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Arrested: John Thomas Cormier Jr (pictured) was arrested Monday on charges he murdered his 3-month-old son . A young 21-year-old father was indicted Monday on charges he murdered his 3-month-old son. John Thomas Cormier Jr's arrest comes exactly three months after his infant son was found unresponsive at the Lebanon, Tennessee home he shared with the boy's mother. An investigation was launched after the incident, and the case was recently brought in front of a grand jury, which decided to indict Cormier on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. Emergency responders arrived at an apartment on 1701 Summerfield Drive on August 18, after receiving a call that a 3-month-old boy was unresponsive. Cormier's son was rushed to University Medical Center, but it was too late and he was pronounced dead. Lebanon Police Chief Scott Bowen has not commented on the case, or the condition the child was in when they found him. The Department of Children's Services is also investigating the case. Cormier is currently being held in Wilson County Jail on $250,000 bail. Emergency call: Cormier's son was found unresponsive at an apartment in this Lebanon, Tennessee complex on August 18. A grand jury decided to indict 21-year-old Cormier on charges of first-degree murder .
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John Thomas Cormier Jr was arrested on Monday after three month investigation into the suspicious death of his son .
Police have not revealed how the infant died .
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Many will find these graphic pictures upsetting. But for the indigenous people of Lamalera, a village on the south coast of Lembata in Indonesia, whale hunting has been a way of village life for hundreds of years. The 75ft-long . sperm whale is the Lamalera's favoured prey, but due to decreasing . numbers, hunters are increasingly turning their spears on sharks and dolphins to provide enough food for their village. These images were taken . during a hunt in one of the last places on Earth where people . still use traditional methods to fish. New meat: Due to decreased numbers of sperm whales, the Lamalera hunters are turning their spears on sharks and dolphins in order to provide enough food for their village . Brutal: The hunters drag a whale shark aboard their peledang - a wooden boat that can hold up to 14 men . Necessity? For the indigenous people whale hunting has been a way of village life for hundreds of years, but the hunters are concerned that there are not enough whales to keep the village going . The skilled fishermen sail out on a wooden peledang, a wooden boat that can hold up to 14 men. The most agile stands on the bow armed with a . 'kefa' - a bamboo pole with an iron-blade and knives. He then leaps from the boat, piercing the animal with the kefa before swimming back to collect another pole. A whale's blubber is a foot thick and the men, dwarfed by the enormous animal, risk their lives as they try to bring it to shore. Dangerous: The most agile of the crew stands on the bow armed with a 'kefa' - a bamboo pole with an iron-blade and knives . Target: A hunter points his harpoon towards a dolphin from the traditional whale-hunting boat in Lamalera, left, while a child practises throwing a spear after jumping from a cliff top . The whale or shark usually drags the boat through the water faster than a jet-ski before it finally succumbs. Sometimes the fishermen have to battle for up to six hours. It may seem cruel, but it is a a far cry from the whaling . fleets of Japan, whose factory boats and grenade harpoons wreak . slaughter on an industrial scale. Whales migrate between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific during . May to October. As such Lefa Nue or the sea season, starts on May 1 and continues into October. Going in for the kill: The harpooner leaps from the boat, piercing the animal with the 'kefa' before swimming back to the boat to collect another pole . Distressing: An injured shark struggles for its life under the boat during the hunt, left, while right, a fisherman helps to drag a captured shark on board . Season: The Lefa Nue or the sea season, starts on May 1 and continues into October . Cutting it fine: The captain of the traditional whale-hunting boat jumps into the water to kill a whale shark, left, while right, the shark is butchered on the boat . Food source: Half the meat caught during the hunt will feed the village. Tthe rest will go to market . Traditional: The wooden peledang can hold up to 14 men . The villagers continue to fight increasing . pressure from various organisations and NGOs are trying to encourage tourists to take part in whale watching rather than hunting. But the people of the village remain defiant, saying they need to keep hunting to survive. The sperm whale and the whale shark are classed as 'vulnerable' on the the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means they are likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening their survival improve. Welcome home: Children swim to welcome the traditional whale-hunting boat and its kill - a whale shark . Hauling in the catch: The children then help the crew to drag the captured sharks onto the island . Dinner: A villager takes his share of shark meat after the whale hunt, left, while other villagers share the meat of a whale shark on the shore of Lamalera, right . Heading out: A child sits in the traditional whale-hunting boat as villagers drag it across the sand to the sea, left, while right, the skeleton of a sperm whale is seen on the shore of Lamalera . Tradition: A villager takes her share of shark meat. Despite criticism from anti-whaling organisations the community says they need to keep hunting them, sharks and dolphins to survive . Remote: Lamalera is a village on the south coast of Lembata in the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia .
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Sperm whale and whale shark both classed as 'vulnerable' on the the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
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It's a gripping TV drama that features some of Britain’s most acclaimed actors. Yet for many of its ten million viewers, the biggest star of Broadchurch isn’t David Tennant or Olivia Colman – but the stunning Dorset scenery. Interest in the hit show is fuelling a boom in holiday rentals, and house prices, on the Jurassic Coast, as fans flock to visit the locations. Visitors can even stay in the blue chalet where Tennant’s character, DI Alec Hardy, anguishes over the murder case at the centre of the drama – for just £41 a night. But the bad news is that Britbank, a 100-year-old two-bedroom chalet on the banks of the River Brit in West Bay, the real-life Broadchurch, is booked out for months. Scroll down for video . A place to think: The Dorset chalet where David Tennant's DI Hardy lived is available for just £41 a night . The blue chalet, on the banks of the River Brit in West Bay, Dorset, has two bedrooms and sleeps four . But holiday letting agent Malcom Gill said: ‘One thing’s for certain, it’s not going to be £41 a night for long’ Holiday letting agent Malcom Gill added: ‘One thing’s for certain, it’s not going to be £41 a night for long.’ The price wasn’t even hiked for the producers of the series, who hired the chalet for two weeks to shoot Tennant’s scenes. Mr Gill added: ‘We just treated it like a standard let. The crew came in on check-in day and left two weeks later. They were the perfect customers.’ The show’s creator, Chris Chibnall, who lives in nearby Bridport, spotted the holiday home when he was writing the first series in a local cafe. He said the chalet ‘holds lots – if not all – of the secrets’. It is not the only Broadchurch property that fans can rent. In the first series, Pauline Quirke’s Susan Wright lived in a mobile home at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, where the father of the murdered Danny and the son of his killer secretly bonded over video games. A week in the three-bedroom caravan ranges from £350 to £1,000, depending on the season. Even Dorset’s beach huts have benefited from the Broadchurch effect, despite being the scene of the brutal fictional murder. One recently went on the market for £225,000, even though it’s uninhabitable with no bathroom, mains electricity or running water.
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Biggest star isn’t David Tennant or Olivia Colman, but the stunning scenery .
Hit show is fuelling a boom in holiday rentals, and house prices in Dorset .
Visitors can even stay in the blue chalet where Tennant’s character, DI Alec Hardy, anguishes over the murder case at the centre of the drama .
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(CNN) -- Stars, officials and loved ones weighed in Tuesday with their tributes to TV actor Andy Griffith, who died at age 86 in his home state of North Carolina: . -- Cindi Griffith, Andy Griffith's wife: "Andy was a person of incredibly strong Christian faith and was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord." -- President Barack Obama: "Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Andy Griffith this morning. A performer of extraordinary talent, Andy was beloved by generations of fans and revered by entertainers who followed in his footsteps. He brought us characters from Sheriff Andy Taylor to Ben Matlock, and in the process, warmed the hearts of Americans everywhere. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy's family." White House mourns the death of Andy Griffith . -- Jim Nabors: "I was saddened this morning to learn of the passing of my good friend Andy Griffith. He was a legend. My thoughts and prayers are with Andy's family." -- Ron Howard: "His pursuit of excellence and the joy he took in creating served generations & shaped my life," the film director, who played Opie Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show," said on his Twitter page. "I'm forever grateful RIP Andy." -- Barbara Eden: "His talent created an aura of reality on the set," said Eden, who appeared on "The Andy Griffith Show" before starring in "I Dream of Jeannie." "He was so honest and so centered, sometimes you didn't know if you were having a discussion with him or if you were doing the lines." -- North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue: "North Carolina has lost its favorite son. Throughout his career, he represented everything that was good about North Carolina: a small town boy and UNC graduate who took a light-hearted approach to some of the attributes he grew up with and turned them into a spectacularly successful career. And regardless of where that career took him, he always came back to North Carolina and spent his final years here." -- Nancy Stafford, Andy Griffith's co-star on "Matlock": "I'm heartsick....I am forever grateful for the 5 wonderful years I worked with Andy. They were a highlight of my life -- I've never laughed so hard or learned so much! He has left an indelible mark on my life -- and the lives of countless millions. He was a consummate professional, an American treasure, and a dear man." -- Larry King: "Sad to hear news of Andy Griffith's death," the former CNN talk show host tweeted. "He was a terrific actor, a great comedian, an endearing person. He lived a long & fruitful life." -- Country singer Brad Paisley: "An actor who never looked like he was acting, a moral compass who saved as many souls as most preachers, and an entertainer who put smiles on more faces than almost anyone; this was as successful a life as is pretty much possible. Andy Griffith made the world a better place, and I was so proud to call him a friend." -- Actor Jeff Daniels: "Growing up, I watched ("The Andy Griffith Show") religiously," Daniels tweeted. "One of the reasons why I now do what I do. RIP Andy." What we love about Andy Griffith . Remembering Andy Griffith with Lyrics . Actor Andy Griffith dead at 86 . 'Andy Griffith' theme song part of Americana .
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Andy Griffith "created an aura of reality on the set," Barbara Eden says .
Griffith "was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord," his wife says .
He "warmed the hearts of Americans everywhere," President Obama says .
Film director Ron Howard: Griffith's "pursuit of excellence ... shaped my life"
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(CNN)A new winter storm slammed the East Coast on Saturday, putting Washington, D.C. and Baltimore into the deep freeze. In Washington, 4-6 inches of snow and sleet were expected to accumulate by Sunday morning, the National Weather Service reported. In Baltimore, the prediction was even worse, with 6-10 inches expected. The storm snarled roads, forcing the closure of I-95 southbound in Baltimore and leaving so many disabled vehicles that emergency vehicles couldn't get through, CNN affiliate WBFF reported. A sheet of ice covered part of Madison Avenue NW in Washington because a water main broke on Friday, CNN affiliate WJLA reported, trapping about half a dozen cars. "I can't even move the car," A.J. Kumar told WJLA. "It's right up to the bumper." People are having to stay put all over the East Coast. At 9:30 p.m. ET Saturday, at least 1,546 fights had been canceled in the United States, many in the Washington and Baltimore areas, according to FlightAware.com. The weather agency calls for accumulations of 3-6 inches in New York City, 4-6 inches in Philadelphia and 2-5 inches in Boston by Sunday morning. Up to 12 inches were forecast for West Virginia, CNN meteorologists said. In Tennessee, 50,000 customers in 12 counties have lost power, many in the Cumberland Plateau area in the eastern part of the state, said the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. The governor elevated the state to a higher level state of emergency, meaning citizens may be eligible for state and federal assistance. So far, no more fatalities have been reported. The state said on Friday that 18 people had died from weather-related causes. In Kentucky, a 24-hour Walmart in South Williamson was evacuated and closed indefinitely after store employees detected cracks in the walls, apparently caused by the heavy snow load on the roof, Walmart spokeswoman Tricia Moriarty said. The department store will stay closed until the building is fully inspected and determined to be fully safe, Moriarty said. Roofs also collapsed in Harlan and Jackson, but no injuries were reported. To make matters worse, a brand new arctic blast is pushing cold air into the lower 48 states, creating dangerously low temps Sunday in the Northern Plains, CNN meteorologists said. Wind chills may reach minus 30 or minus 40 degrees, . Monday and Tuesday are shaping up to be very cold days in the East and Midwest. The National Weather predicted Monday high temperatures of 22 in Philadelphia, 17 in New York City, 10 in Chicago, 4 in Cleveland and 25 in Washington. A storm was heading toward the Rocky Mountains, too, creating a chance of snow from Montana down through Colorado and into northeastern New Mexico, CNN meteorologists said. In Denver, 8-10 inches of snow could fall. CNN's Vivian Kuo contributed to this report.
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2-6 inches of snow, rain and sleet expected in New York City, Philadelphia and Boston .
4-6 inches expected to accumulate in Washington, D.C., and 6-10 inches in Baltimore, the National Weather Service says .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:54 EST, 31 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:56 EST, 31 July 2012 . A 33-year-old woman has died after fighting a flesh-eating bacteria which ravaged her body for a month. Crystal Spencer died at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital on Sunday night in Detroit, Michigan after she had been admitted to the emergency department of another Detroit hospital with severe pain from a large boil on her thigh on June 30. Mrs Spencer’s husband Jeff believes she contracted the flesh-eating bacteria necrotizing fasciitis at the emergency department at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Death by bacteria: Crystal Spencer has died after contracting a flesh-eating bacteria a month ago . He plans to have an autopsy done to find out how exactly his wife died, his attorney Brian Benner said. Two days after the Farmington Hills woman was admitted to Botsford Hospital, Mrs Spencer was transferred to Huron Valley-Sinai where she underwent a four hour procedure to remove what Mr Spencer called a ‘watermelon-size’ piece of flesh from her thigh. Her condition improved enough to be sent home but she was readmitted again when her condition deteriorated. Legal action: Mr Spencer plans to sue Botsford Hospital where he believes Mrs Spencer contracted necrotizing fasciitis . Mr Spencer said that he will be taking legal action against Botsford Hospital where he believes she contracted the rare infection. Dr Gerald Blackburn, the hospital’s infectious diseases director and other staff had reviewed Mrs Spencer’s case, the hospital spokeswoman Margo Gorchow said according to Detroit Free Press. Ms Gorchow said that the hospital would aid with any investigation into the case but said there were many reasons why Mrs Spencer could not have contracted the disease at Botsford Hospital. Blames the hospital: Her husband Jeff Spencer plans to have an autopsy done to find out exactly how Mrs Spencer died . Ms Gorchow said that the bacteria is usually not contracted in a hospital but caused by an open wound. Mrs Spencer did not present any symptoms of the condition when she was treated at the hospital and she neglected to follow the doctor’s discharge instructions to see the doctor the next day. She was also the ‘classic example of a person at risk’ of infection because Mrs Spencer was diabetic, overweight and a smoker making her ‘more vulnerable’. Not at the hospital: Botsford Hospital officials say that Mrs Spencer would not have contracted the bacteria at the hospital and that she had not followed discharge instructions . According to KSDK, Mrs Spencer’s family were preparing for her to enter rehab until her condition deteriorated suddenly. Eric Spencer, her father-in-law said: ‘I mean she was cheerful and whatever. She was looking forward and on her way to recovery.’ Her husband had said while she fought the bacteria that she only had a 20 to 30 per cent chance of surviving the aggressive disease, and say her Type 2 diabetes has complicated her recovery. Other recent cases of the flesh-eating disease have been reported in South Carolina and Georgia, making this one of the first in the north of America. Victim: Georgia grad student Aimee Copeland, 24, also contracted the aggressive disease after cutting her leg falling from a zipline. She had a leg, the other foot and both hands amputated to save her life . Road to recovery: Aimee was pictured smiling with her parents outside the hospital last week . Student Aimee Copeland had her leg, the other foot and both hands amputated, as well as part of her torso, to save her life. Recent pictures show her grinning in the hospital, and her parents have said she is determined to walk at her graduation ceremony in December. Necrotizing . fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease', is a rare but . extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotizing' refers to . something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy . skin, muscles and fat. The . disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a . minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that . kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Because it is so virulent, the bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body. Symptoms . include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin, rapidly-spreading . bruising, sweating, chills, fever and nausea. Organ failure and shock . are also common complications. Sufferers . must be treated immediately to prevent death, and are usually given . powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue. Amputation can . become necessary if the disease spreads through an arm or leg. Patients may undergo skin grafts after the infection has cleared up, to help the healing process or for aesthetic reasons.
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Crystal Spencer died at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital on Sunday .
Her husband Jeff believes she contracted the bacteria at Botsford Hospital .
He plans to take legal action against the hospital in Detroit, Michigan and also have an autopsy done to find out exactly how his wife died .
She was admitted with severe pain from a large boil on her thigh on June 30 .
Hospital officials do not believe Mrs Spencer contracted the disease at their hospital .
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f848d5cad817457a10db2c2189837a007150708d
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Thousands of Muslims gathered Friday on Capitol Hill for a day of prayer that organizers said was intended to inspire American Muslims and non-Muslims alike. People traveled from all over the United States to attend the Capitol Hill event, organizer Abdul Malik said. "America is not perfect," Abdul Malik, an organizer of the event called Islam on Capitol Hill, told the crowd. "But I will say something it took me my whole adult life to come to: America is not perfect, but I want to tell the truth: It is one of the best places in the world to live." Organizers had hoped that 50,000 people would show up for the Friday afternoon prayer session, which took place at the foot of the U.S. Capitol. There were also anti-Muslim protesters near the event. Earlier, Malik said, "This is not a protest, it is a day of prayer, of devotion, hoping that we can work ... for the betterment of the world community." He added, "We can come together and work together for the common good." He said that Muslims in the United States have a "unique responsibility" and that the event seeks to inspire Muslims and all Americans. "America represents, still, a beacon of hope," he said. Malik said conversations about the event began only a few months ago. "It's amazing," he said. "The Web site has gotten more than 3 million hits already." Friday's event was focused on a 1 p.m. prayer, and a reception and banquet were planned afterward. Malik said attendees were traveling from all over the United States -- including Texas, Florida and Georgia -- as well as from other countries, such as Britain and Canada. "The beautiful thing ... about this, is that we have a good representation of the uniqueness and beauty of what Islam stands for," he said. Besides the protesters, the event drew other criticism. Malik said he had received some "very nasty e-mails." And one Christian leader warned of a strategy to "Islamize" American society. "It is important for Christians to understand that Friday's Muslim prayer initiative is part of a well-defined strategy to Islamize American society and replace the Bible with the Koran, the cross with the Islamic crescent and the church bells with the Athan [the Muslim call to prayer]," the Rev. Canon Julian Dobbs, leader of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America's Church and Islam Project, said in a written statement. "The time has come for the American public to call Islam to account," he said.
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NEW: Speaker calls U.S. "one of the best places in the world to live"
Prayer event sought to inspire Muslims and all Americans, one organizer says .
Event drew protesters, criticism from Christian leader, "very nasty e-mails"
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By . Rebecca Seales . PUBLISHED: . 06:42 EST, 4 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:01 EST, 4 August 2013 . Iran's new president Hasan Rouhani has accused the United States of seeking an excuse to confront the country over its nuclear programme. The new leader reportedly made the claim during a meeting with North Korean official Kim Yong Nam, who is in the Iranian capital Tehran to see Mr Rouhani's inauguration. According to Iranian state TV, the president said: 'We believe the United States and the Westerners are seeking an excuse to confront the countries that they do not consider friends.' Allegations: Iran's new president Hasan Rouhani (right) told a top North Korean official, Kim Yong Nam, that America wants an excuse to confront Iran over its nuclear programme . The West suspects Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, a charge which Iran denies. Mr Rouhani, who was elected in June, has promised greater openness over the country's nuclear activities. However, he is subordinate in the country's power structure to the clerical leadership, particularly in foreign and security matters. At his inauguration earlier today, the new president was formally endorsed by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The event, which was broadcast live on state television, saw Mr Rouhani sat cross-legged on a mat on one side of Ayatollah Khamenei, with outgoing president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the other. Inauguration: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sat in the centre during the ceremony, with president-elect Hasan Rouhani on his right, and outgoing president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his left . Mr Ahmadinejad has been a thorn in the side of Western leaders and the United Nations since he took power in 2005, thanks to hardline policies which raised frequent tensions. Speaking at the event, Mr Rouhani pledged to follow a path of moderation and work to get Western sanctions over Iran's suspect nuclear programme lifted. Iran is under United Nations sanctions as well as unilateral Western oil and banking sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to power reactors producing electricity or build nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful and geared towards generating electricity and producing radioisotopes to treat cancer patients. Nuclear programme: In this photo from April 2008, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, centre, visits the Natanz Uranium Enrichment Facility . 'The government's (goal) will be to tackle people's living issues. ... In parallel, it will take new steps in the arena of international relations to improve Iran's standing on the basis of meeting national interests and remove the current oppressive sanctions,' Mr Rouhani said. The leader also announced his first appointment since taking office, in which he named a U.S.-educated businessman as his chief of staff. A Sunday report by the official IRNA news agency says Hasan Rouhani has chosen Mohammad Nahavandian, a 58-year-old businessman with a doctorate in economics from George Washington University in Washington. Mr Nahavandian's appointment is being seen as an attempt to reach out to the private sector. In this picture released by the Iranian supreme leader's office, outgoing president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hands back the official seal of approval to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei . Endorsement: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured left) gives his official seal of approval to president-elect Hasan Rouhani. Pictured right, the new president kisses the supreme leader's robe. The president's team contains figures whose academic pedigrees include institutions in California, Washington and London, while Mr Rouhani himself studied in Scotland. It remains unclear if - or how - their Western-looking credentials will influence Iranian policies or foster potential outreach diplomacy, such as direct talks with the U.S. Ayatollah Khamenei, the ultimate authority in Iran, has the final say in all key matters, including Mr Rouhani's upcoming selections for key Cabinet posts such as the foreign and intelligence ministers. During Sunday's inauguration ceremony, Mr Rouhani kissed the supreme leader's clerical robe, but avoided kissing his hand, something Mr Ahmadinejad did in 2005. The Ayatollah kissed Rouhani's forehead in a blessing.
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Hasan Rouhani claims U.S. wants to confront 'the countries they do not consider friends'
Iran's president made the allegation to North Korean official Kin Yong Nam .
His inauguration was approved today by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei .
He has pledged to get sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme lifted .
Reports claim U.S.-educated Mohammad Nahavandian has been chosen as Mr Rouhani's chief of staff .
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Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs said he wanted to increase support to 'moderates' fighting to bring down President Assad . William Hague issued an ultimatum to Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad yesterday, warning Britain will arm the rebels seeking to oust him unless he comes to the negotiating table. The Foreign Secretary said there’s a ‘compelling case’ for changing the European Union arms embargo on Syria next week to allow weapons to go to moderate rebel groups. He said ‘no option’ would be off limits if the Assad regime refuses to co-operate with plans for a peace conference in Geneva. Mr Hague said no decision has been made yet. But he argued the West has a ‘moral’ duty to help those friendly to the outside world while Russia and Iran arm the regime and Arab states funnel weapons to Al Qaeda supporters. Mr Hague said: ‘People who are maybe described as rebels but are actually men, women and children sitting in their communities suffering virtually every kind of weapon that man has ever created being dropped on them while the world denies them the means to defend themselves.’ Mr Hague will join the French in an attempt to loosen the embargo at a meeting in Brussels next Monday, but if other EU countries don’t agree it will lapse at the end of the month. He said changing the embargo is ‘essential’ to force the Syrian regime to negotiate. ‘The United Kingdom and France are strongly of the view that changes to the embargo are not separate from the diplomatic work but essential to it,’ Mr Hague said. He repeated claims that between 70 and 100 British jihadis are fighting alongside Al Qaeda elements in Syria. Parliament would debate any decision to arm the rebels, he said. In a move that confirms the Government is close to a decision, Mr Hague spelt out three conditions applicable to any weapons offer. He told MPs: ‘If we were to pursue this, it would be under the following conditions – in co-ordination with other nations, in carefully controlled circumstances and in accordance with our obligations under national and international law.’ Tory and Labour MPs have warned the changes could drag Britain into a civil war that’s already cost 70,000 lives. Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander told Mr Hague: ‘I believe that the risks of what could be a decade-long sectarian war in Syria, fuelled in part by weapons supplied by the United Kingdom, should give you serious pause for thought.’ Former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw said: ‘If the embargo is lifted, is there not a risk that this could lead to an escalation of an arms race between the West and Russia and Iran.’ Rebels: Free Syrian Army fighters prepare to launch a rocket in Deir al-Zor in the eastern part of the country . Mr Hague added: 'With every week that . passes we are coming closer to the collapse of Syria and a regional . catastrophe, with the lives of tens of thousands more Syrians at stake. 'We are determined to make every . effort to end the carnage, to minimise the risks to the region, and to . protect the security of the United Kingdom.' The death toll from the conflict has doubled in the first five months of 2013 and now stands at 80,000 people. More than 4million Syrians have been . 'displaced' and some 6.8million are in 'desparate need', including . 3million children, Mr Hague added. Battle: A Kurdish female fighter who is a sniper takes aim for her vantage point in Aleppo . Fall out: Syrians inspecting the rubble of damaged buildings due to government airstrikes in Qusair . Last month the European Union’s security chief Gilles de Kerchove warned hundreds of young men from across . Europe are fighting with rebel forces in Syria. Gilles . de Kerchove said those fighting to bring down President Assad, including . many Britons, will be ‘radicalised’ before returning home where they . will pose a ‘serious threat’ to national security. It is feared some will become members of groups with links to al-Qaeda before launching terror attacks at home. Mr de Kerchove, the EU’s counter-terrorism coordinator, said: ‘We are concerned, of course.’ He said most of the Europeans agreeing to fight with the rebels were being converted by radicals in Syria. ‘Not all of them are radical one day when they leave but most likely many of them will be radicalised there, they will be trained,’ he told the BBC. ‘And as we have seen in previous situations this might create a serious threat when they get back.’
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Foreign Secretary says no option is off the table in attempt to end conflict .
Syria now the number one destination for jihadists anywhere in the world .
Mr Hague says UK wants to support 'moderates' in war against Assad .
Death toll doubles to 80,000 and 6.8million have been displaced .
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By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 07:48 EST, 4 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:20 EST, 4 March 2013 . Mother-of-five Mina Robinson woke up to find that someone had stabbed her in the side . A mother-of-five has told how an intruder broke into her home and plunged a knife into her side as she slept on the sofa. Mina Robinson, 34, was sleeping in her living room after a full day decorating while her children stayed at her ex-husband's house. She woke up bleeding heavily after an armed raider broke into her home at 10.40pm on February 3 this year and stabbed her with a knife, leaving the blade in her stomach. The care assistant tried to stop her attacker who fled her home in Tamworth, Staffordshire, empty handed but collapsed in agonising pain. She managed to dial 999 and was rushed to Walsgrave University Hospital in Coventry where doctors told her the tip of the knife was close to puncturing her intestine. Ms Robinson underwent four hours of surgery in the early hours of February 4 and remained in intensive care for four days before she recovered. She described, for the first time, the moment she woke to find the knife plunged into her side. 'I was painting my house and fell asleep on the sofa as I was exhausted.' she said. 'Suddenly I heard someone rush past me and then I felt a sharp pain in my side. 'I caught a glimpse of someone running out of my house. Then I looked at my side and I had a knife sticking in me. 'I feel like I went into shock. When I did get to my phone I pressed the first button which was my cousin. The rear of Ms Robinson's house. She is to be moved by the council into a new one as soon as possible . The intruder ran from her house after stabbing her. Ms Robinson now cannot return to her home and is staying with friends and family . 'She couldn't understand me but then I dialled 999 and they said leave the knife there and that help was on its way. 'Police and paramedics turned up and they took me to hospital. They left the knife in because it was acting as a plug to stop the blood. I just remember being in and out of it.' Ms Robinson was given 25 stitches but her wound has since burst - meaning she needed to have the gash repaired with Steristrips because she didn't have enough new tissue. She was told by doctors that she was millimeters from death. She said: 'After the surgery doctors said if it . had gone in a little bit further it would have gone into my intestine . and I wouldn't have survived. Ms Robinson's stitches burst after the incident and she had to go through further proceedures . 'It was literally millimetres from going in my intestine. They said all it needed was a little tap and it would've killed me.' The mother was left so traumatised by the attack that she has refused to sleep in the house and is now staying with a friend in Wednesbury, West Midlands. She added: 'I re-live it every day. It has been four weeks but it's always there in my mind. 'It really isn't something you expect to happen in your own home. It has had a negative impact on my children and I am scared to be in my own home now. "I haven't stayed in the house since it happened. I've stayed with my ex-husband to see the children but going back to the house is very hard. 'On the day I came out of hospital I did go back to the house and it was really difficult. 'But I can't sleep there ever again. The council are getting me a move and I'm just waiting for a few bits of paperwork to go through. 'I have no idea who could have done it and the police are still investigating but so far have no leads.' A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: 'Officers attended and found the victim, a 34-year-old woman with a stomach wound and she was taken by ambulance to Walsgrave University Hospital of Coventry for treatment. 'She has since been discharged. The offender fled the scene before emergency services arrived.'
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Mina Robinson was sleeping on her sofa when an intruder stabbed her .
The mother managed to call 999 and was rushed hospital in Coventry .
She has admitted that she is too terrified to return to her home as the intruder has never been found .
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Editor's note: CNN.com has a business partnership with CareerBuilder.com, which serves as the exclusive provider of job listings and services to CNN.com. Locksmiths have realistic personalities. They are results-driven, hands-on people who like problems and solutions. Everyone knows how hard it is to get along with others when there's a personality clash -- so imagine how hard it is to be happy in career that does the same thing. Similar to when you're looking for a mate, you want to find a career that complements your character, not conflicts with it. For example, if you're active and outgoing, you might not do well sitting behind a desk all day. On the same token, if you're shy and soft-spoken, you might not do well in a job that requires a lot of social interaction, and if you like working alone, you wouldn't thrive in a team setting. Here we have six personality groups which seem to encompass the majority of people. From there, we've listed what jobs might be suited to best fit your needs. Please note that each requires different education, training and qualification requirements. Personality: Artistic . What you're like: Artistic personalities are creative by nature, with imaginations that stretch further than others can conceive. These people like to express themselves through their work versus completing structured tasks. They like to work without rules, and enjoy working with forms, designs, colors, words and patterns. Job matches: Editor ... $47,811* Graphic designer ... $48,891 High school drama teacher ... $52,856 Landscape architect ... $53,241 Perfumer ... $21,791 Producer ... $79,310 . Personality: Conventional . What you're like: Conventional people like conventional things: Rules, procedures, schedules and instructions are all things that appeal to them. They prefer working with details and data versus ideas; they are practical and like routine and order. Job matches: Accountant ... $46,171 Actuary ... $97,354 Building inspector ... $47,735 Cost estimator ... $53,413 Financial planner ... $63,837 Technical writer ... $55,747 . Personality: Enterprising . What you're like: Enterprise people are leaders. They like to see projects through from start to finish, business ventures in particular. They are doers more than thinkers and are more interested in the "big picture" than the small pieces that make it up. Job matches: Advertising sales agent ... $39,103 Financial officer ... $77,019 Management analyst ... $63,610 Program director ... $48,382 Sales representative ... $44,784 Sales manager ... $85,091 . Personality: Investigative . What you're like: Investigative people prefer to work alone. They like using logic over imagination, solving problems and mysteries, putting together pieces of a puzzle, precision, science and they pay extreme attention to detail. Job matches: Computer systems analyst ... $61,549 Librarian ... $48,025 Optometrist ... $95,058 Science professor ... $73,532 Software engineer ... $75,850 Statistician ... $59,830 . Personality: Realistic . What you're like: True to their name, realists are ... well, realistic. They are results-driven, hands-on people who like problems and solutions. They like working outdoors, as well as with machines, tools and jewelry. Job matches: Diagnostic medical sonographer ... $56,603 Electricians ... $35,158 Highway patrol pilots ... $69,098 Locksmiths ... $34,148 Nuclear engineer ... $84,044 Orthodontist ... $271,373 . Personality: Social . What you're like: Social people like helping others and working with teams. They communicate well, thrive on human interaction and they'd rather talk than work with machines or data. The best jobs for them are ones that let them be with other people. Job matches: Family practitioner ... $160,264 Personal coach ... $64,523 Personal trainer ... $24,881 School psychologist ... $49,622 Student affairs director ... $71,093 Teacher ... $44,137 . *Salaries according to CBSalary.com . Copyright CareerBuilder.com 2009. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority .
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Find a career that complements your character, not conflicts with it .
Artistic personalities are creative by nature with imaginations that stretch .
Social people like helping others and working with teams .
Enterprise people are leaders that like to see projects through to the finish .
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(CNN) -- It was an ordinary day just before Halloween. I had arrived home after picking up my 3-year-old daughter from school when I heard my phone ringing. I missed the first call from my father-in-law. He called right back. I knew what he was calling about. I took the phone to my wife, Sara, and let her take the call. About 10 seconds into the conversation, she crumbled into a heap on the floor. Fighting cancer with mustaches . The test results were back. My father-in-law had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. We had feared this was going to come. He had shown some worrisome symptoms for a while, but nothing really prepares you for that moment. We cried, and I supported my wife the best I could. We talked about how we could help, being that we live in Atlanta and my in-laws live just outside Chicago. Would we move? Would we take time off from work? Would we pay for a nurse to help him recover? What will his treatment be? How will it affect him? Will it make him better? A few hours after being introduced to my father-in-law almost six years ago, I joined his family in riding in Chicago Critical Mass. Several thousand fellow cyclists had taken to rush hour in downtown Chicago to demonstrate that "we are traffic, too." The cops shut the event down after a while. There I was, looking at the man who I knew would be my father-in-law, lifting his bicycle above his head, shouting "F*** the police!" I loved him instantly. The one thing I do know about his diagnosis: We will approach it with the same bluntness, energy and "stick-it-to-the-man" mentality that he has taken to every other challenge he's had. He is due to have surgery soon, and the prognosis looks hopeful. I know this attitude will stand him in good stead for a full recovery. When we got that fateful phone call, I realized that we were only a couple of days away from Movember, the month when "Mo-Bros" everywhere join forces to grow ridiculous-looking mustaches in the name of raising awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives. It was a concept that seemed to fit perfectly. So I rummaged around the bathroom drawer for my long-lost razor. The last time I was completely bereft of facial hair was the night my daughter was born nearly four years ago. We were living in Amsterdam at the time, and after 24 hours or so at the hospital, we were the proud parents of a 6-pound baby girl. As my wife and our new bundle of joy slept, I rushed home to collect clothes for Sara and other sundries that had been forgotten in the rush to the hospital. I thought I would do the decent thing and clean myself up a bit before returning to the hospital in the morning. A shower and a shave, I thought. But I was so tired at that point that I didn't realize I had left the guard off my electric razor. Beard ... gone. I didn't recognize the person underneath. I've had facial hair ever since, and it really felt strange to shave it off again for Movember. It made me think about that night at the hospital and reminded me of the new sense of responsibility I felt to my daughter and wife. This time, that sense of responsibility comes from a different place. This time I feel an obligation to stand with my father-in-law, to support and honor him in the best and only way I know how. When people stop me at work and ask me why I shaved my beard off, I have a great excuse to talk about him and the type of man he is. It never fails to give me a spring in my step and a great sense of confidence, purpose and camaraderie. Ultimately, I think that's what Movember is all about.
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Stewart Scott-Curran: Movember is a conversation starter about men's health .
He says it reminds him of family responsibility as much as it does of beards .
Scott-Curran: "It never fails to give me ... a great sense of confidence"
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(CNN) -- Maria de Villota has lost her right eye after a crash at a test event, her Formula One team, Marussia, announced Wednesday. The Spaniard, one of only two female drivers contracted to an F1 team, underwent surgery after running into a stationary truck at a British airfield on Tuesday. A statement from the Russian-owned team said that the 32-year-old had sustained "serious head and facial injuries" and that she had been in theater overnight at Addenbrooke's Hospital in the English county of Cambridgeshire. "We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving, and her family would like to thank the Neurological and Plastics surgical teams," team principal John Booth said. Family or F1? Female driver chooses the track - for now . "However, it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye. "Maria's care and the well-being of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital, and we are doing everything possible to support them." Tuesday's test was the first time De Villota had been behind the wheel of the MR01 car, and Booth said Marussia officials are investigating the accident. "We have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened, and this work continues for the moment," he said. "Finally, we have been overwhelmed by messages of support for Maria, her family and the team, and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for those." De Villota was recruited by UK-based Marussia -- formerly known as Virgin Racing -- in March, having driven in Spanish Formula Three, the Euroseries 3000 and the Daytona 24 Hours. The Madrid native is the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, who raced between 1976 and 1982. Pit-lane pioneers: Women in Formula One .
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Maria de Villota loses her right eye after an F1 crash on Tuesday .
The Spaniard has surgery after sustaining serious head and facial injuries .
Marussia team investigating how the accident at a British airfield occurred .
De Villota is one of only two female drivers contracted to an F1 team .
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- A new generation of deep-sea submarines light enough to launch from a yacht could open up the ocean's depths to amateur explorers. The planned "Deep Flight II" -- shown here in an artist's impression -- should be able to dive to 37,000 ft. The "Deep Flight" winged submersibles are experimental prototypes designed to dive to depths of up to 37,000 ft -- almost four times as deep as a giant squid dives -- descending at 400 ft/minute. They are the brainchild of submarine designer Graham Hawkes who is in the process of building commercial models that can reach those depths. Hawkes has been designing submarines since the 1960s, working initially with the British Special Forces and then for the oil industry. He now sells his designs to wealthy sailboat owners as the ultimate yacht accessory. "If you have the money for a mega-yacht and you're just limited to the surface, then what a waste. That's my perspective," Hawkes told CNN in a telephone interview. The late billionaire balloonist and adventurer, Steve Fossett, commissioned one of Hawkes' experimental prototypes, "Deep Flight Challenger," which can dive to 37,000 ft. The craft was four weeks away from delivery when he died. Venture capitalist Tom Perkins has ordered one of Hawkes' first commercially-available models, "Deep Flight Superfalcon" for his yacht "Maltese Falcon." The $1.5 million sub is capable of diving to 1,000 ft and comes complete with air conditioning. While price means these craft are out of reach for most leisure users, Hawkes denies they are simply rich men's toys. "The thing is a space ship, I don't like the term toy," said Hawkes of the subs which his company is also positioning as a cheaper alternative to research craft for science, industry and exploration. "'Superfalcon' has a capability greater than the U.S. Navy. "I personally very much like the idea of empowering individuals to explore." Unlike conventional subs which get heavy and sink, Hawkes' designs are positively buoyant and have to power down into the depths: "It's like an airplane in reverse." They have life support good for 24 hours in the depths and a range of 10-20 miles. They are also quick and highly maneuverable. Hawkes, who describes himself as claustrophobic, says diving deep in one of his subs is an "awe inspiring experience." "We just finished flight testing 'Superfalcon. It goes down vertical and you pull one gee when you make a turn," he said. Paul Willis contributed to this report.
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Deep-sea sub that can dive to 37,000 ft is light enough to launch from a yacht .
Brainchild of designer Graham Hawkes who is in process of producing first craft .
"Deep Flight II" has no price tag yet but current sub "Superfalcon" cost $1.5 million .
Hawkes: Superfalcon has a capability greater than the U.S. Navy .
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Rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria are suspected of sabotaging a batch of measles vaccinations - leading to the deaths of up to 50 young children. Dozens of infants in the rebel-held cities of Jarjanaz and Sinjar in Idlib province died on Tuesday minutes after being given the drug. Although the cause of death has not yet been established, officials reportedly suspect the vaccines may have been tampered with while left unguarded in a storage facility in Jarjanaz. In this photo released by anti-Bashar al-Assad activist group Edlib News Network (ENN), which has been authenticated based on its contents, show two Syrian children receiving treatment after they were given a second round of measles vaccinations, in Idlib province . Dr Abdulla Ajaj - a physician who helped administer the vaccine - said the children all exhibited the same 'severe allergic shock' to varying degrees. 'There was shouting and screaming, it was hard for the parents. You get your child vaccinated and then you find your child dying, it's very hard,' Ajaj said. There weren't enough respirators in the clinic, making the situation even worse, he added. Video footage uploaded to social media showed a medic examining a young girl who was squirming. Another child, in an orange tee-shirt and blue pants, appeared lifeless as a medic administered CPR. He then opened the child's mouth to reveal a swollen, blue-tinged tongue. Physicians for Human Rights, a New York-based group that works in rebel-held areas of northwest Syria, sent an internal e-mail saying that up to 50 children may have died from the vaccine. The vaccinations are part of a large-scale campaign to stop the spread of measles, mumps, rubella and polio in rebel-held areas of northern Syria. UN. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said UNICEF and the World Health Organization are 'deeply concerned'. 'Measles is a major threat to children in Syria and the campaigns are vital,' Haq added. They are being distributed by volunteer medical and aid organisations operating in the area, according to the Boston Globe. In a Skype interview with the paper, Dr Ajaj said the drugs had been delivered to the medical centre three days before being given to the children. 'This is the first time we have had such a problem,' he added. Mr Ajaj proposed an alternative theory for the deaths - the vaccines were stored at too high a temperature. 'Most probably they were badly kept inside the fridges,' he said. Samples of the leftover drug have now been sent to Turkey for analysis. It is not yet known how long it will be before the results of the investigation are released. Syria's conflict, now in its fourth year, has caused the collapse of its health system in contested areas, scattering medics, destroying clinics and making medicines and equipment difficult to obtain. Nationwide vaccination efforts have been thrown into disarray and polio re-emerged in parts of Syria last year. United Nations says that more than 190,000 people have been killed since the start of Syria's uprising against President Bashar Assad (pictured) in March 2011 . The Western-backed opposition based in Turkey said it had suspended the second round of measles vaccinations, which began on Monday. The campaign was meant to target 60,000 children. In a statement, it said the vaccines used Tuesday met international standards and did not say what may have caused the deaths. It is extremely unlikely that the vaccinations killed the children, said Beirut-based public health specialist Fouad Fouad, who said spoiled vaccinations were more or less harmless. 'It cannot cause death,' he said. UN. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said UNICEF and the World Health Organization are 'deeply concerned' and awaiting further clarification. 'Measles is a major threat to children in Syria and the campaigns are vital... and especially important for children who've been away from their homes and communities and are living in camps or in other unsanitary conditions,' Haq said. Opposition representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. The United Nations says that more than 190,000 people have been killed since the start of Syria's uprising against President Bashar Assad in March 2011. The revolt began with peaceful protests but escalated into an insurgency and set off a civil war after government forces waged a brutal crackdown on dissent.
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Dozens of infants died minutes after being given the contaminated vaccine .
Physician who administered vaccine said all children exhibited same reaction .
'There was shouting and screaming', said Dr Abdulla Ajaj .
Infants were being vaccinated in rebel-held Syrian cities Jarjanaz and Sinijar .
Samples of the leftover drug have now been sent to Turkey for analysis .
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By . Darren Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 13:59 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:18 EST, 12 March 2014 . Robert Bastin, lighting a cigarette outside Exeter Magistrates' Court where he admitted stealing a retro penny farthing outside a house in Honiton . A 20-year-old man is facing jail after he stole a penny farthing bicycle so he could get back home - 14 miles away. Robert Bastin stole the bike outside a house in Honiton after Christmas drinks with his brother, a court heard. The jobless labourer rode the stolen bike 14 miles to his flat. The court heard that Bastin decided against returning the bike to Honiton following the theft and instead attempted to sell it on eBay. Defence lawyer Peter Woodley told a court today: 'He was trying to get home. He had had a Christmas Day drink with his brother and it looked like a good idea. 'But a penny farthing is not the easiest thing to return to its owner.' On his eBay listing, Bastin claimed: 'not really my thing prefer my unicycle'. He also maintained that he had only used it three times since new. Devon and Cornwall Police saw the listing on January 12 and placed a £75 bid on the bike. The court heard that Bastin accepted the bid, unaware that it was an undercover police officer. He insisted that the buyer paid cash and collected the bike from his home. Bastin was arrested and the penny farthing was returned to its owner. A penny farthing bicycle similar to the one stolen by Robert Bastin. The retro edition is built by Hawk Cycles in Derby . Robert Bastin stole the bike from Honiton and rode it to his flat in Exeter . Robert Bastin was ordered to return to Exeter Magistrates' Court next month where he will be sentenced . Bastin, of Honiton, Devon, admitted stealing the bike while on bail for other offences. He also admitted aggravated vehicle taking and not having any insurance or licence on December 6. Exeter magistrates court heard that Bastin was riding a motor bike at 5am on the A30 near Exeter airport at speed. The penny farthing was one of the first ever bikes manufactured when it was introduced in 1870. The bicycle received its name due to its distinctive wheels which resembled Victorian penny and farthing coins. It was invented by James Starley and was unusual because the pedals were fixed directly to the front wheel. The penny farthing had solid rubber wheels and a very high centre of gravity - making it very unstable and difficult to ride. It also did not have brakes or suspension. Production eventually ceased in 1878. A new version of the historic bicycle was developed by Hawks Cycles in 2004. It features steel caliper brakes and a modern steel alloy frame costing £150. Police said his riding was 'erratic and wobbly' and he was doing around 20mph over the speed limit before he rode through a red light and through a No Entry sign. Police did not pursue him because they felt it would be unsafe to do so. Later Bastin was arrested by police who discovered DNA evidence linked to the crime from a motorcycle helmet and his clothes. Mr Woodley said the joyriding offence happened at 5am when the main road was 'relatively clear but said it was not the 'worst case of excessive speed' or dangerous driving. He said the jobless labourer was not coping with life over Christmas after losing his job and splitting up from his partner and young child. 'He had no money and was not thinking straight,' said Mr Woodley who said the court had the power to imprison him for a maximum of 12 months. The magistrates ordered an all-options pre-sentencing report - including custody. Bastin was bailed to return to court next month for sentencing.
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Robert Bastin claimed he was selling the penny farthing because he preferred his unicycle .
Bastin was on bail when he stole the retro bicycle .
Police bid £75 on eBay and arranged to collect the stolen bike from Bastin's house .
Bastin claimed he could not cope after splitting with his partner and child .
The unemployed labourer will be sentenced next month .
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f84a7bea4775a0e2ea24b801114e1ca77b767b42
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Michael Schumacher's manager said there is still no clear time-frame for the Formula One star's recovery following a freak ski accident almost a year ago. Sabine Kehm yesterday said it was 'not possible' to say how long it would take for Scumacher to fully recover. She said he faced a 'difficult' and 'long' rehabilitation. Schumacher suffered severe head injuries while skiing with his family in the French Alps on December 29. The accident left him with brain damage and he was in a coma for six months. Michael Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, left, has said there is still no clear time-frame for the Formula One star's recovery following a freak ski accident almost a year ago . He has been recovering at his home in Gland, Switzerland, since June. The Local reports Ms Kehm as saying: 'Michael is making progress appropriate to the severity of his situation, but it will be a difficult and long process.' Ms Kehm said Schumacher's family are grateful for the constant flood of well wishes from fans of the seven-time world champion. She said: 'I can only say again that the family is very happy and touched by the sympathetic messages. 'I believe that positive energy does them good. We appreciate the condolences from around the world.' Last month, a French doctor treating Schumacher said that the 45-year-old was making progress, but will need years to fully recover. Schumacher is said to be paralysed and in a wheelchair. He cannot speak and has memory problems, according to former racing driver Philippe Streiff who has visited him. Schumacher with his wife Corinna Schumacher in Madonna di Campiglio in January 2005 . The Frenchman said: 'He is getting better but everything is relative.' Streiff, 59, was seen visiting Schumacher when the German was in intensive care in Grenoble Hospital, France. Schumacher, a very competent skier, was holidaying with family and friends in Meribel, where he owns a chalet when the accident happened. He was skiing with his 14-year-old son on a red piste, which is classed for intermediate skiers. But shortly after 11am he left the piste and skied on to an off-piste area located in between the red run and a blue run, for beginners to intermediates. Schumacher (left) is a seven-time world champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time . It was here that he struck a partially-covered rock. He was not skiing fast but he lost control and catapulted 34 feet on to another rock. He smashed his head on the bolder. The force of the collision shattered his helmet. The footage recorded on a camera attached to his helmet was undamaged. The film, which included audio, captured the crash in full horror and was analysed by police who investigated the accident. Two months later, on February 17, the head of the inquiry Prosecutor Patrick Quincy closed the case. He announced that any criminal wrongdoing had been ruled out. He cleared the ski resort, stating that the piste had been marked correctly and that Schumacher 'deliberately' left the ski run. Schumacher (second right) celebrates on the podium after his 2012 Formula One Grand Prix win in Valencia . Corinna Schumacher (left), with brain specialist Gerard Saillant, now cares for her husband in their home . Schumacher suffered brain damage after a freak ski accident in Meribel in the French Alps on December 29 . Schumacher was airlifted from the slopes minutes after the accident to Moutiers Hospital and was then transferred 80 miles west to CHU Grenoble, a larger hospital that specializes in head injuries. He arrived at 12.40pm and had been placed in an artificial coma. He was immediately operated on to relieve pressure on his brain. At the end of January it was announced that doctors had begun the process of gradually awakening him from his coma. On April 4 Kehm revealed that he was showing 'moments of consciousness and awakening'. He had opened his eyes and had interaction, albeit minimal, with his environment. It was the first piece of positive news for months. Former racing driver Philippe Streiff commented on Schumacher's condition to a French radio station . Ms Kehm has said it was 'very hard' for his loved ones to comprehend how the racing car driver could have been so catastrophically injured in such a 'banal situation'. Schumacher's wife Corinna was a constant presence at his bedside. She and Schumacher met in 1991 on the F1 circuit after she was previously married to racing driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen. With an accumulated wealth estimated to be well over half-a-billion pounds, Schumacher's family is well placed to provide the limitless care that will be needed in the coming years. This will include physiotherapists, to massage his atrophying joints, doctors, nutritionists, nurses and neurological experts.
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Manager said it was 'not possible' to say when F1 star would fully recover .
Schumacher was 'making progress appropriate to severity of his situation'
A doctor had earlier said that the 45-year-old would needs years to recover .
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A British photographer's stunning shot of a lionfish swimming by the wreck of merchant navy ship in Egypt, and the haunting image of a harbor seal floating in a kelp forest of San Diego, are among the winning entries of an underwater photography competition. More than 650 underwater images were submitted - from 23 countries including the UK and Italy - for the 2013 Annual Underwater Photography Contest by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). The winners were chosen by a panel of experts including underwater photographer Nicole Wang, photographer and University of Miami lecturer Myron Wang and Rosenstiel School Marine Biology and Fisheries scientist Dr. Jiangang Luo. This image of a harbor seal was taken in a kelp forest at Cortes bank near San Diego in California by Kyle McBurnie. It was the overall winning image submitted to the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science's (RSMAS) underwater photography competition in Miami . This shot of anemone shrimp was taken in Puerto Galera in the Philippines by Beth Watson from Missouri. It was the winning picture in the RSMAS macro category. Most anemone shrimp live, and are totally dependent, on sea anemones. They are vulnerable to predators when they are not attached to their hosts and some lie parallel to the anemone's tentacles to camouflage themselves further . Photographs were judged in three . categories - macro, fish or marine animal portrait, wide-angle, plus the . best overall submission. There were also prizes for the best . University of Miami student photos and both first and second place went . to Laura Rock from Florida for her shot of goliath groupers spawning in . Jupiter, Florida and a great hammerhead shark. Third place went to Austin Gallagher who took a picture of an oceanic white tip shark near the Cat Island in the Bahamas. White . tips sharks are among the most dangerous in the world and were blamed . for the death of more than 800 sailors in 1945 after the torpedoing of . the USS Indianapolis in the Philippine Sea. The best overall photo was taken by . American Kyle McBurnie for his harbor seal seen peering through a kelp . forest near San Diego in California. The second place macro picture was this image of an emperor shrimp sat on top of two nudibranch molluscs. It was taken at Dinah's Beach in Papua New Guinea by Douglas Good from Pennsylvania. The nudibranches resemble the worms in 1986 film, Labyrinth. The word 'nudibranch' comes from the Latin nudus for naked, and the Greek, brankhia, which means gills . Whilst a pretty pink anemone shrimp snapped by American Beth Watson grabbed first place in the macro section. Other winning pictures include an . emperor shrimp photographed in Papua New Guinea and a spotty porcelain . crab taken by Italian Frederica Bambi. Spinner dolphins can be seen . swimming underwater in another photo, whilst a close-up of a young . lionfish got first place in the portrait section. The third place in the macro category of the RSMAS underwater photography competition went to Italian photographer Frederica Bambi. It shows a porcelain crab on an anemone at Pescador Island, Cebu in the Philippines. This porcelain crab's official name is Neopetrolisthes maculatus. The porcelain crab gets its nickname because of its delicate shell. They are typically less than 15 mm wide and readily lose limbs when attacked . A photographer from Bournemouth took this winning shot of a lionfish on the Thistlegorm wreck in the Red Sea. Alex Tattersall took the shot during a trip to Egypt and it won first place in the wide-angle category. The SS Thistlegorm was a British naval ship built in 1940 in England. She was sunk on 6 October 1941 near Ras Muhammad in the north African country and is now a well known diving site . The colourful purple and orange . lionfish seen swimming on the wreck of SS Thistlegorm was taken by Alex Tattersall from Bournemouth in Dorset. It won first place in the wide-angle category of annual Underwater Photography contest. SS Thistlegorm was British armed merchant navy ship built in 1940 by Joseph Thompson and Son in Sunderland. She was sunk on 6 October 1941 near Ras Muhammad in the Red Sea and is now a well known diving site. The remarkable pictures reveal a hidden world of colourful creatures of all shapes and sizes living deep beneath our oceans. Second place in the wide-angle category went to Joseph Tepper, from New York. It shows spinner dolphins swimming in a small inlet off the Kona coast of Hawaii. Dolphins work as a team to capture fish but they also hunt individually. They search for prey using echolocation, which is similar to sonar . Pietro Cremone from Itlay won third place in the wide-angle category. His entry shows a Raccoon butterfly fish and angelfish on a reef in the Red Sea near Sharm el Sheik in Egypt. Raccoon butterfly fish are also known as crescent-masked butterfly fish because of their patterns. They grow up to eight inches and can live for seven years . Tatttersall said: 'I took the photo when I was diving on a big wreck of a Second World War ship in the Red Sea in Egypt. 'I was about 20 metres down under the sea and took lots of shots but this was the one that came out the best. 'I love taking underwater pictures as . it is very peaceful and you have access to a hidden world which only a . small minority of people gets to see.' First place in the fish or marine animal portrait category was won by Steven Kovacs. This juvenile lionfish was shot during a night dive in Roatan in Honduras. Lionfish, also known as pterois, have red, white, creamy, or black bands to warn off predators such as moray eels and bluespotted cornetfish. They also have pectoral fins and venomous spiky fin rays . This greater blue-ringed octopus was photographed near Malapascua island in the Philippines. The image won second place in the fish or marine animal portrait category and was taken by Marcello DiFrancesco from Italy. The octopus is one of three species of venomous blue-ringed octopuses that produce venom in its salivary glands. The venom called tetrodotoxin causes paralysis and respiratory arrest and can lead to heart attacks in victims due to a lack of oxygen . The photography contest is open to . any amateur photographer who earns less than 20 per cent of their income . from selling photography. Each category awards a prize sum to . the top three entries - £163 ($250) for first place, £98 ($150) for . second place and £65 ($100) for entries that come third. Kyle McBurnie who won the best overall . prize was given a trip on a Blackbeard cruise to the Bahamas and £195 ($300). Third place in the fish or marine animal portrait category was taken by Judy Townsend. It shows a male dusky jawfish protecting his eggs inside his mouth. The image was taken at the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach in Florida. Jawfishes are called mouthbrooders, which meaning their eggs hatch in their mouths in a bid to protect them from predators. The eggs are typically kept in the fishes' mouths for between eight to 10 days before hatching . The best student entry in the RSMAS underwater photography competition was won by Laura Rock from Florida. It shows a goliath grouper fish, official name, Epinephelus itajara, during the annual spawning event in Jupiter in Florida. Goliath groupers mainly eat mostly small, slow-moving fish and crustaceans. They can live to their 60s and begin to spawn when they reach about four feet long. They will travel long distances ¿ as much as 180 miles ¿ to reach summer spawning sites . Among the other rules RSMAS state that all photographs must be of marine life. No photographs of divers touching or stressing marine wildlife were acceptable. Photographs must not have been digitally edited or enhanced aside from basic brightness, contrast and cropping edits. Laura Rock from Florida also won second place in the student category with this shot of a great hammerhead shark in Bimini in Bahamas. The average great hammerhead grows to around 20 feet long. The great hammerhead rarely attacks humans but will defend itself when hunted for large fins. The fins are valuable in Asia as the main ingredient of shark fin soup . This photo of an oceanic white tip shark was taken by third place student winner Austin Gallagher, from Florida. He took the image near Cat Island in the Bahamas. Renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau labelled the white tips as 'the most dangerous of all sharks'. In 1945, after the torpedoing of the USS Indianapolis, whitetips were thought to be responsible for the deaths of up to 800 sailors .
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More than 650 underwater images were submitted from 23 countries to the 2013 Annual .
Underwater Photography Contest hosted by the University of Miami .
Winning entries included a harbor seal snapped in the kelp forest in San Diego, anemone shrimps in the Philippines, lionfish in Honduras and the 'world's most dangerous' shark snapped in the Bahamas .
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By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 05:32 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:26 EST, 5 November 2013 . A husband has saved his bride’s life by giving her one of his kidneys - after she discovered she needed a transplant on the eve of their wedding. Sarah Dalton, from Dublin, faced years of gruelling dialysis, as her life hung in the balance while she waited for a kidney donor. But her husband, Conor, 31, offered to donate his own kidney, and the pair underwent the lifesaving surgery together. Sarah Dalton was told she needed a kidney transplant the day before her wedding to Conor. When no deceased donor could be found, Mr Dalton offered his wife one of his kidneys . Mrs Dalton said: ‘I don’t know how I’ll ever repay Conor for what he’s done for me. ‘He’s the most generous person I know and I could not have asked for a better gift. ‘He’s changed, and saved, my life - he’s one in a million.’ Mrs Dalton was diagnosed with a kidney condition known as reflux nephropathy when she was a child. The condition means the tubes from her kidneys to her bladder are positioned wrongly so they allow urine to flow back up from the bladder to the kidneys. After receiving her first kidney transplant at the age of 17 the music teacher had hoped she could put her health problems behind her. But on the day before her wedding in 2011, she was told that her donated kidney was beginning to fail. Mrs . Dalton said: ‘I had a hospital appointment the day before I married . Conor and I was more or less told that I would need a new kidney. Mrs Dalton received a new kidney from her husband last month and the couple are now recovering at home. Mrs Dalton said: 'I can't begin to describe what an incredible thing Conor has done for me' ‘I knew the donated kidney wouldn’t last forever but it was still such a shock. ‘I was preparing for the best day of my life and to receive such horrible news was devastating.’ After the wedding, Mrs Dalton began to deteriorate quickly, and soon the newlywed was put onto dialysis whilst she waited for a donor. She said: ‘Going on dialysis was very difficult - I was a young woman, newly married, but I had to spend every night hooked up to a machine, it was horrible. ‘While I was on dialysis we’d been given some information about organ donation, and it mentioned living donors - Conor offered himself up straight away.’ Although the waiting time for a deceased donor was three to four years, the wait for a living donor was just six months. Mr Dalton said: ‘As soon as I realised I could give Sarah my kidney, I volunteered. ‘I didn’t give it a second thought - she’s my wife, and if I was able to help her, then I was going to do it. Mrs Dalton has reflux nephropathy which means the tubes to her bladder are positioned wrongly - they allow urine to flow back from her bladder to her kidneys . ‘They tested Sarah’s closest family members first, as they prefer a genetic match, but her mum wasn’t a match, her younger sister is too young, and her older brother is all the way in Australia. ‘Her Dad was a match, but as I’m younger and fitter, we all decided it would be better for me to go ahead with the donation.’ While Mr Dalton was more than prepared to give his wife his kidney, Mrs Dalton was more worried. She said: ‘I was reluctant to let him at first. ‘I love my husband very much but I worried about the future and what would happen if we ever split up. ‘I didn’t want to put him through unnecessary surgery either. ‘It took me a while to come to terms with it.’ Reflux nephropathy is a kidney disease in which urine passes back up from the bladder towards the kidneys instead of leaving the body. Nearly all cases of the disease result from an abnormality that develops before birth. The abnormality means one or both of the drainage tubes from the kidneys to the bladder enter the bladder at the wrong angle. As a result, when the bladder contracts to pass urine outwards, the tubes are not pinched off meaning some urine goes back up towards the kidneys. The most common symptom of reflux nephropathy is frequent urine infections. About one in 100 children have some degree of reflux of urine but in nine out of 10 cases it causes no problems and disappears on its own during childhood. However, in rare cases, the condition can cause kidney damage which can eventually lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplant. Source: National Kidney Foundation . Mr Dalton, a solicitor, was at work when he received a call from the transplant coordinator to tell him they could do the transplant three days later, in October this year. He said: ‘I had just been chatting to my boss at work about the transplant when I got the call. ‘I was telling him that the odds of having the operation soon were pretty low - but then I took a call and was told it was going to happen in the next few days. ‘I couldn’t believe it.’ Mrs Dalton added: ‘After we got the call it was all a bit of a blur. ‘We went straight into hospital and Conor had two days worth of tests to make sure he was healthy enough to go ahead. ‘Then the day came for the surgery. He went down three hours before me, which was pretty scary. ‘That’s when the enormity of it all dawned on me really - I was very tearful but I knew he was in good hands. ‘Then I went into the anaesthetist’s room - there was just enough time for them to tell me that Conor’s surgery had gone well and there was a healthy kidney for me, before I was out of it. ‘The next thing I knew, I was wheeled back up to the ward and Conor was waiting for me.’ Three days after the surgery Mr Dalton left hospital, closely followed by his wife just two days later. The pair are now recovering well at home. He said: ‘This operation has changed our lives. ‘Before, Sarah was ill all the time, and she was always tired and unwell. ‘Now it’s like she’s got a new lease of life. ‘She’s my wife and I love her very much - to know that she’s healthy now and I’ll have her with me for a long time to come, is just amazing.’ Mrs Dalton said: ‘I can’t begin to describe what an incredible thing Conor has done for me. ‘He’s given me my life back - and my parents think he’s the best son in law ever!’
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Sarah Dalton has reflux nephropathy - condition occurs when tubes to the bladder are positioned wrongly so allow urine to pass back to the kidneys .
She had her first kidney transplant when she was 17 years old .
The day before her wedding in 2011 she was told she needed another one .
She was put on dialysis while she waited for a donor kidney to be found .
Her husband, Conor, offered to donate one of his and the surgery took place last month - they are both now recovering at home .
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By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 11:06 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:43 EST, 25 October 2013 . Once the initial infatuation has begun to wear off, and the tedium of daily life creeps in, the romance can begin to fade in many relationships. A humorous new book pokes fun at the irritations of life in a couple using the format of the infamous ancient sexual positions guide, the Kama Sutra. Part warning for those contemplating marriage, part comic relief for those who have already tied the knot, the Married Kama Sutra paints a hilarious portrait of the nuances of married life. The Married Kama Sutra uses the format of the ancient sexual instruction manual the Karma Sutra . Each sketch is accompanied by a witty description . Once the tedium of daily life creeps in, the romance begins to fade in many relationships . Cleaning, work stresses, child rearing and even bodily functions are all issues that can creep in to sour married life, and are wittily depicted in the book, . As well as the funny sketches, which are in the same style as the ancient sex manual The Karma Sutra, the authors of the book, which is dubbed 'The World's Least Erotic Sex Manual,' caption each picture, naming the ‘pose’ with acerbic humour. Written by Simon Rich and Farley Katz, The Married Kama Sutra will doubtless ring true for many in long-term relationships, and raise smiles at its astute observations on the realities of love. The original Indian Hindu text gives practical advice on sexual intercourse, correct behaviours between men and women, and virtuous living. Believed to have been composed between 400 BCE and 200 CE it describes and instructs on 64 different sexual positions. Cleaning, work stresses and child rearing are all issues that can creep into sour married life . Many of the pictures will bring a smile to the face of anyone in a long term relationship . The hilarious facial expressions of the characters in the pictures make the observations all the more funny . The situations depicted will no doubt mirror ones experience by many in real life . The fast pace of modern life means many couples come to value sleep more than romance . The book, by Simon Rich and Farley Katz is available to buy from Amazon .
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Book uses same format and style as the original Kama Sutra .
Sub-titled 'The world's least erotic sex manual'
Written by Simon Rich and Farley Katz, and available to buy from Amazon .
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f84b6d3ef8f920cb1684966b6fe0d4a2ebc4e4e4
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TV shows, movies and books are full of suggestions of where to hide out from a zombie apocalypse, but researchers at Cornell claim to have found the safest place. Rick and his band of refugees from Atlanta in 'The Walking Dead' tried a remote farmhouse and a prison; 'Dawn of the Dead' had survivors holed up in a shopping mall; and 'Shaun of the Dead' proposed the local pub. It's fair to say that most of these hideouts did not work out that well for those involved. Researchers from Cornell University have now discovered that the correct thing to do should the dead start to walk the earth is to literally head for the hills. Scroll down for videos . Characters on 'The Walking Dead' have tried several different hide outs from the zombie apocalypse, including a remote farm and a prison, but researchers at Cornell think they have found the ideal place to go . Hollywood has had American survivors taking refuges in a shopping mall in 'Dawn of the Dead' (left), while Brits choose to head to their local pub in 'Shaun of the Dead' (right) Alexander Alemi, Matthew Bierbaum, Christopher Myers and James Sethna used an approach for modelling disease to work out how an actual outbreak might play out. They found that cities would fall quickly, but it would take weeks for zombies to penetrate into less densely populated areas, and months to reach northern parts of the mountain-time zone. Their advice is to head for the Rockies. The research involved results from simulations the researchers wrote themselves, similar to modelling chemical reactions. 'Modeling zombies takes you through a lot of the techniques used to model real diseases, albeit in a fun context,' Alemi told phys.org. There are four states a person can be in (human, infected, zombie, dead zombie), and these are dependent on possible interactions (zombie bites human, human kills zombie, zombie moves etc). 'Given the dynamics of the disease, once the zombies invade more sparsely populated areas, the whole outbreak slows down - there are fewer humans to bite, so you start creating zombies at a slower rate,' says Alemi. 'Modeling zombies takes you through a lot of the techniques used to model real diseases, albeit in a fun context,' said researcher Alexander Alemi . The research team were inspired by a graduate statistical mechanics class and by reading 'World War Z' by Max Brooks. The CDC uses a zombie apocalypse as a learning tool to teach emergency preparedness . 'I'd love to see a fictional account where most of New York City falls in a day, but upstate New York has a month or so to prepare.' The researchers aim to add more complicated social variables to their simulation such as awareness of the outbreak and ability to make a run for it. The group were inspired by graduate statistical mechanics class and by reading 'World War Z: an oral history of the first zombie war' by Max Brooks. Indeed the conclusions of their research match up with some of the plot points of the book, which sees the U.S. abandon two-thirds of the country and retreat behind the Rockies to regroup before launching a counterattack. They found that cities would fall quickly as large numbers people that would be quickly infected as in the movie 'World War Z', but it would take weeks for zombies to get to less densely populated areas like the Rockies . The Cornell team are less optimistic about our prospects. The abstract for their research ends with the line: 'We build up to a full scale simulation of an outbreak in the United States, and discover that for "realistic" parameters, we are largely doomed.' Despite this, since 2011 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has playfully used a zombie apocalypse as a learning tool for teaching emergency preparedness. The group presents its findings during the 2015 American Physical Society March Meeting, on Thursday, March 5 in San Antonio, Texas.
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Researchers from Cornell University created a simulation of a zombie outbreak using techniques for modelling real diseases .
They found that cities would fall quickly, but less densely populated areas could hold out for months .
With fewer humans to bite you, rural areas create zombies at a much slower rate .
Their advice is to head to the Rocky Mountains .
However they conclude that using realistic parameters in their simulation 'we are largely doomed'
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(CNN) -- There are just a few days until spring, but winter isn't done with some of us yet. A significant storm will threaten the Northeast on Monday into Tuesday, and areas of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota could see blizzard conditions through the night. Forecasters said Boston will get 3 to 6 inches of snow and sleet before rain begins to fall Tuesday night. All public schools in the city will be closed Tuesday, according to an announcement Monday evening on the official Twitter account of Boston's public school system. CNN affiliate WCVB warned its viewers that by Tuesday morning, the commute to work will be slow. "We'll have at least a couple of inches of snow on the ground with heavy snow still falling. Mix/freezing rain will develop from south to north during the morning. This will keep overall snow totals down, but traveling will still be difficult," meteorologist J.C. Monahan said. The New England mountains will get between 10 and 14 inches with snow falling at up to 2 inches per hour Monday night, forecasters said. Other areas of New England could get up to 8 inches. Fewer than 300 flights were canceled Monday, but delays are expected at airports from Ohio to New York. It was unusually cold and blustery in New York, where a little snow was expected to fall before changing to rain overnight. Track the winter storm . The low visibility was causing delays of almost an hour at Newark International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in the New York area. There will be storms in the South and while the rain could help firefighters near the tourist destination of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, as they try to contain a wildfire that has burned more than 35 buildings, they will also battle wind gusts of up to 20 mph. A tornado touched down Monday afternoon in Rutherford County near Nashville, Tennessee, county officials said. The tornado was on the ground for about 4 1/2 miles, said Joe Gourley of the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency. Fewer than a dozen homes suffered minor to moderate damage, trees were toppled and roads were blocked, Gourley said. Just to the west, students at Fairview Middle School were evacuated after lightning struck the school and started a fire on the roof, CNN affiliate WTVF reported. In North Dakota, a no-travel advisory was issued by the state department of transportation for the eastern half of the state. The warning said there were areas where visibility was almost zero because of blowing snow, and there was significant ice on the highways and streets. One highway was blocked because of snow drifts covering the road, CNN affiliate KXJB reported. Minnesota officials had also closed three highways in the west central part of that state, KXJB reported. CNN's Justin Jones and Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report.
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Up to 6 inches of snow expected in Boston .
New England mountains should see more than a foot of precipitation .
Tornado hits Tennessee county on Monday afternoon .
Roads closed in North Dakota, Minnesota due to blowing snow .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter, Ryan Gorman and Ap . PUBLISHED: . 16:09 EST, 30 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:52 EST, 1 October 2013 . Lousiana sheriffs revealed Monday that the pastor shot dead while singing to a service was accused of rape by his confessed shooter's wife. Just two days before Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr., 53, was killed while singing to a revival crowd of more than 65, former deacon Woodrow Karey's wife filed sexual assault charges against the pastor. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said the charges were still being investigated Friday when the 'Karey walked into the Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center, and shot Harris at close range' before turning himself in minutes later. Bizarre shooting death: Ex-deacon Woodrow Karey (left) shot pastor Ronald Harris Sr (right) to death Friday night while the preacher was singing in front of about 65 church members at a revival. It was revealed Monday that Karey's wife filed charges against Harris two days before the murder. Mancuso says the woman and preacher had exchanged text messages, and it's not yet clear whether a sexual assault took place. Harris was preaching at about 8:20 pm on Friday when he was shot . twice by the former deacon and fell to the floor. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. Sixty-five people were inside at the time, including the victim's wife, said Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory. 53-year-old Karey left the church four years ago, according to Mr Harris' daughter Talisha Harris, who added that her family is 'puzzled' by his motives. He was booked on a second-degree murder charge and remained jailed Sunday, his bond set at $1 million. The preaching had not yet begun Friday night when the gunman burst into the sanctuary. The congregation of 65 people or more was waiting for some out-of-town visitors, Harris said. Confessed: Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was preaching at about 8:20 pm on Friday at Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center when he was shot twice by a lone gunman. Soon after, Karey turned himself in . Her father was singing. So was she, as a member of the five-person praise group that accompanied him. Then, . she said, the woman who had been handing out visitor packets at the . front door ran in, shouting, ‘He got a gun! He got a gun! He got a gun!’ ‘He . came in down the middle aisle. He shot at my daddy’ but hit a flower . pot, Harris said. ‘My daddy ran. He shot him in the back. When he fell, . he came closer and shot him again.’ The gunman ran out a side door, she said. After . officials arrested Karey a block from the church, he told them where to . find two guns in a nearby wooded area - one was a shotgun, the other a . .22-caliber pistol. Karey has no history of mental illness or criminal activity. Harris said her father always made time for his own children, and acted as a father to many other children. ‘The people in our church, he'd treat them as if they were family,’ she said. Harris said that forgiveness and love wouldn’t be her father’s only message to his killer. ‘He'd say, "Come to church. And let God visit (your) mind."' Family members who answered the telephone Saturday at the Harris home in Lake Charles said there would be no comment. There was no answer at a telephone listing for Karey or at Tabernacle of Praise.
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Ronald J Harris, 53, was shot to death Friday night in front of his terrified church during a revival .
Former deacon Woodrow Karey, 53, confessed to the murder after turning himself into police .
A Louisiana sheriff revealed Monday that Karey's wife filed rape charges against Harris two days for his shocking murder .
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By . Associated Press . University of Virginia student Elizabeth Daly (pictured last year), had a case of water in her car mistaken for alcohol by state agents in April 2013 . A college student in Virginia reached a $212,500 settlement on Wednesday following her arrest last year when state agents had mistaken a case of water for beer. Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced that Elizabeth Daly, now 21, had reached a settlement in state court. She had initially filed a $40 million federal lawsuit against agents with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control unit. Herring said the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing by any of the parties in the lawsuit. Daly had left a Charlottesville, Virginia, supermarket in April 2013 when her car was surrounded by state ABC agents, one of whom drew a firearm and another who had jumped onto the hood of her car. They had mistaken her carton of La Croix sparkling water for beer that her friend had purchased. The young women claimed to be at the grocery story shopping for a charity fundraiser the next day. 'My roommates and I were terrified,' Daly told The Hook. 'We called 911 as we had been taught to do if you were ever unsure of the validity of people saying they are law enforcement.' Daly said she became frantic when unmarked agents surrounded her vehicle, banging on the windows and demanding that she roll them down. One of her two friends in the car had allegedly said that the badges were fake and told her to 'go, go, go' according to the lawsuit cited in the AP report. Unsure whether they were in fact agents, she and her friend fled the scene in the car, grazing two of the agents in the process. The 911 operator was unable to confirm whether the agents were real but while they were near an intersection the operator told them that they were in fact agents, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The women had intended on driving to a local police station while the agents had chased them on foot, according to The Hook. Daly said the agents' credentials were not clearly visible and they did not did identify themselves in an attempt to stop her from leaving the scene. A young woman who was friends with Elizabeth Day had purchased the case of La Croix water that had been mistaken by authorities for beer (stock image) She was subsequently arrested at a red light at the nearby intersection. She faced two counts of assault and one count of eluding — both are Class 6 felonies and she would've faced a maximum of five years in prison and no more than a $2,500 fine but the . charges were later dropped and her record was expunged. Daly filed the suit in Richmond Circuit Court and is alleging malicious prosecution, failure to train ABC agents appropriately as well as six counts of assault and battery.
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Elizabeth Daly, now 21, and her friend had their car swarmed by state agents after their case of water was mistaken for beer .
Daly had initially sought $40million in damages for a tremor in her right hand, intense anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems .
The young women had been shopping at a local Virginia grocery store one night in April 2013 for a charity fundraiser the next day .
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(AOL Autos) -- With gas prices as volatile as a swarm of bees that just had their honey stolen, the SUV market has started to shatter. You can rent cargo trailers from U-Haul and other retailers, starting as low as $14.95 per day. If you drive a big SUV or pickup truck, you're probably trying to think of ways to save fuel, or -- gasp -- getting rid of that big vehicle and driving a fuel-efficient sedan or coupe. But you probably bought that truck for a reason -- you need to carry people and or lots of stuff. Don't despair. There are options if you decide to ditch the behemoth. If you're used to throwing everything from bicycles to sports equipment to home improvement material in the back of your SUV, abandoning it for a smaller more efficient car doesn't have to mean abandoning your active lifestyle. There are plenty of simple, creative solutions to enhance the utility of your ordinary car. Just use common sense when you load up, and you can safely transport an amazing load of equipment and people in a smaller vehicle. Here are 10 tips and products to help you out: . Tip No. 1: Install a trailer hitch . If you're serious about getting the most out of your car as a gear-hauler, you're going to want to install a trailer hitch. SUVs and pickup trucks usually come equipped with a receiver from the factory. Most cars today built are unibodies or monocoques (meaning that the body pieces and structural elements are all fused together into one structural element), as opposed to body-on-frame construction (where the body pieces are attached to an underlying frame). In general, body-on-frame vehicles are more robust, and have higher tow ratings, but unibodies can still be equipped with trailer hitches. U-Haul is an excellent source for information about hitches and towing, and sells self-install tow hitches starting at around $120. Tip No. 2: Know your limits . Overloading your car can be disastrous. It's not only dangerous, it's also potentially damaging to your vehicle. You can damage your suspension components, wheels and tires, ruin your transmission and over-tax your engine if you aren't careful. Check your owner's manual for payload limits and towing capacities before you start piling cargo in and on your vehicle. And don't forget to account for the weight of passengers when you calculate your payload -- a sedan full of six adults could weigh a thousand pounds or more, especially if you've got big friends. AOL Autos: Safest cars -- sedans . Tip No. 3: Bring the bicycles . Riding a bike is fun but you've got to get your bicycle to the starting point. There are several safe, efficient ways to transport your bike outside a sedan. Toss it on the trunk -- For a temporary mount that doesn't require any permanent alteration to your car, a trunk-mounted carrier is a great choice. Tuckerman Racks has models that start as low as $100. AOL Autos: Most popular crossovers . Rack it on the roof -- Take advantage of that lower profile, and mount a specialty bike rack on your car's roof. Yakima makes several models starting at around $150. Just watch out for low-hanging branches and avoid urban parking garages. Strap it to the spare -- Some small crossovers, like the Toyota RAV4, store their spare tire on the tailgate. Allen Racks and other companies make bike carriers that use the spare tire mount as a support for bike racks starting around $100. AOL Autos: Top 10 most fuel-efficient cars . Hook it on the hitch -- If you followed Tip No.1, and you have a hitch receiver installed on your car already, there's a wide variety of hitch-mounted bicycle racks to choose from, including Hollywood Racks, which has models starting at about $125. Tip No. 4: Roof rack systems . Just because you're not driving a Tahoe anymore, that doesn't mean you can't get your kayak to the shore. Thule makes a roof rack system (starting at around $320) that can be fitted with a multi-kayak carrier that will have you floating downstream in no time -- just don't forget your paddle. Tip No. 5: Soft-sided car top carriers . What if you're going camping and you just need to get your tent to the campsite? Then a soft-sided car top carrier might be the ticket. Piggy Pack makes a variety of weather-resistant carriers that start at just $69. AOL Autos: Affordable crossover vehicles . Tip No. 6: Streamlined car top boxes . If you're traveling a little further, or if you want a little bit of additional security for your rooftop load, a streamlined car top box, like the ones from Thule, can do the job, starting at around $200. In addition to great protection from the weather, these lightweight fiberglass carriers are designed to reduce wind resistance and noise, so they're quieter and more efficient than soft-sided carriers. Tip No. 7: Hitch-mounted cargo carriers . If you are nervous about hauling gear on top of your vehicle, and you followed Tip No.1, you could take advantage of a hitch-mounted cargo carrier like the ones from B-Dawg, starting at about $125. AOL Autos: Top 10 SUVs to take off-road . Hitch-mounted cargo carriers have distinct advantages over roof-mounted units: They are much easier to load; once loaded, they have a much lower center of gravity and less of a negative effect on vehicle handling. Just don't forget that you've increased your vehicle's effective overall length, so parking and maneuvering in traffic will be a little trickier. Tip No. 8: Utility trailers . Sometimes there's just not enough room in or around your car, and you have to think outside the box. A utility trailer, like the ones from Carry-On Trailer, starts at about $500, and will help you carry that lawn mower, picnic bench or new grille home with ease. Many home centers rent utility trailers for short term use -- if you've installed a trailer hitch, you can drag that cool sale item home. Tip No. 9: Cargo trailers . If you find yourself regularly hauling sensitive large items home, like antique furniture or artwork, you might want to investigate a lightweight cargo trailer like the ones from Wells Cargo, starting at around $1,500. A closed trailer protects your cargo from prying eyes, from the weather and from the effects of wind in transit. You can also rent cargo trailers from U-Haul and other retailers, starting as low as $14.95 per day. Tip No. 10: Tow dollies . Sometimes you're doing the towing, sometimes you're being towed. If you've got too much stuff to fit inside, on top of or behind your car, maybe you should consider renting a cargo van or truck and hooking your car up on a car tow dolly, like one from Tracy Performance, starting at about $1,400. Most cars can be safely towed with a dolly -- then when you arrive at your destination, you've got your stuff, and you've got your car for quick trips. In some cases, it's the best of both worlds. And you can do that all without a full-sized SUV or pickup truck.
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You can safely transport loads of equipment and people in a small vehicle .
Thule makes a roof rack system that can be fitted with a multi-kayak carrier .
Streamlined car top boxes are designed to reduce wind resistance and noise .
You can also rent a truck or RV and tow your car behind it .
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By . Simon Jones for MailOnline . Paul Hartley has emerged as a shock contender to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager of Cardiff City. The 37-year-old former Scotland international midfielder has been a success as manager at Dundee but only took over in January. He led them to the Scottish Championship title and promotion to the Scottish Premiership and has lost just three games while in charge. Paul Hartley has emerged as a shock contender to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager of Cardiff City . Hartley, who had a spell with Bristol City as a player, was previously manager of Alloa Athletic. His appointment at Cardiff would be a huge surprise but he has been identified as a young manager with great potential. Cardiff, who were discussing a mutual agreement package with Solskjaer last night, have considered Tony Pulis but it is understood he would prefer to wait for another Premier League job. Solskjaer’s departure is expected to be announced on Thursday morning. Former Manchester United man Solskjaer’s departure is expected to be announced on Thursday morning . Tony Pulis was considered for the job but he preferred to wait for a Premier League club .
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Paul Hartley could replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Cardiff City manager .
Former Scotland international currently in charge of Dundee .
Hartey led Dundee to Scottish Championship title .
Tony Pulis also considered but he would prefer Premier League club .
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In a yet another audio recording, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling purportedly explains why he infamously told a woman not to bring black people to his games: He was jealous that she was with black men. The recording released Friday -- the second in two days unveiled by RadarOnline.com -- allegedly reveals Sterling trying to add context to racist comments that got him banned from the NBA last month. That context, he purportedly says, was that he was trying to sleep with the woman he was talking to. "The girl is black. I like her. I'm jealous that she's with other black guys. I want her. So what the hell, can I in private tell her, you know, 'I don't want you to be with anybody'?" the man purported to be Sterling says in the new tape, according to RadarOnline. "I'm trying to have sex with her. I'm trying to play with her," the man also says. "You know, if you (are trying) to have sex with a girl and you're talking with her privately, you don't think anybody's there. You may say anything in the world. What difference does it make? "Then if the girl tapes it and releases it, my God, it's awful." The new recording is of a phone conversation between Sterling and an unidentified person, made after the controversy over racist comments erupted last month, RadarOnline said. CNN's attempts to verify with Sterling's representatives that he is on the tape were not immediately successful. Sterling, an 80-year-old married lawyer and billionaire real-estate investor, has not released a public statement since celebrity gossip website TMZ posted a 10-minute audio recording in which he chastised a woman named V. Stiviano for posting pictures of her posing with African-Americans, including basketball Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Sterling made the comments during an argument with Stiviano, 31, on April 9, according to TMZ. "In your lousy f***ing Instagrams, you don't have to have yourself with -- walking with black people," he says. "If it's white people, it's OK?" responds Stiviano, who is part African-American, according to the recording. "If it was Larry Bird, would it make a difference?" Although the latest recording claims that Sterling was jealous, the tapes released last month by TMZ purportedly reveal Sterling being OK with Stiviano sleeping with black men. Referring to Johnson, Sterling purportedly said: "Admire him, bring him here, feed him, f**k him, but don't put (Magic) on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don't bring him to my games." Sterling also said, according to TMZ: "You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in; you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games." One apparent source of friction, according to the pair on the TMZ tapes, was the man's view that she "was perceived as either a Latina or a white girl," and that people were calling him with negative reactions to her pictures with black people. "People call you and tell you that I have black people on my Instagram, and it bothers you," the woman said. "Yeah, it bothers me a lot if you want to ... broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" the man TMZ identified as Sterling responded. The TMZ release triggered a firestorm that led to Sterling's lifetime ban from the NBA and a $2.5 million fine. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has asked the other 29 owners to force Sterling, the longest-tenured owner in the league, to sell the Clippers. More from Friday's tape: 'I know I'm wrong' In the new tape, the man RadarOnline identifies as Sterling says he was wrong. "I know I'm wrong, what I said was wrong. But I never thought a private conversation would go anywhere out to the public," the man says. "I didn't want her to bring anybody to my game because I was jealous. I mean, I'm being honest," he continues. In a recording that RadarOnline released Thursday -- again featuring someone it says is Sterling talking to an unidentified man -- Sterling allegedly denies he's a racist. "You think I'm a racist?" a man purported to be Sterling says. "You think I have anything in the world but love for everybody? You don't think that. You know I'm not a racist." A second man in that tape says, "they're trying to force you to sell." "You can't force someone to sell property in America," Sterling purportedly says. "Well, I'm a lawyer; that's my opinion." The matter of the team's sale is with the NBA's Advisory/Finance Committee, which met Wednesday in a conference call. Members discussed the "termination of Mr. Sterling's ownership of the team," the NBA said in a news release. The committee will meet again next week, the statement said. If the case proceeds to a full vote, 75% of the owners would have to approve the forced sale. Wife wants to retain her ownership share . However, an attorney for Donald Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, said Friday on CNN's "Situation Room" that she wants to keep her 50% stake in the team and they have been talking by phone with NBA officials. "She wants to remain a passive owner," said attorney Pierce O'Donnell. "She's not going to want to manage the team. She's going to want a very skilled, professional, well-heeled new owner to come in and replace Donald," O'Donnell said. "She only wants to own the team in her lifetime. She's 79-years-old. At this point, she's earned it. She's been an owner for 33 years, and she's an avid fan." Technically, the team is now owned by the Sterling family's trust, with Donald and Shelly Sterling serving as co-trustees. Their two children are named as beneficiaries. During a news conference announcing Sterling's lifetime ban, the NBA's Silver was asked whether there would be sanctions against Shelly Sterling. "No, there have been no decisions about other members of the Sterling family, and I should say that this ruling applies specifically to Donald Sterling and Donald Sterling's conduct only," Silver said. Shelly Sterling hasn't done anything wrong and will fight any effort to try to force her to sell her stake in the team, O'Donnell said. She has not violated the "the bylaws and constitution of the NBA," he said. "...The last thing I saw that being a wife of a reviled co-owner is not one of them." He described the calls by fans and players to force his client to sell her share as "mob psychology." "I think it's preposterous to think that players under contract who make tens of millions of dollars a year are going to boycott because a 79-year-old woman, a passive owner of the team who doesn't manager, is sitting in the stands," O'Donnell said. "It's ridiculous." O'Donnell said Shelly Sterling has denounced her husband's comments. The Sterlings have not lived together for more than a year. Shelly Sterling is "weighing her options" as to whether she wants a divorce, O'Donnell said. He also said she categorically denied making any racist statements, as alleged in court documents filed when the couple was sued for discrimination at their apartment buildings. O'Donnell said those allegations were retracted, and the court ultimately decided in favor of the Sterlings. Although her husband is banned from NBA arenas, Shelly Sterling has attended some of the Clippers playoff games since the scandal unfolded. Opinion: Sterling vs. the NBA: Who has the edge?
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Donald Sterling's wife vows to fight any effort to force her to sell, attorney says .
RadarOnline releases another purported audio recording of Sterling .
The Clippers owner allegedly says he was jealous that V. Stiviano was with black men .
"I'm trying to have sex with her. I'm trying to play with her," man purported to be Sterling says .
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By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 08:04 EST, 3 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:12 EST, 4 February 2013 . British families are shelling out £2,000 a year more than people in . other countries thanks to the high cost of transport, energy and . property costs, according to new research. Figures have shown that the cost of living in the UK is 11per cent . higher than the international average, and an incredible 18per cent . higher than it is in the United States. Among the biggest cost for British people is transport, which is a staggering 31per cent more than overseas thanks to high fuel duty, motoring costs and expensive public transport. Expensive: British families are paying more for fuel and property as research shows that the cost of living in the UK is 18per cent higher than in the US, and 11per cent higher than the rest of the world. Costly: Commuters such as those at Paddington Station in London are victim to some of the highest public transport prices in the world . The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) worked out how pricey life in the UK is after analysing data created by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Experts at the CEBR also came to the conclusion that if they government brought down prices to be in line with international averages over the next decade, it could boost the economy by 15per cent. As well as high transport costs, . British people also face paying 18per cent more for housing and . utilities, such as water and fuel, 14per cent more on recreation and . cultural activities, while restaurants and hotels are 12per cent more . expensive. However, the researchers . calculated that if prices of housing, commercial property, energy and . transport were brought down to average levels over the next decade, it . would save every UK household more than £2,000 pounds a year. Economy: British people, such as these shoppers on Oxford Street, pay more for transport, recreation, restaurants and housing . Positive: Experts have calculated that if costs were brought inline with those overseas it would save British families £2,000 a year (file picture) Of course these cost savings could not . be made overnight,' said CEBR chairman Douglas McWilliams at a lecture . at Gresham College in London last month. 'But . supposing that they were phased in over 10 years, a rough and ready . simulation suggests that they would be associated with a rise in GDP of . around 15per cent compared with what would otherwise have happened. 'Such a boost would offset much of the growth weakness which I currently expect to see in the UK over the coming years and would bring the rate of economic growth over this period to around the historic average of 2.5per cent.' Mr McWilliams said that car usage was heavily taxed in the UK and that public transport was among the highest in the world. He said that other high costs reflected the price of property. Although the OECD figures show that it is more expensive to live in Britain than it is in the USA, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, the UK is still a bargain compared to Denmark. The cost of living in the Scandinavian country is 29per cent higher, and it is also pricier in Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. The analysis from the CEBR comes as the Government continues to try and boost growth. The . Treasury was believed to be blocking Liberal Democrat proposals for a . 'plan A plus' which would aim to boost the economy through . housebuilding. Last month . figures released showed that the economy shrank by 0.3per cent in the . final quarter of 2012 and had been flat for the rest of the year. A . forecast of just 0.9per cent has been forecast by the OECD for 2013, . and new figures set to be released on Wednesday were expected to deliver . a similarly downbeat assessment of the UK economy. Contrast: Figures from the OECD show that it is more expensive to live in Britain than in the US, Spain, Germany, Italy and France . Contrast: The cost of living in the UK has been calculated to be 18per cent more than in the United States of America . Higher: These cyclists in Copenhagen, Denmark face higher living costs than British families .
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Costs 18per cent more to live in UK than USA .
High property prices also to blame .
Government could save money by bringing down costs, say experts .
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By . Graham Smith . Last updated at 3:33 PM on 5th November 2011 . A young Tory newcomer who was inspired by David Cameron to enter frontline politics has been elected leader of the party in Scotland. Openly gay Ruth Davidson, 32, only took a seat at the Scottish Parliament at the Holyrood election in May, but has already become the first overall leader in a shake-up of the party north of the border. She was immediately congratulated by Prime Minister David Cameron. He said: 'I am delighted to congratulate Ruth on winning this leadership election and look forward to working with her to strengthen the Union and build a better future for Scotland.' Elected: Ruth Davidson smiles moments before being announced as the new leader of the Scottish Conservative Party last night . Ms Davidson, a kick-boxer and former Territorial Army member, was elected in a closely fought campaign against three other candidates. Runner-up Murdo Fraser, who was eliminated in the last of three rounds of counting, had pledged to scrap the 'tainted' Tory brand, proposing to set up a new centre-right party for Scotland. The controversial plan prompted Ms Davidson, a regional MSP for Glasgow, to enter the race and defend the current Scottish Conservative and Unionist party. After being declared winner at the count in Edinburgh, she said: 'The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is very much alive and kicking. 'It is now up to all of us to build on that momentum and drive the party forward to a new and exciting age of success.' As the successor to former leader Annabel Goldie, Ms Davidson will head a group of 15 Tories at the 129-seat Scottish Parliament, which is now dominated by First Minister Alex Salmond's SNP. Turning to the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence, she said: 'We in the Scottish Conservatives have a duty as well as an opportunity to be the party that stands up for Scotland as a vital component of the Union. Ms Davidson is congratulated by runner-up Murdo Fraser, was eliminated in the last of three rounds of counting . 'We must not allow the SNP to tear up . that right. Scotland is not being served if politicians behave like . rabbits caught in the headlights of Salmond's separatist steamroller. 'We must have the courage and . conviction to stop him in his tracks by always presenting and promoting . the positive case for the Union. 'Of course, a union that does not . adapt and evolve will inevitably become stale, so it is essential that . we adjust, refresh and revitalise the partnership. 'But strong, enduring marriages do . not end in divorce, they continue to provide safety, security and mutual . benefit and respect. That will always be worth fighting for. 'This is a time of generational . change for the Scottish Conservatives, a party for all, regardless of . age and of background. I want everyone to feel that they have a place, a . role and a voice that can and should be heard. 'I want to engage the whole party from the grass roots up and to extend that conversation with the electorate at large. 'The hard work starts here. Today is the first day of a new and bright future of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.' Ms Davidson will head a group of 15 Tories at the 129-seat Scottish Parliament, which is now dominated by First Minister Alex Salmond's SNP . Following the result, Mid Scotland and Fife regional MSP Mr Fraser underlined a potential division in the party. He said: 'Clearly I'm disappointed that I was not able to persuade more of our members that my vision for the future is the correct one. 'But I congratulate Ruth Davidson on her victory, and she will have my full support, as she tries to take the party forward. 'I think the bold and radical proposal that I had - to create a new centre-right party for Scotland, to replace the Conservatives - was a leap too far for the majority of our members. 'A sizeable minority, 45 per cent, voted for my proposal but it was not enough.' He secured 2,096 first preference votes against Ms Davidson's 2,278. David Mundell, the only Tory MP in Scotland, supported Ms Davidson's bid and said: 'Ruth embodies the radical, generational change that the party needs to rebuild and reclaim its place at the heart of Scottish politics and Scottish life. 'I look forward to working closely with her and I am certain she will be a first-class leader for the whole party.' Leadership challenger Margaret Mitchell, a late entry to the race, was knocked out with 472 votes in the first round. The fourth contender, Jackson Carlaw, who was taken to hospital with appendicitis during the campaign, was tipped by some to win, but was third with 830 first-choice votes. There were 5,676 votes cast in a turnout of 63.4 per cent.
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Ruth Davidson is a former Territorial Army member .
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Amir Khan may not know the name of his next opponent, but he intends to look good whoever he meets in the ring. The Bolton welterweight plans to fight in May after missing out on facing either Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao, who look set to finally tackle each other in a £200million Las Vegas mega-fight. And Khan paid a visit to Fight Label in Sheffield on Thursday, the company responsible for the £30,000 shorts he wore for his victory over Devon Alexander last December. Amir Khan is pictured at the Fight Label headquarters, where Sportsmail saw how his shorts are made . Khan (right) is seen in discussion with designer Sophie Whittam (left) and business manager Saj Mohammed . Khan and Whittam hold up the materials used to produce his shorts in a photoshoot with Sportsmail . Laced with 24-carat gold thread, the shorts were later donated to the Peshawar school in Pakistan where 132 children were killed by Taliban gunmen. And while his next pair will be considerably less extravagant, Khan was shown several luxurious samples, including snakeskin, by designer Sophie Whittam. 'We looked at a few different designs for my next fight,' he told Sportsmail. 'I like to wear kit that will make me feel good when I go into a fight, that way I fight better. I want to look slick. 'I like the gold colour; they showed me different leathers, python leather and a few different colours. It depends where the fight is going to be. We're looking at Vegas and New York, so when we find that out I'll let Sophie know and she'll put the kit together. Whittam (right), who designed Khan's £30,000 shorts for the Devon Alexander fight, is pictured busy at work . The designer (right) points out a colour she is in favour of, with Khan picking an alternative one . Khan also took time out to speak to the media in Sheffield on Thursday . 'It's very important because people talk about how good you look. It makes you fight better and feel good when you're in the ring. One thing about my team, even with the tracksuits, is that we look very organised with the same kit each day. 'A lot of people wondered why I made such expensive shorts but in the back of mind I always wanted to give it to charity. I donated my shorts to the school so they can rebuild it and improve on security.' Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, pictured chatting at an NBA game last month, look set to fight . Pacquiao lands a left hook on Chris Algieri on his way to victory in Macau back in November . Mayweather last fought when he beat Marcos Maidana in their rematch last September .
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Bolton fighter Amir Khan has conceded defeat in his battle to face Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao .
The pair are expected to face each other in a Las Vegas mega-fight in May .
Khan wants his next fight to be against Miguel Cotto .
Khan was at Fight Label's headquarters in Sheffield on Thursday to discuss plans for his new shorts .
READ: Pacquiao offers to pay $5m fine to Mayweather if he fails drug test .
CLICK HERE for all the boxing news .
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Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has revealed he wants to sign for Liverpool. Begovic claimed in an interview in his native Bosnia that he would be moving to Anfield in July for pre-season training. The 25-year-old said: 'I want to start preparing on July 10, with all the players of Liverpool.' Anfield move? Asmir Begovic has claimed he wants to begin pre-season training with Liverpool in July . Stoke, who have already signed England keeper Jack Butland from Birmingham, are weighing up a move for FC Twente stopper Timo Plattel as they prepare for Begovic's departure. Plattel, 19, would be seen as competition for Butland, who agreed to this summer's move in January, if a deal was concluded. Begovic has been linked with a move to a number of Premier League rivals, including Manchester United, but with reports of Barcelona's interest in Pepe Reina, Begovic clearly believes he is on his way to Anfield. The Bosnian, who was pictured this . week taking in a NBA match in America, said earlier this month: ‘We . haven’t spoken at all yet, but I think we will sit down this week and . formulate plans from there. ‘All . the speculation is flattering and nice, but as long as Stoke want me, I . am contracted here. I am happy here and desperate to help the club push . forward, as long as they are moving in the right direction. ‘I have ambition to play at the highest level and test myself at that standard, if the opportunity arises.’ Feeling the Heat: Begovic (centre) was spotted in the crowd at a Miami Heat basketball match this week . 20-20 vision: FC Twente's 19-year-old goalkeeper Timo Plattel (far left) sits on the bench during the Eredivisie Europa League Playoff match between Twente and Utrecht last night . Meanwhile, Stoke chairman Peter Coates has revealed that the club has received a transfer request from midfielder Steven Nzonzi. He . said: 'I can confirm that we have received a written transfer request . from Steven Nzonzi. We are not unduly worried about the situation as he . is our player and has three years remaining on his contract.' Begovic is set to follow Tony Pulis out of the Britannia after the manager was sacked earlier this week by Coates. Pulis, 55, issued a statement . through the League Managers Association, who stressed the split was . amicable, saying he was disappointed but accepted Coates wanted to go in . a different direction. Wantaway: Stoke's Steven Nzonzi (left), who has put in a written transfer request, battles with Wilfred Zaha of Crystal Palace during an FA Cup clash this season . The Welshman was well aware of the . disaffection growing among a section of fans but felt his record over . the previous seven years was worth something. 'At times the minority make the . noise,' he told BBC Midlands in an interview conducted before his . departure. 'You have to accept criticism. I've taken it before and you . have to take it again, . 'The fact we've had such a wonderful . five seasons (in the Premier League) gets lost in the wash, especially . if you have a bad run. 'When things go wrong it is magnified 10 times more in the Premier League. 'I'm . not dismissing them (the fans) because some are genuine supporters who . want the club to do well, others do it for different reasons. The boss: Stoke chairman Peter Coates (left) fired manager Tony Pulis (right) this week . 'I don't think answering my critics is the answer, the answer is to try to do your best.' Pulis also felt the period of stability in the Premier League had raised expectations unrealistically. 'It gets harder because expectations become more demanding. That is life,' he added. 'If you keep giving people things they keep taking it and in the end they want a little bit more. 'We are never going to be in a position to compete with the top five or six clubs unless you have the budget they use. 'I think we've done well at the club with what we've got.'
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Bosnia No 1 admits to Anfield ambitions during interview in his homeland .
Potters line up 19-year-old Twente stopper as replacement .
Stoke receive written transfer request from Nzonzi .
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Julian Fellowes is fighting to stop a tiny hamlet which inspired Thomas Hardy's most famous books from being 'obliterated' by a housing estate. Hardy wrote Far From the Madding Crowd in his parents' cottage near Lower Bockhampton, Dorset - which is also where he went to school and saw a milkmaid who inspired Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Now an agricultural college has lodged plans to build 70 new houses in the tiny settlement, which currently has just 28 homes. Maddened crowd: Villagers (pictured) are protesting plans by an agricultural college to more than treble the size of Lower Bockhampton, Dorset, where Thomas Hardy went to school and which inspired his novels . Picturesque: Hardy grew up in this thatched cottage a mile from the threatened Dorset village of Lower Bockhampton, and it was here that he wrote his famous novel Far From the Madding Crowd in 1874 . Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes (left) is leading the fight and said the houses would be like an 'atom bomb'. Right: Christopher Vulliamy, who lives in Hardy's old school, said the proposal is 'bonkers' Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes, who is the president of the Hardy Society and lives a mile away in West Stafford, said the rolling hills immortalised in Hardy's books would be ruined. 'The residents of Lower Bockhampton are about to be hit with an atom bomb,' he said. 'This development will obliterate the village. 'This is a hamlet of 28 houses which will almost quadruple in size in one go, having been the same size for hundreds of years. 'Five to ten houses could be absorbed by the village but 70 is a sledgehammer blow. 'People from around the world come to visit to see where Hardy lived and where he wrote and the places that inspired him. One cannot understate how much the local area inspired Hardy.' Pilgrimage: The Victorian novelist walked every day down this lane from his cottage home to Lower Bockhampton, and it inspired the idyllic country atmosphere of the fictionalised county Wessex in his novels . Outrage: Villagers are campaigning against the development, which would more than treble the hamlet's size . Plans: The site of the proposed development and Hardy's cottage, near the town of Dorchester in Dorset . Nestled among history: The planned housing (in red) is a stone's throw from Hardy's old school (purple) Rolling hills: A satellite image of the same site handed to the council. The college is on the far left in yellow . He added: 'We have a real responsibility to protect the environment of one of England's greatest global writers. 'Can you imagine plans to build almost 100 houses at Chawton (Jane Austen's home) or Haworth (the home of the Bronte sisters)?' The housing plans - which have also been slammed by English Heritage and the Open Spaces Society - have been put forward by the Kingston Maurwood agricultural college, which owns the land. The college's bosses say selling the plot for housing is the only way it can raise enough money to expand and redevelop. Outline plans are being considered by West Dorset District Council and have attracted more than 50 objections. Born in nearby Higher Bockhampton in 1840, Thomas Hardy grew up in his parents' thatched cottage a mile from the village currently under threat. Lord Fellowes said: 'The residents of Lower Bockhampton are about to be hit with an atom bomb' Idyll: The plans for the 28-home hamlet prompted anger from English Heritage and the Open Spaces Society . Pretty: Hardy's Wessex was shaped by his years spent in the picturesque Dorset village in the mid-1880s . It was there that he wrote Far From the Madding Crowd, which proved to be his first major literary success when it was published in 1874. The cottage is now run by English Heritage, and is far from the only mark Hardy left on the landscape. The beautiful countryside of Dorset was repeatedly immortalised in his novels as the fictional county of Wessex, whose idyllic rural perfection became the focus of years of literary criticism. He was inspired by regular walks down the tree-lined lane to Lower Bockhampton, where he went to school in a building which still exists as a private home - together with the Victorian school bell. Lower Bockhampton itself became the fictional village of Melstock in Hardy's 1872 novel Under the Greenwood Tree, which depicted romantic tanglings in tight-knit village life. Homespun: The protests began on a small scale, but have extended beyond the tiny village . Published anonymously, it focused on a new schoolmistress named Fancy Day who arrives in 'Melstock' and attracts a number of suitors to the school house where she lives. In 2005 the BBC produced an adaptation of the novel starring Keeley Hawes. It was later in life that Hardy saw an 18-year-old milkmaid in Lower Bockhampton - and she became the inspiration for the central character of his 1892 masterpiece Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Neighbouring Dorchester also became the town of the title in Hardy's 1886 work The Mayor of Casterbridge. Along with Higher Bockampton - Hardy's birthplace - and nearby Stinsford, historians say the three villages act as a 'pilgrimage route' for fans of the writer. Hardy's heart was removed before he was cremated and buried in Stinsford - while the rest of his ashes were interred in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. Kate Ashbrook, the chairman of the Open Spaces Society, said: 'Thomas Hardy would turn in his grave at the prospect of this massive development in his native hamlet. The peace and quiet of this lovely area would be ruined. 'This is of course a popular tourist destination because of its association with Hardy and it would be an outrage if the council were to allow such alien and overpowering development.' Retired paediatrician Dr Christopher Vulliamy has lived in Hardy's former school house - just 30 yards from the proposed houses - since 1962. He said: 'The peaceful and rural setting of the school house, which so many Hardy fans pause to look at from the river path that Hardy used to walk, will be blighted by this. 'Seventy houses is disproportionately large for a hamlet that has only 30 houses. This development would overwhelm Lower Bockhampton.' Clare Davison, the principal of Kingston Maurwood College, said: 'We want to provide additional state of the art agri-tech facilities and expand our Higher Education offer enabling more students to study degree programmes on their doorstep. 'The capital released from the sale of land will enable the college to embark on a programme of redevelopment and will have a positive impact on meeting local housing needs.' The plans are by the Kingston Maurwood agricultural college (above), which is selling the land to raise money . The principal of the college (above) said it was the only way to ensure it could compete in the modern world . Born in 1840, Thomas Hardy is now one of the most celebrated novelists and poets in English history - not least because of his descriptions of rural Dorset life. He immortalised the county where he grew up as 'Wessex', setting all of his major novels in the somewhat idealised, fictionalised world. To him as to many Romantic and Victorian authors, the countryside represented a more pristine life than the grunting machinery which heralded the Industrial Revolution, but also one more closely entwined with mankind's animalistic desires. Celebrated: Thomas Hardy created a pastoral picture of the rural England in which he grew up . Wessex was first used in Far From the Madding Crowd, which told the story of an independent-minded young woman who refuses to marry humble shepherd Gabriel Oak. The girl, Bathsheba Everdene, comes into money and moves away - but is forced to seek Gabriel's help when her sheep begin dying. A long and complex friendship follows, and slowly Bathsheba realises the friendship of her youth - not the temptations of the wider world - is the key to her happiness. Gabriel asks her to marry him a second time and she accepts. Wessex was also used in Hardy's 1892 masterwork Tess of the d'Urbervilles - whose original subtitle was A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented. She is the daughter of a poor family which is corrupted at the beginning of the novel by a rumour that she is descended from nobility. But when she goes to meet the libertine Alec D'Urberville, instead of inheriting his family's estate she starts working on it - before being raped by Alec in a symbolic, and real, loss of innocence. As her life unravels it does so in that same country setting, and after she finally stabs Alec to death it is to Stonehenge that she walks to await her fate. Wessex itself was named after the Medieval English kingdom which took in much of the south west, but its borders were not the same and changed from novel to novel. In reality it was a poor area which changed little in hundreds of years and was blighted by a devastating death rate in sickness and childbirth' Hardy turned away from novels in the 1890s after Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure received mixed reviews, and began writing poetry instead. He died in 1928 and his ashes were interred in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.
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Agricultural college lodged plans for 70 new houses in 28-home hamlet .
Scheme would more than treble the size of Lower Bockhampton, Dorset .
Hardy went to school there and grew up in thatched cottage a mile away .
In the cottage he wrote Madding Crowd, his first major success in 1874 .
Villagers picketing college behind scheme say he would 'turn in his grave'
They are led by neighbour Lord Fellowes, president of the Hardy Society .
An 1800s milkmaid in the village also inspired Tess of the D'Urbervilles .
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By . Ryan Lipman . A homeless man who murdered someone he had met only the previous day and provided accommodation for him and his dog has been jailed for at least 17 years. Phillip John Smith was convicted of murder and arson in February after a trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The court heard Smith was living on the streets in June 2012 when he met Damien Noakes, who offered him a couch at a friend's Mosman Park unit in Perth's west, where he was then living. Mr Noakes allowed Smith to bring his dog with him and they spent the first night together drinking. Phillip John Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years without being eligible for parole . The next day, they caught a train to Fremantle where they hocked goods to get more money for alcohol. When they returned to the unit, they continued drinking and Smith became teary and emotional. 'You think it was because you were talking about your daughter,' Justice Stephen David Hall said during sentencing on Thursday. 'The deceased told you to snap out of it and stop crying. You said that he took you by the ears and shook your head. 'You accept that this was probably well intended but you say that from that point until some point later that evening you have no memory of what happened.' Smith then launched a violent attack on Mr Noakes, using a blunt instrument to hit him repeatedly on the head, face and arms. He also repeatedly stabbed him in the back and neck, and cut the achilles tendon on his left leg. Smith testified that his next memory was standing over the deceased covered in blood. He then set the unit on fire and left. When Mr Noakes' body was found, the knife was still in his neck. Justice Hall said there was no evidence to suggest Smith was acting in self-defence or the victim was armed or threatened him in any way. 'This was not a premeditated murder; you did not plan to kill the deceased,' Justice Hall said. 'It was essentially motiveless. 'It was a frenzied attack.' Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years before being eligible for parole. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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A homeless man killed a man who offered him and his dog a place to sleep .
The murder happened the day after the two men met in 2012 .
Victim was stabbed repeatedly and had his achilles tendon cut .
Phillip John Smith convicted of murder and sentenced to 17 years .
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(CNN) -- It may lie in Szepasszonyvolgy -- or what locals call the Valley of the Beautiful Women -- but the Golen Cellar isn't much to look at. Nevertheless, behind this simple cavern's red doors, stenciled with the image of Bacchus, lie barrels of the best wine to be found in one of Hungary's most beautiful vineyard destinations. Menoire is a half-sweet and fruity red wine, low in tannins. My Hungarian mother, whose family once owned vineyards in the area, would bring me here amid the musty aroma of oak barrels and the waft of red onions on zsiros kenyer -- bread topped with lard, onion and paprika. The wine would be decanted unceremoniously into a huge two-liter recycled Coke bottle. 'Not the rubbish you get in supermarkets' For her, the wine in the Szepasszonyvolgy recalled her student days in the city's college and her family's connection with the area. "Your grandfather made white wine like this," she said when tasting a glass of Csersegi Fuszeres, another local favorite. "This is proper cellar wine, not the rubbish you get in the supermarkets." They take wine very seriously in this part of northeastern Hungary, close to the edge of the Bukk Mountains. At one time the local red "bulls blood" was supposed to give residents of the main town of Eger supernatural strength to ward off vampirism -- a legend born from its violent past as a trophy in battles with Ottoman invaders. Even when my mother's family lost its vineyards after World War II, my grandfather never gave up making his own wine. Today, wine is still the blood that flows through the town's culture. Eger is the ideal destination for wine fans looking for an informal tasting trip. The lack of pretension in the cellars is a big plus for those wanting an introduction to the local produce. 'Bull's blood' It's the topographical ingredients of the Eger region that make it ideal for winemaking. It has limestone and clay-based slopes along with a cool climate, not dissimilar to Burgundy in France. Eger's grape-growing country spreads out into 5,000 hectares of vineyards, and includes wines areas that carry a protected status. Among them is Debroi Harslevelu, a golden wine produced in Eger's Debro district that carries the aroma of linden flowers and a rich sweetness. Others include Egri Bikaver (better known as the anti-vampiric "bull's blood"). Synonymous with Eger, Egri Bikaver is one of Hungary's most famous red wines, known for its ruby color and spicy notes. The wine comprises a blend of at least three of 17 red grape types from the Eger district. It varies between wineries, but the Kadarka grape, supposedly brought over during the Ottoman occupation, often anchors it. Szepasszonyvolgy and its more than 200 wine cellars are easily reached from the center of Eger via the miniature train that departs from Egeszseghaz Street. Each cellar has its own distinct flavor. The ones located at the base of the valley pulse at night from local activity and live gypsy music, while others are more spartan, pulling in the crowds with quality wine. The Hagymasi Cellar, at number 19, is by far the most spectacular, a cathedral to wine carved under the hill. It's worth visiting for the architecture alone, or for its pince lepeny, a buckwheat pancake filled with ham and cheese -- perfect to soak up the alcohol. And, of course, at the top of the hill, at number 28-29, there's the Golen Cellar. These days there's no need to bring your own recycled Coke bottle. Here are others to try: . St. Andrea . This is a fairly young cellar following traditional and classic methods, aiming to redefine Eger's wines for the 21st century. Recommended wines: Hangacs Egri Bikaver 2007; Csakegyszoval Pinot Noir 2006 or 2004. St. Andrea, 88 Ady Endre Street, Egerszalok +36 36 474 018 . Kovacs Nimrod . Located in the historic backstreets of Eger, this restored historic winery offers tasting and excellent vintages sought by collectors. Recommended wines: Nagyeged Furmint 2010; Monopole Rhapsody Bull's Blood 2009. Kovacs Nimrod, 66 Veroszala Street, Eger +36 36 537 232 . Thummerer . Located in the village of Noszvaj, just outside of Eger, this family-run cellar offers high-class, award winning wines you'll find in exclusive restaurants all over Europe. Recommended wines: Egri Csillag 2012; Vili Papa Cuvee 2006. Thummerer, Szomolyai Street, Noszvaj +36 36 463 269 . Juhasz Peter . This wine cellar is located right in the Szepasszonyvolgy, so it's easy to visit for tastings. There's also a wine museum in the cellar. Recommended wines: Egri Bikaver 2008; Egri Csillag 2011. Juhasz Peter, Cellar 40, Pinceborozo, Szepasszonyvolgy, Eger, +36-36 436 432 . Galtibor . One of the leading wineries in the Eger region, combining traditional techniques with modern technology. Recommended wine: Egri Bikaver Superior 2009. Galtibor, 22-32 Veroszala Street, Eger, +36 20 85 25 005 . Vincze . Winery with a solid reputation for being one of the top wine makers in the region. It also produces certified organic wines. Recommended wines: Vincze Cuvee 2002; Egri Pinot Noir 2007. Vincze, 2 Mester Street, Eger +36 36 427 515 . Sike . One of the few local wineries harvesting mature grapes, Sike produces very sweet "ice wines," or wines closely resembling the Hungary's famous sweet Tokaj wines. Recommended wine: Debroi Harszlevelu Bothrytises 2006. Sike, 43 Disznofosor Street, Eger +36 30 742 9024 . CNN Travel's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy. Jennifer Walker is an Anglo-Hungarian writer and former physicist living in Budapest. She tweets at @JDWalkerWriter.
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Hungary's northeastern town of Eger lies in the heart of one of the country's best wine regions .
Szepasszonyvolgy, or the Valley of the Beautiful Women, contains more than 200 wine cellars .
Visitors can easily tour the cellars to try and buy wines, in bottles or straight from the barrel .
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France's prime minister placed himself as a frontrunner to challenge its unpopular president as he called for the country's Left to reinvent itself or die. In an interview with an influential news weekly, Manuel Valls accused the French left of being 'backward looking' and attached to a 'bygone' past. His comments, published today but already widely trailed, come after President Francois Hollande slapped down Mr Valls' apparent presidential ambitions. Honour: President Francois Hollande awards French Prime Minister Manuel Valls the Grande Croix de l'Ordre National du Merite, or the Great Cross of the National Order of Merit, at the Eysee Palace in Paris yesterday . Barb: President Hollande reportedly told Mr Valls 'One can succeed in life without becoming president.' It was widely interpreted as a dismissal of Mr Valls' apparent ambitions to replace Mr Hollande as Socialist leader . 'One can succeed in life without becoming president,' Mr Hollande was quoted by Bloomberg as saying at a traditional ceremony in which French presidents honour their PMs after six months in office. The barb, which came soon after Mr Hollande rejected Mr Valls' proposal to reform unemployment benefits, was seen in French media as an intensification of the battle at the top level of French politics. The feud comes as rifts plaguing the Socialist party became increasingly apparent, as a hard-Left faction takes on pro-business, neo-liberal figures like both the president and prime minister. Hollande has been unable to stem increasingly strident dissent within his camp despite two cabinet reshuffles. Today Mr Valls called for the establishment of a new 'progressive' party or political alliance. 'We must put a stop to the backward-looking left that has become attached to a bygone and nostalgic past,' Valls said in an interview with news weekly L'Obs. 'If the left does not reinvent itself... it could die,' he warned. 'The left that gives up on reforming, that chooses to defend yesterday's solutions rather than resolve today's problems - that left is picking the wrong fight.' He called on all 'progressive forces' in the country to put their differences aside and gather as one to drag France out of its economic quagmire. 'We must soon create a... federation or one group' of these forces, he said, without detailing who they would be.. Mr Valls in Parliament: In an interview with an nfluential news weekly, he accused the French left of being 'backward looking' and attached to a 'bygone' past and said it had to reinvent itself or die . Both Mr Valls and President Hollande have been sharply criticised by many on the left of the Socialist party for their implementing huge cuts in public spending and giving firms tax breaks in return for pledges to create jobs. Chief among critics who see this as a form of austerity is former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, whose public dissent got him kicked out of the government in an August emergency reshuffle and replaced by Emmanuel Macron, a former investment banker. Former education and culture ministers Benoit Hamon and Aurelie Filippetti followed him out the door but remained MPs. This week a key parliamentary vote on France's 2015 budget was passed with a razor slim majority after they led a group of rebel Socialist lawmakers who abstained. Mr Hamon said the government's current reformist, pro-business stance 'threatens the republic' and would play in the hands of the far-right in the 2017 presidential elections. Time for a comeback? Nicolas Sarkozy at a UMP meeting in Nice, France. The former Frence president is back on the campaign trail as he begins his bid to retake the Elysee Palace in 2017 . Patriotism: Mr Sarkozy sings the national anthem next to his wife Carla Bruni and officials from his UMP party . France has been unable to stem sky-high unemployment and kickstart growth. The eurozone's second-biggest economy has also admitted it will be unable to get its ballooning budget deficit below the EU ceiling until 2017 - two years later than promised. Mr Hamon warned on RFI radio that the threat was 'not only that (far-right leader) Marine Le Pen would get to the second round of elections without any resistance, but also... that soon, she will lead the country'. The public war of words was another slap in the face for President Hollande, whose perceived inability to hold the ranks together has not helped restore his rock-bottom popularity ratings. In his interview, Mr Valls acknowledged that bad choices were made at the beginning of the administration in 2012. 'We favoured tax (rises) over a drop in public spending,' he said, reiterating his belief in the new direction the government was taking. Mr Valls also warned that if the left failed to reform and yield results, the far-right would be the clear winner, as witnessed already with the National Front party's good results at local and European elections earlier this year.
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Manuel Valls accuses French left of being 'backward looking' and 'nostalgic'
But President Hollande slaps down PM's apparent presidential ambitions .
Socialist party is riven by a feud between pro-business and hard-left factions .
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By . Freya Noble . Community anger at shocking footage showing an Australian Federal Police officer pepper spraying a dog and throwing sticks at it during a raid on a home has seen the officer pulled from frontline duty. Justen Storay, the owner of Laps, a male bull mastiff cross, has filed an official complaint against the Federal Police who conducted the raid on his home in Griffith, a suburb in the Canberra's innner south, in May. Mr Storay was not home at the time of the raid. An ACT Police spokesperson told the MailOnline in a statement they treat 'allegations such as this seriously' and the matter is currently subject to an 'investigation by AFP Professional Standards.' Scroll down for video . A police officer in the ACT has been seen pepper spraying (top left) a dog during a raid on a home in Griffith, Canberra . The statement said it 'does not condone cruelty to animals in any form. All officers are required to report all use of force actions, and the reported use of oleoresin capsicum spray is part of this requirement.' According to The Canberra Times, the police officer has been taken out of the field and placed in a different department until the matter is resolved. Mr Storay's lawyer, Peter Woodhouse, told MailOnline the AFP were 'circling the wagons' and his first contact with AFP Professional Standards unit since they first viewed the footage was on Wednesday - weeks after the footage was released. 'It seems AFP told the RSPCA the capsicum spray didn't hit the dog,' Mr Woodhouse said. 'The only person who would have been able to give that version is the person who did the spraying, and we don't accept what the person is saying.' Mr Woodhouse also revealed that when police were at his client's house they didn't seize anything. 'They were executing a search warrant in relation to as charge of driving dangerously. I don't know what you could possibly find at someones house to prove that.' The dog's owner is concerned that the attack may have long-term effects on his family pet, who has been 'standoffish' with a different temperament since the incident, the lawyer said. The video shows a plain clothes officer in the backyard of a house in Griffith, Canberra standing some distance from the dog. The officer pretends to bark at the dog, which then appears to bark back at him before running toward the officer, but stops well short of the officer because he in on a chain. Further along in the footage the officer can be seen heading towards the dog who has run out of the shot after being sprayed . The officer runs backwards before pulling out what has been determined to be his pepper spray. He moves back towards the animal, sprays his can in the dog's direction, who then runs out of view of the camera. Pepper spray is a chemical which causes a deep burning sensation in the eyes. Minutes later footage shows two more officers can be seen in the yard, one in plain clothes and one in uniform. The officer who sprayed the dog can be seen motioning in its direction off-screen. Later, he picks up a stick and hurls it what is believed to be in the direction of the animal, which is still not in view of the camera. The officer is now part of an internal investigation after he was also caught throwing a stick (top left) in the dog's direction . According to dog owner Justen Storay's lawyer Peter Woodhouse, the animal has been behaving differently since the incident .
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CCTV footage shows a pet dog being pepper sprayed during a home raid .
The officer is now under internal investigation over the Canberra incident .
The Griffith dog owner Justen Storay has taken legal action against AFP .
Mr Storay's lawyer said police were after his client for dangerous driving .
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A 20-year-old man was arrested in Darwin after his naked dancing, singing and rock throwing caused 13 vehicles, including a police car, to crash. He was arrested early on Sunday morning after a number of traffic incidents on Wednesday and Thursday in the Hidden Valley area, just outside of Northern Territory capital's CBD. Reports first surfaced on Wednesday night of a naked blond man throwing rocks at cars on Tiger Brennan Drive, one of Darwin's major arteries. Damage: Police said that 13 cars had been damaged by a naked man who had been dancing and hurling rocks in Darwin . Attack: The man has struck a number of times on the Tiger Brennan Drive in Darwin . During peak-hour traffic on Thursday morning, a two-car crash was followed by an accident involving six vehicles, which police said was due to motorists trying to get a glimpse of their dog squad's search operation for the man, who was not found at the time, the ABC reported. A police car on its way to help with the six-car smash hit another car, and then three cars bumped into one another on the Stuart Highway, where traffic had been diverted. The man was arrested on Sunday morning after a resident called police to report he had trespassed on property. 'He was found asleep in someone's yard,' Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen told AAP. She said it was still a mystery how long the man had been in the Northern Territory or what he had been doing. He was taken into custody for a mental health assessment because police were concerned about his mental and physical state. 'Apparently he did have a pair of shorts on, we don't know where he got them,' Supt Jorgensen said. Police search for clues after a car was damaged in one of the incidents . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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The 20-year-old was arrested by Northern Territory police on Sunday .
He had been naked and throwing rocks at cars on a major arterial in Darwin .
The incidents happened on Wednesday night and peak-hour on Thursday .
He caused a two-car crash following an accident involving six vehicles .
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Jeremi J. Alicea, 27, of Bedford, . Ohio is accused of pandering child pornography and he is also accused of . possessing a criminal tool . By . Alexandra Klausner . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:53 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 18:27 EST, 31 January 2014 . The nephew of the Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro followed in his uncle's sexually deviant footsteps and was charged on Thursday with 22 counts related to child pornography. Jeremi J. Alicea, 27, of Bedford, Ohio is accused of pandering child pornography and he is also accused of possessing a criminal tool. The court records say that Alicea's laptop was his 'criminal tool' and that the alleged crimes occurred on Sept. 17 2013, and Oct.8, 2013. Both Ariel Castro (left) and his nephew Jeremi J. Alicea (right) exhibited sexually deviant behaviors . NBC reported that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the child pornography case. Alicea's arraignment will take place at 8:30 am on February 13. Alicea's uncle Ariel Castro kidnapped and brutally raped three young women over a period of 10 gruesome years that 'seemed like an eternity.' Castro was sentenced to 1,000 years in prison on August 1, 2013. On September 3, Ariel, fed up with the 'improper' treatment in prison, hanged himself at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Castro kidnapped Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight and held them captive along with a 6-year-old girl he fathered with Berry. Bedroom windows were boarded shut from the inside with heavy closet doors and doorknobs had been removed and replaced with multiple locks. The house was divided in ways to make it more secure and to hide the existence of rooms. Amanda Berry . Gina DeJesus . Michelle Knight . Ariel Castro enters the courtroom on July 26, 2013, in Cleveland, United States . Castro abducted the women from the streets of Cleveland from 2002 to 2004 when they were 14, 16 and 20. Castro pleaded guilty to 937 counts including kidnapping, rape and murder and blamed his behavior on childhood molestation and porn addiction. He chained his captives by their ankles, fed them only one meal a day and provided plastic toilets in their bedrooms that were infrequently emptied. He menaced them with a gun, threatened them with tales of other captives, some of whom hadn't made it home, and at one point locked all of them in a vehicle in his garage for three days while he had a visitor. Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus were rescued May 6 when one of them broke out part of a door and called for help. Unlike Castro's nephew who seems to have issues of his own, Castro's son has spoken out publicly about his father's behavior and has labeled it atrocious. Anthony went on the Today Show this past June and said, 'I cannot express how happy I am that my father will never be able to hurt anyone again. Behind bars is where he belongs for the rest of his life. I have absolutely nothing to say to him.' He spoke of being beaten as a child and of witnessing horrific crimes against his own mother. 'No one should ever have to see their mom crumpled in a heap on the floor beaten,' he said. Anthony has made it his mission to speak out against sexual violence instead of perpetuating it. Anthony Castro also suffered at the hands of his father when he was a child . A room in Ariel Castro's 'house of horrors' is seen in this undated photo provided to the court as evidence on August 1, 2013 and released to the media by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office . A photo from 2001, provided by Anthony Castro, of him and his father, Ariel Castro, at the house on Seymour, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio .
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Jeremi J. Alicea, 27, of Bedford, .
Ohio is accused of pandering child pornography and he is also accused of .
possessing a criminal tool .
Alicea's uncle Ariel Castro kidnapped .
and brutally raped three young women (two underage) over a period of 10 gruesome years .
that 'seemed like an eternity'
Unlike Castro's nephew who seems to have .
issues of his own, Castro's son Anthony has spoken out publicly about his .
father's behavior and has labeled it atrocious .
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(CNN) -- Muzak, the company that put pop, string-filled arrangements of rock songs in your elevator, filed bankruptcy papers Tuesday after it missed a $105 million payment to creditors. The Muzak company is best known for background music piped into places such as elevators. The pipeline of easy listening will continue to flow as Muzak restructures its debt during the Chapter 11 process, the company said. "Muzak is a solid business with an outstanding customer base, but we are burdened with substantial debt obligations established over a decade ago," Muzak CEO Stephen Villa said. Muzak's cash flows doubled in the last three years, Villa said, "demonstrating that our business continues to perform well even in today's challenging environment." Along with its ubiquitous elevator offerings, Muzak and its 14 affiliates -- all privately owned -- produce on-hold messages and install sound systems, digital signs and drive-thru systems for retail businesses. Bankruptcy documents showed Muzak owes its largest creditor -- U.S. Bank, as indentured trustee -- about $370 million, nearly all of it due this year. Muzak spokeswoman Meaghan Repko said the filing was voluntary and in cooperation with the creditors. The weakened global economy was not a factor, she said, noting the company's profits have been rising in recent years. The Chapter 11 protections will allow Muzak time to restructure the debt, which was incurred a decade ago, she said.
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Muzak creates musical material often called "elevator music"
Company missed $105 million payment to creditors .
Cash flow is up, says CEO, but company has "substantial debt obligations"
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:01 EST, 15 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:39 EST, 15 December 2013 . Lost it: A Florida Wal-Mart worker shot another employee's car after they won employee of the month, investigators believe. Willie Mitchell (pictured) became incensed that the award was given to his co-worker . He won't be getting any awards any time soon. A Florida Walmart employee exploded in a fit of rage after his colleague was made 'Employee' of the Month' instead of him. Such was the bad blood between Willie Mitchell and a female co-worker, that he ended up shooting her car. According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office arrest report Mitchell is charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The . Broward Sheriff’s Office said surveillance video from a Wal-Mart . parking lot shows Mitchell parking next to his co-worker’s earlier this . month. A few . minutes later, investigators said Mitchell rolls down a back window, . fires a shot into his co-worker’s car and then drives off. The co-worker was . working inside the store at the time of the shooting. Broward . Sheriff's Office spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright said the shooting . stemmed from some bad feelings after the victim won an Employee of the . Month Award. Feud: Willie Mitchell drove his car next to his co-workers before firing a bullet through the window . Fired: Mitchell fired a shotgun through the back window of his car. The bullet struck his co-workers car. He was then fired from his job at Walmart . 'She was announced as the employee of . the month which you would think that would be something good, people . would be happy for her,' Ms. Coleman-Wright said to CBS 4. 'But there was one employee who wasn’t happy.' Investigators say after the award was announced Mitchell started arguing with the victim about their workload. The victim told detectives that 'during the argument Mitchell told her repeatedly, ‘I’m gonna show you.’ Whilst she was working in the store, Mitchell then fires a short through her car window. Walmart wallop: Investigators say bad blood over an employee of the month award at a South Florida Wal-Mart store led to gunfire and criminal charges . Award: The Walmart in Florida runs an employee of the month award which Willie Mitchell didn't win - and isn't going to anytime soon! Investigators said they’re still stumped on the exact motive for the shooting. 'Perhaps Mitchell wanted to be employee of the month but clearly these actions that we saw in response to this, I think we see why he wasn’t chosen as employee of the month,' the Sheriff's office said. A Wal-Mart representative said that Willie Mitchell no longer works for the company. The employee of the month does not receive any money or gifts - it is strictly a recognition from the store.
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Willie Mitchell was incensed that another employee won the award instead of him .
He put bullets through his co-workers car and then drove off .
The employee of the month award does not come with any kind of financial incentive or gift whatsoever .
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Football star Matthew Stafford narrowly avoided a collapsing pedestrian bridge on a Detroit freeway this morning. Stafford, quarterback for the Detroit Lions, was driving to practice when the bridge was hit by waste haulage truck with its boom up, which knocked down the structure. State police confirmed that the man died as the huge clean-up operation began, leaving traffic backed up for miles. Scroll down for video . Collapse: The bridge came down over the Southfield Freeway in Detroit early this morning . Caught in the chaos: Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was seen near the collapsed bridge at around 6am . Carnage: The bridge's concrete pillars were wrenched from their station when the truck collided with them . Stafford was among those stranded by the accident, but was picked up by the Lions' head of security and was taken on to practice. A truck driver is dead after smashing into a bridge over a freeway, bringing it crashing to the ground. The 15ft pedestrian bridge, which crossed the Southfield Freeway in Detroit, Michigan, was left a mangled wreck after the collision just before 6am today. State police confirmed that the driver of the truck was killed. He was taken from the scene by stretcher and pronounced dead at a hospital. Brought down: The 15ft bridge - which was in 'fair to good' condition, according to authorities, was left blocking the road . The road was closed - with transport authorities predicting that the wreckage could take days to clear, WXYZ-TV reported. The road was closed from Interstate 96 to Joy Road - a distance of around a mile and a half. It is believed that the truck, a waste haulage vehicle, had its boom raised when it drove into the bridge. Speaking from the football pitch this afternoon, Stafford told CBS: 'Obviously you don’t expect to see a bridge down, you know, on the highway. 'But I was just mostly worried about trying to get her as fast as I could; and, obviously, the health of the driver.' Twisted: The bridge left traffic backed up for miles on the Southfield Freeway . Before: The bridge, on the Southfield Freeway in Detroit, as it appeared before the crash . Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said: 'When the boom struck the bridge, it actually pulled the bridge down with it.' 'It's just the beginning of rush hour, so nobody else was struck. If this would have happened maybe an hour later it would have been a lot worse.' Nobody was on the bridge at the time. State transportation officials said the bridge was in 'fair to good' condition, meaning that it was safe for use before being hit by the truck. Shaw said the driver was taken to a hospital and died, but he didn't have details about what caused the driver's death. The driver's identity has not been released. Smash: This truck - believed to be the one which brought down the bridge - was pictured not far from the scene this morning . Barnika Cage, who lives a block from the bridge, told The Detroit News she heard a 'boom' sound, went down the street and saw that the bridge had fallen. She said she saw a man get out of the truck, stumble, and then fall face first on the grass along the freeway. She said: 'There was blood all over his face. I was just praying he was OK.' Traffic is backed up for miles in both directions at the scene, and officials are urging drivers to take different routes. The I-96 freeway was closed temporarily but is now open as usual. According to MDOT, the wreckage of the bridge will start to be removed this morning. Officials couldn't say for sure how long the roadway would be closed. Fragment: This piece of a vehicle was seen under the bridge - leading to speculation that it was the piece which struck the bridge .
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Truck 'with raised boom' smashed into 15ft bridge near Detroit around 6am .
Mangled concrete and steel wreckage crashed onto the Southfield Freeway .
Detroit Lions played Stafford was only a few cars away when it came down .
Was unhurt and made it to practice when he was picked up by team officials .
State police confirmed the driver of the truck was killed .
Traffic was backed up for miles, freeway closed between I-96 and Joy Road .
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(CNN) -- Moroccans voted Friday to approve a referendum on constitutional reforms that would weaken the king's powers and boost those of the government. The referendum was approved by 98.49% of voters, the country's interior minister said. Despite a particularly warm day, more than 70% of the country's 13 million registered voters turned out to decide on the referendum, Interior Minister Taieb Cherkaoui said. "I voted yes because I agree with the proposed changes," said Rachida Khalil of Casablanca. "There is still a lot of work to be done, like appointing of a completely new government, but I am very hopeful." King Mohammed VI announced the referendum in a rare address to the nation last month, after a series of unprecedented protests swept the North African country. Under the referendum, voters are empowered to select a prime minister, ending the longstanding practice in which the king has selected his own man for the job. The prime minister has tended to take his lead from the sovereign on key matters of state. Over recent months, thousands of young Moroccans have taken to the streets, inspired by the Arab Spring. The youth-based February 20 Movement wants jobs and an end to corruption its members say stems from royal cronies. It had urged its supporters to boycott the referendum on the constitution, saying it fails to meet their demands. The countries biggest political parties, including the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) and the conservative Istiqlal party, had asked their supporters to vote "yes" to the proposed changes. "Although this project may seem to some non-revolutionary, it has the advantage to make the parties face their responsibilities. It forces them to make their own cultural revolution," said Industry Member Ahmed Reda Chami, a member of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces party. The revamped draft constitution will make officials more accountable, the Parliament in Rabat more dynamic and will give the government greater powers, the 47-year-old king said when he announced the referendum on June 17. The new prime minister would have new powers in decision-making and in day-to-day management -- relieving the king of a number of duties and aligning the style of management along the lines followed by some European Union countries. In an example of power sharing, the draft constitution empowers the prime minister to dissolve the House of Representatives, and stresses that the king shall consult him before announcing the dissolution of Parliament. "It specifies the conditions to be observed in each case in order to ensure the separation of powers as well as balance and cooperation between the branches," the king said. "The idea is to establish democratic institutions where all active parties participate and bring in prosperity." Under the reforms, Morocco will also have an independent judiciary and provide equal rights for women. Analysts, however, question whether the proposed change will prove sufficient. The reforms "appear to be genuine," wrote Joel Hirst, an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. But "the security apparatus, cabinet positions and religious appointments remain under the finger of the king." "For a country that has been accused of human right abuses in the past, these reforms for some do not go far enough," he added. "The king may well have succeeded in staying ahead of the protest that has led to the demise of the regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and plunged Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain into turmoil and violence," said Marina Ottaway, director of the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Whether this is just a short-lived victory in the first skirmish of a long battle or a turning point on the road to transforming Morocco into the Arab world's first constitutional monarchy will depend not only on how the king acts in the coming months, but also on the capacity and willingness of Moroccan political organizations to build on the opportunities the constitution offers them," Ottaway wrote. "It may also depend to some extent on the persistence of a protest movement that has so far not been able to mobilize the huge crowds seen in Tunisia and Egypt," she stressed. CNN's Elise Labott and journalist Aida Alami contributed to this report.
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NEW: Referendum is passed by 98.49% of voters .
The changes would give more power to the prime minister and Parliament .
Morocco has been swept by protests, inspired by the Arab Spring .
Some protesters say the proposed reforms do not go far enough .
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Harlequins stuck to their side of the deal but were left to rue results elsewhere as they crashed out of Europe. Under heavy snowfall in southern France, Conor O’Shea and his coaching staff watched on a laptop as Leinster’s failure to beat Wasps in Coventry brought a painful end to their Champions Cup hopes. The seven tries to three scoreline will send the club’s England contingent — Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw, Nick Easter, Danny Care and Mike Brown — to Pennyhill Park in bittersweet spirits, as the west London side finished third in Pool 2. Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw (left) saw his side crash out of the European Champions Cup on Saturday . Harlequins flancker Nick Easter passes the ball during the European Champions Cup match against Castres . ‘We did what we needed to do and unfortunately we couldn’t control anything else,’ said O’Shea. ‘Towards the end we were watching on the laptop and seeing Leinster miss drop goals and penalties. Ian Madigan is an 80-90 per cent kicker and I think he kicked three from seven. We could only control what we could control. ‘You can’t rely on others and that’s the position we left ourselves in. I thought we played pretty well in tough conditions.’ Just 6,802 turned out in the freezing conditions but Castres delivered a typically partisan reaction when Marler went over for the opening try in the 12th minute. Quins were sniffing for the four-try bonus point and, after turning down a kick at goal, Nick Evans kicked for the corner. A serious looking knee injury meant Will Collier was withdrawn from action, however the travelling pack pulled together and Marler was on hand to finish a driving maul from the line-out. Charlie Walker and Brown were reading from different hymn sheets when a misplaced pass almost gifted Castres a try, shortly before scrum-half Antoine Dupont dived over to level. Harlequins fullback Mike Brown runs with the ball during their victory on Saturday . Harlequins vie to score a try during proceedings at Pierre Antoine Stadium in Castres . Walker used pace and footwork to skip past Remi Tales for the third try, but the Languedoc side once again evened things up, this time through centre Romain Cabannes. His midfield partner, Thomas Combezou, was sin-binned just before half-time and that proved to be the turning point, as Quins used their advantage to pull away with scores from Care and Jack Clifford. Castres were half-cooked, with star man Rory Kockott rested. When Remy Grosso was shown the second yellow card of the game, Quins turned the screw through Mark Lambert and Marland Yarde. But in the end it was all for nothing. Johnnie Beattie and George Lowe exchanged late tries, but their fate had already been sealed back in the Midlands. Harlequins scrum half Danny Care (centre) prepares for a scrum during the encounter . Harlequins fly half Nick Evans passes the ball during the European Champions Cup match in France . Marland Yard goes over for Harlequins during their conclusive victory . Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford his tackled by Castres captain Yannick Caballero (right)
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Harlequins ran in seven tries in impressive victory over Castres .
But it was not enough as they exited the European Champions Cup .
Wasps fightback against Leinster succumbed the Quins to exit .
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It has long been a mystery why agile birds cannot out-manoeuvre huge jetliners, causing aircraft to make emergency landings in extreme circumstances. But now scientists have worked out why, and it appears that birds don’t take into account an aircraft's speed, when calculating how to avoid it. This failing means that birds have little time to escape vehicles such as aircraft and speeding cars, which travel faster than 75 mph (120 kph). Scientists believe that birds don't take into account an aircraft's speed, when calculating how to avoid it, instead solely relying on how far away the aircraft is from them at a certain time (stock image). This results in the deaths of thousands of birds every year and potential aircraft disasters . According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 9,000 birds are struck by aircraft over the US every year and the estimate is conservative, because bird strikes don’t have to be reported. Bird strikes not only usually kill the animals, but can injure drivers if they hit a vehicle’s windscreen, as well as posing a potentially serious threat to flight safety, because they can cause engine failure. To work out why the strikes happen, a team of scientists from the US Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Centre in Ohio, Indiana State University and Purdue University, also in Indiana, used virtual reality, to avoid injuring birds. Researchers found that the birds they studied left it too late to escape vehicles travelling faster than 75 mph (120kph). Essentially, they judged a safe distance to manuoeure without calculating that the vehicles might approach them at speed, as shown in this diagram . The FAA estimates that bird strikes have resulted in 200 worldwide deaths since 1988. They are dangerous to aircraft because birds can be sucked into a jet engine and strike an engine fan blade. That impact knocks out a single blade and can trigger a domino effect, resulting in engine failure. Incidents are most common shortly before landing or take-off when the jet engines are at top speed. A 12 lb (five kg) goose striking an aircraft going 150 mph (241 kph) at lift-off generates the force of a 1,000 lb (454 kg)weight dropped from a height of 10 feet (three metres), according to Bird Strike Committee USA. Despite this, the number of accidents involving civil aircraft is low, estimated at one fatal accident in one billion flying hours. Around 65 per cent of bird strikes cause little damage to aircraft, but the blow is usually fatal to the bird. It's been estimated that bird strikes cause $400 million (£265 million) of damage every year in the US and up to $1.2 billion damage to commercial aircraft globally. The first reported bird strike was by Orville Wright in 1905. In 2005, the Space Shuttle Discovery hit a vulture during its launch, with no damage. On January 15, 2009, a US Airways flight ditched into the Hudson River after experiencing a loss of both turbines. The suspected cause of engine failure was a collision with a flock of geese shortly after take-off. The experiment took place in an enclosed chamber where brown-headed cowbirds were played videos of lorries rushing towards them at speeds ranging from 37 to 224 mph (60 to 360 kph), which is the cruising speed of some small airplanes and falls within the take-off speed for commercial aircraft. By measuring their reactions, the scientists discovered that the birds seemed to react based on the distance between their bodies and the lorry, ignoring how fast the vehicle was travelling. The birds repeatedly started to fly away from the vehicle when it was 98 ft (30 metres) away, according to the study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The study says: ‘Alert and flight initiation distances remained similar across vehicle speeds, and accordingly, alert and flight initiation times decreased at higher vehicle speeds. ‘Thus, avoidance behaviours in cowbirds appeared to be based on distance rather than time available for escape, particularly at 60–150 km.’ While the strategy worked for avoiding slower moving objects, the researchers observed that it failed when trying to escape vehicles travelling faster than 75mph (120kph), such as cars, lorries and airplanes. They were unable to pinpoint exactly how the birds reacted to speeds above 112 mph (180kph) – cruising speeds typical of a small aircraft, or commercial aircraft at take-off. The scientists concluded: ‘As vehicle speed increased, cowbirds did not have enough time to assess the approaching vehicle. ‘Although potentially effective for evading predators, the decision-making process used by cowbirds in our study appears maladaptive in the context of avoiding fast-moving vehicles.’ They said that further research is needed to check that different species of birds use the same avoidance techniques and suggested that installing lights on aircraft could help avians dodge death from a longer distance away. The scientists said that further research is needed to check that different species of birds use the same avoidance techniques as brown-headed cowbirds (stock image). They also suggested that installing lights on aircraft could help avians dodge death from a longer distance away .
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Birds have no time to escape vehicles travelling faster than 75 mph .
This is because they only take the distance of a vehicle into account .
Experts from the US' National Wildlife Research Centre in Ohio and two universities used virtual reality and videos to assess birds' reaction times .
They say installing new lights on aircraft could help avians dodge death .
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(CNN) -- It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of Albert Florence's life. He had just secured funding for the home he was building and was traveling along Interstate 295 outside Trenton, New Jersey, one Sunday with his wife and child. That's when he first heard the sirens. "We were not doing anything illegal, we were obeying the speed limits," Florence told CNN. "It's just a normal routine stop, I thought." A state trooper pulled the family SUV over to the side of the road. Even though his pregnant wife was driving, Florence said, the officer focused on him, discovering a warrant for his arrest. The alleged crime, he said, was an unpaid traffic fine. The 35-year-old Bordentown resident was arrested, handcuffed, and hauled off to the Burlington County Detention Center. That began what he called a "six-day nightmare." Florence was strip-searched by corrections staff, all because of what he terms a misunderstanding, a computer glitch. "It was very disgusting. It was just a bad, bad experience," he told CNN Correspondent Kate Bolduan recently. "I was just told, 'Do as you're told.' Wash in this disgusting soap and obey the directions of the officer who was instructing me to turn around, lift my genitals up, turn around, and squat." Still shaken by the experience six years later, Florence sued, and now his appeal is before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is challenging the county's rules allowing routine strip searches of everyone arrested for even minor offenses, regardless of the circumstances. It is an important test of police detention powers in the post-9/11 security-conscious environment, a chance for the justices to offer clarity on an issue in which both inmates and the police have sought guidance. Oral arguments are scheduled for Wednesday. Court records show Florence was subjected to what he terms an invasive strip and visual body-cavity search. He was then held for nearly a week in the county lockup before being transferred to a Newark correctional facility, where he was subjected to another search before being placed in the general prison population. The next day a judge freed Florence, confirming what he had insisted all along, that the fine had been paid. The state argues the "intake search" for new prisoners was applied fairly, and applied to everyone. "At the time Mr. Florence was admitted into the facility, the policy and the practice were to ask him to take off his clothes, take a shower and be subject to a visual search," said Carter Phillips, who will argue Burlington County's side of the case before the high court. "His allegation is that they went further than that, and that's obviously a disputed matter at this point." The case has yet to go to trial, pending outcome of the constitutional issues now before the high court. The justices will decide whether corrections officials should have a less intrusive, "reasonable suspicion" standard that would prevent the kind of search currently permitted in at least 32 states, including New Jersey. "Where the counties went wrong is, they're doing a blanket policy of strip-searching anyone that comes in that jail or the prison. So basically, your constitutional rights stop at the prison door," said Susan Chana Lask, Florence's New York-based attorney. "It's a balance -- what are you brought in there for? For failing to pay a fine? Or for murder? You know, failing to pay a fine does not justify strip-searching you." But the counties counter by saying that kind of individualized scrutiny does not work in such a controlled environment, when so many new inmates need to be initially processed. "The basic purpose, obviously, is to avoid the risk of contraband or weapons or anything else being smuggled into the jail, and so therefore, it protects not only the guards, but also protects all of the other inmates," Phillips told CNN. "The question is: Do you have a reasonable expectation of certain kinds of privacy? And it seems to me when you are being lawfully admitted into a prison facility, and he was, at that point, your expectations of privacy essentially drop to zero and the importance of maintaining security rises to about 100 percent. So the balance, it seems to me, clearly favors the prison." Florence also points out his alleged offense, failure to pay a fine, is not considered a criminal offense in the state and would not normally result in incarceration. His family said their efforts to free Florence were thwarted by repeated bureaucratic run-arounds. State officials draw a distinction between a strip-search policy for those newly admitted and for those later entering the general prison population. Such initial searches are justified, said the state, when applied for proper reasons, including potential health threats. Federal courts since the September 11, 2001, attacks had been at odds over the constitutionality of strip searches. The Constitution's Fourth Amendment protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures." The Supreme Court in 1979, in what is called the Bell precedent, upheld a search similar to the ones Florence had undergone for those prisoners who had contact visits with outsiders. Using a balancing test, the justices said the prison's security interest justified intrusion into the inmates' privacy. But subsequent appeals courts have found those arrested for minor offenses may not be strip-searched unless authorities have a "reasonable suspicion" that the person may be concealing a weapon or contraband such as drugs. In 2008, however, appeals courts in Atlanta and San Francisco found searches of every inmate coming into a prison population are justified, even without specific suspicions. Those opinions were the first of their kind since the 9/11 attacks and, along with Florence's case, now give the high court the chance to clarify an issue that a number of civil and human rights proponents have tried to highlight. Local jails in New Jersey at the time of Florence's arrest were subject to federal monitors after allegations that minority motorists and their passengers were being unfairly targeted for police stops and arrests. Stops of that nature are not at issue in the current appeal. Florence, who is African-American, is not alleging any racial discrimination by the state or individual officers. The case is Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington, New Jersey (10-945). A ruling can be expected early next year.
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Albert Florence, mistakenly arrested for an unpaid traffic fine, was strip-searched .
He has filed suit again Burlington County, New Jersey, for his "six-day nightmare"
Both inmates and police are hoping the Supreme Court will offer clarity on the issue .
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(CNN) -- Three-time league MVP LeBron James finally has an NBA championship to add to his belt, after the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 in game five of the 2012 NBA Finals. The forward, whose search for a championship ring sent him to the Heat from his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers two seasons ago, played a huge role in Thursday's win with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. A triple-double, as well as strong performances in each of the previous games earned James the coveted title of Most Valuable Player (MVP). "It's about damn time," James told NBA.com upon receiving the award, which was handed to him by NBA legend Bill Russell. "It's everything and more. I dreamed about this moment for a long time. Including last night, including today," James told media following the game, as carried by NBA.com. "My dream has become a reality now and this is probably the best feeling I've ever had." The Heat, who won four games straight to win the best-of-seven series, took a lead early in the game and never let up. James and his teammates led by 25 points in the final minutes of the third quarter. Guard Dwyane Wade, who won his first NBA championship with the Heat in 2006, added 20 points in Thursday's victory. "We had to go through last year," Wade said of the team's loss in last year's NBA Finals. "As much as it hurt, we had to experience it to get here, this season." The Thunder, who kicked off the series with a big win against the Heat at home, lost games two and three by just a handful of points in the finals minutes of each game. Despite the loss, head coach Scott Brooks said his young team will learn from the finals experience. "I think when you play against the best, you learn. You don't get better by playing bad teams," Brooks said. "We've played against the best three teams in the last few years and we've learned." Forward Kevin Durant had a game-high 32 points but said that this is the hardest thing he and his team have been through. "It's tough, that's the only way to explain it. As a whole I'm proud of the guys for how we've fought all season," Durant told media following the game. "I wouldn't want to play for anyone else or any other city."
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Miami Heat won 2012 NBA Championship with a 121-106 win over Oklahoma City Thunder .
Forward LeBron James was awarded the Finals MVP after scoring 26 points .
Thunder coach Scott Brooks said the Heat's physicality won them championship .
Thunder foward Kevin Durant said loss is toughest thing his young team has been through .
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Wedged into metal pipes at subway stations, they go unnoticed by millions of New Yorkers daily. But these hidden surveillance cameras are actually tracking the movements of commuters. The cameras, disguised in pipes near Metrocard machines, turnstiles and token booths, are part of a covert Metropolitan Transportation Authority surveillance network that monitors travelers' activity. They are separate from the dome-shaped surveillance devices that are clearly visible at stations across the city - but can reportedly be monitored real-time 'if deemed necessary' by officials. Covert: This hidden camera (pictured), disguised in a pipe at Herald Square subway station at 34th Street, is part of a covert Metropolitan Transportation Authority surveillance network that monitors travelers' activity . At Herald Square subway station at 34th Street alone, at least six cameras are hidden inside what appear to be electrical conduits to observe commuters, according to the New York Post. The MTA describes the devices as 'antiquated', claiming they date back to as far as the 1990s. However, some of the cameras appear to be housed in new metal pipes, the newspaper noted. 'They are covert cameras for high-priority areas or high crime. They record, but can be monitored real-time if it’s deemed necessary,' one source explained. And the cameras - positioned in casings that will capture commuters' heads and shoulders - are so well hidden that even agency employees and transit advocates were not aware of their existence. Hidden: The cameras (pictured) are distinct from the dome surveillance devices that are clearly visible at stations across the city - but can reportedly be monitored real-time 'if deemed necessary' by officials . William Henderson, executive director of the MTA’s Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee, said: 'I think I may have first heard they were planning to put cameras in less obvious places last year. But I never noticed these.' Meanwhile, experts have deemed the devices 'fascinating'. 'They look like a part of the industrial environment of the MTA,' Robert McCrie, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management, said. 'They are positioned in ways to get people’s heads and shoulders.' However, others have condemned the hidden cameras, citing serious privacy concerns. Norman Siegel, a civil-rights lawyer, said the agency should be more forthright about the cameras, which he said 'sweep up' information on commuters in a 'vacuum-cleaner' manner. Members of the public have also spoken of their uneasiness at the cameras' covert presence. The MTA has refused to disclose which other stations may have the hidden cameras, nor where the camera feed is transmitted. This is for security reasons, the agency told the newspaper. In addition to the hidden surveillance cameras, the MTA reportedly uses other - equally covert - 'enhanced equipment', such as cameras of higher quality, that 'serve in various capacities'. Equipped: At the 34th Street station in Manhattan (pictured) alone, at least six cameras are hidden inside what appear to be electrical conduits to observe commuters. The MTA describes the devices as 'antiquated' In fact, it prefers to use the latter to monitor commuters' activity, spokesman Kevin Ortiz said. In total, there are said to be more than 4,500 cameras throughout the subway system. Many of these cameras have aided police in their efforts to track down suspects and investigate crimes. Last year, it emerged that the MTA is planning to install surveillance cameras in subway cars between 2015 and 2019. The cameras will be fixed to 940 new subway cars to catch criminals. The agency is also said to be considering the installment of cameras in 300 cars that were purchased last year for the C and J lines. A pilot project was tested in 2010. The latest surveillance revelations come just a week after New Yorkers braved sub-zero temperatures and windy conditions to go bare-legged for the annual 'No Pants Subway Ride'. Donning hats, scarves and thick coats on their top halves, participants boarded trains at stations across the city last Sunday - surrounded by bemused travellers. Scantily-clad riders also took part in places including London, Milan, Bucharest, Berlin and Mexico City - all joined in as part of the 'celebration of silliness'. The event started off as a prank by comedy group Improv Everywhere in 2002, bemusing a few embarrassed commuters,. However, it has since grown into a global phenomenon.
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Cameras are hidden in pipes near Metrocard machines and turnstiles .
They can be monitored real-time and are used in 'high-priority areas'
At 34th Street subway station alone, at least six are wedged in pipes .
MTA said devices are 'antiquated', dating back to as far as the 1990s .
But it refused to disclose where the feed from hidden cameras goes .
Some have criticized pipes over concerns about commuters' privacy .
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A 35-year-old man was lucky to escape with his life after his dog accidentally shot him in the leg as they travelled in his truck. The 9mm pistol, which was on the floor of the cab at the time, was set off when it was kicked by the hapless hound near Sebring in Florida. Gregory Dale Lanier was wounded in the leg, but escaped serious injury, police said. Bizarre: A man was shot in the leg after his pet dog kicked a gun that was lying on the floor of his truck (file picture) Firearm: The weapon involved was a 9mm pistol, although the exact make and model has not been reported (stock picture of a Glock 9mm pistol) Sebring Police Commander Steve Carr, said he had never heard . of a similar case of a dog shooting a man. According to the police report, Mr Lanier said he was . driving along State Road 17 North when the dog kicked 'the unloaded .380 . pistol,' the Highlands Tribune reports. The report said the gun was actually a 9mm . weapon, not a .380. The incident is the latest in a . string of bizarre shootings in Florida. Incident: Mr Lanier was driving with his dog in his truck near the town of Sebring in Florida . Shooting. The gun went off while the pair were driving along State Route 17 near the town. Mr Lanier was lucky to escape with minor injuries . Last week, a woman in St . Petersburg was wounded when she was shot by a friend's oven, according to NBCNews. Under Florida law, handguns carried in a vehicle must be either 'securely encased' or not immediately available for use. This means the weapon should be kept in a glove compartment, snapped into a holster; in a gun case, or in a closed box or container.
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Weapon goes off after hapless dog kicked it as it lay on floor of truck .
Gregory Dale Lanier wounded in the leg, but escaped serious injury .
Police chief says he has never heard of similar case .
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Ed Miliband is on course to record a thumping victory at the next General Election owing to a surge in popularity for the anti-Brussels UKIP party. The dramatic rise in UKIP support will cost David Cameron a staggering 51 seats at the next Election, giving Labour an overall majority of 94 seats, according to survey for The Mail on Sunday. Support for UKIP, led by maverick Nigel Farage, has soared from 3 per cent in 2010 to an all-time high of 16 per cent in the Survation poll, transforming the likely outcome of the next Election, due in 2015. Big winner: Ed Miliband (pictured left) is set to win the next General Election owing to a dramatic rise in UKIP support that would cost David Cameron (right) 51 seats . Analysis by Britain’s leading pollster, Professor John Curtice, shows the Conservatives would lose 41 MPs as a result of the UKIP boom – with all but one going to Labour. Tory victims would include Ministers Chloe Smith and Brandon Lewis, and rising star Jacob Rees-Mogg. And ten seats the Conservatives would have regained as a result of the Lib Dems’ slump will stay with Nick Clegg’s party, all because of UKIP. The poll shows Labour on 38 per cent, the Tories on 29, UKIP with 16 and the Lib Dems on 11. Had UKIP remained at 3 per cent, the figures would be enough to give Mr Miliband a wafer-thin Commons majority of ten. However, the haemorrhage of Tory votes to UKIP turns it into a landslide majority of 94. Maverick: UKIP leader Nigel Farage has seen support for the party rise to an all-time high of 16 per cent . The survey comes as Mr Cameron plans to revive the battered Coalition with a ‘mid-term review’ tomorrow. He will try to bounce back from the child benefit cuts row by accusing Labour of planning an £83 billion welfare spree. Prof Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said: ‘This poll turns an Election that would otherwise look like a reasonably close contest look like an easy walkover for Labour. Tory supporters have been unhappy with the Government ever since George Osborne’s omnishambles Budget. I would expect UKIP to fall away to some degree by the Election but the only way the Tories can put things right is by restoring their reputation for competence.’ Westminster’s first-past-the-post system means that UKIP would still fail to return a single MP – despite the backing of one in six voters – although 50 per cent of those polled said they would like to see Mr Farage in the Commons. Asked who they backed on Europe, 24 per cent chose Mr Cameron, with Mr Farage in second place on 20, ahead of Mr Miliband on 19 and Mr Clegg on seven. UKIP could even beat the Conservatives in the 2014 Euro elections. A total of 24 per cent said they would vote Tory, with UKIP on 22, Labour 31 and the Lib Dem 11. More than two in five said they would consider voting UKIP in the EU poll. Mr Farage said: ‘This is the best poll we have ever had. It shows we are now being taken seriously as a mainstream party and are attracting votes from all the three other parties.’ Survation interviewed 1,002 people online on Thursday and Friday.
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Support for UKIP has soared from 3 per cent in 2010 to 16 per cent .
News comes as Cameron plans to revive Coalition with mid-term review .
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(CNN) -- Journalism sometimes has a bit of a short-term memory problem. If something didn't happen, or wasn't written, this day, this hour, this minute, then it's easy for us Internet writers to pretend it didn't happen. Or to forget about it and move on to the next post. The problem with this myopia, of course, is that history is a wise teacher, and all good reporting should build on a thoughtful understanding of the past and the present. That's why I'm asking for your help in creating a list of "must-reads" on the subject of income inequality. That topic, which you voted for me to cover as part of the Change the List project, has been examined thoughtfully by countless writers, philosophers, historians, politicians, journalists, Web designers and documentarians. As I embark on a series about inequality in the United States, it makes sense to survey the smart, exciting works already out there. Why not make the creation of this must-read list a collective, public experiment? Hopefully, we all can benefit from the process, and the list will be public so others can learn from it, too. Submit your top picks via these Facebook or Google+ posts -- and make the case for why your favorite book, doc or website should be included. You can also leave a comment at the bottom of the page here if you prefer. My plan is to compile a list of 99 (or so) must-reads from your submissions.* I'm using the term "must-read" loosely. I think the list should include books and articles as well as thoughtful websites, charts, videos or documentaries. To get things started, here are 10 of my picks, in no particular order: . 1. "Inequality.Is" - This website from the Economic Policy Institute is the best online primer I've found. It explains why inequality is a problem, how it was created and what might fix it. 2. "A Theory of Justice" - The 1971 book by the late John Rawls is often cited as the philosophical basis for opposing income inequality. It's a dense book, but thought-provoking. 3. "Park Avenue" - A documentary by Oscar winner Alex Gibney. It uses the famous New York avenue as a metaphor for American inequality; Park Avenue is home to both extreme wealth, in Manhattan, and extreme poverty, in the Bronx. 4. "The Great Divergence" - Journalist Timothy Noah argues, as his book's description says, that growing inequality "may be the most important change in this country during our lifetimes -- a drastic, elemental change in the character of American society, and not at all for the better." 5. "Wealth Inequality in America" - Chances are you're one of the 6.8 million people who has viewed this YouTube video. It's based on the work of Harvard's Mike Norton. 6. "Inequality and New York's Subway" - A New Yorker interactive, which maps median income levels by subway stops in New York. The power is in its minimalism. Take a look at the 2 train map. It passes through neighborhoods with median incomes of $205,192 and $13,750. 7. "Nickel and Dimed" - A first-person journey by writer Barbara Ehrenreich, who agreed to try to make a living doing jobs that required no higher education or specialized skills. 8. "Born Rich" - Jamie Johnson, from the wealthy Johnson & Johnson family, directed this documentary about his own life and the lives of his super-rich friends and acquaintances. It reveals a fascinating and complicated picture of wealth in modern America. 9. [Untitled letter] - In March 2013, 90 "economists, academics and development experts" sent a letter to a panel tasked by the United Nations with creating a post-2015 development agenda. The experts argue income inequality should be a global priority, in part, because "inequalities threaten our ability to pursue fair and sustainable development as much as they threaten eradication of extreme poverty." 10. "The Spirit Level" - Written by two epidemiologists, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, this book makes a strong, statistics-based argument that ugly social problems -- from obesity to incarceration rates -- are associated with unequal societies. Better health and well-being would follow, they argue, if our societies were made to be more equal. This quickly thrown-together list has plenty of limitations. It focuses almost entirely on the United States, particularly New York. All these works were published in 1971 or later, which is a huge weakness of my list. Most of them presuppose inequality is a problem, or set out to prove that it is. So, conservatives, skeptics, historians, literary types and international readers: Help me get some diversity going here! I look forward to your submissions, and thanks in advance for the help with this project. *Readers of The Atlantic may notice that this concept of a crowdsourced must-read list is based on Alexis Madrigal's "Tech Canon," which he compiled in a similar manner in 2010. The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of John D. Sutter.
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John Sutter is covering income inequality for the Change the List project .
Help him compile a list of 99 "must-reads" on income inequality .
Submit your top picks on Facebook, Google+ or in the comments below .
Readers voted for Sutter to cover this topic as part of Change the List .
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By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 10:04 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:14 EST, 5 March 2014 . Getting old and frail is not something to look forward to, but NHS staff are to find out first-hand exactly how tough it can really be. A suit has been created to mimic some of the troubles facing the elderly, using weights and straps to restrict movement while headphones and special goggles recreate the debilitating loss of vision and hearing. All staff at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, from porters to consultants, are to be given time in the ageing suit to give them a better insight into how their elderly and dementia patients feel when they try to perform basic tasks. Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is using an age simulation suit to teach staff what it's like to be old . It follows the example of . Peterborough City Hospital, whose staff were recently trained in how to . improve their care for obese patients by wearing a fat suit that gave . them the shape of a 40stone person. Anita . Ruckledge, a senior sister, said: ‘The ageing suit allows us to . empathise with patients who have age-related symptoms or who suffer from . dementia. It’s a way of understanding just what everyday life is like . for them. ‘It gives an . insight into how the joints move as we get older and how it might be . difficult to do things that we take for granted. It can make patients . feel very out of control.’ Those . wearing the suit found that splints fitted to their legs and oversized . shoes make them shuffle along, while vibrating gloves mimic the symptoms . of conditions such as Parkinson’s. Those wearing the suit will find after five or ten minutes that they start to slouch due to the weight of it, and pads on their elbows and knees restrict joint movement. The suit is being used by everyone from porters to consultants. Image shows volunteer Harvey Pedley wearing the suit and being supported by Anita Ruckledge, dementia lead nurse and senior sister . Splints are fitted to the legs and over-sized shoes are worn to make the user shuffle as an elderly person may do. The gloves cause a tremor to mimic the symptoms of conditions such as Parkinson's disease. Other age-related impairments that the suit helps younger people experience include opacity of the eye lens, narrowing of the visual field, head mobility restrictions and joint stiffness. They will also feel a loss of strength, reduced grip ability and reduced co-ordination skills, while also having high-frequency hearing loss. Suzanne Brassett, a ward sister on the dementia ward at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has worn the age simulation suit to allow her to get a better understanding of how her patients are feeling. The suit includes goggles and ear defenders to simulate hearing and vision loss and a neck brace to restrict head movement and replicate a stiff neck . The suit also includes heavy shoes which cause the wearer to shuffle as some elderly people do . Ms Brassett said: ‘The suit can actually make you understand how patients feel. ‘When patients say “I can't pick that up” or something you can completely empathise with them, and often by putting yourself in their shoes, you can help them to find a way. ‘It's not a nice feeling wearing the suit. I walked around a shopping centre in it and to not be able to see and not hear at the same time was really hard. You really do have to rely on everyone around you. ‘I would definitely recommend for anyone to try wearing it, because we all come across elderly people in our lives. For members of the public to try it as well would help all of us understand how it feels.’ The suit comes with gloves which cause the hands to shake and which make picking things up hard . Anita Ruckledge, senior sister at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'The suit really allows us to empathise with patients who have age related symptoms or who suffer from dementia' The trust is supporting a nationwide drive to improve care of people with dementia across the country, and is investing in training by enabling all staff to take part in free dementia training courses. Deputy Associate Director of Nursing for Medicine, Helen Green said: ‘We want to make the trust a centre of excellence for dementia treatment. ‘This is part of our on-going drive to improve our care and make the most vulnerable patients get the attention and the support that they need. ‘We also want to reassure family and friends of patients that we are doing everything in our power to provide them with the support they need and deserve at what can be a difficult time.’
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Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is using the suit to teach all staff - from porters to consultants - how their elderly patients feel .
Has goggles to simulate poor vision, ear defenders to cause hearing loss, gloves that make the hands shake and a vest that causes slouching .
Also has shoes that cause shuffling and braces to prevent easy movement .
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama reached out to Iran on Friday -- the start of the Iranian New Year -- in a video message offering "the promise of a new beginning" that is "grounded in mutual respect." Obama's message to Iran echoes his inaugural speech, where he said "we seek a new way forward." The message is a dramatic shift in tone from that of the Bush administration, which included Iran, along with North Korea and Iraq, in an "axis of evil." It also echoes Obama's inaugural speech, in which he said to the Muslim world, "we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." In Friday's video, Obama said: "The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right, but it comes with real responsibilities. And that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization." There was no immediate response from Tehran to Obama's message, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last month that his country would welcome talks with the United States "in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect." The United States, several European nations and Israel suspect that Tehran has been trying to acquire the capacity to build nuclear weapons, but Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Last month, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security released a report saying that Iran has reached "nuclear weapons breakout capability" -- it has enough uranium to make a nuclear bomb. The report was based on an analysis of data from the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, an IAEA official who asked not to be named cautioned against drawing such dramatic conclusions from the data, saying Iran's stock of low-enriched uranium would have to be turned into highly enriched uranium to be weapons-grade material. That hasn't been done, the official said. The United States has had tortuous relations with Tehran since the Islamic revolution in 1979, but the Obama message speaks of "new beginnings" with the promise of a new year. "We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community," the president said. "This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek, instead, engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect."
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Video message coincides with the start of the Iranian New Year .
The U.S. has had tortuous relations with Tehran since 1979 .
There was no immediate response from Tehran .
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Eating out is a lottery with as few as half of the food outlets in some areas meeting hygiene requirements, it is claimed today. The warning comes from Which?, who say local councils in some areas are letting the owners of restaurants, cafes and takeaways get away with putting customers at risk. The consumer champion said half a million people suffer from food poisoning every year, yet people eating out are not getting the protection they deserve. It surveyed food hygiene reports submitted by all 398 local authorities in the UK, based on their surveys of eating establishments in their areas, to the Food Standards Agency. Only around half of the restaurants in Enfield were meeting minimum health requirements, with Edinburgh second on the list followed by Lewisham, Harrow, Camden and Brent (file image) Which? said: ‘We found Enfield in London was the poorest performing local authority with only 54 per cent of its medium and high risk businesses meeting hygiene requirements.’ These requirements can range from simple things like ensuring there are proper hand washing facilities and keeping raw and cooked meat separate, to concerns about rats and mice. ‘The City Of Edinburgh was second to bottom, with five other London councils in our bottom 10 - Lewisham, Ealing, Harrow, Camden and Brent.’ Others criticised for not doing enough to make food outlets clean up their act were the city of Birmingham, along with Falkirk, Perth and Kinross in Scotland. Which? said: ‘Businesses are ultimately responsible for complying with hygiene rules but local authorities are tasked with enforcing compliance. 'More than nine in 10 people said it is important that local authorities ensure compliance with food hygiene rules.’ The watchdog’s executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: ‘Our research reveals a shocking postcode lottery on food hygiene where in some places you may as well toss a coin before deciding which restaurant to trust with your health. ‘Consumers expect local authorities to check that food businesses in their area comply with hygiene standards and rigorously enforce the rules. ‘Local authorities should do more to make the best use of resources, respond effectively to risks across the food supply chain and ensure consumers are adequately protected wherever they live.’ Which? based its rankings on three criteria - the proportion of premises ranked as high or medium risk in a local authority that were compliant with food hygiene requirements; the percentage of premises that had been rated for risk; and the proportion of inspections and other follow ups that were carried out. Cherwell District Council in North Oxfordshire was rated as the best performing local authority for a second year running. It was ahead of Brentwood, Essex, Broxbourne, in Hertfordshire, Basingstoke and Deane, and Hartlepool. Enfield council rejected the Which? findings, saying it had misunderstood the figures. It said the measures used by the consumer group failed to give proper weight to the fact its officials are particularly thorough and more likely than other councils to force the owners of dirty food businesses to take action. The council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety, Chris Bond, said: ‘We can say with confidence that their researchers clearly do not understand the figures they have used to rank local authority food safety teams; that their interpretation of the data they have gathered is incorrect and their conclusions are nonsense.’ He said the work of Enfield council was marked down by Which? because they are more likely to find a problem. Mr Bond said this is because they are diligent and it was ‘ludicrous’ to suggest otherwise. ‘Under the Which? assessment criteria, the more businesses you close or prosecute for hygiene failings the worse, the job you are doing, that is clearly a ridiculous suggestion,’ he said. Reasons for failing health requirements could range from simple problems such as not keeping raw and cooked meat separate, to larger concerns about mice and rats (file image) ‘This research is so fundamentally flawed that I would not wrap my chips in the paper it is printed on. We think there are better ways of measuring the performance of food safety teams.’ He said Enfield has the 10th highest number of prosecutions of food businesses in the country, it is 31st for the seizure of unfit food and 33rd for issuing improvement notices to food outlets they are worried about. The Local Government Association said efforts to tackle dirty and dangerous restaurants are being hampered by big cuts in funding from the Government. Its regulation spokesman, Nick Worth, said: ‘Councils are working hard to improve food safety standards and there is some excellent work being done in this area. 'Councils will always try to make the best possible use of the resources they have. However, they are being hamstrung by a 40 per cent core funding cut from government. ‘These figures don’t necessarily reflect the challenges and circumstances that councils in different areas are tackling. 'Most importantly, it needs to be remembered that it is ultimately the responsibility of the outlets themselves to ensure food is produced in a safe environment that complies with the law.’
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In Enfield only half of high risk businesses are meeting safety standards .
Edinburgh, Lewisham, Ealing and Harrow complete five worst areas .
Cherwell, Brentwood and Broxbourne among the most hygienic .
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Los Angeles (CNN) -- Pop singer and actress Christina Aguilera was detained early Tuesday "to ensure her safety" after her rumored boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, authorities said. Aguilera, 30, was a passenger in a car that was stopped about 2:45 a.m. (5:45 a.m. ET) in West Hollywood, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. "The driver, Matthew Rutler, was determined to be driving while under the influence of alcohol and arrested," the release said. Aguilera was determined to be intoxicated, said Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore. "She was not capable of taking care of herself," he told reporters, but said she was "very cooperative, not belligerent in any way." She was technically arrested on a public intoxication charge, Whitmore said, but "there was never the intent to prosecute." Such actions are routine in such instances -- when a driver is arrested and a passenger is determined to be intoxicated. Since Aguilera was not able to care for herself "and no one was available to ensure her safety, Aguilera was taken into custody," the statement said. The department "stressed that she was not involved in any criminal activity." Aguilera will have a record of the misdemeanor arrest, Whitmore said, and was booked, fingerprinted, put in a jail cell and monitored. However, she will not face charges, he said. "The law specifically allows for no desire to prosecute." Aguilera was released about 7:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. ET) after passing a sobriety test, he said. Rutler's bail was set at $5,000, he said, not the $30,000 reported on the sheriff's website. He said Rutler was in the process of bailing out of jail Tuesday morning. The car was pulled over after authorities noticed it "driving erratically," he said. Aguilera divorced Jordan Bratman earlier this year.
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NEW: Aguilera was arrested, but authorities won't prosecute, spokesman says .
NEW: She was put in a jail cell to sober up overnight .
Aguilera's rumored boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of DUI .
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When 5-year-old Zoey was first adopted this summer, she slept with slices of pizza and horded scraps of food from the trash can, still traumatized by the years of starvation at the hands of her biological parents. Two years ago, Zoey and her two siblings were taken away from biological parents Kenny and Kathleen Sanchez, when a Colorado police officer noticed the then 3-year-old's skeletal frame - severely underweight at just 19 pounds. Zoey is now healthy and no longer afraid her food will be taken away from her, seven months after moving in with adoptive parents Amy and Victor Arellano, 9News reports . The little girl's recovery now has an even better ending, as her heartwarming story broadcast around the nation on Wednesday led to the arrest of her biological parents, who have been on the run for the last year and a half. Happy ending: Five-year-old Zoey (right) was taken from her biological parents two years ago after a Colorado police officer saw her father strike her in the face, and noticed she was underweight. She has since been adopted by Amy (left) and Victor Arellano . Hungry: When she was taken away from her parents in February 2012, Zoey weighed just 19 pounds. The Arellanos say Zoey would bring slices of pizza to bed and horde food when she first started living with them . Biological parents: After the story of Zoey's happy recovery and adoption was broadcast around the nation on Wednesday, her fugitive biological parents Kenny (left) and Kathleen Sanchez (right) were arrested more than 1,400 miles away in Foley, Alabama. The two skipped $50,000 bail in July 2013 . The Sanchezes were first arrested in February 2012, when an off-duty Boulder, Colorado police officer witnessed Zoey's father hit her in the face in a store when she was hysterically crying out of hunger. The concerned officer said in a police report that Zoey had 'sagging skin, protruding bones and visible ribs'. He reported the incident to local police and continued to follow the family, including Zoey's then 4-year-old brother and 2-month-old sister Madison, until the parents were arrested. Kenny Sanchez told responding officers that his daughter was 'crying uncontrollably because she was hungry' and refused to stop even though he promised to get food 'as soon as they were done shopping'. He says he only hit her in the upper left leg 'to get her to stop crying', but responding officers noticed 'numerous bruises and scratches' on the girl they described as 'malnourished'. Zoey was taken to the hospital for evaluation where doctors also found multiple bruises and healing scratches on her body and face. New life: Amy and Victor Arellano adopted Zoey and her now 2-year-old sister Madison last May. Their older brother was adopted by extended family members . Family: Amy Arellano (right) is related to Zoey's biological father, and she and her husband have three grown children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren . 'They also noted that the victim was extremely malnourished to the point that it was likely to affect her organs,' according to the affidavit. The parents explained Zoey's weight by saying she had an eating disorder, and had seen doctors in Florida for the issue. While there is evidence Zoey did see out-of-state doctors, it was revealed that her parents did not bring her for follow-up visits. The hospital report led police to charge her parents with child abuse, but the two went on the run in July 2013 after posting $50,000 bail each and failing to show up to pre-trial court dates. Zoey and her sister Madison, now two, were adopted by the Arellanos at a Denver Adoption Day event in May, while they brother was adopted by extended family members. Amy Arellano is related to Zoey's biological father, and the couple have three grown children, many grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Normal little girl: Among some of Zoey's favorite things are the movie Frozen and chocolate. She hopes to get a baby doll with a stroller for her birthday later this month . The little girl is now so comfortable with the Arellanos that she calls them mom and dad, but her transition to her new family was not so easy. Mrs Arellano says that Zoey was quiet for the first few months, usually not saying anything much more than 'I'm hungry'. 'She would hover around the trash can when we got her,' she told 9News. 'Finally, she learned it wasn't going to go nowhere. I wasn't going to take it from her.' On Wednesday, the Colorado station broadcast a story about Zoey's new life with the Arellanos, showing the now-healthy little girl talking about her love of the movie Frozen, chocolate and the presents she wants for her birthday this month. That story was also broadcast in Mobile, Alabama and within hours Zoey's fugitive parents were arrested at an apartment complex in the town of Foley.
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Zoey was just 19 pounds when the then 3-year-old was taken away from her biological parents in Colorado two years ago .
The now 5-year-old lives with adoptive parents Amy and Victor Arellano, and is eating normally again .
Parents Kathleen and Kenny Sanchez posted $50,000 bail and went on the run in July 2013 when they failed to show in court on child abuse charges .
Couple arrested 1,400 miles away in Alabama on Wednesday, when story about Zoey's recovery was broadcast around the country .
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Jose Fonte has branded Southampton's Capital One Cup quarter-final defeat at Sheffield United 'unacceptable' and issued an apology to their supporters after they 'blew a great opportunity'. A second-half goal from Marc McNulty proved enough to put the Sky Bet League One side through, and inflict a fifth straight defeat on the Saints. Afterwards, manager Ronald Koeman accused Blades boss Nigel Clough of showing a lack of respect, with words exchanged on the benches following the goal and United's first-team coach Chris Morgan sent to the stands before the Dutchman then refused to shake hands at the final whistle. Jose Fonte shows his frustration during's Southampton's defeat at Sheffield United on Tuesday . Fonte appeared to take the defeat by the League One side worse than most and has now spoken out . Portuguese defender Fonte insists the players must shoulder their share of the responsibility for what was a below-par performance on a damp night in South Yorkshire. 'It was not acceptable. I would firstly like to apologise to the fans, they didn't deserve this. That is not us,' Fonte told Southampton's official YouTube channel. 'Given the last games we have lost, we played and we showed that we are better than the opposition and we had the opportunities to win and deserved more from the games. 'But after Tuesday night, I am disappointed obviously and I am angry because we had a great opportunity to go and do something special and we just blew it. 'Everyone needs to take responsibility, not hide in their shell. We must stand up and be counted because there's another game in the Premier League and we need to stop this bad run. Sheffield United midfielder Marc McNulty (second right) bundled the ball into the net for the winning goal . McNulty and his team-mates can now look forward to a semi-final date, and are one round from Wembley . 'The minimum we can do is try our maximum and give everything that we can, but it was disappointing because I think we should have done much better. 'I just want to apologise to the fans, because they didn't deserve it. 'We will be working harder to make sure this never happens again. It is an opportunity lost, but there is still a long season ahead.' Southampton - who lost at Burnley last weekend, following successive defeats by Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United - will look to get their campaign back on track at home to Everton on Saturday. Fonte believes Saints must stick to their slick passing style which helped take them up to second place in the Barclays Premier League earlier in the season. Saints boss Ronald Koeman (centre back) had a bust-up with Blades manager Nigel Clough (front) 'Especially after the first goal we started going long and with all due respect, we are not a long ball team. For the last five years we've been playing football,' the defender said. 'We've opened teams up with one-twos, crosses in the box, playing out of defence, and we changed everything and I don't understand why. 'We've spoke about it and we need to take responsibility, come and get the ball, do what we do, play the way we normally play and that's the way we believe we can win. We didn't do that. 'We didn't create enough changes because we didn't match their desire. Congratulations to them, but from my point of view, we blew a great opportunity and it is just frustrating.'
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Southampton were beaten by Sheffield United in Capital One Cup .
Premier League side crashed to League One outfit in quarter-final .
Ronald Koeman accused Blades boss of showing lack of respect .
Jose Fonte said Saints must ensure 'it never happens again'
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When some of the world's first aviation pioneers tried to reach the skies centuries ago, they inflated hot air balloons. And now Nasa are looking into inflatable technology once more, this time as a way of reaching the next frontier in human space travel - Mars. Scientists are considering using a blow-up heat shield, which resembles stacking ring of doughnuts that young children play with, for future missions to the red planet. Scientists are considering using an inflatable heat shield, which resembles stacking ring of doughnuts that young children play with, for future missions to Mars . An inflatable heat shield, such as the one pictured, could help a future spacecraft slow down enough to enter Mars' atmosphere . Nasa engineers believe a lightweight, inflatable heat shield could be deployed to slow the craft to enter a Martian atmosphere, which is much thinner than Earth's. Such an inflatable heat shield could help a spacecraft reach the high-altitude southern plains of Mars and other areas that would otherwise be inaccessible under existing technology. The experts say rockets alone can't be used to land a large craft on Mars, as can be done on the Moon. Parachutes also will not work for a large spacecraft needed to send humans to Mars, they add. The rings would be filled with nitrogen and covered with a thermal blanket. Once deployed for landing, the rings would sit on top of the spacecraft, resembling a giant mushroom. Neil Cheatwood, Nasa's senior engineer for advanced entry, descent and landing systems at their base in Langley, Virginia, said: 'We try to not use propulsion if we don't have to. We make use of that atmosphere as much as we can, because it means we don't have to carry all that fuel with us.' The scientists now aim to test how inflatable spacecraft technology performs upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Once deployed for landing, the rings would sit on top of the spacecraft, resembling a giant mushroom . The scientists now aim to test how inflatable spacecraft technology performs upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere . The test, scheduled for 2016, is important because NASA officials believe the shield could help them land astronauts on Mars and return larger loads of supplies from the International Space Station. New technology is needed because the type of spacecraft that would land humans on the red planet would be much larger than anything that has landed on the planet previously and current heat shield technology is too heavy. Nasa engineers have been working on the inflatable technology for about a decade, and believe it is close to being ready for operational use. 'If I had the budget and we had the funding to do it, I think we could get as large a scale as needed for humans in five to ten years,' Mr Cheatwood said. New technology is needed because the type of spacecraft that would land humans on the red planet would be much larger than anything that has landed on the planet previously . He said the same inflatable technology could also be used for spacecraft to explore other planets or objects with atmospheres, such as Venus, Titan and Jupiter. Because the inflatables are made of lightweight material and filled with nitrogen, more room is left aboard a spacecraft for science experiments and other things astronauts will need. The inflatable is covered by a thermal blanket of layers of heat-resistant materials. Anthony Calomino, principal investigator for materials and structures for hypersonic re-entry at Langley, said: 'The idea is that you would have something that could be packed up, put in a very small volume and then deployed into a very large size.' He said in a statement in April: 'Think airbag, something we could pack into compressed volume that will fit the size limits of a launch shroud, but allow for a much larger aeroshell.'
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Nasa plan to test inflatable technology in their quest to put people on Mars .
Scientists believe a blow-up heat shield could be used on future spacecraft .
Shield resembles stacking ring of doughnuts that young children play with .
New technology needed as parachutes and rockets cannot be used to slow down large spacecraft when entering the Martian atmosphere .
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Ron Klain, the former longtime Democratic Party operative named last week to be the White House's 'Ebola czar,' will skip a Republican-led congressional panel's hearing on Friday about the government's response to the disease outbreak. The Democratic-controlled Senate won't hold its first hearing on the epidemic crisis until after Election Day. The White House's decision to spare him tough questions from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee comes after he missed two Ebola-focused meetings chaired by President Barack Obama in the first 48 hours after his appointment. The first came Friday afternoon, hours before he a White House pool reporter spotted him entering the White House at 5:30 p.m. The second – a nighttime gathering of 20 government VIPs, including Obama – came a day later after the president finished a round of golf. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Klain (standing, right) was VP Joe Biden's chief of staff after holding the same job during the 1990s with then-VP Al Gore – but he's not a medical doctor or health care expert . UNEASY: Americans have grown more and more wary of the government's chosen methods of handling the Ebola crisis, with some demanding the U.S. be closed off to people who have been in western Africa . White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz confirmed Monday that Klain did not attend, according to a different pool reporter. Schultz also confirmed that he would officially start work on Wednesday. 'It is not that long of a lapse,' he told reporters in Chicago, citing the cumbersome and bureaucratic employee 'onboarding process' that can take weeks or months. Schultz explained the White House's decision to refuse congressmen the chance to question Klain. 'That will be day three of his tenure,' the Obama spokesman said. The notion that Klain might be unprepared to fully participate in the administration's Ebola response plans on Day One brought words of disbelief from conservatives . RON KLAIN . Ebola's response coordinator didn't attend a Saturday night Ebola response meeting at the White House. The list of who did attend was a 'who's who' of top Obama administration officials: . 'Mr. Klain is not a doctor, he's not a health care professional,' Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz said on Sunday on CNN's 'State of the Union' program. 'He doesn't have background in these issues. We don't need a White House political operative, which is what Mr. Klain has been. What we need is presidential leadership. The person who needs to be on top of this is the president of the United States.' 'We should be less concerned about giving the public the feeling that the government is on top of this,' Cruz said, 'and more concerned about the government actually being on top of it.' Klain, a venture capitalist and former chief of staff to two Democratic vice presidents who led the 2000 legal team that tried to eke out a presidential election for Al Gore in Florida, has no experience with the health care sector. 'It befuddles me what they want' for the Ebola czar job, American Enterprise Institute scholar Scott Gottlieb told Reuters. 'You want someone who can help coordinate across NIH, CDC, FDA; someone who understands the issues, the optics and knows what to ask for and knows who to go to.' 'There is a very steep learning curve' for Klain, he added. Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said Sunday on the CBS 'Face the Nation' program that Klain also lacks 'emergency response experience.' 'Maybe the Bush-Gore recount qualified in that,' she zinged. Still, Monday's pool report from Schultz's informal press briefing noted that Klain has already met with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough 'and some other folks,' putting him on reasonable footing to bring Congress up to speed during acommittee hearing. White House Communications Director Jen Palmieri told USA Today that Klain's meeting with McDonough occurred Saturday, before the evening all-hands gathering. Old haunt: Klain (center) is no stranger to the White House, meeting with Obama as his vice president's chief of staff. Also shown in this May 2009 photo is Cynthia Hogan, then Biden's chief legal counsel . House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chair Rep. Darrel Issa, a California Republican, won't get his chance to grill Klain on Friday . The House Oversight Committee did not immediately respond to questions about who from the White House, if anyone, will be testifying in Klain's place. Schultz told reporters that 'the administration will have representatives there.' Fox News first reported on Klain's pending absence on Capitol Hill. 'The White House has informed us that he has not yet officially started and will not be able to attend Friday,' a House Oversight committee aide told the cable news network. Obama is on a political fundraising trip to Chicago, where Schultz said he is also doing 'a little bit of work from home.' That includes a briefing from Homeland Security adviser Lisa Monaco on the Ebola meeting that happened Monday in his absence.
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Ron Klain will officially start work on Wednesday .
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says the White House insists he won't be available to testify on Friday .
Senate Democrats will hold their first Ebola hearing AFTER elections .
Klain skipped the first two 'all hands' meetings at the White House since the president named him the 'Ebola Response Coordinator'
He was spotted entering the White House at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and met with Obama's chief of staff on Saturday .
Obama has been criticized for choosing the former Democratic political operative instead of someone with health care experience .
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By . Simon Jones . Click here for all the latest news . Manchester United are growing increasingly confident they can persuade Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan to join them in the summer. The 23-year-old's father Irfan has held talks with Dortmund, Real Madrid and Barcelona while Arsenal and Chelsea have also shown an interest. Gundogan, who has been out or five months with an injured vertebrae, is contracted to the German club until 2015 but has a release clause of around £23million. United have also been pressing for a deal with his team-mate Marco Reus but Dortmund have been reluctant to sell yet another star following Mario Gotze's departure to Bayern Munich last summer and Robert Lewandowski's pending move to the same club. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Man United target Ilkay Gundogan scoring a cracker . Summer move? Man United are confident Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan will join them . In demand: Gundogan's father Irfan has been talking to Real Madrid and Barcelona about his son's future . Release: Gundogan's Dortmund contract expires in 2015 and he has a £23million release clause . The Germans have not given up hope of keeping their squad intact but summer would allow everyone better time to rebuild. Gundogan knows he would get regular first-team football at United, while at Real Madrid the central midfield area is fiercely contested. At Barcelona, they are looking for a replacement for Xavi, 33, who has clocked up 700 games and is troubled by ongoing Achilles problems but still intends to play for at least another season. Dortmund are in a training camp at La Manga in Spain and intend to add a defender and striker of their own, preferably in this window. Inter Milan's Andrea Ranocchia, a former Manchester City target, is Jurgen Klopp's preference at the back. Multiple moves: Ji Dong-won has left Sunderland for Augsburg and will sign for Dortmund this summer . Sunderland striker Ji Dong-won signed for Augsburg yesterday in a £500,000 deal but the South Korea man is merely taking a detour to Dortmund, as revealed on MailOnline. The 22-year-old played for Augsburg on loan in the first half of last year and helped them avoid relegation and has joined them until the end of the season. He will then sign a four-year contract at Dortmund in the summer, and BVB sporting director Michael Zorc said: 'We are delighted that we can sign this talented player on a free for next season.' Sunderland rejected a £5m offer from the Champions League runners-up last summer. Losing hope: The chances of Wayne Rooney renewing his contract at Man United decreases by the day . Man Utd are continuing to look for a striker, too, with Wayne Rooney's contract situation looking bleak and Robin van Persie struggling for fitness. The Dutchman has been doing gym work at Carrington this week but is back in Holland today for a check-up with his trusted fitness coach Arno Philips at PSV Eindhoven. Diego Costa, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao remain in United's thinking for the summer although they will face competition from Chelsea for all three. Which soon-to-be-former Premier League player, who struggles with his . weight, was caught out when his manager's daughter bumped into him as he . struggled with the door at his local KFC? He was armed with a 'Wicked . Zinger' and 'Boneless Banquet' just two days after being told that his . body fat needed to come down. Another Diego, De Girolamo could add an extra dimension to the Yorkshire derby between Sheffield United and Bradford City tomorrow. The 18-year-old, born and bred in Chesterfield, is hoping to be in Nigel Clough's first-team squad after 10 months out with a cruciate ligament injury. The teenager, who was being closely monitored by Arsenal, Man Utd and City, caused a stir in 2012 when he opted to play for Italy U18s instead of England after receiving a personal call from the great AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi. Diego qualified for Italy through his father Cosimo who is from Naples. He played six games for Italy U18s and scored three goals only to rupture his anterior cruciate in the last minute of a friendly against Austria. Wanted man: Both Man United and Man City are tracking Sheffield United's striker Diego De Girolamo . A 10-month recovery ensued but he returned to play an hour for Sheffield United's U21s against Stoke earlier this month before a run out against Coventry U18s last week. He scored two goals in 13 minutes before over extending his knee and coming off as a precaution. However, he has been training with Sheffield United's first-team squad and is hoping for a place on the bench against Bradford with an eye on facing Fulham in the FA Cup also. Liverpool and Everton, alerted by his return to fitness, are also due to send scouts to watch De Girolamo. He is still eligible to play for England but Italy have not forgotten him and invited him to an U19 squad camp in Florence just before Christmas. On his way out? Inter Milan are said to be showing an interest in signing Southampton's Pablo Osvaldo . Target: Roma have shown an interest in signing Southampton's Gaston Ramirez . The future of Luke Shaw seems to lie in a blue shirt as interest gathers in the Southampton defender, but his team-mates Gaston Ramirez and Pablo Osvaldo could be making a quicker exit out of St Mary's. Both players' representatives were over this week and they are keen on a return to Italy. Roma are among the frontrunners for Uruguayan Ramirez, while Inter remain favourites for Osvaldo. Southampton chairman Katharina Liebherr says no players will be leaving but both may push for Serie A returns in the coming days.
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Manchester United are confident that Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan will join them this summer .
Player's father Irfan has held talks with Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Arsenal and Chelsea are interested .
Man Utd and Manchester City are monitoring Sheffield United's striker Diego De Girolamo .
Liverpool and Everton are also set to send scouts to watch Italy Under 18 star De Girolamo play .
Gaston Ramirez and Pablo Osvaldo look set for the Southampton exit door with Roma and Inter interested respectively .
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Actress wears £24 peplum top and £29 cigarette trousers from Louise Thompson's Goddiva collection . This is the second collection for the online fashion brand by the MIC star . By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 10:28 EST, 10 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:51 EST, 10 December 2012 . With their petite frames, golden tans and flowing brunette locks, TV stars Michelle Keegan and Louise Thompson could be sisters. And their uncanny resemblance just became even stronger after the Coronation Street actress was spotted wearing the Made in Chelsea star-turned-designer's clothes at the X Factor wrap party. Michelle sported the £24 textured peplum top and £29 cigarette trousers from the Louise Thompson for Goddiva collection. Celebrity look: Michelle Keegan sported some items from the Louise Thompson for Goddiva collection at the X Factor wrap party . The 25-year-old completed her ‘office to evening’ look with white stilettos and a cosy faux fur coat. Pint-sized Chelsea girl Louise recently launched her second collection for . online fashion retailer Goddiva. The 22-year-old fashion fan, whose love of a pussy bow and . statement jewellery is captured on the E4 reality show, has channeled her distinct . sense of style and love of vintage designs into the latest . collection, which features a series of eye-catching dresses. Maid in Chelsea: Louise Thompson, who found fame on the E4 show, has turned her hand to designing . Speaking in an exclusive interview with MailOnline recently the reality TV star said: 'I have always . been really into fashion so this is basically the perfect opportunity . without me having to do all the really hard work like manufacturing and . sourcing materials. 'I get to design the clothes which is my idea of . heaven and then they make them for me so it's the perfect . collaboration.' Get the look: The £24 textured peplum top and £29 cigarette trousers are from the Goddiva site .
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Actress wears £24 peplum top and £29 cigarette trousers from Louise Thompson's Goddiva collection .
This is the second collection for the online fashion brand by the MIC star .
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By . Travelmail Reporter . The Royal Yacht Britannia has been named the best landmark in the UK in TripAdvisor's annual Travellers’ Choice awards. The impressive ship, which was a floating Royal residence for over 40 years, was also named among the winning landmarks in Europe, along with the Houses of Parliament. She sailed over 1,000,000 miles around the world and has welcomed Queen Elizabeth, Sir Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela on board during her time. Floating palace: The Royal Yacht Britannia served the Queen for over 40 years and is now berthed in Edinburgh . Family favourite: The Royal Yacht offers a glimpse into how the Queen used to travel . Now the . yacht is berthed in Edinburgh where it is a major visitor attraction. Tourists can wander through the state apartments and Royal bedrooms and . get an idea of what life was like on board the yacht during its heyday. Royal Yacht Britannia Chief Executive Bob Downie said: ‘We are absolutely delighted that our passion for delivering outstanding customer experiences has been so highly valued on TripAdvisor, and to be No.1 in the UK is a tremendous achievement that our staff can be very proud of.’ Now in its second year, the Travellers’ Choice awards highlight the top landmarks and parks around the globe. The awards were based on millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers, and the winners were determined by the . quantity and quality of reviews gathered over a 12-month period. Royal seal of approval: St James's Park in London was named among the 25 best parks in the world . In the parks category, London's St . James’ Park in London was named among the 25 best parks in the world, . claiming the number one spot in the UK and coming 9th in Europe. London, together with Paris and Moscow, is home to more 2014 award-winning parks than any other city in the world with five winning parks. St James’s Park, Hyde Park, Regents Park, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park all claimed a coveted place in the UK top ten. Historic site: Edinburgh Castle placed in the top ten when it came to the best UK landmarks . St James’ Park ranked 24th in the world, ninth in Europe and number one in the UK. The park - which is the oldest of the capital's eight Royal Parks - . covers 23 hectares and includes The Mall and Horse Guards Parade. It provides the setting for spectacular pageants including the annual Trooping the Colour, which took place last weekend. Hyde Park, Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens and Holyrood Park come in second, third and fourth place in the UK and 11th, 12th and 17th in Europe respectively. World-famous site: Machu Picchu in Peru was voted the No.1 landmark in the world . In the . landmarks category, Edinburgh claimed two awards, with Edinburgh Castle . placing in the top ten along with the Royal Yacht Britannia. London . claimed the most landmark wins of any UK city, with the Houses of . Parliament, Bomber Command Memorial, Tower of London and Big Ben each . taking second, third, fourth, and seventh place respectively in the UK. Going green: Stanley Park in Vancouver was voted the best park in the world . TripAdvisor spokesperson, James Kay said: 'With . schools breaking up for the summer holidays in a matter of weeks, these . attractions will serve as a great must see and do list for families - . especially as many of them can be enjoyed for free. 'London . cements its reputation as a city of fantastic parks with five award . wins - only Paris and Moscow scored as many award winning parks. 'But . for the UK’s best rated landmark you have to look outside the capital . to Edinburgh, where the Royal Yacht Britannia has claimed the number one . spot for the first time.' For the complete list of winners visit . www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Attractions. 1. Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh2. Houses of Parliament, London3. Bomber Command Memorial, London4. Tower of London, London5. Durham Cathedral, Durham6. Windsor Castle, Windsor7. Big Ben, London8. Cragside House and Gardens, Morpeth9. Liverpool Central Library, Liverpool10. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh . 1. St James’s Park, London2. Hyde Park, London3. Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh4. Holyrood Park, Edinburgh5. Regents Park, London6. Peasholm Park, Scarborough7. Windsor Great Park, Windsor8. Bradgate Country Park, Leicester9. Greenwich Park, London10. Richmond Park, London . 1. Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Peru2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates3. Taj Mahal, Agra, India4. Great Cathedral and Mosque, Cordoba, Spain5. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy6. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia7. Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia8. Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia9. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania10. Ancient City Walls, Dubrovnik, Croatia . 1. Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada2. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs3. Central Park, New York City, New York4. Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois5. High Line, New York City, New York6. Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, Australia7. Guell Park, Barcelona, Spain8. Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil9. Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain10. Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France .
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Impressive ship in Edinburgh was a floating Royal residence for 40 years .
TripAdvisor awards based on .
quantity and quality of reviews over a year .
St James’s Park, Hyde Park, Regents Park, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park all claimed a coveted place in the UK top ten .
UK did not make the Global top ten, which featured Machu Picchu in Peru .
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(CNN) -- Sixteen people were wounded and a guru was shot to death in an outbreak of violence between rival Sikhs at an Indian temple in Vienna, Austria, police said. Austrian police secure the area outside a Sikh temple in Vienna where a shooting occured Sunday. Six people were arrested in connection with the incident, which occurred about 1:20 p.m. local time (7:20 a.m. ET) Sunday in Vienna's 15th district, police spokesman Schwaig Hofar told CNN. One armed suspect fired at two gurus, and five other knife-wielding suspects attacked congregants during prayer, Hofar said. One of the gurus, a 57-year-old Sikh preacher, was killed. The number of wounded includes four of the suspects, two of them in serious condition, he said. About 150 people were in the room when the violence took place, he said. Authorities are investigating what triggered the attacks. CNN's David Ariosto contributed to this report.
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Police: One suspect fired at two gurus, while five suspects attacked with knives .
One of the gurus, a 57-year-old Sikh preacher, was killed .
Police: About 150 people were in the room when the violence took place .
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Multicultural, multilingual and multifaceted, there's more to Miami than meets the eye. Make the most of your stay with these tips. Miami Beach during Spring Break may not be to everyone's taste. Get around Miami is a sprawling city and exploring it on foot just isn't an option. Unless you're planning on spending all your time on the beach, you're probably going to want your own set of wheels. There are car hire places scattered throughout the city, but if you want to cruise Ocean Drive in style you can hire a Harley-Davidson from Peterson's (19400 NW 2nd Avenue), from $100 a day. But before you hop on that hog, a word of caution: Miami's motorists have been named the most aggressive in the U.S. for the last two years. If you're in Downtown, the Metromover is an automated monorail that you can ride for free. It also makes a good vantage point for photographing the surrounding skyscrapers. If you're out and about in Coral Gables you can take advantage of the recently launched a free shuttle service. Life's a beach If you're in Miami, the chances are you'll be wanting to kick back and soak up some of that glorious Florida sunshine. South Beach is the classic Miami sunning spot, but if you want to avoid the crowds, Sunny Isles Beach, at the northern end of Miami Beach, is a better bet. Nearby, Haulover Beach is another good bet and is "clothing optional" -- handy if you're trying for an all-over tan. A little further afield, Key Biscayne, five miles from the mainland, has some great beaches, as does Fort Lauderdale, some 30 miles north of Miami. Do you live in Miami? Share some insider tips of your own. Breaking point From early March to mid April Miami is plagued by a voracious swarm of college kids on their spring break. These exuberant youngsters descend on South Beach, intent on playing beach volleyball, partying hard and vomiting in public. Unless hanging out with beer-belching frat boys is your thing (and why wouldn't it be?), Miami is best avoided during this period. A city for all seasons Because Miami is a beach destination, it has definite holiday seasons. December to March is the peak season. Hotel prices can double, or even triple, and you'll need to book well in advance. Summer means guaranteed sunshine, but it also means tropical downpours. It can also be unbearably humid, all of which means plummeting hotel prices. June to November is hurricane season, although Florida has an excellent advance warning system, which you'd do well to heed. Evergreen Everglades If you can muster the energy to haul yourself off the beach, hire a car and head west to the Evergaldes, a vast, swampy area filled with alligators, flamingoes and hundreds of bird species. Entrance to the Everglade National Park is $10 per car, which grants you access to 1.5 million acres of a unique ecosystem. Just off the southern tip of the Everglades are the Florida Keys, a 130-mile-long chain of coral islands linked by the Overseas Highway. These laid back islands are a world away form the frenetic glamour of Miami Beach. The Keys offer fishing, kayaking and snorkeling, as well as some fine beaches.
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Miami is a sprawling city -- you'll need a car if you want to explore it .
Hotel prices can fluctuate wildly between low season and high season .
Take a day trip to the Everglades or spend some time in the Florida Keys .
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(CNN) -- Airports aren't exactly stress-free zones -- not yet at least. But it's certainly something airport managers are working on. Still, all the spas, yoga studios and movie cinemas in the world can't detract from the main source of travel anxiety: grueling lines. It's an irksome feature that may soon become a relic, thanks to the advent of mobile tracking technology. Helsinki Airport recently became the first in the world to track passenger movements in real time, from the parking lot to departure gates. "The whole idea is to get better analytics of passenger flow. Really, it's only because we want to know better where bottlenecks form in the airport during rush hour," says Jarno Putta, vice president and chief information officer at Finavia Corporation, which manages the airport. Passengers can meanwhile get updates about their flight status, bookmark where they parked (so they can find their car after their return flight) and chart how long it will take to get through security. Once inside, when they pass partnered shops, they can get pinged with offers. While receiving updates directly to one's phone may seem intrusive, Putta is adamant that the system doesn't collect any personal information. Rather, it uses iBeacons and Wi-Fi routers to collect unique identifier numbers (or MAC addresses), and only from devices with the Wi-Fi settings turned on. "The MAC addresses we use are scrambled, which means no one can be traced," he says. EasyJet makes use of drone inspections . EasyJet is trialing similar technology at London Gatwick, Luton and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports, also using iBeacon. The carrier is starting small -- placing the devices at baggage drop offs and security areas. The EasyJet app also uses the technology to alert passengers to ready their documents at key points. Though still in its early stages, James Millett, EasyJet's head of digital, anticipates it could have father-reaching uses. "In time, we could see applications supporting individual challenges, like when a customer needs to be in a different location because they are carrying skis, or aren't carrying any hold luggage," he says. The European low-cost carrier has been at the forefront of utilizing the newest technology. In May, it started trialing inspection by drone on its fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 planes. The airline is also looking into the use of virtual reality glasses to allow engineers and pilots to capture pictures of potential issues, and send them directly back to base. "It's another good example of how we're applying new technologies to our business to help us be more effective and efficient," says Millett. Passengers need power to opt out . Not everyone is comfortable with the new technology. "Who wouldn't be creeped out by the idea of having your phone tracked? If I tell you someone's tracking you, and don't tell you why, of course you'd be upset," says Jules Polonetsky, executive director and co-chair of the Washington-based think tank Future of Privacy Forum. He adds that, contrary to how it may seem, airport tracking is kept pretty general. "It's not like it reports, 'hey, this phone belongs to the guy with blue glasses and a shabby suitcase.' It's '38,000 devices were in this location between these hours.' It's critical for airports and retailers to demystify this technology's uses for users." Transparency is key, says Polonetsky, and airports need to make sure to alert passengers to the when, how and why of this technology, and provide them with an option to opt out -- which both EasyJet and Helsinki Airport do. Passengers who don't wish to be tracked can either switch off Wi-Fi on their devices, or provide their MAC address to walkbase.com and smart-places.org. (In doing so, the tracking systems knows to ignore the address in the future.) Mainly, though, he recognizes the many potential uses of this technology at the airport. "An airport is the type of place where you probably do want to get pinged about gate changes, or find out where you can get a cup of coffee once you're checked in, or information on where the gate is and how much time it will take to get to it," he says. "It's a big space, and anything the venue can do to help me navigate it easily and quickly is useful."
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Airports are using phone tracking to give passengers updates on flight status, airport retail deals, more .
EasyJet is also trialing drones for plane inspections .
The carrier is looking at virtual reality to help pilots and engineers .
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By . Emma Innes . A 'fat gene’ has been identified, bringing the possibility of an anti-obesity drug a step closer, scientists have revealed. The protein, called IRX3, regulates metabolism and energy expenditure - and researchers found mice deficient in it are 30 per cent slimmer on average. The study found the ‘slim mice’ weighed less despite eating the same amount and doing as much physical activity as their counterparts. Scientists have discovered a 'fat gene' which they say could be responsible for obesity . When fed a high-fat diet, mice without IRX3 retained the same weight and fat levels as on normal diets, whereas others given the same food gained almost twice as much weight. Fat cells in IRX3-deficient mice were smaller and increased levels of brown fat - which burns up unhealthy white fat - were observed. In addition, these mice were better able to process glucose. Professor Chin-Chung Hui, of the University of Toronto, said: ‘These mice are thin. They lose weight primarily through the loss of fat. But they are not runts. ‘They are also completely resistant to high-fat diet induced obesity. They have much better ability to handle glucose - and seem protected against diabetes.’ The researchers said IRX3 interacts with another gene known as FTO which for some time has been known to be the most strongly related to being overweight. Researchers say that mice without the gene do not put on weight when they are fed a high-fat diet . Scientists say people carrying variants of this gene produce more of IRX3 - revealing a possible cause of obesity. Professor Marcelo Nobrega, of Chicago University, said: ‘IRX3 is probably a master regulator of genetic programmes in the cells where it is expressed. ‘We're interested in what its targets are and what they alter. The goal is to identify downstream targets of IRX3 that become models for drug targeting.’ Researchers showed the connection between IRX3 and FTO occurs in humans, mice and zebrafish - suggesting an evolutionary link across different species going back thousands of years. The study, published online in Nature, implies variants in FTO regulate obesity-related traits through links with IRX3 - identifying it as the likely ‘fat gene’. Professor Nobrega said: ‘Our data strongly suggest IRX3 controls body mass and regulates body composition. Any association between FTO and obesity appears due to the influence of IRX3.’ Tests on mice showed IRX3 interacts with FTO even though its locality on the genome is a long way away. An analysis of a human genetic database then found the same thing happens in people which was confirmed in experiments on human cells in the lab. Using data from 153 brain samples of Europeans the researchers then discovered the mutations to FTO affecting body weight are associated with IRX3 expression. Obesity-related FTO variants enhanced the expression of IRX3 but did not seem to play a direct role in this interaction themselves. The scientists believe their discovery could lead to the development of an anti-obesity drug . The researchers also discovered mice with altered IRX3 function in the hypothalamus - the portion of the brain known to regulate feeding behaviour and energy expenditure - showed an identical pattern of leanness as those which completely lacked the gene. So hypothalamic function of IRX3 seems to control body mass and composition in these animals - indicating the genetic predisposition to obesity is wired in the brain. IRX3 codes for a protein that regulates other genes and is present both in and outside the brain, in organs and cells such as fat cells. Professor Nobrega and colleagues are currently investigating how IRX3 interacts with genes and molecules it regulates and hope to identify targets for the development of drugs against obesity and diabetes.
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A protein called IRX3 regulates metabolism and energy expenditure .
Mice deficient in it are 30% slimmer than those who have the protein .
They also do not gain weight when fed a high-fat diet .
They are better able to process glucose and are protected from diabetes .
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(CNN) -- The world is seeing sobering signs of climate change's accelerating impacts, from longer, more intense droughts to stronger storms and rising seas. Yet in contrast to the slow pace of international negotiations to combat climate change, national legislation is advancing at a startling rate, a surprise to those who ascribe to the conventional wisdom that progress has waned. Remarkably, since 1997, almost 500 climate-related laws have been passed in 66 countries covering around 88% of global greenhouse gases released by human activities. This surprising legislative momentum is happening across all continents. Encouragingly, this progress is being led by the big emerging and developing countries, such as China and Mexico, that together will represent 8 billion of the projected 9 billion people on Earth in 2050. These are the key findings of the 4th edition of the GLOBE Climate Legislation Study, released on Thursday 27 February, the only compendium of climate legislative action created by legislators from around the world, and the most comprehensive audit yet of the extent and breadth of the emerging legislative response to climate change. Our message is that we believe national legislation should be at the heart of a new international agreement to tackle climate change, and this study is proof it can be achieved in every country. While optimistic, we must also be honest. These laws are not yet enough to limit global average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the level scientists say we must not breach if we are to avoid the worst risks of climate change. Yet these actions are putting into place the legal frameworks necessary to measure, report, verify and manage greenhouse gas emissions -- the cause of man-made climate change. Part of the reason for this spectacular wave of progress is changing attitudes. Previously, the debate on climate change was framed by a narrative about sharing a global burden -- with governments naturally trying to minimize their share. Now, however, countries are seeing mitigating climate change -- through clean energy and energy efficiency solutions -- and strengthening resilience to its impacts, as being firmly in the national interest. For example, 61 of the 66 countries in the GLOBE study have passed laws to promote domestic, clean sources of energy and 54 have legislated to increase energy efficiency. The former reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels, thereby mitigating exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices, increasing energy security and reducing energy poverty. The latter reduces costs and increases competitiveness. That's why the first bill U.S. Senator Markey introduced was to do both. And it's no surprise, too, that 52 out of the 66 countries covered by the study have developed legislation to improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change, some of which we are already experiencing. Opinion: Why are we still debating climate change? As the formal U.N. negotiations move towards Paris in 2015, the scheduled conclusion of negotiations on a post-2020 framework, this legislation is creating a strong foundation on which a post-2020 global agreement can be built. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that not only is the agreement in Paris dependent on national legislation in place in advance, implementation of the Paris agreement will only be effective through national laws, overseen by well-informed legislators from all sides of the political spectrum. A national "commitment" or "contribution" put forward at the U.N. will only be credible -- and durable beyond the next election -- if it is backed up by national legislation, supported by cross-party legislators, that puts in place a credible set of policies and measures to ensure effective implementation. That is why legislators must be at the center of international negotiations and policy processes, not just on climate change, but also on the full range of sustainable development issues. And it is why, on climate change, governments must immediately prioritize supporting the implementation of national legislation between now and 2015. GLOBE members recognize this and have been at the forefront of developing the legislative response to climate change. In 2008 UK members shaped and strengthened the Climate Change Act. In 2009, South Korean members passed "Green Growth" legislation. In 2013, members in Micronesia were instrumental in the passage of climate-related legislation showing the power of island voices. A comprehensive climate change law is expected to pass in Costa Rica this year, and members in China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Peru, amongst others, are developing legislation now. However, we need to do much more. And that is why, in collaboration with the World Bank and the United Nations, GLOBE is launching the "Partnership for Climate Legislation" to promote the advance of climate-related laws. Of course, the role of legislators does not end when legislation is passed. It is one thing to pass legislation and another to implement it. That is why GLOBE is equipping legislators to be as effective as possible in holding their governments to account. This is crucial if the agreement made in Paris in 2015 is to deliver. Legislators -- with their formal responsibilities on legislation and oversight - are a fundamental part of an effective strategy to tackle the world's environmental and sustainable development challenges. To maximize the chances of success, they must be at the center of all international processes and negotiations. Success in Paris to create a climate agreement, the follow-through to implement the accord, and the fate of our planet depend on our actions.
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World seeing sobering signs of climate change's accelerating impacts, say politicians .
But they argue that national legislation to limit emissions is advancing .
U.N. action on climate change will only be credible if backed up by national legislation, they say .
"The fate of our planet depend on our actions," they write .
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A man in a wheelchair set off a home-made bomb in the arrivals hall at Beijing Airport today. The man was initially suspected to to have died in the blast in Terminal 3 at around 6.24pm local time, but Chinese state media has now said he survived and was taken to hospital. A photograph emerged online in the wake of the explosion showing a man in a wheelchair brandishing something in the air, along with another showing an empty wheelchair on its side in the smoke-filled arrivals hall. Scroll down for video . Explosion: Photographs emerged online in the wake of the blast of a man in a wheelchair waving his arms in the air at Beijing Airport . Panic: Clouds of smoke filled the arrivals hall today after the man set off a home-made bomb in the busy airport . The picture shows a huddled group of people crouching around someone on the floor next to the over-turned wheelchair. The man is thought to have detonated a package of gunpowder used to make firecrackers. Several other pictures that cropped up on Weibo - the Chinese equivalent of Twitter - showed smoke filling the air above the crowds making their way through the terminal in the capital. Hospitalised: This picture released by China's Xinhua agency shows police and paramedics attending to the man at Terminal 3 . The South China Morning Post said online reports suggested the unidentified man in the wheelchair had died in the explosion. But state-run China Central Television has said the man survived the blast and was taken to hospital after detonating the bomb. It said there were no other injuries, that no flights had been affected, and that order had been restored at the airport. Reached over the phone, the airport's news office said it was not aware . of the explosion, and airport police declined to answer questions. Blast: Smoke could be seen billowing over the heads of crowds making their way through the terminal today .
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Reports of explosion in Terminal 3 at busy airport in Chinese capital .
Pictures posted online show man in wheelchair brandishing an object .
Believed to be a packet of gunpowder used to make firecrackers .
Another photo shows a wheelchair on its side in smoke-filled terminal .
State media says man was hospitalised and nobody else injured .
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(CNN) -- Political consensus was hard to find at last month's Rio +20 Earth Summit but there was at least one group speaking with unity on the planet's environmental and economic future. Hundreds of activists gathered on the city's Copacabana Beach to make a simple demand of their elected leaders and representatives: Commit to ending fossil fuel subsidies, now. More than a million people around the world -- including actor Robert Redford and comedian Stephen Fry - were quick to lend their support by backing #endfossilfuelsubsidies, an affiliated online campaign. But as the summit came to a close it became clear that no new enforceable commitments on the issue were to be included in the final version of the Rio agreement text. For those behind the protest however, the widespread exposure and support afforded the oft ignored subject ensured their efforts still represented a success. See also: Was Rio +20 a failure of political leadership? "This all falls into changing our energy usage patterns, which I believe is the pre-eminent challenge of the 21st century," says Steve Kretzmann, founder of Oil Change International, an environmental advocacy group that backs the #endfossilfuelsubsidies campaign. "The first place to start is to stop putting public money towards fossil fuels," he adds. "This is not because anybody has it in for the fossil fuel industry. What we're talking about is what the public's money actually should support." Estimates as to how much this support equates to vary from study to study, as do methods and standards for calculation. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that internationally $409 billion worth of government money flowed into the coffers of the fossil fuel industry in consumption subsidies (designed to make fuel more affordable and accessible to the consumer) in 2010. A separate study from the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that global fossil fuel subsidies will reach $775 billion this year when producer subsidies (designed to facilitate greater fuel production) are added on. However Kretzmann believes these figures may only be the tip of the iceberg and could actually top $1 trillion every year. He says there is often a lack of transparency in how some governments report the incentives, with many transferred as hard-to-calculate tax credits. Kretzmann similarly laments the comparatively sparse investment in renewable energy subsidies (which stood at $66 billion in 2010 according to the IEA) as a wasted opportunity to create less polluting energy sources whilst encouraging growth in the green economy. "At the end of the day, not only is this bad policy but its also bad economics," he says. "Long term, renewables are a better option for the environment and the economy. There are multiple studies that show how much more labor intensive renewables are and how they create more jobs per unit of energy created." See also: Who's funding green energy . However others are more cautious about the consequences that an about-turn in energy policy could create. "In certain countries and situations, subsidies are essential to peoples way of life," says Dan Kish the deputy vice-president of policy at the Institute for Energy Research, a Washington D.C. based organization that advocates free market energy policies. Any alteration to this arrangement could cause prices to balloon, weakening development and in the worst case scenario leading to social unrest, he adds. Kish points out that a large proportion of subsidies are in fact designed to keep fuel prices artificially low, enabling consumers in some of the world's poorest regions access to basic energy products. "At the G20 they are calling for the end of fossil fuels subsidies but what they are really talking about is the developing world," he says. "If you want a pejorative to describe the situation ... what we've got is a bunch of rich countries whose people have used energy to become rich assigning blame for subsidies on those countries that are poorer." See also: The problem with fossil fuel subsidies . Kish also believes that renewables still can't compete with traditional energy sources in terms of their cost effectiveness, accessibility and energy output. "The only fair way to look at subsidies is to analyze the subsidy per unit of energy produced. On that score the numbers are incredibly slanted against renewables," he says. "Just because you can make energy from something doesn't mean that it makes sense competitively or economically." Effective and efficient energy policy in the long term, Kish explains, would see individual countries pursue the sources of energy that are most accessible and affordable to them, be they renewable or fossil fuel. "The best energy policy is that which makes energy as cheap, reliable and abundant as possible for the most people so that economies can grow," he says.
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Activists called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies at last month's Rio +20 Earth Summit .
Subsidies for the fossil fuel sector total $1 trillion annually, according to Oil Change International .
OCI says public money should not be going to industries that contribute to climate change .
Others believe cutting fossil fuel subsidies could hit the people in the developing world hardest .
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By . Nik Simon . Follow @@Nik_Simon88 . and Charlie Eccleshare for MailOnline . Follow @@cdeccleshare . Such is the clamor for tickets for Coventry City's return to the Ricoh Arena that one supporter was prepared to camp outside the box office on Wednesday night. The Sky Blues will return to the city when they face Gillingham this weekend after more than a year playing their games in Northampton. But the club's loyal follower - known simply as 'Andy' - was saved from a night in the cold when a fellow City fan arrived at the ground to offer his spare ticket after hearing the story on Twitter. Front of the queue: Andy prepares for a night outside the ticket office with a cup of tea . Good Samaritan: A fellow Sky Blues supporter arrived to give Andy his spare ticket . Heading home: Coventry are to return to the Ricoh Arena after playing in Northampton for more than a year . Remaining tickets have been limited to two per person to deal with the demand from excited supporters. Steve Waggott, chief executive of Coventry City Football Club, said: 'You can feel the positivity around the city about our return to the Ricoh and long may that continue. 'Everyone is looking forward to Friday night and what should be a great occasion for the club and the city.' The League One side have ended their dispute with the stadium's owners, Arena Coventry Limited (ACL), and have reached an agreement to head back to the stadium they played in between 2005 and 2013. Back to where they belong: A fan protests at the Ricoh in 2013, prior to Coventry's move . Home from home: Coventry take on Barnsley earlier this month at their adopted home in Northampton . The two-year deal, with an option for an extra two years, should see the Sky Blues play at the Ricoh in their next home fixture, which is against Gillingham on 6 September. The deal was struck after Coventry owners Sisu paid ACL £471,192 via the Football League last week, with the money going towards compensation and unpaid rent. ACL had previously said it would not discuss a return until it received money owed by the club after they went into administration last year. Sisu and ACL first came into conflict in April 2012 when Coventry started to withhold what they felt was unreasonable rent from the stadium operators. The Sky Blues then agreed a three-year groundshare deal with Northampton - 35 miles away - with an option of a further two years, and the Cobblers will be due compensation after the early end of the deal. A year's break: Coventry spent last season playing in front of small crowds at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium . Versatile: The Ricoh Arena has been used for other events, such as football matches during the 2012 Olympics . 'We are delighted to get this deal done and I am sure every supporter of Coventry City will be thrilled with this news. 'We are under no illusion what a difficult 12 months it has been for the supporters and that was uppermost in our thinking as we worked to get this deal done. 'There has had to be compromise on both sides and the commercial details of the deal will remain confidential. 'Now it is all about looking forward to a really exciting season back in the community and with a real chance of success. I am sure every supporter will want to give Steven Pressley, his staff and players their full backing for the season at the Ricoh. 'Logistically, it's going to mean a huge amount of work between now and the first game back and we would ask supporters to bear with us as all of our efforts up to now have been in getting this deal over the line to get us back to Coventry as soon as possible. 'We will announce details around tickets, Season Tickets and other information as soon as we can next week but we hope to be back at the Ricoh for the clash with Gillingham. We will keep supporters fully informed of progress to that aim. 'Can I also take this opportunity of thanking Chris Robinson, Chair of ACL, for the professional manner he has conducted our lengthy discussions to reach this agreement.'
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Coventry City will return to the Ricoh Arena on Friday after more than a year away .
One supporter was prepared to camp in order to get a ticket .
The Sky Blues have been playing their home games in Northampton .
The agreement should see Coventry playing at the Ricoh in their next home match - against Gillingham on 6 September .
Coventry owners Sisu paid the stadium's owners £471,192 via the Football League last week .
The two-year deal includes an option for an extra two years .
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Swan song: All mute swans could be culled in New York under proposals being considered . New York has hatched a plan to rid the stat of the entire swan population, amid claims the birds have been responsible for attacking people, destroying vegetation and polluting the water with their feces. Draft proposals suggest killing or resettling New York's 2,200 wild mute swans by 2025. There are also fears that swans pose a threat to aircraft, much like the flock of geese that collided with a U.S. Airways flight in 2009, causing it to crash on the Hudson river. Since then the U.S. Department of Agriculture has carried out an annual cull on Canadian geese and wants to extend this to include swans. Opposition group Goose Watch NYC called the proposals 'outrageous' and said a 2,200-strong population of swans could not really pose a threat to a state where more than 18 million people live. Watch founder David Karopkin told AFP: 'It's just outrageous to try to . exterminate an entire species that has been living in the state for more . than 150 years, almost 200 years.' He added: 'I've yet to find anyone who has been seriously injured by a mute swan. 'When . they're being aggressive it's often in relation to them protecting . their nest, their babies. 'I mean people need to have some common sense.' Mute swans were first brought to North America from Europe at the turn of the 19th Century, to adorn city parks and large estates. It is thought that all wild mute swan populations originate from the release or escape of individuals from these early captive flocks. Wild mute swans have since flourished and the population in New York State alone has tripled over the past 30 years, in part thanks to people feeding the birds. Thriving: The population of mute swans has tripled in New York over the last 30 years . Among the 'lethal control methods' proposed to cull the birds are: 'Shooting of free-ranging swans and live capture and euthanasia in accordance with established guidelines for wildlife.' The draft proposals also suggest destroying nests and oiling, puncturing or sterilising eggs to prevent hatching. Some conservationists believe culling in New York state is absolutely necessary. Paul Curtis, associate professor of natural resources at Cornell University, said: 'The goal is to limit population growth in the wild, and remove swans from places where they cause problems or do damage to plant communities.' Meanwhile the state conservation department stands by the proposals, stating that the proposal to resettle the swans makes it 'balanced and comprehensive'. 'Outrageous': Critics are angry over plans to cull swans, which have been living wild in places like Central Park, NY, for almost 150 years .
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Proposals outlined to kill or resettle state's 2,200 wild mute swans by 2025 .
State claims swans pose threat to wildlife, people and passenger aircraft .
Critics call for 'common sense' over proposed cull of species .
But conservationists support plan, saying numbers need to be controlled .
Mute swan population has tripled in New York over last 30 years .
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(CNN) -- For the third time in a year, Japan's government has intervened in the yen, its unit of currency, according to Japan's finance minister. "While Japan is dealing with the reconstruction of the tsunami zone, if the surging of the yen continues, it could negatively affect Japan's economy and financial stability," Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told reporters. "Therefore, Japan has intervened in the currency market. We will continue to watch the movement of the currency market closely." Minutes after the announcement, the Nikkei stock index shot up 100 points and the yen weakened against the dollar. The Bank of Japan responded to the move in a press release, saying that it "strongly expects that the action taken by the Ministry of Finance in the foreign exchange market will contribute to stable price formation in the market." Japan's economy, still struggling after the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, has been hit hard by the falling U.S. dollar. Uncertainty by global markets over the U.S. debt deal caused the dollar to plummet versus the Japanese yen, a currency seen as a safe haven by investors. Japanese automakers and electronics companies have seen the currency shift eat into their corporate profits as the dollar has sunk. Japan's exporters operate on the global market with the U.S. dollar, but then repatriate the funds to Japan in yen. JP Morgan Japan estimates corporate profits have fallen approximately 5% in the last six weeks as the U.S. dollar has plummeted. Perhaps the hardest-hit company is the world's largest automaker, Toyota. The car maker estimates it loses approximately $385 million for every 1 yen movement up versus the dollar. By that estimate, in July, Toyota lost more than a billion dollars based on the currency shift alone. Toyota Motor Corporation this week, in announcing their first-quarter earnings for the 2012 fiscal year, called the exchange rate too much to bear. Senior managing officer Takahiko Ijichi said, "I understand that it's our fate to adapt to ever-changing exchanging rates. But this situation, where the yen has passed 80 yen and is now at 76 yen, for us exporters, it's extremely tough." CNN's Kyung Lah contributed to this report.
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Finance Ministry: "We will continue to watch the movement of the currency market closely"
Ministry says the yen's strength is affecting the stability of the tsunami region .
Nikkei stock index rose moments after announcement was made .
Japan's automakers, electronics firms hurt by falling dollar .
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(LifeWire) -- Fifty years ago this Saturday, Laika -- a sweet-tempered stray plucked off the streets of Moscow -- was thrust into the global spotlight when she became the first living creature sent into space. A Newfoundland, like this champion named Josh, saved the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. When Sputnik 2's canine passenger (nicknamed "Muttnik" by the media) hit orbit, the Soviet Union grabbed the edge over the U.S. in the space race, a crux of competition during the Cold War. Sadly, Laika's history-making voyage ended prematurely: In their rush to be first, Soviet scientists had made no provisions for her safe return. "She died before reaching orbit, and before any real data was gleaned about sustaining life in that environment," says Dr. Stanley Coren, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of "The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events." But if little scientific knowledge was gleaned from Laika's journey, her mark on world events is undeniable. "We were behind the Russians," says Coren. "The U.S. quickly switched focus to putting a living being on the moon." Laika is just one of the many canines to have left a furry legacy behind. Coren names 10 other dogs and the roles they played in history. Nos. 1 and 2. Strelka and Belka's successful orbit . Laika was the first dog sent into space, but Strelka (Little Arrow) and Belka (Squirrel) -- launched on Sputnik 5 in 1960 for a one-day mission -- were the first to return alive. As a result, much more was learned from their mission. Strelka later gave birth to a litter of puppies, one of which, Pushinka, was given to President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline. No. 3. How Peritas saved civilization . Without his dog, Peritas, Alexander the Great might have been Alexander the So-So. When the warrior was swarmed by the troops of Persia's Darius III, Peritas leapt and bit the lip of an elephant charging his master. Alexander lived to pursue his famed conquest, forging the empire underlying Western civilization as we know it. No. 4. Charlie, Kennedy's Cuban Missile Crisis companion . At the height of 1962's Cuban missile crisis, President Kennedy had his son's Welsh terrier Charlie summoned to the chaotic War Room. The president held the terrier in his lap, petting him and appearing, by all accounts, to relax. Eventually he announced that he was ready to "make some decisions" -- those that de-escalated the conflict. No. 5. Jofi, the first therapy dog . Sigmund Freud usually kept a chow named Jofi in his office during psychotherapy sessions, believing the dog comforted the patients. Freud's notes on these interactions, detailed in his diaries, form the basis of modern-day pet-assisted therapy. Dog returned to fire victims » . No. 6. Urian bites Pope, separates church and state . Henry VIII sent Cardinal Wolsey to meet with Pope Clement VII, hoping the pontiff would grant the ruler an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. When the pope extended his bare toe to be kissed (as was the custom) by Wolsey, the Cardinal's dog, Urian, sprang forward and bit the pope. Clement flew into a rage, the divorce was off and Henry -- to ensure the annulment the Catholic Church refused to grant -- later established the Church of England. No. 7. Newfoundland saves Napoleon . Napoleon Bonaparte owed his life to a nameless Newfoundland. As Bonaparte fled the island of Elba in 1815, where he was exiled, choppy seas pitched him overboard. A fisherman's dog jumped in after the drowning despot and kept him afloat. Napoleon lived to experience his own defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. No. 8. Nixon professes love for Checkers . In his 1952 "Checkers speech," Richard Nixon -- then a candidate for vice president who was accused of pawing $18,000 in illegal campaign contributions -- admitted to accepting an American cocker spaniel, Checkers, as a gift. "And you know, the kids, like all kids, loved the dog, and I just want to say this, right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we are going to keep it," Nixon said during his famous speech. His heartfelt proclamation swayed public opinion and prolonged Nixon's political career. No. 9. Peps, Wagner's harshest critic . Without Peps, composer Richard Wagner's Cavalier King Charles spaniel, that helicopter scene in the film "Apocalypse Now" (scored to "The Ride of the Valkyries") might sound very different. Wagner would have Peps sit on a special chair as he played his latest compositions and, based upon the dog's reactions, he'd keep or toss each passage. No. 10. Donnchadh and the American Revolution . In 1306, when Edward I of England sought to bring down Robert the Bruce (and his ploy to rule Scotland), his men used Robert's own dog, Donnchadh, to find him. Though the animal led them to their target, he then turned and defended his master, who lived to become king of Scotland and produce a daughter who married into the Stuart family. Many generations later, the irrational actions of Robert the Bruce's direct descendant, King George III, would cause the American colonists to rebel. Modern medicine attributes King George's apparent madness to porphyria, a genetically transmitted disease that researchers trace back to the Scottish Stuarts. E-mail to a friend . LifeWire provides original and syndicated lifestyle content to Web publishers. E. Bougerol is a writer and editor who lives in New York City.
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Several dogs have earned a spot in history .
A Soviet dog named Laika rode into space history .
A dog stood between Alexander the Great and a charging elephant .
One puppy got final approval on a composer's music .
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(InStyle.com) -- With the Grammy Awards coming up this weekend, most will be buzzing about not only Kanye West and Adele, but also what the nominees and artists will be wearing. See some of the most unbelievable outfits from music's biggest stars. Rihanna, 2011 . Sultry Rihanna played peek-a-boo in a frilled illusion gown from Jean Paul Gaultier. "He's one of my favorite designers," she said. "I pretty much snatched [the dress] off the runway." Katy Perry, 2011 . An angelic looking Katy Perry called her Giorgio Armani Prive ensemble "classic, but with a theatrical edge." The look paired a Swarovski crystal-encrusted bustier with an iridescent ruffled skirt and feather wings. Lady Gaga, 2010 . Giorgio Armani designed a trio of stellar ensembles for Lady Gaga's Grammy night, including this crystal-studded bodysuit and ultra-minidress. Milliner Philip Treacy collaborated on her intergalactic headpiece. See all of the wildest Grammys looks of all time . Toni Braxton, 2001 . Toni Braxton wore Richard Tyler (and lots of double-stick tape) to pick up her Best Female R&B Vocal Performance trophy. "I've always gone a little risque with all my other awards [show outfits]," she told People. "I decided that before I got married and had babies, I'd wear this." Mary J. Blige, 1996 . Who's that mystery woman? A shades-wearing Mary J. Blige picked up her first Grammy for the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in head-to-toe leopard print. The covered-up look included a hood and gloves. Christina Aguilera, 2001 . Christina Aguilera showed some skin in a Trish Summerville gown with a lace-up neckline (and matching bra). Aside from her major braids, the double nominee made a beauty statement with a dress-matching temporary rose tattoo on her lower back. InStyle.com: Top 30 Grammys gowns of all time . Annie Lennox, 1995 . "What else is a girl going to wear to the Grammys?" joked Annie Lennox of her dominatrix-meets-Minnie Mouse ensemble. M.I.A., 2009 . A 9-months-pregnant M.I.A. performed on her baby's due date in a sheer House of Holland dress with strategically-placed patches. Gwen Stefani, 2005 . Double nominee Gwen Stefani went sheer with a ribbon-trimmed translucent dress from Viktor & Rolf over a pair of briefs. InStyle.com: The 23 most unforgettable Grammys performances . Missy Elliott, 2000 . Talk about razor-sharp tailoring! Missy Elliott opted for a purple Versace two-piece covered in blades. Sheryl Crow, 2002 . A floor-length coat did little to cover up Sheryl Crow's mini Henry Duarte jumpsuit. "Turning 40 really agrees with me," she told People. "I'm busting out." Erykah Badu, 2002 . "The most rock and roll accessory I have on tonight is my headband," Erykah Badu told InStyle. "It's made of copper leather, which I cut myself." Her avant-garde ensemble also included a draped dress with a leather sash, silver moonboots and waist-length green extensions. See the other wild Grammy looks that made the full list at InStyle.com. Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2011 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
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Katy Perry called her 2011 Giorgio Armani Prive ensemble "classic, but with a theatrical edge"
Christina Aguilera showed some skin in a Trish Summerville gown in 2001 .
Missy Elliott opted for a purple Versace two-piece covered in blades in 2000 .
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By . Jason Groves . 'Damaging': Jean-Claude Juncker, whose candidacy for president of the European Commission is being strongly challenged by David Cameron . David Cameron today warns Angela Merkel her controversial candidate to head the European Commission would be ‘deeply damaging’. In a hard-hitting article placed in leading European newspapers, the Prime Minister makes public for the first time his opposition to arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker. The German Chancellor has openly backed Mr Juncker, who is the candidate of her party’s group in the European Parliament. But Mr Cameron says he has no legitimacy – and warns that his selection would be a slap in the face for millions who voted for Eurosceptic parties in last month’s European elections. He describes Mr Juncker’s claim to have a democratic mandate as ‘nonsense’, saying: ‘Nowhere was Mr Juncker on the ballot paper. ‘Even in Germany. . . only 15 per cent of voters even knew he was a candidate.’ Mr Cameron says Europe ‘must either change or accept further decline’, and needs ‘bold leadership – people ready to heed voters’ concerns’ rather than a federalist who wants greater integration. The high-profile intervention suggests Mr Cameron’s bid to persuade Berlin to drop its support for Mr Juncker has reached an impasse. It came as Downing Street indicated he is ready to use the Parliament Act to pass legislation requiring an in/out referendum on Europe by 2017. This would allow him to force changes through against the wishes of the House of Lords. The legislation, which ran out of time in the Lords this year, is to be reintroduced by former Tory minister Bob Neill. But with both Labour and Liberal Democrats opposed, it still faces major hurdles. Labour last night said it ‘does not support’ the legislation. However, using the Parliament Act means Labour MPs will have to actively vote it down, rather than abstaining, in order to stop it becoming law. Mr Cameron outside No 10 with Mrs Merkel, who has backed Mr Juncker as a candidate for Europe's top job . Today, Mr Cameron argues EU leaders, not the European Parliament, should choose the next Commission president. He accuses the Parliament of a ‘power grab’, adding: ‘To accept such a claim would be deeply damaging for Europe and would undermine, rather than strengthen, the EU’s democratic legitimacy.’ The European Parliament yesterday stepped up pressure on EU leaders to accept Mr Juncker. Socialists and the centre-Right EPP group, which includes Mrs Merkel’s party, said they would form a grand coalition to support the former Luxembourg prime minister. The Prime Minister’s article appeared in a range of papers, such as Suddeutsche Zeitung in Germany and the Irish Times. Downing Street officials were also trying to place it in half a dozen papers across Europe, including in Austria, France and Belgium.
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PM makes warning in article placed in leading European papers today .
He describes Jean-Claude Juncker's claim to a mandate as 'nonsense'
Comes as advisers say PM is ready to pass law for Euro referendum by 2017 .
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Danny Care blamed England’s lack of discipline for their fifth straight defeat to a southern hemisphere side. Stuart Lancaster’s men lost hooker Dylan Hartley to the sin bin after 61 minutes for a cynical stamp on Duane Vermeulen’s knee while a string of breakdown penalties allowed Springbok Pat Lambie to kick nine points, as well as two conversions. In another incident, an unidentified England player faces being cited after New Zealand referee Steve Walsh was overheard confirming dangerous play in the first half. England captain Chris Robshaw looked devastated after the final whistle as England were beaten again . England scrum half Danny Care is adamant they have 'self-belief' but their discipline 'let them down' Citing commissioner Douglas Hunter was on Saturday night looking for television evidence which could incriminate an England player after Springbok flanker Schalk Burger was left with blood pouring from a head wound following an off-the-ball incident. ‘It was a cheap shot that caused the blood,’ Walsh was heard telling one of his touch judges. ‘It was obviously an illegal clear-out. We’ll look at it afterwards.’ Hartley cannot be cited as he received a yellow card for his stamp on Vermeulen, but Care admitted England’s indiscretions had proved costly. England hooker Dylan Hartley was sin-binned on 61 minutes for a cynical stamp on Duane Vermeulen . ‘Our discipline let us down,’ said Care, who was winning his 50th cap. ‘Perhaps it is because we were trying too hard because we so badly wanted to win. ‘I know people will write us off now but I know the self-belief there is in this side and that we will come back strong and our confidence will not be dented.’ England skipper Chris Robshaw said he and his team-mates failed to show enough aggression early on. South Africa came out on top 31-28 at Twickenham on Saturday to inflict another defeat on England . ‘We were a little bit reactive today,’ he said. ‘We allowed them to get ahead of us and then we were playing catch-up. We’ll have to work hard and move forward next week. ‘We didn’t start as strongly as we would’ve liked. We got back into the game, but couldn’t quite finish it.’ Meanwhile, another close encounter saw France hang on with 14 men to beat Australia 29-26. The game looked dead and buried before Remi Tales was given a yellow card for cynically killing the ball at a ruck, but while Australia managed a try to get in reach, they couldn’t quite finish the job. England coach Stuart Lancaster defended his team after they suffered their fifth straight defeat .
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England lost 31-28 to South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday .
Dylan Hartley was sin-binned for a stamp and another unnamed England player is being investigated for dangerous play in the first half .
Scrum half Danny Care says 'self-belief' remains in England camp .
He does admit, however, that their discipline 'let them down'
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By . Alexandra Klausner . and Associated Press . A mother from Phoenix who left her two boys in a hot car while she went to a job interview says it was 'a moment of desperation'. Shanesha Taylor, 35, avoided prosecution on Friday after agreeing to set aside funds for her children's education and completing parenting programs. She went on the Today Show with Matt Lauer today and spoke about what lead her to make the difficult decision to leave her 6-month-old and 2-month-old sons in a sweltering car while she went to the interview. 'It was a moment of desperation,' she said after revealing she was in dire financial straits and felt this interview would be crucial in providing for her children down the line. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Made a difficult choice: Shanesa Taylor said that she left her children in a hot car in a 'moment of desperation' due to her dire financial straits . 'It was me knowing my family was in . crisis and knowing that I had to make a choice between providing for my . children or caring for my children.' Taylor tells Lauer that she had a sitter lined up but that the babysitter cancelled last minute. 'Flaked on me, is the best way to say it, ‘said Taylor. Despite receiving criticism for leaving her children in a car, many hearts went out to Taylor who felt bad for her impoverished situation. After seeing media coverage of Taylor's case, a sympathetic woman from New Jersey helped to start a campaign to collect money for Taylor and her family and managed to raise almost $115,000 which Taylor will put in a trust fund for her children's education. Taylor couldn't feel more blessed about the deal. 'I think I’ve been treated fairly. The type of resolution I had not many people get so I think it’s an excellent job they did,' she said. Today asked viewers in an online poll whether or not they were sympathetic to Taylor’s story. The poll found that a majority of 58 per cent of viewers felt for the mother of two.Prosecutors and a Phoenix woman reached a deal on Friday that would allow her to avoid prosecution for leaving her two young sons alone in a hot car while she was at a job interview. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said his office and 35-year-old Shanesha Taylor have an agreement under which he'll dismiss two felony child abuse charges against her if she meets several conditions. Those include completing parenting and substance abuse treatment programs and establishing education and child care trust funds for her children. In tears: Shanesha Taylor, 35, (pictured in her police mugshot) has reached a deal with prosecutors today to dismiss felony child abuse charges against her if she completes parenting and substance abuse treatment programs . Authorities arrested Taylor after bystanders in Scottsdale reported seeing her two sons alone in her car in March. Taylor told police that she wasn't able to find a babysitter for the boys, who were 2 years and 6 months old at the time. A witness found the infant crying hysterically and sweating profusely as temperatures inside the SUV exceeded 100 degrees. According to court documents, firefighters found the vehicle's windows rolled down an inch and no running air conditioning to keep the children cool. Trying her best: Authorities arrested Taylor after bystanders in Scottsdale reported seeing her two sons alone in her car in March . 100F: Police claim the keys were in the ignition but the air conditioning was off, so the fan was blowing hot air . Montgomery called the agreement a 'just resolution' that holds Taylor accountable while serving the best interests of her family. Taylor, who previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, appeared in court on Friday for what had been scheduled as a settlement conference. Judge Joseph Welty of Maricopa County Superior Court accepted the agreement but warned Taylor that it included an admission that she had endangered her children. That admission could be used against her if the case ends up being prosecuted in the future, the judge said. Taylor, who spoke little during the proceeding, acknowledged she understood what the judge said. In May, a court commissioner granted her visits with both children under the supervision of a Child Protective Services worker. She has been able to maintain steady visits since then, Taylor's defense lawyer Benjamin Taylor said. The two are not related. Shanesha Taylor has used some of the money to secure a new place to live, her lawyer said.
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Shanesha Taylor, 35, went on the Today .
Show with Matt Lauer today and spoke about what lead to her decision to leave her sons in a hot car .
She will have two felony child abuse charges .
against her dismissed if she meets several conditions .
Authorities arrested Taylor after bystanders in Scottsdale, Arizona, reported seeing her two sons alone in her car in March .
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(CNN) -- Sarah Palin's most ardent supporters in "real America" love to suggest that those of us who don't buy into her shtick fail to grasp why they love her, citing her realness, plain-spokenness and whatever else they can conjure up. Folks, nice try, but as a native Texan, I've seen many politicians and wannabes over the years who had charm, wit, charisma and a twinkle in their eye. Anyone who has listened to the best football coaches the Lone Star State has to offer will tell you that they can persuade a mother and father to send their boy to hell to fetch a glass of ice water and bring him home a better man. They could teach a politician or two how to connect with average Americans. You want a media darling politician with substance? Try the late Gov. Ann Richards, a woman who could cut you deep and beam ear-to-ear with her motherly smile. But unlike Palin, she had a host of strong ideas in her head that actually made sense and appealed to a cross-section of folks. Former Rep. Charlie Wilson, who died this week, was a smooth-talking Texan who loved to party hard. But when it came to politics, he knew how to get things done. The media loved him because he could sit with you and enjoy a beer over barbecue, give them a hilarious quote or two, and explain foreign policy better than Henry Kissinger. Why haven't I cottoned to Palin? Because she portrays herself as a straight-talking politician who wants to lead a movement in the "Lower 48th" -- but is nothing more than a political celebrity willing to cash every check she can grab. What truly exposed her for me? It was the ridiculous way she reacted in opposing ways last week to two political heavyweights who used the word "retard." When it was reported that President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, told a group of liberals that they were "f-----g retards" for threatening to run ads against fellow Democrats who weren't jumping on the health care reform bandwagon, Palin demanded his resignation. As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, Palin has often used her bully pulpit to demand respect for the mentally challenged. Nothing wrong with that. It is an issue that is close to her heart, and she should be a fierce advocate for them. Yet when one of her biggest supporters, conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, also castigated liberals by calling them "retards," Palin provided him cover, even trying to explain away his comments. In an interview with Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace, she said Limbaugh was using satire, while Emanuel was blasting those who disagree with him. But anyone who can read or listen could hear Limbaugh calling folks he disagrees with the same. Palin even went further, agreeing with Limbaugh that liberals are "kooks." So Emanuel and Limbaugh used the word "retard" to describe folks they disagree with, but only Rahm was wrong? Yep, that's how it is in Palin's world. The advocate for the mentally challenged was quick to pounce on someone she disagrees with politically but defended her patron saint, Rush. Sarah, when you hold yourself up as a fierce protector of the mentally challenged, politics shouldn't enter into the equation. Either you criticize everyone who uses a word that you consider a slur, or you come across as a crass politician who is afraid to offend your chief booster. Maybe you ought to listen to your spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, who thought you cared about the mentally challenged when she sent this e-mail to HotAir.com about Limbaugh's comment: "Gov. Palin believes crude and demeaning name-calling at the expense of others is disrespectful." But knowing that wouldn't sit well with Rush, you backed off and gave him cover. If you were true to your cause, you would have demanded an on-air apology from Limbaugh and scolded him for using the word. Instead, you showed your true colors. Sarah, I haven't bought into your fake "I'm-a-real-American" persona. You slam the president for using teleprompters, but write crib notes on your hand to remember basic beliefs that should be easy to regurgitate. You decry the "lamestream" media, but you bask in its glory and have joined its payroll as a Fox News contributor, even having the network build a studio in your home. Talk about media elite. You give a speech riddled with falsehoods about the president and national security, and then try to shrug them off as the "lamestream" media attacking you. You don't fool me, even as your legion of fans considers you the second coming of President Reagan. You quit on the people who elected you to become a political celebrity, which your presidential running mate blasted then-Sen. Barack Obama for doing. You had the opportunity to show everyone that you're willing to take on anyone who crosses the line against those who are mentally challenged, and you failed. Please, make as much money as you can. Paraphrasing comedian Martin Lawrence, ride this train until the wheels fall off. But please, cut the crap. You're a crass politician with no true conviction. Your actions have shown that. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin.
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Roland Martin: Sarah Palin's falsity shown by her different reactions to use of "retard"
Martin: President Obama's chief of staff uses word, and Palin demands his resignation .
Rush Limbaugh calls liberals "retards," and Palin defends him, Martin writes .
Martin: She slams teleprompters but uses crib notes; she hates media but works for Fox .
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Comedian turned political commentator Victoria Jackson has caused outrage by apparently comparing the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School with abortion. The former Saturday Night Live star, who is now an outspoken political conservative, posted a message on her Facebook account saying 'this is what you get' when you 'forget the ten commandments.' Jackson, no stranger to controversy, wrote: 'My friend Jim Riley posted: "Wasn't the Connecticut killer just doing what abortionists do every day? It's a wonder we don't have more 20 year old "dads" doing what women and doctors have been an accomplice to for years in America. When you forget the TEN COMMANDMENTS, people, THIS is what you get."' Comedian turned political commentator Victoria Jackson has caused outrage by apparently comparing the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School with abortion . Victoria Jackson Facebook sparked outrage on her Facebook - but also received a lot of 'likes' for her comments . Outspoken: Jackson, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, is now an political conservative . The Sandy Hook massacre left 26 dead - including 20 young children - after a gunman opened fire at the school in Newtown, Connecticut. It is the worst school massacre in American history. The post - which has so far received more than 150 'likes' - also quickly attracted angry comments, with one person suggesting that Jackson should have to 'go before all of . the families that lost loved ones and explain to them why "this is what . they get"', the Huffington Post reports. Another added: 'You call yourself a christian? Your statements are about as far from Christ-like as I could possibly imagine.' Not content with leaving it there, she added in a follow up post: 'Obama dramatically wiped a tear as he said, "The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids ... They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own..." 'YEAH OBAMA. SAME AS THE MILLION BABIES YOU HAD ABORTED THIS YEAR. 'ARE YOU CRYING FOR THEM?!' The Sandy Hook massacre left 26 dead, including 20 young children , after a gunman opened fire at the school in Newtown, Connecticut . Balloons, candles, flower, signs and stuffed toys make up part of the makeshift memorial outside a firehouse which was used as a staging area for families following the mass shooting . Eighteen children and six more adults were killed at the school and two more children died later after gunman Ryan Lanza, 20, opened fire at the school early on Friday morning . The former SNL star has courted controversy before. She made headlines throughout the presidential election, most notably for her response to Todd Akin's legitimate rape controversy. She reportedly said: 'If I was raped, I would have the baby and think of it as God making a blessing out of something bad.' And she also branded hit comedy Glee 'sickening' after it screened a gay kiss, unleashing her views in a homophobic rant for the conservative website WorldNetDaily.com. She wrote: 'Did you see Glee this week? Sickening!' The devout Christian added: 'And, besides shoving the gay thing down our throats, they made a mockery of Christians – again! I wonder what their agenda is? 'Hey, producers of Glee – what's your agenda? One-way tolerance?' In the episode, two gay characters Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) share a long-awaited kiss.
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Comedian turned politico Victoria Jackson said 'this is what you get when you forget the Ten Commandments'
The Facebook post - which has so far received more than 150 'likes' - also quickly attracted angry comments .
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(CNN) -- Wladimir Klitschko has told reporters that he is finally looking forward to silencing David Haye, when the two face each other for their eagerly-awaited heavyweight showdown in Hamburg on July 2. The pair gave their first press conference on Monday ahead of the fight, and 35-year-old Klitschko made it clear that he has had enough of the insults thrown at him by his British opponent. Klitschko, who holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) versions of the belt, said: "All this hype and interest is great for the division. "But there will come a time when the talking stops and we find out who is the real champion," added the Ukrainian, who has now recovered from an abdominal injury that has troubled him recently. "The man has been promoting himself and insulting the Klitschko brothers in a disrespectful way -- but this fight is exciting for the division and I am thrilled it will happen. "I still have to give a lot of respect to David Haye, he is a really exciting fighter, he is a really good puncher, he's very quick. "It's not going to be an easy job for me, but I know what to expect and I know what to do. "They will be 12 long rounds and I hope he won't give up or get knocked out. My plan is to hold him up until the final fight and then knock him out," added Klitschko. Meanwhile, Haye, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) version of the title, continued his onslaught on Klitschko, saying: "I believe he is a fraud, down to the fact he wears shoulder pads into the ring and he only picks the guys who he knows he can beat. "I am good at exposing frauds, as I showed in my last fight," added Haye, who beat ex-Olympic champion Audley Harrison inside three rounds last November. "I will make it a bit more exciting this time."
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Wladimir Klitschko has told reporters he is looking forward to silencing David Haye .
Klitschko tells reporters he has had enough of the insults thrown at him by Haye .
The two met for the first time on Monday ahead of their July 2 Hamburg showdown .
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By . Snejana Farberov . An elderly Miami woman was riding her bicycle Saturday afternoon when she was viciously attacked and mauled by four pit bulls. Maria Sanchez, 67, says if it were not for her four 'angels' - Good Samaritans who came to her aid - she would have been killed on the spot by the dogs. The victim was rushed to Kendall Hospital with chunks of flesh missing from her lip, nose and feet. On Tuesday, Ms Sanchez underwent surgery but her doctors say they may have to amputate one of her chewed-up toes. Scroll down for video . Scarred but alive: Maria Sanchez, 67, was left with chunks of flesh missing from her lip, nose and feet after an encounter with four pit bulls in Miami . Four-legged bandits: These animals attacked Ms Sanchez and began tearing at her . Speaking from her hospital bed Tuesday, the heavily bandaged, scarred 67-year-old woman recalled to NBC6 how she was biking in the Cutler Bay section of Miami Saturday afternoon when she spotted a pack of dogs eying her. ‘It’s not like, “Oh, little puppies.” No, I knew they were going to kill me the minute I saw them,’ Sanchez said. ‘I looked at them; I knew they were going to get me.’ The animals, identified by the Miami-Dade Animal Services as pit bulls, lunged at Sanchez, knocked her to the ground, and then proceeded to tear at her body. Four neighbors, among them John Green, overheard the woman's desperate cries for help and ran over to chase away the animals. Selfless act: John Green (left) was one of four Good Samaritans who put themselves in harm's way to rescue Sanchez from the out-of-control dogs . Greenhouse: Police determined that the four dogs escaped from this home in the Cutler Bay section of Miami, where officers found marijuana plants being grown . 'They were eating this lady up, you know,' said Green, who came unarmed but tried to distract the out-of-control canines. The other three Good Samaritans came at the dogs with baseball bats, but the pit bulls continued biting her ever as they were being struck. Police officers who responded to the scene determined that the four dogs escaped from a house in Cutler Bay. When investigators came up to the residence, they allegedly detected marijuana odor coming from the inside. A search of the premises yielded several pot plants. Under lock and key: Angel Gonzalez (left) and Veronica Sanders (right) were arrested on marijuana charges and were also given a citation for keep pit bulls, which is illegal in Miami-Dade County . Law enforcement officials arrested Angel Gonzalez and Veronica Sanders on drug charges. The couple also received a citation for keeping pit bulls in violation of a Miami-Dade County ordinance. The four-legged ringleader of the dog pack who did most of the biting was euthanized, while the other three will be put up for adoption outside the county.
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Maria Sanchez, 67, suffered dog bites to her lip, nose and feet, and doctors say she could lose a toe .
Neighbors armed with baseball bats came to her aid in Cutler Bay section of Miami and chased pit bulls away; most vicious dog was later put down .
Police arrested owners Angel Gonzalez and Veronica Sanders on marijuana charges, and also cited them for keeping pit bulls against county law .
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The Andy Warhol classic painting "Double Elvis (Ferus Type)" sold Wednesday at Sotheby's in New York for more than $37 million, the auction house said. With commission, the sale price of $33 million totaled $37,042,500, short of the $50 million that Sotheby's had predicted it might fetch. The piece (silkscreen ink and spray paint on canvas) shows Elvis Presley in a gunslinger pose. First exhibited in 1963 at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, the work "epitomizes the artist's obsessions with fame, stardom, and the public image," Sotheby's said in a release. "Warhol's signature style, coupled with the instantly recognizable faces of his subjects, creates a blurred boundary between artist and sitter." Warhol made 22 versions of the "Double Elvis," nine of which are held in museums. The painting brings together two iconic figures in American culture, said Catharina Manchanda, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Seattle Art Museum, which has a "Double Elvis" on display. "It's Warhol at his very best. He gives you the celebrity playing a role within cinematic culture and asking us as viewer to confront that head-on," Manchanda said. "It's Elvis with the gun drawn. It's a confrontational moment." The work is among the most famous of Warhol's paintings of celebrities, which included Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. Also Roy Lichtenstein's "Sleeping Girl" was sold Wednesday for $44.9 million. That was an auction record for a Lichtenstein piece, Sotheby's said. Observers say the market for contemporary and modern art has been set ablaze in recent months. A version of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" brought an auction record of $119 million at Sotheby's on May 2, and a Mark Rothko painting "Orange, Red, Yellow" sold Tuesday at Christie's for nearly $87 million. Art dealers say the stratospheric rise in art prices is being propelled by wealthy investors from abroad. Wednesday night's winning bid for the Warhol painting came in over the phone; the buyer's name was not divulged. Still, the buy set no records. The top price for a Warhol painting is $71,720,000. As for Warhol, who famously said, "Making money is art and working is art, and good business is the best art," the prices his works are commanding would have been thrilling, Manchanda said. "He would be amazed and excited to see what's happening," she added. Alas, Warhol died in 1987 after undergoing routine gallbladder surgery at what was then known as New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, three blocks south of Sotheby's on New York's Upper East Side. He was 58.
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New: Lichtenstein's "Sleeping Girl" sells for $44.9 million .
"Double Elvis" considered among the most famous of Warhol's paintings of celebrities .
Price is short of the $50 million that Sotheby's had predicted it might fetch .
Warhol, who died in 1987, made 22 versions of "Double Elvis" paintings .
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By . David Derbyshire . PUBLISHED: . 19:01 EST, 6 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:18 EST, 7 November 2012 . There are few things more depressing on a car journey than the ‘flud, flud, flud’ sound of a flat tyre. You invariably seem to get a puncture when it’s dark, when it’s raining and when the car is laden with tired kids, luggage and a front seat passenger reluctant to get their hands dirty, but unusually eager to point out what you’re doing wrong. Changing a spare tyre is hassle enough, but in recent years, coping with a flat has become even more stressful. For without fanfare, motor manufacturers have begun to phase them out. There are few things more depressing on a car journey than hearing the 'flud, flud, flud' sound of a flat tyre says, David Derbyshire . Each year, tens of thousands of stranded drivers lift up the boot carpets of new cars looking for a spare and a jack, only to discover a ‘tyre repair kit’ – an electric pump, a bottle of sealant and instructions written by someone with only a passing familiarity with cars and the English language. I have to admit I know almost nothing about car repair. Ask me to change a spark plug and I’m baffled. Tell me my ‘big end’ has gone and I’ll probably call the doctor. But I do know how to change a spare tyre, and that admittedly basic knowledge is a badge of pride. I know about loosening the nuts before jacking up the car. I know where to fit the jack. And I know how to give a withering look when someone offers an opinion. So I resent car manufacturers making my one car-related skill redundant. And they are making it redundant in force. Out of the top ten best-selling cars in Britain, only the Volkswagen Golf now comes with a full spare tyre as standard. Lucky owners of top-of-the-range new cars get skinny space-saving spare . tyres that take up less room in the boot, but which will keep them going . for 50 miles or so until the driver can get home or to a garage. A few . find their cars are delivered kitted with four ‘run-flat tyres’ — tyres . with strengthened walls that stay hard even when the air has escaped. But the unfortunate ones — the owners of the bottom-of-the-range Honda . Jazz, Renault Clio and Vauxhall Astra, for example — have to make do . with a sealant kit. If you’ve ever tried to use an emergency tyre inflation kit, you’ll know how awkward and messy they can be. Drivers have to connect a pipe from a compressor in the repair kit to . the flat tyre’s valve, plug the compressor into the cigarette lighter . and switch on the compressor to fill the tyre with air and sealant. Many car manufacturers are slowly phasing out the spare tyre . Then you have to unplug it all, drive the car for two miles to disperse . the sealant throughout the inside of the tyre to tackle the air leak, . stop and park, plug the compressor back into the tyre and cigarette . lighter, and pump up the tyre fully. Even then there’s no guarantee you can drive the car away. Sealant kits . only work with holes 4mm or smaller. Bigger gashes are impossible to . repair — a fact you will discover after an hour or so fiddling around on . the roadside. And even if you can get puncture kits to work, many garages refuse to . repair tyres if they have been filled with sealant, claiming it is too . time consuming and expensive to clean them out. A £15 puncture repair . can end up costing the £100 price of a replacement tyre. The demise of the spare is already . having an impact on emergency call-outs. Green Flag, the car breakdown . service, said the number of call-outs to drivers stranded by flat tyres . leapt 20 per cent last year. The . RAC had 80,000 calls in 2011 from motorists who found they hadn’t got a . spare in the boot, and who were unable to use the sealant kits. That . works out as around one fifth of all their tyre problem calls. Prakesh Patel, an RAC patrol officer, is not a fan. ‘I’ve . never been very successful with them,’ he says. ‘They are fine if it’s a . small hole caused by a nail. But the problem is that when you use the . sealant it ends up on the road and it’s messy. ‘It costs £20 to £30 to replace the sealant, and when you take the tyre to be repaired they won’t take it because of the glue inside. So you have to pay for a new tyre as well. ‘I had a call out this week from a middle-aged women who couldn’t find the spare but thought there must be one. 'When we opened up the boot the hole that should have been filled by a tyre was instead filled with a piece of polystyrene. She looked at me in disbelief.’ So why are car manufacturers cutting back on spares? One reason is the demand for ever larger boots. Families want people carriers with seven seats, plus room for buggies and luggage. Something has to give, and that something is the spare tyre. Removing the tyre which is usually stored under the boot’s carpet gives more space for boot seats to be folded away when not in use. But above all, getting rid of the spare saves the manufacturers money. It is cheaper to fit a £20 repair kit than an £80 spare tyre. There is also the issue of European and UK legislation designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The motor industry is under intense pressure to shave off excess weight from cars to improve fuel efficiency, and scrapping the spare removes up to 25kg of weight. While drivers fume, the car industry insists it is giving consumers more choice. John Visscher, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, says: ‘Some people are comfortable with changing a tyre, but there are other motorists who want the ease, speed and the safety of not having to change a tyre on the side of the road. And there are drivers who don’t know how to change a tyre, or who don’t want to.’ The manufacturers argue that if a customer lavishes £15,000 on a new car they would be pretty daft not to double-check what they were getting for their money. The RAC had some 80,000 calls from motorists who discovered that their car didn't have a spare tyre in 2011 (file picture) The trouble is, how many motorists would ever imagine they’d be sold a new car without a spare tyre. Some manufacturers allow you to ‘upgrade’ by paying extra for a spare, but in many models there simply isn’t space. The RAC — which wants spare tyres to be included as standard — says dealerships need to spell out more clearly what customers are getting. RAC technical director David Bizley says: ‘Not including a spare wheel has become a growing trend among car manufacturers over the past five years, to the point where about 50 per cent of punctures registered in 2012 happened to vehicles which did not have a spare wheel.’ There is no sign that spares are about to come back into fashion either. It won’t be many years before they are available only as a pricey optional extra — along with sun roofs and a sat-nav. That means for the foreseeable future, the only spare tyres middle-aged men like me will have in our cars are the ones around our waists.
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David Derbyshire says that many car manufacturers have began to phase out the spare tyre .
Breakdown specialist the RAC were called by 80,000 motorists last year who discovered they didn't have a spare .
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Incoming Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday he expects to legally challenge President Barack Obama's new immigration action "in the next two weeks." Abbott, currently the attorney general in Texas, said he's reaching out to other governors and top state attorneys about joining the expected lawsuit. "Our constitutional structure does not work when our president is untethered from the law. That is what has happened here," he said at a news conference Monday. Abbott's charge against Obama's executive order limiting deportations has vaulted the Republican onto the national stage, giving him a lead role on a prominent issue just as he prepares to replace outgoing Gov. Rick Perry. RELATED: Virginia's Ken Cuccinelli on immigration lawsuit: 'Take it slow' He accused Obama on Monday of violating the Constitution's requirement that the president faithfully execute laws passed by Congress, and said Obama's move is dangerous because it paves the way for future presidential candidates to claim, for instance, that they would waive penalties for Americans who didn't pay taxes. He said the attorney general's office is currently conducting "research and analysis" on a legal challenge and is contacting other states with status updates. Oklahoma officials have already said they expect to sue, and others -- including Indiana Gov. Mike Pence -- have said they're considering joining the challenge, as well. He said a 2012 Obama order deferring the deportation of "dreamers" -- undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, who would have gained legal status under a bill dubbed the "DREAM Act" that never became law -- led to "millions of dollars in costs to schools, to law enforcement, to health care" in Texas. "If history repeats itself even in the slightest, Texas will once again sustain consequences from the president's executive order," Abbott said.
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Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott says the state is preparing to challenge President Obama's immigration order in court .
Abbott says he's reaching out to other states and expects to file a lawsuit "in the next two weeks"
The Republican has seized a prominent role leading the charge against Obama's executive order .
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Celebrity chef Pete Evans has gone on another rant this week and attacked the the Heart Foundation for the use of its trademark Tick on many everyday supermarket products. The My Kitchen Rules judge, who is now a convert to the Paleo diet and based in Sydney, has questioned why the red tick appears on many products like frozen pizzas and kids chocolate breakfast cereal which don't appear to be healthy and good for the heart. The Tick appears on products like Milo chocolate cereal, Praise mayonnaise, Crisco vegetable oil, McCain Pizza Singles, Tablelands canola spread and extra light Philadelphia cream cheese. The paleo diet, which Evans is a supporter of, bans all types of dairy and grains, but promotes meat, eggs, vegetables and natural oils . Peter Evans has joined a campaign on Facebook for the well known Heart Foundation Tick to be dropped from certain foods . Many supermarket products across Australia include the Heart Foundation Tick . The Heart Foundation says these products are 'designed to help guide consumers' towards making healthier choices when they are shopping and deciding on what products to purchase . The 41-year-old took to his Facebook page to say: 'I am wondering, how does a someone get 'the Heart Foundation' to put a TICK on their product? 'Is 'The Heart Foundation' paid by multi national [sic] food corporations to have their TICK put onto their products or do they do it for voluntarily? 'How can this organisation publicly attack a way of life that is helping families reclaim their health in the most natural way possible?' Evans (left) has taken to his Facebook page in recent weeks to rant about his opinions on a range of topics . A storm erupted on social media when Mr Evans posted this picture of a ham and pineapple pizza with the Tick on it . The television presenter and author got into disagreement with the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) over the merits of the Paleo diet last week and now the row has escalated to include the Heart Foundation tick. He was also slammed for a 2100 post on Facebook which claimed that the Paleo diet can prevent autism. The outspoken celebrity's latest Facebook post came after Barbara Eden from the Heart Foundation said in a Ten Eyewitness News report people who solely eat a Paleo diet 'are putting their heart health at risk'. She said: 'They're putting their heart health at risk... we know that high levels of saturated fat in a diet increase people's risk of heart disease. Mr Evans now lives on a Paleo diet which has been described as 'caveman diet' and going back to basics . The diet controversially cuts out gluten, grains, dairy, sugar and preservatives . The Heart Foundation has warned against adopting the diet long term and says people need a balanced diet . 'And the second thing we're concerned about I think is the fact that this particular diet doesn't include all food groups.' The paleo diet encourages a high intake of meat, and cuts out gluten, grains, dairy, sugar and preservatives. The Heart Foundation has warned against adopting the diet long term and says people need to eat a balanced diet. Evans wants people to sign a petition by Jessie Reimers from Brisbane called Boycott the Tick #heartfoundationpetition. Ms Reimers has over 32,000 signatures and says the Heart Foundation should stop giving advice and promoting food that causes heart disease. In Evan's book on Paleo eating he shares his favourite recipes for good health and vitality . Heart Foundation National CEO Mary Berry said the organisation encourages people to eat a healthy balanced diet that comprises of a wide variety of fresh foods everyday. She explained the Tick is 'designed to help guide consumers' towards making healthier choices while they are shopping. 'The reality is that millions of Australians shop in supermarkets everyday and Tick recognises that when it comes to food, many people choose packaged foods, so the Tick is designed to help guide consumers towards a healthier product while they’re standing in the supermarket isle. 'These small simple changes can make a big difference to a family’s health.'To be eligible to carry the Tick, packaged foods must meet strict nutrition standards, including a combination of lower saturated fat, trans fat, salt and kilojoules, and higher fibre, calcium, wholegrain, fruits and vegetables, than other products of the same type. 'This means that when choosing a food that carries the Tick, shoppers can be confident they are selecting one of the healthier foods of that type. 'Every single product must meet strict nutritional standards to obtain Tick approval. Foods are independently analysed to ensure they meet nutrient criteria before they receive the Tick,' she added. Four years ago Mr Evans wrote a book with the Heart Foundation called Cooking with Heart in which he used some of the Tick approved products. He says he was 'thrilled and honoured' to do the book but it wasn't until three years ago he looked at his own health and started researching new information on food. He told Daily Mail Australia: 'I believe the Heart Foundation stands for something noble and I want to continue to support the work they do in the community. 'However I believe as do a lot of medical experts that the heart tick should be removed from quite a few products that contain an excess of added sugars, numbers and other questionable items that are marketed to children and the general public. 'I would like to work with the heart foundation and supply them with recipes that is backed up by current non bias research.'
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Paleo chef questions how certain products get awarded a Heart Foundation Tick .
Food including frozen pizzas, chocolate cereal for kids and mayonnaise have been awarded the Tick .
The well known symbol is renowned for helping people to make healthier food choices .
The Heart Foundation have defended their position saying the Tick is 'designed to help guide consumers' to make healthier choices while they are shopping .
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Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- Bangkok faces the highest flood levels yet and is preparing for the worst, the governor of the Thai capital told CNN. Residents are urged to flee the rising floodwaters, which have already forced the closure of Bangkok's Don Muang airport and the evacuation of flood victims who have taken refuge there. Thailand's government has declared a five-day public holiday in flood-affected provinces to try to encourage people to seek safety elsewhere before high tides expected this weekend. But Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paripatra told CNN the authorities could not evacuate a whole city and it was difficult to persuade the Thai people to leave their homes, despite the risk. CNNGo: Updated info for tourists . "Apparently there will be large volume of water runoff coming toward the city tonight onwards, and over the weekend," he said. "At the point of high tide, it will be very high, the highest this year. We are bracing for the worse." Thongthong Chantharangsu, a spokesman for Thailand's Flood Relief Operations Center, appealed on TV for Bangkok residents to head to the countryside. Floodwaters extend from Rangsit, north of Bangkok, to Don Muang airport and Yingcharoen Market, state-run news agency MCOT reported. The water has reached 30cm (12 inches) in places and is overflowing on to sidewalks and some roads, causing problems for small vehicles and leading to traffic congestion, the agency said. In a televised address Tuesday night, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the capital could be submerged by as much as 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) of water. Of particular concern were areas along the Chao Phraya River, which winds through the capital and is expected to overwhelm embankments this weekend. The Airports of Thailand declared Don Muang airport, which primarily services domestic flights, closed Tuesday night, after floodwaters flowed onto runways and affected the lighting. Nok Air, which usually operates from Don Muang, was forced to cancel flights but should be able to run an almost normal schedule by Friday after moving its operations to the main Suvarnabhumi Airport, the airline's chief executive Patee Sarasin said Wednesday. Some 3,000 Nok Air passengers were affected by flight cancellations Tuesday, he said. The flood relief operation will continue to be based at the airport, the Thai government said Wednesday. More than 600 prisoners held at Bang Kwang Central Prison have been evacuated, according to the Department of Corrections. The high-security prison has about 4,000 inmates, the chief of the prison said, some of them high-profile. The floods have also forced the Dusit Zoo to evacuate some animals, including goat antelope and Sika deer, to a zoo in the countryside, according to Dusit Zoo's chief, Karnchai Saenwong. The U.S. ambassador to Thailand, Kristie A. Kenny, said the crisis was slow moving and it was hard to know what would be hit next. The United States has already provided civilian relief resources including water pumps, purifiers and life vests, she said, and two U.S. helicopters are helping the Thai military survey the extent of the flooding. Nationwide, the floods have killed 373 people and affected more than 9.5 million people, authorities said. The public holiday announced Tuesday will be from Thursday to next Monday and will be effective in 21 provinces, including Bangkok, that are still under water, a government spokeswoman said. The government has called the flooding the worst to afflict the nation in half a century and said it might take more than a month before the waters recede in some areas. The government has set up more than 1,700 shelters nationwide, and more than 113,000 people have taken refuge. Overall damage from the floods has risen and could top $6 billion, with the worst yet to come as the waters destroy shops and paralyze factories nationwide, the Thai Finance Ministry said. Thailand derives a significant portion of its revenue from tourism, which has been diminished by the flooding. CNN's Elizabeth Yuan, Kocha Olarn and Paula Hancocks contributed to this report .
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NEW: Bangkok's governor warns of the highest water levels in next few days .
Evacuations include 600 inmates at a prison, some animals from a zoo .
PM warns capital could be submerged by as much as 1.5 meters (4.9 feet)
Authorities: Floods have killed 373 people and affected more than 9.5 million .
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By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 12:23 EST, 27 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:44 EST, 27 January 2013 . Boris Johnson met Rupert Murdoch for a private dinner at the newspaper tycoon's Mayfair home, it has been claimed. The Mayor of London was joined by Homeland star Damian Lewis and a number of editors and executives at the event, sources told The Guardian. The meeting on Tuesday is the second between the pair in the past six months. Spokespeople for Rupert Murdoch, left, and Boris Johnson, right, refused to comment on the meeting . Old Etonian Lewis stars in the Homeland series made by Mr Murdoch's production company fox21. A spokesman for the mayor's office said he could not comment on a 'private engagement'. The office's stance has angered politicians who say the mayor should be transparent about who he sees. Len Duvall, leader of the Labour group . at the London Assembly, told The Guardian it was 'ludicrous' that Mr Johnson believes he can meet Mr Murdoch in a private capacity. Dinner date: Actor Damian Lewis, pictured at the 24th Annual Producers Guild Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel with Helen McCrory, was also reported to have attended the dinner . He told the newspaper: 'He is the Mayor of London and has a duty to uphold the highest . standards. 'Does he really think meeting for a private dinner with Rupert Murdoch is a normal meeting? What planet does he live on?' The mayor is seen as a future . challenger to David Cameron's leadership of the Conservatives party and . the recent meeting will fuel speculation of a closer relationship . between him and the media mogul. Johnson was swamped by media at the Conservative Party Conference last year . Len Duvall, leader of the Labour group of the London Assembly, said Johnson should be transparent about his meetings . The pressure group Hacked Off, which is campaigning for new press laws, also criticised the mayor. A spokesman told the MailOnline: 'After the revelations unearthed during Leveson, you might think that senior politicians had learned their lesson about holding secret assignations with newspaper bosses. Yet it appears that Boris Johnson just doesn't get it. 'It beggars belief that anyone could describe a dinner between the most powerful politician in London and the head of News Corporation, the company at the centre of the phone-hacking scandal, as a "private arrangement". 'The mayor is also the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority and it is totally inappropriate for him to be meeting Mr Murdoch in private while the Met are carrying out an investigation into Murdoch companies. 'We urge all politicians to comply with the Leveson recommendations and publish full and up-to-date accounts of their meetings with media proprietors and editors. Given their past record of excessive closeness, and all the harm it has done, that is the very least the public can expect from those who represent them.' The alleged dinner is the second time the pair have met in recent months. Mr Johnson invited Mr Murdoch and his wife . Wendi Deng to watch Rebecca Adlington in the 800m final during London . 2012 as his personal guests. Labour MP Chris . Bryant told The Guardian that the relationship between Mr Johnson and Mr Murdoch has something 'decidedly unseemly' about it. He said the mayor was trying to win the support of News International for any future leadership challenge. Mr Johnson was treated as a leader-in-waiting at last year's Conservative Party Conference and he has shown he is not afraid to challenge the Chancellor George Osborne over fiscal policy. Mr Johnson warned that the . ‘hair-shirt’ agenda set by the Chancellor and gloomy remarks from the . Bank of England threaten hopes of a recovery. Today the spokeswoman of the mayor's office told the MailOnline: 'We do not discuss private engagements'. A spokesman for News International said: 'We do not comment on dinners attended by any of our senior executives and certainly not Mr Murdoch. 'I'm sure there were quite a few people at the dinner.'
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Mayor of London was 'invited' to the media tycoon's house last week .
Neither one would confirm or deny the reports that they met on Tuesday .
Spokesmen say they will not comment on 'private' engagements .
Mayor criticised for treating 'private dinner with Murdoch as normal meeting'
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By . Hamish Mackay for MailOnline . Follow @@H_Mackay . Sevilla's players were given their weight in beer as a reward for winning the Europa League last season. Cruzcampo weighed the entire Sevilla first-team squad individually, as well as the technical staff, and then handed out beer to each player. Unai Emery's side beat Benfica in the 2014 final on penalties after both sides failed to score in 120 minutes. The Europa League players were given their weight in beer after winning last season's Europa League . Timothee Kolodziejczak collects his 73.5kg of beerbut didn't win the Europa League as he was at Nice . The defending champions will face Feyenoord, Standard de Liege and Croatian side HNK Rijeka in this year's group stages. The Andalusian side have started well in the domestic league, picking up a point against valencia before winning away at Espanyol last weekend. Next up for Sevilla is a home tie against Cosmin Contra's Getafe. Liverpool loanee Iago Aspas was another player who didn't experience winning the trophy with Sevilla . Sevilla beat Benfica on penalties in the final after drawing 0-0 after 120 minutes of action .
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Sevilla won the 2014 Europa League .
They beat Benfica on penalties in the final after drawing 0-0 .
Unai Emery's side currently fifth in La Liga .
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National Geographic have launched their 2014 annual Photo Contest, releasing a selection of entries from this year’s competition. Some of the spectacular entries so far include images of animals, insects, people and places, and clearly live up to the organisation’s already notable reputation for ‘setting the standard for photographic excellence’. Last year, National Geographic received over 7,000 entries from over 150 countries, with professional photographers and amateur photo enthusiasts across the globe participating in the competition. The prestigious competition is accepting entries in three categories: people, places and nature. Photos submitted so far include snaps of playful polar bears in Svalbard, Norway, a flock of galahs in the Asutralian desert, a silhouette of a Mediterranean Mantis and a close-up of a manatee. Lupine fields in California, the beauty of a glacial lagoon at sunset in Iceland and the painted faces of Mexican women celebrating The Day of the Dead complete the selection. The Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 (£6,170) and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington DC, to participate in the annual National Geographic Photography Seminar in January 2015. The First Place winner in each category will each receive $2,500 (£1,540) and his or her winning photograph will be published in the National Geographic magazine. The closing date to submit photos is 31 October. Arctic Hi five: Colin Mackenzie snapped two polar bear cubs on an iceflow in Svalbard, Norway and said this cub in particular was entertaining to watch . This stunning image of a Mediterranean Mantis was captured by Hasan Ba Iar in Nicosia, Cyprus. He explained: 'When the Mediterranean Mantis opened its wings, It seemed very impressive at the sunshine' A tree dreaming: Christian Spencer captured this amazing action shot in the Strezlecki desert of Australia as a flock of galahs make the most of the only water available at the base of a tree . Photographer Misty Gage said of her manatee picture: 'Capturing this gentle giant's inquisitive nature was rather easy as he swam right up to us and just stared for several long seconds. I love all the bubbles and his cute little face.' The image was taken in at the Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma,Washington, USA . Frozen beauty: Francesco Riccardo Iacomino submitted his photo Dreamscape, showing the pinks of a perfect summer sky in Iceland reflected in the stillness of the Jokulsarlon Glacer Lagoon. He said: 'It was a typical cloudy day in the Icelandic summer. The day was not hoping for a nice sunset, but I still decided to go on the spot, hoping to finally see the sun once the same had left behind the clouds. When the sun went down, in fact the sky burned out in an incredible vanilla tone. The scene was so peaceful and placid, so I decided to capture it with a long exposure, to bring out the amazing sense of peace that this amazing sunset created. It has been like living in a dream.' Montse Grillo entitled her photo 'From the sky', which features a close-up of a green turtle off the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. She said: 'I find myself devoting much time to these curious creatures. . This turtle was coming from the surface with the sun behind it, and the sunrays surrounding it gave it a special majesty' Seeing blue: Douglas Croft captured the beauty of Big Sur in California, after travelling there to watch the gray whale migration from the cliffs. He said: 'It was too foggy to even see the water. I decided to hike up the Baronda Trail to see if I could get above the fog. This view was my reward. Miles of lupine and blue skies. Outstanding!' Painted Ladies: Daniel Kudish captured these young women in Oaxaca, Mexico, dressed up with their faces painted to celebrate the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). He said the event was 'an incredible celebration of life, and a beautiful way to remember those who have passed.' Photographer Thomas Dorleans took this image of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. He recalled it was shot 'in the early morning, the fog of early march spreads the light. It is like we were on drugs' Photographer Aaron Feinberg said of this picture: 'Ah the Agave plant. Filled with amazing patterns and textures. This particular subject was a great find while visiting San Francisco. Using some fun techniques, I was able to get the light just right and the dimensionality of the plant just popped! It is definitely fun to take a moment and get intimate with nature'
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National Geographic have released a selection of entries from this year's competition, which opened on September 1 .
Last year National Geographic received over 7,000 entries from over 150 countries .
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 and a trip to the National Geographic headquarters in Washington DC .
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British workers have been 'displaced' from the jobs market by migrant workers – especially during the recession, a controversial Whitehall study claims. A fierce row has broken out inside the Coalition over a Government report on the economic impact of mass migration. Newsnight on BBC2 claimed on Tuesday that the still-unpublished document would undermine the Tory Party's case for imposing stricter controls on workers from overseas. Migrant influx: Polish job-seekers board a coach in Warsaw bound for a new life in Britain . The Corporation said that, as a result, it was being 'suppressed' by Downing Street – with pro-immigration Lib Dem MPs demanding its immediate publication. But the Mail now understands that the study – written by civil servants in the Home Office, Treasury and Department for Business – will clearly state that some Britons have suffered 'displacement' from the jobs market. It says this has been particularly noticeable for 'low-skilled natives', especially during the last recession. Last night, the row led to renewed claims of the BBC having an 'habitual lack of impartiality on the subject of immigration'. Its own executives have repeatedly admitted to the Corporation that they had a pro-immigration, liberal bias in the past – but insist that has now changed. The dispute centres on two studies on the impact of immigration. The first was published in 2012 by the independent Migration Advisory Committee, which was established by the last Labour government and is run by the respected economist Sir David Metcalf. The second, unpublished, report was commissioned by the Government two years ago as part of William Hague's EU 'balance of competences' review. Despite being focused on Brussels, the Whitehall study also deals more broadly with the impact of migration on the jobs market. (File picture) Newsnight on BBC2 claimed on Tuesday that the still-unpublished document would undermine the Tory Party's case for imposing stricter controls on . The row led to renewed claims of the BBC having an 'habitual lack of impartiality on the subject of immigration' The MAC report found that for every 100 extra foreign-born working-age migrants in the UK, there was a reduction of 23 in the number of Britons in employment. The report added that, between 2005 and 2010, 160,000 people in the UK had been 'displaced', or left jobless, by the influx of foreign workers. In a broadcast on Tuesday evening, BBC Newsnight reporter Chris Cook said of this research: 'There's just one problem: it's wrong.' He said the Government's own unpublished report would contradict MAC's findings, and that it was being suppressed as a result. But as the Corporation's own political editor Nick Robinson conceded yesterday, the Government's study deals with a different time period to MAC and the two are 'not directly comparable'. MAC's report covers the period to 2010. Whitehall's report brings the subject up to date. Since 2010, restrictions on non-EU migration introduced by the Government have led to an increase in the number of British workers getting jobs. UK nationals accounted for 92 per cent of the total rise in employment in the year to July-September 2013. Under Labour, the lion's share went to foreign-born workers. Insiders suggest that, far from undermining the case for immigration controls, it suggests the new regime is working. In any event, the Government's report – due to be published 'shortly' – does confirm the 'displacement' of British workers by mass migration, particularly the less well-off. As well as running on Newsnight, the immigration story dominated early BBC news bulletins yesterday. Radio 4's flagship Today programme highlighted the story in a discussion between presenter John Humphrys and the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson. Sir Andrew Green of MigrationWatch said: 'The BBC's enthusiasm for anything that might undermine the Government's immigration policy was demonstrated yet again by the excitable tone of Newsnight's report.' He said the programme had claimed the new report 'undermined the Government's case for restricting immigration.' Writing for the Spectator magazine, he added: 'In fact, this is only one aspect of a much wider case concerning the impact of mass immigration on public services, housing and transport – not to speak of the social impact.' The row comes at a time of high Coalition tensions over migration policy. Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said figures that show net migration rose by a third to 212,000 in the year to September 2013 was 'good news'. In Whitehall, the finger of blame for the selective leak to Newsnight was being aimed at the Business Department. David Cameron's spokesman said the Whitehall report was not yet complete but would be published 'shortly' – possibly by May. Asked whether the PM thought it right now to drop his ambition to reduce annual net migration below 100,000, the spokesman said: 'No. It is the objective which we are very much working towards.'
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Fierce row has broken out over a Government report .
Newsnight said it was being 'suppressed' by the Coalition .
Programme said it would undermine Tory immigration policy .
But study will say some Britons have suffered 'displacement'
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Former Great Britain prop Garreth Carvell has been named in John Kear's first Wales squad, 14 years after he last played for the country. The 33-year-old former Hull and Warrington front rower, who is on a short-term deal with Castleford, is included in Kear's 22-man squad for the 2014 European Championships, which get under way when Wales meet Scotland in Workington on Friday, October 17. Carvell, who last played for Wales in the 2000 World Cup, is currently sidelined with a neck injury but has put his hand up to play for his old Hull boss Kear, who has succeeded Iestyn Harris as Wales head coach. Garreth Carvell has been named for Wales, 14 years since his last appeared for the country . Carvell (right with Sam Tomkins) played for England in 2010-11 and Great Britain in 2006 . John Kear has named his first Wales side since taking over as coach from Iestyn Harris . Kear said: 'Garreth enjoyed playing for the Welsh team all those years ago and, when I spoke to him about it, I was pleased with his response and how keen he was to come back. 'I'm expecting him to be a stalwart in the side. At 33, he is our oldest player, while Connor Farrer, at only just 19, is our youngest. It's good that we have old hands helping through the up and coming lads, and it bodes well for this tournament and the future of Wales Rugby League as we continue to build towards Rugby League World Cup 2017.' Kear's squad is selected from 14 clubs across four professional leagues, with World Cup squad members Peter Lupton (Workington), Dan Fleming (Castleford), Jake Emmitt (Leigh) and Elliot Kear (Bradford) providing the experience alongside a host of newcomers. J Burke, D Grant (both Barrow), B Smith (Batley), E Kear (Bradford), G Carvell, D Fleming (both Castleford), R Williams (Central Queensland Capras), M Barron (Gateshead), I Duffy (Gloucestershire All Golds), O Olds (Ipswich Jets, Australia), J Emmitt (Leigh), R Massam, C Roets (both North Wales Crusaders), Y Parker (Oxford), A Bateman, P Carleton, P Emanuelli, C Farrer, K Scrivens, J Sheridan (all South Wales Scorpions), M Fozard (St Helens), P Lupton (Workington).
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Former Great Britain prop Garreth Carvell picked for Wales squad .
Carvell will appear for Wales for the first time since the 2000 World Cup .
The former Hull and Warrington star played for England in 2010-11 .
The forward is currently on a short-term deal with Castleford Tigers .
John Kear named his first squad since taking over from Iestyn Harris .
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(CNN) -- America's longest war is expected to conclude by the end of next year, when the United States plans to withdraw all its combat troops from Afghanistan. But many challenges remain. Insurgents are still a "resilient and determined" threat, according to a Pentagon report released this week. Afghan security forces must be fully trained to take over for U.S. troops. And the two countries have to come to an agreement over what kind of troop presence the U.S. will have in 2014. "How this war winds down is very important to Afghanistan, to the United States and so many other countries," said CNN's Erin Burnett, who has been in Afghanistan this week talking to U.S. officials, troops and Afghan civilians. "People paid for this with their lives. People have died, people have spent a decade of their lives fighting this war away from home. And of course, the U.S. has spent about $650 billion on the war alone." Read more: Taliban claim bombing killing American, Afghans . Burnett talked to CNN.com on Thursday about her trip and what she's been hearing from various people about the transition and their hopes for Afghanistan's future. Here is an edited version of the conversation: . CNN.com: You talked with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday. What's he saying about the war effort? Has the U.S. accomplished its mission? Erin Burnett: Panetta points out the success in bringing down key members of core al Qaeda, and he believes he has made real progress on fighting al Qaeda and terrorism in Afghanistan. But he acknowledges that insurgents are still a problem, and he acknowledges that al Qaeda and terrorists have now spread and they're in other places. He specifically mentioned to me Yemen, Somalia and Mali. And he still thinks that al Qaeda is the single biggest threat to the American homeland. CNN.com: What does that mean for U.S. troops in Afghanistan after the 2014 drawdown? Burnett: Both Panetta and (Army Maj. Gen. Robert) Abrams, the regional commander in Kandahar, are very wary of discussing troop count. ... Some of it's going to come down to the treatment of U.S. troops' indemnity, which Panetta told me he's sure won't be a problem but the deputy foreign minister here in Afghanistan said was a serious issue that is on the table. We're a long way away from having the details set in an agreement that the United States would actually sign. I got the sense that the overall agreement is something that's going to take a significant amount of time. CNN.com: Are Afghan forces going to be prepared by 2014? Burnett: In Kabul, traffic is a really huge problem, and they now have Afghan National Police doing the traffic control. Traffic control is something we in America take for granted, but you can see there's still a long way to go for them in terms of learning basic protocols. And that kind of fits in with the recent Pentagon report that said only one in 23 brigades of the Afghan National Security Forces are actually ready to do their job from A to Z -- from dealing with things like electricity to (medical evacuations), whatever it is to operate a war. The deputy foreign minister I talked to said, "Look that's not really fair, we're trying to train brigades on one thing at a time." But you had issues like that. I talked to a U.S. sergeant in Kandahar who works at a forward operating base and his job has now become training Afghans. I asked him what his relationship was with them. And he said he had to trust them completely and they were like his brothers. This is a guy who's served four tours, missed three Christmases, put a lot of time in. And he really was loyal to them. When I asked him explicitly, saying, "A lot of the coverage is pretty negative on how this training's coming, what have you seen?" he was very positive and he gave some examples on the communication they have with each other and their units and what significant progress he feels they have made. He really felt a sense of accomplishment and achievement, and you have to hope that his version of things ends up being the real version. Read more: Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan was smart, in superb shape . CNN.com: What's the general feeling among the Afghan people? Are they glad the U.S. is making plans to leave? Burnett: I'm hearing two totally different stories. Some people we've spoken to here sort of take it for granted that there's going to be a civil war when the United States leaves. It happened before when the Soviet Union left. One female member of parliament I talked to, she wasn't totally in that camp, but she was extremely afraid of it, saying: "I hope that it won't and I have to have confidence that we're going to be able to overcome it. But yes, I have that fear." And then there are others who really try to be more optimistic. We were at a bazaar today, and we asked a whole bunch of people whether they thought it was a good thing that the United States was leaving. Many said they were glad, and they basically said we're glad because it's time we take this on ourselves. There was a real sense of pride that they could do it. These weren't people in the military. These were regular people on the street. CNN.com: What else has stood out to you during your trip? Burnett: During the Taliban, basically there were thousands of girls going to school in Afghanistan. Now you have millions of girls going to school. So there's been real progress on women's rights. Obviously, there remain a lot of problems -- honor killings, forced marriages, domestic violence -- but there has been real progress. There are women's rights activists who are really afraid that when the U.S. leaves, a lot of the progress will be rolled back. The female member of parliament I talked to, she is worried but hopeful. She has two daughters, 13 and 14. They really want to stay in their country, and they say, in their own experience, that there's been such a change in what girls can do. One of them wants to be president. One of them wants to be a space engineer. It was a pretty cool and inspiring thing to see, but it sort of brought home the risks and what's at stake here. ... This was the most meaningful to me: the hopes that they have and the fact that they want to stay in their country and they want to fight for its future. If you have that going for you, then I think that's probably the best sign of hope that there is. Read more: U.S. citizen rescued from the Taliban in Afghanistan . Watch Erin Burnett weekdays 7pm ET. For the latest from Erin Burnett click here.
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The United States plans to pull all combat troops from Afghanistan by 2014 .
CNN's Erin Burnett is in Afghanistan to get a sense of how the transition is going .
There is still much work to be done, she said, with regards to training and a post-2014 plan .
Some Afghans are optimistic about the change; others are fearful of civil war .
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MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida (CNN) -- No piece of equipment is more crucial to a soldier in the field than his rifle. And America's most elite troops are about to get a new series of rifles designed for their unique and dangerous missions. CNN was given an exclusive look at two new rifles for an elite group of U.S. troops. "The difference is, I'm gonna have a weapon that's gonna fit the situation," an Army Ranger staff sergeant said. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is about to start training its SEALs, Green Berets and other Special Operations troops in the use of Mark 16 and Mark 17 rifles. Within a year, the new rifles should be in action against terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, Afghanistan and hot spots the public may never hear about. The usually secretive SOCOM gave CNN an exclusive chance to see and even fire the new weapon recently at its headquarters near Tampa, Florida. Watch a preview of the new weapons » . The contractors working with SOCOM to develop the weapon say it is more versatile and more accurate, jams less and lasts longer than the current rifle used by many Special Operations troops, the M-4. The Mark 16 (Mk16) fires a 5.56 mm round, the same size used for decades in M-16s and M-4s. The Mk17 fires a larger 7.62 mm round that is used in some U.S. military machine guns, but it's not the same round as in the AK-47, the world's most widely used assault rifle. Both of the new rifles are designed to kill regardless of the situation. "Whether that's a soft target, a guy without body armor, or whether that's an enemy force within a vehicle that you need to shoot through a window or the side of the vehicle and you want to ensure that round is not deflected," said Tucker Campion, a retired Navy SEAL who now is a civilian contractor working on the new rifles. "We want a round that, when it hits the enemy soldier, provides the maximum amount of damage." Even though they fire different-size bullets, each rifle is largely interchangeable with the other. By changing only a few parts, including the bolt and the barrel, a soldier can switch from a gun that fires the lighter 5.56 mm round to one that shoots the heavier 7.62 mm round in a matter of minutes. That's just one example of the rifle's versatility. Each gun comes with three interchangeable barrels, and each gives the troops a specific advantage. "If you were going to clear an urban environment, buildings, rooms, you'd probably throw the short barrel on there," the staff sergeant said. CNN is honoring the Ranger's request not to identify him, because in battle, anonymity is crucial for Special Operations troops. "If you're in Afghanistan and you're walking in the mountains and the hills and all that, and your distance is going to be a lot greater to the enemy, and you're probably going to want to throw the longer barrel on there so you get that extra reach," the Ranger said. Even though the rifles fire the same bullets as existing weapons, they are designed to be much more accurate. "If you look at a current inventory assault rifle, you get 350 to 400 meters," Campion said of their range of accuracy. "Put a long barrel in (the new rifle), and now you're at 6 to 7 (hundred meters). So we're extending the standoff between us and the enemy." A longer standoff means an American can shoot an enemy soldier from farther away; thus, the American is safer. One of the main goals was to design a gun that lasts longer. Campion says the M-4 is designed to fire 6,000 rounds over five years. But the Mk16 and Mk17 were designed for Special Operations, who are likely to fire 6,000 rounds in less than one year. The new rifles are designed to handle the greater rate of use and last twice as long. The design changes that make the Mk16 and Mk17 last longer also make them more reliable. Nothing is worse for a GI in battle than for his rifle to jam at the wrong moment, but it happens with all kinds of guns. These new rifles are designed to reduce those jamming problems as much as possible. The new rifle also comes in a Mk13 model, which includes a grenade launcher mounted below the barrel. To those who will use the rifles in the field, what they need first and foremost from the new weapons is success. E-mail to a friend .
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Military will train an elite group of troops with versatile new rifles .
Mark 16, Mark 17 rifles designed for their unique and dangerous missions .
Usually secretive Special Operation Command gave CNN an exclusive look .
The new rifles are designed to handle the greater rate of use and last twice as long .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . An ill-tempered 22-pound cat that trapped a family of three from Oregon in a bedroom has been sent to a shelter. Teresa Barker and Lee Palmer, from Portland, Oregon, called the Multnomah County Animal Services Monday and asked to come and pick up their now-infamous black-and-white house cat named Lux. Lux shot to Internet stardom two weeks ago when he turned on his family, forcing his owners to call 911. Scroll down for video . Not so tough anymore: A Multnomah County Animal Services employee holds Lux at the main shelter in Troutdale, Oregon, where the grumpy cat ended up after attacking his family . Mr Palmer told an emergency services dispatcher March 9 that he kicked the cat after it scratched his 8-month-old baby. In response, the feisty feline went ballistic, leading Palmer and his girlfriend to barricade themselves, their baby and the family dog in the bedroom. Portland police arrived and captured Lux on top of the refrigerator using a snare. Shelter director Mike Oswald the family have not made a final decision on whether to keep Lux. ‘They are wrestling with the decision whether to keep the cat,’ Oswald told The Oregonian. According to a press release put out by the shelter Tuesday, a local cat behavior specialist has offered his services for Lux whether he stays with his current owners or is put up for adoption. The owners of Lux, a 22-pound housecat that trapped them in their bedroom after attacking their baby insist they are not giving up on their pet and are instead getting it therapy . Escape: Jesse didn't need medical attention but his parents were concerned Lux would attack again . 'This is a very shy, somewhat . high-strung cat,' animal technician Karen McGill told KGW. 'Cats like . these... they can only take this much.' The . shelter employee added that the presence of a vocal baby in the home . and the house's close proximity to a train station may have contributed to Lux's aggressive behavior. Two days after the cat attack, Lux's owners insisted that they are not going to give up on their pet and will instead get it therapy. 'We're not getting rid of him right now,' Palmer said last week. 'He's been part of our family for a long time.' Palmer said Lux lunged at his seven-month-old child after the baby pulled its tail. The child, Jesse, suffered a few scratches on the forehead, but did not require medical attention . On the 911 call, Palmer tells the dispatcher he kicked the cat 'in the rear' to protect his child. Like butter wouldn't melt: Lux is a Himalayan with a 'history of violence,' say his owners. They were forced to call 911 on Sunday after Lux attacked their baby and then cornered them in a bedroom . Attack: Teresa Barker, pictured with her baby Jesse, who was starched on the forehead by Lux . Palmer says the animal then 'just went off over the edge' - leading him and his girlfriend to barricade themselves, their baby and the family dog in the bedroom for safety. The cat can be heard screeching in the background of the call as Palmer says in a panicked voice: . 'He's charging us. He's at our bedroom door.' Palmer also tells the dispatcher the cat has been violent in the past. Officers used a dog snare to capture the animal, and placed it in a crate. The cat attack story gained national attention after police put out a news release about it. Lee Palmer said the family had received offers from people wanting to adopt Lux, but the family said at the time they are not taking them up on it. Emergency: Lee Palmer and his girlfriend were too fearful of their cat Lux to emerge from their bedroom . Quiet moment: Teresa Barker posted this picture of herself and Lux on Facebook in happier times .
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Police were called to a Portland, Oregon, home March 9 to subdue the 4-year-old part-Himalayan cat Lux .
Cat attacked Lee Palmer's 7-month-old child after the baby pulled its tail .
Owner Lee Palmber said after attack they will not give up on Lux and instead will seek therapy for him .
Lux is now staying at Multnomah County Animal Services shelter while the family decide what to do with him .
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Jung Park, 41, allegedly placed ads in Korean newspapers seeking body paint models to work . A photographer has been arrested on suspicion of trying to force women into having sex with him by threatening to have them deported if they refuse his advances. Jung Park, 41, allegedly placed ads in Korean newspapers seeking body paint models to work for him at Simple Touch Entertainment in Los Angeles. But police say they were approached by one model who said Park asked her to disrobe and pose for nude photos, then began to inappropriately touch her and tried to rape her. When the woman refused his advances, Park told her that he would report her to Immigration and Naturalization Services, she told police. Park was arrested on October 26 and later released after posting $100,000 bail. But since then several more models have come forward and reported similar experiences with Park during photo shoots and interviews at his place of business. Police said the advertisements the photographer used were listed in Korean newspapers, websites and radio stations, which were run by Simple Touch Entertainment. Investigators now are asking for anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of Park to come forward and contact the police. 'I hope he gets what he deserves,' one woman who said she responded to Park's ads told CBS Los Angeles. 'Innocent women, trying to make a living, and taking advantage of them; that's not right.' Photographer Jung Park invited the models to Simple Touch Entertainment in Korea town, Los Angeles .
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Jung Park allegedly put ads in Korean newspapers for body paint models .
Police say one model reported Park, 41, touched her and tried to rape her .
When she refused to comply, Park threatened to call immigration services .
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A man who killed a cop nearly two decades ago was executed Tuesday night, in a highly controversial death penalty case. Robert Wayne Holsey was sentenced to death for shooting dead a sheriff's deputy, Will Robinson, in 1995 while he robbed a store in Milledgeville, Georgia. He died just after 10:51pm local time, after having a last meal of eight pieces of fried chicken. When a corrections official offered him sedatives to help him 'relax', Holsey declined, according to the Los Angeles Times. Just before his death, Holsey said a prayer and made a final statement, apologizing for killing Robinson and taking full responsibility for the crime. Robert Wayne Holsey (pictured left) was executed Tuesday night for shooting dead a sheriff's deputy in Georgia in 1995, Will Robinson (right) Holsey's death was controversial since it later emerged that his original defense attorney had been drinking a quart of vodka a day during the trial and afterwards admitted that he was in no state to represent anyone at the time. Holsey's new legal team has argued that because his lawyer was an alcoholic, he never received adequate representation at trial. The jury did not hear about Holsey's intellectual disability or his horrific childhood during his 1997 trail, according to NBC. The killer's trial attorney was disbarred in 2006 because of his drinking problem and also for stealing from a client. Holsey's latest defense team made every effort to stop his execution, requesting to stays from the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Both were declined, but it was noted that Justices Stephen G Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor would have voted in favor of staying the execution. The killer shot 26-year-old Deputy Robinson once in the right arm and once behind his right ear during a traffic stop following the robbery. He was arrested three hours later. The suspect was found guilty of all charges in February 1997 and sentenced to death. Deputy Robinson is survived by his parents and two brothers. The family issued a statement Tuesday saying they were glad to see justice being served. 'William was a leader and true hero, evidenced by the years of outpouring of support to our family by all who loved and respected him,' the Robinson family said.
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Robert Wayne Holsey was executed just after 10:51pm Tuesday .
Sentenced to die for fatally shooting George sheriff's deputy Will Robinson in 1995 .
The killer had appealed for clemency after his defense attorney admitted drinking a quart of vodka a day during his trial .
The jury did not hear about Holsey's intellectual disability or his horrific childhood, his new legal team said .
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The pot wasn't real. Neither, admitted Floyd Mayweather was much else that went on in the cable television shows promoting his latest fight. Not the joint rolling parties with a bevy of female friends in his Las Vegas mansion. Not the 31 minute fights without a break in the 'Dog House' of his gym just off the city's glittering Strip. Not even the betting that went on between Mayweather and others over who was going to win. Floyd Mayweather admitted that the 'reality' TV show building up to his fight with Marcos Maidana was made up . Mayweather (centre) won the fight by a unanimous verdict but had to explain the show to boxing regulators . 'I don't want to just sell a fight,' Mayweather said. 'I want to sell a lifestyle.' Called before Nevada boxing regulators on Tuesday to explain what went on in the Showtime All Access shows aired earlier this month before his rematch with Marcos Maidana, Mayweather said it was all just made-up entertainment to sell the fight. It worked, he said, bringing in enough of an audience for him to sell more pay-per-views for a fight in which he was guaranteed a $32 million payday. 'It wasn't real marijuana,' Mayweather said. 'It's all about entertainment.' Mayweather, who earlier this year was licensed as a promoter in Nevada, was summoned by Nevada State Athletic Commission Chairman Francisco Aguilar to explain scenes in the All Access show that ran a few days before the fight. Mayweather is listed as the executive producer of the show, which bills itself as a reality series filming boxers before their bout. Mayweather said the show was 'all about entertainment' and was simply a vehicle to interest people in the fight . Turns out it wasn't so real after all. 'It's a new generation, a young generation,' Mayweather said. 'We believe in going outside boxing and doing something different. Because we did something different we got better pay-per-views this time around.' Showtime does not release pay-per-view buys but various reports say the rematch with Maidana did slightly better than the first fight, which did not reach 1 million buys. Mayweather's fight last year with Canelo Alvarez was boxing's richest, drawing some 2.2 million buys. Mayweather appeared before the commission with longtime adviser Leonard Ellerbe and one of his attorneys. Notably missing were his normally large entourage and the very imposing bodyguards who usually trail him everywhere. Aguilar and the other commissioners were most interested in two fights shown on All Access which was presented as going on for more than a half hour without break, ending only when the beaten boxers quit. On the show, Mayweather is shown arranging the bouts and cheering the fighters. 'The dog house - the rules are you fight till whoever quits,' Mayweather said on the show. The regulators were satisfied with Mayweather's explanations about the reality TV programme . Appearing before the commission, though, Mayweather said the fighters got three to four long rest breaks during the sparring sessions. 'We do take breaks when we spar. I make sure,' Mayweather said. 'I'm not going to let anyone get hurt because safety is very important to boxing.' Attorney Shane Emerick said scenes showing cash exchanging hands in bets on the fight also didn't happen, and Mayweather knows gambling in the gym is illegal. He also said Mayweather doesn't smoke marijuana or drink alcohol, and wouldn't be around second-hand marijuana smoke because it could show up in drug tests for the fight. Mayweather explained that he did not bet on his fights or smoke marijuana as suggested in the show . Mayweather is shown in All Access at his mansion while joints are being rolled and smoked. At one point he tells an assistant to go get some more rolling papers. Commissioners said they were happy with Mayweather appearing before them, and satisfied with his explanations. 'You accomplished your goal,' Aguilar said. 'I think you represented yourself well.' Asked as he was getting on an elevator to leave why anyone would want to watch the show if they knew it was all staged, Mayweather smiled and said: 'You know I love you guys. Keep up the good work.'
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Floyd Mayweather was the subject of reality TV show All Access prior to fighting Marcos Maidana earlier this month .
The programme featured Mayweather attending marijuana parties, fighting for 31 minutes straight and betting on the fight with his friends .
The 37-year-old was called before Nevada boxing regulators on Tuesday to explain the show .
Mayweather said it was just made-up entertainment to generate publicity .
The American beat Maidana unanimously on points in the fight .
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By . Joel Christie . He was essentially the most unpopular person in New York's East Village during the drastic renovations of his home. But Friends star David Schwimmer seems to be slowly winning back his neighbors after helping police investigate a crime on Monday. A brawl broke out in a first-floor apartment around 5.40am in a building that adjoins the actor's home on East Sixth Street. The fight spilled into the hallway before the trio smashed through a glass lobby, according to The New York Post. Cooperative: Actor David Schwimmer turned over video footage taken on the security cameras of his East Village home to the New York Police Department . Controversial: David Schwimmer paid $3.7 million for his East Village apartment, which sits at 331 E. Sixth St, in 2008, causing drama in the neighborhood when he knocked the existing building down . A 26-year-old man was taken to Bellevue Hospital with stab wounds to the face. His transvestite prostitute ran away and the third man was arrested. Robert Rainey, 21, of Newark, was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and robbery. Following the incident, police noticed a security camera on Schwimmer's property. Investigators asked the 47-year-old if the cameras recorded any footage of the fight. Schwimmer surrendered the tape, which may now be used in court. The star, who played Ross Geller on Friends for 10 years, paid $4 million for his 331 E. Sixth St. home in 2010. He outraged locals in 2012 when he knocked down the existing building, which was 160-years-old. Classic: From 1994 to 2004, David Schwimmer played Ross Geller opposite Jennifer Aniston on Friends . 'Four years ago, I would say David Schwimmer was the least popular guy on the block with the construction and all,' said resident Jayson Fillermutter, 31. 'But he has turned out to be a decent neighbor, and I am glad to hear he helped the cops with that stabbing.' The structure Schwimmer bought was built in 1852. He paid $3.7 million for it in 2008. A demolition permit filed in 2011 listed 'demolition of front and rear facades, demolition of all floors roof structure, side masonry walls to remain'. The cream-colored building was torn down and replaced with a brick building.
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Crime occurred outside the actor's $4 million East Village home .
He turned over security footage to police .
Caused controversy in the neighborhood by knocking down the existing 160-year-old building .
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f861ec5d9ecd8d13308b3f19ec4dabee682e2b41
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(CNN) -- As the NBA's Jason Collins made history by coming out as gay, he sought advice from someone who'd walked this road before: Lance Bass. In case you don't recall, the singer soared to fame in the late '90s as part of the popular boy band 'N Sync, but he didn't open up about his sexuality until 2006. At the time, Bass told People magazine that he was acknowledging it mainly because of rumors, and that coming out made him feel like "it's on my terms. I'm at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God, so there's really nothing else that I worry about." Bass, who now hosts SiriusXM's "Dirty Pop With Lance Bass," revealed on his show Monday that Collins reached out to him for guidance through a mutual friend, actress JoAnna Garcia. "He's been trying to plan this for a very long time, contemplating if he wanted to do this. In fact, he said he was going to call me months ago, but he got too scared," Bass said. But with Garcia's encouragement, Collins finally made the call Monday. In NBA, Collins' defense matters more than sexual orientation . "I gave him some very good advice today, because everybody wants to interview him," Bass said. When Bass came out, he recalled wishing he'd had more time to think about whom he wanted to talk to and how he wanted to do it. "When I came out, I had 24 hours to decide what was going to happen. ... What I wish I could have done back then was to have a couple of days to sit down with (the Human Rights Campaign), sit down with GLAAD (and) get downloaded (on how to handle this)" Bass said. "So I gave him some really great connections." By putting Collins in touch with people such as GLAAD's Wilson Cruz, Bass is aiming to help the athlete "get some really good information before he does these sit-downs, just so he doesn't put his foot in his mouth ... because this will live (on) for the rest of his life, and he wants to make sure it's good." Obama 'couldn't be prouder' of Jason Collins . The media crush that comes with such an announcement isn't the only part of Collins' story to which Bass relates. Just as Collins was so busy with basketball that he didn't ruminate on his personal life until the 2011 NBA lockout, Bass said he was too stretched performing with 'N Sync to focus on his personal life. With the lockout, Collins "finally got to sit back and think about himself, and relationships and love and all of that type of stuff because he had the time -- and that's when he started becoming more comfortable with it and finding out about himself. And that's exactly what happened with me when we went on the hiatus after the last 'N Sync show," Bass said. "We were 24/7, had the same set schedule (and) I didn't have time to think about my personal life. And I totally relate to this because it wasn't until that hiatus where I had a vacation, I had a few weeks off that I became comfortable with it, and met a guy finally and had my first relationship. It was that downtime that really makes you see things." Bass told his "Dirty Pop" listeners that he thinks "we are going to be overwhelmed with the support he gets," which has been steady over the past 24 hours. Many in Hollywood and beyond have joined Garcia and Bass in encouraging the NBA veteran, including President Barack Obama, who told reporters Tuesday he was "very proud" of Collins and had spoken with him on the phone. Spike Lee slams Collins hate machine . These are a few celebrities who encouraged the athlete on Twitter: . Russell Simmons: "(P)roud of Washington Wizards' player Jason Collins (@JasonCollins34) for coming out. (W)e will stand with you as you continue on your journey." Ellen DeGeneres: "@NBA center @JasonCollins34 is the 1st out player on a US major league team. I'm overwhelmed by your bravery, Jason, & sending so much love." Neil Patrick Harris: "Bravo, @JasonCollins34! Thanks for stepping up. For standing tall. And at 7 feet, that's saying a lot." Howard Stern: "Big support to @jasoncollins34. That's not an easy thing you did." Marlee Matlin: BRAVO to #jasoncollins for his bravery and class. Equality and changing attitudes are just inevitable. Shonda Rhimes: Totally loving me some @jasoncollins34 right now. Well done! Eva Longoria: "So proud of Jason Collins for being an example of bravery and courage. I applaud you!!!" On Monday evening, Collins responded on Twitter: "Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me thru email, texts, calls, tweets, letters, and every other form of communication. #support." Looks like Bass was right.
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Lance Bass says he gave NBA player Jason Collins advice on coming out .
The singer opened up publicly about his sexuality in 2006 .
Bass says he wished he'd had more time to process how to handle the media .
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When laughter is forced, it activates a part of the brain linked with deciphering emotions. Genuine laughter lights up parts linked with happiness . Next time your boss tells a bad joke and you feel compelled to laugh, beware - they can tell you're faking it. Researchers from London have discovered our brains carry out different process when we hear genuine laughter compared to fake chuckles. When laughter is forced, for example, it activates a part of the brain linked with deciphering emotions. This means we know it's not a genuine laugh, and we automatically try to work out why they're faking it, what the laugh means and what the they're thinking. While genuine laughter lights up areas of the brain linked with happiness and positive emotions. To test the theory, psychologist Dr Carolyn McGettigan from the Royal Holloway University of London measured brain responses of volunteers as they listened to genuine laughter on YouTube clips. Each participant was asked to pick clips they found funny. This ranged from comedy shows, such as Flight Of The Conchords, and even the Eurovision Song Contest. The results were then compared to how their brains responded to fake laughter. The findings revealed participants, none of which were told the study was about laughter perception, could unconsciously tell when the chuckles were insincere. Dr McGettigan said: 'It's fascinating to consider the way our brain is able to detect genuine happiness in other people. 'Our brains are very sensitive to the social and emotional significance of laughter. 'During our study, when participants heard a laugh that was posed, they activated regions of the brain associated with mentalising in an attempt to understand the other person's emotional and mental state.' To test the theory, researchers measured brain responses of volunteers as they listened to genuine laughter on YouTube clips. Each participant was asked to pick clips they found funny. This ranged from comedy shows, such as Flight Of The Conchords, pictured, and even the Eurovision Song Contest . Researchers from Indiana State University found that with laughter can boost the immune system by up to 40 per cent. The study tested 33 healthy women. Half of the women watched a comedy video together while the others watched a dull video on tourism. When . the films were over, scientists took samples of the women's immune . cells, known as natural killer cells, and mixed them with cancer cells . to see how effectively they attacked the disease. They . found that the women who had found the comedy funny enough to laugh out . loud had significantly healthier immune systems afterwards than those . who had watched the tourism film. The study goes a long way to explain why people can easily spot when someone is forcing laughter. Dr McGettigan added: 'Some of the participants engaged parts of the brain that also control movements and detect sensation. 'These individuals were more accurate at telling which of the laughs were posed, and which were real, when we tested them after their scan. 'This suggests that as listeners, 'trying out' how a laugh would feel if we produced it ourselves might be a useful mechanism for understanding its meaning.' The study was commissioned for the second annual International Day of Happiness on Wednesday. Dr McGettigan's findings confirm previous research from scientists at the University of . Tuebingen in Germany who investigated the 'laughter perception network' of the brain. Lead researcher Dr Dirk Wildgruber found that parts of our brains sensitive to processing high-level, social information reacted most to 'joyous' and 'taunting' laughter. Wildgruber's study said this is proof the brain is able to recognise the difference between types of laughter, and whether we're being laughed at, or laughed with. Yet, . regions of our brain that are more sensitive to picking up and . registering more complex sounds reacted most to 'tickling' laughter.
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Study found our brains respond differently to genuine and fake laughter .
Fake laughter activates a part of the brain linked with deciphering emotions .
While genuine laughter lights up areas linked with positive feelings .
Researchers measured brain responses of people as they watched videos .
Each volunteer picked clips they found funny and this ranged .
from comedy show Flight Of The Conchords to the .
Eurovision Song Contest .
Results were compared to how their brains responded to fake laughter .
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Editor's note: With fears of a swine flu pandemic rising daily, CNN Pentagon producer Larry Shaughnessy remembered a batch of letters from his grandfather, a World War I soldier who battled the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919. Martin "Al" Culhane, left, is pictured with his older brother, Frank, around 1918 or 1919. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- "I'm coming, I'm coming For my head is bending low I hear those gentle voices calling Old Black Joe" As World War I rages in Europe, fresh U.S. Army soldiers pass the time on a train ride to to Camp Forrest, Georgia. "The boys are just starting to sing," Martin Aloysius Culhane wrote on September 6, 1918, to his friend back home. "They've gotten back to 'Old Black Joe' so far." Stephen Foster's classic song from the Civil War is about the death of slaves who had become his friends. But Culhane, known as "Al," and the soldiers who sang along could not know how much death would hunt the recruits on that train, most of whom never made it to Europe to fight in the Great War. They would find themselves in the deadliest influenza pandemic in history. Culhane's letters to his older brother Frank and his long-time "chum" Clif Pinter are a young soldier's firsthand account of life as a draftee private and how he coped with a disease that would haunt Army camps around the United States and eventually infect people around the world. Some estimates say as many as 50 million people were killed by what's called the Spanish influenza in 1918 and 1919, far more than the number killed in combat during the war. Three weeks after the train trip to Georgia, Culhane, a 21-year-old clothing salesman from Chicago, Illinois, writes again. Already the flu occupies his thoughts. Learn more about the current swine flu » . "Received a nice letter from Phil Byrne he reports he is getting along fine, is feeling better than he has ever before." Byrne, a friend from Chicago, was one of the early survivors of the Spanish flu. Other members of the Byrne family took ill a few months later, according to the letters. In the same letter he mentions how the Army was trying to protect the troops at Camp Forrest: . "Since noon today our camp has been under quarantine to prevent an epidemic of Spanish influenza. We have had no cases thus far but it is the intention of the medical officers to prevent any case of the disease from making an appearance. All the men who have even slight colds have been put into separate barrack which, of course, were immediately christened 'the TB ward' by the rest of the company." That same day, September 28, 1918, he wrote his brother Frank, a Navy sailor at home awaiting orders, "Well the Spanish Influenza has made an appearance here and we are under strict orders no visits to Chattanooga, we are certainly the hard luck guys when it comes to this quarantine proposition." At first the threat of Spanish flu is just an inconvenience for Culhane: "I am just about fed up with staying in a district about a block square for three weeks. There is no canteen in the quarantine district and we have a hell of a time getting small supplies." Just six days after complaining about the inconvenience, a brief but frightening note: "Receive the enclosed letter for your information then see that Frank gets it unknown to the rest of the family." What Culhane didn't want his mother, sister and younger brother to know was that he was in the infirmary with the Spanish flu. He asks his friend Clif to write often and encourage letters from "my friends, without of course, telling them that I am a little under the weather." His euphemism hid the fact that in some places more than 30 percent of people who contracted Spanish flu died. In the United States the mortality rate was lower, but still a devastating 3 percent. It was a crisis for the Army. Military bases, with thousands of men from all over the country in tightly packed barracks, were fertile breeding grounds for the flu, especially one as easily spread as this one. And unlike most flu strains that mostly strike the elderly, the very young or the sick, Spanish flu hit healthy, young adults like Army draftees. Just three days after telling his friend about being sick, Culhane wrote that he was feeling better. "I am still in quarantine but will be released today. I am feeling great and the two day's rest has done me a world of good. I have done nothing at all but sit in the shade, read and write letters." His recovery from the Spanish flu was swift, but the very next day, October 7, 1918, he wrote to give "all the details of the death of a very good friend, my Bunkie, Thomas Birdie. His body will go north today, I think," Culhane wrote, asking Pinter to attend the wake. "At his side, say a few prayers for the repose of his soul." When not writing about the flu, Culhane dropped none-too-subtle hints about wanting care packages full of cookies from home. And he regularly questioned why other friends didn't write. He also worried that he was "neglecting the ladies." He pelts his friend Clif with questions about Ursula ("Her Majesty," he jokingly refers to her), Ella (the young woman to whom he promised a prized golf club) Ida ("I had a long letter from Ida Flynn. Boy! I will have a job on my hands when I get home") and the Marys (Mary Rose, Mary English, Mary Anne). While Culhane writes about and to a lot of young ladies, there is no sign in the letters which one, if any, held a special place in his heart. Still he worried about one young man named "Hank" who remained in Chicago. "Keep the ladies amused by all means, but I look to you to protect my interests. Hank is too darn nice a chap to be safe around the ladies. However, if he seems to get extra strong I will write a note and have him made Admiral of the Arctic Circle." After recovering from the flu, Culhane bemoans the fact that war was about to end. "It is almost over now and thirty days will see at least a cessation of hostilities. Xmas will see peace. I will never see France and as long as that is impossible I might as well be out of the Army as soon as it is over." Nine days later, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the war ended. And just four days after the fighting in Europe ended, the letters from Camp Forrest stopped. Al Culhane was sick again. This time he was taken to U.S. General Hospital #14 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. And he couldn't keep the latest illness a secret from his family back home in Chicago. A Catholic chaplain wrote the family that he was sick and not able to write himself. When he was well enough, he wrote Pinter, "I don't know just what I have but it felt like old fashioned grip or perhaps 'The Flu.'". It took about two weeks before he was out of the Fort Oglethorpe hospital and back at Camp Forrest. He had twice survived the deadliest flu in history and lived to write home about it. After his second recovery his concerns turned to getting back to Chicago by Christmas. "Clif I have seen my discharge all written out and from that moment on my usefulness as a soldier ceased." But again illness got in the way. This time it was a completely different one: "Measles has broken out in our company and we are quarantined. Did you ever hear of harder luck in all your life?" Culhane didn't make it back to Chicago for Christmas. But he eventually did return home alive and well. He never did make it to France, but traveled the United States extensively with his wife, Evelyn, a woman never mentioned in his letters home, but someone he'd known since they went through First Holy Communion together. As for Clif Pinter, who saved the letters, he and Al Culhane remained "old chums" for life. After Pinter's death, his son passed the letters on to Al's daughter, Dorothy Clarke, who passed them onto Al's grandchildren, including Lawrence Aloysius Shaughnessy, who works for CNN's Pentagon unit and occasionally writes stories about soldiers for CNN.com.
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U.S. soldier survived Spanish flu pandemic not once, but twice .
1918 Spanish flu ravaged military camps where soldiers trained for WWI .
Letter says camp put "under quarantine to prevent an epidemic of Spanish influenza"
Martin "Al" Culhane in letter told his brother to keep infection secret from rest of family .
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