to apply for a clerkship with as many as 23 federal appeals judges. A sentencing date wasn't immediately set. Martoma's attorney declined to comment after the verdict was read. | Mathew Martoma, 39, has been found guilty of two counts of insider trading . Court found that he paid the researcher of an Alzheimer's drug more than $1million to give him secret test results before they were made public . Information helped the company make $275million and helped Martoma earn a $9.3million bonus . Could now face between seven and 10 years behind bars . He worked for billionaire Steve Cohen at the hedge fund that he founded . SEC has accused Cohen of failing to prevent insider trading at SAC Capital . | 1c3baef4aff62cbc2d446da11a12dee8abed4edb |
By . Chris Hastings . PUBLISHED: . 17:23 EST, 5 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:30 EST, 5 May 2012 . Embroiled in a fresh row: David Cameron . David Cameron was embroiled in a fresh row over his local hunt yesterday after the RSPCA launched an unprecedented prosecution for unlawful foxhunting. The animal charity is already taking action against one member of the Heythrop hunt, which the Prime Minister has ridden with and which is popular with fellow members of the so-called Chipping Norton Set in the Cotswolds. But now it has laid fresh charges against the hunt and four of its members – provoking accusations that the charity’s actions are ‘politically motivated’. The four accused of unlawfully hunting a fox with dogs in contravention of the Hunting Act 2004 are Vanessa Lambert, 29, who is a Joint Master of the hunt, Richard Sumner, 67, Duncan Hume, 32, and 48-year-old Julian Barnfield, a professional huntsman. The Mail on Sunday revealed last August that Mr Barnfield was already facing two counts of unlawfully hunting a fox. That case is due to be heard by magistrates later this year. The new charges have shocked the Heythrop’s supporters, who include Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, her racehorse trainer husband Charlie Brooks, and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who has allowed the hunt to ride on his land. Critics have questioned how the charity can afford such a move – pro-hunt campaigners believe the case could cost up to £1 million in legal fees – at a time when it is planning to make staff redundant. Ms Lambert said last night that all four defendants would deny the allegations when the case comes before magistrates in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on June 1. She said: ‘The rural community is amazed that the RSPCA has the staffing, the money and the time to pursue what is clearly a politically motivated campaign against a hunt which operates within David Cameron’s community.’ The RSPCA last night confirmed it had laid charges against both the hunt and the four named individuals following a ‘careful examination’ of the evidence. But a spokeswoman declined to comment on claims that its actions had a political agenda. She said: ‘While proceedings are active in this matter, we cannot comment further.’ Hunt supporters: Rebekah Brooks, left, and Jeremy Clarkson, right, are both part of the Chipping Norton set . Allegations: Professional huntsman Julian Barnfield (pictured) is one of four accused of unlawfully hunting a fox with dogs in contravention of the Hunting Act 2004 . Apart from his personal connections with the hunt, which he rode with in 2003, Mr Cameron could find the legal action politically sensitive. The Coalition has promised to hold a free vote in Parliament on the hunting ban introduced by Labour in 2004. Since the law came into force in February 2005, there have been only five successful prosecutions involving more than 300 registered hunts in England and Wales, leading to eight individual convictions. Seven other prosecutions have failed and a verdict is due in one further case involving the Crawley and Horsham hunt in Sussex later this month. According to pro-hunt campaigners, the RSPCA’s decision to step up its offensive suggests that there are internal tensions in the anti-hunting movement. The League Against Cruel Sports had been taking the lead on prosecutions and the RSPCA appears to have been pressurised by its own ruling council to follow suit, following criticism that it was not adopting a sufficiently firm approach. Steeped in tradition: Mr Cameron has spent time with the Heythrop hunt (some members pictured here at Blenheim Palace in 1999) RSPCA council members include Dr Richard Ryder, who was director of the Political Animal Lobby which donated £1 million to the Labour Party before the 1997 General Election. The RSPCA is currently consulting on 130 redundancies because of a serious financial shortfall. A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: ‘The RSPCA’s decision to bring such a huge prosecution is a blatant political attack on hunting and an abuse of the court system. ‘It is no accident that the RSPCA, which was a major part of the campaign to ban hunting, only brings private prosecutions against hunts in the Prime Minister’s constituency. We believe that these allegations, like 99 per cent of those made about hunts, are groundless and we are confident that the prosecution will fail.’ In a newspaper article in 2003, Mr Cameron recalled a day he spent with the Heythrop hunt. ‘Nothing had prepared me for the sheer terror of a day’s hunting,’ he wrote. ‘I battled in vain to control my powerful steed and careered through trees and bushes – completely out of control.’ | David Cameron embroiled in fresh row over his local hunt . Fresh charges laid against the Heythrop hunt and four of its members . | 881438129df98d8e09ac4deb84cd8de185ddde16 |
Scientists have made an exciting breakthrough in the treatment of bowel cancer - using existing drugs. Dr Toby Phesse, of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, said early data showed medication currently used to treat psoriasis, arthritis and myelofibrosis could help in the fight against the country's second deadliest form of cancer. 'About 17,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year and about 4,000 people die, so we are really crying out for new ways to tackle this disease,' Dr Phesse told Daily Mail Australia. Scroll down for video . Dr Michael Buchert ( left), Dr Toby Phesse (centre) and Associate Professor Matthias Ernst (right) from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne have discovered an existing drug that could stop tumour growth in bowel cancer . He said the lab's focus was directed at identifying which signalling pathways were used by tumours to grow and trying to target those pathways to prevent tumour growth. 'We have known for many years that Wnt signaling is mutated in around 80 per cent of colon tumours. 'However, this pathway is also very important for the health of the normal cells in the intestine, and therefore targeting the Wnt pathway directly poses considerable challenges as you risk effecting the normal cells of the intestine and therefore inducing severe side effects. 'We had to come up with a new method and target a parallel pathway.' This is what brought scientists to the existing medicines, JAK inhibitors. 17,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year and about 4,000 people die . The scientists' breakthrough came when they found that 80 per cent of colon tumours responded to treatment with a JAK inhibitor. The treatment has caused excitement because the drug only targeted cancer cells, leaving normal cells unharmed, leaving no side effects. 'In the pre-clinic models we looked at the normal cells of the intestine and we found that all the cells could grow and function normally. 'None of the mice used in the models lost any weight, suggesting they were healthy and could tolerate the drug very well.' The scientists found that JAKs not only stop cell growth but also prevent the development of new tumours. Dr Phesse said this is an exciting breakthrough that has great potential to help thousands of people who have colon cancer or face risk of developing tumours. 'The main point is that the inhibitors already exist and have been approved,' he said. 'This means it is going to speed up the clinical trials process'. Dr Michael Buchert, another scientist from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research said since the medicines are already being used for other cures scientists know it is safe for humans. 'We hope that this will enable our research to rapidly reach clinical trials for bowel cancer patients and deliver benefits in the near future.' The scientists found that JAKs not only stops cell growth but also prevents the development of new tumours . | Australian scientists have found existing medicines can stop tumour development and growth . 'JAK inhibitors' responded to 80% of colon tumours . The medicines are already used to treat psoriasis, arthritis, minor fibrosis . Scientists hope this will speed up the process of a new drug for bowel cancer . | b5736334bbda3b47f2ef653c46bbf3128b24e9fa |
Protesters gathered to yell at New York police officers mourning their slain colleagues outside a memorial on Monday night. The group of five people were heard shouting about Eric Garner and Michael Brown at the corner in Brooklyn where officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were shot dead on Saturday afternoon, which is now covered in flowers and tributes. The shocking scene recorded by CNN comes just two days after gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley murdered the cops claiming it was an act of justice for the two black men killed by white police officers. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . CNN's Sara Ganim was reporting from the scene. She said that in the last couple of minutes 'we've seen protesters come out here and start yelling at groups of police who are mourning their slain police officers' Controversy: A group of five protesters could be heard shouting at police officers at the memorial on Monday . Despite statements from the families of Eric Garner and Michael Brown condemning Brinsley's attack, many fear there are members of the community who will not accept appeals for calm. This is the only report of friction between the community and the police force since the double murder. It came as CNN's Sara Ganim was reporting from the scene. She said: 'I do, just in full disclosure, want to say that in the last couple of minutes, for the first time today, we've seen protesters come out here and start yelling at groups of police who are mourning their slain police officers.' Ganim continued: 'It's just a few of them, Suzanne, and like I said, just in the last five minutes, and they're quite frankly yelling at a group of police officers who are standing here silently, just looking at the memorial of candles and flowers and posters, and they're yelling similar rhetoric that we've been hearing over the last couple of weeks related to the shooting of — the chokehold death of Eric Garner and the shooting of Michael Brown in Missouri.' Pei Xia Chen, the widow of murdered NYPD officer Wenjian Liu, fought back tears as she expressed her support for the family of Officer Rafael Ramos, the other officer shot and killed on Saturday . Widow Chen was surrounded by weeping family members as she spoke outside their Brooklyn home on Monday evening . She added that most officers she has spoken to have condemned the police union's attacks on Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying now is a time for peace. Ganim also emphasized that until that point she had seen no tension between the NYPD and the community at the memorial. ‘We’ve seen quite actually the opposite,’ she added. ‘We’ve seen community members coming here and shaking hands with police officers, giving them hugs. 'We’ve seen groups of officers, NYPD, showing up all day to pay their respects. They’re lighting candles side-by-side with the community. They’re interacting, they’re showing support to one another.’ Also on Monday, the wife of officer Liu broke her silence and said her family was thankful for the support it has received following her husband's murder. Pei Xia Chen fought back tears as spoke about the man she had just married in September. 'His dreams were of providing for his current and growing family,' she said. Chen also expressed her support for the family of Officer Rafael Ramos who was on duty with Liu when the officers were shot and killed. 'We would also like to express our condolences to the officer Ramos' family,' said Chen. 'This is a difficult time for both of our families, but we will stand together and get through this together.' Chen was surrounded by weeping family members as she spoke outside their Brooklyn home. Wenjian Liu's family were from Canton, China, and had moved to the U.S. in 1994 when he was a 12-year-old boy. He had joined the NYPD in 2007 after majoring in accounting at The College of Staten Island. The couple had only married in September and were 'looking forward to having [their] own family', according to an earlier statement. 'He was an asset to the police department, using his Chinese language skills whenever and wherever it was needed,' read the statement. Funeral arrangements for Liu have not been announced, but his parents - who have been described as 'distraught' at losing their only son - are receiving help from authorities so that family members can travel from China to attend the service. Fallen: Officers Weinjen Liu (left) and Rafael Ramos (right) were shot Saturday while eating lunch in a patrol car in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn . Mayor Bill de Blasio visited both officers' families on Monday and urged New Yorkers to stop anti-police protests in the wake of the officers' assassination during a press conference . Mayor Bill de Blasio visited both officers' families on Monday and urged New Yorkers to stop anti-police protests in the wake of the officers' assassination. He stressed the city's focus should remain on the grieving families. 'This is a time for every New Yorker to think about these families. Focus on these families. Put them first,' de Blasio said during a press conference on Monday afternoon. 'We can do that by respecting their pain, respecting their time of mourning. Until these funerals are past, let's focus just on these families, and what they have lost. I think that's the right way to try and build towards a more unified and decent city.' The mother of the gunman who murdered two NYPD officers on Saturday has also extended her condolences to their families and said she is 'deeply sorry' for her son's actions. Speaking on Monday, Shakuwra Dabre, 54, of Brooklyn said she identified with the families pain because she too had lost a son. 'I am still deeply sorry about what happened at the hands of my son,' she told the Daily News . 'And please accept my deepest condolences, sincerely. Shakuwra Dabre, 54, of Brooklyn extended her condolences on Monday to the families of the two murdered officers and said she was 'deeply sorry' for her son's actions . Dabre said that her son had struggled with mental illness his entire life and had repeatedly refused attempts by the family to try and help him. 'Unfortunately, this situation happened and it culminated in the end of his life and the tragic loss of two innocent police officers,' she said. Dabre was out running errands on Saturday when she was alerted that her son was in trouble by the estranged mother of his child. She raced home and when she scanned the news on her laptop she saw a photo of a man lying on a stretcher accompanying a story about the shooting. 'I knew he was dead when I looked. I knew. He was gone. I knew he was my son,' Dabre told DNA Info through tears. When Dabre first saw the picture of her son on the stretcher, she didn't know he had shot and killed Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, she said. 'I was so torn when I saw him on that stretcher,' she said. 'Then I found out too that he did that. And I was horrified. Because I didn't want no loss of nobody's life.' Mourning: Eric Garner's 22-year-old daughter Emerald Snipes visited a memorial to two slain NYPD officers Monday, expressing her condolences to their families . Farewell: NYPD officers saluted while visiting the memorial to officers that had grown at the site of the police slaying . 'As a mother now I hurt for the loss of my son. Just like they're hurting for the loss of their sons.' The daughter of Eric Garner, whose chokehold death at the hands of a cop sparked mass protests against the NYPD, also offered her support for the family of two murdered officers on Monday. Emerald Snipes, 22, laid a wreath at the site where a cop-hunting gunman killed Officers Rafael Ramos and Weinjen Liu, and said she knows how it feels to spend the holidays without a father. 'I just had to come out and let their family know that we stand with them, and I'm going to send my prayers and condolences to all the families who are suffering through this tragedy,' Snipes told ABC. Assassin Ismaaiyl Brinsley used her father's death as justification for gunning down two innocent officers over the weekend. Snipes told the New York Post she visited the Ramos family. She also described being moved by a Facebook post from 13-year-old Jaden Ramos, expressing his grief over the death of his father. 'It hit my heart,' Snipes told the New York Daily News while she laid the wreath. 'I know how it feels in this season to not have your father around.' Prayers: A memorial for Officers Rafael Ramos and Weinjen Liu, who were shot while sitting in their patrol car by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, gathered wreaths and prayer cards from those expressing sorrow for the killing . Memorial: Snipes was joined by Dominique Sharpton, daughter of Rev Al Sharpton, who has been vocal about calling for protests in the wake of Garner's death by chokehold by a plainclothes NYPD officer . 'Today I had to say bye to my father,' Jaden wrote in his Facebook post. 'He was the best father I could ask for. It's horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer.' Snipes was joined by Dominique Sharpton, daughter of Rev Al Sharpton, who has been vocal about calling for protests in the wake of Garner's death by chokehold by a plainclothes NYPD officer. 'I was never anti-police,' she added. 'Like I said before, I have family that's in the NYPD that I've grown up around, family reunions and everything so my family you know, we're not anti-police.' Tensions have escalated after the shooting by 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who wrote 'They take 1 of ours...let's take 2 of theirs' and referenced the deaths of Garner and Mike Brown on an Instagram post he made while traveling to New York from Baltimore. Some of the bitterest rhetoric has come from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association and its president Pat Lynch, who told reporters there was 'blood on many hands' on Saturday. Lynch placed blame on the mayor, Bill de Blasio, and protesters for the killing, his words echoing a memo circulated among officers, reported by the New York Times to be from the PBA, and stating the NYPD would now be a 'wartime police department.' Ramos's funeral is now scheduled for Saturday and the family will have a viewing Friday in Glendale, Queens. Family members of Liu are arriving from China, and his services have not been announced. | Group of 5 shouted about Eric Garner beside the memorial for slain officers . It came as Pei Xia Chen, the widow of of murdered NYPD officer Wenjian Liu, spoke to the media on Monday evening . Fought back tears as she expressed her support for the family of Officer Rafael Ramos - the other officer shot and killed on Saturday . 'This is a difficult time for both of our families, but we will stand together and get through this together,' she said . The couple had only married in September and were 'looking forward to having [their] own family' | de86e5fb76201f4aece4c78b01ae6aa1ddae961a |
A father-of-four who picked up a laptop from PC World only to find it had a large scratch down the side seconds after leaving the store has hit out at workers who told him it couldn't be replaced. Dale Covell, 32, said he was shocked when a manager allegedly accused him of scratching it himself - despite having just picked it up from being repaired at the store in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Mr Covell originally paid £380 for the HP laptop last month but after a number of technical problems, took it in to the Trinity Retail Park store to be fixed last week. He said he noticed a large mark down the side of his laptop after collecting it but was told by workers that the firm was not responsible for the damage because he had 'stepped outside the store'. Scroll down for video . Dale Covell found a large scratch on his £380 HP laptop after collecting it from being repaired at PC World in Bolton, Greater Manchester. The firm initially denied responsibility but has now given him a new laptop (above) He dropped his relatively new laptop off at the store to be repaired and only discovered the new scratch after collecting it a short time later. He said he returned to the store but staff said it wasn't the firm's responsibility . The finance director said he went back inside the shop to report the problem but was told that because he had left the store, the firm would not accept responsibility for the damage. He said: 'To say they wouldn't replace it because I stepped one foot out of the door is a disgrace. 'I was still on their land. When a damage report was done on it when I initially dropped it off, the scratch wasn't there.' However, it appears bosses at the store later had a change of heart and offered him a replacement. Mr Covell, 32, alleged that a store manager had accused him of causing the damage to his laptop himself . PC World has since apologised to the father-of-four and has given him a replacement higher-spec computer . A spokesman for Currys & PC World said: 'It is unfortunate that Mr Covell feels he had a poor experience in our store. 'We offered him several like-for-like replacement laptops as well as the option of a slightly higher-spec model. Mr Covell opted for the latter. 'Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do.' | Dale Covell, 32, took his £380 HP laptop to PC World in Bolton to be fixed . Father-of-four returned to collect it but found scratch had appeared on side . He realised damage as he was leaving store and returned inside to complain . But workers said firm was not responsible because he had stepped outside . PC World bosses later had a change of heart and offered him a replacement . | 02a5be9ef76af63c2e0c8cea2091d964cc743874 |
A 17-year-old West Virginia girl was sentenced Wednesday for helping her friend stab and bury their high school classmate in the woods in 2012 as part of a teenage murder plot that captivated the nation with its ice cold senselessness. While Rachel Shoaf asked the court for its forgiveness just before she was handed 30 years in state prison, her chilling admission that they'd done it 'because they didn't want to be friends with Skylar anymore' still resonate, especially with Skylar Neese's father. 'She’s not sorry—she’s sorry she got caught,' said a shaken Dave Neese following the case's second, and last, sentencing. 'That’s the only thing she’s sorry for.' Rachel Shoaf pleaded guilty to murdering her friend Skylar Neese in July 2012 for no apparent reason other than she didn't want to be friends with her anymore. She was sentenced to 30 years in March (pictured) 'Absolutely not': The victim's father Dave Neese did not offer forgiveness and said 'she¿s sorry she got caught. That¿s the only thing she¿s sorry for' 'She¿s not going to get out when she goes up for (parole) anyway': Dave Neese said he was hoping for a 40 year sentence but wasn't concerned when the judge gave Shoaf (pictured) 30 years . Rachel Shoaf, along with her friend Sheila Eddy, lured 16-year-old Skylar Neese out of her house in July 2012, before stabbing her to death and hiding her body in a Pennsylvania wood. Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced in January to life as part of a plea agreement that makes her eligible for parole after 15 years. Shoaf pleaded guilty last May to second-degree murder in the July 2012 slaying. She'll be eligible for parole after 10 years. Dave Neese told wvmetronews.com that he and his family had been hoping for a 40-year sentence but said ten years wasn't going to make much of a difference. 'She’s not going to get out when she goes up for (parole) anyway,' he declared. At Neese's side was Monongalia County Prosecutor Marcia Ashdown, who believed justice has been done. 'I feel satisfied that we were able to accomplish a reasonable amount of justice for both of these girls. I feel satisfied that Dave and Mary (Neese) did not have to face the ordeal of a trial.' Before she was sentenced, Skylar's . father, Dave Neese, addressed the court, saying he was 'speaking on . behalf of my daughter because she can’t be here'. 'We . are no longer a family. You can see the faces of the killer, but you . can’t see Skylar’s face. You can’t imagine how Mary and I now feel,' Mr . Neese said, according to WV Metro News. 'The person sitting before you, Skylar's so called friend, took her away from us without any remorse or feelings,' Sheila Eddy, pictured in court in October, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her friend in March this year . Prosecutors said the pair plotted to kill their friend, Skylar, but a motive for the brutal murder has never been revealed. The nearest explanation came from Shoaf, who allegedly told police the girls no longer wanted to be friends with Skylar. Eddy refused to address the court other than to say guilty. Neese's father later said he found her silence 'unacceptable'. Her lawyer said it wasn't a signal of any lack of remorse. Michael Benninger said both Eddy and her family are 'eternally sorry'. according to the observer-reporter. What went wrong?: The three girls were said to be inseparable friends before Neese was stabbed to death because the two teens allegedly no longer liked her . Tribute: Sheila Eddy posted this tribute to Skylar Neese (on the left in each photo) on Twitter before being arrested for her murder . Prosecutors claimed Eddy and Shoaf . lured Skylar out of her ground-floor bedroom in Star City and drove her . to a secluded spot near the unincorporated West Virginia community of . Macdale. They said the girls then stabbed her to death at an agreed-upon moment. Authorities . said the girls covered the body of the University High honors student . with branches when they couldn't bury her, and left it in a wooded area . across the Pennsylvania border for months. The . break in the case came in January last year, prosecutors said, when . Shoaf finally cracked and told investigators what had happened and where . to find the body. Speaking . at Eddy's sentencing, Skylar's family revealed how their daughter's . friend had comforted them and joined in their grief to try and cover her . tracks. Skylar's aunt . Carol Michaud said: 'She came and acted as if she knew nothing. She . pretended and stayed with us and comforted us and swore she had no idea . what was going.To come to this day and admit she did just shows how evil . she can be.' Though Eddy's name was no secret in . the community, authorities didn't make it public until September, when . they transferred her case from juvenile to adult court. Skylar was initially considered a runaway and no Amber Alert was issued to publicly notify people of her disappearance. Last . year, the Legislature tweaked the state's Amber Alert process that had . limited it to cases where a child is believed to be abducted. The . revised law requires law enforcement to relay initial reports of any . missing child to state police, regardless if the person is a runaway. Amber Alert personnel would then decide whether or not to issue an . alert. Devastated: Skylar's parents Dave and Mary Neese hold up a photo of their murdered daughter . | Rachel Shoaf, 17, of Morgantown, West Virginia apologized for killing Skylar Neese in July 2012 before she was sentenced Wednesday . Shoaf and her friend, Sheila Eddy, lured their 16-year-old from home, stabbed her to death and dumped her body in the Pennsylvania woods . Shoaf told police they did it 'because they didn't want to be friends with Skylar anymore' Skylar's father Dave said Shoaf is 'absolutely not' sorry and hopes the killer remains behind bars well after she's up for parole in 10 years . | e6d91501c12a0f2e339a4d80197e45835baa8251 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Jailed: Maria Peguero, wife of baseball player Carlos Peguero, is beginning a year-long sentence for defrauding the wife of her husband's then teammate . The wife of a Seattle Mariners baseball player has been accused of using another Mariners' wife’s debit card online to rack up nearly $180,000 in online charges from Saks Fifth Avenue. Maria Peguero, wife of Mariners outfielder, Carlos Peguero, allegedly used the card of Sarah Hernandez, wife of Felix Hernandez, to make over 60 purchases between June and October 2012. She faces federal wire-fraud charges and could be sentenced to a possible 20 years in prison if found guilty, according to the Seattle Times. Hernandez and his wife are not named in the complaint but a source confirmed their identities. The crime was noticed by the card issuer, Morgan Stanley, which began to investigate when it noticed the delivery address on the transactions did not match with the billing address. Some of the transactions were as high as $11,000 and used to buy things like a Gucci handbag. Football star's wife: Maria, right, is married to former Seattle Mariners outfielder, Carlos Peguero, left . Victims: Mariners player Felix Hernandez, left, with his wife, Sandra, whose debit card Peguero used . Left a trace: Peguero’s email address for the purchases was traced to her Twitter and Flickr account in which agents found photographs of her wearing some of the items they believe were purchased illegally from Saks . Diamonds on the soles of her shoes: Peguero has posted pictures of her purchases on her Flickr picture sharing account under the name Versacegoldbarbie . 'Stolen' goods: She made nearly £200,000 in online purchases, according to sources and court documents . Bags galore: Peguero allegedly spent $1,750 on a Gucci handbag on Hernandez's card . Shopping spree: Peguero allegedly made more than 60 transactions between June and October 2012 . Morgan Stanley reimbursed Hernandez when the fraud was discovered and U.S. Secret Service, which oversees federal cybercrime, filed the charges in Tacoma, Washington. Hernandez allegedly told investigators she and Peguero shopped together online during that time and that Hernandez asked Peguero for help ‘due to [Hernandez’s] limited understanding of the English language’. Hernandez allegedly told investigators that Peguero had access to her credit cards during that time, according to the Seattle Times. Friends: Sarah Hernandez, right, here with husband Felix, allegedly told investigators she and Peguero shopped together online during the time the theft happened . Language barrier: Hernandez, pictured, asked Peguero for help to buy things online 'due to her limited understanding of the English language', according to documents . Easy access: Sarah Hernandez, right, allegedly told investigators that Peguero had access to her credit cards during that time . Star pitcher: Felix Hernandez plays #34 for the Seattle Mariners . Kept in the dark: Carlos Peguero said he did not know his wife, Maria, was committing fraud . Peguero’s email address was traced to her Twitter account in which agents found photographs of her wearing some of the items they believe were purchased illegally from Saks. In one picture, Peguero is sitting next to a Gucci handbag identical to one purchased from Saks through the Hernandez account for $1,750. Peguero is the youngest daughter of late MLB reliever Pedro Borbon. Carlos Peguero, who has played in 65 games for the Mariners since 2011, denied knowledge of his wife's activity, according to the Seattle Times. | Maria Peguero, wife of Seattle Mariners outfielder, Carlos Peguero, allegedly used the card of Sarah Hernandez, wife of Felix Hernandez, to make over 60 purchases . The spending happened online between June and October 2012 . Paguero faces federal wire-fraud charges and could be sentenced to a possible 20 years in prison if found guilty . Some of the transactions were as high as $11,000 and used to buy things like a Gucci handbag . Crime was noticed by card . issuer, Morgan Stanley, because . delivery address did not match billing . address . Carlos Peguero, who has played in 65 games for the Mariners since 2011, denied knowledge of his wife's activity . | 262ac3296d462f308efe5fcc5ae27be41727545b |
(CNN) -- At least 10 people were killed, and an unknown number remained missing Wednesday, after a boat authorities believe was used for human smuggling capsized off the coast of Florida. The Coast Guard said it rescued 26 people from a capsized boat off the coast of Florida. Almost all of the victims are believed to be from Haiti and the Bahamas, according to the U.S. Coast Guard -- which said a dangerous number of people was packed onto a small pleasure cruiser. The Coast Guard said it rescued 26 people from the boat, and searchers didn't know how many more people had been on the boat. "You don't put 26 people on a small boat. It was way overloaded, completely unsafe," said Capt. Jim Fitton, the Coast Guard's sector commander in Miami, Florida. "With smugglers, you have the potential for this because smugglers aren't interested in people's welfare. They're interested in making money." The boat capsized about 15 miles east of Boynton Beach, Florida, some time around 2 a.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard said. The agency was notified more than nine hours later by someone who saw the boat. There were women and children on the boat, Fitton said. A pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, while most of the victims remained onboard a Coast Guard cutter that was being used in the continuing rescue efforts, he said. Only eight of the people rescued by Wednesday afternoon were wearing life jackets. The Rev. Luke Harrigan, a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, pastor to members of the Haitian community who is working with the Coast Guard, said he is contacting family members of the victims who were killed. "Most of them now didn't even know they were coming to the United States," he said. "Sometimes the person organizing the trip doesn't even tell them where they are going." He said it's not uncommon for smugglers to charge people from the impoverished island nation as much as $4,000 for passage into the United States. Coast Guard rescuers were continuing to search the area of the crash Wednesday evening. | Coast Guard rescues 26; searchers unsure how many others missing . Almost all of the victims are believed to be from Haiti and the Bahamas . Boat capsized about 15 miles east of Boynton Beach, Florida . | ce6b2dce0fc1254d3e591979948fd1ec1a604beb |
By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 20:37 EST, 11 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:02 EST, 12 September 2013 . BBC presenter Susanna Reid turned up the heat on her breakfast show yesterday by flirting with a rock star 15 years her junior during an interview. The 42-year-old star raised eyebrows during her chat with Arctic Monkeys band member Alex Turner, which led to her telling him: ‘I bet you look good on the dance floor.’ After watching Miss Reid playing with her hair during the exchange with the singer and guitarist, viewers immediately took to Twitter to express their astonishment about her ‘flirtatious’ behaviour. Scroll down for video . Something in your hair: BBC presenter Susanna Reid appeared somewhat flirtatious during an interview with handsome rocker Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys . Chemistry: Alex Turner was being interviewed to promote his band's fifth studio album AM . Get a grip: Reid, wore a denim jacket to interview the Arctic Monkeys singer, and spoke to Alex about his career and the possibility of going on Strictly Come Dancing . Miss Reid, who has three sons with her long-term boyfriend Dominic Cotton, is taking part in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was interviewing Turner, who is dating glamorous American actress Arielle Vandenberg, about the band’s album, AM, on BBC Breakfast yesterday. At the end of the five-minute clip, she urged him to join Strictly Come Dancing, referencing the band’s 2005 hit, I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor. She said: ‘When I said I was interviewing you, people did say, “would he do Strictly?” because they bet that you look good on the dance floor.’ Turner, 27, replied: ‘Of course... I should have been the one that said you look good on the dance floor.’ Happy in her work: Reid flirted her way through the interview . Reid's co-presenter Bill Turnbull looked bemused and said 'that was very laidback' Reaction: Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to comment on the flirty interview . Miss Reid then replied: ‘Except that I’m not sure that would be accurate. I look a bit of a mess on the dance floor’, before Turner flashed a smile and said: ‘I doubt that.’ As the interview ended and the camera cut back to the studio, Bill Turnbull, Miss Reid’s co-presenter, jokingly embarrassed her by saying: ‘Oh, you get such a rapport with him, don’t you? 'People never said to you "go on, ask him about Strictly".' An embarrassed Miss Reid laughed and replied: 'Don't deny it now, "ask him about Strictly" you said.' Mr Turnbull quickly moved on to the show's next item but went on to refer to Miss Reid's interview with Turner as an 'exhilarating encounter'. And he was not the only one to notice the flirty nature of the interview. All smiles: Ms Reid, who is appearing in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing was pictured leaving the BBC studios today . Embarrassed: Miss Reid laughed as co-presenter Bill Turnbull described the interview as an 'exhilarating encounter' The pair’s apparent chemistry was immediately noticed by viewers, while others pointed out her unusually casual denim jacket. Julian West wrote on Twitter: ‘The BBC Breakfast interview with Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner is the flirtiest thing I’ve ever seen. ‘Felt like quietly tiptoeing out of the room.’ Another viewer, Matthew Thomson, said: ‘So much sexual tension in that Alex Turner interview.’ Chris Holding added: ‘The Susanna Reid interview with Alex Turner was like ear-wigging on a clandestine tryst.’ In action: Alex Turner pictured on stage with his band Arctic Monkeys earlier this year . Tom Albrighton said: ‘Come downstairs to see Alex Turner flirting with Susanna Reid on BBC. Surreal.’ A show source said Miss Reid was displaying her usual interview style, adding: ‘Her style can be light and very friendly but to say she flirted is a little over the top.’ In 2010, Miss Reid’s interview with actor Hugh Grant led a viewer to complain she had behaved ‘like a 14-year-old on her first date’. The Arctic Monkeys’ fifth album, AM, is joint favourite – along with veteran David Bowie’s comeback album, The Next Day – to take the Mercury Prize this year. Acclaimed: Both the Arctic Monkeys's album AM, left, and David Bowie's comeback The Next Day, right, are vying for this year's Mercury Music Prize . | Miss Reid was seen playing with her hair while speaking to the singer, 27 . The singer was appearing on the BBC to promote his band's album . Viewers took to Twitter to express astonishment at her 'flirtatious' nature . Miss Reid is currently taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing . | 96db43d2418ae9ad9c21c135daca6251d30dd580 |
The decision to grant permanent observer status to China and five other nations by the Arctic Council meeting in Sweden Wednesday reflects the heightened interest by some of the world's most powerful economies in an area rich in oil, gas, minerals, fish and new transport possibilities. For new observer nations China, Japan and South Korea, shorter shipping routes to Europe through Arctic waters could open up prospects of new energy supply options later this decade, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Yamal Peninsula in northwest Siberia. It could also lessen China's dependence on oil and gas shipped from the Middle East, which must pass through the Southeast Asian chokepoint of the Strait of Malacca. Allied to China's interest of getting oil and gas delivered from new pipelines across Myanmar and Central Asia, the potential of the Arctic trade routes loom large in China's strategic thinking. Five years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) described the vast Arctic continental shelf as potentially the "largest unexplored prospective area for petroleum remaining on Earth." A new U.S. Arctic policy unveiled by the Obama administration last week cites that 2008 study, which estimated that about 13% of the world's undiscovered oil and 30% of its undiscovered gas lies north of the Arctic Circle. In a 2012 update, the USGS put the mean undiscovered estimate of recoverable oil in Russia's Arctic provinces alone at 28 billion barrels, plus about 27 trillion cubic meters of gas. China is keen to be more than just a customer for this Russian oil and gas. In February, the heads of China's three state-controlled oil and gas majors -- China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), Sinopec and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) -- met one of Russia's most influential players in the energy sector, Igor Sechin, chief executive of state-owned oil company Rosneft. The following month, Rosneft struck a deal with CNPC, giving it access to Arctic resources. The Arctic Council, made up of the United States, Russia, Canada and the five Nordic nations -- Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland -- was set up in 1996 to coordinate policy in a resource-rich but environmentally sensitive part of the world. Before Wednesday's decision there were already six observer states: the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands. Now the permanent observers are being joined by China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore and Italy, meaning that all of the key Asian economies now have a seat at the Arctic table, even though they will not have a vote on the Arctic Council. The European Union, the other major body seeking observer status, had its application affirmed but "deferred," a rebuff that is likely related to an unresolved dispute with Canada over the fur seal trade. Both China and India already have polar research stations in the northern part of Norway, as do most of the other observer nations. The Arctic's importance has gained extra strategic and economic significance as melting ice in the polar region strengthens the feasibility of nations to use the Northern Sea Route (NSR) across the top of Russia and the Northwest Passage through Canada's Arctic archipelago. Canada claims the passage, which links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, runs through its internal waterways. The U.S. and other countries contest this, maintaining it is an international strait. For China, the main transportation focus is the NSR, which runs along the northern coastline of Siberia from Novaya Zemlya to the Bering Strait. It is open only for about five months of the year, from late June to November or early December, and requires icebreakers to cut a path through the Arctic ice for specially strengthened oil and gas carriers. But the route cuts as much as three weeks from shipping times between Europe and Asia. For example, Murmansk to China's Ningbo port near Shanghai is 13,000 km via the NSR, compared with 22,000 km via the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean and Strait of Malacca. In August to September last year, China sent its one and only icebreaker Xue Long (Snow Dragon) on a successful two-way test run of the NSR. It plans to add a second icebreaker to its fleet in 2014-15. Over the past two sailing seasons, Russian oil and gas companies have tested the route for gas condensate and LNG shipments. In June 2011, Novatek, Russia's biggest non-state gas company, sent 60,000 tons of gas condensate from Murmansk to the Chinese port of Ningbo aboard the MV Perseverance on a three-week voyage. At the end of 2012, Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom sent a 66,000-tonne cargo of LNG from Statoil's Hammerfest terminal in Norway to the Japanese port of Tobata between November 7 and December 5. The route was cleared by three Russian icebreakers. For now, the NSR is still very much in a test phase. According to the Centre for High North Logistics, an Arctic-focused information center based in Kirkenes, Norway, 46 vessels used the NSR in 2012, carrying about 1.26 million tons of cargo. That was an increase of more than 50% from 2011. China envisages exporting consumer goods aboard container ships to Europe and receiving LNG cargoes via the NSR. Novatek, for example, is building a new port at Sabetta on the Yamal peninsula to service the LNG trade to Asia, with expectations of first gas in 2016 and exports of 15 million tons a year by 2018. The NSR's shortcomings are considerable: a short sailing season, the cost of hiring icebreakers, the operational hazards of extreme northern waters and the environmental risks of oil spills, collisions or sinkings. Even so, this Arctic shipping route is likely to be the focus of intense interest by China over the next decade. | Six nations have been granted permanent observer status by the Arctic Council . China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore and Italy became permanent observers . The EU's bid has been "deferred", possibly due to an unresolved dispute with Canada . Melting ice in the Arctic region has opened up the North Sea Route, cutting shipping times . | def110f830a4e01bdbd97eeea9a77a8abce4d1a0 |
By . Pa Reporter . Ahead of this weekend's Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats... Here is all the information you need for Manchester City's home clash with Stoke... Manchester City vs Stoke City (Etihad Stadium) Kick-off: Saturday 3pm . Odds (subject to change): . Manchester City 1/5 . Draw 5/1 . Stoke 14/1 . Referee: Lee Mason . Managers: Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City), Mark Hughes (Stoke) Head-to-head league record: Manchester City wins 38, draws 22, Stoke wins 30 . Team news . Manchester City . Manchester City strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko are both fit for the Barclays Premier League visit of Stoke on Saturday. There were reports Aguero may have suffered a training ground injury this week, but the club have dismissed them and the Argentinian continues to build his match-fitness. Dzeko has recovered from the blow to a thigh sustained against Liverpool on Monday. Scoring non-starter: Despite failing to start a Premier League game this term, Sergio Aguero has already scored twice for Manchester City and is passed fit as the champions take on Stoke this Saturday . New £32million defender Eliaquim Mangala and loan midfielder Frank Lampard remain short of match-fitness while striker Alvaro Negredo (metatarsal) is out long term. Provisional squad: Hart, Caballero, Zabaleta, Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Nastasic, Boyata, Clichy, Kolarov, Silva, Nasri, Milner, Navas, Toure, Fernandinho, Fernando, Aguero, Jovetic, Dzeko. Stoke . On-loan Chelsea winger Victor Moses is likely to start on the bench at Manchester City on Saturday despite impressing on debut in midweek. The Nigeria international featured significantly in the Capital One Cup victory over Portsmouth, but is not yet fit enough to play 90 minutes. Pick me, boss: Victor Moses impressed mid-week but is unlikely to start at Manchester City . Utility player Geoff Cameron is out with a thigh problem sustained in the cup game, but defender Phil Bardsley and Bojan Krkic could be fit after being rested in midweek. Provisional squad: Begovic, Bardsley, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters, Sidwell, Whelan, Odemwingie, Arnautovic, Nzonzi, Biram Diouf, Sorensen, Wilkinson, Muniesa, Adam, Walters, Bojan, Crouch, Moses. Key match stats (supplied by Opta) Manchester City have conceded just five goals in 12 Premier League encounters with the Potters. Stoke have won just one of their 12 Premier League games against Manchester City, and none of the last 10. Manchester City have scored at least once in 69 of their last 70 Premier League home games. Sergio Aguero has played only 29 minutes this season but is the league’s joint-top scorer with two goals. Manchester City have scored at least two goals in each of their last 10 Premier League games. Lone striker: Yaya Toure (centre) scored the only goal in the two league meetings between the teams last season, pouncing with 20 minutes left to secure a 1-0 win for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium . The Premier League record for scoring 2+ goals in consecutive games is held by Man City (14 games in 2011). Stoke have conceded exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League games (W2 D2 L2) Stoke have played 12 Premier League games in Manchester (City & United combined) and lost all 12. Stoke have not kept a clean sheet in a Premier League away game since last December (at Hull City). Stevan Jovetic has scored three goals in his last three Premier League appearances, this after scoring two in his previous 12. | Manchester City strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko fit for visit of Stoke . Eliaquim Mangala and Frank Lampard short of match fitness for Man City . Alvaro Negredo remains long term absentee for Manuel Pellegrini's team . Chelsea's on loan Victor Moses likely to start on bench for Stoke City . Nigerian forward not fit enough to feature full 90 minutes at Etihad Stadium . Phil Bardsley and Bojan Krkic should be fit after being rested midweek . Geoff Cameron out with thigh injury from 3-0 win over Portsmouth . | ad64d8f4b351fa45fcd491c171982428ca4afa3b |
John Freeman, the former politician credited with inventing the television interview, has died at the age of 99 . Politician, magazine editor and pioneering television interviewer John Freeman has died, aged 99, it was reported last night. Mr Freeman was the last person living today who had been elected to Parliament in the landslide Labour victory of 1945, when he became the Labour MP for Watford. His loyal toast at the opening of Parliament prompted Winston Churchill to weep ‘all the best young men are on the other side now.’ But John Freeman was best known for his work on televison, in particular his series of Face to Face interviews on the BBC during the 1960s. He is often credited with having invented the political interview. Freeman’s face was never shown on Face to Face. Instead attention was focused on the subject of the interview, including merciless closeups, while viewers saw only Freeman’s back and the curl of smoke from his cigarette. He was renowned for his persistence and direct approach as an interviewer. Freeman’s own life was one of paradoxes. Born 19 February, 1915, the son of a Chancery barrister from whom he inherited his hard, analytical mind, it was reported that he was invited to eat with his father only once a week. Educated at Westminster School, he saw active service in The Second World War and was appointed MBE in 1943. He became a presenter of Panorama before editing New Statesman magazine and presenting Face to Face. Harold Wilson appointed him British High Commissioner to India (1965-68) and he became Ambassador in Washington DC (1969-71). He went on to become Chairman of LWT in 1971, serving until his retirement in 1984. Mr Freeman (pictured centre with Robert Kee, left, and William Rees Mogg, right, in the I.T.N. 1964 election studio) presented Panorama and Face to Face . Then, aged 69, he decided to move on again. Giving up everything he moved abroad with his third family to California where he became a visiting professor of international relations. He returned to the UK in 1990. John Freeman married four times and was known as something of a ladies man, conducting numerous affairs. In his professional life, however, he remained low key, and refused to embrace any form of celebrity. In 2005 he wrote: ‘When I retired from even the out reaches of public responsibility, I resolved to put that life completely out of mind – to forget it all, in fact.’ In recent years John Freeman had been living in a military care home in South London. | Politician and magazine editor John Freeman reportedly died last night . The 99-year-old is widely credited with inventing the television interview . Mr Freeman is best known for work including the BBC series Face to Face . | 6f0659e6ca8b4e07a091a00cb51bc115f570728f |
Jenna Miscavige left the church in 2000 and praises Leah for getting out for the sake of her young daughter . She says the church would usually try to 'smear' defectors but is now 'struggling' She has told of her traumatic childhood amid the murky realms of Scientology – prompting her to flee the church when she was 20. And today the niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige has revealed he will be extremely unhappy by the departure of King of Queens star Leah Remini – as it is ‘definitely not good PR’ for the organisation – adding: ‘PR for the most part is all they care about.’ Jenna Miscavige, an outspoken critic of the religion – having once dubbed her uncle David ‘evil’ - told MailOnline: ‘I’m really happy for Leah. I think it took a lot of courage on her part to do this so publically. It's fantastic.' Happy, now: Jenna Miscavige, the niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige, seen here with her young son Archie and husband Dallas, today said it was 'fantastic' news that Leah Remini had quit the Church . Kept from her parents: Jenna Miscavige has told how she was parted from her parents when she was just 12 . Speaking exclusively, Jenna, 29, a third-generation Scientologist who left the organisation when she when she was 20 in 2005, added: 'It’s fantastic that she got out – but to me, the best part is that she has a young daughter and it’s great she won’t have to be brought up in the church. ‘Scientology definitely does use . families in order to get people to do what they want them to do, they . know people care and love for their families. ‘So if they have to use the threat of possibly losing them in order to get them to tow the line they’ll do it.’ 'The Church is all about influence and control and defectors definitely don’t help that agenda' Jenna . said she had met Leah once, and when asked how her uncle would take the . news of her departure, she replied: ‘I’m guessing not very well! ‘There are so many things going on for the church right now and this is just another thing. ‘It’s definitely not good PR for them – and PR , for the most part is all they care about.' The daughter of Elizabeth and Ron Miscavige, Jr. Jenna was subjected to a childhood in the teachings of Scientology - and was separated from her parents from the age of 12. Now a happily married . mother-of-two living in San Diego, California, with her husband Dallas . and their two children three-year-old Archie and 13-month-old daughter . Winnie, Jenna said: ‘I think Leah’s brave, I’m really happy for her. 'The Church is all about influence and control and defectors definitely don’t help that agenda. ‘I . can imagine it’s been very stressful for Leah. But the Church is . struggling – in the past they would smear defectors and say bad things . about them, now people know these tactics. Troubled: Jenna Miscavige released a book on being brought up in Scientology earlier this year. She managed to finally leave the church when she was 20. ‘I think more recently they’ve got stuck in a weird place where they think ‘do we smear them or do we not?’ ‘I do think now it’s easier than ever to leave. It’s . becoming easier and easier to become vocal about the church, and look . at the all celebrities leaving like Lisa Marie Presley, Katie Holmes and . Paul Haggis. ‘All those people leaving makes it easier for Leah to go too. Good for Leah.’ At the age of seven, Jenna was admitted to the Sea Organisation, the branch of Scientology's most dedicated followers - and was forced to sign a billion-year contract that bound her immortal spirit (known as the 'Thetan' to a life of dedication to the Church. In April, she told the Independent: 'Looking back I feel completely brainwashed. I didn't even know what I liked or what sort of person I was. I was just a robot of the church.' Despite her tender age, Jenna was forced into gruelling labour for several hours a day from the age of six to 12, including digging trench holes for irrigation and rock hauling. And between the ages of 12 and 18, Jenna saw her mother only twice and father four times. They then left the religion when she was 16 – while she chose to stay behind, admitting she knew nothing else at the time. Actress Leah,43, made her dramatic break from the church this week. She had been a member for three decades - and is one of Scientology's most famous faces. 'Truly grateful': Actress Leah Remini thanked fans for their support after quitting Scientology this week. She's pictured here with husband Angelo Pagan and daughter Sofia Bella in August 2012. Friends in high places: Kings of Queens star Leah Remini chats to A - list star Will Smith at the People's Choice Awards in January 2005 . Starry eyed: Actress Leah Remini is friends with famous Scientologists Jennifer Lopez and Tom Cruise . Missing: Scientology leader David Miscavige has failed to answer questions about the whereabouts of his wifeShelly, who has not been seen in public since 2007, according to writer Tony Ortega's Scientology-focused website, The Underground Bunker . The star, who is married to Angelo . Pagan, with whom she has a nine–year-old daughter called Sofia Bella, is . also believed to have donated millions of dollars to the church. However, her relationship with Scientology . began to falter after she allegedly asked as to the whereabouts of . David Miscavige’s wife Shelly at the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie . Holmes in Italy in November 2006 – only to be told the question was out . of line. 'It's as much a mystery to me as it is to everyone' Jenna Miscavige on her missing Aunt Shelly . She also called . the management ‘corrupt’ and is said to have made a break from the . church after facing years of "interrogations" and "thought modification" for questioning leader David Miscavige's rule. The . star spoke out last night, saying: ‘I wish to share my sincere and . heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive response I have . received from the media, my colleagues, and fans from around the world. I . am truly grateful and thankful for all your support.’ When asked about Shelley Miscaviage today, Leah admitted her aunt’s departure remains ‘as much a mystery to me as it is to everyone.’ Escaped: Jenna Miscavige and her husband Dallas. Dallas was also a member of Scientology and the couple now live in San Diego with their two young children . Row: Leah Remini is believed to have incured the wrath of Scientology elders after asking where Shelly Miscavige was at the 2006 wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Rome . Jenna, who this year released her tome on her troubling childhood, called 'Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape', . Leah would have had to under go 'auditing' - Scientology’s form of counseling,where a church member holds the sensors of the . machine, which measures skin galvanism and is reflected in the motion of . a needle indicator. And Jenna said: ‘The confessional goes on for a long time, and as Leah probably realised, when you see that you didn’t do anything wrong, it becomes harder and harder to deal with it.’ Leah’s mother Vicki Marshall, is thought to remain an Operating Thetan Level Eight (the highest level of Scientology spiritual advancement) and Class Six Auditor, her stepfather, who is Operating Thetan Level Seven. TV star: Leah Remini made her name starring opposite Kevin James in sitcom King of Queens . However her parents and sisters are standing by her and have promised not to let the family break apart. However, Jenna says she is still banned from contacting the friends she grew up with, saying: ‘I have new friends now, and I still miss the people who I grew up with.' Despite being back in contact with her parents, Jenna added: ‘There’s no messing around, you really do completely get cut off.’ ‘I have my own family now though and it’s nice that I got out while I was still young enough.’ | Jenna Miscavige left the church in 2000 and praises Leah for getting out for the sake of her young daughter . She says the church would usually try to 'smear' defectors but is now 'struggling' Jenna admits she still has NO idea as to the whereabouts of David Miscavige's wife, her aunt Shelly - calling it a 'mystery' | 9db0cf44a5369b3436c3bb42574c1ef509b4e13a |
(CNN) -- Singapore's first public housing blocks built to be environmentally sustainable have become the testing ground for future projects. From afar, the high-rises of Punggol Eco-Town look unremarkable, but they are the first large-scale experiment to make public housing eco-friendly in Singapore, a tropical city-state that is hot year-round. Over 80% of Singapore's residents live in public housing, called HDBs, after the government agency that builds them. "What we have done is that we put in various eco friendly features that helps in terms of capitalizing on the wind, enhancing greenery, reducing energy consumption, water usage, how to promote waste recycling, et cetera, all in one development," said Ng Bingrong, the project director, Treelodge@Punggol. The eco-friendly methods range from commonplace and practical to highly innovative. Plant-covered roofs naturally lower the buildings' temperature, and the towers' orientation, facing away from the sun, helps too. Painting the buildings white helps keep them cool and bring in sunlight. But white walls also look dirty more quickly, so the government is testing self-cleaning paint, which breaks down grime as it is triggered by sun exposure. Alan Tan, the director of HDB's Environment Sustainability Research team says the project's variety of experiments will have wider implications for future housing in Singapore. "Punggol Eco-Town is in fact a living laboratory for us," said Tan. "This is where we test bed a lot of urban solutions for us to identify which of those are workable and for us to adopt, for us to introduce more to our public housing," Inside the apartments, tap water that goes down the drain is used to flush toilets. Solar energy powers elevators, lighting and water pumps. And various indicators placed around the buildings, like the ones found in the elevators that show the amount of solar energy being outputted, provide constant reminders to the residents of the different lifestyle they are living. But being eco-friendly comes at a higher price -- the sustainable buildings cost 7% more to build than traditional apartments. The cost concerns have also sparked fiscal innovation, pushing the government to think of ways to make the eco-friendly features less expensive. One solution has been to lease, instead of buy, the building's solar panels from private companies. "It's very difficult for the government to continuously provide the funding. So what we have done is that we will try to partner with the private industry," said Ng. Under the scheme, the government subsidizes start-up costs, while the solar energy companies install the panels, maintain them and sell back the energy to the power providers to recoup their costs. | Punggol Eco-Town is Singapore's first large-scale experiment to make public housing eco-friendly . The sustainable features range from practical to highly innovative . The government is leasing solar panels in a partner scheme with private manufacturers . It is hoped the project's variety of experiments will have wider implications . | 2ae88fc9f4e638858d4410fa5b0c6a1eb387f131 |
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu will boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony in protest at the transfer ban imposed upon the Catalan club by FIFA. The Catalans are not allowed to make any signings in the next two transfer windows because of a breach of rules relating to the signing of international players under the age of 18. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA's ruling after the Spanish giants failed with an appeal to overturn the ban, with Barcelona still relentlessly contesting the charge. Josep Bartomeu (above) will not attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony in wake of transfer ban . Luis Suarez's move to Barcelona was allowed while the club appealed against the ban on new signings, which is now in force after the CAS upheld the original sanction imposed by FIFA . Bartomeu has contacted Sepp Blatter to inform the FIFA president of his intended absence from the January 12 award ceremony and insists the club are to sever all ties with the governing body for the duration of the ban. 'FIFA has not told us who made the original charge and during the period of the sanction we will not maintain any institutional relations with them,' Bartomeu said at a press conference. 'I have sent a stern letter to Sepp Blatter and I will not be attending the Fifa Ballon d'Or gala set for January 12. Barcelona are not allowed to sign players for the next two transfer windows . Bartomeu said relations with FIFA will cease to exist during the period of the sanction . 'This is not the end of the matter. I foresee the Barca case becoming a watershed in the football world, just like the Bosman case. However long it lasts, we will not lose this case.' Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is on the three-man shortlist for football's top individual prize but is expected to lose out to Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. The club also have a number of players, including Neymar, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, who are in the running to be named in the Fifa FIFPro World XI. Lionel Messi (left) is on the three-man shortlist to be crowned Ballon d'Or winner on January 12 . | Barcelona are not allowed to sign players during the next two windows . Transfer ban relates to breach of rules over singing young players . President Josep Bartomeu will not attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony . | 0921e3a7bf9699273f44e69763a0706169ad8a9e |
Philadelphia (CNN) -- Philadelphia prosecutors say they may seek the death penalty against abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, who is charged with murder after allegedly performing illegal late-term abortions at a dirty facility. Authorities allege that some of the infants were born viable and alive during the sixth, seventh and eighth months of pregnancy and then were killed with scissors, which were used to cut their spinal cords. Prosecutors "did preserve the right to seek the death penalty at a later date by giving a notice of aggravating circumstances in court today," said Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, in a statement released Wednesday. The circumstances in this case are the deaths of people under age 12 and multiple murder charges . Gosnell, 70, faces eight counts of murder in the deaths of seven babies and a 41-year-old woman. Karnamaya Mongar died November 19, 2009, after overdosing on anesthetics prescribed by the doctor, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams. Gosnell's defense attorney, Jack McMahon, appeared in court Wednesday for the formal arraignments. Gosnell's presence was not required, and he was not in court. McMahon promised to "vigorously defend" Gosnell against the charges. Last month, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett fired a half-dozen employees and announced changes in two departments, calling state oversight of an abortion clinic where the deaths occurred "despicable." The Department of Health and the Department of State have primary oversight over such clinics. "This doesn't even rise to the level of government run amok. It was government not running at all. To call this unacceptable doesn't say enough. It's despicable,'' Corbett said. Seven employees from the Department of Health, as well as the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, a branch of the Department of State -- are no longer employed by the state, having either resigned or been terminated since the situation came to light, Corbett said in statement. In addition, four other former employees named in the grand jury investigation had previously resigned. District Attorney Williams earlier called the facility "a house of horrors" that performed "botched and illegal abortions" and was full of containers of fetuses' body parts. Six other defendants face charges. All had some role at the Women's Medical Society clinic, which was run by Gosnell and served mostly low-income minority women, Williams said. A grand jury investigation determined that health and licensing officials had received repeated reports about Gosnell's practices for two decades, but had taken no action, even after learning that women died during routine abortions, Williams has said. | Prosecutors may seek the death penalty against abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell . Gosnell faces murder charges for seven babies and one 41-year-old woman . Authorities allege infants were born alive and then killed with scissors . | 90fbdc844c5ef94511b1f3b84b4731f3271dc770 |
(CNN) -- In the smoggy cradle of China's industrial heartland, a heaving freight train gets set to depart along a modern incarnation of the legendary Silk Road trading route. This historic passageway was once worn into a dense chain of dusty trails by caravans of horses and camels carrying merchants and their many wares between continental Asia and Europe. Today it takes the form of a series of transnational rail tracks transporting the latest in electronic products and computer parts. Starting in the bustling mega city of Chongqing, southwest China, the 11,179-kilometer (6,946-mile) network stretches across six countries and vast unpopulated expanses all the way to Duisburg, Germany. See also: Could drones replace highways . "The railway (goes) through Xinjiang, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany and builds a new route for transportation," explained Dr Mu Huaping of the Chongqing Commission of Economy and Information Technology. "If (the city) wants to go global, the railway serves an important role," Mu added. Chongqing rising . For many companies with factories in fast-growing Chongqing, transferring items via rail to markets in Europe can be easier and quicker than sea freight from one of China's coastal ports. Mu points out that train journeys take just 16 days, comparing favorably to the more lengthy shipping routes where the costs and time of transporting cargo to the coast must also be added. Since the rail network opened in 2011 (as a joint venture between track operator DB Schenker, the Chongqing Holding Group and the state railways of China, Kazakhstan and Russia) an increasing number of multinationals have taken advantage of the facility, Mu said. U.S. computer giant Hewlett Packard claims to have shipped more than 4 million notebook computers to Europe by train during this period. As more industry heads towards China's vast interior -- and cities like Chongqing expand, creating greater wealth and consumer spending power -- many observers believe rail freight will become an even more appealing cargo-transport option. See also: 7 of the most entertaining airports . "I think it's a very bright future for freight rail transport," said Michael Binyon, a British journalist who has written extensively on the subject of what he tentatively refers to as the "Iron Silk Road." "It's the only way to avoid the long sea routes. Airplanes are very expensive (and) road is out of the question (because) the volumes are too small." "Rail transportation," he added can be "a very efficient way, and a fairly fast way, of moving large volumes of freight from China to Europe." Continental shift . While this contemporary route (which plots a more northern course than its historic Silk Road counterpart) has been in operation for two years now, rail routes between Asia and Europe are far from a new development. The Trans-Siberian Railway has been shifting goods and passengers between Moscow and Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast for just under a century, linking up with tracks in northern China and Mongolia along the way. In time, Binyon sees the potential for even more rail integration between the continents. He points to the Marmaray tunnel project (due to open later this year) that will marry tracks underneath the Bosphorous Strait, connecting Asiatic and European Turkey in the process. See also: 8 amazing transport projects . Organizations like the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia (UNESCAP) meanwhile have long sought to facilitate a vast Trans-Asian Railway network that could link the continents. This intergovernmental project has the backing of 22 Asian nations and proposes lines that would connect Thailand, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey to southern Europe, as well as a Southeast Asian network that could theoretically extend all the way from Singapore to Europe via China. A north-south corridor stretching from Russia through Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan all the way to the Persian Gulf port of Bandar Abbas in Iran is also cited by the U.N. group as a possibility. Keeping track . When it comes to actually building these lines, however, the reality is infinitely more complex than simply plotting the routes and laying down tracks -- as the UNESCAP project has discovered since it was agreed in 2006. According to Christian Wolmar, a rail historian and author of the forthcoming book "To the Edge of the World," all manner of operational challenges must first be overcome. "Individual countries tend to use different styles, technologies, signaling systems and gauges," Wolmar explained. "That means creating a link across several nations is problematic ... and incredibly expensive." "Then there is also the politics. Can you go through northern Turkey or Iraq or Iran? "But that's not to say they (trains) don't have benefits. There is fantastic potential as they are a relatively green and sustainable mode of transport and can take vast loads with just a couple of people driving a train," he added. See also: Where is the world's best airport? Binyon also notes these difficulties but concurs with Wolmar's final point. He highlights how the Chongqing to Duisburg route has already overcome some of the standardization challenges by having cargo containers transferred to cars with new gauges at relevant border crossings to meet varying national track requirements. "If you can simplify it, if you can unify customs agreements and if you can have a standard operating system with rules agreed by all those along the route," he said, then railways are "an extremely efficient way of moving large numbers of people and freight from one population center to the other." | A vast rail network links Chongqing in China to Duisburg in Germany . The network has echoes of the famous Silk Road trading route . The railway goes through China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany . | daa32d59ae8d0144558d09268f60aa4e1b0eb8f9 |
Parish priest: Pope Francis enjoys surprising his followers with phone calls to keep himself grounded . A widow ‘adopted’ by Pope Francis after losing two of her four children has told how he moves her to tears every time he calls her. The pontiff revealed in an interview that makes monthly phone calls to a grieving woman. As pope he has less contact with ordinary people and it gives him satisfaction to ‘act the role of parish priest’, he explained. Rosalba Ferri, 77, from Pesaro, Italy, lost her son Andrea Ferri when he was hit by six bullets, during a robbery at the petrol station where he worked, in June last year. Mrs Ferri had already had a son die many years before when he was a baby. She now cares for one son with Downs Syndrome and another who is in a wheelchair following a car accident. The heartbroken grandmother said that the unexpected phone calls move her to tears. She told Italian newspaper La Nazione: ‘He always surprises me. He says ‘Ciao Rosalba, it’s Pope Francis’. And I never know what to say. During the call I always end up crying. She added: ‘He asks me how I am and I say “Terrible: I miss Andrea.” He understands me. He says that a mother should never have to bury their child and he says that he thinks of me often.’ The mother-of–four, who goes to her son’s grave every week to talk to him, added: ‘We have never had such a good pope. He is a humble person. He really cares for those in need.’ Mrs Ferri says that she does not tell many people outside the family about the attentive phone calls: . She said: ‘I told the parish priest Father Mario and he said, “But the Pope never calls me!” And he said he will go with me to Rome to meet the Pope.’ Widow Rosalba Ferri, 77, said: 'I never know what to say. During the call I always end up crying' Francis apparently enjoys surprising those who write to him with unexpected phone calls. On New Year’s day he called a group of nuns in Spain and left a voicemail. Last year he called a pregnant Italian woman whose married boyfriend had unsuccessfully pressured her to have an abortion. The pope offered to personally baptise the baby when it is born. | Rosalba Ferri, 77, from Pesaro, Italy, had one son die at hands of robbers . She said: 'He surprises me. He says "Ciao Rosalba, it's Pope Francis"' Pontiff enjoys making surprise calls to his followers all over the world . | b6bbdc33e446cbb49e4680c3bfba190bc4456b5e |
Three men involved in a deadly terrorist attack on the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu have been executed by a firing squad. The men, all members of al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab, had been found guilty of killing civilians and masterminding the July attack, and were sentenced to death by a Somali military court. Pictures show the three men tied to poles shortly before they were executed by a firing squad in Mogadishu today. Scroll down for video . Punishment: Three men found guilty of involvement in an Al-Shabab attack on the Somali Presidential Palace are tied to poles ahead of their execution by firing squad in Mogadishu . The attack on July 5 saw al-Shabab insurgents attack the presidential palace with guns and bombs while President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was away. The militants entered the presidential palace by placing a car bomb near the entrance to the compound, after which the militants attacked from two directions, officials said at the time. A spokesman from al-Shabab said 14 government soldiers were killed, while a security official later added that nine attackers involved in the raid had been taken out. The images of the execution emerge as a roadside bomb detonated in a busy market in the Somali capital, killing three women, and wounding seven others. Execution: The men were sentenced to death as part of a series of executions of members of the Al-Qaeda linked militant group, as the Somali government cracks down on Al-Shabab . Possible retaliation: At least three women were killed and seven others wounded when a bomb hidden in a rubbish pit exploded in the Somali capital while they were cleaning the streets . Family and friends gather outside Medina Hospital to check on loved ones following the bomb blast in Mogadishu . It was not immediately clear who was behind the bombing, but it is possible it was a retaliation for the execution of the three al-Shabab fighters. The women killed in the blast were city workers, who were cleaning the streets when a bomb hidden in a rubbish pit exploded in the busy market sector known as Hodan district of Mogadishu, police said. ‘We heard a big blast, and then I could see the old mothers who were cleaning the scene lying, some of them dead and others screaming. 'The bomb was wrapped in a big, black plastic bag and then placed inside the rubbish along the Taleh street,’ Nuria Ahmed, a mother of four who lives near the scene, said. Nurses wheel a victim in to Medina Hospital following a the explosion near a busy Mogadishu market . Terror attack: A wounded Somali woman rests after being treated at Medina Hospital on Sunday afternoon . ‘I counted three dead and seven others injured. I was the first person who arrived for help. It is very unfortunate if mothers are the target.’ ‘A remotely controlled roadside bomb killed three female city cleaners and injured seven others in Hodan district. The militants hid the bomb inside a rubbish pit,’ Major Ali Afrah, a police officer said. African Union forces along with the Somali army launched a new offensive this year against al-Shabab, which is fighting to impose a harsh version of Islamic law on Somalia. Several towns have been taken back from the group, but officials say the Islamists still control large sections of countryside and some settlements, from where they have been able to continue their guerrilla-style campaign. The militants have also staged attacks outside Somalia, including one at a Kenyan shopping mall in September that killed at least 67 people. | Three al-Shabab members executed by firing squad in Mogadishu . Guilty of July attack on Presidential Palace in Somali capital . Meanwhile, roadside bomb kills three women at busy market . Seven were injured in the detonation in Mogadishu on Sunday . | 71652fc78e3cc296d24259dcf3f55347c023116b |
By . Ashley Clements . Follow @@Ashley_Clements . Andrea Pirlo refused to deny interest from Tottenham before conceding he wanted to stay at Juventus where he 'can win'. Tottenham had been reported to be showing an interest in Pirlo, who they had hoped would become a free agent, but the Italian has now signed a two-year contract with the Old Lady. Speaking at Italy's World Cup press conference, Pirlo said: 'Past interest from Tottenham Hotspur? I don’t know if Italian football is better than English football, but it was my choice to continue with Juventus, which is a place where I’m comfortable and where I can win.' VIDEO: Scroll down to see Italy star Pirlo doing tricks in training ahead of England clash . Snub: Andrea Pirlo (left) refused to deny that a move to Tottenham was on the cards . Talking tactics: Pirlo chats with Mario Balotelli and Italy's head coach Cesare Prandelli . Since leaving AC Milan in 2011, the 35-year-old midfielder has inspired Juventus to three successive Serie A titles and his performance has been rewarded with an extended contract. Known as an exceptional free-kick exponent, Pirlo scored six goals last season for the club. 'A beacon in the centre of the field and a torment for our opponents, with Pirlo pulling the strings Juve have racked up three consecutive league titles and added two Italian Super Cups,' Juventus said on their club website. 'For 131 games Andrea Pirlo has been the fulcrum of the side, the intersection through which every move passes. 'In three years, he's played his team mates through on goal 30 times, touching the ball at least once for every minute he's spent on the pitch (11,551 balls played versus his 11,344 minutes in action), with a pass completion rate of over 90 percent. 'Numbers that would read like science fiction for anyone else, but for the Professor, it's simply par for the course. And the lesson's not over yet..." The 2006 World Cup winner will again be Italy coach Cesare Prandelli's mainstay in Brazil as they seek to progress from Group D, which also contains Uruguay, England and Costa Rica.Italy open their World Cup campaign against England at Manaus on Saturday. Danger man: Pirlo was a thorn in England's side at Euro 2012 . Final fling: The 35-year-old will retire from international football after the 2014 World Cup . All smiles: Pirlo jokes around with Balotelli in training on Wednesday . Chasing shadows: England players couldn't get near Pirlo in Kiev . | Andrea Pirlo hints at offer from Tottenham . Italian midfielder has signed new two-year contract with Juventus . 35-year-old will retire from international football after World Cup . | aab3c523c6088689fa209e300d9175b629e7b078 |
A Russian historian who dug up the bodies of 150 dead little girls in order to mummify them and dress them up in stockings for 'birthday parties' is not mentally fit to stand trial, a judge has said. Anatoly Moskvin, 46, from the city of Nizhny Novgorod in central Russia, was arrested in 2011 after it emerged he had dug up at least 150 corpses of girls aged between three and 12. He then took the bodies home and turned them into a grisly collection of mummies, dressing the bodies and skeletons in stockings and dresses and even making one look like a teddy bear. Sick: Anatoly Moskvin, 46, from the city of Nizhni Novgorod in central Russia, was arrested in 2011 after it emerged he had dug up at least 150 corpses of young girls aged between three and 12 . Moskvin, who speaks 13 languages and was described in court as a 'genius', gave the mummified corpses names and organised birthday parties for them. All of little girls had died years earlier. A video made by Moskvin and found at his apartment by investigators showed a corridor cluttered with wedding dresses and bright, colourful clothes. In a room the camera zoomed in on the faces of the girls' faces, wrapped in light beige fabric. A voiceover on the video said: 'These dolls are made of mummified human remains.' Location: Anatoly Moskvin kept the bodies at his home in the Russian city of Nizhni Novgorod (pictured) Police said Moskvin also compiled up-to-date information about the lives of each girl he had dug up and printed off instructions on a computer for how to produce dolls out of human remains. His macabre obsession was discovered when his parents visited him after returning from holiday. A prosecutor spokesman said: 'After three years of monitoring him in a psychiatric clinic it is absolutely clear that Moskvin is not mentally fit for trial. 'He will therefore be kept for psychiatric treatment at the clinic.' | Anatoly Moskvin exhumed 150 corpses of girls aged between three and 12 . He dressed decomposing bodies and skeletons in stockings and dresses . Mummified the corpses, gave them names and even held birthday parties . Macabre obsession was discovered when his parents visited him in 2011 . Judge says he is not fit to stand trial and must be sent to psychiatric clinic . | 6cbcf7a0fe65c159c6df8962be8062815306b7d1 |
A 46-year-old woman reeling from a break-up shot dead her 15-year-old son Thursday morning, set her house on fire and then turned the gun on herself in a tragic murder-suicide her daughter says was 'preventable'. The bodies of Carla Gilliland and her son Parker Gilliland-Wampler were found inside their burning home on North Red Hill Road in Ellettsville, Indiana Thursday morning. On the morning of July 10, neighbors heard the sound of gun shots before they saw the Gilliland's home become engulfed in flames. The Monroe County Coroner ruled Parker's death Friday a homicide, and his mother's death a suicide. Scroll down for video . Murder-suicide: The bodies of 15-year-old Parker Gilliland-Wampler (lef) and his mother Carla Gilliland (right) were found inside their burning home on Thursday morning. Police believe Gilliland shot dead her son before setting the house on fire and shooting herself. Overcome with sadness: In the weeks leading up to the fire, Gilliland had allegedly become depressed due to domestic issues with Parker's father . Police believe Gilliland first shot dead her son, before starting the fire and then shot herself. Monroe County Sheriff's Detective Sgt Brad Swain said the family had been dealing with some 'domestic issues' involving Gilliland and Parker's father in the weeks leading up to the incident. He also said that Gilliland had made comments about wanting to hurt herself and her son. One witness told WTHR that Gilliland was having a hard time dealing with a 'family breakup'. 'She's just been sad lately, depress. Some issues she didn't share,' a neighbor named Angel said. 'Tried to help out as much as we could. It's just a tragedy. Warning signs: Police say they were called to the home Parker shared with his mother in the weeks leading up to Thursday's tragic incident . Police were even called to the residence sometime in the past few weeks when Parker expressed concern about his mom's behavior. However, police did not seem to intervene as the boy remained under his mother's guardianship. Sgt Swain did not provide details about the call since no report was filed. 'I would caution we have legal parameters to operate by, and child protective services has parameters they have to operate by, and they are restricting sometimes,' Swain said. 'There are situations where people have family matters and worries, and they may have expectations that can’t be met by public safety and social services, because we have to follow guidelines written in our laws and in our Constitution.' But Katie Gilliland, Parker's older sister, has shot back at Sgt Swain in a Facebook post, writing that her little brother told police his mother made threats on his life and they did not act. Trapped: Parker's sister Katie Gilliland says her brother told police in the last few weeks that he feared for his life, but that they made him stay with his mother anyway . 'You talk about these parameters you have to follow. But when a teenage boy tells a [S]heriff that his mom has a gun and wants to shoot him, your [sic] telling me it's in the [C]onstitution to make him stay with her. False. Katie elaborated about her brother's 'preventable' death on a GoFundMe page that has been started to raise money for funeral costs. 'I would like everyone to know. That the system failed,' she wrote. 'It failed me. And it most certainly failed my baby brother. CPS and [Sheriff's] department were aware that [P]ark was afraid for his life to be in that house...Yet they made him go back.' Parker was a star student and athlete at Edgewood High School, where he would have been a sophomore in the fall. His funeral was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and mourners were asked to wear their favorite superhero shirt in memory of Parker. Goodbye: Parker's funeral was held on Sunday, and mourners were asked to wear superhero shirts to honor the teen . | The bodies of Carla Gililland, 46, and her 15-year-old son Parker Gilliland-Wampler were found inside their burning Ellettsville, Indiana home on Thursday . Police believe Gilliland shot dead her son, set their house on fire and then turned the gun on herself in a murder-suicide . Parker's sister Katie Gilliland says he told police in the weeks leading up to the incident that he was scared of his mother, but they did not act . | 9f622108e0db4db5c3fae166057afde5fba464ef |
Adrienne Arieff went through three miscarriages before she learned she was unable to carry a child. Her search for a solution brought her to India, where she found a woman willing to carry her and her husband's embryo in a controversial practice known as foreign gestational surrogacy. After considerable soul-searching, Arieff traveled in 2008 to Anand, a city in western India that has earned a reputation in recent years as the capital of India's so-called "rent-a-womb" industry. The 36-year-old marketing specialist from San Francisco met Vaina, the 26-year-old married mother who would be her surrogate, and began fertility treatment at the Akanksha Infertility Clinic. Weeks later, Arieff's husband arrived in India for the final stage of IVF, setting the stage for the emotional journey at the heart of her new book, "The Sacred Thread: A True Story of Becoming a Mother and Finding a Family—Half a World Away." "Surrogacy advocates in the United States will tell you not to get involved with poor surrogates under any circumstances because it can lead to exploitation," she wrote in the book. "I initially disagreed with this line of thinking. Charges of "renting a womb" and exploitation have long tarnished the practice of surrogacy. But in my mind, a woman going through the risks of labor for another family clearly deserves to be paid. To me, this was not exploitation. This was a win-win, allowing the surrogate to have a brighter future and the couple to have a child. If my money was going to benefit an Indian woman financially for a service she willingly provided, I preferred that it be a poor woman who really needed help because the money that a surrogate earns in India is, to be blunt, life- changing." The book chronicles her struggle to cope with having a surrogate halfway across the world while fielding criticism from others over the decision to spend about $30,000 on the process, less than half of what IVF costs in the United States. She returns to India for the last six weeks of the pregnancy before the birth of her twin daughters, Emma and India, now 2 years old. Arieff spoke with CNN about the highs and lows of surrogacy and the unique bond that formed between her and Vaina. The following is a transcript of the conversation edited for length and clarity. CNN: How did you end up choosing a surrogate in India? Adrienne Arieff: After three miscarriages a doctor in San Francisco told me to consider surrogacy or adoption. My husband and I looked into domestic and international options and learned about Indian surrogacy from an article in the New York Times in 2008. We thought it was particularly interesting because I had a big connection to India from having spent time there and I loved the country. Plus, Dr. Nayna Patel [medical director of the Akanksha Infertility Clinic] went to a great medical school and had impeccable credentials. Ironically, Dr. Patel went to medical school in London with a high school friend of mine and then my world became smaller. That made me feel comfortable. Also, the medical contracts are much less complicated in India and price is less than half of what it is in the U.S. CNN: What were some of the moral and ethical dilemmas you had to confront in using a foreign surrogate? Arieff: I never wanted to exploit anyone and there's so much exploitation in India. I definitely wanted to make sure that my surrogate was really on board and wanted to do this and felt empowered as a woman to be doing something to help me and her family. The whole "womb for rent," that's where the medical contract and the business transaction side of things comes in, but after doing my research I felt comfortable that she was helping me because she wanted to and I was helping her. You have to be an advocate for yourself and surrogate and I always made sure she was OK. I wanted her to feel special because for the rest of your life I was going to put her on pedestal. With a lot of clinics in India you never meet the surrogates and that's weird, so there are definitely a lot of horrible things that happen in India with surrogates. It's big business but like with anything, you have to do your homework and be really smart about what you're getting into, financially, professionally and personally. So yes, there is a lot of corruption and exploitation with surrogacy in India but that was not the case in our journey. I was surprised by some of the criticism I got from people, especially ones who knew about my infertility and our history with miscarriages. This wasn't the way we'd planned it or wanted it. But still, it was shocking sometimes to hear the judgments in spite of everything we'd been through. CNN: At what point did you write a book based on your experience? Arieff: The book doesn't seek to change anyone's mind. I had a really positive experience and just wanted to share it. When I was considering surrogacy, I ended up buying 30 books, but they dealt with a lot of minutia of the process. There weren't many books from the point of view of the surrogate or the others involved. This was going to start out as a diary for our girls so they'd know how much we wanted them. It turned into a book because when I started telling people I was doing surrogacy I had so many friends call and e-mail with questions. It got a little out of hand. Because the questions were all so similar I thought maybe I will write a book about this and it was such an easy process and even while writing the book I wondered, should I be doing this? But in the end it turned out very powerful. I started taking notes around the IVF time of things [in India] because I really wanted to remember everything. I tend to forget if I don't write it down. I wanted to have all their questions answered if they had a lot of questions. CNN: What were your expectations? Arieff: I just wanted everything to be OK because I didn't think it was going to work. I was so sad from the chaos and loss I'd already experienced in trying to have children so I was very cautious with expectations. I knew I would only want the best for her and to feel some kind of bond with her for carrying to term, but I ended up feeling like her big sister. I wanted her to be comfortable, happy and safe. I just wanted to take care of her and make her feel as safe and comfort as possible. Maybe that's friendship but it felt like sisterhood. CNN: How did the relationship evolve? Arieff: When I first met her it felt like a business transaction. She needed some money for her family, it was the equivalent of 10 to 15 years of salary and I had fertility challenges so it was win-win, but initially it felt like more business transaction. It's surrogacy, it's not ideal but we came up with a business agreement for both parties. I saw her for the first time in the beginning. After I left, we'd exchange e-mails through a translator and Dr. Patel would send photos during the course of the pregnancy. One of the most challenging things was the distance. When your surrogate's in the U.S. you're able to talk to her every day and you're free to be engaged in her life so I didn't have that option, which was really sad and unfortunate because I really wanted to feel connected to the pregnancy. I had been pregnant before, once until very far in, so it was hard for me. If I could do it all over again I would stay in India the whole time. I think it's such a big part of the process and that was definitely a huge challenge for me. When I couldn't do it any longer I got on a plane, and I was so happy that I did. We'd do things like braid each other's hair, do each other's makeup. We don't speak the same language so the relationship was based on these basic human principles and exchanges. We'd take short walks, watch movies, some Indian films. I got this drum set, and we played that a couple of times. Music, we really bonded on music and had fun making fools ourselves. There were lots of iPhone films and looking at films together and sitting around doing nothing. We'd look at magazines I'd brought. I think her favorite was when I bought Toblerone chocolate. CNN: This was not your first trip to India. How did the purpose of this visit color your impressions of the country? Arieff: The first time I was doing it all in hotels and it was very touristy and I loved it, but it was very touristy. This time I was really staying there for an extended period of time so it was nice to slow down in the crazy country and get to know it as someone staying for extended period of time. It gets under your skin because there's so much going on but people are so warm and everyone's not on their iPhone constantly. The tech industry is the south, Bangalore. In western India, where I was, it was slow and quiet. You hang out and talk and just enjoy being there and that brings you into that whole spiritual place. When I returned both times, people thought I was following a guru because they were not used to me being calm. I was happy to be in a slower-paced setting with kind people. People's homes are more basic and it's more about family and religion. | Adrienne Arieff develops bond with surrogate in India who gives birth to her twin daughters . "The Sacred Thread" describes emotional toll of having surrogate on other side of the world . Arieff defends so-called "rent-a-womb" industry, says it was a win-win situation for all sides . | 1c4a495da1652ac6d799a7a08f2c486fad6696e8 |
By . Kieran Corcoran . 'Self-harming': Oscar Pistorius's family has said loneliness led to his ill-advised appearance in a Johannesburg nightclub . Oscar Pistorius's family have said he was involved in an 'unwise' nightclub brawl because of his 'self-harming behaviour' and 'extreme levels of emotional pain'. The South African athlete, 27, was approached in an exclusive Johannesburg club on Saturday and 'aggressively interrogated' about his ongoing murder trial. Pistorius - a double amputee who has competed in the Olympics and Paralympics - was allegedly shoved over during the drunken encounter with racing driver Jared Mortimer at the VIP Room night club. Both men accuse each other of starting the encounter, and a spokesman for Pistorius has denied the incident was a 'bar brawl'. In a statement issued today, Pistorius's uncle Leo called his decision to go out in public 'unwise', and another example of his 'self-harming behaviour'. The athlete stands accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot and killed at his luxury Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year. His lawyers - who claim the killing was in self-defence - finished their defence at the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria last week, and the case has been adjourned until August 7. In the statement, Leo Pistorius said: 'Oscar is grappling with an extreme level of emotional pain that is manifesting itself in some of his recent unwise actions and choices'. 'Those of us closest to him have been witness to his escalating sense of loneliness and alienation. This, we believe, is underlying some of his self-harming behaviour.' Pistorius's spokesman has previously confirmed the encounter took place and said the athlete 'regrets... inviting unwelcome attention' by appearing in public. She said: 'The individual, according to my client, started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial.' 'An argument ensued during which my client asked to be left alone. Oscar soon thereafter left the club with his cousin. Even though Oscar Pistorius could be jailed for life if found guilty of murdering Reeva Steenkamp, there is nothing to stop him drinking and clubbing while on bail. Pistorius was judged not be a 'flight risk' when he was first granted bail for 1million Rand (£54,000) in February 2013. Originally there were conditions stating that he could not drink while on bail and had to be supervised, but after a challenge from his defence team these conditions were dropped and he need only inform police when he wants to leave the country. South African police were said to be probing the incident, but, according to the eNCA news channel, prosecutors are not concerned about the incident as it has 'no bearing' on the murder trial. 'My client regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention.' According to Mr Mortimer, however, the athlete – known as the Blade Runner because of his carbon fibre prosthetics – was 'drunk and very aggressive' at the VIP Room night club. He said he prodded Mr Mortimer in the chest while telling him 'you’ll never get the better of me'. Mr Mortimer also told The Star newspaper that the athlete insulted the family of Jacob Zuma, the South African president. Mr Mortimer told a gossip website that he then shoved Pistorius, sending him falling backwards into a chair, which prompted bouncers at club in the exclusive Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, to intervene and break up the row. The incident comes just days after Pistorius’s defence team closed its case in the lengthy murder trial. Pistorius denies deliberately killing Reeva Steenkamp and claims he shot her accidentally after mistaking her for a burglar. The runner could learn his fate as early as next month. Mr Mortimer told The Juice website he . was introduced to Pistorius by a mutual friend and that the athlete . immediately began talking about the friends who had turned against him, . including Danny Fresco who gave evidence against Pistorius at his . trial. Jared Mortimer, a racing driver, pictured with Nelson Mandela, said Pistorius was 'drunk and very aggressive'. He said he prodded Mr Mortimer in the chest and said 'you'll never get the better of me' VIPs only: The VIP club, situated in the tower pictured in Sandton. According to Mr Mortimer, the duo's altercation happened here . He said: 'He was going on about how . influential his family is and how connected they are. He even pulled out . his phone to show me pictures of armoured cars.' Mr . Mortimer told The Juice that Pistorius poked him in the chest several . times. He said: 'He said you’ll never get the better of me. I’ll always . get the better of you.' During . the trial, the court heard extracts of a psychologist’s report which . found the athlete suffered from post-traumatic stress and severe . depression since the incident. Anneliese Burgess, the spokeswoman for Pistorius, told the Telegraph: 'They sat in a quiet area of the private VIP section when they were approached by the individual. 'The . individual in question, according to our client, started to . aggressively engage him on matters relating to the trial. An argument . ensued during which our client asked to be left alone. The brawl came after the athlete posted a wave of bizarre tweets, including this one in which he attached a collage of . photographs of him helping children with disabilities like his own . Salvation from pain: In another, he posted a photograph of a page from . Victor Frankl's memoir (left), Man's Search for Meaning, in which the Austrian . psychiatrist recounts his time as a prisoner at Auschwitz death camp. He finally posted one asking for God to heal pain (right) 'Oscar left soon thereafter with his . cousin. Our client regrets the decision to go into a public place and . thereby inviting unwelcome attention.' Pistorius has rarely been seen in public since the fatal shooting on Valentine’s Day last year. However, . over the weekend, not only was Pistorius out for a drink with his . cousin, but he also took to his twitter account to share a bizarre mixture of . images and messages with his followers. The series of tweets included photos of him posing with children and a passage from the memoir of an Auschwitz survivor. The . last time he left a message was on February 14th, the first anniversary . of the day he shot dead Miss Steenkamp through the bathroom door of his . Pretoria home. In one . of the tweets, he posted a photograph of his finger resting on a page . from Victor Frankl's memoir, Man's Search for Meaning, in which the . Austrian psychiatrist recounts his time as a prisoner at Auschwitz death . camp during the Second World War. The passage included the words: 'The salvation of man is through love and in love. 'I . understood how a man who has nothing left in this world still may know . bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the contemplation of his . beloved.' In another . tweet, he attached a collage of photographs of him helping children with . disabilities around the passage: 'You have the ability to make a . difference in someones life. 'Sometimes it's the simple things you say or do that can make someone feel better or inspire them.' Finally, . the South African known as 'The Blade Runner' posted a message that . read: 'Lord, today I ask that you bathe those who live in pain in the . river of your healing. Amen.' Pistorius . faces 25 years to life in prison if he is found guilty of murdering his . law graduate and model girlfriend Miss Steenkamp, whom he shot and . killed at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year. He . could also be sentenced to a shorter prison term if convicted of murder . without premeditation or negligent killing. Additionally, he faces . separate gun-related charges. Pistorius faces 25 years to life in prison if he is found guilty of murdering his law graduate and model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot and killed at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day last year . Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel says the prosecution will file closing arguments on July 30 and the defence will do so on August 4. The 27-year-old athlete says he killed Steenkamp by mistake, thinking an intruder was in the toilet and about to attack him. The prosecution says he shot her after a Valentine's Day argument last year. Pistorius . was born without fibulas, the slender bones that run from below the . knee to the ankle. Part of his lower legs were amputated when he was 11 . months old. Last week saw Mr Nel challenge the credibility of a physician who testified that the athlete has an anxious nature linked to his disability. Mr Nel said the defense witness, physician Wayne Derman, could not be objective about the double-amputee runner. The defence maintains that Pistorius has a deep sense of vulnerability because of his disability and a fear of crime, and it was a factor in the killing because he opened fire after thinking an intruder was in his house. Under questioning, Derman acknowledged that his testimony did not amount to a 'forensic report' but disputed Mr Nel's assertion that he could not give credible evidence because he was too familiar with Pistorius, having treated him over many years and traveled with him extensively. | Amputee sprinter, 27, made 'unwise' nightclub appearance on Saturday . Was allegedly shoved over in 'aggressive' encounter in Johannesburg . Pistorius stands accused of murdering Reeva Steenkamp last year . Trial adjourned last week after Pistorius's lawyers finished their defence . His family say public appearance was because he is 'lonely and alienated' Uncle Leo Pistorius described it as latest example of 'self-harming behaviour' | 4b932fab2257b90a9510e410c1e4338a6ff87d00 |
By . Wills Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:11 EST, 31 January 2014 . Victim: Spencer Bell, 71, pictured with his wife Wendy, died after getting out to help a man who had jumped off a bridge over the M1 . A good Samaritan who was killed when he stopped on a busy motorway to help a man who had leapt from a bridge was named yesterday as great-grandfather Spencer Bell. The selfless 71-year-old got out of his car on the M1 near Watford to go to the aid of the man, but was hit by another vehicle. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene of Thursday’s accident. Mr Bell’s family, from Bushey, Hertfordshire, said: ‘Spencer was the most loving, funny and generous person. ‘Everyone who knew him loved his quick wit and kindness. ‘We cannot imagine life without him, he always had a smile on his face and loved life. ‘Knowing he died in such a selfless way is no comfort. But we would not have expected anything else of him.’ He was married with three children. The other man who died has been identified as Alan Trethewey, 67, of Watford. Police said Mr Bell was one of a number of motorists who stopped to help Mr Trethewey as he lay in the middle of the carriageway. Witnesses at the scene described Mr Bell's heroic actions as the horrifying events unfolded in front of them. Coach passenger Rebecca Martin, a . theatre manager from Manchester, said: ‘We came to a screeching halt and . found out a man had jumped from the bridge in front of us. ‘I . thought it was a car crash at first, but there was no bang. I knew . something was very wrong straight away. The man's family said today 'We cannot imagine life without him, he always had a smile on his face' Scene: Police officers set up a screen on the M1 near Herefordshire after the two men died. The lorry was not thought to be involved in the incident . Recovery operation: A silver Audi was seen being towed away from the area after the incident . 'We were just three or four cars . behind it. A car stopped and a man got out to help and was hit by . another car.’ ‘It’s awful. It was bad enough that one person fell off the bridge, but then to find . out that a guy who stopped to help was killed is just so sad. 'He . was obviously a very courageous guy – a real hero.’ The 32-year-old . added: ‘I don’t know what I would have done in that situation. ‘It’s nice to know there are lovely people out there who would do something like that.’ After the crash, Rupert . Gadd, from the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire police . road crash investigation unit, said: ‘A male is known to have jumped . from the bridge parapet on to the carriageway. Road closed: Hertfordshire Police and the East of England Ambulance Service were called to the incident on the northbound carriageway near Junction 5, close to the village of Bricket Wood, at about 10.45am . Location: The incident happened near Junction 5 of the M1, close to Bricket Wood in Hertfordshire . | Spencer Bell, 71, had stopped to assist a man who jumped from bridge . Was struck by another vehicle on the M1 near Hertfordshire . Family said: 'Knowing he died in such a selfless way is no comfort' Other victim identified by police as Alan Tretheway, 67 . Police say other motorists also got out to help man lying in the road . | 9cd7ef06d369e339c24de9eea276b16adb88275a |
Out of sorts: Czech president Milos Zeman . scratches his head at a public display of the crown jewels in . the St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle . The new Czech president has denied being drunk in a video of a state event which shows him clearly the worse for wear. Footage shows Milo Zeman propping himself up against a wall, struggling to negotiate a step and being helped by a cardinal at a rare and highly-ceremonial public display of the Czech crown jewels last week. The president makes no secret of his drinking. But on this occasion his office insisted he simply had a virus and subsequently needed a day or two of rest. Since then, the video has prompted a storm of social media gags. Czechs - by far the biggest beer drinkers in the world per capita - have been posting pictures of themselves in bars getting drunk with slogans like, 'Here I am getting a virus', or 'Heading out for a virus'. His taste for the hard stuff does not go down well with all Czech voters though. One commenter on a YouTube clip showing the footage called the president a 'disgrace', while another said: 'This makes me wanna cry... whole world will laugh again.' Mr Zeman, 68, a chain smoker and lover of fatty foods, often extols the virtues of booze. On one occasion, he praised Winston Churchill for his love of whisky and pointed out that Adolf Hitler was a teetotaler and vegetarian - 'and you know how he ended up.' During a 1996 election campaign he said his campaign bus 'drove on gas and Becherovka,' a popular Czech liquor. Two years later he became prime minister. Scroll down for video . Overcome with patriotism? Mr Zeman, standing next to Cardinal Dominik Duka, Archbishop of Prague, inspects the Crown of Saint Wenceslas at Prague Castle. His performance has sparked a wave of online gags . 'Judge for yourself: Miroslava Nemcova, far left, the speaker for Parliament's lower house and one of seven holders of the keys to the crown jewels, was the only person to comment on Mr Zeman's condition . A tabloid in the Czech Republic once . claimed he told the paper he would drink on average six glasses of wine - . plus three shots - on any given day. It looked as if he may have had several more on the day of the viewing of the crown jewels. He is seen fighting to keep his head up and his eyes open. As he peers over the jewels, he leans heavily over the altar at Prague Castle's St Vitus Cathedral on which they are arrayed. In video of the event broadcast on Czech TV, Mr Zeman can be seen closing his eyes in front of the cameras . As he stumbled into the chamber where the crown jewels are kept, he had to prop himself up against a wall . As he peers over the jewels, he leans heavily over the altar at St Vitus Cathedral on which they are arrayed . And as he walks away, he has trouble with a small step and needs to lean on to a chair for support . And it is not the first time that Mr . Zeman had been apparently inebriated in public. Another video of Mr . Zeman taken earlier this year shows aides forced to help him . clamber from his car as he arrives at an event. His effusive geniality in this film suggests that, this time at least, he was not suffering from a virus. But something is clearly wrong as he . stumbles over a step and nearly slams face first into the floor, just . managing to catch himself on a chair where he slumps down and lights a . restorative cigarette. In a video of another occasion uploaded to YouTube, Mr Zeman can be seen stumbling up some stairs . The video then shows aides forced to help him clamber to his feet from a car seat arriving at another event . Officials rush to help the Czech president as he stumbles down some steps and towards a chair . He catches himself at the last minute, then slumps into the comfortable leather seat and lights a cigarette . Mr Zeman's unsuccessful rival in this . year's presidential election, the nobleman Karel Schwarzenberg, couldn't . help but take a swipe at his opponent's taste for alcohol. 'Milos . Zeman was in my opinion one of the most intelligent prime ministers . this country has ever had,' Schwarzenberg said during the campaign. 'And had he not drunk so much he'd have been a really good prime minister.' Bur Mr Zeman insists he's so used to . drinking that it never has any ill effects, and he has openly challenged . anyone to prove otherwise. 'If anyone has ever seen me drunk in my life, tell me when,' he said during the presidential election campaign. Miroslava Nemcova, the speaker for Parliament's lower house and one of seven holders of the keys to the Czech crown jewels, was the only person at last week's event to comment on Zeman's appearance. 'I saw what you saw,' she was quoted as saying on the Lidove Noviny daily's website Friday. 'Judge for yourself.' | Footage shows Milos Zeman clearly the worse for wear at a rare public display of the Czech crown jewels . But the president's office insisted he simply had a virus and needed a day or two of rest to recover . | 5d04626f2659db75c47ea304fbe58b70e446453c |
(CNN) -- Numerous Arab governments have used violence to quash demonstrations in the wake of mass protests in Egypt, a leading human rights group says in a new report. Human Rights Watch, which says it conducts "rigorous, objective investigations," issued the report Tuesday alleging clampdowns by Palestinian leadership, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. "Images of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt have mesmerized the Arab public but have terrified their rulers," Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement. "They have responded with their usual mix of repression and intimidation to nip the buds of any wider democratic blossoming." Human Rights Watch said the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, "used violence against peaceful demonstrators" during a rally last week in which people were supporting the Egyptian protesters. "Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that regular police and 'special forces,' identifiable by their uniforms, punched, kicked, and detained participants, as well as at least two journalists and a Human Rights Watch research assistant," the report said. The report added that on January 30, the Palestinian Authority shut down a solidarity demonstration. Hamas, which controls Gaza, "quashed a solidarity demonstration on January 31," Human Rights Watch said. "The police arbitrarily arrested six women and threatened to arrest another 20 people, who had responded to a call on Facebook for a demonstration, as soon as they arrived at the Park of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City." CNN reported on the January 31 demonstration, in which Hamas security broke up the event and detained some female protesters. CNN has also reported on the Palestinian Authority breaking up two attempts to stage small rallies. The Palestinian Authority said participants did not have government permission for the rallies. Witnesses said participants were pushed and shoved, and some were detained. Later, both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas allowed some events supporting solidarity with Egypt to take place. On Saturday, Palestinians demonstrating in support of Egyptian anti-government protesters, at an approved event in Ramallah, were forcibly dispersed when a few dozen men in civilian clothes disrupted the protest. A spokesman for the Palestinian Authority security services, Maj. Gen. Adnan Dmeiri, told CNN that that demonstration "had all the permits needed, and it is our duty as the Palestinian security to protect the demonstration, which the police and the security did. Our duty is to protect and serve the people." Human Rights Watch said that in Syria, security services briefly detained five young demonstrators at three different protests, and that on February 2, "a group of 20 people in civilian clothing beat and dispersed 15 demonstrators who had assembled in Bab Touma in old Damascus to hold a candlelight vigil for Egyptian demonstrators. Police nearby failed to intervene, one of the gathering's organizers told Human Rights Watch. "When demonstrators went to the local police station to file a complaint, a security official insulted and slapped Suheir Atassi, one of the main organizers, and accused her of being a 'germ' and an agent of foreign powers. Syria's security services had summoned more than 10 activists to pressure them not to demonstrate." Syria had no immediate public response to the report on its state-run news agency, SANA. A representative of the Syrian Embassy in Washington had no immediate response. In the United Arab Emirates, Human Rights Watch said, state security arrested Hasan Muhammad al-Hammadi, who "had spoken out publicly in solidarity with the Egyptian demonstrators" during a mosque sermon. "He remains in detention." UAE officials did not immediately respond to a call from CNN. In Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch said, "security forces briefly arrested between 30 and 50 demonstrators in Jeddah" on January 28, according to reports. "Police arrested demonstrators as soon as they gathered, with dozens of others scattering." Saudi Arabia had no mention of the report on its state-run news agency, the Saudi Press Agency. The Saudi Embassy in Washington had no immediate response. In Yemen, Human Rights Watch said, "police and military forces used live and rubber bullets to disperse protesters on February 3. Six people were injured and 28 arrested, the Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights reported." Mohammed Al-Basha, spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, told CNN on Wednesday that the February 3 protests were generally peaceful. "There were some incidents" in which "demonstrators physically provoked police officers" or destroyed properties, and those demonstrators were detained, he said, adding that most were later released. "Live ammunitions are never shot directly at any demonstrators," he added, saying that sometimes authorities will shoot into the air to disperse crowds, such as when they get close to a government building. On Monday, Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mujawar told CNN his country is "democratic" with a "democratic regime," and accused opposition parties of "trying to duplicate what happened in Tunisia and Egypt, and act as if it should be imposed on the people here in Yemen." In Sudan, Human Rights Watch said, "authorities used excessive force during largely peaceful protests on January 30 and 31 in Khartoum and other northern cities to call for an end to the National Congress Party (NCP) rule and government-imposed price increases." "Witnesses in Khartoum and Omdurman reported that armed riot police and national security personnel dispersed groups of protesters using pipes, sticks, and teargas, injuring several people and preventing some people from joining the protests. Some protesters threw rocks at riot police, but most were peaceful, witnesses said. The majority of those arrested were released within hours, but more than 20 are still missing and believed to be held by national security forces." The Sudanese Embassy in Washington responded that the country "affirms and protects the right of the citizens to demonstrate as they wish, provided that people abide by the rules and regulations in place, guidelines meant to ensure public order and safety." In a statement, the embassy said "some opportunists capitalize" on incidents aimed at maintaining safety "to inspire chaos or smear Sudan's image." "A few zealous individuals from both sides of the aisle might act in a way that contravenes the right to free expression," the statement added. The protests might reflect "genuine grievances relating to the economy," which the government recognizes, the Sudanese Embassy said. "But for effective results, order must prevail, not chaos." U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports have criticized all these governments, to various extents, for cracking down on protests or dissent. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom, Jennifer Fenton and Kevin Flower contributed to this report. | NEW: Sudan responds that it protects the right to demonstrate . Human Rights Watch official says governments are using repression and intimidation . Group cites Palestinian leadership, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen . Yemeni spokesman says protests in his country have been generally peaceful . | abf826a4ae85f80c2e6976209c94c736999dafac |
Tomas Berdych and his model girlfriend Ester Satorova have announced the news of their engagement ahead of upcoming Australian Open match against Jurgen Melzer. The men's seventh seed, Berdych and the Czech model began dating in the autumn of 2012 after his long-time relationship with WTA player Lucie Safarova ended. Clearly excited about the news, TV presenter and model Rachael Finch, who interviewed the duo for Australia's Channel Seven, shared the news on her Instagram page along with a shot of a gondola. Tomas Berdych and his model girlfriend Ester Satorova announced their engagement . Satorova showed off her stunning engagement ring during the interview with Rachael Finch . Berdych sported a very big grin as he walked along holding hands with his fiancée . She wrote: 'Botanical Gardens, Melbourne where I just interviewed Tomas Berdych and Ester Satorova to announce their engagement! Congratulations to the glowing couple!' The Australian Open Twitter page also shared the news stating: 'Love and love' along with a picture of the two making their announcement. An earlier tweet on their page read: 'Is that the sound of wedding bells we hear? Congrats, they're getting married everyone.' Satorova looked her usual perfectly groomed self wearing a pair of gold loafers with white cut-off shorts and a chic light pink blouse. Her fiancé sported a very big grin as he walked along in casual black jeans and T-shirt. The couple were all smiles after publicly announcing they were engaged . They posed next to a gondola in the Botanical Gardens to announce their big news . Speaking about dating a non-tennis pro last year, Berdych said: ‘Actually, yes, I see a big difference. 'I mean, in the past I was saying that it's probably the best thing just that we are both from the same thing. I didn't have any other experience. ‘But now I can say that this one is way better because, you know, I think it was too much tennis. 'If you do it like myself, and I'm dealing with everyday work that you have to play, practise, organise this stuff, then winning, losing, handle this situation, it's quite tough to have it from one side. 'If you have to deal with the same thing from the other side, it was quite too much. He added: 'So I'm really enjoying that, that it's different, that I met somebody with a different life. It's a nice experience.’ Berdych and his model girlfriend Satorova made the announcement during an interview with Finch (far right) The pair were like two teenagers as they walked along after making their happy news public . Finch shared this shot of the spot where she interviewed the tennis pro and his lady love . | Tomas Berdych began dating Ester Satorova in the autumn of 2012 . The tennis star announced news of his engagement in interview . Berdych takes on Jurgen Melzer in the Australian Open on Wednesday . | 85120f5402c795669315e6eada7b2158cf929254 |
Lupita Nyong'o went undercover in shades and a hoodie as she jetted into New York on Thursday. The 31-year-old headed to the Big Apple after it was revealed the $150,000 pearl dress she wore to the Oscars had been stolen from her Hollywood hotel room. On Friday it was reported CCTV cameras were not trained on the area surrounding the door of Lupita's room - meaning the footage has not helped police with their inquiries, according to TMZ. Despite the drama of this week, Lupita managed to raise a smile as she met with airport greeters at JFK - but ducked questions from reporters over the incident. Scroll down for video . Dress down: A casual Lupita Nyong'o arrived at JFK Airport in New York on Thursday after it was revealed her $150k Oscars dress had been stolen from her room at a Hollywood hotel . Looking on the bright side: The actress still managed to raise a smile as she walked with airport greeters . Undercover: The actress was wearing a a grey coat over a hoodie, teamed with a pair of shades . Lupita was a causal traveller, wearing a grey coat over a hoodie; she was also hiding behind a large pair of shades. On Thursday it was reported that her custom Calvin Klein gown created by Francisco Costa, featuring 6,000 pearls, had been stolen from her room at The London hotel in West Hollywood. She told police it went missing between 8am and 9pm on Tuesday while she was out, TMZ reports. Authorities are now searching CCTV footage for answers. Stolen: Lupita dazzled in the Calvin Klein pearl dress at Sunday's Oscars in Los Angeles . Calvin Klein Custom Made Gown . Shop Calvin Klein at Nordstrom! Visit site . And they say diamonds are a girl's best friend! Well Lupita Nyong'o proved that pearls are the only way to go with her stunning embellished gown. With over 6000 pearls hand-sewn onto this walking work of art, it's a gown fit for Oscar night if ever we saw one. A right pearler, you might say! The custom made dress is by Calvin Klein, designed by Francisco Costa, which Lupita teamed with Nicholas Kirkwood heels and Chopard jewellery, cementing her status as a red-carpet pro once and for all. Ok, so we might not be able to get our hands on a frock encrusted with just as many pearls as Lupita's, but there are plenty of pearl embellished numbers out there on the high-street. Asos's dress in our edit below is perfect for channeling Lupita's red-carpet look! ASOS Pearl Embellished Body-Conscious Dress . Visit site . Jill Jill Stuart Embellished Trim Crepe Dress at Saks Fifth Avenue . Visit site . River Island White Pearl Embellished Drop Waist Dress . Visit site . DKNY Pearl Embellished Dress at Farfetch . Visit site . A spokesperson from the LA Sheriff's Department told Us Magazine on Thursday: 'I can confirm a dress was stolen from the London Hotel that belonged to the actress Lupita Nyong'o," 'We believe it was taken sometime during the day yesterday. We are looking at every scenario; when the cleaners go to clean the rooms they do it with the door open so that's a possibility.' They added, 'Currently we are still investigating, detectives are interviewing and looking for witnesses.' A special dress: The custom gown featured 6,000 pearls and was taken from Lupita's room at the London Hotel sometime on Tuesday . The London also confirmed the incident: 'This is a terribly unfortunate situation, and we are working with law enforcement on their investigation.' On Wednesday the actress shared a timelapse video of her pre-Oscars prep which shows her with her style team in her hotel room getting her glammed up before the big event. And the morning after the Oscars, Lupita shared a snap of her beautiful accessories she'd worn for the the night and captioned: 'That was cool! #Oscars 2015 #DiamondsAndPearls' Scene of the crime: TMZ reported that the dress was likely taken from The London Hotel between 8am and 9pm while the actress was out on Tuesday. Police are sifting through CCTV footage . Laid out on top of her frock were some stunning Chopard jewels and satin Nicholas Kirkwood heels alongside a silver box clutch. Lupita returned to the Oscars after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress last year for her work in 12 Years A Slave. 'This year the pressure's off,' Lupita told E! host Ryan Seacrest during the E! red carpet show. She added: I can just dress up and enjoy the show' The actress was recently attached to the film Queen Of Katwe based on the true story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi. What a collection: The morning after the ceremony Lupita shared a snap of the beautiful accessories she'd worn and captioned: 'That was cool! #Oscars 2015 #DiamondsAndPearls' | CCTV footage has been reviewed - but it doesn't show anything . Cameras were not trained on the area surrounding actress' hotel doorway . | c1d78db4ba1dfdcc53665e06a2a4521e162339c0 |
By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 07:25 EST, 20 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:33 EST, 20 July 2013 . Actor Richard E Grant has launched a furious expletive-laden Twitter tirade against Mini Cooper after his daughter's steering wheel allegedly locked on a motorway. The Hollywood star claimed the car was 'a timebomb' and said it was a 'nightmare' that his only daughter was driving the vehicle. His angry rant resulted in him telling his 60,000 followers that he had 'clenched fists and bared gnashers' . Angry: Actor Richard E Grant has launched a furious expletive-laden Twitter tirade against Mini Cooper after his daughter's steering wheel allegedly locked on a motorway. He is pictured with daughter Olivia . Fury: Richard E Grant's tweets reveal his anger and frustration with Mini Cooper . Referring to Mini Cooper, he added: 'I hope the f*****s will rue the day!' in a clear nod to a famous quote by his character in the hit cult film Withnail and I. In one of his most memorable roles as Withnail, he says: 'Then the f***** will rue the day'. His Twitter rant appeared to start after he was told his insurers would refuse to pay for repairs to his daughter's car, which would cost more than £1,000. He also said Mini . Cooper refused any culpability. Writing on Twitter yesterday afternoon, the actor, said: 'Here's . the Kafka: my daughter's Mini Cooper's steering locks on motorway - 1 of . the 200,000+ to do so. 'Repair will cost over a grand. Mini . Cooper refuse any culpability. Insurers refuse to pay for repair 'as car . didn't crash'. Yeah right! Social networker: Famous for his appearances in films such as Gosford Park and Bram Stoker's Dracula, the actor fired off 13 furious tweets . Unhappy: The actor claimed his daughter's car was a 'timebomb' 'So she is left car-less, huge repair bill and Mini carry on as per. SHAME ON THEM ALL.' Famous for his appearances in films such as Withnail& I, Gosford Park and Bram Stoker's Dracula, the actor fired off 13 furious tweets. One was also directed to the firm's own Twitter feed. He said: 'Let me . count the ways in which your car has gone wrong since I trustingly . gifted it to my precious daughter to "steer" her way ahead.' He added: 'The . customer's always right? Wrong - if you're unlucky enough to have . bought a Mini Cooper between 2001-7. Always the customer's fault? F******!” 'What . would Thames Ditton Mini Cooper branch do if u crashed through their . plate glass & said 'The steering locked?'” Hit: Richard E Grant is pictured with Paul McGann & Richard Griffiths in cult classic Withnail & I . Sporty: Grant claims his daughter got into difficulties while driving on a motorway .This is a file picture of a Mini Cooper . 'You can bet your copper bottomed Calvin Klein's that . they'd say, it's not our fault, it's BMW's. Or yours for buying the . 'wrong' model or 'leaves on the track'. 'If YOU - BMW/Mini Cooper were me, what would YOU do? Put your hand up & PAY UP? Betcha their 'computer says NOOOOOOOOO!' 'It's . the nightmare of my Only Daughter driving this Timebomb/Mini-Cooper . with locked steering that's done my head in. The 'What if' of it all. 'Why . should you have to threaten legal action or whatever when it's a . manufacturing defect? Clenched fists & bared gnashers set to . Grrrrrrrrr!” As reported by The Daily Telegraph, a spokesman for Mini Cooper said it was liaising with the actor. The spokesman said it did not yet know the causes of the alleged problem. The BBC show Watchdog investigated alleged power steering failures in Minis in 2009. At the time, it was claimed 223,000 Minis bought between 2001 and 2007 were affected, with motorists claiming the car’s system cutting out abruptly. A spokesman from the company told The Daily Telegraph the vehicles had been investigated and were found to have no safety risk. | Star called the car 'a timebomb' during furious rant to 60,000 followers . Actor said it was a 'nightmare' that his only daughter was driving it . Accused his insurers of refusing to pay for car's repairs . Also said Mini Cooper refused culpability . | e3c62b4054582d7ddd16124b87bed88ac7155745 |
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 11:24 EST, 6 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:50 EST, 7 March 2013 . The extraordinary number of football players suffering from brain damage has rocked the NFL - but the league's boss is worried that the scandal could go even further. Commissioner Roger Goodell has apparently admitted that a player could die in the middle of the game, and is 'terrified' that such an incident could wreck the sport's reputation for ever. The NFL chief is now working with players, team owners and even the Army in a desperate attempt to improve the league's safety record before tragedy strikes. Fears: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is said to be worried about the prospect of a player dying on field . Since taking over as NFL commissioner in 2006, Mr Goodell has worked to improve the league's reputation in this regard, introducing new regulations and harshly punishing the New Orleans Saints over their 'bounty' programme. A profile of the 54-year-old in ESPN The Magazine reveals that he is nonetheless haunted by the prospect of a player dying on the field thanks to a head injury. 'He's terrified of it,' a former player who knows Mr Goodell told the magazine. 'It wouldn't just be a tragedy. It would be awfully bad for business.' While football has always been a . violent and potentially dangerous game, the issue of player safety in . both the short and long term has recently come to the fore. A . number of former players, including Dave Duerson, Junior Seau and Ray . Easterling, have committed suicide over the past four years after . sustaining repeated concussions throughout their careers. Super Bowl: But America's most popular sport also has a dark side with the issue of player safety . Chuck Hughes is the only NFL player to have died during a game - he collapsed on the field with a heart attack while playing for the Detroit Lions in 1971. Many athletes in other sports have died while playing, notably soccer player Marc-Vivien Foé who collapsed and died during a game for Cameroon in 2003. NFL officials including Mr Goodell have often tried to downplay the dangers of their sport, though they have simultaneously worked hard behind the scenes to make it safer. The league has been working with the U.S. Army in an attempt to record players' concussions better, according to ESPN, and could adopt military technology embedded in soldiers' helmets which gathers data on every concussion sustained. Death: Linebacker Junior Seau killed himself last year after suffering brain damage from repeated concussions . Mr Goodell has received praise from NFL team owners - who collectively employ him and pay him nearly $30million a season. New York Giants boss John Mara said: 'Player safety is Roger's number one priority. It's something, quite frankly, that he wants as part of his legacy as a commissioner.' But others are more sceptical - lawyer Peter Ginsberg claimed that the commissioner 'doesn't view individual players as anything more than commodities for the business'. DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association, who has often clashed with Mr Goodell, even accused him of endangering players by pushing to expand the season to 18 games. 'It is diabolically brilliant,' he told ESPN. 'It also happens to be completely inconsistent with health and safety.' | Former player who knows the NFL boss said he's 'terrified' it will happen . Suicides of brain-damaged ex-players have damaged the sport's image . But the league commissioner fears the next step will be a death on the field . Received praise for safety record from owners but others are less happy . | c5a51644557312a9c3db3ba525d80c5024159822 |
Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from a North Carolina county that had regularly opened its public meetings with Christian prayers. The church-state dispute is a victory for two Forsyth County residents who brought suit against the Board of Commissioners. Janet Joyner and Constance Lynn Blackmon were represented in their court challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "When government meetings are opened regularly with Christian prayer, it sends the unmistakable message that non-Christians are second-class citizens in their own community," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, who heads Americans United, a Washington-based group. "The Constitution clearly forbids government to play favorites when it comes to religion." Court records show that 26 of 33 invocations given at the council meetings in 2007 and 2008 contained references to Jesus Christ, the Trinity, or other Christian symbols or names. Clergy members from the community often delivered the sectarian invocations. The county seat is Winston-Salem, one the largest cities in the state. A federal appeals court last year found the prayers to be an unconstitutional violation of the Constitution's Establishment Clause, which forbids any government endorsement of one religion over another. The case is Forsyth County, N.C., v. Joyner (11-546). The high court also turned aside a pair of student speech cases involving off-campus activity in the digital age. Both appeals involved school suspensions of students who engaged in cyberattacks using their home computers. In one appeal from northeastern Pennsylvania, the justices let stand a lower-court ruling in favor of an eighth-grade girl who created a fake MySpace profile of her male principal, who was described as a "hairy sex addict" and a "pervert." Attached was a real photo of James McGonigle of Blue Mountain Middle School near Allentown. Court records show the posting was widely circulated at the school among students and faculty, and the principal eventually suspended the girl for 10 days. Her parents, Steven and Terry Snyder, then sued and were represented by the ACLU, which called the posting a "juvenile humor" parody. A federal appeals court concluded that the posting caused no substantial disruption at the school, and that officials lacked authority "to punish students for off-campus speech." That same court also ruled in favor of a Pittsburgh-area high school student who also created a mock MySpace profile of his principal, who was labeled as a drug user, "whore," and "big fag." But a separate appeals court had given a West Virginia school district a legal victory after a high school senior was punished for creating what officials called a targeted "hate website." Kara Kowalski had organized a MySpace discussion group involving about a 100 classmates, suggesting a fellow student was a "slut" who had contracted herpes. Kowalski sued after she was cited for violating the county school policy on bullying and harassment. Free speech advocates and national school coalitions separately urged the high court to intervene and resolve the conflicting rulings, but the justices gave no reason for their decision to stay out, at least in these disputes. "Now is the time for the Supreme Court to resolve the question of whether and to what extent school districts have the authority to discipline students for off-campus speech," said Francisco Negron Jr., of the National School Boards Association. "As technology blurs the lines between on-campus and off-campus speech, school districts need clear guidance to be able to effectively address extreme off-campus speech that interferes with a safe and orderly learning environment." In the famous "Tinker" case from 1969, the Supreme Court ruled two Iowa high school students could continue wearing anti-Vietnam War armbands. The high court established an important precedent, saying students do not "shed their constitutional rights when they enter the schoolhouse door." But school administrators do retain the authority to restrict any activity that would cause a "substantial disruption" of the school's educational mission. The current cases are Blue Mountain School District v. J.S. (11-502); and Kowalski v. Berkeley County Schools (11-461). | Two Forsyth County, North Carolina, residents objected to board meeting prayers . The Supreme Court lets a lower court ruling in their favor stand . The high court also let stand rulings favoring students who posted online . | 0f528c2a39322312fe8e3369db113418e9b4b533 |
(CNN) -- Jerome Kerviel, the man behind France's biggest rogue-trading scandal, lost his appeal Wednesday against his prison sentence for betting €50 billion (about $65 billion) of a French bank's money without its knowledge. The Paris court upheld the five-year sentence with two years suspended that was handed down in October 2010, Kerviel's lawyer, David Koubbi, said. The ruling means Kerviel will serve three years in prison. The ruling that Kerviel must pay €4.9 billion (about $6.3 billion) in damages to the bank, Societe Generale, was also upheld. "We had set ourselves the objective of defending Mr. Kerviel against an injustice that is absolutely lamentable," Koubbi said outside the courthouse, according to CNN affiliate BFM-TV. "We will continue to support Mr Kerviel in his fight." Koubbi said the legal team would consider the possibility of an appeal in France's court of final appeal, the Cour de Cassation. Jean Veil, a lawyer for Societe Generale, told BFM-TV that he had "great satisfaction regarding the court's decision to name Jerome Kerviel as solely responsible for the fraud." The bank was pleased with the original conviction because it placed responsibility for the rogue trades on Kerviel and not the bank. If Kerviel's conviction were overturned, it could once more raise questions about the bank's role in the scandal. The bank had previously indicated it might not require Kerviel to pay the damages, as it would be an impossible sum to shell out even in multiple lifetimes. The former Societe Generale employee went on trial in June 2010 on charges of forgery, breach of trust and unauthorized computer use. The banks says the unhedged bets cost it almost $6 billion. Kerviel had pleaded guilty to the charge of computer abuse, but his attorney at the time, Olivier Metzner, had asked jurors in his closing arguments to acquit his client of the charges of breach of trust and forgery. Metzner previously told CNN that Kerviel's behavior was strongly influenced by the environment at Societe Generale. "The banks are the ones to blame for the banking system and the systematic economic crisis, not Jerome Kerviel," he said. Metzner filed the appeal against the sentence, but Kerviel switched to Koubbi as his attorney in March this year. Koubbi lamented that "despite the new elements added to his defense," Kerviel's appeal had failed. Kerviel traded European index futures for the bank. He was the only person ever charged in the case, despite claiming he did everything with the knowledge of his superiors. "I am convinced the criminal file is full of elements proving that my superiors knew and covered for me. At least I shouldn't be the only one in the dock," he told CNN after the release of his memoirs, "Trapped in a Spiral: Memoirs of a Trader," in which he pleads his innocence. "These managers earned colossal amounts of money out of bonuses based on the ever-growing results that I was making for the bank," he said. Societe Generale, which said it discovered the losses in January 2008, said that at no time were supervisors aware of Kerviel's alleged unlawful activities. CNN's Dheepthi Namasivayam, Sybile Penhirin and Pierre Meilhan contributed to this report. | NEW: Societe Generale says it has "great satisfaction" regarding the court's decision . NEW: A lawyer for Jerome Kerviel says he is considering a final appeal . The court upholds the original sentence, sending Kerviel to prison for three years . The former employee traded $65 billion for nearly $6 billion in losses . | 072a2b494924b4de430486e07fb99e5d0a3821ef |
By . Alexandra Klausner . One 13-year boy from san, Antonio Texas was shocked to tears on Thursday night after his mother he hadn't seen in eight months surprised him at a middle school baketball game. Lt. Col. Cotina Jenkins-Sellers of the 386th Expeditionary Support Squadron returned from Kuwait after a long stay and planned to surprise her 13-year-old son Derrick Jenkins while he made a free throw. Coaches at Legacy Middle school and Derrick's father Michael Sellers arranged for a fake technical foul so that Jenkins' mother could sneak up behind her son and take him into her arms after so many months of being away. Jenkins-Sellers had no idea how her son would react and jokingly told reporters at KSAT 12 that she was worried her son would be mad at her if he cried because he is 'in front of friends and girls his age.' 'Aw, that's alright Derrick,' Derek's mother said behind him when he didn't get a throw. Derrick Jenkin's emotional reaction to hearing his mother is priceless. He was so shocked that he fell to the floor in the middle of the basketball game. His mother then went over to him and gave him a giant hug to make up for the lost time while she was away. The crowd of students, teachers, and parents applauded unanimously. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Lt. Col. Cotina Jenkins-Sellers prepares to surprise her son who she hasn't seen in eight months . Derek's father Michael Jenkins in also in on the surprise and helped to arrange the heartwarming moment . Derrick's mom observes her son from afar and prepares to shock him to tears . Derrick hears his mother's voice and is absolutely speechless out of shock and joy . Derrick runs over to the wall and falls down in tears because he is so overwhelmed . Derrick gives his mother a strong embrace and welcomes her home after being away for too long . Derrick's emotional mom helps him up from off the floor . Derrick gives his mother a strong embrace and welcomes her home after being away for too long . Everyone applauded for the moment that brought Derrick and his mother to tears . Derrick's mom serves in the 386th Expeditionary Support Squadron . | Lt. Col. Cotina Jenkins-Sellers had been in Kuwait for eight months . The school arranged for a basketball foul so that Derrick's mom could effectively surprise him in a special moment . | dd7c72880d262f6f9e9800a8f518050704c98304 |
By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 05:38 EST, 2 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:06 EST, 2 October 2013 . ` The twin car to the limousine in which President John F Kennedy was assassinated, one of only two ever made, is expected to fetch over $150,000 when it goes up for auction next week. The stretched Lincoln Continental convertible is an exact version of the one that . was used to chauffeur the US President from 1961 until his infamous . death on November 22, 1963 in Dallas. The Kennedy car is now displayed at . the Henry Ford Motor Museum in the US but has a permanent hard roof and . bullet proof glass that were installed after the shooting. Historical opportunity: This Lincoln limousine, the twin car of the one . that John F Kennedy was assassinated in is coming up for auction . That fateful day: President Kennedy with wife Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie Connally ride together in the Limousine in Dallas on the day of the assassination, November 23, 1963 . It's twin version, which goes under the hammer in Belgium on October 11, wasn't modified and so is unique as identical to the JFK limousine at the time of his assassination. It was commissioned by the White House in 1963 - the same year as JFK's death so he never rode in it. It is in immaculate condition with only 560 kilometres on the clock. The left hand drive car, that is expected to go for between $120,000 and $220,000, . has two rows of rear seats, extra wide doors to enable VIP passengers . to get in and out with ease and internal radio telephones. Distinctive: The twin car of the the JFK limousine with its running boards and handles at the back for secret service men . Interior: The Lincoln limousine stretches 21ft and weighs 3.5 ton monster. It is powered by a massive 440 inch V8 engine . It . also has four distinctive retractable running boards meant for Secret . Service agents to stand on, two permanent footplates at the back and two . grab handles for the bodyguards. And it comes with the US Presidential . Seal on both sides and on the floor mats and the Stars and Stripes and . Presidential flags on the front. Its . sale will now provide people with the macabre opportunity to travel in . the same fashion the former president of the US was used to. The dark blue car has belonged to the owner of a French motor museum for that last 30 years. It is being sold by London-based auctioneers Bonhams. Rarity: One of only two ever made, the stretched Lincoln Continental convertible was commissioned by the White House in 1963 - the same year as JFK's death - as an exact replica of the one already used by him . The coachbuilder's badge (left) and the manufacturer's plate (right) of the rare Lincoln Limousine . Philip . Kantor, Bonhams' head of European motoring, said: 'This car is an exact . replica of the one JFK was assasinated in and was built by the same . coachbuilders. 'It is as . close to the the JFK one as you are going to get. It is a one off, we . don't know of another one that is identical to the Dallas limousine as . this one. 'They weren't mass produced because there was no consumer demand for them. 'It was a parade car and was made to run at speeds of between 10mph to 40mph. 'Its . sale is a wonderful opportunity to acquire a faithful replica of this . historic vehicle on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the JFK . assasination. 'This car really should be for a private collection, you wouldn't drive this down to the pub.' After . JFK's election in 1961, the White House commissioned a new Presidential . limousine from Ford and specified that the car had to be a convertible. They . took a Ford Lincoln Continental to specialist coachbuilders Hess & . Eisenhardt in Cincinnati, Ohio who stretched the 17ft car by nearly 4ft. It came with seven different types of hard top, including a transparent roof, but hadno armour plating. The 21ft, 3.5 ton vehicle was powered by a massive 440 inch V8 engine. The . JFK limousine - codenamed SS 100X - was driven through Dallas by Secret . Service agent William Greer on the day of the assassination. JFK . and his wife Jackie were sat in the back seat while Texas governor John . Conally was positioned in the jump seat directly in front of the . president at the time of the shooting. After . the world-changing event, the car was sent back to the coachbuilders . and fitted with titanium armor, bulletproof glass and given a permanent . hard top. It was used by Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter before it went to the Ford Museum in Michigan in 1977. The twin car is being sold at auction in Belgium on October 11. Last year the hearse which carried John F Kennedy’s casket fetched $160,000 when it was auctioned off. | Stretch Lincoln Continental convertible goes under the hammer next week . It is an exact version of the one JFK was riding in when he was shot dead . Features distinctive footplates and grab handles for secret service men . The original Kennedy limo now on display at the Ford museum in Michigan . | dc3df0e18957efb847700760e9c31db9911fdfcb |
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