id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 48
15.9k
| highlights
stringlengths 14
7.39k
|
|---|---|---|
f9680c8f315c55feaa8a88729d35a22c209660d4
|
Against all the odds, Esme is now eight . months old - although she is still battling lung and feeding . complications because of her early birth . A baby has astounded doctors by surviving despite being born four months premature and weighing just 1lb 6oz. Esme Poulsom was given just a one per cent chance of survival when mother Kirsty Barrett's waters broke after just 19 weeks. But Ms Barrett, 24, and partner Gareth Poulsom refused to give up hope and Esme was born so small she could fit into her mother's hand. Baby Esme (pictured with sister Ava, 2, father Gareth Poulsom, 27, and mother Kirsty Barrett, 24) has defied doctors to survive despite being born four months prematurely . Esme was so fragile and Ms Barrett was so ill after the birth that she was not allowed to see her new baby for two agonising days. Doctors warned the couple that the first weeks of Esme's life were 'touch and go' and she may not survive. But against the odds, Esme is now eight months old - although she is still battling lung and feeding complications because of her early birth. Ms Barrett and Mr Poulsom, who also have a two year-old daughter Ava, are also preparing a formal complaint against health chiefs over the handling of her Esme's care. Esme was given just a one per cent chance of life when Kirsty Barrett's waters broke after just 19 weeks. But Kirsty, 24, and partner Gareth Poulsom refused to give up hope . Four days after Ms Barrett's waters broke doctors at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, Gwent told her she would either miscarry or give birth within 48 hours. Neither happened and her labour calmed but doctors warned there was no chance of the baby surviving without waters . They claim medics at one hospital 'gave up' on Esme even before she was born and have since failed to properly address her ongoing problems. Esme's remarkable story began last November when Ms Barrett went into labour just 19 weeks into her pregnancy. Four days later her waters broke and Ms Barrett said doctors at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, Gwent told her she would either miscarry or give birth within 48 hours. Neither happened and her labour . calmed but doctors warned there was no chance of the baby surviving . without waters and said the pregnancy would stop developing normally. They recommended an abortion but Ms Barrett and Mr Poulson refused and decided to let nature take its course. They recommended an abortion but Kirsty and Gareth refused and decided to let nature take its course . Two week after her waters broke - and still having contractions - Ms Barrett was discharged. She said: 'I was told at Nevill Hall that if I got to 23 weeks I could have steroids to stop the contractions but when I reached 23 weeks I was told I couldn't have them' Two weeks after Ms Barrett's waters broke - and still having periodic contractions - she was discharged and put herself on bed rest at home in Pontypool, Gwent. She said: 'I was told at Nevill Hall that if I got to 23 weeks I could have steroids to stop the contractions and help viability at around 24 weeks. 'But when I reached 23 weeks I was told they wouldn't give me steroids because they felt I would miscarry. 'It felt like they had given up.' Ms Barrett knew of someone at the Royal Gwent Hospital in nearby Newport who had been given steroids in a similar situation. Mr Poulson contacted them and a doctor agreed to take over his partner's care if she could get transferred. Ms Barrett knew of someone at the Royal Gwent Hospital in nearby Newport who had been given steroids in a similar situation. Gareth contacted them and a doctor agreed to take over her care if she could get transferred. Within 20 minutes of the transfer Kirsty was given a steroid injection . Ms Barrett claims that Nevill Hall initially refused to the transfer, saying Ms Barrett was in active labour but they relented after agreeing that the baby's head was not engaged. Within 20 minutes of getting there Ms Barrett was given a steroid injection. She added: 'Looking back, I can't believe two hospitals in the same area could have such a different approach.' A . week later the mother developed blood poisoning and had to have a . Caesarian section and Esme was born on December 18 - four months ahead . of her due date of April 7. Ms Barrett recalled: 'They didn't think Esme would survive because she'd had no waters for five weeks. Ms Barrett (pictured with Esme) added: 'Looking back, I can't believe two hospitals in the same area could have such a different approach. A week later she developed blood poisoning and had to have a caesarian section and Esme was born on December 18 - four months ahead of her due date of April 7 . 'There was a one per cent chance. They thought they would give her to us and she would pass away. But she . was born crying. They couldn't believe it. 'She was so tiny and for the first couple of days Gareth brought me pictures because I couldn't see her. 'It . was touch and go and we were warned that sometimes there are two weeks . or so when things seem to go well, but then they can go downhill. But . she didn't.' Instead Esme kept improving, and after eight weeks was transferred back to Nevill Hall and put in the special care baby unit. Ms Barrett said 'They thought she would pass away. For the first couple of days Gareth (pictured) brought me pictures because I couldn't see her'. It was touch and go and we were warned that sometimes there are two weeks or so when things seem to go well, but then they can go downhill. But she didn't.' But it was then that the first problems emerged with her lungs which medics allegedly down-played.Esme began bottle feeding but her mother feared she was taking milk into her lungs. Despite her concerns the hospital discharged her after 100 days - with her baby still choking and coughing while feeding. Ms . Barrett said: 'She was getting worse. One day, going to Nevill Hall, . she stopped breathing in the car. I had to resuscitate her. 'They told us it was bronchiolitis, . that she'd caught a bug. She seemed to pick up on antibiotics. I said I . was concerned again about aspiration, they said again it was a bug.' Esme stopped breathing a second time and Gareth had to resuscitate her. Kirsty again repeated her concerns about her taking milk into her lungs, but says she was again told the baby had an infection. Instead Esme kept improving, and after eight weeks was transferred back to Nevill Hall and put in the special care baby unit . But Esme's condition worsened and she was transferred to specialists at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Kirsty said: 'One of her lungs had collapsed. She was very poorly, and they prepared us for the worst.' But once more Esme defied the odds and was returned home via Nevill Hall. 'A couple of weeks later we had a phone call from UHW asking how she was,' said Ms Barrett. 'We went down there and they were quite shocked at the state of her lung. It was still partly collapsed. Fighter: Esme (pictured with her mother, father and big sister) is now doing well although she is still battling lung and feeding complications because of her early birth . 'They asked if I had any concerns and I said I thought she was aspirating - taking milk into her lungs. They tested her and stopped the bottle feeding straightaway.' Esme was admitted and attempts were made to reinflate her lung. They were only partially successful and problems remain with her swallowing mechanism, and she may eventually require a feeding tube to be fitted into her stomach. Ms Barrett said: 'We don't know if her lung will fully reflate. If my concerns had been listened to at the beginning, this could have been avoided.' Ms Barrett and Mr Poulson are now preparing a complaint to the Aneurin Bevan Health Board over the handling of Esme's case. MailOnline has approached the Health Board for comment.
|
Esme Poulsom was given just a one per cent chance of survival when her mother Kirsty Barrett's waters broke after just 19 weeks .
Esme was so fragile and her mother so ill after the birth that she was not allowed to see her for two agonising days .
Against all the odds, Esme is now eight .
months old - although she is still battling lung and feeding .
complications because of her early birth .
|
f96823ed2766ae191fc4e337dc3f11302b9a320c
|
Berlin (CNN) -- Sprouts grown in Germany are the likely source for an E. coli outbreak that has killed 22 people, officials said Sunday. Gert Lindemann, agricultural minister of Lower Saxony, said there is a "direct link" between a company in the town of Bienenbuettel and "these people getting sick." The firm has been shut down and its products have been recalled, Lindemann said. It is not immediately clear how the E. coli strain may have gotten into the sprouts, officials said. Sprouts are bred in large drums. No E. coli has been found in the company. Authorities say the infection may have taken place too long ago to be found at the company itself. But several restaurants and cafeterias linked to the outbreak got sprouts from the company, officials said. Two workers at the agricultural company, which was not identified, have come down with severe cases of diarrhea; in at least one of those cases, E. coli was the cause, Lindemann said. Bienenbuettel is in the district of Uelzen in north-central Germany. The outbreak of a virulent strain of E. coli has infected more than 2,200 people in at least 12 countries, European health authorities said on Sunday. All but one of the 22 fatalities were reported in Germany, where officials say it's too early to determine whether the peak of the outbreak has passed. One person in Sweden also died after visiting Germany. Last week, Spain vehemently rejected suggestions that its cucumbers could be blamed, after the European Food Safety Alert Network said E. coli was found in organic cucumbers originating from Spain, packaged in Germany and distributed to various countries. In Germany, there have been 627 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a form of kidney failure -- in the current European outbreak, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. That's more cases of HUS than in any other recorded outbreak, worldwide. Fifteen patients in Germany have died of HUS, according to the center, while six died of enterohemorrhagic E. coli, a strain that causes hemorrhaging in the intestines and can result in abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. Reports indicate that an estimated 1,605 people have that E. coli strain so far but do not have HUS, according to the center. Infections have also been identified in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, according to the organization. Two women and a man who traveled last month to northern Germany remain hospitalized in the United States with HUS, Chris Braden of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. A fourth person developed bloody diarrhea, but was not hospitalized, he added. Two U.S. service members in Germany also developed diarrhea, Braden said. "We have no expectation that this will spread in our country," he added. The U.S. government website foodsafety.gov says that since 1996, "there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli." The World Health Organization says that in Japan in 1996, "an outbreak linked to contaminated radish sprouts in school lunches caused 9,451 cases" of E. coli. CNN's Per Nyberg contributed to this report.
|
NEW: There have been 30 outbreaks of food-borne illness from sprouts since 1996, the U.S. says .
Sprouts from central Germany are the likely cause, officials say .
At least 22 people have died in Europe after an outbreak of a virulent E. coli strain .
More than 2,200 people have been infected .
|
f96925aa1a2d2976672881daaffe435d6dd3ebe6
|
By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 03:59 EST, 17 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:39 EST, 17 August 2012 . Charged: Leonard Jackson, 53, has been charged with the murder of Estella Brantley in 1980 following the discovery of new DNA evidence . A man has been charged with murder after a DNA breakthrough linked him to the body of a woman found strangled in a park more than 30 years ago. The body of 30-year-old Estella Brantley was found lying half-naked on the grass in a park in Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 30 that year. She had been beaten and strangled and was found with a $50 note lying beside her. The identity of the person responsible for her murder remained a mystery for more than three decades. But police have now arrested and charged 53-year-old Leonard Jackson with the killing in the city's Seaside Park, after linking him to her body using new DNA evidence. Jackson, of East Main Street, admitted to the murder after being confronted with the DNA match, according to the police. At the time of the murder officers thought it was one of a string of prostitute killings in the area. 'We want people to know she had a family with two kids who loved her . very much,' said Ms Brantley's daughter, Gwendolyn Brantley, according to the Connecticut Post. She was one of a number of Mrs Brantley's family who attended Jackson's arraignment hearing at the Golden Hill Street courthouse. Jackson was held in lieu of $1million . bond with the case set to continue on August 28. The Police Department's . Cold Case Unit made a breakthrough in the case last July thanks to new DNA evidence which had been preserved from Mrs Brantley's body. The sample was found to match DNA from Jackson, who was then an inmate at Garner Correctional Center in Newtown, Connecticut. He had been arrested in 2006 for illegally disposing of the body of a prostitute who had taken a drugs overdose. According to his affidavit, Brantley said he had begun to hit Mrs Brantley during a walk in Seaside Park. Murders: Police initially thought Ms Brantley's murder was part of a string of killings in the Bridgeport area . He had begun to shout at her for dating another man. Her autopsy revealed she died as a result of being strangled, reports the Connecticut Post. Jackson told police he could not remember whether he had strangled Mrs Brantley but said when he left Seaside Park she was still lying on the ground. He said he was sorry about what had happened. Students at the nearby University of Bridgeport had told officers at the time that they heard a woman screaming in the park in the early hours of the morning, but none of them called the police. Despite his known involvement with prostitutes in the city, Jackson was not considered a suspect in the case until the DNA breakthrough.
|
Leonard Jackson, 53, 'admits' to the killing after being confronted by police .
Officers make breakthrough in case using new DNA evidence .
|
f969900250ea33fc52be16b88c9250f783c33863
|
By . Tamara Cohen . Lord Oakeshott's parting attack on Nick Clegg included the explosive allegation that the Liberal Democrats were embroiled in a potential ¿cash for peerages¿ scandal . Lord Oakeshott's parting attack on Nick Clegg included the explosive allegation that the Liberal Democrats were embroiled in a potential ‘cash for peerages’ scandal. His statement criticising the party ended with the tantalising claim that his ‘efforts to expose and end cash for peerages in all parties, including our own... have failed’. He also described the House of Lords as a ‘bloated balloon’ in urgent need of reform. Lord Oakeshott’s claim may lead to close scrutiny of some of the peerages granted by the Liberal Democrat leader. Last year Mr Clegg ennobled Ministry of Sound owner James Palumbo – now Lord Palumbo of Southwark – who has donated more than £500,000 to the party over the past nine years. Domino’s pizza tycoon Rumi Verjee was made Lord Verjee of Portobello after handing over £770,000, some via his company Brompton Capital Ltd. His donations were investigated by the Electoral Commission in 2012 and cleared. A party list also revealed Sudhir Choudhrie was put forward for a peerage last summer, after the multi-millionaire’s family and companies gave £1.2million since 2004, but he was passed over. Mr Choudhrie, who has been entertained at Mr Clegg’s grace and favour residence, Chevening, was non-domiciled for tax reasons until two years ago, and earlier this year he and his son were quizzed by the Serious Fraud Office as part of a probe into bribery at Rolls-Royce. Lord Oakeshott’s statement said: ‘When Charles Kennedy rang to make me a peer, he wanted me to shake up the Lords. Donations: Lord Palumbo, who donated £500,000 to the Lib Dems over nine years . 'I’ve tried – my bills to ban non-dom peers are now law – but my efforts to expose and end cash for peerages in all parties, including our own, and help get the Lords elected have failed. The unreformed Lords is now a bloated balloon…’ Angus MacNeil, the Scottish National Party MP who uncovered the ‘cash for honours’ scandal in 2006 said the claims reignited a row over an upper house ‘full of party donors’. He said: ‘His claim resurrects this whole scandal, and we need full disclosure of which members of the House of Lords he is talking about, and what they gave in return for a peerage.’ Non-domiciled peers were banned in 2010 under Labour, with cross-party support. But Mr Clegg’s plans to slash the number of peers from more than 800 to 450, with 80 per cent elected, was dropped after 91 Tory MPs rebelled and Labour refused to back the move. Lord Oakeshott fired savage parting shots at both Nick Clegg and Vince Cable . The ‘cash for honours’ scandal saw several men who loaned money to Labour – which unlike a donation does not have to be declared – nominated for life peerages. They were reported to the police by Mr MacNeil. A resulting investigation saw then prime minister Tony Blair questioned by detectives and Labour forced to repay the loans, although no charges were brought. A Lib Dem spokesman said: ‘This is absolute nonsense. Liberal Democrats have never been engaged in cash for peerages.’
|
Lord Oakeshott made explosive claim in devastating leaving statement .
He also called House of Lords a 'bloated balloon' in need of reform .
An earlier version of this article reported previously published claims that Sudhir Choudhrie is an 'arms dealer'. Mr Choudhrie has contacted us to say that he has repeatedly denied dealing in arms. We are happy to make this clear.
|
f969d70048b3bd831df7d067a3f78adbb9b7bd9c
|
The Manchester City players looked to be in high spirits as Manuel Pellegrini took his side for an open training session in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The Premier League champions flew to the Far East shortly after their shock 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday as they look to stay in shape with some warm-weather training. The likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Frank Lampard were all involved as City prepare for a friendly match against Hamburg on Wednesday afternoon. Manuel Pellegrini looks on as his Manchester City players train at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium . James Milner (left) and Frank Lampard prepare for the friendly match against Hamburg on Wednesday . Unfortunately for Pellegrini's squad, the weather in Abu Dhabi hasn't been too dissimilar to the colder climes of England. Speaking of his team's mid-season trip, City forward Stevan Jovetic told Sky Sports: 'It’s nice (to get away) but the weather is the same unfortunately. We were unlucky as today it was raining but it’s nice because all the team is here. A couple of days away from England, it’s nice. 'We have to prepare good because we have the FA Cup. We need to play well to get through and after that we have a big game against Chelsea - a very important game.' Aleksandar Kolarov, Joe Hart and Milner answered questions from children during the open training session . Sergio Aguero (left) and David Silva looked to be in high spirits during the training session . City goalkeeper Hart enjoys a laugh as he train in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday .
|
Manuel Pellegrini's side flew to Far East after Arsenal defeat on Sunday .
City are five points behind Premier League leader Chelsea .
They face the Blues in their next Premier League game on January 24 .
But first up is Middlesbrough in the FA Cup this Saturday .
Click here for Manchester City transfer news .
|
f96a0e2f299c12a49745e290b0ac12ce06f8fe01
|
A mother-of-two died of cancer because she used to welcome her shipyard worker father home from work each night with a hug, an inquest heard today. Annette Bhatti, who was just 49, also helped her ill mother to scrub her father’s work uniform by hand more than 40 years ago. They did not know at the time that they were breathing in deadly dust particles from his asbestos-ridden clothes. Day of celebration: Annette Bhatti on her wedding day (pictured with her husband, Bal, and bridesmaids) Mrs Bhatti, a housing officer, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2010. She married her long-term partner Bal Bhatti a month later. Just 18 months later, in December last year, she lost her battle with the lung disease at her home in Southampton, Hampshire. Her death has left her surviving father, now a pensioner, devastated and inconsolable. Mesothelioma is normally associated with people over 50 and more commonly among men who worked at shipyards. The mother-of-two, 49, was exposed to the asbestos dust fibres from birth until she moved out of home aged 18 . Mrs Bhatti’s father Lawrence Ramplee, now a pensioner, was exposed to asbestos while employed by Hills Construction in Eastleigh, Hampshire. He was later further exposed to asbestos during shifts at ship repairers Harland and Wolff at the city's docks when Annette was just a toddler. Mr Ramplee's jobs involved cutting up 10ft corrugated asbestos sheets by hand, coroner Keith Wiseman heard. His work clothing was worn home where Mrs Bhatti was ‘exposed to the dust fibres in the air’ at a very young age. She helped to wash his clothes because her mother was ill with lung disease. Mr Wiseman said: ‘The clothing worn during the week was taken home to be cleaned at home. ‘Somewhat tragically, Mr Ramplee recalls occasions giving his daughter a hug when he got home before he changed. ‘In later childhood Annette was often doing the laundry herself because her mother was not always entirely well. ‘The washing was done by hand so she was exposed to dust fibres in the air. 'This was from a very young age.’ He added: ‘There was never any warning about working with this particular substance. ‘One doesn't have to be working oneself in industry to die in this way. ‘Annette's exposure to the industrial disease occurred very much indirectly, when her father Mr Ramplee was employed from the mid 50s. ‘There was significant asbestos exposure during a long period of time. Speaking after the inquest, her . brother Stuart Ramplee said his sister ‘was so full of life’ and . travelled extensively the year she died, visiting Hong Kong, New York, . Australia, the Seychelles and Dubai. Celebration: The new Mrs Bhatti raises a toast on her wedding day, just one month after she was diagnosed with lung cancer . He said: ‘Her life was on the up. He (her father) totally blames himself and he has not been the same person ever since. ‘He is broken - absolutely devastated.’ Recording a verdict of death due to an industrial disease, Mr Wiseman said: 'The way in which events happened in this case is not in my experience uncommon, but perhaps it is uncommon for someone quite so young. 'It doesn't ever seem to happen in that way.' Her brother Stuart said despite her condition, Mrs Bhatti, whose daughters Luci and Rachel, are both in their 20s, ‘never complained’. Speaking at his wife’s funeral, which was attended by hundreds of people, Mr Bhatti praised her caring nature. He said: ‘Annette was someone who always put others ahead of herself. ‘Anyone that ever had the pleasure of meeting her instantly took her to their heart. ‘She leaves a void in our hearts that will never be filled and a legacy that will never be forgotten.’ Lawyers are hoping to secure compensation for Annette's family. Compensation for relatives of asbestos victims in 'landmark' ruling . Thousands of relatives of industrial workers who died of an asbestos-related lung cancer will get compensation as a result of a 'landmark' insurance liability ruling . Thousands of relatives of industrial workers who died of an asbestos-related lung cancer will get compensation as a result of a 'landmark' insurance liability ruling yesterday by the UK's highest court. The Supreme Court decided that liability was 'triggered' when employees were exposed to asbestos dust - not when symptoms of mesothelioma emerged sometimes decades later. Solicitors said the ruling meant that victims were covered by policies in place when asbestos fibres were inhaled - and employers' insurers would have to meet compensation claims. Families said they hoped that the decision by a panel of five Supreme Court justices in London would end years of litigation and lead to speedy insurance payouts. Judges said industrial diseases which could lie dormant for long periods raised 'peculiar' legal difficulties - and liability for deaths caused by mesothelioma, a 'hideous' and 'inevitably fatal' cancer of lung linings, had 'pre-occupied' courts in recent years. Union bosses and victims' families criticised insurance firms who fought the case - saying they should have accepted responsibility and spent money given to lawyers on compensation. One insurance firm involved in litigation said it had wanted 'resolution' of the liability issue in order to 'provide greater certainty'. 'This is a landmark ruling which will affect thousands of victims of asbestos,' said Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union. 'It is a disgrace that insurance companies went to such lengths to shirk their responsibilities. For callous insurers this means the responsibility holiday is over.' Manchester-based solicitor Carol Ann Hepworth, whose firm John Pickering and Partners represents hundreds of victims' families, said she hoped that claims would be quickly met by employers' insurers. She estimated that some payouts could top £100,000.
|
Annette Bhatti also scrubbed his work uniform by hand over 40 years ago .
Her father, who survives her, is devastated by her death .
She was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2010 and died 18 months later .
|
f96aa5e090c9597288bdac3783c4bc5e256bd727
|
(The Frisky) -- Let's face it -- we've all got issues and sometimes need multiple attempts to surmount emotional obstacles. But some of us are better at dealing with them than others and, we argue, women are often better at working through emotional problems than men. The Frisky: 30 things every woman should quit doing by 30 . In the last few years of dating, we've come across 10 types of "emotionally stunted" guys -- adult men who may otherwise be awesome but for some reason never matured emotionally. These dudes are stuck in emotional "playpens" preventing them from forming healthy (and intimate) adult relationships and where the women in their lives are in the position of either pushing them around like toddlers in a baby carriage or screaming "Get up and walk on your own!" before heading out the door. Usually, emotional immaturity isn't obvious right away. In the first few weeks and months of dating, as our best selves are presented, we've found ourselves thinking, Finally, a guy who isn't emotionally stunted! He's a MAN -- not a man-CHILD! But at some point, the curtain is pulled back just like in the "Wizard of Oz" and, yup, his emotional issues are right there. The Frisky: 12 stars posing using hands as bras . Don't get us wrong: Women can be emotionally stunted too. But we have found that the emotionally stunted man-child will have one of two (immature) responses when the issue is brought to his attention: . 1. "Nuh uh! I'm not emotionally stunted! You're the one with the problem, meanie!" 2. "This is who I am and I like being this way. Take it or leave it!" To which we reply, "Smell ya later." And so should you. Here is our roundup of the top 10 types of emotionally stunted men (often seen in combination), the kind of women they're after, and what they need more than you coddling them a second longer. 1. The Addict: Oy. Where to begin. Here's the important thing to remember: The Addict will ALWAYS be looking for a high. ALWAYS. Even if he is sober from drugs/alcohol/gambling/food, if he hasn't done "the work," he may get hooked on you. The Frisky: 25 signs he is not relationship material . The woman he wants: Someone who gets him high. He's looking for a feeling. Maybe it's the married woman, his crush from high school he never thought he would get, or the ex he dumped years ago. It's all about the thrill for him. And once that thrill wears off ... he's jonesing for the next. What he really needs: To work through his co-dependency issues and learn how to cope with life on his own before involving anyone else. 2. The Mama's Boy: The most important relationship a guy can have is with his mother. That's why it's bad news if that relationship has gone wrong in some way. The Mama's Boy compares all women to his mother. Whether he hates her or is obsessed with her, he is blind to the fact that he is replaying his relationship with his mom with every woman he gets involved with. The Frisky: A dress made for Coco's assets . The woman he wants: Someone who is exactly like his mother or exactly the opposite, depending on the nature of the dysfunction. If his mom was coddling and overprotective, he may want you to change his diaper and wipe his nose. If his mother abandoned him, he may be looking for a clingy lady. If his mother expected him to be "the man of the family," he may be looking for a woman who is helpless and needs taking care of. You get the picture. What he really needs: To realize that you are NOT his mother. And, more importantly, to understand the relationship dynamic with his mother. If he has issues to work out with her, he needs to do it before he invites another woman into his life. The Frisky: 7 things guys say that spell trouble . 3. The Flounderer: He's unhappy in his career, either because he hasn't advanced as much as he thought he would have or it's not what he wants to be doing, period. The woman he wants: Someone to motivate him and stroke his ego all the time because he's not getting that kind of love in the workplace. What he really needs: To go after what he wants hard and on his own initiative instead of whining to you about it all the time . The Frisky: Joe Francis and 9 celeb players who settled down . 4. The Insecure Narcissist: Initially, this gentleman comes off as exceedingly confident -- he thinks he's the best at his job, takes good care of his appearance, and is often the life of the party. But he also cannot take a joke at his expense, overstates how successful he is, and is never happy for anyone who's doing "better" than him -- including the woman he's with. The woman he wants: Someone who won't ever challenge him or give him grief, even as a joke. If she does, he'll find her insecurities and go at them with a hacksaw, so she's brought down to his level, making him feel better about himself in comparison. What he really needs: To stop pretending like he's God's gift to the world and be OK being vulnerable, and realize that he's not fooling anyone with that act anyway. The Frisky: 8 celebs swindled by their own families . 5. The Career Obsessive: Here's the thing about dudes: They are not all that great at multi-tasking, but The Career Obsessive is the worst of the lot. His sole goal in life is to rise to the top and it's not until he gets there that he'll actually be emotionally available. The woman he wants: Someone who understands that being successful is the most important thing in the world -- so long as SHE is not more successful than him -- and will reward his hard work in the office with sexual favors at home whenever he's got a spare moment. The opposite of The Hero [see No. 6 below], he wants someone who does not need him emotionally at all. What he really needs: To realize that a fulfilling life is all about balance and an amazing career doesn't keep you warm at night. The Frisky: 10 famous female cheaters . 6. The Hero: He loves to date a basket case, a woman who's got many issues for him to help her overcome -- but that's only so he can avoid dealing with his own. Once she's more stable, the skeletons in his emotional closet emerge and he has to find someone new to save instead. The woman he wants: A woman who "needs" him and makes him feel strong, capable, manly, and, most of all, NOT CRAZY in comparison. What he really needs: To find a therapist who can hold up a mirror and show him that his own problems should take top priority. 7. The Tragic Tom: Tragedy has befallen him and he hasn't been able to recover. While being sympathetic to this guy's plight is understandable, trying to save him is a waste of time. The woman he wants: A woman who will see his gooey marshmallow center underneath that hardened edge and will exhaust herself trying to save him from himself. What he really needs: To gain perspective and to learn, on his own, that bad things happen to everyone in some form and the best you can do is move forward in your life with lessons learned. The Frisky: Why these celebrities decide to cheat . 8. The Commitment Phobe: This guy pretends to be happy on his own, living large as a bachelor, just like his hero George Clooney, but he's actually just terrified of letting a woman get to know the real him. The woman he wants: Someone who will never expect their relationship to evolve past the casually dating stage, who will never expect to meet his parents or even necessarily his friends, and won't want to talk about pesky things like feeeeelings. What he really needs: To face his insecurities head on, so he can figure out what he's so scared of showing to other people and to get over it. The Frisky: 12 celebs who've denied getting breast implants . 9. The Eternally Brokenhearted: He hasn't gotten over the chick who broke his heart and he holds what she did against every other woman he dates in subtle ways. The woman he wants: Someone who reinforces his anger at his ex by committing the same "sins" she did. That way he can punish her for his ex's actions. Unfortunately for both of them, he'll never be able to work through his anger completely with that kind of black-and-white attitude in which he's the sole victim. What he really needs: To find closure with the woman who "wronged him," but not necessarily through confrontation. Rather, he needs to look at the demise of the relationship objectively so he's forced to acknowledge his role and can move forward in a new relationship with no (or minimal) baggage. The Frisky: 8 celebs who were Hooters girls . 10. The Eeyore: Thanks for noticing him, the dull, pathetic, dude in the corner who is not actually dull and pathetic. He just has the worst attitude of all time. He's always whining about something. Every day is a bad day. Nothing ever works out for him. Everything seems completely impossible to The Eeyore, which makes being around him unbearable. The woman he wants: His own personal Pooh Bear. That special someone who will be his personal cheerleader and spend all of her time trying to get him to look on the bright side even though he is completely incapable of seeing life that way. What he really needs: To stop feeling sorry for himself and take responsibility for what happens in his life. The sooner he realizes that life is what you make it, the sooner he'll have some much-needed company in his bed. TM & © 2010 TMV, Inc. | All Rights Reserved .
|
Emotional immaturity usually isn't obvious right away .
"Emotionally stunted" guys are adult men who for some reason never matured emotionally .
A man needs to be secure with himself before he can be secure with someone else .
They range from Hero to Tragic Tom to Mamma's Boy to The Career Obsessive .
|
f96aaa69db8f7c26cfcdde2956ad6cf6fa3871fb
|
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The negotiations are over. The treaty has been signed. The skies across the Atlantic are now open for free movement of flights between European and U.S. cities. Now the battle commences between airlines as they prepare for their new-found commercial freedom when the Open Skies agreement comes into action in March 2008. The choice of transatlantic routes is set to increases with the advent of the Open Skies agreement. The main beneficiaries of increased competition between airlines are likely to be business travelers. And while they may not see a dramatic reduction in ticket prices, they can look forward to a greater choice of flights from a greater number of airlines as well as an increase in business-only services. Airlines with the strongest brands and best quality products are likely to lure passengers away from European rivals by launching flights from other major European cities. British Airways has confirmed it will launch its first transatlantic flights from continental European cities once the agreement comes into place next year. And while it is not ready to confirm branding, types of aircraft, or even final routes, a BA spokesperson said likely contenders for new transatlantic routes will be from business destinations such as Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels and Milan. She also confirmed that, contrary to expectations, these flights would not be exclusively business class. Though they will offer premium cabins for business customers. Virgin Atlantic is expecting to place a greater focus on its business customers and has established a team to work towards the launch of business-only flights in 2009. These will fly from airports such as Paris, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich and the airline is currently in discussion with Airbus and Boeing to place orders for between 10 and 15 aircraft. Virgin and BA are both confident they can entice customers away from European national carriers due to the strength of their brands and service offering. As Paul Charles, director of corporate communications at Virgin Atlantic says, "we are seen as a truly global brand and well-placed to compete with the quality of business services currently coming out of cities such as Paris and Milan." Open Skies will put an end to the exclusive arrangement granted to British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and American Airlines to fly transatlantic out of Heathrow. As a result, airlines including BMI, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines are all lined up to launch direct transatlantic flights from Heathrow from next year. But with the airport currently operating at almost-maximum capacity, it is likely that new flights will be limited. Airlines operating from other airports, in particular the new business-only players such as Eos, Silverjet and Maxje, will, however, see an opportunity to expand their own services across the Atlantic. Joshua Marks, executive vice president for planning and development at U.S. business-class airline, Maxjet, says it expects to "strengthen its position at Stansted" as a result of the Open Skies agreement. "With more flights moving from Gatwick to Heathrow, three major airports will become two in London." As such, he adds, Stansted could become the default airport for travelers coming from and to the east of the city. Now that the U.S. Department of Transport has given approval for Maxjet to launch flights from Stansted to other countries with open skies agreements with the U.S., business travelers in London should also be able to pick up Maxjet flights to destinations such as India. Maxjet has confirmed that it will not fight for slots at Heathrow, which Marks says has become an "operational nightmare." Yet, other premium-only services are not ruling out the move. Silverjet, currently operating out of Luton, has been in discussion with (un-named) airlines interested in striking deals to launch flights out of Heathrow. Opportunities have been offered for flights to U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, says Lawrence Hunt, Silverjet's chief executive. "This is an ongoing dialogue," he says. But before they make the move, they would need to see major changes to facilities at Heathrow in order for it to offer the "personalized, discreet and carefree" travel experience Silverjet offers customers from Luton. "Heathrow has become a zoo and the customer experience has become appalling," he says. Airline executives agree that growth in transatlantic flights as a result of the Open Skies agreement will be aimed at business customers. As Hunt says, airlines have little else to offer, or gain, in terms of economy long-haul seats. And as Charles at Virgin points out, given the success of the new business-only entrants and the simultaneous ongoing demand for its business class seats, "there's clearly a market out there for business-only flights." While there may be some softening of prices from Heathrow as airlines fight for slots, few expect prices for business travelers to drop dramatically as a result of the Open Skies agreement. As BA's spokesperson says, UK to North America is already a very competitive market. "It is not as if we are moving from a monopoly," she says. Despite this, there is still a great deal to offer business customers and those that will make the most of the opportunity, says Anthony Concil, spokesperson from IATA, will be the most innovative. "We have created a new playing field and it is up to players to make the most of that and for governments to take the agreement forward towards further liberalization." E-mail to a friend .
|
Open Skies agreement lifts restrictions on transatlantic air services .
British Airways and Virgin will launch flights from European capitals .
Business-only services set to expand across London airports .
|
f96ace7787d832733609ea840e7c702bd9ab2ca2
|
With talks deadlocked between the United States and Russia over plans to deploy a missile defense shield in Europe, a top Russian general raised the possibility of a possible pre-emptive strike against launch sites if a deal could not be reached. The warning by Gen. Nikolai Makarov followed the conclusion of the international Missile Defense Conference in Russia, where Russian officials lobbied against the missile shield. "Taking into account the destabilizing nature of the missile defense system and, in particular, creating an illusion of an unpunishable strike, the decision about a pre-emptive use of force will be made in a period of heightened tension," Makarov said. The Obama administration and its European allies have been trying to ease Russia's fears over the project by insisting that the system is directed toward countering the missile threat from the Middle East from which Russia also needs protection. Since NATO approved the U.S.-designed system at last year's summit , Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey have agreed to deploy parts of it. NATO asked Russia to participate in the system but negotiations have been deadlocked over Russia's demand for a legally binding treaty guaranteeing the shield would not be used as a deterrent to Moscow's own systems. During Thursday's conference, the U.S. special envoy for strategic stability and missile defense said there were discussions aimed at easing Russia's concern. "We discussed how the European missile defense system is designed and configured to counter ballistic missile threats from the Middle East, and we have made clear we have no intent or desire to undermine Russia's strategic deterrent," said Ellen Tauscher, the special envoy. But Marakov believes the defense shield would be able to take out Russian missiles. To drive the point home, Russia opened up one of its elite radar operations to conference attendees and showed a computer simulation of an attack against Europe and Russia. As part of the simulation, four missiles were launched from somewhere in the southern hemisphere and targeted three cities in Europe and one in Russia. When Russia launched a missile to intercept it, its missile was taken out by the European missile defense system. But the United States says the radar and interceptor missiles it plans to place in eastern Europe won't have the ability to shoot down Russian missiles. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow, who listened to Makarov's comments, told reporters he does not believe a missile defense system in Europe would not affect Russia. "I took careful note of the details that Gen. Makarov presented about their plans. But he did indicate that those steps would not be implemented until Russia was convinced that the threat, the so-called threat from our missile defense system was growing," he said. "So we have time to reassure Russia that there is no threat today and there'll be no threat tomorrow." Late last year, then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened to withdraw from the START treaty on nuclear weapons reductions and deploy ballistic missiles in its exclave of Kaliningrad on its border with Europe if NATO moved ahead with the plans for missile defense. Tensions increased in December when Russia's ambassador to NATO, suggested Moscow would close transit routes that send vital supplies to troops in Afghanistan. The deadlock over the missile defense shield has also proved problematic for leaders from both the United States and Russia. At a nuclear summit in South Korea, President Barack Obama could be heard asking Dmitry Medvedev for some "space" on the missile defense system in Europe, telling the Russian president he will have more "flexibility" after the November election. "This is my last election," Obama said. "After my election I have more flexibility." In response, Medvedev said he would pass on the information to the incoming prime minister and former president, Vladimir Putin. Republicans in the United States seized on the comment as an opportunity to criticize the president for politicizing foreign policy decisions. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly in recent years warned the U.S. and its European allies against deploying such a defense system, saying Russia would be forced to deploy its own countermeasures.
|
Russian Gen. Nikolai Makarov says a strike may be necessary in a period of tension .
Makarov makes the comments at the conclusion of a conference in Russia .
The United States and its allies are trying to ease Russian concerns about a defense shield .
Russia believes a missile defense system will be used as a deterrent to its systems .
|
f96b277c34076cc6483b299f0685dfd485cb3db7
|
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 11:12 EST, 20 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:26 EST, 20 February 2013 . Well-known for its Grand Pier, promenade and beaches, the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare has emerged as an unlikely capital for unhappily married couples. Some 2,447 divorce petitions were lodged in the coastal town of just 80,000 people last year - the second highest level of any city or town outside London - a total of 7.5 per cent of all adults. Birmingham topped the list with 2,799 couples applying for divorce in the year to October, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said, but by contrast it has a population of 1.1 million, more than twelve times as many people. Heartbreak hotel: The picturesque holiday town has an astonishingly high rate of divorce for a town of its size . Leicester County Court came third on the list of divorce applications with 1,831 petitions, followed by Romford County Court with 1,783 and Coventry Combined Court Centre with 1,766. The MoJ released the figures as it urged separating couples to use publicly-funded third-party mediators in a bid to avoid traumatic courtroom battles. It would not comment on why the town has such high divorce rates. Based on the latest information, there are 65,170 people over 16 , which means that a total of 7.5% of the entire adult population was embroiled in the breakdown of their marriage. Synonymous with images of donkey-rides, kiss-me-quick hats and helter-skelters, Weston boomed in the late 19th century into one of Victorian England's most popular resorts, but by the late 1960s was struggling to compete with overseas destinations. Separation: The town of 80,000 saw 2,447 divorce petitions lodged at its county court last year . The Somerset town hit headlines in 2008 when its Grand Pier burnt down, leading to a multi-million pound redevelopment which attracted 52,000 visitors when it reopened. The wettest summer on record last year reportedly saw trade for some hotel and restaurant owners fall by up to 60%, piling pressure on the town's tourism industry. The MoJ expects to spend £25million on mediation services this year, while it has changed the law so couples seeking a court order over child contact or a financial matter must attend a mediation assessment session first. Family justice minister Lord McNally said: 'All too often I hear stories of families going through expensive and traumatic court hearings but we know that when working out how to split assets and arrange time with the children, mediation is a far simpler and cheaper approach for everyone and leads to better outcomes.' Mediation services involve the use of an independent and qualified third-party to help couples divide their assets or arrange child contact without going to court.
|
Town of 80,000 has incredible amount of divorce applications .
Second only to Birmingham, a city of more than a million people .
7.5 per cent of adult population applied for divorce in 2011 .
Figures released by Ministry of Justice as it urges couple to try mediation .
|
f96b2a6653d33d49cf2bfbb209c11a242482f167
|
A British wine merchant has created the world's first insect and wine matching guide. As well as pairing Chardonnay to tarantulas, buyers at Laithwaite's Wine matched sparkling rose to barbecued locusts, sherry to giant waterbugs and Shiraz to sago worms. Traditional food in parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa, edible insects are now being touted as the new superfood due to their high protein content. Buyers at Laithwaite's Wine have created the world's first insect and wine matching guide . It's a pairing game: Ten of of Laithwaite's 1,500 wines were matched to popular edible insects . The buyers at the wine merchants paired ten of Laithwaite's 1,500 wines to popular bugs. 'We did our research on it and those are the bestselling edible insects,' a spokesperson from Leiths told MailOnline Food. The edible bugs were sourced from gourmet insect shops Crunchy Critters and Edible Uniques as well as from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. Bugs are fast becoming a fixture in upscale restaurants: The best restaurant in the world, Noma in Copenhagen serves its beef tartare with ants; Michelin-starred chef David Faure's alternative menu in his restaurant Aphrodite in France dishes up pate with a side of crickets and London's Archipelago has chocolate-covered locusts on offer. 'Insects have been the tradition in Mexican food since the Aztecs. They have been eaten in Mexico for hundreds of years,' Chef Benito Molina, of Manzanilla Restaurant, Mexico City said to MailOnline Food. 'I think the most important thing that people have to understand is that insects are a very sustainable protein source.' A growing appetite for bugs: Two billion people worldwide supplement their daily diet with high protein bugs . Mealworms, which have a nutty taste and crunchy texture, are matched with with a crisp Clare Valley Viognier . Beth Willard, Wine Buyer at Laithwaite's said: 'On average each buyer will try over 10,000 bottles of wine a year across the world, but we never envisaged making our final selection with insects in mind. There's clearly a growing appetite for them.' 'When you consider that many of the words used to describe the aroma of wine – earthy, grassy, floral – can also be used to describe the bugs' habitats, it's no surprise that wine can really complement the distinctive tastes of insects. The word 'full bodied' will never be the same!' A recent UN report identified edible insects as a sustainable food source for the future. Figures indicate two billion people worldwide already supplement their diet with them. Asian Forest Scorpion - Scorpions have a strong, bitter flavor and are normally eaten with sweet chili sauce. Paris Street Rose is full of rich sweet fruit made from full bodied Transylvanian Pinot Noir, so it will have enough body to cut through the combination of flavours. Mealworms - Match their nutty taste and light, crunchy texture with a crisp Clare Valley Viognier wine that has just the right combination of fruit and richness. Zebra Tarantula - Tarantulas are normally eaten deep fried, so think similar to fish and chips. A lively full bodied Chardonnay will stand up to the complex fishy flavours of the tarantula. Sago Worms - These worms have a distinct taste a bit similar to bacon so you need a big meaty red with loads of punch to match that savoury flavour. McLaren Vale Shiraz is fresh with loads of red fruit and spice . BBQ Locusts - Locusts taste a bit like an exotic bar snack and with the BBQ flavour you'll need a wine with a hint of sweetness. The Hacienda de Lluna Moscatel is a gorgeous lightly bubbly pink that works well as an aperitif. Chocolate dipped locusts - These locusts are essentially a savory dish as they taste a bit like sunflower seeds, but also have the sweetness from the chocolate. A rich robust wine with loads of sweet fruit will stand up to these flavours. Giant Waterbugs - The meat inside the water bug's body tastes a bit similar to a sweet scallop, while the head has hints of anise, so you'll need to find a wine that can match well with seafood and stronger flavours. A dry sherry, and a Fino at that, is the only choice here. The crisp citrus and nutty flavours will complement their complex flavours. Queen Weaver Ants - Their slightly sour and crunchy tastes like a lemon. They would go well with an aromatic white with pretty fruit and floral notes. A Gewürztraminer provides the perfect balance to crunchy textures. Asian Forest Scorpion - Scorpions have a strong, bitter flavor and are normally eaten with sweet chili sauce. Paris Street Rose is full of rich sweet fruit made from full bodied Transylvanian Pinot Noir, so it will have enough body to cut through the combination of sweet and sour. Crickets - The flavours are much harder to distinguish in crickets and so they are often prepared with garlic and salt. Nevertheless the nutty flavor that comes through means a perfect fit is a rich full-bodied white wine like Albariño. Garlic Chapulines - Have an earthy and grassy flavour and a very crunchy texture, therefore we recommend a creamy dry Champagne that will match well with the earthy flavours (similar to matching with mushrooms) and crunch.
|
Laithwaite's Wine lists ten bugs and the wines to drink with them .
Edible insects touted as new superfood due to high protein content .
Two billion people worldwide already supplement their diet with bugs .
|
f96b2f230d779afa5ae5487f775710519179b7ec
|
Jimmy Case believes Liverpool would have been Premier League champions last season had Jamie Carragher not retired. Brendan Rodgers' side finished just two points adrift of champions Manchester City after slipping up towards the end of the season. And Liverpool legend Case, who was part of the successful team of the 1970s, is adamant defender and Sportsmail columnist Carragher would have made the difference. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Archive: Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville feature in new season promo . Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher retired from football at the end of the 2012-2013 season . Carragher applauds the supporters after his last Merseyside derby for Liverpool in May 2013 . Jimmy Case (right) pictured with Emlyn Hughes during the pair's time together at Liverpool . The 60-year-old even insists that Chelsea would not have scored after Steven Gerrard's crucial slip during the 2-0 defeat by the Stamford Bridge club. Case adds that the presence of Carragher, who retired at the end of the 2012-2013 season, would have prevented them squandering a three-goal to draw 3-3 at Crystal Palace. The former Liverpool midfielder told theDaily Mirror: 'If Carragher had stayed on for one more season, Liverpool would have won it. He would not have played every game, but the way they lost it against Chelsea and Crystal Palace would not have happened. Steven Gerrard looks dejected after his slip led to Demba Ba scoring for Chelsea against Liverpool in April . Liverpool players cannot hide their disappointment after squandering a three-goal lead against Crystal Palace . 'Steven Gerrard might still have slipped against Chelsea, but he would not have been the last man. Carragher would have been covering him and Demba Ba would not have galloped away to score. 'And those three goals in the last 10 minutes at Palace - I know, for a fact, that wouldn't have happened if Jamie had been there to nip it in the bud when the first goal went in. 'He would have organised it and pulled down the shutters.'
|
Jimmy Case believes Liverpool would have won the Premier League title if Jamie Carragher had not retired .
Defender Carragher hung up his boots at the end of the 2012-2013 season .
Case was part of the successful Liverpool team of the 1970s .
|
f96b5d4b27387bc66d2d2f356a907e0f41f10f73
|
By . Eleanor Harding . PUBLISHED: . 08:37 EST, 7 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:44 EST, 7 August 2013 . On trial: Andrew and Lesley Reeve outside Teesside Crown Court where they accused of stealing more than £100,000 from her godmother . A couple stole the life savings of an elderly godmother to buy a new car and build a gym and wet room for their home, a court heard. Lesley Reeve and her husband Andrew are said to have pilfered more than £100,000 from 91-year-old Joan Killen to fund their lavish home improvements. The pensioner, who is Mrs Reeve’s godmother, was left with no money to pay her own bills, Teesside Crown Court heard. The pair, from Hartlepool, took over Mrs Killen’s finances when the spinster was taken into a care home in 2009 with dementia. They are accused of milking her bank account dry and cashing in her benefits for themselves. Prosecutor Matthew Bean told the court how Mrs Killen was left without pocket money while her goddaughter, 56, and Mr Reeve, 55, spent her savings within just two years. More than £11,000 went on paying off Mrs Reeve’s credit card bill while the couple also bought a car, revamped their £220,000 detached home and added new furniture. When they were arrested last year, they claimed the garage conversion on the four-bedroom property was being carried out so that the pensioner could move in with them when she recovered. But a planning application submitted to the council detailed installing a gym and a wet room – and made no mention of a bedroom. Opening the case, barrister Mr Bean told the jury: ‘The prosecution say that this money was taken from her account in order for them to spend it on themselves. 'The prosecution say the money was used to pay for the conversion at their house . . . and also used by the defendants to buy a car, furnishings and electrical equipment. ‘We ask you to look at this woman’s mental health. Building work: The property where the Reeves proposed the garage conversion would be carried out. However a planning application was said to have detailed installing a gym and a wet-room - and made no mention of a bedroom for a pensioner . ‘It shows she was vulnerable and suffering from a gradual deterioration in her capacity due to the onset of dementia. ‘The prosecution say both defendants must have been well aware of this and decided to take advantage of her vulnerability by taking and spending her life savings.’ The court heard that Mrs Killen had ‘substantial’ savings of more than £130,000 in January 2009, but within two years there was just over £3,000 left in her accounts. Council officials launched an investigation after realising the care home resident was often left without pocket money and did not have enough to meet her bills. Mr Reeve twice ignored letters to provide detailed bank statements, said Mr Bean, because he knew there was little left and the discovery of that could lead to police involvement. Soon after, small amounts of money were transferred back into the pensioner’s accounts in a cynical attempt to hide the thefts, the prosecutor said. 'Taking advantage': There was regular spending by the couple at Next (left), Marks & Spencer (right, both file pictures) and Argos, funded by Miss Killen, the court was told . Case: The couple are accused at Teesside Crown Court (pictured) of stealing almost £95,000 from Joan Killen's savings after Mr Reeve became a co-signatory for her accounts when her mental health began to deteriorate . After their arrests, the couple denied acting dishonestly and claimed they had been given permission by the woman to spend the money. Mr Bean said their victim had no close relatives visiting her and although her goddaughter was not a blood relative, she and her husband were in line to inherit almost all of her possessions anyway. But he told the jury it was ‘no coincidence’ that transfers back into the godmother’s account began only after the Reeves were told of the council investigation. The court also heard that within weeks of the woman being taken into temporary care, her home was stripped of a stairlift and warden alarms despite Mr Reeve being told she may return. The house was then let by the couple who had the rent and payment for utility bills paid directly into their accounts along with the elderly woman’s pension and winter fuel allowance. The Reeves deny four joint charges of theft. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
|
Lesley, 56, and Andrew Reeve, 55, 'took advantage of her dementia'
Stole £100,000 and almost wiped out her life savings, court is told .
Hartlepool couple deny four theft counts at Teesside Crown Court .
|
f96b70af5fb34944b2bb3fd516b3965964653fca
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A model boat built by school children and launched off the coast of New Jersey in America survived an epic 14 months at sea before landing 3,000 miles away - in Guernsey. The 5ft vessel was constructed by pupils aged 11 and 12 for a class project on tides and released into the Atlantic in December 2012. The youngsters attached a photo of themselves and installed a tracking device so they could follow its progress across the ocean. Epic voyage: Paris Broe-Bougourd with the small boat named Crimson Tide which was launched in New Jersey in December 2012 before finding its way to Guernsey . Their vessel, the Crimson Tide, spent more than year zig-zagging across the ocean before landing on the Channel Island of Guernsey. Boater Paris Broe-Bougourd, 27, fished it out of the swell and spotted the yellowing photograph of the children from New Jersey's Morris Town-Beard High School. The school's contact details were also etched on to the boat so Paris was able to ring them this week to say he'd found it. Long way round: A tracking device attached to the boat was able to chart its route as it zig-zagged its way across the Atlantic . Boat builders: A picture attached to the tiny vessel shows the pupils aged 11 and 12 from Morristown-Beard school in New Jersey who constructed it . The GPS tracker had remained undamaged throughout the remarkable Atlantic crossing, allowing her excited pupils to watch its journey via a website . The hull was covered in barnacles, the mast had snapped and a waterproof capsule containing t-shirts and trinkets had been swept away - but the sturdy craft was still intact. Paris said: 'My friend, Luke Bentley, spotted it in the water. He thought it was debris I feel really good for finding it, it's something different - like a revolutionised message in a bottle. 'I am a carpenter by trade and will fix it up ASAP and as soon as the weather is calm will take it out and launch it. 'One of the students was also called Paris. It really is a one-in-a-million find.' As part of the project all the students involved signed their names on the vessel which was discovered covered in barnacles . Guernsey boater Paris Broe-Bougourd, 27, fished the minitaure craft out of the water after spotting the yellowing photograph of the children . Finder Paris Broe-Bougourd, 27, with the little boat named The Crimson Tide, which he said he was delighted to have found . The boat project was devised by US geography teacher Lisa Swanson as a novel way to study the effects of tides and the Gulf Stream. The GPS tracker had remained undamaged throughout the remarkable Atlantic crossing, allowing her excited pupils to watch its journey via a website. Ms Swanson said: 'My students were hoping to make a connection with other students. We were studying tides and launched it into the Gulf Stream. 'It has been out there so long. It has been everywhere. The students will be very excited to hear it has made it.'
|
5ft vessel constructed by children in New Jersey for a project on tides .
They attached a photo of themselves and installed a GPS tracking device .
The pupils had been able to monitor its progress on a special website .
It zig-zagged across the ocean after being launched into the Gulf Stream .
The finder, who is a carpenter, has pledged to fix it up and relaunch it .
|
f96c12c4648fff8b2129ded6ff38314e5a1bcaed
|
By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 08:07 EST, 31 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:00 EST, 1 June 2012 . Jailed: Patrick Besiris, 21, who was caught on CCTV hurling rocks at police officers during disorder in Bristol on the day of the Royal wedding . A university graduate has been jailed for 14 months for throwing rocks at police during an anti-Tesco riot. Patrick Besiris, 21, was part of a 200-strong crowd of protesters who attacked officers patrolling a rally against the supermarket chain. The former politics student was filmed on CCTV hurling large stones near a controversial new store. Despite the charges against him, Besiris was allowed to complete his studies and achieved a first class honours degree. But the now highly-qualified defendant has been sent to prison for his role in the Bristol riot. Judge Michael Roach told him: ‘Your behaviour on the night in question was disgraceful. It is obvious that sort of behaviour must attract a custodial sentence.’ Besiris was filmed rioting wearing a mask and throwing missiles in the early hours of April 29 last year, the day of the Royal Wedding. The anti-Tesco protest had drawn a 200-strong crowd to a squat known as Telepathic Heights, opposite the store, and Besiris had written on Twitter that he was ‘looking forward’ to the gathering. He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder. His lawyer, Srikantharajah Nereshraaj, said Besiris wished to apologise to the police and community. He said: ‘It was inexcusable and unjustifiable. He saw the CCTV and was ashamed and appalled.’ Mr Nereshraaj said his client had overcome the behavioural condition ADHD and an inherited bi-polar disorder to obtain good qualifications. Caught on camera: Besiris, who graduated with a first class Politics degree, can be seen (centre) hurling rocks at riot police . Rock attack: The student pelts police during the riot in Stoke Crofts, Bristol, in the early hours of the day of the Royal Wedding last year . Disorder: The student admitted pelting police officers with rocks and was yesterday jailed for 14 months at Bristol Crown Court . He had been voted chairman of his . campus, played rugby for his university, UWE Bristol, and his local club . and had been involved with a social group which raised money for good . causes, including bereaved students. Afterwards John Rushforth, UWE Bristol . deputy vice-chancellor, added: ‘The university, whilst upholding . students’ rights to peaceful protest, does not in any way condone . violence. There is a university disciplinary process, which can result . in a range of outcomes including withholding of degree.’ Detective Chief Inspector Will White, . who investigated the protest and subsequent riots in Bristol last . August, said that anyone with plans to bring disorder to the city could . expect a ‘robust’ response. He said: ‘We will not tolerate . disorder of any kind that jeopardises public safety and the safety of . police officers carrying out their work. ‘Anyone that engages in this type of behaviour should expect to be placed before the courts and dealt with in a robust manner.’ He added: ‘The sentences handed out by . the courts and the swift justice that has been administered should . demonstrate our commitment to keeping Bristol a safe place to live and . work.’ Carnage: Hundreds of protesters took to the streets on April 29 last year in Bristol . Destruction: Broken windows and graffiti at the Tesco store the morning after the riot . Aftermath: The riot was brought under control at around 4am. Three people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and another person on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage with intent to endanger life .
|
Police officers backed away in fear for their lives as Patrick Besiris, 21, pelted them with rocks .
The graduate was jailed for 14 months for his role in the disorder .
A 200-strong mob gathered opposite a Tesco store in Bristol, Avon, in a protest that turned violent .
|
f96c44d44c0eaf2d95a88870acd86ef6bd684ea3
|
By . Laura Collins . PUBLISHED: . 13:19 EST, 29 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:13 EST, 29 April 2013 . Deadliest Catch star Captain Phil Harris insisted the cameras rolled as he lay dying, his sons reveal in a new book. For seven years the crab fisherman’s public life of peril and brutality on the Bering Sea consistently drew audiences of 3million. Now, in an excoriating expose of their father Josh, 38, and Jake Harris, 27, show the private reality of a man who could be ‘as explosive as the seas he sailed on.’ Scroll down for video . A different breed: Captain Phil Harris, centre, and sons Jake, left, and Josh, right, on board crabber Cornelia Marie . Phil with his father, Grant, a man who tried his best but proved 'incapable of raising a kid' following his wife's death. Instead he reared a worker . A faithless husband and feckless father, riddled with addictions, Harris is shown to be a man unable to conquer his own demons and exploited at the very end. The crew continued to film as Harris underwent emergency brain surgery during which his skull was removed leaving part of his head concave: they were present as he went into cardiac arrest and had his chest split open as doctors carried out heart massage. Only after, in the editing suite, were the scenes deemed too gruesome for air cut out. Eight and a half million viewers tuned into watch when Harris’s death aired, looking back Discovery producer Thom Beers admits: ‘I can’t deny there was a degree of exploitation.’ Mary as she was when Phil fell for her - an exotic dancer at nightclub, Goodtime Charley's, wearing a gold nugget necklace given to her by her soon-to-be husband . But they were never going to let the Deadliest Catch just slip away. It had proved the unexpected hit of the Discovery Channel when it first aired in 2005, drawing an audience of 4 million without any promotion. The episode showing Harris’s death was the third highest rated airing of any show in the network’s history. It had been a lucky spot having only ever been intended as a twelve-minute segment in a two-hour special, ‘Extreme Alaska.' And the phenomenal success was down to Harris – a different breed of man, according to show producer Beers. He was a man with the deadliest job in the world and the deadliest lifestyle. In short, a man who lived high on borrowed time. Harris suffered a massive stroke while offloading crab in port at Saint Paul Island, Alaska, on 29 January 2010. He survived another month before dying in hospital of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 53. Both Josh and Jake Harris fished with their father on the ‘Cornelia Marie.’ It was Josh who discovered his father following his stroke aboard the boat that made him famous. The once powerful man was contorted and twisted on the floor of his cabin, trapped under a hundred pound bench that had been bolted to the wall by the side of his bed. His last act of strength had been to rip that bench from its place. The man who had prided himself on his physical prowess after a lifetime spent at sea, in conditions few could endure, was paralysed down his left side. As he was strapped to a backboard and winched form his boat to the hospital bed that would prove his deathbed, producer Thom Beer now admits he faced a moral and professional dilemma. 'Our cameras were there when they opened up his skull...Oh my God, it was so tough,' Deadliest Catch producer, Thom Beers . His film crew had spent several years with Harris, chronicling his exploits for the Deadliest Catch. The millions of followers would want to be with the man they had come to know and even admire. But, as Beers reflects: ‘We weren’t just interlopers who were going to walk in and say, “Hey you’re dying. Can we film it?”’ In the end it was Harris himself who took control, the last time he would do so. While the producers spoke with his sons and agonised over what to do and the star of the hit show lay dying, Harris gestured for paper and pen. He couldn’t speak but he could write and so he did: ‘You’ve got to finish the story,’ he wrote. ‘It needs an ending.’ Lovers: Phil and Mary in the early days of the affair that led to the turbulent marriage that produced sons Jake and Josh . Feckless: Phil with infant son Josh but fatherhood could not curb his addictions to drink, drugs, gambling and women . That ending was his own. As medics performed surgery the prolonged Harris's life by a few weeks, Beers recalls: 'Our cameras were there when they opened up his skull. Oh my God, it was so tough.' Harris’s story began five decades earlier. He was raised by his father, Grant a stoic fisherman from Seattle, after his mother died of skin cancer. She was just 27, her son only eight. As Harris’s own son, Jake, reflects: ‘My grandpa didn’t know how to raise a kid. So he raised a worker.’ Harris was working on his father’s boat while his peers played ball and were cossetted at home. Grant Harris tried to be a good father according to his grandsons Josh and Jake. Stepmommy Dearest: Phil's second wife Teresa whom sons Josh and Jake knew simply as 'Satan' But with his wife dead and the need to hold down several jobs to provide for his son, Harris had plenty of opportunity to run wild. And he did. Harris was voted Least Likely to Succeed on graduation from High School and seemed determined to fulfil that destiny for much of his early teens. He left home at 15. He tore around town on his motorbike, got into trouble with the law, drank, smoked, partied and finally, for want of anything else to do, returned to the only the thing her knew, working for free on board a crabber. His job was to clean bait and his nickname was ‘Dirt’ because of his lack of personal hygiene. Still, Harris proved himself a worthy crew member and with status and catches came money. With money came vices or at least, for Harris, the funds to indulge them. Much of this biography reads more like that of a rock star than a fisherman from Bothell, WA. At times it is all more redolent of Rolling Stone, Keith Harris than crabber Captain Phil. According to Josh: ‘My dad once told me that when he was a young crab fisherman, he’d get a big fat pay check, buy huge amounts of cocaine…rent the penthouse of a nice hotel, and rotate the girls in and out. ‘That’s how he lived his life for a long time. He’d get a check for $80,000 but after three weeks it was gone.’ He admits: ‘Pharmaceutical quality Peruvian flake cocaine and high-grade strains of cannabis were the way Phil rolled.’ One of the last images taken of Phil: a man who lived high on borrowed time . Addicted to speed: Phil with NASCAR driver David Reutimann, left, at Phoenix International Raceway in November 2008, loved fast cars, fast bikes and loose women all his life . Harris was a prodigious gambler who . could go through $300 of chips in three seconds. He fell madly in love . with first wife Mary – an unhappily married, mother of two working as a . dancer in a grotty club when they met – but neither she nor the birth of . their own children could keep him on the straight and narrow. Though he went for periods relatively sober and apparently faithful to Mary, their nine year marriage was characterised by a cruel mutual infidelity – a tit for tat game in which there could be no true winner. Drunk and high he once rode his Harley Davidson straight into the front room of the couple’s home. He crashed cars and he wrecked marriages – his own and those of others. Legend: Harris could 'pound a gallon of vodka,' without drawing breath . This was a man who could ‘pound down a gallon of vodka without taking a breath,’ before breakfast. Years at sea in the company of Russian sailors had given him an insatiable taste for Stolichnaya vodka. In 1991 after nine years of marriage and 14 years together Mary and Harris divorced. He fought for custody of their sons and, remarkably, won. Two years later he remarried. Jake and Josh make no secret of the contempt in which they held their stepmother, Teresa. In a shocking section of the book Josh describes her as ‘an evil creature,’ and admits that he and his brother referred to her as ‘Satan.’ They claim that she beat them and drove their father to depression. The couple divorced in 2003 after ten years of marriage and when Teresa died of a heart attack in 2011 Josh state: ‘I didn’t feel bad. She was one of the meanest people I ever met.’ Shortly before his death Harris asked his first wife, Mary, to marry him again. She turned him down, telling him he was a much better friend than a husband. Truth be known the man who emerges from the pages of this book seems a much easier person to watch than to know. He was wore his vices like virtues and remained an unreformed, unapologetic addict and wild man to the end. CAPTAIN PHIL HARRIS: The Legendary Crab Fisherman, Our Hero, Our Dad ($25.00) by Josh Harris and Jake Harris with Steve Springer and Blake Chavez is published by Simon & Schuster and available now at all good bookshops or on Amazon.com .
|
Josh and Jake Harris have penned the brutally frank account of their father's life and death .
Mounds of cocaine, potent strains of cannabis and 'gallons' of Stoli vodka .
Tens of thousands of dollars gambled away while on shore .
A stepmother nicknamed 'Satan'
The life of fast bikes, fast cars and loose women that killed him .
|
f96c95377f27eb1a3577e29564ab964b0de99851
|
By . Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 11:03 EST, 31 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:59 EST, 3 September 2012 . A Mexican street dance is putting a spring back in the step of British dementia patients. Twice-weekly sessions of Danzón, Latin ballroom-style dance, improved the mood and behaviour of care home residents. Processing and practising the simple-to-follow steps, enjoying the music and having fun with others also reduced apathy and agitation, both of which are usually treated with powerful drugs. People dance Danzon in the main square of Oaxaca, Mexico. Doing the steps improved the mood of care home residents in the UK . Researcher Guzmán García, who knew the dance from growing up in Mexico, said: ‘I found that these dance classes helped calm agitation and improved mood and quality of life for people with dementia. ‘There are also obvious advantages in terms of physical fitness. ‘I witnessed the joy people got from taking part in the dancing and for residents who were watching, the laughter and happy memories it generated.’ Danzón originated in England in the 17th century and was popular in Jane Austin’s era before becoming fashionable in France, Haiti and, finally, Latin America. It is still popular in Mexico today, with older adults in particular enjoying impromptu dance sessions on the streets. Staff at the Rosewood Villa Residential Home in Newcastle, said that the patients found the 30-minute sessions mentally stimulating and quickly became immersed in the activity. The classes, which formed part of Dr García’s PhD at Newcastle University, were so successful that carers now sometimes use a ‘little Danzón in the corridor’ to help patients unwind. Staff at the Rosewood Villa Residential Home in Newcastle said residents found the dance mentally stimulating . Mary Watson, the home’s owner, said: ‘We could see how much people enjoyed the dancing and it brought back some lovely memories which they were able to share with us of when they were younger. ‘We found that the men wanted to join in with the dancing and this is important to us as it can be harder to find activities that they want to take part in. ‘On the days when the dancing was on, the men made an effort to dress smartly and told us how they were looking forward to it which was really nice.’ Resident Hilda Dumbarton, 92 said: ‘I enjoy everything about the dancing.‘I was the youngest of a large family and most of us danced. I love dancing - I met my husband dancing and he was very good - it brings back happy memories.’ Dr Ian James, who supervised the study published in the journal Dementia, said: ‘The Danzón activity was enjoyed by both the residents and staff and improved the communication between the two groups. ‘Reductions in residents’ agitation and apathy were also seen, which is noteworthy because often these conditions are treated with medications known to have highly problematic side-effects.’ Dr García said: ‘I would encourage all care homes to consider structured and regular dance sessions because of the benefits it brings in terms of behaviour and social interaction which means it can be considered positive for dementia care.’
|
Danzón originated in England in the 17th century and is still popular in Mexico today .
Care home residents who tried out the dance were less anxious and apathetic .
|
f96c99fb4ef1bc654bd328f0fcbaf495862ddf42
|
By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 07:05 EST, 1 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 1 August 2012 . She's more frequently seen sporting airtex T-shirts, sensible skirts, crisp white caps and comfortable trainers. And she's been wearing that outfit every day on the golfing green since she was just four years old. But America's young female golfing sensation Michelle Wie swapped her usual attire for a stunning Matthew Williamson gown at an Olympics party at London's Omega House last night. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Then and now: A thirteen-year-old Wie takes a shot on the green, left, then changes (a decade later) into an elegant Matthew Williamson gown for last night's Olympic party in London . Attending the party with fellow golfer Jeehae Lee, from South Korea, 22-year-old Wie looked sensational in the embellished red and nude floor-length sleeveless dress, which featured elaborate asymmetrical detail, a high neckline and a racy, thigh-high slit. The golfer - who has played the sport in her native Hawaii since she was just four years old, and became the youngest player ever to qualify for a United States Golf Association (USGA) amateur championship aged 10 - excitedly tweeted about her evening at Omega House. Posting photos of herself and Lee on the social networking site, Wie wrote: 'This is inside one of the rooms at the house. @jeehaeda and I matching colors. Ha. How do we look?' She also remarked: 'Another amazing night @omegawatches house in Soho. #London2012 I wore the most beautiful dress by Matthew Williamson.' Wie in Williamson: The golfing sensation tweeted about how thrilled she was to be wearing 'the most beautiful Matthew Williamson dress' at last night's event . 'The most beautiful dress': Michelle Wie excitedly tweeted about her Matthw Williamson dress . Girls on the town: Golfing greats Michelle Wie and South Korea's Jeehae Lee out on the town in London . The recent Stanford graduate (Wie finished her degree in March, majoring in communications) proved she has grown into quite the beauty since she was a golfing prodigy of just 14, known around the world as the 'female Tiger Woods'. The only child of South Korean parents who settled in America in the 1980s, Wie was born in Honolulu in 1989 and has only United States citizenship. The golfer obviously inherited her mother's genes: Bo Wie was not only South Korea's women's amateur golf champion in 1985-6, but also competed in a Miss Korea pageant. Michelle Wie began playing golf at the age of four and at the age of 11 won both the Hawaii State Women’s Stroke Play Championship and the Jennie K. Wilson Women’s Invitational, the oldest and most prestigious women’s amateur tournament in Hawaii. She became a professional golfer at the age of 15 and signed sponsorship contracts with Nike . and Sony reportedly worth more than $10m per year. Bright spark: Hawaii's Michelle Wie, aged just 12, taking a swing on her natural battle ground, the golfing green . Though their sport is not currently . an Olympic even, the pair are in London supporting their country's . athletes and getting an idea of what the Olympics is all about, since . golf is due to be reinstated at the 2016 games in Brazil. Wie and her South Korean golfing . friend Lee were at Omega House on Greek Street in Soho, the watchmaker’s . official residence during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Lee also tweeted a . photograph the day before of the pair before a party inside Tower . Bridge, saying: 'Dinner at the tower bridge with @themichellewie and @omegawatches And we are literally IN the tower bridge.' Historically, golf did featured in . the Summer Olympic Games official programme in 1900 and 1904, and in . 2009 the IOC decided to bring the event back. The event will feature professional golfers, many of whom have expressed interest in being allowed to compete in the games. Crack shot: Michelle Wie practices teeing off during a practice round ahead of the Women's British Open golf tournament in Scotland, 2007 . Get the look: Professional golfer is more usually photographed wearing sensible golfing gear .
|
Now 22, America's 'female Tiger Woods' has played golf since she was four .
Became pro-golfer at 15 .
|
f96d55e2d061fc73304125a512231c559b6fa930
|
Last week, the Anti-Defamation League issued a warning: The Passover holiday was coming up Monday. So was Adolf Hitler's birthday next Sunday -- two events that could coincide with the increased possibility of violent attacks against Jewish community centers. On Sunday, that dire prediction came true. A 73-year-old Missouri man with a long resume of anti-Semitism and white supremacist activism is accused of opening fire outside two Jewish centers in the Kansas City area. Police say Frazier Glenn Cross killed a 14-year-old boy and his grandfather in the parking lot of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City in Overland Park, and a 53-year-old woman in the parking lot of the nearby Village Shalom Retirement Community, also in Overland Park. While authorities haven't disclosed any suspected motive, Cross -- who also goes by Frazier Glenn Miller -- has been active in the white supremacy movement since the 1970s. But after cooperating with federal authorities following an arrest in the mid-1980s, he became an outcast among much of that community, the ADL said. The group described Cross -- referring to him by his pseudonym of Miller -- as "a perennial but peripheral figure" in the movement in recent years. Attempts at launching white supremacist publications flopped, and the votes he received in a 2010 write-in bid for U.S. Senate failed to break the double-digit mark. 3 dead in separate shootings . Sunday's attacks come at a time when anti-Semitic incidents in the United States are at their lowest level in decades. In an audit released this month, the ADL reported 751 incidents in 2013, down 19% from the previous year. But while the number of total incidents dropped, there was a significant increase in violent anti-Semitic assaults in 2013. The ADL audit recorded 31 anti-Semitic assaults on Jewish people or those perceived as Jewish in 2013, up from 17 in 2012. "The high number of violent in-your-face assaults," said ADL National Director Abraham Foxman, "is a sobering reminder that, despite the overall decline in anti-Semitic incidents, there is still a subset of Americans who are deeply infected with anti-Semitism and who feel emboldened enough to act out their bigotry." And Cross was "among the most-over-the-top, violent white supremacists" of the 1980s, said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino. "He was one of the pioneers in the modern hate world," he said. "He's been entrenched in the hate movement his entire adult life." Cross obtained the guns allegedly used in the shootings from a straw buyer -- a person with a clean background check who buys firearms on another person's behalf, a U.S. law enforcement official said Monday. Views shaped early . A Green Beret who served 20 years in the Army, including two tours in Vietnam, Cross has racist views that were shaped early in life, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups. The SPLC, like the ADL, referred to Cross by his pseudonym of Miller. His father gave him a copy of a newspaper published by the National States' Rights Party, and within two minutes, he said he knew he'd found a home in the movement. Who were the victims? In the early 1980s, he founded and ran the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. But instead of the traditional white robe of the Klan, he preferred fatigues and recruited active-duty soldiers as members. According to the ADL, which released a summary of its files on Cross/Miller on Monday, the group "drew notoriety for its paramilitary training exercises" and was behind several attacks on African-Americans during that era. Cross himself "was one of the more notorious white supremacists in the U.S." The SPLC sued him for operating an illegal paramilitary organization and for intimidating African-Americans. The two sides settled, with the Knights barred from operating. But a month later, Cross resurfaced with an offshoot: the White Patriot Party. A kill list? In 1986, a Marine admitted selling the group anti-tank rockets, mines and explosives, according to the SPLC. Because he founded another paramilitary group when a court forbade him to do so, Cross was found in criminal contempt and sentenced to six months in prison. He appealed, and then bolted. While underground, he sent supporters a kill list, to which he had assigned a point system, according to the SPLC: Blacks (1 point); "White race traitors" (10); Jews (10); judges (50); SPLC founder Morris Dees (888). The FBI caught up with him in Missouri, where they tear-gassed him out of a mobile home. Inside, they found a cache of weapons. Cooperating with the feds . He served three years in federal prison on weapons charges and for plotting robberies and the assassination of Dees. The short sentence was a result of a plea bargain he struck with federal prosecutors. In exchange, he testified against 14 white supremacists in a sedition trial in Arkansas in 1988. "He was reviled in white supremacist circles as a 'race traitor' and, for a while, kept a low profile," according to an SPLC profile of him. "Now he's making a comeback with The Aryan Alternative, a racist tabloid he's been printing since 2005." According to the ADL, the tabloid folded after two issues. But because both had large press runs, the copies were passed around for years. Prolific poster . The SPLC calls Cross "a raging anti-Semite" who has posted more than 12,000 times on the Vanguard News Network, an anti-Semitic, white supremacist website. Its slogan: "No Jews. Just Right." He has called Jews "swarthy, hairy, bow-legged, beady-eyed, parasitic midgets." He ran for office multiple times, including a run for U.S. House and Senate seats. His 2010 campaign for the Senate was "It's the Jews, Stupid." According to the SPLC, he received seven votes. Racism meets religion . According to Cross' 1999 autobiography, he is an adherent of Odinism, a neo-pagan religion that experts say has become one of the most vicious strains in the white supremacist movement. "I'd love to see North America's 100 million Aryan Christians convert to the religion invented by their own race and practiced for a thousand generations before the Jews thought up Christianity," he wrote, describing Odinism as "the religion for a strong heroic people." In his autobiography, "A White Man Speaks Out," Cross wrote that he had prayed to the Norse god Odin to spark a race war in the United States. Though Odinism has been appropriated by white racists, most adherents are peaceful, earth-loving pagans, said Jonathan White, an expert on white supremacists and a professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan . 'Not a fringe character' On Saturday, Cross left for a casino in Missouri. His wife told the SPLC that he called about 10:30 Sunday morning to tell her his winnings were up and all was well. She didn't hear from him after that. The shootings at the Jewish centers took place around 1 p.m. As the gunman sat in the back of a patrol car after his arrest, he shouted, "Heil Hitler." Overland Park Police said detectives were investigating statements the suspect made after his arrest but declined to provide additional details. "This is not your average hate offender," said Levin, the California State University professor. "He's a badass. He's not a fringe character." Son killed in 2008 shooting . Police shot and killed Cross' son in 2008, according to Rick Witthuhn, police chief in Marionville, Missouri. The incident unfolded after a traffic accident. Jesse Miller, Cross' son, used a shotgun to kill a man who stopped to help him after the crash, CNN affiliate KSPR reported. Then, when a police officer arrived at the scene, he shot at the officer. That same officer then shot and killed him, Witthuhn said. What the killings say about U.S. hate groups .
|
Frazier Glenn Cross was an adherent of Odinism, a neo-pagan religion .
Police say his son was killed in a 2008 shooting .
Frazier Glenn Cross called "perennial but peripheral figure" in white supremacy movement .
Cross is "not your average hate offender," expert says .
|
f96dea881e4905924c548c4bbb5d910a3e1199c2
|
By . Phil Casey, Press Association Golf Correspondent . European captain Paul McGinley insists he has no concerns over Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell's relationship ahead of next week's Ryder Cup. The Northern Irish pair have played together six times in the last two contests but are currently involved, directly and indirectly, in a court case with McIlroy's former management company. McIlroy's legal battle with Horizon Sports Management also involves the affairs of McDowell and the judge hearing the case said on Tuesday it involved such sensitive matters that the sides should engage in mediation. European captain Paul McGinley has no concerns over Rory McIIroy and Graeme McDowell's relationship . Rory McIIroy reacts to his putt on the 18th green during the BMW Championship golf tournament . 'The case has all sorts of sensitivities involving two players on tour, a manager of one of them and a former manager or agent of the other. It has all sorts of complex issues involving relationship matters,' Mr Justice Brian McGovern told both legal teams. However, McGinley believes the issue has been dragging on for so long that it will have no effect when the pair help Europe defend the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. 'It's not a concern,' McGinley told a press conference ahead of the ISPS Handa Wales Open. 'It has been going for a year and both have had very strong years. 'Rory's had arguably his best year ever (winning two major championships) and Graeme won the French Open. It has not affected their performance and both of them have assured me it's not going to affect anything in the team room. 'I would be very surprised if they don't play together although I'm not going to write it in stone.' Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell hits the second shot on the 9th hole during the BMW Championship . McGinley said he has a 'skeleton plan' in place for his pairings and is happy with the different preparation methods of his team. Jamie Donaldson, Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher and Thomas Bjorn are competing at Celtic Manor and McGinley will have dinner with them on Tuesday evening, when he will hand over a booklet with information and pictures of what to expect in terms of infrastructure at Gleneagles. McGinley 'endorsed' Victor Dubuisson's decision to withdraw from the tournament and prepare in France, with the players involved in the latter stages of the FedEx Cup play-offs having a rest. 'I'm delighted the guys who played in America are having a week off,' the Dubliner said. 'We did not have that in Medinah and I think we suffered. Graeme McDowell has gone on record saying he felt unprepared physically and mentally.' The course at Celtic Manor has been set up to replicate the challenge posed by Gleneagles, where McGinley said the three rookies on his team - Dubuisson, Donaldson and Gallacher - will definitely play at least one match before the singles.
|
The European Ryder Cup captain has no worries over Rory McIIroy and Graeme McDowell's relationship .
The pair are currently embroiled in a court case with McIIroy's former management company .
McGinley insists there have been no problems between the two to date and the case has been going on well over a year .
|
f96e29b971f78d1e28215a6ee96c005b59d78195
|
(CNN) -- Tiger Woods completed the victory formalities at the WGC-Bridgestone tournament Sunday and immediately turned his attentions to the final major of the season, which starts later this week. Woods has been marooned on 14 majors for five years, but his form in 2013, this was his fifth win of the season and by a resounding seven shots, gives him hope that drought will end by next weekend. He will head for Oak Hill in New York as overwhelming favorite for the PGA Championship and with renewed confidence. "I'm really looking forward to it," he said after completing a final round of level-par 70 on the Firestone Course at Akron, Ohio. "I feel like my game is pretty consistent and I'm hitting it pretty good." Woods admitted to adopting a conservative approach to his play on the final day of a tournament he has now won a record eight times. The World No.1 was never threatened with playing partner Henrik Stenson concentrating on his battle for second place. The Swede made a testing two-putt on the final green to also close with a 70 and finish in a share of the runners-up spot with reigning champion Keegan Bradley on eight-under. Woods, who finished on 15-under 265, will be paired with Bradley and Davis Love II for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship on Thursday and Friday. He will be hoping to repeat the sort of heroics which saw him card a joint career best nine-under 61 on Friday to open up a massive lead in the WGC event he has made his own on a course which he said "fits my eye." Tapping in for par on the last, Woods was winning his 79th PGA Tour title and 18th WGC crown. Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez and Zach Johnson finished tied for fourth on six-under. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who will be defending his PGA Championship title, was well off the pace again on two-over. Woods, whose last victory at a major came in the 2008 U.S. Open, has flattered to deceive in this season's three to date, with indifferent play on the weekend wrecking his chances. He is chasing the all-time record of 18 by the great Jack Nicklaus.
|
Tiger Woods wins WGC-Bridgestone Invitational .
Finishes seven shots clear of chasers .
Eighth victory at the tournament in Ohio .
PGA Championship starts Thursday at Oak Hill .
|
f96ea70a86b295c6bd26f9618f1bff7ab6acd44c
|
By . Phil Vinter . Perhaps this half-witted couple had been smoking a little too much of their own stock when they decided to ring the police to report that their £10,000 cannabis farm had been stolen. Officers easily weeded out dumb duo Colin Roberts and Mandy Coghlan who had contacted them after discovering that dozens of their own cannabis plants had been taken. However, when police tried to arrest Roberts for producing the drug, his partner Coghlan threatened officers with an air pistol, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard. The high life: Colin Roberts, right, and Mandy Coghlan, left, told police that their £10,000 cannabis farm had been stolen . The court was told that on arrival at Coghlan and Roberts' home on April 23, they were hit by a pungent smell of cannabis. The pair reported that £10,000 of their belongings had been stolen - and admitted that it was in the form of cannabis plants when questioned. More... Can you sPOT the odd one out? Glowing house hiding a cannabis factory captured by helicopter police with thermal imaging camera . Bong arm of the law: Policeman faces jail after being found guilty of growing cannabis . Bungling burglar caught after leaving his Jobseeker's Allowance paperwork at scene of crime . Foolish robber arrested after phoning up victim to ask her out on a date (she said no) Officers quickly established that the cannabis had been stolen and Roberts was arrested for production of the drug - which he took to relieve his pain from Crohn’s Disease. The court heard that on witnessing her partner's arrest Coghlan became angry and grabbed a loaded air pistol and pointed it at one of the police officers. The pair have been handed 12-month prison sentences, suspended for two years. Weeded out: Police were led straight to cannabis farmers who managed to shop themselves after their stash was stolen . David Bennett, prosecuting, said: 'Coghlan appeared to be intoxicated. 'She . became upset and left the house and found a piece of glass in the back . yard which she held to her throat. The officers took it from her.' After seeing her partner arrested, Coghlan then barged past an officer and went into the kitchen. Mr . Bennett added: 'She said something about a gun, reached in a cupboard . and pulled out something that had the appearance of a small handgun. 'The . officer grabbed her arm and called for help and another officer was . able to get hold of the gun. The two of them were able to subdue her and . place her in handcuffs.' The pistol-type air weapon had four pellets inside and a fifth was waiting to be fired. Officers . found a 'gazebo set up' in an upstairs bedroom with 16 pots with just . stubs left as the rest of the cannabis plants had been harvested. There . was also 46.33 grams of dry skunk cannabis. The court was told the . potential yield of the plants and value of the drugs left in the house . was about £2,000. Roberts, . aged 47, of Bond Street, who has previous offences for drugs matters, . including cultivation of cannabis in 2009, pleaded guilty to producing . cannabis. Coghlan, of the . same address, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to . producing cannabis and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of . violence. They accepted there was an element of commercial supply in the growing of the cannabis. Joanne Wallbanks, mitigating for Roberts, asked Recorder Patrick Thompson to give her client a chance. David Bratt, representing Coghlan, said her role in producing the cannabis was lower than Roberts. He also said that she acted on the spur of the moment with the firearm. 'It was just a foolish act of crass stupidity,' added Mr Bratt. As well as the suspended jail terms, Roberts must complete 240 hours’ unpaid work and Coghlan must work with alcohol and drug support service Adsis for 12 sessions.
|
Mandy Coghlan waved air pistol in face of officers when they tried to arrest her .
Colin Roberts took drug to relieve himself of pain as he suffered from Crohn's Disease .
Pair given 12-month jail terms which were suspended for two years .
|
f96eeb8c1bfd41f3732a62c6b7ade65a1133ed89
|
Take a White House state dinner and multiply it by 50. The result is the most elaborate and unusual dinner of President Barack Obama's administration, a one-of-a-kind affair put on Tuesday night for a one-of-a-kind gathering of several dozen leaders from countries across Africa. The leaders are attending a three-day conference organized by the White House and aimed at boosting U.S. ties to the continent. Obama wasted little time highlighting his own personal connection to Africa during a brief toast. Scroll down for video . 'I stand before you as the son of a man from Africa': President Barack Obama offers a toast at a dinner for the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit, on the South Lawn of the White House on August 5 . Note-worthy: Award-winning singer Lionel Richie provided the after-dinner entertainment, singing hits such as Easy and playing the piano . Guests at the summit dined on chilled spiced tomato soup and socca crisps, which are made of chick peas; chopped farm-stand vegetable salad using produce from the first lady's garden; and grilled dry-aged Wagyu beef served with chermoula, a marinade used in North African cooking, sweet potatoes and coconut milk. Dessert was cappuccino fudge cake dressed with papaya scented with vanilla from Madagascar. American wines were also on the menu. Guests were shuttled down to a massive tent erected on the South Lawn because the White House, as big as it is, does not have any rooms large enough that can hold the more-than-400 invited guests. ‘I stand before you as the president of the United States, a proud American. I also stand before you as the son of a man from Africa,’ Obama said drawing applause. ‘The blood of Africa runs through our family, so for us, the bonds between our countries, our continents are deeply personal.’ He warmly recalled family visits to Kenya before he became president, as well as stops at historic sites in Ghana, Senegal and South Africa with his family while in office. And he offered a toast to ‘the new Africa, the Africa that is rising and so full of promise.’ Award-winning singer Lionel Richie provided the after-dinner entertainment. ‘Tonight, we are going to have a party,’ Richie said as he took the stage and quoted from the lyrics to All Night Long, one of his top hits. He then played the piano and eased the audience into what he said would be a short party by opening with Easy, another one of his hits. Among the African leaders who arrived at the White House one at a time over the course of 90 minutes were President Salva Kiir of South Sudan, the world's newest country, and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. Kiir wore a cowboy hat and waved dramatically to the media. Egypt's ambassador and Libya's foreign affairs minister also attended. Next to last to arrive was Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has pleaded innocent to murder and other charges for his alleged role in organizing violence that left more than 1,000 people dead after Kenya's 2007 elections. The case is before an international criminal court, and Obama pointedly skipped visiting Kenya when he toured Africa with his family last summer. President of The Gambia Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and first lady Zineb Jammeh arrive for the dinner, hosted by President Barack Obama . Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore and spouse Chantal Compaore arrive at the North Portico of the White House for the state dinner . Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, who last month visited Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, attended along with numerous other Obama administration officials, members of the delegations accompanying the African leaders, U.S. lawmakers and business leaders. There was political, Hollywood and athletic star power in the crowd, too. Former President Jimmy Carter, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and de Blasio's predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, a sponsor of a U.S.-Africa business forum where Obama spoke earlier Tuesday, mingled with guests before dinner. Also expected were actors Chiwetel Ejiofor, star of the Academy Award-winning drama 12 Years A Slave, and Robert De Niro, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and Meb Keflezighi, the Eritrean-born American winner of this year's Boston Marathon. Cameroon President Paul Biya and spouse Chantal Biya arrive at the White House . After greeting Obama and first lady Michelle Obama inside the White House, guests boarded chartered trolley cars for a ride to the South Lawn. Mrs. Obama wore a cream-colored dress by Prabal Gurung, one of her favorite designers, with cut-outs in both the front and the back and her hair swept up into a bun. The menu featured a largely American-style dinner with hints of Africa sprinkled throughout each of the four courses. Guests dined on chilled spiced tomato soup and socca crisps, which are made of chick peas; chopped farm-stand vegetable salad using produce from the first lady's garden; and grilled dry-aged Wagyu beef served with chermoula, a marinade used in North African cooking, sweet potatoes and coconut milk. VIPs: Rwanda President Paul Kagame and daughter Ange Ingabire Kagame (left) and King Mswati III and wife Inkhosikati La Mbikiza of Swaziland (right) arrive . Malawi President Peter Mutharika arrives at the White House - one of some 400 guests who attended the state dinner on the South Lawn . Phandu Skelemani, minister for foreign affairs of Botswana, waves as he is greeted by U.S. Chief of Protocol Peter A. Selfridge . The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn (left) and his spouse Roman Tesfaye are saluted as they arrive . Ikililou Dhoinine, President of the Union of the Comoros and his wife Hadidja Abubakar Ikililou Dhoinine . Dessert was cappuccino fudge cake dressed with papaya scented with vanilla from Madagascar. American wines were also on the menu. Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, meanwhile, are coming together for the second time in just over a year to promote U.S. ties to Africa. They're also deepening the personal ties between two first ladies from different generations and opposing political parties. The current and former first ladies are headlining a daylong program Wednesday in Washington for the spouses of the African leaders who are attending the summit. In a reprise of an event Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush held last summer in Tanzania, the women will share their experiences in the high-profile role of first lady. The joint appearance will also put on rare public display the warm relationship Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush have developed since the White House changed hands. First lady Michelle Obama takes her seat after toasting guests following President Barack Obama's toast . Pitch perfect: Inside the tent where President Barack Obama hosted the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit . Secretary of State John Kerry (left) talks with former President Jimmy Carter before President Barack Obama offers a toast . New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks to guests before President Obama's speech .
|
President Barack Obama is hosting a three-day conference aimed at boosting America's ties with Africa .
During a toast President Obama wasted little time highlighting his own personal connection to Africa .
The 400-odd guests were shuttled down to a massive tent erected on the South Lawn for dinner .
Award-winning singer Lionel Richie provided the after-dinner entertainment, belting out hits and playing the piano .
|
f96f2277cd39791ae84b0e83ae503a847e25e815
|
A husband who fled the Middle East for Britain murdered his wife and buried her body next to a lay-by after he felt 'insulted' at her leaving him to become more Westernised, a court heard. Syrian-born Ahmed Khatib, 33, became resentful of mother-of-three Rania Alayed, 25, after she instructed a lawyer to help 'free her' from him, it was said. She caused further anger by attending college and meeting male and female friends before beginning a relationship with another man she met over the internet. Ahmed Khatib, pictured right, is alleged to have murdered his wife Rania Alayed, left, and buried her body next to a lay-by after he felt 'insulted' at her leaving him to become more Westernised . After a family summit meeting failed in a bid to get the couple back together Rania was lured to a tower block in Salford, Greater Manchester where she was killed and her body stuffed in a suitcase, it was alleged. Khatib and his brother Muhaned, 38, were then said to have transferred the body to the back of a motorhome before driving to the A19 near Thirsk North Yorkshire where she was buried by the roadside. The remains of the victim have never been found. Later after Khatib was arrested he told psychiatrists she died after he pushed her during a row whilst 'possessed of spirit.' He claimed he accidentally causing her to stumble, fall and bang her head. Police descended on a house on Knutsford Road in Gorton, Manchester where Ahmed Khatib was charged with murder following the disappearance of mother-of-three Rania Alayed . After Khatib, pictured, was arrested he told psychiatrists she died after he pushed her during a row whilst 'possessed of spirit.' He claimed he accidentally causing her to stumble, fall and bang her head, the court heard . Manchester Crown Court was told Khatib and Syrian-born Rania had married in December 1987 when she was just 15 and had three children together. Prosecutor Tony Cross QC said it was a 'love marriage' rather than an arranged one but only came about as Rania's sister was married to Khatib's brother. The couple fled the Middle East for Britain where Muhaned was already living but in 2004 Rania began confiding in friends her husband was beating her, it was said. Arthur Millwood Court, the Salford home of Ahmed Khatib's brother Muhaned, became the focus of police activity after Rania Alayed disappeared in 2013 . Mr Cross said a friend witnessed the aftermath of an attack and added: 'She saw Khatib angry like a monster shouting he would kill her. It became clear to her that he and his family were controlling of her.' 'It appears he was violent, sexually and physically and would force her to give him money. She told one friend she feared he would kill her. How right she was was. He was prone to anger and openly displayed. He was contemptuous of females. He was also jealous. 'She had the courage to free herself from him using a solicitor and began to become a little Westernised. She went to college and had friends, male and female. 'This was all too much. During this period she was making friends outside her family circle. No doubt this was deeply resented by the defendant and in all probability by the rest of his family. He was desperate to affect a reconciliation. 'The family were very angry she had had the audacity to go to Law and one member even contacted her solicitor. They were insulted by her recourse to law. They wanted her and her children back within the family fold. 'It was obvious to them she was not going to comply with their wishes. They believed she was establishing an independent life perhaps with another man. Therefore it was decided she should either be coerced to comply or be killed.' Rania's uncle tried to help and was urged to persuade his niece not to get a divorce but during a family meeting she claimed Khatib had raped her. Khatib also took her phone believing she was using it to talk to other men. Rania left the family home in Longsight, Manchester with the children to move to a hostel and later in May 2013 rented a property in Cheetham Hill. She had also formed a relationship with a married man she met through an internet site 'Who's here.' Rania was last seen alive on June 7 last year when she met a friend in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens and told of a plan to drop off her three children with her estranged husband via Muhaned's flat for the weekend. Ahmed Khatib is pictured with his arm on a horse. The 33-year-old and his brother both deny murder but admit perverting the course of justice. Manchester Crown Court where Ahmed Khatib, of Knutsford Road in Gorton and his brother Muhaned, of Arthur Millwood Court, Salford, are on trial having pleaded not guilty to murder . That . evening at around 8pm she was killed at the apartment after Muhaned's . partner was allegedly told to stay away due to a 'family meeting.' The body was transferred to Muhaned's Leyland DAF 200 camper van and headed to the North East at 1.17am the following morning. Khatib, of Knutsford Road in Gorton and Muhaned, of Arthur Millwood Court, Salford, deny murder. Both admit perverting the course of justice. A third brother Hussain Al-Khatib, 34, has pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice over the alleged concealment of her body. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
|
Ahmed Khatib resented mother-of-three Rania Alayed over legal row, court heard .
She was lured to Salford flat, killed and body stuffed in suitcase, jurors told .
Along with brother, accused of burying body at North Yorkshire lay-by .
Khatib claimed she died after he accidentally caused her to stumble and bang her head .
Two brothers on trial at Manchester Crown Court after denying murder .
|
f96ff148043201f42d715980c70510565e170fce
|
For the discerning hipster looking to travel about town and not worry about parking their fixed gear bicycle, a Hungarian designer may have the answer. The Scooter belt works as a full sized scooter - but also doubles as a belt. When you arrive at your destination, a simple velcro tab loosens the scooter's body, allowing it to 'collapse' and be wrapped around a waist. When you arrive at your destination, a simple velcro tab loosens the scooter's body, allowing it to be wrapped around a waist. Adam Horok, a designed from Hungary, is behind the project. 'The most efficient vehicles that bridge these two points in the shortest time are those powered by leg power, whose need for specific pathways is a must in every developing city. 'There is one thing even more important, and that is storage. 'A vast range of methods has been developed in recent in years but these will all become obsolete if the vehicle is developed that is entirely portable, even wearable as part of our clothing. ' 'Our physical need to move around gains an entirely new meaning in the future, depending on the price we are willing to pay for it, in terms of the fast approaching ecological changes. Releasing the velcro tab instantly causes the scooter to collapse, allowing it to be worn around the waist. It features two wheel and a solid wood base curved so it can wrap around the body when used as a belt. 'Compared to public transport, the car offers its advantage in independence, and personal space alongside the sense of a safe space with the ability to choose the take-off and destination points,' he said. 'The main problem of the electric versions currently being under development are that the awkwardness of the energy supply puts a powerful limitation on efficiency and distance. 'We can bypass the problem by turning the equation around, making it's seeming disadvantage into our advantage.
|
Scooter becomes rigid when cord running through it pulled tight .
Can be fastened around waist when not in use .
|
f97044d3772e31b10e909370425c69b60f6414bd
|
This is the painful moment a man infested with parasitic ‘jigger’ fleas is forced to have them cut out of his foot with a scalpel. The man's foot is massively swollen and disfigured, having been plagued with jiggers for years, leaving him unable to walk. The skin on his foot is flaky and pitted from previous infestations. Scroll down for video . A man infested with 'jigger' fleas is forced to have them cut out of his foot with a scalpel . Jigger, or chigoe fleas, common in Sub-Saharan Africa, burrow into human flesh and lay pea-sized egg sacs. The resulting wounds can lead to infections like gangrene and hepatitis . Jigger fleas cause swelling, ulceration, itching and infections and the pain leaves many people with walking problems. The only way to remove the jiggers is to cut them out of the feet - usually with no anaesthetic . Jiggers, or chigoe fleas, are sand fleas found in Sub-Saharan climates that burrow into the skin and lay eggs. They cause swelling, itching and infection which can lead to amputation and even death in the worst cases. A healthcare worker cuts away nodules where the jiggers have buried into the man’s foot, wiping away the flea and the surrounding pus and blood with cotton wool. Cutting the fleas out of the foot and soaking it in alcohol or another disinfectant is the only way to treat the disease once an infestation has occurred. Cutting out the jiggers is a painful process, and often all the jiggers cannot be removed in one sitting. In Kenya, an estimated 1.4 million people (translating to four per cent of the total population) suffer from jigger infestation. Jiggers are small chigoe fleas that live in the dust, and are found on the dirt floors in schools and the homes of many families in Uganda and other similar climates. These parasitic insects cling to livestock and transfer jiggers into homes primarily in rural areas. The female jiggers burrow into the surface of skin that has been exposed to the flea. Once embedded in the body, the jigger lays eggs and creates up to pea-size egg sacks and continues to multiply by laying more eggs. These wounds are painful, and cause difficulties for victims in daily activities such as walking, playing, and attending school. The infection can lead to severe inflammation, ulceration and fibrosis. It can also cause lymphangitis, gangrene, sepsis, and the loss of toenails, amputation of the digits, and death may also occur. There is also a social stigma and shame associated with the victims of jiggers which causes them to hide the problem which makes it worse. While jiggers in small numbers are not deadly, the secondary infections (gangrene, tetanus and other diseases) caused by jiggers can be fatal. Source: Sole Hope . They leave most victims unable to walk work, or carry out any activities such as going to school. Areas of Uganda, Tanzania and other African countries with similar climates also have large areas of infestation. The female jiggers burrow into the skin, usually of the hands and feel, and lay egg sacks which can grow up to the size of a pea. The flea continue to multiply by laying more eggs, causing an infection which leads the body to become ulcerated and inflamed. It can also cause lymphangitis- a swelling of the lymph nodes, as well as gangrene, tetanus and blood poisoning. Victims often lose their toenails and are forced to have their digits amputated. While in small numbers jiggers are not deadly, the secondary infections such as gangrene and tetanus can be fatal. There is also a social stigma and shame associated with the victims of joggers which causes them to hide the problem, making it worse. Patients often use the same scalpel or pin to cut out the jiggers, therefore infections such as HIV/Aids are passed from person to person. Jiggers also burrow into the skin of animals like dogs, cats, rats, pigs, cattle and sheep, so people living in rural areas are likely to catch them. But they are also found in the dust and on dirt floors of many homes and schools. For a complete eradication of the bug, thorough fumigation of homes, schools and animals need to take place. Charities in infected regions also encourage the local populations to wear shoes and observe cleanliness to prevent future infestations. To support the cause visit the Kill the Jigger website, the Sole Hope website or send donations to donate@killthejigger.org. For more information click here. Here, a nodule has been cut away on the man's foot to reveal the jigger underneath (green, centre of foot) The health worker removes the jigger with a scalpel, leaving a pitted wound . The jigger is wiped in cotton wool and the scalpel cleaned before another flea is cut out .
|
Man's feet are infested with 'jigger' fleas, common in Sub-Saharan climates .
They have caused his foot to become grossly swollen and disfigured .
His skin is flaky, pitted and covered with nodules from burrowing fleas .
Jiggers burrow into human flesh, lay pea-size eggs and multiply .
They cause swelling, itching, ulceration and infection .
Victims can suffer blood poisoning, gangrene, tetanus and other diseases .
Sometimes this can lead to amputation or even death in the worst cases .
Have to be cut out of victims foot using a sharp knife, scalpel or pin .
Victims who share pins or scalpels can pass on HIV/Aids infections .
|
f97084ed972b5870ddf853d9e6ee3a08332e7377
|
One of Air New Zealand’s two Dreamliners is back in the skies again just days after it was hit by lightning during a fierce spring storm last week. The lightning strike occurred as the Boeing 787-9 landed safely in Perth following a seven-hour journey from Auckland last Thursday afternoon. Aircraft engineers discovered scorch marks on the fuselage, so the aircraft was taken out of service and flown back to Auckland without any passengers for further inspection and repairs. Scroll down for video . One of Air New Zealand's Dreamliners is back in service after it was struck by lightning (file photo) It is carrying passengers again after it was given the all clear over the weekend. An airline spokeswoman told the New Zealand Herald: ‘The incident forced the cancellation of a flight from Perth to Auckland which was due to operate on Thursday evening. ‘The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9, was assessed by engineers in Perth and cleared to operate positioning flight NZ6014 back to Air New Zealand's engineering and maintenance base in Auckland where full engineering support is available.’ In an attempt to ease any fears for nervous flyers, the spokeswoman said such incidents not uncommon and aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes. The lightning strike occurred as the plane landed in Perth following a seven-hour journey from Auckland . Air New Zealand didn’t provide statistics on the frequency of lightning strikes involving its planes, but at least 75 incidents have been reported in Australia in 2014, according to the country’s transport safety bureau. Dreamliners have a composite fuselage rather than metal, and its embedded conducting material is designed to absorb a lightning strike. The worst air tragedy related to a lightning strike occurred in the US state of Maryland in December 1963. Eighty-one people died after a bolt of lightning ignited fuel vapours and caused an explosion that brought down a Boeing 707-121 operated by Pan Am.
|
Plane landed safely in Perth and was taken out of service for repairs .
It flew back to Auckland without passengers for further inspection .
At least 75 planes have been struck by lightning in Australia this year .
|
f97127a6a9daec1131eaf23e38f080425800e4a1
|
August 15, 2014, marks the 100th anniversary of the first use of the Panama Canal: one of the greatest feats of engineering the world has ever seen. The Canal is 48 miles long, was 17 years in the making and had enough rock and rubble dug from the isthmus of Central America to circle the earth four times. But as awe-inspiring as the "big ditch" is, it's still only a tiny sliver of what Panama has to offer. Away from the commerce and concrete of the canal, the country is teeming with rain forests, beaches, indigenous people and colonial history. 1. Panama Canal . Tourist transits of the canal can be long and hot, but for the enthusiast nothing beats sharing water with an 80,000 ton cargo freighter. The best views, however, are from the four-story Miraflores Lock Visitor Center. Savvy trippers time visits with the transit of one of the big ships and make sure to stop by the museum and watch the 3D movie, afterward. If you've never been run over by a six-story ship before, now's your chance. Other highlights include visiting the still-in-construction $5.25 billion Panama Canal Expansion Observation Center, scheduled to open in 2015. Ancon Expeditions (+1 888 760 3426) has full- and partial-day transits of the canal from $175 per person . 2. Casco Viejo, Panama City . The orange-tiled roofs and Spanish colonial architecture of old town Panama City stand in slow contrast to the skyscraper skyline across the bay. But this is where the real action is. At night, Casco Viejo is just the right amount of edgy, with music pouring onto the street from every alley and corner. By day, it's perfect for drinking coffee at Plaza Bolivar, browsing the markets at Plaza de La Independencia and watching the sun set from the point above Plaza Francia, the best view in the city. 3. Bocas del Toro . Situated on the northwestern Caribbean coast, this archipelago of nine tropical islands has retained a strong West Indian influence. Eco-tourism and aqua adventure are key draws, with some of the best scuba diving and surf breaks in the country. A full-on castaway experience can be had on the outer islands, where deserted paradises, like that at Polo Beach on Bastimentos Island, are wild, undeveloped and easy to find. For more information see: www.bocasdeltoro.com . 4. Boquete . At the foothills of the Baru Volcano in the Chiriqui Highlands, the pretty mountain town of Boquete is a natural paradise. There's hiking, whitewater rafting and rock climbing right on the doorstep and 500 of Panama's 972 species of bird are found in the province, including the highly sought after Quetzal. The region is home to some of the best coffee growers in the world, including the most expensive brew on the planet, Cafe Geisha, at $1,600 a kilo, or $40 a cup. Cafe Ruiz has excellent guided tours of its coffee plantation. 5. Emberra Indians . There's no better way to understand Panama's indigenous roots than via dugout canoe up the Chagres River, where you'll pass thatch houses woven deep into the jungle before arriving at Emberra village, home to one of nine major indigenous groups in the country. You can watch performances of traditional dance and music, buy authentic, handcrafted souvenirs and learn about their culture. It's a magical, if somewhat well rehearsed, experience but worth it for the lunch of fresh spear-caught Tilapia alone. Ancon Expeditions (+1 888 760 3426) has a full-day tour to an Emberra village from $130 per person. 6. La Loma chocolate farm . Beautiful, wild and completely off the grid, La Loma is a working chocolate farm and probably the most delicious place to stay in the country. Based on the remote Bastimentos Island in Bocas del Toro, guests learn about all aspects of chocolate production while enjoying its harvest breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other highlights include rainforest trekking to beaches, paddling through the mangroves, and, for the brave, underground swimming in the utterly dark, and terrifying, Nivida cave. La Loma has tree house cabins from $110 per person per night, including all meals and many excursions. 7. Gatun Lake . To create the Panama Canal, the Chagres River was dammed and an area the size of Barbados flooded. The result is the artificial, but astonishingly wild, Gatun Lake. With a small boat cruise less than an hour from Panama City, it's possible to see capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths and crocodiles. Because part of the lake is used by the canal, you'll also get a mini-tour of the waterway at the same time. Ancon Expeditions has a Gatun Lake rainforest adventure cruise from $170 per person. 8. Biodiversity Museum, Panama City . Opened June 2014 on the causeway of Panama City, the new Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo is a jarringly bold, macaw-like building. Inside is one of the best natural history exhibitions you're likely to see. The highlight is a 12-screen, fully immersive, cinema in surround -- including one giant screen under foot. Monkeys scramble overhead, sharks swim under foot, visitors are lifted up and flown through a storm. 9. Portobello . In 1596, English buccaneer Sir Francis Drake met his grisly end against the Spanish cannons of Portobello. Their forts still remain. Visitors can soak up the pirate history, visit the church of San Felipe where the statue of the black Christ draws thousands of pilgrims each October 21 and grab lunch at El Palenque, an idyllic spot by the water's edge. For longer stays, there's El Oltro Lado on the other side of Portobello Bay; it's a hip boutique hotel with cool tunes, quirky art and an infinity pool. 10. Fish Market, Panama City . Cuquita Arias de Calvo, one of Panama's best known chefs, described her country's cuisine as "joyful, happy and hot -- just like Panamanians." Her restaurant, at the Bristol Hotel in Panama City's financial district, serves traditional Panamanian recipes with a modern twist. But the best place to eat in Panama City is still the fish market. There's a good restaurant upstairs that draws the tourists, but far tastier, and infinitely more memorable, are the crowded stalls below for freshly caught ceviche scooped up with crackers, spicy aji chomdo sauce and stadium decibel reggaeton. 11. San Blas Islands . Owned, operated and protected by the Kuna Indians, this archipelago of atolls off the northern coast of Panama, has a tropical island for every day of year, plus a few to spare (378 to be precise, 49 of which are inhabited). The beaches are deserted enough to satisfy even the most extreme Robinson Crusoe fantasies. But the highlight is the Kuna people themselves -- welcoming and proud of a culture that has changed little in centuries. Be prepared to slow down, fast. For more information visit www.sanblas-islands.com. Journey Latin America offers excellent tailor-made vacations to Panama, taking in all of these highlights and more.
|
The famous canal is just one reason to visit Panama.
Full-on castaway experiences can be had on wild Bastimentos Island .
In the Chiriqui Highlands, the pretty mountain town of Boquette is a natural paradise .
The best place to eat in Panama City is still the fish market .
|
f971b78f63c10454f953d6e7c502746414d7d7a5
|
(CNN)It is not easy to capture a man's life in 152 minutes, let alone a life as illustrious and complex as Nelson Mandela's. For London-born actor Idris Elba, who played the South African leader in the 2013 biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," the task was sure to feel Herculean. "I could never really articulate what it felt like to play Mandela properly in an interview," he admits in a phone conversation with CNN. Though the actor is British, and physically bears little resemblance to the late South African leader, Elba recalls the unexpectedly warm reception he received, particularly from extras on set -- many of whom were locals who lived through the apartheid era. "South Africa is very embracing. Even though I'm not from South Africa and was about to play Mandela, they still gave me a lot of love," he says. By the end of filming, many were even calling him "Madiba." The experience, life-changing in many ways, was bound to feel odd. For Elba, the best way to capture not just the man but the feeling of playing him on film, was through music. Next week will see the release of "Mi Mandela," a tribute to Mandela made up of songs written and produced by Elba himself, and performed by a mixture of South African and British talent, including Mumford & Sons, the Mahotella Queens and Maverick Sabre. "There were various sensations I experienced (playing Mandela), and I could never give an answer I was satisfied with. I think this album represents that answer. It allows me to express the feelings of playing him," says Elba. The "Luther" actor describes the record as a "character album," and hopes to produce similar projects for the many other roles he's taken on over the years. In this respect, "Mi Mandela" is as much about his own journey as it is about Mandela's. In the album's title song -- the only one that Elba performs on -- he has a tongue-in-cheek lyric about the casting choice. "All the families showed me love, the people wished me well/The whole town wondering how Mandela could be played by Stringer Bell," he sings, referring to his breakout role in HBO's "The Wire." "It's the thoughts I was thinking at the time of making that film. Music is a good way to get closer to a character, closer to an actor. It describes the whole journey of playing Mandela. It's better than any picture, any postcard, any script, any autograph from an actor," he says. "I would love to hear a character album from Marlon Brando in 'The Godfather,'" he admits. "Just to understand what Marlon was going through at the time of making that film, how he was feeling playing that character. What kind of music would that be? What would it sound like? That would be fascinating for me." A link to his father . For Elba, playing Mandela had personal resonance as well, as filming for the role coincided with the death of his father. "I lost both men around the same time," Elba confides. "Mandela reminded me of my dad, and my dad reminded me of him. They were both massive symbols in my life." Elba describes how his father, a Sierra Leone-born shop steward working out of London's Hackney, fought for the rights of union workers at a time in English history when their plight was particularly arduous (it was Maggie Thatcher's time in power, after all). "He was always equating himself with Mandela and people like Mandela who were standing up for what they believed in, and I would always succumb to 30-minute lectures about rights," he recalls. He co-wrote the song "Tree," which features on the album and is performed by American artists Audra Mae and Cody Chesnutt, partially as a tribute to his father. "Somebody tell my father, that we are standing by his tree/ And even though we miss him, we are glad that he's set free," the lyrics go. "That song is particularly moving to me," says Elba. "As much as I wrote it for my dad, it relates to Mandela too, even more so now." Idris Elba's "Mi Mandela" is set for release on November 24 .
|
Actor Idris Elba releases his first album, "Mi Mandela" next week .
It describes the sensation of playing Nelson Mandela in film "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
Elba plans to release other "character albums" for Luther and Stringer Bell in the future .
|
f972116ffd7f93884d66e5865846986bf06c2bb9
|
(CNN) -- A judge has ordered that accused Colorado movie theater shooter James Holmes undergo an additional sanity examination, saying there was good cause to believe previous testing was "incomplete and inadequate," according to a ruling issued Wednesday. Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos Samour Jr. ordered Holmes to undergo an independent exam by the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo by early March, and the report must be filed by July 14. Samour further ruled the new examiner may not take into account any mitigating factors that are identified in the state's death penalty statutes. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Holmes, who is accused of opening fire in a packed movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a July 2012 midnight showing of the latest Batman installment, "The Dark Knight Rises." Authorities have said Holmes was dressed head to toe in protective gear. Holmes allegedly threw tear-gas canisters in the theater and then opened fire on the patrons, according to witnesses. Police say he used several weapons, including an AR-15 rifle, before fleeing the theater. Outside the theater, the shooter was apprehended, identifying himself to police as "The Joker," one of Batman's archenemies. Holmes faces 166 charges in the rampage that left 12 people dead and dozens more wounded. Holmes was a neuroscience doctoral student at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus until the month before the attack; prosecutors have argued that he began plotting his attack while still enrolled. The defense, meanwhile, appears to be focused not so much on what Holmes allegedly did that night but his mental state then and earlier. A psychiatrist who treated him had warned campus police at the University of Colorado how dangerous he was, prompting them to deactivate his college ID to prevent him from passing through any locked doors, according to court documents.
|
District Judge Carlos Samour Jr. ruled James Holmes must undergo a new exam .
Defense attorneys claim Holmes is not guilty by reason of insanity .
Holmes is charged with opening fire in movie theater, killing 12 people .
|
f9722c77ea8c46c7e8d14c0b08cbbc297d9e4be8
|
By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 03:38 EST, 6 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:10 EST, 6 November 2013 . Nineteen-year-old Giulia Arena was crowned Miss Italia 2013 in a glittering ceremony – but it was not aired by Italy’s state broadcaster, which dropped it from its schedules for the first time in 25 years. Anna Maria Tarantola, president of the state TV station, RAI, deems the contest – which launched the careers of screen sirens Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida - a sexist anachronism. The final of Miss Italia, which took place at the end of last month, was shown instead by private television network La7, with 900,000 people tuning in. Ceremony: Giulia Arena is crowned with the title of Miss Italia 2013 in Jesolo - but the event wasn't shown on prime-time TV . Living the thigh life: Italian Ambra Battilana, 19, performing during the Miss Italia 2013 contest . Tarantola, 68, believes it’s an event that reinforces a two-dimensional view of women. She told The Guardian: ‘Perhaps here, even if things are changing, which they are, the prevailing image of women [on television] is as housewives, mothers … or as showgirls, that kind of thing.’ She added: ‘A woman must make a name for herself because of her talent, her ability. She must have the opportunity to express her capabilities… Public TV should not, in my opinion, be sending out the message, 'look… you can become someone if you're beautiful'. ‘No, you can become someone if you are committed, know how to value [your] own talent, know how to highlight it, and cultivate it. And then, if you're beautiful, all the better.’ House Speaker Laura Boldrini, of the Left Ecology Freedom party welcomed RAI’s decision saying: ‘This is a civilised and modern choice. Outspoken: Anna Maria Tarantola is fed up with Italian TV portraying women as housewives and showgirls . Anna Maria Tarantola says that the Miss Italia contest sends out the wrong message. Pictured is contestant Martini Silvestri, centre, reacting after advancing to the final of Miss Italia 2006 . ‘We should be delighted that Italian women can now have a chance to make themselves appreciated and valued without parading wearing a number. Only two per cent of women on TV express and opinion and speak. The rest are silent and more often than not semi-dressed.’ But Patrizia Mirigliani, organiser of the show, hit back, saying: ’Maybe the honourable Boldrini does not know that across the country hundreds of local councils are hosting similar events with thousands of young women happily taking part in - neither naked or silently - to acquire that visibility that no other event allows them to in a clean and serious way. ‘These sort of beauty contests have been taking place in the civilised world for years and is not only an appreciation of a woman’s beauty but also gives her the opportunity to express her thoughts and ideas. It does not degrade women and I would love the opportunity to explain that to the honourable Boldrini. Italian actress Sophia Loren waves with finalists for the Miss Italia 2001 beauty contest in Salsomaggiore, Italy. Miss Loren got her 'big break' in the contest . ‘I have been in talks with RAI for several years to try and update the format and bring it more into modern times and we are still in talks at the moment.’ Following the decision to drop the show the Vatican’s official newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said: ’Rather than criticising Miss Italia, it is better to let it fall into the oblivion that it deserves and instead condemn other forms of female manipulation such as the increasing willingness to turn to cosmetic surgery to perfect themselves.’ It also hit out at the Italian TV staple diet of scantily clad women, saying: ’We have enough young ladies in bikinis, we see them on all channels at all hours. Miss Italia has become an old wreck but it was not always like that - after the War it was an opportunity for women to display their natural beauty, humble origins and dressed without the aim of starting a showbusiness career. Political opponents were quick to jump on the bandwagon with Luca D’Alessandro, of Berlusconi’s People of Freedom Party, saying: ’It’s really rather interesting to note that the Speaker of the Lower House has closed the door to Miss Italia but thrown it open to Gay Pride. I am not opposed to any show or rally and in fact the more colourful the better but her decision has the air of racism.’ Gian Marco Centinaio, of the Northern League, said: ’Women have a right to show their beauty. There is nothing scandalous in silent women dressed in bikinis. What would she prefer? Miss Burqa?’ Does she now know that Muslim women are also not allowed to speak to men unless to members of their own family?’ Respected Italian daily Corriere Della Sera said in an editorial: ’If banning Miss Italia from TV makes us feel more modern and civilised as a country then we really are in a bad way.’ The Miss Italia pageant has been blighted in controversy several times with another row in 2007 when judges asked to be allowed to consider the ‘size and shape of a contestant’s bottom’ as part of the selection criteria. Last year the rules of the swimwear section were also changed with competitors asked to wear more sober one-piece outfits in either black or white instead of thigh revealing bikinis.
|
Anna Maria Tarantola, head of RAI, deems the contest a sexist anachronism .
She says the prevailing view of women on Italian TV is as showgirls .
|
f9728caa3c9e4da93c09934b32e3cf02d6cb3778
|
It is 11 years since it captured the imagination of a nation. Now, space probe Beagle 2 is creating excitement all over again. The UK Space Agency has announced it will be giving an ‘update’ on the ill-fated British-led mission to Mars on Friday – fuelling speculation that the dustbin lid-sized probe has finally been found. A speaker list that includes the mission’s project manager, a scientist who help choose Beagle 2’s landing site and the European Space Agency’s director of science, has only added to the mystery. Leading space scientist Professor John Zarnecki said that finding the probe would be ‘wonderful’. Scroll down for video . A picture depicting Beagle 2 on the surface of Mars which was released in May 2002. The probe was supposed to land on the Red Planet on Christmas Day in 2003 . Professor Pillinger, who died last year from a brain haemorhage, never lived to discover what had happened to his probe . A model of the Beagle 2 Lander craft, which was about the size of an open umbrella, at Sandy Quarry in Bedfordshire in southern England . The brainchild of Colin Pillinger, a maverick scientist with a gift for PR, and built on a shoestring budget, Beagle 2 was designed to search for signs of life, past or present on the Red Planet. Britpop band Blur composed the probe’s call sign and the ‘test card’ used to calibrate probes cameras was painted by Damien Hirst. Due to land on Christmas Day, 2003, the £50million spacecraft was last seen heading for Mars six days earlier on December 19, 2003. The Blur song was never relayed to Earth, the tiny craft was officially declared lost in January 2004 and nothing has been heard from it since. Experts concluded it had fallen foul of an extra-thin Martian atmosphere – leading to it travelling too fast on its approach for its parachute to deploy properly and hitting the ground too hard. However, those involved refused to give up hope. Dr Mark Sims Beagle 2’s mission manager and one of the speakers at Friday’s three-hour-long press conference, said at the time: ‘My nightmare is that Beagle is sat there on the surface of Mars still trying to talk to us and, for the sake of a broken cable, it’s not.’ Scientists operating the HiRise camera on Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will take part in the press conference. The HiRise camera can scan the surface of Mars in high enough detail to spot missing spacecraft and has already helped to locate the twin Viking landers which touched down on Mars in the Seventies. They have been searching for Beagle 2 for several years. Blur members Dave Rowntree (left) and Alex James (right) with Professor Colin Pillinger (centre) and the Beagle 2 before its launch. Blur composed the probe’s call sign . Musician Damon Albarn of Blur painted the ‘test card’ used to calibrate cameras on the probe . In 2005, Professor Pillinger called an impromptu press conference, convinced that a speck on a photo of the surface of Mars was his lost probe. Later, higher-resolution imagery from Nasa showed he had been mistaken. He never lived to discover what had happened to his probe. On his death last year following a brain haemorrhage, Professor Pillinger, 71, was described as ‘an archetype eccentric professor’ – and the Beagle 2 mission as an ‘heroic failure’. Last night, leading scientists said that the probe may, just may, have been spotted by craft orbiting Mars. Professor Zarnecki, a former Open University colleague of Professor Pillinger, said: ‘I don’t know what they will announce. All one can think of is that they might have got an image of the probe. ‘When dear old Colin was alive, he was seeing Beagle in single pixels. ‘None of us could see it - he was the only one who could. So if they really have found it this time, it would be wonderful.’ The Beagle 2 lander was designed to look for evidence of life on Isidis Planitia, a large, flat sedimentary basin on Mars . British scientists used the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank in Macclesfield to search for signs of the Beagle 2 . The professor, who had his own experiment on board Beagle 2, a tiny weather station, said that while there is no chance the probe could still work, any find could provide important information about why the mission failed. Professor Zarnecki said: ‘One of the reasons why space missions on the whole are so successful is that we do learn from experience. It is similar to why flying by plane is so safe - we learn from failures.’ Dr Lewis Dartnell, a UK space agency researcher, said that if Beagle 2 is still fairly intact, it would be visible to craft orbiting Mars. Fragments of wreckage, however, would be much harder to spot. The UK Space Agency will only say that Friday’s announcement concerns Beagle 2’s landing – and will ‘definitely be of interest’.
|
Beagle 2 was due to land on Mars on Christmas Day, 2003 .
The probe was designed to search for signs of life on the Red Planet .
Blur composed craft's call sign and Damien Hirst painted its ‘test card’
The £50million spacecraft was last seen on December 19, 2003 .
|
f972e1ec3917ed5ef61e0e233df4ca5d16a7e7c9
|
Washington (CNN) -- State visits to the White House are full of show and symbolism, and Tuesday's visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is no exception. But Singh's visit, the first state visit hosted by the Obama administration, reflects India's growing political and economic importance to the United States and the deepening partnership between Washington and New Delhi. The 2005 civil nuclear cooperation deal between the two countries symbolized a new status in U.S.-India relations. But that deal, yet to be ratified by the Indian parliament, was not in a vacuum. The Bush administration followed that up with agreements for increased cooperation on security, science and technology and education. Singh's visit this week will build on that, with announcements expected on a range of areas from the economy and defense to climate change and energy. India is a fellow democracy, and there is a strong Indian-American community in the U.S. So as it rises to power, India is a natural U.S. ally. On every big global issue today -- from the economy to climate change to fighting terrorism and curbing nuclear proliferation -- Washington needs New Delhi's cooperation. India is one of the biggest donors in Afghanistan, with $1.2 billion in aid. Although this has been met with suspicion in Pakistan, it has helped the United States, sharing some of the burden of stabilizing Afghanistan and providing civilian support. India is also considered a critical U.S. partner in dealing with other instability in the region, in places like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Even as the U.S. deepens its cooperation with China on global issues, both Singh's government and the Obama administration want to manage China's meteoric rise. Strong U.S.-India ties help both countries ensure that the "Asian century" is not merely the "Chinese century." India has also become a major trading partner with the U.S., with $61 billion in trade in 2007. The U.S. is India's second-largest trading partner. And India is a major exporter of technology software and services to the U.S., and that's expected to increase as India strengthens its role as a global leader in technology. The relationship is not without its irritants, however, the biggest one being India's nuclear neighbor, Pakistan. India believes the U.S. has failed to curb Islamabad's backing of anti-India extremists based in Pakistan, and tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, especially with Pakistan's slow progress on the investigation into last year's Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. Before coming to Washington, Singh said that Pakistani objectives in Afghanistan aren't necessarily those of the U.S. Pakistan has long seen instability in Afghanistan as critical to its war strategy against India. India is also nervous about a possible integration of some Taliban into power in Afghanistan. Climate change is another point of friction. The U.S. wants India, one of world's the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, to accept limits on its carbon emissions. India maintains it is still a developing country and wants developed nations, like the U.S., to assume the lion's share of burden in dealing with climate change. Another potential difference looms over Iran. India has been careful not to support Iran's government, but if U.S. diplomacy with Iran fails, it remains to be seen if New Delhi will support tougher sanctions if the U.S. decides to go that route. As India's economy grows, so will its capability to be one of the U.S.' great partners. But as its international position strengthens, New Delhi's interests may not always be aligned with Washington's. Obama must work to convince India that the U.S. sees it as an important ally and that its rise to power is in the U.S.' strategic interest. The symbolism of giving Singh the administration's first state visit will be a good start.
|
Visit by Indian PM reflects India's growing political, economic importance to the U.S.
Visit will build on deals for unity on security, nuclear, science, technology, education issues .
U.S. wants good relations with India as it seeks stability, influence in Asia .
Nations' frictions include relations with Pakistan, climate change legislation .
|
f972f2c647d7da36c47c932db91a4920301e245a
|
By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 03:25 EST, 3 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:51 EST, 3 March 2014 . Denial: Michael Le Vell, pictured yesterday, says he is not a drug addict as he faces showdown talks with Corrie bosses before he returns to the soap . Soap star Michael Le Vell has declared: 'I am not a drug addict' after it emerged he took cocaine before his sex abuse trial because his life had sunk to its 'lowest ebb'. The actor, 49, is expected to return to Coronation Street in the next month but will be warned by ITV bosses this is his last chance after well-known problems with alcohol and now drug abuse. Mr Le Vell, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster, last night blamed his ex-girlfriend for forcing him to reveal his cocaine use, but maintains it only happened once. 'I am not denying it. When you get . caught you have to hold your hands up. But believe me I am not a drug . addict or a regular user,' he told the Daily Star. The star was cleared of 12 child sex charges, including . rape, last year, and has pointed the finger at a former lover for forcing him to reveal his drug use. He is now in a relationship with new girlfriend Louise Gibbons, 38, and says that he regrets taking a Class A drug in a 'moment of weakness'. 'Stupidly I tried it. It was a stupid mistake. But that episode is all behind me now. My life is now back on track, with a great girl at my side, after two years of stress', he said. Coronation Street has a history of standing by its stars after revelations about drug use. Actor and DJ Craig Charles, who plays popular cab driver Lloyd Mullaney, was temporarily thrown off the soap in 2006 when he was caught smoking crack. But he was given his job back. Steve McDonald actor Simon Gregson was asked to leave after it emerged that he was spending £1,000 a month on cocaine, before he returned. Jimmi Harkishin, 54, who plays Dev Alahan, was also written out when he was caught out taking cocaine. Le Vell said he tried cocain after a friend offered it and said yesterday: ‘I never thought I was the sort of . bloke. Le . Vell faced a two-year nightmare from the time he was first accused of . sex assaults in September 2011 until he was cleared last year. Revelation: Michael Le Vell has revealed he took cocaine in the lead up to his trial, last September . After . his first arrest prosecutors said they had dropped the case months . later — but in February last year he was charged with a string of . historic offences. Last . month, Le Vell reportedly had a showdown with worried family members . after concerns his drinking session were affecting his work, but the actor denied his habit had led to drug-taking. There were claims he would reach a local pub at around Midday most days and stay there. His trial heard him open up about . his alcohol consumption, with the actor admitting he contacted . Alcoholics Anonymous after developing a habit where he drank up to nine . pints every night. The show's bosses gave him six months to . recover from the trial, and it was alleged they had offered him help to . quit the habit. A friend said he knows this is his last chance, adding: 'He needs to cut down on his boozing and focus on his career'. The actor, pictured today, is now in a relationship with new girlfriend Louise Gibbons and says he regrets taking a Class A drug in a 'moment of weakness' Cleared: The Coronation Street actor, pictured here after being cleared of all charges, said he never thought he would take drugs . Acting first: Michael has expressed his excitement at returning to the cobbles, back to work at Coronation Street . After his arrest, scriptwriters explained . away Le Vell's absence by saying his character was in Germany visiting . his father, but he will return to the screen full time this spring. On his return to the show, he will reportedly aim to rebuild his . relationship with his on-screen ex-wife Sally, played by Sally Dynevor, who has . meanwhile been dating Tim Metcalfe. Stuart Blackburn, Coronation Street’s . executive producer, told The Mirror: ‘I can’t wait to have Michael back – . We were all watching the news for the end of the trial and there were . cheers going up around the set when the result came through. It was just . a sense of relief. ‘The new set is like a fresh new start for Michael, it’s all about the future now.’ A spokesman for ITV said: 'We will be meeting with Michael to discuss this situation.'
|
The 49-year-old will be warned by Corrie bosses about his future conduct .
'He needs to cut down on his boozing and focus on his career', friend said .
Mr Le Vell says he took cocaine 'only once' at 'lowest ebb' before sex trial .
Le Vell was cleared of 12 child abuse charges at Preston Crown Court .
He is due to return to the soap as Kevin Webster in the next month .
|
f97302c3ba31975c1c36f4fa82f4b7adf5ddc21b
|
A little-used airport which is 70 miles from the capital has been renamed London Ashford ahead of work to transform it into a busy passenger hub . Construction work on a 965ft extension of the runway at Lydd airport in Kent, which once handled more passengers a year than Gatwick, will begin this year and will eventually lead to a new terminal being built. This month pre-qualified contractors will be invited to submit offers for the runway work at Lydd. The planned new terminal at Lydd Airport (pictured), which has the official name of London Ashford Aiport . The £25 million development at Lydd will enable the airport to handle aircraft up to the size of Boeing 737s or Airbus A319s. At present, the runway is only long enough to cope with smaller aircraft on short flights, with Lydd Air running services to Le Touquet in France. The start of the runway extension ends years of uncertainty for the Kent airport. A long planning process finally ended in April 2013 when the Government gave the go-ahead for the runway extension and the terminal. The £25 million development at Lydd will enable the airport to handle aircraft up to the size of Boeing 737s . The development had been subject to a public inquiry which lasted from February to September 2011. Plans had been submitted as early as the year 2000 and were agreed in 2010 by Shepway District Council before the decision was taken to hold a public inquiry. Lydd Aiport's chief executive Charles Buchanan . Lydd opened in 1954 and for a time there were daily servies to Le Touquet and Ostend. In 1958 a total of nearly 223,000 passengers passed through Lydd - nearly 37,000 more than at Gatwick. By the 1960s Lydd had become an internationally-recognised airport with film stars such as Gregory Peck and Humphrey Bogart regularly flying in and out. But the expansion of Gatwick cast a shadow over Lydd and its influence waned. Now the airport's chief executive Charles Buchanan is looking forward to showcasing Lydd's plans at international aviation events this year. He said: 'We look forward to spreading the word about our ambitious investment plans with airlines, tour operators and other travel businesses attending these events. 'These events attract high-level decision-makers and buyers from across the travel and aviation industries worldwide and provide an excellent platform for us to explore new business opportunities. 'London Ashford Airport is the perfect base for airline operators. 'Our runway extension will enable regional jet aircraft to fly a full payload of passengers to a wider range of destinations across Europe. 'We are also providing much-needed additional airport capacity in the south east of England. 'We offer easy access to the motorway network, just 20 minutes to Ashford which also has a high-speed rail link that gets you into central London in just 38 minutes.' Oxford Airport is also known as London Oxford Airport, despite being 61 miles from the capital. London Heathrow Airport - 16 miles from central London . London Gatwick Airport - 28 miles from central London . London Luton Airport - 34 miles from central London . London Stansted Airport - 39 miles from central London . London City Airport - 8 miles from central London . London Oxford Airport - 61 miles from central London . London Ashford Airport - 73 miles from central London .
|
Airport to be named London Ashford despite being 70 miles from capital .
Construction work on a 965ft extension of the runway will begin this year .
Transformation will eventually lead to a brand new terminal being built .
£25 million development will enable the airport to handle larger aircraft .
|
f97364814300138037ef8a873e0ce8c58f60365e
|
Rapist footballer Ched Evans, pictured this week, claims he has new evidence he believes will help him overturn his conviction and help him return to professional football . Rapist footballer Ched Evans claimed on Wednesday he has new evidence he believes will help him overturn his conviction. The disgraced striker, 26, maintains he is 'innocent' of attacking his victim in a Rhyl hotel room in 2011 because he believes the sex was consensual. Evans has successfully applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have his 2012 conviction re-examined, but sent a new bundle of evidence to them on Friday. A statement on his website on Wednesday said: 'Further detailed submissions - supported by previously unavailable fresh evidence that we believe strengthens Ched's application - were lodged with the Commission.' His solicitor has told MailOnline on Wednesday that he is confident that the disgraced former Sheffield United striker will be cleared. Shaun Draycott said: 'We have fresh evidence that has been submitted late last week. 'We feel it is a strong case and I remain deeply concerned about Ched's conviction and we are hopeful that his application will lead to his case being referred to the Court of Appeal. 'But I cannot discuss the details of the application only to say it is very detailed and builds on the evidence submitted last July and includes fresh evidence'. The footballer's legal team has handed its latest file of evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which considers if convictions are unsafe. If they believe there is a case they then refer it to the Court of Appeal where judges will consider whether to overturn the conviction or order a retrial. This process could take up to a year to complete meaning Evans is unlikely to return to football before 2016 if he is cleared. MailOnline understands that Evans’ fresh submission may be connected to evidence not used at his trial by the prosecution that may have helped his case if it had been disclosed to the defence at the time. Since his release from jail last year Evans has become engaged to his girlfriend Natasha Massey, who has stood by him throughout his trial and conviction . The Criminal Cases Review Commission has confirmed it has received the new legal bundle but would not discuss the case. Evans was released from prison last October after completing half of a five-year jail sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman. Ched Evans has a website run by supporters and sets out why the footballer believes he is innocent . The Welsh striker denied rape, saying the sex was consensual, but he was found guilty by a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court. The prosecution said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse. The woman was raped his victim in a Rhyl Premier Inn in 2012 after his footballer friend Clayton McDonald, who was cleared of rape, texted Evans on the way there saying: 'I've got a bird'. McDonald had sex with the victim, before Evans arrived and raped her, as two others filmed it through the window. After his release from jail his old club Sheffield United, who used to pay him £20,000-a-week, agreed to let him train with them. But the League One club was plunged into crisis when three patrons quit, fans threatened a boycott and its main sponsor warned it would scrap their deal if they tried to sign him. The club's bosses were accused of 'dragging the club through the mud' for bringing the 25-year-old back to training this week. Sky TV presenter Charlie Webster resigned her role as club patron in protest followed by Lindsay Graham and sixties pop star Dave Berry. Sky TV presenter Charlie Webster resigned her role as club patron and Jessica Ennis-Hill said she wanted her name pulled off a stand if Evans signed . Miss Webster, who was abused as a child herself, said: 'At no point have Sheffield United acknowledged the extremity of his crime. I don't believe a convicted rapist as in Ched Evans should go back to a club I am a patron of'. Olympic heptathlon champion and Blades fan Jessica Ennis-Hill then issued a statement announcing that she has told United she would want her name removed from the Bramall Lane stand should Evans be offered a contract to play for the club. Earlier this month he finally apologised to the woman he raped for the first time after a deal to sign for Oldham Athletic collapsed at the last minute. Oldham became the fourth club to turn down the chance to sign the former Wales and Sheffield United striker, and Evans blamed 'mob rule'. He said in a statement: 'Whilst I continue to maintain my innocence, I wish to make it clear that I wholeheartedly apologise for the effects that night in Rhyl has had on many people, not least the woman concerned'. May 2011 Ched Evans arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at a Premier Inn near Rhyl, North Wales. Evans and fellow footballer Clayton McDonald are later charged with rape. April 2012: Evans is jailed for five years for rape and McDonald is acquitted. Evans' lawyers announce he is to appeal against his conviction. August 2012: The first stage of Evans' appeal is rejected after a judge had refuses his application for leave to appeal against his conviction. He is released by Sheffield United. November 5 2012: Nine people plead guilty to revealing the identity of Evans' victim online with some of the comments calling her names like 'money grabbing whore' and 'poor little victim'. November 6 2012: Evans loses his appeal after his case is rejected by three judges at the Court of Appeal in London. April 2014: An online petition is launched urging United not to re-sign Evans and gains over 165,000 signatures. October 17 2014: Evans is released from prison after serving half his sentence and a statement is released on his website stating he will continue to fight to clear his name. October 19 2014: The Criminal Cases Review Commission confirm they are to fast-track Evans' case to investigate whether his conviction will be referred to the Court of Appeal. November 11 2014: Sheffield United confirm Evans will return to train with the club with immediate effect following a request from the Professional Footballers' Association. Television presenter Charlie Webster stands down as a patron of Sheffield United. November 12 2014: Two more patrons resign and Olympic heptathlon champion and Blades fan Jessica Ennis-Hill issues a statement announcing that she has told United she would want her name removed from the Bramall Lane stand should Evans be offered a contract to play for the club. November 14 2014: Police begin an investigation into rape threat tweets directed at Ennis-Hill after her statement over Evans. November 20 2014: Sheffield United announce they have retracted the offer for Evans to train with the club. November 27 2014: Tranmere chairman Mark Palios turns down an offer to sign Evans . January 8 2015: Oldham release statement saying they will not offer Evans a contract or chance to sign for the club. Evans blames 'mob rule' putting pressure on sponsors. January 23 2015: Evans' legal team submits fresh evidence they believe will help his appeal .
|
Footballer, 26, maintains he did not rape victim and sex was consensual .
Jury found him guilty of rape because woman was too drunk to consent .
Evans is appealing to Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which considers if convictions are unsafe .
He believes that fresh evidence not seen in his trial could clear his name .
But process could delay any return to football for another 12 months .
|
f97374b33778095e4a2884eefc581e2d14a06de9
|
By . Jamie Mcginnes . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 22 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:56 EST, 22 June 2012 . A British soldier has died in a rafting accident during training in Austria after reportedly being swept away when his boat capsized. Austrian police said the 22-year-old man was one of a group of British Army servicemen based in Germany who went on the trip. They believe eight people set off on the raft from Landeck in Tirol, western Austria, yesterday. Swept away: A British soldier has died in a rafting accident during training in Austria (stock photo of whitewater rafting in Austria) It is understood to have overturned shortly after departure along the Inn River near . Fliess. Eyewitnesses said the man, who has not been named but was with 2 Logistic Support Regiment, lost his grip on the boat after it capsized and he and his colleagues tried to upright it. But the water current was reported to be too strong and he was . swept downstream, according to the Austrian Times. Picturesque: Austrian police said the 22-year-old British man had come with other servicemen from Germany to take part in the rafting at Landeck (pictured) in Tirol, western Austria . Investigators are expected to look at whether the raft trip should have gone ahead due to the torrential rain that has fallen in Austria in recent days. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence today confirmed the man's death. He told MailOnline: 'It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence can confirm the death of a serving soldier from 2 Logistic Support Regiment (2 LSR) yesterday. 'The circumstances of the soldier’s death are being investigated by the Austrian police and we are supporting them with the work.' The spokesman said the trip was organised as an 'adventurous training' activity, which is provided to all armed forces personnel. The Princess Royal is shown inspecting a guard of honour from the Logistics Support Regiment, of which she is Colonel-in-Chief, in this file picture . The Austrian Times reported that the man was recovered from the water but attempts . to resuscitate him failed. His boat was the last of three that set off and was reportedly 'hit by a huge wave shortly before it turned over'. According to the British Army website, soldiers from 2 LSR have in recent years been deployed to countries including Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Kenya and the Falkland Islands. In January this year, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, presented personnel from 2 LSR with campaign medals following their return from a 'demanding' tour in Afghanistan. Princess Anne, who is the . Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps, presented medals to 2 LSR . during a ceremony at Princess Royal Barracks in northern Germany. During their tour, between March and November 2011, soldiers were deployed across the volatile Helmand Province in support of Germany-based 20th Armoured Brigade. They provided transport and communications expertise and worked with the Afghan National Army to prepare them to take over security for the country.
|
The 22-year-old man, who has not been named, was on armed services' 'adventurous training' exercise .
Austrian police investigating whether the trip should have gone ahead following days of torrential rain .
|
f9743bb5c88b874829135f9c25d36b15eb1aa3b1
|
Aston Villa have offered teenage sensation Jack Grealish a new four-year deal at the club. The 19-year-old has attracted interest from Chelsea and is in the final 12 months of his current contract at Villa Park. Grealish was handed his first-team debut at the end of last season against Manchester City after impressing on loan at League One outfit Notts County, where he featured 38 times. Attracting interest: Aston Villa youngster Jack Grealish . Rising star: Villa are keen to tie Grealish to a new long-term deal . The winger has forced his way into Paul Lambert's first-team plans and featured as a substitute in the Premier League wins against Stoke and Hull City. Grealish has also represented the Republic of Ireland at Under 21 level and his representatives recently held talks with Martin O'Neill about his international future. The Bodymoor Heath academy graduate has been with the club since the age of six and Villa are keen to tie down his long-term future. Making progress: Grealish has forced his way into Paul Lambert's first-team plans .
|
Talented teenager offered new four-year contract at Villa Park .
Grealish is attracting the attention of Premier League rivals Chelsea .
Young winger has featured in the wins against Stoke and Hull City .
|
f97494d61e7abb48e8e7dae7721bdb40da673f3d
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:43 EST, 10 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:08 EST, 10 January 2014 . The parents of a Virginia teenager shot by a neighbor when he accidentally broke into his home while drunk, have questioned whether he was killed in self-defense. Caleb Gordley, 16, was shot in the back by Donald West Wilder, who lives two doors away from the teenager's family in Sterling. Caleb's parents, Jennea and Shawn initially said they forgave Mr Wilder, but the release of a police report months after their son was shot has forced them to change their minds. Fatal error: Caleb was trying to sneak back into his home after drinking with friends when he entered the wrong property . 'At no point, from the . homeowner's ... testimony, the account of the events, did he ever describe . Caleb in any way being aggressive,' Mr Gordley told ABC 20/20. The autopsy report also showed that Caleb had been shot in the back, his parents said. Star: Caleb Gordley was a popular student and excellent athlete . 'If you're really in fear of danger of . your life and your family's life, why would you allow a person ... that . appeared to be dazed to you, walk right past you and then you shoot him . in the back?' Mrs Gordley said. The basketball star had crawled in a back window in the early hours. He didn't realize the house he had entered . was not his own, but one two doors away from where . he lived. After ending up in his neighbor's home, a drunk Caleb had tried to walk upstairs to where he thought his bedroom was. When Mr Wilder heard his alarm go off, . and saw a tall figure he didn't recognize, he grabbed his pistol and . confronted what he thought was a burglar. He . yelled out at the teenager but Caleb continued to walk through the . house and up the stairs, where Mr Wilder's girlfriend was sleeping. 'The homeowner said he made eye . contact with Caleb, and there was a dazed look on his face, so he knew . he was on drugs, alcohol, whatever the case may be,' Mr Gordley said. 'As he came up the steps, he said he saw no weapon, nothing like that.' According . to police reports seen by ABC, when Mr Wilder fired warning shots at . Caleb, the teenager turned to him and said: 'You just shot me.' Mr Wilder then fired up to three more shots, including one that hit Caleb in the back. Sheriff . Michael Chapman said that the incident needed to be seen in the context . of an unknown and dazed-looking intruder breaking into someone's home . at 2.30am. But the teenager's parents say their neighbor could have shot at his leg instead of aiming at his chest and head. 'He lined himself up at the perfect angle to . shoot a hollow point bullet through my son's lung and explode his chest . and then a fourth shot at his head for good measure,' Mr Gordley said. Loss: Shawn and Jennea Gordley have questioned their neighbor's actions in shooting their 16-year-old son . Close: The teenager lived in a house that looked almost identical to his neighbor's . No charges have been filed against Mr Wilder, who declined to be interviewed on 20/20. Virginia law permits homeowners to use deadly force if they feel threatened inside their own homes. 'Do I hate him? No. Do I want him put away? No, I don't think that's going to solve anything,' Mrs Gordley said. The teenager's parents say they are still waiting for their neighbor to make an apology in person.
|
Donald Wilder killed Caleb Gordley, 16, after mistaking him for an intruder .
Parents of high school athlete initially said they forgave Wilder .
Release of police reports made them question why son was shot in back and not leg .
|
f974ba02d51c167f23ffb0f2e1b84021eee5763e
|
While most budgies are known to spread their wings and fly around the living room, this particular bird prefers a different mode of transport. This budgie, called Champ, was completely enthralled by his owner's tennis ball - particularly after he was successful in climbing atop it. Despite losing his footing several times, the bird chirped with delight while performing his trick. Scroll down for video . Champ the budgie shows off his impressive feat - balancing on his owner's tennis ball . Even when he looses his footing, the bird quickly nudges the ball back into place and hops back on . At one point, the tennis ball escaped the small bird and rolled under a cabinet. Not one to be discouraged, the resourceful budgie used his beak to nudge the ball out into the sun-drenched living room. He quickly hopped back on for another go, impressively balancing for several seconds each time. Let's rock and roll! The bird chirps with delight as his owner's record his trick . At one point, the ball rolls under a cabinet, but Champ quickly retrieves it for another go . Budgies, which live on a diet of seeds and water, generally live anywhere from five to ten years .
|
The budgie, called Champ, amazes his owners with balancing trick .
While most birds opt to fly around the living room, Champ prefers to roll .
The determined bird refused to give up on his feat, jumping on several times .
|
f9750348261230402f9476f5abc5390888ffaac0
|
By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 16:23 EST, 5 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:32 EST, 6 January 2014 . Steakhouses around the world are well-known for touting their authenticity. But this Russian restaurant went the extra mile to show off their chargrilling process by setting an entire billboard on fire. These dramatic images show the moment the stunt promoting the food at Double Grill and Bar, in the city of Yekaterinburg, got underway. Scroll down for video . Hot topic: The billboard, advertising char-grilled steaks, was set on fire at night to create authentic burn marks . Passers-by had spent the previous day, in November, bemused by a large photograph of a raw steak, accompanied by no branding or advertising information. But one night, a pair of men dressed in chef outfits and armed with a flamethrower set the billboard alight along eight lines, mimicking the effects of a flame-grilling. Before: The billboard began its life as an otherwise unmarked photograph of a slab of beef . Bringing the fire: Two men dressed as chefs used a flamethrower to set the board alight . Though the board was only alight for a matter of seconds before the fire was extinguished, the aftermath left realistic-looking char marks along the meat - giving the illusion that it had been grilled. Although the trails of smoke emanating from the billboard soon faded, the 'cooked' piece of meat was visible to pedestrians and drivers the next day. The transformed ad also had the details of the Double Grill and Bar restaurant revealed so intrigued viewers could try out the steaks for themselves. Extinguisher: After the flames had burned for a short while, the men put out the billboard using fire extinguishers . Well done: After the flames had disappeared, authentic-looking whisps of smoke still drifted from the billboard . Taking the credit: After the stunt, a panel was revealed showing the details of the restaurant .
|
Double Grill and Bar in the city of Yekaterinburgh organised the stunt .
Men dressed as chefs set a photograph of a raw steak alight .
After the billboard was extinguished, the steak appeared to be cooked .
|
f9752079f492466aa0d98c97c075372b07f53e49
|
Corey Curtis, 44, owes about $90,000 in back child support and interest to the mothers of his children . A judge ordered him to curb his excessive breeding as a condition of a three-year probation term . By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:21 EST, 4 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:23 EST, 4 December 2012 . A Wisconsin man who has fathered nine children with six different women was ordered to stop having babies until he can support his existing dependents. Corey Curtis, 44, of Racine, Wisconsin, owes about $90,000 in back child support and interest to the mothers of his children. At his December 3 sentencing for bail jumping and failure to pay child support, a circuit court judge ordered Curtis to curb his excessive breeding as a condition of a three-year probation term. Deadbeat dad: Corey Curtis, 44, of Racine, Wisconsin, owes about $90,000 in back child support and interest to the six mothers of his nine children . The judge said Curtis will need to clear his debt before he can have his tenth child, the Smoking Gun reports. Curtis has been arrested and charged with failure to pay child support on numerous occasions over the past 11 years, court records show. Curtis’ record includes convictions for passing bad checks, criminal damage and burglary. Other deadbeat dads have been given similar demands in the past.In March 2002, a judge ordered Luther Crawford of Kentucky, who had 12 children with 11 women, to stop having sex in an effort to keep him from having his 13th child. Deadbeat dad: Luther Crawford of Kentucky, who had 12 children with 11 women, was ordered to stop having sex in an effort to keep him from having his 13th child . Desmond Hatchett of Tennessee, America’s most infamous baby machine, has fathered more than 20 children with 11 women, according to Knoxville News. Hatchett has been locked up for the last three years and his sentence won't expire until November 2014. Deadbeat dad: Desmond Hatchett of Tennessee, who has fathered more than 20 children with 11 women, has been locked up for the last three years .
|
Corey Curtis, 44, owes about $90,000 in back child support and interest to the mothers of his children .
A judge ordered him to curb his excessive breeding as a condition of a three-year probation term .
America’s most infamous baby machine, Desmond Hatchett of Tennessee, has fathered more than 20 children with 11 women .
|
f9758f04398e42d3fab9bc56fa750260e4c675ed
|
A Pennsylvania architect says that two years ago airport security threw him in a jail cell for 23 hours because he wished to file a complaint when his search was taking too long, said a lawsuit for $75,000 in damages filed last week. Roger Vanderklok was at a security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on January 26, 2013 hoping to fly to Miami to run a half-marathon when security mistook his Power Bars and his watch for a bomb and explosive device. Vanderklok claims that he complained when TSA official Charles Kieser and other staff searched his bag for 30 minutes without telling him what they were searching for. Lawsuit: Roger Vanderklok, who was detained for 23 after a search of energy bars and a sports watch in his carry-on bag at Philadelphia International Airport, has sued the Transportation Security Administration . Confusion: TSA workers initially thought that the power bar in Vanderklok's bag along with a heart-monitoring watch were a possible explosive device . Philly.com reports that the employees asked him what a tube shaped item in his bag was to which he replied his heart-monitoring watch. Vanderklok claims that TSA Staff then went on to ask him if he had any ‘organic matter’ in his bag meaning food. Vanderklok who thought ‘organic matter’ meant just fruit and vegetables said no. Power Bars are considered organic matter because they are made with milk, grain, and sugar. They also vaguely resemble a common homemade explosive. TSA agents believed that the watch may have been the item used to detonate a bomb which they thought might be the Power Bar. Vanderklok said that airport staff later deemed his items harmless and that's when he asked to file a complaint because the search took a long time and they failed to communicate with him effectively. He said that had someone told him what they meant by 'organic matter' the search would not have taken as long as it did. That's when Vanderklok was allegedly escorted to a holding cell without any explanation as to why he was there. He was later arraigned at 2 a.m. on 'threatening the placement of a bomb' and making 'terroristic threats,' according to Philly.com. Scared for his life: 'I was scared to death. I have never been arrested in my life, never had handcuffs put on,' Vanderklok said of the traumatic experience . Preparing to race: Roger Vanderklok was at a security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on January 26, 2013 hoping to fly to Miami to run a half-marathon . 'I was scared to death. I have never been arrested in my life, never had handcuffs put on,' Vanderklok said. 'Throughout the night, I was in a dark place; no one knew where I was. I thought, "I could fall off the face of the earth right now, and no one would know it." ' Kieser told the court following the arrest that Vanderklok was detained because he became agitated and told TSA agents while pointing his finger, 'I'll bring a bomb through here any day I want … you'll never find it.' Vanderklok repeated the aggressive finger-pointing two more times, Kieser testified. Vanderklok was only released after his wife shelled out 10% of his $40,000 bail. Philly.com reports that surveillance footage of the interaction shows no conflict or any evidence of finger pointing. Bailed him out: Vanderklok wasn't released from his 23 hour fiasco until his wife Eleanor bailed him out by paying 10 per cent of his $40,000 bail . The surveillance footage shows no sign of distress by TSA employees either. They can be seen chatting with one another, checking their cell phones, and sipping on soda. Kiesler's story changed when spoke with police and when he testified. He told police that Vanderklok became agitated and said 'Anybody could bring a bomb in here and nobody would know.' Kiesler in court said that Vanderklok threatened them with a bomb directly. Surveillance foitage proved that Kielser was lying and a judge acquitted Vanderklok of all charges.
|
Roger Vanderklok was at a security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on January 26, 2013 when his bag was searched by TSA .
Vanderklok had Power Bars and a heart monitoring watch in his bag which airport security thought might be an explosive device .
Vanderklok filed a lawsuit against a TSA agent he claimed lied in court about Vanderklok making a bomb threat he did not make .
Surveillance footage of the incident shows that Vanderklok maintained his calm throughout the interaction .
|
f975a3fbe9649d3b2bbf728d655454a7b257db49
|
Men of the 1st battalion The . Royal Tank Regiment were told while serving in Afghanistan . By . Emily Allen and Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 19:34 EST, 4 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:29 EST, 5 July 2012 . The Army will be left at its weakest since 1750 after Philip Hammond announced the biggest shake-up for a century. Despite admitting troops' morale was 'fragile', the Defence Secretary ploughed ahead with axing some of the most distinguished battalions – including those serving in Afghanistan. The plan will contribute to reducing Army personnel from 102,000 to 82,000 – its lowest level in more than 250 years and just half the 163,000 servicemen it boasted during the Falklands conflict. The number of Ministry of Defence civil servants is as many as 80,000. Scroll down for video . Soldiers from The Royal Welsh being inspected by a Zulu leader Chief Berthelezi . Finest hour: Painting commemorating the heroic defence of Rorke's Drift in 1879 by the Royal Welsh, now based in Tidworth, Wiltshire . Famous: British soldiers stand fast against the Zulus at Rorke's Drift in the 1964 Michael Caine film Zulu . Mr Hammond caused outrage by telling soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) that their unit was being axed as they battle the Taliban. About 50 are attached to the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment on the front line. And hundreds of troops serving in Helmand with the 1st Battalion The Royal Tank Regiment were informed they will be merged. The cull also hit the historic 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, which traces its roots to the battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879, where seven of its men won Victoria Crosses for their stand against the Zulus. In total, 17 major Army units – some dating back more than 300 years – will be lost under the reforms, described by Mr Hammond as a 'vision for the future'. But top brass accused him of 'taking a risk' with Britain's security while Labour said the reorganisation was a 'military gamble'. The 1964 film Zulu, starring Michael Caine as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, dramatised the heroism shown by soldier at the battle . Iconic: Zulu starred Stanley Baker (pictured), Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth and Michael Caine and was narrated by Richard Burton . The Royal Welsh, which was created in 2006 by the amalgamation of the . Royal Regiment of Wales and the Royal Welch Fusiliers, can trace its . history back to the defiant stand at Rorke’s Drift during the Zulu War – . at which it won seven VCs. At the time – in 1878 – the unit was known as the 24th Regiment of Foot – or the Warwicks. That historic regiment, which started life as Colonel Dering’s in 1689, became the South Wales Borderers in 1881 and won many honours in The Boer War and the world wars. In Brecon, the South Wales Borderers' museum tells the story of Rorke's Drift along with an exhibition of all the Victoria Cross medals won by the regiment in its long history. In the Zulu War Room, the exploits of the 24th Regiment, known by Queen Victoria as 'the Noble 24th' during the 1879 war are recorded, along with the events surrounding the defence of Rorke's Drift by B Company of the 2nd Battalion, the famous event recorded in the 1960s Sir Stanley Baker film Zulu. The decision to axe the 2nd Battalion means its 640 members based . Tidworth in Wiltshire face an uncertain future. The MoD said staff will . be merged with the regiment's 1st Battalion. Lib Dem MP Sir Bob Russell told Mr Hammond he would 'go down in history as the man who hammered the Army'. The Defence Secretary announced the . Army 2020 overhaul yesterday after postponing the cuts for four months. The Army will end up at its smallest since 1750, when it had 78,900 men. Four infantry units will be disbanded . – the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which in an . earlier incarnation won six VCs 'before breakfast' at Gallipoli, and . the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffordshire) joining the 2 . Royal Welsh and 2 Yorks. A fifth, the Argyll and Sutherland . Highlanders, 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, will be . reduced to 120 soldiers performing ceremonial duties at Edinburgh Castle . and Holyrood. And critics blasted the decision to . save all five Scottish cap badges – which struggle to recruit enough . troops – at the expense of English ones, calling it a 'shabby political . fix' to avoid handing a propaganda coup to Alex Salmond's . pro-independence nationalists. Two cavalry units will be lost when . the Queen's Royal Lancers merge with the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and the . 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments are combined. The Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, . Army Air Corps, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical . Engineers and Royal Military Police will also be cut. The first units . will be axed next year. Mr Hammond said the changes were 'difficult and . challenging' but were needed to create a 'best-in-class Army'. He . defended the cuts despite admitting the UK faced an 'increasingly . uncertain world'. Bad news: Hundreds of soldiers were serving in . Afghanistan when they learned that their regiments are to be merged or . disbanded while others will be see their units completely scrapped (file picture) Cuts: Defence Secretary Philip Hammond in the House of Commons today . where he announced that the Army is to lose 17 major units in a cost-cutting service . overhaul which will reduce the Army by 20,000 . Impact: . Soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The . Royal Regiment of Scotland (pictured) will have their battalion reduced . in number and will have to perform ceremonial duties instead . This is the full list of unit changes announced today by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond. The infantry will be reduced by five battalions - with the withdrawal of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Staffords), and the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales). The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland will be reduced to a public duties company. The Armoured Corps is cut by two units with The Queen's Royal Lancers amalgamating with 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) and the merger of 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. The Royal Artillery will be reduced from 13 to 12 units with the withdrawal of the 39th Regiment Royal Artillery. The Royal Engineers will be reduced from 14 to 11 units with the withdrawal of 24 and 28 Engineer Regiments and 67 Works Group. The Army Air Corps will reduce from five to four units as 1 Regiment AAC merges with 9 Regiment AAC. The Royal Logistic Corps will be reduced from 15 to 12 units with 1 and 2 Logistic Support Regiments withdrawn from the Order of Battle and 23 Pioneer Regiment disbanded. The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers will be reduced to seven units with the withdrawal of 101 Force Support Battalion. 5 Regiment Royal Military Police will be removed. He said the Government had inherited a . £38billion overspend from Labour. 'We have had to make tough decisions . to implement our vision of a formidable, adaptable and flexible armed . forces,' he said. 'We need to transform the Army and . build a balanced, capable and adaptable force ready to face the future. It will be set on a firm foundation of men and material, well trained, . well equipped and fully funded.' On the axing of the battalions, he . said: 'It is a difficult process. I understand the attachments of the . regions and nations to specific units in the British Army and the . justifiable pride they have in those units. 'But it is absolutely clear this is . about delivering a war-fighting machine. While recognising and honouring . the golden history, our first priority must be looking resolutely to . the future.' Ministers want to double the Territorial Army's size to . 30,000 and he admitted that persuading businesses to allow that many . employees to join as reservists would be crucial. Labour's defence spokesman Jim Murphy . described the plan as a 'military gamble'. He said: 'Jobs and military . capability have been lost and tradition and history have been . sacrificed. 'This isn't just a smaller Army, it's also a less powerful . Army in a less influential nation.' Mr Murphy said that the Argyll and . Sutherland Highlanders were being reduced to 'guarding castles and being . the back drop to Japanese tourists' photographs'. General Lord Dannatt, former head of . the Army, said troops would no longer be capable of two operations at . the same time, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under the reforms, the Army will split into three: reaction forces, adaptable forces and force troops. The reaction forces will be prepared for speedy interventions and made up of three brigades including the Parachute Regiment. The adaptable forces will be dedicated to longer-term engagements, including the Falklands. And the force troops will be made up . of frontline support soldiers such as the artillery, engineers, signals, . intelligence and medical corps. Opinion: The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, said that under . the plan, the Army would become 'better integrated and fully adaptable' while former Army chief Lord Dannatt, right, said the cuts were 'risky' Three soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan by a man wearing Afghan Army uniform were today repatriated. The trio, members of an Afghan Police advisory team, were killed on July 1 after helping organise a meeting of elders at Checkpoint Kamparack Pul in Nahr-e-Saraj, Helmand Province. They received first aid at the scene but died of their injuries. A man believed to be responsible for the shooting is in custody, the MoD said. Today, Guardsmen Craig Roderick and Apete Saunikalou Ratumaiyale Tuisovurua, of the 1st Battalion the Welsh Guards, and Warrant Officer Leonard Thomas, of the Royal Corps of Signals, were flown into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. After a private ceremony their cortege passed the memorial garden before heading to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. WO2 Thomas, 44, was on his final tour in Afghanistan, having served since 1990 in units including the Coldstream and Welsh Guards before joining the RCS. Cardiff-born Guardsman Roderick, 22, was a trainee bricklayer before joining the Welsh Guards in September 2009, based in Aldershot. Fijian Guardsman Tuisovurua, 28, had been a soldier for little more than a year, having finished his training and joined the regiment in June 2011, based in Hounslow, west London. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond described the attack on the soldiers as 'cowardly'.Four other British soldiers have died in similar circumstances so far this year. The Ministry of Defence said there had been 16 'green on blue' UK fatalities since 2008, including the seven killed this year. In 2011, there was only one such death. Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned the killings and said the Government would do everything in its power to see that the gunman was brought to justice.
|
2nd Battalion Royal Welsh, which can trace its history back to the Zulu war, faces axe .
Defence Secretary admits morale is 'fragile' as a result of 'uncertainty' over the cuts announcement .
20,000 troops cut in the biggest money-saving overhaul of the service for decade .
Scotland is relatively unscathed with all its battalions retaining their caps and badges .
Ex-Army chief Lord Dannatt says cutbacks are 'risky' and could leave British military 'exposed'
Men of the 1st battalion The .
Royal Tank Regiment were told while serving in Afghanistan .
|
f975b861788596b72f15cefffc35116398d7611e
|
Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A suicide bomber killed himself and five other people, including a senior police official, in an attack in the center of the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Wednesday, a police officer at the scene said. Three police officials and two civilians were killed in the explosion, said Imran Shahid, the police officer. Thirty-one people were wounded, he added. Read more: 14 dead in bomb blast in northwest Pakistan . Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the gateway to Pakistan's tribal region, which is largely ungoverned and has a strong militant presence. For more than a decade, Peshawar has been on the front line for the Pakistani government's fight with militant groups such as the Taliban. A major terrorist attack near the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar in April 2010 killed at least 25 people. Who are the Pakistani Taliban? The area where the attack took place Wednesday is known as the Storytellers Market. It is one of the oldest markets in the country and predates the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
|
Three police officials, one of them senior, are killed in the blast .
The attack wounds 31 people, a police officer on the scene says .
Peshawar, where the attack took place, is a gateway to Pakistan's restive tribal region .
|
f975d457772b5b022de1dd23cc488ad282baf6b0
|
Joey Barton has given his version of events between him and Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season when the then-Marseille midfielder gestured that the PSG striker had a big nose. Barton reveals he was instructed to get under the Sweden international's skin by ex-Marseille manager Elie Baup, and that he and Ibrahimovic were simply exchanging taunts. Barton insists he was unaware that cameras would catch him, but defends his infamous act in February 2013 by saying he 'just told him the truth'. Joey Barton pictured during his time with Marseille in Ligue 1 where he did his infamous nose gesture . Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Barton were exchanging taunts and the latter gestured that he had a 'huge nose' Telling French newspaper L'Equipe, Barton said: 'Before the game, Elie Baup told me to get under Zlatan’s skin, to stop him from turning too easily and controlling aerial balls from their goalkeeper. ‘I was winning loads of free kicks, because he was making foul after foul. 'So he said to me: "You play hard, so stay on your feet", so I told him, laughing "Yeah, just stop making stupid fouls." 'Then he called me an English so-and-so, so I replied: "Yeah, I’m English, but you’ve got a huge nose", and I did the gesture showing his huge nose. Ibrahimovic apparently called Barton an 'English so-and-so' and the QPR midfielder replied about his nose . 'I didn’t think anyone would notice because the ball was far away, I thought that would be the end of it. 'But then for weeks after, all the kids in Marseille were coming up to me doing the nose gesture! I was like, "Whoa, everyone saw!" It was quite funny. 'As for that moment, Zlatan was surprised, because he’s Zlatan and no one ever says anything to him. 'But at the end of the day, I just told him the truth: Zlatan is a great player, and he has a huge nose.' PSG vs Marseille is the biggest fixture in Ligue 1, with the pair taking on each other on Sunday night. Like MailOnline Sport's Facebook page. Barton (right) pictured during the game against PSG with David Beckham (left) before his football retirement .
|
Joey Barton says he and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were exchanging taunts .
The QPR midfielder says the PSG star called him an 'English so-and-so'
Sweden international Ibrahimovic was told he had a 'huge nose' by Barton .
Barton says he did not know cameras would catch him making the gesture .
|
f975e857f57f0f6d96ed50006a7b4e126edf1f1a
|
By . Michael Seamark and Stephen Wright . UPDATED: . 03:42 EST, 12 July 2011 . Scotland Yard declared war on Rupert Murdoch's News International last night over a 'deliberate' attempt to derail the phone-hacking and police bungs investigation into the News of the World. Senior officers are disgusted by a series of leaks from within the company revealing confidential details of the Met's inquiry. The final straw came yesterday when the Queen and the Royal Family were drawn into the scandal engulfing the Murdoch machine. Security risk: Details of the movements of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were offered for sale to journalists . The BBC's business editor Robert Peston broke the astonishing news that the Sunday newspaper was paying a corrupt Royal Protection Officer for highly sensitive personal details about the Monarch, her close family and staff – a clear danger to security. The London Evening Standard was also briefed on the claims and within hours Scotland Yard issued an unprecedented and angry statement pointing the finger firmly at the News International empire. After days of leaks, the Met finally lost patience, saying: 'It is our belief that information that has appeared in the media today is part of a deliberate campaign to undermine the investigation into the alleged payments by corrupt journalists to corrupt police officers. 'At various meetings over the last few weeks information was shared with us by News International and their legal representatives and it was agreed by all parties that this information would be kept confidential so that we could pursue various lines of inquiry, identify those responsible without alerting them, and secure best evidence. Probe: Former NotW editor Andy Coulson, who was arrested and questioned over the scandal last week, relaxes with his family in a South London park yesterday . Scoop: The BBC's Robert Peston, left, broke the news that a royal protection officer was selling information. Former News of the World Royal Editor Clive Goodman was jailed in 2007 for phone hacking . 'However, we are extremely concerned and disappointed that the continuous release of selected information – that is only known by a small number of people – could have a significant impact on the corruption investigation.' The revelation that the Queen and her family had been targeted was the latest sensational development in the hacking and corruption scandal. According to the BBC's Mr Peston the company uncovered emails back in 2007 containing evidence a reporter was asking for £1,000 payments to give to the royal protection officer for confidential information about the Queen. In one of the emails Clive Goodman, . the newspaper's disgraced former royal editor jailed for phone-hacking, . requests cash from News of the World editor Andy Coulson to buy the . Green Book, a confidential royal directory. The emails imply that the . officer had stolen the directory. Contrary . to some reports yesterday, it does not contain private and direct . numbers for senior Royals. It contains numbers for main switchboards and . specific departments within the official residences. Nevertheless, . the book – which has the word 'secure' on the cover – is so sensitive . that when members of the Royal Household get a copy they must sign for . it. On his BBC blog Mr . Peston quotes a source saying: 'There was clear evidence from the emails . that the security of the Royal family was being put at risk. It is . quite astonishing that these emails were not handed to the police for . investigation when they were first found in 2007.' Under investigation: Rupert Murdoch, left, whose News International has been accused of a 'deliberate' attempt to derail the Met investigation, led by Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, left . The information . being offered by the Royal Protection officer also included tips about . the Queen's movements but, despite the potential risk to royal security, . they were not passed to Scotland Yard until last month. Goodman, 53, and Mr Coulson, 43, have been arrested and bailed until October on suspicion of bribing police officers. Buckingham Palace and Clarence House would not comment. Police say the leaks have forced the Yard to 'rip up' its investigations strategy, including the timetable of planned arrests. Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick's team of 50 investigators is vetted to high level and has sworn a confidentiality oath. A senior Yard source: 'We are 110 per cent certain that leaks have not come from Met.
|
'I was in tears': Gordon Brown reveals his agony after Rebekah Brooks told him The Sun had seen his sick four-month-old son's medical files .
BSkyB shares are down nearly 2% this morning to 703p .
News International 'accessed Brown's bank details and tricked lawyers into handing over information'
Blagger phoned Abbey National SIX times to get information about Brown's account .
Information Commissioner: 'Blagging is a modern scourge which should be punishable by jail'
|
f975e8d83bcbd2e4da4f72a764c9f1e011bba423
|
FORT HOOD, Texas (CNN) -- The bumper sticker reading "Allah is Love" was torn off and the car was keyed. A police report was filed in the August 16 incident involving Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's Honda, and a neighbor was charged with criminal mischief. But what kind of impact that incident, and possibly others, had on Hasan remains a mystery. While few official details have been released about Hasan, his family and others have given some insight into the man accused of killing 13 people and wounded 38 others in Thursday's massacre at Fort Hood Army Post in Texas. Relatives say Hasan, a U.S.-born citizen of Palestinian descent, was a "calm" individual who had been taunted after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Others describe him as a vocal opponent to the war on terror whose rhetoric concerned colleagues. The bumper sticker incident at Hasan's apartment complex in Killeen, Texas, is the first known example of harassment that has surfaced since the shooting. Apartment manager John Thompson said Friday that he reported the situation to police after the girlfriend of then-resident John van de Walker told him that he did it. Thompson said he saw van de Walker apologize to Hasan and that a police report was filed. He added that the bumper sticker said "Allah is Love" in Arabic, but that van de Walker knew that Hasan was Muslim before seeing it. Thompson said the last time he asked Hasan about the incident, Hasan said he was still waiting for reparations for damage to his 2006 Honda Civic. Efforts to reach van de Walker on Friday were unsuccessful. Hasan's cousin, Mohammad Munif Abdallah Hasan, said the Army major had wanted to leave the military because he felt disrespected over his religion. "There was racism towards him because he's a Muslim, because he's an Arab, because he prays," the cousin said in a CNN interview in the Palestinian city of Ramallah. "They used to see him dress in traditional Muslim clothing, so he was a bit irritated because of this. Also, the fact that they wanted to send him to Iraq. He decided to leave the Army for good and hire a lawyer because of this matter." "They wouldn't treat him as if he is one of them. He was a major in the Army and other majors wouldn't treat him equally as a major should be treated," the cousin said. " 'Yes, you are a major in the U.S. Army, but you are still an Arab, a Muslim, you have your own traditions and values and we have ours.' He was bothered by that a lot. He wasn't respected as he should have been." The cousin added that he wanted to leave the Army, especially after getting deployment orders. Army officials have indicated that Hasan was to deploy to Afghanistan to work with a unit already there as part of behavioral health support. It wasn't clear when Hasan was scheduled to go overseas for what would have been his first deployment. Dr. Val Finnell, a former medical school classmate of Hasan's, described him as "a very outspoken opponent of the war" in the classroom and in public settings. "He equated the war against terror with a war against Islam," Finnell said. He added that he was shocked by Thursday's shooting. "However, that said, given the things that Maj. Hasan has said to me in the past and to other people, I am not surprised." There are about 3,500 Muslims in the U.S. Army, less than 1 percent of the total number of soldiers. The investigation into the shootings is ongoing, and Army officials have not indicated any evidence of Hasan being harassed among the ranks. Hasan's cousin said that despite the concerns over discrimination, a motive behind the shootings still was incomprehensible. "If he had killed one or two, I could say that he was defending himself. I could say that there could have been a problem between two sides which led to the use of weapons. But for one to kill 13 people and injure more than 30, I personally don't think that it was because someone was bothering him. There is a bigger reason that this happened and no ones knows it besides Nidal." Mohammad Hasan remembered his cousin's trip to Jerusalem, 6 miles from Ramallah, 15 years ago to learn about his roots. "He acted normal." More recently, Nidal Hasan may have attended a lecture in January at George Washington University involving the Israeli ambassador to the United States and other officials discussing Israel's offensive into Gaza last winter. Video from the lecture shows a person who appears to be Hasan dressed in military fatigues seated in the audience taking notes. In a statement Friday, Hasan's family in the United States said, "We are mortified with what has unfolded and there is no justification, whatsoever, for what happened. We are all asking why this happened -- and the answer is that we simply do not know. "We cannot explain, nor do we excuse what happened yesterday. Yesterday's violence in no way reflects the feelings, beliefs, or principles of our family," the statement continued, adding that the family is cooperating with authorities. Hasan's neighbors on Friday said he cleaned out his apartment the morning of the shootings and gave copies of the Quran to several residents. His next-door neighbor, Patricia Villa, said he gave her his furniture and paid her $60 to clean his apartment hours before the shooting. "He told me he was leaving for Iraq or somewhere," Villa said. "I didn't think much of it." Another neighbor, Willie Bell, said Hasan had helped him set up his laptop and regularly tapped into Bell's wireless service. Bell, a maintenance man at Fort Hood who didn't show up for work Thursday, said he was interviewed by the FBI for four hours that day and the laptop was seized. He said he received two calls from Hasan early Thursday, one at 2:37 a.m. asking Bell to turn on the wireless service and again at 5 a.m. to say he was moving. An owner of a 7-Eleven convenience store at Fort Hood said Hasan, whom he knew as "Maj. Nidal," came in for coffee and hash browns most mornings, including the morning of the shootings. Surveillance video from the store obtained by CNN shows a man who the store owner said is Hasan at the cashier's counter about 6:20 a.m. Thursday -- about seven hours before the shooting -- carrying a beverage and dressed in traditional Arab garb. While the owner said he was too busy to chat with Hasan on Thursday, he said that through his brief talks with Hasan he learned the officer didn't speak Arabic well. He added that Hasan didn't wear a wedding ring and joked several times about whether the owner knew a bride for him. Hasan would also ask the owner whether he planned to attend Friday prayers, a mainstay of Islam, to which the owner would say that he was too busy. Hasan was known to attend Friday prayers in Bethesda, Maryland, before he arrived at Fort Hood this year, said Imam Yahya Hendi, the Muslim chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center. "I met him a few times and I saw him at services ... he appeared to be a very loyal American," Hendi told CNN's "Situation Room." "I know he told me once that he joined the military because he wanted to do something for America in the aftermath of September 11. "He also told me once that he believed that Muslims who speak a language of exclusivity should not have room in the Muslim community -- that we must reject them," the chaplain continued. "And that's why for me, when I saw the footage yesterday about him, I said, 'Wait a minute -- is this the same guy I met a few years ago?' "
|
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan taunted for being a Muslim, family says .
"Allah is Love" bumper sticker torn off Hasan's car, apartment manager says .
Cousin says Hasan didn't receive the respect due to officer of his rank .
|
f97603168a8a023a99995f73458eb49b3fc97ef0
|
By . Darren Boyle . Montserrat Verdaguer i Clavera (pictured) dug a small hole with her hands in the 900-year-old cemetery to bury Tom Sharpe's ashes . The partner of comic author Tom Sharpe who died in Spain last year has driven his ashes 1,200 miles to a small Northumberland church for an impromptu burial service. His partner of ten years, Montserrat Verdaguer i Clavera, left the Costa Brava with the author's ashes in the passenger seat and travelling through Spain and France before boarding the Channel Tunnel to England. Ms Clavera dug a hole with her bare hands in St Aidan's cemetery, Thokrington before holding the unconventional service. She placed a cuban cigar, a pen as well as a bottle of whisky on the small mound. The author had written of his desire . to return to Thokrington as his father had been based at St Aidan's . Church and is buried in the cemetery. One . of the photographs brought by Ms Clavera to Northumberland was an image . of the writer as a chlid standing beside his father outside the church. The prolific author . had several of his novels adapted for film and television moved to Spain . in the mid 1990s where he befriended his partner and her late husband. After Ms Clavera's husband died, the widow moved in with Mr Sharpe. Ms Clavera discovered the writer's wish to return to Northumberland while looking through some papers after his death. Ms Clavera brought with her a photograph of Tom Sharpe as a child standing beside his father George, left, and another of him in later life, right . Tom Sharpe, left, wrote of his wish to be buried in Northumberland and during an unconventional ceremony his partner of ten years Montserrat Verdaguer i Clavera marked his final resting place with a bottle of whisky, a Cuban cigar, his favourite pen as well as a small plaque, right . Ms Clavera brought a photograph of the young Tom Sharpe taken by his father George in Thockrington, and placed it alongside a Cuban cigar, a bottle of Grouse whisky and the writer's favourite pen. She said: 'In this ancient church in Northumberland in which your father was buried, you will remain for eternity. In the middle of nowhere, in an empty place, surrounded by grass and sheep. Tom Sharpe, rest in peace forever.' She said she first met the author in 1994 when he bought a house in Spain. When her husband died a decade ago, she moved in with Mr Sharpe. 'He was a marvellous man. Very intelligent, very nice. Sometimes he had an explosion - he could get very cross about things. Then 10 or 15 minutes later he’d be fine.' Ms Clavera, right, met with Tom Sharpe's friend Charlie Harrison, left, for the unusual service in Thockrington, Northumberland . Ms Clavera . met Mr Sharpe's friend Charlie Harrison who had known the writer for . the past 25 years. Mr Harrison befriended the author when he was visiting the area. Ms Clavera drove 1,200 miles with an urn containing Tom Sharpe's ashes (pictured) from the Costa Brava to St Aidan's Churchyard in Throckrington, Northumberland . He said: 'I saw this chap looking confused. I went over to help. He said he was looking for Pasture House as his father had lived there. I asked: "Are you Tom Sharpe? I saw you on the TV aweek ago." We became good friends. 'Tom loved this area. His grandfather William was a stonemason for the Belsay estate. 'He would come back at every opportunity and had friends round this area. He was a wonderful guy, but I used to say he was a bit crazy. He had some funny ideas. He would have loved this.' The 900-year-old graveyard attached to . St Aidan's is also the final resting place of William Beveridge, who . wrote the report which led to the foundation of the welfare state and . female aviation pioneer Connie Leathart. Rev Michael Slade said he would like to know where the writer is buried 'to keep a record for posterity's sake'. However, Church authorities want to speak to Mr Sharpe's family about the unauthorised burial. Martin . Sheppard, spokesman for the Diocese of Newcastle said: 'There are rules . and regulations, traditions and customs around churchyards to keep them as they are. 'That’s why people want to be buried there, it’s a particular kind of place.' Mr Sheppard refused to say whether Mr Sharpe's ashes would have to be removed from the graveyard. He said: 'I don’t want to speculate on what might happen.' Several of Sharpe's novels were adapted for television and film such as WIlt (left) starring Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith and Porterhouse Blue (right) featuring David Jason .
|
Tom Sharpe's long-term partner drove 1,200 miles with the author's ashes .
She decided to fulfill the author's wishes because he wrote about it fondly .
She dug a small hole by hand in the cemetery before interring the urn .
Ms Clavera marked the spot with a bottle of whisky, a Cuban cigar and the author's favourite pen .
|
f9767b65a87e43a98c655eef6f01c71b741e1e4f
|
Poverty levels in the UK have fallen to levels last seen more than two decades ago, new figures showed today. The number of people in relative poverty has fallen by 100,000 over the past year to 9.7 million. Overall, 15 per cent of people were in relative poverty last year, the lowest level since the 1980s. The official figures were released by the Department for Work and Pensions. They show how relative poverty - measured as living on 60 per cent of median average incomes - has been falling gradually since 2008-09 in the wake of the financial crash. Before housing costs are taken into account, the number of people living below the threshold has fallen by 100,000 over the past year to 9.7 million. In 2007-08 the figure hit 11million. Median incomes remained broadly unchanged between 2011/12 and 2012/13, up £2 to £440 a week for a couple with no children. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Despite the deepest debt-fuelled recession in living memory when £112 billion was wiped off the economy, we have protected the most vulnerable families from falling behind with 300,000 fewer children in poverty since 2010. 'Today's figures underline the need to stick to the Government's long-term economic plan of restoring a strong economy that creates jobs, and a tax and welfare system that helps people into work and makes work pay.' However, the percentage of people in absolute low income after housing costs has increased slightly to 23 per cent, the highest it has been since 2001-02. Among children, 17 per cent are in relative low income before housing costs, the lowest level since the 1980s, although it has not fallen in the last year. Labour's Rachel Reeves, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'These figures show the Government's child poverty strategy is failing abysmally with no progress for the millions of children still living in poverty. 'They also include extremely worrying signs that rising housing costs are set to push more children into poverty and that severe poverty is on the rise.' The Gingerbread campaign group said the statistics also showed a steep rise in child poverty for single parent households where the parent works full-time, climbing from 17 per cent of households where the single parent works full-time in poverty in 2011-12 to 22 per cent in 2012-13. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the figures showed that the government had protected the most vulnerable families from falling behind . Almost one in four children whose single mother or father works full-time is now growing up poor, while nearly one in three with a single parent working part-time is in poverty, said the group. Gingerbread chief executive Fiona Weir said: 'It is deeply concerning that while the economy is on the up, hundreds of thousands of families remain trapped into poverty. 'For far too many single parent families, work offers no real promise of escape from hardship, as today's figures show a rise in working poverty where a single mum or dad is working full-time.' TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'Today's figures clearly show why living standards are falling. While wages have stagnated, and benefits and tax credits have been cut, prices have been rising - especially the cost of housing. 'Since the last election a million more adults and half a million more children fell into absolute poverty when housing costs are taken into account. 'Without a major affordable home building programme and action to secure fair wages, this type of poverty will continue to grow.' Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: 'Today's figures show that we are not making sufficient progress into tackling high levels of poverty, despite rising employment and economic recovery. 'The return to lasting economic growth and long-term prosperity will be hampered if we fail to address the levels of poverty in the UK. We know that individual policies which tinker around the edges do not reduce poverty. 'We need a comprehensive strategy that gets to grips with low pay, the high cost of essentials and reform to the tax and benefits system to ensure work is a route out of poverty.' Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: 'Child poverty remains at its lowest level since the 1980s. It has fallen by 300,000 since 2009/10. 'Does the Government want to continue to do more in this area? Of course. 'Absolutely at the heart of improving prosperity across the country and for all is the importance of sticking to the long-term economic plan, because at the heart of dealing with poverty is work.' The spokesman added: 'In terms of wider poverty, the target established under the previous government is one of relative income, and that stands at its lowest level since 1982.'
|
Number of people in relative poverty fell by 100,000 last year to 9.7 million .
15% of people were in relative poverty, the lowest level since the 1980s .
Iain Duncan Smith says poorest have been protected from impact of cuts .
|
f977c468022100b04d913e0d2add0de1f7ed43d9
|
Many people turn their phone off overnight or when charging, but a new malware could be taking advantage of this power-saving technique. Security researchers have spotted a virus that kicks in when the power button on Android phones and tablets is pressed. It makes the phone appear to be switched off but instead the malware is running in the background making calls, sending messages and accessing other files and apps. The malware is installed when the user downloads infected apps. When the power button is pressed, the malware shows a fake dialogue pop-up designed to look like the Android Power off menu (pictured). The phone then appears to shut down and the malware can make calls, send messages and access other files . In theory, once installed and enabled, the app has control of the phone and can perform any task the hacker wants it to. A blog post from the Amsterdam-based antivirus firm explained that the malware is installed when the user downloads an infected app from an app store. AVG hasn’t revealed which apps are carrying the malware and MailOnline has contacted the firm for more information. It’s likely the apps are installed from third-party app stores rather than Google Play, due to Google’s strict policy on malware. The malware is installed when the user downloads infected apps. When the power button is pressed, the malware makes the phone appear to shut down. The malware can then make calls, send messages and access other files and apps. Experts said the the only way to know a phone is actually turned off is to remove the battery. The app runs in the background, so isn’t immediately noticeable and won’t appear as a rogue app or icon on the homescreen. But, running a scan using an antivirus app will detect and remove the files. However, the Play Store has featured infected apps in the past, so users are advised to download all apps with caution, and to check reviews and developer details if they are unsure. ‘This malware hijacks the shutting down process of your mobile, so when the user turns the power off button to shut down their mobile, it doesn’t really shut down,’ said the researchers. ‘After pressing the power button, you will see the real shutdown animation, and the phone appears off. Although the screen is black, it is still on. ‘While the phone is in this state, the malware can make outgoing calls, take pictures and perform many other tasks without notifying the user.’ The malware does this by hijacking a line of code in the shutting down process and asking for root permission. This gives the hacker permission to access and modify any files, apps and software on the device. Once permission is granted, the malware shows a fake dialogue pop-up when the power button is pressed. The malware works by hijacking a line of code in the shutting down process and asking for root permission. This gives the hacker permission to access and modify any files (pictured), apps and software on the device. But, running a scan using an antivirus app will detect and remove the files . This is designed to look like the standard Android menu and when the ‘Power off’ option is selected, the fake animation is shown and the screen goes black. It will continue to make calls and send messages until the phone is switched on and AVG said the the only way to know a phone is actually turned off is to remove the battery. The app runs in the background, so isn’t immediately noticeable and won’t appear as a rogue app or icon on the homescreen. But, running a scan using an antivirus app will detect and remove the files. The outbreak is said to have originated in China and appears to only affect phones running older versions of Android - before Android KitKat. Lenovo has come under fire for selling laptops that come pre-installed with a 'horrifically dangerous' software named Superfish. The Superfish software appears to affect Internet Explorer and Google Chrome on the Lenovo laptops sold between September 2014 and January 2015 . Lenovo has come under fire for selling laptops that come pre-installed with a 'horrifically dangerous' software named Superfish. The Chinese computer manufacturer says Superfish helps users find products online by analysing images and presenting similar, cheaper products. But security analysts claim that what Superfish actually does is serve intrusive ads, as well as compromise private information such as bank details and passwords. The Superfish software appears to affect Internet Explorer and Google Chrome on the Lenovo laptops sold between September 2014 and January 2015. Users can find out if they are affected by looking at Windows' list of trusted certificates by opening up the Control Panel and searching for 'certificates'. If Superfish Inc is one of them, the computer may be vulnerable to attack. Rather than simply uninstalling the programme, users are advised to back everything up on their systems and install a new operating system.
|
The malware is installed when the user downloads infected Android apps .
When the power button is pressed it makes the phone appear to shut down .
Malware shows a ‘Power Off’ message and even a shutdown animation .
It can then take control of the phone to make calls and send messages .
App works in the background, so will not be immediately noticeable .
Running an antivirus app will spot and remove the malware .
Experts have not revealed which apps the malware is on but said it affects phones and tablets running older versions of Android - before KitKat .
|
f977d01ada3d7295b7f279b560691f9ea912888d
|
By . Tania Steere . A family found an unwelcome surprise in their salad as they sat down to eat their dinner – a live two-inch locust. Richard Loughton, 53, was dishing out the M&S Italian-style baby leaf salad to go with their pasta bake on Friday night when he noticed a ‘huge’ locust crawling around in the packet. He pointed it out to his wife Helen, 51, and daughter Kate, 20, who were horrified. Richard Loughton, 53, found a two-inch locust in a bag of Marks & Spencer Italian-style baby leaf salad, as he dished up dinner to his family . Kate, who is a healthcare assistant, said: ‘We managed to clip the bag shut but it kept crawling round inside it. I think because we opened the bag and gave it some oxygen it perked up and started munching on the lettuce. It was such a shock.’ Locusts are larger than . grasshoppers and can be found in more than 60 countries.They are a . farmer’s worst enemy because they descend in swarms and devastate crops. Helen read the packet, which said the salad was ‘produced in more than one country’. She said: ‘It could have come from anywhere.’ M&S have said the salad comes from their ‘trusted suppliers’ in Spain and Italy. Kate added: ‘It really ruined our Friday night dinner. It was disgusting. I have no idea how it got in there without anybody noticing, it was huge, about two inches. You just don’t expect to open your salad and for there to be a locust inside.’ Richard, who is an engineer, purchased the salad from the Marylebone branch on his way home to High Wycombe from work. The family rang M&S and asked what they should do with the locust and they were told to return the salad to their local store. The locust was still alive and moving around inside the packet when Helen took the salad back the next day. The family were given just £10 in compensation. This is the second locust found in a packaged salad in just one month. A Waitrose customer also found a locust in her watercress, spinach and rocket salad at the beginning of April. Kate said she’s going to be avoiding M&S salads for a while and checking what she eats very thoroughly. A spokeswoman for M&S said: ‘We’re very sorry to hear about the customer’s complaint. Quality is extremely important to us and we are working closely with our supplier to investigate the incident further.’
|
Richard Loughton, 53, from High Wycombe, spotted the 'huge' locust .
He found it as he dished out an M&S Italian-style baby leaf salad to his family .
Marks & Spencer apologised and gave the family £10 compensation .
|
f977d7f6fe0f3e900cc2d471a2ff2eb00297d112
|
(CNN) -- Authorities in Virginia are searching for a young pregnant woman, missing since the end of January. "Bethany Anne Decker, 21, was last seen on January 29, 2011, according to witnesses in the case, including family," a statement from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said. She is believed to be about five months pregnant and is married to Emile Decker, a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, who is currently serving in Afghanistan. The couple also has a 17-month-old son. "The family is concerned and so are we," said Vince DiBenedetto, a sheriff's spokesman. "We are in a race against the clock and playing catch-up on a lot of this." She was last seen January 29 and was reported missing by her family about three weeks later on February 19 "after repeated attempts to make contact with her." Decker's last known address was in Ashburn, about 25 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Her car was found at an apartment complex where she lived and was in the process of moving from. DiBenedetto said the vehicle offered no clues to her whereabouts. When her husband, Emile, was home on leave in January, the couple went to Hawaii to visit her father and then stayed with her grandparents in Maryland after they returned, DiBenedetto said. Emile Decker returned to Afghanistan the first week of February and some members of her family saw him off at the airport. Bethany Decker was not there, according to DiBenedetto. Authorities have talked with Emile Decker from Afghanistan via phone and are trying to arrange a video conference with him, DiBenedetto said.
|
Bethany Decker is believed to be about five months pregnant .
Her car was found at an apartment she was moving out of .
Her husband Emile Decker is serving in Afghanistan .
|
f9788c25d10b46f1f80afc0cdb24d41d7cd422ad
|
By . Kieran Gill for MailOnline . Follow @@kie1410 . Roger Federer has entered the final 16 of the US Open after coming from a set down to beat Marcel Granollers at Flushing Meadows. A two-hour interruption in the opening set due to severe storms in New York saw the World No 3 leave court trailing 5-2 to the man 39 places adrift of him in the rankings. Federer used the break to gather his composure, though, and proved too much for his Spanish counterpart as he orchestrated three consecutive 6-1 sets to breeze beyond the third round. Champ: The five-time US Open winner has reached the final 16 of the competition after a hard-earned win . Winner: Roger Federer cruised past Spain's Marcel Granollers at Flushing Meadows on Sunday night . Glad: The suspension of play for severe weather seemed to help Federer gather his composure for the win . Well played: Federer was able to see off Granollers in New York to reach the last 16 of the tournament . Click here for all the pictures of the US Open's two-hour delay for severe weather . Granollers may feel the delay hindered him after the 28-year-old started surprisingly dominant against the man five years his senior. Granollers failed to maintain his early advantage, though, and could do little to stop Federer winning 20 out of 24 games in a tennis masterclass at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was a forehand winner that meant Federer won the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, and the five-time US Open champion must now turn to an imminent fourth round in the borough of Queens. World No 90 Adrian Mannarino or No 19 Roberto Bautista Agut are set to face each other in the third round to determine who Federer will meet next. Return: Federer won 20 out of 24 games after play was suspended for severe weather in New York . Broken: Granollers may feel the delay hindered his performance after storming to the opening set 6-2 . Out: Granollers started impressively but ultimately succumbed to Federer's skills and lost three sets all 6-1 . Crowd favourite: Federer is to face either World No 90 Adrian Mannarino or No 19 Roberto Bautista Agut next .
|
Roger Federer beats Marcel Granollers 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in third-round clash .
Two-hour break for severe weather saw Federer go in trailing first set 5-2 .
The 33-year-old returned and won 20 of 24 games after play was suspended .
World No 3 will play either Adrian Mannarino or Roberto Bautista Agut next .
|
f9797e2ec1cacab9914a2a298d71f5c198270735
|
Exotic animals can make popular pets but a cat with a touch of the supernatural will stand out in among the neighbours’ moggies. A new breed of cat that looks like a werewolf and behaves like a dog has been developed by U.S. breeders . The Lykoi gets its spooky looks because of a genetic mutation in a domestic shorthair cat, which prevents the curious creature from growing a full coat of fur, making it looks like a werewolf. Scroll down for video... Spooky: Breeders have developed this new breed of cat that looks like a werewolf and behaves like a dog . This pet is for life and not just Halloween: The Lykoi's supernatural appearance will make it very popular . Just like supernatural werewolf characters, the cats have a 'strong prey drive' that 'causes them to stalk and pounce on everything they consider to be prey'. The werewolf character from the 1981 film, Werewolf in London, is pictured . The Lykoi gets its spooky looks because of a genetic mutation in a domestic shorthair cat, which prevents the curious creature from growing a full coat of fur. Its name comes from the Greek for wolf and translates as ‘wolf cat. The animal has no hair around its eyes, nose, ears and muzzle as well as a consistently patchy coat on the rest of its body. It behaves like a dog as it hunts for prey and toys and is also friendly and loyal to owners. Due to incomplete hair follicles, the cat has a patchy coat, moults and can go completely bald some of the time. A total of 14 litters of kittens not from the original litter have been reported and there are just seven breeders registered in the world. Its name comes from the Greek for 'wolf' and translates as ‘wolf cat’ as the animal has no hair around its eyes, . nose, ears and muzzle as well as a consistently patchy coat on the rest . of its body. Curiously Lykois are said to have a ‘hound dog personality’. ‘They like to hunt around the house for whatever they can find. 'They show caution to strangers, but warm up quickly and become very friendly,’according to the breed’s website. Perhaps in parallel to supernatural werewolf characters, the cats have a ‘strong prey drive’ that ‘causes them to stalk and pounce on everything they consider to be prey.’ However, unlike a werewolf, whose . personality chances at full moon, Lykois are said to be friendly and . playful as well as loyal to their owners. The Lykoi (pictured left and right) gets its spooky looks because . of a genetic mutation in a domestic shorthair cat, which prevents the . curious creature from growing a full coat of fur, making it looks like a . werewolf . The Lykoi's name comes from the Greek for wolf and translates as 'wolf cat' as the animal has no hair around its eyes, nose, ears and muzzle as well as a patchy coat on the rest of its body (pictured) The first official Lykois came about as the result of a natural mutation of the shorthair cat. ‘The gene is a natural mutation that appeared in the domestic cat population,’ said Breeder Johnny Gobble. ‘There was no human intervention to create the cat. We are simply using the genetics of natural processes,’ he added. There were three ‘foundation breeders’ – Mr Gobble, his wife Brittney Gobble and Patti Thomas, who located the first two kittens, while it was Mr Gobble used cats from two groups of kittens to breed the first Lykoi kittens. They found that the cats were not a Sphynx (a breed of hairless cat) that had retained some of its fur and this was confirmed by DNA testing that did not find the Sphynx gene. In fact, researchers found that a new breed had been created, but they wanted to make sure the kittens were completely healthy before breeding them. Tests were run to rule out genetic illnesses and dermatologists at the University of Tennessee examined the animals for skin abnormalities . Researchers wanted to make sure the kittens were completely healthy before breeding them . Looking out for the full moon? Unlike a werewolf, whose personality chances suddenly, Lykois are said to be friendly and playful as well as loyal to their owners . Tests were run to rule out genetic illnesses and dermatologists at the University of Tennessee examined the animals for skin abnormalities. While none were found, the scientists were stumped at first as to what had caused the strange coat. They then found that some of the animals' hair follicles lacked all the components needed to create hair and that follicles that did have an undercoat were imbalanced so the hair could not be maintained. Consequently the cats moult and can go completely bald some of the time – not just on a full moon. The first official Lykois (like the one pictured) arose from a natural mutation in black domestic shorthair cats . It is hoped that the felines will be categorised as a 'preliminary new breed' by the The International Cat Association (TICA) this coming Autumn when they will be able to be shown at cat shows. A total of 14 litters of kittens not from the original litter have been reported and there are just seven Lykoi breeders registered in the world, making the kittens hot property. Mr Gobble said that breeders get requests for the unusual kittens daily and he gets asked about the breed at least ten times a day. ‘We are doing our very best to monitor breeding cats to ensure that the Lykoi cat will be a new breed that has wonderful health, great personality, and the Lykoi (werecat) look,’ he said. It is hoped the felines will be categorised as a 'preliminary new breed' by the The International Cat Association this coming Autumn . Bald beauty: The cats moult and can go completely bald some of the time because of incomplete hair follicles .
|
Tennessee-based breeders used ablack domestic shorthair cat with a naturally occurring mutation to create the Lykoi .
New breed has a patchy coat caused by incomplete hair follicles and no hair around its eyes, nose, ears and muzzle - it can eve go completely bald .
It behaves like a dog as it has 'a strong prey drive,' is friendly and loyal .
|
f97a29757959fd7e08b4bf1e737b26443f52aa29
|
A Good Samaritan Royal Marine lost his leg after he was hit by flying debris when he stopped to help the victims of a motorway car crash. Lee Spencer, 45, had stopped to help the stricken driver and passengers, but as he tried to alert other motorists another car smashed into the BMW. In the force of the crash, the BMW's engine was torn from the vehicle and flew across the motorway lanes, hitting the Colour Sergeant from Horrabridge, Devon, and knocking him over the crash barrier onto the grass verge. Royal Marine: Lee Spencer lost his leg after he was hit by flying debris when he stopped to help the victims of a motorway car crash . His right leg was severed in the impact, but the serviceman's Forces training kicked in and he was even able to instruct bystanders on how to tie a tourniquet around his leg, and help paramedics to save his life. Doctors were unable to save the limb, which had to be amputated, but CSgt Spencer, formerly of 3 Commando Brigade, has now dedicated his life to helping others, having raised thousands of pounds for charity before his accident. Speaking for the first time about the incident, the married father-of-two said: 'I was extremely close to death, but now I’m in this position where I’m just glad to be here today. 'Now I just want to help people.' CSgt Spencer had been driving on the M3 through Surrey on January 5 when he spotted hazard lights flashing in the distance. He could see a BMW had collided with the central reservation, and was partially blocking the middle and outside lanes. 'My immediate thought was well, I’m a first aider, if anyone is left in that car they are in mortal danger and I need to get them out,' he said. 'I pulled over onto the hard shoulder. Caring: CSgt Spencer, pictured with his wife Claire and children Billy and Harriet, says he has 'no excuses but to get on with life', and wants to use his experiences to help others . Staying positive: CSgt Spencer spent five weeks in hospital, and is now undergoing rehabilitation at Devonport Naval Base’s Hasler Company . 'There I saw two men and a woman who were originally in the car, and another person who had stopped to help. 'I made sure they were okay, and that no-one was left in the car. 'I then walked about 200 metres up the hard shoulder using my phone as a torch to try and make drivers aware of the accident.' CSgt Spencer said he then remembers hearing a loud 'bang' before the sound of people screaming. He was then hit by something, which he at first thought was a car. In fact, an Audi had collided at speed with the BMW and the force of the impact between the two cars was so great that the engine of the BMW was thrown from the vehicle. CSgt Spencer said the engine hurtled 70 metres across the lanes of the motorway, striking him with full force. In action: CSgt Spencer, pictured in Afghanistan, completed three tours in the country, as well as serving in Northern Ireland and Iraq . The impact knocked him several metres from the hard shoulder, over the barrier, and onto a grass verge. 'I came to a stop, and I was thinking I could feel myself moving and I could hear people screaming,' he said. 'I looked down and saw my left leg at right angles to my body, my right leg was barely still attached. 'I guess it was my training because I started shouting ‘medic, medic’ without thinking where I was. Lifeline: CSgt Spencer with wife of 21 years, Claire (left), and receiving a police commendation alongside Frank and Zanele Sibindi (right), who helped to save his life . 'I could see I had a catastrophic bleed in my right leg. I knew from my medical training that I had to stop the bleeding fast. 'I knew I had four to six minutes before I was dead. I could feel the symptoms of shock coming on.' CSgt Spencer’s wife, Claire, said her injured husband had called her from the roadside. 'He rang me and said he’d been in an accident, and then hung up - he later said he didn’t want me to just get a knock at the door with someone bringing the news,' said the 47-year-old. Charitable: Even before his accident, CSgt Spencer was a keen charity fundraiser, and raised £11,000 by running a 52-mile double marathon . Kind hearted: He ran the back-to-back marathons in aid of Dominic Lovett - a former Royal Marine also from Horrabridge - who was paralysed from the neck down in an accident while on exercise in Norway . Determined: CSgt Spencer also ran a marathon across Dartmoor, which took him nine hours due to a severe snow storm hitting the high moor . 'Apparently he was telling people how to save his life. That was the Royal Marine training in him. 'Everyone was panicking and he was just so calm telling people how to tie a tourniquet using a belt. 'He even helped the paramedics when they arrived. 'It’s unbelievable really but that’s how Lee is.' When he came around from his medically-induced coma in the Intensive Care Unit at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, CSgt Spencer was told that doctors had been forced to amputate his right leg. While being treated at the Headley Court rehabilitation centre earlier this year, a Warrant Officer suggested Csgt Spencer attend an event supporting Royal Marines completing the final phase of their ‘1664 Challenge’. As part of the event, the six marines took on a moonlit 30-mile march from Greenwich to London, and Prince Harry was there to wish the marines good luck. 'I planned to do a sponsored one-mile walk, leading them on the first mile,' said CSgt Spencer. 'After I finished I met Prince Harry and his first question to me was "why wasn’t I doing the whole 30 miles". 'I don’t think he realised I had only lost my leg six months previously, and had only been out of a wheelchair for a month.' CSgt Spencer completed the mile in 19 minutes and 38 seconds, and has so far raised more than £7,000. His left leg had been dislocated and had to be totally reconstructed, while CSgt Spencer was told he had lost more than half of the blood in his body. He spent five weeks in hospital, and is now undergoing rehabilitation at Devonport Naval Base’s Hasler Company. Mrs Spencer said her husband is a true hero in every since of the word. 'He’s served in Afghanistan three times, as well as tours in Northern Ireland and Iraq,' added Mrs Spencer, who works for West Devon Borough Council. 'He’s served his country. 'He comes back unscathed from war, and then loses his leg on leave while helping someone. 'He just amazes me. 'We’ve been together for 28 years, and married for 21 years, and he’s always amazed me. 'He is inspirational to others - a lot of others - but to me and our children he’s just amazing. 'He has dark days, which is understandable, but he just gets up and gets on with it.' Csgt Spencer, whose bravery has been recognised with nominations for the Pride of Plymouth, and Pride of Britain Awards, said he was 'lucky to be alive'. 'It has been hard and I wouldn’t recommend it,' he said. 'It’s been far from a totally negative experience. 'I’ve done three tours of Afghanistan, and an untold amount of patrols. 'Every soldier who has done that and gone outside the gate, you’ve mentally prepared yourself for an injury like this. 'I think that mentality is still in me. Bizarrely it wasn’t a massive shock for this to happen to me. 'I look at other marines like Plymouth marine Mark Ormrod who lost both his legs and an arm and they’ve been in a worse position than me. 'I feel like I have no excuse but to get on with my life. You can’t just wallow in self pity.' Joining forces: CSgt Spencer joined fellow Royal Marines for a one mile sponsored walk through London . Even before his accident, CSgt Spencer was a keen charity fundraiser and last year raised £11,000 by running two back to back marathons in aid of Dominic Lovett - a former Royal Marine also from Horrabridge - who was paralysed from the neck down in an accident while on exercise in Norway. He also raised £2,000 through running a marathon over Dartmoor, which took him nine hours due to a severe snow storm hitting the high moor. While in hospital recovering from his injuries he began planning his future fundraising efforts, and is considering undertaking a variety of challenges. 'Crazy things like swimming the Channel, running a marathon and using what happened to me in a positive way,' he said. 'My main aim is to continue with the rehab and I want to use the experience to help others. 'I’ve loved my time as a Royal Marine. When I look back what I have enjoyed so much is the service; there is something meaningful in service - it is very much a part of me.'
|
Lee Spencer, 45, had stopped to help driver on the M3 in Surrey .
As he tried to warn oncoming traffic another car hit the stricken Audi .
Crash impact forced Audi's engine from the car and it hit Colour Sergeant .
Father-of-two's right leg was severed and had to be amputated by doctors .
He plans to use his experience to help others, and raise money for charity .
|
f97ade72d3cc4c3fe280cabf413cbecd39c3e400
|
It has been used by Britons to add a bit of zing to their food for almost 200 years. But Worcester sauce is losing out as our passion for hotter dishes grows. Figures show that for the first time sales of chilli sauce have overtaken those of Worcester sauce. The value of sales of chilli sauces increased to £19.2million in the year up to June – a rise of nine per cent on the previous 12 months, according to data from market analysts Kantar Worldpanel. British consumers are straying from Worcester sauce in favour of chilli-based condiments, research reveals . Over the same period, sales of Worcester sauce – which is made from ingredients including anchovies, tamarind, garlic, soy sauce, sugar and vinegar – fell by 3.3 per cent to £17.6million. A report in The Grocer magazine said that the value of sales of sauces and condiments has surged by 4.9 per cent over the past year while volumes are up by 3.4 per cent. ‘Chilli and hot pepper sauces have become familiar additions to the picnic table,’ it said. ‘Over the past 12 months alone, [the] value [of] sales of such sauces have soared 9 per cent. 'Some of the more traditional sauce and condiment categories and brands are struggling… a sign of how dramatically British palates are changing. ‘Britons’ growing appetite for fiery sauces is not new but experts suggest the trend is accelerating as consumers become increasingly adventurous in the kitchen.’ The value of chilli based products has soared in the last 12 months with more people opting for fiery flavours .
|
Sales of chilli products increased nine per cent in last year .
In same period Worcester sauce fell by 3.3 per cent .
Almost £20million spent on chilli sauces in UK in 2013 .
|
f97af469ad3de6bf050aca73f952fc488e74a9ac
|
Washington (CNN) -- Former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon is expected to plead guilty on Tuesday in connection with his March arrest for allegedly soliciting bribes in exchange for promises to use his political influence to curry favors. According to court documents, Cannon, 47, is scheduled to admit guilt to a single fraud-related count. He could face up to 20 years in prison and possible fines, according to the statute cited in court papers. The deal was struck nearly a month ago, but the documents were just made public on Monday. The plea is the latest chapter in a political saga which Cannon, once a politico wunderkind who was initially elected to the city council in 1993 at age 26, just 20 years later found himself in the midst of an FBI corruption sting. The federal agents posed as commercial real estate developers and investors interested in conducting business in Charlotte, federal authorities said.
|
Patrick Cannon to enter plea to one fraud-related count, court documents show .
Cannon allegedly solicited bribes in exchange for his political influence .
He was a rising star in Democratic politics, but now faces up to 20 years in jail .
|
f97b19e7c2ee35c3f2a56db6c2ee56df0383f07c
|
Paris (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lambasted Russia and China on Friday for blocking efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has lost a key general to defection. Speaking at the Friends of Syria conference in Paris, Clinton called on Russia and China to "get off the sidelines" and accused them of "standing up for" al-Assad's regime. She urged the other 100 or so nations and organizations represented at the summit to "make it clear that Russia and China will pay a price" for that position. "I ask you to reach out to Russia and China and not only ask but demand that they get off the sidelines," she said. "I don't think Russia and China believe they are paying any price at all, nothing at all, for standing with (the) Assad regime." High-ranking general defects from Syrian military . But it was unclear whether those two nations would reverse their long-standing opposition to forcing al-Assad from power. The two trade partners of Syria have vetoed previous efforts by the U.N. Security Council to condemn the violence in Syria and oust al-Assad. Neither Russia nor China was represented at the Paris meeting. Western and Arab nations started the Friends of Syria initiative because China and Russia posed diplomatic obstacles to tackling the Syrian crisis. The United States and others said they were hoping that Friday's meeting could lead to stricter economic sanctions and more support for the opposition. Speaking after the meeting concluded, Clinton argued for additional sanctions to be backed by a Security Council resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. Chapter 7 could ultimately authorize the use of force. "No transition plan can progress as long as the regime's brutal assaults continue," she said. "That's why the entire world is looking at those few nations who have influence in Damascus." Clinton warned allies of al-Assad within Syria that evidence of abuses is being collected and that they should "get on the right side of history." She added: "Let me say to the soldiers and officials still supporting the Syrian regime -- the Syrian people will remember the choices you make in the coming days." Clinton's comments came as a Western diplomat said that Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlas of Syria's Republican Guards has abandoned the regime. Tlas, the son of a former Syrian defense minister, defected over the killing of Sunnis, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official was not authorized to speak to the media. "He's an inside confidant of Assad," the official said. "So it counts that even an insider thinks it's time to go." The defector's father and the rest of his family are in Paris, the official said. Western officials told CNN that Tlas was en route to Paris. It was not immediately known if he had joined the Syrian opposition. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, speaking at the end of the Friends of Syria meeting, called the defection of someone close to al-Assad a "hard blow" for the regime. "We are told of the defection of someone quite important in the regime, very close to Bashar al-Assad, which means that his close entourage is starting to understand that the regime is unsustainable," he said. Fabius said he did not know what the final destination would be for the defector, whom he did not identify by name but said was a member of the Republican Guard and a longtime friend of al-Assad. Asked about the defection, Clinton did not name Tlas, but said an "increasing stream of military defectors" is leaving Syria. "Regime insiders and the military establishment are starting to vote with their feet," she said. "Those who have the closest knowledge of Assad's actions and crimes are moving away, and we think that's a very promising development. And it also raises questions for those who remain in Damascus." Friends of Syria meeting in Paris . The defection is one more setback for al-Assad, who Clinton said has been feeling the bite of economic sanctions. The Syrian leader's "currency and foreign reserves have collapsed," she said, curbing his ability to continue his crackdown. But she said challenges remain. Al-Assad was being kept afloat by "money from Iran and assistance from Russia and the failure of countries here" at the conference to tighten economic sanctions. "None of us is satisfied or comfortable with what is going on in Syria," she said. But since the Friends of Syria met in Tunis in February, "there has been a steady march toward ending this regime," Clinton said. Fabius said Friday's meeting showed that the international community is uniting to voice support for the opposition, promise increased humanitarian aid for the Syrian people and back sanctions against the regime. "Today was not a good day for the regime," he said. The Paris meeting comes less than a week after a conference of foreign ministers, which included China and Russia, met in Geneva, Switzerland, and called for a transitional government body as a step toward ending the Syrian crisis. That emergency meeting, called by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, raised hopes that Russia was easing its position. But even as Russia appeared to agree that a key step in the peace process would be the establishment of a transitional government, the country's foreign minister said it should not be viewed as outside powers imposing a transitional government on Syrians. Senior U.S. officials said the United States and its European and Arab partners will move to impose global sanctions if Syria doesn't quickly implement the transition plan that includes the appointment of a new government. Diplomats at the United Nations are working on a document that would demand restrictions on oil and other commercial business with the Syrian regime if it refuses to implement the Annan peace plan for a cease-fire and a transitional government. A Security Council resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter could be introduced next week, the officials said. Clinton's marathon trip tackles a range of U.S. foreign policy issues . The officials said the Russian and Chinese willingness to discuss a political transition plan in Syria and sign on to that plan last week in Geneva could boost the effort to impose sanctions. The absence of the two nations from the Paris conference, however, could reflect the difficulties ahead in persuading Moscow and Beijing to back the resolution. Clinton praised the Syrian opposition's six-page "vision" for a Syrian transition that was unveiled last week at its meeting in Cairo, Egypt. The United States hopes the document, which has details on a new parliament and constitution, will allay fears of Alawites and other minority groups that the Sunnis leading the fight against al-Assad will grab all of the power and take revenge on al-Assad's supporters. The regime is dominated by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, and the opposition is largely Sunni. French President François Hollande also called for al-Assad's departure Friday, saying a political transition is the only way to end 16 months of violence in the Middle East nation. Members of the Syrian opposition attended the Paris meeting, and many are pushing for the imposition of a no-fly zone in Syria. Opposition groups reported dozens of deaths on Friday. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria counted at least 89 people. Meanwhile, a Turkish foreign ministry official told CNN that two children were killed and six Syrian refugees were injured when a gas canister exploded Friday at the Yayladagi refugee camp in southeastern Turkey. CNN cannot independently confirm reports of violence or casualties as Syria has limited access by international journalists. WikiLeaks releasing 2.4 million Syria e-mails . CNN's Ben Brumfield, Ivan Watson, Laura Smith-Spark, Joe Sterling and Chelsea Carter contributed to this report.
|
Dozens of people were killed Friday in Syria, an opposition groups say .
Western officials: Bashar al-Assad ally Manaf Tlas has defected .
Hillary Clinton says an "increasing stream of military defectors" is leaving Syria .
France's foreign minister says the defection of a regime insider is a "hard blow" to al-Assad .
|
f97b94473ffcbc81d0dc2c0a244fe65ac9f82c41
|
Retired surgeon Ben Carson said on Sunday that he could form a committee to explore a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination this month and make a formal announcement in May. 'That's a reasonable time frame,' Carson told Fox News Sunday when asked by host Chris Wallace about the timing of an exploratory committee and formal announcement. 'We're putting all that together,' Carson is a former Fox News contributor who is popular with Tea Party conservatives and ranked fourth among possible Republican candidates in a recent Fox News poll of potential voters in Iowa. He finished behind former Florida Governor Job Bush, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. The poll showed growing support for Carson, a bestselling author and conservative commentator, with 10 percent of potential voters saying they would vote for Carson, up from about 8 percent last year. With a dozen Republicans thinking seriously about running for president in 2016 and 10 more talking up the idea, it's a good time to be an experienced campaign hand. Potential candidates are scrambling to sort through the rosters of campaign veterans in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire and elsewhere in a talent search that reflects the fact that the Republican field for 2016 is the largest in recent memory. The competition, dubbed by some as a 'staff primary,' aims to find the right of mix of get-out-the-vote organizers, digital experts, fund-raising stars and messaging professionals able to set up a functioning campaign. 'There is a known universe of operatives with many of them headquartered in early primary states,' said Republican strategist Kevin Madden, a senior adviser to Mitt Romney in his 2012 presidential campaign. 'Right now I think the contest is focused on all the candidates trying to go after that universe of staffers.' As many as 21 Republicans are in various stages of considering a presidential run, far more than the dozen or so who gave it a go four years ago. Of these, probably 10 or 12 are really serious and the rest are testing the waters or are trying to promote their personal brand. Every ideological slice of the Republican spectrum is represented, from mainstream former Florida Governor Jeb Bush to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a favorite of the small government Tea Party movement, to libertarian Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a Fox News personality. Others exploring presidential runs include New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former Texas Governor Rick Perry. The field is so large because there is no nominee-in-waiting as there is in the Democratic arena, where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is widely seen as having a lock on the Democratic nomination should she choose to run. There is also a younger generation of Republican leaders eager to make their mark like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is 47, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, 43.
|
Carson said on Sunday that he could form a committee to explore a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination this month .
The former Fox News contributor who is popular with Tea Party conservatives would then make a formal announcement in May .
He recently ranked fourth among possible Republican candidates in a recent Fox News poll of potential voters in Iowa .
A dozen Republicans are believed to be thinking seriously about running for president in 2016 and 10 more are also talking up the idea .
|
f97b9823aa8e6afc078d3ac234ad76cfa9cd1205
|
By . Ruth Styles . With Bryan May, the RSPCA and Bill Oddie among the people and organisations lining up to attack it, news of the Government's badger culling scheme proved controversial to say the least. But in one Somerset village, the culls proved nothing short of disastrous with one animal rights obsessed resident's poster campaign resulting in a horde of activists descending on the tiny hamlet. One young family was even forced to move away after being wrongly linked to the cull by neighbour Meg Sunningdale, 67, and subjected to a barrage of abuse. Outrage: Meg Sunningdale infuriated neighbours when her poster campaign led to a family being driven out . Noise: Her campaign also resulted in rowdy animal rights activists setting up camp in the village . But despite the dramatic repercussions, Mrs Sunningdale is unrepentant and says that as far as she's concerned, saving badgers is more important than the wellbeing of her neighbours. 'When we moved in, we were really . excited,' says Mrs Sunningdale, who moved to the village of Withycombe with her husband eight years ago. 'We're here in this lovely valley with woods, trees, open land, . this wonderful stream... It's just this wonderful environment. 'I had no . idea what to expect when I arrived because I've never lived in a small . village before but I did come in with a lot of enthusiasm.' But Mrs Sunningdale, a self-described 'spokesperson' for animals soon began to make enemies; loudly forcing her views on reluctant neighbours. 'You've got to be very careful about what you say in a small place like this because you could upset people,' explains long-term resident, Bill Calloway. 'When I met Meg for the first time, I thought she was a very interfering old lady.' Mrs Sunningdale's animal rights campaign began innocently enough with fairs to raise money for the RSPCA and a local dog show. But soon, she incurred the wrath of locals after treating them to her views on people who walk their dogs in fields where pheasants are nesting. 'I was standing by my house and there was . a gentleman up the road and he was walking his dogs in the field,' remembers the unrepentant Mrs Sunningdale. 'It . was pheasant breeding time and there were youngsters running around, and . when I saw him in the field, I thought, "What are you doing? He can't let his dog do that." 'A person walking is bad enough but a dog . running around ground nesting birds and chicks is worse. [The dog] was chasing them around, the pheasants were flying up and I couldn't . help myself - I didn't think, I just shouted.' Upset: Neighbour Tony Connolly was left furious after being kept awake by animal rights activists . Hub: Somerset was one of the test areas used for the first Government badger cull last summer . 'She was regarded rightly or wrongly as a . bit of a nutter with regards to animal welfare sort of thing,' adds neighbour Tony Connolly. 'But she . did take it to extremes. To come and live in a rural, small, farming . village and then expect people not to do things in the country that they . do - why would you want to go and live in the middle of it?' When the badger culls were mooted, and Mrs Sunnindale discovered that a neighbour was planning to take part, her one-woman animal rights campaign took a dangerous turn. Mrs Sunningdale, who had already irritated neighbours by leaving sandwiches and other food in her garden for badgers to eat, created a series of posters 'naming and shaming' her neighbour which she then attached to her gate and posted around the village. 'I just couldn't believe that he would be part of a badger cull and my natural instinct was to name and shame this person,' she explains. Protest: Mrs Sunningdale joined noisy animal rights activists protesting about the badger cull in the village . Furious: Animal rights activists descended on Withypool following Mrs Sunningdale's poster campaign . 'People . who were shooting badgers didn't want anyone to know and I don't think . that's right. I think they should be prepared to tell people.' But when a national newspaper picked up the story, the results were disastrous. Not only did the neighbour named on her posters receive a deluge of abusive phone calls and emails, he became so scared, he and his family felt they had no option but to move. 'I couldn't believe that someone would be that stupid - to do something like that is unbelievable,' adds Mr Connolly. 'I know he was getting abusive phonecalls, emails - they had all his . contact details. It was non-stop. 'He was that frightened for his family, his wife and children, he moved his family out of the village. He was frightened for his family all . because Meg had put those posters up.' Mrs Sunningdale, however, is unrepentant. 'I think badgers were a greater priority to me than being part of the community,' she remembers. 'I didn't feel bad about the phone calls . they were receiving. I thought that's a bit more ammunition. I didn't . feel any remorse at all.' Camp: The protesters set up camp in a copse just yards from the villagers, keeping them up most of the night . No remorse: Despite forcing a family out of the village, Mrs Sunningdale says she isn't sorry for what she did . Next, thanks to the publicity generated by Mrs Sunningdale's poster campaign, a horde of animal rights activists descended on the village, setting up camp in a copse 100 yards from her neighbour's homes. 'They had no worry about shining . spotlights in all of our windows,' adds Mr Connolly. 'They didn't usually start until about . 2.30 in the morning - just enough to let you get to sleep. 'They started . off with the lights, whistles, air horns. I don't need them out there . keeping me awake at night. I don't know what they were trying to . achieve. But what they did achieve was p***sing us off here.' 'My response to people complaining about noise in the village would be what about the noise the shooters have been making?' sniffs Mrs Sunningdale. Matters deteriorated further when her neighbours, enraged by her behaviour, responded by calling the police and, in one case, by leaving a bag of manure in her garden. 'We . were spotted by a shooter on his way home and he stopped, reversed and . shone a huge light on us,' explains Mrs Sunningdale. Support: Brian May was among celebrities who voiced opposition to badger culling . 'I said . to him, "You're an absolute scumbag!" and he didn't say a word, just drove . on. The next day I had three bags of dog excrement in my garden. I . thought, "Hmmm, what can I do with this?"' Her solution was to return it to the person she assumed was responsible - with a nasty note attached. 'The . note said, "If you feel the need to shoot living targets, maybe you . ought to join the army,' she remembers, adding: 'Oh, wait, you would probably be too cowardly to . be on the other end of a gun.' This time, she received a caution from police and, with her relationship with her neighbours damaged beyond repair, plans to leave the village of Withypool behind. 'I don't know what reputation I had to start with but whatever I had was ruined and I certainly have a very bad reputation now,' she admits. Neighbour Tony Connolly adds: Do I feel any sympathy for her? No I don't - she brought everything on herself. 'I don't think think it'll make any difference whatsoever except that I . won't be able to say we've got a nutter living in the village anymore.' Meg appears on The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door, tonight at 8pm on Channel 5 .
|
Meg Sunningdale, 67, from Somerset, is a committed animal rights activist .
Spent most of her life in town but moved to Withycombe eight years ago .
Campaigned against neighbour suspected of involvement in badger cull .
Neighbour recieved deluge of abusive calls, emails and visits from activists .
Was forced to leave village after fearing for young family's safety .
Mrs Sunningdale says she feels no remorse and badgers are her priority .
Neighbours even more irate when activists set up camp near the village .
|
f97bcf4cf54015f561dbea44d994ac8542d31127
|
(CNN) -- In an anguished 911 call, a Georgia man told dispatchers that he arrived home to find "my whole family's dead." Seven people were found dead Saturday at a residence in a mobile home park in Brunswick, Georgia. "I just got home," a man identified as Guy Heinze Jr. told the emergency dispatcher in the Saturday call, released Monday by authorities. "I was out last night. I got home just now, and everybody's dead. ... My whole family's dead. It looks like they've been beaten to death." Seven people were found dead Saturday at a residence at the New Hope mobile home park in Brunswick, Georgia, authorities said. Two others were hospitalized in critical condition; one of them, identified by police as 19-year-old Michael Toller, died Sunday. The remaining survivor remained in critical condition on Monday, police said. A neighbor of Heinze's placed the call and put him on the phone, as well as the mobile home park's maintenance man. The park manager also called 911, sobbing as she told dispatchers, "Please hurry." Listen as the 911 operator hears a family has died » . Police said Sunday that they have "no known suspects" in the case. "We are not looking for any known suspects," Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said. "That doesn't say that there are no suspects. They're just not known to us." Heinze was arrested Saturday night and faces charges of possessing a controlled substance and marijuana, as well as evidence tampering and making false statements to a police officer, Doering said. He said Heinze has been cooperative and stopped short of naming him a suspect in the deaths. "We're still looking for anybody and everybody that may be related to this," he said. "That naturally includes [Heinze]. Of course we're looking at him." "I don't know what to do, man," an emotional Heinze told the dispatcher. "My dad, my mom, my uncle, my cousin ... my dad, he's laying there dead. That was my dad." "It's a house full of people that live there," the neighbor said during the call. "I know there's a baby. I don't know if the baby was in there or not." At one point, while the maintenance man, identified only as Mike, talked to dispatchers, Heinze went into the mobile home and reported that his cousin, identified as Michael, was still breathing. Asked to describe Michael, the maintenance man said that Michael is a "young man with Down's syndrome." Heinze reported that the youth's "face is smashed in," he said. Heinze got back on the phone to talk to a supervisor, repeating that Michael was breathing, although he appeared to be having trouble breathing and needed an ambulance. The dispatcher assured him that help was on the way and tried to question him gently. "People's beat," Heinze said. "Everybody is dead." Asked what the mobile home looked like, he yelled, "It looks like a [expletive] murder scene." At the dispatcher's suggestion, Heinze tried to question Michael, asking him, "Where do you hurt?" There was no response. Doering said Sunday that police think at least one person not in custody may have information in the case. Authorities have not released the identities or ages of the other victims, revealing only that they range in age from children through mid-40s. One additional victim was identified, Doering said Monday, but he did not release that person's name pending notification of relatives. Autopsies on the victims began over the weekend in Savannah, Georgia, and continued Monday, Doering said. Police had been called to the home before, Doering said, but would not say why. He was tight-lipped Sunday about many aspects of the case, refusing to say how the victims died or to give a breakdown of male and female victims. All nine victims lived in the mobile home, he said, and police do not believe that any of them conducted the assault. He said police are making progress and have narrowed down the timeline for when the deaths occurred. Brunswick is about 300 miles southeast of Atlanta, on the Georgia coast.
|
Police identify one of deceased as 19-year-old Michael Toller .
Guy Heinze Jr. heard on 911 call telling dispatcher he arrived home to find bodies .
"I don't know what to do, man," Heinze tells 911. "My dad, he's laying there dead"
Police say "no known suspects" in the attack; 7 dead at scene, 8th died later .
|
f97c0772e6f97e11f27a05a9e09363ee79ca8c9b
|
(CNN) -- There are many reasons why Roz Savage is an extraordinary woman -- she has rowed single-handed across the Atlantic and is now tackling the Pacific, after all. Life changer: From successful career to ocean rower, Savage has been an inspiration for many. But her response to everyday commuter ennui is perhaps of the most remarkable things about her. Back in 2000 a 33-year-old Roz was facing another dreary journey by train to the office. She had a great job as a management consultant, money and a husband; but deep down she knew something was missing. So, instead of just burying her feelings, she wrote two obituaries of herself. In one she kept going with life as it was. In the other she took a jump into the unknown and did the things she'd always wanted to. From that moment on her life has never been the same. "One-by-one, I shed the trappings of my old life," she writes on her web site. "The job, the husband, the home, the little red sports car. I moved house with increasing regularity, wherever I could find cheap or preferably free accommodation. "Little by little I began to realign my life, to put myself on track for the obituary I really wanted." Eventually she settled on the challenge that would in many ways define her: rowing the Atlantic single handed. It was, of course, incredibly hard, both physically and mentally. She had done some rowing while at the University of Oxford -- but the open ocean was a different challenge altogether. But she emerged a tougher, happier person on the other side, and is now deep into her new attempt to row the Pacific, a journey she hopes to use to raise awareness of environmental issues. The courage she has found, both to take on the might of the open ocean and give up safe, conventional notions of success to pursue her dreams has made Roz a hero to many people that hope to find inspiration in her life -- including a large number of CNN.com readers who have nominated her as a "Green Inspiration". "I feel a little embarrassed about it -- that must be the British in me!" she told CNN from the middle of the Pacific Ocean. "I certainly don't see myself as any kind of hero, just a human being trying to be the best human she can be. But at the same time I want to reach out to as many people as I can, because I wish I'd had more positive role models to show me how good life can be, and if I can inspire just a few people to change their lives for the better, I'll feel I've lived a very blessed life." Rowing across the Pacific Ocean . On her journey she keeps the many people following her up to date with regular blog posts on her website. Posts range from the personal to the global, the reality of life on the open waves to plastic pollution, the North Pacific Garbage Patch, and how people could reduce the amount of waste they generate. "I try to offer my life as an example of what can be done when a very ordinary person decides to do something out of the ordinary," she said. "I love my life, and want to show people how much fun it can be when you get out there and grab life by the horns. It would be very selfish of me to keep this fantastic discovery to myself! "Every time I get a comment on my blog from someone who says they have changed their life as a result of reading about me and my adventures -- anything from composting their kitchen scraps to quitting their job to start out on an adventure of their own -- it gives me a huge warm glow of accomplishment. And it makes me feel even better when they tell me how much fun they are having doing it. Because that is what life is all about." But adventure doesn't have to involve months alone in a rowing boat, with only sea birds, the sun and the wind for company. "Everybody is different, and will find their own way," she said. "For me, at the time when I decided to row oceans, I felt the need for a dramatic contrast to the very conventional life I'd had before, and ocean rowing seemed to fit the bill. I do think that you learn things about yourself in extreme situations that you wouldn't learn in less testing circumstances. "But the situation doesn't have to be physically extreme. Parenthood, starting a new business, moving to a new town or a new country -- these are all ways to put yourself in a challenging new environment where you have to throw away your old preconceptions about what is or is not possible, and try out new approaches." Ever action has an effect . Roz's advice for anyone stuck in a rut is don't be afraid to fail. If you know what you want to do, then don't be intimidated. Write a list of what you can do to achieve your goals. If there seems to be things on it you can't do yet, then Roz says it isn't detailed enough -- any task can be broken down into achievable steps. "Everything is a learning experience if you allow it to be. I keep a journal -- on land and at sea -- and this really helps me to learn from my experiences," she said. At the core of her mission in the Pacific is a belief that we can not only transform our own lives through our actions, but our relationship to the natural world around us as well. "There has been so much bad news about environmental issues that I think some people feel overwhelmed," she said. "But there is something we can all do to make a difference -- and it all adds up. "It's about more than just using a re-usable bag, or picking up a piece of trash from a beach. It's about an attitude and a way of thinking. "Every action has effects beyond the action itself -- other people will see what you are doing and follow your example. It's the ripple effect. And if we all pull together, we can make a world of difference." Fundamentally, her message is that life is for living and we learn as much from failure as success if we are open-minded and positive. "My life now is so much more fulfilling and fun, and I'm incredibly glad I took that leap of faith. There is nothing special about me that made me able to do it. If I can do it, anybody can -- if they want to. "Get out there, live life large, make the world a better place -- and have fun!" Send us an email and tell us who you think deserves to be recognized as a Green Inspiration .
|
British woman swapped career for adventurous life and raising eco awareness .
Rowed solo across Atlantic; now attempting same feat across the Pacific Ocean .
Her positive message has been inspirational to many across the world .
"I don't see myself as a hero, just a human being trying to be the best she can be"
|
f97cf0f9f39bd8bfe29247c2be16c08d7e92309c
|
A pizza delivery guy brought a huge order to the Dolby Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood on Sunday only to be roped into appearing onstage at the Oscars. Edgar, pictured below at work at Big Mama's & Papa's Pizzeria in Hollywood, was fulfilling an order for five of the chain's specialty Big Papa's and a selection of smaller pies. After the slices were consumed, host Ellen DeGeneres collected hundreds of dollars from Brad Pitt and Harvey Weinstein to tip the man, but he never saw that cash, according to TMZ. Scroll down for video... Pizza time: To his surprise, Ellen brought Edgar out onstage to deliver the pizzas himself . Hard at work: Edgar, who works at Big Mama's & Papa's Pizzeria in Hollywood, delivered a batch of pizzas to the Oscars ceremony on Sunday . Pizza the action: A worker at the store told MailOnline the order included five Big Papas pizzas . Man on a mission: Edgar pictured with more pies in hand after his very special Oscars delivery . 'It's pretty clear he had no idea Ellen passed Pharrell's hat around and scored around $300,' wrote the site. The pizza parlor did end up getting a lot of free publicity however, as advertising on the show costs at least $1.8m, according to Variety. The publicity coup is thought to be worth about $10million to the pizza chain. Ellen had roped him into joining her onstage - where he helped hand out pieces among a room full of multimillionaires, with recipients including Brad, Jennifer Lawrence, Jared Leto, Julia Roberts, Kerry Washington and Meryl Streep. Digging in: Brad Pitt bit into a slice of pizza in the audience as wife Angelina Jolie looked on . Good teamwork: Angelina looked on as husband Brad and 12 Years A Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor prepared their snack . And the pizza goes to: Martin Scorsese takes a greasy slice . As Ellen persuaded the stars to dig in, the bemused delivery guy doled out the squares behind her. The . sheepish delivery man followed Ellen around the front seats of the . auditorium and the host later passed around a Pharrell Williams-like big . hat to gather tips for the pizza delivery from the stars. A source from the chain told MailOnline: 'Yes, we did [deliver the pizza]. We had a couple of guys during the Oscars. 'It was five Big Papas at 60 square slices each. But they got a bunch more, those were just the big ones.' But he said the delivery guy had no warning he would be making a cameo in front of millions of TV viewers. Dig in! A bemused pizza guy from Big Mama's Pizza on Sunset Boulevard followed Ellen around the Dolby Theatre handing out slices . I'll take one! Jared Leto took the last slice - and promptly offered it to his mother, left . Not shy: Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep took advantage of the pizza offer . Good times: The pizza guy smiled as he helped feed the stars . 'No idea,' he said, although he wasn't phased by the request. The light-hearted moment set Twitter ablaze, with fans tweeting that they recognised their local delivery guy. 'Big Mama's & Papa's pizza!!! I order from them all the time! That's my delivery guy!,' tweeted Jason with the handle @garmonbozia shortly after seeing the familiar face. Others took to Facebook to find out who the delivery man was. Hollywood legend: Harrison Ford stood up and helped himself to a slice . Special delivery: The real delivery guy offered Harrison a pizza . The feeding frenzy started when host Ellen appeared onstage and surprisingly said, 'Guess what? Pizza's here.' A pizza deliveryman with a red cap and red apron then appeared onstage holding several boxes of stacked pizzas. 'I lied. We weren't going backstage,' Ellen told the laid-back pizza guy. Surrounded by stars: The pizza guy found himself surrounded by pizza-loving stars . Popular idea: The stars at the Oscars didn't hesitate when offered fresh pizza . Ellen told the celebrity-studded audience that she had a vegetable pizza with tomato sauce, a cheese pizza and other different kinds. 'I've never done this before, you help,' Ellen asked the delivery guy who proceeded to offer slices to the stars. When Ellen asked who wanted a slice several famous hands immediately shot up. Chowing down: Corinne Foxx, her father Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum and his wife Jenna posed with the pizza . Chiwetel Ejiofor of 12 Years A Slave fame asked and received a whole box of pizza that he shared. Oscar winner Julia asked for cheese and reached for a slice along with Meryl who munched away despite wearing a white dress. Brad asked for pepperoni and also showed his good manners and passed out plates and napkins to the stars. Kevin Spacey also was a gentleman and handed out slices and plates for others before grabbing a slice for himself. Good manners: Brad offered Oscar winner Meryl a plate for her slice of cheese . Helping hands: Brad and Kevin helped Ellen pass out the pizza and plates . Pizza fan: Kevin Spacey grabbed a slice and passed the box around . 'Kerry Washington is pregnant, she needs some,' Ellen told the pizza delivery guy. Kerry initially didn't get a slice and tweeted to her fans not to fret. 'No worries on the pizza peeps! I'm gluten-free! LOL #SnacksInMyPurse #Oscars' she tweeted to her more than one million followers on Twitter. The Scandal star later was spotted behind the stage enjoying a gluten-free slice and shared a photo on Instagram. No money: Ellen joked that she didn't have any money and asked Sandra Bullock for help with the tip . Eating for two: Kerry Washington enjoyed a slice of pizza backstage . Limelight: The Big Moma's & Papa's Pizzeria on Sunset Boulevard, LA, is now the focus of a media frenzy after providing pizzas for Hollywood stars at the Oscars . Publicity coup: The pizza store scored an amazing PR goal when their delivery guy turned up at the Oscars - but people wanted to know who he was . Mystery: Dozens of people went to the Big Moma's & Papa's Pizzeria's Facebook page to try to find out who the delivery guy was . Centre of attention: Hollywood Reporter claimed the pizza deliver guy's name was Edgar . Leonardo DiCaprio passed as the pizza box passed in front of him. Ellen pointed to Best Supporting Actor winner Jared and he grabbed one of the last slices for his mother sitting next to him who he thanked during his acceptance speech. 'I have to hook my mom up,' Jared said. Hollywood legends Harrison Ford and Martin Scorsese also helped themselves to a slice. 'I don't have any money,' Ellen said after the pizza was handed out. Thoughtful son: Jared grabbed a slice for his mother . Going once: Ellen and the pizza guy offered the stars in the front-row pizza . No thanks: Leonardo Di Caprio passed on the pizza when it was offered . Hungry guy: Zathura star Dax Shepard wolfed down a slice at the Oscars . She asked around for help with the tip and appealed to Sandra Bullock. 'Where's Harvey Weinstein?' Ellen said while looking for the co-founder of Miramax Films. Ellen reminded the Hollywood producer that 'only a billion people were watching' as she urged him to tip 'whatever you think is right.' Big Mama's & Papa's was appreciative of the exposure and shared it on Twitter. 'Thank you Ellen!,' the pizzeria tweeted after their delivery guy's impromptu appearance. Brad Pitt: Took a slice and revealed he likes pepperoniAngelina Jolie: Did not take a sliceJulia Roberts: Took a slice after asking for cheeseMeryl Streep: Took a slice of cheese for herself and a slice for her husbandJared Leto: Took a slice for his motherKerry Washington: Got passed over, but enjoyed a gluten-free slice backstageKevin Spacey: Grabbed a box and took a slice after sharingChiwetel Ejiofor: Grabbed a box and took a slice after sharing . Jennifer Lawrence: Grabbed a slice quickly . Harrison Ford: Stood up and took a sliceMartin Scorsese: Took a sliceDax Shepard: Took a sliceJamie Foxx and daughter Corinne: Took a sliceChanning Tatum and wife Jennna: Took a sliceLeonardo di Caprio: Did not take a slice . The delivery guy was treated to a hero's welcome when he returned to the pizzeria in a Los Angeles strip mall. He quickly carried out another stack of pizzas to a waiting black SUV. The plain red cap and apron were gone when he returned to cheers from his co-workers and congratulatory high fives, according to a report on Sunday night by TMZ. Pitching in: Best Supporting Actress winner Lupita Nyong'o clutched her Oscar while searching her purse for tip money for the pizza guy . Generous crowd: Brad and Chiwetel kicked in some cash . Big tippers: Kevin Spacey and John Travolta pulled out some bills for the tip . Passing the hat: Ellen used a large Pharrell Williams hat to collect tips from the crowd . Big thanks: The pizzeria tweeted its thanks to Ellen after making the special delivery . Foreign Language FilmThe Great Beauty, Italy Best Costume DesignCatherine Martin, The Great Gatsby .
|
Ellen called Big Mama's & Papa's Pizzeria in Hollywood and order included five huge pies .
The Oscars host collected around $300 from stars in audience but 'delivery man didn't receive' bonus tip .
Pizza chain got lots of free publicity - advertising on show starts at $1.8m .
|
f97d71a14189b7aeb2d9353f50c2785f597274bf
|
New York (CNN) -- One of the street vendors who alerted police to a smoking vehicle in Times Square that was later found to be carrying explosives says he's planning to run for Congress. Duane Jackson, a registered Democrat and Vietnam veteran, told CNN Wednesday he plans to face off against Republican Representative Nan Hayworth in New York's 19th district in the November election. In May, 2010, Jackson and another vendor noticed black smoke coming out of a Nissan Pathfinder sport-utility vehicle illegally parked in a bus lane in Times Square, with the keys still in the ignition. Authorities later discovered a bomb inside the vehicle made up of propane tanks, fertilizer and gasoline. The bomb failed to detonate. Jackson, who sells souvenirs in the square, said his motivation for taking his ideas to Washington is to work with House Speaker John Boehner to help establish more bipartisan solutions. "I think there's been so much discontent over the years, both with Republicans and Democrats," Jackson, 59, told CNN. "I hear it all the time from my neighbors in the Hudson Valley, as well as people in Times Square." Jackson also believes that there is too much bickering and "nothing's being done," and claims his rival, Hayworth, is "out of touch with the Hudson Valley values." The vendor was thrust into the spotlight after being credited with helping to prevent what authorities believe was a planned terrorist attack in the heart of Manhattan, even receiving a phone call from President Barack Obama. Pakistani-born U.S. citizen Faisal Shahzad pleaded guilty to the bombing attempt and is serving a life sentence in prison. Jackson said he started thinking about the possibility of elected office four or five months ago, after seeking the advice of his town supervisor and his neighbors, but his interest in politics dates back to growing up in California and being involved in student debates. He served in the Navy and attended Boston University on the G.I. Bill, where he received a degree in city planning. An advocate for veterans, Jackson said he's traveled to Albany numerous times after former New York City Mayor David Dinkins fought to amend a law that would have ended up affecting the businesses of disabled street vendors. He believes his background in city planning will bring a "unique perspective" to the race, he said. Jackson plans to make an official announcement within the next 10 days and is preparing to file with the Federal Election Commission. The attempted car bombing changed his life, Jackson said, and is helping him believe that he can make a difference. "Looking at what do you do, not only for your community, but what you can do for your city, your country, and for your fellow citizens, and when I look back at it, it's like how can I make a difference?" Jackson said. "And that difference somewhat started that night." Calls to Rep. Hayworth's office were not immediately returned. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Nat Sillin said the potential race between Jackson and the other Democratic candidates running against him will make "great theater for political junkies" as they vie to be the most liberal candidate. Spokesman Josh Schwerin for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not directly comment on Jackson's potential run, but stated that "New York voters are looking for a representative who will fight for middle class jobs and protect seniors from the devastating cuts to Medicare being pushed by Congresswoman Hayworth and Washington Republicans."
|
Duane Jackson wants to represent New York's 19th district in Congress .
His goal is to establish bipartisan solutions to the country's problems, he says .
Faisal Shahzad pleaded guilty to the attempted car bomb attack .
|
f97d863e9403498a4260dfb23c8d1a5c75561847
|
(CNN) -- The bodies of young elephants covered in the brown dirt of dried-up wells tell a heartrending story. A baby elephant in the Gourma region of central Mali had been trapped in a well for three days. Reaching desperately for drops of water, they had lowered their trunks, toppled in, remained trapped and died in Mali's scorching heat. The "last desert elephants in West Africa" have "adapted to survive in the harsh conditions" they face, Save the Elephants said Monday. But now, the group says, conditions have gone from bad to worse, and they are living "on the margin of what is ecologically viable." Save the Elephants distributed new pictures Monday that depict the devastating drought and the struggle for survival in Mali, one of the poorest nations in the world. "Six elephants have already been found dead," the group wrote in a news release accompanying the photos. "Four others, including three calves, were recently extracted from a shallow well into which they had fallen when searching for water. Only the largest survived." The youngest are in the most danger, since their smaller trunks can't reach deep into the few remaining wells, the group said. The worst drought in 26 years is threatening the existence of the "last desert elephants in West Africa," the northernmost herds in the continent, Save the Elephants said. The animals, now numbering only about 350 to 450, have been called "the last elephants of Timbuktu," said Jake Wall, a scientist with Save the Elephants. But they're south of Timbuktu, Wall told CNN in a phone interview from Bamako, Mali. "We tend to refer to them as 'the last Sahelian elephants.' " See a map of Mali » . Each year, the elephants trek farther on the fringes of the Sahara to find water. They have the longest migration route of any in the continent, traveling "in a counterclockwise circle" of about 700 kilometers (435 miles), Save the Elephants said. The images are signs of the crisis gripping the northwest African nation. The U.N. Development Programme ranks Mali near the bottom of its Human Development Index. It cites a 56 percent poverty rate in the country, with nearly a third of the population unlikely to live past age 40, and an illiteracy rate of 77 percent. The World Food Programme says the majority of infant deaths in Mali are due to malnutrition. The drought, combined with soaring temperatures, has also led to deaths of cattle, Save the Elephants said. "The stench of rotting corpses fills the air, and what little water remains is putrid and undrinkable by all standards." In areas where the elephants live and search for water, "the normal peaceful coexistence between the elephants and herdsmen is starting to break down and giving way to conflict over access to water," Wall said. There is some hope for the weeks and months ahead. "We're hoping the rains start in June, and that will allow the elephants to start drinking out of shallow ponds until the really heavy rains begin" in July or August, Wall said. But "urgent action" is needed in the interim "to secure water for the elephants," Wall's group said in its news release. Save the Elephants, which focuses on helping elephant populations worldwide, said it has partnered with a foundation and the Mali government in its fundraising appeal.
|
Elephants dying in Mali are among 350 to 450 left in the area .
Save the Elephants releases photos of elephants struggling during drought .
Soaring heat is killing cattle, which is leading to water pollution, group says .
There is hope that rain in June may provide relief to elephants .
|
f97da442d19759ee32b839c26d94dc6ec3faeac7
|
(CNN) -- Is Sepp Blatter angling for another term as head of world football? The 77-year-old vowed at the 2011 FIFA presidential elections, where he stood unopposed after a bribery controversy ruled out his only rival, that this would be his fourth and final four-year stint in office. However, this week he hinted that he has "a mission" to fulfill and said he feels "young enough to be in this office." And he fueled speculation that he may stand again with comments in Friday's release of the FIFA Weekly magazine, in which he said the African and Asian regions deserved more representation at World Cup finals. Blatter, who has stayed in power since 1998 by vowing to take FIFA's showpiece tournament to all parts of the world, criticized Europe's overwhelming presence in relation to its lesser number of member associations. Europe will have 13 of the 32 places on offer in Brazil next year, while South America has four plus the possibility of another via a playoff with fifth-best Asian side (Uruguay vs. Jordan). Africa has five berths, while CONCACAF has three plus a playoff with the top Oceania team (Mexico vs. New Zealand). "From a purely sporting perspective, I would like to see globalization finally taken seriously, and the African and Asian national associations accorded the status they deserve at the FIFA World Cup," Blatter wrote in an article looking at the future of the sport. "It cannot be that the European and South American confederations lay claim to the majority of the berths at the World Cup (18 or 19 teams), because taken together they account for significantly fewer member associations (63) than Africa and Asia (100)." Blatter argues that Africa will never fulfill its promise on the biggest stage unless it is given more opportunities. "Africa, the confederation with the most member associations (54), is woefully under-represented at the World Cup with just five places. As long as this remains the case, African sides may never win an intercontinental trophy, regardless of progress on the playing side," he said. "This flawed state of affairs must be rectified. At the end of the day, an equal chance for all is the paramount imperative of elite sport." Blatter's attempts to curry favor with his traditional powerbase could be seen as the beginning of a bid to sound out support for another tilt at the presidency, according to Spanish football journalist Begona Perez. "I think that's Blatter being Blatter. Every time he makes a statement there are second thoughts," she told CNN World Sport. "Maybe he might be thinking he needs his African friends to run for a new presidential election. He's trying to be nice to people he needs for a vote. "With him you never know, but he works well behind the scenes." Having given North America its first staging in 1994, FIFA's bid to take the World Cup to new countries continued two years later, while Blatter was still its General Secretary, when South Korea and Japan were awarded the 2002 tournament -- the first time it was held in Asia. Africa's turn came in 2010 when South Africa was host, and the Middle East will get a go in 2022 when Qatar will stage it -- a controversial decision that has led to a likelihood the event will be switched from its traditional summer slot due to the Gulf state's intense heat. Russia will be the first East European nation to host the World Cup in 2018, and it has come under scrutiny already due to the country's new legislation that many say discriminates against gay people -- FIFA's statutes forbid this in member nations. Russia also has a problem with racist behavior by its football fans, which was highlighted this week when CSKA Moscow was charged by European football's ruling body UEFA after Manchester City's Yaya Toure complained of being targeted with monkey chants. Toure, whose Ivory Coast team is hoping to qualify for a third successive World Cup in Brazil, suggested a boycott for 2018 if Russia could not stamp out its racist elements. However, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Friday that such an action would be a backward step. "I respect his opinion, but I disagree. The history of football was made equally by many races. And the black players have a fantastic contribution of what football is," the Portuguese told reporters ahead of his team's English Premier League clash with City on Sunday. "The World Cup is the biggest expression of national team competitions - races, people from different parts of the globe, people from every continent. And the black players are very, very important for that. "Who is more important, the billions of people in love with the game around the world? Or a few thousand that go to football stadiums and have disgraceful behavior in relation to black players. "If I was a black player I would say the other billions are much more important, so let's fight the thousands, but let's give to the billions what the billions want. And the billions want the best football -- and the best football without black players is not the best football, for sure." Blatter also said Friday that he is against boycotts. "Boycott has never given us any solutions. You cannot run away from problems," he told students during an address at England's Oxford University, where he did not give any more hints about standing for re-election.
|
Sepp Blatter says Africa is under-represented at the World Cup finals .
FIFA president claims the continent's footballing progress is being held back .
Blatter suggests that Europe has too many places at soccer's showpiece event .
Comments fuel speculation that the 77-year-old will stand for re-election in 2015 .
|
f97e6c72d1750e8387c72810ab18e22f8e4604ff
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department threw aside diplomatic language Tuesday, attacking Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for creating what it calls a "catastrophe" by throwing many international aid workers out of the country. President Omar al-Bashir ordered the expulsion of aid groups after he was indicted on war crimes charges. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a direct challenge to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Tuesday, warning that he and his government "will be held responsible for every single death that occurs in" the refugee camps of the Darfur region. Al-Bashir ordered the expulsion of 13 international aid groups from the Sudan earlier this month after he was indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes. While other aid groups remain in Sudan, the United Nations said the 13 expelled groups provided roughly half the assistance delivered in Darfur. Nearly 300,000 people have died in the Darfur conflict, and millions are homeless, according to the U.N. Calling the situation in Darfur "horrendous," Clinton said President Obama's administration will appoint a special envoy for Sudan "in the coming days." On Wednesday, retired Air Force Gen. J. Scott Gration was appointed as U.S. special envoy for Sudan, the White House announced in a written statement. "Sudan is a priority for this administration, particularly at a time when it cries out for peace and for justice. The worsening humanitarian crisis there makes our task all the more urgent," President Barack Obama said in the statement. "General Gration's personal and professional background, and his service to the country as both a military leader and a humanitarian, give him the insights and experience necessary for this assignment." Gration, a former fighter pilot, served as assistant deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs. Fluent in Swahili, he was raised partly in Africa, where his parents were missionary teachers . Clinton said the real question now is what kind of pressure can be brought to bear on al-Bashir and the government in Khartoum to make them understand "that they will be held responsible for every single death that occurs in those camps." State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters, "It's just a catastrophe that Bashir has created. We're going to continue to make this case and we're imploring others to make this case that he needs to reverse that decision he took. Thousands, hundreds of thousands of people, could possibly be at risk and it's irresponsible, the action he took, and he needs to reverse it and reverse it immediately. People's lives are at risk." Clinton said countries that support al-Bashir's expulsion order "have the responsibility to persuade the government in Sudan to change its decision to let the aid workers back, or they must replace with money and personnel those who have been expelled so that innocent lives are not lost and further undermined." Clinton said the United States is "very concerned" and is looking for more effective ways to convince the Sudanese government that "they have assumed an even greater sense of responsibility and infamy in the eyes of the world by turning their backs on these refugees whom they created in the first place." Wood said it is clear that Bashir is the sole person at fault. "Bashir is to blame for this crisis on the ground," he said. His actions have only made things a lot worse. We are trying to get him to reverse this decision. We want to call on all those who have influence with the government of Sudan, institutions like the African Union, the Arab League, to do what they can to get Bashir to reverse his decision." Obama, during his election campaign, made the crisis in Darfur a major focus. Since then, some have criticized him for putting it on the back burner. Seeking to rebut that view, Wood listed all recent steps the administration has taken to resolve the situation. Last week, he said, Obama discussed the deteriorating situation in Sudan with U.N. Secretary General Ban ki-Moon. U.S. officials have been meeting in New York, Washington and Khartoum with delegations from what Wood called "like-minded nations." Last weekend, the U.S. charge d'affaires in Sudan met with UNAMID (the African Union/United Nations operation in Darfur) and visited a camp for internally displaced people. And last week in New York, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice spoke with the president of South Sudan and the Sudanese ambassador to the U.N. Wood said the U.S. has been reaching out to the Arab League, the African Union and other countries with influence on Sudan, trying to convince them the decision to expel some aid groups "not only costs lives but serves to further isolate the country." Asked whether the U.S. supports a move to defer the ICC indictment of Bashir, Wood said it does not support "any deferral."
|
State Department says Sudan president throwing out aid agencies is "catastrophe"
Hillary Clinton warns Sudan president will be "responsible for every single death"
Omar al-Bashir wanted aid groups out after indictment on war crime charges .
Spokesman: Bashir must reverse decision because "people's lives are at risk"
|
f97e7a58ad0a4dfb64d03e54766d0ec6ea1cbb3c
|
Passengers who were hit by a vomiting bug that ‘ruined’ their eight-day cruise to Norway are taking legal action against Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. The luxury voyage to the Norwegian Fjords had to be cut short after the stomach virus – believed to be norovirus – left hundreds of guests suffering from symptoms of a gastroenteritis-type illness on board the Balmoral. Martin D’Arcy, one of the passengers who has contacted lawyers, claims he was confined to his cabin with diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever. Passengers said their voyage to the Norwegian Fjords on board the Balmoral (pictured) was 'ruined' Martin D’Arcy, 66, said he was so ill that he was confined to his cabin for half of the journey . Mr D’Arcy, from Dorset, said he continues to suffer as a result of the illness. The 66-year-old retired sales service engineer said: ‘The illness just completely ruined our holiday – I was hoping to see so many sights but my illness meant that I had to cancel excursions and I spent half of the trip quarantined in my cabin. ‘This has affected more than just our holiday, as I am still struggling with illness symptoms now which are preventing me from getting on with my day-to-day life. ‘I am extremely frustrated by what I have been through and feel that I deserve answers as to why what was supposed to be a relaxing cruise, was completely turned upside down by illness.’ The outbreak was so bad the luxury voyage to the Norwegian Fjords had to be cut short by a day . Retired engineer John Trownson, 86, described the experience as ‘dreadful’ and estimated ‘more than 300 people’ fell ill. The outbreak on the ship – which was carrying 1,163 passengers, all paying between £799 and £1,649 per person – was so bad that it returned to its home port a day early to be ‘systematically sanitised’ ahead of its next trip, a 13-night cruise from the Portuguese island of Madeira. It is not the first time Fred Olsen cruise passengers have been hit by gastric illnesses. Between October 2009 and May 2010, 130 passengers fell ill on its cruise liner Boudicca, a sister ship of that involved in the latest incident. In 2014, the company paid out £280,000 compensation to those affected. In March and April 2011, 12 passengers sailing around the Mediterranean became ill, again on Boudicca, with some later given £10,000 payouts. Then in 2013, the company reported an outbreak of 'a gastroenteritis-type illness' on Boudicca after it left Belfast for a 10-night 'Scandinavian Cities Cruise'. In that case, 72 passengers were affected. Fred Olsen has said all its ships meet the highest standards of health, safety and hygiene at all times. Irwin Mitchell claims it has been contacted by multiple passengers, including Mr D'Arcy, who went on the cruise, which began on May 3 in Southampton. A Fred Olsen Cruise Lines spokeswoman claimed Mr D’Arcy reported his symptoms to staff 11 hours after they surfaced, ‘during which time it was likely that he was able to spread the illness to others’. The spokeswoman added: ‘Fred Olsen Cruise Lines stresses to all guests the importance of making staff aware of any illness as a matter of urgency, in order to enable the most effective containment measures on board. ‘Sadly, Mr D’Arcy did not do so and we were therefore not aware that he had become ill until much later.’ Nathan Philpot, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ sales and marketing director, told MailOnline Travel: ‘We are sorry that Mr D’Arcy’s cruise was impacted by what appears to be norovirus. ‘Investigations into the outbreak are ongoing, but it appears that – almost certainly – the illness was spread by one guest, as the single source, whilst waiting at the Southampton Cruise Terminal. ‘Norovirus is highly contagious, more so than the common cold, and could easily have been passed on at this time, meaning that more than one person may have boarded the ship with the illness; they were, most probably, unaware that they had picked up norovirus. 'Fred Olsen Cruise Lines issues pre-screening health questionnaires at the time of boarding, which need to be signed by all guests to confirm that they are not suffering from any illness, and no guest declared any symptoms at this time.' Irwin Mitchell said it has launched an investigation into the source of the passengers’ symptoms. Amandeep Dhillon, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘We are very concerned by these reports and have already been contacted for help by passengers affected by the reported illness problems on board the Balmoral cruise ship. ‘Whilst it is welcome that steps have been taken to deep clean the ship ahead of its next voyage, all of those on board the vessel during this outbreak will be keen to understand how the illness problems developed. The luxury cruise ship (pictured) had nurses going between cabins handing out tablets to the sick . ‘Anyone heading on a cruise expects a relaxing break, yet we see time and time again how illness on such vessels cannot only affect people’s holidays but also go on to leave them with long lasting health issues. ‘After being contacted by those affected, we have now commenced our own investigations in an effort to help the passengers obtain the answers they are searching for.’ Mr Philpot said Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is ‘pretty certain’ the illness was brought onto the ship as the first case was reported within hours of the ship’s departure from Southampton, and it takes 12 to 48 hours for norovirus symptoms to appear. He added: ‘Otherwise symptoms would have become evident later, as they did on day two and three of the cruise – which is further evidence that it was brought onto the ship on embarkation day and passed onto other guests. ‘Additionally, we know that the ship had no cases of norovirus on its previous cruise, from Egypt to Southampton.’ Fred Olsen is offering passengers vouchers for up to 50 per cent off a future voyage to the Norwegian Fjords . Passengers have been offered a refund covering one day's cost and a voucher for up to 50 per cent off a future voyage. Additional out-of-pocket expenses would be dealt with ‘on a case-by-case basis’, a spokesperson said previously. Passengers Rus and Marina Donaldson, both 55, previously said they would never go on a cruise with any company again after falling ill on board the Balmoral. Mr Donaldson added: ‘We wouldn't risk the possibility of repeating this experience. Even if they paid us we wouldn't go on it.' Fred Olsen has declined to reveal the number of passengers afflicted by the bug, saying ‘a number of the guests on board’ were affected.
|
Passengers said their cruise to the Norwegian Fjords was 'ruined'
Voyage had to be cut short by one day because the outbreak was so bad .
One passenger said he suffered diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever .
Law firm said it has been contacted by multiple people afflicted by the bug .
Fred Olsen has declined to reveal the number of passengers affected .
UK-based company said it is attempting to organise partial compensation .
It believes the illness was brought onto the ship 'and spread by one guest'
|
f97eaa3f575f0fb5fd4009ba9de20bfa4edabe4b
|
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Angry workers beat to death a human resources vice president after he laid off 42 employees at an auto-parts manufacturing company in southern India, police said Wednesday. Roy George was vice-president for human resources at Pricol, the auto-parts company. Some four to five workers, belonging to a union not recognized by the company, barged into his office and beat him up with iron rods, said N. Kannan, a police superintendent of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu state. George, 47, died from his head injuries Tuesday, Kannan told CNN. Police have arrested nine people and are expected to round up more. Last year the Indian head of an Italian company died after allegedly being beaten by a mob of sacked employees. More than 60 people were charged with the murder of the chief executive of Graziano Transmissioni near New Delhi. Earlier this month, India's Jet Airways had to cancel hundreds of flights after pilots struck work over the sacking of two of their colleagues in August. Companies in the South Asian nation, despite its rapid economic growth in recent years, have often been faced with tough labor issues because of archaic laws and company policies on hiring and retrenchment. Business consultants in India blame such labor standoffs on what they call lack of transparency in retrenchment or layoff policies. Hiring and firing conditions are often not explained to workers by their companies, said Rajeev Karwal, founding-director of Milagrow Business and Knowledge Solutions. Issues could spiral out of control if the businesses and bureaucrats are seen in a "corrupt nexus" by the employees seeking reprieve from labor authorities, he said.
|
Roy George was vice-president for human resources at Pricol auto-parts company .
Police: Four to five workers barged into his office and beat him with iron rods .
Police have arrested nine people and are expected to round up more .
|
f97ecf6aec2d8ffcf0711ba6f46a0d034570d1b5
|
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 03:23 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:06 EST, 11 April 2013 . Heartbreak: Carol Thatcher found out her mother had died while she was in Spain . Carol Thatcher found out her mother had died while she was visiting Spain to begin a Spanish language course, it was reported today. The 59-year-old's mother Baroness Thatcher died on Monday after suffering a stroke while staying at London's Ritz Hotel. Miss Thatcher, who lives Switzerland, has been learning the language for several years at Tilde languages school in Madrid. But she emailed the school on the day of her mother’s death to tell staff that she would not be able to attend, according to the Telegraph. Lola Gonzalez Martinez, the school’s co-director, said: 'Carol contacted the school to tell us that she would be unable to attend the course here and we understood, having already heard the news of the death of Margaret Thatcher. 'She was due to attend classes here starting next Monday but clearly she can’t meet that commitment. 'I’m sure the death didn’t come as any great surprise as I understand that her mother’s health was deteriorating for quite some time but it must still be very upsetting for Carol.' It is understood that she is now travelling back from Spain to Switzerland and she will arrive in Britain before the end of the week. Her twin brother Sir Mark Thatcher flew back from his holiday in Barbados on Tuesday night. Miss Thatcher lives in Klosters, the upmarket ski resort in the Swiss Alps favoured by the Royals, in a flat with her on/off partner of 20 years, ski instructor Marco Grass. She left on Sunday morning – the day before her mother’s stroke – on the pre-planned trip, according to Mr Grass. Happier times: Margaret Thatcher and her daughter Carol Thatcher at Wimbledon in 2004 . News: Miss Thatcher emailed the school on the day of her mother's death to tell staff that she would not be able to attend . A neighbour at their apartment, which has a traditional Swiss wooden balcony with stunning views said: ‘Everybody knew about Carol’s famous mother. The news is very sad.’ Miss Thatcher has not been seen in public or made a statement since news of her mother's death was revealed. Yesterday her twin brother Sir Mark Thatcher today said Baroness Thatcher would have been 'honoured and humbled' by the presence of the Queen at her funeral. Speaking outside his mother’s home in Belgravia, central London, Sir Mark said his mother's death was 'without doubt a very sad moment'. In his first appearance since the her death he said Lady Thatcher 'was blessed with a long life, and a very full one.' Past: Margaret Thatcher and husband Denis with Carol and Mark at 10 Downing Street during the 1983 General Election . Baroness Margaret Thatcher at the age of 33, has time to play with her twin children Mark and Carol aged six, Both engrossed in their toy garage and motor cars in 1959 . 'However the inevitability or the . inevitable conclusion may appear of the recent illness that she . suffered, it is no easier for us to bear in what is without doubt a very . sad moment. The 59-year-old said the family had . been 'simply been overwhelmed by messages of support.' 'I know that my mother would be pleased they have come from people of all walks of life.' He added the messages would be 'a . source of encouragement and strength as we face the inevitable days . ahead and for that I am most grateful.' According to Lady Thatcher's confidant and adviser for 30 years, Robin Harris, her daughter was always much closer to her father Denis, who died in 2003 at the age of 88. In 2008 Miss Thacher, who has always felt she 'came second' in her mother's affections to brother Mark, published a memoir - A Walk-on Part In The Goldfish Bowl - in which she revealed previously unknown details about her mother's dementia. Miss Thatcher has not been seen in public or made a statement since news of her mother's death was revealed. Yesterday her twin brother Sir Mark Thatcher said Baroness Thatcher would have been 'honoured and humbled' by the presence of the Queen at her funeral . In particular, she disclosed that her . mother kept forgetting that husband Denis had died, adding: 'I had to . keep telling her the bad news over and over again'. Coming from her own daughter, this . was widely seen as distasteful and deeply insensitive by Lady Thatcher's . friends - though it is, unclear whether Lady Thatcher, in her sad . mental state, could ever have been fully aware of the contents of . Carol's book. The evidence of close friends would . be enough to indicate that even if she did learn of its contents, she . would have forgotten it almost immediately, never mind be 'bitter' about . it . Miss Thatcher abandoned Britain after . losing her job as a correspondent on BBC's One Show for describing a . tennis player as a 'golliwog' in 2009. She told the Telegraph she was . 'increasingly despondent about the state of this country' around the . time she moved to Switzerland. Exclusive resort: Carol Thatcher moved to Royal favourite Klosters in Switzerland 'because she was disenchanted with Britain'
|
Carol Thatcher was informed of .
mother’s death while she was in Madrid .
She has been attending the languages school for several years .
Emailed the school to tell them she could not attend classes .
|
f97f0269415fa11b1b4efa0d1c8a73fb8de561fc
|
PUBLISHED: . 13:08 EST, 14 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:35 EST, 14 January 2013 . Court documents reveal a huge network of drug dealers that included outlaw bikers, the Canadian Mafia and a Mexican drug cartel responsible for supplying New York City with nearly a billion dollars in marijuana was taken down by the Drug Enforcement Agency and Canadian authorities. The illicit network’s ringleader is French Canadian drug kingpin Jimmy ‘Cosmo’ Cournoyer, authorities say. Cournoyer was caught last spring after stepping off a jet in Mexico. Alleged accomplice: Jimmy Cournoyer's model girlfriend Amelia Racine reportedly let him use her Porsche Cayenne to dodge police surveillance . A five-year probe carried out by the DEA and police from Laval, Quebec, where Cournoyer once lived, shows that his network allegedly specialized in growing and distributing potent hydroponic marijuana harvested in British Columbia, according to the New York Post. The supply of marijuana under his authority was transported in motor homes and trucks across Canada with aid from the Hells Angels, authorities said. The biker gang and the Montreal mob then smuggled the marihuana from Quebec into upstate New York, where trucks delivered it to a warehouse in Brooklyn, authorities and sources said. Cournoyer, 33, reportedly earned enough from his illegal operations to fund a lavish lifestyle, including model girlfriend, Amelia Racine, and extravagant parties that attracted unknowing celebrities, Leonardo DiCaprio among them. Cournoyer is now awaiting trial in Brooklyn federal court for organizing the ‘vast international drug-trafficking enterprise that has been in existence for more than a decade,’ prosecutor Steven Tiscione wrote in recent court papers. ‘The illegal narcotics distributed worldwide by members of the criminal enterprise have a retail value of more than $1 billion, conservatively,’ Tiscione wrote. Unwitting patron: Leonardo diCaprio was one of several unknowing celebrities to attend Cournoyer's parties . The Canadian kingpin had attempted to throw off surveillance teams in Quebec by hiding his expensive Bugatti Veyron in a garage and driving around in a Porsche Cayenne owned by his girlfriend Racine, a Canadian-Brazilian brunette who has worked modelling gigs in Europe, sources told the Post. Cournoyer’s gal pal’s jailed brother, Mario Racine, was allegedly acting as the kingpin’s trusted lieutenant. Mario Racine is now awaiting extradition to stand trial with his boss in Brooklyn, officials say. After his arrest last spring, Cournoyer reportedly refused to board a U.S.-bound commercial airplane to the states while throwing a series of tantrums. Those tantrums forced a total of four plane changes over two days before Cournoyer was finally flown to New York City to await his trial. One of the Canadian kingpin’s biggest clients in New York was reputed Bonanno crime-family member John ‘Big Man’ Venizelos, who is now out on bail in the case, according to sources and court documents. Millions of dollars generated from Cournoyer’s marijuana sales were used to buy cocaine from Joaquin Guzmán Loera, the leader of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, according to federal authorities. The alleged sale of the cocaine supplied by Guzmán then further financed Cournoyer’s marijuana operations in Canada. Partner in crime: Millions of dollars generated from Cournoyer¿s marijuana sales were used to buy cocaine from Joaquin Guzmán Loera, the leader of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, federal authorities say .
|
The illicit network’s ringleader is French Canadian drug kingpin Jimmy ‘Cosmo’ Cournoyer, authorities and new court documents show .
Cournoyer's network allegedly specialized in growing and distributing potent hydroponic marijuana harvested in British Columbia .
Cournoyer was caught last spring after stepping off a jet in Mexico .
|
f97f2bd5d1b6174ff58a08fec98d52bc5da4560b
|
(CNN) -- Have you ever put on a full-body wetsuit? It takes some time. Lots of pulling, tugging and wriggling around to get it in the perfect position. In early June, I raced my first triathlon relay, completing the swim and run portions. It took three people -- my mom, my sister and my relay partner -- to help me get into my wetsuit. I joked that day that it "takes a village to get me in my wetsuit." As with any joke, there is a kernel of truth in that statement. Upon hearing that I had been selected for the Fit Nation team, I immediately began to imagine what the upcoming months of training would hold. I envisioned myself running, biking, swimming and eating super-nutritious meals. In all of these scenarios, I was alone. After all, triathlon is not a team sport, right? Wrong. It takes a village to train for a triathlon, and I have an amazing tribe by my side! Reflecting on the sheer quantity, not to mention impeccable quality, of folks who are sharing this journey with me brings tears of gratitude to my eyes. Sometimes you just have to lose control . My relationship with my husband, Scott, has deepened through shared bike rides, running sessions and healthy meal planning. My 7-year old-daughter, Annissa, cheers me on at races, does squats and sit-ups with me and tells strangers her mommy is strong (and famous)! My local mentors, Geoff and Tracy Chandler, were strangers at this time last year. Now I can't imagine my life without them. Geoff has generously offered invaluable advice from his more than 30 years of racing experience. Tracy is my constant training buddy. We meet up for runs, rides and races, and she pushes me to get outside my comfort zone. Professional triathlete and Xterra world champ Lesley Paterson has become my friend and mentor. At her invitation, I participated in her extraordinary training boot camp. More important, I attended a talk Lesley gave about her journey to Xterra triathlon, in which she was brutally honest about her failures as well as her successes. Hearing an athlete at her level speak so openly of her struggles empowered me to take more risks, in triathlon and in other areas of my life. I met local coaches Doug Robinson and Heather Pickey at my second triathlon relay. They offered to help me with my swim form through weekly clinics they hold at my local YMCA. Their expertise and encouragement is taking my swim fitness to the next level. Work out what matters most: your mind . Laura Minor, owner of a local boutique gym, has welcomed me with open arms. I strength train there three times a week with trainer Cori McCorkle. Cori's enthusiasm for my triathlon challenge is undeniable. She spends time researching new exercises geared toward triathletes to maximize my gym time. Laura and Cori are not only helping me build muscle; they are helping me build confidence. I've rekindled old friendships and moved existing friendships forward. Instead of meeting for dinner and drinks, I bike with my friend Jayme and go to Spin class with my pal Sarah. While on vacation in Tucson in April, I met up with my former colleague Melinda for a run. I'm currently making plans for a long bike ride with Damian, a friend from primary school. You can build your own village. Tell friends about your goals and invite them to training sessions. Talk to strangers at the gym, on the track, on the trail and at your race. Introduce yourself, ask them about their training goals, and surround yourself with friends and supporters who help move you forward. And give back. As you gain experience, share your knowledge with new athletes. So what's stopping you? Take the first step and tell the world you are ready to tri. You'll be amazed at how quickly your village will grow. Follow McMahon on Twitter @TriHardTabitha .
|
When she joined Fit Nation, Tabitha McMahon imagined running, biking, swimming alone .
Now, McMahon runs and bikes with her husband, does strength training with her daughter .
She also has several coaches and mentors who have helped her along the way .
|
f97f76d405a248a4b90ab4b3c1fb0bcbdc9e43ae
|
By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 21:02 EST, 19 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:59 EST, 20 November 2013 . A dog has died after eating a decomposing ball of fat that had washed up on a Welsh beach. Surfer Daniel Hart, 32, was forced to put his pet Maisey to sleep after she became seriously ill with pneumonia and a bleeding nose. Now, pet owners are being warned about the white lumps of fat - which look like snowballs - that have been washing up in small quantities along the Welsh coast for more than a fortnight. Warning: Pet owners are being warned about decomposing fat balls that are washing up on the Welsh coast . The rancid substance has also been reported in areas along the Cornish coast. Experts are at loss to explain where the fat has come from, but believe either Atlantic storms could have washed it over to the UK or passing ships might have dumped it at sea. While posing no risk to people, the substance can cause potentially fatal problems for dogs whose digestive systems are unable to cope. Mr Hart had been surfing at the . Llangennith beach on the Gower Peninsula, near Swansea, on Sunday when his beloved dog Maisey started being violently sick. The decomposing fat was first reported in Ogmore, pictured, in the Vale of Glamorgan, almost two weeks ago . 'I was surfing and Maisey was around the . high tide line. I called her to me. She ran half way to me then started . being sick,' he told BBC Wales online. Maisey, who is believed to have eaten congealed vegetable oil, bled from the nose . as she was carried to her owner's car. She was quickly taken to an emergency vet, where she was given antibiotics for pneumonia. Mr Hart, from Gorseinon, near Swansea, took Maisey home and slept with her on his settee - however, her condition failed to improve and blood began pouring from her nose. Less than six hours hour, Mr Hart decided it would be kinder to have his beloved pet put to sleep. 'It was horrible taking the decision but I didn't want her to suffer,' he said. 'She had lost the will to live.' Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has warned dog walkers using the region's beaches to be 'vigilant' A spokesman for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has warned dog walkers using the region's beaches to be 'vigilant'. He added that the first reports of rancid fat on Welsh beaches had come in from Ogmore, in the Vale of Glamorgan, almost two weeks ago. 'It appears to have started off in the east and is gradually making its way west,' he said. He said he believed that there had been one death and up to 10 cases of dogs becoming ill after consuming the fat. 'There is nothing particularly to worry about environmentally and there is no danger to humans - I'm assuming that nobody would try to eat it,' he said. The fat has been tested. It has been found to be largely vegetable matter, possibly oil, that is relatively harmless. 'We are not talking about large amounts here but it is something that dogs might eat so we have warned people to be vigilant for the sake of their pets,' he said. A spokesman for Swansea County Council said it was investigating reports of the fat, but had so far encountered nothing. He said cleaning the beach would be the responsibility of the landowner in the area affected.
|
Surfer Daniel Hart, 32, was forced to put his pet dog Maisey to sleep .
She suffered pneumonia and a bleeding nose after eating ball of fat .
Substance has been washing up along Welsh coast for a fortnight .
|
f97fe8d765c3fcf85a4227bbc734b394dbfe89eb
|
By . Associated Press . The Detroit-area factory where 'Rosie the Riveter' showed that a woman could do a 'man's work' by building World War II-era bombers, making her an enduring symbol of American female empowerment, will be demolished if money can't be found to save it.The Willow Run Bomber Plant, a 332-acre former Ford Motor Company factory west of Detroit that churned out nearly 9,000 B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II, is slated to be torn down unless a group can raise $3.5 million by Thursday to convert at least some of the structure into a new, expanded home for the nearby Yankee Air Museum.'The younger generation needs to know what people went through and be able to go and see what they did and how they did it for our country,' Larry Doe, a 70-year-old Ypsilanti Township resident who has given to the cause, said recently before joining other donors for a trip on a B-17. War effort: Ford Motor Company switched from making cars to planes and produced one an hour - nearly 9,000 B-24 Liberator bombers in all - at the Willow Run factory . Yes, we can: (left) 'Rosie the Riveter' aka Rosie Monroe was introduced as the poster girl for women joining the work force during World War II and (right) the real Rose Will Monroe, who died in 1997 . Break time: Men and women workers sit together to eat their home-packed lunches on some steps at the Willow Run bomber plant . Although women performed what had been male-dominated roles in plants all over the country during the war, it was a Willow Run worker - one of an untold number of women in its 40,000-person workforce - who caught the eye of Hollywood producers casting a 'riveter' for a government film about the war effort at home. Factory girls: Workers at the Willow Run bomber plant operated machines, such as the Rockwell hardness tester seen in this picture . War effort: Male and female workers riveting a center wing section for a B-24E Liberator bomber in the horizontal position at Ford's big Willow Run plant . Massive scale: Fuselage sections for B-24E Liberator bombers being completed before going to one of the two final assembly lines of Ford's Willow Run plant . Although many Rosies were let go once the war was over and the soldiers returned home, they had shown that women were capable of doing jobs that had traditionally been done by only men. An illustrated poster of a determined-looking Rosie the Riveter rolling up her sleeve with the slogan, 'We can do it!,' became an iconic symbol of female empowerment for American women.The Willow Run factory went back to making automobiles after the war ended, and it did so for more than a half-century under the General Motors name before closing for good in 2010.Now, Doe and other donors are hoping to save at least some of the massive structure to convert it into the new home of the Yankee Air Museum. The museum's original headquarters burned down in 2004, and it is currently housed at Willow Run Airport in Van Buren Township, which is near Ypsilanti Township, where the plant is located. War-time workers: These 1940s color photos show men from the Willow Run factory inspecting the landing wheels of transport planes . Liberation: Assembly lines where many female workers made these B-24E Liberator bombers at Ford's big Willow Run plant. Guns and wing tips have not yet been added to the planes in the foreground . Completed: New B-24E Liberator bombers made by workers at Ford's Willow Run plant, are rolled from the hangars for test flights . Worker's cottage: These typical homes near the Willow Run bomber plant would have housed many of the factory's workers . 'We now have the opportunity to actually take a piece of this plant. It's due to be demolished over the next two or three years,' said Dennis Norton, president of the Michigan Aerospace Foundation. 'There's no further use for it. It's too big. It's too old to be used in modern-day manufacturing.'Organizers of the 'Save the Willow Run Bomber Plant' campaign say they need $8 million to fund their 'separation' plan. They want to acquire part of the five-million-square-foot plant, secure it and re-establish utility services such as water, gas and electric.They have raised $4.5 million of what they need and are hoping to entice major donors to come forward with six- and seven-figure commitments.Detroit's historic bankruptcy filing two weeks ago isn't expected to have any effect on fundraising, said Dan Pierce, a spokesman for the effort.'We have not heard this from any prospective donors and don't think we will,' he said. A woman's work: These Willow Run factory workers who labored for the war-time effort install one of the four motors on a transport plane . Wing it: An overseer checks the wing structure of a plane with blueprints, while engineers determine next steps to be taken before the wings leave the assembly line . Meticulous: A young employee at the Willow Run plant uses a tiny flashlight to discover any internal defects in metal tubing used in the construction of bombers . Expertise: An experienced worker at the Willow Run bomber plant operates a cold heading machine making hundreds of rivets a minute from aluminum alloy wire . Closed: A B-17G 'Yankee Lady' is shown in front of the old Willow Run Bomber Plant that produced nearly 9,000 B-24 Liberator bombers to help win the war in Europe. The factory closed for good in 2010 and is slated for demolition . Yankee Air Museum backers are hoping to tap into some of that patented Rosie resolve in their efforts to transform Willow Run. The hulking facility currently is in the hands of the Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response Trust, which took over sites around the country left behind in the bankruptcy of GM.Much of the plant has fallen into disrepair, including the portion the Yankee Air Museum is eyeing. The factory floor is littered with debris that sits among rusted-out and busted-up equipment once used to make transmissions.Norton and his colleagues hope to change that soon.The millions left to raise represents 'a significant amount of money,' he said.'However, if we didn't think we could do it, we wouldn't have started it in the first place.'
|
Detroit factory that made almost 9,000 bombers for WWII is slated for demolition .
The Yankee Air Museum needs to raise $3.5 million by Thursday to save it .
The factory is where Rosie Monroe aka Rosie the Riveter, subject of the famous 'We Can Do It' poster, worked during the war .
|
f98056d96687e7a00e4d0a75c914dd2fd1674256
|
The Bard: Myths and doubts surround William Shakespeare . Dame Janet Suzman has hit out at two acclaimed Shakespearean actors who believe the Bard was not the true author of the plays. The actress said it was 'strange' that Sir Derek Jacobi and Mark Rylance took the 'haughty' view that they were penned by an English aristocrat. She said it was 'snobbish' to believe that the writer could not have been a playwright from Stratford Upon Avon. Jacobi claimed the dramas were written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, who hid behind William Shakespeare because, he said, a nobleman could not be seen as a common playwright. While Rylance, currently performing in Richard III at the Globe, has pointed out that details about Italy in the plays are 'exact' and the Earl had widely toured the country. Suzman, who has starred and directed in many Shakespeare dramas, said she got 'mad as a snake' over the myths and doubts about the man regarded as the world's greatest poet and playwright. She told the Observer: 'It annoyed me… I suddenly felt like Joan of Arc riding into battle.' She described last year's film Anonymous, which portrayed . Shakespeare as a drunken fool and the Earl as a literary genius, as 'far-fetched' and a waste of money. In her new book, Not Hamlet, Suzman devotes a chapter to 'conspiracy theories' surrounding Shakespeare who died at the age of 52 in 1616 after writing 37 plays, 154 sonnets and poems. She wrote: 'You have to be a . conspiracy theorist to imagine the earl secretly wrote 37 plays, . performed and printed over a quarter of a century, without being found . out. Bard defender: Janet Suzman claims Jacobi and Rylance had a 'haughty' view of the playwright . Acclaimed: Mark Rylance in Shakespeare's drama Measure For Measure and award-winning Derek Jacobi . 'And you have to be a . snob if you just hate it that the greatest poet the world has produced . was born into the humble aldermanic classes of a provincial town.' She . added: 'How strange it is that Jacobi and Rylance, hundreds of years . later, with their outstanding acting instincts, should embrace such a . haughty view of the man who has made them as big as they are. 'We have seen a dozen times how thrillingly they themselves can conjure up fantastical character studies of fictional persons – without ever having been crowned king or murdered a rival in real life. 'It's what actors do for heaven's sakes, and Shakespeare was one too. It's called imagination.' Star: Jacobi in BBC's Shakespeare's Richard II with Janet Maw as his queen . Doubts have surrounded Shakespeare's authorship for 150 years, with Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe and Edward de Vere named as the likely writers of his sonnets and plays. Last June, Jacobi said that Shakespeare was just a 'frontman' for the Earl of Oxford. He said: 'The simple fact is the earl could not be seen as a common playwright. He was living in a Stasi-type London.' Rylance, said the 'big thing' in the Earl's favour was his wide knowledge of Italy where 14 of of bard's plays are set. He said: 'You would expect a playwright who set 14 of 37 plays in Italy to have been there, and the knowledge is exact.' A spokesman for Rylance said he did not only promote the “Oxfordian” theory while Jacobi was unavailable for comment.
|
'I got mad as a snake about the conspiracy theorists,' she says .
Jacobi and Rylance claims 16th century aristocrat penned dramas .
|
f9807d176c96a96bb4edbadbf8e0091ffb642189
|
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 06:13 EST, 8 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:15 EST, 8 January 2013 . Eight suspected militants were killed on the Afghan border of Pakistan today in a strike by several missiles from American drones. Two Pakistani intelligence officials said the compound was located near the town of Mir Ali in the North Waziristan tribal area. One of the officials said an al Qaida operative was believed to have been killed in the strike.North Waziristan, the area where the strike occurred, is considered a stronghold for insurgent groups operating in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Killed: Several missiles fired from American drones slammed into a compound near the Afghan border in Pakistan early today, killing eight suspected militants, Pakistan officials said (file photo) It is one of the few parts of the tribal areas that border Afghanistan in which the Pakistani military has not conducted a military operation to root out militants, despite repeated pushes to do so from the American government. Today's strike was the fourth since the new year began. On Sunday nine Pakistani Taliban fighters were killed when American missiles fired from several drones flying overhead slammed into three militant hideouts in another tribal area, South Waziristan. The militant in charge of training . suicide bombers for the Pakistani Taliban was believed by Pakistan . intelligence officials to have died in Sunday's strike. On January 2, a drone strike killed a top Pakistani militant commander, Maulvi Nazir. He was accused of carrying out deadly attacks against American and other targets across the border in Afghanistan. Killed: Maulvi Nazir, centre, flanked by his bodyguards, speaks to journalists. On January 2, a drone strike killed the top Pakistani militant commander . Tactics: Pakistani children play in a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad. Islamabad officially opposes the use of US drones on its territory, but is believed to have tacitly approved some strikes in past . But unlike most members of the Taliban in Pakistan, he negotiated a truce with the Pakistani military in 2009 and did not attack Pakistani troops or domestic targets. The US's covert drone programme is extremely controversial in Pakistan where many in the country look at it as an infringement on their sovereignty. Many Pakistanis complain that innocent civilians have also been killed, something the US rejects. Islamabad officially opposes the use of US drones on its territory, but is believed to have tacitly approved some strikes in past.
|
Today's strike was the fourth since the start of the new year .
Compound was located near town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan tribal area .
|
f9808631930223215aac83dcb67c7bcd5bde8aa0
|
(CNN) -- With 182 Formula One wins, McLaren is one of the most successful marques in the history of the sport, but F1's second oldest team could be waiting some time for the next victory. So much so, that after the team's stuttering start to the new F1 season last weekend, McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez have already ruled themselves out of winning Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix. The 2009 world champion Button won three races last season and after Lewis Hamilton left McLaren to join Mercedes he must have been relishing the chance to launch a title challenge as the team's No. 1 driver. However the Briton, who finished ninth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, is expecting another frustrating weekend in Kuala Lumpur. "Australia was obviously a tough weekend and, despite getting the maximum out of the car, it's still clearly not where we want to be," Button told the sport's official website. "There's a lot of work to be done but we all know that this team won't stop working until they get it right. For this weekend, I don't think we can expect an improvement in our fortunes, but the thing about Malaysia is that it can be so unpredictable." Like all Englishmen, Button is closely watching the weather forecast in the hope that McLaren might profit from what could be a wet race at the Sepang International Circuit to even up the odds for the British team. "We saw that last year, when Fernando (Alonso) won, and we know that the unpredictable weather can make it a lottery for everyone," added Button. "That's something that could play into our hands -- I do enjoy driving in changeable conditions, and would love the challenge of being able to run competitively in a car that we all know is not quite capable of challenging for victories yet." Perez, who made his debut for McLaren last weekend after joining the British marque from Sauber, delivered an equally sombre assessment of the team's problems. "Last weekend's race was a difficult one for everybody on the team, but it's shown us exactly what we need to do to close down the gap to the leaders," said the 23-year-old Mexican, who finished second in Malaysia last season, . "This weekend in Malaysia will be about trying to maximise the package we have while knowing that it's not going to be enough to allow us to fight for overall victory. "Sepang holds many happy memories -- I had one of the best races of my career there last year where I was able to push Alonso for victory until the closing laps. The Circuit: CNN's F1 interactive . "It's a fantastic circuit, really fast and demanding. It would be great to pull off another unexpected result for the team this year." Mercedes optimism . Former McLaren driver Hamilton enjoyed a solid first race for Mercedes last weekend, finishing fifth after starting the race third on the grid, and the 2008 world champion has been pleasantly buoyed by his team's performance in Melbourne. "I feel very optimistic," Hamilton was reported to have said by AFP. "I came away from there with 10 points and I feel really happy with 10 points because when I made the switch I didn't know where we'd be, and I definitely didn't think we'd come away from the first race with 10 points." Hamilton is confident he can match the pace of Red Bull's triple world champion Sebastian Vettel. "I don't think they (Red Bull) had frightening pace in qualifying," continued the 28-year-old Briton. "I think if I was out at the same time, if I was out as late as they had gone out, I think I could have matched their time. "But then we got to the race and they had great pace again, as they always do and he (Vettel) disappeared, along with everyone else. Hopefully in the next race we won't have that problem." Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen is the top of the drivers' rankings following the first race after the 2007 world champion took the checkered flag at Albert Park in Melbourne. But the Finn denied suggestions he will be the man everyone is looking to beat in Sunday's race. "There's no target (on my back)," said the 32-year-old. "We're not doing any different things this week from what we did previously. "So whether people think we are the leaders makes no difference to how we work, what we're going to do this weekend or any other weekend. We'll try to do our best and hopefully we can score some good points."
|
Jenson Button and Sergio Perez say McLaren will not compete in Malaysia .
Button finished ninth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix .
Lewis Hamilton confident Mercedes can challenge Red Bull in 2013 .
Kimi Raikkonen plays down suggestions he's the man to beat at Sepang .
|
f980a305f079ce667a34a238a35ea7b789c79151
|
Newcastle Falcons maintained their 100 per cent start to their European Challenge Cup campaign with a 30-23 victory against Stade Francais on Friday. Wins over Newport Gwent Dragons and Bucuresti meant Newcastle topped Pool Three ahead of Friday night's encounter at Kingston Park, and the Falcons ran in four tries on their way to a bonus-point triumph over the French side, who are flying high in third in the Top 14 standings. Tries from Chris Harris and Simon Hammersley helped Newcastle to a 14-9 lead at the break, with South Africa fly-half Morne Steyn slotting a trio of penalties to keep Stade Francais in the game. Newcastle Falcons' Chris Harris points out instructions to his team-mates during their match on Friday night . Simon Hammersley scores a try for Newcastle in the first half which contributed to their 14-9 lead at half-time . The Parisians took a 16-14 lead two minutes into the second half when Julien Tomas crossed for their first try, but Newcastle retook the lead five minutes later when Tom Catterick kicked a penalty. The Falcons surged into a 22-16 lead when Sean Robinson crashed over with half an hour to play, but Stade led by one point when Krisnan Inu's 61st-minute try was converted by Steyn. Catterick again kicked Newcastle into the lead with his second penalty of the match with 13 minutes to play, before Noah Cato sealed the victory and a bonus point for good measure with Newcastle's fourth try in the 70th minute. The win means Newcastle currently enjoy an eight-point lead over Newport and are in a strong position to secure progression to the quarter-finals of the competition as group winners. In Pool One, Grenoble ran in nine tries as they walloped Rovigo 68-10 to secure their first points of the competition and move above the Italian side into third in the standings. The Newcastle Falcons players huddle together during the first half of the match . Harris uses his power to hold off the challenge from Stade Francais' Paul Williams and run past him . A penalty try and further scores from Laurent Bouchet, Florian Faure, Benjamin Thiery, Alipate Ratini, Robinson Caire, Thibault Rey, Loick Jammes and Xavier Mignot helped to secure the comprehensive victory for the French side. Scrum-half James Hart added 14 points from the kicking tee, and fly-half Jordan Michalet chipped in with a couple of conversions for good measure. Number eight Andrea De Marchi scored Rovigo's solitary try, with fly-half Davide Farolini adding a conversion and penalty for the Italians. Oyonnax won an all-French encounter against Brive 30-23 to climb to second behind Gloucester in Pool Five. Fabien Cibray, Arthur Aziza and Dug Codjo scored tries for Oyonnax, while Aziza added seven more points from the tee and Riaan Smit weighed in with a conversion and two penalties. Brive secured a losing bonus point courtesy of tries from Louis Acosta, Poutasi Luafutu and Tjiuee Uanivi, and seven points from the boot of Romain Sola.
|
Newcastle Falcons beat Stade Francais 30-23 on Friday night .
As a result they maintain their 100 per cent winning start to their European Challenge Cup campaign .
The win means Newcastle currently hold a eight-point lead over Newport .
|
f98161c9d22a3ad3191bab306b303cef3f6a545c
|
Dramatic footage of confiscated motorcycles and quad bikes has been released to warn drivers to be responsible on the roads. The Quad Squad was set up by West Yorkshire Police in July to crack down on the number of dangerous drivers. In just two months the group has seized almost 80 quads and motorbikes which have all been crushed in a bid to deter motorists from driving irresponsibly. Scroll down for video . Footage of dozens of motorbikes and quad bikes before they are destroyed has been released by the Quad Squad . The squad -set up by Yorkshire Police to tackle dangerous driving - has already seized 77 bikes since July . Vehicles that aren't claimed by owners are taken to a dismantling site and sorted into categories two categories - salvage or scrap. Those that are to be destroyed are dropped in a large hydraulic compacting machine which reduces the bikes - worth thousands of pounds - to a square hunk of metal and plastic. Another machine chews up wiring looms to produce child-friendly plastic, while bikes that are salvaged are sold on. Plans to donate some bikes to charities which work with young people who ride off road legitimately are being discussed. PC David Hitchcocks, of the Bike Team, said: 'Hopefully, this video should serve as a warning to those who make their neighbours’ lives a misery with noise nuisance or put their own enjoyment before the safety of other road users. Among the vehicles some were destroyed into cubes of metal and plastic while others are sold on . Bikes that are going to be scrapped are placed in a hydraulic compacting machine which reduces them to cubes of metal. West Yorkshire Police bikes were not included in the destruction . Bradford Police hopes the images of crushed bikes will deter young motorists from driving recklessly . A spokesman for the squad said no matter how much the vehicle is worth, it will be destroyed unless claimed by its owner once seized . 'It doesn’t matter if your vehicle is worth £50 or £3,000 - it will still end up as a cube of scrap metal if it is suspected of being used irresponsibly.' Sergeant Jonathan Best, who leads the team based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, added: 'We will continue to tackle nuisance riders across the district, and we urge people to keep reporting incidents and any details of the bikes which are being used to the police. 'We will also continue to work closely with our partners and use all available legislation, to make sure that those committing offences are prosecuted and dealt with positively.'
|
West Yorkshire Police launched The Quad Squad to fight dangerous driving .
Team seizes motorbikes or quad bikes being wrongfully used on roads .
Footage shows dozens of vehicles being crushed down to cubes of metal .
Officers hope the dramatic images will deter irresponsible driving .
|
f981a0889918f6540dd27be2ed81c12a72170bc3
|
Martin Bashir has resigned from MSNBC following the backlash from his inappropriate on-air comments about Sarah Palin. He released a statement on Wednesday afternoon explaining his decision to resign over the 'ill-judged' comments about the former Alaskan governor's comparison of the federal debt to slavery. He previously apologized to Palin both on and off camera, but came under further fire when fellow MSNBC host Alec Baldwin was fired for making homophobic comments to journalists outside of his apartment while he was not formally reprimanded in any way until now. Martin Bashir offered a lengthy apology to Sarah Palin on Monday following a rant where he suggested she deserved to be defecated upon . 'After making an on-air apology, I asked for permission to take some additional time out around the Thanksgiving holiday,' he said in the statement to Mediaite. Offended: Sarah Palin accepted Bashir's apology but slammed MSNBC for not firing him . 'Upon further reflection, and after meeting with the President of MSNBC, I have tendered my resignation. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, at this special network, will be allowed to focus on the issues that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments. 'I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers – who are the smartest, most compassionate and discerning of all television audiences.' MSNBC later ran his comments on their website along with a brief statement from network president Phil Griffin. 'Martin Bashir resigned today, effective immediately. I understand his decision and I thank him for three great years with msnbc. Martin is a good man and respected colleague- we wish him only the best,' Griffin said in the statement. The network has disputed earlier reports that Bashir, 50, was temporarily suspended over the issue when he went 'on vacation before Thanksgiving. Palin even spoke out on the matter, saying that while she did accept his apology, the uneven treatment of Baldwin and Bashir was an example of the favoritism in main stream media. Off the air: Baldwin's show was first suspended for two weeks and then cut from the lineup entirely . 'That's the executive hypocrisy that . is so prevalent in that media elite bubble, where it depends on the . target of the vile rants. It doesn't depend on what their rant itself . actually is and conservative women are a target of them,' she said. Baldwin also spoke out against the fact that MSNBC chose to stick by Bashir and not him. 'Martin Bashir's on the air, and he made his comment on the air! I dispute half the comment I made...' Baldwin told Gothamist. 'There's nothing you can do when you get thrown in this washing machine, nothing. You know? Nothing. All you end up doing is just defending yourself all day long.' The actor's late night talk show 'Up Late With Alec Baldwin' was originally suspended for two weeks immediately following his argument with photographers and journalists outside of his New York City apartment.
|
Bashir made lewd on-air comments on November 15 calling for someone to defecate in Palin's mouth after she compared the federal debt to slavery .
MSNBC did not formally reprimand Bashir .
Came around the same time as fellow MSNBC host Alec Baldwin got suspended- and later fired- for using homophobic slurs outside his home .
Many- including Palin and Baldwin- called the move hypocritical for firing Baldwin but not Bashir .
Bashir announced his resignation Wednesday afternoon and MSNBC confirmed the slip .
|
f9822dab400f384ca779c736b1bf64c8ee06d719
|
By . Mark Duell . Royal Marine: Sergeant Alexander Blackman was found guilty of murdering an injured Afghan fighter . A Royal Marine jailed for life for executing a severely wounded Taliban captive ‘lost his head’ amid fears he would be ‘skinned alive’ if caught by insurgents, a court heard. Sergeant Alexander Blackman, 39, blasted the Afghan prisoner in the chest at close range with his 9mm pistol in a ‘moment of madness’ on the battlefield. Blackman – known as Marine A at his trial – is serving a minimum of ten years in prison after becoming the first UK serviceman to be found guilty of murder in a warzone since the Second World War. Yesterday he launched a legal bid for freedom by having his conviction quashed or sentence reduced. The experienced commando and his men lived in daily fear of being blown up by IEDs or, worse, captured and mutilated by inhumane enemy fighters, senior judges were told. Anthony Berry QC, representing Blackman, told the Court Martial Appeal Court the Marine had succumbed to ‘extreme stress’ after a gruelling tour of Helmand. He said: ‘There was a cocktail of circumstances which led this brave and modest man, to whom loyal duty and allegiance to the corps was second to nothing, briefly to lose his head. ‘The task and stress of leadership is considerable when you hear and see your comrades being killed … and how they fear being caught by Taliban insurgents and knowing what they would do, namely skinning them alive, cutting off their testicles and displaying body parts in trees as a warning to other forces.’ Mr Berry said the conviction was ‘inherently unsafe’ because a seven-man military board was permitted to find him guilty on a simple majority. He said the odds were stacked unfairly against the Marine at the court martial which meant the conviction failed to ‘satisfy the criminal standard of proof’, and argued the sentence was ‘manifestly excessive’. Shooting: Footage captured by a camera mounted on the helmet of a Royal Marine showing Sgt Blackman during a patrol in Afghanistan in which an insurgent was killed . In attendance: Claire Blackman, the Marine's wife, at the Court Martial Appeal Court in London today . The judge at his court martial had not . taken into account his patrol ‘remained in hostile territory and knew . of further insurgents in the immediate vicinity’. As . well as being jailed, Blackman was dismissed with disgrace from the . Marines after he had served with distinction for 15 years, including . tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. Urging . the three judges to reduce the ten-year term, Mr Berry said: ‘His . career is over. His reputation and standing is lost and the loss of the . comradeship is perhaps the most significant punishment for him to bear. ‘He is a normal citizen, tainted only by the impact of war.’ Blackman, . from Taunton, Somerset, killed the injured insurgent following a fierce . firefight on September 15, 2011. The captive had been hurt by cannon . fire from an Apache helicopter after an attack on a British base in . Helmand. Recordings from a . helmet-mounted camera worn by a comrade captured the moments when . Blackman shot the prisoner and told him: ‘Shuffle off this mortal coil, . you ****.’ He then told his comrades: ‘Obviously this doesn’t go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.’ In November, he was convicted of . murder. Sentencing Blackman, who served with Plymouth-based 42 Commando, . Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett said he had ‘tarnished the . reputation’ of the Armed Forces. Sent down: A court drawing of Sergeant Alexander Blackman, standing in front of the judge, as he passes sentence and jails him for ten years last November . Hearing: He was jailed for life after being convicted last year at a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire (pictured) But . the severity of the sentence sparked a massive wave of support with . more than 100,000 people, including MPs and senior military figures, . calling for leniency. Blackman’s wife Claire, 42, was at the hearing but said she would not comment until after the court gives its decision. Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, Sir . Brian Leveson and Lady Justice Hallett are expected to rule after Easter . on whether or not the conviction can stand. The footage was captured by a camera mounted on the helmet of a Royal Marine in the aftermath of a helicopter attack in Helmand. He shot the unknown insurgent in the . chest but said he believed the man was already dead and he was taking . out his anger on a corpse. As . the fighter lies on the floor convulsing and struggling for breath, Sgt . Blackman tells him: 'There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil you . c***. It’s nothing you wouldn’t do to us.' He then turned to his comrades and said: 'Obviously this doesn’t go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.' Blackman is the first British serviceman to be found guilty of murder during combat since the Second World War. Blackman completed tours of Iraq, . Afghanistan and Northern Ireland during his military career, and before a . video of the murder came to light, he was being considered for . promotion to Colour Sergeant.
|
Sergeant Alexander Blackman's case heard at Court Martial Appeal Court .
39-year-old convicted last November at court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire .
Was also dismissed from Marines, which he had served with for 15 years .
Killing was in 2011 while he served with Plymouth-based 42 Commando .
|
f9825d50b8f543008adae21370626eaa3b686be7
|
By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 1 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 1 May 2013 . A vulnerable woman who married a predatory sex offender whilst he was behind bars will be allowed to live with him after top judges today upheld her right to choose in a landmark ruling. Although it might be ‘extremely unwise’ for the woman to cohabit with the man, whom she wed while he was serving a long sentence, the law simply had no power to stop her, a court heard today. The woman with learning difficulties, referred to as ‘PC’, began seeing the man - ‘NC’ - before he was convicted and jailed for a series of sex offences, the Court of Appeal in central London was told. Ruling: The Court of Appeal (pictured) in central London heard today that the woman with learning difficulties began seeing the man before he was convicted and jailed for a series of sex offences . But despite his sordid crimes, PC stood by him and they became married whilst he was in jail. With his release imminent, social workers went to court in a bid to protect PC. Top family judge Mr Justice Hedley ruled last year that it was ‘in her best interests’ to undergo a ‘phased transition’ before being allowed to resume cohabitation with him. The judge also authorised social workers to split the couple if they spotted an ‘imminent and serious threat to PC's welfare’. But PC can now do what she likes after the court ruled that because she was agreed to have the legal capacity to marry, she also had the right to decide whether to live with her own husband. Lord Justice McFarlane said: ‘I well understand that all the responsible professionals take the view that it would be extremely unwise for PC to cohabit with her husband. But adult autonomy is such that people are free to make unwise decisions, provided that they have the capacity to decide.’ The judge, sitting with Lords Justice Richards and Lewison, added: ‘If PC has capacity to marry she must be taken to have capacity to decide to perform the terms of the marriage contract. Ruling: Lord Justice McFarlane said at the court that people are 'free to make unwise decisions, provided that they have the capacity to decide' ‘Any finding to the contrary required clear and cogent evidence. Such evidence was lacking in the present case and the finding that PC was unable to make this decision was simply not open to the judge.’ Paul Bowen QC, representing PC, earlier pointed out that she has only ‘mild’ learning difficulties and has lived ‘more or less independently since leaving school’. Middle-aged PC has managed to hold down several jobs over the years. But, as the husband's release date approached, the council initially applied to the Court of Protection for an order that PC lacked legal capacity to make decisions for herself or ‘engage in sexual relations’ with anyone. However, after protracted investigations by social workers, the council accepted she was able to choose for herself whether to have sex with her husband and suggested that the best way forward was for the relationship to be tightly monitored. There was no ‘outright ban’ on sexual contact, said Mr Bowen, who added that PC was allowed to visit her husband in his local authority accommodation and was given ‘unsupervised overnight contact’ with him. Lord Justice McFarlane said today: ‘Any court would be bound to entertain very significant concerns at the prospect of any woman going to set up home with NC. ‘Looked at objectively, through the eyes of experienced professionals, NC clearly presents a significant risk to any woman who enters into a close relationship with him.’ The judge added that it was a common ‘modus operandi’ for sex offenders to subject their victims to lengthy periods of ‘grooming’ before embarking upon abuse. ‘There is therefore an understandable and justified professional concern to protect a potentially vulnerable woman who has formed a close relationship with NC’. However, emphasising that the law must not trespass on the ‘autonony of the individual’, the judge added: ‘There may be many women who are seen to be in relationships with men regarded by professionals as predatory sexual offenders. 'There is a space between an unwise decision and one which an individual does not have the mental capacity to take' Lord Justice McFarlane . ‘The Court of Protection does not have jurisdiction to act to “protect” these women if they do not lack the mental capacity to decide whether or not to be, or continue to be, in such a relationship. ‘The individual's decision may be said to be “against the better judgment” of the women concerned, but the point is that, unless they lack mental capacity to make that judgement, it is against their better judgment. ‘It is a judgment that they are entitled to make. The law respects their autonomy so to decide and the Court of Protection has no jurisdiction to intervene’. The judge concluded: ‘There is a space between an unwise decision and one which an individual does not have the mental capacity to take. ‘It is important to respect that space, and to ensure that it is preserved, for it is within that space that an individual's autonomy operates.’
|
Court of Appeal: Law has no power to stop woman cohabiting with man .
She began seeing him before he was convicted and jailed for sex offences .
Judge ruled last year she needed 'phased transition' before cohabitation .
But she can now move in with him because of her legal capacity to marry .
|
f9825d646af728336f9f517764da132fe2f90cc5
|
By . Elliott Bretland . Follow @@EllBretland . Iker Casillas claims to have learned from the mistakes he made for Real Madrid and Spain towards the end of last season. The goalkeeper was at fault for Atletico Madrid's goal in May's Champions League final and also made costly errors as Spain crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage this summer. Ahead of Real's Super Cup clash against Sevilla on Tuesday, 33-year-old Casillas admitted his usual high standards had dropped. Learning curve: Iker Casillas claims to have learned from the mistakes he made towards the end of last term . Costly: Casillas looks down as Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder celebrate during Holland's 5-0 win over Spain . 'I haven't been at my best in the last few games for Real Madrid and Spain, but I have analysed and learned from them,' the stopper told Soccerway. 'I have been through worse moments in my career. You go through good moments and bad moments. Everything is temporary. I have not been at the level I was when maybe people became spoiled. 'You have to grin and bear it and face up to situations like this. I have always done so and I am not going to hide now. 'I understand that when you play for Real Madrid you are always being watched and your name is talked about when things are good and when they are bad.' Attention: Casillas understands Real Madrid players will always be scrutinised playing well or badly .
|
Iker Casillas claims to have learned from mistakes he made last term .
Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper admits his high standards had dropped .
Spanish giants take on Sevilla in Super Cup on Friday .
|
f982bed64b80660d850d8da10f01d4292c0c8efa
|
A bar of Kendal Mint Cake dating back to 1964, recently found in an attic, is believed to be the oldest in Britain. Peter Truelove, 68, bought the bar of . Robert Wiper’s Original Kendal Mint Cake when he and a friend visited . Kendal, Cumbria as 21-year-olds. The 48-year-old confectionery was made before the introduction of sell-by dates but is almost certainly still edible. Peter Truelove rediscovered the old bar in the loft of his home, in Windermere, Cumbria, together with a journal recording his 'boys' adventure' with a friend, and the fact that he'd bought the bar in nearby Kendal . Mr Truelove (above) and his friend had travelled from their homes in Kent to John O'Groats, the most northerly point on the Scottish mainland - and bought the bar on the way back . Wiper's invented the climbers’ favourite energy bar - made of glucose and peppermint - by accident back in 1869, while trying to make glacier mints. Mr Truelove rediscovered his old bar in the loft of his home, in nearby Windermere, together with a journal recording his 'boy’s adventure' with a friend, and the fact that he’d bought the bar. They had travelled from their homes in Kent to John O’Groats, the most northerly point on the Scottish mainland. 'We travelled the distance in an Austin 7 and it took us a week,' said Mr Truelove. Mr Truelove's journal documented the stop-off in Kendal. He said: 'I had to record everything we spent because my friend and I were splitting the cost of the trip' 'The car only did 35mph at best and it was blizzard weather - the snow was coming into the car. 'We called at Kendal on the way back and we’d heard about the mint cake, so when we saw some we thought we’d buy a bar.' Mr Truelove said he was not sure why he had kept the bar in a box in his loft. 'It was on a shelf as a memento of the trip but it’s been in the loft since we moved to Windermere 16 years ago,' he said. The bar is still in reasonable condition although some of the sugar is seeping through the wrapping. Although the original Wiper's recipe is still used, the company was sold to Romney's in 1987. Wiper's invented the climbers' favourite energy bar - made of glucose and peppermint - by accident back in 1869, while trying to make glacier mints. Although the original Wiper's recipe is still used, the company was sold to Romney's in 1987 . Managing director John Barron said: 'We have been making it all these years and I don’t think we have any that old - it’s impressive. 'It wouldn’t do him any harm to eat it now but I don’t expect it would taste very nice.' Mr Truelove said what was also interesting to discover was the journal he wrote while travelling, which documented the stop-off in Kendal. He said: 'I had to record everything we spent because my friend and I were splitting the cost of the trip. 'It’s funny now to look back and see that someone offered to sell us a car engine and gear box for £2.50, and that 15 litres of petrol was 60p. 'Unfortunately, the price of the mint cake wasn’t included, although I did write that we’d visited and purchased it.'
|
Peter Truelove said he was not sure why he'd kept the bar in a box in his loft .
|
f9831b29d62c665d6c5a8639e68e3f8d95087187
|
La Paz, Bolivia (CNN) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales on Thursday defended his decision to end fuel subsidies, a move that caused gasoline and diesel prices to spike and has led to protests in major cities since it was announced over the weekend. The country's subsidies led to an artificially low price for diesel and gasoline, which resulted in widespread smuggling of those products to neighboring countries, where smugglers sold it for a profit, Morales told CNN en Español. "There's a tremendous amount of smuggling (to Peru and Brazil) and the state loses." For example, Bolivia will spend $660 million this year importing fuel, of which $380 million will have been subsidized by the government, he said. Of that, he said, $150 million will have been siphoned out of the country through contraband sales of the gasoline and diesel in neighboring countries, where the price is higher. "For a small country like Bolivia, that's a lot of change," he said. Morales' remarks came a day after he attempted to explain the move in a nationally televised address. Though the initial price shock may seem high, the average Bolivian will benefit from the move, he said. Money saved under the new policy will be plowed back into the economy, with 20 percent increases in the minimum wage and spending in education, health, and security, he said. "Our policies are always to favor the poor people," said Morales, the nation's first indigenous president. For those people who will not be helped by the salary increases, he said, "the only way (to help them) is to create new jobs." He acknowledged that transportation costs in some areas have doubled since Sunday, when his government announced he was ending the subsidies, but blamed unscrupulous Bolivians for the increases. "Evidently, there are some people in transportation who take advantage of this situation and increase their fares by 100 percent," said the president. Government studies indicate that public transportation fares should have increased by no more than 30 percent, he said. In El Alto, hundreds of people -- most of them young -- gathered outside government buildings, breaking windows and dismantling a protective fence in front of one. In the afternoon, demonstrators broke windows at the mayor's office, pelted cars whose drivers dared drive in the area, and set parked cars afire. In Santa Cruz, hundreds of demonstrators broke into one government building and hauled files from the offices to the street, where they set them ablaze. In some areas, demonstrators blocked traffic for brief periods until they were dispersed by police. Once the police had left, they would do it again, according to a reporter for ATB Bolivia. Asked about protests in the streets of major cities like La Paz, the capital, Morales questioned the use of the word "massive" to describe them. "The information I have is some 5,000 Bolivians" have demonstrated. He suggested that his opposition was mobilizing the protests for political gain. "This will stabilize," he said. "I have a lot of faith." Morales also said his government will seek to counter the impact of the price increases by investing $300,000 per rural municipality across Bolivia to spur economic growth through the creation of infrastructure projects with an emphasis on irrigation. Gasoline prices rose by as much as 73 percent and diesel by 83 percent Monday. Subsidies had kept the price of gasoline at about 50 cents per liter ($1.88 per gallon). By comparison, neighboring Peru sells gasoline at $1 per liter and Brazil at $1.58 per liter. The president of the Confederation of Private Business People, Daniel Sanchez Solis, disputed Morales' assertion that the business sector had orchestrated the demonstrations. "He's badly informed," Sanchez told CNNE. "He is attacking the private sector, which is the sector that has shown responsibility." For example, he said, the Association of Banks, which is a member of his organization, calmed rumors Wednesday of an imminent financial crisis that could have led to a run on the nation's banks. Sanchez added that the vast majority of employees in the country will not be affected by Morales' 20 percent wage increase, and he worried aloud that the move would result instead in higher inflation. "The invisible hand of the market has returned to the country," he said. "The free market." Sanchez said he was not opposed to raising the price of petroleum products, but he criticized what he said was Morales' failure to consult with other sectors prior to acting. "Why not build among all of us a productive policy?" he asked. "We want to build a country. We want to participate." CNN's Rafael Romo contributed to this report.
|
President Evo Morales: Under the policy of subsidies, smuggling was rampant .
He says $150 million has been siphoned out of the country by smugglers .
Morales predicts calm will return and Bolivians will benefit from the revenue .
Business rep rejects Morales' claim that the business sector is behind protests .
|
f98381e309bb62e92383a4a0674981163da37499
|
(CNN) -- A Singapore lawmaker was in intensive care Monday after a man set him on fire at a community event, a hospital official told CNN. Seng Han Thong of the ruling People's Action Party underwent skin graft surgery at Singapore General Hospital Monday morning and was in stable condition, said hospital spokeswoman Junaidah Hameed. Seng suffered burns to his face and chest after a man in his 70s came up behind him as he was sitting down for lunch, poured thinner on him and set him on fire, party official George Tan told reporters. An event organizer who rushed to Seng's aid and tried to douse the flames was also injured, the hospital said. Seng had gone to the community center in his parliamentary district to hand out money to residents -- a tradition among many politicians ahead of the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 26 this year. The attacker was a 70-year-old former cab driver who has been in and out of a mental clinic in recent months, the English-language daily newspaper the Straits Times reported. Tan, the party official, said the man had met Seng at several meet-and-greets and complained about "evil spirits in his house." "No matter what the reason is, and whatever condition the person is in, that is no reason to commit such a crime against anyone, not just against an MP [member of parliament]," Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters at the hospital. Two years ago, Seng was attacked at another community event by another cab driver, the newspaper said. In that incident, the cab driver punched Seng because he was upset that the lawmaker was not helping him get his revoked license reinstated. CNN's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report.
|
Man in his 70s poured thinner on lawmaker and set him on fire while he had lunch .
Seng Han Thong of the ruling People's Action Party is in intensive care .
He suffered burns to his face and chest and underwent skin graft surgery .
Attacker is a former cab driver who has been in a mental clinic, media says .
|
f983903f39057b5a3524418e4095dd23cfccfe76
|
West Brom are closing in on the signing of Shola Ameobi. The former Newcastle striker is available on a free transfer after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep. The Baggies have agreed a deal with the 33-year-old as head coach Tony Pulis looks to beef up his forward line. West Brom are closing in on the signing of former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi on a free transfer . Brown Ideye has flopped since a £10million summer move from Dynamo Kiev, scoring just twice, and Georgios Samaras is set to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Saido Berahino has netted 14 times but Pulis has confirmed he wants to add extra firepower. He signed Ameobi on loan at Stoke in 2008 with the forward playing six times without scoring. Tony Pulis signed Ameobi on loan at Stoke in 2008 with the forward playing six times without scoring . Ameobi scored 79 goals in 397 appearances for Newcastle before leaving St James’ Park last year after 14 years. He moved to Gaziantep in August but left in December. The Baggies go to Birmingham in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, although Ameobi is unlikely to have joined by then, and they are 14th in the Barclays Premier League.
|
Former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi is available having left Gaziantep .
West Brom have agreed a deal with the 33-year-old forward .
Ameobi played under Baggies boss Tony Pulis at Stoke in 2008 .
|
f983a4aec62bf128b2b95b85be49bbbd24cc35c1
|
By . Alex Greg for MailOnline . The third wife of beloved TV comic actor Phil Hartman, who shot him dead in a murder-suicide in 1998, wrote a venomous four-page letter to his former wife threatening to 'rip [her] eyes out.' For the first time since Hartman's death 17 years ago, the events leading up to his untimely death are being revealed in a new book, You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman. One episode related by Hartman's second wife Lisa Strain proved a terrifying portent of the fury that would see him die at the hands of Brynn Hartman. Tumultuous: Phil and Brynn Hartman were married for 11 years before she fatally shot him as he slept in 1998, then hours later shot herself . Volatile: Hartman's second wife Lisa Strain says that Brynn Hartman sent her a venomous letter telling her to stay away from Hartman and herself after Strain sent a card congratulating them on the birth of their first child . Strain sent a card to Brynn and Phil Hartman congratulating them on the birth of their son Sean Edward in 1988. In return, she received a hate-filled letter that shook her to her core. Brynn Hartman threatened Strain's life and warned her that if she contacted Hartman again she would 'rip my eyes out,' Strain told author Mike Thomas. Strain was so concerned she called Hartman and told him about the vicious letter. Hartman told her that he was partly to blame for the diatribe, because when Brynn has asked him if Strain had been his soul-mate, he said yes. She was horrified to learn that Hartman was aware of the letter - and had even been privy to an earlier draft version that was even worse. Beloved: Hartman got his start on SNL (seen left as Eugene with John Goodman in Anally Retentive Chef skit 1989); A new book documents the life and times of Hartman as well as his untimely death at 49 . She hung up on him and did not speak to her ex-husband again for two years. Ten years after that phone call, Phil Hartman was shot dead by his wife at the home they shared with their two children. Friends of the couple said the couple's confrontations in their sometimes-troubled marriage were fuelled by Brynn's temper and her problems with drugs and alcohol. A pattern emerged in which Hartman would withdraw into himself when Brynn worked herself into a rage, often going to bed and leaving her to cool down alone. That could be the scenario that took place the night Hartman was shot. His body was found in the couple's bed after Brynn pumped several shots into her husband's head. She drove to her friend Ron Douglas's house to tell him what had happened, but he didn't believe her until he saw Hartman's body in the bed. Douglas called 911 and as police were escorting the couple's two terrified children to safety, they heard a shot. Brynn Hartman had shot herself dead. Strain told The Courant in 1998 that Hartman was always a calming influence. They divorced in 1985 because 'we were both unable to do the work necessary to make a good thing better,' but remained friends, she said. 'He was a quiet man and a sensitive and gentle person.' You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman goes on sale September 23.
|
Phil Hartman's third wife Brynn Hartman wrote a vitriol-filled letter to his second wife Lisa Strain .
Strain had written the couple a card congratulating them on the birth of their first child .
Brynn threatened Strain's life and said if she contacted her again, she'd 'rip [her] eyes out'
Ten years after she sent the letter to Strain, Brynn shot Phil Hartman dead as he slept .
She shot herself dead shortly after .
|
f984ada93c976a8f7d0663f6fb0bba3a6e35d237
|
(CNN) -- The military operation to clear a Rio de Janeiro slum of drug traffickers will effectively turn into an occupation of the area at least through October of next year, Gov. Sergio Cabral said in a radio interview Tuesday. Rio state Gov. Sergio Cabral said that at least 2,000 troops will remain at the Alemao slum -- called a favela in Portuguese -- to keep up the effort to pacify the area. He announced the move after meeting with Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's president-elect, in the capital, Brasilia. Originally, he had requested the troops for only six months. Rousseff offered her support for the security work being carried out in Rio, Cabral said. The troops are needed so that the government doesn't have to delay future operations in other communities overrun by drug traffickers, he said. The troops will remain until a police unit and station are installed in Alemao, slated for the middle of next year. Brazil, which will host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, is under increasing pressure to crack down on violent crime and clean up its slums. Over the weekend, armored vehicles followed by police trucks rolled into the favela to restore order. The police to be placed are known as Pacifying Police Units, a special force designed to live and work in the favelas they protect. Such units are already in operations in some favelas, but this most recent operation is the most ambitious to date. Authorities have been trying to dislodge traffickers from their hiding places for two years, but the operation in Alemao is the first time the government has tried to regain territory run by the criminals in earnest, said Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Institute for Scholars. At the outset, the events appear to be a victory for the government, but winning over the locals, who were living under the rule and services of the traffickers, will be a challenge. "This is just the beginning. [Police] will have to work with people to convince them that you will not abuse their rights," Sotero said. That is the goal of the Pacifying Police. Reaction inside and outside Brazil to the success of the current operation has been positive, with speculation that the country is trying to clean up its streets before the World Cup and Olympics come to town. Sotero, however, suggests that it is domestic pressure that is leading to police work. As a whole, Brazil's economy is growing, and so is the middle class. As people find themselves in better situations, they also begin to demand better quality of life, Sotero said. People want things like better education and security. "This, I think, is what created the pressure to try to find new solutions for a very old problem," he said. The slums became dangerous places during a period when the city and state of Rio had poor government, something that was exploited during the drug boom in the 1980s, Sotero said. Conversely, one of the factors behind the efficient action today is the fact that the local and state leaders are from the same political party and are allies with the federal government, said Thomas Trebat, executive director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at Columbia University. While Brazil as a whole is doing well, economic and social indicators in the city of Rio have lagged, Trebat said. This is significant because Rio is often seen as a representation of Brazil as a whole. "This isn't Las Vegas. What happens here doesn't stay here," he said. The perception is that "if this iconic city is undergoing social chaos, how can it be that Brazil is a BRIC?" Trebat said, referring to the designation given to rapidly rising countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The World Cup and Olympics may be an impetus for acting now, but the pressure comes from Rio's need to reflect the better side of Brazil, he said. Whatever the reason for the incursion and occupation of Alemao, residents there are optimistic about the future. "We have already weathered many difficult situations here, but thank God things improved," said Jose Maria Pereira, a retiree. Dilsa Maria, a maid, said, "We lived a very repressed life. Now we have more freedom. We can come and go. This is important not just for me but for everyone here." Journalist Fabiana Frayssinet in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.
|
Police and soldiers mounted an operation in the Alemao slum .
Some 2,000 troops will remain to maintain order .
They will stay until a police station is set up .
Domestic pressure, sporting events cited in crackdown .
|
f98568ec3e65d613f99fb64742df55a7ea8bea01
|
Inflammatory language: Nina Shtanski, foreign minister of Transdniestria . The glamorous foreign minister of a breakaway region of Moldova is calling on Vladimir Putin to make her country his next conquest in eastern Europe. Few may have heard of Transdniestria, the unofficial and fictitious-sounding statelet whose head of international relations is 36-year-old Nina Shtanski. However, senior Western figures are alarmed that following the annexation of Crimea it is step two in a Kremlin masterplan to redraw the frontiers of Europe. This top diplomat in staunchly pro-Russian Transdniestria, who has a penchant for revealing black dresses, is gushing in her praise of Putin's takeover of the Black Sea peninsula. She openly invites him to make the same move in her landlocked territory of 509,000 people, wedged between strife-torn Ukraine and Moldova. 'We are pleased to say that the outcome of the Crimean referendum almost fully coincides with the results of the Transdniestrian referendum of 17 September 2006, when over 97 per cent of voters chose independence and the prospect of voluntary unification with Russia,' she said in a statement. 'The obvious match of the will expressed by people in Crimea and Transdniestria demonstrates that the Russian World is uniting and the people's wish for unity cannot be stopped.' Russian troops are assembling on Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia. An annexation of Transdniestria would be a significant expansion of Russian territory. A Russian force of 1,300 troops - currently on high alert - is already on the ground as 'peacekeepers' in the self-declared state - which boasts the hammer and sickle on its mainly red flag. Last week there were reports of plain-clothed Russian FSB secret services agents flooding into breakaway territory. Nina Shtanski, whose striking looks have been compared to a fashion model . Russian President Vladimir Putin signs bills making Crimea part of Russia in the Kremlin in Moscow . Under international law, the . unofficial country is part of Romanian-speaking Moldova, but after a war . as the USSR broke up, Ms Shtanski and the local population have never . accepted rule by Moldova. They are now bent on being formally integrated as a region of the Kremlin, which has long subsidised this outpost. The . fear for Western military planners is that after taking Transdniestria, . Putin could then seize an arc from there to Crimea, sealing off the . southern Black Sea regions of Ukraine. In the process, he would grab another old Russian jewel, the port city of Odessa, and cripple Kiev's economy. The 36-year-old mother of one said: 'The Russian World is uniting and the people's wish for unity cannot be stopped' Nina Shtanski's inflammatory call, combined with more pro-Russian protests in Ukrainian cities, provoked fresh fears that Putin plans to seize more slices of eastern Europe following his annexation of Crimea . 'Unity and integration, as shown by . today's realities, are not always associated with geography,' explained . mother-of-one Ms Shtanski in the district's capital Tiraspol. 'We . are a striking confirmation of this fact. We consider ourselves part of . the Russian world. We do not separate ourselves from the Russians and . Russian civilization. 'We consider ourselves part of Russia, and not without reason. This has legal and historical background.' Transdniestria . was originally seized by Russia in 1792 under Catherine the Great but . is today a Soviet timewarp with Lenin statues and military checkpoints. Like . many others, Ms Shtanski cannot use her Transdniestrian passport to . travel and instead relies on her Russian citizenship, for example when . travelling to Moscow to complete her doctorate in international . relations. Nina Shtanski is the foreign minister of Transdniestria, a mainly Russian-speaking region . Leading U.S. voices including former Republican presidential candidate John McCain and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have warned about the risk to Western interests in a Putin takeover. 'Now that we've had a crash course on Crimea, read ahead about Transdniestria, a likely target for Putin's next move,' warned Strobe Talbott, a former U.S. diplomat who is president of the Brookings Institution. In Moscow, powerful deputy premier Dmitry Rogozin - hit last week by Western sanctions - has been put in charge of Russia's response on Transdniestria amid complaints from locals that they are being blockaded by both Ukraine and Moldova . The local pleas could become a pretext for Moscow's intervention fronted - Crimean-style - by local self-defence squads.
|
Nina Shtanski said: 'The people's wish for unity cannot be stopped'
She is foreign minister of Russian-speaking region Transdniestria .
Shtanski is calling for a similar takeover of her breakaway republic .
|
f9856c90f5ac7b6c549c7f6a9866c7ff5962a076
|
Andrew Castle pleaded guilty to attempted murder after trying to kill his wife of 18 years . He rigged a metal chair up to the mains then invited Margaret in 'for a chat' By . James Tozer . UPDATED: . 06:15 EST, 7 July 2011 . Andrew Castle set up the home-made electric chair after his wife Margaret asked to end their 18-year marriage . A husband built a makeshift electric chair in his garage and tried to kill his wife after she asked for a divorce. Andrew Castle, 61, ran a cable from a plug to a metal-framed armchair, then asked his wife Margaret in ‘for a chat’, a court heard. Once she was sitting down, he tried to knock her out with a rubber cosh, planning to electrocute her with the live wires. But she managed to wriggle free before 230 volts of mains electricity could pulse through her body, running out screaming. Castle was arrested after trying to electrocute himself with his own device then attempting to slash his wrists, and yesterday was beginning a ten-year prison sentence after admitting attempted murder. The macabre execution bid caused amazement among neighbours in the Lancashire town of Knott End-on-Sea, near Fleetwood. Castle, a former shop worker, and his 61-year-old wife, who used to be a clerk, married 18 years ago in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, before retiring to their £110,000 bungalow on the coast. Outdoor struggle: The couple fought outside their home in Knott End On Sea, Lancs, after Margaret had escaped from the garage . Neighbours believed the couple, who went on regular walking and cruising holidays together, were happy and content. But Mrs Castle found her husband ‘domineering and controlling’, and she . asked him for a divorce last autumn. From that time they were said to . have lived separate lives under the same roof. Castle moved the armchair into the garage before secretly rigging up the length of cable. On March 5 he told his wife he wanted a chat about her desire for a divorce, and got her to sit down. He told her he was going to kill her and grabbed a 12-inch rubber cosh, . apparently chosen to insulate him from the deadly current. But as he rained blows at her head she grabbed a stepladder, warding him . off for long enough to escape through a side door as he continued to . swing the cosh. Castle then tried to electrocute himself with his own contraption before slashing his wrists with a kitchen knife. Police called by a neighbour found him bleeding in the back garden crying: ‘What have I done, what have I done?’ Mrs Castle was treated in hospital for minor head injuries. Officers who examined the garage found a length of cable running from a . 13-amp plug to a lamp which was attached to a further cable with one end . exposed. When switched on at the plug, the live and neutral wires, if touched to . Mrs Castle’s skin or to the chair, would have given her a potentially . deadly shock. Castle immediately admitted what he had planned to detectives, . describing himself as ‘a nutter’. At Preston Crown Court he admitted . attempted murder and was jailed for ten years. The court heard he had planned to kill himself after murdering his wife. Castle later claimed he had been ‘simply unable to cope’ with the divorce and found it ‘overwhelming’. A psychiatric report concluded he had obsessive compulsive disorder and an adjustment disorder. Judge Anthony Russell QC said: ‘This was undoubtedly a planned attempt to kill, followed by a sustained and brutal attack. ‘There can be no doubt it was a very frightening experience for your . wife, but the physical injuries you inflicted were mercifully slight. However, the psychological effects must have been considerable.’ Neighbours were astonished by the attack. ‘Margaret is a lovely person . and everyone is very distressed that this happened,’ one said yesterday. ‘We always thought they were a lovely couple. ‘Margaret was understandably in a terrible state after what happened to her and she moved out of the house. ‘It’s incredible to think this man could have gone to such lengths to get even because of a divorce.’ Last night Mrs Castle, who is staying with relatives, said the trauma of the attack would always be with her. In a statement she said: ‘I finally decided that because of Andrew . Castle’s domineering and controlling behaviour, which got worse over our . 18 years of marriage, I would seek a divorce. ‘As a direct consequence of that decision he attempted to murder me. It . is by sheer good fortune that I am here today and the events of that . Saturday evening will always be with me.’
|
Andrew Castle pleaded guilty to attempted murder after trying to kill his wife of 18 years .
He rigged a metal chair up to the mains then invited Margaret in 'for a chat'
|
f98593ba8143cc81d69e54f423f6ae2b82d56b50
|
(CNN) -- Judy Warzenski didn't realize how bad her father, Donald's, memory had gotten until he turned to her sister Joyce and asked, "Where's the girl who was sitting next to you?" He did not recognize Joyce as his own daughter. This Thanksgiving, Warzenski and her younger siblings will eat Thanksgiving dinner with their father in a private dining room at a nursing home in Pennsylvania. Moving her father there in October was an agonizing decision. "It's really very upsetting to me," said Warzenski, 62, of central New Jersey. "I promised him I would never do this. I promised him I would never put him in a nursing home, which I've come to realize is an unrealistic promise." Warzenski, who had commented on a previous CNN dementia story, is one of many baby boomers who must watch their loved ones suffer from Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. The condition, which robs people of their memory and thinking skills, necessitates tough decisions about caring for people as their minds slowly slip away. "Often, the baby boomers are thrust into the position of caring for a loved one with dementia because that loved one declines and needs 24-hour supervision," said Laura Wayman, a dementia care specialist and author of "A Loving Approach to Dementia Care." iReport: Who's at your Thanksgiving table? 'Generation Alzheimer's' The Alzheimer's Association says that unless a treatment or cure is found, Alzheimer's "will become the defining disease of the Baby Boom Generation" or, as the association calls it, "Generation Alzheimer's." Currently, there is no proven method to fully stop the progression of symptoms or reverse them. Approximately 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's, according to estimates from the Alzheimer's Association. Of those who reach the age of 85, nearly one in two will get it. Most people with Alzheimer's begin experiencing symptoms after age 60, according to the National Institutes of Health. Only 5% of people with the condition start showing signs of it before age 65; this is called early-onset Alzheimer's. Symptoms can even begin in the 30s, 40s or 50s, and in some cases there is a clear genetic link. Can hormone therapy help protect the brain? Many of the boomers taking care of loved ones with dementia have children of their own, forcing them into a "sandwich generation" situation that comes along with a lot of financial strain. Some caregivers are resistant to asking for help, but it's essential that they have a support network, Wayman said. The caregiver's own health, finances, income and employment may suffer. Wayman's own mother died of a heart attack while caring for Wayman's father. "They feel like they should be able to take care of this person, and they can't do it by themselves," she said. More than 15 million Americans are providing unpaid care for a person with dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That care amounts to $210 billion in unpaid hours. And 80% of home care for people with dementia comes from family members. Living with Alzheimer's . Bill Carey, 54, of Ferndale, Michigan, is one of those with early-onset Alzheimer's who is still able to articulate and understand what's happening. He is the third person in his family to receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Carey has known he has the condition for about nine years, as he wrote in the comments on a previous CNN story. A spinal tap confirmed that he has high levels of a protein associated with Alzheimer's. His speech is still coherent, but he had to give up his job as an apartment manager because he was making mistakes: for example, he could no longer handle adding up the amounts on rent checks. "Even with simple arithmetic, my brain just shuts down," he said. "It's like there's nothing there." Alzheimer's called 'defining disease' of baby boomers . But Carey isn't sitting by idly. He goes to a local support group with others who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's. They talk about the things that they remember and share coping techniques. He also takes the medications Aricept and Namenda, designed to slow the progression of symptoms, and they appear to be working. To keep his mind challenged, he does jigsaw puzzles on his computer. Carey's domestic partner, Larry Stowell, sorts out his medications, handles Carey's finances and has "been extremely supportive" overall, Carey says. The two will spend Thanksgiving alone. Although Carey doesn't cook as much as he used to, he is charge of the turkey. "I haven't set fire to the house yet," Carey said. "I'm sure Larry will tell me when I reach that point." Caring for a wife . Others are still in their 50s and further gone. Mike of Massachusetts writes in an e-mail that he is "Feeling as if I've lost my wife and had her replaced by a child who looks like her." His wife, Sally, is only 51 and has dementia. The couple is unsure whether it is specifically Alzheimer's, but she may get further testing to find out. "I feel as if we can't really talk seriously about anything anymore, and I have to make all of the decisions in our lives," Mike said. Mike asked that his wife's name be changed and that their last name not be used. He requested to be interviewed over e-mail instead of the phone so that his wife would not overhear and get upset. Their adult daughter lives with them and helps out. Mike is also looking into adult day care and is trying to get friends to take Sally out of the house now and then so he can have some respite. Mike says the two are rarely physically intimate anymore. Mike and Sally are not going to be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday. Mike has to work that day, and Sally cannot cook. She can no longer operate a shower, plug in a hair dryer or use a dishwasher, Mike says. Report: Yearly cost of Alzheimer's tops $200 billion . What to do for Thanksgiving . Wayman offers these tips for spending Thanksgiving with a person with dementia: . • While preparing the food, reminisce about past Thanksgivings. But don't ask, "Do you remember when ..." something happened, since you don't know how much has been forgotten. Instead, try starting your memories with "Wasn't it fun when we ..." • Limit the number of guests at the meal. You might even want to have two different Thanksgiving meals if there are a lot of people who would want to come. People with dementia have trouble processing and tracking information, so if there a lot of people, they may have extra difficulty following a conversation. • Make sure there is a place for the person with dementia to rest if he or she feels overwhelmed. • Fill your home with pleasant, traditional, soothing aromas. Put a couple of teaspoons of vanilla in a baking pan to make the kitchen smell like desserts baking. Cooking the meal may also produce smells that are familiar to your loved one with dementia. • Incorporate the person with dementia in food preparation as appropriate, perhaps by stirring a mixture or setting a table. But safety is the priority: Wayman knows a family whose mother with dementia went to get the turkey from the oven but fell and burned herself. And after . Although Warzenski feels bad about her father having to be in a nursing home, he doesn't say that he needs to go home. Instead he might say, "I need to get my car," she says. Warzenski is grateful that he is safe and won't hurt himself in the middle of the night. He does not appear to be aware that he's in a facility. At this point, she just wants him to be comfortable. "For him to pass would be a blessing to him," Warzenski said. "He was a police officer. If he ever realized what had become of him, he would be mortified." New research offers tips for Alzheimer's caregivers .
|
About 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association says .
More than 15 million Americans are providing unpaid care for a person with dementia .
Don't begin conversations with people with dementia with "Do you remember ..."
Instead, try saying "Wasn't it fun when we ..."
|
f98639b08d87dbfa51758306516139b220738899
|
By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 10:47 EST, 30 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:26 EST, 31 May 2012 . Jailed: Christopher Grierson, 60, forged travel documents to defraud his law firm out of £1.2million in bogus travel expenses . A senior partner at a top City law firm stole more than £1.2million from his company to help pay for the upkeep of his Lebanese mistress. Solicitor Christopher Grierson, 60, handed his lover £280,000 and put her up in a New York apartment during an 18-month affair. But their fling ended when his second wife found out what was going on and he then resorted to stealing from his employers with bogus travel claims to cover his debts. The father-of-four, who had risen to become 'one of the most highly regarded lawyers in London' was jailed for three years at Southwark Crown Court yesterday. He made 57 false claims using forged documents between January 2008 and May 2011 while working for . international law firm Hogan Lovells. The solicitor, who once acted for the . Sultan of Brunei’s brother, Prince Jefri and worked on the collapse of . the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, defrauded his firm out of . £1.27million. Mark Ellison, QC, defending, told the court: 'In January 2006 he became infatuated with a Lebanese woman in New York and over the next 18 months, until his wife discovered the affair, he spent a total of £630,000, paying rent on an apartment and handing over £280,000 in cash and funding other aspects of her expenditures. 'There’s no doubt his spending had got increasingly out of control. 'He had amassed monthly outgoings of £32,000 not including credit card bills. With credit card bills it was £40,000.' The . court heard that in the lead up to Grierson fiddling his expenses he . had owned properties in London and France which both of which had 'large . mortgages'. But the . court was told Grierson used his 'trusted' position as a partner to . carry out a 'planned' and 'sophisticated' expenses scam to get out of . debt. Secret affair: Solicitor Christopher Grierson spent thousands paying the rent for his Lebanese lover's apartment in New York as well as handing her £280,000 in cash . Scam: Christopher Grierson claimed travel expenses for numerous fake journeys between Heathrow and LA that he never took . Prosecutor David Levy said: ‘Christopher Grierson, who was a trusted partner of Hogan Lovells - a very important firm of solicitors in the city - made multiple fraudulent travel expense claims totalling £1.274m. ‘Mr Grierson had the authority, because he was trusted as a senior member of the frim to authorise his own expenses, though he had to account for that with supporting documents. ‘He continued, over the period in question, to make significant claims which were totally bogus.’ The court heard the matter came to light when a fellow partner at Hogan Lovells queried a £42,000 claim submitted for travel from Heathrow to Los Angeles. It was found the claim had been made against a dormant client account that less than ten hours work had been carried out for in the past. Mr Levy said following the discovery ‘the matter began to unravel’ and Grierson, who was away from work through illness at the time, gave notice that he was to retire as a partner. He said: ‘He realised the game was up and enquiries had been made into his financial activities. ‘Thereafter he was seen by members of the firm and, as a result of their investigation, it became quite clear he had for a long time abused his trust in a very, very cynical way. ‘There’s no doubt that the motive was financial betterment or greed.’ Mr Levy said that Grierson, who was dismissed from Hogan Lovells in May 2011, had now paid back all of the stolen cash through ‘a loan from a client’. Grierson became a solicitor in 1976 and rose to become ‘one of the most highly regarded lawyers in London’. Jailed: Christopher Grierson was jailed for three years at Southwark Crown Court after admitting four counts of furnishing false information . But in 2007 Grierson had been diagnosed with a ‘depressive illness’ having already been treated by the Hogans Lovell firm doctor for depression and bipolar disorder since 2005. Jailing the lawyer, Judge John Price said: ‘Unhappily during the period of 2008 to 2011 you took £1,274,414 from your firm. ‘It was well planned, it was sophisticated - you created false travel documents - and you obtained substantial sums of money. It was a serious breach of trust. ‘But it is right to say that you have suffered from mental illness. ‘It is a result of that mental illness that in part you behaved the way in which you did.’ Mark Ellison, defending, told the court twice married Grierson’s illness had been triggered after the solicitor had been 'unable to cope with the enormous stress he felt after the BCCI case collapsed'. He continued: 'It had been going since 1994 but in 2005 it was terminated, he felt he had been working on something that turned out to be a complete waste of time.' The court heard Grierson had then ‘tumbled into a period of severe depression’ though he continued to work ‘inordinately hard’. From May 2009 to May 2010 he worked 3,500 hours and in October 2010 he suffered heart problems and underwent a triple bypass in January 2011. ‘Given the other financial difficulties he already had this behaviour was totally bizarre and, I would submit, a real indication of the extent to which he had become derailed with his thinking and judgement at this time of his life. ‘Such was his judgment around this time he even gave up seeing his doctor.’ Mr Ellison said while committing the offences Grierson was ‘metaphorically sharing the driving seat with a bipolar mental illness’. Grierson, from Roehampton, southwest London, admitted four counts of furnishing false information between January 2008 and May 2011. He was jailed for three years.
|
Solicitor Christopher Grierson stole from the company over a three-year period .
The father-of-four forged travel documents to claim multiple trips between Heathrow and LA in a 'sophisticated' scam .
He had become one of the 'most highly-regarded lawyers in London'
|
f986951ef6db408b7f145162a7da317431319f8c
|
Acute pain: Sarah Bignell contracted Lyme disease whilst on a walking holiday in the Scottish Highlands . When Sarah Bignell developed pain in her hands and wrists in autumn 2011, she thought she might be developing arthritis that was being aggravated by the cold. In fact, Sarah, 37, who is a vet, was displaying the first signs of a disease picked up on her summer holidays - in the UK - and her case was so severe that she ended up in a wheelchair, unable to work. 'The stabbing, burning pain became excruciating quite quickly, spreading to my toes, knees, back, jaw, neck and shoulders and then shooting down my limbs,' recalls Sarah. 'It was intermittent, but the worst pain I've ever experienced - there were occasions when I thought I'd black out.' She also suffered tingling and loss of sensation. Sarah, who describes herself as a 'healthy, outdoorsy type', was so debilitated that her GP referred her to a neurologist. After an MRI scan and various tests ruled out conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Sarah was finally diagnosed with unexplained neuralgia, or nerve pain, four months after her symptoms first began. By now she couldn't operate at the animal hospital where she practises without plunging her arms into buckets of ice afterwards to ease the pain. Then a colleague mentioned that his sister who'd had similar symptoms had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. 'I'd been on a walking holiday in the Scottish Highlands about a month before the symptoms appeared and remembered seeing leaflets about Lyme in the cabin I stayed in,' says Sarah, who lives in Ashford, Kent. 'But I hadn't paid much attention - I knew it was passed on by ticks and, as a vet, I remove them from animals all the time. I felt my training would have alerted me if they carried a real risk for humans.' But Lyme disease is a risk, affecting increasing numbers as milder winters and damper summers provide perfect conditions for ticks to thrive, according to the charity Lyme Disease Action. Official figures suggest 3,000 people a year in Britain are affected by the disease, although with symptoms similar to so many other conditions, such as fibromyalgia - a long-term condition causing pain all over the body - multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome, the charity estimates many people may have been misdiagnosed. The disease begins with a bite from an infected tick. The insect injects an anaesthetic, so the bite can't be felt, as well as the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria into the blood. In two-thirds of cases, this causes a distinctive bullseye-shaped red rash that spreads outwards, usually from the site of the bite. But it doesn't hurt and may go unnoticed - ticks can be as small as poppy seeds, and often climb up into the groin, armpit or scalp, where any redness may also go unnoticed. The victim may not even be particularly ill or may have only minor, flu-like symptoms that soon pass. However in some cases - particularly if they're not promptly diagnosed and treated - the disease can . Sarah then went to see a private specialist in Lyme disease, who recommended doxycycline antibiotics. Rash produced from deer tick bite leading to Lyme disease: The illness is affecting increasing numbers of people in the UK . 'I responded beautifully,' she says. 'Within three weeks the pain had gone and I was back operating on sick animals. Life returned to normal - I even fell in love.' However, Sarah relapsed last summer. 'I didn't think it possible, but the pain was 100 times worse,' she says. 'I couldn't brush my hair or lift a kettle. I was so weak. 'Nick, my boyfriend of just three months at that point, had to feed me and dress me. And the one time I did manage to make it downstairs from my sick bed, I couldn't get back upstairs again.' Sarah was signed off from work and had to use a wheelchair. 'My job is my vocation so it was just awful,' she says. 'There was a general fatigue and brain fog so dense I couldn't even remember the names of those closest to me. I was in such agony I wanted to die.' Dr Tim Brooks, a consultant microbiologist who works with Public Health England testing for Lyme disease, explains: 'If the Lyme organism isn't defeated by the immune system in the early stages, it can spread to other sites - particularly the nervous system and joint tissue, including the brain, causing inflammation that can lead to tingling, Bell's palsy (partial facial paralysis) or even, possibly, low-grade meningitis. 'If the disease is treated at this stage, the patient will usually make a quick recovery, although damage caused by the infection, such as tissue scarring or deterioration of nerve function, can take time to resolve.' This can take from six weeks to six months, and occasionally even longer. Dr Brooks is sceptical about patients relapsing, however, saying some take a long time to recover or get re-infected. 'The key is to get it early,' he advises. 'So our job is to increase awareness, among GPs as well as the public, to ensure patients with Lyme are recognised, diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.' But clearly prevention is also key. An estimated 10 per cent of ticks are thought to carry the Lyme bacteria. They are usually found living in long grass or undergrowth and are therefore common in woods, moors, parks and even gardens where there is also wildlife to feed on, explains Stella Huyshe-Shires, chair of Lyme Disease Action. 'They attach themselves to passing animals such as sheep, rabbits, mice, cats, dogs and even birds,' she adds. 'In humans, they can grab on to the outside of clothing and find their way onto skin under a waistband or up a sleeve and tend to keep going until they find somewhere moist and warm.' This means it's important to keep covered outdoors in areas of vegetation where there is also wildlife. 'And not just in the countryside,' Stella warns. 'Hedgehogs, badgers and foxes are common in urban areas and there are deer in increasing numbers in some public parks.' She recommends checking yourself, and children, for the tiny black specks, including around the hairline, then carefully detaching any found with a cotton thread wound around the tick close to the skin and pulled upwards, or a special tick remover available from vets or the Lyme Disease Action website. 'It's vital to avoid leaving behind the head, which can still then infect,' she says. If infection has occurred, symptoms typically take from a couple of days to a month to manifest. 'Flu-like symptoms developing after you've been in a potentially tick-infested environment should flash warning signs - particularly in summer and definitely if accompanied by a red rash,' says Stella. The test for Lyme involves a blood test to screen for antibodies and usually another to confirm the results. Results may come back negative, as antibodies can take weeks to develop, so the test may need to be repeated. Treatment is with antibiotics, which may also need to be repeated. After seeking help from specialists in the U.S. - where Lyme disease is more common - and persuading her GP to follow their advice on medication, Sarah began a second course of antibiotics last December which has reduced her pain by three-quarters. She is still on medication, but has less need for her wheelchair. 'It takes two days in bed to get my energy back after having a bath,' she says. 'But I feel much better and hope I will soon be back at work.' lymediseaseaction.org.uk .
|
Sarah Bignell got Lyme disease from after a walking holiday in Scotland .
It was so painful she was signed off from work and had to use a wheelchair .
It can take from six weeks to six months to fully recover from the disease .
Lyme disease, carried by ticks, is affecting increasing numbers of Britons .
|
f986e01cb0241ce31d5bb67528037634251e6d4f
|
A woman had her flesh burnt and eaten, was violently raped and allegedly had noughts and crosses carved on her back by her ex-boyfriend in an horrific domestic violence attack. The couple had been together for about 18 months when the man, 41, forced the woman into a prolonged session of abuse at his cousin's Sydney home in 2006. The abuse the woman suffered was so shocking it took her six years to say anything and only came to light when police made a follow up call after the woman reported the domestic violence in 2012. Scroll down for video . A woman had her flesh burnt and eaten, was violently raped and allegedly had noughts and crosses carved on her back by her ex-boyfriend in 2006 in Sydney (file photo) Her ex-boyfriend, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, pleaded guilty last week to a string of charges, including sexual assault and kidnap, and will be sentenced in a Sydney court next year. There are several lesser charges he hasn't pleaded to. He allegedly forced her to lean over a dining chair and struck her with a belt, and held her face over a stove top, the police statement of facts says. When she tried to flee through the locked front door, the man forced the woman into the bathroom and repeatedly asked her 'Why'd you do it'? Police allege the woman had no idea what he was talking about. NSW Constable Genelle Warne was credited with helping the woman come forward after staying silent about the alleged abuse for six years . For what seemed like 'hours' to the woman, he peppered her with the question in-between heavy blows to her head. The woman was curled up in a ball in the corner when the man later returned to the bathroom with his cousin in tow, the facts state. He allegedly forced his girlfriend to kiss his cousin's penis. After the alleged sexual humiliation, the man used a hot hair straightener to squeeze the woman's toes, fingers and arm, the facts, tendered in the local court last year, state. The man then ripped off the woman's burnt skin and ate it. The assault continued in the bedroom where the man threatened her genitalia with a knife and allegedly drew noughts and crosses on her back. The man pleaded guilty last week to a string of charges, including sexual assault and kidnap, and will be sentenced in a Sydney court next year (file photo) As he sexually assaulted her, he held her so tight his fingers were covered in blood from her pierced skin. The victim remained at the home for two days and didn't see a doctor. The man, from Sydney's northwest, was charged last year. The case has stunned the most seasoned police, and the efforts of one dedicated officer - Constable Genelle Warne - in helping the woman come forward has been recognised at the highest level. Constable Warne received a police officer of the year award recently for helping this victim and others to come forward. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
|
The couple, who can't be named, were together 18 months when the woman was forced into a prolonged session of abuse .
The 41-year-old man from Sydney's northwest pleaded guilty to a string of charges, including sexual assault and kidnap .
He allegedly forced her to lean over a chair and struck her with a belt .
He also used a hot hair straightener to squeeze the woman's toes, fingers and arm before ripping off her burnt skin and eating it .
The man will be sentenced in a Sydney court next year .
|
f98702cb3b94e4491113fd9526948a8832193975
|
Texas Senator Ted Cruz says this month's partial government shutdown and his key role in it were a success: They got people talking. 'One of the things we accomplished in the fight over Obamacare is we elevated the national debate over what a disaster, what a train wreck, how much Obamacare is hurting millions of Americans across this country,' Cruz told about 600 Iowa Republicans on Friday at the Iowa GOP's annual fundraising dinner in Des Moines. Cruz's crusader's spirit was the perfect example of what longtime Republicans in Iowa and nationally say is at the root of the party's losing ways and has sparked an intraparty fight over the way forward after losing consecutive presidential elections. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spoke on Friday, October 25 during the Republican Party of Iowa's Reagan Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa. Cruz said that the partial government shutdown he played a role in was a success because it got people talking about Obamacare . It's a conversation that's spilling out from backstage to behind the podium between national GOP establishment luminaries and state leaders around the country. Although he ultimately lost, the 42-year-old freshman senator played a leading role bringing about the 16-day partial federal shutdown with his demand that President Barack Obama gut his 3-year-old health care law. He also successfully urged a core of House Republicans to follow him. The final and perhaps most important stop of Ted Cruz's recent public tour was less an exclamation point on a series of raucous events in Texas and more a presentation of opposite ideas for the GOP's way forward nationally. President Barack Obama stands with supporters of his health care law last week in the White House Rose Garden. The President was addressing problems in the rollout of his health care overhaul. For nearly five years, Republicans have struggled to make a scandal stick to the White House but Senator Ted Cruz believes Obamacare remains a problem . Immediately before the Cruz spoke, five-term Iowa Governor Terry Branstad barely acknowledged the guest and said the way forward for the party nationally was by way of the route cleared by Republican governors. Branstad, 66, at the heart of Iowa's GOP establishment, called Cruz 'a bright, up-and-coming senator' before turning his attention to the tangible successes of Republican governors, beginning with Cruz's own governor, Rick Perry of Texas. 'The results of conservative governors are making a difference,' said Branstad, who is preparing to seek election next year. Senator Cruz stands in front of pheasants that were shot during a hunt hosted by fellow Iowa GOP senator Steve King on Saturday, October 26. The Texas senator attended the Iowa GOP's annual fundraising dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday . The Texas senator shoots at a pheasant during a hunt in Iowa on Saturday. Cruz, with one eye targeting the 2016 Presidential race, has not said whether he will take aim again at Obamacare . Cruz has received a lot of attention for trying to hunt down Obamacare but his tactics have failed to show a tangible result. Cruz, pictured hunting pheasants in Iowa, claims the government shutdown he helped engineer was a success because it got people discussing the Affordable Care Act . Branstad pointed to Wisconsin and Michigan governors moves to trim union rights as reasons for falling unemployment, and Texas' reduction in regulation for rising job growth. Cruz, in his 40-minute speech, argued the health care law enacted in 2010 was the main impediment to economic growth but was vague after addressing the audience about whether he would continue to try to defund the law in the future. Cruz talked to supporters on Friday after speaking at a Republican Party dinner in Des Moines, Iowa. With an eye on the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination, Cruz told the GOP crowd the partial government shutdown he led was a 'success' 'There will be plenty of time the coming months to talk about specific tactics and strategies,' he told reporters later. 'What I think is critical is we keep the focus on Obamacare, we keep the focus on the fact that this bill isn't working.' Cruz said Democratic senators asking Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebielius for an extension of the enrollment period was no surprise. But he wished they had called for its repeal or defunding, not 'expand the enrollment period.'Former Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour pointedly accused tea party-fueled refusal to support spending measures during the shutdown foolhardy. Though Branstad wasn't as direct, he has shown little patience for Congress over the past month, especially the drama surrounding Cruz, and has called for broadening the party to make it more welcoming to voters who have turned away from the GOP. It was Cruz's third visit to Iowa, which is expected to hold the leadoff GOP nominating caucuses ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Republican Cruz, speaking at a rally in front of the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC in early October. The senator was championed by crowds that overlooked the fact that he failed in his bid to defund Obamacare .
|
Texas Senator continues to rail against Obamacare even after shutdown vote defeat and public dismay at Congress .
Looking toward 2016 Presidential nomination Cruz hunts pheasants in Iowa but is vague on future strategy to defund Affordable Care Act .
Longtime Republicans say Cruz misfiring ideology is the cause of poor results and GOP infighting over future direction .
|
f98718680481cdb2419d5dab8347cf7e341b86d5
|
(CNN) -- A woman has accused George Zimmerman, the man charged in the fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, of having sexually abused her for about a decade, beginning when she was 6 years old and he was 8. "He would reach under the blankets and try to do things and I would try to push him off," said the woman, who is identified only as Witness 9 and whose account was released Monday in audio recordings that a judge ordered last week be made public. "He was bigger and stronger and older. It was in front of everybody. And I don't know how I didn't say anything. But I just didn't know any better," she said. Zimmerman asks for another new judge . CNN spoke to the woman's father, who said neither he nor any other member of the family would be speaking on the subject. The woman did not respond to a request for comment. Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, released a statement Monday responding to the allegations. In it, he said his client was not yet 8 years old when the alleged abuse began, and that he was 17 when it was alleged to have ended. O'Mara said the woman is Zimmerman's cousin. In a motion filed June 18, O'Mara called the accuser's statement "not relevant to the issues of this case," and said the allegations are inadmissible. He added that its disclosure risked leading to "widespread hostile publicity which would substantially impair the Defendant's fair trial rights, and would pose a serious threat to the administration of justice." "Now that this statement is part of the public record, the defense will vigorously defend Mr. Zimmerman against the allegations," O'Mara said in his statement Monday. While on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" Monday evening, O'Mara continued to defend his client. "There actually were some other events that happened in the family dynamics that we will get into if we need to," he said, calling into question her credibility. "(S)he makes up allegations about sexual abuse, then also seemingly doesn't have any corroboration to them." Witnesses tell FBI that George Zimmerman is no racist . The 28-year-old former neighborhood watch captain is charged with second-degree murder in the February 26 death of Martin. The 17-year-old Martin was unarmed when he was killed while walking back to his father's girlfriend's house in a gated residential area of Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty. He has said he shot in self-defense after Martin attacked him. The woman said the abuse occurred when her family visited with Zimmerman's. "Every time that we would go up there, I could just look at him and he would give me a certain look and I would know if it was going to happen when we got together for family gatherings. Because he just got this look in his eye like he was going to." Referring to Zimmerman as "Georgie," she said "he just sucked up to my dad. He was like the son he never had. And he always was just, you know, very charming and personable with everybody in the family, and just always would laugh and entertain everybody. But he was different behind closed doors with me." Trayvon Martin memorial removed but preserved . In a statement, the Martin family said the woman's testimony could be used in trial to show Zimmerman has a history of violence and manipulation. "Zimmerman's mentality is very relevant to this trial," said the statement, which was sent to CNN by family attorney Benjamin Crump. It was not immediately clear how -- or even whether -- prosecutors planned to use the woman's testimony in their case against Zimmerman. "We cannot discuss what will or will not be used," said Jackelyn Barnard, spokeswoman for Special Prosecutor Angela Corey. Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. ruled last week that Witness 9's statements and any jail calls turned over to the defense are part of the public record. "This statement ... will simply be another piece of the puzzle to be relied upon by those who want to believe there was a racial motive to the shooting, and will be dismissed by those who claim that there was no such motive," the judge wrote. Zimmerman is free to disclose the nature of his relationship with Witness 9, though she cannot be identified publicly, Lester said. Timeline of events in the Trayvon Martin case . CNN's Marylynn Ryan and David Mattingly contributed to this report. Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here.
|
"Witness 9" accuses George Zimmerman of sexual abuse years ago .
"He was bigger and stronger and older," she says .
The accuser has not been identified publicly .
Zimmerman's lawyer calls the claim "not relevant" to Martin case .
|
f98735629a76a6bfdba377c8b1bbc413129a0a2e
|
Walking your dog, enjoying wine with a picnic and even meeting friends in the street have been turned into offences in a sweeping expansion of police and Town Hall powers, a report warned last night. A study by the Manifesto Club revealed widespread use of a string of little-noticed laws introduced by the last Labour government. The group warned that ‘ordinary freedoms and legal protections have been suspended in large areas of public space’. Wrong? Enjoying wine with a picnic or meeting friends in the street have been turned into offences in a sweeping expansion of police and Town Hall powers . Most of the laws were passed under the banner of Labour’s ‘respect’ agenda which aimed to crack down on anti-social behaviour. For example, rules banning drinking in public places were supposed to target teenage drinking in parks. But the powers are so widely drawn that they can be trained on families enjoying a picnic. The Manifesto Club said there is particular concern that many of the zones - which are decided by the authorities drawing lines on a map - are not clearly marked. This means members of the public can commit an offence without knowing they have done anything wrong. Several pensioners have been caught out by ‘no-dog’ zones they did not know about. The penalties can be harsh. ‘Drinking in a designated public place' is a criminal offence, and usually punished by an on-the-spot fine. The maximum penalty is £500 in some areas. It would be logged on the Police National Computer. Dog walking in an area where it is banned, such as straying into a play area in a public park, is a civil matter. But in all cases the person would end up in court if they didn't pay the fine – which means a potential criminal record. Walking the dog: The Manifesto Club warned that 'ordinary freedoms and legal protections have been suspended in large areas of public space' Josie Appleton, director of the Manifesto Club, said: ‘Ordinary freedoms and legal protections have been suspended in large areas of public space. 'An everyday activity can be an offence if you do it on the wrong street. When officials have such open-ended powers, they can make up the law as they see fit' Josie Appleton, Manifesto Club . ‘An everyday activity can be an offence if you do it on the wrong street. When officials have such open-ended powers, they can make up the law as they see fit. ‘At the very least, these zones should all be marked: it is fundamentally unjust that people could be punished for offences they did not know they were committing. In the long run, we need a serious debate about whether we want these controls spreading across our public spaces.’ Local authorities across the UK have enacted the zones. In London alone, the authorities have declared 435 special ‘zones’ which ban the public from taking part in what are normally considered law-abiding activities. Combined, the exclusion zones cover half of the capital. Not welcome: Schoolchildren picured out in the dispersal zone in south-west London. There were 32 dispersal zones in London found by the Club . The Manifesto Club used Freedom of Information laws to discover there are: . • 110 leafleting zones, within which people must buy a council licence if they want to leaflet. There were 37 fines for the offence of 'unlicensed leafleting' in 2011-12. • 32 dispersal zones, within which groups of two or more people can be asked to leave the area and not return for 24 hours. There have been 547 recent orders to disperse. • 219 dog exclusion zones, within which people cannot walk their dogs. There were 56 fines for the offence of walking dogs in a no-dog zone in 2011-12. • 74 alcohol confiscation zones, within which people can have their alcohol confiscated. The Metropolitan Police issued 663 fines for the offence of drinking in public in 2010, and there are several thousand alcohol confiscations each year. The Manifesto Club has delivered a string of warnings about how the public is being subjected to increasingly draconian powers. Earlier this year, the group warned how armies of civilian ‘busybodies’ with as little as five days’ training have been handed sweeping police powers which allow them to destroy people’s careers. Freedom of Information responses reveal there are now 2,617 snoopers licensed under Labour’s hugely controversial Community Safety Accreditation Schemes – a rise of 1,000 in only three years. They include park wardens, shopping centre staff, park attendants and housing association staff accredited to hand out fines for 'crimes' such as littering, dog fouling and criminal damage. The civilians do not answer to a police constable – and four out of five forces do not bother to keep track on what they are doing once they have been given their powers. • The Manifesto Club has published an online map of the banned zones in London. It is available by clicking here.
|
Widespread use of little-noticed laws from Labour .
Manifesto Club warns 'ordinary freedoms' suspended .
Laws aimed to crack down on anti-social behaviour .
|
f987ae949fffee3abd64a198c8e08d3bacd4703e
|
By . Derek Lawrenson . Remember those Black Fridays from not so long ago where Rory McIlroy would turn up with his B game, shoot 40 or so for nine holes and blow his chances of winning? If truth be told, he had another ordinary Friday here at the 96th USPGA Championship, hitting just eight fairways and 11 greens in regulation. How terrifying for the opposition, therefore, that the newly-refocused Rory still shot a four under par 67 to add to his opening 66 to lead the season’s final major at the halfway stage. If McIlroy is now able to hit the front playing average, what on earth is going to happen when he showcases his A game? McIlroy leads by a shot on a good-looking leaderboard from dangerous Australian Jason Day and veteran American Jim Furyk, with fellow countrymen Rickie Fowler and Ryan Palmer two shots adrift. Still on top: McIlroy wasn't at his brilliant best on Friday, but he still takes a one-shot lead into the third round . In the swing: The Northern Irishman is playing as close to perfect as you can get in the majors at the moment . Then comes Phil Mickelson after a spectacular eagle three at the last and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, with two European big hitters – Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood – four shots behind. Westwood slipped back after his marvellous first round 65 but is still in contention to win his first major after a 73. Ian Poulter was another to regress with a 73. Tiger Woods? Thank goodness he has now gone home after missing the halfway cut by a comfortable margin following a second round 74 because this was painful to watch. Difficult Tiger: It was a sad sight to see the 14-time major champion struggle with injury and form . Whatever happened to the 14-time major champion who only ever played to win? Here, he limped around both physically and metaphorically to raise the question again: what on earth was he doing here? Let’s hope we don’t see him again until he is healthy - however long it takes. As for McIlroy, add these two rounds to the four he played at Royal Liverpool at The Open and the 72 holes at Firestone last week, and that makes him 41 under par for the duration, with only one round in the seventies. It’s worth spelling them out: 66,66,68,71,69,64,66,66,66 and 67. If that is not the perfect ten rounds, it must be as close as damn it. McIlroy was asked for the umpteenth time why it has all gone right but this time gave a particularly candid answer. He did not say or mean it unkindly, but he did pinpoint the moment he ditched his tennis-playing fiancé, Caroline Wozniacki, at the end of May. Problems: Bubba Watson failed to find his best form, and later had to apologise for his behaviour on the course . ‘I think what happened has been for the best in terms of my golf,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve put a bit more time into it and it has refocused me. I mean, what else do I have to do now? 'I go to the golf course, to the gym and it’s just my life at the minute. I worked pretty hard before but the past couple of months I’ve really just buried myself in my game. It obviously works pretty well, so I am going to keep doing it.’ A deluge created fresh water hazards in the middle of fairways and caused a 50 minute suspension early on. The day called for the steadfast rather than the spectacular, but trust McIlroy to come up with a mixture of both. Starting from the 10th, he had one eagle three at the 18th and should have had another at the 7th where he missed from 8ft. But this was a round where he also showed off some of the overlooked qualities of his game, including his new-found resolve to grind out a score. A perfect Day: The Australian Jason Day is McIlroy's closest competitor after reaching eight under par . McIlroy missed his first four fairways plus five greens in regulation in a row at one point, but saved par expertly on several occasions with a few adept up and downs. ‘I think when you’re 100 per cent confident as I am now you know you’re going to get opportunities to put it right, so I know I am not going to go on one of those runs where I shoot a 42 for nine holes,’ he said. ‘Mentally, I am just in a far better place.’ McIlroy vowed to keep playing the same brand of smart but aggressive golf that won him The Open. ‘I think the only time I’ve ever tried to protect a lead was the final round of the 2011 Masters and that didn’t work out so well (he lost a four shot lead),’ he said. ‘It took me a couple of years to learn to be comfortable with a lead but what works for me is to try to get four ahead if I am three ahead, and so on. Do I expect to win? I wouldn’t say that. But if I execute my game plan, there’s a good chance.’ Is there anything that can distract McIlroy from his mission? There was a fresh obstacle on Friday in the form of an insufferable example of self-pity from playing partner, Bubba Watson. On the charge: Rickie Fowler picked up eight birdies, more than making up for his three bogeys . Aren’t devout Christians supposed to be able to put things in perspective? Not this one on this day. He whined incessantly as his ball flew off in all directions except straight. The American’s woes were just one more bit of good news for US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson, then, but McIlroy donned cloth ears to drown out the constant moans. Bubba at least had the grace to apologise for his behaviour on Twitter afterwards. ‘Sorry for my actions today. Just trying to get better as a person,’ he wrote. While McIlroy was unaffected, US Open Champion Martin Kaymer – the third member of the group - stumbled to a 74. Still in contention: An eagle at the last put Mickelson within three shots of the lead at the half-way stage . He was a typically class act afterwards, preferring to praise one of his playing partners rather than attack the other. ‘When Rory hits his driver that long and that straight and his short game is incredible, it is very difficult to beat him,’ he said. ‘ . You just have to respect how good he plays. He’s definitely the best player in the world.’ Now, in his 25th major, Open Champion McIlroy has the chance to make it two wins in two months and make it four majors claimed at the age of just 25. Anyone out there still doubt the Rory era has begun?
|
McIlroy hits 67 to take one-shot lead into third round .
Northern Irishman says his split from tennis star has helped him refocus .
Tiger Woods misses cut after another poor round .
Jason Day one shot behind McIlroy on eight under .
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.