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TBILISI, Georgia (CNN) -- Russia has likely moved additional troops into Georgia and its breakaway provinces over the past several days, several administration officials told CNN on Wednesday. The officials said Russia probably has at least 15,000 troops in the region. The U.S. government had estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Russian troops had moved into Georgia when fighting began last week. A Bush administration official stressed that the scope of Russia's military effort remains unclear. Russia was blasted diplomatically Wednesday by President Bush over reports of ongoing Russian military operations. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said Russian military action in Georgia "must stop and must stop now." Georgia and Russia accused each other of violating the cease-fire deal agreed Tuesday to end fighting over the breakaway South Ossetia province. Bush said he was told the Russian military had blocked Georgia's major east-west highway and had soldiers at the main port at Poti, and there were reports that some ships had been attacked. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that there were no Russian troops in Poti but that there were soldiers on the outskirts of Gori and Senaki, to the west, according to the Russian news agency Interfax. Senaki is south of another separatist province, Abkhazia. "They are staying there to neutralize the large arsenal of weapons and other military hardware in the areas of Gori and Senaki. These arsenals remain unguarded. Apparently those who guarded them fled," Lavrov said. He added that Russia's operations are "aimed at ensuring the peace-enforcement operation in respect to the Georgian side, which violates all of its obligations," and his office denied that Russia had violated the cease-fire. International agreements signed in the early 1990s allow Russian peacekeepers to maintain a presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Bush said he was sending Rice to France and Georgia to discuss the violence over disputed provinces within Georgia's borders and to express "America's unwavering support" to the Georgian government. Watch Bush pledge "unwavering support" for Georgia » . He also announced U.S. aircraft and ships would deliver humanitarian aid to victims of the fighting between Russian and Georgian troops, which erupted Friday. A U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jet carrying medical supplies already has arrived in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, with more aid missions are planned by the Navy and Air Force. Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili said Russian forces have been "advancing slowly but surely towards the capital" of Georgia in violation of the cease-fire agreement. He accused the Russians of never intending to hold up their end of the truce. "The cease-fire never stood in the first place," Saakashvili told CNN's "Situation Room" on Wednesday. "Russia never intended to stop fire." He added that "Russian tanks continue to ravage Georgia town and villages, killing people, destroying buildings, looting. ... They've been doing worse things to what I've heard in the past and I could never imagine happening in my country." A spokesman for Russia's Foreign Ministry bristled at reports of Russian troop movements and said they "are not reflecting the real situation." Interactive map: See how far the Russians advanced » . "We as the Russian Federation are [sticking] to the agreement, which [has] been made in Moscow yesterday, and we hope that the other side will show its readiness to do the same," Andrei Nesterenko said. He chided Saakashvili for "blaming again us for doing something which is contrary to the real situation." A Russian convoy was seen by a CNN correspondent as it traveled on the road from Gori eastward toward the Georgia capital, Tbilisi -- well outside the mandated area for Russian peacekeepers confined to South Ossetia. Watch Russian spokesman explain tank movement . However, not far from Tbilisi, the convoy turned north into territory between Gori and South Ossetia, CNN correspondent Matthew Chance said. A Russian government spokesman said the soldiers "never had plans" to travel to the capital. Watch more on the convoy outside Gori » . Saakashvili said Russian forces "are encroaching upon the capital" of Georgia in violation of the cease-fire agreement. He said the Russians never intended to hold up their end of the truce. "This is the kind of cease-fire that, I don't know, they had with Afghanistan, I guess, in 1979," Saakashvili said. "There is no cease-fire. [Russian forces] are moving around." Watch Saakashvili speak » . Interfax reported that a spokesman for the command of the Russian peacekeeping force said Russian soldiers who discovered an unguarded arms depot near Gori were emptying it as part of their goal of demilitarizing the area near South Ossetia. Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Georgian government officials had fled Gori, and the Russian soldiers were providing food and water to residents. There were reports of looting. Using a cell phone, one Gori resident said he was hiding in the basement of his house, and there was chaos in the city. Russian tanks were parked at a nearby Georgian military base, he said. The Russian General Staff in Moscow accused the Georgians of not honoring the cease-fire, saying Georgian troops should return to their barracks. Saakashvili said Western leaders had "failed to analyze Russia's intentions" before it invaded Georgia and "are partly to blame" for the current situation. iReport.com: Share your story of how the crisis is affecting you . "The response has not been adequate," Saakashvili said. "Not only those people who are committing all those atrocities are responsible, but those who don't react to that, I think they also share responsibility." The six-point deal between the sides, negotiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was meant to end the fighting over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Watch more on push for peace » . However, Saakashvili, flanked by the leaders of Lithuania, Poland, Estonia and Latvia in a media briefing early Wednesday, said Russian tanks were attacking and "rampaging" through the Georgian town of Gori despite the cease-fire. Journalists in Gori, the birthplace of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, said they had seen no Russian tanks. Watch more on battle-ravaged South Ossetia » . Reports of casualties on each side varied widely, and CNN could not confirm any of them. Fighting has raged since Thursday when Georgia launched its crackdown on separatist fighters in autonomous South Ossetia, where most people have long supported independence or reunification with neighboring North Ossetia, a territory within Russia. Russia sent its tanks into South Ossetia on Friday, saying it needed to protect Russian citizens living in the enclave, and quickly pushed back the Georgian forces. Russian forces also moved into Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian region. Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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NEW: U.S. says Russian troops moved across border in past several days .
Bush warns Russia over reported cease-fire violations .
Georgia, Russia accuse each other of breaking the truce .
First U.S. humanitarian aid flight lands in Georgian capital .
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Could the Netflix model work for a movie theater chain? AMC Theaters is reportedly exploring that with a pilot partnership with MoviePass, a company which offers a subscription service where movie lovers can attend a movie a day for a monthly fee. AMC operates more than 4,900 screens across the United States, making it the second largest theater chain behind Regal Entertainment. The New York Times reports that moviegoers would pay a fee of $35 a month, which would allow them a pass to attend one showing a day of any movie they choose. A $45 per month option includes 3D and IMAX films. MoviePass launched back in 2011 and AMC decided to partner with the company in response to the decline in attendance by young moviegoers. According to Nielsen's 2014 Moviegoing Report, which was released last week, audiences between the ages of 12 and 24 years old saw an average of 7.1 movies -- a decrease of 15.5% from last year's report. "Millennials are consuming things differently, and that includes going to the movies," MoviePass's chief executive and co-founder Stacy Spikes told the Times. Younger people are already enthusiastic users of subscription services like Netflix for movies and Spotify for music, which allows them to consume what they want, when they want. "It frankly wouldn't be smart to ignore the success of subscription in other areas of media," Christina Sternberg, the senior vice president for corporate strategy at AMC, told The Times. A movie a day might keep the lagging box office numbers away. The industry had a less than stellar summer blockbuster season. The new pilot program will be rolled out in January in Denver and Boston. Other cities will be added based on the rate of success in the initial markets.
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AMC is launching a pilot program .
Moviegoers would pay a fee to get a daily movie pass .
Viewership by younger audiences is down .
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Today, the United States is conducting offensive cyberwar actions around the world. More than passively eavesdropping, we're penetrating and damaging foreign networks for both espionage and to ready them for attack. We're creating custom-designed Internet weapons, pre-targeted and ready to be "fired" against some piece of another country's electronic infrastructure on a moment's notice. This is much worse than what we're accusing China of doing to us. We're pursuing policies that are both expensive and destabilizing and aren't making the Internet any safer. We're reacting from fear, and causing other countries to counter-react from fear. We're ignoring resilience in favor of offense. Welcome to the cyberwar arms race, an arms race that will define the Internet in the 21st century. Presidential Policy Directive 20, issued last October and released by Edward Snowden, outlines U.S. cyberwar policy. Most of it isn't very interesting, but there are two paragraphs about "Offensive Cyber Effect Operations," or OCEO, that are intriguing: . "OECO can offer unique and unconventional capabilities to advance U.S. national objectives around the world with little or no warning to the adversary or target and with potential effects ranging from subtle to severely damaging. The development and sustainment of OCEO capabilities, however, may require considerable time and effort if access and tools for a specific target do not already exist. "The United States Government shall identify potential targets of national importance where OCEO can offer a favorable balance of effectiveness and risk as compared with other instruments of national power, establish and maintain OCEO capabilities integrated as appropriate with other U.S. offensive capabilities, and execute those capabilities in a manner consistent with the provisions of this directive." Opinion: Cyber arms control? Forget about it . These two paragraphs, and another paragraph about OCEO, are the only parts of the document classified "top secret." And that's because what they're saying is very dangerous. Cyberattacks have the potential to be both immediate and devastating. They can disrupt communications systems, disable national infrastructure, or, as in the case of Stuxnet, destroy nuclear reactors; but only if they've been created and targeted beforehand. Before launching cyberattacks against another country, we have to go through several steps. We have to study the details of the computer systems they're running and determine the vulnerabilities of those systems. If we can't find exploitable vulnerabilities, we need to create them: leaving "back doors" in hacker speak. Then we have to build new cyberweapons designed specifically to attack those systems. Sometimes we have to embed the hostile code in those networks, these are called "logic bombs," to be unleashed in the future. And we have to keep penetrating those foreign networks, because computer systems always change and we need to ensure that the cyberweapons are still effective. Like our nuclear arsenal during the Cold War, our cyberweapons arsenal must be pretargeted and ready to launch. That's what Obama directed the U.S. Cyber Command to do. We can see glimpses in how effective we are in Snowden's allegations that the NSA is currently penetrating foreign networks around the world: "We hack network backbones -- like huge Internet routers, basically -- that give us access to the communications of hundreds of thousands of computers without having to hack every single one." The NSA and the U.S. Cyber Command are basically the same thing. They're both at Fort Meade in Maryland, and they're both led by Gen. Keith Alexander. The same people who hack network backbones are also building weapons to destroy those backbones. At a March Senate briefing, Alexander boasted of creating more than a dozen offensive cyber units. Longtime NSA watcher James Bamford reached the same conclusion in his recent profile of Alexander and the U.S. Cyber Command (written before the Snowden revelations). He discussed some of the many cyberweapons the U.S. purchases: . "According to Defense News' C4ISR Journal and Bloomberg Businessweek, Endgame also offers its intelligence clients -- agencies like Cyber Command, the NSA, the CIA, and British intelligence -- a unique map showing them exactly where their targets are located. Dubbed Bonesaw, the map displays the geolocation and digital address of basically every device connected to the Internet around the world, providing what's called network situational awareness. The client locates a region on the password-protected web-based map, then picks a country and city -- say, Beijing, China. Next the client types in the name of the target organization, such as the Ministry of Public Security's No. 3 Research Institute, which is responsible for computer security -- or simply enters its address, 6 Zhengyi Road. The map will then display what software is running on the computers inside the facility, what types of malware some may contain, and a menu of custom-designed exploits that can be used to secretly gain entry. It can also pinpoint those devices infected with malware, such as the Conficker worm, as well as networks turned into botnets and zombies -- the equivalent of a back door left open... "The buying and using of such a subscription by nation-states could be seen as an act of war. 'If you are engaged in reconnaissance on an adversary's systems, you are laying the electronic battlefield and preparing to use it' wrote Mike Jacobs, a former NSA director for information assurance, in a McAfee report on cyberwarfare. 'In my opinion, these activities constitute acts of war, or at least a prelude to future acts of war.' The question is, who else is on the secretive company's client list? Because there is as of yet no oversight or regulation of the cyberweapons trade, companies in the cyber-industrial complex are free to sell to whomever they wish. "It should be illegal,' said the former senior intelligence official involved in cyberwarfare. 'I knew about Endgame when I was in intelligence. The intelligence community didn't like it, but they're the largest consumer of that business.'" That's the key question: How much of what the United States is currently doing is an act of war by international definitions? Already we're accusing China of penetrating our systems in order to map "military capabilities that could be exploited during a crisis." What PPD-20 and Snowden describe is much worse, and certainly China, and other countries, are doing the same. All of this mapping of vulnerabilities and keeping them secret for offensive use makes the Internet less secure, and these pre-targeted, ready-to-unleash cyberweapons are destabalizing forces on international relationships. Rooting around other countries' networks, analyzing vulnerabilities, creating back doors, and leaving logic bombs could easily be construed as an act of war. And all it takes is one over-achieving national leader for this all to tumble into actual war. It's time to stop the madness. Yes, our military needs to invest in cyberwar capabilities, but we also need international rules of cyberwar, more transparency from our own government on what we are and are not doing, international cooperation between governments and viable cyberweapons treaties. Yes, these are difficult. Yes, it's a long slow process. Yes, there won't be international consensus, certainly not in the beginning. But even with all of those problems, it's a better path to go down than the one we're on now. We can start by taking most of the money we're investing in offensive cyberwar capabilities and spend them on national cyberspace resilience. MAD, mutually assured destruction, made sense because there were two superpowers opposing each other. On the Internet there are all sorts of different powers, from nation-states to much less organized groups. An arsenal of cyberweapons begs to be used, and, as we learned from Stuxnet, there's always collateral damage to innocents when they are. We're much safer with a strong defense than with a counterbalancing offense.
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Bruce Schneier: U.S. is pursuing policies that are destabilizing and expensive .
Schneier: The cyberwar arms race will define the Internet in the 21st century .
He asks: How much of what the U.S. does is an act of war by international definitions?
Schneier: We need more transparency, cooperation and viable cyberweapons treaties .
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(CNN) -- We just can't leave well-enough alone. In 1960, the movie "Scent of Mystery" opened in theaters, marking the first and only official attempt at Smell-O-Vision, in which strategic odors were emitted during the film from little pipes near the seats. At the time, it was big thinking and an interesting draw for moviegoers, sort of like the collective asthma attack everyone developed a few years ago for modern 3-D. Which I think most of us will now agree is more trouble than it's worth. Like wearing pants. Before Smell-O-Vision, other motion pictures had unsuccessfully tried to use aromas in disjointed and haphazard ways. But in "Scent of Mystery," new, specific patented technology was developed to actually drive the plot. And that hadn't been done before. Fortunately, the storyline had nothing to do with Peter Lorre getting sick from bad oysters. Though the reviews might've been interesting. "I liked it up until the 30-minute bathroom scene. Two stars." "Scent of Mystery" was eventually de-odorized and retitled "Holiday in Spain," at which point Smell-O-Vision was neatly tucked away in the vault of American bad ideas. It now shares that space with game footage from the XFL. But more than 60 years later, a startup company in Japan is bringing back the Smell-O-Vision concept for a smaller screen. Specifically, the one on your phone. Sexting just got way more interesting. They call this thing ChatPerf, and it's a thumb-drive-sized atomizer that plugs into your mobile device so it can be triggered to release specific odors on command. However, the major design limitation is that it can release only one specific fragrance from whatever scent tank you happen to have inserted into the atomizer. So God help you if you suddenly want to smell "Summer Flowers" but accidentally left the house with "Larry the Cable Guy Doing Situps." Git-R-Done! Holding but one fragrance tank at a time definitely steals some of the potential fun, for it also seems unlikely that you could remotely sneak attack a friend who's on a first date, digitally wafting his table with the putrid stink of rotten eggs. Not that it would necessarily change things. "Um, Jarrett, did you just pass gas?" "Yes. Yes, I did." Naturally, this new little gizmo is still in development, but they hope to have it out in markets by the fall for both iPhone and Android. Which, sadly, will be months too late for strategically teaming up with Bonnaroo so tech-savvy music fans can olfactorily brag to everyone back home with the familiar summer festival smell of a hot Port-O-John. "Sounds like Heather is having fun." "Don't you mean smells like Heather is having fun?" "Ha ha ha! Yes. We have indoor plumbing." But the sky seems to be the limit for ChatPerf, so long as we agree that the sky is rather low and remarkably pointless. That said, the company is being smart and releasing a software development kit to encourage outsiders to hack away at new, creative uses for different smells. So, you never know. Perhaps there's hope for something interesting. I just can't think of what that might be. Nevertheless, Team ChatPerf thinks there are possibilities ranging from the pleasant to the completely absurd. For instance, they excitedly ponder the possibility of concert venues handing out tanks of sweat for fans to truly experience the closeness of their favorite performer on stage. Clearly, they've never been to a Meatloaf concert. One somewhat practical application, they say, might also be for game play, where, say, a shooting game could be programmed to release the smell of gunpowder. Or a driving game might enhance the experience with burning rubber. Come to think of it, maybe even World of Warcraft could be designed to smell like your mom's basement. You know, just in case you happen to emerge from the darkness to play the game somewhere else. Not that you'd want to. At least it has indoor plumbing.
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ChatPerf attaches to mobile devices and can be triggered to emit odors .
Smell-O-Vision was used in movie theaters in 1960 .
Developers hope to make it available in the fall .
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(CNN Student News) -- May 27, 2011 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Bosnia • France • Joplin, Missouri . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: It's Friday -- awesome! -- and I'm Carl Azuz. First up today, a headline that some people have waited 15 years to hear. First Up: Ratko Mladic Captured . AZUZ: Ratko Mladic, the former commander of Serbian forces in Bosnia, has been arrested. This conflict in Bosnia happened back in the 1990s. It was the deadliest war fought in Europe since World War II. And Mladic was the highest ranking war crimes suspect who hadn't been caught. Bosnia was part of the former country of Yugoslavia. The war there lasted from 1992 to 1995. Serbians, Croats and Muslims fought against each other for control of territory. Serbian leaders, like Mladic, are accused of genocide, attempting to wipe out the other groups. Mladic was the leader of Bosnian Serb forces who allegedly attacked the city of Srebrenica and killed thousands of Muslims. Only one other top Serb leader is currently held and awaiting trial. And with Mladic now in custody, Hala Gorani looks back at some of the reaction to what could be the end of this dark chapter in history. (BEGIN VIDEO) HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: After almost 16 years on the run, one of the world's most wanted alleged war criminals is finally captured. Serbian authorities arrested Ratko Mladic Thursday. They reportedly caught up with him in Lazarevo, a village near the northern town of Zrenjanin. Mladic was a Bosnian Serb general during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, and the highest-ranking Yugoslav war crimes suspect still at large. He's wanted for genocide, extermination and murder, and is accused of masterminding the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica. LORD DAVID OWEN, FORMER EU ENVOY TO FORMER YUGOSLAVIA: General Mladic has a very heavy responsibility for what was a tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina for many years, but particularly for the massacre of over 8,000 Muslim males, which has already been judged to be a genocide. GORANI: The capture was praised internationally as a victory for the rule of law in Serbia. ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: The arrest of Ratko Mladic is a very important step towards full integration of the entire region in our Euro-Atlantic community. GORANI: Mladic now faces extradition to the Netherlands and will eventually be tried by an international criminal tribunal. JAMES RUBIN, FORMER U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: When I was the State Department spokesman back in the late '90s, journalists every day would often ask what's happening with Mladic, what's happening with Karadzic, and all I could say at the time was his day will come. And his day has finally come. OWEN: I expect to see him in the Hague very soon, and I think that justice will then be done. GORANI: Hala Gorani, reporting. (END VIDEO) Shoutout . SHELBY ERDMAN, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Ms. Hendrich's social studies classes at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond, Oregon! Nicolas Sarkozy is the president of what country? You know what to do! Is it: A) Russia, B) France, C) Canada or D) Greece? You've got three seconds -- GO! Mr. Sarkozy has been the president of France for four years. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! G8 Meeting in France . AZUZ: Right now, President Sarkozy is welcoming other world leaders as France hosts the annual meeting of the G8, or Group of Eight. Along with France, the G8 includes the U.S., Britain, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy and Russia. These are the world's biggest economic powers. They meet every year to discuss major issues happening around the globe. The group got together yesterday in France. And in addition to big topics -- like the global economy, the environment, terrorism -- the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami also came up. Japan's prime minister thanked President Obama for America's help in recovering from that disaster. Immigration Law . AZUZ: The U.S. Supreme Court is ruling on whether state or federal laws take priority when it comes to immigration reform. A majority of the court ruled in favor of an Arizona law. It punishes businesses that don't use a federal system to check a potential employee's immigration status. Other groups had argued that the system is supposed to be voluntary. There are several cases involving this "state versus federal" question, so we could hear more on this very soon. Why So Many Tornadoes? AZUZ: Officials in Missouri have released a list of more than 230 people missing since a tornado hit the city of Joplin on Sunday. They're asking anyone with information to call in and help. The tornado in Joplin was just one of the storms that has torn across the U.S. Rob Marciano is here to explain the science behind how these twisters form. Rob? ROB MARCIANO, CNN WEATHER ANCHOR: The set-up across the U.S. is different from any other place in the world, where you have cold Canadian air that comes down from, obviously Canada. And this time of year in May and April, we still have cold air at the upper levels of the atmosphere, because it's not quite totally warmed up. And we have warm humid air coming in from the south, and then also dry air coming in from Mexico. It makes this year a little bit different. At least earlier on, we have this La Nina that we've talked about, and what that does it really starts to kink up the jet stream a little bit more than usual, and that gives it more energy. That allows more cold air to drop down, and that allows the battleground to light up a little bit more. Blog Promo . AZUZ: On our blog at CNNStudentNews.com, you'll see a list of this school year's top stories. Severe weather is definitely one of them. We want to include your thoughts in our year-end wrap-up. Go to the blog, leave your comments on these stories. You might see them in our show next Friday. Don't Fry Day . AZUZ: Today, obviously, is Friday. But some organizations have dubbed today "Don't Fry Day." Hmm? Brooke Baldwin is going to shine a light on what this is about. (BEGIN VIDEO) BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: The National Sun Safety Day, also known as "Don't Fry Day," is a campaign by the EPA and members of the National Council on Skin Cancer Awareness. Now in its third year, Don't Fry Day is aimed at educating the public about skin protection in the sun. It's held just before Memorial Day weekend. DRUSILLA HUFFORD, EPA: Our hope in holding it on the Friday before Memorial Day really has been to peg to the expectation in most American families that that is the gateway to summer. As of now, 1 in 5 Americans is expected to be diagnosed with skin cancer over a lifetime. So, EPA and the National Council are asking folks to remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap. First, slip on some protective clothing. Secondly, wear sunscreen. Next, slap on a hat. Finally, wrap on some sunglasses. BALDWN: Dermatologist Rutledge Forney says sunscreen is key. DR. RUTLEDGE FORNEY, DERMATOLOGIST: The first thing they ought to look for is a large number. We really believe that 30 or higher is very important. The second thing is that they need to have a broad spectrum, that is UVA and UVB coverage. (END VIDEO) Is This Legit? ERDMAN, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this legit? Memorial Day used to be known as Decoration Day. This is true! And the holiday always falls on the last Monday in May. Honoring the Fallen . AZUZ: The holiday that Americans observe on Monday goes back almost 150 years. It was named Decoration Day because the first people who observed it would decorate -- put flowers -- on the graves of troops killed in the U.S. Civil War. So why late May? Well, it's believed this time of year was chosen because flowers are in bloom all across the nation. This is Arlington National Cemetery. It's where the first major Decoration Day observance was held in 1868, though smaller observances were made throughout the country before that. Instead of flowers, today's military usually places small American flags beside more than 250,000 graves at Arlington. The flags will stay there through Memorial Day. But Decoration Day, Memorial Day, how did we get from one name to the other? The Great War, the war to end all wars; what's known today as World War I. It not only changed the world, it changed how the U.S. remembers its fallen troops. After this brutal event, Decoration Day became Memorial Day to memorialize Americans killed in any of the nation's wars. This is what distinguishes this holiday from Veterans Day, which honors anyone who's served in the U.S. Armed Forces. And while Memorial Day's traditions have changed over the years, its significance remains. At 3:00 p.m., wherever you are on Memorial Day, there's a National Moment of Remembrance. It encourages you to pause for one minute in honor of those who've died fighting for the country. Before We Go . AZUZ: Well, before we go today, we have proof for you that one person really can make a difference. The flag flying over the pier in Oceanside, California was pretty torn up. So, Luke Smith decided to do something about it. He wrote a letter to the mayor. The eight-year-old said that flying a torn flag was disrespectful to the country and its troops. He asked the mayor to replace it. Done! New flag flying, all thanks to one person's determination. Goodbye . AZUZ: Time for us to wave goodbye. No show on Monday due to Memorial Day. Enjoy the long weekend. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz.
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Serbian authorities arrest an alleged war criminal from the Bosnian War .
World leaders gather to discuss global issues at the G8 Summit in France .
Officials declare "Don't Fry Day" to raise awareness about exposure to sun .
Use the weekly Newsquiz to test your knowledge of stories you saw on CNN Student News .
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(Parenting) -- No matter how much you plan ahead, feeding your extended family--bottomless teenage nephews, out-of-town uncles, and wild munchkins included--is going to be a massive undertaking. These clever strategies will help you do it with less stress and more sanity. Don't fret the table . News flash: You don't need to iron the entire tablecloth. If you're low on time (uh, who's not?), just iron the corners and sides. Once the dishes and centerpiece are in place, no one will see the wrinkles. Have the kids help you set the table the night before, too. It's one less thing to do. Parenting: Totally embarrassing holiday photos . Splurge on pre-chopped veggies . Scan the produce section and salad bar for prewashed, pre-chopped veggies, like carrots and celery. They might be a little more expensive, but it is totally worth it. Fill your freezer . Check the supermarket freezer section for bagged ingredients that won't sacrifice flavor, like peeled sweet potatoes. Frozen piecrusts have fooled many a guest, too. Pretty much any casserole or fruit-filled tart, crumble, or pie will freeze beautifully. (You can bake it when time allows, either before or after freezing.) Parenting: Easy Thanksgiving crafts . Store items in the dishes you'll heat them in . Freeze or refrigerate your creations in the same oven-ready dishes you'll heat them in. On the big day, just bring the dish to room temperature, then toss in the preheated oven for the quickest cooking. If you break Aunt Bertha's ginormous casserole recipe into two or three smaller dishes, it will cook even faster. Parenting: 5 delicious mocktail recipes . Utilize your A.H.D. -- Alternative Heating Devices . Not enough oven space? You can put together a veggie or bean dish days in advance, then pop it in the microwave; just be mindful of the size. For example, put our Green Beans With Glazed Onions in two glass pie pans, which will fit nicely in the microwave for a quick zap. Also, keep soup hot in a Crock-Pot and extra gravy toasty in a large thermos. Parenting: Top iPhone apps for kids . Don't overdo it with the turkey . You may be tempted to spend hours on sauces and seasonings for the bird, but hear this: it's all about knowing how long to cook the thing. Just give it a salt-and-pepper treatment and use an instant-read thermometer. When in doubt, call the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line (800-BUTTERBALL) or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (800-535-4555). You don't have to cook the stuffing inside the turkey: It's safer and faster to cook them separately. Get 2 FREE YEARS of Parenting magazine - Subscribe Now!! Copyright 2011 The Parenting Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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No one will notice that the top of your tablecloth is wrinkled when all the dishes are on it. Just iron the sides .
The old adage, "time is money," holds true for Thanksgiving. Save time with expensive pre-chopped veggies .
Perfecting your turkey seasoning technique can mean hours of sauce-making. Salt and pepper is all you need .
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Great Depression is in full swing. Gangster Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years behind bars for tax evasion. Dick Tracy debuts in the comics. The George Washington Bridge opens. The old subway cars have concrete floors, overhead fans and open windows. The year is 1931. And New Yorkers are stepping onto the brand new R-1 model subway car, built by the American Car & Foundry factory in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Fast-forward 77 years. New Yorkers and tourists are once again boarding these 84,000-pound, 60-foot-long behemoths constructed of riveted steel, with some featuring wicker seats, dangling emergency brake cords, incandescent light bulbs, big exposed overhead fans, and open windows. "I really thought I was getting on the wrong train until the conductor told me it's going to 23rd [Street], exactly where I'm going,'' said Joseph Salmond, who had never seen a subway car quite this old. "It was like, what's that movie, 'Back to the Future'?" Watch the ride back in time » . A legendary workhorse of the transit system until the model was put out to pasture in 1977, the R-1 is temporarily back in action as part of New York City Transit's holiday "Nostalgia Train'' on Sundays in December. The R-1 and other rehabilitated subway cars from the 1930s to the 1970s are making the rounds from Manhattan's Lower East Side to the borough of Queens along the "V" line. Passengers love to ride on this special occasion, even though the ride is bumpier and noisier than they have grown accustomed to on today's gleaming stainless steel subways. Would New Yorkers want to ride these trains on a daily basis? "Absolutely not,'' says Chuck Falkowitz, who remembers the R-1 from his childhood in the 1950s. He prefers today's cleaner seats, improved lighting, heating and air conditioning. "But it is fun to ride them,'' Falkowitz says. "Once a year's more than enough'' Bill Wall, a New York City Transit service supervisor working aboard the R-1 on a recent Sunday, said the train has a special effect on riders and subway employees alike. "You come on a New York City subway, people are there, they read their papers, they're going about their business," he said. "On this train, you see people smiling and talking to one another and saying, 'Oh, God, this is a great thing,' '' said Wall, proudly calling it "transportainment." Built like a battleship with steel body and concrete floors, the R-1 was simple and reliable. State of the art in its day, each car cost just under $40,000, according to Wall. Today's subway cars run the city about $1.5 million apiece. In the 1930s, the R-1's ceiling fans were a major improvement over relying solely on the motion of the train and open windows to move air around. But as time went on, people thought, ''Overhead fans that close to people's heads -- that may not be such a great idea,'' Wall said. In the 1940s, the system began switching to enclosed fans. Later, cooling and heating systems became the norm, which is why today's subway cars have lower ceilings. The R-1s were also the first trains in New York to have four sets of doors on the sides for rapid loading and unloading, a big boost to New York City subways' ability to accommodate the growing post-World War I population. With the R-1 in mind, Billy Strayhorn composed his 1939 classic tune, "Take the A Train." Given its historical legacy, what's an R-1 worth now? "It's what you make it to be in terms of worth," Wall said. "Some people look at it and say it's an old train worth whatever the scrap value is. Some people will look at it and say it's an heirloom." "You really can't even put a price on something like this," he says. To put things into perspective: In the 1970s the R-1s were being sold to scrap dealers for less than $1,000 each. If you think you'll get one for that price today, someone in Brooklyn has a bridge to sell you.
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Some 1930s-era subway cars are back in service this month in New York .
Some feature wicker seats, overhead fans and old advertising posters .
Rehabilitated subway cars from 1930s to 1970s go from Manhattan to Queens .
Transit official: Old cars make riders smile, talk with each other .
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Investors burned by Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme could be getting back more of their money. The trustee in charge of recovering funds for Madoff's victims said Monday he is asking a New York bankruptcy court for permission to distribute another $322 million. This as 55% of the billions lost by Madoff has now been recovered. Scroll down for video . Payback: Bernie Madoff's trustee is set to return another $322million to duped investors as 55% of the $20billion lost by disgraced money man has now been recovered . Trustee Irving Picard said that if approved, the latest payment would bring the total distributed so far to Madoff investors to $7.2 billion. Madoff's multi-decade fraud lost about $20 billion from thousands of investors. His firm told clients they were gaining steady returns when in fact Madoff was using money from new investors to distribute funds to existing clients while financing a lavish lifestyle for him. Picard, appointed after Madoff's scheme collapsed in 2008, has recovered about $10.5 billion. A hearing is scheduled for January on whether to approve the latest distribution, which would send payments to about 1,000 Madoff investors. The smallest proposed payout is $391, the largest, almost $61 million. The process for returning the recovered funds has been arduous, with victims filing lawsuits and other complaints over how Picard has chosen to distribute the money. Madoff, 76, pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges in March 2009 and is serving a 150-year prison sentence. Going away: Annette Bongiorno, who worked for Madoff from the 1960s until the firm's collapse in 2008, was the second of five former employees to be sentenced after being convicted in March of securities fraud . This comes just two weeks after a former manager at Bernard Madoff's firm was sentenced to six years in prison today in New York for helping the convicted fraudster carry out a Ponzi scheme that caused investors to lose billions of dollars. Annette Bongiorno, who worked for Madoff from the 1960s until the firm's collapse in 2008, was the second of five former employees to be sentenced after being convicted in March of securities fraud, conspiracy and other charges in a Manhattan federal court.
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Victims of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme are set to get back another $322million from trustee Irving Picard .
Picard, appointed after Madoff's scheme collapsed in 2008, has recovered about $10.5 billion in funds, 55% of the amount Madoff lost .
Of the $10.5billion, $7.2billion has been distributed to victims .
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American life: Michael Moore says he no longer has anything to say about mass shootings following Santa Barbara slayings . The filmmaker behind Bowling for Columbine has responded to calls for comment following the latest U.S. mass shooting. Michael Moore wrote a Facebook post describing America's national symbol as the gun, not the bald eagle. 'With due respect to those who are asking me to comment on last night’s tragic mass shooting ... I no longer have anything to say about what is now part of normal American life,' Moore wrote. 'Everything I have to say about this, I . said it 12 years ago,' he said, referencing his 2002 documentary in . which he explored the possible causes of the horrific Columbine High . School massacre in 1999 carried out by teens Eric Harris and Dylan . Klebold. He goes on to say . that the U.S. is singularly plagued by these violent attacks in part . because of a climate of fear and paranoia and weak gun laws that enable . 'disturbed white males' to get their hands on deadly weapons - legally.Elliot . Rodger was found to have three .9mm semi-automatic gun and more than . 400 rounds of ammunition, all of which was legally purchased and . registered. Moore writes . that while other countries have more violent histories than the U.S., . more guns per capita and consume the same violent movies and video games . as the U.S., but none have anywhere near the rates of mass killings . that America does. '...and yet we don't seem to want to ask ourselves this simple question: "Why us? What is it about US?"' he writes. Richard Martinez the father of Christopher Martinez who was gunned down by Elliot Rodger echoed Moore's despair. 'When will this insanity stop?' he asked through tears while speaking to the media. 'Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA,” Martinez said, raising his voice. 'They talk about gun rights. What about Chris’s right to live?' Disturbed white males: Moore said that almost all mass shootings are carried out by young men like Elliot Rodger . Bowling for Columbine: Moore says nothing has changed since he made the documentary 12 years ago . The bloodshed is just the latest in what is fast becoming a regular occurrence in the United States, and one that is sure to happen again, says Moore. 'We won't pass the necessary laws, but more importantly we won't consider why this happens here all the time,' he writes. 'When the NRA says, "Guns don't kill people - people kill people," they've got it half-right. Except I would amend it to this: "Guns don't kill people - Americans kill people." Enjoy the rest of your day, and rest assured this will all happen again very soon.'
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Filmmaker Michael Moore responded to calls for comment on the latest mass shooting in the U.S.
He wrote in a Facebook post that he no longer has anything to say 'about what is now a normal part of American life'
He said that nothing has changed since he made the 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine .
That film dealt with the Columbine High School massacre by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris .
The U.S. is plagued by violent attacks in part .
because of a climate of fear and paranoia and weak gun laws .
He said the national symbol is not the bald eagle but the gun .
'Enjoy the rest of your day, and rest assured this will all happen again very soon,' he concluded .
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(CNN) -- Washington and Lee University cited slavery's "regrettable" role in the Virginia school's history and announced that it will remove Confederate battle flags from a chapel that serves as a major meeting place. The decision was announced in a message Tuesday from university President Kenneth Ruscio following discussions of concerns raised by black students about the campus environment. In 1826 the University -- then Washington College -- owned between 70 to 80 slaves and benefited from their labor, wrote Ruscio. "Acknowledging that historical record -- and acknowledging the contributions of those individuals -- will require coming to terms with a part of our past that we wish had been different but that we cannot ignore," Ruscio said. Ruscio also said that the regimental flags are going to be removed from Lee Chapel. The flags are replicas of original and historic battle flags that were once at the site. The university in Lexington is named for President George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general who later served as school president until his death in 1870. He is buried in a crypt beneath the landmark chapel. The original flags will be placed on rotating display at Lee Chapel Museum in a more "appropriate location" where the stories behind them can be properly told, wrote Ruscio. A group of black law students, referred to as "The Committee," has been communicating with the administration about its concerns, leader Brandon Hicks said Wednesday. Their letter began a dialogue between the students and the administration. "It's about creating a climate on campus that everyone feels welcome," Hicks told CNN on why he sought the changes. He said some students felt uncomfortable with the flags at Lee Chapel. "These are huge steps. We are ecstatic," Hicks said of Ruscio's announcement. Black students comprise 2% of the undergraduate student body at Washington and Lee. "It's commendable that the university and the administration took into consideration the feelings of all students," Hernandez Stroud, former president of the Black Law Students Association, told CNN. "I think these are age-old issues that are as challenging as they are controversial and I think there are people all across the spectrum that understand no solution will please everyone. But I do think what was incredibly encouraging was the care the administration used with these issues," Stroud said. "Schools are more than just their history," Stroud said. In April, Ruscio said questions raised by law students were legitimate. "Washington and Lee seeks to establish a climate of learning in which we treat all individuals with respect and trust. If even one person thinks that we have not met our aspiration in that regard, we must listen to them and examine why. We are doing so, and we will continue to do so," he wrote. In his letter Tuesday, the administrator said the purpose of the historic flags in a campus setting is to educate. "They are not to be displayed for decoration, which would diminish their significance, or for glorification, or to make a statement about past conflicts," he wrote. "The reproductions are not genuinely historic; nor are they displayed with any information or background about what they are. The absence of such explanation allows those who either 'oppose' or 'support' them to assert their own subjective and frequently incorrect interpretations." Stroud says he does not hold a grudge against Washington and Lee, because no institution is void of racism. "I think going to school here knowing Lee and his history is like asking why you wouldn't boycott the American dollar bill when George Washington was a slave owner." Opinion: Why we need to talk about reparations . 'Why I'm tired of hearing about 'that' civil rights movement' Opinion: History Lost: Mississippi burning again . Opinion: Confederate flag was the the flag of traitors . CNN's Marisa Marcellino and David Shortell contributed to this report.
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Students raised questions about environment at Washington and Lee .
Replica Confederate battle flags had been displayed in chapel .
School calls its link to slavery "regrettable"
"These are huge steps. We are ecstatic," says one student .
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(CNN) -- Hamas is an Islamic fundamentalist organization whose military wing has admitted responsibility for terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. Hamas supporters wave flags and shout slogans in Gaza on December 14 to mark the group's 21st anniversary. The group came into being in December 1987, growing out of the Muslim Brotherhood, the religious and political organization founded in Egypt. Its goal is an Islamic fundamentalist Palestinian state. It is considered a terrorist organizations by Israel and the United States. Hamas is an acronym for "Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia" or Islamic Resistance Movement, in English. The group was primarily a religious and charitable organization between the 1960s and 1980s. It has wings devoted to religious, military, political and security activities. Hamas has an annual budget of $70 million, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. It gets financial support from expatriate Palestinians, private donors in the Middle East, Muslim charities in the West, and Iran. Here are some notable events in its 21-year history: . 1988 - The covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement is published. The group presents itself as an alternative to the PLO. 1989 - An Israeli court convicts Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin of ordering Hamas members to kidnap and kill two Israeli soldiers. April 1994 - Hamas orchestrates its first suicide bombing. Five are killed in the Israeli city of Hedera. February to March 1996 - The Palestinian Authority cracks down on Hamas, after a series of Hamas-orchestrated suicide bombings in Israel kill more than 50 people. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat condemns the bombings, referring to them as "a terrorist operation." Later, the PNA arrests approximately 140 suspected Hamas members. 1997 - Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin is released from prison. 1999 - King Abdullah of Jordan closes down Hamas headquarters in Jordan. 2001 - The U.S. State Department lists Hamas on its official list of terrorist groups. June 12, 2003 - A suicide bomber disguised as an ultra-orthodox Jew detonates himself on a Jerusalem bus, killing 16 Israelis. Hamas claims responsibility. August 20, 2003 - A suicide bomber detonates himself on a bus killing at least 20 Israelis. Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim responsibility. January 2004 - The first Hamas female suicide bomber kills four Israelis at Erez crossing in a joint operation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. March 14, 2004 - Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claim responsibility for a double attack at the Israeli port of Ashdod that kills 10 Israelis. March 22, 2004 - Hamas leader Yassin is killed by Israeli air strikes. March 23, 2004 - Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi is named as Yassin's successor. April 17, 2004 - Rantisi is killed by an Israeli air strike on his car. August 31, 2004 - The Islamic militant group Hamas claims responsibility for deadly simultaneous explosions on two buses in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva that killed at least 14 people and wounding more than 80. September 26, 2004 - A leading member of Hamas, Izz Eldin Subhi Sheikh Khalil, is killed by a car bomb as he leaves his home in Damascus, Syria. December 12, 2004 - An attack at a checkpoint on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt kills five Israelis. Hamas claims responsibility. January 14, 2005 - A bomb at the Karni crossing at the Israel-Gaza border kills six Israelis. Hamas claims responsibility. January 25, 2006 - Hamas, running as the "Change and Reform Party," participates for the first time in Palestinian parliamentary elections. The group is fielding 62 candidates. January 26, 2006 - Hamas wins a landslide victory in the Palestinian legislative elections. Hamas wins 76 seats, and Fatah 43 seats in the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council, giving Hamas a majority. March 29, 2006 - The new Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, and his cabinet are sworn in. The governments of the United States and Canada say they will have no contact with the Hamas-led Palestinian government. June 25, 2006 - Hamas militants attack an Israeli military post and kill two soldiers. A third, Gilad Shalit, is kidnapped. The Palestinian government denies any knowledge of the attack. Early June 2007 - After a week of battles between Hamas and Fatah, Hamas seizes control of Gaza. Read a profile of Gaza . June 14, 2007 - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dissolves the government and dismisses Ismail Haniya as Prime Minister. Haniya rejects this and remains the de facto leader in Gaza. April 18-19, 2008 - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter meets with exiled Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal, in Damascus, Syria. June 2008 - Cease-fire truce between Hamas and Israel negotiated by Egypt goes into effect. Hamas agrees to stop firing rockets at Israeli border communities and Israel will allow limited trade into and out of Gaza. The cease-fire has a six-month deadline. December 19, 2008 - Hamas formally ends cease-fire with Israel. Attacks between the two had continued the entire time to some degree, escalating more in November. From December 24, 2008 - The rocket attacks from Hamas increase and so do the retaliation air strikes from Israel. See photos of Gaza in crisis » .
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Military wing of Hamas has admitted terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, soldiers .
Hamas is considered terrorist organizations by Israel and the United States .
It has wings devoted to religious, military, political and security activities .
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(CNN) -- Ecuador's Antonio Valencia has signed a new four-year deal with English Premier League champions Manchester United. Valencia, 25, arrived at United from Wigan Athletic in June 2009 and he has penned a contract which will keep him at Old Trafford until May 2015. The former Villarreal winger has made 69 appearances for the three-time European champions, scoring 10 goals, and Valencia was happy to have committed his future to Alex Ferguson's team. "I am delighted to stay at United," Valencia told the club's official web site. "Since my first day at Carrington [the team's training ground], I have been happy here. I hope that I can continue to develop as a player. "I am looking forward to making my contribution to helping this squad compete for more trophies." Ferguson, 69, praised Valencia's attitude after he recovered from a broken ankle sustained in September 2010 to play a part in United's title run in. "Antonio has made a fantastic contribution since his arrival. His speed, crossing ability and versatility have been a big asset for us. "He has a quiet, unassuming way of going about his business, which is underlined by great strength of character -- as his recovery from such a bad injury last season proves." Injury restricted Valencia to just 10 league appearances for the Red Devils last season, although he did regain fitness in time to play a part in United's European Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in May. United begin their Premier League title defense with a trip to West Bromwich Albion on August 14.
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Antonio Valencia has signed a new four-year deal with Manchester United .
The Ecuador winger joined United from Wigan Athletic in June 2009 .
Valencia has made 69 appearances in his Old Trafford career, scoring 10 goals .
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(CNN) -- Two former hotel workers have been cleared of the high-profile murder of an Irish newlywed on her honeymoon in Mauritius last year, police on the Indian Ocean island said Thursday. Michaela McAreavey, a 27-year-old teacher and ex-beauty queen, was found strangled in the bathtub of her hotel room in January 2011. The police and prosecutors said she had been murdered after disturbing thieves raiding the honeymoon suite. The accused, Avinash Treebhoowoon, 32, and Sandip Moneea, 43, worked at the luxury Legends Hotel at the time and were arrested a day after McAreavey was killed. Both denied the murder during a two-month trial and police confirmed Thursday they were acquitted by a jury at the Supreme Court in the Mauritian capital, Port Louis. The jurors took two hours to deliberate and both verdicts were unanimous, police said. Family friends in Ireland said the ex-beauty queen's widower, Gaelic football star John McAreavey, was in a packed courtroom along with other relatives to hear the verdict announced. The friends said family members left the court immediately, as the acquittals were greeted by cheering from local people in the public gallery. The family friends also said defense lawyers were carried from the court by jubilant supporters of the defendants. In the early stages of the investigation, the Mauritian authorities said Treebhoowoon had admitted to the murder, but his lawyers said durin the trial that police had fabricated a confession and forced him to sign it. Local media said the case provoked intense interest in Mauritius as it involved the murder of a tourist. It also dominated the news agenda in McAreavey's native Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She was well-known on both sides of the Irish border as the daughter of one of the country's best-known sporting figures, Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte, and a winner of the Ulster Rose of Tralee beauty pageant title. The Harte and McAreavey families issued a written statement after Thursday's verdict. It read: "After waiting 18 months in search of justice for Michaela and following the endurance of seven harrowing weeks of this trial, there are no words which can describe the sense of devastation and desolation now felt by both families.''
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The two men worked at the Mauritius hotel where Michaela McAreavey was slain .
She was found strangled in the bathtub of the honeymoon suite .
Supporters of the defendants were jubilant after the verdicts .
Family members of McAreavey and her widower feel "devastation and desolation"
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(CNN) -- New tests suggest how a contaminant in heparin -- a blood thinner -- may be connected to dozens of deaths, FDA officials said Monday. Jin Shaohong, a Chinese health official, says he doubts China is to blame for the heparin problem. The Food and Drug Administration has "now established a mechanism by which we think this contaminant could cause these adverse events," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. She said contaminated shipments of the blood thinner have been traced from China to 10 countries, including the United States. "Contamination of the heparin supply is a worldwide problem," she said. Heparin containing oversulfated chondroitin sulfate -- a compound made from animal cartilage -- has been associated with hundreds of serious adverse symptoms, including allergic reactions that cause nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and a severe drop in blood pressure. In addition, the FDA has tallied 81 deaths related to those symptoms in the United States, though no causal link has been determined. The severe reactions seem to be related to patients who were given high doses of the drug, Woodcock said. She said she would not detail the suspected problems with the contaminant in heparin until the information is published in scientific literature and other researchers have had a chance to weigh in on the matter. Contaminated heparin has been discovered in China, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany and the United States. Germany and the United States are the only countries that have linked adverse events to the drug, but cases in other countries may have gone unnoticed, Woodcock said. Still, agency officials stressed Monday that they cannot be sure the deaths are linked to the drug, which is made from pig intestines and is given to prevent clot formation. "We are not able to rule out the fact that there could be other problems leading to these adverse events," Woodcock said. Earlier Monday, Chinese officials said they were doubtful a contaminant in heparin was responsible for the bad reactions, according to The Associated Press. They said the contamination might have occurred in the United States during the manufacturing process or patients may have had conditions that caused the symptoms. Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain the controversy over heparin » . "We are aware that our Chinese colleagues are skeptical that such a link has been established," Woodcock said. "We are hoping for further scientific dialogue with them in the next few weeks to present the data." The raw ingredient for heparin sold by Baxter International and ordered recalled came from Scientific Protein Laboratories, a Wisconsin company that owns Changzhou SPL Co. Ltd. The FDA posted on its Web site a warning letter to Changzhou SPL. The letter said the company has not instituted proper safeguards to ensure the raw materials are free of impurities. "You fail to have adequate systems for evaluating the suppliers of heparin crude materials, and the crude materials themselves to ensure that these materials are acceptable for use," the letter said. It also cited equipment used in the manufacture of heparin as "unsuitable for intended use." For example, it said, tanks used to make heparin "were identified as clean," but "unidentified material was observed adhering to the inside surfaces." Shipments of the company's materials made at the plant will be refused admission into the United States until the matter is corrected, the letter said. "We regret FDA's decision to send a warning letter to Changzhou SPL, and we do not believe that the warning letter reflects Changzhou SPL's actual state of compliance with current good manufacturing practices," SPL said in a written statement. It added that it is "committed to cooperating with FDA and will promptly provide a detailed response." In a written statement, Baxter said its tests confirmed that the contaminant can cause drops in blood pressure, the most commonly reported adverse event. "That means that the contaminant, which was introduced at the workshop of consolidator level, before it reached our API [active pharmaceutical ingredient] supplier and before it reached Baxter, is likely the cause of the increased adverse reactions to the heparin," said Norbert Riedel, the company's chief scientific officer. Because no method existed to test for the contaminant, the FDA last month developed one, and regulators are now confident current U.S. supplies of the drug are safe, Woodcock said. It remains unclear where the contamination occurred, but the contaminated products' active pharmaceutical ingredient came from 12 Chinese makers of crude heparin "across a broad area of China," she said. The most persuasive evidence implicating the Chinese product, she said, is the fact that the increased number of deaths reported after heparin administration returned to baseline in March, after the FDA recall. Though Chinese officials have raised the possibility that clean and safe heparin may have also been linked to adverse events, Woodcock discounted that. "We tested this lot and found contamination," she said. "In their testing, they did not find contamination, but we are fairly certain because of multiple labs doing the testing that this lot contains contaminants." E-mail to a friend .
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FDA: Contaminated shipments of heparin traced from China .
FDA reports 81 U.S. deaths from symptoms possibly linked to contaminant .
No direct link has been established between contaminant and deaths, FDA says .
Chinese officials, U.S. importer defend suppliers .
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(CNN) -- The majors have been and gone for another year, but golf has officially entered its most money-spinning phase of the season. As the 2013 campaign reaches its climax an eye-watering $67 million in prize money will be on offer in the four FedEx Cup playoff events. Last year's winner, Brandt Snedeker, picked up over $12.5 million for 16 days' work at tournaments backed by heavyweight sponsors like BMW, Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Coca Cola. It reflects an industry battling back from recession, and one that is contributing more than you might think to help boost what is still a fragile economy in the United States -- which has a public debt of almost $17 trillion and rising. The World Golf Foundation's Golf 20/20 report estimates that the industry generated $68.8 billion in goods and services in the U.S. in 2011, with a total economic impact of $176.8 billion. "The golf industry is larger than the spectator sports and performing arts industries combined," WGF chief executive Steve Mona told CNN. "That's pretty substantial compared to those two. Beyond the monetary contribution it makes, it also employs close to two million Americans with a combined wage income of $55.6 billion. "What's important about that is when people think about people employed in golf, they generally think about the Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelsons of this world. "That's true, but they are at the higher end of the scale -- what people don't tend to think about is a lot of the jobs in golf are everyday kind of jobs filled by people who are trying to slug out a living, and feed their family. "They're working at restaurants, in the grill room, working on the course, taking bags out of your car, cleaning your clubs. Believe me those people are not getting rich, but that is the real backbone of the golf industry." Golf is nothing if not resilient. The deep recession of 2008 in the United States did not spare the sport, but in recent years it has come out swinging as it moves back towards the $75.9 billion the WGF estimates it generated in 2005. Those figures surely won't be lost on one of golf's biggest fans, who also happens to be the President of the United States. Barack Obama is an avid golfer -- he enjoyed a February round with the world No. 1 Tiger Woods in Florida and spent a good chunk of his recent vacation in Martha's Vineyard on the course. A report released by the Government Accountability Institute in April even suggested Obama has spent more hours on the golf course during his presidency than in economic meetings. Counting the Commander in Chief as one of the game's biggest and most influential supporters can only serve as a great advert for the game, according to Mona. "There are a couple of things about the President that are really very positive," he said. "One, he's arguably the busiest man in the world with the toughest job in the world, but he can make time to play. He played five times on his recent vacation in Martha's Vineyard. "That leads to the second point: the fact that he plays it by the rules, and he's enthusiastic about it and tries to play whenever he can, speaks to the magic of the game. "It can be addicting in a good way and it clearly has been for the President." As well as counting the most powerful man in America as a golf fan, the game has strengthened its presence on Capitol Hill in recent years. A series of events have been designed to trumpet the growing portion of the economy that golf supports to Washington's power brokers. "It's important for us to communicate effectively in terms of the impact golf has on the economy generally and the kind of jobs it creates for everyday Americans," Mona explains. "Because when laws and regulations are being made, it's important the golf industry is treated like any other industry of our size and scope. That relates to the second audience we're trying to make sure understands the facts about golf, and that is the influencers of society generally." However, not all politicians are in love with golf's financial contribution -- a U.S. Congress Senator is seeking to overturn the not-for-profit status enjoyed by the PGA Tour and other sporting bodies such as the NHL and NFL which means they are exempt from federal taxes. Forbes reported in May that of the $130 million the PGA Tour gave to charity last year, most of it went to the WGF -- whose main purpose is to promote golf. "It's important for golf to have a good reputation in the court of public opinion and not be viewed as a sport for the privileged few played on private clubs by the affluent few," Mona said. "It's not that game at all but it gets perceived sometimes to be that kind of sport." That point of view might get temporarily sidelined while the game's stars are in the thick of FedEx Cup action. But while the vast sums on offer might turn some of the public off, seeing golf's top players battle it out with such huge prizes at stake is a surefire way to get viewers to turn on. More than 30 PGA tournaments this year offer a winner's purse of greater than $1 million -- by contrast the European Tour lost several events from its calendar this year due to the downturn. And the bigger the prize pot, the more money that drips down through the system, says Mona. "I think it makes a very strong statement about the health and vitality of the golf industry when you have these world-class brands who want to associate with golf," he added. "They're willing to put up significant sums to be associated with those events, and the players have the opportunity to play for the kind of money reflects very favorably on golf. "I always say there are two economies in golf. There's the participation economy which is about the everyday golf facilities, trying to attract golfers and current players to play as much they can. "Then there's the entertainment side of golf too and that's where the professional tours come in. that relates to the interest of the game. "If we can enhance interest in the game that can lead later down the line to participation. We also know that interest in the game spawns what you're seeing over the next few weeks. "When people come out to an event itself or tune in on TV, that's why the Barclays of this world affiliate with those events. "It certainly an indicator of the health of the industry for sure."
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Golf season about to enter playoff season with $67 million in prize money on offer .
Reflects an industry that makes a significant contribution to the United States economy .
Golf is a $68.8 billion industry whose total economic impact equates to $176.8 billion .
President Obama is a famous exponent of the game playing regularly .
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David Warner honoured the memory of Phillip Hughes by blasting an emotionally charged century - the best, he said, of his career - on day one of the rearranged first Test against India. A cloud hung over the Adelaide Oval though when captain Michael Clarke was forced to leave the field with a back problem when he was 60 not out, and, like Hughes on that fateful day, looking good for a century of his own. Warner’s hundred was the perfect tribute to Hughes on a day that started with 63 seconds of applause for the 25-year-old, who died after being hit on the head by bouncer when he was 63 not out playing domestic cricket two weeks ago. Warner was fielding at gully on that day and rushed to Hughes’ aid when he fell and sat with his friend on the buggy that took him from a cricket field for the very last time. Australia and India paid tribute to Phillip Hughes before the start of play in the first Test of the series in Adelaide . David Warner was the star of the show as he scored 145 from 163 balls on the opening day at the Adelaide Oval . Warner took the attack to the Indians from the very beginning of the Test match with his typically aggressive play . Australian captain Michael Clarke was passed fit to play and was clearly emotional as the tribute to Hughes took place . Clarke delivered a touching tribute to Hughes at his funeral in Macksville last week and he was still feeling the emotion . A tribute to Hughes is displayed on the big screen as both teams and fans take part in a 63-second applause in Adelaide . David Warner, Brad Haddin, former Australia team confidant Barry Rees and Clarke take part in a 63-second applause in tribute to Hughes . Bowler Ryan Harris wipes his eye during the tributes to Hughes before the start of play at the Adelaide Oval . Around 20,000 spectators were in attendance for the first day's play of the first Test of the Australian summer on Tuesday . This was no ordinary opening day of a Test match. The Adelaide Oval stood as one, on a Tuesday, to pay their respects to Hughes before the start of play. Players, management and match officials lined up in front of a large white 408 – Hughes Baggy Green number - painted onto the pristine outfield while a video tribute was played out on the big screen. Players wore black armbands, sported 408 on the chests of their playing shirts, and stood shoulder to shoulder to honour their mate. If Warner had been moved by the tribute, he dealt with the emotion through his bat. Boundary after boundary was unleashed in an exhilarating first hour, as he punishing Varun Aaron in particular. With every one of Warner’s fours, there was a sense of relief and release from the crowd as they applauded fervently. Their energy surely translated to the opener, whose innings was punctuated with poignant milestones. First there was the half century, reached off just 45 balls. When his ninth four whistled to the boundary he raised his bat gently, closed his eyes and tilted his head back to the heavens. Then, on 61, he swept to deep square leg, ran two, and as he reached 63 not out, the crowd rose once again in spontaneous applause. Warner threw his head up to the skies for a second time, raised his bat and momentarily sank to his haunches. The No 408 is painted on the outfield at the Adelaide Oval, the number of Phillip Hughes' Test cap . The Australian team wore black armbands with the initials 'PH' on and also the No 408 under the crest on their shirt . Hughes was named as 13th man by the Australian team for the Test against India in Adelaide . Cards with a tribute to Hughes and his score of 63 not out, the score he was on when he was hit by a fatal bouncer . Spectators join in the 63-second applause for Hughes before the start of play at the Adelaide Oval . Spectators filter into the Adelaide Oval ahead of the first day's play in the first Test of Australia's series against India . Tributes to Hughes are left at a memorial at the Adelaide Oval, the home of Hughes' state team South Australia . Hughes was playing for South Australia when he was hit in the head by a bouncer at the Sydney Cricket Ground . Australian players line up their bats in honour of Hughes at the Adelaide Oval before the first Test against India . A spectator writes a tribute to Hughes, who died aged 25 after being hit on the head by a bouncer in a freak accident . He was already removing his helmet as he jogged the single that took him to three figures midway through the afternoon session. He kissed the badge on his helmet with feeling, raised his bat and helmet to the skies, looked long towards the heavens, and after two weeks of tension and grief he finally leapt into the air and was engulfed in a bear hug by his batting partner Clarke. As Warner buried his head in his captain’s chest, you could have been forgiven for thinking the left-hander's shoulders shook just a little. It was his 10th Test century but the most meaningful and highly charged of them all. He eventually departed to yet another ovation when he tried to hoik India’s debutant leg spinner Karn Sharma into the Chappell stand and was caught at deep midwicket. Clarke had received a stirring reception when he came out to bat after Watson was caught at second slip for 14 – the second wicket of the day after Chris Rogers edged an attempted cover drive to the cordon. Before Watson had left the outfield the members were already on their feet, turning their backs to the field of play and looking up towards the dressing room, waiting for the Australia captain to come jogging down the steps. Australian captain Clarke was passed fit to play and elected to bat first after winning the toss . Warner ducks to avoid a bouncer from Varun Aaron, the first short ball of the Test match, in the fourth over . Chris Rogers was caught at second slip by Shikhar Dhawan off the bowling of Ishant Sharma for nine . India celebrate their first wicket after being hammered by Warner for the first half hour of play at the Adelaide Oval . Sharma then welcomed Shane Watson to the crease by bowling him a bouncer with his very first delivery . Clarke cut a desperately sad figure though, limping back to the dressing room 60 runs later, with his back crocked again, having put a on century stand with Warner. He grimaced after withdrawing from a pull shot, and tried to stretch his back on the outfield, receiving treatment on the ground, before eventually leaving to be further assessed. Until that point he had been batting fluently and moving freely. He was just three runs short of 63. Questions will linger as to whether Clarke was genuinely fit enough to play this match, or whether the personal enormity of the occasion encouraged him to take a risk. Regardless of the hamstring, which has troubled him in the build up, his back has been an ongoing issue and there must be some doubt as to the role he will be able to play through the rest of the Australian summer. The first bouncer of the match came 20 minutes into the day's play. It was bowled by Aaron and was roundly applauded by the crowd as Warner ducked safely beneath it. The next delivery was short, too, but played less safely as Warner upper cut it without control over cover point. There was no shortage of short stuff; Clarke got a bouncer first ball and stared down Aaron after he delivered it; Watson looked less comfortable against Ishant Sharma, swaying away and almost toppling over. Warner looks and points to the sky after going to a brisk 50 on the first morning in Adelaide . Warner was in no mood to hang around as he reached his 50 in just 45 deliveries with eight boundaries . Watson edged to second slip as he was dismissed for 14 (left) and captain Clarke was greeted by a bouncer with his first ball (right) Aaron and Clarke exchange some words and a stare after the Indian bowler greeted him with a bouncer . Warner looks to the sky and raises his bat after reaching 63 not out - the score which Hughes was on when he was hit by a bouncer . Warner and Clarke head off for lunch on day one in Adelaide, at which stage Australia were on 113 for two . India generally started off bowling too short though, and Aaron could learn a lot from Sharma’s control. A flurry of late wickets came when the new ball was pitched up after tea. Four scalps in the evening session, including that of Warner, made India feel better about their day’s performance. As a further tribute to Hughes the Australian team lined their bats up against an advertising hording next to the gate on the boundary. On each bat handle hung a Baggy Green cap. Sean Abbot, meanwhile, returned to cricket for the first time since bowling the bouncer that fatally injured Hughes. He sent down a short ball with his fifth delivery playing for New South Wales back at the SCG; a small detail in a match report - he also took two wickets on day one against Queensland - but a huge step in his mental recovery. Warner and Clarke took control of the afternoon session as they put on a century stand for the third wicket . Warner celebrates after reaching his century at the Adelaide Oval by pointing to the sky and jumping for joy . Clarke raised his bat and looked to the heavens after reaching a half-century on his return to the team . Australian captain Clarke was forced off injured after twisting to avoid a short ball . Clarke is attended to by the Australian team doctor Peter Brukner after feeling a problem with his back . The Australian captain, who had been struggling with injury problems in the lead up to the series, was left with no choice but to retire hurt . Warner eventually had to depart after being caught in the deep, but he left to a standing ovation from the Adelaide Oval crowd . Steve Smith continued Australia's free scoring in the evening session when he came in to bat . Smith celebrated reaching 50 and 63 not out by raising his bat and looking to the heavens in tribute to Hughes .
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Australia's four-Test series against India commenced at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday .
David Warner scored 145 from 163 balls as Australia dominated the opening day .
Tributes to Phillip Hughes took place before the start of play in the delayed first Test .
Both teams took part in a 63-second applause and Australian team wore No 408 on their shirts .
Sean Abbott returned to cricket for first time since Hughes died as he played for New South Wales .
Australian captain Michael Clarke was passed fit to play and elected to bat after winning the toss .
First bouncer of the game bowled by Varun Aaron was greeted by oohs and aahs then an applause from crowd .
Both Shane Watson and Clarke were greeted with bouncers with their first deliveries .
Clarke forced to retire hurt after twisting to avoid a short ball and needing attention from team doctor .
India fought back, taking three wickets in the final half hour as Australia finished day on 354 for six .
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By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 10:55 EST, 3 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:27 EST, 3 January 2014 . It may be the middle of winter, but these images show that at least one garden in the UK is bursting with life. While most flower patches across the nation lie bare, Abbey Garden on the Isles of Scilly can boast of having 255 different species of flower in bloom. The New Year flower count, which was completed by Abbey Garden’s head gardener, Andrew Lawson, curator Mike Nelhams and garden students, is an annual island tradition that has been taking place for more than 150 years. Winter wonderland: This year the count found that the garden was home to 255 different species of plant . Vibrant: Even in January, tropical flowers bloom in the garden, which is just 30 miles from the Cornish mainland . Counting up: Garden student Hugh Fletcher (left), head gardener Andrew Lawson (centre) and curator Mike Nelhams (right) tally up the plants . Professional garden curators and local people have been called upon to count the number of flowering species and keep track of the diverse plant-life. The spectacular display of greenery is made possible by the balmy climate of the island of Tresco, just 30 miles from the Cornish coast, and the sheltered design of the gardens themselves. Built alongside the stately St Nicholas’ Priory, once the home of a 19th Century landowner, the gardens are protected by high walls and rows of thick trees and shrubs, which protect the delicate species inside from any rough winds. The gardens are also south-facing, which, combined the Scilly Isles’ unusually high, means that plants from as far afield as South Africa do not struggle to grow. Colourful: Mr Nelhams shows off the blooms of the exotic Protea plant . Inpsection: Mr Nelhams examines aeoniums and aloes in flower . Far-flung: Mr Fletcher and Mr Nelhams admire an Agave Americana tree, from Mexico . Hotter, drier terraces at the top of the garden suit South African and Australian plants, while those lower down provide the humidity that favours flora from New Zealand and South America. When the winter blooms come, the garden’s exotic aloes, acacias and proteas take centre stage. Although the gardens have been decimated in previous years by extremely bad weather – such as the Great Storm of 1987 – they are growing once again and this year 25 more species have been found than in the 2013 count.
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Abbey Garden on the Isle of Scilly has 255 species in bloom even in January .
It is an annual tradition to tot up the species - which grew by 25 this year .
The garden is an ideal growing spot thanks to its sheltered location .
Colourful plants from as far afield as South American and Mexico grow there .
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New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- BP said Wednesday that efforts to contain and clean up oil gushing from a ruptured pipe in the Gulf of Mexico have made a "measurable difference" even as Louisiana's governor announced that thick, heavy oil has begun polluting the state's wetlands and estuaries. Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer for exploration and production, said at a news conference that the company is "very pleased" with the performance of an insertion tube that was put in place over the weekend to suck crude oil from the well and funnel it to a surface vessel. The flow rate from the tube has reached 3,000 barrels of crude (126,000 gallons) and 14 million cubic feet of gas a day, Suttles said, adding that crews hope to increase those numbers in coming days. He said favorable weather conditions have also played a major role in cleanup efforts. About 14,000 barrels of oily water was skimmed Tuesday, and 50 percent of that mixture was oil, he said, adding that crews continue to deploy boom and conduct controlled burns. But Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana says the efforts haven't stopped oil from reaching his state's coastline. Thicker, heavier oil than seen in previous days has blanketed some of the state's precious interior wetlands, he said, and he called for the Army Corps of Engineers to approve an emergency permit to dredge sand from barrier islands to create sand booms as another line of defense. "These are not tar balls, this is not sheen, this is heavy oil that we are seeing in our wetlands," Jindal said. Video from Pass a Loutre in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, showed oil with a syrupy consistency lapping against reeds in a small area of marshland after creeping past booms and barriers. "Everything that that blanket of oil has covered today will die," parish President Billy Nungesser said. "Imagine [this oil] on top of a turtle or on top of a frog," he said as he held a stalk of reed that coated his hands in oil. CNN iReporter Eileen Romero, touring the state's Chandeleur Islands by boat on Tuesday, described a "foamy sheen on top of the water" left by the oil and dispersants, and she said she counted between 10 and 15 dead Portuguese man-of-wars trapped in debris. "While we were out there, my nose and the back of my throat began to burn as I inhaled the putrid-smelling air," Romero said. Jindal compared the fight to head off the approaching oil to "knowing your body has cancer. ... We've got to stop this cancer from spreading [and] we'd much rather fight it on these coastal barrier islands than inland." "We need more than just boom or skimmers," Jinadal said. "We need multiple lines of defense." iReport: Track the spill, or share your story . Meanwhile, BP said it is continuing to mobilize equipment and perform testing in preparation for the first effort to actually stop the flow of oil. Suttles said the first attempt at a "top kill" procedure could come as early as Sunday. In that procedure, a large amount of heavy "mud" -- a fluid used as a lubricant and counterweight in drilling operations -- is inserted into the well bore. If that succeeds, the well will be cemented shut, officials have said. Suttles cautioned, as he has with previous efforts, that the procedure will be performed at a depth of 5,000 feet, "which has never been done before." "We're absolutely holding out hope that top kill works," said Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry. "Everybody is anxious to see success with this intervention. ... Let's keep our fingers crossed [and] let's all say our prayers." Oil has been leaking at an estimated rate of 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) a day for nearly a month after an April 20 explosion aboard the drilling rig the Deepwater Horizon. The rig burned for two days and then sank, causing the ruptured pipe. Also Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said it has been in communication with Cuban officials over the possibility of oil reaching that country's shorelines. "The U.S. Interests Section in Havana today delivered a diplomatic note to the Cuban Foreign Ministry informing the Cuban government about the oil spill and what we currently know about its projected movement," the State Department's deputy spokesman, Mark Toner, told CNN. "We have had working level discussions with the Cuban government to keep them informed of developments." The communication came after reports of oil possibly reaching the Gulf of Mexico's Loop Current. The current flows through the Yucatan Channel between Cuba and Mexico, and then northward, where it loops and exits the Gulf just south of the Florida Keys and travels to the west side of the western Bahamas. The European Space Agency issued a statement Wednesday saying satellite images show the oil is in the Loop Current. "With these images from space, we have visible proof that at least oil from the surface of the water has reached the current," Bertrand Chapron of Ifremer, the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, said in the statement. Charlie Henry of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday that amounts of light sheen "are feeling the effects of the Loop Current and that oil is going to move slowly" with the current. "We actually expect that oil to dissipate," said Henry, adding it was "not an immediate threat" to Florida or other shorelines.
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Cleanup efforts have made "measurable difference" on ocean surface, BP says .
Louisiana governor says thicker oil than previously seen has hit wetlands .
BP says it hopes to begin effort to "mud" well shut as early as Sunday .
U.S., Cuba in communication about projected movement of oil .
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By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 08:27 EST, 28 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:53 EST, 28 August 2012 . A police officer repeatedly punched his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the stomach because he did not want her to have his baby. Matthew Cherry, 35, is alleged to have barged his way into police officer Caroline Craft’s flat in Bournemouth, wearing a balaclava and hooded top, to carry out the attack and try to force a miscarriage. Cherry, a Dorset Police officer at the time, was angry, aggressive and desperate for Miss Craft to have an abortion, a court has heard. Police officer Matthew Cherry, pictured on his phone at court yesterday, allegedly attacked his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the hope she would suffer a miscarriage . He is also alleged to have told her that he had thought about punching her in the stomach so she would lose her baby. The pair split up after she decided not to have a termination. Miss Craft was six months’ pregnant when she was attacked, Winchester Crown Court heard. Cherry, . from Parkstone in Poole, Dorset, denies attempting to cause grievous . bodily harm with intent and said he was not the attacker. Matthew . Jewell, prosecuting, said Miss Craft, 27, also a Dorset Police officer, . was in her ground-floor flat at around 10am on March 24 last year . waiting for an estate agent to call because she was selling up. In the meantime, the barrister said, a man the prosecution claim was Cherry got into the block by buzzing an intercom of another flat and saying 'police'. Cherry then pretended to be a cleaner using a vacuum cleaner, in what was a planned attack by someone 'forensically aware', Mr Jewell said. 'Caroline Craft then heard a knock on the door of her flat. 'She opened the door which was then pushed violently from outside and she was either pushed or punched to the floor,' Mr Jewell said. 'She was then attacked with multiple punches to her stomach and back, in a way which targeted her unborn child. 'She shouted for help and a gloved hand was placed over her mouth. She was also kicked. 'She pointed out valuable items in case this was a robbery or burglary but her attacker showed no interest in taking anything. 'She was dragged into the bathroom and forced to sit on the toilet. The male said he would tie her up. Winchester Crown Court (pictured) where the jury heard Cherry attacked punched his former girlfriend in the stomach and back, in a way which targeted her unborn child . 'She was absolutely terrified about what was happening to her in her own home.' But then the doorbell rang before the attacker could go any further, as estate agent Paul Penny turned up. The attacker fled, the jury was told, using a back door - because he knew the layout of the building. 'He (Mr Penny) saw Caroline bloodied and bruised. She was taken to hospital and although she had extensive bruising and some scratches, she was not seriously harmed. 'Equally fortunately, her unborn baby was unharmed. 'It is quite clear however, that her attacker had begun an assault upon her which he intended to cause her really serious harm, and the only reason that he did not do so was the arrival of Mr Penny.' Mr Jewell told the jury: 'He had a motive for doing so and who . else would have the motive for carrying out the attack in this . particular way, targeting the unborn child?' Mr Jewell told the court that Cherry previously owned the flat and had sold it to Miss Craft. They met in May 2010 and their relationship was not happy, with Cherry even denying he was seeing Miss Craft. The couple moved in together with another woman, Carla Hutchings, renting a spare room. Miss Craft found out she was pregnant in October 2010. 'The defendant did not take the news well,' Mr Jewell told the jury. Later, after a party, Cherry told Miss Craft 'she had ruined his life and told her to get out'. The barrister said: 'She sat in the lounge crying. After a short time, he too began to cry and apologised.' During the following weeks Cherry made it clear he did not want the child and said he wanted Miss Craft to have an abortion. He also said he was not the father. In October 2010 the couple visited a doctor and it was clear that Miss Craft wanted the baby but Cherry did not, the jury heard. 'He was vocal and forceful during the consultation. She was subservient and tearful,' Mr Jewell said. 'The doctor was so concerned by his behaviour that she left the consultation to speak to a colleague about it.' The next month Miss Craft told the doctor that she wanted a termination but she was not happy about it. Cherry was present but said little. She later did not go through with it and Cherry was aggressive about the decision. The couple then split. The barrister said that Cherry spoke to a colleague while on police patrol about how he could bring about a miscarriage but by December he seemed to have changed his mind and said that he would fight for custody, the jury was told. When arrested Cherry said he had not attacked Miss Craft and that he was at a house he was renovating in nearby Poole when it happened.Miss Craft gave birth to a boy last year. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
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Matthew Cherry, 35, allegedly attacked former partner at six months' pregnant, court heard .
He was forced to stop brutal attack when estate agent rang doorbell .
Unborn baby boy survived and was born last year .
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Could have proven useful for situations like the London . riots in 2011 . By . Nicola Guttridge . Rumours spread fast, and with social media sites like Twitter it's quicker than ever to share your thoughts – and boasts – with the online world. But be careful what you tweet; scientists from the University of Sheffield are developing an online lie detector that can tell fact from fiction in just 140 characters or less. The lie detector, named 'Pheme' after a Greek goddess famed for spreading scandalous rumour, will sift through tweets from news outlets, individuals, members of the public, and automated 'bots' to see if their posts are as truthful as they claim. A new lie detector is being developed that will sift through user tweets on social networking site Twitter, to tell truth from lies and identify accounts set up to spread malicious rumours . Such a system could have been valuable for situations like the 2011 London riots, where rioters used networks like Twitter to organise themselves and spread untrue information. 'There was a suggestion after the 2011 riots that social networks should have been shut down, to prevent the rioters using them to organise,' says scientist Kalina Boncheva of the University of Sheffield, who is leading the development of the system. 'But social networks also provide useful information – the problem is that it all happens so fast and we can’t quickly sort truth from lies. 'This makes it difficult to respond to rumours, for example, for the emergency services to quash a lie in order to keep a situation calm. 'Our system aims to help with that, by tracking and verifying information in real time.' Pheme . will use a range of different indicators to tell the difference between . truthful tweets, malicious rumours, and harmless boasts. The . system will assess the authority of the Twitter user, assigning more . trust to well-known, reliable outlets like experts or news accounts. It . will trawl through the history and background of users to pinpoint . accounts that were created purely to spread lies and rumours. Pheme . will hunt for other accounts that confirm or deny the information, and . keep a close eye on how the conversation is developing - plotting all . the results in a visual dashboard to easily spot popular rumours that . are taking hold. A system like Pheme would have been very valuable during the London riots in 2011. A scene from the riots in Croydon from August 2011 is pictured, as British riot police walk past a burning building in Croydon . Pheme will classify online rumours into four different types: speculation – for example, over rising interest rates; controversy – such as the furore over the MMR vaccine; misinformation – where a lie is spread unknowingly; and disinformation – where the information is spread with malicious intent. Although the lie detector is not currently up and running, Boncheva hopes to have a final version within 18 months, with working prototypes completed sooner.
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System will sift through tweets in real time to verify or debunk lies .
Named 'Pheme' after goddess known for spreading scandalous rumour .
Could have proven useful for situations like the London .
riots in 2011 .
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(CNN) -- Oracle Team USA safely negotiated the choppy waters of sporting comebacks to pull off a memorable victory against New Zealand to defend the America's Cup. The crew, backed by billionaire Larry Ellison, had looked sunk as they trailed 8-1 in the best-of-17-races elite sailing series. Down but not out, Team USA continued to develop their boat with the help of their land crew and made another key decision when Britain's Olympic champion sailor Ben Ainslie replaced John Kostecki as key tactician at 4-1 down. But are technical updates and staff changes what true sporting comebacks are made of? In the gallery above, CNN World Sport examines the ingredients of some of sport's most tantalizing turnarounds -- from teamwork to the indomitable spirit of a single human soul. Let us know your favorite sporting comeback in the comments box below or join the conversation on World Sport's Facebook page.
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Oracle Team USA fight back from an 8-1 deficit to defend sailing's America's Cup .
The team modified its boat and juggling its 11-man crew on the way to victory .
Team USA's win over New Zealand has been described as one of sport's greatest comebacks .
But does it have all the ingredients of an all-time sporting comeback?
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(CNN) -- When India's aviation sector began liberalizing in 2003, a regional powerhouse was unleashed. The country's state-owned airline Air India was soon competing for passengers with six private airline groups in a market that has grown steadily in the past decade. In 2009-10 Indian airlines carried 45 million domestic passenger and 11 million international passengers, according to figures from the CAPA Centre for Aviation. Fueled by India's stellar GDP growth and a growing middle class, passenger numbers handled at Indian airports exceeded 120 million, making it one of the ten largest markets globally, according to CAPA. But by 2008, the sector was in trouble. Debts mounted for billionaire Vijay Mallya -- the flamboyant owner of Kingfisher Airlines -- whose fleet of 66 planes, with a further 130 on order - faces losses of $US1.62 billion. Can Kingfisher survive? Last week, Mallya said he was on the cusp of some airline-saving deals, but investors have not been convinced and the stock has continued to slide. Even though Mallya says the airline does not need a government bailout -- and India's civil aviation authority has categorically ruled out any kind of lifeline for the industry -- the markets, and some industry analysts, say the sector will need a magic wand to reverse the descent. How did the tiger of the world's aviation industry go into such a steep decline? According to Tom Ballantyne, the chief correspondent with Oriental Aviation, where once Indian aviation suffered from too little competition, now it suffers from too much. "There were just too many low-cost carriers and this created a situation where there are simply too many seats flying through air," he told CNN. "It's a problem of over-capacity. "Air India has debts of more than $8 billion and Kingfisher has debts of more than $2 billion. All of them are losing money with the possible exception IndiGo," Ballantyne said. India's aviation industry leaders lay much of the blame at the feet of Air India which they accuse of unfairly competing with India's newer airlines, slashing fares while at the same time enjoying the luxury of government subsidies. The airline has been unprofitable since 1997 and has received government bailouts of $625 million and is requesting more before the end of the fiscal year that ends in March 2012, according to company figures. Air India agrees restructuring deal . The national carrier employs between 50,000 and 60,000 people and analysts say the bailouts are likely to continue. "When the main state-owned carrier is in such dire shape then it tends to affect the whole of the industry," says Ballantyne. "The carrier has been one of the main culprits in terms of discounting." M Shivkumar, the head of finance at Jet Airways, India's biggest carrier, recently identified Air India's price war as a key factor for the problems in Indian aviation. "Ideally, fares should go up when oil-import costs go up. That's not happening and that's why airlines are in this situation," he said. Have rising oil prices contributed to steep losses? Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs have soared this year as oil import costs everywhere skyrocket. But on average, fuel costs are around 60% higher in India than in other countries. This is because of a mosaic of state taxes, some as high as 35%, making India one of the costliest places in the world to run a fleet of planes. "The states are unwilling to give up a good source of revenue," said Ballantyne. "Combing that with rising fuel costs and this further cuts into the slim margins and yields on which these airlines already operate." He said India's central government may soon be forced to address this problem if the country is to have a functioning aviation industry. "The government has already had to step in to back credit for Air India whose suppliers were demanding that it pay upfront before they would make deliveries of aviation fuel," Ballantyne said. With an Indian rupee last week dropping to its lowest level in history, recently hitting 52.50 against the U.S. dollar, the pain is set to increase of Indian airlines. "When you add to that costs associated with catering, maintenance and landing fees, as well as low yields per seat, then the airlines are really struggling." How competitive is the Indian domestic industry? "With many airlines bringing prices down to below the cost of producing the airline seat, the government is looking at issues of predatory pricing," Ballantyne said. "Yields are very tight anyway and pricing is seriously affecting the airlines. The government is looking at setting up a regulatory body to make sure that Indian airlines are operating on a proper basis." Is opening the sector to investment by foreign airlines a solution? "No foreign airlines are permitted to invest in Indian carriers and three government ministries are now looking into ways to change that," Ballantyne said. "This would be an important change because investment by foreign airlines brings with it all kinds of advantages, not least expertise in airline management and other synergies. "At the moment, however, in this sort of economic climate, the airlines are having trouble attracting any sort of investment at all," he said. "It really is an awful situation." Do Indian airlines suffer from a shortage of qualified manpower? "The growth has been so rapid in the Indian aviation space, that airlines have had difficulties keeping up with the staffing needed in terms of pilots, maintenance workers and engineers," Ballantyne said. "Not only are the Indian airlines pirating staff from each other, but India is very close to the Gulf where airlines have no problem with money and no problem with pirating staff from just about everywhere." What's the solution? "Many of the government's solutions will take a long time to enact," he said. "India is still a very chaotic country and nothing happens quickly. "If Air India, for example, needs action from the government then it that has to go from ministry to ministry, from committee to committee. "It's forced into a situation where it is not very quick or very agile in a market where speed and agility are everything."
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Analysts believe too many low-cost carriers are to blame for India's aviation woes .
Many blame Air India and accuse them of unfairly competing with India's newer airlines .
Airline has been unprofitable since 1997 and has received government bailouts of $625M .
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(CNN) -- FIFA has suspended two of its top officials as it probes reports they solicited bribes in exchange for supporting 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, the world soccer governing body announced Wednesday. Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii are barred from taking part in any soccer-related activity -- whether it is administrative tasks, athletic competitions or otherwise. The bans take effect immediately, though the move is "provisional" and could be reversed as the investigation continues. "Today is a sad day for football and for FIFA," said Claudio Sulser, chairman of FIFA's ethics committee, which voted unanimously to issue the suspensions. A FIFA member since 2006, Adamu, 57, is the director of sports development in his native Nigeria. Temarii, 43, is president of the Oceania Football Confederation and advisor to the French Polynesian government. He has been on FIFA's executive committee for the past six years. In addition, the ethics committee provisionally suspended four other officials -- Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee -- from soccer-related activities after tying them to the World Cup bribe scandal. All four are members of international soccer federations affiliated with FIFA. The announcement comes three days after the Sunday Times of London published an article headlined, "World Cup votes for sale." In an undercover operation, the newspaper's reporters said they approached six current or former FIFA officials, all of whom "suggested paying huge bribes to FIFA executive committee members." Two of the six asked for direct payment themselves, the paper reported. FIFA began investigating Adamu and Temarii on Monday. The ethics committee will meet again in mid-November as it investigates all six cases, according to FIFA. The six suspensions will last 30 days and could be extended another 20 days, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said Wednesday. "We have enough time until mid-November to see if (the allegations) are more than rumors, but facts," said Valcke. There are four candidates, all in Europe, to host the 2018 tournament: England, Russia and a pair of dual bids, one from Spain and Portugal, the other from Belgium and the Netherlands. The United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Qatar all hope to be home to the 2022 tournament. All the committees behind each country's World Cup bids have denied wrongdoing, according to the Sunday Times. FIFA's Switzerland-based executive committee will meet in Zurich on October 28 and 29 to further discuss the final voting process ahead of the December 2 decision on both tournaments. Despite questions about the integrity of the bid process, that date will not be pushed back, Valcke said.
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FIFA suspends two members of its executive committee and four others .
It is investigating if officials solicited bribes in exchange for backing World Cup bids .
Another four people associated with FIFA also are suspended .
The probe will not delay a December vote on who will host the 2018 and 2022 events .
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The worst she ever risks is a bruised ego. So Gwyneth Paltrow faced heavy criticism yesterday after she compared being slated online to fighting in a war. The Hollywood star said of comments posted about her and her celebrity friends on social media: ‘It’s almost like how, in war, you go through this bloody, dehumanising thing.’ Shot down: Gwyneth Paltrow sparked ridicule after she compared herself to a soldier fighting in a war . Military mother's wrath: Cindy McCain, wife of ex-POW Senator John McCain, mother to two soldiers (left), blasted Gwyneth Paltrow's (right) suggestion that actors ridiculed on the internet are like soldiers at war . But her remarks caused an immediate backlash. Cindy McCain, the wife of US war veteran and former presidential candidate John McCain, attacked Miss Paltrow as ‘a joke’. She said: ‘Her life is like taking bullets for a soldier. What a joke! My two sons serving in the military should talk to her.’ The US organisation Veterans For Peace said that the 41-year-old actress ‘doesn’t understand what it means to be in real danger’. Miss Paltrow was said to have made her comments outside a conference in Los Angeles at which she made a surprise appearance on Tuesday. The Oscar-winning Shakespeare In Love . star was reported as saying: ‘You come across [comments] about yourself . and about your friends, and it’s a very dehumanising thing. 'It’s almost like how, in war, you go through this bloody, dehumanising thing, and then something is defined out of it.’ Not holding back: McCain's tweets came after Paltrow's comments while speaking at a tech conference. She's was surprisingly uncensored for a politician's wife . Miss Paltrow – who infuriated working mothers earlier this year by suggesting they had it easier than famous acting mothers – added: ‘My hope is, as we get out of it, we’ll reach the next level of conscience. 'It’s taken me a long time to get to the point where I can see these things and not take it as a personal affront and a hurt. ‘I see myself as a chalkboard or a whiteboard or a screen, and someone is just putting up their own projection on it.’ Mrs McCain responded on Twitter: ‘Perhaps Gwyneth Paltrow should go out on patrol with some soldiers. Kind of like a Red Carpet in her mind I guess!’ Senator McCain’s plane was shot down . by friendly fire over Vietnam in the 1960s. He was taken prisoner by the . Communists and suffered five and a half years of horrific abuse. He . returned home to be awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart . and Distinguished Flying Cross before he launched his political career. 'Consciously uncoupling': Gwyneth and Chris announced their split after 10 years of marriage in March . The spokesman for Veterans For Peace said Miss Paltrow, who is famously estranged – or ‘consciously uncoupled’ – from her husband, Coldplay singer Chris Martin, ‘doesn’t understand what it means to be in real danger’. The veterans’ spokesman added: ‘Not someone talking to you on the internet, but actually having bullets shot at you. ‘I’ve gone to war and had that kind of fear. She’s not in a situation where she can compare the two. ‘She hasn’t had to fear for her life and not know whether she’d make it home.’ Miss Paltrow also used a military analogy a few weeks earlier when she responded to criticism with a blog on her website headlined Ending The Mommy Wars. ‘Why do we feel so entitled to opine, often so negatively, on the choices of other women?’ she wrote. ‘As the mommy wars rage on, I am constantly perplexed and amazed by how little slack we cut each other as women.’
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Paltrow said internet abuse is 'bloody' and 'dehumanising' like warfare .
The actress made the comments at a tech conference on Tuesday .
Wife of Vietnam POW and mother of two soldiers blasted Paltrow on Twitter .
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Jennifer Hawkins' Bondi apartment has sold for $1.2 million just a fortnight after being placed on the market, ahead of it's scheduled September 20 auction. The 30-year-old Australian model made a tidy profit on her Bondi investment, paying $895,000 for the 92 square metre apartment back in 2007 and leaving her over $400,000 richer. Coming just one month after the former Miss Universe winner and her husband Jake Wall, sold their North Curl Curl Mansion the couple now own a combined 3252 square metres of land which includes 37 meters of private beach. The two bedroom, two bathroom luxury pad is was expected to be fetch at least $1.1 million when scheduled for auction on September 20th. The apartment comes complete with elevated ocean views and is within walking distance of Australia's most famous beach. Scroll down for video . Jennifer Hawkins' apartment on Henderson Street at Bondi was on the market for less than a fortnight . The 30-year-old Australian model first bought the 92 square metre apartment back in 2007 for $895,000 . The luxury pad was expected to be snatched up for $1.1 million when it was scheduled for auction . The apartment features open living spaces including a large balcony overlooking the seaside, polished timber floors and generously sized bedrooms complete with built in wardrobes. With huge windows that take up the length of the walls, the cosy modern home is filled with natural light while the master bedroom boasts impressive water views. On June 30, Hawkins and her former builder husband sold their 380 square metre North Curl Curl home on 18 Molong Street. It features two generously sized bedrooms, two bathrooms, polished timber floors and built in wardrobes . The large balcony, as well as a number of the other rooms, feature amazing views of close by Bondi Beach . The apartment is walking distance from the beach and only six kilometres from Sydney's CBD . Huge windows that take up the length of the walls mean the cosy home has plenty of natural lighting . The mansion, complete with a home theatre, four bedrooms and a heated pool, was designed by the . couple themselves along with renowned architect Kiochi Takada. Mr Takada wrote about working with the couple on his website back in 2012, adding that it was difficult 'not to be noticeably affected by Jennifer’s striking presence'. 'The beauty of the project was that Jennifer has a very clear sense of style and a focused direction on what she wanted to achieve for the interiors of their home, I was merely on hand to make their imaginings a reality,' Mr Takada wrote. Photographs of the house when it came onto the market, also revealed the grand built in wardrobe which was home to Hawkins' impressive shoe collection. 'The shoe wall is very special — the shoes look like pieces of art,' she told the Daily Telegraph. Hawkins also recently sold a 380 square metre property at 18 Molong Street in North Curl Curl . The mansion belonged to Hawkins and her husband Jake Wall, and the couple lived there for three years . It included a home theatre, four bedrooms and a heated pool and was designed by the couple themselves . Renowned architect Kiochi Takada assisted the duo with designing the three-level home . Hawkins and Wall spent three years living in the modern three-level mansion which links directly to local bush-tracks to the beach, which the real estate video boasts is perfect for whale watching. All eyes are now on the two beach-front Newport properties - Jacaranda Cottage and Blois Cottage - that the couple secured for $4 million in July. The properties, which take up a combined 3252 square metres of land, provide the couple with 37 metres of their own private beach and were purchased as off-market bushland listings. The house featured a grand built in wardrobe which was home to Hawkins' impressive shoe collection . The real estate video for the beach-side property boasted its views are perfect for whale watching . Mr Takada wrote on his website: 'Jennifer has a very clear sense of style and a focused direction on what she wanted to achieve for the interiors of their home' He also added that Mr Takada it was difficult 'not to be noticeably affected by Jennifer’s striking presence' Hawkins, who appears to be attached to a sea-side lifestyle, also sold her apartment on Moore Street in Coogee back in 2012. The Myer ambassador and savvy business woman has a long property portfolio and currently has about six houses in her collection, three of which are in her home town of Newcastle. Her website states: 'Jennifer’s business interests also extend to property, an ongoing passion of hers. 'With a strong portfolio already established, Jennifer and husband Jake Wall completed their first property design project in 2012, a cliff-top house in Sydney’s Northern Beaches which together they designed and built and have since started on a second waterfront property.' Hawkins and Wall recently purchased two waterfront Newport properties for $4 million in July . The properties take up a combined 3252 square metres of land, include 37 metres of private beach . Hawkins is said to currently have at least six houses in her collection, three of which are in her home town of Newcastle, two hours north of Sydney .
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Hawkins' apartment at 23/7 Henderson Street in Bondi has already sold for $1.2 million .
The Myer ambassador and her husband Jake Wall pocketed a profit of $400,000 on the property .
The couple recently sold their four bedroom mansion in North Curl Curl, on Sydney's Northern Beaches .
The property-savvy couples' most recent buy was two properties at Newport, also on the Northern Beaches, worth a combined $4 million .
They take up a combined 3,252 square metres and include 37 metres of private beach .
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(CNN) -- Taping of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" reunion special, scheduled for last week, has been postponed as the cast deals with the death of Kandi Burruss' former fiancé, Ashley "A.J." Jewell, an NBC Universal spokeswoman told CNN Monday. The Atlanta "Housewives" have been touched by tragedy this season with a loved one's death. The show is now winding down its second season on the network, and the two-part episode was expected to air on October 29 and November 5. Cast member and purported "sixth housewife" Dwight Eubanks told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he was "shocked" when he heard of Jewell's passing but does expect the taping to resume eventually. "I don't see them editing [Jewell] out," he told the newspaper. "It's television. It's reality. We just have to prepare and gear up for next year." So far, Bravo hasn't erased Jewell's presence from the series. Although scenes with Jewell weren't a part of last Thursday's episode, "Housewives" viewers did watch as Kandi debated the future of her engagement to Jewell with castmate Kim. Blog: What happened on "Housewives" But commercials for this Thursday's episode showed clips from therapy sessions with Burruss, her mother and Jewell. Eubanks told the Journal-Constitution that he doesn't know if Burruss will continue with the "Housewives" or not. "She's had such a dramatic year," Eubanks said. "She had her uncle die, too. She has her own career to focus on. Now her life has changed with her daughter and taking temporary custody of [A.J.'s] twins." Jewell, who died at 34 after a fight outside of an Atlanta strip club on October 3, was buried on October 9.
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"Real Housewives of Atlanta" was scheduled to tape reunion special last week .
Taping has been postponed in aftermath of death of A.J. Jewell .
Jewell was former fiancé of "Housewives" cast member Kandi Burruss .
Jewell's presence still part of show, which was taped weeks ago .
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By . Katy Winter . If you think cheerleading is synonymous with overly-peppy wholesome American teenagers, think again. A cheerleading group in Arizona are smashing through age stereotypes as they delight audiences with their acrobatic and high-energy routines, despite all being over 55-years-old. London-based photographer Todd Antony recently spent some time in Sun City, a retirement city with 37,000 residents close to Phoenix, Arizona, where he captured The Sun City Poms in action. Sun City Poms member Lois shows off her impressive flexibility- despite being over 55-years-old . Greta shakes her pom poms for a picture in front of a cactus in Arizona, where the group was started in 1979 . The group perform at over 50 venues a year, ranging from sports centres and high schools to conventions and fundraiserss . Although their grey and white hair might slightly jar with the tight colourful lycra outfits, these ladies show that despite their age, they don't lack enthusiasm ... or flexibility! They were very happy to be photographed striking a pose, with some ladies even raising their legs above their heads, against the backdrop of their sunny paradise. Antony says: ‘Spending time with these ladies made me consider how Americans view the aging process; at one end of the spectrum are the child beauty pageants with children trying to fast-track their years whilst at the other end are these fabulous pom pom ladies who are successfully and gracefully holding back the years.' The Sun City Poms were started in 1979 cheering for the Sun City Saints women’s softball team, and now consist of a marching unit and supporting unit along with the main performing unit. Prospective Sun City Poms must also possess: 'dance skills of rhythm, agility, poise, energy, and showmanship for performing' The Poms are smashing through age stereotypes as they delight audiences with their acrobatic and high-energy routines . The website states that as well as being over 55, prospective Sun City Poms must also possess: ‘dance skills of rhythm, agility, poise, energy, and showmanship for performing’, while ‘acrobatics and baton twirling are a plus.’ The group perform at over 50 venues a year, ranging from sports centres and high schools to conventions and fundraisers. The Sun City website states: ‘Fry’s Sun City Poms come from all walks of life, and are more than entertainers. They represent the fulfilment of life at any age. 'Performing with the spunk and energy of their youths, these ladies are having the time of their lives while sharing positive aspects of retirement and ageing, and shattering conventional images of “senior citizens.”’
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The Sun City Poms are a cheerleading group all aged over 55 .
Based in Arizona, the group has been going since 1979 .
Prospective Poms should possess 'rhythm, agility, poise and energy'
Aim to shatter conventional images of 'senior citizens'
Photographer Todd Antony captured some of the ladies in action .
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By . Jessica Jerreat . A two-year-old girl nearly mauled to death by a pit bull in a Texas apartment last week is recovering from her second round of surgery. Mackenzie Camp has severe injuries to her head and face after a dog being looked after by her mother, Chelsi, turned on the toddler on March 31. The attack was so harrowing that the first officers to arrive at the apartment, and the 911 dispatcher who took the call, visited the little girl in hospital to check on her progress. On the mend: Mackenzie Camp and her mother, Chelsi, right, are visited in hospital by 911 dispatcher Rhonda Barrow, left, and Officers Massey and Zavesky, who saved the little girl . Still smiling: Despite the bites to her head and face, two-year-old Mackenzie is keeping her spirits up . Mackenzie is out of intensive care but will face more surgery, prompting her family to start a fundraising campaign to help with the costs. Her mother was also injured in the attack, suffering bites to her arms and hands as she tried to protect her daughter. When police arrived at their League City apartment, they found the mother and daughter cowering in the bathroom, where the dog had corned them. The animal, which belonged to 23-year-old Miss Camp's boyfriend, was shot by police and later euthanized. Mackenzie's injuries were so extensive that she had to be airlifted to hospital and was in surgery for seven hours immediately after the attack. Despite her ordeal, her family say the little girl is sitting up in her hospital bed and smiling. A Facebook update from Mackenzie's aunt, Sheryl . Camp, said on April 6: 'I'm pleased to say she doesn't remember a . thing. It's amazing what they were able to do to put her back together. 'As she grows these scars will fade. If they don't, she is still beautiful like her mother.' Attack: Authorities said they do not know why the animal suddenly turned on Mackenzie and Chelsi Camp . Horrific: Mackenzie's face is covered in bite marks after the dog her mom was looking after turned on her . Several fundraising events are being held in the community and a Go Fund Me page has already raised more than $13,000 towards Mackenzie's medical costs. The pit bull attack was so vicious that the first emergency workers on the scene said it will haunt them for the rest of their lives. As soon as Mackenzie was out of intensive care, Officers Massey and Zavesky and 911 dispatcher, Rhonda Darrow, who handled the call, visited the little girl and her mom at Memorial Hermann Hospital. The group were pictured with Miss Camp, who had two bandaged hands, and Mackenzie, who looked frail in her hospital bed. A post on the League City Police Department's Facebook page said: 'Rarely do we get to know what happens after the emergency response is over. And there are some calls that haunt us for the rest of our careers.' Miss Camp frantically called 911, and spoke to Ms Darrow, after the dog unexpectedly turned on her daughter at about 8.45am. Shocking: Chelsi Camp and her two-year-old daughter Mackenzie are recovering after the attack on March 31 . Police said the dog was still attacking the girl when they arrived and an officer shot the animal so other officers could help the mother and daughter. 'It was a very bad scene,' Reagan Pena with the League City Police Department told KHOU, adding of Miss Camp: 'Obviously she was trying to prevent the dog from attacking her child.' The animal was shot once at the scene but did not die, authorities said. Animal control later euthanized the dog and it was carried away from the scene in a body bag. Killed: Footage shows the pit bull being carried away in a body bag after it was euthanized at the scene . Victims: Mackenzie was airlifted to hospital and underwent surgery; her mother was taken by ambulance . Authorities said that Miss Camp, who is an apartment manager at the Avana at South Shore apartments, had been looking after the dog for her boyfriend, who was not home. Neighbors became emotional as they spoke about the attack and the young family. 'She's a wonderful person and her little girl is a sweetheart,' neighbor Maria DuBose told Click2Houston. League City police told KHOU that charges are unlikely in this case and it may be instead considered a 'family incident'. Animal control will conduct its own investigation into the attack.
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Mackenzi Camp and her mother Chelsi were attacked in their apartment .
Family have set up fundraising page to help cover medical bills .
Authorities say they do not know why the dog turned on the young girl .
It was shot by officers at the scene then euthanized by animal control .
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That Marin Cilic raced clear as the first man through to the quarter-finals on Monday represents something of an irony. There was very little clarity about his appearance at last year’s tournament. Instead, there was a cloak of secrecy followed by a prolonged period of mysterious exile. Cilic, 25, pulled out at the second-round stage 12 months ago citing a knee injury. That only emerged as a ploy to ‘avoid adverse publicity’ from a failed drugs test when the International Tennis Federation banned him for nine months last September. Through: Marin Cilic defeated Jeremy Chardy is straight sets to set up a quarter-final against Novak Djokovic . The previous April the Croat was found to have a banned stimulant called nikethamide in his system through a urine sample at Munich’s BMW Open. The sport’s governing body accepted his excuse that the substance had been ingested inadvertently via a dietary supplement. He had run out during the Monte Carlo Masters in March and sent his mother to the pharmacy to buy more without realising the French version contained different chemicals. The ITF said a simple internet search would have alerted Cilic to the dangers and handed him a backdated ban accordingly. He appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport regardless and had his sentenced halved, resuming his place on the ATP circuit at October’s event in Paris. Soon after he turned to compatriot Goran Ivanisevic and employed him as his coach. The pair have known each other for 11 years and since their professional union Cilic has built his world ranking back up to the levels prior to his absence. He is the 26th seed here. Ivanisevic produced one of Wimbledon’s greatest moments by winning the men’s singles title in 2001 as a wildcard and appears to have added thrust to his charge’s game. Blip: The Croat was found to have a banned stimulant called nikethamide in his system at Munich¿s BMW Open . Cilic beat Tomas Berdych, the sixth seed, in straight sets as dark descended on Friday and Jeremy Chardy went the same way. ‘The main part that is coming from Goran to me and what I feel in this relationship is big confidence,’ said Cilic, understandably given Ivanisevic’s indomitable character. ‘Having him over here beside me is definitely another big plus. He’s been in the second week of Wimbledon many times, so of course I’m leaving up to him all the small details to give me some advice. Opponent: Cilic must now try and defeat the No 1 seed Djokovic on Wednesday . ‘Goran is different when he plays and when he’s off the court. When he’s coaching he’s very calm character and very positive.’ Cilic, who won Queen’s in 2012 and was beaten by Murray last year before his positive test came back, declined to say lessons had been learned from the episode but insisted personal protocols for taking supplements is ‘in a good part now’. He added: ‘For me, the most important part was that I found some mental toughness out of all of that. When I came back, it gave me more motivation to work and use every opportunity I have to be prepared for every tournament.’ ‘I used that time off as well for physical preparation. I was doing a lot. Now I am feeling very well. I think my game is on a high level.’ Wisdom: Cilic believes his success is down to his new partnership with compatriot Goran Ivanisevic .
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Marin Cilic is through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals after a straight sets win against Jeremy Chardy .
The Croat was found with nikethamide in his system through a urine sample at Munich’s BMW Open .
Cilic has been working with compatriot and former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic .
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When the Conservatives unveiled their first poster of the election campaign, critics branded it bland and 'a bit French'. But it turns out they were wrong. The image used to claim Britain is on the 'road to a stronger economy' is actually German. Tory spin doctors at least had the sense to remove the cracks and potholes in the original image, but George Osborne's claim that it was 'a British picture, a British road' has left the Chancellor with some explaining to do. Scroll down for video . Green and pleasant land: The flag says this Tory election poster depicts Britain the image is not quite what it seems . Today it was claimed that the road is not even in Britain, but is based on this image taken by German photographer Alexander Burzik in Weimar . All the main parties have sought to use the start of the year to launch the first shots of what will be a long election campaign. Senior Tories, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg will all use public appearances today to set out their stall to voters. But posters released by Labour and the Tories have faced criticism for their accuracy, or lack of it. The Conservative poster was launched on Friday, depicting an empty road carving through green fields has already caused controversy for being bland, ambiguous, and a touch French. But the words on the image caused problems for Mr Cameron, with the claim: 'The deficit halved'. The claim infuriated some experts, who pointed out that the deficit – the annual gap between the Government's spending and income – has been reduced from a peak of £153billion at the time of the election to £91billion this year, a fall of just over 40 per cent. Prime Ministr David Cameron launched the Conservative Party poster at an event in Halifax on Friday . Mr Cameron stressed at the poster's launch on Friday that the claim was to have halved the deficit in relation to GDP. Tory sources said the party had always been 'clear that when we talk about the deficit being halved that's what we are referring to'. Now it has emerged that that the road is not even in Britain, but is based on an image taken by German photographer Alexander Burzik in Weimar. At the weekend Mr Osborne insisted: 'It's a British picture, a British road.' But while the horizon between the two images differs, the verges bare an uncanny similarity. Some efforts have been made to cover up the deception. The entire image has been flipper, cracks and discoloration removed from the road surface and the white lines erased. The white clouds in the blue sky have also been rearranged. Labour shadow cabinet minister Lord Wood said on Twitter: 'There's something perfect about the Tories' 'road to a stronger economy' actually being a photo of the road to Weimar.' This is a reference to the disastrous economic situation in 1930s Weimar Germany. Meanwhile, Labour has released a campaign image based on a poster of Mr Cameron used by the Tories in 2010. The Labour poster, to be used online, says: 'The Tories want to cut spending on public services back to the levels of the 1930s, when there was no NHS. 'The NHS as you know it cannot survive five more years of David Cameron.' It is based on warnings from the Office for Budget Responsibility last month that forecast total government spending will fall to just 35.2 per cent of GDP in 2019-20 – the lowest level for 80 years. According to the OBR, government spending falling to just 35.2 per cent of GDP in 2019-20 marks a dramatic decline from 45.3 per cent in 2009-10, the last year of the Labour government. In the mid-1970s state spending accounted for almost half of the entire economy. However, total government spending will still be spending £765billion-a-year, compared to under £100billion in real terms in the late 1940s. A Conservative source said: 'The New Year has only started and Labour are already resorting to wild scaremongering. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility was crystal clear - under our plan to deal with the deficit, day-to-day public spending will return to the levels of 2002-03. In contrast, Ed Miliband has no plan and would plunge the economy back into chaos.' Mr Cameron today insisted that further spending cuts were needed to get the nation's debts under control. Labour has launched this web image today, attacking the Tories over spending cuts, but the reference to the 1930s is in connection with spending as a proportion of the whole economy, not cash sum . David Cameron today insisted that further spending cuts were needed to get the nation's debts under control . He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show: 'Look what happened in countries like Portugal and Greece who saw their debts and deficits get out of control. They had to cut their NHS by 16 per cent, 17 per cent. 'What I fear with Labour is you have a bunch of politicians who have learnt nothing from the last five years. 'My concern is this, if you want to get families out of poverty you've got to get your debt and your deficit under control. That is line one of the long-term economic plan for the country which is working. 'I am a compassionate conservative: compassion isn't just measured in the money that you spend, compassion is measured in creating a growing economy so you can have the stronger NHS, stronger social services.' But Labour's shadow treasury minister Chris Leslie said: 'David Cameron says he is happy to be judged on his record over five years. This is a record of an NHS going backwards, working people £1600 a year worse off and £200 billion more borrowing than planned. 'He should also be judged on his risky and extreme plans for the future, which the OBR says will take public spending as a share of national income back to the 1930s. This will have a hugely damaging impact on our defence, policing and local services. 'And on top of this David Cameron has made over £7 billion of unfunded tax promises. These could only be paid for by another Tory VAT rise, even deeper cuts to public spending - or both.'
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Criticism of first posters from Labour and the Tories of election campaign .
Conservative road to stronger economy based on image taken in Germany .
Questions also raised about Tory poster claim: 'The deficit halved'
Labour under fire for suggesting spending to be cut to 1930s 'levels'
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Joel Campbell has denied that he is seeking a transfer away from Arsenal in January, insisting he is 'calm' and not 'furious' in a video posted on his own personal website. Costa Rica forward Campbell has found first-team chances difficult come by with the Gunners this season. Inter Milan and Juventus are just some of the clubs who are interested in taking the forward away for the Emirates. VIDEO Scroll down for Arsenal's Joel Campbell sets the record straight on recent rumours . Joel Campbell has issued a video on his personal website denying he wants to leave Arsenal in January . Campbell has found his first-team opportunities at Arsenal limited so far this season . Campbell issued the video on his own personal website, 'Sports by Campbell', on Sunday . However, Campbell issued a video dismissing reports he was seeking a move away, having just retuned to the Emirates Stadium following a productive loan spell at Olympiacos. 'What they have been saying is not true, I'm very calm. I have not been furious,' the 22-year-old said on www.sports.bycampbell.com on Sunday. 'Obviously, yes, I would like to be playing, but that's something that has to be earned day by day. I have to keep training and waiting for the opportunity, I know it's a very competitive team. 'Arsenal is one of the best teams in the world where there are many important players. I have to be patient, keep training and I know my chance will arrive and I'll have to take advantage of it when it comes. '[I've learned] a lot (from Arsene Wenger). He is a coach who has many years in football and with Arsenal. I am learning from him and from my peers every day in training. I'm doing my best to be a better player every day.' Campbell said he has been training and waiting for the opportunity at Arsenal so far this season . Campbell starred for Costa Rica during the World Cup but has not played much this season .
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Joel Campbell has been linked with a move away from Arsenal .
Inter Milan and Juventus are monitoring striker's situation .
But Campbell has issued video on website denying he wants away .
He says he is 'calm' and 'not furious' and wants to stay at Arsenal .
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By . Matt Blake and Daily Mail Reporters . PUBLISHED: . 04:50 EST, 1 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:33 EST, 1 August 2013 . Robert Mugabe's party claimed a resounding victory in Zimbabwe's general election today moments before his main rival accused him of 'monumental fraud'. The election had been hailed as a potential turning point in the nation's troubled history as Mugabe's long-time nemesis Morgan Tsvangirai again vowed to dethrone the 89-year-old tyrant after 33 years in power. Wednesday's voting had been peaceful across the southern African nation, but the early claims from the competing parties heralded an acrimonious dispute over the outcome and raised fears of a repeat of violence that marred a 2008 election. Releasing unofficial results early in Zimbabwe is illegal, and police had said on Wednesday they would arrest anybody who made premature claims about the result. But a senior source in Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, who asked not to be named, crowed: 'We've taken this election. We've buried . the MDC. We never had any doubt that we were going to win.' Scroll down for video . Vote: Robert Mugabe casting a a ballot in the election that will decide his fate, watched by his wife and daughter . Responding to the ZANU-PF claim, a downbeat Tsvangirai said the vote should be considered invalid because of polling day irregularities and vote-rigging by 89-year-old Mugabe's ZANU-PF party. 'This has been a huge farce,' Tsvangirai said. 'In our view, that election is null and void.' He did not take questions, leaving it unclear whether he or his party will mount any kind of legal challenge. His comments came after a high-ranking source in Tsvangirai's MDC party described the election as 'a monumental fraud', adding: 'Zimbabweans have been taken for a . ride by ZANU-PF and Mugabe. We do not accept it.' Voting concluded in Zimbabwe's . polling stations in elections in which Robert Mugabe faced one of the . biggest challenges to his 33-year grip on power. A few polling stations were prepared to stay open into the night to accommodate all voters who were in line by 7pm. Vote counting is expected to begin tonight and final results are expected by Monday. Zimbabweans . voted in large numbers despite concerns about the credibility of the . electoral process, and the vote was relatively peaceful compared to . disputed and violent polls in 2008. Queue: Voters in the suburbs of Harare line up to have their say in the crunch election . Opponent: Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, pictured with his wife Elizabeth, is vying to be president . Thousands of voters lined up in Harare's . populous Mbare township but by the evening all the voters had been . accommodated, said polling officials. 'It's a tremendous turnout,' said . Magodelyo Yeukai, Mbare presiding officer. Polling officials and party agents . brought blankets to polling stations so that they could sleep next to . the polling boxes to make sure they were not tampered with. Some election observers noted cases . of registered voters being turned away from the polls. There have been . worries about oversights in the hasty preparations for the vote, as well . as fears of alleged vote-rigging of the kind that occurred in past . elections. Tendai Biti, the third-ranking . official in the former opposition party of Prime Minister Morgan . Tsvangirai, Mugabe's popular challenger, reported alleged irregularities . across several districts, including changes to voters' lists and ballot . papers. But 'we are encouraged by the high turnout. We remain confident in spite of all these challenges,' Mr Biti said. The head of the African Union . observer mission, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, said . reports of irregularities 'will be investigated but have not yet been . substantiated.' Voters queued from before dawn to . cast their ballots - despite fears that vote-counting could be rigged in . favour of the 89-year-old tyrant, under whose reign Zimbabwe became one . of Africa's worst-governed countries. Support: Hundreds of MDC members at a rally in Harare ahead of today's election . Dedication: Many voters had wrapped up warm in woollen clothes to protect themselves against cold weather . Rally: A bus filled with supporters of the ruling party Zanu-PF attempt to drum up support for the president . Long-serving: Mugabe, now 89, has been in power for 33 years and is the country's only ever black leader . At . a school in Harare, many citizens were dressed in heavy coats, scarves . and hats to ward off the winter cold as they waited for hours. 'It is moving slowly, but I am here for as long as it takes,' said voter Isaac Rufaro. 'We have got to get this done.' Mugabe has denied allegations of . vote-rigging and dismissed concerns about the credibility of the polls, . but Western governments have complained about the lack of transparency . in the run-up to the vote. The . president is facing up against his old rival Morgan Tsvangirai, who has . been prime minister in an uneasy coalition with Mugabe's Zanu-PF since . the country's last election in 2008, which was marred by violence . against opposition supporters. Mugabe . has promised that if he loses he will hand power over to Tsvangirai. However, the opposition MDC claims that Mugabe supporters have engaged . in vote-rigging in a desperate attempt to stay in power. The official state election body has admitted that administrative, logistical and funding problems have hindered voting arrangements, but says they had been resolved and voting is ready to go ahead at more than 9,000 polling stations across the country. Celebration: MDC voters are optimistic that Tsvangirai will finally be able to take power . Ballot paper: An electoral official holds up the ballot showing all five presidential candidates . Patient: Zimbabweans have overcome obstacles to travel to the polling stations and cast their votes . Democracy: Officials explain to an elderly voter how to cast a vote at a suburban polling station . Voting officials at one suburban Harare . shopping centre said their line of at least 1,000 people was expected to . move more quickly as staff became more proficient in finding names on . pages and pages of lists of voters, and verifying identity documents. Previous elections in 2002 and 2008 were accompanied by allegations of vote rigging and political violence. Rights . groups say there has been little overt violence this time around, but . noted deep concerns remain over shambolic voters' lists, the role of . Mugabe's loyalist police and military in the voting process and bias in . the state media. The International Crisis Group said it fears a return to 'a protracted political crisis, and possibly extensive violence' if the Zimbabwe poll is inconclusive and disputed, and especially if election observers fail to identify flaws in the hastily arranged elections. Mugabe has refused to allow Western observer missions, including one from the Jimmy Carter Center, to monitor voting but Western embassies in Zimbabwe have been permitted to deploy a limited number of diplomats to key voting districts. Zimbabwe's shaky coalition government was effectively dissolved today. Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai have . predicted outright victory for their parties that would avoid the . formation of another coalition. Scrum: Mugabe is surrounded by the press after casting his vote - he insists he will leave office if defeated . Moment of truth: Voters like these will decide whether Mugabe stays in power for five more years .
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Voters queue for hours to cast ballots in Zimbabwe's election .
Mugabe, 89, is facing off against prime minister Tsvangirai in ballot .
Mugabe party spokesman: 'We've taken this election. We've buried .
the MDC'
Rival Morgan Tsvangirai: 'This is a huge farce, the election is null and void'
Last election in 2008 marred by widespread violence against opposition .
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By . Jemma Gillard for MailOnline . A young woman who could die without a life-saving transplant is determined to survive to see her twin sister get married. Stacie Pridden, 23, from Swindon was finally diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2002, after years suffering from mysterious blackouts and sickness. Now she is currently awaiting a heart and double lung transplant. Twin support:Stacie (right) is preparing to act as her twin sister Megan's (left) maid of honour at her forthcoming wedding . But as she awaits the transplant, she is also preparing for another important event - acting as her twin sister Megan's maid of honour at her forthcoming wedding. Stacie says: 'My body has to hold out a bit longer and there is a fight ahead of me, but I don't doubt that I'll be there to help Megan walk down the aisle. 'I'm determined to be there to celebrate her big day.' Stacie pictured receiving treatment was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2002 and is now awaiting a heart and double lung transplant . The determined young woman, who also has an older sister, Candice, 25,was born with three holes in her heart and later diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a rare blood vessel disorder in her lung. Stacie added: 'Being ill is all I've ever known. 'My dominant memories from my school days were fainting during class, being ferried to and from hospital, going through operations and being given all sorts of medication. 'I know that if I had been on my own, it would have been impossible to deal with, but luckily Megan's been by my side from day one.' Stacie (right) with twin sister Megan (left) and older sister Candice, 25, (centre). Stacie was born with three holes in her heart . Megan, 23, says: 'When we were at junior school, Stacie took part in a three-legged race and collapsed at the finishing line. After that she started fainting regularly and I began watching her carefully. 'I helped her calm down and catch her breath when she she became ill at school. I went to lots of hospital appointments with her, so I was aware of the health challenges we were facing as a family. 'Her illness means that our circumstances are very different, but we're alike in most ways. We share everything and have similar interests - mainly our obsessions with TV shows and films. There's honestly nobody I prefer spending time with. 'Stacie is my best friend and my twin sister all rolled into one.' Staying positive: Stacie was officially put on the transplant list when her condition significantly worsened after her 18th birthday . When she was 11, Stacie was admitted to to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where her illness was diagnosed and doctors first mentioned the need for a major transplant operation. She was officially put on the transplant list when her condition significantly worsened after her 18th birthday. Stacie explained: 'Being on the transplant list is quite difficult to describe - you can't help but keep thinking about when you're going to die. 'In the first years you're certain that the call will come, but the longer you're on the list, hope starts to ebb away. Although I've remained determined and optimistic, I've also come to terms with the fact that I might not get the operation I need. 'The important thing is not to give up. I've found that a powerful way to stay hopeful is to imagine all the things I will get to see and do in the future - one of my most important dreams is seeing both my sisters get married.' Stacie (left) and Megan (right) are not just twin sisters, but best friends too . Stacie will have that opportunity when Megan marries her partner, James Pryor, in 2016, following their engagement in January 2014. Megan says: 'Stacie's never been resentful of the fact that our lives have been so different. She's always taken a huge interest in my life and it was her I turned to for advice when I started getting serious boyfriends. 'I knew straight away that Stacie would be my maid of honour. 'Every day I pray that she will hang on. The thought of not having my sister there when I get married is devastating. 'It's such a huge event in a girl's life, to go through it without my twin by my side would be unthinkable.' To read Stacie's blog visit Life Is Worth The Fight and for more information and to sign the donor register, visit organ donation .
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Stacie Pridden, 23, was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2002 .
Now currently awaiting a heart and double lung transplant .
But is also preparing to act as her twin sister Megan's maid of honour .
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(CNN) -- President Barack Obama has done the right thing by asking Congress to authorize the use of force against Syria to punish President Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons on his own people. I say that even as someone who has been a sharp critic of the administration's Syria policy and an outspoken advocate of intervening in various ways to try to protect the millions of innocent Syrians whose lives are at risk, prevent the conflict from destabilizing the region and support members of the Syrian opposition who share our values. The president, as he announced in May, is trying to steer this nation back to a world in which we are not permanently at war and we do not turn to our military as the weapon of first resort in any international crisis. The Framers of our Constitution wanted to ensure that the decision to send our young men and women into battle could not be taken lightly. Both Democratic and Republican presidents have steadily chafed at those restraints over the course of the decades since World War II as traditional wars and formal declarations of war have faded away. George W. Bush's proclamation of a "war on terror," authorized by Congress, put this nation in a state of permanent emergency in which the commander in chief has had extraordinary powers. Opinion: GOP shouldn't bail out Obama's floundering foreign policy . That is unhealthy and dangerous for a democracy. A former constitutional law professor, Obama understands that although he has a limited reserve of power that could allow him to act alone, his power will be far greater with Congress. The constitutional framework is designed be a check in the best sense -- to require our leaders to make their case to the American people, to act on the basis of reasoned arguments about the nature of American interests that will stand up far beyond the White House Situation Room. And the American people should back him on this decision, for three reasons. First, we are protecting ourselves and our allies. We cannot afford to live in a world in which nations can use chemical weapons with impunity. The taboo against chemical weapons is particularly strong, for good reason. Dying by the breath we need to live holds a particular terror. The parents of the children whose shrouds we see could not protect them even with their own bodies, like human shields from a bullet or a bomb. The United States stood by when Iraq used chemical weapons first against Iran and later against its own people, to our shame. But we must not make that mistake again. Chemical weapons are the weapons of the weak against the strong, which is why al-Assad, has been driven to use them repeatedly, according to U.S. intelligence, when his back is against the wall, as it is now in Damascus. Should chemical weapons proliferate, they will be the weapons of choice for terrorists. Opinion: Obama, ignore the polls on Syria . Second, striking Syria now will be a strike to protect the Syrian people, even if partial and belated. It will not end the massacres carried out with conventional weapons. But weapons of mass destruction are just that: weapons of mass destruction. A chemical attack that kills 1,000 today can kill 10,000 tomorrow and 100,000 the day after that. Third, the president is asking us to do, as a nation, what a leader has to do. In his 2008 inaugural address, Obama called for a new era of responsibility in this country, "a recognition ... that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world." We have those duties not because the United States has some unique role or mission in the world, but because we are the world's most powerful nation. Other nations take their cues from our action or inaction, whether we want them to or not. If we do not act, we are signaling that the world has suddenly become a far more permissive and dangerous place, that taboos can be broken, and that despite the pious words of the international community, leaders can do whatever they like within their own borders. If we lead, other nations that take their responsibilities seriously as great powers will join us. A Russian veto may prevent the U.N. Security Council from authorizing our action in advance, but a majority of the members of the council will not vote to condemn the strikes after the fact. It is now time for Congress to step up to its responsibility. The bargaining has already begun. But the use of force after the use of chemical weapons, with the world watching, is no place for partisan politics as usual. Opinion: Obama's irony, McCain's agony . Unless a clear majority of Congress opposes any action, it is incumbent on all those members who favor some use of force to craft a compromise that gives Obama the power to use both force and diplomacy as president and commander in chief to restore the chemical taboo and do whatever he can to reach a political settlement in Syria. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Anne-Marie Slaughter.
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Anne-Marie Slaughter: Obama right to go to Congress about using force in Syria .
Slaughter: A world in which nations use chemical weapons with impunity is too dangerous .
She says striking Syria now will be a strike to protect the Syrian people, even if belated .
Slaughter: It's time for Congress to step up to its responsibility and support Obama .
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'Extreme speeches': Tariq Ramadan . David Cameron is facing embarrassment over the close links between a Government adviser on religion and an Islamist group placed under urgent investigation. The Prime Minister last week ordered the security services to look into the Muslim Brotherhood amid fears its leaders, exiled from Egypt, are plotting terrorist attacks from London. He said the inquiry would establish ‘the complete picture’ of the Brotherhood including its possible involvement with ‘violent extremism’ and its ‘presence here in the UK’. But the investigation is likely to lead to red faces in Whitehall, as a scion of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founding family is a senior ministerial adviser. Tariq Ramadan is one of 14 members of the Foreign Office’s Advisory Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, chaired by Tory peer Baroness Warsi. He is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University, and was a member of a taskforce set up by Tony Blair after 7/7. But Prof Ramadan, 51, is grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder Hassan al-Banna and his father Said Ramadan was a leading light. The Swiss citizen was for several years banned from the US for ‘providing material support to a terrorist organisation’ and only let in after a long legal battle in which he argued that no link with terrorism existed. He was kept out of France in the 1990s over supposed links to Algerian terrorists. He lost two posts at Dutch universities for hosting a chat show on a TV channel backed by the Iranian regime and became notorious for refusing to say stoning to death should be banned outright, although calling for a moratorium. Prime Minister David Cameron last week ordered the security services to look into the Muslim Brotherhood amid fears its leaders, exiled from Egypt, are plotting terrorist attacks from London . Critics repeatedly accuse the smartly dressed, well-spoken scholar of seeming to be moderate when speaking to Western audiences but giving more extreme speeches in Arabic. Douglas Murray, associate director of the Henry Jackson Society think-tank, said: ‘David Cameron should be deeply embarrassed by this. Tariq Ramadan is extremely loyal to his father and grandfather and he does not, by any means, speak out against the Muslim Brotherhood.’ A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘Prof Ramadan has written and taught extensively on issues relating to Islam, and therefore has plenty of relevant experience to bring to the group.’Prof Ramadan’s office in France declined to comment.
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PM facing embarrassment over links between adviser and Islamist group .
Adviser Tariq Ramadan is grandson of Muslim Brotherhood's founder .
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He's played singers, sailors and serial killers, but there's one role that die-hard fans of Jeff Bridges can't get enough of: The stoner. "Who knows? Mystery of the unknown," the Academy-Award winning actor tells CNN about the enduring legacy of "The Big Lebowski." "Maybe it has to do with turning someone on to something you dig; it is like turning your younger brother on to Led Zeppelin, when he's ready to get it." Sprinkle a healthy dose of "mans" and f-bombs into that quote and it could have been uttered by The Dude himself. "It's something that entertains people on a whole other level than most films," Bridges says, "and once they've enjoyed it, they have to share with someone." The sharing is certainly growing for "Lebowski." This March 6 marks the 15th anniversary of the movie's release. Hard to believe that the Southern Californian odyssey that opened to mixed reviews (The New Yorker called it an "irritatingly antic caper") is now considered among the best in the Coen Brothers canon and a bona fide cultural phenomenon. The appreciation goes way beyond the silver screen. Books are written about "The Big Lebowski," including one by Bridges himself. There are "Lebowski Fests" held nationwide where fans gather, often dressed as their favorite characters. The "Lebowski Fest" slated for Los Angeles March 22-23 features the actors who played Woo, The Malibu Sheriff and the Ralph's check-out girl who watched The Dude write a 69 cent check for a carton of milk. This past weekend, the now iconic bathrobe worn by Bridges throughout the movie was auctioned off for $22,755, according to Premiere Props in Los Angeles. There's even the "Little Lebowski Shop" in New York that sells merchandise ranging from shirts and mugs to action figures and a life-size cutout of The Dude. "Business has been good," says Roy Preston, the owner of the store. "I have customers coming in ranging in age from 8 to 70 and from all over the world. There's something universal about it that speaks to people." What's so universal about an unemployed slacker who wears bathrobes, loves White Russians and hates the Eagles? "He's the unlikely hero of our times," says Brian Balthazar, editor of the entertainment site popgoestheweek.com. "There are a lot of people that oddly enough want to be like him, to be completely intent in his apathy in life. And then have this guy embark on a crazy journey? It is literally the ultimate dude movie." A dude movie filled with memorable performances. There's John Goodman as the Vietnam veteran whose observance to the Jewish sabbath prevents him from bowling on Saturdays. ("I don't roll on Shabbos" he bellows from the lanes.) John Turturro is the rival bowler named Jesus, who also happens to be a convicted sex offender. Peter Stormare, who played both a porn star and German nihilist in "Lebowski" laughs when talking about the film's cult-like following. "I'm amazed because it's bigger than "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," he says. "I've been to two or three Lebowski fests and it's pretty bizarre to see 20 Karl Hunguses walking around. It's an honor and at the same time it's a little strange." Stormare is also surprised by the film's continued success. "None of us really thought the movie would do well because they didn't do anything big for it when it came out," he tells CNN. "They didn't really promote it, and then it caught on like a sleeper and came just roaring as the years went by." Bridges cautions that "Lebowski" may not be for everyone. "Your 12-year-old, or your teeny bopper, or most grandparents just won't get it," he says while making it clear it may be more of a "guy" thing. "I can just imagine how many older brothers wait for their younger bros to turn 16 or whatever perfect age for them to truly be able to soak in all of the pointless amazingness that the "Big Lebowski" has to offer! All the Dude ever wanted was his rug back!" The Dude abides, and 15 years later, so does the actor. "I don't see this ever stopping or slowing down," says Bridges.
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This March 6 marks the 15th anniversary of "The Big Lebowski's" release .
The flick, which opened to mixed reviews, is now considered a cult hit .
Bridges: "Your 12-year-old, or your teeny bopper, or most grandparents just won't get it"
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By . Dan Bloom . A top fashion designer has been slammed by a broadcasting watchdog after he praised young Irishmen for 'damaging English virgins'. Paul Costelloe - whose designs are sold in House of Fraser and John Lewis - provoked outrage with the remarks about Irish emigrants in London, where he lives. 'The English, they love us and they hate us, you know, you just have to put up with that,' he told a live radio show in his native Ireland. Anger: Irish-born Paul Costelloe, pictured on the catwalk at London Fashion Week with two models, told a radio show young Irish emigrants to England 'are doing great and damaging a lot of young English virgins' Challenged: The RTÉ presenter asked Mr Costelloe (pictured with former Miss World Rosanna Davison) if he was a chauvinist, which he denied. But the Irish radio watchdog said the broadcaster could have done more . 'Certainly . the Irish are never short of chatting up and, you know, we have that . skill and I’m sure these young guys are doing great and damaging a lot . of young English virgins, so there you are, and good luck to them.' Presenter George Lee questioned whether the designer was a 'chauvinist' - which he denied. It was then alleged a text message to the show complaining about Mr Costelloe was 'laughed off'. Born in Limerick, the designer built his empire from wealthy Knightsbridge in west London . The comments on RTÉ's The Business show in February drew two official complaints to the broadcaster, one of which was elevated to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The upset listener, Barbara Smith, branded the remarks repugnant and dangerous to women. RTÉ agreed a number of listeners were . offended by the comments, but said they could be . construed as a flamboyant and heavy-handed description of young Irish . men living in London. The broadcaster insisted it was a throwaway remark during a 'fast-moving' live programme . on a side issue to the main thrust of the interview. But the watchdog disagreed, saying the show could have used a delay button or used the presenter to deal with on-air risks. The watchdog's ruling said: 'It . was the opinion of the committee, following its review of the material, . that the manner in which sexual relationships were described by the . guest would cause undue offence and that the programme makers had not . taken due care in the way in which the comments were handled during the . programme. 'In . particular, it was the view of the committee that the presenter’s tone . and his answer to his own question in respect of whether his guest had . displayed chauvinism did not display due care in respect of the . sensitivity of listeners who, in the opinion of the committee, might . reasonably view the comment as offensive.' Born in Limerick, the designer has been at the helm . of British high street fashion for decades and established his brand at . a flagship store in Knightsbridge, west London. In 2010 he was picked as one of six Irish fashion designers to be honoured on a postage stamp. An . RTÉ spokesman told MailOnline: 'To the best of our knowledge there were . two complaints sent in relating to the Paul Costello interview. 'We have no further comment to make in relation to the BAI decision which we accept. 'The full statement of the BAI decision will be broadcast shortly before The Business programme starts tomorrow morning.'
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Top designer made the remarks on live radio show in Ireland in February .
Irishmen are 'doing great and damaging virgins... and good luck to them'
He denied chauvinism but the remarks prompted a watchdog complaint .
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland ruled comments caused 'undue offence'
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A shortage of UK lorry drivers caused by European rules is threatening the economic recovery and putting deliveries to shops and homes at risk, hauliers and MPs have warned. The shortfall could lead to problems keeping the shelves stocked for Christmas and transporting the grit needed to keep roads safe in winter. Thousands of British heavy goods vehicle drivers are retiring as the population ages, experts warn. Scroll down for video . The shortage in lorry drivers could cause problems filling shelves before Christmas and transporting grit during the winter months (file image) Too few newly-qualified replacements are being trained up in the UK to take their place. And the problem has been made worse by a controversial EU directive, backed by Labour in 2009, which demanded experienced drivers take extra training. Drivers had until last Tuesday to qualify for a certificate of professional competence or face a £1,000 fine. But Tory MP Andrew Bridgen claims many decided to retire early or quit the industry instead. Mr Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire and a qualified road haulage manager, said: ‘The shortage of HGV lorry drivers threatens growth in the UK economy. ‘We are still paying the cost of the previous Labour government’s slavish agreement to this and other EU directives. We already had and still have the safest and best regulated road haulage industry in Europe.’ A delegation from the Road Haulage Association is to meet Treasury officials this month to highlight the growing problem. Meanwhile, the Freight Transport Association said the lack of drivers to deliver the goods could lead to a bleak Christmas for many families. Sally Gilson, its skills policy development manager, said: ‘Our members are telling us they have genuine concerns over their ability to deliver Christmas this year. The pool of agency drivers is just not there. ‘And with the economy improving, a greater number is needed. However, this is not just a seasonal issue – our members recruiting full-time positions are struggling for applicants.’
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EU rules insisting on higher training has made shortage worse .
Thousands of British heavy goods drivers retiring as population ages .
Shortfall could lead to problems stocking shelves for Christmas and transporting grit for winter .
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By . Rik Sharma and Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:11 EST, 20 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:03 EST, 21 October 2013 . An assistant referee was yesterday struck by a firework thrown during a Premier League football match. David Bryan, who was running the line in front of Tottenham Hotspur fans at Aston Villa, was hit by a flare or smoke bomb thrown after Andros Townsend opened the scoring for Spurs in the first half. Hundreds of thousands of TV viewers watched on Sky Sports 1 as the blue firework was launched from a section of Spurs fans in the Doug Ellis Stand during the game at Villa Park in Birmingham. Scroll down for video . Incident: Linesman David Bryan was hit by a firework hurled onto the pitch from the Tottenham Hotspur section . Hit: Mr Bryan reacts after being struck square in the back by the smoke bomb at Villa Park in Birmingham . Searching: Police and stewards look for the person who threw the smoke bomb onto the pitch during the game . The restart after the 31st-minute goal . was delayed after the incident yesterday afternoon at around 4.30pm but Mr Bryan, who . appeared to have been hit on the back of the neck, was fit to continue. A . fan was led out . of the stadium by police and stewards soon after. The Football . Association, which has issued warnings on flares this season, said the . incident was 'unacceptable' and will investigate. A . West Midlands Police spokesman said on Twitter last night: ‘Police have . arrested two men after a lit flare was thrown on the pitch during the . Villa v Spurs game - the flare hit a linesman. ‘The . two men aged 25 and 47 were arrested following the incident at Villa . Park. Fortunately the linesman wasn't injured.’ Spurs won the game 2-0, . with Roberto Soldado scoring the second goal. An FA spokesman said last night: 'The FA will investigate this matter, which is unacceptable. Removed: A steward keeps the smoke bomb off the pitch at Villa Park after the incident during the match . Pain: The linesman holds his shirt after he was hit by a smoke bomb thrown from the Tottenham Hotspur end . Are you okay? Spurs captain Michael Dawson speaks to Mr Bryan after the flare was thrown onto the pitch . 'We . will await the match officials' report and will be speaking to the . clubs. Such incidents highlight the dangers of pyrotechnics being used . in a football stadium.' TalkSport presenter Ian Abrahams said on . Twitter: 'Smoke bombs and flares may be banned but idiots are still . getting them into grounds, so stewards are not doing their job.' Policing Minister Damian Green warned . football fans in August that those who were smuggling flares into . matches were putting other supporters’ lives at risk. In . May, a 15-year-old boy suffered lung damage from a smoke bomb thrown . during Villa's 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic, while two women aged 22 and . 24 also required medical attention. Three . months earlier a 14-year-old boy was killed by a flare thrown by fans . during a South American Libertadores Cup match between San Jose and . Corinthians in Orouro, Bolivia. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
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David Bryan hit by blue firework during Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa .
Thrown from Spurs end after Andros Townsend scored after 31 minutes .
Fan was led out of the stadium by police and linesman was fit to continue .
Two men aged 25 and 47 arrested by West Midlands Police after incident .
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By . Charles Sale . Follow @@charliesale . A major row has broken out at the BBC over the extra audio content being made available on an ad-hoc basis for some World Cup matches on their digital red button. One of the offerings is a ‘puerile’ Radio 1 feed from Scott Mills and co-host Chris Stark which has greatly annoyed members of the BBC Sport team in Brazil, who are intent on covering the tournament professionally. The pair’s contribution during the Brazil v Mexico game was called by one insider: ‘The most puerile, childish, pathetic stuff that you could wish to hear. There are 11million watching the game and we’re directing viewers to listen to utter garbage.’ VIDEO Scroll down to watch the latest update from Brazil by Charles Sale and Neil Ashton . Controversy: BBC DJ Scott Mills (pictured) and co-host Chris Stark have been criticised by fellow staff for their 'childish' World Cup coverage . On top of that, BBC Sport bosses seem unclear what control they have over red button content with the cringeworthy Radio 1 option appearing higher in the drop-down list than the proper 5 Live commentary. A BBC spokesman said: ‘We are offering the best service we can on all platforms and the Radio 1 audio is for a Radio 1 audience. The guys loved doing it and we may use them again.’ The spokesman was unaware who decides when the Radio 1 feed is used. Not good enough: An insider described the extra audio of Mills and Stark as 'pathetic' during Brazil's 0-0 draw with Mexico . Richard Keys and Andy Gray, the Sky Sports rejects, claim in their risible World Cup diary that your Sports Agenda columnist doesn’t exist. All I have to say in response is that the nearest those two forgotten dinosaurs have got to the football in Brazil, following the Sky sexism scandal, is that home of diversity and equality Qatar. ....................................................................... The super friendly Brazilian welcome for the Rooney family at the Fasano Hotel on Ipanema Beach includes staff putting a tepee-style tent in their room plus cuddly toys, chocolates and Brazil shirts for children Kai and Klay. ....................................................................... David Gill, the English football administrator most likely to achieve high office in Nyon or Zurich, is undecided whether to stand as the England representative for election to the FIFA vice-presidency being vacated by Northern Ireland’s Jim Boyce in 2015. Gill has major reservations about any involvement with FIFA while Sepp Blatter is at the helm. The full UEFA electorate will have a vote on the British place for the first time with Scotland (Campbell Ogilvie) and Wales (Trefor Lloyd Hughes) also putting up candidates. ............................................................................................... FA party swells to 90 . Sportsmail listed the 77 personnel in the official FA World Cup party when they flew out for the training week in Miami, but the real total is considerably more. The England-related group also includes a five-strong team from Mischief PR assisting the FA on community projects, two extra Nike employees, more FA commercial bodies, two added security figures assigned to the hotel and training ground and England Under 20 coach Aidy Boothroyd on a study group. Learning curve: England Under 20 boss Aidy Boothroyd is on a study group in Brazil as part of the FA's World Cup contingent . It is no wonder Budweiser dumped their £9m-a-year FA Cup sponsorship, such is their extraordinary World Cup spend. The lager brand have booked the entire 247-room Prestana Hotel on Copacabana beach for a month and are lavishly entertaining guests from 40 countries at a seven-figure cost. The protest group of Falklands War veterans angered by an offensive tweet from talksport lead pundit Stan Collymore called off Wednesday’s clear-the-air meeting with radio chiefs and will carry on with a demonstration outside the station’s London headquarters on Satuday. This follows talksport insisting only reformed hooligan Dougie Brimson attended the summit, when the anti-Collymore campaigners wanted their lawyers present. Opinionated: A tweet by talkSPORT presenter Stan Collymore (left), pictured here meeting Brazil legend Cafu, has angered Falklands War veterans . The England team will eventually parade in their anthem jackets ahead of kick-off against Uruguay after dispensing with the extra layer in Miami and Manaus because of the heat, much to Nike’s angst. The England players are cooled down by spray following their pre-match routine and the legion of sports scientists in Roy Hodgson’s staff did not want them to risk warming up again in the achingly commercial swoosh jackets. Too hot: England's players did not wear their anthem jackets ahead of their clash with Italy because of the heat in Manaus .
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The BBC have offered extra audio content via their digital red button .
One insider called the coverage by Mills and Stark ' childish and pathetic'
Wayne Rooney's children received toys and football shirts on their arrival in Brazil for the World Cup .
David Gill is unsure whether to stand as the England representative for election to the FIFA vice-presidency .
The FA have taken more than 77 staff to Brazil .
Budweiser book entire 247-room hotel on Copacabana beach .
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(CNN) -- The Mexico Football Federation has banned Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez from national team duty for six months, following reports the pair threw a party at the team hotel after their friendly in Colombia on September 8. Arsenal forward Vela and Juarez, who signed for Scottish side Celtic during the last transfer window, were not the only players punished over the incident, with 11 other squad members being fined approximately $4,000 each. Those 11 included Manchester United and Fulham pair Javier Hernandez and Carlos Salcido, as well as Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani dos Santos and New York Red Bulls' star Rafael Marquez. Unconfirmed reports in the Mexican press claimed that the party, thrown in the northern city of Monterrey, cost around $2,500. Mexico national team director Nestor de la Torre announced the reprimands at a press conference on Wednesday. "Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez will be suspended for six months from the date of these events (September 8), for calls for the national team, because there were faults in four sections of the national team rules," he said. The other players to be fined were Guillermo Ochoa, Francisco Rodriguez, Andres Guardado, Gerrardo Torrado, Pablo Barrera, Enrique Esqueda and Hector Moreno.
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Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez have been banned from the Mexico team for six months .
The pair allegedly threw a party at the team hotel after a friendly against Colombia .
Eleven other players have been punished, each receiving a fine of approximately $4000 .
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(CNN) -- The blogging platform Tumblr -- which sits somewhere between Twitter and WordPress on the social media spectrum -- has become one of the more interesting places to watch the debate about the Occupy Wall Street protests unfold. On the Tumblr site "We Are the 99 Percent," people who sympathize with the New York-based protest movement are telling first-person stories of hardship and unemployment. Each post features a photo of its author holding up a paper sign that tells a bit of the person's story and says "We Are the 99 Percent," a reference to the protestors' concern that the top 1% of Americans command much of the country's wealth and power, leaving the rest to struggle. "We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all," a blog introduction says. "We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent." Here's one post from Tuesday: . "My mom worked on Wall Street for almost 30 years. In 2008, when the market crashed, the company she worked for shut down. The CEOs were taken care of, but all the loyal workers were left with nothing. My mom still hasn't found work. I am the 99 percent." And another: . "I'm a small business owner. I just bought new work computers so my colleague and I can do our jobs. Now, I have no money for food for the next 3 days (next paycheck). I'm always one check away from eviction. I'm one of the 'lucky ones.'" On Tuesday night there were 77 pages filled with similar stories, and about a half-dozen posts on each page. As attention for that Tumblr page grew, a competing blog with a more conservative ideology came into being. The conservative "We are the 53%" Tumblr page says it represents the 53% of Americans who must pay federal income tax (Most people who make less than $30,000 per year pay no major federal income taxes, according to a 2009 report from the non-partisan Tax Policy Center, as CNNMoney reports). The assumption is that Occupy Wall Street protestors and sympathizers on the "We Are the 99 Percent" site don't pay taxes. "I work 3 jobs. I have a house I can't sell. My family insurance costs are outrageous. But I don't blame Wall Street. Shut it up you whiners. I am the 53% subsidizing you so you can hang out on Wall Street and complain," the introductory post on October 5 says. The 53% blog was created by Erick Erickson, who also is an editor at the conservative site RedState.com, according to the Washington Post. (Erikson also is an occasional commentator for CNN). The conservative Tumblr blog has six pages of posts, compared to 77 on the site sympathizing with Occupy Wall Street. "I would love to hang out in in (sic) the park for a couple of weeks protesting the entitlement generation and radical egalitarianism, but I have a job to go to. Go figure," another post says. Tumblr has become the site of choice for people organizing the Occupy Wall Street movement, which started in New York and has spread to many other cities in the United States, writes Jesse Emspak for DiscoveryNews. "The site has been a force behind the Occupy Wall Street protests, growing the number of demonstrations from just dozens of people in late September to thousands," he says. At The Atlantic, Rebecca Rosen says the "We Are the 99 Percent" Tumblr page is the digital equivalent of bathroom stall graffiti -- "allowing you to bear something private and maybe find someone else carrying around the same weight." Along with the It Gets Better Project and PostSecret, the Tumblr account is part of an increasingly important medium called the "collaborative confessional," she says. "This is self-service history, with no curator and no narrator. Some of the stories call out for follow-up questions, but there is no one to ask them," Rosen writes. "The results are raw and rough, but demonstrate that, with or without a Terkel, the power of personal narrative, whether on the radio, in a book, on YouTube, or on a Tumblr, can cut through the noise and cynicism of punditry and give shape and texture to our national story."
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"We Are the 99 Percent" blog gains popularity on Tumblr .
People post messages about economic hardship on the site .
A rival, conservative site called "We are the 53%" launched .
That Tumblr page says it represents Americans who pay federal income taxes .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 10:58 PM on 22nd June 2011 . Jackass star Ryan Dunn was heavily intoxicated at the time of his deadly high speed crash, police revealed today. The star's blood alcohol level was 0.196, more than twice the legal limit in Pennsylvania, which is 0.08, West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll confirmed in a statement released today. Mr Carroll added that the toxicology report from the Chester County Coroner's Office indicated there were 'no drugs of abuse detected'. The 34-year-old had been drinking at a bar with friends in the hours before the crash, which also killed his passenger, Zachary Hartwell. He is said to have drank three beers and taken shots before getting behind the wheel shortly after 2am on Monday morning. Scroll down for video... Over the limit: Ryan Dunn, seen here in a . Twitter picture hours before the crash, was twice the legal limit at the . time of the crash . It has emerged that Dunn had notched up 23 driving convictions, including ten for speeding, before his accident, it was revealed yesterday. Dunn, whose Porsche sports car slammed into a tree at 130mph, had also been arrested for drink driving. His driving record was revealed as friends from the Jackass films mourned his death and visited the crash site in Pennsylvania. Bam Margera was in tears as he stood on the roadside where Dunn and his passenger Zachary Hartwell were killed in the early hours of the morning. Wreckage: The charred remains of the Porsche 911 GT3 is towed away as police survey the scene . Fresh details: A statements released by the West Goshen Township Police Department revealed details of the the toxicology report . Police say Dunn was travelling at around 132mph and 140mph in a 55mph zone when his Porsche 911 flew off the road in West Goshen and burst into flames. It is not known if the pair died from the crash impact or were unable to escape the vehicle as it exploded in a fireball. West Goshen Police Chief Michael Carroll, who was involved in the accident reconstruction, described it as the worst crash he had ever seen. Ghoulish: New footages shows 'treasure hunters' at the scene pilfering bits of the car wreckage . Cashing in: Some people told reporters they were planning to sell the mementos on eBay . Court records showed that Dunn received at least 23 driving citations in the last 13 years. Ten were for speeding and careless driving and three others were for driving on a suspended licence. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer 90 per cent of the citations ended in guilty pleas. Dunn was drinking with friends in the hours before the fatal crash. Meanwhile it has emerged that 'treasure hunters' are pilfering debris from the car that Dunn crashed. Heartbroken: . Bam Margera returns to the spot where his best friend and Jackass . co-star lost his life in a horrific car smash in the early hours of . Monday morning in Philadelphia . Devastation: Dunn's car span off the road, through a guardrail and into the woods . A video report by Philadelphia Fox News captured footage of people collecting ghoulish mementos along the stretch of road where the accident happened in the Pennsylvania state. Reporter Chris O'Donnell said that some had told him they were planning to sell the parts on eBay. 'You should have seen these people pilfering away,' an outraged O'Donnell reported back to the studio, while reporting from the scene. O'Donnell added that police had told him taking parts of wreckage from an investigation scene is illegal. Where the night started: Dunn and Hartwell were both at Barnaby's in West Chester hours before the accident . Bam Margera First Inteview After Tragedy: MyFoxPHILLY.com .
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Star had notched up 23 driving convictions - including ten for speeding - before accident .
Pilferers collect ghoulish mementos from crash scenes and 'plan to sell parts of wreckage on eBay'
Police say no drugs of abuse are suspected .
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While many clubs make a last-gasp dash to add to their squad on transfer deadline day - Aaron Ramsey won't be one of those on the move with his attention lying firmly at home. The Arsenal midfielder took to Facebook to wish his wife, Colleen Rowlands, a happy birthday on Monday. The childhood sweethearts tied the knot last summer, with the Wales international posting a selfie of the pair together on the social networking site. Aaron Ramsey posted a selfie of him and his wife, Colleen Rowlands, wishing her happy birthday on Monday . Aaron Ramsey played 77 minutes of the Gunners emphatic 5-0 thrashing against Aston Villa on Sunday . He also attached the message: 'Happy birthday to my lovely wife.' The 24-year-old has been in solid form for the Gunners so far this season, scoring five times in 21 appearances this term - despite missing the entire festive schedule with a hamstring injury. Ramsey is expected to feature as Arsene Wenger's side take on arch-rivals Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon as they seek a fourth successive Premier League win.
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Aaron Ramsey wished his wife happy birthday on Facebook on Monday .
The 24-year-old tied the knot with Colleen Rowlands last summer .
Midfielder set to feature for Gunners against Tottenham on Saturday .
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(CNN) -- Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp have ended their relationship after three years of dating, a report says. The two split "a couple of weeks ago," one of Mellencamp's friends told Closer Weekly, which was the first to report the news. The pair had kept their relationship relatively quiet. The couple began going out sometime in late 2010, according to People magazine, after Mellencamp separated from his wife of 18 years, Elaine Irwin Mellencamp. Ryan, 52, and Mellencamp, 62, kept time on both the East Coast and in Mellencamp's longtime home of Indiana. "It was the distance," a source told People of the split. "She lives in New York and he resides in Indiana. It was the long distance that ultimately was the cause." Mellencamp's friend had a different take. "I don't think he loved all the attention he got just from dating an actress," the friend told Closer Weekly. "I bet he'll stay away from dating another famous person for a while." Ryan, who hasn't appeared in a movie since 2009's "Serious Moonlight," is currently directing "Ithaca," a version of William Saroyan's novel "The Human Comedy." Mellencamp's new album, "Plain Spoken," is due for release next month.
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Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp had kept relationship quiet .
The two reportedly began dating in 2010 .
Reasons for split include distance, different lifestyles, reports say .
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By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 01:46 EST, 10 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:19 EST, 10 May 2012 . Self-styled peer Hugh Rodley was accused of targeting 600 pensioners in a £6million investment scam . A self-styled Lord and four other fraudsters targeted 600 pensioners from a series of 'sucker lists' in a £6million investment scam, a court heard. Bowler hat-wearing Hugh Rodley, 64, who bought his title and is not a real peer of the realm, tricked elderly people into backing various companies with the promise of 'rich rewards', a jury was told. He was joined in the scam by Julian Silver, 43, Phillip Dennett, 41, Adam Corbett, 31, and Sonny Willis, 28, prosecutors said. They allegedly spent the cash on a lavish lifestyle including a fleet of luxury cars, such as an Aston Martin, Range Rover S3 and a Lotus Elise. The men used high-pressure sales techniques to convince members of the public to invest in firms, claiming they would soon be floated on the stock market, Southwark Crown Court heard. They claimed the cash would be invested in 'exotic' and 'fail-safe' projects such as land development Europe and Asia and water projects, including one for 'desalination by reverse osmosis', it was said. One 87-year-old man was said to been persuaded to invest more than £800,000. But the firms were not floated and investors did not receive any returns, it is alleged. The defendants cherry-picked their targets using so-called 'sucker lists', detailing people who had already invested in some shares. Prosecutor Simon Farrell explained that one of the men in the dock, Lord Rodley bought his title and was 'not a peer of the realm'. He told the jury: 'This case concerns the dishonest extraction of several million pounds from payments of investors who were all promised rich rewards for their investments. 'The proceeds were laundered, converted and transferred to cash between 2004 and 2007. 'Individual members of the public began to receive unsolicited telephone calls from people purporting to be brokers and were convinced to invest substantial amounts of money, often through a hard sell, into various companies. 'They were all told they would quickly make handsome profits as their companies were due to be floated on the AIM - Alternative Investment Market.' It is alleged the gang spent the money on luxury cars including a Lotus Elise, like the one pictured . But none of the companies were in fact floated and none the investors received any profit - they simply lost their money, the court heard. 'This type of trick involving the dishonest selling of worthless shares is colloquially known as a boiler room fraud,' Mr Farrell said. 'There term is used to describe high pressure sales techniques often targeting elderly and vulnerable victims. 'A large number of victims in this case were subjected to high pressure sells and repeated calls until they agreed to invest. 'One 87-year-old gentleman, Mr Birch, unfortunately parted with £828,000 investing in most of the companies. 'Many of the elderly victims are not fools by any stretch of the imagination; they are all successful, responsible individuals who eventually gave in to sales patter.' The first person who tried to target Mr Birch gave up and passed it on to someone else, who later secured the deal, said Mr Farrell. Those who agreed to invest were almost always sent a contract setting out the amount of shares they agreed to, the price per share and a letter providing details of how their share made payment. 'Many of the elderly victims are not fools by any stretch of the imagination; they are all successful, responsible individuals who eventually gave in to sales patter.' Prosecutor Simon Farrell . But most people gained little or no contact afterwards, the court heard. Most people who complained received littly by way of response and those that did were 'fobbed off', said Mr Farrell. 'The companies appear to have done little if any real trading and none of the investors received any return at all. 'Substantial amounts of money from victims were passed through bank accounts either controlled by or for the benefit of the defendants. 'All of the defendants face charges of defrauding the victims out of their money. Other charges represent money laundering.' Mr Farell said at the heart of the scam was a 'floor book' - a list of hundreds of investors. The document was seized after being discovered on Rodley's computer when his property was searched following his arrest . Southwark Crown Court where Lord Hugh Rodley, 64, Julian Silver, 43, Phillip Dennett, 41, Adam Corbett, 31, and Sonny Willis, 28, are on trial . 'Many of the victims are not rich, they just have some savings,' Mr Farrell said. 'The floor book gives us a very interesting picture into how many victims we are talking about. 'But we have to approach it with some caution because the fraud was going on before the start date and after the end date, in fact to early 2007. 'Some people on here were tricked again to con more money out of them. There are also very many victims who are not on this book at all. 'The book has in excess of 1000 names, 600 of which handed over money for investment. They didn't all hand over money, but hundreds did. 'The floor book records around £6million worth of investment and marks as received a figure in the region of £3million. 'But what the bank accounts show is what was actually received that can in fact be traced back to the floor book - around £2.7million. 'The defendants used so-called sucker lists, detailing people with small shareholdings, and started phoning people up offering shares in exotic land development buildings in Europe and Asia and water desalination projects. 'One project was desalination by reverse osmosis.' Mr Farrell described the schemes as 'push button investments', adding: 'Not only was this a wonderful investment, but it's a really good idea and it's going to save the planet. 'People were told it was impossible for it to fail.' Rodley, of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, Dennett, of Warrington, Cheshire, Willis, of Billericay, Essex, Silver, of Ashford, Kent, and Corbett, of Camberley, Surrey, all deny conspiracy to defraud. They are alleged to have committed the offence with Bernard Davies, who died having committed suicide in 2009. They are accused of defrauding customers through companies including World Aqua Tech PLC, ART IT PLC, Mediatel PLC, BMHC PLC, European Land Development Agency PLC, and Eurowaste Recycling PLC, between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2007. Rodley, Willis and Corbett also deny defrauding customers through Northface Trading Ltd, Datawave Systems Inc and Novopal Limited from January 1, 2005 to December 3, 2005. Rodley, Dennett and Silver deny fraudulent trading in relation to World Aqua Tech Limited between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. Silver and Dennett deny fraudulent trading in relation to ART IT Limited between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2007. All five defendants deny converting and transferring the proceeds of the fraud between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. They each separately face a single charge of converting and transferring criminal property on the same dates. The trial, which is expected to last nine weeks, continues.
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Hugh Rodley, 64, who bought his title, 'tricked elderly people into investing with the promise of rich rewards'
One 87-year-old man 'conned out of £800,000 savings'
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By . Cindy Tran for Daily Mail Australia . Police have issued a new drug warning after a deadly batch of pills were seized and believed to have caused a number of deaths in Australia and overseas. The light blue tablets are stamped with a Batman logo and sold as a form of ecstasy to drug users. The pills were believed to be responsible for a number of bad reactions at a music festival in the Hawkesbury area of Sydney last weekend. In a statement issued on Friday, police said the tablets contained dangerous levels of 25c-NBOMe, which is an extremely effective psychoactive substance. Police have issued a new drug warning after a deadly batch of pills were seized and believed to have caused a number of deaths in Australia and overseas . The Commander of the Drug Squad, Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke said there had been cases in Australia and overseas where people affected by the NBOMe class of drug had died. 'We are aware of the Blue Batman pills and, in particular, a number of bad reactions users had after taking them at an event in the Hawkesbury last weekend,' Detective Superintendent Cook said. 'In fact, similar pills recently seized by police contained the drug 25c-NBOMe, one of the so called new psychoactive substances recently outlawed. A closely related substance was in fact involved in the death of a young man in Sydney last year.' Detective Superintendent Cooke reminded people that they are putting their lives at risk every time they consume illicit drugs. 'Illicit drugs have been outlawed for a reason – they are very dangerous,' Detective Superintendent Cooke said. 'The reality is there is no quality control in the production of illicit drugs. You just do not know what you are taking. 'Illicit drugs are produced in filthy backyard laboratories by criminals with absolutely no interest other than making money. They will do whatever it takes to ensure a fatter profit margin can be achieved. 'That includes producing drugs and misrepresenting their true nature, cutting drugs with caffeine, washing powder, whatever, in a bid to get a better return on their sale. 'The health and wellbeing of their customer-base is simply not a priority. 'Anyone who is considering experimenting with illicit or synthetic drugs should stop to consider the possible consequences and not do it. It’s a gamble with your life that’s just not worth taking.'
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The light blue tablets are stamped with a Batman logo and sold as a form of ecstasy to drug users .
The pills were believed to be responsible for a number of bad reactions at a music festival in Sydney last weekend .
A closely related substance was in fact involved in the death of a young man in Sydney last year .
Detective Superintendent Cooke reminded people that they are putting their lives at risk every time they consume illicit drugs .
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Ottawa (CNN) -- Britain's Prince William and his wife will join thousands of people Friday to mark Canada Day during their first official foreign trip as a married couple. Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrived in Ottawa on Thursday aboard a Royal Canadian Air Force jet . "Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada. Instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, we love this country. We have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time," William said. They attended a series of events, including laying a wreath at the National War Memorial to recognize Canada's servicemen and women. On Thursday evening, they met with young Canadians at a barbecue. Prince William has said it is a "great privilege" to be invited to Canada for their first trip as a married couple. The itinerary for the nine-day tour features a mix of official events with less formal activities, including a cooking workshop in Montreal and the Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo and festival. On Friday, the couple will mark Canada Day by attending a citizenship ceremony and joining thousands of people for a show featuring music and military displays. Friday would have been the 50th birthday of Prince William's mother, Princess Diana, who visited Canada with Prince Charles in 1983. Widespread support for the monarchy makes Canada, which is part of the Commonwealth -- a loose association of nations that used to be part of the British Empire -- a pretty safe bet for a debut royal tour, correspondents say. However, anti-monarchy protesters are expected to demonstrate Sunday at Quebec City Hall. This is not the first trip to Canada for Prince William, who was mobbed by screaming girls when he visited in 1998. "I have wonderful memories from my last times in Canada and as such we consider it a great privilege to have been invited to Canada for our first joint tour," he said. The itinerary also includes stops in Prince Edward Island -- where Prince William will take part in a coast guard rescue exercise -- the Northwest Territories and Alberta. After they wrap up their Canadian tour, the prince and duchess will head to California for three days. CNN's Max Foster contributed to this report.
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Prince William and Catherine arrive in Ottawa, the first stop on their tour .
It is the couple's first official trip since their wedding in April .
Prince William says it is a "great privilege" to be invited to Canada .
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A strip club DJ who performs under the name DJ Awesome allegedly hired his best friend to kill his own wife before embarking on a social media grieving campaign for her. Andre Jason Pugh, 34, who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested Saturday and charged with murdering his wife, Tiffany, who was reportedly trying to divorce him. He was booked into jail alongside his best friend Adrian Harley, whom police say he hired to break into their home and kill his wife with a gun on November 23. 'Hired a hitman': Andre Pugh, left, also known as DJ Awesome, allegedly hired his best friend Adrian Harley, right, to kill his wife Tiffany Pugh . Murdered: Tiffany Pugh was shot dead at her Atlanta home on November 23. Pugh called 911 when he found her, saying an intruder did it, but officers were suspicious of his story . Investigators say Pugh called 911 after coming home and finding his slain wife, telling operators that somebody must have broken in, according to Fox 5 News. But officers did not believe his story and believe that he hired Harley, with whom he works at Onyx Atlanta, a strip club, to stage the break in and kill his wife. The exact circumstances leading up to the killing remain unclear. According to one of the DJ's posts, the couple had been together 11 years and have a son and a daughter. Charges: Pugh and Harley, shown left and right respectively in police mugshots, were charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit burglary . Strip club performer: Pugh, pictured above in a promotional poster, works at Onyx Atlanta, a strip club . Home: Pugh called 911 on November 23 saying he had found his wife shot dead at their home, shown above . On the job: Pugh, shown above behind the turntables, posted social media updates talking about how he missed his wife. Days later he was arrested for her murder . On the day Tiffany Pugh was killed, Pugh posted to his Facebook page saying: 'Why did they take my wife?! My kids [sic] mom why?! Where did i go wrong?!' Several days later he uploaded a message to his dead wife's Facebook profile, saying: 'I'm trying my best not to cry but seeing you in a state where I'm not used to it hurting me... I miss you love you and want you back so much.' A promotional DJ Awesome website says Pugh was born in The Bronx, New York City, and got his first set of turntables aged 13. He moved to Atlanta in the early 2000s and claims to have hosted numerous radio shows before starting at Onyx, a strip club on the outskirts of the city. Pugh and Harley have both been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit burglary, and murder. They are due in court Monday. Members of Pugh's family told Fox 5 that they believe the allegations against him are false. 'Where did I go wrong?!': Pugh, who changed his Facebook profile picture to an image of him with his wife, left, after her death, later posted messages to her profile saying he missed her . Work: Pugh played music as Onyx Atlanta, a strip club on the outskirts of the town .
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Andre Pugh, 34, a DJ at a strip club in Atlanta, reportedly plotted death .
Police say he paid Adrian Harley to break into their home and shoot wife .
Pugh called 911 to report Tiffany Pugh dead, but police doubt his account .
In days after her murder he posted messages of grief on social media .
Pugh and Harley were arrested and charged with murder Saturday .
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Neymar has been cleared to play for Barcelona by the team's doctors after recovering from a broken vertebra suffered during the World Cup. The forward is now available for selection and could feature in a friendly against Mexican club Leon at the Nou Camp on Monday. The 22-year-old hurt his back in a collision with defender Juan Camillo Zuniga during Brazil's 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia. Ready for action: Neymar has been cleared to play after breaking a vertebra during the World Cup . Serious: Neymar screams in pain after suffering the injury during Brazil's quart-final win against Colombia . Deadly duo: Neymar trains with fellow forward Lionel Messi (right) ahead of a friendly with Mexican side Leon . That injury ruled him out of the semi-final against Germany, which Brazil lost 7-1 to the eventual champions. Luis Suarez is set to make his debut for Barcelona against Leon after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the striker could train and take part in friendlies despite his four month ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. Barca had been hoping the Uruguayan's ban would be reduced and that he could return to competitive action before October 26. Culprit: Colombia defender Camillo Zuniga (right), pictured in training with Napoli, caused Neymar's injury . Debut: Summer signing Luis Suarez is set to play for Barcelona for the first time against Leon on Monday . VIDEO Suarez already fits in to style - Enrique .
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Neymar was injured in Brazil's World Cup quarter-final against Colombia .
He has now been cleared to play again after returning to training with Barca .
The Brazilian forward could play some part in a friendly with Leon .
Luis Suarez is set to make his debut in the same match after being granted the right to train and appear in friendly matches .
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A Florida man has earned his place in the shoplifting hall of fame after he successfully stole a chainsaw from a hardware store by sticking the power tool down his pants. Anthony Ballard, of Port Lucie, Florida, walked into Treasure Coast Lawn Equipment, asked the cashier if he had change for a dollar, and then jammed a chainsaw down his drawers. The device was off at the time. Scroll down for video . Snagged: Anthony Ballard (above) was arrested after he got caught shoplifting a chainsaw by sticking the device down his pants and walking out of the store . Step 1: Grab the chainsaw while no one is looking . Step 2: Jam the chainsaw down the front of your pants . Step 3: Cover it up with your shirt and head for the door . Even more impressive, Ballard then hopped a bike and sped off. Sadly for Ballard, workers did notice the man with a $600 piece of semi-heavy machinery protruding from his slacks trying to make his way out of the store, and chased after him. But Ballard, a man who is chock-full of great ideas, had one more trick up his sleeve and tossed the chainsaw into a wooded area before cycling off. He then came back about 40 minutes later according to the TC Palm to retrieve his stolen merchandise. Roomy pants: Ballard is a man who clearly enjoys a loose and comfortable pair of pants . Hold up now: An employee gets up almost immediately as Ballard makes his way to the exit and then his getaway bicycle . Unfortunately for Ballard, 28, employees knew the chainsaw had been tossed in the wooded area, and when they saw Ballard snooping around for it, they called the authorities. Ballard was arrested and has now been charged with grand theft. According to the police report, Ballard says he was actually getting the chainsaw to return it to the store, having had a change of heart about stealing the pricey power tool. He did not say if he planned on carrying it back in or sticking it down his pants again.
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Anthony Ballard of Port Lucie, Florida, stole a chainsaw by sticking the power tool down his pants .
Ballard then left the store and got on a bicycle to ride away .
Employees did notice Ballard and gave chase, causing him to ditch the $600 piece of equipment in a wooded area .
He was arrested when he returned to the area to find the chainsaw just 40 minutes later .
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The Senate on Monday approved President Barack Obama's nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to serve as U.S. surgeon general, despite opposition from Republicans and some Democrats over his support for gun control. Murthy, 37, a physician at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and instructor at Harvard Medical School, won confirmation on a vote of 51-43. He's a co-founder of Doctors for America – originally called Doctors for Obama – a group that has pushed for affordable health care and supports Obama's health care law. Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso said most of Murthy's career has been spent as an activist focused on gun control and other political issues, rather than on treating patients. 'Americans don't want a surgeon general who might use this position of trust to promote his own personal campaign against the Second Amendment of the Constitution,' Barrasso said. Supporters said Murthy is well-qualified and noted his promise not to use the position as a bully pulpit for gun control. Scroll down for video . CONFIRMED: Dr. Vivek Murthy is a political partisan whose gun-control views have Second Amendment defenders worried . LIBERAL'S LIBERAL: Murthy chummed up with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of America's left-most politicians, during his February confirmation hearing . Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said Murthy has been 'pilloried and excoriated' by the National Rifle Association and its supporters for his backing of stricter gun laws, including an assault weapons ban, and past statements that gun violence is a public health issue. Murthy has made clear he is not 'aspiring to be the leading doctor in America to engage in a political debate, but rather to engage in public health debates about obesity and tobacco and things that make a dramatic difference to the lives of so many people who live in this country,' Durbin said. Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the NRA had 'spun a specious smokescreen' to block Murthy 'simply because he stated the obvious fact that gun violence is a public health issue.' The vote to confirm Murthy came two years after a school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Murthy expressed support for gun control in a letter to Congress after the shooting, drawing opposition from the NRA and holding up his confirmation vote. 'America's next surgeon general should not be a political operative whose professional inexperience has been a source of bipartisan concern,' said NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. Murthy's nomination was endorsed by more than 100 health organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, a staunch supporter of gun rights, did not mention guns in a statement opposing Murthy but said he does not believe it's appropriate for America's top doctor to participate in political activism. While he does not question Murthy's medical qualifications, Manchin said he wonders whether the public will believe that Murthy 'can separate his political beliefs from his public health views.' The vote to confirm Murthy came more than a year after Obama nominated him. The surgeon general doesn't set policy but is an advocate for the people's health. Before founding Doctors for America, Murthy created a nonprofit that focused on HIV/AIDS education in India and the U.S. And he co-founded a technology company, TrialNetworks, that helps drug developers collaborate on clinical trials. At a Senate hearing in February, Murthy said he wouldn't use the position to push gun control. He said his priorities include fighting obesity and helping communities promote healthier living. DOCTORS FOR OBAMA: Murthy (left) came to Capitol Hill in 2009 to lobby lawmakers to pass the Obamacare law, bringing xray-lightboxes with gimmick messages to reach members of Congress . The son of immigrants from India, Murthy told senators he was inspired to become a doctor while helping out on weekends at his father's family medicine clinic in Miami. Dr. David Satcher, a former surgeon general, said Murthy's youth and technological and business expertise would serve him well. 'We need a surgeon general now who is quite visible when it comes to dealing directly with the American people about their role of improving their health and the health of their communities,' Satcher said. Visibility is tough for surgeons general. The only one who became a household name was the bow-tied Dr. C. Everett Koop, who during the Reagan administration brought frank talk about AIDS to a reluctant nation and crusaded against smoking. The White House was quick to signal its enthusiasm for Murthy, issuing a statement from the president that said he would 'bring his lifetime of experience promoting public health to bear on priorities ranging from stopping new diseases to helping our kids grow up healthy and strong. Vivek will also help us build on the progress we've made combatting (sic) Ebola, both in our country and at its source.' Obama's statement did not mention the contentious Second Amendment issue.
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Vivek Murthy attracted opposition from gun-rights advocates because of his belief that doctors should ask patients about guns in the home .
He founded Doctors for Obama, a campaign group that supported the Obamacare law .
51-37 vote barely cleared the bar just days before the GOP takes control of the Senate and will run all its committees .
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A Colorado plane crash last near Denver May was likely caused by the pilot and passenger taking selfies on board. The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) report published yesterday on the crash that killed two people says that a GoPro camera was found among the wreckage. The plane was fully operational. Video footage from the camera showed the pilot Amritpal Singh and a passenger, who hasn't been publicly identified, taking selfies at dangerously low altitudes. Scroll down for video . Crash: A Cessna 150 crashed last May killing the pilot Amritpal Singh and his passenger on board . Took selfies: Video footage from the camera found in the wreckage showed the pilot Amritpal Singh (pictured left and right) and one passenger taking selfies at low altitudes . CBS reports that a Cessna 150 crashed in a field two miles from Front Range Airport while the plane was doing night-time takes offs and landings. His flight took off at around 12:30 a.m. on May 31 and family members reported him missing a few hours later at 3:45 a.m. The wreckage was discovered at 7 a.m. that morning. Neither Singh nor the passenger survived the crash. The NTSB said the 29-year-old pilot who also owned the plane did not meet the requirements for night flights with passengers. 'Pilot and passengers were taking self-photographs with their cell phones’ the NTSB report states. The report also said that the passengers were using the camera's flash function at night which may have distracted the pilot. One of the pilot's professors at Metro State University, Jeff Price, said that Singh loved to fly but that he shouldn't have been taking photographs. Price speculated the flash function on the camera may have startled him while flying. Price said he once got distracted while flying his own plane when someone took a flash picture and he thought it was lightning. 'A post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the wreckage distribution, which was consistent with a high-speed impact, and the degraded visual reference conditions, it is likely that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane,' said the report. GoPro: The plane showed no signs of functional abnormalities and a GoPro (which may have resembled this one) found on board showed that the pilot and passenger were taking selfies while in flight .
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The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) report on the crash that killed two people says that a GoPro camera was found among the wreckage .
Video footage from the camera showed the pilot Amritpal Singh and one passenger taking selfies at low altitudes .
A Cessna 150 crashed in a field two miles from Front Range Airport while the plane was doing night-time takes offs and landings .
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By . Steph Cockroft . They've long been known as the most cunning animal around - and it seems this urban fox is happily living up to its reputation. A fox with a foot fetish from Horsforth, West Yorkshire has been swiping pairs of shoes from unsuspecting residents - and dropping them off as gifts to a neighbour's garden. Elaine Hewitt and her husband William keep waking up to different pairs of shoes - including designer trainers, work boots and even smart leather shoes - which have been dropped off overnight by the animal. Elaine Hewitt, 40, from Horsforth, West Yorkshire, pictured with . her daughter Felicity, set up a stall to return shoes to her neighbours because an urban fox keeps delivering pairs of footwear to the family's garden . It all began when the fox delivered a pair of Y-fronts to the family - and soon the fox had brought them nearly 40 pairs of shoes. The family have now become so inundated with random pairs of shoes that they set up a shoe stall outside their home, in a bid to return the shoes to their rightful owners. The family believe this mother fox is responsible for the shoes deliveries to their home . Mrs Hewitt, 40, said: 'We started putting them in the garage and when we had two full carrier bags, I decided enough was enough. 'Some were quite good quality and new. There were brands like Vans and Firetrap. We got hiking boots and even a man’s workboots.' Mrs Hewitt said the mother fox has stolen around 30 to 40 shoes from her neighbour's doorsteps and porches. She said: 'It started a few months ago when a pair of Y-Fronts appeared on the lawn in the back garden. 'I . looked out the window and saw what I thought was a pair of underpants, . and it was. It was quite alarming really, but then the next day there . was a shoe left in the same place. 'I realised there was an animal bringing them and then on a daily basis we got a shoe delivered.' The shoes - which are never damaged and include expensive brands - are left overnight by a mother fox with a den nearby. Mrs Hewitt said: 'We see the fox around a lot. She has five cubs and it’s no doubt it’s her. There will be a stash of shoes in her den. 'She gets them from people’s houses around here. We see a lot of garden shoes and kids shoes that might have been left outside. 'I think she might bring them back as toys for her cubs. She is very tame and she gets very close to us.' Despite advertising the miscellaneous shoes to their neighbours, Mr and Mrs Hewitt still have a large pile of unclaimed footwear. They also have a pair of baseball gloves and the item of underwear left by the fox. She said: 'We . have had a few pairs but they are mainly odd shoes. A lot of people . have claimed a shoe which is very satisfying after my daughter went . around with some flyers asking if anyone had lost one. 'There’s . a little girl on our avenue and she came to collect a shoe. She was . really happy because it was one of her new red Vans and she thought she . had lost it. Mrs Hewitt said the fox has brought the family up to 40 pairs of shoes from her neigbours' homes to their garden - . which include designer trainers, work boots and even smart leather . shoes . 'Cars pull up all the time to have a look. Someone thought I was having a clear out and that they were my shoes. 'I was mortified in case anyone thought they were my shoes in case they recognised them as their own.' As the drop-offs remain as frequent as ever, Mrs Hewitt believes the fox may only stop being so generous when her cubs have left the den. After finding so many pairs, the family set up the shoe stall to return the footwear to the rightful owners. Although many people have come to claim the shoes, the family still have a large collection leftover . She said: 'The shoes are never damaged so I think it’s something to do with her being a mother. 'She’s just carrying them as if they were a cub so she might stop when they are older. 'You could wear the shoes again except for when they’ve been left outside and got wet. A lot are leather and they’re never chewed. 'It used to be really exciting looking out the window to see if a shoe had been left - just like looking out to see if it’s snowed at Christmas. But now it’s just another shoe. 'It’s strange because we haven’t had any stolen. She just brings other people’s to us.' Urban Wildlife expert John Bryant said: 'A fox family will tend to consider up to 500 homes and garden as its territory and will constantly patrol this area looking for items to take home. 'It used to be really exciting looking . out the window to see if a shoe had been left - just like looking out to . see if it’s snowed at Christmas. But now it’s just another shoe.' Elaine Hewitt . 'As the fox’s den is close to this family’s home, it will consider the garden an extension of its own home and part of its territory. 'Shoes are a particularly common item for foxes, especially trainers. Teenagers’ trainers left outside to air are very easy for them to grab and make off with. 'The fox will take the shoes somewhere they know they won’t be bothered and examine them for anything edible. If they find no use for them they will either give them to their cubs to play with or abandon them - in this case in this family’s garden. 'At this time of year when the cubs are three months old and turning into teenagers, it’s as well not the leave anything out at night.' Some of the family's neighbours have also had mysterious pairs of shoes cropping up in their garden. Chris Seller, 76, who is married to Christine, said: 'We have received several shoes, left for us by foxes. I’d say we’ve had about three or four, and they’re always old garden shoes. The sit of the garden where the fox leaves shoes for the Hewitt family . 'I can’t remember what I did with the first few but then when I heard about Elaine’s shoe rack, I took one of them down and actually found its matching pair. 'It wasn’t until I spoke to Elaine that I realised we weren’t the only ones and I was amazed to hear how many they’ve been left.' Michael Thompson, another neighbour, 53, said: 'We do see a fox around in the garden, especially at night. 'Not long ago, my son was actually playing with his electric remote-controlled car in the street outside when the fox actually sat and watched him for a while. 'It’s likely to be the same one as it didn’t seem phased to be around people.' And Dr Trevor Fox and his family regularly receive visits from the urban wildlife. He said: 'The foxes love coming to visit the Fox’s. Just last night we saw the vixen with four of her cubs walking across the garden. 'They’ve never brought us any shoes however, they just seem to like wandering around here. We back on to the Hewitts’ house so it’s easy for them to access. 'It’s becoming quite a talking point around here though, I can’t believe how many people have got to know the foxes, and how much bother they’re causing stealing people’s shoes.'
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Elaine Hewitt, 40, has received around 40 pairs of shoes from an urban fox .
The fox takes the shoes from neighbours' homes in Horsforth, West Yorks .
Mrs Hewitt has set up a shoe stall to return the footwear to the owners .
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This is the terrifying moment a female lion tamer was mauled by one of her animals in a circus in Egypt - ten years after her husband was killed performing the same act. Faten El-Helw is seen prancing around the ring and waving to her adoring fans when the big cat suddenly leaps from its stool and lunges at her. As the panicked audience jump to their feet screaming, the lion tamer is pinned to the ground and bitten in the shoulder. Scroll down for video . Floored: Dramatic footage shows the moment a lion lunges at circus performer Faten El-Helw in Egypt . Footage of the incident, which took place in the Egyptian city of Tanta, was uploaded to YouTube and has been watched more than 50,000 times in three days. When the video begins, the lion that is about to launch the attack can be seen sitting on a stool on the left-hand side of the shot - with two more of the big cats also in the ring. In the blink of an eye, the animal lunges towards the circus owner - dramatically flooring her. Amazingly, Ms El-Helw was able to get up and was led to safety while another circus worker coaxed the lions back into their cages. Waves to audience: The lion tamer prances around the ring during the routine act. To the left of the picture, the lion that attacks her is sat on a stool . She suffered a hairline fracture to her pelvis and was rushed to hospital, where after three days she is in a stable condition, Ahram Online reports. The El-Helw family is renowned in Egypt for their lion-taming, with a history of circus performing dating back to the 19th century. Ms El-Helw's late husband Ibrahim died from his injuries after being attacked by a lion in 2004. The troupe at their latest circus, the Egyptian-European Circus, has been performing to audiences all over Egypt since the mid-1990s. Lion dismounts: The animal suddenly leaps from its position and prepares to pounce on an oblivious Ms El-Helw - whose husband was killed by a lion ten years ago in a similar act . Lucky to be alive: The lion bit the circus performer on the shoulder and she also suffered a broken pelvis . Over the years, there have been at least five reported incidents of family members being attacked by their own lions. Family patriarch Mohamed El-Helw also died at Egypt’s National Circus in the 1980s after being mauled when he tried to break up a fight between two of the animals during mating season. On his deathbed, he famously asked that the lion be spared - but the animal refused to eat any food following the clash and eventually died of starvation.
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Circus owner seen prancing around ring and waving to audience in Tanta .
Suddenly one of the lions in act lunges towards her, pinning her to ground .
Performer was bitten by animal and also suffered hairline fracture to pelvis .
Two members of the circus family have been killed by lions since the 1980s .
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(CNN)Many have been asking whether Tuesday's horrific execution-style killing of three Muslim students in North Carolina was due to a dispute over a parking spot. Let's be real. People don't die over parking spots. Craig Stephen Hicks was arrested on Tuesday over the deaths of Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, Yusor Mohammad, 21, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19. Chapel Hill police have said that an ongoing dispute over a parking place may have been a contributing factor. But while that may be true, the evidence suggests that Hicks had an underlying animosity towards the victims because of their beliefs. On his Facebook page, Hicks reportedly showed his support for "anti-theism," the active opposition of religious belief. As Reza Aslan explained in a recent essay, anti-theists often view "religion as an insidious force that must be rooted from society -- forcibly if necessary." The lead photo on Hicks' page talked about how he wanted "religion to go away," and in a 2012 post, he quoted heavily from biologist and so-called "New Atheist" Richard Dawkins. Mohammad Abu-Salha, the father of two of the victims, said his daughter -- who wore the Muslim headscarf and lived next door to Hicks -- had reportedly told her family a week earlier "that she had a hateful neighbor." The News and Observer reported that he also said that in the past, she had told her family that Hicks picked on her and her husband and would talk to them while carrying his gun in his belt, making them feel extremely uncomfortable. " 'Honest to God,' she said, 'He hates us for what we are and how we look," he recalled. Hicks' postings on social media suggest that he is not only anti-religion, but like many prominent New Atheists, likely has a particular contempt for Islam. Although Dawkins condemned the murders on Twitter, it is hard not to recall the comments he and other New Atheists like Sam Harris and Bill Maher have made about Islam in the past. Dawkins himself said he considers this religion of some 1.6 billion people "as one of the great evils in the world." For his part, Hicks allegedly wrote, "When it comes to insults, your religion started this, not me. If your religion kept its big mouth shut, so would I." Following the shootings, the attorney of Hicks' wife said that her husband "had a problem with many of his neighbors," and that the "victims were at the wrong time and the wrong place." But when we consider Hicks' own comments and postings on social media in the context of much of the anti-Muslim rhetoric we see in the media and elsewhere, it is hard to see Tuesday's tragedy as a genuinely random incident. Anti-Muslim hate crimes are five times more common today than they were before 9/11. And just a couple weeks ago, a Texas state senator effectively questioned the loyalties of Muslim-Americans, reportedly posting on her Facebook page that she had left instructions with her office that Muslim visitors "publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws." Neighbors have said that Hicks was prone to outbursts and that he made everyone feel unsafe, Muslim or otherwise. But that in and of itself doesn't make Hicks an equal opportunist when it comes to his choice of alleged victims. Being mentally unstable or a generally angry person and being motivated by religious hate are not mutually exclusive. In a move familiar to many Muslim organizations that are called upon to denounce the actions of a violent co-religionist, the American Atheists organization issued a statement condemning the murders of the three Muslim students. But we shouldn't expect them or any organization to apologize for the murderous actions of an individual. If Hicks is found guilty, there is no doubt that he alone should bear the responsibility for his actions and be punished accordingly. Even if he self-identifies as atheist, atheists and atheism are not to blame for his heinous actions. Still, although the killings of these three young Muslims should not be attributed to a lack of belief in God, they were allegedly committed by a man with an active contempt for belief in God. Regardless of whether law enforcement deems these killings officially a hate crime, we as a society need to acknowledge that violent extremists come in all creeds -- and they can be inspired and their anger nourished by any religion, or animosity towards one. With this in mind, the mainstream majority -- hailing from whatever faith or ideology -- needs to stand united against these kinds of acts of violence, regardless of the source. In practical terms, this means going beyond condemnation, by following the examples of people like Deah, Yusor, and Razan who lived out their faith values through service to others. We should also follow the example of organizations like Found Beyond Belief, which launched an atheist and humanist community drive to honor the victims. Ultimately, our nation's diversity is its strength. As citizens, we must do whatever we can to protect it.
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Craig Stephen Hicks is being held over killing of three Muslims .
Zeba Khan: We need to stand united against these kinds of acts of violence .
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By . Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent . Last updated at 12:57 PM on 11th November 2011 . Prince William will undertake a six-week tour of duty in the Falkland Islands early next year, the 30th anniversary of the conflict. The future king, an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, will fly to the South Atlantic in February for the posting without his new wife. The timing of William’s deployment is hugely sensitive and is certain to antagonise the Argentinan government, which continues to assert a territorial claim to the islands despite defeat at the hands of British forces in 1982. Keen to go: Prince William at the controls of a Sea King helicopter, which he will be co-piloting on a six-week tour of the Falklands early next year . Talked at length: The Prince and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, pictured on a visit to a UNICEF centre in Copenhagen on November 2, will be apart for nearly two months. But she is said to be very supportive . Two years ago Argentina's foreign . minister, Jorge Taina, condemned suggestions the prince would be posted, . saying: ‘This only serves to once again highlight Britain's ongoing . military presence in land and sea areas that are part of the Argentine . Republic's national territories.’ William, referred to in the RAF as Flight Lieutenant Wales, has always made clear, however, he is keen to go. According to sources, the prince does not want to be singled out for any special treatment and the posting will, significantly, count towards his bid for promotion to captain. He is currently working as a Sea King co-pilot. He has also discussed the issue with his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, as it will be the longest they have ever been apart. Kate, though, considers herself ‘very much a military wife’ and is said to have been ‘overwhelmingly supportive’ of his decision. For his part the prince is said to be looking forward to the posting. ‘He just wants to get on with his job,’ a source said. The Ministry of Defence was at pains to stress last night that this was very much a ‘routine deployment’ - although it will, conveniently, allow the prince to be back in the country well before the actual anniversary of Argentina’s invasion, on April 2, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June. A spokesman further insisted that the decision to send the prince, who will be one of a crew of four sent from RAF Valley on Anglesey, North Wales, was one taken solely by his RAF chain of command. In a statement the department said: ‘The RAF can confirm that Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) William Wales, Search and Rescue Co-pilot, 22 Squadron, RAF Valley will complete a routine deployment to the Falkland Islands as part of a crew of four RAF personnel during the period February – March 2012. ‘This deployment forms part of a normal squadron crew rotation and will form part of Flt Lt Wales’ training and career progression as a Search and Rescue pilot within the RAF.’ Victory: British soldiers fly the Union flag over port Howard, West Falkland, on June 16, 1982. Simultaneously, another flies in the islands' capital Port Stanley, signifying the end of the Falklands conflict . In the family: Prince Andrew grins broadly at Port Stanley in his capacity as a Sea King pilot during the conflict. He opened RAF Mount Pleasant, where Prince William will be based, in 1985 . Defeat: Argentine prisoners of war amassed in Port Stanley after their surrender to the British Falkland Islands Task Force. Prince Willliam will be deployed there on the 30th anniversary of the war . They also stressed that the prince would not be carrying out any royal duties while he was there. The spokesman added: ‘Flt Lt Wales is one of 38,000 RAF personnel, all of whom are regularly and routinely deployed abroad. It is part of the job A six week deployment to the Falklands is conventional for such pilots at this stage of their career.’ The Foreign and Commonwealth Office insisted it was simply co-incidence that the prince was being deployed during the 30th anniversary of the war. ‘It is a routine deployment and just so happens to fall in the 30th anniversary. It was not planned in any way. Obviously we value our relationship with Argentina and these things are taken into consideration but it is simply that the deployment rotation has fallen in this way,’ a spokesman said. Two RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) crews are based in the Falklands at any one time and pilots routinely deploy on a rolling basis as part of their training and career development. Provocative: The Prince's deployment may be seen as antagonistic, but David Cameron says sovereignty of the islands is non-negotiable . A SAR crew consists of two pilots, a winch/radar operator and a winchman. The team provides 24-hour cover and support for British forces in the region as well as providing an extra rescue and life-saving facility for islanders and shipping in the area. William will travel to the British sovereignty 8,000 miles away in early February – just after his wife’s 30th birthday – and return to the UK in March. RAF Mount Pleasant, where he will be based, was opened in 1985 by the Duke of York, who was famously a Sea King pilot in the 1982 war. Andrew was based on Invincible flying on missions that included anti-submarine warfare and casualty evacuation. He witnessed the Argentinian attack on the civilian container ship, SS ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ and was one of the first to take off survivors. Mount Pleasant, 30 miles south west of the islands' capital, Port Stanley, is home to up to 2,000 British military personnel. Conditions are said to be ‘bleak’ and the base has been dubbed ‘the death star’ due to its confusing layout. The prince will have to take his own toilet roll and be prepared for plagues of mice and mites in his living quarters. His accommodation will be furnished with a simple single bed and shared bathroom facilities. William will be advised to take plenty of warm clothing as the islands can experience ‘all four seasons in just one day’ and shoes in good repair because there are no cobblers. The base does have a range of sporting activities to alleviate boredom, but the golf course in Port Stanley has no greens and players need to negotiate a mine field. Mail normally arrives twice a week and the Duchess will have to write ‘blueys’, like other forces’ wives.
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Prince will fly out in January after spending Christmas with the Duchess of Cambridge .
Longest time newlyweds would have been apart .
Kate said to be very supportive of deployment .
William will co-pilot Sea King helicopter on rescue missions .
Conditions on island 'bleak' but military base does have sporting facilities .
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(CNN) -- Two people were executed Tuesday in China for their part in a tainted milk scandal that killed at least six babies and sickened about 300,000 others, state-run media reported. Zhang Yujun was executed for endangering public safety and Geng Jinping was executed for producing and selling toxic food, the Xinhua news agency said. The tainted formula came to light in September 2008, after several babies fell ill from drinking formula that contained melamine. Melamine is commonly used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. Some Chinese dairy plants added the chemical to milk products so they would appear to have a higher protein level. The tainted milk caused kidney stones and urinary tract problems in hundreds of thousands of children. The 22 Chinese dairy producers that made the formula have offered compensation to victims' families. In all, 21 people were tried and sentenced in January for their roles in the scandal, Xinhua reported. Among them, Zhang and Geng were sentenced to death, and most others received at least 15 years in prison.
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Zhang Yujun and Geng Jinping executed for their roles in toxic milk scandal .
In all, 21 people were tried and sentenced in January for their roles in the scandal .
Tainted milk killed at least six babies and sickened about 300,000 others .
Drinking formula held melamine, a toxin dairy plants used to make protein levels appear higher .
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By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 03:24 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:03 EST, 1 February 2013 . A man is suing his twin sister over claims she manipulated their mother into cheating him out of his inheritance. Robert Simon has accused his sister Hilary Woolley of turning against him out of envy resulting from her own unhappiness. Mr Simon blames her for telling their dying brother to write to their mother and persuade her to alter her will to exclude Mr Simon from his fair share in her £2million estate. The twins' mother, Constance Simon, drew up a will in 1996 which left Robert her flat in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, as well as her shares in the family business, dividing the rest of the estate between all her children. At war: Robert Simon, left, is suing his twin sister Hilary Woolley, right, over their mother's £2million estate . But in 2005, she wrote another version which split the entire inheritance between Robert, Hilary and their brother Jonathan, with a trust being set up for the family of their late brother David. The document was drawn up and signed at Constance's 88th birthday party, which Robert did not attend. He claims that the new will is unfair because it blocks him from getting an effective controlling share in the family's plastic company, R.W. Simon Ltd, which he has run for more than three decades. The document was drawn up after David, who was dying from cancer, wrote to the other family members expressing concerns about Robert's 'cavalier attitude' to his relatives. Robert, 62, has taken Hilary and Jonathan, 63, to the High Court in an attempt to have the original will reinstated on the grounds that it better represents their mother's wishes. 'I showed Hilary kindness and generosity, as far as I'm concerned, at all times,' he told the hearing. 'I treat people as I wish to be treated. 'Hilary behaves like that because, unfortunately, happiness has eluded her. I have always been happy with my family. It's something that Hilary has found very difficult to accept.' Legal battle: The siblings are facing off against each other at the High Court in a bitter family feud . Robert, who lives in Chigwell, Essex, testified that after his father's death in the 1970s, he started running the family business in Torrington, Devon. He told judge Nicholas Strauss QC that he did not believe David was the sole author of the letter criticising his conduct, and claimed that his sister was 'in the shadows' influencing it. He had responded to his brother, complaining about what he said was a 'calculated and cold-hearted' attempt to influence their mother to change her will. 'I think that David was a tool, an easily used tool, and the author was Hilary,' Robert said. Dennis Sharpe, representing Hilary and Jonathan, disputed all the accusations, and criticised Robert for sending David a harsh letter when he was on his deathbed. Robert's barrister, Sarah Haren, argues that Mrs Simon's dementia was affecting her so badly before her death that she lacked legal capacity to execute the 2005 will and it was therefore invalid. The plaintiff told the court his mother's memory difficulties had begun in 2002, and said her condition had rapidly deteriorated until she forgot major family events and started talking to characters on the television. 'Mrs Simon was someone who wanted to please people and, in her impaired mental state, it was even more difficult for her to exercise her own judgment,' Ms Haren said. But Mr Sharpe pointed to the fact that Mrs Simon had not undergone a mental health assessment until 2008, a year before her death. 'It is the defendants' case that the deceased was very keen to treat her children equally and the 2005 will achieves that object, whereas the 1996 will does not,' he said. The court heard that, although the disputed company shares form only a tiny portion of the business, they are vitally important as they would give Robert more than 25 per cent, allowing him to block special resolutions. Mrs Woolley, who lives in Halifax, Yorkshire, said outside court: 'I love my twin very much and think that you do not take your family to court.' The hearing continues.
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Robert Simon claims Hilary Woolley manipulated mother into changing will .
Original will gave Mr Simon control of family firm he has run since 1970s .
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By . Dan Bloom . and Will Stewart In Moscow . Pro-Russian rebels claim to have shot down a Ukrainian spy drone just a few miles from the site of the MH17 disaster. The footage released on Youtube by the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples' Republic - which has not been independently verified - shows a military craft lying in a field near the rebel-dominated city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Fighters posted an image posing next to the device and making the peace sign on the Russian equivalent of Facebook, declaring themselves 'heroes'. Scroll down for video . Peace: This photograph posted on Russian-language social media showed a member of the Donetsk People's Republic standing next to what separatists said was a Ukrainian spy drone dating back to the Soviet era . Heroes: The footage was posted along with a message proclaiming the fighters were heroes . If the footage's description is genuine, the site of the drone crash near the city of Shakhtars’k is just 15 miles from where MH17 was shot down over the village of Hrabove. And the rebels claimed it happened at 1.30pm local time yesterday, just as international experts gathered at the MH17 crash site to search for evidence. In a statement yesterday on vk.com, Russia's equivalent of Facebook, the separatists wrote: 'According to a report from military correspondents to the ministry of information, at approximately 13.30 near Shaktersk fighters of Motorola unit from number 20 check point on the Donetsk-Snezhnoe highway detected and shot down a Ukrainian flying object, supposedly a drone. 'Corsair reconnaissance group found the spot where it fell; right now the object is still at the crash site.' Investigation: International experts were at long last allowed to access the MH17 crash site, even as another aircraft was shot down . Dutch experts collect evidence as they examine the area of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 plane crash in the village of Hrabove (Grabovo), some 80km east of Donetsk . Wreckage: The experts are pictured yesterday at the crash site, where they have begun their recovery work . A team of Dutch experts examines a waterway as they scour the MH17 crash site. Their efforts were brought to a halt due to shelling nearby . Sniffer dogs working on the vast crash site in eastern Ukraine helped uncover the remains of more victims of the MH17 attack today . The claim appeared to be backed up by Ukraine's military, according to the respected AFP news agency. It reported Ukraine's military as saying separatists had hit an army drone with a missile similar to the type of system it alleges was used to strike MH17. The claim prompted scorn on social media, though - as unlike the passenger jet, the drone appeared remarkably intact. And because the unmanned craft are rocket-launched, it could have come to earth following its mission using a parachute, as is normal for the same type of drone. Still open: People were pictured today walking through the crash site area, which has been opened to experts . Parked behind the aircraft, which carried the blue and yellow trident emblem of the Ukrainian military on its tail (far right), was parked a truck spray-painted with the Russian flag. It came as the MH17 probe continued . Communication: The image of the craft in a field near Donetsk was posted on vk.com, the 'Russian Facebook' Comparison: One user of the social networking site posted this photograph of a Soviet-era Tu-143 drone . Close: The rebels said the site was near Shakhtars'k, about 15 miles from the MH17 crash site . Entered service: Late 1970s . Use: Soviet Union, East Germany . Crew: Unmanned . Length: 26ft . Wingspan: 7ft . Weight: 1.2 tonnes . Top speed: 590mph . Range: 124 miles . Service ceiling (high altitude): 16,400ft . Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down on July 17, killing all 298 people on board. It has still not been established how it was destroyed, though many politicians laid the blame at pro-Russian rebels which hold the area. But the circumstances are mired in confusion and even if rebels were to blame, it is not known if they knew what they were shooting. Pro-Russians on the social networking site identified the downed drone, which bore the blue and yellow trident emblem of the Ukrainian military, as a Soviet-era spy craft. They said it was a Tu-143 drone, a claim repeated by the Russian news outlet Russia Today, which reported on the video earlier today. There are huge differences between the craft pictured and the passenger airliner. It would have been flying much lower than the 33,000ft at which MH17 was flying, and unlike the passenger jet, it appeared unusually - remarkably - intact in the field, leading some to doubt the rebels' claims that they shot it down. A rocket-launched short-range craft, Tu-143s were used by the Soviet Red Army in the 1970s and 1980s, and Russia Today claimed units were kept in use by Ukraine after the Soviet Union collapsed. Footage of the craft posted by rebels showed its ageing machinery lying in the field near Donetsk . A statement by the rebels said: 'According to a report from military correspondents to the ministry of information, at approximately 13.30 near Shaktersk fighters shot down a Ukrainian flying object' The footage was posted yesterday as the largest team of experts yet gathered at the site of the MH17 disaster. Using sniffer dogs, the 101 experts - many of them from Australia and the Netherlands, where many victims hailed from - found new evidence including human remains. Roads had for days been too dangerous to use because of heavy fighting, which frustrated the efforts to move an investigation forward. And today the investigators were forced to seek cover again because of shelling, according to AFP. A woman pushes her bicycle near the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in the village of Hrabove (Grabovo), some 80km east of Donetsk . A man rides his motorbike past a piece of the wreckage, lying beside the road in Hrabove . A man talks on his mobile phone just a short distance from a section of the downed jet, lying by the roadside . People gathered for a religious ceremony near the spot where MH17 was shot down as shelling today forced international experts to abandon part of the crash scene . Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said yesterday: 'The security situation at the site is unstable and unpredictable.' In clashes near the site of the drone crash, Ukraine said separatists killed at least 10 of its paratroopers in an ambush in the early hours of yesterday. A Ukrainian military official said a further 13 troops were wounded and 11 unaccounted for. Today, meanwhile, Russia accused the EU of . double standards, claiming it had lifted a ban on supplying Ukraine . with military equipment 'on the quiet' while imposing sanctions on . Moscow's military. Two women raise their hands to their faces during an emotional religious ceremony at the crash site in eastern Ukraine on Saturday . Tearful: A Ukrainian girl cries as she stands on the road with her luggage after she left her home near the village of Hrabove, 80km east of Donetsk. The insurgent stronghold of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine is on the verge a humanitarian catastrophe, the mayor warned today . With thick black smoke rising in the distance, a villager walks along the road between Donetsk and the crash site of the MH17 in eastern Ukraine on the day that an international team uncovered the bodies of more Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 passengers . Anger: Protesters hold flags of Russia and the self-proclaimed 'People's Republics of Donbass' in eastern Ukraine during a pro-Russian rally today. Russia has accused the EU of helping Ukraine's military 'on the quiet' Mission: UN humanitarian workers in Yalta, Crimea, speak today to refugees from Donetsk and Luhansk . Probe: 101 experts were at the MH17 crash site yesterday, where sniffer dogs found more human remains . Relations between Moscow and Brussels have deteriorated since the EU imposed sanctions on Russia over its involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed the EU is under the thumb of the U.S. and called on EU leaders not to be 'goaded' by Washington over events in eastern Ukraine. The EU passed its heaviest penalties on Moscow this week, imposing sanctions on Russia's defence, energy and financial sectors.
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Footage of aircraft in east Ukraine released by Donetsk Peoples' Republic .
Rebels posted photo making peace sign and declaring themselves heroes .
Site near city of Shakhtars'k 15 miles from where jet fatally crashed .
AFP quoted Ukrainian military alleging a spy drone was shot down with similar 'missile' to system it claims was used against MH17 .
But internet users scorned claim - as the craft appeared remarkably intact .
And footage by rebels in rebel-held territory is not independently verified .
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(CNN) -- Al Qaeda's north African wing has threatened to kill a French hostage unless four of its members are released within 20 days. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) made its demand in a statement dated Sunday, said the Washington-based Intelcenter, which monitors Islamist Web sites. The Frenchman, Pierre Camatte, was kidnapped from a hotel in Mali in November. The group wants the government of Mali to free four prisoners in exchange for Camatte's release. "Let France and Mali be forewarned that we give 20 days to fulfill our just demand or the two governments shall be fully responsible for the life of the French hostage," the statement said. Camatte was abducted four days before the group kidnapped three Spanish aid workers from neighboring Mauritania. The Spaniards were still alive as of late December, according to the Spanish government. It has said that it is working toward their release, but has not revealed specifics. In June, AQIM executed a British man after the British government did not give in to its demand to release Abu Qatada, a Jordanian considered to be al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe. In its message on Sunday, the group referred to the execution, saying, "We also call upon the French public opinion and the hostage's family to pressure (French Prime Minister Nicolas) Sarkozy's government to prevent the repetition of Golden (Gordon) Brown's folly against his British citizen." The group began life as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, with aspirations to overthrow the Algerian government. About 2004, it joined forces with al Qaeda and extended its reach across North and West Africa, carrying out a spate of kidnappings and deadly attacks.
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Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) made its demand in a statement .
Group wants Mali to free four prisoners in exchange for Frenchman's release .
Group executed British man in June after UK government did not give in to its demands .
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Manchester City will move their first-team training base to the club's new £200million facility next month. It was originally hoped the City Football Academy would open for pre-season, but poor weather in summer 2013 delayed construction. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Manchester City's Vincent Kompany: We want the quadruple . Manchester City will move into their new £200m training complex next month . The state-of-the-art complex will now open in phases from October to November, with manager Manuel Pellegrini and his squad officially relocating during the next international break. Speaking at the Soccerex Global Convention, City's head of infrastructure development and corporate responsibility, Pete Bradshaw, said: 'Last year we had one of the worst summers we have had with a lot of rain and that put everything back three months. Manchester City's state-of-the-art complex will feature a mini stadium . Manuel Pellegrini's first-team squad will start training at new complex next month . 'We hoped to catch that up. We haven't managed to do that, so we will take the international break in October to move the first team, the half-term break to move the academy and the rest of the staff will move a fortnight after that. 'We have worked very closely with the first-team coaches and manager to make sure it is not disruptive.' The new facility, built on an 80-acre brownfield site, features a 7,000-capacity stadium, 17 training pitches and accommodation.
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The state-of-the-art complex will now open in phases from October to November .
Manager Manuel Pellegrini and his squad officially relocating during the next international break .
The new facility, built on an 80-acre brownfield site, features a 7,000-capacity stadium, 17 training pitches and accommodation.
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(CNN)A ruthless Roger Federer confidently dispatched World No 1. Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-5 to take the Dubai Tennis Championships title Saturday in little over one hour and 36 minutes. The Swiss master, appearing in his 126th tour final (of which he has now won 84) was at his imperious best, frustrating Djokovic who could do little to stem the variety of forehand, backhand and volleyed winners coming from the other side of the net. "I don't think I could have played much better," Federer said on court after the match. Federer edged ahead in game seven of the first, breaking Djokovic before confidently serving out for the set. A critical double fault by Djokovic at 5-5 in the second handed his on-form opponent the upper hand. Federer then took the final game on serve to ensure he would win the Dubai title for the seventh time. The match also saw Federer serve up the 9,000th ace of his career, becoming only the fourth man to achieve the feat since 1991. "Clearly it is nice to get past that so now I don't have to think about it ever again for the next 9,000 or so," he joked . A magnanimous Djokovic later congratulated Federer on his victory. "Today he was just the better player on the court," the Serb said. "There was not much I could do." "(Federer) didn't miss much. I think he missed one or two volleys the entire match.
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Federer defeats Djokovic to take Dubai Championships .
Victory marks 84th tour victory of Federer's career .
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By . Sarah Harris . A third of strip club dancers are students who are increasingly likely to come from middle-class families, a study shows. They have become a ‘core supply group into the sex industries’, with clubs even attempting to recruit pretty girls during university freshers’ week events. Researchers say that the ‘normalisation of porn’ and the rise of ‘raunch culture’ have led to sexual services such as stripping increasingly being viewed as respectable, particularly among the middle-classes. Extra-curricular: Almost a third of strip club workers are now students, according to a recent study. Some are middle-class and see the cash-in-hand work as a 'bonus' while others need to make ends meet . Some students are secretly joining the industry because they are excited about experiencing a ‘forbidden occupation’ and enjoy the party atmosphere of the clubs. They consider earning cash in hand ‘a bonus’, while other less affluent students are working in strip clubs to help pay for their education. The study was carried out by Leeds University academics Dr Teela Sanders, a reader in sociology, and Dr Kate Hardy, a lecturer in work and employment relations. They interviewed almost 200 dancers from pubs and strip clubs across the UK and found that 29.4 per cent were students. Dr Sanders told the Times Higher Education magazine: ‘Many of these dancers are from middle-class backgrounds – they are not coming from families where money is a big issue.’ One student told the study: 'It's just like party night! I prefer to go to work than go out on a weekend' A number of the students saw themselves as dancers, not sex workers, because ‘selling striptease had become more palatable and socially acceptable’. Dr Sanders added: ‘They enjoyed dressing up to go out and many say it wasn’t too different to heading out on a night out.’ Their study, published by the British Journal of Sociology of Education, claimed that there was a ‘growing acceptance and normalisation of sex work among undergraduate students in the United Kingdom’. It said: ‘Student dancers often saw the financial aspect as only one of the advantages to the work; being in a party atmosphere and part of the night-time economy was often a significant attraction. The decisions to enter the industry are complex, not only driven by financial incentive but also by the desire to engage in a “forbidden” occupation. ‘Students often started dancing with friends as a joint venture, drawn in by the initial excitement of engaging in a transgressive world, and the prospect of earning cash in hand on the night was considered a bonus.’ However, the study found conflicting attitudes between student strippers and other girls. It said: ‘There was a definite tension between the “old school” dancers who were there to earn good money and not socialise, and the new, inexperienced younger women who had a range of motives for entering stripping.’ A 34-year-old dancer called Faith told researchers: ‘There’s kind of the student group that maybe might kind of work from time to time. They see it as an extra boost of cash but (they are) not necessarily amazing at the job ‘cos they don’t do it enough to really know how to work.’ One 23-year-old student, identified as Lana, told researchers: ‘It’s like – just like party night! I prefer to go to work than go out on a weekend really.’ Another student, Anna, 27, said the work was ‘sociable’ and she liked to ‘catch up with everyone’. Many of the students had begun working in clubs after visiting as a customer or starting off doing bar work in the venue. A club manager in a northern city said he put flyers out at freshers’ week events, inviting female students to audition. He claimed that September – when students return to campuses – is a ‘peak time for requests from experienced and inexperienced dancers alike to work a shift’.
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Some are middle-class and join industry to experience a 'forbidden' world .
Others are less well-off and use the work to pay for their studies .
Leeds University researchers interviewed almost 200 dancers across UK .
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(CNN) -- What could be more powerful than the tears of a Native American Indian? Wax on, wax off: Does it make you want to save the rainforests? Iron Eyes Cody was the face of the Keep American Beautiful campaign of 1971 whose tears marked the plight of the environment, but more importantly kept the problems of pollution in the minds of millions. From teary Native Americans to witty skits or doom-ladened eco-horror scenarios, the environmental campaign video then has long been a powerful tool for environmental groups to spread their message and raise pubic attention. The rise of YouTube and other video sharing web sites has now meant that individuals can broadcast their own eco-awareness messages and form their own social action networks. But what makes a good video and how much impact do they have? Is it better to be funny or shocking? When you see Harrison Ford getting his chest waxed, do you immediately think about saving the rainforests? Or does the sight of celebrity pontificating about the plight of the environment make you want to watch their next film rather calculate your carbon footprint. We've featured three different videos that we like and want to know which ones you think are the best. Watch the featured videos » . Let us know which eco videos have got you going by using the Sound Off box below. Or, e-mail us at ecosolutions@cnn.com. We also want to feature your own environmental videos here on CNN's Eco Solutions. Use the iReport form to send in your film and you could find your environmental efforts make even more impact than Harrison Ford's chest.
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Nominate your favorite environmental campaign video .
Rate our featured videos, including Harrison Ford getting his chest waxed .
Send in your own videos using our iReport page .
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By . Jessica Jerreat . The emotional moment a U.S. Air Force captain, who had been serving in Afghanistan for six months, surprised his wife by sneaking up on her while wearing scuba gear, has been captured on film. The woman had been filming a video message for her husband, who she believed she would have to wait another three weeks to see. But, as Bethany Bronson and her children recorded messages for Captain Hyrum Bronson while they snorkeled near their home in Okinawa, Japan, yesterday, she had no idea she was standing just a few feet away from him. Watch Captain Bronson surprise his family: . Reporting for husband duty: Captain Hyrum Bronson surprises his wife and children by arriving home three weeks early . Family time: Bethany Bronson and her children had been recording messages to send to her husband, who was serving in Afghanistan . Unexpected visitor: Bethany is playing with her daughter Celeste as her husband sneaks up behind her . The air force physician, who had been away . for six months, had put on scuba gear so he could sneak up on his family . and surprise them during a family day out, after returning home three weeks early. Just before he made his unexpected entrance, which was filmed and posted on LiveLeak, a family friend filming Mrs Bronson and her children, had asked her children to record a message to send to their daddy in Afghanistan. Daughter Charity had said: 'I will love him for always,' before the cameraman turned to Mrs Bronson and asked what she would like to tell her husband. 'I love you and miss you,' she answered, before joking 'I want your body.' As she continued to swim with her . youngest daughter, her husband, wearing camouflage uniform and scuba . gear, suddenly emerged from the water behind her. Shock: Bethany cries as she realizes her husband has returned safely from Afghanistan . Reunion: Bethany and Hyrum Bronson hug after his surprise homecoming . Homecoming: Captain Bronson and his wife embrace in the water, near their home on an air base in Japan . 'Mrs Bronson, your husband's here, reporting for duty,' he said, as their children rushed to hug him. At first his wife was so shocked she stayed where she was in the water, crying, before finally giving her husband a hug and kissing him. Captain Bronson, who serves on Kadena Air Base in Japan, had been away from his family for about six months. Home sick: Captain Hyrum Bronson, a physician with the U.S. Air Force, at his Afghan air base . Married bliss: Captain Hyrum Bronson and his wife Bethany, before he was sent to Afghanistan .
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Captain Hyrum Bronson uses scuba gear for surprise homecoming .
Air Force physician had been away from wife and children for six months .
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(CNN) -- The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has hit "unprecedented" proportions, according to relief workers on the ground, with the WHO reporting 844 cases including 518 deaths since the epidemic began in March. There is no cure or vaccine to treat Ebola, but the aid agency MSF has shown it doesn't have to be a death sentence if treated early. Ebola typically kills 90% of patients but the death rate in this outbreak has dropped to roughly 60%. One man who survived the disease describes how the virus took hold. How did you contract Ebola? I am an agronomist and I have two children, one boy and one girl. I work in the pharmacy at the health center of Gueckedou in southern Guinea. When my father was hospitalized at the health center I naturally volunteered to be at his bedside so other family members would not have to make the daily trek of tens of kilometers, traversing the trails between their village and the facility. I cleaned him when he vomited and also did his laundry. I also often gave him food and drink. He had diarrhea at least eight times per day but I did not know he was suffering from Ebola. Five days after being hospitalized, [my father] passed away. After his death the medical staff realized he had presented Ebola symptoms and as I had close contact with him, it meant that I was at risk. So they told me that I needed to be followed up for 21 days and if ever I felt a small fever I had to come to the health center. The countdown then started for me: after nine days I got fever and this persisted until the 11th day. Finally I went to the treatment center -- where I did an Ebola test which was positive. What were the symptoms? How did you feel while you were ill? I first got a fever which persisted. My body temperature reached nearly 40C (104 degrees Fahrenheit). After that I had diarrhea, vomits, dysentery and hiccups [all symptoms of Ebola]. I went to the toilet several times a day and I felt so tired and uncomfortable. How and where were you treated? I received medical assistance at the Ebola treatment center, put in place at the health centre of Gueckedou. The medical staff provided me with oral medications and infusions. They also provided me with food. I suffered at lot in the beginning with diarrhoea and hiccups but with the treatment I started to feel better. What was the initial reaction in your home village after you recovered? Joy, for my family because everyone thought that I would not survive this disease as many others people had died. However before the medical staff released me to go back to my family they tested me three times to make sure that I really had recovered. Afterwards they gave me a certificate of discharge. They also visited my family, the leaders and elders of my community to inform them that I had recovered and I was no longer contagious. Despite this, I was stigmatized. Some people avoided me in the beginning but now, over time, they have learned to accept me. Now they call me "anti-Ebola." You're now working with Red Cross volunteers in Guinea to raise awareness of the disease: what lessons are passing on? I am part of a team of Red Cross volunteers, visiting communities, raising awareness on how to prevent the spread of the disease. One of the messages I try to pass on to the communities is to go early to the health center when sufferers first feel symptoms. The treatment is free of charge. People there will give you food and clothes and you can get a chance to survive. What's your message for the outside world about Ebola? How can they help? Everyone should be mobilized. We need to educate people and increase the sensitization. This is the key to stop the dangerous disease Ebola. Many people have already died, that is why I participate in activities [to educate people]. I urge people to go the isolation and treatment centres if they experience the earliest symptoms of the disease, to increase their chance of being cured and surviving.
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The WHO reported 844 cases including 518 deaths since the Ebola epidemic began in March .
Saa Sabas says he caught the virus from his father who died from the disease .
Despite recovering, he says he was stigmatized by his community .
"Now, over time, they have learned to accept me. Now they call me 'anti-Ebola,'" he says .
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(CNN) -- Get ready to bow to The Capitol. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1" is set to hit theaters in November, and on Wednesday, the immense fandom got a taste of what's to come. Lionsgate has released "propaganda" posters from the forthcoming film, which salute the hero citizens of Panem. Each poster contains a representative from each of the districts dressed to represent their region, along with slogans such as "Panem Today, Panem Tomorrow, Panem Forever." The studio also released a video of "President Snow's Panem Address," which sees Donald Sutherland as the villainous President Snow delivering a not-so-veiled threat to his nation. Even the YouTube description for the teaser indicates the kind of place Panem is. "CITIZENS," the description begins, "The Capitol requires your viewing of President Snow's official Panem Address, 'Together As One,' brought to you by Capitol TV in stunning 4K. "Your districts are the body," Sutherland's Snow says. "The capital is the beating heart. Your hard work feeds us, and in return, we feed and protect you." He's joined by Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, whom fans know isn't being himself at this point in the story. The films are based on the wildly successful "Hunger Games" trilogy of young adult novels written by Suzanne Collins. The third and final book, "Mockingjay," has been split into two films. Part 1 is set to be released on November 21.
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Lionsgate has released posters from "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1"
There is also an address from "President Snow" (played by Donald Sutherland)
The latest film in the hit series is set to hit theaters in November .
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Chris Hughton is confident he can stabilise Brighton before sending the Seagulls soaring towards the top end of the Sky Bet Championship. Hughton has returned to management at the AMEX Stadium, eight months after he was sacked by Norwich. The 56-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal to succeed Sami Hyypia, who has left him a squad firmly embroiled in a relegation battle. Chris Hughton has been named as the new manager of Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion . Hughton has joined the south coast club on a three-and-a-half year contract . Chris Hughton becomes the fifth black manager across the 92 clubs in the professional football leagues, joining: . 1. Fabio Liverani, Leyton Orient . 2. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Burton Albion . 3. Chris Powell, Huddersfield Town . 4. Keith Curle, Carlisle United . Brighton are out of the drop zone on goal difference, after taking four useful points from two games under caretaker boss Nathan Jones. Brighton have been play-off semi-finalists for each of the past two seasons, firstly under Gus Poyet and then Oscar Garcia. Achieving that feat for a third straight year will almost certainly be beyond Hughton, but getting back in the play-off frame is the eventual aim for the former Tottenham, West Ham, Brentford and Republic of Ireland full-back. 'I want to get this club back challenging in the top six again,' said Hughton. 'With the infrastructure and everything that is in place here, that has to be the aim. Hughton was sacked as Norwich manager towards the end of last season . Sami Hyypia resigned as manager of Brighton on December 22 after a dismal start to the season . 'But that is further down the line. If I look at our position in the league, first we have to try and get some stability in the results, move us into a more comfortable position and then progress from there. 'As soon as I knew there was an opportunity to come here it was one that very much excited me. The infrastructure and where this club wants to be in the future was an important factor. You only have to look at the brand new training facility and stadium that's here to see the club's ambition. 'Over the past few years they have fared very well in the division and been very close to realising their ambitions in the last couple of seasons. For whatever reason this season has not gone so well, but one of the key factors in me deciding to join the club was the ambition and the calibre of staff here already. 'The initial challenge is obvious, we need to improve our league position. But we are working to get this club back challenging at the top end of the division. The Championship's bottom six, showing Brighton just above the relegation zone . Hughton takes charge of Brighton with the club one place above the relegation zone virtue of goal difference . 'Hopefully that won't take too long as I know the squad quite well and I have come across some of the players over the previous few seasons. I'm also familiar with the structure and some of the staff here at the club, so I hope that it is not going to take me too long to settle in.' Hughton thanked Jones for the job he did on an interim basis for the past couple of games - a 2-2 home draw with Reading and a 2-0 victory at Fulham - and confirmed that he will remain part of his staff. 'Nathan Jones will very much be part of my first-team coaching staff and he has done a fantastic job here,' said Hughton. 'I'm particularly grateful for the last two results and as somebody from the outside with a keen interest looking in, I was hoping that the last two results would fare well and he has done very well. 'I have a lot of respect for him as an individual and also as a coach, so I'm delighted to have him on board.' Brighton's first match following Hughton's appointment sees them travel to Brentford in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
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Chris Hughton replaces Sami Hyypia as Brighton manager .
Hyypia left the Amex last week after joining the club in the summer .
Brighton moved out of the bottom three after beating Fulham on Monday .
Hughton joins the club on a three-and-a-half year contract .
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Child ‘judges’ and ‘jurors’ as young as 14 are being given the power to punish thugs, arsonists and vandals with soft sentences such as writing poems or drawing posters to atone for their crimes. Critics have branded the idea a ‘crazy experiment’ full of ‘silly gimmicks’ that trivialises serious offences. And the pilot scheme is further undermined by a Mail on Sunday investigation which found many of the teenagers passing judgment on their peers have posted inappropriate messages online. Under the ‘peer court’, offenders are given an astonishing range of lenient punishments after being ‘tried’ by a mock judge and jury composed of young volunteers. But one 22-year-old potential judge taking part in the taxpayer-funded experiment posted a naked photograph of himself with his private parts covered by a hat on Facebook; a young female volunteer retweeted a racist comment with a photograph of a black woman; while a third boasted on Twitter: ‘It’s 14.00 and we’re already on the drinks!’ Volunteers of the Hampshire Community Court, where cases will be heard by a judge aged 18 to 24 and 12 jurors aged from 14 . A leaked document seen by The Mail on Sunday reveals the full tariff of soft-option sentences available to the court, derided as ‘juvenile Judge Judy’ by one critic. The scheme will be trialled in Hampshire from next month, and is being monitored by the Ministry of Justice. It could be introduced in other areas, if judged a success. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has expressed enthusiasm for the project, which will run for three years backed with £165,000 of taxpayers’ money, saying: ‘It’s a very interesting idea... We don’t particularly want to give teenagers criminal records if we don’t have to.’ But other Tory MPs are furious at what they see as going soft on crime. Philip Davies, the MP for Shipley, West Yorkshire, described it as ‘a crazy experiment’ which sends out the wrong message. And he said the social media posts of volunteers in the pilot scheme made a mockery of a court’s authority. ‘Are they the pillars of society people would expect to be sitting in judgement on others? I think not.’ Peter Cuthbertson, of the Centre for Crime Prevention said: ‘This scheme combines the worst of soft sentencing and silly gimmicks. Tom Trew, who is to be part of Hampshire Community Court who posted this photo of himself on a social network site . ‘Some of the punishments read like a sick joke, trivialising serious crimes. It sets a bad example to young people to imply that if they commit serious offences the only result will be a few hours back in the classroom, or volunteering.’ The Hampshire Community Court will hear up to eight cases a week in a room at Fareham police station. Cases can only be referred there with the victim’s agreement and both sides will be represented by volunteer ‘advocates.’ Offenders aged between ten and 17 who have admitted guilt will be brought before the ‘judge’, who will be the only participant in the process aged over 18. The upper age limit for court staff is 24. One test case dealt with by the 16 volunteers during their training involved a teenage shoplifter. They ruled that he should be ‘educated’ that his offending might harm his chances of getting a job. He was also ordered to design a poster explaining the damaging effects of shoplifting, and give it to the shopkeeper from whom he stole, along with a letter of apology. Another case involved a 14-year-old boy who admitted kicking his mother. He escaped with a warning. Most participants in the project came forward in response to messages posted on social media by Hampshire . Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes and PC Mark Walsh, who became an enthusiast for the idea of peer courts after seeing them in action in America. Guidelines written by PC Walsh for the judges and jurors say: ‘You are expected to serve as a positive role model... You should remain temperate and dignified and refrain from all morally reprehensible or illegal conduct.’ One volunteer, shop worker Blake Hayward, 23, said: ‘I want to be a police forensic investigator so I thought this would be useful. We’ve learned about court procedures and helping lead the offender in the right direction. ‘It’s trying to get the offender and victim talking to each other in the same room. We are trying not to make the courtroom look too formal as we are dealing with young people and we don’t want to shock them.’ Blake Hayward, who will also be part of the scheme, and will probably serve as a judge is dressed in a sumo wrestling suit in one of his Instagram posts . The 12 jury members will wear blue T-shirts bearing the Hampshire Police logo. The court usher will have a black robe but there will be no wigs or formal attire for the judge. Officials say the panel will only handle offences deemed too minor to be sent to magistrates’ or youth courts, where harsher sentences can be imposed. Mr Hayes said: ‘We’re talking about low-level anti-social behaviour, not serious physical violence or aggravated burglary. ‘These are young people who have probably committed a crime for the first time and haven’t really understood the consequences.’ Of the criticisms, he told The Mail on Sunday: ‘You’ve picked on what might seem trivial outcomes, but it could be community service to show that the person has understood the consequences of their crime.’ None of the volunteers whose social media output was highlighted by The Mail on Sunday wished to comment, according to Hampshire Police. But Mr Hayes said: ‘The 16 volunteers are from various backgrounds. It is important that the peer jury is reflective of the community. The volunteers highlighted continue to have our full support.’ The Ministry of Justice said: ‘This is not a Government pilot. Serious offences will always go to court where tough punishments are available.’ Volunteer Jo-Jo Navarro-Shrank, who posted a contentious tweet, will also be involved in Hampshire Community Court . They . are the new faces of Britain’s first ‘peer court’: booze-swilling, . sex-obsessed and openly offensive... yet apparently qualified to sit in . judgment of their peers. Among them are Tom Trew, 22, who has posted a photo of himself on Twitter, naked except for a hat covering his private parts. Elsewhere, . he boasts of sleeping with a girl whose name he didn’t even know, . makes explicit references to sex acts, and calls a pal a ‘pikey’. Fellow . volunteer Jo-Jo Navarro-Shrank retweeted a photograph of a black woman . with the message: WHOSE MATTE BLACK MUM IS THIS!???!’ alongside an . emotion icon of a laughing face. The 17-year-old student has also posted: ‘Always feel so at home at nail salons since most of them are Oriental lol.’ At . 23, Blake Hayward, a shop worker, is one of the older volunteers and . will probably serve as a judge in charge of the proceedings. So . it comes as something of a surprise to find a series of online . photographs of him cavorting with women and men, and one on Instagram . which shows him in a fat suit dressed as a Sumo wrestler. One of his . abusive comments reads: ‘Don’t you love it when people are c***s.’ Another says: ‘This hot piece of meat has just followed me... OMG!’ On . May 3 this year he tweeted: ‘Another p**** ticked off!!’ and two weeks . later he declared: ‘It is 14.00hrs and we are already on the drinks!’ Drink . is clearly a hot topic. On May 31 he posted: ‘Why am I at work in my . birthday?! Wanna just get drunk!!’ And last year he said: ‘I need to . start going out more and getting p****d!’ Conservative MP Philip Davies, who believes the courts will only trivialise crime . Just last week Parliament rightly introduced mandatory minimum sentences for knife crime offences with young thugs at the forefront of people’s minds. Yet here we have the exact opposite – a politically correct ‘Juvenile Judge Judy’ form of justice. Part of the PC agenda is for everything to be ‘representative’ of the population and this move to have young people ‘judging’ other young people seems to me to be an example of that fluffy utopian view of the world. The whole idea sounds like a crazy experiment. By law, 14-year-olds can’t smoke, can’t drink, can’t drive and can’t have sex, and yet it seems that, under these proposals, they could be allowed to influence the judicial process. Rather like schools which encourage input from children when choosing a new head teacher, this strikes me as yet another example of blurring the line between children being children and adults being adults. Would it not be far better to work to stop the culture of children knowing their ‘rights’ before understanding their responsibilities, and tackle the lack of respect that many show to adults and those in authority? I think that a stern warning from a respected police officer would scare many children off crime. However, if that did not work for some little thugs, an appearance before a proper judge – or even a night in the cells at an early stage – might be much more likely to make them think twice about committing a crime again than being told to complete a first aid course or write a poem by a panel of their young peers. Crime should be punished. What sort of a message are we sending to young criminals by trivialising their crime in this way? You really couldn’t make it up.
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Young judges and jurors are being given the power to punish thugs, arsonists and vandals .
Scheme will be trialled in Hampshire and monitored by Ministry of Justice .
But critics have branded the idea 'a crazy experiment' full of 'silly gimmicks'
One Tory MP says social media posts of some volunteers taking part make a mockery of the court's authority .
Youths who have admitted assault, arson and drug abuse could face nothing more onerous than being sent on a first aid course.
Hooligans and shoplifters could be ordered to help a local charity with fundraising or send a letter or video of apology to their victim.
Young tearaways could be ordered to return to the courtroom to serve on the jury; or be told to follow home curfews or parental rules.
Vandals might be told to clean police patrol cars.
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Labour has been accused of a ‘shameful’ attempt to scare parents into thinking their young children will not get a place at school in September. Furious Education Secretary Nicky Morgan told MailOnline parents deserved better than ‘scare stories’ peddled by Labour politicians putting their own interests before those of the country’s children. It comes after Labour’s Tristram Hunt claimed there was a ‘crippling’ shortage of places, despite the government committing £7billion for increasing school sizes over the next six years. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan told MailOnline parents deserved better than ‘scare stories’ about school places . Parents had until last Thursday to apply for children to start primary school in the autumn, naming at least three schools where they want to send their child. Mr Hunt used the deadline to launch an attack on the government in an article for MailOnline, claiming many families will be left disappointed, with pupils forced to travel further or squeeze into over-crowded classrooms. He highlighted figures suggesting 18 per cent of schools said they did not have enough capacity for their pupils. ‘This year's primary school admissions process is complicated by a crippling shortage in places that will leave many parents disappointed,’ he claimed. It came after the Local Government Association warned schools could be pushed to breaking point over the next decade, with almost a million more places for pupils needed. Official figures show that by 2023 there will be a total of 4.7million primary age pupils, up from 4.3million in 2014 . But Mrs Morgan condemned both Mr Hunt and the LGA for using ‘the anxieties of parents’ to score political points. In an article for MailOnline, she said: ‘Robust debate in politics is fine. It’s what we politicians expect. ‘But I believe a healthy debate should be based on facts rather than scaremongering or special pleading. ‘At a time when parents and children should be looking forward with excitement to taking their first steps in education, they deserve better than to be exposed to scare stories peddled by those who seek to put their own interests before those of our nation’s children.’ She said it was ‘shameful’ that Mr Hunt had the ‘cheek’ to criticse the coalition, after Labour’s poor record on school places. Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt claimed many families will be left disappointed, with pupils forced to travel further or squeeze into over-crowded classrooms . Mr Hunt had ignored the fact that Labour cut funding for school places and took 200,000 primary school places out of the system. She added that Labour did this ‘in the middle of a baby boom and at the same time as letting immigration get out of control’. She said the government had already put an extra £5billion in providing ‘good school places’ in this Parliament, with a further £7billion for new places over the next six years. And she insisted the Tories would focus on improving the quality of schools, adding that under Labour a third of children left primary school ‘unable to read, write or add up properly and Britain stagnated in international school league tables while the rest of the world moved on’. Official figures predict that there may be around 900,000 extra pupils in England's schools over the next decade. Nicky MOrgan says the government has already put an extra £5 billion into providing good school places in this parliament and more has been allocated for the years to come . This is always a difficult and anxious time of year for those parents with children starting school in September. With the passing of the application deadline, some fear they may not be granted the place they desperately want, while others are left wondering if they’ve made the right choice at all. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like. And that’s why I think it’s such a shame that some have chosen to use . to play on and exacerbate those concerns simply to push their own political agendas. In the past week the Local Government Association – an organisation that according to its own website exists to ‘promote’ the interests of local councils – claimed that without a dramatic increase in funding for local authorities the country faces a ‘crisis’ in school places. The LGA, of course, ignored the fact that this government changed the system so that it picks up almost all of the bill for providing school places on behalf of councils who have the legal duty to do so. We have already put an extra £5 billion into providing good school places in this parliament and more has been allocated for the years to come. Of course, it is the LGA’s job to lobby on behalf of its members. I understand that. But it is a shame to use the anxieties of parents as peg on which to do so. It is more shameful still when done by elected politicians in positions of responsibility, like the Labour Party’s education spokesman. Ignoring the fact that his government slashed funding for school places; overlooking the uncomfortable truth that the last Labour government took 200,000 primary school places out of the system; and neglecting to mention that they did this in the middle of a baby boom and at the same time as letting immigration get out of control, Tristram Hunt had the cheek last week to criticise this government for failing to do enough. I think some facts might be in order. Firstly, one of the first decisions this government took was to double the funding allocated to creating new school places. As a result, local authorities have been able to more than make up for Labour’s cuts by creating 260,000 new places since 2010. We have also funded more than 250 new free schools that are providing essential and high-quality school places in communities across the country. 70 per cent of these have been established in areas where there is an essential need for extra capacity, and a third have been targeted to provide good school places in some of the most deprived areas of the country. The government has also allocated a further £7 billion for new school places over the next six years as part of our sensible, planned approach that has replaced the chaos of the Labour years. 90 per cent of the new places required for September of this year are already in place or underway. How do we know? Because this government introduced a basic need monitoring process that allows us to plan effectively. The coalition has funded more than 250 new free schools that are providing 'essential and high-quality school places in communities across the country', Mrs Morgan added . As a result, parents can be confident that there will be a school place available for their child when they need it. Under the last Labour government, no such monitoring took place. But that is not the limit of our ambitions. While guaranteeing every child the school place they need is vital, it’s also important to focus on quality. I want every child to have the chance to go to a good or outstanding local school where standards are high and discipline in strong. Fortunately, as a result of our plan for education, a million more children are learning in good or outstanding schools today than when we came to office. In fact, we now have more children in good or outstanding schools than ever before. Contrast that with the record of the last Labour government. Under them, a third of children left primary school unable to read, write or add up properly and Britain stagnated in international school league tables while the rest of the world moved on. All of this progress has only been possible because this government took the difficult decisions necessary to get the economy back on track. It’s because of this that we have been able to protect the schools budget in this parliament, spend an extra £5 billion on school places, and invest £18 billion to improve school buildings across the country - more than double the amount Labour spent in its first two terms combined. That’s what our long-term economic plan means for education, and we must stick to the course. Labour’s chaotic plans would mean more borrowing and more debt than our children and grandchildren could ever pay off. They have already announced £1.8 billion of spending commitments in education alone, yet have consistently refused to answer questions about how they would pay for them. Robust debate in politics is fine. It’s what we politicians expect. But I believe a healthy debate should be based on facts rather than scaremongering or special pleading. At a time when parents and children should be looking forward with excitement to taking their first steps in education, they deserve better than to be exposed to scare stories peddled by those who seek to put their own interests before those of our nation’s children.
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Education Secretary Nicky Morgan hits back at Labour's dire warnings .
Accuses Labour's Tristram Hunt putting his own interest before children's .
Insists the government has earmarked another £7billion for next six years .
Hunt warned of 'anxiety' for parents over ‘crippling’ shortage of places .
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PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- In what appeared to be the most visible demonstration yet of this week's G-20 summit, four people attached to a massive banner dangled from a Pittsburgh bridge Wednesday to protest the global economic meeting. Four people attached to a massive banner dangle from a Pittsburgh bridge Wednesday to protest the G-20 summit. The banner hung from the West End Bridge over the Ohio River and read like a road sign: "Danger: Climate Destruction Ahead. Reduce CO2 Emissions Now." Greenpeace, the environmental activist group, claimed responsibility for the stunt. On its Web site, the group said it wanted to send a message to G-20 leaders with the nearly 80-by-30-foot sign, calling for more attention to the issue of global climate change. "It is also critical that G-20 leaders agree to kick-start economic recovery through clean energy investment," said Damon Moglen, Greenpeace USA's global warming campaign director, in a message posted on the group's site. "It is imperative that developed world leaders do not fail again in Pittsburgh. They must put money on the table to support developing countries." Pittsburgh police arrested nine people in connection with the bridge incident, on charges that included possession of instruments of a crime, disorderly conduct, conspiracy and obstruction. A police spokesperson described the bridge demonstration as a "very, very dangerous situation." Police also stopped a second Greenpeace group with a banner from repelling off another bridge. Police arrested five people in connection with that incident. iReport.com: Are you in Pittsburgh? The two-day Group of 20 summit, which is bringing leaders of the world's industrialized nations to Pittsburgh, begins Thursday. CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this report .
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Greenpeace, the environmental activist group, claimed responsibility for the stunt .
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, plays host this week to G-20 summit .
Police stopped a second Greenpeace group from rapelling off another bridge .
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By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 21:44 EST, 17 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 22:05 EST, 17 March 2014 . Death: PC Keith Blakelock was killed in 1985 in the Broadwater Farm disturbances in North London . Rioters passed a police helmet around ‘like a trophy’ after PC Keith Blakelock was killed in the Broadwater Farm disturbances in North London, a jury heard yesterday. A key witness, known as Rhodes Levin to protect his identity, told the Old Bailey he saw Nicky Jacobs, 45, attacking the officer on the estate in Tottenham on October 6, 1985. Levin, who himself admits kicking the police officer a few times, said he saw Jacobs kicking and punching Mr Blakelock during the onslaught. He also claimed he saw the defendant, who denies murder, carrying a lock knife at the scene with a brown handle and blade of around six inches. And he said that immediately afterwards Jacobs had told him that he had ‘got a couple of dukes in’ on the policeman. Levin told the court at that point he saw a police helmet but could not remember who was holding it. ‘They were passing it around, showing it,’ he said. ‘It was like a trophy.’ The witness said that days after the attack he had met Jacobs, who again boasted of getting ‘a couple of stabs’ in on the officer. Levin, who has convictions relating to Class A drugs, was sentenced for affray and handling stolen goods in relation to the riots, the court heard. He was paid around £5,000 and given immunity from prosecution after providing information to a renewed investigation into PC Blakelock's killing in the 1990s. Flashback: The riots occurred around the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham, on October 6, 1985 . Police approached him again in January 2008 and since then he has received money for a deposit on accommodation and expenses, the court heard. The witness said that two or three months after he was interviewed by police in 1985 he had been assaulted at a party in Tottenham and warned not to get involved. ‘Somebody called me into the toilets and when I went into the toilets a couple of people blocked off the toilet door,’ he said. ‘One of the guys smashed a bottle over my head and I managed to struggle my way out of the door.’ Under cross-examination by Courtenay Griffiths QC, for the defence, Levin admitted that he and the prosecution's two other key witnesses had grown up together. Aftermath: Police look at the devastation following the 1985 riots in the Broadwater Farm area of Tottenham . After being arrested in November 1985 he was kept in custody for five days without the assistance of a lawyer, the court heard. 'They were passing it around, showing it. It was like a trophy' Rhodes Levin . During interviews with police he was assaulted and his testicles were squeezed on more than one occasion, he said. But Levin denied that officers had suggested names that they wanted him to ‘put in the frame’. During the interviews he told police that Winston Silcott had been orchestrating the attack on PC Blakelock and was the only one he saw with a ‘large machete’ - a claim he now admits was a lie. Mr Silcott went on to become one of three men who had their 1987 convictions for allegedly murdering the officer quashed in 1991. Tributes: Flowers left at the scene where PC Blakelock was killed during riots at the Broadwater Farm estate . Asked why he had accused Mr Silcott, Levin told the court: ‘Because it seemed like him. It looked like him.’ Mr Griffiths said: ‘So on a belief you were willing to put someone's name forward for the murder of a police officer - that is something you are capable of doing?’ Levin answered: ‘I believed it was him at the time.’ The court heard that Levin had also placed Jacobs' cousin - who was remanded in custody for robbery at the time of the riots - at the murder scene. After the disturbances the witness started using cocaine powder, then crack cocaine and eventually heroin, the court heard. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Key witness says he saw Nicky Jacobs attacking officer in North London .
Admits kicking police officer a few times in Broadwater Farm disturbances .
Claims Jacobs - who denies murder - was carrying lock knife at the scene .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 09:34 EST, 19 September 2011 . Twin girls born joined at the head have been successfully separated by British doctors. Rital and Ritag Gaboura, who are 11 months old, survived at odds of one in 10million. They had four complex operations at London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Little miracles: Sisters Ritaj (left) and Rital Gaboura after their successful operation . The sisters, who were born in . Khartoum, Sudan, were brought to Britain for the procedures by their . parents Abdelmajeed Gaboura, 31, and, Enas, 27, who are both doctors. By the time they arrived, Ritag’s heart was already failing. The girls were separated over four . stages. Two initial operations took place in May, before tissue . expanders were inserted in July and the final separation was attempted . on August 15. The parents had approached children’s . charity Facing the World for help, and the organisation funded and . arranged their separation. The girls suffered from the rare condition of craniopagus, and the surgery was carried out by a team led by David Dunaway. A statement from Facing the World said: ‘Within days the twins were back on the general ward interacting and playing as before. Joined together: The twins were born with their heads fused, a rare condition that only one in 10million survive . ‘Their laughter and delight in the world has been an inspiration throughout the months of worry. ‘Very soon, their parents will be able to fulfil their dream of taking home two healthy, separate daughters.’ The girls’ parents said: ‘We are very thankful to be able to look forward to going home with two separate, healthy girls. 'We are very grateful to all the . doctors who volunteered their time and to Facing the World for . organising all the logistics and for paying for the surgery. ‘We feel very lucky that our girls . have been able to have the surgery that they needed, but we also know . of other children who need complete sponsorship and families who are . searching for someone to help them.’ Conjoined twins are extremely rare, . occurring in only one in every 100,000 live births. They are three times . more likely to be girls. In nearly three-quarters of cases, the twins are connected mid-torso. Just 4 per cent of cases involve fused skulls, and most are stillborn or do not survive longer than 24 hours. Rital and Ritag were born with one of . the most serious forms of the condition as they shared blood vessels . and there was significant blood flow between their brains. Ritag supplied half her sister’s . brain with blood and drained most of it back to her own body to . re-oxygenate – meaning her heart was doing most of the work for both of . them. Any significant drop in blood pressure during surgery could have caused brain damage. While both girls are as alert as they . were before the operation, it could be years before their parents and . doctors discover if they have suffered any long-term problems. * To donate to Facing the World visit www.facingtheworld.net .
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Rital and Ritag Gaboura underwent four complex operations .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:01 EST, 3 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:39 EST, 4 June 2012 . A grieving mother whose newborn died in her arms was charged almost $900 for her daughter's hospital care, despite the fact that she was only alive for a few seconds after birth. Melissa Sherman had her baby, Kaylee Marie, in November 7 last year but at 23 weeks premature she was too small to survive. Doctors at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, checked the tiny girl’s heart beat and wrapped her in a blanket before giving her to Sherman for a first, and last, cuddle. Tragic: Melissa Sherman gave birth to her baby in November of last year and had time for one quick cuddle before the newborn died . 'She was born, and we just held her,' Sherman told ABC15. 'We just held her. That's all we did,' she said. The new mother savored the few precious moments she had with her fragile daughter, who didn’t even open her eyes. Kaylee died within minutes and Sherman was forced to leave the hospital with no baby. Adding to her pain, Sherman was billed, not only for her own care, but for that of her dead baby, who she said received no medical attention. Tiny: Baby Kaylee was 23 weeks premature and so small she fitted in the palms of her mother's hands . Sherman was sent a Nursery Level 1 Care . bill from the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Centre totaling $862 for . ‘routine daily accommodation charges’. Spokesperson Rainey Daye Holloway told the news channel that ‘hospitals have expenses whether a patient lives or dies’, confirming that the charges were accurate. Sherman accepted the costs and was expecting to pay a small percentage, with the rest being covered by her health benefits plan, so she was shocked when the insurance company billed her for $896.73. As it turned out, a pre-determined . reimbursement arrangement between the company and medical centre meant . that the hospital was reimbursed $6,270.60 for Kaylee’s care, sending . Sherman’s out-of-pocket costs soaring, too. Heartbreak: A reimbursement arrangement between the insurance company and medical centre meant that the hospital was reimbursed $6,270.60 for Kaylee's care, sending Sherman's out-of-pocket costs soaring . The distraught mother was forced to re-live her daughter’s death over and over as she fought for months to have the charges rebuked. 'It's been hard because every time I call there I have to explain to them what happened,' she said. 'It's been really emotional.' It wasn’t until she told Banner’s billing manager she was working with the media that any action was taken. Sherman’s charges were reversed and she was sent a letter from Larry Volkmar, Banner Good Samaritan's CEO. Shocking: The Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center (pictured) sent Sherman a bill for her daughter's care . ‘I have recommended that we adjust the bill associated with your daughter's stay to zero as a courtesy to you and your family,’ he wrote. ‘We will remit all payments received toward this account to you and/or your insurance company respectively. 'Please accept my condolences for your loss.'
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Kaylee Marie Sherman was born - and died - on November 7, 2011 .
Mother Melissa Sherman received bill for $862 for 'routine daily accomodation'
Hospital later reversed the charges with a letter offering 'condolences for your loss'
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A sham wedding couple used crib sheets to memorise facts about each other before tying the knot in a bogus ceremony set up by a fixer, a court heard. Moroccan Zakaria Azzouzi married Petra Tatalova, from Slovakia, in an attempt to stay in Britain after his visa expired. The fraud went undetected for eight months - until police raided the house of the fixer who had arranged the fake marriage and found the notes used by the couple to learn their lines. The crib sheet reminded them that the bride's star sign is scorpio, the groom's favourite food is couscous and they supposedly met in a coffee shop. Happy couple? Petra Tatalova and Zakaria Azzouzi entered into a sham marriage to help him stay in Britain . Jailed: Azzouzi has been given a 21-month prison sentence while Tatalova was jailed for 12 months . Student Azzouzi, 24, was yesterday . jailed for 21 months for his part in the scam, while Tatalova, 32, an . events manager, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. The 'couple' wed at Barnet registry . office in north London in March 2011, because Azzouzi needed to marry an . EU citizen to avoid being deported from the UK when his visa expired. They claimed that had met in a coffee shop on Oxford Street in June 2010 and had been living together for six months before the wedding. But in fact, they were introduced by 'fixer' Mourad Nabil, 43, who was described by a judge at St Albans Crown Court as having a 'Svengali-like malign influence' over the bride. When police raided Nabil's home in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire they discovered notes helping Azzouzi and Tatalova learn facts about each other in order to convince officials that their marriage was genuine. At the bottom of the crib sheet, Nabil had written: 'That is about it honey.. try memorising these information sweety,, just in case.. you know me I am always thourough.. [sic]'. Crib sheet: The pair were discovered when police found this sheet telling them facts about each other . Nabil, 43, who was earlier convicted of an £18,500 benefit fraud, was sentenced to two years in prison. Laura . Blackband, prosecuting, told the couple that the three defendants went . to the registry office a month before the wedding to answer questions . about their relationship, with Nabil claiming to act as their . interpreter. However, . when the crib sheets were discovered later that year it became clear . that the wedding was in fact 'a sham, bogus marriage', she continued. 'Mr . Azzouzi's mother organised with Mr Nabil that he would secure a fake . marriage so he could stay here as the husband of an EU national,' Ms . Blackband said. 'It was an entire put-up job planned for Mr Azzouzi to . stay in this country when his visa ran out in May 2011.' She said that Tatalova, who first came to Britain in 2000, had previously been in a relationship with Nabil. When . he was questioned by police, Nabil said he had been 'intimate' with the . bride but said that she had introduced Azzouzi to him as her boyfriend, . adding that he did not get on with the groom. 'He . accepted they were an odd couple,' Ms Blackband said. 'Mr Azzouzi was . eight years younger and a Muslim from Morocco, and she was a Christian . from Slovakia. 'He said it was a genuine marriage and that he had assisted with the preparations because Mr Azzouzi had a terrible memory.' Scam: Mourad Nabil, left, set up the fake wedding for Azzouzi, centre, and Tatalova, right . Tatalova told the police she met Azzouzi in Cafe Nero or Costa Coffee and that he had proposed to her on her birthday, sending her a card with the words 'Will you marry me?' written inside. She also said it was a genuine marriage, but said he had 'upped and gone' and she did not know where he was. Azzouzi had been arrested in Manchester for an unrelated offence around the time of the raid on Nabil's house - he originally stuck to the story, but once he was shown the crib sheet he confessed it was a sham marriage. Tatalova, Azzouzi and and Nabil all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to breach immigration laws by arranging a bogus marriage, but were convicted by a jury. An earlier trial began in December 2012, but was stopped when Azzouzi's mother was denied a visa to enter Britain and testify as a defence witness. Azzouzi is set to be deported to Morocco immediately owing to the time he has already spent in jail and on an electronic tag. Tatalova's lawyer said yesterday: 'It is a sad and desperate case for her. There was no gain in financial terms. The only explanation is that it was a misguided attempt by Miss Tatalova to assist. She paid the wedding expenses. 'She is ashamed to be here and is ashamed by the finding of the jury. She has always worked and never claimed benefit.' Judge Stephen Gullick said: 'The sole purpose of the sham marriage was to allow Azzouzi to remain in the UK through his marriage to an EU national. This was a family-organised wedding orchestrated by Nabil.' He told Tatalova: 'Why you became involved only you know. You have put all you have achieved in complete jeopardy by agreeing to go through this sham marriage. ' Paul Whitehead, from the Home Office's Criminal and Financial Investigations Team, said: 'Our discovery of the crib sheet was crucial to the investigation, blowing a hole in any claims to credibility that the defendants may have had. 'Couples who are in genuine relationships do not need aide-memoires to help them recall their partner's age, address and even name.'
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Zakaria Azzouzi, from Morocco, married Slovakian Petra Tatalova in 2011 .
They claimed they had met in a coffee shop but police raiding house of fixer Mourad Nabil found crib sheets to help them learn facts about each other .
It emerged that the marriage was a scam to help Azzouzi stay in the UK .
Azzouzi jailed for 21 months while Tatalova gets 12 months in prison .
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For millions of years, asteroid Bennu has been assaulted by the gravity of planets as it hurtles through space. Now a new animation, dubbed 'Bennu's Journey', follows the rough life of the asteroid and how it could reveal the origin of the solar system. It also depicts the Osiris-Rex mission, which will be launched in late 2016, arrive at the asteroid Bennu in 2018, and return a sample of Bennu's surface to Earth five years later. Scroll down for video . This is an artist's concept of the impact that created the asteroid Bennu. Scientists think Bennu formed when some of the rubble from a collision like this coalesced under its own gravity . The Nasa video follows the success of Esa's Rosetta mission, which last week captured the imagination of the public after it made a successful landing on a comet. Unlike comets, which are made up of ice, dust and rocky material, asteroids contain metals from when the solar system first formed. 'We are going to Bennu because we want to know what it has witnessed over the course of its evolution,' said Edward Beshore of the University of Arizona. 'Bennu's experiences will tell us more about where our solar system came from and how it evolved,' said Professor Beshore. An artist's concept of the young Earth being bombarded by asteroids. Scientists think these impacts could have delivered significant amounts of organic matter and water to Earth . 'Like the detectives in a crime show episode, we'll examine bits of evidence from Bennu to understand more completely the story of the solar system, which is ultimately the story of our origin.' This mission is a precursor to a bigger mission, where Nasa will attempt to capture an asteroid and bring it into the moon's orbit. The video opens with an establishing shot of the galaxy and moves in to a nebula - a vast cloud of gas and dust ejected from the explosions of dying stars. From observations of other star-forming regions in our galaxy, scientists have a good idea of the basic outlines of how our solar system came to be, according to Professor Beshore. The animation shows a star disrupting material in the nebula, causing part of it to collapse under its own gravity and form a disk of material surrounding the infant sun. 'We are going to Bennu because we want to know what it has witnessed over the course of its evolution,' said Edward Beshore of the University of Arizona. Pictured is a concept image of asteroids being pulled in by the gravity of a planet . This is a conceptual image of a nebula. Nebulas are vast clouds of gas and dust ejected from the explosions of dying stars. Scientists think the solar system formed when a nearby exploding star disrupted material in a nebula, causing part of it to collapse under its own gravity . Within this disc, bits of dust are flash heated to molten rock and solidify to become chondrules - some of the building blocks of the solar system. How did water come to exist on our planet? Most scientists are of the opinion that it didn't begin here on Earth, instead being transported from elsewhere in the solar system, but whether it came from an asteroid or a comet was a mystery. That was one of the key questions Esa was hoping the Rosetta mission would solve when it arrived at comet 67P in August and it may now have an answer that could be verified by the Philae lander on the surface. Using the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis - or Rosina - the spacecraft 'sniffed' the comet's atmosphere as it remained in orbit and analysed its composition. It found that water in the comet's atmosphere had a different ratio of deuterium-to-hydrogen than water on Earth. This may be the final nail in the coffin for the theory that comets brought water to Earth - and it may have finally proven that we have asteroids to thank for allowing life on our planet to thrive. Chondrules are shown in the animation as they clump together via electrostatic and gravitational forces to become asteroids and planets. They also may make up a large part of the material in Bennu. 'On planets like Earth, the original materials have been profoundly altered by geologic activity and chemical reactions with our atmosphere and water,' said Professor Beshore. 'We think Bennu may be relatively unchanged, so this asteroid is like a time capsule for us to examine'. By studying the sample collected from Bennu, the Nasa team will be able to examine some of the most pristine material to be found in the solar system. Bennu may also harbour organic material, which could give scientists an inventory of the materials present at the beginning of the solar system. Unlike Esa's Philae probe, which can only study comet material onsite, the Osiris-Rex will bring the material back to Earth. 'By bringing this material back to Earth, we can do a far more thorough analysis than we can with instruments on a spacecraft, because of practical limits on the size, mass, and energy consumption of what can be flown,' said Professor Beshore. 'We will also set aside returned materials for future generations to study with instruments and capabilities we can't even imagine now.' The early solar system is thought to have been chaotic. Giant impact craters throughout the inner solar system indicate there may have been a 'late heavy bombardment' by asteroids around 4.1 billion to 3.8 billion years ago, right around the origin of life on Earth. The video shows one theory for this. The massive 'gas giant' planet Jupiter began to migrate inward closer to the sun due to gravitational interactions with the outer gas giant planets. Jupiter's gravity disrupted the asteroid belt, tossing many asteroids closer to the sun, where some collided with the terrestrial planets, including Earth. This asteroid bombardment may have been a significant source of organic matter and water for the early Earth. By studying the sample collected from Bennu, the Nasa team will be able to examine some of the most pristine material to be found in the solar system. Pictured is an artist's impression of an impact on Jupiter's moon, Europa . Measurements reveal that Bennu's density is less than that of rock, so scientists think the asteroid may have voids in its interior. An asteroid like this is called a 'rubble pile' -- a loosely bound collection of boulders, rock, and dust . After this bombardment, things calmed down a little, but massive collisions still happened occasionally, like the one the video shows happening between an asteroid and a planet about one billion years ago. The Osiris-Rex (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security and Regolith Explorer) mission aims to address basic questions about the composition of the very early solar system. The probe will spend more than two years at the 1,760 ft (500 metre)-wide asteroid, named Bennu. It plans to return an asteroid sample to Earth to reveal the origins of volatiles and organics that may be the seeds of life. Scientists also hope the mission will accelerate technology that will soon enable humans to mine asteroids for precious metals. The spacecraft, scheduled for launch in September 2016, will arrive at the asteroid in October 2018. It will travel 406,618,624 miles (654,389,243 km) to reach the asteroid. Scientists think a collision like this may have resulted in the birth of Bennu and the video illustrates the asteroid forming as some of the rubble from the collision slowly coalesces under its own weak gravity. Measurements reveal that Bennu's density is less than that of rock, so scientists think the asteroid may have voids in its interior, according to Beshore. An asteroid like this is called a 'rubble pile' -- a loosely bound collection of boulders, rock, and dust. Bennu is also quite dark. Like an asphalt road on a hot day, it absorbs most of the sunlight that hits it and later radiates this energy away as heat. This radiation gives Bennu a tiny push, called the Yarkovsky effect, which gradually changes its orbit over time. The animation shows how the Yarkovsky effect causes Bennu to migrate until it encounters a so-called gravitational resonance with the planet Saturn. Regular tugs by this resonance eventually push Bennu into the inner solar system, where it has repeated close encounters with Venus and Earth. These encounters pull apart the rubble pile that is Bennu, turning it inside out and reshaping the asteroid. Because Bennu comes close to Earth, there is a tiny chance – about 1 in 2,500 – that it could hit Earth late in the 22nd century, according to Professor Beshore. 'We'll get accurate measurements of the Yarkovsky effect on Bennu by precisely tracking Osiris-Rex as it orbits the asteroid,' he added. Pictured is an artist's concept of Nasa's Osiris-Rex asteroid-sample-return spacecraft arriving at the asteroid Bennu. Because Bennu comes close to Earth, there is a tiny chance – about 1 in 2,500 – that it could hit Earth late in the 22nd century, according to Professor Beshore .
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Animation, dubbed 'Bennu's Journey', follows the mysterious life of the asteroid from birth to current position .
Osiris-Rex mission will launch in 2016, arrive at the asteroid Bennu in 2018, and return samples 5 years later .
The samples could provide scientists with an inventory of the materials present at the start of the solar system .
Because Bennu comes close to Earth, there is a 1 in 2,500 that the asteroid could hit Earth late in 22nd century .
It is a precursor to a bigger mission where Nasa will attempt to capture an asteroid and bring it into moon's orbit .
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(CNN) -- A federal court sentenced a Pakistani citizen to more than four years for providing false documentation and attempting to smuggle a person he thought was a Taliban member into the United States. Irfan Ul Haq, 37, was sentenced Thursday to 50 months in prison. His sentence is part of an agreement to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. Ul Haq and two others -- Qasim Ali, 32, and Zahid Yousaf, 43, -- pleaded guilty in September. Ali and Yousaf were sentenced in December to 40 months and 36 months, respectively. As part of their plea deals, the three agreed to be deported after their sentences, the statement said. "Today's sentence successfully brings to a close our prosecution of three criminals who aimed to use their human smuggling network to help a person who they believed to be a terrorist infiltrate our homeland," said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. "By convicting three Pakistani nationals who were operating out of Ecuador, we have demonstrated our ability to dismantle human smuggling operations throughout the world when they threaten our national security." The three men were arrested in Miami last year in a federal sting operation. According to court documents, the three men were living in Quito, Ecuador, when they were contacted by federal informants who claimed they wanted to sneak a member of the Taliban into the United States. The Pakistani Taliban is designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. According to the court documents, the three agreed to move the person from Pakistan to the United States. Ul Haq told the federal informants it was not his concern what the purported member of the Taliban wanted to do in the United States, saying if they want to do " hard labor, sweep floors, wash dishes in a hotel, or blow up. That will be up to them," the documents said. The three were arrested after accepting payment and procuring a fake Pakistani passport for the fictitious Taliban member, the court documents said. CNN's Chandler Friedman contributed to this report.
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Irfan Ul Haq, 37, and two others are nabbed in 2011 in a federal sting .
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to the Pakistani Taliban .
The U.S. considers the Pakistani Taliban a foreign terrorist organization .
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Police and forensic experts were left baffled after what appeared to be a severed human finger, proved to be nothing more than a piece of convincing coral. A local man had been walking his dog along the shore of Lee Point Beach in Darwin's north on Sunday when he made the initially horrifying discovery. He promptly called triple zero, fearing that the flesh coloured object which even appears to have a fingernail, was evidence of a homicide. Police were left baffled after a local man found a suspected finger (pictured) on Sunday . Officers who arrived at the scene also treated the discovery as suspicious, assuming the suspected finger was likely to be human remains. 'The location was recorded and the finger, complete with fingernail, seized and sent for forensic examination,' watch commander Brendan Lindner said. However, the forensic tests soon came back inconclusive and the finger was sent to pathology for further analysis. Meanwhile officers at the Casuarina Police Station were left debating over whether the finger was real. A local man had been walking his dog along the shore of Lee Point Beach (pictured) in Darwin's north when he made the initially horrifying discovery . Officers at the Casuarina Police Station were left debating over whether the finger was real while it was tested by pathologists . 'The Negative ended up being correct, when the Pathologist determined that the pinky-lookalike was in fact plant material,' Mr Lindner revealed. Despite the type of plant remaining unknown Mr Linder said that officers had concluded it was most likely the coral species Alcyonium digitatum, or Dead Man's Fingers, found in the northern hemisphere around the Atlantic Ocean. 'If this is correct, then it's worth pointing out that it is a finger after all, just not the human kind!' he said. 'The investigation is now finalised and the suspicious pinky will be disposed of.' Despite the type of plant remaining unknown Mr Linder said that officers had concluded it was most likely the coral species Alcyonium digitatum, or Dead Man's Fingers (pictured), found in the northern hemisphere around the Atlantic Ocean .
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A Darwin man found the object while walking his dog at a local beach .
He instantly called triple zero, fearing it was evidence of a homicide .
Officers who arrived at the scene also treated the discovery as suspicious .
After forensic tests proved inconclusive, the finger was sent to pathology were it was discovered to be plant material .
Police assume the object is most likely the coral species Alcyonium digitatum, or Dead Man's Fingers, found around the Atlantic Ocean .
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f713f14b3cfb875a31aac719dc7a852110061766
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Struck off: Vanessa Law, 32, broke into a house and stole cash while addicted to heroin . A primary school teacher who broke into a house and stole cash to fund her heroin habit is to be formally struck off from the profession. Vanessa Law, 32, also stole petrol from garages in Fife and Glasgow during a crime spree in 2012. The former addict is currently living at her grandmother's house in Fife, Scotland, where she claims to be 'in recovery'. She will be officially taken off the teaching register at a 'removal with consent' hearing on November 5. The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) charged her with five offences including one on July 2012 in Lochgelly, Fife, where she stole a key and participated in theft by housebreaking. It is thought that Ms Law, who worked at the nearby Methilhill Primary, broke into the house to help fund her drug habit. The GTCS report also claims that Law 'while working as a teacher [was] actively using illegal drugs, namely heroin'. They add that in March 2012 she stole fuel from a Shell garage, and later that year she repeated the crime in Glasgow and Dunfermline. Answering the door of her grandmother's home this week Ms Law said: 'I just want to say I'm in recovery, I don't really want to speak about it right now because it's personal. 'Life is getting better day by day, I'm in recovery'. Recovery: Ms Law did not wish to comment except to say: 'Life is getting better day by day, I'm in recovery' Previous job: Ms Law worked as a teacher at Methilhill Primary School between August 2011 and October 2012 . Fife Council have refused to comment on Ms Law's case saying: 'We never discuss individual circumstances of either former or current employees.' Methilhill Primary School confirmed that Ms Law worked at the school between August 15, 2011, and October 28, 2012. The house that Ms Law was caught raiding belongs to Andrew Whitelaw, a convicted paedophile who was serving a four-and half-year sentence at the time of the burglary. Mr Whitelaw had at the house the largest haul of child pornography ever seized by Fife Police - 204,000 indecent images and 3,001 indecent videos of children. Whitelaw also served time behind bars for assaulting eight children.
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Vanessa Law, 32, also stole petrol from garages in Fife and Glasgow in 2012 .
While working as a teacher she is said to have 'actively used heroin'
Law, who says she's in recovery, worked at Methilhill Primary School in Fife .
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By . Louise Eccles . PUBLISHED: . 17:06 EST, 13 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:36 EST, 14 October 2013 . I'm not high maintenance: The princess, here with her husband, refutes nickname 'pushy' Her cats are brought their breakfast on trays carried by servants, she has only braved the high street once in 35 years, and she was horrified when she was told she must ‘downsize’ and reside full-time in Kensington Palace. Princess Michael of Kent, however, insists she is ‘not very high maintenance’. In a series of revealing interviews to promote her first novel, the royal – nicknamed Princess Pushy – opened the door to her regal lifestyle. She said she slept in separate quarters to her husband Prince Michael, so they were ‘fresher for each other’. And she said she never learned to cook because she always knew she would have a personal chef when she married. In the frank interviews, she revealed that she disliked her granddaughter Maud’s name and confessed she had never worn Spanx underwear because she feared the fat would be forced south and make her legs ‘bulge out’. The 68-year-old also said she ‘unashamedly hates’ the foxes that roam outside the palace – a problem, she says, that was exacerbated by her neighbour, the Russian ambassador and his wife, who ‘used to feed them’. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, she recalled the moment when she was told she would have to sell their £5.7million 16th century mansion, Nether Lypiatt, in Gloucestershire. They sold the house in 2006 to meet the £120,000-a-year rent on their five-bedroom apartment at Kensington Palace, after being told they could no longer pay a subsidised ‘peppercorn rent’ of just £69-a-week. She said: ‘Of course I miss the big gardens we had at our country house but it became very expensive to run... we couldn’t afford it. ‘For the first time that terrible word . came into my life when our private secretary said, “Ma’am, you have to . downsize.” It was the worst word I’d heard in ages.’ Lap of luxury: The Kent family's 18th Century home, Nether Lypiatt Manor at Bisley, Gloucestershire . Princess Michael in the garden of her Kensington Palace home with her Burmese cat Ruby . Despite the loss of their country pile, the Queen’s cousin and his wife still manage to enjoy some luxuries. Describing her average day, she said: ‘Breakfast is served on my Herend china and I sit in an old armchair so I can read the papers. ‘I have zero-fat yoghurt with cinnamon, which is meant to be a fat-burner, and a pot of ginger tea made with grated ginger. ‘This I have with lavender honey and one plain Ryvita.’ In a battle against ‘my expanding waistline’, she also drinks a freshly-blended vegetable juice, on the recommendation of her manicurist, which she says is ‘frightfully good’. A family portrait of the Kents: Prince and Princess Michael of Kent with their children Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Gabriella Windsor. Ahead of her book release, the royal discussed sleeping in her own bed to 'stay fresh' for her husband . Sophie Winkleman, Freddie and Prince Michael at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee service of thanksgiving . With the Countess of Wessex and Duchess of Cambridge at the 2011 Trooping the Colour parade . Her cats Ruby, a Burmese, and Cally, a Siamese, are then brought their breakfast of chicken breast or ham. The princess says she then gets dressed, but not in high street garb, revealing: ‘The prince says, “She’s either catalogue or couture”, but most of the time I’m too mean to buy new clothes. 'I think I have only walked down the high street once in my married life.’ The mother-of-two warned against sharing a bedroom with one’s husband, recalling her mother’s words that separate quarters meant ‘you won’t see each other being cross or saying, “I can’t do this up. It’s too tight!”’ The princess learned to cook only five dishes while growing up in Austria, including goulash and tinned salmon soufflé because, as she told her mother, ‘I will have a cook when I marry’. 'Always knew': Princess Michael admits she never learnt to cook because she knew she would have a personal chef when married. Here is the couple on the 30th anniversary of their 1978 wedding . Prince Michael of Kent and his bride Baroness Marie Christine Riebnitz after they married in a 20 minute civil ceremony at Vienna Town Hall. They had to spend their first night apart and she would take Communion the next day. Once in the Royal Family, Princess Michael was appalled she was told to 'slim down' In a second interview, with the Mail on Sunday’s You magazine, she questioned the name of her granddaughter Maud, the second child of her son Lord Frederick Windsor and his actress wife Sophie Winkleman. ‘Freddie loves the name, and so do lots of other people. But I don’t. I will get used to it, you get used to everything,’ she said. The princess also claimed that ‘I am not very high-maintenance when it comes to beauty’ and that her ‘only luxury’ is one facial a month. Princess Michael is currently promoting her historical novel, The Queen of Four Kingdoms, which is based on 15th century European royals.
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Princess Michael of Kent, 'Princess Pushy', says she isn't high maintenance .
Servants brings her cats breakfast on trays and she refused to 'downsize'
The royal admits she only learned to cook five things as a teenager because she knew she would have a personal chef when she was married .
She is currently promoting her debut novel, The Queen of Four Kingdoms .
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By . Nick Pisa . PUBLISHED: . 16:02 EST, 20 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:54 EST, 21 May 2012 . The father of a schoolgirl killed in a bomb blast that hit a school broke down in tears during a church service in her honour. Devestated Massimo Bassi couldn't control his grief during the funeral mass for 16-year-old Melissa. She was killed and ten others injured when two powerful explosions went off outside a school in the southern Italian town of Brindisi. Devastated: Melissa Bassi's father Massimo Bassi breaks down during during a mass at a church in Brindisi today after the bomb blast that claimed his daughters life yesterday . Tragic: Police are no longer linking the mafia to a school explosion which killed Massimo Bassi's 16-year-old daughter Melissa on Saturday . Release: CCTV image issued on Sunday night by Italian police of a man wanted in connection with the bomb attack outside a school in Brindisi in which 16-year-old Melissa Bassi was killed . Two powerful explosions scattered deadly shrapnel across a wide area just as students were arriving for lessons as the devices, connected to gas canisters and hidden in rucksacks went off. Melissa Bassi, 16, suffered horrific injuries in the explosion and was rushed to hospital but died a short while later from her injuries. There were fears over another of those hurt, a girl, whose condition was described as 'life threatening.' Tragic: Melissa Bassi, 16, suffered horrific injuries in the explosion and was rushed to hospital but died a short while later from her injuries . Paramedics and police were immediately at the scene and TV footage showed scenes of chaos as shocked students gathered outside the building. Investigators initially linked organised crime to the blast, close to the Morvillo Falcone school in Brindisi. The town is home to the local mafia known as the United Sacred Crown who have close links with the Russian and Albanian crime and are linked to drug and gun running. The school is named after Francesca Morvillo Falcone, who was the wife of anti mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, who were both killed in a bomb blast in 1992 which was carried out by the Sicilian Mafia. But today a senior official said the attack was probably carried out by a lone individual and played down earlier suspicions of mafia involvement. A CCTV image of a man wanted in connection with the attack was issued by police on Sunday evening. Rescue: A woman receives first aid after the explosion outside Francesca Morvillo Falcone high school . Panic: Emergency services and passers-by rush to help those injured in the blast . Brindisi chief prosecutor in charge of the investigation said it now appeared unlikely that either the Sicilian Mafia or the United Sacred Crown, were involved. Marco Dinapoli said: 'The most probable hypothesis is that it was an isolated act. It seems improbable, not entirely to be excluded, that it is connected with mafia networks. He also said that attacks on other schools appeared unlikely and that police already had a facial composite picture of a suspect connected to the blast. Suspicions of mafia involvement were fed not only by the fact that the school was named after the wife of a murdered anti-mafia judge, but also by the timing. The attack took place days before the 20th anniversary of the couple's death in a bomb attack in Sicily. Thousands took to the streets in demonstrations of sympathy and outrage at the mafia on Saturday - but Dinapoli said it was still unclear what had prompted the attack. He said investigators had acquired 'significant' video evidence that suggested one man had set off the device which exploded as pupils were getting off a bus for the start of lessons on Saturday morning. The footage showed a man of about 50 years of age activating a remote control to detonate a rudimentary bomb made of three gas canisters hidden in a container outside the school gates, he said. 'It could be a person who feels at war with the world. It could be someone who wants to create tension for some ideological reason,' Dinapoli said. Mourning: Flowers are placed outside the school in Brindisi where the blast happened . Tributes: Dozens of Melissa Bassi's friends have left tributes on her Facebook page . The devices were hidden in a bin about 30metres from the Brindisi courthouse and as they exploded students arriving for lessons caught the full impact of the blasts. Debris was scattered over a wide area with shrapnel from the canisters piercing shutters of nearby shops and blowing out windows of apartment buildings overlooking the scene. TV footage showed scenes of desperation as shoes and rucksacks were scattered over the floor, abandoned by the students as the bombs went off just as students arrived for lessons. Although security across Italy has been stepped up with fears of anarchist attacks due to the drastic economic situation the theory quickly gathering momentum was a never before heard of attack on innocent schoolchildren by the mafia. Demonstration: Local residents protest the explosion near the high school today . Search begins: Firefighters and forensic officers investigate the shrapnel-covered scene . Blame: Brindisi's mayor, Mimmo Consales, accused the mafia or carrying out the attack, but officials later ruled out organised criminal involvement in the attack . Concealed: The devices were hidden in a bin about 30m from the Brindisi courthouse . One eye witness who works in the court building which overlooks the school told Italian media: 'I was just opening the window when the blast caught me in full. 'When I looked down I saw all the kids on the floor, they were covered in black and their books were on fire. It was an infernal scene. Who could have done something like this ? They were just kids.' Prime Minister Mario Monti cut short a visit to the United States to return home to cope with the aftermath of both the attack and an earthquake in northern Italy in which at least six people died. In shocked Brindisi, a port town on Italy's Adriatic coast where ferries leave for Greece, photographs of a smiling Melissa were posted around the city and businesses carrying signs declaring they were in mourning. People placed flowers at police barriers around the 1970s-era school where pupils study fashion, tourism and social services. Devastating: Shrapnel pierced shutters of nearby shops as the blast blew out windows of apartments . Blast: Two powerful explosions scattered deadly shrapnel across a wide area just as students were arriving for lessons at Morvillo Falcone school . Another girl injured in the attack, Veronica Capodieci, has been transferred to a hospital in the larger city of Lecce. She is still in serious condition, but the hospital reported on Sunday that she was stable and had regained consciousness. The deadly attack on a group of young students was shock the whole country at a time when it is already grappling with economic unrest and political scandals. Franco Scoditti, the mayor of Melissa's home town of Mesagne, near Brindisi, said: 'The school is a symbol of innocence and hope. 'The moment a school is attacked you have to ask yourself where things are heading.' Shocked: One eyewitness said: 'It was an infernal scene. Who could have done something like this? They were just kids' Investigation: Italian firefighters inspect the site where an explosive device went off .
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Initial suggestions of mafia involvement in the bombing have since been played down by officials .
CCTV image issued of man Italian police are seeking in connection with the attack .
Two explosions scattered shrapnel just as students were arriving for lessons .
Melissa Bassi, 16, died after suffering horrific injuries in the explosion .
A second girl who was in a 'life threatening' condition has since stabilised .
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(CNN) -- Grandeur defines Istanbul: From architectural icons such as Hagia Sophia to the city's indomitable traffic, Istanbul pulsates with intensity and splendor. Including sweet splendor. Istanbul's passion for pastries and its history of inventing some of the world's most delightful desserts tempts visitors and residents to skip dinner and head straight for the meal's concluding course. Where do you go to eat like a local? Share your photos and tips . Here's a taste of the most inventive, decadent and eccentric sweets from this culinary crossroads: . Sahlep: This mild beverage is Istanbul's answer to hot chocolate. Originating during the Ottoman Empire, sahlep's key ingredient is crushed orchid, which is used to thicken warm milk before being sweetened with sugar and cinnamon. Common during the winter, but also available at other times, sahlep is great for warming one's insides during a brisk walk along the Bosphorus. It can be found in many of the stands near Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. If you want to sit down to enjoy it, Saray Muhallebicisi, which has locations throughout the city, prepares a particularly delicious mug. Nut pastes (marzipan) and dragees: Istanbul loves nuts. Travelers can buy crisp almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts by the pound at the Spice Bazaar, but they can also find these nuts at the center of some of Istanbul's finest desserts. Nut pastes -- literally made from a combination of crushed nuts and sugar -- are common in Istanbul confections, from the traditional almond-based marzipan to hazelnut and pistachio varieties. These pastes are available for purchase as bite-sized ovals, as well as in longer tube shapes or molded and colored to look like fruits. Bring a big appetite to Bologna . Travelers may also want to sample dragees, which are nuts covered in chocolate and a hard candy shell. Known in the United States as Jordan almonds, Istanbul confectioners often use other nuts besides the almond as a base and utilize colorful coatings, including silver or gold. With five locations across the city, including a charming one across the Bosphorus on the Asian side, the more than 200-year-old Şekerci Cafer Erol sells some of the most delightful renderings of these sweets. And their nut pastes not only look like fruits but taste like them (imagine marzipan shaped as a strawberry that has a strawberry essence to it). After purchasing some of the various sweets, be sure to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee at one of their outside tables. Candied fruits: Made by boiling fruit in sugar syrup, candied citrus rinds are the most popular form of this product. But Turkish confectioners take the process to new heights, candying everything from cherries to olives. Candying tends to give the fruit a chewy or hard texture along with intense sweetness, so you may only want to try this delicacy in small quantities. Iconic confectioner Hafiz Mustafa, in business since 1864, sells a particularly creative mix that can be purchased a la carte, including pumpkin, fig, tomato, orange and chestnut (the chestnuts are especially delicious). Across the Bosphorus on the Asian side of the city, the famed foodie restaurant Çiya sells not only some of the most delicious savory meals in Istanbul but also a variety of candied fruits with clotted cream or tahini and walnut toppings -- make sure to sample the pumpkin. The restaurant also has homemade ice creams in exotic flavors that change on a daily basis. Lokum (Turkish delight): Confectioner Bekir Effendi is credited with popularizing this dessert in the 18th century, when it became known as Turkish delight in English. Originally, Effendi crafted his delights, known in Turkish as lokum, with honey or molasses and flavored them with rosewater, orange or lemon. He then cut gels into small squares and covered them in powdered sugar. Turkish delight can still be purchased in rosewater, orange and lemon today as well as in other imaginative flavors including sour cherry, hazelnut, cinnamon, apricot and ginger. Purveyors also became creative with the outside covering, substituting ground coconut, nuts or cream of tartar for the original powdered sugar, and adding pistachio or almond pieces to the filling to lend the sometimes cloying dessert less intensity. The confection can be now purchased with a "cream" base -- imagine a slightly firmer version of marshmallow fluff. Turkish delight can be found throughout the city but is particularly abundant in the Spice Bazaar, where stall owners pile high pounds of the treat and offer samples to prospective buyers. Aladdin, located in the Spice Bazaar, sells an especially fine sampling (be sure to try the pomegranate with pistachios). For a more historic version, visit Haci Bekir, the confectionary started by Bekir Effendi. Mastica: To understand mastica, you have to go back to its roots. Its linguistic roots, that is. Mastica shares the same origin as the English word mastication, which means to chew. So it makes sense that mastica kind of tastes like mouthwash -- when you think of chewing, you think of eating, and that makes you think of the need for minty clean breath, right? Mastica isn't so much a dessert as a flavoring that permeates a variety of Istanbul treats with a Pine-Sol-meets-spearmint-gum kind of taste. Turkish delight is flavored with it; so are puddings and hard candies. While its taste may be acquired, it's certainly worth sampling to experience some true local dessert flair (and for its palate cleansing properties). Ficcin, a small restaurant in the Beyoğlu neighborhood near the Pera Palace hotel where Agatha Christie wrote "Murder on the Orient Express," sells a mastica pudding that provides a keenly concentrated burst of the flavor. Baklava: Most nations in the Middle East claim baklava as a national treat, but Turks take particular pride in the dessert, dating it back to the Ottoman Empire. Made from flaky phyllo pastry layered with pistachios and drenched in honey, millions of tourists and locals alike are addicted to the intermingling of the flaky pastry with the density of the nuts. While baklava is widely available throughout Istanbul, a baklava emporium that opened in 1949 today routinely wins awards for having the best rendering of the treat. Situated near the waterfront on the European side, Karaköy Güllüoğlu, sells tens of thousands of pieces of baklava a day to loyal customers, some of whom have frequented there for more than 50 years. The shop sells not only the traditional baklava recipe but also variations that include peanuts and walnuts, as well as one made with chocolate. After purchasing some baklava, make sure to stay awhile and eat inside at one of the tall tables (you'll need to stand at those) or one of the regular tables outside. Either way, watch the crowds of locals treasuring the decadent treat -- men in suits on their way to work, children speaking rapid Turkish and pulling on their mothers' sleeves as they beg for one more piece. And as you take a bite of this buttery, luscious dessert, know that its distinct combination of lightness and intensity is not just delicious. It's also the essence of Istanbul.
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Istanbul, at the crossroads of history, is also a hub for sweet confections .
Candied fruit, Turkish delight and candy-coated nuts are among the city's sugary bounty .
Nut pastes such as marzipan are molded into colorful shapes .
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By . Jonathan Petre . and Ollie Gillman . Students have delivered scathing verdicts on many of Britain’s degree courses, describing them as boring, poorly taught and badly run. Social Work at an Essex college and ‘Strategic Communication for Fashion’ at the University of the Arts in London received the most dismal satisfaction ratings in a Government survey. Critics say the students’ verdicts show that the worst courses, which cost up to £9,000-a-year in tuition fees, should be axed as they do not offer value for money. Best of the worst: South Essex College topped the list for most boring and worst course . The survey, commissioned by the Government’s Higher Education Funding Council, asked students more than 20 questions and the data has been added to the Government’s official website Unistats to help people choose universities. Only 28 per cent of the students who responded believed their lecturers were enthusiastic, with just one in five saying they had made the subject interesting. A decision to scrap the Social Work BA course at South Essex College of Further and Higher Education, which was given the lowest satisfaction rating – just 12 per cent, has already been taken. Not one student who answered the survey thought this course was ‘well organised’. Even elite universities did not escape scrutiny, with only 60 per cent of students studying Economics at Cambridge University saying that their professors kept them interested in the subject. Less than half of the students on Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and English courses who responded to the survey at Manchester University – another so-called elite institution – said their lecturers had made their subjects interesting. False economy: only 60 per cent of economics students at Cambridge said their professors kept them interested . Campaign for Real Education spokesman Chris McGovern said: ‘Degree courses with high levels of student dissatisfaction are perpetrating a fraud. ‘Students are running up vast debts to subsidise a sub-standard product. We need a much stricter validation and monitoring process. Youngsters deserve a better deal than is currently on offer from too many university departments.’ Rachel Wenstone of the National Union of Students said: ‘Low student satisfaction rates for courses should be a major concern for any university, especially as these students were surveyed at the point of leaving, which hints that if they had concerns prior to filling in the survey, then these might not have been addressed.’ Principal and chief executive of South Essex College, Angela O’Donoghue, said its Social Work course would close in two years. She added: ‘We are very concerned about the students’ feedback and take such feedback extremely seriously, which is why we took this decisive action. ‘We are already looking at ways of ensuring that such a situation does not occur again.’ Manchester University declined to comment.
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Calls for worst to be scrapped as they aren't value for money .
Overall just 28 per cent said lecturers were enthusiastic .
Only 60 per cent of Cambridge economics students said professors kept them interested .
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The third tier has housed a clutch of former Premier League sides in recent seasons including a couple of English football's heavyweights, with Leeds, Wolves, Southampton, Sheffields United and Wednesday, Leicester, Norwich and Charlton all dipping their toes in League One waters. Only three of those - Norwich, Leicester and, last season, Wolves - were promoted back to the Championship at the first time of asking, with Leeds spending three years in the third tier. This season, Sheffield United go one better, or worse, than Leeds as they embark on their fourth successive season in League One, and it is a stay they will be quadruply determined to end. Rebuilding: Nigel Clough has overhauled the Sheffield United squad since taking over in late October . Returning to League One after just one season in the Championship are Doncaster and Yeovil, while Barnsley's eight-year stay in the second tier came to an end in May. Coming up from League Two are three familiar faces to this level in Chesterfield, Scunthorpe and Rochdale, and one not so familiar one in Fleetwood, who start only their third season in the Football League. Intriguingly, no club in the division has changed their manager this summer - though that statistic is bound not to last very long once the new season kicks off. Here, Sportsmail previews the League One season ahead of the opening fixtures... The favourites . If Sheffield United replicate the form they showed in the second half of the last campaign they will surely be in the automatic promotion places. Nigel Clough has reshaped the Blades squad to give it a younger feel and despite losing star man Harry Maguire to Hull this summer they have clearly improved on the whole. Case for the defence: Maguire only turned 21 in March but made 166 appearances for the Blades . Similarly, Leyton Orient have lost a key player in winger Moses Odubajo to Brentford but look a better unit. Orient just missed out on automatic promotion last season and look well set for another push for the top two after signing several players proven at Championship level. The 85 points fifth-placed Preston had racked up last season would have been enough to win League One the campaign before. While he has not made any eye-catching signings, manager Simon Grayson has managed to cling on to his key men and Preston are therefore again likely to challenge for automatic. Bristol City flirted with a second successive relegation last season but had a revival once Steve Cotterill took charge in December. They have also strengthened and if they can keep hold of their strikeforce of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and 23-goal Sam Baldock they will be in the automatic promotion hunt. Top of the charts: Baldock scored more goals than anyone else in League One last season . Doncaster are lacking strength in depth at the moment but their starting XI is as good as any at this level and with a few additions they will be ready to challenge for an immediate and automatic return to the Championship. Dark horses . The relegated duo of Barnsley and Yeovil have rebuilt sufficiently over the summer to render them both promotion contenders but neither have the personnel nor the resources to have aspirations of dominating the division as Wolves did last season. They will both, nonetheless, be targeting promotion, but may have to settle for the play-off route. Peterborough flew out of the blocks last season before falling away badly and eventually being beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Orient. Automatic promotion looks a bridge too far again for Darren Ferguson's side but if they can reinvest some of the £5m paid by Nottingham Forest for star striker Britt Assombalonga they should be assured another top-six finish. Britt of all right: Peterborough striker Assombalonga (middle) has moved to Nottingham Forest for £5m . MK Dons finished in the top six in 2011 and 2012 but have missed out in the last two seasons after selling many of their prizes assets. But Karl Robinson has been able to improve his squad over the summer for the first time in years and they look in a position to challenge again. Fleetwood's financial clout has seen them improve what was already a very strong squad after their League Two play-off final win over Burton and a third promotion in four years is not entirely out of the question. Coventry, free from the 10-point deduction that hampered them last season, will have one eye on the top six despite losing top scorer Callum Wilson to Bournemouth. Relegation battle . League One is the most treacherous division in the Football League by virtue of the fact that four go down rather than three in the Championship and two in League Two. That being said, Notts County, who survived on the final day of last season, would have been relegated in League Two with their 50-point tally. The Magpies won six of their last nine games under Shaun Derry last season and should survive more comfortably this time around with a mix of youth and experience added to the squad. Great escape: Shaun Derry (left) with his new player-coach and former England international Alan Smith . Conversely, fellow strugglers from last season Crewe look to have gone backwards over the summer and their fans will be fearing the drop unless they can unearth another gem or two from their academy - which history proves is not entirely out of the question. Scunthorpe and Rochdale - promoted automatically from League Two in May - have both lost vital goals with Sam Winnall and Scott Hogan moving to Barnsley and Brentford respectively. They could be joined in a relegation fight with League Two champions Chesterfield, who have been frustrated in the transfer market so far. Elsewhere, Walsall and Crawley have been hit hard by summer departures and look set for a relegation battle along with perennial strugglers Colchester and Oldham. Sheffield United 13/8, Preston 12/5, Bristol City 5/2, Peterborough 11/4, Leyton Orient 10/3, MK Dons 9/2, Barnsley 5/1, Doncaster 11/2, Yeovil 6/1, Coventry 7/1, Fleetwood 8/1, Bradford 9/1, Chesterfield 9/1, Scunthorpe 9/1, Swindon 10/1, Walsall 10/1, Oldham 12/1, Crawley 14/1, Gillingham 14/1, Notts County 14/1, Rochdale 14/1, Colchester 22/1, Port Vale 22/1, Crewe 28/1 .
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League One season kicks off with 12 fixtures on Saturday, August 9 .
Doncaster, Barnsley and Yeovil were all relegated from the Championship .
Promoted were Chesterfield, Scunthorpe, Rochdale and Fleetwood .
Sheffield United and Leyton Orient among the favourites for the title .
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By . Anna Hodgekiss . A woman has spoken of the traumatic birth she endured after being turned away by a hospital’s maternity unit - only have the baby 40 minutes later in her mother’s living room. Zeenat Patel claims she was refused a second labour check by a triage nurse when she called her local hospital. Miss Patel and her partner, Yaseen Lockhat, first went to the maternity unit at Royal Bolton Hospital about 3.30pm on Thursday, July 3. Zeenat Patel claims she was repeatedly turned away from her local hospital during labour. Forty minutes after being sent home again she gave birth to baby Liyana in her mother's living room . She claims a triage nurse told her she was not in 'active' labour and advised her to go home until the contractions became more frequent. But an hour after the couple left, Miss Patel, 26, found herself in constant pain and called the maternity triage nurse at 5.50pm - and was told again to wait at home. Concerned their baby was just minutes away from being born, the couple drove back to the hospital. off for the hospital again by car. Miss Patel said: 'My labour pains were getting a lot stronger and I just knew the baby was going to come soon. 'By the time I had explained this over the phone, got cut off and got back through again, we were outside the hospital doors. 'I was told that because I was talking between contractions I couldn’t be that close, but I was in pain all the time. 'They spoke to me like I was a child, like I didn’t know my own body. 'I’d given birth before and I knew what was happening, but they wouldn't listen. We were left with no alternative but to go home.' But as soon as Mr Lockhat dropped her off at her mother’s house, she started to give birth. Miss Patel's mother, Hanifa, delivered the baby herself on the living room floor with the aid of an ambulance call-handler . 'I shut myself in the toilet and when I sat down I could feel the head,' she recalled. 'All I could do was push. I kept thinking if they had checked me, I wouldn’t be giving birth in this situation. 'I stayed in the toilet because I didn’t want my three- year-old daughter, Jasmine, to see what was happening. 'Giving birth is meant to be a special experience, but this was just traumatic.' When her mother, Hanifa, heard her daughter scream in the toilet and saw the baby’s head, she dialled 999. Mrs Patel managed to help her daughter to the living room where she delivered the baby herself at 6.30pm, with the aid of an ambulance call-handler. Mrs Patel, 54, said: 'It all happened so quickly. It was very scary. I grabbed some towels and managed to lie her down in the living room. 'It was very difficult because I had to hold the phone and catch the baby as she was born.' Baby Liyana came out with the cord around her neck but is now doing well . To make matters worse, baby Liyana came out with the cord around her neck. Mrs Patel added: 'My mother was a midwife so I remembered some of the things she had told me. Paramedics arrived 25 minutes after baby Liyana was born - weighing 6lb 2oz - and took mother and daughter to hospital. Miss Patel said: 'I was so grateful my mum was there - I don’t know what I would have done without her. 'All I want to know is how and why this was allowed to happen. Imagine if it had been someone who didn’t have her family around her.' Sue Anderton, head of midwifery at the hospital, said: 'A senior matron met with Zeenat and her family as soon as we heard of these concerns and I followed this up and went to meet them myself. 'Clearly they are very upset and we will look into what happened thoroughly and get back to them.'
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Zeenat Patel, 26, claims staff at Royal Bolton Hospital did not listen to her .
Says she was told she was not in 'active' labour and to go home .
Concerned the baby's birth was imminent, she returned but was sent away .
Baby Liyana was delivered by her grandmother, aided by 999 call-handler .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:04 EST, 31 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:05 EST, 31 October 2013 . A nursing home resident has been arrested for murder after he allegedly bludgeoned his elderly roommate to death with part of a wheelchair on Wednesday. Thomas Yarnavick was arrested over the attack on his 71-year-old roommate at a New York nursing home. Police said an ongoing argument over a curtain that separated the men's beds escalated into the brutal attack. Murder: A resident at the Beacon nursing home is facing charges of killing his 71-year-old roommate . 'It's as if you live in a small, . tight-knit town, and you wake up to incredibly tragic news. This is like . a small town,' Aaron Lichtman, a spokesman for the Beacon Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in the Rockaways, said. Yarnavick, 66, had been roommates with his unnamed victim since September and staff said there had been no warning signs or obvious problems between them. Mr Lichtman said staff at the nursing home, which was badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy last year, had never witnessed such violence. The attack happened at about 1.30am. An employee who discovered the distressing scene called police. The 71-year-old victim had serious head injuries and was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is not yet known if the wheelchair used in the attack belonged to Yarnavick or his victim. Yarnavick, who is facing murder and weapons charges, was taken into custody and is awaiting arraignment in Queens. Psychologists and grief counselors have been made available to other residents in the home, which can house up to 120 people. 'There is a lot of work to do to help these residents. We are all grieving, the employees, too,' Mr Lichtman said. The nursing home, which is on the Rockaways broadwalk, was badly affected by Sandy last year. Requests for the home to be evacuated were denied, meaning residents remained in the building as seawater crashed through the first floor. They lived in the soaked, sand-filled building for several days afterwards, with the lights running on emergency generators, until the state gave a mandatory evacuation order as a snowstorm approached.
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Thomas Yarnavick faces murder and weapons charges .
66-year-old had shared room with alleged victim since September .
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A fascinating map of Twitter use over the U.S. shows how the story of Michael's Brown death and the subsequent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, spread from a local story to intense national scrutiny. The map was created by Twitter's data team, who used mentions of the city and related keywords to track the story's progress across America. The resulting map visualizes the story as tiny blips in the Midwest before becoming a serious of bright yellow explosions that almost cover the country. Scroll down for graphic . A Twitter data team has mined user mentions of Ferguson and Michael Brown to show how the midwest teen's tragic death went from local story to world news . Using mentions of Brown and Ferguson Twitter shows how the story began to light up the map . It only took three days for the local tragedy to go from a few online blips on Aug. 9 to covering the country on Aug. 11. As the Atlantic's CityLab notes,the activity seems to spike immediately after local police arrested journalists Wesley Lowery and Ryan Reilly on Wednesday. Writing for CityLab, Kriston Capps observed: 'Judging by the procession of the progress bar, it's late-ish into Aug. 13 when Twitter goes nuclear, right around the time that the two . reporters were arrested.' Twitter mentions of Ferguson spiked as police and protestors clashed, especially following the arrest of several journalists . Graphic images like the Brown's lifeless body have been widely disseminated by Twitter users . And Huffington Post adds that Twitter's ability to influence ideas is no more evident than in the number of widely-adopted hashtags being used to transmit what are now considered the definitive images of the conflicts between demonstrators and local police. Twitter users were ignited again Friday when Ferguson police finally identified Officer Darren Wilson as the man who shot Michael Brown. In the same day, Brown was also identified as a suspect in a robbery, thought it was added that Wilson was unaware of Brown's possible connection to that crime when the two met. Ferguson police have said that initially Wilson stopped Brown for walking in . the middle of the street, but as he drove away, the officer 'made the . connection' between the teen and the grocery store robbery, reported USA Today.
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Team used mention of the city and related keywords to track proliferation .
Story represented by yellow blips, which go from occurring only in the Midwest on Aug. 9 to consuming the country three days later .
Use spiked after local police arrested several journalists during unrest .
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By . Ephraim Hardcastle . PUBLISHED: . 19:22 EST, 10 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:53 EST, 11 April 2012 . Samantha Cameron’s 41st birthday on April 18 will be marked by a party at Chequers, with a DJ in attendance, says a Tory source who explains: ‘She didn’t really have a party on her 40th because daughter Florence was only six months old.’ Up until his exposure two weeks ago, party treasurer Peter Cruddas was offering £250,000 donors access to David and Samantha Cameron. He boasted to undercover reporters about a Chequers event, saying: ‘I was sitting next to Sam and I said to her, “Do you want a Ruby Murray?”, and she said, “Yeah, go on then.” Party time: Samantha Cameron is planning to have a big bash to celebrate her 41st birthday . So I went up and got her a Ruby Murray – a curry.’ Might the rascal have infiltrated £250,000 donors into SamCam’s 41st birthday bash? Chelsea FC magnate Roman Abramovich’s 536ft gin palace Eclipse won’t be the largest private yacht in the world much longer. A 656ft mega-yacht, Everest, is being constructed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sunk: Roman Abramovich's super yacht Luna is set to lose its crown as the World's biggest privately-owned yacht . It can accommodate 36 passengers in 17 private apartments as well as 60 crew. Cost: around £290million. No buyer so far. How about Tony and Cherie? Has the BBC over-estimated the attraction of presenter Gary Lineker, pictured? He tells Twitter followers he is to be the face of their prime-time Olympics coverage, from 7pm to 10pm each night. The . former footballer is also to present their coverage of June’s European . Football Championship and – prior to the Olympics – the Open Golf from . Lytham St Annes. Too much of a good thing? Radio . 4’s drama serial, The Man Who Knows, set in a 1960s’ newspaper office, . featured the struggle between Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch to take . over the News of the World in the 1960s. They are described, respectively, as ‘a socialist’ and ‘a convict’. What’s Murdoch done to deserve this description? ‘Nothing,’ says one of the characters, ‘but he’s from Melbourne.’ Author Mark . Lawson – a Radio 4 broadcaster – might have known this would go down . well at the BBC. Hatred of Rupert seems to be a prerequisite for employment there. Asked sarcastically in 1995, by TV . comedienne Mrs Merton, ‘So, what first attracted you to the millionaire . Paul Daniels?’, dancer Debbie McGee, 53, says her husband of 24 years . remains a source of surprise and delight. New show: Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee are back on the road again with a new magic tour . The couple are touring with their latest magic show, Hair Today Gone Tomorrow. Debbie says: ‘It’s never the same two nights running, and that’s been the same for the past 30-odd years.’ So much for Mrs Merton’s cynicism. Having angered locals by criticising Liverpool FC’s insistence on not playing on the anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, comedian Alan Davies is due to perform his Life is Pain stage show in the city on September 23. ‘If he’s got any sense, he’ll cancel,’ says my source. ‘Otherwise, his own life might become a pain in the fullest sense.’
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Samantha Cameron making up for not celebrating 40th .
New yacht set to become biggest in the World .
Are we getting too much of Gary Lineker?
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By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 14:05 EST, 2 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:07 EST, 3 December 2012 . SAS sniper Sergeant Danny Nightingale could be back on the Afghan frontline within months. He is determined to return to the Special Forces regiment after winning a legal battle last week. Sergeant Nightingale, 37, was freed by Appeal Court judges on Thursday after widespread outrage over an 18-month sentence for illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition. Back together: Sergeant Danny Nightingale has returned home to his family in time for Christmas . To the frontline: But SAS soldier Danny Nightingale, pictured kissing his wife Sally after he was freed from prison, may be serving in Afghanistan within months . Campaign: Sally Nightingale, wife of soldier Danny Nightingale, outside the Royal Courts of Justice before handing in a petition for his release . The punishment was cut to 12 months and suspended, allowing him to return home. He is now fighting to clear his name by overturning the conviction, while weighing up his military career options. Sitting with his wife Sally, 38, and their two daughters Mara, five, and Alys, two, Sergeant Nightingale said: ‘I want to get my good name back and I want to return to my regiment. ‘I’m still proud to have been a member of the SAS. It has always been the pinnacle of my career.’ SAS soldier Sgt Danny Nightingale was jailed for illegal possession of a pistol he was gifted by Iraqi soldiers . He is expected to have talks with his commanders over the publicity surrounding his case. The SAS is a notoriously secretive unit with members fiercely protecting their identities so they are not compromised on top secret operations. Sergeant Nightingale’s name and face have been splashed across television screens, newspapers and websites. Once a soldier is ‘outed’, their career with the elite regiment is almost certainly at an end. But Sergeant Nightingale could return to his old unit – the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment – for a two-month ‘cooling off’ period and he is trained as a combat medic. If that happens he could be deployed to Helmand next March. However, if he fails to quash his conviction he could be discharged from the Army under the Queen’s Regulations. Sergeant Nightingale, who has served with valour in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sent to a military prison in Colchester three weeks ago after pleading guilty to possessing a working 9mm Glock pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition at his quarters in Hereford. The weapon was a souvenir from Iraqi soldiers but the SAS sniper forgot he had it when he suffered ‘significant’ brain damage after collapsing on a charity trek in the Brazilian jungle. He admitted two charges at the court martial in November. But his legal team argued at the Royal Courts of Justice in London that the ‘exemplary’ soldier was pressured into pleading guilty after the trial judge hinted he would receive five years in a civilian jail if he fought the case. More than 107,000 signed a petition demanding his release and Prime Minister David Cameron expressed sympathy. 'Early Christmas present': Sgt Nightingale and his wife outside the Royal Courts of Justice, London, following his release . Devoted couple: SAS soldier Sgt Danny Nightingale pictured with his wife Sally on their wedding day, left, and at a Christmas ball in 2010, pictured right . Happy: Sgt Nightingale was given a hero's welcome after returning home . Speaking about his detention, Sergeant . Nighingale said: ‘I didn’t sleep for that first night. I laid awake . wondering how the children would cope, how my wife would manage on her . own. ‘But I also realised I . had to be very professional. I did everything that was asked of me. I . mopped floors, stood to attention on parade, was always polite and . respectful. ‘I offered my . services to help train some of the younger soldiers and I even taught a . young lad how to fire a pistol. I love training: I get a real kick out . of seeing people achieve goals.’ Thanking . the public for their support, he said: ‘A pensioner sent a pound. Another person sent a £3 postal order and they apologised for not giving . me any more – it was simply amazing.’ In the public eye: Danny Nightingale, wife Sally and their children Mara, five, and Alys, two, appeared together on Daybreak after his release . Relentless campaigning: Sgt Nightingale described his wife as a 'hero' and said they would continue to fight his conviction . Home for Christmas: The family thanked all their supporters and said they hoped to help others in similar situations in the future . VIDEO: Freed sniper's daughter overwhelmed to have Daddy home...
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Sergeant Danny Nightingale was jailed for 18 months for illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition .
Appeal Court reduced sentence to 12 months suspended - allowing him to return home .
Soldier could be deployed to Helmand if he rejoins Duke of Lancashire's Regiment .
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Rating: . Many years ago, Nicholas Dickinson sold his Luxury Family Hotels group to Von Essen, of which Congham Hall hotel, near King's Lynn (not far from Sandringham), was a part. Then, two years ago, Von Essen went bust and Dickinson headed a team of investors to buy the hotel back from Von Essen's receivers. That wasn't all. The team went on to double the number of rooms and added a new spa (including indoor pool) and dining room. Going back in time: Congham Hall is delightfully old-fashioned - and mostly in a good way . We opt for a room in the main house, reached via a narrow, airless, fusty corridor that becomes more and more dreary the longer it goes on. There are windows half-way along this passage, hidden behind net curtains. But no light seems to come through. We take a peep - and discover that the windows are all bricked up. Our room is spacious with two large sash windows and a proper antique chest of drawers. Best bit is the huge, comfy bed with no shortage of pillows. This is old-fashioned country house hotel territory. The bathroom is up a few stairs (handrail provided) and it's some time since we've come across a shower curtain. Downstairs is more contemporary, more airy. The new dining room feels like a conservatory, with lots of space and floor to ceiling doors leading into the garden. The garden is a big deal here, especially the area given over to herbs — more than 400 varieties, including 50 types of mint. We're on a dinner, bed and breakfast rate of £199 for two people. That's good value. Staff are attentive and, astonishingly, all seem to be British. We get the impression locals enjoy working at Congham Hall. While we peruse the menu, a waitress leaves an iPad on the table, which, she explains, is the wine list. I pick it up and start flicking through the electronic pages, but find the whole process unbearable. 'I'm so sorry, but I spend almost every moment of every day staring at a screen and would love not to do so on a Friday evening. Do you have a printed version?' I ask. 'We don't I'm afraid,' she says. No iPads or tablets are deployed at breakfast. Instead, there are lots of newspapers, a buffet and a proper a la carte menu. My wife thinks electronic menus will be perfectly normal in a few years. I hope she's wrong. They certainly don't belong at Congham Hall. Congham Hall . Grimston . King's Lynn . Norfolk . PE32 1AH . 01485 600250 . www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk . Doubles from £125 B&B . Rating: .
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Congham Hall is an old-fashioned country-house hotel in rural Norfolk .
It does have modern touches, however - including iPads for wine lists .
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(CNN) -- A wheel from the main landing gear of a Colgan Airlines passenger plane fell off and rolled away as the aircraft was landing in Buffalo, New York, earlier this week. A wheel fell off the landing gear of Q400 Bombardier upon landing on Colgan Flight 3268 earlier this week. On Thursday night, The Toronto Sun posted a video of the incident shot by a passenger on the Q400 Bombardier -- the same type of plane involved in a fatal Colgan Airlines crash three months ago, also on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The video shows the wheel touch down on the ground and then roll away, followed by metal parts that are meant to keep the wheels in place. The plane was towed to the gate, where everyone on board "deplaned normally," said Joe Williams, a spokesman for Pinnacle Airlines, Colgan's parent company. "At no time was any passenger or crew member at risk, nor were any injuries reported," Williams said of the Tuesday incident. "The aircraft was properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer and Federal Aviation Administration procedures." Williams said the incident "appears to have been caused by the failure of the outer wheel bearing ... the bearing was relatively new, having been on the aircraft for five weeks." Colgan Flight 3268 originated in Newark, New Jersey. "I was scared, and the other passengers looked worried, too," one passenger told the Toronto newspaper. "For a moment, I thought the worst in that we may not make it." Three months ago, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in nearby Clarence Center, New York, killing all 49 passengers and crew members aboard. One person was killed on the ground. Hearings about the cause of that accident have been held in Washington this week. Investigators have focused on pilot fatigue as a possible cause of the crash.
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Wheel from main landing gear fell off as aircraft was landing earlier this week .
Colgan Airlines spokesman says no one on Flight 3268 was injured .
One person on flight: "I was scared, and the other passengers looked worried, too"
Three months ago, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed, killing all 49 people aboard .
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(CNN) -- Thailand's capital was braced for unprecedented flooding Tuesday, amid the monsoon rains that have overwhelmed much of the country and neighboring Cambodia in recent weeks. So far 269 people have been killed in Thailand, according to the country's Flood Relief Operations Command. Some 60 of the country's 76 provinces have so far been affected, impacting some eight million people. In Bangkok officials beefed up flood prevention measures as waterways, including the main Chao Phraya River, became bloated by rising water. On Monday, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered canal dredging and reinforcement of flood-prevention embankments to protect the city, state-run news agency MCOT reported. In addition, three new flood-prevention walls were being built at two locations in Rangsit, in northern Bangkok, and in Taling Chan, in the western part of the city. Tourists warned as floods continue to wreak havoc in Thailand . The government needs another 1.5 million sandbags, MCOT reported. The prime minister called on the private sector to supply them, but said the government will buy all the needed sandbags by Wednesday, the news agency said. Meanwhile, around 1,200 people have taken shelter in a gymnasium at Bangkok's Thammasat University. Most of them are from neighboring Ayutthaya province and other flood-affected areas around the capital, said Thanawat Srisuwan, a volunteer at the makeshift shelter. The authorities have set up almost 200 other temporary shelters around the city to receive flood victims. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said plans were in place to evacuate people from nine areas, mainly in eastern Bangkok, if needed. Elsewhere, patients in two hospitals in Thailand's Ayutthaya and Nakhon Sawan provinces had to be evacuated after water reached the first floor, the flood operations command said. Multiple tropical weather systems have moved over the region in recent weeks, enhancing monsoon rains and leading to the flooding. Another low pressure system is forecast to move into Southeast Asia on Tuesday and Wednesday, said Brandon Miller, senior meteorologist for CNN International. According to the government website Thaiflood.com, water from northern Thailand has finally reached lower parts of central Thailand, penetrating dykes in Pathumthani and Nonthaburi provinces and flooding outer areas of Bangkok, including the market in Nonthaburi and Chiang Rang road. The giant Rojana Industrial Park has halted operations for the time being, director Amara Charoengitwattanagun told MCOT, and the facility may be further damaged if the flooding worsens. One plant in the park, Single Point Parts, evacuated all workers from the premises and built flood prevention embankments around its building. Honda also confirmed operations at its Rojana plant have been halted and it will remain closed at least until October 12. The Japanese automaker says the closure of the plant has already affected the manufacture of 4,500 vehicles. Meanwhile the UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya historical park, which includes the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, has been submerged since last week, according to local authorities. "This is the worst flood in our historical site in 16 years," said Somsuda Leeyawanich, from the Thai Fine Arts Department. She said the water level in the park is almost three meters, compared to levels of around 80-90 centimeters during the floods of 1995. "We are very concerned that if the site is under water more 30 days it may cause serious damage," she added. "The temples are over 400 years old." CNN's Kocha Olarn in Bangkok contributed to this report.
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Flood Relief Operations Command: 269 people have been killed in Thai flooding .
Monsoon rains have overwhelmed much of Thailand and neighboring Cambodia in recent weeks .
Bangkok officials have beefed up flood prevention measures amid rising water levels .
Officials say floodwaters are moving into central Thailand from northern areas .
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This is the heart-stopping moment a thrill-seeking kayaker plunges 150ft from the top of a waterfall and falls through a rainbow. Taken this summer, the heart-stopping images were captured on camera by celebrated sports photographer Eric Parker as extreme kayaker Rafael Ortiz tackled the 150ft drop of the Alexander Falls waterfall in British Columbia, Canada. Mr Ortiz, an adrenaline junkie kayaker from Mexico, is no stranger to danger but shooting through a rainbow whilst hurtling down the gnarliest of white-water depths was an added bonus. Scroll down for video . Mr Ortiz descends one of the drops of Alexander Falls in British Columbia, which totals 150ft . White-water kayaking requires the paddler to roll and spin and manoeuvre the kayak in accordance with the river currents. Here Mr Ortiz bounces down smaller drop . This composite image shows the stages of Mr Ortiz's approach to the rapid. By leaning left and right according to the direction of the currents around him, he is able to stop himself from being flipped upside down . Adrenaline junkie Rafael Ortiz passes through a rainbow as he plummets 150ft down the waterfall . Navigating one of the deadly rapids, Mr Ortiz drops down through the middle of a waterfall . He is a legend in a sport which has taken him all over the world including an expedition when he managed to land the tallest waterfall ever dropped - the 189ft-high Pallouse Falls in Washington. Mr Parker, from Washington, is a champion in the world of extreme sports photography and he managed to catch all the action on his trusty camera. He said: 'I love that waterfalls, epic rock formations, and rainbows usually come in a package deal. 'Rivers are incredible pieces of nature and these pictures show that nature off perfectly. 'There are few things more peaceful than water falling in the sky, which is why I love to shoot waterfalls. 'It was amazing to watch Rafael tackle this waterfall so skillfully.' Mr Ortiz breezes his way through a narrow gap between the sharp rocks which form the waterfall . Here he is pictured spinning in circles as he launches out of the river and down the face of a drop .
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Adventure kayaker Rafael Ortiz drops down British Columbia waterfall .
Photos of the stunt show him plummeting 150ft through a rainbow .
Mr Ortiz, from Mexico, is the world's most renowned extreme kayaker .
He holds a record for landing the biggest kayaking drop of 189ft .
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By . David Mccormack . and Sarah Gordon . These postcards are the first color photographs taken of the New World, capturing the majesty of the American landscape, from buzzing city scenes to the dramatic vista of the Grand Canyon. Dating back to the late 19th century and early 20th century – and now compiled in a book entitled An American Odyssey – they show the people and places of the New World, documenting Native Americans, African Americans, immigrants, cowboys and gold rushers. The photographs were taken between 1888 and 1924 and were made into postcards celebrating cities, landscapes and everyday life across the country. Images such as this of Zuni Pueblo Indians carrying out a Rain Dance in New Mexico were produced using a photochrom process . Sunset from the Battery, New York: These postcards, dating back to the late 19th century and early 20th century and collected in a new book entitled An American Odyssey, show the people and places of the New World . Homestake Mine, South Dakota: These particular images were produced by the Detroit Photographic Company at the turn of the century . Many of the images were produced using a photochrom process, taking black and white negatives and filling them with color by transferring them onto lithographic printing stones. Another process used was photostint, a way of tinting black and white and sepia images which was used by companies - including what was then known as the London Daily Mail - to print color postcards of important events, such as scenes from the First World War. These processes predated the autochrome by nearly 20 years and offered people the very first color photographs of The United States. Suddenly, the continent's colors were available for all to see. The rich ochres and browns of the Grand Canyon, the dazzle of Atlantic City, became a visual delight not only for eyewitnesses, but for Americans far and wide. The Big Apple: Mulberry Street, the main thoroughfare in Manhattan, is brought to life with the photochrom process, showing the varying ethnicity of New Yorkers and a glimpse at their everyday lives . A Mississippi landing, Vicksburg: The colorful photochroms started out as glass negatives such as this . Laundry day: This unusual picture shows a Monday in New York City, when the streets were filled with clean washing being aired among the buildings . Feats of engineering: The Gerogetown Loop over Clear Creek Canyon in Colorado was hugely important to the nearby gold and silver mines at the start of the 20th century . These spectacular postcards are from a private collection amassed by graphic designer, photographer, and collector Marc Walter. He specializes in vintage travel photographs and has one of the world's largest collections. These particular images were produced by the Detroit Photographic Company at the turn of the century, combining landscapes with human interest images for city dwellers, immigrants and even gold rushers and the last Wild West cowboys. The 612-page hardback book, published by Taschen, is a celebration of America and is considered a journey through its later 19th and early 20th-century landscapes. Photos include a busy city scene on Mulberry Street in New York, while another contrasts dramatically, capturing the rural life of a Seminole Indian family sailing in their dugout canoes in Florida. Rainbow effect: The Grand Canyon is shown in all its glory with greens, rich reds and purples depicted by the photochrom technique . 'Three Graces', Yosemite National Park, California, left. The 612-page hardback book, published by Taschen, is a celebration of America and is considered a journey through its later 19th and early 20th-century landscapes, right . On track: Transport is a dominant theme throughout the images, showing America at the cutting edge of technology . Magnolia Plantation, on the Ashely River in Charleston, is brought to life with the application of color to the image, while the Grand Canyon is also shown shimmering with color. Transport is also a leading theme in the postcards, featuring spectacular train journeys crossing Clear Creek Canyon, on Georgetown Loop in Colorado and the Mount Lowe Railway, on the circular bridge in California. Tourists can still ride on the Georgetown Loop railways, experiencing what life was like during the gold rush era, when everyone was trying to make their fortune. And spectacular National Parks such as the Grand Canyon still draw crowds, with millions of visitors every year. Traditions: Members of the Seminole Tribe in Florida - whose history dates back to the early 1500s - are depicted in the dugout canoes in their elegant dress . Gold rush town: A glorious panorama shows the Californian city of San Francisco when it was still a relatively small settlement . Southern life: A magnolia plantation is shown in bloom on the edge of the Ashley River in Charleston with a local woman stood looking out over the water . These spectacular postcards are from a private collection amassed by graphic designer, photographer, and collector Marc Walter. He specializes in vintage travel photographs and has one of the world's largest collections .
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A collection of the first color photographs taken of the New World have been compiled in a new book entitled An American Odyssey .
The images dates back to the late 19th century and early 20th century and made into postcards celebrating cities, landscapes and everyday life across the country .
Many of the images were produced using a .
photochrom process, taking black and white negatives and filling them .
with color by transferring them onto lithographic printing stones .
The process predated the autochrome .
by nearly 20 years and offered people the very first color photographs .
of The United States .
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When the Parr family started having serious health problems late in 2008, they had no idea it was associated with what they call "a multitude" of drilling operations that popped up near their 40-acre ranch in Decatur, 60 miles northwest of Dallas. At first, Lisa Parr dismissed her migraine headaches, nausea and dizziness as the flu, but when her symptoms persistently got worse, she knew something more serious was involved. "By 2009, I was having a multitude of problems," Lisa Parr told CNN. "My central nervous system was messed up. I couldn't hear, and my vision was messed up. My entire body would shake inside. I was vomiting white foam in the mornings." In 2009, Lisa's husband, Robert, and their 11-year-old daughter, Emma, also became ill, suffering a laundry-list of symptoms. "They had nosebleeds, vision problems, nausea, rashes, blood pressure issues. Being that the wells were not on our property, we had no idea that what they were doing on the property around us was affecting us," she said. 'Private nuisance' After a two-week trial that ended Tuesday -- Earth Day, coincidentally -- a Dallas jury awarded the Parr family $2.9 million for personal injury and property damages in the family's lawsuit against Plano-based Aruba Petroleum Inc. According to the lawsuit, Aruba Petroleum had 22 natural gas wells within a 2-mile radius of the Parrs' property, with three wells in close proximity to their Texas home. The closest was 791 feet away. As a result of poor management and lack of emission controls, Aruba Petroleum created a "private nuisance" to the Parr family by producing harmful air pollution and exposing them to harmful emissions of volatile organic compounds, toxic air pollutants and diesel exhaust, the lawsuit said. Op-ed: Make sure fracking is done right . Aruba Petroleum argued to the jury that it consistently met state regulatory standards for air emissions and that there was no evidence its fracking of the wells harmed the Parr family in any way. In a statement released after the verdict, Aruba said "natural gas development has long been prevalent in Wise County," and dozens of companies operate hundreds of wells there. The company further said it complied with state air-quality limits and that its experts made strong cases countering the Parrs' claims in court. "We contended the plaintiffs were neither harmed by the presence of our drilling operations nor was the value of their property diminished because of our natural gas development. We presented thorough and expert testimony from recognized toxicologists and medical professionals, as well as local real estate professionals, to help the jury make an informed decision," Aruba's statement said. "Unfortunately, they returned a verdict that we believe is counter to the evidence presented." An important precedent? Fracking, which is short for hydraulic fracturing, is the process by which drillers pump large amounts of water mixed with sand and chemicals into a shale or rock formation. The wells can be deeper than 8,000 feet, and the process fractures the shale around the well, allowing the natural gas in the shale to flow freely. Interactive: How fracking works . Is energy independence a myth? Lisa Parr said that she knew by July 2010 that the "loud operation" next door to their ranch was toxic. "One night, our whole house was vibrating and shaking. We lease that property for our cattle and so I went over there to make sure our cattle wasn't around there, and when I went over there my nose and throat started burning." Parr called the state Commission on Environmental Quality. "My doctor, an internal specialist, found 20 chemicals in my body and he said, 'Lisa you must move immediately. You will spend more time and money on hospitals, chemotherapy, and a mortician ... and you need to get an environmental health doctor immediately,' " she said. The Parrs filed suit in March 2011, asking for $66 million in damages against nine companies that were originally thought to be involved in the drilling operations. Eventually, some of the energy companies were dismissed from the case, and some reached settlements before the trial. Their identities cannot be disclosed, according to the Parrs' Houston-based attorney, Brad Gilde. During discovery, Gilde said that "substantial evidence" showed that Aruba Petroleum was a factor in causing the Parrs' health problems. He said he believes the Parrs' court victory -- which he says is the first jury award for personal injury in a U.S. fracking case -- "marks an important precedent for the future of natural gas production." "Because of their courage and determination for justice, the Parrs have successfully held Aruba Petroleum Inc. accountable for their careless and reckless behavior," he said. CNNMoney: Fracking has hot year in China . Aruba had a starkly different take on the verdict and left the door open to an appeal. "We thank the jury for its service," the company said. "The facts of the case and the law as applied to those facts do not support the verdict. ... Talk of an appeal is premature. Aruba has a number of arguments to be made in the trial court for why a judgment should be entered in its favor. " 'Knee-jerk reaction'? Attorneys who represent the energy sector and are familiar with Parr v. Aruba Petroleum Inc. say they don't believe the case will set a precedent. Nor will it establish a blueprint for "copycat" cases, they say. Rather, they see this case as an anomaly due to the fact that it went to trial and addressed a rare nuisance allegation that evolved into a case revolving around personal injury from toxic exposure. Wendy May, a Dallas-based attorney who represented a prior defendant in the case before that company was dismissed from the lawsuit, says she doesn't think the Parrs' jury award will survive an appeal. "The knee-jerk reaction by people not understanding the limitations of this verdict in this case may, in fact, cause others to believe there is an avenue for cases that there may not ultimately turn out to be," May said. "I don't think it presents any precedents, certainly not from a legal perspective. I think the case is ripe for review by the appellate courts, and based on clear law that has been laid out by the Texas Supreme Court, a decision like this should not stand." Oiling on Indian reservations . Gail Wurtzler, another environmental defense attorney, agrees with May that this is a one-off case because of the "situational" facts involved. "Nuisance cases are very fact-specific, and because they are fact-specific, the results in one would not have implications for others," Wurtzler said. Regardless, the Parrs say they feel vindicated by the six-person jury's decision after what they describe as a six-year nightmare of nonstop health issues. They're now living at their ranch again and say that since Aruba has put units on their well sites to clean the air -- and the well closest to them has been shut down -- they are feeling better. "With that being down, we're better about staying here. Now with this lawsuit being over, the curious question is whether they are going to shut this back on. That will determine if we have to move again. I don't trust this company," Lisa Parr said. Asked about the prospect of a drawn-out appeals process, she says they're ready for a fight and quotes one of her favorite musicians, Tom Petty: "I stand my ground, and I won't back down." "I am very pleased with the verdict. This was justice that was served not only for us, but for every family in the world who has suffered from health effects and the negligence from this type of industry," she said. Perhaps surprisingly to some, Lisa Parr says she's not opposed to the work oil companies do. She simply wants them to do their business responsibly, she said. "We are not anti-fracking or anti-drilling. My goodness, we live in Texas. Keep it in the pipes, and if you have a leak or spill, report it and be respectful to your neighbors. If you are going to put this stuff in close proximity to homes, be respectful and careful."
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Parr family suffered from nosebleeds, rashes, vision problems, "vomiting white foam"
A Dallas jury this week ordered Aruba Petroleum to pay the Parrs $3 million in damages .
Aruba says it didn't cause health problems or property damage; company may appeal .
Asked about drawn-out appeals process, Lisa Parr quotes Tom Petty: "I won't back down"
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By . David Kent . Every day Sportsmail takes a look at the European papers to see what are the biggest stories creating talking points on the continent. Vicente del Bosque turned down the chance to succeed David Moyes as Manchester United manager and was offered the job before Louis van Gaal, according to reports in the Spanish press. The veteran Spain boss was nominated as the first-choice replacement for the sacked Scot by Sir Alex Ferguson and the Red Devils made their approach in April, according to AS. But the 63-year-old former Real Madrid boss reportedly would not even consider talking to the club, and instead has signed a new deal to extend his time in charge of the Spanish national team until after Euro 2016. Revelations: Vicente del Bosque's rejection of Manchester United over their manager's job (left) and Barcelona's interest in Marquinhos (right) are the big news in the Spanish press on Wednesday morning . United have since confirmed that Van Gaal will be their new boss following the World Cup in Brazil this summer. But AS also report that the Dutchman was only one of three names on United's shortlist, along with Del Bosque and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. Del Bosque could have made vastly more money by taking charge of United, but apparently refused even to entertain the approach. Madrid president Florentino Perez had claimed on Tuesday that Manchester United wanted Carlo Ancelotti to take over from Ferguson last year. Speaking on Spanish radio, Perez suggested Ferguson only chose Moyes after Ancelotti told him he was replacing Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu. Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barcelona have offered Paris Saint-Germain £16million plus Dani Alves for Marquinhos. The super-rich French club, who are set to sign David Luiz from Chelsea in a huge deal, have reportedly rebuffed the offer and instead want £24.5m plus Alves before they consider a deal for the 20-year-old Brazilian centre-half. Barcelona have also been told they will need to splash out for Roma defender Mehdi Benatia. The Moroccan defender had a hugely impressive debut season as Roma finished second in Serie A and has attracted interested from Barca, Manchester City and United. But Roma have told any potential suitors that the 27-year-old will cost them £32m, according to Italian daily Il Romanista. Read all about it: Il Romanista featured Mehdi Benatia (left) while L'Equipe focused on France's victory (right) In France, L'Equipe hailed Les Bleus' 4-0 friendly win over Norway as 'giving life' to the national side's World Cup campaign. Olivier Giroud scored twice, while Loic Remy and Paul Pogba also found the net as Didier Deschamps' men saw off the Norwegians with ease. And the result has seemingly left France upbeat ahead of the tournament in Brazil.
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Vicente del Bosque turned down Manchester United job after David Moyes was sacked, according to Spanish press .
Spain boss was Man Utd's first-choice replacement for Moyes .
Vicente del Bosque has since signed a new contract to extent his time in charge of Spanish national team until after Euro 2016 .
Spain manager will lead his nation in 2014 World Cup this June .
Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barcelona have bid £16million plus Dani Alves for Brazilian centre-half Marquinhos .
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By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 19:04 EST, 6 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:47 EST, 7 February 2014 . Woody Allen has yet to respond to resurfaced allegations he molested his adopted daughter Dylan when she was 7-years-old, but he has spoken out on the issue before. In 1992 Allen gave a rare interview with 60 minutes, describing the allegations as calculated revenge by former-partner Mia Farrow for falling in love with her then 21-year-old daughter Soon-Yi Previn. While the two were in the midst of a bitter custody battle, Allen says Farrow threatened his life on several occasions, and even sent him a voodoo Valentine. Scroll down for video . Reaction: Filmmaker Woody Allen previously defended himself against claims he molested his adopted daughter Dylan in a 1992 interview with 60 minutes . Scary: Allen shared a picture of a voodoo Valentine Farrow sent him after their breakup, with pins stuck through all her children and a steak knife stabbing her image . She did it: Allen said he believed Farrow coached Dylan into implicating him for molestation (Dylan pictured with blonde curls, at bottom) Just weeks before the molestation claims, the two got into a fight over the phone and Allen recalls Farrow saying: 'I have something very nasty planned for you'. On another occasion, Farrow said: 'You took my daughter, and I'm gonna take yours.' In addition to the verbal threats, Farrow hand-delivered a Valentine to Allen. When he opened it up is showed a family picture with Farrow and her children with needles sticking through each of the children, and a steak knife through Farrow. Then in August 1992, after visiting his children at Farrow's country home in Connecticut, his ex accused him of taking Dylan into a room and molesting her. Allen and Farrow were partners for nearly 12 . years before breaking up when he fell in love with her 21-year-old . adopted daughter Soon-Yi. From left to right, Dylan, Allen, Farrow and . their only biological son Ronan (born Satchel) - though Farrow recently said Ronan could be the son of her ex, Frank Sinatra . In his 60 Minutes interview, Allen claimed that there was no basis for the allegations - not even an innocent incident that exaggerated. 'There is no possibility that anything remotely ever happened to Dylan,' he said. Allen said he believed Farrow coached Dylan to implicate him. Allen's then-girlfriend and current wife Soon-Yi believed Farrow did it out of spite. 'Soon-Yi believes that [Mia] does not believe it. Soon-Yi thinks it's absolutely in character that she has made it up quite calculatingly.' Warning: When Allen attended Dylan's birthday party, he says Farrow put up this handwritten sign on the door . Allen was never formally charged with sexual assault, though Connecticut state's attorney Frank S Maco said he found 'probable cause' to prosecute Allen. However, Maco decided not to peruse the case because he felt Dylan was too 'fragile' to go through the trial process and Farrow agreed. The allegations resurfaced last month when Allen was awarded the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes. During the ceremony, estranged son Ronan Farrow tweeted: 'Missed the Woody Allen tribute - did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?' That started a media firestorm that eventually resulted in Dylan writing about the abuse for the first time this weekend in a New York Times open letter. Coming forward: Dylan Farrow spoke out for the first time about the alleged abuse in a letter to the New York Times last weekend . She described the incident, saying Allen led her to the home's attic and told her to lay on her stomach and play with her brother's toy train set. 'Then he sexually assaulted me. He talked to me while he did it, whispering that I was a good girl, that this was our secret, promising that we'd go to Paris and I'd be a star in his movies.' Critic: Dylan's adopted brother Moses Farrow spoke to People this week, saying he doesn't believe the molestation ever happened . Some have criticized Dylan for attacking her father again, saying it may have been a calculated move to damage his award-season chances for film Blue Jasmine. Her own adopted brother Moses Farrow is one of those critics, telling People magazine he doesn't believe the molestation ever happened and that his mother turned the whole family against Allen after their split. 'My mother drummed it into me to hate my father for tearing apart the family and sexually molesting my sister,' he said. Shortly after hearing her brother's statement, People reached out to Dylan to get a response, and she was clearly emotional. 'I'm sorry,' she apologized. 'I'm shaking right now.' 'My brother is dead to me,' she said. Yesterday, the New York Times announced that Allen had reached out to them asking for the opportunity to respond to Dylan's letter. The Times agreed, and the response could be published within days.
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Allegations that Woody Allen molested his adopted daughter Dylan when she was 7-years-old resurfaced last month .
Dylan Farrow wrote about the alleged abuse for the first time this weekend in a letter published in the New York Times .
Allen has yet to respond to the letter, but he did talk about the allegations in a 1992 interview .
He believed ex Mia Farrow coached Dylan out of revenge for falling in love with Soon-Yi Previn, Farrow's 21-year-old adopted daughter .
Allen has reportedly reached out to the Times to respond to Dylan's letter, which could be published in the next few days .
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By . Mark Duell . UPDATED: . 14:23 EST, 17 October 2011 . A New York police officer allegedly stopped and frisked a black man without a proper reason before arresting him - just because of his race. Michael Daragjati, 32, searched the man in April on Staten Island without proper cause before arresting him, a Brooklyn criminal complaint said. Daragjati, who is white, allegedly arrested the man when he complained - and filed a false report saying he had resisted arrest. Charges: Michael Daragjati, 32, allegedly stopped and frisked the man in April on Staten Island without proper cause before arresting him (file picture) Federal authorities say they later intercepted a phone call between Daragjati and a friend, when he said: ‘Another n****r fried, no big deal’. Daragjati is charged with violating the man’s civil rights - and with extortion as well as wire fraud in incidents relating to an off-duty snowplow business. If convicted of all charges he could be jailed for up to 60 years and face a fine of up to $850,000, reported the New York Post. The man complained about his treatment by the officer and was at first allowed to walk away, reported the New York Daily News. Court document: This is the top page of a complaint against Michael Daragjati accusing him of false arrest . Patrol car: Daragjati, who is white, allegedly arrested the man when he complained and filed a false report saying he had resisted arrest (file picture) But the man allegedly shouted insults at Daragjati, which prompted him to cross the street and handcuff him. 'The power to arrest (must) be used fairly, responsibly and without bias. Motivated by racial aniumus, the defendant allegedly abused this power and responsibility' Attorney Loretta Lynch . ‘The power to arrest (must) be used fairly, responsibly and without bias,’ Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said. ‘Motivated by racial aniumus, the defendant allegedly abused this power and responsibility.’ Daragjati has served with the NYPD for eight years. The man was kept in jail for around 36 hours before being released.
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Michael Daragjati, 32, stopped and frisked man in April .
Incident happened on Staten Island in New York City .
Officer 'filed false report saying he had resisted arrest'
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f71c20085e774333f31ca722fc5afb5c09534ab8
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Are Manchester United right to sack David Moyes? Are Manchester United right to sack David Moyes? Now share your opinion . David Moyes will be sacked by Manchester United in the coming weeks and could even go before the end of the day. United’s owners the Glazer family have finally lost patience with Moyes after a dismal season that has seen the reigning Barclays Premier League champions slump to seventh in the table. The final straw was Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Everton, their 11th in the Barclays Premier League this season, and a result that left the title holders down 13 points off the Champions League places. End of the line: David Moyes will be sacked by Manchester United and could leave before the end of the season . Under pressure: United crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Moyes's former club Everton on Sunday, their 11th defeat of the Premier League season . Miracle: Moyes found it impossible to maintain the high standards set by predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson . Bright beginnings: Moyes started work at Old Trafford on July 1 last summer just 10 months ago . Played 51Won 27Drawn 9Lost 15Win percentage 52.94 . The Glazers and United chief executive . Ed Woodward were determined to show patience with Moyes but have . recognised inescapable signs recently that performances were getting . worse and that players had stopped trying for their manager. It . is understood that the plan now is to sack Moyes at the end of the . season but the situation could now come to a head later on Monday or in the . coming days. If the former Everton boss is sacked before the season’s . end, club legend Ryan Giggs will be asked to take over team affairs. In . terms of appointing a long-term successor, Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, . Holland’s Louis van Gaal and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti are in . the frame. Meet the new boss: Moyes gets to work on his first morning as United manager at the club's Carrington training complex . Backing: Supporters on the Stretford End commissioned a banner proclaiming Moyes as the 'Chosen One' Good start: Moyes lifts the Community Shield after United beat Wigan 2-0 at Wembley back in August. It will be his only piece of silverware with the club . Winning start: United won 4-1 at Swansea City on the opening day of the season, getting their title defence off to the perfect start . Warm reception: Moyes is introduced to the Old Trafford crowd prior to his first home game against Chelsea . April 26 Norwich City (H)May 3 Sunderland (H)May 6 Hull City (H)May 11 Southampton (A) Despite the . expensive signings of Marouane Fellaini last summer and Juan Mata in . January, United have failed to keep pace with their rivals and mount any . kind of title challenge. Moyes, who moved from Everton last summer to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, has also overseen failure in the cup competitions. United . were eliminated by Swansea City in the third round of the FA Cup, by . Sunderland in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and by Bayern . Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Taking all competitions into account, United have won 27 of 51 matches during the Moyes tenure, drawing nine and losing 15. Taste of defeat: Moyes suffered his first league loss at Anfield as a Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool a 1-0 win on September 1 . Down to work: Moyes leads a training session at Carrington ahead of his first Champions League match with United back in September . Euro stars: United beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 at Old Trafford in their opening Champions League fixture of the season . Nightmare: The scale of Moyes's task at Old Trafford became apparent in the 4-1 defeat at rivals Manchester City on September 24 . Bad to worse: Moyes can't believe his misfortune as United are beaten at home by West Bromwich on September 28 . Pressure . mounted further on the embattled manager following a lacklustre showing . at Goodison Park, in which United transfer target Leighton Baines and . Kevin Mirallas scored the goals. Moyes . bizarrely claimed that his team had played well after they lost 2-0 at . Everton despite one of the most lame performances of his reign. Many . United fans saw the performance as a tipping point and the increasing . number who were calling for him to go have got their wish. Afterwards, Moyes — who was taunted by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper in the crowd — claimed he was happy with the display. He . said: ‘We played well in the first half but conceded two on the . counter-attack. We didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down. We had good control of . the game and possession of the ball. We didn’t defend well for the . goals, though. That was right rotten.’ Masterstroke: Moyes did persuade star striker Wayne Rooney to turn down the overtures of Chelsea and sign a new contract . Revenge: United knocked Liverpool out of the Capital One Cup at the third round stage, offering swift retribution for the Anfield loss . Passion play: Moyes celebrates Javier Hernandez's goal as United beat Stoke City 3-2 at Old Trafford . Low point: Moyes sits and considers his options as United lose 1-0 to his former club Everton on December 4 . Moyes’s verdict raised eyebrows in the Sky Sports studio. ‘That’s the worst I’ve seen from them over 90 minutes,’ said pundit and Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher. ‘Nobody . seems to know what’s going on, on the pitch or in the dugout. You can’t . see what the plan is. When I played it was total dominance from . Manchester United. I’m looking at this team and wondering why they . didn’t play like that when I was playing.’ Moyes . was even criticised on the club's in-house TV channel when pundit David . May said he was 'out of his depth' before being hushed up by the . presenter. More to follow . Row: Moyes grabs the ball from Hatem Ben Arfa as Alan Pardew looks on during December's 1-0 home loss to Newcastle United . Race is on: Moyes runs along the touchline to retrieve the ball during United's New Year's Day loss to Tottenham . Protest: Moyes runs on to the pitch to appeal after a blatant handball is not given in the Tottenham match . No luck: Moyes rues a missed chance as United slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final . Out: With coach Phil Neville after United were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on penalties by Sunderland . January sales: Moyes bought Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37m in a bid to revive the flagging season . Nadir: United produced their most miserable performance of the season as they were beaten 2-0 by Olympiacos in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie . The great turnaround: But a Robin van Persie hat-trick gave United a 3-0 win at Old Trafford and took them through to a last eight encounter with Bayern Munich . Anger: A fan remonstrates with Moyes during the 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City . Guarded: Stewards protect the 'Chosen one' banner on the Stretford End at the end of the City defeat . Stunt: Disgruntled United fans paid for this plane to fly over the ground during a home match with Aston Villa. The plane's appearance was roundly booed by United fans in the ground . Good display: United produced their best performance of the season in the 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich . Beyond them: But Bayern came from behind in the second leg in Munich to win 3-1 and knock United out of the Champions League . Waving goodbye: The final straw was United's 2-0 loss at Goodison Park on Sunday .
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Moyes will be sacked and could even leave today .
Glazer family lose patience after dismal season at home and abroad .
Final straw came in Sunday's miserable 2-0 defeat at old club Everton .
United are seventh in Premier League, 13 points off fourth place .
Giggs will be asked to take over if Moyes is sacked before season's end .
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