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A propaganda film commissioned by Thailand's military regime was supposed to promote the '12 core values' all Thai youths must learn. But there was one scene the junta has had trouble explaining: a grinning schoolboy painting an image of Adolf Hitler while his smiling classmate applauds. The video, screened before films in major cinemas since Saturday, has been met with ridicule on social media and condemned by the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok. Scroll down for video . 'Misunderstanding': The scene from a Thai propaganda film showing a young schoolboy proudly painting a picture of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler while his classmate applauds his efforts enthusiastically . National myth: The video is supposed to promote '12 core values' to be imbued in all Thai youth . A senior official in the prime minister's office, Panadda Diskul, said it was a 'misunderstanding', adding that the Nazi imagery in the cartoon scene would soon be replaced. The 11-minute film tells the story of two schoolboys who learn to accept winning and losing is part of life. Mr Panadda claimed the boy shown merrily painting an image of Hitler saluting beside a swastika was trying to compare his mother to a dictator, in essence a rebellious jest. In the video, however, there is no such explanation. The scene is part of a sequence without dialogue that depicts an otherwise normal day at school - the boys catching butterflies at a playground, doing experiments in a chemistry class and exercising on a karate mat. It lasts just a few seconds and runs with a cheery tune playing in the background. 'The film is good, but it has caused a slight misunderstanding in our society,' Mr Panadda said. 'We won't stop the project, but we will replace that problematic picture with another, more proper one.' The director of the film, Kulp Kaljaruek, told AFP he did not mean to cause offence but instead was trying to illustrate the child's moral progress. 'It's symbolic. The child is going in the wrong direction. But I didn't mean it (to show Hitler) in a bad way,' said Mr Kulp, whose father is head of Kantana Group, one of Thailand's largest film studios. 'You know Hitler had quite strong power in the past. But not in a good way. So it's like he (the boy) is learning from that until he becomes a good person at the end,' he said. Mr Kulp confirmed the junta had approved the film but said 'nobody asked' about the contentious scene featuring the painting. Coup leader-cum-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left, introduced the 12 values as part of a campaign to return 'happiness' to the people. Right, a coloured-up photo of Hitler, whose image is popular in Thailand . Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Simon Roded, said he was 'deeply saddened to see this trivialisation and misuse of Nazi symbols in an official Thai movie'. 'I was surprised that throughout the screening process this movie must have gone through to be approved for public broadcast, none of the smart, well educated people checking it had identified it as being problematic and offensive,' he said. 'If we learn anything from this incident it is that Holocaust education, especially its global messages of tolerance, should be introduced into the Thai curriculum.' Images of Hitler, swastikas and other Nazi regalia are fairly commonplace in Thailand - adorning T-shirts and memorabilia - a phenomenon blamed on a lack of historical understanding rather than political leanings. The study of history in the Thai school system revolves primarily around the history of Thailand and its long line of kings. World history is glossed over, with little or no mention of the Holocaust. Last year, Thailand's Chulalongkorn University apologised for displaying a billboard showing Hitler with Superman and other superheroes. Officials said it was painted by students who did not realise Hitler's image would offend anyone. A Thai Catholic school was also left red-faced in 2011 after students dressed up in Nazi uniform for a sports day parade. Bizarre: A student poses in front of a congratulatory superhero-themed banner that included Adolf Hitler at the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand . After overthrowing the nation's democratically elected government on May 22, coup leader-cum-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha introduced the 12 values as part of a junta campaign to return 'happiness' to the people. The values reflect traditional concepts in Thai culture the military felt needed reinforcing, ranging from upholding the monarchy to respecting parents and understanding 'true democratic ideals'. Some student groups have hit back, calling the values, which highlight obedience towards the royalist establishment, a form of brainwashing .
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The film has been screened in cinemas across Thailand since Saturday .
Israel's Bangkok embassy condemns it amid social media ridicule .
Prime Minister's spokesman claims the gaffe is just a 'misunderstanding'
Adolf Hitler is popular in Thailand and is often on T-shirts and memorabilia .
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A report by the Royal College of Nursing in London shows the NHS is projected to spend £980 million on agency nurses this year (file picture, posed) The NHS will shell out a billion pounds hiring agency nurses this year to plug severe staffing shortages on wards, experts warn. Figures suggest spending has doubled in the last year as the numbers of full-time nurses in hospitals has not kept pace with the rising patient demand. A report by the Royal College of Nursing shows the NHS is projected to spend £980 million on agency nurses this year, an average of £4.2 million per hospital trust. This is up from £485 million in 2013/4 and £327 million in 2012/3. And previous figures have shown that some hospitals have been forced to pay agencies £1,800 to hire one nurse to work a single bank holiday shift. The College says hospitals have been left at the mercy of these agencies as staffing cuts have left them so short of their own full-time nurses. It also warns that many demoralised nurses are quitting their jobs and going to work for agencies as the pay is so much higher. Earlier this week MPs on the Public Accounts Committee highlighted a similar trend amongst doctors who are leaving to earn £1,700 a day as locums. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursoing said the NHS was ‘leaving itself at the mercy of agencies because it refused to invest sensibly in the past. ‘Over-reliance on agency staff is bad for continuity of care, and that is bad for patients. ‘Cutting the supply of nurses was reckless and short-sighted but concerns were batted away in a misguided attempt to save money.’ Last Summer, figures obtained by Sky News showed that University Hospitals Bristol had paid an agency £1,800 for one nurse to cover a 12-hour bank holiday shift. The agency would have taken a substantial cut of this money although the nurse will have earned far more than in a full-time NHS post. Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said: ‘The over-reliance on agency staff is not just wasteful of NHS finances but it can also damage staff morale and result in poorer patient care. ‘Nurses who’ve had a pay freeze for years will find it galling that the agency bill is going through the roof. The Royal College of Nursing in London (pictured) says hospitals have been left at the mercy of agencies as staffing cuts have left them short of their own full-time nurses. It also warns of demoralised nurses quitting . A Department of Health spokesperson said: ‘Patient safety is top of our agenda, and so in the wake of Mid Staffs agency workers have been used to correct historic understaffing. ‘Since May 2010, we already have 21,300 more permanent clinical staff working in the NHS, including nearly 8,000 more nurses on our wards. ‘We want to reduce reliance on agency staff in the longer term, and committed in the recent pay deal to work with the unions to bring the bill down.’
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NHS is projected to spend nearly £1billion on agency nurses this year .
An average of £4.2million per hospital trust, says Royal College of Nursing .
The figure is up from £485million in 2013/14 and £327million in 2012/13 .
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California's grape growers say they are expecting one of the earliest harvests seen to date - and it's all because of the weather. Although the state enjoys a balmy climate all year round, this year's unexpectedly dry Spring has hastened the arrival of this year's crop. What's more, say wine experts, the unseasonably early harvest could result in vintages that are 'bolder' and stronger than usual. Rapidly ripening: These syrah grapes are turning from green to purple with harvest now just three weeks away . The white stuff: For growers of white and champagne grapes, harvest has already begun . Flavoursome: Despite the early crop, the taste of the resulting wines won't be affected . Farmers usually have to wait until . August for the first signs of ripening but say grapes are already . turning purple and expect to gather in the fruit three weeks early. According to Tom Davies, the owner of V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley, the sight of swiftly purpling fruit marks the start of a three week countdown to harvest. 'It's all due to the weather,' he revealed in an interview with ABC News. 'The dry spring kick started the grape growing season.' Although an early harvest isn't entirely without precedent, it happens on average once every 10 years, with the last recorded in 2009 according to growers. But while the red wine grapes still have another few weeks to go, the white grapes are ready now according to champagne grape growers, who say they will start bringing in the crop next week. Happily for Californian wine lovers, the unusually early harvest won't have an impact on the taste of the eventual wine. 'If we have an earlier harvest, for the north coast, it's a good thing because this is a cooler climate area,' added Davies. 'If we can get the grapes in sooner then we're not backed up into late October and early November and that's when bad things happen.'
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Syrah and other red grape varieties are ripening three weeks early .
Early harvests happen, on average, once every 10 years .
Napa Valley growers will begin picking white grapes next week .
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(CNN) -- A Communist Party official in central China's Henan province was in police custody after authorities said he confessed to raping more than 10 girls, state-run media said Sunday. Li Xingong confessed to the crimes during police questioning and will face "swift and severe punishment," according to the Xinhua news agency. Li was the party's deputy director in Yongcheng city, Xinhua said. The report did not offer additional details, such as the victims' ages or where the alleged crimes took place.
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Li confesses to the crimes, Xinhua reports .
He was Communist Party's deputy director in Yongcheng city, report says .
No details given on victims' ages .
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PUBLISHED: . 14:31 EST, 28 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:31 EST, 28 September 2012 . A mother-of-one stabbed her long-term boyfriend 90 times before taking her own life by slitting her throat, an inquest has heard. Mum-of-one Karen Climpson, 46, attacked her partner Mark Chandler, 42, after she 'completely lost her mind' in an 'unexplained frenzy'. The tragic pair, who had been together for 18 years, lay dead for several days until concerned relatives forced their way into their home to discover the pair’s blood-covered bodies in January this year. Tragic: An inquest heard how Karen Climpson stabbed partner Mark Chandler 90 times before committing suicide in an 'unexplained frenzy' An inquest into their deaths heard how a struggle had started in the bathroom where mechanic Mark was stabbed before he either fell or was pushed down the stairs. Karen, who was taking antidepressants at the time, went downstairs and continued brutally stabbing Mark with scissors before walking to the kitchen, leaving a trail of bloody footprints. She then went back upstairs to the bathroom - where she took her own life using a razor blade, Stoke-on-Trent Coroners Court heard. North Staffordshire Coroner Ian Smith concluded that Karen had killed Mark but added that the full truth behind the case would never be known. He said: 'We don’t have all the facts. I would wish to know from Mark and Karen why they ended up the way they did. 'Was it some sort of domestic argument that got totally out of hand? We could speculate forever on that. 'I . am satisfied that Mark came by his death at the hands of Karen. I think . the likelihood is that in this frenzy, Karen, temporarily, completely . lost her mind.' Grisly: The murder scene in Cheadle where the pair were found days after their deaths . The inquest on Thursday heard how Karen’s horrified mother Barbara Hodgkinson and brother Paul Climpson had discovered the grisly scene. They had gone to the pair’s detached home, in Cheadle, Staffs, on January 2 this year after they had not been seen for several days. Paul forced his way inside and discovered Mark’s bloodied and naked body sprawled halfway down the stairs, with a pool of dried blood beneath him. Mrs Hodgkinson told the inquest, in Hartshill, Staffs: 'I wanted to go round to put my mind at rest. 'I had a horrible feeling something had happened. 'The curtains were drawn downstairs and the door was locked. I was really panicking. I knew something had happened.' After the case Karen’s GP Dr Christine Craven said: 'Having known Karen for 15 years, there was no way I could have predicted this at all.' The coroner delivered a verdict of unlawful killing and suicide.
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Inquest heard how Karen Climpson attacked her partner of 18 years in an 'unexplained frenzy'
Pair were found dead in their home several days later by concerned relatives .
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Archaeologists have discovered an 'epic' new fossil site they could change what we know about animal evolution. The secret site is revealing fossils at an 'astonishing' rate, researchers say. They claim it will significantly increase our understanding of animals in the Cambrian period. Scroll down for video . Jean-Bernard Caron with some of the fossil finds at the new site, which could hold more species than anywhere else in the world . Yoho National Park's 505-million-year-old Burgess Shale – home to some of the planet's earliest animals, including a very primitive human relative – is one of the world's most important fossil sites. This new finding is the latest in a recent string of Burgess Shale discoveries, including confirmation that Pikaia, found only in Yoho National Park, is the most primitive known vertebrate and therefore the ancestor of all descendant vertebrates, including humans. Now, more than a century after its discovery, a compelling sequel has been unearthed: 42 kilometres away in Kootenay National Park, a new Burgess Shale fossil site has been located that appears to equal the importance of the original discovery, and may one day even surpass it. Approximately 200 animal species had been identified at the original Yoho site in over 600 field days. In just 15 days of field collecting, 50 animal species have already been unearthed at the new site. The site, discovered in the summer of 2012 by an international research team led by University of Toronto ecology and evolutionary biologist Jean-Bernard Caron, is described in a paper released today in Nature Communications. 'This is an epic new chapter in a research story that began more than 100 years ago and there is no doubt in my mind that this new material will significantly increase our understanding of early animal evolution,' said Caron. 'The rate at which we are finding animals — many of which are new — is astonishing, and there is a significant possibility that we’ll eventually find more species here than at the original Yoho site, and potentially more than from anywhere else in the world.' Protected by Parks Canada, the exact location of the new site remains confidential to protect its integrity - though future visitor opportunities have not been ruled out. Researchers say they are finding fossils at an 'astonishing' rate . The remote location is being kept secret to avoid fossil hunters descending on it . 'We were already aware of the presence of some Burgess Shale fossils in Kootenay National Park,' said research team member Robert Gaines of Pomona College. 'We had a hunch that if we followed the formation along the mountain topography into new areas with the right rock types, maybe, just maybe, we would get lucky – though we never in our wildest dreams thought we’d track down a motherlode like this. 'It didn’t take us very long at all to realize that we had dug up something special. A panoramic image of the area . 'To me, the Burgess Shale is a grand tale in every way imaginable, and we are incredibly proud to be part of this new chapter and to keep the story alive and thriving in everyone’s imagination.' Some species found at the new Kootenay site are also found in China's famous Chengjiang fossil beds, which are 10 million years older. This contributes to the pool of evidence suggesting that the local and worldwide distribution of Cambrian animals, as well as their longevity, might have been underestimated. some of the fossil finds - in just 15 days of field collecting, 50 animal species have already been unearthed at the new site. The team is set to return to the area soon to continue their hunt . 'We know that we have barely scratched the site and nonetheless found at least 12 new species to describe,' said Cédric Aria, a PhD student in U of T's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 'What awaits us there, only the mountain knows, but chances are high that the discoveries will fuel a lot more research. 'The full potential of these new fossil beds has yet to be revealed.' Approximately 200 animal species had been identified at the original Yoho site in over 600 field days. In just 15 days of field collecting, 50 animal species have already been unearthed at the new Kootenay site. The Cambrian explosion, or Cambrian radiation, was the relatively rapid appearance, around 530million years ago, of most major animal phyla, as demonstrated in the fossil record. Before about 580million years ago, most organisms were simple, composed of individual cells occasionally organized into colonies. Over the following 70 or 80million years, the rate of evolution accelerated by an order of magnitude (as defined in terms of the extinction and origination rate of species) and the diversity of life began to resemble that of today. It ended with the Cambrian–Ordovician extinction event, approximately 488million years ago. A paper published today in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications describes Kootenay National Park's new 'Marble Canyon' fossil beds for the first time. The authors suggest that the area and its extraordinary fossils will greatly further our understanding of the sudden explosion of animal life during the Cambrian Period. The remote site is only accessible by helicopter . The team it could help us understand how early animals evolved . This new finding is the latest in a recent string of Burgess Shale discoveries, including confirmation that Pikaia, found only in Yoho National Park, is the most primitive known vertebrate and therefore the ancestor of all descendant vertebrates, including humans. In over 100 years of research, approximately 200 animal species have been identified at the original Burgess Shale discovery in Yoho National Park in over 600 field days. In just 15 days of field collecting, 50 animal species have already been unearthed at the new Kootenay National Park site.
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Site close to Burgess Shale, one of the most important fossil sites .
Exact location being kept secret to avoid thieves targetting it .
Researchers say they are find fossils at an 'astonishing' rate .
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By . Jennifer Newton for MailOnline . Reclining in the water with his feet raised in the air this grizzly bear cub bears an uncanny resemblance to one of the Jungle Book's best-loved characters. The cub, who took a dip in the river after fishing with his mother and siblings, looked a lot like Baloo the bear as he floated in the water. The chilled out grizzly was captured on camera by Canadian photographer Patrick Roque, while he was on a trip to British Columbia in Canada. The bear cub reclining in the water with his feet raised in the air after a hard day of fishing with his family . The bear has an uncanny resemblance to Jungle Book character Baloo as he floats down the river . Mr Roque of Alberta said: 'This particular cub had just finished wrestling with one of his siblings and suddenly decided to sit and rest. 'As the cub was sitting he leaned back a bit too far and rolled onto his back. 'Then, he began playing with its paws, as if he was trying to pretend that it was all part of the plan!' The 50-year-old managed to get just 150 metres from the family of bears as he sat in a small boat and spent approximately four hours taking pictures of them while they fished for their dinner. He added: 'I felt amused and entertained while I photographed the cub. But, more importantly, I felt extremely fortunate to be able to witness and document the moment. The chilled out bear was captured on camera by Canadian photographer Patrick Roque in British Columbia . The grizzly bear is listed as threatened in the United States and endangered in parts of Canada . 'Most of people that view my work are wildlife enthusiasts, and they seem to appreciate the images with the same admiration and respect that I have for these amazing animals. 'Typically, the bears are less concerned about boats than they are with people on land. 'This is likely to be because they know they can easily escape into the forest. The photographer managed to get just 150 metres from the family of bears as he sat in a small boat . 'When you eliminate that escape route, the animal is forced into a defensive mode and typically gets aggressive. 'Unfortunately, due to bear poaching as well as government permitted Trophy Bear hunting in British Columbia, I cannot be more specific regarding the areas in which my photographs are taken.' The grizzly bear is listed as threatened in the United States and endangered in parts of Canada.
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Cub took a dip in the river and reclined backwards raising his feet in the air .
Looked a lot like Baloo from the Jungle Book as he relaxed in the water .
Was caught on camera in British Columbia by photographer Patrick Roque .
Canadian managed to get within just 150 metres of the grizzly bears .
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By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 12:24 EST, 21 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:31 EST, 21 February 2013 . Popular: Lego saw sales rise 25 per cent, boosted by the popularity of Lego Friends (pictured), which sold so well production units were unable to keep up with demand . Sales for Danish toymaker Lego soared 25 per cent last year, thanks in part to its new series of building blocks designed for girls. The privately owned company today said that on revenue of 23.4 billion kroner (£2.7 billion) its net profits grew 38 per cent, to 5.6 billion kroner (£650 million). The company, based in western Denmark, said the Lego Star Wars and Lego Ninjago series remained among the more popular, but it was a novel rollout for girls, Lego Friends, that sold better than expected - to the extent that production units were unable to keep pace with demand. Chief executive Joergen Vig Knudstorp said Lego had shown it can develop toys that children across world 'put at the top of their wish lists in 2012.' In the United States, Lego Friends surpassed early projections, with its sales eventually increasing three times more than expected, Lego said. The new line, which includes mini-figures in pink, a dream house with a pool, and a beauty shop, was criticised by some US consumer groups as reinforcing gender stereotypes. Lego said its share of the total US toy market has quadrupled in five years. As of the end of 2012 it was 7.9 per cent, up 1.6 percentage points from the previous year. Markets in North America, Asia and Europe delivered 'impressive' sales results, the toy maker said, while growth in some southern European markets were 'more moderate but still in healthy single digits.' The company, which sells products in more than 130 countries, expects sales to continue to climb in 2013, but at a slower rate due to global economic uncertainty. Lego is not publicly listed but has published earning reports since 1997. It does not release quarterly figures. Lego said its Star Wars range remained as popular as ever, which helped its net profits grow 38 per cent . Toys: The Lego Ninjago range also remained popular in 2012, when the Danish toymaker saw its sales soar 25 per cent .
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Production units were unable to keep pace with demand for Lego Friends .
Net profits grew 38 per cent to £650million, company announces .
Lego Star Wars and Lego Ninjago series remained popular .
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(CNN) -- The killing of 298 innocent people on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a crime, a consequence of the war against Ukraine that Vladimir Putin started, and which he supplies, directs and controls. The Russian President bears full responsibility for this war, including the downing of the Malaysian airliner. The main problem with our reaction to Russian aggression is not even the mildness of our sanctions, but the lack of clarity of their purpose. Our message to Putin is very confused. Do we want him completely out of Ukraine, or do we want his help in dealing with that country? They are two very different requests. Despite Putin's offenses, Western leaders apparently still want him to play an active role in securing peace and stability. According to the White House, on July 17, "President Obama called on President Putin to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation, including pressing separatists to agree to a cease-fire." After the Malaysian airliner was shot down, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Putin to use his influence with the rebels to ensure a cease-fire. In recent appearances on several TV shows, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry asked Putin to take "immediate and clear action to reduce tensions in Ukraine," "to step up and make a difference," and "to use all his influence." Despite their harsh words for Putin, leaders of the West still want his help. British Prime Minister David Cameron summed it up best when he said: "We sometimes behave as if we need Russia more than Russia needs us." Putin is only too glad to put on sheep's clothing and assume the role of peacemaker that he has pretended to be throughout the war that he himself started. According to him, annexing Crimea, shooting down airplanes and supporting separatists has only one purpose: to protect the Ukrainian people from alleged right-wing extremists. If you want Putin's help, beware of what you are asking. He would be glad to broker a "diplomatic solution" with the separatists, thus legitimizing his terrorists and entrenching them on Ukrainian territory. If that option doesn't work, we can imagine the following completely different scenario: Russian tanks roll over Donetsk. Instead of supporting the separatists, Putin arrests leaders of the Donetsk republic and persecutes them for terrorizing the local population. Blaming the Ukrainian government for its inability to protect people from the terrorists, he establishes full control over the territory, and leaves Russian troops there to secure law, order and tranquility. How would the world react to such a "peacekeeping mission"? Would the Ukrainian army fight Russian troops? Would Western political leaders accept this as a plausible option? I do not know. But what is more important, Putin doesn't know either. We should make very clear that we would not accept Putin as a peacekeeper and we want him out of Ukraine. Western governments should not implicitly accept the aggressive doctrine called the "Russian World," which was endorsed by Putin, and which gives him the right to intervene into the affairs of virtually any sovereign nation, as he did in Ukraine, using the pretext of protecting Russian-speaking citizens. The major concern of Western leaders is that by taking a strong stand against Putin, we may lose him as a useful partner in the world arena. We shouldn't worry about that. History clearly demonstrates that in all major international trouble spots in which we accepted Putin as our partner, Russia has always taken the side of the West's enemy. Such has been the case with Iraq, North Korea, Syria and Iran. It was only natural for Putin to use any invitation on our part as an opportunity to damage us. One should not expect anything different from a person with the background of a KGB officer, for whom America always has been enemy No. 1, and for whom anti-Americanism is a pillar of his power. If America is Russia's enemy, Putin's Russia cannot be our ally. Whether we like it or not, such relations are reciprocal. And from an enemy we do not need help. We need only check its aggression. For that purpose we should take the following steps: . 1. Publicly recognize that Putin is not our ally or partner, but rather our foe, and make this position clear to him and to the rest of the world. 2. Ensure that our demands to Russia be absolutely clear. Stop supporting separatists in Ukraine. We do not need Putin as a broker or peacemaker. Putin must completely get out of Ukrainian territory and Ukrainian politics. 3. Make clear that Putin's help is not needed in any other part of the world. Exclude Russia as our partner or as a mediator from any international arrangements and negotiations. 4. Reiterate our position of not accepting the annexation of Crimea. Demand that it be returned to Ukraine. 5. Stop propagating Putin's propaganda. Instead, counter it with all the power of America's media. Expand broadcasts by Radio Liberty and other radio stations. 6. Make it clear that we consider the "Russian World" policy a threat to world peace and stability. Insist that Russia officially renounce that doctrine and repeal supporting legislation as necessary conditions for Russia's readmission to the community of civilized nations. 7. To stop aggression against Ukraine and to prevent aggressions against other countries, make Russia pay a high price by introducing sector and other serious economic sanctions. Be ready to accept the cost of those sanctions. 8. Take immediate steps to reduce that cost and any dependence on Russia. Develop new energy sources and transportation systems in America and Europe. 9. Provide help, including military assistance, to those who are under immediate attack or potential aggression by Russia. 10. Revisit communism, an ideology that remains important in Russia as well as other countries. Educate new generations about its atrocities and bankrupt ideology. Opponents of strong action against an aggressor wrongly equate political confrontation with war. They believe that admitting that the second largest nuclear power is our enemy would usher in another Cold War and make the situation much more dangerous. History teaches us, however, that to ignore reality and appease our enemy is a more dangerous approach than to clearly articulate our principles and disagreements. When in 1983 the Soviets shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, Ronald Reagan denounced them as enemies of the United States and the entire world. Reagan's strong stand against the Soviet communism that threatened us for decades with nuclear war helped stop its expansion and eventually led to its complete capitulation. If we could stand against the mighty Soviet Union, we can manage Putin's much weaker Russia. In February 2000, only two months into his presidency, Vladimir Putin presented one of his first state awards to Air Force Gen. Anatoly Kornukov. In 1983, Kornukov was commander of Sokol Airbase in Sakhalin. His order to the fighter pilot was: "Destroy the target!" The target was Korean Air Lines Flight 007. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.
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Yuri Yarim-Agaev: The West's response to Putin's Ukraine policy has been murky .
He says some are looking to Putin as a potential peacemaker in Ukraine battle .
Author: Putin is the cause of the Ukraine conflict and should be treated that way .
He says the West needs to take a much firmer stance against Russia's actions .
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By . Rachel Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 07:29 EST, 29 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:46 EST, 30 August 2013 . A woman has spoken of her devastation after discovering she caught HIV from an ex-boyfriend. Sarah Watson, 38, thought she had found the love of her life when she met Ghanaian-born Henry Assumang in 2007. But less than two years later their relationship broke down. It would be a further year-and-a-half before she would be given the life-shattering news he was HIV-positive. Scroll down for video... Sarah Watson, 38, thought she had found the love of her life when she met Henry Assumang in 2007. But less than two years later their relationship broke down and she was given the life-shattering news he had HIV . Describing him as a 'gentleman', Ms Watson said that when she initially met Mr Assumang, she hoped he would help look after her family. 'He always made me feel special - he was very complimentary to me and my children,' she said on ITV's This Morning. 'He took an interest in my children and he fitted in well with my family. He was always there to give love and support.' But the romance was short-lived and a year into the relationship the couple started having, as Ms Watson described it, 'trust-issues'. The mother-of-two said: 'He started to go out a lot and would turn him phone off.' Six months later, the couple split, but they stayed on good terms and he still took an active interest in her children. Mr Assumang (pictured) denied he knew he had carried HIV up until he death, earlier this month. He was charged with GBH for passing on the virus but his case didn't go to trial in time . Dr Carole Cooper (left), who also appeared on the programme, said: 'If you think you might be at risk then you must get a test - fortunately it's a lot easier to get tested. 'And if you don't want your GP knowing, you can go to a sexual health clinic where a test won't show up on your medical record' It wasn't until 2010, when police turned up at Ms Watson's door, that she discovered she had contracted the virus. If a person is exposed to the virus, anti-HIV medication may stop a person becoming infected so long as it is take within 72 hours. For it to be effective, the medication, called post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, must be started within 72 hours of coming into contact with the virus. The quicker PEP is started the better - the longer the wait, the less chance of it being effective. PEP has been misleadingly popularised as a 'morning-after pill' for HIV. PEP is a month-long treatment, which has serious side effects and is not guaranteed to work. The treatment involves taking the same drugs prescribed to people who have tested positive for HIV. A person can gain access to PEP from hospitals, A&E departments, sexual health clinics, or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. GPs usually do not provide PEP. 'Police turned up at my house and asked me what my sexual history was. 'I didn't answer at first and asked why they needed to know. 'They said they had a man waiting to be deported and needed to clarify his relationship history.' It quickly became apparent that the man in question was Mr Assumang. Before foreign nationals are deported they are tested for the virus and his test had come back positive. The former shop worker was told she needed an urgent test and her results were fast-tracked. The following day it was confirmed she too was HIV-positive. 'It completely turned my world upside,' said Ms Watson. 'I was in shock and couldnt believe it. 'When the viral load test came back it also told me I had just six to nine months to live.' If a person has contracted HIV it is essential treatment be started immediately, or as soon as possible. If it is caught within 72 hours of transmission, a person can even fight off the virus. Ms Watson had however lived with the virus for three years without knowing and needed urgent treatment. Luckily swift intervention after her shock diagnosis has managed to keep her alive. Despite the 'news' that Ms Assumang was carrying the virus, Ms Watson believes that he knew for many years that he was HIV-positive. 'He was receiving treatment for the condition in 2006, a year before we met,' she said. 'He was fully aware [he had HIV].' Mr Assumang denied this up until he death, earlier this month. He was charged with GBH for passing on the virus but his case didn't go to trial in time. Ms Watson is concerned other women may unknowingly have the virus as he went on to have other relationships - and perhaps even one-night stands - after the couple split. It is essential to get early treatment for HIV. A person can visit a sexual health clinic without their GP knowing. Despite the ease with which people can be tested, only a quarter of those infected with HIV (virus pictured) know they have the disease . Dr Carole Cooper, who also appeared on the programme said: 'This story shows that you really can't tell who has HIV without a test. 'If you think you might be at risk then you must get a test - fortunately it's a lot easier to get tested now. 'And if you don't want your GP knowing you can go to a sexual health clinic where a test won't show up on your medical records. 'It's essential to get early treatment - you can go to sexual health clinic without you GP knowing.' 'Despite this, a quarter of those infected with HIV know they have the disease.' Dr Cooper added that it's important to realise that HIV isn't a death sentence in the way it was in previous years. Within the past five years, she said, the 'outlook has revolutionised' as there are many new drugs on offer. 'It is so important to have an early dignosis and it can be hard to put up with the drugs as there are some hefty side-effects,' she explained. 'But they are a patient's passport to a healthy life.' Ms Watson remains worried about her future and said: 'I will find it hard to trust anyone ever again. I live in a very hard situation right now.'
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Former shop worker Sarah Watson thought she had found the love of her life when she met Ghanaian-born Henry Assumang in 2007 .
But 18 months later the couple split up because of 'trust issues'
In 2010 she received a visit from police who asked if she had slept with Mr Assumang as blood tests at a deportation centre had shown he had HIV .
Following day she was given news that she too was HIV-positive .
Mr Assumang denied knowing he had HIV until he died but Ms Watson said he was fully aware that he was carrying the virus when they were together .
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Justin Bieber made a $50,000 donation to a youth charity as part of a plea deal to settle a Miami drunken driving case Wednesday. Bieber, 20, was not in court when a judge accepted his guilty plea to careless driving and resisting arrest in connection with the Miami Beach incident last January. Prosecutors dropped the drunken driving charge in the agreement, which requires Bieber to get 12 hours of anger management counseling, attend a program that teaches about the impact of drunken driving on victims and make the large donation to the "Our Kids" organization. The charity donation, although a prosecution demand, could not legally be required in the plea deal, a prosecutor noted during the hearing. As a result, the payment was made before the judge accepted the agreement. Judge William Altfield delivered a lecture to Bieber, which he hoped his lawyers would relay to their client, asking him to become a better role model for his young fans. "I hope that he realizes that his actions not only lead to consequences that affect him, but they lead to consequences that affect others who are looking up to him as a role model," the judge said. Although Bieber has never been charged with a felony crime or a drug charge -- and he has never been in drug or alcohol rehab -- the judge compared the singer to actor Robert Downey Jr. when he was young. Altfield said that Downey got into trouble "because of the drugs, because of the alcohol, because of the fame, because of all of the pressures that he had on a daily basis and look at what he's done with his life. He turned himself around." "Here is someone who is young," Altfield said of Bieber. "His whole life is ahead of him and he just hopefully will get the message. He will grow up. He will use all of his talents positively for young persons." The lead prosecutor, in a written statement to CNN, said "the strengths and weaknesses of the case" led both sides to agree to the plea deal. "The ultimate purpose of the Miami Beach Police Department's initial traffic stop was to end some rash juvenile type conduct before a tragedy occurred," State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said. "The intervention and counseling parts of the plea should provide a pathway toward adult responsibility." Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez said officers arrested Bieber January 23 after they saw him driving a yellow Lamborghini in a race against a red Ferrari in a residential area. The cars were speeding at about 55 to 60 mph in a 30 mph zone, he said. Police said Bieber was argumentative during the arrest and failed a field sobriety test. Bieber has had a number of run-ins with the law in recent months. In July, a judge in Los Angeles ordered Bieber to pay $80,900 restitution for damaging his former neighbor's mansion by throwing eggs. The pop star accepted a plea deal to settle a vandalism charge that puts him on probation for two years. The probation will be supervised until he completes 12 weekly anger management sessions, works five days of community labor and pays the restitution. He was charged with assault in January after he was accused of hitting his limousine driver in Toronto. In January, the Federal Aviation Administration looked into allegations that Bieber and other passengers on board a charter flight from Canada to New Jersey interfered with the flight crew, the agency said. In July, the FAA cleared them. In February, police in Georgia searched Bieber's limousine and found small amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. No charges were filed "due to the small amount," police said. Bieber, Malala talk online . Bieber v. Bloom: Feud fuels buzz .
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Judge compares Justin Bieber to a young Robert Downey Jr.
Bieber must get 12 hours of anger management counseling .
The singer was arrested January 23 while street racing in Miami Beach, police said .
Bieber has had run-ins with the law in Los Angeles and Toronto .
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(CNN) -- Earlier this month, Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, who is universally known by his nickname Jokowi, claimed victory in Indonesia's presidential election -- though official results have yet to come out. Jokowi is a transformative figure -- often referred to as Indonesia's Barack Obama. He'll be Indonesia's first president from outside of Jakarta's traditional elite, and has already shaken up the routine of Indonesian politics by refusing to promise cabinet seats to other parties in exchange for their support in his election. If he is confirmed as the winner then he'll have received a mandate from the people of Indonesia to deliver both greater and more inclusive economic growth by transforming the country's unwieldy bureaucracy. His opponent, retired General Prabowo Subianto, has refused to concede. Prabowo has every right to wait for the official tally, due by July 22, and to challenge the result in the Constitutional Court, which must rule on any challenges by August 24. But Jokowi's lead in the quick counts -- a representative sample of the initial tabulations conducted on polling day at 2,000 polling stations around Indonesia -- seems unassailable. Barring any subterfuge in the counting or subversion of the judicial process, Jokowi will be sworn in as the seventh president of the Republic of Indonesia on October 20. Lacking experience . But while Jokowi's rise could transform Indonesian politics, his agenda when it comes to foreign affairs is much more modest. As a former furniture exporter, he has no prior experience in foreign or security affairs. Perhaps because of that, he has promised to continue many of the policies of incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who came into office with far more experience as an army general educated in the United States. In Yudhoyono's first term, Indonesia cemented its position in the G-20 and led important climate change negotiations in Bali. In his second term, it chaired two important regional meetings, the East Asia Summit and the APEC Forum, at a time of increased friction between China and Southeast Asian states. Yet despite Indonesia's de facto role as a leader of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Yudhoyono left much of the heavy lifting to his talented foreign ministers, Hasan Wirajuda and Marty Natalegawa. Look for Jokowi to do the same by appointing a protégé of Wirajuda to the post. One area where we may see greater emphasis under the Jokowi administration is Indonesian advocacy of global Islamic causes. During a presidential debate on foreign policy in June, Jokowi announced that he would seek to establish an Indonesian embassy in "Palestinian-controlled territory," and seek greater recognition for its government abroad. Smear campaign . Jokowi made this promise against the backdrop of an alleged smear campaign against him by shadowy forces connected to his opponent that portrayed him as a Christian of Chinese descent, a description unlikely to help a bid to become the head of state in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. For the same reason, Jokowi spent the three-day quiet period between the end of the campaign and voting on election day on a pilgrimage to Mecca, which the Indonesian press covered extensively. No one should interpret Jokowi's interest in Palestinian statehood as an indication that Indonesia will aggressively push Islamic causes, or that Jokowi will make the kind of perorations on these issues that made former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed infamous in the West. Indonesia has always quietly advocated for the Palestinian cause. Establishing an embassy would take that advocacy to a new level, and is in line with a broader global trend toward acceptance of Palestinian statehood before a peace agreement can be concluded with Israel. Jokowi's interest in the Middle East could prove useful, however, to confronting a growing security challenge as Indonesian jihadists return from fighting in Syria and Iraq, radicalized by their experience and interested in continuing the fight back home. Indonesia's foreign ministry estimates at least 50 Indonesian jihadists have gone to fight in Syria, leading many analysts to conclude the number is likely much higher. If Jokowi can use his greater exertions on behalf of the Palestinian cause to lobby Arab governments to help intercept Indonesian fighters returning to the archipelago, and to demonstrate that his government has not ignored the plight of their coreligionists in the Middle East, he could diminish the risk of violence back home.
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Jokowi has claimed victory in Indonesia's presidential vote -- though official results have still to come .
Would be Indonesia's first president from outside of Jakarta's traditional elite .
Jokowi has expressed interest in Palestinian statehood during his foreign policy discussions .
Connelly: Mideast interest could be useful in stemming flow of Indonesian jihadists there .
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By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 10:30 EST, 6 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:50 EST, 6 February 2014 . An Indonesian woman whose body is covered by hundreds of tumours has been forced to flee her village after her family disowned her. Sarotin, 46, from East Jakarta, is believed to be suffering from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes uncontrollable growths along the nerves. The mother of four who only uses one name has suffered from the condition for three years. An Indonesian woman whose body is covered by hundreds of tumours has been forced to flee her village leaving her children behind after her family disowned her . Sarotin, 46, from East Jakarta, is believed to be suffering from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes uncontrollable growths along the nerves . Half her face has been obscured by a tumour as well as hundreds of smaller ones covering her entire body. Widowed Sarotin, says she could not afford medical treatment in her home village in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Neurofibromatosis is the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps. Half her face has been obscured by a tumour as well as hundreds of smaller ones covering her entire body . Sarotin visits a shop near her home in East Jakarta, Indonesia . Widowed Sarotin, says she could not afford medical treatment in her home village in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia . Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious . Although . many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their . parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a gene mutation . before they are born. Despite . their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called . neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or . contagious. Last month an Indonesian man whose body is covered by hundreds of tumours made a final plea for help as the rare condition robs him of his sight. Slamet, from East Java, is reported to have developed the condition after he had a tumour removed from his waist in 1991. Slamet's kind-hearted neighbours in Nguntoronadi, Magetan, East Java, have started a Facebook group to try and raise enough money to fund the removal of the tumours. In November a photo of Vinicio Riva, who also has neurofibromatosis, spread across the world when he was warmly embraced by Pope Francis at one of the pontiff's weekly audiences in St Peter's Square. In November a photo of Vinicio Riva, who also . has neurofibromatosis, spread across the world when he was warmly . embraced by Pope Francis at one of the pontiff's weekly audiences in St . Peter's Square. Both pictured . Neurofibromatosis has long been associated with the 'Elephant Man,' the name given to Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured. But evidence now suggests he was suffering from another rare syndrome . Slamet is . believed to be suffering from a condition called neurofibromatosis – the . name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps. Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of . their parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a . gene mutation before they are born. There . are two types of neurofibromatosis and this man is suffering from type . one, Dr Anand Saggar, a London-based genetics expert, told MailOnline. Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious. The . condition has long been associated with the ‘Elephant Man,’ the name . given to Joseph Carey Merrick, who was severely disfigured. However, . in 1986, a new theory emerged that Mr Merrick may actually have had . Proteus syndrome, a condition which involves symptoms . such as abnormal growth of the bones, skin and head. The . confusion was again compounded in 2001 when it was proposed that he had . suffered from a combination of neurofibromatosis type one (NF1) and . Proteus syndrome. However, DNA tests on his hair and bones have proven inconclusive. Other symptoms of neurofibromatosis type one include flat, light brown spots on the skin. These . harmless marks, also called cafe au lait spots, are common in many . people. People who have more than six spots that are bigger than half a . centimetre wide should get investigated for NF1. NF1 . is a condition someone is born with, although some symptoms develop . gradually over many years. The severity of the condition can vary . considerably from person to person. People . with NH1 are more likely to suffer from learning difficulties and . behavioural problems, a type of cancer known as malignant peripheral . nerve sheath tumours, which affect around 10 per cent of people with NF1 . over their lifetime, vision problems, high blood pressure and a curved . spine.
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Sarotin, 46, from East Jakarta, suffers from neurofibromatosis .
It is a genetic condition which causes uncontrollable growths along nerves .
The mother of four has suffered from the condition for three years .
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A 25-year-old jogger was struck and killed by a snowplow in the early hours of Sunday after stepping out into the road to avoid a puddle or debris while wearing headphones, police have said. Michael Walsh, believed to be an experienced runner, was jogging along South Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut, shortly after 5am when he unwittingly moved into the path of the vehicle. Seconds later, the city truck, which was not plowing the road at the time, crashed into Mr Walsh, leaving him with serious injuries. The driver got out of the plow and promptly dialed 911. Scroll down for video . Fatal: A 25-year-old jogger was struck and killed by this snowplow (pictured) in the early hours of Sunday after stepping out into the road to avoid a puddle or debris while wearing headphones, police have said . Scene: Michael Walsh was jogging along South Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut, shortly after 5am when he unwittingly moved into the path of the vehicle. Above, a police tent at the scene on Sunday . Mr Walsh was rushed to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. But despite medics' best efforts, he was shortly declared dead, according to Fox 12. His family have since been informed of his death. The driver - who remained at the scene until police arrived - was also taken to hospital as a precaution. He has cooperated with officers and no charges have yet been filed, it is reported. Following the incident, Sargeant Greg Wityak told the Republican-American of Waterbury that the truck was doing a 'regular route' when it collided with Mr Walsh who was running southbound. This means its 'plow' was not down at the time, he said, adding that the victim may not have heard the vehicle because he was wearing a pair of headphones. Tragic: The city truck, which was not plowing the road at the time, crashed into Mr Walsh, leaving him with serious injuries. The driver got out of his vehicle and promptly dialed 911. Above, another shot of the scene . On Sunday morning, it was dark, foggy and raining, while the road was covered in slush. However, police have said it is too early to tell if the conditions played a role in Mr Walsh's death. Frazier Pearson, who lives nearby, said: 'You usually see people running up and down the road all of the time,' adding that the area is 'pretty well-lit area by street lights and lights from the [local] park'. In a statement, Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone said: 'There are no words to express the sadness that we feel over this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim. Road: On Sunday morning, it was dark, foggy and raining, while South Main Street (pictured) was covered in slush. However, police have said it is too early to tell if the conditions played a role in Mr Walsh's death . 'This terrible accident affects everyone involved and our deepest sympathies go out to all. We will be working closely with the state Department of Transportation to investigate this painful situation' South Main Street from Litchfield Street to Cook Street was closed on Sunday morning while an accident investigation team examined the scene, according to Fox CT. The state police also assisted because the plow is a commercial vehicle. An investigation is ongoing.
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Michael Walsh stepped into road to avoid puddle or debris, police said .
Seconds later, 25-year-old hit and killed by snowplow on 'regular route'
He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, but pronounced dead .
Driver, who dialed 911 and remained at scene, 'cooperating with police'
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LAGOS, Nigeria (CNN) -- Some 700 people have been killed in clashes with Islamic militants in Nigeria, a military commander told CNN. Bodies of hard-line Islamic rebels killed in battle lie in a Nigerian city. Civilians and troops also have died. The fighting in the northeast Nigerian town of Maiduguri began with attacks by the Muslim militants on police and government targets, starting a week ago. Col. Ben Ahonotu, commander of the operation to combat Islamic militants, gave the new total. Previous reports said at least 400 rebels, troops and civilians had died in the region, including Borno, Yobe, Kano and Katsina states. Maiduguri is in Borno state. Ahonotu did not elaborate or provide further information, and it was unclear whether the 700 was in addition to the previous death toll. Attacks on police and government targets have been reported throughout the region. Boko Haram, an Islamist sect, wants the government to impose Islamic law, known as sharia, in the entire Muslim-dominated northern half of Nigeria. Sharia is already practiced in some northern states, but the sect wants even tougher religious laws and also opposes Western education. The southern half of Nigeria is predominantly Christian. A Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was reported captured Thursday by the military, but was found dead after he was turned over to police. Human rights groups are seeking more information on his death, and have also expressed concern about civilian casualties.
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Hard-line Muslim militants fighting government troops in northern Nigeria .
Militants want strict Islamic law, or sharia, in entire north of country .
Unclear if 700 includes 400 deaths of rebels, troops and civilians reported before .
North of Nigeria predominantly Muslim; south is Christian .
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By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 06:44 EST, 29 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:20 EST, 29 April 2013 . Tragedy: Chandler Weems 14, died after being hit by a police patrol car in Henry County, Georgia . A 14-year-old boy has died after being hit by a police patrol car while out riding his bike with friends. Chandler Weems was struck by the cruiser near his home in Henry County, Georgia, as he exited a driveway onto a main road. The teenager was taken to a hospital in the Atlanta area after the accident on Saturday, but died yesterday. He was hit directly outside witness Ron Jackson's house, who described him as a 'sweet kid,' during an interview with Fox News. Mr Jackson said he ran from his home to help after hearing a police officer calling for assistance. 'I came running up to the front once I heard somebody scream for help,' he said. 'When I got to the front porch that's when I saw the officer in the road.' The teenager is believed to have been leading a group of friends on bikes to another friend's home when the accident happened. His best friend Bryce Hatmaker said he had yelled at Chandler to stop as he approached the main road. 'When he saw the car he tried to stop but it was too late,' he told Wsbtv.com. The dead teenager was known to love riding his bike. The car was reportedly being driven by police officer Denise Allyson Romano, 35, and traveling north on North Ola Road. She was said to be 'distraught' following the incident, according to Fox News. Henry County police Sgt Joey Smith told the Atlanta . Journal-Constitution the officer 'could not avoid the accident.' Accident: The youngster is believed to have been leading a group of friends on bikes when he was hit by the cruiser on Saturday . Sweet: The accident happened outside the home of Ron Jackman who described Chandler as a 'sweet boy' Distraught: The police officer who hit him was said to be 'distraught' following the accident which happened when the youngster exited a driveway onto a main road .
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Chandler Weems struck by patrol car near home in Henry County .
Teenager was taken to hospital in Atlanta area but died yesterday .
Female officer driving cruiser said to be 'distraught' following incident .
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Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- A prominent Iranian human rights lawyer was under European diplomatic protection Friday after Turkish authorities released him from a detention center for illegal immigrants. Mohammad Mostafaei had barely made it to his hotel in Istanbul before diplomatic officials rushed to the scene and announced he was not safe. They swept him away in a car for his safety. "After six days [in detention], I'm so tired I just want to go to my hotel and take a shower," Mostafaei said to CNN. "I feel like I'm still in detention." He has had to make difficult, life-altering decisions in recent weeks. The lawyer has been a longtime defender of Iranian juveniles facing the death penalty. More recently, he campaigned to attract international attention to the case of Sakineh Ashtiani, the 43-year-old mother of two who was sentenced to death by stoning after she was convicted of adultery. On July 24, as activists around the world staged protests against Ashtiani's death sentence, Mostafaei was taken in by Iranian authorities for hours of interrogation. After they released him, he said, he went into hiding. Around the same time, he said, Iranian security forces detained his wife and brother-in-law. The brother-in-law has been released, but Mostafaei said his wife Fereshteh is still being held in solitary confinement without charge. "I am extremely worried about my wife and her safety," Mostafaei said in an earlier interview with CNN. "They [the Iranian authorities] told me if you don't turn yourself in, we will not let your family go," Mostafaei added. "I made a decision, after I saw that they were still going to arrest me and mistreat me, that I must leave Iran. It was a very hard decision." He added, "The truth is even when someone talks about Parmida and says her name, it's really hard for me to talk and I want to cry when that happens." Like many other Iranian dissidents, Mostafaei slipped across the border from Iran to the eastern Turkish border town of Van. He blames himself for his detention, which began after he landed at the Istanbul airport from Van. "It was my mistake. I went to the police officers inside the airport and declared myself as a refugee," he said on Friday. According to Turkish law, refugees requesting asylum must go through a registration process with the Turkish government and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Normally it can take two years before a refugee is processed and granted asylum in another, typically Western country. But officials at the Turkish foreign ministry told CNN that in Mostafaei's case, he was likely to be granted asylum in a European country within days. According to the refugee agency's Ankara office, around 4,100 Iranian citizens currently are registered in Turkey and awaiting asylum in third-party countries. Metin Corabatir, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees' representative in Ankara, estimates that "on a monthly basis there has been an increase of 25 to 50" Iranians requesting asylum, compared with before the Iranian government launched a crackdown on opposition activists following a controversial presidential election on June 12, 2009. Corabatir said 150 to 200 Iranians now request asylum in Turkey every month. In his conversation on Friday with CNN, Mostafaei expressed concern for the welfare of his imprisoned wife and his daughter, whom he left behind in Iran with her grandmother. He said he also worries about clients like Ashtiani. "Who else will do my work?" he asked. Ashtiani, a mother of two, is reportedly still being held in Tabriz prison. Iran's judiciary could reinstate her sentence of death by stoning, execute her by other means, or possibly even grant her a reprieve, according to human rights groups. CNN's Yesim Comert in Istanbul and Mitra Mobasherat in Atlanta contributed to this report .
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European diplomats whisked Mostafaei away shortly after his release .
He is "extremely worried" about his wife, who is being held in Iran .
Mostafaei has fought the Iranian government over the death penalty .
He was the attorney for the woman sentenced to be stoned to death .
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A pregnant Base jumper has died in what she had pledged would be her final leap before retiring. Wioletta Roslan, of Sweden, had said she would give up the high-risk sport after falling pregnant, but decided to make one last jump near Stechelberg, Switzerland, which ended in tragedy. The 37-year-old adrenaline junkie was four months pregnant when she died after her parachute failed to open during a Base (Buildings, Antennas, Spans and Earth) jump last weekend. Tragedy: Wioletta Roslan died aged 37 after her parachute failed to open during a Base jump in Switzerland . Her boyfriend Aleksander Domalewski jumped alongside her and could do nothing but watch as she realised her parachute wouldn’t open and spread her arms awaiting the impact of the 990ft drop. The Via Ferrata cliff was Miss Roslan’s favourite spot for Base jumping and she had been there many times before with her partner. She was experienced in extreme sports after taking up skydiving as a 19-year-old in Malmo, Sweden. Her mother Halina Zaniewska-Pettersson, 68, said: ‘I was always terrified every time I knew that she was doing the sport again and I kept expecting the worst. 'When she said that she was going to do one last jump while pregnant I begged her not to go. Accident: Pregnant Ms Roslan, who had announced that this was going to be her final jump before retiring, died instantly after freefalling 990ft . ‘But she always wanted to carry on. I couldn't force not to do it – she was old enough to make up her own mind about things.’ Miss Roslan . had managed to build a successful career as an inspector working on oil . rigs – and in her spare time travelled the world as a professional Base . jumper. 'I only feel alive when I jump. I find normal life boring. I know that death always flies with me but we only have a certain amount of time on the earth. When the sun goes down then it's game over whoever you are' Wioletta Roslan . She said in a recent interview for . Swiss television that Base jumping made her feel alive and as if there . were no limits in life. Miss Roslan said: . ‘I only feel alive when I jump. I find normal life boring. I know that . death always flies with me but we only have a certain amount of time on . the earth. When the sun goes down then it's game over whoever you are.’ She had lived in the Berner Oberland region for two years doing odd jobs in order to spend every spare moment jumping from local cliffs. She told her mother it had been the . happiest time in her life and she wanted to go for a final jump with her . boyfriend before retiring. Adrenaline junkie: Wioletta Roslan, pictured during a wingwalk, had recently moved to Berner Oberland and spent all her spare time and money on extreme sport . Parachute failure: The tragic accident happened off a cliff near Stechelberg in Switzerland (file picture) After three people made successful jumps, Miss Roslan and her boyfriend stepped up to the edge. Ms Zaniewska-Pettersson said: ‘Aleksander jumped at the same time as her and could only watch what happened. He told me that she desperately tried to get her parachute to open without success. 'I was always terrified every time I knew that she was doing the sport again and I kept expecting the worst – when she said that she was going to do one last jump while pregnant I begged her not to go' Halina Zaniewska-Pettersson, mother . 'It did not open and in the last moment she realised she was not going to succeed. He told me that she had simply spread her arms and waited for the impact.’ Miss Roslan died instantly. Local emergency doctor Bruno Durrer said: ‘Every death in the mountains is tragic but this one was particularly so because I knew her and also because she was pregnant.’ Ms Zaniewska-Pettersson said: ‘I am totally devastated and shocked. I picked so often to give up jumping but she just didn't listen and now it's too late. 'When she was in Switzerland she was only there for Base jumping – every spare moment she was climbing and jumping. Her death is the fifth in connection with Base jumping in the Berner Oberland region this year. Ms Zaniewska-Pettersson said: ‘All that is left for me now memories but my daughter lived her life to the full – she was a true adventurer travel to France and Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and America to do with her sport. 'She was full of life and was a wonderful girl. But she couldn't imagine a life without Base jumping.’
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Swedish Base jumper Wioletta Roslan, 37, was four months pregnant .
The adrenaline junkie's parachute failed to open and she died instantly .
Incident happened off Via Ferrata cliff near Stechelberg in Switzerland .
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Creating and saving jobs while boosting investment in the future are among the top goals of the Obama administration's $787 billion economic stimulus plan. President Obama chats with students at a Silver Spring, Maryland, elementary school this week. And according to a preliminary report on stimulus funding for schools by the Department of Education and the Domestic Policy Council, the stimulus plan has created jobs. State governments have created and saved at least 250,000 education jobs -- and restored nearly all their projected education budget shortfalls for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 -- according to preliminary findings released Monday by the White House. But some states that used the funds to fill existing budget gaps could face a crisis when the money runs out after 2010. And the Department of Education has chastised certain states for their stimulus funding programs and warned them that they risk their chances at getting other DOE grants down the road. The stimulus funds appropriated $48.6 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to help keep and create jobs and advance education reforms over a period of two years, the report said. The program dedicates $39.8 billion for public elementary, secondary and higher education and other services. Another $8.8 billion will go for other activities such as public safety or government services. "To date, $35.5 billion of the SFSF allotment has been obligated and $13.2 [billion] is forthcoming," the report added. In a recent memo, the Department of Education's inspector general's office warned Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania about not following the rules. At issue is the government's "maintenance of effort" provision, which makes states receiving stimulus funds promise to maintain funding at fiscal year 2006 levels. The provision also requires states to pledge to use these funds to advance certain education reforms: increasing teacher effectiveness, implementing statewide data systems, and providing support for struggling schools. The September 30 memo pointed out states are using K-12 stimulus funds to fill gaps in their education budgets due to decreasing revenues and resources. Pennsylvania's actions led to a terse letter on June 18 from Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Gov. Ed Rendell. The letter said: "If a State has disproportionately reduced its education budget and/or if a State has done nothing more than backfill budget holes with these dollars when the State had other resources available to it, such as a rainy-day fund, the State's competitive position to receive ... competitive grants may be negatively impacted." Those states employing the practice, some argue, will face dire straits in fiscal year 2011 when the stimulus funding runs out. "States and districts were repeatedly warned about funding [problems]," said Chad Aldeman, a policy analyst with the nonpartisan think tank Education Sector. But Aldeman notes that there may have been a lack of communication between states and the federal government over how to spend the money. "They [states] were told to focus on one-time investments as much as possible," he said. "At the same time, the Department of Education sold this as a job and reform package. ... They say on one hand, preserve and create jobs. On the other hand, they talk about education reform." The Obama administration argues the early results from Monday's report show the money already is having an effect. "This is one more indication of how the Recovery Act is helping soften the blow of tough times, by keeping educators on the job and teachers in the classroom," Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement. But there has been criticism over the way the government is handling and tracking the Recovery Act. "If these issues and the stimulus money being made available ... are not handled carefully, conflict and even paralysis are likely to ensue," said Pedro A. Noguera, a professor at New York University and director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, in a recent CNN.com commentary. "The president may even inadvertently alienate an important core constituency that he will surely need in the years ahead -- public school teachers." Aldeman points out that some of the accountability problems seen with the Recovery Act likely occurred during the time the federal government was doling out money to states. "The states were cutting employees that were designed to draft federal grants and to track and follow money as it flowed through [at the same time the federal government was giving out stimulus funds]. ... They were cutting monitors and accountants that would have been able to follow this better," he said. Despite some of the accountability and tracking problems, Duncan said early feedback from states "also tells us that many districts are using stimulus dollars in ways that will move us beyond the status quo." And Duncan's concept can be seen in school programs cited in Monday's report. Jim McIntyre, superintendent of the Knox County, Tennessee, schools, said the stimulus funding is not only helping to create jobs in the short term but also investing in the future after the funding is gone. "Our philosophy has really been around making some investments in the short term to build our capacity so that those investments will continue to pay off in the long term around student achievement and learning, long after the dollars are gone," he said. McIntyre's school district was cited in the stimulus report as a success story for facilitating greater inclusion of students with disabilities into the regular educational setting. The funds, according to the report, helped the district to add special education instructors in its middle and high schools, "while supporting needed training for teachers and aides who work with special education students." Tennessee, McIntyre said, has been supportive in helping his school district plan and obtain stimulus money to "really invest in our people and hopefully invest in our kids for the long term." The Department of Education report offered other examples that it said showed funding is working, such as: . "In several communities these dollars are being used to enhance information systems to help measure progress by both teachers and students in meeting educational standards," the report added. CNNMoney.com's David Goldman contributed to this report.
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed in February .
Preliminary report finds stimulus plan saved 250,000 education jobs .
States have restored nearly all education budget shortfalls for 2009-10, report says .
Some states in trouble with feds for using money to fill gaps, not on required goals .
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This is the shocking moment two men chained up and abandoned a pit bull outside a supermarket in freezing temperatures - prompting her to chew off her own paw in a desperate bid to escape. The fugitive suspects, who are yet to be identified, were captured on surveillance video dumping the mixed-breed dog, named by rescuers as Courtney, outside a Wal-Mart in Detroit, Michigan. They then drove off, leaving the animal alone in the frigid weather, with a thick cable around her leg. As she grew colder, it is believed Courtney chewed off and ate her numb paw to try to escape. Fortunately, the two-year-old dog was later rescued by a horrified store employee, who stumbled across her in a bloodied state and called the police. Officers then notified Animal Control. Scroll down for video . Wanted: Two men are captured on surveillance video driving up to the exterior of a Wal-Mart in Michigan . Horrific: The pair then grab hold of a pit bull, named by rescuers as Courtney, and dump her on the ground . Ready to go: They then drive off, leaving the animal alone in the frigid weather, with a cable around her leg . Saved: As she grew colder, it is believed Courtney chewed off and ate her numb paw to try to escape. Above, the pit bull is pictured at the offices of the rescue charity 4 Paws 1 Heart following her rescue last Sunday . During an examination, vets found part of Courtney's paw in her stomach. They believe the cord was wrapped around her leg so tightly it may have stopped blood gushing from the wound. Although Courtney did not chew off her entire paw during her ordeal last Sunday, vets decided to amputate her leg, deeming it the most humane course of action to avoid the risk of infection. Diana Rascano, the president and co-founder of rescue charity 4 Paws 1 Heart told the Detroit Free Press: 'They thought the toxins could have easily gotten into her blood system.' She added that following the amputation, vets examined Courtney's stomach. 'They felt a lump in her stomach and saw there were shards of bones, which were her paw,' she said. Freezing: The two-year-old dog was rescued by a horrified store employee, who stumbled across her in a bloodied state and called the police. Above, Courtney is seen tied up in the cold outside the Wal-Mart store . Fleeing the scene: On Saturday, the surveillance footage was released in a bid to help Roseville Police track down the two men who apparently left Courtney to die. Above, the suspects drive away from Wal-Mart . Maltreatment: Although Courtney did not chew off her entire paw during her ordeal last Sunday, vets decided to amputate her leg to avoid the risk of infection. Above, Courtney is pictured following the amputation . 'She had not only chewed it but eaten it. They had to do surgery because the shards from the bone could have caused issues with her intestine.' Incredibly, Courtney is now recuperating from her injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. The pit bull is currently being looked after at Wittner's Hopeful Heart Rescue home. After she has completely recovered, she will be adopted via the home, Click On Detroit reported. On Saturday, the surveillance footage of the local Wal-Mart's exterior was released in a bid to help Roseville Police track down the two men who apparently left Courtney to die in the cold. Cruel: This photo shows the thick wire used to tie Courtney up. It was taken by the employee of Wal-Mart . On the road to health: Incredibly, Courtney is now recuperating from her injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Above, she is pictured with a charity worker at 4 Paws 1 Heart following her various surgeries . Speaking of the horrific footage, Ms Rascano said: 'The leash, it was like a cable, it was very thick and had tied around her leg and actually acted as a tourniquet. 'The vet said what saved her was the tourniquet that caused the blood flow to stop. And the subfreezing weather may have frozen some of the wound so that she didn't bleed to death.' She added that Courtney is a 'sweetheart' who has not let her traumatic experience impact her friendly demeanor. 'She's been walking around licking everyone. She's just the sweetest dog,' she said. A police investigation is ongoing.
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Surveillance video released on Saturday in bid to track down suspects .
Footage shows men tying up pit bull outside Wal-Mart, then driving off .
Dog, named Courtney, chewed off paw to try to escape frigid weather .
She was rescued after a horrified store employee stumbled across her .
Now recovering after having her leg amputated and other surgery .
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Defender Elsad Zverotic and midfielder Dino Fazlic have left Fulham with immediate effect. Zverotic joined the club at the start of the 2013-14 season but he had only played one game since the middle of December, and leaves after starting only 14 times. His contract has been terminated by mutual consent. Both Elsad Zverotic (left) and Dino Fazlic have been released by Fulham with immediate effect . Fazlic (right) has joined Croatian side FK Zadar on a permanent deal . Zverotic (right) scored for Montenegro in a Group G match against England at Euro 2012 . Zverotic also scored against England for Montenegro in a 2-2 draw in Group G of the European Championships in 2012. Fazlic arrived at Craven Cottage after a trial last summer but failed to break into Kit Symons' first-team squad. The Serbian has joined Croatian side FK Zadar on a permanent deal.
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Fulham's Elsad Zverotic and Dino Fazlic have left the West London .
Zverotic's contract was terminated by mutual consent .
Fazlic failed to break into the first-team squad and will now join FK Zadar .
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By . Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 09:02 EST, 2 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:37 EST, 2 January 2013 . Annual digital sales of music, games and films have passed the £1billion mark for the first time and now make up almost a quarter of the entertainment market. The value of downloads to home computers, tablets and smartphones rose 11.4 per cent to £1.033billion in 2012, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). By contrast, physical sales of CDs, DVDs and computer games are in sharp decline, down 17.6 per cent on 2011, although they still dominate more than three quarters of the market. Revolution: Sales of digital music through programs like iTunes (above), games and films have broken the £1billion barrier for the first time . Many are bought from web retailers, such as Amazon or the major supermarkets. The trend has led to the demise of . thousands of specialist shops, including Game, and threatens the future . of HMV, the last national high street chain. ERA chief Kim Bayley said: ‘Breaching . the £1billion barrier is an incredible achievement for the UK’s digital . entertainment retailers and reflects their huge investment in new and . innovative services which means you can buy music, video and games . literally at any time of the day and wherever you are.’ Separate figures from the music . industry trade body, the BPI, confirm a switch from buying CD albums . towards digital downloads and individual songs. It found there were 100.5million . album sales in 2012, down by 11.2 per cent on the year before. Of those . sales, two thirds were CDs. However, these were themselves down by 19 per cent. Downloads were up by 14.8 per cent. In decline: Physical sales of CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and video games still account for more than three quarters of the entertainment market, but sales fell by 17.6 per cent compared to 2011 . Sales of singles rose 6 per cent to 188.6million, 99.6 per cent of which were bought as digital downloads. British acts dominated the albums sales list this year, with Emeli Sandé on top, ahead of Adele and Ed Sheeran. The most popular singles were more . likely to feature foreign urban and R&B stars, led by top seller . Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye, featuring Kimbra. Only two British artists made the top ten selling singles – X Factor winner James Arthur and The Voice judge Jessie J. Apart from sales, Britons streamed . 3.7billion songs from websites and subscription services that allow them . to listen to music without owning it or downloading it. Emerging trends: The top ten albums of 2012 was dominated by uncontroversial British pop such as Emili Sande (left), while the best-selling singles featured tracks by overseas acts such as Gotye (right)
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Downloads up 11.4% according to the Entertainment Retailers Association .
Physical sales of items fell by 17.6%, but still hold three-quarters of market .
Total UK albums sales slump to just over 100m to mark a decade of decline .
Single sales continue to rise .
to 188m, 99.6% of which .
were sold digitally .
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The evidence was there in front of me — stark, incontrovertible and shocking — but I still found it hard to take in. There on my computer screen, a familiar face swam into view. It belonged to Sarah Leacy, the carer who looked after my 90-year-old mum; the person in whom I invested my absolute trust. My mum is vulnerable: she has dementia. But she is sociable and loves companionship. In the background, against the babble of her TV, I heard her voice drift in from the sitting room, raised in friendly chat. Scroll down for video . Annemarie Flanagan (right) with her mother Monica (left) in happier times. Monica, 90, suffers from Dementia and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's three years ago . Then Sarah’s face filled the screen. I watched her potter around the kitchen, and winced at the haphazard way she made mum’s sandwich — daubing butter carelessly on the bread, then tearing a sheet of plastic wrap with her teeth, to cover it. But what happened next was chilling, heart-stopping. Sarah continued to chat to mum but, as she did so, I watched as in one deft movement she took a cash box from a cupboard, unlocked it, snatched a £10 note from it and stuffed it into her bra. I felt a giddy mix of nausea and relief. My mum’s carer was a thief. And now, after a year, we finally had the evidence, caught on film by a hidden camera I had installed in Mum’s kitchen, to convict her. Our mum Monica had relinquished control of her finances to us, her four children, when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago, after Dad died: she knew nothing about the cash box from which we took money to buy her groceries, and we’d given no one permission to help themselves from it. Monica's carer, Sarah Leacy, 33 was caught on hidden camera stealing from the elderly woman but denied the charges in court even after the footage was shown . So when money began to go missing — £10 one week, £20 the next; about £300 in all was unaccounted for — I turned detective and installed the hidden camera in Mum’s kitchen. Now here it was: evidence that the thief who had so grotesquely abused the trust of a defenceless elderly woman was her carer. We could finally go to the police. Last week, at Wimbledon magistrates’ court, Leacy, 33, was sentenced to 80 hours’ unpaid community work and ordered to pay £700 costs after being found guilty on two counts of theft. She had denied the charges; what struck me was the act she put on. She hobbled into the witness box — a stout and robust-looking young woman with her fair hair scraped into a ponytail, but holding her back as if it ached, and sighing heavily. When arrested, she had the temerity to swear on her ‘nan and granddad’s ashes’ that she had not taken the money. The evidence from the hidden camera was, however, irrefutable. When she was shown it by the police, Leacy had burst into tears. Even then, she did not admit the truth, claiming instead that she’d taken the cash to buy groceries for our mother in Sainsbury’s. The police had continued to press her: would CCTV footage from the supermarket corroborate this? Leacy was cornered. All she could do was bluster about having been ‘confused’. Her brazenness was outrageous. I watched her in court with disbelief. She did not react when she was convicted, but my relief was profound, and I still feel a burning anger that a woman so lacking in scruples could have so flagrantly exploited such a kind and defenceless elderly woman. Leacy, 33, sentenced last week, at Wimbledon magistrates’ court, (pictured) she was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid community work and made to pay £700 costs after being found guilty on two counts of theft. Leacy had been helping Mum, who lived in a flat in a sheltered housing complex in Putney, South-West London, since October 2013. We’d realised — me, my geophysicist brother Stephen, 56, my sisters Eileen, 61, a surveyor, and Patricia, 59, a headteacher — that Mum’s mental acuity had declined sharply. The decline had happened since my dad, Tom, died in 2011 at 90. Mum was at a loss; he’d been her companion for more than 60 years. They met through their church social club after the war when Mum was a telephonist at Manchester Airport and he was an engineer. When she was diagnosed in October 2011 with Alzheimer’s, it didn’t come as a surprise. Even so, we were reassured by her doctors that, as long as she had help, she would be fine to live on her own. The carer (pictured) had been working with Monica since October 2013 but it wasn't until early this year that the family began to suspect that she was taking money from her employer . So we found a flat for her, near Eileen, Stephen and me, and one or other of us would call round most days in the week. But Mum, also needed a daily visit from a carer. And this was how Sarah Leacy insinuated herself into a position of trust. She was employed by an agency, and although Mum remained in many ways independent, she relied on her carer to administer her medication, make her a meal and clean her flat. Whenever I encountered Sarah, she seemed nice enough, but would gripe about the agency, claiming ‘they expect too much’. Actually, I felt sorry for her and empathised about the stress of the job. Because of Mum’s Alzheimer’s, power of attorney for both financial and welfare matters had been signed over to Stephen and Eileen. Apart from her purse, which contained a few coins, Mum had no dealings with money. Because of this, we kept small sums in the flat for anything we might need to buy for her. And each time we visited her, my siblings and I would email each other with details about how she was doing and what we had bought. Occasionally, we would forget and sometimes there was confusion as to how much had been left. We were not suspicious at first, but decided we needed something more secure, so replaced the envelope with a cash tin with a key that was kept on a different shelf in the cupboard. In the early part of this year, we started noticing the money wasn’t totally accounted for. Sometimes it was as it should be, other days I would email my brother and sister and ask: ‘Did you say you left £50? There’s only £40 now.’ After a few such queries, the truth dawned: money was disappearing. Given that Mum wasn’t aware of the box, she wasn’t taking it. The incidences were increasing. With no evidence, we knew the police wouldn’t be able to do anything. I decided to turn detective and install a hidden camera. I came across details for The London Spy Shop, which sells such devices, so phoned them to ask advice. As I told a member of staff what was going on, I burst into tears. ‘Someone is stealing from my mum,’ I sobbed. ‘She’s 90 and has Alzheimer’s, I don’t know what to do.’ The voice at the other end was calm and reassuring. After discussing various options, we settled on a small camera. It was installed in Mum’s galley kitchen, where we kept the cash box. As days then weeks went by, I became more and more frustrated — money was going missing, but the camera wasn’t recording it. Sometimes the device hadn’t worked, other days I had taken it home to recharge it. By June this year, I was getting disheartened and the family discussed removing the cash tin. But that would have meant capitulation. We would never find out who the offender was. Even when the evidence began building up, I failed to believe what was unfolding before my eyes. The first clear CCTV clip I saw revealed Leacy opening a cupboard door. I heard the cash tin rattle. But, perhaps, she was retrieving something for Mum? Next, I moved the camera to the top of the fridge. Just a couple of days later came indisputable evidence on film. Leacy openly stole cash from Monica, 90, . There was Sarah talking to my mum, getting her tea ready, and brazenly stealing from the cash box. Shoving £10 into her bra as she continued to chat amicably. Though justice has now prevailed, I still feel deep anger and disquiet. How dare a woman, whose job it is to care, so flagrantly abuse her position of trust. As for Mum, she is unaware of what has gone on and now has a lovely new carer — a lady in her 60s called Jan — who deserves the title. And while I fervently hope nobody else is exploited so ruthlessly, my suspicion is that many vulnerable elderly are being fleeced as my Mum was. So my message, I’m afraid, is a cynical one: do not be too trusting. Don’t assume all carers worthy of their job description.
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Annemarie Flanagan set up hidden cameras in her mother's home .
The footage showed Sarah Leacy stealing from her elderly employer .
Leacy denied the charges in court despite the video evidence .
She was charged with two counts of theft and given community work .
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(CNN) -- Government investigators found no proof substantiating reports that miners massacred members of an indigenous community in the Venezuelan Amazon, officials said. But activists and indigenous groups said Monday that the government was too swift in denying that dozens of Yanomami Indians died in an attack that reportedly occurred in July, and that was the subject of a call for action last week by a Yanomami organization and other groups. "It's far too early for the Venezuelan government to be denying this massacre took place," said Chloe Corbin, a spokeswoman for London-based Survival International. Allegations of the massacre trickled out of a remote region along the Brazil-Venezuela border, where unauthorized Brazilian gold miners have long clashed with indigenous groups. The Yanomami, who live in both nations, are considered the largest indigenous group in the Americas that remains largely untouched by advances in the outside world. Venezuelan officials said last Wednesday they were investigating reports of an attack. On Saturday, a top official said visits to the region revealed that reports about the alleged massacre were false. "We can tell the country that there is no evidence of any deaths, nor any evidence of homes burned down in the supposed massacre of 80 of our Yanomami brothers," Nicia Maldonado, Venezuela's minister of tribal people, told state-run VTV. On Sunday, the South American country's interior minister described the allegations as "false news," accusing private media companies and members of the opposition of spreading the report. In a Twitter post, Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami said government investigators had visited all of the Yanomami communities and "all are well." But a group of organizations representing indigenous people and communities in the Amazon said the investigators hadn't visited the area where the attack is reported to have taken place. For that reason, the groups said in a statement published on the website of the Venezuelan human rights organization Provea, the authorities can't "say that no evidence proving the alleged massacre has been found." They urged the government to continue the investigation and to go as far as site of the settlement that was reportedly attacked. The area is a five-hour helicopter ride, or 15 days on foot, from Puerto Ayacucho, the main Venezuelan city in the Amazon, the government said. Survival International, which advocates tribal peoples' rights worldwide, said in a written statement that the government officials' comments are "not unusual in these circumstances and should be ignored." "There is more that needs to be done on the ground to get to the bottom of this reported massacre and find out how many people were affected by it," Corbin said. Indians told members of a neighboring Yanomami community that they saw burned bodies and bones in the area where the attack allegedly occurred, according to Survival International, which had contacted local representatives but had not spoken directly with any witnesses of the alleged attack. Of about 80 Yanomami people who lived in the Irotatheri community, only three survivors had been found, according to a declaration published on Survival International's website, purportedly from indigenous organizations. In recent years, the Yanomami tribe has been under increasing pressure as miners illegally entered their land in the search of profits. Miners in Brazil have transmitted diseases such as malaria and flu to the Yanomami, who have little resistance to such diseases, observers say. CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet and Marilia Brocchetto contributed to this report.
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NEW: Investigators didn't visit the site of the alleged attack, indigenous groups say .
A top Venezuelan official says there is 'no evidence of any deaths'
It's too early to deny a massacre took place, activists say .
Indigenous groups say only three survivors have been found from a community of about 80 .
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(CNN) -- It's the time of year for dashing through the snow to the crowded post office, with arms full of holiday gifts for family and friends. Not to break the atmosphere of holiday cheer, but this Christmas could be the last for the U.S. Postal Service. It is losing $25 million dollars a day and staring down insolvency -- unless Congress steps in to pass a reform package that reduces its costs. With just a few days left in the congressional calendar, there is still some small hope for a Christmas miracle -- maybe the Postal Service can be saved as part of a deal on the fiscal cliff. But with even Hurricane Sandy relief stalled, skepticism is growing. The real question is, what's taken them so long? After all, back in April the Senate passed an imperfect but bipartisan bill by 62-37. It would have saved some $20 billion, cut some 100 distribution centers, and reduced head count by an additional 100,000 through incentives for early retirement, while reducing red tape to encourage entrepreneurialism and keeping Saturday delivery in place for at least another two years. At the time, Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware said, "The situation is not hopeless; the situation is dire. My hope is that our friends over in the U.S. House, given the bipartisan steps we took this week, will feel a sense of urgency." To which the House might as well have replied, "Not so much." In August, the Postal Service defaulted for the first time, unable to make a $5.5 billion payment to fund future retirees' health benefits. The headline in Government Executive magazine said it all: "Postal Service defaults, Congress does nothing." The usual suspects were at fault -- hyperpartisan politics and the ideological arrogance that always makes the perfect the enemy of the good. House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa greeted the news of the Senate bill by calling it a "taxpayer-funded bailout." His primary complaint was that the Senate bill did not go far enough. He was not alone -- Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe also expressed disappointment at the scope of the Senate bill, saying that it fell "far short of the Postal Service's plan." But Issa's alternative couldn't even get to a vote in the Republican-controlled House. And so nothing happened. Even after the USPS defaulted on a second $5.5 billion payment, the response was crickets. Washington insiders said that action would be taken after the election, when lawmakers would be free to make potentially unpopular decisions. But despite a series of closed-door meetings, nothing has been done. It's possible that the nearly $20 billion in savings could be part of a fiscal cliff deal. Sen. Joseph Lieberman has suggested that ending Saturday delivery, except for packages, could be part of a compromise that could save big bucks down the road. Another aspect of a savings plan could be suspending the USPS' onerous obligation to fully fund its pension costs upfront, a requirement that would push many businesses into bankruptcy. And last fiscal year, the post office posted a record $15.9 billion loss. "As the nation creeps toward the 'fiscal cliff,' the U.S. Postal Service is clearly marching toward a financial collapse of its own," says Carper. "The Postal Service's financial crisis is growing worse, not better. It is imperative that Congress get to work on this issue and find a solution immediately. ... Recently key House and Senate leaders on postal reform have had productive discussions on a path forward, and while there may be some differences of opinion in some of the policy approaches needed to save the Postal Service, there is broad agreement that reform needs to happen -- the sooner the better." The urgency couldn't be clearer -- but even at this yuletide 11th hour, signs of progress are slim to none. If Congress fails to pass a bill, we'll be back to square one in the new year, with the Senate needing to pass a new bill which will then have to be ratified by the House. There is just no rational reason to think that lift will be any easier in the next Congress than in the current lame duck Congress, where our elected officials are supposedly more free to do the right thing, freed from electoral consequences. So as you crowd your local post office this holiday season, look around and realize that the clock is ticking. The Postal Service is fighting for its life. And Congress seems determined to ignore its cries for help. "Neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor gloom of night" can stop the U.S. Postal Service from making its appointed rounds -- but congressional division and dysfunction apparently can. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon.
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The U.S. Postal Service is bleeding money and heading toward insolvency .
John Avlon: Congress can save the postal service in deal on the fiscal cliff .
He says the urgency is clear, let's hope for a Christmas miracle .
Avlon: But be prepared that Washington dysfunction can doom the postal service .
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A puppy was used to lure two Amish girls into a car in upstate New York, with the captors plotting to enslave the sisters, authorities said. Nicole Vaisey, 25, told investigators that she and her boyfriend, Stephen Howells II, 39, were on a "shopping trip" for "slaves" when they allegedly kidnapped the girls, according to a detective. The girls were picked up at a vegetable stand outside the sisters' family farm about 50 miles from the Canadian border on August 13. New details about the abduction in Oswegatchie emerged during a preliminary hearing in St. Lawrence County on Thursday. Detective Sgt. Brooks Bigwarfe detailed the couples' alleged plan and kidnapping of the girls, as related to him by Vaisey. "They had been planning this for several weeks," Bigwarfe said. Howells and Vaisey drove to the farm, pulled up to the stand in a location where they couldn't be seen, and waited for the girls -- ages 6 and 12 -- to approach the car, Bigwarfe said. Howells allegedly scoped out the stand the previous week. Howells asked the girls whether they wanted to pet the dog, a Doberman pinscher-golden retriever mix named Kaleidoscope, police said. When the older sister grew suspicious, Bigwarfe said, Howells pushed the girls into the back of the car. "When he started forcing them into the vehicle, they were both screaming and yelling," Bigwarfe said. The girls were held captive for nearly 24 hours, during which they were handcuffed together, shackled to a bed and sexually abused, according to the sheriff's department. With widening media coverage, a large police response in the area and an Amber Alert, though, Bigwarfe said the couple began to worry and decided it was too risky to keep the girls. Howells abandoned the two girls in an isolated area 12 miles from where they were being held, Bigwarfe said. "There's no doubt in my mind that if they were successful they were going to continue with future acts," said Mary Rain, district attorney for St. Lawrence County. Howells' attorney, Amy Dona, declined to comment Friday. Vaisey appeared at the hearing wearing a bulletproof vest, according to her lawyer, Bradford Riendeau. Riendeau alleged his client was in a master-slave relationship with Howells and that she was not the mastermind of the planned kidnapping. "I don't think she had any control over what went on in the relationship. That was the essential ground rule of it," Riendeau alleged. "He told her what to do." Fowler Township Justice Paul Lamson ruled that there was reasonable cause to believe Vaisey committed a felony and ordered her held without bail. Howells waived his right to a hearing and did not appear in court Thursday. Howells also was being held without bail, Riendeau said. The two were charged with second-degree kidnapping and face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, according to Riendeau.
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Couple used a puppy to lure two Amish sisters to a car, according to the sheriff's department .
Couple was on a "shopping trip" to turn the girls into "slaves," says a sheriff's detective .
Girls were chained and sexually abused while in captivity .
Stephen Howells II, 39, and Nicole Vaisey, 25, are being held without bail .
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A Florida man plunged to his death in a 30-foot fall from an attraction at a shopping mall Wednesday. Horrified shoppers looked on, screaming, as Robert Belvoir, 52, of Lake Mary, fell to the concrete floor of the Artegon Marketplace in Orlando's Sky Trail ropes course. The course includes zip lines built along the roof of the mega-mall. Belvoir and a female relative of his decided to join other mall-goers on the Sky Trail course. Soon, what was supposed to be a fun Christmas Eve outing turned tragic. Fell: Robert Belvoir, 52, fell 30 feet from the Sky Trail ropes course at Artegon Marketplace in Orlando on Christmas Eve (photographed, mall goers and a police officer rush to help the man as other shoppers look on) Rushed: Belvoir was rushed to Dr. Phillips Hospital in Orlando where he was soon pronounced dead as a result of his injuries (photographed, mall goers continue to give assistance as a police officer administers CPR to the man) Screams: A female relative of Belvoir's was reportedly with him and witnesses heard her bloodcurdling screams as she watched Belvoir plummet 30 feet . A pool of blood could be seen near the man's head as shoppers rushed to help him,WESH reports. Belvoir was rushed to Dr. Phillips Hospital in Orlando where he was soon pronounced dead as a result of his injuries. A female relative of Belvoir's was reportedly with him and witnesses heard her bloodcurdling screams as she watched Belvoir plummet 30 feet from the top of the course. 'I think he had a family member that was actually there at the ride, and they must've just gotten off, and then he went on,' Lovetta Quinn-Henry, of the Orlando Police Department, told WESH. Sky Trail: Photographed here, the Sky Trail ropes course includes zip lines built along the roof of the mega-mall . Harness: Belvoir was wearing a safety harness on the course (photographed), but the hook keeping the man secure reportedly came undone at the highest peak of the ride . Mall: The Artegon Marketplace, formerly Festival Bay, is Orlando's newest shopping mall and retail attraction . Belvoir was wearing a safety harness, NBC reports, but the hook keeping the man secure reportedly came undone at the highest peak of the ride, investigators say. 'We had of couple of people in line, and all of the sudden we just heard everyone screaming in the mall,' James Walton, a witness, told WESH. An investigation has been launched into the accident. MArketplace: In a Facebook post on the Artegon Marketplace page, Artegon officials described the incident as a 'tragic accident' Just minutes after the accident, authorities were on the scene and tweets about the incident began showing up on Twitter. In a Facebook post on the Artegon Marketplace page, Artegon officials described the incident as a 'tragic accident.' In a later post, they announced that the mall, which was already planned to be closed Thursday, will re-open for regular business hours Friday. However, it is up to state officials to determine whether the Sky Trail course will re-open as well. Relative: Police say a female relative was with Belvoir and had just gotten off of the course before Belvoir got on (photographed is a tweet from The Daily City detailing the tragic accident) CPR: Authorities responded immediately administering CPR to the man, as the tweet from The Daily City above illustrates . Shaking: This tweet from The Daily City tells of how the female relative who was with Belvoir was escorted off of the course in terror .
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Robert Belvoir, 52, fell 30 feet from the Sky Trail ropes course at Artegon Marketplace in Orlando on Christmas Eve .
Belvoir was rushed to Dr. Phillips Hospital in Orlando where he was soon pronounced dead as a result of his injuries .
Belvoir was wearing a safety harness but the hook keeping the man secure reportedly came undone at the highest peak of the ride .
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The chairman of the social mobility and child poverty commission will call for priority to be given to low-income families concerning admissions . Schools should help poorer children jump the queue for places to break the middle-class stranglehold over admissions, according to a report fronted by the Coalition's social mobility tsar. Former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn, chairman of the social mobility and child poverty commission, will call for priority to be given to low-income families. In the report, Mr Milburn will criticise so-called 'selection by mortgage', where families can improve their chance of getting into a popular school by buying a home in the catchment area, saying the best schools should 'not just be for those who can afford to live nearby'. And he will urge schools to take advantage of new powers designed to prioritise children eligible for pupil premium funding – those who could have claimed free school meals at any point over the last six years. Academies and free schools can already use the new powers, and plans are underway to extend the freedom to all other state schools. Although there is currently no legal requirement for state schools to change their entry criteria, the report urges headteachers to prove that they are 'walking the walk on admissions'. The document – called 'Cracking the code: how schools can improve social mobility' – also cautions against putting off disadvantaged families by insisting on expensive uniforms and complicated application forms. It calls the extent to which disadvantaged youngsters are failing to get into top schools 'troubling', and warns schools that accepted methods of whittling down applicants – such as prioritising children in defined catchment areas or the offspring of staff members – could 'harm social mobility'. The report goes on to say: 'Giving priority to children who receive the pupil premium represents a clear public commitment that a school is serious about tackling disadvantage and improving social mobility. 'There is considerable academic evidence that attending an outstanding school – and avoiding an inadequate school – matters much more for those from disadvantaged backgrounds than for other children.' Mr Milburn added: 'Some schools have cracked the code on how to improve social mobility by helping disadvantaged children excel in education. If some schools can do it, there is no excuse for others not to.' Alan Milburn criticises 'selection by mortgage' where families can improve their chance of getting into a popular school by buying a home in the catchment area .
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Schools should help poorer children jump queue for places, says expert .
Chairman of the social mobility commission wants fair admissions policies .
Alan Milburn said best schools should not just be for those who live nearby .
He criticises so-called 'selection by mortgage' which favours the wealthy .
Report warns schools against expensive uniforms and complicated forms .
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By . Harriet Arkell and Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 08:25 EST, 19 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:07 EST, 20 November 2013 . A neglected 13-year-old boy who raped a young girl for two years avoided a jail sentence when a court heard of his own troubled background (file picture) A ten-year-old boy repeatedly raped and sexually abused a seven-year-old girl over two years after becoming addicted to hardcore pornography, a court has heard. The schoolboy would sit at his home computer for hours scouring the internet for extreme porn, the court was told. After looking at the vile images he would play out his sexual fantasies on the young girl – which later developed into attempted rape and rape. The court heard how he committed sex acts on the girl between the age of ten and 12 when she was aged only seven and eight. Yesterday the boy, now 13, escaped a custodial sentence after a judge heard how he had been physically and emotionally abused as a young child. The court was told the boy was brought up in a home that lacked any ‘sexual boundaries’ and may well have witnessed his mother having sex. His mother was also aware that he was spending hours a day looking at indecent images on the internet but did nothing to stop it, the court heard. The case comes just days after calls for more restrictions to online pornography following Google and Microsoft’s announcement they would block internet search results linked to images of child abuse. The Daily Mail’s fight to force the web industry to clean up the internet through its Block Online Porn campaign has led to concerted pressure on service providers, such as BT and TalkTalk. Now all 20million families in the UK who have an internet connection will be forced to say whether they want access to online pornography. Hundreds of thousands are already signing up to have it blocked. Mold Crown Court was told the schoolboy began accessing hardcore images on a computer from the age of nine. Referring to the victim, Judge Niclas Parry told the boy: ‘In fact what you were doing was using her to play out fantasies that you had been watching on the internet, images of extreme pornography.’ Judge Parry said the boy had suffered an appalling early childhood and had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse. He said the boy’s mother chose to ‘ignore that you were accessing for hours a day images of a pornographic nature on the internet’. The court was told there was clear evidence of very poor parenting on behalf of his mother, which bordered on deliberate neglect. The judge at Mold Crown Court in North Wales, pictured, described the case as 'extremely sad' Reports . showed this neglect had gone on for around seven years, during which . time he had also been abused by his mother’s partner. And the court heard that the boy’s home environment lacked any barriers to the adult world. The . judge said: ‘You may have witnessed your mother and her partner engaged . in sexual activity. You were brought up in a home that lacked any . sexual boundaries.’ The . court heard the boy, who sat in court with social workers and employees . of a children’s development centre where he is now living, was left . without support or guidance. Elen . Owen, defending, described the case as ‘extremely sad’. Reports . suggested the assaults and rapes were a way of satisfying the boy’s . emotional needs rather than for sexual gratification alone. Judge Parry . said the boy could have been detained in custody because the crimes . were so serious but said he wanted him to be rehabilitated rather than . harmed further. The boy, . who admitted committing rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, was . placed on a three-year youth rehabilitation order with supervision, as . well as a residency order so that he remains at the specialist centre . where he is living. The . teenager, from Llandudno, North Wales, was also ordered to register with . the police as a sex offender. The court heard he was seeking therapy to . overcome his addiction. The . judge said work to counsel the young girl, who is also in care, was . under way but that it may take years for her to understand that what . happened to her was not normal. Over . the next few months all existing internet users will be contacted by . their service providers asking whether they want access to online . pornography. New customers . who set up a broadband account or switch providers will have the filters . automatically selected, while customers who do not accept or decline . will have them activated by default. The . filters will apply to all devices linked to a home wi-fi network and . across any public network, such as those that can be accessed from . shops, where children are likely to be present. Only adults will be able . to change the settings.
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The boy, from the Llandudno area, began abusing the girl when he was 10 .
Mold Crown Court told sexual abuse of the girl lasted for about two years .
Boy was abused by mother's partner and may have seen her having sex .
Judge Niclas Parry said boy was brought up 'without normal boundaries'
Boy admitted sexual assault, rape and attempted rape but wasn't jailed .
Judge said he needed help: gave him three-year youth rehabilitation order .
The boy was also ordered to register with the police as a sex offender .
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Nude pictures of former French first lady Carla Bruni were used to break in to the computer systems of dozens of diplomats, it emerged today. The shocking security breach was first discovered at the G20 summit in Paris in February 2011 and may be ongoing. ‘To see naked pictures of Carla Bruni click here’ said a message sent to those attending, who included finance ministers and central bank representatives. Hacked: Nude pictures of former French first lady Carla Bruni were used to break in to the computer systems of dozens of diplomats, it emerged today . Ms Bruni, a former supermodel who became President Nicolas Sarkozy’s third wife in 2008, was well known for taking her clothes off in her early career. This prompted many to open an attachment which turned out to be a ‘Trojan Horse’ with an embedded virus, although all recipients could see were the X-rated photographs. Once accessed, it infected the computers of senior officials as well as forwarding the offensive email on to others. Ms Bruni, a former supermodel who became President Nicolas Sarkozy's third wife in 2008, was well known for taking her clothes off in her early career . ‘Almost everybody who received the email took the bait,’ said a government source in Paris, saying that this included representatives from the Czech Republic, Portugal, Bulgaria, Hungary and Latvia. Mr Sarkozy was first embarrassed by nude pictures of Ms Bruni surfacing shortly after their marriage, while they were staying with the Queen at Windsor Castle during a state visit to Britain. Ms Bruni, who still uses her maiden name in her career as a pop singer, later changed her image from a Paris sex kitten into a demure politician’s wife. The so-called phishing attacks are thought to have originated in China and were aimed at extracting information. The attacks are still being investigated, and nobody is yet sure what information was extracted. America is thought to have been the main target of the scam. Ms Bruni, who still uses her maiden name in her career as a pop singer, later changed her image from a Paris sex kitten into a demure politician’s wife . The cyber attack on the Paris G20 summit took place before the 6th G20 summit in Cannes, in the south of France, which involved heads of government. There have been a number of similar attacks in France, leading the country to be proactive in cyber defence. A recent White Paper on Defence and National Security proclaimed cyber attacks as ‘one of the main threats to the national territory’ and ‘made prevention and reaction to cyber attacks a major priority in the organisation of national security’. The cyber attack on the Paris G20 summit in Paris took place before the 6th G20 summit in Cannes, in the south of France, which involved heads of government . This led to the creation of the French Agency for National Security of Information Systems in 2009. Mr Sarkozy, a conservative, lost the presidential election to the Socialist Francois Hollande in 2012 and is now dealing with a range of corruption charges. Despite all this, his supporters insist he may challenge to become head of state again in 2017. Ms Bruni is continuing with her career as a singer.
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Security breach was first discovered at the G20 summit in Paris in 2011 .
Message sent to those attending including finance ministers .
The former supermodel became President Nicolas Sarkozy’s third wife .
She was well known for taking her clothes off in her early career .
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Washington (CNN) -- The former head of U.S. counterterror operations said Tuesday the "imminent threat" posed by an al Qaeda offshoot in Syria hasn't lessened after a U.S. air campaign there. Speaking to CNN's Jim Sciutto, Matt Olsen said by his analysis the threat from the Khorasan group "is still in the same place as it was before" President Barack Obama ordered airstrikes against the terror operation last month. "This group was in a position to train without any sort of interference, they were able to recruit operatives," said Olsen, who stepped down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in September. "We saw that they were looking to test explosives. So they were in the advanced stages of plotting. They had both intent and that capability that put them nearing an execution phase of an attack." President Obama announced strikes against Khorasan in September at the same time he began the mission to "degrade and destroy" the Islamic State terror group in Syria and Iraq. At the time, senior officials described the threat posed by Khorasan as "imminent." In the days after the strikes, the Pentagon said they believed the mission had "degraded, damaged, destroyed some of their capabilities," but didn't specify whether the threat was taken out altogether. No subsequent strikes against Khorasan have been announced by the U.S. military. Olsen said on Tuesday the types of individual who have joined Khorasan -- "hardened, seasoned veterans" -- made it unlikely the threat had diminished. "I think it's unlikely that threat's altogether been eliminated," Olsen said, adding that some senior leaders with the group had been killed. What's the difference between ISIS, al-Nusra and the Khorasan Group? Before the strikes began in Syria, U.S. government officials had barely acknowledged the presence of Khorasan, which formed from former al Qaeda members. Sources have said the group has the same aim as ISIS: recruiting and training foreign fighters who could return home to stage attacks. While Olsen said foreign fighters present a broad risk to Americans' security, the potential for so-called "lone wolf" attacks by unaffiliated terrorists also worries officials. The propaganda circulated by ISIS online could allow Americans to be motivated by the group without ever leaving the country, he said. "The other issue is somebody in the United States, who never leaves the United States, simply sits in their basement reading some of this hateful propaganda that ISIS puts out," he said. "The concern is that somebody just reads that and they have something in their own mind that makes them think that's what they want to do. They would seek to carry out what we would think would be a relatively small scale attack, but a lethal attack nonetheless." Olsen: U.S. lost track of terrorists after Snowden .
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Matt Olsen is the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
His analysis finds the threat from the Khorasan group remains even after airstrikes.
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Ah, the Oyster card. That most beloved access-all-areas key to the Transport for London network, which last week proved irksomely impotent in light of the tube strikes carried out by Bob Crow and his transport workers union. A repeat performance of city-crippling industrial action was threatened again this week, until, at the eleventh hour, it was called off. Londoners rejoiced. Meetings took place, plans were carried out, nobody had to sleep on the office sofa, and today, on Valentine's Day, a Holborn-based start-up has said thank-you to Bob Crow and his crew for cancelling the second set of strikes… by putting a cheeky, interactive love poem on every Oyster card in the city. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Blipp! Download the free Blippar app and hold it over your Oyster card (or this one) to make it come alive . The tongue-in-cheek Ode To Bob Crow bursts out of every Oyster card - and every picture of an Oyster card, too – when the travel card is viewed through the 'magic lens app' Blippar on a smartphone or tablet. 1. Download the app on your smart phone or tablet . 2. Open the app . 3. Fill the screen with your Oyster card or an image of an Oyster card . 4. Wait for the magic blipp to happen . 5. Enjoy! Accompanied by heart-themed graphics, tube trains, and the international debut of Bob Crow The Cupid, the poem's verses roll across the screen to the dulcet tones of jolly music. The poem begins: 'Roses are red, Londoners were blue, we were mighty mad at you. You ruined last week, we have to say, when you took our tubes away.' To hear the rest, blipp the Oyster Card on this screen, or blipp an actual Oyster card in your wallet. Make your Oyster card dance: Blipp your Oyster card to read the Ode To Bob Crow, a thank you from Blippar and Londoners for calling off the second tube strike . Jess Butcher, Co-Founder and CMO of Blippar, told MailOnline: 'As a start-up (frequently working around the clock!) we were hugely relieved when this week's strike was called off, and thought we'd have some fun expressing our appreciation to Bob in the way we know best... through our magic mobile technology. 'We're normally busy turning CocaCola cans, KitKats, Argos catalogues, posters and magazines interactive for our clients, but this time we wanted to do something for us and our fellow Londoners, so have "borrowed" the beloved Oyster card to host a magic Valentine's thank-you to Bob on. 'We hope Londoners enjoy the experience of it coming to life in their hands (plus of course, our superb poetry-writing skills).' Blippar is a magic lens app that unlocks interactive content - including videos, graphics, songs, games, coupons and 'try-on' experiences - from real-word stuff. Whether the 'stuff' is a ketchup bottle, chocolate bar, poster, magazine page, T-shirt or coffee cup, looking at it 'through' the Blippar app on your phone or tablet will make it burst into life. Brands and celebrities such as CocaCola, Disney, Warner Bros, Heinz, L'Oreal, Justin Beiber and the Wanted have used the app to add exclusive content to their products or adverts. Crow is General Secretary of the National . Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), which took strike . action last week - alongside the Union for People in Transport and . Travel (TSSA) - against London Mayor Boris Johnson's plans to close . ticket offices. While Blippar, which was founded by four friends in London in 2011, usually works with clients to create bespoke blipps on products and adverts, the fun-loving start-up is no stranger to 'guerilla blipping' of this nature. The innovative gang has already made the Oyster card blippable once before, when blipping revealed how well each tube line was running. They plan to return to that blipp from tomorrow, when Valentine's Day is over. Blippar have also applied their technology to the British passport, a five-pound note, an American dollar bill and the 'smoking kills' logo on cigarette packets. The latter was part of a campaign for the British Heart Foundation.
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London start-up Blippar make Oyster cards come to life for today only .
Poem is 'thank-you from all Londoners' for calling off second tube strike .
'Guerilla blipps' also appear on British passports and American dollar bills .
Download free Blippar app on mobile or tablet to see Oyster spring to life .
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Want to explore space like never before? Now you can, thanks to an ultra-realistic space simulator that reveals the universe in glorious HD. Called Space Engine, the simulation of the entire known cosmos lets you visit planets, stars, galaxies and more. There are more than 130,000 objects in the game which includes all known exoplanets, more than 10,000 galaxies and our own solar system. Scroll down for videos . A simulator that lets you explore the known universe has been released (shown). It has taken Vladimir Romanyuk to put Space Engine together. The software is free although he is currently seeking donations on his site. In the simulator players can explore all known planets, stars and galaxies . Reported by Gizmodo, Space Engine is available to download now for PC - and as an added bonus, there's no cost to download it. According to the official website it is ‘a free space simulation program that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. Minimum (Recommended) CPU: 2 GHz (3 GHz) RAM: 2 Gb (2 Gb) Video: 512 Mb (1024 Mb) OpenGL: 3.0 (3.0) OS: Windows XP (Windows 7) ‘Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data, while regions uncharted by astronomy are generated procedurally [randomly generated]. ‘Millions of galaxies, trillions of stars, countless planets - all available for exploration. You can land [on] any planet, moon or asteroid and watch alien landscapes and celestial phenomena.’ The creator of the game, Vladimir Romanyuk from Saint Petersburg in Russia, told MailOnline that it took him eight years to put the simulator together. ‘I do it in my free time, but recently I moved to full-time development thanks to donations on the Space Engine site,’ he says. ‘The team is only me, however many users help me in making and moderating the site, making ship models and soundtracks for Space Engine, because I am only a programmer, not an artist.’ The level of detail at its best is for Earth, the Moon and Mars at approximately 985 feet (300 metres) per pixel. There are more than 130,000 objects in the game which includes all known exoplanets, more than 10,000 galaxies and our own solar system. The level of detail at its best is for Earth, the Moon and Mars at approximately 985 feet (300 metres) per pixel. Shown is an object near Jupiter in the game . The game also allows you to pilot starships around the universe to explore planets and objects in this solar system and elsewhere. To create an accurate universe the simulator uses data from official catalogues. For galaxies this is the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars and the Index Catalogues, while for stars the developer used the Hipparcos catalogue. Players are free to go anywhere in the universe and can zoom in and out of the entire cosmos. And the simulator also provides information on many celestial objects in the game. Mr Romanyuk tells MailOnline that the planets and moons have accurately simulated orbits, using Nasa textures and landscape data to show their surfaces. And for the universe as a whole he explains: ‘All objects are generated using actual scientific knowledge.' He explains that he is only accepting donations for the software at the moment, but understandably plans to start charging for a future version that will be released on Steam. According to the official website it is ‘a free space simulation program that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. ‘Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data' Mr Romanyuk tells MailOnline that the planets and moons have accurately simulated orbits, using Nasa textures and landscape data to show their surfaces. The simulator is free for now, but he intends to start charging for a future version that will be released on the Steam platform .
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A simulator that lets you explore the known universe has been released .
It has taken Vladimir Romanyuk from Saint Petersburg in Russia eight years to put Space Engine together .
The software is free although he is currently seeking donations on his site .
In the simulator players can explore all known planets, stars and galaxies .
This comes to a total of more than 130,000 objects to explore .
And objects in the solar system are also mapped in high detail .
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Formula One driver Nico Rosberg and two of Germany's World Cup squad have been involved in a car accident during a promotional shoot at their World Cup training base on Tuesday which left two people in hospital. Rosberg and DTM driver Pascal Wehrlein were carrying Germany team-mates Julian Draxler and Benedikt Howedes in separate vehicles when Wehrlein's car collided with two people on a road in northern Italy's South Tyrol region. The road had been closed to the public. 'I am shocked by the accident,' said Rosberg, who leads the Formula One World Championship after winning Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Nico Rosberg and Lukas Podolski do keep-ups . Investigation: Italian Police closed a road following an accident near Germany's national football team's training camp in San Martino . World Cup bound: Germany internationals Benedikt Howedes (left) and Julian Draxler were both involved . Monaco winner: Nico Rosberg was involved during the filming for the Mercedes advert . 'My thoughts are with the two people who were injured and I wish them a fast recovery.' Rosberg, Wehrlein, Draxler and Howedes were not injured in the accident. A . statement from Mercedes Motorsport said: 'An accident occurred during a . visit to the training camp of the German National Football Team: while . driving on a closed circuit, DTM driver Pascal Wehrlein injured two . people whom he unexpectedly encountered walking on the closed course. 'We . cannot offer any statement concerning the severity of injuries, as both . injured parties are currently undergoing medical treatment. Pascal . Wehrlein was uninjured in the accident. 'We . deeply regret this accident and send wishes of quick recovery to the . injured. We will work in full cooperation with the authorities in . determining the exact circumstances of the accident.' Media: Rosberg, golfer Martin Kaymer and Pascal Wehrlein spoke to the German press earlier in the day . Accident: Two people were taken to hospital - one with serious injuries . Walk away: None of the football players were injured in the accident . Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff said in a statement: 'During a driving event of our partner Mercedes-Benz there was a serious accident,' 'We regret to say that two people were injured and treated on the spot before being taken to hospital. 'At the moment all our thoughts are with those injured. We do not have more information at this moment.' The Germans have been preparing for next month's World Cup at an Alpine hotel in northern Italy since last week and will remain there until June 1. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Two people taken to hospital during Mercedes advert shoot .
Germany internationals Benedikt Howedes and Julian Draxler involved in cars when incident took place .
Pascal Wehrlein was driving the car involved in the crash, Nico Rosberg was driving the second vehicle .
Film set was near German team's hotel in South Tyrol, northern Italy .
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By . Nick Mashiter, Press Association . Aston Villa defender Nathan Baker has fired a warning shot to Arsenal ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash on Saturday. Villa claimed a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield three days ago thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor's early goal and Baker is confident his side can back that up with victory over the Gunners this weekend. A win against Arsenal would set Paul Lambert's side up nicely ahead of a tough run of games, which sees them taking on Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton before the end of October. Gabby Agbonlahor (left) scored the only goal of the game for Aston Villa against Liverpool on Saturday . Nathan Baker believes that Aston Villa are good enough to beat anyone in the Premier League . Baker (right) and Philippe Senderos (second right) celebrate victory at the final whistle . Villa are second in the table after three wins and a draw and Baker believes, following their Anfield success, they can beat the best. "We have done it at Anfield so why can't we do it at Villa Park? If we can beat Liverpool we can beat anyone," he said. "We are getting stronger and stronger. We have a lot more experience in the team and it is paying off. "This is the start of a hard spell and hopefully we can carry on with the confidence we have. "We are dong well at the moment. We just have to keep our heads on and keep going. "The signs have been there. There has been more competition and maybe that is why we are doing so well, everyone wants to keep their place. Senderos (left) and Baker (centre) were joined by goalkeeper Brad Guzan (right) at the final whistle . Baker (right) battles with Liverpool's Rickie Lambert (left) at Anfield . "We have had a few more players coming with some experience and that has helped the younger lads come through." The Liverpool win was Baker's first league start of the season after being kept out by the form of Philippe Senderos and Ron Vlaar, who missed the game with a knee injury. Villa have kept three clean sheets in their opening four games with a new-look back four. Alan Hutton, who signed a new three-year contract on Tuesday, has been recalled after a two-year exile while summer signings Aly Cissokho and Senderos have also impressed. Boss Lambert believes the club are finally on the up after three years battling relegation. He said: "I think the lads have become men. They have been excellent. The football club is a healthy place for it. If they can grow together and we get a few back from injury it looks good." VIDEO: Watch Paul Lambert reflect on Villa's 'fantastic performance and result' at Anfield.
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Aston Villa are second in the Premier League behind Chelsea .
They beat Liverpool at Anfield, and now face Arsenal at the weekend .
Before the end of October, Villa face Chelsea, Man City and Everton .
Defender Nathan Baker claims Villa 'can beat anyone'
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For most dogs, a trip to the vet is a rare outing reserved for rescuing swallowed socks and trapped paws. But one animal has grown more than accustomed to the inside of a waiting room, after seeking medical treatment 100 times in just three years. Alancier the Newfoundland has spent an astonishing 210 hours in the care of vets in Bodmin, Cornwall. Alancier the Newfoundland has spent more than 200 hours in vets' care. The dog suffers a range of health problems including urinary infections, skin allergies and has a leg deformity . While owner Pam Withe thought the dog was clumsy as a puppy, she has spent hundreds of hours and thousands of pounds ensuring her health over three years . From elbow infections and leg deformities to allergies to medicine, the animal has wracked up almost £15,000 in treatment bills with her range of ailments. 'Alancier is so used to being in medical care that when the vet calls her name at reception, she immediately rushes over and knows it's her turn,' said owner Pam Withe. 'If we weren't insured we couldn't afford to keep her with all the vet bills,' the 60-year-old added. When first brought home, Mrs Withe and her husband, David, put her injuries down to being accident prone. Among Alancier's health problems is a skin allergy which causes blisters on her paws (bandaged, above) The animal was born with elbow dysplasia, giving her an 'odd' walk and causing her to have bone-shortening surgery as a pupypy . Five-stone Alancier has spent so much time visiting vets she now runs to be seen when her name is called . Among her health problems is a skin allergy which causes the dog to break out in blisters occasionally . Feeling better: Alancier with other pets in Mrs Withe's home. Minstrel, a spaniel, (centre) is in good health while Learbhead, also a Newfoundland, died recently of natural causes . Soon her health problems began to stack up, with the dog almost unable to walk because of a joint problem. 'When Alancier was a pup we thought she was just adorably clumsy. She had a pronounced odd walk with her front legs but she actually had a displaced elbow. Health problems . Elbow dysplasia . Rheumatism in front legs . Leg deformity (result of bone shortening operation to correct elbow displasia) Skin allergy which causes blister rash . Drooping jaws as a result of allergy tablets . Recurring urinary infection . Treatments . Bone-shortening operation to correct elbow dysplasia . Anti-inflammatory tablets to control Rheumatism . Glucose tablets to reduce pain in legs . Anti-allergy injections . Special diet to offset urinary infection . Tablets for when infection is most severe . 'Within six months, we were taking her to the vets for an operation on her front legs to shorten the bone.' As a result of her displaced elbow, Alancier was left with a severe deformity which vets have tried to correct with surgery and hours of hydrotherapy. New problems arose in the form of infections and rashes, with a skin allergy causing the dog to often break out in blisters. 'As Alancier got older, her medical history subsequently developed from bruises and bumps to more unfortunate ailments, including rashes and ripping her claw twice. Now she’s had to have a claw removed. 'She has an ongoing skin allergy caused by a house dust mite, which bring out blisters on her skin. She was initially given tablets but she had an allergy to that so now she gets injections . 'Alancier’s urine doesn’t process properly and she’s on a special diet for life to treat that. 'You have to keep a careful eye on Alancier to make sure she hasn’t got any other ailments.' 'Alancier might be Britain’s unluckiest dog because of the long list of illnesses she’s had. 'But at the same time, she’s the world’s luckiest dog because at least, she’s got us to look after her!' Staff at Nute Veterinary Surgery are among those who care for Alancier. The surgery was recognised by Petplan last year, a pet insurance company. 'Vet Nicky Hallows and her team at Nute Veterinary Surgery take care of Alancier. Nute Veterinary Surgery were recognised for their hard work and continued care of pets like Alancier and received an accolade at the 2014 Petplan Veterinary Awards.' Nominations are now being taken for the 2015 awards at at http://www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards/.
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Alancier the Newfoundland has spent more than 200 hours in vets' care .
The animal has a leg deformity, skin allergy and suffers urinary infection .
She is given injections and has undergone several surgeries in the past .
Treatment would have cost owners almost £15,000 without pet insurance .
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Gary Cahill's future at Chelsea is in jeopardy after it emerged that Jose Mourinho is planning to make major changes to his defence next season. Discussions have already taken place that could shift Branislav Ivanovic into his preferred position at centre back alongside captain John Terry as part of a defensive reshuffle. Cesar Azpilicueta has been earmarked for a role at right back, also his orthodox position, to finally find room for the £16m left back Filipe Luis in a modified back four. Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill appears to have lost the faith of Blues boss Jose Mourinho . Although Mourinho insists Terry’s one-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge is ‘a formality’, there will eventually come a time when Chelsea must find a replacement. Real Madrid’s young centre back Raphael Varane is a longstanding target of Mourinho and Chelsea scouts are watching him as the Portuguese boss prepares to reconfigure his defence in the summer. Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan defender Jose Gimenez and Athletic Bilbao centre half Aymeric Laporte are also being monitored. Mourinho wanted to bring Varane to Chelsea when he returned to Stamford Bridge in July 2013, but Real Madrid have refused to sell the 21-year-old France defender. Kurt Zouma (top), challenging James Milner on Saturday, has impressed playing alongside John Terry . Real Madrid centre back Raphael Varane (rght), is admired by former Bernabeu manager Mourinho . The Chelsea manager oversaw his progress at the Bernabeu and he is now a regular in the Real Madrid team alongside the experienced figure of Sergio Ramos. Jimenez, 20, is regarded as one of the finest young defenders in European football. Laporte, also 20, has won a place in the Bilbao team and is another youngster being watched by Chelsea. Despite Bilbao’s difficult season in La Liga, the France defender has also gained vital Champions League experience this term. Mourinho is showing a ruthless streak again and he is determined to make improvements to his defence at the end of the season. Cahill, next to former Blues favourite Frank Lampard, in action against Manchester City on Saturday . Cahill continued his formidable partnership with Terry in the opening four months of the season, but Mourinho has lost faith in the England defender. In the absence of Terry, who was rested against Bradford City in the FA Cup, Cahill was expected to take responsibility against Phil Parkinson’s team. But Chelsea were beaten 4-2 and he lost his place to Kurt Zouma for the Capital One Cup tie against Liverpool last Tuesday. On Saturday, in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City, he came on as an 87th-minute substitute and was asked to play in a holding midfield role to see the game out. Even then there was frustration from Mourinho on the sidelines when Cahill carelessly conceded possession to set up a City attack in the final moments of the game. Zouma has surprised Mourinho after his elevation to the first team, but the club are also wary of placing too much expectation on the young defender.
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England defender has lost his place in the Chelsea side to Kurt Zouma .
Jose Mourinho wants Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane .
The 29-year-old has already made 33 Chelsea appearances this season .
CLICK HERE to see how transfer deadline day unfolded .
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(CNN)One small crowdfunding investment online, one giant leap for South Africa? At least that's the intention behind the Africa2Moon Mission which aims to muster enough money through internet donations to send a probe to the lunar surface within a decade. The project has been proposed by the Foundation for Space Development South Africa, a non-profit based in Cape Town that seeks to increase awareness around space education and research. By reaching for the stars (or moon, in this case), the idea is to energize the youth of South Africa and beyond and to boldly take the continent where its never gone before. "We aim to inspire, to educate and then once the mission has started up, to do research and science," the organization's chief executive, Jonathan Weltman, told CNN. The mission's website proudly states that the probe could even be programmed to beam pictures of the experiments it undertakes to classrooms all across Africa. Online campaign . But how will these ambitious plans be turned into reality and how likely are they to succeed? Weltman concedes that most people still regard an African nation going to the moon as a remote prospect. However, Afirca2Moon has the backing of a number of South African universities and the South African Space Association among others. Funds have been rolling in via an online donation page over the last month and the target is to reach $150,000 by the end of January to ensure the first stage goes ahead. As of publication, the mission has raised $21,600. If succesful, this initial cash will be used to develop a full lunar program as well as undertake an associated feasibility study. Outreach and public participation events to garner publicity and create engagement will also be arranged. Beyond this stage, suggestions from the scientific community around the world will be considered as to what experiments the probe should be designed to carry out. For example, should it orbit the moon or should it take the shape of a vehicle that can land on the surface and take samples? "Our research must fit in with the rest of the world in terms of making a contribution of getting a better understanding of the moon and the needs that the global community has," Weltman said. Educational prospects . While the ultimate goal is to follow the likes of the U.S., the USSR, India and China in getting up close to the lunar landscape, it's the journey to that point that most interests Weltman and the FSDSA given their focus on education. Studies have shown that countries like South Africa lag behind those in Europe and Asia in terms of the number of higher education graduates and PhD students they produce. According to an article penned by Weltman on the Africa2Moon website, meanwhile, one in nine African graduates also leaves the continent after completing their studies. This has a damaging long-term impact on the continent's development and economic prospects. But an eye-catching mission to the moon could help reverse these trends, Weltman believes. "The benefits won't only come in a decades time when the data starts to come through," he said. "If we can get somebody into science, if we can get somebody to ask how are they going to get to the moon and somehow get them interested in any of the sciences and engineering, that's our job done." The great African space race . A number of African nations have invested in space programs in recent years. South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt have all launched satellites to aid the likes of communications technology, navigation technology, agriculture, disaster management and mining. The likes of Ghana, Uganda, Angola, Ethiopia and Kenya have also voiced their commitment to follow suit with space programs of their own. On top of this, the Square Kilometer Array project in South Africa's Karoo desert will be the largest and most powerful radio telescope on earth when it comes online. Construction on SKA -- which some have compared to CERN's Large Hadron Collider -- is set to begin in 2018. In a December interview with CNN, Harvard University professor and co-chair of the African Union's High-Level Panel on Science, Technology and Innovation, Calestous Juma, told CNN that such projects were vital to creating valuable and highly skilled workforces on the continent. Others, however, have asked whether space programs or complex science projects are where African countries should be placing their focus given the many other problems facing the continent. This is not a point of view Weltman has much sympathy for. Removing the plaster . "There's no denying there's poverty," he said. "There's Ebola in western Africa, there's religious unrest, there are a lot of trials and tribulations facing our continent and they do need to be dealt with." "But if we pool everything into aid, it's just a plaster or a band aid that doesn't fix the problem." Instead, Weltman suggests a more ambitious and joined up strategy that includes space ambitions will prove more fruitful in the long term. "We have to have education. Education leads to opportunity and opportunity will lead to economic empowerment," he explained. "Beyond education you have to have skill retention. Its no good creating an educated group who then migrate to better shores. Then you lose that skillset and you lose those future leaders because you're not providing for them." "If we don't do that what chance do we ever have of standing shoulder to shoulder so that one day people saying 'Africa goes to Mars' is as normal as saying 'America goes to Mars,' he said. More from Marketplace Africa . Robotics revolution hits classrooms .
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Non-profit aims to start process for African lunar probe .
Aim of the project is educational as well as scientific .
Increasing number of African nations are investing in space programs .
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New York (CNN) -- New York state's top police official announced Wednesday he was quitting, the second acting superintendent to step down in as many weeks. In a letter to embattled Gov. David Paterson, Pedro Perez denied his resignation was connected to the ethics scandals embroiling Albany. "My retirement is not premised on the current investigation by the Attorney General [Andrew Cuomo], as I know my decisions were honest and rightly motivated," Perez said in the letter, which the New York State Police released. Perez's resignation takes effect Friday and ends his 28-year career as a police officer, his letter said. His predecessor, Harry Corbitt, quit March 2, less than a week after the abrupt resignation of Denise O'Donnell as New York's deputy secretary for public safety. O'Donnell said Corbitt had misled her about state police involvement in a scandal involving a top aide to the governor. The Democratic governor has been mired in controversy since news reports emerged alleging an aide was involved in a domestic violence incident with a woman and that state police later allegedly pressured the woman to keep quiet. The aide, David Johnson, has been suspended without pay. Corbitt has said he did not dispute O'Donnell's account of what he told her but said, "The conclusions she appeared to draw from these statements were incorrect." Separately, the New York State Commission on Public Integrity on March 3 accused Paterson of an ethics violation for allegedly accepting free tickets to the first game of last year's World Series. The commission also said Paterson lied under oath about intending to pay for the tickets. Paterson's spokesman, Peter Kauffmann, resigned the next day, saying he could not keep doing his job "in good conscience." The governor's office said it was reviewing the commission's findings. "Gov. Paterson maintains his innocence and intends to challenge the findings of the commission both with respect to the law and the facts," the office said. The governor could face up to an $80,000 fine for violating the state's gift ban for public officials, and up to $10,000 if he is found to have used his official position to secure unwarranted privileges. The commission has asked Cuomo, the state's attorney general, and the Albany County district attorney to investigate. Cuomo is a possible Democratic contender for the governor's office in 2010. Paterson, a former New York lieutenant governor who stepped into the governor's mansion when Eliot Spitzer resigned in 2008 over a prostitution scandal, has abandoned his campaign for election to a full term, saying it was not the "latest distraction but an accumulation" of obstacles behind his decision. CNN's Mark J. Norman contributed to this report.
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Pedro Perez stepping down as New York State Police's acting superintendent .
His predecessor, Harry Corbitt, quit last week .
Perez's letter denies resignation tied to ethics scandals involving New York Gov. David Paterson .
Reports allege police intervened in domestic violence case involving aide to Paterson .
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China, Japan and the United States are continuing their tense standoff in Beijing's disputed new air defense zone Friday -- a treacherous situation that both sides warn could lead to violence, intended or not. To this point, a senior official in U.S. President Barack Obama's administration said Friday that commercial airlines are being told to abide by Beijing's call to notify it of plans to traverse the newly declared zone over the East China Sea, even if the U.S. government doesn't recognize it. "We ... are advising for safety reasons that they comply with notices to airmen, which FAA always advises," the official said. This advice reflects fears that the back-and-forth between the two sides could have unintended consequences involving not just opposing troops, but innocent civilians as well. It's a subtle change from two days earlier, when the State Department said "the U.S. government generally expects that U.S. carriers operating internationally" comply with other countries' mandates, rather than directing them to. Whatever U.S. carriers do, two major Japanese airlines have refused to comply with China's declaration. Last Saturday, China unilaterally announced the creation of a "Air Defense Identification Zone" over several islands it and Japan have both claimed. The two countries have been sharply at odds over those isles, which are believed to be near large reserves of natural resources. Tokyo rejected the new zone, as well as Beijing's insistence that aircraft entering it identify themselves and file flight plans. They were joined by South Korea and Washington, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying the move would "only increase tensions in the region and create risks of an incident." Since then, there's been no backing down. On Friday morning, for instance, China scrambled fighter jets after U.S. and Japanese military aircraft entered its disputed air defense zone, according to a Chinese military official. Col. Shen Jinke, a Chinese air force spokesman, said in Beijing that the two U.S. and 10 Japanese aircraft were monitoring targets in the zone. He said the Chinese air force and navy were identifying and monitoring all foreign warplanes in the zone. A U.S. military official told CNN that at least one U.S. unarmed military aircraft and several Japanese military aircraft flew through the zone Friday without incident. The official said the U.S. flight was part of scheduled routine operations. "This is status quo," the official said. "We are not changing what we are doing. We are not trying to make a point with China. We fly U.S. aircraft daily in international airspace in the region. This is normal." OPINION: Beijing's foreign policy balancing act in the East China Sea . The official said the aircraft were not B-52s, though the United States did fly two of those type of planes through the zone Monday as part of what the Pentagon described as a preplanned military exercise. South Korea said its military sent a plane on a routine patrol flight into the zone on Tuesday without alerting China. A South Korean Defense Ministry official said such flights are carried out twice a week and would continue despite China's declaration. U.S. officials said they did not know how China would be able to monitor the flight zone, given its lack of midair refueling capability and limitations of its early warning radar aircraft. "It is indeed the right of every country to defend its airspace, and also to make sure that its territorial integrity, its sovereignty, are safeguarded," Liu Jieyi, China's ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters Tuesday. "This is a normal arrangement." Read more: Why China's new air defense zone has incensed neighbors . On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy offered a different view: "Unilateral actions like those taken by China, with their announcement of an East China Sea air defense identification zone, undermine security and constitute an attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea," she told reporters in Tokyo. "This only serves to increase tensions in the region." Japan and China have a lot at stake in maintaining their delicate relationship: Last year, trade between the two countries totaled more than $333 billion, according to the Japan External Trade Organization.
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U.S. official: The U.S. is "advising" air carriers to "comply" with China's request .
It's "for safety," even if the U.S. doesn't recognize China's new air defense zone .
China says two U.S. military planes, 10 Japanese military planes entered disputed zone .
The zone is part of a rapidly escalating dispute over East China Sea territory .
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By . Emma Glanfield . A drunken teenager crashed a stolen car into the front of a . £500,000 house owned by former world superbike champion Carl Fogarty as he fled . the scene of a burglary. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, . stole the £12,000 Ford C-Max during a raid just five miles away before . crashing it into the luxury detached property. The car, which ended up on its roof after smashing through . metal garden rails, a tree and a shrub, caused £3,000 worth of damage to the home . in Lytham, Lancashire. The crash, which resulted in the Ford C-Max ending up on its roof after smashing through metal garden rails, a tree and a shrub, caused £3,000 worth of damage to the £500,000 detached home in Lytham, Lancashire . The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stole the £12,000 Ford C-Max during a burglary at a house just five miles away before crashing it into the luxury detached property which is owned by Carl Fogarty . It is not known if the Superbike champion was in the property at the time of the crash in the early hours of June 7. Blackpool Youth Court heard how the teenager had been . drinking prior to the burglary and crash. The youth admitted burgling a house in the early hours and . stealing the Ford’s keys as the owner’s daughter and boyfriend were upstairs. They woke up to hear the screech of the tyres as the car was . driven away by the teenager who travelled just five miles before losing control . of the vehicle. Witnesses told the court on Monday how they saw the youth at the wheel . of two other cars - an Audi and a BMW - before he was finally arrested. He admitted dangerous driving, drink driving, driving . without insurance or a licence and pleaded guilty to illegally interfering with . the Audi and BMW and the theft of the Ford when he appeared in court. Judge Jeff Brailsford told him: ‘This was massively serious . offending, dangerous driving and drink driving, over a long distance. The teenager crashed the vehicle into a detached house (left) which is one of a number of properties owned by Carl Fogarty (pictured right with wife Michaela), who won four World Superbike Championships in the late 90s . ‘You were lucky to emerge alive from that crash and lucky . not to have killed someone else - only a period of detention will follow. ‘If you were a year older you would have been at Crown Court . and would get a three or four year term in jail.’ Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said: ‘The owner of the Ford had . left it locked in her driveway. ‘The loss of this vehicle has caused her serious problems as . it was used to transport her son around. He suffers from cerebral palsy.’ The judge heard how the offences were committed after the . teenager had been drinking at a family barbecue and then with friends in a . park. When the defendant was arrested he told police: ‘I have been . very silly. I have been drinking and took the car.’ Gerry Coyle, defending, said: ‘My client has little . recollection of what happened - he feels, and some others feel, one of his . drinks may have been spiked. Superbike champion Carl Fogarty retired from the sport in 2000 after a crash left with him with multiple injuries . ‘He has no previous convictions - he has never been in . trouble in his life. ‘He has not got the sort of interest in cars that some lads . his age have. He enjoys joinery and has been offered an apprenticeship in that . line of work. ‘He knows he is lucky to be here and not dead or maimed for . life.’ The teenager was given a 12-month sentence in a youth . detention centre and banned from the roads for two years. Fogarty, 49, is deemed the most successful World Superbike racer of all time and won four World . Superbike Championships in the mid to late 90s. The Blackburn-born biker, who was renowned for his high corner speed riding style, was awarded an MBE in 1998’s New Year’s Honours List for his services to the sport. However, he retired just two years later after a crash at Phillip Island, Australia, left with him with multiple injuries including a serious shoulder injury. He has since enjoyed a stint as an ambassador for Ducati, who he formerly raced to success with, and now earns a living from personal appearances, endorsements and property.
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Drunk teenager stole the £12,000 Ford C-Max during burglary in Lancashire .
He travelled less than five miles before crashing vehicle into luxury house .
Crash caused £3,000 worth of damage to home of former biker Carl Fogarty .
17-year-old was banned from road for two years at Blackpool Youth Court .
He was also given a 12-month sentence in a youth detention centre by judge .
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(CNN) -- Under President Obama, the United States of America has deported about 400,000 undocumented immigrants each year. That's an average of 1,100 people, including moms and dads and children, per day. These are people who are in the United States largely because our businesses lure-- and rely on--many of them to do the unskilled jobs Americans don't want to do. They are people who have come to the United States as generations came before, to feed their families and fulfill a dream. And we're kicking them out. Every day, in busloads. This weekend, thousands of undocumented immigrants and their allies took to the streets of Washington and communities across the country to demand that President Obama put an end to reckless and rampant deportations in America. "Not one more," the marchers chanted. There are literally 11 million-plus reasons to stop deportations in the United States -- 11 million undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation every day. There is also the collateral damage done to their citizen families who don't want their lives torn apart and to their co-workers, employers and community members. So what are the reasons not to stop our abysmal, extreme rate of deportations? There are basically three. First, anti-immigrant activists insist that the people being deported are dangerous criminals — and that they should be deported faster and at even higher rates. Yet Monday, The New York Times released an analysis of government records revealing that of the nearly 2 million people deported since President Obama took office, two-thirds had no criminal record whatsoever or had committed only minor infractions, such as traffic violations. Sure, on a technical level anyone in the United States without official permission has broken the law. But let's not over-dramatize the reality. Technically, everyone who has ever driven above the speed limit or jaywalked has also broken the law. And many undocumented immigrants in the United States originally arrived with authorized work or travel visas and simply stayed in the country past the expiration date of their paperwork. This is the great "crime" that anti-immigrant activists insist all undocumented immigrants have committed, asserting that folks should instead "get in line." But the line is broken. Decades ago, it simply was easier for aspiring Americans to get green cards or visas for family members: The United States let more people in and made it easier for immigrants already here to bring along their families. Today, those "lines" are longer and harder to get into. And yet the economic need for immigrants, not to mention America's cultural imperative for inclusion and diversity, is unyielding. Our policies have simply not kept up. The second argument against stopping deportations is a tactical one, made especially by the White House in arguing that it needs to show toughness in immigration enforcement to increase its hand in pushing for comprehensive reform. But the fact is that even though President Obama's administration has deported more immigrants than any president before him, many Republicans still argue it isn't enough and backed off on their recent support of immigration reform, claiming they couldn't trust President Obama to implement any law if passed. If a record rate of deportation against undocumented immigrants with only the most minor of offenses has been insufficient to bring Republicans to the bargaining table, perhaps now the White House will finally realize that its self-destructive capitulation won't yield rational behavior on the part of Republicans. Today's Republicans seem perpetually willing to alienate increasingly vital Latino voters — and even big business interests who favor immigration reform—in favor of continuing to placate their loyal, but dying, old, white and socially narrow-minded voting base. The final argument against stopping deportations is that President Obama doesn't have the legal authority to do so. He does. Everyone from top constitutional lawers to The New York Times editorial board agree the President is well within his authority to determine how immigration enforcement resources are prioritized and deployed. And President Obama has already used his executive authority to grant temporary deportation relief to undocumented immigrants brought to America by their parents when they were young, so-called DREAMers who grew up in the United States and yet legally can't find a place in the only nation they've ever called home. What President Obama did for DREAMers is wonderful; now many of these kids can get in-state tuition or federal loans for college and go on to get good jobs as teachers and engineers our nation needs. But to only use his authority to grant relief for these most-sympathetic of immigrants would reflect the sort of political risk aversion that has so often typified our 44th president. The White House indeed has said it is using its executive discretion to only deport those immigrants with dangerous criminal records. As The New York Times reported, this is simply not true. Of the nearly 2 million immigrants the Obama administration has deported — a milestone we're expected to hit any day— at least 1.6 million of those deported were for minor offenses like traffic violations. In other words, overwhelmingly, we're not kicking violent offenders out of the country but moms and dads and hardworking aspiring Americans who got parking tickets and now are being ripped away from their families. The White House could legitimately and wisely reprioritize those law enforcement resources to investigate unsolved murders or sexual assaults or prevent terrorism or mass shootings. The arguments against stopping deportations are weak at best and getting weaker every day. We need comprehensive immigration reform in the United States to finally fix our broken immigration system and create a path to citizenship for undocumented Americans. But until Republicans are willing to do the right thing by immigrants, our economy and our nation's values, President Obama can and must stop the excessive deportations under his watch. Not one more.
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Sally Kohn: Under Obama administration, some 400,000 immigrants a year deported .
She says majority deported had no criminal record, families torn by deportations .
She says GOP immigration reform efforts a ruse; party obstructs fix to broken system .
Kohn: Obama must use executive discretion to halt rampant deportations .
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(CNN) -- India are poised to build a handy first-innings lead over South Africa after Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar scored centuries on the second day of the second cricket Test in Kolkata. The home side, needing to win to level the series and retain their No. 1 ranking in the five-day game, reached 342-5 when bad light halted play early on Monday, having bowled the Proteas out for 296 in the morning session. Opener Sehwag smashed a scintillating 165 off only 174 balls faced, hitting 23 boundaries and two sixes as he added 249 for the third wicket with Tendulkar. The veteran Tendulkar extended his world record of Test tons to 47 as he took on the junior role, facing 206 deliveries for his 106. Sehwag, who was dropped by J.P. Duminy on 47, had threatened South African Jacques Kallis's record for the fastest half-century but suffered a brief lull in run flow before passing the mark in just 41 deliveries. He and Gautam Gambhir put on 73 for the first wicket in just 9.2 overs before the latter was run out for 25, then paceman Morne Morkel had Murali Vijay caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper A.B. De Villiers for seven. India reached lunch at 97-2 and Sehwag raced to three figures in only 87 balls for his 19th Test century as the duo batted through the middle session, going to tea at 232-2. They both fell late in the day as part-time bowler Duminy removed Tendulkar and fellow spinner Paul Harris dismissed Tendulkar, then paceman Dale Steyn bowled Subramaniam Badrinath for one. V.V.S. Laxman (9) and nightwatchman Amit Mishra (1) survived until stumps as India extended their lead to 46. South Africa had resumed on 266-9 after a late collapse on Sunday, and tailenders Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell added another 30 runs for a final-wicket stand of 35. Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan finally ended their resistance, trapping Parnell leg before wicket for 12 in his first over of the day to finish with figures of 4-90. Spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed three wickets on Sunday. Meanwhile, New Zealand reached 258-5 on a rain-hit opening day of the one-off Test against tourists Bangladesh in Hamilton. The Kiwis slumped to 66-3 after Monday's start was delayed by an hour due to wet conditions, but Martin Guptill then added 60 with Ross Taylor (40) and an unbroken 100 with Brendon McCullum to guide the home team safely to stumps. No. 3 batsman Peter Ingram crashed 42 off 47 deliveries before becoming the second of Rubel Hossain's three victims, but it was Guptill's more measured Test best score of 80 that anchored the innings. The big-hitting McCullum kept the score ticking over as he celebrated his 50th Test with his 16th half-century, ending the day on 58 from 71 deliveries.
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India reach 342-5 on second day of second Test against South Africa in Kolkata .
Virender Sehwag hits 165 as he adds 249 for third wicket with Sachin Tendulkar (106)
Tourists South Africa had added 30 runs to their overnight total of 266-9 .
New Zealand reach 258-5 on rain-hit opening day of one-off Test against Bangladesh .
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A father who took MDMA with his 17-year-old daughter has been jailed for five years for her manslaughter after he failed to take her to hospital when she was dying. Jason Wilkes had taken the drug with daughter Chloe at their home in Ashford, Kent, but when she became unwell took her to a wood and then to an industrial estate instead of seeking medical help. By the time the 45-year-old eventually called 999, Chloe was no longer breathing. Although doctors managed to restart her heart she died later that day. Scroll down for video . Jason Wilkes (left), who supplied his daughter Chloe, 17, (right) with MDMA and then failed to take her to hospital has been jailed for five years and four months after he admitted manslaughter . If Wilkes had sought medical help for her as soon as he realised she was unwell, hospital staff might have been able to stop her overheating, which caused her heart to stop, Maidstone Crown Court heard. Wilkes, from Ashford, had been due to stand trial over his daughter's death but today admitted Chloe's manslaughter by causing her to take a noxious substance and was jailed for five years and four months. He was told that although there was no suggestion that it was ever his intention to set about a course of conduct that would lead to Chloe's death there were features of gross negligence. Sentencing, Judge Philip Statman said: 'You will lead the rest of your life knowing that your conduct led to the death of your daughter who in my judgment you loved. 'That's an enormous burden for you to have to carry with you, but it is not just your burden. 'She is lost to her mother, brother and her extended family, a life tragically cut short.' The court was told Wilkes had already pleaded guilty to supplying her with MDMA at a previous hearing. He was given a 21-and-a-half-month term for supplying the drug to run concurrently to the manslaughter sentence. Wilkes and his daughter had taken drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine, together at least three times before but text messages between them showed it was a regular occurrence, James Mulholland QC, prosecuting, told the court. Wilkes, who could be seen crying in the dock as he was sentenced, would buy the drugs and split them between himself and his daughter, who was not employed or attending college at the time of her death, he said. When Chloe became unwell, her father Jason took her to a wooded area and then the industrial estate where he worked, instead of the William Harvey Hospital (pictured) where she later died . Mr Mulholland said: 'The prosecution case has always been that the actions of Jason Wilkes have played a significant part in her demise. 'Here was her parent who in reality should have been protecting her from Class A drugs and, in fact, encouraged his child to take them.' On the evening of July 25 last year, Wilkes and Chloe took a gram of cocaine and a gram of MDMA between them, staying up all night, the court heard. The following day, Wilkes bought another gram of MDMA and once his 13-year-old son, Chloe's brother, had gone to bed, father and daughter each wrapped half a gram of the drug up in a cigarette paper and swallowed it with water, 'a method of ingestion called bombing', the prosecutor said. By 1am on July 27, Chloe had started to become agitated and disorientated, Mr Mulholland said. In an attempt to cool her down, Wilkes first took her into the back garden of their home. He then loaded his barefoot daughter into the back of his car and drove her to a wooded area known as The Warren where she began talking nonsense and rambling, the court was told. But rather than taking her to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, which was less than three miles away, he drove her to RK Resource - a company which constructs scenery for stage and television - on the Henwood Industrial Estate where he worked and tried to use a fan to cool her down, Mr Mulholland said. He eventually called 999 at 2.01am, telling the operator his daughter was not breathing and that she did not have a pulse. Six medical staff battled to restart Chloe's heart and she was taken to hospital where staff fought for hours to save her but she died later that day, the court heard. A toxicology report showed that Chloe had 3.1mg of MDMA per litre in her blood, enough to prove fatal. Cocaine was also found in her blood, the court heard. Wilkes, who split up with Chloe's mother Elainor Wright, 38, when she was nine or ten, told police his daughter had been taking drugs, including MDMA and ketamine, since she was 13 years old, the court heard. He said he had told Chloe during the week that he felt 'like getting on it' and that she agreed so he spent about £160 on drugs over the weekend, Mr Mulholland said. Her friend Tiffany East told police that Chloe regularly used cannabis and speed but her drug use had become more prevalent and the level of drugs harder once they left school, the court heard. Mr Mulholland said Chloe and her brother had a difficult upbringing and had been living with their father for three years before she died. Wilkes drove his daughter to RK Resource - a company which constructs scenery for stage and television - on the Henwood Industrial Estate where he worked, and tried to use a fan to cool her down . He said Chloe had drug dealer contacts which her father would also use and text messages between the pair which related to drug usage were 'juvenile', 'light-hearted and enthusiastic'. Mr Mulholland said: 'If Chloe Wilkes had been rushed to hospital after she began feeling unwell, the medical staff would have been able to determine that she was overheating, and would have been able to stabilise her airway, breathing and circulation. 'They would have monitored her heart rate and would have been able to address those problems. 'That opportunity was denied to Chloe by the actions of her father. That failure played a subsequent part in her death.' He went on: 'It was a breakdown in parental responsibility, a breach in protective trust which should be inherent in such a relationship. 'This was not an isolated incident. This was repeated.' Referencing a statement from by Chloe's mother, Judge Statman said: 'The impact has been profound. 'One cannot think of anything worse for a mother to have to go through.' The court heard Wilkes had served a prison sentence in 1993 and had a conviction for possessing drugs in 1995. Judge Statman said: 'All parents fear a situation where their adolescent teenage boys and girls go to a party and engage in drug-taking. They may have suspicions something is wrong. 'That is one situation that will worry all right-thinking parents. The distinction here is there is a share of the drug father to daughter in the confines of the home where there is an ability to have control over what is going on. 'This is a very different state of affairs that this activity is encouraged, whether one is coming up to her 18th birthday or not.' Mr Mulholland replied: 'There is actual encouragement by father to daughter to take Class A drugs. There is a positive enthusiasm which is wholly different from a normal parental relationship.' The judge added: 'What concerns me is an individual who is well familiar with ecstasy and drug culture and knows well fine the symptoms of an overdose in regard to MDMA...what possible reason could there have been for taking the route he did having left home to the time when an ambulance was eventually called? 'She is unwell clearly at the home address. Why didn't he take her straight to hospital?' Mark Weekes, defending, said Wilkes would not necessarily have an appreciation of what would flow from the situation. Delivering his sentence, Judge Statman said: 'This case highlights the very grave dangers associated with the taking of the drug ecstasy. 'Chloe Wilkes - your daughter - was a healthy, active, 17-year-old with the rest of her life before her. 'She enjoyed experimenting like many others do. 'She enjoyed socialising with her friends and a good party. 'It is a council of perfection to seek to supervise a child at all times, particularly as they grow into adolescence. 'We cannot stop our children from doing things we do not want them to do but we can offer them appropriate examples and cornerstones in our behaviour. 'You bought ecstasy. 'You had the money to buy it. She did not. 'You supplied the drug to her. She was in your charge. 'You encouraged her to do what she did. 'There is nothing in your conduct that night which points to any form of discouragement given to her. Far from it. You encouraged her to do as she did, wanting to join in with her. 'It is something that would be understandable if you were two people out as adolescents but this is a massive responsibility that parenting brings with it. 'Further more you knew what the risks were for you were no stranger to this particular drug. You knew what the signs of overdose would be for all of those present who have swallowed ecstasy.' Speaking after today's hearing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Richard Vickery of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: 'This has been a tragic case for all those involved. A young life has been needlessly lost. 'Chloe's consumption of class A drugs was no doubt influenced and indeed encouraged by the defendant, her father, Jason Wilkes. His behaviour in this regard as a parent would seem incomprehensible. 'This case also highlights the acute dangers of taking any drug, and in particular class A drugs. I would encourage anyone involved in drug misuse to seek help. Meanwhile, Kent Police will continue to robustly pursue those that provide drugs within our communities.'
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Jason Wilkes, 45, took the drug with teenage daughter Chloe at their home .
When she became unwell he took her to a wood, and then to his workplace .
He was trying to cool her down after she became agitated and disorientated .
When he called 999 an hour later he told operator she was not breathing .
Doctors were able to restart her heart, but she died later that day .
He admitted manslaughter by causing Chloe to take noxious substance .
They had shared a gram of MDMA having taken it the previous night .
Wilkes jailed for five years and four months at Maidstone Crown Court .
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The scientist who developed the most widely accepted theory on aging that's used to study cancer and other diseases has died in Nebraska. Dr. Denham Harman, 98, developed the 'Free Radical Theory of Aging' in 1954, though it took years for additional research to prove its importance. The theory essentially says that a byproduct of oxygen utilization is adverse chemical reactions in cells, with the result being aging and, ultimately, death. Dr. Denham Harman (pictured in 2006) is seen on his 90th birthday celebration at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha . Harman officially retired in 1986, but he worked four days a week into his 90s at the University of Nebraska Medical Center — arriving each day at 7 a.m. He held both medical and doctorate degrees. University of Nebraska Medical Center spokesman Tom O'Connor says Harman died Tuesday at a hospital in Omaha.
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Dr. Denham Harman developed the most widely accepted theory on aging - that's used to study cancer .
Harman retired in 1986, but he worked four days a week into his 90s .
He held both medical and doctorate degrees .
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By . Martin Robinson . An incredibly-rare eyewitness account by one of the British heroes of the Zulu War battle immortalised in the celebrated Michael Caine film has been unearthed 135 years later. Walter Dunne's letter on January 24, 1879 describes how he and a brave band of soldiers successfully defended an outpost in South Africa against 4,000 Zulu warriors. The assistant commissary officer was recommended for the Victoria Cross for his role in the heroic stand, which was celebrated in the 1964 film Zulu. The letter - written on the back of a large delivery note - reveals how with a comrade he fortified the mission station by organising a makeshift barricade from 200lbs mealie bags that were stacked 5ft high. He wrote about being attacked by a thousand Zulus - but in fact it was probably four times that number. Remarkable: 135 years after Rorke's Drift this letter, left, by Walter Dunne, right, written on the day after the great battle has emerged and will be sold at auction . Brave: At Rorke's Drift 150 British soldiers successfully defended the outpost against 4,000 Zulu warriors . High price: The high price is expected because of how rare it is and not least because the piece of paper was actually at the Battle of Rorke's Drift . When the marauding Zulus eventually breached that in the battle, Dunne built a 9ft high redoubt of more mealie bags where the wounded were brought for protection. Rorke's Drift/ 24 Jan.r '79/ . My dear Warneford, Sad news about the 1/24th. (1st Battalion, 24th Foot) 5Cd commanded by Col. Pulleine were cut to pieces and the camp sacked. 20 Officers are missing. About 1000 of the Kafirs came in here and attacked us on the same day (22nd). We had got about 2 hours notice and fortified the place with trap of grain biscuit boxes &c. They came on most determinedly on all sides. They drove our fellows out of the Hospital, killed the patients and burned the place. They made several attempts to storm us but the soldiers (B Co of 24th under Bromhead) kept up such a steady killing fire that they were driven back each time. We had only 80 men, the contingent having bolted before a shot was fired. The fight was kept up all night & in the morning the Kafirs retreated leaving 351 dead bodies. Dalton was wounded in the shoulder and temp clerk Byrne killed & 12 of the men... W A Dunne (over) Some of the missing are Pulleine, Col. Dunford, Capt. Russell, Hodson (killed), Anstey, Daly, Mostyn, Dyer, Griffith, Pope, Austin, Pulleine (2 Mr.) Shepherd (S... major) Wardell (killed), Younghusband, Degacher, Porteous, Carage Dyson, Atkinson - Coghill is believed to have escaped & also Melvill; . The British overcame massive odds to defeat the native warriors. The following day, Dunne picked up a delivery note for the mealie bags and used it to write the letter to an army friend in Cape Colony in South Africa. The simple document has now come to light after being made available for sale at auction. It has been given a pre-sale estimate of £30,000, not least because the piece of paper was actually at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. Dunne's letter was written on January 24, 1879, the day after the battle. In it he told of how the Zulu-Kafirs slaughtered 1,500 British soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot at nearby Isandlwana two days before. Later that same day, 4,000 Zulus headed for Rorke's Drift. Dunne described how the Zulus surrounded the outpost and praised Major Gonville Bromhead, who was awarded the VC for his part in the battle and who was played by Michael Caine in Zulu. Dunne wrote: 'About 1,000 of them came in here and attacked us on the same day. 'We had got about two hours notice and fortified the place with bags of grain and biscuit boxes. 'They came on most determinedly (sic) on all sides. They drove our fellows out of the hospital, killed the patients and burned the place. 'They made several attempts to storm us but the soldiers (B Co of 24th under Bromhead) kept up such a steady killing fire that they were driven back each time. 'We had only 80 men the contingent having bolted begore a shot was fired. The fight was kept up all night and in the morning the kafirs retreated leaving 351 dead bodies. 'Dalton was wounded in the shoulder and temp clerk Byrne killed.' The 1964 film Zulu, starring Michael Caine as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, dramatised the heroism shown by soldiers at the battle in 1879 . Finest hour: Painting commemorating the heroic defence of Rorke's Drift in 1879 - a victory by the British against the odds . In actual fact, the British numbers were nearly double the amount Dunne stated and the number of Zulus were four times his estimate. Dunne, an Irishman, was turned down for a VC but was mentioned in dispatches. He sent the letter to pal Capt Gonville Warneford. The letter was retained by the Warneford family and has now emerged for sale at Bonhams in London. After 35 years of service, he retired to Gibralter in 1908, but died the same year at a nursing home in 1908. Matthew Haley, head of books and manuscripts at auctioneers Bonhams, said: 'Letters describing the battle are extremely rare and hardly ever come up for sale. 'There is a vivid and appealing immediacy to this letter, scribbled down on a receipt for the makeshift fortifications that would save the day. 'Politically the victory restored some credibility to the British Army but Walter Dunne isn't concerned with that. 'His thoughts are about the companions he has lost and the courage and resourcefulness of the men he fought alongside. A fantastic insight into history as it was being made.' The letter is being sold by Bonhams on June 18. Conflict: Rorke's Drift was part of the wider Anglo - Zulu war in 1879, starting with an invasion by the British in January and ending with a British victory and Zulu independence five months later . It was on January 22 1879, on the Natal border with Zululand, in South Africa, that the tiny British garrison of 140 men - many of them sick and wounded - fought for at least 12 hours to repel repeated attacks by up to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The defence was rewarded by Queen Victoria's government with no fewer than 11 Victoria Crosses. The name of Rorke’s Drift led to the much-loved film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine. The movie, which is still celebrated more than 50 years after it was made, saw Baker play Lieutenant John Chard, while Caine played his right-hand man, Lieutenant Goville Bromhead. After fighting day and night the Zulus eventually retreated after 351 of the men died and 500 were wounded. It was part of the wider Anglo - Zulu war took place during 1879. The conflict began because the Zulu kingdom presented an obstacle to British imperial ambitions in southern Africa. The British invasion of Zululand began on January 11 1879, with the British objective being an eventual federation in Africa. The battle of Isandlwana erupted on the 22nd of January 1879, 11 days after the British started their invasion. 20,000 Zulu warriors attacked 1,800 British, colonial and native troops and 400 civilians. The Zulus, who had more numbers, overwhelmed the British, killing over 1,300 troops, while around 1,000 Zulu soldiers were killed. The battle of Rorke's Drift started almost immediately after, ending on the 23rd. The Battle of Ulundi on the 4th of July 1879 effectively ended the Zulu-Anglo war, with the defeat of the Zulu forces by the British when over 5,200 British and African soldiers razed the capital of Zululand after defeating the main Zulu army. The war ultimately ended with a British victory, and Zulu independence.
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Despatch by Walter Dunne on January 24, 1879, found 135 years later .
Tells how he and a comrade built barricade after barricade to repel Zulus .
Dunne fought in stand where 150 British soldiers defeated 4,000 men .
The letter - written on a delivery note - will be auctioned for £30,000 .
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The mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, and the true identities of some of its passengers, are as deep as the southeast Asian waters where multinational search teams are searching for the jet. Navies from two of Malaysia's neighbors were pursuing new leads as Sunday turned into Monday in the region. Vietnam's navy has spotted a floating object about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Vietnam's Tho Chu Island, which is off the country's southwest coast in the Gulf of Thailand, Vietnam National Search and Rescue Committee spokesman Hung Nguyen told CNN. The object was spotted by a Vietnamese navy rescue aircraft at about 7:30 a.m. ET Sunday (6:30 p.m. local time). Because of the dark, the navy aircraft could not get close enough to identify the floating object and was recalled to base. Three search and rescue boats have since been deployed to that location. Meanwhile, Thailand's navy is shifting its focus in the search away from the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea, Thai Navy Rear Adm. Karn Dee-ubon told CNN on Sunday. The shift came at the request of the Malaysians, who are looking into possibilities the plane turned around and could have gone down in the Andaman Sea, near Thailand's border, Karn said. The Andaman Sea lies to the west of a narrow strip of Thailand that ends in the Malaysian Peninsula, while the Gulf of Thailand lies to the east of that Thai isthmus. One promising lead has turned out to be a dead end. A "strange object" spotted by a Singaporean search plane late Sunday afternoon is not debris from the missing jetliner, a U.S. official familiar with the issue told CNN on Sunday. A U.S. reconnaissance plane "thought it saw something like debris, but it was a false alarm," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. By the end of the day Sunday, more than 40 planes and more than two dozen ships from several countries were involved in the search. Two reconnaissance aircraft from Australia and one plane and five sea vessels from Indonesia were the latest additions, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, the director general of civil aviation in Malaysia, told reporters Sunday. In addition, the Chinese navy dispatched a frigate and an amphibious landing ship, according to an online post by China's navy. Those reinforcements join the rescue teams already scouring the South China Sea, near the Gulf of Thailand, for any sign of where the flight, operated by Malaysia's flagship airline, might have gone down, Malaysian authorities said. The area in focus for most of the search, about 90 miles south of Tho Chu Island, is where a Vietnamese plane reportedly spotted oil slicks that stretched between 6 and 9 miles. "I can confirm that there was an oil slick, no debris. But what we are doing now, I was told that the Vietnamese aircrafts are on the site right now to verify what actually is it on the surface of those waters," said acting Malaysian Transportation Minister Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein. Big questions far outweigh the few fragments of information that have emerged about the plane's disappearance: . What happened to the plane? Why was no distress signal issued? Who exactly was aboard? The flight may have changed course and turned back toward Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian military officials said at a news conference Sunday. But the pilot appears to have given no signal to authorities that he was turning around, the officials said, attributing the change of course to indications from radar data. As the search continues, the agonizing wait goes on for relatives of the 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board the plane. Video from Reuters showed Malaysia Airlines personnel in Beijing, where Flight 370 was headed, helping family members apply for expedited passports so they could fly to Kuala Lumpur early this week. Among the passengers, 154 people were from China or Taiwan; 38 Malaysians, five Indian nationals and three U.S. citizens. Five of the passengers were younger than 5 years old. Malaysia Airlines said Monday that initial financial assistance has been given out to all passengers' families "over and above their basic needs." Each family has also been assigned at least one caregiver. "Malaysia Airlines' primary focus at this point in time is to care for the families. This means providing them with timely information, travel facilities, accommodation, meals, medical and emotional support," the airline said in a statement. Stolen passports . Interpol tweeted Sunday that it is "examining additional suspect #passports in connection" with the missing flight. Earlier, the international law enforcement agency said at least two passports -- one Austrian and one Italian -- recorded in its stolen and lost travel documents database were used by passengers onboard the flight. The passports were added to the database after being stolen in separate incidents over the past two years, Interpol said. Italy and Austria have said that none of their citizens were onboard the plane. "No checks of the stolen Austrian and Italian passports were made by any country between the time they were entered into INTERPOL's database and the departure of flight MH 370. At this time, INTERPOL is therefore unable to determine on how many other occasions these passports were used to board flights or cross borders," the agency said in a Sunday statement. It added that passengers were able to board planes more than a billion times last year without having their passports screened by Interpol's databases. The Italian man whose passport was allegedly used, Luigi Maraldi, contacted the Italian consulate in Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday, after receiving a call from his parents, Italian Consul Franco Cavaliere told CNN on Sunday. Maraldi told Reuters he was inundated with phone calls, texts and social media inquiries asking if he was alive and well. He soon discovered that he was the subject of stories about the missing plane. Maraldi is staying on Phuket Island as a tourist, and his passport disappeared in July 2013, Cavaliere said. Maraldi told Reuters he got a new passport after his old one was stolen. "Whilst it is too soon to speculate about any connection between these stolen passports and the missing plane, it is clearly of great concern that any passenger was able to board an international flight using a stolen passport listed in INTERPOL's databases," said Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble in a statement. The two passengers who used the passports in question appear to have bought their tickets together. The tickets were bought from China Southern Airlines at identical prices, paid in Thailand's baht currency, according to China's official e-ticket verification system Travelsky. The ticket numbers are contiguous, which indicates the tickets were issued together. The two tickets booked with China Southern Airlines both start in Kuala Lumpur, fly to Beijing, and then onward to Amsterdam. The Italian passport's ticket continues to Copenhagen, the Austrian's to Frankfurt. Authorities say they are investigating the identities of some of those onboard who appear to have issues with their passports. "I've seen these reports about the passports. We're looking into that, but we don't have anything to confirm at this point," U.S. deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "The reports certainly raise questions and concerns, and that's exactly why we're looking into them. But right now, it would be premature to speculate," he said. Plane was 'at safest point' in flight . Terrorism concerns . A fuller picture of what happened may not become available until searchers find the plane and its flight data recorder. "We have not been able to locate anything, see anything," Rahman told reporters Sunday. The passport mystery raised concerns about the possibility of terrorism, but officials cautioned that it was still too early to arrive at any conclusions. Malaysian authorities have been in contact with counterterrorism organizations about possible passport issues, acting Transportation Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Sunday. He didn't specify how many potential passport issues there were, saying authorities are looking at the whole passenger manifest. Additionally, no inquiry was made by Malaysia Airlines to determine if any passengers on the flight were traveling on stolen passports, he said. Many airlines do not check the database, he said. Five passengers ended up not boarding the aircraft. Their bags were removed and were not onboard the jet when it disappeared, Hussein said. A U.S. intelligence official said that no link to terrorism had been discovered so far, but that authorities were still investigating. Another possible explanation for the use of the stolen passports is illegal immigration. There are previous cases of illegal immigrants using fake passports to try to enter Western countries. And Southeast Asia is known to be a booming market for stolen passports. Disappearing during cruise . There is a precedent for a modern jetliner to fall from the sky while "in the cruise" and lie hidden for months, according to CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest. On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 was en route from Rio De Janeiro to Paris when communications ended suddenly from the Airbus A330, another state-of-the-art aircraft. It took four searches over the course of nearly two years to locate the bulk of flight 447's wreckage and the majority of the 228 bodies in a mountain range deep under the ocean. It took even longer to find the cause of the disaster. In May 2011, the aircraft's voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered from the ocean floor after an extensive search using miniature submersible vehicles. It was not until July 2012 that investigators published their report, which blamed the crash on a series of errors by the pilots and a failure to react effectively to technical problems. The missing Malaysia Airlines plane had suffered damage in the past, airline CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said Sunday. The aircraft had a clipped wing tip, but Boeing repaired it, and the jet was safe to fly, Yahya said. The National Transportation Safety Board announced late Saturday that a team of its investigators was en route to Asia to help with the investigation, the agency said. If all those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 are found to have died, it will rank as the deadliest airline disaster since November 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into a New York neighborhood, killing all 260 people on board and five more on the ground. The deadliest commercial air crash ever involving a single plane occurred almost 30 years ago on August 12, 1985, in the mountains of central Japan. A total of 520 people were killed when Japan Airlines Flight 123 -- a Boeing 747 -- crashed not long after takeoff from Tokyo. Four people survived.
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Malaysia Airlines says financial assistance has been given to families .
Interpol tweets it's "examining additional suspect #passports"
Vietnamese navy finds new debris; Thai navy expands search area .
Radar data suggest the missing plane may have turned back, officials say .
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By . Chris Foy . Follow @@FoyChris . England are confident Joe Launchbury will be galvanised by the shock of being initially dropped for the third Test against New Zealand on Saturday to make light of the late withdrawal of Geoff Parling. The tourists were forced into a late reshuffle by the loss of Parling, who was unable to shake off a hamstring strain which has hampered him this week. The Leicester lock was identified by head coach Stuart Lancaster as the team’s leading forward in the first two Tests and Andy Farrell conceded that his absence will be keenly felt. Passing muster: Joe Launchbury (second left), in training in Hamilton, will replace Geoff Parling in the pack . In the running: Launchbury (centre) sprints during England's training session in Hamilton . VIDEO Lancaster explains seven third-Test changes . ‘He's been in great form and leading very well from the front as far as the forward pack is concerned,’ Farrell said. ‘He was struggling at the beginning of the week and did everything he possibly could to get right, but he isn't right to play at Test match intensity. 'It's a big loss for us but we have good cover in that position and a couple of hungry boys waiting to do the job for us tomorrow.’ The cover in the starting XV is Launchbury, but the young Wasps second row has struggled during the Tests in Auckland and Dunedin, which led to him being removed from the team for this match, to be replaced by Courtney Lawes. Lancaster claimed that the 23-year-old is tired at the end of a long season but Parling’s injury has presented him with an unexpected opportunity to end the tour on a high and Farrell is optimistic he can do that. ‘Joe was gutted to not be starting the match,’ he said. ‘From the reviews, he knows the reasons why, he's licked his wounds a little bit and has a chance to start. I'm sure we'll get more out of him because of that initial disappointment. He's champing at the bit and raring to go.’ Grabbing the opportunity with both hands: Launchbury has been backed to take his chance by Andy Farrell . M Brown (Harlequins); C Ashton (Saracens), M Tuilagi (Leicester), K Eastmond (Bath), M Yarde (Harlequins); F Burns (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath); C Lawes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps); T Wood (Northampton), B Vunipola (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins. capt). Substitutes: R Webber (Bath), M Mullan (Wasps), K Brookes (Newcastle), D Attwood (Bath), B Morgan (Gloucester), L Dickson (Northampton), D Cipriani (Sale), L Burrell (Northampton). After the All Blacks named their line-up for Saturday’s game at Waikato Stadium, head coach Steve Hansen mischievously suggested that England are in a tactical ‘quandary’, after, ‘tThey took us on in Dunedin playing a game of real pace and worked out they couldn’t’. Farrell was asked to respond to the remark and hit back by saying that it followed accusations that England had tried to employ stalling tactics in the series opener. ‘Well, we didn't try to slow the game down in the first Test and they thought that was our tactics and now they say we’re trying to speed the game up and can’t do that,’ he said. ‘The reality is that the game always takes its own path and we’ve got to be in control of our own game and we want to play quick at the right times, be composed at the right times and slow things down when needed. We’ll be ready for either way of playing.’ The England squad watched their football counterparts lose to Uruguay early on Friday morning, local time, and Farrell admitted that they were ‘gutted’ by the outcome. But they are convinced that they can lift the spirits of the nation’s sports fans and finish this promising tour with the victory they crave. Gutted: Farrell and the England squad were left disappointed by the footballers' defeat by Uruguay .
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England forced into late reshuffle by Parling's hamstring strain .
Parling a 'big loss' but that has given Launchbury another chance .
England coach Andy Farrell hits back at All Blacks' Steven Hansen .
England watched footballers lose 2-1 to Uruguay in World Cup .
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(CNN) -- President Obama has written yet another letter to Iran's Supreme Leader and, by all accounts, his missives remain unrequited. It is not a pretty sight -- the commander-in-chief of the planet's mightiest army, the leader of the world's largest economy -- sitting down at his desk, chin in hand, trying to come up with just the right words to persuade the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to make nice with America, time and again, even after his letters prompt a combination of silence and scorn. It is good that Iran and the United States are talking. But this is another matter altogether. A letter is not needed to maintain communications. The two countries are already engaged in high-level negotiations, with a make-or-break deadline fast approaching on a nuclear deal. The sad fact is that Obama's words seem to provoke exactly the opposite of their intended reaction from Khamenei, the man who will ultimately decide if there is a nuclear deal. Khamenei has been crystal clear in expressing barely restrained contempt for Obama and his rhetorical advances. Let's face it. Obama is not a very good negotiator, at least when it comes to Iran. Obama has many strengths, but bargaining does not appear to be one of them. The fact has been evident in Washington, where he scored a few major legislative victories, but has mostly seen his agenda blocked. The blockers are Republicans and they surely bear much of the blame, but, as many have pointed out, other presidents have proven more effective at negotiating with the opposition. After watching Obama's first press conference after the midterm election, Bloomberg View's Megan McArdle wondered if Obama even knows how to negotiate. That is a scary question to ponder when the United States is on the verge of cutting a deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, when United Nations nuclear inspectors say Iran is refusing to answer questions about "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear program, and as the United States and the so-called P5+1 negotiating with Iran steadily reduce their demands on Iran's nuclear enrichment. As Obama has said repeatedly, a bad deal with Iran is worse than no deal at all. The question is whether Obama's negotiating missteps are just that, missteps that can be corrected by crafty negotiators, or signs that he is so eager for a deal that he will lower the bar on what he considers as an acceptable agreement. Obama has focused on repairing relations with Iran since he was a presidential candidate, making all the statements and gestures that should have warmed Tehran to a new future in an Obama presidency, if Iran had had any interest at all. As a candidate he called for direct talks, and in his first inaugural speech he famously declared "We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." Then, just after taking office, he went to Cairo and gave his conciliatory speech to the "Muslim world," vowing a new era in ties. Khamenei's reaction should have been enough to have Obama cross out the Supreme Leader from his list of pen pals. "Beautiful speeches," Khamenei declared, "cannot change the fact that Muslims...hate America from the bottom of their hearts." A few months later, when Iranians took to the streets and were brutally suppressed, Obama, who had just issued another conciliatory gesture, initially refrained from airing criticism. The Ayatollah later excoriated the American President, blaming the pro-democracy protests on American and "Zionist" plots, not on discontent with the regime and its version of theocratic democracy. And yet, the missives from Obama kept coming. And still they traveled in just one direction. Maybe the President should have sent a self-addressed stamped envelope. At least then the disdain might have remained private. The problem is worse than an epistolary cold shoulder. Every letter from Obama seems to contain a concession that goes unreciprocated. Iran came to the table as the result of stern economic sanctions steadily enforced by Obama, and he deserves full credit for that. But it's not clear whether his personal interventions have helped the cause. Amid reports that the West is already proposing to allow Iran a level of nuclear enrichment that would have been unthinkable in the recent past, the most recent letter crossed another line, reportedly suggesting a linkage between a nuclear agreement and cooperation between Washington and Tehran in fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Obama denied there is a link, without commenting on the letter. When thinking about ISIS, Syria and Iran, we should remember that even though ISIS is viewed as a threat by both Washington and Tehran, Iran's goal is to fortify Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The United States and Iran share their enmity with ISIS, but their larger goals are in conflict. And that's just on Syria. Iran is viewed as a threat by America's allies in the Arab world, not to mention by Israel, which it continues to goad and threaten. In apparent response to last month's letter, Khamenei's website carried an article saying Iran does not need U.S. help fighting ISIS. The United States has not done very well in the fight, it said, whereas Iraq, with Iranian help, is scoring victories against ISIS. The timing of Obama's new letter is disconcerting, to say the least. The recent drop in oil prices has put Iran in a serious bind. This could be a moment of strength for American and European negotiators, a moment to show just how much Iran has to lose by insisting on maintaining significant portions of a nuclear program that America, Europe and many Arab countries believe was developed for the purpose of building nuclear weapons. Washington already gave up the objective of seeing the nuclear program dismantled. The question now is how many months away from a bomb Iran would agree to stand in exchange for a lifting of sanctions. Iran has played an expert game. Khamenei's ability to nix any deal he does not like looms constantly over the talks, strengthening Iran's hand. The America leader, on the other hand, could use some help.
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President Obama has written another letter to Iran's Supreme Leader .
Frida Ghitis: Obama doesn't seem to be a good negotiator when it comes to nuclear deal .
She says reports suggest West is proposing to give Iran more concessions .
Ghitis: Iran has played an expert game, Obama could use some help .
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NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has confirmed that he has been asked to coach the Wallabies, just two days after Ewen McKenzie's shock resignation. On Monday, Cheika told media that he was 'humbled' and 'excited' by Australian Rugby's offer, speaking outside of the Waratah's Moore Park HQ. 'It's a pretty humbling experience to be asked to be involved in something like that, but we'll see what happens,' Cheika told reporters, according to Fox Sports. 'There are a few things to be ironed out, obviously the logistics et cetera ... Everything is so close. So we will see how it goes and work it out from there.' Scroll down for video . NSW Waratahs Super Rugby title-winning coach Michael Cheika confirmed that he has been asked to take on the role of Wallabies coach while speaking to media on Monday . The position fell vacant after McKenzie announced his resignation following Saturday's loss to New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. However the Australian Rugby Union is yet to confirm any appointment. The Wallabies are due to leave for their spring tour of the northern hemisphere at the end of this week and a squad is likely to be named on Tuesday. Cheika's coaching track record includes winning the Heineken Cup with Irish side Leinster and the Waratahs' maiden Super title earlier this year. This comes after Ewen McKenzie's shock resignation following Saturday night's last minute, one-point loss to the New Zealand All Blacks . McKenzie stepped down as coach at 10am on Saturday morning following a tumultuous few weeks in the position, but did not notify anyone until after the game that night. Recently the Wallabies have been wrapped up in a scandal including star player Kurtley Beale's row with team business manager Di Patston. A letter sent to Beale by the Australian Rugby Union referenced two messages containing photographs of 'extremely obese women', one with the message 'Di - who wants a go f***ing this?', The Sunday Telegraph reported. It's been a few weeks of drama following the scandal involving Kurtley Beale and the offensive text messages he is said to have sent .
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Waratahs coach confirms he's been offered the top job as Wallabies' coach .
On Monday Cheika told reporters 'it's a pretty humbling experience'
Cheika says there are logistical issues to organise so 'we'll see how we go'
Former coach Ewen McKenzie stepped down on Saturday night .
McKenzie leaves amid a fortnight of drama and scandal for the Wallabies .
Star player Kurtley Beale has been stood down after a row with the team business manager .
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Arsenal left it late to stage a dramatic comeback against Anderlecht and keep their Champions League hopes on track. The Gunners were heading for a shock loss after Andy Najar opened the scoring for the hosts in the 71st minute but a Kieran Gibbs equaliser and a Lukas Podolski strike completed the turnaround in the dying embers of the match. Emiliano Martinez was superb in goal for Arsene Wenger's side as the third-choice goalkeeper made his European debut. Here Sportsmail's Rob Draper gives his verdict on how the players performed. Arsenal (4-3-3) Emiliano Martinez - 8.5 - STAR MAN . Superb night with no nerves and he kept Arsenal in the game. Emiliano Martinez had a sublime goal in for Arsenal - in only his third appearance for the club . Calum Chambers - 6.5 . Bad night but provided a great cross for Kieran Gibbs' equaliser. Per Mertesacker - 6.5 . Kept defence together in the first half but was less successful in second. Nacho Monreal - 6, . Satisfactory performance, given that he’s out of position at centre-back. Kieran Gibbs - 7 . At fault for goal, but what a finish for the equaliser! Kieran Gibbs started Arsenal's dramatic comeback scoring a beautiful volley with minutes remaining . Aaron Ramsey - 5.5 . Struggled in his first start back for the Gunners from injury. Mathieu Flamini - 5.5 . Organised things as well he could but little impact otherwise on midfield. Jack Wilshere - 5.5 . Passing awry, the midfield couldn’t get a grip of the game. Alexis Sanchez was full of energy as the Gunners clawed their way back into the match . Alexis Sanchez - 6.5 . Always energetic, always showing: vital contribution for the winner. Danny Welbeck - 6 . Started well but faded away, as Arsenal lost control of the game. Santi Cazorla - 5.5 . Not his greatest night: peripheral, missed 64th minute chance. Santi Cazorla was largely ineffectual for the English side against Anderlecht on Wednesday night . Substitutes . Joel Campbell (76, for Welbeck) - 5.5 . Couldn’t really make an impact on the game . Lukas Podolski (84, for Wilshere) - 8 . Superb. Just when Arsenal needed him, he popped up . Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (76 for Flamini) - 7 . Eventually found those driving runs to trouble Anderlecht . Lukas Podolski produced a stellar substitute appearance - scoring the Gunners' winner late on . Anderlecht (4-2-3-1) Proto 6; Vanden Borre 6, Mbema 7, Deschacht 6.5, Acheampong 6; Tielemens 6.5 Defour 6; Najar, 8 Praet 7.5 Conte 6.5; Cyriac 5.5 . Subs: Roef, Suarez, Colin, Kljestan, Dendoncker, Kabasele, Mitrovic .
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Arsenal came from behind to beat Anderlecht on Wednesday night .
Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski scored the Gunners' goals in Belgium .
Third-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a stellar performance .
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(CNN)They say it is the sport of kings, and a king's ransom has been paid for a single horse at auction house Tattersalls. On Tuesday, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani from the Royal Family of Qatar shelled out 4.5 million guineas ($7.3m) for Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Just the Judge, making her the highest-priced filly in training in British auction history. On what was the second day of Tattersalls' December sale, nearly $50m exchanged hands in a litany of purchases. Somewhat bizarrely, Sheikh Fahad already had part ownership of the filly, but was buying out the Sangsters -- a family with a rich history in racehorse ownership and breeding -- in partnership with new co-owners the China Horse Club. It was the first time a Classic-winning filly had been up for sale at Tattersalls for more than two decades. The bidding war at the notorious auction house in Newmarket, England, had opened at 500,000 guineas, before Sheik Fahad battled it out successfully with James Delahooke and Barry Weisbord. However, the monstrous price tag fell just shy of the 5m guineas ($8.2m) paid last year by Sheikh Joaan Al Thani -- also from Qatar -- for an unraced, untrained and untested filly bred from Galileo. The purchase means Just the Judge will remain in Qatar Racing silks next season and continue her partnership with trainer Charlie Hills. Bloodstock agent David Redvers, who acts on behalf of Sheikh Fahad, told Tattersalls: "This is a new one-off tie-up with the China Horse Club. "This has allowed us to race another year with her and keep her. As she was our first Classic winner, we were not going to give her up easily. "We will campaign in the best races, get the best possible opportunities, and then she will retire to Tweenhills and visit the best stallions in the world."
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Sheikh Fahad Al Thani buys Just the Judge for 4.5 million guineas .
The purchase is a British auction record for a filly in training .
Sheikh Fahad enters into a new co-ownership with the China Horse Club .
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(CNN) -- Last fall, you could typically find my mom teaching, mentoring her students, nagging me to study for the SATs, taking my sister to soccer practice or cooking dinner. She took on one new responsibility as well: driving another mother and her son to and from the Stanford hospital, where the son was undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Mom had never met them before last fall. Yet, when she heard that they were new to the area, she gave them support and gained friendship. This type of behavior is not out of the ordinary for my mom. When one of her colleagues in Boston got diagnosed with breast cancer, Mom organized a food drop-off for the family. When she saw that a bright student was failing her class, she took him aside and bought him a textbook after learning he couldn't afford them. This Thanksgiving, she learned that a group of students could not go home for the break. Mom invited them over for a home-cooked dinner. The day after that Thanksgiving dinner, my mom was diagnosed for the second time with acute myelogenus leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood -- after eight years in remission. Now, she desperately needs a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible. Robin Roberts found a match, but others likely won't be as lucky . Due to certain genetic markers, her match will almost certainly come from someone from her birthplace -- Kerala, in southern India. But South Asian donors of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Maldivian or Sri Lankan descent are some of the least-represented groups in the National Marrow Donor Program. Some campaigns recruiting South Asians suggest that a South Asian like my mom has a 1 in 20,000 chance of finding a match, while the chance is 1 in 8 for Caucasians. When the news of my mother's illness became known, it seemed like everyone we had ever met -- and even people we hadn't -- were asking how they could help us. Our friends in California set up an Internet-based food delivery system. Our friends in Boston flooded us with care packages. Once we learned that Mom needed a transplant, her former students, friends, and colleagues -- even those she did not know personally -- started setting up bone marrow drives around the country. On December 27, we got a belated but incredible Christmas present -- Mom's doctors had found 12 potential bone marrow matches! The drives stopped, and we breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't occur to us that none of the 12 potential matches would work out, or that people would back out of donating their bone marrow. So we were shocked when we got the heartbreaking news that half of the potential donors had refused to follow up. The other six did, but were ruled out upon further testing. Our spirits were crushed. Why I donated my bone marrow . Once more, those who care about Mom stepped up to bring us hope. They launched a campaign site, NaliniNeedsYou.com, and a Facebook site that has been seen by more than 1 million people (including more than 60,000 in India) and received more than 3,500 "likes" so far. They also created a video (NaliniNeedsYou.com) that had 4,500 views in its first three days on YouTube and more than 100,000 views through the Stanford Facebook page. More than 150 drives targeting South Asians were organized all over the world, held at colleges, temples, companies and festivals. Thousands of people signed up to be on the National Bone Marrow registry. Although we have not yet found a match for my mom, at least six of these people have proved to be potential matches for other people desperately needing a transplant. Two weeks ago, we found out that Mom had a match from India. We were ecstatic. But two days later, we found out that donor, too, was unwilling to donate. Although donation is generally safe and painless, the chief barriers are psychological and cultural. There is a diversity of opinions about biological donation across cultures, with some more traditional ones considering the practice taboo. This might be one reason why India, the world's second-largest nation, has a bone marrow registry of 39,000 people, according to DATRI, a nonprofit organization which drives and maintains registries worldwide. In comparison, there are 10.5 million donors on the United States' National Marrow Donor Program. Of those, only 208,000, or nearly 2%, are South Asian. In fact, we learned that the potential match two weeks ago -- a young man from India -- had been talked out of donating by his parents. Why many would-be bone marrow, blood stem cell donors back out . Being a bone marrow donor is easy. Screening is a simple swab of the cheek, and if you are found to be a match, donation is usually a simple outpatient procedure called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell collection. The donor receives injections for a few days before the donation to boost their own blood-forming cells. These new cells are then collected through an IV and filtered from the rest of the blood. My dream is to give Mom the gift of life -- in the form of a bone marrow donor. Sadly, neither my sister nor I are matches. So I'll settle for challenging everyone who reads this to get on the Bone Marrow Registry. If you are already a member, I salute you, but I challenge you to spread the word, so that my mom -- or someone else's mom, dad, sibling, child or friend -- can receive the gift of life. Act now. You can register at Join.BeTheMatch.org. If you would like to try to donate for Mom, please submit the code "nalini" so that your swab kits can be expedited.
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My mother's leukemia returned after eight years in remission .
She desperately needs a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible .
South Asian bone marrow donors are hard to find .
Barriers to donating can be psychological or cultural .
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Tokyo (CNN) -- An extraordinarily high level of radiation was detected in one spot in a central Tokyo residential district Thursday, prompting the local government to cordon off the small area, local officials said. Radiation levels were higher in Tokyo's Setagaya ward than in the evacuation area around the badly damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, according to ward Mayor Nobuto Hosaka. "We are shocked to see such high radiation level was detected in our neighborhood. We cannot leave it as is," Hosaka told reporters. But the tsunami-struck Fukushima plant may not be the source of the radiation, Hosaka said later on state television. Officials searching for the cause found "glass bottles in a cardboard box" in the basement of a house in the neighborhood which sent radiation detectors off the charts, he said on NHK. "We suspect these bottles in basement could be the cause of the high radiation reading and we are hastily working to confirm it," he said. Radiation experts are now checking what contaminated the bottles, a Setagaya ward official told CNN, declining to be named in line with policy. They told the local government there are no immediate health hazards. Radiation levels just a few feet from the contaminated spot are normal, Hosaka said. The Tokyo scare comes a day after officials in Yokohama, Japan's second largest city, investigated soil samples after a radioactive substance was found in sediment atop an apartment building, according to news reports. Yokohama is about 155 miles (250 kilometers) from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. The discovery raised concerns that leaked radiation from three Fukushima reactors that suffered meltdowns after the March earthquake and tsunami may be more widespread than thought, The Japan Times reported Wednesday. The U.S. government issued a travel alert last week, warning Americans in Japan to avoid areas near the stricken reactors. The alert recommends that U.S. citizens stay away from areas within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the nuclear facility. The State Department also admonished Americans to stay away from territory northwest of the plant in a zone that Japan calls the "Deliberate Evacuation Area." The zone includes Iitate-mura, the Yamagiya district of Kawamata-machi, Katsurao-mura, Namie-machi and parts of Minamisoma. CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report.
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NEW: There is no immediate health hazard, experts tell local officials .
Local government cordons off an area in the Setagaya ward .
Radiation there is higher than around Fukushima .
The damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant may not be the source, officials say .
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A notorious Saudi cleric preached at a mosque accused of radicalising three young Britons fighting in Syria. Mohammed al-Arifi, who has called for holy war to overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s regime, spoke at Cardiff’s Al Manar centre. The trio – two brothers and a friend – attended the mosque before leaving their homes to join the civil war. Scroll down for video . Mohammed al-Arifi, who has called for holy war to overthrow Bashar al-Assad's regime, spoke at Cardiff's Al Manar centre . Although banned from entering Switzerland because of his extremist views, al-Arifi has visited the UK several times. A Sunni Muslim, he has been accused of stirring up tensions with the rival Shia sect, reportedly calling it evil and accusing adherents of kidnapping, cooking and skinning children. In other developments in the terror crisis: . Cardiff school friends Nasser Muthana, and Reyaad Khan, both 20, last week appeared in the recruitment video for ISIS with a friend. Khan, who once dreamed of becoming Britain’s first Asian prime minister, was a successful student before he was radicalised. Muthana, who gave up four offers of places at medical school to become a jihadist, later persuaded his younger brother Aseel, 17, to join him in Syria. Although banned from entering Switzerland because of his extremist views, al-Arifi has visited the UK several times . Their father, Yemen-born Ahmed Muthana, 57, says his sons were ‘brainwashed’ after they began attending Al Manar. He said none of the elders at the mosque were dangerous but visiting clerics may have put ideas in the heads of his boys. A source close to the Yemeni community in Cardiff said: ‘These boys were groomed (at Al Manar) – obviously not to the stage to go, but so that they are satisfied that what they go to do is right. It all comes from the same school of thought. Fight the Shias, fight these people, fight those – that’s where it started. ‘The teaching [at Al Manar] helped the people recruiting. If someone tried to recruit me, I wouldn’t go unless I’m convinced. But once they’re groomed, all it takes is someone to say come and I’ll take you.’ It is understood that children in Cardiff’s Muslim community have been receiving messages from Nasser Muthana in Syria via the mobile phone messaging service WhatsApp. Nasser Muthana (left), 20, is one of the Britons . who have been radicalised. Right, Aseel Muthana, his 17-year-old . younger brother. Their father has begged them to come home . The source said he believed more young boys from the area who had studied at Al Manar may also join the fight. ‘There’s a few boys who I wouldn’t be shocked if they went. The authorities should be doing something about it,’ he said. Several families in the Yemeni community are understood to have banned their children from attending teachings or prayer at the mosque. Schoolboy to jihadist: Reyaad Khan, now 20, is pictured at school with friends in Cardiff in 2010. He has now travelled to the Middle East to fight alongside Islamist militants . Recruitment video: Reyaad Khan, Nasser Muthana and another Briton in Syria . A 20-year-old, who knew the Muthana . brothers for many years, said the Al Manar Centre had a good reputation. But he added that he had heard they ‘brought one or two radical . preachers in to talk on the sly’. Al-Arifi spoke at the mosque in June 2012. A video and photograph posted online show excited worshippers flocking around him. Mosque trustee Barak Albayaty said the internet was being used to brainwash young Muslim men to take up arms with ISIS. He . said: ‘Nasser Muthana was just like any other guy – I was shocked to . see him in the video. But I am sure [this mosque] is not the source of . radicalism. We’re against going to Syria for the armed struggle and have . spelled this out on many occasions. ‘The boys are affected by the internet. It’s not just Cardiff, it’s all over the UK. I’m told the numbers could be in the hundreds all over the UK.’ Call to arms by Saudi radical . Elders at the mosque are due to meet this week to discuss the issue. Mr Muthana is due to make a formal statement to South Wales Police today confirming his son is the young man in the ISIS recruitment video. He said: ‘I know I may never see my two sons again and I am prepared for that. But my wife is sick at the thought. My sons have betrayed their family and betrayed their country, which is Britain.’ Khan’s mother yesterday made a tearful appeal to her only son to come home. ‘It’s absolutely devastating. We can’t sleep or eat, we’re very ill,’ she told Sky News. ‘Reyaad, please come back home. I’m dying for you. You are my only son. Please come back Reyaad. It’s not good what you are doing.’ Among the new wave of British jihadists are two former sixth-formers from Coventry – like Cardiff, a city not previously linked to Islamic extremists. Eighteen-year-old Mohammed Hadi is the youngest Briton fighting with ISIS to be identified so far. The oldest of five children, he had been dubbed Osama bin Bieber by friends on social media because of his childish looks. A former classmate yesterday said Hadi was ‘brainwashed’ at a madrassa and mosque where he studied Arabic and the Koran. Hadi is understood to have travelled to Syria with at least three youths from the madrassa. His father, Mahir, 38, a factory worker, refused to comment.
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Mohammed al-Arifi has called for holy war to overthrow Assad’s regime .
He spoke to excited crowds at Cardiff’s Al Manar centre in June 2012 .
Friends Nasser Muthana, .
and Reyaad Khan, attended the mosque .
Aseel Muthana also visited the mosque before leaving home to join the war .
A recruitment video for Al Qaeda-linked group ISIS featuring the three Britons remained on YouTube last night; .
An Australian jihadist who appeared in the film, named as Zakaryah Raad, was said to have been killed fighting afterward; .
The Petrol Retailers Association warned fuel prices could rise by 4p a litre because of the crisis; .
Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism chief said Britain would have to deal with home-grown fighters returning from Syria for many years .
Coventry sixth-former Mohammed Hadi, 18, became one of the youngest Britons fighting with ISIS to be identified so far.
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Washington (CNN) -- Prodded by growing public frustration over sharply rising gasoline prices, the Justice Department on Thursday announced the formation of a team -- the "Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group -- tasked with the goal of ensuring consumers are not victims of price gouging. Gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon or higher are "tough" for most Americans, President Barack Obama told an audience in Reno, Nevada. "We are going to make sure that no one is taking advantage of American consumers for their own short-term gain." "This gas issue is serious," the president said. "It hurts." CNNMoney: Why is gas outpacing oil in price? Attorney General Eric Holder made no secret the move is a direct response to public angst, not to current evidence of any illegal conduct. "Rapidly rising gasoline prices are pinching the pockets of consumers across the country," Holder said in a written statement released at the Justice Department. Gas price jumped while he was still pumping . "We will be vigilant in monitoring the oil and gas markets for any wrongdoing so that consumers can be confident they are not paying higher prices as a result of illegal activity," he said. The working group will report to the existing Financial Fraud Task Force, which in turn reports to the attorney general. The new working group will be composed of representatives of the Justice Department, the National Association of (State) Attorneys General, the Treasury Department, the Energy Department, and several financial regulatory agencies. Holder said he is asking the group to explore "whether there is any evidence of manipulation of oil and gas prices, collusion, fraud, or misrepresentations at the retail or wholesale levels that would violate state or federal laws." iReport: What are gas prices like where you live? While promising official vigilance, the attorney general acknowledged regional differences in gasoline prices, and said, "It is also clear that there are lawful reasons for increases in gas prices, given supply and demand."
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NEW: Obama promises to ensure companies don't take advantage of U.S. consumers .
There is no current evidence of illegal conduct, Attorney General Holder says .
"We will be vigilant in monitoring the oil and gas markets," he says .
He notes there are "lawful reasons" for increases in gasoline prices .
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(CNN)If you have not been following the case of Barronelle Stutzman, you should be. Stutzman is the Washington florist who has been sued for living out her Christian beliefs. In 2013, a long-time friend and customer came to her flower shop and asked her to provide flowers for his gay wedding. Stutzman had known this man and had done business with him for about nine years. Nevertheless, she told him that she could not participate in his wedding "because of my relationship with Jesus." The man's partner subsequently spread the word via social media. As a result, the attorney general of Washington State sued Stutzman for violating the state's anti-discrimination law. The two men also sued her in their personal capacity and were represented by the ACLU. As a result of these lawsuits, Stutzman stands to lose her business, her home, and her personal savings. Her whole life hangs in the balance with this case. Yesterday, a Washington State judge issued a summary judgment that went against her. Stutzman's legal team put out this statement explaining what this means: . A state judge ruled Wednesday that Washington floral artist and grandmother Barronelle Stutzman must provide full support for wedding ceremonies that are contrary to her faith. The court also ruled recently that both the state and the same-sex couple, who each filed lawsuits against her, may collect damages and attorneys fees not only from her business, but from Stutzman personally. That means the 70-year-old grandmother may not only lose her business, but also her home and savings because she lives her life and operates her business according to her beliefs. "The message of these rulings is unmistakable: The government will bring about your personal and professional ruin if you don't help celebrate same-sex marriage," said Kristen Waggoner, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, who argued before the court in December. The decision against Stutzman sets a dreadful precedent against our first freedom in the Bill of Rights: religious liberty. The court says that she is free to believe what she wants, but not to practice her religious beliefs. The court has ruled that if she wants to run a business in the state of Washington, she must defy her conscience and participate in same-sex weddings. If she does not, then the full coercive power of the state -- as well as civil liability -- will be brought against her. Keep in mind that Stutzman does not refuse service to gay people. Indeed she had been selling flowers to this gay couple for nine years. She has also employed gay people in her flower shop. She had a friendship with the man suing her and cared for him personally and wished for her relationship with him to continue. She simply could not defy her conscience and lend her creative talent to help celebrate what her faith says she cannot celebrate. She had no idea that staying true to her faith would end up threatening her entire livelihood and savings. We are witnessing a shift in our society -- a shift which inevitably leads to Christians being treated as pariahs at every level of our national life. Louie Giglio's Christian views on marriage got him removed from the President's inauguration. Brendan Eich's support for traditional marriage got him dismissed as CEO of Mozilla. Kelvin Cochran's Christian faith got him fired from his position as fire chief of Atlanta. Two bakers in Oregon had to shutter their business and are now facing bankruptcy for refusing to participate in a gay wedding. The stories are mounting. Who will be next? This summer, the Supreme Court will rule on gay marriage, and many observers expect the ruling to be a Roe v. Wade-type legal landmark, perhaps declaring a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. The Congress may consider again a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would make sexual orientation and gender identity into protected classes. This means that what is happening to Barronelle Stutzman in Washington State could be happening to Christians nationwide in very short order. Barronelle Stutzman's case is nothing less than an egregious violation of our first freedom. It is Caesar saying, "Conscience be damned. Submit to the new sexual orthodoxy or risk losing everything." This is not tolerance. This is injustice that flies in the face of this nation's laws and traditions. And if this kind of thing can be done to a 70-year-old grandmother running a small flower shop in rural Washington State, then it can be done to you. No one's conscience is safe if this precedent becomes the norm.
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Barronelle Stutzman was sued for not providing flowers for a same-sex wedding.
On Thursday, a Washington State judge ruled against Stutzman .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . A Romanian princess and her husband, a former sheriff's deputy have reportedly been arrested in connection with an alleged cockfighting ring. Irina Walker, 60, and her husband John . Wesley Walker, 67, are charged with hosting cockfighting derbies and illegal . gambling at their ranch outside the small Morrow County town of Irrigon. Federal prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of the ranch, listed in state incorporation records as Stokes Landing Sport Horses. Allegations: Irina Walker, 60, and her husband John Wesley Walker, 67, are charged with hosting cockfighting derbies and illegal gambling at their ranch outside the small Morrow County town of Irrigon . The Oregonian newspaper identified Irina Walker, also known as Irina Kreuger, as a daughter of the last king of Romania. Personnel records show John Wesley Walker was a Coos County sheriff's deputy from 1998 to 2003. The Walkers and four other people from Irrigon and Hermiston were to be arraigned in federal court in Portland on Friday on charges of operating an illegal gambling business. No lawyer for the Walkers or other defendants was listed as yet in court records. Twelve others from Oregon and Washington face lesser charges of conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act through illegal animal fighting. They are to be arraigned in Portland and Yakima, Wash. 'Cockfighting is illegal under federal law and under the laws of all 50 states,' Amanda Marshall, U.S. attorney for Oregon, said in a statement. Twelve others from Oregon and Washington face lesser charges of conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act through illegal animal fighting . 'Besides being a barbaric practice, cockfighting jeopardizes public health and safety and facilitates the commission of other criminal acts.' The indictment said 10 different cockfighting derbies were held at the Walker's ranch between April 2012 and April 2013, bringing in as much as $2,000 a day. Blades were attached to the birds' legs, spectators were charged admission, and food and drink were sold, the indictment said. The four others charged with being part of the gambling business are Mario Perez, 62, of Hermiston; David Sanchez, 29, of Irrigon; Jose Luis Virgen Ramirez, 48, of Hermiston; and Aurelia Garcia Mendoza, 33, of Irrigon. The exiled King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania attended the baptism of Princess Irina's daughter in Portland in 1987. At the time, she and her first husband, John Kreuger, raised horses near the southern Oregon Coast. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Irina Walker, 60, and her husband John Wesley Walker, 67, were charged .
Accused of hosting cockfighting derbies and illegal gambling at their ranch .
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By . Sara Smyth . Every responsible animal lover knows it’s one of the first things to teach a pet - how to respond to their own name. But new research shows that although cats recognise their owners’ voice, they choose to ignore when they are being called because of the way the species evolved. A new study from the University of Japan suggests that because cats are able to ‘domesticate themselves’ they haven’t relied on the human voice for instruction over the centuries. Independent: A new study from the University of Japan suggests that because cats are able to 'domesticate themselves' they haven't relied on the human voice for instruction over the centuries . They have a reputation for being an aloof and independent species- in contrast to their canine counterparts. And the study proves that cats are now unresponsive to their owners because they didn’t need to take notice of humans throughout the evolutionary process. Researchers found that when owners couldn’t be seen and called to their cats by name, the pets moved their heads in the direction of the noise and pricked up their ears in response. When the same experiment was carried out with a stranger’s voice, the cats were found to be significantly less responsive. In both cases, they recognised the call and choose not to respond to it. Atsuko Saito and Kazutaka Shinozuka, the researchers who led the project, said: ‘This cat–owner relationship is in contrast to that with dogs. ‘Cats do not actively respond with communicative behaviour to owners who are calling them from out of sight, even though they can distinguish their owners’ voices.’ Relationship: Historically speaking, cats, unlike dogs, have not been trained to obey a human's orders . The study tested twenty cats at home and analysed their responses to each call by measuring their movement, vocalization and eye dilation. The reason for the cats indifference is believed to be rooted in the early domestication of the species. ‘Historically speaking, cats, unlike dogs, have not been domesticated to obey humans’ orders. Rather, they seem to take the initiative in human–cat interaction.’ Genetic analysis shows that the common ancestor of the modern housecat was Felis silvestris, a small wildcat that came into contact with humans more than 9,000 years ago. The species is then thought to have domesticated itself without answering directly to humans. Despite their independence, cats are reported to be as affectionate as dogs by their owners. The study said that ‘the behavioural aspect of cats that cause their owners to become attached to them are still undetermined. ‘Dog owners and cat owners do not differ significantly in their reported attachment level to their pets’.
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Research by the University of Japan says cats are self-domesticated .
This means they do not rely on instructions given by humans .
Despite their independence, cats are reported to be as affectionate as dogs by their owners .
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By . Meghan Keneally and Rachel Quigley . PUBLISHED: . 07:39 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:17 EST, 24 May 2013 . The jury foreman in the Jodi Arias murder trial spoke out today, saying that while he believed Jodi was mentally abused by Travis Alexander, it was no excuse to brutally murder him. Just one day after the judge declared a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on whether or not she should be executed, Bill Zervakos spoke of the difficulties they faced during the five-month-long trial. 'When I walked into that court room for the first time and looked at . the defendant - it is hard to put it into perspective, looking at that . young woman and thinking about the brutality of the crime. It doesn't wash,' he said. 'It is difficult to separate yourself from the emotions and personal side . of it.' Scroll down for video . Jury foreman: Bill Zervakos, left, has spoken of the shock he felt when seeing Jodi, right , when seeing her for the first time . WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW AT GOOD MORNING AMERICA . Speaking to Good Morning America, he admitted he did not think Jodi did herself any favors when she took the stand for 18 days because she had so many contradictory stories. The hardest part, he said, was having to sit six feet away from Travis Alexander's family while listening to all the horrific things that happened to him. 'Until you are face to face with someone who is going through that, you cannot put it into words,' he said. 'If you cannot feel that then you have no emotion, no soul. 'But we couldn't allow ourselves to be emotional and for that I am very proud of my jurors, they did a fantastic job of holding it together - though it was a different story when we got into the jury room. Speaking about Travis Alexander, he said: 'I am very sure in my own mind that Jodi was mentally and verbally abused by him. Is that an excuse? Of course not. Did it factor into the decision we made? It has to.' The next step in the lengthy trial will now come on July 18, when an entirely new jury panel is determined and tasked with delivering the final verdict in the case. In tears: Jodi Arias looked frightened before the jury's non-decision was handed down, but her composure did not change dramatically after she realized that she was not being sentenced to death . Heartbroken: Travis Alexander's relatives, including his sister Tanisha (right) were a constant presence at the trial and they were moved to tears when they heard that it would drag on for more months . The scene in the Phoenix, Arizona, courtroom on Thursday afternoon - when the jury came back to the judge with their inability to agree - was not one of relief. Arias herself looked upset and began crying, though not necessarily tears of joy. Alexander's siblings, who have been a constant presence throughout and have all uprooted their lives in California to focus on the trial, were all crying as well. One female juror was at least sympathetic to them, and she was seen mouthing the word 'sorry' toward the Alexanders. Judge Sherry Stephens, who showed some tough love to the jury on Wednesday, was very complimentary to them yesterday. 'This was not your typical trial. You were asked to perform some very difficult duties,' she said. Mistrial: Jody Arias reacts as the jury indicates it has not been able to reach a decision on the death penalty . The jury began deliberating Tuesday, and on Wednesday afternoon they told the Judge that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. She ordered the jurors . to go back and talk more until they came to a decision, but that was still not enough time as they came back later yesterday afternoon still at an impasse. The new jury will not have any power . to change her guilty conviction, and they will be solely tasked with . determining how she will 'pay' for the first degree murder. The . decision follows a trial that has staggered on for five months over the . 2008 slaying of Travis Alexander, Arias' on-again off-again boyfriend . who she killed in his home in 2008. She stabbed him nearly 30 times, . slit his throat, and shot him. Fearful: Arias was surrounded by her legal team, and her relatives were not in the room though they had been regularly fixtures at the trial through much of the five months . Even . for the most fastidious of court followers who have developed a sense . of who Arias is over the past five months of the trial, her behavior in . the past week has been confusing as she gave conflicting statements . about her desire thoughts on a possible death sentence. Immediately after her guilty verdict . was handed down two weeks ago, she granted a local news station an . interview where she said that she was 'in shock' and that she would . rather be given the death penalty as opposed to a life sentence in . prison. Speaking to the local Fox affiliate KSAZ, Arias said that she would 'prefer to die sooner than later.' ‘Longevity . runs in my family, and I don't want to spend the rest of my natural . life in one place. I'm pretty healthy, I don't smoke and I'll probably . live for a long time so that's not something that I am looking forward . to. 'I believe death is the ultimate freedom and I'd rather have my freedom as soon as I can get it.' Waiting game: Now the next jury will be impaneled on July 18 and this second portion of the trial- where the jury needs to determine the punishment for Arias- will be done for a second time . Those . comments prompted courthouse officials to order that she be placed in a . psychological hold and on suicide watch, which inevitably delayed the . second portion of the sentencing- where jurors were forced to decide if . the murder was especially aggressive. During the ensuing testimony, called . the aggravation portion of the trial, jurors heard from both sides who . were able to call witnesses arguing that she should and shouldn't be . forced to die, respectively. When . she addressed the court in her own defense, she she pledged, if allowed . to live, to donate her hair to cancer patients and start a prison . recycling program. 'I have . made many public statements that I would prefer the death penalty to . life in prison,' Arias told jurors. In each of those cases, 'I lacked . perspective,' she said. 'Until . very recently I could not imagine standing before you all and asking . for you to give me life,' she said. 'But as I stand here now I cannot in . good conscience ask you to sentence me to death.'
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The jury could not come to a unanimous decision about whether to execute Jodi Arias or to sentence her to life in prison .
They were the group that spent five months listening to graphic details about the 2008 murder of Travis Alexander .
Now a new jury must be called and they will be forced to decide what Jodi Arias' sentence should be for the premeditated murder .
The new jury will not be able to override the guilty verdict .
Move draws out the case longer as the new jury won't be called until July .
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By . Mark Duell . Drinking on park benches and rifling through bins, these Romanian immigrants are making their home in one of Britain’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. The photographs were taken outside exclusive shops and restaurants on Park Lane in Central London, where the average property is worth more than £3million. It was recently revealed how the number of Romanians sleeping rough in some parts of the capital has trebled since European Union restrictions on movement were lifted in January. Park life: Homeless Romanians sleeping outside exclusive shops and restaurants on Park Lane, in the W1 postcode of Central London . Homeless: Rifling through bins, this Romanian immigrant has made her home in one of Britain's most exclusive neighbourhoods . Having a drink: The number of Romanians sleeping rough in some parts of the capital has trebled since EU restrictions on movement were lifted in January . Upsetting the locals: Workers and residents nearby have complained that the Eastern European gangs have been washing in fountains and dumping rubbish . And earlier this year the Government . pledged that arrested foreign nationals – including EU citizens - will . face deportation even if they are not convicted of any crime. The . crackdown will use a European law that states those wanting to remain . here must be exercising their right to work or be self-sufficient - . which could be used to tackle the Park Lane begging issue. Local . employees and residents of the area in W1 have complained that the . Eastern European gangs have been allegedly washing in fountains, dumping . rubbish and urinating in public. Aaron . Devaney, a sightseeing tour sales agent in Marble Arch, said last . month: ‘They rob, they steal, they make a mockery of the country and . then the police come and give them free flights home. ‘I know what they’re up to because I see them every day. They sleep around the edges of the grass and shower in the fountains.’ Problem: Westminster Council has held high-level talks with Home Office officials about the issue of rough sleeping Romanians . Sleeping rough: The council has been working with the UK Border Agency to use new powers to crack down on homeless groups . Pillows and footwear: Bands of up to 20 Romanian beggars have been witnessed setting up camps to bed down overnight around Marble Arch and Hyde Park. On the rise: A Westminster Council report shows that the number of Romanian rough sleepers in Central London has risen from 20 in January to 59 last month . Westminster Council has held . high-level talks with Home Office officials about the issue, with the . number of Romanian rough sleepers in Central London jumping from 20 in . January to 59 in May. 'The situation you see in these pictures is exactly what we feared would happen' Councillor Nickie Aiken, Westminster City Council . Councillor . Nickie Aiken, Westminster City Council cabinet member for public . protection told MailOnline today: ‘The situation you see in these . pictures is exactly what we feared would happen. ‘It’s . why we led the campaign for new powers to deal with anyone who comes to . London offering nothing but disruption - or worse. ‘The . fact is that while Westminster City Council proactively seeks to help . any rough-sleepers who have a genuine reason to be here, we have a . problem that can only be solved on a national and international level. ‘That’s . why we’re seeking assurances from Home Office Immigration Enforcement . officials that they are doing everything possible to protect residents . and businesses that do make a positive contribution to London life.’ Going for a walk: The Romanians are sleeping in one of London's most exclusive areas within W1, where homes can cost tens of millions of pounds . Pricey area: Homeless Romainians sleep outside exclusive shops and restaurants on Park Lane, where the average property is worth £3million . Temporary shelter: Two rough sleepers outside luxury vehicle retailer Bob Forstner on Park Lane . The Mail On Sunday reported last month how the council has been working with the UK Border Agency to use new powers to crack down on homeless groups. Under new legislation they can deport EU nationals sleeping rough and bar them from re-entry for 12 months if they cannot prove ‘they have a proper reason to be here, such as a job’. In London, border guards have recently removed 44 Polish nationals, 64 Romanians and two Bulgarians, all either suspected offenders or criminals. But Borcoi Freguta, a 45-year-old mother-of-seven who was living on the site last December, told the Mail at the time: 'People have the wrong impression about us. We’re not all criminals.'
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Photographs taken outside high-end shops and restaurants on Park Lane .
Exclusive area of Central London W1 has average house value of £3million .
Number of Romanians sleeping rough in capital has trebled since January .
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As landings go, this will be one of the trickiest ever attempted. On August 6 Nasa’s Curiosity rover, packed inside the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, will hurtle towards the Martian surface at around 13,200mph – and has just over six minutes to slow down and make a soft landing. What’s more, the craft has to be at just the right angle for the descent to be a success – likened by one Nasa scientist to firing a golf ball from Los Angeles to land in a hole at St Andrew’s in Scotland. The mission's entry, descent, and landing (EDL) phase begins when the spacecraft reaches the top of Martian atmosphere, about 81 miles (131 kilometres) above the surface of the Gale crater landing area, and ends with the rover safe and sound on the surface of Mars. Gently does it: Curiosity will be lowered down by a Sky Crane craft fitted with retro boosters . Speedy: The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft, with Curiosity inside, will hit the Martian atmosphere at 13,200mph . Red alert: Curiosity will probe the Martian environment using highly advanced instruments . During the EDL, the three-ton spacecraft decelerates from a velocity of . about 13,200 miles per hour (5,900 metres per second) at the top of the . atmosphere, to stationary on the surface. Most of the enormous deceleration . needed will be achieved by friction with the atmosphere. In the final . stages a parachute will be deployed and the Curiosity rover will pop out . of the main craft attached by nylon tethers to a Sky Crane fitted with . retro rockets. This craft will hover above the surface and gently lower Curiosity down. How Curiosity will make its nervy landing on the Martian surface . Size matters: The Mars Science Laboratory is the biggest and most sophisticated planet-roaming machine ever to be deployed . It’s a set of manoeuvres that’ll leave staff at mission control with sweaty palms. Dr Charles Elachi, director of Nasa's . Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where the probe was . built, told The Independent: ‘We will be very nervous. Landing on . another planet is not a walk in the park. It's very challenging and . there have been mixed successes and failures in the past.’ In 2003, for instance, Britain’s Beagle 2 probe lost contact with Earth as it came into land and was never heard from again. Elachi added: ‘The reason we are . nervous is that it's about 3 tonnes of mass… equivalent in terms of . energy to 25 high-speed trains going at full speed. In addition, the . accuracy we have to point to be at the right angle is equivalent to me . being in Los Angeles and hitting a golf ball to land in a hole on St . Andrew's golf course in Scotland.’ About to have a blast: The Mars Science Laboratory, with Curiosity inside, being transported to the launch pad . Up, up and away: The rocket carrying curiosity took off successfully on November 26 last year . Nasa’s most advanced mobile robotic laboratory will examine one of the most intriguing areas on Mars. Curiosity is a rover with more scientific capability than any ever sent to another planet. It . will set down inside a huge crater and use its highly advanced . instruments, including cameras and lasers, to find out more about the . planet’s environment, which will help pave the way for human missions. Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars . Exploration Program at Nasa Headquarters in Washington, said: ‘Mars . Science Laboratory builds upon the improved understanding about Mars . gained from current and recent missions. ‘This mission . advances technologies and science that will move us toward missions to . return samples from, and eventually send humans to, Mars.’ The one-ton rover will examine Gale Crater during a mission that will last nearly two years. Curiosity will land near the base of a layered mountain three miles (five kilometres) high inside the crater. The rover will investigate whether environmental conditions have ever been favourable for development of microbial life and preserved evidence of those conditions. John Grotzinger, project scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, said: ‘Gale gives us a superb opportunity to test multiple potentially habitable environments and the context to understand a very long record of early environmental evolution of the planet. ‘The portion of the crater where Curiosity will land has an alluvial fan likely formed by water-carried sediments. Layers at the base of the mountain contain clays and sulphates, both known to form in water.’ Curiosity is twice as long and five times as heavy as earlier Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. The rover will carry a set of 10 science instruments weighing 15 times as much as its predecessors' science payloads. A mast extending to seven feet (2.1 metres) above ground provides height for cameras and a laser-firing instrument to study targets from a distance. Instruments on a seven-foot-long (2.1-metre-long) arm will study targets up close. Analytical instruments inside the rover will determine the composition of rock and soil samples acquired with the arm's powdering drill and scoop. Other instruments will characterise the environment, including the weather and natural radiation that will affect future human missions.
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The robotic lab is due to land on Mars on August 6 .
Rock, soil, weather and environment will all be studied by the Curiosity rover .
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Musician JJ Cale, whose songs "Cocaine" and "After Midnight" were made famous by Eric Clapton, died Friday night after suffering a heart attack, the president of his management agency said. His contemporaries considered him a legend, even if many fans weren't familiar with his name. He was 74. "JJ Cale was loved by fans worldwide for his completely unpretentious and beautiful music," said Mike Kappus, president of the Rosebud Agency. "He was loved even more dearly by all those he came in contact with as the most real and down-to-earth person we all knew." 'Cocaine's' Cale makes his own groove . Lynyrd Skynyrd made Cale's song "Call Me The Breeze" famous, and bands including Santana, The Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash, and many others covered his songs. He won a Grammy for his 2006 album with Clapton, called "The Road to Escondido." "He was incredibly humble and avoided the spotlight at all costs but will be missed by anyone touched by him directly or indirectly," Kappus said. "Luckily, his music lives on." The singer-songwriter passed away at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, his official website said. There were no immediate plans for funeral services, it said. "We've lost a great artist and a great person," Clapton wrote on his Facebook page. His official biography describes Cale as someone for whom music is all he's ever known. "I remember when I made my first album, I was 32 or 33 years old and I thought I was way too old then," Cale said, according to his bio. "When I see myself doing this at 70, I go, 'What am I doing, I should be layin' down in a hammock.'" He was living in Tulsa and had given up on making money in the record business when his career was suddenly made by Clapton's cover of "After Midnight." That moment changed everything for the musician, his biography states. After Clapton picked up his song, Cale drove to Nashville to record his first album. He is credited with helping create what is known as the Tulsa Sound, a laid-back style that contrasted with the psychedelic rock that was heard at the time. "I'm so old, I can remember before rock 'n' roll come along," Cale told CNN in 2009. "When I was a young fellow, I played guitar for other people, so I'd have to learn (cover tunes). ... So the guitar players on all those early recordings, I guess, influenced what I did. I never could get it exactly right the way they played it, and I guess that helped the style that evolved." Other musicians who covered Cale's work include The Band, Chet Atkins, Freddie King, Maria Muldaur and Captain Beefheart, according to his biography, which also notes he was asked whether it bothered him that fellow musicians considered him a legend while many fans did not even know his name. "No, it doesn't bother me," Cale said. "What's really nice is when you get a check in the mail." People we've lost in 2013: The lives they lived .
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Eric Clapton laments JJ Cale's passing .
Cale wrote a number of hits, including "After Midnight"
He died after suffering a heart attack, his rep says .
He is credited with helping create what is known as the Tulsa Sound .
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Celtic boss Ronny Deila has cleared Lukasz Zaluska of all blame after the Polish goalkeeper was allegedly assaulted in the street by another Scottish Premiership player on Monday night. Zaluska had been out for a meal with his wife and a friend in Glasgow’s fashionable West End when the incident is said to have occurred. And on Wednesday night Dundee United released a statement revealing they have commenced an internal investigation into the conduct of two of their players following information received by the club. They refused to make any further comment. Goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska, sporting a black eye, is put through his paces in training earlier this week . The Polish keeper was pictured with a woolly hat over the wounded eye ahead of Thursday's match . Despite being taken to hospital for medical attention after suffering facial bruising, the 32-year-old trained at Lennoxtown this week and is set to take his place in the squad which faces Romanians Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League at Parkhead on Thursday. Speaking about the matter before the Tannadice club’s statement was released, Deila said he had no issue whatsoever with his player socialising on the night in question. And the Norwegian was convinced his player had absolutely no reason to reproach himself for anything that had happened. ‘He is fine,’ Deila declared. ‘Of course he was a bit scared about this but everything is good now. He has trained well the last couple of days, so he is ready for tomorrow. ‘I talked to him, of course, about what happened. It is a police case now, I hope they can make it right and we just have to wait and see. Celtic boss Ronny Deila has cleared Zaluska of all blame after he was allegedly assaulted in the street . Celtic goalkeepers Zaluska (left) and Craig Gordon keep warm during a brisk session earlier this week . ‘He hasn’t done anything wrong from our perspective. We just have to support him and, of course, we feel sorry for him because that is a hard thing to go through.’ Deila has taken a hard-line approach to the fitness and diet of his players since being unveiled as Celtic manager. But he was adamant yesterday that he has no issue whatsoever with any of his players socialising when their training schedule permits. ‘It is not a problem if they want to go out for dinner and do something social,’ he added. ‘Of course that is okay. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He was out for dinner and that is perfectly right. That’s why you get frightened about this, it’s not fun to experience things like that and we have to take care of him. ‘If this was happening a lot of times, I would have to do something but I think this is a one-time situation, hopefully. You learn by experiences. Kris Commons, who missed the league win over Ross County, remains doubtful through injury . ‘You have to understand the life that you have in that city. They (the players) are role models and that is important to think about - but it is a police case and we will see what happens.’ Craig Gordon is likely to retain his place in goal, with full-back Emilio Izaguirre also in contention despite being stretchered off in the 5-0 victory against Ross County last Saturday following a challenge by Michael Gardyne. But Kris Commons, who missed the league victory in the Highlands, is still doubtful through injury. Astra have failed to take a point from their opening games with Dinamo Zagreb and Red Bull Salzburg and there is a growing expectation that Celtic could go on to top their group if they secure two wins from the double header to hit the 10-point mark. However, boss Deila insisted that the side who finished second in their domestic league last season, and knocked Lyon out of the Europa League on their way to a place in Group D, should not be taken lightly. ‘They would be in the top three teams in Scotland,’ he stressed. ‘They are not a bad team. ‘The richest man in Romania has them and I played against them in January (when he was boss of Stromsgodset in the Copa del Sol tournament) and they have some quality players there. ‘But if you look at the group, you see that they don’t have any points yet and that is a sign they may be a little bit weaker than Salzburg and Zagreb but those two teams are very good.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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The Polish keeper was allegedly assaulted by another Premiership player .
Zaluska was out for a meal when the incident is said to have occurred .
United released a statement revealing they are conducting an investigation .
Zaluska set to take his place in Celtic's squad for their Europa League clash .
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By . Jonathan Veal, Press Association . Rotherham's dream of back-to-back promotions is still alive after they booked their place in the League One play-off final at Wembley by beating Preston 3-1 in a blockbusting semi-final second leg. The Millers, who won automatic promotion from League Two last year, have had a magnificent season but they saved one of their best performances for the most important night and prospered thanks to goals from Wes Thomas, Lee Frecklington and Kieran Agard. Rotherham boss Steve Evans was forced to usher ecstatic fans off the pitch when they ran on before the final whistle, but he could not hold back the jubilant hordes when their place at Wembley was confirmed. Going to Wembley: Kieran Agard celebrates scoring Rotherham's third goal in the play-off win against Preston . Packed out: Rotherham fans staged a pitch invasion at the end of the game . Man of the people: Rotherham's James Tavernier finds leaving the pitch harder than expected . Heroes: Rotherham can gain back-to-back promotions if they beat Leyton Orient at Wembley on May 25 . Party animal: Steve Evans led the Rotherham celebrations in the directors' box . On the edge: Evans is supported as he waves to the Rotherham fans on the pitch below . It was a trademark display of attacking . endeavour, orchestrated by the influential Ben Pringle, which could have . yielded a bigger winning margin but was enough to set up a date at the . home of football with Leyton Orient. Simon . Grayson's men more than played their part in an enthralling clash as . they took the lead early on through Paul Gallagher's free-kick and then . twice hit the woodwork in their attempts to get back into it though Jake . King and Joe Garner. But North End, who were among the pre-season favourites to go up, will now spend a fourth season in League One. The . tie was finely poised after Saturday's 1-1 first leg draw at Deepdale, . but after a cagey opening the visitors seized the advantage in the 16th . minute. Rotherham . defender Kari Arnason needlessly fouled Garner and from the resulting . free-kick 30 yards out Gallagher's dangerous delivery evaded everyone, . creeping into the far corner. However, . the Millers' response was swift and after Arnason should have atoned . for his error almost immediately with a header that was superbly saved . by Declan Rudd, they levelled in the 24th minute. From . a free-kick in a similar position to Preston's Pringle whipped in an . equally delicious centre, which Thomas got a flying header to and it . sailed through the hands of Rudd. That . quick riposte gave the Millers the impetus and again thanks to . Pringle's incisive left foot they took the lead 10 minutes before the . break. The . midfielder, who attracted interest from Reading earlier in the season, . was afforded time and space on the left and sent in a pinpoint delivery . which a late-arriving Frecklington superbly headed in off the post. In front: Preston took the lead early on thanks to Paul Gallagher's goal but were then outclassed . Fightback: Wes Thomas got the hosts back on level terms less than 10 minutes after Preston's opener . Heads in front: Lee Frecklington then scored to put Rotherham 2-1 up before half-time . Game over: Agard made sure of the victory by adding a third goal for Rotherham in the 67th minute . The . game was now completely open and Preston had several chances to claw . themselves level before the break, but Garner and Gallagher both shot . over. And . the Millers' biggest escape came on the stroke of the interval, . goalkeeper Adam Collin left to thank a higher power as he inexplicably . allowed John Welsh's shot to slip through his grasp but he breathed a . huge sigh of relief as it dropped just wide. The . see-saw nature of the clash continued into the second half and Pringle . almost put his side further ahead, but his sweet volley crashed into the . bar while North End's top scorer Garner went close to emulating his . superb first-leg volley with an effort at the back post from Gallagher's . cross which flew over. After . Gallagher wasted a free header from 12 yards the Millers put one foot . on Wembley Way in the 67th minute thanks to Agard's 26th goal of the . season. But . his strike owed much to the creativity of James Tavernier who foraged . down the right, twisted David Buchanan inside and out and rolled the . ball across for Agard to turn into the bottom corner. Preston . did not lie down as they desperately tried to mount a recovery, King's . 35-yard effort clipping a defender on the way through and crashing into . the upright before Garner endured a similar fate, as the Millers did . enough to win. Out of luck: Preston boss Simon Grayson has got teams promoted from League One three times before . Job well done: Rotherham boss Steve Evans contests a decision during his side's win against Preston . Staying put: Preston and Kevin Davies are now resigned to another season in League One . Lights, camera: While Rotherham will face Leyton Orient at Wembley on May 25 .
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Rotherham fight back from a goal down to beat Preston in League One play-offs .
They will now face Leyton Orient on May 25 for a place in the Championship .
Steve Evans' side only gained promotion from League Two last year .
Preston boss Simon Grayson will not add a fourth promotion to his CV this season .
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A passenger on board the missing AirAsia flight is believed to a commerce student at Melbourne's Monash University. Kevin Alexander Soetjipto was seated in 6A on the QZ8501 flight and was travelling with family members. The aircraft went missing on Sunday morning after leaving Surabaya airport at 5.35am (Indonesian local time) and was meant to arrive at Singapore's Changi Airport. Scroll down for video . Kevin Alexander Soetjipto was seated in 6A on the QZ8501 flight and was travelling with family members . The plane (pictured above) lost contact with air traffic control at 6.24am and has been missing ever since . But the plane lost contact with air traffic control at 6.24am and has been missing ever since. Search efforts have been focused over the Java Sea, with objects and oil patches spotted in water inside the search zone on Monday but it could not be confirmed if this was the flight's wreckage. According to his social media page, Mr Soetjipto - who is originally from Malang, Indonesia - lives in Melbourne and started studying at the university's Clayton campus in 2013. The student had recently travelled to New Zealand and photos showed he had an active social life, dining and taking trips to the beach with friends. The student had recently travelled to New Zealand and photos showed he had an active social life, dining with and taking trips to the beach with friends . Before attending Monash University, Mr Soetjipto did a stint at the University of Melbourne's Trinity College, which focuses on foundation courses . Before attending Monash University, Mr Soetjipto did a stint at the University of Melbourne's Trinity College, which focuses on foundation courses. Cindy Clarissa Soetjipto was sitting next to him and is listed as his sister on Facebook. The pair were seated with a relative named Rudy Soetjipto, according to the flight manifest. A spokesman for Monash University told the Herald Sun the community was 'deeply saddened to learn this news' of its 'valued student'. 'We will be offering counselling support to Kevin’s friends and fellow classmates,' Stacey Mair said. 'We offer our sincere thoughts and prayers to all of the families of those on-board the flight.' Search efforts have been focused over the Java Sea, with objects and oil patches spotted in water inside the search zone on Monday .
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Kevin Alexander Soetjipto was seated in 6A on AirAsia's QZ8501 flight .
He was seated next to family members, according to aircraft's manifest .
Mr Soetjipto studies commerce at Monash University's Clayton campus .
University released a statement saying it was 'deeply saddened' by news .
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(CNN) -- A dry and mild spring led Don Villwock, like all of Indiana's corn and soybean farmers, to plant two weeks early this year. He was hopeful for a bountiful Labor Day harvest. But the rain didn't fall and June brought blistering heat. Now, as punishing drought grips the Midwest, Villwock, 61, walks his hard-hit 4,000 acres in southwest Indiana in utter dismay. Where there should have been tall, dark green, leafy plants, there now stand corn stalks that are waist high or, at best, chest high. They are pale in color and spindly. Fragile. Tired. Pull back an ear's husk and you find no kernels, he says. With temperatures rising above 95 degrees, the pollen starts to die. "It's emotionally draining," he said. "The crop got out of the ground very well. We were so optimistic. But maybe a few of us were counting our eggs before they were hatched." The costs of America's worst drought in 24 years is obvious to Villwock, who has been farming for four decades. They are not so apparent to American consumers -- at least, not yet. But down the line, people are certain to be paying more for food this year. Authorities have declared more than 1,000 counties in 26 states as natural disaster areas. A county is generally qualified as a natural disaster area if it has suffered severe drought for eight consecutive weeks. Farmers are then eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. Is the drought hitting your area? Let us know how you're coping on CNN iReport. As of Tuesday, 61% of land in the lower 48 states was experiencing drought conditions -- stretching from Nevada to South Carolina -- the highest percentage in the 12-year record of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The parched conditions come after some areas of the United States suffered record-setting heat waves, killer storms and blazing wildfires. In America's Corn Belt, the prognosis for farmers is grim as fields and pastures become drier by the day. Villwock says the drought is already larger in scope than in 1988, and he fears it will intensify to become worse. Many areas in the southern Midwest are reporting the poorest conditions for June since 1988. Corn prices pop after lower production forecast . "In the hottest areas last week, which were generally dry, crop conditions deteriorated quickly," writes Rich Tinker, author of the Drought Monitor. He says 30% of the corn crop in the 18 primary corn-growing states is now in poor or very poor condition, up from 22% the previous week. Half of America's pastures and ranges are in poor or very poor condition, up from 28% in mid-June, he says. Think it's hot? Imagine living here . The sizzling conditions have also led to a dramatic increase in wildfire activity since mid-June, shortly after the High Park Fire ignited near Fort Collins, Colorado. During the past three weeks, acres scorched by wildfires went up from 1.1 million to 3.1 million. The past 12 months have been the warmest the United States has experienced since the dawn of record-keeping in 1895, the National Climatic Data Center said earlier this week. In Indiana, with water reservoirs at low levels, a mandatory water ban began Friday at noon in Indianapolis in hopes of saving an additional 25 million gallons a day. The ban mainly affects lawn watering. At Bilskie's Market in Indianapolis, owner Jim Bilskie says he has offered customers local produce for 40 years. This year, he's paying more for fruits and vegetables and says he has to pass on the costs. "The cost is high now," Bilskie told CNN affiliate WTHR. "The wholesaler isn't making money. The cost is going up. We're not making money. It's outrageous." Mother nature's kill list . Iowa farmer Dave Miller, 60, has not seen rain in 21 days. His corn looked good until about two weeks ago when the soaring temperatures turned killer. "I'm about 50 percent short of needed moisture," he said. "In parts of southern Indiana, southern Illinois, they have been much drier for a longer period. We looked good, compared to them." At this stage, Miller needs 2 inches of rain right away to carry his corn crop as well as his soybeans, which will start aborting pods without adequate moisture. It will be challenging for many farmers, who often pay $800 to $1,000 per acre to plant a crop. Consumers will be hurting as well down the line when they feel the drought in their pocketbooks, says Miller, who is also the director of research and commodity services at the Iowa Farm Bureau. Corn prices have climbed 45% already, Miller says; soybeans, 22%. "In the short run, that doesn't show up in the grocery store," he said, since most of this corn is used as livestock feed. In fact, he said, meat prices could fall at first if farmers slaughter more animals to decrease the cost of buying feed. But eventually, Americans will pay more at the checkout counter. "It's likely that in three to six months from now, you will start seeing an increase in prices in the meat case," Miller said. "There will be a quicker impact on eggs and poultry because the production cycle is shorter." And even milk could see 4% to 6% price hikes if there are reductions in dairy herds. Villwock, the Indiana farmer, says he must wait now until the fall of 2013 before he can hope for a full harvest. Harsh weather affects everyone, but farmers are especially at the whim of Mother Nature, he says. Meanwhile in Iowa, the forecast Friday included a 30% chance of rain, filling many hearts with hope. But last time Miller checked his radar, not one drop had fallen on his 350 acres. Extreme weather: Get ready to see more of it, scientists say .
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Farmers like Don Villwock in Indiana are worried about poor yields .
They planted early and were optimistic for bountiful crops .
But drought and record-setting temperatures have damaged corn and soybeans .
The drought stretches from Nevada to South Carolina .
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With her glowing skin and yoga body, 45-year-old supermodel Christy Turlington is the walking picture of health. So it comes as little surprise that the mother and maternal health advocate was snapped up by beauty supplement brand Imedeen to become its global ambassador. In a behind the scenes video for her new campaign, Christy opens up about the ageing process, which so many women fear. Not Christy! Scroll down for video . Looking good! Christy Turlington was unveiled as the new face of beauty supplement Imedeen earlier this year and is the star of its behind the scenes campaign video . 'There are no negatives about getting old. The older I get, the more comfortable in my skin I am, it's much more me,' she said. Speaking about their selection of . ambassador, the beauty supplement brand said: 'For us Christy is the . true embodiment of what Imedeen represents.' And right they are, as the yoga . enthusiast showcases a wrinkle-free complexion in video footage released by . the supplement, which promises to boost your complexion. Lucky for some! Speaking about growing old, the 45-year-old said: 'There are no negatives about getting old. The older I get, the more comfortable in my skin I am, it's much more me' Natural beauty: The mother claims she only uses a spot of moisturiser and concealer on her skin daily . Flawless: She swears by the philosophy that less is more and says that caring for her body from the inside is her priority - making her a perfect fit for the brand . Speaking . about her skincare regime, Christy said: 'When I was younger as a model, I was working every day. 'More make-up, lights, and travel so my skin has probably suffered a bit from too much of everything. 'As I got older, I had time to start taking care of myself and my health and my skin really started to come into its own. 'I like the philosophy that less is more. Caring for my skin from the inside out is what I'm most interested in. What I put into my body is really important.' The model maintains that her beauty regime consists of Imedeen, 'a bit of moisuriser' and 'a bit of concealer.' Flawless at 45: Christy Turlington has been . unveiled as the global ambassador for Imedeen beauty supplements, who . say she is the perfect fit . She hasn't aged a day! Christy pictured, left, in November last year, and, right, on the catwalk in the late 80s, is the perfect ambassador for the anti-ageing brand . Her boys: Christy with her son, left, and, right, her husband Edward Burns . The New York based model became a household name as the face of Calvin Klein from 1987 to 2007. She has also worked with the likes of Maybelline and Versace and founded Every Mother Counts (EMC) in 2010 - a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world. The organisation also encourages . people to take action to improve health and well-being of girls and . women worldwide. As part of the partnership, a donation will be made to . EMC on behalf of the Imedeen brand to support Christy’s honourable work. 'Christy . is a true professional and it’s been an amazing experience to be . working with someone that exudes beauty, inside and out,' added the . spokesperson. Rise to fame: The model became a household name as the face of Calvin Klein from 1987 to 2007 .
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Mother announced as Imedeen ambassador .
Discusses ageing process and minimal skincare regime .
Shot to fame as Calvin Klein model in 1987 .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 16:37 EST, 14 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:39 EST, 14 May 2013 . Prosecutors in the Colorado theater shootings have listed about 3,500 potential witnesses they could call during the trial of defendant James Holmes. The estimate was in a motion filed Tuesday. None of the witnesses have been publicly identified. Lawyers also say nearly 40,000 pages of documents about evidence have been filed. Holmes is accused of killing 12 and . injuring 70 in the July 20 shooting at an Aurora movie theater. He's . charged with multiple counts of murder and first-degree murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Changing their stance: James Holmes, pictured during a March court hearing, has now entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity . Back in court: Accused movie theater gunman James Holmes, is led into the courtroom in this sketch . Mom: James Holmes' mother Arlene Holmes, left, is escorted by a member of the defense team as she arrives for Monday's court hearing . Holmes has asked to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity, but the judge hasn't decided whether to accept it. The . judge said that he finds 'good cause' to allow the change in plea but will . not make his decision until May 28 - three days before a new hearing . begins. Holmes had bushy hair and beard at his hearing on Monday. He didn't speak at all and entered the courtroom with his eyes downcast. The not guilty by reason of insanity plea is widely seen as Holmes' best - and perhaps his only - hope of avoiding the death penalty. But his lawyers have held off until now, fearing a wrinkle in the law could cripple their ability to raise his mental health as a mitigating factor during the sentencing phase. Two judges have refused to rule on . the constitutionality of the law, saying the attorneys' objections were . hypothetical because Holmes had not pleaded insanity. Defense: Attorney Daniel King made the request to change Homes' plea to not guilt by reason of insanity in court Monday . Judge: Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos Samour Jr will rule on the plea change on May 28 . The defense had little choice but to have Holmes enter the plea and then challenge the law. Holmes' lawyers announced last week that he would ask to change his plea at Monday's hearing. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Holmes, who faces more than 160 counts of murder and attempted murder charges. They say Holmes, a former neuroscience graduate student, spent months acquiring weapons and ammunition, scouting a theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora and booby-trapping his apartment. Then on July 20, dressed in a police-style helmet and body armor, he opened fire during a packed midnight showing of the Batman film 'The Dark Knight Rises,' prosecutors say. Twelve people were killed and another 70 were injured. Arrest: Much of his actions have hinted that an insanity plea might be in the cards, especially after his first court appearance where he seemed out of it . No motive has emerged in nearly 10 months of hearings, but Holmes' attorneys have repeatedly said their client is mentally ill. He was being treated by a psychiatrist before the attack. The insanity plea carries risks for both sides. Holmes will have to submit to a mental evaluation by state-employed doctors, and prosecutors could use the findings against him. 'It's literally a life-and-death situation with the government seeking to execute him and the government, the same government, evaluating him with regard to whether he was sane or insane at the time he was in that movie theater,' said attorney Dan Recht, a past president of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. Among the risks for prosecutors: They must convince jurors beyond a reasonable doubt that Holmes was sane. If they don't, state law requires the jury to find him not guilty by reason of insanity. 'That's a significant burden on the prosecution,' Recht said. If acquitted, Holmes would be committed to the state mental hospital indefinitely. A judge entered a standard not guilty plea on Holmes' behalf in March, and he needs court permission to change it. Recht said it's a foregone conclusion the judge will accept the new plea to preclude appeals later. The mental evaluation could take weeks or months. Tragic: The shooting at the multiplex left 12 people dead and injured 70 in July 2012 . Evaluators will interview Holmes, his friends and family, and if Holmes permits it, they'll also speak with mental health professionals who treated him in the past, said Dr Howard Zonana, a professor of psychiatry and adjunct professor of law at Yale University. Evaluators may give Holmes standardized personality tests and compare his results to those of people with documented mental illness. They will also look for any physical brain problems. Zonana estimates he has conducted around 200 mental evaluations of criminal defendants, including some death penalty cases. 'All cases are tough,' he said. Meticulous planning, as in the scenario prosecutors laid out against Holmes, doesn't necessarily mean a defendant is sane, Zonana said. Zonana said he helped evaluate Stephen Morgan, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2009 shooting death of Johanna Justin-Jinich in Middletown, Connecticut, where she was attending college. Evidence showed Morgan planned the shooting, Zonana said, 'but he was delusional as hell.'
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Holmes has changed his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity .
Judge will rule on whether to accept insanity plea on May 28 .
Holmes is accused of opening fire on a crowded movie theater during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises on July 20 .
His motive for the shooting has not yet been revealed .
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Lung cancer death rates among European women are expected to overtake those of breast cancer for the first time this year. The trend is largely driven by women in the UK and their long history of smoking, say researchers. Predicted lung cancer incidence for women in Europe is set to rise by 9 per cent between 2009 and 2015, reaching a level of 14.24 per 100,000 of population. In contrast, death rates from breast cancer are due to fall by 10.2 per cent to 14.22 per 100,000. Lung cancer death rates among European women are expected to overtake those of breast cancer this year. This trend is largely driven by British women's propensity to smoke, according to new research (file photo) The bleakest women's lung cancer forecasts are for the UK and Poland, with 2015 death rates of 21 and 17 per 100,000 of population respectively. At the other end of the scale, just eight women per 100,000 are predicted to die from lung cancer in Spain. Despite lung cancer death rates statistically overtaking those of breast cancer, the total number of women dying from breast cancer is calculated to remain slightly higher. Lung cancer is predicted to kill 87,500 European women this year and breast cancer 90,800. Lead researcher Professor Carlo La Vecchia, from the University of Milan in Italy, said: 'UK and Polish women, particularly UK women, have long had much higher lung cancer rates than most other European countries (except Denmark, which is not considered separately in this study). 'This is due to the fact that British women started smoking during the Second World War, while in most other EU countries women started to smoke after 1968. It is worrying that female lung cancer rates are not decreasing in the UK, but this probably reflects the fact that there was an additional rise in smoking prevalence in the UK as well in the post-1968 generation - those born after 1950.' The study looked at cancer rates in 28 EU member states as a whole and also in the six largest countries, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK. As well as assessing overall cancer trends, it focused on individual cancers of the stomach, intestines, pancreas, lung, prostate, breast, and uterus/cervix, as well as leukaemia. It predicted a total of 1,359,100 deaths from cancer in the countries in 2015, corresponding to an incident rate of 138.4 per 100,000 men and 83.9 per 100,000 women. Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Over 41,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK. There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition will eventually develop symptoms including: . People with these symptoms are advised to visit their GP. Source: NHS Choices . Overall cancer deaths were due to fall by 7.5 per cent and 6 per cent in men and women respectively since 2009. In 1988, more than a quarter of men and a fifth of women died of cancer. Compared with that year, more than 325,000 cancer deaths are likely to be avoided in 2015. Predicted death rates for lung, bowel and prostate cancer in men are expected to fall by 9 per cent, 5 per cent and 12 per cent respectively since 2009. Death rates from pancreatic cancer since 2009 are forecast to rise by 4 per cent in men and 5 per cent in women. Prof La Vecchia added: 'We still have to be cautious about the lung cancer rates in women since these are predictions. The data for real death rates in 2015 in the EU as a whole will be available in three to four years. 'Further caution is required due to the fact that the absolute numbers of deaths in 2015 remains higher for breast than for lung. However, the 2015 predictions confirm our projections on long-term trends made two years ago that lung cancer death rates would overtake breast cancer in women around 2015.' Co-author Professor Fabio Levi, from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, said: 'While the downward trends in overall cancer death rates is good news, smoking still remains the greatest cause of cancer deaths in the EU. 'For instance, smoking probably accounts for 15 per cent to 25 per cent of all pancreatic cancers, 85 per cent to 90 per cent of all lung cancers, and is implicated in a number of other cancers too. The differences in death rates between European countries remains a concern, with higher rates in the member states that joined most recently, such as the central and eastern European countries.' The findings appear in the journal Annals Of Oncology, whose associate editor for epidemiology Professor Paolo Boffetta said: 'The decrease in overall cancer mortality rates among European men and women which started in the 1990s does not seem to slow down: this is the major favourable conclusion of the 2015 report. The bleakest women's lung cancer forecasts are for the UK and Poland, with 2015 death rates of 21 and 17 per 100,000 of population respectively. Pictured is a chest X-ray of a smoker showing lung cancer . 'On the other hand, the continuing increase in lung cancer mortality among European women represents a challenge for cancer control, and the steady increase in pancreatic cancer deserves high priority for research.' Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: 'This latest forecast is unfortunately not surprising, and demonstrates once again just how poorly the UK measures up to the rest of Europe in this arena. Lung cancer rates in UK women far exceed those of their EU neighbours - and should be a cause of national embarrassment. 'More than four in five cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking. It is essential that women - and men - quit smoking to lessen their chances of developing this condition or, better yet, never start at all. 'If we are to reduce the death toll of this devastating cancer, we must see it given the same level of investment in research as we have seen afforded to other cancers, such as breast cancer. 'It is also essential we see greater awareness of signs and symptoms, such as a persistent cough, to improve early diagnosis.'
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Lung cancer death rates are set to overtake breast cancer deaths this year .
Researchers blame high levels of smoking especially in Britain and Poland .
British women started smoking regularly during the Second World War .
European women only took up the habit in the late 1960s .
Breast cancer rates are falling while lung cancer is on the increase .
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A University of Arizona Professor is under fire after suggesting the the U.S. military poses a bigger threat than ISIS. In an article Musa al-Gharbi who is an instructor in the university's Department of Government and Public Service program says, 'it would not be a stretch to say that the United States is actually a greater threat to peace and stability in the region than ISIS.' The piece, entitled How Much Moral High Ground Does the US Have Over ISIS? the instructor portrays American soldiers as anti-Muslim rapists who commit crimes on par with - or even worse than ISIS itself. Outspoken: University of Arizona faculty member Musa al-Gharbi claimed in an online column that the U.S. military is as much of a threat to Middle East peace as ISIS . Al-Gharbi's comments, published in the online publication TruthOut and several other places, attracted outrage from experts who said that taxpayer funds should not be supplementing a university that encourages such dialogue about current events. 'U.S. policies in Iraq, Libya, and Syria have largely paved the way for ISIS's emergence as a major regional actor,' al-Gharbi wrote. Al-Gharbi argues that the isolated instances of U.S. soldiers committing atrocities including rape, for which they face court-martial and imprisonment if found guilty, are on a level with the widespread and systematic brutality of Islamic State radicals . 'Many of the same behaviors condemned by the Obama administration and used to justify its most recent campaign into Iraq and Syria are commonly perpetrated by U.S. troops and are ubiquitous in the broader American society,' al-Gharbi said. Blunt: Al-Gharbi claimed that the isolated instances of U.S. soldiers committing atrocities including rape, for which they face court-martial and imprisonment if found guilty, are on a level with the widespread and systematic brutality of Islamic State radicals . Vocal: Al-Gharbi also claimed that the U.S. military has been 'heavily infiltrated by white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups.' 'The initial driver of U.S. involvement was the outrage over ISIS' capture of thousands of Yazidi women and the sexual violence subsequently exercised against them—horrors which provided moral credence to the war against ISIS in much the same way that the 2001 U.S. war against the Taliban was justified in part by highlighting the plight of Afghan women living under their rule,' he wrote. 'However, over the course of that war, and the subsequent 2003 war in Iraq, U.S. soldiers and contractors repeatedly used rape as a weapon of war, both against prisoners and the local civilian population,' al-Gharbi writes. 'But perhaps more disturbing than the crimes committed by U.S. personnel against Iraqis and Afghans were the atrocities committed by servicemen against their fellow soldiers.' 'U.S. soldiers and contractors have and continue to torture their enemies, often taking obscene photos to brag about and reminisce upon their acts,' al-Gharbi writes. He then goes on to claim that the U.S. military has been 'heavily infiltrated by white-supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups.' Candid: Al-Gharbi said he is trying address tough questions in provocative ways . Critics of the piece are calling for the University of Arizona to condemn his views. The University of Arizona has issued at statement regarding the article: . Musa al-Gharbi, the author of the opinion piece, was not writing for any part of his employment at the University of Arizona. He is a limited term adjunct instructor who teaches one class this semester and is a member of a volunteer research collective that receives no state or university funding. He wrote the editorial as a private citizen. The op-ed is his personal opinion and labeled as such. The ideas expressed in Mr. al-Ghabri's opinion piece have offended and distressed many in the University of Arizona community and beyond. We also acknowledge his First Amendment right that allows him to publish his thoughts as a private citizen.
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Musa al-Gharbi argued that America’s moral outrage at IS’s crimes is hypocritical .
Al-Gharbi goes on to argue that U.S. soldiers commit atrocities, including rape, that are on a level with the crimes committed by IS’s radical militants .
He also goes on to claim that the U.S. military has been 'heavily infiltrated by white-supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups'
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Having kept his job on the basis that he provides more entertainment, Sam Allardyce can be quite pleased with this start to the season. There was no shortage of incident at Upton Park. Unfortunately for Allardyce and West Ham, they were on the wrong end of the fun supplied by two red cards, a penalty miss and a winner in the second minute of added time. Tottenham new-boy Eric Dier settled the derby, sprinting forward from right-back to collect a pass from Harry Kane, skip around goalkeeper Adrian and roll the ball into the net. Cue delirium from Spurs fans and familiar grumbles from the East End natives. VIDEO Scroll down to watch the brilliant moment a pitch invader takes free-kick in West Ham vs Tottenham match . Dream debut: Eric Dier rounds West Ham keeper Adrian in added time and rolls the ball home to win the match for Tottenham . Pure joy: The Tottenham players run over to celebrate with their jubilant fans after Dier's late winner . Distraught: Kyle Naughton (No 16) holds his head in his hands after being sent off for handball in the area . Red mist: James Collins (second right) is sent off by referee Chris Foy (right) in the second half . West Ham (4-1-4-1): Adrian 7; O’Brien 6 (Demel 62, 6), Collins 6, Reid 7, Cresswell 7; Noble 6; Downing 7, Nolan 6, Kouyate 6, Vaz Te 5 (Diame 67, 6); Cole 6.5 (Valencia 81). Subs: Jaaskelainen, Burke, Poyet, Zarate. Booked: Collins, Kouyate. Sent off: Collins. Manager: Sam Allardyce 6. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris 8; Naughton 6, Kaboul 7, Dier 7, Rose 6; Capoue 6, Bentaleb 5; Eriksen 6, Lamela 6.5 (Holtby 61, 5), Lennon 6 (Townsend 61, 6); Adebayor 6 (Kane 83). Subs: Friedel, Dawson, Davies, Soldado. Sent off: Naughton . Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 7. Man of the match: Hugo Lloris . Referee: Chris Foy 5. For Dier, it is a dream-like debut after his transfer from Sporting Lisbon, having started the game at centre-half and finished as a rampaging full-back. ‘I would’ve been happy with a clean sheet,’ said Dier. ‘I wasn’t expecting to get up the other end and score. I’m not sure I got there, I just made a run inside and it [the ball] found me. I’d like to score more goals, so I’m happy.’ For Mauricio Pochettino, this flattering win was a perfect start to life as Daniel Levy’s ninth Spurs boss in 11 years. His team were a man down and under pressure for 33 minutes after Kyle Naughton had been dismissed but before James Collins was also sent off. ‘The important thing is to never give up,’ said Pochettino. ‘There are times in football that are difficult to manage but the team believed. We kept our offensive players on the pitch. We didn’t change. This was the signal from the dugout.’ West Ham had been the better team and ought to have been ahead when, after half an hour, Kevin Nolan spun over a dropping ball, connected with a half-volley on the turn and the ball crashed into the hands of Naughton. Referee Chris Foy hesitated. Here was a dilemma. The distance between ball and hand was short and the ball had travelled at incredible speed. Naughton had no chance to adjust but the shot was hurtling towards goal. Assistant referee Michael McDonough was flagging but wanted to indicate a corner, rather than a penalty. Foy, however, once his mind was made up, pointed to the spot and sent off Naughton. ‘The card was unfair,’ said Pochettino. ‘But the most important thing was the team kept calm and carried on.’ Back in the game: Erik Lamela, who started for Tottenham, tries to beat West Ham forward Ricardo Vaz Te . Tussle: Aaron Lennon (left) and Joey O'Brien grapple for the ball in the early exchanges . Committed: Christian Eriksen puts in a challenge on West Ham new boy Aaron Cresswell at Upton Park . Making an impression: Naughton is challenged byanother West Ham debutant, Cheikhou Kouyate . Running away with it: Eriksen beats Cresswell and leaves the Hammers defender on the turf . MINS PLD KM MILES . West Ham total 108.5 67.4 . Mark Noble 90 12.4 7.7 . Kevin Nolan 90 11.5 7.2 . Cheikhou Kouyate 90 11.1 6.9 . Tottenham total 109.8 68.2 . Christian Eriksen 90 12.6 7.9 . Nabil Bentaleb 90 11.5 7.1 . Danny Rose 90 10.8 6.7 . Pochettino admitted that he was not so calm on the touchline, however, saying: ‘Yes but it’s difficult on the line because it’s impossible to run and it’s impossible to jump, but the team deserved the three points. It was always in our mind, even at 10 v 11, that it was possible to win. That is our philosophy.’ The excitement at Upton Park was quickly punctured when Noble sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way from the spot and rolled his penalty wide. Allardyce’s team continued to create and squander chances — no player was more wasteful than Ricardo Vaz Te — and Lloris was inspired in the Spurs goal, making two brilliant second-half saves to deny Stewart Downing, the second shortly before Dier’s winner. The numbers were levelled when Collins was sent off for a second yellow card for two innocuous fouls. His first was for a nudge on Erik Lamela on half-way, his second for a block on Emmanuel Adebayor, when the Spurs striker was looking to be fouled, without support, 25 yards from goal. ‘There were three big factors,’ said Allardyce. ‘One is not being clinical enough after creating chances. Then poor Mark Noble misses a penalty for the first time in my time at the club. Then allowing ourselves to go to 10 v 10. ‘I can’t fault the performance but we were very naive. We had enough to win and paid the ultimate price. This league will punish you.’ As for keeping the owners entertained, he added: ‘We had 20 attempts on goal and the opposition hardly had any. We haven’t deserved to lose. We played very well and we have a lot of players to come back. On that performance our season will be a good one. ‘If they were going to sack me after one game they might as well have done it at the end of last season. Why wait until now?’ Harsh: The ball hits Naughton on the arm and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot . Lonely walk: Naughton trudges off the Upton Park pitch following his harsh red card . Bad miss: Mark Noble surprisingly puts the penalty wide of Hugo Lloris's right-hand post . I don't believe it: Noble's head is in his hands (right) after his miss as Lloris (left) celebrates . Hang on a minute! A pitch invader takes a free-kick as Tottenham midfielder Eriksen looks on bemused . Going for the corner: The pitch invader shoots for goal as the players watch in surprise . Get off: Stewards finally restrain the invader and manage to get him off the Upton Park pitch . Dier diary: The young Tottenham defender begins to celebrate his dramatic late winner for his new club . Mob rule: Tottenham's players pile on to Dier (obstructed) as Lewis Holtby (left) and Danny Rose (stood up, centre) celebrate . Eric Dier scored the winner for Tottenham on his debut... for more go to our brilliant Match Zone .
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Naughton saw red for handball in the first half .
Mark Noble missed resulting penalty for West Ham .
Collins dismissed by Chris Foy in second half .
Dier scored winner for Tottenham on debut in stoppage time .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . VIDEO Scroll down to see Dawn French speaking at the time of her divorce to Lenny Henry . Racism: Dawn French revealed she and ex-husband Lenny Henry were victims of an arson attack . Dawn French has spoken out about the racist abuse she suffered during her marriage to Lenny Henry, revealing that her house was nearly burnt down in an arson attack as the couple slept. The 56-year-old star, said: ‘It was massively shocking to me. Someone put an oily rag through our front door and tried to burn us down. Luckily I woke up and smelt it, otherwise I’m not sure we would be here.’ Dawn, who has a mixed-race daughter Billie, 23, with Lenny, 55, is concerned that racist attitudes have not changed in 30 years. And she believes that her daughter and ex-husband – who recently found himself at the centre of a race row after a UKIP candidate said he should leave Britain to live in a black country – are experiencing racism by stealth. The comedienne and actress said: ‘It’s the little snidey comments or things people think it is OK to say, a kind of gradual erosion that I find particularly dangerous.’ The pair, who split in 2010 after 25 years of marriage, have previously spoken of other shocking abuse they suffered as a mixed-race couple. They were once targeted by members of the Ku Klux Klan who smeared excrement on their front door and doorstep and daubed graffiti on their walls. Miss French made her comments on Friday evening’s BBC Radio 4 Front Row show while promoting her first solo touring show about her life, Thirty Million Minutes. Commenting on her body image, Miss French who has seen her weight fluctuate in recent years, said: ‘You are just never allowed to be anything other than a fat woman,’ she said. ‘And I thought, let me have control of this. If I can talk about things in my own voice and control how it is said, then that is best.’ She said she would not be discussing her new husband, charity boss Mark Bignell, 51, in her stage show. But she revealed she regards him as her ’sacrificial anode’. Long relationship: Dawn French and Lenny Henry, who has a daughter Billie, 23, split up in 2010 after 25 years of marriage . She said: ‘A sacrificial anode is a piece of metal which is put on the side of a boat, usually a big boat, and it gathers all the corrosion and the rust to it, so that the boat survives for longer. And that is how I regard him.’ Asked how they met she added: ‘He had known my mother for years and was a colleague of hers, helping people with drug and alcohol problems. ‘I hadn’t noticed him as I was happily married. Then I did notice him and that was that.’ Ukip candidate William Henwood was forced to resign from the party last month after he suggested Lenny, should emigrate to a ‘black country’ . His remark came after the star launched a campaign for more people from ethnic minorities on British TV and media.
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Dawn French and comedian Lenny Henry suffered racist abuse .
Couple, who were married for 25 years, were victims of arson attack .
French believes that Britain is experiencing 'racism by stealth'
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(CNN)Brazilian surf star Ricardo dos Santos has died after reportedly being shot by an off-duty police officer. Heartbroken tributes poured in from the 24-year-old's surfing peers. "An incredible human being!" wrote Carlos Burle, another top Brazilian surfer, in a post on Instagram. He said dos Santos had "a whole life ahead of him." "RIP Ricardo dos Santos. Forever in our hearts," tweeted Tiago Pires, a leading Portuguese surfer. Dos Santos was "a fearless, world-class tuberider" who "captured the surf world's attention" at the 2012 Billabong Pro event in Tahiti, according to Surfer magazine. The off-duty police officer shot dos Santos three times in the chest Monday after the two had an argument in front of the surfer's family home in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, according to CNN affiliate Record News. Doctors carried out surgery four times to try to save him, the broadcaster reported. As his life hung in the balance, many of his friends and fans took to social media, pulling for him to make a recovery. Some urged people to make blood donations. "We're all together with you, brother," Burle wrote on Instagram. But the doctors couldn't stop the bleeding. Dos Santos died Tuesday. "We need to pray and thank God for the time he lived among us," his father said. "A great athlete, he was an example." The police officer suspected in the shooting, identified as Luis Paulo Mota Brentano, has been arrested but says he shot the surfer in self-defense, according to Record News. Many in the surfing community found it hard to grasp what had happened. "He represented all of us very well and was very well recognized for his hard work and also was a very good person," said Gabriel Medina, Brazil's first surfing world champion. "There are certain things that we do not understand." Adriano de Souza, another Brazilian pro-surfer, said it was difficult to find words for the situation. "What to say when you lose a great friend?" he asked in Facebook post. "What to say when you lose somebody as happy, good-hearted and at one with life as Ricardo?" CNN's Windson Moreira contributed to this report.
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The 24-year-old was "a fearless, world-class tuberider," Surfer magazine says .
He had "a whole life ahead of him," says fellow surfer Carlos Burle .
An off-duty officer suspected of shooting dos Santos has been arrested, CNN affiliate reports .
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David Moyes has revealed that he was offered the chance to return to the Premier League, but turned it down in favour of a chance to impress in La Liga. Moyes was unveiled as the new manager of Real Sociedad in a press conference, and the former Everton and Manchester United man admitted he could still be in managing in England's top division. ‘To be completely fulfilled as a coach, you have to try different cultures. I’ve always wanted to work abroad,' said the 51-year-old Scot. VIDEO Scroll down for David Moyes unveiled as Real Sociedad's new head coach . David Moyes was unveiled to the press in San Sebastian on Thursday afternoon . Moyes then took to the Anoeta Stadium pitch to pose with a Sociedad scarf . ‘I never had any doubt (that I would get back into football). I had several offers to manage in the Premier League. ‘But this is the opportunity to manage in La Liga. I think it has overtaken the PL because of the quality of the teams, getting regularly into the latter stages of the Champions League.’ When pressed for comment on which Premier League teams had offered him a route back into management, Moyes refused to comment, stating, 'I would never do that. You know it's not my style.' Moyes (right) shakes hands with Director General Lorenzo Juarros prior to his first training session . Former Everton and Manchester United man Moyes took to the field to watch his players in action . Moyes penned an 18-month contract with Sociedad, a far cry from the initial six-year deal he was given at Old Trafford. With reports he was offered four years in Spain, questions were raised as to why he opted for the shorter contract. 'I had the choice. The president gave me the opportunity. But I had a six year contract at United and I lasted nine months. So don’t get too caught up in the length of the contract. I don’t pay much attention to that.’ The Scotsman joins Real Sociedad with the club lagging in the lower echelons of La Liga, and Moyes explained the reasons for his decision to move to Spain. 'What convinced me to come was the president,' he explained. 'He was fantastically passionate about his club. He told me how special it was. His love for the club was what pulled me here. Moyes poses with the blue-and-white stripes of Real Socidad in front of the cameras . Moyes follows in the footsteps of John Toshack (left) and Chris Coleman (right) at Real Sociedad . The Real Socidad squad gather in a circle as they meet their manager for the first time since his appointment . ‘But this is a big challenge. It’s an opportunity to show British managers can go and work abroad. Hopefully I’m the first of many.’ ‘Me and the president have had some long conversations. But I had to be sure I was climbing to a club with ambition, because I want to win. We’ve only won two games this season but hopefully we can improve on that. 'I see great morale among the players since I’ve been here and I think I have been lifted by the result they had last Sunday.’ Moyes is the fourth Brit to manage Real Sociedad, following on from Harry Lowe, John Toshack - who enjoyed three separate spells in charge between 1985 and 2002 - and latterly Chris Coleman. Moyes enjoyed a very successful 11 years as the manager of Everton in the Premier League . His nine-month stint at Old Trafford was less successful though, and he was sacked in April 2014 . It is Moyes' first foray into foreign management, and he cited La Liga's history of British managers as a contributing factor to his decision. 'Real (Sociedad) have had a great history of having British managers - John Toshack and Chris Coleman. And some of the greatest British managers have come and worked in La Liga - Bobby Robson and Terry Venables. 'I’m not putting myself at their level but this is an opportunity to test myself against the best and hopefully I can do well here.’ And Moyes is far from in the dark when it comes to his new club. His knowledge, he insisted, goes right back to the early 1980s when he faced them wearing a Celtic shirt. Moyes stood at the corner of the Anoeta pitch to pose with the stadium behind him . The Scot took a stroll around the ground with club president Jokin Aperribai . ‘I knew a lot about Real Sociedad from a long time back. I came here in 82/83. I was with Celtic when we played Real Sociedad. I know all about the club, about the city. I also went to see La Real in Aberdeen when they qualified for the Europa League. I’m looking forward to getting stuck right into the job. I feel the job fits my character.’ Moyes' job now is to stamp his mark on Sociedad as he did with Everton. He was asked at the press conference whether he will be bringing in players from the Premier League. 'I will add staff in time. I can’t tell you how many people want to come and work here. I can't tell you how many players want to come and work here.’
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David Moyes was sacked as manager of Manchester United in April .
He was unveiled as the new manager of Real Sociedad on Thursday .
Moyes said he received offers to manage in the Premier League .
He cited the club's great tradition of British managers, with Moyes following on from Harry Lowe, John Toshack and Chris Coleman .
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Shanghai (CNN) -- One of the key issues the next generation of China's leaders will have to consider when they take the reins in November is whether to let social media continue to develop as an increasingly important force in shaping government policy. Early signs are strong that Beijing will encourage or at least tolerate the growth of microblogging sites like Sina Weibo, and instant messaging services like Tencent WeChat, which have been allowed to develop relatively unfettered despite their potential to become breeding grounds for critical public debate over social issues. Beijing is quickly realizing these fast-developing social media can be an important way to get public feedback on social issues as China goes through a wide range of growing pains in its transformation from a planned to a more market-oriented economy. Equally important, Beijing also understands that social media can be an important tool for getting out the Communist Party's own message as it tries to show an increasingly restless public it is hearing their concerns. The rise of social media in China has been anything but smooth and tolerant over the last five years, as big names like Facebook and Twitter soared to global prominence on their ability to let millions of people around the world connect and interact in new ways based on factors like personal interests and social background. Both Facebook and Twitter were gaining a nascent foothold in China with their ground-breaking services when an uneasy Beijing abruptly blocked their sites in 2009. People power a sign of times in China's internet age . No official reason was ever given, as is always the case when propaganda officials take such actions; but the timing of the move just before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown led many to suspect that Beijing was worried the sites could become hotbeds for debate and discussion on a highly sensitive matter that to this day is banned from all Chinese media, both traditional and new. The blockage of both Twitter and Facebook continues to this day, reflecting Beijing's clear unease at letting average Chinese form online communities through sites that are based outside China and therefore don't have to play by the country's strict self-censorship rules. By comparison, Beijing has become more comfortable letting homegrown, China-based sites with names like Weibo, WeChat and Kaixin fill a demand from average Chinese for social networking services over the desktop Internet and increasingly via smartphones. Unlike the big offshore-based names, domestic players, and anyone operating a China-based service for that matter, must follow Beijing's strict self-censorship rules and immediately remove any content banned by central propaganda officials or risk big fines and even closure. The homegrown Chinese services have had to walk a difficult tightrope as they tried to build commercial services while waiting for Beijing to take a clear stance on how much it was willing to tolerate in the world of online public debate. Beijing initially took a line of relative tolerance, only to slam on the brakes periodically when angry debate started getting out of control during discussion of sensitive topics like the high-speed rail crash in Zhejiang province last year that left more than 30 dead and 200 injured. Beijing's growing unease with the situation came to a head in late 2011 when it ordered social networking sites to register all of their users with their real names. China's 'Twitter' introduces contracts to curb rumors . The controversial policy was theoretically designed to limit rumor mongering, but many suspected it was actually a form of intimidation aimed at limiting public debate from people who liked to express their views under the protection of anonymity. But despite its draconian nature, that policy was never strictly enforced as Beijing appeared to ultimately stand aside and let social networking sites implement their own less-drastic measures to limit rumor mongering and other controversial behavior. Around the same time, Beijing also started sending a set of completely opposite signals through traditional state-run media that openly praised the new social media sites. That campaign saw publication of a series of articles praising the sites as a powerful tool for government and other state-controlled agencies to issue regular updates on their activities and get feedback on new initiatives and steps they were taking to address public concerns. This hot-and cold approach probably reflects Beijing's initial lack of understanding of the power of social media, followed by its growing level of comfort as it realizes the medium's potential as a valuable and also controllable tool to understand and address public concerns. While it's too early to say what approach the new leadership will take, the absence of a broader crackdown in the space, a practice often seen at this kind of politically sensitive time, means the current atmosphere of relative tolerance is likely to continue as Beijing learns the importance of accurately gauging public opinion and responding accordingly to people's concerns.
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Beijing blows hot and cold on social media and its role as a forum for public debate .
Home-grown sites like Weibo are valued as a controllable tool .
Facebook, Twitter remain blocked amid fears they could become hotbeds of dissent .
Current atmosphere of relative tolerance is likely to continue under China's new leaders .
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By . Taylor Auerbach . and Candace Sutton . Star Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill and his wife Sara have been charged with drug possession after security guards at Randwick Racecourse allegedly found them with cocaine in a private suite at the races on Saturday. Huegill, 35, was at the newly-renovated racecourse with his wife Sara Hills, 30, late on Saturday afternoon around an hour after the last race had run when police and security guards watched CCTV of the couple entering a disabled toilet together. The Huegills, who are the parents of two daughters, Mila, 2, and a three month old baby girl, were guests at the running of the Australian Turf Club's $400,000 race, the Champagne Stakes, which is sponsored by Moet & Chandon. Police noticed the couple stayed in the toilets for some time. When the Huegills re-emerged and returned to the Moet & Chandon private box, police interviewed and around 5.45pm allegedly took possession of a small bag of cocaine. A day at the races: Geoff Huegill and his wife Sara Hills in a picture posted on Instagram of them in a private box at Royal Randwick racecourse where they allegedly were arrested in possession of cocaine . Champagne Stakes: Geoff Huegill's picture posted on Instagram taken at the running of the Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse where he and his wife Sara were arrested and charged with possession of cocaine . A group of police then made a detailed search of the area with a sniffer dog. Through their lawyer, Paul Hunt, the couple has declined to comment about the charges which are due before court next month. Mr Hunt issued a statement confirming the couple has been ordered to face court. It is uncertain now whether Huegill will make an appearance alongside some of Australia's most prominent sports men and women at the inaugural Sporting Legends lunch in Sydney this Friday. Huegill also runs his own fitness business, Club Skip, and represents the vitamin company, Swisse. An extremely close friend of Geoff Huegill's reacted with shock when MailOnline told him of the charge. 'You're kidding me aren't you,' he said when informed of the Saturday afternoon nab. 'I didn't have a clue, I'm sorry to hear that. He called me this morning, I had a missed call from him, I'd rather not comment further.' Geoff Huegill and his wife Sara Hills will appear in court next month after they allegedly were in possession of cocaine in a private box at Randwick racecourse . Charged: Geoff Huegill and wife Sara were charged after allegedly being found with white powder on Saturday . Racegoers were at Randwick for the final Saturday of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. 'Police were patrolling Randwick Racecourse as part of their normal duties,' a NSW police spokesman told the MailOnline. 'They were directed to a suite in the grandstand by security guards where a 35-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were allegedly found with a small quantity of white powder, believed to be cocaine. 'They were issued with a field court attendance notice for the offence of possessing an illegal drug.' The Daily Telegraph reported Huegill was seen being escorted from the Moet & Chandon lounge by police on Saturday. Huegill has credited his wife, a former publicist who he married in 2011, with turning his life around after a battled with obesity, drugs and depression. Comeback: Geoff Huegill holds his bronze medal after coming third in the men's 50-metre butterfly at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai in 2011 . Back in the pool: a toned and trimmed down Huegill back in the pool in 2012 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials in Adelaide a year after his marriage at Sara Hills, who he credited with turning his life around after he succumbed to drugs, alcohol and depression after his swimming career stalled . He revealed then that he had taken drugs and suffered from depression when he retired from swimming after the 2004 Athens Olympics.Free of the discipline of 4am starts, Huegill engaged in binge drinking and became so hooked on fatty food that he put on 45kg. He also said he had suicidal thoughts.'My life from about 2005 to 2007, I experimented with many different things. I guess that's a story that's in my past,' he told the Nine Network. Huegill was the world record holder in the 50m butterfly between 2000 and 2003. Four years ago, a slimmed down Huegill made a successful comeback and won gold medals at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, and a bronze at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai. Sydney lawyer, Paul Hunt, issues a written confirmation 'that on Saturday 26 April 2014, while attending a function at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, my clients Geoff and Sara Huegill were each issued with a Court Attendance Notice by NSW Police in relation to an alleged offence. 'As the matter is not yet resolved, my clients do not intend to make any further comment atthis point in time.' The Australian Turf Club declined to comment, 'as it is a police matter' but said the club 'has a zero tolerance policy on illicit drugs'. The pair will front Waverly Local Court on May 14 charged with possession of a prohibited substance. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill and wife Sara arrested at Royal Randwick .
The couple allegedly had cocaine in a private suite at the racecourse .
Up to 30 police officers swarmed into private boxes to make arrests .
The Huegills are parents of a two-year-old girl and baby daughter .
Geoff Huegill credits wife Sara with turning his life around after swimming .
Huegill suffered from drugs and depression after swimming career ended .
The couple will face Waverly Local Court on May 14 on drug possession .
Appearance at sporting legends lunch in Sydney this Friday now in doubt .
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(CNN) -- English Premier League side Everton are pondering proposing a ground share with city rivals Liverpool following the rejection of plans for their own 50,000 stadium. Everton had proposed the new $660 million combined stadium and shopping complex for Kirkby, located north-east of the city, but were rejected by the local council. Chief executive Robert Elstone admits the club could be interested in teaming up with their city neighbours at Stanley Park, the planned location for Liverpool's new 61,000 stadium. "We are going to look forward and look forward positively," Elston told the British Press Association. "A shared stadium is perhaps an option if it's affordable." Everton are keen to take advantage of the increased revenue a bigger stadium would bring over their current 40,000-capacity Goodison Park ground. With their Kirkby proposal, which was to be co-funded by British supermarket chain Tesco, looking unlikely to get the go-ahead a ground share with Liverpool would seem an obvious solution especially with the Reds struggling to raise the necessary money to get the development going. "We have to look at where we can raise money, because potentially Liverpool will have to obviously contribute to that, and Liverpool City Council perhaps might need to find some money," added Elston. "We're going to have to start to have those conversations; we're not going to have to be open-minded about solutions." Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett however have previously said they were opposed to such plans as they did not want to lose out on the revenue streams which come from sole ownership. The Anfield club's position seems unlikely to change, at least in the short term, with their deputy executive director Peter Shaw telling Sky Sports: "It's not on our agenda at the moment. Liverpool are progressing forward with our own stadium. That is the position we are still in." The rejection of the Kirkby stadium proposal is a major blow to Everton's future plans with the club hoping the development would have encouraged much needed investment. "That was the big attraction to Kirkby, that it was affordable," added Elston. "Then it's about reviewing alternatives and sitting down with partners, all the stakeholders in this region and anybody who can help Everton deliver what it needs -- which is a world-class stadium that's going to secure our future for years to come."
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Everton are considering enquiring with city-rivals Liverpool about a possible ground-share .
This follows the rejection of plans for their own new stadium by local council officials .
Liverpool's owners have previously said they would not be keen on sharing with Everton .
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Arrested: Margo Bronstein, 56, has been arrested on suspicion of killing three people and injuring nine others after ploughing into a crowd of churchgoers . The attorney for a 56-year-old woman accused in the deaths of four people, including a 6-year-old boy, said it was an accident when she ran her car into nearly a dozen pedestrians outside a California church. He also described her as someone who 'does not live her life recklessly.' 'Two days ago, three days ago, people that knew her couldn't believe that she'd be in this situation,' said Jeffrey Gray, attorney for Margo Bronstein. Gray pleaded not guilty on Bronstein's behalf Friday to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and one count of driving under the influence of a drug causing injury. Bronstein was wheeled into court on a gurney. She was propped up with pillows and spoke only to her lawyer. A judge ordered her held on $500,000 bail, the amount requested by prosecutors. Gray told the judge the collision was an accident, and not intentional. Outside court, Gray urged people not to jump to conclusions, noting the result of toxicology tests were not yet available and the cause of the incident was still unclear. He said possibilities such as a malfunction of her specially equipped car, which has hand-controlled brakes, or an adverse reaction to her prescribed medication had not been ruled out. 'My concern is there tends to be a lot of, almost a mob mentality about this case,' Gray said. 'It's a tragedy. It's not fair to Miss Bronstein, it's not fair to the decedents' families to speculate.' He said she was brought to court on the gurney because she had been injured in the accident and because of disabilities she has had since birth. Scroll down for video . Plea: Bronstein pleaded not guilty to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter at Torrance Superior Court in California . Chaos: Firefighters attend to one of the crash victims Wednesday after Margot Bronstein drove her car into a group of churchgoers . Victims: Martha Gaza, center, and six-year-old Samuel Gaza, pictured with his mom, were killed in the crash . Five children and eight adults, including the suspect and the driver of another car, suffered injuries such as broken bones, abrasions and head trauma in the crash Wednesday after a student Christmas concert at St. James Catholic Church in Redondo Beach, police said. Samuel Gaza, 6, died late Thursday at a hospital. Three adults died earlier, including the boy's mother, Martha Gaza, 36; along with Mary Anne Wilson, 81; and Saeko Matsumura, 87, all of Torrance. Officials said they do not have information linking Bronstein to any prior arrests or DUI-related incidents. She had a perfect driving record but was restricted to driving a vehicle with hand brakes, an additional right-side mirror and adequate signaling device, according to Department of Motor Vehicle records. Tributes: Mourners placed flowers at a makeshift memorial near where the crash took place . Carnage: As well as the four deaths, many people, including five children, were injured . Reasons? Bronstein's lawyer insisted that the causes of the accident are still unknown .
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Margo Bronstein, 56, issued apology through her lawyer for killings .
Attorney Jeffrey Gray told court that the horror crash was an accident .
Described Bronstein as somebody who 'does not live her life recklessly'
Bronstein, who is disabled and drove adapted car, entered not guilty plea .
Had been charged with four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter .
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The so-called 'Fight of the Century' is still over two months away, but preparations have begun for Manny Pacquiao ahead of his much-anticipated battle with Floyd Mayweather. PacMan, as he is affectionately nicknamed, is at home in the Philippines, and he engaged in some pad work with his trainer at a gym in Manila on Thursday. Pacquiao, whose professional record reads 57 wins, five losses and two draws in his 64 bouts, will soon head to Los Angeles to step up his training ahead of the fight. Manny Pacquaio (left) works on the pads with a trainer in a gym in Manila as he steps up his training . Pacquaio will battle undefeated Floyd Mayweather in May and it has been dubbed 'Fight of the Century' The Filipino shows off his exceptional speed and punching power while pounding the bag . Before he heads across the Atlantic though, Pacquiao will take the time out from boxing to appear in another match for his basketball team Kia Carnival, for whom he is a player-coach. The 36-year-old took to the field on Wednesday as his side recorded a shock 106-103 win over Philippines basketball heavyweights Talk 'N Text, and he will play his last match before the big fight on Saturday, against Blackwater Elite. The bout is worth £160million, making it the most expensive fight of all time, and Pacquiao looked focused as he trained in a white vest. Pacquaio (left) later met the vice president of the Philippines, Jejomar Binay (right) at the Coconut Palace . Pacquiao will travel to LA for a training camp, but is first appearing on the basketball court for Kia Carnival . Pacquiao stands next to Ivan Johnson of Talk 'N Text during Kia Carnival's basketball match on Wednesday .
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Manny Pacquaio is in the Philippines preparing for his May fight .
The Filipino fighter faces Floyd Mayweather in the 'Fight of the Century'
Pacquiao is playing - and coaching - basketball with Kia Carnival and will travel to a training camp in LA after his last match on Saturday .
Click HERE for all the latest Mayweather and Pacquiao boxing news .
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A huge group of angry pupils went on strike yesterday after their school banned them from wearing bracelets in support of a classmate with leukaemia. Police were called in when 100 pupils walked out of lessons at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, after being told they could only wear 'Team Joel' bracelets on a non-uniform day next month. Pupils who want to wear the wristbands in support of Joel Smith - a Year 11 pupil who is undergoing hospital treatment - on other days have been warned they will be violating the school's uniform policy. Tragic case: Joel Smith, a Year 11 pupil at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, died last Thursday evening . Controversy: Police were called by teachers when 100 pupils walked out of lessons at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, after being told they could only wear 'Team Joel' bracelets (pictured) on a non-uniform day . Made by his family: Wristbands in support of leukaemia sufferer Joel Smith and the Teenage Cancer Trust . Showing their support: Pupils at Bilton School in Rugby showed whose side they were on last week . Joel's family have been making and selling the beaded bracelets to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. But yesterday, pupils mounted a protest against the bracelet ban on the school field. Mother Emma Howell told the Daily Mirror that she would support her daughter Laura's participation in the strike, despite it resulting in her missing a mock examination yesterday. She said: 'I support my daughter. If she's excluded for five days there will be no punishment at home. She won't be missing out on anything because she's just revising anyway as she's in Year 11. 'The only resolution I can see is if the school back down because the pupils are very passionate about this, and I can’t see them letting it go.’ The school said it had responded several weeks ago to a request from the children to have a non-uniform day for Joel, and he had requested that pupils wear blue and white coloured clothing. Support for staff and pupils: A Bilton School statement said it was an 'extraordinarily sad and difficult time' Reasoning: The school said it had responded several weeks ago to a request from the children to have a non-uniform day for Joel, and he had requested that pupils wear blue and white coloured clothing . Firm stance: Bilton School refused to let its pupils wear a charity bracelet in support of the pupil every day . This was planned for April 11, but the . school also told pupils that the bracelets could only be sold and . worn on that day - a policy which has caused much anger among the children. A . spokesman said: ‘We spoke to students and said that they could show . their support by attaching the bracelets to bags or keys but not wear . them as bracelets, in order to comply with our policies. 'We called the police who supported us in evaluating the safety of staff and students, which is paramount to us' Bilton School spokesman . ‘This has been the topic of quite extensive social media comment over the last two days, culminating in a call from students and parents for students to strike yesterday. ‘Although this was a largely peaceful event, we called the police who supported us in evaluating the safety of staff and students, which is paramount to us.’ The school added that it then told pupils how it was helping Joel and his family - and the many of them who quickly returned to lessons would make up the lost learning time during detentions. Punishment: The school said it explained to the students how it was helping Joel and his family, and those who quickly returned to lessons would make up the lost learning time during detentions . But the spokesman continued: ‘There were a small minority of students whose actions can only be described as anti-social and potentially dangerous who used this as an opportunity to be disruptive. ‘These students were putting pressure on others not to go back into classrooms and contacted the press. We will be evaluating the actions we will be taking with these students over the next few days.’ 'The only resolution I can see is if the school back down . because the pupils are very passionate about this, and I can’t see them letting . it go’ Emma Howell, mother . The Facebook page 'Spotted: Rugby Town' has been inundated with angry comments since the ban on bracelets was announced. One comment said: ‘Disgraceful, how must Joel be feeling knowing his own school are not supporting him in the biggest fight of his life? They should be ashamed of themselves.’ And another added: ‘Students should keep wearing them, they can't send the whole school home. Show solidarity against a stupid rule.’ Doing their bit: The school said it had responded several weeks ago to a request from students to have a non-uniform day for Joel, and he had requested that students wear blue and white coloured clothing . It comes after MailOnline reported last week that a teacher in Essex allegedly ordered a 10-year-old boy to take off his Help for Heroes wristband because it could cause offence. Tracy Tew was shocked when her son Charlie was put on a report card at Maldon Primary School after he refused to take off the charity rubber bracelet sold to honour injured soldiers. Charlie wore the wristband - bought at the Colchester Military Festival - in honour of murdered soldier Lee Rigby and service personnel in his family, including his great-granddad and uncle. Tracy Thornton, the headmistress at that school, insisted wearing wristbands was against the school’s jewellery policy.
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Police called in when 100 pupils leave lessons at Bilton School in Rugby .
They can only wear 'Team Joel' bracelets on non-uniform day next month .
Joel Smith's family have been making bracelets to raise funds for charity .
Teachers called police to help 'evaluate the safety of staff and students'
Critics label school 'disgraceful' and urge its pupils to 'show solidarity'
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(CNN Student News) -- Students will learn about political parties in the United States. Procedure . Ask students: What is a political party? What role do political parties play in the U.S. presidential election process? Point out that although the Democratic and Republican parties currently dominate the political scene, other parties have nominated individuals for president throughout U.S. history. Have students select a political party that has nominated a candidate for president at any point in U.S. history. Students may want to consider parties such as the Libertarian party, the Whig party, the Green party, and the Bull Moose party. Next, hand out copies of the Political Party Profile Worksheet. Direct students to fill in the worksheet, using their textbooks or online resources to research their chosen parties. Using his or her findings, each student should compose a one-minute speech for a presidential candidate from the party. The speech should touch on major points of the party's history and where it stands on the issues. Extension: . Challenge your students to use original video, music, animation and other production elements to create their own "Talking Democracy" iReports that explain or demonstrate the concept of political parties. The videos should be three minutes or less in length and can be submitted here. The best videos may appear on CNN Student News! Correlated Standards . CIVICS . 9-12 Content Standards . I. What Are Civic Life, Politics, And Government? 1. Defining civic life, politics, and government . 2. Necessity of politics and government . III. How Does The Government Established By The Constitution Embody The Purposes, Values, And Principles Of American Democracy? 14. Political parties, campaigns, and elections . V. What Are The Roles Of The Citizen In American Democracy? 14. The relationship between politics and the attainment of individual and public goals . 15. The difference between political and social participation . 16. Forms of political participation . 17. Political leadership and careers in public service . 18. Knowledge and participation . The National Standards for Civics and Government (http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=stds) are published by the Center for Civic Education (http://www.civiced.org/). Keywords . Republican, Democrat, politics, party platforms E-mail to a friend .
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Students will learn about political parties in the United States .
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A choirmaster who had been in a coma for 10 days has recalled the remarkable moment he woke up - after his wife played a recording of his own singers in action. Barry Todd even began whistling along as the choir performed Give a Little Whistle, from the Disney classic Pinocchio. The 64-year-old father-of-two said: 'Music has always been my life - and now it has saved it.' Choirmaster Barry Todd was brought out of a coma by his wife, Carol, playing a recording of his singers . Mr Todd was lucky to survive a ruptured aortic aneurysm and had been unconscious for ten days. He said: ‘I was a very active person, it happened totally out of the blue. I very nearly died. ‘I had been unconscious for about a . week-and-a-half but they say hearing is the last thing to go. 'Music . stimulates the brain and it could well have been that it helped me come . out of it.' He added: 'My wife played music and I began to join in and whistle. ‘I was only semi-conscious. I don’t think I even realised I was doing it. Mr Todd nearly died when he suffered a ruptured aortic anuerysm. He spent 10 days in a coma (pictured) Mr Todd (pictured facing away with his choir, the Midland Voices) started whistling along when he was played the recording of a Pinocchio song even though he was only semi-conscious . Mr Todd, from Solihull, collapsed last October with severe back pain after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm. An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the blood vessel known as the aorta and it occurs as a result of a weakness in the blood vessel's wall. As blood passes through the weakened blood vessel, the pressure causes it to bulge outwards like a balloon. Occasionally, this bulge can rupture causing dangerous internal bleeding. An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the major blood vessel known as the aorta. It occurs as a result of a weakness in the blood vessel's wall. As blood passes through the weakened blood vessel, the pressure causes it to bulge outwards like a balloon. Occasionally, this bulge can rupture causing dangerous internal bleeding. As . the aorta is so large, most people who experience a ruptured aortic . aneurysm die rapidly, but some can be saved with emergency surgery. Those . that survive the initial rupture, are at risk of complications . including kidney problems, organ failure and respiratory problems. Aortic aneurysms are most common in men over the age of 65. People are at greater risk if they smoke, are overweight and eat a high fat diet. As the aorta is so large, most people who experience a ruptured aortic aneurysm die rapidly, but some can be saved with emergency surgery. Those that survive the initial rupture are at risk of complications including kidney problems, organ failure and respiratory problems. Mrs Todd, 53, who has three grown-up children from a previous marriage, said: 'Barry had woken in the night complaining of excruciating back pain. 'In the morning it hadn't got any better so I called the paramedics. 'They came and said it might be kidney stones so he was taken to hospital by ambulance. 'I followed in the car behind because I thought he would be discharged soon but he didn't even get out of the ambulance. 'He was taken straight to Coventry hospital and rushed into theatre. 'The doctors told me to get the family together and prepare for the worst. They even asked us if we wanted a priest to come in to read Barry his last rites. 'We were devastated. For days he just lay in a coma and we did everything we could to stay positive. I played him the choir's CDs for hours and sang to him as well. 'Something inside me made me sure that if anything was going to get him out of his coma it would be music. 'Music . has been such a huge part of his life and we are just delighted he woke . up. He has a long way to go but he's alive and that's the most . important thing. It's a miracle.' Mr Todd needed 12 operations as he recovered at Coventry’s University Hospital. Doctors were also forced to amputate his left leg after he developed a blood clot and also had to remove most of his bowel. After suffering the ruptured aneurysm, Mr Todd developed a blood clot and his leg had to be amputated . However, he hopes to be able to stand and conduct one of Midland Voices’ three choirs at a concert later this month. ‘To be able to rehearse the choir is uplifting,’ Mr Todd said. ‘The music really helps the healing process.’ Mr Todd has spent his career in the entertainment business after studying the piano and trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London. He founded Midland Voices five years ago and its choirs rehearse at venues across Warwickshire. Mrs Todd, who was forced to give up work as a music teacher to care for her husband, said: 'The choir have been wonderful. 'The managers of the concert venue where they perform have built a ramp for Barry and he will conduct the singers and orchestra from his wheelchair. 'He is so determined, music is his life.'
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Barry Todd, 64, was luck to survive a ruptured aortic aneurysm in October .
He had emergency surgery and was in a coma in hospital for 10 days .
Then, his wife - Carol - played him a recording of his choir singing .
He started to awake and began whistling along to the song .
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By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 11:04 EST, 26 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:48 EST, 26 October 2013 . Working almost 100 metres above those charged with running the country, five timekeepers worked frantically behind the scenes to ensure things ran like clockwork. They are the Keepers of the Clock and have the unique job of upholding the world's most iconic timepiece - Big Ben. And last night was the dawn of their busiest hours of the year as the clocks went back and we moved from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time. As millions enjoyed an extra hour in bed, Ian Westworth and his colleagues faced a five-hour mission to turn back the hands of Britain's most iconic clock . The bell was made in 1858 in East London and took two weeks to cool before being transported to the tower on a horse draw carriage . Once the arduous task of turning back the hands of Big Ben was complete the team set about changing the 2,000 clocks in Parliament which will take them until Monday . While millions of people welcomed the extra hour's lie in this morning, the five-strong team set in motion a complex, five-hour process to move the most famous hands in Britain with millisecond precision. The foursome were tasked with altering the 154-year-old, 13-and-a-half-tonne ageing timepiece, a focal point on the capital's famous skyline. If the notoriety was not enough, the keepers faced the prospect of high winds, the famous four faces being plunged into darkness, and the potential uproar were anything to happen to the priceless chime. However former soldier turned horological forerunner, Ian Westworth, was not fazed by the daunting job, which passed off smoothly. The veteran of nine years scales the 334 steps to the top of the iconic tower three times a week to carry out regular health checks, measure the pendulum's swing and keep a watchful eye on any deteriorating parts. The 51-year-old father-of-one, from Beddington in south London, sett up base for his two-day marathon shift to ensure everything went like clockwork. Pennies are used to adjust the 14.5ft pendulum’s swing, adding or taking them away to alter the time by two fifths of a second . The whole process requires painstaking precision and immense skill to ensure the hands are not wound too far, as there is no rewind mechanism . As the 9.45pm chime rung out over the capital, Mr Westworth and his team went to work, beginning the intricate process. The clock wass not heard chiming again until 2am . 'We meet up as usual and take on the foreboding staircase, there’d be no other way for us as it’s part of the romance making your way up them,' said Ian. 'And when you reach the top and move into the belfry you can hear the immense ticking. 'The beauty of the mechanics is what intrigues all of us. It runs on remarkable precision and the fact it is more than 150 years old is extraordinary.' Big Ben is the giant bell in the belfry of the clock tower, renamed Elizabeth Tower last year. It stands at adjacent to the Palace of Westminster and was cast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in east London in April 1858. It took two weeks to cool and once it was ready, it was transported the Westminster on a horse drawn carriage. Thousands of Londoners lined the route and cheered as the bell went past. Once it was hoisted 96metres up into the tower, the finest clock-makers in the capital set about fine tuning every part of the Great Clock, finally getting it to start working at the end of May 1859. The first chimes rang through Parliament six weeks later on July 11, 1859. Former soldier, Mr Westworth, said: 'After the job is done you realise just how privileged you are. When I walk over Westminster Bridge and see the thousands of people taking pictures and waiting for the hour strike it is charming to know I am part of that' It ran uninterrupted for 57 years until the lights were turned off for two years during the First World War to prevent attack by German Zeppelins. The lights were extinguished again throughout the Second World War but the clock continued to chime despite a German bombing raid damaging two of the dials in May 1941. 'The people who built the clock were pioneers and designed something so solid it could withstand enemy attacks – most clocks can’t handle a bit of rain,” said Mr Westworth. 'The bell was cast in iron and built to last, hopefully for another 150 years.' The first time the clocks were changed coincided with WWI and during 1916 mechanics set about forcing Big Ben’s levers and cogs an hour forward on May 21. Every year since men have fought through tired eyes and tired instruments to set Britain’s watch. For some, it brings a heady . excitement that Christmas is just a few short shopping weeks away. For . others, it heralds months of doom and gloom until we see the sun again. British Summer Time officially ends this weekend when the clocks went back an hour this morning. Debating . the effects of turning the clocks back has been a British pastime for . more than a century, when the first Daylight Saving Bill was brought . before the House of Commons. During . the Second World War the Government moved the clocks forward one hour . to help munitions factories maximise productivity and allow people to . get home safely before the blackout. Between . 1968 and 1971 the Government carried out the same experiment but was . forced to end it after complaints in Scotland and northern England. Plans . have also been mooted to move to Central European Time - something that . would mean lighter winter evenings, which supporters claim would cut . road deaths, boost tourism and reduce energy use. But . the proposals have faced opposition from many in Scotland who do not . relish the prospect of an extra hour of darkness in the morning. Clocks should have been put back 60 minutes at 2am this morning as the UK reverted to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). They ensure temperatures are at an optimum level for the changeable metal parts, using heaters in winter and fans in summer to regulate it. Pennies are used to adjust the 14.5ft pendulum’s swing, adding or taking them away to alter the time by two fifths of a second. Mr Westworth joked: 'This is the most pampered clock in the world, we still follow traditional techniques to maintain it. 'It would be much more straightforward to have an electrical motor inside – but all magnificence would be lost.' He joined lead engineer Mike McCann and the rest of the team, Paul Robertson, Huw Smith and Steve White to complete the arduous task. The last chimes sounded at 9.45pm last night before the bell tolled again at 2am on Sunday. The dial lights are extinguished to allow the hands to be wound forwards without drawing too much public attention. And the hands are then advanced rapidly to midnight by releasing the escapement mechanism, which regulates the accuracy of the clock. The team took immense care to ensure the hands did not overrun, as they faced the prospect of winding the hands right round again if it had happened. In order to ensure the accuracy of the clock is not lost the pendulum is allowed to carry on its motion. Mr McCann, 51, said: 'On the Saturday we ask a specialist inspection engineer to join us, and we also arrange for scaffolding to meander through the belfry tower to allow us to reach parts that need inspecting. 'We then ring up the BBC to confirm when the bells will be stopped and restarted, as Radio 4 still broadcast Big Ben live at midnight. 'It is a job that requires unfathomable skill from our clock engineers, particularly in moving the hands forward to midnight - if they overshoot we cannot go backwards.' Between 10 and 11pm the team carried out inspections on various parts of the clock after the going train is stopped and clamped. The going train clamp was removed and the clock time adjusted to the correct time within one second. The clock ran for the next two hours without the hour or the quarter chimes, giving the team chance to check its accuracy and make any final adjustments. The Keepers of the Clock scale the tower's 334 steps three times a week to carry out maintenance checks . Mr Westworth, pictured, was joined by lead engineer Mike McCann and the rest of the team, Paul Roberson, Huw Smith and Steve White . At 1.46am, now GMT, the chime side and strike side hammers were unlocked to allow the strikes to sound the bells on the hour. Two minutes before 2am the dial lights were switched back on and moments later the bells rang out across the River Thames, completing the process for another six months. But for the team the next step was to change the 2,000 clocks inside Parliament – working through until Monday morning to make sure everything from David Cameron’s oak grandfather clock in the Prime Minister’s office to the Commons’ wall piece is reached. Mr Westworth added: 'By this time we are running very nearly on empty so we do our best not to miss any – but not doubt we’ll get a phone call on Monday morning saying we’ve missed one. 'But after the job is done you realise just how privileged you are. When I walk over Westminster Bridge and see the thousands of people taking pictures and waiting for the hour strike it is charming to know I am part of that. 'You forget the eyes of London are on you until you’re back down on the ground – and you have kept the country running on time.'
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Team worked two-day marathon shift to uphold world's most iconic clock .
Five-hour process required painstaking precision and immense skill .
The team then to changed 2,000 clocks across Parliament .
Clocks went back at 2am and we are now on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
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(CNN) -- A bright red cross marked the cover of a manifesto purportedly written by the suspect in last week's terror attacks in Norway. Nearly 6,000 miles away, Mexican police seized white robes emblazoned with the same symbol in a series of raids aimed at cracking down on one of the country's newest drug cartels. The Knights Templar -- warriors during the medieval holy wars known as the Crusades -- wore the cross insignia as they went into battle. Its red color represented the blood of Christian martyrs. The recent modern-day interpretations of the crusaders' ancient cause wouldn't sit well with the original Knights Templar, according to British historian and novelist Piers Paul Read. "They'd have been horrified. ... They were very devout people," said Read, who detailed the knights' history in his book "The Templars." The knights began in the 12th century as a religious order fighting Muslims and protecting Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. They mostly came from Western Europe and took strict vows of poverty, Read said. But over time, their organization amassed significant wealth and property, drawing ire from citizens and royalty alike. Amid accusations of heresy and devil-worship from France's king, the pope dissolved the order in 1312, Read said. The group's last leader was burned at the stake, but the story of the Knights Templar lives on, portrayed in films and popular fiction such as "The Da Vinci Code." Now authorities are investigating Norway attack suspect Anders Behring Breivik's purported manifesto, which claims that another group using the Knights Templar name intends to carry out "shock attacks" across Europe in a campaign to fight Islam and "cultural Marxism." Authorities accuse Breivik of killing at least 76 people when he set off a car bomb outside government buildings in Oslo last Friday, then ambushed an island political youth retreat. Breivik's lawyer told reporters that his client was "a little bit surprised" that he was able to pull off the bombing and shooting rampage, for which authorities say he has claimed responsibility. Separately, Mexican officials blame members of a new criminal organization that use the Knights Templar name for extorting business owners, decapitating and dismembering kidnapping victims and setting vehicles ablaze to block roads during shootouts with police. The original Templars' noble ideals and dramatic demise give them "an aura of glamour and mystery," said Paul Crawford, an associate professor of ancient and medieval history at California University of Pennsylvania. Crawford and other historians argue that most fictional accounts of the group focus on unsubstantiated myths and conspiracy theories and that recent reappearances of the Knights Templar name in Norway and Mexico are just the latest attempts to manipulate their legacy. "The drug gang and the murderer are trying to cloak the horror of their acts with the glamour and ideals of this religious order," Crawford said. Striving to be 'the perfect knight' The rambling, 1,500-page account that constitutes Breivik's purported manifesto includes excerpts from a Wikipedia entry about the Knights Templar and pictures of sword-wielding medieval knights wearing cloaks and armor. CNN has not independently confirmed that Breivik is the author of the manifesto, which bears his name and says it is intended to be circulated among sympathizers. The writer rails against Muslims and their growing presence in Europe, and calls for a European civil war to overthrow governments, end multiculturalism and execute "cultural Marxists." The author also makes numerous references to what he describes as a new incarnation of the Knights Templar, which he says was "re-founded as a pan-European nationalist military order" during an April 2002 meeting in London. The manifesto details necessary steps to become a "Justiciar Knight," including pledging a Knights Templar oath. "Any candidate prepared to walk this road must be willing to forfeit his materialistic ambitions and embrace voluntary poverty and martyrdom," Breivik writes. "You are operating as a jury, judge and executioner on behalf of all free Europeans. ... There are situations in which cruelty is necessary, and refusing to apply necessary cruelty is a betrayal of the people whom you wish to protect," he continues. In a diary-like log of events leading up to last week's attacks, the manifesto's author says he is trying to set an example. "I am one of many destroyers of cultural Marxism and as such; a hero of Europe, a savior of our people and of European Christendom -- by default. ... The Perfect Knight I have always strived to be," he writes. Crawford, the historian at California University of Pennsylvania, said such assertions show a clear misunderstanding of the Knights Templar. "They were soldiers. They confronted Islam on the battlefield and Islam returned the favor. They did not, to the best of my knowledge, ever engage in massacres of unarmed combatants," he said. "They were not terrorists and wouldn't have approved of it." 'They want to demonstrate that they're courageous' The new Mexican cartel known as the Knights Templar announced its presence earlier this year. Banners hung in prominent locations -- and photographed by local media -- vowed to protect residents of the Mexican state of Michoacan. "Our commitment to society will be to preserve order and prevent robbery, kidnapping and extortion, and protect the state from interventions by rival organizations," the signs said. For months, authorities and analysts said they suspected the Knights Templar had split from one of the nation's most notorious criminal organizations, La Familia Michoacana -- a cartel known for its mix of ruthless violence and religious ideology. Mexico's government said La Familia's founder, Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, was killed in clashes with authorities last year. In a dossier released as they announced his death in December, officials described Moreno as a "spiritual leader" who used religion to strengthen his stronghold. The government file said Moreno dubbed himself the "savior of the people" and outlined the cartel's philosophy in a "bible" provided to new recruits. The discovery earlier this month of the white robes with red crosses and handbooks outlining a code for the Knights Templar showed further evidence of a connection with La Familia, authorities said. "Presumably they were indoctrinating their members," Mexican federal police spokesman Juan Carlos Buenrostro told CNNMexico.com. For the splinter group, choosing the Knights Templar name was no accident, said George W. Grayson, a professor of government at the College of William & Mary. "They want to demonstrate that they're courageous and valiant, but at the same time they are generous," said Grayson, who studies Mexico's organized crime syndicates. He said the alleged leader of the Knights Templar, a former lieutenant of La Familia known as "La Tuta" -- the teacher -- "has the same kind of religious inspiration" as Moreno. While some of the cartels' leaders may believe in its ideology, Grayson says others have a more pragmatic approach, using religion as a "recruiting device." "Now you're at one with the Lord, even as you decapitate people and carve (messages) into the bodies of your opponents," he said. Promoting peace, fighting a 'social cancer' Another group that uses the Knights Templar name has been waging its own campaign to distance itself from the Mexican drug gang and the Norway attacks. The international Christian nonprofit known as Knights Templar International issued a statement saying their group is not and has never been affiliated in any way with Breivik. "Christ's message is one of love, understanding and tolerance of all peoples of the world," the organization said in a statement. "How Anders Behring Breivik so misunderstood and corrupted Christ's message is beyond reason or belief." The organization's Mexico chapter also issued a statement saying it has no connection to the drug gang, which it referred to as a "social cancer." The statement lambasted the criminal group for committing acts that are "full of shame, dishonor and totally contrary to the principles of the order." Robert C.G. Disney, the grand commander of Knights Templar International, said the organization's more than 6,000 members around the world regularly support charitable projects, such as helping fund reconstruction of a Muslim mosque and a Christian church in Pakistan following mudslides there. "Obviously it's very distressing for me and for all of our members to see our name bandied about by the drug cartel and this deranged person in Norway," he said. "Unfortunately, we do not have exclusive rights to the words 'Knights Templar.' Those words have been in the public domain for almost 1,000 years." Members can join Knights Templar International only by invitation, Disney said, but the organization has no particular church affiliation, and provides humanitarian aid to anyone in need, regardless of race or creed. "We have no political or religious agenda," he said. "Our agenda is basically all about bringing about peace, reconciliation and understanding." Journalist Rodrigo Aguiar, CNNMexico.com and CNNRadio's Libby Lewis contributed to this report.
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The original Knights Templar began fighting in medieval Crusades .
The Norway terror attack suspect's purported manifesto mentions a group with that name .
A Mexican drug cartel with a religious bent also calls itself the Knights Templar .
Historian: Modern criminals "are trying to cloak the horror of their acts"
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MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) -- A killer bug is spreading like wildfire. Armed guards stand outside the Mexico City Respiratory Hospital to control the flow of people. Streets of one of the world's biggest cities are eerily empty. Bars and restaurants have been shuttered for days. The president goes on TV to tell workers to stay at home for their own safety. Those who venture outside are clad in surgical masks. Once healthy people are suddenly falling sick and dying from a new disease, H1N1 swine flu. The government swears the situation is under control. But down at the hospital, medics scurry around behind the glass door of an isolation ward. They're clad from head to toe in biohazard suits, goggles and two pairs of gloves. At the airport, officials set up a barrage of thermal imaging machines. If the picture flashes up red or orange, would-be passengers are whisked off to medical facilities. See where the virus has been confirmed » . It may sound like a sci-fi movie. It's not. Welcome to Mexico City. It's a nightmare scenario and despite twice-a-day news conferences featuring Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova, people on the streets fear the virus may be out of control and that the real death toll may be greater than anyone is letting on. Watch how the city has been shut down » . "The measures we're taking are working and are helping us to slow the spread of the virus. But the situation continues to be serious," Cordova said at a news conference this week. Government orders to its citizens are clear: wash frequently, don't shake hands or kiss, and stay away from crowded places. That's easier said than done. The doors on the subway car snap open at Hidalgo station. Dozens more passengers clad in surgical masks stream on. It's rush hour deep below the streets of downtown Mexico City. The subway system is the veins of the capital, ferrying millions of people from all social classes to and from work. It's hot and humid down there and there's little fresh air. It's just the kind of crowded place that Mexican authorities say could be a prime breeding ground for swine flu. "I'm pretty nervous of this whole virus thing," welder Frontino Valdez mumbled through one of the masks. Watch passengers packed onto trains trying to protect themselves » . Sitting one carriage down, Berta Hernandez, a product demonstrator, tries not to show her panic and applies eyeliner like any other morning. But today she has a problem, she has no intention of lifting her mask to paint on lip gloss. "I'm nervous of those people who aren't wearing masks. Maybe they will suddenly sneeze or cough," she said. In these days of swine flu paranoia, just coughing, or worse sneezing, in the subway, or "metro" as they call it here, brings black looks from fellow passengers. This has been a strange epidemic since the outset. So far, the Mexican government has been unable to pinpoint where or when this outbreak started. Authorities admit there was an outbreak of influenza in a village in the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz in early April. But only one patient -- 5-year-old Edgar Hernandez -- was diagnosed as having swine flu. Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta ask the boy about his symptoms » . The international media have taken to calling him "Patient Zero." He made a full recovery. So far there's no evidence a pig farm near his home reported any problems with its livestock. The family hasn't explained how little Edgar could have infected a capital city let alone the world. The authorities haven't drawn up a genetic map of Edgar's illness nor compared it to the lethal strain that swept through Mexico City and other parts of the country. Lethal it is. But getting to the truth of who has really died from the virus is tough. Since midweek, the government abandoned its initial reporting and began to speak only of confirmed swine flu cases and confirmed deaths due to the H1N1 virus. Previously it had also tallied suspected cases and others under observation. In practice, it is taking days for the government to get test results from autopsies and tests. By the time a case is confirmed the patient may be long buried. One afternoon this week, at a cinder block home perched on a hillside in a poor northern neighborhood of Mexico City, a coffin was mounted on the living room table. A steady stream of neighbors filed in to pay their final tribute to a dead 24-year-old. Biting back tears, a young man said his brother had died of "respiratory problems." When asked what kind of a person his brother was, he said simply: "He was an honest man. He never got in any trouble." The man seemed to be feeling an underlying sense of shame. Suddenly there was a huge stigma attached to swine flu -- like in the early days of AIDS-related deaths -- and Mexican families were keen to dispel notions their loved ones had died of the mutant virus. They didn't want the prying eyes of the media near their home. We wanted to tell their story, observe the wake and follow the funeral. But death is a rite of passage. They had a right to mourn in private. The following day came a tip-off that a 5-year-old girl, Maria Fernanda Garcia, had died. The modest side street outside her home in eastern Mexico City was swarming with police, health workers and civil protection officials. Watch how armed guards were part of Maria Fernanda's funeral » . Little Maria Fernanda's father appeared briefly and told us we weren't welcome. He was curt when he told us his daughter had died from pneumonia. A medic confirmed the specific cause of death was indeed pneumonia. But he added the hospital was still waiting for test results to confirm whether the underlying cause was swine flu. He conceded that process could take days. But judging by the heavy security, local authorities certainly feared this was another case of the virus. "These are the prevention measures we must take. This case is still not confirmed but we must take these steps to protect citizens," said Victor Luna, a member of the public security detail for this district of Mexico City. A few minutes later, the hearse with Maria Fernanda's body pulled out of the housing complex where she lived. Her dad was clutching a Winnie Pooh cuddly toy as he rode up front. Police and health officials shadowed the funeral cortege to the graveyard. Police guards only permitted immediate family and close friends through the iron gates. Through the bars silent, tearful mourners could be seen weaving through a labyrinth of headstones. Later that afternoon, the family had left Maria Fernanda's grave -- a tiny patch of newly dug dry earth, not much more than 3 feet long. It was covered with sweet-scented white flowers. The plaque on the grave was a simple hand-painted affair: . "Maria Fernanda. 2004 to 2009. We love you."
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Every aspect of life has been hit by the spread of H1N1 in Mexico City .
Citizens told not to shake hands or kiss .
Even a tragic death of a child brings suspicion, paranoia .
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Next time you want to remember a piece of information, save it as a file on your phone or computer. The act of digitally storing files containing useful or important data boosts memory and the brain's ability to remember future events, according to researchers. This is because the brain knows the original information is safely stored, which ultimately frees up cognitive resources that can focus on learning and remembering new facts and figures. When files are digitally saved, the brain knows the information is stored safely and can be accessed when needed. This frees up cognitive resources that can be used to remember new facts and figures, according to researchers from the University of California . Lead author, assistant professor Benjamin Storm of the University of California, said: ‘Our findings show that people are significantly better at learning and remembering new information when they save previous information. ‘The idea is pretty simple: Saving acts as a form of offloading. ‘By ensuring that certain information will be digitally accessible, we can re-allocate cognitive resources. Researchers from Harvard University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Columbia University recently found that many people now use the internet in place of a memory. They claimed that when someone wants to know something they now use the internet as an ‘external memory’ just as computers use an external hard drive. The study continued that we are now so reliant on smartphones and laptops, we go into ‘withdrawal when we can’t find out something immediately’. Elsewhere, experts from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand warned that the obsession with recording and sharing every moment could be having an adverse effect on our memories. One psychologist claimed people are becoming increasingly unable to live in the moment. They say the phenomenon is 'kind of a loss'. ‘We tend to think of forgetting as happening when memory fails, but research suggests that forgetting plays an essential role in supporting the adaptive functioning of memory and cognition.’ The researchers set out to challenge previous studies that indicated saving information on a digital device, such as a computer or camera, hinders later memory for it. In the first study, 20 students used computers to open and study pairs of PDF files - File A and File B. Both files contained a list of 10 nouns. The students had 20 seconds to study File A before closing the file, with half being told to save it. They then studied File B for 20 seconds and were immediately tested on how many nouns they could remember, before being tested on their memory for File A. The students remembered more words from File B when they had saved File A than when they had simply closed it, according to the report published in Psychological Science. A second study with a separate group of 48 undergraduates saw the same results. The second study revealed that the saving-related memory effects depended on how reliable the students thought the saving process was. When the students were told that the saved version of File A might not stick, they showed no saving-related memory benefits. If they thought saving was unreliable, students’ memory for File B was the same regardless of whether they saved File A. Students used computers to study pairs of PDF files. The students had 20 seconds to study File A before closing it, with half being told to save it. They then studied File B, and were tested on the details on both. Students remembered more from File B when they had saved File A than when they simply closed it . Professor Storm said: ‘As technology develops, computers and smart phones are making it easier and easier to save information, which seems to have important consequences for the ways in which our memory functions. ‘By treating computers and other digital devices as extensions of memory, people may be protecting themselves from the costs of forgetting while taking advantage of the benefits.’ The researchers believe that the memory benefits of saving previous information may even have broad implications for how we think more generally. ‘Coming up with a new idea or solving a problem often requires that we think outside the box, so to speak, and forgetting previous information allows us to do that,' continued Professor Storm. ‘By helping us to reduce the accessibility of old information, saving may facilitate our ability to think of new ideas and solve difficult problems.’
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When files are saved, the brain knows the original data is stored safely .
This frees up cognitive resources that are used to remember new facts .
Students used computers to open and study pairs of PDF files .
They had 20 seconds to study File A before closing the file, with half being told to save it .
Group then studied File B before being tested on the details on both files .
Students remembered more words from File B when they had saved File A than when they had simply closed it .
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A couple who used the proceeds of a £2.3million fraud to fund a luxury house, expensive holidays and even sci-fi memorabilia have been ordered to pay back just £330,000. Julie Nickerson, 55, and her husband Anthony, 48, are currently serving prison sentences for siphoning the huge sum from her laundry equipment firm employers. The pair were reunited in the dock at Bradford Crown Court for a confiscation hearing. Julie Nickerson (left), 55, and her husband Anthony (right), 48, are currently serving prison sentences for siphoning £2.3million from her laundry equipment firm employers . The couple spent £17,000 on film memorabilia from Christie's auction house including this bronze and gold, remote controlled Dalek . The Nickersons used some of the money to pay for a £500,000 house in Wainstall, Halifax (pictured) set in five acres of land with a hot spring and pool . Judge Robert Bartfield ordered Julie Nickerson, who is now bankrupt, to pay back a total of £209,753.58, and Anthony Nickerson to hand over £120,794.71. The couple, formerly from Shelf, West Yorkshire, stole £2.3million so they could lavish the money on a £500,000 house set in five acres of land with a hot spring and pool, new cars and £200,000 worth of holidays. They also spent £17,000 on film memorabilia from Christie's auction house and £10,000 on motorsport events at Silverstone. After being employed by the Halifax-based firm since 1990, Julie Nickerson stole most of the money while working in the accounts and finance department, while her husband laundered the rest at the newsagents' he owned in nearby Shelf. She was jailed for five years in May after admitting money laundering and fraud in relation to a false representation made to HM Customs and Excise, while Anthony Nickerson received a two-and-a-half year sentence for money laundering. An auction of memorabilia from films and television shows such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and Thunderbirds was reported to have raised about £25,000. Pictured is a Star Wars Darth Vader helmet included in the sale . Judge Robert Bartfield ordered Julie Nickerson (left), who is now bankrupt, to pay back a total of £209,753.58, and Anthony Nickerson (right) to hand over £120,794.71 . In a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act on Wednesday, it was heard that the available assets include money raised from the auction sale, the sale of Nickerson's newsagents business, the couple's pension funds and money seized by police at the time of the investigation. In June, an auction of memorabilia from films and television shows such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and Thunderbirds was reported to have raised about £25,000 and cash from the sell-off was included in confiscation orders made against the pair. Rebecca Young, prosecuting, asked for the confiscated cash, which has to be handed over in the next three months, to be paid back to JLA Ltd as compensation. Miss Young also told the judge that Julie Nickerson's benefit figure from criminal conduct had been assessed at just over £1.4million while her husband's benefit amount was put at £925,000. A huge haul of sci-fi memorabilia was seized from Julie Nickerson and was later auctioned off . Pictures taken inside the couple's house show some of the memorabilia they purchased as a result of the £2.3million fraud . Judge Bartfield agreed to make the compensation order and he told Julie Nickerson that she would have to serve a further two years behind bars if the money was not paid back. The judge said Anthony Nickerson would face an extra 15 months in prison if he did not comply with the order in his case. The couple were led from the dock at the end of the hearing to continue serving their prison sentences. Speaking previously, Det Con Ash Nuttall, of West Yorkshire Police's Calderdale Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) team, said: 'The Nickersons thought they were living the high life but they were living on money that had been stolen from others. 'They were constantly having to look over their shoulders waiting for the day justice caught up with them. 'That day has now come and they will have a long time in prison to consider the consequences of their actions.'
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Julie Nickerson and husband Anthony are in prison for £2.3million fraud .
They spent proceeds of fraud on house, holidays and sci-fi memorabilia .
Judge has ordered them to pay back just £330,000 after confiscation hearing .
Sci-fi material, including Star Wars and Doctor Who items, raised about £25,000 at police auction .
Julie Nickerson stole most of the money while working in accounts at Halifax-based laundry equipment firm .
Pair will face further time behind bars if they fail to comply with order .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:49 EST, 16 January 2014 . Alexandra Homayoonpoor, 24, needed surgery on her nose following the violent attack at a pub in Leeds, West Yorkshire, that split her nostril in half on New Year 2010 . A student left permanently scarred after being glassed in the face is on her way to the grand finals of a beauty pageant. Alexandra Homayoonpoor, 24, is the current Miss West Yorkshire 2013 and is now set to represent Miss Yorkshire Dales in the Miss Galaxy England contest. She needed surgery on her nose following the violent attack at a pub in Leeds, West Yorkshire, that split her nostril in half on New Year 2010. A group of men attacked her and her boyfriend in a bar on New Year's Eve. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance before having 12 stitches to repair the damage. The then 21-year-old was left with a 4cm laceration to her nose and a nose stud she had been wearing was left embedded in the wound along with a piece of glass - which was stuck so deep it could only be detected by X-ray. Surgeons reattached her nostril and removed the glass that had become deeply embedded in her face. Alexandra, a journalism student from Otley, Leeds, had been out for a celebratory drink with friends in nearby Headingley when one of a group of drunken yobs swept a table filled with glasses directly at her face. She said: 'It felt like I had been punched in the face. My arm was covered in cuts from the glass and the next thing I knew my face was streaming with blood. 'It was everywhere, and I was hysterical, screaming "He's broken my nose, he's broken my nose!" The former Leeds University student said her self-confidence was shattered following the attack and she decided to enter pageants to re-build her self-esteem . 'I couldn't understand why there was . so much blood. I knew I hadn't been punched but there was so much blood, . it was just gushing from my face. I was covered in it. 'It was . only after the paramedics took me to A&E that my dad came and told . me that my nose had been sliced open on one side, from the front right . the way to the back. 'They couldn't operate on me that night and I had to go back the next day to have an operation under general anaesthetic. The former Leeds University student, who now works as an account executive, said her self-confidence had suffered after she was injured in the attack and she started to enter pageants to rebuild her self-esteem. Alexandra reached the finals of Miss Leeds in 2010, shortly after the attack. Alexandra will compete in the grand final in March with girls from all over the country. If she wins, the international final will be held in the USA this summer, representing England. She said: 'It's a kind of hobby for me. I'm proud of winning another title. Pageants are not only a fun and glamorous experience in which you get to represent your region, it's also a brilliant chance to inspire others and do charity work.' 'If I do happen to win my mother won't be too pleased if I have to go to the US as we have booked a big family holiday at the same time.' Alexandra will compete in the grand final in March with girls from all over the country. If she wins, the international final will be held in the USA this summer, representing England. She said: 'It's a kind of hobby for me. I'm proud of winning another title. Pageants are not only a fun and glamorous experience in which you get to represent your region, it's also a brilliant chance to inspire others and do charity work.'
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Alexandra Homayoonpoor, 24, is the current Miss West Yorkshire 2013 .
Was injured in a pub fracas on New Year's Eve 2010 .
Needed 12 stitches to reattach her nostril .
She now hopes to represent Miss Yorkshire Dales in Miss Galaxy England .
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By . Kerry Mcdermott . Bar owners outraged by Putin's new 'gay propaganda' law are clearing their shelves of Russian vodka in protest. London nightspots including G-A-Y have stopped selling the booze in a show of support for the LGBT community in Russia - where displays of 'non-traditional sexual behaviour' in public or in front of under-18s are now prohibited by law. The law - which also allows the government to detain tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual - has seen the global gay community begin to lose its taste for Russia's national drink. Scroll down for video . Down the drain: New laws prohibiting the public discussion of homosexuality in front of children in Russia has sparked a boycott of the country's vodka in bars from New York (pictured) to London . Boycott: Gay rights activists called for a boycott of imported brands like Russian Standard, left, and Stolichnaya, right - Stolichnaya has publicly declared its support for the LGBT community as a result . A CNN report shows bar owners in West Hollywood, U.S, emptying bottles of imported vodka down the drain, and G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph said the venue was keen to show its 'solidarity' with Russians who are 'suffering' as a result of the new laws. The boycott was sparked by Seattle-based blogger Dan Savage, who urged people to dump Russian vodka to 'draw international attention to the persecution of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans people and straight allies in Putin's increasingly fascistic Russia'. He gave his campaign the hashtag #dumpstoli - a reference to one of country's most famous brands, Stolichnaya. Rebellion: Bar owners have been emptying bottles of Russian vodka down the drain in protest over Putin's new 'gay propaganda' law . Fury: Bottles of vodka have been emptied as bar owners react to Russia's new law . The firm has since gone to great lengths to distance itself from the 'dreadful actions' of the Russian government. Stolichnaya's CEO wrote in an open letter: 'Stolichnaya Vodka has always been, and continues to be a fervent supporter and friend to the LGBT community. Stolichnaya also unveiled new advertising proclaiming it 'stands strong and proud with the global LGBT community against the attitude and actions of the Russian government'. 'Dreadful actions': A gay rights activist is dragged away by Russian police officers at a protest in Moscow last year . G-A-Y owner Mr Joseph said the campaign was not about whether individual brands agreed with the government's stance. He compared the ban on vodka to boycotts of South African products that took place as a means of protesting against apartheid. The new laws in Russia also forbid the public discussion of homosexuality in front of children. 'This . is for us about getting a message across, standing in solidarity with . Russia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community who are... suffering at the moment because of the new laws,' Mr Joseph. One Soho reveller told CNN: 'Why should we support them when they're discriminating against us? 'There's nothing wrong with us, we just love the same sex - it's not a crime.'
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Gay bars from LA to London are pulling Russian vodka from the shelves .
Displays of 'non-traditional sexual behaviour' in public now banned in Russia .
G-A-Y in Soho is no longer serving imported brands of vodka .
Stolichnaya has publicly declared its support for the LGBT community .
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(CNN) -- As a Latina activist I was devastated to learn the President would delay executive action to keep undocumented immigrants with no criminal record from getting deported. He'd promised he'd do it, our community expected it, and the country's economy needed it -- especially as Republicans have abdicated their obligation to pass real and lasting legislative reform for our broken immigration system. But as a political strategist, I understand why the President delayed his decision. Let's be clear: This is Obama's promise delayed, not broken. The decision was indeed political. But unlike his critics on both sides of the aisle -- the activists who, like me, are deeply disappointed, and Republicans who hypocritically accuse him of giving Latinos a slap in the face -- I believe it was political for the right reasons. The President's action was a political "Hippocratic Oath:" first do no harm. There are a handful of vulnerable Democrats in very red states that are fighting to be re-elected, and control of the Senate is in the balance. Hanging on to a Democratic-controlled Senate is essential to the future of any legislative fix on immigration. It is also essential to keeping the President's Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, in place. If Republicans take over the Senate, Latinos -- indeed the entire country -- can kiss any possibility of real reform goodbye and can expect an immediate full frontal attack to repeal DACA. The President said on "Meet the Press" that the reason for the decision was that the politics on the issue had changed since he made the announcement in the Rose Garden in June. He is right. By June, public attention to the influx of unaccompanied minors was just starting to hit a crescendo. And Republicans were masterly in injecting cynicism as well as downright lies into the discussion of the cause of the influx and the security at the border. When the President finally makes his announcement before the end of the year, the American people, understandably distressed about what has been happening at the border, will deserve a full accounting on the realities of border security, the undocumented flows into the country, why our economy needs immediate action and why we need to achieve real legislative reform in the long run. With everything going on in the foreign policy arena as the country confronts a brutal terrorist organization in ISIS that is seeking to do us harm, as well as the politicking of midterm elections upon us, there is no room in the public square for a real dialogue that would explain and sustain the President's Executive Action and draw support to the reasons to work toward real reform. The President will need to lay out facts and figures that prove the border is safer and more secure now than ever before. These would include: . -- Under both President Clinton and President George W. Bush, the undocumented population grew at an unprecedented level. Even after the summer influx of undocumented children, under President Obama, the growth has been net negative. -- The flow of unaccompanied minors now is less than it was in February of 2013. -- There has been an unprecedented surge in resources at the border under President Obama that includes doubling the number of Border Patrol agents and tripling the money that goes to technology and infrastructure. -- The border is safer today and border crime is down from 10 years ago. He should reiterate the benefits of letting undocumented immigrants work and contribute legally to our economy. He should explain that in the long run, these immigrants should have to get right with the law, pass a background check, pay a fine and back taxes, learn English, and then get in line behind others who are following current legal procedures in order to become a U.S. citizen (key elements to real immigration reform). The President should underscore that passing real immigration reform will inject more than $700 billion into our economy over the next 10 years, and $1.4 trillion over the next 20, reduce the deficit by almost a $1 trillion in the next 20 years, raise wages, as undocumented workers will no longer be taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers, and boost our overall global competitiveness. There is a reason why most (even conservative) economists support immigration reform and why the business community has joined with the faith community, law enforcement leaders and labor in an improbable alliance of partners working toward this type of reform. While I am disappointed the President's executive action is not coming sooner--and any family ripped apart in the interim is one too many -- we also have to consider two things that will make it improbable that an undocumented immigrant without a criminal record in the interior of the country would be immediately removed: . 1) The 2011 new Department of Homeland Security policy that made it administration policy to deprioritize non-criminal undocumented immigrants and focus resources on removing the most dangerous criminals from our midst. In fact, of the 370,000 undocumented immigrants removed last year, all but 10,000 had criminal records -- and yes, that is still too big a number. This is why we need real reform now. 2) Since June, the removal architecture of the immigration system -- enforcement agents, and immigration judges -- has moved from the interior to the border to deal with the influx of unaccompanied minors more fairly and efficiently. I know these assurances are not enough for immigration activists seeking immediate relief. But even Latinos who are as deeply saddened as I am that we will not see action for another several weeks, at least, understand that what we will be getting from President Obama is far more effective and real than what we have gotten so far from Republicans who have turned their backs on our community and the American economy. If not for GOP inaction, immigration reform would be a reality today. So amigos, let's be confident President Obama will act before the end of the year. If he doesn't, I will be the first one to join you in a picket line at the White House.
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As an activist, Maria Cardona devastated that Obama deferring executive order on immigration .
As a strategy, though, she gets it. He didn't want it used by GOP as election issue to win Senate .
She says if GOP wins, kiss immigration reform and DACA goodbye. Advocates, be patient .
Cardona: If he fails to deliver after vote, she'll join immigration activists, hold him to account .
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Beijing (CNN)Earlier this month, "nut rage" prompted the pilot of a Korean Air flight on the tarmac of New York's JFK airport to turn back to the gate. Now, "hot watergate" has forced a China-bound Thai AirAsia flight to return to Bangkok, angering not just the passengers on board but also the Chinese government and public. Shortly after flight FD9101 took off last Thursday evening from Bangkok for the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, a male passenger asked a flight attendant for boiling water for his girlfriend's instant noodles, witnesses told China's state media. When told they had to wait for the plane to reach cruising altitude, the young man reportedly dumped food on the aisle, stomped on it and yelled at other passengers who tried to calm him down. He was allegedly still fuming as a flight attendant of the budget airline brought a cup of hot water and charged him 60 Thai baht ($2) for it. Another argument ensued when he demanded Chinese currency for change as well as an official receipt, state media reported. As the quarrel dragged on, the man's girlfriend threw hot water on the back of a flight attendant, witnesses said. When the purser demanded the woman apologize, the boyfriend exploded. In a cell phone video taken by a fellow passenger and posted online, a man in a gray T-shirt and jeans can be heard shouting in Mandarin: "You don't think I have money? ...You caused all the problems and I'm going to blow up the plane!" When the couple realized the flight was being turned back, the woman reportedly grew hysterical, hitting windows and threatening to jump off the plane, according to state media. The plane -- carrying 174 passengers and six crew members -- hadn't even left Thai airspace before it turned around. "The captain of the flight decided to return the plane to Don Mueang Airport [Bangkok's secondary airport] deeming her actions as endangering to other passengers and impeding in-flight service," the airline said in a statement. Thai authorities reportedly questioned the couple -- along with two of their friends who were also involved in the incident -- and ordered them to pay the flight attendant 50,000 baht ($1,500). The woman was also fined 200 baht ($6) and the other three passengers 100 baht ($3) each for disturbing public order. As news of "hot watergate" spread online, many Chinese Internet users lamented that the airline didn't press criminal charges, calling the fines imposed by Thai officials a slap on the wrist for such "shameful" behavior. Air rage on the rise in China . Air rage is a common sight in delay-prone China. In recent years, state media has reported numerous dramatic incidents involving irate passengers, ranging from blocking moving aircraft on an active runway to fistfights with airport employees. With the exponential growth of outbound tourism, Chinese fliers now seem to be exporting their rage overseas. In February 2012, a Chinese couple was kicked off their United flight from Guam to Shanghai, after they repeatedly yelled at a flight attendant and told her to "shut up" when she tried to move their luggage in the overhead bin to accommodate other passengers. In September that year, a Swiss flight bound for Beijing was forced to return to Zurich when a fight broke out between two Chinese men over a reclined seat. In February this year, a fight erupted between two groups of Chinese passengers before their flight could take off from the Thai resort island of Phuket, resulting in 29 people being taken off the plane. Then, in April, a Thai Airways red-eye from Bangkok to Beijing turned bloody when a brawl involving three Chinese men broke out. During an official visit to the Maldives in September, President Xi Jinping personally asked Chinese tourists to behave themselves while traveling abroad. Last year the government released a lengthy list of do's and don'ts aimed at turning Chinese travelers into "civilized tourists." After the latest incident, the National Tourism Administration said in a statement that actions of the four passengers had "severely damaged the overall image of Chinese people" and demanded local authorities to review the case. All the warnings and cajoling seem to have fallen on deaf ears, though. When they arrived in Nanjing on the same Thai AirAsia flight the following day, the four passengers refused to disembark, state media quoted a witness as saying. They demanded a written statement from the airline that would exonerate them from having caused the incident Thursday -- delaying the flight going back to Bangkok.
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A flight is turned back to Bangkok after a woman throws hot water on a flight attendant .
Witnesses say the woman's boyfriend grew irate, threatened to blow up the plane .
Many Chinese Internet users felt the airline should have pressed criminal charges .
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By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 03:57 EST, 12 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:50 EST, 12 September 2012 . David Cameron today warned that trade unions present a 'threat to the economy' as he prepares to call in the armed forces to fill in for striking public sector workers. But the Prime Minister faced claims that the strike-breaking idea will have 'serious consequences' for members of the armed forces and their families. Ministers are in talks with service chiefs about how troops could cover for fuel taker drivers, firefighters, immigration staff, train and tube drivers and prison officers. David Cameron told the Commons that the trade unions present a 'threat to the economy'. They hope to replicate the success of the military protecting the public at the London Olympics after security firm G4S failed to recruit enough staff. Union leaders have voted to explore the “practicalities” of a general strike for the first time since 1926. David Cameron told the Commons today: 'The trade unions do provide a threat to our economy. 'They threatened a strike to stop our fuel supplies, they threatened a strike to disrupt the Olympics, now they threaten a strike to wreck the economy.' He . said Labour had received £12m since Ed Miliband became leader 'from the . three unions who are now threatening a general strike' and said the party . should turn down future donations if industrial action goes ahead. The success of the military being called in to fill security shortfalls for the Olympics in London means they are to be put on standby to cover for public sector strikes. 'I do hope that these trade unions who are meeting and discussing this appalling idea of a general strike think again and think of the economy rather than their own self interest.' But there are concerns among the military about the practicalities of covering for walkouts, as the forces face pay and job cuts. Up to 17,000 jobs are due to be cut from the forces as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. Tory MP Penny Mordaunt, a member of the Commons defence select committee, today warned of the impact on members of the military and their families. Tory MP Penny Mordaunt said the strike contingency plans would have 'serious consequences' for troops and their families. ‘We have to keep the country going, . to keep public services running, but there are serious consequences for . armed forces in terms of both their rest time and their training,' she told MailOnline. 'The armed forces have a pay freeze and are having to look after morale in the face of massive reorganisation. ‘It is incredibly disruptive to the armed forces. I know they will rise to the challenge but one of the effects if you do have strikes – which will obviously be incredibly damaging for the country – is we are applying further stress on to these troops. David Cameron has held talks with Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, over how the military could be used in the event of widespread industrial action. ‘The use of the Armed Forces to step . in where there are strikes is a very political decision,’ former head of . the Army, General Sir Mike Jackson told The Times. ‘By general acclaim the Armed . Services were seen by the public to have done a pretty good job at the . Olympics. It had the additional bonus that the relations between the . Armed Services and the public have become stronger due to the job they . did at the Olympics.’ The last time Downing Street revealed the army was on standby to fill in for striking workers, when petrol tanker drivers threatened to walk out in March, it sparked panic buying and severe shortages. General Sir Mike Jackson (left) a former head of the Army, warned that a plan by Francis Maude (right) to use troops to cover for public sector strikes was a 'very political decision . Mr Maude added to the chaos when he told drivers: ‘As and when it makes sense, a bit of extra fuel in a jerry can is a sensible precaution to take.’ The need for contingency measures heightened yesterday after the TUC conference in Brighton voted to consider the practicalities of a general strike opposing the government’s austerity drive. Steve Gillan, leader of the Prison Officers Association, which proposed the idea, said there had to be a 'robust' response, adding: 'It does not mean we will have a general strike tomorrow, but we should have that in our armoury, because this Government is not afraid or embarrassed to do what it is doing to society. 'We need to make up our mind which direction we are going in, and we should not be afraid to to mention the words general strike." All members of the forces are to be put on seven days’ notice to cover for any emergency, The Times also reported. The army has previously been trained to use Green Goddess fire engines to step in when firefighters went on strike. Speaking during the Olympics, Mr Cameron praised the military’s role in providing security. ‘For the country's sake, I'm sure it was the right decision to call up almost more troops than we needed to make doubly certain that there wouldn't be any hiccups,’ the PM said. It is not thought that members of the armed forces will be asked to cover for all public sector workers in the event of strikes. In particular, walk outs by nurses, doctors or teachers. The National Union of Teachers has voted to go on strike over the 'erosion' of their pay and working conditions. Outgoing TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has tried to play down the threat of a general strike. Outgoing TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has tried to play down the threat of a general strike. 'It would have enormous industrial and political implications,' he said. A Government spokesman said: ‘It is disappointing that some union leaders insist on pushing for irresponsible and futile strike action which benefits no one. 'As we have said time and again, pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved through strike action. ‘The Government took the tough decision to freeze public sector pay for two years, while protecting those earning under £21,000 by increasing their pay by at least £250 per year. ‘Pay restraint has helped to protect jobs in the public sector and support high quality public services. 'As always in the event of any industrial action rigorous contingency planning would be in place across all sectors to minimise the impact of any strike and to ensure that key public services remain open.'
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Ministers ask military chiefs to prepare to cover for prison workers, immigration staff and train drivers .
TUC votes to explore plans for first general strike since 1926 .
Labour under pressure for taking donations from unions threatening chaos .
Troops to be put on 'seven-day alert' to provide emergency response .
Government insists nothing will be achieved through walk-outs .
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By . Simon Jones . Frank Lampard will play for Manchester City's Australian A-League side Melbourne City next season, ahead of his move to Major League Soccer franchise New York City FC. Lampard will join David Villa for the start of the A-League season in October before the pair move to the MLS next March, when New York City will begin to play. Lampard's Chelsea contract officially expired on Monday and he has now agreed his long-rumoured move to New York, via Australia. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Schwarzer drop the hint that Lampard will move to Australia . Hot property: Lampard has attracted offers from all over but is off to America - via Australia . Having ended his 13-year association with the Blues, Lampard is thought to be reluctant to join another Premier League club despite receiving offers. He scored 211 goals for the club, making him their all-time record goalscorer, and won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, four FA Cups, two League Cups, and two Community Shields in his time at Stamford Bridge, playing 648 games. Click here to watch the full interview with Mark Schwarzer on 'The World Game' International class: Lampard has just returned to London after a stint at the World Cup with England . And his former Chelsea team-mate Mark Schwarzer also hinted the Englishman wanted a move to Australia. He said: 'He did ask me about Melbourne Heart. He did ask me what Melbourne was like and what Melbourne Heart was like. 'I said Sydney was the best place to live! [Where Schwarzer is from] But I spoke very highly of Melbourne. I actually love Melbourne. It’s a great city. I told him how passionate in particular the Victorians are with their sport. 'There is huge potential in the game in Australia and it would be unbelievable if he went to Australia. I said to him that he would love living there. It's a great place to live.' Goodbye England: Lampard's MLS/A-League move will likely end any chance of him play for England again . Taking tips: Mourinho says Lampard can be Chelsea's manager one day - or take any job he wants at the club .
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Frank Lampard's Chelsea contract officially expired on Monday .
Chelsea legend will join David Villa in the A-League in October .
He will then play in the new MLS season from March .
Mark Schwarzer gave Lampard advice about moving down under .
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A group of wildlife watchers scan the open ocean for activity - as a huge whale drifts just below them. These amazing images show a 50-tonne southern right whale and its calves swim within touching distance of a small tourist vessel and its crew. The massive mammal dwarfs the boat and could easily crush it with one swipe of its 15ft tail. Breathtaking: A 50-tonne southern right whale and calves swim underneath a small tourist vessel . Up close: wildlife photographer Justin Hofman said the family seemed more intent on making friends . Monster: A whale watcher (top right) swims next to the 50-tonne whale in the Peninsula Valdes, Argentina . But according to wildlife photographer Justin Hofman - the family seemed more intent on making friends. He said: 'Being in the water with a whale is the most humbling experience I've ever had underwater. 'Not only are these animals massive, but they are long-lived, intelligent, cultural beings. 'Swimming along with a curious right whale calf was nerve-racking. At any moment I thought 'mom' was eventually going to get annoyed with me and swat me with her 15ft tail - and I'd be a goner. 'Yet, with every passing minute we felt more comfortable around each other and they became curious about us and would make closer passes.' Mr Hofman said they were so engrossed in taking pictures, they had a few narrow misses with the huge animal. He said: 'It actually became quite funny because we would be totally enthralled by the animal, taking pictures of the head and eye as they were swimming by - but then the instant we got past the pectoral flippers it became a mad scramble to swim away from the whale to avoid their tail. 'At one point, one of the calves was rolling around on top of its mother, upside down, and its tail was raised out of the water. Powerful: A seagull looks tiny compared to the whale whose 15ft tail could easily crush the tourist boat . 'Humbling': Mr Hofman said: 'Being in the water with them is most humbling' but made sure to avoid its tail . Here's looking at you: The photographer got pictures of its head but then it was a 'mad dash' to get away . 'The calf rolled awkwardly off of its mom and slashed its tail to the side to roll itself over and get a breath. 'The slash of the tail landed in the water just a few feet from me, immersing me in a cloud of bubbles. 'Reality came rushing back and I knew I couldn't let my guard down for a second or else risk having a major incident. All in all though I knew that if anything went wrong it would be my fault and not the whale's.' The photographs were taken in the Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, where southern right whales head between September and December to raise their offspring. The species were often targeted by hunters because their thick blubber made them float to the surface after being killed - making them easy to catch.
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50-tonne southern right whale and its calves swim close to boat .
Wildlife photographer Justin Hofman captured the images .
Group were so engrossed in taking pictures, they had a few narrow misses .
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f6fc3a7bf57e1bb4f2fcb1ba70bd238a8eb86fd2
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(CNN) -- It's clear that we can't go 24 hours without Sarah Palin saying something so stupid that it defies logic, but leave it to the Kim Kardashian of politics to find something wrong with first lady Michelle Obama's effort to curb obesity in America's kids. In a radio interview on Wednesday with conservative talker Laura Ingraham, Palin took dead aim at the first lady's "Let's Move" initiative, which is all about getting children active and involved in exercise and healthy eating. In the wacky world of Wasilla's finest, Palin tries to cast the effort to fight obesity as part of Michelle Obama's "different worldview." Here is a portion of the transcript from HuffingtonPost.com: "Take her anti-obesity thing that she is on. She is on this kick, right. What she is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat. "And I know I'm going to be again criticized for bringing this up, but instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician's wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions and then our country gets back on the right track." Hmmm. "Let's Move" is Obama's "kick?" Maybe someone should kick Sarah Palin so she can understand how devastating obesity is to the future of the United States. According to the first lady's "Let's Move" website: . • Obesity rates among children have tripled in the last three decades, and one in three children are obese. • One-third of all children born after 2000 will suffer from diabetes. • Children are less active today than at any other time in American history, spending 7.5 hours a day watching TV, playing video games or simply involved in efforts that don't require movement. • Obesity is contributing to the vast increase in hypertension among Americans. Now, since Palin is always talking about our nation's military and how we have to honor them and show them love and affection, let's listen to what a group of generals said a few months ago about obesity and America's national defense. A study released in April by Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit group of more than 150 retired generals and admirals, concluded that 27 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds are too fat to join the military. The culprit? Junk food and too much fat in school lunches. Said the study: "Today, otherwise excellent recruiting prospects, some of them with generations of sterling military service in their family history, are being turned away because they are just too overweight. Our standards are high because we clearly cannot have people in our command who are not up to the job. Too many lives depend on it." In testimony before Congress, the former head of the California Army National Guard, retired U.S. Army Major Gen. Paul Monroe, said that "80 percent of children who were overweight between the ages of 10 to 15 were obese by age 25." He and other military leaders want Congress to enact a massive child nutrition bill to remove all junk food and high-calorie beverages from schools, improve nutrition standards in schools, upgrade school menus and, the group said, "help develop new school-based strategies, based on research, that help parents and children adopt healthier lifelong eating and exercise habits." Monroe testified: "In 1946, Congress passed the National School Lunch Act as a matter of national security. In the past, retired admirals and generals have stood up to make it clear that America is only as healthy as our nation's children. Childhood obesity is now undermining our national security and we need to start turning it around today." So, Sarah Palin, are you going to also rip into this decorated American and say that he and 150 other military leaders are dead wrong? I recently sat down with Michelle Obama for a prime time special on TV One cable network dedicated to her "Let's Move" initiative. It was startling to listen to her talk about the horrible statistics and the shape we'll be in in the future, figuratively and literally. "The crisis that we're facing around childhood obesity hits everything," Obama said. "It's about education, what our kids are learning about nutrition in the schools, the quality of the food in the schools. It's about our neighborhood development. How are neighborhoods designed? "Are our kids -- do they have access to safe places to play? Are we structuring communities in a way that facilitates healthy living? Are there accessible and affordable healthy foods in our communities? And it's about economic opportunity as well, because if folks can't afford to put food on the table, then they're eating what they can. "So this is one of those issues that requires us to talk about a little bit of everything. And it makes us look at ourselves a little more closely and it makes us look at the broader society. So we're beginning to understand this is a threat." This latest broadside by Palin shows how reckless and ridiculous she is. Libertarians and far right conservative Republicans are always talking about government intrusion into our lives, but when we look at clean water, air quality and food supply, thank God for governmental standards. Don't think for a second I'm not paying attention. I've increased my health awareness, am changing my diet and working out more to lose weight, and am pushing family members to do the same. That's really the whole point of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move." Any Republican with common sense should see that Sarah Palin poses an immediate threat to the future of this country. She proves that every time she opens her mouth. Sarah, for the benefit of the nation, stick a fork in it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin.
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Roland Martin says Sarah Palin slammed Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign .
He says Obama's site says obesity tripled in 30 years, diabetes in kids is up .
He says a group of generals told Congress increasingly people are too overweight to serve .
Martin: Palin's comments show she is reckless about the nation's health .
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(CNN) -- Peace came to Europe on Monday, in the form of a golden medal. Leaders of the European Union accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on Monday, calling their organization a "perpetual peace congress" that had solved the problem of war on the continent. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 8 million kronor ($1.2 million) prize to the European Union in October for what it called more than "six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe." European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz traveled to Norway to accept the award, including the emblematic golden medal depicting prize founder Alfred Nobel in a ceremony at the ornate City Hall in Oslo, Norway. "Our continent bears the scars of spears and swords, of cannons and guns, of trenches and tanks and more," Van Rompuy said. "What a bold bet it was for Europe's founders to say yes, yes we can, yes we can break this endless cycle of violence, we can stop the logic of vengeance, we can build a brighter future together." Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel Committee, said the award was well-deserved. "What this continent has achieved is truly fantastic, from being a continent of war to becoming a continent of peace," he said. "In this process, the European Union has figured most prominently. It therefore deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. The award was not without controversy. Three Nobel laureates -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Perez Esquivel -- said the European Union doesn't qualify for the award and asked the prize board to withhold it. "The EU is not seeking to realize Nobel´s demilitarized global peace order," the laureates wrote in a November letter. In his acceptance speech, Van Rompuy seemed to sharply disagree, saying that the European Union has transformed the continent from a land of war to one in which the greater threat is glazing over during the organization's myriad policy debates. "For this, boring politics is only a small price to pay," he said. Barroso said the EU's influence and focus on human dignity and freedom are felt worldwide. "As a community of nations that has overcome war and fought totalitarianism, we will always stand by those who are in pursuit of peace and human dignity," he said. The EU will use the prize money -- doubling it with its own contributions -- to help protect and educate children in conflict zones.
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European Union has helped transform the continent, Nobel Committee chairman says .
"What a bold bet it was," EU leader marvels of organization's founding .
The EU will use the prize money to educate and protect children in conflict zones .
Three Nobel laureates oppose the award .
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f6fcf4eefee55c062b2efb331c1521cfd5367397
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A crumpled set of orders for the Normandy invasion have been found under the floorboards of a New Forest hotel. Staff were astonished to find the documents - some marked 'On His Majesty's Service' - more than 70 years after the Balmer Lawn Hotel in Hampshire was used as an army staff college. The typed notes gave military orders and even detailed the woes of rigging up a ten-mile phone cable for advancing troops on 'D-Day 1' - June 7, 1944, the day after D-Day. On His Majesty's Service: These crumpled D-Day orders were discovered under a hotel's floorboards . Important: The documents, which were accompanied by cigarette boxes, detailed the woes of rigging up a ten-mile phone cable for advancing troops on 'D-Day 1' - June 7, 1944, the day after D-Day . Hotel staff said 'half a bin bag' worth of typed documents and envelopes were found by workers who were refurbishing the luxury four-star hotel. Most are thought to relate to the Canadian military, who were based at Balmer Lawn during the war. The hotel's owner Chris Wilson said: 'We've found spent ammunition under floorboards before, but never this quantity of documents. It ties the hotel to its history. 'They are quite detailed and specific orders to be followed by troops on the ground.' 'They're in a delicate condition and unscrunching them will have to be done very carefully. After that I imagine we'll put them on display.' The 'stash' found in the middle of a bedroom floor last week also included cigarette boxes and toothpaste tubes. Among the paperwork were more innocuous items, including an invitation to troops to 'attend the American All variety Musical-Variety Show, Swingin' in the ETO (European Theatre of Operations)'. Modern day: Renovators made the find at the Balmer Lawn Hotel in the New Forest (pictured) History: The hotel (pictured during the Second World War) was turned into an army staff college in the 1940s . Grim: Allied troops landing on the beaches . Canadian troops were instrumental to the invasion of June 6, 1944 - as their role was to take Juno Beach, one of five along a 50-mile stretch of the northern French coast. The country sent around 14,000 soldiers, 350 of whom died on that first day, and another 450 to be parachuted in behind enemy lines. The allied invasion, a key turning point in the Second World War, was notable for its co-operation between Britain, Canada and the U.S. Soldiers from all three countries underwent months of training. The documents, which were dusty, dirty and in bad shape but still readable, even survived a fire which engulfed much of the hotel in the 1970s. 'We are still in the process of evaluating the papers but some seem to include code on while others are more to do with the day-to-day organisation of the soldiers,' said a hotel spokesman. 'One includes an invite to all personnel to attend a musical variety show. 'Perhaps of most interest are the documents that refer to the D-Day landings. 'One document refers to D-Day 1 - June 7 1944 - and mentions difficulties in setting up a ten-mile telephone cable as troops continued advancing into northern France.' The hotel was built as a private house and hunting lodge in 1800 and extended in 1850. During the First World War it was used as a field hospital, with injured soldiers wheeled onto the wards on luggage trolleys from Brockenhurst station a mile away. During the 1940s it transformed into an army staff college, from which some of the orders for the D-Day landings were issued ahead of time. Dignitaries who visited the hotel during the two wars included King George V, Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower.
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Builders found crumpled papers at Balmer Lawn Hotel in New Forest .
It was used to help plan Normandy invasion as army staff college in WWII .
One memo refers to 'D-Day 1' - June 7, 1944, the day after D-Day itself .
It detailed problems of rigging 10-mile phone cable for advancing troops .
Documents will be examined by historian and put on display in hotel .
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f6fd12a1b8f02e49e8fdeec2c5e79c8df04affeb
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By . Tamara Cohen . Labour would guarantee patients an appointment with a family doctor within 48 hours - and within a day in urgent cases, Ed Miliband announced yesterday. He called it a ‘scandal’ that many patients have to wait days to be seen by a GP, and said his party would plough hundreds of millions of pounds into cutting waiting times. But doctors warned against a ‘knee jerk’ return to the 48 hour target, which was in force under the last Labour government, saying it would increase the burden on overstretched GPs. Ed Miliband visited Leighton Hospital in Crewe today before announcing that under Labour voters would get a guarantee to see their GP within 48 hours . Mr Miliband claimed the £100million a year needed to fund shorter waiting times would be found by cutting back on NHS red tape and highly-paid consultants. The number of patients who see a doctor within 48 hours has dropped from 80pc to 40pc under the Coalition, he said. One in four people have to wait a week to be seen. The Labour leader said his ‘guarantee’ would prevent patients who cannot get an appointment with their GP flooding A&E departments and would save the NHS more than £300million. ‘This will be better for patients, because they have better access to their GP surgery; better for the NHS, because it will save money currently spent in A&E; and better for Britain, because it is the kind of health service we need’, he said. The Conservatives called it an ‘unfunded pie in the sky policy’ and said they had scrapped the 48 hour target because doctors found it counter-productive to patient care. Mr Miliband told an audience in Manchester that Labour would allow patients to speak to a doctor or triage nurse, rather than a receptionist on the phone straightaway. If their condition is judged to need immediate attention they can see a GP the same day. All patients would have the right to see a GP at their own practice within 48 hours if they want to, although not necessarily the GP of their choice. Ed Miliband has hit out at the Government's 'scandalous' NHS reforms, which he claims are costing millions of pounds. He wants to scrap the changes to fund more GP appointments . Chaand Nagpaul at the British Medical Association said last year when this policy as suggested that ‘arbitrary targets, even for limited periods, are unlikely to alleviate the pressures on the NHS and could make the situation worse. He added: ‘It is likely to result in a rush for appointments when practices open which could overwhelm GP services and restrict the freedom of GPs to schedule appointments beyond 48 hours for patients with long-term conditions.’ Dr Maureen Baker, chair of the Royal College of GPs, has also warned against a ‘knee jerk’ return to 48-hour targets, but welcomed the promise of extra funding to cut waiting times. She said family doctors regularly see up to 60 patients a day, with the majority of GPs now saying that they fear missing something serious in a patient due to unsafe workloads. ‘GPs want to provide better access for their patients. We support the aspiration that patients should be able to book a GP appointment within 48 hours, as one of a range of options that also includes, for example, the ability to wait for longer to see a GP of their choice’, she said. ‘But the way to achieve this is not the imposition of top-down targets, but tackling the resourcing crisis that is at the root of the rising waiting times affecting general practice.’ She added: ‘While we welcome Mr Miliband’s announcement it must not be another ‘sticking plaster’ solution but part of a broader, long-term, shift in investment’. Labour sources claimed the 48 hour guarantee would not be the same as the previous target, as patients who want to wait more than two days to see their own GP will still be able to. GPs can spend the extra funding as they see fit, by hiring more staff or asking GPs to work longer hours. The cost would be funded by cutting £78million of administration and legal fees associated with EU competition law, and reining in the £3million a month spending on consultants by three health quangos – Monitor, the Trust Development Authority and Commissioning Support Units. Mr Miliband also told an audience of health workers that he would repeal the Health and Social Care Act– the law putting GPs back in charge of health budgets. A Conservative Health Spokesman said: ‘This is an unfunded pie-in-the-sky policy that Labour can't pay for and doctors can't deliver. More unfunded spending would mean more borrowing and more taxes to pay for it. ‘The last Labour Government vandalised the relationship between GPs and their patients by introducing tick-box targets and scrapping family doctors, something we are now putting right. ‘Far from improving access, another top-down target will leave GPs less time with their patients and put more pressure on general practice.’
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Labour leader says patients will have right to see family doctor in two days .
Target was in place under last Labour government but scrapped by Coalition .
Doctors have previously warned against the £100 million policy .
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f6fd4d7ce67caae42ca36907168364f92506b7a3
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:30 EST, 22 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:24 EST, 22 July 2013 . An investor’s website has released its list of the worst companies to work for in America as identified by the employees who hate them. 24/7 Wall St. has sorted through the 250,000 companies measured by job review site Glassdoor.com. Out of the most poorly rated, 24/7 Wall St. chose the nine publicly traded companies that scored the lowest and they’re mostly industries where customer interaction is key. Mean: DISH was rated the worst in a survey of employee reviews on job advice website Glassdoor.com. The television provider was also rated 'Meanest Company in America' by Business Week . Meanwhile, three of the namesake Dillards under the company’s employ—Mike, William, and Alex—raked in a combined salary of $54 million over the last three years. Discount retailer Dollar General came in just behind Dillard’s at number 4 on the list. Investor website 24/7 Wall St. looked at job advice website Glassdoor.com's 250,000 reviewed employers and found the nine most poorly rated. Retailers make up four of the nine worst. 1. DISH . 2. Express Scripts . 3. Dillard's . 4. Dollar General . 5. RadioShack . 6. ADT . 7. Sears . 8. NCR . 9. Fiserv . The stores number a whopping 10,000 and employ 90,000-plus people, many of whom aren’t happy. Complaints often revolved around hours at America’s self-described ‘largest small-box retailer,’ especially for overworked store managers. Theft, too, was a hot-button issue at Dollar General, though some said it is customer theft and others complained of abundant employee theft. More service-based companies helped round out the list. Employees at security company ADT complained that too much focus was placed on clinching a sale while higher-ups ‘could care less about customers after sale.’ This no doubt makes things difficult for service representatives who deal with customers in the thereafter, though with little help from a management team they often called ‘weak.’ This . was the Dish Network television provider’s second year as the dubious . winner of 24/7 Wall St.’s list. Employees complained of low wages, . strenuous hours, and unpleasant work conditions. The company that received the poorest ratings: DISH. The television provider, once called 'America's Meanest Comany' by Business Week, also proves that unhappy employees mean unhappy customers. The most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked them behind competitors AT&T, Verizon, and DirecTV. Of the eight other dreaded employers, four are in the retail sector. 'Treated like pawns': Retail companies made up much of the list from 24/7 Wall St. Dillard's Department Stores was the the lowest rated of the retail bunch . Dillard’s . Inc., Sears Holdings Corporation, Dollar General Corporation, and . RadioShack Corp. all scored lower than 2.5 on Glassdoor.com’s 1-5 . ranking system. The worst . of the retail bunch, Dillard’s, came in at number 3 on the list. The . company’s reviews bemoan its low wages and long hours. ‘The . benefits are pitiful and the salaries are not current with industry,’ wrote a reviewer. ‘I should know as I work in a [department] that sees . the salaries.’ But for unhappy employees willing to make a change, there could be light at the end of the tunnel. If they’re willing to leave the service and retail sector. Another recent Glassdoor.com survey showed that the top 25 companies for ‘Work-Life balance’ are mostly in the technology field.
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The nine companies with the unhappiest workers are mostly in retail and other customer service fields .
Among the worst according to investment website 24/7 Wall St. are DISH, Dillard's, Radio Shack, and Sears .
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