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David Cameron entertained supermodel Claudia Schiffer at his official country retreat, official record revealed this morning. The Prime Minister dined with the pin-up and her English film producer husband, Matthew Vaughn, at a Chequers gathering. The glamorous pair attended as guests of US ambassador Matthew Barzun, according to an illustrious list of names entertained at Chequers between January and March which was released this morning. Matthew Vaughn (left), pictured with his supermodel wife Claudia Schiffer and David Cameron in 2008, is a long-term supporter of the Prime Minister . Samantha Cameron and Claudia Schiffer dined together at the British Fashion Awards dinner at The Savoy in 2010 . Mr Cameron also held a lunch with Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in February, the first such royal visit to the grace-and-favour Buckinghamshire mansion for more than four decades. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte paid a visit as the PM continued efforts to secure allies in his EU reform effort. Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland, ex-MI5 chief Baroness Manningham-Buller and the head of the UK's armed forces General Sir Nicholas Houghton and the other service chiefs were also guests. The Prime Minister was sufficiently impressed by a watch gifted to him by Interpol to pay £150 to keep it, while a pair of shoes given by designer outfit Oliver Sweeney cost him £279. Wine presented by the prime minister of Moldova was served to official guests and a trinket box and coat from outgoing Afghan president Hamid Karzai was retained by Number 10 as it was worth more than the allowed limit. Film director Richard Curtis - whose movie Love Actually featured Hugh Grant as prime minister - met Mr Cameron in March. Chequers, the Prime Minister's official country residence, in Buckinghamshire - just an hour from Mr Cameron's Witney constituency . Claudia Schiffer, pictured with her British husband Matthew Vaughn (left), was invited to Number 10 by Samantha Cameron during London fashion week (right) in 2010 . Rather than offering tips on how to dance around Number 10 or stand up to the USA, as Grant's character did, the talks focused on Curtis's campaigning on international development, according to the official disclosure. Film director Richard Curtis - whose movie Love Actually featured Hugh Grant as prime minister - met Mr Cameron in March. Rather than offering tips on how to dance around Number 10 or stand up to the USA, as Grant's character did, the talks focused on Curtis's campaigning on international development, according to the official disclosure. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were invited to Chequers for lunch with David Cameron and his wife Samantha in February . In the first three months of the year Michael Gove registered more than £1,300 worth of gifted opera tickets, the data release revealed. Property and petrol station tycoon Gerald Ronson donated tickets worth £462.80, Ken Costa former investment banker and chairman of the Christian Alpha International £476 and English National Opera chairman Martyn Rose £394. Mr Gove, then education secretary - Chief Whip since the reshuffle - was also the recipient of football tickets worth GBP500 from Access Industries. | PM entertained pin-up and film producer husband Matthew Vaughn . Glamorous pair attended as guests of US ambassador Matthew Barzun . Mr Cameron's dinner guests revealed in official documents published today . The PM also had lunch with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in February . | 68acfdf5511e9af368dffb32c3d27c9d9b7e691b |
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 10:00 EST, 22 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:29 EST, 22 August 2013 . Ben Fitchett, 14, died after apparently jumping from a motorway bridge. His family said the 'popular' pupil was immensely loved. The 'shocked and devastated' family of a 14-year-old boy who died after apparently jumping from a motorway bridge has paid tribute to an 'immensely loved son with the ability to make everybody smile'. Police in Greater Manchester were called at 7.20am on Monday following reports someone had fallen from a bridge on the M62, eastbound, near to junction 20. Officers attended and discovered the body of a young man who was pronounced dead at the scene. He has now been identified as 14-year-old Ben Fitchett from Rochdale. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death at this stage but it does appear that the youngster jumped from the bridge. A source said there were no indication that the death was related to bullying or harassment on social media. The matter will be passed to the coroner once a full investigation is completed, police said. In a statement released through Greater Manchester Police, the family said: 'Family and friends are shocked and devastated by the sudden and unexpected death of Benjamin Fitchett. 'Ben is the immensely loved son of Sarah and Peter, twin brother to Sam, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend to many, and the much loved boyfriend of Clarissa. 'He was a popular pupil at Crompton House School, and was due to return into Year 10 shortly. 'He was a dedicated and hard working pupil who excelled at history, drama and art and also recently did his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. 'Ben was an active member of the Royton Explorer Scouts and had only just returned from an enjoyable and amazing holiday experience in Switzerland. 'He also volunteered helping the Beaver Scouts at 12th Shaw.' Greater Manchester Police are working to establish the circumstances that led to his death. File picture . The family statement said Ben was 'a talented percussionist' who enjoyed the experience of playing alongside his proud father with the Championship Section Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band, and previously with the Oldham Music Centre. The statement continued: 'Ben was very much into his music and particularly enjoyed listening to the group All Time Low. 'He will be fondly remembered for his fantastic sense of humour and his ability to make everyone smile. 'He touched the lives of so many people, leaving a positive lasting impression on those around him. 'His family and friends and the local community have been overwhelmed and comforted by the love, prayers and support from everybody.' Sergeant Danny Byrne, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: 'This is a tragic incident and we are keen to establish the circumstances leading to Ben’s death. 'My thoughts are with Ben’s family at this devastating time and I ask that everyone allows them time to come to terms with what’s happened. 'If you saw a young man on Broad Lane, the bridge across the M62 close to junction 20, around 7am on Monday morning we’d be interested to hear from you.' Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 4741. | Ben Fitchett, 14, fell from a bridge near Rochdale in Greater Manchester . His family said he was popular at school and 'immensely loved' He was gifted academically and volunteered with Beaver Scouts . For emotional support contact The Samaritans on 08457 909090 or click here to go to their website . | ac5d0405ff67a500d2b19714622951ba1190c08f |
A band of rogue Philadelphia police officers allegedly held a drug suspect over the balcony railing of his 18th-floor apartment as an interrogation technique, federal prosecutors say. In another instance, according to prosecutors, the six officers allegedly kidnapped a drug suspect and kept him in a hotel room for days while threatening his family. In what Philadelphia's police commissioner described as one of the worst cases of corruption, the six officers were arrested Wednesday on a range of charges, including conspiracy, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and drug dealing. The case centers on a six-year scheme in which they allegedly pocketed $500,000 in drugs, cash and personal property, including Rolex watches and designer suits, authorities said. The officers -- identified as Thomas Liciardello, 38; Brian Reynolds, 43; Michael Spicer, 46; Perry Betts, 46; Linwood Norman, 46; and John Speiser, 44 -- were arrested at their homes, authorities said. They were members of Philadelphia Police Department's narcotics field unit. Attempts to contact the officers for comment were unsuccessful. It was unclear whether they have hired lawyers. The arrests came after a nearly two-year joint investigation by the FBI, federal prosecutors and Philadelphia Police internal affairs unit, said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said. The suspects were named in a 42-page indictment unsealed on Wednesday. "I have been a police officer for more than 40 years, and this is one of the worst cases of corruption that I have ever heard," Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey told reporters. Memeger said the officers allegedly engaged in an array of criminal activities, including beatings, threats to shoot a suspect, entering homes without warrants for the purpose of stealing money and drugs, and the distribution of narcotics. "The reprehensible conduct alleged to have been committed by the six charged officers tarnishes the badge held by the thousands of officers who currently serve -- and have previously served -- this city with distinction," Memeger told reporters. The officers often filed false police reports to conceal their activities, Memeger said. Investigators used information provided by Jeffrey Walker, a former member of the narcotics unit, to build a case against the officers, Ramsey said. In May 2013, Walker was arrested on charges of robbery, extortion and using his position as a police officer to commit criminal acts, according to a criminal complaint. Walker pleaded guilty to robbery charges and will be sentenced on November 4, according to Patty Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Investigators corroborated information provided by Walker to indict the six officers, authorities said. The six officers were pulled off the street and removed from narcotics investigations after the district Attorney's Office informed the police commissioner that their testimony could no longer be used in cases, Ramsey said. The officers were not fired at the time in an effort to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation, Ramsey said. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is reviewing previous convictions involving the six officers, according to a statement. The office said it has no open cases involving Liciardello, Reynolds, Spicer, Betts and Speiser at this time. Cases involving Norman will be reviewed for the relevant period. If convicted, the officers could face between 40 years and life in prison, according to Memeger. Puerto Rican police indicted for running 'criminal organization' San Francisco corruption probe ensnares five cops and one retired officer . | Six officers arrested were members of the Philadelphia PD's narcotics field unit . Federal prosecutors accuse the officers of robbing, extorting and kidnapping drug dealers . The arrests were based on information from a former officer who was also charged . | 845d65ebf6dbf7921fbd3f1e5ca6ab943db4f681 |
A pilot who crashed his plane into a mountainside after he was overcome with grief at losing one of his sons has miraculously survived with just scratches - and credits his son with saving his life. Mark Darling was flying alone from Baggs, Wyoming, to Greeley, Colorado on January 25 when he flew over Steamboat Springs, Colorado - where he raised his family - and thought of his son, Travis, who was just 23 when he was killed in a car crash in October 2012. Darling, 55, made a split-second decision to end his life. 'I make a bad decision at this point,' he told KCNC. 'I turn the airplane east toward the mountains. I say my last goodbyes... I closed my eyes and I wait for the impact.' Scroll down for video . Lucky escape: Mark Darling was overcome with grief about the death of his son as he flew his plane in Colorado last month and tried to take his life by crashing the plane - but he survived without a scratch . But it never came. Instead, he felt as the Cessna 172F high-wing plane cruised through trees and crumpled at it landed in the snow, miraculously leaving him without a scratch. He found himself stranded on the snow-covered mountain without any survival equipment. He had also not logged a flight plan so no one would have known where to look when he failed to return. Despite his earlier death wish, he said he suddenly felt determination to survive - because he heard his son speak to him. 'He's like, "Dad, you are not going out like this",' he recalled. '"You're going to get yourself up and you're going to build a fire and you're going to get yourself out of here".' He reached for his phone but could not find it anywhere in the wreckage. Loss: Darling's 23-year-old son Travis, pictured left and right, was killed in a car crash in October 2012 . Wreckage: Darling's plan was destroyed when he hit the mountain - but he did not suffer a single injury . At that point, his son spoke to him again and guided him to the other side of the plane, where he found his phone in the snow, he said. He called his sister and 911, and set up a fire as he waited for emergency responders. Seven hours after he crashed, eight members of Routt County Search and Rescue rode snowmobiles to him and took him to hospital. The NTSB is investigating the crash and Darling, who is married with three other sons and a daughter, has not yet spoken to investigators. His son Travis was killed in 2012 after his pickup went off the road near Rockdale, Texas and rolled over. The accomplished rodeo cowboy had moved to the area just a week before to start a new job on a ranch, according to an article in Steamboat Today. Saved: He says his son's voice guided him to his cell phone and he called family and 911. Seven hours after the crash, emergency responders reached him and stretchered him to safety, pictured . Despite the ramifications of speaking out publicly about his story, Mark Darling said he is now inspired to share the tale of survival with other people who are grieving. 'I've never felt more alive in my life,' he said. 'I don't know what direction it's going to lead me in but, heck yeah, I'm along for the ride now.' See below for video . | Mark Darling, 55, was flying over Steamboat Springs, Colorado last month when he thought about his son Travis, who died in a car crash in 2012 . He turned his plane towards the mountain and crashed - but miraculously was not injured . He says his son's voice encouraged him to survive and guided him to his cell phone, which had landed in the snow . He called 911 and was rescued after seven hours in freezing conditions . For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch, or click here . | 697de3317f73badf6481af3b2059487ffde5778a |
(CNN) -- A polo handicap, it has been said, is a passport to the world -- and this has certainly proved true in my case. I first took up polo eight years ago on a trip to Argentina. It has long been my philosophy that no hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle, and I have dabbled in equestrian sports ranging from eventing to flat racing. But few sports can match the all-consuming thrill of galloping up and down a 300 by 160 yard field waving a big stick. From my very first chukka I was, as the pun goes, 'hooked'. Argentina has been polo's spiritual home since British and Irish engineers introduced the sport in the late 19th century. There, it found fertile soil among the gauchos (Argentinian cowboys) and their brave, nimble horses. Today, several estancia (private estates) throughout Argentina offer fully-immersive polo holidays, to which new entrants to the sport flock like pilgrims to the holy land. There, beginners can learn how to ride one-handed, swing a mallet and swear in Spanish. The attraction of polo is easy to understand. From Jilly Cooper to Pretty Woman, polo has been used as shorthand to suggest a glamorous, dangerous world of sleek horses and brooding players. Traveling at speeds of up to 60 kilometers-per-hour (37 mph), teams of four aim to drive the ball through a set of vertical posts to score a goal. Like all equestrian sports, men and women compete side-by-side, making it the only mixed sport which is also a contact sport: players can 'ride off' opponents by using their mount to barge the other player out of the way. Around 3,000 people in the UK currently play polo, of which fewer than 10% are professionals, according to the Hurlingham Polo Association, the governing body for polo in the UK. I am firmly in the amateur camp, brandishing a -1 handicap which has shown no signs of budging off its mark for several years. Polo players are rated on a scale of -2 to 10 according to their skill, where 10 is the highest rating possible. Although expressed in 'goals', a player's handicap is not an estimate of the number of goals a player might score in a given match, but rather an overall measure of his or her horsemanship, skill and strategy. It is so difficult to reach 10 there have never been more than a dozen or so 10-goalers in the world at any time. Almost all 10-goalers, past and present, have hailed from Argentina. One of these highly acclaimed individuals is 28-year-old Facundo Pieres. Having held the ultimate ranking since the age of 19, Pieres is now ranked inside the top two in the world (he disputes the number one spot with fellow Argentinian Adolfo Cambiaso). During the English high-goal season, Pieres plays for the all-conquering Zacara team (which won the coveted Queen's Cup this weekend). He gamely agreed to coach me and give me some pointers. The venue is Zacara's private training facility, on a pitch so immaculate it would not look out of place at the Chelsea Flower Show. As I prepare to take to the field I ask Pieres what he thinks is the most important quality in a player. Unsurprisingly, he cites horsemanship: "It's all about feeling comfortable," he says. "If you don't feel comfortable on the horse you will not be able to hit the ball." So far, so good. Magnifica, the 8-year-old mare Pieres has lent me, is a dream to ride, with a canter as smooth as silk and the ability to turn on a sixpence. "She is one of the best ponies I have," says Pieres. "Anyone can play her." Subtext: even me! (Polo horses are still referred to as ponies, an alliterative hangover from the days when height limits applied). "The next most important thing to have is a straight, fluid swing," continues Pieres. He can loft the ball in excess of 100 yards while traveling at a flat-out gallop. My shots have a tendency to dribble weakly for 10 or so yards before coming to rest in a divot. Pieres and I do have something in common, however. We both like to play in attack. "My first instinct is always to attack and not to defend," he explains. Polo teams are divided into four positions on the field, designated by numbers. Players 1 and 2 are attackers, 3 is a playmaker and 4, or Back, is a defender. Pieres and I both play at Number 1. "I play forward. I am always working out how to get the ball and attack all the time." Here the similarities end, because my strategy is usually to hang out by the goal and wait for the ball to land in front of me. The final piece of the puzzle is, of course, practice. "When you practice, you will get better and you will feel more confident with every shot.," he explains. As a plucky amateur, finding time to practice is certainly my biggest challenge, even without the English weather conspiring against me. So how does my instructor rate my performance? "You're a -1 but you're getting close to 0," he enthuses, almost convincingly. Pieres is, of course, being far too generous. We both know that I won't be pulling on the famous black and white of Zacara any time soon. But I have polished my boots just in case. | Polo is often considered a past time of the rich and famous . CNN's Alysen Miller gets a lesson from a polo master . Argentina has produced some of the world's finest polo players . | e4288564852885c23e06136a3b77355ed6dc6f93 |
By . Victoria Woollaston . The claims were made by Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, pictured, during an interview with BBC Breakfast in London . Facebook has been heavily criticised by users and authorities alike about the way the site harvests personal data and uses it for advertising. But the social network’s chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg has spoken out in defence of the site, vehemently denying sharing its user's data. During an interview with BBC Breakfast, Sandberg said Facebook was very protective of its users' privacy and personal data. She continued that despite the use of personalised ads, the site 'does nothing to compromise its user’s data.' 'Privacy is of the utmost concern and importance to Facebook and it's important to us that the people who use our service know that we are very protective of them,' Sandberg explained. ‘It is their data, they have control of it, they share it. ‘When we are able to personalise ads, we are doing that without sharing their private data with any advertisers.’ Her comments follow the launch of the UK and Ireland Small Business Council at the company's international headquarters in Dublin. This council aims to increase participation between Facebook and small to medium-sized businesses. Sandberg said working with small to medium-sized businesses was important because ‘our missions are inextricably tied and the challenge and the opportunity of this huge technological shift that we're going through is one that we can work together (on). Sandberg said that despite the use of personalised ads, Facebook 'does nothing to compromise its user's data. Privacy is of the utmost concern and importance to Facebook and it's important to us that the people who use our service know that we are very protective of them. It is their data, they have control of it, they share it' When a company creates an advert, they can add a number of parameters to target the most appropriate people. These include the user's location, gender, age, likes and interests, relationship status, workplace and education. Rather than sharing this information directly with advertisers, Facebook uses a process called hashing. For example, personal information such as email addresses and names are automatically encrypted - making it impossible for the advertisers to uniquely identify the user. Facebook then converts the other information into a sequence of numbers and letters. For example, the information for an 18-year-old who likes reading the MailOnline and lives in Boston becomes a string of numbers, along the lines of '145sjfor23455djj'. Adverts are then matched to the appropriate series of characters, meaning private data is never directly shared. ‘We have 25 million small to medium-sized businesses around the world that use our free products to set up a page and use it to reach their customers. ‘So just as I can share with you if we're friends on Facebook, small businesses can reach their customers.’ The sixth most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes magazine, said: ‘We are in the middle of the fastest adoption of disruptive technology the world has ever seen. 'The word 'online' is becoming an old-fashioned word because we're all going to be connected all the time.’ Sandberg also wrote and published Lean In last March, which advised women on how to be more confident and successful at work by becoming more involved and to face their fears. But she said there was still more to be done: ‘Despite all the progress women have made, men still have the great majority of the leadership positions in every business, in every industry, in every country in the world. 'It's really important that since women make up half the population, women start having half the seats at tables where decisions are made, and that's not where we are today.' She said women thinking about doing something should ask themselves what they would do if they were not afraid and then do it. | Claims were made by Facebook’s chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg . She said the site is 'very protective of its user’s privacy and personal data' Sandberg said Facebook doesn’t share private data with advertisers . The site has been heavily criticised in the past for harvesting personal info . | 96769652ffc347cc6eb3fe5a9670ef41987026c5 |
Coronado, California (CNN)Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker portrayed himself as a battle tested warrior who has successfully beat back successive attempts by powerful Democratic-aligned organizations to try and defeat him, during a campaign style speech Thursday night to members of the Republican National Committee. Walker, who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, used his remarks to sharply criticize Washington and Hillary Clinton as he argued that Republicans should look to the states for a presidential nominee in 2016. While not outwardly saying he would run, it was clear Walker was making the point to these state party leaders and activists that he has the record and the experience to be the next GOP nominee. "I want to share a vision, I think we have a unique opportunity going forward, not only for the good of this party, but more importantly for the good of the country, to find a new fresh leader out there who can take big bold ideas, take ideas that come from of outside of Washington, from the states all the way down to the grassroots," Walker said. "We need someone who hopefully has the backing and the track-record of success, of showing that commonsense, commonsense conservative reforms can work not just in Wisconsin, but they can work all across America." Walker reiterated a common theme throughout his remarks that it is a time for a "fresh new approach" -- an apparent reference to Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, both of whom have strongly signaled they will seek the Republican nomination. As he was leaving the ballroom following his speech, Walker was asked about Romney, to which he replied "good man" as he walked away. In his speech, he noted it was critical for the GOP to offer voters a contrasting vision and experience in governing in the next election. "For us going forward, if we are going to be up against particularly, Hillary Clinton, we got to offer a new fresh approach, and ideally it comes from the states," he said. "The reason for that, the reason we mentioned last week in our inaugural address is the states is the place where he actually gets things done. That matters." Walker was a top target for national Democrats last year, but he won re-election by more than five points. He survived a recall election in 2012. Walker also emphasized that he enjoyed campaigning and meeting voters -- an important trait for a presidential candidate who endures grueling hours on the road away from family and friends. He told the audience that the reason he was motivated to run for governor in 2009 was because of his sons. "We were afraid that the state was not as great as the Wisconsin we grew up in," Walker said of the decision he made with his wife to seek the governorship. Walker then followed by saying that since taking office, "because of our reforms in our great state of Wisconsin, they are growing up in a state that is better, even better than the state I grew up in." He later added, "I look at our country I am worried about our country the same way I was worried about my state in 2009." | Walker is considering a run for the White House in 2016 . He spoke to members of the Republican National Committee Thursday . | 5d101b61496f47650901862567975c5654995724 |
Read our brilliant preview to the new NBA season... so, who will come out on top? Tickets for the NBA's regular season game between the Milwaukee Bucks against the New York Knicks at London's O2 Arena on January 15 have sold out in a record time of less than an hour. The Eastern Conference match-up is the fifth NBA match to be played at this venue since 2011. Tickets went on public sale on Friday at 9am and were snapped up less than 60 minutes later as the sport continues to grow within the UK. Tickets for the New York Knicks' clash against the Milwaukee Bucks in London have sold out in record time . 'We are thrilled with these results and really want to thank our fans for their ongoing support. Selling out faster than ever further demonstrates the tremendous appetite for more NBA basketball in the UK and throughout Europe,' said Benjamin Morel, NBA Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa. 'With these exciting teams coming to London prepared to compete, our fans can look forward to an authentic NBA experience delivering the entertainment, excitement and all-around spectacle European fans have come to know and love.' The clash will be the second fixture to be played on foreign soil this season with the Houston Rockets facing the Minnesota Timberwolves in Mexico City on November 12 as the NBA looks to expand the sport beyond America. Stoudemire scored 17 points when New York beat the Detroit Pistons 102-87 in January 2013 at the O2 Arena . CLICK HERE to read New York Knicks' star Amar'e Stoudemire's thoughts that the NBA should play more games out of the USA. Speaking ahead of the release of tickets earlier in the week, New York Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire revealed his desire to play more matches in the English capital. Stoudemire, who scored 17 points in the Knicks' 102-87 win against the Detroit Pistons at the O2 Arena nearly two years ago said: 'I wish we could play in London every single season but again it's up to the commissioner to come up with that but I do truly enjoy playing in London for sure.' The 31-year-old's team-mate Carmelo Anthony has echoed his sentiments revealing his excitement at returning to the venue where he won Olympic gold with the United States at the London 2012 Games. 'On behalf of my teammates and the entire Knicks organization I want to say how excited I am to be returning to London for NBA Global Games 2015,' Anthony said. 'I have played several times in London both for the Knicks and the US Olympic team and have fond memories of the city and the great fans.' Knicks' star player Carmelo Anthony (left) also played in their victory against the Pistons in 2013 . For the Milwaukee Bucks it will be their first-ever match in England and their guard Brandon Knight revealed the franchise are looking forward to making history. 'We are looking forward to coming to London for our first ever game in the UK,' the 22-year-old revealed. 'The opportunity to play in front of fans in London and to explore a different city and represent the Bucks organization will be a unique experience for us all.' Bucks' Brandon Knight (left) says he is looking forward to playing in the franchise's first match in London . Fans are reminded to follow @NBAUK and NBA UK Facebook as a limited number of tickets may become available through releases closer to the game. | Milwaukee Bucks face the New York Knicks in London on January 15 . Tickets went on sale at 9am on Friday and were gone in under an hour . Eastern Conference clash is the fifth regular season match to be held at O2 . | 7e6ca909543c9888db82e21b578f505c0ba0198a |
(CNN) -- A 6.4-magnitude earthquake jolted southern Taiwan on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths but some damage has occurred to buildings and major bridges, and power was cut off near the epicenter. The quake struck at about 8:20 a.m. (7:20 p.m. Wednesday ET) in a mountainous region about 25 miles northwest of Taitung, on the southeast coast, and 40 miles east of Tainan and Kaohsiung on the southwest coast. The region, which includes Maolin National Scenic Area, is recovering from a direct hit by Typhoon Morakot that killed hundreds in August. The typhoon dumped more than two feet of rain, causing serious mudslides in the south, including one that buried the village of Shiao Lin under 50 feet of mud. Thursday's quake was followed by several aftershocks, the largest reaching 4.8. The initial 6.4 quake rumbled to the surface from 14 miles deep. Were you there? Did you feel it? The Taiwan Ministry of Interior and the National Fire Agency said electricity was cut off near the epicenter but had no further information. Residents in southern Taiwan reported cracks in some buildings and major bridges. Train service was also disrupted in some areas, Taiwanese media reported. Albert Yu, communications manager of the humanitarian organization World Vision, told CNN he was about halfway through a 90-minute trip via high-speed train from Taipei to Tainan when the quake struck. Passengers did not feel the quake, he said, but operators stopped the train and announced what had happened. More than an hour later, the train had not resumed its journey. "The operator is examining the train and the tracks," he said, adding that there was a concern about the stability of the area, particularly after the typhoon. "Inside the train, people are calm and are waiting it out -- opening laptops, starting to work and chatting with people around them." Yu said World Vision "has already been on high alert responding to the quakes in Haiti and Chile, so we're closely monitoring reports in the earthquake in southern Taiwan." Residents in the capital Taipei, 155 miles to the north, also felt the shaking. Earthquakes are not uncommon in the 13,892-square-mile island -- about the size of the U.S. states of Maryland and Delaware combined -- which sits across the juncture of the Eurasian and Philippine tectonic plates. A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the same general region in December. The island took a double hit on December 26, 2006, when earthquakes of 7.1 and 6.9 magnitude hit eight minutes apart. The largest recorded quake to strike Taiwan was an 8.0-magnitude quake in 1920, but the worst earthquake disaster stemmed from a 7.1-magnitude quake in 1935 that killed more than 3,200 people -- followed by a 6.5-magnitude quake that killed more than 2,700 people three months later. More recently, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed more than 2,400 people in 1999. CNN's Christine Theodorou and Journalist Andrew Lee contributed to this report . | 6.4 quake rocks southern Taiwan at about 0120 GMT . Aftershocks follow; no immediate reports of deaths . Quake hits northwest of Taitung, on the southeast coast . Residents in southern Taiwan report blackouts; train services disrupted . | bbe95e7619c70b658141cb0e3d9973e2adae1e85 |
A Venezuelan neurosurgeon has learned a costly lesson after making a joke about a bomb at one of the busiest airports in the US. Dr Manuel Alvarado has agreed to pay $89,000 (approximately £56,500) in compensation after his wisecrack shut part of Miami International Airport, created chaos for thousands of travellers and sparked a massive police response. By agreeing to pay the five-figure penalty, Dr Alvarado has escaped criminal charges of making a false bomb threat and criminal mischief, which carried a potential prison sentence if convicted. 'Ashamed': Dr Manuel Alvarado sparked chaos at Miami's airport after he made a joke about a bomb . The doctor wrote in a confession: ‘I feel very ashamed and sorry for that stupid thing I said. I am very, very sorry.’ Nearly $84,000 (approximately £53,500) will be given to five airlines that had to delay flights after the neurosurgeon told a gate agent that he had explosives in his luggage, the Miami Herald reported. Other funds will be given to the Miami-Dade Police Department, which deployed bomb squad to search Dr Alvarado’s luggage during last October’s bomb scare. Dr Manuel Alvarado said he was carrying 'C-4' when a gate agent asked if he had explosives . The 60-year-old made the joke to an Avianca ticket agent when he was boarding a flight to Bogota, Colombia. After the agent asked if he had any explosives in his luggage, he replied: ‘C-4.’ The agent asked if that was a gun, but he explained that it was an explosive. Police were called in and part of the airport was evacuated until investigators determined there was no threat. Dr Alvarado’s attorney, Brian Bieber, said the surgeon was ‘sleep deprived’ when he made the remark. | Dr Manuel Alvarado said he is 'ashamed and sorry' for his ill-advised joke . He said he was carrying 'C-4' when asked if he had explosives . By agreeing to pay for his mistake he has avoided criminal charges . Most of the money will be given to five airlines which had to delay flights . Miami-Dade Police bomb squad was called in to search his luggage . | 97ac769db24d211825e8749f68f9b1358f648566 |
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesian authorities killed the suspected mastermind behind the deadly 2002 Bali bombings, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday. Yudhoyono announced the death of terrorist Dulmatin while speaking with reporters during a visit to Australia. The Bali bombings killed 202 people. "I can announce to you that, after a successful police raid against the terrorists hiding out in Jakarta yesterday, we can confirm that one of those that was killed was Mr. Dulmatin, one of the top southeast Asian terrorists that we have been looking for," Yudhoyono said. Dulmatin, one of Indonesia's most wanted terrorists, had several aliases, including Joko Pitoyo. He was an electronics specialist who trained in al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and had a $10 million bounty on his head, according to the U.S. State Department. He was a senior member of the al Qaeda-linked terror network Jemaah Islamiyah. Indonesian media had been reporting that Dulmatin was killed in a shootout in Pamulang, Banten province, on Tuesday. The raid was linked to ongoing security sweeps in Aceh province in northern Sumatra. Police have arrested 15 suspected militants, and one has been killed. Three police officers have died in the raids. Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf said that, for a year now, he has known about a militant training camp in the province. He said militants were seeking to establish camps similar to those run by Jemaah Islamiyah in the the southern Philippines. The group has a stated goal of creating an idealized Islamic state comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the southern Philippines and southern Thailand, according to GlobalSecurity.org, a public policy Web site that provides background on defense issues. Yusuf told reporters that militants chose Aceh because it is a predominantly Muslim province that imposes shariah, or Islamic, law and because a rebellion -- the Free Aceh Movement -- had taken root there. Indonesia's current anti-terrorism efforts come just days before President Barack Obama's planned visit to the world's most-populous Muslim nation. | NEW: Indonesian President Yudhoyono announces death during Australia visit . NEW: Indonesian media had been reporting Dulmatin's death in a shootout . Dulmatin is one of Indonesia's most wanted terrorists . Dulmatin had a $10 million bounty on his head, according to U.S. State Department . | 0684456190f21a35ccb06d8609b912c494dd7bdd |
New York (CNN) -- Two workers at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport post office were exposed to phosphoric acid Sunday from a package that originated from China, a law enforcement official said. The package was identified after workers smelled an odor emanating from it, the official said. A hazardous response team from the FBI responded to the airport "out of an abundance of caution," said Peter Donald, a spokesman for the FBI in New York. The product was identified as organophosphate and secured by Port Authority police. The package was contained to the post office, and airport operations were not affected, the official said. Donald said the package "was determined to be beauty supplies." The two workers -- identified by another law enforcement official as Customs and Border Protection employees -- declined medical attention. Phosphoric acid is a colorless liquid with a syrupy consistency used as an acidifying agent to give colas their flavor. | NEW: Package "determined to be beauty supplies" Two Customs employees decline medical attention, officials say . The phosphoric acid was found in a package originating from China . | b5897d98431eea0c1cacf9030b7fe232d5548cfe |
By . Eddie Wrenn . UPDATED: . 10:03 EST, 7 March 2012 . Shot dead in exercise: PC Ian Terry was killed in 2008 during a training exercise . Greater Manchester Police is to face charges over the death of an officer who was shot dead by a colleague in a bungled 'cops and robbers' training exercise, it was announced today. The force will be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive over alleged breaches that led to the death of PC Ian Terry in June 2008. Two GMP officers are also being prosecuted by the HSE. The development comes after the Crown Prosecution Service announced yesterday there is still insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against the force in relation to the father-of-two’s death. GMP Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: 'The Health and Safety Executive has today announced that it is to prosecute Greater Manchester Police and two of our officers for breaching section 2 and section 7 of the Health and Safety Act. 'It has been nearly four years since Ian Terry tragically died, four years that Ian’s family and colleagues have had to wait for this protracted decision to be made.' An inquest held at Manchester Coroner’s Court in March 2010 found that PC Terry was unlawfully killed. The jury ruled there was a catalogue of failures not only by the officer who shot PC Terry but also in the planning, training and safety measures. PC Terry, 32, from Burnley, Lancashire, brandished an unloaded handgun during the exercise while playing the role of a criminal fleeing in a car. He was gunned down by his close friend as the unit practised in a disused factory. On seeing him holding the gun the officer, granted anonymity during the inquest and identified only as Chris, told the jury he acted 'instinctively' and pulled the trigger on his Remington 870 pump-action 12-bore shotgun. 'Deepest apologies': The force apologised again for the incident which cost PC Terry his life . PC Terry, who was not wearing body armour, was hit from a distance of about 12 inches by a blank round of a specialist ammunition called round irritant personnel, which is not designed to kill but can be deadly at such close range. Mr Shewan said 'a number of changes' had been made to ensure training exercises involving firearms were carried out in the safest way possible since the tragedy. He added: 'I have been in contact with Ian’s family since his death in 2008 and once again I would like to extend our deepest apologies to them for loss of their much loved son, father and husband. 'Alongside today’s decision there are a further eight officers who still have outstanding misconduct matters against them. 'We cannot make a decision as to when these matters will be dealt with until we have seen the full disclosure files from the HSE for this case. 'Since 2008 GMP has fully co-operated with all of the agencies involved with this and as this is now a HSE prosecution it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this stage.' The HSE said it had concluded there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to prosecute the force and two of its training staff for criminal offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It said summonses would be served on GMP for an alleged breach of Section 2 of the act, on the officer responsible for running the course for an alleged breach of Section 7 of the act and on one of the exercise safety officers, who assisted the lead officer running the course, for an alleged breach of Section 7 of the act. | PC Ian Terry was killed in 'guns and robbers' exercise in 2008 . Force will be prosecuted by Health and Safety Executive over alleged breaches . Officer was shot with blank round from 12 inches by colleague . | 8c2c0ff082d60b5d2249459dbcd8a50553f22a10 |
(CNN)Forget about the Super Bowl, the blizzard and the woes of the world. This time of year, everything's better with puppies. Seems like you can't throw a stick without running into a shaggy (or short-haired) dog story -- and advertisers, in particular, know that puppies demand attention. Take GoDaddy.com. In recent years, the website registration and hosting company has earned the ire of many with its cheeky Super Bowl ads featuring voluptuous women and suggestive copy. Not that it's stopped them from doing the same thing again the next year. But an ad about a puppy that's put up for sale? That's going too far. A Change.org petition garnered more than 40,000 signatures before word came that the ad wouldn't air during the big game. Budweiser, of course, would never provoke the anger of puppy lovers. The beer company has become a master of pulling America's heartstrings with its Super Bowl commercials, which have included, in recent years, some friendly canines. This year, of course, is no different. Get out your tissues. "Budweiser unveils the commercial that will make you cry on Super Bowl Sunday," headlined USA Today. Take that, GoDaddy! (And yes, that's a version of the Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" as the soundtrack. No doubt even the brothers Reid are weeping.) Finally, Uber, the ride-sharing app that has picked up quite a bit of bad press in recent months, has come up with a surefire way of earning public approval. If you guessed that it involves puppies, you're right. The company announced Wednesday that it's teaming up with Animal Planet, which broadcasts the annual Puppy Bowl, to deliver puppies to offices in several U.S. cities. It's not free -- the price is $30 for 15 minutes of doggone fun -- but all proceeds go to participating local animal organizations. All together now: Awwwww. What's that? You're not a dog person? Well, there's always the second-annual Kitten Bowl, to be shown Sunday on the Hallmark Channel. And cats can be heartwarming, too, as shown by a widely shared story out of Tampa, Florida. As originally reported by Tampa's WTVT, Bart the cat was hit by a car and pronounced dead. The cat's grief-stricken owner, Ellis Hutson, had the cat buried. Five days later, Bart showed up at a neighbor's door. His jaw was broken, and he was dirty and bloody -- but he was alive. "It was unbelievable," Hutson said. "The cat was smelly; the cat was dirty. The cat had a big hole in the side of his head." 'Zombie cat' presumed dead found alive five days after burial . A veterinarian at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay performed surgery, and Bart, though he'll probably lose an eye, is recovering nicely. "I truly think Bart has nine lives and has eight lives left, because it is miraculous what he's done," Humane Society of Tampa Bay Executive Director Sherry Silk told the TV station. So to heck with that football game and us crazy humans. We'll say it again: Awwwwwww. | The Super Bowl and puppies! What more is there to say? GoDaddy, Budweiser and Uber find value in puppy marketing . GoDaddy has already pulled a puppy-themed ad after a backlash . | e5445dbe2e247d81c24463b7fb28a02ca10c8aa6 |
By . Steve Doughty . PUBLISHED: . 07:40 EST, 18 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:46 EST, 18 November 2012 . Couples should not try to emulate the glamorous weddings of the stars if they really want their marriages to last, a High Court judge said last night. The lavish ceremonies splashed across the pages of celebrity magazines such as Hello! have little to do with the reality of lifelong commitment, according to Sir Paul Coleridge. They are also twice as likely to end in divorce over ten years, according to research from the Marriage Foundation, the charity Sir Paul launched this year. Forty per cent of stars’ marriages end within a decade compared to just 20 per cent of ordinary couples’, the study found. Sir Paul Coleridge, left, has warned couples against developing false expectations of marriage from glossy magazines such as Hello!, pictured right . ‘The worrying feature of these . statistics is the picture they paint to those who regard the celebrity . lifestyle as something to be admired and copied for its own sake,’ Sir . Paul said. ‘These are, after all, the role models . upon which many, especially young people, fashion their lives. Aspiration for happiness built on celebrity lifestyle is, it seems, . dangerously flawed. All of us subconsciously want to believe that these . beautiful people are living an idealised life which we can vicariously . enjoy. ‘Surely this must create a false . expectation within the participants that in some way their relationships . will be better, easier and, above all, more exciting than the average. A wedding issue of Hello! magazine being read. The report says the celebrity culture absorbed from magazines like Hello! gives us an 'unrealistic, fairy-tale expectations about marriage' ‘Unfortunately all men and women, . glamorous or not, are riddled with the same weaknesses and shortcomings . which surface even quite soon after the excitement of the wedding has . died down.’ Sir Paul, a senior family court judge, . said real life has nothing to do with the stars’ love stories played . out in celebrity magazines and on TV. ‘There is a disconnect between the . nature of real long-term relationships and the dramatised and apparently . more exciting versions portrayed on screen or imagined for them by the . rest of us,’ he said. Katy Perry and Russell Brand, pictured left in 2010, were married for 14 months and Jennifer Lopez was married to dancer Cris Judd, right for eight months . 5 of the shortest celebrity marriages: . Britney Spears and Jason Alexander (55 hours) Sinead O’Connor and Barry Herridge (18 days) Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas (30 days) Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon (60 days) Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries (72 days) 5 of the longest–lasting celebrity marriages: . Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens (58 years) Barry and Linda Gibb (40 years) Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston (35 years) Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach (31 years) Tony and Cherie Blair (30 years) ‘This is surely exacerbated by huge, expensive . fairytale weddings attended by the icons of the day.’ The report pointed to the 55-hour . marriage between Britney Spears and Jason Alexander and said that ‘few . non-celebs can match that kind of relaxed attitude to their marriage’. Others whose marriages barely made a year include Russell Brand and Katy . Perry, and Kim Kardashian. Sir Paul said that while most celebrities hankered for a stable marriage like anyone else, their fame made it harder to find. ‘They pay the price by being even less able to sustain long-term healthy relationships than the rest of us,’ he said. The 40 per cent rate of celebrity . marriage break-ups over ten years was worked out from an examination of . 572 prominent celebrity weddings since 2000. It found a fifth were over . within four years, against just one in 20 of all marriages. The report said there were some starry . happy endings. Kirk Douglas has been married to wife Anne for 58 years, . while Barry and Linda Gibb have notched up 40 years. | Celebrities are twice as likely to divorce as the rest of married UK population . 'Hello! gives 'unrealistic, fairy-tale expectations about marriage', says study . | 63cc89a6ad1418f3036ceb5d0579d87061f0d44b |
By . Matt Lawton . Follow @@Matt_Lawton_DM . Nothing went right for David Moyes yesterday. Not even when it came to escaping a press conference his chastened media officer decided to bring to a sudden and premature end. He attempted to leave through the wrong door, and so had to suffer the ignominy of re-entering the room to try again. Whether Moyes gets the chance to try again this summer remains to be seen, however. Particularly after this; quite possibly the nadir of his managerial career. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch both managers give their views on the game . Wrong one? David Moyes was outclassed by Roberto Martinez (L) at Goodison Park . It was that bad yesterday, however much Manchester United’s troubled manager tried to argue otherwise, and what would have made it all the more uncomfortable for him was the fact that the guy who succeeded him at Goodison Park appears increasingly capable of replacing him again. However bad things have been at United this season, a lack of alternatives has been given as a reason for sticking with Moyes. Jurgen Klopp, Louis van Gaal and Diego Simeone get mentioned regularly but they come with certain risks. Stay of execution: The Grim Reaper looms over Moyes like an uncertain future as part of a promotional stunt . Perhaps they should look instead at what Roberto Martinez is now achieving here. A first league double over United in 44 years and a Premier League points tally that is likely to see Everton break the 70-point barrier that always proved beyond Moyes. Never mind the fact that he secured the FA Cup for Wigan and strikes anyone who encounters him as one of the brightest young managers in the game. He also possesses obvious passion for the English game and seems to have the same star quality as the guy on the other side of Stanley Park. We should not forget that this was how we used to feel about Moyes too, and it might yet be enough to convince the Old Trafford hierarchy that he deserves the opportunity to spend the money that is required to rebuild this stuttering United side. One that got away: Former United target Leighton Baines opened the scoring from the penalty spot . But this felt like the tipping point, the point of no return, and the point where Ed Woodward and the Glazers start to think seriously about an alternative to a man who is discovering to his cost that it really would have been better to follow the man who followed Sir Alex Ferguson. It is certainly hard to imagine Moyes ever experiencing a more depressing journey home from Goodison than the one he endured last night. His players must have known how much this game meant to him and yet they responded with a lifeless, spineless display. Not for the first time this season, United looked like a team of impostors. Like a side subjected to an invasion of the body snatchers. They looked the same. They just didn’t play the same. Lacklustre: Wayne Rooney came closest to scoring but it was another insipid display from United . It was every bit as abject as that performance against Olympiakos. Every bit as inept as their recent efforts against Liverpool. If Moyes can take anything from this game, it is the fact that it justified his eagerness to sign Leighton Baines. Everton’s full-backs, two players who were among the more astute purchases Moyes made in his 11 years at this club, performed key roles in securing this victory. Bad to worse: David de Gea reacts to Everton's second goal, which condemned Manchester United to an 11th loss this season . Baines and Seamus Coleman were terrific. And, more significantly, they were in a different league from the two individuals endeavouring to perform the sale roles for United. Alexander Buttner and Chris Smalling? In fairness to Smalling he remains a decent centre half. But they were both sorry excuses for United players on this occasion. But will Moyes be given the chance to address these and other issues? Will he be forgiven for allowing United to slip so far down from the summit of English football? He was supposed to be trading up when he left Everton last May, not taking over a team now 12 points adrift of the one he left behind. Even if he does have a game in hand. | David Moyes lost 2-0 to Everton on his return to Goodison Park . Scot was outclassed by his successor Roberto Martinez . Alternatives such as Klopp, Simeone and Van Gaal come with risks . United could consider having Martinez replace Moyes for a second time . | e9018bcb333cc934e1a958d5cdfe27cf4557a9d7 |
By . Kerry Mcqueeney . Last updated at 10:12 AM on 7th October 2011 . A bride spent the first night of her marriage locked up in a police cell wearing her bloodied wedding dress after she was arrested for attacking her neighbour. Newlywed Imogen Hope accused Samantha Pilling of being a white witch who had cursed her family before launching the astonishing attack just hours after her nuptials at Halifax Registry Office. When the 37-year-old was arrested police asked her if she wanted to change out of her dress, but she refused and spent the night in cells wearing her bloodied bridal gown - while her disappointed groom slept at his parents' house. For better, for worse (for wear): Imogen Hope (left) had downed lager and spirits at her wedding reception before launching the attack on Samantha Pilling... still dressed in her bridal gown . Hope returned home drunk from her wedding reception with new husband Keith, 38, just after midnight when she decided to confront Mrs Pilling, who had a long-running dispute with the Hope family, a court was told. Mrs Pilling was in an upstairs bedroom knitting when Hope shouted up to her. Hope, who weighs just eight stone and is a slight size six, had downed lager and spirits at her reception at the Shears Inn, in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Her wedding dress was already bloodstained after she broke an acrylic nail when she fell on a cobbled street outside her reception. She began hurling abuse on her neighbour's doorstep, calling Mrs Pilling - who is a practising pagan - a 'white witch' and accused her of cursing her father-in-law, who lives in the house between two and had recently been diagnosed with cancer. The husbands of both women - gas board worker Keith Hope and former bouncer Stuart Pilling - also got involved and tussled as as they separated their wives. It was Mr Pilling who eventually called police. Hope struck at least three blows to Mrs Pilling, causing bruising and scratches to her face and wrist, prosecutor Jane Farrar told magistrates. Special day: Newlywed Hope with her groom Keith... before she spent the night in a police cell . Mother-of-three Mrs Pilling is on medication for anxiety and and has suffered an abscess in her jaw, which she believes was triggered by the attack. According to PC Stephen Young - who was the first officer on the scene at the incident on July 19 this year - Hope was asked if she wanted to change out of her bridal gown when she was arrested. He said: 'It was suggested to her . that she get changed out of her wedding dress. That was the initial . agreement. She then changed her mind and decided to attend the custody . suite as she was. 'There was a little bit of amazement . from the lady and quite understandably on her wedding day. Her husband . was obviously disappointed.' Mrs Pilling, who moved in next door to Hope's in-laws Christine and Keith five years ago, told Calderdale Magistrates' Court: 'She told me her father-in-law had cancer and it was my fault because I had cursed him. 'I don't deal with curses, I work with crystals.' She also claimed she had never spoken to Hope before and was shocked at the abuse, in which she called her a 'slag'. She added: 'Personally I thought it was not the way a bride should behave on her wedding night.' The student nurse, who trained as a . paramedic with the British Armed Forces, said: 'I'm not practising as a . witch at the moment, there's too much negativity in my life.' She told the court she didn't hit . Hope because she was not a violent person and could easily have hurt her . because of her Army training, adding: 'I have been trained to kill.' Hope, a nursery nurse assistant, was bailed after her arrest but was banned from returning to he marital home for two weeks because it was just two doors down from Mrs Pilling. She told the court: 'I was taken away from my home for two weeks I couldn't see my kids, my husband because of something I hadn't done.' The court also heard how her husband was devastated when he couldn't spend their first night of matrimony together. He told magistrates: 'I asked the police "please don't, it's my wedding night".' The bridegroom ended up spending the evening at his parents' house next door because he couldn't face sleeping in the marital bed alone. Hope, who claimed she couldn't remember what had happened because she was drunk, denied one charge of assault by beating. However magistrates found her guilty after the one-day trial. She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £75 in compensation to Mrs Pilling and court costs of £300. | Imogen Hope returned home from her reception drunk before attack . Bride refused to take off her wedding dress when arrested by police . Disappointed groom spends their wedding night at his parents . | 31d4312726acc903b2297666343eaddf4ddd457d |
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier is hoping the team's 'extreme' new car can rack up the miles over the remaining two tests if they are to head into the new Formula One season on a competitive footing. Over the four days of the initial pre-season test in Jerez last week drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button completed a total of just 79 laps. With new power-unit partner Honda on board McLaren were anticipating teething problems, and so it proved as there were numerous issues to contend with. Drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button give their thumbs up at the launch of the new Mclaren car . The McLaren-Honda MP4-30 was unveiled at the Honda Motor Co. HQ on Tuesday . But there was no doom and gloom amongst the McLaren hierarchy, nor with their illustrious driver pairing, but instead positivity they are progressing in the right direction. Boullier appreciates for the remaining two tests at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona from February 19-22 and February 26-March 1, McLaren now have to build to ensure they do not languish too far behind their rivals come the opening race in Australia on March 15. 'With a new concept and engine partner, obviously the less we run the more difficult it's going to be to catch up, or let's say, the later we will be ready to compete,' said Boullier. 'Every time we can't achieve all our targets in terms of mileage or development we push back the date where we are able to exploit 100 per cent of our car and our power unit to fight for the win.' McLaren have pushed that development to the maximum with a tightly-packaged, streamlined rear that so far has ticked all the right boxes. 'You can see yourself the back end of the car is quite amazing,' added Boullier . 'The car is very small, something we embarked on with our partner to try for such a challenge. 'We have also pushed the limit of the cooling, which means we can run hotter engines with smaller radiators and cooling system. 'All this has resulted in a tinier car, one that is very extreme in terms of how small it is. 'That is why it was a relief last week to see the car running with no cooling issues which is a concern when you go radical or extreme.' The new Mclaren completed just 79 laps in total at testing in Jerez last week . Jenson Button drives ahead of the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen at Circuito de Jerez earlier this month . Both Alonso and Button have already expressed confidence with the car, notably its stability under braking on entry into the corners, crucial for driver control. The only area of concern for Boullier was seeing reigning champions Mercedes put on a virtual demonstration in Jerez as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg completed a record 450 laps for a first test. 'What was frightening was the fact they did pit-stop training on the first day!' reflected Boullier. 'Their confidence level is very high. They had such an advantage in 2014, I don't see them failing in 2015. 'The only thing you can expect, or hope, is that everybody closes the gap.' | McLaren admit their new car needs work to be competitive next season . Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button completed just 79 laps in testing . Racing director Eric Boullier warned development on car must accelerate . | cf547cc2db3f462040f5907ae3a8784ff85fdafd |
Carlo Ancelotti does not understand why his European champions Real Madrid have had such a poor start to the new campaign and lost all their confidence. The 55-year-old’s side, who won their tenth European title in May, have lost back-to-back games in La Liga against Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. Ancelotti said: ‘I don't understand the lack of confidence in this team, four months ago we won the European Cup and we may win it again. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti doesn't know why his European champions have lost their confidence . The 55-year-old takes a training session at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training base . Real Madrid won their tenth European title in May but have had a poor start to the new La Liga campaign . Ancelotti looks on as his side are beaten by Atletico in the Madrid derby at the Bernabeu . ‘Madrid will fight for all competitions until the end,’ he added. Los Blancos' poor form of late has led to them already falling six point behind leaders Barcelona, and four points behind champions Atletico. But the former Milan coach insisted that his side were not concentrating on this. ‘We are not thinking about the distance we are behind Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, we need to improve our tactical and physical levels,’ he said. In order to reinvigorate his side, Ancelotti has suggested he will rotate his side. He said: ‘The most important thing a coach can do is motivate a squad and for that, the best thing is to rotate.’ Real Madrid players disconsolately on as Atletico score their second goal of the Madrid derby . Ancelotti said he has no interest in the relationship between former Madrid manager Jose Mourinho (right) and Cristiano Ronaldo (left) Ancelotti also commented on the relationship between Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying that he had no interest. ‘Mourinho is a great coach who can coach anywhere,’ said the Italian. ‘I don't know what his relationship with Cristiano is like, nor am I interested. It is a personal relationship and has nothing to do with Real Madrid.’ | Real Madrid have lost back-to-back games in La Liga . Ancelotti's side have taken just three points from a possible nine . And they sit six points behind leaders Barcelona and four behind Atletico . The 55-year-old Italian has no interest in Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship . | a44fb98d326829f65ab449867535fdc969f6f073 |
By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 05:51 EST, 21 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:05 EST, 21 April 2013 . Pledge: Lord Ashcroft plans to leave at least half of his £1.2billion fortune to charity . Billionaire businessman and Tory peer Lord Ashcroft is set to give at least half of his £1.2billion fortune to charity. Next month it is believed the former Tory treasurer will sign up to the Giving Pledge - a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. The movement is led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates - two of America's richest men. Other Briton's who have already made the pledge include Sir Richard Branson and his wife Joan, John Caudwell, Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman who have pledged a combined £3.7billion in total, according to The Sunday Times. Ashcroft, 67, founded Crimestoppers and over the years has donated £20million to the cause. In the past year he has given £5m to Anglia Ruskin University; £1m to complete the Bomber Command war memorial in London and a further £1m to help refurbish the First World War galleries at the Imperial War Museum in London. Back in 2008, Ashcroft, who is president of the West India Committee, wrote in his book Dirty Politics, Dirty Times: 'I have prepared my will. I have never been a great believer in inherited wealth. More than 80 per cent of my assets — and I never discuss how much I am worth — will be left to a charitable foundation in my name.' The Giving Pledge was set up in 2010 and has quickly become popular among the world's richest families. There are now a total of 105 donors. Today a billionaire oligarch was named Britain's richest man in The Sunday Times Rich List. Billionaire John Caudwell (left) and Sir Richard Branson (right) who have also made their pledge . Wealth: Warren Buffett (left) and Bill Gates (right) who are America's two richest men . Alisher Usmanov, who was born in Uzbekistan, owns almost one-third of Arsenal Football Club and is said to be worth £13.3billion. Usmanov, 59, owns Sutton Place, the former Surrey home of the oil baron J. Paul Getty, as well as a £48million mansion in London. He is married to Irina Viner, 64, the head coach of Russia’s rhythmic gymnastics team. Alisher Usmanov who has been named Britain's richest man and Michael Moritz who is supporting the Giving Pledge . He replaces steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, who now drops to fourth place after eight years in the top spot. The steel magnate, now worth £10billion, is the biggest faller in wealth terms. | The former Tory treasurer will sign up to the Giving Pledge . The pledge is a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals to donate to philanthropy . It is led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates - America's two richest men . | 11db1b0815e5e6bd0872adca40a373f01abb812b |
Former police officer Mustaq Patala was cleared of a string of sexual offences this month and now claims he was the vicim of 'institutional racism' by his former police force . A disgraced police inspector who had to quit the force for beating his wife and was later accused of rape is demanding a payout after claiming he is the victim of 'institutional racism'. Mustaq Patala, 39, lost his job in 2011 after his wife claimed he had subjected her to a long campaign of violence which began in 1999 when she was pregnant. She told police he was a 'controlling individual' who became obsessed with the idea she was having an affair. But after his conviction - for which he got 180 hours unpaid work - police arrested Patala again and accused him of raping two women, allegedly telling one he was a police officer who 'could find and kill her'. Patala, a father-of-three from Blackburn, Lancashire, faced two trials accused of 14 charges of rape, three of sexual assault and another charge of perverting justice. But a judge at Preston Crown Court threw out the case earlier this month following legal submissions. Patala - who was once one of the youngest Asian police inspectors in Britain - has now vowed to take legal action against Lancashire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service claiming he had been a victim of 'jealousy' in the force due to his 'meteoric' rise through the ranks. He said he may need counselling after the stress of his trial and added: 'I do not think it should have ever had to come to this and I am going to commence proceedings arising from this court case in terms of the way it was investigated. 'Institutional racism exists profoundly within the police service. Whatever sense of justice I thought there was in Lancashire Police does not exist. I also rose through the ranks very quickly and there may have been people that were jealous.' He told local paper, The Blackburn Citizen that whilst awaiting trial he had spent time in prison and added: 'I had to notify the prison staff I was an ex-police officer as I might have come into contact with people I arrested. 'But the prisoners very quickly found out. I was kept behind closed doors 23-hours a day for protection.' After joining the police, Patala - a former school governor - was quickly promoted to inspector to oversee neighbourhood policing and was well-known locally. He had helped introduce reforms in the constabulary and his performance in police exams was said to among the best in the country. Patala was cleared of rape and sexual assault at Preston Crown Court (pictured) and now claims police failed to fully investigate the claims made against him . But his downfall began in 2010 when wife went to police to report a series of incidents. He was later convicted of assault after a court heard he attacked her and pulled her hair before her driving theory test and then threw furniture across a room. At the time, a then-33-year-old Patala said he was not old enough to cope with his rapid promotion to his £50,000-a-year post and claimed it brought about a 'wholesale change in his character'. The original list of charges alleged a decade of violence, but Patala admitted the common assaults in relation to two incidents and other charges were dropped. After Patala completed community service, he was was detained again on his return from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia after two women came forward to say he had sexually assaulted them. A trial opened last year but had to be abandoned due to legal problems. A second trial judge then decided not guilty verdicts should be entered after a week of submissions. He says other officers were jealous of his quick rise through the force and the sex charges should never have been brought against him . Patala's lawyer Paul Schofield, partner at Farleys Solicitors LLP, said 'This has been a challenging and worrying case and my client had completely denied all charges from the first moment, and ultimately has been vindicated.' Explaining the case, a CPS spokesman said: 'After receiving medical evidence relating to the complainant in this case the prosecution applied to the judge to have the evidence given by the complainant in an earlier trial adduced as hearsay evidence in this trial. 'After hearing legal argument from prosecution and defence about this issue the judge refused the application and the CPS decided that in these circumstances it would not be appropriate to require the complainant to give evidence. 'We concluded that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction against any of the defendants and therefore offered no evidence at court. 'We take all cases of alleged sexual offences extremely seriously, however the health and welfare of alleged victims remains one of our prime considerations.' A spokesperson for Lancashire police said: 'While disappointed with the outcome we of course respect the decision of the court which we recognise has been taken in the best interests of justice and of the alleged victims. 'Lancashire Constabulary remains committed to investigating allegations of sexual offences, no matter how historic, and no matter what the role, position and status of the alleged offender, and we would encourage anyone who has been a victim to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally.' | Former inspector Mustaq Patala left force after his wife reported beating . He was later convicted of assault and given a community sentence . The 39-year-old was then arrested again and charged with rape . But he was cleared of that and other offences by a judge this month . He is now claiming that police failed to investigate his case properly . Patala has also alleged 'institutional racism' within the force . | dc05e86ab9ef1982f333921b82bf505849f6c4f9 |
Jamie Walker insists Hearts are taking nothing for granted in the title race despite stretching their unbeaten run in the Scottish Championship to 19 games. The midfielder grabbed a superb equaliser to secure a point for the league-leaders against Edinburgh rivals Hibernian at Tynecastle on Saturday. The result means the Jambos are still the only senior side in Britain who have not lost a league game so far this term. Jamie Walker watches his strike fly in to cancel out Jason Cummings' 24th minute effort . They also boast a 13-point advantage over nearest rivals Rangers but Walker warned the league is not won yet. He said: 'No-one at this club will start celebrating anything until it is mathematically impossible for us to be caught in the league. 'There is still an awful lot to play for in the remaining weeks of the season. 'No-one here is thinking that things are done and dusted. 'If Rangers were to beat us in a couple of weeks at Ibrox, it would make things tighter and the boys will just keep focused. 'To be fair, everyone has been focused. As you saw against Hibs, it was not our best performance of the season. 'But everyone dug in and we managed to get out of it with a draw.' Jason Cummings fired Hibs into a deserved lead in the 24th minute. But hopes of ending Hearts' unbeaten run were shattered thanks to Walker's terrific leveller five minutes before the break. He said: 'That is probably the best goal I have ever scored and I'm just delighted that it brought the boys a point. Walker celebrates his goal which extended Hearts' unbeaten run to 19 games as they hunt for promotion . 'I think we have shown a good ability as a squad throughout this season to dig out results. 'Hibs played well, but we managed to stick in there because we did not want to be losing our unbeaten run. 'We don't want to lose it at all, but especially not here at home against Hibs. 'The boys deserve a lot of credit for being able to do that.' Hibs midfielder Scott Allan admits there is little chance of catching their city rivals, with 19 points now separating the sides. But he still has every faith in the Easter Road side's ability to win promotion back to the top-flight via the play-offs. He said: 'This game was a real chance for us to set a marker down but we couldn't and it's going to be hard to catch them now. 'We just need to get back to winning ways next week and take it from there. 'The aim is to get back up to the Premiership and we believe ourselves we're capable of doing that. 'If we get to the play-offs I'd fancy us against anybody over two legs.' | Jamie Walker scored equaliser to extend Hearts' record . Hearts unbeaten in 19 games and 13 points clear of Rangers . But Walker insists they do not believe promotion is secure yet . | 965b89302a124caaefb66511a0fe3d28373fd440 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:44 EST, 31 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:46 EST, 31 July 2012 . A sex attacker convicted of raping and murdering a mother-of-two whose body has never been found has been jailed for life. Martin Stafford, 44, abducted female security guard Michelle Gunshon from a pub in December 2004, before carrying out the brutal sex attack and killing. The body of the 38-year-old has never been found since she went missing and Stafford has refused to give a location. Evil: Martin Stafford abducted Michelle Gunshon from a pub in Digbeth, Birmingham, in December 2004 before raping and murdering her . A two-week murder trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard that Stafford was employed as a glass collector in the Dubliner pub in the Digbeth area of the city when he met Mrs Gunshon. The court heard Stafford then murdered her before 'spiriting her body away' and fleeing the country. Birmingham Crown Court heard Stafford took Gunshon away 'against her will' in her own car before raping her, murdering her and disposing of her body so that she has never been seen since. Hours after the killing, Stafford was caught on a speed camera driving Mrs Gunshon’s Ford Escort around Birmingham city centre with 'something in the car' strapped in the passenger seat. Mrs Gunshon’s last contact with anyone was when she telephoned her long-term partner, who she regarded as her husband, and daughter on December 4. The next morning her colleagues noticed she was missing and when they entered her room they found her clothes and personal belongings, including her wallet, were still there. Mystery: Stafford, pictured in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court during his murder trial, has refused to reveal the location of the body . Search: Tracey Richardson, the daughter of Michelle Gunshon, makes an emotional plea for information in 2005 after her mother's disappearance . She was reported missing and police found that she had parked her car, a Ford Escort, in Mill Lane, near to the Dubliner after returning from work, police said. CCTV captured from December shows two figures, very close together, approach the car, before it is driven away towards Digbeth. Following a 13 day trial, jurors at Birmingham Crown Court today found Stafford guilty of murder - as well as false imprisonment, rape and preventing the burial of a body. Depraved: Stafford was working as a glass collector when he met Gunshon in December 2004 . After sentencing, Detective Inspector Simon Astle of West Midlands Police, who led the case said: 'This has been a long and complex inquiry and we welcome the verdict of the court today. 'We will not give up in our efforts to trace Michelle’s body. 'Clearly Martin Stafford can assist us with that and we will make every effort to provide him with that opportunity.' Police family liaison officer, Bev Wright, also delivered a tribute on behalf of Mrs Gunshon’s family. She said: 'Martin Stafford is a danger to people and should not be allowed out. 'We may have justice but our mum is still out there somewhere and only Martin Stafford knows where. 'Our only wish for the future is that mum is found and this can finally be over and we can grieve properly.' Harinderpal Dhami, from the West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, added: 'The successful conviction of Martin Stafford today marks the end of a very difficult and complex journey for the prosecution team in this case, which began over seven years ago and included the extradition of Martin Stafford following his conviction for rape in the Republic of Ireland. 'Michelle Gunshon’s body has never been found and the only person who could answer that question is Martin Stafford, who was asked this specific question during the trial having denied being responsible for Michelle’s murder. ' Mrs Gunshon, from Mill Hill, North London, worked for Special Events Security (SES), a firm which provides security at high-profile events across the country such as Cheltenham Races and trade fairs. | Martin Stafford abducted Michelle Gunshon after meeting her in a pub in Birmingham . He took her 'against her will' in her own car before raping and murdering mother-of-two . | 1a96ef2d6d91bb957502b6cac216e63c980e0d54 |
(CNN) -- Serena Williams has lost only four matches this year -- and the world No. 1 is hoping her most recent setback can help her become the oldest winner of a U.S. Open women's singles title. The American is favored for a fifth triumph at Flushing Meadows, but this month's defeat by second-ranked Victoria Azarenka has given the Belorussian hope of avenging last year's final heartbreak. Azarenka served for the title just under 12 months ago in New York, but Williams fought back to claim her 15th grand slam title. She has since added another, at the French Open in June, but suffered a shock reverse against Sabine Lisicki in the last 16 at Wimbledon. Williams added two more WTA Tour titles at Bastad and Toronto, but was upset by Azarenka in a third-set tie-breaker in the Cincinnati final. "Every time I lose, I get so pumped afterwards," said Williams at a pre-tournament press conference Saturday. "I just feel like now I'm ready, now I'm prepared. I almost needed that to take my game to a new level." Williams will be 32 on September 26, and if she can retain her title in the final 18 days before that then she will surpass Margaret Court's 1973 effort of being the tournament's oldest woman winner. "I have been able to keep up with the times," Williams said. "I'm actually serving harder than I ever have in my career. The racquets are stronger and I'm more fit. "I feel so good, so healthy, so vivacious every time I step on the court." With world No. 3 Maria Sharapova missing the tournament due to injury, and Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli having retired earlier this month, Azarenka is Williams' biggest threat along with Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Williams will face former French Open winner Francesca Schiavone in her opening match Monday, while older sister Venus plays Belgium's Wimbledon semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens. Azarenka will begin the two-week event against Germany's grand slam debutant Dinah Pfizenmaier. "You can always take the best out of what happened last week, so I will definitely take that into consideration," the 24-year-old told reporters Saturday. "But the new week, U.S. Open, Serena, number one player in the world, defending champion, we all start kind of from zero here." In the men's draw, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will both be in action on Monday. Second-ranked Nadal will face American Ryan Harrison as he bids to win the hard-court event for the second time. The Spaniard was champion in 2011, then runner-up the following year, but missed the 2012 event due to injury. Federer, the champion five years in a row from 2004, will play Slovenia's Grega Zemlja as the seventh seed following a difficult year in which the 17-time grand slam winner has struggled with both injuries and an experiment with a new racquet. Meanwhile, world No. 9 Petra Kvitova's U.S. Open preparations stumbled Saturday as the Czech lost 6-2 6-2 to Romania's Simona Halep in the final of the WTA event in New Haven. Halep, a quarterfinalist in Cincinnati, followed up Friday's win over former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki to claim her fourth title this year. France's Gael Monfils may miss New York after suffering an abdominal injury in the final of the ATP's Winston-Salem tournament. The former world No. 7, now ranked 49th after a series of physical setbacks, retired at 6-3 2-1 down against Austria's Jurgen Melzer. | Serena Williams will begin defense of her U.S. Open title on Monday . World No. 1 is seeking to become the grand slam's oldest women's champion . American says she is determined to bounce back from recent Cincinnati defeat . Her main rival will be last year's beaten finalist Victoria Azarenka . | c35540932078b64c943acb8907d6535805da0047 |
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man in his 80s died at a care home. Police were called to Sowerby House care home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire yesterday afternoon after the man was found dead in his room. The woman, of Thirsk, was arrested late yesterday evening on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody for questioning. Police believe she was an 'associate' of the resident, not an employee at the care home, but detectives say they are looking into their relationship. Police were called to Sowerby care home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire after a man was found dead in his room . Officers were called to the privately-owned care home at around 3.20pm yesterday after the pensioner was found dead in his room. The Edwardian property, which has a modern side extension, stands in the tree-lined Front Street in the attractive village of Sowerby on the outskirts of Thirsk. A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'Following an early investigation and forensic assessment, it is suspected that the injuries suffered by the deceased are non-accidental. 'As a result, a woman in her 50s from Thirsk, who has no known connection to the care home, was arrested late on Wednesday evening on suspicion of murder. 'She is currently in police custody for questioning.' The care home has yet to comment on the incident. Police have arrested a woman in her 50s on suspicion of murder and are continuing to question her today . Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn said: 'We ask that consideration is given to the residents and the families connected to the care home at this time. 'The home has not been closed; however, there are areas within the home which are still being examined. 'Specially trained police family liaison officers have been deployed to support the deceased's family. At this moment we are not in a position to release the identity of the deceased.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Man in his 80s found dead at care home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire . Police say injuries he suffered are suspected of being 'non-accidental' Woman in her 50s is arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder . Police say the suspect is an 'associate' of man and not care home worker . | 6b2320c5e7e98811b859794f1d3537f3fb790088 |
By . Lydia Warren . and James Nye . John Edwards' eldest daughter has revealed that she sees his love child at Christmas but has no relationship with his former mistress. In a frank interview, Cate Edwards said she sees her half-sister Frances Quinn less often than she sees her parents' younger children but that she's interested in having a good relationship with her. 'I saw her at Christmas,' she told the Washington Post. 'She’s down there in Charlotte, [North Carolina]. It’s not as easy.' When asked if she had any relationship with Rielle Hunter, who had an affair with her father while her mother was battling cancer, she promptly responded: 'No.' Scandal: Cate Edwards, left with her father after he was found not guilty of misusing campaign funds in 2012, said she wants a relationship with his daughter Francis Quinn, right with her mother Rielle Hunter . Cate . Edwards, an Ivy-league educated lawyer who now works with her father, . has long stood by his side - through the revelations about his affair . and his court battle, which found him not guilty of misusing campaign . funds to cover up the relationship. Friends of Cate explained to The Washington Post that anyone's shock at the . support John Edwards receives from his daughter needs to understand . this time in their lives. When Cate was 14, her older brother Wade was killed in a car crash in 1996. Cate . recalled her parents falling apart in the aftermath of their eldest son's . death - so much so that Cate moved into their bedroom to console them. 'For . them, the worst had already happened,' says Sunjung Kim, Cate’s . roommate for four years at Princeton. 'Everything that came after was . just something to be dealt with.' Cate told The Washington Post . that she wouldn't discuss her mother and father's marriage but that . Wade's death was integral to her relationship with her father. Presidential campaign: John . Edwards with his family in January 2008, with his wife Elizabeth and . children Emma Claire, Jack and Cate. At this time . Elizabeth knew of the affair - but thought it was a . one-night stand . 'I’m really not going to get into their relationship,' said Cate. 'In terms . of my relationship with the two of them, when you’ve been through the . things we’ve been through together, this wasn’t like losing Wade. It was . not as bad.' Edwards, a former vice-president candidate, had met Rielle Hunter on February 21, 2006 when she walked into the bar at Lowes . Regency Hotel in New York and told him, 'You're so . hot!' Their . disastrous affair was discovered by Elizabeth in December 2006 - two years after her cancer diagnosis - but at . the time Edwards told . his cancer-stricken wife it was a one-night stand. Speaking with the Post, Ivy-league . educated Cate, who has since set up a law firm with her father, revealed . the moment she found out about the affair. Her father broke the news to . her in 2007 or 2008 - she can't remember which - just before it hit the . tabloids. 'It . was important from dad's perspective to be honest with me,' she said in . the interview, which was held to celebrate her new partnership with her . father on his successful return to practicing law. 'He . was very emotional in telling me...We hugged and I said, 'I love you'. That's generally how it went. He was, he was upset,' said Cate. Tragedy: Edwards leaves his wife's funeral with his children Jack (C) and Cate (R) in December 2010 . In August . 2008, the news emerged that Edwards had fathered a child with his . one-time aide, Rielle Hunter and his campaign to become president . imploded - as did his marriage to Elizabeth, after Christmas, one year . later. On . December 7, 2010, days after Cate, now 32, was engaged to her college . sweetheart Tevor Upham, her mother passed away after battling cancer for . almost six years. In 2012 her father came close to prison during his trial on charges of violating campaign finance laws, but Cate stood by him. She . stood by him even after the revelation during that trial of the . harrowing moment her mother ripped open her blouse to show Edwards her . breast cancer surgery scars after The National Enquirer first reported . his affair in October 2007. 'I had my moments of self-pity,' she said. 'I've never reacted with anger exactly. I mean, you know I was . angry at my dad for a while. We worked on, we worked very hard to repair . our relationship.' The . politician made headlines again in April, when he and Cate were turned . away when he tried to get into socialite Bunny Mellon's funeral in . Virginia. Focal point: The death of Wade Edwards in 1996 bonded Cate, her father and mother in a way that only those who have gone through something similar can appreciate according to her friends . The . financial relationship between the disgraced politician and the . reclusive heiress nearly twice his age was made public during the former . Senator's 2011 trial which delved into the alleged misuse of the . hundreds of thousands of dollars that Mellon gave to Edward's campaign. Though he . was found not guilty of illegally using the more than $700,000 Mellon . donated, he has apparently not won back the support of the now-deceased . socialite's family. Bunny, whose real name was Rachel Lambert Mellon, died from natural causes on March 17 at the age of 103. The . New York Post reports that Edwards showed up to Mellon's funeral in . Upperville, Virginia on Friday with his eldest daughter Cate but they . were given the cold shoulder. When . they arrived, they were kept out of the service at Trinity Episcopal . Church and forced to stand in an adjacent parish with the rest of the . overflow crowd. | Cate Edwards, 32, has revealed she wants to foster a relationship with Francis Quinn, 6, her father's child from his affair with Rielle Hunter . He cheated on his wife, Elizabeth, while she was battling cancer . Cate said she stood by his side because nothing was as hard to deal with as losing her older brother in a car crash in 1996 . | c335c3661384c51b7eb9c4f221dda635d36175ab |
(CNN) -- While the Republican nominees beat their drums and stomp their feet and whoop "class warfare," we're reminded of another kind of war on class: That is people's seeming inability to be decent and sophisticated online. This isn't a new problem. In the musical "Chicago," Velma and Mama Morton lament: "Why is it everyone now is a pain in the a**? Whatever happened to class?" But back in Prohibition-era Illinois, offenses were limited to whatever went down in letters, telephone calls and real-life interactions. Nowadays, when we're virtually connected to a gazillion people at any given time (formally reducing our six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon and everyone else to a mere 4.74 -- score!), those dodgy, ill-advised and just plain rude acts are happening at arm's length all the time. While we can't do anything about the fact that "no one even says oops when they're passing their gas" and "even kids'll kick your shins and give you sass" (yep, "Chicago" again), we offer the following solutions in the war on class. Identify your own faux pas and make the Web a bit less of a bubbling swamp of vulgarity. Tacky tactic: Posting detailed, passive-aggressive grievances about other people in your circle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc., a la "It's really interesting to me how SOME people think it's totally OK to be nice to your face and then send texts to your boyfriend telling him he could do better, ESPECIALLY when said people wear fake colored contact lenses and ill-fitting clothes and are named Jenny Jenkins. #justsaying." Classy fix: When you have beef with one person and yet feel the need to involve hundreds of others, you don't come off as righteous. You look childish and a bit foolish. In fact, research shows that gossipmongers are seen as unlikable and weak. If you have something to say to someone, say it to her face (book): E-mail or message her privately. Or better yet, call her or ask whether you can talk in person and -- calmly and without screeching or flailing about -- talk it out. Staying cool as a cucumber won't just be classy, it'll scare the crap out of whomever you're confronting. A classy foe is so much more persuasive than a hysterical one. Tacky tactic: Making big announcements via TMI photos: the new baby, seconds after birth and still gooey; your newly deceased father-in-law on a gurney, moments before they wheeled him away; you passed out next to the toilet after celebrating your new job offer, etc. Classy fix: Honestly, most big announcements don't require an accompanying photo. A cheerful update about the baby's weight and health, a solemn link to the service announcement and an excited sentence about your new gig would suffice. Eventually your friends and loved ones will want you to share a photo of the cleaned-up baby. But trust us: Your friends want you to be out there celebrating achievements and dealing with losses, not busily tapping away on your smartphone every second of the day. (To put it another way: You're not nearly as interesting to everyone else as you think you are. Hard truth of the day.) Tacky tactic: Assuming every digital contact is a willing financial supporter (and prefers to be contacted a dozen times a day). So you're planning a self-booked, 12-country mission trip? Forming a nonprofit to neuter feral cats in the neighborhood? Kicking off that company of hard-plastic containers for the transportation of raw fruit that you've been talking about? Good for you. Not so good for us if you continue tagging us in daily Facebook notes or spamming us with bullying messages along the lines of "Your contribution is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to the success of Spay & Play, so it is ESSENTIAL that you donate as much as you can." Classy fix: Use a carrot, not a stick, to drum up support. Set up a Kickstarter campaign with a low funding limit and offer incentives for different contributions. Send kind, flattering, personalized appeals to different potential donors ("I thought this might interest you since you're familiar with startup nonprofits, and I'd love to take you out for coffee and benefit from your wisdom even if a financial contribution isn't possible right now") and leave them alone if one followup note goes unanswered. At the end of the day, like when you're penniless in your 11th country or chest-deep in feral kitties, you want a venture funded by willing donors and well-wishing supporters, not ticked-off friends who are paying you hush money. | The Web is full of people who use tacky tactics on their social media platforms . Passive-aggressive grievances about someone in your circle can come off as childish . Every big announcement doesn't require an accompanying photo, especially if it's TMI . Don't bully your friends into donating money for your latest cause . | 6534956764fb98ac66884bf1a32ca3fb6630dc6a |
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- After 17 hours, Kerri Gannon and her husband were still stranded in an airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, trying to find a way home to the United States after the facility was occupied by crowds of protesters and closed. Anti-government protesters gather in front of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport early Wednesday. The newly married husband and wife, in Thailand for their honeymoon, were struggling to find a way home to California after explosions at two Bangkok airports wounded four people and both airports were shut down. The day before, thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the airports to protest the return of Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from an economic summit in Peru. "The upper level outside is really crowded with protesters and for the most part they're kind of quiet and polite," Gannon said from the airport. "They're roaming the airport, they're cheering and clapping and walking around, but it's clearly their domain." Watch protesters clash » . It was not clear which of the two occupied airports she was speaking from, but tourists were stranded in both. The People's Alliance for Democracy , which is leading the protests, said it will not end its occupation of the airports until the prime minister resigns. They accuse his government of being a front for ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Ongoing protests caused authorities to cancel all incoming and outgoing flights at the main hub, Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which handles 60,000 incoming passengers daily, an assistant to airport director Serirat Prasutanond told CNN. Pro- and anti-government protesters also exchanged gunfire Tuesday, a Thai police official said. Protesters with golf clubs and long wooden sticks clashed with airport taxi drivers, with each side throwing objects at the other. Watch what's causing the protests » . Protesters blockaded people trying to get to one of the airports. They directed travelers to exit onto the access roads. See more photos » . "I'm trying to get out of this place, but I'm stuck," iReporter Arjan Sing, who was on a two-week vacation to India and stopped in Bangkok to visit a friend's family. "When we took the exit there were lots of tourists standing around wondering what they were going to do." Gannon said the situation started off fairly relaxed, but tensions were escalating. "As more and more tourists leave [the airport], the fact that we don't have any information and there's no one to give us information, now we feel stranded here and we don't know where to go," Gannon said. "It seems a little bit more hostile than it was earlier." Gannon said she's heard nothing from airport personnel and her quest for answers is hurt even more by the fact that many people in the airport speak no English. "I don't know what happened to my flight," one woman waiting in an airport told CNN. "They won't talk to us and I'm angry and sad because I have two small children and they're sick so we want to go home." The airlines have also been mum on the situation, Gannon said, making it difficult for them to decide whether to wait it out at the airport or try to find a hotel. "We've had absolutely no contact from our air carrier," Gannon said. "But that seems to be universal across the board." One traveler said the wait was frustrating. "They've started coming through and telling us that we possibly might be out of here in the morning," he told CNN. "But either way, there's no problem. We just sit here and relax and enjoy the ride." Gannon said she and her new spouse just hope to get home sometime in the near future. "We've been gone for 17 days and [the honeymoon] was good -- until now," she said. "We are just trying to go home, get back to work and Thanksgiving." | Airports closed after blasts, and thousands of protesters taking over . Kerri Gannon, husband, on honeymoon in Thailand, stuck for 17 hours . Protesters swarmed the airports, said they won't leave until prime minister resigns . Continuing protests; travelers have no information about what's going on . | 04a6a7ca67478bcfe4f1d01a68dfd18fdd87097a |
By . Jonathan O'Callaghan . For parents, the possibility of a child falling into a pool unattended and drowning is a very real and concerning threat. So to put their mind at ease, one company has designed a headband that alerts a parent’s smartphone if a child accidentally falls in water. By syncing with an iOS device, the sensor sends a warning via Bluetooth and lets the adult come to the aid of their child as quickly as possible. Scroll down for video . A Connecticut-based company has revealed a device to keep kids safe near water. The £58 ($99) iSwimband alerts parents when their children have fallen into a pool. It can also let parents know when their kids have been underwater too long. In both instances an alarm is sent to the parent's phone to warn them . The waterproof device is known as the iSwimband and costs aroun $99 (around £60). iSwimband is a small, wireless sensor that is worn either as a headband or a wristband says thecompany. The sensor is paired with a compatible Bluetooth-enabled smart device running the free iSwimband app. When both the sensor and app are activated, the app continually monitors the status of the sensor. If the app determines that the sensor has been submerged into water, or submerged for a (user-definable) dangerous period of time, it notifies the caregiver via audiovisual alerts. The caregiver can then investigate the circumstances and intervene if necessary. The device apparently has a battery life of hundreds of hours of active monitoring. It has an effective range of 100 feet (30 metres) or more. It sits around the head of a child and has a Bluetooth-enabled sensor at the front. There is also a wristband option available. The wristband version is designed for children who are non-swimmers and fall into a pool by mistake. When the device detects the child has fallen into water, it sends an alert immediately to the parent so they can come and rescue them. The headband version, meanwhile, is designed for slightly older children who are able to swim. It detects when a child has been underwater for too long, perhaps because they are struggling to swim to the surface. In this instance an alarm will again sound on the phone, alerting the parent to come and save their child. The waterproof Bluetooth device has a range of about 100 feet (30 metres). It attaches around the head of a child and has a sensor at the front. There is also a wristband option available . Up to eight iSwimbands can be synced to any one iOS device. Speakers can also be linked to provide louder alerts. However, the company adds that it is important the parent knows the general location their child is in, as the device does not have GPS, although this is something they to add in future. 'iSwimband is the world's first wearable sensor designed to alert you with an audible/visual alarm on your smartphone or tablet (and linked speakers) if a swimmer has been submerged dangerously long, or if your non-swimmer enters the water,' the company says on their website. 'While nothing can replace diligent human supervision, iSwimband provides you and your loved ones with an added layer of protection around water.' | Connecticut-based company reveals device to keep kids safe near water . The £60 ($99) iSwimBand alerts parents when their children fall into a pool . It can also let parents know when they have been underwater too long . In both instances an alarm is sent to the parent's phone to warn them . The waterproof Bluetooth device has a range of about 100 feet (30 metres) | 6dc27263db981a3b19b93708b2547f244de942c2 |
Michael Clarke has been named as Australia captain for the World Cup after the co-hosts announced their 15-man squad late on Saturday night. The 33-year-old has been ruled out of the start of the six-week tournament — including his side’s opener against England in Melbourne on February 14 —following surgery on a hamstring injury. But Clarke was still named in Australia’s squad, with the expectation he will return at some stage during the first round. Michael Clarke watched his side from the sidelines during day-five of the fourth Test against India . Clarke is set to miss the start of the World Cup but was still named in the squad . Michael Clarke tore his right hamstring during a Test against India in December . Clarke receives treatment for a chronic back problem during the first Test against India . M Clarke (c), G Bailey (vc), Finch, Warner, Watson, Smith, Maxwell, Marsh, Faulkner, Haddin, Johnson, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Dohert . Steve Smith has been in sensational form while deputising for Clarke as Test captain, hitting centuries in four successive matches against India. Yet George Bailey is expected to retain the vice-captaincy of the one-day side, meaning the Tasmanian will initially lead Australia at the World Cup. Australia narrowly missed out on securing victory in the final Test against India in Sydney yesterday, with the tourists holding on for a draw after finishing the final day on 252 for seven in their second innings. Brett Lee (left), Michael Clarke (centre) and Shane Warne wear pink for Jane McGrath Day during day three of the Fourth Test match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8 . (L-R) Michael Clarke, Mark Nicholas, Michael Slater, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee pose for a photo wearing their pink attire . Meanwhile, Mike Hussey will not face England in their second tour match in Canberra on Wednesday. The former Australia batsman was named captain of the Prime Minister’s XI but has been ruled out after injuring his calf playing for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash on Friday evening. | Michael Clarke had surgery on an injured hamstring in December . Australia captain is set to miss the start of the tournament . But has been named in the squad in the hope he will make a return at some stage during the first round . | 48be43b3b8dcaa136e83c950432bc2037eb181cb |
By . Ruth Styles . His mother is famous for her chic sense of style, while his Aunt Pippa is no stranger to making fashion headlines of her own. Now it would appear that Prince George's grandmothers are making a bid for the title of most fashionable female relative after both put in strong performances at his christening. Camilla, who exchanged an air kiss with the Queen as she arrived at the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace, looked wonderful in an all-cream ensemble, complete with a cosy bouclé coat and a multi-strand pearl necklace. Scroll down for video . Elegant: New grandmothers Camilla and Carole battled it out for the title of best-dressed granny . Royal couple: The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall leave St James's Palace after the christening . Looking good: New grandmother Carole Middleton arrives for the christening of Prince George . Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge's mother Carole, who arrived a few minutes ahead of the royal party, was resplendent in a Catherine Walker designed off-white dress and tailored navy coat livened up with a chic lace panel. Perfectly-groomed Carole, who smiled broadly as she arrived for the intimate ceremony accompanied by husband Michael and children Pippa and James, teamed her coat with a soft grey satin trimmed straw hat by milliner Jane Corbett. Both grandmothers plumped for comfortable low-heeled leather court shoes that kept attention firmly on their outfits, . The pair joined the Duchess of Cambridge, who looked elegant in a cream ruffled suit by Alexander McQueen and a £755 bespoke Jane Taylor hat, and other members of the royal family including Prince Harry and the Queen, for the event, which was attended by just 22 people. But although it was Prince George's big day, all eyes were on his grandmothers - both of whom have raised their style game in recent years. Camilla's understated, regal style has been finessed since her 2005 wedding to Prince Charles, with designers such as Anna Valentine and Bruce Oldfield taking pride of place in her wardrobe. Smiles: Pippa and James Middleton, sister and brother of Kate, leave the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace . Baptism: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh chat with the Archbishop of Canterbury ahead of the service . All done! Prince George is carried out of the Chapel Royal by his mother after the ceremony . Happy family: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George arrive for the Chapel Royal ceremony . Main man: Prince George, in the arms of his father, was centre of attention in his lace christening gown . Key pieces include flattering coat-dresses and elegant knee-length shift dresses which the duchess teams with pieces from her enviable jewellery collection. The majority of the duchess' hats are bespoke and the work of some of the UK's biggest millinery names, among them Phillip Treacey and Nerida Fraiman, who also makes hats for her nieces Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. By contrast, Carole Middleton shares her eldest daughter's thrifty approach to fashion with much of her wardrobe purchased on the high street. Like her daughters Kate and Pippa, Carole has a penchant for Whistles and Zara, but is known to splash out on occasion. At the 2011 royal wedding, Carole plumped for Catherine Walker, who also designed her ensemble for the christening of Prince George, and chose a flattering Orla Kiely tea dress for her first meeting with her grandson at the Lindo Wing in June. Proud parents: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge show their baby son to the Queen and Prince Phillip . Meet the family: Godmother Zara Tindall and aunt and uncle James and Pippa Middleton arrive for the service . Great grandparents: The Queen, dressed in elegant petrol blue, and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive . Uncle: Prince Harry is driven through the gates of St. James' Palace for the intimate christening ceremony . Convoy: The baby prince and his proud parents arrived at the ceremony in a convoy of cars . Support: Many of the well-wishers camped outside St James Palace carried placards congratulating the baby . Devoted: Hundreds of well-wishers waited outside St James Palace to see the baby prince on his big day . | The Duchess of Cornwall was elegant in an all-cream ensemble . Carole Middleton chose a navy coat by favourite designer Catherine Walker . Mrs Middleton teamed her outfit with a pale grey Jane Corbett hat . Both plumped for similar mid-heeled cream court shoes . New mother Catherine chose a stunning Alexander McQueen suit . Royal favourite Stewart Parvin designed the Queen's sky blue ensemble . | 13e685bd14fe2cb3d81165d5b10c785d23469cfb |
A breast cancer test which could save thousands of women the ordeal of chemotherapy is to be made available on the NHS. The test can accurately predict the chances of a tumour returning once it has been removed by surgery. From today, doctors will be urged by the NHS rationing body NICE to offer women the test, called Oncotype DX, to check whether they really need chemotherapy. Thousands of women with breast cancer could be spared chemotherapy every year thanks to a test which has been approved for use on the NHS . At present, about half of the 48,000 . women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year undergo a course . of this debilitating treatment after the tumours are taken out. This . is meant to eradicate any cancer cells that have broken away from the . main tumour, which could cause the illness to spread to other parts of . the body. But many women with the illness have a very low-risk form that is unlikely to spread. Experts . estimate that between 4,000 and 5,000 women a year with this low-risk . breast cancer are needlessly being put through exhausting chemotherapy. It usually lasts three to six months and causes hair loss, sickness and tiredness and may leave women permanently infertile. But . from now on, doctors will be urged to offer women the test – which . costs £2,580 a time – whenever they are uncertain about the risk of the . cancer returning. In three quarters of cases, doctors can estimate how . likely the tumour is to return just by looking at its size and how . quickly it has grown. The genetic test could benefit those with early-stage breast cancer facing the intensive treatment, which has side effects include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, hair loss and fatigue . But . the remainder of women (about 9,000 a year) have what is termed . ‘intermediate-risk’ cancer and it is very difficult for doctors to . assess it. Nearly all of . these women are given chemotherapy just in case even though about half . may not need it. The new test works by analysing small samples of the . tumour after surgery. The . samples will be posted by doctors to a lab in Redwood City, California, . where they are put through a machine that closely looks at 21 genes. Studies have suggested that half of women with the most common form of early breast cancer could be spared chemotherapy. Image shows breast cancer cells . The . machine then comes up with a score of between zero and 100 based on the . chance of the tumour returning. Patients who score zero to 18 will be . told they don’t need chemotherapy while those over 31 will be urged to . have the treatment. When patients get a score of between 18 and 31, doctors will use their own discretion. Professor . Carole Longson of the Health Technology Evaluation Centre at NICE, . said: ‘Breast cancer patients face significant emotional and . psychological strain when considering chemotherapy. ‘A . test that can help to predict better the risk of the breast cancer . spreading, and therefore the potential likely benefit of additional . chemotherapy, represents a significant step forward for patients.’ Sally Greenbrook, senior policy officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: ‘This is a good decision from NICE.’ Recently other researchers have developed far cheaper versions of the test including one, ICH4, which costs just £120 a time. But . NICE said it needed to look at more evidence about the success of this . test –invented by doctors at London’s Royal Marsden hospital – before . recommending its use across the NHS. It comes in the wake of the release earlier this week of a new jab which will revolutionise breast cancer treatment. NHS England has given the go-ahead to the Herceptin injection being used. It takes just five minutes to administer and is estimated to save the NHS £20million a year. | Nice has approved the Oncotype DX test for use on the NHS . It examines genes taken from the tumour to establish if it will spread . It could prevent thousands of women being over treated . Doctors will use the test with other information, such as the size and grade of the tumour, to . work out if chemotherapy could be beneficial . | 5fbcacb9255b8ff5f52d502314b480aa7db0f0d7 |
The Take Me Out scandal continued today with fresh revelations that 90 revellers enjoyed a two night sex and alcohol party at a £4.5million mansion, causing thousands of pounds of damage. The 48-hour long event attended by dozens of Take Me Out party-goers took place at the mansion in Chepstow, South Wales and was organised by one of the contestants. Photos of the night were posted on Facebook and sources said there was 'lots of 's******g' while another said there was 'two or three thousand pounds worth of damage' to the grade II listed building. Sex party: Grade II listed Wyelands House in Chepstow, south Wales where the Take Me Out party took place . One of the many bedrooms at the house. Sources said there was two or three thousand pounds worth of damage to the property . It follows revelations yesterday that Take Me Out contestant Aaron Withers, who featured on last Saturday's show, is a £50-an-hour male escort and also has a conviction for punching a woman. He won a date with contestant Wen-Jing Mo, 28, and the pair went on a romantic holiday to Cyprus. But today she told the Daily Mirror he failed to reveal his past to her and 'manipulated' her into bed. She said she was 'shocked' after discovering the 32-year-old had a criminal conviction, telling the newspaper: 'I have been domestically abused before - when I was 17 - and now my face has a permanent scar from it, a deep scar. 'I would definitely not have slept with him if I had known he had punched a woman'. Escort past: Take Me Out contestant Aaron Withers has been revealed as a £50-an-hour male escort . Match: Aaron was seen on Saturday night's show picking 28-year-old Wen for a date. Seen here with Wen and host Paddy McGuinness . In the ITV dating show, hosted by matchmaker Paddy McGuinness, four men try to impress 30 single women from across the UK to get themselves a date. Contestant Wen-Jing Mo said she is angry Aaron Withers did not reveal his past to her before she slept with him. She said she was 'manipulated' into bed and said she would not have slept with him if she had known about his criminal conviction for hitting a woman. She won a date with the 32-year-old following last Saturday's show and the pair went to Cyprus for their romantic getaway. Wen said: 'I'm shocked. There is definitely no way that if I knew a guy had hit a woman that I would have slept with him'. She said she had been 'domestically abused' when she was 17 for about three months and has a permanent scar from the attack . Mr Withers did not tell producers of the show about the conviction or the fact he is a male escort. Wen claimed Mr Withers told her about the fight but did not reveal one of the victims was a woman. She also said he was texting another girl while they were away. ITV said it will not show footage next week of the date where Wen said she agreed to the date after leaving her light on by accident. But if the girls are not interested, they turn out their lights, which has led to the show coining the phrase 'no likey, no lighty'. A source told The Sun of the party at Wyelands House, held to celebrate the new series: 'There was loads of sex going on - people were doing it in front of each other.' Another spoke of one girl who had sex with three men and 'canoodled' with nine others while another reveller told how there were 'condoms everywhere'. Party-goers had apparently been playing a 'lock and key' game where girls are given a padlock and the men a key. The game involves those playing circulating until a match is found. ITV said it was 'relaxed' about the event. Revellers . are believed to have spent £3,000 on alcohol. As they left doors . were found off their hinges, smashed bottles and glasses were . discovered and carpets were ruined by spillages. Wyelands House, owned by developer Paul Bailey and available for rent, has . ornate ceiling cornices, sash windows, marble fireplaces and flagstone . floors, according to its website. The property also has an outdoor pool, giant TV and games room and playground. Mr Bailey's daughter said revellers showed disrespect but said she wouldn't be pursuing it. Yesterday it was discovered that Take Me Out contestant Mr Withers is signed up to the Platinum Select escorts website. On . his profile page on the site, which advertises the services of more . than 5,000 escorts, Withers states his charges as £50 for an hour, £500 . for an overnight visit or £1,500 for the whole weekend. His profile states that he is happy . to entertain 'mature clients', adding: 'I have an awesome personality . and will never struggle to hold conversation.' Selling his wares: Aaron's escort profile page on the Platinum Select website . Referring to his other job, tarmac . worker Withers told the Daily Mirror: 'It seemed like easy money to fund . surf trips when I first came to London, just a bit of fun. 'I was really skint and needed to earn cash.' However, . Withers insisted that he never offered any more than an escort service, . unlike many of his competitors who provide 'X-rated extras'. He added to the paper: 'I certainly didn't offer any more than that.' Withers . was convicted of hitting Amy Kerr and her boyfriend Simon Edwards with a . pool cue during a brawl in a pub in Somerset last summer. He was fined £200 and told to pay both victims £50 compensation each after pleading guilty to the attack. An . ITV spokesperson said Withers' background should have been checked more . thoroughly by the Take Me Out production company TalkbackThames. They . said: 'We are disappointed his record was not picked up in background . checks carried out by talkbackThames, the producers or Take Me Out.' TalkbackThames . said they are now 'reviewing procedures', saying: 'During the . application process we ask contestants to declare any convictions, and . background checks are carried out on each individual, in line with . industry practice. 'Aaron's criminal record did not come to light.' | Thousands of pounds of worth damage to the grade II listed building . Contestant Wen-Jing Mo said date Aaron Withers 'manipulated' her into bed . Withers is a £50-an-hour escort and has a conviction for punching a girl . | 5116aeeb5cd9a1e7a832970390284e36ed69e0de |
By . John Stevens . PUBLISHED: . 16:31 EST, 1 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:11 EST, 2 August 2013 . colourWhite: The celebrity chef is definitely not in the pink after being told to repaint his 15th century hotel . When Marco Pierre White chose to repaint his 15th century hotel a shade of pink, he perhaps thought it would add to the colourful palette used on old buildings in Suffolk villages. But the chef is being forced to repaint his historic hotel after locals complained that the Grade-II listed building looked like 'blancmange' as he has not used the traditional Suffolk Pink. Villagers had asked planning officials to investigate after the outside walls of the Angel Hotel, which dominates the market place in the medieval village of Lavenham, were changed from cream to pink. One of the upset local residents said: 'It looks as if someone has got their history badly wrong - Suffolk pink is a traditional colour here and has been for centuries. But it is not that chocolate-box pink that people think it is. 'Real Suffolk Pink dates back to the 14th century or earlier. Then paints were coloured using whatever was to hand, and ox-blood was used to produce the colour properly recognised as Suffolk Pink. 'There is a rich pageant of old colours in this village - from red to yellow and rust to mustard - and frankly the Angel looked ridiculous pink. 'It has changed colour over the years but no-one here can remember it being such a twee colour.' Another resident who lives just yards from the Angel said: 'It is a ghastly inappropriate colour and totally out of place in the middle of so many other buildings painted in proper sympathetic heritage colours. 'The job was done in a couple of days using cheap trade paint that was just slapped on - it's not even lime-wash which is what should be used on property in Lavenham.' Parish council chairman Roy Whitworth, who once ran the Angel which Mr Pierre White took over two years ago, said: 'Villagers were generally appalled by the new colour - no-one liked it.' Blancmange: Residents have fiercely criticised the celebrity chef's choice of colour, which they say looks like the famous dessert . Mr Pierre White upset villagers within days of taking over the hotel and pub when he refused to serve lager or Guinness, claiming it encouraged the wrong sort of people to the establishment, which was built as a tavern in around 1420. 'People here are already fairly cheesed off with Mr White because of the changes he made at the Angel and they would be very upset if he was allowed to get away with things,' said Mr Whitworth. The controversial cook also made the headlines earlier this year when a judge branded him a 'wealthy idiot'. Last night the hotel confirmed that the hotel would be repainted. Manager Rob Jackson said: 'The building needed freshening up and Marco chose the colour but we have agreed to change it and instead have a much darker pink. 'We didn't need permission to change the colour but we are happy to change it and use one recommended by English Heritage.' That's more like it: This Grade II cottage in the coastal village of Stutton has been decorated with proper Suffolk Pint paint . | Outraged residents have rounded on the celebrity chef over choice of paint . White has agreed to repaint his hotel after it was branded a 'blancmange' The famously grouchy cook has already upset villagers after banning lager . Hotel says it will agree new shade of pink with English Heritage . | c4f5f81590293ecd15ec90502a35e8b40c78cffd |
(CNN) -- An Egyptian court Monday ordered a ban on activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and froze its finances, according to state-run news website EgyNews. The move is the latest in an anti-Muslim Brotherhood crackdown that began when the military ousted President Mohamed Morsy, who was backed by the Brotherhood, in early July. The country's Ministry of Social Solidarity said earlier this month that it was considering punishing the group, accusing it of violating a law regulating non-governmental groups, EgyNews reported. The law prohibits such groups from operating as political organizations and forming militias. The Brotherhood has a political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, and the current government has accused the Brotherhood of inciting violence. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman, in response to a question at a briefing in Washington, said the department is looking for more information about the court's ruling. "A transparent and inclusive political process that preserves the rights of all Egyptians to participate and leads back to a civilian-led government is critical to the success of Egypt's political and economic future," said Jen Psaki. She added that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy had discussed the matter when they met Sunday in New York. Opinion: Why the Muslim Brotherhood can't back down . Egypt has been in turmoil since Morsy's ouster, with the military and Morsy opponents battling Muslim Brotherhood members and others. In August, hundreds of people -- citizens as well as members of security forces -- were killed. Many of the deaths occurred when the military used force to clear two pro-Morsy sit-in sites in Cairo. Violence raged after pro-Morsy supporters staged demonstrations a few days later. Read more: What is the Muslim Brotherhood? The Brotherhood was underground during the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, who had banned the group. But after Mubarak's ouster in 2011, the group's Freedom and Justice Party got into gear and fielded parliamentary candidates. The Freedom and Justice Party won about half the seats up for election in December 2011, and its presidential candidate, Morsy, won in 2012. Egyptian security forces lately have rounded up high-profile members of the group. Last week, they arrested a Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, Gehad El-Haddad, who was a frequent guest on Western media. He was arrested at an apartment in a Cairo suburb, Egypt's state-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported. He was accused of inciting violence and murder. El-Haddad was active on social media, notifying supporters of rallies. Egyptian police official killed in clashes on outskirts of Cairo . | Government: The Muslim Brotherhood was violating the law . Egypt's been in turmoil since the military ousted Brotherhood-backed President Morsy . The Brotherhood was banned under Hosni Mubarak's regime . But it went official on the political scene after Mubarak's 2011 ouster . | 9f80523b3cff1949d809bcb31b555d13be07676b |
Remi Garde has emerged as a surprise leading candidate to become Brighton’s next manager. Brighton, who lost in the play-offs to Derby, have begun the process of interviewing candidates and held a number of meetings. Chris Hughton, who is anxious to get back straight into work after being sacked by Norwich, is high on their list, as is former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, who has been long been the favourite with bookmakers. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon is a candidate too. French fancy: Remi Garde is being considered by Brighton after three years in charge of Lyon . But Garde is also being given serious consideration by Brighton’s ambitious owners, as they look to find a suitable replacement for Oscar Garcia, who offered his resignation after the defeat to Derby earlier this month. The 48-year-old Frenchman ended a three-year spell in charge of Lyon at the end of last season, having lost the Europa League quarter-finals to Juventus and the French Cup final against Paris St Germain. Garde cited 'personal reasons' and a desire to take a break from football but Brighton will sound him out to see if he wants the challenge of leading Brighton into the Barclays Premier League. In the frame: Chris Hughton (L) and Tim Sherwood (R) are also being considered for the Seagulls post . First time for everything: Phil Neville (C) could almost make his first move into management with the Seagulls . The Frenchman is best remembered in Britain for his spell playing for Arsenal in the late 1990s, where he won the title and FA Cup. Brighton, who could have as many as seven men on their shortlist, are also keen on Phil Neville, whose future at Manchester United is uncertain as Louis van Gaal prepares to put his own stamp on the coaching staff at Old Trafford. Neville was interviewed 12 months ago by Brighton before they appointed Garcia. Lennon resigned his post as Celtic manager earlier this month. Free agent: Neil Lennon is available after resigning his post at Celtic . | Remi Garde is a contender to become the next Brighton manager . Former Arsenal player has spent three years in charge of Ligue 1 club Lyon . Out of work Chris Hughton and Tim Sherwood are also in the frame . Phil Neville could make his first venture into management with the Seagulls . Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon also a possibility . Former manager Oscar Garcia resigned after defeat to Derby . | c2fa24208e4bf7d91592ed094f88713be35fa708 |
These photos capture the heart-stopping moment two female tigers savagely slash and tear at each during a ferocious battle over territory. The majestic photos were taken by Ukrainian wildlife photographer Alex Kirichko - who was just metres away when he witnessed it. The intense altercation erupted when the smallest of the pair, the orange coloured tiger known as Shadow, attempted to expand her hunting ground in a South African game reserve. Ferocious: The formidable-looking pair of female tigers were captured leaping wildly at one another during the altercation in South Africa . The white Siberian tiger, called Tibo, was clearly unwilling to give up the area and was seen leaping wildly at her opponent - appearing to get the better of her. After being overpowered, Shadow is seen rolling in the sandy Savannah grass before making a hasty retreat. Photographer Mr Kirichko, 49, was sat in his jeep a mere ten metres from the spectacle. He said: 'The two tigers were fighting over territory that day - Tibo was the defender and Shadow was the intruder. Battle over territory: The violent clash erupted after the smaller orange-coloured tiger attempted to expand her hunting ground . Rare sight: Witnessing a fight such as this is extremely rare and photographer Alex Kirichko was able to capture it from just ten metres away . The scenes were captured in South Africa's 'Tiger Canyons', a unique game reserve allowing visitors to see the endangered species in the wild . 'It was a vicious fight but, Tibo, the biggest of the pair managed to win. Shadow ended up on the ground while Tibo was circling her - she was clearly in control. 'The sound was incredible, if you've ever heard cats fight you know they can be loud but these cats weighed around 28 stone. 'It happened right before eyes, I'd say only ten metres away from our position. I was just glad to be inside the safety of a vehicle.' The scenes were captured in South Africa's 'Tiger Canyons' a unique private game reserve that allows visitors to see the endangered species out in the wild. The tiger is the largest cat species in the world, reaching a maximum body length of up to 11ft and weighing up to 390kg. Ukrainian photographer Alex Kirichko described the incident as 'incredible', adding: 'These cats weighed around 28 stone' Formiddable: The tiger is the largest cat species in the world, reaching a total body length of up to 11ft and weighing up to 390kg . Overpowered: The Siberian tiger, Tibo, out strengths her smaller opponent as the violent clash begins to draw to a close . Beaten: After being overpowered, Shadow, the orange-coloured tiger, was seen rolling in the dusty grass before making a hasty retreat . Submission: Shadow's mission to expand her territory appears to have failed as she lies on the grass in front of her victorious opponent . | Two cats engaged in ferocious clash at South Africa's 'Tiger Canyons', a game reserve for the endangered animals . Intense altercation was captured by Ukrainian wildlife photographer Alex Kirichko - who was just ten metres away . He said: 'The sound was incredible and it happened right before my eyes... I was glad to be in the safety of a vehicle' | 3e0c5868e3f46e1be8ef96b69cc7b0b6f110b3b7 |
(CNN) -- South Florida? Sure, we all know about South Beach. The beach in Fort Lauderdale. The shopping in Palm Beach. But there are a hundred little surprises here as well. And you may not find them all in the guidebooks. The ghost of Trapper Nelson . "Trapper" Nelson (born Vincent Nostokovich) lived in the swamps and mangroves of the Loxahatchee, in northern Palm Beach County, from the 1930s until 1968. At 6-foot-4 and 240 well-sculpted pounds, he was called "The Wild Man of the Loxahatchee." He lived in a log cabin and ate only what he could kill. And he became a local legend. He even built a small zoo with the animals he captured, entertaining his occasional visitors by wrestling alligators. On July 24, 1968, an acquaintance found Trapper Nelson dead inside his cabin, with a shotgun hole in his belly. The circumstances of his death were never established. Some people, though, swear that Trapper Nelson's still there. Rose Watson, who knew him as a little girl, claims to have seen his ghost at least six times. "I saw him clearly," she says. "A big man, with the outline of the face I remembered from childhood. There's no doubt in my mind. It was as real as it could possibly be!" Ranger-guided tours of Trapper Nelson's homestead are offered year-round at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Secret hotels of Florida's Gulf Coast . A castle for lost love . In Latvia in the early 1900s, Edward Leedskalnin and Agnes Scuffs were engaged to be married. But Agnes called it off. Heartbroken, Ed emigrated to Homestead, south of Miami, where he spent the rest of his life creating a monument to the woman he loved. In 1923, Leedskalnin began carving a structure from the ubiquitous coral here. He didn't finish it until 1951. And when he was finished, Ed -- only 5 feet tall and 100 pounds -- had somehow transported and sculpted 1,100 tons of coral into an open-air "castle" for himself, Agnes and an imaginary child. When asked how he managed to move tons of coral, all Ed would say was that he was a student of the ancient laws of physics. His workshop was filled with pulleys and mechanical lifts, but no one saw how he did it. He once bought several tons of coral from a quarry. When the foreman asked how he intended to load the coral onto his truck, Ed requested privacy. A few minutes later, when the foreman came back, he was astonished to see Ed sitting in the truck with the coral fully loaded. Ed never gave up hope that Agnes would join him. But she never came. He died just weeks after finishing the castle. The Coral Castle Museum opens daily at 8 a.m. Adult admission is $15; children 7-12 get in for $7; no charge for children 6 and younger. 10 best motorcycle roads in the U.S. A huge sports memorabilia collection . In 1943, 4-year-old Joel Platt tossed a lit match into a gas tank at his uncle's car lot. The car exploded. And so, more or less, did little Joel. Joel spent the next year in a hospital bed. One night, he saw Babe Ruth in a dream. That was the start of his magnificent obsession. Today, Platt owns more than a million pieces of sports memorabilia, with an estimated value of $50 million to $100 million. And his Sports Immortals Museum in Boca Raton can only hold a fraction of it. Michael Heffner, president of Leland's Auction House, has called it "the largest and most valuable collection of diverse and important sports artifacts ever assembled." "I cherish every piece," Platt says. "But I cherish the stories behind each one just as much." Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children. The museum is at 6830 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton. Four-wheeled fantasies . Tucked away in a warehouse district of North Miami is one of the world's most incredible collections of automobiles, motorcycles and fantasy vehicles. The Dezer Collection has Michael Keaton's Batmobile. The bright green Jaguar -- complete with missiles -- used by Halle Berry in "Die Another Day." A 37-foot-long pink Mercedes convertible seen on "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous," with a heart-shaped hot tub in the rear. A Russian T-55 tank driven by Pierce Brosnan in "Goldeneye." And an Aston Martin used in "Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.," complete with ramming bumpers, rotating license plates, machine gun and tire-slashers. Here, you can see Diana Rigg's Lotus from "The Avengers." A pink Jeep from "Burn Notice." The Gran Torino from the "Starsky & Hutch" movie. Lindsay Lohan's Love Bug from "Herbie Fully Loaded." Tom Selleck's Ferrari from "Magnum, P.I." The motorcycle from "Lethal Weapon." And a Bamby Peel, the world's smallest drivable car. The collection is the brainchild of Michael Dezer, an Israeli-American with a passion for classic wheels. Its value has been estimated at $80 million, and many experts have called it the largest privately held car collection in the world. Admission to one of the two buildings is $25 for adults, $10 for children. Admission to both buildings is $40 for adults, $15 for children. The Old Spanish Monastery: The 12th century in Miami . The Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux was completed in Spain in 1144 and occupied by monks for 700 years. It was eventually sold and turned into a stable. In 1925, newspaper magnate Randolph Hearst fell in love with the old monastery and purchased it. The building was dismantled, stone by stone. Each stone was then numbered, packed in hay and shipped to the United States. But because of a hoof-and-mouth outbreak in Spain, the Department of Agriculture ordered that the boxes be broken open and all the hay burned. But Hearst's workmen, unfortunately, failed to put the stones back in the right boxes. Hearst ran into financial trouble and was forced to sell the boxes. So they sat in a New York warehouse for 26 years until two Miami businessmen bought the boxes and shipped them here. It took 19 months to reassemble the monastery. Today, it's a green oasis of tranquility and Medieval architecture. St. Bernard de Clairvaux is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $8. The funkiest graveyard in America . The Key West Cemetery is a "city" of 70,000 inhabitants -- twice as many as the population above ground -- and some of the funniest epitaphs in America. For example: The one etched by a woman scorned on the grave of her scoundrel -- "At least I know where he's sleeping tonight." On the grave of B.P. "Pearl" Roberts, apparently the town's resident hypochondriac, "I told you I was sick!" Then there's the eternal resting place of "Sloppy Joe" Russell, who owned the Key West bar of the same name, Ernest Hemingway's favorite haunt when he lived here in the 1930s. Also buried here is Hemingway's chief source of material for "To Have and Have Not," a Prohibition-era bootlegger named Willard Antonio Gomez. Then there's Gloria Russell's grave, which simply says, "I'm just resting my eyes." Guided tours are offered twice a week through the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. Call or e-mail for reservations. Japan in Delray Beach . In 1905, enterprising Japanese immigrant Joseph Sakei dreamed of creating a Japanese agricultural community in Delray Beach. He advertised in Japan for workers -- and for women to come and marry them. As the colony grew, it was named "Yamato," in honor of a region in Japan. Life was hard, though, with stifling heat, disease, mosquitoes and crop blights. And most of the settlers returned to Japan. But a man named George Morikami built a good life here for his family. Morikami bequeathed his land to Palm Beach County upon his death, asking that the county create a museum and park about Japanese culture. Today it's one of South Florida's true cultural treasures. There are 200 acres filled with red wooden footbridges crossing ponds stocked with koi, sculpted bonsai plants, rock gardens, winding paths through the woods and small waterfalls. There's a Japanese villa, with blue-roofed rooms surrounding a central courtyard, filled with tea settings, ancient swords and ceremonial items. A museum was later added, with an authentic tea house and lakeside restaurant. In all, there are some 5,000 Japanese objects on display. Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Monday. Admission is $13 for adults, $8 for children 6-17 and free for children 5 and younger. Steve Winston is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based writer. | The Coral Castle is a temple to lost love . Four-wheeled fantasies are abundant in the Dezer Collection's . Find a sampling of Japan in Delray Beach . | a12ff185e3495623dd881dab2ca4843d53846217 |
Helen Smith, 42, couldn't believe her luck when a dress she made from 24,000 loom bands reached the high bid of £170,000 after she posted it on eBay. And it seems that many more wannabe weavers are eager to follow suit and make a quick buck from their rubber band creations, with the online auction site being inundated with clothing and accessories made from the bright bands. Fashion fans have crafted everything from bikinis to belts and even high-heeled shoes from the rainbow-coloured elastic bands. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Going loomy: Lots of loom band enthusiasts are listing their fashion creations on online auction site eBay . Yesterday saw the first ever man's 'loomkini' go up for sale on the site on sale at £30. The listing of 'thong made from the popular bands' was originally taken down as the image broke eBay's nudity laws but the product has since reappeared on the site using a different image to illustrate the design. Sam Innes, 22, from Musselburgh outside Edinburgh, created the swimwear and has currently received six bids with the loomkini currently going for £51, which seems rather modest compared to Helen's huge profit. The . auction for the loomkini closes on Friday at 3.24pm. Even flip-flops and high heels created from the colourful bands are beginning to appear on eBay . The shoes aren't created entirely out of the bands but instead heels are decorated using the weave . Jumping on the band wagon: Helen Smith, 42, put her dress, made entirely from loom bands by her friend Katherine, on eBay and it reached £170,000 - since then the auction site has been inundated with loom band creations . If the bikini sells for that price it would yield a £45 profit (not factoring in the 24 . hours labour it took to create). For some of the weavers their creations are more than just a hobby. One listing advertises a bodycon boob-tube style dress that is being sold to raise funds for a big day. The dress was designed by Dani Hubbard 26, from Porth in Rhonnda, who enlisted her family to help make the dress which took them a grand total of 39 hours to create. Too much skin: Innes's original advertisement showed more of his figure than eBay allows (right) but his item has since been relisted and the 22-year-old is currently fetching bids over £50 . Dani is hoping that her efforts will pay for her wedding to partner Jamie. According to The Mirror newspaper Dani is even hoping there will be enough to set aside a little extra to help buy her brother a car to thank him for helping with the dress. 'It was my brother's idea to make such a fashionable dress, and he helped me decide on the particular style we ended up with after we had discussed it. I haven't seen anything on the internet like it.' Dani Hubbard is hoping that her complicated design might fetch enough to cover the cost of her wedding...not to mention a car for her brother . Pick of the crop: This revealing crop top is one of the many inventive designs currently listed on the site . 'I just thought that if the other lady could do it, then so can I. There's a huge craze going on at the moment with these bands, so I gave it a go' continued the hopeful bride-to-be. However it appears that the increasing availability of loom band clothing is seeing the value of the garments decrease. 11-year-old Abigail Baker from Desborough, Northamptonshire, spent seven days crafting a loom band dress from 25,000 of the elastic bands. A family affair: Abigail will spend her £45 profit on a fish and chip dinner with her folks on their next holiday . Abigail used £90 worth of the bands and saw her dress go under the hammer for just £155. However the school girl seemed unscathed and thanked her family for the support. 'My family have . been the greatest throughout because they gave me the £90 to make this . dress and have supported me all the way.' Unlike Dani, Abigail has much more humble plans for her loom band profit. She said she wanted to raise at least . £50 cash so she could give her four-year-old brother Liam £10, keep £20 . for her to spend in the arcades and £20 for a fish and chip dinner . treat while on holiday in Weymouth, Dorset, next month. Getting creative: One weaver created a belt using the bands . Daring design: The dresses now listed on the site have become increasingly intricate to compete with the many available . | A loom band dress reached bids of £170,000 on eBay . Since then many more weavers have listed their creations . One woman hopes selling a dress will cover wedding costs . However, value seems to be decreasing with latest dress selling for £155 . | a4f33be68517a947886b2ccc4f29acc87d59195e |
By . Sarah Bridge . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 4 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 4 November 2013 . No-one ever said that being a celebrity was a dog's life. But the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in south London is raising money by auctioning off a dog-walking experience with a whole host of dog-loving celebrities, including supermodel David Gandy, Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons and Saturdays singer and style icon Mollie King. Also getting their collars and leads ready for the exclusive one-on-one outings is Britain's Got Talent's Amanda Holden, adventurer, presenter and animal campaigner Ben Fogle, fashionista and model Daisy Lowe as well dance supremo Ashley Banjo and radio DJ Neil Fox, the proud owner of Battersea dog Bonzo. Dog-lover David Gandy, with Battersea dog Staffordshire bull terrier Coco Bean, says he can often be found helping out at the south London dogs and cats home . However the celebrities with have to get used sharing the limelight with the the real stars of the day, the four-legged friends from Battersea who will be joining in the star-studded walkies, showing off their loveable traits and stealing attention from their dog walkers wherever possible. Highest bidders in the auction at www.collarsandcoats.org.uk/ebay will win a full half hour with their favourite dog-loving celebrity, and the walks will take place in nearby Battersea Park, close to the iconic south London rescue that has cared for 3.1 million dogs and cats since it was opened in 1860. The online auction starts today and runs until midnight on Friday 8 November. It is being launched to support the charity’s annual Collars and Coats Gala Ball, a spectacular event bursting with glitz and glamour which raises money to enable Battersea to care for thousands of lost and abandoned dogs and cats. Now in its fifth year, this year’s Hollywood themed event will be hosted by Battersea Ambassadors Amanda Holden and Paul O’Grady. Saturday's singer and style icon Mollie King, pictured with her maltipoo dog Alfie, is one of nine celebrities putting themselves up for auction in aid of Battersea Dogs and Cats home . Holden is looking forward to her walk with some Battersea dogs. She said, 'It is such an honour for me to be supporting Battersea at the Collars and Coats Gala Ball again this year. As a Battersea Ambassador I want to support the charity in any way I can and all the money raised through the auction will help more deserving animals find new loving homes. I am really excited about going on my walkies with a couple of gorgeous Battersea dogs and a lucky winner.' One of the most popular dog-walking celebrities is a dog himself. Pudsey won Britain's Got Talent last year with his owner Ashleigh Butler, and has since performed for the Queen. Ashleigh and Pudsey on their way to winning Britain's Got Talent 2012 . Said Ashleigh: 'Every dog deserves a loving home and Battersea does a fantastic job helping lost and abandoned dogs. Pudsey and I are going to do our bit by taking part in Battersea’s eBay dog walk auction and help raise as much money as we can for homeless dogs. It’s such a fun way to raise awareness of a great cause.' Fans of television presenter Ben Fogle will love the chance to take a stroll with the adventuror and animal lover, who famously met his wife Marina while they were both walking their dogs in London's Hyde Park. Said Ben: 'As a dog lover, I whole-heartedly support Battersea’s fantastic work and so it’s an absolute honour to be able to raise much needed funds. The dogs deserve every penny we raise and I’m really looking forward to my walk with a very special rescue pup and an eBay winner.' Amanda Holden, with a Battersea dog, is one of nine celebrities putting themselves up for auction . DJ Neil Fox and his beloved pet Bonzo, a former Battersea dog . Model and fashion designer Daisy Lowe is often photographed walking her dog. Daisy said, 'My dog Monty means the absolute world to me, so to be able to support Battersea in giving a second chance to lost and abandoned dogs is an absolute joy.' Claire Horton, Battersea’s chief executive said, 'It is such a fantastic auction prize, with so many wonderful famous faces getting involved and showing their love for our four-legged friends. It’s what walkies dreams are made of and best of all, all money raised will help the thousands of homeless dogs, and cats, we care for every year.' To find out more and to bid go to www.collarsandcoats.org.uk/ebay . | The online auction starts today and runs until midnight on November 8 . Prize is half-hour walk with your chosen celebrity and furry friend . Date with Ashleigh and Pudsey also going under the hammer . All money goes to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home . | b4a3b13251fe34517a8a58283473c2c457cbe6d2 |
By . Paul Revoir . PUBLISHED: . 18:39 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:39 EST, 25 September 2012 . When BBC bosses relocated from London to Salford, critics warned that the corporation’s flagship morning news show would struggle to attract high-profile guests. Now it appears those sceptical about the 200-mile move north might have been right – as it emerged yesterday that filming of BBC Breakfast’s ‘light news’ slot could be returned to the capital. Preliminary discussions have been held at the Corporation about whether to turn the latter segment of the BBC One show into a separate programme – possibly called Breakfast Extra – which could be based in the South. Hosts Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid presenting at the BBC's new home in Salford . Insiders suggest there are concerns the section of the show between 8.30am and 9.15am – described as ‘the bridge’, after its transition from morning news into daytime schedules – is not working well enough. Among the concerns about the segment, which features celebrity interviews, are that its live guests are not of a high enough calibre. It was revealed in July that the show, hosted by Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid, was forced to conduct 12 interviews via video link in one week because guests were based in London. Among the ideas – said to be at an early stage – is to create an entirely separate show, which one executive suggested could be called Breakfast Extra. This would be similar to ITV’s Daybreak in which Lorraine Kelly has her own separate show after the news-based section has finished. Another option is to turn the last 45 minutes into a studio debate, or to dump this part of the programme altogether and ‘stick to more news’. Supporters of this point out that at the moment the BBC News channel stops taking footage from BBC Breakfast at 8.30am, when it could run through to 9.15am. It emerged in July that the BBC had to conduct 12 interviews via videolink from its Salford base in one week because guests were based in London . A senior BBC insider said: ‘There has been a bit of discussion about what to do after 8.30am. One of the suggestions is a completely different programme for it – a Breakfast Extra. There are options. Should it be a separate programme, or not? And at what cost?’ However, many believe the BBC will ultimately decide against returning the 45-minute slot to London, because it will look like ‘an admission of failure’, another well-placed source at the broadcaster said. They added: ‘I would be surprised if they move [part of it back to London]. It does not look good after such a short amount of time of it being up there. ‘It is a crucial part of the schedule so it’s important it works. The celebs are not brilliant and it doesn’t feel quite right.’ A BBC Breakfast spokesman said: ‘There are no plans to move any part of BBC Breakfast back to London. On the contrary, the show is working very well from Salford and we’re delighted with the calibre of guests and experts regularly appearing.’ | Corporation may move segment of BBC Breakfast back down south . BBC had to conduct 12 interviews by videolink in one WEEK as guests were London-based . | dd9ac890a8111a8f924f35b0601db50185b9beb1 |
A Texas woman accused of keeping her severely malnourished five-year-old stepson in a closet under the stairs until he weighed only 29lbs has been charged with felony injury to a child by omission. Tammi Bleimeyer, 34, from outside Houston, was charged with felony child endangerment last year when the disturbing treatment of the boy, Jordan, came to light after his stepbrother spoke out. Jordan was visibly emaciated in March 2014, with bones visible through his skin and bruises, according to authorities. He went to pediatric intensive care before regaining health. Warning: disturbing images below . Tammi Bleimeyer, 34, now faces felony injury to a child charges for the malnourishment of her stepson . Tammi Bleimeyer, (right) 34, now faces felony injury to a child charges for the malnourishment of her stepson Jordan (left) Bones were visible through Jordan's bruised skin when he was taken by protective services last spring . Now six, he began kindergarten last year. A soiled mattress was found in a closet under the Bleimeyer's home along with a lock. Mrs Bleimeyer denied the abuse and said that her 16-year-old biological son was lying because he did not respect his new 24-year-old stepdad, Jordan's biological father, because of the small age difference. The biological mother of seven is now estranged from husband Bradley Bleimeyer, who was also charged with child endangerment. Jordan's biological mother Wendy Hall said the boy told her he was fed just a cup of water and a piece of bread every day. He was also allegedly drugged by his father to keep him quiet when guests were over. Mrs Bleimeyer posted $30,000 bail on Saturday while her estranged husband Bradley remains in jail on $150,000 bond. He was not charged with the additional felony injury to a child by omission . Child protective services took custody of Jordan and Mrs Bleimeyer's other children. Ms Hall was granted access to her son while he stayed with an aunt. Mrs Bleimeyer's six-week-old baby, which did not show signs of abuse, was taken from her in October after an Amber Alert for the newborn was issued. The baby was given to foster care. The mother turned herself in to the latest charges Saturday and was released on $30,000 bond, according to KHOU. Mr Bleimeyer remains in prison with bail set at $150,000 and no new charges have been filed against him. Their next court appearance is set for March 2, according to the Houston Chronicle. Thousands of dollars were donated to the care of Jordan after an appeal on the Dr Phil show. First degree felonies are punishable by up to life in prison. Jordan, now six (left), now lives with an aunt and has made friends at kindergarten after recovering from malnourishment that was discovered last spring (right) Custody of Mrs Bleimeyer's children was given to protective services after child endangerment charges that stemmed from a soiled mattress and lock being found at her home (pictured) | Tammi Bleimeyer, 34, charged with felony injury to a child by omission . Stepson Jordan found last year with bruises after stepbrother spoke out . Boy was allegedly drugged to keep him quiet when guests were over . Biological father Bradley Bleimeyer remains in jail on $150,000 bail . | 63522bd51e4bd18b34e7618257359f7de2f96b3d |
Radamel Falcao glanced over and, seeing his number was up, started trotting over in the direction of the dug-outs. As one, Old Trafford stood to rapturously acclaim their new hero. The Colombian was up and running, off the mark for Manchester United with, they all hoped, the first of many, many goals for the club. And history suggests we'll be seeing many more of these ovations in the remaining months of the season. Radamel Falcao opened his scoring account for Manchester United with the winner against Everton on Sunday . It took the on-loan Colombian striker until 62 minutes into his fourth match for Man United to get off the mark . Falcao was in the right place to divert a mis-hit Angel Di Maria shot past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard . Louis van Gaal shakes Falcao's hand after he is replaced by James Wilson in the 73rd minute . For Falcao specialises in gluts of goals. Wherever he has played, he's scored. And when the goals start to flow, they really start to flow. Falcao is a binge goalscorer. It takes just one goal to get him going and it could then be weeks and weeks before there's a game in which he fails to find the net. His match-winner against Everton was a little fortunate. Angel Di Maria's mis-hit shot came directly to his feet and then instinct took over for a close-range finish. But that's all he needs and he departed the action for James Wilson on 73 minutes with the loud cheers ringing in his ears. Louis van Gaal knows all about Falcao's record and will now expect another glut to begin when United travel to West Brom after the international break. Falcao takes a backwards glance to ensure he wasn't offside before wheeling away in celebration . The United fans have already taken the prolific Colombian striker to their hearts . 'He needed that goal,' the Dutchman said afterwards. 'He is a player who will normally make a goal every match and he has had to wait so long. 'I can understand that but now he has scored it will be better after the international break.' Van Gaal has every reason to expect fireworks. At the start of last season, Falcao went on a sequence of seven goals in seven matches for Monaco. The season before, when at Atletico Madrid, there was a sensational spree of 13 goals in eight games at the beginning of the season and another of seven goals in eight towards the end. During 2011-2012, his run of 12 goals in 12 matches in a hectic March and April helped Atletico to Europa League glory. Falcao celebrates a goal for his parent club Monaco in a Ligue 1 match against Nantes back in August . The striker slides across the turf after scoring for Atletico Madrid in the 2012 Europa League final . Falcao is right at the centre of Porto's celebrations after they beat Braga to win the Europa League in 2011 . Falcao scored 18 times en route to Europa League glory that season, including this one against Villarreal . Some of the striker's best sequences: . MONACO . 2013-2014: 7 goals in 7 games . ATLETICO MADRID . 2012-2013: 13 in 8 . 2011-2012: 12 in 12 . PORTO . 2010-2011: 16 in 9 . 2009-2010: 8 in 9 . And in his debut season for Porto, in 2009-2010, a sequence of eight goals in nine matches early on helped establish him as a hero. The following year, his incredible haul of 16 goals in nine outings during the run-in helped Porto to a league and Europa League double. Falcao is capable of scorching sequences of scoring and everyone of a United persuasion will hope he's about to embark on another. In fact, the international fortnight could have come at an inconvenient time as the striker seeks to build his momentum. Falcao's goals will be needed as United attempt to keep up with Premier League pace-setters Chelsea. With Wayne Rooney suspended for the next two matches and Robin van Persie not in the best of form, they need Falcao to put them away. His track record suggests they won't be disappointed. VIDEO We must improve over 90 minutes - Van Gaal . | Radamel Falcao opened his account for Man United in win over Everton . The Colombian has scored gluts of goals wherever he's played . Louis van Gaal will hope he can produce something similar to boost United . The Colombian has scored 201 club goals in South American and Europe . United will depend on his goals during Wayne Rooney's suspension . | d7cbe2e216c4fd5e113ea523fa5d606b4977ef9a |
By . Kerry Mcqueeney and Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 15:49 EST, 13 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:12 EST, 13 February 2013 . Victim: Kalyn Pennygraph, then 3, was riding the Techno Jump at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last March when she slipped from under a restraint and fell off the ride . A Texas family has received an almost $80,000 pay out after their young daughter was thrown up to 8 feet off a carnival ride and suffered concussion. Kalyn Pennygraph, then 3, was riding the Techno Jump at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last March when she slipped from under a restraint and fell off the ride. The dramatic accident was caught on tape. Her mother, Shaniea Pennygraph, sued the carnival operator, Ray Cammack Shows, in November seeking compensation for medical care, physical pain and mental anguish as well as current and probable future physical impairment, and the case was settled on Monday. According to the Chron.com, Kalyn . will receive payments worth at least $50,000 to help during her college . years and another $27,500 to cover medical expenses and attorneys' fees. John Neese, the Pennygraph family's lawyer, told Chron.com that Kaylyn was 'doing fine' almost a year after the accident. According to an injury report, the . girl boarded the ride with her brother while her mother was supervising . on the sidelines and suffered a concussion and head abrasions from the . fall. The incident has forced stricter fairground ride requirements for children. Kalyn was reportedly tall enough to . ride on the Techno Jump under earlier rules. Scroll down for video . Ride of terror: Footage shows the moment three-year-old Kalyn slipped under the restraining barrier . Fall: The child is seen coming coming loose from the car, about 25 seconds into the ride . Coming loose: Earlier in the ride, the child is seen sliding down in her seat before the contraption's 'bouncing' mechanism is activated . For the reminder of the . March 2012 carnival children too short to ride alone had to be . accompanied by an adult aged 16 or over. The new rules will kick in for this year's show, according to Chron.com. The shocking video of Kalyn's tumble . emerged just days after the three-year-old girl was hurled from the . fairground ride after she slipped under the restraining bar. The child is shown in the video with her feet in the air seconds before flying off the Techno Jump carnival ride. The child suffered concussion and . bruising to her face and head after she was thrown from the moving . contraption between six and eight feet above the ground. Techno Jump: The three-seat cars in the Techno Jump ride all come with separate lap belts and a restraining bar, which is lowered over riders . The incident was caught on camera by . chance as a reveler filmed other thrill-seekers on the ride, which is . why the girl's fall is only partially visible from the edge of the . frame. Rodeo Chief Operating Officer Leroy Shafer said at the time: 'It’s a very scary-looking piece of . video. We are just thankful that this young lady was not more injured. 'It boils down to a three-year-old not knowing what to do and . was probably scared to death.' In . an initial account of the incident, the rodeo organizers had claimed . that Kalyn got on the ride with her mother and brother. However, after deciding the ride was too small for an adult, the mother left the young girl with her brother, it was claimed. Concussion: The child suffered concussion and bruising to her face and head after she was thrown from the moving contraption, pictured, between six and eight feet above the ground . Officials then said the girl tried to . climb out of the car to get back to her mother about 15 seconds into the . ride but fell out and landed on a metal platform. Shafer revised the rodeo's account . after viewing the video, . adding: 'We now know more definitely at what point she came out.' The three-seat cars in the Techno Jump ride all come with separate lap belts and a restraining bar, which is lowered over all riders. It is unclear whether the three-year-old was able to comply with the ride instructions, which require all passengers to sit up, hold the lap bar and place their feet on the floor. Investigators do not yet know whether she slipped under both restraints or if she managed to free herself from the belt before flying from the car. | Shaniea Pennygraph, sued the carnival operator, Ray Cammack Shows, in November seeking compensation after Kalyn's March 2012 fall . Kalyn will receive payments worth at . least $50,000 during her college years and another $27,500 to . cover medical expenses and attorneys' fees . Child sustained concussion and bruising after falling from the contraption . Rodeo organisers first claimed she tried to climb out of the ride's car . Video of incident shows she slipped under at least one safety restraint . | 4d819e6eb25a6235eb0dd6a04f3edbcd183a1d36 |
(CNN) -- Texas prison officials have found polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs guilty of "a major disciplinary infraction" following an investigation into whether he violated policy by -- among other things -- preaching a Christmas day sermon from prison, a state spokeswoman said Monday. Jeffs' phone privileges have been suspended for 90 days, added Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons. While refusing to elaborate on the content of the conversations, Lyons said that Jeffs was found guilty of making conference calls on several occasions. "It was obvious to us he was talking to a group of people," she said. The leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jeffs is serving a life-plus-20-year term in Texas for sexual assault. He was convicted last August of the aggravated sexual assaults of a 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl that Jeffs claimed were his "spiritual wives." The state criminal justice department announced in late December that it had initiated an investigation into allegations that Jeffs used a prison phone to preach to his congregation on Christmas. Records show that Jeffs made two phone calls on December 25, said Jason Clark, a Criminal Justice Department spokesman. "It would be a violation of the rules if the person called were to place the call on speaker phone or record the conversation. The Office of Inspector General has asked us to suspend the accounts of certain individuals on his calling list while they continue to investigate," Clark said. He declined to identify those people. Texas inmates are allowed to call as many as 10 people who have registered with the offender phone system vendor. Calls can be up to 15 minutes in length, and offenders are limited to 240 minutes of phone time per month. All calls are recorded and monitored except those between an inmate and his attorney. Jeffs remains isolated in protective custody in the state's Powledge Unit prison facility near Palestine, Texas. "He has no cellmate. No prison job. And the only time he leaves it (his cell) is for a shower and recreation," Clark said. The 10,000-member church that Jeffs heads is a breakaway Mormon sect that openly practices polygamy in the twin border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, as well as on its Yearning for Zion ranch near Eldorado, Texas. The mainstream Mormon church renounced polygamy more than a century ago. Many sect members have disavowed Jeffs in light of his criminal convictions, while others are defending him and calling his conviction on sexual assault charges an act of persecution. A long-time follower of Jeffs recently said he had been ex-communicated after admitting to having sex with his wife -- a violation of an order that the sect leader apparently issued from behind bars. The church member spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. CNN's Gary Tuchman contributed to this report. | The sect leader is serving a life-plus-20-year term in Texas for sexual assault . Authorities probed his phone use in prison, including an alleged Christmas sermon . A state spokeswoman says he was found guilty of making conference calls . Jeffs' phone privileges have been suspended for 90 days . | a5ee1a3783d4ca44c5a3d3997526bcd6552cdc46 |
By . Matt Chorley, MailOnline Political Editor . David Cameron today revealed how the pictures of critically ill Ashya King alone in a Spanish hospital have brought back memories of his own son Ivan, who died at the age of just six. The Prime Minister urged a 'rapid outbreak of common sense' to reunite five-year-old Ashya with his family, as his parents Brett and Naghmeh King were being held in a Madrid high security prison. Spanish prosecutors said this afternoon they will argue the couple should be released and a judge is likely to agree to free them when they appear before a Madrid court tomorrow morning. Scroll down for video . David and Samantha Cameron with their disabled son Ivan, who died in 2009 at the age of six . Alone: Ashya King has been separated from his family and remains under police guard in a hospital hundreds of miles from his parents . In a rare personal reflection, Mr Cameron said images of Ashya being treated in hospital had revived memories of Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He died in 2009. In an interview with LBC, Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'I obviously, like everyone else in the country, want to see this poor little boy re-united with his parents. 'Watching the pictures of him brought back memories of my desperately ill young boy, Ivan, and I remember him endlessly sitting on my lap and having to feed him through a tube and having to deal with all of the difficulties of having a desperately ill child.' Ashya's parents took him to Spain from Southampton General Hospital without consent last Thursday in the hope they could sell their holiday home on the Costa del Sol to raise money for specialist brain cancer treatment not available on the NHS. Since Saturday night the five-year-old has been separated from his family and only his older brother Danny, 23, has been able to see him at Málaga's Hospital Materno-Infanti, where the brain cancer patient is being guarded by armed police. The Crown Prosecution Service told the High Court this afternoon they will withdraw their European Arrest Warrant, drop child cruelty charges and also abandon plans to force them to return to the UK. Mr Cameron said: 'I welcome the prosecution against Ashya King's parents being dropped. It's important this little boy gets treatment and the love of his family.' More than 110,000 people have signed a petition demanding that Mr Cameron intervene to have the King's released. Supporters today went to Downing Street to hand in the petition at Number 10. Direct action: Family campaigner Sanjay Ganatra and the King's friend Ethan hand a petition into Downing Street asking the PM to reunite Ashya with his parents . Extraordinary support: More than 110,000 people have signed a petition demanding that David Cameron intervenes to have King's released . Ashya King is in the Materno Infantil Hospital in Malaga, southern Spain, and has only been able to see his oldest brother . Mr Cameron insisted: 'The Government must not tell the police how to act or what to do, nor can we interfere in processes in other countries. 'I just hope there'll be an outbreak of common sense and a rapid outbreak of common sense so that the family can be re-united with this young boy and the best treatment can be given to him either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.' He insisted the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is 'doing his bit to make sure we examine our own procedures here in the UK'. It comes as a political chorus grew calling for the King family to be reunited. Nick Clegg said today it is 'not appropriate' to 'throw the full force of the law' at the case and Boris Johnson blasted the 'potty' decision because 'parents and a suffering child should be united'. Former children's minister Tim Loughton said the biggest outrage was that Ashya's case had almost become a child protection issue and his parents were being criminalised when that was 'clearly not the case'. The Tory MP said an arrest warrant should not have been issued and that Mr and Mrs King should not be in custody. He said: 'The CPS needs to drop this and make sure the parents come out and go and see their child. 'A very urgent conversation needs to be had with the NHS as to whether they will entertain grounds of them coming back here and going to a private clinic for proton beam treatment, which should be NHS or privately funded, or they should be allowed to take Ashya to Prague.' Tory chairman Grant Shapps wrote on Twitter: 'Have to say that if my child was in hospital and I wanted them treated elsewhere, I would hope that the courts would not intervene.' | Prime Minister recalls his own 'desperately ill young boy' who died in 2009 . Brett and Naghmeh King held in a Madrid prison, pending extradition ruling . Ashya, 5, remains under armed guard hours away in Malaga hospital bed . Petition for family to be reunited has attracted more than 130,000 signatures . Supporters in Downing Street demand that David Cameron intervenes . PM insists government cannot direct police but calls for 'common sense' | 585eeac7f75aeaadac37459fda973df84707b949 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:01 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:02 EST, 6 August 2013 . Paul Gascoigne's family are rallying round the struggling star after he was spared jail for assaulting a rail guard. The former England international was pictured looking relaxed as he strolled through London's Covent Garden with his ex-wife Sheryl and 17-year-old son Regan. On Monday, Gascoigne, 46, was handed a £1,245 fine after the drunken row at Stevenage train station in Hertfordshire on July 4. Reunited: Paul Gascoigne, left, was seen strolling around Covent Garden in London with his wife Sheryl, centre, and son Regan, right, days before his hearing . Support: Gascoigne's wife Sheryl, right, was called to the incident at Stevenage train station to try and calm him down but the star was eventually arrested by police . But days before the court case the family were seen shopping together in the capital. Dressed in a white shirt and jeans, Gascoigne looked thin but otherwise in good health. Earlier this week magistrates heard how the ex-Rangers . and Spurs star grabbed guard Jack Sherrington, 23, around the throat and . called him a 'c***'. Staff managed to contact his former wife Sheryl who arrived at the scene but Gascoigne was arrested. Appearance: Former England star Paul Gascoigne arrives at Stevenage Magistrates' Court . Gascoigne was charged with assault and being drunk and disorderly but a third charge of assault against Sheryl was dropped. The pair split in 1998 after a . tumultuous two-year marriage but Sheryl has recently been helping . Gascoigne battle his long-term addiction to alcohol. His family had hoped he was on the mend after he was discharged from a rehab clinic in the US in March. But last month he was found drunk on a Newcastle to London train. Magistrates . heard how he had been visiting his ill father, when a ticket inspector . on the train from Newcastle to London found him drunk. Gascoigne . got off at Stevenage, where station guard Jack Sherrington tried to . help him into a wheelchair as he was struggling to walk. Elaine . McMillan, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendant was abusive towards Mr . Sherrington, using the c-word repeatedly and he ended up grabbing hold . of Mr Sherrington effectively in the neck area.’ Gascoigne’s . ex-wife Sheryl, his stepdaughter Bianca and son Regan were called to . the station, where he was arrested for drunk and disorderly and assault . at around 10.30pm. Miss McMillan said that Regan, 17, who works as a model, became upset as he watched his father get arrested. After sentencing: Gascoigne started drinking again because he was worried about his sick father, who is seriously ill with a heart condition, the court was told . Arrived: Gascoigne was in such a state after falling off the wagon again that station staff were forced to call his ex-wife Sheryl (pictured), 47, to try and calm him down, Stevenage Magistrates' Court heard . Gavin Harris, defending, said that . Gascoigne had been drinking due to stress caused by worry for his father . and ‘acute physical pain’ resulting from a recent hip operation. He said he had not actually had much . to drink, but the effect was worse as he had not drunk in a long time. ‘Mr Gascoigne is remorseful and apologises for his actions,’ he added. Magistrate Carolyn Marsh said that it . was a ‘serious matter’, and fined Gascoigne a total of £1,245 including . £100 in compensation to Mr Sherrington, who said: ‘I sincerely hope he . gets the help that he needs in the future.’ The court also heard that Gascoigne was receiving 'one to one' treatment for his alcoholism, which was continuing. After sentencing, Gascoigne left the court and was driven away in a grey Porsche. In a statement released through British Transport Police, Mr Sherrington, from Peterborough, said: 'I am grateful for and welcome Mr Gascoigne's decision to plead guilty today. Incident: The ex-footballer was arrested after officers were called to Stevenage station (pictured) on July 4 . Fined: Gascoigne was later pictured leaving Stevenage Magistrates' Court in Hertfordshire in a grey Porsche . 'I am told that since the incident he has offered his apologies for his behaviour, and I fully accept them. 'In differing ways this has not been easy for either of us and I sincerely hope he gets the help that he needs in the future. 'With the conclusion of the case, and . Mr Gascoigne's sentencing, I now consider this matter closed. I will . not be conducting any interviews at this time and ask for my privacy in . this regard to be respected.' Mr Harris said outside court: 'Mr . Gascoigne has asked me to say a few words on his behalf. He wants to . publicly apologise for his actions that evening. He now wishes to be . left alone to carry on with his recovery.' Happier times: Paul Gascoigne is pictured with Sheryl at a Lazio football match against Roma in Italy in 1994 . Family: Paul Gascoigne celebrated his 46th birthday at Royal Windsor Racecourse in May. He is pictured with daughter Bianca (left), her mother Sheryl (centre right) and his son Regan (right) 'Mr Gascoigne wants to publicly . apologise for his actions that evening. He now wishes to be left alone . to carry on with his recovery' The footballer also played for . Rangers, Lazio, Middlesborough and Everton. He was capped 57 times by . England and scored 10 goals. In April, Gascoigne thanked the . Premier League stars and celebrity friends who saved his life after . funding his latest stint in rehab at the Cottonwood clinic in Arizona. Speaking on Alan Carr's chat show . Chatty Man, he thanked Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, and footballers Wayne . Rooney and Steven Gerrard - among others - for stepping in to pay the . £7,500 a week cost. They had clubbed together to help . fund his treatment after he suffered a public meltdown at a charity . event in Northampton in January. Goal: Paul Gascoigne shoots past Andy Goram of Scotland as he scores for England in a 2-0 win at Euro 1996 . Tears: Gascoigne is remembered for crying during the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup against West Germany . By TOM WHITE, PRESS ASSOCIATION . Widely regarded as one of the most gifted English footballers of his generation, Paul Gascoigne has long fought an all-consuming battle with alcoholism. Known for his genius on the pitch, his chaotic life has been dogged by a constant tendency to self destruct. While he enjoyed many highs on the pitch, there have also been many lows, including struggling with mental illness, bulimia, panic attacks, addictions and domestic violence. This came to a head when earlier this year he was placed in intensive care in a hospital in the US while he was being treated for alcoholism during a rehabilitation programme. At the time he was said to be close to death and it was reported that he was revived a number of times. At first, his antics in bars and clubs across Europe had looked like the result of the overblown enthusiasm and thirst for the high life which rapidly became his off-the-pitch trademark. But the excesses that have marred his life for so long eventually led to his exclusion from the England World Cup squad in 1998. Other high profile alcoholism incidents included being sacked from managing Kettering Town FC in 2005 after he was accused of being drunk at games and appearing at the scene of the stand-off between the police and gunman Raoul Moat in 2010. Arriving at the scene in Rothbury, Northumberland, Gazza claimed he was a friend of Moat and said he had brought him 'a can of lager, some chicken, fishing rod, a Newcastle shirt and a dressing gown'. He was also sectioned under the Mental Health Act twice in the space of six months in 2008 and admitted in his autobiography to headbutting his wife Sheryl and throwing her to the floor. Known for his genius on the pitch, his chaotic life has been dogged by a constant tendency to self destruct . First thrust into the national consciousness after a number of brilliant performances at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, he quickly became a household name. From there he would play for such teams as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, and Rangers and became loved by fans as a talented joker. Born in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, on May 27 1967, he also starred in midfield for Terry Venables' England side during Euro 96, the highlight being his magical goal against Scotland. He is also remembered for crying after being booked in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup against West Germany, as he knew the booking meant he would be suspended for the final if England got there. | Gascoigne, 46, called guard a 'c***' before grabbing him around throat . Stevenage station staff forced to call his ex-wife Sheryl to calm him down . Pleaded guilty to assault and being drunk and fined £1,245 by magistrates . Family looked relaxed as they shopped in central London before the case . | 3fe774cebfb2586640e14285104494a28ed7c340 |
(CNN) -- A court in Jordan acquitted radical preacher Abu Qatada of charges of plotting to bomb millennium celebrations in Jordan in 2000, semi-state owned newspaper Addustour reported Wednesday. The court ordered his immediate release if no other cases are raised against him, the newspaper said. Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, was cleared in July of charges of conspiracy to bomb a U.S. school in Jordan in the late 1990s, state media reported. The cleric was deported from the United Kingdom last year, ending a years-long legal battle to force him to leave the country. A Jordanian national, he was wanted in his home country, where he had been convicted in absentia on two charges of conspiracy to cause explosions. Britain had been trying to deport him since 2001, but his legal appeals kept him there until last year. Home Office: He's not coming back . Following the news of his acquittal, a Home Office spokesman told CNN that Abu Qatada would not be returning to Britain. "Abu Qatada's retrial in Jordan was made possible thanks to this government's determination to successfully deport him from the UK to face the courts in his own country," he said. "It is right that the due process of law has taken place in Jordan. The UK courts agreed that Abu Qatada posed a threat to national security in the UK, so we are pleased that we were able to remove him. "Abu Qatada remains subject to a deportation order and a United Nations travel ban. He is not coming back to the UK." Torture fears . In January 2012, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Britain from sending him to Jordan over fears that evidence obtained by torture could be used against him at trial. British authorities said he raised funds for terrorist groups, including organizations linked to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and publicly supported militants' violent activities. Videos of his preaching were found in a German apartment used by some of those involved in the 9/11 attacks on the United States, including ringleader Mohammed Atta. Abu Qatada had denied the allegations against him. He arrived in the UK in 1993 and applied for asylum on the grounds that he had been tortured by Jordanian authorities. He came to Britain on a forged United Arab Emirates passport, according to court documents, and claimed asylum for himself, his wife and their three children. CNN's Claudia Rebaza contributed to this report. | NEW: Abu Qatada will not be able to return to the United Kingdom, Home Office says . The cleric is acquitted of plotting to bomb millennium celebrations in Jordan . His immediate release is ordered if no other cases are raised, newspaper says . He was deported from Britain last year after a legal battle lasting years . | a02fcfb7321624a51ad58a3b4af80a1f38434e38 |
Jeremy Clarkson has denied posting a photograph of an 'entrance to slope' sign on Twitter following a backlash from his 4million followers. The Top Gear presenter, who was accused of using the term 'slope' to describe an Asian man while filming the programe earlier this year, said he did not compose the tweet which appeared on his account yesterday. The photograph, which has since been deleted, appeared on the 54-year-old's account accompanied with the caption: 'This is just obscene'. The photograph, which has since been removed, was posted from Mr Clarkson's Twitter account yesterday . It was retweeted more than 400 times before being removed from the social media site, and was published by the Daily Mirror today. Once it had been taken down from the site, Mr Clarkson told followers: 'Actually that last tweet wasn't from me.' He then suggested someone had hacked into his phone, writing: 'It seems you can access a fingerprint iPhone using a number code. Must stay across these things.' In March the presenter was accused of using the word 'slope' in a racially offensive way to describe an Asian man while filming an episode of Top Gear in Burma. At one point in the programme, aired by BBC Two, Mr Clarkson stands with colleague Richard Hammond looking out over a makeshift bridge they built on the River Kwai. The presenter can be heard saying: 'That is a proud moment… but there’s a slope on it,' as a Burmese man walks towards them. Mr Clarkson denied posting the photograph himself, suggesting someone else used his iPhone to do so . The presenter was accused of using the term in a racially offensive way to describe a Burmese man an episode of Top Gear that was aired in March . Ofcom ruled the statement was was offensive, slamming the BBC for choosing not to edit out his comments. 'Jeremy Clarkson used the word "slope" to refer both to an Asian man crossing a bridge, and the incline of the bridge,' it ruled. Following a barrage of complaints, the programme's executive producer, Andy Wilman, apologised for the use of the term, saying it had been intended as a 'light-hearted word-play joke' and that the team had been unaware the term was considered offensive. Months later Mr Clarkson was embroiled in another racial row after being accused of using the word 'n*****' on camera. He apologised for any offence caused, posting an apology video online in which he admitted to being told by BBC bosses that he was 'drinking at the last chance saloon'. Mr Clarkson was not available for comment this evening. The BBC said that it was not commenting. | Jeremy Clarkson has denied posting a photograph of the sign on Twitter . Image which read 'entrance to slope' appeared on his account yesterday . The TV presenter suggested his phone had been used by someone else . Clarkson accused of using 'slope' as a racially offensive term in March . | d16784f22d51aadc67aad36f5669956d5fa3bb49 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:03 EST, 4 December 2013 . Danielle Bradbery, the 17-year-old recent winner of The Voice has been signed as the newest face of Skechers sneakers. The teenage country star's spring 2014 ad campaign for the brand's Bobs line, marks her first-ever fashion campaign. She will appear in Skechers’s print and TV ads, as well as the brand's social media and marketing campaigns through 2015, reports WWD. The new face: Danielle Bradbery has been named the new face of Skechers, her first-ever fashion campaign . Danielle shot to fame on season 4 of The Voice, at which time she was only 16. After winning the show in June, her first original single The Heart of Dixie, reached the top 20 on iTunes. To celebrate her arrival as a Skechers ambassador, the brand’s president Michael Greenberg released a statement saying: ‘Danielle is a breakout star, and we are thrilled to have Skechers at the starting gate of her incredible career. Her rise: Danielle shot to fame by winning season 4 of The Voice, with the help of coach Blake Shelton (L) He added that ‘With a top-20 hit under her belt, she’s clearly talented and definitely one to watch. We see the same massive potential in Danielle as we did in Carrie Underwood when we signed her several years ago.’ His remarks are a high mark of acclaim for a young star who has previously cited Underwood’s career as a musical inspiration. The Bobs brand that she is set to represent for spring 2014 is Skechers’s own answer to Toms. Country roots: Danielle is a country singer whose first single The Heart of Dixie became a top-20 hit . Bobs are styled much like Toms inimitable flat shoes - which were modeled after a traditional Ageninian shoe called alpargatas. Also like Toms, Skechers donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair of Bobs that are purchased. Of the line, Danielle said in a statement: ‘Bobs shoes have helped so many children in need with their donation program, and I love the fact that it really is a simple way for anyone to give back.’ Her idol: Danielle has previously cited Carrie Underwood as her musical inspiration, and now follows in the singer's footsteps as the face of Skechers . | Danielle follows in the footsteps of her musical inspiration Carrie Underwood, who has previously represented the brand . | 082713dfcc9ff0fcac8d66b3e157b0c77ccc1b46 |
Daniel Sturridge is closing in on a return to the Liverpool side, where he hopes he can end Mario Balotelli's barren spell by striking up a partnership with the misfiring Italian. The Reds striker posted a picture on Instagram of the pair pointing at each other, accompanied by the caption: 'My man!!! We're gonna be linking up soon!!' Sturridge has not played for his club since a 3-0 win over Tottenham in August after injuring his thigh on international duty and has only recently returned to Merseyside after treatment in the US. Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli (right) warn Premier League defences they will be back in tandem soon . The England international has only recently returned to training after a long spell out with a thigh injury . Sturridge and Balotelli last played together for Liverpool in a 3-0 victory over Spurs on August 31 . Despite the recent resurgence at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers' side has struggled for goals - especially from their strikers with Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini netting only three league goals between them all season. Balotelli has not scored a goal in the Premier League since his £16million move from AC Milan in the summer, although Rodgers has ruled out selling the 24-year-old in January. The manager will be hoping that playing as a foil to Sturridge will help the Italian firebrand rediscover his touch, although Rodgers is determined not to rush the England international back. Speaking last week, Rodgers said: ‘Daniel Sturridge is back and working well. Obviously he’s not ready to play as of yet but hopefully he’ll be ready in the near future. Italian Balotelli trains at Melwood ahead of Liverpool's next game against Bolton in the FA Cup . Balotelli has failed to find the back of the net in the Premier League since arriving from AC Milan . ‘Time will tell (when he can return). We just want him fit. He’s into the final stages of his rehab but there is no timeline on it.’ 'Daniel is a key player for us. You put him into any team and it makes them better,' he said. 'His pace is frightening, his touch, his movement, and he's also improved the defensive part of his game in order to press the ball. 'If he can just sustain that fitness, he's shown what he can do. We're hoping that he can stay fit and lead the charge for us over the next few years.' Brendan Rodgers (left) has vowed not to rush Sturridge back into action too soon . | Daniel Sturridge posted a picture on Instagram with Mario Balotelli . England striker is nearing a return after being sidelined since August . Italian has not scored a Premier League goal since his move from AC Milan . Click here for more Liverpool news . | 956889d7a60de5459f1d9117e1cbae5ae3ab7fc3 |
(OPRAH.com) -- Oprah Winfrey often says that moms have the hardest job in the world, but plenty of fathers carry the burden of raising a child all by themselves. In fact, 2.5 million single fathers in the United State are doing it all-- juggling schedules, putting food on the table and going to school plays or soccer games -- single-handedly. Larry Shine and his expanded family visited Oprah Winfrey on her show. Larry Shine and his wife, Kate, had their first son, Henry, 19 years ago. When Kate died of cancer only two-and-a-half years later, Larry says he was overwhelmed with grief. "The year after she died, I was just so immersed in the tragedy of her death," he says. "Then I thought: 'I can't live like this anymore. I can't have this be our life.'" He decided it was time for Henry to have a sibling. At the time, it was almost impossible for a single male to adopt in the United States, so Larry applied for both international adoption and surrogacy. Surprisingly, both applications went through, and soon Larry became a father of three. Still, he says he was ready for more. Today, Larry is raising nine children on his own! "I never thought I'd be a father of nine. Actually, I never imagined I'd be a father," he says. "Maybe this all happened for a purpose. Because if Kate hadn't died, I never would have done what I did and these kids wouldn't have had a home." Oprah.com: 8 things never to say to an adopted child . When it comes to raising nine kids (Henry, 19; Ari, 16; Halle, 15; Eli, 13; Lili, 12; Sofia, 10; Genevieve, 8; Simone, 5; and Lucia, 3), Larry says there is never a dull moment. His schedule is jam-packed, and it starts at 3 a.m. As if being a single dad isn't enough work, Larry also works full time as a corporate attorney. "When the second bus picks up the younger kids at quarter of nine, I leave and drop Lucia off at daycare. Then I go to work all day and come back and pick her up when daycare closes at 6 o'clock and then head home," he says. "[I work at] a very warm and family-oriented firm, so they're very supportive." Though Larry's big family is thriving, he says there were a few small bumps along the way. Eli's arm broke when he was an infant and hadn't healed properly before he joined the Shine family, but Larry says extensive orthopedic surgery fixed the problem. Lili had failure to thrive syndrome, which caused her to have trouble connecting with others -- though Larry says she opened up after three months in his busy house and is doing great. And, Simone's speech was delayed, he says. "She had therapy for about six months, and now sometimes I wish I hadn't given her speech therapy," he jokes. Is there room for any more kids in the Shine family? Depends on whom you ask! "I thought five was it, and I thought six was it," Larry says. "My sense is that nine is probably it ... because international adoption's a lot more difficult, and I'm older. ... [But] I've been given a lot of opportunities, and if it happened again, I'd have a hard time saying no." Henry, who is a sophomore at Notre Dame, says the family is at capacity. "We're at a pretty full limit right now," he says. "Now that I'm in school, I'd like to be around if there's going to be another sibling." Though he's rooting for Lucia to be his youngest sibling, Henry says he's incredibly proud of his dad. "Just how selfless he is," he says. "I don't know of anybody else who puts people before themselves like he does." Though Larry didn't plan on being the single dad of such a huge family, he says it came naturally to him. "I'm more comfortable doing something for somebody else than myself," he says. "Particularly with adopting the kids overseas, when I went to Paraguay for the first time to adopt Ari and saw all the kids who didn't have a home and or a place to go at night, I just thought, 'This isn't right.'" It may have been an unexpected path for Larry, but he says its one he's grateful for. "I love parenting," he says. "I just felt, 'This is what I want to do.'" Oprah.com: Talks every parent should have . Matt's blog . On March 25, 2008, Matt Logelin woke up to what should have been a perfect day. He and his wife, Liz, were proud new parents -- their daughter Madeline had been born the day before. But that afternoon, Liz died of a blood clot that no one knew she had. With a newborn in his care, Matt had no time for mourning. "Right after Liz died, I had to go straight in and I had to feed her (Madeline). I mean, she had to eat. I had to change her diapers. Life didn't stop when Liz died," he says. "I didn't know what I was going to do. I literally didn't know if I was going to live through this." Matt and Maddy survived the tragedy, and Matt used the blog he'd created to document Liz's pregnancy as an outlet for his grief. "If I write it, I can get it off my chest," he says. After Liz's death, tens of thousand of people started reading Matt's blog. The outpouring of support -- including notes, money and toys -- from the online community shocked him. "To have total strangers giving us stuff and wanting to make sure we're okay all the time was just incredible," he says. Matt says he's determined to give back as much as he's been given. "We've donated all of the clothes that no longer fit and the toys that we couldn't use," he says. "We've been given a lot of money as well, and we've tried to give that away as much as we can." Matt has also established the Liz Logelin Foundation, which helps widows and widowers with children. A year after Maddy was born, Matt's still adjusting to life as a single parent. He's even joined the neighborhood new moms group. "They sort of adopted me," he says. "They took me in and made sure I wasn't screwing things up too terribly." Matt says one of the scariest things about Liz's death is that she took all her parenting knowledge with her. "Liz had read all the books. She had done everything that we needed to do to make sure that this baby was taken care of properly," he says. "It's not something I ever anticipated doing on my own." Matt says he'd planned to be the free-spirited parent, while Liz would be the rigid one. Given the circumstance, Matt has struck a balance. "I've had to be a little more strict in the way that I do things, but I still let her eat sticks and leaves from time to time." Oprah.com: Meet more unforgettable fathers! From The Oprah Winfrey Show © 2009 . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | One man added eight kids to family after his wife died of cancer . Larry Shine started adopting so his son could have a sibling . He kept adopting because he couldn't say no to kids in need . Another dad sets up blog, foundation to help widows, widowers raising kids . | 58b8dbf0db6b490220c973db989a9e28514882a0 |
Thousands of people were forced to go through security queues at Stansted Airport twice after an apparent 'mix up' which confused arriving passengers with those waiting to board flights. Staff insisted on evacuating the entire international departures lounge when a 'small number' of passengers who had just landed on a Ryanair flight from Lisbon on Sunday mistakenly entered it through the wrong door. Huge queues formed throughout the airport, with crowds bemoaning having to wait up to two hours in security queues to be let back through to their gates. Thousands were delayed and forced to queue for security again after a 'mix-up' at Stansted Airport . The departure's lounge was left empty for around 90 minutes, thwarting scores of flights due to take off. Staff said the confusion came about when passengers on the Lisbon flight walked through the wrong door, leading them to the departures lounge rather than the arrivals gate. 'The crew of this flight correctly directed disembarking customers to the assigned gate, however they entered the airport through a door which had been left open in error,' a spokesman for the airline said on Monday. 'Ryanair fully cooperated with Stansted Airport as it rescreened departing passengers. A number of flights were delayed throughout the day due to earlier issues with deicing facilities. The incident will be the subject of an investigation, he added. Disgruntled passengers took to Twitter to complain about the delays which offset scores of journeys . Disgruntled passengers took to social media to share their fury, with some complaining of queues of two hours. 'Ongoing security "issue" at Stansted Airport. Massive queues as no one can get through security. Communication over PA has not been great,' said Duncan McKay. James Carter added: 'Massive security queues at Stansted, again. Been in line for two hours now.' A spokesman for Ryanair said the mishap came about when staff left the wrong door open for passengers . Sunday was one of the busiest travelling days of the month, with thousands returning to the UK to head back to work after the Christmas break. Others arriving at Heathrow Airport on Sunday evening reported long queues as they waited for passport control. One passenger waited for 90 minutes at the airport's Terminal 5, while others complained of flight delays due to severe fog. | Thousands of passengers delayed and forced through security twice . Result of a 'small number of passengers walking through wrong door' Arriving Ryanair flight from Lisbon wrongly entered the departures lounge . Staff evacuated the area and 'reprocessed' every single passenger . Airline says disruption came after a door was 'left open in error' | 098248b86bd868226e23f513419fe7959c8dbd04 |
By . Ryan Gorman . The NFL’s first openly gay player has signed his rookie contract. Defensive end Michael Sam inked the historic multimillion dollar deal Saturday with the St. Louis Rams just over one month after the team made him the 249th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Player Draft. Sam, 24, said on Twitter that he is ‘grateful [and] humbled’ by the opportunity to sign with the team’s other 10 draft picks and play in the NFL just after agreeing to the deal. Official: Openly gay football player Michael Sam (front row, second from right) signed his rookie contract Saturday along with the St Louis Rams' 10 other draft picks . The Rams will pay Sam $2.65 million during the four-year contract, with $46,000 guaranteed, Fox Sports reported. The players were put through team-mandated financial planning education prior to being signed, according to the network. All picks agreed to deals within the slots mandated by the league for draft picks, virtually eliminating contract negotiations that led to current Rams quarterback Sam Bradford receiving a six-year, $78million contract with a nearly $18million signing bonus and $50million guaranteed after the team drafted him in 2010. ‘With the new rookie cap and everything it's really not difficult to get the deals done,’ coach Jeff Fisher explained. ‘So we just felt like this time would be better served, putting them in the situations from an educational standpoint, financial planning and those kinds of things. We've done a lot of that.’ The organization announced all the players signed in a tweet with a picture of their 11-man rookie class. On draft day: Sam smiles while sporting a Rams hat at his agent's California home shortly after being drafted . Sam followed that up by also tweeting out the same picture and writing: ‘Grateful, humbled, and motivated after officially signing with all my Rams rookie brothers. Let's do this!!’ The 2013 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year is believed by many to have fallen all the way to the final round of the draft because he came out during a series of interviews earlier this year. ‘I understand how big this is,’ he told ESPN in February. "It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be... I want to be a football player in the NFL.’ He was initially projected to be a third or fourth-round draftee, but tumbled to the seventh round and was selected only eight places ahead of the final pick – which is sarcastically referred to as Mr Irrelevant. The All-American famously cried, embraced and kissed boyfriend Vito Cammisano on national television shortly after his selection was announced. ‘Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I'm using every once of this to achieve greatness!!’ He wrote in a tweet that day. Despite having a dominant senior season at the University of Missouri, many scouts panned Sam’s NFL potential prior to the draft. They said the six-foot-two-inch, 261-pound player was too small to play his natural defensive end was too small to play on the line, and that he was too slow to play linebacker. If comments made during his first press conference were any indication, the criticism did little to dent Sam’s confidence. ‘I’m determined to be great,’ he said. | Michael Sam announced in February that he is gay . He was selected by the St Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Player Draft . Sam is the first openly gay professional football player . | a5048813406b261d94bdaf13f01d6c4e88dd608b |
(CNN) -- "We must be on you but cannot see you." That was one of the very last voice signals transmitted by Amelia Earhart in the summer of 1937, somewhere over the vast Pacific Ocean during her ill-fated flight around the globe. An intense search led by the U.S. Navy was launched to find Earhart and her plane, but after several weeks, nothing was found. "All right, good night." Those were the last words transmitted 17 days ago from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, somewhere over the South China Sea between Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. An international search led by the Malaysian government and Malaysia Airlines and joined by governments and private companies from the United States, Great Britain, China, Australia, Norway, Japan, New Zealand and others have narrowed down a possible search region to a vast chunk of the Indian Ocean southwest of Perth, Australia. "This is probably the one of the largest efforts you'll ever see in terms of maritime surveillance and joint operations," Australian Defense Minister David Johnston said Tuesday. Reports now seem to support the theory, popularized by pilot instructor Chris Goodfellow, that an incapacitating emergency led the pilots to divert the Boeing 777 toward the closest airport (hence turning south) while simultaneously trying to fight an electrical fire of some sort until they were overcome. Experts believe that the jet continued on dumb autopilot until it was, like Earhart's Lockheed Electra, out of fuel, plunging into the sea. Opinion: Flight 370's resting place is best clue . Earhart was lost on July 2, 1937. MH370 disappeared March 8, 2014, more than two weeks ago. In those 77 years, almost everything about the world has changed. Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared just a few years before World War II erupted and a new world order emerged: what is often called the American century. And the three-week search effort for Earhart was entirely American, directed by the Navy. Flight 370 was operated by Malaysia's national airline, en route to Beijing. The flight was the opposite of pioneering, instead a routine long haul of 227 passengers, with a coach class ticket costing about $530. But in this case, the search effort is extraordinary and much more international in scope. This time, it's not just the Americans. The Australians, the Chinese and the Norwegians are deploying their air forces and navies with cutting-edge technologies for weeks on end to help. Pakistani radar, Chinese satellites, even NASA aided the search. Add to that countless hours of analytical personnel. In the end, it was a private British satellite company, Inmarsat, that confirmed the likely flight path and terminus. According to some reports, this is the most expensive search effort in history. Although there was strong criticism against the Malaysian government for delays and missteps during the initial days of the investigation, it seems as if the international community has largely united in focusing massive resources on finding the plane. There was nobody famous on the flight and yet it is somehow unremarkable that dozens of nations are expending millions of dollars to solve the mystery. Together. Pilot: How mechanical problem could have downed Flight 370 . All this stands in stark contrast to Russia's opportunistic conquest of the Crimean peninsula, a major part of the neighboring nation of Ukraine. That sort of nationalist land grab reminds me less of the Cold War than of norms of the 18th century and just about every century of history prior. Certainly, there's something extraordinary and dangerous going on in the Crimea, but a calmer, more patient, more historical assessment distinguishes the reflexive nationalism of a weakened ex-empire from the larger trends in a globalizing world. Or what about the civil war in Syria? Or the heightened tensions on the North Korean peninsula? Or the disputes between Japan and Korea over the "Sea of Japan" versus the "East Sea"? Or the uprisings in Venezuela? All are hot spots where the international community has largely been paralyzed, unable to do much more than call for multilateral inquiries and issue hollow condemnations. So what's left to be seen is whether this unprecedented international coalition assembled to scour the ocean for the remains of Flight 370 is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise devastating tragedy for the families of the 227 passengers and 12 crew members. Or whether this is merely a one-off proposition where each nation is acting in its own self-interest to do what it must for its own citizens, while feigning cooperation for the world stage. I prefer to see the goodness here, that the world can come together and work together when it counts. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to remind us of the everyday miracles of our time. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tim Kane. | Tim Kane says international search for Flight 370 is rare bright spot in tragedy . More than a half-dozen nations have come together in the deep-water search . Like the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in 1937, Flight 370 is a mystery . | 01d8082755cb24f3640666baf2068d0c98abdea9 |
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 10:49 EST, 16 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 16 July 2013 . Nigel Farage today launched a blistering attack on Ed Miliband, branding the Labour leader ‘spineless and clueless’ for not standing up to his union paymasters. The UKIP leader tore into the Unite union after his party was branded ‘pre-fascist’ and ‘xenophobic’ in a secret report. And Mr Farage brushed off a poll showing voters switching back to the Tories, insisting the threat he poses to the Tories is ‘more psychological than arithmetical’. Row: UKIP Leader Nigel Farage tore into Labour leader Ed Miliband for not distancing himself from the Unite report describing UKIP as fascist . The explosive Unite report was written by Steve Hart, who has close links with the Labour leadership and was Unite’s political director until he left last month after a power struggle. The confidential report, submitted to a meeting of Unite’s political committee, launches a highly provocative attack on UKIP leader Nigel Farage, warning Mr Miliband not to ‘chase’ his party’s votes. ‘The UKIP vote represents a dangerous, populist Right-wing vote which is swayed by anti-immigrant and anti-European rhetoric – and nostalgia for a comfortable world that never really existed,’ it states. ‘These are all the hallmarks of pre-fascist movements – which is not to say that UKIP is fascist, because it isn’t, but to point to the dangers of ignoring them and the issues or attempting to chase them.’ Warning: Steve Hart, a recent Unite political director, wrote the key report slamming UKIP . Unite has given Labour more than £8million since Mr Miliband became leader in 2010. Today Mr Farage condemned the criticism of UKIP, insisting it was evidence ‘all that is wrong with the Left of British politics’. Writing for MailOnline, Mr Farage said he had previously urged Mr Miliband to ‘condemn inflammatory, narrow minded and provocative behaviour’ by Unite Against Fascism at a UKIP public meeting in Hove. ‘The reply simply never came. It suits the spineless and clueless Labour leader to promulgate the utterly reprehensible and totally unfounded view that UKIP is somehow xenophobic or dangerous. ‘The only danger we pose is to the other three parties, who have for too long ignored British voters.’ Len McCluskey's Unite has become embroiled in a bitter row with the Labour party over allegations that the union tried to fix candidate selection in Falkirk. It prompted Mr Miliband to announce an overhaul of Labour's union links, including ending the automatic payment of £9million in political levies into party coffers. It has also emerged that Labour has suspended two local councillors who are accused of paying for people to join the party. Following a meeting last night, Pervaz Khan and Derek Loughborough, who sit on Middlesbrough Council, were placed on 'administrative suspension'. It is claimed that the pair recruited people to join the Labour Party after paying their initial subscription fees. In a sign that the row is damaging Labour, a new opinion poll last night put the party neck and neck with the Tories on 36 per cent. While the Tories were up seven points, UKIP was done five points to just seven . The Conservatives believe they have countered some of UKIP’s appeal by backing legislation paving the way for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU to take place by the end of 2017. The Tories were also boosted by Home Secretary Theresa May’s success in finally getting hate preacher Abu Qatada deported to Jordan. But Mr Farage insisted: ‘One deported terrorist suspect does not a summer make.’ He blames the opinion poll on the fact that pollsters ICM do not name UKIP when asking people how they will vote. 'Most of the pollsters don’t know how to handle UKIP, and neither do the political establishment. In some respects, they are all doing us a favour. ‘The arrogance of both sides reveals a deliberately myopic political establishment that would have the UK sleepwalk towards a situation where wholly undesirable organisations such as the EDL gain traction with people who otherwise have absolutely no sympathy with their dangerous views,’ he added. The leaked Unite report sadly underscores all that is wrong with the Left of British politics. When I wrote to Ed Miliband after the protest organised by Unite Against Fascism at the UKIP public meeting in Hove, I would have expected a responsible Party leader to condemn inflammatory, narrow minded and provocative behaviour against valid political debate. The reply simply never came. It suits the spineless and clueless Labour leader to promulgate the utterly reprehensible and totally unfounded view that UKIP is somehow xenophobic or dangerous. The only danger we pose is to the other three parties, who have for too long ignored British voters. What we are looking at is the Left Wing of British politics trying to control the views of their voters, particularly among blue collar workers, while at the same time ignoring their voice. This is a left wing that feels it has an automatic right to that vote, and cannot bear the idea that another party is gaining credence. This is a left wing that cannot fathom that it has ever done anything wrong despite senior Labour figures revealing that they openly courted Eastern European workers to come to the UK in their hundreds of thousands. The report describes the UKIP vote as having the hallmarks of pre-fascist movements. What he is either naively or arrogantly failing to identify is that UKIP is the solution to the problem, not the problem itself. What he calls ‘the UKIP vote’ is a society that feels let down; a society that wants to rise up against a democratic deficit. History has shown us that all too often such a vacuum is easily filled by opportunistic and unsavoury political elements that play upon long ignored societal issues and dissatisfaction to further their own ill ends. The political class should be grateful that a responsible, reasonable and rational political power is representing the unheard voices underpinning this discontent. In the battle against fascism, UKIP is far and above the best medicine. In the UK, and indeed across Europe, people have felt unrepresented and ignored for too long, while great change such as mass immigration set against a backdrop of economic turmoil has not only been ignored but wilfully swept under the carpet. Yet instead of reading the signs, Unite and The Labour Party instead obsess over their self-preservation. Where voters are turning to UKIP, they wish to discredit and destroy our party, rather than seeking to understand the needs of the people increasingly identifying with our policies. The problem, to them, is UKIP. Not the fact that they are not listening to the electorate, whereas we are. But it's not just the Labour party who are missing the point about the UKIP surge. Today's ICM poll showing - astonishingly - the Tories and Labour on 36 per cent is a symptom of a political class more interested in polling data backing up their pre conceived views. Just as the media have their favourite political parties, polling companies now lean towards their own politics with the results being skewed in favour of the paymaster's allegiance. Just as a bookmaker at a race course would slash the odds on a favourite horse to encourage punters to put their money on the least risky option, political parties want voters to go with the same urge of 'backing the favourite'. I've often said I thought the effect of UKIP on the Conservative Party was more psychological than arithmetical but when political parties rely on manipulated data sets they risk once again ignoring what gets people voting UKIP. It's not a risk for me, of course. It's always been UKIP's unique selling point that we actually listen to the people rather than convince ourselves that the public think we've all the answers and nothing to improve upon. Because what happens is that election time comes as a bitter disappointment. I'm not taking the ICM poll to heart today despite calls from many quarters saying that the Tories have effectively managed to 'squeeze UKIP out'. One deported terrorist suspect does not a summer make. If the data had been from a pollster who prompted UKIP in the first round maybe I'd be more concerned but the figure they have UKIP on, 7 per cent, is the same figure they polled us at a mere two months before our best ever election result, scoring an average of 25 per cent where we stood. Most of the pollsters don’t know how to handle UKIP, and neither do the political establishment. In some respects, they are all doing us a favour. The arrogance of both sides reveals a deliberately myopic political establishment that would have the UK sleepwalk towards a situation where wholly undesirable organisations such as the EDL gain traction with people who otherwise have absolutely no sympathy with their dangerous views. We are not afraid to talk about immigration and the EU, even if we must suffer the name calling and abuse, for we understand how important these issues are to any society. These last few weeks, both Unite and The Labour Party have demonstrated a distasteful and corrupt obsession with forcibly trying to dominate the political landscape, by any means. It is time the Left Wing stopped focusing on their selves and started waking up to what the people of Britain really want. This blind, narrow minded hostility towards UKIP is a blind narrow minded hostility towards Britain itself. | Secret report by Unite union branded UKIP ‘pre-fascist’ and ‘xenophobic’ Union has given Labour £8million since Ed Milband became leader . New poll suggests voters are switching back to the Tories . | f3c8f7e3fbe2b59a887ba9fd1c528cdced97d543 |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Coast Guard planes and ships were searching Friday for a Japanese balloonist who disappeared off the Alaska coast while flying from Japan to the west coast United States. Missing Japanese balloonist Michio Kanda (R) with Naoki Ishikawa. Friends of balloonist Michio Kanda, who was on a solo flight, last heard from him via satellite phone at 9 a.m. Alaska time (6 p.m. GMT) Thursday, said USCG Petty Officer Levi Read. When he missed three subsequent scheduled calls over the next six hours, they called the Coast Guard, Read said. Read said two Coast Guard C130 Hercules planes conducted searches Thursday 435 miles south of Adak, Alaska, the balloonist's last known position. The searches continued Friday and are ongoing, Read said. Two Coast Guard cutters are also headed for the area, but both are at least a day away, he said. Read said the balloonist, who was heading for Portland, Oregon, is equipped with provisions and a survival suit. Kanda holds the world record for the longest-duration balloon flight, with a time of 50 hours and 38 minutes, according to the World Air Sports Federation. In that January 1997 flight, he and Hirosuke Takezawa flew from the Canadian provionce of Alberta to the U.S. state of Montana, according to the federation. E-mail to a friend . | Balloonist Michio Kanda missing on flight from Japan to U.S. U.S. Coast Guard searching area around his last known position . Kanda holds the world record for the longest-duration balloon flight . | 6ef6fb1d6f4956e3dbb9347507f7c16e53cdef0b |
Love does exist – and knowing if you have it may be more straightforward than you think. It involves asking two simple questions that economists say can accurately predict whether or not you're likely to divorce in the future. These are: 'How happy are you in your marriage relative to how happy you would be if you weren't in the marriage?' and 'How do you think your spouse answered that question?' People who thought they would be no worse off being single than they were being married were more likely to end up that way. But people who overestimated how happy their partners were in their relationship were even more likely to find themselves on their own six years later. Back in the 1980s, scientists asked these two questions to 4,242 couples, and then asked them the same again roughly six years later. Economists Leora Friedberg and Steven Stern, at the University of Virginia, recently analysed the data and found, unsurprisingly, people who thought they would be no worse off being single than they were being married were more likely to end up that way. But people who overestimated how happy their partners were in their relationship were even more likely to find themselves on their own six years later. Only 40.9 per centof couples accurately identified how their spouse would answer the question. This meant that almost 60 per cent of couples had imperfect information about each other, and roughly a quarter of those had 'serious' discrepancies in overall happiness. Overall, about seven per cent of couples in the sample were divorced by the time the second survey was conducted. Pictured is California billionaire Elon Musk and actress wife Talulah Riley who were together for a year after they remarried, but have now split . For singletons fed up with their family and friends asking whether they have met ‘that special someone,’ there are two new apps that could help them fake a relationship. The Invisible Girlfriend and Invisible Boyfriend apps will send convincing text messages and even voicemails from a virtual partner as 'proof' of a relationship. It was created so that single people under pressure to find a partner, but who don’t want to date, can practice flirting, or simply use the service to keep well-meaning relatives off their back. The St Louis-based company says on its website: ‘Invisible Boyfriend gives you real-world and social proof that you’re in a relationship - even if you’re not - so you can get back to living life on your own terms.’ Currently available as a private beta version in the US and Canada, users will be able to download a gender-specific app and start receiving messages from a fictional partner, for around $25 a month. Women tended to think that their husbands would be worse off than their husbands thought they would be if they found themselves single again. Men had the opposite reaction. Overall, about seven per cent of couples in the sample were divorced by the time the second survey was conducted. Among those who correctly assessed how unhappy their partner might be in the case of separation, the divorce rate was less than 6 per cent. Of those men who overestimated how unhappy a divorce would make their wives, 13 per cent ended up on single. Among women who overestimated how unhappy their husbands might be, 14.5 per cent end up divorced. The researchers say overestimating happiness affects how couples settle conflicts through bargaining. According to bargaining theory, the more one spouse misjudges his or her partner's happiness, the more likely he or she will bargain 'too hard' and make a mistake. As an example Professor Stern explained, 'If I believe my wife is really happy in the marriage, I might push her to do more chores or contribute a larger portion of the family income. 'If, unbeknownst to me, she's actually just lukewarm about the marriage, or she's got a really good-looking guy who is interested in her, she may decide those demands are the last straw, and decide a divorce would be a better option for her.' The findings reveal just how important it is to know how willing your partner is to leave a relationship, the scientists say. 'The idea of love here is that you get some happiness from your spouse simply being happy' In this scenario, pushing a bargain too hard, based on misperception of a partner's happiness, will result in a divorce that wouldn't otherwise have occurred. 'This data shows that people aren't being as tough negotiators as they could be, and then we realised that we needed to include caring in the model for it to make sense,' said professor Friedberg . 'The idea of love here is that you get some happiness from your spouse simply being happy' 'For instance, I might agree to do more house chores, which reduces my personal happiness somewhat, but I get some offsetting happiness simply knowing that my partner benefits.' The findings, the say, reveal just how important it is to know how willing your partner is to leave before you pick your battles. | US researchers asked 4,242 couples, 'how happy are you in your marriage relative to how happy you would be if you weren't in the marriage?' They then asked, 'how do you think your spouse answered that question?' Only 40.9 per cent correctly identified the happiness of their spouse . People who overestimated the happiness of their partner were more likely to find themselves on their own six years later . | 7d1a3c47758551233dc8e8c3b6fc9e80288460ce |
People who have lucid dreams have superior problem-solving skills, scientists claim. Researchers say that people who can recognise that they are dreaming while being sound asleep, can solve problems in the waking world better than those who remain unaware of the dream until they wake up. This is because they are have an extra level of insight, according to a new study. Researchers say that people who have lucid dreams - those who can recognise that they are dreaming while being sound asleep (stock image) - can solve problems in the waking world better than those who remain unaware of the dream until they wake up . The concept of lucid dreaming was thrust into the spotlight in the 2010 film Inception, where dreamers were able to spot incongruities within their dream. Experts believe that some people have lucid dreams because they have an extra level of insight. This means that their brains detect they are in a dream because events would not make sense otherwise. This cognitive ability translates to the waking world when it comes to finding the solution to a problem, by spotting hidden connections or inconsistencies, according to scientists at the University of Lincoln. The concept of lucid dreaming was thrust into the spotlight in the 2010 film Inception, where dreamers were able to spot incongruities within their dream. A screenshot of the film, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt is shown . Lucid dreams suggest that a person has superior problem solving abilities when they are awake, according to this latest study. And the content of dreams has been interpreted since the ancient conisations of Egypt and Greece, where dreaming was considered a supernatural intervention. In Ancient Greece, dreams were considered prophetic or omens. A 16th century Chinese book on dreams raised the question of lucidity - how we know we are dreaming and how we know we are awake, . In his famous book, The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud argued that the motivation of all dream content is wish-fulfilment and that the root of a dream is found in the events of the day preceding the dream, which he called the 'day residue.' He suggested that adult dreams could not be easily interpreted by the individual who had them, but that the dreams expressed latent thoughts in their subconscious. Later, Carl Jung said that dreams shed light on the unconscious of a person and their world and could contain hidden symbols. The study, published in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Dreaming, is the first empirical study to demonstrate the relationship between lucid dreaming and insight. ‘It is believed that for dreamers to become lucid while asleep, they must see past the overwhelming reality of their dream state, and recognise that they are dreaming,’ said Dr Patrick Bourke, senior lecturer at the Lincoln School of Psychology. ‘The same cognitive ability was found to be demonstrated while awake by a person’s ability to think in a different way when it comes to solving problems.’ The study examined 68 participants aged between 18 and 25 who had experienced different levels of lucid dreaming - from never to several times a month. They were asked to solve 30 problems designed to test insight. Each problem consisted of three words and a solution word. Each of the three words could be combined with the solution word to create a new compound word. For example with the words ‘sand’, ‘mile’ and ‘age’, the linking word would be ‘stone’. Results showed that frequent lucid dreamers solved 25 per cent more of the insight problems than non-lucid dreamers. | Scientists from the University of Lincoln say that people who have lucid dreams have an extra level of insight . This means that their brains detect they are in a dream because events would not make sense otherwise . Cognitive ability translates to the waking world when it comes to finding the solution to a problem, by spotting hidden connections or inconsistencies . Lucid dreaming was the subject of the 2010 film Inception . | b5bec409a8359a853bd39da3c304c847c4ae2d25 |
(CNN) -- Video storytelling can be a very powerful thing. Moving images coupled with compelling sound can transport a viewer to a different place, inside the story. To achieve this level of storytelling you must be a technically sound shooter. Here are the basic tools and tips needed to become a great video storyteller. Have a plan . Before you actually start shooting, be sure you have a game plan. Think about your subject and what kind of shots you need to best tell the story. Thinking ahead will help you avoid being overwhelmed when you start shooting. Also, be sure to think about your equipment ahead of time. Be sure to have enough charged batteries and spare memory. There's nothing worse than setting up a shoot only to realize you're out of juice. Don't forget about composition . One thing that is easy to lose sight of during a fast-paced news gathering shoot is composition. This can result in bland, forgettable material. Thoughtful shot composition can really make your footage stand out. Generally, it is boring to just center the subject of your shot, so instead, use the rule of thirds. Pretend your frame has evenly spaced lines running throughout it, two horizontally and two vertically. The points where the lines intersect are where you want to have the most important elements of the shot. If your shot seems boring, try to get up high or down low. Presenting your viewer with an alternative to the shoulder/tripod-height view will help create a more dynamic shot. And don't forget to be creative! Think about what angle a person would not normally see and see how it looks through your camera. Have a focal point . Each shot should have something for the viewer to focus on or else the viewer will focus on nothing. Use the rule of thirds to decide where to put this focal point in your frame. Capture action . It is very important to capture action in your shots, but don't get sucked into following every movement. Allow your subjects to move in and out of the frame, as this gives a much better sense of motion. Get a variety of shots . Always make sure you have the following shots: wide shots to set the scene, medium to give context and to tell the basic story, and tight shots to give details that the viewer wouldn't normally see. Once you have a variety of shots of different scenes, you can start telling a cohesive visual story. Stabilize EVERY shot . Train yourself to always use a tripod or monopod when shooting. Shaky footage can totally distract the view from an otherwise great shot. This takes discipline and tripods can be cumbersome, but your material will improve greatly if stabilized. Limit camera moves . Zooms, pans and tilts. When done carefully and deliberately they can be OK, but most of they time they distract from what should be the focal point of the shot: the action. Pay attention to light . Light is your friend. Beautiful light during the golden hour (first and last hour of sunlight during the day) will be warm and soft, shooting at that time of day will make footage pop. Be aware of light. You can use it to silhouette your subject or create a nice rim light effect. Also look out for low light situations and try to have an external source of light if possible. Hold your shots . Try to hold your shots for at least five seconds, this will make life-in-edit much easier, and don't talk while holding these shots! Don't forget about audio . Poor audio can kill video. Always use an external mic when possible. If you can't, be sure to find a very quiet place to conduct your interviews. Use manual settings as much as possible . Yes, there are a lot of buttons and features on your camera. Learn them and use them! Manual controls are much more reliable and give you total control over your shots, more than any auto features your camera may have. Practice, practice, practice . Like most things in life, the only way to become a better shooter is to practice. The more you shoot, the more comfortable you will become with your camera so you can focus less on camera settings and more on getting those perfect shots. For more tips on capturing video, check out last year's boot camp piece on shooting video. Then show us your video skills in this week's boot camp challenge on capturing images. Submissions are due Tuesday, September 6, at noon ET. Until then, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section, or join us for a round-table discussion of this iReport Boot Camp topic on Thursday, September 8. | CNN's iReport Boot Camp challenges iReporters to improve storytelling chops . CNN's Nick Scott shares his advice on capturing video . Show us your video skills by September 6 . | 5489911089f9db2b3d84ece0e5cf0db7065924d1 |
Jyoti Amge, from India, visited the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building - which is 600 times her height . By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 19:42 EST, 12 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:38 EST, 13 September 2013 . The world's shortest woman has visited one of the world's tallest buildiings in New York City today for the launch of the latest edition of the Guinness World Records book. Jyoti Amge visited the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building - which is 600 times her height - on Thursday. The 19-year-old from Nagpur, India, . measures 24.7 inches tall, making her the world's . shortest person, according to Guinness World Records. Scroll down for video . On top of the world: Shortest woman Jyoti Amge,19, from Nagpur, India, stands on top of the Empire State Building in New York today . Welcome to America: Miss Amge was making her first trip to the U.S. and will be taking in the sights of New York City . Miss Amge is making her first visit to the United States. Through a translator, she said that Guinness had given her the opportunity to travel the world and made her 'very popular and very famous'. Her trip to New York City also included a visit to Times Square and the Statue of Liberty. For such a small stature, Miss Amge has big dreams. She has already appeared in a Bollywood movie and plans on pursuing a career in Hollywood. I am proud of being small,’ she said during an interview with The Sun last year. ‘I have the same thoughts and the same dreams as you. ‘I would like to be an actress in Hollywood and win an Oscar. The only difference is my height.’ Welcome to America: Miss Amge was making her first trip to the U.S. and will be taking in the sights of New York City . Ranjana Amge, left, watches as her daughter Jyoti Amge is held by her translator Dinesh Govandi as she looks through binoculars at the Empire State Building . The teenager has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia which stopped her growing after her first birthday. Jyoti has brittle bones and is likely to need care for the rest of her life. She weighs just 12lbs (5.5kg), only 9lbs more than she did at birth. Miss Amge is accompanied by her mother Ranjana, 55, or other friends and family every time she goes out. Touring the world: Miss Amge is carried out by her translator on to the observation deck of the Empire State Building . | Jyoti Amge, from India, visited the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building - which is 600 times her height . | bc9196eff5a1d75c61ce335e9b6f7e0c702f86d4 |
By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 11:26 EST, 3 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:39 EST, 3 January 2014 . Fears were growing last night for the safety of a teenage girl who disappeared a week ago after an argument at home. Nida Ul-Naseer, 18, vanished after popping out of her house to put some rubbish in a bin. A handmade sign pinned to the family’s front door reads: ‘Nida please come home. Don’t worry. We are all missing you.’ Missing: Nida Ul-Naseer, 18, of Newport, south Wales, who has not been seen since 8pm on December 28 . A major police search is under way to find missing teenager Nida Ul-Naseer . The teenager, whose disappearance is said to be out of character, is also in need of medication, without which she is likely to become anaemic. Her sister Naila, 22, said yesterday: ‘She’s not in trouble.’ Addressing Nida directly, she added: ‘We all love you. Just come home.’ She went on: ‘The most worrying thing is she’s missed mum’s birthday, which is not like her.’ Police say that so far there is no suggestion that the missing girl was picked up in a vehicle. Her sister urged Nida to get in touch and asked anyone who knew where she might be to contact the police. ‘We are missing her, we just want to tell her that she’s not in trouble. We all love her, we all love you Nida. Just come home,’ she said. ‘Please, please tell police if you . know anything – anything about her – please call police on 101. Please . help us.’ Gwent Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Paul Symes, said up . to 40 officers had been involved in the search for Nida since she went . missing. They have been . trawling through hours of CCTV footage to try to locate her as well as . working closely with the teenager’s family to establish more about her . friends and lifestyle. Vanished: The 18-year-old vanished from her home after taking out the rubbish . Specially-trained . search officers scoured her home town of Newport, South Wales, . yesterday with the help of horses and sniffer dogs. Police also . distributed leaflets and conducted house-to-house inquiries. Two teams . of officers were seen around 1pm searching scrubland at the Stephenson . Industrial Estate, which is located south of the River Usk and almost . two miles from the home the teenager shares with her mother and father, . believed to be 47 and 54 respectively. About . ten officers used long poles to brush aside briars and nettles as they . searched woodland next to a car park at the industrial estate. A . spokesman for Gwent Police said Nida’s disappearance is ‘particularly . out of character’. Chief Inspector Daniel Taylor added: ‘She has gone . missing from her home address. That is the reason for the concern. There . is no motive for it. Search: Police scoured the Stephenson Industrial Estate . Message: Her family have pinned this note on the front door of their home . ‘As . far as we understand, she went out to the bins at the premises. That was . the last time she was seen.’ Nida is described as being of . Asian-Pakistani appearance with long, dark hair. She is 5ft 3in tall and . of slim build. When she was last seen on December 28, she was wearing blue jeans and a black top. Anyone . with information about Nida’s whereabouts should call 101 and quote log . number 448 28/12/13 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. | Nida Ul-Naseer has not been seen since 8pm on Saturday, December 28 . Sister Nilah Anwar said they 'miss her desperately' Up to 40 officers and dogs are out looking for her in Newport, South Wales . Two teams of officers searched scrubland at Stephenson Industrial Estate . Police say they have found 'no motive' to explain her vanishing . | 0a0ba0e482cb72efffc0710e5479659fc23d346d |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:16 EST, 26 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:42 EST, 27 March 2013 . Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has put his luxury home up for sale following his divorce from his second wife. The gym entrepreneur said he wants to . start a 'new chapter' in his life and his five-bedroom home on the . exclusive Wynard development in County Durham has been put on the market . for £875,000. The Californian-style property, with white exterior, boasts views over a golf course and has a large open kitchen and a games room. Duncan Bannatyne is selling his home on the exclusive Wynard estate and has put it on the market for £875,000 . The luxury house boasts a 19ft living room, games room and views over the estate's golf course . The decision to sell comes after Bannatyne and his wife Joanne McCue divorced last year . The home also has a 19ft maple-floored lounge and an entrance hall with a double-height glazed apex. Upstairs there is another living room and three of the bedrooms are en suite, with the master bedroom also boasting a dressing room and a double whirlpool-style bath. Bannatyne, 64, who is worth an estimated £430million, is selling up following the break-up of his marriage to second wife Joanne in December 2011. In October he was taken to hospital with chest pains, although tests showed he had not suffered a heart attack. He has not decided whether he will leave Wynyard or find somewhere else handy for his headquarters in Darlington. He said: 'I decided to sell as I am looking to start a new chapter in my life. 'I am undecided at this time as to whether I will purchase another house in Wynyard or whether I will move out of Wynyard. 'I think I will probably move out of Wynyard but will make that decision as and when I need to.' The house has been the venue for some great parties, he said, and a source of peace for him too. 'It is modern living at its easiest with beautiful views of the golf course. 'It is a very relaxing house to live in, although it is also a very fun house and I have hosted great parties in it. 'I . love spending my time in the kitchen. I have a huge sofa in the . kitchen, where I can kick off my shoes watch TV, cook or simply watch . what's happening on the golf course, and it's a fabulous area and . definitely my favourite part of the house,' he said. The gym entrepreneur said he is moving so he can start a 'new chapter' in his life . The Californian-style property has a large open kitchen, maple-floored lounge and a games room . 'There is no hustle and bustle. When you have had hard day at the office you can come home and relax but equally should you want company you can always drop in on a neighbour for a coffee and catch up.' The house is for sale through estate agent Manners and Harrison. Bannatyne is one of the stars of the hit BBC show Dragons' Den where business people pitch ideas to would-be investors. 'The best thing about living in this house is the peace and quiet,' he said. 'Living in Wynyard is great. I have the best neighbours anyone can ask for and there is a real community spirit going on. 'The best thing about Wynyard is the people who live there.' Bannatyne, who is worth up to £430million, with the other tycoons on Dragons' Den on BBC Two . | Gym entrepreneur selling his five-bedroom home on exclusive estate . Luxury home boasts views over golf course, open kitchen and games room . Sale comes after divorce from ex-wife Joanne last year . | 72aaa3b07210a4c66b0bba893330c467d25fc58a |
Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz apologized on Thursday for claiming the day before that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker gives women 'the back of his hand.' At a round-table discussion on women's issues in Milwaukee on Wednesday the Democratic Party leader had ridiculed Walker's policies toward women and drew comparison between the Republican Governor and a perpetrator of domestic violence. After Wasserman Schultz's hyperbolic comments attracted outrage from both Republicans and Walker's Democratic opponent in Wisconsin's upcoming gubernatorial race, the DNC chair admitted in a statement that her argument could have been better phrased. 'I shouldn’t have used the words I used,' she said. DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz apologized on Thursday for making controversial statements about Wisconsin governor Scott Walker. Schultz pictured above at a press conference for Florida gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich on August 26 . Walker is . currently in the middle of heated re-election battle against Democratic . candidate Mary Burke. Recent polling shows that both candidates in the November election are within one to two points of each other. Schultz was criticizing Walker's opposition to a minimum wage increase and support for a bill that would prevent people claiming employment discrimination from seeking damages in state court, when she made the controversial about his treatment of women. 'Scott Walker has given women the back of his hand. I know that is stark. I know that is direct. I know that is reality,' she said. 'What Republican Tea Party extremists like Scott Walker are doing is they are grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back. It is not going to happen on our watch,' she added. The Republican National Committee pounced on Schultz comments and issued a statement saying it was a 'new low for an already flailing Democratic Party'. 'This is a sad attempt to gain political points that’s offensive to victims of abuse and well beneath the chair of a major political party,' RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said in a statement. Incumbent Scott Walker (left) and Democratic challenger Mary Burke, right, are currently in the middle of a heated gubernatorial race . 'Mary Burke should denounce the leader of her party or explain why she’s standing by as Democrats mislead Wisconsin voters.' A spokesperson for Burke told FoxNews.com afterward that it was 'not the type of language' that her candidate 'would use, or has used, to point out the clear differences in this contest.' Burke's spokeswoman, Stephanie Wilson, added that 'those disagreements can and should be pointed out respectfully.' The DNC also put out a statement explaining that Schultz was in no way trying to make light of domestic violence. 'Domestic violence is an incredibly serious issue and the Congresswoman was by no means belittling the very real pain survivors experience,' DNC spokesman Lily Adams said. 'That's why Democrats have consistently supported the Violence Against Women Act and won’t take a lesson from the party that blocked and opposed its reauthorization. 'The fact of the matter is that Scott Walker’s policies have been bad for Wisconsin’s women.' Wasserman Schultz said in a statement of her own on Thursday 'it's unacceptable that a majority of Congressional Republicans opposed . this critical legislation, of which I was a proud cosponsor, after . blocking its reauthorization for more than a year.' While she expressed regret for the way in which she critiqued Walker's record, Wasserman Schultz stood behind the intent of her previous remarks and said they 'shouldn't detract from the broader point' she was making. 'Scott Walker’s policies have been bad for Wisconsin women, whether it's mandating ultrasounds, repealing an equal pay law, or rejecting federal funding for preventative health care, Walker's record speaks for itself,' she said. A poll . published in late August by Marquette University showed Walker's opponent, Burke, up two . percentage points, while a poll taken earlier in the month by Rasmussen Reports . found that Walker was up a single point. Walker is also considered a potential Republican contender in the 2016 presidential election. | Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz made the controversial statement during a round-table discussion on Wednesday . She also claimed that Walker and other Tea Partiers were 'grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back' Wasserman Schultz said in a statement on Thursday: 'I shouldn’t have used the words I used' | a1eabc289667cb311f73b864d2b32b51656026a2 |
Liverpool are compiling a dossier on the fitness issues that have plagued Daniel Sturridge’s career after it emerged he has injured his left thigh nine times. The England striker is faced with another six week lay-off after he broke down in training on Monday. It is the second time this season Sturridge has injured the muscle, but Liverpool’s medical staff are now processing his history from previous clubs in an attempt to get to the bottom of it and an operation cannot be ruled out. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who will meet Sturridge on Friday to discuss the situation, said: 'Most players you’ll find want to play through an injury to get on to the field. Obviously that’s what you do. Daniel Sturridge has not played for Liverpool since August and now could be out until next year . Sturridge, pictured arriving at Liverpool's Spire Hospital on Wednesday, has been plagued by injuries . Sturridge scored 28 goals for club and country last season and was in blistering form . Ankle ligaments - England v Republic of Ireland May 2013, returned for pre-season. Ankle ligaments - December 2013. Missed nine games. Thigh - during England training, September 2014. Missed six weeks. Calf - during Liverpool training, October 2014. Missed three weeks. Thigh - during Liverpool training, November 2014. Out for six weeks. ‘It was in a session and quite an innocuous action. He did it when he just flicked the ball. It wasn’t a shot or anything that looked serious. But obviously he felt the pain and then when the medical team told me the next day after the scan, it was disappointing. ‘Now we just have to concentrate and focus on the players we do have. It’s that simple. Though of course it’s hugely disappointing to lose a player of that quality. ‘I think that’s his ninth injury on that thigh from previous clubs and here. ‘So there is an issue there somewhere. This shows a slight tear just below where he had a previous injury (in September). ‘Most players you’ll find want to play through an injury to get on to the field. Obviously that’s what you do.’ Liverpool have laboured in front of goal in the absence of Sturridge. Rodgers, though, is not certain that going out to spend money in the transfer window is how to solve his problems. ‘We have to look at the players we have,’ said Rodgers, whose side face Crystal Palace on Sunday. Sturridge (right) formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez last season, but now the Reds are struggling . Sturridge has had to deal with watching the majority of Liverpool's matches from the stands this season . Liverpool are compiling a dossier on the fitness issues that have seen his left thigh injured nine times . | Daniel Sturridge facing six-week layoff after breaking down in training . Sturridge is set to meet Brendan Rodgers on Friday to discuss the situation and an operation cannot be ruled out . Rodgers said: ‘Most players you’ll find want to play through an injury to get on to the field. Obviously that’s what you do’ | 3af2b3f48f25513a38fb7d064007b5aeafa50246 |
(CNN) -- The NFL, already under a spotlight for its handling of domestic violence cases, now has one of its players under investigation for an alleged sexual assault last month. A woman has filed a police report accusing C.J. Spillman of sexual assault, said Sgt. Robert Eberling of the Grapevine Police Department. No arrest has been made and no charges filed in the case. The alleged assault took place on September 20 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel, which is the Cowboys' team hotel, CNN affiliate KDFW reported. "We are continuing our investigation and have no further details to release at this time," Eberling said. CNN reached out to the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys but didn't receive immediate comment from either. Attorney Bruce Ashworth couldn't be immediately reached, and agent Ron Slavin said, "We're not making a comment at this time." The alleged assault took place a day after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced changes to the league's personal conduct policy, including the creation of a committee to review the NFL's personal conduct policy to address the league's handling of domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Goodell said he hoped to have the committee in place by the time the Super Bowl is played February 2, but he did not provide a time line for the committee to make changes to the policy. Word of the alleged attack came just days after attorney Gloria Allred held a news conference saying she had a client who was sexually assaulted by an NFL player. Allred didn't name her client, the player, the team he played for or the city where it was supposed to have taken place. She said the player participated in the team's game the day following the alleged assault. "Did the NFL allow the player to play yesterday with knowledge of the rape allegation?" her Monday letter states. "The NFL Commissioner has been saying that they take allegations of violence against women seriously and they indicate that they are turning over a new leaf, but here, even though a rape allegation should have been reported to them it was not and what are they doing about that?" The news comes on a week in which Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told players of the team's zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence, according to local media. If a player is involved in a domestic violence case, they won't play, regardless of due process, The Dallas Morning News reported. "Part of what our jobs are as coaches is to create the right environment for our players to function both on and off the field," Garrett was quoted as saying. Though the NFL and Spillman's team, lawyer and agent aren't commenting, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that a Cowboys source told the newspaper that the team was dealing with Spillman differently because of questions about the veracity of the allegation. The allegations come on the heels of charges levied against NFL players alleging violence: . -- Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was charged with aggravated assault in March after punching and knocking out his now-wife. He has been suspended indefinitely. -- Last month, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was charged with felony child abuse for whipping his son in Texas. He will take a leave with pay until his case is complete, the team said. -- Arizona Cardinals backup running back Jonathan Dwyer was indicted last month on a felony charge of aggravated assault and eight misdemeanors stemming from two July arguments with his wife in which he allegedly head-butted her and fractured her nose. -- Carolina Panthers star defensive end Greg Hardy, who has been granted a new trial this fall after a domestic violence conviction in July, has taken a voluntary leave with pay until his legal matters are resolved, the team announced last month. -- San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald was arrested in August on suspicion of felony domestic violence after he allegedly got involved in an altercation with his fiancee, who was 10 weeks pregnant, a police source told The Sacramento Bee. San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York said the team would await the outcome of the criminal case before determining whether to punish him. CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin, Steve Almasy, Dave Alsup and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report. | Dallas player C.J. Spillman is part of a sexual assault investigation, police say . The alleged assault took place on September 20 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel . The NFL is making changes to its personal conduct policy . Several league players are facing abuse allegations . | b84693179974d99f69a492ba50322abbf963a301 |
By . Mark Nicol . PUBLISHED: . 18:11 EST, 30 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:11 EST, 30 June 2012 . British soldiers in Afghanistan claim that new tactics are preventing them shooting at the Taliban until they have been fired at themselves – resulting in an alarming rise in the number of casualties. The troops say they have had to change their procedures as part of American-led efforts to cut down on the number of civilians being wounded, but the new approach has made them more vulnerable. In the past three months, 11 British soldiers have been killed by enemy gunfire in Helmand province, compared with just two in the same period last year. In the line of fire: British soldiers say a tactical change stopping them from firing first has left them at greater risk of death or injury while on patrol in Afghanistan . The Ministry of Defence denied there has been any change in the rules of engagement for British troops. However, a spokesman for the multinational forces headed by US General John Allen confirmed there had been a tactical review after which the British were told to alter their procedures. Soldiers now say they are particularly vulnerable when they are manning checkpoints at road junctions or patrolling Taliban heartlands such as the so-called ‘green zone’, a densely vegetated river valley. In the past, they say, they could shoot first at armed insurgents but are now only allowed to return fire. One junior non-commissioned officer said: ‘When I arrived in Helmand, my officers said our tactics were going to change. ‘They said that if I saw somebody carrying a rifle or a rocket launcher, I shouldn’t fire at him. Only if he shot at me or a member of my patrol, and I could see a muzzle flash from his rifle, could I use my weapon. ‘I was shocked and so were my mates. We are trained to close in and kill the enemy, not to let him stroll on, watch us and let him choose the best time to ambush us. ‘It has been hard to obey these orders while on patrol. There have been many occasions when we have come under fire from the Taliban, who we’ve seen following us through the green zone. ‘On previous tours, we would have engaged the enemy first to show them what we were made of. We’re up for a fight but now we always have to back off. ‘It makes me question the point of us being here. ‘Older guys like me have seen the tactics change over the years and 2012 is the hardest because we’re taking so many backward steps. I really feel for the families of the guys who’ve lost their lives, and I miss my mates who are dead.’ Surge in casualties: U.S. Air Force Med Evac personnel carry a stretcher with a wounded British soldier from their helicopter into an ambulance in Camp Bastion . Conservative MP and former British Army officer Patrick Mercer said: ‘The Taliban can move as they please, even when heavily armed, and we’re not interfering with them. ‘Currently there is a reluctance to engage and a preference for a policing approach. ‘Soldiers I’ve spoken to feel frustrated and vulnerable. The rise in fatal wounds from gunshots comes as no surprise. ‘I feel deeply for the soldiers placed in this perilous position.’ Military sources say the timing of Gen Allen’s demands was unfortunate because the orders coincided with a tactical shift by the Taliban. It recently stepped up ambushes because of growing British success in thwarting mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Change of strategy: General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force . Gen Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), has also forbidden the firing of rockets into mud-brick compounds housing ordinary Afghans but also used by the Taliban. Soldiers say tactics have changed dramatically since British forces arrived in Helmand in 2006. Back then, they could engage anyone who posed a threat – whether or not they were armed. But in 2009, US General Stanley McChrystal, who was then ISAF’s commanding officer, ordered British soldiers only to engage insurgents who were bearing arms. Gen Allen ordered a tactical review after negotiations between ISAF and the Afghan government. The country’s president, Hamid Karzai, has criticised ISAF for causing civilian casualties, with the UN estimating that more than 3,000 were killed last year. An ISAF spokesman said: ‘We have conducted a number of conferences devoted to the reduction of civilian casualties. ‘These conferences have been a forum for passing tactics, techniques and procedures to the operational level and into practice. ‘Gen Allen recently ensured all commanders reviewed and certified their troops on the updated tactical directives, with an emphasis on the prevention of civilian casualties.’ The MoD said: ‘There has been no change to UK rules of engagement, and our forces continue to have the freedom they require to operate in support of increasingly effective Afghan security forces. ‘We have always been very clear, as has ISAF, that our troops go to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. ‘Recent amendments to the ISAF tactical directive reflect that commitment, but in no way limit the use of fire support in situations of self-defence.’ | 11 UK soldiers gunned down in Helmand in past three months, compared to two in the same period last year . Troops say they changed rules of engagement in response to U.S. efforts to cut civilian shootings . | 7afa88129444da1b6eaec48247a45f642beab086 |
By . Daniel Mills . All cars in Australia could soon be fitted with a device that prevents drunk motorists getting behind the wheel and driving. The bold prediction was made on Tuesday by Victorian Transport Minister Terry Mulder, who declared technological advances would mean the $1000 devices would one day be a permanent feature inside all new Australian vehicles sold. The prediction, if acted on, could bring the high rate accidents and deaths caused by drunk motorists to zero. Working much like a standard police breath testing unit, interlocks register the amount of alcohol in the driver's blood and prevent the car from starting if a person reaches a certain limit. Interlocking devices will be introduced into all Victorian vehicles by 2016 . They also record the number of times offenders have tried to start their car while under the influence of alcohol. Minister Mulder said the revolutionary device would prevent drunks from putting lives at risk. More... Kyle Sandilands may lose drivers licence . 'Female-friendly' spaces that help women park more easily (and so-called 'she-spots' will even be placed closer to shops) He delivered this prediction, that all Australian cars will be fitted with the device, while announcing new laws for Victoria that will require all drink-driving offenders to fork out $1000 to fit them in their cars by 2016. He said Victoria is making the first step towards a blanket rule that would see every Australian car prevent their drivers from getting behind the wheel drunk. Terry Mulder wants to see all cars in Australia one day fitted with interlocking devices preventing drunks from driving . Interlocks work by preventing the the car from being started unless the driver, who blows into the device, passes a breath test . 'Technological advances mean that in the long-term alcohol interlocks are likely to be a standard feature of all new vehicles in Australia,' he said. 'But in the meantime, Victoria is leading the way in taking action to reduce the menace caused by drink driving offenders.' Victorian police Minister Peter Ryan has backed a uniform law for interlocking devices to be fitted into Australian vehicles. 'The user-pays system ensures there's a powerful financial deterrent to drink-driving,' Mr Ryan said. Cameras will be fitted to Victorian cars by 2015 to prevent someone else from blowing into a drunk-driver's interlocking device . Minister Mulder said drink-drivers make up 25 to 30 percent of deaths and 11 percent of serious injuries on Victorian roads. Repeat drink-drivers make up 20 percent. In October this year, first time drink-driving offenders in Victoria will find themselves paying top dollar for an interlocking unit if they are caught by police registering a reading of .07 or more. Probationary drivers and those with a cancelled licence caught with readings of between .05 and .07 will also be required to fit them. By 2016, drink-drivers caught registering any alcohol in their blood, will be forced to have them installed. Interlocking immobilisers also register the amount of times a person has blown a high reading . In October last year, the NSW Government announced similar legislation, which will soon come into affect. Most laws in other states require drivers to fit the interlocking immobilisers if they have been caught twice within five years with blood-alcohol readings of 0.15 or above. The Western Australian government only just this month passed legislation for repeat offenders to install breath-testing immobilisers for some of the state's worst repeat drink-driving offenders. Mr Mulder, in introducing the new laws, said: 'the community has asked us to act on this. We are going to act on this and we are going to act in a very, very strong manner.' | Victorian MP Terry Mulder said new cars will stop drunk motorists driving . He said interlocking units will cut down high rate off accidents and deaths . drivers caught with reading above .07 will pay $1000 for device . Police minister backs laws being introduced in 2016 for first time offenders . | 273735d67baf47b5f55c8add65e2f564e491254d |
A Channel 4 drama broadcast last night sparked outrage after it depicted a mass shooting in a primary school. The opening scene of conspiracy thriller Utopia - in which a group of strangers go on the run after gaining possession of a graphic novel manuscript - saw Arby (played by Neil Maskell) walking into a classroom of children before firing several times. He also shoots a young boy cowering in the school hall, and a mother in the head in front of her young daughter at their home. Although a graphic content warning was given before the third episode, screened after the watershed, at 10pm - and the violence took place off-screen - many viewers found the scenes extremely disturbing. Channel Four said it has so far . received 28 complaints about the programme, while Ofcom is believed to . have received around 20. Scroll down for video . The opening scene of conspiracy thriller Utopia - in which a group of strangers go on the run after gaining possession of a graphic novel manuscript - saw Arby (played by Neil Maskell) walking into a classroom of children before firing several times . Although a graphic content warning was given before the third episode, screened after the watershed - and the violence took place off-screen - many viewers found the scenes extremely disturbing . A young boy in the school hall is confronted by Arby. Moments later, off screen, the child is shot . Among the comments on Twitter were: . 'Shooting children in a school. Never watching that again'; while . another wrote: 'I reckon Channel 4 are going to have some Ofcom . paperwork to deal with in the morning.' And another tweeted: 'One of the most shocking things I've seen on TV'. Although filmed over a year ago, Channel Four made a conscious decision to air Utopia just a month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut, which saw 20 children killed last December 14. A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'Channel 4 thought very carefully about continuing with the planned broadcast of Utopia. 'The drama is in no way based on real events, and the scenes featuring violence are editorially justified within the context of the storyline. 'All material has been carefully considered in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and we were satisfied that, appropriately scheduled in a late night slot at 10pm and preceded by clear on-air warnings about the graphic violence and very strong language, it could be broadcast as planned.' Some of the comments posted on Twitter which expressed disgust at the show's content . Arby (in green jacket) confronts a teacher at the school before also killing him . The show was created by Dennis Kelly, whose other writing credits include hit TV shows Spooks, Pulling and Matilda The Musical on stage. Set in modern-day Britain, Utopia concerns a small group of geeks from an online comic forum who stumble upon the second installment of The Utopia Experiments. Within its artwork are said to be . predictions of the worst events in world history, such as the BSE . outbreak - and sinister organisation The Network is prepared to kill to . track it down. Also drawn into the plot is a civil . servant coerced into buying huge stocks of Russian flu vaccine, which . coincidentally then triggers an outbreak in the UK. Fiona O'Shaughnessy as the mysterious Jessica Hyde in the show; right, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett stars as IT consultant Ian, who is forced to go on the run after unwittingly becoming involved in the conspiracy . The tone of the series was set in the first episode, which features Arby and his associate murdering the occupants of a comic book shop - and a torture scene which saw one character, conspiracy theorist Wilson Wilson, have chilli powder and bleach poured into his eye, before it is gouged out with a spoon. The cast features stalwarts such as Stephen Rea and James Fox (who work for The Network); Geraldine James (as an MI5 agent); along with Michael Dugdale (from The Thick Of It) and the fugitives - Becky (Alexandra Roach), Ian (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), Wilson (Adeel Akhtar), and 11-year-old Grant (Oliver Woollford), plus the mysterious Jessica Hyde (Fiona O'Shaughnessy). Last night's episode attracted around 1million viewers. Police lead a line of children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, after 20 children were massacred there last December . VIDEO Scene from Utopia drama (content edited from original broadcast) | In conspiracy thriller, Arby (played by Neil Maskell) walks into classroom of children before firing several times . Also shoots boy cowering in gym hall, and young girl's mother in front of her . C4 and Ofcom receive complaints, and some register disgust on Twitter . | cce6f86c09842a2d73ac8b78b5683d085893f86a |
Yesterday saw him cheer double-amputee soldier Private Ben McBean, whom he once described as a 'hero', over the finish line at the end of a charity marathon. Today, Prince Harry was back in action and in the company of another troop of heroes - 23 of the 30 living holders of the Victoria and George Crosses. The prince was at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London, where he was representing Prince Charles, who is the president of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, at a poignant service of remembrance. Scroll down for video . Support: Prince Harry arrives at the service of remembrance which took place at St Martin-in-the-Field church . His aunt's hero: The prince is greeted by former Metropolitan Police inspector Jim Beaton who was shot when saving Princess Anne from being kidnapped in 1974 . Used to royal company: Mr Beaton and Harry walked into the service together . Flashback: Mr Beaton when he worked as a royal protection officer for the Princess Royal . Did his duty: The princess visits Mr Beaton after he was treated in hospital. He was shot three times as he protected Anne during the failed kidnap bid . On his arrival, Prince Harry was greeted by the former royal protection officer who saved his aunt, the Princess Royal, from kidnap 40 years ago. The Prince spoke with former Metropolitan Police inspector Jim Beaton, who was shot three times as he protected Anne during the failed kidnap bid in 1974, as they attended a special church service to honour Britain’s military and civilian heroes. Harry walked into the service with Mr Beaton, who received the George Cross for his efforts to protect Anne from kidnapper Ian Ball during the attack in The Mall, central London. Despite the miserable weather, Harry, who was dapper in a navy blue suit and wore a remembrance poppy in his buttonhole, spent several minutes chatting to veterans and well-wishers outside the church before proceedings got underway. The prince chats with Jim Beaton (former Royal Protection officer, standing) and Major Peter Norton (in wheelchair) The prince was at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London, where he was representing Prince Charles, who is the president of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association . Kaye and Doug Baird, present Prince Harry with 'Cams Cause' T-shirt, a charity dedicated to the legacy of Corporal Cameron Baird . Prince Harry hosting the President's Party in the State . Apartments at St James's Palace . Holders of the two awards meet annually and have done since 1956 when the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association was launched . The prince, a serving soldier himself, has built a reputation for championing military causes - not least because of September's Invictus Games. The Games, which Harry hopes to make an annual tradition, saw wounded servicemen from nine different countries compete in a host of paralympic sports, among them running, archery and wheelchair rugby. Today's service comes in the wake of receptions held by the Queen and Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace and St James's - all designed to honour Britain and the Commonwealth's bravest military and civilian heroes. Cheerful: Despite the rainy weather, Prince Harry was all smiles as he greeted veterans outside the church . Reputation: Harry has built a reputation for championing military good causes, among them the Invictus Games . Stand in: Prince Harry was standing in for his father, Prince Charles, who is the president of the VCGCA . The men - and women - at today's service all hold either the Victoria or George Cross - the highest accolades for bravery that the UK can bestow. The Victoria Cross is the oldest and most prestigious of the two and was instituted by Queen Victoria on 29th January 1856 for those who show 'most conspicuous bravery or some daring pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy'. Although the Victoria Cross can only be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces, the George Cross can be awarded to civilians as well. Launched by George VI on the 24th September 1940, it was initially intended to recognise the efforts of Londoners attempting to deal with the Blitz but was soon expanded to apply to members of the Armed Forces who display 'gallant conduct in the face of the enemy'. Decorated: Although not a VC, Harry has decorations of his own - including an Afghanistan campaign medal (L) Brave: Harry has completed two overseas tours, both in Afghanistan, the latter in an Apache attack helicopter . Prince Harry has been awarded three medals which he proudly wore today. His Afghanistan campaign medal was awarded in 2008 for his 10-week stint serving on the front line in Helmand Province. The Queen's Golden Jubilee medal was given to him by his grandmother The Queen in 2002 to mark 50 years since she was crowned. This was followed by the Diamond Jubilee medal, awarded in 2012 to mark her 60 years on the throne. Prince Harry's medals, from left: Afghanistan campaign medal, Queen's Golden Jubilee medal and Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal . Thrilled: Yesterday, Harry turned out to cheer former Royal Marine, Pte Ben McBean, over the finish line . Achievement: Pte McBean, who is a double-amputee, had just completed a 31-mile charity run . Hero: The former Royal Marine was declared a hero by Prince Harry after their first meeting in 2008 . Initiative: Prince Harry, seen here during the event, championed the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen . Good work: Prince Charles, Prince William and the Duchess of Cornwall all turned out to support him . Proud: The Queen was introduced to Corporal Willie Apiata VC (right) at Buckingham Palace yesterday . Sprightly: The Duke of Edinburgh - and the Queen - were on typically sprightly form during yesterday's event . Holders of the two awards meet annually and have done since 1956 when the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association was launched. Yesterday saw the holders meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles, who is now in Colombia, also held an afternoon tea at St James's. Harry too is to join the brave men and women for tea and will host a third reception, again at St James's Palace, later this afternoon. This is the first time he has worked with the organisation, which was headed by the Queen until 2007 when the presidency passed to the Prince of Wales. Support: The Queen was president of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association until 2007 . Important work: The royals pose for a group photograph with all of the Victoria and George Cross heroes . Meeting: Prince Charles also hosted a reception for VC veterans which took place on Monday at St James's . | Prince Harry took part in a service of remembrance in central London . Event held to honour fallen holders of the Victoria and George Crosses . The military and civilian honours are the highest the UK can bestow . UK and Commonwealth citizens who show 'conspicuous bravery' are eligible . Currently, there are 30 living holders - 23 of whom made the trip to London . Attendees included former royal protection officer Jim Beaton . He was shot saving the Princess Royal from kidnap 40 years ago . | 863ece857f72151e562ee54ec2f9e7cc4497f95d |
Nigel Farage has dismissed claims that Ukip backs the repatriation of EU migrants who have lived and worked in Britain for years. He insists the party would allow lawful migrants to stay – even if the UK leaves the European Union. His intervention follows a storm of protest after Ukip candidate Mark Reckless, who is set to win the party’s second parliamentary seat in the Rochester and Strood by-election tomorrow night, was accused of advocating the repatriation of existing migrants. Scroll down for video . Ukip leader Nigel Farage (pictured) has dismissed claims that Ukip backs the repatriation of EU migrants who have lived and worked in Britain for years and insists the party would allow lawful migrants to stay . Labour last night condemned his remarks as an echo of the policies of the British National Party and claimed he had ‘let the mask slip’. Mr Reckless, who defected from the Tories in September, told an audience of residents on Tuesday that European migrants could remain in Britain on work permits for a ‘fixed period’ – even if they own a home and have children at local schools. Asked if they could be deported, he did not deny it – but said cases would be looked at ‘sympathetically’ if someone had lived in Britain for years and was well integrated. However, he hastily backtracked today, insisting that he had meant a tougher immigration system advocated by Ukip would only apply to new migrants, not those already in Britain. And Mr Farage, whose wife is German, claimed Mr Reckless had made the comments in a ‘minor confusion’ and confirmed that Ukip’s policy was to allow all migrants who already live in Britain lawfully to remain here. The Ukip leader said: ‘We have never suggested since 2004 that anybody who has come here legally and in good faith should be subject to retrospective legislation...that would be unfair, un-British and wrong. ‘Let me make this clear, during our divorce negotiations, even if the European Union was to behave badly, and was to say, people living in Spain would be threatened with not being there, we would maintain the line that we believe in the rule of law, we believe in British justice, we believe anybody who has come to Britain legally has the right to remain.’ Ukip candidate Mark Reckless (pictured) was accused of advocating the repatriation of existing migrants - he backtracked today and said he meant a tougher immigration system would only apply to new migrants . He said Mr Reckless had been fighting a two-month election campaign. ‘This is the first bit of confusion that has been caused,’ Mr Farage added. ‘Apart from confusion over that he has not put a foot wrong.’ Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, condemned Mr Reckless’s comments as ‘nasty’ and said Ukip had ‘let the mask slip’. She said: ‘To hear the language of repatriation coming from someone they hope will be their second MP is shameful. ‘It’s a policy that comes straight out of the last BNP manifesto and does not reflect British values.’ Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham added: ‘This is an extreme agenda. Nearly every British family has got a connection with Europe and immigration… My wife’s Dutch. Is she going back under Mark Reckless’s plan?’ Mr Reckless denied he had been confused, saying he had meant that if Britain leaves the EU ‘anyone here lawfully under freedom of movement rules we would allow to stay’. He said repatriation was ‘not a word I’ve used’ and said some of the Conservative rhetoric about immigration during the campaign had been ‘disgraceful’. Conservative ministers did not condemn his remarks. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who was campaigning in the area yesterday, said the idea of deporting migrants was ‘wacky’. However, he said Mr Reckless had previously supported free movement of migrants and this showed he was ‘willing to say anything to get elected.’ Mr Pickles said he was ‘certain’ the Conservatives could win the by-election, although polls have suggested Mr Reckless has a 15 point lead. The Tory candidate, 36 year-old businesswoman Kelly Tolhurst, used a hustings in the town to appeal to Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green voters to back the Conservatives to keep Ukip out. Miss Tolhurst said: ‘It’s a two-horse race and the reality of it is if we don’t want to wake up to a Ukip MP on Friday 21st November then people who would normally be voting for Labour, the Lib Dems or anyone else, then they need to be voting for me.’ Two more Conservative MPs are said to have held secret discussions about defecting to Ukip. Mark Reckless, who defected from the Tories in September, said he had been contacted by two former colleagues during his campaign to win the Rochester and Strood seat today. Winning the poll would make ‘a number of Tory MPs consider their position’, he claimed. One Tory MP held a ‘cloak and dagger’ meeting with Mr Reckless to discuss the process of defection in detail, while another has contacted him by phone, he revealed yesterday. Mr Reckless said: ‘I have spoken with two Conservative MPs about the possibility of their moving over, and I think they will want to see what the result is tonight before making any decisions. It is a very individual decision. And I feed back to Nigel on those conversations. ‘A lot of Conservative MPs will be looking at the result closely. I think it’s about Ukip being able to show we are taking votes from Labour as well as the Conservatives.’ One of those rumoured to be on the verge of quitting the Tories is Peter Bone, the arch Eurosceptic MP for Wellingborough. He is speaking at the Cambridge Union tonight in favour of the motion that ‘Ukip has been good for British politics’. Yesterday Mr Bone said the date of the debate had been fixed months ago and said he wanted Ukip members to ‘come back and join the Conservatives’. It emerged yesterday that Mr Bone, as well as Tories Philip Hollobone and Martin Vickers are polling their constituents on membership of the EU. Mr Reckless did the same before defecting in September, as did Douglas Carswell before he changed parties in August. Tory Communities Minister Eric Pickles downplayed further defections, saying: ‘I don’t think there will be any. ‘We have brought the economy back from the brink.’ | Nigel Farage has dismissed claims Ukip backs repatriation of EU migrants . Intervention follows a storm of protest after Mark Reckless made comment . Mr Reckless was accused of advocating the repatriation of existing migrants but backtracked and claimed he meant tougher immigration . Mr Reckless, who defected from the Tories, is set to win Rochester seat . | aedf04937cbaddb2fdb318d46699d7fea4b9c38b |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:31 EST, 23 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:34 EST, 23 September 2012 . The multimillion-dollar mansion which was used as a bolthole by John Edwards' mistress while he ran for the White House has been put on the market. The five-bedroom home which sits on three acres in an exclusive area of Aspen, Colorado, is on the market for $19.95million. The stunning property belonged to lawyer Fred Baron, a major Democratic party donator, who allowed Hunter the run of his home during the 2008 presidential race. Hiding out in style: The Aspen mansion where John Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter was ensconced during the 2008 presidential campaign has been put on the market for $20million . Making a splash: The swimming pool at the $20million holiday home where John Edwards hid his mistress Rielle Hunter in 2008 . The property boasts five full bathrooms, three half baths, multiple fireplaces and a gourmet kitchen with breakfast nook. There is also his-and-her offices, a library, billiards room, indoor pool with a hot tub, spa, sauna, gym and full-size racquetball court. The home is packed with millions of dollars in art, furniture, furnishings and antiques, according to Curbed.com . The stone mansion was built in 1994 from plans by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern who has also worked on projects including the revamp of New York's theater district on 42nd street and multiple hotels for Disney. The 14,000 sq ft holiday home sits on Starwood Drive in Aspen and has breathtaking views across the exclusive mountain ski resort. Hunter was ensconced at the mansion, along with her minders, during the 2008 election campaign while she was pregnant with Edwards' love child. Living it up: The 13,000 square foot property was built in 1994 by renowned architect Robert Stern . Out in the open: Following the end of Edwards' trial, where he was acquitted of accepting illegal campaign contributions, Hunter (left) wrote a memoir about her affair . Luxury: The chateau-style home was designed by renowned architect Robert Stern and sits on the exclusive Starwood Drive in Aspen, Colorado . Plush: One of the five bedrooms at the estate where John Edwards' mistress was hidden during the 2008 presidential campaign . The one-time presidential candidate . was acquitted in June after a six-week federal trial over the improper . use of campaign funds. Jurors acquitted Edwards on one count of . accepting illegal campaign contributions and deadlocked on five other . felony counts so the judge declared a mistrial. Edwards was accused of masterminding a scheme to use $1million in secret payments from two wealthy political donors to hide his mistress and their lovechild as he sought the White House in 2008. Baron, who died in 2008, was connected with the trial and allegedly provided money for Hunter and left a private jet at her disposal. The mansion is being sold by Baron's widow Lisa Blue, also a lawyer. Hunter released a memoir What Really Happened: John Edwards, Our . Daughter, and Me, which was published shortly after he was acquitted in a North Carolina court. It was poorly received, selling just 6,000 copies despite Hunter's glut of media coverage and extensive interviews. Opulent: The 13,000 square foot property is owned by the late lawyer Fred Baron, a major Democrat party donator . Games: The billiards room at the home where Hunter passed the hours as her lover postured on the presidential campaign trail with his wife and children . Steamy: One of the luxury bathrooms at the property featuring a steam room and sauna . John Edwards emerged from the court house earlier this year saying that he was grateful to all of his children - including his 'precious Quinn' - the child from his affair with Ms Hunter. The trial exposed a sordid sex scandal that unfolded while Edwards' wife Elizabeth was dying of cancer but prosecutors couldn't convince jurors that he had masterminded a $1 million cover-up of his affair. Elizabeth Edwards died of cancer in December 2010. John Edwards met Ms Hunter, now 48, when she came to work as a video-grapher for his 2004 presidential campaign. The pair started a romantic relationship while they were on the road. After the pair began their romantic liaison, she fell pregnant and agreed with the plan to have Edwards’ long-time aide Andrew Young claim paternity in an effort to keep Edwards’ political prospects alive. The library at the property where lawyer Fred Baron allowed the mistress of John Edwards to stay during his run for the White House . Working out: The home, which is set in three acres, includes a built-in gym . Smashing: A racquet court was included in the original design of the house . Peaceful: The mansion has stunning mountain views in the exclusive ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado . Scandal: Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter, pictured in 2009, with his daughter Quinn . | Five-bedroom home on three acres in Colorado is up for sale . Boasts his-and-her offices, library, billiards room and pool with hot tub . Rielle Hunter lived at mansion with bodyguards during 2008 presidential campaign . Bolthole for Hunter provided by wealthy lawyer and Democrat party donator Fred Baron . | ca3901996743f5dee929247952c699ab8213c058 |
QPR defender Steven Caulker was handcuffed by police after being accused of stealing a tub of £1.85 soft cheese from Tesco. Caulker had left the store in Weybridge, Surrey and was about to go back in when he was handcuffed by officers. Witnesses say they heard the officers and the 22-year-old, who is thought to earn around £42,000 a week, talking about the cheese spread Philadelphia. QPR defender Steven Caulker, who was handcuffed by police after being accused of stealing cheese from Tesco . Caulker in action against Stoke's Peter Crouch in QPR's 2-2 draw at the weekend . It is thought police spent five minutes with Caulker before he was released. One passer-by who saw the incident told the Sun: 'Caulker had left the Tesco Express then turned around and gone back in. 'That was when the police car arrived, jumping from their squad car and handcuffing him.' While another added: 'There were a group of lads watching from across the street who immediately recognised him - and thought it was hilarious.' However, Surrey Police confirmed that no crime had been committed and a force spokesman said: 'It appears to have been a misunderstanding between staff about payment.' Caulker is congratulated by team-mate Leroy Fer after scoring in the weekend draw with Stoke at Loftus Road . Caulker scores on his England debut against Sweden in 2012 . Both Caulker and QPR refused to comment. Mr Caulker, an England international, made his moved to QPR in the summer after also being chased by Crystal Palace. He made the £8million move from Cardiff City, despite Palace matching the fee and offering wages of around £42,000 a week. But it is thought he opted to join QPR when they bettered the terms. | Steven Caulker had been shopping at a store in Surrey when he was cuffed . Witnesses say they heard officers talking to him about Philadelphia cheese . QPR star spent five minutes with officers before he was freed to go . Police say there had been some confusion between staff about payment . | 612b3ad86606dcc6790215d3c2d315f7a80c6e22 |
We like to think of ourselves as the superior species. But robots are learning to cook like humans - by watching YouTube videos. In a sign of the times, researchers have found a way to teach robots how to use cooking tools. Scroll down for video . Robots were taught to cook as part of an impressive use of artificial intelligence called 'deep learning' Tutorials: Researchers used a video by YouTube cook 'Laura in the Kitchen' to teach the robots how to cook . Actions: Researchers used convolutional neural networks to help the robots identify the way a hand grasps an item, like a spatula, seen here, . The researchers from the University of Maryland and the Australian research center NICTA, have published a paper on their findings. Their work is part of an impressive use of artificial intelligence called 'deep learning.' Deep learning involves researchers using training systems called artificial neural networks on lots of information derived from audio, images, and other inputs. In order to train the robots, researchers selected data from 88 YouTube videos of people cooking, according to Venture Beat. A 'special' robot chef cuts noodles in a restaurant's kitchen in Jilin, China, the sight of a robot cooking a meal could soon become a common occurence . From there, the researchers generated commands that a robot could then execute. The researchers employed 'convolutional neural networks' which are now in use at Facebook, among other companies. They used these networks to identify the way a hand is grasping an item, and to recognize specific objects. Their system was also able to anticipate the action involving an object and a hand. According to technology experts, they presented the systems with new information and received inferences about it in response. The results from the study will be revealed later this month at the 29th annual conference of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Ultimately, researchers hope their results may signal the start of a training program which will allow robots to be able to seek their own sources of information. A spokesman for the researchers said: 'We believe this preliminary integrated system raises hope towards a fully intelligent robot for manipulation tasks that can automatically enrich its own knowledge resource by 'watching' recordings from the World Wide Web.' Convolutional neural networks were introduced in a 1980 paper by Kunihiko Fukushima. The design of convolutional neural networks follows the discovery of visual mechanisms in living organisms. In our brain, the visual cortex contains lots of cells and it is these cells which are responsible for detecting light in small, overlapping sub-regions of the visual field, called receptive fields. These cells act as local filters over the input space and the more complex cells have larger receptive fields. A convolution operator is created to mimic and perform the same function by all of these cells. The networks were inspired by biological processes and are widely used models for image and video recognition, being a power tool for different vision problems. | Research was carried out by the University of Maryland and NICTA . It used an impressive type of artificial intelligence called 'deep learning' Researchers selected data from 88 YouTube videos to train the robots . | a100eba300f83ed24be92efcd7b39331dc280de2 |
(CNN) -- Update: Felix Baumgartner landed safely on Earth after jumping from 128,000 feet. I will always wonder what it was like to huddle around a shortwave radio and through the crackling static from space hear the faint beeps of the world's first satellite -- Sputnik. I also missed watching Neil Armstrong step foot on the moon and the first space shuttle take off for the stars. Those events were way before my time. As a kid, I was fascinated with what goes on in the sky, and when NASA pulled the plug on the shuttle program I was heartbroken. Yet the privatized space race has renewed my childhood dreams to reach for the stars. As a meteorologist, I've still seen many important weather and space events, but right now, if you were sitting next to me, you'd hear my foot tapping rapidly under my desk. I'm anxious for the next one: a space capsule hanging from a crane in the New Mexico desert. It's like the set for a George Lucas movie floating to the edge of space. You and I will have the chance to watch a man take a leap into an unimaginable free fall from the edge of space -- live. Tuesday, I sat at work glued to the live stream of the Red Bull Stratos Mission. I watched the balloons positioned at different altitudes in the sky to test the winds, knowing that if they would just line up in a vertical straight line "we" would be go for launch. I feel this mission was created for me because I am also a journalist and a photographer, but above all I live for taking a leap of faith -- the feeling of pushing the envelope into uncharted territory. The guy who is going to do this, Felix Baumgartner, must have that same feeling, at a level I will never reach. However, it did not stop me from feeling his pain when a gust of swirling wind kicked up and twisted the partially filled balloon that would take him to the upper end of our atmosphere. As soon as the 40-acre balloon, with skin no thicker than a dry cleaning bag, scraped the ground I knew it was over. How claustrophobia almost grounded supersonic skydiver . With each twist, you could see the wrinkles of disappointment on the face of the current record holder and "capcom" (capsule communications), Col. Joe Kittinger. He hung his head low in mission control as he told Baumgartner the disappointing news: Mission aborted. The supersonic descent could happen as early as Sunday afternoon. For the latest updates on timing, check Red Bull's status clock . The weather plays an important role in this mission. Starting at the ground, conditions have to be very calm -- winds less than 2 mph, with no precipitation or humidity and limited cloud cover. The balloon, with capsule attached, will move through the lower level of the atmosphere (the troposphere) where our day-to-day weather lives. It will climb higher than the tip of Mount Everest (5.5 miles/8.85 kilometers), drifting even higher than the cruising altitude of commercial airliners (5.6 miles/9.17 kilometers) and into the stratosphere. As he crosses the boundary layer (called the tropopause), he can expect a lot of turbulence. The balloon will slowly drift to the edge of space at 120,000 feet (22.7 miles/36.53 kilometers). Here, "Fearless Felix" will unclip. He will roll back the door. Then, I would assume, he will slowly step out onto something resembling an Olympic diving platform. Below, the Earth becomes the concrete bottom of a swimming pool that he wants to land on, but not too hard. Still, he'll be traveling fast, so despite the distance, it will not be like diving into the deep end of a pool. It will be like he is diving into the shallow end. Skydiver preps for the big jump . When he jumps, he is expected to reach the speed of sound -- 690 mph (1,110 kph) -- in less than 40 seconds. Like hitting the top of the water, he will begin to slow as he approaches the more dense air closer to Earth. But this will not be enough to stop him completely. If he goes too fast or spins out of control, he has a stabilization parachute that can be deployed to slow him down. His team hopes it's not needed. Instead, he plans to deploy his 270-square-foot (25-square-meter) main chute at an altitude of around 5,000 feet (1,524 meters). In order to deploy this chute successfully, he will have to slow to 172 mph (277 kph). He will have a reserve parachute that will open automatically if he loses consciousness at mach speeds. Even if everything goes as planned, it won't. Baumgartner still will free fall at a speed that would cause you and me to pass out, and no parachute is guaranteed to work higher than 25,000 feet (7,620 meters). It might not be the moon, but Kittinger free fell from 102,800 feet in 1960 -- at the dawn of an infamous space race that captured the hearts of many. Baumgartner will attempt to break that record, a feat that boggles the mind. This is one of those monumental moments I will always remember, because there is no way I'd miss this. | Felix Baumgartner to attempt skydive from 23 miles up . Weather will determine whether the jump will go on . Meteorologist Judson Jones is anxiously awaiting the jump . | 3346d1bb7e01ce3278ab8a84af5836f080c6a40e |
Baltimore (CNN) -- Shortly after becoming the nation's 112th Supreme Court justice, Elena Kagan by tradition was presented with a silver cup, engraved with the names of those who preceded her in that particular seat. Speaking Tuesday evening before an audience at a synagogue here, Kagan recalled one name standing out in her mind: Louis Brandeis, the nation's first Jewish justice. "His nomination was controversial, and it took some courage for the president to name him to the bench," she said. "He later faced prejudice on the bench. Justice (James Clark) McReynolds would turn his back on Justice Brandeis when he spoke from the bench, and refused to shake his hand or have his picture taken with him." Ninety-five years and three justices removed in that seat she now occupies, Kagan said her Jewish heritage barely attracted attention when she was nominated last year. "There are three Jews on the court, but nobody talks about that. It doesn't matter, times have changed," she said. Kagan addressed a mostly Jewish audience of Beth Tfiloh Congregation, celebrating its 90th anniversary. She was asked if her faith affected how she approaches certain cases, especially those involving religion. A case the court will hear early next month involves the State Department's decision to currently list only Jerusalem as the place of birth on Israeli or Palestinian passports, deliberately leaving out the country name in that disputed region. An Israeli couple sued the government, and the issue is whether courts can intervene to overturn such executive and diplomatic decisions. "I don't think the fact I'm Jewish will matter with respect to the Jerusalem passport case, and it shouldn't, " she said. "Anyone who comes before the court should expect impartial justice, and getting the same kind of treatment." Kagan deflected suggestions the court's religious makeup -- three Jews and six Catholics -- would somehow undermine public confidence. "It sometimes requires effort to put your feelings aside," she said. "We are all the sum of our experiences, but we (justices) all understand the role of the judge is to step back from any personal proclivities and look just at interpreting the law." The 51-year-old justice noted her colleagues also share other things in common: all attended either Harvard or Yale law schools, and five, including Kagan, come from the New York City area. The justice was introduced at the Baltimore event by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, a longtime member of Beth Tfiloh. Cardin also sits on the Judiciary Committee, which held confirmation hearings for Kagan last year. Kagan grew up in the west side of Manhattan, and describes her family's religious journey as "wandering Jews." "My mother never really found a rabbi she liked, so we joined several synagogues when I was growing up: Conservative, Reform, modern Orthodox." The family settled on the Lincoln Square Synagogue, where Kagan was a pioneer of sorts, becoming the first girl to have a bat mitzvah at the Amsterdam Avenue facility. She was the one who insisted on it, after her older brother had his bar mitzvah. "It was the great Jewish experience of my youth," she remembered. "It was a completely natural thing" to want to have a bat mitzvah. "I had to negotiate myself with Rabbi (Shlomo) Riskin," who had never before performed the coming-of-age rite with a 12-year-old girl. Compromises were made at the modern Orthodox synagogue: her ceremony took place on a Friday night in May 1973, not the usual Saturday mornings boys enjoyed. The star student at her Jewish school read from the Book of Ruth. "It was good, not great," she said of the ceremony. "It was not exactly what my brother had done, which is what I wanted. But the experience shaped my life, negotiating with Rabbi Riskin. It was a formative experience, and I guess I've always been a striver." That drive led her to the job that she says "is now my life's work," a place she expects to stay for some time. Despite never having been a judge before, Kagan said the transition has been in some ways easier than she expected. "Was I nervous, sure," she said of her first days on the bench. "But then I just starting speaking (during oral arguments) and I noticed, oh look, words are coming out of my mouth, and I think I'm making sense. I can do this." Her colleagues too, she said, have been enormously supportive, and have even opened new worlds for her. She recalled paying a courtesy call on Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, shortly after her nomination to the court by President Barack Obama in May 2010. Risch asked her about gun rights, and remarked she may not realize how important the issue is to some Americans, especially in his home state. She admitted never having owned or fired a gun before. "But I told the senator if I was fortunate enough to be confirmed, I would go hunting with Justice Scalia." And she has, joining her conservative colleague on an excursion to a Washington-area shooting range and on several hunting trips, until now never reported. Her host at the synagogue event was surprised. "You're Jewish," deadpanned Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg. "Yeah, but it turns out, it's kind of fun," said Kagan, laughing. | Justice Elena Kagan talks about her life, her faith and her time on the Supreme Court . She spoke to a mostly Jewish audience in Baltimore this week . "The role of the judge is to step back ... and look just at interpreting the law," she says . | c04117e2bc477bde1e5487b6e76a3b5c7448957b |
By . Mark Duell . A gambling-addicted father hacked his pregnant wife and two children to death to save them from torture by loan sharks, police believe. Tunde Keri, 36, and sons Toni, five, and Rafael, 18 months, were found dead at the family home in Val-de-Marne, near Paris, after worried relatives could not contact her on her phone. Construction worker Florin Sebastian Balan, 38, who had moved to France from Romania with his family in 2012, was later arrested and allegedly told police his family were threatened by loan sharks. Father: Construction worker Florin Sebastian Balan (centre), 38, had moved to France from Romania with his family - including children Toni (left), five, and Rafael (right), 18 months . Dead: Tunde Keri (centre), 36, was found dead at the family home in Val-de-Marne, near Paris, with her sons . Both children were found with their throats cut, while seven-months-pregnant Mrs Keri suffered multiple chest and neck wounds. Police began the probe after being tipped off by the woman's sister and brother-in-law in Romania. Killed: Pregnant Mrs Keri was stabbed to death . Police . spokesman Luc Poignant said: ‘Because she was seven months pregnant, . the brother-in-law at first thought they could have gone to the . hospital. ‘It was not until late in the evening that he began to worry because nobody was answering their phones.’ Now police have allegedly discovered that Mr Balan owed up to £30,000 to loan sharks and lived in terror of them kidnapping his family. One unnamed relative in Romania said: ‘He was addicted to gambling but he always lost and he always borrowed more. ‘In the end I understand he was borrowing from very serious, very violent criminals and he had been warned they would torture his wife and family if he didn't pay. ‘He was obviously not in his right mind. Maybe he was trying to put them beyond their reach.’ Police allegedly discovered that €10,000 (£8,000) in a bank account in his elder son's name had been emptied recently. But Mrs Keri’s family in Oradea, a city in western Romania, said they had no idea of the danger she was in. Mother Rozalia Keri said: ‘They were married for 16 years. She never said they don't get along.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Tunde Keri, 36, and sons Toni, five, and Rafael, 18 months, found dead . Construction worker Florin Sebastian Balan, 38, was later arrested . Allegedly told police his family had been threatened by loan sharks . | 8afed3632e79881ee32e5f25e006e98918f88473 |
By . Associated Press Reporter . A Texas father's claims that he did not fatally shoot a drunken driver who caused an accident that killed his two sons appeared to be bolstered on Wednesday by testimony from prosecution witnesses. Two of the witnesses - a current deputy and a former one - told jurors they failed to note in reports that more gunfire had taken place well after the driver was shot. A third witness, a cousin of the motorist, gave contradictory testimony about whether David Barajas had hit Jose Banda before allegedly shooting him. David Barajas, center, leaves the courthouse during a break in his murder trial on Wednesday. He is accused of fatally shooting Jose Banda in December 2012 . Barajas, 32, is accused of fatally shooting the 20-year-old Banda in December 2012 near Alvin minutes after Banda plowed into a vehicle that Barajas and his two sons had been pushing on a rural road. Twelve-year-old David Jr. and 11-year-old Caleb were killed. Barajas' truck had run out of gas about 100 yards from the family's home. Barajas' attorney, Sam Cammack, has told jurors his client did not kill Banda and was focused only on saving his sons. A current deputy with the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office and a former deputy with the department told jurors they failed to note in reports that they had heard more gunfire after arriving at the crash site. Ex-deputy Lloyd Anderson, who told jurors he was fired for not including more details in his reports, said he probably did inform an investigator about the gunfire. 'You have someone at the scene who was shot in the head in the passenger seat of the vehicle, information that someone fled the scene and after that you still heard gunfire, why didn't you put that in your report?' Cammack asked the former deputy. Family snapshot: The Barajas family (from left) Cindy Barajas, Jenessah Barajas, Caleb Barajas, David Barajas and David Barajas Jr. Caleb and David Jr. were tragically killed during a Dec 2012 accident near their home in Alvin, Texas . David Barajas' attorney, Sam Cammack, told jurors his client did not kill Banda and was focused only on saving his sons . Anderson responded, 'Those details were not pertinent at the time.' When Cammack asked another deputy, Jason Knopp, why he failed to include the gunfire detail in his report, Knopp said, 'No answer for it, sir.' Cammack has focused his efforts at Barajas' trial, which began on Tuesday, on suggesting to jurors that authorities unfairly zeroed in on a grieving father as the killer without fully investigating other possible suspects. Cammack has suggested Banda could have been shot by several other people who witnesses say fled the crash site. Anderson said a search the night of the accident failed to find any individuals who had reportedly fled the scene. Gerardo Tellez, Banda's cousin, testified that he and Banda had become intoxicated on Jagermeister and possibly beer on the day of the accident. Tellez said he followed Banda home and witnessed his cousin slam into Barajas' truck. Tellez said he fled after seeing the 'body parts' of the boys on the road. He said before leaving he saw Barajas approach Banda's vehicle and start punching Banda through the driver's side window. Supporters of the Jose Banda family enter the courtroom in Angleton: Many residents in Alvin support Barajas and some have said they might have done the same thing in a similar situation . Brothers: Caleb, left, and David Jr., right, were killed as they pushed their father's truck on a rural road after it had broken down . Cammack later showed jurors a crime scene photo of Banda's car and the driver's side window was up. 'You're going to stick with that even though we saw (the photo with the window up)?' Cammack asked Tellez. 'Yes,' Tellez replied. Tellez and Banda's half-brother, Antonio Rodriguez, who also testified, said they were following Banda home in another vehicle after a night of drinking when the crash occurred. Details of Rodriguez's testimony also contradicted his cousin's account of the night, including whether Barajas was inside or outside of the truck after the crash. Both men admitted to leaving the scene after a confrontation with Barajas. Neither called 911 and did not contact authorities until days after the incident. During each of their testimonies, the men told jurors they were in shock and expressed remorse. Barajas walks with his wife, Cindy Barajas, left, and his step mother, right, Betty Hernandez towards court on Tuesday morning: In dash-camera video played for jurors Cindy Barajas can be heard screaming, 'No, not my babies' 'What happened was horrific,' Tellez said from the witness stand, his voice cracking. 'It was horrible.' Legal experts have said the case could be difficult to prosecute given the lack of hard evidence: no weapon was recovered, no witnesses identified Barajas as the shooter and gunshot residue tests done on Barajas came back negative. If convicted, Barajas faces up to life in prison. An even greater challenge for prosecutors could be overcoming sympathy for Barajas. Many residents in Alvin, 30 miles southeast of Houston, have supported Barajas. Some have said they might have done the same thing in a similar situation. Despite no murder weapon, prosecutors have said they have other evidence, including ammunition found at Barajas' home that they say is similar to a bullet fragment found in Banda's car. Cammack says police found a shell casing for a different weapon, a 9mm handgun, at the scene and that Barajas couldn't have had enough time to retrieve a gun from his home and shoot Banda before authorities arrived. During ex-deputy Anderson's testimony, dash-camera video from his patrol vehicle of the crash site was played for jurors. In the video, Cindy Barajas, the boys' mother, can be heard screaming, 'No, not my babies.' | David Barajas, 32, is accused of shooting Jose Banda in December 2012 near Alvin, Texas, minutes after Banda drove into and killed his two sons . Barajas denies killing Banda and evidence on Wednesday appeared to bolster his story . Two witnesses - a current deputy and a former one - failed to note in reports that more gunfire had taken place well after the driver was shot . A third witness, a cousin of the motorist, gave contradictory testimony about whether Barajas had punched Banda . Legal experts have said the case could be difficult to prosecute given the lack of hard evidence . No weapon was recovered, no witnesses identified Barajas as the shooter and gunshot residue tests done on Barajas have also come back negative . In dash-camera video played for jurors Cindy Barajas, the boy's mom, can be heard screaming, 'No, not my babies' If convicted, her husband faces up to life in prison . | 565e92f8b022e3c7b3d0ed5c55f64d194aea70b3 |
Those frequent gym sessions are clearly paying off: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looks amazing in her new campaign shots for the Rosie for Autograph Spring collection. The 25-year-old models the collection herself which includes a flirty babydoll, delicate silk nightdress with intricate lace trim and a chiffon wrap. She claims to draw inspiration from her own extensive collection of vintage lingerie and has used luxury fabrics to create pieces that 'exude feminine glamour' and 'feel exquisite to wear'. Scroll down for video . Alluring: Rosie wears the Rosie for Autograph Damask Rose Print padded bra £22.50 and knickers £12.50 . Rosie's signature silk pad bra, kimono wrap and chemise set have all been reworked in gorgeous new colours and prints . Working together in collaboration with . Soozie Jenkinson, Head of Design for lingerie at M&S, Rosie’s collection is designed to be a bit of 'everyday luxury' which will also - of course - will make a beautiful gift for Valentine’s Day. Rosie’s signature silk pad bra, kimono wrap and chemise set have all been reworked in gorgeous new colours and prints, with the hand-painted floral design inspired by original Art Nouveau rose motifs. Rosie says: 'As this collection is . launching so close to Valentine’s Day, it was more important than ever . to make sure that all the new colours complemented all skintones. 'We decided upon a gorgeous palette of blush pinks and warm neutrals which every women will love to wear.' New nightwear pieces will also launch for Spring – the flirty babydoll, the delicate silk nightdress with a glamorous floor-sweeping hemline and intricate lace trim and the chiffon wrap, the perfect boudoir style cover-up for bedroom. Rosie looks stunning in the Silk Nightdress, £49.00 (left) and in the Rosie for Autograph Pad Bra £22.50 and Brazilian Knicker £12.50 (right) Soozie Jenkinson, Head of Lingerie Design at M&S says: 'Rosie and I put softness and romance at the very top of our creative agenda for this collection. Lingerie is a beautifully personal, intimate gift and so every attention to detail was designed with femininity in mind, using the finest fabrics such as sumptuous silks and French designed rose lace.' Rosie Huntington-Whiteley worked as a model for M&S before launching her own range with the brand . Rosie is captured in soft focus as she relaxes on a sofa in her floral lingerie . Rosie put softness and romance at the very top of her creative agenda for this collection . | Alluring Rosie, 25, says collection incorporates 'gorgeous palette of blush pinks and warm neutrals' Her lingerie collections for Marks & Spencer have been the brand's biggest ever sellers . Collection includes real silk pieces, prices range from £25.50 to £59 . | 34379c0906ce4d38c1b13cc524756c1296c8a32a |
The mother of a pregnant teenager murdered by her abusive boyfriend has shared her harrowing story in the hope it will prevent future tragedies. Samantha Shrewsbury, mother of the late Jayden Parkinson, opened up on today's This Morning. The distraught mother, 47, told how she tried to protect Jayden from her abusive boyfriend, Ben Blakely, who killed the teenager in December last year. Scroll down for video . Loss: Jayden Parkinson, 17, left was murdered by her ex-boyfriend after finding out she was pregnant with his child. Her mother Samantha Shrewsbury appeared on This Morning today, right . The bereaved mother described how Blakely isolated her daughter from her family. She said: 'He took her away from everyone in the family – her sisters, brother, me, her dad. He used to cut up her SIM card and smash up her phone.' Blakely was abusive towards his girlfriend throughout their relationship. He would burn her with cigarettes, punch her and starve her. 'He was physically abusive from day one,' said Samantha. 'But . when she was living in the flat with him and his cousins he'd go . away for a couple of days to another girlfriend, have a roast dinner . there and come back and tell Jayden all about it.' 'At one point she hadn't eaten for four days. She rang Childline, they called the police and social services took her some food round because she hadn't eaten for that long,' she said. Trying to explain why her daughter stayed in the relationship, Samantha from Didcot, Oxfordshire, said: 'She was 17 and totally in love with him. I think she thought, "I can change him". 'I think also because of the threats towards towards our family – her nieces and nephews and me. She probably thought, "If I stay away from the . family they'll be safe".' The mother told of the great lengths she went to in an attempt to keep Jayden from her destructive relationship, even locking her in the house. Fought for her child: Samantha tried to protect her pregnant daughter from her violent boyfriend, Ben Blakely . ‘She’d get out through windows,' she said. 'I sent her to her sister's for six weeks, but he would always find a way of getting to her - either by phone or he’d get a little note to her.' Eventually the distraught mum tried tough love, telling her daughter: 'It's either him or me'. But Jayden, who was living back at home at the time, still refused to finish the relationship and ended up moving to a hostel. ‘For two days she slept outside my front door. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do is to step over my daughter in the morning and carry on with what I wanted to do to prove a point.' But the ultimatum didn't work and Jayden refused to leave her violent lover. Remembering her beloved daughter, Samantha said: ‘She was quirky, funny, spontaneous - could be like any ordinary teenager, a pain in the backside. She hated me sometimes, loved me sometimes - but she was a good kid all in all.' Describing the first moment she laid eyes on Blakely, Shrewsbury recalls how he whistled at her daughter across the road and she immediately had a bad feeling about him. 'I said to Jayden, "Urgh, who's he?" and Jayden said, "He's my friends brother – he's a rat anyway".' Murderer: Ben Blakely, left, and a police tent in the Great Western Cemetery by All Saints' Church in Didcot where Jayden's body was found . When they first started dating Samantha thought the relationship wouldn't go anywhere, but when Jayden turned 16 things progressed. 'In the beginning I tried to let them both get on with it to see. But I warned him, "You harm a hair on my daughter’s head you’ll rue the day you ever met my family." And he said, "I promise Mrs Shewsbury, I won't". He came round and had a bacon sandwich with us and he seemed pretty genuine.' The concerned mother had heard Blakely had a bad reputation but wasn't sure what to believe. 'The stories I heard beforehand about him decapitating a cat all seemed pretty farcical – although it came out in court that they were true,' she said. Jayden finally plucked up the courage to . end the relationship in November last year, with Blakeley threatening to . pose intimate photographs online to "humiliate" her. But shortly afterwards she found out she was pregnant. On 3 December 2013, a few days after telling Blakely she was carrying his baby, the teenager was murdered. Her body was later found on 18 . December, buried in Ben's uncle's grave. Fighting back the tears, the heartbroken mother described the days leading up to her daughter's brutal murder. Grieving: Samantha couldn't hold back the tears on ITV's This Morning . 'She was scared,' she said of her daughter discovering she was pregnant. 'She was crying . on the phone and didn’t know what to do. I arranged to meat on the . Tuesday – that fateful day – to discuss her options. 'I gave her the three . options - adoption, abortion or keeping it. I explained through each option . and there was no other choice for her but to keep the baby. 'She would have been a brilliant mum - she loved kids, she loved her nieces and nephews dearly. 'I said my goodbyes to her and arranged to met her that Friday to go Christmas shopping and to get maternity clothes. 'She was still living in a hostel and didn't want to come back – she didn't want to bring any more drama to anybody's home. That was the last time I saw my daughter.' In June this year, Blakely was . sentenced to life with a minimum term of 20 years and Samantha attended everyday of the trial and witnessed every traumatic testimony. 'I did it for my daughter. No matter how harrowing, I needed to know all that – I didn't want my mind to make it up. At some point I'm going to do the walk to where they murdered her – but not just yet. I'm not ready.' She added how disappointed she was with the sentence. 'I was wanting 30 years but he got a minimum of 15, then eight for perverting the course of justice. Then he had three years knocked off for being "nice",' she said ironically. 'He's got a life now – he has three meals a day. I've lost my daughter, I've lost my grandchild, I've lost a big part of my future and our families future. 'It does make me angry that when he's 42 he could be free. Although it doesn’t mean that when he goes for parole he’s going to get it. I will fight my damnedest for him not to to.' The brave mother has now launched charity Jayden's Gift, to help 16-18 year-old's who might find themselves in trouble, but not have access to social services. She hopes to sponsor houses for teenagers in need to help them through college and to set up mentoring programmes. 'Rest in peace Jayden, but I will never forgive,' said the heartbroken mother. 'There will never be any forgiveness from my family - ever.' | Jayden Parkinson was murdered by boyfriend Ben Blakely . Jayden's mother, Samantha Shrewsbury, has spoken of her heartache . She tried to rescue her daughter from the abusive relationship . She has now set up charity, Jayden's Gift, in her daughter's name . | dc9cdb0266aa19a9ea5d6706a1d7055af2f8bb02 |
By . Mike Dawes . Shelly Sterling says she has signed a binding contract to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for a record-breaking $2 billion (£1.2billion). Sterling confirmed the agreement made between The Sterling Family Trust and Ballmer in a statement issued late on Thursday night. The statement says she made the deal 'under her authority as the sole trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers.' Jackpot! Steve Ballmer punches the air as he watches the Clippers play the Golden State Warriors in April . Ballmer, who retired as CEO of Microsoft in February, has promised that the Clippers will remain based in LA . Shelly Sterling negotiated the sale after the NBA banned her husband for life and fined him $2.5 million (£1.49million) for making racist remarks that became public. Ballmer said in a statement that he loves basketball and will 'do everything in my power to ensure the Clippers continue to win - and win big - in Los Angeles.' The deal would need to be approved by the NBA and the Clippers have yet to confirm the sale. Hanging out: Donald Sterling at a Starbucks in Los Angeles with a mystery companion . Opposition: Sterling has said he intends to fight the sale of the LA Clippers to Ballmer for £1.2bn . Battle: Despite the Sterling scandal, the Clippers came close to beating Oklahoma City in the play-offs . 'I . am delighted that we are selling the team to Steve, who will be a . terrific owner,' Sterling said in a statement. 'We have worked for 33 . years to build the Clippers into a premiere NBA franchise. I am . confident that Steve will take the team to new levels of success.' Ballmer also released a statement, saying that he was 'honoured' by the opportunity. 'I . love basketball,' he said. 'And I intend to do everything in my power . to ensure that the Clippers continue to win -- and win big -- in Los . Angeles. L.A. is one of the world's great cities -- a city that embraces . inclusiveness, in exactly the same way that the NBA and I embrace . inclusiveness. I am confident that the Clippers will in the coming years . become an even bigger part of the community.' | Steve Ballmer retired in February after 14 years as Microsoft CEO . Donald Sterling was given a life ban by the NBA for racist remarks . Shelly Sterling announced on Thursday night she had agreed a deal . Sale would need to be approved by NBA . Los Angeles Clippers yet to announce the deal . | 3eb51ec0522dcbd44f9516b9265e508b65f8b70e |
The family of an Ethiopian runner who famously won an Olympic marathon barefoot is suing Vibram, the maker of a popular line of minimalist running shoes, saying it used his name without permission. Abebe Bikila, who died in 1973, was a last-minute entrant in the 1960 Olympics in Rome and didn't like the fit of the shoes he'd been provided. Running barefoot over the cobbled streets, he shattered the existing Olympic record, finishing in just over two hours, 15 minutes. The family of Ethiopian runner, Abebe Bikila, who famously won an Olympic marathon barefoot, is suing Vibram, the maker of a popular line of minimalist running shoes, saying it used his name without permission . Running barefoot over the cobbled streets, Bikila shattered the existing Olympic record, finishing in just over two hours, 15 minutes. He is the only person to win gold in the marathon while running barefoot . Vibram named some models of its Five Fingers foot-glove style running shoes after him, and even trademarked the name 'Bikila' in 2010 as barefoot or nearly barefoot running became more popular in the United States. Bikila's victory in Rome is legendary among running fans, as he was a last-minute addition to the Ethiopian team when another runner fell ill . But in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Tacoma, Bikila's son, Teferi Bikila, of Tigard, Oregon, said the company didn't have permission to do so. 'He won the Rome marathon with bare feet, and nobody did it before then or since then,' Bikila, 45, said in a phone interview Tuesday. 'It's important that his legacy be respected.' The family is seeking at least $15million in damages, said their attorney, Alex Trauman. A Boston law firm that has previously represented Vibram said Tuesday it was not authorized to comment on the lawsuit. Vibram President Michael V. Gionfriddo did not immediately return a voice mail message left at the company's headquarters in Concord, Massachusetts. Bikila's victory in Rome is legendary among running fans, as he was a last-minute addition to the Ethiopian team when another runner fell ill. The running shoes he was issued caused blisters, and he decided to run barefoot — the way he had trained — along a course that passed the Obelisk of Axum, a granite monument the Italian fascists plundered from Ethiopia in 1937 after they conquered the country. He won the gold, beating what was then the Olympic record by about eight minutes. Bikila also went on to win the 1964 Olympic marathon in Tokyo — just 40 days after having his appendix out. He wore shoes for that race. In 1969, a car crash left him paralyzed, and he died of complications a few years later. The complaint alleges violations of federal law as well as Washington's Personality Rights Act. Washington's Personality Rights Act is considered one of the most progressive such laws in the nation because it specifies that the heirs of a deceased person can continue to assert personality rights. Michael Atkins, a Seattle trademark lawyer who is not involved in the lawsuit, said it appears that the family has a solid claim. 'The personal rights statute says every person has a right to control their own name,' Atkins said. 'Whether you're a celebrity or an ordinary Joe, no one can use your name to promote their product without your permission,' he added. Vibram named some models of its Five Fingers foot-glove style running shoes after him and trademarked the name 'Bikila' in 2010 . | Abebe Bikila won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics after running marathon barefoot when the shoes he was provided with gave him blisters . Vibram, a maker of minimalist running shoes, used his name for a line of foot-glove style running shoes and trademarked his name in 2010 . Bikila's son is suing company, claiming they never asked permission . Family is seeking at least $15million in damages, attorney says . | 07b57b2c64b28b3e5e09061a81bf01d7e0258fe7 |
President spent $190 on iTune gift cards and Just Dance 3 for the Wii . Picked up three pizzas for lunch . 'It'll be really embarrassing if it doesn't go through' Obama quips about his credit card . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Updated: . 22:49 EST, 21 December 2011 . Home alone at the White House, Barack Obama headed on an impromptu Christmas shopping trip with first dog Bo today - making the most of his free time as Congress remained in stalemate over payroll tax cuts for next year. The President's wife and daughters are already on the family's annual vacation in Hawaii - a trip which has attracted scathing criticism for its estimated cost of $4million, funded by the American taxpayer. Obama is expected to fly to Hawaii in the next few days for his luxury vacation in a private beachfront villa. The alone time gave him the chance to pick up some cost-saving items in front of the cameras at PetSmart and Best Buy in Alexandria, Virginia - before indulging in pizza for lunch. Scroll down for video . President's best friend: Barack Obama picks up a bone and a bag of treats for first dog Bo at a pet store in Alexandria, Virginia today . Last minute gift buying: Obama checks out the prices of the doggy treats as he shopped with the help of a PetSmart employee in Virginia . At the pet store, Obama bought Bo . a $24.99 toy bone and a bag of treats, as the dog played with a . poodle puppy named Cinnamon. 'OK, Bo, don't get too personal,' Obama told the family pet as the two dogs sniffed around each other. The President then headed to Best Buy to shop for his daughters, Malia, 13, and ten-year-old Sasha. He purchased two $50 iTunes gift cards and two games – the Sims 3: Pets and Just Dance 3 for the Wii. He told reporters: 'If you're wondering – Just Dance for the Wii. The girls beat me every time on these various dance games. So you'll never get a picture of me doing it because I get graded F every time.' Obama spent around $190 and put it on a credit card, remarking to store employees: 'It'll be really embarrassing if it doesn't go through.' Mover and shaker: Obama picks up Just Dance 3 at Best Buy for his daughters Malia and Sasha but said they 'beat him every time' Making friends: The first dog Bo got a little close to a poodle named Cinnamon at the pet store . Obama then went to Del Ray Pizzeria and picked up three pies to go, stopping on the way back to the White House to wish onlookers happy holidays and pose for photographs with children. The commander-in-chief looked glad of the break from the stalemate in Congress over taxes and unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. The Republican-led House earlier rejected a short-term deal passed by Democrats and fellow Republicans in the Senate over the weekend and called for fresh negotiations on the expiring tax break that saves the average American worker $1,000 a year. As both sides dug more deeply into entrenched positions, House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, demanded Obama order Senate Democrats back into session to haggle over a year-long extension. Slices for the secret service? Obama carries the three pies away from Del Ray Pizzeria in Alexandria . When Michelle's away...: His wife may lead the campaign on healthy eating but the President is known for his love of fast food . Ring it up: Obama joked with employees at Best Buy that it would be 'embarassing' if his credit card didn't go through . Shopping security: Obama leaves the stores surrounded by the secret service to return to the White House . And even among the happy shoppers, Obama encountered criticism over the Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline he has delayed. John Passacantando, 50, of Alexandria . said: 'I just said I disagreed with him on the pipeline but I love what . he's doing for the country otherwise.' Another . group invited the President to an office holiday party at their . Internet development company but he regretfully declined. Michelle Obama also proved herself a . fan of the favourite stores of middle America when she made an . 'impromptu' trip to Target in October. Dressed down in yoga pants, a . baseball cap and floral shirt, the First Lady picked up dog food and . cleaning products. However . the 40-minute run for errands was dismissed as a publicity stunt to . portray her as an 'ordinary mom' at the beginning of her husband's . re-election battle. Say cheese: Obama made time for a photo op while on a solo shopping trip from the White House . Heading home: The president took some time out for the stalemate over taxes in Congress . Wearing a Nike cap and sunglasses, the usually glamorous mother . walked in through the main entrance with just one assistant, an unknown . female aide. Secret Service officers reportedly swept the store on Highway 1, 30 minutes before Mrs Obama popped in to carry out her housewife duties. Unlike his wife's 'low-key' visit, the President's trip today was accompanied by scores of photographers and he was flanked by his secret service agents and team of White House staffers. The Obamas will be reunited when the President joins his wife and daughters on Hawaii where he was born for their Christmas vacation. Michelle, Malia and Sasha flew to Hawaii for a 17-day holiday on December 16. The separate flights will incur costs of more than $100,000 to the taxpayer. Just your average mom: First lady Michelle Obama, wearing a hat and sunglasses, center, stands in line at a Target Department store in October . Island life: Obama on the golf course at the Mid Pacific Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii (left) and walking along the beach with his two daughters . Time to relax: The Obamas have attracted criticism for the length - and expense - of their family vacations, pictured last year in Hawaii . The president's family covers the cost of a private beach front residence in Kailua, Oahu, for the vacation - a ‘Winter White House’ that costs up to $3,500 a day, or $75,000 a month. But the local and federal taxpayers help pay the bill for travel and security. But taxpayers take care of housing for Secret Service, Coast Guard and Navy Seals who guard the rentals and arrive a day ahead of Mr Obama. That is about $21,600 per home for approximately seven houses rented for 18 days. There is also a hotel bill for $72,216. | President spent $190 on iTune gift cards and Just Dance 3 for the Wii . Picked up three pizzas for lunch . 'It'll be really embarrassing if it doesn't go through' Obama quips about his credit card . | 12521a0cb3ac424aeed15e462428b2764f5d4e5d |
Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was able to stand with assistance on Wednesday, an aide said, with her doctor adding that the congresswoman has the strength to stand on her own. "Today we were getting her out of bed again and we were able to stand with assistance," said Dr. Peter Rhee, Tucson's University Medical Center's trauma chief. "She's got the strength to stand on her own, lift her head up and these ... I see improvements every single day." Rhee was speaking to CNN affiliate KVOA. Giffords' chief of staff, Pia Carusone, told CNN Wednesday that Giffords had stood Wednesday "with assistance." A federal grand jury in Tucson indicted Jared Lee Loughner on three charges of attempted murder on Wednesday. Loughner, 22, was charged with attempting to kill Giffords and two of her aides, Ron Barber and Pamela Simon. "We are in the early stages of this ongoing investigation," said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke in a statement about the charges. "This case also involves potential death-penalty charges, and (Justice) Department rules require us to pursue a deliberate and thorough process," the statement went on. "Today's charges are just the beginning of our legal action." Federal law requires the U.S. to bring charges against of a defendant within 30 days of his or her arrests. Legal experts said that more federal charges against Loughner are likely. "This is really a placeholder indictment," CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said Wednesday. "The grand jury investigation will continue, there's a long way to go in these case and these charges will be there but I'm certain there will be more as well." In addition to standing on Wednesday, Giffords' doctor said she was put in a chair and was able to look out a window. "We went to a window and so she could see the mountains of Tucson," Rhee said. "There's no doubt in my mind that lifted up her spirits." The congresswoman, who will be moved to a rehabilitation center in Texas later this week, had worries about her safety long before she was critically wounded by a gunman at a public event this month, her husband said on Tuesday. "We've discussed it a number of times," Mark Kelly told KVOA. "She felt that that was a possibility, pretty much exactly what had happened ... there have been threats against her and other members of Congress." Giffords was hosting a constituents' meeting outside a supermarket in Tucson when a gunman opened fire. Six people, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl, were killed and 13 others wounded. Giffords was shot in the head. In an e-mail sent to friends and family members Tuesday and obtained by CNN, Giffords' mother, Gloria, writes that she will be moved from Tucson's University Medical Center to rehabilitation facilities in Houston on Friday. "There is a team of medical specialists involved ... including military surgeons who specialize in bullet wounds to the head," the e-mail says. "They want to start aggressive rehab immediately." Giffords' office confirmed the move and said that while the move is expected to be Friday, "the exact day of the move will depend on the congresswoman's health." Her family chose TIRR Memorial Hermann rehabilitation hospital in Houston, part of the Texas Medical Center, because of its reputation, one of her doctors said. "The congresswoman's family wants to ensure she receives the best rehabilitative care possible for her type of serious penetrating brain injury," said Dr. Michael Lemole. Kelly said that Memorial Hermann's proximity to Tucson was another factor in the decision. "I am extremely hopeful at the signs of recovery that my wife has made since the shooting," he said. "The team of doctors and nurses at UMC has stabilized her to the point of being ready to move to the rehabilitation phase. Their goal -- and our goal -- has been to provide Gabby with the best care possible." Loughner is next set to appear in court on Monday in Phoenix. Richard Kastigar, chief investigator for the Pima County Sheriff's Department, said Wednesday authorities believe he showed his gun to a friend before the shooting, "between Christmas and New Year's." After the shooting, the friend told his father about the exchange, and the father contacted police, he said. He would not name the friend. Police have said Loughner bought the gun in November after passing a background check, and bought ammunition at a Walmart near his home hours before the shooting. Seven boxes of ammunition were found after the rampage in a black bag discovered in a dry river bed in Loughner's neighborhood. In addition, authorities said Wednesday that the gunman apparently fired 32 shots, one more than previously thought. A woman found a bullet casing in her purse several days later, Kastigar said. "A woman who was around the shooting scene that day found the casing and reported it to police," he said. "It fits right into our investigation. We always knew Loughner had one round in his chamber and 31 in the magazine." Kastigar said he didn't know whether the woman attended the event at the Safeway, was a passerby or was coming out of the store at the time of the shooting. Gloria Giffords writes that her daughter shows improvement every day "and shows higher levels of comprehension and complex actions. "Yesterday, when Mark came back from speaking at her aide's memorial service, she reached up and untied his tie and undid the top button to his shirt," according to the e-mail. "Last night, she took his iPod and scrolled through all the pictures. Early this morning she began to read cards made for her by some 4th graders! Her unbandaged eye tracked the lines, she opened the cards and turned them over reading the back. Mark's gotten pages of large print of Harry Potter's 1st book for her to hold and read." The e-mail also says that Giffords gave her husband "a 20-minute neck and back rub." Giffords remains in serious condition. A second, unnamed victim is listed in good condition. Kelly told the affiliate the couple had been concerned about heated and divisive political debates, but despite the fears, Giffords' passion for public service was a priority. "She was doing what she loved, she was representing the people of southern Arizona," Kelly said. "She felt it was very important for them to have the opportunity to walk up to her and tell her what they think." Kelly said the lawmaker will resume her public service "stronger than ever" as soon as she's well enough. He predicted she would return to the scene of the shooting. "She loves southern Arizona more than anything," he told CNN affiliate KGUN. "She's here every week, doing stuff like 'Congress on your Corner,' and I'm sure the first thing she's gonna do, when she's ready, is a 'Congress on your Corner' at that Safeway" where the shooting occurred. The outpouring of support has been tremendous, Kelly said, including an elementary school student who sent his $2.85 in lunch money to Giffords with a card. "I sealed it back up, and we're gonna give it back to him," Kelly said. "It almost made me cry just standing there in the room, just to see the kid put his lunch money in the envelope for her."' Gloria Giffords wrote in the e-mail that her daughter has hard work ahead of her. She has been moving her limbs on command, according to the e-mail, and doctors have had her sitting up in a chair. "So now comes the 'true grit' part," she wrote, "and (it) won't be a stroll in a park although Mark predicts she'll be up and walking around in 2 weeks. The physical and emotional therapy will proceed side by side and it'll be stringent." Giffords has not been able to speak because of a breathing tube in her throat. Her mother wrote that Giffords will continue communicating more as she becomes more alert and will speak after the tube comes out. "You notice I'm speaking in the present tense ... because that's where all your future prayers are going to come in," she wrote. The e-mail said Giffords' parents are "humbled by the outpouring of love and prayers and overwhelmed with gratitude." The hospital's front lawn and the perimeter of Giffords' Tucson office are "illuminated by thousands of candles, get-well placards, hers and the other victims' photos, prayers, stuffed animals and people." Surveillance video of the January 8 shooting shows Loughner walking up to Giffords and firing at her face from 24 to 36 inches away, Kastigar, told CNN. Kastigar said he viewed the surveillance video the day of the incident, and the hard drives have been turned over to the FBI. He said its contents have not been previously discussed for a variety of reasons, chief among them protecting the victims' families from the graphic details it contains. On the video, the suspect can be clearly seen walking around a table and up to Giffords, pointing a gun at her face and pulling the trigger. Giffords is barely in the frame of the video, he said. The gunman then turns to his left and walks out of the video, when witnesses said he began firing indiscriminately at others. U.S. District Judge John Roll can be seen on the video putting his arms over Giffords staffer Ron Barber and attempting to push him down and crawl under the table with him, Kastigar said. In trying to help Barber, Roll exposes his back to the gunman and is shot. Roll died; Barber was also shot, but survived. "I have to detach my personal feelings" about the video as an investigator, but the video offers investigators a way to sort out sometimes confusing or conflicting witness statements about what took place, Kastigar said. It also clarified that the gunman's intended target was Giffords, as it made clear that he walked up and fired the first round at her, Kastigar said. A law enforcement official said federal and local authorities have conducted more than 300 interviews as part of the investigation. CNN's Susan Candiotti and Roni Selig contributed to this report . | NEW: A federal grand jury indicts Jared Lee Loughner on charges of attempted murder . Giffords has the strength to stand and lift her head . Giffords is to be moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston . Her husband, Mark Kelly, says Giffords feared for her safety . | cd2cb113b1cd90e2ad235466df3a64dfc956877a |
(CareerBuilder.com) -- The ever-popular HBO series "Sex and the City" is rarely thought of as a workplace show, but if we take a closer look, we can see it is riddled with workplace clichés. Carrie Bradshaw, our main gal, somehow makes an extravagant living from one weekly newspaper column she often writes in her underwear while smoking what seems to be a smokeless cigarette inside her New York City apartment. Miranda Hobbes, a "busy" corporate lawyer never seems too busy for lunches, parties, shopping or long walks around the city with best pal Carrie. Charlotte York is a museum curator who rarely curates anything but her obsession with finding Mr. Right and having Mr. Right, Jr. Finally, but certainly not least in any sense of the word, Samantha Jones is a successful public relations practitioner despite a reputation the size of New York City itself. How ironic. Recently, over on the humor website, Cracked.com, one writer was fed up with the annoying clichés about women that keep popping up in movies. Tired of seeing gorgeous actresses playing the supposedly unattractive sister and an unrealistic emphasis on the glories of shopping, Christina H. penned "6 obnoxious assumptions Hollywood makes about women." The list is not only funny but also accurate if you stop and think about how many movies these annoying tropes occur in. It also got us thinking that Hollywood's not just inaccurately portraying women in movies or on TV -- it's off the mark about what it's like for the average worker in today's economy. As a result, we bring you 6 ways Hollywood lies to us about the workplace... 1. All the beautiful people . Ever notice all the long-legged, luscious haired, model-types walking around your office? What about all of the strapping, buff and impeccably dressed men? We didn't think so. Hollywood can often make it seem like unattractive, overweight or simple-humored people don't work. Skills? Who needs 'em, right? As long as you look good and utter funny, clever remarks all day, you're bound to grow business and make bushels of money. Sure statistics exist regarding attractive people getting hired over, promoted instead of or paid more than unattractive ones, but these people also have skills, education or the ability to move business in some significant way. A pretty face might help, but if that's all you got, it's not going to cut it in the real world. Hollywood examples: The In Crowd, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Grey's Anatomy . 2. Executives work? Nah... The Sarah Jessica Parker movie "I Don't Know How She Does It" in which she plays the role of an international fund manager, wife and mother, portrays an unrealistic schedule for such an executive-level job. Christina Gombar, author of fiction, memoir and literary criticism says, "No way, no way, no way, would an international fund manager get into work at 9 a.m. She would be working around the clock with her terminal from home. She wouldn't have time to shoot snarky emails to her female work mates. My pals who are traders can't talk to me on the phone and can only send the shortest texts." Beverly Solomon, a marketer, creative director and author based in Austin, Texas believes Hollywood portrays executives and entrepreneurs as "rich, uncaring crooks who made their fortunes by stepping on the regular people." Solomon, having worked for Diane Von Furstenberg and Ralph Lauren, looks down on this cliché, noting "both were great entrepreneurs who built their businesses with vision and tenacity, and are good people." Hollywood examples: You've Got Mail, Be Kind Rewind, Wall Street . 3. Your outfit? Anything goes! A suit? Slacks? Minimal cleavage? That's crazy talk. According to Hollywood, club wear is quite suitable for the workplace, and even welcome. How else do you plan to get that big promotion or spark up that all-appropriate office romance? Christina McCale, marketing academic, career coach and co-editor of "Start Your Internet Business: 36 Things You Need to Know" says, "While Millennials are changing a lot of things about the way we dress in the workplace, the reality is there is still a level of professionalism expected, and usually, that isn't reflected in 'Britney-esque' outfits." McCale cautions you should always remember who your boss is. "They're not likely to appreciate you wearing club wear to the office meeting. And even more likely -- they won't take you seriously." Hollywood examples: My Boss's Daughter, View from the Top, Legally Blonde . 4. Work is so easy . "The common [so-called 'webpreneurial'] storyline on TV shows or movies goes like this: person gets idea; they set up a website; next day money is rolling in," says McCale. Citing another unrealistic example, she adds, "Crime scene investigators strategically hold up flashlights, miraculously evidence appears. The reality is CSIs across the country aren't exactly running around in Louis Vuitton shoes. CSI work is hard, and many crime labs are not nearly as well equipped as the ones you see on TV." On TV and in movies, people make more witty remarks than they complete important projects. They hang out all day, barely ever sitting at a computer or on a phone call. Pranks are a regular part of the work day, and talking to the boss in the same way you talk to your poker buddies is acceptable. In today's economy, it's hard to imagine anyone's workday is that carefree. Hollywood examples: The Office, 30 Rock, Clerks, Will & Grace . 5. Money is no object . Wouldn't it be nice to live in a movie or TV sitcoms where you can be an out of work-actor, waitress or writer and still live in a lavish New York City apartment, buy $500 Louis Vuittons, sip on warm delights in a coffee shop all day, and barely ever go to work? TV shows like "Friends" and "Sex and the City," and characters like Rachel Green, Joey Tribbiani and Carrie Bradshaw give us the false hope that we can actually work little and live a lot. In a post-recession economy, many workers are deciding how often they can afford to buy coffee each week, but you don't see that on TV. Hollywood examples: The 40 Year Old Virgin, Cheers, The Real Housewives [of any city], Modern Family . 6. Your boss is a horrible person and/or an idiot . You've probably had a boss that wasn't the brightest bulb or even the nicest person you've ever met, but he or she wasn't necessarily worthless. In fact, unless you've had an unfortunate run of luck, your bosses probably ranged from OK people to great leaders. Your average Hollywood bosses, however, either exist to make your life miserable with outrageous demands and endless piles of work, or they're incompetent fools who can barely tie their own shoes much less manage a team. "While there are always going to be bosses who are -- "clueless" -- [it's] not a good idea to point that out to them," says McCale. "Worse, don't make how you -- "feel they are clueless" -- obvious in front of others." Hollywood examples: The Devil Wears Prada, Horrible Bosses, Nine to Five . Why it matters . "The shame is, many teens and 20-somethings base career choices on what they see on TV, and TV just isn't a great career counselor because shows aren't meant to do that," says McCale. "TV and movies are entertainment. They are geared for a shorter attention span, and to use elements of truth to propel a storyline forward." While work can be fun, and some companies might have a more informal working environment than others, you might not want to model your workplace behavior after what you see on TV and in movies. © CareerBuilder.com 2011. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority. | Hollywood often misrepresents careers and the workplace in movies . Work is portrayed as easy or non-existent, and any outfit is appropriate . This can have a negative effect on younger generations deciding on careers . | b3b8731303def50b66b9eafd2d4e5949dbe29b51 |
By . Chris Leadbeater . For many visitors, New Orleans can be little more than an excuse for a party. Like Las Vegas with a soul (and a good deal more history), the biggest city in Louisiana is certainly a place to visit if you fancy a rowdy time. Late-night revellers spill out of the never-knowingly-closed bars on the notorious drag of Bourbon Street, and on its kindred spirits Decatur and Chartres Streets. And if you arrive in the city during the annual Mardi Gras festivities (usually in February), you might wonder if you have happened upon wild celebrations to mark the end of the world – complete with fancy dress and a lot of drink. Evocative: Photographer Frank Relle captures a side of New Orleans rarely seen by tourists - quiet back streets and suburban avenues . For . other visitors, The Big Easy is about other things – the glorious . architecture of the French Quarter, with its 18th century homes – all . curved iron balconies and echoes of the colonial era; the rare . prettiness of Jackson Square, where the St Louis Cathedral harks back to . 1789; the chance to hear jazz in the spiritual home of the genre, . perhaps in the hallowed confines of Preservation Hall, or in any of the . many other musical speakeasies dotted around the centre; the liquid . majesty of the River Mississippi as it shapes the city. But . few of the millions who flock to New Orleans every year look beyond the . attractions and well-thumbed sites at its heart. And few truly peer . into the suburbs and outer areas that make up the majority of the . metropolis – where dimly lit streets are lined with Southern Oak and . Cypress trees, and mansions share the grid with tumbledown shacks. This is the world caught on camera by Frank Relle (www.frankrelle.com). A kaleidoscope of colour: Relle deals in images taken low to the ground, offering an unusual angle and an amplified sense of atmosphere . Born . and based in New Orleans, he specialises in atmospheric images that depict his home city away from the noisy hubbub of the French Quarter . and Café du Monde. He learned his trade in New York, but found that the best subject was closer to his heart. ‘I went to New York to find photography, but lost it in the bright lights and darkrooms,’ he says. ‘I . came home to New Orleans. 'On meditative nightly drives behind the wheel . of my grandmother’s 1986 Lincoln Town Car, I discovered a new way to . see. Scars of the past: The red markings on the house on the right date back to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - and show that the property was checked for survivors . Far from the French Quarter: New Orleans is home to some of the most deprived urban areas in the United States, and some of its homes demonstrate this . ‘Low to the ground, that wide old windshield provided the best viewfinder I’ve ever used.’ His photographs look back at New Orleans over the last decade. ‘Shot . from 2004 to the present, the photographs are lit to capture the mood . from that same [low-angle] perspective,’ he explains. ‘The images leave . room for the viewers’ interpretations, and for a cast of characters to . take position in the foreground.’ New Orleans was, of course, infamously hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The . winds brought flooding and disaster to many areas of the city, causing . death and despair, with thousands losing their homes. In some places, . New Orleans has still not recovered from the terrible damage it suffered, . with abandoned houses being left to rot. Relle’s . camera takes in these scars on the cityscape as well as the avenues . that sing sweetly of French settlers, Southern belles and mint juleps on . woozy afternoons. Left to the elements: In this image, Relle's camera focuses on an abandoned property on Clouet Street, in the Bywater neighbourhood of New Orleans . Romantic: Relle also captures the side of New Orleans that lingers in many imaginations - including, in this case, Chestnut Street, which runs elegantly through Touro . Out on the edges: New Orleans is famously framed by water, with the Mississippi curling through its heart, and Lake Pontchartrain sitting directly to the north . Given to the wild: A beautiful snapshot of a home lost to the verdant landscape of Louisiana, on Telemachus Street, west of the centre . Pretty green: A moody moment on Vallette Street, which sits on the far side of the Mississippi in the Algiers Point district, and feels a world away from the French Quarter . Far beyond Mardi Gras: There is more to New Orleans than the parties and bars of Bourbon Street - as these snaps of Tonti and Prieur Streets demonstrate . Stepping into focus: Frank Relle places himself in front of the camera for one brief image - but usually lets his lens take in a city that is rarely less than visually striking . | Photographer Frank Relle specialises in dramatic, moody images that capture the twilight side of his home city . His low-to-the-ground photos show a city scarred by Hurricane Katrina, as well as lovely mansions and leafy streets . | b95529671eab47f2043fdfffd7a035b3481dc232 |
By . Leon Watson . A crime victim has been waiting four years for compensation from a crook who told police his name was Jesus H Christ. Estate agent Mark Lewis was promised £75 after the villain was convicted of smashing two windows of a house he was selling in St Austell, Cornwall. The homeless vandal told police he was called Jesus H Christ - and the same name was recorded in court documents when appeared before magistrates in February 2010. Mark Lewis who is owed money by Jesus H Christ with his court correspondence listing the debtor as the Son of God . JPs awarded Mr Lewis damages but he is still waiting - while continuing to get court correspondence listing the debtor as the Son of God. Mark said: 'Because of our British justice system the man has the right to be called Jesus H Christ if he wants to. 'He was prosecuted and fined and afterwards he walked out of court and wandered off. 'I'm still waiting for my £75 from Mr Christ.' The compensation order sent to Mark Lewis who is owed money by Jesus Christ . | Mark Lewis promised £75 after Mr Christ smashed his windows . It happened in February 2010 at the house he was selling in Cornwall . The homeless vandal told police he was called Jesus H Christ . That name was recorded in court documents when appeared . | ee8749061a74b0debb3bfe8cae096ef1e98f4828 |
By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 11:11 EST, 31 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:40 EST, 1 April 2013 . More than 8,000 motorists in the UK are driving despite having picked up enough penalty points to be banned from the roads, it emerged today. Drivers who collect 12 points on their driving licence should face an immediate ban. But shocking figures obtained from the DVLA show a staggering number have escaped disqualification and are legally driving around despite exceeding the limit. More than 8,000 motorists in the UK are driving despite having 12 points on their licence, which should lead to an immediate ban . This is because courts can a rule that a motorist who faces losing their licence could face ‘exceptional hardship’ and escape a ban. Incredibly, one unnamed motorist from Warrington, Cheshire is driving around after racking up a total of 36 points - three times the disqualification figure. And there are three individuals with 33 points and another driving around with 30. The eight drivers with more than 30 points on their licences come from Greater London, Colchester, Southend, Romford, Oldham, Huddersfield and Doncaster. Points can be put on a driver's licence for a variety of motoring offences, from speeding to drink driving and they stay on a driving licence for up to four years. Bans can last between six months and two years for those who have more than 12 points on their licences and if a driver is banned for more than 56 days they must apply for a new licence before being allowed back on the roads. There are 33 drivers who have more than double the amount of points required to get disqualified - 19 of these have 24 points. Points can be put on a driver's licence for a variety of motoring offences, from speeding to drink driving . The DVLA said they have no say in how sentences and bans are imposed on drivers. A spokesman said: ‘The DVLA's role is to record the information provided by the courts. ‘The courts are able to use their discretion to decide whether or not to disqualify a driver. However, the statistics are likely to include cases where drivers have served their period of disqualification and successfully reapplied for their driving licences.’ The Magistrates' Association, which represents magistrates in England and Wales, said about 30,000 drivers a year reach the 12-point mark with nine per cent of these escaping disqualification. They also said in some instances drivers with a large amount of points may be ‘anomalies’ who have benefited from poor communication between organisations. Drivers with 12 points or more claim 'exceptional hardship' to dodge losing their licences with an automatic ban . A spokesman said: ‘The Association has previously written to the Transport Minister about communications failures between HMCTS, DVLA and some fixed penalty offices which resulted in inaccurate driver records and the possibility that courts did not have full details of a driver's history in front of them. ‘There's a problem that the DVLA have no way of recording exception hardship on their computer system we're hoping that they will change this when they revamp their computer system.’ Peter Rodger, chief examiner and head of driving standards from the Institute of Advanced Motorists said drivers who are close to 12 points need to improve their driving. He said: ‘It's difficult to turn around and say there's a direct danger caused by it but on the other hand it is also the case that if everyone thinks this is what happens then the respect for the rules of the road and for obeying the law on the road will be removed. ‘If you're in the position where you've got points on your licence and the next set of points are going to take you into the realms where you would expect a ban then you need to sort your driving out, you shouldn't be behaving like that. ‘There isn't a good reason for people to be behaving like that.’ In total the figures revealed there are 8,099 drivers with 12 more or penalty points on their driving licences. CR00 - Croydon - 6,855 . SL06 - Slough - 5,884 . LE02 - Leicester - 5,874 . NG05 - Nottingham - 5,204 . ML06 - Motherwell - 5,114 . LE03 - Leicester - 4,989 . BN03 - Brighton - 4,773 . BN02 - Brighton - 4,711 . WA05 - Warrington - 4,559 . CF14 - Cardiff - 4,499 . This is a slight decline from 2011 when there were 10,000 drivers who could have been banned but were not. However the Institute of Advanced Motorists said it has become easier for motorists to keep their licences when they have 12 points. Mr Rodger added: ‘It does appear that that has become more flexible than it used to be. The grounds on which people are allowed to retain their licence do appear to have been relaxed. ‘I don't think there's been a sudden relaxation but it's one of those things that has gradually happened over time.’ There are more than 3.3 million road users in the UK who have penalty points on their driving licences. Figures from the DVLA show more than 2.5 million have picked up in excess of three points. Motorists in Croydon are the worst behaving, with 6,855 drivers living in the CR00 postcode having penalty points and one motorist racking up 24 points. Following Croydon are small areas of Slough, Leicester, Nottingham and Motherwell, who all have more than 5,000 drivers with points on their licences. Rodger said the total number of drivers with points on their licence ‘indicates how endemic our misbehaviour has been.’ | Drivers claim 'exceptional hardship' to dodge losing their licences . Nearly 50 drivers in the UK have double the points needed to be banned . | 5c31b004fa63055dfd38d2891be9f81c64e61e3e |
It may come as no surprise to many men, but proposing to your partner really is a stressful business, it has been revealed. One bridegroom to be has revealed he wore a heart rate monitor throughout his proposal day. He posted the resulting chart to Reddit - revealing a huge spike as he popped the question. Redditor Sesipikai wore a hear rate monitor throughout the day as the couple walked around Rome before he proposed in the Forum . The user, called Sesipikai, wore a heart rate monitor throughout his day in Rome. He also carried a GPS unit to track his location as the couple explored. By linking the two, he was able to create the graph above in Microsoft Excel, and add in exactly what the couple did on their big day. The user, called Sesipikai, took his girlfriend to Rome for the proposal. The chart reveals their entire day, from walking through the Colosseum to buying ice cream. The user also had GPs co-ordinates for their day, allowing him to map exactly how the heart rate tallies to their location. The proposal was planned to happen in the Roman Forum - and the heart rate begins to rise as the couple turn and start walking towards it. Unsurprisingly, when he begins speaking, his heart rate rockets - peaking at130bpm. He then relaxes - only to see another rise as she says yes. In fact, the rate only then begins to drop as the couple find a nearby bench to sit on. The user posted the image with a simple caption saying 'Wore a heart rate belt during my trip to Rome. 'Export data to xml file. 'Created a graph using MS Excel.' The chart reveals their entire day, from walking through the Colosseum (left) to arriving the the Forum (right) to propose . He also revealed his biggest fear while walking - losing the ring. 'I was so afraid of losing the ring, ' he admitted. 'Had my hand inside the pocket most of the day. That ring burns your pocket like there's no tomorrow. 'I have a new found respect for mister frodo after that day.' He also revealed he fluffed his lines during the proposal. 'I didn't start with the question, had a little speech planned, might have forgotten a couple of lines though' The chart stuck a chord with other users of the site, who added their own feelings. 'My heart beat like crazy for a solid ten minutes waiting on a private moment and knowing it could come any second,' one said. however, others were less kind, with one joking: 'I hear she's really good between the spreadsheets.' | Bridegroom to be wore heart rate monitor for entire day to see how proposal affected him . As couple approached the Forum in Rome, where proposal took place, his heart rate rocketed . After second increase as she says yes, it only begins to subside when the pair find a bench to sit on . | 14015f972184df5a586663fdbb19afa96b27f699 |
(CNN) -- Humanitarian organizations have been unable to meet the "massive needs" of civilians facing brutal attacks in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a medical aid group said Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands of Congolese have been displaced by years of violence in the region. Extreme violence against civilians is spreading from Haut-Uele into Bas-Uele, as well as into neighboring southern Sudan and eastern Central African Republic, according to the international humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders). The civilian population in that region has been the target of attacks by the Ugandan rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army, known as LRA, and the Ugandan and Congolese offensive against the LRA, the doctors organization said in a news release. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled. The organization said it has more than 150 people working in the Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele districts, where it has provided help to about 16,000 displaced people and treated thousands of patients. "The local population is the target of violence: murder, kidnapping and sexual abuse," said Luis Encinas, coordinator of Medecins Sans Frontieres operations in Central Africa. "We are talking about tactics of violence aimed at instilling fear in the people. Our patients have told us the most brutal stories -- about children who are forced to kill their parents and people burnt alive inside their homes." To the south, a joint operation has been waged since January by the Congolese army and Rwandan troops against the Rwandan Hutu militia Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda. On Tuesday, 84 humanitarian and human rights groups in the Congo Advocacy Coalition spoke out against the operation in eastern Congo, known as Kimia II and backed by U.N. peacekeepers since March. The operation has resulted in an "unacceptable cost" for the civilian population, the coalition said. Since the action began, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and 7,000 women and girls have been raped, the coalition said. Some of the militia leaders participated in the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, member groups said in a report on the Human Rights Watch Web site. Sexual violence has grown increasingly brutal in the Kimia II operation, one observer said. "We're seeing more cases of mutilation, extreme violence and torture in sexual violence cases against women and girls, and many more of the victims are children," said Immaculee Birhaheka of Promotion et Appui aux Initiatives Feminines (Promotion and Support of Women's Initiatives). More than 6,000 homes have been burned down in the provinces of North and South Kivu, the coalition said. Nearly 900,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and live in desperate conditions with host families, in forests or in displacement camps with limited access to food and medicine, it said. The American Association for the Advancement of Science says satellite imagery shows that in Busurungi, one of the main towns in North Kivu, and the surrounding 100 square kilometers (about 260 square miles), 1,494 homes and structures have been destroyed, some as recently as September. That is a destruction rate of about 80 percent. U.N. peacekeepers have provided millions of dollars worth in tactical expertise, transport and aviation support, food rations, fuel and medical supplies to Congolese army soldiers. "Despite such support, U.N. peacekeepers have not used their leverage to get the government to remove commanders with known track records of human rights abuses from participating in the operations," the coalition said. "The human rights and humanitarian consequences of the current military operation are simply disastrous," said Marcel Stoessel of Oxfam, a coalition member. "U.N. peacekeepers, who have a mandate to protect civilians, urgently need to work with government forces to make sure civilians get the protection they need, or discontinue their support," he said. According to the coalition, 3,000 additional U.N. peacekeepers authorized by the U.N. Security Council in November are just arriving, and helicopters and other support has not materialized. After the Rwandan and Congolese governments began their joint campaign against the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda, "no provisions were made for the protection of civilians, despite the FDLR's long and brutal track record of attacking defenseless communities when provoked," said John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project. Enough, a project of the Center for American Progress, works to end genocide and crimes against humanity. | Rebel groups target civilians in northeastern section of country . Violence spreading into Sudan, Central African Republic . Humanitarian groups speak out against joint military operation . U.N. peacekeepers are urged to do more . | 7bbd6346aa57b321c7ce971b95b0ffd6726e4e88 |
(CNN) -- Authorities say Silk Road, the shadowy "deep Web" site shut down by the FBI this week, was the Internet's biggest destination for drugs and other illegal goods. It had nearly 1 million registered users, the bureau says, and was used for roughly $1.3 billion in transactions over the past two or so years. But shuttering Silk Road and arresting its owner won't be the end of the shadowy black market on the Web, where drugs are far from the only products that can be bought illegally. The so-called "deep Web" consists of sites only accessible using tools like Tor, which includes a browser designed to hide the user's identity by routing their activity through a series of remote connections. Many sites use intentionally cryptic web addresses -- Silk Road's last was "silkroadfb5piz3r.onion" -- that spread stealthily via word of mouth. Here is a look at just some of the illegal goods that have been documented as offered for sale on these underground sites. (We're not linking to them, sorry.) Drugs . Maybe it should be no big surprise, but hours after Silk Road was shut down, Web users were flocking to online forums with one question: "Where can I buy my drugs now?" The answer? Take your pick. Sites with names like Sheep Marketplace, Black Market Reloaded and Deep Bay were just some of the ones being mentioned as possibilities. Another, called Atlantis, had emerged earlier this year as a Silk Road competitor with an aggressive social-media campaign. In June, someone claiming to be the site's owner even conducted an AMA ("Ask Me Anything") session on Reddit. "We want to bring attention to the site and bring our vendors more buyers," that person said during the session. "Law enforcement is going to be aware of us (and probably already is) regardless of the way we choose to put our product out there." Two weeks ago, Atlantis announced it was shutting down due to "security reasons outside of our control." Weapons . Illegal guns can be found on similar sites, as can legal weapons by people who may not pass a background check or otherwise be allowed to buy them. Last year, Gizmodo reporter Sam Biddle spent some time on The Armory, an offshoot of Silk Road devoted to weaponry. As part of his reporting, he posed as someone arming a paramilitary group bent on "taking on a 3rd world government organization." The helpful responses poured in. "I can provide: tec9, scorpion, ak47 and one single vietnam war 'thumper', but its ammo costs," read one, the final reference being to a grenade launcher. "Absolutely, we can accommodate your request, but we need more parameters such as your exact arms needs and destination country," read another. "We only deal with small arms and equipment, but if you need artillery, MANPADS (Man-portable air-defense systems), ordinance, APCs, Helos we do have resources and can make certain introductions for a fee." About a month after the Gizmodo piece ran, Silk Road's owner announced it was shutting down The Armory, citing high prices and lack of interest. Exotic animals . The International Fund for Animal Welfare calls the illegal sale of wild animals online "one of the major wildlife conservation challenges of our generation." "The rise of the Internet has revolutionized the way we exchange ideas, information and merchandise. ..." reads a report from the group. "However, as a result, the Internet is also facilitating the illegal trade in wildlife, which is having a devastating effect on animals, ecosystems and the communities that rely on them worldwide." The report, in which the group tracked activity on 183 websites, documented the sale of elephant ivory, birds of prey, tigers, large snakes and other rare or endangered creatures. The relative anonymity the Web provides, combined with a patchwork of laws from state to state and country to country, make policing animal trafficking a tough job, the group said. Fake documents . Along with drugs, firearms and solicitations of hackers, Silk Road also had forged documents for sale, the FBI said. In July, the FBI says it intercepted nine false IDs bound for Ross William Ulbricht, who they say is "Dread Pirate Roberts," the man behind the site. "Roberts" had been soliciting fake identification documents on Silk Road to use in buying more server space for the site. It shouldn't have been hard. A simple Google search for fake passports renders websites like FalsePassports.cc and IdentificationConsulting.com. Need a "novelty" driver's license? Several sites offer those, and you can get a diploma and Social Security card while you're at it. "For your own personal use and amusement," notes Global Intelligence ID Cards Solutions. Obviously. | Drugs aren't the only illegal items for sale online . Black market sites use "deep Web" tools like Tor to hide . Guns, endangered animals, fake IDs all for sale . Silk Road was shut down this week by the FBI . | cbe7356c820cbc6d934d6554e628681b91802f30 |
By . Paul Milligan . PUBLISHED: . 12:10 EST, 30 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:06 EST, 30 April 2013 . Serial rapist Dean Goodwin was jailed for nine terms of life imprisonment but told him he must serve a minimum of 15 years in jail . A serial sex offender who raped two women - leaving one for dead - while on the run from police was today jailed for life. Judge Samuel Wiggs jailed Dean Goodwin, 32, to nine terms of life imprisonment but told him he must serve a minimum of 15 years in jail. He had been released early from prison for similar offences before he carried out the horrific sex attacks last November in Dorset and Hampshire. In 2000 Goodwin was jailed for 12 years for two sexual assaults on a 13-year-old girl and a 63-year-old woman. He served 10 years of his sentence, and his name was placed on the sex offenders’ register. He was released from prison in 2010 and was kept under observation by the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) body. Shaven-headed Goodwin sparked a massive manhunt after raping a 30-year-old woman in her flat in Poole, Dorset, in what was described in court as a degrading five-hour ordeal. The 4ft 11in victim was attacked, forced to watch child porn and raped four times by burly 18-stone Goodwin after he barged into her home pretending to be the police. During the ordeal he said: 'I’m not leaving until I get what I want.' When the attack was over he told the woman: ‘I’m off now - see you in court’. A court heard how Goodwin had no self . control and later told police he had ‘wanted to go out with a bang’ after attacking his first victim. The woman, who vaguely knew Goodwin, called the police and he became a wanted man, Bournemouth Crown Court was told. A few days later Goodwin, who was high on cocaine and steroids, lay in wait in Andover, Hampshire, and attacked a complete stranger - a 49-year-old mother-of-two on her way home to take her children swimming, Kerry Maylin, prosecuting said. She was dragged into the garden of a derelict house, raped and then beaten so badly she lost consciousness. Armed Police at the scene of one of Goodwin's sex attacks in Poole, Dorset . Miss Maylin told the court that Goodwin told her to 'watch it or I will kill you' and 'scream and I will kill you'. He then hit her repeatedly with his fists and a brick and left her for dead. 'She thought she was going to die. She thought the only way she would survive was to play dead,' the barrister explained. The victim was not found for five hours until her shocked husband, out looking for her because she had not returned home, found her hypothermic. The court was shown a picture of the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in hospital so badly beaten her eyes are closed. She was in court with her husband to see her attacker jailed. The court heard she has suffered what is likely to be permanent facial paralysis from nerve damage resulting from the attack and said the assault had 'destroyed my life and the lives of those I love.' Goodwin, from Poole, was later arrested in Bournemouth and told police he thought he had killed the woman in Andover. Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Goodwin had no self control and later told police he had ¿wanted to go out with a bang¿ after attacking his first victim . He admitted attempted murder, five counts of rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, two counts of burglary and robbery. He committed his first sex offence against a five-year-old boy in 1994 when he was 14, the court was told. He later physically attacked care staff and teachers and indecently assaulted two other women as well as committing burglary, robbery and car theft offences, serving lengthy jail terms. A psychiatric report found he had a dangerous personality disorder and he told a psychiatrist “he wanted to go out with a bang” after the first rape. Jailing him, Judge Samuel Wiggs said: 'You are very dangerous indeed. It may be that you want to stop yourself but it’s plain from all the evidence that you cannot.' After the case, Detective Inspector Marcus Hester from Dorset Police said: 'Dean Goodwin was responsible for a number of heinous crimes and his victims were understandably left terrified by his vile actions. 'I believe that Goodwin poses a significant risk to the public, and this result means he will spend a minimum term of 15 years in prison. 'He will then be assessed and depending on whether it is safe to do so he may be released, or may spend the rest of his life in prison. I am certain that Dorset will be safer with Goodwin behind bars.' | Dean Goodwin had been released EARLY from jail in 2010 for similar offences . He told his first victim 'I'm not leaving until i get what i want' and said when it was over: 'I'm off now, see you in court' | d1fa555c2e092a2e8cccd930f862d8cb8ccd69bc |
Editor's note: Jeffrey A. Miron is senior lecturer in economics at Harvard University. A Libertarian, he was one of 166 academic economists who signed a letter to congressional leaders last week opposing the government bailout plan. Economist Jeffrey Miron says the bailout plan presented to Congress was the wrong solution to the crisis . CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Congress has balked at the Bush administration's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Under this plan, the Treasury would have bought the "troubled assets" of financial institutions in an attempt to avoid economic meltdown. This bailout was a terrible idea. Here's why. The current mess would never have occurred in the absence of ill-conceived federal policies. The federal government chartered Fannie Mae in 1938 and Freddie Mac in 1970; these two mortgage lending institutions are at the center of the crisis. The government implicitly promised these institutions that it would make good on their debts, so Fannie and Freddie took on huge amounts of excessive risk. Worse, beginning in 1977 and even more in the 1990s and the early part of this century, Congress pushed mortgage lenders and Fannie/Freddie to expand subprime lending. The industry was happy to oblige, given the implicit promise of federal backing, and subprime lending soared. This subprime lending was more than a minor relaxation of existing credit guidelines. This lending was a wholesale abandonment of reasonable lending practices in which borrowers with poor credit characteristics got mortgages they were ill-equipped to handle. Once housing prices declined and economic conditions worsened, defaults and delinquencies soared, leaving the industry holding large amounts of severely depreciated mortgage assets. The fact that government bears such a huge responsibility for the current mess means any response should eliminate the conditions that created this situation in the first place, not attempt to fix bad government with more government. The obvious alternative to a bailout is letting troubled financial institutions declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcy means that shareholders typically get wiped out and the creditors own the company. Bankruptcy does not mean the company disappears; it is just owned by someone new (as has occurred with several airlines). Bankruptcy punishes those who took excessive risks while preserving those aspects of a businesses that remain profitable. In contrast, a bailout transfers enormous wealth from taxpayers to those who knowingly engaged in risky subprime lending. Thus, the bailout encourages companies to take large, imprudent risks and count on getting bailed out by government. This "moral hazard" generates enormous distortions in an economy's allocation of its financial resources. Thoughtful advocates of the bailout might concede this perspective, but they argue that a bailout is necessary to prevent economic collapse. According to this view, lenders are not making loans, even for worthy projects, because they cannot get capital. This view has a grain of truth; if the bailout does not occur, more bankruptcies are possible and credit conditions may worsen for a time. Talk of Armageddon, however, is ridiculous scare-mongering. If financial institutions cannot make productive loans, a profit opportunity exists for someone else. This might not happen instantly, but it will happen. Further, the current credit freeze is likely due to Wall Street's hope of a bailout; bankers will not sell their lousy assets for 20 cents on the dollar if the government might pay 30, 50, or 80 cents. The costs of the bailout, moreover, are almost certainly being understated. The administration's claim is that many mortgage assets are merely illiquid, not truly worthless, implying taxpayers will recoup much of their $700 billion. If these assets are worth something, however, private parties should want to buy them, and they would do so if the owners would accept fair market value. Far more likely is that current owners have brushed under the rug how little their assets are worth. The bailout has more problems. The final legislation will probably include numerous side conditions and special dealings that reward Washington lobbyists and their clients. Anticipation of the bailout will engender strategic behavior by Wall Street institutions as they shuffle their assets and position their balance sheets to maximize their take. The bailout will open the door to further federal meddling in financial markets. So what should the government do? Eliminate those policies that generated the current mess. This means, at a general level, abandoning the goal of home ownership independent of ability to pay. This means, in particular, getting rid of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with policies like the Community Reinvestment Act that pressure banks into subprime lending. The right view of the financial mess is that an enormous fraction of subprime lending should never have occurred in the first place. Someone has to pay for that. That someone should not be, and does not need to be, the U.S. taxpayer. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. | Jeffrey Miron: Government encouraged lenders to relax their standards . Mortgages were given to people unqualified to repay them, he says . Miron: Rather than a bailout, government should let firms go bankrupt . Talk of economic Armageddon is scare-mongering, Miron says . | defb724973ba5f984a8bea741315a0039611a02f |
By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 14:36 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:27 EST, 1 February 2013 . Opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi brought chaos to the streets of Cairo as they bombarded the presidential palace with petrol bombs. Security forces used tear gas and water cannons to try to control the raging crowd on the eighth day of political violence sweeping the country. Around 6,000 protesters gathered outside the palace in an upscale district of the capital, banging on the gates and throwing stones and shoes into the grounds in a show of contempt. Attack: An Egyptian protester rushes away during clashes in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on as thousands of Egyptians took to the streets to protest . opposition: Around 6,000 protestors marched outside the Cairo palace in a show of opposition to the Islamist President and his Muslim Brotherhood . The protesters accuse Mursi of . betraying the spirit of the revolution by concentrating too much power . in his own hands and those of his Muslim Brotherhood. Crowds chanted 'Leave, leave,' in a clear message to the under-pressure politician. . Security forces inside the palace responded by firing water cannons at the crowd, then volleys of tear gas, injuring at least 15 people. The streets outside the palace became a scene of mayhem as police fired volley after volley of tear gas trying to drive back the protesters, who rained stones on the riot police. 'This is all because of Morsi,' one protester shouted. At least 15 people were injured in the clashes, police said. Thousands more rallied in central Tahrir Square, while a larger crowd marched through the Suez Canal city of Port Said. Defence: Police at the palace responded by firing tear gas and using water canons at the protestors . Injuries: Police said that at least 15 people had been injured in the violent exchanges . The demonstrations mark the second anniversary of the uprising that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. The country's most influential Islamic had attempted to ease tensions by . gathering rival political leaders for crisis talks on Thursday. He persuaded them to sign up to a charter disavowing violence and . committing to dialogue, after the head of the army to warn this week that the state was on the verge of collapse. But the talks were overshadowed when the President's opponents called for nationwide protests. The Muslim Brotherhood accuses Mursi's . opponents of trying to bring down Egypt's first democratically elected . leader and to seize power through street unrest. In a statement released last night, . leftist leader Hamdeen Sabahi said signing the peace initiative did not . mean an end to the protests. He said he would not enter dialogue until bloodshed . was halted, the state of emergency lifted and those responsible for the . previous week's violence brought to justice. Leave: A protestor accidentally catches outside the palace, where demonstrators chanted 'leave, leave' Fatal: The wave of political demonstration is in its eighth day, with 60 people have been killed . The rise of Mursi, an elected . Islamist, after generations of rule by authoritarian, secular military . men in the most populous Arab state, is seen as one of the most significant results of the Arab Spring. But his tenure has failed . to unite Egyptians and protests have made the country seem all but . ungovernable. The instability has worsened an economic crisis, forcing . Cairo to drain currency reserves to prop up its pound. Recent violence has been worst in cities along the Suez Canal, especially Port Said, where demonstrators were enraged by death sentences given to 21 football fans for involvement in fatal stadium riots last year. Dozens of protesters were shot dead in Port Said and Mursi responded by imposing a state of emergency and curfew. Brotherhood supporters battled protesters outside the presidential palace during protests against Mursi in December. Revolution: Opponents accuse Mursi of concentrating too much power in his own hands following the revolution two years ago . Protests: Thousands more rallied in central Tahrir Square, while a larger crowd marched through the Suez Canal city of Port Said . Collapse: Clashes led the head of the army to warn that the state could be on the verge of collapse . Critics accused the Brotherhood of deploying a militia against the demonstrators, but keen to avoid a repeat, the Islamists have so far kept off the streets during the latest wave of protests. Thursday's meeting of political leaders was convened by Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, head of the 1,000-year-old al-Azhar university and mosque, one of the few institutions still seen as neutral. He persuaded participants to sign a document pledging to renounce violence and agree to set up a committee to plan more talks. That marked a climbdown by Mursi's foes who had previously rebuffed invitations to negotiate, demanding that Mursi first promise to include them in a unity government. The presidency said the initiative was 'an important step on the road to achieving stability in the Egyptian street'. But it is far from clear that opposition politicians could call off the street demonstrations, even if they wanted to. The protest movement has become a spontaneous expression of anger, often only loosely allied to the secularist and liberal parties running against the Brotherhood in elections. | 6,000 protestors marched outside Mohamed Mursi's palace in Cairo . Security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators . Eighth day of political violence that has left around 60 people dead . Other demonstrations took place in Tahrir Square and in Port Said . | 00b0319898ed6c2010a235078bbc27176677aeac |
By . Luke Augustus for MailOnline . Follow @@Luke_Augustus29 . Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA's Best Player in Europe Award ahead of Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben. The accolade for Europe's top player in the 2013-14 season was handed out during the draw for the Champions League group stage. Ronaldo had a stellar season at Real Madrid last season - proving the catalyst as the club won a record 10th European Cup. VIDEO Scroll down for Cristiano Ronaldo gets a soaking with his Ice Bucket Challenge . Crowning moment: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with his Best Play in Europe award . Sealed with a kiss: Ronaldo celebrates with his award after being presented in Monaco . Showing what it means: Ronaldo reacts after winning the award as he stands next to Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (left) and Bayern Munich's Arjen Robbe . The Portuguese superstar scored a tournament single campaign record of 17 goals which included a penalty in the final against bitter city rivals Atletico. 'I have to say thank you to my team-mates as without them my individual aren't possible,' Ronaldo said upon collecting the award. 'I would like to also thank my family, my coaches and the journalists who voted for me. 'I'm really happy, I've never won this award so I'm going to get my brother to place this in my museum.' The 29-year-old's impressive club form stretched to 51 goals and 15 assists as Real also sealed a Copa del Rey triumph. Top dog: Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA's Best Player in Europe Award for the 2013/14 season . Unstoppable: Cristiano Ronaldo smashed in 56 goals last season, and helped Real win the Champions League . Sweeper keeper: Manuel Neuer is widely regarded as the best goalkepeer in the world . Top of the world: Neuer (right) helped Germany win the World Cup this summer . Ronaldo beat Bayern Munich duo Neuer and Robben to the prize - who both enjoyed a succesful season with their club. The German giants swept the board domestically winning the league and cup double. Neuer's domestic form carried over to the international level too with his performances in Brazil helping Germany lift a fourth World Cup. Diver? Robben (left) has infuriated opposition managers with his tendency to go down easily in the box . VIDEO Ronaldo double against Athletico secured Supercup . | Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award . Ronaldo beat Manuel Neuer and Arjen Robben to the award for the best player in Europe during the 2013-14 season . Portugal superstar led Real Madrid to a 10th European Cup last season . Ronaldo bagged 56 goals and made 15 assists for Real Madrid and Portugal . Neuer won the Bundesliga and World Cup last season . Robben scored 22 goals for club and country last term . Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery won the award last year . | bb50bc61d129650e4478fabbcc5852df136c5ae1 |
There were growing fears last night that the Somerset Levels could face another round of severe flooding. As storms and winds of up to 93mph battered the west of England, rising water levels left locals dreading a repeat of last winter’s floods. Somerset’s groundwater levels are now the second-highest for November since records began 45 years ago, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS) – after peaking in the last round of floods. Scroll down for video . A familiar sight: The River Parrett in Bridgewater, Somerset, looks dangerously close to breaching its banks less than a year after it flooded . Rising water: The same stretch of river back in February at the height of the worst floods in living memory at the River Parrett in Somerset . Close to bursting: The river is currently at a high level in Burrowbridge and residents are on high alert as it looks close to spilling its banks . A year on: The River Parrett (pictured on January 30, 2014) has since been dredged as part of a £6million project hoped to help the village . Photos of the River Parrett near Bridgwater showed it looking dangerously close to spilling its banks, despite having just been dredged as part of a £6million project. And trains were drenched as gaps appeared in the new sea wall in Dawlish, Devon, where the railway line had to be repaired at a cost of £35million after it washed into the sea in February. The rising water is an all-too-familiar sight for the residents watching nervously from their homes, less than a year after the Levels were hit by the worst flooding in living memory. Hundreds of people were forced to flee their homes as water covered huge swathes of the area, cutting off roads, leaving villages stranded and making large areas of farmland unusable. Sunrise: This stunning picture shows the sun as it rises over Swanage yesterday morning - and was taken by RNLI worker Andy Lyons . Grim: A woman makes her way across the seafront at Torquay in Devon yesterday as the south west was lashed by 60mph gales . Echo: Trains were once again lashed by the waves yesterday in Dawlish, Devon, on the stretch of track which slid into the sea in February . Tough job: The railway line reopened with strengthened concrete foundations in April after a £35million rebuilding job which took two months . Foam: A woman braves (or simply tries to ignore) the elements to walk her dog in Dawlish, near where gaps appeared in the sea wall . Whipped up: Dawlish is once again the centre of attention, barely six months after the railway line (right) was rebuilt by a team of 300 workers . Careful: An amber weather warning for strong winds was in place from 9.30am to 2pm across parts of south west England and west Wales . A group of youths narrowly avoid a soaking at Brighton beach yesterday where strong gusts of wind brought waves crashing over the seafront . Cloudy skies over Brighton which is expected to experience heavy rain throughout tomorrow morning with clearer conditions in the afternoon . Heavy showers are expected across Brighton for the rest of the evening with temperatures expected to remain at around 10C. Water crashed over the seafront this afternoon threatening scores of day-trippers with an afternoon soaking . Choppy water in Brighton this afternoon where waves rose over the seafront walls to shower tourists and residents braving the wet weather . Some homes were so badly damaged that 11 months on, their owners have still not been able to move back in. Andrew McKenzie, of the BGS, warned: ‘The well at Winsham, Somerset, an indicator for groundwater across Somerset and Dorset, is at record levels for the time of year. If we had a very wet winter, that would set the scene for extensive flooding.’ But despite their predicament, a few locals played down the scare and said it was nothing unusual for this time of year. Grim: The winds were due to peak at lunchtime yesterday - but would give way to heavy rain overnight and into tomorrow in the south west . Watch out! The Torquay seafront was particularly badly hit, with waves crashing over the sea wall onto the dual carriageway . Disruption: The Met Office warned of potential traffic problems including at Torquay, pictured. One gust off the Devon coast reached 93mph . Brave: A swimmer defies the wind and rain to jump into the Channel at Southsea, Portsmouth. Despite the gales, temperatures are normal . Spray: Wind whips up the spray in Dawlish, Devon, one of the areas in the south west battered by gales amid an amber weather warning . A cyclist braved strong winds and sheeting rain in Southsea near Portsmouth this afternoon to ride along the water-sprayed seafront . Dog walkers were showered on the Portsmouth coast this afternoon with storms battering parts of the country with wet and windy conditions . Winds reached 60mph in some parts of the country as a succession of Atlantic storms saw sea water crashing over barriers along the coast . The seafront in Southsea was scarce with walkers yesterday with only a few residents braving the wet conditions to walk along the beach . Waves washed over the seafront in Portsmouth as well as in other parts of the coast with more heavy rain expected over the weekend . The Met Office has advised there will be persistent rain and wind across the south east tomorrow morning though skies are expected to clear by the afternoon. Strong winds blew sea water over the promenade in Southsea yesterday (pictured) Unpleasant: A pilot boat and a hovercraft on the water as strong wind and rain and tides hits the seafront of Southsea, near Portsmouth . Lurching: The strong winds and rain, pictured in Portsmouth, Hampshire, have renewed fears about flooding among some residents . Bad time for a walk: The stormy weather arrived from the Atlantic this morning in dramatic fashion on the harbour wall at Porthleven, Cornwall . Jogging on: Thankfully for these runners in Southsea, the gusts were due to start dying down in the afternoon - to be replaced with rain . Crumbling: The stormy weather left its damage on these harbour steps at Polperro, Cornwall - though far from the damage wreaked last winter . Jenny Winslade from Bridgwater, who was forced to evacuate her home last winter, said: ‘We are designed to take a bit of water. The key thing is how fast they get rid of it and now we have super-duper wide dredged rivers there is plenty of room for water.’ And Gav Sadler from Moorland in Somerset, who also had to flee his home, wrote on Facebook: ‘The water’s in the river, that’s where it’s meant to be!’ South Somerset District Council held a meeting this week to talk through measures to keep roads in use, rescue operations and community flood plans. Optimistic: A windsurfer makes the most of the wind in Portmarnock, Dublin. Further north, Northern Ireland will be the worst-hit by rain . Water sports: Enthusiasts were out in force off the Irish coast as the sea took on a depressingly familiar shade of winter gloom . Gone swimming: A man leaves the sea complete with a swimming cap after going for a dip despite the gales in Portmarnock, Dublin . Flood: Waterlogged fields yesterday around the village of Clyst St Mary, Devon. The village suffered badly in the heavy storms last winter . Councillor Ric Pallister, leader of South Somerset District Council, said: ‘A lot has happened since the disastrous events of last winter and much work is still going on. ‘This meeting is an opportunity for the wider community to understand what has changed, what flood prevention measures have been put in place and what will now be different should we experience similar conditions across South Somerset in the future.’ | 60mph gales hit south west and west Wales at lunchtime yesterday with gust reaching 93mph at Berry Head, Devon . Strong winds will give way to rain with Northern Ireland and the south west the worst affected tomorrow . British Geological Survey warns of near-record groundwater levels for November in well at Winsham, Somerset . | 7c02276ffe593a0eba3162286ce1b7a34b43fafd |
Barack Obama is set to call for a new push to reduce the world's nuclear arsenal today when he delivers a highly anticipated speech in Berlin. The U.S. President will direct his argument both at Russia's Vladimir Putin and at Congress, making the case for a reduction of one third in the nuclear weapons held by the U.S. and Russia. His speech at the iconic Brandenburg Gate will have a lot to live up to, drawing comparisons with John F. Kennedy's 'Ich bin ein Berliner' address, which took place almost exactly 50 years ago. Scroll down for videos . Meeting: Barack Obama with German chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of a landmark speech in Berlin . Allies: The two leaders kiss as they meet outside the city's chancellery today . Crowds: Mr Obama greeting children gathered at the Schloss Bellevue in Berlin today . Mr Obama is also seeking to live up to a speech he himself made in 2008 while running for election, which drew 200,000 supporters and cemented his reputation as a global 'rock star' politician. The President is expected to attract a much less rapturous reception at his speech today, scheduled for 3pm local time (9am EDT). He will look to make an impact with another call for nuclear disarmament, following a number of past speeches arguing for a reduction in the world's stockpile. The issue was at the centre of his foreign policy when he first came to office, but has since fallen down the agenda in the wake of turmoil in the Middle East and the continuing global economic crisis. Red carpet: Mr Obama arrived for talks with Ms Merkel about issues such as Syria and nuclear weapons . Short visit: Mr Obama planned to spend just 24 hours in Berlin in the aftermath of the G8 summit . Head to head: Ms Merkel and Mr Obama at a bilateral meeting surrounded by aides . Photobomb: Ms Merkel turns around as a photographer captures a picture of Mr Obama flanked by National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Philip Murphy, the U.S. ambassador to Germany . Mr Obama discussed non-proliferation . with Mr Putin on Monday when they met on the sidelines of the G8 summit . in Northern Ireland. During his first term, the U.S. and . Russia agreed to limit their nuclear stockpiles to 1,550 each as part of . the 'New START' treaty, but he hopes to cut that figure by another . third. 'The U.S. intent . is to seek negotiated cuts with Russia so that we can continue to move . beyond Cold War nuclear postures,' a U.S. official said ahead of the . President's speech. Speech: Barack Obama, pictured with German president Joachim Gauck, will today call for nuclear disarmament . Talks: Mr Obama is meeting Mr Gauck and chancellor Angela Merkel during his first presidential visit to Germany . Guard of honour: The two presidents walk past a line of sailors outside the Schloss Bellevue . It is unclear whether Mr Obama is planning to negotiate a new treaty or merely to sign a non-binding agreement, which would not need ratification by Congress. His calls for co-operation with Moscow come at a time of high tension between the U.S. and Russia, which have clashed over Syria's civil war and American missile defence plans in Europe. Mr Obama will also press Congress to pass ban on nuclear tests, an initiative which has been in the works for years but has stalled recently. It is believed that other than the U.S. and Russia, France has about 300 nuclear warheads, China 240, Britain 225, and Israel, India and Pakistan roughly 100 each. Landing: Mr Obama disembarks from Air Force one at Tegel Airport with his wife Michelle and their daughters . Welcome: The couple were greeted by a guard of honour and a bouquet of flowers for Mr Obama . Other than his landmark speech, the President planned to spend Wednesday in talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel and other top politicians including president Joachim Gauck. He touched down with his family in the German capital on Tuesday night, waving to the crowds gathered at Tegel Airport. His wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha visited the city's holocaust memorial on Wednesday, accompanied by the President's half-sister Auma, who lives in Germany. Five years ago, when he was still seeking election as President, Mr Obama received a rapturous reception on a brief tour of Europe where he was greeted as a leader who could give the world a fresh start after the controversial presidency of George W. Bush. 'The Beast': Mr Obama being transported by an armoured limousine which has captured the fascination of the German media . Security: Police guard the entrance to the area near the Brandenburg Gate where Mr Obama is speaking . Now he is a much more divisive figure - . although his re-election last year was welcomed by most Europeans, . recent revelations about his administration's spying on internet . communications have tarnished his record in the eyes of many. Mr Obama's speech tomorrow will inevitably be compared with JFK's, which took place on June 26, 1963 at the Rathaus Schöneberg, a few miles away from the Berlin Wall which had been under construction over the previous two years. Kennedy's speech, considered one of his best, held up West Germany as a symbol of freedom on the front line of the battle against communism. It featured the famous line: 'All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, "Ich bin ein Berliner!"' Parallels: John F. Kennedy delivered an iconic speech in Berlin on 26 June, 1963 - almost exactly 50 years ago . | President will direct demands at Vladimir Putin and the U.S. Congress . Efforts to cut down on nuclear weapons have stalled over past few years . Speech at Brandenburg Gate 50 years on from 'Ich bin ein Berliner' | b7371148f69fc62f0f5d5bd941f8b7fc0c420b30 |
Janice Rodgers was 17st 7lbs and slimmed to 11st in seven months . Dropped from size 22 to 12 . Found 'virtual band' information on website and paid £270 for sessions . By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:05 EST, 15 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:58 EST, 15 November 2012 . A woman lost a staggering 6.5 stone after being hypnotised into thinking she had been fitted with a gastric band. Janice Rodgers, 46, tipped the scales at 17st 7lbs and became desperate to find a solution. When she researched weight loss surgery online she stumbled upon a website about a ‘virtual band’- a treatment that hypnotises you into believing your stomach has shrunk in size. Super slimmer Janice dropped a staggering 6.5 stone after being hypnotised into thinking she had been fitted with a gastric band . Although doubtful she decided to give it a go - paying £270 for a year’s worth of sessions with a therapist called Andrew Nelson. When she came to after the first treatment she was in disbelief the hypnosis had worked but gradually began to lose weight, slimming down to a trim 11st in just seven months after the treatment made her physically unable to eat unhealthy foods. She stopped eating junk food like . crisps and fried chicken and embarked on a two week plan of just liquids . and gradually introduced solid food over time. Janice . lost a staggering 12lbs in her first week and dropped from size 22 to size 12 in seven months thanks to the virtual gastric band. Janice spent £270 on the hypnotising course, which made eating 'normal' food impossible . She has since stuck to a diet of salads, fruit, healthy wholegrains and and lean, grilled meat and . still listens to mp3 recordings of her sessions to keep her motivated. Janice, a care worker from Manchester, . said: 'I had been overweight for 23 years, since the birth of my son, . and tried everything to lose weight. 'I signed up for weekly weight loss classes but any weight I lost I would just put straight back on. 'I started going to Zumba classes with two slim friends but by the end of each session I was gasping for air. 'I knew I needed to do something about it so I logged onto the computer and looked up gastric bands without telling anyone. 'I was shocked with the amount of websites I found, but among them was Andrew’s which mentioned a hypnotic band. 'After researching that I decided to book an appointment, the price was reasonable and I though I would just give it a go. 'I decided not to tell anyone because I felt like a fool but I was just so desperate to lose weight. 'When . I first went I thought it would be a load of rubbish and I felt no . different until I went home and tried to eat something but it felt like . chewing carpet. 'I thought I had better look at the eating plan, which was just liquid for two weeks and then gradually worked up to solid food. 'After eating a lot over the years I didn’t think I could do it but I found it so easy and never felt hungry at all. 'The . weight came off so fast and in my first week I dropped 12lbs. I still . can’t believe I have reached a size 12 and I sometimes do pick up my old . size in the shops. The care worker physically can't eat unhealthy food anymore, she says it tastes like carpet . 'My partner, Steve Kirkham, is really proud of me.' Andrew Nelson said: 'The virtual gastric mind band is made up of cognitive behavioural therapy, neuro-linguistic programming, and mental preparation. 'The treatment begins with an initial discussion where I ask people to visualise themselves as they want to be and we talk about healthy eating. 'People eat for a variety of different reasons and once we have realised the cause I then put them under hypnosis and reaffirm what we have talked about.' | Janice Rodgers was 17st 7lbs and slimmed to 11st in seven months . Dropped from size 22 to 12 . Found 'virtual band' information on website and paid £270 for sessions . | bd448698cf052a97f2cafa8b3a4ebb6af330dcfa |
(CNN) -- So used to being the only British man in the second round at grand slams -- especially outside Wimbledon -- Andy Murray will have company at the U.S. Open. Although Murray didn't play his first-round match against Michael Llodra on Monday, the defending champion is fully expected to defeat the French veteran. And if he indeed gets to the round of 64, he will find qualifier Dan Evans alongside him. Evans became the first men's player outside the top 150 in the world rankings to defeat a top-15 rival at the U.S. Open in six years when he dispatched Japan's Kei Nishikori. The 179th-ranked Evans didn't only beat Nishikori -- he won in straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-2. After Evans rallied from a break down in the first set, he cruised. "When I saw the draw, it was a little bit daunting but I went out and I played a good game and he didn't react that well to how I was playing," Evans told Sky Sports. Once described as the bad boy of British tennis because he liked partying and didn't practice hard enough, Evans has seemingly turned his career around in recent months. The 23-year-old sent Britain into the Davis Cup world group playoffs when he crushed Russia's Evgeny Donskoy in April in the decisive fifth match. Murray decided to skip the series but is expected to feature when Britain faces Croatia in September with a spot in next year's world group at stake. With his performance in New York, Evans now has the edge over James Ward in being the No. 2 behind Murray in the tie. Ward failed to qualify for Flushing Meadows. Ahead of the U.S. Open, Evans reached challenger finals in Vancouver and California to see his ranking move from around 250 to his current 179. Qualifying and toppling Nishikori will see the diminutive shot-maker's ranking rise yet further. "I've just been on the practice court a lot more and in the gym a lot more," Evans said. "It's been a gradual process from January onwards and I'm reaping the rewards of it now." Britain had another winner on day one of the season's last major, as Laura Robson overcame Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5 6-0. Robson was one of the young stars of the 2012 edition, sending crowd favorite Kim Clijsters into singles retirement and also upending Li Na. Her 2013, though, has been blighted by injuries and a coaching change. She has yet to register a quarterfinal showing at any event this campaign. Elsewhere, men's favorite Rafael Nadal eased past American Ryan Harrison in straight sets and Venus Williams maintained her record of never losing in the first round of the U.S. Open when she beat 12th-seeded Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-2. Nadal missed last year's U.S. Open due to knee troubles. "For me, the chance to be back here playing -- I have a chance to compete this year -- is great," Nadal, unbeaten on hard courts this year, told reporters. Flipkens, the Wimbledon semifinalist, had gotten the better of Williams in Toronto this month in the 33-year-old American's comeback from a back injury. Blake to retire . Andy Roddick retired last year after the U.S. Open and Mardy Fish's days on the tennis tour might be numbered given his health issues. Now a third member of the U.S.'s older generation, James Blake -- like Williams 33 -- said Monday in an emotional news conference he would quit following the U.S. Open. "Despite the tears, I'm actually really happy about this," Blake told reporters. Diagnosed with severe scoliosis as a teen and later breaking his neck in a practice accident, Blake persevered. He reached a career high of No. 4, has claimed 10 titles, won a Davis Cup and played at the prestigious year-end championships. His career, however, has been slowed by injuries in recent years and he became a father in 2012. | Daniel Evans pulls off a major upset on the opening day of tennis' U.S. Open . Evans, ranked 179th, beats No. 11 seed Kei Nishikori in straight sets in New York . Venus Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na were first-round women's winners . James Blake will retire after the U.S. Open, putting an end to his 14-year pro career . | aedfe3148230bf084d23b6ca52951471f0dd7d97 |
Editor's note: Lindsay Branham is communications coordinator for Food for the Hungry, an international Christian relief and development organization. She has lived in the region for more than a year. The names of the children in this article have been changed to protect them. Lindsay Branham says armed groups are conscripting children as soliders in the Congo. (CNN) -- The border was hauntingly empty. No military, drenched in green, patrolling. No AKs slung over shoulders. No Swahili floating through the air. Just the pitter-patter of rain falling to the ground and turning the dirt road into a river. To the right some secondary school students huddled beneath an overhang. From a village close to Rutshuru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they had fled an attack by a rebel group. The men with guns marched the boys outside and ordered them to file into a line. "We were so scared," said Jean, "we ran into the bush." Adamant that they did not want to fight, that they did not want to become soldiers, Jean explained how they had to hide themselves in the forest to escape being abducted. Many of their friends, though, were taken. See Branham's view of the turmoil » . Melchisedek is a secondary school teacher in a village close to Rutshuru, an area heavily dominated by clashes between the Congolese government forces and the CNDP. He said that twice armed groups came to his school to abduct children. "They look through the windows and count the boys," he said. Boys. Abducted to be soldiers. The current war in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is marked by the use of child soldiers. These young boys are abducted from their schools and homes and forced to hold a weapon and use it against their own government. In Nakivale, a sprawling refugee settlement holding more than 30,000 people in Uganda, up to 600 new Congolese refugees are arriving daily. Bombarded with hunger, disease and lack of basic essentials, people are suffering. One man, Bahati, his frame thinned, stood weakly. He said he is throwing up and having diarrhea nearly every five minutes. He says sometimes there is blood in his excrement. His face pale, he asked for medicine. Watch Branham discuss child soldiers » . I asked a group of men if they had anything to do in the camp -- no, they said. Then I asked what they did in Congo for a living. "Cultivator," "mason," "teacher." One by one they listed their roles as father, provider and protector with pride. Today they have been stripped of their livelihoods, of their way to take care of their families. Today they fear they may never get to go back home to the lives they once led. Melchisedek's face was set passionately against the backdrop of U.N. relief agency-tarped tents as he told me more about how children are used as weapons in Congo. He said the rebels give the boys three days of training, which includes an ideological indoctrination. The boys are then thrown onto the front lines. If they turn back in fear, they are shot from behind. I asked if the boys are scared. "Of course," Melchisedek said. In a place so rife with conflict -- more than a decade of war has blanketed the eastern part of the country, surging on and off in intensity -- the toll has multiplied. At least 250,000 people have been displaced in the last few weeks, adding to the almost 1 million already displaced Congolese. Jean and his friends pleaded with me for help. They are in their last year of secondary school and want to complete the year to receive their diplomas. They've worked their entire lives for this. And in the span of a few days, it has been destroyed. Jean said they haven't eaten in days. While hiding in the forest from the rebels, they survived off fruit they could pick from trees. Now in Busanza, Uganda, just feet from the Congo border at Kitagoma, they depend on the kindness of their Ugandan neighbors. But Jean still gripped his stomach with his hands and clenched his face in pain to convey the urgency of his hunger. Melchisedek said that as he fled with his wife and four children, the Congolese army fled with them. Who is left to protect now? Melchisedek explained that as fighting became worse, gunshots flying through the air, bombs exploding, he got separated from his two youngest children -- 2 and 4 years old. As he had to decide whether to continue running with the rest of his family and maybe live, or turn back and maybe die, he made an excruciatingly difficult choice. He kept running. At the Ishasha border crossing, Melchisedek said they had to swim through a river to cross over into Uganda since it was impossible to use the guarded border. He described how they had to hold their children above their heads as they pushed through the quickly moving water. They made it into Uganda. But his two youngest are still somewhere in Congo. He cast his eyes down, whispering, "I don't know where they are." I saw pain in the eyes of the Congolese who were gracious enough to share their stories with me. I also saw enormous courage. Thrown into circumstances I can barely fathom, their dignity remains. I am overcome by humanity. The best and the worst. I am horrified children are still being abducted to fight -- their childhoods stripped from them and a life of violence forced upon them. I am humbled by the mothers I met, who continue to give their lives for the sake of their children. One Congolese refugee woman, Espe, who fled the war last week while nine months' pregnant, gave birth this week. Espe named her daughter Tantine, which she says means "can't fear the war." Those words: can't fear the war. An indescribable resolve has named that child. Today I hear the voices of the refugees -- their stories wrapped like falling rain around me. And I see the empty border again. How many more Jeans, Melchisedeks and Espes are still behind the borders? How many will survive? I ask these questions not really wanting answers. The relief and development organization I work with, Food for the Hungry, conducted an assessment this week with these very refugees to determine a way to respond. I am convinced: The Congolese are waiting for peace. But they shouldn't have to wait for assistance. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lindsay Branham. | Aid worker Lindsay Branham: Congolese conflict is stealing dreams and childhoods . Young are being forced to give up study and become soldiers, she says . Branham: Families are being torn apart and forced from their homes . | 8d13e4d8819d8c950977895ebc767573b597dabc |
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