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A millionaire car dealer is about to begin his third trial on charges that he murdered his wife - but his children are insisting that he is innocent. Calvin Harris, 53, is accused of bludgeoning his wife Michele, 35, to death in their home in Spencer, New York on the night of September 11, 2001 as they went through a bitter divorce. But Harris, whose third trial will start this week after his two previous convictions were overturned, continues to maintain his innocence - and his four children, aged between 15 and 20, agree. 'I believe in him,' his son Tanner, 15, told People magazine. Back to court: Calvin Harris, pictured left in court in 2009, is heading back to court this week for his third trial for the murder of his estranged wife, Michele, pictured right, who vanished in September 2001 . His daughter, Cayla, 19, added: 'He might not have gotten along with my mom toward the end, but I know he loved my mom very much, and he tells me all the time she was a beautiful person, a great mother, and he would never do anything to hurt the mother of his children.' Cayla, whose father has been in and out of prison throughout her life, says if her father is convicted again she will stay at home during her first few years of college to care for her younger siblings. Harris heads back to court this week for jury selection. This trial has been moved 140 miles away from his home to Schoharie County, after attorneys feared he would not get a fair trial in his own county. 'I'm just fighting to survive for these kids,' Harris told People. 'Nobody on the face of this earth deserves to be treated as I have.' At the time of his wife's disappearance, he and Michele were living separately under the same roof as they brought up their children and hashed out the details of their separation. Family: They are pictured with their children, who were between two and seven when she went missing . Support: Harris is pictured with his children, (from left) Taylor, 20, Jenna, 17, Cayla, 19, and Tanner, 15. The four teenagers have said they believe their father is innocent of killing their mother . After Mrs Harris filed for divorce in January 2001, her husband had an estimated worth of $5.4 million - and she rejected an initial statement offering her primary child custody and $740,000. At the time she went missing, a trial had been scheduled to reach a deal. Prosecutors said Harris' motive for killing his wife was to keep his hands on his fortune. Her hairdresser testified that she had heard Harris tell his wife in a phone call: 'Drop the divorce proceedings. Do you hear me? I will [expletive] kill you. I can make you disappear.' On the night she went missing, she went out for drinks with friends before stopping at her boyfriend's apartment. Her minivan was found at the end of her home's drive the following morning. Calvin Harris called the babysitter around 7am on September 12, 2001 to say that his wife had not returned from a night out so he needed help getting the children ready. Her body was never found and investigators also failed to turn up a murder weapon, but they did find tiny splatters of her blood in the home, although their date was not determined. Emotional: In 2014, they appeared with their father as they appealed for information about the disappearance . By his side: Harris, pictured with Jenna, left, and Cayla, right, is currently out on bail after his conviction was overturned for the second time in 2012. He had previously been convicted of murder in 2007 and 2009 . Investigators also noted that there were no signs of struggle in the home and that Harris did not have any marks on his body indicating his wife had fought him. Four years after she went missing, Harris was charged with murder and - after his indictment was initially thrown out - he was re-charged and convicted of her killing in June 2007. But just a day later, a witness came forward to say he had seen Michele arguing with a man near to the couple's driveway and the case was re-opened. After spending five months in prison, Harris was freed and a new trial was ordered. But he was found guilty in the second trial in October 2009 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. During the first two trials, District Attorney Gerald Keene argued that Harris was the only logical suspect in the case, the Press & Sun Bulletin reported. He argued that Michele was struck with an object at least twice in the home's kitchen and that, sometime between 11pm and 7am, he managed to dispose of her body and the weapon. But in 2011, a judge in an appeals court said evidence in the case was insufficient to convict him, and it was sent to New York's Court of Appeals. In court: Harris is pictured in court in Tioga County July 2005 ahead of his first indictment in the case. This third trial will leave the county and be held 140 miles away in an attempt to make proceedings fair . Scene: Prosecutors say Harris hit his wife twice across the head with an object on the night of September 11, 2001 at the home they still shared, pictured, before disposing of her body before 7am the next day . The court also found problems with the second trial - such as one of the jurors having pre-conceived ideas about the case - and threw out his conviction for a second time. He was freed again in October 2012 on the $500,000 bail he had posted back in 2007 and is now awaiting his third trial, which is due to begin this week. Harris and his attorney argue that since the start of the investigation, he has been the only person authorities focused on. 'They have fixated on Cal from the beginning of this, and they are just not going to admit they got it wrong,' said his attorney Bruce Barket. The attorney suggested that they know of another person who could be responsible for the murder, but he did not name them. Michele's family told People that they stand by his convictions. | Michele Harris, 35, vanished from Spencer, New York on September 11, 2001 but her body or a murder weapon have never been found . Her husband Calvin Harris, now 53, was charged with killing her four years later and he was convicted of her murder in 2007 . But a witness then came forward to say he had seen Michele with another man the night of her disappearance and the conviction was overturned . Harris was convicted again in 2009 but an appeals court threw it out in 2012 when it found problems with the trial; he was freed on bail . His third trial begins with jury selection this week . Prosecutors say he wanted her dead because she was trying to get at his $5.4 million fortune during their divorce battle . But he and his children, now aged 15 to 20, have said he is innocent and argue that investigations only ever focused on him . | 62e31d3468630242ea013313e24a3c2e1fb66fa7 |
By . Caroline Graham . Last updated at 7:09 PM on 23rd October 2011 . Inked: Jessica Donaldson who has been linked to Prince Harry . She is the Kate Middleton lookalike who is said to have been caught canoodling with Prince Harry in San Diego. But as this photograph shows, cocktail waitress Jessica Donaldson, 26, isn't quite do similar to the regal duchess. The gorgeous brunette was snapped on a night out in a revealing white bikini top - showing off a huge tattoo covering the side of her midriff. While the rumours about the two persist, Jessica broke her silence to say: ‘He is a real-life Prince Charming.’ She added that she is ‘way flattered’ at suggestions that she resembles the Duchess of Cambridge – and called Harry ‘a total English gentleman’ - but denied reports of an affair. Jessica, who met Harry in the VIP area of the San Diego nightclub where she works as a ‘bottle girl’, said: ‘I am speaking out now because I want people to know the truth. 'I am not sleeping with Prince Harry and he has never been anything other than a total gentleman to me. ‘I am very upset that all this has blown up. He is just a regular guy who enjoys a few beers with his buddies. 'He’s . really cool and down-to-earth and that’s what I liked about him. I’m . flattered he showed me attention but there is nothing more to it than . that.’ Yet despite her protestations – and . with her burly boyfriend in the room with her – she becomes upset when . asked to explain photos on an American gossip website last week that . appear to show the pair kissing. Shaking . her head, she bursts into tears and runs from the room. Later, after . being comforted by her boyfriend, she says: ‘This is so hard and . difficult. I didn’t want any of this.’ Jessica, . known as ‘Jes’, said Harry entered the Ivy nightclub at the five-star . Andaz hotel in downtown San Diego on Friday, October 7. ‘His people called ahead and said . there was a VIP person coming with about 20 friends and could we secure . an area of the club for him. ‘I . had no idea the VIP was Prince Harry until he walked in. We are used to . seeing celebrities here like local sports stars and Johnny Knoxville . [star of MTV’s Jackass] but when Harry walked in, it was, “Wow!” ’ Jessica’s job as a bottle girl is to sell bottles of Belvedere and Absolut vodka with mixers for £350 a table. She said: ‘You buy a table and for that you get a bottle of vodka, some . mixers and soft drinks. You also get to stand in the VIP area. Our job . is to bring in rich guys who want to meet hot girls. The more bottles . you sell, the more you earn on commission. ‘Harry was with a big group, mostly . guys. There were quite a few security men with him. I waited on his . table and he was charming and chatty but he was charming to all the . girls. 'He paid for two of the bottles and his friend paid for a third. Harry started off drinking Stella but went on to vodka.’ The Prince’s group moved to a poolside cabana where they watched a Rugby World Cup match. At the end of the night, a man she believed was one of the Prince’s bodyguards, called Mark, asked for her number. ‘He said Harry would like to invite me and another girl, my friend Christie, for brunch the next day.’ Party boy: Prince Harry leaving the Andaz hotel in San Diego where he met Jessica . The girls met the Prince and four friends at a beachside cafe called Pipes the following day. ‘We hung out, had breakfast, talked, and I thought how cool it was to be with an English Prince. Harry had scrambled eggs. ‘Then we went to a Mexican restaurant and drank cocktails in the sun. Harry drank fruity cocktails and ate chips and salsa. He was joking about the weather and how much better it was than in England.’ Harry, who is on an Apache helicopter training course in El Centro, a two-hour drive from San Diego, had his friend text Jessica again last Saturday to invite her to the VIP area of the Belly Up Tavern in Solano Beach, a 20-minute drive along the coast from San Diego. Happier times: Jessica poses with a friend at the Ivy Nightclub at Andaz. She was upset at pictures which appeared to show her and Prince Harry kissing . The pair listened to a live band and danced. It was during this evening that photographers snapped the couple allegedly embracing. The Mail on Sunday has independently learned that Harry spent the night in Suite 202 at the nearby £70-a-night Marriott Courtyard in Solano Beach. Together: Jessica with her boyfriend of three years Brandon Thomason. Sales manager Cassie Smith said: ‘We had no idea he was coming. He arrived with his friends and checked in at the front desk like anyone else. We have now renamed his room the Royal Suite.’ Multiple sources at the hotel claimed to have seen a brunette fitting Jessica’s description arrive alone by taxi in the early hours. The woman was seen leaving around 6am. A night manager at the hotel yesterday looked at a photo of Jessica and said: ‘Yes, that is definitely her.’ But Jessica, who lives with her boyfriend of three years, nightclub promoter Brandon Thomason, 28, said yesterday: ‘No, no, that wasn’t me. It must have been another girl. I am sure Harry has lots of girls.’ Mr Thomason said: ‘When I first saw the pictures of Jes with Harry I talked to her and she assured me that nothing went on. She told me they didn’t kiss and I believe her. 'She said he leaned in to talk to her and it was just the angle of the camera that made it look like a kiss. ‘Jes wants to set the record straight. Harry might have been with a girl but it wasn’t Jes. If I didn’t believe her, I wouldn’t be here now.’ Jessica added: ‘Harry is so sweet. He was kind of goofy with me. I really like him but I have a boyfriend. I just want all this to go away.’ Top gun: Prince Harry stands in front of an Apache helicopter during his training in the US . | Jessica describes Harry as a 'sweet' and 'regular guy' 26-year-old upset about pictures appearing to show pair kissing . | c494c25b86cbdc4cc63a68f39f79aa0fc3624481 |
The majority of teenage girls don't often think about their fertility when they are still in high school. But Jaida Wand didn't have a choice. When the 17-year-old from Coogee in Sydney finishes her HSC this year, she has decided to freeze her eggs to have the best chance of having children later in life. Jaida, who was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's lymphoma in November 2013, underwent six months of gruelling chemotherapy. But she still doesn't know for sure how the treatment affected her fertility. Jaida Wand, 17, was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's lymphoma in November 2013 . 'When I got diagnosed, everything happened so fast. (Within a week) we went to see a fertility specialist. I was in my pyjamas in the waiting room,' Jaida told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was worried about having to do homework two days before and then I was having to worry about having kids. 'I asked the doctor if my cancer would effect (my ovaries)... she didn't know and that was pretty shocking. I was really sick - stage three out of four - so it was too late to freeze my eggs. I had to jump into treatment the next day. 'I was just about to start treatment that was going to make me look like a different person... and I had to think about whether I was going to be infertile - it was crazy and shocking.' When the 17-year-old from Coogee in Sydney finishes her HSC this year, she has decided to freeze her eggs to have the best chance of having children later in life . Jaida underwent six months of gruelling chemotherapy but still doesn't know for sure how the treatment effected her fertility . Jaida says she's eligible to have her eggs frozen now, but she will wait until after her HSC to go through the processes. 'So when I'm 35 I'll have eggs of a 17-year-old... it's pretty weird,' she said. She is among thousands of young cancer patients who are participating in a world first online registry that will collect data from their medical history and inform them on their ability to have a child after diagnosis. The Australiasian Oncofertility Registry is headed by Jaida's oncologist, Dr Antoinette Anazodo, who works out of both the Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick. Jaida is among thousands of young cancer survivors participating in a world first online registry that will collect data from a patient's medical history and inform them on their ability to have a child after diagnosis . The Australiasian Oncofertility Registry is headed by Jaida's oncologist, Dr Antoinette Anazodo (pictured), who works out of both the Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick . Jaida, who was in Year 10 when she was diagnosed, said several of her friends shaved their heads in support . 'Once a patient finishes treatment they may not be able to accurately recall the drugs or treatment received as a result of their diagnosis,' Dr Anazodo said. 'As some cancer drugs can cause reproductive challenges, the registry will be able to assist cancer patients and survivors by providing information at a later date when they choose to start their family.' Dr Anazodo said outcomes generated from the registry will also assist cancer clinicians in providing accurate risk projections for a patient's future infertility after cancer treatment. While Jaida isn't interested in having children now, she said it was comforting to know she could potentially still have them. 'When I got sick it was pretty overwhelming and devastating. I had to give up my social life for a while and I kept thinking it was okay because things would get better. But then I thought maybe my fertility wouldn't,' she said. 'I didn't want my cancer to define me.' The bubbly teenager made it to her Year 10 formal by rescheduling her chemo treatments. She wore an 'amazing' wig (pictured) that she joked was better than her normal hair . Jaida said she had to give up her social life and had to miss school while she was undergoing treatment . Jaida would spend three days in hospital every time she had a round of intense chemotherapy . Jaida had to miss out on classes at school and most social events during her treatment, but she did make it to her Year 10 formal. 'We scheduled my chemo around my formal. The most annoying part (of treatment) was losing my hair. I lost everything - my eyebrows, eyelashes. I wore this amazing wig to the formal and it was better than my normal hair,' she said. Since finishing treatment, Jaida and her family have been making up for lost time. 'As soon as I finished treatment, my parents took me and four friends to Fiji to celebrate. They've been spoiling me like crazy. 'I've also been to Japan, Dubai and Turkey.' Since finishing treatment, Jaida and her family have been making up for lost time by travelling to Fiji, Japan, Dubai and Turkey . Jaida will finish her HSC at the end of the year and plans to study science at university. She says she's making the most of life after six months of intense treatment . She plans to study science at university when she finishes high school, but admits she'd love to work in oncology and learn more about cancer. 'I look at myself a year ago and I was bald in hospital and sick. Now I've got a tan and I'm going to the beach. 'Things could have been a lot worse. I'm really lucky that mine was curable. It doesn't mean I didn't have a bad experience - I lost my innocence, it changed my life, I had to grow up a lot faster.' | Jaida Wand was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in November 2013 . The 17-year-old underwent six months of gruelling chemotherapy . She still doesn't know for sure how the treatment affected her fertility . Jaida has decided to freeze her eggs when she finishes her HSC this year . She is participating in a world first registry that collects data from cancer patients and informs them of their ability to have children . It is being headed by Jadia's oncologist Dr Antoinette Anazodo of the Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick . | 8bcf4ee299158a514ef6f8a77dafc18d86812bc1 |
Forty-four pieces of jewelry from the collections of Estee Lauder and her daughter-in-law Evelyn have gone under the hammer for $3.9 million. Among the highlights at Sotheby's sale in New York Tuesday was a ruby, emerald and diamond Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet worn by breast cancer research advocate Evelyn that sold for $2.165 million - more than double its top pre-sale estimate. And a pair of brown-yellow diamond earclips by Van Cleef and Arpels that beauty billionairess Estee owned, went for $233,000 - again, exceeding the original valuation. Highlight:Among the highlights at Sotheby's sale in New York Tuesday was this ruby, emerald and diamond Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet that sold for $2.1 million - more than double its top pre-sale estimate. Tutti Frutti: The bracelet seen in its entirety (left) and on the arm of the late Evelyn Lauder in 2011 (right) Proceeds from the sale of 33 jewels from Evelyn Lauder's collection will support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which she founded. Eleven pieces from the collection of Estee Lauder will benefit the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. Estee Lauder died in 2004. She founded the Estee Lauder fragrance and skincare products company. Her daughter-in-law Evelyn Lauder died of ovarian cancer in 2011. Estee's son and Evelyn's husband, Leonard Lauder, 81, remains chairman of the cosmetics giant. Going, going: These platinum, diamond and colored diamond earclips by Van Cleef and Arpels sold for $233,000 (left) and a platinum, diamond, sapphire and emerald bracelet dating from around 1925 designed by Oscar Heyman & Brothers (right) went for $293,000 . Dazzling: A pair of platinum earclips with interchangeable ruby and sapphire pendants by Van Cleef & Arpels were snapped up for $269,000 . And it emerged just last week that the billionaire is set to remarry in January. Mr Lauder will marry longtime friend Judith Glickman, 76, in Sarasota, Florida, according to the New York Post. Mr Lauder had planned to walk down the aisle with Brooklyn Public Library president and CEO Linda E. Johnson, 55, in August 2013, but canceled the wedding just weeks in advance. The woman behind the brand: The late Estee Lauder, pictured in 1966, built a $10 billion cosmetics empire . Family dynasty: Leonard Lauder pictured in 2011 with his late wife Evelyn . Leonard and Evelyn Lauder married in 1959 and had two sons together. She had also worked at the cosmetics giant and was especially famous for spearheading the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Pink Ribbon initiative. Mr Lauder is the first son of Estee Lauder, who co-founded the eponymous beauty company with her husband, Joseph, in 1946. His estimated net worth is currently $8.2 billion, according to Forbes. Sotheby's previously sold jewels from the Lauder collections in 2012 and 2013 to benefit breast cancer research. | Forty-four pieces of jewelry were included in the Sotheby's New York sale . Among the highlights was a ruby and diamond Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet that sold for $2.1 million - more than double its top pre-sale estimate . Proceeds from the sale of 33 jewels from Evelyn Lauder's collection will support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which she founded . Eleven pieces from the collection of her mother-in-law Estee Lauder were also sold, benefiting the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation . | ac0ff876c9bd0af02c98da6845554f662593ae3b |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A bike shop owner has set a new world record after inventing a bicycle that can travel at more than 110mph. Jason Rourke, 42, spent 10 days building the super-strong mountain bike which cost a total of £5,000. Motorcycle racer Guy Martin commissioned Mr Rourke to make the bike which he pedalled into the record books at 112.94mph (181km/h) earlier this year. Scroll down for video . Daredevil cyclist Guy Martin (pictured) commissioned bicycle shop owner Jason Rourke to make the super pushbike (also pictured) which he has since pedalled into the record books at 112mph (177km/h) Mr Martin broke the previous record set by Dutch cyclist Sebastiaan Bowier who reached 83.13mph (133.78 km/h) on a pushbike in September this year. In order to break the record Mr Martin was towed at 50mph on Pendine Sands in South Wales, before being released where he hit just under 113mph (around 180km/h). Speedy: Mr Rourke, 42, spent 10 days and £5,000 building the 22lb super-strong mountain bike (pictured) The record breaking attempt features in a new Channel 4 series called 'Speed' which began last night. All the bike's materials, except the tyres, were sourced from the UK . The vehicle has just one gear which allows the bike go up to 130mph . It uses Continental laminated tyres . The bike is made up of two aluminium wheel frames one tailor-made lightweight steel frame measuring 22inches x 22 inches (56cm x 56cm). The entire bike weighs 22lbs (10kg) Mr Rourke, who runs Brian Rourke Cycles in Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, said: 'The funny thing is, my dad Brian was contacted by the people who set the current world record asking if we could help to build the bike. 'Due to various work commitments we didn't take it on, so when we got a call from the producers in February about another attempt to break the record, we couldn't say "no". 'I made the bike in the workshop over 10 days and welded the steel frame together and brazed it as well. 'It wasn't a particularly light bike . because that's not what we were focusing on. We needed to make sure it . was strong and the tyres actually were quite thick as we needed extra . tread to grip with. Resilient: Mr Martin broke the previous record set by Dutch cyclist Sebastiaan Bowier, who reached 83.13mph on a pushbike in September this year . 'Because all the components have been tailor-made, the bike is almost priceless because companies might never . agree to make them. 'But the price to construct the bike came to roughly £5,000.' 'The fact that we got to work with Guy Martin was incredible. He is someone I have always found interesting having seen a lot of his programmes. 'He came along to our workshop in Burslem with the TV crew so he could get measured up for the bike, and he even helped me to make it.' Former British Truck Racing Championship winner Dave Jenkins, 38, was also enlisted to help in the record-breaking bid. He . said: 'I got a call out of the blue one day from a researcher asking if . I knew anyone who had a truck capable of doing 120mph, who had . engineering experience and who could drive the truck. The record was broken by Guy Martin (pictured) earlier this year. The record breaking attempt features in a new Channel 4 series called 'Speed' which began last night . Bike designer Mr Rourke said: 'The fact that we got to work with Guy Martin (pictured preparing for record) was incredible.' Mr Martin was towed along by a truck at 50mph before being set free to up the speed on his own . 'I explained I could tick all three boxes so then found myself meeting up with Guy Martin. It sounded fun and I'm always up for a challenge, so we thought we'd give it a crack. 'It was exciting to take part, but I was also aware of the risks involved. I was conscious of what could happen if things went wrong with someone cycling so close to the rear of the truck.' Truck driver Dave Jenkins said: 'It was exciting to take part, but I was also aware of the risks involved. I was conscious of what could happen if things went wrong with someone cycling so close to the rear of the truck' | Bike shop owner Jason Rourke, 42, spent 10 days building the super-strong mountain bike in his Stoke-on-Trent workshop . Daredevil cyclist Guy Martin commissioned Mr Rourke to make the bike which he pedalled into the record books at 112.94mph (181km/h) | 091348611e88802161365c145aeac64b56b815ef |
By . James Chapman . and Jason Groves . Labour was in turmoil last night as senior MPs rounded on Ed Miliband for failing to anticipate the dangers of a Ukip surge. As town hall election results left Labour MPs depressed about their chances of regaining power, Mr Miliband was accused of running a ‘tremendously ill-judged campaign’ marred by gaffes. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the results were ‘not good enough’. In what was widely seen a dry run for the general election campaign next year, Labour’s vote share was 31 per cent, just two points ahead of the Tories and seven points lower than it managed a year before Neil Kinnock lost the 1992 election. Labour was in turmoil last night as senior MPs rounded on Ed Miliband for failing to anticipate the dangers of a Ukip surge . Pressure on Mr Miliband and the ‘metropolitan elite’ at the top of his party will increase if, as strategists fear, it is beaten by Ukip in European Parliament elections, results of which are due tomorrow. Although Labour made progress in London, it lost huge chunks of its vote to Ukip in northern strongholds such as Rotherham, Sunderland and Grimsby, and failed to win key Middle England swing councils in Tamworth, Thurrock and Swindon. Its gains of nearly 300 fell well short of the 500 that experts said it needed to show it was on course for general election victory. In an ominous sign for Mr Miliband – who insisted he ran a ‘good’ campaign – senior members of the shadow Cabinet, including Mr Balls, Harriet Harman and Yvette Cooper, were said to have complained they felt ‘shut out’ of Labour’s campaign. One insider told the Labour-supporting New Statesman that the strategy to concentrate on Mr Miliband had failed disastrously. ‘It was all Ed, Ed, Ed,’ the source added. Mr Balls called for the party to strengthen its position on issues including immigration and Europe, a key driver of Ukip support. Pressure on Mr Miliband and the 'metropolitan elite' at the top of his party will increase if, as strategists fear, it is beaten by Ukip in European Parliament elections, results of which are due tomorrow . ‘Whether on Europe or immigration or on the economy, Labour has got more to do to show we can deliver the real fair change people want to see,’ he said. John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, insisted poor results were the ‘fault of Ed Miliband and all the people at the top of the Labour Party’, who had complacently believed a Ukip advance would hit only the Tories. Arguing that Labour’s ‘metropolitan elite excluded ordinary people’, he added scornfully: ‘Some of the pointy-heads at the top of the party thought that Ukip doing well is what we needed.’ On a day that saw all three main parties hit by the Ukip advance: . Yesterday’s results suggested that as things stand, both Labour and the Conservatives will struggle to assemble a Commons majority next year. Ironically, experts said Ukip’s advance could help ensure the Lib Dems remain in government in another coalition. Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said: ‘Labour’s lead over Conservatives of two points is narrower than last year, and it is narrower than 2012. This is a clear warning to Labour.’ Ed Miliband admitted there was 'a deep sense of discontent' among voters . Ukip last night hailed a ‘tremendous result’ after winning ten council seats in the Labour stronghold of Rotherham. The dramatic result – which saw Ukip become the biggest opposition group – is a huge blow to Labour in its South Yorkshire heartland, where Ed Miliband is MP for Doncaster North. It will be seized on by the party as evidence that they are as much of a threat to Labour in the North as they are to the Conservatives in South. Ukip councillor and Rotherham branch chairman Cavan Vines said: ‘This will send shockwaves. If you can break Rotherham, the rest will follow.’ Labour MPs . expressed despair at a series of media gaffes by Mr Miliband during the . campaign – including failing to know the price of groceries, forgetting . who was in control of a key council during a visit to the area and an . unfortunate photocall at which he struggled to eat a bacon sandwich. Mr Mann added: ‘Some of the so-called strategists at the top of the Labour party think Ukip doing well is good news because it will damage Cameron. 'Well, they need to get out of their ivory towers and get back into the real world. That was a fundamental error.’ John Healey, Labour’s respected former housing minister, warned Mr Miliband: ‘We need to be clearer, bolder and stronger about the plans we have.’ Labour grandee Tessa Jowell said the basic presentational errors of the campaign were unforgivable. ‘If you are a politician . . . don’t eat a bacon butty when the world’s cameras are on you.’ Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, said Mr Miliband ‘is behind in the personality stakes’ and the party was struggling on economic policy. He added that it was ‘unforgiveably unprofessional’ for the Labour leader not to know the value of his family’s weekly shopping bill when he was running a ‘cost of living’ campaign. Mr Miliband admitted there was ‘a deep sense of discontent’ among voters. ‘You also saw some people turning to Ukip and I am determined that over the next year we will persuade them that we can change their lives for the better. | Labour leader was accused of running a ‘tremendously ill-judged campaign’ marred by gaffes . Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said results were ‘not good enough’ Labour lost huge chunks of its vote to Ukip in northern strongholds such as Rotherham, Sunderland and Grimsby . A BBC projection put Labour on 31 per cent of the vote, the Tories on 29 per cent, Ukip 17 per cent and the Lib Dems 13 per cent . Nigel Farage declared Ukip had shattered the old system of three-party politics, though its share of the vote slipped on last year’s showing . David Cameron rejected calls for a Tory-Ukip pre-election pact . An exclusive poll by Lord Ashcroft showed only half of those who voted Ukip this week say they will probably do so at the general election, with more than a fifth already saying they will vote Tory . Nick Clegg insisted he would not quit as Lib Dem leader as results indicate the party risks losing 20 MPs next year. | 5882b22e7e883dfff6d430067a94e272e1183ae4 |
By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 20:40 EST, 17 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:57 EST, 18 December 2013 . A fiery plane crash in a residential Atlanta area took the lives of two occupants Tuesday as horrified residents looked helplessly on. Authorities didn't immediately release the names of the victims in the crash, or if there were survivors, but shocking footage from the scene makes clear no one likely escaped. The Raytheon 390 Premier I aircraft went down in a wooded but populated area around 7pm. Scroll down for videos... Fireball: Amateur video taken at the scene shows a residents scrambling helplessly around a wall of flame at the wreckage site and horrified screams can be heard in the background . Residential: A Google street view shows the car-lined, residential Atlanta street where authorities say a corporate jet crashed Tuesday evening in the city's northwest quadrant . Amateur video taken at the scene shows a residents scrambling helplessly around a wall of flame at the wreckage site. Horrified . screams can be heard, and as the camera briefly pans to the left, what . appear to be lights of a nearby home can be clearly seen just yards from . the horrifying wreckage. Vine user Drew Hawkins posted a video of burning wreckage: 'Plane just crashed behind our house. Prayers appreciated.' 'Before it even hit, the house shook,' said Hawkins later told WSBTV. 'Then I heard the explosion and it shook the house even more.' Area resident Kevin Krapp said that planes are commonly heard in the area, but Tuesday's crash was far louder. 'It looked like it was coming straight for our house, and at the last minute, dipped its wings over and it banked really hard right,' Krapp said. 'It landed a couple hundred yards away from our house, and I thought it hit a neighbor’s house.' It . remained unclear shortly after the corporate jet crashed what, if any, . property was damaged in the neighborhood, which abuts Chattahoochee . Trail Park in the northwest quadrant of the southern city. Atlanta . Fire Rescue spokeswoman Janet Ward confirmed the two deaths but did not . elaborate as the investigation into the cause of the tragic crash got . underway. FAA spokeswoman . Kathleen Bergen said the plane had taken off from Atlanta's Fulton . County Airport and was destined for New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Deadly: The plane went down in a fiery ball in the northwest reaches of the sprawling southern city near Chattahoochee Trail Park around 7pm. Two people were killed in the crash . Corporate jet: Authorities identified the light plane as a Raytheon 390 Premier I (file photo pictured) corporate jet registered to a metropolitan Atlanta corporation . | The small plane was bound for New Orleans when it went down around 7pm Tuesday . Authorities did not immediately release the names of the victims . The Raytheon 390 Premier I aircraft was registered to a company in metropolitan Atlanta . Shocking amateur video shows residents scrambling towards a wall of flames that no one likely could have escaped . | 84014cc3db46a6098075f66b29df2ca843e7fbf2 |
By . Laura Cox . PUBLISHED: . 14:54 EST, 17 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:52 EST, 18 June 2012 . A young father bled to death after impaling himself on broken glass after he slipped while trying to climb through a window into his own home. The lifeless body of 28-year-old Kyle Fortunato was discovered by his girlfriend, Mariko Laurin, hanging over the kitchen window sill at their home in Scaramento, California. Fortunato, who was the father of an 18-month-old girl, and worked as a landscaper had managed to get half way through the ground-floor kitchen window, despite it being only 12 inches wide, before getting stuck on shattered glass. Scroll down for video . Tragic accident: Kyle Fortunato, 28, died after impaling himself on glass as he tried to climb through a window into his own house . Family man: Kyle Fortunato is pictured here with his girlfriend and their 18-month-old daughter . The Sacramento Coroner’s . Office said the death was accidental and that Fortunato . had been locked out of his own apartment and in an attempt to get back . in he tried to crawl in through a kitchen window where he bled to death. A large crowd gathered on the street . in front of the house in the North Highlands district. Some even brought . binoculars and young children to ogle at the gruesome scene. Rumours quickly spread with some . people insisting they had heard gunshots being fired and others . suggesting there had been an argument. In an open first floor window a torn . blind could be seen hanging out with some suggesting that the . 28-year-old had jumped, but the coroner disputed that claim. Fortunato's body is removed from the scene. The coroner's office insists his death was accidental . Scene: The ground floor kitchen window, now boarded up, where Fortunato became impaled and died . Shocking: A crowd of people gather in front of the house to see what had happened . 'And while police too are adamant there was no foul play involved, some neighbours remained suspicious. It don't seem like no accident to me,’ one told CBS Sacramento. ‘I mean, I ain't no CSI, but I watch CSI.’ But Ms Laurin, mother to Fortunato’s . daughter, took to Facebook to refute these claims. She wrote: ‘I don't want you to believe the vicious . rumours of a “lover's spat” between us. ‘It was an unfortunate accident that he was taken from us too soon.' Tragic: Kyle Fortunatowas found halfway through the . kitchen window of his Sacramento apartment by his girlfriend Mariko . Laurin . Grisly: People even brought binoculars to witness the scene . Gossip: Rumours spread, with some claiming to have heard gunshots fired. Others said they thought he had fallen from this open window . Yesterday, candles and teddy bears were left outside the home. A family friend who dod not give her name told CBS: 'She loved him and he loved her. They were a family.' A neighbour told the station: 'He was a nice guy, he went to work.' | Body of Kyle Fortunato, 28, was discovered by his girlfriend draped over the window sill . | a97d99b5b524481e95e61c8eb69723ccc30b9303 |
Beer consumption was down for the 181st Oktoberfest festival in Munich with the Bavarian beer celebration's 6.3 million visitors drinking 1.2 million litres less amber nectar than last year. This year's visitors downed 6.5 million litres of beer, a significant reduction on the 2013 figures of 7.7 million litres from an estimated 6.4 million guests. The 2014 festivities, which began with the tapping of the first keg on September 20, closed on Sunday with the traditional gun salute from the Munich Salute Gun Regiment's one-shot rifles. Scroll down for video . Oktoberfest waitresses salute the end of Oktoberfest in Munich with a well-deserved litre of beer after two weeks of celebrations . An Oktoberfest waitress celebrates the end of the 181st version of the festival on Sunday with a stein of beer and a sparkler . Revellers dance away the final moments of the world's biggest festival, which closed on Sunday after two weeks of beer drinking . The 6.3 million visitors to Munich for Oktoberfest drank 1.2 million litres less beer than last year . An Oktoberfest partygoer in traditional costume holds on as the Teufelsrad (Devil's Wheel) fairground ride spins on the last day of the 2014 Oktoberfest . One man is double-parked with steins of beer as he and a friend enjoy the final day of Oktoberfest in the Bavarian capital . Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter declared the 2014 festivities 'unbelievably pleasant' as the final drops were pulled from the last of thousands of wooden kegs. While there was a reduction in the amount of steins consumed this year, incidences of alcohol poisoning were also down with the Bavarian Red Cross recording just 600 such incidents compared to 629 in 2013 and 739 in 2012. The Red Cross were seen by 7,900 patients over the two-week event, up marginally on last year, but mainly due to minor injuries after wet weather early on in the festival. Police were overall satisfied with how partygoers behaved, with just 720 arrests at the world's largest drinking festival. Actual detentions were down 39 on last year but not all who attended behaved in the right spirit. 'From bite wounds to kicking, we had it all,' police spokesman Wolfgang Wenger said.Poor weather at the start of the festival resulted in fewer visitors. Sparklers are lit to mark the last minutes of the 2014 Oktoberfest in Munich after a fortnight of revelry . Costumes are a big part of Oktoberfest so this visitor went with fluffy bunny ears - just about anything goes in Munich in the fortnight from September 20 . Bavarian riflemen of the Munich Salute Gun Regiment arrive with their one-shot guns ahead of firing the traditional salute under the Bavaria statue to close Oktoberfest . The riflemen and women, dressed in traditional attire, fire their muzzle loaders in front of thousands of onlookers to mark the final day of the Oktoberfest beer festival . The shooters wave to the massive crowd gathered for the official festivities' closing moments . Smoke from the single shot rifles of the Munich Salute Gun Regiment, known in Germany as Muenchner Boellerregiment, are engulfed in smoke after firing their guns . The 'Schuetzenkoenig' and 'Schuetzenkoenigin' (Riflemen's King and Queen) prepare for the final shots of Oktoberfest to be fired on Sunday . Someone's got to do it ... the Oktoberfest waitresses clean the tables to be ready for next year as Munich returns to realities after a fortnight of frivolity . Bayern Munich football star Thomas Muller enjoys a stein with his wife Lisa on the closing day of Oktoberfest . Bayern's Spanish star Xabi Alonso, who moved to the Bavarian capital from Real Madrid this season, also gets into the spirit of the traditional festival . Drinks with the boss! Bayern manager Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina enjoy the club's ritual outing to mark their city's traditional celebrations . Olympic and World Champion sprinter Usain Bolt relaxes with a giant brew at Schuetzenzelt during Oktoberfest . Auf Wiedersehen ... Two mates embrace during the closing moments of Oktoberfest . | An estimated 6.3 million visitors drank 6.5m litres of beer this year - compared to 6.4 million guests and 7.7m litres . Cases of alcohol poisoning were also down, but minor injuries increased at the 181st Oktoberfest . Bad weather on the opening days of the Munich festival, which closed on Sunday, impacted visitor figures . 720 arrests were made and detentions were down by 39 on last year . The Munich Salute Gun Regiment fired their traditional salute to close festivities . Usain Bolt and Bayern Munich players joined the festivities closing days . | 2cfd83a96b64feb1a63a4b3271d04cedc52b4cac |
Budget airlines have been cleared to carry on imposing punishing baggage charges on passengers. A number of companies, such as Ryanair, have levied increasingly high fees in a policy to discourage travellers from bringing large bags that need to go in the hold. The ploy angers holidaymakers, but helps airlines cut their airport baggage handling fees and speeds up the turnaround of their aircraft. They also claim that the policy cuts fuel costs. Extra fee: The court's ruling is a big win for European budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair . It also allows budget airlines to keep headline fares down – which is the key to attracting customers in the first place. Europe’s . top court has now sided with them rather than travellers, following . legal action by a consumer body in Spain against the airline Vueling, a . sister brand of British Airways. The . case was triggered four years ago when a Spanish woman complained about . a 40 euro – £31.50 – charge for checked-in luggage on a trip between La . Coruna and Amsterdam. The . Galician Consumer’s Institution sided with her and fined Vueling . 3,000euro – £2,360 – on the basis Spanish law did not allow any baggage . surcharge. Vueling appealed . and the Spanish courts asked the European Court of Justice to decide on . the matter. Yesterday, the ECJ said charges to check baggage into the . hold were justified because of the extra costs this generates for an . airline. The EU's top court said a Spanish consumer court was wrong to fine Vueling Airlines for charging a fee . The news will be . welcomed by the likes of Ryanair which charges a fee to check a large . bag into the hold, rising to as much as £75 during peak periods such as . Christmas or the summer holidays. Ryanair . said: ‘We note the ruling and continue to abide fully with EU law. Just . 20 per cent of our customers travel with checked-in baggage, while all . Ryanair customers can bring two free bags on board.’ In . its ruling, the European Court said travellers could not assume that an . airline should be expected to carry their bags free of charge in the . hold as part of the package when buying a ticket. ‘Spanish law requiring . airlines to carry checked-in baggage without a surcharge infringes EU . law,’ it said. ‘The . processing and storing of checked-in baggage is likely to lead to . additional costs for the airline, which is not the case for carrying . hand baggage. The EU court said a Spanish consumer court was wrong to fine Vueling Airlines after a passenger complained . ‘Furthermore, . the extent of the liability of the carrier for damage to baggage is . greater when baggage is checked in than when it is not. ‘The . price to be paid for the transportation of checked baggage of . passengers can be an optional extra cost. Such a service cannot be . considered mandatory or essential for the transport of such passengers. ‘It . is not inconceivable that some passengers prefer to travel without . checked baggage, provided that reduces the price of your ticket.’ The . ruling should not affect major carriers such as British Airways or . Virgin Atlantic because carrying hold luggage is included in their . ticket prices. | Court said checked-in baggage is not considered 'compulsory or necessary’ Vueling Airlines challenged Spanish law that prohibits extra fees . Court of Justice ruled the law is in breach of European Union rules . | 41594a8e54eff00fa8a254bbfb1c7d662bc9c671 |
A Mexican national living illegally in the US for decades was arrested Tuesday in connection to a massive identity theft case spanning 30 years in which he allegedly used the name of an American citizen to defraud the government. Prosecutors say Ramon Perez-Rivera's scheme was so ingenious that a judge unwittingly changed the name of the person whose identity he had stolen to his own real name. The 33-count indictment outlining one of the most unusual identity theft cases in the country accuses the 81-year-old Perez-Rivera of assuming a false identity to obtain food stamps and Medicaid, register to vote and obtain a US passport and a driver's license. Unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Wichita, Kansas, the indictment against Perez-Rivera and his 82-year-old wife, Antonia Vargas-Ortega, outlines a history of unlawful entry into the United States that dates as far back as the 1950s. Stolen life: Ramon Perez-Rivera, 81, a Mexico native living illegally in Kansas, has been indicted on 33 counts of identity theft and fraud for allegedly stealing the identity of an American citizen 30 years ago . The couple were married in their hometown of Romita, Buanajuato, Mexico, in 1961. One of their adult children, Antonia Vargas-Perez, 47, also has been charged with immigration-related offenses, said US Attorney Barry Grissom. The indictment offers a glimpse at an immigrant family's life in the shadows that spanned decades — and left in tatters the identity of the 86-year-old Arizona man whose identity was hijacked. The government contends Perez-Rivera succeeded in fooling scores of state and federal agencies — with the exception of the times he tried to get Supplemental Social Security Income benefits from the Social Security Administration, where the scam finally unraveled. Perez-Rivera faces a court appearance Wednesday on charges of aggravated identity theft as well as counts related to making false statements in order to obtain a passport, food stamps and Medicaid benefits as well as register to vote; lying to a federal agent; misusing a Social Security number to obtain a Kansas driver's license; and fraudulently attempting to get Social Security income benefits. His wife, now a naturalized US citizen, also faces charges that include aggravated identity theft, making a false statement to the Social Security Administration and harboring a person unlawfully in the United States. Travel documents: The 81-year-old suspect allegedly used the false identity to obtain a US passport in 1996 . Assistant US Attorney Brent Anderson, who has prosecuted hundreds of immigration-related cases, said he has never seen one in which a defendant allegedly changed the identity theft victim's name to his own name. The couple settled in California around 1980. Immigration officials arrested Perez-Rivera in 1981 for being in the country unlawfully, but did not take his wife into custody because of three adolescent children in the home, according to the indictment. Instead of surrendering herself to immigration officials the next day as promised, she fled. Court documents not indicate the outcome of his arrest. Federal prosecutors said the identity theft victim was born in California. He is identified in the indictment only as T.A.P. The government contends that the suspect has been using T.A.P.'s identity since 1979, and in 1996 Perez-Rivera filed a name change petition in Ventura County, California, Superior Court in which he falsely represented himself to be T.A.P. The court granted the petition and entered an order changing the name of T.A.P. to Ramon Perez-Rivera. Voter fraud: The indictment says Perez-Rivera unlawfully registered to vote in 1999 and voted at least once, in the 2000 general election . Perez-Rivera assumed the victim's Social Security number, date and place of birth, and at times even the names of T.A.P.'s parents, prosecutors say. He then used the court order to amend T.A.P.'s California birth record to reflect the change of name, according to the indictment. He was able to get the Social Security Administration to change the name on T.A.P.'s account and issue Perez-Rivera a Social Security card. By 1997, he had obtained a U.S. passport. The family moved to Kansas in 1998, and the following year he began receiving Medicaid benefits and food stamps. He also registered to vote in Sedgwick County in 1999, and an online check by The Associated Press of voting records indicates he voted at least once, in the 2000 general election. In June 2011, an investigator from the Social Security Administration interviewed Perez-Rivera and seized all his identity documents. 'Two years ago, we decided not to pursue charges in this case due the age and circumstances of the defendants,' Grissom said, 'but they allegedly continued to engage in the same conduct that brought them to the attention of law enforcement officers in the first place. 'At some point, people have to take responsibility for their actions, whether they are 18 or 80. The scope of the allegations in this case is such that the interests of justice simply required action on our part.' The government says Perez-Rivera got a new Kansas driver's license less than a month later by claiming he had lost his old one. Prosecutors say he tried in 2012 to replace the seized U.S. passport, falsely declaring again he was US citizen. That time, his application was denied. Perez-Rivera faces maximum sentences of 10 years on the passport fraud and document fraud counts. He also faces the two-year mandatory sentences on five aggravated identity theft counts. His wife and alleged partner in crime could be looking at up to five years in prison on the false statement charges and a mandatory sentence of two years on two aggravated identity theft counts. | Ramon Perez-Rivera, 81, indicted on 33 counts of identity theft and fraud . The Mexican national allegedly used name of American citizen from Arizona, age 86, to obtain food stamps, Medicaid, US passport . Perez-Rivera has been able to register to vote and unsuccessfully tried to get Social Security benefits . Indictment states the octogenarian and his wife, Antonia Vargas-Ortega, 82, have been crossing illegally into the US since 1950s . Perez-Rivera allegedly has been using identity of Phoenix, Arizona, man who goes by initials T.A.P. since 1979 . | 95d27a480f99736692c384aef3581e92e2eb6a5a |
The trial of two men accused of strangling the daughter of Tyrone gaelic football manager Mickey Harte as she honeymooned in Mauritius is set to begin today. Michaela McAreavey, 27, was found dead in the bathtub of her and her husband John's luxury hotel room in the Indian Ocean island paradise last January - just two weeks after their wedding. The teacher had momentarily left her husband at the pool of the five star Legends Hotel to fetch some biscuits for a cup of tea. Death: John McAreavey and wife Michaela on their wedding day. Just two weeks later Michaela was found dead in a bath at their Mauritius hotel . Accused: Avinash Treebhoowoon (left) and Sandip Moneea (right) are standing trial this week for the murder . Nightmare in paradise: The couple's room at Legends Hotel in Grand Gaube, Mauritius . The case against hotel room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 42, will be heard in the country's Supreme Court in the capital city Port Louis. Treebhoowoon, from Plaine des Roches, and Moneea, from Petit Raffray, deny premeditated murder. Security has been ramped up around the old French colonial court building for what is one the most high-profile criminal cases ever held on the island. A jury was this morning sworn in for the trial, with six men and three women making up the panel that will hear the case. The jury selection process in the packed Court 5 of the Mauritian Supreme Court took just over an hour. Jurors then retired to select a foreman. Earlier, there were chaotic scenes outside as the two accused arrived. Mrs McAreavey's widower, John, also had to battle through an unruly crowd to get to court. High alert: Security has been ramped up around the Supreme Court in Port Louis, Mauritius . Accused: Avinash Treebhoowoon pictured as he arrived at the Supreme Court in Port Louis today . Happier times: Michaela and John with her father Mickey Harte, left, Bishop John McAreavey and the groom's father Brendan McAreavey at their wedding at St Malachy's . Defendants Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea were led into the dock of court as almost 200 people crammed into every available space inside. Scores stood at the back. Relatives of the accused were also jostled as police struggled to control the flow of people into court. Mr McAreavey was accompanied by his sister Claire, father Brendan and a brother of his late wife, Mark Harte. Mr McAreavey sat in court for a short period but was then was asked to leave because he is a witness in the case. The authorities have taken extra steps to ensure the defendants are transported swiftly into court from the high-security La Bastille prison in the nearby town of Phoenix. Mickey Harte - manager of Tyrone gaelic football team - with two of his sons, Matthew (left) and Michael, speaking about the death of his daughter Michaela, at the family home outside Ballygawley in Co Tyrone . Love: John McAreavey and Michaela McAreavey on their honeymoon (left) and in France shortly before their marriage (right) Mourning: Mickey Harte (centre) with his wife Marian and Michaela's husband John McAreavey (right), during her funeral . Though most Mauritians speak a variant of French as their first tongue, court proceedings will be heard in English. Mrs McAreavey, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was the only daughter of Mr Harte, the GAA boss who has steered his native county to three All Ireland championships. Mr McAreavey, a talented Gaelic footballer from Co Down, has returned to Mauritius with members of his and the Harte family. Mr Harte is not attending. Judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah will preside over the trial, which is expected to last two weeks. Thirty witnesses are listed to give evidence. The Legends Hotel, which has since been renamed the Lux Hotel, is in the fishing village of Grand Gaube, close to Mauritius's Grand Bay. Mrs McAreavey taught religious education and the Irish language at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Her Requiem Mass was held close to her family home at St Malachy's chapel in Ballymacilroy, the same church she had married in a fortnight before she was killed. Then-Irish president Mary McAleese was among dignitaries at a funeral attended by more than 3,000 people, as the newlywed was buried in her wedding dress. Luxury holiday: A view of the swimming pool at the five-star Legends Hotel in Mauritius, where the newlywed couple were staying . | Michaela McAreavey found dead in bathtub of hotel room in January 2011 . Teacher had only married husband John two weeks before her death . Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea standing trial for murder . Security high around Port Louis Supreme Court . | c15e7479a3d082eea4d1aa830ecfce99eb3678ca |
By . Paul Bentley . and Julie Anne Barnes . Mikaeel’s mother Rosie Kular, 33, was brought up in a detached house in an upmarket part of Edinburgh. Her father Gurbux, who was from India, died aged just 43 when she was in her teens. Her mother Harjinder, 60, has since married twice, most recently to Dr Bangarpet Krishnaswamy, 69, a GP originally from Bangalore, who also develops properties in Scotland. Rosie Kular (left), the mother Mikaeel Kular (right), was brought up in a detached house in an upmarket part of Edinburgh . He is the director of East Neuk Healthcare, which owns a 40-bed nursing home in Anstruther, Fife. The . family live in a large two-storey detached home on a small upmarket . estate, with a navy Jaguar and dark blue Volvo parked in front of the . property. After studying at . comprehensive Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Miss Kular went . to Fife College and graduated with an HND in beauty therapy, which she . now uses to run her own mobile health and beauty studio. She works full time and has also been listed as a director at an IT company. For a time she was a customer services assistant with a gas company. At 24, and heavily pregnant, she married Omotoso Adekoya, a Nigerian taxi driver who had originally come to the UK to study. Three . months later she gave birth to son Tarun, their first of three children . born in four years. David was born in 2006 and daughter Renuka came . two years later. Among Miss Kular's friends was Mohammed Omar Abdi, 25, who was killed in a gang gun battle in Edinburgh last year. Both pictured, above . The . relationship broke down, however, and although the couple are not . divorced Mr Adekoya lives in an apartment near Miss Kular in Edinburgh. His . mother said he is a ‘gentle person’ who was so devastated by the . breakdown of his marriage that he has not met anyone since. By . 2010, Miss Kular gave birth to her fourth and fifth children – twins . Mikaeel and Ashika, who have had no contact since with their Pakistani . father. Among Miss Kular’s . friends was Mohammed Omar Abdi, 25, who was killed in a gang gun battle . in Edinburgh last year. Abdi, the son of a senior Muslim cleric, was . often seen at Miss Kular’s family home and posed in pictures with her on . Facebook. After studying at comprehensive Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Miss Kular went to Fife College and graduated with a HND in beauty therapy, which she now uses to run her own mobile health and beauty studio . He was gunned down during a high-speed chase between two rival gangs in the early hours last May. Abdi . was facing drugs charges at the time after officers found a . ‘significant quantity’ of crack cocaine and cash during a raid. Six men . face trial accused of killing him. Miss . Kular, in one online posting, says of herself: ‘Just me, myself and . I... oh yeah, with a brood of five monsters, six if you count the man . indoors!’ In another, she adds: ‘Work full time which is a bit crapiola but it’s got to be done eh!’ Miss . Kular links to various groups promoting local parties and DJs on . Facebook, and writes on Twitter that ‘boring is only a state of mind’. After a busy evening a couple of years ago, she posted: ‘I’m good, slightly hungover lol but nothing I can’t handle.’ And in another online message, she said she was ‘still alive... just!' Members of the public assist the police with the search in the Silverknowes area of Edinburgh for missing three-year-old boy Mikaeel Kular yesterday . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Beauty therapist Rosie Kular, 33, realised son was missing on Thursday morning from Edinburgh flat . Aged 24, she married Nigerian taxi driver Omotoso Adekoya . Although they are not divorced, Mr Adekoya lives in an apartment near her . By 2010, Miss Kular gave birth to fourth and fifth children – twins Mikaeel and Ashika, who have had no . contact since with their Pakistani father . Among Miss Kular’s friends was Mohammed Omar Abdi, 25, who was killed in a gang gun battle in Edinburgh last year . Miss Kular links to groups promoting local parties and DJs on Facebook . | 3eca64278e41e25bb72486e476e67017be822677 |
New Chelsea signing Cesc Fabregas has been involved in a training ground row with Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. Tensions were high in the camp after defeats by Holland and Chile dumped the reigning champions out of the World Cup early and things came to a head on Saturday. Del Bosque was unimpressed with Fabregas' attitude in training and the low intensity he was operating at. VIDEO Scroll down to see Del Bosque allegedly ask Fabregas to leave training session . Bust-up: Cesc Fabregas and Vicente del Bosque have reportedly locked horns during Spain training . Deflated: Things in the Spain camp appear to have gone sour following their shock exit . Animosity: Spain's World Cup campaign has gone from bad to worse . After a while, enough was enough, and Del Bosque ordered Fabregas to give his bib to Xabi Alonso and leave the session. The former Arsenal and Barcelona star reluctantly did so, with team-mates stopping him from arguing further with Del Bosque. Fabregas . was believed to be angry about both Spain's plight and also the fact . that he was only utilised as third substitute in the 5-1 mauling by . Holland, and not at all against Chile. The 27-year-old's sum total of minutes so far in the World Cup is 12. Fabregas was then filmed trudging away, before finding a bicycle and cycling off, understandably in a bad mood. Del . Bosque is quite a forgiving coach and it would not be a surprise if . Fabregas started Spain's final group match, against Australia, as the . boss tries to create a new side from the wreckage of the old one. Disappointment: Fabregas is still expected to start their final group game against Australia . Frustration: It has been a difficult summer for Fabregas, with his departure from Barcelona . Warmer: Fabregas didn't make it off the bench during Spain's second game against Chile . His . new manager at club level, Jose Mourinho, is an altogether different . prospect and would take badly to a similar occurrence at Cobham. Defender Raul Albiol tried to play the incident down when questioned about it by the Spanish media. He . said: 'I didn’t see anything strange. I imagine that Cesc is equally . annoyed as the rest of the group for being eliminated early, nothing . else.' While Fabregas could . still play a part against Australia, in the dead rubber clash on Monday . night, Iker Casillas may be dropped for Pepe Reina. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has made several costly errors so far and may have played his last game for La Roja. | Fabregas has reported bust-up with coach Del Bosque . 27-year-old asked to leave training session after perceived lack of effort . Spain already out of the World Cup after two defeats from two games . Set to face Australia in a dead rubber match on Monday . | 788ee9de779191b94fdba9f64df4857ec9ff8d7b |
(CNN) -- Florida is the traditional tie-breaking primary in the January gantlet -- but there's very little that's traditional about the Sunshine State. It is a sprawling cross section of 10 media markets and one of the most diverse states in the nation, containing communities of voters across the political spectrum. But we talk about politics in shorthand, and many stereotypes endure long after they are bypassed by reality. So here are three stubborn myths about the Sunshine State to think about as Floridians go the polls on Tuesday. 1) It's senior-citizen central: This stereotype started in the post-war boom, as legions of grandparents sought out the warmth of Florida to ease their aching bones. The state came to be seen as a land of early-bird specials, bad drivers and retirement communities punctuated by amusement parks -- "God's waiting room." But in the 1980s, young families began to move into Florida en masse, following economic opportunity and now-ubiquitous air-conditioning. Today, just 17% of Florida's population comprises senior citizens -- just above the national average, according to the Almanac of American Politics. Moreover, 22% of Floridians are under-18 -- a number boosted by high levels of immigration from Latin America. And two Florida cities, Gainesville and Tallahassee, are among the top 10 youngest cities in America, with median ages of 24 and 26 respectively. Florida's diversity is no myth -- but the idea that it is defined or even disproportionately dominated by AARP voters doesn't hold water. 2) Cuban-Americans are the Hispanic community: This stereotype goes back to the exodus of Cubans fleeing the tyrannical communist regime of Fidel Castro in 1960. To be sure, a vibrant, passionate and conservative community remains centered in Miami and the surrounding area. The Bay of Pigs Museum remains a staple on any Republican presidential candidate's trip to Miami. But Cuban-Americans make up only 30% of the Hispanic population of Florida. Southern Florida has become the capital of Latin America, as wealthy families have realized it is the most stable nearby place to put their money and families. Among the Spanish-speaking population are large numbers of Dominicans, Mexicans, Venezuelans, Colombians and Puerto Ricans (who are not immigrants at all, but fellow Americans). Simply denouncing Castro won't be enough to win their votes. Fidel Castro recently weighed in on the GOP primary race and proclaimed it "in all seriousness, the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been" -- except for all the show trials, imprisonments and executions of his political rivals, of course. Interestingly, despite Mitt Romney's attacks on fellow Republican candidates who support comprehensive immigration reform and the Dream Act, polls show that he is doing surprisingly well with the Hispanic vote this time around. 3) There is a typical Florida voter: Compared with the other states in the January primary ordeal -- Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina -- Florida is a complex array of 10 media markets, all with different characteristics. The northern part of the state, from the Panhandle to Jacksonville, is the deep South, a continuum of adjoining Georgia and Alabama. The I-4 corridor, from the Space Coast to Orlando to Tampa/St. Pete, is largely made up of young families -- some native to Florida, but many others Midwest transplants looking for a new start. The tony southeast coast of West Palm Beach is a wealthy enclave with many snowbirds from the Northeast. Miami and the southern tip make up the capital of Latin America. And Key West is the Caribbean. All of which means it is expensive to run statewide in Florida -- and the messaging is complex. It must appeal to more of a series of nation-states than a state with a homogenized character. It is, to that extent, the best test of a candidate's ability to connect in a national campaign to date in the primary calendar. It is a red state, a blue state and a swing state -- all rolled into one. Join the conversation on Facebook. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon. | John Avlon: Florida is not one-dimensional; it contains left, right and center voters . Avlon: It's not "God's waiting room"; Only 17% of residents are seniors, 22% are under 18 . Cuban-Americans, usually conservative, are only 30% of the Hispanic population, he says . Avlon: State has aspects of Latin America, Caribbean, deep South, young, old, rich, poor . | 66765112de1e35819b2a2e3ff575e67bf053c83a |
By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 17:41 EST, 26 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:45 EST, 26 March 2012 . At least three major Tory donors have been hired by David Cameron to help determine Government policy - while a fourth profited from the conflict in Libya . At least three major Tory donors have been hired by David Cameron to help determine Government policy – while a fourth profited from the conflict in Libya. The disclosures raise serious concerns that wealthy businessmen are being given privileged access to the heart of the No. 10 machine after signing hefty cheques for the Tories. Last night Stanley Fink, who has been reappointed treasurer, sent an urgent letter to donors making clear that in future ministers will have to seek permission before using policy ideas put forward by donors. ‘If any ministerial contact with a party donor prompts a request for policy advice, the minister will refer this to his or her private office who can seek guidance from the Permanent Secretary,’ he wrote. JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford was granted a ‘Thank you dinner’ by the Prime Minister and his party co- chairman Andrew Feldman in July 2010 in No. 10 two months after the general election. Sir Anthony, who has given more than £1.8million to the Tories since Mr Cameron became leader, was later asked to write a Government report on the future of manufacturing. Another dinner, this time in the Camerons’ private flat above 11 Downing Street, was held in November last year for Ian Taylor, the world’s biggest oil trader, who has given the Tories £466,000. JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford, left, who has given more than £1.8million to the Tories, was asked to write a Government report on the future of manufacturing, while Venture capitalist Adrian Beecrof, right, who has given £593,000 to the Tories since 2005 was asked to contribute to policy on the future of employment rights . Two months earlier, it had emerged that his company Vitol supplied oil to the rebels in Libya – a contract worth more than £100million. That deal was arranged by a secret oil cell in the Foreign Office set up by International Development Minister Alan Duncan, who had previously acted as a consultant to Vitol. Lord Ashcroft, who is Mr Cameron's most generous donor, having handed over £4.3million, was entertained at the Prime Minister's official country residence of Chequers in June 2010. Venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft was also asked to contribute to policy on the future of employment rights in the UK. Mr Beecroft, who has given £593,000 to the Tories since 2005, drew up controversial recommendations to allow bosses to ‘fire at will’, removing lazy and ineffectual staff, as well as changing rules on unfair dismissal to remove the burdens of tribunal cases on business. His report was championed in Downing Street by David Cameron’s chief policy guru Steve Hilton – though it was suppressed after disagreements with the Liberal Democrats. Sir Anthony Bamford’s report appears to have had more influence. He called on the Government to become champions of manufacturing and cut business taxes to support a renaissance in engineering – both of which could have benefited his company JCB. The Chancellor made cutting Corporation Tax a centrepiece of his Budget last week. Meanwhile Lord Ashcroft, who is Mr Cameron’s most generous donor, having handed over £4.3million, was entertained at the Prime Minister’s official country residence of Chequers in June 2010. A year later he was asked to head a review of the Ministry of Defence’s overseas bases. Close relationship: Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas, left, boasted that he could give donors private access to David Cameron, right . Critics believe he was also influential in persuading the Government to build a new runway on the remote island of St Helena – a £100million project of which he was the most vocal backer. It also emerged yesterday that former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer claimed that he knew in advance that the Government would veto French plans for a financial transactions tax. In an interview for financial magazine Risk, Mr Spencer said: ‘I have had it first-hand from very, very senior members of our administration who I know personally and have had good relations with for a long time, that it will be vetoed without any doubt and without any reservation at all.’ Entrainment: It also emerged that former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer claimed that he knew in advance that the Government would veto French plans for a financial transactions tax. Mr Spencer attended a lunch at Chequers, pictured, in May 2010 . Mr Spencer attended a No. 10 dinner in February this year and a lunch at Chequers in May 2010. Details of activities undertaken by donors are significant because they suggest high-level links between party backers and politicians can lead to influence over or prior knowledge of policy. The disgraced former Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas was recorded by undercover reporters saying one donor had written a paper on the subject of gay marriage for the No. 10 policy unit. He said: ‘We’ve fed that back into the party and there are some brilliant points in it and his voice has been heard. ‘If you’re unhappy about something, we will listen to you and put it into the policy committee at No. 10 – we feed all feedback to the policy committee.’ Mr Cameron’s spokesman said officials could find no trace of such a paper, saying: ‘I’ve spoken to the policy unit and the Prime Minister. This claim appears to have been entirely made up.’ The spokesman denied that there had been discussion of Government policy but admitted: ‘Of course there is going to be talk about politics in generic terms.’ Lord Fink, 54, who was made a life peer last year after a two-year stint as treasurer, was brought back because, unlike Peter Cruddas, he is seen as a safe pair of hands . The latest businessman to accept the poisoned chalice of the Tory treasurer’s role was once memorably spotted crawling on his hands and knees at the edge of a golf course lake trying to retrieve a ball which had plopped into the water. Considering Stanley Fink’s personal fortune is estimated at £118million, it might seem odd behaviour. But with donations drying up from grassroot members who are disillusioned with David Cameron’s leadership, a frugal approach may be what is required at Tory Party HQ. Fink, 54, who was made a life peer last year after a two-year stint as treasurer, was brought back because, unlike Peter Cruddas, he is seen as a safe pair of hands. He is discreet, well-liked by other Tory donors, and there has never been a hint of scandal about his business career. In his heyday in the City he was known as the ‘Godfather’ of British hedge funds, having transformed the Man Group over two decades into the world’s biggest listed hedge-fund group with assets of U.S. $88billion. He lessened his involvement in 2005, after a brain tumour was diagnosed and eventually stood down entirely, but returned to the City with another business venture in 2008. Putting political affiliations aside, he set up International Standard Asset Management, a small commodities trader, with the man who had been Tony Blair’s personal fundraiser, Lord ‘Cashpoint’ Levy. Fink is from a modest background. He was brought up in Manchester and went to Manchester Grammar School. His father was a grocer, one of his brothers trades computer parts from a garage, and the other one is a middle-manager for a car windscreen company. He has three children and met his wife Barbara 25 years ago in an old people’s home where they were both doing voluntary work. ‘In my case it was love at first sight but it was not for her. It took about six months before I plucked up the courage to ask her out,’ he said in an interview. He read law at Cambridge and his first job was as a trainee accountant with Arthur Andersen. A cerebral figure, he first became Tory treasurer after bankrolling Boris Johnson’s successful London mayoral campaign in 2008. He has given about £2.5million to the Conservative Party and has dined with the Prime Minister at Chequers. But it was as a student that he first became committed to the Tory cause. He was working in a paper factory in Bury, where he developed a new method of generating more orders. After a couple of days he was taken aside by a trade union shop steward and told this was ‘very unhelpful because he had people who weren’t able to pick orders at quite the same rate’. Fink recalled: ‘I remember thinking that was a great shame because clearly my way was better for the company. I saw a negative side of trade unions. I think that hardened my views.’ He enjoys the trappings of his success. He has a chauffeur-driven Mercedes, and a large family house in Northwood, Middlesex. He owns a chalet in the ski resort of Courchevel in France plus the luxurious hotel next door. ‘It is attached to my chalet so I get all the hotel services,’ he says. ‘It is the best of both worlds, having a private house with a Michelin chef. I go to the hotel bar and use the pool and the gym. I often go skiing with a couple of families. I like to share my good fortune with my old friends.’ With the latest scandal over funding, it could well be that Fink will have to share even more of his good fortune with the Tory Party. | Stanley Fink, has sent a letter to donors making clear ministers will have to seek permission before using policy . ideas put forward by donors . | 4e46dab7c18b2d4af53eb4008b10b9dd3d100766 |
By . Ryan Kisiel . He is the young rugby star who today hopes to kick England to victory against Wales. As fly-half, Owen Farrell will play a pivotal role in the title-deciding Six Nations match in Cardiff. On the touchline will be his proud father, Andy Farrell, one of the England coaches. Legacy: England rugby player Owen Farrell has the game in his blood as the son of former league and union player Andy Farrell, now one of the English team coaches . But what the millions watching don’t know is that the 21-year-old is the product of a teenage romance – and for the first five years of his life he was named Owen O’Loughlin. His mother, Colleen O’Loughlin, gave birth to him just weeks before her 17th birthday. Colleen had met Andy through family friends and they started dating when they were just 14. The teenage sweethearts used to regularly babysit together. Within two years, the pair had left school in Wigan and were young parents – coping with the newborn Owen, who arrived in September 1991. There was no celebratory message printed in the births section of the local newspaper, merely the list of all new mothers from the local hospital showing Owen weighed a healthy 8lb 9oz. Rugby dynasty: Owen with his parents Andy and Colleen when his father picked up his OBE in 2005 . State of origin: Owen Farrell's 1991 birth certificate . Exceptional: Owen, pictured at Millennium stadium yesterday, became - albeit briefly - the youngest player to play in the English Premiership in 2008 . However, he was not at first . registered as a Farrell, but took Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. Andy was named on the birth certificate as his father, giving his . occupation as ‘apprentice joiner’. Both . just 16, the pair gave their parents’ addresses for the certificate. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the . following year. By then, . Andy Farrell was a rugby league star for Wigan who had become the . youngest winner of the Challenge Cup, the sport’s version of the FA Cup, . at 17. He was to become one of the sport’s most decorated players . before switching codes to rugby union. Colleen’s . little brother, Sean, who the teenage sweethearts used to babysit, went . on to become captain of Wigan and a Great Britain player. On Owen’s . re-registered birth certificate, Andy changed his occupation to . ‘professional rugby league player’ and Colleen Farrell said she was a . ‘fitness instructor’. Within a few years it was clear that Owen had inherited his father’s skills. Andy Farrell has told how his son was drop-kicking a ball before he was two. Owen said in an interview: ‘I was always watching dad lift trophies. 'That made me want to do what he does. I’ve always been there when he’s been training. 'He used to stay around to practise kicking and I used to kick the balls back to him. 'I’ve always had a rugby ball in my hand, so it was inevitable I was going to play.’ The family moved to a £1million home in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, when Andy signed for Saracens in 2005. At first, Owen was not happy playing a different type of rugby. Andy, now 38, said: ‘He was kicking and screaming when we came down here. 'He didn’t want to leave Wigan because he was playing league. But that lasted about two weeks. ‘We planned for him to go back up north on the train every weekend, to carry on playing league. He did that once or twice but then I took him to training at Saracens and he soon forgot what he was missing out on.’ Owen’s career progressed at the same rate as his father’s – temporarily being the youngest player to play in the English Premiership in 2008. Owen’s grandfather, Peter Farrell, said: ‘I find it hard to say because he’s my grandson, but I think Owen’s about the most exceptional player I’ve ever come across.’ Up for grabs: Tom Croft breaks with the ball during the England captain's run at the Millennium Stadium yesterday as the team head for both slam and Six Nation's title today . Big day: Owen Farrell and the England rugby team will face Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff at 5pm on Saturday . | Fly-half Owen is the son of England coach Andy Farrell and wife Colleen . He was was born Owen O'Loughlin when his parents were only 16 . Rugby legacy Owen plays against Wales in Six Nations in Cardiff tomorrow . | da4fd4dad3a9e5278f09f648ff3e973c514857d9 |
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Authorities in southwestern Afghanistan have seized 19 tons of explosive devices that had been transferred across the border from Iran, police said. Nimruz Police Chief Abdul Jabar Purdel said a suspect was detained. Nimruz province, in Afghanistan's southwestern corner, borders Iran and Pakistan . The devices had been placed in 337 boxes inside a 40-foot shipping container transferred from Iran over a bridge linking Afghanistan and Iran, he said. Earlier this year, a senior U.S. Defense Department official said that new U.S. military intelligence suggests Iran planned to smuggle new shipments of weapons into Afghanistan as part of an increased effort to interfere with coalition operations. The information came from an "Iranian source" whose tips on past shipments have been verified by the United States, the official said in April. The official also noted that Iran -- a majority Shiite country -- and the Sunni Taliban almost went to war with one another in the late 1990s, so it's not really in their interest to be a major source of top-shelf arms to the Taliban. Tehran has consistently denied supporting groups opposed to the Afghan government. U.S. and coalition troops have found evidence of some Iranian weapons inside Afghanistan in seized caches or in the aftermath of attacks. | Material is found in Nimruz province . The devices were in a shipping container . | 7d0dd550ca7415eef019fe1c4e0b5a7ac81eda7a |
A young mother told how her boyfriend kidnapped her, drove her to an abandoned quarry, made her strip naked and tied her to a tree – because she said she wanted to go home to bed. Sophie Lazell, now 26, was nearly asleep when Daniel Jones barged in to the home she shared with her mother and children and grabbed her by the hair. In front of her family, he dragged her from her bed and drove her for miles to an abandoned quarry in Hampshire. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . Sophie Lazell, left, was at home in Hampshire when her boyfriend Daniel Jones, right, burst into the house . Jones, right, grabbed Miss Lazell, left, and took her to an abandoned quarry, forced her to strip and tied her to a tree before abandoning her. He was later sentenced to 20 months in prison for the terrifying kidnap . There he told her 'there's already a hole dug for you' before ordering her to strip and tying her to a tree with her pyjamas. He then drove off, leaving her freezing cold and petrified. She escaped by breaking free of her makeshift ties, hiding in a bramble bush and running through fields naked for around an hour until she found a house which was occupied by an elderly couple who called 999. Remarkably she suffered only cuts and bruises in the attack, although she has been left anxious and 'on red alert'. Speaking publically for the first time since the incident in December 2013, Miss Lazell, now living at an undisclosed location in UK, said she had spent the day with Jones, but he had become upset when she said she wanted to spend the night alone. He kept calling her so she turned her phone to silent mode and settled into bed for the night. Miss Lazell said: 'I was just nodding off when I heard a crashing noise. 'It sounded like the front door being kicked in. Then I heard Daniel, shouting. 'He said, "Where is she, the liar?" 'I got up and found Daniel wielding a metal bar. He had smashed the TV. He said, "come with me". Then my mum appeared, and my kids came out of their room.' Miss Lazell said she was disappointed by the sentence Jones received, believing that he would have been jailed for longer than 20 months . At this point Jones pulled Miss Lazell towards the front door. In a desperate bid to appease him she offered to run away with him. 'I had to calm him down,' she explained. 'I hoped all the commotion would wake a neighbour who'd call the police. But I didn't hear any sirens. 'As I was leaving I told my kids it would be all right. But I was terrified.' Jones drove Miss Lazell for 'what seemed like hours' to 'a wooded track that led to a deserted quarry.' 'He demanded I take my trousers off,' Miss Lazell – who was wearing pyjamas – said. 'He then led me to a tree, wrapped my arms around it, and tied them up with my pyjama bottoms. 'He said, "that's what happens to whores," and then forced me to strip completely.' After a time he drove off and she made her escape, hiding in a ditch when she heard his car. 'I was terrified,' she said. 'I could only see horses' fields. 'There were no lights on or houses. 'I ran for my life. 'I must have been running for an hour, when I spotted a house.' The police were called and she was taken to hospital. Jones went on the run and was arrested four weeks later. But the attack had a longer lasting impact on Miss Lazell. 'Before, I'd had lots of friends and enjoyed going out on the town,' she said. 'After I didn't know who to trust and was scared to even pop out for a bottle of milk. 'I only left the house at certain times of the day when I thought town would be quiet and I was on the red alert when I did. 'I suffered anxiety attacks and had nightmares.' In July last year Jones, of Tongham, Hampshire, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to kidnap. Ms Lazell said that she was taken to hospital for treatment but it took police four weeks to track Jones down . Neighbours of Miss Lazell said they had heard Jones say: 'You can run Sophie, but you won't get far.' Her eldest son was heard to say: 'He's going to kill my mum.' In August, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison for kidnap, and received a five-year restraining order. Miss Lazell said: 'I'd hoped he'd get longer.' She urged other women to be alert to potential warnings of domestic abuse. 'My parents had been shocked that Daniel was capable of hurting me,' she said. I guess on the surface our relationship looked like it was going well. But before the attack he always wanted to know what I'd been up to, was accusing me of cheating. Now I want to encourage other women to leave bad relationships. 'Walk out on physically violent, emotionally and mentally abusive partners. I learnt the hard way that you shouldn't brush things under the carpet. Please, get out, before things turn ugly.' | Sophie Lazell was dragged from her home by her boyfriend Daniel Jones . Jones drove Miss Lazell across Hampshire to an abandoned quarry . He ordered Miss Lazell to strip naked and tied her to a tree and drove off . Miss Lazell managed to free herself before Jones returned to the scene . She hid in a bramble bush until Jones disappeared from the quarry . Since the terrifying attack, Miss Lazell has been living in a safe house . Jones was jailed for 20 months and ordered to stay away for five years . However, Miss Lazell said she thinks the jail term was not severe enough . She said she thought she was going to die and is still constantly afraid . | b1e2919f8d2961f376e9de2dc2917e1e429f8ff7 |
By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 10:44 EST, 25 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:02 EST, 25 November 2013 . The twin grandchildren of entertainment tycoon Walt Disney have been locked in a battle royale over a $400 million fortune since 2009 and it will all come to a head December 5 when the two sides finally meet in a California court. Michelle Lund and her brother Brad Lund haven’t spoken in four years as they each try to wrest control of the massive trust fund left to them when their mother, Disney’s youngest daughter Sharon Disney Lund, died in 1993. On one side of the bitter family feud are Brad and the twins’ father Bill Lund. On the other are Michelle and the fund’s trustees, with both sides accusing the other of incompetence, wrongdoing, and flat-out greed. Disney v. Disney: The twin grandchildren of Walt Disney, Brad Lund (left) and Michelle Lund (right) daughter are embroiled in a bitter, four-year-long family feud over their $400 million chunk of the entertainment empire left to them by their mother . Trust fund: They are the children of Walt's daughter Sharon, who stipulated in her will that Brad and Michelle should each receive lump sums of tens of millions every 5 years as well as more regular installments, to be doled out by a group of trustees . The saga began in 2009 after Michelle, who lives in Newport Beach, California, suddenly fell ill after a night out with friends. Before she even turned 40, she’d suffered a devastating aneurysm. Family members gathered around her, expecting the worst. Even as she lay in a hospital fighting for her life, Michelle’s family began to squabble. Bill Lund wanted to move his daughter to a Arizona, where he lives. According to NBC News, the estate’s trustees objected and filed suit against him. A family company: On their way to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth at right are Sharon Disney at 13, alongside her father Walt, mother Lillian (center) and sister Diane at 16 (left) Michelle made a miraculous recovery, but the wounds first opened before she’d even returned to her feet have been slower to heal. The twins haven’t spoken since 2009, when the trustees stopped paying out Brad’s payments from the estate. In a statement to NBC, the trustees write that under the terms set by his late mother they have, ‘full discretion to withhold distributions if (the beneficiary) doesn’t demonstrate the maturity and financial ability to manage the funds wisely.’ Michelle and the trustees say Brad suffers from a ‘chronic cognitive disability’ and have claimed he has Down’s Syndrome, a condition with which he’s never been diagnosed. Fit to be a millionaire? The debate centers around Brad Lund's (pictured) fitness to receive the millions. Michelle and the trustees say he's incompetent and have withheld his cash for years . Lines drawn: The twins' father Bill Lund, who once helped his father-in-law scout out the Florida land that would become Disney World, has taken Brad's side. His daughter Michelle says he's just after the money . They also maintain that Bill Lund—who is wealthy in his own right and was pivotal in helping his late father-in-law stake out the Orlando land that would one day become Disney World—has taken advantage of his son in order personally profit from the $1 million per year he’s due from the trust. The father and son deny wrongdoing and in their suit to take control of Brad’s money away from the trustees they allege that Michelle is the one who is incompetent because she suffered ‘permanent brain damage’ as a result of her aneurysm. Bill admits his son has ‘some learning issues’ but is adamant he’s able to manage his own money and should be allowed to do so. He says the trustees are the ones behaving unlawfully. ‘It’s their career,’ Bill told NBC. ‘This is tragic. If Walt were here he’d be appalled. He’d be absolutely appalled and so would Sharon at the way the trustees have acted.’ Brad Lund agreed. He believes the trustees are the ones steering the ship, not his sister. ‘She’s being controlled by someone who’s got the remote control,’ he said. ‘Like she’s a robot. We’ve been at this for four years.’ Back in 2010 as the fight was still only heating up, Michelle Lund told the Arizona Republic that she only wants what’s best for her brother. ‘I'm not doing this to hurt my father,’ she said. ‘I'm doing this because it is the right thing to do…I do think Brad needs protection.’ Once close siblings, Walt Disney's grandkids Michelle and Brad Lund are now embroiled in a battle over their $400 and haven't spoken in four years. On one side are Brad Lund and the twins' father Bill Lund. They say the trustees, who haven't paid Brad his multi-million installments in years, are controlling Michelle like a 'robot.' Late aunt: Diane Disney Miller, aunt to the twins and daughter to Walt, died just last Tuesday. She and two of the twins' half sisters petitioned in a Maricopa County, Arizona court to have a guardian appointed to her nephew Brad in the belief Bill was taking advantage of him . In the other corner are Michelle and the trustees. They say Brad is mentally incompetent and cannot handle the millions and go so far as to suggest he has Down's Syndrome, though he's never been diagnosed. THE FEUD BEGINS . The battle began Labor Day 2009 after Michelle had a near fatal aneurysm. As she fought for her life, her father tried to move her to Arizona, where he lives. The trustees then filed suit to stop him. When Michelle recovered, she joined them. Now Bill is fighting alongside Brad to wrest control of Brad's funds away from the trustees. They she suffered brain damage as a result of her aneurysm. WORRIES OVER COMPETENCE . After the suit over where Michelle should be treated came a suit over Brad's care. He had been living for years with Bill, a stepsister, and Bill's current wife Sherry. But . family including the twins' half sisters (Bill's daughter's from . another marriage) and the twins' aunt Diane Disney Miller (the older . sister of their mother Sharon) worried he was being used for his money. VIEW A FAMILY TREE OF THE FEUDING PARTIES . In a Maricopa County, Ariziona court filing, they called him 'a virtual captive' in the home, though brad has denied this. 'I . trusted him, I loved him, I admired him,' Michelle told The Arizona . Republic. 'Now, I love him, not the way I used to. He is not the man I . once knew.' Co-trustee L. Andrew Gifford concurred and placed the blame on Bill, who was once a part of the trust but claims to have stepped down for medical reasons. 'I have no desire to destroy the Lund family,' said Gifford. 'Bill was forced out of the trust by his own misconduct.' After four years of legal challenges and counter challenges, the two sides finally meet in court December 5. Troubled legacy: ¿This is tragic. If Walt were here he¿d be appalled. He¿d be absolutely appalled and so would Sharon at the way the trustees have acted,' said Bill Lund . Trust-worthy? Michelle Lund (left) along with the trustees like attorney L. Andrew Gifford, are themselves accused of misdoings in the lawsuit, which after four years finally sees a California court December 5. Brad and Bill Lund say Michelle's being controlled by the trustees, who Bill says have made a 'career' from the estate . | Michelle and Bradford Lund are the twin children of entertainment tycoon Walt Disney's late daughter Sharon Disney Lund . Both twins were left around $400 million by their mother to be received in lump sums and installments and controlled by a trust . Brad isn't receiving his payments because the trust has deemed him unable to 'manage funds wisely' because of his chronic mental 'incompetence' Brad and their father Bill Lund are suing Michelle and the trustees to wrest away control of Brad's millions . Michelle and Brad haven't spoken since 2009 and their trial four years in the making finally begins December 5 . | d13f26c46fc393e94f255c3fd0cbea9e2f533326 |
I know what you're thinking: What do Justin Timberlake and I have in common? First, we're both responsible for bringing sexy back. Second, we're both standing up to cancer on Friday. Why? Well, I don't know Justin's connection to cancer, but I do know mine. I lost both of my grandfathers, an uncle and numerous friends to cancer. Additionally, my mother is a cancer survivor. (First, uterine cancer, and then kidney cancer.) And I know that all the stars who are coming out Friday night and all the viewers at home have been personally touched by cancer in some way. They've seen the havoc the disease can wreak on a person's life, family, friends and immune system. No matter who you are, how wealthy you are, how famous you are, cancer will find a way into your life, affecting you or someone you love. Every day, 1,600 Americans die from cancer. Eight million people worldwide will die this year from the disease. In the U.S., one in every two men and one out of every three women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetimes. Stand Up to Cancer is a movement designed to get top researchers from the best medical centers focused on highly specialized projects aimed at bringing new treatments to people faster and making everyone diagnosed with cancer a survivor. We're gearing up for a national election, yet it's rare to hear leaders from either major political party say anything about cancer. We, the people, must. It's why for years now, I've "spontaneously" showed up at baseball games and other events to support cancer research and on the Friday after Labor Day, I put on one of those fancy T-shirts and stand up to cancer with my friends from film, TV, music and sports. Say what you want about the entertainment industry (and, really, what hasn't been said?) but on this one, we're getting it right. For all the issues and problems facing us all right now, this is one of the most pressing. It's also one of the most promising. Scientists and doctors are genuinely excited about the progress in the fight against the disease. Certain cancers have higher survival rates than others. By having dedicated dream teams of scientists collaborating in an unprecedented manner and studying the connections between certain types of cancers, those kinds of cancer with lower survival rates have been put on notice. (That's right, pancreatic cancer, your days are numbered.) During Friday's broadcast, you will hear first-hand from patients bravely participating in clinical trials and scientists on the front lines of the war against the disease, and your favorite movie stars will share stories of real people, just like my mom, who went through hell and back because of cancer. But after all, we are the entertainment industry, and therefore you will be entertained by the likes of Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift. (I personally picked the music. You're welcome.) But even with an incredible lineup of stars that includes Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Samuel L. Jackson, one of our executive producers Gwyneth Paltrow and America's newest sweethearts, Olympic gold medalists Gabrielle Douglas and Missy Franklin, there will still be cynics out there. From the hopeless: "Cancer will never be cured. Why bother?" To the apathetic: "The war on cancer is decades old. Why bother?" To those whose sole purpose in life is to point fingers: "Cancer is all a matter of lifestyle. Why bother?" To the conspiracy theorists: "The drug companies don't really want a cure for cancer. Why bother?" To these people, I say, "Stand Up. And stand up now." We have been finding cures for diseases since the beginning of time. Polio was decades old before the March of Dimes movement, initially broadcast on radio, galvanized a country to find a cure. To those who think cancer is solely a byproduct of unhealthy living, I say healthy people get cancer, too. And to those conspiracy theorists out there, I am reminded of something Stand Up to Cancer's co-founder Laura Ziskin used to say: "The people who work at drug companies get cancer, too. So do their mothers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters. They want it to end, like the rest of us." So now is our time. This is our movement. Pull up a chair (I recommend bringing a box of Kleenex or two with you), turn on just about any channel on TV Friday night and at some point go to su2c.org and give what you can. Stand Up. So that one day your grandkids or your great-grandkids will ask you, "What is cancer?" And you'll proudly say, "Something of the past. And boy, 'Modern Family' was a helluva show." Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter . | "Stand Up to Cancer" fundraiser will be on TV Friday at 8 p.m. ET . Organization, backed by entertainment industry, funds research . Eric Stonestreet says his family has been touched by cancer, as have so many others . Stonestreet: Let's make cancer a thing of the past . | 10f2c5446a6600d1f7b6f051da1450c8e4a8026e |
After more than a week of stalemate, student leaders and the government have agreed to a framework for formal talks after protesters around the government headquarters gave civil servants better access to the building. Talks are scheduled between the government and protest leaders at 4 p.m. local time Friday (4 a.m. Friday ET), and media coverage will be allowed. The government's number two official, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, will be the principal negotiator from the government side. Embattled Chief Executive C.Y. Leung released a video statement saying students should consider the inconveniences to the general public and insisted the students clear the vehicle entrances to the government complex. He also advised students to leave the protest site in Mong Kok. The news of official talks comes as a dwindling number of pro-democracy demonstrators continue to cling on to their protest sites in key areas of the tightly packed city. As their numbers wane, so does patience of some of their fellow citizens. "At first, I supported them, but then I started to think they are being selfish because they block the roads -- and that's wrong," said Virginia Lai, who has sold newspapers from a stall in the busy district of Mong Kok for 45 years. Lai says her business is down 30% and getting worse. The student-led demonstrators are camped out at a major intersection in the neighborhood, which witnessed violent clashes between protesters and their opponents over the weekend. A CNN team at the main protest point in the Admiralty area also witnessed friction Tuesday night as a handful of protesters wearing blue ribbons -- indicating an anti-Occupy stance -- were mobbed by hundreds of Occupy student protesters. The protesters have blocked several main highways in the city for more than a week as they seek to change a decision by China's ruling Communist Party on how the next election for Hong Kong's top leader will work. At their peak, the demonstrations brought tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents together in spectacular fashion, covering large areas of the semiautonomous territory's central business district in a sea of people. 'Disrupting my life' But that was last week, when two back-to-back public holidays put work and classes on hold for a lot of people. As activity has cranked back up in the financial and commercial hub in recent days, crowds at the protest sites have thinned significantly and signs of discontent among other residents have spread. "I am very angry because this movement is disrupting my life," said Polly Lau, an elderly woman who has lived in Mong Kok all her life. "I think there will be a rebellion actually, a rebellion of the other 7 million people in Hong Kong against them." The protests have blocked bus and tram routes, worsening traffic and putting more strain on the city's rail network. Some businesses, offices and schools have closed temporarily. In Tuesday's altercation in Admiralty, a known pro-Beijing activist, Lee See Yin, attempted to address crowds from street level through a megaphone and was surrounded by an angry crowd of hundreds of student protesters who began screaming to drown her out. She insisted that she was also from Hong Kong and had a right to be heard, asking the crowds, "Is this real democracy?" The altercation, which involved verbal assault but no apparent physical abuse, lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Eventually, half a dozen police came over and formed a ring around the handful of anti-Occupy protesters, who then left the area escorted by the officers. On Sunday, a group of about 30 taxi drivers carried out their own protest to express their frustration with the pro-democracy sit-ins, which they said were affecting their livelihoods, according to local broadcaster RTHK. But the protest movement also commands a lot of sympathy among residents of the city, especially after police used tear gas and pepper spray in a failed effort to disperse demonstrators on September 28 -- tactics seen by many as overly harsh. Is it safe to travel to Hong Kong? Is it 'deal time'? Some commentators are arguing that now is a good moment for demonstrators to cash in their chips before they lose too much support. "The longer this drags on, the more student activists risk looking to average Hongkongers like irritants," wrote William Pesek, an Asia-Pacific columnist for Bloomberg View, suggesting it's now "deal time for Hong Kong's students." "Why not parlay what's been achieved so far into meaningful concessions from the government?" Pesek said. His suggestion follows calls from some prominent figures, including the heads of local universities, for students to leave the protest sites for their own safety. Other observers have noted that the demonstrators have succeeded in putting the democracy issue back on the agenda. But it remains uncertain what kind of deal the protesters might be able to reach with the government. One of the movement's demands has been the resignation of Hong Kong's top leader, Chief Executive C.Y. Leung. Increasing fatigue . Some demonstrators have said they are running out of steam after enduring long days and nights camped out on the asphalt amid stifling heat and torrential downpours. "I'm tired, but I think we have to stay a while longer," said Kristine Wu, a student who has been at the main protest site on Hong Kong Island for a week. Are you there? Share images, if you can safely . 'We really have to stand strong' Other protesters among the depleted crowd still holding firm at the site Tuesday expressed similar determination to stay put until some kind of result was achieved. "We really have to stand strong," said Luk Kam Yan, a student who had been protesting for eight days. "There's been a lot of rumors about clearing out, but I feel if we stay here, we still have a bit of bargaining power." Student leaders have said they will continue the protest until they have productive talks with the government and expressed optimism that their supporters will stick with them. "Many protesters need rest after nine days of occupation," Lester Shum, the deputy secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said Monday. "I don't believe they are already giving up. When they have recovered, they will return." But the government appears content to watch the demonstrators' numbers dwindle as negotiations drag on. | Student protest leaders and Hong Kong's chief secretary will meet Friday, official says . Anti-Occupy protesters and student demonstrators face off in the Admiralty area . Numbers have dwindled at pro-democracy protest sites around Hong Kong . "At first, I supported them, but then I started to think they are being selfish," one woman says . | 834631140fdb5d08fc3d6e6ea9872d47e9db08c8 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:18 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:34 EST, 5 October 2012 . With its bizarrely articulated long neck, this odd-looking creature almost looks like something out of the twisted imagination of Alien creator H.R. Giger. But it is actually a real insect, native to Madagascar, and it is known as a giraffe weevil. From its long legs to smaller body the unusual shaped critter is a surreal echo of its much larger namesake. Unbe-weevil-ble: The incredible giraffe weevil of Madagascar which, with it's long articulated neck, looks almost like something from the imagination of Swiss surrealist painter H.R. Giger . Peering about: Unlike the giraffe the bug's neck is not to help it reach for food but is for aggressive combat with other giraffe weevils to win over a female . But unlike the giraffe the bug's neck is not to help it reach for food but is for aggressive combat with other giraffe weevils to win over a female. The necks of the males are typically two to three times the length of those of females, and are also used for nest building. Most of the creatures' bodies are covered with a distinctive red shell covering the wings. Despite their fierce look, they are not dangerous to humans. Though it is not listed as threatened or endangered not much is known about the giraffe weevil, which was only discovered in Madagascar in 2008. This specimen was photographed by Russian wildlife photographer Nikolay Sotskov, 29, who couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted it on a leaf while in the Indian Ocean island nation. Enigmatic: Though it is not listed as threatened or endangered not much is known about the giraffe weevil, which was only discovered in Madagascar in 2008 . Mostly harmless: Most of the creatures' bodies are covered with a distinctive red shell covering the wings. Despite their fierce look, they are not dangerous to humans . Madagascar split from India around 88million years ago, allowing plants and animals on the island to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90 per cent of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. However, the island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population. 'I like photographing animals as despite being one of the hardest to capture they are still the most fascinating,' he said. 'And this is the strangest insect I have ever seen. The giraffe weevil is not considered to be endangered but not much known about it. 'The enormous neck is two to three times longer in males than in females and is used for fighting. They also have red bodies to warn off competition. 'Even though they look like they could bite they are not harmful to humans as they only eat leaves. 'I don't think I'll ever see another bug this strange so I was really pleased to photograph it.' | The long, articulated neck is used by males to fight for mates . Native only to Madagascar and their conservation status is as yet unknown . | 76cc8bada6d3382f1dba2f10e8b1052620230858 |
Greeted by throngs of Catholic worshipers from across the region, Pope Benedict XVI ended his two-country tour in Havana's Revolution Plaza with a reference to what he described as a need for "authentic freedom." Changes between Cuba and the world can come only if "each one is prepared to ask for the truth and if they decide to take the path of love, sowing reconciliation and brotherhood," the pope said Wednesday. He also met with the Communist country's former leader, Fidel Castro, before heading to the airport for a Rome-bound flight Wednesday evening. Conflicting reports emerged Wednesday over whether the pope had met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Two Cuban sources told CNN the pontiff met Tuesday with Chavez, who is in Cuba for cancer treatment. But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said reports of the meeting were false. In a farewell speech just before boarding the plane, he criticized the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, saying "restrictive economic measures, imposed from outside the country, unfairly burden its people." Benedict, whose office has routinely cast the trip in the context of a spiritual pilgrimage, at times addressed political issues -- often subtly, and on occasion more overtly. At the start of his visit, aboard a flight from Rome, he denounced violence caused by the drug war in Mexico and blasted Cuba's Marxist political system by saying it "no longer corresponds to reality." Later, he prayed for "those deprived of freedom" while in Cuba's southeastern city of Santiago de Cuba. And he made several references to freedom in his final sermon in Havana, addressing a nation that human rights groups have routinely denounced for its abuses. Many in Cuba and around the world listened closely to the pope's homily at the enormous open-air Mass Wednesday to see whether he would expand on -- or be more forceful in -- his apparent criticisms. But his comments often seemed couched in a broader discussion of religious openness. "It is with joy that in Cuba there have been steps so that the church can carry out its mission," but the country must continue to strengthen this path, he said. Tens of thousands of faithful packed Revolution Plaza to hear Wednesday's Mass. The pope arrived in the so-called popemobile, his bulletproof vehicle, which slowly made its way to the altar. At some points, he appeared just a few feet from the crowd, which shifted as onlookers tried to get a closer look. Rescue workers carried away at least three people who fainted in what was a comparably mild Caribbean heat, after waiting for hours for the pope to arrive. "Every time the pontiff comes comes here, there's always some sort of transformative period for us afterward," said Jorge Luis Rodriguez, a Havana resident who joined the thousands that filled the square on Wednesday. But Cuban dissidents complained that police prohibited some activists from leaving their homes to attend the Mass and that others were detained. Amnesty International said in a statement that activists were "facing a surge in harassment in a bid to silence them during the pope's visit." Government opponents were detained, threatened or stopped from traveling freely leading up to pontiff's arrival, according to the human rights group. "The clampdown has seen an increase in arrests, activists' phones have been disconnected, and some have had their houses surrounded to prevent them (from) denouncing abuses during Pope Benedict's tour," the group said. CNN could not independently confirm those reports. The pope's visit comes 14 years after Pope John Paul II addressed massive crowds near the towering sculpture of Che Guevara in the historic first papal visit to the island nation. Elsida Martinez, a Havana resident who said she watched from the square when John Paul spoke in 1998, said there was a noticeable difference between the two pontiffs. Cuba itself was also different, she said. "When we saw John Paul, Cubans didn't really know anything about religion," Martinez said. "Now we're open more. We practice (religion) more. We believe more." When John Paul came "it was a different period in our history," said Camilo Ortiz, a 50-year-old Havana resident, but the former pontiff's visit still "had more power" than Benedict's. "During that time, there were many difficulties here," Ortiz added. "Now, there are some changes, and things are a little better." After the island's so-called "special period," which began in the early 1990s after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Cuba -- which had long enjoyed Soviet subsidies -- was confronted with a prolonged period of economic hardship. When John Paul visited years later, the country was still reeling from its effects. Cuba is Benedict's second stop on a tour that has also taken him to Mexico, where he denounced the violence-plagued drug war before traveling to the island nation. "In Cuba, there will not be political reform," said Marino Murillo, vice president of the island's council of ministers, responding to the pope's remarks about its Marxist political system. But some Havana residents at Wednesday's Mass said they were optimistic. "For me, there's a hope" that comes with Benedict's visit, Ortiz said. "There's a hope that something's going to change." | Pope Benedict XVI meets with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro . The pope ends his trip to Cuba referencing a need for "authentic freedom" In a farewell speech before leaving, he criticizes the U.S. trade embargo . Rights group: Authorities harassed activists, tried to silence them during pope's visit . | 6a6d041161a230d1750c01977739e79c41ca4964 |
Murderous prison gangs in an overcrowded jail in the state of Maranhão, north eastern Brazil, left 10 dead and 30 injured in a violent uprising on Thursday. Rioting broke out in the Pedrinhas Penitentiary Complex in the city of São Luis between rival factions and spilled out into the city centre, where marauding supporters torched seven buses and besieged the local hospital. The mutiny started after several prisoners refused to allow wardens to carry out an inspection of their cells. The situation rapidly escalated into a confrontation between the officers and the detainees. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO: GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING . Violent end: Dead and mutilated bodies are lined up outside the Pedrinhas prison, near Sao Luis, Brazil . Carnage: An injured prisoner is carried out through crowds of anxious relatives . Bloody revolt: Injured prisoners lie on the ground awaiting treatment outside the jail . 'The uprising began after wardens discovered that 60 prisoners were digging a tunnel through which they intended to escape,' said Aluísio Mendes, secretary of public security in Maranhão. 'When prison officials tried to access the block, the prisoners rebelled.' The standoff sparked fierce clashes between opposing prison mobsters and spiralled out of control as inmates went on a killing spree. Rioters set fire to the prison blocks as special elite shock troops were sent in to contain the situation. Guns, homemade bombs and other lethal weapons were found inside the jail which was built to hold 400 but currently detains over 600 inmates. A representative from the Commission on Human Rights for Brazil’s legal profession, Diogo Cabral, who was present as an observer at the scene said: 'I am very shocked at what happened. If the shock troops had been dispatched earlier maybe the barbarism and the death toll could have been avoided.' Burning rage: Violence erupted across the city and this bus was torched by angry relatives awaiting news . Wreckage: Firefighters continue to pour water on a burned out bus in the city of Sao Luis . Anger: A relative hurls stones at the prison in frustration amid chaotic scenes outside . Relatives and onlookers outside the prison, waiting developments, reacted angrily by throwing stones in an attempt to break into the jail. In the city centre, gangs linked to the prisoners set fire to seven buses after ordering passengers off. The local hospital where the injured were transferred to had to be manned with extra police as mobs threatened to invade the complex. In a statement, a state government spokesperson linked the rebellion to the apprehension a few days before of 39 people during a party at a beach house in Araçagi to celebrate the birthday of a drug dealer known as ‘Babs’. Rival gang members were accused of using the mayhem to carry out revenge attacks and killings. Police officers have been involved in an ongoing campaign to break up gangs in the area, which is riven with regular turf wars and violent clashes between the largest gang known as Tram 40, and its opposition the PCM. Brazil is due to host next year's World Cup. Maranhao is nearly 1,000km away from Fortaleza, one of the closest host cities, which is on Brazil's north east coastline. An earlier outbreak of violence on Tuesday this week left three prisoners dead during a transfer of 18 detainees at the same penitentiary. One was decapitated. Two other inmates and one prison guard were wounded. The mutiny ended the same day with the arrival of the elite troops. In April 2011, inmates were involved in one of the largest and bloodiest rebellions that lasted about 30 hours in the São Luis penal complex. The revolt left 18 dead, three of them by beheading. Five prison guards were held hostage. At one point police attempting to break into the site were held back by the convicts who threw two severed heads over the wall. The criminals had gone on the rampage demanding better treatment saying the food wasn’t fit for human consumption and the water was polluted and rank. | Violence erupted when prison officers tried to access the escape tunnel . It kicked off a killing spree with murderous clashes between rival gangs . Prison blocks torched and shock troops sent in to contain the situation . The inmates had hold of guns, bombs and other lethal weapons . Rioting broke out outside with seven buses torched and hospital besieged . The jail in Sao Luis was designed to hold 400 but had 600 prisoners . | 9d9ee4dfde01959f30e9ab5eba74577b221f5cbc |
Pope Francis has announced he will no longer used a bullet-proof Popemobile as the glass 'sardine can' keeps him away from the people. The armoured vehicles were introduced after the 1981 assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II in a bid to prevent further attacks on the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. During the interview with a Spanish newspaper which was reported by Vatican Radio, Pope Francis said: 'It is true that anything could happen, but let's face it, at my age I don't have much to lose.' Scroll down for video . Pope Francis said he no longer wants to use a bullet-proof Popemobile as it is a 'sardine can' which keeps him away from the people, claiming that 'at my age I don't have much to lose' He continued: 'I know that something could happen to me, but it's in the hands of God.' The Argentinian pontiff was more diplomatic when questioned on the World Cup claiming he will be neutral when it comes to who he will support during the competition. When asked about his legacy, Pope Francis said: 'I have not thought about this. But I like it when you recall someone and say "he was a good guy, he did what he could, and he was not that bad." With that, I would be content.' Pope Francis has told his security officials he wants to be able to interact with crowds when he is out in public and cannot do so effectively behind a screen of bullet proof glass . Already during several high profile visits Pope Francis has rejected his custom-built high security vehicle and used ordinary cars. On a visit to Brazil, Pope Francis used a small Fiat from the airport to the centre of Rio which caused problems for security officials. While on his high profile trip to the Middle East, Pope Francis made an unscheduled stop to an Israeli security wall in the West Bank where he paused to prayer in a highly symbolic but controversial gesture. The specially designed Popemobiles were introduced after Pope John Paul II was hit several times when Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca opened fire in St Peter's Square in May 1981. The Pontiff has established a regular routine of hugging children as he arrives for his weekly general audience at the Vatican despite this being the location where Pope John Paul II was shot . Pope Pius X refused to use the first car which arrived at the Vatican in 1909 which was a gift from the archbishop of New York. Since the 1930s, many Popes have used various types of Mercedes with the special number plate SCV 1. However, it wasn't until Pope John Paul II that the Popemobile became internationally recognised due to the level of international travel he took. During his 1982 visit to Britain, Pope John Paul II had a highly modified Leyland truck to transport him. It weighed 24 tonnes and was able to survive small-arms fire. Pope Benedict used a highly modified armoured Mercedes G Wagon capable of driving at speeds of up to 160mph. However, after his election, Pope Francis refused to travel in the Popemobile and instead went on the bus with his cardinals. Pope Francis was given a 40-year-old Renault 4 by a Fr Renzo Zocca from northern Italy as a gift last year. | Pope Francis claimed the bullet-proof Popemobile was a 'sardine can' The pontiff said he wants to use an open-topped car to meet the people . He said anything could happen to him 'but that was in the hands of god' | 77c4d915de7241f3f4f8eb3076d136b258e95fe1 |
Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney made the most of the last day of the school holidays, splashing out on a visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port with his sons Kai and Klay. The 29-year-old, who won his 100th England cap in November last year, took time to sign autographs and pose for photographs, including a group shot with the aquarium's clownfish mascot, Charlie, which Rooney later posted on his official Instagram account. Wayne Rooney poses with Charlie the clownfish and his sons at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port . Speaking to The Chester Chronicle, a spokesman for the aquarium said: 'The whole family seemed to have a really good time and Wayne was more than happy to chat to staff and visitors.' 'It was a surprise visit for us and Charlie the clownfish couldn't resist the chance to get a picture with the England ace.' Wayne Rooney has scored eight goals in 16 Premier League games for Manchester United this season . Rooney isn't the first footballer to have visited the aquarium. Manchester City and Spain playmaker David Silva visited last year as part of his role as an ambassador for Anfi, a luxury holiday company based in his hometown of Arguineguin. Manchester City and Spain star David Silva (second from left) visits the Blue Planet Aquarium last year . The Blue Planet Aquarium is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cheshire and was opened by the Queen in 1998. | Wayne Rooney visited the Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port . The Manchester United captain signed autographs and posed for photos . He was pictured with the aquarium's clownfish mascot, Charlie . He said it was a great way to round off the school holidays . | b92a3aee50eead7be5341b346464aaa9a1a34186 |
The nephew of the former owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team has died after the exclusive sports car he was driving rammed into an SUV on Christmas Eve. Barry Alexander Moores was driving a rare Ariel Atom sports car, which has top speeds of more than 150 mph, when he lost control of the vehicle on a curve. The 21-year-old, the nephew of multi-millionaire John Moores, then collided head-on with a Ford Expedition in Rancho Santa Fe, California, according to the Union-Tribune. Barry Alexander Moores (left), the nephew of former Padres owner John Moores (right) was driving a rare Ariel Atom sports, which has top speeds of more than 150 mph, when he lost control of the vehicle on a curve . Moores and another passenger, also 21, were both wearing helmets at the time of the crash Wednesday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol said. Moores was declared brain dead and kept on life support until his organs were donated on Saturday. The passenger was flown to a hospital in Escondido with major injuries. No update on his condition was available. The driver and passenger in the SUV were taken to a local hospital with minor to moderate injuries, CHP officer Chris Parent said. Moores is the nephew of philanthropist and developer John Moores, who previously owned the San Diego Padres. He sold the team in 2012 for $800million, reportedly pocketing around $200million from a Major League TV deal. In 2003, Forbes estimated his wealth to be $740million, but it is believed to have grown ever since. According to a career profile, Barry Moores had recently graduated from UC Berekely and was working as a summer analyst for Oaktree Capital Management. The Moores family declined to comment when reached by telephone Saturday. The car he was driving can be built from scratch by buying the various parts. The cost of full models ranges from $30,000 to $300,000. Following the head-on collision with an SUV on Christmas Eve he was taken to hospital and declared brain dead. His organs were then donated on Saturday . According to authorities, the two passengers in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries . Moores sold the San Diego Padres for $800million in 2012. He reportedly pocketed $200million stemming from a Major League TV deal . The car involved in the crash can be built by buying the separate parts. Prices for the custom-built vehicle range between $30,000 and $300,000 . | Barry Alexander Moores, 21, was driving a rare Ariel Atom sports car when he lost control on Christmas Eve . The vehicle collided head-on with another in Rancho Sante Fe, California . Moores was with another passenger and wearing a helmet at the time . Was declared brain dead and kept on life support until his organs were donated on Saturday . His uncle John Moores sold the Padres for $800million in 2012 . From the deal he pocketed $200million from a Major League TV contract . | 2c50000b9966c80ca8e361457c17c11017421dc1 |
(CNN) -- An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing Monday at San Francisco International Airport after a problem with an air duct caused some cabin panels to buckle, a spokesman said. All 184 passengers and six crew members are safe, according to American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller. "The air duct became inoperable and a few of the panels inside the plane came loose. There were no other issues. It was considered an emergency landing because it was an unscheduled landing," Miller said. American Airlines Flight 2293 was en route from San Francisco to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when it was forced to make a U-turn. The plane, a Boeing 757, will remain out of service until workers can determine what needs to be done to fix it, Miller said. | A problem with an air duct caused some cabin panels to come loose . All 184 passengers and six crew members are safe . The flight was forced to make a U-turn back to San Francisco . | e382f4978fb255b9dc7431132726b2c3d840e454 |
By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:03 EST, 26 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:03 EST, 26 October 2013 . Parents will be able to compare their child’s academic performance with other pupils of similar social backgrounds for the first time with a new Government app. Department of Education officials say that data based on exam results - such as GCSEs and SATs - is now so sophisticated it can be broken down into social groups based on factors such as family wealth. They are working with technology companies to produce a user-friendly digital app and have launched a pilot scheme with 100 volunteer parents. Tap to compare: The programme will allow parents to compare exam results across a wide range of factors . A DofE spokesman said: ‘The information would allow parents to have a clearer sense of how their child is performing.’ They can also see what proportion of pupils from each school or college progress to the best universities. Smart idea: The app will also include data on which schools and college send pupils to which universities . | The Department of Education will release the app, based on exam data . A pilot has been launched for 100 volunteer parents . The data can be broken down by social factors such as family wealth . | e1f18633dde91c3309e3de6b00f89f51facff307 |
(CNN) -- What role did Pakistan play in the operation against Osama bin Laden? I would be surprised if Pakistan played a significant role in the operation to apprehend and kill Osama bin Laden, based on the fact that the drone strikes that the U.S. conduct in the tribal areas are done covertly, the authorities in Pakistan are not informed until the very last minute, because of the fear of information leaks. An operation of this scale in the central urban heartland of Pakistan would mean that information would be kept on a need-to-know basis. Only a few people within the CIA would have known about this operation, it would definitely not have gone out to another country's intelligence agency, especially when there's so little trust with the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence, the Pakistani intelligence service]. There has been a deterioration in relations at a strategic level -- the ISI leaked out the name of the CIA station chief in Islamabad, and a person working out of the U.S. embassy was detained by the Pakistani authorities, allegedly working for the CIA. The fact that the U.S. has been conducting drone strikes is an illustration of the fact that there has been little cooperation -- if not none -- with the Pakistani authorities. We've seen the evolution of relations between Pakistan and America go from 'frenemies' to outright enemies. Historically, have the U.S. and Pakistan had good ties? The relationship has always been problematic, flawed, lacking trust. It goes back to during the time of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan: The U.S. and the West turned to Pakistan to provide and assist the Mujahideen in removing the Soviets from Afghanistan. There was a strategic relationship, but following the Soviets leaving Afghanistan, that relationship went into suspension. It was only restarted following 9/11: The Bush Administration turned to General Pervez Musharraf, the military ruler of Pakistan, who at that time had become a social pariah. He was asked to round up the leadership of al Qaeda, of the Taliban, to prevent them from creating an infrastructure inside Pakistan. In return Pakistan would be rewarded with generous aid from the United States and other countries. Musharraf was very skilled at saying all the right things, but doing virtually nothing, and that scenario continued, from 9/11, right up to the end of Musharraf's tenure as ruler of Pakistan in 2007. It took a long time but the U.S. finally began to realise that the promises the Pakistanis were making were empty promises: Nothing of real tangible significance was achieved. Information that was being shared ended up being passed on to al Qaeda, and counterterrorism operations were therefore flawed. The Obama Administration disagreed with the Bush Administration on issues like Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, but the one issue they absolutely built upon was on the drone strikes policy, because if they couldn't deal with al Qaeda on the ground, they would try to tackle them from the skies. Drone strikes were increased substantially under the Obama Administration, because there was this lack of trust. The perception was that the U.S. would support Pakistan publicly while pressurising them privately. Over time we've seen the public support wane. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Pakistan last year, made it clear that she could not believe that the authorities in Pakistan did not know where bin Laden was. What has the reaction been in the region to news of bin Laden's death? Keep in mind the fact that there are protests when drone strikes take place in the tribal areas. This operation to take out Osama bin Laden was near the urban heartland of Punjab. This is the core of where the military establishment is from, so there is going to be a falling out. Publicly, the Pakistanis will try to make out that they were aware of the operation, and that they played a role in it. Privately, they will be seething that this was done on their territory. And there will be protests. The radicals and the extremists inside Pakistan --whose infrastructure has not been dismantled, as Musharraf had promised -- they will organize mass protests. There will be propaganda by the radicals and the extremists to try and exploit the situation. U.S. interests, U.S. personnel, U.S. embassies and consulates will have to take extra precautions. If bin Laden's death is of symbolic seismic significance, then the fallout in Pakistan will be equally matched. There is always a reaction. But keep in mind that the reaction may not come from al Qaeda -- it may come from an affiliate, from the groups that have emerged or are emerging from al Qaeda's shadows: Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Pakistani Taliban, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. These groups have the infrastructure, the resources, the personnel and the desire to plot and plan mass casualty attacks, and they may be in a better position than bin Laden's al Qaeda to carry out a reprisal attack. Will Osama bin Laden's death have a wider impact? Al Qaeda central is not the group it once was: the drone strikes have been confining their operational space, one by one the leadership has been picked off, they don't have the ability to train people from the West as they once could. Their resources are depleted, they are not able to replenish their ranks, so Al Qaeda central may not be able to cause a significant reaction, but other groups are potentially in a better position to do it. There will be problems that will emerge from this -- the worry is that we don't know potentially what they could be, or when. The silence is going to be the greatest fear, because it's not necessarily that these groups would want to carry out attacks regionally or globally imminently. They may wait, they may bide their time. We're talking about weeks, months. Al Qaeda's affiliates have always had very long term thinking -- it's not about today or tomorrow, it's about next year. They won't necessarily want to carry out something that will fail and humiliate the group further. We also have to bear in mind that bin Laden has been killed, but his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri is still at large. He has very much taken on the mantle of issuing al Qaeda's messages: Audio, video, through the internet; and his protégé, Abu Yahya al-Libi is also out there. They will certainly be issuing a message at some point, trying to create a rallying call for vengeance, to inspire their adherents and followers to take up arms. Bin Laden may be dead, but his ideology still lives, and the message will continue to indoctrinate young, impressionable minds across the world. | Gohel: Pakistani authorities will have been kept in the dark because of a lack of trust . Protests and propaganda set to follow the death of Osama bin Laden, he says . Gohel: Retaliation attacks are likely, but may not happen immediately. | be1781f7b1beec57649af94cdb46225096d49473 |
By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 16:25 EST, 12 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:36 EST, 12 February 2013 . A coach driver who caused the deaths of two people while over the drink-drive limit has been jailed for six years. Jasminder Singh Dhesi had been drinking high-strength lager hours before his unroadworthy coach broke down three times in heavy fog. He parked it in the slow lane of the southbound carriageway on the M5 where it was eventually struck by a Volvo HGV. Jasminder Dhesi, 50 leaves Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving . Birmingham Crown Court heard that Dhesi, 50, failed a roadside breath test after the crash, which claimed the lives of coach passenger and father-of-three Liaquat Ali, 35, and lorry driver William Mapstone, 65. Mr Mapstone, from Wells in Somerset, died in hospital after the collision on the M5 near Birmingham on March 24 last year, while Mr Ali, from Smethwick, West Midlands, was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash also injured 39 other passengers who were travelling to work at a food packaging plant in Evesham. During today’s sentencing hearing, it emerged that Dhesi was fined for drink-driving 12 years ago after falling asleep and crashing a bus into another vehicle. Passing sentence, Judge Michael Chambers QC expressed concern as to whether Dhesi, of Nether Hall Avenue, Great Barr, West Midlands, was remorseful for his actions. William Mapstone (left) and Liaquat Ali (right) who were both killed when Mr Mapstone's lorry collided with Dhesi's coach . An HGV crashed into the coach as it was parked in the slow lane . The accident cost the lives of a passenger and the driver of the lorry . Judge Chambers told the father-of-two, who pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, that the fatal accident near Frankley Services on the southbound M5 had been entirely foreseeable and avoidable. The judge told Dhesi: 'Travelling on the motorway as you did clearly caused a substantial risk to other road users and also the passengers on your bus. 'The aggravating features are the degree of risk that you created, having regard to the road conditions and the size of your vehicle, and that two deaths have been caused. 'There is also an aggravating feature in that you were driving under the influence of alcohol.' The court heard that Dhesi, who was driving a party of more than 30 fruit-packers from Birmingham to Evesham, was initially found to have 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, well above the legal limit of 35 micrograms. Dhesi has been sentenced to six years in jail and a four year driving ban following the crash . But a test carried out at a police station two hours after the crash gave a reading just below the legal limit and Dhesi was not charged with drink-driving. The judge, who imposed a four-year driving ban, told the coach driver: 'In my judgment it can be safely inferred that two hours previously it would have been over the legal limit for driving. 'At the root of the present case is a serious loss of judgment - alcohol impairs judgment.' Prosecutor Neil Bannister told the . court the single-decker coach had twice pulled over onto the hard . shoulder of the M5 due to a fuel supply problem. Despite . travelling for less than a mile after joining the M5 near Halesowen, . the 19-year-old coach broke down for a third time near a footbridge on a . stretch of carriageway with no hard shoulder at 6.07am. Several . vehicles, including a crane and another lorry, were forced to take . avoiding action before Mr Mapstone’s lorry struck, travelling at 54mph, . struck the stranded coach at 6.17am. Dozens . of workers travelling on the coach were injured, including a . 29-year-old man who remains in hospital with severe neurological . injuries. Defence counsel . Raglan Ashton submitted that Dhesi was a hard-working family man who was . attempting to drive his vehicle to the nearby service station. The collision was a direct consequence result of a mechanical break-down, the lawyer added. Commenting after the case, Rukshsana Mohammed, Senior Crown Prosecutor from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said: . 'Jasminder . Dhesi was an experienced driver who was employed to ferry workers to a . food packaging plant in Evesham, Worcestershire. “It was his duty to . ensure that the vehicle he was using was roadworthy and in a suitable . condition to be used on the public road network. Dhesi, who was an experienced driver had a previous conviction for drink driving . Dhesi is described as having made a 'grave decision' to coninue the journey with a faulty vehicle . 'Any prudent driver would have been aware that to continue driving a faulty vehicle onto the motorway was dangerous and instead they should have stopped and sought assistance. 'However, Dhesi made a grave decision to continue the journey.' Relatives of Mr Mapstone, 65, and Mr Ali, a married father-of-three, attended court to see Dhesi jailed. Speaking to the media outside the . court, Mr Mapstone’s son-in-law, Kai Markall, read a statement on behalf . of the family. Mr Markall said: 'The family would like to express their . thanks to all of the emergency services and those that were involved on . the day of this tragedy, who all worked tirelessly to minimise . everyone’s loss. 'Special . thanks go to the family liaison officers who have helped provide the . answers to all the painful questions we all wish to know when going . through this unimaginable pain. 'William, . dad, grandad, Bill Mapstone, leaves behind a loving wife, four . beautiful children who in turn provided him with 14 heartbroken . grandchildren. Dhesi's coach had broken down three times in under a mile . 'The loss of life and pain felt by the Mapstone family can never be measured in the sentence passed today. The family can only hope that from this tragedy others will learn that your actions and choices in life can seriously affect others.' Giving a message to other drivers, Mr Markall added: “If in trouble, call for help. Better to be late than to never arrive. 'Hopefully today is closure for the family but please feel our pain. Please share our loss. Drive safely, arrive late.' A statement was also read to the media by solicitor Katijah Ahmed on behalf of Mr Ali’s wife, Fozia Shaheen, and his brother, Ashfaq Ahmed. In their statement, Mr Ali’s family said: “We have been through a tragic ordeal over the last 11 months. 'Liaquat was a wonderful husband, father and brother who doted over his three young children. 'Whilst we are relieved that justice has been served today. We will never be able to overcome our loss.' | Jasminder Singh Dhesi's 19-year-old coach broke down three times in less than a mile . Father-of-three Liaquat Ali and lorry driver William Mapstone were killed . The driver has a previous conviction for drink driving 12 years ago . | c3a9179ecac8a7d960a8495e162086bfd5154404 |
(CNN) -- A new timeline emerged in the emergency response to comedian Joan Rivers' cardiac arrest. She stopped breathing and her heart stopped beating during treatment at Yorkville Endoscopy. A New York City official with knowledge of the emergency response told CNN that on August 28 at: . 9:40 a.m: A 911 call from the Yorkville Clinic reports a patient in cardiac arrest. The incident is given the highest priority code. 9:45 a.m: The New York Fire Department response team arrives at the clinic and finds CPR efforts on Rivers already under way with the defibrillator attached and a breathing tube inserted into her windpipe. The firefighters take over the CPR efforts. 9:47 am: An ambulance from Mount Sinai Hospital arrives at the clinic. The ambulance team joins in the CPR efforts. 9:48 am: A second NYFD unit with Emergency Medical Technicians, along with a supervisor, arrive at the clinic. 9:50 am: A total of 10 rescue workers are on the scene. Rivers, 81 was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died a week later. Yorkville Endoscopy said in a statement this week that Dr. Lawrence Cohen "is not currently performing procedures ... nor is he currently serving as medical director." The statement did not say that his departure was connected to Rivers' death and clinic spokeswoman Marcia Horowitz declined to elaborate. In a statement, the Manhattan clinic said that the cardiac arrest did not happen during her elective procedure, and, responding to reports of a biopsy, said: "A biopsy of the vocal cords has never been performed at Yorkville Endoscopy." Many questions have been raised about what treatment was given and what might have gone wrong that led to the comedian's death. Few answers have been made public because of medical privacy rules, but the New York State Health Department confirmed the agency is investigating. The clinic statement also seemed to address speculation that her cardiac arrest could have been related to the anesthesia used to sedate Rivers while an endoscope, which is a long, flexible camera, was used to examine her throat. "General anesthesia has never been administered at Yorkville Endoscopy," the statement said. "The type of sedation used at Yorkville Endoscopy is monitored anesthesia care. Our anesthesiologists utilize light to moderate sedation." Clinic: Vocal-cord biopsy did not kill Joan Rivers . Only licensed medical doctors who are board-certified anesthesiologists administer anesthesia at the clinic, the statement said. "Our anesthesiologists monitor the patient continuously utilizing state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, and remain at the bedside throughout the procedure and into recovery," it said. The clinic statement also deflected criticism that Rivers should have been treated in a hospital and not a clinic because of her advanced age. "Yorkville Endoscopy has strict policies in place for the criteria of who gets treated in this center versus in a hospital," the statement said. "Every patient is pre-screened by their gastroenterologist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse for appropriateness to be treated at Yorkville Endoscopy. Some patients are also pre-screened by their personal physicians." Clinic where Joan Rivers stopped breathing is under investigation . CNN's Alan Duke and Doug Ganley contributed to this report. | New York firefighters responded to 911 call from clinic where Joan Rivers was treated . They found CPR efforts already under way . At least 10 rescue workers tried to help, including ambulance team from Mount Sinai Hospital . | 7bc13f6c44b9a5c7c43e8c763b590cc90d8f6577 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:55 EST, 24 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 24 April 2013 . Guilty plea: Ashley Anderson, 24, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee after accused of having sexual relations with several teenage students . A former math teacher in north-central Iowa has pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with several teenage students. Ashley Anderson, 24 of Ackley, accepted a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty in Butler County District Court to three counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. The state agreed to drop a fourth count, The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports, with each carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Police arrested the 24-year-old in October. She was hired in 2010 by the Aplington-Parkersburg school district, where she taught high school math and served as the faculty adviser for Students Against Drunk Driving and the prom committee. She resigned last fall following a criminal complaint over her behavior during the 2011-2012 school year. That complaint accused her of sending nude photographs of herself to the students and having sexual contact with them. It included having performed oral sex on three other students. The boys ranged in age from 16 to 18. Police said they received information that Anderson had sexually abused a teen who confided in a friend at the high school. A fellow teacher heard about the allegation and contacted police, KETV reported. A sentencing hearing is set for June. School: Anderson was a math teacher at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Iowa City, Iowa, pictured, until her resignation following the shocking criminal complaint . Anderson is alleged to have first begun a relationship with an 18-year-old who was in her math class before having sex with the teen at his home. The criminal complaint charges she also had oral sex with a 16-year-old junior who served on the prom committee and a 16-year-old sophomore. A fourth relationship with a 17-year-old student included a kiss on a gravel road after track practice last spring and continued after he graduated from the school, the complaint says. In each case, 'Anderson admitted to the conduct,' according to the complaint, which said the relationships spanned from August 1, 2011 to June 30. In a statement released shortly after the complaint was filed, Aplington-Parkersburg High School said: 'We can affirm that our students will always be our first priority and that we have followed all school policies on matters such as this and that the school cooperated fully with the police investigation,' the statement said. | Ashley Anderson has pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee . Faces five years for each count . She resigned from her job as a math teacher at Aplington-Parkersburg High School . | 0d48cc02c2da0876c66e921b210e261d20d476a3 |
An ESPN anchor suspended for making an offensive remark when referring to New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin has defended himself on Twitter. Anchor Max Bretos has been taken off-air for 30 days for using the phrase 'Chink in the armor' when talking about the basketball player who is of Asian descent. ESPN writer Antony Federico was fired after using the same phrase in a story headline on their mobile website after the Knicks lost to New Orleans on Friday. New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin filed for trademark protection over the word 'Linsanity' this week . On Twitter Bretos said: 'My wife is Asian, would never intentionally say anything to disrespect her and that community. 'Wanted 2 apologize 2 all those I have upset. Not done with any racial reference. Despite intention, phrase was inappropriate in this context.' Bretos said he had learned from the gaffe and that he would make 'every effort' to avoid something like this happening again. Federico also apologised for his blunder - and said he was not trying to be offensive. 'This had nothing to do with me being cute or punny,' he told the New York Daily News. 'I'm so sorry that I offended people. I'm so sorry if I offended Jeremy.' The headline appeared on the ESPN mobile website between 2.30am and 3.05am on Saturday morning. He added that he had used the same headline on stories at least a hundred times before and did not think anything of it. Anchor Max Bretos has defended himself after using the phrase 'Chink in the armor' saying that his wife is Asian . Apology: Anchor Max Bretos apologised on Twitter for using the phrase 'Chink in the armor' when talking about Lin's poor performance in New York's loss to New Orleans . The American basketball star said after . leading the Knicks to a 104-97 win over Dallas yesterday that he did . not think the commentator or headline writer meant to offend. Gone: ESPN writer Antony Federico was fired after using the same phrase in a story headline on their mobile website after the Knicks lost to New Orleans on Friday . 'I don't think it was on purpose or whatever, but (at) the same time they have apologised,' he said. 'And so from my end I don't care . anymore. Have to learn to forgive, and I don't even think that was . intentional. Or hopefully not.' In a statement released yesterday, ESPN apologized . for the headline and also said they are aware of other ‘offensive and . inappropriate’ comments on ESPN outlets. ESPN says a similar reference was made on Friday on ESPN Radio New York, but the commentator was not one of their employees. Lin is the NBA's first American-born . player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. He has captivated fans by . leading the Knicks to seven straight wins before Friday's loss against New Orleans. This is not the first time that his ethnicity has sparked some racial taboos. Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock . played on an Asian stereotype after a very successful game by Lin when . he tweeted 'Some lucky lady in NYC is gonna feel a couple inches of pain . tonight.' Though he was not fired, Mr Whitlock . later apologized for the comment after pressure from the Asian American . Journalists Association. Another incident occurred during . Wednesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, the Madison Square Garden . television network flashed a graphic of the player’s face over a . cracked fortune cookie that had a message which read ‘The Knicks Good . Fortune’. The news . comes after the 6ft 3in athlete made an application to hold on to his . 'Linsanity' trademark to appear on t-shirts, action figures and other . merchandise. Two other organisations tried to get hold of it. Max Bretos said he had learned from the gaffe and that he would make 'every effort' to avoid something like this happening again . Back in action: New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Dominique Jones yesterday . Without ownership of 'Linsanity,' others would be unable legally to use the word without consent. Speaking to the Huffington Post, Washington D.C. trademark . attorney Josh Gerben said that the multiple claims for Mr Lin's word . - by the athlete as well as the two men who are both from California - will most . likely turn into a procedural air ball. That would cost the two competing men time and money for the . win, he notes. The first man to apply for the trademark on February 7 - six days before Mr Lin - is a . man named Yenchin Chang of Taiwanese descent, like the athlete. His word: Fans of Mr Lin spelled out his word 'linsanity' in New York's Madison Square Garden Wednesday which according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's online database, more than one have applied for ownership of . Competition: A rising start for the Knicks who just ended a seven-game winning streak, Mr Lin's clashing trademark filing is expected to take extended time and money to settle with him against two others . 'I wanted to be a part of the . excitement,' he said in a phone interview with Bloomberg News. 'I'm very proud of Jeremy.' While also knowing the lucrative business opportunity before him, Mr Chang admits . potential willingness to sell the ownership to Mr Lin or any other if gained. 'I'll think about it when that time comes,' he said. 'Right . now, I just want to have some fun with it.' The second man to file trademark rights is Andrew W Slayton . who filed on February 9. Mr Slayton said he once coached Mr Lin in high school but . now works as a physical education teacher at a Los Altos high school. Profit: One of the two men who have filed for the word's trademark owns a website that sells t-shirts carrying the athlete's name in various adaptations for slogans like 'born to Lin' In 2010 he purchased the domain Linsanity.com, selling men’s . and women's t-shirts that carry such slogans as 'Lin your face,' and 'born to . Lin.' Some also carry Mr Lin's number 17. 'It's clear that he is trying to sell merchandise using the . New York Knicks brand,' Mr Gerben said after seeing the t-shirt's blue and . orange colours and references to the 'Garden,' or Madison Square Garden where . the Knicks play in Manhattan. 'He should be very careful,' he said. The US Trademark and Patent Office reports it has not . granted 'Linsanity' to any one applicant pending a review of all who have . applied. | 'Not done with racial context,' claims Max Bretos . ESPN writer Anthony Federico apologises after being fired over using the phrase in a headline . New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin said he doesn't think the comments were made maliciously . | 6632fe6e017ecf71ca47fbd07d8e2a0303548981 |
By . Helen Pow . Students at a northern California high school are petitioning for a security guard fired for beating a disabled student to get his job back, as a second video showing him kicking the teen has emerged. Security guard Marchell Mitchell, 23, was dismissed by Oakland High School officials on May 19 after he was caught on video beating Francisco Martinez because the student argued with him, slapped his hand and spit on him. However, classmates of the 17-year-old . victim are now calling for the security guard to be reinstated, claiming . Martinez is a troublemaker and deserved being taught a lesson. Scroll down for video . New video: Another video has emerged showing the security guards beating the disabled teen, center . Petition: Some teens at Oakland High School claim the 17-year-old victim, Francisco Martinez, is a troublemaker, and deserved being taught a lesson . Meanwhile, the school district released a . second video Tuesday that captures a beating just moments earlier near . an elevator - and another security officer has faced discipline. The latest video apparently shows Martinez slapping the hand of the second guard, identified by the school district as Shalandra Cotton, before Mitchell angrily dumps the student sideways out of his chair and kicks him. Mitchell then drags Martinez into an elevator, where the altercation continues for some time outside of camera view. Cotton has been placed on paid leave as the school investigates his involvement and why he didn't break up the fight. Students claim the wheelchair-bound teen who suffers cerebral palsy is a bully and regularly runs over people's toes. 'There are some students that like [the guard] and were sympathetic,' Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint told ABC News. 'I think part of the response stems from the fact that many of the students view the attack as a peer to peer situation and they are thinking about what they would have done in that situation.' Rough: On Tuesday, school officials released a second video, pictured, that captured another incident that happened moments earlier near an elevator . But he said students were 'overlooking the fact that the security guard is both an adult and a school employee with higher responsibility.' There is no consideration of reinstating Mitchell, however, despite the petition, Flint said. 'We're not giving it any consideration,' Flint said. 'There is no conceivable scenario under which Marchell Mitchell will work for Oakland Unified School District again. His fate rests with the judicial system now.' Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to charges of felony corporal injury to a child. He's scheduled for a pretrial hearing on June 16, the San Jose Mercury News reported. Martinez said the attack in the original video has left him in pain. 'He slapped me,' Martinez told KTVU after leaving hospital. 'He hit me so hard, it threw me out of my chair. I hit the floor with my chin first.' Photos his mother took after the attack show scratches to his chin and head and bruises on his arms. Abuse: Marchell Mitchell is seen on camera lifting his arm to beat 17-year-old Francisco Martinez, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. The security guard has now been arrested . No escape: The boy was unable to move due to the handcuffs and said the security guard cursed at him . Mitchell, a substitute school resource officer who had been employed by the school following a background check last November, was trying to get students to go to class before the May incident. Martinez 'either refused to comply or was slow to do so,' Principal Matin Abdel-Qawi said in a letter to parents seen by the San Francisco Chronicle. Mitchell pushed his chair and, after Martinez objected and tried to push the guard away, Mitchell handcuffed the teenager to the chair, he said. Martinez admitted that he then spit on the guard because he saw he had no other option. 'I was handcuffed, so I didn't have no way to defend myself but my mouth,' Martinez told KTVU. Hurt: 17-year-old Martinez, pictured, said he has suffered pain since the incident two weeks ago . Treatment: He is pictured leaving hospital. He suffered a scraped chin and face and bruised arms . The footage then shows Mitchell repeatedly lifting his arm and punching the teenager as they move along the hallway before dumping him out of his chair. He can be seen standing above the student, who is laid out on the floor, as other students stop to look before walking on. Martinez said that he was also hit and thrown to the floor in the school's elevator before the incident, although this can not be seen on the camera footage. Martinez, who has been undergoing therapy so he can strengthen his legs to be able to walk, added that when he told the guard he was in pain, he swore at him. 'He tells me like that, "I don't give a ***! I hope you don't walk for two to three weeks",' Martinez said. Arrest: Mitchell, 23, was fired from the school and faces felony charges of corporal injury to a child . After the incident, Mitchell was fired and arrested by Oakland police. He has been charged with felony corporal injury to a child. 'I'm shocked and deeply hurt by this behavior and apologize on behalf of the staff at Oakland High,' Abdel-Qawi wrote. 'This incident is not reflective of the kind of culture we cherish at our school or how we treat one another.' Francisco said he also wants the district to take action against a second security officer seen in the video, but it is not known what action they have taken, if any. Mitchell will appear in court on June 16 for a pretrial hearing. See below for video . | Oakland High School security guard Marchell Mitchell, 23, was dismissed by the school May 19 . He was caught on video beating Francisco Martinez because the student argued with the him, slapped his hand and spit on him . On Tuesday, school officials released a second video that captured another incident that happened moments earlier near an elevator . Some students claim the 17-year-old victim is a troublemaker, and deserved being taught a lesson . | a38dbb78209ae801297f5aa55cccff1a82500a7e |
Father Christmas will be sitting pretty this Christmas after swapping his tired wooden sledge for this high-tech 'super sleigh'. The £200,000 ($313,000) carriage comes complete with built-in GPS navigation, parking sensors and a chimney camera. It also features a bulletproof Lexan polycarbonate front window, a convertible roof and a built-in nose wiper for Santa's magical reindeer. Pimp my sleigh: The £200,000 ($313,000) carriage comes complete with built-in GPS navigation, parking sensors and a chimney camera . And more presents could get delivered this year as Rudolph and his friends will have access to hybrid-powered rocket boosters when they are running low on energy. Other features include an e-reader mount for easy access to the naughty-and-nice list, a mistletoe air freshener and a cup warmer with hot chocolate. The concept Gadget Sleigh 900 (GS-900) has been designed by Metals4U in Pontefract, West Yorkshire in time for Christmas Eve. 'We just felt like Santa deserved a bit of an upgrade,' said customer service operative, Michael Ward said: 'His old wooden sleigh is a little bit dated and we wanted to bring him into the 21st century.' Move over Mercedes: The sleigh also features a bulletproof Lexan polycarbonate front window, a convertible roof and a built-in nose wiper . Crackers: More presents could get delivered this year as Rudolph and his friends will have access to hybrid-powered rocket boosters . Supersonic: The concept Gadget Sleigh 900 (GS-900) has been designed by Metals4U in Pontefract, West Yorkshire in time for Christmas Eve . 'The rocket boosters can give the reindeer a hand too if they get tired.' The sleigh is streamlined, for maximum efficiency and, for the first time ever, Santa can now listen to festive tunes on his travels, with the integrated sound system. According to science, the speed at which the reindeers fly will cause them to burst into flames almost immediately after taking flight . He's making a list, and checking it twice, to find out who has been naughty and nice. But Santa might also want to jot down a few equations and sums, as he'll need to grapple with the laws of physics come Christmas Eve. Of course, it's unlikely Santa has to deal with the rules of science in quite the same way as regular people, but he might want to take a glance or two at the task awaiting him on his trip this year. For starters, assuming that Santa doesn't handle certain faiths, he'll have about 378 million children to deliver to in a fairly short time frame, according to one scientist. That means he has 822.6 visits per second to cope with, requiring a stay of about one thousandth of a second to deliver presents to each home. All in all, Santa's sleigh will need to move about 650 miles (1,050km) per second, which is 3,000 times the speed of sound or 0.35 per cent the speed of light. iF each child were to receive a present no more than 2lbs (0.9kg) in weight, the sleigh would still weigh more than 320,000 tons - just shy of the weight of the Empire State Building, 370,000 tons. An average reindeer on Earth can pull only 300 pounds (135kg), so in this scenario 214,200 reindeer would be needed. But with the weight and speed of the sleigh, it appears that the front two reindeer - Dasher and Dancer, until Rudolph's inclusion - will be subjected to 13.4 quintillion joules of energy per second. This will cause them to burst into flames almost immediately after taking flight. The entire reindeer team, assuming only eight are used, would be vapourised in 4.26 thousandths of a second. If anyone but Santa wants to fly through the sky, they'll need to stump up a hefty of £200,000 ($313,000). Mr Ward said: 'We've had a lot of interest but no-one has actually ordered one yet. If anyone does order one, we will build one complete with all the features.' The Gadget Sleigh's product page comes with fake reviews from Rudolf, Mrs Claus and an elf. 'I love the sleigh. It makes my job easier and the nose-wiper is perfect. I've noticed my nose shining brighter than ever,' wrote Rudolf. Mrs Claus said: 'The GS-900 is far better than the wooden sleigh and also much safer. He'll get back from his trip much earlier this year which is great as I always give him a little treat on his return.' Early designs: The sleigh is streamlined Santa can now also listen to festive tunes on his travels, with the integrated sound system . Elf and safety: 'The sleigh makes my job easier and the nose-wiper is perfect. I've noticed my nose shining brighter than ever,' wrote Rudolph . | The concept carriage features GPS navigation, parking sensors and an e-reader for the naughty-and-nice list . The design also boasts, a bulletproof Lexan polycarbonate front window, a convertible roof and a cup warmer . Gadget Sleigh 900 (GS-900) was designed by Metals4U in Pontefract, West Yorkshire in time for Christmas Eve . | a08c1a85bbcf9182b77e5b33a002ac506b183a65 |
(CNN) -- An FBI agent was arrested in Pakistan this week after he attempted to board a domestic flight between Karachi and Islamabad with ammunition and knives, police said Wednesday. The man was arrested Monday with fifteen 9 mm bullets, three small knives and a wrench, according to police Superintendent Malir Rao Anwar. All of those items, along with his laptop computer and cell phone, have been taken to a forensics lab for analysis. The agent was visiting Pakistan as part of an assignment to train local police, a U.S. law enforcement official said. A State Department official said diplomats are working with Pakistani authorities to gain the release of the agent. He appeared in court Tuesday to face anti-terrorism charges, which restrict unauthorized weapons and ammunition on commercial flights, and he is scheduled to appear again Saturday. Employees for the FBI and other U.S. agencies are allowed to carry weapons in Pakistan when authorized. U.S. officials hope this incident is more easily resolved than the 2011 case of a CIA contractor who was arrested and charged with killing two men. Raymond Davis said that he believed they were trying to rob him. The case inflamed local anti-American sentiment and soured relations until the United States agreed to compensate the families of the two men. Davis was then freed. Rao Anwar said he expects the case to go to trail, calling it a matter of "upholding Pakistan's dignity and honor. (The agent) acted illegally, and his arrest is perfectly legal." CNN's Sophia Saifi contributed to this report. | The agent was stopped for carrying ammunition as he tried to board a domestic flight . He was carrying fifteen 9 mm bullets, police said . The agent is in Pakistan as part of effort to train local police . A diplomatic effort is under way to gain the release of the agent, who appeared in court Tuesday . | 5d91805a1e450c0cf9424e0d2d64348d39d53236 |
By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 02:53 EST, 14 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:38 EST, 14 May 2012 . Hacked: Tony Blair is believed to have been targeted by a 17-year-old heading a group called TeamPoison . A teenage boy is accused of heading a group of hackers who targeted Tony Blair, MI5 and the BNP. TeamPoison claimed responsibility for hacking Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorist hotline and posted recordings on YouTube. The 17-year-old was arrested on Friday and police seized all of his computer equipment. He was released on bail over the weekend. He is also accused of hacking Nato and Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg. The teenager, from Newcastle, was back at his parents' £150,000 home yesterday. He answered the door to a reporter yesterday and began talking before a woman told him to 'shut the door', the Daily Mirror reported. The teenager was held under the Computer Misuse Act. TeamPoison has claimed responsibility for more than 1,400 offences - including 'denial of service' attacks. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Computer equipment has been seized and is undergoing a detailed forensic examination.' The arrest comes after TeamPoison claimed it was 'easy' to bypass Scotland Yard's security which they said was 'from the 80s'. They claim to have accessed a server from Malaysia to record conversations. The force launched an investigation after being made aware that the phone calls may have been hacked. Scotland . Yard's hotline is understood to have been hit with more than 700 calls . before an American-sounding caller, using the name Trick, told them they . were being 'pranked'. Scroll down for audio . Online presence: This image appears on the website of the Metropolitan Police, urging members of the public to call the confidential anti-terrorist hotline . Detectives said 'appropriate action would be taken' after a number of recordings were posted on YouTube. In one of the clips, a man identifying himself as Trick is heard telling an officer: 'Knowledge is power... We embarrass governments and f*** the police.' 'Trick' is later heard laughing when a . woman comes on to the line to tell him that the phone call was being . passed on to the FBI. The hackers overwhelmed a computer server used to host sensitive phone calls using a simple computer script to infiltrate the system. The 'Asterisk' phone server was controlled for 24 hours by the anarchist group, TeamPoison. Hacking phone networks - known as 'phreaking', a term which was in use before computer hacking even existed - allows malicious hackers to listen in or send messages to phone users on computerised exchanges. 'Phreaking' was a predecessor to today's hacking - Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was a 'phreaker' himself in the early Seventies. Nowadays, computerised phone systems mean that hackers can use computer-hacking skills to 'get inside' phone systems and eavesdrop on calls. In another recording, officers appear to be discussing counter-terror operations while TeamPoison listens in. The group claimed to have then made . calls to MI6 - but it is understood they were in fact picked up by the . Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command. Trick said the group bypassed outdated technology and used a server from Malaysia to record conversations. A statement from Trick read: 'The phone denial of service was done via a custom script for Asterisk which was installed on an overseas server. 'The conversation was tapped into via a private phreaking method, their phone system is old and we found a way to get in via basic but private phreaking technique.' TeamPoison said it deluged counter-terrorism officers with phone calls for 24 hours, ensuring no other calls could get through. The . group claimed its attacks were prompted by a recent decision made by . the European Court of Human Rights, which allowed UK-linked terror . suspects Babar Ahmad and Adel Abdel to be extradited to America. By . targeting the phones, the group essentially carried out the telephonic . equivalent of a denial-of-service (DoS) attack - an approach often used . by online hackers against Government websites. Another recording released by the hacktivists allegedly features MI6 staff discussing the group's attack. Hacked: Scotland Yard launched an investigation after discovering that confidential calls to its anti-terrorist hotline were allegedly recorded by hackers . Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist . hotline was set up in 1991 to encourage the public to report possible . terrorist activity, and has been the subject of several costly newspaper . and radio advertising campaigns. A section of the Metropolitan Police's website dedicated to the hotline gives the following advice to users: . 'We . want you to look out for the unusual – some activity or behaviour which . strikes you as not quite right and out of place in your normal day to . day lives. 'You may . feel it’s probably nothing, but unless you trust your instincts and tell . us we won’t be able to judge whether the information you have is . important or not. 'Remember, no piece of information is considered too small or insignificant. 'Our . specially trained officers would rather take lots of calls which are . made in good faith, but have innocent explanations – rather than not . getting any at all.' Addressing . concerns about secrecy, it goes on, 'We know you may have concerns . about speaking to the police – possibly because your friends or family . may find out. 'But all . information passed to the police is treated in the strictest of . confidence. It is thoroughly analysed and researched by experienced . officers before, and if, any police action is taken.' | TeamPoison claimed responsibility for hacking the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist hotline . Boy, 17, held until Computer Misuse Act before being bailed . Hacking group which he is alleged to be behind say they have carried out more than 1,400 offences . | ebaeeabf0ae0cf1f17e11090f71761d440200561 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:50 EST, 3 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:17 EST, 3 December 2012 . A pro-Kremlin blogger has warned Russian dissidents who flee to Britain they are 'cheats and pawns' and could face a sticky end. Nikolai Starikov was writing following the death in Britain of 44 year old whistleblower Alexander Perepilichny. Businessman Perepilichny had been assisting Swiss prosecutors in a case of suspected high level money laundering by Russian officials, prompting fears that an 'invisible' poison could have been used to kill him. Sticky end: Pro-Kremlin blogger Nikolai Starikov (right) has warned Russian dissidents who flee to Britain they are 'cheats and pawns' following the death of whistleblower Alexander Perephilichny (left) in Surrey last month . The case is similar to that of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, who died after drinking tea poisoned with radioactive polonium six years ago in London. Perepilichny was found dead outside his Surrey home last month and in-depth toxicological tests are being carried out. In his latest blog, Mr Starikov warned that those who betray Russia become 'pawns in a complicated geopolitical game. And they die because they do not understand it'. He suggested that Litvinenko was murdered not by those acting for the Russian secret services but by exiles in Britain. 'This is what happened to Alexander Litvinenko who was killed by polonium according to an ‘order from Kremlin’ as our English 'partners' say, but more likely he was poisoned by thallium salt,' he said, pointing the finger at a well-known exile. An author and journalist, Starikov is behind the 'Goebbels' Award' which goes to 'people who lie about, slander and vilify Russia'. On the latest mysterious death, Starikov wrote that 'three years ago according to the best traditions of Russian cheats, Alexander Perepilichnyy escaped to England and applied for asylum'. He then gave evidence to Swiss prosecutors against Russian officials. In a sinister phrase, Starikov said: 'In such situations the death is rarely occasional.' Britain's Beverly Hills: The Coach House, home of the Russian supergrass Alexander Perepilichnaya, who was found collapsed and dying on the luxury estate . He urged potential whistleblowers to . keep quiet and stay at home. 'It is not just honourable to the honest . patriot to love your Motherland more than personal selfish interests, . but it is also very good for your health.' One comment darkly warns Russians: 'Here are the best traditions of British intelligence for you.' Alexander Perepilichny . was a fit, energetic businessman with no history of medical problems, . when, it seems, he simply dropped dead in the one-acre grounds of his . seven-bedroom home. Yet exactly how he died remains shrouded in . mystery. His body was . discovered by a member of his staff in the early evening. He had . last been seen out jogging that morning and was still in his running . gear when he was found. A . post-mortem examination was carried out, which was inconclusive and forensic experts . are carrying out further tests for traces of poison. Amid growing fears among associates . that this wealthy individual was the victim of a sophisticated . professional assassin, forensic experts are working to identify any . lethal substance in the dead man’s organs or bloodstream. The extra tests were ordered — . following a routine autopsy — after Surrey police were informed that the . dead man had fled from Russia to Britain three years ago and had turned . supergrass against members of a feared Russian crime syndicate. The Coach House, home of Russian supergrass Alexander Perepilichnaya, can be seen at the top left of this picture of millionaires' luxury private estate, St George's Hill, in Weybridge, Surrey . Following the death it emerged that . Perepilichny had been warned via a Russian police official that his name . was on a hit list discovered in the possession of a known Chechen . hitman in Russia, who had details of his former addresses. The . death comes six months after another Russian businessman was gunned . down in broad daylight outside London’s Canary Wharf when a hitman . sprayed him with bullets. One theory is that the businessman was shot because he knew too much about a 2009 gun attack on a Russian banker in Moscow. Litvinenko . had fled to Britain with evidence that gangs linked to Russia’s . leadership were plotting the murder of Boris Berezovsky, an oligarch . who had fallen out with President Vladimir Putin. He fell ill after meeting a KGB officer and his associate at the Millennium Hotel in London’s Grosvenor Square. Exclusive: St George's Hill, in Weybridge, is . one of the most secure roads in Britain and boasts many . multimillion-pound properties, in which celebrities including Elton John . and Kate Winslet have lived . Dubbed . the Assassins’ Poison, polonium-210 is substance considered to be . 250,000 times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. Toxicologists estimate . that a dose the size of a grain of salt would be fatal. The substance . used in the Litvinenko case was traced back to a Russian nuclear plant. If . polonium or another toxin is found to have been used in the latest . case, experts say it would not have been difficult to administer the . substance: for example, a food delivery bound for the victim’s home . could have been intercepted and tampered with. The . effects of polonium can take hours or days to become apparent — though . the poison can trigger a heart attack — and only specialised tests can . discover traces of the substance, which rapidly diminish after death. What was particularly chilling in the wake of Litvinenko’s murder was . the refusal of President Putin to hand over the prime suspect — the KGB . man who was at the London hotel on the day in question. When . David Cameron went to Moscow last year and demanded the suspect be sent . to Britain, he was told bluntly: ‘That will never happen, no matter . what the circumstances.’ Now, . with a Tory MP and a clutch of former Foreign Secretaries expressing . increasing concern about Russian criminals operating in Britain, . diplomatic relations between Moscow and London could plunge to an icy . new low if the death in St George’s Hill proves to be murder. Exclusive: St George's Hill, in Weybridge, is one of the most secure roads in Britain and boasts many multimillion-pound properties, in which celebrities including Elton John and Kate Winslet have lived . In the coming days, all eyes will be on the results of the forensics being carried out at a Surrey police lab. Toxicology . specialists have been brought in to study blood and tissue samples . after detectives learned the identity of the dead man. Certainly, Alexei . Navalny, a high-profile Russian anti-corruption campaigner, believes . the latest death bears all the hallmarks of a professional hit. ‘He . died at the age of 44, which in general is not typical, and there were . no signs of violent death. Well, Litvinenko didn’t have them either.’ Alexander Perepilichny could have died from natural . causes, but there is much in his past that points to a more complex — . and concerning — story. He . fled to Britain with his young wife Tanya, after . falling out with members of a criminal network thought to include . corrupt members of the Russian police, tax office, judiciary and . government. At the time of . his death, he was providing information to Bill Browder, a wealthy . British businessman who was the victim of the same crime network, which . he says colluded in the hijacking of his Moscow investment company in . order to carry out a massive fraud. Browder, 48, had been contacted by . Perepilichny in the summer of 2010. ‘He provided us with documents . proving the involvement of named Russian government officials in the . fraud against my company,’ Browder has said. These . explosive papers revealed names of those involved in the tax scam, . including details of how they had used the cash they made to buy a . £15 million Moscow estate, as well as multi-million-pound properties in . Dubai and to set up a Swiss bank account containing millions. Many close to the case believe this revelation cost Perepilichny his life. | Mystery surrounds death of Alexander Perepilichny who had no history of medical problems, when, it seems, he simply dropped dead . Pro-Kremlin blogger Nikolai Starikov said Perepilichny had been assisting Swiss prosecutors in a case of suspected high level money laundering . Authorities still awaiting the results of In-depth toxicological tests are being carried out . | 37f7cff3f9a4c03561ff8904d6e98bfb3ab0a91e |
Hundreds of mice and dozens of monkeys have been infected with Ebola by the Ministry of Defence as part of research into the killer virus. Official figures show 200 mice and 56 marmosets were infected with the disease, which causes internal haemorrhaging, and then killed, over two years. Last night it emerged a patient in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was being tested for Ebola after returning sick from a visit to West Africa, which is currently suffering the worst ever outbreak of the virus. Scroll down for video . Porton Down: The site in Wiltshire has been the centre of the UK's chemical weapons research for 100 years . Stocks of Ebola are kept at MoD's research centre at Porton Down, Wiltshire, a highly secretive location where work has long been done on chemical and biological weapons. Revealing the scale of the Ebola research, officials told The Sun that all the animals were awake when they were infected with the virus, then 'humanely culled' after tests or when their suffering became too severe. The research was said to be aimed at understanding the development and spread of Ebola in animals, with later experiments working on possible treatments. Last night Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency confirmed a patient who returned from West Africa with malaria was being tested for the Ebola virus at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. The PHA has advised that there is no increased risk to the wider community. The patient is being kept in isolation and tested for Ebola at the Royal Victoria Hospital, pictured, in Belfast . The Public Health Agency has advised that there is no increased risk to the wider community . A spokesman for the PHA said: 'The Public Health Agency has confirmed that a person who has recently travelled in an area affected by Ebola is being assessed in accordance with the agreed risk assessment. 'The PHA is liaising with colleagues and has advised that there is no increased risk to the wider community. 'Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, can be a severe illness in humans. The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is two to 21 days. Staff from North East Ambulance Service and the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle carry out a Ebola training exercise . 'It is important to note that the likelihood of contracting EVD is extremely low unless the person had come into contact with blood or body fluids of a symptomatic person. Therefore we would like to stress that the risk to the public is low. A person infected with Ebola virus will typically develop a fever, a headache, joint and muscle pain, a sore throat, and intense muscle weakness. These symptoms start suddenly between two and 21 days after becoming infected. Diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash, stomach pain and impaired kidney and liver function follow. The patient then bleeds internally, and may also bleed from the ears, eyes, nose or mouth. Ebola virus disease is fatal in 50 to 90 per cent of cases. The sooner a person is given care, the better the chances that they will survive. Source: NHS Choices . 'There is no change to the current situation in Northern Ireland in that the risk to the public here is very low. 'The patient being treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, has tested positive for Malaria, and an Ebola test is being done as a precautionary measure. 'A further update will be given when results are available.' Last week, a woman with a history of travel to west Africa was tested for Ebola at St George's Hospital in south London. She arrived at the hospital complaining of a fever - and tested negative after being kept in isolation and closely monitored overnight in line with national guidelines for handling the outbreak. Other UK hospitals and health centres which have seen walk-in cases of patients tested for Ebola - with negative results - include the City of Coventry Health Centre and Southmead Hospital in Bristol. In October, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Parliament that up to ten Ebola cases could be seen in Britain by Christmas - and that the health crisis will get worse before it improves. The death toll from the Ebola epidemic has now risen to 4,950 out of 13,241 cases in the three worst-hit countries of West Africa, the World Health Organization said on Friday. Last week, a patient presented herself to St George's Hospital, pictured, in Tooting, south London, with a high temperature. After telling staff she had visited west Africa, she was tested for Ebola . | A patient is being tested for the virus at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast . Public Health Agency has advised there is no increased risk to community . Last week, a woman tested negative for the virus at a London hospital . Health Secretary has warned to expect a handful of UK cases by Christmas . | e8af81ec346aea7d2bb49d2f1ecc1b6a05cd4d43 |
By . Associated Press . An eight-year-old girl is being hailed for her quick, calm thinking after she grabbed the steering wheel and drove the family's SUV when her mother fell unconscious on their highway ride to school. Abby Porter and her mom, Shelly, were on Kanas 66 headed to her school in Riverton early on Wednesday when Shelly had a medical emergency and passed out behind the wheel, Galena Police Chief Larry Delmont said Thursday. With her mother slumped over, Abby - a second-grader whose father sometimes lets her steer their tractor and lawn mower - leaned over and took the wheel. Scroll down for video . Abby Porter, eight, bravely grabbed the wheel of her mom's car while they were driving down Route 66 after she passed out at the wheel . The little girl managed to do a U-turn on Route 66 to head in the direction of her father's home with her sick mother . She told WOAM: 'I thought I was trying to panic and then I got the idea to grab the steering wheel.' Delmont said at some point, Abby even executed a U-turn on the four-lane highway, 'because she was going home to her daddy'. 'That's at 8:37 in the morning, and there is a lot of traffic, a lot of trucks,' Delmont said. Officer Jimmy Hamilton noticed the SUV going about 20 mph and weaving a bit between the two lanes, and suspected someone was driving under the influence. As he got closer he noticed the woman slumped over in the driver seat and saw Abby at the wheel. The vehicle was also closing in on an intersection. Hamilton tried to get in front of Abby's car to slow her down, but she kept switching lanes to avoid bumping into his car. Hamilton got alongside her and told Abby to put the vehicle in park, but she didn't know how. He then told her she needed to bump into him to stop the car, but Abby said she didn't want to because she was afraid. Write caption here . Officer Jimmy Hamilton saved the day by cutting in front of the car with his patrol vehicle and bringing it to a halt. Right, the little girl's father thanked him for his efforts . He convinced Abby bumping into his car was OK. 'I never saw her cry,' Hamilton said. 'It was just the expression on her face and the tone of her voice, you could tell she was scared. But she stayed with it.' Hamilton said he positioned his car in front of the SUV, 'and she just steered right into my rear bumper, and I started applying slow pressure on my breaks until both vehicles stopped'. Emergency crews got Abby's mother to the hospital, but Delmont said he didn't know what caused her to lose consciousness. The police department in Galena, a town of about 3,000 residents about 150 miles south of Kansas City, planned to present Abby with a plaque for 'outstanding bravery in a life-threatening situation'. The little girl was keen to get to school after her brave actions - because she had a spelling test to ace. The department also plans to honor Hamilton. 'That officer did a perfect job,' Chief Delmont said. | Abby Porter and her mom, Shelly, were on . Kanas 66 headed to her school in Riverton early on Wednesday when Shelly . had a medical emergency . Abby - a second-grader whose father sometimes lets her steer their tractor and lawn mower - leaned over and took the wheel . The eight-year-old was keen to get to school after her brave moment - because she had a spelling test . | 552d454a27a7aca7c57de97be7acb72ac1a2f1a4 |
(WIRED) -- Jawbone's UP activity-monitoring wristbands have been failing at an alarming rate. Three review units have failed during Gadget Lab testing, numerous complaints of "bricked" units riddle Jawbone's user forums, and the clever health and fitness product currently receives just two out of five stars on Amazon.com reviews -- 41 different user reviews were complaining of 23 bricked devices as of press time. Today, Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman issued a statement on Jawbone's website explaining the cause of the failures, and offered a comprehensive, perhaps unprecedented, refund program for anyone unhappy with his or her purchase. Apparently, problems with circuit board capacitors are to blame for the litany of units that have trouble keeping a charge, exhibit erratic data-recording behavior, or just plain stop working. Rahman's message to customers reports the following: . "We've found an issue with two specific capacitors in the power system that affects the ability to hold a charge in some of our bands. We're also fixing an issue with syncing related to the band hardware. Typically, these issues surface within the first seven to ten days of use. The glitches are purely performance related and do not pose any safety risk." When the wristband works properly, it records all your daytime footsteps, and later provides a visual report of your walking, running or hiking activity via a nifty iOS app interface. You can also set the band to give you "Activity Reminders" -- gentle vibrations on your wrist that compel you to get out of your seat and take a few steps. The UP system also offers nighttime sleep monitoring, providing rich visual graphs detailing periods of deep and light sleep. Well, that's how the UP system operates when working. In our experience with three different failed bands, problems ran a frustrating gamut. One band issued random vibrations (even though no reminders were set) and consistently dropped data before failing to keep a charge, and then dying completely. The other two bands simply exhibited syncing failures before bricking for good. In his statement, Rahman says that Jawbone has "temporarily paused production" of the bands, and will once again begin taking orders after the hardware's technical issues have been resolved. Jawbone's VP of Product Management and Strategy Travis Bogard told Wired.com, "We will bring it back as fast as we can." Jawbone is also offering a "no questions asked" refund program for anyone who's purchased an UP. Starting tomorrow and running through December 31, 2012, consumers who bought their UP bands from authorized retailers will be granted full refunds, and -- here's the big news -- be allowed to keep their bands. Consumers experiencing hardware problems can also continue to receive replacement bands through Jawbone's existing warranty program. In fact, someone can collect a full refund, as well as receive a replacement band as long as the band qualifies under warranty. Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT! Click here! Copyright 2011 Wired.com. | Product currently receives just two out of five stars on Amazon.com reviews . Jawbone CEO says problems with circuit board capacitors are to blame . Jawbone's VP says, "We will bring it back as fast as we can" | 0ef5c715acd7a70f51a9d800c9e01bfe69657bed |
(CNN) -- South Korea held off a late rally by Chicago to win a third title in the Little League World Series. Despite letting up three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, South Korea was able to seal the 8-4 victory. The country also won back-to-back titles in 1984 and 1985. Hwang Jae-yeong and Jeon Jin-woo drove in two runs apiece and Choi Hae-chan hit a solo home run. "We know the time difference and that a lot of people were cheering for us," manager Jong Wook-park told The Associated Press. "We appreciate the people back in Korea. I told the kids that in a speech." Thanks to a four-run sixth inning, South Korea led 8-1 at one point. The Jackie Robinson West squad -- composed entirely of young African-Americans -- nearly staged an improbable rally at the end of the game. "We're the best team in the nation and the second best team in the world -- you can't have anything better than that," Chicago pitcher and infielder Marquis Jackson told ESPN. Chicago sealed its spot in the title game after topping Las Vegas in the U.S. title game on Saturday. The Jackie Robinson squad entered its own contest Saturday as the underdog -- its foe, Las Vegas, had beaten every team it faced -- including Chicago, which it crushed by a 13-2 score. "The pride and joy of Illinois is our Jackie Robinson West JRW Little League team," Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said. Both of Chicago's professional baseball teams tweeted in support of the JRW team, as did the Chicago Bulls and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Thank you for inspiring our city with your positive attitude, spirit & success," Emanuel tweeted. "You young men will forever be champions of Chicago." The boys from Chicago's South Side also sent hearty congratulations from outside the Windy City, including ex-Chicago White Sox great and baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas and filmmaker Spike Lee. The South Koreans advanced after crushing Japan 12-3 earlier Saturday. In the consolation game, which was also played on Sunday, Japan beat Las Vegas 5-0. | South Korea defeats Chicago 8-4 to win the Little League World Series . Hwang Jae-yeong and Jeon Jin-woo each drove in two runs . Japan posted a 5-0 victory over Las Vegas in the consolation game . | 413ac688042fdf4183b6085bfe250c927482817f |
(CNN) -- Shaquille O'Neal has donned many monickers during his basketball career, including Shaq Fu, the Big Aristotle, Superman and Shaqtus. This weekend, he will add "Dr. O'Neal" to that list. The former NBA player will graduate from Florida's Barry University on Saturday with a doctorate degree in education focusing on organizational learning and leadership. "This is for my mother, who always stressed the importance of education," O'Neal said. "I am proud to have achieved a doctoral degree and wish to thank my professors and Barry University for helping make this dream a reality. I'm smart enough to know that, even at my tender age, my pursuit of education is never finished." The 7-foot-1 retired basketball star and NBA analyst is expected to be one of 1,100 students who will don graduation gowns at a ceremony in Miami, the school said. "For the past four-and-half years, O'Neal pursued his doctoral degree in education while juggling the roles of athlete, student and entrepreneur," Barry University said in a statement. "He completed the requirements of the doctoral program while adhering to the grueling NBA schedule prior to his retirement last year as well as fulfilling commitments in broadcasting and business." O'Neal graduates with a 3.81 grade point average and he completed 16 courses mostly using satellite classrooms and video conferencing, the university said. In addition to the championships under his belt, O'Neal has a Bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and an MBA he received in 2005. He won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers after forming a devastating partnership with Kobe Bryant, and added a fourth in 2006 with the Miami Heat. With 28,596 points, O'Neal is fifth on the all-time NBA scoring list and is second only to Michael Jordan on the all-time list of NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards. O'Neal retired last year after playing 19 NBA seasons. | Shaquille O'Neal gets a doctorate in education from a Florida university Saturday . He graduates with a 3.81 grade point average . "This is for my mother, who always stressed the importance of education," he says . | 9d2c5474e52cfc338aefe33af0a8f0bb84541026 |
After receiving a call from a gay man who said he suffered homophobic abuse on a train in Luton, two radio presenters decided to conduct an experiment. BBC Three Counties DJs Iain Lee and Justin Dealey walked through the town to gauge the public reaction to an openly gay couple. A 23-year-old called Nick had told them he was used to being insulted by strangers when he and his boyfriend held hands. Scroll down for video . Radio presenters Iain Lee and Justin Dealey conducted the experiment after a caller said he suffered homophobic abuse on a train . The pair pretend to be a gay couple and walk through the town to gauge the public reaction to a gay couple . And after the two presenters walked the streets of Luton doing so, they were shocked to be told: 'It's disgusting'. In the video, the men walk down a street and as they pass a group of men, each one turns to stare at the supposedly gay couple. Mr Dealey says: 'We've walked about three or four minutes and we've had looks, we've definitely had looks.' And Mr Lee says: 'I saw a dad usher a child away from us, did you see that? 'Yeah, there was a dad walking with his kid, he clocked the hands, clocked us, and then said, 'Come on, love. Come on.' Mr Dealey says: 'We've walked about three or four minutes and we've had looks, we've definitely had looks' As they pass a group of men in hi-vis vests, each one turns to stare at the supposedly gay couple . But then they approach a teenager after overhearing him say 'urgh' after noticing their entwined hands. They approach the boy and ask him to elaborate on his comment and are told: 'I thought it was disgusting.' Asked why, he repeats: 'Because it's disgusting.' A woman, who was with him at the time, says: 'He doesn't obviously agree with homosexuality. He's got a stigma. He's a teenage boy.' And when asked for her own views, she says: 'I'm not against it, but I don't like it in my face to be honest. 'It does make me feel a little bit embarrassed if you two were to embrace in a kiss, I would feel a little bit awkward but that's about as far as it would go.' She adds she is not 'narrow-minded' but says: 'Especially in Luton you don't see that. You wouldn't see that.' And the boy then repeats: 'I just think it's wrong for two men, I think it's disgusting in my opinion.' At the end of the experiment, Mr Lee concludes: 'It certainly felt uncomfortable. Whereas I know if you'd been a girl and I was holding your hand, there would have been nothing. He adds: 'I'm surprised and disappointed.' They approach a teenager : 'I just think it's wrong for two men, I think it's disgusting' | Radio presenters Iain Lee and Justin Dealey decided to conduct experiment after a caller said he suffered homophobic abuse on a train . Walked through town to gauge the public reaction to an openly gay couple . As they pass a group of men, each turns to stare at the apparent couple . They approach a teenage boy after overhearing him say 'urgh' The boy says: 'I just think it's wrong for two men, I think it's disgusting' | 77afa7fb900ce6d9feb1ada09910b7fb59a34588 |
During CNN's "Going Green: Green Light for Business" coverage, we've asked businesses to tell us how they balance the imperative for profit with environmental concerns. Anders Eldrup, CEO and President of DONG Energy, tells us about the company's plans to switch its reliance from fossil fuels to renewable energy. There are many reasons as to why coal today is the dominant fuel in power generation. In coal many countries found a way to alleviate the extreme dependence of Middle East oil after the 1970's oil crisis. Horns Rev II will be the world's largest offshore wind farm when it opens on September 17, 2009. But the solutions of yesterday are not necessarily the solutions of today. We now know that fossil fuels are the prime contributors to global warming. Today 85 percent of DONG Energy's production comes from fossil fuels, whereas 15 percent comes from carbon-neutral sources. DONG Energy wants to turn the numbers around within one generation, so that 85 per cent of our energy production is carbon neutral. We call the vision 85/15. At present we are formulating the strategy through which our vision will be achieved. The strategy is to create growth and reduce CO2 emissions at the same time, and key elements will be increased efficiency and more biomass and wind energy. Efficient power plants Energy efficiency is an often overlooked method of reducing emissions. DONG Energy's power plants rank among the most efficient with efficiency rates of up to 47 percent and we constantly work to improve efficiency. Furthermore, the central power plants are combined heating plants that channel excess heat from power production to consumers for domestic heating. Such use of energy elevates efficiency rates to 94 percent. Biomass in power plants To further bring down emissions high efficiency must be supplemented by renewable fuels such as biomass. Already today, Danish power plants use half of the straw from Danish agriculture in our power plants along with increasing quantities of wood chips and wood pellets. Wind power works Today, DONG Energy has built half of the world's offshore wind mills and wind energy will be an important contribution to achieving the 85/15 vision. Off the coast of Western Denmark, DONG Energy is completing the construction of the world's largest offshore wind farm, Horns Rev II. When it opens on the 17th of September this year, its 91 windmills will generate enough power to supply 200,000 households. The offshore wind farm, London Array, in the Thames Estuary, will be another testimony to the potential of wind energy. DONG Energy owns 50 percent of the 1GW London Array project, which will be the world's largest offshore wind farm, powering 750,000 homes. First phase of the London Array is due to be completed by 2012. Green transport The uneasy companion of large quantities of wind power is great variation in power production due to the intermittency of wind. Electric cars can help absorb the surplus power production when energy production is high because of strong winds and when energy consumption is low at night. More electric cars simply mean more wind energy. In addition, electric cars can reduce the rapidly growing CO2-emissions from the transport sector. DONG Energy is developing the infrastructure and technology that will allow for cleaner and more intelligent forms of transportation. But the approach to the transport sector has to be broad based. DONG Energy is building one of the world's first demonstration plants for second generation bioethanol in Denmark. Contrary to first generation bioethanol produced from food crops, second generation bioethanol is based on residual products from forestry and agriculture. The plant will produce 5.4 million liters of clean and affordable second generation bioethanol each year. The role of politics These are key elements in our strategy to simultaneously pursue growth and reduce CO2 emissions. But politicians must contribute by creating a political framework that aligns economic growth and climate mitigation. Concerns over growth and over climate change mitigation should not have to be balanced. They should be integrated. On one hand, politicians must create economic incentives by ensuring a high price on CO2 and a global carbon trade system shared by all developed countries. On the other hand, politicians must formulate ambitious car-emissions standards, building codes etc. The first step towards aligning growth and climate concerns has to be taken in Copenhagen in December this year. | DONG Energy aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels to produce energy . Heavily involved in wind energy, has built half of the world's offshore windmills . Opening world's largest wind farm in September, Horns Rev II has 91 windmills . Eldrup: "Economic growth and climate mitigation concerns must be aligned" | 37dcf01fffdaff42116c95136b7cfac86f0da8cc |
Say "laptop" or "tablet" or "app" to a technophile and you may get them interested. Say "robot," and you've got them excited. For centuries, we've been intrigued by the concept of creating mechanized beings that are as much like us as possible. And as our technological know-how marches ever forward, we're closer than ever to doing it. From robots you can buy right now to the ones invading the work force to tech giant Google's move into military robotics, our automated friends are no longer just the stuff of science-fiction double features. But like many scientific advances, fantasy was a prime motivator. "Both scientific research and science fiction begin with the same two words: 'What if?'" says University of Minnesota physics professor physics professor James Kakalios, who teaches a course called "Everything I Know About Science I Learned From a Comic Book." So, as we ponder the real-world arrival of robots in our midst -- delivery drones, self-driving cars -- it's worth taking a look at 10 of the most influential robots from pop culture that helped inspire us along the way. Leonardo's robot . Was Leonardo da Vinci the first celebrity to put the concept of a human-like, mechanical companion into the public consciousness? You can argue the answer is "yes." Some time around 1495, Leonardo -- the famed painter, sculptor, inventor, engineer and all-around genius -- sketched his idea for a "mechanical knight." The result was a suit of armor, automated by a system of pulleys and levers, that he is believed to have displayed at a party at the court of Milan. It could stand, sit, raise its visor and move its arm. When his notes were discovered in the 1950s, researchers re-created the "robot," suggesting that his idea would have really worked. The automaton likely was powered by humans, meaning it's not technically a robot. But Leonardo later worked on programmable constructions, like an automated lion, suggesting he was definitely onto something. The first 'robots' "R.U.R." -- or "Rossum's Universal Robots" -- was a Czech play that premiered in 1921. It is believed to be the first time the term "robots" was used to describe artificial people (who, in the tale, are made in a factory from synthetic material). In Czech, "robota" means forced labor. As happens in these cases, the cyborg-like creations in the play seem perfectly happy to serve humans, until an uprising ends in the extinction of the human race. Can't win 'em all. The play was a huge success and, by 1923, it had been translated into 30 languages. Maria, the Maschinenmensch . The first movie robot wasn't far behind. In 1927, Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" became the first feature-length sci-fi film, painting a picture of a dystopian future that would be echoed decades later in movies like "Blade Runner." In it, rich industrialists deploy a female robot to impersonate Maria, a woman they fear will organize the workers they oppress. Pop artists from Queen to Nine Inch Nails to Madonna have made music videos either inspired by "Metropolis" or using clips from it. A half-century after "Metropolis," the appearance of "Star Wars" droid C-3PO would be largely inspired by the robotic Maria. Asimov's Three Laws . The short story they come from, "Runaround," was written in 1942, but would become more widely known when the story appeared in science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov's 1950 collection, "I, Robot." Before Asimov, most robot stories followed a similar pattern: Scientists create robot; robot goes haywire and attacks its creators. Bored with that, he set up new rules of the robotic road. His Three Laws are: . • A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. • A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. • A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law . It wasn't that things would always go well from there. Many of Asimov's stories, and the stories and films that his laws inspired, focus on trouble that arises when robots have trouble knowing how to obey the laws in tricky real-world situations. But they are also credited with helping create the "lovable" robot in science fiction: an archetype popularized in TV and movies, from "Lost in Space" to "Star Wars" to "Short Circuit." Robby the Robot . Robby made his first appearance in the 1956 movie "Forbidden Planet." From there, he became arguably the silver screen's first mecha-celebrity. In old Hollywood's great tradition of over-the-top, and often misleading, ballyhoo, the movie's poster showed Robby manhandling a maiden, but he's actually a helpful robot with a dry wit to boot. After "Forbidden Planet," Robby, or sometimes just the vaguely humanoid suit, went on to appear in dozens of movies and television shows, from "The Twilight Zone," "Lost In Space" and "The Addams Family" to the much later "Mork & Mindy" and "Earth Girls Are Easy" Robby was inducted into Carnegie Mellon's Robot Hall of Fame in 2004. HAL 9000 . "2001: A Space Odyssey" was Stanley Kubrick's epic, groundbreaking film from 1968, and HAL 9000 was unquestionably its star. Represented by an impassive, disembodied voice but able to mechanically control the spaceship Discovery, which he's tasked with running, HAL represented our fears of technology gone awry as the Space Age dawned. Instead of obeying Asimov's Laws, HAL, first and foremost, is devoted to making sure his ship's mission is a success. And that command has a deadly, and near-disastrous outcome. Some argue that since he didn't have a physical form (at least by the strictest standards) HAL is not really a robot. But Carnegie Mellon thought he deserved to go into the Robot Hall of Fame with its inaugural class in 2003. R2-D2 and C-3PO . It's hard to argue anyone did more to propel robots from hardcore science fiction into the wider public consciousness than these two when they hit the screen in 1977. Full of personality, gallant and always helpful, the pair have appeared in all six "Star Wars" films to date. Creator George Lucas has said that R2-D2 is his favorite character from the movies. Terminator . Mention any major advance of robotics, technology or artificial intelligence and, to this day, you'll inevitably hear something like this: "Skynet just became self-aware." Skynet is the system that leads to the Terminators, the titular robots of the series of movies (and later TV shows) which began in 1984. A new embodiment of our worst fears, the robots of "Terminator" are time-traveling killing machines -- and it's all because the people in charge let what we can do get ahead of what we should do. Data . Call Data the "anti-Terminator." The android from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is a creation that science has made so painfully close to human that his hyper-powered mind can't help but yearn to be one of us. The bad jokes weren't enough. Ultimately, an "emotion chip" granted Data's Pinocchio-like wish to become "real." Wall-E . The idea of a friendly robot with a ton of personality was well established by the time "Wall-E" came along in 2008. But the Academy Award-winning film is arguably Pixar's best, and a huge reason for that was Wall-E's wordless yet emotionally moving "performance." Like much great science fiction, "Wall-E" also tackles larger societal issues like rampant consumerism and environmental waste, while still offering up a robot who connected with millions of viewers, young and old, on a personal level. | Real-world robotics have been inspired by pop-culture creations . Leonardo da Vinci was working on an "automaton" as early as 1495 . The term "robot" comes from a 1921 Czech play . Six years after that, "Metropolis" brought us the first movie robot . | 1922cdc819d255e1cf27cc7580cf86691701ef45 |
(CNN) -- When celebrating the Cinco de Mayo holiday, consider a more authentic Mexican experience than simply ordering a margarita and chips and salsa at the local sports bar. Not ready for a trip to Mexico right now? There is plenty of Mexico to explore and celebrate in the United States since much of the Southwest was once part of our neighbor to the south. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla in which Mexican Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza led his outnumbered troops in defense of Puebla against the French on May 5, 1862. Zaragoza was born in 1829 just outside the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad (now part of Texas). The Presidio, or fort, displays a statue of Zaragoza, a Mexican national hero, who died of typhoid fever in 1862. Still operated by the Catholic Church, the Presidio hosts Mass every Sunday at the Our Lady of Loreto Chapel. (Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16, 1810.) Mexico tourism holds its own . Remember the Alamo (and more)! Many people will mark the weekend holiday with a visit to the Misión San Antonio de Valero in San Antonio, now known as the Alamo, which the Spanish first constructed and Mexican and Texas troops later occupied. The March 6, 1836, battle between Mexican troops and Texas revolutionaries is known among descendants of the Republic of Texas as a great fight against impossible odds. The Mexican troops crushed the revolutionaries, but the Texans fought back victoriously later that year, and the Republic of Texas was born. For a celebratory atmosphere, visit Market Square, where you can visit the shops of El Mercado to find pinatas, jewelry, clothing, leather and other goods similar to stores in Mexico. The square also hosts "Primer Sabados" or "First Saturdays" with food booths, art, music and children's programs. A couple of local dining favorites are the chilaquiles breakfast taco on flour tortilla at Blanco Cafe downtown and Henry's Puffy Tacos. Eatocracy: All the fixings for a festive fiesta . San Diego: First Spanish settlement on West Coast . The birthplace of San Diego is preserved at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the site of the first Spanish settlement on the U.S. West Coast and San Diego's first downtown. Mexico took over the downtown after the country won its independence from Spain in 1821. The six-block site contains preserved and restored adobe and wooden buildings, thriving restaurants and shops. Old Town will host Fiesta Cinco de Mayo on Friday through Sunday. The Barrio Logan neighborhood initially welcomed people fleeing the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century, and the area is now home to the local Mexican-American community, Mexican street art and modern art galleries. Some early evidence of the artistic scene can be found at Chicano Park beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge overpass. The Centro Cultural de la Raza is in Balboa Park, where children can also enjoy the San Diego Zoo and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. The center is a cultural arts center dedicated to Mexican, Mexican American, indigenous and other Latino art and culture. Pueblo, Colorado: Flowing out of Sangre de Cristo mountain range . Established by Colorado's mix of early pioneers as Fort Pueblo, a smaller version of the current city of Pueblo was incorporated as part of the Colorado Territory in 1870. Colorado became a U.S. state in 1876. With the arrival of the railroad and an abundance of coal, Pueblo became a thriving steel town. Each September, thousands of people come to Pueblo for the Chile & Frijoles Festival to celebrate the harvest of the town's most important crops: the mirasol green chile and pinto beans. The festivities have included chili and salsa competitions, a jalapeno pepper eating contest, a 5K fun run, art exhibitions and live entertainment. To learn more about the region's history, check out the renovated El Pueblo History Museum in the Union Avenue Historic District. For arts and culture, look to the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center and the Buell Children's Museum. And the annual Colorado State Fair hosts nearly two weeks of livestock shows, rodeos and music starting in late August. Spanish land grants in Arizona . Established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio, the town of Tubac (now in Arizona) was once a stop on the road from Mexico to the Spanish settlements in California. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park preserves the site of the Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac, the oldest fort in what would become the state of Arizona. Now it's an artist colony and home to many galleries. When you're finished gallery hopping, head to Elvira's restaurant, which was established in 1927 in Nogales, Mexico, and reopened in Tubac. About 50 miles from Tubac, Rancho De La Osa was part of the original 3 million-acre land grant from Spain's king to the Ortiz brothers of Mexico in 1812. The rancho fell within the boundaries of the United States after the 1854 signing of the Gadsden Purchase settling the U.S.-Mexican border. It now welcomes overnight guests, who can view a cannonball on display that Pancho Villa reportedly fired at the house during the Mexican Revolution. The nearby Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is open 24 hours a day and welcomes horseback riding, hunting, bird watching and bird migration counts. (Look for the spring migration count on or around the second Saturday in May.) | Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla . Much of the Southwestern U.S. was once part of Mexico . Explore historical sites in Texas, Colorado and beyond . Old Town San Diego is hosting Fiesta Cinco de Mayo this weekend . | ddf8d703c25aad3363af502d69d5d805d6d45f34 |
(CNN) -- Costa Rican officials surveyed damage Wednesday after a major earthquake rattled the country's northwest coast. The 7.6-magnitude quake was "one of the strongest earthquakes" ever to hit the Central American nation, President Laura Chinchilla said. The president praised residents' response, saying there were no reports of major physical damage from the quake. "Costa Ricans knew how to react," she said. The quake struck Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula Wednesday morning, on the Pacific coast about 87 miles west of the capital, San Jose. It was centered more than 28 miles deep. Schools in the hardest hit areas will be closed Thursday and Friday while engineers inspect buildings for damage, Chinchilla said. Officials gave conflicting reports about whether anyone had been killed. Late Wednesday Chinchilla said there were "no human losses," but earlier emergency officials said at least one person had died from a heart attack suffered during the quake. "It started out pretty mild, but then it really got going," said Bill Root, owner of a hotel in Samara, also near the epicenter. "It was a very strong earthquake. Everything was falling off the shelves and the ground was rolling." Costa Rica's National Emergency Commission reported debris on roads, electrical outages and some structural damage in homes, especially on the Nicoya Peninsula, about 14 kilometers (8 miles) from the epicenter. Red Cross ambulances evacuated patients from two damaged hospitals, said Enrique Guevara, a spokesman for the Red Cross in the Americas. Hours after the quake, authorities canceled all tsunami warnings and watches. CNN affiliate Teletica showed people streaming out of buildings when the earthquake hit. Telephone service was knocked out in cities near the epicenter, Teletica reported. The station showed photos submitted by viewers of a partially collapsed bridge over the Rio Sucio and a landslide on a highway. Other photos showed floors littered with merchandise inside stores and homes with minor damages. "It's unnerving when solid concrete beneath you is shaking from side to side. It was pretty scary," said David Boddinger, editor of the English-language Tico Times in San Jose. Seismologists have been predicting a strong quake in that area for years now, and Costa Ricans were wondering if this was the big one, he said. CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet, Antoinette Campbell and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report. | NEW: Costa Rica's president says the quake is one of the strongest to hit the country . NEW: Officials offer conflicting reports about whether there have been fatalities . The quake was on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific coast . CNN affiliate Teletica shows people streaming out of buildings after the quake . | 3aff50384993e771a9a3dad8c7b7faad807cb261 |
The difference 12 months makes. When Jose Mourinho last visited Goodison Park, his post-match debrief revolved around his frustrations that Chelsea lacked a top-class striker. He spoke about his side’s evolving ‘profile’, lamented the chances they had squandered in a 1-0 defeat and explained why it was the one area that was likely to hinder Chelsea’s pursuit of honours. Fast forward to the present and a £32million investment has transformed Mourinho’s squad. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jose Mourinho explain how happy he is with Diego Costa . Elation: Diego Costa runs off in celebration after scoring Chelsea's sixth and final goal at Goodison Park . Looking up: Costa has now scored four goals in just three Premier League appearances so far this season . With four goals in three games, Diego Costa has made a better start to his Chelsea career than some of the Premier League’s most successful recent imports. Goals after three games: . 4 - D Costa (Chelsea) 3 - S Aguero (Man City) 2 - R van Nistelrooy (Man United) 1 - D Drogba (Chelsea) 1 - L Suarez (Liverpool) 1 - F Torres (Liverpool) PS - Robin van Persie did score four in his first three games for Manchester United, but he had already been in the Premier League for eight years. In Diego Costa, Mourinho has found the missing link. If Costa arrived from Atletico Madrid with some questions hanging over him, having seriously underwhelmed during Spain’s wretched World Cup campaign, he is swiftly providing emphatic answers that he is the real deal. His performance in a helter-skelter collision with Everton, one which finished with a score — 3-6 — more befitting a game of tennis, was everything you could ask for from a high-end forward: slick, strong, aggressive and clinical. ‘It’s been nice to score goals but the most important thing is I help the team to win,’ said Costa. ‘Hopefully that continues all season. We have had a great start but there is a long way to go.’ Costa tormented Everton’s defence, driving them to distraction. There were some unedifying moments — his squabbles with Seamus Coleman and Tim Howard, for instance — but there was also undisputed class, like when he sidestepped his pursuers to finish the scoring late on. Mourinho, understandably, was keen to champion Costa’s dazzling impact — to think selling Romelu Lukaku for £28million almost recouped the fee he spent on the 25-year-old — but, inevitably, there was something else he wanted to say and his message was clear: Costa needs protection. ‘Diego is a mature guy,’ Mourinho said. ‘He has played in some very big matches and comes from a situation where this is no pressure for him. Roar: Costa tormented Everton’s defence, driving them to distraction, and had spats with Seamus Coleman . Caught: Costa created arguments with Coleman and goalkeeper Tim Howard but showed class at times . Grab: Mourinho, understandably, was keen to highlight champion Costa’s dazzling impact on Chelsea . Words: Everton goalkeeper Howard grabs Costa by the scruff of the neck after the controversial celebration . ‘He comes to play football and to give a spectacle but people have been chasing cards for him like they did in this match and, in fact, the referees are moving in this direction, too, because he has had two yellow cards in three matches, which is hard to understand. ‘Imagine the millions watching around the world and, because Everton players are chasing him to get cards, I take him off? I don’t think that is fair. ‘I don’t think this is what the people want. I don’t think this is what the Premier League wants. So when people chase him for cards, give cards to these players. Chased, chased! He has two yellow cards. He’s scored four goals. He is one of, if not the best, player in the Premier League in these three games. Normally he has to get Player of the Month. Normally. But he has two yellow cards.’ Sympathy for Costa was in short supply. He is not a shrinking violet and, when Everton pressed his buttons, he gave as good as he got, never shying away from the confrontation. Costa is a street-fighter and Mourinho may have to accept he will court trouble. ‘I’ve been in the British game for almost 20 seasons and I know the football culture. With Spain and South America, I know the players take time to adapt,’ said Everton manager Roberto Martinez. Exchange: Costa and Sylvain Distin get involved in a heated debate during the controversial Chelsea win . Opener: Costa scored Chelsea's first goal after just 34 seconds at Goodison Park on Saturday evening . ‘But he needs to understand we are quite unique in our league: we are very honest and respectful. You don’t see that sort of behaviour in our league (Costa celebrated in front of Coleman after the Everton defender’s own goal). ‘That’s not a reflection of the class that he has. He’s a top player and has had to fight for what he’s got. It’s a real shame when you’ve got a childish reaction like that.’ After conceding 10 goals in the first three games, Martinez has other things to worry about than Costa’s behaviour but will take some solace that Everton won’t face a side of Chelsea’s quality every week. ‘It was difficult for us to score away from home last season,’ said Mourinho. ‘But, in this game, we were brilliant in that aspect but were very bad defensively. We conceded too much and must be more solid from a defensive point of view, so we are far from perfect. 'We have given people some nice feelings in these three matches. The Chelsea Blues have a feeling this team will be good in this competition all this season. But that is just feelings. We have a lot of work to do. We’ve nine points from three games but so too do Swansea.’ Save: Everton goalkeeper Howard sticks out his right leg to deny Costa yet another goal on Saturday evening . Fallout: Chelsea boss Mourinho (left) defended Costa but Everton manager Roberto Martinez was not happy . | Diego Costa signed for Chelsea for £32million from Atletico Madrid and has had an instant impact under Jose Mourinho in the Premier League . ‘It’s been nice to score goals but the most important thing is I help the team to win. Hopefully that continues all season,' says Costa . Mourinho: ‘He comes to play football and to give a spectacle but people have been chasing cards for him like they did in this match (against Everton)' Everton manager Roberto Martinez says Costa 'needs to understand we are quite unique in our league - we are very honest and respectful' | 7b9845c10df1c106bf0ad938ed56b2f363a63d3d |
By . Nalini Ravichandran . PUBLISHED: . 12:56 EST, 8 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:56 EST, 8 June 2012 . Every mother knows about the risks of delivering a baby prematurely. A baby born even a month earlier than . it is due, or preemie as we know it, can develop pneumonia, poor vision . and hearing, sleep problems and may even die. And that's not all. Now a major . study published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood says . preterm babies can develop severe mental health problems too. Increased risk: Babies born more than eight weeks premature are '4.5 times as likely' to suffer from a severe mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder or psychosis . This is the first study of its kind to show a link between . premature babies and a broad range of psychiatric disorders in later . life. They are at a high risk of developing bipolar disorders, severe . depression and even eating disorders. Researchers say that subtle . alterations in the brain development caused by early birth could be . responsible for the problem, rather than restricted growth or lack of . oxygen during childbirth. The news has left doctors in Delhi concerned, . in view of the surge in births of premature babies. 'There has been a 10 . per cent rise in preemies because of different lifestyle-related health . problems pregnant women suffer from. 'Gestational diabetes, polycystic . ovaries, hypertension and cases of amniotic fluid leaks are common now . and these are the high risk factors for a premature delivery. 'Late . pregnancy is another reason for this worrying trend,' said Dr Asha . Sharma, consultant gynaecologist, Rockland hospital. Doctors are concerned about rising numbers of premature babies - which are defined as being born at least three weeks early . Ideally, a baby . should be delivered close to the 40th week, but babies are being . delivered as early as the 32nd week. The study finds that babies born . four to eight weeks earlier are more likely to develop schizophrenia and . bipolar disorders and those born after just 32 weeks in the womb are . three times more likely to have a psychiatric disorder by the age of 16. 'Premature babies are kept in neonatal care from between a week to a . month. 'They are away from the vital pheromones that their mothers . secrete and this could be the reason for psychological problems later. 'These babies are generally of low weight at birth and that impacts their . health a lot,' said Dr Manika Khanna, director, Gaudium IVF Centre. While pediatricians are able to save preemies with the advancement in . the neonatal technology, there is hardly any followup on their health . later. 'We have no clue on what happens to our preterm babies. In India, . there is no proper large-scale study on their health status,' said Dr . Khanna. Health experts pointed out that it is important to identify . susceptible children and keep track of their health status. | Delhi doctors concerned as city sees a 10 per cent rise in premature babies . Study of 1.3m Swedish medical records reveals that premature babies are more likely to experience mental health problems that extend into adulthood . | f1d8aaabeb6aebaa3df2dcf84db0afedeaf072fb |
(CNN)When Drew Manning stepped out from behind the cardboard cutout of his former fat self on Monday, the audience of "Good Morning America" was appropriately shocked. The fitness trainer's journey had come to an end after successfully losing more than 70 pounds -- six months after he purposely gained the same amount. "Like it never happened," host George Stephanopoulos said. "Kind of," Manning said. Both Manning and his wife, Lynn, can attest that a lot actually has changed in the past year. While Manning's body may have returned to its six-pack heydays, his mind, in many ways, has not. Always a fitness junkie, staying in shape comes naturally for Manning. He's that guy at the gym the rest of us love to hate, the one who likes to use his biceps for pumping iron instead of changing channels, and who prefers sucking down a spinach shake to indulging in a brownie sundae. Because of that, Manning was a "judgmental" trainer, his wife says. "He would look at someone who was overweight and say, 'They must really be lazy.' "I was convinced people used genetics or similar excuses as a crutch," Manning writes in his new book, "Fit2Fat2Fit." "You either wanted to be healthy or you didn't." The link between fat and cancer . That point of view wasn't helping Manning help his clients. When he failed yet again to push someone over to the light side, he knew something was wrong. In order to better understand the struggles his clients were facing, he had to face them himself. He gave up the gym and started consuming junk food, fast food and soda. In just six months, he went from 193 pounds with a 34-inch waist to 265 pounds with a 48-inch waist. Lynn saw the difference in her husband in less time than that. He became lethargic, stopped helping around the house and was less than eager to play with their 2-year-old daughter. "He was so insecure -- saying 'I'm so fat. I look so horrible,' constantly complaining about how he looks," she said. Manning says he didn't realize the effects of his weight gain would be more than physical. It altered his relationships and his self-confidence. Returning to the gym after the Fit2Fat portion of his journey made him nervous. The fact that he had to do push-ups on his knees was almost humiliating. "The biggest thing [I learned] is that it's not just about the physical. It's not just about the meal plan and the workouts and those things. The key is the mental and the emotional issues. I realized those issues are real." Of course, Manning had his critics. Experts said that his stunt was dangerous. His blood pressure and cholesterol shot up with such dramatic weight gain. But Manning has no regrets. The followers on his website have encouraged him with their own tales of weight loss. A fat girl gets naked . "We see the success stories of people losing all this weight, but it's more common now," he says. "To see someone do it in reverse on purpose -- it's mind blowing. A balance of craziness and inspiration." Manning suffered through soda deprivation headaches and food cravings on his way back to fit. The journey was easier for him than for most, he'll admit, but he's eager now to provide tips for others to follow in his footsteps. Power walker loses 150 pounds . Lynn is just glad to have her husband back, maybe a bit better than he was before. Before Fit2Fat2Fit, the self-described foodie wife would make treats, and Manning wouldn't even look at them. "Now he craves them," she says with a laugh. "It might be cruel, but I like that. I like that he's humanized." CNN's Ashley Strickland contributed to this story. | Fitness trainer Drew Manning wanted to better understand his clients' struggles . Manning gained 70 pounds on purpose so that he could lose it . Back at normal weight, he says the psychological aspect to dropping pounds is important . | 1e58199aa0b284b246937d2dad7a83ee3909e91b |
On this weekend 12 months ago, Manchester City were the subject of this column. They had endured a shaky start to the campaign and, though they had just beaten Newcastle in the Capital One Cup, I asked whether City supporters, if they were given the option, would take Roberto Mancini back over Manuel Pellegrini. Pellegrini, of course, went on to enjoy a dream first season in English football, leading City to the Barclays Premier League title, as well as the League Cup. He also took the club into the Champions League knockout stages for the first time. This time last year Manchester City were celebrating beating Newcastle in the Capital One Cup fourth round . Twelve months on, Manuel Pellegrini's side crashed out to the Magpies in the same competition . But here we are again on the first weekend of November, after another League Cup tie against Newcastle, and another question needs asking: what is different about Pellegrini’s City and the one of his predecessor? The players who helped Mancini capture the title in 2012 are the ones who Pellegrini relied on and they even became champions in similarly dramatic circumstances, capitalising when the team that seemed destined for first place capsized on the run-in. Some would argue Pellegrini’s team are more expansive but how important was that? City’s goal difference in 2012 was +64, when they finished with 89 points. Last year it was +65 but their tally had dropped to 86 points. When you consider that, ‘not much’ would be your answer. This is not an attack on City’s quality, by any means. When everything clicks, they are a fantastic side with some wonderful players and the patchy start they have endured to this campaign should not detract from what Pellegrini has achieved over the past 12 months. City, though, look like a team which must be changed and refreshed if it is going to carry on moving forward. Whether they successfully defend the title or fail to contain Chelsea, Pellegrini’s squad needs to be broken up. Has much changed at Manchester City since Manuel Pellegrini (left) took over from Roberto Mancini (right)? With an average age of 28.5, City’s first-choice team — Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Nasri, Toure, Fernandinho, Silva; Dzeko, Aguero — is the oldest in the Premier League. It is also older than the first-choices of Real Madrid (26.2) and Bayern Munich (27). Those two clubs are the ones City want to eventually rival but the thing that should provide most concern for Pellegrini is the fact that for all the money that has been invested, there is no exciting youngster ready to explode on to the scene like Adnan Januzaj or Raheem Sterling. A lot has been made about the huge investment that has gone into revamping the club’s academy but it is going to take time for the results of the work that goes on there to be seen, and the immediate concern is how much it will cost to keep them towards the head of the pack. It was clear they had a policy in the summer and were certain about who they wanted to bring in — Eliaquim Mangala, for instance, came into a position they needed to fill. They also made sure they tied down a number of their key performers to long contracts. But it is looking like a mistake not to bring in a replacement after Alvaro Negredo was allowed to join Valencia, as with the system that Pellegrini plays, he needs four strikers at his disposal. Martin Demichelis (centre) and Pablo Zabaleta (right) are in an ageing squad at 33 and 29 respectively . Yaya Toure (centre) is also on the wrong side of 30 and has had a disappointing season so far . City do not have a promising first-team youngster like Raheem Sterling (left) or Adnan Januzaj . City need to make big changes to their squad, even if they retain their Premier League title . He likes using two up front and he could have done with another body to ease the pressure on Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic. Could they have done more to take Radamel Falcao on loan? Expectation now follows City, so when they have a run of three games without a win, as is the case now, they are scrutinised and sections of their supporters, who have got used to success, have been unnerved by the start to the campaign Pellegrini has overseen. For Pellegrini, a man who does not make bold statements, to say after the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle in midweek that ‘we are not the team we used to be’ shows how difficult things have been. Why did he name such a strong side in that match? Was it a sign that he feels the league title and Champions League are out of reach? The defeat was bad enough, the injuries to David Silva and Yaya Toure were even worse. Now they are facing two matches they simply cannot lose. David Silva will be a major loss for City as they host Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday . First comes the Manchester derby — a fixture that has been good for City in recent years, as five wins in the past six league meetings with United shows — then a fight for survival in the Champions League against CSKA Moscow. Europe is where City want to be making an impact. Chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain, who arrived from Barcelona to run the club, won’t accept failure readily and Pellegrini will face serious questions if he fails to get his team out of the group. Soriano and Begiristain stood by Pep Guardiola when they were at Barcelona but that was because he was unbelievably successful and they won’t shy away from making changes if they feel that is what is required to keep building. We should not forget that after a World Cup, it is notoriously difficult for teams to find their rhythm early on. Only Chelsea have come flying out of the blocks, building up a six-point advantage over City during a period in which they have faced matches at Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium. Should the gap reach nine points this weekend, City will not pull that back. Whether they win or not, the squad needs some big changes in the summer. Chelsea have established themselves as the team to beat in the Premier League this season . Strikers grapple too! It has been interesting to read all the views on shirt-pulling this week after Sportsmail began its campaign for a clampdown. I’m relieved, though, that the campaign has started now, rather than when I was playing, as I dare say I would have featured in some of the images that have been used on these pages! It is difficult to mark at a corner when you are trying to keep your eye on both the ball and your man, so you invariably want to feel where your opponent is — and stop him getting away from you — while you follow the flight of the ball. From a defender’s point of view, I will say this: if you can stop your opponent and not get penalised by the referee, you are going to do it to gain an advantage. The issue, however, has become rife, so it is right that we try to stop it. But if the campaign is successful, I think you will find defenders wanting a new one to be launched to stop them being blocked by forwards! Ryan Shawcross highlighted the problem of grappling in the box during Stoke's defeat to Southampton . This week I'm looking forward to... Watching Newcastle's young stars progress . Given the passion for football in the area, it has been a mystery to me that Newcastle’s teams have gone without home-grown talent for so long. We might have had a glimpse of the future, though, at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night when a youthful and inexperienced team knocked the holders out of the Capital One Cup. It would be naive to think those who helped defeat Manchester City — such as 17-year-old Adam Armstrong and 18-year-old Rolando Aarons — will all become fixtures in the team in the coming weeks on the back of one excellent result. But they have given themselves a great chance of having a long-term future at the club and I’m sure Alan Pardew will look to reward them with more opportunities going forward. Newcastle’s fans are desperate for a local hero to emerge. It is about time that they had one. Rolando Aarons announced his arrival with the opening goal for Newcastle against City in midweek . I visited St George’s Park last week to take part in a question-and-answer session for aspiring coaches who were working towards getting their ‘B’ licence. I had a good look around before my talk and I was deeply impressed by the set-up. It is no exaggeration to say it is a world-class facility. Our task now is to produce the players and coaches to match it. | Manchester City are a team which must be changed and refreshed . The average age of 28.5 is older than Real Madrid and Bayern Munich's XIs . Defenders might want a new 'hands off' campaign... for strikers! I'm looking forward to seeing Newcastle's youngsters in action again . | 9fa1fc2e2ff595a2d99693f4e1d6bd1804d112c5 |
By . Valerie Elliott . PUBLISHED: . 18:13 EST, 4 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:37 EST, 4 May 2013 . It's a perfect reason to crack open the champagne – new research suggests three glasses of bubbly a week can improve your memory. Scientists are convinced a regular tipple of champagne can help prevent brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Connoisseurs have long argued its benefits. Barrister and crime writer Sir John Mortimer drank a glass of champagne every morning and said it was the secret to a long life. He died aged 85. Cheers: Scientists believe a little champagne may be good for you . But the study at Reading University is the first time scientists have identified health benefits in champagne. In Britain – where one in three over-65s develops dementia – it could be revolutionary. The compound that helps stave off forgetfulness has been found in the black grapes, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier, used for champagne. Jeremy Spencer, a biochemistry professor who led the research, said: ‘These grapes are used in red wine and lots of research has been done on the health benefits of red wine, so I was curious to find out if there were any health attributes in champagne.’ Red wine, if consumed modestly, has been found to help lower blood pressure and protect the heart. This is due to the compound chemicals in vines known as flavonoids. The memory aid found in champagne, however, is a different compound, phenolic acid. The study at Reading University is the first time scientists have identified health benefits in champagne . Prof Spencer suggested anyone over 40 would be wise to drink two or three glasses of bubbly a week. He said: ‘Dementia probably starts in the 40s and goes on to the 80s. It is a gradual decline and so the earlier people take these beneficial compounds in champagne, the better.’ About 80 per cent of all champagne is made from the two black grape varieties blended with a white Chardonnay grape. Researchers found that after champagne was consumed there was a significant boost to spatial memory – the ability to recognise surroundings that enables people to find their way home. The experiments were conducted on rats but Prof Spencer is confident there would be a similar impact on the human brain. The rats were given champagne daily with it mixed in their feed like a mash for six weeks. Each rat was allowed to run in a maze to find an edible treat. Five minutes later, the exercise was repeated to see if the rat had remembered where it had retrieved the original treat and where it could find another. Without champagne, the rats had a 50 per cent success rate, but after a tipple their score shot up to an average 70 per cent. Biopsy tests measured proteins which are important for short-term memory. Prof Spencer said: ‘The results were dramatic. After rats consumed champagne regularly, there was a 200 per cent increase of proteins important for determining effective memory. This occurred in rats after just six weeks. We think it would take about three years in humans. ‘This research is exciting because it illustrates for the first time that moderate consumption of champagne has the potential to influence cognitive functioning such as memory.’ He is now hoping to conduct a trial on about 50 or 60 people aged over 65 who will be asked to drink champagne for three years. A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society said: ‘This is an interesting study, especially for those who enjoy a glass of bubbly. However, people should not start celebrating just yet. This is the first time a link between champagne and dementia risk reduction has been found. A lot more research is needed.’ | Study at Reading University finds health benefits in champagne . Scientists convinced a regular tipple can help with dementia and Alzheimer's . They found consumption greatly improves spatial memory . | 48b50607ae25d1ab368bc8d48aca05dbe13a345b |
By . Allan Hall . Fears are growing that Michael Schumacher could remain in a 'persistent vegetative state' for the rest of his life even if he wakes up from his coma. The Formula One legend has been in intensive care since his skiing accident in France nearly four weeks ago. He was placed into an artificially induced coma shortly after the crash to help his brain heal, but such measures normally last only a maximum of two weeks. Jean-Marc . Orgogozo, Professor of Neurology at the University of Bordeaux, said: 'Every day, every week in a coma the . chances decline that the situation is improving'. One . Austrian website reported Schumacher, 45, may suffer from . Apallic Syndrome or persistent vegetative state. Scroll down for video . The news comes as Schumacher enters his fifth week of a medically induced coma, and there are fears he may remain in a 'persistent vegetative state' for the rest of his life even if the awakening treatment is successful . Michael Schumacher is being slowly brought out of his induced coma, his manager has said. His wife Corinna insists her husband is a 'fighter' who will not give up . But his family insisted he was a 'fighter' as they poured out their heartfelt thanks to fans around the world on his webpage on Tuesday. 'We all know: he is a fighter and will not give up!' said his family, adding: 'We are deeply moved that there is no let up in the good wishes for Michael from around the world. 'That gives us strength. Thank you all of you!' But the support of his wife Corinne, 44, his two teenaged children, brother and closest friends cannot mask the fact that 23 days in an artificial coma means that he is far from anywhere near recovery. A persistent vegetative state is one in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. 'Deeply moved': Schumacher's Rolf Schumacher and brother Ralf arrive at Grenoble Hospital earlier this month. His family have issued a heartfelt thank you to fans around the world for their support . Strain: Corinna Schumacher and their children have been maintaining a constant bedside vigil since his crash . This means that if doctors do bring him out of his artificially induced coma he would be unable to speak, move or feed himself. The . format.at news website said; 'More than three weeks after the tragic . skiing accident of the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael . Schumacher, hope dwindle for a full recovery. 'For more than three weeks now Schumacher lies in a medically induced coma at the University Hospital in Grenoble. He is fed there with probes, washed daily and moved again and again to avoid a bed sores.' Probe: Investigators at the site of Schumacher's crash earlier this month where he smashed his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel, France . It . goes on to speculate that the 'severe damage' he suffered to his brain . in a ski accident on December 29 could result in the permanent vegative . state suffered by around 10,000 of his German countrymen. This . would mean, if and when he is brought out of the coma by his medical . team, 'that his condition would hardly be different from the medically . induced coma'. Apallic . Syndrome is always the result of a severe brain injury. The chance of . recovery from Apallic Syndrome are far below 50 per cent.' Schumacher's . condition remains stable but there is a firewall of silence from his . medical team about the intense battle being waged to try to bring him . back to normality. Get well soon! Cologne and Schalke stars hold out a banner wishing Michael Schumacher good health . Apallic Syndrome - or persistent vegetative state - occurs when a patient with severe brain damage remains in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness after waking from a coma. Patients can breathe on their own and circulate because their brainstem remains intact, but they are largely unresponsive to stimulation. The chance of recovery from Apallic Syndrome are far below 50 per cent. There is no treatment, but a person can live for many years with the right medical care. Brain . injury patients are placed into artificial comas to reduce the amount . of oxygen that flows into the brain, thus making it work less and giving . it time to heal. Such comas usually last for a maximum of two weeks, although there have been instances of patients being under longer. As . Schumacher enters his fourth week in such a state neurological experts . are starting to doubt whether he might ever recover sufficiently to be . brought out of his sleep. Meanwhile, his family have paid tribute to Bundesliga sides Cologne and Schalke on the Formula One legend’s official website. Players . from both sides held up a banner which read ‘Get Well Soon! You can do . it, Michael’ prior to their friendly on Saturday in honour of the . 45-year-old German, who is a Cologne supporter. The . message from the seven-time champion’s family is the first in over a . fortnight and comes just days after it was confirmed that he is in a . stable condition at Grenoble Hospital. | F1 legend has been in a medically induced coma for nearly four weeks . Neurologist: 'Every day the . chances decline that situation is improving' Austrian media speculate that seven-time champion has Apallic Syndrome . Family says they are 'deeply moved' by support from fans around the world . | 7c727d9f77f32fb1680102b18fd7aa331f1f0f6d |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:27 EST, 24 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:51 EST, 26 August 2013 . While promoting his new film in a television interview Friday, actor Forest Whitaker discussed the recent incident in which he was accused of shoplifting at a New York City market and took the opportunity to address New York City’s stop and frisk policy and racial politics in America in general. While talking about The Butler, a film that revolves around America’s civil rights movement and also stars Oprah Winfrey, film critic Peter Travers asked the 52-year-old what it felt like to be the victim of racial profiling despite his many successes. ‘I was angered,’ said Whitaker, who is black, in the interview which aired on ABC. ‘It’s a humiliating thing for someone to come and do that. It’s attempted dis-empowerment.’ Scroll down for video... Profiling: Critic Peter Travers' question about Whitaker's false shoplifting accusations gave the Oscar winner a chance to address st-and-frisk policies and race politics in general . Modest: Instead of directly addressing Travers' questions about the February incident, Whitaker took the chance to suggest America shift the tide of racial profiling . But the modest Oscar winner was quick to turn the topic from himself to the problem of racial profiling in general. ‘Most of the stop and frisk,’ began the actor, though Travers had asked only how Whitaker felt about his own false shoplifting accusation. ‘Nine out of the ten, the person is not a criminal. They don’t ticket them, or they don’t arrest them. 99 percent of them don’t have a weapon. So I think there’s something that has to be examined.’ Whitaker did eventually get around to discussing his own brush with racial profiling, but would only say how he turned it into a positive. Co-stars: Whitaker stars in The Butler with Oprah Winfrey, who was herself the victim of racial profiling by a Swiss saleswoman who refused to sell her a purse . ‘It’s attempted disempowerment,’ he said. ‘And for me it just spurred me into action.’ The vehicle for that action, Whitaker said, came in the form of his PeaceEarth Foundation which, according to a foundation video, seeks to build inroads toward peaceful resolutions in areas of conflict around the world. The shoplifting snafu occurred in February, when Whitaker was perusing the aisles at the Milano Market in Manhattan’s Upper East Side when an employee approached him and made the accusation, according to TMZ. The worker then frisked the Last King of Scotland actor in front of the other customers as if he was a lowly thief. Not surprisingly, the employee turned up no contraband on Forest's body, and the actor left the story in a fury. Five finger apology: A worker at Milano Market on the Upper East Side falsely accused Whitaker of stealing . 'Frisking individuals without proof/evidence is a violation of rights,' Whitaker's rep told TMZ at the time. The statement continued: 'This was an upsetting incident given the fact that Forest did nothing more than walk into the deli. 'What is most unfortunate about this situation is the inappropriate way store employees are treating patrons of their establishment.' The actor took the higher ground and didn't call the authorities on the employee, instead reasoning with the store manager to 'change their behavior' and 'treat the public in a fair and just manner.' Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames. | The African-American actor was falsely accused of shoplifting from a Manhattan deli in February . | a40fb094c8136416c7e40c7870150ae80948633f |
Baltimore police officers disarmed a man who told them he was ordered by the Black Guerrilla Family, a violent prison gang, to smuggle a loaded gun into a city police station. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said 29-year-old Jason Armstrong walked into the Northeastern District substation about 8 a.m. Tuesday smelling strongly of marijuana. Batts said officers noted Armstrong's strange behavior and searched him, finding marijuana, cocaine and a .22-caliber handgun with a round in the chamber. When officers interviewed Armstrong, Batts said, he told them he had been ordered by the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) gang to smuggle the contraband into the station house to test the department's security. Scroll down for video . Arrested: Police said that 29-year-old Jason Armstrong told them he was ordered by the Black Guerrilla Family, a violent prison gang, to smuggle a loaded gun into a city police station . 'An organized gang in the city of Baltimore sent an armed suspect into our building to see our security, to test our security,' Batts said at a press conference filmed by WMAR. Batts also said 'We're not going to cower. We're not going to back down. We're not going to shy away from tough situations. We will be a constitutional police department.' 'I'm not going to sit on my heels and wait for it to happen again,' Batts said. 'We will move forward and hold those people responsible for sending him into that police station. We will hold them accountable.' WMAR reported that BGF was behind a scheme to sell drugs from Baltimore Detention Center, and that both employees at the facility and BGF members have been indicted. Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez also spoke at the press conference, and said of Armstrong 'He did not go in there on his free will. This person had very little option, according to his statement.' 'We have verified as much as we can now his affiliation and his prior contacts with the police,' Rodriguez also said. 'We know of incidents that took place before that caused him to be in this situation.' Officers said late Tuesday that Armstrong had been charged with weapons and narcotics offenses. The FBI issued a memo last month warning of potential threats against police officers nationwide. The incident also comes less than a month after the December 20 slayings of NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu by Issmaiyl Brinsley, who earlier wrote online he was 'putting wings on pigs.' Brinsley killed himself after the fatal shooting. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said Armstrong walked into the Northeastern District substation about 8 a.m. Tuesday smelling strongly of marijuana . | Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said Jason Armstrong walked into the Northeastern District substation Tuesday smelling of marijuana . Batts said officers searched Armstrong and found marijuana, cocaine and a .22-caliber handgun with a round in the chamber . Armstrong told officers he was ordered by the Black Guerrilla Family gang to smuggle the contraband into the station house, Batts said . The smuggling was reportedly committed in order to test the police department's security . | 4807125d4078ca7269b33f31f4a8f7a2ce049bb4 |
By . Daily Mail Reporters . An anonymous benefactor who has been leaving cash hidden throughout San Francisco has spoken out about the decision to share their wealth - as winners share their joy online. The donor, who invites people to track down the cash through a series of clues posted on a Twitter page, @HiddenCash, also revealed that they are going to start hiding the money in other cities. 'I just closed a real estate deal where my profit was about . half-a-million dollars,' he or she told the San Francisco Chronicle. 'I decided even before it closed that one of . the things I wanted to do with the money was something fun in SF.' Joy: A Twitter user celebrates finding cash hidden in San Francisco by an anonymous wealthy donor . Celebration: The donor leaves cash in an envelope and then tweets clues about where it can be found . HiddenCash said they toyed with challenges for people to earn the money, but after all the ideas seemed too complicated, they opted for the simple cash stash. 'I . just hope some rich one-percenter like me doesn't find it and keep it,' HiddenCash said. 'In no way is this meant to be instead of charity. I . also donate generously to charity.' And other cities may also soon get their chance to battle for the cash, which is stuffed inside envelopes and hidden beneath benches or in public parks, restrooms or stairways. 'I . have no plans to stop anytime soon,' the donor said. 'In fact, we will also drop some in . L.A. next week (I am going there on business). Any maybe expand to more . cities.' Race: Other winners show their finds on Twitter, as the donor said he wants to expand to other cities . Pay it forward: @HiddenCash shared this photo with the message 'Why not use this to tip your @YogaToThePeople teacher this morning? (Find it under the key box)' But he said he wishes to stay anonymous because some people who know him might not be happy that he is giving money away. HiddenCash has so far made cash dumps around San Francisco's Mission District and through the Richmond District, among others. Amounts at . the drop spots have varied. @HiddenCash has shared uploads of multiple . $20 bills being tucked away for curious scavengers, as well as $50 and . $100 amounts. The tweeter, . who calls the program 'an anonymous social experiment for good,' leaves . hints by sharing a photo of the drop-off spot, as well as written clue. 'Could . you and 25 of your friends use a @Sightglass Coffee? Look in the . abandoned phonebox next door,' one tweet said, along with a photo of a . $100 bill. 'New drop: look under me :)' said another, which appeared to show a park bench. Hidden: The donor dropped off money in a storage container, a bike rack, and a tree at a BART station . Generous: @HiddenCash wrote 'New Drop: Popular Chinese place near Market/Kearny in unisex bathroom #payitforward & drop couple 20s to next person' on Friday . Run to City Hall! @HiddenCash shared this picture of $50 he or she left on the building's steps . The Twitter accounts followers have now reached more than 20,000 as residents desperately try to get their hands on the cash. And the lucky ones have been tweeting pictures of their newfound riches. 'YESSSSSS,' wrote one winner, who found the cash on Ocean Beach. 'Had to race another searcher but I WON.' The donor also contacted The Bold Italic and said he or she will leave money 'once or twice a week'. 'This . is my way of giving back to the community and also having fun,' they . said. 'The bigger idea is just to give back, both financially and a . sense of fun to the community that has made me wealthy.' | Using the Twitter handle @HiddenCash, a mysterious benefactor has been leaving cash all over the city and then tweeting clues about where to find it . Money has been found under chairs and benches in public parks, on stairways and even inside a unisex bathroom . User revealed that he or she became rich through real estate and now has plans to take the generous scheme to other cities . | f56f42089415247571ff5bfac15e1ec890dbfbfe |
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 07:17 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:44 EST, 4 March 2014 . Attempting to land on a rotating comet racing through the solar system at 150,000 mph is no easy feat. But why bother trying, when you can just fire off a harpoon to collect samples at a safe distance with surgical precision? That’s exactly what Nasa is attempting to do with its prototype designs of a space harpoon which it hopes will return rock samples that could reveal the origins of planets. Scroll down for video . Nasa is developing prototype designs of a space harpoon. Pictured is an artist's concept of a tethered 'penetrator' heading toward a celestial body to take a sample . ‘This technology will be able for the first time to pull samples of the order of a few kilograms from depths of a few metres, which could greatly enhance our knowledge of solar system objects,’ Robert Winglee of the University of Washington wrote in a Nasa report. ‘Moreover, it offers the opportunity to take multiple samples at little extra cost so that it will provide much greater flexibility and greatly enhance the science return for any given mission,’ he added. The conventional way to do a robotic sample-return mission is to perform a soft landing on a celestial object, collect small amounts of material and then return it to Earth. The technology will be able, for the first time, to pull samples of the order of a few kilograms from depths of a few metres from celestial objects such as comets . While Nasa is looking at the use of harpoons to collect samples for celestial bodies, British engineers believe similar technology could be used to clear up space junk. Stevenage-based Astrium has plans to develop 'chase' satellite fitted with five or more harpoons which can fire at a moving target. Using laser and radar guidance systems, a piece of space junk would be targeted, and then captured with a gas-propelled harpoon on a tether. Once the space junk is secured, a smaller sub-satellite detaches from the chase satellite and pulls the junk downwards to burn up as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. Then the chase satellite would search out another target. Experts hope the system could remove around five pieces of space debris a year. This is what the Rosetta probe is planning to do in August when it reaches the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko– one of the most risky parts of its mission. ‘We're not talking about doing that,’ Professor Winglee said earlier this month, according to a report in Space.com. ‘We're talking about using the kinetic energy of the spacecraft as it's moving past the object, and we're not asking the system to brake, so you save energy.’ The team's design currently uses a sample-return spacecraft to carry six, rocket-shaped penetrators, which would be fired down at the celestial body during a flyby. The penetrators, attached to a tether, would hit at a high speed of up to 2,240 mph (3,605 km/h, or 1 km/sec) and go deep beneath the surface. Several pounds of material would then be collected in a tube, which would be reeled back in to send back to Earth. Researchers have been testing the equipment by firing test harpoons into a 55-gallon drum full of cometary simulant - sand, salt, pebbles or a mixture of each. The bow string is pulled back by an electric winch to generate a precise level of force, up to 1,000 pounds, firing the harpoon at 70mph. The team's design currently uses a sample-return spacecraft to carry six, rocket-shaped penetrators, which would be fired down at the celestial body during a flyby. A demonstration of the sample collection chamber is pictured . Lead engineer Donald Wegel said: ‘We had to bolt it to the floor, because the recoil made the whole testbed jump after every shot. 'We're not sure what we'll encounter on the comet – the surface could be soft and fluffy, mostly made up of dust, or it could be ice mixed with pebbles, or even solid rock. 'Most likely, there will be areas with different compositions, so we need to design a harpoon that's capable of penetrating a reasonable range of materials.’ Comets are frozen chunks of ice and dust left over from our solar system's formation. As such, scientists want a closer look at them for clues to the origin of planets and ultimately, how life formed on Earth. The technology could be used to collect samples from comets that could reveal how life forms on other planets. Pictured is Comet Ison before it burnt up following a flyby close to the sun . | Harpoon prototype designed to get several metres below comet's surface . Design involves 6 rocket-shaped ‘penetrators’ being fired at celestial body . Penetrators, attached to a tether, would hit at speeds of up to 2,240 mph . Several kilograms of material would then be collected in a tube, which would be reeled in to send back to Earth . | 8de49b4834c8253a35135de83a57d7834bbc9957 |
(CNN) -- On the day that LeBron James announced that he would accept an employment offer from the Miami Heat, I had a conversation with a person you would not automatically associate with basketball expertise. But it wasn't basketball I wanted to ask him about. It was the fleeting nature of celebrity -- even of the most incandescent celebrity. James is enjoying that kind of fame right now. It seems that you can't walk down a city street without hearing someone mention his name. But a person's moment in the sun comes and goes. The passions, both good and bad, that a star inspires can cool off in a relatively short span. Which is an instructive thing to keep in mind at times like these. The person with whom I spoke was Steve Auerbach, co-owner of the famous Stage Deli on Seventh Avenue in New York. For generations, the Stage has been a part of New York City life. The triple-decker sandwiches at the Stage have traditionally been named for famous men and women. The idea is to appeal to customers whose eyes will be drawn to an item on the menu because of the celebrity associated with it. So I asked Auerbach about the No. 8 -- the sandwich called the Katie Couric. It features turkey, ham and swiss cheese. It wasn't always known as the Katie Couric, Auerbach said. Its name was changed in recent years from what it was formerly called. Diners, it seemed, were no longer quite as attracted to the old name of the No. 8: . The Marilyn Monroe. Same with the No. 18 (turkey, chopped liver, lettuce, tomato, onion). It's a hit, in large part because of the bigger-than-life New York figure for whom it is named: Alex Rodriguez. The A-Rod sandwich appeals to a new generation of customers who might not feel as strong a connection with what the same triple-decker was called until not so long ago: . The Joe DiMaggio. "The clientele changes," Auerbach told me. "It happens. Younger customers come along who might not be as familiar with the old famous names." Milton Berle, 60 years ago, was as famous as a person could be in the United States. He was the first major television star -- magazines and newspapers referred to him as Mr. Television. His Tuesday evening broadcasts were so popular that in some cities, restaurants and movie theaters closed their doors on that night because they couldn't compete with him. The world and all of its rewards were his, and so was the No. 12 at the Stage Deli: roast beef, chopped liver, onion. No one's eyes could scan the big menu without stopping at the Milton Berle. But that was long ago. The No. 12 has a different name now, one with more cachet: . The James Gandolfini. "The Sopranos" took care of that. "The celebrity thing is hard to keep up with," Auerbach said. "It used to be that fame lasted for 30 or 40 years. Now, it seems to pop up and then it's gone. Someone like Britney Spears comes along, and everyone is talking about her, and next thing you know you don't hear her name and everyone's talking about someone else." For all the hyperbolic verbiage during that LeBron James television special ("You're now looking live at the king"), for all the incomprehensible financial figures being thrown around about other NBA players who recently have agreed to terms (one, it was said, signed a six-year deal for $123 million, another signed a four-year deal for $80 million), perhaps a small dose of perspective is needed. The sports analysts often ask if events like the frantic courtship of James are a distraction for the various teams involved. But of course, that's what professional sports are: a distraction. That's what the public is buying: a few hours of distraction from the matters in this world that are genuinely troubling, the ones that can't always be solved with certainty when the final buzzer sounds. The welcome distraction that all of this provides is at the core of its inherent value. Is it any wonder that the players in the middle of it sometimes can become a little disoriented? During the Chicago Blackhawks' recent National Hockey League playoff run to the Stanley Cup, many fans in the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, wore the replica jersey of the team's captain, Jonathan Toews, who turned 22 years old this spring. One of the people in the arena wearing a Toews jersey was a 47-year-old fan: Michael Jordan. What must it be like for Toews, knowing that Jordan is not only watching him play, but also wearing his jersey? It all moves along so quickly; on the day in 1988 that Toews was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the papers carried stories saying that Jordan had scored 50 points in a playoff victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on this same stretch of West Madison Street where he now sat cheering for Toews. No one could be more famous than LeBron James, this week. Even the president of the United States was talking about him. At the Stage Deli in Manhattan, Auerbach had a decision to make. "People want to see recognizable names," he said. "Names that are popular." For years, the No. 24 (twin rolls of pastrami and corned beef) was known as the Raquel Welch. Then, as the sands of renown shifted, it was changed to the Dolly Parton. Auerbach believes that it's time for the No. 24 to evolve again. He is considering various candidates. No offense to Dolly. "Nothing lasts forever," he said. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene. | LeBron James is an incandescent celebrity, with tens of millions paying attention . Bob Greene notes that even the greatest celebrities eventually become part of history . Marilyn Monroe, Milton Berle, Joe DiMaggio once were household names . Greene notes that for such stars of the past, fame proved fleeting . | a05183638b01cdce9deef87ff370c8f6a2a8f2ae |
By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 09:14 EST, 21 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:53 EST, 21 January 2014 . This is the shocking moment a young woman was confronted by a terrifying knife-wielding mugger as she drew cash from a high street ATM. The unnamed 18-year-old girl was left shaken-up after being robbed at knife point in a bank in South Molton, Devon, on Friday evening. Police have released dramatic CCTV footage of the incident which occurred in Lloyds Bank on East Street in the town just before 9pm. Scroll down for video . Shocking: The 18-year-old was left shaken-up after being robbed at knifepoint in a bank in South Molton, Devon . On camera: Police have released CCTV footage of the incident which occurred at a Lloyds Bank on Friday . Devon and Cornwall Police said the victim was standing in the foyer of the bank about to withdraw cash from the machine when an unknown man approached her. A force spokesman said: ‘He was holding a knife and demanded that she withdrew £100. ‘She complied with his demands and drew out the cash and gave it to him. He asked her to wait in the foyer for two minutes before leaving and he then made off.’ The man is described by police as white, in his early 20s, 6ft tall, of scrawny build with dark brown hair, dark eyes and dark eyebrows. He was wearing a black raincoat with the hood up. Handing it over: The victim was about to withdraw cash from the machine when the unknown man approached . Location: The incident happened at this Lloyds Bank branch on East Street in South Molton, Devon, on Friday . The coat has a distinctive thin white strip which runs horizontally across the top of the shoulders. He was also wearing a black scarf that covered his nose and mouth, with a thin red line across it. 'He asked her to wait in the foyer for two minutes before leaving and he then made off' Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman . The knife was described as a black plastic-handled kitchen knife with a 6in blade, which was serrated all the way down with a straight flat back. Detective Constable Daryl Marvelly, of Barnstaple Criminal Investigation Department, said: ‘Although the victim was unharmed, she was clearly shaken up by this distressing incident. ‘We would like to speak to anyone who may know the man shown in the images or may have witnessed the incident.’ | Woman is left shaken-up after robbery on Friday in South Molton, Devon . Police release dramatic CCTV footage of incident in Lloyds Bank branch . She was about to withdraw cash when an unknown man approached her . Anyone with details which could assist the probe is asked to call police on 101 and quote reference number CS/14/26, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 . | 887aea4e2b272f532781a12bd7223ed53df7909c |
President Obama arrived in Seoul on Friday to news that North Korea may be counting down to a nuclear weapons test. Such moves out of Pyongyang are no surprise and are typical behavior for the North, Obama told reporters while in Tokyo, his previous stop on his Asia trip. The President said he was prepared to deliver a firm response if a test is conducted during his visit. North Korea's heightened activity at its nuclear test site was already known. But now, the final step needed for an underground detonation has been taken, a South Korean government official said Thursday. The North has closed off the entrance to the tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the official said. That gives Pyongyang 11 days to either detonate a nuclear device or cancel the test. It would be the North's fourth test of a nuclear weapon. United front . Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye want to display a united front against North Korea, and the communist dictatorship reacted earlier in the week to the American President's visit with condemnation. Its Foreign Ministry has called the trip "a reactionary and dangerous one, as it is aimed to escalate confrontation and bring dark clouds of a nuclear arms race to hang over this unstable region." At a joint news conference Friday, Park praised Obama for his presence during renewed tensions on the peninsula. "President Obama's visit to Korea sends a strong message to North Korea that its provocative acts cannot be tolerated," she said. Obama called North Korea "the most isolated country in the world." International sanctions and condemnation have led to extreme suffering for its people, he said. In light of possible new provocations, he said the United States and South Korea have agreed that they need to find new ways to pressure Pyongyang, such as "further sanctions that have even more bite." Park said that the two countries would "spare no efforts" to deter North Korea. But she also underlined the South's desire to tend to the dire needs of the North Korean people and to work toward Korean reunification. Ferry disaster . The possibility of a nuclear test adds a dark cloud to the grim mood overshadowing Obama's visit -- the sorrow over the capsizing of the ferry Sewol. As he often does at home, he is acting as "consoler-in-chief," offering support to survivors and victims' families as he pauses from policy and diplomatic demands. More than 180 people have been confirmed dead, many of them high school students, and the nation has been consumed with grief. Many of the nearly 500 on board are still missing. The tragedy has occupied most of Park's time over the past week. Obama presented her with a framed American flag that was flown over the White House the same day the ferry sank as a symbol of condolence. In an interview with Korean news outlet JoongAng Ilbo, he said: . "Michelle and I sent our deepest condolences to the South Korean people, and as parents we cannot begin to imagine what all those grieving parents are going through, having lost their sons and daughters." Stately ceremonies . The President also tended to American servicemen and women in South Korea on Friday. He laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to commemorate those who died in the war between the Koreas from 1950 to 1953. Nearly 3 million people died on all sides, including more than 36,000 American servicemen. The conflict ended in an armistice that stopped the fighting, but a peace treaty was never signed. The United States has maintained a large military presence in South Korea since then. The President also congratulated U.S. military personnel and spouses of soldiers who were being naturalized as U.S. citizens Friday. And he took the opportunity to stump for immigration reform. "Thirteen of you made the profound decision to put on the uniform of a country that was not yet fully your own," he said from a stage. "Seven of you married a military soldier." He praised the new citizens, who had immigrated from 14 countries, as an asset to the United States. He said Americans must "keep in mind the value of our immigrants to our way of life. It is central to who we are." After they took the oath of citizenship, the President posed for a photo with the entire group. Pacific allies . Obama headed to Seoul from Tokyo, where a formal state visit --- complete with a royal audience and a black-tie dinner --- was meant to exhibit strong ties between Japan and the United States. At a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Obama was pressed on whether he would use military force to defend an obscure set of islands controlled by Japan that are at the heart of a heated regional dispute with China. He said the U.S. security pact with Japan does extend to the islands -- known as Diaoyu to the Chinese -- and insisted his implicit offer to defend them against any Chinese incursion did not amount to drawing a red line around the contested land. "The treaty between the U.S. and Japan preceded my birth, so this isn't a red line that I'm drawing," Obama said. "There's no shift in position, no red line. Were simply applying the treaty." The group of islands and rocks jutting out of the ocean is tiny and uninhabited. But the longstanding dispute over them has sent tempers flaring in Beijing and Tokyo, especially in recent years. The area around them in the South China Sea between Taiwan and Okinawa is believed to be rich in oil resources. Senkaku is administered by the Japanese, but the Chinese say they are the rightful owners. The missing plane . Seoul is the first of two stops on Obama's tour where citizens are coming to grips with major transportation disasters --- on Saturday, Obama flies to Malaysia, where government officials continue to search in vain for the Malaysian Airlines jetliner that disappeared more than a month ago. Those officials have come under withering criticism, accused of botching the search and keeping family members of those on board in the dark. So far, the White House has avoided faulting Malaysian leaders for the efforts, instead highlighting the U.S. efforts to help find the plane. Ukraine . Reporters questioned the U.S. President on the situation in Ukraine and his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Obama praised the unity of other countries, particularly in Europe, in condemning Moscow's "meddling" in Ukraine. He placed much of the blame on Russia for the breakdown of a peace agreement made last week in Geneva, Switzerland. The Ukrainian government has been carrying out its side of that agreement, he said. It has, for example, offered amnesty to those who will lay down their arms. The agreement also calls for both sides to refrain from violence. On Thursday, the Ukrainian government said its forces killed five pro-Russian activists while destroying opposition roadblocks. "What we have not seen is Russia speaking out clearly, condemning the pro-Russian militias that have taken over these buildings," the President said. Bigger sanctions need to be prepared in case of a Russian ground invasion, he said. He also said that Russia's economy, which was already weakening, would suffer as investors bailed out of the country over the Ukraine crisis. And he directed criticism at Putin. "Mr. Putin, in my second term, has had an increasing tendency to view the world through a Cold War prism and to see Russia's interests as invariably in conflict with the West's," he said. Read Longtime rivals China and Japan deploy Harry Potter villain in latest spat . | South Korean President calls Obama's visit a 'strong message' to the North . North Korea takes final step needed for nuclear test . South Korean official delivers the news as President Obama arrives in Seoul . Capsizing of ferry that so far has killed 180 people, will overshadow his visit to S. Korea . | cb620f8ab672429c9e639e1fe5aedf09957538f6 |
(CNN) -- Lionel Messi's sixth hat-trick of 2010 helped Barcelona demolish Almeria 8-0 on Saturday night, but three goals from Cristiano Ronaldo kept Real Madrid on top in Spain ahead of next Monday's "Clasico" clash between the La Liga giants. Messi reached the milestone of 100 league goals for Barcelona in just 154 appearances for the defending champions, and has already scored 22 this season in all competitions. His third goal briefly lifted him above Ronaldo as the league's top scorer on 13, putting the visitors seven up before the Argentine laid on substitute Bojan Krkic's second goal with 17 minutes to play. Barcelona led 5-0 at the halftime break, with Messi breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute after combining well with David Villa. Andres Iniesta made it 2-0 a minute later after woeful defending by Almeria, with his misplaced cross fortuitously rebounding back into his path, then Peru defender Wilmer Acasiete turned Maxwell's low cross into his own net on 27. Pedro embarrassed the onrushing Diego Alves eight minutes later as he easily won the race to a long ball in the 35th minute, then soon after Messi netted from the winger's low cross at the second attempt after the goalkeeper parried his first. Messi helped set up Bojan's first in the 62nd minute, with the 20-year-old showing nimble feet before dinking the ball over Alves. The beleaguered Alves could only parry Villa's shot into Messi's pass for the seventh, and Bojan made no mistake when sent free down the middle to seal the biggest win of the Spanish season so far and leave Almeria in the bottom three. The home side had conceded only 10 goals in 11 games -- the third best defensive record in the league behind Real and Barcelona -- but coach Juan Manuel Lillo was sacked after the match. Barcelona travel to Greece on Wednesday to face Panathinaikos in the Champions League, then host Real in a Monday fixture forced due to security concerns over the Catalan elections that weekend. Real Madrid will take a one-point lead into that match following the 5-1 victory at home to Athletic Bilbao in the late match, as coach Jose Mourinho completed his two-match touchline ban. With the Portuguese boss watching from various positions in the stands, Real almost went behind in just the second minute when defender Pepe had to clear off the line from Fernando Llorente. But Gonzalo Higuain put Real ahead in the 19th minute with a clinical low finish after fellow Argentine Angel Di Maria slipped a low pass into the penalty area, and Ronaldo doubled the lead on the half-hour after Mesut Ozil cleverly knocked the ball into his path. Spain striker Llorente reduced the deficit five minutes before halftime from close range with his ninth league goal of the season, but Real restored their two-goal buffer 11 minutes after the break. Di Maria duped Markel Susaeta into bringing him down just inside the box, and defender Sergio Ramos surprisingly stepped up to smash home the resulting penalty for his first goal of the campaign. Ronaldo effectively sealed the win in the 62nd minute with a swerving free-kick that wrongfooted goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz could only palm into his net. The Portugal forward then netted his 15th league goal this season -- and 17th overall -- from the penalty spot in time added on after substitute Esteban Granero was brought down, despite having to retake the kick after illegally stopping in his initial run-up. Bilbao, who hit the bar through Javi Martinez in the 87th minute, were left in ninth place -- 16 points behind Real. Villarreal retained third place after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Valencia, who stayed fourth. Aritz Aduriz put Valencia ahead in the 20th minute with a deflected shot as Villarreal -- who had won all five previous home matches this season -- conceded at El Madrigal for just the second time. Italy forward Giuseppe Rossi gave his side a lifeline in the 73rd minute with a volley for his eighth La Liga goal of the campaign as his team now trail Real by eight points. Valencia lost Lithuania defender Marius Stankevicius to a second yellow card with 10 minutes to go, but held on for the draw ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Turkish side Bursaspor. | Real Madrid stay one point clear in Spain after beating Athletic Bilbao 5-1 . Cristiano Ronaldo returns to top of scoring charts on 15 with a hat-trick . He had earlier been deposed by Lionel Messi, who scored a treble for Barcelona . Defending champions thrashed Almeria 8-0, which cost home team's coach his job . | 0f0379e5fbb1fcda0d4483693b0825ac2dd7bb32 |
By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 06:18 EST, 30 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:22 EST, 30 May 2013 . Why not carry your essentials around with you in a jam jar, a giant felt Rubix's Cube, or even Steinway piano? For those struggling to make a statement . with their bag, a new and slightly out-there range of made-to-order . bags will certainly set you apart. The brain child of Russian brand krukrustudio, who describe the bags as ‘bag-objects’ fashion, their creations are mainly made out of felt and wool. Berry bag: This might look like an average pot of strawberry jam, but it is in fact a rather unique handbag . It's a knockout: A bag in the shape of a boxing glove, left, and a Dalek from Doctor Who . Style solved: The eye-catching Rubix's Cube bag is made of Spanish felt and costs £98.89 . Out to play: The Rubix cube bag in action, left, along with a 'house of cards' bag, which opens at the 'roof' Ah, the humble carrot, so much more than just a vegetable: As Krukru studios prove, it can also inspire a clutch bag, £105.71 . Time on your side: Let everyone you pass in the street know just how cultured you are, with a Big Ben bag, left, or violin backpack . Get patriotic: This number in the shape of a London bus costs £64.79 . From a giant boxing glove and an Eiffel tower to a violin, a Dalek from Doctor Who and even the Instagram logo, the bags come in every conceivable design. Barely a day goes by without another ‘it’ handbag being announced or seen on the arms of numerous celebrities. But with most of these costing thousands of pounds and acquiring a waiting list months long, it can be difficult to feel original. So the customised ‘carrot’ bag or blueberry jam bag with a lid opening is one way to get noticed. Picture perfect: This Instagram logo bag could be an ironic statement about social media - or simple somewhere to keep your lippy, £64.79 . Express your love of the outdoors with either a hot air balloon bag (it unzips down the centre) or a traditional green watering can number, left . A quirky gift for a pianist: This Steinway and Sons piano bag even unzips as if you were opening up the piano lid, and has three tiny pedals . Time for tea: Though be careful as the brand point out that while felt is slightly water resistant, it is most definitely not waterproof . C'est chic: The Eiffel tower bag, left, is made with silver washable print and grey felt insets, while the 'jam' bag also comes in Blueberry and Apricot 'flavours' The Russian pair behind the brand Lyuba and Max started selling their designs in Moscow in March 2011 and now sell internationally. Most of their bags can be customised in a variety of colours and cost anywhere from around £60 - £120 online. | Krukru Studios are behind the quirky and unusual designs . Began making the bags in Moscow and now ship internationally . Most bags made of wool and felt and can be customised . | 6b25f36a59f7bf11f535cfe3522245d39a7d5f45 |
James Ward slipped to a straight-sets second-round defeat to number four seed Grigor Dimitrov at the Queen's Club Aegon Championships. British No. 3 Ward saw off Slovenian Blaz Rola on Monday, but was unable to produce what would have been a big upset against Bulgarian Dimitrov. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Tomas Berdych answer quickfire question at Queen's . A step too far: James Ward was beaten in straight sets by fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov . Soaking up the sun: Maria Sharapova (top left) and Pippa Middleton (bottom right) watch Ward take on Dimitrov . Compatriot Dan Evans crashed out in straight sets to seventh-seed Kevin Anderson in the first match on centre court on Tuesday, and Ward was unable to fare any better. Ward was brushed aside 7-5 6-3 by the world number 13, unable to make light of his 142-place shortfall in the ATP tour rankings. Safely through: Grigor Dimitrov booked his spot in the third round at Queen's . | British No. 3 loses 7-5, 6-3 to fourth seed at Queen's Club . Ward follows compatriot Dan Evans in losing in the second round . Maria Sharapova and Pippa Middleton soak up the sun in west London . | 93a1f994f727993250347c4430483de8b32cfc73 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 08:30 EST, 28 June 2011 . No joke: Naguib Sawiris apologised for the cartoons of Mickey and Minnie Mouse which angered Muslims . A cartoon of Mickey Mouse with a beard and Minnie Mouse wearing the niqab face veil has angered hard-line Muslims. The pictures were posted online by an Egyptian Christian businessman to advertise his mobile phone firm. The ultra-conservative Muslims, known as Salafis, called the cartoon posted by media mogul and politician Naguib Sawiris 'a mockery of Islam'. The Salafis have since launched campaigns on Facebook and Twitter calling on Muslims to boycott Mr Sawiris's mobile phone company Mobinil. The cartoons are another source of . sectarian tensions in Egypt, which have already seen widespread violence . during a period of political transition. Shares in Mobinil and Orascom Telecom, both companies owned by Mr Sawiris, fell on the Egyptian stock exchange. Sawiris is founder of the liberal Free Egyptians Party which believes in a secular Egypt. He . owns several media companies and after Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak . was ousted in February, his party called for . the separation of state and religion. After the cartoon was posted online, it immediately caused a flurry of complaints on Twitter. Mr Sawiris then tweeted: 'I apologise for those who don't take this as a joke; I just . thought it was a funny picture; no disrespect meant. I am sorry.' Several Facebook groups calling for a boycott of his mobile phone company have appeared and now have around 60,000 followers. The . group, called 'We are joking Sawiris', said: 'If you are really a . Muslim, and you love your religion, boycott his projects. We have to cut . out the tongue of any person who attacks our religion.' At . least 15 Salafi lawyers have filed lawsuits accusing Mr Sawiris of . religious contempt, an official at the prosecutor's office said. Another Facebook group named 'We hate you Mickey Sawiris' depicted the Egyptian businessman as Mickey Mouse. The group's motto is: 'No to mockery of Islam.' A Salafi cleric Mazen el-Sersawi appeared on television to criticise Mr Sawiris. Mockery: Mickey Mouse was depicted with a beard and Minnie Mouse had a face veil in the Egyptian mobile phone advert . He said: 'How can a man like this make fun of Muslims, in a country on the brink of sectarian discord? 'If this is just joking, why don't you depict Mickey Mouse as a monk or a nun?' It is not the first time Mr Sawiris has provoked criticism with comments about Islam. In 2007, he spoke out against the Islamic veil. He told a newspaper: 'I am not against veil... but when I walk in the street, I feel like a foreigner.' Mr Sawiris posted his drawings around the time that a . Danish court sentenced a Somali man to ten years in prison for breaking . into the home of a Danish cartoonist who caricatured the Prophet . Muhammad, armed with an axe. Muhideen Mohammed Geelle, 30, was found guilty of a terror attempt. Geelle entered cartoonist Kurt Westergaard's home in Aarhus on New Year's Day 2010. Mr Westergaard locked himself inside a panic room and was unharmed. Police arrived and apprehended Geelle after shooting him in the leg. Danish authorities said they have . foiled several terror plots linked to the 2005 newspaper cartoons of the . Prophet Muhammad that triggered protests in Muslim countries. Salafism is an extremely conservative branch of Islam. Saudi Arabia's puritanical Wahhabi interpretation is considered its forerunner, and Saudi preachers on TV and the Internet have been key to the spread of Salifism in Egypt. Salafists are distinguished by the way they dress. In many parts of Cairo, women wear the niqab - a veil which reveals only the eyes. Male followers often have long beards and shave off their moustaches, a style said to imitate the Prophet Muhammad. Political commentators are worried that the controversial cartoons could spark further violence on Egyptian streets ahead of crucial parliamentary elections in September. | 15 lawsuits filed for religious contempt . Facebook protest groups have 60,000 followers . | 290083574c48804e372a604af00b7976ae1f63a6 |
Liverpool will have all their attacking talent for the second half of the season after Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini's agents confirmed they would not leave the club and photographic evidence emerged signalling Daniel Sturridge's imminent return. Sturridge has not played for the club since the 3-0 defeat of Tottenham in August but looks finally ready to return to a forward line that has wilted in his absence. Team-mate Jordan Henderson posted a photo of the former Chelsea striker online, and said: 'Good to see this man back!' Jordan Henderson posted a photo online with Daniel Sturridge, who is returning from a spell on the sidelines . Sturridge's last game for Liverpool came in their 3-0 defeat of Tottenham in August 2014 . Without Raheem Sterling, who was given a short break by manager Brendan Rodgers, Borini was preferred to his fellow countryman Balotelli in Saturday's victory at Sunderland but neither are likely to feature prominently in the remainder of the season. However, despite both being linked with moves back to Italy the agents of Balotelli and Borini insist that will not happen. '[Balotelli] has a contract with Liverpool and can't really be offered to other clubs,' agent Mino Raiola told Mediaset Premium. 'He chose to leave Italy and was aware of what he was leaving; he hasn't had the success he was hoping for, but he still needs time. 'Juventus have denied their interest in him, and I have had absolutely no contact with Inter (Milan), so that's the current situation now.' The England forward poses for a photo with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard . Brendan Rodgers started Fabio Borini up front against Sunderland after sending Raheem Sterling on holiday . Borini's representative Marco de Marchi has also denied his player will be leaving Anfield. 'Borini will not return to Italy in January,' he told SportItalia. 'He is happy with Liverpool, the club he is playing for.' Rodgers expects there to be little or no business done in this transfer window with any departures likely to be loans for players who have not had much pitch time. His injury list is easing with defender Jon Flanagan set to return soon having not featured since the end of last season because of a knee injury. The 22-year-old, who has been used on both the left and right side of defence by Rodgers, is out of contract in the summer and increased competition in those areas - Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno both arrived last summer - presents a challenge for him in the next couple of months. Mario Balotelli came on as a second half substitute against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light . Balotelli will not return to Italy in January, according to the forward's agent . 'When I saw that we signed two full-backs, I immediately thought 'I need to up my game now',' he told the Official Liverpool Magazine. 'I know I need to consistently do well if I'm to get in the team and then stay there. 'I want to keep developing as a footballer, that's why not being available has been so frustrating, but competition for places doesn't bother me. I'm always up for the fight. 'I've been out for what has felt like a really long time. I've got in the team before and kept my place. Now I need to do that again.' There has been no update on the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard, who was withdrawn as a precaution at half-time at Sunderland due to tightness in his hamstring. | Daniel Sturridge has not played for Liverpool since August . But the forward appears finally ready to return for the club . Jordan Henderson posted a photo of the two of them online . Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini will not be leaving the club in January . Click here for more Liverpool news . | 3b4a6e4140434e8474e66e0d0ad9673cbc410c21 |
By . Alasdair Glennie Tv Correspondent . Chris Evans is oficially the king of breakfast radio after attracting a record-breaking 9.83million weekly listeners (pictured with son Noah) He spent years in the showbusiness wilderness after his first stint at the BBC ended in disaster. But Chris Evans, 48, is now the king of breakfast radio after he pulled in a record 9.83million weekly listeners. The presenter helped Radio 2 to its highest ever ratings over the past three months, the latest listener ratings have shown. As The Chris Evans Breakfast Show added 10,000 listeners in a quarter, his Radio 1 rival Nick Grimshaw lost almost 400,000, according to audience measurement system Rajar. Evans is now nearly 1.7million ahead of veteran DJ Terry Wogan, whom he replaced in 2010. Sir Terry managed a peak audience of 8.1million listeners in his final three months. Radio 2 drew in 15.6million weekly listeners, up from 15.3million last year and its highest audience since records began in 2009. Radio 1’s figure of 10.5million was up 200,000 on this time last year, but down 400,000 on the last quarter. Grimshaw, 29, lost 526,000 listeners over the age of 25 in just three months but gained 130,000 under-24s. His overall weekly audience of 5.9million is almost a million down on his predecessor Chris Moyles who stepped down as the station tried to attract younger listeners and make it more distinctive from Radio 2. Last night Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said despite the audience decline, Grimshaw’s figures showed the strategy is working. He said: ‘I was asked to build a younger audience for Radio 1 and regenerate the brand, and these figures show we’re doing exactly that. Grimmy and the Breakfast Show continue to gain young listeners, which is the challenge I set him.’ Evans’ continued success is particularly remarkable considering how spectacularly his career imploded in the 1990s. Nick Grimshaw has lost Radio 1 almost a million listeners since he took over the slot from Chris Moyles, but has attracted nearly 130,000 under-24s as the show looks to attract a younger audience . The former TFI Friday presenter once admitted hosting most of his shows with a hangover when he was a Radio 1 star, and in 1995 was fined £7,000 when he turned up for work after a 17-hour pub crawl. He eventually quit two years later after managers refused to give him Fridays off so he would have more time to recover from his binges, which saw him drink up to 20 pints of lager a day. BBC radio boss Helen Boaden said: ‘The continuing success of the Chris Evans Breakfast Show is a tribute to all those who work so hard to make the show utterly unique.’ Radio 4’s weekly audience of 10.95million was up from last year’s figure but down from the last quarter’s record high of 11.2million. Radio 3 added 100,000 listeners in the past three months. | Chris Evans attracts 1.7million more listeners a week than Terry Wogan did . As Evans added 10,000 listeners in a quarter, Nick Grimshaw lost 400,000 . However BBC Radio 1 presenter Grimshaw added 130,000 under-24s . | 2adc5bbbdd44c744df32e686c22d83d1a7cbc0d5 |
By . Katie Davies . PUBLISHED: . 10:13 EST, 17 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:07 EST, 17 April 2013 . Security staffing and reports of suspicious packages have increased across transportation and tourist sites across America while jittery travelers are changing travel plans as terror fears pervade the country. Authorities, particularly in major . cities, are operating on heightened alert in the wake of the Boston . marathon bombings - with a rash of suspicious packages being reported. Longer airport security lines were reported by travelers across the . country today who said increased screening and luggage checks were in force. Individual airports were not reporting major delays but told passengers to arrive early 'given the circumstances.' Scroll down for video . Evacuated: Oklahoma City's City Hall and the surrounding six blocks were evacuated today . Security: Police presence has increased at public landmarks and on transport systems across the country. Police officers patrolled the Yankee stadium before the game with the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday . Delays: Tourists reported delays and increased screening in major airports across the country today . A spokesman for the New York Port Authority which oversees city's airports as well as Newark Airport said: . 'I've not been told of any unusual delays today but we recommend . passengers arrive with extra time given everything that is going on. 'There is no specific guideline but given such circumstances get there a . little early.' The TSA were referring all questions on additional . security procedures in place to the Department for Homeland Security who were . unavailable for comment. All security and major public agencies are feeling the pressure given Monday's events. Public awareness of the heightened security situation means a higher than normal reporting rate of suspicious packages and behavior, while authorities work under a high security protocol. Downtown Seattle was closed due to a . backpack abandoned on a sidewalk and New York City Police Department . fielded 77 reports of suspicious packages in less than 24 hours. Some tourists decided to change their U.S. travel plans over fears. DialaFlight said they were working with customers. 'We are also going through every airline policy regarding refunds or . alterations to their routes, and are actively contacting airlines who . have yet to release a policy to find out what can be done for our . clients,' they said. Delta, American and British Airways all announced they would waive cancellation fees this week. Virgin Atlantic said it would not do so as it has received no cancellation requests, according to Skift.com. An American Airlines spokesman told Mail Online that the airline had received no increase in cancellations but were offering the fee waiver as a good will gesture. Kimberly Bolduc, marketing manager for Boston's main coach operator Peter Pan said two groups cancelled bus charter trips planned to arrive in the city tomorrow, according to MassLive.com. Hotels in major U.S. cities also reported increased security while visitors said they were repeatedly being asked for evidence they were customers. 'Very large man in shiny black suit ostentatiously checking card keys before allowing access to room elevators,' one business traveler in Chicago told Business Journals. 'Wasn't there last night. Effective security theater.' Grounded: Authorities searched a U.S. Airways flight from Philadelphia to Boston on Tuesday, laying out the luggage on the runway for inspection . Lock down: A suspicious package reported Tuesday morning at New York's LaGuardia airport caused one busy terminal to be evacuated . The owner of the Doubletree by Hilton . hotel in Times Square which also operate the Boston Marriott Long Wharf . also said they were taking additional precautions. 'We . are taking all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure the safety of . our guests across our portfolio,' Ken Cruse, CEO of Sunstone Hotel . Investors said. Subway . systems in major cities were also introducing tougher security checks . with authorities warning of increased bag searches and requesting . greater vigilance from the public to report suspicious behavior. In New York, authorities deployed . so-called critical response teams - highly visible patrol units that move . in packs with lights and sirens - along with more than 1,000 counter terrorism officers. Highly trafficked areas like the . Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the . United Nations and the World Trade Center site were being especially . monitored. At . New York's JFK airport and Seattle airport long lines were reported this morning with . travelers saying officials were double checking boarding passes. Meanwhile passengers took to Twitter. Brian Stelter wrote: 'Noticeably tougher security at JFK this morning. Long lines, double-checks of boarding passes. No gripes from passengers while I was there.' Daniel . Cohen wrote: 'Longest security lines at the airport since just after . 9/11. Glad to see TSA tightening up, but why did that ever stop.' Jen . Spall wrote on Twitter: 'Not surprisingly TSA on alert this am but not . singled out today. Very long lines at Sea-Tac. Mu flight continues to . Maui without me.' Others traveling into the U.S. reported similar issues. Sofia Hellstrom said: 'Crazy security checks at Geneva Airport to New York flight.' Dervla Kelly wrote: 'Nervous moment at Ottawa airport as bags abandoned in seat beside me and bomb dog brought in.' Checkpoint: Miller, a Transit Police dog with the Massachusetts Transportation Authority Explosives Detection Unit, sniffs a bag at Back Bay Station as commuters enter the subway system . Standing watch: NYPD officers stand in Times Square during an increase in security . The complaints came after security scares were reported across the country. Six blocks of Oklahoma City were evacuated this morning after a stolen U-Haul truck was discovered outside City Hall. The . vehicle was found to be empty. A terminal at New York's LaGuardia . Airport was evacuated following the report of two bottles . full of a suspicious liquid yesterday. And a U.S. Airways flight flying into . Boston from Philadelphia was pulled off the runway . and its luggage searched after security realized a suitcase had not . been checked. In a worrying sign for racial tension following the attacks - whose perpetrators are yet to be identified - a plane scheduled . to depart Logan airport was evacuated after a man alerted authorities . of two passengers speaking Arabic. The American . Airlines flight was flying out of Boston to Chicago. The horrific reminder of the terror danger facing the U.S. will no doubt increase scrutiny over the TSA's already . controversial plan to allow some pocket knives on flights. However, politicians wanted to reinforce the message was of vigilance but also a refusal to be cowed by terrorists. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: 'We are . asking all New Yorkers to remain vigilant in the days ahead.' 'If you see . something that looks strange, just pick up the phone and say something. But at the same time, we refuse to let cowardly acts of violence stop us . from living in our city, the city that we love.' Inspection: A US Army soldier inspects a corner in Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan . Standing guard: A Los Angeles Sheriffs Counter Terrorism Unit deputy patrols Union Station before the start of Los Angeles Dodgers game in Los Angeles on Monday . Stop and search: Amtrak Explosive Detection K-9 officer Kenneth Wolf and his dog Teddy ask a passenger to inspect his luggage before boarding a departing train at Union Station in Los Angeles . | Travelers report delays and advanced screenings in airports across America and flights into the country . Airports advise passengers to 'get there early' but fail to give specific guidance on anecdotal delays . Hotels in major cities on heightened alert with several checking whether guests have keys before allowing them into elevators . Some tourists cancelling plans to visit Boston . Six blocks of Oklahoma City evacuated after abandoned vehicle found outside City Hall but later found to be empty . Follows cancellation of flights at . Boston's Logan International Airport and evacuation of New York's . LaGuardia following security scares . Another Boston flight was evacuated after nervous travelers heard 'two passengers speaking Arabic' and called for the plane to be stopped . | eb6ff2c3044329ba1d1f50a0f6959d32f19077e8 |
New York (CNN) -- Former New York Mayor Ed Koch has been dead for more than four months, but a mistake on his tombstone likely would have amused him. Koch was born December 12, 1924, but his tombstone at Trinity Church Cemetery in Upper Manhattan made him appear 18 years younger than he was -- December 12, 1942, was set in stone. The company responsible for the etchings on the marker became aware of the mistake Monday. The transposed numbers were fixed Tuesday morning using composite granite, according to George Arzt, Koch's former press secretary as mayor and his spokesman until his death. The birth and death dates were added within the past 10 days, according to an etching company representative. Koch hired an inscriber after he purchased his tombstone in 2007. He was able to see the engravings were etched as he wished; however, there were no dates at the time, according to Arzt. "Ed would have loved this attention and called the situation 'ridiculous!' " Arzt told CNN on Tuesday. Koch was a U.S. congressman from 1968 until he ran for New York mayor in 1977. He served three terms as the city's 105th mayor, from January 1978 to December 1989. Koch died of congestive heart failure on February 1. He was 88 -- despite what his tombstone temporarily calculated. | Ex-New York Mayor Ed Koch's tombstone featured wrong birth year until Tuesday . "Ed would have loved this attention," a former press secretary says . Transposed numbers have been fixed, ex-press aide says . | c9e74f1460769c816bb02564d04a2ab646ab8c4d |
By . Mark Duell . Islamophobic hate crimes are more likely to be committed against women than men, a study has claimed. Female victims suffer attacks because they appear ‘more visibly Muslim’ thanks to traditional dress such as the niqab or abaya - and they are also perceived as ‘soft targets’, researchers believe. The study by Teesside University academics found 54 per cent of Islamophobia victims were female, with many of the attacks said to ‘opportunistic’. Islamophobia: Female victims suffer attacks because they appear 'more visibly Muslim' thanks to traditional dress such as the niqab or abaya - and women also are perceived as 'soft targets', researchers believe . Four in every five assailants that could be identified by the researchers were male, with most of them between the ages of 10 and 30, reported Jonathan Brown of The Independent. The researchers also claimed that Muslim women would rather tell them them than police about their experiences, with a ‘fear factor’ developing that is leaving some of them afraid to go outside. The report comes two weeks after Muslim student Nahid Almanea, 31, was fatally stabbed 16 times as she walked along a secluded pathway to her English class at the University of Essex in Colchester. Detectives have said one of the ‘main lines’ of their inquiry was that the Saudi Arabian student could have been singled out for being a Muslim as a result of her headscarf and long robe. A 52-year-old man who was initially arrested has been released without charge. But last week police arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the attack. No-one has yet been charged. Attacked: Muslim student Nahid Almanea, 31, was stabbed 16 times as she walked along a secluded pathway to her English class at the University of Essex in Colchester earlier this month. She is pictured on CCTV . Study author Dr Matthew Feldman said: ‘Hate crime tends to be a male-on-male phenomenon. But here we are seeing exactly the opposite: white men under 30 attacking women wearing traditional Muslim dress.’ 'Hate crime tends to be a male-on-male phenomenon. But here we are seeing exactly the opposite: white men under 30 attacking women wearing traditional Muslim dress' Dr Matthew Feldman, study author . He added that while other hate crimes have been on the decrease in recent years, those against Muslims were rising. Researchers analysed anti-Muslim incidents recorded by the Faith Matters group's Tell Mama project. Attacks on Muslims went up nearly fourfold after Drummer Lee Rigby's murder in May 2013 in south-east London, including 23 assaults and 13 attacks involving extreme violence. Fiyaz Mughal, director of Tell Mama, claimed Islamophobic attacks are widely under-reported, with just 24 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales label crime as religiously aggravated. He told The Independent: ‘We know we are only getting a snapshot of what's happening, but fear and apprehension are clearly evident among Muslim women.’ | Female victims suffer attacks because they appear 'more visibly Muslim' Teesside University study finds 54% of Islamophobia victims are female . Four in every five assailants identified by the researchers were male . Muslim student Nahid Almanea, 31, was fatally stabbed two weeks ago . Police probing if student could have been singled out for being a Muslim . | 4db05ff58b4ba52b01eec75b8beb0aa8d421b156 |
Barely a month after pulling off a smashing re-election victory, Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie finds himself fending off a local scandal that has become an early stumbling block on his road to a run for president in 2016. And despite Christie's cries of foul -- he claims Democrats are making a mountain out of a molehill -- all indications are that the Republican hopeful has nobody to blame but himself for his current woes. As he prepares to ascend to the national stage -- and the glare of the spotlight that comes with it -- Christie must change some of the funky, in-your-face combative style that serves him well in New Jersey but is likely to cause voters in places such as Iowa and New Hampshire to recoil in horror. Democrats in the New Jersey Legislature are still using hearings and subpoenas to piece together the particulars, but the general shape of the controversy is already known. In early September, some serious mischief appears to have been done by close associates of Christie's who work at the Port Authority, a gargantuan $2.57 billion agency that controls the bridges and tunnels between New York and New Jersey along with area airports and the World Trade Center. Without notice to the public or the agency's executive director, the Port Authority abruptly closed a set of local roads leading to the George Washington Bridge -- the busiest crossing in the world, handling 100 million vehicles a year -- causing massive traffic snarls in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Democrats believe the shutdown was an act of political retaliation because the town's mayor, Mark Sokolich, refused to endorse Christie's re-election. Nobody is admitting guilt, and Christie calls the political-payback accusation "crazy." But two political appointees at the agency who are close to Christie -- one is a childhood friend -- have resigned. "Mistakes were made," the governor acknowledged in an hourlong press conference. As local Democrats demand e-mails, memos and sworn testimony, the national party swiftly pounced, releasing a two-minute video called "Chris Christie's Bridge Scandal Explained." The controversy will likely be long forgotten by the time the race for president gets under way in earnest, but it's safe to assume that no politician likes to see stories with headlines that include words such as "scandal" and "payback." The idea that Christie might have inflicted pain on an entire town to settle a political score with its mayor also plays into an unflattering image of Christie as a bully -- a reputation underscored by videos that show the governor berating teachers, journalists and town hall participants. Christie fans in New Jersey love to see him telling people off, but that appeal doesn't necessarily translate to the national stage. In fact, it's safe to assume that if Christie runs for president, those videos will resurface as attack ads that question his judgment and self-control. More importantly, the controversy takes some of the luster off Christie's case -- spotlighted in a recent Time magazine cover story -- that he, rather than fire-breathing tea party conservatives, can best lead the Republican Party to victory in 2016. A big part of Christie's appeal -- an image he has carefully cultivated -- is that he's a Republican with proven ability to win over Democratic and independent voters. A former prosecutor, Christie has built a case for his crossover appeal by pointing to his two victories in New Jersey, a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 700,000 and independent voters outnumber both parties. "Maybe the folks in Washington, D.C., should tune in their TVs right now, see how it's done," Christie crowed on Election Night this year, challenging congressional Republicans -- and the national Republican Party -- to follow his lead. Christie's much-publicized working relationship with President Barack Obama, which infuriated some Republicans, was another step in the same direction, as was his rounding up support from Democratic Party officials -- an effort so successful that Christie's Democratic opponent, state Sen. Barbara Buono, publicly declared that "Democratic political bosses — some elected and some not — made a deal with this governor despite him representing everything they're supposed to be against," which she called a "betrayal." It could turn out that Christie's followers went overboard in the effort to round up Democratic support -- and that their zeal led to the punishment allegedly visited on Democrats such as the mayor of Fort Lee. That could turn Christie into a punching bag for national Democrats and erode his crossover appeal. For the sake of his presidential ambitions, it's in Christie's best interests to get all the facts about the bridge controversy on the table as quickly as possible -- and then begin a long-term makeover to ensure that his image remains one of a blunt, tough-talking guy -- not a petty and short-tempered bully. | Errol Louis: Scandal brings new scrutiny to Chris Christie if he decides to run for president . The closing of roads leading to George Washington Bridge seen as political retaliation . Two officials close to Christie have resigned, and he said, "Mistakes were made" Louis: The episode could bolster the perception that Christie's style is too assertive . | f0f68661456cea98a6abbad7856b9234366a3758 |
(CNN) -- If you ask a class of aspiring managers in a business school for the purpose of the corporation, you get a remarkably rapid response. The purpose of the corporation, they will tell you, is to maximize shareholder value. But like any simple answer, it is not only wrong, it is also profoundly damaging. To paraphrase Jack Welch, the legendary ex-CEO of GE, the idea that purpose of the corporation is to maximize shareholder value is "the dumbest idea in the world." Corporations with a strict focus on maximizing shareholder value tend to employ a cadre of generalist managers who have relatively short-term commitment to the firm. Because their compensation and future prospects are directly tied to share price, executives spend much of their time courting financial analysts. CEOs will often go to any lengths to keep this relatively small audience happy. This means announcing all manner of initiatives which will boost the share price -- including mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and downsizing. Usually these initiatives look good on paper, and therefore deliver a rapid boost to the company's share price. However, actually delivering the value these initiatives promise is much more tricky. The result is that up to 80% of these initiatives fail to deliver on their promises. Meanwhile, the executives who started them years earlier have banked their bonus, sold their share options and moved on, often to start similar restructuring initiatives at another company. The people left behind -- such as longer term shareholders and employees -- are left to pick up the pieces. Many large corporations are remarkably resilient. The people working for them are often able to get over failed initiative and get back to delivering the results which matter. But this resilience can be rapidly eroded if the company -- driven by a relentless search for shareholder value -- goes through rounds of appointing heroic new CEOs who implement promising initiatives, create temporary share price boosts, then deliver disappointing or disastrous long-term results. When this happens repeatedly, a corporation can easily go into a death spiral. Employees become bitter and cynical. The best leave, while the worst stick around. The quality of products and services suffer, and customers become dissatisfied. The company diverts resources from innovation into providing immediate returns to shareholders. This can mean the company gets quickly overtaken by competitors. Over time, analysts begin to sniff the creeping signs of corporate decline and begin making more sell recommendations than buy ones. The result is that the share price begins to decline. Ever more change and turnaround efforts seem to add fuel to the fire. Eventually the firm goes out of business, or is taken over. There are many groups who lose from this process. Employees lose jobs, customers lose loved products and services, suppliers lose value customers, governments lose tax revenues and investors lose the value of their investment portfolio. One group who gains from this are the senior executives who keep moving between companies to get away from impending disasters and increase their pay packet. The other group are many professionals who skim the transaction costs off the multiple restructuring efforts, change initiatives and other activities designed to increase shareholder value. Pulling companies out of these death spirals is notoriously difficult, and senior executives' responses can make matters worse. They usually launch flashy initiatives designed to appeal to the markets, which ultimately fail to deliver value in the long term. But one of the biggest steps which we can take to avoid the fate of companies like the banks or Blackberry is to drop the myopic focus on maximizing shareholder value. Instead, it is vital we recognize corporations have multiple goals -- such as creating fulfilling jobs, building up industry, satisfying consumers and delivering returns to shareholders. The task of senior business leaders should be about balancing these multiple goals. To ensure corporations drop their shareholder value myopia, there are some immediate practical steps that can be taken. Corporate boards might include a range of representatives which goes beyond just shareholders. They might include employee, customer and community representatives. Corporations should report not just their financial performance to shareholders, but also how they perform along other important metrics such as customer satisfaction, social and environmental benefits. Executives should be measured and incentivized on a number of different dimensions -- only one of which would be shareholder value. The corporation itself needs to take active steps to repudiate a broad culture where share price is the only thing which matters. Questions such as how this impacts on customers, suppliers, communities and employees all need to be equally valid topics of discussion in the new corporation. The most damaging practices designed to boost shareholder value in the short term, such as share buyback schemes, could be banned. These measures are likely to create an environment where plans are rigorously tested against different criteria before they are hastily rolled out. READ MORE: . CNN's complete coverage from Davos . From 007 to the boardroom: What the Royal Navy can teach leaders . Opinion: Why it's time to rein in CEO pay . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andre Spicer. | Executives should be incentivized on different dimensions -- not just shareholder value, Spicer says . Corporations with strict focus on maximizing shareholder value tend to employ managers with short-term commitment . He argues that impacts on customers, suppliers, communities and employees all need to be discussed . | 97aa88a684e52d9083d40b6f08871ca5be84f577 |
(CNN) -- Syria's leading opposition movement warned Friday of an impending government "massacre" designed to crush activists in the city of Homs, which has emerged as a center of anti-regime unrest. The Syrian National Council said military troops and vehicles had surrounded the western city and thousands of troops were manning more than 60 checkpoints just inside the city. "These are all signs of a security crackdown operation that may reach the level of a total invasion of the city," the council said in a news release. It said that a "massive number of casualties" could occur. "Evidence received from reports, videos and information obtained by activists on the ground in Homs indicate that the regime is paving the way to commit a massacre in order to extinguish the revolution in Homs and to discipline, by example, other Syrian cities that have joined the revolution," the council said. At least 17 people were killed Friday in Homs and at least 29 were killed elsewhere across Syria, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition group. It said women, children and dissident soldiers were among the dead. The United Nations said last week that more than 4,000 people have died in Syria since a government crackdown against protesters erupted in mid-March. The regime's actions have outraged world powers and sparked sanctions by the Arab League, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The council said the Bashar al-Assad regime is "driving violent sectarian incidents to justify this potential murder." More than 30 corpses -- all thought to be victims of sectarian violence -- were found Monday in Homs. The city of Homs is in a province of the same name. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria says it is the "amalgamation of the national Syria identity combined: urban, country, and Bedouin." It says "Muslims in Homs are Sunni, Alawite, Ismaelis and Druze. Christian in Homs are Orthodox and Catholic." The city also includes Kurds, Armenians and Turkmens, the LCC says. Sunnis make up the majority of the country and Alawites hold sway in the military and government. "The regime has tried hard to ignite the sectarian conflict using many dirty methods, which have included bombing and burning mosques, torturing and killing young men, and kidnapping women and children," the Syrian National Council said in its news release. "The regime also took a significant step today ... in burning oil pipelines in the neighborhood of Baba Amr to blame what the regime calls 'armed gangs' in an attempt to crush the peaceful uprising on the pretext of a war on terrorism." A strike on a pipeline was reported on Thursday. The council likens what the regime may be planning to the 1982 government assault on the city of Hama, an operation that left thousands dead. Syria was led at the time by then-president Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father. "We hold accountable the regime, and behind it the Arab League and the international community, (for) what could happen to innocent civilians in the next few hours or days, and the implications for the region as a whole in the near future," the council said. The LCC says Homs has been suffering "from a suffocating siege and heavy, continuous security campaigns that are resulting with tens of casualties and wounded every day. This is why it deserves to be declared as a crisis zone." The LCC said the regime is trying to foment sectarian feuds. It said the anti-government Free Syrian Army, made up of army defectors, has been standing up to the regime's army and pro-regime shabiha, whom they call "thugs." U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed concern about developments Friday. "It is extremely concerning that in places like Homs we have a huge number of reports that they are preparing something large scale," she told reporters. "It's a perfect example for them to prove that they are not the propagators of this violence. And obviously they've chosen not to do so. And they are not going to be able to hide who's responsible if there is a major assault on the weekend." She added that U.S. officials hold al-Assad responsible for the violence. "We think he needs to go; that that is how peace is going to come to Syria." British minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt said his government "is deeply concerned by reports of a build-up of Syrian security forces and armored vehicles in the besieged city of Homs," also the "scene of disturbing crackdowns in recent months." Human Rights Watch last month issued a report detailing "the systematic nature of abuses against civilians in Homs by Syrian government forces." The International Crisis Group issued a report on Syria in July, saying "Homs had become a miniature Syria, a microcosm of its numerous problems." "Its economic dynamism benefited only a narrow circle of people," the report said. The swelling number of migrants who lived on the city's outskirts suffered from declining services and living standards, it said. The security services, predominantly controlled by and staffed with Alawites, earned a particularly bad reputation. "If the picture appeared reasonably positive to one who visited the center of the city, for most of its underprivileged residents it was appalling," the report said. | The Syrian National Council warns a government operation appears imminent in Homs . At least 46 people died in Syria on Friday, 17 of them in Homs, activists say . The council says the regime is working to stoke sectarian strife . The United States and Britain express concern about Homs . | 90f6fe41f58f782f0cf1da64a56e6b4e5aeb2252 |
It was an afternoon for sharp mathematicians at the Stade Marcel-Michelin as Saracens squeezed through to the Champions Cup quarter-finals despite losing to French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne. Ed Griffiths, CEO of the London club, kept an anxious eye on unfoldings elsewhere as Toulouse’s narrow defeat by Montpellier ultimately booked Saracens a knock-out trip to big-spending Racing Metro. Castres’ decision to field a weakened side in their Pool Two matches created a skewed points difference that almost cost Saracens their hopes of progression as one of the three best runners-up. Owen Farrell of Saracens is hauled down by Julien Bardy of Clermont before being replaced . ‘It is so disappointing to see a club like Castres throw up the white flag,’ said director of rugby Mark McCall. ‘It is meant to be an elite competition and that should not be tolerated. We give a lot of thanks to Montpellier for fronting up against Toulouse.’ It transpired Saracens had a 35-point safety cushion in defeat. That effectively turned the fixture into a shootout for a home tie. Clermont fly-half Camille Lopez kicked the opening points before Owen Farrell missed a chance to level the score. There was concern when the England contender fell awkwardly in the 15th minute and he was replaced by Charlie Hodgson. Farrell walked off unassisted but later left the ground on crutches with his left knee in a brace. Wesley Fofana of Clermont is tackled by Saracens duo Brad Barritt and James Johnston . Hodgson, too, was off target with his opening kick at goal, and that lack of execution was punished by Clermont on the half-hour mark when Nick Abendanon scored. A powerful Saracens set-piece has been their most potent weapon this season and that was the case here. It provided territory for Hodgson to kick a penalty before the break and the fly-half added three more points from the boot later on. Vincent Debaty rumbled over for the decisive Clermont try after Saracens wing David Strettle was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on man of the match Abendanon. Jacques Burger salutes the travelling Saracens fans following match against Clermont Auvergne . Clermont's French prop Vincent Debaty (right) holds the ball during the hosts victory over Saracens . | Owen Farrell was substituted in the 18th minute of the Pool One clash . Farrell twisted his knee in a tackle with Clermont's Julien Bardy . Saracens went on to lose the game 18-6 but still go through . They travel to Racing Metro while Clermont host Northampton . | c9f18f85933f9b24c6f5eb4ab04e80d255681acf |
By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 07:07 EST, 23 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:08 EST, 23 July 2013 . As the heatwave engulfing Britain shows no signs of abating, it seems men are seeking new ways to stay cool in the office. Rather than sweating it out in a full suit, men are opting for smart, tailored shorts that can be teamed with a shirt and jacket. This Bermuda type look has become so popular that some shops are reporting over a 200 per cent rise in sales from last year. John Lewis have seen a risei n sales of over 200 per cent on last years figuresd. Pictured are the McAvoy twill shorts, £45 . As temperatures reached the mid-thirties last week, John Lewis reported their best ever week for short sales, with sales of smart shorts up a massive 226 per cent on last year (not entirely surprising, given the cool summer we endured), and 33 per cent higher than the previous bestselling week. The trend for above-the-knee shorts was a major look at Richard James, Junya . Watanabe and Raf Simons on the spring/summer 13 catwalks and, since then, tailored shorts have begun surfacing as officewear for overheated city dwellers, whether worn with a . casual polo shirt or as part of a smart suit. This trend sees a move away from the short-shorts craze that has been adopted by stars like Joey Essex. Last week high street sales data revealed that demand for men’s shorts that sit at the top of thighs, rather than knees had shot up by 156 per cent in the previous week alone. The tailored shorts evoke a slightly more sophisticated feel: more elegant post-work cocktails on the terrace than dodgy Wham throwback, and is the sort of look that will see British men looking cool yet chic in the workplace and beyond. The high street has quickly adapted to cater to this trend and wide ranges of tailored shorts are available at shops from Marks and Spencer to George at Asda. Chino Shorts £19.50, teamed with Blue Harbour Bomber £49.50, T-Shirt £12.50, and Blue Harbour Boat Shoes £49.50, all from Marks and Spencer . The current best-selling styles at John Lewis include the private label chino, belted cargo and linen short styles in reds, bright blues and greens – adding a real point of difference and to some, a controversial twist to the ‘office’ look. Nick Keyte, Head of Menswear Buying at John Lewis, says, ‘Last week alone, shorts sales rose by 52 per cent, week on week. ‘The tailored short offers our male customer a stylish sartorial solution and alternative to the traditional trouser that maintains a level of cool for summer. ‘Our customers are dressing up their shorts with brogues, desert boots and loafers for a more formal look in the office.’ Boston Crew Oxford Shorts, £14 George Asda . Ergonomic Bermuda Shorts with belt, £15.99-29.99 from Zara . Topshop Grey Cotton Chino Shorts Price: £24.00 . John Lewis Smart Linen Shorts , Khaki (£35) Maine New England casual twill shorts, 18, Debenhams . John Lewis Chino Shorts , Navy, £35 . | New trend for smart shorts to keep cool in the office . John Lewis have seen sales over 200 per cent higher than last year . Last weeks sales were 36 per cent higher than previous highest week . More chic than the current trend for super short-shorts for men . | 1235dc5428e8c274ac9697b2e6450db6f230a480 |
By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 06:14 EST, 13 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:20 EST, 13 October 2013 . The parents of a toddler with cerebral palsy have told how they face a desperate battle to raise tens of thousands of pounds to pay for him to have life-changing surgery. Oliver Osborne, two, needs pioneering surgery to enable him to walk, but the operation is not funded by the NHS. His parents, Sallyanne, 38, and Terry, 36, must now raise £60,000 to pay for him to have the operation at either Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, or Leeds General Infirmary. Oliver Osborne, two, has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy which means he will not be able to walk without a frame unless he has pioneering surgery which is not available on the NHS . Without the surgery, the best they can hope for Oliver is that he will be able to walk with the help of a frame. ‘The surgery would give Oliver the chance for a normal life – I can’t put into words how much it would mean for him,’ Mrs Osborne, from Fareham in Hampshire, told MailOnline. Oliver was born almost 12 weeks early in January 2011 weighing just 2lbs 12oz. He spent seven weeks in hospital during which time he spent weeks in intensive care and he developed the hospital superbug MRSA. Mrs Osborne said: ‘At the time it was the scariest experience. It was described to us by those at the hospital as the biggest rollercoaster you will ever ride, but we got through it. ‘We spent hours staring at monitors willing him to get better.’ Oliver (pictured with his mother, Sallyanne) needs Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery which, until recently, was only available in the U.S. Oliver has recently learnt to stand up with his walking frame but is yet to learn how to walk with it. Without surgery his parents fear he will never be able to play with the other children at school or to ride a bike . Oliver, who has an older sister, Millie, four, was eventually allowed to leave hospital March but he suffered severe reflux meaning he was unsettled and was sick about every hour and a half. He grew out of the reflux but as autumn arrived, he began to develop regular bouts of bronchiolitis – a lower respiratory tract infection. By November 2011, Oliver’s parents, who both work for Virgin Atlantic as on board managers, started to realise something was not right. Mrs Osborne said: ‘We started to realise that Oliver wasn’t really doing anything. Oliver was born almost 12 weeks early in January 2011. When he was born, he weighed just 2lbs 12oz . Oliver spent seven weeks in hospital during which time he spent weeks in intensive care and he developed the hospital superbug MRSA . ‘He was such a happy little man but all he could do was lie on the floor on his back. ‘He couldn’t roll or sit up like other children and hated spending time on his front - he just screamed. ‘We were told by so many people it was just developmental delay and he was just a lazy boy. ‘After months of pushing from us we finally got him to see a physio, and she started to tell us how concerned she was about muscle tone but it really meant nothing to us.’ Oliver (pictured with his mother) was released from hospital when he was seven-weeks-old but just months later his parents realised he was not developing normally as he had not learnt to roll over or sit up . Oliver was eventually diagnosed when a physiotherapist expressed concern about his muscle tone and his parents took him to see a different consultant . Then, in April 2012, Oliver saw a new consultant who finally diagnosed him with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and his parents were told he might never walk. Mrs Osborne said: ‘We knew something wasn’t quite right but never in our wildest dreams, or should I say nightmares, did we expect to hear that. ‘You go through so many feelings after being told something like that but after a while you pick yourselves up and get on with life again.’ Since his diagnosis, Oliver has been having regular physiotherapy and, as a result, has now leant to roll over, sit up on his own, and crawl. Mrs Osborne said: 'We knew something wasn't quite right but never in our wildest dreams, or should I say nightmares, did we expect to hear that' Mrs Osborne said: 'Life can be so frustrating for him, all he wants to do is join in with other children, scoot, play on a bike and kick a ball. This operation will give him the chance to do this.' Oliver is pictured with his sister, Millie, four . However, to be able to walk without a frame, he needs Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery. This is a neurosurgical technique used to treat spasticity (increased muscle tone) in the lower limbs. It involves opening the lower vertebrae to reveal the spinal cord which contains the neurones of the central nervous system. These neurones (bundles of nerve fibres) channel messages between the brain and different areas of the body. During the procedure, electrical stimulation is used to identify and sub-divide sensory and motor nerves. This process continues until the specific nerves and nerve roots affecting the spastic muscles are identified and cut. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy is a neurosurgical technique used to treat spasticity (increased muscle tone) in the lower limbs. The lower vertebrae are opened to reveal the spinal cord which contains the neurones of the central nervous system. These neurones (bundles of nerve fibres) channel messages between the brain and different areas of the body. Electrical stimulation is used to identify and sub-divide sensory and motor nerves. This process continues until the specific nerves and nerve roots affecting the spastic muscles are identified and cut. Due to the size of the nerves and rootlets, this is a very precise procedure and therefore the surgery can last several hours and requires a general anaesthetic. Many months of physiotherapy are needed after the surgery to retrain the legs. Following the surgery, months of intensive physiotherapy is required to help the child walk. The surgery and subsequent physiotherapy cost up to £60,000. Until recently, the operation was only available in the U.S. and Mr and Mrs Osborne are aware that, even now, Oliver may need to travel to America to have the surgery. Funding is not routinely offered by the NHS. Dr Stuart Ward, Medical Director for the Wessex Area Team at NHS England said: 'We sympathise with patients and families who feel they may benefit from this treatment, however, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is not routinely funded by the NHS as the current evidence base does not yet demonstrate sufficient clinical and cost effectiveness for its routine use. 'It has been identified by clinicians and patient representatives as showing significant "promise" as a potential treatment option for the future and forms part of the Commissioning through Evaluation programme. 'The Commissioning through Evaluation programme, which was originally developed with clinicians treating heart conditions, will enable SDR, and other appropriate services and/or treatments, to be funded within defined parameters, in a small number of participating centres, and within an explicit evaluation programme.' Mrs Osborne said: ‘Life can be so frustrating for him, all he wants to do is join in with other children, scoot, play on a bike and kick a ball. This operation will give him the chance to do this.’ She told MailOnline: ‘After the surgery he would have some sort of normal life. He could play with the other children – it would be completely different. ‘At the moment he can only crawl – this operation will remove so many restrictions in his life. ‘It will give him less pain in the future and will mean he faces less frustration. It will be absolutely massive for him. ‘Now, the idea of him being able to walk, and even maybe run a little bit, is inconceivable.’ Mr and Mrs Osborne are raising money for Oliver’s treatment through the charity Tree of Hope which helps families raise money for medicines, surgery and treatment which are not available on the NHS. Any money that is left over after Oliver has had his surgery will go to help other sick children. The couple are planning a golf day and also a ball to raise money for the surgery which they hope Oliver will be able to have at the beginning of next summer. Oliver’s four-year-old sister, Millie, is running the 1.5km Mini Great South Run to help with the fundraising. To donate click here. For more information about Oliver, click here. | Oliver Osborne was born 12 weeks prematurely, weighing just 2lbs 12oz . He spent weeks in intensive care and developed the superbug MRSA . He was eventually released from hospital when he was seven-weeks-old . When he was nine-months-old, his parents realised something was wrong because he had not started to roll over or sit up on his own . Eventually, he was diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy . He cannot walk and can only stand with the help of a walking frame . He needs pioneering Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery without which he will never walk normally . | 8fc217d66b38ed0820d26f8fb840cf58b8f314fa |
This November, mother-of-two Emma Styles and her husband, Paul, are planning a weekend away in Paris to celebrate 30 years of marriage. While for some British couples this would mean a romantic stroll along the Seine and a candle lit dinner for two, for Emma 49, and Paul, 50, it will involve a visit to a Parisian swingers club where anything goes. The couple, from Kew, London, have frequented such sexually liberated establishments for years - and Emma said it has done wonders for their marriage. Open relationship: Emma and her husband Paul enjoy swinging in Paris . She told the MailOnline of their sexcapades: 'Our . marriage has been enhanced greatly by fully enjoying our weekends away. 'In the early days it was a great talking point between us - especially in . the bedroom, where without embarrassment or fear of what either would . think - we could relive moments we'd enjoyed or moments we'd like to enjoy . in the future. Mutual understanding: The couple have been married for nearly 30 years and don't get jealous seeing their partner with someone else . 'I suppose we looked upon it as a kind of hobby, people . would go on gastronomic weekends, cultural weekends (we did many of . those also) we just went on slightly more gratifying weekends.' While Emma said she and her husband always had a happy sex life, it was after a weekend to Paris when she was 29 and they had been married for seven years that they truly had a sexual awakening - after dabbling in sex shows and venues famed for swinging. Since then she has had numerous sexual encounters with married men, women, a distinguished French diplomat and - what she rates among her favourite experiences - a team of French firefighters. As previously reported in the MailOnline, Emma has written about their sexual liberation in a self-published erotic memoir called First Tango In Paris. The book has been climbing up the best-sellers lists on Amazon and Emma has been approached by publishers seeking to produce a hardback version. Tell all: Emma said her sexual awakening began when she was 29 and she had since written a memoir of her sexcapades . She is also working on a sequel that will bring readers up-to-date with the couples more recent experiences. When it comes to her dalliances with other men - and her husband's with other women - Emma said there has never been any jealously or arguments. She said they went into situations with 'their eyes wide open' and always with one another's consent. She explained that at first they established ground rules of 'look but don't touch' but these quickly went out the window when they realised how much seeing their partner with someone else turned them on. Emma writes in her book how this unfolded for the first time when they were approached by another couple in a French club. She writes: 'The atmosphere was electric... and soon a very attractive couple came and stood beside us, very quickly it became apparent that they fancied having some fun with us, right there and then. Frisson: Emma said she and her husband enjoy knowing other people are attracted to them (posed by models) 'She started to run her hand up and down my thigh and whispered something in my ear, I looked at Paul and he whispered "what about our ground rules?" I grinned and said "I'm about to break them... just a tiny bit?" A look of pure ecstasy instantly crossed his face, and in a blur I found myself being gently kissed by her partner.' Emma explained to the MailOnline that 'jealousy was never an issue' between her and Paul, with whom she two grown up children. She said: 'I feel this is because we had married so young and had grown up and grown into the marriage together and there was never really a his and hers agenda, we simply did things together as one unit.' Speaking of that first encounter that led to many more, she said: 'I enjoyed seeing other attractive women sexually attracted to Paul, safe in the knowledge that he was mine. 'It was a boost to both our ego's that after seven years of marriage, we were both still attracted to and desired by others. In the elegant club environment of Paris, it was the perfect situation to let go of any inhibitions and to act out your wildest fantasies and fulfill any desires you might wish at the time. It was all available and possible.' Explicit: The writer said her book is an honest account of her experiences . Emma said that her double life over the years - juggling being a mother at home and a swinger in Paris - has added frisson to her sexual encounters and marriage. She said: 'The fact it's on foreign soil gave us a sense of bravado as the chance of bumping into anyone you may have had an inappropriate moment with on the Monday morning back in Waitrose was minute to say the least. 'Also we adore the elegance in which the Parisians do things, it's all had a little 'je ne sais quoi'. They seem to have a different attitude to Britain.' Emma admits her book is not 'for the faint-hearted' but she insists every word is true and while some readers may not condone her behaviour, she hopes others may find it inspiring. She said: 'I don't in any way class . my book as pornography but pure and simple factual erotica written for . today's modern woman by a woman who is real and has lived it. 'I hope it inspires women from wherever and whatever age you are, to . embrace your sexuality, and explore fully the deep dark erotic side that . we all have (some hidden deeper than others).' | Emma Styles and her husband started swinging after 7 years of marriage . They visited clubs in Paris to meet like-minded couples . The mother-of-two said their encounters enhanced their marital sex live . She enjoys fact other women find her husband attractive . She's written about her sexual experiences in self-published memoir . | 42d1798da17d99c2684158ae0d81a43bf7a56c3e |
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 04:31 EST, 11 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:08 EST, 11 March 2014 . It is one of the most fraught relationships at the top of the coalition government. But today it emerged that Vince Cable tried to get off to a better start with George Osborne, by inviting him to stay on the family farm soon after their joined the Cabinet together. The Lib Dem Business Secretary told his wife Rachel he had ‘done an awful thing’ by asking the Osborne’s to join them in the New Forest, but they were spared an awkward weekend when they guests never replied. Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable told his wife Rachel he had done an 'awful thing', and invited George Osborne to visit . Mr Cable and his Tory rival clashed repeatedly during the 2010 general election, and failed to strike up the amicable working relationship other ministers enjoyed when the coalition was formed. Relations were so bad Mr Cable, who had been the Lib Dems’ shadow chancellor in opposition, was handed the Department for Business instead of moving to the Treasury as Mr Osborne’s deputy. When Mr Osborne’s austerity programme appeared to be choking off growth, Mr Cable called for a Plan B, and later a Plan V, to get the economy moving. But in the very early days of the coalition, while the government was enjoying its honeymoon period, Mr Cable tried to extend the hand of friendship – albeit reluctantly. Rachel Smith, Mr Cable’s wife, revealed in an interview attempts to broker a truce with the Osbornes with a trip to the family farm in the New Forest. She said: ‘I invited them because Vince said to me right at the beginning, during the Government’s honeymoon period: “I’ve done an awful thing…I asked, would the Osbornes like to come to the farm,” he said.’ At a recent event, Rachel Smith said she found George Osborne and wife Frances 'cool' and would not invite them to visit again . However Mrs Smith did the correct thing and formally wrote to the Osbornes. ‘I don’t know what happened to the invitation because I certainly sent it but I think it got lost,’ she told the Telegraph. ‘Anyway, I didn’t get a reply.’ ‘I wrote a card but I never received an answer. I’ve seen them since and I thought, should I ask: “Did you ever get my card?” but then I thought no. ‘We did meet them recently at a concert given by the Prince of Wales in aid of the Philharmonia Orchestra. ‘They were so cool, just the same in their private personae as in their public one. And I thought, no, I won’t invite them to the farm.’ However, a spokesman for the Chancellor said: 'We never received any invite, which is a great shame as George would have liked to have seen their farm.' | Lib Dem Business Secretary tried to make amends with his Tory rival . Suggested a trip to the family farm in the New Forest early in the coalition . His wife Rachel sent an invitation, but the couple never received a reply . She says she finds the Osbornes 'cool' and won't invite them again . | cb80a896ab5c9eb62756ad601a49649fcf5fc952 |
For Beth Johnsson, having a daughter with Rett Syndrome is ‘like losing a child you still have.’ Until she was 18 months old, Hannah was alert, responsive and developing normally. Yet, Beth, 35, an English teacher, explains: ‘Very suddenly, the beautiful baby we knew slowly began to disappear – she was alive, but we couldn’t get to her.’ Hannah is now six yet has the mental capabilities of an 18-month-old – a reality that is only too stark when she is playing with her brothers Matthew, three, and Noah, who is almost two. Close: Coleen Rooney with sister Rosie who died in January this year after suffering from Rett Syndrome . Just like her baby brother, she frequently screams, tries to eat everything within arm’s distance, pulls her hair (and her brother’s) and finds it hard to support her own weight. Yet now scientists may be close to eliminating the condition. Astonishingly, Rett Syndrome (RS) – which also afflicted Coleen Rooney’s little sister, Rosie, who died aged 14 in January – has been reversed in mice. One child in 12,000 is born with RS, yet few people have heard of it. The genetic disorder affects almost exclusively females, causing them to regress neurologically and physically. The progression of the disease can be roughly divided into four stages. During the first stage, from about the age of six to 18 months, a baby slows in development, loses interest in play, stops making eye contact, starts walking awkwardly and makes repetitive hand movements. Slowly going: Beth Johnson describes life with her six-year-old daughter Hannah, who has the mental capability of an 18-month-old, like 'losing a child you still have' The second stage, known as ‘rapid destruction’, begins between the ages of one and four. The child finds it increasingly difficult to communicate and learn and there is often a deterioration in other brain functions. Symptoms include an inability to control the hands, sudden distress teamed with screaming, unsteadiness, breathing problems, difficulty sleeping, slow head growth and digestive problems. The third stage, the ‘plateau’, begins between age three and ten. Limbs become floppy, epilepsy may develop and there may be weight loss and teeth-grinding. However, many parents say children are less distressed and show more interest in their surroundings. The final stage can last for decades. Usually severe bending of the spine – scoliosis – develops, as well as losing the ability to walk. Almost all cases are caused by a mutation in the MECP2 gene which prevents nerve cells in the brain from working properly. Currently there is no cure and only the symptoms are treated. Sufferers can live to their 40s but most die before 25. Beth and her husband Vince, 37, from Sutton in Surrey, first noticed something was wrong when Hannah started to react oddly to people’s emotions. ‘Her normal responses reversed – she would become very distressed when someone laughed,’ says Beth. ‘This was accompanied by screaming which was difficult to bear.’ There was a sudden slowing in her development, and nursery workers noticed she had started to shake occasionally. Beth and Vince took Hannah to the doctor but they were reassured there was nothing wrong with her because she was reaching all her milestones, albeit slowly. But Hannah continued to regress until she started to pull out her hair in handfuls. ‘Even at this point no one could tell me what was wrong with her,’ adds Beth. ‘It was incredibly frustrating.’ Finally, tests revealed the true cause. When the couple were given the news they were strictly told not to search the internet about the condition and to ‘carry on as normal’. Doctors wanted to prevent them frightening themselves. ‘I’m not sure I’d have managed to get out of bed if I’d known what lay ahead,’ Beth admits. Since then there has been a steady decline in Hannah’s abilities. She wakes throughout the night for hours at a time and needs a strict routine, otherwise she screams for long periods. Beth says: ‘Life is certainly not how I’d envisaged it to be. You have to be five steps ahead of Hannah all the time because if you don’t foresee an upset to her routine, there can be difficult consequences. Even if you are a few minutes late in serving up food, she will become very upset, start screaming and throw things across the room. You learn to appreciate the smallest things. One great smile from Hannah can make your day, and you can find yourself feeling very lucky.’ Hannah currently does not take any medication. Beth admits they had worried about the impact Hannah might have on their two sons but say they are happy and adore their sister. Until recently, neurodevelopmental conditions were thought to be irreversible. Yet there is hope from the Edinburgh University research which in 2007 reversed RS symptoms in mice. ‘That took our breath away,’ says Dr Adrian Bird, who led the study. The mice were infected with a virus that altered the gene and reversed symptoms. ‘Mice are different from humans, but it is a very strong indicator that therapies could be developed in our lifetime,’ says Dr Bird. For Beth, the research is the light at the end of the tunnel and she will work tirelessly to raise money until there is a therapy for Hannah. She says: ‘I refuse to lose hope.’ See reverserett.org.uk . | Rett Syndrome causes neurological and physical regression . The genetic disorder effects almost exclusively female babies . Colleen Rooney's sister Rosie died from RS earlier this year, aged 14 . | 308b5dc03554b1fb9ec45e9636d3a5a067323c84 |
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 12:36 EST, 26 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:16 EST, 26 June 2012 . Though French fries are often dangerous for the waistline, they were also one man’s weapon of choice. James Hackett, 26, allegedly got into a fight about money with his wife after picking up a meal at McDonald's. When his 11-year-old stepdaughter tried to peaceably interject from the back seat, he allegedly threw ‘hot and oily’ fries at her face. Deadly weapon? James Hackett, 26, left, allegedly threw an order of 'hot and oily' fries at his 11-year-old stepdaughter . According to the Smoking Gun, Hackett’s wife and stepdaughter had picked him up from work and were taking him to the Golden Arches for a meal. Once they had the food in their vehicle, Hackett and his wife began arguing about money matters. Though the police report says the argument over money ‘did not get physical,’ things rapidly escalated. The 11-year-old girl was sitting in the back seat, apparently trying to mediate between the two. That’s when Hackett allegedly pulled out the order of fries and threw it at his stepdaughter, ‘striking her in the face and chest,’ the police report states. The report notes that the girl was not seriously injured by the attack, but that throwing hot French fries at someone’s face could lead to burns and other injuries. At one point, Hackett pulled their vehicle over and fled on a motorcycle. The girl’s mother then called the police. Fast justice: He pleaded not guilty to assault and battery charges and will appear in court in August . Hackett was later found by a Lowell Police officer, and was informed that ‘he was being charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon to wit French fry.’ Hackett was free on bail and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He next appears in court in August, and is forbidden to have contact with his stepdaughter between now and then, the Lowell Sun reported. Massachusetts law defines assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon as ‘an instrument of offensive or defensive combat…anything used or designed to be used in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy.’ It goes on to say: ‘An item that is normally used for innocent purposes can become a dangerous weapon if it is intentionally used in a way that it reasonably appears to be capable of causing serious injury or death to another person.’ | James Hackett got into argument with wife over money . When daughter tried to mediate, he allegedly threw 'hot and oily' fries at her face . Girl was not seriously injured . | 82e56c029cf442f7967a3219684759885fb8ff1d |
(CNN) -- This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its newest study on the rate of autism among 8-year-olds, showing that 1 in 88 has some form of the disorder. Previously, it was 1 in 110. Does the new figure indicate that we are seeing an epidemic of autism, as some have speculated? At this point, it's not clear. One possibility is that we are seeing the result of better detection rather than a real surge in autism. However, there are some striking parts about the study, which used data from 2008 collected in 14 sites across the United States. The rate of autism increased by more than 45% from 2002 to 2008 in numerous sites. It was a larger and more consistent increase than from 2002 to 2006. Also intriguing is that the increase was very uneven in terms of geography, gender, race and ethnicity. Some sites had nearly five times as many children with autism as others. In several sites, almost 1 in 33 8-year-old boys were diagnosed with autism. This seems difficult to believe, particularly when these sites had smaller samples and children with less severe intellectual disabilities. One wonders if some sites became part of the study because of a long-term commitment to autism services, and this had drawn certain families to live nearby, resulting in an increase in the frequency of diagnoses made by local medical centers or educational programs. But since the children didn't just meet the CDC study criteria for autistic characteristics -- 80% of them had autistic diagnosis from community physicians -- it may be that there is truly a higher rate of autism. Granted, the children were not actually seen by CDC researchers, so it's possible that the methods of diagnosis varied among the sites. So, what are the implications of the study? The CDC researchers are aware that it's critical to identify the sources of variability in their data. For example, why were nearly twice as many children diagnosed with autism in Utah than in Colorado or Arizona? If the rates are really increasing, does it mean that many more children, particularly those from ethnic or racial minorities who are often missed, could have autism and we just don't know yet? If we do a better job of identifying children with autism, the rate will certainly continue to increase. How do we address this issue, which is not unique to autism? Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, commented that the most useful approach right now is to assume that there is an increase in autism and try to figure out why this is happening. Since we know the disorder is a neurobiological condition, could it be caused by environmental factors? Many researchers are trying to find out. Regardless of all the unanswered questions, we should keep in mind that autism is a common condition. More children need autism services than ever before. We need cost-effective ways to identify the disorder at early ages, provide adequate support and work with affected families to help their children transition to adulthood. For families concerned that their child might have autism, it's important to be persistent in seeking help. The study suggests that children with autism in some parts of the country are much more likely to be recognized than in other parts, so seek the best resources possible and do not give up until you are sure. It may be that your child does not have autism since the disorder overlaps with various other common conditions such as delayed language ability and attention deficit disorder. Far more children don't have autism than do. With world autism awareness day coming up on Monday, there are many reasons to hope for a brighter future for children and adults who have autism. Despite the concerns about rising autism rates, more services and treatments are available, and they will get even better. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Catherine Lord. | A new government study shows that rate of autism has increased . Catherine Lord: It's striking that increase is uneven in terms of region, gender, race and ethnicity . She says researchers are trying to find out the reason behind rising rate . Lord: For families that may have a child with autism, be persistent in seeking help . | 1d9865ad9fbc38cd51336b694fbd7a0b321f4921 |
Boston (CNN) -- What scientists say is the largest concentration of endangered right whales ever spotted in one location is giving researchers an unusually rich opportunity to study the animals and their feeding habits. But the gathering, an annual affair in the chilly spring waters off Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts, also raises the threat of boats striking the 70-ton mammals, according to the state Division of Marine Fisheries. The agency has posted an advisory to boaters urging them to be on the lookout for the whales and steer clear. Scientists believe that there are only 450 right whales in the world but say the numbers have been slowly recovering since commercial whaling of the species was banned more than 70 years ago. The more than 100 whales counted in the bay this month is the largest number recorded in one place, according to the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts. "We're looking at an exceedingly rare animal in unusual numbers in one of their last critical habitats," Charles Mayo, a scientist at the center who studies right whales, said Friday. Why so many in one place? In a word, food, said Mayo. One way or another, the whales caught wind of a unusually rich repast of plankton available in the waters of the bay and arrived to take advantage of the easy dining, Mayo said. The plankton bloom often occurs, but it's been particularly rich and long-lasting this year for unknown reasons, he said. There have been no boat strikes on the many whales contained in the bay's waters, said Dan McKiernan, deputy director of the state Marine Fisheries Division. In fact, the last known fatal strike on a whale in the area happened in 1999, he said. State and federal law makes it a crime to close within 500 yards of a right whale, according to the state Marine Fisheries Division. Seeing so many right whales in the same place is encouraging for researchers, even though they are well aware that the species is on the road to recovery after dipping in the early 1900s to as few as a handful of breeding females and male suitors. It's also a spectacle for the public, Mayo said. The whales feed on the surface and can be seen from shore, he said. "Anytime you see a whale from the beach that's actually alive, it's pretty exciting," he said. The whales should begin trickling out of the bay sometime in the next few days heading for deeper waters offshore, Mayo said. | Scientists count record number of right whales in Cape Cod Bay . A rich food source is drawing the whales . Only 450 right whales are known to exist, scientists say . | 670ec878f99600efd2e87ca9a078e3c88d03f52e |
Glenn Mason was jailed for 15 months today after the Old Bailey heard he stole £185,000 from the accounts of elderly Natwest customers to fund his online gambling addiction . A respected NatWest bank manager who stole £185,000 from his elderly customers to fund his internet gambling addiction sobbed as he was jailed for 15 months. Glenn Mason, 56, plundered the accounts of nine pensioners including an 83 year-old woman and a 92 year-old man who banked at his branch in Biggin Hill, Kent. Mason, who was given an award by the Metropolitan Police in Bromley in 2009 for his crime fighting efforts, got away with the thefts for almost a year before his arrest in July 2012. His attempts to cover up his crime by transferring money using the identity of two of his colleagues, Julie Jeffrey, 50, and James Cato, 35, led to them being sacked and charged with fraud. It was only when Mason pleaded guilty in September that the case against them was dropped at the Old Bailey. Andrew Lawson, representing Mason, told the court that Mason turned to gambling after his teenage son was injured by a roadside bomb while fighting with British troops in Afghanistan. Mr Lawson said that all of the stolen money was paid into his gambling account and told the court: ‘It was late night poker and online games that are designed to tempt you into spending money in the hope of a big win.’ The court also heard statements from two of Mason’s victims, Julie Amos and Leslie Pilditch, who both said they no longer felt able to trust banks. Julie Jeffrey, one of the workers implicated in the crime by Mason, described how she lost her job after her arrest and added: ‘I no longer feel proud, my life has fallen apart.’ Elaine May, the current manager of the NatWest Biggin Hill branch, also said in a statement that the thefts had ‘an ongoing impact within the community’ and put a strain upon the staff. Mason continues to live in the area with his wife and son and has been working in a local newsagents. The judge, Mr Recorder Simon Farrell QC, told him: ‘You stole roughly £185,000 over a period of a year from nine victims who were all elderly and undoubtedly vulnerable. ‘Your fellow worker Julie Jeffrey, who was falsely arrested because you used her ID details to steal the money, described how, having worked for NatWest since the age of 16, losing her job as a 50 year-old woman and being reduced to delivery leaflets in all weathers. ‘Plainly these are very serious offences which everyone agrees cross the custody threshold. You are of previous good character and someone who has suffered considerable personal tragedy. ‘Your wife suffered from cancer in 2005 and your son at only 19 went to Afghanistan to fight for his country and was the victim of an improvised explosive device that caused him very serious injury. The court heard Mason's actions, which took place at Natwest in Biggin Hill (pictured), caused elderly customers to lose their faith in banks . The judge added: ‘I accept this caused you to develop a serious gambling addiction which was in fact the root cause of stealing the money from customers. ‘In my judgement I am afraid these matters are so serious that I am not able to suspend the sentence. The best I can do is to pass a sentence of 15 months imprisonment. But for your personal mitigation this sentence would have been far longer.’ Mason, of Biggin Hill, pleaded guilty to a single charge of fraud. The case against Jeffrey, of Orpington, Kent, and Cato, of Plumstead, south London, was discontinued by the prosecution. Both provided alibis when interviewed by police but they were only accepted by the Crown when Mason indicated his plea.Mason made no comment in police interview. | Bank manager Glenn Mason stole money to play late night poker online . He transferred money using identity of two colleagues, who were sacked . Case against them was discontinued after Mason pleaded guilty to fraud . Court heard his crime ruined the faith of elderly customers in banks . One of his colleagues wrongly arrested says her life has been ruined . Mason sobbed today as he was jailed for 15 months for the crime . | 00e83e39b4cf759a26e998d5af92e730ecab43f8 |
Until now, researchers blamed the collapse of the Bronze Age on widespread changes in global temperatures. But now experts believe the huge population collapse, that took place in around 800BC, actually occurred two generations before this weather shift. Records show that colder and wetter weather conditions weren't recorded until after the collapse - and social and economic pressures were more likely to blame. Historians will have to find alternative explanations for the huge population collapse in around 800BC, because climate records show that colder and wetter weather conditions didn’t occur until two generations afterward. A stock image of snow covered Wicklow mountains near Dublin is shown . Archaeologists and environmental scientists from the University of Bradford, University of Leeds, University College Cork and Queen’s University Belfast have shown that the changes in climate that scientists believed to coincide with the population fall, in fact occurred at least two generations later. Their results, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that human activity started to decline after 900BC, and fell rapidly after 800BC, indicating a population collapse. However, climate records reveal that icy conditions didn’t occur until around 750BC. Fluctuations in levels of human activity at a given time are reflected by the numbers of radiocarbon dates for a certain period. The team used statistical techniques to analyse more than 2,000 radiocarbon dates, which they took from hundreds of archaeological sites in Ireland. From this, they were able to pinpoint the precise dates Europe’s Bronze Age population collapsed. Experts from Universities in Britain and Ireland think social and economic pressures were primarily to blame for the population collapse, because when iron production took over, bronze trading networks failed. This caused widespread conflict and social collapse. A Bronze Age spear head is pictured . It has long been thought that climate change led to a dramatic decline in Bronze Age populations in 800BC. But records show that colder and wetter weather conditions didn’t occur until two generations afterwards. Experts believe that social and economic stress is more likely to be the cause of the sudden and widespread fall in numbers. Communities producing bronze needed to trade over very large distances to obtain copper and tin and control of these networks enabled the growth of complex societies dominated by a warrior elite. As iron production took over, these networks collapsed, leading to widespread conflict and social collapse. The researchers then analysed climate records from peat bogs in Ireland, and compared the archaeological data to these records to see if the dates tallied. This information was compared with evidence of climate change across Europe between 1,200BC and 500BC. Lead author Ian Armit, Professor of Archaeology at Bradford University, said: ‘Our evidence shows definitively that the population decline in this period cannot have been caused by climate change.’ Dr Graeme Swindles, Associate Professor of Earth System Dynamics at Leeds University, added: ‘We found clear evidence for a rapid change in climate to much wetter conditions, which we were able to precisely pinpoint to 750BC using statistical methods.’ Professor Armit said social and economic stress is more likely to be the cause of the sudden and widespread fall in numbers. Communities producing bronze needed to trade over very large distances to obtain copper and tin, and control of these networks enabled the growth of complex societies dominated by a warrior elite. As iron production took over, these networks collapsed, leading to widespread conflict and social collapse. The team used new statistical techniques to analyse more than 2,000 radiocarbon dates, taken from hundreds of archaeological sites in Ireland, to pinpoint the precise dates that Europe’s Bronze Age population collapsed. Dunbeg Fort in Munster (pictured) is thought to date to the Bronze Age . Katharina Becker, Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at University College Cork, explained that the Late Bronze Age is usually seen as a time of plenty, in contrast to an impoverished Early Iron Age. ‘Our results show that the rich Bronze Age artefact record does not provide the full picture and that crisis began earlier than previously thought.’ Professor Armit conceded: ‘Although climate change was not directly responsible for the collapse it is likely that the poor climatic conditions would have affected farming. ‘This would have been particularly difficult for vulnerable communities, preventing population recovery for several centuries.’ He said that in examining the past, humans are inclined to link evidence of climate change with evidence of population change. ‘Actually, if you have high quality data and apply modern analytical techniques, you get a much clearer picture and start to see the real complexity of human/environment relationships in the past.’ | Cold and wet conditions occurred two generations after collapse in 800BC . Experts from Universities in Britain and Ireland think social and economic pressures were primarily to blame - but harsh weather made it worse . When iron production took over, bronze trading networks failed . This caused widespread conflict and social collapse, the experts said . | e6e50fa79cdd3a360853fafd81a4425b118fe73b |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:52 EST, 7 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:38 EST, 7 February 2014 . American freestyle skier Heidi Kloser has had to pull out of the Olympics after breaking her right leg during a training run before moguls qualifying. Kloser, 21, broke her femur and tore knee ligaments in a crash on Thursday night, only moments before she was supposed to head to the starting gate. Images showed her being carried away from the course on a sled and she was taken to a medical clinic for athletes in the Olympic village. Heartbreaking: Heidi Kloser is stretchered off the course after crashing before qualifying on Thursday. She fractured her leg and tore her ACL and has been forced to pull out of the Games . 'The news isn't good,' Kloser's father wrote on his Facebook page. 'She has a . partially torn MCL, completely torn ACL, an impact fracture on her . Femur, and a impact bruise on her Tibia Plateau. 'Heidi's doing ok, but . there's moments when the reality of it all hits home. She's a tough one, . but this is a tough one to swallow for all of us!' He added that when they were in the ambulance, Heidi asked if she was still an Olympian. 'We . said of course she is,' he wrote. He added to the Denver Post that she hopes to walk with her teammates in the Opening ceremony on Friday night. Excitement: Kloser, left, and her teammates grinned ahead of training in Sochi this week . Sadness: Kloser's father described the incident on Facebook and said they still consider her an Olympian . 'She's completely bummed, as we are,' Kloser said. 'She was really hoping, all things considered, to at least . be able to start in Saturday's final qualifier.' Skier Heather McPhie, who qualified 14th, said that the risk of knee injury is always in the back of competitors' minds. 'Unfortunately, it's part of the sport,' she said. Kloser . is a five-year veteran of the U.S. Freestyle team and had four top-10 . finishes, including a career-best second-place finish in Kreischberg, . Austria, during the 2013 World Cup season. She was ranked second in the U.S and fourth in the world entering the competition. Disappointing: Kloser, right with her teammates in December, had entered the competition ranked 4th . In action: Kloser, who has been on the U.S. team for five years, pictured in Lake Tahoe, California last year . | Heidi Kloser, 21, broke her femur and tore ligaments in a crash during a training run on Thursday and will not be able to compete . She was ranked fourth in the world heading into the competition . In the ambulance, she asked her father if she was still an Olympian - and he said: 'Of course you are' | 1440d4e29dd16b62e478944e4d80bf3f67707583 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . They don't usually have much common ground but in a rare moment of unity lawmakers on Capitol Hill held hands and swayed together as the famous song from the Civil Rights movement We Shall Overcome was played. Some of the lawmakers, which included House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, looked slightly awkward as they held their arms across their bodies. Congressional . leaders commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act on . Tuesday by posthumously bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal upon . Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, for their . efforts in passing the landmark legislation. Scroll down for video . They don't usually have much common ground but in a rare moment of unity lawmakers on Capitol Hill held hands and swayed together as We Shall Overcome the famous song from the Civil Rights movement was played . From right to left, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., Senate Minority Leaders Mitch McConnell of Ky., House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich . The . Kings' children, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King and Bernice . A. King, accepted the honor in as several hundred . looked on. The civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, . Tennessee, in 1968. His wife died in 2006. 'The . Civil Rights Act transformed our country,' House Minority Leader Nancy . Pelosi of California said. 'It made America more American.' President Lyndon B. Johnson . signed the Civil Rights Act into law on July 2, 1964. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, presents Lonnie Bunch III with a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the late Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., stands in front of a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as he speaks during a 50th anniversary ceremony . Christine Farris King (left) and Bernice King (second left), the daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., hold hands and sing We Shall Overcome during the opening of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia this week . It helped end . legal discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion and national . origin, and many consider it the most significant law to come out of the . civil rights movement. Among . those joining Pelosi in praising the Civil Rights Act and the people . who made it happen were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of . Kentucky, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Speaker . John Boehner of Ohio. Dr. Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta following the announcement of his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize . Throughout . the lawmakers' remarks were calls for a return to the bipartisanship . that made laws like the Civil Rights Act possible. Remembering . the civil rights activists who marched, protested and faced brutality . and violence is vital, the lawmakers said. But they added that it was . important to remember the lawmakers who made passage possible. Boehner . said the Civil Rights Act might be the 'most fundamental, the most . consequential legislation' in American history. McConnell said that . Martin Luther King Jr. deserves as much credit as any lawmaker in . getting the law passed. 'His . role was not just to expose or to confront injustice, but to prepare . the country to actually do something about it,' McConnell said. It . was the second Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Kings for their . contributions to the civil rights movement. The previous medal was . awarded in 2004. Bernice . King said in a statement that she and her brothers were deeply honored . that their parents were recognized for their 'tireless and sacrificial . leadership to advance freedom and justice.' The . King siblings have been locked in a legal dispute over the ownership of . King's Bible and Nobel Peace Prize. The Martin Luther King Jr. Estate . Inc., which is run by Martin Luther King III and Dexter Scott King, . wants to sell the items, while Bernice is opposed to the sale. Their . eldest sibling, Yolanda King, died in 2007. The . Congressional Gold Medal will be held in the newest Smithsonian museum, . the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is . expected to open next year. 'The . Smithsonian will ensure that as long as there is an America, the . courage, the impact and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta . Scott King will be honored, preserved and remembered,' said Lonnie . Bunch, the founding director of the museum. | Held hands and swayed together as We Shall Overcome was played . The famous song is an anthem from the Civil Rights movement . Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. | ef181f15e7ff58cd6c0e08df935400a9bfa2bf3b |
A baby gorilla was killed at the San Francisco Zoo on Friday when she ran beneath a closing door. Kabibe, a 15-month-old western lowland gorilla born, was being moved into her night quarters at the facility when she got stick beneath the hydraulic door that separated the outside pen from the sleeping area. She was killed instantly. Scroll down for video . Tragedy: Kabibe (above), a bay gorilla at the San Francisco Zoo, was killed on Friday . So sad: The 15-month-old gorilla was crushed by a hydraulic door while running to her night quarters . 'Some animal deaths are more difficult to process than others, and this tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,' San Francisco Zoo Executive Director and President Tanya Peterson said in a statement to NBC on Saturday. The incident, which is being called a freak accident,m is under investigation. Workers at the zoo were particularly close with Kabibe as she required around the clock care for the first six months of her life. And while many mourned the loss of Kabibe on social media Saturday, others will no doubt use this opportunity to protest the captivity of animals in zoos. | Kabibe, a baby gorilla was killed at the San Francisco Zoo . The 15-month-old was crushed by a hydraulic door as she ran from her pen to her night quarters . The San Francisco Zoo said in a statement, 'this tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable' | 3701779d2adf1514eb9cdc1a3c83575e291c8266 |
Obo, Central African Republic (CNN) -- The lush, green forests of central Africa have long been the playground and refuge of the continent's most-notorious warlord, Joseph Kony. His Lord's Resistance Army, which began with the aim of overthrowing the Ugandan government, has since spread to remote hinterlands on the borders of the Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Though officials don't know exactly where Kony is, U.S. troops have been sent to the area to help find and defeat the LRA leader. They have made progress. But as CNN has learned, much work remains to be done -- both to locate Kony and to restore a sense of stability and safety to the region. "Kony is definitely still a threat. He's been on the run. He's on the decline, and in survival mode, but he is still dangerous and he's going to be dangerous until the LRA are eliminated," said a captain with U.S. Special Forces. The captain, who CNN agreed not to identify because of concerns for his safety, spoke in Obo, a village in the Central African Republic. President Barack Obama directed the deployment of about 100 troops to central Africa last year to help hunt down leaders of the LRA. Distributed among four operating bases, they are advising regional forces. "We help our partner nation forces ask the right questions -- the who, the what, the when, the where and the why -- to get all the information," the captain said. The LRA has been on the run since being scattered from a temporary base in Congolese territory by a botched 2008 U.S.-backed attack on Kony's position, dubbed Operation Lightning Thunder. Since then, LRA attacks have killed 2,400 people and displaced 465,000, according to Resolve Uganda, a nonprofit group that monitors LRA activity. Another 3,400 people have been abducted. Kony, who became a household name when a video about him went viral on the Internet this year, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. He and his group are accused of killing and maiming villagers, abducting children and turning them into soldiers or sex slaves. Madelaine Simbachalanio is considered one of the lucky ones. She was abducted by LRA soldiers, but released into the forest once they reached their base camp, she said. Miraculously -- exhausted and terrified -- she made her way home. Many of those taken with her were never seen or heard from again. Part of the difficulty in tracking Kony stems from the fact he can move freely across porous borders, and not all countries in the region have joined the chase, said Ugandan armed forces spokesman Col. Felix Kulayigye. He believes Kony is shuffling between Sudan and the Central African Republic. "This is the strategy that he has used for the last four to five years. When the pressure is too much here, he runs across the border because he knows we are not allowed to go after him," Kulayigye said. "Whenever pressure is high, he just switches to north Sudan. It hampers our operation." But a spokesman for the Sudanese information ministry denied the allegation. "This is completely incorrect," said Rabi Abd al-Ati. "We don't accommodate rebels from Uganda or elsewhere. ... The LRA has no existence in our areas." Regardless of where Kony is, the hope is that the search to find him will not only lead to his capture, but also bring an end to the long, regional nightmare he unleashed. Despite the presence of troops, some people in Obo say they are still too afraid to sleep in their beds. They sleep in the yard, hiding in the undergrowth outside their houses, because they worry the LRA will come for them in the night. Reclaiming peoples' lives from that fear is as much a part of the job as capturing Kony, said the Special Forces captain. "I think this mission is a very worthwhile one, and it's going to bring stability to a region that has been without stability for a long time. If we can do anything to help reduce the atrocities, and make the locals feel safe, then, I think, it's definitely worthwhile," he said. Journalist Isma'il Kushkush contributed to this report. | Joseph Kony is head of the Lord's Resistance Army . He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity . Kony became a household name after a video about him went viral on the Internet . President Barack Obama has sent troops to help chase down LRA leaders . | be4e600585e9c3bec71f9b355cdd3edc833170a9 |
Two pensioners have tied the knot after being sent on a blind date by the funeral director who arranged their spouses' funerals. Tom Lennon, 76, and his now wife Isabell, 70, from Wickford, Essex, worked with undertaker Lynne Love after she helped arranged the funerals of their respective partners Alice and Bob. After the funerals, Ms Love, who works at The Co-operative Funeralcare, stayed in touch with the pair and would sometimes meet them for a cup of tea. Tom Lennon, 76, and his wife Isabell, 70, from Wickford, Essex, went on a . blind date in January after being set up by the funeral director who had arranged their spouses' funerals . Six months later after being set up by Lynne Love, 54, pictured centre, the pair tied the knot. Ms Love took the action after both former clients said they felt lonely . But when the pair both complained about being lonely, the 54-year-old wanted to do something about it. She realised that they would be the perfect match - and decided to set the pair up on a date. Just six months after meeting in January, Mr and Mrs Lennon were married at Brentwood registry office - with Ms Love as their witness. She said: 'I had the great honour of attending the wedding and being a witness. I'm not the mushiest person but I cried all the way through. 'I think if I died tomorrow, this would be my greatest achievement.' The pair met for the first time after Ms Love gave Mr Lennon, whose wife died in May last year, his future wife's number. Mr and Mrs Lennon married on June 20 at Brentwood registry office, . pictured above, with Ms Love as their witness . Mr Lennon, a retired mortuary worker and . caretaker, said: 'Loneliness is a terrible thing. If it hadn't been for . Lynne I would never have met Isabell and realised that people like her . existed. 'I plucked up the courage to ring her after Lynne gave me her number and we just clicked - we haven't looked back since. Mr Lennon met Ms Love after having to arrange the funeral of his wife Alice, pictured, in May last year . 'Isabell is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm as happy as a sandboy. She's 100% diamond and her family have made me feel so welcome.' Mrs Lennon, who husband died in 2011, added: 'I have found my soul mate. He is the most kind and caring man and I have laughed constantly since we met. 'Our families are delighted for us both to have found such happiness in later life.' The retired nurse, who is a mother of two and grandmother of six, added: 'Lynne became a good friend due to bereavement on both our parts. 'She stopped me one day and said she knew a nice man who was looking for a bit of company and could she give him my number. 'I agreed and we arranged to go for a drink that evening at the local pub. The next night we had a meal together and the relationship just blossomed from there. 'Our wedding day was a beautiful occasion - my two daughters helped to organise it and we had a lovely day with family and friends. 'I am just so happy we found each other. It's not often you find love through a funeral director.' Mrs Lennon, right, said she has found her soul mate, while Mr Lennon, left, said his wife is the best thing that has ever happened to him . Ms Love said: 'I always keep in touch with customers as it's nice to have a cup of tea and a chat with a friendly face. 'After chatting with Isabell one day, it came to mind that the pair of them would be very well suited. 'It is great that they have both been able to find happiness again and it has given them a new lease of life. 'With the job I do comes a lot of sadness but it is nice something good can come out of it.' | Tom Lennon, 76, arranged his wife's funeral using undertaker Lynne Love, 54 . In January, she persuaded him to take former client Isabell, 70, on blind date . The pair, from Wickford, Essex, married in June with Ms Love as the witness . Mrs Lennon has 'found my soul mate' and Mr Lennon is 'happy as a sandboy' Ms Love said: 'If I died tomorrow, this would be my greatest achievement' | 0eb6b5122b56f23318077665b64eb2f445d5b232 |
By . Phil Vinter . PUBLISHED: . 12:42 EST, 15 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:43 EST, 15 June 2012 . Olatunji Kazeem was employed as a customer service adviser at Slough Borough Council when he embarked on the forgery . A trusted council employee exploited his position of . responsibility to siphon more than £130,000 earmarked for benefits claimants . into false accounts he had set up. Olatunji Kazeem was employed as a customer service adviser at . Slough Borough Council when he embarked on the forgery. The 37-year-old Nigerian was bailed when his court case . finished on Monday but is now on the run after failing to return to Reading . Crown Court for sentencing today. In his absence, Judge Angela Morris handed him a four and a . half year jail term after hearing that he stole benefits and HMRC tax credits in . excess of £130,000. The court had been told that Kazeem 'harvested' local . residents’ information from the council’s computer systems and then, armed with scores . of personal account numbers, he contacted Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs . department to say that individuals had changed their bank details. Between August 2008 and August 2010, housing benefit and . child tax credit money was redirected into accounts he had set up under a host . of fake names. He was eventually caught after colleagues became suspicious . about the information he was viewing on his work computer. Kazeem admitted a total of 37 counts of fraud and Judge . Morris branded his offences a 'cynical manipulation' and a 'gross breach of . trust’. She added: 'What is so apparent is that those people whom he . targeted were the very people who relied on those benefits to live. 'I am assuming that they were not leading lavish lifestyles . but simply surviving. 'He (Kazeem) took advantage of the system and them for his . own personal gain. 'I am told that in Child Tax Credit alone he took in excess . of £130,000.' Judge Morris had previously released Kazeem on bail after he . entered guilty pleas at Reading Crown Court on Monday. The 37-year-old Nigerian was bailed when his court case finished on Monday but is now on the run after failing to return to Reading Crown Court (above) for sentencing today . He was due to return to the court this morning, but when neither . he, nor his friend who was due to act as a character witness appeared and . neither was contactable on the phone, Judge Morris proceeded to sentence without . him. David Burgess, defending, said that his client had lived in . this country for over a decade and had married his wife, also a Nigerian woman, . in 2004. He said: 'The prosecution accepts that there were others . involved. I can only offer that the idea may not have been his own to set this . up.' He said he did not know why the defendant had not showed up . to be sentenced but simply added that 'courage may have failed him'. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Kazeem, whose address . was given as Europe Road, London. Judge Morris sentenced Kazeem to four and a half years in . jail on each count, to be served concurrently. He was found to have overstayed his visa and the UK Border . Agency can deport him at the end of his sentence. Judge Morris added: 'I take the view that he has chosen to . absent himself and cynically manipulate this court as well.' | Nigerian is now on the run after failing to show up for sentencing . Fraud took place between August 2008 and August 2010 . He was caught when colleagues became suspicious . | 55b784dd507b8912e1d2f6f22144dbf83c35c5ae |
By . Simon Tomlinson . Last updated at 2:52 PM on 27th December 2011 . In her loving arms: Mia Cox (right) smiles broadly as she gets a big hug off new sister Bree after being adopted from the Ukraine by American couple Kris and Kecia Cox . Her beaming smile and the giant hug from her new sister is a world away from the lonely, uncertain life little Mia had been destined to face. At just four years old, she was due to be transferred from her orphanage in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk to an adult mental health institution simply because she has Down syndrome. There, she would have no hope of a family or an education - only the prospect of growing up in an environment of neglect. But she now has a new, loving home, complete with adoring parents and siblings after her picture was spotted on the internet by American couple Kris and Kecia Cox. 'Her eyes were really what spoke to us first,' Mrs Cox told ABC World News. 'They just grabbed us, and we just knew that she was saying: "You're my mom and you're my dad, and you're supposed to come get me." Her photograph was posted on the website for Reece's Rainbow, a nonprofit organisation that helps match disabled children - most of them with Down syndrome in eastern Europe - with families in the United States. In the Ukraine, where society praises appearances, children with the condition are often abandoned at birth. Placing them in grotty institutions alongside adults with severe mental illness is quite common. Mia, as she has been renamed by the Coxs, was born Kareen in Donetsk on Jaunary 15, 2007, but when she diagnosed with Down syndrome, her parents terminated their parental rights. Just a month after Kareen was born, Mrs Cox received the same heartbreaking news Kareen's birth mother was told - her third daughter named Bree also had the condition. Kecia and Kris were devastated. Uncertain future: Mia, formerly called Kareen, appears anxious as she waits for her new parents at her orphanage in the Ukraine. It's a long way from her relaxed outlook today . Bleak: A child (not Mia) stares out of a window at an adult mental health institution like the one where the four-year-old was due to be sent. Placing very young children with unstable adults is commonplace in the Ukraine . But their experience made them . determined to bring some love into the life of someone in their . daughter's position who was far less fortunate. So they started trawling . Reece's Rainbow. 'We would . come home at night and, you know, get up, get on our laptop and sit in . bed and look through all these pictures of the babies and nothing stood . out,' Mrs Cox said. And then . one day, when Kris was at work and Kecia was on the computer at home, . she clicked on Kareen's picture. It was one she had seen before, but . this time something pulled at her. 'When . I came in and we sat down and started talking, she, I mean she just . burst into tears,' Kris said. 'Basically just said: "I think I found our . daughter."' From then on, it was a family effort to raise money through yard sales and fundraisers to pay for the $30,000 adoption. Emotional: Mr and Mrs Cox were desperate to help a child in need after their own experience of having a daughter with Down syndrome . 'I think we found our daughter': The couple spotted Mia through Reece's Rainbow, a non-profit organisation that helps match disabled children in eastern Europe with families in the United States . The girls - Kyra, nine, Adrie, six, . and Bree - made bookmarks and manned lemonade stands. And perhaps the . biggest sacrifice for three children, they dumped out their jar of coins . they'd been saving for a family trip to Disneyland. Kecia and Kris then embarked on a month-long trip to the Ukraine to complete the complex process of adopting. When . the couple walked into the orphanage for the first time, they were . ushered into a large room with toys on a table and a large mural on the . wall. And then Kareen was brought in, carried by a nurse, her shortly hair carefully styled with tiny white rosettes. 'Priviet,' Kecia said to the little girl – 'Hello' in Russian. She reached out to touch her daughter for the first time. When asked if they wanted to adopt her, they signed the papers on the spot. Big hug: Mia welcomes Mr Cox as he arrives at the orphanage to start the adoption process . Getting acquainted: Mia gets a cuddle from Mr Cox as the couple get into a routine with her at the orphanage during their month-long stay in the Ukraine . Turning her back on it: Mia takes one last look around as she leaves her orphanage with Mr and Mrs Cox ready for a new life in America . They returned to the orphanage the . next day to start a routine that would last them the next 3½ weeks, . taking Kareen to a small playground on a lot of unmowed grass outside . the orphanage. 'She smiled a . little when we first met her,' Kecia said. 'But after only a couple of . days she had a sparkle in her eyes that she did not have before.' As . Kris carried her around the playground - she was a Daddy's girl from . the very start - Kecia touched Kris' chest and told Kareen: 'Papa' At . the end of the 32-day stay, Kris and Kecia walked with her through the . orphanage gates for the final time. Mia stopped to look behind her, but . never looked back again. Mia's new family: The youngster pictured with Mr and Mrs Cox and their three children - Kyra, Adrie and Bree . In the weeks that followed, Mia changed a little bit more every day. Her pale skin became rosy from spending time in the summer sun, ABC News reported. Doctors say her weak legs are much stronger and she will eventually walk normally. Her hair grew in thicker and she gained weight, benefiting from a new diet that included fruits, vegetables and protein. She began learning sign language and now signs words like 'shoes'. She says 'bye-bye' and 'Papa' or 'Daddy' and knows what it means to 'give loves'. Her sisters have taught her how to play on the swingset, how to terrorize the backyard in a motorized Barbie jeep, how to put on dance parties in the playroom. 'We haven't even touched on her capabilities. She has so much to give and that the world gets to see that now,' Kecia said. 'She doesn't have to be in a little white room hidden away because of an extra chromosome.' | Heartwarming story of Mia Cox highlights desolate life of disabled children in eastern European country . | b037f8a3a010ba068d750fc5fd5a3e3d629c4a13 |
(CNN) -- An E. coli outbreak linked to some raw vegetables has killed at least six people and sickened hundreds in Germany, national and global health authorities said Monday. The first investigation results released by the German federal unit responsible for disease control and prevention -- the Robert Koch Institute, under Germany's Ministry of Health -- indicated that the most recent infections were likely caused by consuming raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. The agency said it is advising consumers to avoid eating those foods, specifically in northern Germany. The institute is investigating six deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Three of those fatalities, all adults, were caused by hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS, from E. coli. The other three fatalities -- all of them elderly -- were caused by an infection linked to HUS and E. coli, said Dr. Guenael Rodier of the World Health Organization. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said 329 cases of HUS have been reported since May 2. Though HUS is normally seen in children younger than 5, the vast majority of the current outbreak's cases are adults, and more than two-thirds are women, the center said Monday on its website. "The source of the outbreak is under investigation, but contaminated food seems the most likely vehicle of infection," it said. Most of the patients are from, or have been to, northern Germany, primarily Hamburg, Northern Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, it said. Cases have been reported in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Denmark among people who have visited Germany, most of them northern Germany, it said. The European Food Safety Alert Network said EHEC, or enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, a strain of E. coli that causes hemorrhage in the intestines, was found in organic cucumbers originating from Spain, packaged in Germany, and distributed to countries including Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg and Spain. The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition issued a statement saying that two Spanish companies producing cucumbers may be involved in the outbreak, and the agency is awaiting further results from Germany's investigation. "This is the eye of the storm," said Oliver Grieve, a spokesman for the University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, where one of the deaths occurred. "We're working 24 hours here, and we're getting patients from all over northern Germany including Hamburg." As of Monday, 115 patients were infected with EHEC -- 68 in the medical center's Kiel campus and 47 in its Lubeck campus. Eighty-two patients were stricken by HUS -- 42 in Kiel and 40 in Lubeck, he said. The fatality, an 86-year-old woman, died of HUS; her husband remains hospitalized with EHEC, Grieve said. "Patients are coming in waves," he added. Cases of bloody diarrhea associated with HUS were first reported in Germany in the second week of May. The detection of E. coli on cucumbers was first reported on May 26. Germany's Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection advised consumers to cook their food to a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Celsius (about 160 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least two minutes to kill any E. coli bacteria. Freezing food does not kill bacteria reliably, the ministry added. Russia said Monday it is suspending all imports of vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers and salad leaves, produced in Germany and Spain. The Russian Federal Agency for Health and Consumer Rights, Rospotrebnadzor, said on its website that it has not received information from the European Union on the causes of the infection and the measures taken to "localize and eliminate the outbreak." "A decision might be taken in the next few hours regarding the ban on imports and sales of vegetables in Russia from all EU countries," the agency said. CNN's Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report. | NEW: The patient makeup is atypical . "This is the eye of the storm," says a hospital official in northern Germany . At least six deaths have been linked to E. coli . Russia bans vegetable imports from Germany and Spain . | 7749871a610d9f859c060751cab15e5909886c9f |
Washington (CNN) -- As President Obama is set to take stock of the nation during his State of the Union address Tuesday, a civil engineers group gives the U.S. transportation system low grades. For example, the nation's bridges. Most of us don't think much about bridges until one we need is closed or is damaged or collapses, as the I-35W one did in Minneapolis in 2007, killing 13 people. Yet engineers all over the country who really know about such things say we ought to be thinking about bridges a lot more. And here is something we should consider: One in four of our bridges is either in need of repair or obsolete in terms of handling modern traffic and loads. That startling fact comes from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which every few years consults with dozens of the nation's experts on all sorts of infrastructure matters. The society gives U.S. bridges a grade of C. And bridges aren't the only problem in what we could call the State of the Union's Infrastructure. Roads, airports, water supplies, railways, dams, schools and on and on it goes; all are, according to the engineers' latest report in 2009, in pretty dire shape. The amount of air travel in the U.S. increased by 7% last year, but an overhaul of the air travel infrastructure is long overdue, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The group gave the nation's aviation system a grade of D. Compared with trucks, railways are much more efficient for moving goods: using about 20% less energy per mile if used properly. But comparatively little has been invested in expanding U.S. railroad capacity. Rail gets a C minus. What is the state of your community? Tell us . Consider this: Although a steady drinking water supply is crucial to even the most basic success, water systems nationwide are so old and decrepit that the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates 7 billion gallons of drinking water are being lost through leaky pipes every day. How can America save crumbling water delivery systems? Inland shipping along canals and rivers keeps millions of American homes warm with coal and families fed with grains such as wheat and corn. But locks on canals and rivers, which were made to last only 50 years, are now on average 60 years old. Navigable waterways get a D minus from the civil engineers. See details of the ASCE report card . Public transit use grew 25 percent in the past 10 years, and yet fully half of all Americans have no access to commuter buses or trains; many more have sketchy access at best. You get the picture. However, it may be a little harder to see the multiplying effect. Experts at the American Society of Civil Engineers point out that for each year that these infrastructure problems are not addressed, they grow exponentially worse. It's kind of like a leak in the roof. It may be painful to pay for new shingles when the leak is small, but if you wait until it expands and soaks the walls and floors below, the damage and cost will be much, much harder to bear. In recent years, many politicians have started talking much more seriously about infrastructure problems, but when faced with a stumbling economy, they are finding it harder than ever before to lean into big-ticket repairs. After all, until the day comes that a bridge falls down, it often looks just fine. The problem is, no one really knows which day that will be. | Society of civil engineers gives U.S. low grades for transportation infrastructure . Air travel infrastructure overhaul is long overdue, while traffic increased by 7% last year . Half of all Americans have no access to commuter buses or trains . The longer these problems go unaddressed, the worse they grow . | 0d7d6ee50b07bd0dfbd994202aba70e01d62f628 |
By . Ruth Styles . With David Gandy, Daisy Lowe and Laura Whitmore all on hand to celebrate, the Rodial Beautiful Awards boasted one of the most glamorous guest lists of the year so far. Others joining the celebrations at the St Martin's Lane Hotel included designer Julien MacDonald, seemingly intent on starting a new trend for man clutches, and the ever-glamorous Kelly Hoppen. And if that wasn't enough, Team Femail was there to collect an award for Most Addictive Website. Here's the lowdown from MailOnline's big night. Scroll down for video . Thrilled: Daisy Lowe, Laura Jackson, Jameela Jamil and Pixie Lott pose with Laura Whitmore and their awards . #winning: Team Femail's Deborah Arthurs with Maria Hatzistefanis and snuggling up with David Gandy (right) THE GUESTLIST . A veritable who's who of London's most stylish, guests included the gorgeous David Gandy (who happily posed for a photo with an even happier Team Femail), presenter Laura Whitmore and model Jodie Kidd. Joining them was Maria Hatzistefanis, the brains behind Rodial and its sister brand Nip+Fab, Femail's favourite designer Julien MacDonald and Jo Wood. Outside the hotel, the assembled paps were thrilled when Daisy Lowe, Donna Air and Pixie Lott sashayed in, each looking thoroughly glamorous. Favourite people: Julien MacDonald with the very beautiful Camilla Rutherford and Dominic Burns . Looking good: Daisy Lowe and Pixie Lott triumphed in the Woman of the Year and Most Stylish categories . THE DRINKS . Lychee and champagne cocktails got the party off to a good start, while wine and plenty of mineral water (it was a school night!) kept spirits up during the ceremony. At supper, guests tucked into healthy chicken and coconut rice steamed in a banana leaf followed by fruit salad topped with moreish banana sorbet. THE AWARD . Established by Maria Hatzistefanis in 2010, the Rodial Beautiful Awards were set up to celebrate women of beauty, style and elegance. Winners on the night included Daisy Lowe who took home the Woman of the Year gong and Pixie Lott who looked thrilled to be handed the Most Stylish Award. Stylish: Neither got a prize but both Donna Air and Laura Whitmore looked fabulous on the night . Best of friends: Camilla Rutherford and Jodie Kidd, the presenter of Team Femail's prize, at the awards . But no-one was quite so thrilled as Team Femail who took the trophy for Most Addictive Site (currently occupying pride of place at Daily Mail HQ), which was presented by Jodie Kidd. Talking about why MailOnline deserved the trophy, the model said: 'This award is being given to the best online title whose global audience reflects their strength in journalism and the break neck speed in which they work. '[It is] followed by all Rodial customers and employees, and be warned: It is highly addictive.' Other winners included Jameela Jamil was presented with The Edgy look Award by Ronnie Wood’s ex Jo, who looked stunning in a sheer top with tuxedo style jacket. Olivia Grant, who stood out in her lace red dress, took home the award for Vital Beauty, while Man Of The Year went to slightly bewildered David Gandy. Other awards went to Nadine Baggot, who won Beauty Editor Of The Year and the Sunday Times' Style magazine, which sent the very lovely Edwina Ings-Chambers to pick up their trophy for Most Influential Page award. Amanda Grossman took home the Best Make Up Artist gong, Grazia received Best Beauty News and Best Beauty Feature was awarded to InStyle. Glamorous: Kelly Hoppen wowed in a green lace dress while Jameela Jamil was gorgeous in cream . Nerves: Femail's Deborah overcomes her stage fright and steps up to receive the award from Jodie Kidd . Winners: Team Femail's Martha Cliff, Deborah Arthurs, Ruth Styles (slightly overwhelmed) and Bianca London . The prize: Your favourite online haunt, MailOnline, took home the award for Most Addictive Website . | Team Femail were on hand to pick up the award for Most Addictive Website . Jameela Jamil, Daisy Lowe, Jodie Kidd and Pixie Lott were also winners . Guests at the event included David Gandy, Donna Air and Kelly Hoppen . | 53f1d0cfc9f724700999644b3634290e204c382e |
By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 11:52 EST, 13 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:00 EST, 13 October 2013 . Are you frequently left hunting through your handbag for a pen only to come up empty-handed? Not for much longer if the inventor of the Jackpen has his way. Enraged after being unable to find a pen for the umpteenth time, inventor Andrew Jewson came up with the novel idea of shrinking a ballpoint pen to the size of a headphone jack. The tiny result can be slipped into your smartphone, which, Jewson hopes, will mean no one will ever be left scrabbling for a pen again. Clever: The ballpoint pen has been shrunk to 20mm and slots into the headphone jack on a smartphone . Jewson, 50, from Oxfordshire, says that the 20mm gadget has been designed to slot nib side into smartphones as well as the reverse to ensure no ink leaks into your pocket or your handbag. He added: 'The small size and critical tolerances . have meant many different prototypes were built, tried and tested. 'The . ink is viscous ballpoint ink to ensure against leakage, and it maximises . writing capacity equivalent to drawing a line 30 metres long. 'The . ink reservoir runs the entire length of the pen, with a small hole at . the end for breathing.' Tidy: The Jackpen is designed to slot both ways into the jack so you don't end up with an inky bag or pockets . Inventive: Creator Andrew Jewson, 50, hopes that the Jackpen will put an end to being caught without a pen . The pen, which can be bought from Fenwicks or from service station branches of WH Smith, costs £3.99 for a pack of three. 'I found the whole process of inventing the . Jackpen exciting, but not without it’s frustrations,' added Jewson. 'I’ve invested a . shed-load of energy, time and money, it’s been a real journey.' | The Jackpen is the creation of inventor Andrew Jewson, 50 . He was fed up with being unable to find a pen when he needed . The 20mm device slots into the headphone jack on smartphones . | 6228ba8eca4aabec91f4f01af3ce32472c6da30e |
There will be a new emphasis on spelling and grammar, and history lessons will focus on the story of Britain . After six weeks of summer holidays, children can find it quite a shock to be back at school. But when term resumes this week, it may be even tougher than usual. For the country is about to undergo the biggest education shake-up in a decade with a new, tougher national curriculum. And further changes are planned, with Education Secretary Nicky Morgan saying the Conservatives will pledge at the next election to make every pupil study five core academic subjects until they are 16. Scroll down for video . Education Secretary Nicky Morgan saying the Conservatives will pledge at the next election to make every pupil study five core academic subjects until they are 16 . Under the new curriculum, children aged five will have to recite poetry by heart, 11-year-olds will sit maths exams without calculators and teenagers will study at least two Shakespeare plays. Computer programming will be taught from five to 14, and foreign languages will be made compulsory at primary school. There will be a new emphasis on spelling and grammar, and history will focus on the story of Britain. The more traditional curriculum is the culmination of a four-year campaign started by Michael Gove. His successor Mrs Morgan has pledged to continue the drive. But many parents have been left in the dark and teachers say they are not ready to teach the material. Two-thirds of parents are totally unaware of the changes, a survey of 1,000 by the tuition firm Explore Learning found. And six out of ten teachers say their schools are not prepared, a poll by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers showed. The curriculum was finalised last September – which eight out of ten teachers said left too little time to make changes. In the survey of 618 teachers, nine out of ten labelled the Department for Education’s approach ‘chaotic’ or ‘flawed’. Nansi Ellis, of the ATL, said: ‘The Government has rushed through the biggest change to the national curriculum in a decade. ‘Children . . . face an uncertain time as their teachers are still trying to make sense of the new curriculum. It is extremely unfair to jeopardise young people’s education through what seems to be national mismanagement of change.’ Carey Ann Dodah, of Explore Learning, said: ‘The curriculum is a response to fears that England is slipping behind international competitors and there are some drastic changes.’ Meanwhile, Mrs Morgan said the Tories will press for more reforms if they win the election. She laid out plans yesterday for all pupils to study GCSE English, maths, science, one language and either history or geography. Schools that do not teach the five subjects – which together make up an ‘English baccalaureate’ – will not be eligible for a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted, she said. ‘We want students to be able to keep their options open for as long as possible,’ Mrs Morgan added. She said that while students in wealthy areas already learn these subjects, ‘that is not always happening in less advantaged areas’. A Department for Education spokesman said teachers had time to prepare for the changes, adding: ‘We will not stand by and allow pupils to lose ground with peers in countries across the world.’ | Every pupil will study five core academic subjects until they are 16 . It is the culmination of a four-year campaign started by Michael Gove . There will be a new emphasis on spelling and grammar, and history lessons will focus on the story of Britain . | 407176cf6e708827ea0baf5ff350e749a560141b |
(CNN) -- Civil rights activist Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who with her husband, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, participated in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march in Alabama, died Thursday morning at her Atlanta home, a family spokeswoman said. She was 88. She suffered a stroke last week, and on Wednesday returned home from a hospital after medical personnel decided "there was nothing more medically that they could do," the Lowery family said in a statement released Thursday. "My beloved Evelyn was a special woman, whose life was committed to service, especially around the issues of empowering women," Joseph Lowery said. "She was a wonderful mother and wife and I thank God that she didn't suffer any pain and that I was blessed having her as my partner, my confidante and my best friend for close to 70 years. "I will miss her each and every day, but as a man of faith, I know that she is with her God. My entire family has been overwhelmed by the continuous outpourings of love, support and prayers that have come from across the country and we ask for your continued prayers over the next few days." Pioneers of the civil rights movement . The Lowerys' participation in the Selma-to-Montgomery march supporting African-Americans' right to vote was just one aspect of the couple's historic lives. They were among the pioneers of the American civil rights movement from its beginnings in the 1950s. Joseph Lowery -- sometimes referred to as the "dean of the civil rights movement" -- was a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the civil rights group formed in 1957. Martin Luther King Jr. was the first president of the group. Evelyn Lowery was the founder of SCLC's sister organization -- SCLC/Women's Organizational Movement for Equality Now Inc., found in 1979. The purpose of the group, according to a bio on her group's website, is to "champion the rights of women, children, families, and responding to the problems of the disenfranchised regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or religion." In the 1980s, she founded several prominent programs, according to the profile. One is the Drum Major for Justice Awards Dinner, which honors people who made contributions in the arena of social justice. Another is The Evelyn G. Lowery Civil Rights Heritage Tour that honors icons of the civil rights movement. She is responsible for the establishment of monuments honoring those icons. She founded the Women's Empowerment Training Center for GED/computer training in 1988 and a mentoring program for girls in1995. Lowery was the daughter of a clergyman in Memphis, Tennessee, who served in the local NAACP. "Young Evelyn's eyes were exposed to the injustices (in) society, and before the age of eighteen, she committed herself to working towards making those conditions better," the website bio said. People we've lost in 2013 . CNN's Tenisha Bell and Jason Hanna contributed to this report. | Evelyn Lowery died at her Atlanta home Thursday . She formed a sister group to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference . She and her husband participated in the Selma-to-Montgomery march . | ed58a158f7fe2dd595a02e91e6892b8dc8c015f5 |
(CNN) -- Australian novelist Julia Leigh's first film as writer-director was inspired by a dream she had. Or maybe it was a nightmare? Judging by the movie, it could have been a bit of both. Emily Browning -- the doll-like child actress from "Lemony Snicket" who graduated to the status of action-babe in "Sucker Punch" earlier this year -- plays Lucy, a college student who takes on a series of menial jobs over the course of the film, including waitress, lab rat, secretary and sex toy. In the brilliantly creepy first scene, she somehow refrains from retching as a lab researcher threads several feet of tubing down her throat. It's a strong indication that whatever else, Lucy has the willpower to dissociate mind from body -- to mentally switch off. This remains her defining characteristic throughout: a kind of abstention that serves her well in trying circumstances, but which also makes Lucy a frustratingly vague, ill-defined personality. With her pale skin and wide eyes, Browning has a particular pre-Raphaelite beauty that's oddly impassive. It's as if she's sleepwalking through the story -- or, perhaps, this is her own erotic/masochistic dream? Interviewed for another position by the immaculately coiffed and polished Clara (a chilly, regal Rachel Blake), Lucy uncomplainingly strips down to her undies for an intimate physical inspection. Clara apparently likes what she sees, and next thing you know Lucy is serving champagne to a dinner table of aristocrats who get their kicks by ignoring the near-naked servants. This proves to be something of an audition for a better-paid gig at Clara's country mansion, where rich old men pay handsomely for a night with a beautiful young girl. House rules permit anything short of actual penetration or physical harm. Meanwhile the girl is so heavily drugged she sleeps through the entire experience. Where's the fun in that, you might think? Is Leigh delving into the murky waters of female sexuality, or making a political point about exploitation and prostitution? Again, the movie seems to want to do both, though it doesn't go far enough down either route to reach any firm conclusions. Sticking with a mostly static camera and lengthy takes, Leigh seems to be shooting for the kind of slow, somber surrealism of Luis Bunuel's foray into similar subject matter, "Belle de Jour". But she's not that accomplished a director -- not yet, anyway -- and the film sometimes drifts into a stilted somnolence. Scenes of Lucy's everyday life away from work -- bickering with flat-mates, or caring for a dying friend -- fail to shed much light on the character or her motivations, and are shot in the same monotonous rhythm. More effective are the quietly ugly, anti-erotic chamber pieces: the one-sided encounters between the slumbering Lucy and the aging, all-but impotent clients. These scenes are emotionally and visually frank, shedding a hard, cold light on what men want from the opposite sex. In the end, there's enough here to make us see why Leigh felt compelled to turn her dream into a movie, even if this suggestive, frustratingly elusive effort is not an entirely pleasurable experience for the rest of us. | Emily Browning plays Lucy, a college student who takes on a series of menial jobs . Lucy has the willpower to dissociate mind from body -- to mentally switch off . "Sleeping Beauty" doesn't go far enough down either route to reach any firm conclusions . | 4cc6321c48ebaf13c62c058c934980ec9e6d1741 |
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