id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 48
15.9k
| highlights
stringlengths 14
7.39k
|
|---|---|---|
0794224a218333bb04ab2415f438556c30de991a
|
Los Angeles (CNN) -- His father, Ryan O'Neal, and sister Tatum O'Neal sat behind Redmond O'Neal in court Thursday as he entered a not guilty plea to charges he possessed heroin and an illegal handgun. The Los Angeles judge denied bond for the 26-year-old son of Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal. Redmond O'Neal was still on probation for drug convictions when he was arrested in Santa Monica, California, Tuesday morning. "Redmond O'Neal remains cautiously optimistic that all these matters can be favorably resolved so that Mr. O'Neal can receive opportunity for additional treatment," his lawyer Richard Pintal told CNN after Thursday's arraignment. If convicted on the charges of felony possession of heroin and felon with a handgun, he could be sentenced to up to three years, eight months in prison, the Los Angeles County district attorney said. He could also get additional time for violating his probation. He was on probation for a 2009 drug conviction when police stopped his car for a traffic violation Tuesday morning. The officers found heroin when they searched his car with O'Neal's consent, the prosecutor said. A later search of O'Neal's apartment revealed a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, the prosecutor said. He is scheduled to return to court on August 24. O'Neal was released a year ago from a Pasadena, California, sober living facility where he was undergoing court-ordered drug rehab. Ryan O'Neal, Redmond O'Neal and half-sister Tatum O'Neal sat together for an interview on June 25, 2010, the first anniversary of Fawcett's death. Redmond O'Neal was on a day pass from the rehab center so he could visit his mother's grave for the first time. The three O'Neals were near tears as they spoke to CNN during a private gathering of friends and family at the Beverly Hills, California, headquarters of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation. "Redmond is extremely well," Ryan O'Neal said. "He is recovering from a terrible disease. He seems to have cured himself. We are thrilled about that. And that's why he's here, because they let him." "To show my face and let everybody know that I'm doing good, you know," Redmond O'Neal said. "You can't hide forever." "And how handsome he is and how much he looks like Farrah," Tatum O'Neal said. "And how proud she would be and how lucky I am that I can at least be here, because he's so awesome. Oh, I'm going to cry." CNN's Selin Darkalstanian contributed to this report.
|
A judge refused bond for Redmond O'Neal at Thursday's arraignment .
O'Neal's felony record makes it illegal for him to have a gun .
If convicted on the heroin and gun charge, O'Neal could get 3 years, 8 months in prison .
He was arrested after a traffic stop in Santa Monica, California, Tuesday .
|
0794af2d760b71c79e1c6e33fd0c076a3c2b0221
|
Rocketing global rates of stroke among the young and middle-aged are a ‘wake-up call’, say British experts. In the past 20 years the number of strokes afflicting people aged 20 to 64 have jumped by a quarter, an international study shows. Strokes in this age group now make up 31 per cent of the worldwide total, compared with 25 per cent before 1990. Warning: The number of strokes in the past 20 years have jumped by a quarter . Although the rate of strokes among older people is declining in the UK, Britons are still more likely to die from stroke than someone living in France, Germany and the US. In the poorest areas of the UK the number of people dying from stroke is around three times higher than in the least economically deprived. Jon Barrick, chief executive of the Stroke Association, called the study a ‘wake-up call to governments across the globe’. Poor lifestyles, increasing sedentary habits, obesity and diabetes threatened to eradicate advances made in Britain in recent years, he warned. Figures from King’s College London earlier this month revealed a 40 per cent fall in stroke rates among elderly people since the mid-1990s. Experts said the drop was due to better treatment of high blood pressure and cholesterol. But rates remain high for people aged 45 and under, and those of black Caribbean and African origin, and a drop in the total number of strokes is unlikely because more people are living longer. The latest findings, published in The Lancet medical journal, form part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, looking at major diseases and causes of ill health in 50 countries. The results reveal stark differences between rich and poor. Relentless: BBC presenter Andrew Marr, 54, suffered a stroke, which he blamed on his relentless schedule . Strokes were linked to 46 per cent more disability and illness and 42 per cent more deaths in poorer countries than in richer ones between 1990 and 2010. In rich countries, stroke rates fell 12 per cent over the two decades. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and unhealthy diet were thought to play a role in increasing stroke rates in low-to-middle income countries. Professor Valery Feigin of New Zealand’s National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences said: ‘The worldwide stroke burden is growing very fast and there is now an urgent need for culturally acceptable and affordable stroke prevention, management and rehabilitation strategies to be developed and implemented worldwide.’ Each year around 152,000 strokes occur in the UK, costing the NHS an estimated £3.7billion, and there are over a million Britons living with the effects of stroke. In January, BBC presenter Andrew Marr, 54, suffered a stroke, which he blamed on his relentless schedule. Mr Barrick said at least half of strokes could be prevented by simple lifestyle changes, such as taking more exercise. ‘The report reveals a shocking disparity between rich and poor, where death rates from stroke are up to ten times higher in lower income countries,’ he said. ‘Closer to home, within the UK, the number of people dying from stroke is around three times higher in the most economically deprived areas, compared to the least deprived. ‘Stroke survivors often face a black hole when discharged from hospital, with one in five in the UK receiving no support from services to help them recover. ‘This is a stark warning. We urgently need to address this global stroke crisis by prioritising stroke prevention and investment into stroke research.’ A second study published in The Lancet Global Health showed that in 2010, three-fifths of the global disability and more than half of deaths due to stroke were from bleeding in the brain. This type of stroke, known as a haemorrhagic stroke, is deadlier than more common ischaemic strokes that cut blood supply to the brain.
|
People aged 20 to 64 suffering strokes jumped by a quarter .
Britons more likely to die from stroke than someone living in France, Germany and US .
Smoking, high blood pressure and unhealthy diet increases risk .
|
0797efbc9860fc3b8634820c8a736cc1039f672b
|
By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 05:18 EST, 7 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:01 EST, 7 February 2013 . A south African man has become the first person in the world to be convicted of killing a great white shark after he hooked one while fishing from the shore. Leon Bekker, of George, Western Cape, . pleaded guilty to contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act which . includes attempting to kill, disturb or be in possession of a white . shark without a permit. Bekker pointed out that he had no . idea at first that he'd hooked a great white shark but he pleaded guilty so . as not to waste the court's time. Catch: Fisherman Leon Bekker poses with the great white shark he caught off the South African coast . But in a landmark decision Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court handed him a fine of R120,000 (£8,550) or a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for five years. The unprecedented case is the only great white shark conviction in a South African court to date - the first country to impose legislation in protecting great white sharks. Great white sharks have been protected . in South African waters since 1991 and no person is permitted to catch . them, or even to attempt to catch them. Penalty: In a landmark ruling, Bekker was fined £8,500 under the Marine Living Resources Act . But for years anglers who landed the sharks were able to successfully argue that they had not been targeting great whites. Environmentalists believe the ruling . sets a new precedent in that anyone using heavy-duty fishing tackle in . an area where white sharks are known to inhabit is effectively . breaking the law. Shark scientist Ryan Johnson, who appeared as an expert witness in the case, welcomed the verdict. He told the Cape Times: 'A lot of law . enforcement officers were reluctant to prosecute because they knew it . was difficult to prove the anglers had targeted white sharks. 'This prosecutor analysed the law and . said as anglers fishing with heavy equipment in an area known for white . sharks, they would have a reasonable expectation of catching great . white sharks, and so just by fishing with that equipment in that area . they are in effect breaking the law.' Photographs of Bekker giving a . thumbs-up sign after hauling the shark onto the rocks, sparked an angry . outcry after they were published in the paper two years ago. However photographs of anglers posing with dead great whites are not uncommon and there is an on-going illegal trade in great white shark body parts such as jaws, which fetch a very high price. Department of Agriculture, Forestry . and Fisheries spokesman Lionel Adendorf said: 'This is the first great . white shark case and conviction in any South African court. We are . certain that the sentence will serve as a deterrent.' Bekker pleaded guilty saying he did not want to waste the court's time but pointed out he had no idea he'd hooked a great white shark at the time . Although great white sharks have been protected in South Africa since 1991, there is evidence to suggest that they continue to be targeted by recreational fisherman as a trophy species . The World Wildlife Fund welcomed the . ruling. Spokesman Dr Eleanor Yeld Hutchings said: 'This is the first . legal case, and conviction, around the catching of a white shark in . South Africa. 'For . authorities to take such clear action is an excellent indication of . their commitment to upholding protected species status.' The not inconsiderable sentencing of Leon Bekker will hopefully be a deterrent to these practices in South Africa. As far as I am aware, this is also a world first in terms of prosecution for harming a white shark.' The great white was caught on the shore near the city of Geroge on South Africa's Cape . Anger: Photographs of Bekker hauling the shark onto the rocks, sparked an outcry in South Africa after they were published two years ago . No person is allowed to trade in, or have possession of any parts of a white shark, even their teeth, without a permit. In Australia, while Great White . Sharks are also protected species in Australian waters, legislators have . recently approved a plan to kill sharks that venture too close to . people in the water. There . were five fatal shark attacks in Western Australia in the past year, . with many residents calling for a more aggressive shark management . plan. South Africa sees it's fair share of great white attacks. one particular hotspot is Capetown's Fish Hoek beach which has seen three attacks in the last eight years. Hot spot: Capetown's Fish Hoek beach has seen three attacks in the last eight years . In September last year, British tourist Michael Cohen was attacked with a . shark biting off his right leg above the knee and part of his left leg. That followed two fatal attacks including that of Zimbabwean tourist Lloyd Skinner who was pulled undewater and dragged out to sea in 2010. Only his diving goggles were found. And in November 2004, a 77-year-old Tyna Webb, was attacked and killed by a shark while doing the backstroke. City officials are now considering installing a 355-metre long net across a stretch of the beach to create a safe swimming area.
|
Leon Bekker was fishing from the shore using heavy duty tackle .
He was fined £8,500 under the Marine Living Resources Act .
|
07987aee9b16de082b3fcf26e413272173a57c95
|
(CNN) -- For about a week, the nation's Catholic bishops enjoyed some measure of their bygone political clout. The bishops launched a vigorous grassroots campaign to protest a rule from the Obama administration's health care mandate that would force many Catholic institutions to cover birth control through their employee health plans. Catholic churchgoers have seen such campaigns attempted before, with bishops issuing stinging denunciations that are repeated in church publications and in letters read to parishioners at every Mass. But this time, to the surprise of many, the bishops' effort seemed to work. President Barack Obama quickly modified the rule. He didn't satisfy the bishops -- but still, the clergymen had upset the political calculus that they no longer affect Catholic voters. The bishops were able to wield influence because their message against the contraception mandate was framed in a way that appealed to a broad spectrum of Catholics. For moderates and liberals, there were calls to freedom and conscience, rather than blunt declarations to heed ecclesial authority. For conservatives, there was the opportunity to circle the wagons against secularism. But if the bishops insist on coming across as shrill and partisan, as some are wont to do, they'll wind up once again preaching to half the choir. Moderate and liberal Catholics won't stand behind the bishops if they perceive a partisan position. And it won't take much to trigger that reaction because certain bishops were transparently opposed to Obama during the 2008 election campaign, and many more of them later maligned the University of Notre Dame for granting the president an honorary degree. I noticed a letter to the editor in the diocesan newspaper in Brooklyn, where I live, that captures the unease I believe a good number of Catholics feel. The writer said she understood the church's position on the birth-control mandate, but she practically pleaded with the editor, who had accused the Obama administration of pushing socialism, to take a less polarizing tone. If the bishops really want to gain back some of the clout they used to hold, they would do well to consider the community organizing tactics that their own parishes have adopted in many poor urban neighborhoods. It is an approach that relies heavily on building consensus. Guided by the writings of Saul Alinsky, coalitions of houses of worship have organized around specific issues, such as a plan to build low-cost housing. The community organizers' first step was to secure the enthusiastic support of parishioners, demonstrated through massive rallies. Once pastors really do speak for their people, they are then in a position to demand that elected officials of whatever party support their agenda. Obama once was a community organizer for just such a church-funded coalition, working from a Catholic rectory on Chicago's South Side. Like the Chicago politicians he encountered as a young man, Obama knows that a church's grassroots campaign is only as effective as it is unified. I'm not sure how many bishops know that. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter . Join the conversation on Facebook . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Moses.
|
Catholic bishops forced president to compromise on health care mandate .
Paul Moses: The bishops' campaign worked because their message had a broad appeal .
He says that if bishops become shrill and partisan, they will lose influence .
Moses: If bishops want to gain back clout, they should learn from community organizing .
|
0798d2923448b2ef246d0984d3f3f1426df463c2
|
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 14:40 EST, 13 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:23 EST, 13 November 2013 . A vulnerable woman who was left without heating in her council-run supported accommodation was found dead, wrapped in a duvet after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning as she desperately tried to keep warm. Irene Simpson, 59, was discovered at her home in Wigston, Leicester, by her son-in-law, Andrew Athill, huddled in a duvet and clutching a hot water bottle next to a camping stove-style heater last December. She had also been burning charcoal in a metal bowl on the hob of her cooker in a bid to keep warm more than six months after her heating broke down. Irene Simpson had also been burning charcoal in a metal bowl on the hob of her cooker in a bid to keep warm . An inquest at Leicester Town Hall today heard that Ms Simpson, who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition and mental health issues, had not had central heating or hot water in her home since May 2012. Her heating broke down when council maintenance workers had turned off and condemned a faulty combination boiler at her premises. HM Coroner for Leicester, Catherine Mason, heard how the divorced grandmother-of-three had been moved by the local council from an independent living ground floor flat, into a supported housing bungalow. But when her worried family couldn’t get hold of her, on December 4 last year, they broke into her house using a crow bar - and found her dead, fully clothed and clutching a hot water bottle. It was only when toxicology tests, taken during the post mortem, revealed that carbon monoxide was a factor in Ms Simpson’s death that questions arose regarding gas safety checks carried out at the property. The family discovered the bungalow’s combination boiler had been condemned and had been turned off back in May. She had not had central heating or hot water in her home since May 2012 when council maintenance workers had turned off and condemned a faulty combination boiler at her premises . The inquest heard that the grandmother had not told her daughters, Stephanie Wakeling and Lisa Simpson, that she was living without any heating -and had made excuses for her daughters not to visit her at home. In a statement, son-in-law Andrew, who found her body, told the inquest: 'Irene’s two dogs were very aggressive when I entered the property, but as soon as I saw her I knew she was dead.' The inquest was told by a pathologist that the 59-year-old had died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning - but because of her existing heart condition, she succumbed to the poison more quickly than the average person would have. However, it has not yet been determined whether the carbon monoxide came from the gas heater or from the charcoal which had been burned on the cooker. Sally Lowe, housing officer from Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, was visibly distressed when she told the inquest that during a visit in August, Ms Simpson had told housing officers that she didn’t want any heating. She said: 'Irene wouldn’t engage with anyone in any way. 'She was a very difficult tenant, and any time we wanted to enter her property, we needed to get a police officer. A housing officer from Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, told the inquest that during a visit in August, Ms Simpson had told housing officers that she didn't want any heating . 'When we asked her about the boiler, Irene said that she didn’t want the heating, she said she’d have it in the winter when it got colder, but she didn’t want it.' Jay Stemp, the council’s property manager, admitted that the council had left Ms Simpson waiting for three months over the summer before making any attempt to fix her boiler. He said: 'Normally, a broken boiler would have been fixed within one or two days. 'In this case, for some reason, the problem wasn’t logged at the time when it should have been. 'The cooker and the gas fire in her property were still working, it was just her boiler. 'Calor gas fuelled heating is very common in properties, but I’ve never seen charcoal being burned. It’s very dangerous.' Council officials admitted that it took three month before they even attempted to access the property to fix the boiler. Coroner Catherine Mason said: 'It is very clear that what has happened should not have happened. 'There was a failure in communication. 'However, throughout the period, Irene maintained her independence, and could have asked for help.' She adjourned the inquest until December 2. Tony Hannington, a partner with Lime solicitors, who is representing Mrs Simpson’s family, commented: 'We are grateful to the coroner for investigating Irene’s tragic and untimely death. 'They still have many questions regarding their mother’s death, and we await the coroner’s verdict next month.'
|
Irene Simpson was discovered at her home by her son-in-law Andrew Athill .
Found huddled in duvet and clutching hot water bottle next to a camping stove-style heater .
Had also been burning charcoal in a metal bowl on the hob of her cooker .
Heating had broken down more than six months ago .
|
0799df9a1b167800a1bdb9e9965c99478f6acf8f
|
A celebrity psychic who was a confidante of Michael Jackson has died after apparently predicting her own death. Jillian Lane moved from Wales to Los Angeles to become a clairvoyant to the stars, most famously holding consultations with Jackson when he was the world's biggest pop star. But she has now died from liver disease, after telling friends she knew that her death was imminent when she was first taken ill. Psychic: Jillian Lane, a clairvoyant used by Michael Jackson, has died of liver disease aged 53 . Ominous: Ms Lane apparently predicted that she would die after falling ill earlier this year . Ms Lane, 53, met Jackson when he was performing in London in 1997 and phoned a psychic helpline looking for insight into his future. She gained the trust of the singer, and he began flying her from Britain to Beverly Hills for private consultations. After the psychic settled in Los Angeles permanently, she claimed to be the number one celebrity clairvoyant in the star-studded city. Earlier this year she fell ill with liver disease - and she claimed to know that she would not survive the illness. After six weeks in an LA hospital, she asked to be flown home to Britain, and died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Close: Ms Lane met Jackson when he was performing in London and called a psychic hotline . Mystic: Ms Lane claimed to have a number of spirit guides who gave her mysterious powers . 'It is tragic,' said close friend Suzanne Yessayan. 'She had predicted her own passing and on this occasion, I hoped her prediction was wrong. 'She was a very giving, caring person. She kept her mind open and her heart open. She had style, grace and charm. 'Working with Michael Jackson was her crowning glory.' In an interview shortly after Jackson's death, Ms Lane revealed details of her sessions with the star.'He'd just sit there telling me just how stressed out he was,' she said. 'Michael was a very sensitive guy and would hate what was usually written about him, especially around the time of his trial for child abuse in 2005. Glamorous: Ms Lane lived in Los Angeles where she claimed to be the number one celebrity psychic . 'The last time we met was sitting in my white Mercedes pouring his heart out, it was very sad. I really felt for him. 'The one thing he seemed to lack was the one thing money couldn't buy - genuine friendship. 'There are a lot of people out there who constantly tried to extort money off Michael, so much so he had to watch whose company he kept. 'I was never financially reimbursed for providing him with any of my services. He'd buy me plenty of gifts though - one time it was a beautiful diamond ring, the next time he'd send a huge bunch of flowers.' Ms Lane claimed to have a number of spirit guides, including a Scottish medic called Dr Mackintosh who apparently gave her healing powers. Her funeral is taking place today in her hometown of Barry, South Wales, with Dr Yessayan reading the eulogy.
|
Jillian Lane moved from Wales to LA after becoming close to Jackson .
She fell ill this year and told friends she knew she would not survive .
|
079ade1ce0859ab700ea33f0cc721093fcc6e383
|
A Lithuanian man who squirted three neighbours in the face with CS spray for playing loud music insisted such behaviour was ‘normal’ in his home country. Arunas Kastentinavicius, 26, approached the two women and one man in Hanley, Staffordshire, to complain about the volume of their music. They agreed to turn it down, but he returned to their door an hour later to make the same demand. The father-of-one said he used the gas because he ‘didn’t want to hit a woman’. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (pictured) heard how the man sprayed the two women and man in the face with gas after asking them to turn their music down . Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the three victims suffered burning and choking sensations and one of the women was taken to hospital. Kastentinavicius pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and to three charges of assault. Heather Chamberlin, prosecuting, said he defended his actions, telling police it was ‘normal’ behaviour in his home country. ‘Kastentinavicius said he knocked on the door and the women were shouting at him, so he sprayed them with CS spray. It is normal in Lithuania,’ she said. The man said he did not know the gas was illegal in the UK (file image) ‘The cylinder … had an 11 per cent harmful content, as opposed to spray used by police which has 5 per cent … He had asked his mother to send the spray over from Lithuania. 'He didn’t realise it was illegal.’ Kastentinavicius was given a six-month suspended sentence with 100 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay each victim £200. Kevin Moorlock, defending, told the court: 'The victims still live in the same block of flats and there has been no further incidents. 'He has one son. He had worked a long day and became emotional. 'In terms of the pepper spray, he says the cannister is available to buy in normal stores in Lithuania. 'It is recognised as forbidden in Germany, but he didn’t think to research if it was banned here. He has learned a harsh lesson.' Sentencing him, Judge David Mason said: 'This was a very unpleasant incident. 'You went to the door of these three people and deliberately sprayed in their faces, causing a very unpleasant injury.'
|
Arunas Kastentinavicius sprayed two women and man in face with gas .
Lithuanian had gone to complain about the loudness of their music .
Told a judge it was 'normal' in his country and he didn't want to hit a woman .
|
079beca4087a161e9707d587795f661841a8c423
|
(CNN) -- Aerosmith announced the cancellation of the remainder of its summer tour Thursday, more than a week after the band's lead singer tumbled off stage in South Dakota. Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler fell off stage August 5 while dancing to "Love in an Elevator." "Due to injuries Steven Tyler sustained last week when he fell from the stage during a concert in Sturgis, South Dakota, doctors have advised the lead singer to take the time to properly recuperate from the accident that resulted in a broken shoulder and stitches to his head," the band said in a statement. The accident happened August 5 during a concert at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South Dakota. Tyler was dancing during "Love in an Elevator" when he fell. He was airlifted to a local hospital for initial treatment before returning to Boston, Massachusetts, for treatment with his own doctors. "Words can't express the sadness I feel for having to cancel this tour," said guitarist Joe Perry. "We hope we can get the Aerosmith machine up and running again as soon as possible." "We never anticipated this tour coming to such a swift and unfortunate ending," guitarist Brad Whitford said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steven for a speedy recovery and return to good health." Tyler's fall was the second mishap for the lead singer during their tour with ZZ Top. Five shows were postponed in July after Tyler sprained his leg. The band said refunds will be issued for all canceled shows.
|
Lead singer Steven Tyler fell off stage during South Dakota show last week .
He broke his shoulder and received stitches to his head; doctors advise rest .
Fall was second mishap for Tyler during Aerosmith's tour with ZZ Top .
Band says refunds will be issued for all canceled shows .
|
079c508d9d44ba061604ca39a07a64fe7e2b5a54
|
David and Samantha Cameron are looking at a number of state secondary schools for their children . David Cameron and wife Samantha are considering one of London’s best all-girls state secondary schools for daughter Nancy, insisting no one should feel the need to pay for private education. The Prime Minister, who had a privileged schooling at Eton College, confirmed he is set to become the first Conservative prime minister to send a child to a state secondary. ‘We want to, I have always said that. We have been round three or four schools in London and had a good look,’ he said. ‘My daughter has got a very large say in the matter so she is having a think about what she has seen. But there are some good schools to go to.’ The Camerons are understood to have visited Lady Margaret School, an academy in Fulham, west London, which is rated ‘outstanding’ by education watchdog Ofsted. A Church of England school, its former pupils include journalist Janet Street Porter, film director Martha Fiennes and actress Kelly Hunter. It is heavily oversubscribed, with 67 places each year reserved for girls whose parents have attended services at a Church of England church at least fortnightly for a minimum of three years. The other 53 are given to girls of any or no religion. The school, around four miles from Downing Street, also uses ‘banding’ by ability to ensure its intake is genuinely comprehensive, with a quarter of girls taken each year being of above average ability, half average and a quarter below average. The Camerons have sent their children to a nearby Church state primary school in Kensington, which also reserves places for families who are regular churchgoers. The Prime Minister once described his Christian faith as being a ‘bit like the reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns: it sort of comes and goes’. But more recently, he praised the contribution that Christians make to society, referred to Jesus as ‘our saviour’ and spoke of the ‘moments of greatest peace’ that he has experienced attending the Eucharist. Friends say that Mr Cameron has always had a quiet but profound faith that helped him come to terms with the death of his eldest son Ivan. Among schools thought to have been visited by the Camerons is Lady Margaret School in Fulham, west London (pictured) Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha have looked at the Holland Park school in West London - one of the first comprehensives in the UK . Other schools the Camerons are understood to have looked at for 10-year-old Nancy to attend next September include The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England School, an all-girls comprehensive three-quarters of a mile from Downing Street. The Government’s chief whip and former Education Secretary Michael Gove has sent his daughter Beatrice, who attended the same primary as the Cameron children, to the school. Mr Cameron and his wife have also visited Holland Park School – one of the first comprehensives in the UK, where Labour grandees such as the late Tony Benn sent their children. Both schools are described as 'ethnically diverse' and have intakes from some of London's most deprived areas. Mrs Cameron - who was educated at private Marlborough College – is said to have told friends she is keen for Nancy to have a 'normal education'. In an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, the Prime Minister suggested the Government’s education reforms were designed to make private education redundant. ‘If you pay your taxes you shouldn't have to pay all over again. There is no reason why our state schools can't be among the best in the world, and some of them are,’ he said. ‘What is exciting is there this change not only in practice but also in culture which is all about excellence and wanting to be the best and wanting to get the best out of every child, and you are now seeing that in more and more schools. ‘It’s about early intervention, intolerance of failure and getting stuck in. We know what works now; it is changing the leadership, changing the curriculum, better discipline, uniforms. We can have quite a quick effect. The Camerons have looked at The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England School for their 10-year-old daughter Nancy - the school chosen by the former Education Secretary Michael Gove (right) for his daughter Beatrice. Mr Cameron have also visited Holland Park School – where Labour's Hilary Benn was sent . The state schools under consideration are a far cry from the establishments attended by Mr Cameron and his wife. The Prime Minister went to Eton (above) - the most exclusive school in the country . ‘The proof of the pudding is that since 2010 there are a quarter of a million fewer children in failing schools – that is quite a lot of schools. This is recognising that in some areas schools slide into failure and not enough happens quickly enough and that is where the regional schools commissioners who tend to be former expert head teachers can get stuck in. ‘There are endless debates about how you arrange admissions. Should we have lotteries? Should we have selections? In the end, the answer to all these questions is let’s have more good schools. We are introducing more good schools and more good school places through school turnarounds, academies, the free schools. We need that to go further and faster.’ The Prime Minister rejected the suggestion that the Government’s exam reforms, which mean less emphasis in coursework, meant less academic children would lose out. ‘I don’t agree with that. I think all children will benefit because I think all children deserve to have the fundamentals of a good education. I simply do not accept there are some children who can’t get a good qualification in English or Maths,’ he said. 'I say to my own children “there isn’t a job in the world where you don’t need a qualification in English or Maths”. My son said “what about being a footballer?” I said “you still have to read the contract and count the money”.' Samantha Cameron attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire - a private boarding school for girls and boys . Asked how often he sits down with his children and does homework with them, Mr Cameron said: ‘In a week I will do some help, but Samantha plays the leading part, I will admit. 'This morning, I was trying to get one to do guitar practise in one room and the other to do touch typing in the other. They were running me ragged because they know that when I am in charge it is not quite so well organised. ‘I got there in the end, various threats were … Screen time [on tablets] in the Cameron household is severely rationed to try and deliver the effect of homework, but it doesn’t always work.’ Mr Cameron said he was most inspired at school by Michael Kidson, one of his history teachers, now 84. ‘He was brilliant but used teaching methods that you would not necessarily get away with now. He had a wooden block on his desk and if you weren’t concentrating he would fling it across the room at you,’ the Prime Minister said. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan told the magazine she had also chosen a state primary for her son. 'I think you have more good and outstanding [state] schools. The choice is there. My son is at a good, local village school and there was really no question that was where he went after nursery,’ she said. A Number Ten spokesman said: 'As with other parents at this time of year, the Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron are looking at various schools for their daughter to go to next September.'
|
The Prime Minister is looking at secondary schools for daughter Nancy .
Understood to have viewed Church of England school Grey Coat Hospital .
The Prime Minister and his wife have also visited Holland Park School .
|
079d406a75225951e1fb8310885663af6a35d053
|
By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 09:05 EST, 26 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:05 EST, 26 May 2012 . Christine Lagarde also criticised Greek citizens 'who are trying to escape tax,' and said the country needs to make more of an effort . The managing director of the International Monetary Fund says she has more sympathy for poor African children than Greeks suffering under the country's economic problems and austerity measures. Asked whether she worried about the economic and social impact of austerity in the Mediterranean country, Christine Lagarde told the Guardian: 'No, I think more of the little kids from a school in a little village in Niger who get teaching two hours a day, sharing one chair for three of them, and who are very keen to get an education. 'I have them in my mind all the time. Because I think they need even more help than the people in Athens.' Her comments come as the IMF increases the pressure on the Eurozone nation and makes it clear it will not be softening the terms of the nation's austerity package that is deeply unpopular with the country's electorate. Lagarde also criticised Greek citizens 'who are trying to escape tax,' and said the country needs to club together to make more of an effort to solve its economic problems. Greece's tax revenues are currently down by a third in a year and it has been ordered to improve this to help ease the debt. At the moment, its economy is being kept afloat on international loans provided by the European Union and the IMF, along with the harsh austerity package. As part of the loan deal it has been ordered to cut everything from wages to public spending to try and get and get the finances back on track. Lagarde agreed in the interview that in essence that it is 'payback time' for the country. The government that agreed to the loan and austerity package was voted out of office in May. The new parties, who mainly campaigned on anti-austerity platforms, have not been able to form a government and new elections are scheduled for June 17. Protesters hold a Greek flag in front of parliament marking the one year anniversary of Greece's Indignant group in Athens yesterday. IMF chief Christine Lagarde says she has more sympathy for African children . This could speed up the nation's exit from the currency club should a government intent on ripping up the country's bailout programme result, destabilising world markets. Yesterday, Belgium's foreign minister said central banks and companies risk making a grave error if they do not brace themselves for a possible Greek exit from the eurozone. Greece accounts for little more than two per cent of the euro zone economy but could pose a profound contagion threat if it quit the currency area, throwing the spotlight on Portugal, Spain and even Italy. The Stock Exchange in Athens, yesterday. Belgium's foreign minister said central banks and companies risk making a grave error if they do not brace themselves for a possible Greek exit . 'There is no organised discussion at the European level along the lines of: what do we do (if Greece leaves),' Didier Reynders, who is both Belgium's foreign minister and deputy prime minister, told the European American Press Club in Paris. 'Now, if central banks and companies are not preparing for the scenario, that would be a grave professional error.' Spain is in plenty of trouble even disregarding any backwash from Greece. Its wealthiest autonomous region, Catalonia, yesterday said it needed help from the central government because it was running out of options for refinancing debt this year. Spain's trump card had been that it had successfully issued well over half the sovereign debt it needs to in 2012. Civil disorder: As well as the targeting of homes, there has also been violence on the streets of Greece in recent months over the austerity package the previous government signed up to . But after revealing this week that its highly indebted regions faced 36 billion euros of debt refinancing bills this year, way above the previously stated 8 billion, that advantage may have been wiped out. On top of public debt, the country is hobbled by a banking sector overwhelmed by bad debts tied to a property market boom that went bust and still has some way further to fall. Bankia SA, Spain's fourth-biggest bank, on Friday asked for a bailout of 19 billion euros ($24 billion) to repair losses from a property crash - the biggest Spanish bank rescue ever. Spain is nationalising Bankia, which holds some 10 percent of the country's bank deposits. The government insists the bank is a one-off case, but economists say a wider bailout of the sector, either by Madrid or the euro zone, may become necessary. Adding to a miserable day for Spanish investors, Standard & Poor's lowered its ratings on the debt of Bankia and four other Spanish banks and said it was taking a dimmer view of Spain's economy. Markets have been buffeted by the escalating euro zone crisis in recent weeks and face more uncertainty up to the Greek election date, and maybe beyond. The euro plumbed near two-year lows against the U.S. dollar on the back of the Catalonian warning, stocks slipped, and Italian and Spanish borrowing costs rose. 'The Catalonia news was a big deal because it implies that the Spanish government may have to take on more debt and it cannot afford to do so,' said Richard Franulovich, senior currency strategist at Westpac Securities in New York.
|
IMF unwilling to soften terms of its hated austerity package for Greece .
Lagarde criticised Greek citizens who are trying to escape paying tax .
She said Greece must make more of an effort to sort out its finances .
|
079df0b32f87699f7c38cc1c9ec2712a826ad8ae
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:14 EST, 10 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:27 EST, 11 May 2012 . Two in five new mothers have struggled to cope with the demands of parenting during the first few weeks after birth, with a similar amount admitting getting 'angry' with their baby, according to a poll. A further one in five were frequently very upset at their child's crying during the first eight weeks, a survey by the NSPCC has found. Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of new mothers wanted more professional advice before their baby was born, on subjects such as how to deal with anxiety, fear and depression, the effects of their own sleep deprivation and how to cope with their baby's crying and sleeplessness. Struggle: Two in five new mothers have struggled to cope in the weeks following their child's birth, with a similar amount admitting getting 'angry' with their baby (picture posed by model) Two in five of the mothers polled by YouGov on behalf of the charity either find it fairly difficult or very difficult to cope with the demands of looking after their newborn baby. There was also a marked difference between the number of ante-natal classes attended by well-off parents compared with those from a more disadvantaged background. The NSPCC called on the Government to ensure sufficient resources are available to 'provide the services babies and their families need'. Mothers need better support in dealing with the 'emotional turmoil' of looking after a young child, according to Chris Cuthbert, the charity's head of strategy and development for children under one. 'Currently much of the focus of antenatal education is on physical health, such as the choice of pain relief during labour,' he said. The NSPCC study found that women from better backgrounds were more likely to attend antenatal classes . 'However, we want both mothers and fathers to have access to high-quality antenatal education on the practicalities of caring for a baby that prepares parents for the emotional challenges they will face. 'This will help them cope with the impact it will have on their life, their relationships and their own well-being and assist them in being the best parents they can be. 'We appreciate times are tough financially but failing to provide vital support to new mums is a false economy. Damage done at this stage of their lives can prevent them reaching their full potential which also has a knock-on effect on society as a whole. 'Babies who are not well cared for are more likely to struggle at school and to have behavioural and relationship problems in later life.' The online poll of 516 women with babies aged under one finds that around three-fifths (57 per cent) 'felt isolated with no one to turn to'. While two-thirds of new mothers from well-off families attended antenatal classes, less than two-fifths of less well-off mums had done so. Siobhan Freegard, founder of the Netmums parenting website, said the first few weeks of a baby's life are vital for their development but 'can turn a mother's life upside down'. 'Lack of sleep, isolation and loneliness and the fear they are not mothering in the right way can combine to make new mums feel distraught,' she said. 'Many women who have been cared for throughout pregnancy can feel abandoned after the initial euphoria of the birth has worn off. But this is often the time they need most support.'
|
NSPCC calls on Government to .
ensure sufficient resources are available to 'provide the services .
babies and their families need'
|
079e81fb34f2c8050e787e04a167906f686a1c1f
|
By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 07:57 EST, 13 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:16 EST, 13 September 2013 . Whether they are leaping off a cliff, dangling over a ravine or scything through a cranberry field at breakneck speed, these daredevils all have one thing in common... they are happy to put their lives on the line in the name of fun. This eye-watering collection of photographs shows just how far the world's most committed adrenaline junkies are prepared to go in their hunt for the ultimate thrill. Taken in a host of exotic locations across the globe, the pictures not only offer an insight into the outer limits of human endeavour, but also provide tantalising snapshots of some the planet's most beautiful locations. They include bouldering in the Indian Himalayas, Surfing in California, highlining in the Austrian Dolomites, ice caving in Argentina and BASE jumping in Utah. Scroll down for video... Castle Valley, Utah: This picture by Krystle Wright shows BASE jumper Michael Tomchek leap into Castle Valley, Utah. The photographer says, 'What continues to drive me is the love and challenge of documenting unique stories and the incredible privilege to share the athletes' stories with a wider audience' Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique: Jody MacDonald took this picture of paraglider Gavin McClurg. She says, 'My fuel, my drive, my being comes from capturing a precious split second in time - a time and place that shows how amazing this planet is' Himalayas, India (left) and Helmcken Falls, Canada (right) : Ray Demski took this picture of boulderer Bernd Zangerl (left). Ray says he's a 'lifelong athlete and action addict'. Meanwhile Christian Pondella took the image on the right of ice climber Tim Emmett. Christian says his goal is to make viewers 'feel they are part of the action' Glaciar Perito Moreno, Patagonia, Argentina: Juan Cruz Rabaglia took this picture of ice caver Leonardo Cuny Proverbio. Juan says, 'I came across the two passions that would inexorably define my future: Patagonia and photography' They are part of Red Bull’s Illume . photo contest, designed to honour photographers who love nothing more . than to put themselves in harms way to get the most exhilarating and . extreme action shots. 'A . lot of the photographers are going to just as extreme lengths as the . athletes,' says Tarquin Cooper, a spokesperson for Red Bull Illume. 'They’re putting themselves in positions where you’re like, "How can you . even think about taking a picture?"' All . together, 6,417 photographers from 124 countries submitted 28,257 . photographs to the 2013 competition. From that, an international team of . 50 judges shortlisted 250 photos, and then picked 50 winners in 10 . different categories plus an overall winner. And here is a selection of the best. Manitowish Waters, WI, United States: Wakeboarder Ben Horan scythes through a flooded cranberry field by Ryan Taylor. Ryan says, 'Focusing on wakeboarding and snowboarding, I strive to create something new and unique every time I shoot' Namotu Island, Fiji: Surfer Sean Woolnough by Stuart Gibson. Stuart says, 'I'm still learning so much in the photo world but I'm also having so much fun doing it! I truly can't think of a better job' Big Banana Falls, Veracruz, Mexico (left) and Lienzer Dolomiten, Austria (right): Canoeist Rafa Ortiz by Lucas Gilman (left) and highliner Florian Ebner by Martin Lugger (right). Martin says, 'For me, photography is all about the right moment. The right angle, nice light conditions and good vibes are the best recipe for top shots!' Are, Sweden: Stunt motorcyclist Fredrik Berggren. Fredrik says, ' 'Eventually I ended up in Are, Sweden's ski and bike capital. This was about two years ago and I've been photographing ever since' Lahinch, Ireland: Freediver Katerina Hamsikova by George Karbus. George says, 'I'm focused on wild marine mammals, the ocean, waves, surf photography and beautifully lit coastal sceneries' Tamokdalen, Norway (left) and Oberiberg, Switzerland (right): To the left, snowboarder Miikka Hast careers down a mountain by Rami Hanafi while, on the right, snowboarder Philipp Schicker performs a trick for Claudio Casanova. Claudio says, 'Taking pictures of my work during my apprenticeship as a cabinet maker developed my passion for photography' Namotu, Fiji: Surfer Ryan Hargrave dives under a wave for photographer Stuart Gibson . Wildkogel, Austria: Motorcyclist Xavier "Sherwy" Pasamonte by Florian Breitenberger. Florian says, 'Recently I have moved to Innsbruck, Austria to combine my studies with my passion for action sports photography. This step has helped me become a team photographer for the German Salomon Freeski Team . Dahab, Egypt (left) and Ghost River, Canadian Rockies (right): To the left is : Freediver Emilia Biala by Rafal Meszka. Rafal says, 'I was taking . pictures of the freedivers and doing underwater fashion shoots and the . whole thing quickly turned into my biggest passion' And to the right are climbers Jen Olson and Kyle Vassilopoulos by Paul Bride . Turnagain Arm, Alaska: Surfers Mike McCune, Eric Newbury, Dave Calkins by Scott Dickerson. Scott says, 'Alaska is my homeland and the wild places here are the main source of my creative inspiration' Aniak, Alaska: Snowboarder John Jackson by Scott Serfas. Scott says, 'I was one of the few people snowboarding in the late 80s in Vancouver, Canada. I would bring my camera along with me to document my friends riding and as they became better at the sport my photography grew alongside them'
|
Images are part of Red Bull’s Illume .
photo contest to honour photographers who put lives on line for their art .
They include bouldering in Himalayas, Surfing in California, highlining in Austria, surfing in Fiji, BASE jumping in Utah .
|
079e88fc5b09f129d0911ca2745bf23cedff61b4
|
By . Sam Greenhill and Keith Gladdis . PUBLISHED: . 03:53 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:09 EST, 24 May 2013 . Eric Pickles yesterday defended the intelligence services over the Woolwich terror attack, saying it is impossible to control everyone all the time. The Communities Secretary said: ‘We need to be realistic that a free and open society is always vulnerable.’ However, he made clear that David Cameron is demanding to know ‘what went wrong’ after it emerged that the two suspected terrorists were known to MI5. Questions: Police and security services have faced criticism over what they knew about the suspected killers of Drummer Lee Rigby . Balance: Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said there were limits to intelligence controls in a free society while Richard Barrett, ex-head of counter-terrorism at MI6, said preventing attacks was incredibly hard . Government sources have revealed both suspects – Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale – appeared on lists of interest to the security services. Mr Pickles told the BBC: ‘Peers and MPs will do a thorough investigation in terms of what the security forces knew but I’ve seen experts on security explaining how difficult it is in a free society to be able to control everyone.’ He added: ‘The Prime Minister is very clear he wants to see an investigation about what went right and what went wrong. ‘It’s very important to stress these investigation are still going on.’ Terror suspect: Michael Adebolajo, who was filmed after Lee Rigby's killing with blood on his hands, was pictured (circled) at an Islamist demonstration in 2007 according to notorious hate preacher Anjem Choudary (right) Victim: Lee Rigby, 25, was yesterday named as the victim of the Woolwich knife attack . Mr Pickles did not rule out new government action to demand tougher laws to combat terrorism. But he stopped short of backing a reintroduction of the so-called . Snooper’s Charter, which would give the security services the right to . access to data relating to citizens internet, email and phone traffic. Richard Barrett, ex-MI6 . The Bill was dropped from the Queen’s Speech following opposition from the Liberal Democrats. Mr Pickles said: ‘I know of nothing that would suggest that provisions that were in that bill would have made any difference in this case or would have saved the life of the young member of the armed forces. ‘I think it’s probably too soon to assess the powers we need but once the investigation is through, both aspects of the security services and aspects of the policing of these two individuals will be thoroughly investigated and no doubt recommendations will come out of that.’ Flowers: Scores of tributes have been laid at Woolwich Barracks near where Drummer Rigby was killed .
|
Richard Barrett, ex-head of counter-terrorism at MI6, highlights difficulties in spotting 'red flags'
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says there are limits to controls in a free society .
Killers of Lee Rigby, 25, were known to security services up to 8 years ago .
|
07a10ea12176f58e4267c732ff63d5eb2ac21585
|
By . James Rush . Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after a bomb exploded near a convoy carrying the former ruler, police have said. The bomb was planted along the general's route from the military hospital in Rawalpindi where he has been staying to his home in the capital Islamabad, a Pakistani police official has said. There are conflicting reports as to whether the bomb exploded before or after the convoy carrying the former leader, who is on trial for treason, had passed the bridge. Pakistani policemen inspect the site of a bomb explosion in Islamabad. Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who is on trial for treason, escaped the bomb blast in the early hours, police said . The bomb exploded as the general was being moved late Wednesday night from the military hospital in Rawalpindi where he has been staying to his home in the capital Islamabad . Musharraf's spokeswoman, Aasia Ishaq, said the retired general (pictured) was fine and reached his home safely but that it was up to the authorities to make sure nothing happens to him . Senior police official Liaqat Niazi told AFP four kilograms of explosives, planted in a pipeline under a bridge, exploded roughly 20 minutes before Musharraf was due to cross. He said the former president was then taken home along a different route. There have also been reports the convoy had just passed when the bomb went off. Musharraf survived multiple assassination . attempts while he was in office. When he returned to the country last . year the Pakistani Taliban vowed to kill him. The former president's spokesman Aasia Ishaq confirmed he reached his home safely following the incident late Wednesday night, the Associated Press reported. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. There are conflicting reports as to whether the bomb exploded before or after the convoy had crossed the bridge . Senior police official Liaqat Niazi said four kilograms of explosives planted in a pipeline under a bridge exploded roughly 20 minutes before Musharraf was due to cross . There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack . Ishaq said that it was up to the authorities to make sure nothing happens to him. 'All extremist and terrorist forces want to kill Musharraf,' said the spokeswoman. 'If anything happens to Musharraf, the government will be responsible.' Musharraf, 70, took power in a 1999 coup and served until 2008, when he was forced to step down as his popularity plummeted. He later went into self-imposed exile. Musharraf returned in March of last year to run in the elections - only to be disqualified and immediately face a number of legal challenges related to his time in office. A special Pakistani court Monday indicted former military ruler Musharraf on five counts of high treason . The most serious is a high treason . case brought against him by the government that could result in the . death penalty if he's convicted. The case stems from his decision to suspend the constitution on November 3, 2007, and detain a number of judges. Musharraf . was formally charged in the case on Monday. It was only his second . appearance in the court proceedings which started in December. He . missed multiple appearances due to security concerns and others after . going to the hospital in early January after complaining of chest pains. The convoy of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, escorted by paramilitary troops, leaves the special court in Islamabad on Monday .
|
Bomb was planted on the general's route from military hospital to his home .
Four kilograms of explosives planted in a pipeline, police say .
It is unclear whether bomb exploded before or after Musharraf passed .
His spokesman has confirmed former leader arrived home safely .
|
07a170d7eb465a4f538ea90aef91a4625a68c9f6
|
By . Katy Winter . A couple are celebrating the miraculous recovery of their 10 month old son after he and his twin brother were born extremely prematurely at 23 weeks. Deborah Jackson, 32 and partner Nick Filby, 28, from Harlow, Essex, find their happiness is tainted by heartache as they grieve the tragic death of their second son. Despite the best efforts of medical teams, baby Owen only survived an hour after his delivery, while his brother Ollie fought for his life in hospital for six months. Alongside Deborah and Nick's joy at Ollie's recovery and homecoming, they are still grieving the tragic lost of his twin brother Owen . When Deborah, a trained nanny and Nick, a plumber, were told that she was expecting twins eight weeks into her pregnancy they were thrilled. But at 23 weeks Deborah suffered a heavy bleed with stomach pains and a worried Nick rushed her to hospital where she was told she was in labour. She says: ‘I knew already it was one week before the abortion limit. Ollie (right) and Owen (left) were born at just 23 weeks weighing 1lb 10grams and 1lb respectively . ‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I pleaded with doctors to do everything they could for the twins as long as it wouldn’t be cruel.’ Their local hospital wasn’t specialist enough, and Deborah was transferred to a specialist premature baby unit at another hospital, an hour away. There, they told her that her twin boys had little chance of survival and that even if they did survive they’d be severally mentally and physically handicapped. She says: ‘They told us to prepare for the worst, it was the most terrifying moment of our lives.’ Deborah’s labour lasted four agonising hours. Little Owen arrived first, weighing 1lb but he was breach and badly damaged. His shoulders and back had been broken during his birth and his skin was bruised. Deborah with Ollie, who was critically ill at birth, requiring a total of 19 blood transfusions to keep him alive . The second twin Ollie was born a few minutes later, just 10g bigger. He cried, and was taken straight off to an incubator. Deborah says: ‘This should have been the happiest time of our lives - instead me and Nick never felt so afraid. ‘I sat up in bed holding little Owen. We sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to him and I held him close so he’d feel the warmth of my skin. The family held a small service for baby Owen . ‘When his body went cold after an hour and a half we knew he’d gone. ‘Afterwards I didn’t know how I could carry on. But like Nick I knew we needed to stay strong for Ollie.’ Ollie was critically ill, suffering a brain bleed hours after birth and doctors told the couple to prepare to say goodbye. However miraculously Ollie survived his first few days. Then the medical team discovered a hole in his heart and although the doctors managed to close it with medication, Ollie suffered a massive bleed on his lungs - nearly drowning him in his own blood. Again Deborah and Nick prepared to say goodbye but Ollie fought back, again and again as he suffered a further two major bleeds. Things looked their bleakest when he caught pneumonia and his lungs collapsed. Then he caught a stomach infection, which causes the intestines to die. Doctors pumped his tiny body with steroids and antibiotics. Then when his retinas started to detach he needed injections in his eyes to save his sight. Deborah says: ‘Doctors said they were running out of options. But we’d already lost one baby, we couldn’t bare the thought of losing Ollie too. We were living on a knife edge. ‘But despite needing 19 blood transfusions Ollie kept going. We spent every second we could by his incubator praying he’d pull through.’ In the meantime the couple had to bury their other son Owen. Ollie was in hospital for over 6 months, recovering from several potentially fatal conditions . Deborah says: ‘We held a small service with close family. It felt like my heart was breaking as they took his tiny coffin away to be buried. ‘ . After the funeral the couple were back at the hospital by Ollie’s side. ‘He’d cheated death so many times it was as though he had a guardian angel. ‘Maybe it was his brother, there was no other explanation. ‘And the doctors couldn’t explain it. They told us that they’d never seen anything like it.’ Although Ollie, now 10 months, still requires oxygen to assist with his breathing, his brain functions are normal and he constantly improving . For weeks Ollie battled for his life, surprising them each time they thought he couldn’t take anymore, and slowly he began to put on weight and stabilise. Finally after six months he was allowed home, and since, he’s been going from strength to strength. ‘Deborah says: ‘He’s doing so well, he’s turned into a right little tinker and now weighs nearly a stone! ‘All his brain functions are fine now and although he still needs help with his breathing and has an oxygen canister at home, it’s constantly improving each time he goes for his check ups. ‘One day we’ll sit him down and tell him about his big brother Owen. ‘We’re proud of him too and grateful for the brief moment we had him in our lives.’
|
Couple horrified Deborah, 32, went into labour 18 weeks early .
Twins Ollie and Owen were born at just 1lb 10g and 1lb respectively .
Tragically baby Owen died in his mother's arms just hours after birth .
Ollie was in hospital for over six months, suffering brain bleeds, hole in the heart, lung and intestine infections and detached retina .
Deborah and Nick buried Owen not knowing if Ollie would survive .
Miraculously he pulled through and is now 10 months old .
|
07a1780c8a554d8e6a9fb666fd0083cb861b1015
|
Jason Polanco, 23, is charged with attempted murder and robbery . Long before he allegedly opened fire in a wild shootout that left a pair of NYPD cops injured, 23-year-old Jason Polanco was already one to promote anti-cop violence. Polanco, who was arrested on attempted murder charges Tuesday, routinely posted messages with political or social commentary on his Instagram. In one of those posts, a few months ago, he added a picture captioned 'stop police brutality' — complete with a shocking call for violence against cops. 'Maybe there should be a stand your ground law for civilian against abusive & [corrupt] authorities,' the suspect wrote. 'Same way they empty a full mag on us, empty a couple on them.' He signed his message with a reference to Michael Brown, the unarmed black Missouri teenager whose shooting death by a white police officer sparked months of protests and riots nationwide. Security video showed Polanco blasting away at the officers with a powerful .44 Magnum pistol as they pursued him Monday night following the robbery in a Bronx grocery store, police said. Scroll down for video . Hate message: Jason Polanco, 23, advocated for cop shootings on this post on his Instagram, which went live just a few months before he opened fire and wounded two NYPD officers . Police stand guard near the scene of the wild shootout between the suspects and police in the Bronx . Surveillance footage shows Polanco the day of the shooting (left) while police say this is the gun he used to fire several rounds at NYPD officers (right) Polanco, 23, was arrested on attempted murder and robbery charges. The second man, 28-year-old Joshua Kemp, was charged with robbery. The names of their attorneys were not immediately available. At a news conference, New York Police Department officials praised five officers for choosing to respond to the robbery report even though their shifts had ended and they were about to head home. The two wounded officers, Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellerano, were hospitalized in stable condition. 'I commend them for their courage,' Chief of Department James O'Neill said. 'They were going home ... and they ended up getting into a fierce firefight.' The shooting came about two weeks after two officers were fatally shot while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn, and on the same day that the city touted record low crime levels. Victims: Officers Aliro Pellerano (left) and Andrew Dossi were wounded in the line of duty when Polanco allegedly opened fire at them. They were both hospitalized in stable condition . A woman approaches the Bronx deli the suspects allegedly struck the night before the shootout with cops . Monday night's violence unfolded as officers who are part of an anti-crime unit spotted Kemp outside a Chinese restaurant and Polanco inside it. When the officers got out of their car and approached Kemp, Polanco shot one round through the window of the restaurant, striking Kemp and one officer, police said. He went outside and fired two more shots and wounded the second officer; one officer returned three shots but missed. Polanco ran away and carjacked a white Camaro that he crashed a few blocks away, police said. He jumped out, ditched his gun and fled on foot, they said. Mayor Bill de Blasio (second from left) and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton (podium) address reporters at St. Barnabas Hospital, where the wounded cops were taken . Investigators released video early Tuesday that prompted several tips from the public that led to Polanco's identification and capture, police said. Kemp was caught after seeking treatment for his wound at a hospital, which contacted police. On Dec. 20, Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were gunned down in their patrol car by a man who vowed online to kill 'pigs.' The man opened fire, then ran into a subway where he shot himself to death. Ramos was buried Dec. 27; Liu was buried Sunday. Tens of thousands of officers from around the country attended the funerals. Police say Polanco (pictured) ran away and carjacked a white Camaro that he crashed a few blocks away. Then he jumped out, ditched his gun and fled on foot .
|
Suspect Jason Polanco, 23, is seen in security video blasting away at the NYPD cops with a .44 Magnum pistol after a robbery in the Bronx .
Months prior, he had posted on his Instagram endorsing anti-cop violence writing, 'Same way they empty a full mag on us, empty a couple on them'
He was arrested along with suspect Joshua Kemp, 28, and charged with robbery .
Polanco also faces an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting at the officers .
The violence comes just weeks after two NYPD officers were shot dead in their patrol car, sparking fears and tensions nationwide .
|
07a1dc0faebffdd2da2191a05528074cf8e86ab4
|
David Ames is alleged to have collected millions of pounds for ambitious building projects in the Caribbean and Brazil . A businessman accused of taking £300 million of British investors’ money – and failing to build thousands of luxury properties – could be forced to stop trading this week. Former bankrupt David Ames is alleged to have collected millions of pounds for ambitious building projects in the Caribbean and Brazil, but less than 300 properties have so far been built. Legal papers will be lodged at the High Court in Birmingham on Tuesday to freeze the assets of Harlequin Property and its directors in an attempt to claw back money for worried investors. It is understood that Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs’ pensions regulator is also poised to act if a judge’s ruling is made on Friday. A Mail on Sunday investigation has discovered that Harlequin Property – which has paid tennis star Pat Cash to feature in its promotional material – last month failed to make interest payments to investors who took out loans for deposits. Now hundreds of financial advisers, who convinced investors to cash in their pensions, have been given just two days by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to confirm if any of their clients have SIPP investments in the Essex-based firm, and a further three days to provide all details. SIPPs are a personal pension plan allowing individuals to cash in their pension to invest in schemes such as property abroad. A source close to the investigation said: ‘This is a frightening situation for hundreds of investors, who could lose everything.’ An FSA spokesman said: ‘We are trying to establish the levels of pensions held with Harlequin.’ Harlequin Property is not regulated by the FSA so there would be no protection to UK investors should the scheme collapse. Last week The Mail on Sunday revealed the Serious Fraud Office had been asked to investigate the company amid fears that it had mis-sold investments. Mr Ames, 61, who runs the company with wife Carol, also 61, and son Daniel, 35, from a business park in Basildon, Essex, last week issued a strongly worded denial concerning ‘grossly misleading’ claims of fraud. A Mail on Sunday investigation has discovered that Harlequin Property ¿ which has paid tennis star Pat Cash to feature in its promotional material ¿ last month failed to make interest payments to investors who took out loans for deposits . An artist's impression of the luxury Merricks Resort in Barbados . In a letter sent to investors and agents last Monday, Mr Ames claimed allegations of fraud investigations were ‘politically motivated’. Harlequin Property investor groups have been organising meetings across the country and plan to launch a series of lawsuits for breach of contract. Gareth Fatchett of Regulatory Legal Solicitors, which represents a group of investors, said: ‘We have uncovered evidence which makes us very concerned at the financial wellbeing of potentially thousands of investors. ‘Investors were promised totally unrealistic returns on their investments. Now the excuses are running out for Harlequin Property as to why they have not been able to build these resorts, not to mention what has happened to the money invested.’ A spokesman for Harlequin Property said: ‘Harlequin is aware there was an administrative error in relation to some payments – and we are instructed that these are in the process of being addressed and rectified. ‘Those affected have been contacted.’
|
Former bankrupt David Ames could be forced to stop trading this week .
Legal papers will be lodged to freeze the assets of Harlequin Property .
Company paid tennis star Pat Cash to appear in its promotional material .
Harlequin Property failed to make interest payments to investors .
|
07a4ebd7a64ac87314b6da6a3ace678978a4b7bc
|
By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 12:25 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:40 EST, 17 January 2014 . A 44-year-old Virginia man who couldn't even speak without gasping for breath is now breathing normally after having his lungs washed out with 30 liters of fluid. Robert Epperson, 44, was diagnosed late last year with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, or PAP, in which surfectant builds up in the air sacs of the lungs. The treatment is a procedure called lung lavage during which doctors washed his lungs, one at a time, with a saline solution. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Debilitating: Robert Epperson needed an oxygen tank to breathe and was constantly struggling for breath . Short of breath: Epperson's air sacs were filled with surfectant and a misdiagnosis of his condition meant that treatments were ineffective and sometimes harmful . Intubated: Epperson was breathing through one lung while the other was washed . Epperson had previously been diagnosed . with sarcoidosis, a disease that effects mainly the lungs and lymphatic . system, but treatments were ineffective and after yet another bout of . pneumonia he went steadily downhill. Finally, just before Thanksgiving 2013, he was found by doctors at the Clelveland Clinic to be suffering from PAP, a condition that's hard to diagnose and is often mistaken for sarcoidosis. According to Epperson's doctors, the initial misdiagnosis of sarcoidosis was exacerbating his condition. The immune suppressant and anti-inflammatory drugs were in fact making him more susceptible to infection. After his most recent bout with pneumonia, Epperson found himself barely able to stand or speak without becoming winded. The engineer was still dragging himself to work every day but was surviving on oxygen tanks. 'I had absolutely no energy... During that time, I would go from my bed to my desk at work to bed,' he told ABC News. Specialized procedure: A doctor secures one of the many bags of fluid that was run through Epperson's clogged lungs . Good vibration: Epperson can be seen with a chest percussor strapped to him, which vibrated his chest as the fluid was pumped through them . 'Several people told me, after the fact, that they were not sure I would make it through. To quote my wife, "I was on death’s doorstep."' Epperson, a father of two boys aged 21 and 14, had given up on any activities outside of work and sleep. After doctors at the Cleveland Clinic diagnosed APA, Epperson underwent lung lavage, a treatment that's used exclusively for PAP. According to ABC News, Epperson was fitted with a chest percussor, a vest that shook his chest. Doctors intubated him, washing one lung at a time so that Epperson could breathe with the other one. The saline solution was pumping into his lungs, cleaning out the excess surfectant from his air sacs. Surfectant is protein and lipid material. 'Normal surfactant keeps the airways open,' Dr Basem Abdelmalak told ABC News. Life savers: Dr Basem Abdelmalak (left) performed the lung-washing procedure while Dr Jihane Faress (right) finally gave Epperson the correct diagnosis for his condition . First wash: One of the medical team drains fluid from Epperson's lung into a bottle . Fresh start: The first liters of liquid were cloudy with surfectant that had built up in Epperson's air sacs . 'The blood that comes through the thin walls exchange with the air and that’s how we get oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. The altered surfactant protein makes this wall very thick, so the air doesn’t exchange well. There is a lack of oxygenation, and the patient becomes short of breath and fatigues quickly, and is barely able to leave the house.' Over the course of successive washes, the liquid slowly turned from cloudy, milky, off-white to clear. It took 30 liters of water to clean Epperson's lungs. The procedure can only be performed by a highly trained surgeon and a team made up of a radiologist, anesthesiologist and pathologist. Breathing easy: The fluid flushed through Epperson's lungs went from cloudy to clear as his air sacs were cleaned out . Family man: Epperson (pictured with his family) can start doing some of his favorite activities again, such as coaching kids sports . Epperson says the result was nothing short of a miracle. 'I had the lavage Thursday, and on Friday I felt well enough to drive myself home,' he told ABC. Epperson may go into complete remission from he disease, or he may require further lung-washing. The doctor who diagnosed Epperson's condition correctly, Dr Jihane Faress, is very hopeful for Epperson's future. 'He is a wonderful person,' she told ABC News. 'He was still going to work on a huge amount of oxygen and didn’t want to give up. ... There are days we [doctors] get discouraged dealing with very complex cases, but people like Robert give me hope and make me happy about what I am doing.'
|
Robert Epperson, 44, was diagnosed with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) after years of not being able to breathe .
The treatment is lung lavage - washing the lungs out with fluid .
Epperson underwent the procedure, in which 30 liters of fluid were pumped through his lungs .
The fluid cleaned his air sacs of surfectant .
Epperson was formerly unable to speak without gasping for breath, but now he's living normally .
|
07a508ef6252339775903275a72ed1c52ddb1000
|
By . Helen Pow . An 84-year-old man has allegedly shot dead his chronically ill wife and daughter-in-law before turning the gun on himself in a tragic 'mercy killing.' Dan Crabtree, 80-year-old Carol Crabtree and 62-year-old Rita Delehanty were found dead in the elderly couple's home in Hacienda Heights, California, on Wednesday morning. Jim Crabtree, 55, the couple's son and Delehanty's husband of 25 years, said all three suffered from chronic illnesses, which is what led to the apparent murder-suicide. 'This is the classic ending of three people with terminal illnesses,' he said. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Dead: Dan Crabtree, 84, pictured, allegedly shot dead his elderly wife Carol, right, and daughter-in-law before turning the gun on himself in a tragic 'mercy killing' He explained that his wife suffered from mid-stage Alzheimer's, his father from early-stage Alzheimer's and his mother from debilitating chronic joint pain that forced her to use a wheelchair. His wife's health was so bad that he had to wash and dress his wife every morning before dropping her off at his parents' home so he could go to work. On Wednesday, he did the same, without any sign of trouble but, hours later, they were all dead. Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives were still trying to determine the reason. Authorities found the three after a 911 call brought deputies to the quiet suburban neighborhood in Hacienda Heights. Sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson said investigators found the couple and their daughter-in-law with gunshots wounds. Delehanty was dead in the living . room, Carol Crabtree's body was in a powered wheelchair in the back . bedroom and Dan Crabtree was barely alive on the backyard porch. A . shotgun and handgun were found near him. Tragic: Jim Crabtree, pictured left, said his 62-year-old wife Rita Delehanty, right, was also found dead in his parents' home in Hacienda Heights, California, on Wednesday morning . Supportive parents: Though Dan and Carol Crabtree, pictured right, were suffering from poor health, they agreed to care for their son's wife, Rita, pictured left some years ago, so he could work . 'We believe it's a murder-suicide,' Dolson said. 'All evidence right now points to the fact that the husband likely shot and killed the daughter-in-law and his wife, and then shot himself.' Investigators believe it was Dan Crabtree who may have made the 911 call indicating someone was shot at the house, Dolson said, but detectives didn't know the motive. 'At this point we really can't nail it down,' Dolson said. 'We may never.' Though Dan and Carol Crabtree were suffering from poor health, they agreed to care for their son's wife so he could work. His wife would have breakfast with . her in-laws each morning, and Jim Crabtree would go to his job as a . registered nurse who trained paramedics for the Los Angeles County . Department of Health Services. Later in the day, his parents would drop . his wife off at her home about a mile away, and paid caregivers would . take care of her until Crabtree returned. Crime scene: Sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson said investigators found the couple and their daughter-in-law with gunshots wounds . Home: Jim Crabtree said all three suffered from chronic illnesses, which is what led to the apparent murder-suicide at the home, pictured . Crabtree . spoke outside his parents' home on Wednesday about his wife's . progressively worsening Alzheimer's over the last seven years. Delehanty had also been a nurse, but she had to stop working five years ago because of her illness. The two had been married 25 years and never had kids, he said. 'My . wife didn't know who I was. My wife didn't know we were married,' Crabtree said. 'You try to help her, she yells, she screams, she hits . you.' Crabtree . wore a white tie on Wednesday with a purple ribbon on it that said 'I . wear purple for my wife' and pledged Alzheimer's awareness. 'The pain and misery that comes with this dementia, until you lived it, you don't get it,' Crabtree said. He said caregivers cost him $2,000 a month and none of it was covered by insurance. After . years of withering emotional drain caring for his wife, he said he was . somewhat relieved it was all over. As he had looked into the future, he . had wondered how it was going to end. Hard: Jim Crabtree, pictured, said on Wednesday her condition had deteriorated: 'My wife didn't know who I was. My wife didn't know we were married' Shocked: Neighbors were shocked and described the family as friendly . 'When somebody dies, you don't want to go out and say I'm overjoyed my parents and my wife are dead, but in some cases, my wife died years ago,' Crabtree said. Marjorie Bauer was in her house a block away when she heard a single gunshot shortly before 9 a.m. She . was speaking with her neighbors George and Alice Parrish about what . happened, while looking over at the police tape on Wednesday afternoon. All three have lived in the area for many decades. 'It's shocking,' said Alice Parrish. 'You don't expect it in your own backyard.' The Crabtrees were friendly with their neighbors, and were known to bicker, or 'fuss and carry on,' said George Parrish. Residents would see Carol Crabtree out taking walks, but more recently, she was rarely seen. 'She couldn't walk anymore, she was in a lot of pain,' Alice Parrish said.
|
Dan Crabtree, 84, Carol Crabtree, 80, and Rita Delehanty, 62, were found dead of gunshot wounds in the elderly couple's Hacienda Heights home on Wednesday morning .
Jim Crabtree, 55, the couple's son and .
Delehanty's husband, said all three suffered chronic .
illnesses, which led to the apparent murder-suicide .
Delehanty was in the mid-stages of Alzheimer's and Jim Crabtree dropped her at his parents house most mornings so he could go to work .
Son said he was sad but somewhat relieved after the death of his wife who no longer knew who he was or that they were married .
|
07a6c4628f9229ab150f6754ec2569a059d53ec6
|
By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . Crews are battling to clean up a major U.S. shipping channel in Texas after a barge carrying almost one million gallons of thick, sticky oil collided with a ship in Galveston Bay near Houston, threatening an important shorebird habitat. No timetable has been set to reopen the waterway after nearly 170,000 gallons of tar-like oil spilled on Saturday, creating a huge oil slick. But on Monday, more help was being called in to contain the spill and protect wildlife. A barge carrying about 900,000 gallons of the heavy oil collided with a ship in the busy Houston Ship Channel, spilling as much as a fifth of its cargo into one of the world's busiest waterways for moving petrochemicals, according to the Coast Guard. Oil had been detected 12 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico by Sunday, and as many as 60 vessels were either waiting to get in or out. The Coast Guard - which called it a 'significant spill' - said it expected to deploy more containment booms on Monday, with 24 vessels working to skim the oil. Scroll down for video . Clean up efforts: Vessels work to skim oil off the surface of the water after 168,000 gallons of oil spilled into Galveston Bay, Texas on Saturday . Damage: United States Coast Guardsmen inspect oil washing ashore along Boddeker Road in Galveston as clean up efforts get underway . The cleanup effort comes exactly 25 years after the Exxon Valdez oil tanker slammed into the Bligh Reef in Alaska and spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound. Two decades on and the coast remains polluted by the oil. Environmental groups said the Texas spill occurred at an especially sensitive time. The channel in Texas City, about 45 miles southeast of Houston, has important shorebird habitat on both sides, and tens of thousands of wintering birds are still in the area. 'The timing really couldn't be much worse since we're approaching the peak shorebird migration season,' said Richard Gibbons, conservation director of the Houston Audubon Society. He noted that just to the east is the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, which attracts 50,000 to 70,000 shorebirds to shallow mud flats that are perfect foraging habitat. Fewer than 10 oiled birds had been found and recovered for transfer to a wildlife rehabilitation center as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Coast Guard. The Texas General Land Office has also deployed a bird rehabilitation trailer in the area for quick response. 'This is a significant spill,' Capt. Brian Penoyer, commander of the Coast Guard at Houston-Galveston, said. But he said the emptying the remaining oil from the barge on Sunday, a process known as lightering as contents are transferred to other vessels, was an important step and eliminated the risk of additional oil spilling. Victim: A dead oil-covered bird is shown on the Eastern end of Galveston as environmental groups fear the effect on wildlife . Fears: A seagull lands in heavy crude oil washing up on East Beach. The spill occurred near an important shorebird habitat, environmental groups said . Covered: Almost 170,000 gallons of thick, sticky oil were spilled on Saturday. Pictured, the oil covers the shoreline in Galveston . Mess: People photograph oil washing ashore in Galveston on Sunday as crews place a protective boom along the shoreline . More than 380 people - 'and we've ordered more,' Penoyer said - along with a fleet of oil-retrieving skimmers and other vessels were deploying some 60,000 feet of containment booms around environmentally sensitive areas worked to mitigate the damage. Some black tar-like globs, along with a dark line of a sticky, oily substance, could be detected along the shoreline of the Texas City dike, a 5-mile-long jetty that juts into Galveston Bay across from a tip of Galveston Island. 'That is the consistency of what the cargo looks like,' Jim Guidry, executive vice president of Houston-based Kirby Inland Marine Corp., said when the substance was described to him at a news conference. Guidry said the company - the nation's largest inland barge company and owner of the barge that spilled the oil - was taking responsibility for the costs. 'We're very concerned. We're focused on cleaning up,' he said. The barge has been moved to a shipyard and is no longer at the scene of the spill, according to a statement Sunday evening from Texas Gov. Rick Perry's office. Two cruise ships were allowed to travel through the incident area "to minimize inconvenience to the thousands of passengers aboard and limit economic impacts from the spill," according to a statement Sunday evening from the Coast Guard. Queue: The Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas and the Carnival Magic sit idle with dozens of other ships off the coast of Galveston. At least 33 vessels, including two cruise ships, are waiting to enter the Houston Ship Channel from the Gulf of Mexico . Race against time: Oil containment booms cut across a sand bar covered with birds on Pelican Island. So far about 10 birds have been killed . Fight: Crews place a protective boom along the seashore near Port Bolivar in Port Bolivar as dozens of ships help in the clean up effort on Sunday . Struggle: Workers try to move an oil containment boom from the shore area on the Eastern end of Galveston near the ship channel . Close to shore: Oil containment booms are spread out in Galveston Harbor after the collision spilled nearly 170,000 gallons of thick oil . The channel, part of the Port of . Houston, typically handles as many as 80 vessels daily. But it will . remain closed for a third day Monday, and the Coast Guard said there was . no timetable on when it may reopen. If . the bottleneck of vessels in the Gulf eases in a day or so, there . likely wouldn't be much impact on fuel prices. But a more prolonged . backup could push up prices briefly, said Jim Ritterbusch, president of . energy consultancy Jim Ritterbusch and Associates in Chicago. The . contents of the torn tank, equal to about 4,000 barrels, were lost or . displaced into other vacant areas of the barge. Penoyer said currents, . tides and wind were scattering the spill. 'Containment was never a possibility in this case,' he said. The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating what happened. 'It will take quite a bit of time, given the complexity of the vessels and a very busy waterway,' Penoyer said. Destruction: Marine fuel oil can be seen leaking from a partly submerged barge into the Houston Ship Channel after colliding with a ship on Saturday . Slick: A vessel surrounded by a sheen on the water near the Port of Galveston. The company of the barge carrying the oil is paying for clean up costs . Disaster: The spill comes on the 25th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez spill. In this April 17, 1989 photo, a worker makes his way across the polluted shore of Block Island, Alaska after more than 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled . Heartbreaking: In this April 9, 1989 photo, a local fisherman inspects a dead California gray whale following the spill in Alaska . Also closed was the Texas City dike, a popular fishing spot that goes out into the Gulf for a few miles. Lee Rilat, 58, owns Lee's Bait and Tackle, the last store before the access road to the dike, which was blocked by a police car on a breezy, overcast Sunday. If it weren't for the spill, Rilat's business would be hopping. 'This would be the first spring deal, the first real weekend for fishing,' he said. The spill site is 700 yards offshore from the Texas City dike. A crane and several small boats could be seen at the cleanup site, and dozens of trucks were at a staging area along the beach. The captain of the 585-foot ship, Summer Wind, reported the spill on Saturday afternoon. Six crew members from the tow vessel, which was going from Texas City to Port Bolivar, Texas, were injured, the Coast Guard said.
|
On Saturday, a barge carrying 900,000 gallons of oil collided with ship in the Houston Ship Channel, spilling nearly 170,000 gallons of thick oil across the busy waterway and closing it down .
More crews arrived on Monday to skim oil from the surface of the water and place protective booms along the shore .
Environmental groups fear that an important shorebird habitat 45 miles southeast of Houston could be hit .
Company that owns barge is taking responsibility for the spill and its clear up costs .
The disaster comes 25 years after an Exxon oil tanker spilled 11 million gallons of oil into the water at Prince William Sound, Alaska; two decades on and the area is still largely affected by the pollution .
|
07a738af2a57dd5695b699056a806d5cf42950ac
|
Rosie Tapner, the British model tipped to be the next Cara Delevingne, proves that she is more than just a pretty face in her new fashion film. The 17-year-old schoolgirl, who you may recognise from the windows of Topshop's Oxford Street store, stars in i-D's new fashion film. The fashion site headed to the beautiful Berkshire countryside for a wholesome day out with the model schoolgirl for the latest in the More Than A Model series. Model schoolgirl: Rosie Tapner may only be 17 but she already has a Vogue cover and Topshop campaign under her belt - and now she's the star of i-D's fashion film . Showcasing the secret talents of fashion’s most prominent faces, More Than A Model aims to unlock a side of the girls rarely seen on camera. i-D join Rosie at the Wasing Estate as she runs, cycles and gallops her way through the short film, capturing the essence of the British countryside and featuring a cameo by Rosie’s very own horse, Floyd. Despite her tender years, Rosie is already a star of her school’s lacrosse team, competes in British Eventing competitions and has managed to fit a British Vogue cover around all her extra-curricular activities. Talents: The boarding school girl showcases her lacrosse, horse riding, running and, of course, modelling skills . Since Rosie Tapner signed with Kate Moss and Cara Delevinge's agency, Storm, her day jobs have included working with Burberry, Chloe, Vogue and exclusive work for Balenciaga. She also happens to buddies with Cara and Jourdan Dunn and shot to fame when she performed the Harlem Shake dance with the pair backstage at Topshop last year. Speaking to MailOnline at the time, Rosie said: 'I'm just walking for Topshop this season, partly because of school. I've got a lot on at school at the moment. Grounded: The school girl loves playing sports and says her friends at home keep her grounded . Friends in the right places: Rosie joined her friend Jourdan Dunn to pose for Selfridges . Rise to fame: Since Rosie signed with Storm, her day jobs have included working with Burberry, Chloe, Vogue and exclusive work for Balenciaga . 'It's easy for me at school because I've got that grounded life where I don't need to think about all of this. 'I absolutely love this hype, it's amazing but I just try to keep my head out of it and not read too much . into it. ‘My favorite thing is going back to school and having normality. I was in Miami last week, shooting the Topshop campaign in the 80 degree heat, and then came back to England’s rain and just hung out with my friends. It’s hilarious really.' Backstage buddies: She showcased her dancing skills backstage at Topshop last year with Cara and Jourdan - and it quickly went viral .
|
Model, 17, stars in i-D's new fashion film in Berkshire countryside .
Is current Topshop campaign star .
Best friends with Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn .
Says she loves school because it keeps her grounded .
|
07a890fb71fcfbda24b0f4fc3b83e78eb77195d2
|
A devastating plagiarism scandal ended the career of a Democratic U.S. senator on Thursday as he announced he will not seek re-election to a full term in office this November. Sen. John Walsh, then Montana's lieutenant governor, was appointed in February to serve out the term of Max Baucus, a longtime lawmaker who stepped down to take the post of U.S. ambassador to China. But Walsh's few months in office will be his only foray into national politics, following accusations in late July that he lifted large portions – as much as two-thirds – of his 2007 master's degree thesis at the U.S. Army War College from other published sources. Montana Democratic Sen. John Walsh has decided to pull out of his November Senate race amid allegations that he plagiarized a research paper in 2007 . Awful timing: Walsh was among the most vocal proponents of a bill, signed into law by President Barack Obama on Thursday, aimed at improving medical care for military veterans . His decision came on the same day President Obama signed into law Walsh's most impressive legislative achievement: a bill creating an independent commission to probe the Department of Veterans Affairs following reports that it delayed medical care for thousands of war veterans. Walsh received a Master of Strategic Studies degree and then was named the adjutant general overseeing Montana's National Guard and its Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The New York Times first exposed his alleged academic dishonesty on July 23. 'Most strikingly,' the Times report read, 'each of the six recommendations Mr. Walsh laid out at the conclusion of his 14-page paper, titled "The Case for Democracy as a Long Term National Strategy," is taken nearly word-for-word without attribution from a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace document on the same topic.' Walsh will remain in the Senate until his term ends in January 2015. Republican Rep. Steve Daines was already considered a heavy favorite to win the seat this fall. Recent polls show he was holding a 13 point lead over Walsh. The Billings Gazette reported on Thursday that Walsh won't be on the ballot. The Montana Democratic Party has not announced a replacement candidate, and has until its August 20 nominating convention to sort out the mess. The Times reported Thursday that Montana Democrats said the party was leaning toward nominating Nancy Keenan, a pro-abortion activist who once led Naral Pro-Choice America. 'I am proud that with your support, we held our opponent [Daines] accountable for his hurtful record to privatize Medicare, to deny women the freedom to make their own health decisions and to sell off our public lands,' Walsh said in a statement Thursday, which did not acknowledge any wrongdoing. 'I know how important it is to continue the fight for these Montana values, and it is time for us all to return to the real issues of this election.' The Army War College's handbook describes punishments for academic cheating. Among them, according to a tweet from one New York Times reporter: Past students who have been caught after graduation are to names their scraped off the school's bronze plaques honoring successful degree recipients. Harsh: A New York Times reporter found that Army War College policy is to remove Sen. Walsh's name from plaques in its halls honoring past graduates if he is found to have cheated . Walsh initially denied the Times' charges in July, and then briefly proposed an excuse for his actions seven years ago, saying that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder linked to his National Guard service in Iraq had been a factor. But he later said he took 'full responsibility' for his actions, leading to widespread speculation that he would either step down or leave the Senate after November's elections. Montana Democratic Party chairman Jim Larson said Thursday in a statement that Walsh's life 'has been and continues to be service to our nation and all Montanans. From 33 years in the National Guard, to serving as Lt. Governor to his time in the U.S. Senate, John Walsh has sacrificed significantly for our country and is to be commended.' But the editorial board of the Gazette was less sanguine, writing on Sunday that 'Sen. John Walsh's response to plagiarism has destroyed our faith in him.' 'Haunted by a serious lapse in academic honesty, Walsh is finished as a U.S. Senate candidate.'
|
Sen. John Walsh will not stand for election following his appointment to the U.S. Senate to serve out the term of Ambassador to China Max Baucus .
The New York Times found in July that Walsh had plagiarized most of the master's degree thesis he submitted to the U.S. Army War College in 2007 .
Republicans were already expected to pick up the seat in November .
Among the punishments the college could mete out: scraping his name from the plaques that honor graduates .
|
07a9dd9c96a5f34359dab8969a95e2b49bbd4d44
|
By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 04:23 EST, 8 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:49 EST, 8 July 2013 . Kim Sears turned out looking the picture of elegance to support boyfriend Andy Murray at Wimbledon yesterday in a green Victoria by Victoria Beckham dress. The stunning artist, 25, came up top in . the battle of the Wimbledon blondes, setting the tone for the day's . tense match between Murray and Djokovic. Her mint crochet dress, which comes up just above the knee, is worth £925 and is already sold out everywhere. Scroll down for video . Team Andy! Kim's face echoed how the rest of the nation felt at the moment Murray wins . Kim Sears walking to Centre Court at Wimbledon today ahead of Andy Murray's final match . The intricate dress on the runway at Victoria by Victoria Beckham SS13 show at NY Fashion Week, Sep 2012 . She accessorised it with her trusted nude Mulberry tote and beige woven platform sandals. Holding her sunglasses and mobile phone . in her hand, Sears strode confidently toward Centre Court to take her . seat for Murray's final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Murray kissed his partner of seven years shortly after making history, storming to victory against Djokovic. The . 26-year-old won in three straight sets, taking the first 6-4, the . second 7-5 and the third 6-4 as millions around the country watched. After years of supporting him at matches, Sears' Champion boyfriend wins Wimbledon . Defiantly supportive partner Kim was with him till the very end, cheering on . Murray, the British number one, kicked off the match on top form taking the first set 6-4. As . Murray is successful in his life-long dream to win Wimbledon, he is now . the first Briton to win the Men’s Singles in 77 years. Kim was at the forefront of the supporters in the players' box at All England Club's most famous court, while a tense-looking Judy Murray - the Scot's mother - was also courtside for the clash. Prime Minister David Cameron, Hollywood heart-throb Bradley Cooper, and footballer Wayne Rooney also arrived to watch the Scot on Centre Court today as he takes on Djokovic. Murray, currently winning, plays for Britain in the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final Day today . A triumphant Murray with his trophy after his historic win today - he is the first Brit man to win in 77 years . It will be tough conditions for both . Murray and Djokovic out on centre court as temperatures are set to soar . to 30C (86F) in west London. The head court groundsman Neil Stubley . suggested that the temperatures out on the court had topped 40C. So far during this tournament Kim has . worn outfits from Ted Baker, Whistles and Zara - all of which have . experienced a subsequent surge in demand. A Zara floral dress Kim wore on Monday sold out almost instantaneously. Kim wears a burnt orange £129 Hobbs frock for semi-finals on June 5 and in Zara for quarter-finals . In canary yellow Ted Baker for second round (right) and at the first match on June 24 (left) Her signature accessory is always by her side, the Mulberry Willow Tote, £1,500 . The bracelet she's worn for every single match this Wimbledon tournament, a silver Pandora number, £55 . Arriving with Murray for the Wimbledon Winners Party held at the Hotel Intercontinental in London .
|
Andy Murray won Wimbledon 2013 - first Brit man to do so for 77 years .
Kim Sears, 25, wore £925 SS13 mint Victoria by Victoria Beckham dress .
Supported her partner, Scottish tennis champion Murray, 26 .
|
07ab9d4903fc16157720a4b0beae33c6fbb2eb54
|
When you step foot into the control room at the U.S. Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas, the first thing that hits you is the smell, writes Brittany Hughes for CNSNews.com . Hovering somewhere between urine and unwashed humanity, the air is thick and hot. The sound inside the circular, glass-enclosed control room is like that of a beehive, humming with the noise of hundreds of voices mixed with buzzers and footsteps. 'This is where we do the processing,' the border patrol agent tells us. Scroll down for video . Inhumane: Illegal aliens inside temporary housing facility in McAllen, Texas . The border patrol officer gestures to a series of white, cinderblock rooms that form a ring around the enclosed control area. Each small space is sealed by a thick gray door, which is kept locked until an officer motions for the switchboard operator to open it. Beside each door, dozens of tanned faces press against glass windows, watching the movement on the open floor around them. Dozens more lie on the hard floor in the middle of the rooms, or on the wide benches attached to the walls. Most of the visible faces belong to young children or teens; the adults are usually clustered in the back or tending to toddlers and infants. The scene is devastating, and it’s only one of several windows into the illegal immigration crisis that’s sweeping across the Rio Grande Valley Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border. Since October 2013, more than 181,000 illegal immigrants have already crossed this 250-costal-mile area alone, and the McAllen, Texas station has been the hardest hit. Border patrol officers are doing the best they can, but they simply aren’t equipped to handle the masses that have flooded their facilities. Location of the Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas. The station has been the hardest hit from a surge in illegal immigration . Natural border: Rio Grande River near McAllen, Texas where many illegal aliens cross into the United States . Awful: An illegal alien child drinks from a plastic bottle behind a security fence door inside a bus depot/housing facility in McAllen, Texas . The people – all Latinos, as far as I can tell – are divided into several groups: family units are crammed into several rooms, teens 14 and under in the next, teens 15 and older in another, and single men and women in separate holding areas on the other side of the circle. People of all ages and genders – anywhere from young children to old men – are systematically brought out of their rooms to be 'processed,' which involves taking down any identification, background, where they say they’re headed, anything they can provide. It’s usually not much. 'This is where they start,' the agent explains over the noise. 'When they’re picked up at the border, they come here. Once we’ve processed them, they’re taken to the sally port.' That’s where we head next. The sally port is a converted bus depot attached to the border patrol station. Typically able to hold upwards of 4 buses at a time, the large, cement-floored space has been converted into a makeshift shelter to house the thousands of illegal immigrants that have been flooding the system since February. Normally, the border patrol detains people anywhere from 12 hours to three days before turning them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the Department of Health and Human Services, in the case of unaccompanied minors. But a backlog of people is now forcing them to house people for sometimes more than a week, agents said. Sweltering heat: Illegal immigrants bake all day with almost no shelter from the brutal summer weather . The view from the U.S. side of the Rio Grande River: Looking over at Mexico, where people are standing on the shore and where some illegals were taken to the U.S. side by Jet ski and dropped off in the brush at the riverside . 'We’ve gotten pretty good at logistics,' one agent told us. 'But we’re still only working with what we’ve got.' The McAllen station is authorized for 380 people, he explains. It’s currently housing more than 1,100.They won’t let us in the sally port – the 'folks in Washington' require a scheduled visit for that, they tell us. But they say we can stand outside the locked gates at the bus entrance and look. I’ve been outside for all of thirty seconds, but sweat is already starting to bead on my neck by the time I approach the gate to peer inside. If the scene inside the station’s control room is bad, the view into the sally port is appalling. At first, there doesn’t appear to be a floor. Then I realize that’s only because I can barely see it through the mass of bodies strewn across the massive space. There are people everywhere – lying down, standing, sitting, stepping over others in a strained attempt to move around. Border patrol agents mill about with clipboards, talking to various people and administering basic medicine. Off to one side, next to a row of blue porta potties, a group of four young girls are curled up together on the floor, resting on one another’s limbs. All four are caked in mud to the knee, most likely from their trip across the border. They remind me of a litter of kittens I once saw, scrunched together in a little ball. From a distance: The former bus depot turned into a housing facility for illegal immigrants in McAllen, Texas. Illegal aliens are behind the chained-fence doors. The floor is cement, there are temporary toilets, and large fans blow air across the room . Filthy: The smell of urine permeates the holding cells overflowing with illegal immigrants . There’s a simple strip of yellow crime scene tape that ropes off a small section of the space, the only barrier that separates the healthy from those who have been diagnosed with scabies. In the 'sick ward,' a mother sits with her back against the locked gate, cradling a small child in her arms. She wipes the sweat from her own forehead before placing a half a dozen wet wipes on the little boy’s face and chest, trying to cool him down. A second toddler sits beside her, sucking on a bottle filled with something that looks like orange juice. Even standing under the force of five jumbo fans and a strong Texas breeze, the stench of unwashed bodies and well-used toilets hangs heavy, stagnating under the sweltering 100-degree heat and making it hard to breathe. A border patrol bus pulls up to the gate. The doors open and a dozen more immigrants, mostly children, pile out, having come straight from the banks of the Rio Grande where smugglers ferried them from the Mexican bank to the United States. An agent ushers them through the door and into the processing room. This isn’t a dream, and it sure doesn’t look like Ellis Island.
|
The temporary holding cells were built in an old bus station in McAllen, Texas .
Adults and small children are held in pens with tile floors behind metal gates that provide little shelter from the sweltering heat of nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit .
The smell of urine and body odor permeates the encampment holding about 1,100 people .
Prisoners range from toddlers to the elderly .
|
07ad7a243a3d31903916186687286d38a572944e
|
By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 13:18 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:21 EST, 11 July 2012 . Wept: Jaqueline Jossa, as Lauren Branning in EastEnders, was sat in the public gallery at the Old Bailey today and cried as she watched her father receive his sentence . The father of EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa has been jailed four years for stealing nearly £500,000 of taxpayers money. John Jossa, 58, abused his position as head of finance at Enfield Council in north London and created false invoices and lied about his wife working for the council and paid money into her account. Miss Jossa who plays Lauren Branning in the hit soap wept as she witnessed her father pleading guilty to three offences of dishonesty of for fiddling with council expenses. Mr Jossa siphoned off a total £491,088.35 into his own account over a period of four years between 2006 and 2010. His 19-year old daughter, awarded best newcomer at this year's National Television Awards, sat in the public gallery with her mother and other sister as he received his sentence at the Old Bailey today. Jossa, pretended his wife had worked for the council and paid more than £42,000 into their account when no such work had ever been done. He also fiddled with invoices from . recruitment firm Adecco, creating fake ones and processing genuine ones . that had yet to be signed off following its work for the council - . directing more than £448,000 into his pocket. The . court heard that he invested most of the money into investment schemes . but fell victim to boiler rooms scams that promised high returns but . ended up losing all of it. When Enfield council launched a court action against him only £25,000 was recovered. Jossa was made redundant in 2009, but is alleged to have stolen the money between 2006 and 2010. Despite the massive fraud he collected over £170,000 in redundancy. Sentencing . Judge Nicholas Cooke QC said: ‘How on earth a person with a shred of . decency thinks he's entitled to it when he steals half-a-million from . his employers that shows criminally distorted thinking. Jailed: John Jossa was sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Old Bailey today after siphoning off money from Enfield council into his own account . On the subject of Mr Jossa, of Bexley, becoming a victim to fraud himself, he added: ‘In addition to being fully dishonest, he's a fool.’ Jossa pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining money by deception and two counts of fraud at an earlier hearing. Judge Cooke said: ‘I have to sentence you for three offences of dishonesty by a fairly sophisticated fraud. Miss Jossa was snapped enjoying herself at the premiere of Magic Mike last night on the evening before her father appeared in court . ‘You . have taken £491,000 odd of funds of no doubt hard-pressed local . authority. Knowing that you had done that, you accepted another £170,000 . odd by way of payment on termination of your employment at that same . local authority. ‘The vast . majority of all that money is now gone. All that court proceedings . brought by the London Borough of Enfield has been able to recoup as . about £25,000 described as a drop in the ocean. ‘The prospect of further recovery on behalf of local residents is bleak. ‘You . continue to receive a local authority pension. How long that may . continue and whether anything can be done about that is not a matter for . me.’ Judge Cooke said Mr Jossa was a man focused on greed and added that Mr Jossa’s senior position within the council represented ‘a gross breach of trust’. ‘Your offending will have real consequences to local residents in terms of reduced services or a decline in payments for those that live in the area. ‘You have embarrassed the vast majority of hard working, and compared to your salary, lowly paid local government employees. ‘It was not your money, it was local residents money.’ Earlier his defence barrister Avtar Bhatoa said the ‘genesis of this offending goes back to April 2006’ when his client's ‘salary was failing to service his debts.’
|
John Jossa, father of EastEnders actress Jaqueline Jossa stole money from Enfield council .
He lost most of the money when he himself defrauded whilst investing it and only repaid £25,000 .
|
07aead4bfc24491457dd518f963a9a0913ebafbc
|
By . Lucy Crossley . High-speed cameras have revealed how cats can manage to land safely even when falling from a great height. Cats have long been renowned for their ability to land on their feet, and now a new documentary will show exactly how the pets manage to hold onto their nine lives as they twist and turn on their way to the ground. Images filmed on a high-speed camera show how a cat's body will perform four manoeuvres in mid-air, including stretching out their legs to transform their bodies into a living parachute. Safety: Images filmed on a high-speed camera show how a cat's body performs four manoeuvres in mid-air, including stretching out their legs to transform their bodies into a living parachute . As part of new ITV documentary The Secret Life of Cats, the animals were filmed in a studio as they were dropped from a height of around 10ft . Slowed down, the footage shows how a . cat will first straighten up so its body will eventually be parallel to . the ground, turning on its head and then its tail. It will then spread all four limbs to slow its fall and as it nears the ground, the cat will extend its claws to give it a good grip when it lands. Finally the tumbling animal will flex its back to minimise any shock from landing. Sir Patrick Bateson, emeritus professor of ethology at Cambridge University and president . of the Zoological Society of London, said that a cat's legs give the . animal air resistance which enables its body to spin around faster. 'They . stick out their legs so that provides greater inertia, so that when . they turn the body the bits that are sticking out don’t turn so . rapidly,' he told the Sunday Telegraph. 'Then they repeat that with the other set of legs.' Instinct: By the time a kitten is seven weeks old it will have already developed the instinct needed to survive a fall, known as the 'righting reflex' According . to the documentary, which airs tomorrow night, by the time a kitten is . seven weeks old it will have already developed the instinct needed to . survive a fall, known as the 'righting reflex'. Sir Patrick said that one of his cats, Nelly, had fallen behind a wardrobe when she was a kitten, breaking her pelvis because the space behind the cupboard was too small for her to fully turn. 'She is fine now, but it was a clear demonstration of how if you prevent the animal turning and sticking its legs out, it cannot do the whole operation,' he said. In 2012 it was reported that a one-year-old cat called Sugar had fallen 200ft from a nineteen storey window in Boston, USA, with just a bruised chest. And a 1987 study of 132 cats taken to a vet in New York after falling from high-rise buildings revealed that 90 percent of them survived and one 37 percent required emergency treatment to save their lives. One animal which fell 32 storeys survived with a chipped tooth and a collapsed lung, and was allowed to go home after just 48 hours. Using new filming techniques to show cats as many of their owners will never have seen them before, the documentary also reveals remarkable stories including how one cat saved a couple from a gas explosion and the surprising relationship between a blind Labrador and the feline friend who acts as his guide. One cat who features in the show is Basil, who turned up on Sue Roff’s doorstep unexpectedly 16 years ago. Remarkable tails: The documentary also reveals remarkable stories including how one cat saved a couple from a gas explosion and the surprising relationship between a blind Labrador and the feline friend who acts as his guide . Basil’s acute sense of smell prevented a potentially fatal accident for Sue and her husband one night in 2011. 'I’d done dinner, my husband had gone up to bed. I’d cleaned the cooker and then went up to bed,' said Mrs Roff. However, she had accidentally left one of the gas rings on and asleep upstairs, neither she nor her husband could smell the leaking gas. The pilot light on Sue’s central heating was due to switch on soon, and that would ignite the gas. But as cats have a sense of smell 30 times better than that of a human, to Basil the smell of gas was intense and dangerous. 'At about 1.30am he came on the bed, patted my face and I pushed him away,' said Mrs Roff. 'An hour and a half later he came back, he was much more insistent. He came back and patted my face with one little claw. Then I knew there was something wrong. I could smell something unpleasant; it literally filled the whole house. He could have literally just walked out the cat flap outside, but he didn’t. If he hadn’t have woken me up, it would have just gone kaboom. I’m really proud of him, he is my hero.' The programme also tells the surprising story of the relationship between a blind dog, 14-year-old Labrador Terfel, and his best friend, a cat called Pwditat. Terfel had been thrown against a wall as a puppy, causing his blindness, but Pwditat has been able to act as his guide cat. 'Terfel is much more confident when Pwditat is around,' said owner Ann Cragg. 'He relies on him to avoid bumping into things. Often when they’re out, they’re nose to tail. Pwditat in the lead and Terfel following him.' Secret Life of Cats will be broadcast on ITV at 9pm on Monday June 2.
|
A cat's body performs four manoeuvres in mid-air and acts as a parachute .
Falling cat will first right itself so body is parallel to the ground .
It then stretches its legs to slow its fall and extends claws to improve grip .
Finally the animal will arch its back to absorb the shock from the fall .
Images were captured by high-speed cameras for ITV documentary .
|
07aecffe4d8faa0a3ae85da3320ac218273d9754
|
By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 4:52 PM on 23rd November 2011 . A 25-year-old man used a traditional method of bleaching and printing to produce more than $1million in counterfeit money, authorities say. Vincent Gerome Rome Jr, of Atlanta, Georgia, allegedly turned $5 notes into $100 notes over a two-year period and then sold on the fake money. He bleached the $5 bills with solvents and cleaners, before putting the white-washed paper through a printing press to stamp $100 on the notes. Guilty plea: Vincent Gerome Rome used a traditional method of bleaching and printing to produce more than $1million in counterfeit money, authorities say . Find: Authorities discovered thousands of $100 bills, a number of printers and firearms (file picture) U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Rome made a ‘staggering amount’ despite his ‘old-fashioned method’. Rome was allegedly selling on the money to other people in Atlanta who would put the bills into circulation across south-eastern U.S. states. Authorities searched his home three months ago and said they found several trays, with one filled with $5 bills left to soak in a degreaser. They also discovered thousands of $100 bills, a number of printers and three firearms, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution. From this: Vincent Gerome Rome Jr, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia, allegedly bleached $5 bills with solvents and cleaners (file picture) To this: He allegedly turned $5 notes into $100 notes over a two-year period and then sold on the fake money to other people in Atlanta . Rome pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to creating $1.2million of fake money and illegal possession of a firearm. 'This defendant may have used an old-fashioned method to make counterfeit currency, but he made a staggering amount' Sally Quillian YatesU.S. Attorney . He is expected to be sentenced in February, but the FBI is continuing with its investigation in the meantime, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The U.S. Secret Service provides guidelines on how to detect counterfeit money, including studying the note's portrait to determine how lifelike it seems. The department also advises looking closely at the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals, borders, serial numbers and the type of paper used.
|
Atlanta man pleads guilty to creating $1.2m of fake cash .
He allegedly bleached $5 bills with solvents & cleaners .
Then put white-washed paper through printing press .
|
07b3373125c06ef60ce346a5c9f7a019a192fcae
|
More than half of all teens and young adults say they have been bullied or harassed online, according to the results of a new poll on Internet behavior. In an Associated Press/MTV poll, 56 percent of respondents, who were between 14 and 24 years old, said they had "experienced abuse" through digital media. That's up from 50 percent in a similar 2009 survey. Some of the most common forms of harassment include posting something online that's not true, writing things online that are "mean" and sharing texts or other messages that were meant to stay private, according to the results. And while the ability to stay anonymous online is often cited as a reason why digital bullying can get so bad, survey respondents said that, more often than not, that's not the case. "Most say the perpetrators of the bad behavior are people they know very well," the survey reads. One out of three resopndents also said they've taken part in so-called "sexting," which includes sending and receiving nude photos or video or sexually charged text. Seventy-one percent of them said that "sexting" is a problem for Web users their age. Ten percent of respondents who said they'd exchanged sexual messages said they'd done so with people they only know online -- a steep drop from the 29 percent who said they'd done so in 2009. If there's a bright spot, it's that more respondents this year said they recognize online bullying as a problem than did two years ago and more said they'd intervene if they saw it happening. Fifty-six percent said they would likely intervene if they saw someone being harassed online, compared with 47 percent in 2009. The survey is part of MTV's "A Thin LIne," campaign, a multiyear effort to stamp out digital abuse. "The campaign is built on the understanding that there's a 'thin line' between what may begin as a harmless joke and something that could end up having a serious impact on you or someone else," MTV writes on the campaign's website. "We know no generation has ever had to deal with this, so we want to partner with you to help figure it out." The survey results were based on interviews of 1,355 teens and young adults conducted between August 18-31. It has a margin of error of 3.8 percent.
|
Survey: More than half of teens, young adults have experienced online harassment .
Abuse included lies and having messages that were supposed to be private shared .
Survey by Associated Press/MTV aimed to gauge attitudes about online behavior .
Survey showed that more young people say they'd intervene if they saw online abuse .
|
07b34a2e6c1589121d6c198980ebc63b45dd190f
|
By . Talal Musa . They are some of the most successful and controversial games ever made. And now, gamers can catch the first glimpse of Call of Duty's latest installment, Ghosts. Coming soon to a next-gen console near you: The next Call of Duty game will use a new engine . Although Infinity ward and Activision are keeping most details under wraps, Ghosts is likely to take place in the future, but utilise current technology and weapons in line with a 'major plot event'. The single-player campaign is said to . include more destructible environments, with multiplayer maps featuring . interactive areas and traps. No . characters have been confirmed for the game, however, there are rumours . that Ghosts will be powered by an all-new next generation Call of Duty . engine. This is likely to please fans, given that the last game, Black Ops 2, looked dated compared to many current-gen releases. This year has seen around 40 million active gamers playing Call of Duty every month. Within 24 hours of going on sale, last year's Black Ops 2 - which was also set in the future - grossed more than $500m, becoming the biggest entertainment launch of all time. Call of Duty: Ghosts will be released in November. Follow us on Twitter: @DailyMailGames and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games.
|
Most likely to be set in future - no characters confirmed .
Reportedly using 'next generation' Call of Duty engine and features more destructive environments .
|
07b4819be16ee3985b51280b24caea5d372a8256
|
By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 03:44 EST, 23 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:45 EST, 23 June 2012 . Torrential downpours have brought flooding to swathes of northern England, forcing people to leave their homes as more than a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours. The deluges have brought havoc to Cumbria which buckled under the worst of the wet weather. Up to four inches of rain hit the region overnight, while south-west Scotland, Northern Ireland and Lancashire also experienced unusually heavy rainfall. The Environment Agency said people should remain vigilant and warned of further rain throughout today and into Sunday in areas of northern England already counting the cost of what it said was 'exceptional rainfall and record river levels'. The fast flowing River Ure at Aysfarth Falls in the Yorkshire Dales, after torrential downpours brought flooding to swathes of northern England . Residents in a sheltered housing complex in Leeds were forced to call firefighters to pump water away from homes as the River Aire burst its banks, threatening elderly residents . Two children, somewhat unperturbed, sit outside their home in Leeds after it was flooded following torrential downpours. Residents had to call firefighters to help drain away the water . Up to four inches of rain hit the region overnight, while south-west Scotland, Northern Ireland and Lancashire also experienced unusually heavy rainfall . Waterworld: Floodwaters surround shops in Mytholmroyd near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, after torrential downpours brought flooding to swathes of northern England . Flooding: Residents in the nearby market town of Hebden, West Yorkshire, were also forced to leave their homes as more than a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours . Floodwaters surround local shops in the centre of Hebden Bridge. The adverse conditions are set to improve - with the possibility of sunshine on Sunday . There are 95 areas under a flood . warning, where rivers are expected to burst their banks, with a further . 51 on alert for possible flooding as defences in areas including . Preston, Wigan, Catterall and Garstang were used to stop the rising . water. As much as four inches of rain fell . on the region overnight, while south-west Scotland, Northern Ireland and . Lancashire also experienced unusually heavy rainfall. An Environment Agency spokesman said: . 'A month's rain has fallen over parts of north-west and north-east . England in the last 24 hours and with further rain expected later today, . we would urge the public to remain vigilant and sign up to Environment . Agency flood warnings. 'We also urge the public to stay away from fast-flowing, swollen rivers and not to drive through floodwater.' The outlook for the coming days is . more promising. A band of wet weather is expected to sweep the country . from west to east tonight. Forecasts suggest it will pass relatively . quickly, meaning no one place should see more than five hours of rain. Amounts of between 0.4inches to . 0.6inches are expected to fall quite widely before clearing in many . areas tomorrow, with much of the country expected to see a dry day on . Monday. People flooded out of their homes . should be able to recoup the cost of temporary accommodation from their . insurer, according to the Association of British Insurers. Nick Starling, ABI's director of . general insurance, said: 'Unwelcome events like this are exactly why . people take out insurance, and insurers will very quickly be mobilising . claims staff to get claims moving and to help relieve the trauma that . those flooded are facing.' Submerged: Elderly residents in a housing complex in the Allerton Bywater area of Leeds were forced to call firefighters after the River Aire burst its banks . Battling against the elements: Two people in Mytholmroyd try to go about their daily business . Analysing the debris in Mytholmroyd: The Environment Agency has issued 140 flood warnings and alerts in northern regions which are also subject to Met Office severe weather warnings . Hebden Bridge: Forecasters said water levels would begin to recede but further showers are expected to slow the clear-up process . The Great North Swim in Cumbria has been postponed due to strong winds and heavy rain. Around 900 people were set to take part in the two-mile swim yesterday. This event has now been moved to Sunday, weather permitting, organisers said. A one-mile event due to take place today has also been cancelled. A statement on the event website said the decision was taken by the independent event planning group, as the weather forecast for today predicts strong gusting winds. 'Strong winds affect the ability of the safety kayakers to operate and also may make swimming conditions extremely challenging,' the statement read. All participants will be offered a full refund of their event entry. Forecasters said water levels would . begin to recede but further showers are expected to slow the clear-up . process, meaning some areas will remain swamped. The bad weather is set to improve, with the possibility of sunshine on Sunday. Matt Dobson, senior forecaster at . MeteoGroup, said Borrowdale in Cumbria bore the brunt of the bad weather . with an estimated four inches of rain. He said: 'It has been exceptionally wet overnight across Cumbria. 'By the end of the night, it is fair . to say that probably 2.72 inches to four inches fell over 24 hours which . is a month's worth of rain. It looks like the worst is probably now . over for Cumbria. 'There will still be some showers today and overnight but it is not going to be anywhere near as bad as it has been. 'The worst weather today is going to . be across Scotland where there is likely to be further heavy rain or . thunder storms. But the good news is the Isle of Wight is likely to have . a dry day.' Met Office severe weather warnings . are in place in the North-West, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands, the . South-West, Northern Ireland, Strathclyde, south-west and central . Scotland, the Lothians, the Scottish Borders, Tayside and Fife. The Met Office said the wettest places in the country yesterday were all in Cumbria, Lancashire and West Yorkshire. Blencathra in Cumbria - 3.6inhes - . was the worst affected, followed by Keswick (3.4inches), Stonyhurst in . Lancashire (2.9inches), Levens Hall in Cumbria (2.3inches) and Morecambe . on the Lancashire coast (2.2inches). Excess water: The torrential rain also brought flooding to the centre of Manchester today . A car lies deluged in water in Darwen, Lancashire: Some families spent the night in temporary accommodation after they were evacuated from properties in the county when rivers burst their banks . Residents in a flood-hit Lancashire village were starting the mammoth task of cleaning up the damage today. The River Yarrow burst its banks in Croston flooding more than 70 homes. It left the village looking like an island last night as the three main roads surrounding Croston were flooded. Residents were evacuated at the height of the flooding. Clean up: Tom Burke sweeps out flood water from his house in Croston, Lancashire, after the River Yarrow burst its banks . Jon Lilley, 32, landlord of the Wheatsheaf, Croston, said he had been forced to send his staff home early so they could escape the village before they were cut off. The landlord, who has only been in the pub for a year and has recently refurbished it, said: 'The water just kept coming closer and closer. 'We tried to wedge the doors as best we could but we lost the battle at about 2am and it came through the sandbags.' The cellar was completely flooded and the water came up around two inches in the pub. He added: 'I've lost my beer. My beer is floating. My plants have floated off down the road.' Today Mr Lilley and his staff were left to try to pump the water out of the cellar and clean up the rest of the pub. James Gartside, 42, of Town Road, said: 'All the water was flowing down the street and it came in through the gates and then just backed up and backed up. And then all of a sudden it just came in through the back. It went up to about six inches inside. This is the first time it's been this bad in about 10 years.' Mr Gartside praised the spirit of the villagers who all mucked in to help each other out, adding: 'It was typical British pluck.' Incoming: Rain is set to fall across Britain later today and tomorrow morning. The map on the left is a forecast for 2pm, while that on the right shows rainfall at 7pm . Overnight: Rain is due to cover much of Britain at 10pm tonight (left) while torrential conditions cover the UK tomorrow morning at 4am (right) Some families spent the night in . temporary accommodation after they were evacuated from properties in . Lancashire when rivers burst their banks. A concert tonight by singer and . Doctor Who actor John Barrowman at the new Tower Festival Headland venue . in Blackpool has been cancelled on health and safety grounds, a . spokesman said. Severe flooding also hit areas of West Yorkshire overnight, especially in the Calderdale area. The centres of the towns of Hebden . Bridge and Mytholmroyd were inundated and Todmorden was also badly . affected, firefighters said. Overnight, the River Calder at Hebden Bridge measured a record 3.2metres. At one point yesterday evening West . Yorkshire Fire Service issued a message saying it could only respond to . incidents in which life was in danger due to the amount of calls. Poor driving conditions: Heavy rain falls on the M6 near Northwich, Cheshire, yesterday . Wet conditions: To celebrate Sky Ride Local rides taking place in Preston throughout the summer, TV presenter Gethin Jones (centre) got on his bike with local residents . Umbrellas for sale: Business was no doubt brisk for Stephen Evans in Manchester city centre yesterday . Mud bath: The conditions weren't much better in the south, as an estimated 55,000 festival-goers head to the three-day Isle Of Wight rock festival . Further north, firefighters in the Yorkshire Dales had to rescue people from cars trapped by flash flooding. Councillor Simon Young said the River Calder burst its banks at about 9pm last night in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. He said: 'It was really a pretty devastating picture. 'Countless homes and businesses were under water in the centre of Mytholmroyd. 'I've spoken to a lot of people, a . lot of whom have lived in the area for years, and they cannot remember . anything like this in the last 24 years.' An 80-year-old pensioner was . hospitalised yesterday with serious injuries following a collision in . heavy rain on the A6112 between Preston and Duns in the Scottish Borders . at around 2.15pm.
|
Cumbria drenched in four inches of rain overnight .
South-west Scotland, Northern Ireland and Lancashire also experiences unusually heavy rainfall .
Environment Agency issues 140 flood warnings and alerts in northern regions .
Families in Lancashire spend the night in temporary accommodation after they were evacuated from homes when River Darwen became one of several rivers to burst their banks .
Further rain forecast to hit Britain today and tomorrow morning before sunshine breaks through the clouds .
|
07b48fe0117a024c280f0529522ae60dbb5efc1f
|
An 11-year-old boy has been banned from lessons with his classmates after teachers said that his hair had been cut too short. Callum Freeman fell foul of 'zero-tolerance' rules at St Benedict Voluntary Catholic Academy in Derby after getting a haircut with ultra-short, grade one sides. His mother, Sam Tillson, claims her son has been told he cannot rejoin his peers until his hair grows back because his short back and sides breaches the school's dress code. Short: Callum Freeman sports the short-back-and-sides haircut that has led to him being banned from lessons . She accuses the school of putting her son into 'isolation' and has claimed he is falling behind in his education after being blocked from school. She hasn't sent Callum to school since he was punished for the haircut. But teachers say that they still want him to attend school - just not in his regular classes. Ms Tillson said: 'He had his hair cut during a day off last week. He had it shorter than usual because he doesn’t like having it cut and it would save going again in the near future. 'I wasn’t aware that pupils could not have a grade one cut, which this is, I thought it would only be wrong if his head was fully shaved or coloured. 'He was put into isolation when he went back to school last Friday and I arranged for his grandfather to fetch him home the same day and he hasn’t been back since. 'I was told he couldn’t return until it grew again but that could be weeks and he is already behind in his lessons.' Callum with his grandfather Stephen Freeman: His mother accuses the school of putting her son into 'isolation' and has claimed he is falling behind in his education after being blocked from lessons . St Benedict Voluntary Catholic Academy in Derby: Teachers say that Callum is not banned from school, merely not allowed in regular classes - and they still want him to attend . St Benedict's headteacher Dr Chris Reynolds said Callum had not been isolated and that merely placed in an ‘opportunities room’, instead of his normal timetable. 'We have a zero-tolerance policy towards breaking school rules,' he said. 'This will result in pupils being placed in our opportunities room, which is not isolation, where there are several other pupils and a teacher. 'He has not been told that he cannot be in school and we would far sooner have Callum here.'
|
Callum Freeman's mother says that teachers have put her son in 'isolation'
She has not sent him to school since he was told off for the 'do last week .
But teachers say they still want him to attend - just not join regular classes .
|
07b54340588007b42e4c07f8ce06da204708bfc6
|
A dad left his one-year-old twin daughters in a hot car with the windows wound up while he had sex up against a wall. Shocked neighbours called police after hearing the girls crying in the car. After police arrived they walked around a duplex where they saw Juan Munford having sex with a woman. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Juan Munford is charged with child endangerment and indecent exposure after he left his twin girls in a hot car while he had sex outside an apartment complex . Juan Munfod has been charged with indecent exposure and child endangerment after he left his children in a hot car so he could have sex with a woman behind a building . The 47 year old identified himself as the father of the two girls who were left alone in the car parked in a driveway. The twins were taken to hospital as a precaution as they had been left alone in an airless car on a hot day. The incident took place on Friday in Prince George County, Virginia. Prince George Police Captain Brian Kei told WTVR TV in Richmond: 'We went around to the back of the duplex and discovered a male and a female engaging in sexual intercourse. At that point they [police] made contact with the individual who identified himself as the father of the two twins.' Police charged the woman with incident exposure and released her at the scene. Munford was arrested on child endangerment charges and held in jail. He was also charged with indecent exposure. The children were taken to Southside Regional Medical Center as a precaution and placed in the custody of child protective services. Juan Munford and a woman were caught having sex behind this duplex and Virginia while his children were dangerously left alone in a hot car .
|
Juan Munford left his one-year-old twin daughters in a hot car with the windows wound up while he had sex up against a wall .
After police arrived they walked around a duplex where they saw Juan Munford having sex with a woman .
Munford was arrested on child endangerment charges and held in jail. He was also charged with indecent exposure .
Police charged the woman with incident exposure and released her at the scene .
The children were taken to Southside .
Regional Medical Center as a precaution and placed in the custody of .
child protective services .
|
07b61152a9c88d7d65d09e1eac168f42abda910f
|
By . Alasdair Glennie . PUBLISHED: . 20:48 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:37 EST, 26 February 2013 . The few BBC presenters who did make it to work yesterday found themselves running a vicious Twitter gauntlet. Dozens of militant unionists organised a ‘scabwatch’ to hurl abuse at those who chose not to strike. Lucy Hockings was targeted for doing a live piece to camera, while presenter Jon Sopel and deputy political editor James Landale were slated for reporting live on the Prime Minister’s trip to Mumbai. Even weather presenter Carol Kirkwood fell foul of the tweets. Strike action: BBC staff in Birmingham on the picket line outside BBC Birmingham in The Mailbox . Under fire: Deputy political editor James Landale, left, and even weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, right, fell foul of the tweets . The NUJ action meant viewers expecting to watch Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid on BBC Breakfast were greeted by Gavin Grey instead. The freelance journalist presented a short news summary between repeats of daytime shows and bulletins on BBC1 at regular intervals throughout the day. A former regional ITV presenter, Mr Grey was used as a back-up newsreader in a 2010 BBC strike. This time he found himself targeted by angry unionists who subjected him to a torrent of online abuse. Peter Middleman, the north-west secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, wrote: ‘Only a special breed of scab would do it on live TV. Step forward Gavin Grey, grabbing 30 pieces of silver.’ Donnacha DeLong, who describes himself as an ‘anarchist, NUJ activist, freelance journalist, social media journalist and new media consultant’ added: ‘Gavin Grey – scabbing again #bbcstrike #NUJ.’ Later in the day he tweeted a direct message of support to Newsnight economics editor Paul Mason – also on the picket line – saying: ‘Solidarity forever.’ Guy Walters added: ‘Gavin Grey, the newsreader the BBC use when there’s a strike. He’s probably the only Tory in the entire corporation.’ Daniel Giblin – who describes himself online as a ‘part time freedom fighter’ – wrote: ‘Carol Kirkwood breaks the strike again! Live on tv for all to see #turnitoff.’ However, one rarely-seen presenter did surprisingly well out of the strikes. Ghanaian Komla Dumor, 40, usually presents on BBC World Service radio programmes, as well as BBC World News on TV. He received a warm welcome from UK viewers when he was drafted into the BBC News Channel. Andrew Pelling said: ‘Komla Dumor is great. Please let’s have him on @BBCNewsnight.’ Another, called Marianne, said: ‘I like this Komla Dumor newscaster on #bbcnews atm.’ A third user wrote: ‘I do enjoy all the new faces on a BBC strike day.’
|
Dozens of unionists organised a 'scabwatch' and abused non-strikers .
Repeats replaced some shows cancelled due to the strike .
The action was called by the NUJ in protest at compulsory redundancies .
|
07b6abc1375226b6a48d90aba65255b745cc588e
|
By . Louise Eccles . PUBLISHED: . 05:38 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:05 EST, 10 May 2013 . Repeat: Tony Martin, who killed an intruder in 1999, has been burgled again and he chased the intruder off his farm . A farmer jailed for shooting dead a burglar has told how he was too scared to tackle an intruder this week in case he was branded a criminal. Tony Martin, 67, confronted a man stealing a tractor battery on Thursday, but felt he had to let him go. The pensioner said he wished he had tried to stop him, but was afraid to defend his property after being locked up in 2000. Mr Martin, who no longer holds a gun licence, said he realised ‘it would be me in trouble’. He added: ‘I couldn’t face going through all that again.’ The farmer fired three shots in 1999 after finding two burglars inside his remote Cambridgeshire home. He killed Fred Barras, 16, and wounded his accomplice, Brendon Fearon, then 29. Mr Martin was initially jailed for nine years after being convicted of murder, but it was reduced to manslaughter on appeal, and he was released after three years. The case sparked fierce debate over whether homeowners should be given greater legal protection to defend their property. Two days ago, Mr Martin caught a man breaking into a barn on his 14-acre property, but felt powerless to stop him. He said he had already been burgled ‘two or three times’ since he was released from jail. He said: ‘I could easily have made it, and fought him for what he’d stolen, but then it quickly flashed through my mind that it would be me in trouble, not him. ‘There were weapons inside the shed so, if I had wanted to fight him off, I could have. I wished I had but, after everything I’ve been through in the past, I just couldn’t face all that hassle again. ‘I haven’t changed my views about what happened in 1999, but the whole experience has made me lose faith in the system and I didn’t want to be made out as the criminal again.’ Mr Martin, who never moved back into the farmhouse where both burglaries took place, was checking his outbuildings when he came across the intruder. He claimed the man, in his 20s, had a £90 tractor battery and a new sink unit in his arms. Incident: This is farmer Tony Martin's property, who has again been targeted by burglars again. These out buildings were allegedly where the thief was seen . Attempt: The thief allegedly tried to steal a tractor battery before being chased away by Mr Martin . As the burglar fled – dropping the stolen items – Mr Martin said he shouted: ‘Come back again and I’ll sort you my way.’ Yesterday he vowed not to let the burglar get away for a second time. He said: ‘He ran away but I’m convinced he’ll be back in my barn and then he’ll wish he wasn’t.’ He said little had changed to protect homeowners since his imprisonment, saying: ‘I don’t think we’re any safer than we were then. ‘I still feel vulnerable and am unable to properly protect myself.’ Scene: The garden and overgrown Bleak House, where Tony Martin shot three times at two burglars and killed one in 1999 . In October last year, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said householders who react with ‘proportionate’ force when confronted by burglars would receive more legal protection. Last month, a law finally came into force to give householders the right to ‘bash a burglar’, but with a string of exemptions attached. For example, people will not be protected if they chase the burglar outside – and any fight must take place indoors. Yesterday, Mr Martin was said to be so ‘distressed’ by the attempted theft that he sought hospital treatment. He asked officers at Wisbech Police . Station, in Cambridgeshire, to ‘detain’ him for his own protection, . claiming he was suffering from ‘delayed shock’. Mr Martin, who has suffered from . depression in recent years, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in . King’s Lynn, Norfolk, where he was assessed by doctors. Intruders: 16 year old Fred Barras was shot dead by Mr Martin while Brendan Fearon escaped . Later he said: ‘I am here for my own sanity and the safety of burglars. I can’t stand burglars. I think they are a filthy lot.’ Mr Martin said he had suffered similar health issues in May 1999, when he had reported a string of burglaries on his farm. He said police suggested at the time . that the break-ins, which took place two months before he shot Barras, . might be a ‘figment of his imagination’. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: ‘Inquiries are on-going.’
|
Claims he chased thief yelling: 'Come back again and I'll sort you my way'
67-year-old shot dead Fred Barras and injured Brendan Fearon in 1999 .
Initially jailed for nine years before crime was reduced to manslaughter .
After stress of yesterday's incident he's been taken to hospital for treatment .
|
07b7289f67e2d69a576cccdee3e1f4b7bc2cd93b
|
Firefighters worked to protect hogs in one building as a fire burned through another, killing over 4,000 baby pigs at a North Carolina farm. Emergency responders arrived at 700-acre Deerfield Farms in Eagle Springs around 11 p.m. Wednesday to find the nursery already in flames. Aberdeen Times reports that 10 emergency teams were on the scene working to put out the blaze as well as keep it from spreading to other structures or setting nearby propane tanks on fire. Factory: The USDA categorizes farm structures with more than 1,000 animals as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs (file photo) Water needed to be shuttled onto the farm down the mile of dirt road where the farm is located because there was no sufficient water source on the farm itself. Though fire officials said the fire was eventually controlled, about 4,200 pigs housed in the nursery were killed. The pigs ranged from 14 to 45 pounds.The animals are not considered hogs until they reach about 120 pounds and are ready to be butchered at about 220 pounds. 'It smelled bad,' said Eagle Springs Fire Department Chief Marshall Nall. 'It didn't smell like what you're going to eat at a restaurant.' 'When you have animals confined indoors they're not able to escape from problems like this,' said Gene Baur, president of Farm Sanctuary, a non-profit that opposes factory farming. The USDA categorizes facilities that house more than 1,000 animals for more than 45 days in a year to be a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, or CAFO. According to officials, the pigs were valued at $400,000 and the structure was $600,000. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.
|
The nursery at Deerfield Farms was already in flames when firefighters arrived at 11 p.m. to start putting out the fire and keep it from spreading to other buildings .
The young pigs ranged in size from 14 to 45 pounds, and were valued at $400,000 by officials .
'It smelled bad. It didn't smell like what you're going to eat at a restaurant,' said Fire Chief Marshall Nall .
|
07b7896df4416a8b90a702513a6a2a0e1715f570
|
When we imagine the robots of the future, they often look and move like humans, standing up on two legs and using a pair of arms to grab and move objects. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is working on a different kind of robot for disaster response that's designed to move like an ape. Headless but covered with seven cameras that act as "eyes," the RobotSimian has four identical limbs that do double duty as arms and legs. Together, they ably move the robot across rough terrain and rubble but can also pick up and manipulate objects. It has wheels it can coast on if the surface is smooth enough. The RoboSimian is JPL's final entry into the DARPA Robotics Challenge, a 27-month-long competition among some of the world's top robotic talent to create an emergency response robot. In situations such as a nuclear disaster, one of these robots could go into environments too dangerous for human rescue workers and execute simple tasks such as lifting debris off survivors or turning off a valve. In June, RoboSimian and up to 18 other finalists will have to make their way through an obstacle course that simulates eight common scenarios. Each robot will attempt to drive a car, move across rubble, use a tool and climb stairs, all without a human controlling it. DARPA says the final competitors should be as competent as a 2-year-old child. The winning team will receive a $2 million prize. JPL used leftover parts from RoboSimian to create another robot called Surrogate. The more traditional upright robot has a flexible spine, head and two arms. While better at manipulating objects, Surrogate ran on tracks and wasn't as adept at traversing the complicated terrain that is common in a disaster. After considering both candidates, the team decided to take RoboSimian to the finals. One trade-off is that RoboSiman is slower than many other competitors. JPL's team is working with the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Caltech to increase the robot's walking speed. "It is intentionally the tortoise relative to the other hares in the competition. We feel that a very stable and deliberate approach suites our technical strengths and provides a model for one vital element of the 'ecosystem' of robots that we expect to be deployed to disaster scenarios in the future," said JPL's Brett Kennedy, who is supervisor of the Robotic Vehicles and Manipulators Group. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is most known for designing robotics for space exploration, such as the Mars rovers. But the DARPA competition was an opportunity for the JPL group to take its existing robotics research and compare approaches directly to other talented teams. NASA also has a long history of taking technology developed for space exploration and using it here on Earth. RoboSimian software was influenced by programs used to control the Mars rovers. In both cases, the system is designed to let the robots work as autonomously as possible when communication with a human operator is dropped. Spotty communications are common in disaster scenarios (and on Mars). The team has thought hard about all aspects of RoboSimian's design, even making sure it has the right look. "We included industrial designers in the team in an effort to create a robot that looked professional rather than either threatening or overly cute," said Kennedy. "Basically, we wanted the perceptual equivalent of a St. Bernard." While JPL is focused on perfecting the ape-like design for Earth-bound applications for now, this is just one stop in the circular life of NASA technology. "We intend to spin the technologies developed for the terrestrial RoboSimian back out to applications in space," said Kennedy. "These tasks include assembly and maintenance of orbital structures; exploration of low-gravity bodies like asteroids, comets, and moons; exploration of caves and cliffs on Mars or our moon; and even preconstruction of habitats wherever humans care to venture in the solar system."
|
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has designed the ape-like robot RoboSimian .
The disaster-response robot is competing in the DARPA Robotics Challenge finals .
RoboSimian has four limbs, no head and multiple cameras .
|
07b8203b6084395cbd6f6fc1cb1ac841f575c6c1
|
By . Snejana Farberov . A cross-dressing male housekeeper, known as Ms Puppy, has pleaded guilty to beating to death a gay couple from Denver. Daryl Rasmussen, 58, pleaded guilty Friday to counts of second-degree murder. Rasmussen was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and 13 other charges against him – including first-degree murder - were dismissed. Scroll down for video . Guilty: Daryl Rasmussen, 58, known as Ms Puppy, was sentenced to 30 years in prison as part of a plea deal in the double murder of a gay couple . According to prosecutors, Rasmussen bludgeoned to death Ronald Ford, 63, and his long-time boyfriend, 56-year-old Ramiro 'Rome' Sanchez, in their Denver home in late January 2011. The cross-dresser also stole the slain couple's 1997 Dodge Caravan and used their credit cards and identifies. The victims’ bodies were discovered a week apart in mid-February. Both are survived by a number of grown children. Rasmussen, aka Ms Puppy, had been homeless when the Denver couple hired him in 2010 to be a housekeeper and caregiver to Sanchez, who was disabled. Sanchez and Ford were killed in their home in the 120 block of Stuart Street in Denver with blows to the head, according to court documents. Ingrate: Rasmussen (left), who had been homeless, was hired by the couple in 2010 as a housekeeper and a caregiver to Ramiro Sanchez, 56 (right), who was disabled . Gruesome discoveries: Ronald Ford's body was found inside the couple's Denver home February 11, 2011, and Sanchez was discovered a week later hidden in the basement . Ford's body was found inside the house February 11. Sanchez was discovered a week later hidden in the basement under a pile of bags. Before Sanchez was found dead, it had been suggested that he and Rasmussen may have run away together. Speaking to The Denver Channel in February 2011, Heidi Coleman, one of Ford's four children, said that it was a relief to know that her father's partner of 18 years did not play a part in his murder. Denver Post reported that Daryl Rasmussen fled after the murders but was arrested six months later in Palm Springs, California, after a patron in a local bar overheard him introduce himself as Ms Puppy. In court Friday, Daryl Rasmussen spoke very little, only saying he was sorry for what happened, CBS Denver reported.
|
Daryl Rasmussen, 58, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder counts in the 2011 killings of Ronald Ford and Ramiro Sanchez in Denver .
The couple hired the homeless man as a housekeeper and caregiver to Sanchez, was was disabled, in 2010 .
Rasmussen stole the victims' car and credit cards, and skipped town, but was tracked down in California six months later .
|
07b90c84ec698f18b0e27d00ac1bd57a7a245d29
|
(CNN) -- Four police officers and a suspect were shot in a raid for firearms and narcotics early Thursday in central New Jersey, a local prosecutor's office said. The officers from the Lakewood Police Department's tactical unit were shot upon entering the property and returned fire, hitting suspect Jamie Gonzalez, said Ocean County Deputy Chief Prosecutor Michael Mohel. Gonzalez, 39, received multiple gunshot wounds and is in critical but stable condition, Mohel said. One officer was shot in the face and is being treated at an undisclosed hospital, the deputy chief prosecutor said. He's in serious but stable condition. Another officer was shot in the foot and is in stable condition. The other two officers sustained injuries after receiving gunshots to their bulletproof vests, Mohel said. Their names were not disclosed. The warrant for firearms and narcotics was served at 2:25 a.m. ET in conjunction with federal, state and local authorities. Lakewood is about 70 miles south of New York City. In July, another shootout in New Jersey left one police officer dead. Jersey City police officer Marc DiNardo died after being shot in the face in a raid. He was one of five officers injured in the shootout, and the two suspects involved were killed. CNN's Vanessa Juarez contributed to this report.
|
Police officers shot in raid for firearms and narcotics in Lakewood, New Jersey .
Suspect also wounded after officers return fire, official says .
Lakewood is about 70 miles south of New York .
|
07b9fd530eed44f5cbe9dffc80a756b3b9ee5710
|
(CNN) -- One goal in eight matches for new club Liverpool, and dumped by the Italian national team. Perhaps the man known as "Super" Mario Balotelli isn't feeling quite so super at present. Offloaded by Italian giants AC Milan prior to the start of the season, the 24-year-old is already onto the fourth high-profile club of his fledgling career. And until the striker, painted as a maverick and a trouble maker in the press, proves he can '"carry" a club, his enormous potential may go unfulfilled, according to Milan director Umberto Gandini. "Probably Mario has not made the transition yet from being just a fantastic athlete to a great player," Gandini told CNN of one of the most talked about players in world football. "The expectation was probably bigger (at AC Milan), and I think also his expectations, and he has not reached the status yet where he can carry the club. "Until he will do that he won't be able to fulfill his promises." Balotelli has struggled to adapt to life back in the English Premier League, scoring just one goal in eight matches for Liverpool since his $25 million move in August. Even his new manager Brendan Rodgers admitted signing the former Inter forward was a "calculated risk" given his checkered past, saying the player himself knows this is probably his last chance. Not helping him is the shadow of the man he replaced on Merseyside -- Luis Suarez, now at Spanish club Barcelona. The Uruguayan achieved cult status at the club, scoring 82 goals in 133 appearances, and 31 times last season as the Reds came agonizingly close to a first Premier League title since 1990. And while there are similarities in the way the pair have courted controversy in the past, Balotelli is yet to offered any hint of the potency that punctuated Suarez's stay at the club. He is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League and whether he will play alongside Daniel Sturridge on Sunday against QPR, the England striker having returned to fitness, remains to be seen. Tales of Balotelli's private life dominated his last stint in England and Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, this week said the striker was signed against his advice, calling him a "bad apple." But that is at odds with Gandini's assessment -- that Balotelli is far more professional than he is portrayed -- though he does acknowledge the player is energized by conflict. "He is much, much better than he is portrayed and his lifestyle was much better than portrayed in England," Gandini added. "He is a fantastic kid, he is humble, and recognizes a lot of values that football has given to him, and life in general. "I think he loves the fight. He loves to fight with something or somebody -- on the pitch, in life. He's always trying to take the stance.
|
Milan director Umberto Gandini tells CNN the time was right for Mario Balotelli to leave .
Gandini says the controversial striker is not yet at the stage where he can "carry the club"
Balotelli left Milan for Liverpool in August but has had a modest start to life at Anfield .
The 24-year-old has just one goals in eight matches and was recently benched .
|
07ba216aadcc6b8f6c2e60da1d267e447b97c1b0
|
Gareth Bale has been 'like a kid at Christmas' at training this week according to Zinedine Zidane ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League final against arch-rivals Atletico on Saturday. Bale joined the nine-time European champions for a world record £86million from Premier League outfit Tottenham in September and is on the verge of achieving a dream double with his new side after having already won the Copa del Rey in April. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Bale say Real will be ready for the final . Excited: Zinedine Zidane says Gareth Bale is 'like a kid at Christmas' ahead of Real's Champions League Final . The 24-year-old Wales midfielder has impressed Real and France legend Zidane with his enthusiasm ahead of the Lisbon showpiece, at Benfica's Stadium of Light, at a time when the beautiful game is shrouded by money. 'So much talk of modern football is about wages, and contracts, and transfer fees - that the raw love of the game is forgotten,' he said. 'You only have to come and see Gareth (Bale) in training this week - and you will see just pure love for the game - he is like a child waiting for Christmas in the build up to the final. The entire club is excited - but Gareth is new to all this and the anticipation is big for him.' Looking ahead to the all-Madrid final, Real coach Zidane added that the Bernabeu outfit are under no illusions of how difficult the task will be on Saturday as they look to win the much-fabled La Decima against the La Liga champions. 'It will be a tough game - anybody who has seen Atletico plays this season knows what a strong team they are,' he added. 'We are ready for the final though - and it is time to bring back European glory to this club.' Tough task: Zidane is under no illusions of the threat arch-rivals Atletico Madrid pose for Real on Saturday .
|
Gareth Bale has been very excited during Real Madrid's training ahead of their Champions League Final against Atletico, says Zinedine Zidane .
Zinedine Zidane believes Real are ready to win La Decima on Saturday .
Real face Atletico at Benfica's Stadium of Light on Saturday .
|
07ba82502331100935bbe4033d92e699508737b6
|
Much maligned former Manchester City striker Jo is finally fulfilling his potential – six years after the £18million move which was marked him out as one of the world’s hottest prospects. His eventual inevitable return back to Brazil looked to take the then-shaggy haired towering but clumsy frontman out of the spotlight, but now he could be leading the line for the five-time World Cup winners in his home country - complete with a new, more sensible haircut. Arriving as Mark Hughes’ first signing as manager, Jo was an early sign for City fans that their new-found blank chequebook could not necessarily buy success. Flop: Brazilian Jo signed for Manchester City in 2008 in an £18m deal but struggled to make an impact . Goal brought: Jo struck just 11 times at City and was shipped out on loan to Everton in his second season . Revival: Yet Jo will likely make an come off the bench for hosts Brazil in the World Cup opener against Croatia . The Brazilian centre-forward arrived from CSKA Moscow with the objective of being the star striker to lead a new blue era, but the reality was not so pretty. He managed just 11 goals during his time at the Etihad – with five of those coming against small sides in the League Cup and Europa League. A loan spell at Everton sandwiched between two seasons in sky blue was not hugely successful either, producing just two goals: against 10-man AEK Athens in the Europa League and soon-to-be relegated Hull City in the Carling Cup. Second chance: Jo was sent out to Everton on loan from City but scored just twice for the Toffees . International: Jo has now played for Luis Felipe Scolari's Brazil side 15 times, scoring on five occasions . He even returned to South America without permission over the Christmas period in 2009, angering then boss David Moyes. Jo bowed out from the Premier League as a big-money flop, quietly returning to Brazil and Internacional where he spent twelve months before joining current club Atletico Mineiro. Even back in his home country the 6' 2" striker failed to initially shine – five goals in 36 games for Internacional didn’t exactly set the world alight and he even missed a flight for an away game after over-celebrating his birthday. But he has impressed at Mineiro upfront alongside former Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldinho and was top scorer in his first season at the club as they won the South American equivalent of the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores. Bad hair day: Gone is the long, curly hair which Jo sported in England now he is at Atletico Mineiro . Joking around: Jo (right) enjoys a laugh with ex-Manchester City team-mate Robinho .
|
Jo signed for Manchester City from CSKA Moscow for £18m in 2008 .
He was seen as one of world's hottest prospects but he struggled at City .
The Brazilian managed just 11 goals at City and two on loan at Everton .
Moved back to South America and now plays for Atletic Mineiro .
He is likely to appear off the bench tonight for Brazil against Croatia .
|
07ba95dfbf9e02dcd8f64c3fd879b42415fa902b
|
An adorable puppy Pit Bull named Cleo doesn't want to wake up from nap no matter how much her owner tries to rustle her from her sleep. A clip of the cute pup in a dream state was posted on YouTube by RM Videos on November 5th and already has almost 200,000 views. Cleo lays sprawled out on her back in an impenetrable slumber. Could she be dreaming of dog treats? Or baseballs? Her stern yet delicious expression makes it difficult to tell what's going on in her reveries. 'Cleeeoo,' says the dog's owner as she tries ticking her awake with her finger in various spots on her little body. At one point she puts her finger in the dog's mouth. Cleo, who would have nothing of that, gives a little stretch but then turns on her side and goes back to sleeping again. Her owner tries lifting the dog’s paws and even puts her finger to giver the puppy a tickle but Cleo it seems, is a professional napper. Scroll down for video . Dead asleep: Cleo the puppy is fast asleep on her back dreaming of dog treats and baseballs . No use trying: Cleo's owner gives her a nice belly rub but not even that is enough to wake her from sleep . Doesn't bark or bite: When Cleo's owner put her fingers in the dog's mouth she doesn't bark or bite . Just a little stretch: Cleo the puppy stretches her arms and legs but her eyes remain closed . Paws up: Even when Cleo's owner picks up her paws she doesn't budge from her impenetrable slumber . Still snoozing: Cleo just stays on her side in a deep and blissful slumber for as long as she decides .
|
A clip of the cute pup Cleo in a dream state was posted on YouTube by RM Videos on November 5th and already has almost 200,000 views .
'Cleeeoo,' says the dog's owner as she tries ticking her awake with her finger in various spots on her little body .
Her owner tries lifting the dog’s paws and even puts her finger to giver the puppy a tickle but Cleo it seems, is a professional napper .
|
07bb068be9efcd256a58d45f637a424691f5c6b7
|
(CNN) -- At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 hurt Friday in clashes between tens of thousands of anti-government protesters and security forces outside Sanaa University in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, medical officials on the scene said. President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced that a state of emergency had been declared, and he expressed his "deep regret" over the casualties. An Interior Ministry official said both sides suffered casualties in the violence. The official would not be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media. Witnesses said the clashes began after government supporters and anti-government demonstrators threw rocks at each other. Security forces shot into the air and then into the crowd; they also fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowd, witnesses said. "Orders had been issued earlier to all security apparatus to protect the protesters and the opposition, and to separate them," Saleh said. At the time the firing began, however, the two sides were far apart -- meaning security forces could not protect the protesters, Saleh said. He also said the protesters opened fire in an area that was full of people. "Their protests have to be carried out in places away from houses of ordinary people, in order to prevent any friction between them and the people living in those areas," he said. "Therefore we have today announced a state of emergency in all regions and the ban of any acts of armed violence in order to preserve the safety and security of citizens," he added. A spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, Mohammed Albasha, called on senior security authorities to bring the perpetrators of Friday's violence to justice. Separate statements from France and the United States, however, called on the Yemeni government to allow peaceful protests, implying that they believe the Yemeni government was responsible for the deaths and injuries. "It is now imperative to stop attacks by security forces and pro-government armed groups against individuals exercising their right of expression and demonstration," the French Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. "We again urge the Yemeni authorities, as they have previously pledged to do, to protect peaceful demonstrators, to guarantee the civil and political rights, and to adopt concrete and credible measures reaching out to the aspirations of the country." U.S. President Barack Obama also urged Saleh to stick to his pledge to protect peaceful demonstrations. "The United States stands for a set of universal rights, including the freedom of expression and assembly, as well as political change that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people," he said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement Friday saying that the U.S. is "alarmed by today's violence in Sanaa against anti-government protesters" and that she joins Obama in "condemning the violence." The U.S. is "seeking to verify reports that this is the result of actions by the security forces," Clinton said, adding that "all perpetrators of violence should should be held accountable and brought to justice." Amnesty International went further, saying the shootings were part of an "apparently coordinated sniper attack" on protesters. "This appears to have been a sniper attack with security forces deliberately shooting to kill protesters from strategic vantage points," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. Protesters were reportedly chanting anti-government slogans at a protest camp near Sanaa University when armed men in plain clothes, believed to be members of the security forces, started shooting live rounds from the top of nearby buildings, Amnesty International said. Members of the security forces also shot at protesters at street level around the same time, it said. The group said it heard from a witness that the shooting started from different buildings and continued for more than 30 minutes. Hamid al-Ahmar, a member of parliament and leader of Yemen's opposition Islah Party, also blamed the government. "The attacks on protesters are unacceptable, and the end of the regime is near," he declared. "Saleh has brought upon himself a life of disgrace after the killing of innocent protesters." Yemen has been wracked by weeks of unrest, with thousands protesting Saleh's government. High unemployment has fueled much of the anger among a growing young population steeped in poverty. The protesters also cite government corruption and a lack of political freedom. The president has said he will not run for another term in the next round of elections. He also has pledged to bring a new constitution to a vote by the end of the year and transfer government power to an elected parliamentary system. Journalist Hakim Almasmari contributed to this report.
|
France and the United States call on Saleh to allow peaceful assembly .
Saleh, the president of Yemen, declares a state of emergency .
An Interior Ministry official says casualties happened on both sides .
Security forces open fire and use tear gas, witnesses say .
|
07bb274cc5117631ae7fde613916720de16da53c
|
Landmark ruling: President of the Family Division Sir James Munby . Decisions by secret courts that can lead to children being taken from their parents or old people forced into care homes are finally to be opened up to public scrutiny. Under rules set out yesterday, future judgments in the family courts and the Court of Protection must be made public except in cases where there is a clear reason to dictate they should not be. Councils applying to take children into care or to take control of the lives of the old and sick can no longer hide behind a cloak of anonymity. Expert witnesses, including social workers, should also be named in public, as should anyone found responsible for wrongdoing. The . landmark changes break a silence that has surrounded family justice for . nearly 100 years. They also mark a major victory for the Daily Mail . which has campaigned against secret courts and exposed a series of major . scandals over the past year resulting from justice being conducted . behind closed doors. The . new rules, laid down by the most senior family judge, President of the . Family Division Sir James Munby, say that judgments in the family courts . and the Court of Protection must always be publicised unless there are . ‘compelling reasons’ why not. Only children and adults caught up in disputes and members of their families should be protected by anonymity. The . guidelines warn that secrecy prevents families who have been involved . in cases from complaining when they believe they have suffered . injustice. Sir . James said in guidance sent to judges that there would be ‘an immediate . and significant change in practice in relation to the publication of . judgments in family courts and the Court of Protection’. The High Court ruled the woman should not be told of social workers plans to take her baby after birth . He . added: ‘In both courts there is a need for greater transparency in . order to improve public understanding of the court process and . confidence in the court system. ‘At . present too few judgments are made available to the public, which has a . legitimate interest in being able to read what is being done by judges . in its name.’ The . Mail’s campaign revealed last April that the Court of Protection – set . up by the last Labour government to deal with the affairs of those too . ill to make decisions for themselves – had jailed a woman in secret and . without publishing any record. A . Birmingham judge imprisoned Wanda Maddocks, 50, for contempt of court . for trying to get her father out of a care home where he had been . ordered to stay. Miss Maddocks had no lawyer to represent her, and no judgment was published. She served six weeks. In . December we revealed how an Italian mother who had been forced by the . Court of Protection to have a caesarean begged a family court judge in . vain to allow her to keep her baby. Everything that happened to the mother, Alessandra Pacchieri, was decided by the courts in secret. In the same month we disclosed the . case of the ‘irreproachable’ father who spent 12 years and £100,000 in . the family courts trying to win the right to see his 14-year-old . daughter – and who still has not won his case for access. Currently, . secrecy in the family courts – which can remove children from dangerous . parents, order them to be adopted, and decide on their custody – is . governed by 1960 law. This . makes it contempt of court to discuss a case when no judgment has been . published, a crime punishable by two years in prison. Successive . attempts to open up the courts have been thwarted. In . 2006, Labour Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer blocked a law that would . have allowed more light in because state-subsidised charities such as . the NSPCC and the National Children’s Bureau opposed the idea. Labour’s 2005 Mental Capacity Act, pushed through by Lord Falconer, set up the Court of Protection. Its rules say ‘the general rule is that a hearing is to be held in private’. Sir James Munby, who took over a year ago as President of the Family Division, which includes responsibility for both courts, said his new guidance would take effect from February 3. He added that further guidance and formal legal practice directions will follow. There may yet be full Parliamentary legislation, although Sir James said this is ‘unlikely in the near future.’ He said that current rules are ‘inappropriate where family members wish to discuss their experiences in public, identifying themselves and making use of the judgement. ‘Equally, they may be inappropriate in cases where findings have been made against a person and the court concludes it is in the public interest for that person to be identified.’
|
Family Court and Court of Protection judgements will now be made public .
Expert witnesses, including social workers, are to be named .
Councils applying to take children into care can no longer claim anonymity .
New rules laid down by President of the .
Family Division Sir James Munby .
Daily Mail has exposed a series of major .
scandals over the past year .
These have resulted from justice being conducted .
behind closed doors .
|
07bc0b900e25cd11b247e3badde85254d15b7dd8
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:18 EST, 1 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:51 EST, 2 October 2013 . Criticism: JP Alan Bissell has claimed too many crimes are being dealt with by police caution . A magistrate who is retiring after 25 years of service has criticised the justice system for failing to properly punish criminals. Alan Bissell said JPs are now forced to place too much emphasis on rehabilitation. He also hit out at the increasing number of criminal cases which never end up in court and are instead dealt with by a caution. Speaking out on his last day as a magistrate, he explained that punishment has ‘diminished to the point where it hardly features these days’. He added: ‘Rehabilitation is washing over everything. Although it has its place, clearly, I am personally dismayed that the work of the court has diminished to the extent that it has. ‘It dismays me that so much of the work that should be before the court is being handled by the police in terms of cautions.’ He claimed serious cases were being dealt with ‘in their thousands and thousands’ every day by cautions. Mr Bissell, 70, spent most of his working life as a civil servant in London. He moved to North Wales in the 1980s and was appointed a magistrate in November 1989, sitting initially at Flint and then at Mold. He made the comments at Flintshire magistrates’ court where colleagues gathered to pay tribute to his work as a justice. In his speech he criticised successive governments that promised to get tough with sentencing but whose policies had ‘all come to naught’. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling last week said he was appalled that crimes including rape and drug dealing were being dealt with by cautions. He plans to issue new guidance that will effectively ban officers from using cautions for the most serious offences. Born in Sheen, Richmond-on-Thames, Mr Bissell spent most of his working life as a civil servant based in St James’s Square in London. Failure: Alan Bissell said too much emphasis was being placed on rehabilitation in favour of punishment . In the mid 60s and early 70s he worked in the private office of four successive Government ministers - Ray Gunter, Barbara Castle, Robert Carr and Maurice MacMillan Jnr. In the summer of 1965 he drove an authentic, privately-owned London double-decker bus across France to Basle in Switzerland. He also drove the same bus in the film ‘To Sir With Love’ with Sidney Poitier and Lulu, which was filmed in the east end of London; and also in several episodes of the TV series ‘The Persuaders’, starring Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. During his time as a magistrate, Mr Bissell dealt with some colourful cases, including a superstitious drink driver who blamed a magpie for a crash. He also told on defendant, who had crossed into Wales from Liverpool to steal whisky in 2005: ‘It is often said that we take great exception to people who come marauding across the border to thieve. ‘We are quite clear in our minds that is why you came over and why you were there. ‘We have been told it was an act of stupidity on your part. It certainly was, and you will have to be sentenced for that stupidity today.’ Mr Bissell also ordered a farmer who terrified a group of ramblers, including a blind man, with a hedge-cutter to attend a year-long anger management course.
|
JP claims serious cases are being dealt with in their thousands by cautions .
Alan Bissell said successive governments had failed to get tough on crime .
Punishment has 'diminished to the point where it hardly features'
|
07bf8e7b51cba8591d456c7cebc89025f77537d6
|
Fans of the beautiful game paid to watch former stars in the 'Battle of the South Americans' between Brazil and Argentina at the weekend. One of the greats on display for the showpiece occasion between the footballing giants was Claudio Caniggia, who won 50 caps for Argentina. However the Caniggia on show - despite wearing his customary number number 7 shift - was not the skilful winger who netted 16 goals in the famous blue and white shirt. In fact, it was fellow Argentine Daniel Cordone, who was once declared the Premier League's worst transfer after an ill-fated spell at Newcastle United. The number 7 on show at the 'Masters' match was not Claudio Caniggia but Newcastle flop Daniel Cordone . Caniggia, a close friend of Diego Maradona, won 50 caps for his country and scored 16 goals . Cordone enjoyed a dismal time at Newcastle, playing only 21 times - he has never represented his country . After the game, organisers insisted Cordone was Caniggia and the event's promoter Andre de Paula said: 'This is the Caniggia, the real Caniggia. There is no other Caniggia.' However, suspicions were raised when Cordone ran straight to the dressing room at the final whistle and refused to speak to the media. And his guise was eventually caught out when it emerged the former Newcastle striker has a visible tattoo on his right-arm, unlike Caniggia. One fan told local media that he was so angry at the 'fake' Caniggia that he left the stadium early, while another added: 'I am very disappointed. I am an admirer of Argentine football and I wanted to see the match, and get autographs.' The match finished 3-3, with Esteban Fuertes and Ruggeri (2) on the scoresheet for Argentina. Petkovic, Beto and Souza netted for Brazil. Cordone tried to fool the spectators in to thinking he was the former Argentina player - he is pictured here tackling Brazil's former player Adilio during the match at Dunas stadium in Natal . Cordone even took on free-kick responsibility under the guise of Argentina great Caniggia during the game . The forward began his footballing career at Velez Sarsfield in his home country, which earned him a move to Newcastle United for a fee of £500,000 in 2000. However, in a disappointing spell in the North East he played only 21 times and scored three goals against Derby, Tottenham and Bradford in the League Cup. His time at Newcastle earned him the unfortunate title of the worst transfer in Premier League history. After leaving Newcastle, he played for a string of teams in Argentina. He was never capped by his country. The skilful winger started his career at River Plate, before moving to European giants Roma and Benfica. He then joined River Plate's bitter rivals, Boca Juniors before signing for Dundee and then Rangers in Scotland, where he enjoyed cult-hero status. He won 50 caps for Argentina, scoring 16 goals. He is a close friend of Argentina's greatest ever-player Diego Maradona and had a reputation for enjoying the high-life. He was banned for 13 months in 1993 after testing positive for cocaine.
|
Former Newcastle flop Daniel Cordone impersonated Claudio Caniggia .
He pretended to be the former Argentina great in a Masters match vs Brazil .
But he was caught out because of the visible tattoo on his right arm .
|
07c13f9d651f568bfa9258c9fa05fa73eb91a173
|
By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 07:51 EST, 28 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:19 EST, 28 July 2013 . Loyal: Dinah May (left) was assistant to Michael Winner for 35 years and was with him at his death . Michael Winner's long-serving personal assistant has told how he died peacefully in her arms. Dinah May, 59, said the film director and food critic had died quietly after she told him his friends 'in heaven are waiting for you'. The former model and Miss Great Britain was Mr Winner's personal assistant for 35 years. Her notoriously outrageous and straight-talking boss would famously shout 'DINAH!' whenever he needed anything. Miss May's loyalty to her boss meant she nursed him through his deteriorating health and became his carer in his final months. She said she had gone to change his dressings as he lay on a coma on the day he died in January when she spoke to him. 'I was just holding his hand and I was saying, "What are you holding on for? You said goodbye to everybody, everyone in heaven is waiting for you" and suddenly his breath started to change and he took his last breath and that was it,' she told the Sunday Times. She added it was 'heartbreaking' to watch him die. 'He had gone through hell and to see it any longer... No, he had to go. I felt so sorry for him, it was tragic,' she said. Mr Winner left her £300,000 and the £1.2 million Kensington flat he owned in which she lived rent-free. But it was revealed last week he owed £12million in debts which has dramatically shrunk his estate to £4.75million. As a result, Miss May has received a tax bill for £150,000 and has been told there is a £600,000 loan on the flat which she will also have to pay. She said: ‘Michael was great fun but oh, what a complete mess. He always promised me a pension. If he saw me crying because I was worried about the future, he told me not to worry because I was well taken care of in his will. 'And of course I believed him. Towards the end he kept writing and rewriting his will. We used to joke it was like the hokey-cokey. One day someone was in, the next day they were out. I suppose that was because he knew the money was running out. ‘Michael made it clear that his bequests to me should be clear of inheritance tax and gift tax and that if there was any, his estate should pay it. He wrote that down, had it documented and gave me a copy. 'It was all done legally. It’s with my lawyer who has been contesting everything with the executors and Michael’s lawyers. If I had to meet these bills, I would have to sell the flat – and then where would I live?' Miss May is hoping the book she is writing about Mr Winner's life - which he gave her his blessing to do - will pay the bills. Scroll down for video . Helping hand: Dinah May (left) helps Michael Winner and his wife Geraldine assemble flat-pack furniture at their home in Kensington . Beauty queen: Former model Dinah May was Miss Great Britain in 1976 . She said: ‘Michael always said to me, “Write the real story about me . when I’ve gone. You know everything that was never published. Your book . will be your real pension. People will love it. Don’t be afraid to get . it all down.” ‘I’ve written 40,000 words so far and have been offered a publisher. I’ve even been contacted by a TV company who want to make a documentary . about it all. I think it makes pretty racy reading. There was a lot . Michael didn’t tell the world, didn’t want people to know until he was . gone. I think the public will enjoy it.’ Miss May knew Mr Winner better than . anyone and her role as his assistant went as far as washing his hair in . beer, sewing buttons on his shirt and plucking his nasal and ear hair. Miss May was married for many years but is now divorced.
|
Film director and food critic died peacefully as assistant held his hand .
Dinah May, 59, had worked for Michael Winner for 35 years .
|
07c1a601409341c7d156d262a0c64a17b1dcec3b
|
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 15:58 EST, 6 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:14 EST, 6 January 2013 . Covered: Breast pumps and kits are now covered under insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act . The Affordable Care Act means many things for women, including birth control for all policy holders with no additional payment from the patient required. A lesser-known facet of the new so-called Obamacare law is a provision that requires insurance companies to cover the full cost of breast pumps without a deductible or out-of-pocket expense for new mothers. The cost of these devices is covered in insurance premiums, which in turn are paid by policyholders. The Washington Post notes that it was pumps, not pills, that caught suppliers off-guard after January 1, when this part of the Affordable Care Act went into law. The catch for all new mothers is that only certain breast pump models are covered, and they have to be ordered through a licensed provider. Yummy Mummy, a New York-based boutique that specializes in accessories a new mother would need, has been mulling how best to serve their clientele. Owner Amanda Cole told the Post that she and her staff have been inundated with calls, and that she’s improvising how best to handle the new business. Available: New York boutique retailer Yummy Mummy is one company registered to supply insurance-approved pumps . The business owner recently signed a contract with health giant Aetna to become a licenced provider of breast pumps. So far, around five kits are covered by insurance, as well as bottles, breast shields, and caps. ‘Now that the plan really took effect on January 1st, there’s been a marked change,’ she told the paper. Without insurance, new mothers could pay upwards of $300 for a pump, milk containers, sterilizers, and other paraphernalia. Control: As part of the ACA in effect, insurance companies must provide any FDA-approved contraception . The $2.8 trillion U.S. healthcare system costs nearly $9,000 a year for every man, woman and child, according to Reuters. As the New York Times noted today, some policyholder’s insurance premiums went up by double-digit percentages in 2013 due in part to the ACA. The Times reported that Anthem Blue Cross in California has proposed raising its rates by 26 percent, and other private insurers are onboard. -Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
|
As part of the Affordable Care Act, breast pumps and other supplies must be covered by insurance companies .
Breast pump suppliers now facing influx of demand .
|
07c1f44591e110853d04ffd9b75291559c3c9199
|
(CNN) -- The Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized a rule that for the first time requires U.S. coal and oil-fired power plant operators to limit emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. EPA rules in place under the 1990 Clean Air Act have targeted acid rain and smog-forming chemicals emitting from power plants. But perhaps surprising to many, those rules have never included limits on mercury, a neurotoxin known to damage developing fetuses and children. How this policy affects your health . The benefits of this new rule, in terms of dollars saved and death prevented, far outweigh the costs to companies and consumers, according to peer-reviewed EPA studies. U.S. power plants account for only about 1% of global mercury emissions. Even so, for each dollar spent reducing mercury and hazardous air pollutant emissions under the new rule, the EPA projects up to $9 in health benefit savings by preventing an estimated 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks each year. Among children, the new limits are projected to prevent 130,000 cases of asthma and 6,300 cases of acute bronchitis each year, the EPA estimates. "These standards rank among the three or four most significant environmental achievements in the EPA's history," said John Walke, Clean Air director of the National Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group. "This rule making represents a generational achievement." Despite federal limits on emissions of mercury from other sources, such as waste incinerators, there have been no limits on coal-fired power plants, which the EPA says constitute the single largest source of mercury emissions. "As a mom, I'm especially excited to know that millions of mothers and babies will now be protected from mercury poisoning," said Mary Anne Hitt, director of Beyond Coal Campaign, a clean energy advocacy group. "We all teach our kids the simple rule that if you make a mess you should clean it up - and now polluters will have to follow that same rule," she wrote in an e-mail conversation. "Mothers around the country who have been worried about mercury pollution causing learning disabilities and other problems for their kids will be able to sleep easier tonight." Health experts have known for a long time that mercury causes damage to developing fetuses, with long-term effects on the child. Methylmercury, found in fish and shellfish, can harm a child's thinking, language, fine motor skills, memory, attention, and visual spatial skills when exposed in the womb. One study estimates that for each part per million of mercury found in a mother's hair -- a common way of testing for mercury exposure -- her child loses approximately 0.18 IQ points. Outbreaks of methylmercury poisoning have resulted in some children being born with severe disabilities, even when their mothers did not show signs of nervous system damage. But adults are at risk for mercury poisoning too; symptoms can include impairment of vision, speech, hearing and walking. In addition to mercury, the new EPA rule also limits emissions of hazardous air pollutants like arsenic, benzene, chromium, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, and nickel. How to protect against mercury exposure . Once airborne, mercury enters bodies of water through precipitation, becomes methylmercury, and accumulates in the food chain. The EPA and the Food and Drug Administration recommend that pregnant women and young children limit their consumption of fish and shellfish to two meals a week, because the methylmercury contamination found in fish can cause harm to humans. The EPA and FDA say that some larger predatory fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, should be avoided entirely by pregnant women and children. Exposure can also occur from breathing in polluted air, for example near incinerators and coal-burning power plants. A lab test using blood or hair samples can determine the amount of methylmercury in the body. What's the controversy? The new rule requires that the vast majority of mercury contained in coal be captured and prevented from releasing into the air when burned for energy. It would require operators to shut down or upgrade the most environmentally dangerous power plants. Power plant operators have three years to comply with the new standards, but plant operators may be granted additional time to install the necessary emissions improvement technologies if they are able to demonstrate a valid need. Not everyone supports the new limits, in part because the new rules will increase costs for plant operators who need to make upgrades. The rule has been criticized by industry groups and some Republicans. "Analyses predict EPA's rules will force the premature retirement of power plants that are needed to provide affordable, reliable power to consumers and our growing economy," said Fred Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "Other plants will require multi-million dollar retrofits that will result in higher electricity bills," said the Republican congressman from Michigan. The EPA states that its rule is cost-effective and "ensures electric reliability," noting that the agency has received more than 900,000 comments from industry and the public to better inform the decision. Amid a divisive political climate and persistent unemployment, the EPA noted in its March 2011 rule proposal that it "finds that more jobs will be created in the air pollution control technology production field than may be lost as the result of compliance with these proposed rules." The final EPA rule regulating power plant mercury emissions has been decades in the making. The 1990 version of the Clean Air Act signed into law by President George H.W. Bush directed the EPA to conduct studies to determine whether regulating mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from power plants was "appropriate and necessary." In December 2000, having completed the required studies, the EPA formally announced its intention to regulate mercury emissions from power plants. Then in 2005, under the administration of President George W. Bush, the EPA reversed its determination that mercury regulations were "appropriate and necessary," and removed power plants from the list of sources to be regulated. Instead the Bush-era EPA proposed the "Clean Air Mercury Rule," a cap-and-trade system for mercury emissions. Under "cap and trade," mercury emissions would not be restricted, but heavy polluters would pay a fee that could be pocketed by companies whose factories or power plants pollute less. In February 2009, the new EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced a return to the 2000 decision to put limits on mercury emissions. The rule proposed on March 2011 was made final in an announcement on December 21 at the Children's Medical Center in Washington. Altogether, the environmental regulations beginning with the 1970 Clean Air Act have saved millions of American lives, according to the EPA. The reductions in fine particle and ozone pollution emissions mandated under the 1990 Clean Air Act prevented more than 160,000 cases of premature mortality, 130,000 heart attacks, and 1.7 million asthma attacks in just the year 2010, according to EPA figures.
|
The new limits are projected to prevent 130,000 cases of asthma, 6,300 cases of bronchitis .
Methylmercury, found in fish and shellfish, can harm a child's thinking, language .
The new EPA rule also limits emissions of hazardous air pollutants like arsenic, benzene .
|
07c2017c8774e6cb163df6137b61f3b396269ebf
|
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has come under fire after an undercover video emerged exposing 'shocking cruelty' at a foie gras factory which supplies one of his licensed restaurants. Animal rights groups People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are accusing the star of having double standards after filming thousands of ducks being force-fed through steel tubes. In 2011, Ramsay made a documentary in which he condemned the slaughter of sharks to make shark fin soup. On the Channel 4 film Shark Bait, he described the cruelty of the industry as 'sick' and 'barbaric' and encouraged viewers not to buy the dish. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO (GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING) Gordon . Ramsay teaching a young chef how to cook foie gras. Footage has emerged of 'shocking cruelty' at foie gras factory, Hudson Valley, which supplies one of his licensed restaurants . Gordon Ramsay at The London, New York . But PETA have revealed how Hudson Valley Foie Gras appears on the 'Menu Prestige' at New York restaurant Gordon Ramsay at The London. The group have released undercover footage from the farm which shows steel tubes being forced down ducks throats to fill them with large amounts of grain three times a day. The Manhattan fine dining venue was sold by Ramsay to the Blackstone Group in 2009, but it continues to operate under the chef's name and he acts as a consultant. A traditional French delicacy, foie gras is made from the liver of a duck or goose which has been specifically fattened and has a rich and buttery taste. image001.png . In the footage factory workers can be seen inserting steel tubes into ducks mouths before force-feeding them large amounts of grain . Experts say force-feeding ducks causes oesophageal tears and splits, liver rupture and failure, heat stress and aspiration pneumonia . At slaughter ducks are hung upside down and have their throats cut and are left to bleed to death . At slaughter the ducks are hung upside down, have their throats slit and are left to bleed to death. An estimated 15,000 ducks per year die at the Hudson Valley Foie Gras factory before they even make it to slaughter. PETA claim experts probing foie gras production have found that force-feeding causes oesophageal tears and splits, liver rupture and failure, heat stress and aspiration pneumonia. Mimi Bekhechi, from PETA UK, said: . 'Every expose of foie gras farms has revealed how grotesquely cruel it . is to jam pipes down birds' throats and force-feed them until they . sicken and die. 'We hope Gordon Ramsay and other chefs will swear off this particular 'f-word' - foie gras - for good.' The group has written a letter to Ramsay urging him to take foie gras off the menu. B42RM4 Foie gras . Ramsay got his first taste for catering at the North Oxfordshire Technical College where he studied Hotel Management. In the early 1980s, he worked as a commis chef at the Wroxton House Hotel then ran the kitchen and 60-seat dining room at the Wickham Arms. He then moved to London, where he worked for Marco Pierre White at Harvey's for two years . After working at Harveys for nearly three years he switched to work for Albert Roux at Le Gavroche in Mayfair before working as his number two at Hotel Diva, a ski resort in the French Alps. From there, Ramsay moved to Paris to work with Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon, both Michelin-starred chefs. Returning to London in 1993, he took head chef role at La Tante Claire in Chelsea before working in the same capacity for Marco Pierre White at the Aubergine which went on to win its first Michelin star fourteen months later. In 1997, . In 1998, Ramsay opened his own restaurant in Chelsea, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, with the help of his father-in-law, Chris Hutcheson. From here he expanded rapidly his empire from London to Glasgow, Dubai, Tokyo and New York. It has, however, been a difficult few years for the chef . He reportedly paid his father-in-law £2million to end a long-running row over his business in 2012.The pair went their separate way after Ramsay accused Chris Hutcheson of taking money out of parent company Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH). He was even seen in an awkward QVC pitch, as he tried to sell the 'Nonstick Hard Anodized Dishwasher Safe 10-piece Cookware Set'. Ramsay's fiscal situation hasn't been as healthy as it once was in the last few years, after he paid off a a tax debt in 2009 relating to his Plane Food restaurant at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.Gordon Ramsay sold his restaurant in Prague - Maze at the Hilton in Prague's Old Town - back to the hotel in 2009 . Also in 2009, he sold his restaurant in Prague – Maze at the Hilton in Prague’s Old Town – back to the hotel. The father-of-four closed two eateries in Australia in 2011, waving goodbye to Maze and Maze Grill in Melbourne’s Crown Metropol Hotel. Further troubles include a £1.1million court battle in New Zealand after pulling out of a number of charity engagements, citing personal reasons . A representative of Hudson Valley Foie Gras said: 'The PETA film is from a tour I gave. I see myself in the video. We do this to provide the total picture of what we do for interested people. 'We do not film the slaughter for our film as it is basically the same as every other poultry processing plant in the world, although we do show visitors. That is the way poultry is processed. The clip does not show the birds being gently handled and put to sleep before the slaughter. 'We invite people to take pictures on the tours. Other people have posted these videos of fragments from the tours. We will continue to bring people to the farm so they can see the whole truth.' Gordon Ramsay's representatives failed to respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for Gordon Ramsay at The London said: 'We do not in anyway condone cruelty to animals. We strive to provide our guests with the finest quality ingredients and we seek to work with purveyors who are able to deliver on that promise. 'We are amongst a number of New York City restaurants that provide this delicacy based on the discerning tastes and desire of our diners.' Gordon Ramsay is the owner of 27 restaurants and holds 11 Michelin stars. It was revealed in February this year that his contract to run the restaurant at Claridge’s hotel was not being renewed. His . 12-year stewardship of the Art Deco dining rooms at the five-star . Mayfair hotel will end in June after talks aimed at reaching a new . agreement broke down. The . notoriously fiery chef is understood to have withdrawn from negotiations . after becoming annoyed at the length of time it was taking to finalise a . new deal. A menu from Gordon Ramsay's The London restaurant in New York which offers (last entry) confit Hudson Valley Foie Gras .
|
Footage from Hudson Valley factory, N.Y., shows ducks being force-fed large amounts of grain through steel tubes three times a day .
Animal rights group PETA say practice is 'grotesquely cruel'
Factory supplies foie gras for 'Menu Prestige' at Gordon Ramsay at The London restaurant in New York .
Chef has previously condemned cruelty in shark fin soup industry as 'sick' and 'barbaric'
|
07c267ad77ee5dc906377bb053fcc43526a51d7e
|
(CNN) -- Despite the obvious claims of younger rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, few can really argue with the 96 football journalists who voted Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite as the 2007 World Footballer of the Year. Brazilian genius Kaka fully deserves winning the 2007 World Footballer of the Year award. The prestigious Ballon d'Or award is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual prize in football and Kaka's inclusion on its coveted roll of honor is a testament to the 25-year-old Brazilian's current standing in world football. When AC Milan defeated Liverpool in the Champions League final in Athens, avenging their heartbreaking loss to the same team in Istanbul two years previously, it enabled Kaka to fulfill his dream of holding aloft Europe's premier trophy -- a winner's medal he fully deserved after a sublime 90-minute performance. Kaka's stock for both club and country has risen steadily since his move to the San Siro from Sao Paulo for a fee of just $8.5 million in the summer of 2003. Unlike many a Brazilian sporting genius, Kaka did not hone his skills on the beach or the streets of a favela shanty town. He was born into a comfortable middle class Brasilia family, where football was not the only hope of a bright future. However, it soon became clear that this particular boy had a very special skill and he was signed by Sao Paulo, after his family had moved there, at just eight years of age -- making his first team debut as an 18-year-old. Kaka's progress was soon picked up by his national team coach and Felipe Scolari named the graceful midfielder in his 23-man squad for the 2002 World Cup finals, earning him a winners' medal despite playing only 19 minutes of the tournament in a group match against Costa Rica. A year later, and Kaka was on his way to Milan. Within a month he had made the starting line-up and his 10 goals helped the Rossoneri lift the Scudetto and the European Super Cup. Throughout his career, Kaka has always possessed the innate ability to score goals -- his record for both club and country sees him average roughly a goal every three games. Yet to describe Kaka merely as a goalscoring midfielder would be doing him a massive injustice. Tall, elegant and blessed with astonishing skill, Milan and Brazil utilize Kaka's ability superbly. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti soon recognized Kaka's genius, changing his team's system to a 4-4-1-1, playing the Brazilian behind a main target man. With Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso holding the central midfield area, Kaka has a license to roam in behind the lone striker, be it Filippo Inzaghi, Ronaldo or Alberto Gilardino. And Kaka does this with devastating effect, running at the opposition with pace and power, finding defense-splitting passes or shooting from range with deadly accuracy be it from a dead-ball situation or open play. The fly in the ointment for Milan comes in the shape of their poor form this season. Although they have already reached the last 16 of the Champions League, the club are floundering in Serie A and face the unthinkable prospect of not qualifying for next season's competition unless they win the trophy. Real Madrid have coveted Kaka for the last two years -- expect the world transfer record to be smashed if Milan don't secure a place among Europe's elite. E-mail to a friend .
|
Kaka deservedly named World Player of the Year for the first time in his career .
The Brazilian beats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the journalists' vote .
The 25-year-old averages one goal in three games for both AC Milan and Brazil .
|
07c2c6f2b5c63e70ce1a12d52dcdb7c4e6845aca
|
By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:59 EST, 17 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 17 June 2013 . An IT specialist is suing for £150,000 claiming an accident at work has left him with unique disabilities preventing him from texting or using other gadgets. Isaak Alpman says he has been left with a 'misshapen right index finger', amongst other disabilities, which have seen him go from working at the forefront of the computer world to being unable to use a normal mouse and keyboard. The 59-year-old says his injuries are so bad he cannot get work and even has to get his son to send text messages on his behalf. Proceedings: A computer expert is suing at the High Court for £150,000 after a fall at work injured his finger, preventing him from texting and using gadgets . Mr Alpman, of Rochester, Kent, claims he suffered his affliction when he fell down a flight of stairs while working in the computer server room at the West London headquarters of vintage and collectibles dealer, the Music and Goods Exchange Ltd, in April 2011. He has now issued a High Court writ claiming damages from the company of up to £150,000, on the basis that the staircase where the alleged accident took place was 'unsafe' and breached Health and Safety at Work regulations. In the writ, Mr Alpman's barrister, Gavin Argent, says that the accident happened on April 7 2011 as the IT specialist was climbing the 'steep' first floor stairs to the server room at his employer's HQ. 'He tripped on the staircase, twisted to the right, hit the wall on the right side and fell backwards down the staircase, hitting his head and sustaining personal injuries,' the barrister said. 'The staircase was narrow, old and worn, making it unsafe, and furthermore the hand rail to the left of the staircase was dangerous and unusable because running the length of the stair rail was a live electric cable. 'Mr Alpman was unable to grab hold of the handrail in order to prevent his fall down the stairs,' the barrister adds. Claim: Isaak Alpman's fall down some stairs means he struggles to use a mouse or keyboard (posed by model) Mr Alpman suffered injuries to his right shoulder, knee, hands and spine and is now said to be 'at a disadvantage on the open labour market and disabled. 'He was dismissed by the defendant within a month of the accident and has been unable to work or find work since...he is unable to get another job in IT because, when he discloses his injuries, he is rejected,' the barrister claims. He goes on to describe Mr Alpman's injuries which have led to his trouble with technology, the foremost of which is his problem with his index finger. 'He has developed carpal tunnel syndrome since the incident. His right index finger has become misshapen. He is unable to use a computer mouse and standard keyboard. Text messages are sent by his son on his behalf,' Mr Argent states. 'He is unable to lift or raise his arm on the right side above waist level. He cannot carry anything in his right hand and is now unable to write with that hand. He is right handed.' The company's defence to the action was not available from the court, and the allegations in the writ have yet to be tested in evidence before a judge.
|
Isaak Alpman has 'misshapen index finger', making gadget use difficult .
IT worker fell down some stairs at work and claims health and safety breach .
Mr Alpman says he can't work because he can't use a keyboard or mouse .
His son has to send texts on his behalf and cannot write with right hand .
|
07c4bd23a4b7ab782a85d16d2fb6fac82de7c719
|
David Cameron yesterday accused Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby of ‘talking down’ the North of England. In unusually direct criticism, the Prime Minister described the Church of England’s views on the North as ‘outdated’ and ‘condescending’. His comments follow a recent article by the Archbishop in which he said ‘entire cities are being cast aside and left to their own devices’. David Cameron has called Archbishop Justin Welby's views on the North 'outdated' and 'condescending' after a Church of England report said the region is heading backwards while the South surges ahead . Archbishop Welby also claimed that most of the country outside London and the South East had been left ‘abandoned and hopeless’, watching the wealth of the capital grow while they are trapped in a ‘vicious circle of decline’. Mr Cameron has now hit back, telling BBC Radio Manchester the Church was guilty of ‘just painting a picture that everything in the North is somehow going in the wrong direction’. Cameron pointed to Manchester as a revived city where unemployment rates have been lower in recent years than in London . He said: ‘Where I don’t agree with some of the things the Church of England said is I think there was an element of talking down the performance of some of our cities, including cities like Manchester, which in recent years have seen something of a revival. ‘When you look at the transport investment in Manchester, when you look at some of the infrastructure that’s being put in, you look at some of the great buildings that are going up, the growth in jobs, the fact that you’ve got a city council that’s working incredibly closely with the Government over issues like the ‘‘Northern powerhouse’’... ‘I thought the Church of England report rather outdated. I found it a bit condescending when it came to our great Northern cities. I don’t think it was really up to date on what is happening. 'I accept there are still regional disparities that we need to deal with but I don’t think we deal with them by just painting a picture that everything in the North is somehow going in the wrong direction and everything in the South is going in the right direction.’ Mr Cameron pointed out that employment rates in Manchester had been higher in recent years than those in London. He added: ‘If you talk to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce or the chambers of commerce in cities like Leeds and Newcastle, I would rather hope they would say the same thing.’ The Prime Minister also defended the benefit cap which he has pledged to cut to £23,000 after the election if the Tories win. He said: ‘I think it is right to say you shouldn’t get more [if you are] out of work than a family that is in work. 'Otherwise we send a totally perverse signal that somehow it’s better off to spend a life on benefits when you can work.’
|
Church of England report said North's cities left 'abandoned and hopeless'
Said places were trapped into 'circle of decline' as South gets wealthier .
Cameron said 'condescending' report was out of date with northern revival .
|
07c529a91f8f837a4e25324481fbef24e382d8c9
|
Jose Mourinho, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho are the star names confirmed for Deco's testimonial in July. The match in honour of the former Portuguese international will feature two of his teams, Porto's Class of '04 and Barcelona's Class of '06. Mourinho, currently in charge of Chelsea, will manage his Champions League-winning hosts at the Dragao Stadium. VIDEO Scroll to the bottom to watch some of Jose's funniest moment from the season . Remember me? Jose Mourinho will take charge of Porto for Deco's testimonial in July . Superstars: Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho will reunite for Barcelona's Class of '06, coached by Frank Rijkaard . Calls time: Deco called time on his glittering career earlier this year . After kick-starting a generation at the Catalan club, Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard will take charge of fellow European winners in 2006 Barca in the one-off game. Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Henrik Larsson will be on show according to Portuguese publication O Jogo, while Xavi and Andres Iniesta's participation depends on their fitness after the World Cup. Messi made his debut in a Barcelona shirt at the Dragao Stadium, and the match will give him a chance to link up with his idol once again. A teenage Argentine eventually oversaw Ronaldinho's departure to AC Milan with his sparkling displays, but owes a lot to the former No 10. 'Ronaldinho made everything much easier for me,' Messi told Barcelona's club website last year. 'He was also responsible for the change in Barça. It was a bad time and the change that came about with his arrival was amazing. 'In the first year, he didn’t win anything but people fell in love with him. Then the trophies started coming and he made all those people happy. Barça should always be grateful for everything he did.' European success: Barcelona won the Champions League in 2006, while Porto won in 2004 . Idol: Ronaldinho helped Messi settle upon his arrival in Spain as a teenager . Deco retired earlier this year after a glittering career. The Brazilian-born playmaker made his name at Porto, starring in that European success in 2004, then moving on to Barcelona. A switch to Chelsea saw him experience the Premier League, and he finished his career back at Fluminense in Brazil. Ricardo Carvaloho and Paolo Ferreira will star for Porto, and the game is set to take place on July 25 at 7.45pm. Playmaker: Deco made his name at Porto, and his testimonial will be on July 25 .
|
Deco testimonial will feature Porto Class of '04 and Barcelona Class of '06 .
Jose Mourinho will manage Porto .
Ronaldino and Lionel Messi star for Barcelona .
|
07c5f4315ddaaa86bd1e9a5aac20695d4efd7e0e
|
Samsung is set to launch its own rical to Apple Pay after buying a mobile payment firm. Samsung will buy LoopPay, a mobile payments company that let's people pay for goods using their phones. It is expected to reveal the service on March 1st, when it launches its new Galaxy S6 handset. LoopPay (left) calls itself a 'wallet solution' that lets customers pay with their phones and tablets 'virtually everywhere'. It consists of an app and a device, which is either a fob or a phone case. If the firms do partner up, LoopPay's technology could be built into Samsung phones (Galaxy S5 pictured right), tablets and watches . LoopPay calls itself a 'wallet solution' that lets customer pay with their phones and tablets 'virtually everywhere'. It consists of an app and a device, which is either a fob or a phone case. The LoopPay app securely stores all payment cards including credit, debit, loyalty and gift cards. These can be used to pay for shopping in 90% of shops and banks in the US. Customers simply tell the retailer which card they want to use before tapping the device on a reader. LoopPay's technology allows mobile payments through traditional magnetic credit card readers, so it can theoretically work in a lot more places than Apple Pay, which requires special payment pads to work. Samsung did not say how much it's paying to buy LoopPay. 'Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that it has agreed to acquire LoopPay, the acclaimed mobile wallet solutions provider that turns existing magnetic stripe readers into secure, contactless receivers,' the firm said. LoopPay's technology has the potential to work in approximately 90% of existing point-of-sale (POS) terminals. 'This acquisition accelerates our vision to drive and lead innovation in the world of mobile commerce. Our goal has always been to build the smartest, most secure, user-friendly mobile wallet experience, and we are delighted to welcome LoopPay to take us closer to this goal,' said JK Shin, President and Head of IT and Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. As part of the acquisition, LoopPay founders and veteran payment industry entrepreneurs Will Graylin and George Wallner will work closely with Samsung's Mobile Division. Samsung has an existing relationship with LoopPay, having first identified the potential for the pioneering technology when it became a strategic investor along with Visa and Synchrony Financial. 'We are excited to take our relationship with LoopPay to the next level, by bringing consumers a mobile wallet solution that is not just safe and reliable, but also widely accepted at more locations than any competing service,' said David Eun, EVP of Samsung's Global Innovation Center. 'LoopPay's outstanding leaders and team have deep-rooted relationships with banks, card networks and merchants that will complement those Samsung has established over the years.' 'LoopPay is focused on delivering a digital wallet solution that is dependable for consumers around the world, one that provides more value from card issuers and the merchants that serve them,' said Will Graylin, CEO of LoopPay. Never one to be outdone by its biggest competitor, Samsung is now looking to launch its own mobile payment service to rival Apple Pay (pictured at its launch with Tim Cook). Sources said the Korean tech giant is in talks with startup LoopPay to let people pay for goods using their phones . Apple Pay launched earlier this year and lets people with an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pay for goods by tapping their handsets on NFC readers. It works by holding the phone up to a card reader and pressing a finger on the TouchID button. This confirms the person's identity, and the payment is made as if the user had presented and signed their card. All details are encrypted and the system stores payment information securely. If an iPhone is lost, users can suspend all payments via the Find my iPhone service. 'We are excited to join the Samsung family to continue our goal of making smartphones trusted, secure smart wallets and unlock the limitless possibilities of mobile enabled commerce.' Late last year, sources told Re/code that the South Korean tech giant is in talks with startup LoopPay. Samsung has previously allowed NFC payments on certain networks and with partners including Barclaycard, but if it teamed up with LoopPay, the service would be expanded more widely. LoopPay calls itself a 'wallet solution' that lets customer pay with their phones and tablets 'virtually everywhere'. It consists of an app and a device, which is either a fob or a specially-designed phone case. The sources revealed that Samsung is already in talks with the Massachusetts-based provider, and prototypes have been created, but there is no word on when the service will launch - if at all. The LoopPay app securely stores all payment cards including credit, debit, loyalty and gift cards. These can be used to pay for shopping in 90 per cent of shops and banks in the US. Customers simply tell the retailer which card they want to use before tapping the device on a reader.
|
LoopPay offers cases and cards that let people pay for goods wirelessly .
Its app and technology could be built into future Samsung devices .
It would use NFC technology and would rival Apple Pay .
Service is available at more than 90% of shops, compared to Apple's 3% .
|
07c61e3eccc3526e3a737dbb7bab9f10814baed9
|
For ten years James Robertson hasn't missed a single day of work. What's even more remarkable is that Robertson walks a round trip of 21 miles a day just to get there. For five days a week, Robertson, 56, trudges from his home in Detroit to his job at the factory where he works in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He's walked the walk ever since his 1988 Honda Accord quit on him more than 10 years ago. His job pays him $10.55 an hour, which he claims is not enough for him to buy his own car, but that may well change after well-wishers managed to raise almost $42,000 for him in an online campaign in just hours. For now though, whatever the weather, Robertson is there, on the job for his 2-10pm shift. Scroll down for video... Determined: James Robertson is a 56-year-old Detroiter who walks the majority of his 21-mile commute to work in Rochester Hills, Michigan five days a week - whatever the weather . Tenacious: Ever since his car quit on him a decade ago, James Robertson has walked 21 miles a day to get to and from work, because Detroit buses only cover part of the route - and he doesn't complain . In the city that made the motor car famous, he is without his own four-wheels and there's no decent bus service to get him to where he wants to go, either. 'I set our attendance standard by this man,' said his boss Todd Wilson to the Detroit Free Press. Wilson is plant manager at high-end plastic moulding specialists, Schain Mold & Engineering. 'I say, if this man can get here, walking all those miles through snow and rain, well, I'll tell you, I have people in Pontiac 10 minutes away and they say they can't get here — bull! He's never missed. I've seen him come in here wringing wet,' said Wilson, 53. To watch video in full click here . Robertson claims he powers his marathon-like commutes by drinking two liters of Mountain Dew and countless cans of Coke each day. 'I sleep a lot on the weekend, yes I do,' he said, 'but I can't imagine not working,' Although the commute getting into work is grueling, things are worse on the way back as Robertson has to walk the streets alone, in the dark and freezing cold. None of his co-workers lives anywhere near him, so catching a ride almost never happens. Faith: 'I'm not saying I'm a member of some church. But just before I get home, every night, I say, 'Lord, keep me safe'', Mr Robertson says . His colleagues have been telling him for years to get a car but it appears that Robertson has fallen into a routine that he almost seems to enjoy it. 'I keep a rhythm in my head,' he says. 'I'm not saying I'm a member of some church. But just before I get home, every night, I say, 'Lord, keep me safe.' About three-quarters of the way home, he has to catch the very last bus of the night at 1am into downtown Detroit - after that it's another five mile trek back to the home he shares with his girlfriend. The walk takes him through some shady neighborhoods including Highland Park and the infamous 8 Mile area. Robertson says he was mugged once but doesn't like to talk about the incident. Four hours later he is back home to catch some shut-eye before the long-distance commute begins all over again the following afternoon. 'The last five years been really tough because the buses cut back,' Robertson said. Once he gets to Troy and Detroit, Robertson can take a bus but the schedule is so infrequent the area is really best designed for those that have access to a car. He says that it's not just the $1,700 monthly paycheck that lures him back to work each day but the very essence of being around his friendly co-workers whom he calls 'family'. The boss's wife has also taken a shine to him and prepares him home-cooked meals each evening too. Grueling: After repeated cutbacks in bus service the walking segments of his daily commute now takes more time than he spends in his eight-hour factory shift. For Robertson it's a chance to catch-up on some sleep . On several occasions, a banker driving the exact same route has given Robertson a ride. Blake Pollock, 47, of Rochester said he saw Robertson over and over in various weathers and wondered what he was doing out all alone. Whenever he sees him along the route, he gives him a ride and very occasionally, even if it's after midnight, he will go out driving along his route to see if he can offer him a lift. 'Knowing what I know, I can't drive past him now. I'm in my car with the heat blasting and even then my feet are cold,' Pollock said. Of course, all that may now be about to change after tens of thousands of dollars were raised for him in an online campaign. Robertson said Sunday he was flattered by the attention he'd gotten for his tenacious treks after the he made front page news in a local newspaper. He said he was amazed that complete strangers would respond so generously with some even offering to buy him a brand new car. Evan Leedy, 19, of Macomb Township, a WSU student studying computer science, said he was struck by the article and the sheer numbers of people commenting online, many of them asking how they could help Robertson. Leedy said he decided to act. 'I just used my phone. I created the go-funding site and within an hour we had $2,000,' he said. A local car dealership even offered to give him a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz or Sonic. 'He gets to choose,' said Angela Osborne, customer service specialist at Rodgers Chevrolet in Woodhaven. 'We were just impressed with his determination,' Ms. Osborne said. As of Monday morning, the total was close to $42,000 and still rising.
|
Detroiter James Robertson, 56, walks about 21 miles a day, round trip .
Works in an industrial plastic molding plant - producing high specification parts for clients such as AM General - maker of the Humvee car .
Robertson rides bus ride part-way to his hourly job and part-way home .
He says he loves his job and his colleagues but buses are limited .
Claims he can't afford a car on $10.55 an hour .
Occasionally others heading his direction stop and offer him lifts .
|
07c6a0142b901c4c00edfed3bbcc40e5731a0397
|
By . Craig Mackenzie . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 13 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 13 July 2013 . Data collected from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is being used to help people who may be a suicide risk . The study is focusing on former military personnel in the U.S. where 22 veterans take their own lives every day, an average of one every 65 minutes, according to a recent government report. Doctors working on the Durkheim Project, which is supported by Facebook, are hoping that clues from social interaction will help care workers identify patients before they fatally harm themselves. Social media: Computer experts are looking for clues about the use of Twitter and Facebook by people at risk of killing themselves . The research is a joint venture by the predictive . analytics firm Patterns and Predictions and the Veterans Education and . Research Association of Northern New England. Last year, suicides among active members . of the military reached 349, more than those killed on duty and experts believe the military culture makes those at risk less . likely to ask for help or admit they need it. Dr. Craig J. Bryan, associate director of the . National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah told NBC News: 'We do know factors that increase risk such as depression, but our best methods rely on . individuals telling us,' The Durkheim Project adviser, added: 'A lot of people who die by suicide . don't tell people they're thinking of it, so the difficulty is trying to . figure out if there are other indicators that go around this problem.' Clues: Researchers are analysing data from Twitter, Facebook to discover people most at risk of suicide . The study put together three groups using 300 anonymous medical records from the Veterans Administration - patients who killed themselves, those . under psychiatric care and those wanting treatment. Common issues showed up - troubled relationships, debt, job loss, post-traumatic stress, health issues and alienation. But computer experts discovered behaviour unique to patients who committed suicide by analysing the language in the medical reports. Project director Chris Poulin told NBC that the . project's consulting doctors who had treated veterans were surprised not . at the common behaviours, but that a . computer programme could detect often subtle clues from the medical . reports . Investigation: Computer experts hope 100,000 volunteers will take part in the project to identify suicide risks among the military1 . 'The technology is trying to find the stories within the stories,' said Durkheim spokesman Gregory Peterson. The computers were alerted by certain language used by the former military personal such as loneliness or agitation. Findings will not be published for some time but the project hopes to get 100,000 volunteers to take part. Data will come from a variety of apps that will continuously upload the subjects' social media and mobile phone interactions. The project accepts that to really know more about what pushes patients to suicide, the researchers have to wait for people to die. Mr Poulin said: It's not a happy topic. I don't think we should back away from it just because it's taboo or so stressful, there's no negative intent there, no creepy objective. This is the cost of doing business in life-or-death research.'
|
Study focusing on former military personnel in U.S. where 22 veterans take their own lives every day .
Computer experts looking at social media interaction to reach out to patients before they harm themselves .
|
07c860620ed27ec643cddf4675e39ceac43017ad
|
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 13:26 EST, 29 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:26 EST, 29 March 2012 . Freedom: Phillip Machemedze walked free from court today after a judge ruled his sickening past was in 'another land' A violent former henchman of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has escaped jail despite fraudulently earning thousands of pounds working illegally in Britain as a carer. Phillip Machemedze walked free from court today after a judge ruled his sickening past was in 'another land'. The former enforcer, 47, lied about his immigration status to work in the drug and alcohol recovery unit at The Priory for five years without a visa. He was also employed for seven years as a support worker for the Milestones Trust, a charity helping people with learning disabilities. He fraudulently earned £151,000 while working illegally in Britain. Former African enforcer Machemedze only successfully applied for asylum to the UK two years ago - allowing him and his wife to permanently stay in the country. An immigration hearing heard how he broke one victim's jaw with a pair of pliers and shocked another with electric cables while working as one of Mugabe's henchmen. But Machemedze - who claims benefits funded by the UK taxpayer - walked free from court today after admitting two charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception. Judge Julian Lambert, sitting at Bristol Crown Court, gave Machemedze his liberty after receiving a notebook logging work he completed to 'benefit' his local community in the city. The former enforcer, 47, lied about his immigration status to work in the drug and alcohol recovery unit at The Priory, Bristol, pictured, for five years without a visa . The judge said: 'You are 47 years old and you have no previous convictions recorded against you in this country. 'Your past is in another land and that which took place in your past took place beyond our jurisdiction. Shocking: An immigration hearing heard how he broke one victim's jaw with a pair of pliers and shocked another with electric cables while working as one of Robert Mugabe's, pictured, henchmen (file pic) 'When prohibited from working by your immigration status you got two jobs. 'The case is notable because you worked rather than sought state benefits. 'You worked hard and there are no complaints about the quality of your work. 'You are a Zimbabwean national and it has been determined by others that you may stay in this country and not return there. 'But your lies here should not have been told.' Judge Lambert sentenced Machemedze to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He ordered him to be electronically tagged and observe a curfew between 9pm and 6am for six months. Machemedze, who has just acquired a new job working for 42 hours a week, will pay a fine of £1,000 in £10 weekly instalments. Last October the judge told Machemedze he would walk free from court if he volunteered at his local Pentecostal church for just half a day a week for six months. Machemedze, who lives in Redfield, Bristol, with wife Febbie, was a bodyguard to a senior minister as part of Mugabe's feared Central Intelligence Organisation. Richard Posner, prosecuting the case, previously told the court how Machemedze had arrived at London Gatwick from Zimbabwe in July 2000 and was given a six-month visa but prohibited from working. But he stayed in Britain - working illegally as a carer at an adolescent unit with The Priory in Bristol from June 2005 to May 2010. Hearing: Bristol Crown Court heard Machemedze had illegally secured jobs by getting through several checks, including an enhanced criminal record bureau check . He also worked as a support worker for the Milestones Trust from May 2003 to May 2010. Bristol Crown Court heard Machemedze had illegally secured jobs by getting through several checks, including an enhanced criminal record bureau check. To obtain employment the Zimbabwean had also been able to provide the Home Office letter, a National insurance number as well as birth and marriage certificates. In April 2005, the Milestones Trust were tipped off that Machemedze was working illegally - but he provided a letter from the Home Office stating otherwise. During the seven-years of work, Machemedze took home a net income of around £151,000 before eventually applying for asylum. An immigration judge decided Machemedze could face torture if he was returned home in May 2010. He ruled that the African and his wife - who was also granted asylum - could stay in Britain indefinitely and earn a living. Jane Chamberlain, mitigating, confirmed her client could pay £10 each week towards his £1,000 fine, starting from May 1. She said: 'Up until this point he has been receiving benefits.' Machemedze, dressed in a black open necked shirt and black trousers, did not comment as he left the court.
|
Phillip Machemedze walked free from court today after a judge ruled his sickening past was in 'another land'
Hearing heard how he .
broke one victim's jaw with a pair of pliers and shocked another with .
electric cables .
|
07c9160a99d9abd8ba469cbc7ea5e969073fd30a
|
Stress-free Christmas: Justine Pattinson recommends making the most of your freezer . If you're feeling stressed about the thought of cooking Christmas dinner for the family on Wednesday than fear not. Food writer Justine Pattison can help you get a head start with her time-saving tips. Justine, author of recipe book Freeze, told MailOnline that with a little bit of forward planning, you can freeze your way to Christmas - so you can then relax and enjoy the day. From roast potatoes to stuffing and desserts, here she explains how you can prepare then freeze food for minimal fuss on Christmas Day... Cranberry sauce and bread sauce freeze beautifully for at least three months and can be thawed in the fridge overnight or reheated very gently from frozen, adding a little milk to the bread sauce if needed. Flat-freeze them both in zip-seal bags and you'll save heaps of space in the freezer. If you are worried that your Christmas bird won't give enough juice for a decent gravy, make a rich home-made stock with fresh chicken wings, onion, carrot, bay and thyme. Add a couple of rashers of smoked bacon, 3 tbsp redcurrant jelly and a glass of wine or port. Cover with cold water then simmer very gently for 45 minutes. After straining, pour into a rigid container and freeze for up to six months. Use as a base on the day and you’ll have a rich tasting gravy in no time. A slightly stale loaf can be whizzed into crumbs and made into a fabulous home-made stuffing. I add pork sausage meat – or squeeze the sausage meat out of my favourite herby sausages - sautéed onions and leeks, ready-to-eat dried apricots, fresh cranberries and flaked almonds to mine. Freeze in a small roasting tin lined with foil then, once solid, take out of the tin, wrap in a second layer of foil and freeze for up to three months. Return to the tin and bake, uncovered, from frozen or thawed until nicely browned and piping hot throughout. Pigs in blankets can also be frozen ahead of time and cooked on the day. Roast potatoes can be frozen for up to three months while doing a large batch of braised red cabbage and freezing it means you'll have enough for the whole of the festive season . Forget the bought kind. Homemade roasties taste so much better. Peel, cut into large chunks and par-boil in a large pan of water for four minutes. Drain well in a colander, then return to the pan and add around 5 tbsp sunflower oil or melted goose fat, flaked sea salt and lots of ground black pepper. Shake about a bit to roughen up the edges then tip onto a large baking tray and leave to cool. Open-freeze (without covering) until solid. Transfer to a large freezer bag, press out as much air as possible, seal and freeze for up to three months. Roast from frozen in a hot oven for 50-60 minutes. You can do the same thing with parsnips or carrots too. And if you prefer mash to roast potatoes, you can freeze in bags and thaw overnight before reheating on the hob or in the microwave. Freezer essentials: Justine recommends always keeping milk, bread and butter on ice for emergencies . Braised red cabbage freezes very well, so make a large batch and it will see you through the whole of the festive season and beyond. I like to add star anise, a cinnamon stick and chunks of apple to mine - don't use cooking apples though or they'll turn to mush. Flat-freeze in zip-seal bags and thaw for three to four hours at room temperature before reheating. Frozen brussels sprouts can be heated from frozen in a large pan with lightly fried pancetta and chestnuts. I use the frozen diced pancetta and vacuum-packed chestnuts, which I break into pieces with my fingers as I drop them into the pan. A sprinkle of sea salt, a grind of black pepper and a knob of butter is all that’s needed to season and glaze at the end. Make an alternative to Christmas pudding, such as my Tutti-frutti ice cream pudding or try a chocolate torte or meringue pavlova. Whipped cream freezes quite well but you're better off keeping pouring creams in the fridge. Stash a box or two of mince pies, some brandy butter and good vanilla ice cream in the freezer and you'll never be short of a festive pud. Keep a couple of pints of milk in cartons, butter and a small loaf of bread to hand in the freezer. They all freeze well and can prevent a last minute panic. Cheese, bacon and sliced ham can be frozen for a month or two without spoiling and don't take up too much space either. Unbaked French pastries make a handy breakfast when you have family or friends staying and taste fantastic cooked from frozen and served hot from the oven. Freeze by Justine Pattison is published by Weidenfeld & Nicholson .
|
Food writer Justine Pattison can help you get a head start on xmas day .
Recommends how to prepare food in advance and then freeze it .
Then all you have to do is defrost or heat... and relax .
|
07c91f8d6aceb3b48b03f3e171a81c8f890caa0f
|
Once upon a time in Manchester, the United left back Patrice Evra made his debut in a derby game across town at City. Hauled off at half-time, the combative little Frenchman reflected colourfully that his first taste of English football had been akin to spending the afternoon ‘in a washing machine’. Years later and not much has changed and another Frenchman has arrived in town to bear witness to the rough and tumble. Eliaquim Mangala is 6ft 2in and looks like he could carry a washing machine on his back. Nevertheless the Manchester City central defender admitted this week that he is only just finding his feet in the Barclays Premier League following an introduction to life in England that has led to some pretty miserable days. Eliaquim Mangala has endured a difficult start to his life at Manchester City, but is ready to step up . Mangala scored an own goal and gave away a penalty in the 4-2 win over Hull City earlier this season . ‘I have spent a lot of time at home watching and studying games I have played in,’ Mangala told Sportsmail. ‘I do that at home on my own. I try to use that information for the next game. ‘It’s all about improving your game. That is what important. ‘Watching 90 minutes is too much so, if we play on Saturday, I will probably watch the first 45 minutes on Sunday then go and do something else. Life has to go on. Then I may sit down for the second half on a Monday. It’s all about attention to detail and doing everything you can to improve. If you want to improve then you have to work hard, there is no substitute for it. It has helped.’ Mangala arrived in England at the end of the transfer window for £32million, the final piece in the City jigsaw. A September debut at home in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea passed without much trouble. A new star had seemingly arrived at the Etihad. The French defender, who has impressed in the Champions League, holds off Roma's Francesco Totti . Up against the likes of Gervinho in Europe, Mangala has shown flashes of why City paid £32million for him . Mangala has found it tough to adapt to life in the Premier League, with the pace and physicality of the game . GARETH BALE (Tottenham) Now one of the best players in the world, things were not always so rosy for Bale. After moving to the Premier League, the one-time left back initially struggled. It took him two years, three managers and 25 games to experience a league win. FABRICIO COLOCCINI (Newcastle) The Argentine arrived with a big reputation and a price tag to match. But his first season was shaky, typified by his display in a 5-1 defeat by Liverpool. He is now among Newcastle’s best players, and the effect his absence had on their league form in the 2012-13 season shows how valuable he is. PATRICE EVRA (Man Utd) The left back made a miserable debut at Man City in 2006. He was substituted at half time with United 2-0 down. Evra admitted he was struggling to adapt to the English game but became a cornerstone in the United defence. KOLO TOURE (Arsenal) There was never any doubting the Ivorian’s talent, but his runaway-train style of play made him a liability in his first season. Twelve years later Kolo has two league titles and three FA Cups to his name. NEMANJA VIDIC (Man Utd) Signed in January 2006, Vidic was in and out of the United team in his early months at the club as he adapted to England. But the Serb would form a formidable defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand. Next up, though, was a trip to Hull City and suddenly somebody turned on the spin cycle. An own goal, a penalty conceded and a yellow card in one afternoon. The apprenticeship had begun. ‘I spoke with Martin (Demichelis) and Vinny (Kompany),’ he said. ‘They warned me about how it’s different but they can tell you, “Oh yeah, you get pressed all the time, it’s going to be physical, it’s going to be hard, they’re going to play the ball behind you, you’re going to have to turn, you’re going to get players who are good with it into feet and who turn and run”. ‘They can go through every situation, but until you have actually experienced it, until you’ve lived all that, you can’t appreciate it. And you can’t react and improve until you have experienced it. ‘You appreciate people giving you advice and trying to help, but a lot of it is seeing it for yourself and dealing with it and improving at it over time through hard work. There is no substitute.’ Since that day on Humberside, Mangala’s learning curve has been steep. It is just one of the reasons he took the unusual step of requesting this interview himself. It was time, he felt, to introduce himself to English football followers and assure those of a sky blue persuasion that he is working hard to adapt. ‘I wanted to speak because I haven’t spoken to the public at all,’ he said. ‘I would like the fans to know a bit more about me as a person. They see me on the field but they don’t know me. ‘I have tried to make the adaptation quick but you have to be patient and hope that other people will be patient with you. There has been (media) criticism but I’m cool with that. If you can’t take that you shouldn’t be a footballer. ‘All over Europe you have ex-players on TV who criticise you. It doesn’t worry me. I am my biggest critic. I know I am moving forwards and adapting.’ Mangala keeps the ball away from Leicester's Jamie Vardy, as he looks to build on his recent run of form . The centre back knows it will take time, and hard work, to adapt to the pressures of the Premier Leagu . As it happens, the day his invitation to meet and talk is passed on he goes on to contribute his finest performance in a City shirt as he and Demichelis guide Manuel Pellegrini’s team to a clean sheet at Roma in the Champions League. There was no Kompany that day and there will be no Kompany at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime in the League. The City captain’s hamstring troubles have struck again and Mangala and Demichelis will be centre halves for the foreseeable future. It seems as though better form has arrived just at the right time. Rome may yet transpire to be a pivotal night. ‘I would say that playing against Chelsea back at the start wasn’t particularly a typical English game, it’s the sort of football I’m more used to,’ he reflected. Despite receiving plenty of criticism, Mangala is determined that he can be a success at Manchester City . The defender knows his style of football is more suited to Europe, so he must work on his domestic form . ‘Roma, too, in the Champions League was a different style of football to the Premier League, so that was OK. But I must emphasise I’m still going through a settling-in period so coming up against teams like Hull and Palace this weekend and facing that typical English style, where it’s a long ball, high balls, balls in the air, big physical battles, fighting for every ball, that is the stuff I’m going to take longer to get used to. ‘Maybe that’s harder for me than games against the big teams at the moment. I will improve and I will cope with that, but it’s all about taking it stage by stage. ‘It’s all right having one good game there and then not so good there. What I have got to aim at is consistency and having a good game every game rather than in-and-out performances. I am confident that will happen.’ The day we meet, Mangala is also talking to students from east Manchester’s Connell College. The college lies on 5.5 acres of land donated by City for community use near the new training ground. Mangala answered questions from the students in City’s new media conference room and shortly afterwards the 23-year-old tackled the more thorny issue of interest last summer from arch-rivals United. Mangala's good form has arrived at just the right time, with City skipper Vincent Kompany out of action . Kompany has again been beset by injuries, this time to his hamstring, ruling him out for some time . There were suggestions from Old Trafford that Mangala would rather have joined United, but the former Porto player said: ‘I was aware there had been some contact from United, but the major conversations that had gone on with my agent were with City and it was City that I was attracted to all the way through. I was aware of what a great project and plans the club had. ‘They want to make history and I want to be part of that and did back in the summer. I’m pleased I made the right choice.’ Born in France, Mangala moved to Belgium at the age of five as his mother sought a better life for his disabled brother. His first club was Standard Liege and Mangala was a centre forward until he was 16. Back then his hero was Thierry Henry and, by coincidence, Henry announced his retirement just moments before we met this week. Since his impressive debut in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, Mangala has been exposed at times . With an extended run in the side likely, it is time for the Frenchman to show he has what it takes . With Pellegrini and City suffering an injury crisis among their forwards, Mangala joked that he was ready to come to the rescue over an intense Christmas period he claimed to be relishing. ‘Yeah absolutely,’ he laughed. 'I’m going to play No 9. ‘We are about to hit the Boxing Day period and I am fascinated by it. In France and other countries we don’t play over this period so I am really looking forward to seeing what it is like. I am excited about it. I want to experience it.’ It is impossible not to admire Mangala’s enthusiasm. It is indicative of a refreshing attitude. City are about to play five games in 15 days, though. Time to open the door to the washing machine.
|
Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala joined this summer for £32m .
French centre half has had a difficult start to life at his new club .
Physical challenge of the Premier League still causing defender problems .
But with Vincent Kompany out injured, now is the time for Mangala to shine .
Mangala is determined to improve, but admits it will take time .
|
07cb5e5f088bfa0adab0f78104be4f792635ce39
|
Was it at 2.01pm on Saturday that Lewis Hamilton’s extraordinary miscalculation brought an end to his dreams of a second world title and his wider hopes of becoming an all-time great of his sport? It may yet unfold that this conjurer of the track, the phenomenal Lewis, will drive as brilliantly in the British Grand Prix on Sunday as he acted foolishly in qualifying here and restore himself in his title fight with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. Nothing can ever be ruled out with Hamilton, this see-sawing driver, but on Saturday night the feeling was that a dramatic, defining, damning moment had left its imprint on the 2014 season. VIDEO Scroll down to watch on-board lap with Lewis Hamilton round the Silverstone circuit . Rattled: Lewis Hamilton (left) has allowed Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to get under his skin at times . The incident came in the final lap of qualifying, when Hamilton decided to abort his final flying lap for no compelling reason. Rosberg passed him, set the fastest lap and will start the race from pole. Hamilton, who trails Rosberg by 29 points, will start from sixth. Why? ‘I don’t know,’ said Hamilton, at his surly worst when asked for an explanation in front of the BBC cameras. ‘I don’t have much of an answer. I just decided not to do the lap.’ With that he walked off almost as ill-advisedly as he had turned off the track a few minutes earlier.Where was his respect for ‘the greatest fans in the world’, the British public he had buttered up a few days earlier with what now sounded like empty platitudes? Too slow: Rosberg passed Hamilton to set the fastest lap and will start Sunday's race from pole . But back to qualifying, which was beset by changing conditions: drizzle, rain, cloudy but dry, sunny. Hamilton had set the fastest time in his first lap of the final session before rain fell harder and all the cars came in. Niki Would the rain relent, allowing them to go out again? Niki Lauda, the Mercedes chairman, said: ‘The team wanted them to stay in, but the drivers said they wanted to get in another lap, so it was decided they would.’ In that final, supposed shootout, Hamilton made a small mistake, locking up, at the Arena - Turn Four - and, believing it to be too wet to beat his previous time, pulled out of the lap and let Rosberg through to capitalise on the markedly drier conditions at the end of track. Mercedes put out a statement a few minutes later to explain Hamilton’s side of the story. ‘I made a mistake today and pulled out of the lap when I should have kept going,’ he said. Mistake: Hamilton's miscalculation could end his dreams of a second world title . ‘It was a tough qualifying with the changing conditions and we got through most of it really well, until the most important part. ‘It was my decision, a bad call, and that decided my qualifying. ‘I’m so sorry to have disappointed the fans here today as their support has been fantastic and I’ll do what I can to have a great race for them on Sunday. I need to have a start like I had in Austria two weeks ago and then do my best to get back to the front. You never know what might happen. ‘It’s difficult when you're just out of the car to express your emotions and see the positive, but I’ll go back to the team and my family now and we'll build up for tomorrow from there.’ Pole: Rosberg (centre) Sebastian Vettel, and Jenson Button (left) will start from the front at Silverstone . Well, that was like the Gettysburg address compared to the muddle of excuses – amid some perfectly reasonable excuses – put forward by Hamilton when he came to his press conference later. His funniest claim was that, ‘I never give up’. So, what were you doing abandoning the lap, Lewis? He again accepted that it was his fault, yet, contradicting that, cited the failure of the team to tell him it was faster in the final part of the lap as some sort of mitigation for his decision. What makes Saturday’s antics most bizarre is that Hamilton, for all his ups and downs, has always been a racer, a fight-to-the-end warrior. But here at Silverstone, of all places, where conditions are famously different from one end of the track to another, did he decide to stop. Lead: Hamilton (right) rounds a corner ahead Rosberg during qualification on Saturday . He could have qualified second or third or fourth or fifth. In fact, he could have beaten Rosberg. There is a pattern emerging: he has made mistakes in the past most recent qualifying sessions, a part of his performance that is traditionally extremely strong. Rosberg, it seems, has rattled him. Sir Jackie Stewart, watching from the paddock, said: ‘His head certainly seems to have gone a bit.’ Finish: Button celebrates after taking third position in the qualifying session of the British Formula One Grand Prix . One question is whether Hamilton has the intellectual gifts to find the answers against the calculating, clever Rosberg. Another is whether he will resist thinking the team are against him. Ostensibly declining to wade into psychological warfare, the German did so stealthily, saying: ‘With regards to the championship, it’s good for me that Lewis is down in sixth.’ Hamilton finished the afternoon by, again, promising the fans more today. It all sounded a little hollow in the circumstances.
|
Lewis Hamilton's British Grand Prix qualifying miscalculation allowed Nico Rosberg to grab pole position .
Hamilton trails Rosberg by 29 points and will start from sixth on Sunday .
The British driver could now miss out on the world title .
|
07cbe80e639e3309a002bb6c616fc6c8730fe36d
|
Scientist David O'Reilly, who works for the tobacco industry, said nicotine makes your brain work better . A scientist employed by one of the biggest cigarette manufacturers today said nicotine is good for your health. Group scientific director for British American Tobacco, which makes Benson & Hedges, Dunhill and Lucky Strikes, David O'Reilly has been branded 'irresponsible' and accused of telling just part of the story. He told the Sunday Times Magazine smoking helps a person's brain work more effectively, adding: 'It helps with cognition, stimulation and relaxes.' His controversial claim came just a week after New York University researchers warned smokers of ecigarettes could inhale more nicotine than those who smoke regular cigarettes. Mr O'Reilly said likened taking a puff from an ecigarette to drinking a cup of coffee, as he claimed the practise was safe. But the senior molecular biologist has come under fire from health experts, who have accused him of trying to help 'sell as many cigarettes as possible'. Professor John Britton, chairman of the Royal College of Physicians tobacco advisory group and professor of epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, said one hit of nicotine can have positive effects on the brain. But he warned the drug is highly addictive, leaving smokers needing to get their hit to enable their brains to function normally. 'It is true that in a single use, . nicotine probably does improve concentration and hand-eye co-ordination, . on a par with what you get from caffeine,' he said. Health expert Professor John Britton claimed Mr O'Reilly's claim was 'irresponsible' accusing him of trying to 'sell more cigarettes' 'But it is also a powerfully addictive drug, and there comes a time when you need nicotine just for your brain to function normally.' A spokesman for BAT, said the company 'absolutely' stood by Mr O'Reilly's statement. He said Mr O'Reilly had not advised the drug was good for you in the sense of keeping well hydrated. A spokeswoman for Cancer Research added: ' We don't fully understand the long-term effects of nicotine use.' The Department of Health website reveals smoking causes more preventable deaths in the UK each year than any other addiction, illness or disease - reaching 80,000 in 2011.
|
David O'Reill, scientific director for British American Tobacco said nicotine makes a person's brain work better .
Health experts have branded the claim 'irresponsible' accusing him of trying to sell more cigarettes .
Department of Health lists smoking as the cause of the most preventable deaths in the UK - reaching 80,000 in 2011 .
|
07cc505971f55a729d5b0a597760195fefa2ff8d
|
Washington (CNN) -- Most Americans will feel the impact of forced budget cuts when their lives intersect with government -- trying to get through airport security to make a flight, visiting a national park, or using federal programs or assistance. Congress can avert the automatic cuts, called sequester, if it compromises on a deficit-reduction plan before the March 1 deadline. But time is running out. No deal would set in motion some $85 billion in spending reductions that would be phased in through the end of the fiscal year, September 30. Talk Back: Who's to blame for forced spending cuts? Both the House and Senate are on their President's Day break and will have four days to negotiate when they return next week. Congress extended the deadline for action at the start of the year when Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell agreed to defer the cuts for two months. Here's where most Americans will feel their impact if sequester takes effect: . National parks . Expect closed gates at some national parks as the National Park Service would lose $110 million from its annual budget. This could also lead to shorter hours, fewer employees, and possible closure of camping and hiking spaces. Even the most popular national parks, such as Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, wouldn't be spared. By the Numbers: Automatic spending cuts . Airport security and air traffic . Proposed cuts to the Transportation Security Administration could mean trouble for air travel. The wait at airport security checkpoints could increase by at least an hour due to furloughed TSA screeners, who check passengers and cargo for bombs, guns and other prohibited items. It could take longer to get through customs as well. The Federal Aviation Administration manages air traffic at more than 400 commercial airports and cuts raise the possibility of flight delays, especially at crowded airports. The agency has preemptively warned its 47,000 workers of furloughs for one day every two weeks through September. Like the TSA, any furloughs would begin in late April or early May, the start of the busy summer travel season. Budget cuts will mean more time at the airport . Education . The Department of Education budget would also be trimmed. Proposed spending cuts would do the most damage to educational programs that heavily serve low income families. About 70,000 children could be forced out of Head Start, which promotes school readiness for children from birth to age 5. Further cuts to the education budget would also mean less money for schools and districts nationwide. The real impact of automatic spending cuts and why they may happen after all . Public Health . While Medicare and Medicaid will be protected, primary and preventive care, like flu vaccinations, could be closed off to hundreds of thousands of Americans. Cuts to mental health funding will leave over 350,000 Americans untreated. Food and workplace safety is also in danger. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which ensures safe workplaces and investigates accidents on the job would lose about 1,200 inspections, diminishing its oversight. The forced cuts could also affect food safety -- there could be up to 2,100 fewer food inspections if the cuts are implemented. This could lead to a shortage of meat in our markets, as the sale of unchecked meat is prohibited. Blind budget cuts, explained with a tomato . Crime and justice . Federal prosecutors will have to close some cases if cuts are imposed. Federal courts will see a quarter of their employees furloughed and jury trials could be suspended because there will be no money to pay juries. The Department of Homeland Security could lose up to 5,000 agents at the border and the Pentagon would furlough thousands of defense workers. According to FBI Director Robert Mueller, the FBI would lose 2,285 employees. Federal worker furloughs could start in April . Unemployment benefits . Long term unemployed also stand to lose big. Under the proposed spending cuts, benefits are expected to decrease by 10% or, on average, $400 a month. This cut will affect 3.8 million Americans, who use these benefits to pay for food and housing while trying to find jobs in a damaged economy. The proposed cuts will also limit resources at job finding centers, a move the could heavily damage the livelihood of those who are already struggling. Unemployed would lose benefits if federal budget cuts go through .
|
The National Park Service would lose $110 million from its annual budget .
Fewer TSA employees manning busy airports could increase security wait .
About 70,000 children could be kicked out of Head Start .
Primary and preventive care could be closed off to hundreds of thousands of Americans .
|
07cd73ad640baefad2973a5ee2fd34e8d5d33c59
|
Children were forced to eat their own vomit and have sex with staff at an Australian orphanage run by the Anglican church, an inquiry has heard. A former child resident told the royal commission into the alleged abuse that young children were viciously beaten over decades of systematic abuse at the North Coast Children's Home in Lismore, New South Wales. The witness, known only as CK, said today that some children suffered ritual sexual abuse at the hands of staff. Children were systematically abused at the Anglican-run North Coast Children's Home in Lismore, New South Wales, a royal commission has heard . The Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney was set up to investigate the Church's handling of the abuse when complaints were made from 2005. About seven former residents, who lived at the orphanage between 1944 and 1985, are expected to give evidence at the two-week inquiry. It is estimated that about 200 children suffered physical or sexual abuse at the home. In 2006, the Anglican Church paid compensation to 38 victims but other claims were later rejected. In his graphic account of abuse at the care home, CK told the hearing that he was subjected to a 'cleansing process' in which a minister licked him while a cross was placed on his body. The inquiry was also told that children as young as five were forced to have oral sex. Seven former residents of the home will give evidence to the two-week commission (file picture) CK, who left the home in 1958, said he was once made to sit at a table for ten hours because he refused to eat. 'If you threw up they made you eat the vomit and I was not going to do that', he was quoted by saying by Nine MSN. He . described one incident in which a matron beat three children so badly . in a shower that there was blood running into the drain. Many children went on to commit suicide, the hearing was told. CK . said: 'The pain that we have, we will take to the grave. The ones who . have suicided, they're possibly the lucky ones. We're the living dead . that remain.' He spoke of terrible conditions in which children had no shoes and few clothes. Former resident and campaigner Tommy Campion spearheaded the suit against the church. He . has accused the Anglican Church of fighting claims of abuse and he and . his sister refused to accept compensation that was given to claimants. The church apologised for the abuse earlier this year. The commission is expected to sit for two weeks.
|
Royal commission opened into Church's response to abuse allegations .
Former resident gives harrowing account of ritual sexual abuse at home .
About 200 children estimated to have been physically and sexually abused at North Coast Children's Home in Lismore .
|
07cf321dc35ffc3e4c7f48cf890a604452e681a6
|
He shouldn't give up his day job any time soon. Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has tried his hand at rapping in an inexplicable and painfully awkward video about the G20 - dropping the f bomb and swearing about the Abbott Government's policy on internet privacy. The video shows senator Ludlam slamming the Abbott government's proposed mandatory data retention laws ahead of the G20 summit in Brisbane next month. Senator Ludlam, from Western Australia, teamed up with Melbourne’s Juice Rap News’ in their latest YouTube video, which has received over 25,000 views after it was published on Thursday. Greens senator Scott Ludlam going the full gandalf in the latest music video debut about internet privacy . Politician by day, rapper by night: Greens Senator Scott Ludlam speaks in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra . Wearing a white button up dress top with a black blazer in the video, senator Ludlam is introduced as a ‘hippie and greenie - trying to stop the fun’ by a rapper who plays a correspondent named ‘Ken Oathcarn'. ‘Why is it when in the senate - whenever you speak, the whole room empties and all the senators leave?’ Oathcarn raps. While pointing the finger at Oathcarn, senator Ludlam responds: ‘A better question is why is the senate empty yet my words go viral when they arrive on the internet?’ Oathcarn continues to rap, saying ‘Australia’s about to be the first great nation to pass laws for mandatory data retention’ before senator Ludlam intervenes: ‘a fascist f***fest of Orwellian proportions’. ‘Oh come on mate, you’re not going to be a negative nerd and vote against all of Tony’s [Abbott] incredible work?’ Oathcarn raps. ‘I’ll go full Gandalf on this government’s a***. Smack down their laws with a dose of – you shall not pass,’ senator Ludlam rhymes. ‘I can’t do it solo, that’s why I’ve issued a blanket call out to the internet – to stand up and be counted. The net is our best bet to combat to render on tactics.’ And it got even better when senator Ludlam walked into the last scene, dressed as the Lord of the Rings wizard . The video shows senator Ludlam slamming the Abbott government's proposed mandatory data retention laws . And it got even better when senator Ludlam walked into the last scene, dressed as the Lord of the Rings wizard as he zaps at a rapper dressed as Prime Minister Tony Abbott off the screen, along with correspondent Oathcarn and two girls, believed to be acting as his daughters. Senator Ludlam told news.com.au that Juice Rap News approached him and he agreed to be part of the video because he respected their work. ‘We could be less than a week away from mandatory data retention laws. It’s a tongue-in-cheek tactic, but it has a serious message behind it,’ he said. The video was also posted on Senator Ludlam’s official Facebook page, as well as his Twitter account, tweeting ‘yes this actually happened’ on Friday morning. Senator Ludlam teamed up with Melbourne’s Juice Rap News’ in their latest YouTube video . The video was also posted on Senator Ludlam’s official Facebook and Twitter page on Friday morning .
|
Greens senator Scott Ludlam has teamed up with Juice Rap News in their latest YouTube video, 'G20 Rap with Tony Abbott - feat. Scott Ludlam'
The video shows senator Ludlam slamming the Abbott government's proposed mandatory data retention laws .
Senator Ludlam tweeted on Friday: ‘yes this actually happened’
|
07d06c82ce6d54f76a37a995bc48f150e5b9bb90
|
By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:00 EST, 22 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:10 EST, 22 February 2014 . All natural: Victoria Beckham has not had botox, says her dermatologist . She's admitted to having boob jobs, but Victoria Beckham has never used botox, fillers or lasers, says her dermatologist. Dr Harold Lancer claims the 39-year-old transformed what was uneven, acne-blighted skin into a smooth and blemish-free face simply by paying attention to her lifestyle and skincare regime. He said: ‘Victoria Beckham is a natural beauty. 'She’s an incredible health nut – she watches her diet, her exercise, she sort of leads an ideal healthy life. 'She’s an example of how skincare products can be used to convince tissue to heal itself from the outside in and the inside out.’ The Beverly Hills medic added: ‘She suffered badly from acne but [her skin now] is totally self resolved. 'She pays meticulous attention to product use and lifestyle. ‘And I supervised all of it so I assure you nobody has touched her with any surgical implements or lasers. 'She’s an example of self discipline. ‘I always advise acne patients to modify their diets so they have no dairy intake, no caffeine intake, and next to no sugar. 'This means their carbohydrate intake has to be under 20 per cent of their calorific intake. ‘I’m the only skin doctor who she’s ever seen, so trust me on this one.’ A more competitive type of indoor cycling class, devised by New York fitness experts, is attracting an array of celebrity fans, including Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Jimmy Fallon and Matthew Broderick. Called Flywheel, it combines powerful music and uplifting instruction with a new, high-tech ‘torq pack’ which measures your speed and power to give a race ranking and exact calorie-burn count. ‘Flywheel is extremely fun because I’m a little bit competitive,’ said Jessica, right. ‘During the sprints, you can see where you’re ranking in the class and go harder to make your number better.’ Winning streak: Flywheel combines music and instruction with a high-tech ¿torq pack¿ which measures your speed and power to give a race ranking . The class’s co-founder, Jay Galluzzo, says: ‘Jessica loves our intense, inspiring classes and the technology.’ The first class opened in London last year, at Shoreditch House, and there are now plans to extend further into the UK. Cranberry juice could make your body healthier overall, says new research. Adults who regularly consumed the drink had better cardiovascular profiles than those who didn’t – even though there was no difference in overall calorie intake, said the US study. Drinking cranberry juice – which has long been a go-to drink for cystitis – was associated with smaller waist measurements, a reduced likelihood of being overweight or obese and a lower risk of infection or inflammation. All in your head: Agony may be 'all in the mind' People who believe their pain will have catastrophic effects feel it more severely – meaning pain may be ‘all in the mind’, says research. Psychological factors are increasingly seen to have a major impact on how much you feel pain, explaining why different people have different pain thresholds. The study of 100 patients with knee arthritis tested how much they ‘catastrophised’ pain and how badly they felt on six-minute walks. The research at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, showed that the more patients feared pain from walking, the more pain they actually felt. And the amount of pain felt can have an impact on recovery as that often requires exercise. Jane Tadman of Arthritis Research UK says: ‘It’s always been a strange phenomenon that people with osteoarthritis, who may have the same amount of cartilage damage, have completely different levels and experiences of pain. ‘There is a large “psycho-social” aspect to chronic pain. We’re carrying out research looking at the way the brain processes pain, anticipation of pain and whether there are abnormalities in brain mechanisms, which if targeted, could offer a more effective way of dealing with chronic pain than traditional painkillers.’ Yoga really can create positive physical changes in the body, new research reveals. A study by Ohio State University looked at 200 breast cancer survivors who had never practised yoga before. Half were given twice-weekly 90-minute sessions for three months while the other half continued not to practise it. Blood tests taken before and after the three months showed that cytokines – proteins in the blood that can show inflammation – were lower by ten to 15 per cent in those doing yoga. One theory is that yoga aids sleep and cuts stress, which in turn reduces inflammation.
|
Victoria Beckham has admitted to having a breast enlargement .
However, she has not used botox or fillers, says her doctor .
|
07d15032b0d6e867837daf5b9767e805766c4816
|
Wooden boats loaded with tourists cause a massive traffic jam at Thailand's famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, a historic collection of vendors that has become completely over-run by tourists. Located in the Ratchaburi province, about 100 km west of Bangkok, this traditional floating market primarily functions now as a tourist attraction - in fact were it not for the visitors on water market tours the ancient tradition may not be able to stay afloat. The practice is steeped in history, however, as these markets were originally the only way that fruits and vegetables were sold in many places in the Thai kingdom. Scroll down for video . Wooden canoes loaded with tourists cause a traffic jam at the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi, Thailand . Located about 60 miles west of Bangkok, this traditional floating market is a place where tourists can buy locally grown fruits and vegetables . Vendors paddle along the congested canals selling their produce, such as bananas, papayas, corn, cabbage and onions . Originally, the canal was dredged to connect the Taachin River and the Maklong River, during a time when transportation was almost motionless. Today, many people live along both sides of the canal - the majority of whom are farmers who grow oranges, grapes, papayas, cabbages and onions. There are countless floating markets throughout the country, though this one is particularly noteworthy for its colourfully-clad merchants and congested canals. Bargaining is common practice as individuals selling souvenirs and food paddle along the water in sturdy canoes, but prices are often only negotiable by a few baht. Steeped in history, these floating markets were traditionally the only way that vendors could transport their goods from city to city . It's common practice to bargain prices down, though most are not negotiable by more than a few baht . A favourite tourist destination, some vendors also offer souvenirs and photo opportunities, such as the chance to hold a snake . To avoid the inevitable crowds, experts suggest visiting in the early morning. By 8am, the market will begin to fill up quickly . To beat the crowds, experts suggest visiting in the early morning. Between 8 and 11 am, the market quickly fills up with hundreds of vendors and tourists. Tours of the market are also available, with some even including a stop at the Phra Pathom Chedi in nearby Nakorn Pathom, which is believed to be the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. To see all floating markets in one fell swoop, boats can be hired to take tourists to Ton Khem, Hai Kui and Khun Phithal for about 300 baht per hour.
|
Located in the Ratchaburi province, 60 miles from Bangkok, this floating market is a top tourist attraction .
Vendors selling fruits and vegetables paddle canoes along the canal, selling to tourists and locals .
Canal was originally built to connect the Taachin River and the Maklong River, under the reign of King Rama IV .
|
07d1a1fe11524c1970d151bf55559a0f8b61bcc5
|
Paris (CNN) -- A librarian in northern France made what may be the discovery of his lifetime when he uncovered a rare Shakespeare's First Folio in his library's collection. There are fewer than 240 known copies of the First Folio -- the first printed collection of 36 of William Shakespeare's plays, produced in 1623, seven years after his death -- so turning up a new one is an unlikely event. For Remy Cordonnier, director of the medieval and early modern collection at the library in Saint-Omer, the moment he realized what he held in his hands was one of excitement -- and disbelief. He was preparing an exhibition on Anglo-Saxon authors in September when he came across the First Folio. It was missing some pages, which is why it had been misfiled many decades ago. "We looked deeper and we realized quickly that it was not a common edition," Cordonnier told CNN. At first, the director could not believe what he had found. "I think I have 2.5 million pounds in my hands," he told his boss. He then sought advice from Eric Rasmussen, a Shakespeare expert at the University of Nevada in Reno. "I am not an expert myself on Shakespeare's pieces, so I wanted to have the opinion of an expert," said Cordonnier. "This is why I contacted Eric Rasmussen to make sure they did not already know about the First Folio. He was actually in London working on the Shakespeare year at the British Library and agreed to come to authenticate the document." Rasmussen's authentication, just this past weekend, confirmed what Cordonnier had suspected. The Saint-Omer library was home to a Shakespeare's First Folio. This discovery "will add prestige to the region and help reconnect with our illustrious history, unfortunately forgotten for a century and a half," Cordonnier said. The library still plans to make the First Folio part of the Anglo-Saxon exhibition, but it will not be put on display. "It is going to be digitized to be accessible to the public, at least virtually," Cordonnier said. The precious book, meanwhile, will be stored in a safe to protect it from any damage. According to the British Library, which holds four copies, the First Folio was produced by two of Shakespeare's fellow actors and closest friends, John Heminge and Henry Condell. Although some of the playwright's works had been published before in a smaller, poorly edited format, the roughly 900-page book was the first to unite almost all of them, categorized as "Comedies, Histories and Tragedies." Without the First Folio, much of Shakespeare's work would have been lost to subsequent generations. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, with 82 First Folios, has the single largest collection of the books, representing one-third of the world's existing copies. Shakespeare turns 450 this year . CNN's Marion Lory reported from Paris, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported in London.
|
A librarian stumbles across a previously unknown Shakespeare's First Folio .
The copy had been misfiled decades ago in the library in Saint-Omer .
The book, printed in 1623, is one of fewer than 240 known to exist in the world .
A U.S. Shakespeare expert authenticated the copy found in Saint-Omer .
|
07d276b45b8e5bad954351c32bbd920c352f0ec1
|
By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 13:52 EST, 18 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:19 EST, 19 March 2012 . Prepare to catch the ‘gladdies’ one last time. Age has finally caught up with Dame Edna Everage – and she is retiring. Barry Humphries, the man behind the glittery glasses, has announced that his character is setting out on her final tour. And the Australian housewife won’t be alone in her retirement as Humphries’s other alter ego, the obnoxious Sir Les Patterson, will be joining her. Bowing out: Dame Edna, pictured here bringing her own unique style to Dick Whittington at the New Wimbledon Theatre last Christmas, is retiring after more than 50 years in the business . Hats off to you: Dame Edna's creator Barry Humphries, seen here after being made a CBE for services to entertainment, says he wants to move on to do other things . ‘I’m feeling a bit senior now and it’s time to move on,’ Humphries, who is 78, said yesterday. The comedian’s upcoming tour will be the last time Dame Edna and Sir Les will be seen on stage, although their creator admitted: ‘Edna will crop up on television, I guess, but not in a live show.’ He said: ‘The fact of the matter is that I’m beginning to feel a bit senior. It’s the best aerobics you could do, leaping around on stage, but it’s gruelling when there are other things to do.’ Dame Edna was created in the 1950s when Humphries was a young actor touring southern Australia. Sir Les Patterson burst on to the scene later, cursing and spitting his way through his first stage show in 1974. He was a dramatic contrast to Dame Edna with his nose-picking, belching and flatulence, but was an immediate hit with her fans. Fast and fabulous! Dame Edna hops into a Formula 1 car alongside broadcaster Clive James (left) and racing driver Damon Hill at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide . Animal magnetism: The Dame cuddles a koala with the late 'crocodile hunter' Steve Irwin in 2003 . Taking centre stage: Barry Humphries' alter ego with courtroom TV star Judge Judy in New York, where she was also hugely popular for her theatre work . Talk show queen: Dame Edna interviews John Mills and Cynthia Payne on her hugely popular Dame Edna Experience series in 1987 . By the 1980s, Dame Edna had evolved from a drab housewife from Melbourne’s working class suburb of Moonee Ponds to an international star who hosted her own talk show. Celebrities including Sean Connery, Chubby Checker, Charlton Heston, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mel Gibson and Dusty Springfield appeared on The Dame Edna Experience. She became known for her glasses, her lilac curls, her ‘Hello possums!’ greeting and her ‘gladdies’ – the bunch of gladioli that she threw to the audience at the end of her live shows. Humphries’s characters have been such a hit in Britain that he was made a CBE in 2007 for services to entertainment. In the U.S., he won the Tony award for best special theatrical event in 2000 for Dame Edna: The Royal Tour. Bond-ing with the stars: Dame Edna with 007 legend Sean Connery in 1987 . Comedy legend: Mr Humphries with Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams in 2005 . Lecher: Mr Humphries in his other guise as the farting, obnoxious Sir Les Patterson . But Humphries told Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph he was retiring the popular couple because there were ‘places I want to go, things I want to do’. He has also been given a contract to write another book. And although Dame Edna’s upcoming farewell tour only covers Australia at the moment, British fans may also get the chance to say their goodbyes. Humphries said that if the show is a success in Australia, he will take it to London and New York. Entitled Eat Pray Laugh, the show is about a journey, he added. Providing a few clues as to what audiences can expect, he said: ‘Les has become a celebrity chef. We’ll have a kitchen on stage and Les working away, clearly preparing a meal for political colleagues. ‘Edna, of course, will be discussing her spiritual journey. She’s on a journey to find herself, to lose the trappings of mega-stardom and become a real person.’ There will also be an appearance from Humphries’s favourite character, Sandy Stone. A right royal hello: Dame Edna greets The Queen when she was among the stars appearing at a Gala Variety Performance in aid of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal in 1977 . Waxing lyrical: Dame Edna poses with a replica of Queen Victoria as she visits Madame Tussauds in London in 1982 .
|
'I'm feeling a bit senior now and it's time to move on,' says creator, 78 .
Farting lecher Sir Les Patterson also a taking final bow .
Dame Edna began life as a drab housewife in the 1950s...
...but went on to become international talk-show treasure .
Final tour in Australia, possibly followed by London and New York .
|
07d2df69c7721c676798e07eec221290cfecbe89
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama entered office with two overriding legislative goals: health care reform and climate change mitigation. He obtained the first goal but not the second. Now he has to decide whether the laws that Congress passes pose any constraint on his actions, or whether those laws are simply vessels whose precise contents can be filled as the President sees fit. On Tuesday, two federal courts rendered contrasting decisions regarding the legality of subsidies paid to those who have obtained insurance through the federal exchange established under the Affordable Care Act, the Obamacare legislation that a deeply divided Congress passed in 2009. The act contains a provision authorizing federal subsidies to low-income individuals who purchase insurance through a "state" health exchange. The question that the two courts had to answer was whether the specific statutory reference to state exchanges precludes subsidies to those who obtained insurance coverage through the federal exchange. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that such subsidies were not permitted; the 4th Circuit, the federal appeals court based in nearby Virginia, held that the subsidies were allowed. The conflicting decisions reflect conflicting views of what counts as the law. According to the D.C. Circuit's majority, the law is contained in the plain language of a statute. But according to the Virginia-based court, the law consists of what Congress intended to do when it enacted the Affordable Care Act. For its part, the Obama administration emphasizes what Congress intended instead of what Congress actually wrote and passed. When White House press secretary Josh Earnest was asked if "the letter of the law matters to the White House on this," he responded that "what the courts are charged with doing is evaluating the intent of Congress." That approach would save the subsidies that underpin the Affordable Care Act, but it would doom the administration's approach to climate change. When Obama took office, he asked Congress to enact sweeping federal legislation to combat climate change. The President insisted that such new legislation was necessary to respond to climate change -- indeed, some of his more zealous supporters argued that federal climate change legislation was necessary to save the world from destruction. But once Congress rebuffed his plea for such a law, Obama decided that maybe it wasn't necessary after all. Instead, he turned to the Clean Air Act, which Congress enacted in 1970 to reduce the clouds of air pollution that plagued so many American cities at the time. The intent of the Congress that passed the Clean Air Act was to empower the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate emissions of substances that make people sick when they breathe them. That Congress did not even think about climate change, and the pollutants that Congress did contemplate are fundamentally different from greenhouse gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere, are not toxic when breathed even at the elevated levels that now exist in the atmosphere, and that cause harm indirectly by facilitating the greenhouse effect that has begun to change the world's climates. If we were to follow Earnest's advice and evaluate the intent of Congress, then the Clean Air Act would not apply to climate change. But the Supreme Court read the Clean Air Act in the same way that the D.C. federal appeals court read the Affordable Care Act. In the landmark 2007 decision of Massachusetts v. EPA, the high court held the clear text of the Clean Air Act encompassed all sorts of air pollutants, not just those that were in the mind of Congress when it enacted the law. That broad understanding of the Clean Air Act forms the legal foundation for the EPA's ongoing regulation of greenhouse gas emitters and of Obama's Climate Action Plan. Now Obama, a former adjunct law professor, faces a choice. If he defends efforts to interpret the Affordable Care Act based on what Congress apparently intended rather than on the law's actual provisions, then he undercuts the legal theory for his response to climate change. But if he defers to what the law actually says, then he loses the subsidies that are integral to the success of the Affordable Care Act. Of course, the President could simply advance whatever legal theory suits his policy aims. We expect more from judges. And few judges have articulated the judicial task better than Oliver Wendell Holmes, who remarked, "We do not inquire what the legislature meant; we ask only what the statute means." Even if Josh Earnest would prefer otherwise. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.
|
President Barack Obama's team argues against a literal reading of the health care law .
Nagle: View may save Obamacare but flies in face of approach to climate change .
Obama seeks to use decades-old law to regulate gases related to climate change .
Nagle: On climate change, Obama wants judges to read the law literally .
|
07d3149cae1c92197099e0e0631090098583fd88
|
By . Press Association Reporter . Former Wales and Scarlets prop Rhys Thomas is undergoing surgery on Tuesday ahead of a heart transplant. Thomas, 32, announced his retirement from rugby in April 2012 after suffering a heart attack in January of that year. On that occasion he was taken ill while taking part in a cardio session in the gym at Scarlets' ground, treated by their medical team and then rushed to hospital, where he underwent a life-saving quadruple heart bypass operation. Under the knife: Former Wales prop Rhys Thomas is having surgery on Tuesday ahead of a heart transplant . Thomas' agent Christian Abt was quoted on Tuesday by the BBC as saying: 'I can confirm he is having an operation today to prepare him for a heart transplant in the near future.' Among Thomas' former team-mates wishing him well on Twitter were Scarlets and Wales centre Scott Williams, who wrote: 'All the best with the op.' And Ospreys number eight Joe Bearman, who played with Thomas at Newport Gwent Dragons, wrote: 'Good luck big guy. Get that pump in there, our thoughts are with you mate.' South Africa-born Thomas, who won seven caps for Wales, came through the ranks at Newport, breaking into the first team in 2003 and going on to earn a place in the Dragons squad when Welsh rugby turned to a regional model. Good luck: Thomas, seen here playing for Scarlets, has been inundated with messages wishing him well . His impressive form for the Rodney Parade side saw him win his first cap as a replacement in the first Test on the tour of Argentina in 2006. But he missed several months of the following season after suffering what he has described as a 'mild heart attack', before eventually being given medical clearance to return to action. He started against Italy during Wales' 2008 Grand Slam campaign after missing out on selection for the 2007 World Cup, and left the Dragons in 2009 to join the Scarlets.
|
Rhys Thomas having transplant on Tuesday .
He retired from rugby in April 2012 .
Set to have a heart transplant in the near future .
|
07d414606c08598f728f112288f3f866b00d9f8e
|
Editor's note: Peggy Wallace Kennedy is the daughter of George C. Wallace and Lurleen Wallace, who both were governors of Alabama. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband, Mark Kennedy, a retired state Supreme Court justice. They have two sons, Leigh, a decorated veteran of the Iraq war, and Burns, a college sophomore. Peggy Wallace Kennedy says her father sought absolution for his segregationist views. MONTGOMERY, Alabama (CNN) -- I heard a car door slam behind me and turned to see an elderly but spry woman heading my way. The night before, a gang of vandals had swept through the cemetery desecrating graves, crushing headstones and stealing funereal objects. My parents' graves, situated on a wind-swept hill overlooking the cemetery, had not been spared. A large marble urn that stood between two granite columns had been pried loose and spirited away, leaving faded silk flowers strewn on the ground. I was holding a bouquet of them in my arms when the woman walked up and gave me a crushing hug. "Honey," she said, "you don't know me, but when I saw you standing up here on this hill, I knew that you must be one of the girls and I couldn't help myself but to drive up here and let you know how much me and my whole family loved both of your parents. They were real special people." I thanked her for her kind words as we stood side by side gazing down at the graves of Govs. George Wallace and Lurleen Wallace. After a few moments, the woman leaned into me and spoke almost in a conspiratorial whisper. "I never thought I would live to see the day when a black would be running for president. I know your daddy must be rolling over in his grave." Not having the heart or the energy to respond, I gave her bony arm a slight squeeze, turned and walked away. As I put the remnants of the graveyard spray in the trunk of my car, I assumed that she had not bothered to notice the Barack Obama sticker on my bumper. When I was a young voter and had little interest in politics, my father would mark my ballot for me. As I thought about the woman in the cemetery, I mused that if he were alive and I had made the same request for this election, there would be a substantial chance, though not a certainty, that he would put an "X" by Obama's name. Perhaps it would be the last chapter in his search for inner peace that became so important to him after becoming a victim of hatred and violence himself when he was shot and gravely injured in a Laurel, Maryland, shopping center parking lot. Perhaps it would be a way of reconciling in his own mind that what he once stood for did not prevent freedom of opportunity and self-advancement from coming full circle; his final absolution. George Wallace and other Southern governors of his ilk stood defiantly in the 1950s and '60s in support of racial segregation, a culture of repression, violence and denial of basic human rights. Their actions and the stark images of their consequences that spread across the world galvanized the nation and gave rise to a cry for an end to the American apartheid. The firestorms that were lit in Birmingham, Oxford, Memphis, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Little Rock and Selma were a call to arms to which the people responded. And now a new call to arms has sounded as Americans face another assault on freedom. For if the stand in the schoolhouse door was a defining moment for George Wallace, then surely the aftermath of Katrina and the invasion of Iraq will be the same for George W. Bush. The trampling of individual freedoms and his blatant contempt for the rights of the average American may not have been as obvious as an ax-handle-wielding governor, but Bush's insidiousness and piety have made him much more dangerous. Healing must come, hope will be our lodestar, humility will reshape the American conscience, and honesty in both word and deed will refresh and invigorate America, and having Barack Obama to lead will give us back our power to heal. My father lived long enough to come to an understanding of the injustices borne by his deeds and the legacy of suffering that they left behind. History will teach future generations that he was a man who used his political power to promote a philosophy of exclusion. As his daughter, who witnessed his suffering in the twilight of his years and who witnessed his deeds and heard his words, I am one who believes that the man who, on March 7, 1965, listened to the reports of brutality as they streamed into the Governor's Mansion from Selma, Alabama, was not the same man who, in March of 1995, was welcomed with open arms as he was rolled through a sea of African-American men, women and children who gathered with him to welcome another generation of marchers, retracing in honor and remembrance the historic steps from Selma to Montgomery. Four years ago, the young Illinois senator who spoke at the Democratic National Convention mesmerized me. I hoped even then that he would one day be my president. Today, Barack Obama is hope for a better tomorrow for all Americans. He stands on the shoulders of all those people who have incessantly prayed for a day when "justice will run down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream" (Amos 5:24). Perhaps one day, my two sons and I will have the opportunity to meet Barack Obama in person to express our gratitude to him for bringing our family full circle. And today, the day after the election, I am going to ride to the cemetery so that if asked, I can vouch for the fact that the world is still spinning but my father lies at peace. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Peggy Wallace Kennedy.
|
Peggy Wallace Kennedy: My dad, George Wallace, might have backed Barack Obama .
Ex-segregationist Wallace sought absolution for his earlier views, daughter says .
She says Obama will help heal the nation after wounds of Katrina and Iraq war .
|
07d41a520d0f99be356488865a44586184955e26
|
(CNN) -- Some of the president's men are still working. In golf's Presidents Cup, that is. And while U.S. President Barack Obama wasn't in attendance in Ohio -- he has more important things to worry about -- a former president, George W. Bush, greeted both teams Thursday at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. The biennial competition, which pits the U.S. against the rest of the world minus Europe, has been kinder to the Americans than the more prestigious Ryder Cup. Indeed since the tournament started in 1994, only once has the International Team prevailed, and the U.S. has won four in a row. The U.S. featured six players in the top 10 in the rankings, including world No. 1 and PGA Player of the Year Tiger Woods. The International Team, by contrast, had one -- Masters champion Adam Scott. Early indications suggested the U.S.'s superiority in the rankings would translate to an easy victory -- they led all six fourballs in the early stages. But after about a 90-minute delay because of thunderstorms, the International Team fought back. By day's end, it was 3.5 to 2.5 for the U.S., a slender advantage. Jason Day's dramatic putt at the 18th gave the Australian and Graham DeLaet a win over Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker after Woods and Matt Kuchar routed Angel Cabrera and Marc Leishman 5 and 4. "It's awfully fun partnering the No. 1 player in the world," Kuchar said in a televised interview. The U.S. fell behind as Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley lost to Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel 2 and 1 before Scott and Hideki Matsuyama halved with Bill Haas and Webb Simpson. Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson eased past Branden Grace and Richard Sterne 5 and 3 to level the match. In the decider, Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth edged Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge. Stricker's short putt at the 18th gave the U.S. the lead heading into Friday's foursomes.
|
After the opening day of the Presidents Cup, the U.S. leads 3.5 to 2.5 in Ohio .
Thunderstorms temporarily halted play during Thursday's fourballs at Muirfield Village .
The U.S. team features six of the world's top 10, including No. 1 Tiger Woods .
The International Team has only won once since the competition started in 1994 .
|
07d4f4bea4f2c620b49b2236c17f782e3b0105c9
|
It is the dream of many safari holidaymakers, seeing the African wildlife up close. But Garth Kew wasn't expecting an elephant to turn up on his doorstep. The amateur photographer was terrified when he looked out of his window at the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa to see an elephant looking back at him. Garth Kew was terrified when he looked outside to see an elephant by the window . The holidaymakers grabbed his camera and ventured outside to snap some pictures . The wildlife lover had the fright of his life when the wild animal came so close to his holiday accommodation. But he grabbed his camera and managed to capture some pictures from the safety of his room. After a while, he realised the curious elephant was just have a look round and ventured outside to photograph the animal enjoying the sunshine. Madikwe is a 'Big 5' game reserve and lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos wander freely. As the lodge is on the bank of a river it is a popular watering place and Mr Kew has even heard of elephants drinking from the holiday home's outdoor showers. The elephant didn't seem to pose a danger and was believed to be looking for water to drink . Mr Kew said the elephant seemed to just be having a nose around the camp . Mr Kew said: 'The elephant wasn't lured or encouraged - I don't know how that could have been done. 'It was simply ambling down to have a drink.' After managing to capture the magical shots, Mr Garth saw the elephant amble off back into the bush.
|
Garth Kew was on holiday in South Africa at the Madikwe Game Reserve .
He looked out his window to see the elephant looking in .
Elephants reportedly approach the camp to drink from outdoor showers .
|
07d505ba2225dfcdfda018866e082c769987f642
|
Washington (CNN) -- House Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling and slash government spending narrowly passed his chamber on Friday and then was blocked by Senate Democrats, setting up a weekend of negotiations to seek a deal that would avoid a potential federal default next week. The Senate vote was 59-41 to table the measure, which effectively kills it unless Democrats decide to bring it up again. Earlier, Boehner's proposal was approved by the House in a sharply polarized 218-210 vote that was delayed by a day while the speaker rounded up support from wary tea party conservatives. No Democrats supported the measure, and 22 of the 240 members of the Republican majority also opposed it. Even though it was blocked in the Senate, the Boehner plan now is the Republican negotiating position for hammering out a deal with congressional Democrats and President Barack Obama to avert a possible government default next week. However, no face-to-face talks were scheduled, with Democrats accusing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of refusing to negotiate and McConnell in turn seeking a chance for his caucus to reject a proposal offered by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid as a vehicle for compromise. Democratic and Republican sources familiar with the situation told CNN that McConnell insists the White House be present in further negotiations toward a debt ceiling deal. In a continuation of the political theater that has characterized the negotiations so far, the House scheduled a vote on the Reid plan for Saturday -- before the Senate will even begin considering it -- as what appeared to be payback for the rejection by Senate Democrats of the Boehner proposal. Reid, meanwhile, said the Senate will likely vote to take up his plan at 1 a.m. Sunday ET as part of the procedural path required to get something passed in coming days. As the political maneuvering continues, the clock continues to tick down. If Congress fails to raise the current $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems. Some financial experts have warned of a downgrade of America's triple-A credit rating and a potential stock market plunge. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped for a sixth straight day on Friday. Without an increase in the debt limit, the federal government will not be able to pay all its bills next month. Obama recently indicated he can't guarantee Social Security checks will be mailed out on time. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a statement Friday to remind military personnel that they should plan to come to work next week as scheduled, regardless of whether a deal gets worked out. Panetta pledged to do "everything possible to ensure that our national defense is protected." A Department of Defense official told CNN on condition of not being identified that on the possibility of military pay being withheld, "it's not a question of whether, but when, if an agreement isn't reached." Friday's House vote was a critical test of Boehner's control over his tea party-infused GOP caucus. The speaker was forced to quell a right-wing revolt over the measure after a number of members complained that it doesn't do enough to shrink the size of government and stem the tide of Washington's red ink. Boehner, R-Ohio, managed to sway several of those members by including a provision requiring congressional passage of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution before the debt ceiling can be extended through the end of 2012. In his floor speech before the vote, Boehner called the proposal imperfect but necessary, and he criticized Obama and congressional Democrats for rejecting all deficit reduction measures passed by the House so far. "We've tried to do our level best ... but some people continue to say no," Boehner said, adding: "I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the president of the United States." His voice rising to a shout, Boehner continued to cheers and applause from fellow Republicans: "It is time for this administration and the other party across the aisle -- put something on the table. Tell us where you are." Democratic leaders vehemently object both to the balanced budget amendment and the requirement of a second debt ceiling vote before the next election. They argue that reaching bipartisan agreement on another debt ceiling hike during an election year could be nearly impossible, and that short-term extensions of the limit could further destabilize the economy. Earlier in the day, Obama urged Senate Democrats and Republicans to take the lead in the congressional deliberations. Boehner's plan "has no chance of becoming law," Obama said. "The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now. ... It's important for everybody to step up and show the leadership that the American people expect." "This is not a situation where the two parties are miles apart," the president insisted. But "we are almost out of time." Obama urged Americans to contact their members of Congress "to keep the pressure on Washington." Phone lines on Capitol Hill were jammed Friday as people from coast to coast tried to weigh in on the debate. Meanwhile, Reid, D-Nevada, has been pushing his own plan to raise the debt limit, though he will need to win over at least seven Senate Republicans to win the 60 votes necessary to overcome a certain filibuster. Reid announced Friday morning that he intended to "take action" on a Senate bill by the end of the day. Later, he complained on the Senate floor that Republicans would effectively filibuster his proposal by requiring a 60-vote super-majority in the 100-member chamber to support the start of debate on it. It was unclear when Reid would attempt to hold that vote, and he warned it could as late as 1 a.m. ET Sunday. Reid also blasted Boehner's decision to include a mandatory balanced budget amendment provision in the GOP plan, calling the addition of "even more stuff in this right-wing leaning bill. ... It's really hard to comprehend." Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, accused Boehner of "adding all kinds of unrealistic poison pills to his plan." But McConnell, R-Kentucky, argued Senate Democrats were doing little to actually resolve the crisis. "I would suggest to my friends on the other side ... that they start taking their responsibilities as a majority party a little more seriously, because at this point, the only people who are disregarding the consequences of default are Senate Democrats -- not the Republicans in the House -- but them," McConnell said. In a statement after the House vote, McConnell said: "I eagerly await the majority leader's plan for preventing this crisis." Leaders of both parties now agree that any deal to raise the debt ceiling should include long-term spending reductions to help control spiraling deficits. But they differ sharply on both the nature and timetable of the cuts. Despite the strong partisan rhetoric, there have been signs of a growing recognition of a need for further compromise. Earlier this week, McConnell called for renewed negotiations with Obama, and indicated that his party must be willing to move away from some of its demands. Sources close to the negotiations have also told CNN that Vice President Joe Biden is very much in the mix of back-channel conversations on a possible fallback position. White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley told CNN Thursday that, presuming the Boehner plan wins House approval and gets blocked in the Senate, the next step is for everyone "to take a step back in the Congress and look at where is a point of compromise." Daley said that similarities between the Boehner and Reid plans "may be the grounds for a deal that, hopefully, both parties can pass." Both plans suffered setbacks earlier this week when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released reports concluding that they fell short of their stated deficit reduction goals. Boehner's plan, which has since been revised, proposed generating a total of $917 billion in savings while initially raising the debt ceiling by $900 billion. The speaker has pledged to match any debt ceiling hike with dollar-for-dollar spending cuts. His plan, however, would require a second vote by Congress to raise the debt ceiling by a combined $2.5 trillion -- enough to last through the end of 2012. It would create a special congressional committee to recommend additional savings of $1.6 trillion or more. Any failure on the part of Congress to enact mandated spending reductions or abide by new spending caps would trigger automatic across-the-board budget cuts. The plan, as amended Friday, also calls for congressional passage of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution before the second vote to raise the debt ceiling, which would likely be required at some point during the winter. As for Reid's plan, a revised version he proposed Friday would reduce deficits over the next decade by $2.4 trillion and raise the debt ceiling by a similar amount. It includes $1 trillion in savings based on the planned U.S. withdrawals from military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. Reid's plan also would establish a congressional committee made up of 12 House and Senate members to consider additional options for debt reduction. The committee's proposals would be guaranteed by a Senate vote with no amendments by the end of the year. In addition, it incorporates a process based on proposal by McConnell that would give Obama the authority to raise the debt ceiling in two steps while providing Congress the opportunity to vote its disapproval. Among other things, Reid has stressed that his plan meets the key GOP demand for no additional taxes. Boehner, however, argued this week that Reid's plan fails to tackle popular entitlement programs such as Medicare, which are among the biggest drivers of the debt. A recent CNN/ORC International Poll reveals a growing public exasperation and demand for compromise. Sixty-four percent of respondents to a July 18-20 survey preferred a deal with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Only 34% preferred a debt reduction plan based solely on spending reductions. According to the poll, the public is sharply divided along partisan lines; Democrats and independents are open to a number of different approaches because they think a failure to raise the debt ceiling would cause a major crisis for the country. Republicans, however, draw the line at tax increases, and a narrow majority of them oppose raising the debt ceiling under any circumstances. CNN's Ted Barrett, Kate Bolduan, Gloria Borger, Keating Holland, Brianna Keilar, Jeanne Sahadi, Xuan Thai, Jessica Yellin, Barbara Starr and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report .
|
NEW: Sen. Reid revises his plan to bring $2.4 trillion in savings .
NEW: Defense Secretary Panetta asks for patience from the military .
The Senate blocks House Speaker Boehner's debt ceiling plan .
Congress must raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by August 2 or risk default .
|
07d6d9f0bad57da2ab99fdee4c65e6f6627eebcc
|
(CNN) -- I am an American Muslim. When I was growing up in a small town in upstate New York, the America I lived in cherished diversity and the freedom to worship, regardless of one's religion. People of various faiths resided in my community: Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Mormons. How a person prayed was never a factor in how we treated each other. Yet today, Muslims in America are viewed as suspect and legitimate targets for surveillance by the New York Police Department because of their faith. This is not the America I know, and it is time for the courts to weigh in and ban discriminatory policing by the NYPD. Let me be clear: Anyone who engages in criminal acts should be stopped and brought to justice. But the NYPD can do that without targeting an entire community for blanket surveillance. The NYPD has been spying on American Muslims in New York as well as in towns, communities and college campuses throughout the Northeast. In New Jersey, for example, the NYPD visited mosques, schools, Muslim-owned restaurants and small stores and took photographs and videos of people and their cars, collecting information about ordinary people's daily lives, clothing and eating habits. Muslims have been a part of America since the first slave ships arrived. We have contributed to our nation's growth and fought and given up our lives defending it. Today, we are as diverse as our nation: We are white, black, Latino, Pakistani, Indian, Arab, Iranian and Indonesian. We are teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, store owners and business leaders. We are members of the military and Congress. But living freely as a Muslim in America today has become increasingly difficult. In New York and New Jersey, worshipers at local mosques fear that their discussions may be monitored and misinterpreted by police informants. Store owners wonder whether one of the customers might be an undercover cop looking to eavesdrop. Parents of college students caution their children about participating in Muslim student group activities. More than 100 faiths and civil liberties organizations have publicly objected to the NYPD's conduct. They are joined by numerous public officials, including 35 members of Congress. Newark Mayor Cory Booker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have voiced their objections. In addition, Reps. Rush Holt of New Jersey, Judy Chu of California and Keith Ellison of Minnesota have recently introduced a resolution condemning the NYPD's discriminatory practices and calling for an investigation of the NYPD. Despite all this outrage, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and federal officials with an obligation to enforce the law and protect Americans have refused to launch an investigation. That is why today, victims of NYPD's spying program have stepped up and filed a lawsuit against the police department, asking a federal court in New Jersey to ban religious discrimination by law enforcement. Since public officials with direct oversight responsibility have turned a blind eye toward this bigotry, the victims have bravely come forward, turning to the courts as a last resort. This lawsuit is about the pervasive and discriminatory policies and practices that Commissioner Ray Kelly and his leadership team have put into motion and that need to stop. Standing up to the largest police department in the country takes courage, and these brave individuals have done so in order to protect America's future. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include college students, a military serviceman who has put his life on the front lines in Iraq and a small-business owner who is also a Vietnam veteran. They are ordinary Americans just trying to live a normal life, raising their families and supporting their country. These plaintiffs are parents, students, business leaders and service members who enrich our communities. Their only "crime" is that they are Muslim in America. Throughout our nation's history, the courts have often been called upon to protect fundamental rights and defend justice. Following this well-worn path, American Muslims are now raising their voices and knocking on the courthouse door, determined that our system of justice will protect the rights of all Americans. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Farhana Khera.
|
Farhana Khera: Muslims are targets of surveillance by the NYPD because of their faith .
Khera: Victims of NYPD's spying program are stepping up to file a lawsuit .
She says living freely as a Muslim in America today has become increasingly difficult .
Khera: It is time for the courts to weigh in and ban discriminatory action by the police .
|
07d713a6ac57ef6bf772f1abe8cdff1e48fffeaa
|
(CNN) -- Samsung tablets have edged out iPads for the first time in JD Power's biannual customer-satisfaction survey, although some observers say the results don't quite add up. Samsung topped JD Power's rankings with a score of 835 out of 1,000, narrowly beating out Apple's 833. Amazon was third in customer satisfaction at 826, followed by Asus and Acer. The rankings are based on the experiences of 3,375 tablet owners who responded between March and August of this year, and don't include the new iPad Air and iPad Mini, which went on sale Friday. But some tech pundits questioned the market-research company's scoring system. Survey respondents scored Apple's iPad higher than Samsung's tablets in four of five categories -- performance, ease of operation, styling/design, and features -- while Samsung scored higher in just one: cost. A Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 with an almost 8-inch screen, Wi-Fi-only connectivity and 16GB of storage sells for $299, compared to $399 for a comparable iPad Mini. "Reporters who got their hands on the attached chart were left scratching their heads," wrote Philip Elmer DeWitt in Fortune. "The only category that Samsung beat Apple in was (duh) cost. And cost, according to Power's press release, counts for at most 16% of the total score." "Did J.D. Power overreach in giving its top customer satisfaction nod to Samsung instead of Apple?" wondered Don Reisinger of CNET. "So who's the real winner?" JD Power did not immediately respond Friday to CNN's request for comment. Apple in the past has trumpeted JD Power's rankings as evidence of its products' popularity with consumers. At the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple CEO Tim Cook bragged that iOS devices have won nine consecutive JD Power awards. JD Power's survey notes that Samsung is the only manufacturer to improve across all five categories since its last survey in April. The survey found that before buying their tablet, 50% of consumers rely on recommendations from friends, family members or colleagues, while 49% gather information from the manufacturer's website. Other factors that determine tablet-buying choices include brand reputation (42%) and past experience with the brand (32%).
|
Samsung tablets edged out iPads in JD Power's new customer-satisfaction survey .
Samsung topped the rankings with a score of 835, narrowly beating out Apple's 833 .
Some tech pundits questioned the market-research company's scoring system .
Users scored the iPad higher than Samsung tablets in four of five categories .
|
07d7c2923c7dd48fd351c66430f826ebe00987dd
|
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan understands the need to move "urgently and transparently" against extremists on its soil after last week's terrorist attacks in India, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after meetings with Pakistani leaders. Condoleezza Rice meets Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the Mumbai attacks. "I found a Pakistani government that's focused on the threat and understands its responsibility to respond to terrorism and extremism wherever it is found," Rice told reporters Thursday after sessions with the country's president and prime minister. After the talks, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari pledged to assist in the investigation and move against "any Pakistani elements found involved in the attack," his office said. Rice landed in Islamabad in an effort to ease tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai. Indian authorities have said the gunmen who killed nearly 180 people came from Pakistan, but Pakistan has blamed "non-state actors" for the attacks. Rice said the discussions focused on the attacks and what she called Pakistan's obligation "to deal with those who may use Pakistani territory, even if they are non-state actors." "There does need to be action," she said. "There needs to be action urgently and transparently. And it's a message that has been well-received in Pakistan, because it's Pakistan's fight as well." Pakistan is a U.S. ally in the battle against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan -- a conflict that has spread into northwestern Pakistan. Rice's visit to Islamabad came a day after Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Zardari and top military and intelligence officials in Islamabad. India has said a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group with ties to al Qaeda helped plot the Mumbai attacks and says the sole surviving attacker is a Pakistani national. The group, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, is the same one New Delhi accused of carrying out a 2001 attack on its parliament that brought the South Asian nuclear powers to the brink of war. Watch claims attackers came from Pakistan » . India has demanded Pakistan hand over a group of wanted terrorist suspects. Its foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, warned that India will consider all options "to protect its territorial integrity" if Pakistan refuses. "So far as the government of India is concerned, what action will be taken by government will depend on the response we have from Pakistan authorities," Mukherjee said. Rice met with Mukherjee on Wednesday. While she said Pakistan needs to cooperate with the investigation into the Mumbai massacre, she warned India that "any response needs to be judged by its effectiveness in prevention, and also by not creating other unintended consequences or difficulties." U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen warned Thursday of the "increasingly sophisticated threat of militant extremism in South Asia," and urged India and Pakistan to collaborate against a common enemy. America's top military officer is in New Delhi, for talks with senior Indian civilian and military leaders. According to a statement issued by Mullen's Pentagon office, the admiral thanked Indian officials "for their restraint and their desire to cooperate with Pakistani officials" and repeated an offer by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to help in the investigation of the Mumbai attacks which killed 179 people. In India, Mullen met with National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Defense Minister A. K. Antony, and Naval Chief Adm. Sureesh Mehta.
|
Condoleezza Rice: Pakistan knows it has to act urgently .
U.S. secretary of state seeks to ease India-Pakistan tensions .
India has said attackers who killed scores in Mumbai came from Pakistan .
India says it will consider all options "to protect its territorial integrity"
|
07d829076c218b686f26d324225f3d5b97956d26
|
A 'treatment tax' should be imposed on alcohol bought in shops to turn round soaring levels of drink-related hospital admissions, a think tank close to Iain Duncan Smith has said. The Centre for Social Justice said wine, beer and spirits bought in off-licenses and supermarkets should be subject to a levy of a penny per unit to fund rehabilitation for alcoholics. It would mean that a the price of bottle of wine, which contains around 10 units, would rise by 10p. A pack of four beers would rise by a similar amount - with pints of low-strength beer going up by 2p. The Centre for Social Justice said wine, beer and spirits bought in off-licenses and supermarkets should be subject to a levy of a penny per unit to fund rehabilitation for alcoholics . The think tank, which was set up by the Work and Pensions Secretary before the election, said action was needed because the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions have risen to more than 1.2million a year. New figures reveal that admissions in England rose by more than 5 per cent over the space of two years. But critics will question why ordinary responsible drinkers should be hit in their pockets to fund treatment for the irresponsible. Christian Guy, the director of the CSJ, said: 'Alcohol abuse can rip into families, make communities less safe and entrench poverty. 'This is a growing problem but for years effective treatment has been the preserve of the wealthy. It's time to break this injustice wide open and fund a new generation of rehabilitation treatment.' The CSJ said the figures show alcohol abuse is an increasing burden on society and public services – and called for a new 'treatment tax' to be levied on off-licence sales to fund rehab. The think tank - which is close to Iain Duncan Smith - said there had been a surge in alcohol-related hospital admissions . Data shows the number of admissions rose from 1,168,266 in 2010/11 to 1,232,464 in 2012/13, the latest statistics from the Department for Health highlight. Analysis from the CSJ has found that, going on recent trends, the number of cases could reach as much as 1.5 million by the time of the election. Public spending cuts since the election mean that residential treatment – the most effective form of 'rehab' treatment – has suffered from reductions in spending. The think tank said these cuts should be reversed, and said the 'treatment tax' would be an effective way to afford this. The levy would be added to off-licence alcohol sales to fund rehab for people with alcohol and drug addictions. Under the scheme, a tax of a penny per unit would be added by the end of the next Parliament to fund recovery services to the tune of £1.1billion over five years. The CSJ was also critical of a lack of prosecutions of individuals serving alcohol to people who are drunk. There were only 29 convictions in England over the five years from 2009 to 2013. In the last recorded year there were five. The think tank called for Police and Crime Commissioners to put more resources into cracking down on those who sell alcohol to drunks. Around 1.6million people are estimated to be dependent on alcohol in England and one in five children live with a parent who drinks hazardously. Every year alcohol is said to cost society £21billion. The CSJ said that as much as 70 per cent of accident and emergency visits in the early hours are alcohol related, and 40 per cent of A&E attendances at weekends are caused by alcohol.
|
New proposal for 1p per unit surcharge to fund rehabilitation for alcoholics .
It would mean that a the price of bottle of wine, would rise by 10p .
Pints of low-strength beer would go up by 2p and continental lager by 3p .
Proposal put forward by right-wing think tank Centre for Social Justice .
|
07da13842a7b35364c441c91379608d03bdb51a3
|
By . Bill Caven . PUBLISHED: . 22:01 EST, 3 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:30 EST, 4 November 2013 . He has studied the dictionary for up to ten hours a day to amass a vocabulary that would put the rest of us to shame. But teacher Paul Allan clinched the 42nd National Scrabble Championship yesterday using two words that would not be out of place in his classroom. Mr Allan scored 46 points for 'ugh' and 'yeah' during a tense final against full-time Scrabble consultant Allan Simmons. Scroll down for video . Champion: Teacher Paul Allan, from Rushden in Northamptonshire, points to some key words used in his victory at the 42nd British National Scrabble Championships held in London yesterday . Tense match: Paul Allan, pictured left, competes against Allan Simmons, from Coldingham Village in the Scottish Borders, during the Scrabble final . The 43-year-old said his main concern during the match is strategy, not using impressive words. However, the finished board also included much more obscure words such as 'coniines' and 'bandura', a Ukrainian lute, which earned Mr Allan a score of 86 points - and the £2,500 prize. He was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying: 'The whole dictionary is there, and it is a rich dictionary. 'There are no good or bad words.' The final came down to the last match in the gruelling best-of-five showdown, but Mr Allan finished with a flurry and an overall score of 503 points to Mr Simmons’ 389. Afterwards, Mr Allan said: ‘I am . delighted to have won, especially given the fact that the final is . played to a public audience of players who expect to be impressed. Allan . played exceptionally well and was a delight to compete with.’ And it is not the first time Mr Allan, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, has savoured victory in the event. He was previously crowned champion in 2007 and has won a number of tournaments since starting to play Scrabble on a competitive level in 1993. How . the final board looked: Coniines, a poisonous alkaloid found in . hemlock, and Atigi, a coat worn by Canadian Inuits, were among the words . used in the Scrabble final . Heated exchange: Paul Allan and Allan Simmons compare notes during the final Scrabble match . Dedication: Mr Allan, pictured right, spends up to 10 hours a day studying the dictionary . Armed with a four-inch thick tome entitled The Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary, Mr Allan spends up to ten hours a day memorising words. The process started several years ago with the three- and four-letter words. Then came the five- and six- letter ones – and so on up to eight. ‘After that, it’s the law of diminishing returns,’ he explained. ‘You end up learning words which you will never ever have the chance to play. Asked if he ever bothers to learn what they all mean, Mr Allan replied: ‘Mostly – it helps me remember them.’ High scores: Mr Allan beat Mr Simmons' 389 final score with an overall score of 503 after playing his last word bandura for 86 points . Oops: Mr Simmons slaps his head as his opponent puts down his last word to win the final . And how often does the champion play? About 30,000 games in the past 20 years – an average of four games a day, 365 days a year. Away from the game, he enjoys athletics and juggling, although he will be brushing up on his words again in time for next month’s World championships in Prague. More than 150million Scrabble sets have been sold, according to Mattel, which owns the rights in most countries. It is estimated that some 30,000 games are started across in the world each hour.
|
Paul Allan clinched the title in the 42nd National .
Scrabble Championship .
He won a tense final against full-time Scrabble .
consultant Allan Simmons .
Mr Allan sealed his victory with the word bandura for 86 points .
|
07db45725c3ea0d9e7481261a941d31fc081b153
|
By . Mia De Graaf . and Rebecca English . He may be just 10 months old, but Prince George is already gearing up to fly a plane like his father. And it seems granddad Prince Charles - who was handed a mini flying jacket for the royal infant - didn't know what to think of the prospect. Holding up the gift from Stevenson Campus Air Hanger in Winnipeg, Canada, the Prince of Wales stared for a few moments before finally breaking out into a chuckle. Nervous? Prince Charles stares at the mini jacket for George handed to him by Stevenson Campus Air Hanger . He then breaks out into a chuckle clutching the gift before setting off for a day of activities with Camilla . George's father, Prince William, has been an RAF pilot for five years, and is now training to pass his commercial flying licence. And with his new jacket, it seems the little infant is all set to carry on the tradition. Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, received the gift on the fourth and final day of their Royal tour of Canada. Earlier, the couple celebrated the centenary of Winnie the Bear - the inspiration for AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories - in the Pavilion Gallery Museum. Later, the couple were treated to a game of paper aeroplane-throwing with Prime Minister Stephen Harper . Camilla laughed as her aeroplane flew towards the cameras, while Charles deliberated on his target . The prince joked with photographers after his aeroplane went flying in their direction . The original Winnie was a female black . bear who was bought as a small cub for $20 in Ontario by a Lt Harry . Colebourn of The Fort Garry Horse, a Canadian Cavalry Regiment, en route . to the Western Front during the First World War. The . bear was smuggled into Britain as the regiment's unofficial mascot with . veterinarian Lt Colebourn naming her after his home city of Winnipeg. Before leaving for France he decided to leave her at London Zoo where she become something of a local star and much admired, among others, by AA Milne's son, Christopher Robin. Christopher Robin subsequent changed the name of his own teddy from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh, providing the inspiration for his father's much loved books. Rounding off the visit, they celebrated the bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh and received this gift for George . The original Winnie was a female black bear who was bought as a small cub for $20 in Ontario during WWI . Beaming, Charles and Camilla were then shown a drawing of the famous fictional character at the gallery . On the final day of their four-day tour, Charles and Camilla managed to fit in feeding polar bears at Assiniboine Park . Stare-off: He held his gaze with a glint of a smile as the creature stared back at him seemingly wanting more food . The prince then gleefully obliged, pushing a piece of fish through the wire gate for the hungry bear . An exhibition devoted to the original . Winnie and her AA Milne's character had Camilla cooing over some . original EH Shephard drawings. 'They are just so charming, really charming,' she said. Prince Charles looked genuinely delighted as he was presented with a toy cuddly black bear dressed in army fatigues for his own grandson, Prince George. 'It was worth coming just for that,' he said.
|
Handed gift from Stevenson Campus Air Hanger in Winnipeg, Canada .
Stared at little jacket for a few moments before breaking into a chuckle .
Charles and Camilla are three days into Royal tour of Canada .
|
07db9535c1e4efdc5633662f57ca81afeb8d8bbb
|
(CNN)It's a story that could have borrowed some of its plot from a Bollywood movie, but audiences might have scoffed at the improbable ending Krishna Poonia achieved in real life. A script containing some classic storytelling themes -- poor rural upbringing, family tragedy, arranged marriages and political ambitions -- was afforded its defining element when Poonia put in an historic performance at the Commonwealth Games held in 2010. In the entire 80-year history of the quadrennial sporting jamboree, no Indian female had ever claimed gold in a track and field event until Poonia snatched a momentous victory in the women's discus. Her winning throw of 61.51 meters led an Indian clean sweep in the event (compatriots Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil took silver and bronze respectively) and also ensured India's first win in the athletics stadium since the runner Milkha Singh, known as "The Flying Sikh," dashed to gold in the men's 440 yards at the Games held in Cardiff, Wales way back in 1958. "I can never forget that moment when I won the gold medal and when I took the victory lap with the flag," Poonia told CNN's Human to Hero series. "For four years I was seeing the moment in my dreams and now I was finally seeing it in reality," she added wiping away tears from her eyes. Poonia could be forgiven for welling up given her journey from provincial backwater to a packed stadium in New Delhi. Born in the small town of Agroha in the state of Haryana, Poonia was brought up in by her father and grandmother after her mother died when she was just nine years old. Living among the Jat people -- a traditional agricultural community in northern India -- Poonia recalls a childhood where physical fitness was honed working the land not at play on a sports field. "Most people are agriculturalist and their routine is to get up early and feed the livestock and after breakfast they leave for the fields," she explains. "My family had a milk dairy and we had around 70-80 buffalo. The work of the milking was only done by the family ... and when I was (15-16 years old) I would help, milking seven to eight buffaloes in one go." School afforded something of a respite from this routine as well as providing an outlet for her growing interest in sport which was exercised further as she continued her formal education. "When I got to college I used to compete with the other girls. My height and strength was good -- I could throw well," she explains. It was during this time that she got married, but rather than strangling her sporting ambitions, wedlock set them free. "In our community we mostly have arranged marriages, but by the grace of god or luck my husband was a sportsman," she said. Virender Singh had been a promising junior hammer thrower who had won medals at Asian Youth Games before injury forced him into early retirement. But when he married Poonia his sporting energies were revitalized as he applied himself to the role of husband and coach. "After getting married to Virender, I got to learn a lot -- he knew about the Asian Games, the Olympics and knew what it meant to win medals ..." she said. "When he told me about it I thought that I should be a part of it as well." With his knowledge and his unflinching support -- "he had 100% belief in me," she says -- Poonia set about trying to achieve her newly-discovered sporting goals. There were setbacks along the way -- a back injury in 2000 almost finished her career and the birth of a son the following year meant she had to juggle parental responsibilities alongside training - but her commitment paid off in the long run. Bronze medals at the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games preceded her historic gold medal performance at the Commonwealth Games. More records were broken two years later at the London Olympics when Poonia became the first Indian woman ever to reach the Olympic discus final, eventually finishing a creditable sixth. The 32-year-old has since used her sporting fame to good effect away from the discus circle helping the Rajasthan state Health Ministry in their campaigns to curb the ongoing curse of female foeticide. The selective abortion of female fetuses is a continuing problem in India, and is particularly prevalent in Haryana where Poonia grew up, according to UNICEF. She has also been actively involved in trying to improve sporting facilities for children in Jaipur, where she lives with husband and their 13-year-old son, and across the country. "If you see the schools we have in India there is no ground or fields for the kids to play in. Physical (education) isn't given much importance. It is said that childhood grows as you play and that's how sport starts," she says. "I came from a village. If I can reach (the top) level then why can't other girls from villages do that," she says. Poonia's attentions have switched to politics in recent years, joining the center-left Congress party -- headed by Sonia Ghandi -- in 2013 and it looks like the final chapters of her sporting script may be being penned now, although she's keen to compete at the Rio Olympics next year. But the narrative that seeks to re-write traditional attitudes towards women in wider Indian society is only just beginning. "For a very long time, the culture of our country has been a very male dominating one and the male child has been given a lot of importance," she says. "Until the time we are not able to abolish the discrimination of a boy and a girl within the family this thing will continue -- (a child's) thinking develops from this situation." Poonia also advocates that dowries -- which are officially banned in India, though gifts to grooms and his family are still common -- should be put towards a girl's education so "she is able to stand on her own two feet," she says. "They say the first teacher is the mother. If she is educated she will give good virtues to her children she can change the atmosphere of her house. The base of our society starts from there." Few would argue with that assertion.
|
Krishna Poonia became first Indian woman to win Commonwealth Games gold in track and field .
Poonia won the women's discus final at 2010 Games hosted by New Delhi .
The 32-year-old now mixes sports career with political and gender rights campaigning .
Poonia is a strong advocate of woman's rights to education and curbing "male-dominated" Indian society .
|
07dbcea07afea616e4992b1a8e548aff36ff9be7
|
By . Mark Duell and Daniel Bates . UPDATED: . 06:45 EST, 15 November 2011 . A 13-year-old boy is to be charged with the rape of a five-year-old girl in the play area of a McDonald's restaurant after his parents handed him over to police. The couple recognised their son wearing a jacket, jeans and trainers in security camera footage and took him into the sheriff's office. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied sexually assaulting her following the incident on October 22 in Anderson Township, Ohio, in a court hearing in Cincinnati on Saturday. Suspect: The boy, who is just 13, was brought in to police last Thursday by his parents and charged with rape . But authorities claim the boy touched . the girl before making her touch him in an inappropriate way and then . walked out of the McDonald's as the victim burst into tears and went to . her grandmother. After the incident the little girl . went to her grandmother nearby 'with the look on her face as if . something was wrong'. Police said he climbed into the play area . specifically to molest her. The girl was inside the indoor play . area on her own at around 9pm when she was approached. The boy left . moments before she reported the assault. The woman who called 911 told police: . 'There was an incident in the play area with an older child and a . younger child which may have involved some sexual contact'. Police revealed that their suspect was . wearing a University of Cincinnati jacket, was around 5’3” high and . weighed around 125lbs. Hours later his parents brought him in . where he admitted to the crime, police said. He . was captured on CCTV inside the McDonald's as he entered and left. Restaurant: Jason Pickard, who owns this Ohio McDonald's franchise, is working with police and said: 'The safety and well-being of my customers, especially children, is extremely important' Parents reacted with horror and said . it was 'obscene' what had happened. McDonald's customer Margo Mather . said: 'I don't want my kids going over there just playing by . themselves.' 'It's frightening. I have kids and I take them there all the . time. I've never had a problem ever. Usually there's parents and . supervised kids. It’s really a great place for when . its winter time and you've got to let your kids run off all their . energy. It’s scary... my son's six so it could easily have been him' McDonald's customer Heather Kenyon . Heather Kenyon, another customer, . added: 'It's frightening. I have kids and I take them there all the . time. I've never had a problem ever. Usually there's parents and . supervised kids. ‘It’s really a great place for when . its winter time and you've got to let your kids run off all their . energy. It’s scary... my son's six so it could easily have been him'. Jason Pickard, the McDonald's franchise owner, was working with police to find out what happened. He said: 'The safety and well-being of . my customers, especially children, is extremely important. I'm taking . this matter very seriously and fully cooperating with authorities in . their investigation.' The boy is in juvenile detention centre awaiting a trial which will begin next Tuesday.
|
Teenager denies raping girl on October 22 in Anderson Township, Ohio .
Police say he inappropriately touched him and got her to do the same to him .
He faces trial for assault from next Tuesday after entering plea on Saturday .
|
07dbeb1d52311beb48b2b5accf6a7a76670b0bbf
|
A Mormon doctor accused of murdering his wife with a cocktail of prescription drugs so he could continue an affair with the nanny allegedly boasted to inmates that no one could prove he killed her. As Martin MacNeill's murder trial began on Thursday, prosecutors painted him as a liar and a cheat who was determined to make his wife have a facelift so that he could poison her during her recovery. Michele MacNeill, 50, was found slumped in her bathtub in Pleasant Grove, Utah in April 2007 by her six-year-old daughter. Hours later, the mother-of-eight was pronounced dead. On Thursday, prosecutor Sam Pead said that MacNeill, a one-time doctor who also taught Sunday school at his local Mormon church, told inmates after his arrest that his wife was a 'b****'. Scroll down for video . On trial: Martin MacNeill appears in court in Provo, Utah on Thursday as opening statements in his murder trial begin. He is accused of forcing his wife to have a face-lift so he could kill her with a cocktail of drugs . Together: His wife Michele, a former beauty queen, was found dead at their home in April 2007 . He told them that he was glad that she had died and that authorities would never be able to prove that he had killed her, Pead said. Prosecutors said the killing was . the climax of a twisted plot by MacNeill to continue an affair with his . children's nanny, Gypsy Willis, whom he invited to his wife's funeral . and soon . asked to marry him. They said he acted erratically the day Michele died, yelled that she had wanted the surgery and later said he was glad his wife was dead, Pead told jurors. Even his own lawyers did not paint him in a flattering light on Thursday. 'Martin . has made poor choices in his life. He had affairs during his marriage,' Susanne Gustin said. 'Shortly . after his wife passed away, he brought [his mistress] into his home. We may think he's a total jerk and disgusting. And that's . natural. But decide this case on the facts rather than the emotion.' Opening statements: Defense lawyer Suzanne Gustin, pictured, said the jury may believe her client is a 'total jerk' for cheating on his wife and inviting his mistress to her funeral, but that it does not mean he's a killer . Testimony: Dr. Scott Thompson, who performed Michele's facelift, said he gave her a different selection of drugs to what he usually gave patients because her husband was a doctor whom he trusted . Tense: MacNeill, a former Sunday school teacher, listens to witness testimony on the first day of his trial . Prosecutors . said they would try to prove that MacNeill made a plastic surgeon to . prescribe a powerful set of neurological drugs for her recovery that . left her comatose in the bathtub. MacNeill, 57, was charged in August 2012, nearly five years after his wife was found in the couple's Pleasant Grove home. Medical examiners couldn't determine how 50-year-old Michele MacNeill died. They initially ruled she died of natural causes, possibly from a heart disorder, then changed the finding to undetermined. The uncertainty was one reason it took so long to prosecute Martin MacNeill on the murder charge. Von Welch, a doctor who examined Michele before cosmetic surgery, said her husband was eager to 'get things going' and was surprised the couple rejected his advice to put it off until she got her high blood pressure under control. Dr. Scott Thompson, who performed Michele's . facelift, also testified on Thursday and recalled how MacNeill joined his wife at her . consultations and on the day of the procedure. Emotion: Michele's relatives listen to testimony as MacNeill's trial begins; it is expected to last six weeks . Sadness: Rachel MacNeill, pictured outside the courtroom ahead of the trial, has long been vocal about her belief that her father killed her mother. The couple had eight children together . He . told the court that MacNeill requested extra medications for his wife . outside what is usually prescribed as he was concerned whether she . could handle the pain. He . went on to prescribe seven medications to Michele, including two pain . medications, a sleeping pill, anti-nausea medication, valium, a steroid . for swelling and an antibiotic. Dr . Thompson added that he usually did not prescribe the combination of . medications that he gave her - but that he did so because he know . MacNeill was a doctor, and he trusted him. In . his opening statements, Pead added that MacNeill told his daughter he . 'probably over medicated' Michele the day after she had a facelift and . that he disposed of the pills Michele had been taking within a few hours . of the death. The . MacNeills had eight children, and their oldest daughters have been . outspoken in their belief that their father killed their mother. Look of love: Gypsy Willis, who had an affair with Martin MacNeill for more than a year before the death, stares at him as she passes him in court after testifying against him earlier this year . Family: MacNeill had worked as a Mormon bishop and had eight children, pictured, with his wife . Rachel . MacNeill and Alexis Somers, who are both expected to take the stand, . have gone on national TV with their claims and sat in his court hearings . holding up photographs of their mother. The . trial before 4th District Court Judge Derek Pullan is expected to last . six weeks and MacNeill's mistress, Gypsy Willis, is also expected to . testify. The . doctor later went to prison on fraud charges, and it wasn't until his . release that prosecutors moved to file charges of murder and obstruction . of justice. Willis also . served prison time for fraud. The allegations included forging a . document that said they were married on April 14, 2007 - the day of . Michele MacNeill's funeral.
|
Martin MacNeill, 57, is accused of forcing his wife Michele, 50, to have a facelift so he could kill her with a lethal combination of prescription drugs .
Michele was found slumped in bathtub in April 2007 and died hours later .
He 'wanted her dead so that he could continue his affair with their children's nanny, whom he invited to his wife's funeral'
Prosecution said he acted erratically on the day of her death and told fellow inmates that she was a 'b****'
|
07dbf4fda524c2716d3e3ce32ba617ca2b556623
|
By . Daniel Miller . Last updated at 11:48 AM on 15th October 2011 . Scientists are studying the DNA of a woman who was the world's oldest person until her death at the age of 115, in the belief it could contain the secrets to long life. Dutch woman Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper was born in 1890 and became the word's oldest person in May 2004 before her death in August the following year. What made her even more remarkable was the fact she remained mentally sharp right up until her death. Miracle: Scientists are examining the DNA of Hendrikje van . Andel-Schipper to try and discover how she remained so mentally sharp until her . death aged 115 . She showed no signs of Alzheimer's disease which most experts assume would be inevitable for someone of her years. Nor did she suffer from may other conditions normally associated with people who live over the age of 100 such as hardening of the arteries. The Dutch woman has become the oldest person to have her complete genetic code sequenced . Now, six years after her death she has become the oldest person to have her complete genetic code sequenced as scientists hope to unlock the secrets to her good health and longevity. Ms van Andel-Schipper was an avid supporter of Ajax Football Club and attributed her old age to not smoking, pickled herrings and limiting alcohol to 'a small advocaat with cream on Sundays and holidays'. A team from VU University medical centre in Amsterdam have now begun comparing her DNA in an attempt to understand how genetic mutations develop in blood and brain tissue. Dr Henne Holstege, who is leading the study, said she hoped to discover if it was Ms van Andel-Schipper's genes that protected her from common age-related conditions or if it was down to other factors. Following her death in 2006 Ms van Andel-Schipper's brain was examined by Dr Holstege's father Gert, a neuroscientist at the Universtiy of Groningen, who was shocked to discover no signs of Alzeimers or dementia. He said: 'That came as something of a surprise. 'Everybody was thinking that when you have a brain over 100 years, you have a lot of problems. 'This is the first (extremely old) brain that did not have these problems.' In 1972, the then 82-year-old Van Andel called the University of Groningen in order to donate her body to science. She called them again at age 111 because she worried she might no longer be of interest. Dr Holstege senior tested her mental . abilities at the age of 112 and 113 and although she had problems with . her eyesight, she was alert and performed better than the average 60 to . 75-year-old. Keys to a long life: Ms Van Andel-Schipper's advised no smoking, a glass of Advocaat on Sundays and plenty of pickled herring . The project to fully sequence her genome using Life Technologies' Solid sequencing platform begun a year ago and the results were presented at the International Congress of Human Genetics in Montreal yesterday. Ms van Andel-Schipper was born prematurely weighing only 3.5 pounds and her family feared she wouldn't survive. She lived at home until the age of 47 and married tax inspector Dick van Andel who died in 1959. She had no children. All her siblings lived past 70, and her mother died at the age of 100. She finally died of gastric cancer having already survived breast cancer. Asked what advice she would give to people who want to live a long time, she once quipped: 'Keep breathing.'
|
Dutch woman remained mentally sharp right up until her death aged 115 .
|
07dc23410135470cb60b2b66396a5e0712d5969e
|
The storming of the BP gas plant in Algeria and murder of dozens of hostages was orchestrated by a Canadian, it emerged yesterday. Documents found on the bodies of two terrorists – one a ringleader – identified them as Canadians and Western intelligence agencies were checking last night whether either was ‘known’ to them. Survivors have told how at least one of the kidnappers spoke perfect English in giving them orders. Both Canadians entered Algeria from Libya with members of the ‘Blood Battalion’ led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Scroll down for video . One-eyed fugitive: Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian who fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of up to 41 foreigners at an Algerian gas field . Armed to the teeth: The terrorists' weapons, recovered by Algerian special forces, included six machine guns, 21 rifles, two mortars with shells, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and ten explosive belts . Their cars were painted in the colours of the Algerian state energy firm, Sonatrach. Only part of one of the men’s names – . ‘Chedad,’ which is Moroccan – was released yesterday but British . investigators were seeking to establish whether either Canadian had . spent time in Britain or had UK links. The development raises fears that the . Arab Spring has been a rallying call for extremists. Hundreds of . Britons and Westerners joined the fighting in the Middle East and North . Africa and some may have subsequently joined violent groups abroad or . terror gangs back home. Significantly, a Briton who is . believed to be an Islamic convert in his late 20s with blond hair and . blue eyes is said to have joined one-eyed Belmokhtar’s group last year. He is reported to have visited wounded jihadists at a hospital in . south-east Mali. Terrifying: This image shows the moment that workers were first taken captive by Al Qaeda terrorists at the remote plant in Algeria . Destroyed: Men look at the wreckage of a vehicle near In Amenas. Algerian bomb squads scouring the gas plant found numerous new bodies as they searched for explosive traps left behind . And a second British jihadist linked . to the terror leader is said to be a Londoner, who was captured by the . Mauritanian authorities last month trying to cross into Mali. The BBC was criticised yesterday for calling the gang behind the Algeria hostage killings ‘militants’ rather than ‘terrorists’. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he was disappointed that the broadcaster was ‘consistently’ using the term. The BBC has specific guidance about the word terrorist, warning its reporters that it can imply value judgments. In one report on its website, it described the killers as ‘militants’ 12 times. The word ‘terrorist’ appeared only in a quote. Mr Bridgen quizzed David Cameron on the issue yesterday and the Prime Minister agreed that he had a ‘good point’. He added: ‘These are terrorists and they should be described as such.’ Investigators say the men are part of . a ‘small but increasing and significant’ number of Britons or foreign . nationals living in the UK and travelling to join extremist groups with . loose associations to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. It is thought Britons and other Europeans may have attended terror camps in the Sahel region to the south of the Sahara. The Canadian link has long been . feared, according to David Harris of the terrorist intelligence . programme at Insignis Strategic Research in Ottawa. He said the country’s open borders . and dual language made it attractive to French-speaking immigrants from . North Africa. French anti-terrorism magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguière has . called Montreal a hub of North African terrorism. Four years ago, a Canadian, Momin . Khawaja, was jailed for ten years for his part in planning a fertiliser . bomb plot in Britain for which five people were convicted in the UK. Khawaja, 33, made numerous trips from his home in Ottawa to London claiming to be seeking a wife. He was actually helping to plan the attack, which was foiled by British police. Algeria’s prime minister yesterday . said 37 foreigners of eight nationalities and one Algerian worker were . killed during the hostage crisis. At least 29 militants also died. Abdelmalek Sellal, who strongly . defended the actions of his special forces in storming the BP plant, . said the terrorists had worn army uniforms, memorised the layout of the . vast complex and were intending to blow it up. The plant, which is vital to the Algerian economy, is expected to resume operations today. Jihadists yesterday threatened more hostage-taking unless Western powers leave Mali. Updating MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon, David Cameron said the process of bringing home the bodies of the victims was Britain's top priority, but might take some time. David Cameron, pictured outside Downing Street today, was due to update MPs on the situation in Algeria this afternoon. Mr Cameron said his deepest . condolences were with the families of the victims and told the Commons . work to clear the site of potential traps was continuing. He said: 'Now our most vital work is . bringing home those who died. An international team of British, American . and Norwegian experts is in close co-operation with the Algerian . ministry of justice undertaking the task of formally identifying their . bodies. 'We want this process to happen as . swiftly as possible but it will involve some intensive forensic and . policing work and so may take some time.' He said 800 employees were working at plant at the time of the attack, 135 of whom were foreign nationals. More than 40 of those were taken hostage and at least 12 were killed, with at least a further 20 unaccounted for and feared dead, he said. The number of terrorists was over 30, most of whom were killed during the incident, while 'a small number' had been taken into Algerian custody. He said evolving nature of the global terrorist . threat demanded a 'tough, intelligent, patient' response based on strong international partnerships. Earlier, the PM's official spokesman stressed that the Government's position that UK . troops will not take on a combat role in Mali remained unchanged. The spokesman told a regular . Westminster media briefing: 'Clearly in Mali at the moment there is a . military response in terms of French forces supporting the Malian . government. 'We very much support the French in . that but our position about troops not being in a combat role is . completely unchanged with regard to Mali. 'More widely, as the Foreign . Secretary was saying in the context of Somalia, when it comes to . military roles our view is very much that they should be . regionally-led.' Asked whether Mr Cameron was content . with Algiers' response to the siege, the spokesman said: 'We were always . very clear that there there were difficult decisions that faced the . Algerian authorities. It was a fluid, fast-moving event. We were not . going to rush into making judgments.' He added: 'The Prime Minister said . yesterday that we should be very clear that the responsibility for the . loss of life lies with the terrorists. 'We recognise what the Algerians have . done to co-ordinate with us. He thanked them for that and he also noted . the Algerian loss of life and the fact that this was an attack against . an Algerian site.' The spokesman said Britain would 'work with our international partners' to bring those responsible for the killings to justice. Asked about claims made during the . siege by the hostage-takers' leader, Abdul Rahman al-Nigeri, that he had . been in contact with British officials, Mr Cameron's spokesman said: . 'We don't negotiate with terrorists. 'That has always been and remains our policy. I have seen these reports but I am not going to go into details.' Remembered: Paul Thomas Morgan, 46, the first of the British victims of the hostage crisis in Algeria identified . Killed: Garry Barlow (left) and Kenneth Whiteside (right) also died at the oil plant . On the road: Algerian army trucks are seen near In Amenas, the gas plant where the hostage taking happened . Response: A soldier and rescue vehicles are seen near In Amenas, the gas plant where the hostage taking occurred . Recollections: Iain Strachan (left) and Darren Matthews (right) talked about their ordeal on Algerian state TV .
|
Canadian passports found on badly burned bodies of two insurgents .
One Frenchman among the terrorists, say Algerian judicial sources .
Algerian PM says 37 foreign hostages from eight countries had died .
Total death toll of captives and hostage-takers has risen to 89 .
Cameron says repatriation of dead Brits 'top priority' but may take time .
Some of the gunmen 'given short-term contracts by the oil and gas giant'
Attackers 'arrived in cars painted in colours of Algerian state energy firm'
Group threatens further attacks unless France ends assault on Mali rebels .
William Hague denies intervention in Libya had fuelled extremism in region .
|
07ddef0c4930bebc49628a2399913d0eb5e6270f
|
Nottingham Forest last night provided a boost after the turmoil between boss Stuart Pearce and owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi by breaking their transfer record and signing two players for a combined £6.5million. Striker Britt Assombalonga joined from Peterborough for a fee of £5m to top the 1997 capture of Pierre van Hooijdonk, while Sheffield Wednesday winger Michail Antonio arrived for £1.5m. But another note of concern emerged with key player Henri Lansbury set to leave for Burnley with the clubs negotiating a fee of around £3.5m. Incoming: Britt Assombalonga will step up to the Championship after joining Nottingham Forest for £5.5million . Lansbury’s exit is believed to be another deal that initially progressed without Pearce’s full knowledge. The manager was angered by sales of Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow to Newcastle behind his back, before Lansbury told the 52-year-old last week about his desire for Premier League football. Al-Hasawi had challenged Lansbury, 23, to sign the new contract first offered in February but it is understood the terms are significantly less than certain team-mates and he will not be putting pen to paper. Burnley boss Sean Dyche is keen on the midfielder, who has scored 12 goals in 53 starts since moving to the City Ground from Arsenal for £1m in 2012, and would offer regular game time. Double swoop: Forest have also captured Michail Antonio for £1.5million from Sheffield Wednesday .
|
Britt Assombalonga joins Nottingham Forest for £5million .
Former Peterborough striker signs five-year contract at the City Ground .
It's Stuart Pearce's second transfer of the day following £1.5million capture of Michail Antonio from Sheffield Wednesday .
|
07de5fce9ae922424250ba4b6b05cd25649c09ab
|
By . Ap Reporter and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:22 EST, 6 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:34 EST, 6 September 2013 . It's September, . Colorado bow hunting is underway, and rifle hunters are lining up for a . hot new license: $25 to shoot down a government drone over the village . of Deer Trail. In fact, Deer Trail can't keep up with the demand for new licenses, even as the town yet to approve a new ordinance that would allow them to be issued. Supporters acknowledge the . licenses would be only symbolic - a gesture in protest of the use of drones domestically - and a town election authorizing them is . more than a month away. License: Even supporters admit that the drone-hunting license is purely symbolic . Still, The Denver Post reported Thursday, about 1,000 people have applied for one. Town clerk Kim Oldfield told the paper that she stopped counting the applications two weeks ago, after the number . of personal checks made out to the town of Deer Trail was up to 983 - and for a staggering total of . $19,006. According to Oldfield, the checks came from all over the country. 'I'm still getting the letters,' she said. 'I'm just throwing them in a big pile.' Residents of the tiny plains town an hour east of Denver are still split on the proposal. In the crosshairs: It could soon be open-season for drones in one small Colorado town (symbolically, anyway) The . scheme is part protest against government surveillance and part . promotion to get Deer Trail some attention. It's working, at least on . the second point. The federal government issued a warning against . shooting at drones. Phil Steel, a town resident who proposed the licenses, currently is selling novelty versions. Earlier this week, Steel said he'd already sold 100 novelty licenses, and that he's given a portion of the $2,500 he's earned to the town. Under Steel's proposal,license holders would be permitted to shoot down drones that are flying lower than 1,000 feet above private property. The town's board could have approved the symbolic measure last month but deadlocked 3-3. After the vote, the board opted to put the proposed ordinance to a vote with the plan of donating money made from the licensing fees to a local community center. Residents of Deer Trail will have a chance to vote on the ordinance in a special election scheduled for October 8.
|
Deer Trail residents will vote on a measure that would allow people to shoot down drones that are flying less than 1,000 feet above a private residence .
Even supporters admit that the proposed ordinance is little more than a symbolic gesture in protest of the use of drones domestically .
As of Thursday, more than 1,000 people have applied for a drone license .
|
07de7bf98b2f1a5d28d5dc2dc08ba1a542302311
|
By . Steph Cockroft . Two 'Wolves of Wall Street' funded a multi-millionaire's lifestyle by masterminding an elaborate scam which encouraged British investors to buy £60million of worthless shares. Australian Jeffrey Revel-Reade, 49, from Dursley, Gloucestershire, and Anthony May, 58, from South Norwood, south London, orchestrated the complex boiler room scam from their base in Madrid, Spain. The deception - similar to the type orchestrated by Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfont, played by Leonardo di Caprio in the Hollywood film - allowed the fraudsters to live a life of luxury, with yachts, private jets and a huge portfolio of plush mansions across the world. Jeffrey Revel-Reade, pictured left, from Dursley, Gloucestershire, and Anthony May, from South Norwood, south London, masterminded a £60m boiler room scam by encouraging British investors to buy worthless shares . The 'exceptionally talented' duo shamelessly splurged on vintage wine collections, top of the range cars and two prized Rolf Harris paintings - worth £72,970 - after duping the investors. Father-of-two Revel-Reade spent . £13,000 on Rolex watches alone, as well as £54,000 on sports cars and . motorbikes. He also . owned a $2million luxury flat in Melbourne, Australia, three apartments . in Marbella, Spain - which were worth more than 3million euros - and had four mansions . in Wimbledon, south west London, including one worth £5million. After a three-month trial at Southwark Crown Court, Revel-Reade and May were jailed for nine years and six months and seven years six months respectively for conspiracy to defraud. During the trial, the jury heard how the pair executed the scam by enlisting a team of salesmen who used high pressure sales techniques to trick vulnerable victims. Last year six of those salesmen were convicted of conspiracy to defraud and jailed almost 30 years in total. The scam was similar to the type orchestrated by Jordan Belfont, played by Leonardo di Caprio in the Wolf of Wall Street . Their convictions can now be revealed after reporting restrictions were lifted. All six defendants, who persuaded the punters to invest, were convicted of conspiring to . defraud investors by dishonestly making, causing or permitting false . representations between March 2003 and August 2007. The court was told one of the victims, veteran Roger Carr, has been left 'isolated' after the hoax and now only has his 'small army pension' on which to survive. Another victim Rosemary Howard invested her £200,000 life sayings in the fraudulent scheme to try and fund care for her elderly disabled mother - who is in her 90s and wheelchair bound. During the latest trial, judge Michael Gledhill QC said the effects the scam had on the victims were 'catastrophic'. He told them: 'The investors' losses amounted to many millions of dollars. 'Most of those investors have lost every penny. The consequences for all of them, both financially and psychologically, have been dreadful and in some cases catastrophic. 'The salesman were very successful in pressuring investors to buy these shares by using a combination of devices - lying, making false representations, using high pressure sales techniques, befriending those who were elderly or vulnerable through loneliness and making threats and bullying.' Judge Gledhill described them as intelligent and 'exceptionally talented' men. The pair spent their money on luxury items, such as private jets, mansions around the world and designer clothes and goods . He said: 'You are both men with . exceptional talents, highly intelligent and astute, both capable of . making a large amount of money from hard work but unfortunately you . decided there was far more money to be made from fraud. Revel-Reade was extradited from Australia while May was brought back from Spain to face criminal proceedings. Revell-Reade splurged £13,000 on Rolex watches, as well as £54,000 on sports cars . A third defendant, solicitor John . Manning, 65, was allegedly recruited to provide a 'veneer of . respectability', but was cleared of corruption. Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC said: 'This was grand deception on a global scale. 'Simply, this was greed on a vast scale, dressed up in the language of business, hidden behind layers of corporate disguise. 'The investors were told, whatever it took to persuade them, to buy the shares that the conspirators had on the shelf to sell. 'They were not stockbrokers but they set up an elaborate facade that looked and sounded, to the would-be investor, like real professional stockbrokers. 'Their purpose was, in reality, not to provide a service but to sell their "stock" and simply to make as much money as possible.' Revel-Reade was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud but cleared of another charge of corruption. May, a father-of-two whose family lives in Switzerland, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud. Manning, from Alwoodley, Leeds, West Yorksire, was acquitted of corruption. Judge Gledhill continued: 'Everyone involved in this fraud made a great deal of money. The two men were jailed collectively for 17 years after a trial at Southwark Crown Court . 'Madrid salesmen enjoyed a luxury lifestyle driving top of the range vehicles, expensive holidays and investing in property. 'From your proceeds you invested substantial amounts to be put to your wife and children's school fees and provide goods. 'You were able to rent and own properties in England, Spain and Austria. You had ready money to travel the world.' From the previous case, the defendants were Daniel Gooding, 39, and Emma . Farmer, 40, both from Brentwood, Essex; Jon Emery, 36, from Romford, Essex; Ian Hughes, 33, from Cardiff; Philip Morris, from Ashford, Kent and Shaun . Rumsey, 33, from Dunmow, Essex. Gooding was jailed for seven years, while Rumsey, Emery and Morris received a five-year jail term. Hughes was locked up for four years, while Farmer was handed a three-year prison term.
|
Jeffrey Revel-Reade, 49, from Gloucestershire and Anthony May, 58, from London, masterminded the scam from their base in Madrid, Spain .
The pair encouraged British investors to buy £60m of worthless shares .
They splurged on vintage wine collections, private jets and several mansions .
Fraudsters jailed for 17 years in total after a trial at Southwark Crown Court .
|
07dfbf3e8fe4f0bcfe981a6fcefb8b30ea474cb0
|
See what new techniques and ingredients Richard Blais now uses in his cooking on his new upwave show "Cook Your Ass Off," premiering December 1 on HLN. (HLNTV.com) -- "Trying to get me to cry by looking at this ugly picture? There are worse ones..." That's how Richard Blais reacts to a photo taken 10 years ago, when Blais was almost 60 pounds overweight -- and 60 pounds heavier than he is today. "I just really lost control of myself because I was tasting food all day long and partaking in the social aspect of our industry," Blais, 41, tells HLN. The acclaimed chef -- "Top Chef: All-Stars" winner, the owner of Trail Blais and operator of Atlanta-based restaurants The Spence and Flip Burger Boutique -- lost all that weight and kept it off, he says, by overhauling his lifestyle. WATCH: Richard Blais, in control . Working in the restaurant industry makes it easy to overindulge, he says. Imagine working a 16- to 17-hour day, tasting food all day long, cooking, talking about food, being on your feet all day but not getting any actual exercise, and just wanting a beer after a mentally draining shift. "You get off work, it's one in the morning, you go out, talk shop, and you end up eating a whole pizza or (drinking) a whole bottle of wine," he says. "You do that 60 or 70 days in a row, and I put myself in really bad shape." In a matter of months, Blais ballooned to about 225 pounds. Love sparks a change of heart -- and mindset . Blais says his "Aha!" moment came when he could no longer recognize himself in the mirror. "I don't know that I could see my toes if I looked down," he says. But there was another factor motivating Blais to shed pounds. Her name was Jazmin. "What kick-started my weight loss was a combination of a really joyous thing and some massive depression: I lost a restaurant, and I found the love of my life -- my wife." Blais gives Jazmin a lot of credit for his transformation. A competition junkie and a former personal trainer, she was (and still is) supportive and understanding; she kept him motivated on his weight-loss journey. They started running together, and today, the once-hefty chef has completed several half and full marathons. "I had to get this pretty girl. I was this chubby guy, and I literally had to run after this girl," Blais says. "She'd run two miles, I'd be sucking wind behind her, but I eventually caught (up to) her and proposed to her at the end of my first race -- a 10K, the Peachtree Road Race. And we're still together." For Blais, exercise took priority; healthier eating and, eventually, cooking came a little later. He "stopped eating and drinking so much in a social setting," which he says was easy for him. Eventually he started using healthy ingredients, such as raw oats, hemp seeds, goji berries, and cocoa nibs, which he now incorporates into his cooking at home and at his restaurants. HLN: 'Top Chef' cooks up heart-healthy meals . "Chefs are notorious for disregarding eating healthy," Blais says. "When we hear things like gluten-free, we rebel against that." Now he says he understands the value of being aware of and embracing people's dietary needs. "I feel like we have a public service as chefs in restaurants to provide people not only delicious food and a great experience, but also nutrition," Blais says. "When you can coax flavor out of healthy ingredients and not have to rely on some of the traditional ways of making food delicious, it makes the experience better because you walk out of that restaurant and you feel good about yourself." The secret to tasty & nutritious dishes . Blais says the secret to making food healthy and delicious is "understanding base flavors" and "knowing what the dish you're trying to make healthier needs: Is it fat? Is it salt? Is it acidity?" If you want to avoid using salt, Blais recommends adding spinach or celery, which have natural sodium in them. If you want the flavor of fat without the calories, go for mushrooms, he says. To make the patty for the Earth + Turf burger at Flip Burger Boutique, Blais mixes mushrooms in with the beef, for example. "Those mushrooms actually give the burger a sense of fat, but there's no fat in it." When cooking at home, Blais tries to get his two daughters, ages 5 and 3, involved in the kitchen as much as possible. "Kids will eat anything that they make themselves," he says. "Just like if they made a picture for you, they're proud to show that to you. When they're in the kitchen, even if it's just kind of fake-stirring something, they'll eat it. That's how you get your kids to eat brussels sprouts!" HLN: Easy Final Four recipes from Richard Blais . Brussels sprouts, spinach and mushroom burgers sound great in theory, but Blais says even the most strong-willed of us can't keep that up every day. "I don't stay away from eating bad food -- just balance. As a professional chef, I'm watching how much I'm tasting during the day. Portion control for me is a big deal," he tells HLN. And, of course, you can't skip the gym, even after you've achieved your weight loss goals. "It's so hard to lose weight or to be healthy if you're not combining eating well with moving your body," he says. "I don't think one can exist without the other." Blais says a variety of exercises keeps him healthy today. Besides running, he has recently started swimming and is considering training for a triathlon. He says the key to sticking with exercise is finding something that doesn't feel like work. "When I'm cooking, I don't feel like I have a job -- I just cook because I love to do it. When I run, I just do it because I love to do it," Blais says. "So you've got to find that fitness activity that you love so much that it doesn't feel like you're going out of your way to do a job." HLN: Chef Richard Blais on Super Bowl snacks . It took Blais almost a decade to get in shape ("It's got to be low and slow, like a good braised osso buco"), but he finally feels good in his body. Most importantly, he now feels in control again. "It's OK to have a cheeseburger; it's OK to eat food, but it's important to have a healthy relationship with the food you eat." Do you have a weight-loss success story to share? Tell us how you did it and you could be featured on CNN.com.
|
Richard Blais used to weigh 225 pounds; now he's at 165 .
Blais won "Top Chef: All-Stars" and operates two restaurants in Atlanta .
Blais credits his weight loss to his wife, who is a former personal trainer .
|
07e0251f265ef97697428eede751b48f8dea5661
|
MPs have been banned from bringing in a cat to catch mice in Parliament because they cannot be trusted not to feed it scraps. Commons Speaker John Bercow warned ‘well-meaning’ politicians would give the cat treats, leaving it too fat to bother chasing rodents. He also ruled that some people in Parliament might be allergic to a cat, which would also be at risk of being run over on Whitehall’s busy roads. There are more than 200 official sightings of mice every year in Parliament, in the bars and restaurants . The Houses of Parliament are plagued . with mice, with staff often seeing them running across desks or . scurrying along the corridors of power. Every . year more than 200 sightings are reported to the authorities, although . the true figure is likely to be much higher because many people have . given up complaining. There have been growing calls for a resident cat to be brought in to help deal with the problem. But . the idea has been rejected by officials on health and safety grounds. Mr Bercow has written to MPs warning of the practical problems. Lib . Dem MP John Thurso, a spokesman for the Commons Commission, said one of . the obsctales was ‘the likelihood that well-meaning colleagues would . feed a cat, making it unlikely that it would catch mice’. He added: ‘A cat would be at risk from the 1,748 poisonous bait stations used across the estate to control pest populations.’ MPs have been rebuffed in their call for a cat to prowl Parliament to deal with a mouse problem . Officials were also concerned about the ‘effect on people who are allergic to cats’. ‘There would be no reliable way to stop the cat getting on to the busy roads which surround us, nor of looking after the cat responsibly,’ he added. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home had offered rescue cat to prowl the parliamentary estate, but this has been declined. Mr Thurso added: ‘The size, age and location of the Parliamentary Estate make controlling mice and pests a major undertaking.’ Last year there were 221 mouse sighting reported in Parliament, down from 254 in 2012 but up on 195 in 2011. Larry the Downing Street cat was brought in to deal with vermin, but was accused of lacking killer instinct . It included three sightings in the Members’ Tea Room last year and another nine in the Terrace Cafeteria. The cost of pest control including mice in 2012-13 was £73,522.12. In early 2011 David Cameron rejected calls for a cat to be brought in to deal with a rat infestation in Downing Street. But weeks later he agreed to home Larry, a four-year-old tabby. After winning over staff in Number 10, he soon fell victim to a briefing operation against him for failing to catch any mice. ‘There is a distinct lack of killer instinct,’ a source said. The fur flew when George Osborne then brought in his own cat, Freya, who regularly gets into fights with Larry.
|
MPs asked to have a cat to deal with mice infestation in Parliament .
Commons Speaker John Bercow rejected off from Battersea Cats Home .
Concern cat would fill up on scraps from 'well-meaning' politicians .
|
07e068ed26d90c2d413db670200b304cf62a29ce
|
By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 23 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:30 EST, 23 April 2013 . Some are old enough to remember the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, while others are old enough to hold memories of bombing raids destroying much of the same city in 1945. Others are of an age to remember the catastrophic Kanto earthquake and tsunami in 1923 which wiped out up to 135,000 Tokyo residents. There are even some that were born before the city's main railway station opened. But some are not old enough to have explored Tokyo's vast urban sprawl at all yet. A fascinating new collection of pictures . from a Finnish photographer features Tokyo residents from the cradle . (almost) to the grave featuring 101 photos of different people of every . age from newborn babies to 100 year olds. Toddlers: These two pictures featured in 100 Years in Tokyo show two of the city's youngest residents - they are both aged two . Teenagers: This pair are both aged 16. The are among 2,500 strangers approached to have their picture taken by Petri Artturi Asikainen . Growing up: This pair, pictured in Tokyo city's bustling urban sprawl, are both aged 27 . Petri Artturi Asikainen, armed with his camera, spent three years approaching complete strangers in the Japanese capital city and asking if he could take their photo to complete his 100 Years in Tokyo project. When a resident wasn't too shy to say no to Petri - many refused - he would ask them their age and collected a photo of a male and a female Tokyoite for each year up to his oldest subjects, a pair of centenarians. Petri estimates that he approached around 2,500 people and amassed a collection of 500 pictures during his time on the project. Life begins at 40: These two are about to enter their fifth decade - they are both aged 39 . Not shy: Of the 2,500 approached by Petri, just 500 people agreed to have their picture taken for the book, including these two aged 48 . Good eye for an age: Petri says that when he became adept at guessing people's ages despite Japanese people looking younger than their years. He guessed that these two were both aged 60 . But he admitted that when he set out on his mission to collect such a vast range of ages, he wasn't sure if it'd be possible. A freelance photographer, working mainly for magazines and businesses, 100 Years in Tokyo is Petri's first personal project. His collection manages not only to capture the entire spectrum of Tokyoites in terms of age, the images he shot depict the city's diversity, not only in terms of location - he took pictures all other Tokyo - but of the different types of people who live there. The images feature people from all manor of backgrounds, from students to labourers and one shot even features a homeless man. Diverse: His pictures don't only capture a spectrum of ages - these two are both 74 - they also capture the city's diversity . All ages: The group of pictures features all manor of subjects, from babies to labourers to people in residential care. These two were 94 when the shots were taken . Centenarians: This man and woman were among the oldest people photographed by Petri - they were both aged 100 . Petri told the Japan Times that he became an expert at guessing people's ages while collecting the pictures. He said: 'The funny thing is, for western people it's difficult to tell some people's ages here because Japanese people look much younger than they are. 'But when I was doing it, I got very good at it. 'When I needed, say, someone aged 56, I very seldomly missed by more than two years.' > A flip-through video of the book can be viewed at pa.artturi.com/books. For more information, contact books@artturi.com.
|
Petri Artturi Asikainen approached 2,500 strangers in the Japanese capital over three years .
His pictures capture Tokyoites from all walks of life and in various locations across the city .
The Finnish photographer says that he became an expert at guessing people's ages .
|
07e13c7c1381c0c024aa056566e37cfad1a6f992
|
(CNN) -- It's interesting how many people have swallowed the BP public relations' bait to call the explosion from Deepwater Horizon oil rig the Gulf oil spill. We need to call it what it is: the BP oil spill. The federal government needs to take control and take punitive action against BP and any negligent government regulators immediately. As a concerned citizen, preparedness speaker and author, and former commander of federal troops in disaster response, I watched with interest as BP brought out its big PR guns to protect its brand and its platoon of expert engineers, paid by BP to talk about how it happened and how they intended to fix it. BP's reaction was much like Toyota's when it was confronted with safety issues. It, too, focused on PR to protect its brand, versus telling the truth, and sent out its engineers to talk about the problem and the fix. The U.S. Coast Guard was the first responder. The Coast Guard's priority always is to save lives. They spent days looking for the 11 missing men. Meanwhile, BP took advantage of this time to make itself the authoritative voice in the news about the spill and blame other companies. The U.S. government response was based on laws and rules that were created after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. After Valdez, the law changed to make the offending company responsible for the cleanup. A fund was created that all oil companies contributed to. If there was an emergency oil spill, a company could draw up to $75 million from this fund to fix the problem. But the fund was meant to help small wildcat operations, not huge conglomerates like BP. Sticking to that regulation was part of the problem. The No. 1 rule when dealing with disaster is to figure out which rules you need to break. Rules are designed for when everything is working. A democracy is based on trust. BP has proved it can't be trusted. iReporters share views on oil spill response . The government needs to change the game and make this a punitive effort. The government has been too friendly to oil companies. The government should immediately freeze BP's assets and start to charge the corporation -- say $100 million -- each day the oil flows. The money could be held in a fund that U.S. government draws on to take care of the people along the Gulf Coast and pay the states for doing the cleanup. Next, BP and the government bureaucrats who broke a law and put the public at risk need to go to jail. I remember when we were evacuating New Orleans on Saturday following Katrina. We pushed the survivors to the airport and a major called and said the pilots refused to fly the plane without a manifest and there was trouble with weapons scanners. I told him to direct everyone to put the people on the planes as fast as possible, and we would to do the manifest en route or on landing. As a result, we flew 16,000 people out of NOLA airport in less than seven hours. The priorities of the response to the spill must be to stop the flow of oil, prevent the oil from getting into the shoreline as much as possible, mitigate the effects of the oil in the ocean, and take care of the people who have lost their source of employment, such as fishermen and those in the tourist industry. BP's job is to focus on stopping the flow of oil. The government needs to provide more military "command and control" of the situation. As BP works to stop the gusher, the government must address the problem of the oil coming ashore and take care of the people affected, possibly retraining them in other jobs. The government could do this by using the Stafford Act to fund the states so they can protect their shoreline and clean up the oil. Then, the long-term effects of the spill must be mitigated. The people of the Gulf Coast, particularly South Louisiana, are still recovering from Katrina. They've been through hurricanes Rita, Gustav and Ike. They know hurricane season is right around the corner and this BP oil spill has the potential to get much worse. And they don't trust BP. In fact, the latest curse going around in southern Louisiana today is, "BP you." Punitive action must start immediately, with BP supplying the money, from fines, to help the Gulf Coast get over this catastrophe. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Russel Honoré.
|
Gen. Russel Honoré: This disaster is the BP oil spill, not the Gulf oil spill .
BP should be fined, he says, even $100 million, each day the oil is gushing .
Money from fines should be used to help Gulf Coast and its people recover, Honoré says .
General believes BP and negligent government regulators should face jail time .
|
07e15ed376ae14a3461348aa0f247ef365977d85
|
By . Spencer Bright . PUBLISHED: . 19:00 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:31 EST, 13 June 2013 . A year ago when Jonathan Antoine & Charlotte Jaconelli were heading for the finals of Britain’s Got Talent, the worst they expected to be thrown at them were barbs from Simon Cowell. His initial reaction, on seeing them, was that things could not get any worse. He then suggested Jonathan should dump Charlotte and go solo. At this year’s final, Charlotte, seated without Jonathan, saw the egg-hurling incident during classical singers Richard and Adam’s performance, but thought it was all part of the act and viola player Natalie Holt was throwing flower petals at the judges. Hitting the high notes: The classical duo were one of the show's underdog stories that captured the nation's imagination . ‘I thought, “Oh, this is different. Our act could have done with something like this last year.” Then I realised it was egg on Simon’s jacket. ‘I saw Richard and Adam afterwards. They were quite upset about it. They felt people would watch it to see the egg girl rather than watch them, but they were happy to have got as far as they did in BGT.’ ‘Thankfully it was only eggs,’ adds Jonathan. ‘If the situation was more serious and they had a gun or something else that could do harm and I was there, I am a large guy, I would literally have fallen on them and they’d be out of commission.’ For Jonathan and Charlotte, their own experience of the show has been life changing, but for 18-year-old baritone Jonathan in particular, who had severe depression during his childhood, it may have helped to save his life. At their first audition in April 2012 they sang Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion’s duet The Prayer. Charlotte says: ‘The difference between walking on stage with his head down and walking off with his head high was like watching a film. Afterwards I thought, “Is this the same person? He’s so happy!" ‘I was probably bouncing around the room,’ he says. ‘I had not felt that elated for a very, very long time.’ What a difference a year makes: Jonathan lacked confidence when he appeared on the talent show last year. He had suffered from depression . Upstaged: Natalie Holt took centre stage on this year's final when she threw eggs at judge Simon Cowell . ‘That’s when we realised, hang on, it was a good thing we applied,’ says Charlotte. ‘This will be good for us.’ Jonathan says: ‘A year ago I had no direction in life and now it’s insane the change that has happened. 'I have grown out of my teenage angst. I am the same person but I feel different . . . like Doctor Who, I have regenerated.’ Jonathan . weighed 20st when he appeared on BGT, but he says now: ‘I am on Weight . Watchers and I have lost about 40lb, it is all on track and I’m really . happy. 'My depression came . from dealing with life. I feel I am better equipped for that now after . the adventures we’ve been through and all the stuff that’s happened. ‘When . I look back I understand why I felt that way. When you are in that . mind-set it feels impossible to get out, you are upset about everything . all the time, nothing seems bright or good. 'Being able to look back at that is something I thought I’d never be able to do and I am just so glad I can. ‘No one thing triggered it, but it was pretty much about school — I never enjoyed it. ‘Stress . and how I deal with it has been a big part of my life. That’s why I . left school. I wasn’t sure I could handle the stress of this, either, . but it has turned out for the best. ‘I no longer see a psychiatrist and I feel stable and able to cope — which is crazy considering where I was a year ago. Second place: Jonathan and Charlotte lost out on the top prize, but went on to sign with Simon Cowell's record label . Chart success: The pair's first album reached no. 5 in the charts. They are going on their first tour and will be releasing a second album in October . 'I am still on Prozac, but my dosage has gone down considerably. The irony is that being in the spotlight has helped.’ Though she plays it down, Charlotte is his guardian angel. You could see it in their first appearance where she rested a comforting hand on his shoulder, and sang his part when he joined in too early. ‘Watching somebody come from such a low place to where he is now made me think I’ve really had it easy,’ she says. ‘He’s made me appreciate things much more.’ Says Jonathan: ‘Charlotte has taught me to take no nonsense — she most certainly does not. ‘In the business we are in you could so easily get messed up and you just have to have the strength of will to stand your ground.’ Turning to Jonathan, Charlotte adds: ‘Before going on the show I was probably one of the most unemotional people you could ever meet. I think you have only ever seen me cry twice. ‘I’m not cold-hearted, I just couldn’t express emotion except through my music, but the past year has made me more vulnerable and more able to be emotional in front of people.’ Charlotte faced a crisis of confidence at the start when Cowell suggested Jonathan dump her because she would hold him back. Jonathan told him: ‘We’ve come on here as a duo. We’re going to stay as a duo.’ She says: ‘What happened in the first audition knocked me back. Competition: Last year's winner was Ashleigh Butler and her dog Pudsey, who beat Jonathan and Charlotte to the top prize of performing at the Royal Variety Show . ‘Before we went on stage at the semi-finals, I couldn’t stop crying and couldn’t work out why. I realise now it was a panic attack. Usually before we do a performance, Jonathan is very nervous and I’m there relaxed in a chair’. Jonathan and Charlotte met at school in Chigwell, Essex, when they were both 11. ‘We are like brother and sister,’ Charlotte says. ‘I’ve had a few marriage proposals,’ adds Jonathan, not believing anyone could really be interested in him. ‘I’ve stopped counting how many. It’s very weird. I know it’s in jest. I haven’t had a girlfriend for a very long time, two or three years.’ Both live at home with their parents. Charlotte is funding a house extension and Jonathan is paying for his family’s garden to be landscaped. Meanwhile, they are excited about their second album Perhaps Love, which is due out in October. And next week they begin their first tour — backed by a 16-piece orchestra, all playing live — with, they hope, no egg throwers among them. Though if there is one, they’d better steer clear of Jonathan. Jonathan & Charlotte are on tour from June 22-29. For tickets, go to ticketmaster.co.uk .
|
Jonathan competed with schoolfriend Charlotte singing classical music .
Duo were runners-up in last year's series of Britain's Got Talent .
Thought Simon Cowell had petals thrown at him before realising it was an egg .
Singer has lost 40 pounds in a year through Weight Watchers .
|
07e1cd29031d9118f5621490776b93f9f37c181c
|
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 16:15 EST, 29 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:44 EST, 29 September 2013 . NASA is preparing to launch a 3-D printer into space next year, a toaster-sized game changer that greatly reduces the need for astronauts to load up with every tool, spare part or supply they might ever need. The printers would serve as a flying factory of infinite designs, creating objects by extruding layer upon layer of plastic from long strands coiled around large spools. Doctors use them to make replacement joints and artists use them to build exquisite jewelry. In NASA labs, engineers are 3-D printing small satellites that could shoot out of the Space Station and transmit data to earth, as well as replacement parts and rocket pieces that can survive extreme temperatures. Made in space: Project manager Matthew Napoli, left, and director of research and development Michael Snyder test a 3D printer which will eventually be used in space . ‘Any time we realize we can 3-D print something in space, it's like Christmas,’ said inventor Andrew Filo, who is consulting with NASA on the project. ‘You can get rid of concepts like rationing, scarce or irreplaceable.’ The spools of plastic could eventually replace racks of extra instruments and hardware, although the upcoming mission is just a demonstration printing job. ‘If you want to be adaptable, you have to be able to design and manufacture on the fly, and that's where 3-D printing in space comes in,’ said Dave Korsmeyer, director of engineering at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, about 35 miles south of San Francisco. For the first 3-D printer in space test slated for fall 2014, NASA had more than a dozen machines to choose from, ranging from $300 desktop models to $500,000 warehouse builders. Test run: Tools and parts made by a 3D printer are displayed. One of the biggest obstacles to space exploration is that you need to bring everything with you including tools, equipment, spare parts and satellites . All of them, however, were built for use on Earth, and space travel presented challenges, from the loads and vibrations of launch to the stresses of working in orbit, including microgravity, differing air pressures, limited power and variable temperatures. As a result, NASA hired Silicon Valley startup Made In Space to build something entirely new. ‘Imagine an astronaut needing to make a life-or-death repair on the International Space Station,’ said Aaron Kemmer, CEO of Made in Space. ‘Rather than hoping that the necessary parts and tools are on the station already, what if the parts could be 3-D printed when they needed them?’ When staffing his start up in 2010, Kemmer and his partners warned engineers there would be ups and downs - nauseating ones. In more than a dozen flights in NASA's ‘vomit comet’ reduced-gravity aircraft, Made In Space scientists tested printer after printer. Ready for launch: Aaron Kemmer, CEO and co-founder of Made in Space, looks through some items. Specialized 3D printers would allow astronauts to produce the things they need on-demand when they're in space, allowing them to travel farther from the Earth . Last week at their headquarters on NASA's campus, Made In Space engineers in lab coats and hair nets tinkered with a sealed 3-D printer in a dust free cleanroom, preparing the models for further pre-launch tests. As proof of its utility, the team revisited the notorious 1970 moon-bound Apollo 13 breakdown, when astronauts were forced to jerry-rig a lifesaving carbon dioxide filter holder with a plastic bag, a manual cover and duct tape. A 3-D printer could have solved the problem in minutes. ‘Safety has been one of our biggest concerns,’ said strategic officer Michael Chen. Sparks, breakages and electric surges can have grave consequences in the space station. ‘But when we get it right, we believe these are the only way to manifest living in space,’ he said. Space-bound printers will also, eventually, need to capture gasses emitted from the extruded plastics, be able to print their own parts for self-repairs and have some abilities to recycle printed products into new ones. Scott Crump, who helped develop 3-D printing technology in 1988 by making a toy frog for his daughter with a glue gun in his kitchen, said he never conceived how pivotal it could be for space travel. But he said that until metal becomes commonly used in 3-D printers, the applications will be limited. ‘The good news is that you don't have to have this huge amount of inventory in space, but the bad news is now you need materials, in this case filament, and a lot of power,’ he said. NASA and other international space agencies are pressing forward with 3-D printing. Mastering space manufacturing, along with finding and producing water and food on the moon or other planets, could lead to living on space. Last month, the space agency awarded Bothell, Wash.-based Tethers Unlimited $500,000 toward a project to use 3-D printing and robots to build massive antennas and solar power generators in space by 2020. It replaces the expensive and cumbersome process of building foldable parts on Earth and assembling them in orbit. For Made In Space's debut, when it's shuttled up to the space station aboard a spaceflight cargo resupply mission, the initial prints will be tests - different small shapes to be studied for strength and accuracy. They're also discussing with NASA about what the first real piece that they should print will be. Whatever it is, it will be a historic and symbolic item sure to end up in a museum someday. ‘It's not something we're discussing publicly right now,’ said CEO Kemmer. Then, Jason Dunn, the chief technology officer, beckoned, dropping his voice as he grinned. ‘We're going to build a Death Star,’ he joked softly, referring to the giant space station in the ‘Star Wars’ movies that could blow up planets. ‘Then it's all going to be over.’
|
NASA plans to launch a 3-D printer to the International Space Station .
The tool will let astronauts replace lost or broken items .
Launching spares takes up space and adds weight to launches .
Printer will be ready in June for a SpaceX mission to the station .
The printer will be used to make tools and parts .
Inventor: 3-D printing in space is 'like Christmas'
|
07e238bc6a1a1ec826a5f3d47f4c37421037a2b9
|
The European space agency has unveiled the full image sequence of Philae's historic descent on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. The probe made its dramatic touchdown on 12 November while the comet was travelling at an incredible 34,000 mph (55,000 km per hour). This series of 19 images tracks the probe's seven hour journey as it fell 14 miles (22.5km) towards the comet's icy surface. Scroll down for video . The latest images were taken from Rosetta’s Osiris camera with the timestamp marked in GMT. Only a few frames of this image series had been made public previously. When Philae first made contact with the surface it failed to fire harpoons that would have kept it attached to the comet. This resulted in it bouncing to a height of 0.62 miles (1km) above the comet before again landing on the surface. It then bounced again, but to a much lower altitude. While its precise location still remains unknown, early images suggest the probe landed with two legs on the ground and one pointing into space, which is severely limiting its access to sunlight. Since then the search has been on to identify it in higher-resolution images, but now that Rosetta has moved to a different orbit, and is further away from the comet, the chances of observing the lander are less . Previously, only a few frames of this image series had been made public. The latest images were taken from Rosetta’s Osiris camera with the timestamp marked in GMT . While its precise location still remains unknown, early images suggest the probe landed with two legs on the ground and one pointing into space, which is severely limiting its access to sunlight. It is shown here during the fifth stage of its descent . Controllers have now said they will simply wait for Philae to make contact with its mothership. Rosetta engineers in Darmstadt, Germany, will begin to monitor the feed in a few weeks' time and say there could be a chance the communication will be established in May or June. During these months, improved lighting conditions at the probe's assumed location could provide enough power to run the onboard radio transmitter. Radio tests on the probe just before it lost power have narrowed down its location to somewhere in a strip of terrain roughly 350m by 30m. Rosetta camera's scoured this location in early December, and each of its images were scanned by mission controllers to see if they could spot any pixels that were brighter than the rest. But Philae still couldn't be found. If Philae gets its power back, it would resume all science observations, which could take place in August, just when the comet is at its most active phase, according to a report by the BBC. In the meantime, the scientific haul from the comet continues as Rosetta continues its orbit around the icy body - and now illustrations have revealed amazing new details of the comet. An array of colours and diagrams highlight the gravitational field of the comet, thermal energy trapped between its cliffs and organic compounds on its surface. Scientists are hoping to answer many questions about this and other comets, including its formation, structure and evolution over time. Controllers have now said they will wait for Philae to make contact with its mothership. Philae is seen here on its seven-hour descent . When Philae first made contact, a few hours after this image was taken, it failed to fire harpoons causing it to bounce twice before landing . Using data from the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (Osiris) and the Radio Science Investigation instrument, scientists have now been able to calculate the comet’s gravitational field. They have found that the gravitational force at the ‘lobes’ - the two ends of the comet - is about six times stronger than at the neck - the narrower area connecting the two lobes. It is still unknown whether the two-lobed shape of the comet is the result of two smaller bodies coming together, or if the neck has been ‘eaten’ away over time - like the core of an apple. Currently the latter theory is becoming the preferred explanation, as it appears the two lobes have similar structures – indicating they have the same origin. From this gravitational data scientists also found that comet’s density is about half that of water. Dr Holger Sierks from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, who was involved in the studies, told MailOnline that they now had a greater understanding of the comet's interior. Pictured is the current lander search area. Now that Rosetta has moved to a different orbit, and is further away from the comet, the chances of observing the lander are less, Rosetta engineers have said . The blurry image captures the rapid motion in which Philae was launched back out into space. The probe was launched to a height of 0.62 miles (1km) and then to a much lower height of 65ft (20 metres) before coming to rest . Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is showing signs of waking up early as it streaks towards the Sun at 47,800 mph (76,900 km/h). As it approaches the sun, the rubber duck-shaped lump of ice, dust and rock is expected to heat up and release more gas and water vapour from its interior. Comets are most active when they reach perihelion, the point in their orbit when they are closest to the Sun. But even at a distance of more than 200 million miles (320 million km), comet 67P is beginning to stir in dramatic fashion. Dr Dennis Bodewits, from the University of Maryland, US, who led one of several teams reporting latest findings from the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission in the journal Science, said: 'We are already seeing more activity. 'Jets are sprouting up everywhere. We've been surprised to see how active it is. It already has more jets than many other comets do at perihelion.' He said the interior is now thought to be analogous to 'ash, cigarette ash or super-dry powder snow.' Data from several instruments, meanwhile, has shown that the comet’s neck is the source of most of the dust and gas it is ejecting. The reason for this is quite interesting. Based on data, the Rosetta team found that the neck receives less energy than the rest of the comet because it is shaded. However, the two lobes either side trap radiation, with energy being ‘bounced’ between cliffs, causing the neck to be move active. The low gravitational pull of the neck also means that less force is needed to blow its dust and gas away than at the lobes. From the images and data, five basic - but diverse - categories of terrain type have been determined: dust-covered; brittle materials with pits and circular structures; large-scale depressions; smooth terrains; and more ‘rock-like’ surfaces. Much of the comet also appears to be covered in dust, as a result of dust that is dragged along by the comet falling to the surface over time. One prominent and intriguing feature is a 1,640ft (500m) long crack seen roughly parallel to the neck of the comet, running between its two larger lobes at either end. The biggest question remaining about the comet, though, is how it formed. Two predominant theories remain: either it is the result of two smaller bodies ‘sticking’ together, forming a single comet, or its central neck has been eaten away over time like the core of an apple. Rosetta is essentially living with the comet as it moves towards the sun along its orbit, learning how its behaviour changes on a daily basis and, over longer timescales, how its activity increases, how its surface may evolve, and how it interacts with the solar wind,’ said Esa Rosetta project scientist Matt Taylor. ‘We have already learned a lot in the few months we have been alongside the comet, but as more and more data are collected and analysed from this close study of the comet we hope to answer many key questions about its origin and evolution.’ This graphic reveals the sequence of huge bounces before the Philae probe came to its final, unknown resting spot in November .
|
19 images track the probes seven hour journey as it fell 14 miles (22.5km) towards the comet's icy surface .
A harpoon failure resulted in it bouncing twice, once to a height of 0.62 miles (1km), before again landing .
Scientists still haven't found Philae's location despite scouring high-resolution images of the icy comet .
Controllers have now said they will wait for Philae to make contact, which may happen in May or June .
|
07e246b1897b202fda92e2bc87c96111e4cdfc24
|
(CNN) -- Cincinnati Bengals football player Chris Henry died after he fell from the bed of a moving pickup truck during a fight with his fiancée, police said Thursday. "Chris Henry died as a result of his injuries sustained during this incident," a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police news release said. "Department detectives continue to work diligently on this active investigation." Henry died at 6:36 a.m. ET Thursday, the statement said. Shortly before noon Wednesday, Henry's fiancée tried to drive off during a "domestic situation," only to have Henry jump into the bed of the truck, police said. "The domestic situation continued between the operator and Mr. Henry," according to a police statement. Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle" about half a mile from the house, it said. Henry was a native of Belle Chasse, Louisiana, according to the Bengals' Web site. He and his fiancée, Loleini Tonga, had planned to be married in March, the team said. Henry leaves three children -- two sons and a daughter, the team said. Tonga's family lives in Charlotte. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he told players of Henry's death, speaking to them a couple of times Thursday. He declined to tell reporters what was said. "That's between us," Lewis said. Authorities described Henry's injuries Wednesday night as "life-threatening." He was taken to the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. The 26-year-old receiver played for the Bengals for five seasons but was on the injured reserve list after suffering a fractured forearm during a November 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Henry caught 12 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns in eight games this season before being hurt. Henry played at West Virginia University and joined the Bengals as a third-round draft pick in 2005, the team said. He was in Cincinnati, Ohio, last weekend for an examination and was cleared to return to Charlotte to be with Tonga and her family, as no rehabilitation was necessary beyond periodic adjustments to his cast, a team statement said. An article on the Bengals Web site called Henry "one of the best comeback stories in the NFL" before being injured, saying he had rebuilt "his life and career in a three-year climb from a series of off-field problems." The problems, the article said, included four arrests, three NFL suspensions and a release from the Bengals in April 2008. But Henry had since "put his life back together," according to the article. "He's a big part of what we are," left tackle Andrew Whitworth said in the article. "I really admire how he carries himself, how he's changed his life, and how he's made his career his passion. That's what this team has done. He's one of the guys that has helped give this team that attitude." Mike Brown, the club's president, told reporters Thursday he didn't regret giving Henry a second chance. Watch team management reflect on Henry's life . Henry had "finally seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom, and he was going to have the future that we all wanted for him and he wanted for himself. And then this tragedy cut him down," Brown said. "It's a terrible tragedy that just at the time he was running to daylight, if you will, his life was snuffed out." Funeral details were pending and will be released later, Brown said. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris' family, including his Bengals family. We have been in contact with the Bengals to offer our support through this difficult time." Lewis said when he talked with Henry in August about coming back, "there was a different man that was sitting across from me and a different person. From that point on, we've seen pretty much a continual growth." Tonga "had been a very steadying force in Chris' life," Lewis said. According to an article on the Bengals' Web site, right guard Bobbie Williams spoke to his teammates during a locker room huddle. "Maybe go home tonight and hug your family a little tighter," he reportedly said. Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco broke into tears before the cameras and could not finish, according to the article. Ochocinco was wearing Henry's No. 15 jersey as practice got under way Thursday. Brown, Lewis and others spoke of Henry's gentle and soft-spoken nature, his big heart and his love for his children. "Our football team, what they're feeling yesterday and this morning ... they watched a guy mature as a young man and work through adversity," Lewis said, adding that Henry became "a beacon of hope." Lewis recalled seeing Henry at rookie camp, catching the first ball thrown to him and sticking up his finger in celebration. Read SI.com's take on the death . "I told the receivers coach at that time, 'You better get him,' " he said. At West Virginia, Henry tied the school's single-season touchdown reception record with 12. He was second in the university's career touchdown receptions with 22 and eighth in career yardage with 1,878. The Bengals are one win away from clinching the AFC North title. Players will leave Friday for Sunday's game in San Diego, California. A memorial helmet decal and a coaches' pin will be worn during the game to honor Henry, the Bengals said.
|
NEW: Teammate reportedly cries for Chris Henry, wears his No. 15 jersey to practice .
Bengal brass: Henry had turned life around, fiancée was "steadying force"
"Active investigation" into wide receiver's death continues, police say .
Henry's fiancée drove off during a "domestic situation"; Cincinnati Bengal receiver jumped in truck .
|
07e3a31e2b807f2dc4d76d80bd8b823f9470e10e
|
By . Simon Cable . It has been imparting words of wisdom and advice to young girls for almost two decades. But the editor of Britain’s longest-running pre-teen magazine has now insisted that controversial pop stars including Miley Cyrus will no longer feature in Girl Talk magazine, following concerns over their increasingly sexualised behaviour. Despite being a regular cover star of the publication, which launched in 1995, the 21-year-old singer is now considered to be a poor role model for the 7-12 age group that the magazine caters for. Scroll down for video . The editor of Britain's longest-running pre-teen magazine has now insisted that controversial pop stars including Miley Cyrus will no longer feature in Girl Talk magazine, following concerns over their increasingly sexualised behaviour . Instead, the publication’s bosses have launched a new campaign which will see them featuring less celebrities and more varied female role models, claiming they have a responsibility to ‘protect the development’ of young women. Miley Cyrus first appeared on the cover of Girl Talk as 17-year-old Disney Starlet Hannah Montana. But Bea Appleby, editor of the magazine, has now revealed that the new campaign, which has been called Girls Are Amazing, will feature more responsible role models such as Taylor Swift and Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton. The move came in response to a readership survey carried out by Girl Talk, which revealed that eight of the top ten most-admired celebrities were all singers. Top of the list was controversial star Katy Perry, followed by Taylor Swift and Jessie J. The study also found that the majority of readers aspired to be a singer, dancer or actor, while a quarter of readers said that the most important way for them to be described was ‘pretty’. Miley Cyrus first appeared on the cover of Girl Talk as 17-year-old Disney Starlet Hannah Montana . Miss Appleby told the Daily Mail yesterday: ‘We have always been very careful about having stars in our magazine who are suitable - not too raunchy or controversial. ‘We haven’t had Miley Cyrus in the magazine for a long time because she is now too raunchy for us. When she was Hannah Montana we used to have her on the cover all the time. She was great for us, but she has changed and she has become much more sexualised. ‘It is a bit hard for us to reconcile what her videos are like and that we are dealing with eight year old girls. It’s hard for us to promote her and she is not suitable for this age group. ‘It is difficult to find pop stars that are suitable. Even the most innocent kinds of pop stars are still a bit sexy.’ Miss Appleby suggested that US country singer Taylor Swift was an example of a pop star who appealed to the pre-teenage readership, but who was not considered overtly sexualised. However, she added that the fortnightly magazine, which publishes its 500th issue today, would endeavour to feature a wider range of female celebrities in its pages, including sports stars and successful businesswomen. She added: ‘Our readers like pop stars, but we need to make sure that we balance it out and feature people who aren’t dancing around in a sexy way wearing nearly nothing. Miss Appleby suggested that US country singer Taylor Swift was an example of a pop star who appealed to the pre-teenage readership, but who was not considered overtly sexualised . ‘The ten most admired celebrities were all singers or actors. Sportswomen, politicians and businesswomen didn’t register on the list. ‘We need to show there are lots of other interesting women out there doing interesting things, who aren’t trading on their looks and who are valued for something other than how they look. ‘We uphold certain standards where we don’t talk about anything to do with sex. We don’t talk about boys. We are very much about female friendship.’ Speaking about the magazine, Miss Appleby said delivering content for pre-teenage girls came with a lot of responsibility in preparing them for their teenage years. ‘We have always tried to protect the development of young girls, making sure that they don’t grow up too early, but our survey results have revealed that this is not enough. ‘We have a duty to show our readers different ways of being a girl and not just one narrow ideal. We want to encourage them to achieve and break away from limiting and old-fashioned beliefs about what girls can do. The magazine editor said it will have features on sports stars, and businesswomen, and if it works we will have stars like Jessica Ennis on the cover . ‘Within the magazine we will have a much broader range. We will have features on sports stars, and businesswomen, and if it works we will have stars like Jessica Ennis on the cover.’ ‘If early on we can give them a sense that there are lots of things that women can do that are worthwhile other than being pretty and attractive, then hopefully that will stick with them as they get older. ‘We can give them a foundation so that when they get to their teenage years they have already started thinking about how they can be a chemical engineer. ‘I spend a lot of time taking to ten year old girls and they are very switched on. They already know about inequality between men and women and understand about the pressures that girls are under. They are bombarded constantly with images of airbrushed women. It is a very unattainable idea of beauty that we all see. They are just the same as women in what they are being fed. ‘We realised that we really have to do something to help with this. We are part of why they think that and we want to break that cycle and show them different people to look up to and show them different careers that they can aspire to.’
|
Miley Cyrus won't feature in Girl Talk magazine, after sexualised behaviour .
She was once a regular cover star of publication, which launched in 1995 .
Instead Jessica Ennis, Taylor Swift and presenter Helen Skelton favoured .
|
07e3d13a50866d18121cdba999608715ab014303
|
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . David Cameron today led calls for a 'rethink' of the £90 price tag on the new replica England football shirt. The Prime Minister said fans would 'welcome' the Football Association and kit makers Nike reconsidering the hefty costs which have been condemned as a 'rip-off' by fans. The government has insisted the charges are 'not right' and risk punishing loyal supporters who are 'the bedrock of our national game'. Scroll down to watch the England squad modelling the new kit . Problem: Supporters fear they are being priced out of purchasing England's World Cup strips - with the new Brazil shirt costing £90 . Worth it? The home and away kits go on sale for as much as £90 before the tournament kicks off . Fans are unhappy that the new, costly kit has been launched less than a year after the last new strip went on sale. It was only last May that the previous home kit was released, which has been worn just seven times. The red away kit, released even more recently in June 2013, has had just two airings. The £90 shirt is identical to those worn by Roy Hodgson's side, while an adult 'stadium' England shirt is priced at £60 and shirts for children aged between eight and 15 cost £42, with mini-kits priced at £40. Sports minister Helen Grant took to Twitter to say: 'On £90 England football shirts for fans, it's not right. Loyal supporters are the bedrock of our national game - pricing needs a rethink.' Prime Minister David Cameron called for a rethink on the prices after a backlash from fans . Mr Cameron's officials spokesman said the PM backed Miss Grant and called for Nike to think again. He told a regular Westminster media briefing: 'I'm sure all fans would welcome a rethink.' The spokesman said it was 'clearly not' for the Government to set the price of football shirts. But he added: 'It is a matter for the manufacturers and the FA, but does he agree with Helen Grant that £90 is a great deal of money for a replica shirt? Absolutely. 'Would a rethink by the manufacturer be welcomed by all fans? I'm sure that would be the case.' Labour's shadow sports minister Clive Efford said the price of the shirts was 'disappointing'. Justine Roberts, founder of popular . parenting website Mumsnet, said: 'With the previous kit less than a year . old and the away shirt worn only twice since then, it's not hard to see . why some people might just think the FA are exploiting England fans by . churning out yet another expensively priced version. 'When we asked our users about this this issue, an overwhelming majority thought football merchandise was a rip off. 'Instead . of charging £60-plus for an 8-year-old’s kit, the FA could lead the way . and produce a fairly priced kit so all England fans could afford to buy . it and show support for the national team.' The . latest shirts - to be worn at the World Cup in Brazil this summer - are . going on sale on April 3, less than a year after the previous ones were . released. Mark Perryman, a member of England Supporters Club, said: ‘They certainly don’t help themselves the fact two new shirts were introduced well before the 18 months. ‘They seem to have broken that rule. I thought it was a legal requirement. ‘The FA are in a difficult position, they can’t have a Nike home kit and Umbro away kit. ‘I suppose the FA’s excuse for . releasing the kits so early is that it’s a World Cup year, but I’m sorry . they should’ve thought about that when they signed the contract with . Nike. It’s crazy.’ Added on top: If fans want to get added lettering with their shirt they'll need to pay more money . Not happy! Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton isn't best pleased at the price of the shirt . Tough! Stan Collymore has branded kit maker Nike a 'joke' for the way in which they've handled the release . In the mid-2000s replica England shirts were on sale for £30 almost as soon as they were released. The . prices have since risen steeply, but they are dependent on results on . the field. Following England’s 4-1 defeat to Germany in the 2010 World . Cup the price for the replica shirts worn in that tournament plummeted. Perryman, who has been a member of the ESC for 18 years, added: 'At the end of the day people will vote with their chests. If England are doing well, people will buy it. ‘If they lose to Italy in the World Cup it will drop to a fraction of that £90 price.’ Outrage from punters and those involved in the game poured out across social media websites. Joey Barton said on Twitter: ‘£90 for the new England shirt is taking the mickey out of the fans. When will it stop? ‘I wonder what ‘magic’ technology it has this time that forces the price up but doesn’t actually work. Coming thick and fast: These are the second new kits to have been released in the past year by England . ‘Also [it’s] technology that the supporters don’t need. When will brands start to listen? Fans just want to feel a part of it. Part of the tribe. ‘[It’s] appalling, in my opinion. Football again allows commercialism to eat away at its soul. Something has got to give. ‘Its literally a white sports top with an England badge on. Costs about £2 pound tops to make in some sweatshop in the East.’ Stan Collymore added: ‘Nike have gone down American route. A “Match” shirt and “stadium” shirt, like NBA do. A joke, just make one please, £90 is a rip off.’ The FA are not allowed by UK and EU law to get involved with setting the price of the replica shirts. A spokesman said: 'The FA is a not-for-profit Organisation that puts £100m back into the game every year. 'It is through relationships with partners such as Nike that we are able to maintain that level of investment in football. 'The FA's policy is to avoid any involvement with how its partners or licensees set their prices, so as to avoid any risk of or implications of price fixing.' Nike have pointed out that the £60 replica kit is the one aimed at fans, whereas the £90 shirt is the exact one worn by the players with the full technological additions. The prices are recommended to retailers who are able to set their own value. A spokesman also confirmed that the kit cycle would return in future, saying: 'The previous kit marked the start of the partnership between England and The FA and the timing of the agreement put us in an unusual circumstance with regards to kit cycle. 'A normal kit cycle will resume with the new kits – the home kit will stay the same for two years, and the away for one year.'
|
Premier wades into row over launch less than a year after last new kit .
Urges Nike and Football Association to think again about costs .
Sports minister Helen Grant says price is 'not right' and punishes fans .
Joey Barton says the £90 costs it is 'taking the mickey out of the fans'
|
07e44b1a4db92d02de47d68297872a2efbccbca3
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- A 15-year-old boy remained in a psychiatric facility Tuesday after Monroe, New York, police arrested him in connection with a plot to attack his former high school on the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, police said. Police say the boy targeted Monroe-Woodbury High School, although he was no longer a student there. He was charged as a juvenile and faces two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon, Monroe Police Chief Dominic Giudice said. Police withheld the name of the teen, who was arrested Monday after police executed a search warrant at his residence. There they found four bottles filled with gasoline, a torch, machete, black trench coat, three propane tanks, two computers, items that could be used as fuses and several other electronic devices, according to a Monroe Police Department press release issued Tuesday. The supplies were found in the garage, Giudice said, but the teen's parents had been unaware of their son's intentions until he told police what he had planned to do. Police also discovered the teen had actively been seeking a military assault-type weapon that could "hold as many rounds as possible." The boy told police investigators he had been bullied by fellow students and had been told that he resembled Columbine shooter Eric Harris, the press release said. A detective on the case told Giudice that the teen appeared to be composed during the interview, as if he were just having another conversation. Police said the plot was planned for April 20 at Monroe-Woodbury High School, which is the anniversary of the Columbine shooting in Colorado, in which 12 students and a teacher were killed. The date also is Adolf Hitler's birthday. "He said that he had a lot of hatred toward a lot of the kids who attend that school," the press release said. The boy had attended the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District but recently began attending another school, police said. In a statement released by the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District today, superintendent Joseph DiLorenzo indicated that students had come forward with information that may have averted the alleged plot. "We are working closely with law enforcement to do everything possible to keep our children safe," he said.
|
Monroe, New York, police say boy, 15, had bomb materials .
Police: "He had a lot of hatred toward a lot of the kids" at his former school .
Police say boy had bottles of gasoline, a torch, black trench coat, other items .
Teen had been told he resembled Columbine shooter, police say .
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.