id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 48
15.9k
| highlights
stringlengths 14
7.39k
|
|---|---|---|
f803748bf6b95288f217a082edb5612132b5611f
|
By . Bianca London . Their wardrobes couldn't be more different, but Carole Middleton, mother . of the Duchess of Cambridge, and Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, . mother to Cressida Bonas, might soon have to start coordinating outfits. If Cressy and Harry follow in Kate and Wills' footsteps and get wed, the two mother-in-laws will come head-to-head at some of the most stylish - and photographed - events in the society calendar. So is Carole Middleton's position as Britain’s most glamorous royal mother-in-law under threat and will the two women be style sisters or fashion foes? Battle of the glamorous in-laws: As Lady Mary Gaye Curson's daughter Cressida gets closer to Prince Harry, will she have to compete for attention with Kate's mother Carole Middleton (left)? Raised . at the start of her life in a council flat, Carole is a former air . hostess whose ancestors were working-class labourers and miners. Carole, . 59, and husband Michael now run a multi-million pound mail-order company, Party Pieces. By . contrast, Lady Mary Gaye, 67, is just about as blue-blooded as you can get. Her . late father, Edward Curzon, was the 6th Earl Howe, godson of King . Edward VII, a World War II naval officer and later a conservative . politician. Her mother, Grace Wakeling, was the daughter of a British . colonialist in South Africa. While Carole was busy training to be an air hostess, Lady . Mary Gaye was one of the most glamorous debutantes of her day and a blue-coloured cocktail - because of her . blue-blooded credentials - called The Curzon was even invented at Claridge’s . in her honour. In contrast to Carole Middleton, who has been happily married to Michael . for 33 years, Lady Mary Gaye was notorious for her four marriages and four divorces. Her first husband was Esmond Cooper-Key, grandson of the 2nd . Viscount Rothermere, who she wed in 1971. He died of a brain tumour in 1985. Different upbringings: While Carole, pictured left at the birth of Prince George, began life in a council flat, Lady Mary Gaye, right with ex-husband Christopher Shaw, is just about as blue-blooded as you can get . Husband number two was John Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, whom she married in 1977 at Kensington registry office. They had three children: . Georgiana, now a 34-year-old sculptress; Isabella, 33, now married to . Sir Richard Branson’s son Sam; and Jacobi, 29, a PR who is a good friend . of the Duke of Cambridge. That relationship, however, broke down . after nine years, and Lady Mary Gaye began an affair with old Harrovian . businessman, Jeffrey Bonas, Cressida’s father, while he was still . married to his first wife, Elspeth. Lady . Mary Gaye and Jeffrey married in 1988 and Cressida, named after the . character in Shakespeare’s Troilus And Cressida, was born a year later. In 1994 she met financier Christopher Shaw and the pair tied the knot in 1996. The . couple became known for their extravagant parties, particularly those . at Royal Ascot, where Lady Mary Gaye’s was the biggest tent in the No 1 . car park, containing a mobile kitchen complete with cook, butler and . tables laid with silver cutlery. Shaw . left Lady Mary Gaye in 2000 and she retreated to Chelsea, where she has remained ever since. Style queen: It was Carole not daughters Kate or Pippa who recently featured in a Vogue style poll . Today, Lady Mary Gaye . is an archetypal Chelsea lady and a keen charity . fundraiser known for her Sloaney style, impeccable . manners and charming personality. Her . friends say that she still throws 'the most fabulous parties - always . has and always will' and say that she is 'extremely well-liked in . society.' Despite Carole's more humble beginnings, she has gone on to conquer the fashion world for women of a certain age. Carole . even has the golden approval of sharp-tongued Chanel designer Karl . Lagerfeld, 78, who even went so far as to call the 57-year-old Middleton . matriarch 'sexy'. And Asda designed a clothing range with a nod to Kate's mother after . customers said they wanted to emulate Mrs Middleton’s 'elegant' style. Meanwhile Lady Mary Gaye sports more of a classic Sloane ranger style and covets pearls, tailored blazers and twee suits. Catwalk: Carole loves making a fashion statement, while Lady Mary Gaye (right) sticks to a more Sloaney style . UK Fashion blogger Lydia Faye Jones said: 'Carole is a more daring dresser. Whether she's baring some leg on a trip to the shops or sporting a leopard print dress at Wimbledon, she's not afraid to take risks in the name of fashion. 'Lady Mary Gaye, on the other hand, oozes sophisticated old school glamour with her up-dos, pearls and brooches. 'If the two glamorous in-laws come head-to-head at events, it really will turn into a catwalk. Kate Middleton, who?'
|
Lady Mary Gaye Curzon is blue-blooded and champions Sloaney style .
Carole, 67, loves to experiment with fashion trends .
Duo may come head-to-head at upcoming events .
|
f803946a0dcbea4afe328b4ac8df82f16d880afe
|
By . Reuters . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:29 EST, 13 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:23 EST, 13 March 2014 . More than 4,000 patients have been warned they could have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis at a New York hospital after insulin pens used to treat diabetes were reused on more than one person. South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside on Long Island, near New York City, said 4,200 patients may have received insulin from the pens - not a single-use disposable needle - that could have been used on more than one patient from as far back as 2011. 'The risk of infection from this is extremely low,' the hospital said in a statement, adding it was recommending patients 'be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.' Scroll down for video . Reused: Patients who were injected with single-use insulin pens used on more than one person may have been infected with hepatitis A, B and/or HIV . When asked if anyone was confirmed to have been infected a hospital spokeswoman said 'not to my knowledge.' The . pen-shaped insulin injector devices are often used by hospitals to give . the hormone to patients and contain a reservoir or cartridge, the . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say. The . pens should be limited to one patient because regurgitation of blood . into the insulin cartridge can occur after injection, creating a risk of . blood-borne pathogen transmission, even when the needle is changed, . according to the CDC. Hospital spokesman Damian Becker said . no one was observed reusing the insulin pen reservoir, but a nurse was . heard saying it was all right to do so. 'Abundance of caution': Hospital officials from the South Nassau Communities Hospital say the risk of infection is low . Mail out: More than 4,000 patients have received this letter urging them to undergo free testing for hepatitis A, B and HIV . He says the hospital was recommending testing out of an 'abundance of caution.' So far, only 200 of the more than 4,000 patients who were warned have signed up for free blood testing, WABC-TV reported. The hospital seems to have changed its policy on the devices, though it was unclear when the change occurred. 'South Nassau has already implemented a hospital-wide policy that bans the use of insulin pens and permits only the use of single-patient-use vials to administer prescribed insulin treatments to patients,' a statement said. HIV can lead to AIDS, or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and hepatitis refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver, according to the CDC.
|
South Nassau Communities Hospital on Long Island is encouraging thousands of patients to undergo testing for hepatitis A, B and HIV .
More than 4,200 patients may have been infected with the viruses through the re-use of single-use insulin pens .
A nurse was overheard to say re-using the pens with a new needle was safe .
Contaminated blood could have gone back into the cartridge, which then may have been used on another patient .
The hospital says risk of infection is very low and testing is being performed out of 'an abundance of caution'
|
f8043d902c231510faea162aa69f7163c1409120
|
By . Sean Poulter . Fish protein found in the diet of Greenland’s Inuits could help women battling hair loss. A study has shown that those taking the supplement in a tablet described as ‘Botox for hair’ could reduce thinning within weeks. Researchers tracked 72 women suffering from hair loss due to stress, poor diets or hormonal reasons. Some women took the protein tablets, while others took placebos. The fish protein that was found in the diet of Inuits (pictured) could help stop people's hair thinning . Those taking the tablets from hair-care firm Viviscal – containing the protein AminoMar C – every day saw their hair loss reduced by a fifth after three months. There was a 7 per cent increase in hair thickness after six months. Viviscal’s dermatologists have hailed its products as ‘Botox for hair’. They claim that the tablets reverse the process endured by many women going through the menopause, who see their youthful, thick follicles become wispy and brittle. The brand, which also has products for . men, is a favourite with celebrities including actress Kate Hudson, who . suffered hair loss after pregnancy, and Sex And The City actress Cynthia . Nixon, who shaved her head for a Broadway play. It has also been . recommended by Lady Gaga’s stylist. Professor Glynis Ablon of the University of California, who led the research commissioned by Viviscal, said: ‘In the hair-loss industry, where it is estimated almost 99 per cent of products are completely ineffective, this research is an exciting development. ‘The results from this trial show a statistically significant improvement in the Viviscal group and may represent the first robust clinical trial to see hair growth in women associated with the use of a nutritional supplement.’ Details of the study were revealed at the World Congress for Hair Research in Edinburgh. They will be published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology this month. AminoMar C was discovered by a Scandinavian dermatologist who was studying the Inuit population of Greenland. He observed their thick, healthy hair, which he linked to the protein now used by Viviscal. Its tablets cost £49.95 for one month’s supply. Nutritionist Angela Dowden said: ‘Healthy hair comes from a balanced diet that is nutrient-dense. ‘Because hair is mostly protein, this is an important area of your diet, and other ingredients, such as essential fatty acids, iron, silica, biotin and zinc, are important for hair growth and preventing brittle, unhealthy-looking hair. ‘The perfect diet is difficult to achieve, so supplementing with Viviscal – which combines these ingredients with AminoMar C – is useful.' Allergan has asked us to make clear that it owns the trademark in the name Botox and that its product is a specific pharmaceutical product that is controlled by extensive regulation and legislation. The Botox product can only be obtained on prescription, unlike the over-the-counter oral supplement for thinning hair made by Viviscal.
|
Study shows that the Botox for hair’ could reduce thinning within weeks .
Women who took the tablet saw their hair loss reduced by a fifth .
After six months there was a seven per cent increase in hair thickness .
|
f804bdc88b5c18a46e3b562d6a3ad712995d3525
|
By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 11:11 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:10 EST, 6 August 2013 . Tragic: Lorraine Douglas, 51, suffered a severe head injury in a fall at home which left her on a life-support machine . A family suffered the heartbreak of having to say goodbye to a mother every day for 20 days after she lived for three weeks after her life-support machine was turned off. Lorraine Douglas, 51, had suffered a severe brain injury after falling down the stairs at home, from which she could never recover. After spending two days in intensive care, doctors informed the family they could do nothing more for Ms Douglas. The family made the decision to turn off her life-support machine and prepared to say their goodbyes. But she survived for a further three weeks, causing agony for her family who stayed at her bedside as they expected her to pass away at any moment. Her daughter Leeanne, 22, said: 'I must have said my last goodbye to my mum a hundred times during those three weeks. 'I was constantly saying goodbye, thinking every time I did would be the last chance I got to say it to her. 'Our lives stopped for three weeks. But at least we got to say all the things to Mum that we wanted to before she went.' There was even a moment when Ms Douglas opened her eyes, giving her family false hope she might recover. Her brother Brain Keddie, 48, said: 'It was horrendous. We had said our final goodbyes, we had prepared to let Lorraine go, and then nothing happened. 'She lay there for three more weeks, with us three at her side, knowing there was nothing we could do for her. 'There were some point when we thought maybe, just maybe she’ll get . better. But I think we all really knew the truth. It was unbearable.' Heartbreaking: When doctors told Ms Douglas's family she would never recover they made the difficult decision to switch off her life support . Ms Douglas, a childcare worker, had been found unconscious by her daughter at her home in Wellhouse, Glasgow, who had looked through the letterbox and seen her lying at the bottom of the stairs. She said: 'I couldn’t unlock the front door, as Mum’s keys were in the lock. So I phoned her mobile and could hear it ringing on the other side of the door. 'I looked through the letterbox and saw her lying there at the bottom of . the stairs. Her dog Archie was sitting at her side. It was awful.' She phoned the emergency services who took her mother to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, from where she was transferred to the Southern General's Intensive Care Unit. Ms Douglas's 76-year-old mother Margaret Keddie was also at her side with Mr Keddie and Miss Douglas during the three week vigil. As she carried an organ donor card, arrangements had been made to donate her kidneys, but the donation was not possible because of the prolonged nature of her death. Goodbyes: Leeanne Douglas (pictured with her mother as a baby) had to repeatedly endure her 'last moment' with her mother as she lived for three weeks after life support was turned off . Mr Keddie said: 'Plans had been made to donate Lorraine’s kidneys and a positive match had even been found. 'The doctors, like us, had expected Lorraine to pass away straight away - not three weeks later. 'But there was only a small time window, around three hours, between Lorraine dying and the organs being donated. 'So because of what happened, organ donation was no longer possible. We thought at least something good could come out Lorraine’s death. 'But she was denied her last wish - to help someone else. It was yet another devastating blow for us.' Ms Douglas passed away on Tuesday with her family by her side, 22 days after her fall. Tragic: Ms Douglas, pictured here as a child, died 22 days after her fall .
|
Lorraine Douglas suffered a severe brain injury after falling down the stairs .
Her family made the difficult decision to switch off life-support machine .
But 51-year-old lived for three weeks as family staged a bedside vigil .
|
f804d65a6009874a0c4d555b6e9d8d14cbf935ef
|
Jose Mourinho has backed Wayne Rooney to take this summer’s World Cup by storm – but warned the England striker this is his last chance to shine. The Manchester United star has failed to score in the last two tournaments but will lead the line for Roy Hodgson’s side in Brazil. Mourinho, who tried to sign Rooney for Chelsea last summer, believes the 28-year-old will cope with having the weight of a nation’s expectations on his shoulders.VIDEO: Scroll down for Rooney: This is the one where I have to show what I can do . Stormer: Wayne Rooney can set the World Cup alight, according to Jose Mourinho . In training: The forward is currently at England's base in Rio de Janeiro as he gears up for the World Cup . Staycation: Jose Mourinho was at Old Trafford on Sunday night, managing the Rest of the World at Soccer aid . ‘He is not a kid anymore, he is not an old player at the end of his career, he is in what I call the best age,’ he told Yahoo. ‘I think it is his World Cup and I think he has also a role as a leader in the team, a little bit similar that he had also in United this season. ‘He is a guy with responsibilities in the national team, I think he is ready to cope with this pressure. ‘ I think that can play a positive role in his ambition, in his anger to succeed. I have faith in him, I have faith that he can do it.’ Mourinho also admitted he has no idea how England will perform in Brazil, given their unpredictable nature. Hodgson’s men reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2012 before losing to Italy on penalties. They will renew hostilities with Cesare Prandelli’s men on Saturday in Manaus. ’England is the kind of team where I am always expecting something good but I am never surprised when things go wrong,’ added Mourinho. ‘When people speak sometimes about not enough quality in the team I always disagree and I remember for example the England team in 2004, it was the European Cup in Portugal which is the year where I come to England for the first time. ‘Even in that time people were already saying that the team was not good enough to win the competition and I remember the England team in 2004, I remember lots of them, it was full of top players from the top teams in the country. Past struggles: Rooney as been out of form and fitness at his past two World Cup appearances . Senior: He currently stands on 39 goals in 91 caps for his country . Smiles: A tally he will be desperate to add to in his next game against Italy on Saturday . ‘You go now and obviously you have some boys who are not playing in the top teams in the country but you have players from Chelsea, from United, City, Arsenal, Liverpool, so the top five all represented in high numbers in the national team so you have quality, you have experience, you have international experience, you have everything so why not be a candidate? ‘If England wins the World Cup for me it is only a surprise because you won only once and you won when I was three years old so only because of that I would say, oh that’s a surprise but because of the players and the experience and the stature that almost all of them have, it wouldn’t be a surprise but at the same time, if they don’t go through the group phase it is not a surprise either to me.’ When asked who he thinks will win the World Cup, Mourinho said he believes the trophy will not be won for the first time. Fan club: Mourinho signs autographs for spectators at Soccer Aid . Trespasser: He also ran onto the pitch in the first half to trip up Olly Murs from behind . ‘I will be very surprised if there is a big surprise,’ he said. ‘I will be very surprised if somebody is going to win the World Cup for the first time. ‘I don’t see a national team with conditions to do that, to break what used to say the stability. In South America, the South Americans think they are going to be strong and they have two or three strong teams. ‘I don't think the Africans, despite fantastic players and much more experience as a team, I don't think they can break the quarter final wall. In Europe you have always the traditional two or three, maybe in Europe could come some outsider but I don’t see there will be any big surprise.’ Jose Mourinho is an exclusive analyst for Yahoo’s worldwide football coverage, Read all his expert opinions during the FIFA World Cup 2014 at www.yahoo.co.uk/worldcup .
|
Mourinho believes that Rooney can take the World Cup by storm .
But he has warned the England striker that it is his last chance to shine .
28-year-old was a Chelsea transfer target at the start of last season .
Portuguese manager doesn't believe there will be a shock winner in Brazil .
|
f804dfc3f4b6b42c19b6af2b2aa93e42bbd1ceff
|
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 05:20 EST, 4 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:27 EST, 4 October 2012 . An eminent nutrition expert is urging people to spurn half-litre cans of Red Bull and other energy drinks because they contain dangerous levels of caffeine and sugar. A 473ml can of Red Bull, costing £1.99, contains an astonishing 13 teaspoons of sugar and 150 mg of caffeine, roughly the same as four cups of instant coffee. Biological scientist and nutrition expert Dr Hans-Peter Kubis says there is no need for such a high concentration of the substances as the potential health consequences include rapid or irregular heartbeat, . elevated blood pressure, sleeping trouble, weight gain, muscle twitching, . diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting - and even sudden death. How much?: Red Bull's 473ml can (right) contains 52g of sugar, roughly the same as 13 teaspoons . Earlier this year he released the findings of a Bangor University study into what soft drinks do to our bodies. The research shocked him so much he now . doesn't touch soft drinks, branding them 'evil', especially when combined with booze. He said: 'While there is good evidence . that caffeine has positive effects on cognitive performance of people - . we all know this from experience - there are also physiological effects. Buzz: Caffeine is an effective stimulant, but high volumes may be dangerous, according to Dr Kubis . Dr Kubis says there is no need for such high volumes of caffeine and sugar. He added: 'Every person has their own sensitivity for caffeine and certain younger people or people with undetected cardiovascular problems are at higher risk experiencing negative effects from caffeine. 'In fact caffeine blocks signals which are essential for a good regulation of blood pressure, heart rhythm and blood flow to muscle, kidney function and other tissues. 'The combination of high sugar and caffeine and alcohol obviously deceives the brain into the feeling of a high energy level while the rest of the body needs to cope with the negative effects of high caffeine and alcohol - sometimes leading to serious outcomes like sudden death. 'These drinks are disastrous for health. You cannot compensate for the amount of energy you're taking on.' Dr Kubis says there is no need for a large can size of soft drinks containing caffeine and high sugar levels and people should stay away from them. He added: 'You might think you save some money on a larger can size, but you take the risk that you ingest large amounts of caffeine in a short time with unexpected outcomes. 'Consumers have no insight into how much caffeine and sugar there is in the drink.' Comparisons with tea or coffee are misleading because people don't drink tea and coffees quickly as they are hot, usually come in smaller quantities and don't have 51g of sugar, Dr Kubis said. The best defence, he added, would be to increase taxes and limit advertising where children might see it, similar to alcohol and tobacco. 'The sugary taste also makes the drink appeal to children and youths who are not attracted by teas and coffees because of their bitter taste,' he added. 'The chance that a sensitive youth drinks the same 150mg caffeine from teas or coffees is extremely low, but there is a good chance that a youth drinks a second can of Red Bull.' Dominance: Red Bull is the biggest energy drink in the world. Last year it sold 4.6bn cans of Red Bull with a turnover of £3.4bn . Red Bull cans state that the beverage has a high caffeine content and is not recommended for children, pregnant women and 'persons sensitive to caffeine'. The company disputes the claim that the 473ml can has the same caffeine as four cups of coffee. A spokesperson added: 'A 473 ml can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee. 'We provide these larger can sizes because many consumers have indicated to us that they would like this choice.' Dr Kubis also believes that . liquid sugars not only alter our bodies, but also foster addict-like . responses. Countries such as Denmark and France are introducing soft-drink taxes to cut consumption. Red Bull was founded in 1984 by Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz, who became aware of popular 'tonic drinks' while in the Far East. Now Red Bull is the world's biggest energy drink, selling around 30bn cans in 164 countries since 1987.
|
Half-litre cans of Red Bull contain 52g of sugar and the same caffeine as four cups of coffee .
Biologist says the cans are unnecessary and ingesting such a high volume can have health repercussions .
Sugary taste 'appeals to children', claims Dr Hans-Peter Kubis .
|
f80604cfba19832fb5b82f21315a258b59131512
|
By . Anna Pursglove . PUBLISHED: . 19:41 EST, 25 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:54 EST, 26 July 2013 . Desperate for some relief from the sweltering heat? Forget cold showers or huddling around a fan — just head to a supermarket. Because when the mercury rises outside, you can guarantee that your local store will be positively Arctic. But far from shoppers enjoying the bracing air, many — especially those clad in light, summer clothes — complain that supermarkets are too cold for comfort. Chilly: In a bid to find out just how cold our supermarkets are, Anna Pursglove tested the temperature of eight big-name stores near her West London home . While the temperate climes of the ‘bread, cakes and biscuits’ aisle may feel relatively comfortable, it’s a different story once you reach the frozen wastes of the ‘fresh vegetables’ section. Most of these are much colder than the Arctic Circle at the moment — the Lofoten Islands in Norway, which lie 100 miles inside it, were a comparatively balmy 18c (64f) yesterday. And who can make tricky decisions about fancy purple sprouting broccoli and Peking cabbage when your teeth are chattering uncontrollably and your hands are numbing into icy claws around the handles of your shopping basket? While UK guidelines recommend that supermarkets maintain a temperature of 19-21c (66-70f) in winter, and 21-23c (70-73f) in summer, the major chains are often far colder, because they refuse to put doors on all their freezers and chillers — claiming shoppers are put off by viewing food behind glass. Aside from the discomfort suffered by shoppers as a result of this, super-chilling tens of thousands of cavernous supermarkets is having a significant impact on the environment. Indeed, one study claimed that if all the UK’s supermarkets put doors on their fridges, the electricity saved would be roughly double the output of the gigantic Drax power station in North Yorkshire. In a bid to find out just how cold our supermarkets are, I tested the temperature of eight big-name stores near my West London home. Armed with a sensitive digital thermometer, I went to the fresh salads/sandwiches aisles, the fresh meat aisles and freezer-cabinet aisles — with surprising results. How do your supermarket’s chillier aisles compare?M&S . I have long held a theory that posh equals cold when it comes to supermarkets — and M&S backs my theory to the hilt. It’s so cold that I feel like building base camp next to the biscuits, and sending the photographer into the Arctic wastes alone. Freezing: Marks & Spencer proved to be extremely cold. This is a file picture of a store . But while I loathe the cold, and wish the store would give us all a break and put everything behind glass doors, some shoppers like the reassurance of feeling the force of M&S refrigeration. ‘It means the food isn’t about to go off,’ says grandmother Brenda Swift, 74. ‘I wouldn’t trust a warm supermarket.’ Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisle: 13.6c (56.5f) Fresh meat aisle: 13.2c (55.7f) Freezer aisle: 13.7c (56.7f) Average temperature: 13.5c (56.3f) M&S says: ‘We try to main an average temperature of 16c (61f) in the food hall area, but there will be some areas that are made colder by the refrigeration units.’ Chill factor: Bring out the quilted sleeping bags! 7/8 . Tesco . Positively balmy after M&S but it still falls below the recommended temperature. Shelf-stacker Sam would love it to warm up a bit. ‘I spend all day in protective gloves to stop my hands getting too cold,’ he sighs. ‘And look at me wearing a fleece in mid-July. It’s ridiculous. ‘It really doesn’t need to be this cold. It would be logical to put doors on all the cold units. After all, imagine leaving your fridge and freezer doors open at home!’ Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisle: 19.8c (67.7f) Meat aisle: 13.8c (56.8f) Freezer aisle: 19.8c (67.6f) Average temperature: 17.8c (64f) Tesco says: ‘There is no policy on ambient air temperature. The chillers have to be kept at a certain temperature to keep produce fresh, so where large numbers of chillers are together, the air will feel colder.’ Chill factor: Jacket definitely required (although no imminent danger of frostbite). 5/8 . Waitrose . Part-time therapist and Waitrose customer Chris Fortune, 60, says while wearing a cardigan to combat the chill: ‘If you think of the environment, expending all this energy to cool a whole supermarket instead of just a few fridges is very silly. ‘Yet, if I’m honest, one reason I shop here is because everything looks so lovely and fresh. ‘Would that be the case if the shop was warmer?’ Cold: Waitrose stores should probably have a 'no flip-flops' warning, says Anna Pursglove . Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisle: 17.8c (64.1f) Meat aisle: 13.1c (55.6f) Freezer aisle: 15.3c (59.5f) Average temperature: 15.4c (59.7f) Waitrose says: ‘The majority of branches’ heating and ventilation are controlled by a computerised Building Management System. 'The recommended temperature is 19c (66fF). It may be slightly higher in summer due to air temperature.’ Chill factor: In addition to the ‘no dogs’ and ‘no smoking’ signs outside, Waitrose stores should probably have a ‘no flip-flops’ warning. 'I wore mine and lost the feeling in my little toes somewhere near the display of Cave-aged Gruyere. 6/8 . Lidl . According to my theory about poshness and coldness, budget stores such as Lidl should be warmer than their middle-class rivals. And so it is. Maybe it’s because the freezers in this supermarket are completely enclosed. Or maybe shoppers here aren’t as worried about aesthetics as they are in Waitrose. The store is still a smidgen below the official recommended temperature, though. Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisle: 19.6c (67.3f) Meat aisle: 19.8c (67.6f) Freezer aisle: 15c (59f) Average temperature: 18.1c (64.6f) Lidl says: ‘We do regulate the store temperatures through a Building Management System, according to set guidelines and specifications. 'We have a minimum and maximum temperature for each area of the store, from 19-24c (66-75f) for the sales area to 20-24c (68-75f) for the checkouts.’ Chill factor: Lidl sells less perishable and fresh produce than stores like M&S, so it follows it would be warmer. But maybe the more upmarket supermarkets should take a leaf out of Lidl’s book when it comes to enclosing the freezers. 3/8 . Morrisons . ‘The cold in some supermarkets does put me off, but this one isn’t too bad,’ says shopper Karen Burn, 34. ‘You wouldn’t want to be sitting around in here but it’s fine to shop in.’ Safe: You can safely shop for your barbecue food in Morrisons without risking hypothermia . Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisle: 18.6c (65.4f) Meat aisle: 15.9c (60.7f) Freezer aisle: 20.9c (69.7f) Average temperature: 18.5c (65.3f) Morrisons says: ‘We do not have a specific set of guidelines for store temperatures. The areas we refer to as “market street” sections — the bakery, fishmonger, butcher and greengrocer — feel cold because of the cold air given off by the produce tables (chilled from below) and the more traditional vertical produce-display units.’ Chill factor: The aisles containing fresh and perishable produce are (on average) just 4f off the recommended temperatures. You can safely shop for your barbecue food here without risking hypothermia. 2/8 . Aldi . The Bahamas of the supermarket world! Budget store Aldi is the UK’s warmest supermarket, with temperatures in the coldest sections just about reaching the recommended average. Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisle: 20.5c (68.9f) Meat aisle: 20.2c (68.4f) Freezer aisle: 22.2c (71.9f) Average temperature: 21c (69.73f) Aldi says: ‘The temperature of our stores is managed on a local basis by the store managers. 'This helps to provide the right environment to ensure the quality of our ambient and fresh produce, as well as creating a comfortable shopping experience for all our customers.’ Chill factor: Minimal. You may not be wowed by Aldi’s selection of budget ice cream, but at least you’ll maintain the feeling in your extremities while you’re perusing it. 1/8 . Asda . ‘It’s freezing in here!’ complains housewife Cerlos Furnades, 46, who is clutching her jacket across her chest for warmth. Checkout girl Rachel agrees heartily. ‘It’s even worse in winter,’ she says. ‘They call the cold store out the back Siberia, and bits of the main store aren’t much better.’ Freezing: Asda proved to be too cold for comfort for our writer . Our findings: Salads/sandwich aisles: 21.3c (70.3f) Meat aisles: 14.7c (58.5f) Freezers aisles: 12.8c (55f) Average temperature: 16.3c (61.3f) Asda says: ‘The temperature of our stores is controlled centrally but can be tweaked store by store if needed. In winter we heat the stores up to 19c (66f), and in summer cool them to 24c (75f).’ Chill factor: Too cold for comfort. Try turning up the thermostat will you? 5/8 . Sainsbury’s . I’m surprised I manage to take notes in Sainsbury’s — it is so cold I expect the ink in my pen to freeze. Polar is the only way to describe it. And fellow shopper Radhika Somaskandan, 35, who is on maternity leave from her job in publishing, says she hates bringing her ten-month-old baby daughter into the store, even with a blanket. ‘The massive temperature difference between the air outside and in here can’t be good for her,’ she says. Our findings: . Salads/sandwich aisle: 13.8c (56.8f) Meat aisle: 6.2c (43.1f) Freezer aisle: 14.2c (57.5f) Average aisle: 11.4c (52.47f) Sainsbury’s says: ‘The temperatures in our stores vary depending where you are, with the produce and frozen sections generally colder.’ Chill factor: Brrr! We found Sainsbury’s to be the UK’s coldest supermarket. 8/8 .
|
Anna Pursglove tested the temperature of eight big-name stores .
Names of supermarket staff have been changed .
|
f8062df346af66bcf9a94fba6e9c5bf5b839449c
|
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 11:12 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:57 EST, 11 July 2012 . The mysterious vandals who have been stealing American flags from the tombstones of Civil War soldiers have been caught. But the unlikely culprits are much different from ordinary cemetery vandals. By setting up surveillance cameras throughout the historic Hudson, New York cemetery, police found that none other than woodchucks – the rodents that help predict the weather every February in Punxsutawney– were responsible for the grave’s defacing. Scroll down for video . Caught red-pawed: A surveillance camera set up by police caught this gopher red-handed stealing an American flag from Civil War soldier's graves . Possible outcomes: Before catching the 'vandals,' police thought teenagers could be to blame for the grave defacing . Homemaker: Woodchucks - also called groundhogs - often burrow in the ground and most likely used the flags for their nests (file photo) Police were suspicious when small American flags in the Grand Army of the Republic section of Cedar Park Cemetery began disappearing, thinking that teenagers using the cemetery as a hang-out could be to blame. Mayor Bill Hallenback told the Register-Star earlier this week that it is a relief to discover who – or what- was behind the defacing. He said that the miniature flags are . coated with a substance that the woodchucks find enticing, and found out . that other towns were having the same problem with rodents taking . flags. In total, 75 flags were reported missing, shocking locals who couldn’t believe someone would want to deface the graves of those killed in the line of duty. In one night alone, 17 flags disappeared from the soldiers’ graves. Authorities set up surveillance cameras to catch the culprits in the act. They were surprised to see that the groundhogs living within the cemetery were to blame. ‘I’m glad we don’t have someone who has taken it upon themselves to desecrate the stones and the flags in front of them,’ Mayor Hallenback said. The mayor added that scraps of the flags were found in the woodchuck’s burrows. Cemetery caretaker Vincent Wallace, who helped police in the search, told Hudson Valley’s YNN: ‘We were startled to find a woodchuck at the base of the tombstone with an empty flag pole in front of him.’ Sleuthing: A concerned citizen holds ruined flags while a Hudson police officer looks on; In total, 75 American flags disappeared . Patriotism: People first noticed the flags were disappearing preceding Fourth of July celebrations . The caretaker said that the evidence had always been against human vandals, pointing out that the flags were pulled downward rather than being ripped out. The flag thefts were discovered in the days leading up to Independence Day. As flags were put around the graves, they would again disappear, baffling and angering those involved. But police did not rule out a more sinister explanation. Police chief Ellis Richardson told KLTV that he had never seen anything like this in his 27 years of service, adding: ‘Typically, the assumption is juveniles or kids partying might be responsible for this type of incident.’ It is unclear what Cedar Park or the town plans to do with the cemetery’s living residents, though it is clear that . Chief . Richardson said there wasn’t much of a choice fighting the pests. ‘I’m . not sure how you can go up against Mother Nature, I think you’ll have to . start plugging up the holes,’ he suggested. Historic: The Grand Army of the Republic section of Cedar Park Cemetery houses many Civil War soldiers .
|
Up to 75 American flags went missing from graves of Civil War soldiers in days preceding July 4 celebrations .
Police placed surveillance camera to catch the culprits .
|
f806b4c5b43b10146f06a575bb65be95c85d0ee9
|
Two members of the Tuskegee Airmen - the famed all-black squadron that flew in the Second World War - died on the same day, in the same city, both at the age of 91. Clarence E. Huntley Jr and Joseph Shambrey died on January 5 in their respective homes - both in Los Angeles. They were lifelong friends who joined the army together as teenagers. The men enlisted in 1942 and were deployed to a fighter squadron as mechanics, who kept the planes in combat-ready shape. Veteran: Clarence E. Huntley Jr, pictured above posing with a Mustang fighter plane in 2011, passed away on January 5, the same day as his war buddy . Same day: Joseph Shambray, pictured above in 2000, joined up with Huntley at the same time - and also died on the same day, at the identical age of 91 . Their families, who announced the deaths Sunday, described the men as devout patriots who cared deeply for their fellow soldiers and stayed close with many of their war buddies. Huntley and Shambrey were part of the 100th Fighter Squadron in the Army Air Force's 332nd Fighter Group. They trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, which gave the group their moniker. Huntley serviced Mustang, Thunderbolt and Aircobra fighters aircraft, and as crew chief was responsible for the plane of the squadron commander, Capt. Andrew D. Turner. Huntley's nephew, Craig, said: 'The life of his pilot was in his hands, and he took that very seriously,' his nephew said. History: The Tuskegee Airmen, who trained at the Tuskegee airfield in Alabama, were a famed all-black flying squadron . Air-ready: In the above archive photo , 20 airmen receive their commissions at a ceremony in Tuskegee, Alabama, before heading to Europe to fight the Nazis . Airborne: A bomber plane is seen above taking off from Fort Knox, Kentucky, on a training flight in 1944 . His concern led Turner to nickname him 'Mother,' Huntly said. In addition to facing danger, the Tuskegee Airmen faced racism. Shambrey's son, Tim Shambrey of Altadena, said his father recalled getting off a train in Alabama where a hospitality station was welcoming returning white troops with handshakes and free coffee. 'When he and his buddies came off, dressed in their uniforms, of course they didn't get any congratulations' and were asked to pay for their coffee, Shambrey said. They did so. Happy return: Seven servicemen are pictured above landing in New York City in July 1945, after the war in Europe had been won . Still going strong: This 2012 photograph shows four former pilots - Lt. Colonel Washington Ross, Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, Lt. Col. Harry Stewart and Colonel Charles McGee - posing in front of a Tuskegee fighter plane . 'The thing about those men is that they were very proud' and decided not to make a fuss, Shambrey said. 'They were already used to so much discrimination.' In later life, Shambrey didn't talk much about his war service but he held barbecues that sometimes drew 150 people, including a lot of his old Army buddies, his son said. Huntley also didn't talk much with his family about the war, said his daughter, Shelia McGee of Los Angeles. He told them: 'I was doing what I was supposed to do, and that was to serve my country,' she said. Shambrey was a National Guard combat engineer during the Korean War and later spent his career with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, his son said. Huntley was a skycap for more than 60 years at airports in Burbank and Los Angeles, his daughter said.
|
Clarence E Huntley Junior and Joseph Shambrey both died in Los Angeles .
Passed away January 5 after a lifetime of friendship and camaraderie .
Joined up together as teenagers in 1942 and served as airplane mechanics .
Tuskegee Airmen, trained in Alabama, faced racism during their service .
|
f806c9d42d6a69d54694f6c32bff22a5af46ac7a
|
(CNN) -- The biggest case of the Supreme Court's term involves a three-headed, hot-button appeal combining abortion rights, religious liberty, and Obamacare. It's also the last one, and a ruling is due on Monday. The legal and social pique may not reach the heights of two years ago when the justices narrowly preserved the Affordable Care Act and its key funding provision in a blockbuster ruling. But the stakes are still large, and the decision could serve as a primer for other pending challenges to the health law championed by President Barack Obama and in play as a campaign issue this midterm season. The issue before the justices is whether Obamacare can mandate contraception coverage specifically for certain businesses that object for religious reasons. "This case isn't that practically important, except for the employees and businesses involved. There just aren't a huge number of those," said Thomas Goldstein, publisher of SCOTUSblog.com and a Washington appellate attorney. "But everyone can agree the social questions presented-- about when people can follow their religious convictions, and when people are entitled to contraception care-- are truly important," he said. Hundreds of advocates and demonstrators representing both sides are expected to rally in front of the courthouse on Capitol Hill. Contraception mandate . The section of law in dispute requires for-profit employers of a certain size to offer insurance benefits for birth control and other reproductive health services without a co-pay. A number of companies equate some of the covered drugs, such as the so-called "morning-after" pill, as causing abortion. The specific question presented was whether these companies can refuse, on the sincere claim it would violate their owners' long-established moral beliefs. The First Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." "How does a corporation exercise religion?" asked Justice Sonia Sotomayor at March's oral arguments, summarizing perhaps the key constitutional question at hand. "This is a religious question and it's a moral question," added Justice Samuel Alito, suggesting the businesses have such a right. "You want us to provide a definitive secular answer." Conestoga, Hobby Lobby . The justices have a good deal of discretion to frame the competing issues and could reach a limited "compromise" through narrow statutory interpretation. They could conclude individual owners can make the religious freedom claim, bypassing the corporate rights argument, but still give female workers the flexibility to get covered drugs. The court weighed two related appeals from Conestoga Wood Specialties, a Pennsylvania cabinet maker, and Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based retail giant that will have more than 700 arts-and-crafts stores nationwide by year's end. Both corporations emphasized their desire to operate in harmony with biblical principles while competing in a secular marketplace. That includes their leaders' publicly stated opposition to abortion. The case presented a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and constitutional concerns over such thorny issues as faith, abortion, corporate power, executive agency discretion, and congressional intent. Health law impact . The political stakes are large, especially for the future effectiveness of the health law, which marks its fourth anniversary this year. The botched rollout last fall of HealthCare.gov, the federal Obamacare website, has become another political flashpoint along with other issues that many Republicans say proves the law is unworkable. They have made Obamacare a key campaign issue in their fight to overtake the Senate, and retain control of the House. Supporters of the law fear a high court setback on the contraception mandate will lead to other healthcare challenges on religion grounds, such as do-not-resuscitate orders and vaccine coverage. More broadly, many worry giving corporations religious freedom rights could affect laws on employment, safety, and civil rights. The abortion link . The Hahn family, owners of Conestoga, and the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby, said some of the mandated contraception prevent human embryos from being implanted in a woman's womb, which the plaintiffs equate with abortion. That includes Plan B contraception, which some have called the "morning after" pill, and intrauterine devices or IUDs used by an estimated 2 million American women. A key issue for the bench has been be interpreting a 1993 federal law requiring the government to seek the "least burdensome" and narrowly tailored means for any law that interferes with religious convictions. Chief Justice John Roberts could be the "swing" vote as he was two years ago when siding with the court's more liberal members to allow the law's "individual mandate" to go into effect. That provision requires most Americans to get health insurance or pay a financial penalty. It is seen as the key funding mechanism to ensure near-universal health coverage. Searching for compromise? But how will the divided court rule this time? Unanimous opinions in recent days on separate issues involving presidential recess appointments, cellphone searches by police, and abortion clinic protests suggest Roberts may be on a private campaign to push his colleagues to rule narrowly to reach consensus. Such an approach usually involves both left- and right-leaning justices reluctantly giving a little. "At oral argument it seemed likely a majority of the justices were looking for a compromise," said Goldstein, "in which the closely held for-profit businesses wouldn't themselves have to pay for contraception care, but the employees would get it, maybe through the exchanges, maybe financed by the federal government." Compromise may be nice, but as other contentious cases earlier this term demonstrated, it is not always easy to achieve. Separate decisions this spring involving political campaign donations and voter-approved affirmative action limits produced especially sharp 5-4 divisions. Under the Affordable Care Act, financial penalties of up to $100 per day, per employee can be levied on firms that refuse to provide comprehensive health coverage. Hobby Lobby, which has about 13,000 workers, estimates the penalty could cost it $475 million a year. The church-state issue now in the spotlight involves rules negotiated between the Obama administration and various outside groups. Under the changes, churches and houses of worship are completely exempt from the contraception mandate. Other nonprofit, religiously affiliated groups, such as church-run hospitals, parochial schools and charities must either offer coverage or have a third-party insurer provide separate benefits without the employer's direct involvement. Lawsuits in those cases are pending in several federal appeals courts. Second generation . Monday's decision could signal how the court will approach other lawsuits against the health care law. "We're now getting the second generation of challenges to Obamacare-- about the actual adoption of the statute, and its core provisions," said Goldstein. "We're probably going to see cases over the next five to ten years, as more and more details about the law get put into effect." A Mennonite family's fight over Obamacare reaches . 5 questions: Supreme Court and Obamacare on contraception . Opinion: How Obamacare can reduce abortions .
|
Justices to rule on controversial requirement affecting businesses .
Ruling could serve as template for future challenges to Obamacare .
Issue is whether businesses can opt out of mandate on religous grounds .
The law requires employers to offer insurance benefits for contraception .
|
f806d21d0eefeedb02d63fe17cff1c8e8d17c9be
|
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- A Chinese factory that makes iPhones said Wednesday that it has suspended several staffers after an employee committed suicide, apparently under duress when a prototype went missing. Foxconn manufactures the popular iPhone for U.S.-based Apple in China. Sun Danyong, 25, jumped off the 12th floor of the Foxconn Science and Technology Group in the southern city of Shenzhen last week. The recent engineering school graduate sent 16 model phones to phone manufacturer, Apple, but only 15 were received, said the state-run newspaper New Beijing Post. Because of the missing phone, Sun was questioned by company officials and -- according to posts on online forums by his friends -- detained, searched and beaten. Apple China said it was awaiting the results of an investigation into Sun's death. "We require that our suppliers treat all workers with dignity and respect," Apple said in a statement. Foxconn also released a statement outlining several steps it has taken following the suicide, including counseling for its employees. "I can honestly say Foxconn has not given anyone permission to do anything unlawful," executive Li Jing Ming said. Employees connected to the incident were either fired or suspended without pay, the statement said. "Regarding the loss of such a young life, the company and I express our deepest sorrow and regret and are apologetic to his family as we were not able to properly take care of him," Li said. The company said it will support Sun's family with funeral arrangements and other matters.
|
Sun Danyong, 25, jumped off the 12th floor of building in southern city of Shenzhen .
Recent graduate sent 16 model phones to Apple, but only 15 were received .
Apple China said it was awaiting the results of an investigation .
|
f806ec021a56d9401fb307a780368f426ec5ff8a
|
Germany is spending just £3.5million on events to mark the start of the First World War – compared with the joint £50million Britain and France have pledged. Berlin insists history is not ‘being neglected’ and that events are planned across the country to mark the 100th anniversary of the war. However, many Germans are ashamed of their country’s role in the conflict. Divide: Britain and France combined are spending more than 10 times more than Germany on commemorating the outbreak of the First World War. Angela Merkel (left) has not confirmed any attendances . Commemoration: One of the events is an exhibition at the German Historical Museum in Berlin, pictured . Chancellor Angela Merkel has still not committed to attending any of the commemorations at home or abroad. The German Historical Museum in Berlin is planning an exhibition, while France and Germany are co-operating on a new museum in Alsace-Lorraine, where thousands of soldiers from both nations died. The German government revealed the figure following a question in parliament from an MP from the far-left party Die Linke, Sevim Dagdelen. Modern message: Chancellor Merkel wants to use the anniversary to promote European unity . She called for a ‘massive increase’ in funds, adding: ‘It is a scandal that the government is marking the commemoration of the beginning of the First World War with – mostly – inaction.’ German historian Gerd Krumeich, who is advising the French government on the centenary, said the German government is ‘fundamentally uninterested’ in it. Holfer Afflerbach, a German professor of history at Leeds University, said: ‘Both the UK and France have set aside vast funds for the commemoration and in good time, while Germany decided that their efforts would be reactive – so no wonder many feel that attitude is a bit stupid.’ The war destroyed three European empires, cost 10 million lives, wounded 20 million and paved the way in Germany for the rise of the Nazis and WW2. Germany wants to be seen using the centenary of the outbreak of war as a means to promote its agenda for today of closer European unity. The French-German museum at the site of the Hartmannsweilerkopf battlefield in French Alsace, where up to 30,000 Germans and Frenchmen died on what the troops called the 'Mountain of Death.', is one of the main projects. French President François hollande and the German Federal President, Joachim Gauck, will lay a foundation stone for a new museum chronicling the fighting there at the start of August. The message is simple; European unity, not emnity. There are exhibitions planned in Berlin, at the Army Museum in Dresden and several other sites. Numerous websites are devoted to understanding the war and the fragile peace that followed. 'Our look is at reconciliation, to have as many former enemies together as possible and to show that we have learned from our mistakes,' said Norman Walter, a spokesman for the German Embassy in London.
|
Germany insists history is not being neglected, but many ashamed of past .
Chancellor Angela Merkel has not committed to attending any memorials .
Government's budget criticised by German far-left politician and historians .
|
f807022a63790cd759da005dffdb2806ec525f5c
|
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 05:53 EST, 26 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:34 EST, 26 July 2013 . Councillors in a seaside resort are hoping to ban naked events over fears the charity fundraisers are scaring away families. Clacton-on-Sea in Essex has been the venue for a sponsored skinny-dip and a nude bike ride in the past few weeks, with many locals saying the fun events livened up the area. But the leader of the district council is now stepping in and attempting to block any further naked get-togethers in order to protect the town's 'image'. Protest: Dozens of cyclists took to the town's roads to demonstrate against the dangers of riding bikes . Last month, more than 100 people stripped off and went for an early-morning dip in the sea on a Clacton beach to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. And on Saturday, around 35 naked cyclists took to the town's roads in protest against the dangers faced by bike riders - and the organiser plans to hold the event again next year. Peter Halliday, Conservative leader of Tendring District Council, railed against the nude events and vowed to stop them happening again. 'Clacton is a traditional family seaside resort and in my opinion people riding around on bikes with no clothes on does nothing to enhance our image - in fact it harms it,' he said. Leave your clothes behind: The swimmers were raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care . Good-natured: But local councillors have criticised the events because they are not family-friendly . 'They did not apply to use land under our responsibility so there was little we could do other than work with other agencies on a bit of a damage-limitation exercise. 'However, I now want to get together with the police and others round the table and come up with a plan to put a halt to naked events in our area before it all goes too far.' Linda McWilliams, the councillor responsible for health and safety, added: 'I will certainly be bringing this matter up with the police and will suggest that we investigate what we can do in the future to prevent a repeat of what we have witnessed this summer.' The council singled out the cycle ride as being more damaging than the swim, as it took place in the town centre during the middle of the day. But Robert Brown, the organiser of the bike protest, insisted he was making an important argument and pledged to attract up to 100 cyclists to next year's event. Good fun: The nude events are said to have gone down well with most locals despite the controversy . Intrusive? Officials are worried the nudity has driven away tourists from the town's beaches . 'The event was to protest against car culture and the idea of riding naked is to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists,' he said. 'Being naked in public isn't an offence in itself. 'Similar events are held in towns and cities around the world and across the UK in places like Brighton, Portsmouth and London. 'The London event attracts thousands of people and benefits shops and traders in the area.' The 47-year-old, who is also hoping to break the world record for the largest ever naked fun run, continued: 'There were more people in favour of our event than against it. We got a huge cheer as we rode down the High Street.' An Essex Police spokesman said: 'There has been a precedent from similar events held in Brighton and London in the past and it was deemed that there were no legal grounds to prevent it going ahead.'
|
Clacton-on-Sea hosts charity skinny-dip and nude bike ride through town .
But officials in Essex resort are worried nudity will drive away visitors .
|
f80728970d1a5982e5d6298fcffdb852c2b6f480
|
(CNN) -- As a Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate said she would demand an investigation of a weekend shooting at a campaign event, one ruling party lawmaker had a different take: The candidate should have seen the violence coming. Rep. Freddy Bernal, a former Caracas mayor and close ally of President Hugo Chavez, told El Universal newspaper that Maria Corina Machado and other opposition candidates should steer clear of Chavez strongholds. "They know that they're not going to have any votes there. They know that nobody votes for them there, that they are not wanted. So what are they going to do there?" Bernal said, according to the newspaper. The Caracas-based daily published his comments two days after gunshots sent Machado and her supporters scrambling at an event Saturday. Machado's campaign told CNN en Español Monday that the opposition candidate plans to file a formal complaint with investigators Tuesday. A video purporting to show the shooting on YouTube shows the candidate addressing residents and reporters shortly after she threw the first pitch in a softball game. Thirty seconds into the roughly 50-second clip, several gunshots ring out; people scatter. Some board a bus while a voice in the video shouts: "Go, go, go!" Separately, El Nacional newspaper published a photo of what it said was the shooting, showing two people on a motorcycle. Wearing a red T-shirt, the man on the back is pointing a gun at a bus. CNN has not independently confirmed the authenticity of the images, which were also posted on the candidate's website. Speaking to CNN en Español shortly after the attack, Machado blamed "criminal gangs" for the shooting and accused the government of providing some groups with weapons. "The government has absolutely lost control and, in many cases, has been complicit with the criminal gangs," she said. Venezuela's information and justice ministries have not responded to CNN's requests for comment on the shooting. Bernal told El Universal that Machado's visit to the neighborhood in eastern Caracas -- a Chavez stronghold and one of the city's most dangerous areas -- was a "provocation." But he said the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela has no need to intimidate opponents with violence. "We have no reason to do that. We are training people, working and educating them, in peace, democracy and tranquility," he said, according to the newspaper. "We will not resort to provocations, because we are winning this game," he added, arguing that Chavez has a clear lead in polls. "Chaos, provocation, destabilization and violence are convenient for the opposition." Machado, a 44-year-old representative in Venezuela's National Assembly, is one of several presidential candidates who will participate in a primary election next year. The winner will be the unity opposition candidate to run against Chavez. Roberto Abdul, president of the board of directors of Sumate -- a Venezuela-based pro-democracy organization that Machado helped found -- said Saturday's shooting was a troubling sign of Venezuela's security problems. "Violence against any citizen is condemnable. Political violence also must be condemned. ... I think that the government, given that (Machado) is a federal lawmaker, should respond," he said, noting that Machado had stepped down from her role as a leader of Sumate when she became a lawmaker and is no longer affiliated with the organization. Candidates from all political parties should be able to campaign safely, he said. "If they think that the opposition doesn't have support, that's even more of a reason that they should be allowed to freely campaign," he said. "We cannot by any means allow the use of violence to be a (campaign) mechanism. ... They don't have control of the violence, or they are controlling it selectively." Journalist Osmary Hernandez in Caracas contributed to this report.
|
Lawmaker: Opposition candidate Machado's event provoked gunfire .
Freddy Bernal, a close Chavez ally, says the ruling party has no need to resort to violence .
Machado accuses the Venezuelan government of being complicit with criminals .
A pro-democracy advocate says the government should condemn the attack .
|
f8081d4e790378b9bc591933e3c92fee583ecc99
|
(CNN) -- "What day is Veterans Day?" It was a simple question my colleague asked me a few weeks ago. I was startled, then a little horrified. I wondered how anyone could not know when America officially honors military Veterans. When I was growing up, and even now, every day is Veterans Day. My dad was a veteran of Korea and three combat tours in Vietnam. He never talked about his military service but it was the phantom of my childhood. He had an explosive temper and terrible nightmares. He drank too much and yelled even more. He never held a job for more than a year or two, if at all, and looking back now, I realize he must have suffered terribly. But he loved America, his kids and happy hours at the VFW. He hated hippies, foreign cars and people who belittled the armed forces. Red, white and blue were his favorite colors. He carried his service around in his heart, his mind and in the metal shrapnel scattered in his body until the day he died. For him, every day was Veterans Day, because he lived his time at war in some way every day. It's a family tradition. My father's father fought in the trenches of Europe in World War I, my uncles served in World War II. My brother Ole joined the Marines when he was 17 and now, 35 years later, he is still serving. Although he doesn't talk about his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, he, like my dad, carries his service in his heart and his mind. My brother always says his heroes are the Marines he lost in Iraq. To this day, he honors those men by staying in touch with their families and keeping their memories alive. Every day will always be Veterans Day for him. My niece Susie is a private in the Army. She joined straight out of high school. I dread the day when she, too, will come home from a far off land wounded on the inside or out, when Veterans Day is every day for her, too. I am like most Americans. I have never fought in a war, never smelled fear and ammunition in combat, never worried about being blown up by a roadside bomb. We need to remember those who fought for our country while we stayed safe, out of the crossfire. The Veterans Administration says there are 23 million living U.S. Veterans. They could be your co-workers, neighbors and friends. Even if you don't know anyone who has served in the armed forces, there are some small things you can do to let them know you appreciate their service. How you can help a Veteran any day . California-based Operation Gratitude sponsors programs honoring veterans year-round with care packages that include handwritten letters. There are directions on their website. The group sends care packages to VA hospitals, veterans nursing homes, veterans groups and other support organizations. You can also create your own care package for a VA Hospital. Donations of magazines, coffee or cookies, new or gently used clothing and telephone cards are always welcome. Contact your local VA Hospital for more information on what's needed in your community. According to the VA, a little more than a fifth of the adult homeless population has served in the military. The VA has a National Call Center for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The center provides free 24/7 access to trained counselors. Call 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838.) In Washington and other cities, some organizations are working to help Homeless Veterans. "Veterans don't always ask for help. There's a lot of pride," says Christy Respress, executive director of Pathways to Housing DC. Pathways works with MIriam's Kitchen to identify veterans who need help and get them off the street. They do this by getting them into permanent housing and providing them with psychological help and other services. These are just a few ways to help make every day Veterans Day. There are so many more things you can do in your own community. Not just on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, but a daily Armistice in our hearts.
|
Veterans Day is Sunday, November 11 .
"Veterans don't always ask for help. There's a lot of pride," says head of aid group .
There are ways to honor Veterans every day .
|
f8093c6284437bb829b81c3e93b0925a8da686b2
|
Islamic State militants are luring innocent American teenage girls into their violent and war-hungry terror network with 'Disney-like versions' of life under extremism, a terror expert has warned. The claims were made as three American schoolgirls were arrested in Germany as they apparently travelled to Syria to join Islamic militants. The girls — two sisters ages 17 and 15, and a 16-year-old friend, from Denver, Colorado — were stopped in Frankfurt by F.B.I. agents trying to board a plane last weekend after stealing $2,000 from their parents and running away. They were arrested and sent home to their families in the Aurora suburb of the city. And today Mia Bloom, a professor of security studies at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, claimed they were likely doing the bidding of ISIS predators who are preying on increasingly younger women through social media with the promise of dream homes, husbands and happy endings - just like in those portrayed in Disney movies. Scroll down for video . Happy ending? ISIS predators who are preying on increasingly younger women through social media with the promise of dream homes, husbands and happy endings - just like in those portrayed in Disney movies . Arrested: The apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, which police say is the home of one of the three teenage girls who, according to U.S. authorities, were en route to join the Islamic State group in Syria . At least one of the girls was communicating with someone online who encouraged the three to travel to Syria, said Tustin Amole, a spokeswoman for the Cherry Creek School District where the girls attend high school. Fellow students told school officials that the girls had been discussing travel plans over Twitter, Amole said. The girls were detained at an airport in Frankfurt, Germany, and sent home over the weekend. They were interviewed by the FBI and returned to their parents in the Denver suburb of Aurora. Those in the tight-knit east African community where they live said the sisters are of Somali descent and their friend is of Sudanese descent. 'There's no indication they had been radicalized in a way that they wanted to fight for ISIS,' Amole said. Back home: This is where the two sisters live. Those in the tight-knit east African community where they live said the sisters are of Somali descent and their friend is of Sudanese descent . Disney-like? It was claimed they were likely doing the bidding of Islamic State recruiters who prey on increasingly younger women through social media with 'Disney-like versions' of what it is like to live under Muslim leadership . A U.S. official said evidence gathered so far made it clear that the girls were headed to Syria, though the official said investigators were still trying to determine what sort of contacts they had in that country. Another U.S. official said investigators were reviewing evidence, including the girls' computers. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name. Foreign fighters from dozens of nations are pouring into the Middle East to join the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations. U.S. officials are putting new energy into trying to understand what radicalizes people far removed from the fight, and into trying to prod countries to do a better job of keeping them from joining up. They include 19-year-old Shannon Conley (pictured) of Arvada, Colorado, pleaded guilty to charges that she conspired to help militants in Syria. Conley said she wanted to use her American military training with the U.S. Army Explorers to fight a holy war overseas, authorities said. If she could not fight with the extremists, she told agents, she would use her training as a nurse's aide. Agents, who had been overtly trying to stop Conley, arrested her in April as she boarded a flight she hoped would ultimately get her to Syria. She could face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced in January. 'Social media has played a very significant role in the recruitment of young people,' said FBI spokesman Kyle Loven in Minneapolis, home to the largest Somali community in the U.S. Authorities there have been concerned about terror recruiting of the young for years. 'What we've experienced here in Minneapolis is that young, disaffected youth who exist primarily on the fringes of society — they seem to be more susceptible to this type of propaganda, unfortunately,' Loven said. Terror recruiting has been a problem for years in Minneapolis. Since 2007, roughly 22 young Somali-Americans have traveled to Somalia to take up arms with al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked group. Those were all men. Within the last year, a handful of people from the community left Minnesota to join militant groups in Syria, and this time, there are fears that women might have been targeted. Loven said the FBI is working with the Somali community to establish trust and help identify young people at risk for radicalization. In Colorado, Amole said the three teens had no prior problems at school, aside from unexcused absences on Friday. What is still unknown is how they managed to get to Germany. The U.S. government doesn't have restrictions on children flying alone, domestically or internationally. Airline policies vary. Most U.S. airlines allow children 12 and older to fly alone but often with restrictions on international flights, according to the U.S. Transportation Department. The girls' parents reported them missing Friday after they skipped school. They had taken passports and $2,000 in cash from the home of the sisters' parents. At some point, the U.S. informed German authorities at the airport about the girls arriving alone on their way to Turkey, German Interior Ministry spokeswoman Pamela Mueller-Niese told reporters Wednesday. She said the three were detained by German police, with approval from a judge, and returned voluntarily to the U.S. on Sunday. Once home, the girls told a deputy they went to Germany for 'family' but wouldn't elaborate. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Denver would not say whether prosecutors plan to charge the girls with a crime. State prosecutors said they have no imminent plans to charge the girls. Amole said they will not face school discipline. 'Our biggest concern is for the safety and well-being of these girls,' Amole said.
|
Two sisters, 17 and 15, and a friend, 16, were arrested in German airport .
Security expert says likely lured by ISIS on promise of homes and husbands .
Says ISIS predators using social media to lure girls with Disney-like picture .
Schoolmates say the girls were discussing travel plans over Twitter .
|
f809bc92b2cfc99d3644ced239e0c01790af0f48
|
By . Sam Creighton . Blackmail threats allegedly made against Bernie Ecclestone ‘sounded like they had come straight from a gangster film’, a court heard. Investigators said the F1 boss failed to give ‘concrete details’ to back his claim he was blackmailed by Gerhard Gribkowsky, who was in charge of selling Bayern LB bank’s stake in F1 in 2005. Ecclestone, 83, says Gribkowsky demanded £27million to buy his silence over ‘untrue allegations’ about his financial affairs. But prosecutors say it was a bribe to get Gribkowsky – currently in jail for taking the money – to sell to a certain equity firm. Bernie Ecclestone in court today. The F1 boss denies bribery and says he was the victim of a blackmail scam . Ecclestone at the Munich court on the second day of his trial with one of his lawyers, Sven Thomas . Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, second from right, and his lawyers Sven Thomas, centre, and Norbert Scharf, fourth from right . Flanked . by his imposing legal team, Ecclestone looked calm and collected as he . appeared at a Munich court on the second day of his trial on bribery . charges. Mr . Ecclestone's had gathered together a crack team of lawyers to represent . him in the case, not least Dr Sven Thomas, thought of as one of . Germany's top legal minds. The . hulking lawyer, who towers over Mr Ecclestone's 5' 2" frame, is an . expert in white collar crime cases having represented huge companies and . several high profile German politicians during his 36 year career. He was in . Mr Ecclestone's corner today as two German investigators gave evidence . in a case where, if convicted, the Formula One chief, who has built up . his power base in Formula One since the 1970s would likely find his . position in the sport's hierarchy untenable. The . charges involve a $44million (£26 million) payment to banker Gerhard . Gribkowsky, who is serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for taking . the money. Based on information from a two-year investigation, prosecutors allege the payment was meant to facilitate the sale of Munich-based bank Bayern LB's stake in Formula One to a buyer of Ecclestone's liking. Gribkowsky was in charge of selling that 47 percent stake in F1 in 2005. While Ecclestone claims he was the victim of blackmail, in court today, German prosecutors did their best to cast doubt on that assertion. Called as a witness, Martin Bauer, a public prosecutor who took evidence from Ecclestone after the arrest of Gribkowsky in 2011, said: 'It was never really clear what form this threat could have taken'. Bauer said Ecclestone had spoken merely of Gribkowsky being able to make things uncomfortable for him without specifying how. Ecclestone, who denied wrongdoing when he went on trial last week, followed the proceedings through an interpreter. The former used-car salesman, who is fighting to save his job and his reputation, is required to attend every session in a case that will be heard once or twice a week to fit around his Formula One commitments and is set to run until mid-September. CVC, the largest shareholder in Formula One, has said it will dismiss Ecclestone if he is found guilty. Dr Sven Thomas, the silver-haired lawyer hulking over Bernie Ecclestone's 5' 2" frame, is one of the most respected legal minds in Germany and part of the team spearheading the Formula One boss's defence against bribery charges. Qualifying as a lawyer 36 years ago, Dr Thomas has made a career as an expert in white collar crime cases, defending both people and companies of note in a number of high profile cases. The Chambers Directory describes Dr Thomas as ‘fantastic’ and he has been referred to by peers as ‘one of the standout defence lawyers in Germany'. His highest profile case to date has been as part of the defence team for several directors of German company Mannesmann, who were charged with various counts on misconduct in relation to the company's takeover by Vodafone in 2000. Although all the defendants were acquitted, an appeal led to a retrial of all the men but the charges were again shelved on the understanding that the defendants would make public and charitable payments according to their means. Ecclestone testified during Gribkowsky's trial in 2011 and the banker is seen as the key witnesses for the prosecution in this trial, which is scheduled to last until September 16. Gribkowsky was found guilty of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust in a trial heard by the same judge who is overseeing Ecclestone's case, Peter Noll. The defense made clear that it will attack Gribkowsky's credibility, and when the trial opened last week, Ecclestone protested his innocence in a statement read by his lawyers. In the statement, Ecclestone reiterated testimony he gave at Gribkowsky's 2012 trial that he gave the banker the money because he was 'blackmailed' and worried Gribkowsky would falsely accuse of him of being in charge of a trust fund set up for the his former wife and their children — possibly incurring a huge British tax bill. Ecclestone said that 'from today's point of view, it was not a rational decision' to pay Gribkowsky. 'I saw my life's work in danger' if Gribkowsky went to the British tax authorities, he said, adding that he wouldn't have been able to pay the resulting bill. Ecclestone said he had turned over his entire stake in Formula One to his then-wife, Slavica, and their two daughters, in 1997, following a series of health scares that left him worried his family would have to pay a 40 per cent inheritance tax on his fortune if he died. He claims that while he runs the day-to-day business of Formula One, he has not persoanlly owned a stake since 1997. Ecclestone has stepped down temporarily . as a director of Formula One's holding company pending the outcome of . the trial, though he continues to manage the sport's commercial . operations on behalf of investment fund CVC Capital Partners, which has a . controlling stake in the web of companies which run the commercial side . of the sport. Ecclestone jokes with Dr Thomas before the start of the hearing. Two German investigators are expected to give evidence today . Fabiana Flosi, wife of Bernie Ecclestone, also attended the regional court in Munich . Ecclestone's lawyers also insisted anew that their client is innocent, saying in a written statement that 'the alleged bribe has not occurred.' They argued that the charge is based on statements by Gribkowsky that are 'incorrect, misleading and incoherent' and said they would produce new documents at the trial to dispute Gribkowsky's assertions. Ecclestone faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
|
Ecclestone appeared in Munich court for second day of trial .
Two German investigators are expected to give evidence today .
The F1 boss denies allegations of bribery .
|
f80a2e04a1141a7c52e2af7d5fb8e32501acec27
|
Authorities have arrested the lone suspect wanted for the repeated stabbing of a crew member that caused Virginia base to placed on lockdown early Friday morning. Wilbur Harwell, 26, was brought into custody Friday evening in connection with the stabbing at the Naval Support Activity Portsmouth Annex, according to local TV station WAVY. Harwell, an active duty third class petty officer, was snagged in nearby Virginia Beach . The stabbing occurred about at the facility about 8.30am. Wanted: A search is on for active duty third class petty officer Wilbur Harwell, 26, who is alleged to have stabbed a fellow sailor Friday morning outside the navy exchange on the grounds of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth . A SWAT team searches the buildings and grounds of the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth on Friday following a knife attack . Military personnel and police patrol and search the perimeter of the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. on Friday, June 6, 2014, during a manhunt following a stabbing at the Navy Exchange . Code White: Navy officials have identified a suspect who is being sought in a stabbing at the Navy exchange near Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia. Here police search vehicles trying to exit the facility . Sources inside the base say the suspect has blonde hair and blue eyes and weighs about 165 pounds. He was wearing tan cargo pants, a white t-shirt and blue sneakers at the time of the incident, it is believed. A Code White was put in place at the installation, which closes the facility to inbound and outbound traffic. A Code White could mean an active shooter situation or an armed suspect is in the area. In this case, it is referring to an armed suspect. A Swat team has been seen on site searching cars. The FBI are also on the scene. Wilbur Harwell, 26, is an active duty third class petty officer. He is pictured here in a photo from Facebook . According to the Navy, the stabbing occurred around 8:30 a.m. in front of the installation's Navy Exchange in Portsmouth, Virginia between two active duty sailors . Officer Wilbur Harwell (pictured), who is wanted in connection to the stabbing of a Navy service member, is seen showing off his numerous tattoos in a photo from his Facebook profile . The stabbing comes just one day after the Naval Medical Center held an active shooter drill on the installation. The stabbing victim's condition is not known, nor is a motive for the attack. The annex is home to the nation's first medical hospital. Federal agents approach the Navy Exchange at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Portsmouth Annex, in Portsmouth, Va. on Friday, June 6, 2014 .
|
Stabbing occurred around 8:30 a.m. Friday at Naval Support Activity Portsmouth Annex, Virginia .
Active duty service member was stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another active duty member and is in a critical condition .
Wilbur Harwell, 26, is being sought in connection to the stabbing .
Facility placed on Code White lockdown - no traffic in or out - as search for Harwell continues .
|
f80a31920103c6d39aafc0fe9133b69c5158c326
|
Eight-year-old Harry Flynn is a lifesaver to his little sister Isabelle - after giving her the kiss of life a staggering 22 times. Little Isabelle, aged two, was born 12 weeks early and suffers with a condition called apnoea of prematurity, which makes her stop breathing without warning. But quick-thinking Harry has learned how to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the Red Cross Teddy Bears club and regularly steps in to keep his sister alive. Lifesaver: Harry Flynn is pictured with his little sister Isabelle who suffers with apnoea, a condition which stops her breathing suddenly and without any warning. he learned the technique at Red Cross Kids¿ Club . Harry has performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her while watching TV, during visits to the supermarket and on family days out. Proud Maria says she has 'no doubt' her little daughter would have died had it not been for her big brother. Harry first came to the rescue when the family were watching television and Isabelle cried out before turning blue and falling unconscious. Maria, 37, said: 'It all happened so fast and we were just thinking ‘oh my god, what’s happening.’ 'She just turned blue, then purple, and she was unconscious. She was out cold. But Harry was so cool and calm. He just tapped her leg and called her name and when he got no response he just gave her two breaths and she came round and took an enormous breath. 'We couldn’t believe what we had just seen.' Harry has performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on his sister while watching TV, on family days out and even during visits to the supermarket . Isabelle weighed just 2lbs when she was born at just 28 weeks and was in hospital for 10 weeks before she was able to come home, weighing just 5lbs. She used to stop breathing a couple of times a week but now has an episode around once a month, although doctors say she will eventually grow out of the condition. Apnoea of prematurity is the absence of spontaneous . respiration. It tends to occur in premature babies and occurs because the baby’s central nervous system is . not fully developed when they are born. Most . babies can be roused from an apnoea episode simply by tapping or . rubbing them to make them more alert, and most grow out of the condition as their . body grows and develops. Although apnoea usually resolves itself by the time most premature babies go home, a few will continue to have episodes. In these cases, the baby will be discharged from the intensive care with an apnoea monitor. The child may also need to take caffeine medication for a short time. Harry learned his life-saving skills at the Red Cross Teddy Bears - a youth club he has attended every week since he was five years old. He has saved his sister’s life in supermarkets, out on family trips and even dashes into her bedroom to revive her in her cot if she stops breathing in the middle of the night. Isabelle has a sensor in her mattress that monitors her breathing and sounds an alarm if she stops breathing. 'Harry is always there first,' said Maria. 'He gets to her so fast and he is just so good at it. 'He is so calm and collected and mature beyond his years. He’s amazing - our own hero.' Harry has also trained sister Molly, five, how to revive their little sister in case she ever stops breathing while he or his mum are not around. Full-time mum Maria, who is also a Red Cross volunteer, said: “Once she stopped breathing while we were out shopping in Lidl. 'Before I knew it he had her up out of the trolley, he had to squat down on his knees and held her across his knees giving her breaths. He had to do it about six times. 'I have no doubt she would have died if it were not for Harry. Harry is pictured with his sister Molly, 5, (right) and Isabelle, 2. He has also trained Molly how to revive their little sister in case she ever stops breathing if he or his mother are not nearby . Harry said: 'In the night time, when I hear the [special breathing] alarm go off I run to Isabelle's room and shake her cot and then do a few breaths. I just like to help her' 'They have a really special bond. He absolutely idolises her and dotes on her. He’s a little mother hen really.' But modest Harry - who says he 'just likes to help' - played down his hero status. 'The first time we were just watching telly and Isabelle went all blue and purple on her face,' he said. 'She stopped breathing. I tapped her on the foot twice and did two breaths and she came back. Apnoea of prematurity is the absence of spontaneous . respiration. It tends to occur in premature babies and occurs because the baby’s central nervous system is . not fully developed when they are born. Most . babies can be roused from an apnoea episode simply by tapping or . rubbing them to make them more alert, and most grow out of the condition as their . body grows and develops. Although apnoea usually resolves itself by the time most premature babies go home, a few will continue to have episodes. In these cases, the baby will be discharged from the intensive care with an apnoea monitor. The child may also need to take caffeine medication for a short time. 'It was a little bit frightening at first but I know what to do.' The toddler most recently stopped breathing last Monday - her second birthday - when the family were out at the amusements. 'She was in a little car and she didn’t want to get out so she started crying and then she held her breath in and she went,” he Harry, of Waterford, Ireland. 'I just shook her and gave her some breaths in her mouth. 'In the night time when I hear the alarm I run to her room and shake her cot and then do a few breaths. I just like to help her.' Staff at the Irish Red Cross - which runs the TeddyBears club - said they were very proud of Harry’s heroic actions. Darren Ryan, chairman of the Irish Red Cross Youth working group, added: 'It is extremely important to see that the courses that we provide, to our youth members and to the public, are effective in that they benefit the wider community. 'Harry’s heroic actions show that first aid training for young people really can make a difference. It also shows the capability of our youth members. 'We couldn’t be prouder of Harry and his story strengthens the Irish Red Cross belief that it is imperative that we offer this kind of training to young people.' Apnoea is the absence of spontaneous respiration. When it happens in premature babies it is called apnoea of prematurity and can happen because the baby’s central nervous system is not fully developed when they are born. Most babies can be roused from an apnoea episode simply by tapping or rubbing them to make them more alert, and will grow out of it as their body grows.
|
Harry Flynn learned how to resuscitate at the Red Cross Teddy Bears club .
Sister Isabelle, 2, was born prematurely with apnoea, a condition that caused her stop breathing suddenly and without warning .
Flynn has performed mouth-to-mouth on sister while watching TV, during visits to the supermarket and on family days out .
Has also trained sister Molly, 5, how to revive their little sister in case she ever stops breathing .
while he or his mum are not around .
|
f80a3aecd6ae443674cceb4787a1821979885831
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:52 EST, 18 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 23:36 EST, 18 December 2012 . A Pakistani-born man . wanted to avenge the deaths of U.S. drone attacks in Afghanistan by . blowing up a New York City landmark but lacked the money and materials . to carry out the plan, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday. Assistant . U.S. Attorney Karen Gilbert said at a bail hearing that Raees Alam . Qazi, 20, researched bomb-making techniques on Internet sites affiliated . with al-Qaida, including one using Christmas tree lights, and the FBI . recorded phone calls and conversations linking Qazi to a purported 'lone . wolf' plot. 'He fully intended to do this, . and thankfully he didn't have enough money,' Gilbert said. Referring to . casualties in U.S. drone attacks, she added: 'He wants to avenge those . deaths and kill people.' Accused: Brothers Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30, and Raees Alam Qazi, 20, are charged with plotting to obtain a weapon of mass destruction in order to blow up a New York City landmark as revenge for U.S. drone attacks . Home base: Terrorist suspect Sheheryar Qazi was listed as a resident of the Sailboat Pointe condominium complex in Oakland Park, Florida . Qazi traveled to New . York last month in hopes of getting a job to fund his terrorist plans, . Gilbert said, but wound up sleeping in public transportation, a mosque . and in restaurants, and riding a bicycle around the city looking for . potential targets. He then decided to return home on a Greyhound bus and . was arrested after arriving back in South Florida, she said. Qazi, . a naturalized U.S. citizen who attended local Florida public schools, . confirmed many elements of the plot in a statement to FBI agents after . his arrest in late November, Gilbert said. Investigators also found . bomb-making and related components at the Qazi family home in Oakland . Park, as well as explosives research evidence on a computer used by . Qazi. Qazi is charged along with his brother, . 30-year-old taxi driver Sheheryar Alam Qazi, with conspiring to provide . material support to terrorists and with attempting to use a weapon of . mass destruction in the U.S. Both have pleaded not guilty to the . charges, which carry a potential life sentence if the men are convicted . of both counts. Threat disrupted: Wifredo Ferrer, U.S Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said any potential threat has been disrupted . U.S. Magistrate Judge William . Matthewman ordered Raees Qazi held without bail until trial, finding . that he is a danger to the community and a flight risk. His older . brother has already agreed to pretrial detention, but may seek bail . later. A trial is likely many months away. Gilbert . said Raees Qazi was the intended operative, using either a suicide . attack or a remote-control device to kill people in a crowded place such . as New York's Times Square, a Broadway theater or perhaps on Wall . Street. The elder Qazi supported his brother financially and . logistically with the knowledge that Raees was planning a terror attack, . the prosecutor said. In one conversation . recorded by the FBI, Sheheryar Qazi compared his brother to a 'lone . wolf, like the Times Square bomber.' Gilbert said Sheheryar Qazi was . referring to Faisal Shahzad, who unsuccessfully attempted to detonate a . bomb at the New York landmark in May 2010. In another recorded . conversation, Sheheryar Qazi says that his brother 'wasn't going to be . in this world long.' Raees Qazi's attorney, . Daniel Ecarius, tried to persuade the judge to allow his release on . bail, noting that Qazi had made money by selling bicycles on the . Internet, had no criminal past and had already relinquished his . passport. Ecarius suggested Qazi could be released on house arrest with . electronic monitoring, but Gilbert urged the judge to keep him locked . up. 'He wanted to carry out an attack. If he is released from custody, he will,' she said. Another busted terrorist: Al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla, center, is escorted to a waiting police vehicle by federal marshals near downtown Miami in January 2006 . The Qazi brothers had initial court . appearances Friday, but court-appointed attorneys for the two did not . immediately respond to emails seeking comment. One official who spoke to ABC News . described the younger brother's intent as ‘serious,’ but the source said . it did not appear that an attack was imminent. ‘This . was not a sting,’ sources told the news channel, adding that Raees Alam . Qazi had been in contact with overseas radicals, possibly connected to . al Qaeda. Still, the FBI found evidence that Raees Alam Qazi had been monitoring recent FBI ‘sting’ cases, sources told ABC. South . Florida has seen several high-profile terrorism cases, including the . conviction of al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla and the convictions of . five men accused of plotting to join forces with al-Qaida to destroy a . landmark Chicago skyscraper and bomb FBI offices in several cities. More . recently, a Miami Muslim cleric and one of his sons are facing trial on . charges they provided thousands of dollars in financial support to the . Pakistani Taliban terrorism group.
|
Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30, and Raees Alam Qazi, 20, of Oakland Park, Florida plotted to use a weapon of Mass Destruction in the states .
'He fully intended to do this, .
and thankfully he didn't have enough money,'said Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Gilbert .
The two were arrested and charged with providing money, property, lodging, communications equipment and other support for a conspiracy to obtain a weapon of mass destruction between July 2011 and this week .
Plot was revenge for U.S. drone attacks .
South Florida has seen several .
high-profile terrorism cases, including the conviction of al-Qaida .
operative Jose Padilla and the convictions of five men accused of .
plotting to join forces with al-Qaida .
|
f80a6a032b39b0c999323f81185a8755482d57a6
|
By . Victoria Woollaston . These stunning images were captured in the blink of an eye - literally. Former engineer-turned-photographer Alexander Augusteijn used a high-speed camera to record the moment a gun fires a bullet straight through the heart of a falling water droplet. The whole process took just 28 milliseconds, from the moment the gun was fired to the time the shot was taken - and the shot was perfectly engineered to make the image as precise and uniform as possible. This image was taken by 56-year-old Dutch photographer Alexander Augusteijn. It captures the moment a bullet passes through three drops of water, filmed using different coloured lights. The image was shot using a high-speed camera and shutter that was automatically triggered when the gun was fired . Augusteijn’s droplet shots are part of a range of photographs that capture bullets travelling through objects. The 56-year-old has previously caught the moment a bullet breaks a water balloon, smashes through a lit lightbulb and destroys a stack of dice. To take such precise shots, Augusteijn’s uses a pool of water that is lit from various angles, with coloured lights used to add hues to the drops. He begins by placing water in a time-release valve above a pool of water below. As the drop leaves the valve it hits the pool. When this drop reaches a certain point, the gun is set to fire automatically, which in turn triggers the camera’s flash and shutter. The former engineer built the system himself and the whole process takes just 28 milliseconds from the moment the gun is fired to the time the shot is taken. As a result each shot is perfectly engineered to make the images as precise and uniform as possible. The reflection also creates a mirror effect . To take such precise shots, Augusteijn's uses a pool of water that is lit from various angles, with coloured lights used to add hues to the drops. He begins by placing water in a time-release valve above a pool of water below. As the drop leaves the valve it hits the pool . Augusteijn told Mashable that the system takes ‘a few hours’ to setup, but once constructed each shot is ‘spot on, due to the precise level of control.’ But, despite this level of control, Augusteijn takes hundreds of images on any given experiment before selecting his favourites. Augusteijn took up photography in 1976 and mostly shot black and white images which he developed and printed himself. He has also captured microscopic images of crystals, from sugar to paracetamol and Vitamin C, and created images of women and animals using smoke. More of Augusteijn's photographs can be viewed on his website. When the drop reaches a certain point, the gun is set to fire automatically, which in turn triggers the camera's flash and shutter. Augusteijn said the system takes 'a few hours' to setup, but once constructed each shot is 'spot on, due to the precise level of control' Despite this level of control, Augusteijn takes hundreds of images on any given experiment before selecting his favourites. The 56-year-old took up photography in 1976 and mostly shot black and white images, which he developed and printed himself. He has also captured microscopic images of crystals, from sugar to paracetamol, and created images of women and animals using smoke . Last year, slow motion film experts filmed themselves firing guns underwater for the first time to show the mini tornadoes and unusual shapes created by the weapons. Gavin and Dan, who are known on YouTube as The Slo Mo Guys, made the video to show the differing effects that two guns created in a freezing swimming pool. After being triggered, a tornado forms at the end of both guns for a few short seconds before the bullets sink down to the bottom of the pool and surrounding bubbles float to the surface.
|
The photos were taken by 56-year-old Dutch photographer Alexander Augusteijn .
Each of the images capture the moment a bullet passes through a carefully timed, falling droplet of water .
Augusteijn manages to catch the physical break between the top of the droplet and the water in the pool below .
They were shot using a high-speed camera and shutter which was automatically triggered when the gun was fired .
The former engineer built the system himself and the whole process takes just 28 milliseconds .
|
f80a74e9a4def920aa07b4994bf4bc8db7990148
|
By . Ollie Gillman for MailOnline . These spectacular images of star-filled night skies look as though they were taken in the depths of space. But the awe-inspiring shots are actually the work of Matt Payne, who took the images in Oregon and Colorado. Mr Payne says people who live in cities often refuse to believe his pictures are real because they have never seen so many stars with their own eyes. These images, which look like they have been shot from space or through the Hubble Telescope, were actually taken by one 35-year-old man and his camera . Matt Payne specializes in nighttime photography, and took these incredible pictures in Colorado and Oregon, where he grew up and where he now lives . A sky full of stars: Mr Payne, from Portland, says people who live in cities often view his images with disbelief as they have never seen so many stars with their own eyes . The photographer, originally from Colorado but now living in Portland, Oregon, said he enjoys being out in the wild and has always been drawn to the world above. The 35-year-old, who has been taking night sky photographs for five years, says his work takes meticulous planning as the weather, terrain, time of year and even moon cycle all play a part in the quality of shot he is able to capture. He said: 'I love nighttime photography - it allows a type of creativity not found in other landscape photography scenes. 'It requires a lot of of patience and planning as well as intimate knowledge of your camera. Born to be wild: The photographer says he has always enjoyed the great outdoors, and that he has been drawn to the world above from a very young age . Mr Payne says the key skills needed to take spectacular nighttime shots like these are having a lot of patience and an 'intimate knowledge of your camera' The weather, terrain, time of year and even moon cycle all play a part in the quality of shot Mr Payne is able to capture, meaning his nights in the wild can be very long . The skilled snapper says he prefers nighttime shots to any other kind of landscape photography because it allows 'a type of creativity' not seen elsewhere . 'People with an appreciation and connection to the outdoors and the wilderness who have seen the Milky Way with their own eyes are usually quite connected with my photographs. 'Others, who maybe have not had the opportunity to see the night sky away from the city, are often left in disbelief. Mr Payne is now planning to shoot the skies over South America, Alaska and northern Europe. He added: 'I hope my photographs connect people to the fascination and wonder so inherent to the relationship between our Earth and the cosmos.' Unreal: People who have seen the Milky Way or who are into astronomy have a greater appreciation and connection with these type of images, Mr Payne says . The sheer number of stars on show in one moment leads many people who live in urban areas to not believe Mr Payne's work is real - but it is the genuine article . The photographer's next shoots are planned for Alaska, northern Europe and South America, where he hopes to take more pictures like his these .
|
Incredible images by photographer Matt Payne show thousands of stars over mountains in Colorado and Oregon .
Mr Payne says people from cities do not believe the images are real as they have never seen so many stars .
Awe-inspiring shots show colorful rainbow-like skies illuminating the night over North America .
|
f80a83e2418e35ebc405cbcd212b015e59803b7c
|
Wasps have completed the full takeover of the Ricoh Arena. The Aviva Premiership side have purchased the remaining 50 per cent stake from the Alan Edward Higgs Charity, which owned half of the Ricoh Arena operating firm Arena Coventry Limited. The club's first match at their new Coventry home will be their Aviva Premiership Rugby clash against London Irish on Sunday December 21. Wasps will play their first match at the Ricoh Arena against London Irish on Sunday December 21 . The Aviva Premiership side will leave their current home at Adams Park in High Wycombe . Nick Eastwood, Wasps chief executive, told the club's official site: 'We are delighted to confirm our acquisition of the remaining 50 per cent shareholding in the Ricoh Arena. 'Since the news was first announced of our move, we have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome we have received from the local community. 'We are looking forward to embedding ourselves in the region and helping promote rugby - something we have already committed to by making over 12,000 free tickets available to Coventry schools and rugby clubs. 'We recognise that this announcement might raise concerns amongst the fans of Coventry City Football Club. Wasps remain committed to building a long term and mutually productive relationship with the club and its supporters.' Wasps remain committed to letting Coventry City continue to play their home games at the Ricoh Arena . Wasps had previously bought a 50 per cent shareholding in ACL from Coventry City Council last month. They will rename the North Stand 'The Higgs Charity Stand' and donate 50p to the charity for every Wasps match ticket sold in the stand. Coventry's owners Sisu had tried to buy the charity's stake but it was rejected. A statement from the Alan Edward Higgs Charity confirmed on Friday: 'The Trustees having considered the conditional offer from the Joint Liquidators of CCFC Ltd have decided to reject that offer.'
|
Aviva Premiership side Wasps will play their first game at their new Coventry home on December 21 .
Wasps bought remaining 50 per cent stake from Alan Edward Higgs Charity .
Chief executive Nick Eastwood revealed he was 'delighted' with the move .
Coventry City FC will continue to play their home games at the ground .
|
f80acce2c4e0150d9bca90c626712beec7f15595
|
By . Michael Zennie and Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 15:44 EST, 20 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:44 EST, 20 December 2012 . Ousted: Football coach Michael Divincenzo allegedly failed to stop hazing in his presence at Maine West High School . A soccer coach is set to be fired after he . allegedly witnessed a teenage boy being sodomized by teammates then . congratulated the victim, asking 'if it was all good'. The school board in Maine Township voted against reinstating Michael Divincenzo at Maine West High on Wednesday. School board President Sean Sullivan said Divincenzo violated district policy 'by failing to adequately prevent, recognize, report and punish student hazing'. The school board reached the unanimous decision after a closed session. At the same time on Wednesday, school alumni and current members of the sports teams got together at a public meeting in a show of support for the coaches. Divincenzo has 17 days to request a hearing on the board's decisions. During an incident in July, Divincenzo, known to students as 'Divo', reportedly told older players to assault freshmen. The claim came to light after three boys were allegedly sexually assaulted in a hazing ritual at Maine West . High School in Des Plaines, Illinois on September 27. It has been alleged that three boys were shoved to the ground and beaten by the older members of the varsity team. The players then held them down, pulled down their pants, tore off their underwear and sodomized each of them. The coaches supported the hazing . ritual, by ordering a 'campus run' after the three . freshman made the senior team, the Daily Herald reported. Three other coaches have also been fired. A Des Plaines police investigation of the incident led to six students being sent to juvenile court to face hazing charges. The school district said it has disciplined ten students. Antonio Romanucci, the attorney who filed a lawsuit on behalf of three students and their parents, said the hazing . practice has taken place at the school for the last four years. 'That behavior, in today's society, is disgusting,' he said. 'It should never be condoned. It should never have happened.' The school is investigating this year's . assault allegations and another in 2008 involving a teenage baseball . player at Maine West. Ordeal: Three teenage boys were allegedly sodomized by older teammates at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois on September 27 .
|
Michael Divincenzo unanimously voted against by school board .
Three freshman players allegedly sexually assaulted by teammates at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois .
|
f80b3926e0f1eecd91cbf8f508ba3737c2340875
|
(CNN) -- Rifts within the Anglican Communion could widen after the archbishop of Canterbury, who has condemned the consecration of openly gay bishops, urged a diminished role Friday for the Episcopal Church. Earlier this month, a Los Angeles, California, diocese ordained the Rev. Mary Glasspool, the first openly gay bishop ordained in the church since 2004, when Gene Robinson took his post in New Hampshire. The U.S. church has been criticized by conservative factions for openly gay ordinations. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the nominal head of Anglican Communion, shared his concern when Glasspool was consecrated, saying then that the move would further divide the 77 million-member worldwide denomination that includes the Episcopal Church in the United States. On Friday, he made an even stronger statement in a letter to the communion. "Our Anglican fellowship continues to experience painful division, and the events of recent months have not brought us nearer to full reconciliation," Williams wrote. "There are still things being done that the representative bodies of the Communion have repeatedly pleaded should not be done; and this leads to recrimination, confusion and bitterness all round. "It is clear that the official bodies of The Episcopal Church have felt in conscience that they cannot go along with what has been asked of them by others, and the consecration of Canon Mary Glasspool on May 15 has been a clear sign of this." Williams does not have the power to issue edicts like the pope, but he issued a five-page statement suggesting that provinces (such as the Episcopal Church) or national and regional churches that have broken agreed-upon "promises" should step down from participating in interfaith dialogues. He said they should also relinquish decision-making powers in a committee that deals with questions of doctrine and authority. Following Robinson's consecration, the communion leadership laid out three promises, or moratoria, according to the archbishop of Canterbury website: . -- No authorization of blessings services for same-sex unions. -- No consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships. -- No cross-border interventions (no bishop authorizing any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). Glasspool has been in an open same-sex relationship for 19 years, a violation of the moratoria. Robinson also was in a same-sex relationship at the time of his consecration. Conservative Anglicans have long called for Williams to punish the Episcopal Church by not inviting the church to the Lambeth Conference, a global meeting of Anglican leaders held every decade. Williams did not go far enough in his rebuke, a spokesman for a conservative Anglican group said Friday. Robert Lundy of the American Anglican Council said the Episcopal Church shouldn't be involved in any decision-making bodies within the Anglican Communion so long as it continues to ordain openly gay bishops and violate biblical teachings. Williams' statement only keeps the Episcopal Church off of certain committees within the communion, Lundy said. "He [Williams] knows he has to do something because he's under pressure from all sides," he said. "But unfortunately, the step he's taken in our view is not strong enough." Bishop Ian Douglas of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut called Williams' statement "significant" but "not as punitive as it might have been." He said it was an affirmation of the three moratoria, and he made clear that other churches, not just the U.S. Episcopal Church, will be affected for having broken promises as well. "Many churches across the Anglican Communion because of conscience or their belief in what the holy spirit is up to in their local context have lived beyond the moratoria," Douglas said. "While the moratoria are still before us, such actions do have some ramifications. ... If anything, I question the efficacy of the moratoria." He added, "It's another expression of how we're trying to live with our differences with integrity and not alienate one another. I'm still convinced there's so much more that unites us."
|
The Episcopal Church in Los Angeles recently consecrated an openly gay bishop .
The archbishop of Canterbury warned that divisions in the church would widen .
He urged a diminished role for the Episcopal Church for violating "promises"
Conservatives say he didn't go far enough .
|
f80b3d738c6d4ad23d1418ee421d66f6da86ca67
|
(CNN) -- There's a man defecating on my desk. He's Spanish. But, sadly, it's not Rafa Nadal. For surely that might count, then, as an oddly spectacular life moment worth Instagramming. Thanks, Rafa! #Deuce . No, the squatting Spanish defecator I speak of is actually a three-inch-tall plastic figurine known as a Caganer. I bought it a while back in Barcelona, and, believe it or not, he's a traditional fixture in Catalan nativity scenes, which, apparently, are inspired by parking lots at Philadelphia Eagles games. So, I keep my little Caganer near my computer because it makes me smile. But I also just like having interesting desk toys, even though it seems I've clearly been missing out on the single greatest one of all. You see, this week the interwebs suddenly started buzzing about a very specific desk toy called Buckyballs. I had never actually heard of these things, but online chatter went a little crazy right after the company announced they were discontinuing production of their hugely popular and addictive shape-changing magnetic beads. If you're not quite sure what I'm talking about, just think stress ball meets marbles meets Silly Putty... ...meets possible agonizing pain. Magnetic Buckyballs toys discontinued . Amazingly, while everyone from WIRED to MAXIM to The New York Times has boasted about these tiny little magnetic balls of joy, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has basically deemed them to be just slightly less dangerous than trying to administer a hernia test to an unwilling gorilla. In fact, this past July, in their official lawsuit against the makers of Buckyballs, the commission noted that the magnets "contain a defect in the design, packaging, warnings and instructions which pose a substantial risk of injury to the public." It turns out kids like shiny things. And sometimes they swallow shiny things. But when those shiny things happen to be superpowerful magnets, it's actually a fairly serious health concern. Many retailers voluntarily stopped selling Buckyballs at the safety commission's request, but the distributor, Maxfield & Oberton Holdings, continued to manufacture and sell the product. Until Wednesday. That's when Buckyballs put out this statement: . "Due to baseless and relentless legal badgering by a certain four letter government agency, it's time to bid a fond farewell to the world's most popular adult desk toys, Buckyballs and Buckycubes. That's right: We're sad to say that Balls & Cubes have a one-way ticket to the Land-of-Awesome-Stuff-You-Should-Have-Bought-When-You-Had-the-Chance." Buckyball supporters were furious. Now I feel their pain. Because these things are amazing! While writing this, I decided to step away from my work and scour the newsroom to see if anyone actually had Buckyballs. I wanted to test them out, but -- truth be told -- I also can't concentrate for more than 30 seconds at a time. So, I figured I might as well walk around and distract my co-workers. The logical first stop was Topher's desk, because his cubicle always seems to have a certain level of "flair." Unfortunately, since Buckyballs have nothing to do with "Star Wars" he didn't have any -- lest they disrupt the delicate feng shui of his Darth Vader shrine. "You have failed me for the last time, Topher." Fortunately, his desk neighbor, Michelle, DID have Buckyballs! However, she wasn't in the office yet, so I couldn't just politely borrow them for an hour. Thus, I politely stole them. Walking around the newsroom with this small mass of tiny round magnets was like coming to work with a puppy. Everyone wanted to hold it, and I watched seemingly mature adults delightfully morph into whimsical children, completely in awe of this strange, invisible force. For as the great American poets, Insane Clown Posse, once asked, "(Expletive) magnets -- how do they work?" Cute as it may have been to watch my colleagues smiling like little kids, the irony is that it's real children who have brought Buckyballs to their end. Despite the fact that, since 2010, there have been warning labels in five places on each box, and additional inserts specifically instructing adults to keep these far, far away from kids (you know, like poison or guns or that one creepy neighbor who always brags about once being on "Dateline"), Buckyballs are still being swallowed. So, the debate rages online: Was it right for the government to go after Buckyballs, or has the company properly done its due diligence to warn and protect consumers? It's sort of a moot point since, at least for now, what they have in stock is all that's left. Though, I suppose you could always just politely steal them from Michelle's desk.
|
The makers of Buckyballs are discontinuing them because of safety concerns .
Buckyballs are hugely popular and superaddictive shape-changing magnetic beads .
Buckyball supporters are furious. I feel their pain. Because these things are amazing!
|
f80b5d3bba0ca3a7cb18aa05ff3e65345ce4833b
|
(CNN) -- Some of the nation's top experts Tuesday were looking for clues into sudden, mass deaths of birds in two states over New Year's weekend. "This one is unusual because of the time period over which so many birds died," said LeAnn White, a field investigator with the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey, is receiving samples from Arkansas, where as many as 5,000 red-winged blackbirds and starlings fell from the sky in a square-mile area in less than an hour on New Year's Eve, according to the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission. The center will also examine samples from Louisiana, where 500 red-winged blackbirds, starlings and grackles were found dead in Labarre. A preliminary report conducted Monday by the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission found that the birds in Beebe, Arkansas, likely died from massive trauma. There had been reports of loud sounds in Beebe before the reports of birds falling began to come in. It's possible the sounds made the birds disoriented, and they went into sudden, chaotic flights, crashing into each other and into objects, White said. "You're disturbed, you're disoriented, you're trying to figure out where you are. We have seen some stuff like this before when there's heavy dense fog, and they'll run into towers and power lines," she said. Other bird experts agree that that's a likely explanation. Still, the sudden deaths are quite unusual. "It's kind of a freak event," said Greg Butcher, director of bird conservation for the National Audubon Society. "You just don't see these kinds of mass deaths very frequently at all." At this time of year, blackbirds are in huge roosts, particularly throughout the southeastern United States, he said. They generally don't fly at night. "In the course of a year, about half the birds that are around die -- even under the best circumstances. The life of a bird is brutish and short. But it just usually happens out of the sight of people," said Butcher. It's possible that the loud sound that triggered the incident was New Year's Eve fireworks, though officials said the investigation is ongoing. "If it had been any other day of the week," Butcher said, he might have suspected people to be behind the deaths. "There's a lot of purposeful killings. ... People really don't like these big roosts. But I can't see anybody doing that on New Year's Eve." Doug Inkley, senior scientist with the National Wildlife Federation, said his "first suspicion is that they were frightened and went into a mass panic." "I would call this event unusual," he said, "but not unprecedented." Keith Stephens, a spokesman for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the birds showed evidence of trauma in the breast tissue, with blood clots in the body cavity and a lot of internal bleeding. All major organs were normal. Karen Rowe, an ornithologist for the commission, said such incidents can be caused by a lightning strike or high-altitude hail. A strong storm system moved through the state earlier in the day Friday. The experts CNN spoke with saw nothing surprising in there being a similar report of bird deaths in Louisiana. "It's another one of those coincidences," said White, adding, "I'm really interested to see if there's anything that could possibly be related. I asked about weather conditions there. There's sometimes high-altitude hail." But, she said, so far officials were not aware of "any strange weather patterns" in the area. Butcher, with the National Audubon Society, said there may be more reports of dead birds found around the country. "As soon as one of these things hits the airwaves, people are just more sensitive to seeing dead birds around." Meanwhile, Arkansas officials are investigating the death of an estimated 100,000 fish in the state's northwest, but suspect disease was to blame, a state spokesman said Sunday.
|
Thousands of birds died suddenly Friday night in two separate locations .
Experts suspect something panicked the birds into chaotic flight and crashes .
It's possible New Year's Eve fireworks sparked one of the mass deaths .
Scientists call the scale of these deaths unusual, but not unprecedented .
|
f80bfdc7a6da3df6549288154bb1b600eb7e9b02
|
By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 13:12 EST, 3 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:24 EST, 3 November 2013 . A talented graphic designer . who builds fantastical LEGO sculptures in his spare time has teamed up . with a publishing giant for a new book. Mike Doyle, a husband and father-of-two from New Jersey, developed Beautiful LEGO with NoStarch Press to showcase the most creative toy brick 'builds' by designers from around the world, out now. It features eye-popping designs such as mythical dragons, imagined galactic cities and storm-battered houses. Millennial Celebration of the Eternal Choir at K'al Yne, Odan is a fantasy sculpture of 200,000 Lego pieces . Doyle re-discovered Legos four years . ago after visiting Legoland with his two sons and then cruising around . the internet to see what other people were doing. 'Builds' - as they’re known to their creators - can take hundreds of hours to produce. Doyle is now an internationally renowned sculptor of LEGO custom creations. He is known for his stunningly realistic, grand-scale design, and he posts pictures of his builds on his blog. He now builds ever building larger and larger . houses that have an increasing amount of detail and several hundred . thousand pieces. He includes his own work in the new book. Victorian on Mud Heap (2011), by Mike Doyle . This Lego house shows a roof collapsed by the weight of snow, and side shingles ripped by the winds . 'To my eyes, patterns of decay find a . more pleasing path than an untouched object,' writes Doyle of his two . storey house with basement sculpture. 'A . roof collapsed by the weight of snow, side shingles ripped by the force . of winds, substructures rotting, insects and weather gnawing the . exposed surfaces. 'I can picture those windy days where a . shingle flies off. Or the sudden creaking, cracking and burst of tinder . giving way under snow's heavy hand.' Doyle has curated more than 200 pages of the world's best Lego art for the new book, which is around 280 pages and has close to 360 builds and 400 images. Three Story Victorian with Tree features in the new book. No wood, glue, or paint was used, just Lego . Westie (2012) © Huang Shin-Kai (l): Doyle has curated more than 200 pages of the world's best Lego art . Queen frontman Freddie Mercury made from Lego by Iain Heath features in the book . Contact, the majestic fantasy cityscape featured on this book’s cover, uses more than 200,000 bricks. His . award-winning Abandoned House series has been showcased at Gallery1988 . in LA and now has a home in Boston’s Museum of Realist Art. 'Every year this stuff gets more and more . intricate and the technique gets better, so I thought it would be great . to celebrate the merits of the medium,' Doyle tells Wired. The appeal for him is the ability to 'go . beyond the medium.' At some point, he says Legos stop being the subject, . and instead just become a tool. Like a painter seeing beyond the paint . to envision the painting. He calls it a kind of 'transcendence'. Temple of Jugatinus (2012) © James Pegrum: The most humble of media can create majestic results . Harley Davidsons (2011) © Dennis Glaasker: The new Beautiful LEGO book is around 280 pages . New Holland Honeyeater (2011) © Gabriel Thomson: Mike has developed the book with NoStarch Press . LEGO Treats (2010) © Eric Constantino: The book features some of the world's best Lego art . The tome portrays fantastic LEGO builds created by designers around the world, in an art book format . Interviews with the artists accompany pictures to take you inside the creative process . Eero Okkonen made these magnificent sculptures which feature in the tome .
|
Mike Doyle is a husband and father-of-two from New Jersey .
He developed Beautiful LEGO book with No Starch Press .
Showcases creative toy brick 'builds' by world's designers .
|
f80c02089d6cdec1f109039ffeab994aef086740
|
By . Damien Gayle . A homeowner is preparing to do battle with his residents' association after it fined him $200 for flying the Betsy Ross flag outside his house. David Renner annoyed neighbours in Littleton, Colorado, when he hoisted the revolutionary-era standard with its 13 stars and stripes outside his townhouse in the run up to Flag Day. Slapping him with the fine, the Southbridge Townhomes Association told Mr Renner the only acceptable American flag is the current incarnation, which has 50 stars and 13 stripes. Don't tread on me: David Renner outside his home in Littleton, Colorado, with the Betsy Ross flag still flying in the background despite his having been fined $200 by his homeowners' association . Now Mr Renner is planning to consult an attorney, who he thinks will back up his opinion that the association is acting contrary to the 2005 Freedom to Display the American Flag Act. It's just the latest volley in a long-running dispute between Mr Renner and his homeowners' association. But he told KWGN reporter Tammy Ross he doesn't really want a fight over his flags. 'I just want to honour our history,' he said. The American flag has been redesigned 26 times since it was officially adopted on June 14, 1777. One of its first incarnations, the so-called 'Betsy Ross' flag that got David Renner in trouble with his neighbours, had 13 stars and 13 stripes to represent the 13 colonies in the original Declaration of Independence. While its origins are not well documented, a popularly accepted legend is that Betsy Ross, the wife of a militiaman, sewed it from a sketch handed to her by George Washington. However at the time the design was by no means universally used, and a number of flags loosely based on the prescribed design were used in the early years of American independence. Over the years more stars have been gradually added to the American flag to reflect the addition of new states to the union. The current flag has been in use since 1960, when Hawaii was made a state. In April Mr Renner, a flag enthusiast who . owns 13 flags, was warned by the HOA for flying the Gadsden, the . yellow, pre-revolutionary flag which proclaims 'don't tread on me'. Attempting to mollify neighbours, he took down the Gadsden - a favourite of Tea Party conservatives - and hoisted his Colorado flag instead. In May, the HOA fined him $100 in response and he took down the flag, replacing it with the Betsy Ross, an early version of the current Star and Stripes that was first adopted in 1777. It is distinctive for the circular arrangement of its 13 stars - representing the 13 colonies that originally declared independence from the UK. But in June that drew another fine, this time for $200. This time, however, Mr Renner says he won't back down, despite a letter threating further action from the homeowners' association. Mr Renner says he is growing disillusioned with the benefits offered by the association. 'What are we gaining? What are we losing?' he asked KWGN. 'Are we losing our freedom for a nice manicured lawn? I really hope we are not.' The Betsy Ross American flag: While its origins are not well documented, a popularly accepted legend is that Betsy Ross, the wife of a militiaman, sewed it from a sketch handed to her by George Washington .
|
David Renner was told the only acceptable flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes .
But he believes he has a right to fly the Betsy Ross under a 2005 law .
He plans to consult a lawyer and will continue to fly the flag until resolved .
|
f80c1180862b2750fc4ba5cafac1fdddfbcafced
|
I have always romanticized the family ski vacation -- that's before I actually started skiing with my own children. What no one warns you about is that skiing with young kids can suck the relaxation right out of you. I am the ski Sherpa, schlepping my kids' boots, skis and poles, as hand warmers and granola bars bulge from my pockets. By the time I get to the slopes, even in the midst of a Polar Vortex, I am sweating right through my Hot Chillys long underwear. Welcome to Vail and the Sachs family ski trip of 2014. My kids are pumped to be in Vail, home to several Olympic athletes, and the Sochi Games have just kicked off. The conditions are fabulous, with snow dumping at an exceptional rate. After a day of lessons, both of my kids are officially better skiers than I. And I am wiped. My thighs are aching from plowing through the 20 inches of fresh powder. It was glorious; I'm just pooped. If it weren't for my debilitating headache at 10,000 feet, a cocktail would be in order. But alas, it's Colorado and legalized weed has given après ski a new meaning -- so I start weighing my options. When you are traveling with precocious tween kids who are super judgy about any type of smoking and recoil from the stench of beer, how do you even broach the subject of marijuana? Mommy needs her glass of wine is now mommy needs her hit of weed? It feels wrong, but maybe that's why it's so exciting to even contemplate. Still, my kids are not sophisticated enough to understand the nuances or subtleties of life or why parents do what they do to relax and reinvigorate. There are some things they just don't need to know, and I decide this is one of them. At their age, it's probably best to keep it black and white. Drugs, drinking and sex are all bad -- very bad! I considered drawing others into my quest for the green stuff. We were staying at the gorgeous, new Solaris luxury residences in Vail. I was assigned a concierge named Ilse to do everything from stock my fridge to schedule my son's snowmobiling adventure. Could I also ask Ilse to hook me up with pot? I felt like I was 16 years old again, trying to score some wine coolers. It may be legal, but it still seemed illicit. I couldn't bring myself to ask Ilse, but I did check the weed situation with Bob Armour, my awesome ski instructor who also happens to be the former mayor of Vail. They wear many hats in this town. Bob confirmed that the Vail Resort is pot-free and smoking on their magnificent mountain is illegal. It's federal land and lighting up outside is a big no-no. They take it seriously in Vail -- I get it. No one wants stoned skiers near themselves or their kids. But I would argue that boozing boarders are just as scary and there's no shortage of alcohol at ski resorts in America. So while weed wasn't for sale anywhere in Eagle County, a quick Google search and a click on the Best Buds app turned up a half-dozen dispensaries within an hour's drive. In Colorado you can ski a bowl in Vail and smoke a bowl in Breckenridge, all in a few hours. The PR folks may scoff at that tagline, not wanting to sully the sophisticated image of Colorado skiing, but it could be a boon for the industry. Utah has Sundance; Colorado has Mary Jane. And after a day of hard skiing, you may just want to skip the Hot Toddy and relax with a tasty pot edible instead. With my husband's enthusiastic support, I went in search of the Cannabis Club in Breckenridge. It felt a little stealth as I told my kids that mommy needed to run a few errands before Valentine's Day. So I cranked up some tunes in my rental minivan and hit Interstate 70 to downtown Breckenridge, where the marijuana market is nestled along the picturesque main street across from a Starbucks. After consulting the Cannabis Club's petite, blonde, 20-something budtender -- that's what they call themselves - I bought a $25 chocolate chip cranberry "Lucie in the Sky" cookie and some THC-infused chocolate truffles in a shiny, silver package. I considered the gummies, but the chocolate seemed more festive. A couple of doors down, I found a fancy candy store for my kids. Mission accomplished. Chocolate-covered strawberries for my children, THC chocolate truffles for my man -- happy Valentine's Day! Even though it was all perfectly legit, I felt a little giddy. Old habits, I suppose. At night after the kids were asleep, my husband and I nibbled on the jumbo cookie and watched some Olympic slopestyle, waiting for Lucie to work her magic. She was to be my masseuse-by-pot-proxy, easing my tired and aching body into a blissful, peaceful state. After all, I never can break away to a spa on a family ski trip. It's too time consuming and it's tough to grab an alone moment when we are away. But Lucie, well, she's conveniently sitting on my nightstand waiting to be appreciated. We made sure to keep Lucie locked in our bedroom so as not to confuse her with my kids' cookies in the kitchen. Earlier, my budtender warned me to only eat a quarter of the cookie, but I must have consumed more than was recommended because the next eight hours turned into a heart-racing, chest-thumping, head-spinning trip. The potency of edibles is apparently unreliable, and they can pack a punch. Who knew? The next morning after some strong coffee, I was back in the heated, Wi-Fi gondola, not only happy that I could finally stand, but psyched to squeeze in a few more hours of Vail powder before the trek back East. My THC cookie didn't give me the relaxing zen that I was hoping to have, but I didn't regret the experience. Next time I could do without the heart palpitations and pay closer attention to my budtender's recommendations. Perhaps the oatmeal raisin cookie would have been mellower. A week later, my kids were still talking about the 50,000-plus vertical feet they shredded as recorded on their handy EpicMix app. As for me and my chocolate truffles, it's illegal to transport any form of cannabis over state lines. Those weed amnesty drop boxes popping up at airports around the state are probably getting a lot of action, and not just from stoners. Colorado skiing has always been known for its Rocky Mountains and blue skies; now après ski gives the family ski trip a whole new high. Parents, weigh in below: While on a trip with the kids, would you use pot to relax -- the same way you might have a drink after the kids are asleep?
|
Wendy Sachs wanted to try using pot to relax during a family vacation in Colorado .
Weed is legal in the state, and she looked up a local dispensary for supplies .
Sachs kept her children in the dark about it; they aren't old enough to understand .
The high wasn't all she hoped, but it lent a new aspect to the traditional family ski trip .
|
f80c29af286d02b07471f1a7810794c806932dee
|
Former Vanderbilt football player Cory Batey has said that he would not have raped an unconscious woman if his father hadn't died when he was young. The 21-year-old convicted rapist told Dr Phil through tears that if his father had not passed away from cancer when he was nine, he would've had a strong male figure to put him on the right track. 'I would like to think I wouldn't be in this position if he was alive, honestly,' said Batey, who was one of 13 siblings. 'I just think a man needs his father at a certain point in life to mold him and discipline him and I think I missed out on that and I kind of had to choose my own direction.' Scroll down for videos . Emotional: Cory Batey, 21, cried as he explained how he had embarrassed his mother by gang-raping an unconscious woman in 2013. He said that if he had a strong male figure in his life, it wouldn't have happened . Sobs: He broke down as he described how he had embarrassed his mother, who works at Vanderbilt . The 21-year-old former football player spoke with Dr Phil in the exclusive interview, which will air today . Shocked, Dr Phil asked him: 'Because he wasn't there, do you not know right from wrong?' 'Oh, I know right from wrong,' he responded. Batey was found guilty of aggravated rape last month after assaulting the woman in a dorm with three other football players after a night of drinking in June 2013 - in an attack caught on camera. As he awaits his sentencing - where he faces more than 140 years behind bars - he sat down for an exclusive interview with Dr Phil, which will air in full on Monday afternoon. During the interview, he also became emotional as he spoke about his mother, Audrey 'Jeannie' Batey, who has worked at Vanderbilt for 37 years and who supported her son throughout his trial. 'I embarrassed her,' he said. 'I embarrassed her.' When the jury was shown the graphic videos of him attacking the woman during the trial, he said he couldn't bring himself to look at his mother, who was in the courtroom. 'Because I knew that's not who she raised and I disappointed her more than anything,' he said. Batey, who is one of 13 children, said that his mother has told him that she knows that he made a mistake and did something wrong but 'we'll be okay eventually'. Guilty: Batey and Brandon Vandenburg, who was also convicted, are pictured in mugshots after the verdict . Throughout the interview, he said he was sorry for his actions but repeatedly claimed he was so drunk he could remember nothing of the attack - so he does not believe it is a good representation of who he is. When asked by Dr Phil if he believes he should stay in prison for the rest of his life, which is a possibility when he is sentenced next month, he responded: 'I don't think I should.' Happier times: Batey is pictured with his mother, Audrey 'Jeannie' Batey, who works at Vanderbilt . He added that he does not believe his fellow rapist Brandon Vandenburg, who brought the woman back to the dorm and encouraged the others to rape her, should not be locked up for life either. 'Honestly, I think he's a good kid,' he told Dr Phil. 'I think he just got caught up in some unfortunate circumstances.' He added: 'I think everyone deserves to be forgiven and to be given a second chance. I don't think that was a clear representation of him. I know that's not a clear representation of me.' When Dr Phil pressed him over the assault, in which he urinated over the woman and laughed as she was raped by the other men and sodomized by a plastic bottle, he said he had not been himself. 'I was drunk out of my mind so I don't think I was thinking,' he said. 'That's just not a clear representation of who I am.' He went on: 'My whole life, I feel like I've always been a caring individual to look out for the helpless or the less fortunate... That just wasn't my heart. That just wasn't me.' He added that he hopes his victim and her family can forgive him for his mistake. When Dr Phil quizzed him about his victim, he said she hoped she could see past what he did to her. 'I wish she could really know the type of person I am,' he said. 'I hate that she had to see me in that light and think I’m that person, because I'm not. When I saw that stuff, I was just praying, I was just saying, "Lord just put it in her heart to forgive me, because that's not me. It’s just not me".' Sadness: Batey's mother looked on in shock after her son was found guilty of aggravated rape. In the interview with Dr Phil, he became emotional as he described his shame at his mother knowing what he had done . 'I wished I could take it all back,' he added. 'I wish there’s a button that, that I could just delete everything, but unfortunately there’s not. And I’m sorry she’s had to go through this... I just hope [her family] can find it in their heart to just forgive me.' Batey, who was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit for the interview, was found guilty of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery. He faces up to 60 years behind bars when he is sentenced alongside Vandenburg on March 6. It took the jurors just three hours to convict the men. After the verdict, three of the jurors spoke out and revealed that they made their decisions early on in the case after seeing cell phone footage of the attack. 'As soon as we saw the videos and photographic evidence... we knew exactly who was guilty of what and what we were going to come back with,' Todd Easter told ABC News. 'What we knew is that a terrible crime had occurred.' Shock: Batey says goodbye to his attorney Worrick Robinson after being found guilty on January 27 . Another juror, Dr. Deirde Young, said watching the footage - which showed Vandenburg egging on Batey and two other men as the woman lay unconscious - made her feel 'awful.' 'I asked myself, "how could they do this to that young lady?"' Young added. 'There can't be enough explanation to me. I don't know, I think they need to do some real soul searching. I've never experienced anything like these young men.' In the trial, the victim had testified that Vandenburg, whom she was dating, plied her with alcohol one night in June 2013 and the next thing she remembers is waking up in a strange dorm room. After dragging her to his dorm room, Vandenburg switched on porn and encouraged Batey and two others to assault the woman with a water bottle and rape her, prosecutors said. The jury was shown graphic cell phone footage of part of the sexual attack, which the men had recorded. Vandenburg then sent some footage to friends. One of the men, Brandon Banks, allegedly anally raped the woman with the water bottle as Vandenburg said, 'squeeze that s***', the video showed. Batey then allegedly urinated on her. Former life: Batey, left, and Vandenburg, right, are pictured in their headshots for Vanderbilt's football team . Accused: Two of their other former teammates, Brandon Banks, left, and Jaborian 'Tip' McKenzie, right, are also accused in the case but have yet to stand trial . She woke up the next day in a friend's dorm room and felt sore but did not know she had been sexually assaulted until she saw the footage of the attack. During the trial, Batey's attorney had argued that his client was not capable of making decisions because he had consumed so much alcohol. Batey drank as many as 22 drinks that night. Vandenburg's attorney had argued that his client was not guilty of rape because he was physically unable to rape the girl after a night of drinking. The victim was in the courtroom for the verdict, and began crying as the two men were declared guilty on all counts. Two other men, Jaborian 'Tip' McKenzie and Brandon Banks, have also been charged in the incident but a trial date for their case has not yet been announced.
|
Cory Batey, 21, raped an unconscious student with three other men in a Vanderbilt dorm in June 2013 - in a horrific attack partly caught on camera .
He was convicted of rape last month with teammate Brandon Vandenburg .
Speaking to Dr Phil from behind bars, Batey apologized for his actions and said he had been so drunk it wasn't 'a clear representation of who I am'
He sobbed as Dr Phil quizzed him over what his mother thought of the charges - but said he would've acted differently if he'd had a father figure .
He called Vandenburg, who had egged on the attack, 'a good kid'
He will be sentenced next month - but said he does not think he or Vandenburg should spend life behind bars .
|
f80c5224410096bffc1ad1d6efeab34a5e0633df
|
Paris (CNN) -- The French finance ministry came under a large-scale cyber attack in December that targeted G20 documents, France's Budget Minister Francois Baroin told French radio on Monday. Baroin told Europe 1 an investigation was underway and that there were unconfirmed leads. "It seems what was targeted was the organization of the G20 (conference)," Baroin said. Paris Match magazine reported earlier Monday that the finance ministry had come under an unprecedented cyber attack and that 100 computers were affected. The G20 met in Paris last month. The Group of 20 was established in 1999 to bring together industrialized and developing economies to promote global economic stability.
|
The ministry faced a large-scale attack in December, a minister says .
G20 documents seem to have been the target .
Paris hosted a G20 summit last month .
|
f80ddd6ce5c72d6112177c7232cc5e2f37a9567d
|
Top lawmakers agreed to $1.1 trillion government funding bill late Tuesday, just two days before federal agencies are due to run out of money. The negotiating breakthrough likely means the government will stay open as usual, avoiding a potential shutdown. The release of the bill was held up until late Tuesday night as negotiators haggled over a series of controversial policy provisions. "This bill fulfills our constitutional duty to fund the government, preventing damage from shutdown politics that are bad for the economy, cost jobs and hurt middle class families," said Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat, and Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers, a Republican, in a joint statement. "While not everyone got everything they wanted, such compromises must be made in a divided government," they said. RELATED: Lawmakers hustle to make last-minute spending agreement . The measure bars the District of Columbia from using any money to implement a law the city recently passed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Many Democrats on Capitol Hill maintain that Washington city leaders should be able to carry out a policy voters supported, but Congress has authority over the city's finances. One of the provisions will allow for increased political donations, specifically the amount donors can give to national parties to help fund conventions, building funds and legal proceedings, such as recounts. Rather just giving the current cap of $32,400, donors would be able to give up to $97,200 for each of those actions -- for a total of $324,000 annually, according to Adam Smith, communications director for Public Campaign, a nonpartisan group that supports campaign finance reform. The talks also yielded a compromise on a school lunch program championed by first lady Michelle Obama. The spending bill includes a measure that gives local school districts some flexibility on how they enforce nutrition standards for whole grain items on menus. Some Democrats are already expressing opposition to a provision that repeals what they view as a key financial regulation that was part of a package of reforms for Wall Street banks. The spending bill does away with a rule that prevented banks from using funds backed by taxpayers to trade derivatives, which they argue contributed to the financial collapse in 2008. Republicans fought to include a series of provisions to bar the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing some environmental regulations, but many of those were not included in the final bill. The resolution of many of these policy issues is critical to the bill's prospects for passing the House and Senate. With a sizeable bloc of House conservatives vowing to oppose the bill because they don't think it goes far enough to block the President's executive actions on immigration, GOP leaders are relying on Democrats to help pass the bill. The top Democrat on the House Appropriations panel, Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, said, "I strongly oppose several policy riders included in this final agreement, but I am pleased Democrats were able to eliminate many of the most damaging provisions." House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi was non-committal on whether she would back the bill, but released a statement saying she would discuss it with fellow Democrats, adding that she is "hopeful." The House is expected to vote on Thursday. Separately, House GOP leaders are crafting a bill that extends current funding levels for a just couple of days. The House is expected to approve that measure as a backup plan to avoid a shutdown -- in case the Senate is unable to approve the broader spending bill before the deadline at midnight on Thursday. The deal also includes emergency funding to combat the spread of Ebola both in the United States and overseas and provides additional money the Obama administration requested to fight the terror group ISIS by supporting the training and equipping of Syrian rebel groups.
|
Lawmakers agree to a $1.1 trillion spending package to keep the most of the government funded through 2015 .
Republicans and Democrats squabbled over policy provisions to be included in the bill .
The measure must pass by Thursday to avoid a government shutdown .
|
f80de91338ed06071937633031ee4aa75e908ee8
|
Pro-Russian rebels have shot down a helicopter from the skies above Slaviansk in eastern Ukraine with nine people thought to have been killed in the single burst of violence. The Ukrainian helicopter was carrying military cargo when it was brought down by the rebel fire. Only days ago did new Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko initiate his ceasefire for the region in an attempt to quell the violence which has been plaguing the region for months. Scroll down for video . Putin, right, spent today discussing the conflict with his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer, left, in Vienna . Ukrainian government forces spokesman . Vladyslav Seleznyov confirmed the helictoper had been shot down, . stating: 'There was a three-man crew, in all, nine people (on board).' The violence comes just as Russian president Vladimir . Putin staged an extraordinary retreat in seeking the withdrawal of a . resolution by the Russian parliament allowing him to send Russian troops . into Ukraine. His climbdown appeared to be a victory for the West's threat of brutal new sanctions unless he backed peace moves in Ukraine. Russian . senators granted Mr Putin the right to send the army into Ukraine on March 1, but yesterday he called for the removal of this threat against . his neighbouring state. While the West remained wary, the Kremlin claimed Putin was committed to 'normalising the atmosphere and resolving the situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine'. However, the Russian strongman is adamant that the Ukrainian government must hold direct talks with separatist leaders which Kiev has labelled 'terrorists'. And he retains 65,000 troops on active combat alert in central Russia. Mr Poroshenko dubbed Mr Putin's surprise move his 'first practical step' in support of the peace plan to end the worst east-west conflict since the end of the Cold War in which at least 375 have perished. Until now, the West saw Mr Putin as pouring fuel on crisis in a bid to destabilise Ukraine because its new government was looking towards Europe rather than Russia. There were genuine fears he could invade eastern Ukraine. The US and EU had threatened Mr Putin with sanctions that would damage entire sectors of his already ailing economy unless he showed his backing for the peace plan. Ukrainian government army volunteers taking the oath of allegiance after agreeing to help operations in the east on Monday . The volunteers joined the government battalion Azov and will help in Donetsk and Lugansk . They also spent time praying before they head east where nine of their new colleagues have just been killed . Until now, Moscow has scoffed at the penalties imposed by the West over the March annexation of Crimea. But yesterday the Russian financial markets surged and the rouble rose to its highest level since mid-January. Mr Putin acted after initial talks between Poroshenko's envoy, ex-president Leonid Kuchma, and separatist leaders. Despite this, a ceasefire agreed to by the rebels runs out on Friday, and many separatists remain opposed to any deal as evidenced by an attack on Kuchma's car in Donetsk. Mr Putin yesterday kept his forces on combat alert drilling in 'peacekeeping duties'. The West has feared such a pretext could be used by the Russian leader to send his forces into Ukraine. After a phone call between Barack Obama and Mr Putin, the White House stressed that Russian 'will face additional costs if we do not see concrete actions to de-escalate the situation'. The drill involves 180 warplanes, 60 helicopters, and 5,500 weapons. A Royal Navy warship intercepted a Russian military vessel that strayed close to Nato-protected waters in the Baltics in an echo of the Cold War. HMS Montrose, a Type 23 frigate, was taking part in a multinational exercise off the Danish coast when she was dispatched to investigate an unidentified surface ship picked up on radar. Despite choppy seas and 30 knot winds, the crew identified the unknown ship as the 104 metre-long Steregushchiy-class frigate RFS Soobrazitelny skirting Danish waters as it sailed west in the Baltic Sea. As HMS Montrose closed with the Russian vessel, a Russian Ilyushin IL-20 ‘Coot’ maritime patrol aircraft was detected and appeared overhead, circling the two ships. It was one of the Royal Navy's most significant encounters with Russian warships in the region since the Ukraine crisis began. Navy chiefs said the show of strength demonstrated Nato’s resolve to protect its 28-members against any threat from the kremlin. Both the Russian vessel and aircraft appeared to be carrying out routine manoeuvres in international waters. Commander James Parkin, commanding officer of HMS Montrose, said: ‘All our interaction so far has been professional, and effective, and we have gained huge benefit from working so closely with our allies in such a busy and challenging environment.’ Lieutenant Chloe Lea, HMS Montrose’s watch officer, said: ‘We picked up a vessel on our radar that was not showing any of the normal behaviour expected of merchant vessels or allied warships. We have seen the Russians operate a lot in this area but this is the closest we have seen them.’ Plymouth-based HMS Montrose, which has 205 crew and is armed with Sting Ray torpedoes, Sea Wolf missiles and Harpoon missiles, is taking part in the US-led exercise involving warships, submarines and helicopters from 14 different nations. Last week two RAF fighters shadowed seven menacing Russian warplanes that flew too close to Baltic airspace. The fully-armed Typhoons from 3 (Fighter) Squadron were scrambled after unidentified aircraft were detected by Nato air defences in international airspace. All were subsequently identified as Russian. Four Typhoons were deployed to the region in April under orders to respond forcefully to any violation of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania which do not have their own air defence fighters and rely upon Nato.
|
Nine killed in eastern Ukraine as rebels shoot down Ukrainian helicopter .
Aircraft was carrying military equipment when shot down near Slaviansk .
Violence contines despite Ukrainian president's recent ceasefire declaration .
Putin also makes major U-turn after threats of increased Western sanctions .
|
f80e6ad398900cb182c4a0c03b160f1f4c7ee509
|
(CNN) -- Federal authorities say they've cracked an international gambling ring calling itself Macho Sports, whose customers would place bets with bookies, by phone and online and -- if they lost -- risked paying a painful price. Authorities allege in the indictment, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for Southern California, that the illicit gambling company curried a "violent reputation" for its use of "intimidation, threats and violence." In addition to the Peru-headquartered organization itself, 18 individuals face racketeering and illegal gambling charges, states the indictment. The former is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the latter charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. Fifteen of those individuals were arrested earlier Wednesday in Southern California; Oslo, Norway; and Lima, Peru, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern California said in a press release. Authorities took Jan Harald Portocarrero, one of the alleged ringleaders, into custody Wednesday night, said U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Andrew Schopler. At that time, two other people -- Young Hee Koh and Dunzmy June Nguyen -- remained at large, Schopler said. "Criminal enterprises like 'Macho Sports' and their U.S. based 'bookmakers' prey on gambling addictions of their betting customers, wreaking havoc on people's lives and the lives of family members," Daphne Hearn, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego office, said in a press release. Brothers Jan Harald Portocarrero and Erik Portocarrero, originally from California, set up Macho Sports International in Panama in 2002, according to Panamanian public documents cited in U.S. authorities' probable cause statement. The company moved its headquarters six years later to Peru, where the Portocarreros had family, though its customers were in California and elsewhere. Over the past decade, customers were invited to place bets on sporting events -- from NFL games to mixed-martial arts fights -- either through a system of bookies, by calling a toll-free phone number or through personal accounts set up on two Internet sites. Macho Sports employed phone operators, bookies, "sub-bookies," runners and collectors to deliver winnings and collect debts from customers, U.S. authorities explained. The probable cause statement features excerpts of several phone wiretaps. In one, a bookie openly worries that he might get arrested, to which Jan Harald Portocarrero replies, "It's not that easy." The bookie responds, "Yeah, but you're 8,000 miles away. You're untouchable." People involved in Macho Sports spoke about gambling-debt collectors' sometimes violent tactics. Jan Harald Portocarrero, for instance, referred to one who he said "kidnaps people, strikes them with a gun, and he's walking the streets." The federal complaint claims that proceeds were laundered "by inducing customers to pay their gambling losses to various entities that appeared to be unrelated to Macho Sports, such as check-cashing businesses. CNN's Elwyn Lopez contributed to this report.
|
NEW: Other alleged ringleader is detained; 2 of the 18 charged are at large, spokesman says .
Set up in Panama and later moved to Peru, Macho Sports had customers in U.S.
They could bet on sports events through bookies, by phone and through Internet sites .
Macho Sports' employees used "intimidation, threats and violence," authorities say .
|
f80f0b2f62e505c7aebe68c298cdaa6ba1c6ddfb
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A one-time glamor model has been arrested today in connection with a massive child porn bust. Julia Lack, 26, of Pearland, Texas, was arrested on Thursday and charged with one count of child pornography possession. Her boyfriend Tad Jeremy Costin, 41, was arrested on November 1 in a case involving potentially thousands of images of a man taking part in sexual acts with children. Julia Lack, 26, has been charged with child porn possession after her boyfriend Tad Jeremy Costin, 41, was arrested on similar charges last week . Costin (left) is accused of assaulting 15 young girls over more than 20 years and his girlfriend Julia Lack is also charged with child porn possession . Costin has been charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault . of a child under age 14. He allegedly assaulted at least 15 young girls aged under seven years old. Lack is listed as an 'inactive model' on Playboy's Miss Social competition - an online non-nude gallery where contestants submit and post their own photos. Playboy told MailOnline that Lack has no affiliation with or has ever been employed by Playboy. She never has held any titles associated with Playboy, including Playmate or Miss Social. She is being held at Pearland jail on $30,000 bail. Costin was arrested last week after . investigators found computer memory cards containing hundreds of images . of child pornography in boxes at his former home in Dayton. Costin moved to Pearland a few months ago and shares a home with his girlfriend and her five-year-old son. The sickening discovery of child porn was made by Lack's father Benny who found the images in a box left behind by his daughter at his home when she moved out. Investigators then allegedly found six hard drives and 80 CDs containing further abuse pictures at Costin's new address in Pearland. Lack, 26, is listed as an 'inactive model' on Playboy's Miss Social website. She is being held on bail over a child porn charge . Detectives say pictures included ones of him assaulting young children. Police believe there are 15 victims who have not been identified and say they are not related to Costin. They said some of the pictures could date back as far as 1990. Harris . County Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Kahle told KHOU that the . children appeared unresponsive in the pictures and may have been . drugged. She said: 'They are dressed in what appear to be nightgowns, little girl nightgowns. 'Some of them look as if they are unresponsive and/or drugged when they are engaged in those sexual acts.' Deputies said Costin has previously been arrested for similar offenses. He is currently being held in the Harris County jail without bond. Costin was arrested after boxes containing memory cards filled with child pornography was found at his old home .
|
Julia Lack, 26, was charged with one count of child porn possession in Pearland, Texas .
Boyfriend Tad Jeremy Costin arrested on November 1 after memory cards were found .
They were in boxes at his old home and 'contained child pornography'
Some images date back to 1990 and victims not been identified .
|
f80f5b8d7e1b406214e2af222b34ebd054437a66
|
(CNN) -- There aren't too many times when I'm speechless about what I consider an outrageous example of parenting. This is one of those times. An Instagram photo surfaced over the weekend of a child wearing a Ray Rice costume and dragging a doll ostensibly meant to symbolize the wife of the embattled former NFL star, Janay Rice. (The person who posted the photo with the caption "Greatest costume ever" appears to have since taken down their Instagram account.) As most of us sadly know by now from the surveillance video that has been seen around the world, Rice dragged his then-fiancee out of an elevator after knocking her out in February. And so a kids' costume of Rice dragging his wife? Are you kidding me? Thankfully, some parents across the country have the words I can't seem to find. Halloween costumes to avoid this year . "Utterly disgusting!" is what Mike Heenan, a father of two young daughters and organizer of the SF Dads Group, called "the seemingly celebratory suggestion of domestic violence in dragging around a Janay Rice doll." "Not just insensitive. Idiotic! Dangerous! Disgraceful!" said Heenan, who is also the founder of the blog At-Home Dad Matters. On Facebook, Alison Bucalo, a mom of two boys in Ridgewood, New Jersey, said she would never let her little guys wear something "so tasteless." "What's the purpose? To be funny? To shock? To show zero class? What is the lesson here?" she asked. This Ray Rice costume for kids is just the latest example of what seems to be a trend in wildly inappropriate children's Halloween costumes, with selections ranging from meth dealers Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from TV's "Breaking Bad" to a baby cigarette to serial killer Hannibal Lecter. 5 scary good healthy Halloween treats . On the video-sharing site for tweens called KidzVuz, a girl who goes by the name "citykid" was horrified to see costumes such as a "terrorist" and a "little Hitler." "People actually made these for their kids to wear," she said incredulously. "Just because it's Halloween that doesn't mean you can cross these kinds of lines." Well said, citykid. She also pointed out the growing popularity of oversexualized costumes for our girls. "By making these costumes manufacturers are encouraging tween girls to dress twice their age." Melissa Atkins Wardy, a mom of two and author of "Redefining Girly," said it is "especially concerning" when hypersexualized costumes "dominate the girls market." Pink, princess-y and sexy too soon . "It reflects a litmus test of our society and conveys the message to girls they are valued for their looks," said Wardy, who is also the founder and chief executive officer of PigtailPals & Ballcap Buddies, which offers empowering T-shirts for girls and boys. "Instead of dressing like a true fire fighter/super hero/doctor/bug/witch, they face row after row of the sexy version of those things, size 5T," Wardy said. "While a little girl may not understand what 'sexy' is, the older children and adults around her certainly do, and it impacts the way we talk to and respond to girls." Pam Moore, host of the blog Whatevs, said she's seen costumes such as a "sexy mermaid" or a "sexy Starbucks beverage" for children on Pinterest. "Basically, anything that could be described as 'sexy' is inappropriate for a young girl," said Moore, who blogs about motherhood, fitness, home birth and life in Boulder, Colorado. As for how a parent can draw the line between what's inappropriate and what's OK for children to wear on Halloween, Moore, in my humble opinion, had some great advice. "I would ask myself if this costume is getting a laugh at anyone's expense. If so, that costume is probably not OK," she said. "Is the costume sexy? If my child has not yet hit puberty, that's a clear line that the costume is not OK. Is the costume making light of violence? That costume is not OK." Do you think the child costume of Ray Rice dragging a doll is inappropriate for children? Tell Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook.
|
A photo of a child in a Ray Rice costume dragging a Janay Rice doll surfaced on Instagram .
"Utterly disgusting" is the sentiment shared by many parents about the costume .
Many parents say hypersexualized costumes for girls are also inappropriate .
"Just because it's Halloween that doesn't mean you can cross these kinds of lines," said one tween .
|
f80fb050471b6853077c86ad4daee57c07d1ade3
|
By . Sunni Upal . Follow @@RSUpal . Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side will only feature on live television games seven times until the end of November, less than all of their Premier League title rivals, including Louis van Gaal's Manchester United. The Blues will also begin their campaign with an away fixture at Burnley on Monday night, while Van Gaal's United side play the opening game of the Premier League season at home against Swansea on Saturday lunchtime. Van Gaal's United are scheduled to play 10 of their first 13 games on television, the same as both Liverpool and Manchester City. Arsenal, meanwhile, who finished below . Chelsea last season in fourth place, will feature on television nine . times up to the end of November. Draw: Only seven of Chelsea's first 13 Premier League fixtures will be televised live . Step aside, Jose: Louis van Gaal's Manchester United will feature 10 times until the end of November . 10 - Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd . 9 - Arsenal . 7 - Chelsea . 6 - Aston Villa, Everton, QPR, Tottenham . 5 - Newcastle . 4 - Burnley, Stoke, Swansea, West Brom, West Ham . 3 - Crystal Palace, Hull, Leicester, Southampton, Sunderland . By the time Chelsea kick-off their Premier League title campaign at Turf Moor on Monday, August 18, Manchester United and Arsenal will both have played on Saturday, August 16 while Liverpool and Manchester City will feature on Sky's Super Sunday double bill. But despite Chelsea having fewer televised games than their rivals, they will face some tricky matches the weekend after Champions League contests. After each of their first four Champions League group games, Chelsea will face Manchester City at the Etihad, Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United at Old Trafford and Liverpool at Anfield. Four of Chelsea's six fixtures after Champions League group-stage action will be away from home, while Manchester City face five away days after their six European clashes. Liverpool and Arsenal, on the other hand, will be at home four times out of six following a Champions League group game. That is providing Arsenal make it through their play-off tie at the end of August. Box office: Champions Manchester City, like their neighbours, have 10 live televised fixtures . Loosening up: Liverpool will play the first of their 10 live televised games on the opening weekend of the season . Capital gains: Arsenal have nine live games, the most for a Premier League team in London . Matchday 1: 16–17 September 2014Matchday 2: 30 September–1 October 2014Matchday 3: 21–22 October 2014Matchday 4: 4–5 November 2014Matchday 5: 25–26 November 2014Matchday 6: 9–10 December 2014 . Every team will feature at least three times on television before the end of November. The teams with three live games each are Crystal Palace, Hull, Leicester, Southampton and Sunderland. Newly promoted Burnley, Stoke Swansea, West Brom and West Ham will all be on TV four times, while Newcastle are the only team with five live games. Roberto Martinez's Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham and newly promoted QPR all have six live games each. (a) Aston Villa - Sat 20 Sept, 3pm(h) Chelsea - Sun 5 Oct, 2.05pm(h) Sunderland - Sat 25 Oct, 3pm(a) Swansea - Sun 9 Nov, 4pm(h) West Brom - Sat 29 Nov, 12.45pm(h) Newcastle - Sat 13 Dec, 3pm* . *Date/time subject to change when next set of televised fixtures are announced* . (a) Manchester City - Sun, 21 Sept, 4pm(h) Arsenal - Sun 5 Oct, 2.05pm(a) Manchester United - Sun 26 Oct, 4pm(a) Liverpool - Sat 8 Nov, 12.45pm(a) Sunderland - Sat 29 Nov, 5.30pm(h) Hull - Sat 13 Dec, 3pm* . *Date/time subject to change when next set of televised fixtures are announced* . (a) West Ham - Sat 20 Sept, 5.30pm(h) West Brom - Sat 4 Oct, 3pm(h) Hull - Sat 25 Oct, 3pm(h) Chelsea - Sat 8 Nov, 12.45pm(h) Stoke - Sat 29 Nov, 3pm(a) Manchester United - Sat 13 Dec, 3pm* . *Date/time subject to change when next set of televised fixtures are announced* . (h) Chelsea - Sun 21 Sept, 4pm(a) Aston Villa - Sat 4 Oct, 5.30pm(a) West Ham - Sat 25 Oct, 12.45pm(a) QPR - Sat 8 Nov, 5.30pm(a) Southampton - Sun 30 Nov, 1.30pm(a) Leicester - Sat13 Dec, 3pm* . *Date/time subject to change when next set of televised fixtures are announced* .
|
Chelsea will be televised seven times up to end of November .
Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have 10 live games .
Arsenal to feature on Sky Sports and BT Sport nine times .
Chelsea's fixtures after Champions League games include Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Manchester United (a) and Liverpool (a)
Manchester City face away fixtures after five of their six European games .
|
f80fe9ab4da7b20693bf4b047d16e300c0909a44
|
By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 11:59 EST, 11 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:01 EST, 11 December 2012 . Snared: Roki Aprisdianto escaped jail in a burka but was caught after taking veil off in front of bus of police . A convicted terrorist who escaped from prison wearing a body-covering Islamic burka was immediately arrested on a bus when he took the veil off – because many of the other passengers happened to be anti-terrorist police. Roki Aprisdianto was serving six years in jail on the Indonesian island of Java when he made his get-away after a group of burka-clad women came to visit their husbands. Under the flowing robes, he walked out of the prison with the women, undetected by officers, and laid low for a few weeks in the east Java town of Madiun. According to police, when the heat . died down he put the burka back on and made his way to the local bus . station where he purchased a ticket to travel to the town of Solo. Once . seated on the bus, and certain that his escape plot had been a total . success, he removed the headgear part of the gown, revealing his male . features. Unfortunately . for Aprisdianto, a large number of Indonesia’s anti-terror squad were . travelling on the bus – and the escaper was immediately arrested. ‘He made what you might call a big . mistake,’ said national police spokesman Major General Suhardi Alius. ‘He took his veil off because he thought he was safe and it was his bad . luck that police were travelling on the same bus.’ It is not known what happened to the . woman who passed the burka to Aprisdianto, but police believe she was . probably wearing a second burka, which she slipped off before leaving . the jail with the other women who were similarly dressed. Caught out: The convicted terrorist was immediately arrested on a bus when he took the veil off - because many of the other passengers happened to be anti-terrorist police (file photo) Aprisdianto was sentenced to six years behind bars in 2011 for masterminding a series of bombings. Two other militants believed to be part of his group were captured in Solo town a short time after his re-arrest. A third, believed to be the group’s fundraiser, was arrested a day later. The three told police they had helped Aprisdianto prepare a bomb that was planted at a police station after he had escaped from prison - the device failed to explode. Aprisdianto is now facing many more years in prison – wearing custom-made shorts and a T-shirt.
|
Roki Aprisdianto was serving six years in jail for a series of bombings .
He escaped from prison when group of women came to visit their husbands .
|
f8106bdd5a78ef811b0c42212cc0488642554437
|
(CNN) -- Dmitry Tursunov is not a man to play Russian roulette with his career -- but time is running out. Now 30, he is entering the twilight zone of his time on court with the opportunities to provide for his retirement decreasing every day. The problem for the World No.39 is that the cost of competing at the highest level is soaring, meaning he must collect $200,000 in prize money each year just to break even. It's not a problem for those in the top 10 -- but with rising expenses and endless airfares to pay for, those unable to win the grand slams or attract big name sponsors are facing a conundrum. For Tursunov the choice is clear -- shell out the cash now and hope the investment pays off. Splashing the cash . "I don't have a long career left so I decided to spend whatever is necessary," he told CNN's Open Court. "I want to get the best results I want to get out of the game knowing I gave it my best and that I didn't try to save up on anything. "Roughly, I probably spend $100,000 on traveling, plus or minus $10,000, it's kind of hard to say because I think the expenses are going up, the tickets are getting more expensive. "I think also a lot of the times you have to fly business, not out of luxury, but it's the only time you can get some rest and sleep. "If you are sitting in a little shrimp position, it's going to take you two days to recover, especially the older you get. "I didn't believe that but I am starting to believe it. It takes me two or three days to get out of the travel." Tursunov travels with his coach and physio, paying for their flights, accommodation and wages. He reckons he spends over $200,000 on his staff each year. The last of his seven singles titles came in 2011 and while he has bounced around the circuit picking up prize money, the opportunity to earn the big bucks continues to elude him. According to Forbes Business Magazine, the 10-highest paid tennis players in the world earned a combined $60 million in prize money between June 2012 and June 2013. Roger Federer, the 17-time grand slam winner, is estimated to have earned $71.5 million in that time from sponsors, endorsements and exhibition matches, not to mention the $6.5 million in prize money. In the women's game, Maria Sharapova leads the way, earning $29 million a year, making her the highest paid female athlete in the world. It is a world away from where Tursunov lives -- a man who has earned just shy of $587,000 in prize money so far this year. "You play against very good players," he said. "It's hard for people to grasp but you are playing against someone top 100 in his profession in the world which is pretty impressive. "If you play a top 100 golfer in the world, doctor or basketball player, all these guys are making ridiculous money. "But again it's hard to compare the sports but the expenses are a lot higher than even in basketball because we don't have a team who are paying our expenses." Tursunov does not travel with a hitting partner as Andy Murray does, nor does the Russian have the backing of lucrative sponsors. And while he accepts that he has not done badly, earning nearly $5 million during his career, he says the costs of competing on the circuit are constantly spiraling. "There are certain expenses you can't escape such as airline tickets and so forth but then you have coaches, if you want to compete well, if you want to make it in to the top 50 there's no way you can do that without a coach," he said. "I've tried. Roger has done it for some time but he's still traveling with a physio, the guy who strings his racquets and those are all expenses you pay yourself. "You pay a salary to your coach, then you pay his and your travel expenses as well as food. So it adds up. I think to travel with a coach you are probably going to hit $200,000 a year in expenses." Tursunov was just 12 when he left his native Russia to try his luck in the U.S. after being introduced to a tennis coach through his father. Following a one-month trial, it was decided that this prodigious young talent had a real talent -- and after that there was no looking back. "The coach felt like I was someone," remembered Tursunov. "He saw some potential in me and I decided that I had a one-way ticket to the U.S. and my dad left me after a month." While he has never managed to prosper at the grand slam tournaments, Tursonov has enjoyed his time in the sun. Cast your mind back to Wimbledon 2005 and it was the Russian who played the pantomime villain on Centre Court by defeating British favorite Tim Henman. Amidst the searing pressure cooker heat of a tense five set match, it was Tursunov who prevailed 8-6 in the fifth to silence the raucous home crowd. A year later, he played an integral role in Russia's Davis Cup victory over the U.S. by defeating Andy Roddick in dramatic fashion, 17-15 in the fifth. "After that long fifth set, my dad said 'I'm really sorry I put you in to tennis'. "I felt he actually meant it -- the match lasted nearly five hours. I think he was pretty exhausted." Exhaustion is a feeling Tursunov knows all too well. He is a keen sleeper, taking advantage of every possible second in his hotel bedroom to catch forty winks. In his opinion, it's getting tougher at the top with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray pulling away from the old master, Federer. Not since 2006 has Tursunov made it into the top 20 and the prospect of him repeating that feat looks unlikely given the amount of competition. "I feel like it's getting closer and closer in terms of the top 100 guys," he added. "You see a lot of these results where Federer and Nadal lost early in tournaments. "I can't remember a time when Pete Sampras lost that early, or John McEnroe, he didn't lose that early ever in his lifetime. I think it's getting a little bit tougher. "Obviously there's a lot more money involved and the players in order to compete we have to be a lot more professional and so I think the level of professionalism is getting a little bit higher. "It's hard for me to say what it was like 20, 30 years ago, but I feel like when I first started there were a couple of matches where you looked at the draw and said 'OK this is a fairly sure win'. "But I feel like there's almost no easy matches unless you know the guy's injured or he's coming from a different continent. It's getting tougher."
|
Dmitry Tursunov is ranked 40th in the world .
Russian reached a career high of 20th in 2006 .
The 30-year-old has won seven career titles but no grand slams .
Has also enjoyed a successful doubles career with six titles .
|
f810fef7e47b56fcd83aa3d6b69101b78c4b090e
|
By . Paul Collins . Emmanuel Adebayor admits he could not sleep after he broke the defensive wall to allow Stewart Downing to score for West Ham from a free-kick against Tottenham earlier this month. The Togolese striker, in an exclusive interview with Fabrice Muamba in the Daily Express, said he imagined something was going to kill him when the ball was struck towards him in the Hammers' 2-0 win on May 3 at Upton Park. Gap: The Spurs' wall falls apart to allow Downing to score his free-kick and put West Ham into a 2-0 lead . Through the wall: Downing's free-kick squirmed between Adebayor and Paulinho . 'Those are the things in football where you have made a mistake and you go home and you ask yourself: "Why did that happen today?" 'When I saw the ball coming, I don't know what happened. For me, it was like something was going to kill me. Adebayor said he shared his embarrassment with team-mate Paulinho following the goal, and took his shame home with him that evening. 'If there were no mistakes, there would never be a football match. I am not saying what I did was a very good thing - that night I could not sleep. 'When I gave way, I looked Paulinho and was like: "Did we just do this on TV?"' The 30-year-old's future is still in doubt at Spurs after Tim Sherwood was sacked earlier this week. Scared? The striker flinches and seems to try and avoid Stewart Downing's shot . That was your fault: Adebayor looks at team-mate Paulinho in bemusement after the gaffe .
|
Emmanuel Adebayor says he couldn't sleep after he broke the wall against West Ham, allowing Stewart Downing to score earlier this month .
The Togolese striker said: 'When I saw the ball coming, I don't know what happened. For me, it was like something was going to kill me'
Adebayor was speaking to Fabrice Muamba in an exclusive interview with the Daily Express .
|
f81127d35a92b2ac0910491dee456b593d429120
|
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyers began presenting the defense case Monday, calling a doctor who testified that Jackson asked him for an intravenous anesthetic to help him sleep two months before his death. A nurse, who began her testimony late Monday, is expected to testify Tuesday that Jackson asked her, also two months before he died, for IV infusions of the surgical anesthetic propofol. The prosecution rested its case in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor Monday morning with the conclusion of testimony by its anesthesiology expert. Defense lawyers will use the next three or four days to challenge the prosecution's contention that Dr. Conrad Murray's alleged reckless use of propofol to help Jackson sleep makes him criminally responsible for the pop icon's death. A Los Angeles doctor who treated Jackson off and on for about two decades for "his profound sleep disorder" testified that Jackson called him to his home to ask for help about two months before his death. Dr. Allan Metzger testified that Jackson asked him for "intravenous sleep medicine," but he did not specifically name a drug. "I think he used the word juice," he said. Jackson told him he needed an anesthetic delivered by IV because "he did not believe any oral medicine would be helpful," Metzger said. Metzger said that despite Jackson's request, he only gave him a prescription for two oral sedatives to help him sleep. The defense called Metzger in an apparent effort to show Jackson was seeking -- and getting drugs -- from other doctors at the same time Dr. Murray was working as his full-time physician. The judge stopped the defense from asking Metzger questions about Jackson's visits to Dr. Arnold Klein, the dermatologist who gave Jackson Demerol injections during frequent visits to his Beverly Hills clinic in the months before his death. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren used the defense witness to make the prosecution's point that using propofol outside a clinical setting is unacceptable. "Is there any amount of money that would have convinced you to give him intervenous propofol in his house?" Walgren asked Metzger. "Absolutely not," Metzger answered. The defense then called Cherilyn Lee, a nurse who practices nutrition and natural remedies, who testified that she worked with Jackson to help his fatigue and insomnia from February through April of 2009. After two months of using IV infusions of vitamins, "sophisticated" vitamin smoothies and bedtime teas, Jackson began asking for more help, Lee testified. "His complaint was 'I have a problem sleeping and all the natural remedies and everything you're doing is not working,'" she said. "When I need sleep, I need to go to sleep right away." The court session ended just before defense lawyer Ed Chernoff could ask Lee to describe what kind of help Jackson was asking for, but the nurse previously told CNN that he requested propofol. "I told him this medication is not safe," Lee told CNN on June 30, 2009. "He said, 'I just want to get some sleep. You don't understand. I just want to be able to be knocked out and go to sleep.'" Closing arguments could come as soon as Friday, depending on the length of the defense's case and the prosecution's rebuttal, but they could be pushed to next Monday, based on comments by lawyers and the judge. Janet Jackson canceled shows in Australia to be with her family in Los Angeles for the final days of Murray's trial, but she did not arrive home in time to attend Monday morning's session. She sat with her parents and several siblings during the first five days of the trial, but she has not been at court in nearly three weeks. "After talking with my family last night, I decided we must be together right now," she said in a statement posted Sunday on her website, announcing that three shows this week in Melbourne are canceled. The concert promoter told Jackson fans it was "important that Janet is with her family at this critical point in the hearing." Katherine Jackson will travel to London next weekend to fulfill a commitment to attend the premiere of "Michael Jackson: Life of an Icon," a documentary about her son, an aide to Jackson said Monday. She agreed to the trip before it was known the trial could last into next week, Trent Jackson said. The first three defense witnesses, called in rapid order Monday morning, were all police officers. A Beverly Hills police officer, the first defense witness, testified that a 911 call routed through her department at 12:20 p.m. on June 25, 2009, asked for help at Jackson's Holmby Hills estate. A Los Angeles police officer testified next about retrieving seven minutes of video from a security camera at Jackson's home. The video, shown to the jury, captured Jackson's arrival home from his last rehearsal just before 1 a.m. on the morning he died. Michael Jackson fans sitting in court appeared to become emotional as they viewed the last video ever recorded of the pop icon alive, grainy security camera video of Jackson arriving home from his last rehearsal. Murray's lawyers have said they plan to call about 15 witnesses, including three medical experts and several of Murray's patients from his clinics in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Houston. Two other LAPD investigators were called to the stand by the defense Monday and testified briefly. Randy Phillips, the head of AEG Live, is also expected to called by the defense. Murray's lawyers have argued that Jackson was pressured by Phillips, whose company was promoting his comeback concerts in London, to show up healthy and on time for rehearsals or else the tour might be canceled. Murray told detectives Jackson begged for his "milk," his nickname for propofol, after a sleepless night and just hours before he died from what the coroner has said was an overdose of the surgical anesthetic. Murray, in a police interview, said he was using sedatives to wean Jackson from propofol, which he had used almost every night for two months to fight his insomnia. But after a long, restless night and morning, the lorazepam and midazolam had no effect, Murray said. "I've got to sleep, Dr. Conrad," Murray said Jackson pleaded to him. "I have these rehearsals to perform. I must be ready for the show in England. Tomorrow, I will have to cancel my performance, because you know I cannot function if I don't get to sleep." Murray said he gave in to Jackson's pleas and gave him an injection of 25 milligrams of propofol around 10:40 a.m. The testimony of anesthesiologist expert Dr. Steven Shafer, concluded Monday morning, 11 days after he took the stand as the prosecution's 33rd, but perhaps most important, witness. Shafer testified last week that there was no way Jackson got only the amount of propofol Murray said he did, based on the high level of the drug found in blood taken during his autopsy. The "only scenario" to explain Jackson's death was that he overdosed on propofol infused through an IV drip set up by Murray, Shafer said. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Jackson's death was a homicide, the result of "acute propofol intoxication" in combination with sedatives. The defense contends Jackson self-administered the fatal dose, along with sedatives, without Murray knowing. Shafer said the level of propofol in Jackson's blood taken during his autopsy could not have been from either Murray or Jackson injecting the drug, but only from an IV system that was still flowing when his heart stopped. Prosecutors, however, opened the door for one scenario in which Jackson, not Murray, could have triggered the overdose. "Can you rule out the possibility that Michael Jackson manipulated something to cause it to flow?" Deputy District Attorney David Walgren asked Friday. "That's a possibility," Shafer said. But that is assuming Murray set up the drip and left Jackson's side, he said. Would Shafer's opinion that Murray was responsible for Jackson's death change if he knew Jackson turned the drip on? "No, if Michael Jackson had reached up, seen the roller clamp and opened it himself, this is a foreseeable consequence of setting up an essentially dangerous way of giving drugs," Shafer said. "It doesn't change things at all. It would still be considered abandonment."
|
NEW: Jackson asked for "intravenous sleep medicine," Dr. Allan Metzger says .
NEW: Nurse Cherilyn Lee, who told CNN Jackson asked her for propofol, testifies .
Defense starts case after prosecution rests Monday .
Katherine Jackson may miss the verdict if the trial lasts into next week .
|
f8113c229ea684a31d0fe13598ad74183bfcddeb
|
SHENANDOAH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Crystal Dillman says she will never understand why a group of teenage boys beat her fiancé to death. She says she will spend the rest of her life seeking answers -- and justice -- for the man she has lost as she struggles alone to raise her three young children. "My life is forever destroyed," said Dillman, who was 24 at the time of her fiancé's death. "My family is forever destroyed." Her fiancé, Luis Ramirez, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, was walking down the street in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 2008, with Dillman's half-sister, who is white. A fight broke out between him and a group of white high school football players. He died from his injuries two days later, leaving a small community stunned at the brutality of the crime. A central issue in the case is race in a town with a reputation for being an ethnic melting pot. Witness Eileen Burke said she heard the group call Ramirez a "spic." One of the boys who was charged as a juvenile, Brian Scully, admitted telling Ramirez to "go home, you Mexican motherf---er." Residents speak out about the crime, racial overtones . Scully was charged with ethnic intimidation. Another teen pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations in a plea deal. But two teens who faced a local jury were acquitted of charges of ethnic intimidation. Dillman doesn't doubt that the attack was racially motivated. "They said some racist remarks to him," Dillman said of the teens. "Truly, in my heart, I believe they beat him up because he was Latino." Many in Shenandoah deny that race played a role and say it was just a street fight gone wrong. The young men involved were ordinary high school students -- good kids, according to their families, friends and coaches. Shenandoah resident interrupts CNN interview . It took almost two weeks for arrests to be made. But on July 25, Colin J. Walsh, 17, and Brandon J. Piekarsky, 16, were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation. Derrick M. Donchak, 18, was charged as an adult with aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation. Walsh, who admitted throwing a punch that left Ramirez unconscious, got straight A's in school and ran track. His father says he was never a troublemaker. See photos of key figures in the case . But how do ordinary kids get caught up in such a brutal incident? Experts say everyone has biases, and violent instincts are common, especially in young adults. Young offenders . "Hate is part of our culture," said Jack Levin of the Brudnick Center on Violence at Northeastern University. "It transcends generations, it's widely shared, and it's learned from an early age," Levin said. "Even otherwise decent, honorable people can be pulled into it." Jack McDevitt of Northeastern University's Institute on Race and Justice said, "We all carry around biases with us, and it's not the extraordinary monster that decides to act on it. Generally speaking, it's someone more like us and our children than a member of the [Ku Klux] Klan." Research conducted by both Levin and McDevitt shows that there are three major types of hate crime offenders: . • "Thrill seekers" who look for excitement and power in attacking a person they perceive as different. • "Retaliators" who seek revenge for a real or perceived crime against someone similar to the attacker. • "Defenders" who are trying to protect their neighborhood or way of life. Perhaps the most expected type is also the rarest: an offender who may be a member of a group like the KKK and has a deep-seated hatred of a specific ethnic group. "Hate criminals, most of them young men, believe they are carrying out the fervent, unspoken wishes of their communities," said Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report. McDevitt says offenders often "believe other people share their biases ... everybody feels the way they do, or at least the majority." By taking action, he says, they think "they're being heroic while others are scared." Communities most likely to experience a hate crime have a "special combination of ethnic homogeneity and a rapid in-migration of groups perceived to be outsiders," according to Donald Green, a professor at Yale University. He says a "flashpoint" can occur "when there's a boundary-crossing." For example, "an inter-ethnic, inter-sex relationship on public display." Offenders sense that an outside group is crossing a boundary, and when women are involved, it can trigger a defensive reaction, especially among young men. Shenandoah's rich immigrant heritage has long been a source of pride in the former coal-mining town, and families have held tight to their cultural traditions for generations. But an influx of Latinos in the late 1990s brought some discomfort. Cheap housing and jobs in agriculture and construction drew undocumented immigrants -- among legal Latino residents and citizens -- to a community that was struggling economically. Crimes against Latinos rising . FBI statistics show that anti-Latino crimes are on the rise. There were 595 anti-Latino crimes in 2007, up almost 40 percent from the 426 crimes in 2003; the Latino population in America grew only 14 percent during that time. In December, Ecuadorean Jose Osvaldo Sucuzhañay died after he was beaten with a baseball bat in Brooklyn, New York. One month earlier, a group of seven teenagers with a history of harassing Latinos went out looking for "Mexicans to f--- up" and fatally stabbed Ecuadorean immigrant Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue, New York. FBI figures from 2007 show that anti-Latino attacks account for about 8 percent of all hate crimes. About 35 percent of hate crimes were directed at blacks, 16 percent at homosexuals and 13 percent at Jews. But experts say hate crimes in general are underreported. States are not required to report those figures to the FBI. And it can also be hard for law enforcement and prosecutors to prove that a perpetrator's motive was hate, especially if a robbery occurs or the attacker had a prior relationship with the victim. Often, the victims themselves -- especially Latinos who may not be in the United States legally -- don't report the crimes and may mistrust the police. McDevitt says many victims may not realize or want to acknowledge that they have been the target of a hate crime. Experts say communities can heal after hate crimes occur, and even prevent them from happening altogether, if local leaders take certain steps. "Different people need to be welcomed," McDevitt said. Donald Green says a community can portray change as positive, "saying, 'we've got more great restaurants, more people who work hard, more people who are family-oriented,' " for example. Still struggling . Eventually, Piekarsky was convicted of simple assault and consumption of alcohol, and Donchak was convicted of simple assault, and three counts of corruption of a minor, providing alcohol to minors and consumption of alcohol. The jury acquitted Piekarsky and Donchak of ethnic intimidation charges. Piekarsky was sentenced to between six and 23 months in prison and Donchak from seven to 23 months. Walsh pleaded guilty to violating Ramirez's civil rights. More than a year after Ramirez's death, Shenandoah is still struggling. Civil rights officials at the Department of Justice are investigating the death and the actions of the Shenandoah police officers who urged the boys to get their stories straight before talking to investigators. But there is no closure for Crystal Dillman. "It's not done for me," she said, "not by a long shot. That's not justice at all. Not even close."
|
Small town stunned by death of Mexican immigrant after fight with white teens .
Fiancèe: "Truly, in my heart, I believe they beat him up because he was Latino"
"Hate is part of our culture," expert says .
Watch CNN Presents "Latino in America" tonight at 9 ET on CNN TV .
|
f811dc628158957a2775077963be7894f39619c2
|
By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 03:52 EST, 10 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:11 EST, 10 January 2013 . Jim Davidson has today denied he sexually assaulted two women and declared: 'I'm a real gentleman'. The five-times married comedian was speaking for the first time since he was arrested by police investigating the Jimmy Savile child abuse scandal. He was detained at Heathrow Airport last . Wednesday after landing to take part in Celebrity Big Brother, which he says left him 'completely gobsmacked'. Denial: Jim Davidson, pictured with his fifth wife Michelle Cotton, and insists the Met has got it wrong and that he is a 'gentleman' The comedian ‘vigorously denies’ the allegations, which date back around 25 years and insists: 'I've never forced myself on a woman in my life'. Speaking about a 'really beautiful dancer' who drank too much after a panto performance he said: 'She was very, very drunk and I didn’t want her to go home in a cab on her own late at night in that state,' he told a friend, according to The Sun. The comic said he put her in his hotel bed and he slept on the floor. 'I never laid a finger on her even though she was completely comatose and wouldn’t have had a clue what was going on,' he went on. 'That’s what kind of bloke I am — I’m a gentleman.' Mr Davidson said he was being picked up by a car taking him to Big Brother when the police called him on his mobile. He said he couldn't digest that they were planning to arrest him. Quiet: Jim Davidson's Hampshire house, which was left empty after he was arrested and bailed, leading to suggestions he had gone to Dubai . Missing: With the show now in full swing, the Big Brother House is without Jim Davidson after he pulled out . Mr Davidson is believed to be in hiding after his arrest, and may already have flown out of the country to Dubai after being released on bail last week. Sources say that Mr Davidson may now have gone back to the Middle East, where he spent two weeks over Christmas. The Met Police told MailOnline they would not discuss his bail conditions. There is no suggestion Mr Davidson has absconded. On January 2 Davidson was taken to a . London police station and questioned for hours on suspicion of . committing sexual offences before being released on bail until March. He . was going to be on Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother but at the last . minute they agreed to re-jig its line-up at the last minute after talks . with the comedian. Investigation: Police officers arriving at Jim Davidson's home after his arrest over alleged sexual offences . In October Davidson, who formerly . hosted BBC shows Big Break and The Generation Game, publicly labelled . the Savile investigation a ‘witch hunt’. On his blog he wrote: ‘The Savile . witch hunt is going a bit silly now. We all are starting to speculate . and accuse ... even in jest. So no, I don’t know who’s next. ‘Everyone has had the nod. Everyone is . an expert. Just pick someone you don’t like and say it’s them. 'As odd . as he was, Savile can’t defend himself. The bloke’s dead for God’s sake. Let’s move on.’ Several plain-clothed police officers . spent more than four hours searching Davidson’s £1million Georgian home . in the picturesque village of Stockbridge in Hampshire. They left the property carrying boxes which appeared to contain plastic evidence bags and brown envelopes. Star: Davidson pictured on the Generation Game after replacing Bruce Forsyth as presenter . Arrests: Davidson and an unnamed 53-year-old were on the same day as police investigate accusations made in the wake of revelations about disgraced Jimmy Savile . Davidson has often courted controversy by telling offensive jokes about ethnic minorities, homosexuals and the disabled. He has divorced four times and in 2011 . married his fifth wife, Michelle Cotton, 17 years his junior. Davidson and the 53-year-old man are . the ninth and tenth arrests made in the Savile investigation, called . Operation Yewtree. Detectives are working through an arrest list of . people who could be questioned about allegations made by victims of . Savile or others associated with him. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘A . 53-year-old man was arrested at approximately 8am at an address in . Hampshire and taken into custody locally. ‘A 59-year-old man was arrested at approximately midday in West London and taken into custody at a London police station.’ PR guru Max Clifford (left) leaves his Surrey . home after being arrested by police. (Right) Former BBC producer Wilfred . De'ath was arrested at an earlier date. Both were bailed . Dave Lee Travis (left) was arrested at his . Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire home in November. Gary Glitter (right) was arrested and bailed in October . Scotland Yard said a total of 31 allegations of rape have been made against Savile so far. And 589 people have come forward with . information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints . against the BBC presenter and DJ himself, mainly alleging sexual abuse, . police said. Ten weeks after the launch of . Operation Yewtree, police recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which . Savile is a suspect, with 31 allegations of rape. Others who have been arrested include . former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and publicist Max . Clifford. Those three are on police bail. The . investigation has three strands, one dealing with allegations directly . involving Jimmy Savile, the second involving allegations against . associates of the disgraced DJ and the third involving 'others'. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
|
The 59-year-old TV personality was arrested at Heathrow on January 2 .
He had flown in from Christmas in Dubai to appear on Celebrity Big Brother .
Comedian insists: 'I've never forced myself on a woman in my life'
Mr Davidson - previously voted Britain's funniest man - is on bail until March .
Detectives have arrested ten men in connection with Operation Yewtree .
|
f81229df8e6f708a8e2432b49cb8784c111690ac
|
BLOWING ROCK, North Carolina (CNN) -- Behind the bar at a local restaurant, Doc Hendley leans in to hear his customer over the band. "You like the pinot? Cool," he says. Bartender Doc Hendley has tapped his regular customers to help provide funds for clean water around the world. It's a seemingly average interaction, but Hendley is not your average bartender. As he pours wine in the United States, he's also helping to save thousands of lives on the other side of the world -- and he's tapped into his regulars to help. "[They] sit on the same stool, drink the same drink, pay the same tab every day. I felt like they really did want to be a part of something," Hendley says. "They just were waiting for somebody to bring that something to them." That something is Wine to Water, Hendley's organization that provides clean water to people in developing countries through funds raised at wine tasting events. Since 2004, Hendley has traveled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Cambodia, working with local communities to build clean water wells and sanitation systems. Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year . The 30-year-old first learned about the world's water crisis when he took a break from college, and his job as a bar-keep, to travel the world; he hoped it would ground his education and provide some direction. It did. "I began seeing the figures [of] people that don't have access to clean water -- and it absolutely floored me," he recalls. At least one in six people worldwide lack access to adequate amounts of safe water for drinking and hygiene, according to the UN. This contributes to diarrhea, the leading cause of illness and death, and translates to 1.5 million preventable deaths each year. After returning to school, Hendley realized that just by using his ability to bartend and create relationships with people, he might be able to help the problem. At the bars where he worked, he solicited evenings to host wine tastings and provide information about the global crisis. By graduation, Hendley's "Wine to Water" events had yielded enough funding to implement water projects in the developing world. He approached a local contact, Kenny Isaacs of Samaritan's Purse, with the intention of handing over the funds for their international charitable water projects. Instead, Hendley found himself in Sudan in the spring of 2004, training to oversee water projects and developing and installing water systems in zones deemed too dangerous for United Nations aide workers -- all in the midst of civil war. "[I was] seeing these people living in conflicts, bullets whizzing by their ears -- yet their biggest concern was the huge loss of life because of the unclean water," he recalls. "That's when water changed from being my passion to the burden of my life." Watch Hendley describe how the experience in Darfur affected him » . After a year of service in Darfur, Hendley returned to the States and continued his fundraising events while focusing on ways his group could improve upon other water project models. "Throughout the desert there were bore holes [for wells] all over the place, they just weren't working," says Hendley. "Organizations would put a brand new, $15,000 bore hole in a village that already had one; [they] didn't stop to think that maybe that one is broken or just needs some parts." Wine to Water is dedicated to achieving sustainability through education and empowerment of local community members, training them to install, maintain and repair their own water systems. Watch Hendley help a Cambodia community build a well for its school » . Hendley has found this approach reduces overhead costs, leaving more for investment in water initiatives and local economies. Because his operation is small, Hendley says he's less deterred by the instability of areas in dire need and is able to access pockets of the world that larger organizations may have to avoid. To date, Hendley's group has worked in five developing countries, including India, bringing safe drinking water to more than 25,000 individuals in refugee camps, orphanages, schools, hospitals and a leper colony, as well as directly into hundreds of homes through the installation of bio-sand filters. Watch how Hendley is changing lives around the world » . In the face of the overwhelming global crisis, Hendley says his work may be a drop in the bucket, but to him it's nothing short of a miracle. "You can be a bartender in Raleigh, North Carolina; you can be just a regular anybody. And you really, really can change the world," he says. "You can touch thousands of lives. I'm walking truth of that." Want to get involved? Check out Wine to Water and see how to help.
|
Bartender raises funds and awareness for clean drinking water projects .
Doc Hendley helps communities build clean water wells and sanitation systems .
He has travelled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Cambodia .
Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year at CNN.com/Heroes .
|
f8122e0799fd5e49db1c3675ab4a8103cb0a6621
|
(EW.com) -- Three years ago, director Luc Besson tried to do prestige, directing an Oscar-bait biopic about Burmese political dissident Aung San Suu Kyi titled "The Lady." It didn't work out for anyone, but at least Besson is back where he clearly feels more at home: stylized violence punctuated by surreal chaos. In "Lucy," Scarlett Johansson plays an American party girl studying in Taiwan who is kidnapped and forced to be a drug mule for an Asian gangster (Choi Min-Sik). But when the pouch of mysterious blue crystals ruptures in her gut—following a savage beating—the wonder drug begins to expand her human potential at an alarming rate. First, she's transformed into a sexy Jason Bourne, out for revenge. Then she becomes Neo, a superhero with near omnipotence. And her ultimate destiny, before the high can wear off, might be complete transcendence. On paper, "Lucy" is nothing more than a standard Milla Jovovich action movie, but Besson amps it up by going way past the recommended dosage of cinematic insanity. The whiplash imagery and frenetic editing give the audience a contact high of sorts—was that a freakin' dinosaur?—transforming what should be ridiculous into genuine bizarro excitement. He has successfully crossbred the superhero film with the Asian-gangster genre, and the film's car chase through the streets of Paris might be one fetishists celebrate from now on. Lucy is a thinly drawn character, just someone who needs to survive, but Johansson vividly conveys the initial terror of her dire circumstances before shifting into the calculating, almost robotic mode of an alien being flicking away mere mortals. By the time the film exhausts itself—in a brisk 89 minutes—it feels like there's literally nowhere that Lucy and Besson can't go, no boundaries, no laws, no logic. Just go with it. EW Grade: B . See the original story at EW.com. Review: 'Hercules' needs better Dwayne Johnson . Ben Affleck will be a great Batman, Adam West says . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
|
Scarlett Johansson stars in the film .
It's directed by Luc Besson .
There is genuine bizarro excitement .
|
f812f151f06ed571e6b38b2f6b254f91eafb7915
|
Los Angeles (CNN) -- A drug addiction expert who testified that Michael Jackson suffered a "quite extensive" drug addiction acknowledged there was no evidence the singer used more painkillers than medically necessary. Dr. Petros Levounis testified Tuesday and Wednesday for AEG Live in its defense of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother and children. Lawyers for the concert promoter want to convince jurors that the singer was a secretive addict responsible for his own death from an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol. Their executives had no way of knowing the singer was in danger when he was preparing for his comeback concerts in 2009, they contend. Jackson lawyers contend AEG Live executives are liable because they negligently hired, retained or supervised the doctor who used propofol to treat Jackson's insomnia as he prepared for his comeback concerts during the last two months of his life. The conclusion that Jackson was dependent on painkillers was not a revelation, considering Jackson himself announced it when he cut his "Dangerous" tour short to enter a rehab program in 1993. "If he announced it to the world it's not very private, is it?" Jackson lawyer Michael Koskoff asked Levounis. "At that moment, he was not secretive," Levounis replied. Jackson's drugs of choice were opioids, painkillers given to him by doctors repairing scalp injuries suffered in a fire and during cosmetic procedures to make him look younger, Levounis testified. Labeling Jackson an addict could tarnish the singer's image among jurors, but its relevance to AEG Live's liability is questionable. Opioids played no role in Jackson's death, according to the Los Angeles County coroner. His June 25, 2009, death was ruled a result of an overdose of propofol. Dr. Conrad Murray told investigators he infused the singer with propofol for 60 consecutive nights to treat his insomnia so he could rest for rehearsals. The judge would not allow Levounis to testify if he thought Jackson was addicted to propofol. Anesthesiologist: Jackson recruited me to help with insomnia . Levounis said addiction happens when a chemical "hijacks the pleasure-reward pathways" in your brain. "You remain addicted for the rest of your life," Levounis testified. "Michael Jackson's addiction was quite extensive and I have very little doubt that his pleasure-reward pathways had been hijacked and he suffered from addiction," he said. Levounis conceded he saw no evidence that Jackson used painkillers after he left rehab in 1993 until 2001 or between July 2003 and late 2008. He said it is not inconsistent for an addiction to go into remission. Under cross examination Wednesday morning, Levounis conceded that he never saw evidence that Jackson injected himself with narcotics, ever sought or used illegal drugs such as cocaine, meth or heroin, or abused drugs to produce euphoria or get high. There was also no evidence Jackson used more painkillers than doctors prescribed, he said. Jackson lawyers have never disputed the singer's drug dependence. In fact, they contend that AEG Live executives, including one who was Jackson's tour manager when he entered rehab, were negligent for paying a doctor $150,000 a month just to treat Jackson. The high salary created a conflict for the debt-ridden Murray, making it difficult for him to say no to Jackson's demands for drugs. Paul Gongaware, the AEG Live co-CEO who was in charge of Jackson's 2009 "This Is It" tour, was also tour manager for his "Dangerous" tour in 1993. Levounis acknowledged in testimony Wednesday that there was evidence that Gongaware knew about Jackson's painkiller addiction 15 years before his death. Levounis' testimony about the dangers of a doctor being too friendly with an addicted patient, which he said Murray was, could help the Jacksons' case. "A very close friendship between an addicted patient and a doctor is problematic," Levounis testified. "It makes it much easier for a patient to ask for drugs and it makes it more difficult for a provider to resist." The medical records of Murray's treatment of Jackson between 2006 and 2008 -- when the singer lived in Las Vegas -- showed no painkillers prescribed during seven visits. Murray's notes did show he treated Jackson's complaints of insomnia with a sedative in 2008. Wednesday was the 76th day of testimony in the trial, which is expected to conclude near the end of September.
|
NEW: Expert saw no evidence Jackson ever sought or used illegal drugs .
NEW: No evidence Jackson used more painkillers than doctors prescribed, expert testifies .
Jackson's mom and children contend AEG Live is liable in the singer's death .
AEG Live argues it could not have known about Jackson's propofol use .
|
f8137e64372961ad3a1a7b1262d6769792bd4d09
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Patricia Shipp . Rosie O'Donnell's return to The View has today been confirmed. ABC made the announcement on its Twitter page, with the message: 'It's official! ABC confirms Rosie O'Donnell returns as co-host of The View with moderator Whoopi Goldberg for Season 18'. Scroll down for video... She's back: Rosie O'Donnell will return to The View . Rumours have been swirling this week that O'Donnell would rejoin the struggling daytime chat show, which only recently ousted Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd. O'Donnell will co-host the show with Goldberg, who replaced the controversial star as moderator when she left on a bad note after just eight months on April 30, 2007. The brunette replaced Meredith Vieira as a moderator on The View in September 2006. She returns as The View's longtime executive producer and co-creator Bill Geddie leaves. It was no secret that Rosie and Bill were often at loggerheads - a situation that only intensified after Rosie's 2007 explosive on-air row with former View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck over the Iraq war. Geddie egged on the right-wing Hasselbeck via her earpiece, and cut to a cable news-type split-screen of the duo going head to head. A source told MailOnline that more producers have also been fired as the show plans a revamp - adding: 'Everyone thinks the reason that Bill's going is because ABC wanted to bring Rosie back and they hate each other so much, there is no way they could work together.' And it's also claimed that Sherri Sheperd quit The View after learning Jenny was being fired - and Bill was going. Meanwhile, the source said that Whoopi Goldberg, the show's moderator, has a three year 'pay or play' deal - and while unhappy at the show's many changes, would lose $12 million if she walked away. Today, Whoopi addressed many of the rumors surrounding the show on air, saying: 'I just have something on my mind. You know there is a lot of speculation about a lot of stuff going on here. Yes, I'm here. We don't know who's coming in, but I will tell you this: The respect that I have for the people who work here will not change. 'I will do my best to respect the audience, to make sure that we bring you The View that Barbara Walters wanted you to have, which is women talking about issues. We are not little kids, we are grown a** women. And so, I'm just tired of people saying, 'oh, you know if this one comes in, or if this one comes in,' I don't argue with people, we have spirited discussions.' She continued, "I don't fight with people, that's not my way. Quit trying to make me into something I'm not. I'm not a little girl with cat claws. I am not a cat, I am a human being. I am a girl with a fist. And so, I'm just telling y'all, The View is going to evolve as it always has. Quit trying to make something happen and let whatever's going to happen, happen, and we hope you will join us when we come back." A rousing welcome: O'Donnell, who got a . standing ovation when she appeared on The View in February for the first . time since quitting the show in 2007, allegedly drove a hard bargain to secure her 'one-year, seven-figure deal' O'Donnell allegedly drove a hard bargain to secure her 'one-year, seven-figure deal', according to Page Six. The . star allegedly demanded a say on who will take a seat at The View table . next season, and she does not want any reality stars on the cast. O'Donnell hasn't officially commented on the news. But she tweeted a picture on Thursday morning showing her holding her baby daughter Dakota and joined by her son Blake as she enjoys a swim at a Florida beach. 'Nothing like Florida - pure joy,' she wrote in the caption. Says it all: O'Donnell hasn't yet commented on the news, but she tweeted this photo on Thursday morning showing her taking a swim in the ocean in Florida . O'Donnell's short tenure on The View resulted in several controversies, including an on-air dispute regarding the Iraq War, resulting in a mutual agreement to cancel her contract. However, she is credited with making the show more news-focused and increasing viewership. Despite an overall downward trend for most daytime broadcast shows, ratings rose by 27% during O'Donnell's first year on The View, according to Variety in 2007. Also linked to join O'Donnell is Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Presidential candidate Senator John McCain, who will co-host The View next week. According to The Wrap, McCain, the co-host of Pivot's TakePart Live, would provide a conservative voice to the ABC show, taking on the role previously held by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The 29-year-old blonde 'presents herself as a progressive Republican who doesn't always agree with her party on social issues, such as gay marriage'. However, she is under contract on TakePart Live, and it is unclear whether she could join The View full-time. Revamp: Rosie, . pictured getting a special Tony award for her work with kids theatre, . will join Whoopi Goldberg on the show after co-hosts Sherri Shepherd and . Jenni McCarthy were dumped . Trial? Meghan McCain will guest host on The View next week . Favourite: Senator John McCain's daughter Meghan McCain is said to be in talks to join the ABC show . Meanwhile, rumours that O'Donnell would re-join the cast did not sit well with her one-time co-host and arch nemesis Elizabeth Hasselbeck, who did not mince words when addressing the possible comeback this week. O'Donnell infamously clashed with conservative pundit Hasselbeck, who took umbrage with some of O’Donnell’s statements about the Iraq War. Hasslebeck, 37, hosted The View for a decade before joining Fox and Friends last year. On Wednesday, Hasselback, who is currently on vacation, called into her show to weigh in on O'Donnell's potential comeback, expressing nothing but contempt for her former colleague.'What could ruin a vacation more than to hear news like this?' the Fox presenter quipped before launching into a tirade that resurrected the specter of her past on-air battles with O'Donnell. 'Talks about not securing the border,' the conservative commentator ranted. 'Here in comes to The View the very . woman who spit in the face of our military, spit in the face of her own . network... coming back with a bunch of control ready to regain a seat . at The View table.’ Clenched teeth: On Wednesday, Hasselbeck accused O'Donnell of spiting in the face of the military and ABC Network . On-screen battles: O'Donnell exited from The . View in 2007 after only eights months marked by fiery clashes with . Hasselbeck over the Iraq War . But O'Donnell's other former The View co-host Joy Behar criticised Hasselbeck's 'hate-filled' remarks. 'I thought that was really kind of below-the-belt, to say she spits in the face of the military. I would like Elisabeth to explain herself," she told CNN's Don Lemon on Wednesday night, mentioning that O'Donnell's eldest son is in military school. 'What does she mean by that? And isn't it kind of a nasty thing to say about somebody who basically is a good person? That's a dangerous thing to say about somebody. I think it's a hate-filled remark.' Standing by her: O'Donnell's former The View co-host Joy Behar came to her defense, calling Hasselbeck's remarks 'hate-filled' and 'dangerous' O'Donnell, meanwhile, responded to Hasselbeck's comments via Twitter. One fan wrote to her: '@Rosie, @etnow @ehasselbeck way to spin words by saying you spit in faces of our servicemen - she's becoming a great FAUX News anchor.' O'Donnell replied:' @MatPat82 - think she has donated any money to the armed services???? Hmmmmm.' Outspoken: O'Donnell responded to Hasselbeck's comments via Twitter . The claws are out: O'Donnell also criticised Hasselbeck's behaviour during the taping of Barbara Walter's farewell show earlier this year . ABC explained the recent changes to the show in a statement on Friday saying: ‘The View will be moving in an exciting new direction next season, and ABC has made decisions to evolve the show creatively.' Both McCarthy and Shepherd broke the news that they would be leaving last Thursday on Twitter. At first the Scary Movie star suggested she was leaving in support of Shepherd's dumping. The model turned actress wrote: 'If Sherri goes . . . I go too,” adding “#sisters.' She then later wrote: 'My View will be changing too. As will with many hard working folks. Thanks to everyone at the show for your dedication and an amazing year.' Not the only one: Co-star Sherri Shepherd's contract was not renewed after seven years with the talk show . Showing the close bond she and Shepherd had, McCarthy posted an image of the pair with two other members of The View production team saying, 'These are my Avengers and we will be back!' However, it has been reported that the blonde had been dumped from the role, which she had held since just September, as she did not appeal to daytime audiences. It is not known why her 47-year-old co-star's contract was not renewed. Confirming her exit, Shepherd released a statement to Deadline.com earlier on Thursday. She said: 'It’s been seven wonderful years on The View and after careful consideration it is time for me to move on. 'I am extremely grateful to Barbara Walters and Bill Gedde for giving me the opportunity.' She added: 'I look forward to the business opportunities that lay ahead for me and I am incredibly grateful to my View family and my fans for supporting me on this journey.' On their own terms: Both Jenny and Sherri broke . the news that they would be leaving the ABC show on Thursday night via . posts on Twitter . Not giving up: Showing the close bond she and Shepherd had, McCarthy posted an image of the pair with two other members of . The View production team saying, 'These are my Avengers and we will be . back!' Big changes: Whoopi Goldberg, pictured with the . ladies and guest host Star Jones, will stay but ABC says it is now . looking to 'evolve' the show .
|
Sources tell MailOnline The View's long-time exec producer and co-creator Bill Geddie was let go as ABC were desperate to get Rosie back on air .
Meghan McCain to co-host next week as rumors abound about her joining the show .
Whoopi Goldberg insists: 'We are not little kids, we are grown a** women...I don't argue with people, we have spirited discussions'
|
f813c81608343f9f8d622dcabdb66b3475ccf02c
|
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Jon Hamm has a confession to make: He hates his hair. Jon Hamm poses with his partner, Jennifer Westfeldt, at the premiere of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." That may come as a surprise to fans of the actor, whose slick-backed hair is part of his signature look on "Mad Men" -- the show that just earned him another Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a TV drama. In the new movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still," Hamm sports a slightly different 'do, with his bangs combed rakishly over one eye. It was in the context of promoting the sci-fi remake that Hamm revealed his tonsorial frustration. "It's the bane of my existence. Goofy hair," he said in a self-deprecating interview with CNN. "It never looks good ... It's a pain." Hamm says he's always worn his hair long, but had to cut it for AMC's TV series, in which he plays a 1960s Madison Avenue ad executive. He says stylists on the show, armed with hair spray and blow dryers, mold his coiffure into a hard shell. Helmet hair has come in handy at work. "I've had a piece of the set fall on my head and my hair didn't move," he said. "I had seven stitches in my head and my hair didn't move. That's impressive." Whether it's his hair, good looks, acting chops or a combination thereof, Hamm's star is on the rise in Hollywood. Apart from his co-starring role in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," Hamm recently completed work on the murder mystery "The Boy in the Box." He hosted "Saturday Night Live" this fall, he's due to play Tina Fey's love interest on "30 Rock" and he continues to receive accolades for his work on "Mad Men" (nominations for an Emmy and a Golden Globe so far). How does that make Hamm feel? "Exciting is the right way to say it. It's been a good year. It's very exciting," he said. "I get to read a lot more scripts. I get to meet interesting people. I get to work with interesting people ... It's fun to be sort of invited to the party."
|
"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm earned another Golden Globe nomination .
Hamm says hair is a pain -- especially short and lacquered for "Mad Men"
Actor currently appearing in "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
|
f813cca2d0a494fe9d3f82193a4ab6af95c8cffd
|
If there was one thing that caught our attention in the new episode of Made In Chelsea – besides a new character with quite possibly the world’s poshest name (yes you, Miffy) – it was Binky Felstead’s svelte new figure. As filming for season six of the E4 show loomed, the reality TV star decided it was time to shed the excess pounds she gained off-screen and pack herself off to bootcamp. And now we can reveal that, following a week-long rigorous diet and exercise plan, 5ft 7in Binky has slimmed down from 10st 10lbs to 9st 10lb and has celebrated her new figure in a sizzling set of swimwear images shot in Ibiza. New physique: Binky Felstead wanted to get in shape for the new series of Made In Chelsea so she hit bootcamp and lost a stone in a week . A resident of the notoriously hardcore No 1 Bootcamp in Ibiza, she was woken every morning at 6am by loud music, and set to work flipping tyres, doing circuits and beach workouts. Then she would have a specially-prepared breakfast before embarking on two-and-a-half-hour sessions of cross, circuit and high intensity interval training. Her calories at the camp were limited to just over a thousand per day and each meal was a blend of slow release carbs, lean protein and essential fats. Military-style hikes of between seven to eight miles filled the majority of the afternoon to maximise fat burning. Before and after: Binky has slimmed down from 10st 10lbs to 9st 10lbs through a combination of a week of intense exercise and ditching boozy nights out and kebabs . Binky lost a stone and is so . confident about her new size 10 body that she says she wouldn’t rule out any . on-screen naked shower or bedroom scenes a la Louise Thompson. As she was: Once a mainstay on the Chelsea party scene, Binky now only goes out once a week and sticks to vodka lime and soda . Despite . feeling at her best, Binky’s ultimate goal is to reach a size 8 and we . can’t help but wonder if that’s got anything to do with the fact that . she has a new boyfriend. While she won’t confirm the identity of the lucky man (OK! magazine says she is rumoured to be dating co-star Alex Mytton), she blames her new relationship on eating more. Speaking to OK! Magazine, who shot the swimwear images, Binky said: ‘Having a boyfriend means I eat a lot bigger portions. 'I get really jealous if he’s got a bigger portion to me and if I’ve eaten everything on my plate I’ll always stick my fork on his plate!’. It seems that her past relationship, whereby her ex-boyfriend called her a ‘big whale’, has had a lasting effect. She said: ‘With my ex-boyfriend I put on a lot of weight because we were going out way too much and eating a lot of takeaways, it was bad. He used to call me the big whale and I didn’t know why. ‘I actually saw him recently and he . was like: ‘You look amazing, you’ve lost loads of weight!’ So I said to . him: “You should’ve told me how fat I was!” He was like: “I did by . calling you the big whale!” I always thought he was joking, but he . bloody wasn’t!’ Once a mainstay on the Chelsea party scene, Binky only goes out once a week and sticks to vodka lime and soda. She also tries her best to avoid carbs and 2am drunken kebab pit-stops. She has revealed that she curbs her cravings by taking diet pills, Forza Raspberry Ketones. Love is in the air? Fran and Alex admit to having met up over the summer, and share a quick kiss at the pool party, but OK! magazine say Binky is now rumoured to be dating the handsome newcomer (R) She's back! Made In Chelsea returned to our screens with a bang on Monday and saw Binky (R) orchestrating a chat between former lovers Spencer (centre) and Lucy (L) For the full story on Binky Felstead's amazing weight-loss at No 1 Boot Camp get OK! magazine which is out now. BEFORE . Breakfast: Toast with butter and Bovril . Lunch: Meat and carbs all the time because they’re so easy to get - I didn’t care what I ate before. Dinner: Chicken jalfrezi curry, rice and nan breadTreats: ChocolateAFTERBreakfast: Scrambled egg and smoked salmon or spinach and Parma hamLunch: Tuna salad/ steak or chickenDinner: Chicken with no carbs - I’m a real meat eater .
|
Binky, 24, has dropped from 10st 10lbs to 9st 10lbs in a week .
Ditched nights out on the town and kebabs for healthy, protein-rich diet .
Says ex-boyfriend called her a 'big whale'
|
f8149b2f369d563f6a9cf170f54fec3bac444712
|
(CNN) -- A British woman on a charity swim across the English Channel died during her bid, according to a post on her fundraising Facebook page. Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed near the end of a 21-mile crossing from England to France about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a report from The Independent. "Whilst attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday my sister, Susan collapsed suddenly in the water. She was immediately recovered from the water and treated on the support boat. She was then air lifted by helicopter to a hospital in Boulonge. Susan tragically passed away," the posting on the Create a Ripple Channel Swim Facebook page said. Media reports did not give a cause of death. A photo of the swim posted earlier Sunday showed calm waters in the channel. "Please respect the families' privacy whilst they come to terms with what has happened," the Facebook post said. Taylor undertook the swim to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK, according to the Facebook page. She raised about $27,000 (18,000 British pounds) as of noon ET Monday, according to the donation site virginmoneygiving.com. The Channel Swimming Association, which authorizes and supports channel crossings, called Taylor's death "a tragic loss under valiant circumstances." "We extend our sympathy and thoughts to her family and friends at this very sad time. We have been asked by the family not to comment further. We will respect their wishes," a post on the association's website said. Taylor's father, Ian Wright, spoke to British media. "I'm devastated. I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful," he told the Independent. He told the paper his daughter worked part-time as an accountant while pursuing her charitable endeavors. Geoff Ellis, chief executive of Rainbows Hospice, praised Taylor's fundraising efforts in an interview with the BBC. "Susan was a wonderful woman who would do anything for anybody. She has been a much-loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us," Ellis was quoted as saying. Kevin Murphy, secretary of the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, told the BBC that deaths during channel swims were rare. "We know it's an extreme sport, but its safety record is second to none. In nearly 150 years, there have been only half a dozen fatalities," the BBC quoted him as saying. About 20 to 30 people make successful solo swims across the English Channel each year, according to soloswims.com. The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation reports 10 successful crossings this year; the most recent of those are four completed crossings on Monday. Although the straight-line distance across the channel is 21 miles, swimmer must off swim much farther because of the effects of tides.
|
Susan Taylor collapsed near end of 21-mile crossing, report says .
34-year-old was part-time accountant and fund-raiser .
Only half a dozen channel deaths in 150 years of crossings, organization says .
|
f814e6bc1ee2a48f318675f3a5b4d03a672cd2bc
|
Angry: Captain Roberto Bosio, who was off-duty but helped co-ordinate the evacuation, said Schettino was a 'disgraceful man' An off-duty captain who co-ordinated the Costa Concordia's evacuation has condemned the ship's skipper as a 'disgraceful' man. Captain Roberto Bosio, 45, this afternoon broke his silence over claims Francesco Schettino abandoned ship before passengers and failed to make a mayday call as the ship listed. He said: 'Only a disgraceful man would have left all those passengers on board. It was the most horrible experience of my life. A tragedy, a heartache that I will carry with me forever.' Off-duty Bosio, who captains the Concordia's sister ship the Serena, was only on board the ship by chance as he made his way back home to Savona, near Genoa. Bosio, who is engaged and lives in Ventimiglia on the French-Italian border, was in his cabin resting when disaster struck. He helped dozens of woman and children into lifeboats, and is understood to have organised the entire rescue effort throughout the night. Survivors have also said that as the keen biker left his cabin he told every passenger he met to put on a life jacket. He added: 'We managed to avoid the worse and have the world crash down around us. I just want to rest and forget. 'Don’t call me a hero. I just did my duty, the duty of a sea captain – actually the duty of a normal man. 'I and the others with me just did our duty. We looked each other in the eyes for a second and then we just got on with it.' Bosio's comments came after one Schettino's former captains labelled him 'a braggart, a show-off' and claimed he drove the luxury liner 'like a Ferrari'. Captain Mario Palombo also revealed he had to put Francesco Schettino in his place 'more than once' when the under-fire commander acted as his deputy on the now doomed vessel, La Repubblica reported. His claims came as Italian divers again suspended their search of the capsized ship at 8am after it shifted slightly on its resting place near the Tuscan island of Giglio. Fire services spokesman Luca Cari said . the shift of a few centimetres posed a potential threat to diving teams . operating in the submerged spaces of the ship. It increased fears the . vessel could soon dislodge from the rock and plummet 100m down to the . bottom of the Mediterranean. 'Braggart and a show-off': The Costa Concordia's captain Frencesco Schettino, pictured (left) in his pomp in 2010 and leaving court (right) yesterday, has been heavily criticised by a former captain of the stricken luxury cruise liner . Slipping: The Costa Concordia fell another few centimetres into the sea today, sparking fears it will soon dislodge itself from its rocky resting place and plummet 100m to the bottom of the sea . Schettino, 52, a captain since 2006, now faces a possible 15 years in prison for multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship while dozens of passengers were still aboard. Yesterday the death toll rose to 11 when divers located five more bodies, all of them adults wearing life jackets, in the rear of the ship near an emergency evacuation point. A total of 24 people are still missing. Trawling: Police scuba divers scour the ship for survivors and bodies, using explosives to blast debris and other obstacles out of their path . Race against the clock: The hulking vessel could slip and plunge to the sea bed at any minute . The tongue lashing given to Schettino by an angry coastguard has been turned into a £12 T-shirt. The shirt, bearing the phrase 'Vada a Bordo, Cazzo' - went on sale within minutes of the recording of the coastguard's row with captain Francesco Schettino was made public. Widely read as 'Get on board, damn it', Italian translators say the phrase is really far more forceful than that. One said: 'In one way it can mean 'F***ing get on board' and in another way it means 'Get on board, you p***k'.' Prosecutors have alleged Schettino was trying to show off by sailing past the Tuscan island of Giglio, where his head waiter lived, when he ran the ship aground just 150m offshore. The ship should have been at least five miles out to sea, but struck rocks Schettino claimed were 'not on his chart'.The liner then continued for several hundred metres before running aground further along the coast. Schettino, who started his career on a ferry boat near his home on Italy's Amalfi coast but has now been stripped of his command, has now been ordered by an investigating magistrate to undergo a drug test. Searching off the liner was due to continue today, before its suspension, with further explosive charges detonated around the superstructure. The aim is to make it easier for navy and coastguard diving teams to reach sections of the Concordia that still need to be searched. Attention was due to be focused mainly on the restaurant on deck four at the back of the Concordia. That . was the location where the bodies of four men and a woman all aged . between 50 and 60 years old were found yesterday, and where it is feared . the rest of the missing passengers and crew are. The search teams are racing against time . as the weather is set to turn stormy tomorrow, with waves of up to two . metres forecast as well as storm force winds. Brave team: The divers are working under the danger that furniture or debris could slip and crush them if the boat lists . Human chain: Rescue workers climb on to the Concordia in the faint hope that some passengers may be clinging to life in a freak air pocket . The fear is that a large sea swell could easily 'lift' the liner from the rock ledge it is resting on and send it plunging 100m to the bottom of the sea. Salvage teams are also expected to begin pumping off 2,280 tons of heavy duty diesel that is still in the ship's tanks and which are a ticking ecological time bomb as the area is a protected sea sanctuary for whales, porpoises and dolphins. Meanwhile captain Roberto Bosio, who was off duty on the Concordia when the disaster struck and who has been hailed as a hero after giving the order to abandon ship, broke his silence and said: 'Only a disgraceful man would have left all those passengers on board.' Captain Bosio, 45, who was seen helping dozens of women and children into lifeboats, added: 'It was the most horrible experience of my life. 'A tragedy, a heartache that I will carry with me forever. We managed to avoid the worse and have the world crash down around us. I just want to rest and forget. Don't call me a hero. I just did my duty, the duty of a sea captain - actually the duty of a normal man. 'I and the others with me just did our duty. We looked each other in the eyes for a second and then we Just got on with it.' Discovery: A scuba diver is pictured dragging a body out from the stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia as the confirmed death toll rises to 11 . Blasting through: The bright flash of an explosion shows where Italian navy divers have used 'micro-charges' to force their way through the hull of the capsized Costa Concordia - in a bid to find missing passengers and crew .
|
Captain Roberto Bosio was off-duty but still organised entire rescue effort .
'It was the most horrible experience of my life. A tragedy, a heartache that I will carry with me forever'
Captain Mario Palombo said Schettino was 'a braggart, a show-off and drove the ship like a Ferrari'
Italian divers suspend search as capsized ship shifts slightly on its rocky resting place .
Increased fears liner could plummet 100m to bottom of the sea .
Confirmed death toll stands at 11, with 24 still missing .
Concerns grow of environmental disaster over 500,000 gallons of fuel .
|
f81526a707b7407b9106b07705360ed1f3b4ad92
|
By . Associated Press . and Alexandra Klausner . Authorities say a pair of deer on the Golden Gate bridge snarled traffic in and out of San Francisco during the evening commute. The California Highway Patrol tells the San Francisco Chronicle that the deer were in the busier northbound lanes leading out of the city toward Marin County on Friday evening at about 5:30 p.m. The deer briefly halted the evening commute as drivers slowed to give them space. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Oh deer!: Two deer headed north on the Golden Gate bridge from San Francisco to Marin snarled traffic during the evening commute . Move over!: The deer were eager to get off the bridge from San Francisco and to reach Marin and get away from the cars . By 6 p.m., the officers on the way to the scene were called off because the deer were no longer in the road. The deer spotting caused quite a stir on social media as witnesses flocked to Instagram to post photos an video from the unusual event. 'Not a big deal. Just some deer running down the middle of the road on the Golden Gate Bridge,' joked Luca Jackson on Instagram. CHP Officer William Ogilvie tells the Chronicle that it's not uncommon for calls about 'animal hazards' to work themselves out before the officers arrive because animals don't like traffic any more than humans do. NBC reports that the deer seemed entered the bridge from the south, according to CHP Officer Andrew Barclay. The deer forced three northbound traffic lanes to a halt as they scampered all the way from San Francisco toward Marin. 'They pretty much created their own traffic break,' Barclay said. 'That could be what saved the deer from getting hurt ... If it was lighter traffic the cars would have been moving faster,'he added. This isn't the first time that animals have been spotted on the Golden Gate Bridge but this is the first time it's happened during his two years as serving as a public information officer. Despite the commotion, the deer got off the bridge safe and sound and the drivers were able to put their hooves on the gas pedal once again though they were still stuck in traffic. Halted traffic: The deer made their way through a traffic lane to safely get to the other side of the bridge . Traffic stoppers: Reports of a pair of deer hanging out on the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday evening sent social media abuzz in the Bay Area . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
|
Dear held up three lanes of traffic as they scampered on the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco towards Marin at about 5:30 p.m.
The deer briefly halted the evening commute as drivers slowed to give them space .
By 6 p.m., the officers on the way to the scene were called off because the deer were no longer in the road .
No deer nor humans were injured .
Heavy traffic kept the deers from getting hurt due to slower pace of cars .
|
f815596cfb08b2623302f1485102fd9392063b10
|
By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 00:11 EST, 17 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:44 EST, 17 December 2013 . Soldiers in the Territorial Army are 35-years-old on average, figures show. Compared to the average age of a soldier in the regular service, who is 29, the reservists are six years older. Critics say servicemen and women in the TA are not 'like for like' replacements of the armed services and say the reforms risk creating a 'Dad's Army'. Army: Soldiers in the Territorial Army are 35 years old on average, figures show (file picture) The Telegraph reports the average TA soldier is three years older than the average age of a first time dad in the UK, who is 32. Ministry of Defence plans to increase reservist troops from 11,000 to 30,000 by 2018 to make up for the cuts to the regular army have come under criticism. The MoD figures show the average age of senior TA officers is 51, junior officers are 42 and senior and junior NCOs are 46 and 38. In comparison, regular army officers are 37 years old and other ranks average at 29. Questions: John Baron, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, raised questions about the plans . John Baron, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, raised questions about the Government's plans. He told the Telegraph: 'The resulting capability gaps, the strong prospect of fals economies and a substantially older Army suggest the risks far outweigh any benefits.' Earlier this year, campaigners warned controversial plans to replace thousands of full-time soldiers with reservists risks creating a new wave of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim is to reduce the number of regular soldiers from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018 - an army small enough to fit inside Wembley Stadium - while doubling the number of reservists to 30,000. But experts said Defence Secretary Philip Hammond's proposals could see a massive increase in the number of troops seeking help for severe psychological trauma. An MoD spokesman said: 'Reservists have always been slightly older than their Regular counterparts, partly because they carry out so many specialist roles that require years of experience. 'However we are transforming our Reserve, strengthening its requirements and reversing its decline over the last decade. 'As part of this we are running sustained recruitment campaigns aimed at young people and are introducing higher fitness and deployability requirements. We expect that these measures will mean the average age of our Army Reserve will fall slightly.'
|
Reservists are six years older than regular soldiers .
Critics say TA soldiers are not 'like for like' replacements .
MoD plans to increase reservist troops from 11,000 to 30,000 by 2018 .
|
f8155c0c44ff190fcc1e9823a3eafc3f74408ac0
|
Grammar school-educated British jihadist Shabazz Suleman claims Turkish police fed him Domino's pizza in jail before handing him over to ISIS in a prisoner exchange which led to a diplomatic storm . A grammar school-educated British jihadist has claimed Turkish police fed him Domino's pizza in jail before handing him over to ISIS in a prisoner exchange which led to a diplomatic storm. Shabazz Suleman, 19, a former pupil at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe, was among as many as 180 fighters handed back to Islamic State by Turkey in return for the release of diplomats. The swap, involving 46 Turkish citizens and three local Iraqi staff who were captured when IS stormed the Iraqi city of Mosul in June, has sparked a diplomatic row, with Turkey already under pressure from fellow UN members to secure its borders with Syria. Speaking for the first time since the deal in September, Suleman has claimed he and fellow captives were able to contact ISIS from internet in their cells, and that the Turkish police guarding him had expressed sympathy with their cause - and even bought them pizza. 'Cops were very friendly,' Suleman told The Times' John Simpson and Alex Christie-Miller via an online exchange from ISIS stronghold Raqqa. 'Understood why we wanted to fight in Syria. They hated Assad, Israel etc. Their ideology was that of the Muslim brotherhood. 'It was good lol. Had pizza in prison. Dominos lol. Was allowed net. We spoke to dawla [ISIS] in prison. Watched ISIS videos. Sang nasheeds [Islamic chants].' Suleman, who now calls himself Abu Shamil Al-Muslim, is thought to have joined jihadis in Syria after giving his parents the slip to cross the border while on holiday in Turkey. The teenager, who was described by his old school as 'a valued, hardworking student', had achieved good A-level results last summer and had a place lined up to study at Keele University, where he had wanted to study International Relations. Former pupils at his old school include Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling, comedian Jimmy Carr, England rugby players Nick Beale, Matt Dawson, and Tom Rees, golfer Luke Donald and singer Ian Dury. In a statement released in October, after news emerged that Suleman had gone to Syria, the school said: 'During his time at RGS, Shabazz was a very engaging and amiable student who fitted in well, forming good relationships with his peers and staff. Shabazz had a good work ethic, and was prepared to play a prominent role in class discussions, even though he gave the impression of being a rather reserved and quiet person. Suleman (pictured) claims he and fellow captives were able to contact ISIS from internet in their cells, and that the Turkish police guarding him had expressed sympathy with their cause - and even bought them pizza . 'He showed real determination to achieve good academic results, working hard to build on his AS grades to achieve a solid set of A levels in History, Economics and Psychology and so gained a place at University. Shabazz was a valued, hardworking student who achieved well and respected the school’s academic and pastoral ethos.' But Suleman, who had travelled to Aleppo, Syria with an aid convoy in 2013, is believed to have been radicalised by jihadis he met on Twitter. He is also thought to have attended the Muslim Education Centre in High Wycombe, where one of the British men convicted in the 2006 transatlantic liquid bomb plot also attended. It is around the corner from the teenager’s £400,000 detached family home. Suleman's mother had previously denied claims he has travelled to the Middle East for violent reasons, telling the press: 'He has gone to do aid work there'. The Muslim Education Centre has said it was shocked by Suleman’s departure and has condemned the activities of ISIS. His parents had reported him missing to both British police and the Turkish authorities, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had also reported him missing. Suleman, who received weapons training at a two-week Sharia training camp, said he had been caught by security services at the Syrian border. He said he was visited twice by Turkish intelligence agency MIT, fined, and told he was going to be deported. The teenager, described by Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe (pictured) as 'a valued, hardworking student', had achieved good A-level results last summer and had a place lined up to study at Keele University . He said he was held along with 35 other ISIS fighters at an 'open' prison in Sanliurfa, around an hour from the Turkish-Syrian border. Suleman, who is now in Raqqa where his duties involve being on sentry guard, said he had been given the choice of being deported, or being part of the ISIS exchange. He wrote: 'After a month of waiting they told us buses are waiting outside for u. MIT ran the exchange. Told us we are free. Exchanged at border, We drove into dawla.' Three French citizens, two Swedes, two Macedonians, one Swiss, and one Belgian are also believed to have been part of the exchange, as well as another Briton, Hisham Folkard, 26. The deal is understood to have been brokered through complex talks with tribes and rebel militia.
|
Shabazz Suleman studied at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe .
19-year-old thought to have tried to cross into Syria while on holiday in Turkey .
He had a place at university, but was radicalised through jihadis on Twitter .
Teen was captured at Syrian border and held by Turkish police .
He was part of swap involving up to 200 fighters and 46 Turkish citizens .
Claims he was given the choice of deportation or handed back to ISIS .
Says guards were sympathetic to his cause and bought him pizza .
|
f8156d61a130494b902045b3cde361872da2b2c0
|
(CNN) -- Mark Webber became an unprecedented sixth different winner in six races this season as he drove his Red Bull to victory at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix Sunday. Webber made the most of starting from pole position to hold off Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes with Fernando Alonso taking third for Ferrari to take over at the top of the world title standings. Webber's Red Bull teammate and two-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel finished a fine fourth after starting ninth on the grid. Both Alonso and Vettel moved ahead of a disappointed Lewis Hamilton during their pit stops, leaving the McLaren driver in fifth spot. Felipe Massa was sixth in the second Ferrari. Briton Paul di Resta drove a fine race to finish seventh, just ahead of his Force India teammate German Nico Hulkenberg. Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus and Brazilian Bruno Senna in his Williams completed the points scoring. It was the third straight Monaco win for Red Bull, who extended their lead in the constructors' standings over McLaren. Webber, who also won in 2010, was claiming his eighth Formula One career victory and he moved level with Vettel into joint second in the standings, three points adrift of Alonso. "I feel incredible," Webber told the official post-race press conference. "It was a very interesting race, reasonably straightforward at the start, just managing the gap to Nico (Rosberg). "I'm really glad to have won here again, a great victory for me." It was another disappointing race day for seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, who had been the fastest in qualifying. A five-place grid penalty left the Mercedes driver starting from sixth and an early tangle with Romain Grosjean (Lotus), who was forced to retire, saw him slip back to eighth. A technical problem later hit Schumacher to leave him pointless again. The race was held against the backdrop of the constant threat of a rain shower, which could have seen a complete change in the finishing order. The rain eventually came with a vengeance after the finish, leaving Webber to breath a sigh of relief. Alonso was also a big winner on the day, with Ferrari making great strides after being off the pace earlier in the season. "For me, the target was to try to finish in front of Sebastian and Lewis (Hamilton) as they are with us in the championship. If you go race by race, you aim to finish ahead of different drivers. "Now it is Mark (Webber). It will be interesting, as we are constantly developing the car and we are constantly surprised at every race." The seventh round of the championship takes place in Canada in two weeks time.
|
Mark Webbber wins Monaco Grand Prix for Red Bull .
Australian is an unprecedented sixth different winner in six F1 races this season .
Fernando Alonso takes over at top of title race after finishing third .
Michael Schumacher forced to retire to finish out of the points again .
|
f8171e1e1c1425bd456630781863565077f328a0
|
By . Paul Bentley and Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 08:25 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:09 EST, 25 September 2012 . This is the shocking moment a man was caught on CCTV leading two young girls into a hotel for sex. The appalling video was shown during the trial of eight men who were yesterday jailed in Derby for a total of 42 years for preying on girls aged 13 to 15, picked up from care homes and the streets. The vile men, aged between 35 and 60, slept with the girls in exchange for as little as £5, cigarettes, drugs, mobile phones and treats - including a child’s toy and rides on a farmer’s tractor. Scroll down for video . Shocking: John Shaw, 54, is caught on CCTV with two girls at a hotel - one of whom is carrying a teddy bear . Anthony Lambert, 51, Stefan Godfrey, . 44, John Shaw, 55, Ijaz Ahmed, 35, and Mark Adaoui, 40, Colin Simpson, . 55, David Shardlow, 56, and Ian Yeoman, 60, were jailed for a series . of sex offences. The problem of teen prostitution in . the city suburbs of Normanton and Pear Tree was so rife, one girl . distressingly said that she thought taking money for sex simply ‘must . be part of growing up’. Disturbing CCTV footage played during the five-week trial showed one of the men, Shaw, checking into a Jurys Inn hotel with one girl and her friend, who could be seen clutching a large teddy bear. Shaw, who lives in a caravan on a farm in Kniveton, Derbyshire, was found guilty of paying the same girl for sexual activity on two occasions at Sinfin golf course, near Derby, when she was 15. CCTV footage shows John Shaw checking into a hotel with a girl who is clutching a large teddy bear . John Shaw, holding a cuddly toy, was found guilty of paying the same girl for sexual activity on two occasions . He was found not guilty of assaulting . the girl when she told him she did not want to have sex with him and he . was jailed for four years and 11 months. The video footage of Shaw was . from 2010. 'The message that crimes such as this are happening in Derby and Derbyshire is getting out to the public' Detective Chief Inspector Andy Stokes . Five victims were involved in the case . but it is thought up to 15 girls may have been targeted for sex in 2009 . and 2010. The men did not know each other, and carried out their . activities individually. They were all caught by officers under . Operation Kern, which targeted those seeking the services of children . for sex. Five of the men, including Shaw, had denied the charges. Married Mark Adaoui, 40, from Derby, . was found guilty of paying a 15-year-old girl on two occasions to . perform a sex act on him in his car. He brought cannabis along and they . smoked it together. He was jailed for seven years. John Shaw, left, was jailed for four years and 11 months and Anthony Lambert, right, got six years in prison . Stefan Godfrey, 44, from Pinxton, . Derbyshire, was convicted by jury of paying a different 15-year-old girl . on two occasions for sex knowing or believing she was underage. He was . jailed for six years. 'You did not only take advantage of these vulnerable girls, you did so to satisfy your middle-aged desires to have sex with them and you were prepared to pay the paltry sums they charged' Judge John Gosling . Ijaz Ahmed, 35, from Derby, was found . guilty of paying two different girls for sex when they were 15. He was . jailed for six years. Anthony Lambert, 51, from Derby, was . found guilty of paying for sex twice with the same girl. She said she . drank alcohol, smoked cannabis, ate a kebab and watched a film at his . house. He also gave her money towards a new mobile phone. He was jailed . for six years. Colin Simpson, 55, from Worksop, had . previously pleaded guilty to three charges of paying for sexual services . of a 15-year-old girl. He was jailed for four years. Stefan Godfrey, left, was jailed for six years and Mark Adaoui, right, was jailed for seven years . Ijaz Ahmed, left, was jailed for six months and Ian Yeoman, right, was given four years and eight months . David Shardlow, 56, from Derby, . pleaded guilty to nine counts of paying for sexual services of two girls . aged 15 and possessing indecent images of children. He was also jailed . for four years. David Shardlow, 56, from Derby, pleaded . guilty to nine counts of paying for sexual services of two girls aged 15 . and possessing indecent images of children . Ian Yeoman, 60, from Derby, had . also previously confessed to 12 counts of paying for sexual services of . two different 15-year-old girls. He was jailed for four years and eight . months. Sentencing the men, Judge John Gosling . said: ‘In recent times and recent years in this country, we have begun . to realise how the extent of the sexual abuse of children is becoming . more prevalent.’ He distanced the crimes to similar . ones in 2010, when 13 men were jailed for up to 22 years for a total of . 70 offences in a police investigation known as Operation Retriever. 'I am not dealing with a team of predators and there are no allegations that they forced themselves on the girls. 'But you did not only take advantage . of these vulnerable girls, you did so to satisfy your middle-aged . desires to have sex with them and you were prepared to pay the paltry . sums they charged.' Speaking outside court, Detective . Chief Inspector Andy Stokes said police were ‘really pleased’ with the . outcome - in part because the victims ‘have now seen justice and . closure’ on what happened to them. He added: 'The convictions have come about due to the tremendous work the investigating team did. The message that crimes such as this are happening in Derby and Derbyshire is getting out to the public, raising their awareness.' In victim impact statements read out . in the court Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said one of the girls felt her . 'trust in males was (now) non-existent” while another said she “could . not wait for the sentencing as it would be the first day of the rest of . her life'. Safe and Sound . Derby helps children and young people who are being, or who are at risk . of being sexually exploited and worked with two of the victims in the . case and the parents of one of the victims. Speaking . outside court Nathalie Walters, chief executive, said: 'The men . involved in this case were sexual predators who targeted and preyed upon . vulnerable young girls. 'We . hope that the sentences handed down to them today send a clear message . out that child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated. 'The . girls had to wait for two years to come to court where they had to . relive their horrific ordeal in front of the very men who exploited . them. 'Hopefully these . sentences will provide some comfort to the victims and their parents and . help them to move on with their lives.' Video: Defendant John Shaw checking two victims into a hotel in Derby in 2010 .
|
Cigarettes, drugs, £5, mobiles and treats such as toys given as payment .
One victim thought taking money for sex ‘must be part of growing up’
Five girls involved but up to 15 victims may have been targeted in 2009/10 .
CCTV footage shows John Shaw leading two girls into Jurys Inn hotel .
|
f817247dc27f5bcdc48e96405316a74aab63498a
|
Schools are being urged to go back to ‘chalk and talk’ teaching that was once widespread in Britain – in order to reproduce the success the traditional methods now have in China. Education Minister Nick Gibb said having a teacher speak to the class as a whole from the front was much more effective than children working on their own – the method which has become dominant in schools over the past 40 years. Mr Gibb’s intervention, which will infuriate many in the educational establishment, follows a Government scheme in which more than 70 maths teachers from British primaries went to Shanghai to study the teaching styles of their Chinese counterparts. Education Minister Nick Gibb has said having a teacher speak to the class from the front was more effective . Researchers have found that children in China achieve marks in maths up to 30 per cent higher than English pupils of the same age. In ‘whole class’ teaching, which was common in this country until the 1950s, the teacher instructs all the pupils together by using a blackboard, or its equivalent, while testing the children with questions. But progressive educationalists argued this was too authoritarian, and instead promoted the ‘child-centred’ approach that has been prevalent in primary schools since then. Under this system, pupils are encouraged to ‘discover’ knowledge by themselves, working at their own speed or in small groups, with the teacher offering them support. Mr Gibb told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I would like to see schools across the country adopt whole class teaching methods, particularly in maths and science. Research shows it is significantly more effective than other methods that concentrate more on personalised learning.’ He said Shanghai schools topped international league tables, with 15-year-olds there three years ahead of their English counterparts in maths. Mr Gibb added: ‘In Shanghai primary schools, whole class teaching with all pupils taking part in question and answer sessions is key to their success. All their pupils are taught the same curriculum and all are expected to reach the same high standard.’ In ‘whole class’ teaching, which was common in this country until the 1950s, the teacher instructs all the pupils together by using a blackboard, or its equivalent, while testing the children with questions . Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said: ‘English education was overtaken with progressive ideas in recent decades, which held it was better for children to learn by themselves and at their own pace. ‘This was clearly madness, and it has taken 40 years to realise this. ‘The trouble with the trendy methods is that the children are left to their own devices, including chatting to their friends, while the teacher is elsewhere. It is a very inefficient use of time and resources.’ Mr Gibb’s comments have been backed by recent research, which concluded that the success of pupils in the Far East is largely down to teaching methods. Maths tests taken by 562 nine and ten-year-olds in classrooms in Southampton and Nanjing in China found that the Chinese pupils scored between 20 and 30 per cent higher than the English youngsters. Classes in England, where pupils are often grouped in desk clusters, spent nearly half of their time in 'individual group work' compared with 28 per cent of those in China, research revealed . Researchers also used video to analyse what was going on in lessons and found that in the Chinese classrooms – where pupils sit in rows of desks facing the front – ‘whole class interaction’ was being used 72 per cent of the time, compared with only 24 per cent in England. By contrast, the classes in England, where pupils are often grouped in clusters of desks, spent nearly half – 47 per cent – of their time in ‘individual or group work’, compared with 28 per cent in China. The research, by Zhenzhen Miao and Professor David Reynolds of the University of Southampton, concluded: ‘Effective teachers spent longer time on interacting with the whole class rather than with individuals/groups or leaving pupils to independent seatwork.’ Prof Reynolds said he was disappointed that more schools were not increasing their use of the ‘whole class’ approach as it would improve results in most subjects.
|
Education Minister Nick Gibb said 'whole class teaching' is more effective .
It involves the teacher instructing all pupils together using blackboard .
Remarks follow scheme which saw teachers from UK visit Shanghai .
Researchers have found children in China achieve 30% higher marks .
Method was used in UK until '50s when it was deemed too authoritarian .
|
f81784f0414d955fa6c68feef3422b4a4281fd5b
|
(CNN) -- Living Golf's resident pro Adam Scott shows the tricks of the trade that have helped him conquer some of the world's toughest courses. Whether it is acheiving a better drive, improving approach shots to the green or tackling testing bunkers, Scott has the tips to help your game. Improve your game by following the Living Golf lessons every month on CNN.com .
|
Australia's Adam Scott tells Living Golf the tricks of the trade .
Improve your game by following Scott's lessons each month .
|
f817901fae87042b5fb91540d01d338b497a8110
|
Cesc Fabregas and Angel di Maria are rightfully lauded as two of the most creative players in the Premier League, but the foreign imports don't top the minutes per chance created charts. Perhaps surprisingly, Manchester City's James Milner tops the list for chances created per minutes on the pitch of the Premier League players who have clocked up a minimum of 450 minutes so far this season. The England winger has laid on 27 chances for team-mates in his 640 minutes, giving him an impressive minutes per chance ratio of 23.7. James Milner has created 27 chances for his Manchester City team-mates in just 640 minutes on the pitch . Milner tops a star-studded list which includes Cesc Fabregas and Angel di Maria . Three players from Manuel Pellegrini's side feature in the top five as Spaniard Jesus Navas is in second with 30 chances created in 805 minutes while Samir Nasri earns a ratio of 27.1 for his 597 minutes on the pitch. The star-studded list also included Manchester United summer signing Angel di Maria, who has made a bright start to his career at Old Trafford, scoring three goals while creating 31 opportunities. Fabregas, who sits in fifth place, looks on course to break Thierry Henry's Premier League assist record of 20 in a season as the Spaniard has already set up 10 goals to help Chelsea to the Premier League's summit. As Sportsmail's table shows, the former Arsenal man has created an astonishing 45 chances for his team-mates so far this season, but has barely missed a kick for Chelsea having been on the pitch for 1,237 minutes which means he has created a chance every 27.5 minutes. Sergio Aguero (left) celebrates his goal against Sunderland with two of the Premier League's most creative players Jesus Navas (centre) and Milner . Cesc Fabregas has created 45 chances during his 1,237 minutes on the pitch this season . Arsenal's main man Alexis Sanchez has made a sensational start to the season, scoring nine Premier League goals, but he can only prop up the minutes per chances table as the forward finds himself in 10th place. Sanchez has created 34 chances for Danny Welbeck and Co during his 1,051 minutes on the pitch which puts him behind QPR's Bobby Zamora and West Ham's Stewart Downing. Downing's 2014-15 form has seen the winger reclaim a place in Roy Hodgson's England squad and Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will hope Downing can continue his ratio of 29.2 minutes per chances created with Andy Carroll looking to find form up front. QPR fans will be pleased to see two of their players in the list with Zamora in sixth and combative midfielder Joey Barton in ninth place having created 20 chances for his colleagues. Alexis Sanchez (left) and Angel di Maria both feature in the chances created top 10 list .
|
James Milner has created 27 chances in 640 minutes on the pitch .
Milner earns best minutes per goal ratio in the Premier League with 23.7 .
Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri feature also feature in list of most creative players .
Cesc Fabregas has laid on 45 chances in 1,237 minutes for Chelsea .
|
f8179d3c586a7a366648403647a0564fe2bf1f85
|
By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 14:16 EST, 3 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:16 EST, 3 April 2013 . A police officer has died today after his unmarked police motorcycle collided with a car. The officer, who was on duty, and a silver BMW car collided outside a Shell petrol station in Swaythling, Southampton. He was taken to Southampton General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The police officer died after the crash outside the Shell garage in Swaythling, Southampton (pictured) His immediate next of kin and colleagues have been informed, according to Hampshire police. The 35-year-old man, who was driving the BMW, sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment. Chief Constable Andy Marsh, of Hampshire police, said: 'This is an immensely sad day for the constabulary and the force will be deeply affected. 'We are supporting the officer’s family in every way we can and our thoughts remain very much with them at this time.' He was taken to Southampton General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The BMW driver was also treated the hospital for serious but not life-threatening injuries . Simon Hayes, police and crime commissioner for Hampshire, said: 'This is a very sad day for Hampshire Constabulary and a tragic loss of a police officer in the course of his duty. 'This tragic incident highlights the fact that police officers regularly put themselves at risk in performing their duty and in protecting the public. “Our thoughts and sympathy go to his family and colleagues at this very difficult time.' The road has been closed while investigators examine the scene.
|
Officer was on duty when he died after collision in Swaythling, Southampton .
BMW driver suffered serious but not-life-threatening injuries in the crash .
Hampshire Police said it was an 'immensely sad day for the constabulary'
|
f818024f988fcc27715a869b2d5139e9a5c62397
|
Laws safeguarding journalists’ sources must be strengthened to prevent ‘snooping’ by the police, Nick Clegg said yesterday. He said he was ‘concerned’ by recent cases in which detectives used powers to spy on reporters and obtain details of their sources ‘without clear justification’. The Deputy Prime Minister called for journalists to be given a wider public interest defence if charged with breaking the law in pursuit of a story, saying it was ‘incredibly important in a free society’. Protection: Laws protecting journalists’ sources must be strengthened to prevent ‘snooping’, Nick Clegg said . Revelations that police used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) to access details of reporters’ phone conversations sparked calls for reform. Speaking at a press conference in London yesterday, Mr Clegg said the law should be changed to require the use of Ripa powers to reveal journalists’ sources to be signed off by a judge. Asked about recent cases, Mr Clegg replied: ‘I am concerned about this. It is incredibly important in a free society that journalists should be able to go after information where there’s a clear public interest to do so without fear that they will be snooped upon or have their files rifled through without clear justification.’ He went on: ‘Where the police ask you (a journalist) for information which might reveal your sources – privileged information – that shouldn’t be done on the say so of a police officer, even a senior police officer. That should only be done on the say so of a judge. 'It is a big thing to say to the Press in this country: “We can demand to know where you got your information from and we don’ t even need to go to a judge to do so.” That needs to change.’ Police used the powers against the Mail on Sunday as part of its inquiry into Constance Briscoe (above) Mr Clegg also signalled unease over the large number of current prosecutions against journalists. Existing laws provide reporters with only a limited defence that the story they were pursuing was in the public interest. Mr Clegg said this defence should now be enshrined in law, with amendments made to a number of major pieces of legislation to make it clear that there are circumstances where journalists can legitimately break the law in pursuit of a story. ‘There should be a public interest defence put in law - you would probably need to put it in the Data Protection Act, the Bribery Act, maybe one or two other laws as well - where you enshrine a public interest defence for the press so that where you are going after information and you are being challenged, you can set out a public interest defence to do so,’ he said. Mr Clegg also called yesterday for jail terms for anyone found guilty of large-scale data theft. ‘The penalties that exist at the moment are pathetic - a small rap over the knuckles and a £100 fine. There should be a custodial sentence attached to major data theft.’ Recent concern has focused on four cases in which it emerged that police forces used Ripa to spy on journalists. In three cases, the powers were used to seize phone records, despite the journalists involved not being suspected of breaking the law. In one case involving the Mail on Sunday, the phone records of two journalists were seized as part of an inquiry into allegations that Constance Briscoe, a former judge, had misled the police. Home Secretary Theresa May has promised to publish a revised code ‘to make clear that specific consideration must be given to communications data requests involving those in sensitive professions, such as journalists’. But Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, has defended the practice, saying ‘nobody should be above the law’. Speaking mast week, Mr Rowley said: ‘We will keep using the powers to chase down criminals whether they are ordinary members of the public or journalists.’
|
Mr Clegg voiced concern over powers used to expose confidential sources .
He said recent examples show incidents do not have a 'clear justification'
Police can seize phone records without approval by a court of law .
That is despite journalists having legal protection for freedom of speech .
|
f818bd328dfbb0b6b37af7ac2cba90e9e232b940
|
By . John Edwards . Follow @@JEAlty . Toni Kroos could still end up in the Barclays Premier League after claims Chelsea are ready to join the bidding if he becomes a free agent next year. A proposed move to Manchester United may have collapsed, after new manager Louis Van Gaal decided against pursuing their interest, but the Bayern Munich midfielder remains at loggerheads with club bosses over renewing a contract that is entering its final 12 months. Even an attempt to end conjecture he may be Old Trafford-bound left the door open for other clubs to start drawing up wage offers to try and tempt him away this time next year. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Kroos, you CAN defend! Pep makes fun of Chelsea target . Target: Chelsea are ready to join the bidding for Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos . Brazil bound: Kroos is with the Germany squad ready for an assault on the World Cup . ‘There has been a lot of speculation, but I won’t be going to Manchester United,’ he said. ‘I can tell you for sure I will be playing for Bayern Munich next season.’ According to sources in Munich, his refusal to commit himself to Bayern beyond the one remaining season on his current contract has alerted Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who would welcome the chance to add the 24-year old’s goalscoring flair from midfield to his attacking options. Kroos would be free to talk to Chelsea representatives at the turn of the year, and there is little doubt they could meet wage demands that have so far scuppered any prospect of a new deal being thrashed out at Bayern. Not for me: New Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal dismissed Kroos from his lost of targets . Weighing up: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho may try and tempt Kroos to Stamford Bridge . Incoming: Bayern are set to welcome Robert Lewandowski and want to maintain their pay scale . Sportsmail revealed in February how Bayern bosses were digging their heels in over Kroos’ bold bid to more than double his earnings from just over £60,000 a week to around £150,000. Kroos is currently in the middle band of earners, whose pay ranges from £50,000 to £80,000 a week, but feels he should be elevated to the elite section, where the likes of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery pocket around £150,000. Bayern are about to add Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski to their list of top earners but are determined to maintain the balance of their pay scale on current lines and adamant Kroos cannot move up.
|
Toni Kroos entering final 12 months of contract .
German midfielder wants vastly improved deal at Bayern Munich .
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal withdraws interest in Kroos .
Kroos said he will definitely be playing for Bayern next season .
|
f818fa096d31ecc4188c9ed7d33cae5e025e49a3
|
MATURA, Trinidad (CNN) -- With its white sand and clear, blue water, Trinidad's Matura Beach looks like a postcard. It's a far cry from its recent past, when leatherback sea turtle carcasses littered the ground and kept tourists away. Suzan Lakhan Baptiste's efforts have turned a beach from a leatherback turtle graveyard to a nesting colony. "Twenty years ago, this was a graveyard," Suzan Lakhan Baptiste said of the six-mile stretch of beach near her home. "The stench was horrendous. You could smell it for miles," she said. Saddened and frustrated, Baptiste launched a crusade to help end the slaughter of the gentle giants. Today, she and her group are succeeding: What was once a turtle graveyard is now a maternity ward -- one of the largest leatherback nesting colonies in the world. It hasn't been an easy fight for Baptiste or the turtles. For 100 million years, the creatures have traveled the world's oceans, outliving the dinosaurs. Over the last 30 years, they have become critically endangered worldwide because of fishing, pollution and hunting. For centuries, they've been hunted throughout the Caribbean for their meat and fins, and also for their eggs, which some people prize as aphrodisiacs. "Turtles are in serious trouble," Baptiste said. Every year, female leatherbacks make their way onto the beach, laying their eggs deep in the sand. It is a long, complicated ritual during which the enormous, slow-moving animals are easy prey for poachers. "Leatherbacks [are] very vulnerable," Baptiste said. "They cannot pull their head and flippers back into the shell. They have no sense of defense to actually protect themselves." By the 1980s, nearly one in three turtles that nested on Matura Beach were killed. When the government asked for volunteers to help protect the endangered creatures, Baptiste and several others answered the call. In 1990, they started Nature Seekers, one of Trinidad's first environmental groups. 'Crazy Turtle Woman' For years, Baptiste and her group patrolled the beaches every night of turtle nesting season. She often walked alone until sunrise. Locals mocked her efforts, calling her the "Turtle Police" or "Crazy Turtle Woman," yet her dedication to the unpaid work was fierce; when it conflicted with her day job, she quit and found a new job. Leatherbacks were a vital source of income for some members of her village, and the poachers who prowled the beaches with machetes could be threatening. When Baptiste's then-husband was injured during a patrol, she became more determined to stand her ground. "I was very vigilant," she said, adding that at times, she even got into physical fights. But Baptiste persisted, and a prestigious award from the United Nations Environment Program helped validate her efforts. She and her group also worked hard to convince the villagers that using the turtles for eco-tourism could create a more sustainable income. "I wanted to show that a turtle is [worth] so much more to us alive than dead," Baptiste said. Gradually, her message of conservation turned the tide of public opinion, and after nearly two decades under Baptiste's leadership, Nature Seekers has largely won its battle. Today, the leatherbacks' survival rate on Matura Beach is virtually 100 percent. "Here, turtle slaughter is a thing of the past," Baptiste proclaimed. Even "Papa George," a village elder who used to hunt leatherbacks with his father, can attest to the cultural shift. "Suzan brought around the change," he said. "They don't kill the turtles anymore ... because of the visitors." Nearly 10,000 tourists a year, most of whom are Trinidadian, now visit Matura Beach, and many locals make a living by providing them with accommodations, food and souvenirs. Since the beach is a prohibited area during the nesting season, Nature Seekers' members act as guides, explaining the turtles' ancient rituals to visitors. In addition, Baptiste and her colleagues gather data on the enormous creatures, tagging and weighing as many leatherbacks as they can. Watch Baptiste and her group weigh a leatherback turtle at night » . During peak season, they might see between 250 or 300 turtles a night. More than 5,000 leatherbacks nest in the area each year. The group's work is often cited as one of the most successful eco-tourism efforts in the Caribbean. Still, turtle slaughter persists throughout the region, and Baptiste is working to help other groups learn from her success, most recently on the island of Dominica. She finds joy in sharing her hard-earned knowledge. "The passion that I feel, it burns me up," she said. "I have seen the fruits of our labor, and it can happen in every community." Watch how Baptiste helped end the slaughter of turtles in her community » . Her efforts -- and those of many others around the region -- are making a difference. While leatherbacks are still critically endangered worldwide, the Caribbean population has begun to rebound. "When I got started, a lot of people thought I was crazy," Baptiste said, and she admits that she sometimes wondered if they were right. Reflecting on what she and her team have accomplished, she now believes it was worth it. "I love being crazy, you know?" she said, laughing. "Crazy with a passion, crazy with a dream -- totally environmentally crazy." Want to get involved? Check out Nature Seekers and see how to help.
|
Suzan Lakhan Baptiste helped end leatherback turtle slaughter in her community .
Her nonprofit Nature Seekers promotes turtle conservation throughout the Caribbean .
The group's efforts contribute to eco-tourism in the area .
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open at CNN.com/Heroes .
|
f81910b7ee0fdca770ffe6661ae86eb2b417b68d
|
One day Roger Federer will stop writing tennis history but, at 33, there is absolutely no sign of it yet. His huge list of tennis achievements already reads like some kind of biblical scroll lengthwise, and on Sunday he helped Switzerland to win the Davis Cup title for the first time by defeating France 3-1 before a world record crowd. Of course it had to be Federer himself to strike the winning blow, finding himself charged with clinching the 114 year-old Cup when walking out to face Richard Gasquet amid the feverish atmosphere of the Stade Pierrer Mauroy. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch highlights of Roger Federer winning the Davis Cup . Roger Federer drops to his knees after beating Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-2 6-2 in Lille to win the Davis Cup . Federer hugs Switzerland coach Severin Luthi after his superb display secured the team tournament title . Federer looked overcome by emotion in the immediate aftermath, after this rare new new experience for him . He duly did so with a minimum of fuss, dispatching the Frenchman – a late substitute for Jo Wilfried Tsonga – 6-4 6-2 6-2 to put the outcome beyond any doubt. To 17 Grand Slams, 302 weeks as world number one, an Olympic gold medal (in doubles, but let us not split hairs), winning every different Slam and a multitude of other things add the sport's premier team competition, claimed this year in the company of Stan Wawrinka. It was only this time last week that the scale of the two players' argument at the Barclays ATP World Finals in London was becoming apparent, after the calling out from courtside of his wife Mirka during their Saturday semi-final. Seven days and one repaired back on from there he was in scintillating form, taking the pivotal doubles point on Saturday and then finishing the job off in solo combat against the unfortunate Gasquet. Federer and Luthi are joined by Stanislas Wawrinka as the World No 2 struggles to contain his emotion . Wawrinka was the first onto the court to celebrate with his team-mate and their coach . Wawrinka and Federer put aside their high-profile row last week to come together and win the trophy . The pair are all smiles, just a week after falling out in London, with their trophies in hand . The Swiss team celebrate on court after winning their country's first ever Davis Cup . Michael Lammer (left to right), Marco Chiudinelli, Wawrinka, Federer and Luthi recieve their trophies . Roger Federer celebrates winning a point during his Davis Cup final victory in Lille . If anything was going to galvanise Federer it was his highly polished status taking something of a knock from the events of the previous weekend. He disappointed fans at the 02 Arena when pulling out of the final and then got caught up in the fallout from his argument with his old friend/rival/team-mate. Mirka was not there to witness this redemption, having stayed back at home in Switzerland to avoid any distraction. On Friday he had looked somewhat immobile in being hit off the court by Gael Monfils, although by the end of that match he was moving better, a trend that continued in the doubles and inexorably on Sunday. The Swiss star, who had won everything in the sport bar the Davis cup before this, completed the trophy set . The Swiss World No 2 was back to his imperious best after a difficult Friday to swat away Gasquet . 'Not for me, this is for the boys. I have won enough in my career that I don't need this to complete my everything – ticking off the boxes. We put in so much hard work. I am happy I was able to stay calm and play a good match,' he said in the emotional aftermath. We may never know how bad his back really was, and it was certainly transformed from the final's opening day, which increasingly looks like it was a practice session for the second two matches he was to play. Andy Murray mischievously tweeted afterwards: 'Amazing how long a couple of days is in sport…' It seemed Wawrinka thought the same. As the Swiss celebrations got into full swing the Swiss No 2 later joked 'Roger I still love you'. Whatever, Federer clearly trusted his back completely against a player he knows he should beat, having amassed at 12-2 career record against the talented but introverted Gasquet, who is not known as the fiercest competitor. Jo Wilfried-Tsonga (right) who was dropped for this match, and Gael Monfils, can only look on during the final . Gasquet, a late replacement for Tsonga, was unable to prevent Federer's comfortable win . It was not entirely clear why Gasquet was promoted over Tsonga to try and keep the final alive. Conflicting accounts from the French team and their officials had him being plain dropped or nursing an injured elbow. But in truth, neither he nor Gasquet would have been expected to beat Federer in fully restored fitness and on this form, with the Swiss having ended the season as the world number two by force of results rather than any accident. His mountain of big match experience was bound to serve him well in the bear pit atmosphere that greeted him, with his every shot in the warm-up greeted with a boo. Federer was stretched occasionally, but he had more than enough to see off Gasquet and secure the win . Switzerland coach Severin Luthi celebrates as his No 1 produces a brilliant display to seal the trophy . Once it got going he always looked the winner, by virtue of him doing the same things as Gasquet does but a bit better, aided by the fact that he remains quicker around the court than the man five years his junior. He broke for 4-2 in the first set, and broke twice more to forge ahead to 5-2 in the second set. British umpire James Keothavong had his work cut out controlling the excitable French Captain Arnaud Clement, who protested about several line calls, but Federer remained serene. Another couple of breaks saw him serve out for the match and he finished it in glorious style with an exquisite drop shot, before falling onto the clay face forward and being hugged by his team-mates. Federer looked overcome by emotion at the end, after this rare new new experience for him. He is a remarkable athlete for our times. Having drunk some champagne with his teammates Federer later said 'On Monday or Tuesday I thought there was no way I could play three days this weekend, it was after Friday's match I felt more confident.' He would not commit to whether or not he would help defend the title next year.
|
Roger Federer beats Richard Gasquet in straight sets to seal win .
Federer shakes off back injury to clinch trophy for the first time .
Switzerland win final 3-1 with a game left to play .
|
f819e03d4025ec891c88440cc5afb1a512955b19
|
It is the most famous ship in the world and the tale of its doomed maiden voyage has spawned countless books, blogs and one of the most lucrative films in history. But a unique project to colour original black and white images has shown The Titanic in a different light. Russian photo editor Anton Logvynenko has breathed new life into the story of the iconic ship by painstakingly colouring in the photographs. Majestic: New life has been breathed into The Titanic by photo editor Anton Logvynenko who painstakingly coloured in black and white images of the doomed ship . Impressive: The liner has been authentically coloured in Mr Logvynenko's project that he started to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its sinking . Start to finish: Mr Logvynenko's coloured images show the Titanic under construction in the gantry (right) to the finished deck . Awesome: The photo editor even coloured in the well-wishers who gathered to wave farewell to The Titanic . Mr Logvynenko took original images and used current technology to give them authentic colour. The project was launched to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the doomed voyage last year but has grown in popularity this month after being shared on a number of blogs. The RMS Titanic was one of the most opulent liners to have ever been built and the largest steamship in the world. It struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City and sank on April 15, 1912. A total of 1,517 people died in the disaster. As well as its tragic end The Titanic is renowned for the luxury on board. Mr Logvynenko's project shows the quality of the interior to amazing effect. The luxurious interior of the ship resembled the contemporary style of leading hotels such The Ritz and the dining rooms were decorated with ornate ceilings and plush carpets. The first class cabins resembled rooms from the finest hotels. Mr . Logvynenko has been able to bring out the sumptuousness of the bedding . and carpets and artistry of the decoration of the first class rooms. Opulence: The luxury of the first class and even second class cabins have been brought to life in Mr Logvynenko's astonishing pictures . Stylish: The Titanic's Cafe Parisien is shown in its original splendour in this coloured photograph where the ivy and ornate ceiling stand out far more than in black and white . Keep fit: Passengers on the luxury liner could enjoy state-of-the-art facilities including a gymnasium (pictured), Turkish bath and telephone . Ornate: Mr Logvnenko chose green and gold decoration to illustrate the opulence of the suites. Tickets for suites would have cost up to £870 in high season (£72,932 today) Expensive: The Titanic's designers wanted their liner to resemble a fine hotel on water with the highest stands of luxury . Dinner time: The dining room, painted here with white walls and green chairs, was a grand room . Among the photographs used in the Titanic In Color series are of a man in fine white sports gear shown on the rowing machine on the liner's gym. Elsewhere, passengers could use a library, visit the barbers or go swimming in the ship's pool. There was also a squash court, Turkish bath and electric bath. A black and white image of the Titanic's Cafe Parisien has also been restored in colour. The table tops of the cafe, that was meant to resemble a sidewalk cafe in Paris, have been coloured in greens, pinks and reds. Ivy growing up the . walls is barely noticeable in the colourless picture but suddenly . stands out in Mr Logvynenko's version. The awesome scale of the ship's construction is also brought to life in the project. Whether it is a picture of The Titanic in the gantry at Belfast or after it has set sail from Southampton, the images convey the majesty of the liner before its demise. To see more of Mr Logvynenko's work visit his website Titanic In Color. Doomed: The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage after crashing into an iceberg and killing 1,517 people . Authentic: Mr Logvynenko used adhered to the known colours of deep navy with the large funnels painted in yellow . Setting sail: The Titanic being launched in 1911 from Belfast before its famous funnels have been built .
|
Russian photo editor Anton Logvynenko has coloured in original black and white images of The Titanic .
Mr Logvynenko's project shows off the luxury and opulence of the iconic passenger liner .
|
f81a283d33586f751c35cee4c957e32a1ec58f99
|
Arsenal have been given fresh hope in their pursuit of William Carvalho, as the Sporting midfielder admitted he still has Premier League ambitions. Carvalho, who was a target for the Gunners this summer but remained in Portugal, said he has ambitions to play in the best leagues in the world, the Premier League or La Liga, and that he expects the move to happen 'sooner or later'. But the Portuguese international explained that despite interest from Europe's top clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester United, none of them were prepared to match his release clause. William Carvalho tackles Cesc Fabregas in the Champions League, but could be in the Premier League soon . The Sporting star says he will move to a top league in Europe 'sooner or later' with Arsenal interested . 'I would not say I was disappointed [to stay], but despite being very happy at Sporting, we all have ambitions and I hope one day to be playing in the best leagues in the world, the English or Spanish,' Carvalho told the official magazine of the Portuguese Football Federation. 'It did not happen this year, but if I continue to do my job as I have been doing for sure that sooner or later it will happen. 'I understand the proposals, but I think that there was no value for the clause and therefore they have been refused.' The holding midfielder played twice for Portugal during their disappointing World Cup campaign .
|
Sporting star hopes to play in England or Spain .
William Carvalho says he is 'very happy' at Sporting but has ambitions to be in 'the best leagues in the world'
Portugal midfielder was subject of bids from top clubs this summer .
|
f81a371db3f03b0faac2fb1dda640f3044ee54d2
|
By . James Slack . and Becky Barrow . Mark Harper said that if firms were unable to find willing workers, they were not paying the market rate and should 'reflect' on the salary package they are offering . Businesses complaining about a lack of British applicants to fill job vacancies should pay higher wages, the immigration minister declared last night. Mark Harper said that, if firms were unable to find willing workers, they were not paying the market rate and should ‘reflect’ on the salary package they are offering. He hit back at the boss of Domino’s Pizza for claiming that the chain could instantly create 1,000 jobs - but too many British people do not want the work. Lance Batchelor, the chief executive of Domino’s, said it is ‘harder and harder’ to hire staff in this country, and criticised the government for making it too hard to recruit immigrants instead. He argued that, for a worker from outside the EU to get into the country, they needed to have a ‘PhD’. But Mr Harper said there was no question of the government relaxing immigration rules so Domino’s could ‘keep wages low’. He pointed out that Domino’s can recruit staff from within the entire EU without restrictions – an area that covers 500million people. Mr Harper told a committee of MPs: ‘If out of a market of hundreds of millions of people you cannot find enough people to work in your restaurant, you should look at how much you are paying. ‘Dominos should pay what the market demands to fill their roles’ The minister was last night backed by Sir David Metcalf, who is chairman of the Government’s migration advisory committee. Sir David said the comments by the Domino’s boss ‘beggar belief’. He added: ‘What is he wanting? Ukrainians?’ Mr Batchelor, whose chain employs 22,500 people in the UK, said earlier this week that it is ‘only those with PhDs who can get into the UK.’ He added: ‘You don’t need a PhD for our work, but it is work and we need staff.’ Lance Batchelor, chief executive of Domino's claimed his firm could create 1,000 jobs - but many people do not want to work. It comes as Ocado chairman Sir Stuart Rose criticised the work ethic of many Britons . His comments came after the former M&S boss also criticised the work ethic of many Britons. Sir Stuart Rose, who is now chairman of Ocado, the online delivery business, said it is wrong to criticise immigrants who are prepared to work for lower salaries than Britons turn down. He was quizzed specifically about Romanians and Bulgarians amid fears of a huge influx within weeks when current restrictions on their rights to work in Britain are lifted. At present, they can only work if they are self-employed or are one of a limited number of seasonal workers who are allowed to come for up to six months a year but must then go home. From 1 January 2014, they win the rights to get free access to the labour market in Britain, like other Europeans. Sir Stuart said: ‘These people are entitled to come here and if these people want to come here and work the hours they are prepared to work for the wages they are prepared to work, so be it. ‘There is nothing against that.’ Official figures, from the Office for National Statistics, show there are currently 542,000 job vacancies in the UK, a number which has risen by 62,000 over the last year. Sir Stuart added: ‘I believe that if I was out of work tomorrow morning that I could find a job by tomorrow afternoon. ‘It is up to people to decide whether they want to do the work for the pay that is being offered. If they don’t, somebody else is there to do it.
|
Mark Harper said firms unable to find workers are not paying enough .
Hit back at claims by Domino's boss Lance Batchelor that the chain could create 1,000 jobs - but too many British people do not want the work .
He said there is no question of government relaxing immigration rules to allow Domino's to 'keep wages low'
Comments come as Sir Stuart Rose criticised the work ethic of Britons .
|
f81a6e253c176dbcf6e4fcc7167003584b264dc1
|
All of a sudden, Manchester City have gone from looking ahead to a title race to glancing nervously over their shoulders in the chase for a Champions League spot. The seven-point advantage that Chelsea have opened up over the Premier League champions is the same gap that now exists between City and Arsenal in sixth. Southampton lead the pack of clubs breathing down their necks. Hull midfielder David Meyler scored the opening goal of the game as they took an unlikely 1-0 lead at City . James Milner scores the equaliser from a free-kick but it is not enough for Manchester City to earn a win . James Milner’s late equaliser ended his run of 36 league games without a goal. City have failed to win in their last five games, including home defeats by Arsenal in the league and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. It represents their worst run since late 2009 when the ‘trajectory of results’ signalled the end for Mark Hughes, who will be relishing the opportunity to do the double over his old club when City visit Stoke on Wednesday night. Based on the fate of his predecessors, Manuel Pellegrini should be a worried man. City’s record after 24 games is almost identical to the post-title slump in 2012-13 when they trailed United by seven points at the same stage. Roberto Mancini finished that season empty-handed and paid for it with his job. There is no suggestion that Pellegrini is under threat just yet, and the Chilean has already pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the Champions League once this season. Manchester City's Vincent Kompany looks dejected as Hull pull off a shock at the Etihad Stadium . Kompany and Samir Nasri have words following the final whistle at the Etihad Stadium . The way things are shaping up, City’s two encounters with Barcelona could have a decisive impact on Pellegrini’s future. After snatching a late point against struggling Hull City, Samir Nasri is not alone in believing that City are running out of time to put things right. ‘We have to wake up and do the job now before it’s too late,’ said Nasri. ‘Chelsea, with no disrespect, are not Liverpool who can drop points. They are really solid. ‘We have to catch them as soon as possible if we want to be champions. But at the same time we have to look behind us. Southampton have won, United are getting close. Manager Manuel Pellegrini accepted his team were lacking in ideas during their game against Hull . ‘It will be tough at Stoke. It’s not ideal on a Wednesday night during the winter, but we have to win it.’ City will not be able to call on Yaya Toure or new £28million striker Wilfried Bony at the Britannia Stadium, with the two Ivory Coast internationals not expected back from Equatorial Guinea until Tuesday after playing in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday night. On Saturday, James Milner scored with a 92nd-minute free-kick to deny Hull after David Meyler had given the relegation strugglers a deserved, if scrappy, lead. Talks over a new contract for Milner remain deadlocked but Pellegrini says he is confident the England midfielder can be persuaded to stay beyond this season.
|
Manchester City needed a last-gasp equaliser to draw with Hull .
James Milner struck at the death to earn the champions a point .
Chelsea are now seven points clear at the top of the Premier League .
City have failed to win in their last five games in all competitions .
Samir Nasri admits it's do or die now for City if they want to retain their Premier League crown .
|
f81bf2d4eda502c684ba6a2f404f939623608a06
|
CHEYENNE, Wyoming (CNN) -- A trained sniper accused of gunning down his singer wife shot himself to death as investigators closed in on his hideout in Wyoming's remote back country, police said. David Munis, a National Guard sergeant, was flown to a hospital in Laramie with a chest wound, Capt. Jeff Schulz said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Albany County Sheriff Jim Pond said police were attempting to arrest Munis in connection with the death of his estranged wife, a singer who was shot to death on stage over the weekend. "It was a self-inflicted gunshot wound as [an] arrest team was approaching him," Pond said. Munis was spotted by a ranch hand in rural Albany County, who tipped off the sheriff's department, and led investigators there on horseback. A high-powered rifle and a pistol were found near Munis, Pond said. Prosecutors had filed charges Tuesday accusing Munis of killing Robin Munis, 40, in a sniper-style shooting early Saturday as she sang at a Cheyenne restaurant. Authorities found his black pickup truck late Monday in a remote area called Rogers Canyon, outside of Laramie. At least 40 officers had used dog teams and a Black Hawk helicopter in searching the area. The truck was in a police impound lot, authorities said. Schulz said earlier that authorities found a handwritten message pinned to the wall at David Munis' home, apparently written before the shooting of Robin Munis, that was "near-confessional in nature." "It does not come out and say, 'I did it,' " Schulz said. "It just very clearly points in that direction." The note, which according to court documents was addressed to "everyone," also gives "a number of reasons why [the shooting] was going to happen," Schulz said. Robin Munis was gunned down from a distance as she was on stage singing at the Old Chicago Restaurant. "This part of her head was just, was absolute -- was gone," said Ty Warner, who was performing next to her. Watch bandmate Ty Warner describe how Robin Munis died » . Witnesses told authorities they heard a "pop" or a shot fired and saw a dark pickup truck speeding away from the area, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case. Investigators found a bullet hole and damaged glass in a door of the restaurant, the affidavit said. "The trajectory of the bullet was in line with where the victim had been standing ... and the bullet was recovered from a doorjamb behind the victim," documents said. The bullet, a 7-mm., appeared to have been fired from a high-powered rifle and "was executed with precision. The shot was made from a distance." David Munis, 36, had extensive military sniper training and was proficient in the use of high-powered rifles, the affidavit says. Military officials told CNN he was a staff sergeant in the Wyoming National Guard and a decorated former Army sharpshooter who was trained at "sniper school" in Fort Benning, Georgia. That course includes wilderness survival and evasion tactics. "The investigation revealed that David Munis owns approximate a dozen high-powered rifles equipped with professional optical scopes," the affidavit says. "One of these was described as a 7-mm firearm." That firearm has not been found, documents said. The shooting came the day after police were contacted by Robin Munis, who told them she and her husband were in the middle of a divorce and that "he was frequently calling her and harassing her," the affidavit said. She also said he had been sending her "hostile" e-mails. Police called David Munis, and he agreed to stop calling his estranged wife and use a third party for contact. Both parties also agreed to meet only at neutral locations, the affidavit said. Schulz said David Munis did not make any threats to Robin Munis during the phone calls, but said the calls were frequent and she told police she did not want to talk to him. Investigators found that a call was made from David Munis' cell phone to the Old Chicago Restaurant's business line at 8:54 p.m., a few hours before the shooting. Authorities recovered seven "long guns" at David Munis' home, Schulz said. David Munis' family, in Montana, has been "very cooperative," he said. His aunt told CNN her nephew had never been a violent person. She said she did not know Robin Munis. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Tracy Sabo contributed to this report.
|
Sniper-trained husband shot himself as authorities closed in .
David Munis was spotted by a ranch hand, who alerted authorities .
A high-powered rifle and a pistol were found near him .
Note found in home of singer's husband "near-confessional in nature"
|
f81c19f48a12fba3c884d60e4394e13e470b8f7a
|
Twin British schoolgirls who ran away to Syria were star pupils, with 28 GCSEs between them. Salma and Zahra Halane were among the top 20 students at their girls’ school in Manchester but slipped out of their bedrooms and have fled abroad to become 'jihadi brides'. The 16-year-olds, who disappeared two weeks ago, have telephoned their parents to tell them they have reached the war-torn country and warned them 'we're not coming back'. Their mother told the Daily Mail last night: ‘I’m just so shocked.’ The 44-year-old, who wears a hijab, then broke down in tears at her semi-detached home in a leafy suburb of Chorlton, Manchester. Police said today that the twins 'potentially pose a threat to themselves and the community'. Scroll down for video . Star pupils: Twin British schoolgirls who ran away to Syria had 28 GCSEs between them. More recently the girls attended Manchester's Connell Sixth Form College, based at the East Manchester Academy (pictured) The sisters may have followed their brother, who is thought to have flown out to fight with terror group ISIS last year. Salma achieved 13 GCSEs, 11 of which . were A*-C, while Zahra achieved 15 passes, 12 of which were A*-C grades - . placing the girls within the top 10 per cent of their year group of 200 . students. The girls’ parents raised the alarm two weeks ago, after entering the twins’ room one morning to find their beds empty and passports and clothes missing. The girls boarded a flight to Turkey from Manchester airport, and police alerted counter-terrorism colleagues in an attempt to trace the pair. However, the twins – who have nine siblings, one of whom is a medical student – later contacted their parents to inform them they had crossed the border and reached war-torn Syria. Officers are investigating how the . girls funded their trip, over fears they may have been bankrolled by . jihadi fighters who want them as their wives. The North West Counter Terrorism Unit head Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, said: 'First, I want to stress that the welfare of these two teenagers is our overarching priority. 'Two 16-year-old girls left the UK on June 26 and we believe that they have since entered Syria. 'At this stage we don't know for sure why they are there, or exactly who they are with. 'They are clearly posing a threat to themselves and potentially the community and their family and friends are concerned for their well-being. 'It is also important that we thank the community for their assistance in this matter while reminding them and the wider media that the family remain very concerned for the safety of their daughters'. Extremists: Iraq and Syria are under threat from militants who fight under the banner of the Islamist group ISIS . The twins’ elder brother is already known to police in Greater Manchester, and is known to be abroad. Counter-terrorism officers plan to question him if he attempts to return to Britain. The Halane family, originally from Somalia, have told friends and community leaders they are ‘absolutely devastated.’ Mohammed Shafiq, of the Ramadan Foundation, said: ‘The family is shocked and absolutely devastated, especially their mother. ‘Their son went to fight for ISIS about a year ago and has been over there since then. They believe he was radicalised over the internet. 'There . has been an abject failure of intelligence agencies. How can two . 16-year-old girls travel unaccompanied from Manchester Airport and . arrive in Istanbul without any questions being asked?' - Mohammed Shafiq, Ramadan Foundation . ‘The family were desperately unhappy to discover he had gone to Syria and they thought they were keeping a watchful eye on their other children ... and then this happens. ‘Their parents and . brothers and sisters are desperately concerned for their safety and know . they are in danger. It is extremely distressing for them. ‘ . ‘There . has been an abject failure of intelligence agencies. How can two . 16-year-old girls travel unaccompanied from Manchester Airport and . arrive in Istanbul without any questions being asked?’ Shortly before their disappearance the girls were pictured attending an open day at their school, the newly-opened Connell Sixth Form College in Beswick, Manchester. The girls’ father is known to pray at the Al Furqan Mosque in Moss Side, Manchester, but neither girls are thought to have attended. Omar Barud, chairman of the mosque, said neither of the twins nor their mother had ever worshipped there. ‘We don’t support any form of extremism here and we have a very good relationship with the police,’ he said. ‘I . wouldn’t want my daughter to travel to somewhere like Syria - at their . age they should still be with their family, finishing their studies.' Brits: Reyaad Khan from Cardiff (left) was also a promising student and appeared in this ISIS recruitment clip . Sources believe the two girls may have been radicalised over the internet using online forums to communicate with other like-minded teenagers. They say the influence of an older brother, who they loved and respected and who had already left to fight jihad in Syria, ‘should not be under-estimated.’ The source said: ‘The whole thing may have been their brother’s idea and he may have facilitated the money for the tickets and they simply went along with it. ‘Obviously it is deeply troubling that teenage girls from backgrounds far removed from Syria are now being lured over there as jihadi brides.’ Mussurut Zia, general secretary of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, described what had happened to the girls as ‘religious grooming’ and said becoming a jihadi bride was not allowed in Islam. She said: ‘The concept has probably been sold to the girls by people they may be in touch with through the process of recruiting. It may be they feel this is their personal role is this situation in Syria. ‘I see this as religious grooming. Because the girls are so young I doubt they will be able to make these decisions for themselves. They are going to be in awe of these people who are out there. They are probably older, they have the language, the rhetoric.’ A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: ‘Greater Manchester Police is continuing to provide support to the family of two young girls, who were recently reported missing from their Manchester home, and are now believed to be abroad. At this stage, although the girls have made contact with their family we have no definitive evidence of exactly where the two girls are.’ The sisters have been described as 'quiet' and 'extremely religious'. One neighbour said the girls were 'kept indoors' by their parents, although their brothers were allowed to come and go more freely. A neighbour told The Sun: 'How do two young girls afford to fly out of the country without anyone stopping them? 'There are eight or nine kids in the house but I normally see the boys going in and out. The girls are kept indoors. They don't socialise with the rest of the estate'.
|
Salma and Zahra Halane were among top 20 students at their girls' school .
Aged 16, they boarded a flight to Turkey and crossed the border into Syria .
It is thought they may have joined one of their elder brothers in fight .
Last night their 44-year-old mother from Manchester said: 'I'm so shocked'
Girls telephoned family from Syria and said: 'We're not coming back'
Officers are investigating whether flight was bankrolled by extremist fighters .
|
f81c8d2a3b132377e7764de4daecd01c3c12b75e
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department called the expulsion of the second U.S. diplomat from Ecuador in just over a week "unjustified," rejecting charges the diplomats meddled in Ecuador's internal affairs. First Secretary Mark Sullivan has been given 48 hours to leave the U.S. embassy in Quito, Ecuador. On Wednesday, the Ecuadorian government expelled First Secretary Mark Sullivan, whom it accused of meddling in the government's internal police policies, giving him 48 hours to leave the country. On February 7, the government expelled Armando Astorga, an attaché with the Department of Homeland Security working in the U.S. Embassy. Acting Deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid said the expulsions stem from the fact that certain Ecuadorian police were banned from taking part in U.S. counternarcotics training programs, but rejected "any suggestion of wrongdoing by embassy staff." "Despite the government of Ecuador's unjustified actions, we remain committed to working collaboratively with Ecuador to confront narcotics trafficking," Duguid said. Asked whether the State Department would reciprocate the expulsions by kicking out Ecuadorian diplomats from the United States, Duguid would say only, "We will respond as appropriate." A senior State Department official suggested the police in Ecuador police did not meet the criteria to take part in the training, noting, "The United States does have procedures that require it to vet candidates for U.S.-funded training." The official added, "In some countries this is seen as onerous. However, it is part of the legal accountability measures we must follow."
|
Government gives First Secretary Mark Sullivan 48 hours to leave the country .
Sullivan is accused of meddling in internal police policies .
The State Department calls the action 'unjustified'
He's the second U.S. diplomat Ecuador has expelled in just over a week .
|
f81d0a171b166e6250fbbf5a00a0397ea97c5151
|
(CNN) -- The gun lobby is "ginning up" fears the federal government will use the Newtown shooting tragedy, exactly one month ago, to seize Americans' guns, President Barack Obama said Monday. At least part of the frenzy is little more than marketing, he implied. "It's certainly good for business," the president said, responding to a question about a spike in weapons sales and applications for background checks after the massacre at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School left 27 people dead, 20 of them children. "Part of the challenge we confront is that even the slightest hint of some sensible, responsible legislation in this area fans this notion that somehow, 'Here it comes, everybody's guns are going to be taken away,'" Obama said. Read more: Newtown searches for answers a month later . This week, the president is reviewing recommendations from a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden looking into ways to curb gun violence. Obama set up the group after December's carnage in Newtown and demanded reform ideas by this month. Obama said he expects to have a fuller presentation later in the week "to give people some specifics about what I think we need to do," he told reporters Monday. While the final recommendations have not been made public, Biden has said he's found widespread support for universal background checks and restrictions on the sale of high capacity magazines, which gun-control advocates believe contribute to more bloodshed at mass shootings. Obama said he backs such measures as well as renewing the Clinton-era assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. Passing any legislation may not be easy: The influential National Rifle Association, among other gun rights groups, has vowed to fight any new gun restrictions -- like an assault weapon ban, which the group's president David Keene predicted Sunday wouldn't make it through Congress -- tooth and nail. Yet, as he weighs options, Obama said politics isn't his first concern. "My starting point is to focus on what makes sense, what works, what should we be doing to make sure our children are safe," he told reporters. "I think we can do that in a sensible way that comports with the Second Amendment." 'This is about the safety of the public' Gun control advocates, gun violence victims, the NRA, video game makers and others have met with the Biden-led task force, with their conversations ranging from the capacity of ammunition magazines to portrayals of violence in the media. The vice president met Monday with congressional Democrats, talks that are "part of a larger outreach effort that will involve other members of Congress," a source familiar with the meeting told CNN. In addition to new gun restrictions, the package proposed by Obama may include mental health provisions that could garner wider support. Some initiatives -- like how the government tracks how weapons fall into criminals' hands -- could be accomplished by executive order, Obama said. Yet other measures would require approval of a Congress that, on many issues, has been hard-pressed to get anything accomplished -- even though the momentum to act in some way, be it by clamping down on guns or putting armed guards in schools, as the NRA has proposed -- is undeniable. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut whose wife, then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, survived a 2011 mass shooting that left six dead, said he and his wife both own guns and support the Second Amendment. Yet the couple is adamant that more must be done to curb gun violence, touting measures like banning high-capacity magazines and having universal background checks, which Kelly said a vast majority of the NRA's 4.2 million members support. Decisive action or imagery: Gun control and the power of political symbolism . "This isn't really about the Second Amendment," said Kelly, who has formed a political action committee intent on pursuing reforms. "This is about gun safety, and it's about the safety of the public." The retired Navy captain told CNN he believes the debate can produce "common sense solutions to this very serious problem." People around the country are demanding nothing less in the wake of the Newtown shooting, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. He said Monday that more than 1 million people have signed a petition backed by his group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns. "For many Americans, this is the straw that broke the camel's back," he said about the Connecticut school carnage. Polling appears to support the contention. Poll shows public dissatisfied with gun laws . A new Gallup poll released Monday shows 38% of Americans are dissatisfied with current gun laws and support stricter proposals. That is a 13 percentage point jump from a year ago. The shift is most marked among men. The poll revealed a 17 percent increase in support for stricter gun control laws among men, compared to 10 percentage points for women. That may be because polling has shown women already tend to be more supportive of gun control legislation. The increase spanned the partisan divide, but it was strongest with Democrats, 64 percent of whom said they favor additional regulations. That's up 22 percentage points from last year, Gallup reported. Among Republicans, support rose by 12 percentage points, though that still only works out to 18 percent overall. The poll of 1,011 adults was conducted January 7-10 and has a sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points. Universal background check: What does it mean? New gun violence proposal in Maryland . Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy wrote Biden, and told CNN, that federal gun control action is imperative, noting there's little to stop would-be criminals from taking advantage of relatively lax laws in one state and transporting guns around the country. While this view is widely shared among gun control supporters, that hasn't stopped some of them from taking actions on the state level. Speaking at a Johns Hopkins University summit on reducing gun violence attended by Bloomberg, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said he will debut gun control proposals this week that would ban military style assault weapons and limit the size of magazines and introduce a "common-sense licensing requirement for handguns that respects the traditions of hunters and sportsmen." The proposals would also include mental health reforms, O'Malley said. Those include additional funds for treatment and efforts to detect and head off serious mental illness sooner. The plan also calls for investments in school safety, including a center to study ways to improve security at schools. He said the issue isn't a partisan one, but rather a public health issue, and said it "makes no sense to blame every factor but guns." "There may be no way to completely prevent the next Newtown tragedy," he said. "But again, perhaps there is." New York Senate passes new gun regulations . In New York -- where a week ago, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo spelled out tough new gun control proposals -- the state Senate passed a series of new gun regulations in a 43-18 vote Monday night. The bill now goes to the state Assembly. Cuomo called for an assault weapons ban, background checks for people who purchase guns in private transactions and a ban on high-capacity magazines. The tentative deal would include a statewide assault weapons registry and add a uniform licensing standard across the state -- altering the current system, in which each county or municipality sets a standard -- a state Senate source said Monday. Magazines could have no more than seven bullets under the would-be agreement, according to the source, among other provisions. Discussions had percolated about crafting a law, similar to one in California, that allows mental health professionals to inform law enforcement if they believe their patient could pose a threat to themselves or others, the source said. Law enforcement authorities may then revoke the patient's license to carry a firearm and prevent them from having a gun for at least six months. One month since shooting . Meanwhile, bitter memories of the tragedy that spurred such proposals remains raw, especially in western Connecticut. The one-month anniversary of the shooting went largely unmarked in any formal way, save for a moment of silence at a news conference held by a community group, "Sandy Hook Promise," formed after the killings to find a solution to gun violence. Nicole Hockley, whose son Dylan was among the children killed in the shooting, was among several parents who spoke. "I still find myself reaching for Dylan's hand to walk through a car parking lot, or expecting him to crawl into bed beside me for early morning cuddles before we get ready for school," she said, her voice quavering. "It is so hard to believe he is gone." Others spoke of their resolve to ensure such violence ends. "We refuse to be remembered only for our loss," group co-founder Tom Bittman said. "We want the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings to be recalled as the turning point when we brought our community, and communities across the nation, together and set a real course for change." Newtown opens eyes to other gun violence against young people . CNN's Josh Levs, Olivia Smith, Paul Steinhauser, Dan Lothian and Dana Bash contributed to this report.
|
NEW: New York's Senate passes a bill on gun regulations; the bill goes to the Assembly .
The gun lobby is stirring fears over plans to address gun violence plan, Obama says .
Some gun violence initiatives may not require legislative approval, others will .
The gun rights group NRA has vowed to fight gun restrictions tooth and nail .
|
f81d22e5759e1b668d7151611db6ad6cd31e85e4
|
Around one pedestrian in seven injured on the roads is drunk at the time, according to research. It also reveals the run-up to Christmas is a peak period for accidents involving ‘drunk walkers’. Some 14 per cent of those involved in a road accident while on foot over the past three years were ‘walking under the influence’ of alcohol after a night on the tiles, it says. New research suggests around one pedestrian in seven injured during accidents on the roads is drunk . Figures from the Department of Transport reveal more than 6,000 intoxicated pedestrians have been injured since 2011. They are also posing a problem for thousands of innocent motorists as their unpredictable and often dangerous behaviour – from drunkenly crossing roads without looking or simply staggering onto a road and into the path of an oncoming car - increases the risk of a crash. Nearly a third of drivers say they have had to swerve or brake in order to avoid hitting a drunk pedestrian, with one in eight admitting to hitting one. The AA said some drunk pedestrians have been killed lying unseen in the gutter when street lights have been switched off to cut osts. The report based on Freedom of Information data from 21 police forces and statistics from the Transport Department reveals that men account for more than three quarters, or 79 per cent, of all drunk pedestrian road incidents, with those under the age of 25 involved in more incidents than any other age group. Figures from the Department of Transport reveal more than 6,000 intoxicated pedestrians have been injured since 2011 . Drunk pedestrians are more at risk of injury on UK roads at night between the times of 10pm and midnight - close to pub and bar closing times and ‘perhaps as a result of a long night of drinking,’ says the dossier. A report by insurers Confused.com says: ‘Over 6,000 ‘drunk’ pedestrians have been injured on UK roads since 2011 - and many of these ‘drunk walking’ accidents are happening over the Christmas period.’ It says nearly a third of all drunken pedestrian incidents involved people between the ages of 18 to 24 and says this suggests ‘that the young are not taking enough care on the roads after consuming alcohol’. Separate research found that 83 per cent of people admit having walked home while under the influence of alcohol, with just over one in five, or 21 per cent, admitting they consumed eight drinks or more on a night out. A third of drunk pedestrians admitted to having walked down roads which were unlit; with nearly two thirds, 62 per cent, confessing that they have walked home alone when under the influence of alcohol, according to findings from 2,000 people questioned by One Poll Research. One in seven admitted to crossing roads without looking properly while drunk and a similar proportion said they have sat down on the side of the road when intoxicated. A worrying one in 10 confessed to having fallen into a road when drunk. Drunken walkers are also putting motorists at risk, with nearly a third of drivers saying they had to swerve or brake in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian they suspected of being intoxicated. About one in eight admitted to having actually knocked into a pedestrian that they believed to be drunk. Figures show the run-up to Christmas is a peak period for accidents involving ‘drunk walkers’ However more than a fifth of motorists say they would either stop their car or call the police if they saw a drunken person staggering in the road. Across the country last year the Metropolitan Police recorded 158 ‘drunk walk’ injuries, Kent police recorded 123 injuries, Glasgow City Council: 126 injuries, and Northern Ireland 64. Scotland has this month lowered the legal drink-drive limit from 80mgs – where it remains in the rest of the UK - to 50mgs per 100ml of blood. AA spokesman Paul Watters said: ’Sadly these statistics do not surprise us. We have had reports of pedestrians lying in the gutter and being killed because coroners said drivers did not see them. Cut backs on street lights play a part. ‘Sometimes drunks use main roads and even motorways to walk home because it’s the way they now from driving. Then they tumble into the road and there’s a tragedy.’ Gemma Stanbury, head of motor Insurance at Confused.com, said: ’There is already much being done to raise awareness around the dangers of drink driving, but it is the responsibility of all road users – both motorists and pedestrians - to act responsibly when near or on the roads. 'Nobody wants to see anyone involved in a road accident, especially over the Christmas period. 'However the reality is that more people are out consuming alcohol over the festive season, leading to an unfortunate increase in the number of pedestrian casualties.' Breath test data shows that in 2013, 3 per cent of drivers and riders failed a breath test following a reported personal injury accident. Drink drive casualty estimates for 2012 show that there were 230 drink drive deaths in 2012. There were 1,430 drink drive killed or seriously injured casualties (KSIs) in 2012. In that same year about 6 per cent of killed motorcyclists and around a quarter of vehicle drivers were found to be over the legal alcohol limit when they died.
|
New research shows one pedestrian in seven injured on roads is drunk .
Run-up to Christmas is a peak time for accidents involving 'drunk walkers'
14 per cent of people in road accidents while on foot were under influence .
More than 6,000 intoxicated pedestrians have been injured since 2011 .
|
f81dbc07f5ed4a2d367ad81592dd4384d93da8dd
|
A student who opened fire Friday inside a suburban Denver high school appears to have been seeking revenge against a faculty member because of a "confrontation or disagreement," the Arapahoe County sheriff said. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Karl Halverson Pierson, shot one student before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life, Sheriff Grayson Robinson told reporters. The shooting began after the student walked into Arapahoe High School in Centennial with the intention of confronting a specific faculty member, Robinson said. "The suspect has been found inside the school and he has deceased as a result of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Robinson said in one of his first statements after the shooting. Authorities revised downward the number of students wounded in the shooting to one. Two students were previously reported to have suffered gunshot wounds. But Robinson said Friday night that an investigation concluded there was only one after it was discovered that blood on another person was from the sole victim. One person -- a minor -- was taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital with a gunshot wound, Lauren Brendel, a hospital spokeswoman, told CNN. Brendel did not release the age, gender and condition of the minor. But Robinson told reporters that the condition of a a 15-year-old girl who was shot was in critical condition after surgery. Authorities descended on the school after news of the shooting broke -- on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The shooting also occurred roughly 10 miles from where Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and one teacher in a rampage at Columbine High School in April 1999 before killing themselves. Pierson walked into Arapahoe High School carrying a shotgun and made no attempt to hide it, Robinson said. He then asked other students the whereabouts of a faculty member, he said. A school janitor told CNN affiliate KMGH that he saw a student dressed in tactical gear running through the school. "It just looked weird," the janitor, Fabian Llerenas, said. "He went in and I heard two pops. That's when I knew. I said, 'They are shooting in the school.'" Llerenas said he called 911, and he then escorted the targeted faculty member out of the school. "In my opinion, that was the most important tactical decision that could have been made," Robinson said. The faculty member "left that school in an effort to try to encourage the shooter to also leave the school." Pierson's body was found later in a classroom, Robinson told reporters. The student appears to have acted alone, he said. In addition to the shotgun, authorities found two Molotov cocktails inside the school, Robinson said. One of the Molotov cocktails detonated, he said. The other was "rendered safe," Robinson said. As part of the investigation, authorities also will be looking at school surveillance video, the sheriff said. Investigators also are searching Pierson's car, his home and another home that he had access to, the sheriff said. High school senior Frank Woronoff told CNN he had known Pierson since they were freshmen together. "He was the last person I would expect to shoot up a high school. He was honestly incredibly humble and down to earth. He was a little geeky but in a charming way," he said. "So I don't know anyone who hates him really, so it came as a surprise -- to me at least." The first sheriff's deputies and police officers arrived at Arapahoe and entered almost immediately after the shooting was reported, Robinson said. While authorities hunted for the student gunman inside the school, students were locked in their classrooms. Courtney Leytoldt told KMGH she saw a girl, covered in blood, running down the stairs yelling, "Help me, help me, there's a shooter." Leytoldt said she was in yoga class and that her teacher told all the students to get into a closet to protect them. Ninth-grader Whitney Riley was getting ready to grab her computer from her locker when the shooting began. "We were having fun and laughing and then, all of a sudden, we heard a really loud bang," the 15-year-old told CNN. "My teacher asked what it was and then we heard two more and we all just got up and screamed and ran into a sprinkler system room." Inside the windowless room were five students and two teachers. "We were shaking, we were crying, we were freaking out," Riley said. "I had a girl biting my arm." They soon heard people yelling, and walkie-talkies crackling, and then they heard police asking someone to drop the gun, put the gun down, and hold his arms up, she said. She did not hear another gunshot, though the people doing the talking could have moved farther away, she said. Soon, they heard police ordering them out. Colton Powers told CNN affiliate KDVR that he heard gunfire during his English class. At that point, his teacher turned off the lights and locked the door. "We ran to a corner so they couldn't see us," Powers said. Within about 14 minutes of the initial report, "we had information on the radio that my deputies believed they had the shooter down inside the school," Robinson said. Dozens of students could be seen walking away from the school, with their hands in the air. Some stood in lines at what appeared the high school track field, where they appeared to be undergoing police pat-downs. Students were then taken by bus to a nearby church where they were reunited with their families, Robinson said. The high school, with a student population of 2,229 students, has 70 classrooms. The school, which was built in 1964, is part of the Littleton Public Schools system. Gov. John Hickenlooper called the shooting an "all-too-familiar sequence, where you have gunshots and parents racing to the school and unspeakable horror in a place of learning." President Barack Obama was briefed on the shooting, according to a White House official.
|
Authorities identify the shooter as Karl Halverson Pierson, 18 .
The number of shot and wounded has been downgraded to one, the sheriff says .
Condition of wounded 15-year-old is critical after surgery, sheriff says .
The shooter wanted revenge on a faculty member, the sheriff says .
|
f81dd3cb1601f5d348329723d811bd5e81ad5aa1
|
(CNN) -- Frigid temperatures threatened Florida citrus crops as much of the Southeast into plunged into the teens Monday morning. State capital Tallahassee had plunged to 16 degrees by 5:25 a.m. ET, while temperatures in the 30s or below could be found well south of Orlando. The cold made Florida cities like Winter Haven anything but. The National Weather Service issued a hard freeze warning that extended as far south as Lake Okeechobee. Normally immune to the cold of winter, temperatures in Miami barely got into the 40s on Sunday; normally, they'd be in the 70s. Share your cold weather stories, photos . But the biggest news about the big chill is coming from the northern part of Florida, where a hard freeze watch is in effect, CNN's meteorologist Bonnie Schneider said. That could be bad news for citrus trees that rarely survive when temperatures remain in the mid-20s or below for four hours or longer, according to Kristen Gunter, a spokeswoman for the association of companies that pick and process the oranges. Some groves in the northern part of the growing area sustained substantial damage Saturday night and Sunday morning, when temperatures dipped to 28 degrees or lower for at least six hours, said Andrew Meadows, spokesman for Florida Citrus Mutual, a group representing about 8,000 citrus growers in the state. It will take about five weeks to quantify the losses, he said. Florida citrus is a $9.3 billion industry. The state produces three-quarters of the United States' orange crop and 40 percent of the world's orange juice supply. "[Sunday night] will be the night to watch, because if things don't go well, the entire economy will be affected, jobs could be lost if fruit on the ground cannot be harvested, workers will go elsewhere in the U.S., and Florida will lose," Gunter said. The citrus harvest is at its peak right now, she said, and workers are already grinding away seven days a week as it is. "I'm not sure we can work any faster," Gunter said.
|
Temperature in Tallahassee drops to 18 on Monday morning .
Crops may have been damaged by 28-degree cold overnight Saturday and Sunday .
Florida produces 40 percent of world's orange juice .
|
f81e56141df851480d4b9b357a01a42e21fa4686
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:55 EST, 17 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:55 EST, 17 January 2014 . It is one of our major seats of learning, but Cambridge has been accused of ‘pandering to the lowest denominator’ by abolishing apostrophes from street names. The city council says it is following guidelines of the National Land and Property Gazetteer, where all new street names are registered, but was criticised by the Cambridge-based Good Grammar Company. The city council’s street naming policy says that a road called St Paul’s Court would appear in all documentation and nameplates as 'St Pauls Court'. Cambridge city council is abolishing apostrophes from street names. The council says it is following guidelines of the National Land and Property Gazetteer, where all new street names are registered, but was criticised by the Cambridge-based Good Grammar Company . They argue that apostrophes are said to lead to mistakes – particularly among emergency services. However, Kathy Salaman, director of GGC, said: ‘Dropping apostrophes is pandering to the lowest denominator and while eradicating them anywhere is dreadful, it is particularly bad to do it in Cambridge.’ She added: 'I know some people think apostrophes . are superfluous but we really need them and I think it’s the first step . on a slippery slope. 'If councils are getting rid of them, what kind of message does that give out to students at schools?' But Nick Milne, the city council officer . responsible for street naming, said a consultation on the issue had . seen only one objection. He . said the policy brought the council into line with the National Land and . Property Gazetteer where all new street names are registered. 'We follow guidance from the NLPG and it was decided potential . confusion over incorrectly punctuated street names meant we would . wouldn’t use punctuation any more,' Mr Milne said. 'Our . understanding was that many data users including the emergency services . make no reference at all as to whether an apostrophe is used or not.' The . naming policy also bans street names which would be 'difficult to . pronounce or awkward to spell' and any which 'could give offence' or would 'encourage defacing of nameplates'. Existing street names are not affected by the policy.
|
City council says it is following guidelines of the National Land and Property Gazetteer .
They argue that apostrophes are said to lead to mistakes – particularly among emergency services .
Move criticised by the Cambridge-based Good Grammar Company .
|
f81ebbbe672bdeb7eb6ccfeaedeff4503be5d7d0
|
Skipping breakfast in childhood may raise the risk of diabetes in later life, scientists claim. British research suggests youngsters who do not eat the morning meal every day may be increasing their chances of developing the ‘type 2’ form of the disease as they get older. A study by scientists at Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow and St George’s London universities found children who missed breakfast were more likely to be insulin-resistant – a key factor in the disease. Scientists found that children who skip breakfast could increase their chance of developing type 2 diabetes . They tracked more than 4,000 British primary school pupils aged nine and ten, monitoring how often they had breakfast and what they ate. Children who did not have the morning meal were significantly more likely to have blood markers associated with diabetes risk than those who always ate breakfast. They had higher insulin levels after not eating and their bodies were less able to respond to the hormone, which normally regulates the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Those skipping food first thing in the morning had very slightly higher blood sugar levels than children who regularly ate breakfast. The study, published last night in the journal PLOS Medicine, concluded: ‘The observed associations suggest that regular breakfast consumption, particularly involving consumption of a high-fibre cereal, could protect against the early development of type 2 diabetes risk.’ Lead researcher Dr Angela Donin, of St George’s, University of London, said the study had not directly established why skipping the meal raises the risk of diabetes. But she said it may be because those who do not have a healthy breakfast are more likely to snack on fatty foods later. Eating cereal also provides a source of fibre, which has been shown to protect against the disease, she added. Almost three million people in the UK are believed to have type 2 diabetes, which is linked to lifestyle and obesity. The disease occurs when the body stops responding to insulin or produces too little of the hormone. Children had higher insulin levels after not eating and their bodies were less able to respond to the hormone, which normally regulates the amount of sugar in the bloodstream (pictured a model tests blood sugar levels) This results in sugar building up in the bloodstream instead of being used as fuel, leading to symptoms such as extreme tiredness and thirst. Diabetes can also cause blindness and kidney failure, and increase a person’s chance of heart disease and stroke. Dr Donin said: ‘There is evidence that if you skip breakfast you are more likely to be overweight. ‘This could be explained by your eating patterns for the rest of the day. If you have not eaten breakfast you are more likely to snack – and those snacks are more likely to be energy-heavy.’ She added: ‘Eating breakfast every day could reduce the snacking behaviour for the rest of the day.’ Diabetes UK, which funded the study, said more research is needed into the link between the disease and eating breakfast. Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at the charity, said: ‘We already know that giving your child a healthy breakfast, as part of a balanced diet, can have a range of benefits for health and wellbeing. ‘More research will be needed to help us understand the exact link between eating breakfast and the development of type 2 diabetes, including studies that follow children through to adulthood to see how many young people with these warning signs go on to develop the condition.’
|
Scientists tracked over 4,000 British primary school pupils aged 9 and 10 .
Found children who skipped breakfast are more likely to be insulin-resistant .
Those skipping food first thing had very slightly higher blood sugar levels .
Study concluded regular breakfasts could protect against type 2 diabetes .
|
f81edd945323b491e729b3b58a4783553803d5bb
|
Hamburg clambered off the bottom of the Bundesliga table as Pierre-Michel Lasogga compounded Borussia Dortmund's poor start to the league season. The striker fired past home goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller 10 minutes before the break to score the only goal of the game. It is Hamburg's first win of the season and Werder Bremen are now propping up the rest. VIDEO Scroll down for highlights of other Dortmund defeats this season . Spurs' loanee Lewis Holtby celebrates with Hamburg goalscorer Pierre-Michel Lasogga . Pierre-Michel Lasogga beats Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller to give Hamburg the lead . Borussia Dortmund's Erik Drum is sandwiched between Marcell Jansen and Valon Behrami of Hamburg . Dortmund striker Adrian Ramos hits the turf as his team suffered another Bundesliga defeat . But it has been a difficult start to the season for Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund outfit. Despite a strong start to their Champions League campaign, they have only won two of their first seven games in the Bundesliga. Colombian striker Adrian Ramos missed a number of chances for the 2013 Champions League finalists as the frustration continued for Klopp and co. Former Spurs playmaker Rafael van der Vaart looks dejected as he sits on the bench for Hamburg . It's been a difficult start to the season for Dortmund's eccentric boss Jurgen Klopp . Former Manchester United player Shinji Kagawa (right) tries to nick position off Tolgay Arslan . Hamburg defenders Heiko Westermann and Johan Djourou make their point to referee Felix Zwayer . Managers Jurgen Klopp (left) and Joe Zinnbauer embrace before Dortmund took on Hamburg .
|
Pierre-Michel Lasogga scored the only goal of the game in the first half .
Jurgen Klopp's men continued their difficult start to the Bundesliga season .
Have won only two of their first seven league games .
Hamburg clinch their first win of the season and climb off the foot of the Bundesliga .
|
f81f29c7aa229db99a9aeb39d71ce93000638890
|
Alan Rusbridger will step down as editor in chief of the Guardian after 20 years next summer, he said today. He said he would take over as chairman of the Scott Trust which owns Guardian Media Group. Writing on Twitter, he said it was a 'great honour to be asked to take this role'. In an email to staff, he said his 20 years in the top job had been 'quite an extraordinary period in the life of the Guardian'. Scroll down for video . Alan Rusbridger has announced that he will step down as editor in chief of the Guardian after 20 years . He announced he was stepping down after 20 years at the helm of the newspaper in a series of Tweets . Mr Rusbridger joined the paper, founded in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian, as a reporter in 1979 and became editor in 1995 succeeding Peter Preston. In his stint in the top job, he has guided it through a change in format - it went from broadsheet to Berliner when many of its rivals went tabloid - and a move of office from London's Farringdon to Kings Cross. Alan Rusbridger, pictured outside the Leveson Inquiry, said he would take over as chairman of the Scott Trust which owns Guardian Media Group . He has guided the paper through the online revolution which has seen it commit itself to the principle of open access and attempt to become an international brand with offices in Australia and the United States. Although the Guardian was one of the first newspaper to embrace the online format, it has since been overtaken by the MailOnline. While Mr Rusbridger has been at the helm of the Guardian it has also successfully defended libel action from Jonathan Aitken, a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, over claims about his dealings with leading Saudis. It has also allowed British spies into its London offices to oversee the destruction of computers used to store top-secret documents leaked by the whistleblower Edward Snowden. The paper and its editor received journalism awards for both stories. But it has not all been success. In March this year the Guardian Media Group announced they had completed the sale of its 50.1 per cent stake in Auto Trader. The move came as Guardian News Media reported a loss of £30.9m for the year to the end of April 2013. Latest circulation figures also show Guardian, down from 350,000 to 180,000,. In an email to staff Mr Rusbridger said today: 'It's been quite an extraordinary period in the life of the Guardian. In February 1995 newspaper websites were, if they existed at all, exotic things: we were still four years off launching Guardian Unlimited. Since 1999 we've grown to overtake all others to become the most-read serious English language digital newspaper in the world.' 'Each editor is told – this is literally the only instruction – to carry the Guardian on 'as heretofore'. That means understanding the spirit, culture and purpose of the paper and interpreting it for the present. All that is only possible because of the unique Scott Trust, set up in 1936 to ensure the Guardian survives in perpetuity. Alan Rusbridger pictured with former Guardian editor Peter Preston pictured outside the High Court, where the newspaper successfully defended libel action bought by Jonathan Aitken . In an email to staff Mr Rusbridger said his 20 years in the top job had been 'quite an extraordinary period in the life of the Guardian'. 'In global journalism, there are a handful of roles that have the capability to redefine our industry. I am privileged to have held one of those roles for 20 years, a period in which successful newspapers have become global content providers, reaching audiences in dramatically new and valuable ways. 'I am honoured to succeed the quite brilliant Liz Forgan as chair of the Scott Trust, preserving the independent editorial values and the long-term financial stability upon which our future depends. We have strong future leaders in place with unparalleled news and digital experience, and I know that our journalism will be in the best possible hands.' Dame Liz Forgan, whom he will replace at the trust, said he had been the paper's 'driving force ... for a generation'. The paper - along with the Washington Post - won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism this year for its work on secret surveillance work carried out by the American National Security Agency. His full tweet read: 'Announced tdy that I will succeed Liz Forgan as Scott Trust Chair in 2016. Great honour to be asked to take this role. 'Scott Trust founded to protect and safeguard Guardian. Important bastion of free speech & journalistic independence. 'Will step down as editor in chief of the Guardian after 20 years next summer.' Janine Gibson, a deputy editor of Guardian News & Media and editor-in-chief of theguardian.com, is the favourite to become Alan Rusbridger's successor . Paddy Power has started taking bets on who will become Alan Rusbridger's successor. So far Janine Gibson, the editor-in-chief of theguardian.com and a deputy editor of Guardian News & Media, is the favourite with odds of 2/1. Katharine Viner, deputy editor of Guardian worldwide and editor-in-chief of Guardian US, follows in second with odds of 3/1 while Paul Johnson, a deputy editor of Guardian News and Media, and head of news, business and sport, follows at 5/1. Gibson joined the Guardian in 1998 and went on to launch its New York-based operation in September 2011 as US editor-in-chief. Journalist and playwright Viner took over the role earlier this year when Gibson returned to the UK as editor-in-chief of theguardian.com and a deputy editor of Guardian News & Media.Viner had previously launched Guardian Australia in May 2013 as its editor-in-chief. Johnson joined the Guardian as a reporter covering the Midlands and later became a member of the teams that investigated the 'cash for questions' scandal. As assistant editor and then deputy editor, he is responsible for day-to-day editing and publishing of the paper.
|
Alan Rusbridger to step down as editor in chief of the Guardian .
He said he would be taking over as chairman of the Scott Trust .
Rusbridger tweeted it was a 'great honour to be asked to take this role'
|
f81f553773f6166e55fc47d82d06233dc488829c
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:54 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:18 EST, 3 December 2013 . A 'fairytale' dress that once belonged to Princess Diana has sold for more than £100,000 at auction. The ornate gold and white gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, features sequins, crystals and pearl beads and was worn by Diana on several occasions, including the premiere of James Bond film The Living Daylights. It was sold by Kerry Taylor Auctions in London for £102,000, including buyer’s premium, having been estimated to reach between £50,000 and £80,000. There was a huge amount of interest from the US but a museum based in another overseas country made the successful bid. Fairytale: The ornate gown, right, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, worn by the Princess of Wales in 1986, left, sold at Kerry Taylor Auctions in south London . Kerry Taylor said: 'This is the 11th Princess Diana dress that I have sold this year, and I feel very lucky and privileged. 'It is a beautiful dress, worn by a beautiful woman, and deserved to do well.' The auctioneer described the dress as having a 'pretty, fairytale princess feel to it' and added that the dress’s current owner 'is pleased that the gown will be preserved for others to enjoy in years to come'. It is not yet known where the gown’s new home will be. Expensive: The dress was expected to fetch between £50,000 and £80,000 at auction, but went for more than £100,000 . Diana first saw the dress at a Red Cross benefit fashion show in summer 1986, and rather than having it specially commissioned from the designers, she was happy to take the standard size 10 dress from the show. She wore it at a banquet at the German ambassador’s residence in London in July 1986, and to the Royal Opera House for a performance of Ivan The Terrible by the Bolshoi Ballet later the same month, as well as to the film premiere in Leicester Square the following year. The dress was part of the Emanuels’ Diaghilev collection, which was inspired by Leon Bakst’s geometric designs for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. According to the auctioneer, Elizabeth Emanuel said that because of its lavish decoration and striking gold and white colours, the dress was something that people would either love or hate and she remembered that the Princess told her she 'loved it'. Her former husband David is currently on I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! on ITV. The Emanuels were a fashion favourite of the Princess and they made special ensembles and evening gowns for Diana’s overseas tours with the Prince of Wales, as well as producing maternity wear for her.
|
Ornate gold and white gown was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel .
Princess Diana wore it at The Living Daylights premiere in London in 1987 .
She originally saw the dress at a Red Cross benefit fashion show in 1986 .
A museum based overseas bought the dress despite much US interest .
|
f81f76b79223a3eff1cc9b14cccf8b49c05058ef
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Al Qaeda is still operating within Pakistan's mountainous tribal region bordering Afghanistan, and the United States lacks a "comprehensive" plan for meeting its national security goals there, said a U.S. government study released Thursday. A Pakistani policeman watches over a border area in February 2008. Despite the United States providing $10.5 billion in military and economic aid to Pakistan, a key U.S. ally, the Government Accountability Office said it "found broad agreement ... that al Qaeda had regenerated its ability to attack the United States and had succeeded in establishing a safe haven" in Pakistan's Federally Administrated Tribal Areas. Of the $10.5 billion in U.S. aid, more than half -- $5.8 billion -- was specifically provided for the tribal region, the GAO said. Furthermore, the report said, "No comprehensive plan for meeting U.S. national security goals in FATA has been developed, as stipulated by the National Security Strategy for Combating Terrorism [in 2003], called for by an independent commission [in 2004] and mandated by congressional legislation [in 2007]." "Our report does not state that the U.S. lacks agency-specific plans; rather, we found that there was no comprehensive plan that integrated the combined capabilities of Defense, State, USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development], the intelligence community," GAO said. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. officials said intelligence indicated that Osama bin Laden and other senior al Qaeda leaders, who had been based in Afghanistan before the attacks on New York and Washington, were operating in the tribal region. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has denied that claim and has said that U.S. military missions there would violate Pakistan's sovereignty. So, since 2002, the United States has "relied principally on the Pakistan military to address U.S. national security goals" in that region, the GAO report said. Of the $5.8 billion the United States provided for aid in the tribal region, 96 percent of it reimbursed Pakistan for military operations there, the agency said. Two of the eight lawmakers who commissioned the GAO report, Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Bob Menendez of New Jersey, said it indicated a failing on the part of the Bush administration. "The Bush administration has had six years to come up with a plan to get Osama bin Laden and his group, but it is still flying by the seat of its pants," Menendez said in a statement. "We've dumped 10 billion American taxpayer dollars into Pakistan with the expectation that the terrorists will be hunted down and smoked out, but al Qaeda has been allowed to rejuvenate in the area that is supposed to be locked down," he said. Harkin called the report's findings "appalling." "The White House must propose a strategic policy in this area and follow it, especially when we have this new opportunity to forge a fresh strategic relationship with the new civilian government in Pakistan," he said in a statement. The Defense Department said it agreed with the report's findings, according to letters attached at the end of the GAO report, but the State Department disagreed with them, saying there was a comprehensive plan in place. A letter from Kathleen Turner, a spokeswoman for the office of the Director of National Intelligence, said that office and the National Counterterrorism Center concurred with the report's assessment that the United States has not met its national security goals in the tribal region but maintained that there was a plan in place. USAID said that it generally agreed with the report's recommendation for a comprehensive plan but that work in the tribal areas should be guided by the Pakistani government's own FATA Sustainable Development Plan from 2006. E-mail to a friend .
|
Al Qaeda has "succeeded in establishing a safe haven," GAO says .
Report says there is no comprehensive U.S. plan for reaching security goals .
Democratic critic says report is "appalling," blames administration .
|
f81fe4e9e3a60499c9a5f8e122c53d014a1c8d74
|
By . Deni Kirkova . A morbidly obese veterinary secretary has lost the same weight as a baby elephant on a drastic diet. Kim Stock, 41, from Aylesbury, Bucks, weighed in at 26st 8lb and was too embarrassed about her size to go on holiday. Worried she wouldn't fit on the plane, at just 5ft 4" in height Kim was a size 32 and had a dangerous BMI of 65. But now, Kim has been on a plane for the first time in a decade after shedding more than 15 stone. Kim Stock was 'super obese' and spent years struggling with her weight (l) and pictured after the weightloss . Kim from Aylesbury, Bucks, celebrated with her first flight abroad for 10 years last year with her fiance, system administrator Peter Nelson, 35. She said: 'The thought of asking for an extension to go around me or touching some stranger next to me because I overflowed the edges of my seat was mortifying, and the looks that this would accompany this stopped me from flying. 'This meant that I never had a chance to say goodbye to my nanny, who lived in Australia, in person - sadly, she died last year. She was my number one fan and followed my weight-loss progress with a keen eye. 'I've just had my first flight abroad to Portugal with my fiance, and it wasn't scary at all. There was loads of room in my seatbelt. I even took pictures to prove it.' Before her weight loss Kim was a size 32 and her BMI was a dangerous 65. But now she has lost nearly 16 stone, weighing 11 stone and fitting into a size 10. Kim said: 'People used to shout at me in the street. School boys would offer me "more cake", things like that. Kim was told one of the reasons she was struggling to fall pregnant was because of her weight . She wanted to lose weight to get married and be able to walk the dog without getting tired before he does . 'I was stuck in a vicious cycle. I would hide indoors and eat away the pain of being hated by random strangers. 'I had tried all sorts of diets in my 20s and early 30s but I never had the motivation to really stick with it.' Kim had always been a big child - a size 16 at just 16-years-old - and tried every diet growing up, but nothing worked and her weight continued to go up. She said: 'I tried all sorts - from calorie counting to the cabbage soup diet - and everything in between. 'I had some success but I could never get the motivation to stick with it.' In November 2011 Kim made a list of the reasons she wanted to lose weight, including wanting to get married and walking the dog without getting tired before he does. She went for a chat with her GP and decided to go on the Cambridge Weight Plan. Kim recently won the award for Biggest Loser at the Cambridge Weight Plan awards. Now she is making the most of being able to do simple tasks that others take for granted. Kim boarded a plane for the first time in a decade, pictured on holiday in Portugal after the weightless . Kim said: 'The first time I went into a high street shop at my current size, I picked something up thinking "there's no way this will fit me", but it did. 'I had to take it off and put it back on again twice just to believe it. 'It feels great to be buying clothes in mainstream stores that don't cater exclusively for larger sized people. Breakfast - Two bowls of cereal, muesli or porridge . Lunch - Sandwiches, pies, samosas or a jacket potato with chilli and cheese . Dinner - Spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, curry . Snacks - Chocolate and crisps . Breakfast - portion of porridge . Lunch - Soup . Dinner - Chicken with salad . Snacks - An apple . 'It's simple things that other people take for granted, like working on my garden and even just having a bath - I couldn't fit before so always had to have a shower. 'I lost the weight so quickly it look me a while to get used to being this size. I still struggle to pick out clothes that suit me so often a friend of mine will come too and help style me.' She says going on holiday wasn't scary at all, and she had plenty of room in her seatbelt .
|
Kim Stock, 41, from Aylesbury, Bucks, weighed in at 26st 8lb .
At just 5ft 4" in height, size 32 Kim's BMI was a dangerous 65 .
Boarded plane for first time in a decade after shedding more than 15 stone .
|
f81fef6ee8ca2a891e4f3e70ff8f36601b88ae0d
|
President Barack Obama is prescribing time and vigilance to tackle problems as entrenched in American society as racism and bias. He also is urging patience, saying progress usually comes in small steps. In an interview with BET, the president described his conversation with a group of young civil rights activists, including a leader of protests in Ferguson, Missouri, he hosted last week in the Oval Office. Obama said he told them that 'this is something that is deeply rooted in our society, it's deeply rooted in our history.' America has made gains, and that 'gives us hope' of making more progress, he said. Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama is prescribing time and vigilance to tackle problems as entrenched in American society as racism and bias . Obama told BET 'What I told the young people who I met with, that we're gonna have more conversations like this over the coming months, is this isn't gonna be solved overnight. This is something that is deeply rooted in our society. It's deeply rooted in our history. 'But the two things that are going to allow us to solve it. Number one: is the understanding that we have made progress. And so, it's important to recognize, as painful as these incidents are, we can't equate what is happening now to what was happening 50 years ago. And if you talk to your parents, grandparents, uncles, they'll tell you that things are better. Not good, in some cases, but better.' He continued, 'And the reason it's important for us to understand progress has been made is that then gives us hope that we can make even more progress. The second thing that I insisted to these young people is, we have to be persistent. Because, typically progress is in steps. It's in increments. 'You know, when you're dealing with something as deeply rooted as racism or bias in any society, you gotta have vigilance, but you have to recognize that it's going to take some time and you just have to be steady - so that you don't give up when we don't get all the way there.' The full interview is set to air Monday night. A video excerpt was released Sunday. BET announced that 'President Obama discussed his strategy not only to investigate the various incidents, but ways in which he believes that the country can come together during this time.' Obama (seen Monday) said he told a group of young civil rights activists that 'this is something that is deeply rooted in our society, it's deeply rooted in our history' A splinter group reportedly broke off from a peaceful demonstration Saturday night, and officers attempting to get the crowd to disperse used smoke and tear gas, a police spokeswoman said . A Berkeley police officer received hospital treatment for a dislocated shoulder after being hit with a sandbag, while another sustained minor injuries, police spokeswoman Jenn Coats said . Mostly peaceful protests of a grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man continued around the country, but authorities said a march in California turned violent when a splinter group smashed windows and threw objects at police. A Berkeley police officer received hospital treatment for a dislocated shoulder after being hit with a sandbag, while another sustained minor injuries, police spokeswoman Jenn Coats said. She said several businesses were looted and damaged when a splinter group broke off from the peaceful demonstration Saturday night, and officers attempting to get the crowd to disperse used smoke and tear gas. Protesters threw rocks, bricks, bottles, pipes and other objects at officers, and some squad cars were damaged. At least six people had been arrested by the time the unrest ended early Sunday morning, Coats said. Thousands of demonstrators have protested peacefully in New York and elsewhere since the announcement Wednesday that a grand jury declined to indict a white officer in the death of Eric Garner, a black man who gasped 'I can't breathe!' while being placed in a chokehold as he was being arrested for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. The decision closely followed a Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury's choice not to indict a white officer in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old. The scope of the demonstrations and the lack of violence were moving to Garner's mother and widow, they said Saturday. 'It is just so awesome to see how the crowds are out there,' said Eric Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, who added that she ended up stuck in her car after protests shut down traffic. 'I was just so proud of that crowd,' Carr said. 'It just warmed my heart.' Garner's widow, Esaw Garner, said she saw demonstrators from her apartment window and told her son, 'Look at all the love that your father's getting.' Activist Sabra Wazwaz leads protesters across the Hennepin Bridge in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday . Josheynah Fields, a student at North Central University participates in a 'die in' on Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday . Officers have said the outcry over the grand jury decision has left them feeling betrayed and demonized by everyone from the president and the mayor to throngs of protesters who scream at them on the street. 'Police officers feel like they are being thrown under the bus,' said Patrick Lynch, president of the police union. Garner's family members joined the Rev. Al Sharpton later Saturday as Sharpton laid a wreath at the site on Staten Island where Garner died July 17 in a confrontation that started when police tried to arrest him. An amateur video seen by millions showed Garner gasping, 'I can't breathe' during the fatal encounter. 'All we're concerned about is justice from the police,' said Garner's stepfather, Benjamin Carr, who wore a T-shirt with the words, 'Enough is enough.' Protests continued in New York City for a fourth day with several dozen people lying down on the floor of Grand Central Terminal and marching into stores in Times Square. There were no reports of arrests. Protests have also been held in Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and a number of other cities. In Seattle, several hundred people marched downtown to police headquarters Saturday. Authorities said a group then split off from the main protest and tried to get onto a roadway. Police say some protesters threw rocks at officers who blocked them from entering it. Seven were arrested. Sharpton announced plans this week for a march in Washington, D.C., next Saturday to protest the killings of Garner, Brown and others and to press for change at the federal level.
|
The president said in a television interview that he had a conversation with a group of young civil rights activists .
Speaking to BET, Obama said he told them that 'this is something that is deeply rooted in our society, it's deeply rooted in our history'
America has made gains, and that 'gives us hope' of making more progress, he said .
|
f81ff7ad2ef6deeb66ed0df7367b914c95779f72
|
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 07:37 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:04 EST, 28 May 2013 . A body has been found in the search for a missing grandmother, police have said. Pamela Jackson, 55, vanished from her home in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, in March and her boyfriend has since been charged with her murder. Police today confirmed they discovered a woman's body on moors between Halifax and Rochdale, West Yorkshire, but it has yet to be formally identified. Missing: Pamela Jackson, 55, was last seen at her home in Chester-le-Street on March 2 . Ms Jackson's partner Adrian Muir, 50, from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, has appeared in court charged with her murder and is due back at Newcastle Crown Court on June 11. A force spokeswoman said on Monday: 'Police searching for Pamela Jackson, missing from her Chester-le-Street home, have, within the last couple of hours found the body of a woman in West Yorkshire.' She said: 'The woman’s body was found in the Turvin Road area, about nine miles from Halifax. 'No formal identification has been made at this stage.' Ms Jackson was reported missing from her home in Chester-le-Street on March 7. The body was found by officers using police dogs at an area off Blackstone Edge Road near Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire . The body was discovered 'some metres' from the roadside, police said . Pamela Jackson's partner Adrian Muir, 50, from Halifax, has been charged with her murder . More than 40 officers and specialist police staff are working on the inquiry. Officers appealing for information said Mrs Jackson did not drive and or work due to health issues. She also had two other adult sons, Andrew . and Christopher, police said. The grandmother was described as petite and is 5ft tall, slim and with very long, black hair which was usually straight. She had a black rose tattoo to the upper . right arm and large Celtic style letters to the upper left arm and . usually wore what is described as vintage-style clothing with rings and . costume jewellery. Officers appealing for information said Mrs Jackson did not drive and or work due to health issues . More than 40 officers and specialist police staff are now working on the inquiry . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
|
Police confirm body found on moors between Halifax and Rochdale .
Pamela Jackson, 55, last seen in Chester-le-Street on March 2 .
Her partner has been arrested and charged with her murder .
|
f8204a32780437530a2c56895e4f02dff0426ec0
|
Fewer foreign criminals are being deported despite a pledge by David Cameron more than two years ago to ‘intervene personally’. Since 2010 there has been a spectacular fall in the number sent home after committing serious offences here. In the year of the General Election, 5,342 were deported. In 2011, in the Coalition’s second year of office, the figure was down 13 per cent to 4,649. Broken: The Prime Minister has failed to deport foreign criminals as he promised . Figures from the first three quarters of 2012 show that 3,382 were deported. If the trend continued in the final quarter, it would mean the 2012 total is around 4,509 – again, down on the previous year, and 16 per cent down on the election year figure. Last year the number of foreign prisoners in our jails went up. The number stood at 10,861 as of June 2012, up from 10,779 the year before. It is the first time in at least four years that the number of foreign prisoners in our jails has increased. One in eight inmates are now foreign nationals – costing almost £500million a year to house. Failure: Labour spokesman Sadiq Khan said that Cameron's promises have rung hollow . In September 2010, Mr Cameron pledged he would ‘intervene personally’ to ensure convicted offenders are sent home to spend the rest of their sentences in their own country. In October last year the Daily Mail revealed that since the promise was made, just 62 prisoners had been returned to their home country to serve the rest of their sentences. Now the latest figures show that ministers are also failing to deport foreigners after they have served their sentences here. Labour’s justice spokesman Sadiq Khan, who obtained the figures, said: ‘David Cameron’s promises to send back thousands of foreign prisoners and to take a personal interest in this matter ring hollow. ‘Not only has he failed to send more prisoners home, but the number in our prisons has actually risen. ‘Over half a billion pounds a year is now spent on keeping foreign prisoners in our prisons, and because of Cameron’s failings, money that would be better spent elsewhere in our justice system to keep our communities safe is being wasted.’ Some 2,220 foreign offenders are in jail for violence against the person while 1,287 are sexual offenders. There are 947 robbers, 517 burglars, 738 thieves and 434 fraudsters. Some 2,110 of the foreign prisoners are there for drug offences while 105 have committed motoring offences.It costs around £45,000 a year to keep an offender in prison. The figures, released by justice minister Jeremy Wright, show that the second most common nationality of overseas prisoners is now Polish – overtaking the Irish. Jamaicans top the nationality table, with 900 last year, followed by Poland on 750, and Ireland, 737. Over the past five years, there has been a trebling of the number of Romanian offenders in our jails, even before the EU restrictions on immigration from that country and Bulgaria are lifted at the end of the year. Romanians are now the fifth most common nationality in our prisons. David Green, from the think tank Civitas, said: ‘If you have more immigration, it is not surprising that a proportion of them will be offenders.’
|
In 2010 5,342 were deported, but in 2012 the figure will be around 4,509 .
One in eight inmates is now foreign, costing £500million a year to house .
Cameron had promised that he would 'intervene personally' on the issue .
A Labour spokesman said that Cameron's promises 'ring hollow'
|
f8205154458622db15d5373a94692257af6c25ad
|
By . Jack Doyle . PUBLISHED: . 19:36 EST, 6 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:23 EST, 7 November 2012 . Costly: Radical Islamic Abu Hamza cost the taxpayer almost £1million in legal fees during his eight-year fight against extradition . Legal cases involving hate preacher Abu Hamza cost taxpayers almost £1million. The hook-handed extremist, who was finally kicked out of the country last month, benefited from almost £680,000 in legal aid money from the public purse. In addition, the Home Office spent nearly £250,000 on lawyers in its efforts to get him out. The scale of the fanatic’s abuse of legal aid, revealed by freedom of information requests, caused outrage last night. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling ordered an immediate review, saying: ‘We must never lose sight of the fact that legal aid is paid for by the taxpayer. ‘The total costs in some cases seem very high, and many – myself included – will question whether they provide value for money. ‘I am concerned about public confidence in the legal aid system. I have ordered an immediate examination of aspects of the system that affect its credibility with the public. Legal aid is a fundamental part of our legal system, but resources aren’t limitless. It should be reserved for cases where there is genuine need.’ Hamza was put on a plane to the US last month after the last of countless legal appeals was finally thrown out of court. Freedom of information requests by the Mail reveal that Hamza’s lawyers were paid £445,452.65 to defend him against charges of inciting terrorism. Legal costs in his eight-year fight against extradition cost a total of £165,460.81. Hamza was also given legal aid worth £68,107.33 to fight attempts by the Home Office to remove his passport, a case he won. Review: Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has now ordered a review into the legal aid system . 'Deteriorating health': Abu Hamza asked the High Court to grant him time for an MRI scan as he renewed a long-running legal battle to halt his extradition from the UK to the US . Charges: Imam Abu Hamza al-Masri, pictured addressing his followers near Finsbury Park mosque, north London, in March 2004, now faces terror charges in America . The total expenditure included more than £400,000 for Hamza’s solicitors, Arani and Co, and more than £100,000 for one of his barristers, Edward Fitzgerald QC. The Home Office spent £79,728 on legal costs for the extradition case, and another £150,674.91 in its efforts to strip Hamza of his passport and citizenship. It means the total legal bill for taxpayers was £909,423.70. Robert Oxley, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘The cost of booting out this vile hate preacher has been tremendous. Taxpayers appear to have been the last ones in anyone’s thoughts during Hamza’s drawn-out but ultimately futile legal fight.’ Radical: Hamza faces 11 counts of criminal conduct connected to the kidnapping of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998 . Hooked-handed: The Egyptian-born preacher, pictured here in 2007, lost his hands and left eye after . a mine exploded while he was fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan . In the dock: Hamza, pictured with his lawyer Jeremy Schneider, pleaded not guilty to terror charges in a New York court last week . When his extradition case came back to court for the final time last month, Hamza claimed he was unfit to face terrorism charges in the US because ‘harsh’ conditions at HMP Belmarsh had left him depressed. But after a three-day hearing, Sir John Thomas, president of the Queen’s Bench Division, said he was ‘wholly unpersuaded’ by these claims, adding that ‘the sooner he is put on trial the better’. After the verdict, Hamza was flown to New York, where he is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in Manhattan. He is accused of involvement in a hostage plot in Yemen in 1998 that led to the deaths of three Britons and an Australian. He also faces charges of setting up a terror training camp in Oregon. Prison: Hamza is now being held in the top security Manhattan Metropolitan Correction Centre in New York City . Caged: While he waits to go on trial - which could take anywhere from nine months to two years - Hamza will remain in a bleak New York jail .
|
Abu Hamza was extradited last month after eight-year-long legal battle .
The hate preacher cost taxpayers nearly £680,000 in legal aid .
Home Office spent almost £250,000 on lawyers in its efforts to get him out .
|
f820d3a684ff0fa5c03b83af8aa0473764945a56
|
(CNN) -- Does the word "virginity" evoke discussions of sexuality or religious belief? That's the question residents in Fayetteville, Arkansas, are asking after a junior high student was asked by school administrators to change out of a T-shirt that read "Virginity Rocks" last week. Eighth-grader Chloe Rubiano of Ramay Junior High said she got the tee at a Christian festival last year; on the back, it continues its abstinence message: "I'm loving my Husband and I haven't even Married Him." "I just really liked this shirt because I was always raised that way," Rubiano told CNN affiliate KFSM. She said she was pulled out of class and given a gym shirt to change into because the message on her shirt "opens up too many doors for conversations" about sexual activity -- or lack thereof. After the incident, Rubiano's mother, Bambi Crozier, took to Facebook to write a lengthy post defending her daughter's wardrobe choice, stating she has always encouraged her children to stand up for what they believe in. She ends the post with: "Virginity is not a dirty word. Wouldn't it be great if it weren't treated as such?" Fayetteville School District Superintendent Paul Hewitt said, whatever the message, the school was simply adhering to its rules about writing on clothing. "If a student wore a shirt that said 'Sex Rocks' or 'Smoke More Pot,' they would also have been asked to remove it for the same reason; it would no doubt be disruptive," he wrote in an email to CNN. "Even positive messages can be disruptive and our schools must be fair and consistent in dealing with all our students." As for concerns over free speech, Hewitt said Rubiano's message has come through loud and clear. "Just the attention this incident has been given has certainly given the student and her mother the attention they sought. This is not a major free speech issue," according to Hewitt. "I suspect this is a common issue in junior high and high schools throughout the nation."
|
An 8th-grader in Arkansas was asked to change out of a "Virginity Rocks" shirt .
Her mom defends her wardrobe choice, saying it's an expression of her Christianity .
The superintendent says even if the message is seen as positive, the writing was distracting .
|
f82113372a3246ec926d91d53887b526660e3cb1
|
Spanish newspapers have been reacting to the news that Fernando Torres is set to return to his boyhood club Atletico Madrid. The 27-year-old is currently on a two-year loan at AC Milan from Chelsea, but has failed to impress so far and the deal is set to be cut short so he can return to Spain. Alessio Cerci, meanwhile, is preparing to move in the opposite direction. Front page of Spanish newspaper Marca reacting to the news that Fernando Torres is set for a return to his boyhood club Atletico Madrid after leaving there in 2007 to join Liverpool . Spanish paper Marca is one of the papers to have led their post-Christmas news with Torres, referring to him as 'el delantero, y symbolo rojiblanco', which translates as 'Atletico symbol and striker'. Torres joined Milan in the summer as he looked to rebuild his career following a largely unsuccessful few years at Chelsea, but failed to impress at the San Siro with just a single goal in 10 appearances. Spanish paper AS also delivers the news that Torres is set to return to Atletico Madrid . Elsewhere, fellow Spanish paper AS has also reported that Torres is set for the move, with a deal that will run until the summer of 2016. The 30-year-old first left Atletico to join Liverpool in 2007, and was one of the best strikers in the Premier League and Europe as he scored 81 goals in 142 games in all competitions. A record £50million move to Chelsea followed in January 2011, but he struggled to show the same form at Stamford Bridge as he did on Merseyside and, following the arrival of Diego Costa in the summer, was deemed surplus to requirements.
|
Fernando Torres set to rejoin Atletico Madrid on 18-month deal .
30-year-old is currently on two-year loan from Chelsea and AC Milan .
But he has failed to impress at the San Siro since signing in the summer .
Set to return to his boyhood club after leaving them for Liverpool in 2007 .
|
f8212d0d58499fd4067681ce4a4f46c001b8dc5b
|
By . Sarah Harris . PUBLISHED: . 10:39 EST, 13 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:51 EST, 13 December 2013 . One of the Government’s first flagship free schools was axed yesterday after inspectors condemned its poor teaching standards. The Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, was among the first free schools to open under the Coalition in 2011. However, it will now be the first to be closed down after the Department for Education decided to terminate its funding, and parents of the 65 pupils will be forced to find places elsewhere from April. Free schools are state-funded but free of local authority control, and can be set up by parents, groups of teachers and charitable trusts. Some 174 have opened, including 93 this year alone. Closure: The Discovery New School on Crawley, West Sussex is to shut after inspectors found none of the teachers provided good quality lessons . Flagship: The school was one of the first of 24 to open in 2011 . Discovery New School – which has received millions of pounds of state funding – was declared failing and placed in special measures by Ofsted in May. It was re-inspected in November when it was warned that not enough progress was being made. Yesterday, Schools Minister Lord Nash wrote to Discovery’s chairman of governors, Chris Cook, warning him that the Department for Education was terminating its funding agreement. In his letter to Mr Cook, Lord Nash said he had expressed ‘grave concerns’ about the primary school’s education standards. He added: ‘None of the school’s teachers were delivering good lessons and all were still consistently inadequate or required improvement.’ The letter said it was also unclear whether the trust running the school, which was supposed to be part of the Montessori movement, had identified what was needed to make improvements. It said: ‘The staff are currently unable to deliver teaching and learning even at the most basic level, with the consequence for the pupils of continued inadequate teaching for an unacceptable length of time.’ Blow: The closure of the Discovery Free School is a significant setback for Education Secretary Michael Gove's flagship reforms . The closure is hugely damaging for Education Secretary Michael Gove’s free schools programme and comes after a damning Ofsted report into the country’s first Muslim free school, Al-Madinah in Derby. A DfE spokesman said: ‘Since [Discovery New School] was placed in special measures in May we have monitored progress closely. The trust has not provided evidence they are making the changes required. Lord Nash has today notified the trust that the department will terminate its funding agreement at the end of the spring term. Plans for the first new grammar school in 50 years were thrown out yesterday. Tory councillors in Kent hoped to use newly relaxed Coalition rules on school expansions to create an ‘annexe’ to an existing grammar in Sevenoaks that could take up to 1,300 pupils. But the Department for Education dismissed the plan, saying it was the ‘establishment of a new selective school’ rather than an expansion, which is not allowed by law. Campaigners reacted angrily, claiming that the law needs to be changed to give parents choice over their children’s education. ‘We are now working with West Sussex County Council to ensure the children have suitable alternatives in place and their transition is as smooth as possible.’ Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: ‘When a school closes it is the children who suffer and their education that is affected. There will be many worried parents in the run-up to Christmas concerned about what this means for their child’s education. ‘The blame for the closure of this school lies squarely with Michael Gove and his free school programme, which has failed to ensure schools opened under the policy can provide a decent standard of education.’ Philip Bujak, chief executive of the Montessori St Nicholas Charity, said: ‘We advised the DfE to allow us to oversee the implementation of the Montessori element and curriculum. ‘That advice was ignored and the result is the waste of a large amount of money, the name of Montessori tarnished and a large number of parents very badly let down.’
|
Discovery New School in West Sussex to close by April next year .
Ministers pull the plug on funding after 'grave concerns' about standards .
School was among the first of 24 free schools to open in 2011 .
It was placed in special measures by Ofsted in April but did not improve .
|
f8215bffbb33b17a2507f3ae9b5234977e2e3bd6
|
A Michigan elected who was prevented from using the word 'vagina' in an abortion debate performed controversial play where the word is heavily featured in front of thousands in protest of her gagging order. Lisa Brown and ten other female . legislators read The Vagina Monologues on the . steps of the state Capitol in Lansing last night alongside the play's author, Eve Ensler. Brown was silenced during a heated debate of a proposed bill restricting abortions. She said: 'Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but "no" means "no."' Scroll down for videos . Lisa Brown, right, in front of the crowd before performing the "The Vagina Monologues," on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol. Brown was censored after she said the word 'vagina' during a session debating a bill severally limiting abortion-rights . The crowd gathered was estimated to have reached 2,500 - 3,000 people before the performance started, many wore pink and carried signs with various slogans . She was banned from speaking on an unrelated bill on Thursday for 'violating the decorum of the House'. An estimated 2,500 people attended . the reading which turned into a mass rally with attendees sporting . signs saying: ‘Get your mitts of my bitts [sic]’ and ‘Can’t say it? Don’t legislate it!’ 'Vagina is not a dirty word,' Brown, 45, told ABC News prior to the performance, before adding that it was about 'empowering' people to recognise that. Lisa Brown and #sayvagina was trending on Twitter over the weekend and the issue is still hotly debated on social networks with the event already being referred to as 'Vaginagate'. Last night's protest involved eleven . lawmakers as well as Ms Ensler and local actors performing The Vagina . Monologues, a controversial piece which features women talking about . their own genitalia, according to the Detroit News. The playwright said in a press . release: 'Censoring a woman for saying a word that is a body part that . 51 per cent of their constituents have is a repression that we have not . and should not ever witness in this country.' The crown of both men and women turned the performance into a rally for women's rights and freedom of speech which went viral and was trending on Twitter as #sayvagina . Lisa Brown, left, with supporter and author of The Vagina Monologues Eve Ensler, right, who performed alongside the Michigan congresswoman and said that the ban was an 'oppression' Ms Brown, a fierce opponent of . Michigan's proposed anti-abortion bill, said: 'They banned me from . speaking because I dared say vagina, the correct, medical name of a part . of a woman's anatomy these lawmakers are trying to regulate. Democratic Rep. Barb Byrum, was also barred from speaking last Thursday because she referred to vasectomies during the debate. She told the crowd she was 'overwhelmed by the worldwide attention. Before the play began, Ensler joined Brown and Byrum on the Capitol steps and called for an apology from the Republicans who barred them from speaking. 'These women stood for our rights,' Ensler said to applause. 'The vaginas are out. We are here to stay.' During a heated debate on Wednesday . Ms Brown, who is Jewish, spoke against a proposed bill which would . further regulate abortions. Banned: Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield, was told that she was not allowed participate in Thursday's debate on an unrelated bill because of her comments on during Wednesday's abortion debate . ‘Wherever there’s a question of the . life of the mother, or that of the unborn child, Jewish law rules in . favour of preserving the life of the mother,' she said. 'The status of the fetus as human life does not equal that of the mother. I have not asked you to adapt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adapt to yours?’ But . what caused the most controversy were the closing words to Brown’s . speech. ‘And finally, Mr Speaker,’ she said. ‘I'm flattered that you're . all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.’ Some representatives applauded her impassioned statement but others did not take too kindly to her bold words. 'What she said was offensive,' state Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, told the Detroit News. 'It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company,' he said. Silenced: Rep. Lisa Brown (left) and Rep. Barb Byrum (right) were both prohibited from speaking because of the language they used on the Floor of the House . State Rep. Lisa Lyons, R-Alto, agreed. 'As a woman and mother, I was personally offended by Rep. Lisa Brown's . disgraceful actions during Wednesday's floor debate, she said. Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas, . R-Midland, said the decision to bar Brown from speaking was not her . reference to the female anatomy, but her conduct. 'My concern was the decorum of the House, not of anything she said,' Stamas told the newspaper. 'I ask all members to maintain a decorum of the House, and I felt it went too far yesterday.' But . Ms Brown defended her decision to use the 'v-word'. 'If I can't say the . word vagina, why are we legislating vaginas?' Brown said during a . Capitol press conference. 'What language should I use? We're all adults . here.' During the same . debate, Democratic representative Barb Byrum tried to introduce an . amendment that would regulate vasectomies but was not allowed to speak. She protested and was declared 'out of order'. 'There . were actions by Representative Byrum on the floor involving shouting in . the chamber that also failed to maintain decorum,' House Speaker . spokesman Ari Adler told CBS. But . Ms Byrum disagreed. 'It's my impression that I'm being banned from . speaking as a result of my use of the term vasectomy - a medical . procedure,' she told the Huffington Post. 'Neither . of us has been contacted by Republican leadership as to why or how long . we've been banned. Talk about disrespectful, that they don’t have the . common decency to tell us themselves.'
|
Rep. Lisa Brown banned from speaking after 'unprofessional conduct' during anti-abortions debate .
Over 2,500 turn up to dramatic performance which turned into protest .
Eleven female lawmakers and author of the play read it on steps of Michigan state Capitol .
|
f8217415ba62bebc2e575dbb4fee2df3463c4cec
|
By . Sadie Whitelocks . PUBLISHED: . 11:32 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:11 EST, 8 November 2013 . A couple who made history as the first to . undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) on live television eight weeks ago, . were filmed this week as they returned to hospital to hear their baby's . heart beating. Jessica . Menkhausen and Derek Manion from St Peters, Missouri, were caught on . camera by the Today show as they waited for an ultrasound to confirm news of a healthy pregnancy. 'Well that's the heart right there,' a doctor explained during a clip of the event aired this morning, 'and as I scan through I'm seeing . . . one sac with a really good heartbeat.' Scroll down for videos . Overwhelmed: Jessica Menkhausen and Derek Manion, who made history as the first to undergo IVF on live TV eight weeks ago, were filmed this week as they returned to hospital to hear their baby's heart beating . 'I can't say that I'm disappointed,' Ms Menkhausen, 33, responded holding back tears. She had expressed a desire for twins originally but exclaimed when she saw the scan: 'I'm happy that there's just one.' Writing about the event afterwards she continued: 'We got to see our baby’s glorious heart beating! 'Being able to actually see our little bundle of joy was an indescribably wonderful feeling.' She said friends and family have jokingly tried to console her . by reminding her one baby means 'half the diaper expense, half the clothes . expense, and half the formula expense.' Nerve-racking: The couple were caught on camera by the Today show as they waited for an ultrasound to confirm news of a healthy pregnancy . Healthy fetus: 'Well that's the heart right there,' a doctor explained adding, 'and as I scan through I'm seeing one sac with a really good heartbeat' The ultrasound was performed by Dr. Sherman Silber, director of the Infertility Center of St. Louis, who has been with the couple every step of the way through their IVF experience. Now that he has confirmed the pregnancy his part is complete and Miss Menkhausen and Mr Manion's next step is to make an appointment with an obstetrics and gynecology doctor. 'Being able to actually see our little bundle of joy was an indescribably wonderful feeling' The expectant mother said in her first trimester she has been feeling 'extremely tired, more exhausted than I’ve ever felt.' 'For almost eight years now I have been used to a hectic 60-hour work week schedule, whether it was working full-time and going to school at night, or working full-time during the day and teaching part-time at night. 'I used to hate taking naps because I felt like I was wasting time, but now I look forward to my three to four naps every Saturday and Sunday.' She says that her appetite has also increased and if she doesn't eat every few hours she gets headaches. IVF process: The 33-year-old is seen in the operating theater as 'good embryos' are transferred into her uterus . Road to motherhood: Dr Sherman Silber shows exactly where he placed the embryos . 'I am sure I have gained weight, namely because all my clothes are fitting very snugly,' she added, explaining that she plans to go shopping for maternity wear soon. Ms Menkhausen previously said that she is 'ecstatic' about the prospect of motherhood, after years of struggling to conceive. The Today show started following her on September 24 when eggs were harvested from her ovaries by ultrasound guidance at St. Luke's Hospital, Missouri. 'I know that the next three months are a . very critical time period for the pregnancy, so no more fast food for . me' NBC's . Dr. Nancy Snyderman said from inside the operating room: 'Right now Dr . Sherman Silber is inserting a micro needle with a little suction into . the ovary and each of these black sacks you see really houses an egg. They're being sucked out and being examined behind us.' Viewers were then told how Ms Menkhausen's eggs would be . transported to the laboratory where her fiance's sperm would be . injected into them to start the fertilization process. Three days later, three 'good embryos' were transferred back into Ms Menkhausen's uterus. Pre-surgery, Ms Menkhausen said that . she wanted to share her journey through fertility treatment to . 'enlighten other women who are having the same challenges.' Creating a baby: Ms Menkhausen's eggs were transported to a laboratory where her fiance's sperm was injected into them to start the fertilization process. Success: Dr Silber holds an image of the embryos he created . 'It’s also a form of . self-enlightenment - sharing my story is helping me deal with some of my . own fears, by courageously facing them head on.' She . had battled fertility issues since a teenager. Every month she would . experience 'excruciating' menstrual cramps and went on to suffer . two ectopic pregnancies in her twenties. 'It took years to get over,' she said. 'I was really glad when we met Dr Silber, he gave us so much hope.' 'Despite . the roller coaster, I know that the first time I . hear our baby cry, it will be well worth what we have gone through' To . pay for the procedure, which can cost up to $17,000 per cycle, she and . Mr Manion have been forced to put their wedding on hold until next year. Before getting her eggs harvested Ms Menkhausen went through four weeks of pretreatment at St Luke's Hospital. This . saw her be injected with drugs to suppress her natural hormonal cycle and . take daily hits of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) to stimulate . the production of eggs. Throughout the drug treatment, her progress was monitored via ultrasound scans and blood tests. The . Missouri-based couple said they were determined for their IVF to work . first time around, as they used their savings to pay for the procedure . and cannot afford another cycle. Revealing the fertility treatment process: A team of medics from St Luke's Hospital in Missouri harvested eggs from Ms Menkhausen with the cameras rolling on September 24r . Step-by-step process: Before having her eggs harvested Ms Menkhausen had injections to suppress her natural hormonal cycle and daily hits of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) to stimulate the production of eggs . High hopes: Ms Menkhausen originally said she thought she was going to have twins and with red hair . Maintaining a positive attitude . throughout, Ms Menkhausen, who works as an accountant, said before . learning she was pregnant: 'I want to be positive and I think we're . going to have twins and they're going to have red hair and blue eyes. That's what we have to keep thinking.' 'Despite . the hormone roller coaster, bruising from injections, and the constant . "what-if" analysis going on in my head, I know that the first time I . hear our baby cry, it will be well worth what we have gone through.' Parents-to-be: Ms Menkhausen and Mr Manion's next step is to make an appointment with an obstetrics and gynecology doctor . She and Mr Manion, received a telephone call from Dr Silber in October telling them their IVF had worked. Ms . Menkhausen said that she hopes to show her children the televised . recording of her IVF treatment one day, to show them how much we wanted . them.' She added: 'I know that the next three months are a . very critical time period for the pregnancy, so no more fast food for . me. 'Ultimately were . are praying for a safe pregnancy and healthy babies . . . This whole . process has been an amazing journey for both of us.'
|
Jessica Menkhausen, 33, from St Peters, Missouri, was filmed in September by the Today show as eggs were harvested from her ovaries .
She and her fiance, Derek Manion, saw their baby's heart beat for the first time this week .
|
f8218543d44380bb8d322c32cd94909d206da366
|
Arsenal are hopeful Kieran Gibbs will be available to face Burnley on Saturday after the defender sustained a pelvic injury in the win over Sunderland. The England international sustained the problem during the closing stages of the victory at the Stadium of Light. The injury is still being assessed by the Gunners medical team, but the problem is not expected to keep Gibbs out for a prolonged period. Arsenal left back Kieran Gibbs, taking on Sunderland's Will Buckley, is set to be fit to face Burnley on Saturday . The England international was replaced late on at the Stadium of Light after picking up a pelvic injury . And the defender could even be available for the visit of newly-promoted Burnley on this weekend. The news will come as a major boost to manager Arsene Wenger, who already has a defensive shortage. Back-up left back Nacho Monreal is currently filling in as a makeshift central defender in place of the injured Laurent Koscielny, while right-back Mathieu Debuchy is out with an ankle injury. Captain Mikel Arteta is also expected to be fit for the clash against Sean Dyche's side after picking up a thigh injury against the Black Cats. Arsenal club captain Mikel Arteta is also expected to be fit to face Burnley despite a slight thigh injury . Striker Alexis Sanchez celebrates his brace at the weekend to guide Arsenal to a 2-0 win at Sunderland .
|
England international sustained pelvic injury at Sunderland on Saturday .
The problem isn't expected to keep Gibbs out of Burnley tie this weekend .
Arsenal host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon .
Gunner still face a defensive shortage with Nacho Monreal at centre back .
|
f82210e27467adf758b6a0eb69182d01354fedc1
|
By . Ryan Gorman . Two window washers dangling high in the air over the street Thursday morning were rescued by firefighters. The two unidentified men were five stories above an Olympia, Washington street when their window washing platform began to malfunction. One of the workers was bleeding from the head when firefighters arrived. The pair was working on the rear of the six-story building when the mishap occurred, an Olympia Fire Department statement said. It is not clear what caused the incident. Bleeding: One of the window washers suffered a laceration to his head. The other was uninjured in the ordeal . Hanging on for his life: One of the window washers was dangling from the side of the building while the other remained in his window washing perch . Both men, reportedly employees of Ace Window Cleaning, based in Gig Harbor, appeared to be working from seats that were suspended in the air using cables. One of the workers was still in his perch, but another appeared to be dangling from the side of the building when help arrived. Three firefighter crews soon arrived on the scene just after 10.00 a.m., authorities said.One raced to the top of the building to make sure the line was secure and would continue to hold the men. To the rescue: Firefighters raised a ladder up the side of the building to bring the men down . Back down to earth: The other widow washer being rescued . Another worked through the fifth-floor windows to assess the medical condition of the window washers, and a third raised a ladder up the side of the building to bring the duo down. The injured man was helped out of his tangled gear and lowered to the ground for medical attention, according to fire officials. The second worker was brought down shortly after, he suffered no injuries. A person who answered the phone at a number listed for Ace Window Cleaning declined comment and hung up.
|
The two men were hanging Thursday morning from the side of an Olympia, Washington building .
One of the workers suffered a laceration to the head that required on-site medical treatment .
The other escaped the ordeal without injury .
|
f8223edd42d63eb4828dd832557c2aeb56186979
|
David Cameron today urged Greece to agree a swift deal with Brussels over its debts, warning that delays could worsen the impact on the British economy. The Prime Minister, who is in Brussels for talks with other EU leaders, called for 'not a stand-off but a solution' to the eurozone row. The summit is the first chance for him to meet new Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for the first time, warning him that EU meetings 'can go on all night'. David Cameron today held talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for the first time, warning him that EU meetings 'can go on all night' The Prime Minister, arriving in Brussels for talks with other EU leaders, called for 'not a stand-off but a solution' to the eurozone row . The gathering of European leaders in Brussels is set to be dominated by economic concerns following the victory of the Greek radical anti-austerity party in elections last month. On Monday Mr Cameron convened a meeting in Downing Street with the Bank of England, the Treasury and the Foreign Office to prepare contingency plans in case Greece crashes out of the single currency. Mr Tsipras used his inaugural speech in parliament to insist his demand for restructuring the country's debt is 'irrevocable.' Speaking as he arrived in Brussels for a one-day European Council summit, the Prime Minister said he was looking forward to his first meeting with Mr Tsipras. 'I will be saying that what is required between Greece and the eurozone is not a stand-off but a solution. 'The British economy is growing and succeeding but we are affected by the situation on the European continent and the longer this stand-off goes on the worse potentially that could be for Britain. 'That only underlines the importance of sticking to our long-term economic plan,' Mr Cameron added. At the weekend new Greek PM Alexis Tsipras used his inaugural speech in parliament to insist his demand for restructuring the country's debt is 'irrevocable' Welcoming Mr Tsipras to his first European Council meeting, Mr Cameron warned him the meetings 'can go on all night and in to the next day'. Mr Tsipras arrived in Brussels this morning after his finance minister was involved in lengthy talks which ended in stalemate with European counterparts last night. Most of Greece's national debt is held by eurozone institutions and not by Britain, which could limit the impact if it defaults. But Downing Street has warned that there remain 'risks of contagion and uncertainty'. British officials said Mr Cameron would be in 'listening mode' in his meeting with Mr Tsipras, but was keen to hear the details of how he intended to get his country's economy growing and how he would tackle the crucial issue of Greece's debts. 'The Prime Minister's point will be this is not about us taking sides, it's down to Greece and eurozone partners to agree on the best way to move forward to get the Greek economy growing, to bring their debt down and get it on a sustainable footing,' a British official said. 'They need to work on this together but they need to be acting responsibly and coming up with a plan for growth. 'The point from the UK perspective is that the uncertainty around Greece is clearly a risk to our economy. We want Greece and eurozone partners to get on and sort this out.' French President Francois Hollande and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt arriving at the Brussels summit . Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko arrives at the talks which will discuss attempts to broker a ceasefire with Russia . The talks between Mr Tsipras and his European counterparts will be a chance for the Greek leader to set out how he intends to implement the anti-austerity policies his Syriza party was swept to power on. The discussions will focus on the detail of the reforms necessary in Greece and the timetable for implementing the measures. Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb warned that failure to reach an agreement would result in 'financial mayhem', but insisted he was confident a deal could be struck. 'There are basically two options here,' Mr Stubb told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'Number one is that Greece continues the programme and we give an extension to that programme. The other option, which I don't like personally, would be a so-called 'dirty exit', where Greece would be on its own trying to claw its way back to the markets. 'I think Greek banks would have great troubles, I think a lot of the deposits would flee the country and it would cause general financial mayhem, especially in Greece, with a slight ripple effect.' Mr Stubb said that Athens had undertaken to meet certain conditions in return for the loan of one billion euros, and he expected Greece to 'keep its bargain, regardless of the election result'. He added: 'The euro group of financial ministers are meeting and I think we are all expecting Greece to give a proposal by Monday next week. We will see what they come up with. I am sure a solution will be found at the end of the day.' European leaders will also consider counter-terrorism measures following the bloody events in Paris last month.
|
Cameron arrives in Brussels for first meeting with Greece's Alexis Tsipras .
He calls for 'not a stand-off but a solution' to the eurozone debt row .
Cameron warns a long stand-off could be worse potentially for Britain .
|
f82242885382392a2f8cceab71fed13b717e8aaf
|
(CNN) -- Sasheer Zamata will join "Saturday Night Live" this month, making her the first African-American female in the show's cast in six years, a show rep said Monday. Zamata will make her debut on the late-night sketch comedy show on January 18, when hip-hop star Drake is scheduled to host, the rep said. The comedian has been honing her skills with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York since graduating from the University of Virginia with a drama degree in 2009, according to her official biography. Producers of the NBC show have been criticized for the lack of diversity since Maya Rudolph left the cast six years ago. In October, "SNL" cast member Kenan Thompson told TV Guide the show had difficulty finding qualified black female comedians to hire. He insisted that the talent pool was limited because so many of the women were not seasoned enough for the job. Executive Producer Lorne Michaels told The New York Times last month he was holding audition and that a black woman would be added to the cast in January. "All told, we've seen about 25 people," he said. "A lot of the people we saw are really good. Hopefully, we'll come out of the process well." Zamata, whose name was one of those floated in media reports, is known for her comedy videos online in which she writes and performs. Tim Meadows: How could 'SNL' do Bill Brasky without me? CNN's Topher Gauk-Roger contributed to this report.
|
Zamata makes her debut on the late-night sketch comedy show on January 18 .
The comedian has been honing her skills with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York .
Producers have been criticized for the lack of diversity since Maya Rudolph left 6 years ago .
Lorne Michaels said last month he was holding audition to add a black woman in January .
|
f822c93aa7613029fca3022e620b3b4f7dad9afc
|
By . Ray Massey . The new boss of Network Rail has apologised to passengers for poor performance that has left the firm facing fines of up to £80million for missing punctuality targets. Mark Carne accepted that the company ‘must do better’ but pledged to make Britain’s trains the most punctual in Europe as part of his £38billion ‘five year plan’ which begins tomorrow. The former oil boss vowed to reduce overcrowding, free up the timetable, increase punctuality and reliability, and make the railways safer – while cutting costs by 20 per cent. Mark Carne accepted that the company 'must do better' but pledged to make Britain¿s trains the most punctual in Europe as part of his £38billion 'five year plan' which begins tomorrow . But he said: ‘I hold my hand up and agree that more than 50 per cent of delays are to do with failures of the network. 'We have to work on reliability so that there are fewer failures to the system. I want to get people there on time. 'Reliability is absolutely critical to the job I have to do.’ He also signalled that directors’ bonus payments are to be cut in favour of bigger basic salaries – a move which would in fact favour them if they miss future targets on which bonuses would be based. Mr Carne, a 54-year-old Cornishman, took over the role of chief executive last month after Sir David Higgins left to run HS2. Network Rail is on track to be fined up to £80million by the Office of Rail Regulation due to its failure to meet key targets over the last five years. The company is to blame for more than half of the delays on the railways. Just 86.5 per cent of long-distance trains are punctual – way below the target of 91.8 per cent. The rail watchdog imposes a penalty for every 0.1 per cent failure to meet punctuality targets on long distance routes. However, it may take account of mitigating factors such as the recent severe weather and flooding, which led to widespread chaos and cancellations. Meanwhile, Network Rail has confirmed that the storm-wrecked railway line at Dawlish in Devon will reopen as planned at the end of the week . Mr Carne has pledged to transform Britain’s railways with ‘more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and bigger, better stations’. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: ‘A key part of this Government’s long-term economic plan is investing in world-class infrastructure. 'That is why we are putting record amounts of Government funding into our railways over the next five years. ‘That investment will generate growth, create jobs and boost business while delivering faster journeys, greater comfort and better punctuality for passengers across the UK.’ A spokesman for consumer watchdog Passenger Focus said: ‘The £38billion investment for Network Rail over the next five years is welcome, particularly during difficult economic times.’ But it warned: ‘Passengers should ultimately see an improved rail service bringing the things they tell us they want – improved punctuality, reliable trains with more seats.’ The coast-hugging stretch of track was severely damaged in this winter's savage storms. It then suffered more damage in another violent storm on February 14 . Meanwhile, Network Rail has confirmed that the storm-wrecked railway line at Dawlish in Devon will reopen as planned at the end of the week. The coast-hugging stretch of track was severely damaged in this winter’s savage storms. It then suffered more damage in another violent storm on February 14. The line was shut and work carried out around the clock to bring it back into service. But the planned re-opening was threatened early this month by a massive landslip, involving the collapse of 20,000 tonnes of cliff-face near Teignmouth. Confirming that the reopening was going ahead, Mr Carne said: ‘Dawlish has shown us at our best when we work in a planned, disciplined and innovative way.’
|
Mark Carne has said that he accepted that the company ‘must do better’
Vowed to reduce overcrowding, free up the .
timetable, increase punctuality .
Also increase reliability, make railways .
safer – while cutting costs by 20% .
|
f823090e6469999837ad9b191f8770b886ec53c4
|
(AOL Autos) -- Regular readers of AOL Autos know that we have done a series of stories on the development and increasing popularity of cars that run -- or will eventually run -- on alternative fuels. The mandatory use of CNG in public service vehicles began in New Delhi, India in 2000. We've written about hybrids, clean-diesel engines, fuel-cell technology, ethanol and more. That brings us to another entry in the auto industry's ongoing research and development of green-technology: compressed natural gas (CNG). Scientists are trying to determine which alternative fuel will best strike a balance between being environmentally friendly and commercial viability. CNG might be the answer. Vehicles running on CNG have actually been around since the early 1990s, but have not been a dominant force in the marketplace mostly because the infrastructure (i.e. re-fueling stations) is not yet in place to support high-volume sales of CNG-powered cars. Presently, there are only about 1,600 CNG refueling stations in the U.S, compared with up to 200,000 gas stations. Currently there is only one CNG-powered model sold on the consumer market that is actually manufactured as a CNG-powered car. That's the Honda Civic GX, which boasts an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24/36 miles per gasoline-gallon equivalent. AOL Autos: Best hybrids . Rich Kolodziej, president of Natural Gas Vehicles for America said there are other natural-gas-powered vehicles on the road -- about 130,000, he estimates -- but that the vast majority of those are part of commercial or transit fleets or have been converted from gasoline-powered cars. "They're mostly fleet vehicles, like transit buses, delivery trucks, and the fleets maintained by the gas company, the electric company, etc," he said. "We don't have hard figures about conversions, but I'd bet that about 25 percent of those 130,000 were once gasoline-powered vehicles that have been converted to CNG vehicles," Kolodziej said. "There are a growing number of companies making certified conversion systems and installing them." NGVAmerica maintains a list of certified conversion systems on its Web site: www.ngvc.org. AOL Autos: Fuel-efficient used cars . Some of those 130,000 are also natural-gas-powered vehicles manufactured and sold by Ford, Chrysler and GM back in the early '90s, he says -- back when the U.S. manufacturers were still in the business of making CNG-powered cars. But we'll get back to that later. But with the price of gasoline currently averaging over $4 a gallon nationally, Kolodziej predicts there will be more and more demand for CNG-powered vehicles like the Civic GX. "I went to a conference a couple of months ago, and every manufacturer we talked to said that their phones were ringing off the hook, from people who are saying they'd be interested in buying a CNG-powered car," Kolodziej said. "And there are more and more people and companies who want to get into the conversion business." AOL Autos: Hybrid SUVs . The cost of conversions varies by the type of vehicle, Kolodziej noted. "But most cost in the $10,000 range. Most conversion systems are certified for Ford and GM models, among others," he said. On the financial side, natural gas is about 30 percent less expensive than gasoline when it is purchased at a refueling station. It's about 50 percent less expensive when you fill 'er up at home, via home refueling appliance that tap into your natural gas line, Kolodziej said. Owners of the Honda Civic GX in New York and California who have natural gas piped into their homes can purchase the "Phill" re-fueling system for about $3,500. This Phill system can be used whether your CNG vehicle was manufactured that way or converted, he said. AOL Autos: Luxury cars with best gas mileage . "The Phill is about the size of a pay phone, and you hang it on the garage wall, and vent it like a dryer and plug it into a gas line and also into an electric socket," Kolodziej explained. The primary environmental benefit of a CNG car is that it produces 90 percent fewer smog-forming pollutants (oxides of nitrogen), compared to the output of a conventional gas engine, said Steve Ellis, manager of alternative fuels for American Honda Motor Co. The Civic GX has reaped many environmental awards. This year, it was named by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as the "greenest vehicle in the nation -- for the fifth consecutive year." The GX, which was first introduced in 1998, has the cleanest internal combustion certified by the EPA, Ellis noted. AOL Autos: Most-popular fuel-efficient cars . The Civic GX is not a high-volume vehicle in terms of sales. Ellis said annual sales have fluctuated between 500 to 1000 units a year since it was rolled out, with sales of 1,100 units last year. He expects that to go up in 2008. For comparison purposes, about 40,000 Honda Civic Hybrids were sold last year, with sales of 48,000 anticipated for this year. Most of the sales of the Civic GX are concentrated in southern California, followed by Phoenix and Salt Lake City -- primarily because those markets are where many of the 1,600 re-fueling stations are presently located. "As the infrastructure builds up, we'll sell more of them in other markets," Ellis predicted. "Right now, this is a car that people use regionally. If you live here in Los Angeles, you can drive to Las Vegas and back and not worry about being able to find a refueling station. As for cost, the GX natural-gas vehicle is priced at about $24,500, compared to $17,000 for a comparably-equipped Civic LX, Ellis said -- except that buyers get a $4,000 tax credit on the purchase of the GX. And until recently, California buyers got an additional $3,000 rebate from the California Air Resources Board. "But the program was so popular, they are out of funds, and looking to add more money to the coffer so they can continue with the rebates," Ellis said. "But people who buy a Civic GX, when we ask them about the math, in term of comparing those two Civics, they sort of give us blank stares," Ellis continued. "Most of these folks who are buying the GX are trying to get out of having to commute to work every day in a pick-up truck, SUV or even a passenger car that's only getting 15 or 20 miles a gallon. And they're also the same kind of people who've said they'd pay $25 or $50 a week to be able to drive in the car-pool lane." Interestingly, many of the automakers, like Volkswagen, Mercedes, Fiat, GM Opel, Ford Europe, Peugeot and Renault, do produce CNG-powered vehicles for other countries, said NGVAmerica's Kolodziej, who noted that "about 1.5 million of the natural gas vehicles have been sold in Brazil, another 1.5 million in Argentina, another 1.5 million in Pakistan, and so on." And, once upon a time, in the early '90s, U.S. automakers did sell CNG vehicles in the United States. "But the federal government kept adding more loopholes to the energy policy that was supposed to encourage the increased manufacture and sales of CNG vehicles," Kolodziej said. "Then the government opted not to expand the coverage of the program the way the law allowed -- or the way the automakers expected. Without that demand pull, the U.S. automakers didn't believe they could sell enough of them here." "U.S. automakers zigged when they probably should have zagged" added Ellis of American Honda. "They turned their backs on CNG and began to focus on bio-fuels." But, noted Ellis, "We're definitely keeping our stake in the CNG business, because we know we can add it to other platforms. We used to think of the Civic GX as 'The Little Engine That Could' -- you know, saying, 'I think I can, I think I can' in terms of becoming more commercially viable. "But, with gas prices going up and up, now we're thinking more along the lines of 'I know I can, I know I can.' And more and more people are genuinely interested in going more green because of the environmental impact," he said. "A lot of people got into the hybrids, and then, after a while, began to ask, 'How can I do more?' And they're looking to natural-gas-powered cars as the answer to that. "So, we're in this for the long haul," noted Ellis, who said the company is definitely looking to do bigger business and make a profit from the GX. "Now, it's just a matter of society continuing to change, and to continue to become more environmentally-minded. As they do, we think there will be increasing interest in CNG, and we'll see a shift in emphasis toward CNG and away from bio-fuels."
|
Scientists trying to determine which alternative fuel is best for future .
Some say compressed natural gas could be the answer .
Only only one CNG-powered model sold on the consumer market today .
About 1,600 CNG refueling stations in U.S, compared to 200,000 gas stations .
|
f8231475241dadadb5dc535b128847489c7daf41
|
LONDON, England -- A yellow smiley-face badge, smeared with blood, has become the trademark for "Watchmen," the most critically revered of all comic-books -- but it could also represent its troubled journey from page to big screen. "Watchmen" opens with the unexplained murder of The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Note smiley badge. The subject of fervent debate in the geekosphere for more than two decades, "Watchmen," finally rolls out in the U.S. and other territories from the first week of March onward. But it's not as well known to wider audiences, who may puzzle at all this heat about a superhero movie with no A-list star attached. Instead, they may simply ask: "Watch-what?" Are you looking forward to "Watchmen?" Or think it's just hype? Tell us your views . "Watchmen," created by the UK comic-book team of writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, surfaced in 1986 as a monthly 12-issue series published by DC Comics (part of Time-Warner, which owns CNN parent company Turner Broadcasting). It was a defining year for the medium: aside from "Watchmen," '86 also saw Pulitzer-prize winning holocaust drama "Maus," from The New Yorker contributor Art Spielgeman; and Frank Miller's hyperviolent Batman reworking "The Dark Knight Returns." "Watchmen," set in 1985, sets up a parallel world in which America never lost Vietnam, Russia is about to invade Afghanistan and Nixon still holds power (Bernstein and Woodward were murdered). Meanwhile a superhero team -- only one of whom has special powers -- reforms after a fellow operative is mysteriously slain. So far, so what. But what lifts "Watchmen" is a complex, multi-layered narrative and depth of characterization that ensured it was the only comic-book to make Time's 100 best novels since 1923. A dark, downbeat work with a heady 11th-hour twist, it puts as much store on subsidiary characters like a newspaper seller as its does blue-skinned man-god Dr Manhattan. Watch "Watchmen" trailer. » . Perfect fodder, one might think, for the multiplex -- but "Watchmen" has been lodged in Development Hell for the best part of two decades. At various times Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vin Diesel were mooted to play Manhattan; Mickey Rourke and Ed Norton suggested for right-wing vigilante Rorschach. Directors set to shoot have included Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass and David Hayter (whose script has been retained for much of the final film). Several planned shoots failed to materialize due to studio fears about the budget (locations include Antarctica and Mars as well as New York) and how the ending might be perceived in a post-9/11 world. But film-makers such as Gilliam and Guillermo del Toro also believed that the complex material would be better treated as a TV mini-series (as the "Pan's Labyrinth" film-maker told IGN: "I just couldn't get my head around 'Watchmen' being two or three hours long.") Whoever made "Watchmen" would also do so without Moore's blessing. Still resident in his hometown of Northampton, central England, Moore cuts an imposing figure. At least six-and-a-half feet tall, with chest-length beard and hair, talon-like rings on his fingers and the skull of a centuries-old Buddhist monk in his study, he resembles Doctor Who as reimagined by Edgar Allan Poe. (In person he's gracious and affable, as this writer will attest from a few years back). Moore has had a mixed relationship with both the mainstream comic-book industry (which he accuses of over-commercialization and exploiting creators' rights) and Hollywood. The comic-book series "From Hell," in which Moore uses the Jack the Ripper killings as a precursor to 20th-century violence, runs to about 500 pages, including 40-plus pages of footnotes. On film it became a melodramatic pad around Victorian London, gamely carried by a pre-"Pirates" Johnny Depp. Two other Moore adaptations also failed to translate. Stephen Norrington's "The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (2003) was widely derided and the subject of a court case into which Moore was dragged; by the time of James McTeigue's better judged "V For Vendetta" (2005), Moore had asked his name be taken off any movie adaptations and refused to take royalties. Enter Zack Snyder. In 2004, Snyder came to the attention of mainstream cinemagoers with his well-regarded remake of George A Romero's zombie flick "Dawn of The Dead." Following the $450m-plus taken worldwide by Snyder's "300" (2006) -- a hyper-stylized take on Frank Miller's ancient Greek suicide-mission -- it was announced that "Watchmen" would be his next project with Warner Bros. Paramount, which abandoned plans for the movie in 2005, took international rights. The $150-million feature went into production in Vancouver in mid-2007, wrapping in early 2008, and with a cast including Billy Crudup and Jackie Earle Haley. Snyder has retained "Watchmen's" 1980s setting and also recruited original artist Gibbons -- who still retains friendship with Moore -- to advise on production design. Mindful that a narrative so complex could never work as a movie, Snyder has jettisoned several parallel subplots, which will surface as DVD extras and in director's cuts. Word is that the ending has also been changed. But wary of over-tweaking, Snyder told Entertainment Weekly last year: "You can't make it into something else, you really can't. It's not 'Fantastic Four,' it's got to be hard R [cinema rating], it's got to challenge everyone's ideas." Meanwhile Moore, who sometimes mentions that he worships a Roman snake-god, hinted in the LA Times that he had cursed the feature. "I can tell you that I will also be spitting venom all over it for months to come," he added. So was it Moore who saw "Watchmen" end up in the courts for a case that risked scuppering its release? Last year Twentieth Century Fox claimed it still retained rights through an earlier deal with producer Lawrence Gordon in the 1980s; Warners Bros disagreed but a judge decided there was a case to answer. A settlement was eventually thrashed out last month, only weeks ahead of release. And so "Watchmen" ticks toward early March and a rollout in spring, the now-traditional season for edgier comic-book adaptations like "300" and "Sin City." Trailers and early footage have drawn praise, with several scenes playing like detailed frames from the original artwork. But key will be whether Snyder can match "Watchmen's" dramatic beats against its green-screen chicanery for more than two hours (IMDB lists the running time at 163 minutes). After all, successfully mixing pyrotechnics and narrative is how the most satisfying genre features of recent years -- such as Peter Jackson's "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy and Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" -- have found artistic, as well as commercial, favor. Should Snyder pull it off then will he earn the gratitude of fan boys everywhere, as well as no small thanks from a fair few movie executives. What Alan Moore might think is another issue.
|
Comic-book movie, directed by Zack Snyder, took two decades to reach cinemas .
Directors Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass, previously attached .
Source material regarded by many as the best comic-book ever written .
Co-creator Alan Moore has objected to the idea of story being made into movie .
|
f824b27ed8524db51529529641b35b9e52089c31
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A Labour MP has joked about his Twitter followers switching to his wife, after she posted a series of photos online of her cleavage. Karen Danczuk, 31, married to Rochdale MP Simon, 47, has used her Twitter profile to increase her media exposure, and even mock Labour leader Ed Miliband, . Dozens of saucy 'selfies' on Twitter revealing her plunging cleavage led to a surge of interest in her tweets, not least by Mr Danczuk's fellow Labour MPs. Labour councillor Karen Danczuk has taken to posting increasingly revealing images on Twitter . The cleavage-exposing photographs have become the talk of Westminster in recent days, including these pictures of the dress she wore to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings . Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk seems to be revelling in the exposure his wife is enjoying online . Mr Danczuk has been an outspoken critic of Mr Miliband, urging him to shake up the team around him and connect with ordinary voters. But his ‘gorgeous’ young wife Karen has made a bigger impression with her online images, and swipes at the Labour leader. It includes eye-popping images of her favourite dresses and messages saying ‘there's nothing like a good #swim to make you feel human again’ with a photograph of herself in a swimming costume. After Mr Miliband gaffed with a photo opportunity where he struggled to eat a bacon sandwich, Mrs Danczuk posted a photo with the message: ‘Hmmm shall I eat or wrestle with my #baconbutty from @DanczuksDeli ??’ As news of the interest in her photos appeared in newspapers today, Mrs Danczuk posted this sun-kissed image . The images have flowed in recent days, leading to a surge Mrs Danczuk's Twitter followers . After Labour leader Ed Miliband struggled to eat a bacon sandwich, Mrs Danczuk posted this photo of her own hot breakfast . Despite the apparent disloyalty, her Twitter feed has become a hit with Labour MPs. Mr Danzcuk asked on the social media site: 'Why am I losing Twitter followers and my wife is gaining them?' Mrs Danczuk responded by blitzing the site with even more shots - making it hard for Labour MPs to get any work done. As news of her popularity online appeared in the newspapers again today, she posted a new photo declaring: 'Perfect weather for a bike ride today #sunshine #dry #warm.' The couple own and run Danczuk’s Deli and coffee shop in Rochdale.
|
Councillor Karen Danczuk, 31, becomes internet hit with online images .
Husband MP Simon, 47, says his followers are switching allegiance .
After newspaper reports, Mrs Danczuk posts new image in the sun .
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.