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By . Jason Groves . Angela Merkel threw a lifeline to David Cameron last night in his battle to prevent another arch-federalist seizing power at the European Commission. The German Chancellor paid lip service to supporting former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who is her party’s official candidate for the post of commission president. But she also hit out at critics of Mr Cameron in both Berlin and Brussels, saying it was ‘unacceptable’ to ignore the UK’s concerns about Mr Juncker. David Cameron, left, has been thrown a lifeline by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, after she told critics of the PM in Berlin and Brussels that it was 'unacceptable' to ignore the UK's concerns about the EU presidency . Her intervention came as speculation mounted that French IMF chief Christine Legarde could yet emerge as a compromise candidate for the job. Mr Cameron has privately branded Mr Juncker a ‘face from the 1980s’ who ‘cannot solve the problems of the next five years’, and has spent the past fortnight leading frantic diplomatic efforts to block Mr Juncker’s coronation. He is said to have warned Mrs Merkel privately that the UK could quit the EU if Mr Juncker is appointed. 'More confident than ever': Mr Cameron has spent the past fortnight leading frantic diplomatic efforts to block Jean-Claude Juncker's appointment . Mr Juncker, a technocrat who has . powerful allies across the EU, yesterday boasted that he was ‘more . confident than ever that I will be the next Commission president’. But, in a blow to his claim to be the . people’s choice for the job, a major survey found that just eight per . cent of European voters know who he is. Mr Cameron’s all-out bid to block Mr Juncker has sparked anger in both Brussels and Berlin. Germany’s leading magazine Spiegel yesterday launched an astonishing attack on Britain over the Juncker row, saying the UK had ‘for years blackmailed and made a fool of the EU.’ In an extraordinary editorial the magazine said Britain was insular and sullen – and said its opposition to Mr Juncker was ‘undemocratic’, as his centre-right grouping in the European Parliament emerged as the biggest group in last month’ s elections. ‘Britain must choose now if it will stay in Europe,’ it said. ‘The United Kingdom must finally make a choice - it can play by the rules or it can leave the European Union.’ Mrs Merkel hit back yesterday with a speech to the German parliament in which she insisted she would not allow Britain to be isolated on the issue. She told German MPs it was ‘grossly negligent, actually unacceptable, how easily some talk about it not mattering whether Great Britain agrees or not, even whether Great Britain remains a member of the European Union or not. This is anything but irrelevant, unimportant or trivial.’ She said good decisions in Brussels are rarely rushed and added ‘we need time, we have it and so I am using it.’ David Cameron will today act as a Cold War messenger for the United States when he holds face-to-face talks with Vladimir Putin on the crisis in Ukraine. The Prime Minister will deliver a toughly-worded message from Barack Obama, who has refused to meet Mr Putin when world leaders gather in Normandy to commemorate D-Day. Mr Cameron will hold talks with President Obama today following the G7 summit in Brussels, before travelling to France where he will relay the American message directly to President Putin. Mr Obama yesterday accused the Russian leader of reverting to the ‘dark tactics of the 20th century’ in Ukraine. In a blunt warning to President Putin, he added: ‘The days of empires and spheres of influence are over.’ Speaking in Brussels last night, Mr Cameron said Moscow would face ‘continuing isolation’ until it stops trying to destabilise Ukraine. Mrs Merkel is under massive pressure . at home to support Mr Juncker’s bid to replace outgoing Commission chief . Jose-Manuel Barroso. Yesterday she insisted she was ‘trying to ensure that the lead candidate of the European People's Party, Jean-Claude Juncker, receives the qualified majority he needs to become the next president of the European Commission. The entire German government is pushing for this.’ But her comments suggest she does not believe Mr Juncker can command a majority among European leaders. Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and Hungary are among a number of EU states said to share Mr Cameron’s concerns about the Luxembourger. Mrs Merkel is reported to have sounded out French President Francois Hollande about nominating Miss Legarde for the Commission job. But French sources suggested Mr Hollande was keen to keep her in place at the IMF. They also pointed out that she is from the opposite political tradition to the socialist French president. Miss Legarde, who will travel to London on IMF business tomorrow, would be a popular candidate in both the UK and Germany. But she is said to harbour ambitions of standing for the French presidency which would be incompatible with taking the top job in Brussels. | German Chancellor hits out at Cameron's critics in Berlin and Brussels . She says it's 'unacceptable' to ignore UK concerns about EU presidency . Comes as Der Spiegel editorial calls the UK's stance insular and sullen . 'Britain can play by the rules or it can leave the EU' the magazine says . | d6fbb41df762d5d9da5e5c450c4d2ef8fc1908f3 |
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Actor Tom Cruise has settled a $50 million defamation suit he filed last year against a tabloid publisher after it ran stories accusing him of having "abandoned" his daughter Suri during his divorce from her mother, actress Katie Holmes. The lawsuit against Bauer Publishing, In Touch and Life & Style magazines "has been settled," said Lindsay Ferraro, public relations director for both magazines, in an e-mail. "The terms of the settlement were not disclosed and remain confidential." Neither Bauer Publishing nor the magazines "intended to communicate that Tom Cruise had cut off all ties and abandoned his daughter, Suri, and regret if anyone drew that inference from anything they published," she added. A court document noted that the suit was dismissed Friday "with prejudice," meaning that it cannot be refiled. The one-paragraph settlement says the dismissal was agreed to by Cruise and the tabloid publisher and that each side was responsible for their own legal fees. In a sworn affidavit filed last month in federal court, Cruise rejected as "patently false" the assertion that he had abandoned his daughter, now 7. "I have in no way cut Suri out of my life -- whether physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise," he said. The publisher said then in a statement that both magazines "stand behind the reporting and articles at issue in Mr. Cruise's action." The July 18, 2012, Life & Style cover carried the headline "SURI IN TEARS, ABANDONED BY HER DAD" along with a photo of the child. There was no accompanying text to explain the headline. The complaint also pointed to an InTouch cover story from September 2012 headlined "44 DAYS WITHOUT TOM ... ABANDONED BY DADDY ... Suri is left heartbroken as Tom suddenly shuts her out and even misses her first day of school... HAS HE CHOSEN SCIENTOLOGY OVER SURI FOR GOOD?" Photos: Celeb custody battles . Cruise said his daughter often accompanied him during his travels around the world to make movies, which "allowed me to see my daughter while still fulfilling my obligations to my work, my colleagues, and the studios that hire me." CNN's Tom Watkins contributed to this report . | Terms of the settlement of the $50 million lawsuit are not revealed . The suit was dismissed Friday with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled . Last month, Cruise rejected as "patently false" the assertion that he had abandoned his daughter, Siri . He and actress Katie Holmes divorced last year . | c6f70e5ff1f50cca60f261ce0ac42fa1ed01774f |
Nina Pham was the first person to catch Ebola on U.S. soil, and now, 13 days after testing positive, she has been declared free of the deadly disease. Her first order of business will be to hug her dog, Bentley, she said Friday. She invoked God and science in expressing gratitude for her ongoing recovery from a disease that has no established cure. "I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today," she said. "Throughout this ordeal, I have put my faith in God and my medical team." Later Friday, President Barack Obama met Pham in the Oval Office and gave her a big hug. Prayer sustained her, and she thanked people around the world who prayed for her, Pham told reporters Friday at a National Institutes of Health hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. The nation saw a cheerful and composed Pham, dressed in a bright turquoise top and matching necklace, when she strode to a bank of microphones moments after Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said she was free of the virus. Complete coverage of Ebola . She thanked Dr. Kent Brantly, the American physician who also survived Ebola, for donating his plasma to her while she was sick. But she's not entirely out of the woods, she said. "Although I no longer have Ebola, I know that it may be awhile before I have my strength back," Pham said. "So with gratitude and respect for everyone's concern, I ask for my privacy and for my family's privacy to be respected as I return to Texas and try to get back to a normal life and reunite with my dog, Bentley." Bentley, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, remains in quarantine until the end of the month in Texas, but Pham "will be able to visit, hold and play with him tomorrow," Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said Friday. "I know that will be good for both of them," said Jenkins, who oversees the Ebola response in Dallas. A 'stressful and challenging' time . Pham, 26, who grew up in a Vietnamese family in Fort Worth, Texas, graduated with a nursing degree in 2010 and just months ago received a certification in critical care nursing, which deals with life-threatening problems. The Ebola experience, she said, was a "very stressful and challenging" time for her. Without direct reference to the continent, she alluded to how Ebola has ravaged West Africa in an unprecedented outbreak that the World Health Organization says has caused almost 10,000 confirmed or probable cases of infection and 4,877 deaths as of this week. "I am on my way back to recovery even as I reflect on how many others have not been so fortunate," she said. White House press secretary Josh Earnest called Pham's case "a pretty apt reminder that we do have the best medical infrastructure in the world." "The track record of treating Ebola patients in this country is very strong, particularly for those who are quickly diagnosed," Earnest said. "The fact that she has been treated and released I think is terrific news." The first to catch virus on U.S. soil . Can pets get or spread Ebola? Pham was among the doctors and nurses in Dallas who treated Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. His diagnosis came after he returned from a trip to West Africa, and he died on October 8. Three days later, Pham tested positive for the Ebola virus, becoming the first person in the United States to contract Ebola on American soil. That sent waves of anxiety through the network of health care workers -- and beyond. Latest Ebola developments . Those anxieties deepened on October 15 when a second nurse in Dallas, Amber Vinson, tested positive for Ebola. Vinson had flown from Dallas to Cleveland and back, prompting an airline to warn passengers on both legs of her trip as well as passengers who took subsequent flights on an aircraft she used. Some schools closed. Health departments monitored dozens of people. None of them has tested positive for Ebola. Pham said Friday that her thoughts are with Vinson, who is getting treatment for Ebola at Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. Vinson is steadily regaining her strength, and her spirits are high, her family has said. Doctors can no longer detect the virus in her body, but they have not yet determined when she will be discharged, the hospital in Atlanta said Friday. | President Obama gives a big hug to Nina Pham in the Oval Office . Pham will be able to hold her dog, Bentley, though he remains quarantined . Pham says "it may be awhile before I have my strength back" The nurse contracted the Ebola virus after treating a patient in Dallas . | edf980f43b93052326b15e0eeda9aba305b404d5 |
By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 11:28 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:22 EST, 8 November 2013 . A Florida grandfather had his granddaughter arrested after discovering she had been stealing checks from him and cashing them. Amanda Christine Pogel, 27, allegedly attempted to cash a forged check belonging to her grandfather at ACE Cash Express, a check-cashing business. The company called Pogel's grandfather to confirm the validity of the check, who alerted deputies to the theft and forgery. Charged: Amanda Pogel allegedly stole and forged checks belonging to her grandfather . Pogel's mother Leah Pogel, a local bank manager, handles her father's finances. According to the Naples News, she told deputies she believes her daughter stole the checks to support a drug habit. Downhill: Pogel is reportedly homeless and has a prior arrest for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia . The Naples News reports that Pogel, who according to her Facebook profile studied forensic psychology and criminology at Florida Gulf Coast University, is homeless. Amanda Pogel goes to her grandfather's house regularly so he can drive her to court hearings and other appointments. Her mother believes she used the opportunity to take the checks, which totalled $350. The Naples News reports that Pogel's . grandfather told police that he didn't write the checks and never gave . his granddaughter commission to take them. Pogel's rap sheet includes a 2012 arrest for possession of drugs and narcotic paraphernalia. According to the Naples News, she told deputies that her grandfather had given her permission to cash the checks. When deputies told her that it was . in fact her grandfather who told them she'd stolen the checks, she . would not respond to further questioning and requested an attorney. She was charged with uttering a forged instrument and and grand theft. | Amanda Pogel, 27, attempted to cash a check that she had stolen from her grandfather and forged . The check-cashing company called her grandfather to check the authenticity of the check . Pogel's grandfather called police about the theft and his granddaughter was arrested . | 3597e69b58929b782695e9879c5e06ea7a70eda3 |
By . Glen Owen . PUBLISHED: . 19:51 EST, 29 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:53 EST, 29 September 2012 . Liaison: Sir John Scarlett is helping 'soothe concerns' at No 10 . The row over the controversial merger of defence giant BAE with the Franco-German aerospace group EADS took a fresh twist last night after it emerged that Tony Blair’s former spy chief is helping to broker the deal. Sir John Scarlett, the ex-head of MI6 who played a key role in the infamous ‘dodgy dossier’ on Iraq, has been engaged on the £29 billion deal by investment bank Morgan Stanley – which stands to earn millions if it is approved. His role will fuel critics’ fears that the proposed merger between the British arms company and EADS is being ‘stitched up’ by high-level Whitehall figures using inside knowledge and connections. MPs have already called for Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood’s role in the deal to be scrutinised. Sir Jeremy, a former head of Morgan Stanley’s UK Investment Banking Division, has held a series of private meetings with the bank, BAE and EADS over the past 15 months to discuss the plan – a level of personal involvement described by Tory MP David Davis as ‘highly unusual’. The Commons Defence Select Committee is investigating the merger. Opponents argue that the new conglomerate would cut costs by slashing jobs, while national security could be placed at risk if it fell under the sway of the French and German governments. The Mail on Sunday understands that Sir John, 64, is ‘liaising’ between the bank and the Government to help ‘soothe concerns’ in No 10 about the risks. Oxford-educated Sir John became chief of the Secret Intelligence Service in 2004, retiring five years later. He then took up a portfolio of lucrative City jobs, including an advisory role at Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley buildings in Canary Wharf. The company stands to earn millions if the deal is approved . Last night, asked whether Sir John had sought Whitehall clearance to work on the sensitive deal, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘His appointment with Morgan Stanley was approved on the advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments that he should be subject to the condition that, for 12 months from his last day of service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Government Ministers or Crown servants, including special advisers, on behalf of his new employers or their clients. Sir John observed that condition.’ A Morgan Stanley spokesman declined to comment. | Merger of defence giant BAE with aerospace group EADS took a fresh twist . Tony Blair's former spy chief is helping to broker the deal, it has emerged . | be23d4d3b49e0d267ef5249ea1a2b0f74a92cf19 |
Google smartphones with next-generation 3D sensing technology are about to blast into orbit, where they will become the brains and eyes of ball-shaped hovering robots on the International Space Station. NASA plans to use the handsets to beef up its Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or spheres, which could eventually take over daily chores for astronauts or even handle risky duties outside of the vessel. The phones, part of Google's Project Tango augmented reality initiative, will be aboard a cargo spacecraft scheduled to launch on July 11. Scroll down for video . Nasa plans to use Android handsets to beef up its Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites, or spheres, which could eventually take over daily chores for astronauts or even handle risky duties outside of the vessel. Smart SPHERES project manager Chris Provencher demonstrates one of NASA's robots which will be powered by Google smartphones with next-generation 3D sensing technology . The current prototype is a 5-inch phone containing customised hardware and software designed to track the full 3D motion of the device, while simultaneously creating a map of the environment. These sensors allow the phone to make over a quarter million 3D measurements every second, updating it’s position and orientation in real-time. It then combines that data into a single 3D model of the space around the user. The technology could be used to capture the dimensions of a person's home simply by walking around the table. Directions to a new location could continue beyond a street address into a building that had been mapped by someone else. Project Tango could also be used by the visually-impaired to navigated unassisted in unfamiliar indoor places. Or, when shopping, the tablet could be used to find the exact shelf a project is located on. Google also highlights some of the gaming aspects, such as playing hide-and-seek with a virtual character. Inspired by a scene from the movie Star Wars where Luke Skywalker spars with a hovering globe, the soccer-ball sized robots can be guided around the space station's microgravity interior, propelled by tiny blasts of CO2 at about an inch per second. When Nasa sent its SPHERES to the space station in 2006 they were capable of precise movement but little else. In 2010, engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, looked for ways to make the devices smarter. 'We wanted to add communication, a camera, increase the processing capability, accelerometers and other sensors. 'As we were scratching our heads thinking about what to do, we realized the answer was in our hands,' Smart spheres project manager Chris Provencher told Reuters in an interview last week. 'Let's just use smartphones.' Nasa's robo-helpers floating on the ISS: This week they will get an upgrade giving them 3D vision . They bought phones at Best Buy and altered them by adding extra batteries and a shatter-proof displays before sending the handsets to the space station, where astronauts used Velcro to attach them to the side of the Spheres. That gave the robots a wealth of new sensing and visual capabilities - but still not enough to move around the station as easily as the engineers wanted. Looking to improve the robots, NASA recently turned to the experimental smartphones Google created to encourage innovation in its push for consumer mobile devices that can make sense of space as easily as people do. The Project Tango handsets include a motion-tracking camera and an infrared depth sensor similar to Microsoft's Kinect add-on for the Xbox. The sensors will detect sharp angles inside the space station and create a 3D map that lets the spheres navigate from one module to another. 'This type of capability is exactly what we need for a robot that's going to do tasks anywhere inside the space station,' Provencher said. 'It has to have a very robust navigation system.'NASA's phones have been split open so that the touchscreen and sensors face outward when mounted on the robots. They also include space-tested batteries and plastic connectors to replace the Velcro. Project Tango was first announced for phones back in Feburary, but is now being rolled out to about 4,000 prototype tablets for early adopters this month. The process for getting one of the development kit laptops is likely to be similar to how Google Glass was rolled out last year . Google wants the technology showcased by Project Tango to become ubiquitous, helping retailers create detailed 3D representations of their shops and letting gamers make their homes into virtual battlegrounds. It also teamed up with LG recently to launch a Project Tango tablet to encourage developers to experiment with its features. | Google handsets can track motion in 3D and map their surroundings . Will become the brains and eyes of ball-shaped hovering robots on the International Space Station . Soccer-ball sized robots are propelled by tiny blasts of CO2 . | c4cea2b1c006cf6c16e5e86d506e4e279f5017c8 |
By . Mark Walker . Ryan Gauld admits he’s stunned to be the only Scot in the Champions League group stages this season after his shock inclusion in the Sporting Lisbon squad. The former Dundee United starlet has been named in the Portuguese giants’ A squad list for this season’s European campaign, despite only playing for their B team so far since his summer move from Tannadice. And, incredibly, with Celtic already out of the tournament and Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United having not even qualified, it means the 18-year-old attacking midfielder dubbed Baby Messi during his emergence in Tayside is set to be this country’s sole represenative on the biggest club stage of all. On the ball: Ryan Gauld (right) in action for Scotland Under 21s against Luxembourg . Learning curve: Ryan Gauld (right) chats to Sporting Lisbon team-mate Mahmoud Shikabala having arrived at the Portuguese club from Dundee United earlier this summer . Gauld celebrated the news with his first goals at Under 21 level when his double helped Billy Stark’s side end their European Championship campaign on a high with a 3-0 win in Luxembourg - following on from last week’s 1-1 draw away to group winners Slovakia. But he was clearly still shocked to have been presented with even a remote chance by Sporting Lisbon of making an appearance against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, Schalke 04 and Celtic’s conquerors Maribor in Group G of this season’s European club spectacular. Gauld, who signed a six-year contract with the Portuguese giants in the summer for a fee thought to be in the region of £3million, with a buy-out clause of £47.8million eye-catchingly inserted, said of his inclusion in the Sporting Lisbon squad: ‘I heard about it through Twitter, actually. It’s great to be in the squad and hopefully at some point I can maybe even be a part of it in games. ‘I was actually quite surprised because I’ve been playing with the B team. The A team have got a lot of depth and strength in the team so when the news did come out I was quite surprised. ‘There was no indication from the manager Marco Silva because I think the draw was just a couple of days before I came back so there wasn’t too much said about it. They were just going about it week by week so I’m just delighted with being named in the squad and I’m looking forward to it. Finishing school: Gauld fires home his second goal for Scotland . Celebration time: The playmaker dubbed 'Baby Messi' is congratulated by team-mate John McGinn . ‘I can only keep doing my best and keep doing what I try and do best and keep plugging away to make sure I am in his thoughts. ‘To be involved in any way would be a great experience and something I would remember for a long time. ‘But at the same time I’m not expecting anything. I’m keeping things realistic and I’m not hoping for too much, too soon. ‘There have been a lot of new experiences just in the couple of months or so that I’ve been there - and there have been a lot of challenges as well. ‘I’m sure there will be more to come and I can only look forward to it.’ Now Gauld - who was mobbed by Sporting Lisbon autograph hunters after the game in Luxembourg - has to deal with the really difficult bit - getting tickets for the Champions League matches for his mates. He admitted: ‘I’ve already had a couple of requests! I’m sure I’ll hear from a few more of my friends before the games. ‘I’ve also had a few texts congratulating me and it comes up in conversation because I keep in touch with them all. It’s nice for me.’ Gauld believes his experiences in Portugal have already helped him improve his game since his summer move from Tannadice. Marked man: Gauld emerged as a promising youngster at Dundee United in 2012 . Rising star: Gauld is regarded as a big prospect for Scotland . He said: ‘The tempo of games in Portugal is closer to international games. When you play in the Scottish Premiership and you go away and play in an international game it’s hard to adapt to it really quickly because the speed of the game is much quicker at international level, that’s the main difference. ‘Being in Portugal is making me adapt to that more easily at international level as well.’ Gauld has already been tipped by many observers for a call-up to Gordon Strachan’s side, but is just concentrating on the next campaign for Stark’s Under 21s. And he’s optimistic about the future for the young Scots. He said: ‘We’ve played a really young team in both games this last week and that’s promising as we look to the next campaign. ‘Slovakia are a really good outfit and we did very well against them, although obviously conceding in the last minute put us on a bit of a downer. ‘Luxembourg can make life really difficult for teams - Holland only won here on the back of a penalty - so we can be happy with ourselves scoring three goals and keeping a clean sheet. ‘Everyone obviously gets on very well together and that helps and you are building personal relationships that help on the pitch as well. Everything is looking good towards the next campaign.’ | Gauld set to be Scotland's only representative in Europe's top club competition . Joined Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in a £3million summer deal from Dundee United . Training with the B team and yet to feature in the senior squad . Sporting drawn with Chelsea, Schalke 04 and Maribor in Champions League Group G . The 18-year-old has been dubbed 'Baby Messi' Scored his first two goals for Scotland's Under 21s against Luxembourg this week . | b7b8c7c58e47dedcae42ee14cf5a4ac6146d3416 |
Cancer patients can cut their risk of dying by up to half - by walking just one mile a day, experts claim . Cancer patients can cut their risk of dying by up to half – simply by walking just one mile a day, according to experts. A study revealed physical activity as a ‘wonder drug’, with those diagnosed with breast and prostate cancers able to cut their risk of death by up to 40 per cent. And for bowel cancer patients, doubling the walking distance was found to halve the risk of dying. The calculations are based on walking one mile at a moderate pace of 3mph, which would take just 20 minutes a day. The research by Walking for Health, a network of walking groups run by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Ramblers, found physical activity can also reduce the impact of some debilitating side effects of cancer treatment, such as swelling around the arm, anxiety, depression, fatigue, impaired mobility and weight changes. The charity estimates that 1.6million of the two million people living with cancer in the UK are not active at recommended levels. Ciarán Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: ‘Today’s research highlights the very simple reality – walking can save lives. ‘We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what is a very simple and obvious solution. Physical activity is a wonder drug and health care professionals must prescribe physical activity, such as walking, as a standard part of cancer recovery.’ Sandra Sayce, 51, who is married and lives in Middlesex, joined her local Walking for Health group in 2011 following years of treatment for melanoma. She said ‘I had been ill with cancer for several years, which at its worst had left me unable to walk more than 50 metres. ‘When I joined my local Walking for Health group it gave me the push I needed to make those vital first steps back into physical activity; despite the cold January weather, I was able to take part in the simple, easy-going walk which was crucial to beginning my recovery. Scroll down for video . A study revealed breast cancer patients can cut their risk of death by up to 40 per cent through physical activity . ‘Since then I’ve gone from strength, and I’ve started to feel more happy and less tired. I really do think that making the decision to go on that first walk was crucial to getting myself to the position I’m in now.’ It is unclear how activity helps, but the effect goes further than simply weight control, which cuts down on the amount of cancer-promoting hormones produced by body fat. The latest thinking is exercise may break down oestrogen to produce ‘good’ metabolites that lower the risk of some cancers. The reduction in risk of death from cancer is based on research review evidence in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Move More report. Ciarán Devane (pictured), CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'Today’s research highlights the very simple reality – walking can save lives' It says breast cancer patients cut the risk by 40 per cent if they do recommended levels of activity, compared with those doing less than an hour a week. The risk is reduced by 30 per cent for men with prostate cancer. Bowel cancer sufferers who walk 18 miles a week – 2.5 miles or around 50 minutes a day – can cut their risk of dying by 50 per cent. Walking for 150 minutes a week at 3mph results in total walking of 7.5 miles in a week – just over a mile, or 20 minutes a day. Government guidelines advise all adults to do 150 minutes of moderate activity such as gardening, dancing or brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise including playing sport, running or aerobics every week. Just 36 per cent of British women meet the moderate activity target. Benedict Southworth, chief executive of the Ramblers, said: ‘The benefits of walking are numerous. It is increasingly clear that walking even short distances regularly can make the world of difference for those recovering from and managing cancer or other serious health conditions. ‘Walking for Health offers free, short group walks across England, which are the perfect way to build confidence and fitness in a friendly, supportive space. ‘All walks are led by friendly, knowledgeable people, specially trained for the job. Many of our walkers have long term conditions such as cancer themselves and find the companionship and fresh air a wonderful therapy. ‘We want to put walking at the centre of efforts to tackle physical inactivity and echo Macmillan’s call for health professionals to prescribe walking to those who are recovering from cancer or other health conditions.’ | Patients can cut risk of dying by half by walking one mile a day, study finds . Those with breast cancer can reduce risk by up to 40% via physical activity . For bowel cancer patients, doubling walking distance 'halves risk of dying' Research carried out by Walking for Health, run by Macmillan and Ramblers . Calculations were based on walking one mile at a moderate pace of 3mph . | 5b3751e0714e54edce636947d58359758c455034 |
(CNN) -- With a first name that means "wave" in Catalan, perhaps Ona Carbonell was destined to pursue a career in water sports. And for a self-confessed "mermaid," synchronized swimming provides the ideal escape. "I don't know why but the water, for me, it's perfect. I feel better inside the water than outside," Carbonell told CNN's Human to Hero series. She has become Spain's most successful synchronized swimmer, collecting two Olympic medals and more than a dozen at the world championships. "You can do anything -- you can create and (be) very original. It's an artistic sport," she added. Then there's the glitzy outfits -- and the hair, which is lacquered into a hard gloss with gelatine to keep it styled in the water. Like Venus Williams in tennis, Carbonell -- who is studying fashion design at university -- and her teammates play a role in creating the costumes they wear. The collaborative approach also applies to choosing music to routines and developing the choreography along with their coaches. Carbonell's big tune is "Barcelona" -- the ode to her home city sung by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe, to which she performed at July's world championships in the Catalan capital. "It's the music of Olympics '92 and it's very nice song and very nice choreography -- I think it's very beautiful," Carbonell explains. "The costume is like Gaudi -- in Barcelona very famous -- and blue and shiny like Montserrat Caballe when she sings." The 2013 world championships were a special moment for the 23-year-old. She was able to get close to the countries now dominating the sport, Russia and China, as she earned seven podium placings across the individual and team events. But it's clear that for Carbonell, picking up silverware isn't her lone goal. Being underwater for 20 seconds at a time -- unable to even communicate with your partner -- adds to the feeling of peaceful isolation. It's an escape, however, that requires its participants to combine artistic elements with strength and technique, similar to rhythmic gymnastics or figure skating. On average Carbonell suspects she spends 10 hours in the pool a day -- a necessary workload if she is to catch her Russian and Chinese rivals. While twisting, turning and lifting, competitors have to make sure the strain doesn't show on their well-manicured faces -- sometimes they put the waterproof makeup on themselves but on other occasions they have makeup artists. Any sign of straining and the judges are sure to pounce. The degree of difficulty is thus high. Growing up in Barcelona, the vibrant city in northeastern Spain that rests by the Mediterranean Sea, paved the way for Carbonell's development in "synchro." "When I was seven I did rhythmic gymnastics," she recalls. "When I was nine I started synchronized swimming because I liked the water a lot. I spent a lot of hours in the sea." It prepared her well for a life in the pool, which requires strong stamina. "There are many hard things in synchronized swimming but the hardest is to hold our breath inside the water," Carbonell says. "When we go up and breathe, you have to do a good face and smile. "We have to work a lot to hold our breath because many moves in the performance are like 20 seconds without a breath. "We don't communicate -- it's impossible. Sometimes when we don't have music we speak inside the water but it's very difficult and without goggles you see very bad. "You have to believe in each other." In the team format that consists of eight swimmers -- one of the two Olympic disciplines, while there are seven formats at the world championships -- Carbonell and company are aided by underwater speakers. "We listen perfectly inside and outside, too, and it's nice because it's like all the other people," said Carbonell. "A lot of people don't know we have a speaker inside." Spain, with Carbonell in the group, claimed a silver medal in all three team events in Barcelona, finishing second to Russia. Individually she collected four bronze medals, with Russia once again leading the way. Russia's clean sweep of all seven gold medals confirmed its status as the powerhouse of the sport, unlike the early days. When synchronized swimming first became an Olympic sport in Los Angeles in 1984, Canada, the U.S. and Japan led the way in the absence of the East European nations -- who boycotted the Games in retaliation for the West's refusal to attend Moscow '80. "Russia is very difficult to get," said Carbonell. "China is difficult, too, but maybe I get." Carbonell did win gold at the 2009 world championships in Rome in the team free routine, but the highlight of her career remains tallying a silver in the duet and team bronze at last year's Olympics in London. Caught up in the moment, she was unable to appreciate her achievements. It was only when Carbonell went on holiday did she fully reflect. "I (thought) a lot about the competition -- 'Oh it's a very, very big thing that we did,' " she says. "For me, the most important result in my life is the silver medal in London because it's very hard to get there. I'm younger and my partner was like eight years older than me. Carbonell is now working towards the 2016 Olympics in Rio. "I think we go for gold, and work more, more, more," she says. As for later in life, Carbonell isn't the sort to predict what she will be doing in 10 years. She wonders, though, if men will be allowed to compete in international tournaments at some stage. For some, men and synchronized swimming are forever linked to a skit on U.S. comedy show Saturday Night Live decades ago starring Martin Short. "I don't understand why in synchronized, there is not men's," said Carbonell. "In ballet there are men. For me it would be very good if men start to do synchronized swimming." | Ona Carbonell is a world champion and Olympic medalist in synchronized swimming . In Catalan, Ona means "wave" and Carbonell says she feels better inside the water than out . When she is performing, Carbonell considers herself a "mermaid" Russia dominates the sport, winning all seven golds at the 2013 world championships . | efe75676fc73f671ce8091ec52360897dd4c5c96 |
Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama is showing his softer side. The man who was known in his first term for his cool, detached style has been crying, repeatedly. It started the day after his re-election when a teary and happy president told campaign volunteers, "I'm so proud of you guys." A month later he was overcome by grief as he wept openly in the White House briefing room after the Newtown, Connecticut, shootings. There were tears again during a heroes ceremony for Newtown victims, and while delivering remarks about Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The evolution of the nation's 'first gay president' Second-term Obama is not just showing his emotions, he's sharing them, too -- laughing with the Miami Heat at the White House and telling people in a Chicago audience that they're in the area where "Michelle and I fell in love." The president's biographer attributes the shift to a new sense of freedom from winning a second term. "I think we've all seen, actually since the day after his re-election a more relaxed Barack Obama, really something that took a lifetime for him to get to this point," David Maraniss said. "We've really seen a new Obama." The "new" Obama is venturing into territory the first term Obama shied away from. Obama urges court to overturn California same-sex marriage ban . He talked about his complicated biracial identity in this eulogy for Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. "Here I was, a young boy with a white mom, a black father, raised in Indonesia and Hawaii," the president said at the National Cathedral in Washington. "And I was beginning to sense how fitting into the world might not be as simple as it might seem." To kids at home in Chicago, he admitted he was often in trouble when he was a teenager. "When I screwed up, the consequences weren't as high as when kids on the South Side screw up," he told them. "So I had more of a safety net but these guys are no different than me." And, he used unusually personal language to describe King's struggles. "We often think of him standing tall in front of these endless crowds, stirring the nation's conscience with a bellowing voice and a mighty dream. But I also thought of his doubts ... the lonely moments when he was left to confront the presence of long-festering injustice and undisguised hate," Obama told a crowd at the National Prayer Breakfast in February. "(I) imagined the darkness and the doubt that must have surrounded him when he was in that Birmingham jail, and the anger that surely rose up in him the night his house was bombed." The president and the nation have evolved on same-sex marriage . Obama's biographer says a more complete personality is coming into focus. "I don't think one ever knows the real him. But I think that it's closer to being the private and the public Obama coming together in a clearer way," Maraniss said. This warmer more revealing Obama was on display during the 2008 campaign. Then he used his biography to sell himself as the melting pot embodied. His most vocal critics turned parts of his resume into punch lines, perhaps most memorably by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the 2008 Republican National Convention. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except you have actual responsibilities," Palin said. Perhaps in reaction, once in office the president became more cautious about talking about his past. On most topics, he just didn't go there. Obama: Spending cuts would be bad for business . But now, free of the pressure to woo swing voters, he's back to using his story and his rhetorical skills to try to inspire audiences and pitch policies. Obama himself said Tuesday night in Virginia: "I've run my last election." He told CBS' Charlie Rose last summer that the biggest mistake of his first term was not communicating his vision with the American people. "When I think about what we've done well and what we haven't done well, the mistake of my first term -- couple of years -- was thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right," he said. "And that's important but the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times." These days he's hardly touchy-feely, but he's more likely to wear his heart on his sleeve. And use passion for political effect. During the fight over forced spending cuts, he's made a clear effort to put faces on the impending changes. At one White House event, he got emotional as he stood in front of a group of first responders. "And this is not an abstraction. There are people whose livelihoods are at stake. There are communities that are going to be impacted in a negative way," he said. "And I know that sometimes all this squabbling in Washington seems very abstract, and in the abstract, people like the idea, there must be some spending we can cut, there must be some waste out there. There absolutely is. But this isn't the right way to do it." Rewind back to four years ago in March 2009, the same president was confronted with a teacher about to lose her job. Instead of consoling her or expressing her concern, he asked if she got a "pink slip" and launched into his views on education policy. These days he's doing better on the empathy test. In a gun control plea at his recent State of the Union address, the chamber rose to its feet as a fervent Obama reminded the country of recent tragedies. "Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. The families of Newtown deserve a vote," Obama said on the House floor. "The families of Aurora deserve a vote. The families of Oak Creek and Tucson and Blacksburg and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence, they deserve a simple vote." That's the kind of emotional rallying cry he once saved for campaign style events outside the Beltway. No longer. Even the president admits he has changed, in repeated humble brags. "The fascinating thing about this job is the longer you're in it, the more humble you get and the more you recognize your own imperfections," he told House Democrats at their retreat in Virginia. "The one thing about being president is after four years, you get pretty humble," Obama said Tuesday. "You think maybe you wouldn't but you become more humble. You realize what you don't know. You realize, you know, all the mistakes you make." It's humility he can afford, after winning a second term. "President Obama is never going to be the 'I feel your pain' Bill Clinton-type of president but he's getting closer," Maraniss said. | Obama -- known in his first term for his cool, detached style -- has been seen crying . The president's biographer attributes the shift to a new sense of freedom . In an emotional gun-control plea in his State of the Union, the chamber rose to its feet . Obama: "The one thing about being president is after four years, you get pretty humble" | b7c0df6aff49856755fd935bbfd4c4833d47de10 |
By . Laura Williamson . Follow @@laura_mail . Mo Farah has been forced to pull out of this weekend’s Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix after suffering abdominal pains, but still hopes to attempt the 5,000m and 10,000m double at the Commonwealth Games in the city later this month. The double world and Olympic champion was due to run in a special two-mile race at Hampden Park on Saturday night, but is now targeting the London Anniversary Games on Sunday July 20 instead. Farah, 31, spent ‘a couple of days in hospital’ near his home in Portland, USA, last week after suffering pains in his stomach, but has since flown to the UK for further testing by British Athletics’ medical team. Mo-mentum: Mo Farah has pulled out of this weeks Glasgow Grand Prix after suffering from stomach pains . Mo-mentous: Farah celebrates after winning 5,000m gold at last year's World Championships . Farah said: 'Sorry to everyone in Scotland but I won’t be able to make it there this week. I hope to resume training in the next few days and aim to run in the London Anniversary Games on July 20 and then the Commonwealth Games the following week.' He has run only once on the track, a 5,000m victory in Portland on June 15, since finishing eighth in the London Marathon in April, but is still hopeful of competing at the Commonwealths. A statement from his management company read: ‘Mo Farah has been forced to cancel his participation in the two miles at the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix due to illness. Mo-numental: Farah crossing the line to win his second gold medal during London 2012 . Mo-bilise: Farah is still aiming for the London Anniversary Games on July 20, which he also ran in last year . ‘The double Olympic and World Champion was admitted to hospital in the USA with abdominal pains for a couple of days last week and is undergoing further testing in the UK with British Athletics medical team this week. ‘He hopes to compete in the two miles at the London Anniversary Games on July 20 instead and plans to be back in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games at the end of the month.’ | Abdominal pains force Farah forced to pull out of Grand Prix this weekend . But he still hopes to run 5,000m and 10,000m at Commonwealth Games . Farah spent 'a couple of days in hospital' last week after stomach pains . He also aims to run in London Anniversary Games on July 20 . | bc106e23a75c447ecf5a7f62244a01638d4cee99 |
By . Scott Dorsey - Engelbert's Son And Manager . PUBLISHED: . 18:06 EST, 16 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:58 EST, 17 May 2013 . Going out on the Eurovision stage and performing your song in front of 200 million viewers — and knowing your country is pinning its hopes on you — is nerve-racking enough. But, as Bonnie Tyler will undoubtedly discover tomorrow night when she represents the UK in the world’s biggest song contest, that’s nothing compared to what happens after you’ve sung and you wait for the votes to come in. If you have three hours to kill, as my father Engelbert Humperdinck had last year, after being first on — waiting while the other 25 contestants sang, then waiting for the votes to come in — then it can be the longest night of your life. I should know. I was at his side that . night and for the exhilarating week we spent preparing for the show in . Baku, capital of the host country, Azerbaijan. Engelbert Humperdinck (left) came second to last with his 2012 Eurovision entry 'Love Will Set You Free'. He said he thinks Bonnie Tyler (right) can go all the way in the competition this year . He’d been mobbed by fans and given a police motorcycle escort. His odds narrowed from 10-1 to 2-1 second favourite. He’d already sung his ballad, Love Will Set You Free, on TV and radio shows in Britain and Europe, and the feedback had been encouraging. It was looking good. Even though he’s been performing for more than 50 years, Dad still gets nervous before every show, and that night was no exception. He’s superstitious. He won’t allow whistling in his dressing room and he wore a pendant given to him by Elvis Presley — he calls it his TCB (taking care of business) necklace — for luck. Going on first didn’t augur well, according to some seasoned Eurovision experts. As commentator Graham Norton observed this week: ‘Everyone has forgotten you by the time it comes to vote. If Engelbert had gone on later, maybe he would have done better.’ But we were Eurovision virgins. We’d hoped starting the show would give us an advantage. Because of the time difference between Baku and the rest of Europe, the show wasn’t starting until midnight. Dad would still feel fresh. A later slot might have taken its toll on him through tiredness.That was our theory, anyway. He went on, sang his song and got a standing ovation. So far, so brilliant. Then we went to the Green Room to sip champagne and watch the rest of the show, while receiving congratulatory texts from friends and family all over the world. Dad, as usual, had more stamina than the rest of us, and he stayed on his feet for the rest of the show. He remained cheerful and positive — . even when the bread-baking Russian Grannies came on and it was clear . they were going to make a big impact. They’d get the sympathy vote, but he hoped the points would go to the best song, not the most striking production or staging. We would only have had cause to worry if it had been the Eurovision Bread-making Contest! When voting began, we waited expectantly for points to come our way, but there was an ominous silence. After the first three countries, Dad turned to me and said: ‘Haven’t I got any votes yet?’ I’m not just his loving son; I’m his dutiful manager, too: it’s my job to keep things upbeat. ‘No, but don’t worry because there are still many other countries to vote,’ I told him. After eight countries we still hadn’t made our mark on the Eurovision scoreboard — it was clear we were in trouble. By the time all the results were in, Dad, who had stoically kept his cool, finished second from last — just ahead of Norway — with only 12 votes in total. He took it philosophically. ‘Oh well . . . I gave it my best shot, and I hope no one in the UK feels I let them down,’ he said. ‘The voting was out of my hands.’ With his head held high, gracious in defeat, he did the rounds backstage, congratulating the winner, Sweden’s Loreen, who sang Euphoria; the Russian Grannies, who came second with Party For Everyone; and every participant on their performance. Back at the hotel, Dad changed out of his tux into jeans and a T-shirt, and — for a man who had just had a major disappointment — he was totally relaxed, though still worrying that people might feel he hadn’t done his best. There were plenty of laughs, but no recriminations, no what-ifs, no buck-passing. Dad was still as proud at being asked to represent the UK as he had been three months earlier, when I told him the BBC wanted him to do it. ‘I’ve got no regrets,’ he told me that night after the show. ‘I’d do it all over again if I was asked.’ We didn’t get to bed until 6am, and after a few hours’ sleep we went to a great barbecue on the beach, organised by the BBC. Wine flowed, there was lots more laughter and Dad even sang songs karaoke-style. Everyone agreed there was no better voice around. When we flew home, the airport was full of well-wishers — they seemed more upset than Dad by the result. He’d given it his all. After all, we consoled ourselves, it was a song contest, not a General Election. Dad has since recorded a CD of duets with Elton John, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Neil Sedaka and Charles Aznavour, and he has performed in 60 countries around the world. Not once has he looked back — his motto is ‘Onwards and Upwards’. Now he’s sent a letter of good wishes to Bonnie: we’ve got our fingers crossed for her. And Dad hopes there isn’t a bunch of bread-baking Russian Grannies to ‘totally eclipse’ her. | Engelbert Humperdinck passes words of advice and luck to 2013 hopeful . Son tells of agonising hours spent in wait for results- which last year left UK in second to last place . 'Love Will Set You Free' singer spent night of loss with friends singing karaoke in hotel . Son and manager tried to stay positive in face of defeat as evening wore on . | 4b596865b2cd0f6a733e0be51747f47b3b43e0ef |
By . Ed Monk . PUBLISHED: . 10:47 EST, 3 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:39 EST, 3 July 2012 . Barclays has released details of a telephone conversation between chief executive Bob Diamond and the Bank of England which Barclays believes led to systematic falsifying of Libor submissions. An email account of the conversation is included in written evidence submitted to the Treasury Select Committee in advance of Mr Diamond's appearance before MPs tomorrow. Barclays claims the dialogue between Mr Diamond and Paul Tucker, the deputy governor of the Bank of England, was the ultimate cause of Libor submissions being altered downwards. Lost in Translation: Bob Diamond (left) told Paul Tucker (right) that he thought other banks were posting Libor submissions that were too low. Diamond told colleagues the Bank of England man told him Barclays did not always appear as high as they did. The email is dated 30 October 2008 and was sent by Mr Diamond to then Chairman John Varley and Jerry del Messier, who today stepped down from the position of chief operating officer. In it, Mr Diamond explains that Mr Tucker had told him that he had received calls from 'senior figures within Whitehall' who had expressed concern about the high rates being reported by . Barclays and wanted them lowered. The email reports that Mr Diamond asked Mr Tucker to explain to the Whitehall figures his belief that other banks were submitting Libor rates lower than their actual transactions, which had the effect of making Barclays appear out of step. 'Misunderstanding': Jerry del Missier . who resigned from Barclays today, apparently took the email as an instruction to lower the Libor rate . The email from Mr Diamond concludes . that 'while (Mr Tucker) was certain we did not need advice, that it did . not always need to be the case that we appeared as high as have . recently'. This last sentence, it appears, was taken by Mr del Messier as an instruction from Mr Diamond to lower Libor submissions, and he then passed this instruction to the Libor submitters. The written evidence makes clear that Mr Diamond did not subsequently believe Mr Tucker had made such an instruction, or that he had intended to give such an instruction to Mr del Messier. The evidence also outlines how . in 2008 Barclays repeatedly raised the issue of other banks posting Libor . submissions that appeared too low. In the written evidence, the bank . said: 'Barclays was consistently raising concerns with the BBA (trade . body that compiles Libor), questioning why other banks’ Libor . submissions appeared to be so high compared to those of Barclays. Many . of these concerns were based upon Barclays observations that other banks . were making submissions which were lower than levels at which they . appeared to be undertaking transactions.' That will raise question for the . British Bankers' Association to answer about how it responded to . Barclay's alerts of possible Libor errors. Barclays . boss Bob Diamond has released a memo documenting a phone call he had . with the Bank of England's deputy governor about the bank's submissions . regarding Libor. The . memo was sent on October 30, 2008, to the then-chief executive John . Varley and Jerry del Missier, who was president of Barclays Capital. RED is Bob Diamond and stands for Robert E Diamond. Here is the memo in full: . File Note: Call to RED from Paul Tucker, Bank of EnglandDate: 29th October 2008 . Further . to our last call, Mr Tucker reiterated that he had received calls from a . number of senior figures within Whitehall to question why Barclays was . always towards the top end of Libor pricing. His response was 'you have to pay what you have to pay'. I . asked if he could relay the reality, that not all banks were providing . quotes at the levels that represented real transactions, his response . 'oh, that would be worse'. I . explained again our market rate driven policy and that it had recently . meant that we appeared in the top quartile and on occasion the top . decile of the pricing. Equally, . I noted that we continued to see others in the market posting rates at . levels that were not representative of where they would actually . undertake business. This latter point has on occasion pushed us higher than would otherwise appear to be the case. In fact, we are not having to 'pay up' for money at all. Mr . Tucker stated the levels of calls he was receiving from Whitehall were . 'senior' and that while he was certain we did not need advice, that it . did not always need to be the case that we appeared as high as we have . recently. | Email sent in 2008 by Bob Diamond after his conversation with BofE deputy governor Paul Tucker . Barclays Capital boss Jerry del Messier received the email and 'misunderstood' the instructions . He then told staff to artificially lower Libor rates submissions . del Messier followed Diamond in quitting today . Email revealed ahead of Mr Diamond's appearance at Treasury Select Committee tomorrow . Memo from Tucker points finger at Whitehall . | 7ea6d7f3879f1e6a8f47d2b7509164c121b5b5cf |
The world's largest flying aquatic insect, with huge, nightmarish pincers, has been discovered in China's Sichuan province, experts say. According to the Insect Museum of West China, local villagers in the outskirts of Chengdu handed over "weird insects that resemble giant dragonflies with long teeth" earlier this month. Several of these odd critters were examined by the museum and found to be unusually large specimens of the giant dobsonfly, which is native to China and Vietnam. The largest one measured 21 centimeters (8.27 inches) when its wings were open, according to the museum, busting the original record for largest aquatic insect held by a South American helicopter damselfly, which had a wingspan of 19.1 centimeters (7.5 inches). Large enough to cover the face of a human adult, this scary-looking insect is also known among entomologists as an indicator of water quality, says the museum. The giant dobsonfly makes its home in bodies of clean water and is highly sensitive to any changes in the water's pH as well as the presence of trace elements of pollutants. If the water is slightly contaminated, the giant dobsonfly will move on to seek cleaner waters. The insect can be found in other provinces in China, India's Assam state, and in northern Vietnam. This is the first time it has appeared in Sichuan province. MORE: Asian giant hornets and other terrifying creatures . MORE: Deadly giant hornets kill 42 people in China . MORE: Attack of the giant African land snails . | Giant dobsonfly with 21 centimeter (8.27 inch) wingspan found in Sichuan for the first time . This may be the world's largest aquatic flying insect . The presence of the dobsonfly indicates clean water is nearby . | 9a86367f1e9de39b01883363660951939b815aae |
A lifelong San Francisco fan had a piece of team history in his hands Thursday night: the home run ball that sent the Giants to the World Series. Then he gave it back. Frank Burke, who owns a transmission repair business in Oakdale, said that he wanted the hitter, Travis Ishikawa, to have the ball. Frank Burke, who owns a transmission repair business in Oakdale, said that he wanted the hitter, Travis Ishikawa, to have the ball . So after having the ball authenticated by a Giants official, and being told that Ishikawa wanted it back, Burke went down to the clubhouse area and handed it over . 'I believe in karma,' he told The Associated Press. 'I didn't hit that ball ....if anybody's going to have that ball in their game room or trophy case, it's going to be the guy who hit it.' Burke said he hadn't planned on keeping the ball. He keeps home run balls from his high school days in his own trophy case. 'They're still important to me, they're part of my memories,' he said. 'So why would I think that he (Ishikawa) wouldn't want the same thing?' So after having the ball authenticated by a Giants official, and being told that Ishikawa wanted it back, Burke went down to the clubhouse area and handed it over. Ishikawa shook hands, thanked him, and gave him a signed bat in return. Burke said he hadn't planned on keeping the ball. He keeps home run balls from his high school days in his own trophy case . The two were at Thursday's game because Burke wanted to do something special for Leutza and went searching for tickets after the Giants won the National League Division Series . Burke said Giants officials asked him what he would like and he suggested World Series tickets but was told that was unlikely. After doing a media interview the next morning, however, he got a call from the Giants. Burke now has four tickets to Game 3 of the World Series at San Francisco's AT&T Park on Friday night. It will be the Giants' first home game against the Kansas City Royals. Burke plans on taking his friend, Greg Leutza, who is battling cancer. The two were at Thursday's game because Burke wanted to do something special for Leutza and went searching for tickets after the Giants won the National League Division Series. Ishikawa's drive came their way as they sat above the stadium's right field wall in the ninth inning with two Giants on base. As the ball sped toward him, Burke thought to himself: 'Soft hands, soft hands. Don't let this thing bounce back on the field.' The ball went off his left hand but he was able to grab it with his right. After meeting Ishikawa and turning over the ball, Burke and Leutza walked out of the clubhouse 'like two little kids, hootin' and hollerin',' he said. 'The whole place erupted,' Burke said. 'It was a walkoff home run. We were going to the World Series!' Other fans clustered around. 'I couldn't move from where I was because everyone around me wanted to touch the ball, take pictures with the ball. I must have taken 300 selfies in 15 minutes,' he said. After meeting Ishikawa and turning over the ball, Burke and Leutza walked out of the clubhouse 'like two little kids, hootin' and hollerin',' he said. But Burke said the ball and the bat weren't the things he treasured most. 'Just the memory for me and my buddy, that's priceless,' he said. 'That meant more to me than anything else will.' | Frank Burke, who owns a transmission repair business in Oakdale, said that he wanted the hitter, Ishikawa, to have the ball because it was good karma . Burke said he hadn't planned on keeping the ball and keeps home run balls from his high school days in his own trophy case . Ishikawa gave him a signed bat in return . | 6a855b7e955f9196878c845d096645d025c2d5fb |
A grandfather who was shot in the head with a suspected rubber bullet said he could have died or been blinded. John Vernon Thomas was on his first trip abroad to see Everton play in Lille in France when he was shot. Police are now trying to determine whether a 'flash-ball' or rubber bullet was fired. The bullets are designed to be less lethal than those used in normal guns and were used by officers that day to try and control the trouble which flared between fans. The 66-year-old, known as Vernon, said he heard a 'crack' and was hit in the head when he accidentally got caught up in the disturbance in the main square. Scroll down for video . John Vernon Thomas was hit in the head by a suspected rubber bullet during the clashes in Lille, France . Police with shields dispersed Everton fans from Lille square using tear gas canisters as flares were released . He said: 'It hit me right on the temple. I went down in a bit of a shock. Another two inches it would have gone to my eyes. I am lucky to be here. It was a nasty attack. It took the wind out of me.' Mr Thomas was taken to hospital and kept in overnight after being told his injuries were life threatening. He added: 'There was blood pouring out. I don't know if it was a rubber bullet or what. It was like being punched by Mike Tyson. People have said that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Mr Thomas, a season ticket holder, was forced to miss the match the next day. Mr Thomas said had the suspected rubber bullet hit him nearer to his eye he could have been killed or blinded . Police with shields dispersed Everton fans from Lille square using tear gas canisters as flares were released . Clashes broke out in the main square in Lille last Thursday ahead of the game and led to Everton fans being dispersed with tear gas. Flares were set off and riot police moved through a group of fans, with shields covering their bodies, and released tear gas bombs. Rubber bullets are also thought to have been used. Fans were left rubbing their eyes and sneezing, and they attempted to flee the scene as bottles flew across the square. Around 7,000 fans had travelled from the UK to Lillle for the match. Mr Thomas, a grandfather, had to spend a night in hospital after he was hit in the temple by the bullet . Police have insisted the 44m rubber bullets, as well as tear gas canisters, had been used by riot police in 'self-defence' after bottles were thrown at them. The incident was apparently triggered after plain-clothes police tried to arrest a suspected football hooligan. The man had been previously spotted by a Merseyside Police officer travelling with Blues (Everton) fans. He was later released by French police and allowed to return home without charge. At the same time a French football hooligan who was among thugs who stormed a bar where Everton fans were drinking was jailed. Blues fans came under attack from up to 100 people the night before the match took place. The incident came the day after several Everton fans were injured after an ambush by a group of 50 people, wearing masks and wielding metal chairs outside a pub on Wednesday evening. Two fans suffered minor injuries. A suspected Lille 'ultra' - known only as Tomasz S - was arrested on Thursday after being recognised by police. The 30-year-old appeared in court on Friday and was jailed for eight months. | John Vernon Thomas was on first trip abroad to see Everton play in Lille . He got caught up in clashes and was shot in the head and taken to hospital . Police are trying to determine if a rubber bullet used by officers was fired . French riot police used tear gas and 'flash-ball' bullets to disperse trouble . Grandfather, 66, said he could have been killed or blinded by the bullet . | 2c7e9865de471b00d87564d8a542415039849443 |
By . John Hall . PUBLISHED: . 07:30 EST, 24 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:55 EST, 24 February 2014 . This is the terrifying moment a woman was buried in wet cement following a car accident in China. The incident took place in Fuzhou, Fujian province earlier this week and left a woman pinned for 40 minutes beneath several tons of wet cement which completely crushed the roof of her vehicle. The crash happened after Lok Wan, 39, and his girlfriend Yin Min Tai, 35, took the wrong entrance to a busy motorway and decided to make a U-turn without checking their mirrors. A cement-laden lorry travelling close behind the couple was unable to stop in time and ploughed into the back of their car, shedding its load all over the vehicle. Lok Wan was able to scramble free of the car but rescuers initially thought there was little chance of Yin Min Tai surviving. As they began clearing the vehicle of cement, however, they heard her moaning and 40 minutes later were able to pull her free. Remarkably Yin Min Tai was left with little more than a few cuts and bruises as a result of the accident. Free: Yin Min Tai was trapped beneath the wet cement for 40 minutes before being pulled out by firefighters. She miraculously escaped with only minor injuries . Trapped: Yin Min Tai, 35, looks terrified after being trapped beneath several tons of wet cement following a car accident in Fujian province, south eastern China . Buried: Lok Wan was able to scramble free of the car but rescue workers initially thought there was little chance of his girlfriend Yin Min Tai surviving . Crushed: The incident took place near Fuzhou, China earlier this week and left a woman pinned beneath several tons of wet cement for over 40 minutes . Injured: The crash happened after Lok Wan, 39, and his girlfriend Yin Min Tai, 35 (pictured) took the wrong entrance on a motorway and decided to make a U-turn . Rescue: A cement-laden lorry travelling close behind the couple was unable to stop in time and ploughed into the back of their car, shedding its load all over the vehicle . A team of rescue workers surround the cement-covered car as they struggle to pull Yin Min Tai free. Her boyfriend, Lok Wan, was able to scramble from the vehicle . Dramatic: Lok Wan was able to scramble free of the car but rescuers initially thought there was little chance of Yin Min Tai surviving . Remarkable: As firefighters began clearing the vehicle they heard Yin Min Tai moaning and were able to pull her free. She had little more than a few cuts and bruises . | Yin Min Tai, 35, was trapped in her car in Fuzhou, Fujian province after a lorry shed cement all over her vehicle . She had been driving with boyfriend Lok Wan, 35, when they took the wrong road and decided to make a U-turn . Lorry travelling behind the couple was unable to stop and ploughed into the back of their car, shedding its load . Lok Wan was able to scramble to safety but his girlfriend was trapped beneath the crushed roof for 40 minutes . | 2a700774efa4acf079c87c5de14f41b92a9ea2ab |
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Unilever is recalling four batches of Lipton Milk Tea sold in Hong Kong and Macau after finding traces of the chemical melamine in the product, the company said Tuesday. Unilever Hong Kong Limited described it as a precautionary measure and said no other Lipton Milk Tea Powder products were affected. The announcement came a day after British confectioner Cadbury said it has recalled all of its Chinese-made candy products after preliminary tests showed they contained trace amounts of melamine. Some of the products were exported to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Nauru and Christmas Island, according to the company. They are the latest companies to get caught up in China's tainted milk scandal, which began earlier this month when authorities discovered melamine in powdered infant formula. Watch how scare affects companies outside China » . Contaminated milk has sickened nearly 53,000 children in China, killing four. Countries around the world have since banned the import of Chinese products containing milk, or have withdrawn products that contain milk from China -- such as chocolates -- amid worries they contain melamine. Authorities have arrested 40 people in connection with the milk scandal, including two brothers who could face the death penalty if convicted. Investigators suspect people watered down milk in an attempt to sell more of it, and added melamine in order to fool quality checks, Chinese authorities have said. The toxic chemical is used to bolster apparent protein levels in diluted or poor-quality milk. Others arrested include 19 managers of pastures, breeding farms and milk-purchasing stations. Chinese authorities have said those arrested were involved in a network that made and sold melamine. Authorities have implicated 22 Chinese dairy companies in the scandal. Melamine is the same industrial contaminant from China that poisoned and killed thousands of U.S. dogs and cats last year. Health experts say ingesting melamine can lead to kidney stones, urinary tract ulcers, and eye and skin irritation. It also robs infants of much-needed nutrition. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said a company in Taiwan, the King Car Food Industrial Company, had recalled seven instant coffee and milk tea products that were sold in the United States under the Mr. Brown brand name. They contain a non-dairy creamer found to be contaminated with melamine. The FDA also recommends that U.S. consumers not eat White Rabbit Creamy Candy, which in China has been found to contain unacceptable levels of melamine. The candy's maker, Guanshengyuan, has recalled its exports of White Rabbit Cream Candy. | Unilever recalls four batches of Lipton Milk Tea sold in Hong Kong . Unilever Hong Kong describes it as a precautionary measure . Chinese milk products have been contaminated with melamine . | ad1bddd093be4af0de0f0d1c7ba720e32b849342 |
Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- A new North Korean propaganda video shows images of what appears to be an imagined missile attack on U.S. government buildings in Washington, including the White House and the Capitol. The roughly 4-minute video was posted Monday on the YouTube channel of the North Korean government website Uriminzokkiri. It carries a montage of clips of different weapons, including artillery guns firing and large missiles on display at military parades. Just before the three-minute mark, it cuts to footage of the White House in an electronic sight's crosshairs, and then a simulated explosion of the Capitol's dome. At the same time, the voice narrating the video says, "The White House has been captured in the view of our long-range missile, and the capital of war is within the range of our atomic bomb." Analysts say that North Korea is still years away from being able to target nuclear missiles at the United States. U.S. lawmaker questions North Korean leader's 'stability' But the video's release comes amid spiking tensions between Pyongyang and Washington after the U.N. Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea following its latest nuclear test last month. In a slew of angry rhetoric in response to the U.N. vote, North Korea has threatened to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the United States and South Korea and said it was nullifying the armistice agreement that stopped the Korean War in 1953. Although U.S. officials say they don't believe North Korea is in a position to strike the United States at the moment, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week announced plans to deploy additional ground-based missile interceptors on the West Coast as part of efforts to enhance the nation's ability to defend itself from attack. This isn't the first time a North Korean propaganda video has evoked the prospect of an attack on the United States. A video posted on YouTube last month, before the North carried out its most recent underground nuclear test, depicted a city resembling New York with its skyscrapers on fire. That video was subsequently removed after the video game maker Activision said those scenes had been lifted from its top-selling game "Call of Duty." Under threat, South Koreans mull nuclear weapons . CNN's K.J. Kwon reported from Seoul, and Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong. | NEW: The White House is "in the view of our long-range missile," the video says . It is posted on YouTube by a North Korean government website . A sequence in the video shows a simulation of the Capitol's dome exploding . It comes amid recent tensions between North Korea and the U.S. | 74faa5832fc450122137f290f7268da24887cd80 |
Cristiano Ronaldo has explained the strange noise he made during his acceptance speech after winning the 2014 Ballon d'Or. He said it was a celebration that he often performs with his team-mates at Real Madrid. The scream did not take long to go viral and sparked intrigue about the media. National and global press had been trying to work out the forward's motives behind the noise, while several parody videos and memes had also started to appear on social networking sites. Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates winning the Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year with a loud scream . But Spanish journalist Guillem Balague was already clued up. He said on Twitter, 'In case you wondered, Ronaldo's war cry is Siiiiiii. Yeeees. I know it doesn't sound like that but that's what he says he shouts.' Ronaldo himself then confirmed to Spanish television station Cuarto that the noise was part of a Real Madrid celebration. He said, 'The scream? The players know I always do that shout when I score a goal or when we win - it's our team shout.' Spanish sports newspaper MARCA leads with 'I kiss, I cry and I shout' after Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'Or . Portuguese magazine Abola says Ronaldo's rallying cry means he is now looking to match Lionel Messi . The Portuguese forward was crowned the best player in the world for the third time in his career, and for the second consecutive year. Ronaldo was presented with the award at a ceremony held in Zurich on Monday evening after he received 37.66 per cent of the vote, finishing ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi (15.76 per cent) and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer (15.72 per cent). Ronaldo defended his world player of the year status convincingly with 37.66 per cent of all votes . Ronaldo has scored 285 goals in 275 games for Real Madrid since joining from Manchester United in 2009 . The Real Madrid star's shout perhaps looks less out of context after he has scored on a football pitch . | Cristiano Ronaldo explains his yell during Ballon d'Or acceptance speech . He says it was a celebration he performs with his Real Madrid team-mates . Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year . He received 37.66 per cent of the vote ahead of Lionel Messi . | 4c0cf6f15934182dbfa23f859bdfda8aa0aa869a |
To become Google's first female engineer in 1999 -- and, eventually, one of the most powerful women in tech -- Marissa Mayer had to get comfortable with risk. "I always did something I was a little not ready to do," she said last year while speaking on her best decisions in a talk with NPR Correspondent Laura Sydell. "That feeling at the end of the day, where you're like, 'what have I gotten myself into?' I realized that sometimes when you have that feeling and you push through it, something really great happens." If the 37-year-old still makes career moves by her tried-and-true process, then she's likely anticipating something great to occur in her new role as Yahoo's CEO. Mayer's hiring last summer, which accordng to Fortune made her the youngest head of a Fortune 500 company, came as a surprise, and her high-wire decisions since have spread far wider than Yahoo's campus. First, there was her brief maternity leave after she gave birth to her son in September. When the Silicon Valley star first announced that she was pregnant, on the very same day Yahoo revealed she was the company's new CEO, some saw it as a progressive move and hoped Mayer would set a new standard for mothers trying to balance the competing demands of their corporate and familial roles. What they saw instead was a businesswoman eager to get back in the office and who said that having a new baby in her life wasn't as difficult as she'd been told. But the real critiques came last month when Yahoo's HR department issued an e-mail telling staff that they will no longer be able to work from home, prompting an angry backlash and leading some to question Mayer's judgment. While some found her position just, others hoping the new mom would create a more reasonable corporate culture interpreted the move as unfair, noting that Mayer approved the edict while building a nursery next to her office -- not an option for most working parents. But over her nearly 14-year career in the tech world, Mayer has consistently shaken up expectations. If we've learned anything about this influential computer engineer-turned-corporate executive, it's that she plays the game of business by her own rules. 1. She doesn't do stereotypes . Part of the legend of Marissa Mayer is that she doesn't fit into our assumptions of what it means to be a tech geek. Much has been made of her looks, which defy popular culture's assertion that the best computer scientists are "people with pocket protectors and thick glasses who code all night," Mayer told Glamour magazine jokingly in 2009. "I do code all night! I am the stereotype, but I also break the stereotype." She also didn't grow up immersed in technology. Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, Mayer had a childhood filled with piano lessons, ice skating and ballet, plus debate and math club in high school, Vogue magazine reported in 2009. The future tech leader told Newsweek the following year that she didn't even learn how to use a mouse until her freshman year at Stanford. She's said that she had a natural interest in the brain and how it worked, and at first wanted to be a pediatric neurosurgeon. When she happened to take a computer science class for non-majors and discovered a major called symbolic systems, she was hooked, she told NPR's Sydell last year. Soon she was climbing Google's ranks, from programmer to vice president of local, maps and location services. But the press and public focused more on her posing for Vogue and reportedly shelling out $60,000 at a charity auction for lunch with Oscar de la Renta. A geek who loves fashion? Who would've thought? But as Mayer told The New York Times in 2009, "I refuse to be stereotyped. I think it's very comforting for people to put me in a box. 'Oh, she's a fluffy girlie girl who likes clothes and cupcakes. Oh, but wait, she is spending her weekends doing hardware electronics.' " 2. Passion can trump gender . With two degrees from Stanford, including a master's degree in computer science, and a successful career in a male-dominated industry, Mayer is often held up as a woman to emulate. During her tenure at Google, Mayer's been described as being a key influencer on products such as Gmail, Google Maps and Google's minimalist search page. As a result, Mayer is frequently asked how she made it in an environment that's seen as a boy's club. "People will say, how can we get more girls into computer science? And I think that's a hard question, because just asking the question, I worry sometimes can handicap progress," she noted during a 2012 talk at New York City's 92nd Street Y. "I was really good at chemistry, biology, physics, calculus in high school, and my teachers were genuinely really supportive of that and they never said anything like, 'wow, you're really good at this, and that's unusual for a girl.' They never really brought up the gender issue ... And I think I've just always been very gender-unaware." Her advice to other women seeking to follow in her footsteps is to find something that drives them and push past their preconceptions about gender roles. "I'm not a woman at Google, I'm a geek at Google," Mayer told CNN in 2012. "If you can find something that you're really passionate about, whether you're a man or a woman comes a lot less into play. Passion is a gender-neutralizing force." And when it comes to feminism, Mayer shies away from the phrase. "I don't think that I would consider myself a feminist. I certainly believe in equal rights, I believe that women are just as capable, if not more so, in a lot of different dimensions. But I don't I think have sort of the militant drive, and sort of the chip on the shoulder that sometimes comes with that," she said in PBS and AOL's "Makers" documentary, launching a debate about her remarks. "I think it's too bad, but I do think that feminism has become in many ways a more negative word," she added. "There are amazing opportunities all over the world for women, and I think that there's more good that comes out of positive energy around that than negative energy." 3. Burnout? She's not really buying it . Mayer has long been seen as the employee who can outwork you on your most caffeinated day. But she's said that she doesn't believe in burnout in the typical sense. "I actually have a very different philosophy about burnout," she told BuzzFeed last year. "I don't think that burnout comes from not getting enough sleep or not eating enough square meals. I think that burnout comes from resentment. ... It is possible to work 'too hard,' but you need to figure out what things it really is you need to stay fueled up, to stay energized, to not get resentful." Mayer's intensity at the office appears to have held up even as she's become a mom. Her maternity leave was just a few weeks long, and she worked through it. Some critics wondered about the standard this might set in the corporate world, considering Mayer has resources that many other working parents don't. Yet the Yahoo CEO isn't thinking about anyone else's standards of parenthood, as she told "Today's" Savannah Guthrie when asked for her thoughts on being seen as a role model. "I've really been focused on the products, what we need to do," Mayer said last month. "There are so many great people at Yahoo, and so many great users that we want to serve well, that I really put my energy there." 4. She welcomes challenges . One of Mayer's mantras for making decisions in life is to a) work with the smartest people she can find, and b) go for a challenge that makes her feel like she's in over her head. Say, for example, taking over struggling Web giant Yahoo. Yahoo's undoubtedly hoping for a turnaround in both its finances and its products, one worth that $1.1 million bonus that Mayer was given. Optimistic observers are waiting to see Mayer apply some of the smarts and aesthetic sense she showed at Google. "If Mayer were just another savvy Silicon Valley executive who'd spent most of her career at one outfit and never run a company, she might feel like a quixotic choice for a big, troubled public company like Yahoo," Time magazine's Harry McCracken wrote last July. "But she's Marissa Mayer. She played a key role in making Google into ... Google. She's famous for her obsessive focus on pleasing experiences, and the lengths to which she'll go to measure whether something's working for users or not." 5. If she needs to test 41 different shades of blue, she will . Mayer told San Francisco magazine in 2008 that she's "a businesswoman first and foremost," but her passion for perfection and focus on data hasn't left everyone starstruck. Former staffer Douglas Edwards, who wrote "I'm Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59," recalled feeling perturbed by Mayer's emphasis on testing and data. He remembered one occurrence when he said she changed the results Google provided so they'd appear in a sans-serif font, because she'd seen research that those were easier to read. The Times similarly picked up on Mayer's data-driven habits and perfectionism, such as when she wanted to test out 41 shades of blue for the toolbar on Google pages to see which one appealed the most to the user. Her managerial style was said to be so meticulous that Wired magazine put her on its 2012 list of "brilliant" but tough tech bosses. Time will tell if this obsessive attention to detail pays off for Yahoo, and Mayer -- or whether her company's problems are too big. | Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer: My best decisions involve risk . It may not be conventional, but neither is Mayer . As she's shown in the past, Mayer bucks against societal expectations . In the fields of tech and business, Mayer often makes her own rules . | 543cc68f620c3b188c7f3a6094bbff67fc968580 |
By . Toni Jones . PUBLISHED: . 12:15 EST, 25 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:39 EST, 25 April 2013 . Lewis Bojang, 37, says staff in shops and restaurants are all ready to give him the VIP treatment - until they realise there are no paparazzi or bodyguards. He is a dead ringer for Will.i.am, and is frequently mistaken for the hip hop Black Eyed Peas star. Lewis, a dispatch controller, is the same height as the Black Eyed Peas musician and The Voice judge and their birth dates are just days apart. 'I am always getting noticed, and in the street I can often hear people saying I look like Will.i.am,'said Lewis, who moved to Tottington, Bury, Greater Manchester, five years ago from The Gambia. Lewis Bojang is a dead ringer for Will.i.am, and is frequently mistaken for the hip hop Black Eyed Peas star . 'People in shops, restaurants clubs and bars have asked me to have a picture taken with them.' It was his wife Karen, 38, an office manager, who first spotted the resemblance as the couple watched The Voice. 'I looked at Will.i.am on the television and then looked across at Lewis and something suddenly clicked,' she said. Lewis's wife Karen Bevins noticed the likeness while the couple were watching an episode of The Voice . 'I can’t believe we didn’t notice it sooner but we never really followed Will.i.am or were interested in his music. 'For about a year now people have commented wherever we go and give Lewis a second look and even the VIP treatment. 'People do double takes or ask if he is related and his friends even call him Will now. 'We’ve had shop staff scurrying round and holding open doors for us before they realise there are no paparazzi or bodyguards.' The couple are to attend the live show of The Voice this summer and hope to meet Will.i.am backstage.' 'I have always dressed similar to Will.i.am’s style anyway but now I have I started buying more similar clothes,' said Lewis. 'It is hard to find the same styles though, because he wears handmade designer garments.' Lewis has now signed up to lookalike agency Fake Faces and has been told he could earn between £100 and £400 an hour. He is also set to take acting classes to help him perfect Will.i.am’s mannerisms and American accent. 'Because Will.i.am is in the UK and on . our screens a lot at the moment it has definitely emphasised how much . my husband looks like him, or maybe the other way around!' said Karen. 'Lewis can’t sing or rap though, so maybe it’s there the resemblance ends. 'Then again Will.i.am has admitted he isn’t the best singer either so maybe Lewis is his perfect doppelganger.' Will.i.am (right) is a judge on talent show The Voice along with (l-r) Tom Jones, Danny O'Donoghue and Jessie J . | 37-year-old Lewis Bojang is the same height and age as the singer . Wife Karen, 38, was the first to recognise the likeness . Controller planning acting lessons to help him look and sound more like star . Has signed to lookalike agency, set to earn £100 to £400 per appearance . | bb98cee61066edff60e192e55296d2ef449a5505 |
By . Laurie Whitwell . Follow @@lauriewhitwell . Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has given his unequivocal backing to beleaguered manager Paul Lambert, whose two assistants have been suspended pending an investigation amid allegations of bullying. The American billionaire praised Lambert’s ‘total loyalty and commitment’ to the club and acknowledged that the loss of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa could have proved difficult for the Glaswegian. But the removal of two people who were intrinsic to Lambert’s success at Norwich City and have formed part of his coaching team for the past eight years, dating back to Wycombe and Colchester, does leave him in a difficult position and desperate for a quick improvement in results. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Paul Lambert speaking after his team's Crystal Palace loss . Supportive: Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has given his back to boss Paul Lambert after assistants Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa were suspended amid allegations of bullying . Lots to think about: Villa lost their fourth Premier League game on the spin at Crystal Palace on Saturday . Suspended: Ian Culverhouse (left) and Gary Karsa have been suspended pending an investigation Aston Villa . As he approaches the end of his second . season in charge at Villa Park, fans are questioning whether progress . has been made. They point to a record 10 home defeats as evidence that . the club have stagnated. Should that become 11 on Saturday when . Southampton visit, then there is likely to be open revolt in the stands. Lambert, . 44, relied on Culverhouse but has now turned to club legend Gordon . Cowans, who has been promoted from development coach, and goalkeeper . Shay Given, who in February stated that Villa ‘want me out of the door’. The 37-year-old Republic of Ireland international has two years left on . his contract but has not played a league game for the club since August . 2012. Culverhouse was said . to have cultivated a ‘poisonous’ atmosphere with his methods during . training. Several players are believed to have grievances, with Fabian . Delph and Gabriel Agbonlahor particularly upset at an incident in the . week preceding the Fulham match. Upset: Fabian Delph was thought to have been affected by an incident during training . Disappointed: Gabriel Agbonlahor was left out against Fulham but returned in the defeat at Palace . The defender started his career at Tottenham in 1982 but is best remembered for his time at Norwich. During nine years at Carrow Road he played 370 times for the club, including in the famous win over Bayern Munich. He is in the Norwich City Hall of Fame. He then moved on to Swindon and Brighton and after a spell youth coaching at various clubs became Paul Lambert's assistant at Colchester in 2008 before following the Scot to Norwich and then to Villa Park. It . is understood allegations of bullying by Culverhouse and Karsa have . been made by others who work at Villa, forcing chief executive Paul . Faulkner to act. The move . was supported by Lambert, whose relationship with Culverhouse had broken . down beyond repair and came to a head during the 1-0 defeat at Crystal . Palace, Villa’s fourth consecutive loss. The . players were told about the changes at training on Tuesday and the . following session laid on by Cowans was said to be the ‘best in ages’. Lerner . said: ‘Our manager has been faced with some unexpected issues that . could have very easily set the club back. 'In watching him handle . matters, along with our chief exec, I’ve seen total loyalty and . commitment to Aston Villa, while Gordon, a Villa man through and . through, has repeatedly stepped up to support the club regardless of the . ask. Showdown: Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner (right) met with Paul Lambert at the training ground . Lots to think about: Villa lost their fourth Premier League game on the spin at Crystal Palace on Saturday . Gary Karsa did not have a very distinguised playing career and his first coaching job came at Enfield in 1998, where he was football and community officer. He then moved to Barnet (where he joined up with Ian Culverhouse) but his big break came when he became head of youth at Wycombe in 2006 under Paul Lambert. He followed Lambert to Colchester, where he became football operations manager, and was part of the team that moved to Norwich and then Aston Villa. ‘Shay, too, has been . unhesitating in answering the manager’s call. I couldn’t ask for more . from people who are up for this challenge and the very real obstacles we . have to overcome, as is everyone at the club.’ Villa . lie 14th in the Barclays Premier League with 34 points, four above the . drop zone, and are fighting relegation for a second season under . Lambert. Fans were promised an exciting brand of football when he replaced Alex McLeish. ‘If . they lose against Southampton, the atmosphere will turn,’ said David . Michael, who runs the MyOldManSaid fan site and is a director at Aston . Villa Supporters’ Trust. ‘This now is almost a trial. I can’t see the . fans standing for him if we end up on anything below 40 points. His . position may become untenable.’ Walking into trrouble? Fans have turned on Lambert, increasing the chances he could be leaving . Can we be of any assistance? Gordon Cowans (left) and Shay Given will help Lambert . 4 Aston Villa have lost four Premier League games in a row. They last lost five on the spin in January 2001. 1 Grant Holt has managed only one shot on target in eight appearances. 0 Gabriel Agbonlahor has not scored or assisted a goal in any of his last eight Premier League games. Despite this he tops Villa’s assists list this season with five. 42 Villa have scored a paltry 42 goals in 36 Premier League home games under manager Paul Lambert. Yacouba Sylla . Six starts and no goals this season. He cost £2m from Clermont in 2013. Jordan Bowery . Signed from Chesterfield for £500,000 in 2012, has made only four starts. Antonio Luna (above) Cost £2m from Sevilla but struggled to adapt. Aleksandar Tonev . Likely to leave in the summer after £2.5m move from Lech Poznan last June. Nicklas Helenius . Yet to make a start this season. Striker cost £1.2m from Aalborg last June. | American owner praised Paul Lambert's 'total loyalty and commitment' Aston Villa have suspended assistant manager Culverhouse and head of footballing operations Karsa, pending an internal investigation . It is understood they have no future at the club . Several players dislike Culverhouse's 'aggressive' training methods . Former Villa star Gordon Cowans and out-of favour-keeper Shay Given have been temporarily promoted to Lambert's first-team coaching staff . Lambert under pressure from fans after dire recent run of results . | 606af35620622189d476845f2bedacb0536bc5d8 |
By . Chris Pleasance for MailOnline . Abdul Hanif, 30, from Bradford, has been sentenced to 17 years in jail after being found guilty of keeping a woman as a sex slave . A McDonald's worker has been found guilty of keeping a student as a sex slave for four months while repeatedly raping and beating her. Abdul Hanif, 30, from Bradford, also planned to force his victim into prostitution to help repay his gambling debts. He was today sentenced to 17 years in jail at Bradford Crown Court after being found guilty of three charges of rape and one of causing actual bodily harm. During his trail, the jury at Bradford Crown Court heard that Hanif's 26-year-old victim was a virgin before he kidnapped and raped her. Jurors were told that the female student had moved to London from Bangladesh to study accountancy. She first met Hanif in February when she was working in a sandwich shop in London and he 'began to groom her', the judge said. The pair exchanged numbers, and after the woman was made homeless Hanif offered to take her to 'a nice new home' in Bradford. In reality the pair spent several days sleeping in Hanif's car and moving between his friends' flats before he moved her to a rented apartment. During this time Hanif took away her credit cards and mobile phone, effectively making her a prisoner, while forcing her to have sex with him every day. The victim said she was made to cook his meals, adding that he would fly into a rage if he was unhappy with what she served. She said Hanif wanted to use her as a prostitute to pay off his gambling debts, and when she refused he tore a phone charger from the wall and strangled her, leaving marks on her throat. She was only freed after managing to contact one of Hanif's former friends, Stephen Naylor, saying she was unwell and had been the victim of domestic violence. He alerted police who went to Hanif's flat in June last year where they battered down the door and found the victim inside. Mr Naylor told the court: 'She said he was treating her like an animal.' He described Hanif as 'charismatic' but added: 'He is a very frightening man and he trusts no-one.' The court heard the victim has had to seek help with counselling after suffering from depression, flashbacks and suicidal thoughts as a result of the treatment she suffered at the hands of Hanif. In a victim impact statement read out to the court, she said: 'I feel as if my life is totally ruined because of what Abdul Hanif did to me. 'Everything in my life has now changed. I can't smile or go anywhere like I could before.' The jury convicted Hanif after just 90 minutes of deliberations following his trial. Jailing him, Judge Peter Benson said: 'Your victim was a young woman who came to London where she had no family and a limited number of friends and she struggled to find her feet. Bradford Crown Court (pictured) heard that Hanif had groomed the student while she worked in a sandwich shop in London. When she became homeless he offered her a place to stay before making her a prisoner . 'You seized this opportunity and lied to her and pretended you had found her a home owned by a friend. Instead of that you brought her against her will to Bradford and when she realised you were leaving London you frightened her and told her you would abandon her. 'This was a young lady who was virtually alone in a big foreign country. You wickedly exploited that vulnerability. You forced her into having sex against her will and when she refused you struck her and threatened her. 'You used her as a sexual resource and you controlled her and isolated her by restricting the use of her phone and locking her in. 'You took her bank card so you had control of her finances, such as they were, and you repeatedly raped her on an almost daily basis using no contraception. 'You treated her like a slave and went off to work, taking the only key. She was a prisoner and had no life at all as you made her cook and clean for you. 'You humiliated her by rejecting the food she cooked while you satisfied your sexual appetite. 'Eventually when you had gambled away any money that you had, you offered her to a friend for sexual purposes but you then threatened to turn her into a prostitute for funds to feed your gambling addiction. Your threats to turn her into a prostitute finally caused her to find the courage to escape.' Detective Constable Brett Carter, of Protective Services at West Yorkshire Police, said: 'Hanif befriended his victim when she was vulnerable, but then went on to repeatedly rape and assault her. 'This must have been a harrowing ordeal for her and we would like to thank her for the courage she has shown in coming forward and reporting Hanif's crimes. 'We hope the sentence which has been passed down on him today will be of some comfort to her and will help to give her some closure. 'We also hope it will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to speak to our specially-trained officers, who will investigate all reports, no matter how historic, sensitively and thoroughly with the aim of securing a conviction against offenders.' Hanif was also ordered to sign the sex offences register for life. | Abdul Hanif jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of rape and ABH . Hanif, 30, met his victim while she was studying accountancy in London . When 26-year-old was made homeless he offered her 'nice new home' Drove her to Bradford and imprisoned her while forcing her to have sex . Tried to sell her for sex to pay debts and strangled her when she refused . | ae66af1697baaa8a836b881e5574dbaa1e37a89e |
A six-legged, 1,900kg all-terrain walking robot has been created by a designer in Hampshire. Matt Denton, from Winchester, believes that his six-legged ‘Mantis’ is the biggest, all-terrain operational hexapod robot in the world. It is powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine and stands 2.8 metres high. Scroll down for videos . A six-legged, 1,900kg all-terrain walking robot has been created by a designer in Hampshire . It is the largest, all-terrain operational hexapod robot in the world. It weighs 1,900kg and stands 2.8 metres high. It is powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine. It can be piloted from the cockpit or remotely using Wi-Fi. It can tackle uneven surfaces using six-axis 'body attitude control'. Can automatically level itself for pilot comfort. Can move large objects with its feet. Mr Denton, who is founder and chief designer of Micromagic Systems – a company that supplies animatronic, robotic and CGI control systems and services to the film and television industry – can pilot the robot manually while sitting in the cockpit. Alternatively, he can control it remotely using WiFi. The machine, which is surprisingly manoeuvrable, can also tackle uneven surfaces by adapting to terrain using six-axis ‘body attitude control’, automatically level itself for the comfort of the pilot, and manipulate large objects with its 'feet'. Footage posted on YouTube shows it tucking its legs into its body for ease of storage on the back of a vehicle trailer. It also shows the ‘Mantis’ moving a trailer around with one of its ‘feet’. Mr Denton said: ‘This is definitely the largest hexapod – six-legged walking machine - we have built so far. Matt Denton, from Winchester, believes that his six-legged 'Mantis' is the biggest, all-terrain operational hexapod robot in the world . It is powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine and stands 2.8 metres high . ‘It started as an idea back in 2007. We secured private funding in 2009 to start the project and - after three years of design, build and testing - the robot made a first successful test drive in the summer of 2012 at Bestival UK. ‘It's been called an instant design classic and an inspiring engineering project for the next generation.’ Mr Denton says the Mantis is available now for private hire, custom commissions, events, and sponsorship. Mr Denton can pilot the robot manually while sitting in the cockpit or he can control it remotely using WiFi . The machine, which is surprisingly manoeuvrable, can also tackle uneven surfaces by adapting to terrain using six-axis 'body attitude control', automatically level itself for the comfort of the pilot, and manipulate large objects with its 'feet' Footage posted on YouTube shows it tucking its legs into its body for ease of storage on the back of a vehicle trailer . It took three years to design, build and test the robot . Mr Denton says the Mantis is available now for private hire, custom commissions, events, and sponsorship . | Matt Denton built the world's biggest all-terrain operational hexapod robot . Weighs 1,900kg, stands 2.8m high and has 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine . Can be controlled manually from the cockpit or remotely using WiFi . Can move objects using 'feet' and tuck its legs in for ease of transport . | d4c00def31c475989fa51d6415ff05b9653650c5 |
The title of the first Bridget Jones novel in 14 years has been announced - Mad About The Boy. The book is author Helen Fielding's third about the hapless singleton, following Bridget Jones's Diary, which was published in 1996, and sequel The Edge Of Reason in 1999. The books sold more than 15 million copies in 40 countries and were adapted for the movies starring Renee Zellweger in the lead role, Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver. Dating dilemmas: The Bridget Jones books sold more than 15 million copies in 40 countries and were adapted for the movies starring Renee Zellweger (pictured) in the lead role . Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, which will be published on October 10, is set in present day London and 'represents a totally new phase in Bridget’s life'. An extract released by publishers showed that Jones is still prone to mishaps. She writes after sending a text message: 'You see, this is the trouble with the modern world. If it was the days of letter-writing, I would never even have started to find his address, a pen, a piece of paper, an envelope, a stamp and gone outside at 11.30pm to find a postbox. 'A text is gone at the brush of a fingertip, like a nuclear bomb or Exocet missile. Dating Rule No 1: Do not text when drunk.' Comeback: Author Helen Fielding pictured in 1999 during her book tour for The Edge of Reason . A statement from publishers Jonathan Cape said: 'Bridget is older, she is still keeping a diary, but she is also immersed in texting and experimenting with social media, with an emphasis on 'social!'' Jonathan Cape publishing director Dan Franklin said: 'As a comic writer, Helen is without equal. Over 15 years ago she gave a voice to a generation of young women with the original Bridget book. 'Now they’ve grown up and she’s doing it again....this time with all the joys and complications of social media.' Jones, who filled the pages of her diary with her failed efforts to find love and measured her life in the amount of cigarettes she smoked, units of alcohol she drank and number of calories she lost or gained, started life as a weekly column in The Independent in 1995. Best-selling English author Fielding recently wrote that the dating scene had become even more difficult for women thanks to the advent of email, Twitter, Facebook and texting. Writing in the margins of her novel Bridget Jones' Diary for a charity book sale, she said that she thought that finding a partner is 'so much worse now'. Oscar-winning actor Firth recently dashed hopes that a third Bridget Jones film would be hitting the big-screen soon. 'Unfortunately, it might be a bit of a long wait. I wouldn't say that it's completely dead in the water, but the way it's going you might be seeing Bridget Jones' granddaughter's story being told by the time we get there,' he quipped. | Author Helen Fielding's third instalment will be published on October 10th . | 3c9500ce0be88bb0a7926256aef4cfb42ec7e3f5 |
A 16-year-old girl was killed and three other teens were shot in 'an attempted robbery gone wrong' in Detroit, authorities said Wednesday. An armed man got out of his car and approached five teenagers as they smoked marijuana in a pulled-over vehicle in the city's east side, family sources told Local 4. The man shouted at the teens, who instructed their female driver to speed off. The man shot when the group attempted to flee, the sources said. Scroll down for video . Victims: 16-year-old honor roll student Paige Stalker, left, was killed as a result of the shooting. Demetrius Herndon, right, has been discharged from a hospital . 16-year-old Paige Stalker died though the group sped to a nearby hospital, Local 4 reported. A 15-year-old male passenger is in critical condition; passenger Demetrius Herndon and the female driver, both 16, have been discharged; and a 17-year-old female passenger escaped being shot, according to the news outlet. 'We re-interviewed the victims and got a little bit more information, accurate information,' Adam Madera, a Detroit police spokesman, told Local 4. 'We now are working under the assumption that it possibly was an attempted robbery gone wrong.' Herndon told Local 4 of the shooting 'We hurried up and turned on the car and we did a U-turn, rode up some grass and hit a tree. Then, he shot the side of the car. 'He shot the girl in the head, shot Donald in the arm and shot me in my arm.' Investigation: A Detroit police spokesman has said 'it possibly was an attempted robbery gone wrong' Remembered: Paige Stalker attended University Liggett School, was on the honor roll and played lacrosse . Earlier, Detroit Police Chief James Craig told Local 4 'We do not believe this was a random attack. We’re still working very hard to find out what took place. 'Candidly, there has been some challenges for us in terms of the accounts of what’s taken place. So, we’re asking for full cooperation.' Madera told The Detroit Free Press that between 25 and 30 shell casings were recovered from where the shooting took place. The teenagers earlier claimed to search for a passenger's brother and claimed to be going to a movie theater, police told the newspaper. Stalker attended University Liggett School, was on the honor roll and played lacrosse, The Detroit Free Press reported. Stalker's classmate Alexander Minanov told the newspaper 'It's just really sad that instead of planning for Christmas, the family has to plan for a funeral.' | An armed man got out of his car and approached five teenagers as they smoked marijuana in a pulled-over vehicle in Detroit, sources have said . The man shouted at the teens, who instructed their female driver to speed off. The man shot when the group attempted to flee, the sources said . 16-year-old honor roll student Paige Stalker was killed, and a 15-year-old male is in critical condition . A boy and a girl, both 16, have been discharged, and a 17-year-old girl was unharmed in the shooting . A Detroit police spokesman has said 'it possibly was an attempted robbery gone wrong' | cc7acfd4d64b31a1fdbe847791f59f0b8b69f856 |
(CNN) -- It's one win for Darrell Wallace Jr., but what will it mean for other African-American race car drivers -- present and future? The answer to that question might not come for years. Nonetheless, NASCAR wasted no time Saturday in hailing Wallace's on-track success at Martinsville Speedway in southern Virginia. "We congratulate Darrell Wallace Jr. on his first national series victory, one that will be remembered as a remarkable moment in our sport's history," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France. Wallace took the Kroger 200 on the racing circuit's Camping World Truck Series, which is on NASCAR's third tier. Still, it is notable given that no African-American has won any NASCAR national series race since December 1, 1963, when Wendell Scott became the first ever to win a race at NASCAR's top level, in a victory at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Scott, a Virginia native who served in the Army during World War II, raced in more than 500 races during his career -- finishing in the top five 20 times, though that would be his only victory. Plus, the 20-year-old Wallace isn't just any driver. He's a highly touted graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity, having been featured in numerous local and national publications. The Mobile, Alabama, native -- who lives in Concord, North Carolina -- won in his 19th start on Camping World Truck circuit. In 10 of his first 18 starts, he finished in the top 10. Shortly after the Martinsville race ended, Wallace -- using his twitter handle @BubbaWallace -- reveled in the victory. He wrote: "We Came. We Saw. We Conquered." CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report. | NEW: "We Came. We Saw. We Conquered," Wallace tweets . Darrell Wallace Jr. wins a third-tier NASCAR race in Martinsville . It's the first NASCAR national series win for an African-African since 1963 . NASCAR's CEO says the win "will be remembered ... in our sport's history" | 7eabbcded36324715d58a0f8042f457db7717a4a |
Karl Lagerfeld has long been a favorite among grown-up fashionistas, and now he is set to try his hand at a whole new category - children's clothing. The German designer, 81, has partnered with France's Groupe CWF to create a line of rock 'n' roll-inspired childrenswear, featuring apparel and accessories for boys and girls aged zero to 16 years old. No doubt the designs will have been approved by Hudson Kroenig, Lagerfeld's adorable five-year-old godson and muse who frequently walks the catwalk in his high-fashion shows. Karl Lagerfeld (pictured on Friday at New York Fashion week with godson Hudson Kroenig, five) is launching a line of childrenswear in spring 2016 . A sketch of the future collection depicts two boys - one decked out in a suit reminiscent of Lagerfeld's signature look, and the other wearing a white and red T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Karl' The children's collection will be unveiled in spring 2016, with two seasonal collections released each year thereafter and prices reportedly averaging £17. A sketch of the future collection depicts two boys - one decked out in a black tie and suit reminiscent of Lagerfeld's signature look, and the other wearing a white and red T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Karl' and a silhouette of the designer's face. Pier Paolo Righi, president and chief executive officer of Karl Lagerfeld, said in a release that the Karl Lagerfeld Kidswear collection 'presents a unique opportunity to share our cool, ironic, iconic DNA with a wider Karl Lagerfeld audience.' Calling the venture a 'natural fit', he added: 'The announcement reflects the brand's ongoing commitment to newness and will allow Karl Lagerfeld to share its ironic, playful, creative vision with a young audience.' Lagerfeld regularly features his godson Hudson (middle, with Cara Delevingne in January 2014), the son of model Brad Kroenig, in his shows . This may be Lagerfeld's first foray into children's-wear, but it's a move that makes sense, seeing as he regularly features his godson Hudson, son of model Brad Kroenig, in his shows. Hudson made his runway debut in the Chanel spring/summer 2011 show, and he's racked up quite the portfolio since. The photogenic youngster has graced the pages of German Vogue, been photographed by his godfather - whom he calls 'Uncle Karl' - multiple times, and last October was chosen to model in a Chanel campaign alongside Joan Smalls. He held hands with Cara Delevingne while his godfather took a bow at the Chanel spring/summer 2014 couture show in Paris, and he has starred in a Fendi campaign with supermodel Anja Rubik. Before Hudson, his father Brad (pictured with Hudson at the Chanel Metiers d'Art Collection 2014/15 in Paris) was Lagerfeld's longtime muse, having first met the designer on a shoot in 2003 . Before Hudson, his father Brad was Lagerfeld's longtime muse, having met the designer on a shoot in 2003. Lagerfeld, who does not have any children of his own, even made a four-volume book of photos, Metamorphoses Of An American, devoted entirely to Brad. But now, it appears 35-year-old Brad has been replaced by his son, and with Hudson's impressive track record, it will come as no surprise if he is chosen to model the new collection when it launches next year. | Designer, 81, releasing children's line in spring 2016 for children up to 16 . There'll be two Karl Lagerfeld Kidswear collections a year, at £17 per piece . Thought to be inspired by his godson Hudson Kroenig, five . | 67874751da9fcd8eab79b65162ccdabb92254bf7 |
A group of college professors have launched an initiative to help parents build fun wheelchairs and therapy vehicles for their disabled children. Frustrated by the expensive and limited wheelchair options for children, University of Delaware professors Cole Galloway, Michele Lobo and Sam Logan launched Go Baby Go, which offers instruction in how to create wheelchairs out of popular toy vehicles for about $200. According to Go Baby Go, a standard toy car can be installed with seat backs, arm rests, or other structural amenities that make transportation more comfortable for children with physical disabilities. Helping hand: University of Delaware professor Cole Galloway (pictured, left) has helped create a method for alternative wheelchairs that are constructed of toy cars . Special idea: Professor Galloway's wheelchairs can be made in a matter of hours, by installing headrests, seat backs, and other structural additions onto the cars . The trio initially started the . program in 2000, and have since created numerous instructional guides . and videos showing how to remodel kids’ four-wheelers to accommodate . disabled children’s various physical therapy needs. That idea has already helped create hundreds of affordable wheelchairs around the country. Professor Galloway revealed that the idea was inspired by a trip to the four-wheeler department at Toys R' Us. He told The Today Show: ‘Anyone can build these in a matter of hours.’ Professor . Galloway explained that the battery-powered cars’ on-and-off mechanisms . can be rewired to help build a child’s strength. For . example, he advises placing the switch on a car’s foot bed if a child . needs to build strength in their legs – as this placement will force . them to stand up as the cruise along. Wallet friendly: Professor Galloway created the Go Baby Go program to help parents create wheelchairs at a much lower cost than traditional models . Therapeutic: A trained physical therapist, Professor Galloway says that his toy car program can help children build strength too by strategically placing an on-and-off switch in areas that need therapeutic attention . For . those who need to add strength in their necks, Professor Galloway . recommends placing the switch in a headrest – forcing the child to push . their head against the rest, and therefore exert and build strength in . their neck. He said that by . using toy cars in fun designs shaped like animals or famous cartoons, . disabled children feel like they are playing, rather than struggling to . move through their day. ‘All kids deserve a ride on car that's set for them,’ Professor Galloway said. ‘That's . going to take a little bit of modification for some kids. It might take . a lot of modification for other kids. But everybody can get around . independently.’ Typical fare: Toy cars typically look like this and cost around $200 at retail . | The Go Baby Go initiative teaches parents of disabled children how they can add structural support and rewire toy cars to benefit their child’s individual needs . | b738e61c1e7dfad331778b0ccaf3a1b4c8da18e4 |
(CNN)Darfur has a long, dark history filled with horrors. But these nightmares aren't all in the far past, according to Human Rights Watch. Citing 130 interviews with locals, the advocacy group said this week that in October, Sudanese soldiers raped more than 200 women and girls over a 36-hour period in the north Darfur town of Tabit. "Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that during (the) attacks, government soldiers went house-to-house in Tabit, searching houses, looting property, severely beating residents, and raping women and girls," the report stated. "On the two nights, soldiers forced many of the men to outdoor locations on the outskirts of the town, leaving the women and children especially vulnerable." The advocacy group said that civilians were the only ones affected and that it had "no evidence of any rebel force in the town immediately prior to or during the attacks." The United Nations and African Union have a force in Darfur, but according to Human Rights Watch, the Sudanese government has "prevented (them) from carrying out a credible investigation." "Immediately after they entered the room they said: 'You killed our man. We are going to show you true hell,' " a woman in her 40s recalled of an attack on her and her three daughters, two of whom were less than 11 years old, Human Rights Watch reported. "Then they started beating us. They raped my three daughters and me. Some of them were holding the girl down while another one was raping her. They did it one by one." Yusuf Kurdufani, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman, dismissed the report as "an attempt to reproduce an issue long closed after the world was convinced about the incredibility and illogicality of the claims of mass rape." According to the official Sudanese News Agency, Kurdufani said mass rapes "go contrary to the logic of things and also contradict ... the customs and traditions of the local population." "He argued that by making such allegations, the rebel movements wanted to create an impression that the situation was still unstable in the region," the SUNA report added. "The spokesman reaffirmed that the allegations of mass rape in Tabit is a file that has been closed." Yet not everyone in the international community buys Sudan's story, at least without a credible outside investigation. "To this day, the government of Sudan has shamefully denied the UN the ability to properly investigate this incident, despite this (U.N. Security) Council's mandate to do precisely that," said Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The United Nations itself said two months ago that its team had found no evidence supporting the claims, though the ultimate findings are "inconclusive and require further investigation." Violence in Darfur -- an arid region in western Sudan -- began raging in the early 2000s, with then-U.N. envoy Tom Eric Vraalsen at one point calling the humanitarian crisis there "one of the worst in the world." The United Nations has estimated about 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million wounded in the unrest. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is charged by the International Criminal Court with multiple counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. But al-Bashir hasn't agreed to stand trial, with his information minister at one point dismissing the ICC as a "white man's tribunal." There have been seemingly positive developments in the region in recent years, like South Sudan declaring independence after a peace agreement and subsequent referendum. In Darfur in 2013, a splinter group from the Justice and Equality Movement -- the largest Darfurian rebel group -- signed a peace deal with the Sudanese government, and countries pledged $3.7 billion to reconstruct and develop the war-torn area. Yet the violence never really went away. In December, Under-Secretary-General for U.N. Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous briefed the Security Council about increased fighting, "deadly" internal conflicts and an alarming rise of crime in Darfur. "This insecurity as well as the persistent restrictions imposed by government forces, armed movements and militia groups continued to challenge the ability of the (UN/AU) mission to implement its mandate, particularly as regards the protection of civilians," Ladsous said. | Human Rights Watch: Mass rapes occurred over a 36-hour period last October . A Sudanese official rejects the claim as unfounded and illogical . A U.S. ambassador blasts Sudan for "shamefully" denying UN access for a full investigation . | 1c70cedbc8c4b04c12333e0ba1e01433c435afc6 |
Amazon could be forced to hand over billions in unpaid taxes after the deal it struck with Luxembourg in 2003 was deemed illegal. The European Commission has ruled the company paid tiny rates of tax in comparison to other organisations in the country, in a way that technically 'constitutes state aid'. It's particularly embarrassing for the Commission's president, Jean-Claude Juncker, who was Prime Minister of Luxembourg when the deal was agreed. The country entered into a number of highly controversial tax deals with multinational firms during his premiership of the Grand Duchy between 1995 and 2013. Up to 340 multi-national companies were given help to avoid tax during his 18 years in office, it has been alleged. The deal between Amazon and Luxembourg regarding how much tax the online retailer should pay was reached after just 11 days - which the Commission deems a 'very short period of time'. Illegal: The European Commission says Amazon - who's headquarters are based in Luxembourg (pictured) - paid less corporation tax than other companies in the country . Embarrassed: The Commission's current president, Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured), was the Prime Minister of Luxembourg when the deal was struck . It has previously been accused of minimising tax payments in Britain by diverting revenues through its holding company in Luxembourg, which MPs have branded 'immoral'. Now it's emerged the company could also be passing money between companies registered inside Luxembourg to bring down its own tax bill within the country. The commission said that Amazon had been allowed to funnel profits between holding companies, resulting in a tax bill of almost nothing. Amazon has several weeks to reply to the ruling and an eventual fine could be more than a year away because of the lengthy process and discussions between the company, EU regulators and the Luxembourg government. Juncker has been further weakened by claims that he acted like a 'business partner' to the US company. Amazon's former head of tax, Bob Comfort, has reportedly said the Luxembourg government 'helped solve problems' for the company, to smooth its passage when originally setting up its operation in the country. In order to minimise its tax payments in the UK and across Europe, Amazon has based its headquarters in the Grand Duchy where it operates a skeleton crew of around 1,000 staff. It deems this as the 'beating heart' of its operation, even though it has warehouses and employs more than 15,000 workers in Britain alone. Avoidance: Amazon has been accused of minimising its tax payments in Britain by diverting money through its headquarters in Luxembourg . Outsourced: Despite employing 15,000 people in UK, Amazon maintains 'the beating heart' of its operation is in Luxembourg . Tax accountant Richard Murphy at Tax Research UK said: ‘Amazon is at a significant financial risk and it is possible that the eventual bill could run into billions.’ He added: ‘There’s a real prospect that Amazon will end up paying more tax in the UK if international law changes come in.’ Amazon paid just £42million in corporation tax in UK last year,despite sales of around £4.3billion. Tax accountant Richard Murphy at Tax Research UK said: 'Amazon is at a significant financial risk and it is possible that the eventual bill could run into billions. 'There's a real prospect that Amazon will end up paying more tax in the UK if international law changes come in.' The investigation is part of a multi-pronged clampdown on international tax-dodging by the commission. It is investigating similarly 'sweetheart' deals done by Google in Ireland, Starbucks in the Netherlands and Fiat in Luxembourg. The OCED is investigating ways to update international tax rules to take account of internet companies, which have been accused of using loopholes in existing legislation to avoid taxes by basing themselves in offshore havens. A spokesman for Amazon has said: 'Amazon has received no special tax treatment from Luxembourg - we are subject to the same tax laws as other companies operating here.' According to the Financial Times, Luxembourg said it was 'confident that the allegations of state aid in this case are unsubstantiated'. | Amazon could have to pay back billions after European Commission ruling . Commission's president was Prime Minister of Luxembourg at the time . Jean-Claude Juncker has been accused of acting as its 'business partner' Commission ruled company's tax rates technically 'constitutes state aid' | b7ad17af05e2a8fd7865615b807fb1294370d4de |
For much of the past decade, Iran's nuclear weapons development program has been one of the top national security concerns for the United States. Even as we fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and hunted down al Qaeda's leaders, American intelligence officers, military and top diplomats have been working round the clock to prevent Iran from developing the bomb. An Iran armed with nuclear weapons, capable of threatening Israel and other regional states, would touch off a nuclear arms race in the world's most volatile region. It would be an unmitigated disaster. We must make all efforts to prevent this. For this reason, I have pressed for ever-tightening sanctions to isolate Iran from the global economy and have supported a policy that leaves all options on the table, including military force. The stakes are simply too high to risk any miscalculation of our resolve by Iran's leaders. In pushing for ever more punitive sanctions, we held out the hope that by increasing the economic pressure enough, we might be able to force Iran to give up its nuclear weapons ambition and rejoin the community of nations. Now, we are at a moment in the standoff with Tehran that will test that assumption. Opinion: Why Israel, Gulf states are wary of Iran nuclear talks . In repeated statements since his election as Iran's new president in June, President Hassan Rouhani expressed interest in exploring a negotiated end to the sanctions in exchange for walking back its nuclear program and a verifiable inspections to ensure compliance. The just-concluded Geneva meeting, though unsuccessful in achieving a breakthrough on an interim deal, reportedly came close. The Iranians and the P5+1 group will be reconvening there this week for a second round. In the meantime, there have been calls for the Senate to continue work on a new round of sanctions that was passed by the House with my support earlier this year. Advocates of this approach say that sanctions brought us to this point and passage of a new round of sanctions during the negotiations will improve the likelihood of success at the bargaining table. I disagree. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have asked for more time to test Iran's willingness to enter into a tough and verifiable process of ending its nuclear weapons program, and I think we should give it to them. The sanctions have succeeded in forcing Iran to the table, and a further round right now -- when it has the potential to derail the negotiations -- is unnecessary. We will know soon enough whether the Iranian regime is serious about a new direction in its nuclear program and its relationship with the West. If it is not, there will be ample opportunity to tighten the stranglehold on Iran's economy, and further sanctions will have my full support. US-Israel rift over Iran nukes now in the open . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised the concern that any relaxation of sanctions in an interim deal risks unraveling the whole sanctions regime. This is not an illusory concern, and for this reason, any partial lifting of the freeze on Iranian assets must be quickly reversible if the Iranians balk on a final deal. But the absence of an interim deal is also problematic if it means another six months of Iranian enrichment. The Iranians must be made to understand that if they walk away or cheat, the sanctions will be tightened to the point of strangulation -- and the international community must be prepared to make good on that threat. I have no illusions about the character of the Iranian regime, nor do I trust it. I do not believe that we can look into Rouhani's eyes and see the truth, let alone his soul. Even if Rouhani was serious about his intentions, there is no guarantee that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would bless any agreement with the international community that forces Iran to verifiably foreswear development of the bomb. I share the concerns that have been expressed by others here, in Israel and in the Gulf states. Ultimately, this is not about trust. It's not about making concessions to Iran or rewarding the mullahs for thwarting the will of the international community for many years. It is about seizing the opportunity to see whether we can end Iran's nuclear weapons program without resorting to military action. And if we cannot, no doubt will remain that the United States made every effort to resolve this grave threat diplomatically. No negotiation is without risk, and the Iranians' track record is cause for great skepticism. The administration must not accept a bad deal -- and any interim agreement that provides sanctions relief must be easily and quickly reversible. But neither should the administration be prevented from testing whether it can obtain a good deal that advances our security interests and those of our allies. Yitzhak Rabin, the former Israeli prime minister who signed the Oslo Accords two decades ago, once noted that "You make peace with your enemies -- not the Queen of Holland." I agree and urge us to give diplomacy a chance. | Rep. Adam Schiff: Iran's nuclear program has been a top national security concern for 10 years . Schiff: Escalating sanctions were meant to force Iran into a deal, and Iran is at the table . He says another round of sanctions could derail negotiations and is unnecessary . Schiff: We must seize this chance; if it fails, there would be no doubt we tried diplomatically . | 137a10571702204baad352702502345783597b8d |
By . David Mccormack . PUBLISHED: . 22:26 EST, 24 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:54 EST, 25 February 2014 . A Youtube personality has released footage of a supposed ‘homeless man’ who was seen panhandling for money before he later drove off in a nice car and was eventually confronted at his house nearby. The footage, filmed by YouTube personality Jack Vale in Roseville, California, shows the apparently shameless hustler collecting donations on the street. According to Vale, his uncle had given the man some money several days ago only to then see the man a few moments later getting into a nice white car and driving off. However some have doubted whether the footage is real as Vale's previous videos include a series of pranks. Scroll down for more . Disturbing video footage has emerged of a supposed 'homeless man' seen panhandling for money before he later drives off in a nice car and is eventually confronted at his house nearby . Another Good Samaritan hands over his cash to the fake beggar . After a hard day's begging, the 'homeless man' drives off in his nice car . Vale decided that he would investigate and on Saturday spotted the man begging again. The footage starts with the man, who is shabbily dressed and carrying a mis-spelt sign that reads ‘Homeles (sic) Anything helps God bless’, accepting money from a series of Good Samaritans. When the man decides that he has finished begging for the day, Vale and his uncle follow him to a garage, where he emerges moments later driving a clean, late model Chevrolet Malibu. After following the supposed homeless man to a property in a nice neighborhood they wait for him to enter before knocking on his door and confronting him. Initially the man claims the house isn't his, but as thing heat-up he quickly losses his cool and refers to the house as his. After following the supposed homeless man to a property in a nice neighborhood they wait for him to enter before knocking on his door and confronting him . The man quickly looses his cool and orders Vale to 'get the f**k off my porch' After admitting that he was the one holding the sign, he pushes Vale and tells him to ‘Get the f**k off my porch.' The credibility of the video has been called into question by some commentators on the YouTube channel, which is more typically home to pranks that Vale has made his name with in the past. The video ends with Vale saying that he hopes the expose doesn't discourage others from giving to those who are genuinely in need. 'Do what you can to help them. Remember, it's more about the place in your heart where the gift comes from,' he said. Video: Watch expose of fake homeless man . | Disturbing footage appears to show man panhandling in California before he gets in his car and drives to his house . The footage was posted online by YouTube personality Jack Vale . He confronted the fake beggar who admitted to his crime, but then lost his cool and told Vale to 'Get the f**k off my porch' Some commentators are skeptical as Vale's YouTube channel is typically reserved for his pranks . | 3b2bfa79ed85bcddcf430fc77a8061532ff03c5f |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Thirty-three pages of text messages between Aaron Hernandez and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick could be used as evidence in the former NFL player's murder trial. Boston prosecutors have handed the messages over to Hernandez's defence team, according to Bristol County court documents released yesterday. There is no indication what they might say. The documents also revealed that Mr Belichick was interviewed by police last August as detectives investigated the shooting of Odin Lloyd, whose body was found a mile from Hernandez's North Attleborough home. Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez enters the courtroom for a hearing in this file photo taken last week at the Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River, Massachusetts . A three page statement from Mr Belichick and a one-page statement from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was also interviewed, were also filed as evidence in the case. But it is the text messages between Hernandez and Mr Belichick, sent and received between February and May 2013, which have got observers most excited, with the Boston Herald describing them as a 'treasure trove'. The paper said spokesmen for the Patriots and Bristol County prosecutors turned down an invitation to comment, while Hernandez's defence lawyer did not return calls. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Lloyd, a semi-professional footballer with the Boston Bandits, on June 17 of last year. He has also denied charges of murdering two men after leaving a Boston nightclub in 2012. On Monday, a judge ruled in favour of prosecutors who wanted to use footage from Hernandez's own home surveillance system as evidence against him. Judge Susan Garsh said seizure of the surveillance system 'was justified by the likelihood that it would reveal the identities of the individuals with Hernandez and Lloyd' in the hours before the shooting, the Herald reported. She hasn't yet ruled on a request to suppress evidence from other cellphones and three iPads seized from the house. On the same day, the lawyer for the cousin of Hernandez who was charged with criminal contempt after refusing to testify before the grand jury that indicted him revealed she intends to change her plea to guilty. Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots watches his team play in a 2012 file photo. His text messages to Hernandez may be used as evidence against the former NFL player who is on trial for murder . Tanya Singleton, of Bristol, Connecticut, had pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say she was granted immunity but declined to testify. Peter Parker, her lawyer, said during a brief proceeding in Fall River Superior Court that she will change her plea at the trial scheduled for August 12. Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney Samuel Sutter, said sentencing for criminal contempt is at the judge's discretion. He would not comment on what the prosecutors will recommend. Singleton pleaded not guilty to a contempt charge in connection with the Boston case after refusing to testify before a Suffolk County grand jury. Mr Parker is seeking to consolidate the contempt cases in Fall River and said on Monday that his client intends to plead guilty in the Boston case, too. 'Ms. Singleton chose family over civic duty. That is not an incomprehensible or indefensible choice,' Mr Parker wrote in a court filing Monday requesting the consolidation. Singleton also faces a charge of conspiracy to commit accessory after the fact in the Lloyd case. She isn't changing her not guilty plea in that case, Mr Parker said. Prosecutors allege Singleton helped Hernandez's 'right-hand man' Ernest Wallace travel to Florida after Lloyd was killed. They also say she discussed helping Carlos Ortiz, another Hernandez associate, flee to Puerto Rico and got rid of a cellphone that Wallace had used. Wallace and Ortiz have both pleaded not guilty to murder and accessory charges. Singleton, who has been undergoing medical treatments for breast cancer in Connecticut, was not in Fall River for Monday's hearing. She is out on bail. | Thirty-three pages of texts have been handed to Hernandez's defence team . Written statements by Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft also filed . Both were interviewed as part of the investigation into Hernandez . Former NFL star denies the murder of semi-pro footballer Odin Lloyd . | b2f28093ee41869b4c1829e8677917cfff8a7d1e |
By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 08:21 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:42 EST, 18 March 2014 . A spurned boyfriend pretended to be his former lover on a 'hook-up' website and sent men looking for sex to her home, a court heard. David McGowan, 28, from Cottingham, near Hull, set up a fake profile in Rebecca Millward’s name on a 'hook-up' website and directed strangers wanting a casual fling to turn up at her home in Brighton unannounced. He used photographs he'd taken of the 25-year-old nurse during their relationship to create the profile before, pretending to be her, sending out her address inviting men to her flat. David McGowan, 28, posed as his ex, Rebecca Millward, 25, on casual sex websites and invited men to her flat . Miss Millward told Beverley Magistrates' Court she became too 'scared' to answer the door, and worried that the photographs of her would be found by colleagues and patients. In a statement read out in court, Miss Millward said: 'I am worried about the photos that were put on the website. 'I have just qualified as a nurse, and I am worried patients and colleagues can see them and that it looks unprofessional. 'Whenever the phone goes or someone knocks on my door during the day, I worry. When men were arriving at my home, I felt unsafe, and I don’t want to be home alone.' The court heard that Miss Millward ended the nine-month, long-distance relationship with McGowan last September. On New Year’s Eve, McGowan, a consultant in the asbestos industry, was given a harassment order after bombarding her with emails, texts and Facebook messages, and received a police caution for setting up a fake profile on the 'hook-up' site. But last month he sent another email and tried to call her using the online videophone service, Skype. In the meantime, men started appearing at Miss Millward’s door again. Men from the casual sex website started turning up at Miss Millward's flat in Brighton (file picture) Prosecutor Andrew Vaughan told magistrates: 'The police, rather generously, gave him a caution but I am afraid it did not stop there. 'She checked online again and found further hook-up profiles. 'He admitted setting up the fake internet accounts and sending her address out to men to get them to her flat.' John Seagrave said in mitigation that . McGowan had taken the break-up badly because Miss Millward did not give . him a reason for it. 'When men were arriving at my home, I felt unsafe' Rebecca Millward, 25, victim . 'The court can be reassured that Mr McGowan is very much regretful of what has happened,' he said. 'He accepts the relationship is over. A lot of what happened arose from him never being given a reason; a proper, satisfactory explanation as to why she wanted to end the relationship.' He said McGowan, who got rid of the profile by contacting the website, could not remember sending the email, believed he was drunk when he did so, and that Miss Millward did not answer the Skype call. McGowan pleaded guilty to harassment, . Chairman of the bench David Smith warned McGowan they were dealing with 'serious matters', before adjourning the sentencing for reports. McGowan was bailed until 7 April on the condition he doesn't approach or communicate with Miss Millward and doesn't create online accounts in her name. | David McGowan, 28, from Cottingham, near Hull, was upset affair was over . Rebecca Millward, 25, from Brighton, ended their long-distance romance . So he posed as her on 'hook-up' websites for people wanting casual sex . McGowan used photos of his ex, a nurse, and invited men to her flat . Miss Millward told magistrates in Beverley she felt 'scared' and 'unsafe' Said she worried about patients or colleagues seeing the photos of her . McGowan admitted harassment and will be sentenced next month . | 5c38bd18d50ecb9c9e6a20a416be6c757f7c4290 |
Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has thanked the club's fans for their 'amazing support' during his battle with cancer, revealing it gave him the strength to beat the disease. Gutierrez was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year but was discharged from hospital in November and has since returned to training with Newcastle. And the former Mallorca man insisted the club's supporters had played their part in his journey to good health. Jonas Gutierrez has thanked the club's fans for their 'amazing support' during his battle with cancer . Gutierrez is a firm fans' favourite on Tyneside and Alan Pardew is expecting his return to be emotional . 'I had to say thank you because they (fans) gave me the power and the strength to go through the cancer. Gutierrez told nufcTV. 'I think when you do the right things in your life, that things come back to you. 'It was amazing to get that kind of support (Newcastle fans clapping in 18th minute) and singing my song, I'm really proud and thank you.' But it wasn't just the fans that helped Gutierrez through his ordeal. The Argentine midfielder admitted his team-mates had played a big role and reserved special praise for club captain Fabricio Coloccini. He said: 'Colo is like part of my family and he gave me a lot of support. 'It is something really special what we have with our relationship and our families.' The former Mallorca man has not made an appearance for Newcastle since 2013 . Having beaten cancer, Jonas Gutierrez revealed his new tattoo on Twitter which feature Eminem lyrics . The 31-year-old Argentine beat his testicular cancer after a year-long battle against the disease . The 31-year-old's last game was in back in April, but rather than thinking about the time he lost Gutierrez is just delighted to be back among his fellow players. 'I'm really happy to be back, it was a hard year for me but now, more importantly I'm involved again with the team and training. I'm really enjoying all the days back in Newcastle. 'I was only thinking to beat the cancer always looking forward. 'I never got frustrated or asked why has this happened to me? 'I think life is life and it is not easy for anybody, it was like a test that life put to me.' | Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez has come through his battle with cancer . The Argentine thanked the club's fans for their support throughout . Gutierrez said it gave him the strength to help beat his disease . The 31-year-old also thanked Fabricio Coloccini for his support . | 7e0c066fe5931e9291647833b5c877e503699725 |
The Sydney Siege gunman Man Haron Monis was reportedly buried yesterday at an unknown location in New South Wales, more than a month after he was shot dead. Monis, a self-proclaimed sheik, was killed on December 16 after holding 18 people hostage for more than 17 hours at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney. His body was allegedly interred by the state as no one came forward to claim his remains and his partner, accused murderer Amirah Droudis, did not have the means to afford a burial. She allegedly is not aware of the details of the burial and gravediggers were made to sign a non-disclosure agreement, according to News Limited. Scroll down for video . Self-professed sheif Man Haron Monis (pictured in 2011) has reportedly been buried more than a month after he was shot dead after holding 18 people hostage at Martin Place's Lindt Cafe . Droudis is in custody after her bail was revoked on December 22, accused of murdering the mother of two of Monis' children, Noleen Hayson Pal in November 2013. The NSW Attorney General's office explained that the coroner ordered that no details be released due to the upcoming inquest into the siege, according to Nine News. Innocent civilians Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson were also tragically killed during the hostage crisis and their deaths will be investigated during the inquest which will commence on January 29. The aim of the inquest will be to determine how the deaths occurred, the factors that contributed to them and whether they could have been prevented. Sydney's head Islamic funeral director has said that no Muslim funeral home will accept the body of Siege gunman Man Haron Monis, suggesting instead that authorities dump his body at sea. His body lay unclaimed at a morgue for almost a month whilst debate raged regarding the best course-of-action. Last month, a funeral director within the Lebanese Muslim Association declared that no Islamic funeral home would accept Monis' body. When asked about the fate of the 50-year old extremists body, Amin Sayed said 'we don't care about him, we don't know him, chuck him in the bloody sh**house.' 'Nobody's going to do his funeral. No Muslim funeral home will accept him,' he said. 'They can throw him in the bloody sea.' Mr Sayed had speculated that Monis would receive a secret funeral with an unmarked grave, and that they would not accept any amount of money to arrange his funeral. 'Anyone who does harm to Australians, we don't want him,' he said. Last month, a funeral director within the Lebanese Muslim Association declared that no Islamic funeral home would accept Monis' body . A NSW Health spokesperson told Daily Telegraph 'Local health districts are responsible for the processing and payment of destitute burials and cremations in their district.' 'Where the death of a person has occurred outside of a public health facility, and the police have determined that the state. 'Where the death of a person has occurred outside of a public health facility, and the police have determined that the state is ultimately responsible for their burial, the local health district will fund a funeral.' No Muslim can be denied a holy funeral unless they renounce their faith before their death. | Man Haron Monis was reportedly buried by the state yesterday . He was killed on December 16 after holding 18 people hostage at Martin Place's Lindt Cafe for more than 17 hours . NSW location is unknown, gravediggers signed confidentiality agreement . His body remained in the morgue unclaimed for almost a month . Muslim Funeral Homes declared that they would not bury his remains . An inquest into the deaths of Monis and innocent civilians Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson will commence on January 29 . | 2bf6aaf76cf021c5b298329b95f156887d49580e |
By . Mail Foreign Service . Pope Francis admitted he has fallen asleep during his bedtime prayer . Pope Francis has admitted nodding off while praying at the end of a long day, but said he thought God ‘understands’. The pontiff was appearing before 200,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square when he made unscripted comments on subjects ranging from memories of his grandmother, his decision to become a priest and political corruption. To laughter from the crowd, he described how he prays each day before an altar before going to bed. 'Sometimes I doze off, the fatigue of the day makes you fall asleep, but he (God) understands,' he said. Calling . on Catholics to do more to help the poor and needy in society he went . on: 'If we step outside of ourselves, we will find poverty. 'Today, it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. 'Today, the news is scandals, that is . news, but the many children who don’t have food - that’s not news. 'This . is grave. We can’t rest easy while things are this way.' The crowd, most of whom are already involved in charity work, interrupted him often with applause. 'We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. 'We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most),' he said. Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, said the world was going through not just an economic crisis but a crisis of values. 'This is happening today. If investments in banks fall, it is a tragedy and people say "What are we going to do?"'. 'But if people die of hunger, have nothing to eat or suffer from poor health, that’s nothing. This is our crisis today. A Church that is poor and for the poor has to fight this mentality.’ The Pontiff told a crowd of 200,000 people about his moment of shuteye, but said he thought God understands that it's hard to stay awake after a tiring day . Pope Francis delivered an off the cuff speech. Today, he celebrated Pentecost mass in St. Peter's Square . He was speaking after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss Europe’s economic crisis. Apparently . responding to his criticism of a heartless 'dictatorship of the . economy' earlier in the week, Merkel, who is up for re-election in . September, later called for stronger regulation of financial markets. On . Thursday, Francis appealed in a speech for world financial reform, . saying the global economic crisis had made life worse for millions in . rich and poor countries. The crowd in Rome laughed as the Pope told some light-hearted anecdotes. The Pontiff said mass to celebrate Pentecost day, which falls 50 days after Easter . The 200,000 crowd heard the Pontiff speak about poverty and political corruption, as well as his bedtime prayer . | Told 200,000 audience in Rome's St Peter's Square fall asleep during bedtime prayer . Crowd laughed at unscripted comments about God understanding that he has had a tiring day . Said news agenda of scandal and titillation cannot be tolerated and world poverty needs attention . | 7187eb7cd9d6619d02083e151ac50b258e75f9db |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:09 EST, 17 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:32 EST, 17 November 2012 . A Minnesota man with terminal cancer was miraculously cured while working to restore an old, abandoned church that needed as much as care as he did. Greg Thomas of Montgomery, Minnesota, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in his head and neck three years ago, KARE11 News reports. He has since had difficult swallowing and uses a feeding tube for nutrition. Now, after spending months restoring the old wood-framed chapel, his cancer is believed to be in remission. Scroll down for video . Serenity: Greg Thomas, a cancer survivor, works on restoring the 126-year-old church he stumbled upon . Through the fields: Thomas walks with his dog . Thomas, who was 57 at the time of his diagnosis, was laid off from his job delivering propane. ‘When I found out that I had cancer, they told my family to go ahead and start planning my funeral," he told KARE11. To cope with his stress he started taking long walks though the countryside with his dog. Thomas came across the old church during one of those walks. The foundation was decaying and the paint was peeling. An old chapel: The church was in need of much care when Thomas found it . He attempted to go inside the chapel when he first noticed it, but it was locked. So he sat on the steps for a while. Built in 1868 by Catholic Czech settlers who later moved to a bigger parish, the old Church had not housed a congregation in more than a century. One day, Thomas decided to reach out to the few people living close to the church. Restoration: The church now sits in the same place with a new exterior . Salvation: With his cancer in remission, Thomas continues to work on the church . He was out of work, and thought fixing up the structure would give him a sort of sanctuary. ‘He went to a neighbor and said he wanted to paint the church, and who does he talk to, so the neighbor sent him to talk to me,’ Don Rynda, treasurer of the foundation that keeps up the church cemetery, told KARE11. Thomas went to repairing the church soon after. Now the old chapel is freshly clothed in white and Thomas’s cancer is in remission. Thomas said he plans to continue his work on the church, moving on to the roof and the interior next. Watch video here: . | Greg Thomas of Minnesota was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer three years ago . After spending weeks restoring an old, abandoned church, Thomas's cancer is in remission . | e07f170d9423c9f107c8894341b0dfdd4153cec8 |
By . Sarah Griffiths . Coffee connoisseurs can relax knowing their beans will be brewed in the correct way with the help of a new iPhone app. The free app is a timer that advises people how long to brew certain types of beans, how much water to use and even when to stir the coffee. It lets coffee fans perfect the brewing process and then save their tweaks in the app so they can create their ideal cup again and again. Scroll down for video . Improving the daily grind: Brewseful is a free iPhone app (pictured) that advises people how long to brew certain types of coffee beans, how much water to use and even when to stir the coffee. It is largely a complex timer that walks people through the process using sound alerts . The Brewseful app is designed for coffee enthusiasts who enjoy using different varieties of ground beans and waiting for their beverage - not for people who are content with adding boiling water to a teaspoon of instant coffee. It firstly lets people calculate the ratio of water to ground beans needed, and set times reminding them when to pour in the water. It can also be used to discover how long to let the mixture steep, according to its Baltimore-based creator, Kevin Zweerink, who is a graphic design student at the Maryland Institute College of Art. To begin the process, connoisseurs need to select which type of bean they are using as well as the coarseness of the grind and the size of their cup, to work out the best coffee-to-water ratio. On track for the best brew: To get started, people have to enter what type of beans they are using and can save their favourites (pictured left). The app lets them create timers for each brew to use while making their cup of . coffee (right) so that it can beep when they need to move onto . the next step, ensuring precision . A recent . study has revealed that regardless of how precisely a person makes their . coffee, the brew releases more flavour if they gulp it down. Scientists said that taking big slurps of a coffee releases much more aroma compared to merely drinking it slowly. They looked at ‘sip volume’ when drinking coffee and found larger sips have a ‘higher aroma release’. The . researchers said: ‘The findings could be useful to understand the . factors which contribute to attract consumers to the pleasant aroma of . coffee.’ However, . the advice goes against that for other drinks, such as wine, where . people are advised to take small amounts in their mouth to get the . maximum flavour and aroma. The app then generates a time for how long the process will take. Users can set alarms to remind them when to start pouring in water and when to stir, for example. ‘Large numbers, clear alert sounds, and a bold progress indicator make it easy to keep your attention on your coffee,’ according to the App Store. Because users can customise the process for a certain type of coffee, they can explore the subtle science of getting the best out of beans and make tiny tweaks to each cup they make until they reach the perfect formula. 'I came up with the idea for Brewseful . when I was just starting to become interested in nice coffee,' Zweerink told MailOnline. 'I was . using the regular stopwatch app on my phone, but I wanted a more . specialised timer that could help keep track of all the different . parameters that go into a really solid cup, something that would allow . me to make small tweaks and gradual improvements each time I brewed.' He does not think that his app will change the way people drink coffee, but he doesn't want it to, as he likes the way people have personalised rituals for making a cup. 'I hope that Brewseful can play a small part in keeping track of the details and help people find what tastes best for them,' he said. Science of coffee: Because users can customise the process . for a certain type of coffee, they can explore the subtle science of . getting the best out of beans and make tiny tweaks to each cup they make . until they reach the perfect formula. A ratio for a blend of Las Brumas is pictured left and a timer right . 'One of my favourite things about brewing my own coffee is the eclectic collection of objects that I get to interact with, all of which fit together not because they were designed as a system, but because they were designed with a common goal. 'I wanted to make a timer that works alongside any given brewing method, that addresses the concerns of making coffee rather than the concerns of doing so in any particular manner.' | Free iPhone app lets coffee fans perfect the brewing . process . They can save their tweaks to create their ideal cup again and again . Brewseful app lets people calculate the ratio of water . to ground beans . Users can also set times reminding them how long to let the mixture steep . Because users can customise the process . for different types of coffee, they can explore the subtle science of . getting the best out of beans . | 7a1387065e0372d1d7eec9e58bda57493123178d |
By . Rebecca Camber . Last updated at 12:35 AM on 9th February 2012 . Scotland Yard declared war on gangs yesterday as it emerged they are responsible for half of London’s shootings and one in seven rapes. Police said 4,800 gangsters were to blame for almost a quarter of the capital’s serious violence, a sixth of all robberies, 16 per cent of the drug trade and 20 per cent of stabbings. The figures came as the Met unveiled a £60million taskforce to crack down on the problem. Raid: Metropolitan Police officers prepare to enter an address in east London this morning as they launch a crackdown on gang members . New Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe is expanding the existing Trident squad, increasing its remit from probing shootings in the black community to all gangs. The force is also doubling the number of officers dedicated to gang crime from 450 to 1,000. Police are aware of 435 ‘crews’ operating in London, but only 250 are criminally active. Of those, 62 are categorised as posing a risk of ‘high harm’ and are estimated to be behind two thirds of gang-related offences. According to the crime figures, 480 rapes or 14 per cent of the 3,431 sex attacks in London every year are carried out by known gang members. Crackdown: Scotland Yard have almost doubled the number of officers tackling gang crime. This morning they carried out 144 raids across the capital . Raid: A police officer emerges from a house in east London which was raided by the Metropolitan Police this morning . Crackdown: Mayor Boris Johnson with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe in Trafalgar Square today as Scotland Yard launch their new Gang Crime Command . They also account for 22 per cent of serious violence, 20 per cent of stabbings and 247 out of the 547 shootings during 2011. More than 6,200 personal robberies and 40 per cent of all commercial premises and ‘cash in transit’ thefts can also be traced back to the 4,800 criminals. And they have been blamed for 26 per cent of aggravated burglary and 12 per cent of residential burglaries, which is equivalent to 7,650 break-ins a year. Some of the criminals responsible are as young as 14, with a third of those shot aged under 19. Do not cross: Mr Johnson and Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe launch the Trident Gang Crime Command which marks what senior officers have described as a 'step change' in the way the force tackles gangs . Statistics show that 84 per cent of gang members are under 24 and two-thirds of those are black males. Detectives believe the number of girls joining gangs is rising, although they only represent 5 per cent of offenders. Between 2008 and 2010, the victims of London shootings hailed from 53 different countries. Yesterday, as officers arrested 213 suspects in a series of raids, the Met announced it would be working with the UK Border Agency to deport any foreign gang members. The Commissioner pledged to use ‘all tactics, if legal and ethical’, to tackle the problem. His new squad will draw officers from other specialist units, including the Flying Squad and homicide. Mr Hogan-Howe said: ‘This is a step change in how we tackle gang crime in London. It will allow us to identify and relentlessly pursue the most harmful gangs and gang members. ‘We want to prevent young people getting involved in gang offending so we and other agencies are offering ways out to support young people. ‘However, those who refuse our offer of help will be pursued and brought to justice.’ Gang victim: Agnes Sina-Inakoju who was buying a takeaway pizza when she was killed . The brother of a schoolgirl gunned down in a takeaway has urged gang members to help prevent more deaths by coming forward with information. Agnes Sina-Inakoju, 16, who dreamed of going to Oxford University, was the innocent victim of a gang feud. She was going to buy pizza from a takeaway in Hoxton, east London, in April 2010 when she was killed. Leon Dunkley and Mohammed Smoured, members of the London . Fields gang, decided to target the shop believing members of the rival . Hoxton Boys would be there. Instead, she was shot dead. Her brother Abiola Adesina, 33, said: . 'In movies the bad things always catch up with the bad guys. They live . life fine for a few years. People in gangs should be asked whether they . want this. 'Do they want to live fine for a few years and then be destroyed for the rest of their life or killed? 'Do they actually think about their friends, their family, their parents? Do they know what effect that will have on them? 'Children learn their boundaries as they grow. They will do things once and, if you don’t stop them, they’ll do it again.' Describing the moment he found out . about his sister’s death, Mr Adesina said: 'I was watching TV and I . heard on the news that someone had been shot in Hoxton and the first . thing that came into my head was "oh my god, that was very close to my . house". Convicted: Leon Dunkley (left) and Mohammed Smoured who were jailed for life for the murder of Agnes Sina-Inakoju . 'There were no pictures or names ... then a few minutes later someone called me and said, "I’m sorry about your sister". 'My mum hadn’t called me to tell me the news straight away. We were told she was going to be fine.' Agnes, who would have turned 18 this September, was taken to hospital but died two days later. Last year, gunman Dunkley, 22, and . look-out Smoured, 21, were jailed for life with minimum terms of 32 . years each for her murder. A third gang member was spared jail after he gave key evidence against the killers. Judge Peter Beaumont, the Recorder of . London, said that in the 'exceptional' circumstances he would instead . make a three-year youth rehabilitation order despite the youngster . admitting gun and drug offences. He said if jurors had not believed the witness’s evidence 'those men would not be serving the sentences that they are today'. Crime scene: The takeaway in Hoxton, east London, where the 16-year-old was killed . | 158 arrests as 1,300 officers are involved in gang raids across the capital . Gang members are stuck on a 'conveyer belt of crime', says Met Police Assistant Commissioner . Half a kilo of heroin, crack cocaine and cash are seized . 1,000 officers dedicated to tackling gang crime, they announce today . 250 active gangs across London with some members aged as young as 14 . | 5f14d71186314d3db712714931df8c297ca604b9 |
Qantas flights which travel over the Iraqi airspace have been re-routed to avoid another MH17-like disaster as tensions in the Middle East intensify. The change took effect on Thursday night - two weeks after the Ukrainian tragedy - and will add up to 10 minutes to the seven-hour-long London to Dubai flight, which is scheduled for four times a day. It is understood that instead of flying over Iraq, planes will take a path further east over Iran. Qantas stopped flights over Iraqi airspace on Thursday in the wake of the MH17 disaster on July 17 . The new route is expected to add up to 10 minutes to the seven-hour-long flight . A Qantas spokesman said the airline has closely monitored flight paths over conflict zones since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine two weeks ago. The tragedy claimed the lives of all 298 people on board, including 38 Australians. He said Qantas flights from London to Dubai travel over Iraq at an altitude of 38,000 feet and 41,000 feet, well above the minimum altitude for commercial flights over Iraq. But the US Federal Aviation Administration had just increased the minimum altitude from 20,000 feet to 30,000 feet, prompting a review of Qantas' London-Dubai route. It is understood that instead of travelling over Iraqi, airspace planes will be travelling over Iranian airspace . The Iraqi conflict zone has been marred with attacks from militants of the Islamic State - an off-shoot of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda . 'Qantas has closely monitored the issue of flight paths over conflict zones, particularly in light of the MH17 tragedy, with safety our first priority,' the Qantas spokesman said. 'We have no new information that alters our safety assessment of flying over Iraq, especially given the altitudes we maintain over this region. 'However given the various restrictions imposed by different governments in the past 24 hours, including by the United States FAA, Qantas has temporarily rerouted its flights within the Middle East to avoid Iraqi airspace. This change will apply until further information becomes available.' The airlines' decision comes after alliance partner Emirates announced its plans to stop flying above the area 10 days after the attack, Daily Mail Australia reported on Monday. The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 at the Ukrainian crash site where international experts are now looking through for more remains . Australian and Dutch experts arrived at the crash site earlier this week to assist in investigations of the tragedy . | The US Federal Aviation Administration has just increased the minimum altitude from 20,000 feet to 30,000 feet . A spokesman for Qantas said this prompted a review of their London-Dubai route . The change took effect on Thursday night and will add up to 10 minutes to the seven-hour flight . It is understood that instead of flying over Iraq, planes will go over Iran . | 13aba8d5b567d85021344783f88e05bfe92f72f3 |
Online dating is the best way for hopeful singletons to find love than in the modern world. But one controversial dating site has taken the selection process to a whole new level by allowing its users to filter out members looking for romance according to their body type ... for a price. Popular U.S. dating site, OkCupid.com lets online daters pay $4.95 (£3) to hide anyone who classes themselves 'curvy', 'skinny', 'thin', 'jacked' or 'used up' among other body types. Filter: OkCupid lets its users pay £3 a month to filter out people who class themselves as 'curvy' 'While it will probably be common knowledge to many internet dating aficionados, OkCupid’s premium search options are eyebrow-raising in an era of tolerance and political correctness,' writes Kermalmag.com journalist James Cook, who spotted the function. OkCupid also allows its 'A-list members' - who pay a monthly subscription fee of between $4.49 and $9.95 - to filter people by both looks and figure. Would YOU filter out people of certain body types and levels of attractiveness to find your perfect match online? One dating site lets you do just that . Select your type: A drop down menu allows users to filter matches by their body type, essentially allowing them to hide overweight people . You can select people in a drop-down menu who have body types such as 'thin', 'skinny', 'overweight and 'curvy'. You can also filter people based on their attractiveness rating, as ranked by other users. An anonymous OkCupid user added: 'I've been using OkCupid for just over a year now, and it's pretty disconcerting to think men have the ability to filter me out by my body type. 'However, the function is still placing a lot of trust in people's accurate description of themselves. I myself have been lucky that every guy I've met from the site has looked their pictures, but others I know have had some horrible surprises when they meet in person. A-listers: Premium users, who pay to upgrade their account, are allowed to filter out people based on their appearance rating, too . 'Equally the search for "only five star" rated people will not always yield supermodel results, as people, or at least myself, occasionally rate people on the quality of their profile and how they answer the site's questions, rather than purely their aesthetics. 'Beauty, after all, is supposed to be in the eye of the beholder. 'Ultimately, what freaks me out the most is the kind of person that would pay to exercise that degree of control over their results. To me, that suggests that the weird and wonderful world of online dating might not be for you.' Rowan Pelling added: 'OkCupid is clearly the Abercrombie & Fitch of dating sites, allowing curvy types to be screened out of supposed A-List members searches. 'All I can say is that you're pretty dumb and Z-list if you allow screening so prejudiced that some brainless body-fascist can screen out all plus-size suitors: goodbye Marilyn Monroe, Sophie Dahl, Lena Dunham, Gerard Depardieu, James Corden, Seth Rogen. 'And, you know what? I have a strong feeling that all of those people would be a hundred times better (and funnier) in bed than your average waif. I guess this is a perfect example of be careful what you wish for: do you really want to spend the rest of your life with an exercise bore who exists on seaweed smoothies?' | OkCupid.com lets users hide potential dates according to body type . Premium users can filter people based on their attractiveness rating . Members can label themselves 'fit', 'average' 'jacked' and 'athletic' | cf488cd2dae38ce0215dead5df57b1cbb654e68c |
(CNN) -- President Obama told West Point graduates that the United States faces "difficult days ahead" in its fight against insurgents in Afghanistan and said that the threat posed by al Qaeda operatives across the globe "will not go away soon." Speaking at the U.S. Military Academy commencement in New York, Obama praised the graduates for their achievements and laid out a scenario of military and societal challenges in what is the ninth West Point commencement during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fight against international terrorism. "This time of war began in Afghanistan, a place that may seem as far from this peaceful bend in the Hudson River as anywhere on Earth," Obama said, referring to a conflict that started after the al Qaeda terror network attacked the United States on September 11, 2001. "The war began only because our own cities and civilians were attacked by violent extremists who plotted from that distant place, and it continues only because that plotting persists to this day." While the United States and its allies battled in Afghanistan, the U.S. military launched an invasion of Iraq in 2003, toppling the Saddam Hussein regime and battling insurgents for years until that war began to wind down in the last couple of years. But the Afghan conflict persists as the United States and its allies battle tenacious militants from the Taliban militant movement. Obama said as the Iraq war ends, America is "pressing forward in Afghanistan" and faces a "tough fight" against a nimble insurgency. "From Marja to Kandahar, that is what the Taliban has done through assassination, indiscriminate killing and intimidation," Obama said, referring to the main militant and two southern Afghan battlegrounds. "And any country that has known decades of war will be tested in finding political solutions to its problems, and providing governance that can sustain progress and serve the needs of its people. " Obama said that even though the nature of the war has changed in the past nine years, it remains just as important as it was after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. He said the United States has helped bring hope and sovereign government to Afghanistan, but "there will be difficult days ahead." "We toppled the Taliban regime; now we must break the momentum of a Taliban insurgency and train Afghan security forces," he said. "We will adapt, we will persist, and I have no doubt that together with our Afghan and international partners, we will succeed in Afghanistan." As for al Qaeda's activities, Obama defended the "campaign to disrupt, dismantle and to defeat al Qaeda," saying it's an "international effort that is necessary and just." While he said there has been "more success in eliminating al Qaeda leaders in recent months than in recent years," the group will continue its recruitment efforts. "We see that in bombs that go off in Kabul and Karachi. We see it in attempts to blow up an airliner over Detroit or an SUV in Times Square, even as these failed attacks show that pressure on networks like al Qaeda is forcing them to rely on terrorists with less time and space to train," he said. "We see it in al Qaeda's gross distortion of Islam, their disrespect for human life, and their attempts to prey upon fear and hatred and prejudice." Obama dismissed al Qaeda and its affiliates as "small men on the wrong side of history," but acknowledged that the threat they pose "will not go away soon." "This is a different kind of war," he said. "There will be no simple moment of surrender to mark the journey's end. No armistice or banner headline." The president said America's "strength and resilience" will counter people attempting to sow fear. "Terrorists want to scare us," he said, but "New Yorkers go about their lives unafraid. Extremists want a war between America and Islam, but Muslims are a part of our national life, including those who serve in our Army. Adversaries want to divide us, but we are united by our support for you -- soldiers who send a clear message that this country is both the land of the free and the home of the brave." Obama made reference to West Point's diversity, pointing out that women in uniform are playing "indispensable role in our national defense." They include West Point's No. 1 overall cadet and valedictorian, Liz Betterbed and Alex Rosenberg. Obama noted it was the first time the academy's two top awards were earned by female cadets. "America's Army represents the full breadth of the American experience," with cadets hailing from all walks of life, Obama said. The president noted that one thing that sets the cadets apart is that they "have come together to prepare for the most difficult tests of our time" and know they are being sent into "harm's way." "And through a period when too many of our institutions have acted irresponsibly, the American military has set a standard of service and sacrifice that is as great as any in this nation's history," he said. Obama also stressed that economic and technological innovation "must be a foundation of American power" and that the efforts of America's armed forces must be complemented by effective diplomacy, world development and security. "We need intelligence agencies that work seamlessly with their counterparts to unravel plots that run from the mountains of Pakistan to the streets of our cities; law enforcement that can strengthen judicial systems abroad and protect us at home; and first responders who can act swiftly in the event of earthquakes, storms and disease. " Obama said the world's burdens cannot just be America's, and alliances that has served the United States well must be maintained, strengthened and widened. "The international order we seek is one that can resolve the challenges of our times -- countering violent extremism and insurgency; stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials; combating a changing climate and sustaining global growth; helping countries feed themselves and care for their sick; preventing conflict and healing its wounds." | President Obama speaks at West Point's ninth wartime commencement . Obama: Despite challenges, "we will succeed in Afghanistan" World fight against al Qaeda "necessary and just" Obama hails West Point milestone; two top cadets both female . | 1a0331e88fafad356dec35259e0665d85886dfa5 |
Top members of the computer hacker group "Anonymous" and its offshoots were arrested and charged Tuesday after a wide-ranging investigation used the help of a group leader who was working as a secret government informant. Five of the suspects, considered by investigators among the "most sophisticated hackers in the world," were arrested in the United States and Europe and charged in a Manhattan federal court over their alleged role in high-profile cyberattacks against government agencies and large companies, according to an indictment. A sixth man, Hector Xavier Monsegur, a notorious hacker known as "Sabu," pleaded guilty in August to computer hacking and other crimes. As part of his plea deal, Monsegur cooperated with government investigators and helped build a case against the five other defendants, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. Ryan Ackroyd, 23; Jake Davis, 29; Darren Martyn, 25; and Donncha O'Cearrbhail, 19, have been charged with conspiracy regarding attacks against Fox Broadcasting Co., Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS. O'Cearrbhail is also accused of hacking into the personal e-mail account of an Irish national police officer and eavesdropping on a conference call between Irish police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies about ongoing investigations into Anonymous and other hacker groups. The suspect allegedly recorded the call and disseminated the recording to other hackers. Jeremy Hammond, 27, was charged with a December cyberattack against a Texas firm called Strategic Forecasting Inc., which authorities say might have affected about 860,000 people. O'Cearrbhail and Martyn are from Ireland, and Hammond is from Chicago, the indictment said. Ackroyd and Davis are from Britain. Monsegur, 28, in August pleaded guilty to 12 counts of computer hacking and other crimes. Known as a "rooter," the New York City resident identified vulnerabilities in a variety of computer systems and then passed along that information to other hackers. Monsegur and others have claimed responsibility for cyberstrikes between December 2010 and June 2011 that included denial of service attacks against the websites of Visa, MasterCard and PayPal. A denial of service (DoS) attack typically involves the use of a large number of computers to bombard websites with phony requests for information, causing the site to temporarily shut down. Dubbed "Operation Payback," authorities say the credit card and PayPal attacks were prompted by the firms' refusals to process donations to WikiLeaks, an organization that facilitates the anonymous leaking of secret information. The group's website has released thousands of classified diplomatic cables as well as confidential -- and, at times, controversial -- messages about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Authorities say Monsegur also hacked or launched DoS attacks against computer systems operated by the governments of Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria and Zimbabwe. Beginning in December 2010, the indictment said, Monsegur, Ackroyd, Davis, Martyn and O'Cearrbhail conspired as a splinter hacker group called Internet Feds and penetrated the website of Fine Gael, an Irish political party, as well as the computer systems of a security firm called HBGary Inc. and its affiliates. The group allegedly stole confidential data from about 80,000 user accounts associated with the firm. Then in 2011, apparently feeling the heat from investigators, the group formed another offshoot organization called Lulz Security, or LulzSec, the indictment said. LulzSec then ratcheted up "a campaign of malicious cyberassaults on the websites and computer systems of various business and governmental entities in the United States and throughout the world." Barrett Brown, who identifies as an Anonymous spokesman, told CNN that Sabu recently took over leadership of LulzSec. He said the hacker also contacted him several months ago by instant message, and he described those communications as "weird." "There have always been rumors from a couple of people (within Anonymous) something weird was going on with LulzSec when (Sabu) started," said Brown, whose Dallas apartment was visited by FBI agents early Tuesday morning. Brown said that he and others in Anonymous were upset with LulzSec and Sabu because Sabu had bragged about stealing credit card information. Still, he says, Tuesday's indictments won't disrupt the organization's actions over the long-term. "There are more than enough people around," he said. "Major operations going forward won't be interrupted. Authorities have said that leader within the organization was secretly working with government officials and aided their investigation. Anonymous is considered a loosely tied group of hackers, that have spawned affiliate bodies, and in recent years have focused their efforts on coordinating cyberattacks for political reasons or as retribution for the activities of governments and large corporations. | 5 alleged hackers in the U.S. and Europe have been charged in Manhattan court . A sixth has pleaded guilty to computer hacking and other crimes . They are suspected to be top members of "Anonymous" and splinter groups . Groups called Internet Feds, AntiSec, LulzSec claimed responsibility for cyberattacks . | 52c5cec8a71e0abb8e4099b8dc53f3d2dcab6ea3 |
By . Nikki Murfitt . It was the greatest party London had ever seen. As jubilant crowds flocked on to the streets to celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe, few noticed a young Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret dancing incognito among them. But while the future Queen did indeed do the conga through The Ritz hotel in Piccadilly, a new film is set to claim she also danced in sleazy Soho nightclubs – and ended the night being kissed by a dashing young RAF Lancaster gunner. Girls Night Out is bound to raise eyebrows as, in real life, Princess Elizabeth, then 19, was besotted by Prince Philip, who was serving in the Far East with the Royal Navy. Rebellious? Sarah Gadon (centre) as Princess Elizabeth in Girls Night Out with her sister Princess Margaret (Bel Powley) and her father George VI (Rupert Everett) The real Royals: Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), George VI and Margaret . The film, which stars Rupert Everett as King George VI, Emily Watson as Queen Elizabeth, Sarah Gadon as Princess Elizabeth and Bel Powley as Margaret, recounts the dramatic events on VE Day – May 8, 1945. According to the ‘fairytale’ account by Kevin Hood and Trevor de Silva, after Elizabeth and Margaret, then 15, join in the fun at The Ritz, the younger Princess slips away from her guards and hops on a bus. ‘Princess Elizabeth has a race against time to find her,’ says Mr Hood, who was also responsible for BBC drama Silent Witness and the Jane Austen biopic Becoming Jane. ‘When she gets on a London bus – something she has no clue how to use – she meets an RAF serviceman who comes to her rescue. ‘He is a Lancaster gunner who has had a pretty tough time of it and debates whether he is going to go AWOL or will return to his base the next morning. Royal show: Sarah Gadon (Queen Elizabeth II) (R) and Bel Powley ( Princes Margaret) (L) spotted filming scenes from Girls Night Out in Hull . In their finest: Margaret, played by Bel, wore a fur trimmed pink coat with Elizabeth pictured to her left . Celebrations: VE Day was a public holiday which saw thousands take to the streets to party . As they try to find Margaret, they end up in a couple of sleazy Soho nightclubs. She does help him and as a consequence of that her real identity is revealed.’ With filming already under way at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, Mr Hood admits the decision about whether the future queen will be shown sharing a romantic kiss with the young gunner is under debate. Indeed, film companies Lionsgate and Ecosse, which produced the critically acclaimed Mrs Brown – about the relationship between Queen Victoria and her manservant John Brown – plan to shoot alternative endings and will not make a decision on which to include until closer to the film’s release date next year. While Mr Hood insists the film will be ‘a respectful’ retelling of an event which had huge importance in the Queen’s life, some Palace watchers are less impressed. Royal biographer Penny Junor said: ‘If it’s pure fiction it’s not a good idea. A film that mixes fact and fiction is a cop-out. They’ve taken liberties.’ But Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, said: ‘With the success of The Queen’s Speech and The Queen, it is a good time to do a bit of Royal movie-making. 'Margaret' was pictured walking past what appeared to be a makeshift butcher during filming in Hull . Party Princess: Before Prince Harry there was Margaret - who attended many a party in her time . Leading ladies: Sarah Gadon (L) plays Elizabeth while Bel Powley (R) is younger sister Margaret . Celebrations: Londoners on VE Day in 1945. May 8 was the day the capital turned into a giant party . ‘The fact that the makers are debating whether Princess Elizabeth should be kissed show me they are very conscious of how they portray the story. There has to be a bit of poetic licence.’ In her diary entry, Elizabeth wrote of the night: ‘Cheered parents on balcony. Up to St James’s Street Piccadilly, great fun. 'We walked through the streets, a line of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, swept along on a tide of happiness.’ The sisters returned to the Palace in the early hours having maintained their anonymity, but were so caught up in the excitement that they ventured out again the next day. Elizabeth’s diary for May 9 says: ‘Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, walked simply miles. Saw parents on balcony at 12.30am – ate, partied, bed 3am!’ Looking back at their adventure, the Queen’s cousin Margaret Rhodes, who acted as their chaperone on VE Day, admitted: ‘It was a unique burst of personal freedom. A Cinderella moment in reverse in which they could pretend they were ordinary and unknown.’ However, she never mentioned a kiss. A day to remember: More than a million people took to the streets including in London's Piccadilly Circus . Meet and greet: On May 9 Princess Elizabeth greeted the crowds while touring the East End of London . | Girls Night Out raises eyebrows - as she was already besotted with Philip . 'Fairytale' account sees Princess lose her guards and hop on a London bus . Film stars Rupert Everett as George VI and filming is already underway . | 96646464dc35a66828a9e9ecaa84009c63944e5b |
Two members of a family accused of mass incest dating back four generations have been DNA swabbed after a court ruled they had to provide evidence to detectives. In one of the most shocking cases of child abuse in Australian history, Raylene and Betty Colt - legal names given to them by the court to protect their identity - were ordered by a magistrate to report to a Sydney police station on Friday and provide samples as detectives continued their efforts to lay charges. An application to obtain DNA from a third family member - Rhonda - was withdrawn by police, pending further evidence from tests performed on five of her children. Three children will also be tested. Betty and Raylene Colt, whose identities are protected for legal reasons, outside court on Friday where they were ordered to give DNA samples . Betty (left) and Rhonda Colt (right) outside a Sydney court on Friday, where a request to obtain DNA from Rhonda was withdrawn . Betty and Rhonda Colt (left) and Rhonda Colt (right) are under investigation in one of the most shocking cases of child abuse in Australian history . Five arrest warrants have been issued for a number of other family members who didn't appear in court. A senior police source told MailOnline many Colts had fled to other parts of the country and a nationwide hunt is now on. The case shocked Australia when about 40 people, ranging in age from toddlers to men and women in their late forties, were discovered living in scrubland in a NSW country town in July 2012. The name of the town has been suppressed for legal reasons. Social workers and police were shocked to find the community living in squalid conditions. Several of the children were undernourished and most were unable to speak properly and had rarely attended school. They had been deprived of dental and medical care and some suffered from sight issues and cognitive impairment or were severely developmentally delayed. The adults of family discovered living in squalor in regional NSW in July 2012, are now under investigation for child abuse . Others had never used a toothbrush, washed their hair, used toilet paper or bathed themselves. At least 12 children have since been removed from their relatives' care. The children were living in filthy sheds and broken down caravans and had numerous disabilities from their inbred births, including a boy with a walking impairment and severe psoriasis, another with hearing and sight problems and yet another boy whose eyes were misaligned. The depravity was a throwback to a pair of great-great grandparents who were a brother and sister who encouraged their children to have sex with each other as soon as they were capable. By 2012, the five family groups comprised sisters Rhonda, then 47; Martha, 33; and Betty Colt, 46, who slept every night with her brother, Charlie. There were also two of Betty's daughters who each had children who proved to be from unions of related parents. Betty's son Bobby, then 15, needed urgent dental work, could not talk properly, he wet and soiled his bed and his learning ability was at kindergarten level. Police have been building a case against the adults ever since and yesterday was a major step in their efforts to lay charges. Raylene (light jacket) and Betty Colt (dark jacket) outside a Sydney court on Friday . (Left to right) Raylene, Rhonda and Betty Colt outside a Sydney police station, where two of them were ordered to give DNA samples . In Parramatta Local Court on Friday the lawyer for Raylene said that access to the Colts' DNA should not be granted without her clients' consent. 'I'm arguing...that the application is not adequate and it should be dismissed,' said the lawyer, who also can't be named. 'The procedure is not one that can confirm or disprove that my client committed an offence under section 78A (of the Crimes Act).' She added her client denied the allegations of incest, however accepted that they were listed as a 'suspect' in the police case. Magistrate Joan Baptie quoted a psychologist's report on one of the Colt children, which cited: 'Her perception that her father is the same father as her mother and her grandmother.' She also referenced 'homozygotic' testing, previously carried out for Children's Court proceedings, that indicated a high level of genetic similarities in the Colt family. Betty Colt was ordered to give DNA on Friday as part of an investigation into a potentially incestuous family in NSW . Sisters Betty (left) and Rhonda (right), tweo members of the Colt family, have parents who are blood relatives . 'It might occur in a place like Tonga where there's a small gene pool,' she said. 'Homozygosity, as I understand, it is very unusual.' Ms Baptie later granted police permission to take DNA evidence from Betty, who is in her late 40s, and her daughter, Raylene, who is in her 30s. She said she was satisfied that previous testing indicated that Raylene's teenage daughter Kimberly was the product of incest and that further forensic analysis was needed. Betty had earlier objected to a DNA swab, saying: 'Everything else has been taken, the only thing I've got left is my privacy.' She was ordered to report to Parramatta Police Station by 4.30pm. Children's Court documents reveal the complex and alarming family tree that evolved over generations as the Colts moved around Australia. Sisters Rhonda, Martha and Betty - along with two of Betty's children - were found to have parents who were blood relatives. Many other members of the Colt family are thought to have died young. Detective Inspector Peter Yeomans, head of the NSW Police child abuse squad, said: 'It's a very difficult, complex investigation where police are conducting inquires in relation to allegations of a multitude of offences.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Mother and daughter ordered to give sample on Friday as police move to lay charges . Ruling on Rhonda, Betty's sister, delayed until her children are tested . About 40 members of 'Colt' family discovered living in NSW scrubland in 2012 . Some had sight and cognitive issues, others were filthy having lived in squalid conditions . At least 12 children have been removed from relatives' care . Police are yet to lay charges, describing case as a 'complex' investigation . | 7e0425e1d335a53ee9711efbd92e6e4aea7057b8 |
By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 11:25 EST, 8 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:04 EST, 8 January 2013 . Spared jail: Nigel Parsons, who admitted filming three female colleagues in the shower at Bestinvest investment advisors, is pictured outside Southwark Crown Court . An investment director who hid a phone in work showers to make secret films of female colleagues has been spared jail. Nigel Parsons, 34, was handed a three-year supervision order and sent on a sex offenders course because a judge ruled that he would not get the help he needs in prison. Parsons had admitted two counts of voyeurism after rigging up an iPhone in a bathroom at top investment advisors Bestinvest to capture female coworkers as they undressed. Southwark Crown Court heard that his sordid plot was uncovered when a member of staff spotted the phone and found recordings of herself and two other members of staff naked in the shower. Sentencing Parsons, judge Anthony Leonard said: 'The use of a hidden camera to film work colleagues showering or changing is a despicable offence, amounting to an invasion of their privacy. 'I have no doubt that the offences are serious enough to merit a custodial sentence, but I am not able to pass one of the length that would ensure you receive the counselling and therapy I judge you would need.' Instead, Parsons was handed a supervision order, told to complete a 120-hour sex offenders course and will also be under nightly curfew for the next five months. Parsons was identified because he had filmed himself setting up and adjusting the device. Two recordings were made between February 17 and 21 of this year at the Bestinvest headquarters in Mayfair, central London. Prosecutor Peter Zinner said: 'Three young women were filmed over the course of two days. Hearing: Nigel Parsons was spared jail at Southwark Crown Court, pictured, as judges didn't feel he would recieve the help he needs in prison . 'They were not only shocked they were being filmed but distressed that this was done to them by a senior colleague who they worked with and trusted and liked.' Parsons pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism at an earlier hearing at Southwark Crown Court. He also admitted making or possessing 61 indecent images of children, all aged under-10 and distributing one image. These included images of sadism against children, as well as extreme sexual abuse. Judge Leonard said: 'The images show depravity on your part, and also show a lack of human understanding for the suffering endured by these children, caused by your demand for the photos.' Voyeur: Nigel Parsons planted the iPhone in the bathroom of Bestinvest's headquarters in Mayfair, London . John Armstrong, defending, said Parsons had lost his job and been unable to find more work within the financial industry. He was also thrown out by his wife and is now only allowed supervised contact with his daughter at weekends. He claims to have given up looking at child porn after her birth in February 2011. According to Bestinvest's website the firm has won several awards including UK Wealth Manager of the Year 2011 and Self-Select ISA Provider of the Year 2011. It also states: 'The company is one of the fastest-growing private client advisory firms and is proud to support the NSPCC.' Parsons, of High Wycombe, Bucks, pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism, ten counts of making indecent images, one count of distributing an indecent image, and one count of possessing indecent images. A Bestinvest spokesman said: 'Bestinvest confirms that Nigel Parsons was a portfolio manager in our investment management team until February 2012. 'He resigned his employment following a serious allegation of gross personal misconduct towards certain Bestinvest staff which was unrelated to any work undertaken for our clients. 'The matter was also reported to the police. His actions towards our staff were wholly unacceptable as were those that separately emerged during the subsequent police investigation and search of his home.' | Nigel Parsons was sentenced to a three-year supervision order . He was also sent on a sex offenders course at Southwark Crown Court . He admitted two counts of voyeurism at an earlier hearing . Parsons admitted making or possessing 61 indecent images of children . | 8439eeee98876733e09a04281c1d2b04096dd876 |
By . Lucy Osborne . PUBLISHED: . 12:39 EST, 29 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:05 EST, 29 December 2013 . When Isobel Wyatt didn't get a coin in exchange for the tooth she left under her pillow, her parents told her it was because the tooth fairy was on strike. The nine-year-old's parents, Wendy Wyatt and Kevin Golding, from Coventry, told her the Government had threatened to take away the fairy's pension, so in protest she refused to go to work. But rather than accept that she would not be visiting, the schoolgirl became so incensed with the government that she decided to write a heartfelt letter to the Prime Minister. Isobel Wyatt, aged nine, is pictured at her home in Coventry, with the letter she received back from David Cameron . Incensed: The youngster sent a hand-written note to 10 Downing Street pleading with Mr Cameron to rethink his stance on the pension issue so the Tooth Fairy could get back to work and take this tooth . In it she pleaded with him to rethink his stance so that the tooth fairy would be happier and could get back to her job. Isobel and her parents didn't think they would hear back from David Cameron but to their amazement, she received a reply this month. An aide thanked her for her query - but confessed the Government was in the dark when it came to plans for a tooth fairy strike. They wrote: 'I was pleased to read your well-written letter and your concerns about the tooth fairy. 'Unfortunately, I am unable to answer your question about possible industrial action.' Primary school pupil Isobel – who lives with her parents, two brothers and sister - said she had been showing off the prized letter to her friends. She said: 'When I got the letter I was stunned. I wrote in because I thought David Cameron would take away the Tooth Fairy's pension. In the post: Isobel did not think she would hear back from the PM after sending this letter . Surprised: Isobel with her mother Wendy Wyatt, aged 39, at her home in Coventry . Downing Street's reply: The letter which Isobel Taylor, nine, received from Prime Minister David Cameron's office . 'I wasn't expecting anything back because he is very busy. I've taken the letter into school to show my friends – they think it's really good.' Her mother, Miss Wyatt a University of Warwick nursery worker, said the 'little white lie' had spiralled. She said: 'Her dad said "maybe they've gone on strike".' 'After that she came and spoke to me and I said I thought I'd heard something about David Cameron cutting their pensions. That was when she decided to write the letter.' Isobel had been told that the Government had threatened to take away the fairy's pension, so in protest she refused to go to work . The mother-of-four said Isobel became determined to write after her father, assistant accommodations manager at Warwick University, told her of the tooth fairy strike in October. 'I left her to it and she asked me to get the address, which I did. 'I gave her a stamp and she posted the letter herself back in October and when we didn't hear anything for a while we assumed she'd hear nothing back. 'It wasn't until earlier this month we received a reply and Isobel got very excited when she saw the Downing Street postmark on the back of the envelope. 'She knew what it was straight away. She'd been very upset about the missed visit so she was really pleased to get a response.' Isobel finally received her £2 from her mother after she decided to donate her baby teeth to an art project she saw at a local gallery. Called Palaces, the installation aims to build a 'magical sculpture' out of donated baby teeth from children across the world. Miss Wyatt added: 'Isobel decided she wanted to donate her teeth to the project instead - she's saved a few up. 'We have an arrangement where she donates them and we give her the money instead. 'So she doesn't have to worry about the tooth fairy going on strike anymore.' In 2010, a six-year-old girl sent David Cameron £1 she had received from the tooth fairy because she wanted to 'make the country better and create jobs' after listening to a speech he had made. | Isobel Wyatt's parents told her the fairy had refused to go to work . Schoolgirl became so incensed that she decided to write to the PM . In it she pleaded with David Cameron to rethink his stance . Isobel and her parents didn't think they . would hear back . | 37e4017c27e45f7615a8cecf7067a6d9422b44f4 |
Opulent processions, well-coiffed royals and a few European landmarks thrown in - it is the perfect light watching to ease you into the day. And television networks didn't miss a trick with the Queen's Jubilee, sending out their big names - topped with a variety of obnoxious hats - to cover the four-day event in London. With the UK five hours ahead of Eastern time, the festivities fall perfectly for morning television. And as the celebration reaches its conclusion on Tuesday, the networks battle for the best coverage. Together again: Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira were reunited as co-hosts at Buckingham Palace while cover the Queen's Jubilee clebration for the Today show . Leading the pack has been the Today show, which sent Meredith Vieira to preview the long weekend's festivities on Friday from the Tower of London. She has since been at the helm of the show's coverage, broadcasting from Buckingham Palace. On Tuesday, NBC added more big names to the mix, sending out Al Roker and Matt Lauer to join her. Vieira had previously warned them to 'bring the long . johns' to fight the weather, but joked that the drizzle made 'the events . more British, not less'. CNN flashed jubilant scenes of thousands of well wishers waving flags along The Mall. Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin will lead the live CNN broadcast live for two hours starting at 9 a.m. ET. Getting to know the people: Today's Al Roker mingles with the crowds in London to ask about the Jubilee . Coverage: Vieira flew to London last week to preview events. She is joined by CNN and Good Morning America . Protests by British republicans – a mere footnote in the UK -- are enjoying prime-time coverage on Iranian state-run television channels which have ignored the loyal majority’s revelry. 'Chants of Monarchy Out! Republic In echo in UK,' trumpeted a headline on the website of Iran’s English language Press TV. Tehran’s main Persian language channel, IRTV 1, declared that the Queen should shoulder some responsible for Britain’s 'grave economic situation.' It opined: 'The extravagant spending of the Queen, including the expensive wedding of Prince William, her annual tours and festivities and the current diamond jubilee celebrations have added to the problems.' RTV 1featured a protestor proclaiming, 'I speak on behalf of millions of British people who are opposed to the monarchist system.' Iran has been staunchly republican since its Islamic revolution in 1979 overthrew 2,500 years of monarchy. Good . Morning America is hosting 'GMA at the Jubilee' with Robin Roberts . broadcasting live from outside Buckingham Palace, interviewing British . celebrities while looking at processions below. CNN led the coverage over the weekend, broadcasting the Thames Jubilee Pageant and the Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving. But, . while UK viewers reveled in the wonderment of the concert on Monday . night - featuring Kylie Minogue, Will.i.am and Elton John, among others - . U.S. audiences were comparatively hard done by. ABC nabbed exclusive rights to the show and presented excerpts from 9 p.m. ET during 20/20: Concert for the Queen. Coverage of the occasion has varied across the world. Republican France celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as if its own Revolution had never happened. The celebrations in London dominated TV screens and newspapers, with Le Monde correspondent Marc Roche saying the French 'don't know much about the Queen, but they like the pomp and circumstance, they like the grandeur of the institution.' More than 3.5million watched a three-and-a-half hour live Jubilee special on France 2 television on Sunday afternoon. 'We got 26.3 per cent of the audience, despite the French Open tennis tournament being on at the same time on another channel,' said Yannick Letranchant, who commissioned the programme. Last year's Royal Wedding and the success of the film 'The King's Speech' has made the British monarch extremely popular. Princess Diana, who died in Paris in 1997, is also remembered with great fondness. 'We have no royal family, so we end up with characters like Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni living like royals,' said Parisian Genevieve Blanc. 'They are nothing like as impressive as the real thing, and in fact end up embarrassing us. This is one of the main reasons why we envy the British.' All newspapers covered the Jubilee on their front page at some point, with Figaro giving a number of reasons why the Queen is 'cool again'. In Italy, the were covered extensively on the TV, newspapers, radio and internet with photographs of the river pageant dominating - as well as several pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge looking regal in her bright red dress. Having a jolly good time: Queen Elizabeth, with the Dean of St. Paul's David Ison, leaves after a service to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday. The four-day event concludes today . Family: Prince Charles, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge leave the service . Every morning, the main channels had a . live link-up via their London correspondents to describe the previous . day's events and go through proceedings. Even British Rome-based correspondents were asked to contribute an opinion. Italian coverage highlighted how a . Venetian gondola had taken part in the river pageant and all the . coverage described how despite the dismal weather that more than a . million people turned up to see the spectacle - underlining the strength . of feeling for the Queen. Repubblica described the Queen as . 'Elizabeth the Great' adding how the crowds had been 'partying wildly' throughout the whole weekend. Corriere Della Sera said the pageant . had 'told the story of the Windsors,navigating through crisis and . splendour, through love and intrigue'. Il Messaggero described the . celebrations as an 'unprecedented spectacle' adding how the . photographers had all been 'pointing their cameras towards Kate as well . as the Queen, with her stunning red dress.' Jubilant: The Jubilee events - which conclude today - will be widely covered by US television networks today . The coverage also highlighted how the . Duke of Edinburgh had been forced to miss the last two days of . celebrations after 'bravely enduring the cold for four hours', but the . Queen had continued with the festivities once informed he was doing well . in hospital. BBC Worldwide aired the Diamond . Jubilee Celebrations on channels across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, . Latin America, India, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. A . spokesperson said it was still too early to obtain exact viewing . figures, but said they had already received 'amazing feedback.' In . Australia there was an outcry as ABC shunned the celebrations and . showed a repeat of raunchy Warren Beatty movie Shampoo instead. Australians for Constitutional Monarchy head, Professor David Flint, has attacked the ABC for the snub. 'I think it is absolutely appalling and astounding,' Professor Flint said. In . Canada, CBC covered an extensive amount of the celebrations and . reported that more than a million Canadians watched their coverage . yesterday morning. In the spirit: Elise Pearce holds a flag showing the Queen while waiting for the carriage procession during the Diamond Jubilee on Tuesday . It . seemed that on a worldwide basis, the Jubilee received much lighter . coverage from the media than the Royal Wedding in April 2011. 'I . assumed the ABC was going to at least broadcast the central events, as . you would expect them to do a royal wedding or a coronation.' On Tuesday night, ABC in the U.S. will broadcast two-hour highlights of the concert from 9 p.m. ET. Audiences . still have the Ceremonial day to look forward to, where the queen and . royal family and 2,000 British worthies will attend an Anglican . thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral. After this, the queen and royal . family will attend private receptions, then a lunch at Westminster Hall . before taking a procession, lined with military bands and troops, back . to Buckingham Palace. Around 3:30 p.m. local time - 10.30 a.m. ET - the royal family will assemble on the balcony. Good Morning America, World News with Diane Sawyer and Nightline will broadcast throughout the day. In addition to the U.S. channels, BBC . America has been offering wide coverage. On Tuesday, BBC America will . broadcast live from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET. All smiles: There will be a procession later today before the royal family assemble on the balcony . It comes after some channels also heavily previewed the weekend's events. Viera popped out to London well ahead of the festivities to preview events from the Tower of London on Friday. And in last week's ABC special,The Jubilee Queen with Katie Couric, the beloved anchor quizzed Princes William and Harry, as well as the Duke of York and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. While colourful scenes were splashed across television screens, the coverage by the American newspapers was comparatively lifeless. In the U.S. newspapers, mentions . of the widespread parties and the Queen's processions have been sparse, . hidden in the back pages and squashed alongside the ads. Instead, the press, including the New York Post and the New York Times, focused on the bad news from the weekend - Prince Philip's trip to hospital. The Queen's husband, who turns 91 this weekend, was admitted to hospital on Monday with a bladder infection and will remain there for a few days as a precaution. | On a worldwide basis the . Jubilee received much lighter coverage from the media than the Royal . Wedding in April 2011 . U.S. press has focused Prince Philip's trip to hospital instead of celebrations . BBC Worldwide aired coverage across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin . America, India, Africa, Europe and the Middle East with 'amazing feedback' Iran state TV focused coverage on minor anti-royal protests in Britain . Celebrations extensively covered by the French media and some 3.6million viewers watched Jubilee special on France 2 television . Italian newspaper Repubblica describes Queen as 'Elizabeth the Great' Australian TV channel ABC shunned the live celebrations and showed a repeat of raunchy Warren Beatty movie Shampoo instead . In Canada over million Canadians watched CBC coverage yesterday . | ce5cbc8ecd8ba47badc1292f2c6ce97b388b5733 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:13 EST, 29 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:15 EST, 29 July 2013 . A sheriff's office in Lousiana is under fire from gay rights advocates for targeting men using an outdated law from the early 1800s. According to a report published Sunday in The Advocate, the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's office has been conducting sting operations to arrest gay men looking for sex in public parks. Over the past two years the Special Community Anti-Crime Team has arrested at least 12 men under an unenforceable 'crime against nature' law deemed invalid by the U.S. Supreme Court a decade ago. Outdated: A report published in The Advocate Sunday revealed a two-year long series of sting operations in East Baton Rouge that seemed to target homosexuals in the community . Undercover officers would meet men in the park and get them to agree to have sex, and that was enough basis to arrest them under the 'crime against nature' law - R.S. 14:89 - which was put on the records book back in 1805. The statue includes language which bans 'the unnatural canal copulation by a human being with another of the same sex or opposite sex.' The Supreme Court struck down that part in a 2003 ruling with a similar law in Texas. Because of the Supreme Court precedent, the courts would be unable to prosecute anyone charged today with that crime. However, according to sheriff's office spokesman Casey Hicks, since the law is on the books police still have the right to enforce it. She also said the men were not targeted for their sexual orientation, but because the office had been receiving complaints about people using the parks to have public sex. Apologize: Metro councilmen John Delgado called for a public apology from Sheriff Sid Gatreaux . 'The issue here is not the nature of the relationship but the location,' Ms Hicks said. 'These are not bars. These are parks. These are family environments.' However, according to District Attorney Hillar Moore III, since the law was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 there would be no way of prosecuting any of the men charged with the crime. 'For the Sheriff's Office to be setting up these kinds of sting operations up is a waste of time because they can't prosecute these things,' said Tommy Damico who is defending one of the men arrested last month under the archaic law. Advocates in the gay rights community expressed their outrage over the series of sting operations. 'It is frustrating that people are using their resources to pursue issues like this and arrest people for attempting to pick someone up and go home with them,' said Bruce Parker of Equality Louisiana. 'It's perfectly legal, and we would have to close down every bar in Baton Rouge if that weren't the case.' Civil rights attorney Andrea Ritchie also found the operation unsettling. 'It's really unfortunate that police are continuing to single out, target, falsely arrest and essentially ruin the lives of gay men in Baton Rouge who are engaged in no illegal conduct,' Ms Ritchie said. Metro Councilman John Delgado called for an apology from Sheriff Sid Gatreaux to the men arrested in the operations and the rest of the parish. The Sheriff's Office seemed to partially apologize for the arrests, issuing a statement to The Advocate Sunday saying they 'should have taken a different approach' when dealing with inappropriate behaviour in the park. | The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office set up a series of sting operations to arrest gay men in the community under an archaic law . The office has been conducting the stings for two years . Men were arrested under a law that contained a provision against same-sex copulation struck down by the Supreme Court in 2003 . | 4e6003871f0383b0eefd10a24fcafbcd4654df86 |
By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 14:11 EST, 3 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:14 EST, 3 September 2013 . It's a minor misdemeanour that lands millions of men across the world in trouble with their wives. But help could finally be here for those who miss the mark and wet the toilet seat while relieving themselves, thanks to a Chinese invention. The Pee Straight contraption is effectively a standard funnel attached to a 10 inch pipe designed to help both men and women with their aim. Take aim: Two Chinese women sell the Pee Straight invention outside a public toilet in the city of Shenzhen . Bemused: This man seems amused by the saleswoman's attempts to convince him to invest in one of the inventions . The device was invented by Shenzhen entrepreneur Ma Xianqing in response to a civic crackdown on those who can't aim properly. As part of the Shenzhen City Public Toilet Management Act, those who make a mess in a public toilet could be hit with a $15 fine by sanitation managers if caught. The law also punishes anyone who is found grafittiing, smoking or littering public loos. As well as helping to keep Shenzhen's toilets sparkling, the inventor also claims that the Pee Straight affords its user a degree of privacy while at the urinal. The device comes in male and female versions, with the women's having a shorter pipe. Handy: The devices have been introduced in the wake of a new law that could see residents of the city fined $15 if they make a mess while relieving themselves . According to NBC News, city officials wouldn't comment on whether on not anyone had been fined under the new law. While many took to social networking sites in China to ridicule both the new law and the subsequent invention, others were clearly impressed. One user urged the inventor to have the device patented as soon as possible on Weibo, China's answer to Twitter. Shenzhen was recently declared the world's most unfriendly city by Conde Nast Traveller magazine. | The Pee Straight device has gone on sale in Shenzhen, southern China . A new law could see those who make a mess in the toilet fined $15 . | f9c1f6c063bb55673a88ae71e04c94dd633e283f |
(CNN) -- Jockeyed by a man who'd never ridden it in a race, Animal Kingdom made a late charge Saturday to win the 137th edition of the Kentucky Derby. The colt's owners tapped John Velazquez to ride Animal Kingdom earlier this week, replacing jockey Robby Albarado after he got hurt while riding another horse. Velazquez is a racing veteran, but his best finish in 12 previous Kentucky Derby tries had been second in 2001. He had been slated to ride this year's pre-race favorite, Uncle Mo, until that horse was forced out after developing a gastrointestinal illness. "It was a loss for Robby, and a win for me," a bittersweet Velazquez told NBC in an interview broadcast throughout Churchill Downs after the race. "I'm very proud (of Animal Kingdom)." The colt entered the Derby at 20-1 odds, starting from the outside from the No. 16 gate. It stayed in the back of the pack -- behind front-runner Shackleford, which ended up in fourth -- before pushing ahead around the final turn to cruise to a clear victory. The Kentucky-bred 3-year-old had run only a handful of races prior to Saturday, none of them on dirt. "He's just kind of a magnificent animal," said Graham Motion, the trainer for Animal Kingdom. "This is an amazing horse, a very special horse." Two horses with much better 9-1 odds -- Nehro and Mucho Macho Man -- finished second and third, respectively. The latter was trained by Katherine Ritvo, who overcame a debilitating heart condition and was trying to become the first woman to train a Derby winner. The pre-race favorite, Dialed In, was never a factor. The wide-open race took place in front of 164,858 people, the most ever to attend the nation's longest continuously running annual sports event, a track official announced. The 19 horses and their riders broke shortly after 6:30 p.m., all galloping around the 1.25-mile dirt course in hopes of taking home a $2.17 million purse. According to the derby's website, more than $22 million was bet at the track -- topping last year's $21.5 million, with neither figure including many millions more wagered at sites outside Louisville. The derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown, considered the most coveted achievement in thoroughbred racing. It is followed by the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. Animal Kingdom will now try to join the last horse to win all three -- Affirmed in 1978. CNN's David Ariosto contributed to this report. | Animal Kingdom, jockeyed by John Velazquez, entered with 20-1 odds . The jockey was supposed to ride favorite Uncle Mo, until that horse dropped out . A record 164,858 spectators attended Saturday's race in Louisville . The derby is the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown . | eae02d3bffb17cfdabf6d9e4d89390ab3eeff8a0 |
For those caught using the streets of Mumbai as a public toilet, the pavement is not the only thing to face getting wet. Vigilantes have been patrolling the Indian city with a water tanker - and spraying anyone who urinates in public. The vehicle, dubbed the 'P***ing Tanker', features a huge water canon, a logo of a person urinating and a large red sign, reading: 'You Stop, We Stop'. Scroll down for video . Action: Vigilantes have been patrolling Mumbai with a water tanker - and spraying anyone who pees in public . Mid-flow: A motorcyclist caught using the streets of the Indian city as a public toilet is blasted by the activists . On patrol: The tanker, dubbed the 'P***ing Tanker', features an enormous water canon and a logo of a person urinating. It also includes a rooftop area, from which the masked vigilantes can spray members of the public . It also includes a large rooftop area, from which the masked vigilantes can blast unsuspecting members of the public with water. The bright yellow tanker is believed to be the creation of an anonymous 'anti-public urination activist group', called the Clean Indian. It aims to deter those who feel no shame relieving themselves in the streets of India's most populous city by turning the tables and 'taking a leak' on them. It also hopes to combat the health risk of public urination - which the activists claim remains a major problem in the country - 'one spray at a time'. Soaked: The bright yellow tanker is believed to be the creation of an anonymous 'anti-public urination activist group', called the Clean Indian. Above, an Indian man caught urinating in the street is blasted by the vigilantes . Aim: It aims to deter those who feel no shame relieving themselves in the streets of India's most populous city . The group has posted a video of the tanker at work on YouTube, with the caption: 'You wont' believe what we did to people using the outdoors as a toilet' (sic). But the footage has divided opinion - with many users claiming that a lack of public toilets in the state of Maharashtra is the underlying problem, not those peeing in the street. One user wrote: 'This is not the solution. Lack of availability of Public toilets is the problem that is causing general public to act like that.' Health risk: It also hopes to combat the health risk of public urination - which the activists claim remains a major problem in the country - 'one spray at a time'. Above, a man urinates against a wall in Mumbai . Taking aim: The group has posted a video of the tanker on YouTube, saying: 'You wont' believe what we did to people using the outdoors as a toilet' (sic). Above, a masked vigilante sprays water at a member of the public . On the lookout: The footage has divided opinion, with many users saying a lack of public toilets is the problem . Meanwhile, another said: 'That's degrading for those men even if they are doing something wrong.' But one woman wrote: 'Hilarious! The Clean Indian anti-public urination activists have a novel way of punishing men who p*** in public.' And another added: 'This is a good way to teach them (public urinators) to use public toilets!' | Vigilantes have been patrolling the streets of Mumbai with a water tanker . Tanker features enormous water canon and the sign: 'You Stop, We Stop' Also includes rooftop area, from which masked activists can spray public . It aims to deter those who feel no shame relieving themselves on streets . Vehicle is believed to be manned by anonymous group, the Clean Indian . | 001aae426b4742676f9d944ad7cb08c07190035a |
Ordeal: Rosemary Fadle appeared at two sensational trials over the past few weeks . It has been an extraordinarily painful and harrowing week for Rosemary Fadle. She had the satisfaction of seeing Jimmy Savile’s partner in crime Ray Teret – who raped her when she was an innocent 15-year-old – convicted for numerous offences for which he is likely to spend the rest of his life in jail. Then, in a bizarre coincidence, days after giving evidence against Teret she flew to Paris to face the ‘nightmare’ of appearing as a witness in the high-profile trial of businessman Ian Griffin for the murder of his wealthy Polish girlfriend Kinga Legg. Bizarrely, the two sensational trials both reached a verdict on Friday with Griffin, like Teret, found guilty. Waiving her right to anonymity and speaking about her ordeal for the first time, Rosemary, 61, said: ‘Friday was a simply incredible because both the trials finished on the same day. It was an amazing coincidence. ‘I had got back from France the day before and to be watching the news with both these trials involving myself leading the broadcasts was unreal. ‘Obviously I was delighted that Teret was convicted and that included his offences against me. ‘I just wish my evidence had made a difference to Ian Griffin.’ The verdict in Paris disappointed her as she was there as a witness for the defence, and gave a damning character reference against Kinga Legg, who had once been part of her social set in the North West nightclub scene. Rosemary added: ‘It has been the most stressful time of my life and I have found it very difficult to sleep with the knowledge of what I had to do. ‘Now I feel exhausted but very proud for having helped to put Ray Teret behind bars. ‘I just hope that now other women will feel confident enough to come forward and report the abuse they suffered at his hands.’ Rosemary said it is the Teret trial that will haunt her. She revealed she was left particularly distraught because she had to face up to the memory of introducing a 12-year-old friend to Teret, who was then raped by him while she was in the same room. Scroll down for video . ‘It is something I will never be able to forget,’ she said. ‘I saw that particular victim in the lead up to his trial and I apologised for what had happened all those years ago. She just said that it had stolen her childhood from her and that she had tried to forget it. ‘She didn’t want to dig up the past and there must be hundreds of young girls in the same position. ‘Ray was a very cunning paedophile. He would do what he wanted to do and just act like nothing had happened. He even befriended my parents and would drop me off in his Bentley when it was time for me to go home. ‘We were so naive. I wouldn’t have known how to tell my parents. Because I did not have the experience of screaming and pushing him off me, I did not realise I had been raped.’ Partners in crime: Disgraced DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile and his chauffeur Ray Teret (right) soak up the sun in the 1970s . Charity event: Kinga (second from the left) and Rosemary (second right) pictured together at a party . Such was Rosemary’s level of naivety that when Teret latched on to her mention of a 12-year-old friend she thought nothing of introducing them. ‘I had mentioned her to him and he had encouraged me to bring her round,’ she said. ‘We were all lying down on his bed with Ray in the middle. Then he said to my friend, “This is not going to hurt”, and got on top of her. ‘I just lay there frozen to the spot while they had sex. When he finished he just started chatting away about his DJ-ing. It was as though nothing had happened.’ Rosemary was a pupil at Norris Road School in Sale, Manchester, in the summer of 1968 when she first encountered Teret, then 27, who had made his name as a DJ on the pirate station Radio Caroline. She said: ‘He lived with three other young DJs on the ground floor of a three-storey townhouse in Sale. My older sister happened to be renting the top floor and I would often go round to see her after school. If my sister wasn’t in, Ray would invite me into his flat to wait for her. He had the largest room in the house – on the ground floor with a big bay window. There were pictures of him with the Beatles on the wall and in the middle of the room was a kingsize bed. ‘I suppose I was flattered by the attention and it wasn’t until the third occasion that anything happened. ‘He told me to lie down on the bed and said he was not going to hurt me. He came and lay on top of me. Before I really knew what was happening he was having sex with me. ‘There was no tenderness. It was just clinical. Over the seven years he abused me, he never kissed me. He would just have sex, pass me a tissue and then start talking like nothing had happened. ‘Had I ended up running out of his house I might have thought of myself as a victim but he was very clever. He would always keep me there for an extra hour. He told me how lucky I was that I had lost my virginity to him rather than to another man who might have hurt me.’ Ray Teret (left) and businessman Ian Griffin (right) arriving art court in Manchester and Paris respectively . Last week Teret, 73, who used to be known by the nickname ‘Ugli’, was convicted of 18 offences against 11 separate victims aged 13 to 15. The offences were committed between 1962 to 1978 and the court heard that while some victims had been able to get on with their lives, others were ‘very significantly damaged’. A few years after the abuse had begun, Rosemary began dating Teret’s housemate and fellow DJ Mel Scholes. Ray wasn’t bothered about me seeing Mel because he had so many schoolgirls visiting him at that time,’ she said. ‘But if Mel and I fell out or he was in the house with me alone then he would force himself on to me again.’ At the time, Teret provided DJs for some of the North West’s most popular night spots. He was also very close to Savile, acting as his chauffeur on occasions. Rosemary said: ‘I met Savile once. Ray and Mel had moved to a big detached house that we called Teret Towers. I was lying on the floor reading a book when Savile came in. ‘He saw me and began to flirt. I remember he put his foot on my back and said he was going to walk on me. Ray gave him a glare and Mel took me out of there. ‘The strain of what was happening at Teret Towers put paid to my relationship with Mel. I couldn’t understand why he and the other DJs could not stop Ray from seducing so many schoolgirls.’ Living in the North West meant that throughout her life she would occasionally bump into Teret in a bar, a club or at the shops. Rosemary, who has five children from two different relationships, said: ‘We would usually say hello and nothing more. ‘On one occasion I saw him when I was shopping with my ten-year-old daughter who was a particularly pretty little girl. ‘Ray immediately started asking who she was and looking for an introduction. I rushed her away from him. It made me feel sick.’ Rosemary went on to be a successful businesswoman running bars and nightclubs in the North West, and was delighted when the death of Jimmy Savile triggered a re-examination of historical sex abuse. The Hotel Bristol in Paris where the Polish millionairess was found murdered by her boyfriend . To help secure Teret’s conviction she gave three video-recorded interviews to detectives but then also went to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to give evidence. ‘I had no screen,’ she said, ‘and Ray was intimidating me throughout my evidence but I was determined that justice should be done. ‘Ray was just a few feet away from me and he spent the entire time making eye contact with me, nodding and shaking his head. It was truly terrifying. ‘I held it together really well. I stood for the whole time clinging on to a rail and the only time I cried was when I had to recall going to see a counsellor when I was 50 years old. ‘That brought it home to me just how this man had ruined my life.’ It was just days after giving evidence against Teret that Rosemary was called to be a witness in the case of Ian Griffin. Rosemary said she had become involved after pictures of her and Kinga emerged and she was contacted by Griffin’s distraught mother, Janet. ‘She asked me what I knew of Kinga and how I could help,’ said Rosemary. ‘Well, I knew Kinga from 2002 when she was dating a friend of mine called Harry Gaynon. Kinga admitted to me that she had a problem with drink which made her violent. On one occasion I saw her slap Harry across the face at a party and on another occasion she left him badly scarred. ‘No one deserves what she went through but I thought it was important that the French court knew what she could be like.’ Griffin was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Rosemary said: ‘I was very surprised that he received such a long sentence.’ She described the Paris trial as ‘a complete nightmare’. ‘I was shown to a waiting room which was full of Kinga’s friends and family and I felt awful knowing that my testimony was going to upset them all. ‘It was very uncomfortable but having been contacted by Ian’s mother I felt duty-bound to say what I knew about Kinga’s behaviour in relationships and her problem controlling her temper when drunk.’ | Rosemary Fadle gave evidence at two sensational trials in the past week . The 61-year-old was raped by Jimmy Savile's driver, Ray Teret, aged 15 . She gave testimony which contributed to his conviction on Friday . Days later she flew to Paris for the trial of businessman Ian Griffin . Acted as a defence witness before Griffin was found guilty of murder . Additional reporting: Paul Cahalan . | a29f4cbea00890575516f99459e2723f537bb0a1 |
Jason Lewis has been jailed after his friend Tom Baynton died in a car crash caused when Lewis bent down to pick up his mobile phone while driving . A young driver has been jailed after he killed his best friend in a car crash after bending down to pick up his phone. Jason Lewis, 23, took his eyes off the road after dropping his phone under the pedals of his Peugeot 106 as he drove along a road in Ebbw Vale, South Wales. He lost control of the car as he twice tried to retrieve the phone and was in a head-on collision which killed his passenger and best friend, Tom Baynton. A court heard his car somersaulted onto its roof after the collision, which instantly killed popular footballer Mr Baynton, 21. Mr Baynton, who was in the front passenger seat, was awaiting the birth of his first child with partner Ella when the tragedy happened. A passenger in the other car, pensioner Rosalyn Webb, 66, was so badly injured in the crash she was in a coma for weeks and two other passengers were also injured. The court heard that Lewis, who escaped serious injury, had drunk two and a half pints of lager earlier that day, which had affected his driving even though he was under the legal limit. He was jailed for three years and nine months for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Prosecutor Michael Jones said: 'He told police that his mobile phone slipped off the centre console, landing and getting stuck under the clutch pedal. 'In attempting to retrieve it he bent down and when he reached down a second time he lost his bearings and through panic lost control of the car.' Lewis' lawyer told the court that the young driver, who sat with head bowed for most of the proceedings, had shown 'heartfelt and genuine remorse'. She said: 'He made a terrible mistake and will have to live with the consequences for ever.' Mr Baynton - described as a 'true legend who loved life' by friends - died instantly in the accident last year . The court heard that six weeks after the tragedy, which happened in November 2013, Mr Baynton's partner gave birth to his baby son Leo. Lewis, of Abergavenny, Gwent, admitted both charges at Cardiff Crown Court. Judge Neil Bidder told him: 'You foolishly bent down to pick up the phone and repeated the action taking your eyes off the road. 'It was a crass thing to do and led to a terrible waste of life which was entirely avoidable. 'Although you were not over the drink driving limit you had consumed enough alcohol to have impaired your judgement. 'It is a great tragedy for the family of Mr Baynton who died never seeing his baby son and having a son who will never know his father.' | Friends travelling along road in South Wales when driver dropped phone . Driver twice bent down to try to retrieve device from under car's pedals . He lost control of car and was in head-on collision with another vehicle . Crash killed his passenger and seriously injured pensioner in other car . Driver jailed for three years for causing death by dangerous driving . | 27917a5385aa28a6566e1fe1e82fdcb851746fa0 |
(CNN) -- Jury questionnaires released Saturday revealed five of the jurors in O.J. Simpson's Las Vegas, Nevada, robbery trial said they disagreed with the 1995 verdict where he was found not guilty of two murders. Jury questionnaires released in O.J. Simpson's robbery trial reveal diverse work and life backgrounds. All 12 jurors had previously heard about Simpson and all but one knew about his acquittal 13 years ago in the Los Angeles, California, stabbing deaths of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. One juror said he agreed that Simpson was not guilty while four said they were unsure. Another said she had "no feelings. It is history." One juror did not answer the question. The nine women and three men on the jury said in the questionnaire they would give Simpson, 61, a fair trial on his latest charges. After 13 hours of deliberation Friday, the jurors found Simpson guilty on 12 charges of armed robbery and kidnapping in connection with the 2007 attempted heist of memorabilia he said had been stolen from him. The verdict came 13 years to the day after his acquittal in Los Angeles. Watch O.J. verdict being read » . A look at the 116-question document gives a glimpse of the jury's make-up: Read juror questionnaire: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 . -- Ages were pretty evenly spread with three jurors in their 30s, three in their 40s, two in their 50s and four in their 60s. -- Seven of the jurors are married or remarried. Two are single or never married. Two are living with a partner and one is divorced. -- One juror said she speaks Spanish; another one Greek. -- Four jurors have bachelor's degrees and another seven said they have attended some college or vocational school. One is a high school graduate. -- Eleven jurors were white; one identified herself as Hispanic. -- Seven jurors said a family member had spent time in jail. At least three of those involved an arrest for DUI. One juror said a friend is serving eight years in prison for car theft and possession of a gun. Another said her husband and son had spent time in jail. One juror said she was detained in a holding cell for two days before it was determined she was not involved. -- Eleven jurors said neither they nor a family member had been the victim of a serious crime, but one juror said a cousin was murdered in Houston, Texas. -- All the jurors said they had previously heard of Simpson. One remembered Simpson from his 1968 Heisman Trophy days as a running back at the University of Southern California. Others remembered him a professional football player. Two said they remembered seeing Simpson in TV commercials when they were children. A couple of others mentioned Simpson's arrest in Los Angeles. "A long time ago. I believe he was being chased down on a freeway. That's about all I know," one said. -- Four jurors had previously lived in California; one for 55 years and was a resident during Simpson's murder trial. Another lived there for 48 years. All four had lived in the Las Vegas area for at least nine years. -- Their occupations include: teller, retail, reservations center manager, underwriter, preschool teacher, heating and air-conditioning serviceman, pharmaceutical sales representative. One said she was unemployed; another said he is retired. | 11 jurors in O.J. Simpson trial knew about 1995 acquittal on murder charges . Jury finds Simpson guilty of all counts in 2007 sports memorabilia heist . Seven jurors said a family member had spent time in jail . Eleven jurors were white; one Hispanic . | eda61a33ba33ef1828de6fb73922b9154d2d1527 |
The year's first colchicums bring a blend of joy and sadness. Joy because the mauve-pink flowers are so fresh and beautiful; sadness because their arrival marks the beginning of summer's demise. Colchicums look like crocuses, but they buck the trend by flowering now instead of in spring. You often see them popping up, fresh and bedewed, in country churchyards or old cottage gardens. Other gorgeous autumn bulbs include Nerines — brilliant for flower arrangements — bright pink Amaryllis belladonna and such little gems as yellow Sternbergia or pink-flushed white Acis. There are true crocuses for October, too, and even a pre-Christmas snowdrop. Colchicum autumnale naturalises happily in grass and likes full sunshine. Buy them now as dry bulbs and expect fresh blooms within days. Some of these flower while the bulbs are semi-dormant. So you can buy them now as dry bulbs and expect fresh blooms within days. Plant them carefully, though, lest you snap off any tender buds. These lie just beneath the bulb's skin. LEAFY AFTERMATH . Colchicums have a serious downside. They may resemble crocuses but, unlike them, they produce enormous shucks of untidy leaves in late spring. Bear that in mind if you plant them at a border front. They may resemble crocuses but, unlike them, they produce enormous shucks of untidy leaves in late spring . The easiest to grow, Colchicum autumnale, is good for naturalising in grass, preferably in full sun. Like daffodils, it does best in ground that doesn't dry out too much. Biggerflowered crocus speciosus performs better in a well-lit border, and both species have white varieties as well as rosy purple. I rather like the big leaves, even when they tower above cowslips and daisies in our little spring meadow. But if they're not to your taste, choose true autumn crocuses instead. These, like their springblooming cousins, have sparse grassy leaves. Crocus speciosus — easiest and prettiest — comes later than most colchicums, and has purple flowers with orange stigmas and subtle striping. In groups, they look spectacular, but prefer soil to turf. Likewise, Acis autumnalis, the autumn snowflake. The tiny pinktinged white flowers look charming in big numbers. The grassy leaves which follow are discreet. None of these plants can equal the splendour of the nerine, undisputed queen of the autumn bulbs. The hardiest, Nerine bowdenii, produces long stems topped with startling pink flowers whose petals curl elegantly. They last well in water, and the bulbs, if happy, grow steadily. If the fluorescent pink of N. bowdenii is too strident for you, try the paler flowered Stefanie. FLIGHTS OF FANCY . I alsogrow Zeal Giant, a large loud hybrid with satiny pink flowers. It's survived horrible winters in my Lincolnshire garden. If you live in a mild area (Cornwall, say, or south-west Scotland) you could try the more fancy nerines. These are developed from the non-hardy Nerine sarniensis and come in hotter, more exciting colours. I've tried one called Codora which has vibrant red blooms but succumbed to slug attack and then got frozen through. If you live in a mild area (Cornwall or south-west Scotland) you could try the more fancy nerines . But if I had a roomy conservatory, I'd keep pots of fancy nerines outdoors from May to October and bring them inside for a late autumn bonanza. The colours of some are extraordinary — purple or even grey overlying crimson or pink. Unlike most bulbs, nerines flower best when planted shallow, in overcrowded conditions and baked in summer sun. If left undisturbed for years, these get so crammed together that some are squeezed out. Re-plant the expelled bulbs in a new spot. Nerine bowdenii loves a sunny border. The most prolific display I've ever seen was in a modest front garden near the sea, in Norfolk. The soil there was sandy — an extension of the beach, almost — but the nerines behaved as though they were at home in South Africa's muggy Eastern Cape. Flowering from September through to November, Crocus speciosus Conqueror grows 10cm tall. The cheerful, violet blue flowers will multiply year after year (6/7 cm corms supplied). Order 50 for £8.99, or 100 for only £14.98, saving £3 on the RRP. Delivery within 14 days. To order by debit/credit card, call 0844 472 4161 quoting MGS968, visit mailgardenshop.co.uk, or send a cheque, payable to Mail Garden Shop to: Mail Garden Shop, Crocus speciosus Conqueror Offer, Dept MGS968, 14-16 Hadfield Street, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 9FG. | Buy them now as dry bulbs and expect fresh blooms within days . Colchicum autumnale naturalises happily in grass and likes full sun . They resemble crocuses but produce enormous shucks of untidy leaves . If you live in a mild area you could try the more fancy nerines . | 4ec955227a4bb77b5fb92fcb88d876798cc3ed50 |
James Rodriguez's surgery on a broken bone in his right foot was a success, his Real Madrid club said on Thursday. The operation was on the fifth metatarsal in the right foot, Madrid added on their website. The European champions did not say how long they expected him to be sidelined. James Rodriguez was pictured on crutches at the hospital in Murcia as he underwent foot surgery . Rodriguez hobbled off during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Sevilla and will have a spell on the sidelines . Rodriguez was hurt after scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 La Liga win over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu. He was substituted in the first half after doctors examined his foot on the sideline. The 23-year-old Rodriguez quickly became a first-choice selection for coach Carlo Ancelotti after his arrival following his outstanding World Cup with Colombia, when he was the top scorer with six goals and helped the team reach the quarterfinals. He has played in 33 of Madrid's 36 games this season, scoring 12 goals and assisting on 10 more. Real opened up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga ahead of their visit to Atletico on Saturday. The Colombian opened the scoring in Real's 2-1 win over Sevilla at the Bernabeu on Wednesday . Rodriguez has scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists so far this season since his move from Monaco . | James Rodriguez had surgery on a broken metatarsal . The Colombian was pictured on crutches at hospital in Murcia . Rodriguez picked up injury during Real Madrid's win over Sevilla . Champions League winners face local rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday . | ca11546d7e6281f24680b78642f54bd920bc9ece |
Shocked classmates of the alleged Charlie Hebdo getaway driver have leapt to his defence - claiming he was in school with them at the time of the deadly attack. Mourad Hamyd was arrested on Wednesday night after handing himself in at a local police station, after rumours he was involved in the Charlie Hebdo massacre began to circulate on social media. But friends of the 18-year-old suspected terrorist say there is no way he could have been involved, as he was sitting in class at the Lycee Monge when the attack took place. The school is in Charleville-Mezières, around 130 miles from the scene of the murders in Paris. Twitter user Vicomte Crew (@babydroma) claims her classmate was in school on Wednesday, using the hashtag #MouradHamydInnocent . Classmates immediately took to Twitter saying a terrible mistake had been made, using the hashtag #MouradHamydInnocent. A user under the hand @babydroma insisted that Mourad was in her philosophy class, and added: ‘Please, he was in [school] all morning, he’s in my class.’ Another Twitter user - @AnyceDz, who is thought to have launched the hashtag - appeared on television to defend his classmate. He is reported to have said he got the bus in with Hamyd at 8am, and spent the 10am break with him, then took the bus with him just before midday. A Facebook group has also been set up in support of Hamyd – called ‘Hamyd Mourad est innocent’ – has more than 500 members who believe the teen is in no way connected to the massacre. But the school has not confirmed whether or not Hamyd was in class that day. Headteacher Miguel Rubio declined to comment and told MailOnline: ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you any more because there is an inquiry and so we must wait until the inquiry is closed to speak.’ A map showing the location of the Charlie Hebdo offices - and the town of Charleville-Mazires, on the border of Belgium, 144 miles away . Hamyd, who is still in custody, is believed to be the brother-in-law of one of the suspected terrorists currently on the run from police. According to public records, Hamyd’s sister Izzana - understood to be a nursery school teacher - is married to suspect Cherif Kouachi. Cherif, 32, and his brother Said, 34, are both the subject of a massive manhunt, after allegedly storming the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and killing 12 people. He and his family live on the 13th floor of an apartment block on the outskirts of Charleville-Mezieres, in a neighbourhood known for drug trafficking and vandalism. When MailOnline contacted the family to ask for comment on Hamyd, an angry woman shouted in response: ‘No, no we are not doing interviews.’ @AnyceDz tweeted Hamyd was 'the last person on earth who would support terrorism' However, neighbours in the Ronde Couture estate insisted they were a quiet family who were always friendly. One said: ‘They are a nice family, never a problem. Mourad is a nice boy, he was always polite and very friendly.’ Neighbours who spoke to local newspaper L'Ardennais, described Mourad as a young man 'without history'. They added he was a quiet teenager who was a 'moderate, who had never been about extremists'. Other pupils at the Lycée Monge said he 'would not hurt a fly' and added that the allegations he was involved in the massacre had ruined his name forever. This Twitter user says he is 'a good guy' whose name is being smeared for no reason . And Hamyd's friends say he was ‘a good guy’ and that there was ‘no way’ he was a radicalised Islamist. He is said to have been a popular and well-liked pupil at the school. A male teenager told MailOnline: ‘Mourad was a good guy, a nice kid. ‘We can’t believe what has happened. I think it is crazy to say he was involved with this horrible incident. There is no way he was part of this.’ Another friend, who only gave his name as Edea, added: 'Mourad is innocent, definitely. He is a good guy, a nice guy. We all like him.' Sabine, a teenager who knew Hamyd, openly laughed at the suggestion he was in any way involved with the horrific incident. She said: 'This is stupid. Anyone who knows Mourad knows that he has nothing to do with this. No way, no way. 'He is just a normal boy who likes normal stuff, he is not a terrorist.' People at the local mosque are also not convinced he could be a terrorist. At the Amcca mosque in Charleville-Mezieres, an elderly man who knows the Hamyd family also insisted Mourad was innocent. The man - who refused to give his name - said: 'They are a good family and Mourad is a good boy. Very tranquil and no problem. 'He prayed here before but not recently. I have not seen him recently. He has good character. 'There is no trouble with him at all, he has never had trouble with the police. 'I believe that he is innocent of these claims. This is not something that he is involved with.' | Hamyd handed himself into police after his name was circulated on Twitter . Suspected of being the getaway driver in the Charlie Hebdo massacre . Sister believed to be married to suspect Cherif Kouachi, who is on the run . But classmates claim suspected terrorist was in class at time of the killings . Friends say 18-year-old is 'a good guy' who is not a radicalised Islamist . | 9db636d42a5da56015ffd7d3f510f52a809f0f84 |
Rolf Harris was today linked to Jimmy Savile as it emerged he joined the paedophile on a sick visit to the psychiatric hospital where the DJ habitually abused patients. One of Savile’s victims said Harris ogled vulnerable women as they undressed at Broadmoor in 1973, where the former Top of the Pops star attacked scores of people. Alison Pink remembered the pair suddenly turning up on a women’s ward just as patients were preparing to strip in the corridor and said they were 'birds of a feather'. It came as a video emerged today showing Harris and Savile laughing about how 'we go back a long time' in 1992. The Australian then sketched Savile smoking a trademark cigar, which was sold for £4,500 at a charity auction after his death in 2012. Scroll down for video . New footage: Unseen video reveals how Harris and Savile joked: 'We go back a long time' as Harris drew him in 1992 for his ITV show Rolf's Cartoon Club . Reunion: The interview came almost 20 years after the pair visited Broadmoor together and where a Savile victim said they watched women strip for bed . Artwork: Savile kept hold of the sketch, which was sold for £4,500 after his death in 2012 to raise money for his foundation . New link: Rolf Harris in the grounds of Broadmoor on the same day as Jimmy Savile signing autographs for fans at a fete. One patient told how on the same day the pair had watched vulnerable women undress . Paedophile: Savile abused dozens of women at Broadmoor, where he also had his own set of keys and living quarters . The Broadmoor ex-patient, now called Steven George after a sex change, said: ‘Harris turned up one evening out of the blue. ‘He was being shown around by Savile in an understated way. Normally stars only came if they were there for an official performance but Harris didn’t do one. ‘It . was also unusual because visitors would come at visiting hours, between . 10am and 4pm, but they came in as we were getting ready for bed.’ New pictures reveal that Harris and Savile also signed autographs for children who attended a fete in the grounds. Almost two decades later the pair were reunited by ITV, who filmed them together for Harris' series Rolf's Cartoon Club. Harris had previously appeared on Savile's BBC show Jim'll Fix It. Discussing their careers and how their paths crossed when Harris was a pop star and Savile was on Radio 1 and Top of the Pops they admitted: 'We go back a long time'. Savile smokes a cigar with his tracksuit top unzipped and deliberately confuses Harris with Elvis Presley. Rolf then unveils a sketch, which Savile holds and says: 'I see strong character lines, I see liquid brown eyes and I see the firm jutting chin, all together makes a horrible sight,' and Harris laughs as he says: 'It looks nothing like you.' Twenty years later it was sold after he died in 2012 to raise money for his foundation, at an auction that raised £320,000. Other lots included a glass eye stolen from a corpse, which he then made into a trophy necklace. It is believed to have been worn by the paedophile DJ as he co-presented the final episode of Top of the Pops at BBC Television Centre in 2006, where he also groped a child. 'Birds . of a feather': Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris, pictured appearing . together on Jim'll Fix It, watched women in Broadmoor undress, according . to a former patient . Documented: Harris's visit to the Berkshire hospital in 1973 was mentioned in last week's report on Savile's abuse . Yesterday . Harris, 84, was told he faced an 'inevitable' jail term after he was . found guilty of 12 indecent assaults on four victims between 1968 and . 1986, often in 'plain sight'. 'Jekyll . and Hyde' Harris had used his fame to 'mesmerise' underage fans before . abusing them with impunity and believed his celebrity status made him . believe 'he was above the law', Scotland Yard said. The . Australian star spent 16 years abusing his daughter Bindi's best friend . and got a 'thrill' from attacking her when his own child was feet away. A seven-year-old girl was groped when she asked for his autograph at an event where he performed his hit 'Two Little Boys' for children. Account: A report into Savile's abuse said he had forced Broadmoor patients to strip . Today it emerged that Harris could face fresh charges after more women found the courage to come forward after he was convicted yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions said. While 12 others have already approached lawyers to apply for compensation from his £11million estate. His native Australia has also turned on Harris, where he was viewed as a national treasure. The mayor of Perth in western Australia said the council was considering tearing up a plaque to Harris inlaid in the city's St Georges Terrace, while there is growing pressure for the disgraced entertainer to be stripped of his honours from the Queen. Australian prime minister Tony Abbott said he was 'gutted and dismayed' by the news of the conviction, telling ABC radio: 'I feel gutted and dismayed but it's very important that we do everything we humanly can to protect vulnerable young people. Sexual abuse is an utterly abhorrent crime. 'It's just sad and tragic that this person who was admired seems to have been a perpetrator.' He will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Harris’s visit to Broadmoor hospital in 1973 was mentioned in last week’s report on Savile’s abuse. But police and child protection experts found no evidence of wrongdoing by Harris. The report said Savile forced patients to strip, it stated: ‘We heard convincing accounts of a pattern of inappropriate behaviour surrounding Savile’s attendance on female wards at bath time and bedtime... female patients would be obliged to strip while lined up in corridors. ‘We heard that Savile followed a clear pattern of arriving on a female ward at just before this time. ‘Unchallenged by staff, he would then watch from behind, as the row of female patients undressed.’ Mr George, now 62, first wrote an account of Harris’ Broadmoor visit in his 2012 autobiography 'Heartless'. Guilty: Harris leaves Southwark Crown Court today after he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault . Disgraced: In Australia a plaque laid in his home town near Perth has been defaced and may be pulled up while prime minister Tony Abbott said he was 'gutted and dismayed' by the news Harris was convicted . He was sent to the high-security psychiatric hospital as a teenager after running away from adoptive parents and setting fire to a property. A woman who says she was abused by Rolf Harris wrote to Buckingham Palace to say: 'He ruined my life. You need to know what kind of man you’ve let near the Queen'. The alleged victim said she was attacked by him as a child and was furious when she learned the artist, 84, was to paint Her Majesty in 2005. The note, written anonymously, was handed to the Queen's Royal Protection Group, linked to Scotland Yard, who filed them as evidence. It wasn't until 2012, when Harris was arrested, that they were investigated. Scotland Yard has refused to comment. Top of the Pops host Savile was a frequent volunteer and was given his own keys and living quarters at the hospital. He recalled how Savile took Harris to Lancaster ward, where women who were being punished had to strip in the corridor in front of warders. He told the Mirror: ‘Harris was very famous at the time and had his weekend show. He walked down the passageway of York ward with Savile opening the doors along with a nursing officer. ‘Some of the girls came out and there was an unprompted performance of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. He then went through to the punishment ward. ‘At that time of the evening all the girls on that ward would have been undressed ready for bed. ‘We all had to get completely undressed in the hallway in front of the staff, male and female, to show nothing was being taken into our rooms. ‘I thought it was odd that he was walking through the female wards and not doing a show. It was strange that he arrived at the same time the women were undressing for bed.’ Harris and Savile were pictured together as they signed autographs at a fete in July 1973. | Savile victim says pair arrived on ward as patients prepared to strip for bed . Ex-patient Steven George described duo as 'birds of a feather' Harris's 1973 hospital visit mentioned in last week's report on Savile's abuse . Police say they found no evidence of wrongdoing by Harris at Broadmoor . Video from 1992 reveals how pair admitted: 'We go back a long time' Harris then sketched Savile and the art was later auctioned for £4,500 . | 4ca4fc5a02d716e5b216931f4e15be44116c08a9 |
Allen Lambert, 65, used banned pesticides to kill ten buzzards and a sparrowhawk at the Stody estate near Holt, Norfolk, to protect its pheasants . A judge yesterday warned the rural aristocracy that they must take responsibility for the actions of their employees after a gamekeeper was spared jail for poisoning birds of prey. Allen Lambert, 65, used banned pesticides to kill ten buzzards and a sparrowhawk at the Stody estate near Holt in Norfolk to protect its pheasants. He claimed to have found the bodies in the 4,500-acre grounds and that he was being ‘set up’ by a local men with a grudge against him. But the explanation was dismissed as a ‘fairy story’ by the prosecution and he was found guilty of charges including killing the birds and possessing banned pesticides following a trial at Norwich Magistrates Court last month. The RSPB has described it as ‘the worst case of bird poisoning’ ever detected in England. Lambert faced up to six months behind bars and a £5,000 fine for the death of each bird between October 2012 and April last year but was given a ten-week suspended sentence. Sentencing Lambert at Norwich Magistrates’ Court, district judge Peter Veits said: ‘The only motivation I can see for this is to protect the birds the estate breeds for its shoot. ‘Those who employ gamekeepers have a strict duty to know what is being done in their name and on their property.’ Lambert had worked on the estate for 24 years and was originally employed by Ian MacNicol, who was president of the Country Land and Business Association from 1997 to 1999. The father-of-four died in 2006 and his family still own the estate. Lambert was caught after a member of public found the decomposing bodies of four buzzards and contacted police. John Hughes, defending, said his client had been verbally promised a home for life in the grounds but had been ordered to leave as a result of his arrest. Lambert, pictured leaving court, faced up to six months behind bars and a £5,000 fine for the death of each bird but was given a ten-week suspended sentence . Animal rights activists held placards as they waited outside Norwich Magistrates' Court for Lambert . Lambert was given a ten-week jail sentence suspended for a year. He was found guilty of charges including killing the birds and possessing banned pesticides. He admitted inappropriately storing a rifle. Lambert, who retired around the same time, refused to comment yesterday. The estate also declined to discuss the case. Detective Constable Richard Moden, of Norfolk Police, said: ‘Lambert has shown a total disregard for the laws surround the protection of wildlife.’ The RSPB released this photo, which nine of the buzzards which were killed by Lambert on the estate . The charity also released an image from the investigation showing dead raptors on the Stody Estate . | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Allen Lambert killed ten buzzards at estate near Holt to protect its pheasants . RSPB described it as 'the worst case of bird poisoning' detected in England . Judge said rural aristocracy must take responsibility for employees' actions . Gamekeeper, 65, was given a ten-week sentence, suspended for a year . | 2015ee1699ec897b48e641ef278ba82eb7b88cbf |
(CNN) -- Two months after a nationwide manhunt helped authorities track down kidnapped California teen Hannah Anderson, she's revealing new details about her conversations with the man who allegedly held her hostage and killed her mother and brother. In an interview with NBC's "Today" show broadcast Thursday morning, Anderson described the moment she says she realized family friend James DiMaggio was kidnapping her in early August. He had just picked her up from cheerleading practice and took her to his home about an hour east of San Diego -- apparently, she said she'd eventually learn, with her mom and brother hidden somewhere inside. Anderson says DiMaggio sat her down on a couch, handcuffed her, zip-tied her feet and revealed his plan to kidnap her and drive her to Idaho. The day quickly took an even darker turn, Anderson said, when DiMaggio encouraged her to play Russian roulette with him, using a real gun. "When it was my turn, I started crying and, like, was freaking out," Anderson said. "And he said, 'Do you want to play?' And I said, 'No,' and I started crying, and he's like, 'OK,' and he stopped." Anderson said DiMaggio told her that her mother, Christina Anderson, 42, and her brother Ethan, 8, were elsewhere in the house, alive. Anderson, 16, said that she could hear Ethan. "I heard him trying to yell upstairs, but he was gagged, so I couldn't do anything to help him," Anderson said. "I was yelling his name. I couldn't do anything." She said after about two to three hours, DiMaggio drugged her -- with Ambien, she thinks -- and when she woke up, she found herself in Idaho with him. That's when he told her, she said, that her mother and Ethan still were in the house's garage, and that he had set a timer that would ignite a fire at the home, many hours after DiMaggio and Anderson had left. DiMaggio told her that he had left signs that would indicate to responding firefighters -- before the fire reached the garage -- where Christina Anderson and Ethan were, Hannah Anderson told "Today." Authorities would eventually find the remains of Christina Anderson in the burned garage and Ethan's body in another part of the home. Christina Anderson was struck at least 12 times in the head; her right arm and both legs were fractured, and she had a cut on her neck, an autopsy revealed. The woman's ankles were bound by a plastic cable tie, and duct tape was wrapped around her neck and mouth, her autopsy report said. Ethan was burned beyond recognition. It was believed, according to the autopsy, that the boy died because of the fire. After evading authorities for a week, horseback riders spotted DiMaggio and Hannah Anderson in the Idaho wilderness, nearly 1,000 miles from where the alleged kidnapping occurred. Anderson said DiMaggio told her he'd kill the riders if she spoke to them. DiMaggio spoke to them, and they left, she said. But those riders, feeling something was amiss and learning that an Amber Alert had been issued, contacted authorities. When law enforcement teams closed in on the two August 10, DiMaggio was shot dead by an FBI agent and Anderson was taken to a hospital. Recalling the moments before the shooting, Anderson told "Today" that she and DiMaggio were by a fire, which she said he'd set in an effort to signal for help. She didn't say why he was trying to signal for assistance. She said she told him that she'd read in a book that firing a gun three times in the air also was a signal for help. So, she said, Anderson fired a gun once in the air, and then a second time -- but with a lowered aim. "Then a bunch of guns went off. I looked and he fell on the ground," she said. "I kind of looked over, and I was like, 'Are you OK?' And then a bunch of, like, the FBI people came out, telling me to get down." Anderson said she was told the next day, in the hospital, that her mother, her brother and DiMaggio were dead. With tears, Anderson said she greatly missed her mother and brother. "Sometimes it's like I wait for them to get home, and then they're not there," she said. The nationwide manhunt for DiMaggio drew widespread attention and sparked intense speculation about the case. Now, the author of a new book is criticizing the teen's behavior and claiming there are inconsistencies in her story, CNN affiliate KGTV reported. An Anderson family spokeswoman told CNN the family has no comment on the book. Addressing letters between Anderson and DiMaggio that authorities found in his burned home, Anderson told "Today" that she had been writing to DiMaggio, a family friend, because her mother and father had split up. "Me and my mom really didn't get along a year ago, so when I was having problems with her and I wouldn't have really anyone to talk about it with, me and him, instead of talking face to face if we didn't have time ... we'd just write letters back and forth, talking about, like, the situation and how to get through it," she said. Her father, Brett Anderson, told "Today" that he and his daughter are working through the ordeal. "We're getting help and talking with each other and trying to be strong (and) moving forward," he said. CNN's Faith Karimi contributed to this report. | Hannah Anderson: I heard my brother trying to scream in DiMaggio's house . Anderson says James DiMaggio tried to make her play Russian roulette with a real gun . Her mother and brother were found dead in DiMaggio's burned home . The California teen was found after a week-long manhunt for her alleged captor . | fcb2a19d391da67c1dd490fdf2a0b52fea612d52 |
Describing it as a "day that has been a long time coming," President Barack Obama made modern history Monday by announcing the creation of a monument to honor the late labor and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. The Cesar E. Chavez National Monument becomes the 398th unit in the National Park Service system, and the first honoring a Latino born later than the 1700s, the Park Service told CNN. It's no coincidence the move comes less than a month before Election Day, as the president maintains a strong lead among Latinos. A big turnout among Latino supporters in states where the race is close could help Obama win re-election against GOP challenger Mitt Romney. Opinion: Obama hits a foul by honoring Cesar Chavez . The president spoke at a ceremony in Keene, California, on land known as Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz, where, from the 1970s until the early '90s, Chavez lived and led his farm worker movement. Decades ago, Obama said, when Chavez began his farm worker movement, "no one seemed to care about the invisible farm workers who picked the nation's food -- bent down in the beating sun, living in poverty, cheated by growers, abandoned in old age, unable to demand even the most basic rights." "Cesar cared," the president said. "In his own peaceful and eloquent way he made other people care too." Chavez's organized labor marches and other protests, including a boycott of table grapes, led to "some of the first farm worker contracts in history," Obama said. "Let us honor his memory, but most importantly let us live up to his example." Chavez's movement "was sustained by a generation of organizers who stood up and spoke out and urged others to do the same," Obama said. Chavez, Obama said, believed that "when someone who works 12 hours a day in the fields can earn enough to put food on the table -- maybe save up enough to buy a home -- that lifts up our entire economy." Obama acknowledged that there's still "more work to do" and "the recession we're fighting our way back from is still taking a toll -- especially in Latino communities which already faced high unemployment and poverty rates." Earlier Monday, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 30 Latino organizations, lauded the move. Chavez, who died in 1993, embodied the principle "that individuals can accomplish more as a community than they ever could on their own," said Hector E. Sanchez, executive director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, in a statement put out by the leadership agenda. The monument includes 120 acres, National Park Service spokesman David Barna said. Obama's order puts property under federal protection that includes a visitor's center, the United Farm Workers' legal aid offices, Chavez's home with his wife, Helen, a memorial garden containing his grave, and other buildings, the White House said. Barna said no sculpture is planned. The monument, in the Tehachapi Mountains, is the fourth designated by Obama under the Antiquities Act. Obama's decision to set aside the land as a national monument also sends a political message to environmentalists -- a key group of voters, as many strongly supported him in 2008. The League of Conservation Voters, which endorsed Obama in 2008 and for his current White House run, has not always been happy with the president's environmental record. As debate raged in 2011 over air quality regulations and proposed construction of a transcontinental oil pipeline, LCV President Gene Karpinski said the administration had been "caving" to industry. LCV spokesman Jeff Gohringer said Monday that establishing the Chavez monument stands as "further proof of President Obama's commitment to our special places across the country and we hope he continues to use that authority." César Chávez an inspiration to president's campaign slogan and movements . The Chavez family donated certain properties to the federal government so that the monument could be created. Beginning Tuesday, the Park Service will take steps to prepare it as an official site, Barna said. It will become "one of those places that everyone should visit," he said, "part of our shared cultural heritage." The land includes property that was once Chavez's home, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called him "one of the heroes of the 20th century." Paul F. Chavez, president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, said at the time, "For my father, La Paz was a personal refuge from bitter struggles in agricultural valleys and big cities, a spiritual harbor where he recharged batteries, drew fresh inspiration and prepared for the battles ahead. It was a place where many dedicated people spent years of their lives working with Cesar Chavez for social justice, inspiring generations of Americans from all walks of life who never worked on a farm to social and political activism." Ruben Navarrette, a CNN.com contributor, wrote a column last year noting that many sites around the country are named for Chavez, and suggesting that that "campaign" may have run its course. Still, he wrote, Chavez "was a great American who helped bring fairness and dignity to the fields and the workers who toil there. Before Chavez and the union came along, there were no collective bargaining rights for farm workers, no toilets or clean drinking water in the fields, and little public awareness about pesticides and other dangers that workers must endure to put fruits and vegetables on our table. He helped change all that." | Obama honors farm workers' champion Cesar Chavez . The 120-acre monument the first to recognize a Latino born after the 1700s . Event comes as Obama, Romney battle for Latino votes . Chavez pushed to create farmers' union, brought attention to plight of farm workers . | 965e6cc0917ee807619949e59b873adff4d33eaa |
By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 12:01 EST, 23 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:01 EST, 24 August 2012 . Criminal: Laurence Kilby, member of the 13-strong gang of cocaine dealers, lived the high life on the proceeds of drug smuggling . A socialite who led a double life as the ringleader of a drug-smuggling gang was sentenced to 18 years in prison yesterday. Laurence Kilby is the former son- in-law of Lord Vestey, a close friend of the Queen and one of the Royal Family’s top serving officers. His conviction will come as a shock to the family of Lord Vestey, whose friendship with the Queen is so close that he holds the ceremonial title of the Royal Family’s Master of the Horse. Bristol Crown Court heard how Kilby boasted about his high society connections as he led a playboy lifestyle, indulging in fast cars. But despite his privileged background, police said that it was the proceeds of crime that funded his lavish lifestyle. They described Kilby as the ‘main man’ in the international gang that smuggled more than £3million of cocaine into the UK. Kilby, who owns a motor racing business, entered the social elite when he married Flora Vestey, daughter of beef baron Lord Vestey. The Vestey family owns a 6,000-acre estate in Gloucestershire and Lord Vestey is the former chairman of Cheltenham racecourse. But the marriage was short-lived, as the couple separated in 2010 after barely two years together. Kilby, of Cheltenham, was yesterday jailed for conspiracy to supply cocaine alongside three other criminals. Another three gang members were jailed earlier this year. The 40-year-old was also charged with stealing money from the armed services charity, Help for Heroes. Kilby pleaded guilty to defrauding the charity of between £3,000 and £4,000, and received a ten-month sentence to run concurrently. Detective Inspector Steve Bean, of Gloucestershire Police, said: ‘He portrayed himself as a well-connected socialite and businessman, whilst indulging his ambition as a minor league racing driver. Despite a privileged background, the reality was that his lifestyle was funded by the ill-gotten gains of drug-dealing.’ He added: ‘He displayed an air of arrogance and thought he could get away with it because he didn’t get his hands dirty.’ Seized: Cocaine which was found by Avon and Somerset Serious Crime Group which worked closely with Gloucestershire police to stop the gang supplying cocaine across the South West . Stashed: A secret compartment inside of a van where cocaine was found . Packaged and sealed: The gang smuggled more than £3 million-worth of cocaine . The gang operated a sophisticated network that saw cocaine shipped from Heathrow Airport to Gloucestershire and Bristol. A police surveillance operation was launched in September 2010 as they began to infiltrate the gang’s activities. The undercover sting culminated in a . day of raids in July last year when more than 100 officers swooped on . addresses in Cheltenham, Bristol and London. Police seized cocaine with a . street value of more than £1million. Addressing Kilby, Judge Martin Picton said: ‘You are at the heart of the conspiracy. You made the arrangements. ‘You attempted to make sure you kept . your hands clean and you made sure you could not be found in . possession of the drugs. You made sure others took the risks. ‘You have made a complete mess of your life, both financially and personally.’ | Aspiring racing driver Laurence Kilby lived like a millionaire playboy . Kilby turned to crime to maintain lifestyle of fast cars and high living . He also defrauded Help for Heroes charity of over £3,000 . Gang of 13 smuggled more than £3m worth of cocaine from London to South West and Wales . | 0e95566b3fc829ce5113766ec98ca14b500c09e9 |
By . Associated Press . Same-sex marriage is one step closer to being legal in North Carolina. And for one elderly couple, time is of the essence. Ellen 'Lennie' Gerber and Pearl Berlin of High Point are lead plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the Tar Heel State's gay-marriage ban. They've been together 48 years. At 89 and in fragile health, Berlin doesn't know how much longer she can wait. The retired educator has been hospitalized several times in the past two years, including for a fall in December that broke three ribs. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Fighting for marriage rights: Lennie Gerber (left) and her spouse, Pearl Berlin, who have been together 48 years and legally married in Maine in 2013, have a federal challenge pending against North Carolina's constitutional amendment banning gay marriage . Commitment: Roman numerals indicate the date, June 2, 1966, that Gerber and Berlin consider the true anniversary of their relationship. The couple are suing to have the state of North Carolina recognize their marriage . Fragile health: Pearl Berlin (right) has endured three hospital stays in two years and her spouse Lennie Gerber fears being denied spousal rights if something happens to her . On the summer night Gerber and Berlin committed to spending their lives together, the No. 1 song was 'When A Man Loves A Woman.' Lyndon B. Johnson was president. NASA had just landed the first unmanned probe on the moon. 'We're . still in love, after 48 years,' Gerber, better known as Lennie, said . recently. 'We still can't begin the day without a good cuddle.' June . 2, 1966, is engraved in Roman numerals on the identical gold bands the . women exchanged during a religious wedding at their Greensboro synagogue . last year on the anniversary of that long-ago night. They followed . three months later with a civil ceremony in Maine. But under North Carolina law, they might as well be strangers. That's . why Gerber and Berlin are the lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging . the state's voter-approved constitutional amendment banning legal . recognition of same-sex relationships. 'They can see that in us, that being . gay or lesbian is just the same as being straight,' Gerber said. 'You . just love somebody of your own sex. Otherwise, there's no difference. ... We want to be recognized for what we are — a married couple.' Last . month, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals — with jurisdiction over five . states, including North Carolina — struck down Virginia's same-sex . marriage ban. On Wednesday, the appellate panel refused to delay its . ruling, possibly clearing the way for gay marriages to begin next week . in the Old Dominion. North . Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has said it would be 'futile' to . continue defending his state's similar law. Republican Governor Pat . McCrory and GOP legislative leaders urged Cooper, a Democrat, to . continue the fight, but gave no indication they will defend the ban . themselves. There are real-world worries that come with being gay and growing older. And time is not on the High Point couple's side. Berlin, . 89, fell down some stairs before Christmas, hitting her head, breaking . three ribs and enduring her third hospital stay in two years. Longtime loves: This 1978 photo provided by Pearl Berlin (left) and Lennie Gerber shows the couple at Badin Lake, in North Carolina . 'You were supposed to pretend': Gerber says people wanted the couple (pictured in 1967) to hide their relationship . Married: Pictures from their wedding on June 2, 2013, in Greensboro, North Carolina, adorn the dining room wall in Pearl Berlin and Lennie Gerber's home, in High Point, North Carolina. The couple have a federal lawsuit pending to make gay marriage legal in their home state . Happy home: Pearl Berlin (right) and her spouse, Lennie Gerber, react to a visitor's story at their home in High Point . Gerber, a 78-year-old retired lawyer, . long ago drafted Berlin's health-care power of attorney. But a piece of . paper is no guarantee hospital staff would immediately afford her the . same spousal rights that would be automatic if she were married to a . man. 'It's very scary, that . something could happen to Pearl and I could be kept from her,' Gerber . said. 'They might not let me in the emergency room with her. They might . not let me help make decisions. ... It would be just horrendous if I . wasn't able to be there with her, holding her hand. I would die if I . couldn't do that.' Since . the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key section of the federal Defense . of Marriage Act last year, same-sex marriage proponents around the . country won nearly two dozen legal victories. Such marriages are now . allowed in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Legal . experts predict North Carolina's first same-sex marriage licenses could . be issued within months, depending on the legal process. But . Gerber and Berlin worry they might not have much time. Their lawyers . plan to file a brief asking a federal judge in Greensboro to grant . immediate recognition to same-sex marriages. 'Marriage . is a statement that you make in front of your family, your friends, . your community. It has a meaning that tells the world who you are. It's a . very fundamental part of someone's identity,' Gerber said. The walls of the home they built in . High Point are covered with art and photos from their adventures. They . visited all seven continents, even mingling with penguins on an . Antarctic ice shelf. Berlin is a perfectionist. Gerber admits she's something of a slob. They . met in 1964, when Gerber visited a friend in Detroit who invited Berlin . for brunch. Berlin taught at Wayne State University. Gerber was headed . to graduate school at the University of Southern California. It . wasn't love at first sight, but they had a lot in common. They both . taught physical education. They were both 'nice Jewish girls from . Brooklyn.' They'd never had much interest in boys. Ducks in a row: Two female ducks are depicted on the ketubah hanging in the sunroom in Lennie Gerber and Pearl Berlin's home. The traditional Jewish document commemorates their religious union, but the gay couple are fighting to get that same legal recognition from their adopted state . Proud: Lennie Gerber walks near the Gay Pride magnets and bumper stickers that decorate the refrigerator at her home . Lifelong civil rights struggle: Lennie Gerber (right) hands a cup of coffee to her spouse, Pearl Berlin, in the kitchen of their High Point, N.C., home. Berlin is 89, and in fragile health, so their fight to overturn North Carolina's gay marriage ban has taken on an urgency . Stepping up: Their suit is one of four challenging the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage . 'I . had a crush on every female camp counselor I ever had. On every Girl . Scout leader. On a couple of my teachers,' Gerber said. 'I came home . from my first summer where I was at camp for a month, and I wrote, "I . love Sandy," on every page of my diary.' Over . the next two years, with frequent calls and visits, their friendship . evolved into love. Gerber landed a job at Berlin's college. On the long drive moving Gerber to . Michigan, they stopped at a motel. Conversation turned to where Gerber . would live. That night, they decided to move in together. They . didn't tell their families they were a couple, but didn't hide it. They . lived in a one-bedroom apartment. Gerber's mother offered to buy a . second bed. They declined. She started buying Berlin pajamas. 'She . said, "We will never condone this,"' Gerber recounted. 'But she got to . the point where she could laugh when I said, "But Mother. You always . said all you cared about was that I marry a Jew, and I did."' Berlin . had inadvertently outed herself years earlier, mistakenly sending her . mother a love letter she had written to a woman. Her mother called. 'And . she says, "Pearl, I just want to tell you something. I just finished . reading today's mail, and I just read your letter to Marian. It was very . well written. I know you did not intend it for me. I want you to know . your father will never see it and never hear a word about it."' A lifetime of love: A personalized picture book sits on the dining room table in Lennie Gerber and Pearl Berlin's home. The couple were married in Maine last year, but they want their home state to legally recognize their love . The brides: A magazine cover depicting two women walking down the marriage aisle sits on the floor in Lennie Gerber and Pearl Berlin's home . Tireless work: The faces of Lennie Gerber, left, and Pearl Berlin stare out from an award on a shelf in their High Point . Eventually, even Berlin's father accepted their relationship, telling Gerber: 'Lennie. If you were a man, this would all be perfect,' Gerber recounted. Berlin moved to a college in Massachusetts, and Gerber got work there too. Then, in 1971, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro asked Berlin to run a new doctoral program. Gerber said school administrators made it clear they would never hire her. 'They said we were "too open,"' Gerber said. 'You were supposed to pretend.' So Gerber went to law school and became a legal aid lawyer. Later, she helped gay and lesbian couples draft wills, powers of attorney and fill out tax returns. Still, no legal document can provide the same protections as a marriage certificate. Gerber recounts cases where relatives fought deceased people's gay partners over their estates, or excluded them from funerals. While that isn't a concern for Gerber, she worries Berlin's death certificate will list her marital status as single. 'I think anybody who had lost a spouse would be devastated if somebody said, "Eh, this isn't your spouse."' Berlin chuckles at talk of her demise. She already has picked the font for invitations to their golden anniversary party — on June 2, 2016. | Ellen 'Lennie' Gerber, 78, and Pearl Berlin, 89, are lead plaintiff in a federal suit against North Carolina's gay marriage ban . They have been together for 48 years . They married in a civil ceremony in Maine last year but want their state to recognize their union . Last . month, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals - with jurisdiction over five . states, including North Carolina - struck down Virginia's same-sex . marriage ban . On Wednesday, the appellate panel refused to delay its . ruling, possibly clearing the way for gay marriages to begin next week . | c530ed8dd8c862a3536fed9b14739736b4de79a8 |
(CNN) -- In the golf world, springtime means only one thing: the Masters. The opening major of the season is one of sport's great spectacles, as the best golfers pit their wits against each other and the unique challenges of the Augusta National Golf Club. Despite being the youngest of the major tournaments -- it was co-founded by the legendary Bobby Jones in 1934 -- the Masters is arguably the most revered of all four. The 365 acres of Augusta National seem to throw up drama on an annual basis -- see the above gallery for some of the tournament's greatest moments. Follow CNN's Living Golf team on Twitter . Last year was no different as South Africa's Charl Schwartzel claimed his first Green Jacket, but the tournament will be remembered for Rory McIIroy's capitulation on the back nine on Sunday. He started the final round four shots clear, but walked off the 18th green having carded an 80 to slip into a tie for 15th. "It was a huge learning experience. I took a lot from it and took some of the things and put them into practice very quickly," the Northern Irishman said Tuesday. "The first time I played the back nine last week, I had these memories that come back and memories you don't want. That's fine. I got them out of the way." With Tiger Woods back in form and installed as favorite to claim a fifth title, the 76th edition of the Masters is poised to add another thrilling chapter to the history books. | The Masters Tournament is the opening major of the golfing year . Played annually at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia . Tournament co-founded by Bobby Jones is one of sport's great spectacles . | 56f0ae846c0775883fc538d65cf6b9071178c3c6 |
Nearly everyone agrees that texting and driving is dangerous. Most people do it anyway. In a new survey, 98per cent of motorists who own cellphones and text regularly said they were aware of the dangers, yet three-quarters of them admitted to texting while driving, despite laws against it in some states. Two-thirds said they have read text messages while stopped at a red light or stop sign, while more than a quarter said they have sent texts while driving. More than a quarter of the texting drivers believed they 'can easily do several things at once, even while driving.' Eyes off the road: In a new survey, 98per cent of motorists who own cellphones and text regularly were aware of the dangers, yet three-quarters of them admit to texting while driving . The telephone survey of 1,004 U.S. adults was released Wednesday by AT&T Inc. as part of an anti-texting-and-driving campaign. AT&T designed the survey with David Greenfield, founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and a professor at the University of Connecticut's School of Medicine. The survey came as AT&T expanded availability of a free app that silences text message alerts and activates automatically when a person is moving 15 miles per hour or faster. (Passengers can turn it off.) The DriveMode app is coming to iPhones after being previously available on Android and BlackBerry phones for AT&T users only. The iPhone version will be available to customers of competing carriers as well, but some functions will work only on AT&T devices. The study in May was of cellphone owners ages 16 to 65 who drive almost every day and text at least once a day. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Researchers conducted surveys with people on their cellphones, and it's possible those who would have picked up on a landline might have different attitudes. Greenfield said the survey is the latest to show a discrepancy between people's attitudes and behaviors. It found a broad range of reasons why drivers text. Forty-three percent of the texting drivers said they want to 'stay connected' to friends, family and work. Nearly a third did it out of habit. Lesson learned: Reggie Shaw was 19 in 2006 when he caused a car accident while texting, killing two people . Among other reasons for texting and driving: . Reggie Shaw was 19 in 2006 when he caused a car accident while texting, killing two people. Today, he speaks out against texting and driving. 'It's something I struggle with every day,' he said. 'I know that I need to go out and talk to others about it. I don't want others to make the same mistake I did.' Shaw does not remember what he was texting about right before the accident. Back then, he said, 'being on my phone when I drove was something I did all the time. It was just driving to me. I guess you'd call it ignorance but I never understood that it was dangerous. How could me being on the phone cause a car accident?' Today, his phone is off when he's driving. Never in the past eight years since the accident, he says, has he gotten a phone call or text message that was so important that it couldn't wait until he stopped the car. Greenfield, who studies the effects of digital technology on the brain, likes to call smartphones 'the world's smallest slot machines' because they affect the brain in similar ways that gambling or drugs can. Dopamine levels increase as you anticipate messages, and that leads to higher levels of pleasure. Getting desirable messages can increase dopamine levels further. While all distractions can be dangerous, much of the focus has been on texting and driving, Greenfield said, because 'it's ongoing and because there is an anticipatory aspect to it.' Greenfield said people should not use their phone at all while driving, but acknowledges that this might not be realistic. Apps, public education and laws that ban texting and driving, he said, will all help change people's behavior, just as anti-drunken-driving laws and public education campaigns have reduced drunken driving over the past few decades. | In a new survey by AT&T Inc. 98per cent of motorists who own cellphones and text regularly said they were aware of the dangers . Three-quarters of them admitted to texting while driving . Twenty-eight percent said they are worried about missing out of something important if they don't check their phones right away. More than a quarter believes that their driving performance is not affected by texting, and just as many people said they believe that others expect them to respond to texts 'right away.' Just six percent answered that they are 'addicted to texting,' although 14per cent admitted that they are 'anxious' if they don't respond to a text right away, and 17per cent feel 'a sense of satisfaction' when they can read or respond to a text message. | d62ecdecf805a1a53426421c7fdd127bf8a663eb |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:53 EST, 14 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:23 EST, 15 February 2014 . The specially-engineered skinsuits made for the U.S. speedskating team have been dropped after being blamed for the team's poor performance during the first week of the Winter Olympics. The Under Armour suits, made specifically for each member of the team, will be dropped and the team will return to their old kit after complaining that the design was ruining their medal chances. No U.S. skater has finished higher than seventh in six of the 12 Olympic events so far in Sochi, despite the speedskaters dominating competitions in the run up to the Games. Unsuitable: The uniforms worn by the U.S. speedskating team are largely being blamed for their poor performance. Here Canadian skater Charles Hamelin (front) takes Gold while America trails behind . Crash: U.S. team member Eduardo Alvarez (left) crashes out of the 5000m short track speedskating relay, as Freek Van Der Wart (right) of the Netherlands overtakes . Kelly Gunther of the United States competes during the Women's 1000m Speed Skating event on day 6 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Adler Arena Skating Center on February 13, 2014 in Sochi, Russia . The International Olympic Committee has agreed to allow the Americans to switch to their old kit, as long as it had been approved at the start of the season. Under Olympic rules every member of the team must be wearing the same type of kit. Skaters had complained that vents on the backs of the suits were letting air in, which was affecting their performance. The high-tech suits, developed in relation with aerospace and . defense giant Lockheed Martin, were touted as the 'fastest speedskating . suit in the world'. Because they were only recently completed, the team didn't get to try the Mach 39 suits in the competitive arena until the start of the Games. U.S. Speedskating executive director Ted Morris told the Wall Street Journal the team had been divided about the suits. 'The . general feeling from the athletes, it's pretty darn close to 50-50,' Morris said on Friday, one day before the team agreed to switch back to . the old outfits. Netherlands' Irene Wust and US Brittany Bowe (L) compete during the Women's Speed Skating 1000 m at the Adler Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 13 . The new ones had been exclusively . designed for the U.S. team. Under Armour scientists had visited their training facility in Salt Lake City and used a 3D image scanner to . capture highly accurate digital measurements of the athletes from every . angle. The final design featured strategically-placed polyurethane strips on the forearms, calves and forehead to reduce drag by breaking up the airflow, just like the dimples on a golf ball. On the inside of the thighs, patches of ArmourGlide are said to reduce friction by 65 percent. Among the U.S. athletes to under-perform is female star Heather Richardson, who has admitted to making alterations to her suit. 'They . did adjust one part on the back, but it was just putting rubber over . the mesh there,' she said after a hugely disappointing performance in . the 1,000, a race she dominated during the World Cup season.'It had no . effect, really.' Similarly, Shani Davis was a two-time Olympic champion in the men's 1,000 and looking to become the first male speedskater to win the same event at three straight games. His eighth-place showing Wednesday was the first indication that something might be seriously wrong with the U.S. team's preparation. US Shani Davis competes in the the Men's Speed Skating 1000 m at the Adler Arena during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 12, 2014 . 'I'm honestly being as optimistic as I can possibly be,' he said. 'I'm . just staying focused on the 1,500-meter race. Suit or no suit, I've got . to go out there and try to win. That's what I'm going to do.' Despite the switch, both the coaches and Under Armour have defended the suits and what they are capable of. 'The . evidence does not suggest that the suits have contributed to the . disappointing results to date,' USA Speed Skating Executive Director Ted . Morris said in a statement that was emailed to CBS News. 'However, there are many factors that determine Olympic success and we are constantly making adjustments to improve results.' Under Armour also provided a statement from Kevin Haley, the Senior Vice President of Innovation. 'While a multitude of factors ultimately determine on-ice success, many skaters have posted personal-best sea-level heat times, split times or race times this week, and we're rooting for that to translate into medals over these next couple of days,' he said. Coach Kip Carpenter had scoffed at the notion that the suits are the only reason for the American struggles. 'The human factor is by far the largest piece out there,' he said. 'There's not an athlete out there who is slowing down a second per lap because of the suit they're in. 'Anyone who thinks that doesn't know speed skating. What is it: a parachute on their back? There are guys out there in low-technology suits. 'The Germans are out there ... in mostly Lycra suits with some rubber, and they're wiping us all over the place.' American skater Joey Mantia, who finished 15th in the 1,000m and who will also race in the 1,500m with Davis, said the disappointing results had soured the mood in the camp with six events remaining. 'We are all a little down right now,' said the former inline skater. 'We could make a list of everything that's wrong, it could be the suits, could be the food, we don't know.' | No U.S. skater has finished higher than seventh after six Olympic events . New skinsuits, created by Lockheed Martin, were finished right before the Games, leaving little time to adjust to them . Team to revert to old kit also manufactured for them by Under Armour . | 96192954cb9b89da69ed7c985a6953f81ea08907 |
(CNN) -- You know it will happen someday: Zombies are chasing you down the street, groaning for your blood. You've been holed up for a week, and there's spotty cell service. It sure would be handy to request an emergency ammo drop from the black-helicopter guys. No? OK, maybe there's a major blizzard. The power in your part of town goes out for days. Your landline is knocked out too. But there's still a faint cell signal from a couple of miles away. It would be no trouble to traverse that distance if there weren't eight feet of snow piled outside your door. You're running out of food and firewood. How do you call for a rescue? So maybe the zombie apocalypse thing is a wee bit unlikely. But for emergencies, it still helps to have a simple, small, hardy backup phone that can make calls, send or receive text messages, and hold a charge for a very, very long time. Yes, wireless networks often go down during disasters, but they also can come back online (at least in spots) before power has been restored to buildings. Or sometimes, voice service goes down, but text messages will still work. (During Hurricane Katrina, text messaging saved lives and was a key coordination tool for NOLA.com, according to Online Journalism Review.) Or sometimes, wireless carriers or emergency personnel can set up temporary emergency cell towers within a few days. But the battery on your regular cell phone may not hold a charge that long. So your nasty neighbor who won't share his drinking water might be chatting away to his daughter in Seattle while you're kicking yourself for not powering down your phone two days before. A low-end, energy-efficient backup phone also can come in handy during smaller-scale emergencies -- if your car breaks down or if you just can't find your regular phone anywhere. On the August 14 Engadget Mobile podcast (time stamp 50:35), co-host Myriam Joire (aka Tnkgrl) recommends the Motorola Motofone F3 as her preferred "zombie apocalypse survival phone." This handset was designed primarily for users in the developing world, where access to cell signals and electricity can be very unreliable. It's available in the U.S. from many online retailers, in the $20 to $25 price range for an unlocked version -- one that operates on multiple wireless networks. This makes it an affordable part of anyone's emergency preparedness kit. Joire's co-host Chris Zeigler advised Engadget podcast listeners, "Instead of spending $20 on a pizza tonight, go buy this phone." Joire noted, "It's very refreshing to have a phone in your car that can only do three things: make calls, do text messages and set alarms. That's it! And the text messages are all lower case." The Motofone F3 is a very thin (about 9mm thick) candy bar-style phone with a small e-ink display -- a technology with extremely low power requirements, since it mostly draws power only when the screen changes. The handset weighs just 68 grams (2.4 ounces). The charger is also very small. Joire especially likes this phone's voice-prompting feature: "When you plug in a SIM card, it tells you to pick from three languages. When you pick a language, it asks you whether you'd like voice prompting. You should say yes, because then, for pretty much everything you do, you'll get walked through by voice. That's helpful because this visual interface is very minimal. The segmented OLED display is mainly just icons baked into the e-ink, hard to interpret." According to Joire, the phone's lithium ion battery "lasts for a month or more on standby, with something like 200 hours of talk time." A 2007 GearDiary review of this phone reported the battery life as about two weeks. Neither estimate had been confirmed. Joire was planning to take her "zombie apocalypse" phone to the Burning Man gathering (August 30-September 6 in the Nevada desert). While there's no official cell service in remote Black Rock City, some attendees may set up ad-hoc wireless networks. (Last year, a cell tower installed on private land near the festival proved highly controversial.) Joire tweets at Twitter/tnkgrl, and you can tweet via text message, so it's possible she may tweet from Burning Man via her F3. Also, she plans to blog about her zombie apocalypse phone when she returns. Whichever phone you choose as your emergency backup, get it ready to go. Put a SIM card in it -- and if prepaid, top it off with enough credit to cover lots of talking and texting. When you first charge it, condition the battery by letting it drain completely, then recharge it completely. Make sure you top off the charge at least weekly. Store the phone with its charger in an easily accessible place, and maybe put some reflective tape on it so you can find it better with a flashlight. Consult local, state and federal emergency preparedness agencies to find out which numbers you should program into the phone, for both calls and texting. Also, program in numbers for your family communication plan. And of course, program in the numbers of your zombie apocalypse phone tree. Better to give them a head start early than a head shot later. | A low-end, energy-efficient backup phone can come in handy during emergencies . Expert says Motorola Motofone F3 is her preferred "zombie apocalypse survival phone" Store the phone with its charger in an easily accessible place, or maybe in your car . | 12ba5e295c4afe1e7fd860d975ad93f0ca385d58 |
By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 5 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:52 EST, 6 March 2013 . It reveals an incredible story of water moving around the globe - from freshwater gushing from the Amazon River's mouth to an invisible seam dividing the salty Arabian Sea from the fresher waters of the Bay of Bengal. The amazing image below was created from the first full year of surface salinity data captured by NASA's Aquarius spacecraft. The groundbreaking maps are helping experts find out exactly how the Earth's oceans operate - and if they are changing. Scroll down to see an animated version of the image . Red colours represent areas of high salinity, while blue shades represent areas of low salinity, and the data from Nasa's spacecraft covers the period from Dec. 2011 through Dec. 2012 . Launched June 10, 2011, Aquarius is NASA's first satellite instrument specifically . built to study the salt content of ocean surface waters. The salinity sensor detects the . microwave emissivity of the top approximately 1 inch (1 to 2 . centimeters) of ocean water - a physical property that varies depending . on temperature and saltiness. The instrument collects data in . 240-mile-wide (386 kilometers) swaths in an orbit designed to obtain a . complete survey of global salinity of ice-free oceans every seven days. 'With a bit more than a year of data, we are seeing some surprising patterns, especially in the tropics,' said Aquarius Principal Investigator Gary Lagerloef, of Earth & Space Research in Seattle. 'We see features evolve rapidly over time.' Researchers say one of the features . that stands out most clearly is a large patch of highly saline water . across the North Atlantic. This area, the saltiest anywhere in . the open ocean, is analogous to deserts on land, where little rainfall . and a lot of evaporation occur. A NASA-funded expedition, the . Salinity Processes in the Upper ocean Regional Study (SPURS), traveled . to the North Atlantic's saltiest spot last year to analyze the causes . behind this high salt concentration and to validate Aquarius . measurements. 'My conclusion after five weeks out . at sea and analyzing five weekly maps of salinity from Aquarius while we . were there was that indeed, the patterns of salinity variation seen . from Aquarius and by the ship were similar,' said Eric Lindstrom, NASA's . physical oceanography program scientist. It is hoped the mission could provide data for several years. An earlier global map of the salinity, or saltiness, of Earth's ocean surface produced by NASA's new Aquarius instrument reveals a rich tapestry of global salinity patterns . 'The Aquarius prime mission is scheduled to run for three years but there is no reason to think that the instrument could not be able to provide valuable data for much longer than that,' said Gene Carl Feldman, Aquarius project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. 'The instrument has been performing flawlessly and our colleagues in Argentina are doing a fantastic job running the spacecraft, providing us a nice, stable ride. 'The first year of the Aquarius mission has mostly been about understanding how the instruments and algorithms are performing,' Feldman said. 'Now that we have overcome the major hurdles, we can really begin to focus on understanding what the data are telling us about how the ocean works, how it affects weather and climate, and what new insights we can gain by having these remarkable salinity measurements.' | Video and images created using a year of data from NASA's Aquarius spacecraft . Helps scientists understand how the Earth's oceans operate - and if they are changing . | b58602144591f3478a0a7ff5138e988160425438 |
(CNN) -- Late in January, the book publisher Macmillan told Amazon it wanted to raise the prices of its books sold through the online retailer. Amazon made clear it wanted to continue to set prices for Macmillan's books, as it does for most books it sells. To make sure the publisher understood it was serious, Amazon cut the links that enable people to buy Macmillan's books via Amazon's Web site. For more than a week, you could still see Macmillan books on Amazon; you just couldn't order one. Even though the two companies have since struck a truce, the showdown should deeply concern anyone who cares not merely about the health of this vital industry, but about concentration of political power in America. What should concern us foremost is not that Amazon's managers believe they -- rather than the people who write and edit our books -- have a right to set the price for books. It is that Amazon's managers believe they have consolidated sufficient power -- the company sells as much as 80 percent of all ebooks, for instance -- to enforce their will by cutting off the public's access to a publisher's books. More disturbing yet, Amazon is not alone in having captured such a position. Another company that has captured a real say over the actions of our publishers is Wal-Mart. And Wal-Mart is a goliath that has repeatedly used its dominant position to influence the content of products by refusing to sell certain books or music. Indeed, such brute use of power is increasingly the norm across our economy. As anyone who has studied the business practices of Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Best Buy knows, rough treatment of the people who make what we buy is true in just about every industry. It was not always this way in America. A generation ago every city boasted its own department stores, discount shops and independent bookstores. Power was so widely distributed that few retailers enjoyed any real power over suppliers. The consolidation in retail since then is due largely to two revolutions in our anti-monopoly laws. The first was the Consumer Goods Pricing Act of 1975, which gave retailers the power to price other companies' products. Second was the Reagan administration's reframing of our anti-monopoly laws in 1981 around the concept of "consumer welfare." Until then, the prime purpose of anti-monopoly laws was to protect citizens against concentration of political power. Since then, officials have used our anti-monopoly laws instead to lower prices. To achieve this end, they often virtually promote concentration of power over entire market systems. As a result, it is now all but routine for big firms, in their efforts to grow bigger and increase profits, to dictate prices to suppliers who depend on them to get to their customers. Such use of power can strip away or destroy much of the cash suppliers would have invested in new products or simply to maintain systems and skills. There is nothing new in this. A century ago Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes spelled out the dangers in a case in which a retailer manipulated the price of a drug, "I cannot believe," he wrote, "that in the long run the public will profit by this court permitting knaves to cut reasonable prices for some ulterior purpose of their own, and thus to impair, if not to destroy, the production and sale of articles which it is assumed to be desirable that the public be able to get." In the case of Amazon, consolidation has often been presented as a consequence of new technologies. And it is not entirely clear how we can apply traditional anti-monopoly laws, many of which have geographic components, to online commerce. But any careful reading of history will carry us to analogous challenges in our past, like those posed by the early railways, and thereby to other potentially useful forms of anti-monopoly law such as common carriage rules. Also, most of Amazon's abuses would have been avoided if the people who make our products (in this case books) still enjoyed complete autonomy to set their own prices. Amazon acted badly. So too Wal-Mart, especially during last fall's book price war. Yet the fundamental flaw lies not with the decisions made by managers of these companies. It lies with viewing our anti-monopoly laws as a tool to promote a flawed vision of efficiency rather than to protect our most vital liberties. Defenders of concentration will continue to justify their use of power with claims they are serving the "consumer." But we should be clear that fixation on lowering prices can result in truly dramatic costs. Sometimes it is degradation of the quality and safety of the products delivered to the American "consumer." Sometimes it is the concentration of power over the people who produce our books and other vital products and over the American citizen. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Barry C. Lynn. | Dispute over e-book prices between Amazon, publisher a power play, says Barry C. Lynn . Lynn: Government has stressed lower prices while allowing growth of powerful retailers . He says the cost of the policy has been domination of retailers over suppliers . | 595c5966ea76a73367cfa257515c7e0175843a79 |
Don't you hate it when the weatherman gets it wrong? Apparently, so does Kim Jong Un. According to state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean leader has been touring meteorological facilities in his country complaining that there are "too many incorrect" weather forecasts. As further proof of the supreme leader's extreme displeasure, the Rodong Sinmun report includes photos of a red-faced Kim chastising what appear to be sheepish meteorological personnel. The wording of the report is a little unclear at times, but it claims Kim's concerns about the weather relate to its potential impact on the economy. Blaming outdated equipment and scientific method, the young leader stressed a need for accurate forecasts to protect people's lives and property from "abnormal climatic phenomenon" (sic) and to safeguard industries like agriculture and fisheries from natural disasters in a timely manner, according to Rodong Sinmun. North Korea has suffered severe food shortages under the rule of the Kim family. In May, state media reported that the reclusive country was experiencing its worst spring drought in more than 30 years, damaging thousands of acres of staple crops. Around two-thirds of North Korea's 24 million people face chronic food shortages, which are exacerbated by floods, droughts and mismanagement, according to the United Nations. More than one in four North Korean children are stunted from chronic malnutrition, the organization said last year. North Korea through a Google Glass lens . | Kim Jong Un slams forecasters over "incorrect" weather predictions, says state media . Improvements needed to protect people and the economy, Kim reportedly says . Photos show North Korean leader apparently lecturing weather services staff . N. Korea suffers severe food shortages, exacerbated by extreme weather and mismanagement . | 5be37270f7a71c55020855c997c58312cb54e677 |
The 16-year-old took to the stand for the first time in Jackson family's wrongful death lawsuit against AEG . Prince admitted his sister Paris has struggled the most in the wake of his death, adding: 'Paris was my dad's princess' By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:58 EST, 26 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:30 EST, 26 June 2013 . Michael Jackson's eldest son recalled the moment Conrad Murray informed him of the pop star's death. Prince, 16, took to the the stand for the first time in the Jackson family's wrongful death lawsuit against AEG in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He told the court Murray simply said: 'Sorry kids. Dad's dead.' The teen is a witness in a lawsuit . claiming AEG negligently hired Murray, the doctor who was later . convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson an overdose of . the anesthetic propofol. Taking the stand: A courtroom sketch depicting the testimony of Prince Michael Jackson in LA on Wednesday . Formal: In court, Prince wore a black suit with a dark grey tie with his long brown hair tucked behind his ears . According to TMZ, Prince was in the . lounge room of the family's Holmby Hills mansion when his father went . into cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009. 'Dad's dead': The Jackson lawsuit claims AEG negligently hired Conrad Murray . He recalled hearing screams and Murray called him upstairs. Prince said . his father was 'half hanging out of the bed' while the doctor was trying to resuscitate him. He . said his sister Paris, 15, who is being treated following a suicide attempt . earlier this month, suffered the most in the wake of their father's death. He recalled she screamed that she 'wanted her daddy' while Murray was performing CPR. He said: 'She was my dad's princess. She definitely is dealing with [his death] in her own way.' He also revealed his father was . excited about going back on tour before his death but wasn't happy about . the terms of the ill-fated shows. He . told jurors his father wanted more time to rehearse and had several . tense phone conversations with promoters of his This Is It shows that . sometimes ended with his father in tears. He said his father remarked after one of the conversations: 'They're going to kill me,' but he did not elaborate. AEG denies it hired the physician or bears any responsibility for the entertainer's death. Prince . testified that he saw AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips at the family's . rented mansion in a heated conversation with Murray in the days before . his father died. The teenager said he saw Phillips grabbing Murray's . elbow. Excited but concerned: Michael's eldest son testified that his father was excited about going back on tour before . his death but wasn't happy about the terms of the ill-fated shows . Phillips 'looked aggressive to me,' Prince testified. Michael wasn't at home at the time and was probably at rehearsals, Prince said. For the first time, the teenage publicly provided details about the day his father died. Prince testified that he saw Murray performing CPR on his father, who was hanging halfway off a bed. It appeared his father's eyes were rolled up in the back of his head, Prince told jurors. Prince's eyes appeared red as he recalled being told by Murray at a hospital that his father was dead. Fatherless: Prince, his sister Paris and their brother Blanket were left without a father when Michael passed away in June 2009 . The testimony began with the teenager showing jurors roughly 15 minutes of private family photos and home videos. He described growing up on Neverland Ranch and showed the panel videos of the property's petting zoos and other amenities. After his father's acquittal of child molestation charges, Prince described living in the Middle East, Ireland and Las Vegas. He told the jury that his father was always working, but his children had no idea he was a global superstar. 'We always listened to his music, but we never knew how famous he was,' Prince said. Brotherly: Prince is seen out with his brother Blanket at the mall last week . He said he and his sister Paris watched a video of one of their father's performances and got a sense of his fame when overwhelmed fans were carried from his shows on stretchers. Prince is the first Jackson family member to testify during the trial, now in its ninth week. Attorneys have said TJ Jackson, who serves a co-guardian to Prince and his siblings, and Taj Jackson, are also expected to take the witness stand. They are the sons of Tito Jackson. Prince, his sister Paris and brother Blanket are plaintiffs in the case against AEG, which their grandmother and primary caretaker filed in August 2010. On tape: Prince is seen giving pre-recorded evidence for Micheal Jackson's inquest back in March . In court, Prince wore a black suit . with a dark grey tie with his long brown hair tucked behind his ears. He . spoke softly as he began testifying, and the first exhibit shown to . jurors was a photo taken with their grandmother on his and Paris' first . day of school. He described . his school life, including taking a summer course in U.S. history, . participating on the school's robotics team and volunteer work. Another image shown to jurors was Michael Jackson playing piano with his son while Prince was still an infant or toddler. Recorded: His sister Paris did the same two days later . Plaintiffs' attorney Brian Panish asked Prince whether he was interested in pursuing a career in music. 'I can never play an instrument and I definitely cannot sing,' Prince said to laughter from the jury. He said he wanted to study film or business when he goes to college. Prince said he helped attorneys pick out the videos and photos shown in court. Michael sheltered his children from the public eye while he was alive, often obscuring their faces while out in public. The children have been more public in recent years, appearing at a star-studded memorial service and other events honoring their father. Tragic: Michael 's official cause of death was attributed cardiac arrest caused by an overdose of propofol and benzodiazepine, which he used to help him sleep . Paris, 15, had also been expected to testify during the case but was hospitalized last month and her status as a witness remained unclear. Attorneys for AEG played a snippet of her videotaped deposition last week, and more of her testimony may be played for the jury later in the trial. Blanket, 11, is not expected to testify. The jury of six men and six women has learned numerous details about Jackson's role as a father during the case. They've heard about a secret trip to a movie weeks before Michael's death, a private circus he hired for Paris' 11th birthday, and Blanket's interest in his father's dance rehearsals. The trial is expected to last several more weeks. | The 16-year-old took to the stand for the first time in Jackson family's wrongful death lawsuit against AEG . Prince admitted his sister Paris has struggled the most in the wake of his death, adding: 'Paris was my dad's princess' | 3cdf6f49e1a615907fa95657dcb132f7312e8342 |
By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 09:36 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:34 EST, 12 December 2013 . The widow of a soldier who was killed by a single punch during a fight in a taxi queue has spoken of her complete forgiveness for his killer. David Ryding, 26, died after being knocked out by Ben Hartwell, 22, on July 7 this year during a heated row while the pair waited in a taxi queue in Rugby, Warwickshire. The recently married father-of-one, who fought with the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment until 2011, hit his head on the ground after being struck by Mr Hartwell. He died in hospital the following day. David Ryding (pictured), 26, died after being knocked out by Ben Hartwell, 22, on July 7 this year during a heated row. Following his death, his widow Nicola, (left), requested a meeting with his killer, where she told him she did not blame him and wanted him to move forward with his life . An inquest heard Mr Hartwell had acted in 'self-defence' after the confrontation and Warwickshire assistant coroner John Ryan recorded a verdict of 'lawful killing' following a two-day hearing in Leamington. Following Mr Ryding's death, his widow Nicola, 25, requested a meeting with his killer, where she told him she did not blame him and wanted him to move forward with his life. She told the inquest her husband had been known to drink to excess after suffering from Post Traumatic Stress following tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. But giving evidence she said: 'It was out of character for David to be in a fight, I’d never seen him in trouble or aggressive. He would have stuck up for his friends if they were in trouble.' Speaking after the hearing she added: 'Our family and Mr Hartwell’s family have been deeply affected by the events which took place and just hope that if any good can come from this tragedy, it is that awareness will be raised regarding the tragic results an instantaneous event such as this can lead to. 'Our thoughts are with Mr Hartwell and all his family and we hope he can come to terms with what happened and move on with his life. 'David will be in our hearts for ever and live on in the wonderful memories we shared. 'We are satisfied that the inquest was conducted thoroughly and we respect the verdict made.' Warwickshire Justice Centre was shown CCTV footage of the pair involved in an initial scuffle at around 5am. Mr Ryding, from the Wirral, Merseyside, began to move around Mr Hartwell before with his fists raised, throwing several punches which he ducked away from . Mr Ryding, from the Wirral, Merseyside, began to move around Mr Hartwell before with his fists raised, throwing several punches which he ducked away from. The altercation ended with Mr Hartwell knocking Mr Ryding to the ground with a single punch before walking away. Mr Hartwell, from Rugby, was originally arrested on suspicion of murder after handing himself into police shortly after the incident. But the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was no case to answer and Mr Hartwell had acted in self defence. Mr Hartwell told the inquest: 'I hit him because I was scared. If I hadn’t hit him it could have been me. I felt I was under attack. 'I told them to get back in the taxi and go home, I didn’t want to fight. 'I was hoping he would just leave me alone. It was meant to just keep him away. It wasn’t meant to knock him out, it was instinctive. 'I had never knocked anyone out before, it was horrible. I wouldn’t mean to hurt him, it was a freak accident.' Detective Inspector Ally Wright, from Warwickshire Police, added: 'On a personal level I also want to thank Nicola Ryding and her family. They remained dignified throughout and have never sought to seek blame or retribution on any individual. 'Nicola has demonstrated incredible courage in requesting a meeting with the male who punched David. 'She told him that she attributes no blame to him and that all she wished for was for his life to move forward. 'As she put it there is no need for another life to be ruined as a result of the terrible incident.' | David Ryding, 26, died after being knocked out by Ben Hartwell, 22, on July 7 . Inquest heard Mr Hartwell had acted in 'self-defence' in the confrontation . Widow Nicola, 25, has since met killer, and told him she did not blame him . She said there is no point ruining two lives and urged him to 'move forward' | 081fc97daeec290a02f18ee153f3ee60852ab17b |
(CNN) -- Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was sworn in for a second four-year term Saturday, extolling her country's economic stability during a time of global crisis. "We are a new Argentina, but we are also in a new world with more challenges and more decisions to be made in the best interest of our people and society," she said. A bulk of her long speech focused on specifics of the Argentine economy that are impressive against the backdrop of a global downturn. Industrialization has created more than 5 million jobs during her administration and minimum wages are the highest in the region, she said. Argentina's economy could see growth of 9% in 2011, she said. Internal growth in the country was one of the main drivers that kept the economy afloat, she said. "I don't have to read you the consumption statistics. It's enough to go to the streets in any place, in any town ... to know that the domestic market is precisely what permitted us to survive the crisis of 2008 and 2009," she said. While she talked a lot about specific economic indicators, Fernandez did not abandon her populist side. "I am not the president of the corporations," she said. "I am the president of the 40 million Argentinians." Fernandez ranks as one of the most popular candidates in Argentina since its return to democracy. She won re-election with more than 54% of the vote. Her presidential campaign was also the first she had to wage without her late husband and former president, Nestor Kirchner. He was president from 2003 to 2007, when Fernandez succeeded him. He died in October of 2010. In an apparent symbol of mourning, Fernandez wore black at her swearing in. And when she took the oath of office, she asked God, country and "he" -- referring to her husband -- to hold her to account. Her eyes watered as she said those words. "As everyone can imagine, today is not an easy day for this president," Fernandez said. "Despite the happiness, despite the overwhelming votes, something -- and someone -- is missing." Her second term as president extends to 2015. | Fernandez won re-election with 54% of the vote . She was sworn in on Saturday . She praised the country's economy and warned of future challenges . | dd5cc213d19e663020c38b13fbeeefd6e4e8f762 |
By . David Kent . One Direction star Louis Tomlinson is set to seal a deal on Friday to take over Doncaster Rovers. The 22-year-old teen heartthrob is a lifelong fan of the club and has agreed a takeover. Tomlinson will become co-chairman along with former club chief John Ryan, another lifelong fan , with whom he has teamed up to seal the deal. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Louis Tomlinson get taken out by Gabby Agbonlahor . All smiles: One Direction's Louis Tomlinson has made a formal bid to buy League One side Doncaster Rovers . Doncaster were relegated to League One . on the final day of last season after a thrilling comeback victory by . Birmingham propelled the Blues to safety. A . press conference is expected to take place at 6pm on Friday at Wembley, . before One Direction play the first of three sell-out concerts. The deal is understood to be have been finalised in Leeds on Thursday. Tomlinson is expected to be a 'silent partner' with Ryan effectively running the club on his and the singer's behalf. The . pop star made a much-publicised appearance as a substitute for the . club's development squad in a game against Rotherham United in February. Over 4,000 tickets were sold for the game. Lifelong fan: Tomlinson, who was born in Doncaster, made a professional appearance for the reserve team in February after signing to the club's books last summer . Plans: Tomlinson has joined forces with businessman John Ryan, who previously owned the club . Ryan . quit after 15 years as chairman in November last year after a boardroom . split but retained his shareholding in the club of around 23 per cent. Tomlinson was born in Doncaster before finding worldwide fame as part of the group put together by Simon Cowell. | One Direction group member set to be co-chairman of Doncaster . Tomlinson was born in Doncaster and is lifelong fan . Pop star joined forces with former chairman John Ryan to buy club . Tomlinson set to announce deal at Wembley ahead of 1D concert . | 79018ebcae7b902d7746c65a83c1f5954dedcc92 |
A Florida woman was arrested two days before Christmas for knocking down a controversial Satanic Temple holiday display at the State Capitol. Susan Hemeryck, 54, of Tallahassee, tried removing the display showing an angel falling into the flames of hell with the message 'Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple' Tuesday, and when the Capitol Police told her she couldn't, she began tearing it apart. She was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. The display had been erected as a satire by an atheist group from New York to counter a nativity scene, which was taken down the day the Satanic Temple installed theirs. Scroll down for video . Fallen angel: An angel ripped from a Satanic Temple display at the Florida Capitol sits on a table Tuesday in Tallahassee . Vandalism: John and Jean Porgal take photos of damage to a Satanic Temple holiday display they installed at the Florida Capitol Monday as a counter to a nativity scene that was set up by a Christian group . In the past, the Capitol has displayed a Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus pole, atheist banners and even a tribute to the Flying Spaghetti Monster. 'It's just wrong, when you remove baby Jesus two days before Christmas and put Satan in his place — that just can't happen. I couldn't allow it to happen,' said Hemeryck, who said she was wearing a shirt that said 'Catholic Warrior' when she arrived at the Capitol. 'I was there at the right time and the right moment and I needed to take a stand against Satan.' Catholic warrior: Susan Hemeryck, 54, has been charged with criminal mischief for trying to tear down the atheist display, saying after her arrest that she should have done a better job of it . Atheist groups last year began taking advantage of the Capitol's free speech zone after a Christian group installed a manger scene showing the birth of Jesus. The display last year included a six-foot Festivus pole in tribute to a fake holiday created on Seinfeld that satirizes the commercialism of Christmas and a display by the Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster, which mocks beliefs that a god created the universe and argues instead that the universe was created by a plate of pasta and meatballs. The Satanic Temple display was rejected as 'grossly offensive' last year, but this year — following threats of legal action from the Americans United for Separation of Church and State — the state Department of Management Services gave its approval. 'The angel's dead,' said John Porgal, regional director of American Atheists, when he arrived at the Capitol to see the angel figurine lying alone on a table. 'We've been tolerant of their display. We didn't like it, but we tolerated it. You see what they did to our display.' The Satanic Temple is a satirical group, also created by the atheists, that opposes religious displays and activity on government property and public schools. Porgal said he was not surprised someone had damaged the display, which he had installed in the Capitol just a day earlier. 'I was really surprised that it took this long,' he said. 'I was really expecting it to be damaged because of the religious part of our society.' The same group asked to distribute Satanic coloring books in Orlando high schools after a Christian group was allowed to distribute Bibles. The school district is now reconsidering its policy. Free speech: John Porgal, a member of the Satanic Temple, stands next to a Satanic Temple display he placed in the Florida State Capitol rotunda on December 22. The diorama depicts an angel falling into the fires of hell . John Porgal, regional director of the American Atheists, second from left, talks with a Capitol Police officer after his mocking holiday display was torn down by a devout Catholic . Porgal said he plans to leave the display in its damaged state 'as a sign of what the religious right's idea of tolerance is.' Pam Olsen, who organized the manger display, said she doesn't approve of the attack. 'I'm actually very sad that she felt motivated to do that,' Olsen said. 'I do not like the display. I think it's rude and it's sad that he put it up to protest the nativity that means so much to millions of people, however I don't think anyone should ever vandalize anything. Free speech is free speech whether we like it or not.' Festivus for the rest of us! The display last year included a six-foot Festivus pole in tribute to a fake holiday created on Seinfeld . Christina symbols: The satanic display had been erected as a satire by an atheist group from New York to counter a nativity scene, pictured here last year . Hemeryck said she has no criminal record and hasn't even had a speeding ticket in more than 15 years. And she had only one regret about Tuesday's incident. 'I just yanked that little devil off the fishing line,' she said. 'I should have just done a better job and finished it off for good.' The string suspending the angel was broken when the exhibit was knocked over, so John Portgal placed the angel upright amid the paper flames. 'She’s in hell now,' Porgal said of the angel. 'They’ve actually caused her to go to hell.' | Susan Hemeryck, 54, charged with criminal mischief for tearing down the display a day after it had been installed at the rotunda . Atheist group set up diorama showing an angel falling into hell with the message 'Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple' The display had been erected to counter a nativity scene at the Capitol . Capitol has displayed a Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus pole, atheist banners and even a tribute to the Flying Spaghetti Monster . Hemeryck said after her arrest she had no criminal record but wanted to 'take a stand against Satan' | cefa41576c67cb9bb5a8876c0c57becce8d42956 |
(CNN) -- Scores of insurgents have been killed over the last day during fighting in southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition said on Wednesday. U.S. soldiers pass by Afghan policemen as they stand guard at a checkpoint near the partly-ruined Darlaman Palace in Kabul. Afghan and coalition troops have killed an estimated 104 insurgents in ongoing fighting since Tuesday morning near the Musa Qalah Wadi in Helmand province, the coalition said. A coalition service member was killed and four others were wounded in the fighting between troops and Taliban militants. In neighboring Uruzgan province, a battle between Taliban militants and troops Tuesday left more than 65 insurgents dead in a six-hour battle. The Afghan-coalition patrol had been near the same spot, northeast of Deh Rawod, where more than three dozen insurgents preparing an ambush were killed last week. "As with our forces near Musa Qalah, this operation is intended to deny the enemies of peace the use of Deh Rawod as a safe haven," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesman. "Much like last week's engagement, last night's overwhelming victory by ANSF against the extremists is one more example of this strategy to secure a stable and safe living area for the residents of province." There might have been injuries to three non-combatants. There were no reports of troop casualties. E-mail to a friend . | Scores of insurgents killed in clashes with Afghan and coalition forces . At least 104 militants dead in fighting near Musa Qalah Wadi, Helmand province . More than 65 Taliban insurgents killed Tuesday night in Uruzgan province . Six-hour battle took place near site of planned ambush last week . | 2d754a7d3a0931a3a37c5cbe89d7ee94273ed0c7 |
By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 11:03 EST, 4 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:44 EST, 6 September 2012 . Tragic: Amanda Telfer was walking past a building site when a falling window frame hit her on Hanover Square in central London . The 13-feet tall window that crushed an 'extremely talented' young lawyer to death weighed more than half a tonne, an inquest heard today. Lawyer Amanda Telfer, 43, was . fatally injured as she ate a banana while passing by a construction . site on Hanover Square, off Oxford Street in central London. Criminal charges could now be brought after she was killed by the frame that took ten people to pull off her body, the inquest was told. Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox opened and adjourned the case today to allow the Metropolitan Police and Health And Safety Executive to continue their investigation. 'This investigation will take a considerable amount of time as at the moment we still do not know whether . charges will be brought in this case,' she said. Floral tributes were left where she died, including a note reading ‘sorry we . couldn’t save you’, just metres from where the frame that killed her lay . for several days as police cordoned off the area. Describing what happened coroners officer Barry May told Westminster Coroner’s Court today: 'Amanda Barrie Telfer died on August 30 this year. She was walking along Hanover Street. 'On the pavement there were two window frames weighing approximately half a tonne each that had been propped against a wall of an office building. 'As she walked past a window frame fell on her pinning her to the ground. Members of the public removed the frames and started CPR.' It was confirmed that “a gust of wind caused the frame to fall over'. Miss Telfer, who worked for legal firm Keystone Law, was a volunteer for the charity Reprieve, helping represent British-born Neil Revill, 40, who faced a possible death sentence for the double murder of a drug dealer and his girlfriend in California in 2001. He was eventually sentenced to life after a trial last year. Speaking from Guantanamo Bay, Clive Stafford Smith, the founder of Reprieve, said her death was 'tragic'. 'I heard about poor Amanda a couple of days ago - what a tragedy,' he told the paper. 'She was a volunteer at Reprieve, and an excellent one, and then very kindly ‘legalled’ my new book, so it was a pleasure to have the chance to catch up with her then. 'How very sad it was to hear, and my heart goes out to her family. Poignant: The giant window frames lay strewn on the pavement outside the building site for several days . Heartfelt: Flower tributes included one note apologising to the lawyer for not being able to save her life . Devastated colleagues have paid tribute to the 'extremely talented' 43-year-old. James Knight, partner at Keystone Law in central London where Ms Telfer . was an intellectual property and media consultant, said: 'It is with . great sadness that we confirm Amanda Telfer, a lawyer at Keystone Law, . was killed last week, in a tragic accident in Hanover Square. 'Amanda joined Keystone in 2005. She was an extremely talented lawyer, . much admired by her clients and colleagues. They, like us, are . devastated by this news. Obviously our thoughts are with Amanda's . family.' Ms Telfer previously worked as senior legal counsel at Random House and as a litigator at Denton Wilde Sapte, both based in London. She was also a freelance consultant for human rights campaign group Reprieve UK between 2004 and 2009, where her role involved gathering evidence for reports on British Nationals awaiting trial and up for the death penalty in America. In 2005 she produced a play called 'Lorilei' which was performed at the London Fringe theatre and Edinburgh Festival that year. Tragedy: . A police tent was put up where a window fell on top of Amanda Telfer as she passed by Hanover Square, just off . Oxford Street, in central London . Shock: . The accident happened as workmen were installing windows at a new . multi-million pound six-storey office block. Ambulance crews rushed to . the scene and battled to save the woman but she was declared dead . She studied at Maths and Philosophy at Manchester University before gaining her law qualification at BPP Law School in London and starting her first job as a trainee at Rouse & Co/Willoughby & Partners in 1997. The emergency call was made by a man delivering electrical cables to the area. He said that the woman was 'flattened', and that he thought he saw her 'draw her last breath'. The 999 operator told him to get closer and probably saw the moment she died. 'Her eyes were open and I saw her hand move and then I think I saw her last breath and then the light went out: she'd gone,' he said. 'You'd have more chance of winning the lottery than that happening to you. 'She was in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time.' The construction company running the site, Westgreen Construction Ltd, said they would do 'whatever is necessary' and called it a 'terrible accident.' Dr Nichola Lloyd, an out-of-hours GP at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey tried to help. ‘I walked past there about ten second beforehand,’ she said. ‘It . was really just the wrong place at the wrong time and it could have happen to . any of us. ‘I almost went into autopilot. She clearly had very bad injuries, but you . just have to think that is a person whose life needs saving and you do what you . can to help.’ Witnesses claimed the ‘very . heavy’ window had been left ‘propped’ on a wall on the ground floor, . and that barriers guarding the building site had recently been removed. The accident happened at 11.30am in . Mayfair’s Hanover Square, which houses some of London’s most expensive . offices. An art gallery is on the ground floor and the Vogue building, . the headquarters of publisher Conde Nast, is opposite. Dario Motti, 65, said the 12ft-high . frame had been propped up against a wall before it fell on the woman. ‘I . saw the frames delivered,’ he added. ‘They were so heavy they . were lifted in by crane.’ Taped off: Police officers were stationed around the scene where a woman has died after she was struck by a falling window pane . Investigation: The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation into the tragedy and shocked witnesses took to Twitter to express their horror and the freak accident which was caused by high winds . A man delivering electrical cables to another building, who did not want to be named, said that it had taken ten people to lift the frame off the woman . Kohei Matsumoto, manager of a nearby . Itsu sushi restaurant, added: ‘Two of my team members saw a girl turn . left into Hanover Street. She was eating a banana. ‘The next thing they saw was this . window frame falling down on her. She didn’t scream – it happened so . quickly.’ A man delivering electrical cables to another building, who . did not want to be named, said that it had taken ten people to lift the . frame off the woman. ‘I heard this incredible loud bang,’ he said. ‘I turned round and the frame was on the ground. I was hoping . it was a coat underneath – but then I saw an arm. ‘Her eyes were open and I saw her hand . move and then I saw her last breath, and then the light went out – . she’d gone. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.’ Building site: Workmen were installing windows in a six-storey office block in Hanover Square in London when the incident happened . Beverley Hazel, from Kennington, South London, was on her way to work at 11.30am when she saw the woman lying in the road. She said: ‘She was very young and . slight. I’ve got two daughters, one younger and one older than this . woman. I was in bits. If it had been my daughter I would have wanted . someone with her.’ A spokesman for Westgreen Construction . Ltd, of Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, which is managing the building . project, said: ‘We will do whatever is necessary. This is a terrible . accident.’ The woman’s body, which had been covered by a yellow police tent, was removed by a private ambulance at 6.45pm. | A half-tonne 13-feet high window frame had been propped up against a wall when it fell on Amanda Telfer . Her inquest was opened and adjourned today to allow police and the Health and Safety executive to carry out investigation . Ms Telfer worked as a lawyer and was described by colleagues as 'extremely talented' The accident happened as workmen were installing windows at a new six-storey office block off Oxford Street last Thursday . A gust of wind was believed to have caused the tragedy and it took ten people to lift the frame off her . | c3b694d32a865046606a58c41b3b2cc0757a29d0 |
By . Freya Noble For Daily Mail Australia . Officers have appealed for a helping hand in order to catch a bearded bandit responsible for a string of burglaries in Victoria. The man has had a few close shaves at various factories south-east of Melbourne, breaking in to three separate industrial areas over the past few months. Victoria Police said CCTV cameras were damaged each time the bearded burglar broke in, but they did manage to snap some pictures of him first. The man is pictured in one shot in a baseball cap, glasses, and what looks to be a fake beard. He is described by police as being of Caucasian appearance. Police released images of a bearded bandit wanted for a string of burglaries . He can be seen wearing gloves and holding an instruments up the the camera - possibly being used to destroy it. In another image the burglar is sans beard wearing a hooded jumped, staring right down the lens. The first incident was on May 20 around 5am, and occurred at a factory on Simcock Street in Somerville, about 50 kilometres south-east of Melbourne's CBD. Police released images of a bearded bandit wanted for a string of burglaries . Here the man, believed to be between 18 and 25 years of age, damaged one of the CCTV cameras. The second incident took place on 17 June at the same place, with the same damage to one of the cameras. The most recent crime undertaken by the bearded burglar was on August 1, in an industrial area in Carrum Downs - about 35 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. The young man damaged yet another CCTV camera around 2am, though there's no word on what he took with him as a souvenir. | The man has broken into a number of factories south-west of Melbourne . CCTV images show him wearing a fake beard and glasses . Police have appealed for help in identifying the bearded burglar . | 2781a7fe15fa1e4d4a0ba771d722ef0548d29bed |
While most of us will happily splash out on a deluxe kitchen or the perfect leather chesterfield, decorating the humble toilet is often overlooked when it comes to home improvements. But if you've been neglecting your loo, then you might be missing a trick as these incredible pictures show. From the toilet that cleans itself to the £3 million bling bog encrusted with jewels, it seems that not everyone is happy with a lick of paint and a porcelain potty when it comes to decorating the lavatory. Among the eye catching examples is a space toilet, complete with a vacuum flush that pulls waste away from the astronaut's body, The intergalactic privy, which is to be found at Tokyo's Engineering Museum of Innovation, also has a royal fan in the shape of the Prince of Wales who inspected it during a visit to Japan in 2008. Bling: This Hong Kong bathroom is made from solid gold and the toilet alone is worth £3million. Visitors have to wear shoe coverings to avoid scratching the golden floor . Handy: The Parisian 'Sanisette' toilet disinfects itself after every use while Monica Bonvinci's effort allows you to poo while enjoying the surrounding view . Although the Far East leads the way when it comes to eye catching toilets, courtesy of one Hong Kong store's £3million gold toilet encrusted with jewels, there are plenty of creative commodes closer to home. Across the Channel in Paris is the Sanisette, a self-cleaning public . restroom. After a patron exits the restroom, a 60-second wash cycle begins inside the toilet, and the toilet fixture itself is . scrubbed and disinfected automatically. In London, the most striking entry into the toilet hall of fame is architect Monica Bonvicini's spectacular creation made from one-way glass which sits outside the Chelsea College of Art and Design. Initially intended for use in prisons, the designer bog lets you take in your surroundings while dealing with your bodily necessities in peace. Another technically advanced throne is the 'Egg Pod' toilet found in the bathroom of London restaurant, Sketch. Guests at the celebrity hangout can climb into little egg shaped capsules in order to complete their business. But though the eggs look high tech, they aren't a patch on the Sega 'Toylets' found in Tokyo. Hidden: Despite the glass walls (and the ability to see out), Bonvinci's bog is made from one way glass which means that passersby definitely (we hope) can't see in . Out of this world: This space toilet, complete with a special vacuum, was seen by Prince Charles during a visit to the Engineering Museum of Innovation in Tokyo . Totally potty! Tokyo's 'Toylets' have pressure sensors at the back which allow users to play urine operated video games while carrying out their personal business . The unusual urinals come complete with games that you play by accurately aiming urine at a pressure sensor located at the back of the urinal. The four games include 'Graffiti Eraser', which enables the toilet goes to use their . stream to erase graffiti on a wall and 'Mannekin Pis' - named for the Brussels landmark - that measures . how much urine has been expelled. In 'The North Wind and the Sun and Me', . the strength of the urine stream produced determines how much a virtual . girl's skirt gets blown up by the wind. Finally, in 'Battle: Milk from . Nose' the user has to try and beat the previous urinator's stream . strength. In addition to its bling bog, Hong Kong also boasts urinals with entertainment included, although the former British colony has chosen not to offer video games, instead plumping for TV shows. Back in Japan, there's also an underwater toilet built into the side of an aquarium in Akashi as well as a toilet that simulates the feeling of taking off from a ski jump at the Madarao-Kogen hotel in Iiyama City. Scary though the ski jump commode might prove for some, nothing is more likely to induce bowel-loosening terror than Mexico's bottomless bathroom. Located at the top of the 15-storey PPDG Penthouse in Guadalajara, the toilet is perched atop an open lift shaft and was built, according to architects Hernandez Silva Arquitectos, with 'concepts of transparency and the simplicity of materials' in mind. Terrifying: Guadalajara's bottomless bog overlooks a 15-storey drop, making Sketch's 'Egg Pod' toilets look positively benign by comparison . Slippery slope: The toilet at the Madarao-Kogen hotel in Japan's Iiyama City makes you feel as if you're atop a mountain and ready to tackle a scary ski jump . High tech: While you can't play games with them, the public urinals in Hong Kong's APM shopping mall do come complete with individual televisions to entertain you . | The Far East has the most creative approach to toilet design, with ski simulators and 'Toylets' among those on offer . London is home to a spectacular one-way glass toilet, while in Hong Kong, you'll find a throne worth £3million . The world's scariest loo is perched atop a 15-storey lift shaft in the city of Guadalajara in Mexico . | a551289dbfe2881c30293b26f2b17a27b3075fbb |
Under a cloud: Investigators found no conclusive evidence whether Christie was aware or not of the closures of lanes on George Washington Bridge in September 2013 that caused gridlock in the town of Fort Lee . New Jersey lawmakers probing politically motivated traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge last year have been unable to rule out that that Gov. Chris Christie was involved in the scandal. They have been trying to determine who ordered traffic lanes to be blocked in September 2013 at the bridge and why. The closures caused gridlock in Fort Lee, the town at the base of the heavily traveled span linking New Jersey and New York, and appear to have been directed at the town's mayor, a Democrat who did not endorse Christie. Christie has always denied any wrongdoing. And yesterday investigators found no conclusive evidence whether Christie was aware or not of the closures, but they say that two former Christie aides acted with 'perceived impunity' and with little regard for public safety when they ordered the lanes closed. The findings came in a 136-page interim report by a joint legislative panel, released yesterday. 'At present, there is no conclusive evidence as to whether Governor Chris Christie was or was not aware of the lane closures either in advance of their implementation or contemporaneously as they were occurring,' states the report. 'Nor is there conclusive evidence as to whether Governor Christie did or did not have involvement in implementing or directing the lane closures.' A report commissioned by Christie previously cleared him of any wrongdoing and a lawyer for the governor said in a statement yesterday that the report corroborates that investigation. 'The Committee has finally acknowledged what we reported nine months ago - namely, that there is not a shred of evidence Governor Christie knew anything about the GWB lane realignment beforehand or that any current member of his staff was involved in that decision,' Christie attorney Randy Mastro said in a statement. Suspicions: The closures caused gridlock in Fort Lee, the town at the base of the heavily traveled span linking New Jersey and New York (pictured), and appear to have been directed at the town's mayor, a Democrat who did not endorse Christie . The report said that several critical witnesses have not testified and that important questions remain unanswered. The report will be supplemented if more information is obtained. The report says that former Christie aides Bridge Anne Kelly and David Wildstein acted with 'perceived impunity' and that they acted with little regard for public safety. It says that the Christie administration responded 'very slowly and passively' to the lane closures. Documents released earlier this year showed that Wildstein, then an official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Kelly, then an aide to Christie, orchestrated the shutdown, apparently as retribution toward Fort Lee's Democratic mayor. Unanswered questions: The report said that several critical witnesses have not testified and that important questions remain unanswered. The report will be supplemented if more information is obtained . In one email, Kelly told Wildstein, 'Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.' Wildstein later contended that Christie knew about the lane closures as they happened. Christie, a possible 2016 Republican presidential contender, denies that he had any role in or knowledge of a plot to shut down the lanes. An investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office is continuing. No one has been charged. The legislative panel is scheduled to meet on Monday to formally release the report to the public. | In September 2013, George Washington Bridge lanes shut causing gridlock . Closures seemed aimed at Fort Lee, who's mayor didn't endorse Christie . But report commissioned by Christie absolved him of any wrongdoing . Now, new report finds 'no conclusive evidence' he knew about it or not . It adds key witnesses haven't testified and questions remain unanswered . | 1aa0128bbc1672bf99f086630e89e3d87c055c8c |
(CNN) -- One of the most valuable routes in the airline industry is the one that joins New York to London. It is the world's busiest route, one particularly frequented by business travelers, and currently, it is dominated by United Airlines. All that is set to change, thanks to a pivotal partnership between Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Last month, the two airlines unveiled a codeshare agreement across 108 routes, with Delta acquiring a 49% share of the British carrier. For Delta, the deal provides access to a market that, though lucrative, has been difficult for them to crack. "Heathrow is the most important destination for the U.S. business traveler, and we've not been able to provide the global frequency that our customers need," admits Edward Bastian, Delta's president. "Virgin was the best way to get to them." Unlike Virgin Atlantic, which has experienced two years of steady financial losses, Delta has been in an upward expansion. It is the fastest-growing carrier in New York -- abetted by a massive expansion of two of the city's major hubs, including a $1.4 billion renovation of Terminal 4 at JFK, and $100 million upgrade of its facilities at LaGuardia Airport. While Delta is gaining momentum in North America, procuring slots at Heathrow has proved arduous for the airline, according to George Ferguson, senior airline and aerospace analyst at Bloomberg Industries. Read more: Luxury jets for the long haul . "The largest number of slots at Heathrow are dedicated to Virgin and British Airways flights. Delta has had a hard time getting in there," he admits. "This deal really gives them a lot of access to Heathrow, which is an important market in New York." Currently, Delta has nine flights operating between Heathrow and the U.S. When the partnership takes effect, that number will jump to 23. Compared to Delta, Virgin is a much more niche airline. It serves a smaller, predominately British clientele, providing them with a more upmarket experience. Despite Virgin's strong brand, its image doesn't resonate as well outside the United Kingdom. Ideally, the deal with Delta will introduce the carrier to a wider audience. "I think the spirit of our company will be very attractive to the U.S.-based customers that Delta currently serves," says Craig Kreeger, CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways. "I think that by becoming more successful and being able to generate more fans in the United State, it's going to spur even more innovation (at Virgin)." As the two companies join houses, so to speak, experts are pondering which brand will be more prominent. "From a Virgin perspective, I expect not much will change, at least not for a while" says Ferguson. "Virgin has a pretty strong brand across the Atlantic -- the better brand right now -- and Delta's going to want to leave that in place." Discover which airport is the worst for delays . Asked if there's a chance Virgin might lose its identity in the process, Kreeger says he's not worried. "The Virgin brand and Virgin style is one of the things that attracted Delta to us in the first place," he says. "I think they're looking forward to being able to offer their customers more choice." For the deluge of passengers that fly Delta and Virgin across the pond, the partnership could ideally result in cheaper fares. "I see them being able to give corporate customers much more options, and I see them really being able to kick off some extensive routes with above-average yields," says Ferguson, who adds that in the airline industry, fuller planes usually results in cheaper tickets. "London and New York are sort of dominated by the financial services business, which has taken it on the chin lately," notes Ferguson. "As a result, you have a consumer that is more price conscious and you need to find a way to get them a cheaper ticket while still making money. That's why you need to get planes full. For Virgin, this is the start of that process." | Delta takes 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic . Airlines hope that codeshare will increase their trans-Atlantic success . UK-U.S. routes are the most world's busiest and lucrative . Virgin seen as a much more niche airline than Delta . | 3f86aeef29f944840aca90ec87bd979472a3e95f |
Nathaniel Chalobah has returned to Chelsea at the end of his loan deal at Burnley. The 20-year-old midfielder did not make the impact he would have wanted with the Clarets, with his contribution limited to one Premier League start and four substitute appearances. Boss Sean Dyche said: 'Nathaniel will go back to Chelsea and we thank him for his efforts in his time with us. Nathaniel Chalobah (centre) has ended his loan spell at Burnley and is back at Chelsea . Chalobah headed to Burnley looking to impress Jose Mourinho but has had limited game time . 'We hope he has developed here, albeit not on the pitch as much as he would have liked. He has, however, been an active part of the group and has been a credit to himself. 'We wish him well as he looks to further progress his career.' The England Under 21 international arrived at Turf Moor on transfer deadline day hoping to impress Blues boss Jose Mourinho and show he could break the mould by being a Chelsea academy product worthy of regular first-team consideration. But while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been tipped for a bright future by Mourinho, Chalobah, who once made the Chelsea bench aged 15, is struggling to build on the early hype which surrounded him. Chalobah has 21 caps for the England Under 21 side, and has also played for the Under 16, 17 and 19 sides . Dyche had admitted the Barclays Premier League's unforgiving nature has limited the teenager's opportunities. 'He's a young player learning, earning his spurs and developing, and this is a tough league to do all those things in and do them every week,' said the Clarets manager. 'Behind the scenes he's working hard and should he get his chance, he'll be ready to take it.' Chalobah was on the bench for Chelsea aged 15 (left) but has failed to fulfil his potential so far . | Nathaniel Chalobah was on loan at Burnley from Chelsea . But the young midfielder has returned to Stamford Bridge . Sean Dyche said Chalobah has not developed enough as a player . Chalobah once earned place on Chelsea's bench aged 15 . | e2384a46200af6b10784320fcde000a78d7ca308 |
By . Alexandra Klausner . PUBLISHED: . 20:44 EST, 18 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:10 EST, 18 February 2014 . A man from Massachusstes was arrested on Saturday night for allegedly hitting a snow plow driver on the head with a shovel. Douglas Haskell, 40, has been arrested for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He allegedly whacked snow plow driver on the head with a snow shovel on Saturday night on Churchill Road in Lakeville, Massachusetts. Douglass Haskell, 40, hit a snow plow driver over the head in a fit of rage . The weapon: Haskell hit the snow plow driver on the head with a shovel who then suffered from a cut above his left eye . The plow driver did not suffer any serious injuries and it's unclear as to what exactly fueled the attack. Haskell was arraigned today and was later released. He is due back in court on March 27. Even though police are not certain what triggered Haskell's 'snow rage' they believe that Haskell may have been upset when the plow driver pushed snow onto his side of the street. After the two bickered, Haskell allegedly hit the snow plow driver on the head and shoulder reports The Smoking Gun.[related] . The snow plow driver wouldn't let the Lakeville Police Department take him to the hospital but suffered a cut above his left eye. The identity of the snow plow driver has not been released. CBS reports that this was not the only violence against a snow plow driver that occurred this month. Last week in Lakeville, Pennsylvania a 64-year-old man allegedly put a gun to a snow plow driver's head after he shoveled snow into his backyard. The attack occurred in Lakeville, Massachusetts just 40 miles outside of Boston . | Douglas Haskell, 40, has been arrested for assault and Battery with a dangerous weapon after allegedly hitting a snow plow driver on the head with a shovel . Even though police are not certain what . triggered Haskell's 'snow rage' they believe that Haskell may have been . upset when the plow driver pushed snow onto his side of the street . Haskell was arraigned today and was later released. He is due back in court on March 27 . | 7820176a04c833aa05b6b62bb8f45533ae5448e9 |
(CNN) -- The new Kindle Paperwhite isn't the perfect character. Just like the literary creations that live and die on its screen, it has flaws. It's wise, though it still suffers from memories of its past. But in the great e-reader saga, it's clearly the protagonist, and one worth rooting for. The Paperwhite's screen is brilliant in the literal sense of the word, as it glows. The new Kindle isn't the first e-reader with a screen that lights up: Barnes & Noble beat Amazon to the punch by five months with its Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight. But the light-up screen on the new Kindle surpasses the one on the Nook because it solves most (but not all) of the light uniformity issues evident on the earlier device.. Granted, illuminating an e-ink screen is difficult. The most common solution is to use a nano-printed "light guide" — the LEDs sit at the bottom of the device, and a thin plastic screen with tiny patterns etched into it carries the light toward the middle and top of the display. The scores gradually disperse the beams, allowing more light to permeate to the top as the nano guides get further form the light source. This creates an even distribution of soft light, and the whole screen gently glows. It's much less fatiguing than a back-lit screen (like a tablet) and is more comfortable during late-night reading sessions. But, like the Nook, the light source creates a problem: blossoms of LED light appear at the bottom of the screen. It's fainter than the light-source bleed found on the Nook, but it's still there. It's only annoying at the bottom of the screen, but it breaks up the flow of an otherwise flawless screen. Fortunately, the attention Amazon has paid to the rest of the screen makes up for these lighting hiccups. Text on the Kindle Paperwhite is darker and crisper than what I've seen on previous-generation Kindles. Also, the background color of the screen is lighter than previous Kindles. It's less "cardboard" and more "coffee with too much milk." Amazon says the Paperwhite has 25 percent more contrast. Without busting out the contrast spectrometer to test Amazon's claim, I'm going to go with what I can see, and when compared to my last-generation Kindle, it's clear Amazon has indeed increased the contrast of the screen. But this isn't just a screen you look at; it's one you touch. Amazon has added a finish to the capacitive screen that feels like the paper stock used in high-end hardcover books. It's a small detail, and if it were absent, it wouldn't detract from the e-reader. But, it's a nice touch that gives the screen a tactile feel not found on other e-readers. One thing I would've liked to have seen on the Paperwhite: physical page-turn buttons. Touchscreens are great and all, but when you end up losing your place in a book, all the touchy-swipey technology in the world can't sway my belief that sometimes, a physical button is better. Even without buttons, the physical execution of the Paperwhite puts it ahead of the competition. It's light, eminently pocketable, and presents the best electronic reading experience. So the fact that Amazon raised the bar with updates to the Kindle's software feature set is just gravy on the cake. Page turning is simplified. The screen is divided into three sectors. Tap one sector to navigate forward, one to navigate backward, and one to bring up the menu. The "page forward" sector gets the largest swath of real estate, encompassing the bottom 80 percent of the screen and 80 percent of the right-hand side. The left 20 percent is reserved to go back a page. This layout make sense, considering most touches are to advance a book. The remaining top 20 percent of the screen is reserved for access to the system menu. After a few missed taps while trying to find the sweet spot, I was able to navigate to the next page while holding the Kindle in my left hand. I'm a big guy with large hands, so reaching over that 20 percent portion of screen with my thumb is easy. Your tapping mileage may vary. The underlying platform is really the true make-it-or-break-it feature of any e-reader, and Amazon has this dialed. Your current location in the book in displayed in the lower left-hand corner. More impressive is the e-reader's ability to learn your reading speed and give you information on how long it will take you to finish a chapter, or the entire book. I used this "Time to Read" feature at night to help determine if I should stay up another 45 minutes to finish a chapter or just go to sleep. The X-Ray feature that premiered on the Kindle Fire is also available on the Paperwhite. It's an incredibly helpful way to keep track of the hundreds of characters in fantasy novels (or just the five characters in a regular book). I found it especially helpful when reading multiple books in a series like "A Song of Ice and Fire," and I needed help determining which guy was doing the beheading. And it's easy to get trapped reading multiple books at once, thanks to Amazon's ecosystem. Not just the blockbusters (everyone has those), but the Kindle Singles, the sample chapters, the periodicals, the textbooks, the lending services. Nobody can compete with the online retailer's services, or the breadth of its catalog. Amazon Prime subscribers get access to books that can be borrowed for no additional cost. And all of this is accessible from the Kindle's built-in bookstore — which is serviceable, though it's still easier to shop on a real computer. The Kindle Paperwhite starts at $120. That's for the Wi-Fi-only, ad-supported model. You can get the ad-free Kindle for $140, but since you never see an ad in-book (only on the sleep screen, or when browsing your library) it doesn't really matter. In fact, my test unit eventually ended up showing me something I wanted to buy. Throw in free worldwide 3G connectivity, and the prices jump to $180 and $200. It's useful if you're buying books while sitting on the beach in Italy. Otherwise, save yourself some money and go Wi-Fi. I should also point out that Barnes & Noble just dropped the light-up Nook's price to $120 — and that's without ads. But I'd still recommend the Kindle Paperwhite. It has the better software features, the stellar screen, and the unstoppable ecosystem. It keeps its crown as king of the e-readers. Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT! Click here! Copyright 2011 Wired.com. | Review: Kindle Paperwhite keeps Amazon at top of the pile for e-readers . There's a little light bleeding at screen bottom, but overall feel makes up for it . Paperwhite uses only touchscreen with no physical buttons . E-reader is $120 with ads or $140 without . | be01e7888c22d4253a3db9beafd2c231865b8daa |
Leeds United have dropped their interest in Chesterfield defender Liam Cooper after having a second bid rejected by the League One club. Leeds’ initial bid was thought be in the region of £500,000, while the Spireites were holding out for closer to £1million for the 22-year-old. ‘The Elland Road club tweeted on Wednesday: ‘The club can confirm that it has had a second bid for Chesterfield defender Liam Cooper rejected. Transfer: Leeds made two bids for Liam Cooper but both were rejected by Chesterfield . ‘The club will not be progressing with this matter further and any interest in the player has now ended.’ Cooper started his career at Hull before joining Chesterfield in January 2013. He was an instrumental part of Paul Cook’s League Two-winning side last season. Leeds have also shown interest in Rotherham forward Kieran Agard as new manager Dave Hockaday looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new Championship season. Leeds will open talks with free agent Nile Ranger on Thursday. Friendly: Leeds manager David Hockaday with Chesterfield manager Paul Cook this week . | Leeds made two bids for Liam Cooper . Elland Road club's second bid thought to be in the region of £500k . Chesterfield holding out for closer to £1m . | af38bd67920050bd6021b25309521539b5718ff5 |
Colin Kaepernick dressed for the salary he wanted when he donned a pair of 'make it rain' socks to sign his new contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers. The quarterback made the right outfit choice too, since Wednesday's deal to keep him with the 49ers through 2020 for $126million has now made him one of the richest players in the NFL. Kaepernick insists the socks were a coincidence though, since he put them on before finding out what his new paycheck would be. 'I had these on before I found out,' he quipped. 'Luck of the draw.' Lucky socks: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wore flashy 'make it rain' socks when he signed his $126million contract extension with the California team on Wednesday . 'To . be honest, one of my friends gave them to me, gave me a box of socks,' he said. 'No idea what brand or what company, but they were in my . drawer.' The socks that show a hand throwing out dollars bills are currently sold by company 40s and Shorties, and can be purchased online for $12. With his new deal, he can now afford 10,500,500 pairs - that's enough socks to wear a fresh pair every day for the rest of his life... if he lived another 28,768 years. Kaepernicks' new deal includes $61 million in guaranteed money, a person with knowledge of the contract said, speaking on condition of anonymity because terms weren't disclosed. The sides had made it a top priority to get a deal done before the start of training camp next month. Sticking around: Kaepernick will remain with the 49ers through the 2020 season, according to the deal inked Wednesday. Pictured above at a press conference to announce the contract . 'They were able to get it done six weeks earlier than what I think everyone thought,' Kaepernick said. 'I'm very excited to have it done at this point and we don't have to worry about talks or anything like that moving forward.' Kaepernick, whose quick ascent to the ranks of the NFL's elite under center has earned him rock star status, had been due to make less than $1 million this season. Now, the 26-year-old Kaepernick instantly becomes one of the league's richest stars. 'I'm always striving to be in that group. An elite group in the NFL. Not necessarily pay, but as far as a player. Whatever comes along with that comes along with it,' Kaepernick said. 'I'm very grateful for it. ... I don't think my motivation is money-driven.' Since taking over the starting job from Alex Smith two years ago, Kaepernick led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 18 years after the 2012 season — losing by three points to Baltimore — and then to the NFC championship game last season, a three-point defeat to the rival and eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Kaepernick even offered a shoutout to 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick Smith, saying, "I don't think I would be able to be at this point so quickly if he hadn't been such a great mentor to me and helped me along with things." Going for the ring: Kaepernick's main goal in the coming years is to go to as many Super Bowls as he can . Kaepernick's next mission: . 'Trying to win as many Super Bowls as I can,' he said. 'I think that's your goal as a player to try to win a Super Bowl every year that you're playing.' A second-round draft pick out of Nevada in 2011, Kaepernick has thrived under former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh — and the coach has said how much he wants the mobile, strong-armed QB around for the long haul. Accomplishing an extension before the season is a big deal as the team begins its first year in $1.2billion Levi's Stadium at team headquarters. 'I really expect a real breakout year for Colin. Athletically, he looks bionic,' Harbaugh said during the organized team activity last week. 'If you all remember 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' that's what it looks like to me. He's very gifted and he always has been. He has the look and feel of a guy who's really going to break out, even more so than he already has. I'm really excited about everything about his game right now.' Greetings and kind words came via Twitter posts from teammates. 'Congrats to my boy @kaepernick7 on the extension! (hashtag)deserving (hashtag)hardestworkingdudeiknow' wrote fullback Bruce Miller. In a sensational playoff debut in January 2013 against Green Bay, Kap — as they call him — used his speedy legs to run for a quarterback playoff-record 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Then, in a season-opening win against the Packers last September, the strong-armed San Francisco QB threw for a career-best 412 yards and three scores. Rich: Only Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie of Premier League players will earn more than Kaepernick . 'Colin's hard work and dedication have played an integral role in the recent success of the 49ers organization,' 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. 'His work ethic, leadership and on-field production have positively influenced our team, and we look forward to his continued growth in all areas. Our organization always looks to reward our players for their contributions and commitment to the team.' Harbaugh remained optimistic of getting a new deal done, while Kaepernick said his only focus was on football and he was leaving it to his agents to do the rest. The quarterback had said he sought a 'fair' deal. He is regularly the first to arrive at work each morning and the last one off the field. Kaepernick has completed 382 of 639 passes for 5,046 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also has started all six postseason games in which he has appeared, earning four wins and passing for 1,374 yards and seven touchdowns. Kaepernick said last week he hopes a Miami investigation from April that names him will soon be over. He said that matter didn't affect his thoughts about whether it would affect the extension. 'That wasn't something I was worried about,' Kaepernick said. 'I let my agents handle all the talking.' Last month, Miami Police released two calls to a 911 dispatcher saying a woman identifying herself as Jesus was lying naked in a bed and refusing to leave. The callers said the woman wanted to spend time with a third man who wasn't there. Police say the players also involved in the case are 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton and Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette. None of them has been charged with any wrongdoing. 'We're just really thrilled for the Kaepernick family. They're amazing people,' agent Scott Smith said after Kaepernick's news conference. 'We're just so happy for them. We're really grateful of all the hard work the 49ers put into it.' | The 26-year-old quarterback wore a pair of colorful socks with a dollar bill pattern to sign his contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers . He says the socks were just a coincidence since he put them on before he found out about the deal . The new contract has Kaepernick staying with the 49ers through the 2020 season for $126million . | 698650cba122f828c369eee768b73bc5988b2cf8 |
By . Marielle Simon For Daily Mail Australia . One of Tony Abbott's top advisers has warned that Australia has become obsessed with global warming and instead should be worried about global cooling. In a comment piece written for The Australian, Chief Business Adviser Maurice Newman claimed that the country was 'ill-prepared' for plummeting temperatures and dismissed scientific research that suggest the earth is getting hotter. 'The warmth the world has enjoyed for the past 50 years is the result of solar activity, not man-made CO2', he wrote in a controversial blog published on Thursday. Under attack: Maurice Newman (right) has claimed that the planet is at risk of global cooling not global warming. He is a business adviser to Tony Abbott (left) He claimed that politicians have 'put all (their) eggs in one basket' and 'made science a religion... ignoring at its peril and ours, the clear warnings being given by Mother Nature'. The former ABC chairman laid the blame for current policy on the government's 'biased research to pursue “green” gesture politics.' However, his comments have provoked a furious backlash from scientists who said that his ideas were not based on any scientific evidence. Adam Bandt, Green's Deputy leader, labelled Mr Newman's ideas 'almost deranged' and said that Tony Abbott had 'no choice but to dump him as head of the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Council'. Ian Dunlop, scientist for the Climate Change Taskforce, also criticised Mr Newman, branding his comments 'arrogant'. 'The reality is that virtually all the informed scientists around the world and every major institution like the world bank and UN, are investigating climate change in great detail because it is an incredibly complicated problem', he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The vast majority of scientists are saying it is a big problem and we need to get on with addressing it'. Adviser to the Abbott Government, Maurice Newman claims citizens are ill-prepared for global cooling because of biased scientific research led by governments . Adam Bandt twitter . Labor's environment spokesperson Mark Butler took to Twitter to express disbelief over Mr Newman's claims . He said that the government had avoided addressing the issue because of the implications for the economy. 'Unfortunately the governments have been finding it very difficult to take any actions because it means fundamentally changing the way the economy works,' he said. Mr Dunlop said that inaction to tackle the problem was down to fear. 'It all sounds quite scary and it is a huge thing to do, but we do have solutions, we just have to do it,' he said. 'Both Labor and Liberal have agreed that we have to cut emissions down by five per cent by 2020 but the real action we require is that we need to reduce it 50 per cent by 2020.' Global warming scientist Dr Bradley Opdyke dismissed Mr Newman's claim that there the climate was getting cooler rather than warmer. 'The ocean actually says it is getting warmer. 'If you are looking for evidence, good data comes from the ocean because it has a much higher heat capacity,' he said. 'Almost every year over the past 10-15 years there has been a record temperature highs, compared to the 20th centuries temperatures.' Dispute: Climate change scientist Dr Bradely Opdyke said that scientists lacked faith that the government would take action on the issue . Dr Opdyke refuted Mr Newman's claim that climate change is from the sun, rather than CO2, based on no evidence to support that the 'sun's output is increasing over the years.' 'If these people who are meant to advise the government are saying these things, well they are clearly advising the wrong things,' he said, adding that Mr Newman's comments were based on 'absolutely no evidence' and that the research supporting global warming came in a 'truck load.' 'If he had any evidence to support those claims that it was cooler we would probably give him a Nobel Prize,' he said. Speaking to The Guardian, Professor Mathew England described Mr Newman's comments as 'weird' and 'uneducated'. 'The idea that solar cycles can override climate change driven by greenhouse gases is fanciful', he said. 'Saying we aren't prepared for global cooling is like saying we aren't prepared for an alien invasion. There is no credible scientist saying this is on the horizon.' | Maurice Newman said world was 'ill-prepared' for climate cooling . He calls science a religion based on biased research led by politics . Scientists blasted claims, branding him 'uneducated' and 'arrogant . Said there was undeniable evidence that the earth is getting warmer . | 8b44a3f25dd626c5f882f96c02c5705127ea380d |
PUBLISHED: . 06:35 EST, 27 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:29 EST, 27 September 2012 . A diabetic businessman had to have part of his leg amputated after being told a serious infection was athlete's foot. Bob Wareham, 54, had to wait for more than a week to see specialists after the initial consultation mistook the diabetic foot infection for athlete's foot - a mistake which cost him part of his right leg. Mr Wareham, of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, has now won a pay out of £750,000 following a three-year legal battle which ended in an out-of-court settlement. Misdiagnosis: Diabetic businessman Bob Wareham was told he had athlete's foot when he visited medics with a serious infection . His ordeal began when he suffered a foot infection in August 2008. He was prescribed antibiotics for athlete's foot by an out-of-hours GP service based next to Weston General Hospital, but was forced to return to the A&E department two days later. It was during this visit when he discovered he in fact had the diabetic foot infection. But he was still not immediately admitted or referred - an absolute necessity, according to National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines. The problem continued to worsen and Mr Wareham went back to the hospital three days later, when he was admitted but had to wait three more days before being seen by a multi-disciplinary specialist team. But by then it was too late and devastated Mr Wareham had to have part of his right leg amputated at Bristol Royal Infirmary, leaving him with about six inches of leg below the right knee. He said: 'I am faced for the rest of my life with the situation where I have to cope with an amputation through no fault of my own. 'The payout is at the top end of £750,000. Emergency: Mr Wareham had to visit the A&E department at Weston General Hospital two days after the original misdiagnosis . 'But I am a businessman and my time in hospital cost me all my businesses, so there is an element of compensation for that. 'It also has to pay for my future care.' Mr Wareham launched a three-and-a-half year legal battle through his solicitors before the case was settled out-of-court in June. He said: 'With a diabetic person's infection, time is the ultimate factor. 'It has happened now and at least they have been brought to account. 'But, having said that, that's not going to bring my leg back.' Solicitor Justin Goodman said: 'Mr Wareham was awarded a substantial payout as a result of clinical negligence by the out-of-hours general practitioner and the accident and emergency department of Weston General Hospital. 'On every occasion Mr Wareham attended . the out-of-hours GP and the accident and emergency department of Weston . General Hospital, he should have been referred for surgical opinion by . an appropriately experienced surgeon who deals with diabetic foot . infections. 'Had he been referred, he would not have undergone an amputation.' Mr Wareham added: 'It's been a very long and stressful three-and-a-half years to get justice for my mistreatment. 'I can only hope that lessons will be learned from the failures and new or revised procedures will be introduced to avoid a repeat of the mistakes and errors, which led to my unnecessary amputation.' Weston General Hospital and NHS Ligitation Authority both refused to comment last night. | Bob Wareham was told he had athlete's foot when he visited medics with a serious infection . 54-year-old had to wait for more than a week before seeing specialists following misdiagnosis . Been awarded an out-of-court settlement of £750,000 following three-year battle . | 48f87f2cfde769711f4ec00ef69a1a90e43dfff1 |
(CNN) -- Graphic video footage released Monday by the Taliban shows the execution of at least 16 men believed to be Pakistani police officers -- a new escalation in the fight for control of a pivotal country in the global war over Islamic extremism. Seventeen men were executed in total, according to Pakistan's government. The video shows a group of men standing in a line in a patch of dirt along a grassy hillside being berated by an individual holding a firearm. Several armed individuals then open fire on the men, who immediately drop to the ground. The gunmen then proceed to shoot the men in the head one at a time. "Kill the enemy of Allah's faith," the lead gunman says in the video. "These all are the enemy of God religion." "Shoot him again, shoot him in the head," the man says to one of the other gunmen. "All right now he is dead." "Come here, that one too is still alive," the man says, scanning the bodies. "Dead? Yeah, okay come here shoot that one too. A bit lower." Mir Qasim Khan, police chief for Pakistan's Upper Dir district, told CNN the men killed in the video were probably those abducted from his region during a June 1 Taliban attack on the village of Shaltalo. The attack targeted a security check point near the village. Thirty police officers were killed, and more than a dozen more were kidnapped in the assault, Khan said. Taliban representatives allege in the video that the executions were conducted in retaliation for the execution of six children by government security forces in Pakistan's heavily contested Swat Valley. A spokesman for the Pakistani military denied that any such incident took place, calling the claim "absolutely incorrect." "It's wrong, and it's a propaganda tool," Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said. "There was no such incident, and Pakistani children have never been executed by security forces." The militants responsible for the attack are the same individuals who controlled Swat Valley before the Pakistani army recently cleared the region, according to Abbas. The video is "quite repulsive, and it shows the complete merciless and ruthless minds of these terrorists," he said. The Taliban "are quite inhumane, and they use terror as a weapon." Taliban extremists "used to terrorize Swat and now they're trying to bring terror to the Upper Dir region," he claimed. Abbas said he believes the executions occurred in Upper Dir. CNN could not verify the location of the executions or the identity of the victims. Pakistan is a strategically-important nation in the global war over Islamic extremism. Its location next to Afghanistan has put it squarely in the middle of U.S.-led efforts there. The Pakistani military has launched more than 10 offensives against violent extremists in northwest Pakistan in recent years, but for the United States, what matters most is North Waziristan, which U.S. officials call a safe haven for al Qaeda-linked militants who attack American soldiers across the border in Afghanistan. Washington has pressured Pakistan to launch a major offensive in North Waziristan, but the Pakistani military has refused, saying its troops are stretched too thin with other operations in northwest Pakistan. The army's reluctance to attack the Taliban in the district has fueled suspicions that the Pakistani military has links to militant groups in North Waziristan that are undermining the NATO operation in Afghanistan. Pakistani military officials have repeatedly denied the allegations. The relationship between Pakistan and the United States has been in a downward spiral over disputes about how to pursue counterterrorism efforts, particularly in the wake of the May raid on the Pakistani compound where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed. U.S. officials did not tell their counterparts in Pakistan about the raid ahead of time. The United States believes Pakistan is not doing enough to go after al Qaeda and other extremists, while the Pakistanis are upset with what they consider to be unilateral steps taken by the United States within their borders. | Newly released footage shows the execution of at least 16 men . The men are believed to be Pakistani police officers . The Taliban claims responsibility, calling it revenge for the alleged killing of six children . Pakistani authorities deny children were killed, call video part of Taliban's campaign of terror . | 3444ac36a7c1beeafb34daf31902ba58b9e74eab |
(CNN) -- Watching the premiere of "The Informant!" -- the Matt Damon movie about a high-level FBI mole at a large multinational company -- was the mole himself, Mark Whitacre. Mark Whitacre, right, at the premiere of 'The Informant' with Matt Damon. The movie is a dark comic take on the three years Whitacre -- a former divisional president of Archer Daniels Midland, the US-based food additive giant -- spent working undercover to break a global price-fixing conspiracy. Whitacre recognized real episodes in his life on the big screen, such as trying to fix a hidden tape player during a meeting and his delusional belief he would be made CEO of the company as a reward for his undercover work. But what you won't see in the movie are the events of August 9, 1995, six weeks after an FBI raid blew the case into public attention. It was two days after ADM fired Whitacre and accused him of embezzling millions from the company. His FBI partners for the previous three years would no longer speak with him. On that day, Whitacre sat alone in his car with its engine running inside a closed garage and slowly lost consciousness. He was hoping to end his life as surely as he had ended his career. A gardener found him unconscious. Some scenes just can't be played for laughs. "There was nothing comical in the reality of the story," said Whitacre, who eventually spent nearly nine years in prison for his role in the price-fixing scheme and revelations he siphoned off $9 million from the company while he was working for the FBI. For Whitacre, 'The Informant!' is a study in his own mental illness, as he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after hospitalization for his suicide attempt. His meeting with Damon at the premiere was the first time the pair met. Damon told him he hoped they portrayed his illness in a sensitive way, Whitacre said. "He didn't want to talk to a 52-year-old Mark Whitacre while preparing for the role, the Mark Whitacre who went to prison, who has been treated for bipolar disorder, who is now COO of a company," said Whitacre, who is now an executive for a small food supplement maker. "He wanted to portray the 35-year-old Mark Whitacre, otherwise it would make it difficult to portray the delusions I had at that time." The fix is in . For companies and regulators, the 1997 conviction of ADM was a landmark event, the first antitrust action in the United States since World War II and a case that has spurred price-fixing investigations around the world. "As a result of this case, the Department of Justice and the FBI started looking around to see if they could find any other cases like this," said Dean Paisley, a retired FBI agent who supervised the undercover ADM work. "This used to be relatively unusual until the (ADM) case came to light," said John Connor, a Purdue University researcher on cartel activity, who was an expert witness in the government's case against ADM. "Back in 1993 you'd see maybe one or two global (price-fixing schemes) being discovered ... in the past three years or so, there are about 50 a year." Price-fixing schemes -- where a cartel of manufacturers inflate prices against market demand -- cost consumers untold millions each year. In the ADM case, it was found that in the three-year period of investigation the company's cartel activity with manufacturers in Japan and Korea inflated prices by at least $200 million. The ADM case resulted in a record $100 million fine in 1997 -- a figure long since dwarfed. Last month Japanese company Epson agreed to pay $26 million for its role in price-fixing LCD panels used in mobile phones in the U.S. Several other companies, including Sharp, LG and Hitachi, have already pleaded guilty in the case and paid fines of more than $600 million. Just last week, the Hungarian government fined Visa Europe, MasterCard and seven commercial banks a total of $10.4 million for price fixing bank fees (Visa and MasterCard are appealing that decision). Flawed heroes . A sign of cartel activity is usually a sharp and uniform increase in price with a contraction in demand. "But, in fact, in the last 15 or 20 years (governments) have relied almost exclusively on whistle-blowers to make their cases," Connor said. And as Whitacre showed, whistle blowers often don't have noble motives. "The movie should be taken very, very seriously," said Sam Antar, a CPA who turned government witness against his employer in the 1980's. "In white-collar cases, the governments have to rely on informants ... in effect, relying on unsavory characters to make their case," said Antar, who now advises government agencies on white-collar crime. "What happened in 'The Informant,' is he had an agenda to become head honcho of the company," Antar said. "The mistake the FBI agents made in the movie is they fell in love with their witness. It turned out there was a dark side they didn't know about." Whitacre said he began stealing millions from the company while working for the FBI, in part, as a financial backstop in case things went wrong. "I had this sense of false entitlement, like they owe me this ... after all, the company was stealing hundreds of millions." The stress of his double-life undoubtedly added to his mental woes, said Paisley, the original FBI supervisor in the case. He points out that undercover FBI agents receive surveillance training and are pulled for psychological evaluation once a year -- Whitacre received none of that. "There were no provisions for similar checks and balances with Whitacre," Paisley said. "He had no ideas what he was getting into when he agreed to cooperate ... we had no idea it would last three years." Although Whitacre has served his time, Paisley and other agents involved in his case are seeking a presidential pardon. "He really screwed up by stealing," Paisley said. "Be that as it may, how many hundreds of millions would have been stolen if (ADM) wasn't stopped by Mark Whitacre? He is a national hero, in my eyes." | The ADM price-fixing case was a landmark in global antitrust prosecution . Global price-fixing investigations have skyrocketed since the ADM scam . These investigations depend on whistle-blowers who often have dark motives . | 1b4c2215f9325e5b7483f42862192134da270b5a |
(CNN) -- NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, accused of sexually assaulting a woman last summer, said Thursday that he is innocent. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says there is no merit to the accusation. "Saturday was the first that I learned of her accusations," the Pittsburgh Steeler said, calling the accusation reckless, false and an attack on his family. The woman filed a civil complaint against Roethlisberger last week. "I would never, ever force myself on a woman," he said. The complaint, filed Friday in the 2nd Judicial District Court in Washoe County, Nevada, alleges that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted the woman -- an executive casino host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe -- while he was staying at the resort for a celebrity golf tournament in July 2008. Teresa Duffy of the Douglas County, Nevada, Sheriff's Department, said the department does not intend to open an investigation unless the alleged victim comes forward and tells authorities she wants them to. Roethlisberger said that he would not discuss the "civil case in the media," but that he would fight to protect his family and his reputation. Roethlisberger and eight Harrah's employees are named in the suit, which seeks at least $390,000, plus unspecified punitive damages, from the defendants. Harrah's itself is not named as a defendant. The woman said that the employees contributed to her emotional distress and that some defamed her and tried to cover up the incident. According to the complaint, on July 11, 2008, the woman was working on the 17th floor -- the same floor as Roethlisberger's room -- when Roethlisberger told her that his television and sound system were not working. He asked her to try to fix it, the complaint said. When she entered his room and deemed that the television was working, she tried to leave, but Roethlisberger blocked her way, the complaint states. He then, against her will, kissed her, groped her and sexually assaulted her, the complaint states. The woman says that in the months following the incident, she incurred emotional distress that resulted in hospitalizations that included treatment for anxiety and depression, the complaint said. Calvin Dunlap, the woman's attorney, said earlier this week that his client did not pursue criminal charges after the alleged assault because she felt discouraged when the resort's chief of security did not investigate the matter. According to the complaint, the chief told her she was "overreacting." Dunlap said the chief has "close ties to law enforcement." Of the eight employees, all but two are still employed by Harrah's, according to a spokeswoman for Harrah's Entertainment. Marybel Batjer of Harrah's declined to comment on the suit, other than to say that the alleged victim still works at Harrah's Lake Tahoe as an executive casino host. Another Harrah's Entertainment spokesman, Gary Thompson, said the company was "confident that a much different story will emerge and that the Harrah's employees will be dismissed from the lawsuit." Roethlisberger's attorney, David Cornwell, released a statement saying the charges were false. "The timing of a lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct," he said. CNN's Sara Weisfeldt contributed to this report. | "I would never, ever force myself on a woman," Ben Roethlisberger says . Woman filed complaint saying quarterback raped her in Lake Tahoe last summer . Roethlisberger, 8 Harrah's employees named in $390,000 lawsuit . Sheriff's department says it won't investigate unless alleged victim calls for it . | ed1df9b7c58f0da7d3d7cb2d585481a516b8a998 |
By . James Nye . New security footage released today raises the horrifying possibility that Paul Walker was trapped inside his car for up to a minute before the fireball which engulfed his Porsche Carerra GT took hold. Contradicting previous reports that Walker's car exploded in flames on impact in Santa Clarita on Saturday, the video shows no smoke rising from the wreck in the immediate aftermath of the crash which claimed the Fast & Furious star's life and that of driver, Roger Rodas. While the disturbing footage shot from the opposite side of the street does not show the accident, it does reveals what appears to be a significant smash as the car heavily knocks a tree and light pole followed by only wisps of smoke before the inferno erupts after two minutes. Scroll Down for Video . Moment of impact: In the center of the image taken from a security camera opposite the crash scene where Paul Walker died a tree to the left of a light pole can be seen to waver - as Walker's Porsche Carerra GT hits . The footage, obtained by CNN, comes as investigators put a 'security hold' on preliminary findings of the autopsies of the remains of the two tragic victims. However, the autopsies were completed on Tuesday, Los Angeles County Coroner Lt. Fred Corral said. And as the investigation continues, exclusive photographs released to the MailOnline show Walker, 40, celebrating his brother Caleb's wedding as best man. This was to be the last family wedding Paul, 40, would attend - and a stunning album of pictures by Chard photography gives a glimpse at the close-knit family who are now grieving following the actor's death in a car crash on Saturday. In what would be some of the last photos ever taken of the star, Paul is seen posing with his fellow groomsmen at the wedding held on October 23 at Dove Canyon Country Club in Orange County, California. One minute later: This image shows smoke beginning to appear 60 seconds after the impact of the Porsche supercar in Santa Clarita, California . Two minutes later: The first black smoke is seen to rise from the wreckage of the crash - heralding the beginning of the fireball which engulfed the Porsche Carerra GT . The specter of Walker, 40, suffering . in the moments after the crash comes as it was claimed the supercar in . which the Hollywood star died in this week left professionals who tested . it 'white' with fear and was branded 'the most dangerous car on the . road' by a former manufacturer. The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT was being . driven by the Hollywood star's friend and business partner Roger Rodas . when it crashed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, killing both of them. It . has since emerged that car experts have long expressed concern about . the souped-up model's suitability for the road, due to its ultra light . carbon-fiber frame and 5.7 liter race-derived V10 engine. Poignant: One of the last pictures of Paul Walker, as he celebrated the wedding of his beloved younger brother Caleb in October . Smiles: Beaming, the Walker brothers, from left, Cody, Caleb and Paul, pose in the fall sunshine at Caleb's October wedding . It has a flat out speed of 205 miles per hour and its design is derived from earlier Porsche Le Mans models. Porsche knew of the car's sensitivity when they launched the model in 2004. According to TMZ, . a memo circulated to sales staff said of the GT Carrera: 'This vehicle . cannot drive over a Foster Beer can that is lying on its side.' 'You need to be aware of what type of road surface you are on (dips; pot holes, seam heights, etc.) 'The Carrera GT is as close to a racecar as we will ever get, this car has all the disadvantages of a racecar. In . a checkered past, the GT has been crashed by chat show legend Jay Leno, . who lost control while speeding around a circuit in 2005. Another . incident in 2005 saw two sportscar enthusiasts Ben Keaton and Corey . Rudl killed in a racetrack smash in California after the Carrera GT they . were traveling in swerved into a concrete wall. Too dangerous? Both professionals and engineers have voiced concern about the supercar's suitability for the road . Tragic: The aftermath of the car crash that killed Paul Walker showed the vehicle to be out of control. The car has a history of unpredictability, according to reports . In . that case, Porsche paid a portion of the $4.5million compensation fee . awarded to the family of Mr Rudl after it was established there were . 'handling problems' with the vehicle. And yesterday CCTV footage that revealed the precise moment that Paul Walker's Porsche Carrera GT careered into a tree and was released - as one witness claimed that the crash was an accident not a drag race. Tragedy: Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker died in a car crash on Saturday in California . The surveillance footage shot from a nearby rooftop camera and obtained by OMG! Insider shows a plume of black smoke billow into the sky after the crash, just moments before what appears to be a large detonation sends a huge fireball skywards. And on Monday Walker's Fast & Furious co-star Vin Diesel joined crowds who'd gathered to pay their respects. Speaking through a police car loudspeaker, he said: 'If my brother were here right now and saw all the love that you're bringing here. If he could see for himself that all of you have showed up to show my brother love at this hard time. That his family gets to see all of you show the love that you've shown Paul. It's going to stay with me forever. 'I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for coming down here and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciate him. It's going to stay with me for ever.' The footage of the deadly crash which claimed the lives of Walker, 40 and driver, Roger Rodas, 38, was released as images of the dramatic moment cops and emergency workers physically wrestled one of the Fast & Furious star's friends away from the scene also came to light. And following the harrowing video and images, a professional driver who was at the charity show in Santa Clarita has come forward to claim that Rodas and Walker took their car out to check for a suspected mechanical issue and not for a joyride as has been claimed. 'As they were backing up the Carrera to put into the garage, it started stalling. I heard someone say, and I think it was Roger, "Why is the car stalling? Let’s take it around the block", the unidentified witness told Hollywood Reporter. 'Paul said, "Let me go with you really quickly". 'The whole premise of taking the car out for a drive was because something was wrong.' Tragic: This photo was taken just minutes after Walker's car crashed into a pole, and shows the Porsche in flames as fire marshals and police hold back friends who are trying to help . Fireball: People can be seen ducking for cover as smoke from the deadly crash fills the sky in California on Saturday . The wreckage of Paul Walker's Porsche bursts into flames after he slams into a tree along with driver Roger Rodas on Saturday in the tragic crash which claimed both their lives . The individual, who has declined to be named, said from his experiences with Walker and Rodas that the two were not likely to engage in a high-speed race with the Porsche Carrera GT - a car that is notorious for its handling issues at speed. 'These guys are business owners and Paul was a celebrity. They are responsible people. It was more like, 'What the hell is wrong with this car? Let’s see what’s wrong and go for a drive'. 'These guys were more like, 'That’s weird, the car is stalling, let’s figure it out.' The dramatic images from the minutes after the crash show how Walker's friends arrived on the scene and desperately tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers and reach their friend. Tribute: Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel spoke to crowds who'd gathered at the crash site . Fiery wreck: Paul Walker burned alive in this $500,000 Porsche super car after it crashed with him in the passenger seat on Saturday . However, it is alleged that the situation was so hopeless that one of Walker's friends named Nute was so upset at being held back that he punched a firefighter - but was not charged by Sheriff's afterwards according to TMZ.Com . The 30-second video clip, obtained by OMG! Insider, also appears to show that there were no other cars in front or behind of Walker's Porsche in the seconds before the crash - adding to claims that he was not involved in a high-speed drag race before the incident. Instead, it shows cars eventually rush to the scene as friends and passersby heard about the wreck. | New surveillance footage suggests a new timeline of events after Paul Walker's fatal crash on Saturday . Appears to reveal that his Porsche Carerra GT did not burst into a fireball on impact . Instead, there are no signs of flames for more than 60 seconds after the crash . Significant black smoke and flames are not visible until two minutes after the crash . | 0b7025eb9e9798ccf340289a909c57d73148b117 |
By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 13:20 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:54 EST, 6 February 2013 . The Duchess of Cornwall is to give some comfort to victims of rape and sexual assault by distributing hundreds of wash bags filled with toiletries. Camilla came up with the idea after meeting victims in Derbyshire and discussing what would make them feel ‘more human’ after going through such a traumatic ordeal and subsequent forensic examinations. Staff at her private office at Clarence House are making up 750 bags using donations of shampoo and body wash from companies including Marks & Spencer, Champneys, 2 True and Trevor Sorbie. New initiative: The Duchess of Cornwall, pictured at Clarence House, has launched a new scheme to distribute wash bags filled with donated toiletries to the victims of rape and sexual abuse . They will be distributed through The . Havens – centres for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted – . on a two-year trial basis, although there are hopes to expand the . initiative. The Duchess told the Mail yesterday that she had been deeply moved by the stories of the women she had met. ‘When you are ill, the first thing . that you want to do is wash your hair and clean your teeth. The same . applies here,’ she said. ‘It is a small something to make women and girls who go through such a terrible ordeal feel just a little bit human again. Support: The Duchess of Cornwall, right, talks to the survivor of a brutal gang rape Mia James, left, about the scheme during a reception in support of victims of rape and sexual abuse at Clarence House . ‘We are starting in a small way but I . hope that we will be able to expand the scheme. It won’t change what . has happened but might offer a small crumb of comfort at what is a very . difficult time.’ Camilla was speaking at a reception at . Clarence House. Among the 85 guests were Home Secretary Theresa May, . Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer, police and representatives . from victims’ groups. Mia James, 29, who was gang-raped at . the age of 16, said she welcomed the Duchess’s involvement. ‘It’s a . small thing but there is a feeling, after you have gone through . something like that, of wanting to get every trace of it off you,’ she . said. ‘I think this is a great initiative. We need somebody high profile to raise awareness.’ Helping hand: The Duchess of Cornwall and the Baroness Scotland of Asthal discuss the new project to help rape victims 'feel human again' Making a difference: The Duchess of Cornwall, pictured talking to Kier Starmer QC and Director of public prosecutions, came up with the idea after speaking to rape victims . Miss James, from south-east London, said no one was ever brought to justice for attacking her. Jo Delaforce, matron at The Haven in . Camberwell, south-east London, one of the three centres involved in the . project, added: ‘It will make a big difference. It won’t take away what . has happened to them [the victims], but it gives them a bit of TLC.’ Camilla, who has visited nine rape . crisis and sexual assault referral centres in the UK since 2009, spoke . of the importance of forming a ‘united front to help victims of rape and . sexual abuse’. ‘Over the past few years, I have seen . for myself some of the remarkable work being undertaken by . representatives of rape crisis organisations, the National Health . Service and the police across the country... who provide a lifeline to . the women, the children and the men, who have been left shamed and . traumatised through no fault of their own,’ she said. ‘Perhaps, from this small beginning, . we will be able to build a future where society will simply not tolerate . rape and sexual abuse any longer.’ Trial: Home Secretary Teresa May, right, also attended the reception where The Duchess launched the scheme which will be distributed in London in a two year trial before possibly being rolled-out nationwide . | Camilla came up with the wash bag idea after meeting rape survivors . Clarence . House staff are making up 750 bags full of shampoo and body wash . Products have been donated from companies including Marks and Spencer, Champneys, 2 True . and Trevor Sorbie . If successful, the Duchess hopes the scheme will be rolled-out nationwide . | 8f31903f3a197c33f1494156834512b5cbed1201 |
Benefits will be stripped from the long-term jobless unless they work full time picking up litter, removing graffiti or preparing meals for the elderly. George Osborne will today announce details of the US-style ‘work for the dole’ programme, starting within six months and affecting 200,000 welfare claimants. Revealed by the Mail last week, the £300million scheme ends the concept of simply ‘signing on’, the Chancellor will tell the Tory party conference. Crackdown: Chancellor George Osborne insisted this 'no option of doing nothing for your benefits' New policy: Around 200,000 unemployed people claiming jobseeker's allowance in the UK will be affected by a new Tory 'work for your dole' scheme . And he will accuse Labour of allowing people to linger on benefits for years – with no questions asked – while letting uncontrolled numbers of migrants fill low-paid jobs. Speaking on ITV's Daybreak ahead of his speech, Mr Osborne said: 'From now on, people are going to have to do something in return for those benefits. 'These are people who have been unemployed for three years, and we’re saying in return for that you’ve either got to do some work in your community like cleaning the graffiti up or cooking meals for the elderly or you’ve got to be signing on every day at the Jobcentre, or you need to be getting real help with some of, perhaps, your underlying problems like a drug problem or illiteracy. 'So we’re saying there’s no option of doing nothing for your benefits. No something for nothing anymore. 'People are going to have to do things to get their dole and that is going to help them into work – that is the crucial point. This is all activity that is actually going to help them get ready for the world of work.' Mr Osborne’s announcement is the centrepiece of the second day of the Manchester conference. In other key developments: . The ‘Help to Work’ scheme – quickly dubbed ‘Made to Work’ – is likely to face furious opposition from left-wing activists and charities. Workfare: The new benefits rule is the centrepiece of Mr Osborne's speech at the Tory party conference in Manchester . But Mr Osborne will tell Tory delegates: . ‘For the first time, all long-term unemployed people who are capable of . work will be required to do something in return for their benefits to . help them find work. ‘They will do useful work to put . something back into their community – making meals for the elderly, . clearing up litter, working for a local charity. Others will be made to . attend the job centre every working day. ‘And for those with underlying problems, like drug addiction and illiteracy, there will be an intensive regime of help. No one will be ignored or left without help. But no one will get something for nothing.’ The Liberal Democrats have agreed that the scheme, which is larger than expected, should begin next April – confirming welfare as a major election issue. Around 200,000 jobseeker’s allowance claimants will be affected each year. Mr Osborne will also use his speech to the conference to warn that ‘many risks remain’ to the economic recovery. He will argue that what matters most for living standards are ‘jobs, and low mortgage rates, and lower taxes’ – an implied rebuke to Labour leader Ed Miliband’s proposal to use 1970s-style laws to fix energy prices. But the Chancellor will warn that family finances will ‘not be transformed overnight’ because Britain was made ‘much poorer’ by the economic crash of 2007 and 2008. At the conference: The announcement comes after David Cameron revealed the Help to Buy mortgage scheme is being brought forward to next week . And he will argue that it is crucial . for Britain’s future economic health that the long-term unemployed no . longer have ‘a life on the dole’. The . £300million Help to Work scheme, the Chancellor will say, will be . funded from spending cuts and savings elsewhere, to be detailed in the . autumn statement. A slimline Michael Gove yesterday denied he is shaping up for a leadership battle. The Education Secretary, who has been to a ‘fat farm’ in Austria, insisted he was an ‘inconceivable choice’ to head the Tories and would in no circumstances put himself forward. ‘I don’t want to do it, I wouldn’t do it,’ he said. ‘It wouldn’t matter how many people asked me to do it – I don’t think there would be very many.’ In the unlikely event that he is suddenly ‘possessed of the idea’, he said: ‘Those who know me best of all would try to stop me. Absolutely no.’ Mr Gove, a close ally of David Cameron and often tipped as a future leader, unveiled his new look at the party conference. His spell at the £2,500-a-week health spa saw him lose a reported two stone from his 15-stone starting point. At the clinic on the shores of Lake Worthersee, popular with Liz Hurley and the Duchess of York, he was restricted to 600 calories a day and denied caffeine and alcohol. Treatments include colonic irrigation and blood-letting. A fellow visitor said he was the only man there. Claimants put on community work . placements will have to do 30 hours a week for six months, plus ten . hours of job search activity a week, and show they are doing ‘everything . they can’ to find paid work. Placements will have to be of wider benefit to the community as well as the individual claimant. Those . who break the rules will lose four weeks of benefits for their first . breach of the rules, and a quarter of a year’s worth for any second . offence. ‘By the time . Labour left office, five million people were on out-of-work benefits. 'What a waste of life and talent,’ Mr Osborne will say. ‘A generation of people recycled through the job centres – collecting their dole cheques year in year out, and no one seemed to notice. 'For an open-door immigration policy meant those running the economy didn’t care: there was always a ready supply of low-skilled labour from abroad. Well, never again.’ The Chancellor will argue that, under Labour’s welfare system, people were better off on benefits than in work and nothing was asked for in return for handouts. Rachel Reeves, Labour’s Treasury spokesman, said: ‘It’s taken three wasted years of rising long-term unemployment and a failed Work Programme to come up with this new scheme. ‘But this policy is not as ambitious as Labour’s compulsory jobs guarantee, which would ensure there is a paid job for every young person out of work for over 12 months and every adult unemployed for more than two years. ‘With Labour’s plans we would work with employers to ensure there are jobs for young people and the long-term unemployed – which they would have to take up or lose benefits. 'Under the Tory scheme people would still be allowed to languish on the dole for years on end without having a proper job.’ The Conservatives will not accept the introduction of a ‘mansion tax’ as the price of another power-sharing deal with the Liberal Democrats. David Cameron took the unusual step of revealing that he considers the proposal a ‘red line’ and will never bring it in as long as he remains Prime Minister. The only other issue he has indicated would be a deal-breaker in a future coalition is a referendum on Europe. Red line': Prime Minister David Cameron today told The Andrew Marr Show the Conservatives will not introduce a mansion tax . The Prime Minister said a tax on expensive homes was ‘not a good idea’, insisting wealth taxes were ‘not sensible’ for a country that wants to attract entrepreneurs. New statistics released by the Treasury show that the richest are already contributing more income tax now than under Labour. The richest 0.1 per cent – people on more than £160,000 – will contribute 14.1 per cent of total income tax this year – up 22 per cent on the previous 12 months. A mansion tax – a long-term demand of the Lib Dems – would see a one per cent levy placed on a property’s value above £2million. ‘I don’t think this is a good idea,’ Mr Cameron told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show. ‘It’s right people pay council tax, it’s right people pay stamp duty, we’ve put that up, it’s right people pay a decent top rate of tax, that’s 45p in the pound in this country. But to go after someone’s house every year with a wealth tax, I don’t think that is a sensible thing to do.’ | George Osborne will announce the £300m 'work for the dole' scheme today . Will be funded from spending cuts to be detailed in the autumn statement . Could be introduced within 6 months, affecting 200,000 on welfare . Claimants would have to do 30 hours a week in a work placement . A ‘deport first, appeal later’ regime for foreign criminals and illegal immigrants will be announced by Theresa May; . David Cameron gave the strongest hint yet that a majority Tory government would withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights; . The ‘Help to Buy’ mortgage scheme is to be brought forward to next week; . Labour and the Lib Dems were accused of ‘sneering’ at marriage for condemning a tax break for married couples; . Tory HQ vowed to stop a handful of MPs trying to stand as joint Conservative-Ukip candidates. | 2876cf2551b4d3131aa3ccff31c8d7c8b9eb5921 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:23 EST, 19 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:18 EST, 20 November 2013 . Nurses are being left in charge of up to 22 frail patients at night, figures show. Patients are routinely having to wait in agony for almost an hour before a nurse can administer pain relief. Senior nurses also say they are having to give advice to junior doctors because there are so few consultants on the wards. 'Unacceptable': The Royal College of Nursing says it is not safe to have just one registered nurse looking after a ward overnight . Figures show that at two hospitals – . Hemel Hempstead and Watford General, both part of West Hertfordshire NHS . trust – one nurse was left in charge of 22 elderly patients at night. At . Hinchingbrooke hospital in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, there was one . nurse for 21 patients while there was one for 16 patients at Colchester . hospital, in Essex. The . figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Royal . College of Nursing. They emerged as the Government announced plans . yesterday for hospitals to publish the number of nurses working on each . ward. Patients will be able . to check the figures for their local hospital – as well as the . percentage of shifts that meet 'safe staffing' levels – on a new NHS . safety website from next June. The RCN says there should be at least one nurse for every eight patients, although there are no national guidelines. One registered nurse: Colchester General Hospital was one of the hospitals that had one registered nurse working . Karen . Webb, a member of the RCN's East of England branch, said nurses had . been ringing her in tears, distressed that they were unable to help . patients in pain. Miss Webb . said: 'We started to get calls from nurses very distressed, saying they . were doing shifts on their own. It's an unbearable emotional burden for . them if they cannot help patients – as nurses they want to be able to . care. 'Nurses cannot give . good, compassionate care or even check pain-killing medication in those . circumstances. It's just not safe and is completely unacceptable. 'The majority of patients in hospital are over 70 and they are often very dependent on help.' Rules . state that there must be two nurses present if a patient is being given . certain types of injection, including pain relief into their muscles or . veins. But if there is only . one nurse on a ward overnight, they would have to wait for a colleague . to come from a different area of the hospital before they can administer . treatment. This can mean patients are left waiting in pain for up to 45 minutes before the extra nurse arrives. Safe Staffing Alliance: The RCN is part of the Safe Staffing Alliance, which says there should be a minimum of one nurse caring for every eight patients . Trusts were not able to break down the Freedom of Information request results to explain whether the solitary member of staff on duty was on a full-time or temporary contract. The RCN is part of the Safe Staffing Alliance, which says there should be a minimum of one nurse caring for every eight patients. The figure is based on research from Southampton University, which found that hospitals with more than eight patients per registered nurse (during the day time on general acute wards) would see around 20 extra deaths a year than better staffed hospitals. The RCN said in a report: 'Anecdotally, we had heard from members and the public that registered nurses in some hospitals were looking after wards single-handedly with only a healthcare assistant in support. 'Nurses were also covering at night to support inexperienced junior doctors due to a shortage of senior medical supervision.' 'The survey shows that all hospitals were struggling to cover night shifts and relied on hundreds of temporary staff (bank and agency nursing staff plus locum doctors) to look after patients.' The RCN says on January 14, five hospitals had inpatient wards staffed by one registered nurse. 'This would result in delays for patients receiving pain relief and intravenous fluids.' The report continued, 'At best, the clinical outcomes for patients in these areas on the night surveyed should have been documented as a "near miss clinical incident".' Hinchingbrooke Hospital: The Cambridgeshire hospital was one of the five hospitals to have one nurse working on the chosen evening . A spokesman for Hinchingbrooke Hospital said they only had five patients in the ward on the night of the survey. He said: 'The report only looks at the number of beds in the ward, not the number of patients. 'At . the time in question, there were only five patients in the ward. We had . full cover from one full-time nurse and a health care assistant, which . is much higher than the recommended staffing cover.' A spokesman for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We are passionate about nursing and have made a huge commitment and investment to increase our nursing workforce during 2013 to care for higher numbers of patients and higher levels of sickness. 'We have increased the number of nursing posts and the number of nursing staff in post while at the same time reducing the number of vacancies. 'The trust has more nurses working evenings and weekends and we’ve also been recruiting more experienced, senior nurses so that there will be three Band 6 nurses working on each ward. 'We’re also currently implementing a recommendation of the Francis report which is to make all ward senior nurses ‘supervisory’ and recruiting more nurses to do the hands-on nursing work they currently carry out.' A spokeswoman for West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘We are pleased to report that in May our Trust Board agreed to invest an additional £3.9 million per year to recruit 160 additional nurses to staff our inpatient wards, with temporary and agency nurses being employed (to fill the shortfall) whilst permanent staff were recruited. ‘Since June, we have offered jobs to 196 nurses (which covers the 160 additional nurses, as well as emerging vacancies, i.e. as other nurses retire or leave our hospitals). 60 of these nurses have already started. ‘We now review our ward staffing on a daily basis to ensure our levels are appropriate and will shortly start publishing them at our ward entrances.’ The health minister's reforms come in the wake of the Mid-Staffs scandal. He told MPs 'cruelty became the norm in the NHS and no-one noticed' and said his new measures, including publishing Ofsted-style ratings for hospitals, will give patients confidence in the health system. Officials suggest the new regime would prevent those such as Martin Yeates, the chief executive of Mid Staffordshire when up to 1,200 died needlessly, from ever running a trust again. Inquiry: Dorothy Simpson died at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital . A great-grandmother Dorothy Simpson died after calling her family from her hospital bed to say she couldn't breathe. Her son, Jim, rushed to her side at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital but when he arrived 20 minutes later she had died. The hospital's inquiry showed a catalogue of errors and said the 84-year-old should not have been left on her own 'at any stage'. It also said there was a 'delay in obtaining antibiotics in liquid form' and a reduced number of nurses on the ward at one point close to when she died. An investigation revealed failings in care and Chief Executive Tony Spotswood has now written to her family to say sorry. 'It is clear from our investigation that you and your family had a very poor experience whilst your mother was under our care, and for this I am extremely sorry,' he wrote. Mr Spotswood, admitted her son, Jim, 'found her alone, with the observation machine alarming and sadly it appeared that your mother had very recently passed away'. Mr Spotswood said there has since been a change in leadership on Ward 3 and a 'very experienced' ward sister has since been recruited. | Five hospitals had one nurse working overnight . RCN said it was not safe and labelled it 'unacceptable' Five hospitals in the east of England had one nurse on duty overnight . Colchester Hospital among wards with one nurse working . RCN says there should be one nurse per eight patients . | 732899af41f485e71318d0f9344ee06d4261739b |
By . Lizzie Edmonds . Iain Harrison confessed to the attempted murder of his terminally ill mother. He told his psychiatrist two years after Hope Harrison, 74, died he had smothered her - and had been consumed with guilt ever since . A man has avoided jail after he tried to murder his terminally ill mother by smothering her with a pillow in an act of attempted euthanasia. Iain Harrison, 50, from Weymouth, Dorset, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of 74-year-old Hope Harrison. A court heard how Mrs Harrison had been diagnosed with lung cancer and . was admitted to the Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, in March 2011 . when her condition worsened. Mrs Harrison died on April 2. Doctors assumed . she had passed away naturally and her death . certificate recorded the cause as a small valve obstruction and cancer. However, two years later Harrison confessed to a psychiatrist he had smothered his mother and he had been 'consumed with guilt after killing his mother by suffocating her' ever since. The police were called in and Mr Harrison . was charged with attempted murder as there was no medical evidence that . he actually caused her death, despite his admission. He was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to a two-year prison term, suspended for 18 months, today. The court heard how, on 29 March 2011, Mrs Harrison, whose cancer had spread and was in a great deal of pain, was admitted to hospital and was expected to die within a couple of days. Seeing her suffering in pain, Mr . Harrison asked a nurse if there was anything they ‘could do’ for her and . was told they could only make her comfortable. The nurse made a note of his request in the log at 8pm on April 2, 2011. Mrs Harrison died on the same evening. Following her death Harrison became depressed and attempted to commit suicide. He also had professional help from a psychiatrist - to whom he made his confession. John Locke, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex, told the court how, although it could not be proven Harrison had killed his mother, his confession was enough for a prosecution. He said: 'This is a very sad case, where a son admitted carrying out an act that amounted to the attempted murder of his terminally ill mother because he could not bear seeing her suffering. 'As distressing as it is to see a loved one suffering and dying from cancer or a terminal illness, it is not for a person to decide when someone should die. Euthanasia is effectively murder and murder is a crime. 'The court heard how Hope Harrison, 74, was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2010 and that the prognosis was that she had not long to live. 'On March 29 2011 she was admitted to Dorset County Hospital after her condition worsened. Her cancer had spread elsewhere in her body and she was in great pain. Mrs Harrison was admitted to Dorset County Hospital, pictured, in March 2011 with only days to live. She died on April 2 - with doctors believing she passed away from natural causes . 'It was felt by her consultant that she would not benefit from surgical intervention; she was to be kept as comfortable as possible as her death was inevitable. 'The nurse in attendance at the time entered in her log book that Mrs Harrison’s 50-year-old son Iain was at her side and asked the nurse to help his mother as she was in great pain. Mrs Harrison was given morphine and midazolam. 'Mr Harrison asked the nurse if there was anything he could do, and the nurse told him that they could only make her comfortable and the only thing he needed to do was to be on her side when she eventually passed away. Mrs Harrison died on the evening of April 2 2011. 'Mr Harrison started to see a psychiatrist as following the death of his mother he suffered from depression. 'On two occasions he tried to commit suicide and he seriously injured himself by jumping from the window of his fourth floor flat. On February 21 2013 he confessed to this psychiatrist he was consumed with guilt after killing his mother by suffocating her. 'He then called the police who arrested him. He made the same confession to the police after declining to have a solicitor. 'After a careful and thorough review of all the evidence in this case, I decided that there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to charge Mr Harrison with an offence of attempted murder, an offence that he pleaded guilty to on February 21 2014. 'Mrs Harrison’s consultant said that her death was inevitable and it was therefore not possible for the prosecution to prove that her son had actually killed her. 'However it was possible to prove that he attempted to do so, based on his own admission.' | Iain Harrison, 50, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of his mother Hope . Mrs Harrison, 74, admitted to hospital in March 2011 with terminal cancer . She died on April 2 - with doctors assuming she passed away naturally . Two years later, Harrison confessed to a psychiatrist he smothered her . Said he had been 'consumed with guilt' for 'suffocating' his mother . Charged with attempted murder despite no proof she died by smothering . Sentenced to two-year prison term, suspended for 18 months, today . | 81f829e8d74d6c0930845b84bddff0a609f9a6b6 |
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