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By . Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor . A former French prime minister has angrily called on Britain to leave the European Union - to stop it dying. Michel Rocard said the UK had only joined the EU to help big business - and called on it to leave before it caused further damage. Mr Rocard also accused David Cameron of 'pretending' to want to leave - and of provoking a crisis in order to serve the interest of Britain’s banks. Former French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard, being greeted here by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at Number 10 in 1988, has called on Britain to regain its 'elegance' by quitting the EU . In a scathing article in the French newspaper Le Monde said: 'So leave, then, before you destroy everything.' The remarks by the 83-year-old Rocard comes amid growing anger of Mr Cameron's bid to block the former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker from running the European Commission. Mr Junker is the lead candidate of the biggest group in the European Parliament - the Conservative European People's Party - which scopped the most seats in last week's European elections. Mr Cameron has publicly opposed the nomination of Mr Juncker, whose European People’s Party. France said before the election that the leading candidate of whichever party won the vote should be put forward for the job. The PM has dismissed a report in Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine that claimed he had threatened at an EU summit last week to bring forward a referendum on British membership of the EU if Mr Juncker became Commission president. The latest fall out between Europe and the UK threatens to turn nasty, the former French PM claimed. Former Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard spent 15 years in the European Parliament after leaving French politics . Princess Diana appeared to have charmed Mr Rocard on a visit in Paris in 1988 - but the former French PM said Britain had lost its esteem in the eyes of Europe . He said: 'Between you and us, the continental Europeans, there is a disagreement that is turning ugly. Europe is dying from it.' The Socialist Rocard has been a backer of closer European integration since the bloc’s founding in the decade after World War Two and spent 15 years as a member of European parliament after leaving French politics in 1997. He said Britain had lost the respect of its neighbours in Europe over its position on Europe. The former PM wrote: 'There was a time when being British was synonymous with elegance. Let us rebuild Europe. Regain your elegance and you will regain our esteem.' Britain – which joined the EU, then known as the European Economic Community, in 1973 after France’s General Charles de Gaulle had resisted a previous attempt to enter the bloc – has long been accused by some of the zone’s founder members of seeking to slow down European political union. Mr Cameron has vowed to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the union in 2017. Before the poll he has promised to 'renegotiate' the terms of Britain’s membership - by winning back powers from Brussels. Last week he accused the union of being 'too bossy'.
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Socialist pro-European says UK only joined Europe to help banks .
Attacks David Cameron for 'pretending' to want to leave and provoking crisis .
Claims Britain used to be held in high esteem but has lost its 'elegance'
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By . Chris Greenwood . PUBLISHED: . 06:26 EST, 19 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:31 EST, 20 April 2012 . A gangland gunman who paralysed a five-year-old girl when he botched a hit on a rival was jailed for life today. Nathaniel Grant, 21, was told he will spend at least 17 years behind bars for a shooting that shocked Britain and was described by a judge as an 'attack on society itself'. He fired the bullet into a shop in Stockwell, south London that left innocent Thusha Kamaleswaran confined to a wheelchair and turned her family's world upside down. Scroll down for video (warning: distressing footage) Crippled: Thusha Kamaleswaren, right, at home with her brother Thusan, 13. She was shot by gangsters - and left paralysed - as she played in her uncle's shop in Stockwell, south London . Help: Thusha, now nine, is pushed on a special bike by her family, whose lives have been turned upside down . His two accomplices, 'sidekick' Anthony McCalla, 20, and 'enforcer' Kazeem Kolawole, 19, were also jailed for life. The trio, who could have been behind bars on the day they shot Thusha, were members of Brixton's Gas - or Guns And Shanks - Gang, responsible for a trail of violence that has devastated parts of South London. Judge Martin Stephens QC said all of the men pose a high risk to the public and none of them has shown a 'shred of remorse.' He said: 'This is an exceptional case of the utmost gravity. The seriousness is such that a life sentence is necessary to reflect public abhorrence of these offences. 'Shooting twice into the small and confined shop where it was known there were people present can be denounced as an attack on society itself by men who saw themselves as outside and above the law.' Kazeen and McCalla, who showed no response to their sentences, were told they will serve a minimum of 14 years. Behind bars: From left, Nathaniel Grant, 21, was jailed for 17 years, while his accomplices Kazeem Kolawole, 19, and Anthony McCalla, 20, were both handed 14-year sentences at the Old Bailey in London today . Thusha’s family reacted with fury to the sentences – as all three men could be freed when they are still in their thirties. Shopkeeper Vicknes Mahadevan, who witnessed his niece’s shooting, said: ‘It’s easy time isn’t it? They will all come out when they are still young men. Even though they took a gun and shot somebody. ‘They have still got lives to live. My family must live with this forever, not just for a number of years. When Thusha is in her thirties will these people still be thinking about her? I doubt it. It is terrible. We will never get over what has happened.’ It was previously revealed that the three men could - and perhaps should - already have . been locked up. Grant, known as ‘Killa Buzz’, was cleared of an almost identical gangland murder and released from prison just weeks earlier; . McCalla was on bail over a vicious bus brawl and probation . staff considered recalling him to prison hours before Thusha was shot; . Judge Martin Stephens QC . Kolawole had recently been spared prison for beating a . schoolgirl and was wearing an electronic tag while on bail for carrying a . knife. Earlier this week Thusha's family moved into a new home that has been refurbished to meet her needs. Police officers were so moved by the family's plight that they have already raised £125,000 to go towards her care. Kolawole, of Kennington, south . east London; McCalla, of Streatham, south London; and Grant, of . Camberwell, south east London, were told their crimes were ‘of the . utmost gravity’. Judge Martin Stephens QC said: ‘Much . of what you did was captured on CCTV and has been shown on television . screens across the land. ‘One can only imagine the effect on the public when they saw what you had done.’ He said the trio had gone out with a ‘determined, premeditated intention to kill’ that day. Judge Stephens continued: ‘Mr Selvakumar was hit in the head but miraculously survived with a piece of bullet remaining in his head. Harrowing: CCTV from inside Stockwell Food and Wine shows lying on the floor having been shot in the chest . ‘Five-year-old Thusha, who was dancing around with her family in the shop, was hit in the body. 'Only . the skill and devotion of the medical teams who became involved saved . her life but she remains paralysed below her chest and this condition is . permanent. ‘This . simple but devastating statement of the essential facts of the case . illustrate the gravity of these offences, riddled as they are with . aggravating factors.’ Judge Stephens told the trio: ‘Not one of you has, in my judgment, shown a sliver of remorse.’ Grant has previous convictions for . robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, Kolawole for affray, and . McCalla for robbery, affray, possessing an offensive weapon with intent . and violent disorder. The judge said they posed ‘a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm in the future’. He said: ‘You, Grant, were the gunman . and the other two your fully supportive lieutenants backing up all your . actions to the hilt and giving you the support and encouragement to . carry out these terrible deeds. Split second before: CCTV showed Thusha dancing in the aisle of her uncle's shop . Target: The intended victim of the hit and . another youth come into the store (left). Thusha and her family can be . seen at the front of the picture on the right . Panic: As the gunman standing outside the shop starts to fire, Thusha's family run for cover . Gunned down: Thusha's family move out of the way . to reveal the little girl lying on the floor (left). Her uncle . Mahadavan Vikneswaran is seen rushing to help her (right) as the . shooting stops . Pitiful: He lifts her limp form from the floor . and carries her to safety. Thusha's heart stopped twice on the way to . hospital and paramedics feared she would die . ‘In my judgment, this is an exceptional case of the utmost gravity. Happy: Thusha before the tragedy . ‘Shooting . into a shop, a confined space where it was known there were people . present, is an attack on society itself by men who saw themselves as . outside the law and above the law.’ Judge . Stephens said the convictions would not have been possible without . CCTV, and that he hoped Thusha could go on to lead as full a life as . possible. The trio . cycled up to Stockwell Food and Wine on March 29 last year and Grant . opened fire into the shop, hitting Mr Selvakumar and Thusha. Jurors were told he would have been able to see the girl as he fired his second shot. The three men were members of the . Brixton-based OC (Organised Criminals) gang, and were on the hunt for a . member of their bitter rivals ABM (All Bout Money). Thusha was hit in the chest and the bullet passed through the seventh vertebra of her spine. She went into cardiac arrest twice and . had to undergo emergency surgery in the shop and at hospital, and is . now permanently paralysed. Mr Selvakumar has bullet fragments lodged in his head that cannot safely be removed.After the verdicts last month, Thusha, now six, told the Daily Mail: ‘I worry that someone will try to hurt me again.’ Her family has been left battling debt and mother Sharmila Kamaleswaran is said to have suffered insomnia and depression. She said in a victim impact statement that seeing her daughter, who dreamed of being a dancer, in a hospital bed ‘took my heart away’. Outside court, Detective Superintendent Gordon Allison said the only time the gunmen had apologised was when they wanted to reduce their prison sentences. ‘They have been sentenced to life imprisonment for these offences and hopefully they will have time to reflect on their crimes,’ he said.
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Gunman Nathanial Grant, 21, jailed for 17 years while 'sidekick' Anthony McCalla, 20, and 'enforcer' Kazeem Kolawole, 19, got 14 years .
Thusha Kamaleswaran confined to a wheelchair after being shot while playing in her uncle's shop in Stockwell, south London .
Trio could have been behind bars on day of the shooting .
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By . Cindy Tran for Daily Mail Australia . It's been 22 years since she worked with America's legendary musician Jeff Buckley, but photographer Merri Cyr says she's still amazed by the incredible legacy that the music legend has left behind worldwide. With the 20th Anniversary of Buckley's hit album Grace approaching, the American photographer is currently displaying her exclusive collection of one of the world's most mysterious musical legends in Australia. The 50-year-old said she reminisces about the years she spent working with the promising artist at his Florida recording studio near Miami Beach and shooting him on his roof top in New York City in 1992. Merri Cyr said her friendship with Jeff Buckley started from a work project and later was personally selected by the musician himself to shoot his album cover Grace . Ms Cyr said her friendship with Buckley started from a work project, then she was personally selected by the musician himself to shoot his album cover and document his life on and off stage during his tour. ‘I met Jeff during an assignment I had to shoot for Paper Magazine – a style magazine in New York City,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. ‘I photographed him a lot and all my photographs reminded me of the moments we worked and spent together or shooting around his home – it was a bookmark of all the time I spent and worked with him. ‘He was definitely not camera shy and I guess being a performer, he loved being in front of the cameras a lot and was very seductive'. When asked whether she had a favourite photo of Buckley, she said it was too hard to chose. ‘I can’t choose a favourite because I’m attached to the experience I had with him and when I look at the photographs, it brings back memories of what we did on that exact day – like what we did, where we had lunch and things like that.’ Merri Cyr said the photograph she shot of Jeff eating the banana, taken in New York City 1993, reminded her a lot like Leonard Cohen's 'I'm your man' single cover . The charismatic singer, songwriter and guitarist died in May 1997 after he drowned in a river in Memphis, Tennessee, United States at the age of 30. ‘I’m amazed by his popularity from around the world since his death. People really embrace Jeff as a musician. He travelled to Australia a lot as part of his career and it’s great to see so many fans interested and the popularity growth,' she said. ‘It was interesting to see him work on his studio album, Grace because I had never heard him perform prior to his photo shoots. I wanted to watch him play as well as taking photographs around the studio. ‘He was quite hands on and knew what he wanted from the sounds. You can definitely see his passion and he wrote all his music in a very pacific way. 'Music was everything to Jeff – every aspect of creating music or supporting music – he was a perfectionist.' Buckley on the couch listening to a mix of his song Eternal Life on December 3, 1994 at a recording studio in Miami . One of the most memorable pictures Ms Cyr took is the photograph of Jeff eating the banana, because it reminded her a lot of Leonard Cohen's 'I'm your man' single cover. ‘He was just hungry and started eating a banana when we were in the middle of shooting his cover album Grace. 'I think in a weird way, the photo visually reminded me of Leonard Cohen’s single cover where he is also seen eating a banana. I don't think Jeff did it intentionally but that's just what I think. ‘He was very excited by the photographs I took of him and we subsequently scheduled to shoot more often after that. It was very collaborative – an equal participant and something we did something together. Buckley was photographed under a chandelier in the bathroom during the Grace album cover shoot, Williamsburg, Brooklyn at Arcadia studios in 1993 . 20 years of Grace: A special Jeff Buckley exhibition by Merri Cyr is currently on at the Blender Gallery in Sydney until September 20. The gallery will feature 25 of Cyr's images of Buckley with some of the photographs never before printed or exhibited. A Blender Gallery spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that the 'Jeff Buckley with the banana' photograph is among one of the 'never before seen shots'. ‘I’m really excited to share my experiences and photographs at the exhibition for the 20th anniversary for my friend, Jeff,’ she said. Buckley lying on a portable white bed doing interviews in a hotel conference room in Orlanda Florida on December 5, 1995 .
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Merri Cyr, 50, said she was personally selected by the musician himself to shoot his album cover Grace and document his life on and off stage of his tour .
Music fans can now see never before seen pictures of Jeff Buckley at an exhibit in Australia to celebrate 20 years since the release of his album Grace .
A Gallery spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that the 'Jeff Buckley with the banana' photograph is among one of the 'never before seen shots'
20 years of Grace: A special Jeff Buckley exhibition is on at the Blender Gallery in Sydney until September 20 .
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(CNN) -- The Chinese Super League has seen its global profile skyrocket over the last 12 months with the arrival of several high-profile football stars in big-money deals. The trend continued on Thursday with the announcement that Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi will take over the reigns at ambitious Guangzhou Evergrande on a two-and-a-half-year contract. "I dispatched an assistant to go see the club's matches, which made me even more determined," the 64-year-old told a press conference which was broadcast live on Chinese state television. "I am very enthusiastic about coming to China." Lippi has an impressive managerial record, having coached Juventus to five Italian Serie A titles and the European Champions League in 1996. Guangzhou, China's reigning champions, started the spending spree last year by signing Argentine playmaker Dario Conca from Brazilian side Fluminense for a national record transfer fee. Conca has since been joined in China by former France striker Nicolas Anelka, who, after a prolific career across Europe, swapped Chelsea for Shanghai Shenhua in January. Paraguay's Lucas Barrios will become the latest recruit when he signs for Guangzhou from German champions Borussia Dortmund on June 1, for a fee which eclipses the one paid for Conca. So what is attracting such stellar names to a country which has a limited football heritage? "There are things happening in Chinese football but there is still a long way to go," Asian football expert John Duerden told CNN. "I can't imagine that Lippi has been always been desperate to work in the Chinese Super League, though China is a fascinating place and some of the cities are fantastic." Previous coach Lee-Jang soo had achieved on-field success with Guangzhou, leading the club out of the second tier, to the 2011 Super League title and into the Asian Champions League. But Duerden said Lee's profile was not big enough for a club with grand ambitions. "It's all about the name," he said. "While Lee is well-liked in China and east Asia, outside the region he has little standing. Hiring Lippi sends the message that Guangzhou want to be Asia's first superclub." Duerden said the surge in football spending in China has been financed by powerful political figures, but that it may be detrimental to the future of the sport in the country. "The spark is all down to politics, power and connections. The next generation of China's leaders, including the next president are fans of football, and it is a great way for business leaders to get close to the decision-makers. "There is a huge disconnect between what the game actually needs and what it is getting. There are less than 10,000 registered under-12 players in China (Japan, with a tenth of the population has over 300,000) and you have to wonder what a similar amount of money would do if invested in the grassroots." Since arriving in Shanghai, Anelka has seen his role at Shenhua change. Last month, the 33-year-old was added to former Fulham manager Jean Tigana's coaching staff. Tigana then resigned from his position, paving the way for Anelka to assume a surprise player-coach role. "The situation is fairly chaotic at Shanghai and the team is pretty mediocre," said Duerden. "Big money was spent on new strikers but what the team really needs is midfielders. "He (Anelka) does seem committed and is starting to talk to the press a little more. He also has the respect of the players, for obvious reasons, and he seems to be taking the coaching role quite seriously." Meanwhile, Manchester United announced on Thursday that striker Michael Owen has left the English club following the expiration of his contract. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid star has been ravaged by injury during his three years at Old Trafford, scoring just five goals in 31 Premier League appearances.
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Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi is the new coach of Guangzhou Evergrande .
Lippi has won five Italian titles and the European Champions League with Juventus .
Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka joined Shanghai Shenhua in January .
The former France international is now Shanghai's player-coach .
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By . Nick Pisa . UPDATED: . 03:39 EST, 5 March 2012 . The captain of the Costa Concordia was not wearing his glasses when the cruise ship crashed into rocks off the Italian coast, leaving more than 30 people dead, it was revealed yesterday. According to leaked prosecution evidence, Ciro Ambrosio, the first officer of the 114,000-ton liner, described how before the crash Captain Francesco Schettino had dined with Domnica Cemortan, a Moldovan cruise rep and dancer. Ambrosio said in a statement: ‘Schettino wears glasses when he is tired. When he took command on the bridge he didn’t have them because he had left them in his cabin. He asked me to set the radar as he couldn’t see it properly. Investigation: Captain Francesco Schettino was not wearing his glasses when the ship ran aground . ‘Cemortan, the Moldovan, was on the bridge as well. She was speaking in English and arrived on the bridge the same time as Schettino. They exchanged a few words when they got on the bridge then she stayed in the background and didn’t speak.’ In further damning testimony against Schettino – dubbed Captain Coward for his alleged spineless behaviour during the tragedy – the first officer added: ‘The captain told us not to tell the harbourmaster anything about what had happened. He said to tell them everything was under control.’ Also in court documents is a statement from retired Costa Cruises captain Mario Palombo, who said in a 2003 profile of Schettino that ‘professionally he is OK but he is a liar and he is too proud’. He also claimed that he had difficulty manoeuvring large ships. The disclosures came at the opening of a preliminary inquiry into the tragedy in January, which is being held in the Italian town of Grosseto. Captain Schettino, 52, is under house arrest while investigators consider charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship while passengers were still on board and failing to communicate with maritime authorities. Tragedy: The cruise ship crashed into rocks off the Italian coast, leaving more than 30 people dead . A theatre has been turned into a make-shift court for a hearing into the Costa Concordia disaster which happened two months ago . Beauty: Dominica Cemortan dined with the captain ahead of the fateful accident . It was also disclosed that prosecutor . Francesco Verusio had asked for a new charge of ‘destroying a habitat’ to be brought against Schettino, because the Concordia ran aground in . waters that are a protected maritime sanctuary and home to whales, . dolphins and other sea life. Schettino is said to have recklessly . changed the course of the Concordia, which was packed with more than . 4,000 passengers and crew, so that he could carry out a ‘sail-by . salute’ of the Italian island of Giglio, but the vessel struck rocks, . tearing a 75-yard hole in its hull. Paolo Bastanini, one of Schettino’s . lawyers, said: ‘My client is very upset by what happened. He is upset . when he hears news that bodies have been found in the Concordia and he . was very upset to hear the news that the body of a five-year-old girl . was also recovered.’ Prosecutor Mr Verusio said that . technical experts would examine the Concordia’s black box data recorder . which registered the ship’s course and position. He said: ‘The details will give us a . new line of investigation and also help us to ascertain if others were . also responsible for what happened that night.’ Besides Schettino, first officer . Ambrosio and two other crew members have also been placed under formal . investigation as well as three officials from Genoa-based Costa Cruises. Thirty-five British passengers and crew were on board the Concordia at the time. Extra police have been drafted in to control onlookers at the hearing and they were warned it was a serious matter and not entertainment . More than 1,000 people were aboard the Costa Allegra when a fire broke out and caused the lights to go out .
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A new charge has been brought against Schettino for 'destroying a habitat'
Schettino asked the first officer to set the radar because he couldn't see .
Prosecutors want to investigate the way in which Costa chooses their captains .
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iPhone trolls are using AirDrop to send images of a Space Sloth to strangers around the world . A photograph of a sloth in a spacesuit is being sent to unsuspecting iPhone users by pranksters who are exploiting a security loophole in Apple's AirDrop service. Owners of Apple's iPhone who have upgraded to its latest iOS 8 software have reported receiving the photograph, known as 'Astronaut Slot or 'Space Sloth'. A photographer and writer based in San Francisco is thought to have been the first to have used this to send unsolicited pictures of the Astronaut sloth to commuters while travelling to work by train. Josh Lowensohn said he began trolling strangers on the train with the image, which was created by artist Pedro Dionisio, to highlight the dangers of allowing an iPhone to receive files from anyone in the surrounding area. The practice takes advantage of a security feature in Apple's AirDrop service, which allows users to share files wirelessly over WiFi and Bluetooth networks. After upgrading the operating software, iPhones and iPads can be set to receive files from 'everyone' in the surrounding area. It is thought to work within a range of around 30 feet. But now it appears his prank has been adopted by others and is spreading around the world, with victims reporting being sent the image by AirDrop in London and New York. Mr Lowensohn, who began trolling commuters in San Fransisco a year ago, insists he is not responsible for the appearance of the AstroSloth on iPhones in other cities as he has been 'landlocked' in California. When contacted about the image appearing on phones in London, from iPhone users called AirSloth', he described the spread as both 'wonderful and terrible'. The Space Sloth began appearing on the internet in February 2012 after an artist called Pedro Dionisio posted the image on the website deviantArt and Tumblr. Within just a few months the image had been shared millions of times and had its own spoof twitter account and Facebook fan pages. It gained notoriety as people began using the image to play pranks on friends and colleagues by using it to replace pictures in frames on their desks or setting it as their desktop picture. The picture was created by superimposing a sloth's head over the face of an astronaut. While many nicknamed the sloth Neil Armsloth, the spacesuit actually belongs to one of the crew who took part in the mission to the International Space Station STS-121 in 2003. It is believed the photograph originally used to create the image was a portrait of US astronaut Mike Fossum. He said: 'I certainly didn't invent the concept of sending strangers unsolicited files using AirDrop, but I'd like to think that I'm doing it in a way that's more fun than malicious. 'You could send much worse things, which I'm not so sure was well known by most people. 'When I first started exploring this, artist Pedro Dionísio's sloth in a spacesuit seemed like a perfect fit: it was playful and disarming. 'You could easily argue that this is not a nice thing to do to people, but I'd like to think that by leaving the feature set to "everyone," you're secretly hoping to see a sloth.' While the picture of the sloth in the space suit is harmless - it originally started being shared over the internet in 2012 after artist Pedro Dionísio uploaded it to his deviantArt account - it highlights an important security loophole in the iPhone. By allowing iPhone users to send unsolicited files to anyone with this setting turned on, it could allow hackers to install virus software that could allow them to eavesdrop or even take over devices. In September Apple also extended its AirDrop service to include MacBooks and iMacs, meaning the number of devices that could be vulnerable are even greater. For many the Astronaut Sloth may be simply an amusing way of trolling strangers to see their reaction upon receiving the photo. It is a new twist on a prank that began in 2012 when people began replacing desktop images and screen savers of friends and colleagues with the picture. Technology writer Harry McCracken is among those to have been targeted by the AirSloth prank, sent from an AirDrop user who apparently shares his name with notorious American murder and gangster Whitey Bulger . The Space Sloth has developed its own dedicated online followers with fan pages and its own twitter feed . The image quickly became a meme of its own as people replaced the heads of humans from other historic images and pictures. The image even began appearing on T-Shirts, coffee mugs and bags. Among those to have received the sloth picture over AirDrop is Harry McCracken, former editor in chief of PC World magazine and technology editor of New York based magazine Fast Company. Other victims have reported being sent the space sloth in Kensington, London, an AirDrop user identifying themselves only as Sloth's 'iPhone'. For Mr Lowensohn, the thrill of watching the reactions of his fellow commuters while keeping a straight face, saw him troll stranger after stranger. Writing on the website The Verge, he said: 'I've done it perhaps a hundred times, and the thrill has not waned one little bit. 'I've seen reactions that range from amused to confused, but never has anyone been visibly angered. 'The beauty of the technology is that your targets can be far away by the time you've done the deed.' Apple's AirDrop allows iPhone users to send pictures and files to other Apple devices over WiFi and Bluetooth networks but those who leave the service set to receive from 'Everyone' (right) are vulnerable to hackers .
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iPhone owners report receiving sloth pictures from mystery AirDrop users .
Space sloth pictures demonstrate how AirDrop could also be used to send virus software that would allow hackers to eavesdrop on iPhone users .
Prank is thought to have been started by a photographer in San Francisco .
Victims have reported being sent the image in New York and London .
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Human activity has caused at least half of climate change in the last half-century, hundreds of scientists say. They are 95% certain of this, the surest they've ever been, says a United Nations report published Friday. That activity? Driving cars, running power plants on coal and oil, torching swathes of forestland and debris; anything involving burning carbon-based fuels and emitting greenhouse gases. We are seeing the consequences already in extreme weather patterns, particularly drought and flood, and they will probably get worse this century, the report said. "It should serve as yet another wake-up call our activities today have a profound impact on society, not only for us, but for many generations to come," Michel Jarraud, head of the World Meteorological Organization, said at a news conference in Stockholm, Sweden. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry echoed his words in an official statement. "Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire," he said. "Once again, the science grows clearer, the case grows more compelling, and the costs of inaction grow beyond anything that anyone with conscience or common sense should be willing to even contemplate." Beneath Greenland's ice, a grand canyon . The assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the benchmark study on global warming published every few years. Nearly 1,000 researchers from around the world work on the document, which then undergoes review by about as many scientists. The panel released a summary report Friday and plans to post the full version, roughly 2,500 pages, online on Monday. This year's report further strengthens the suspicions that scientists already have. In 2007, climate researchers were already 90% sure that people were behind a seemingly small rise in global average temperature of about half a degree Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit) that has already notched up extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts and flooding. While 90% constitutes a "very likely" degree of certainty, Friday's report stating scientists are now 95% sure indicates an "extremely likely" degree of certainty, which is considered the gold standard when discussing probability. The effects humans are already causing are expected to increase for a century or more, the report reads. Weather catastrophes, previously called storms of the century, are on their way to striking every 20 years or even more frequently. Bloomberg: Why Sandy forced cities to take lead on climate change . This means, unfortunately, that we could see more EF5 tornadoes like the one that ground up Moore, Oklahoma; stronger and more floods like those that inundated Colorado towns; another Sandy or Katrina or two in our lifetimes; more crops wiped out by drought; and more forestland consumed by roaring wildfires. The Arctic ice cap could melt nearly completely in summer, and sea levels could continue to rise. In the Antarctic, the ice cap could continue to increase slightly. And if greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb as they have, the resulting temperature rise and its deadly effects would get even worse, the report says. Hundreds of experts weigh in . The 2013 assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change brings together the latest research from top scientists in the field. It contains a "summary for policymakers" aimed at guiding politicians and lawmakers worldwide on decisions regarding the environment over the next several years. The document released Friday explains the physical science behind climate change. The U.N. panel releases a report every five or six years. Friday's report is the culmination of work by more than 250 authors from 39 countries and was subject to an extensive review process involving more than 1,000 experts. More than 850 expert authors from 85 countries contributed research for the full report, which will be released in three stages through April. The first, on the physical science behind climate change, accompanies the summary for policymakers. The second, expected in March, will cover "impacts and vulnerabilities" of climate change; the third, on mitigation efforts, is set to go out in April. Climate change may increase violence, study shows . Critics of the report . Despite the breadth of the scientific expertise involved and the extensive review and approval process, the assessment reports spark quite a few criticisms, from both climate change believers and skeptics. Skeptics say the panel exists only to produce further evidence supporting the idea of man-made climate change while ignoring opposing research. But climate change activists, and many climate scientists, say the panel's consensus-seeking policy produces conclusions and estimates that are too conservative. Another often-cited critique of the report is that, due to its size and lengthy approval process, it is already outdated by the time it is released. Several important studies already have been published in the past year in the constantly evolving science of climate change that will not be included in this assessment. Despite the critics, this week's document will serve as a major measuring stick for the current state of the world's climate and what type of change is in store. The summary for policymakers will be available Friday at www.climatechange2013.org. Climate sticker shock: Arctic thaw could cost $60 trillion .
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Climate change deniers beware, says Secretary of State John Kerry .
There is even more certainty that humans are playing a role .
The report lays out projections for climate change through the end of the century .
The first section of the report is aimed at assisting policymakers .
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Andy Murray heads into the US Open next week unperturbed by the fact that he has yet to win a title of any sort since Wimbledon last year. The 27 year-old Scot, who has not made a final since returning from back surgery, remains among the favourites to replicate his Flushing Meadows triumph of two years ago despite the recent lack of silverware. 'I’m not concerned,' he said on Friday. 'It’s always tough when you come back from an injury and it always takes time to get the consistency. It maybe took me a bit longer than expected to get back to being able to train 100 per cent. Gearing up: Andy Murray trains for the US Open, which begins on Monday and sees him take on Robin Haase . Back then: The Scot won the US Open in 2012 - the first Grand Slam of his career . Out of form: Murray has struggled this year and has not win a title since Wimbledon 2013 . 'The standard on the tour is very high, there are no easy matches and it is difficult to reach the semi-final or final of a tournament let alone win a title. I think its a very open tour right now. 'I’ve struggled a little bit in the later stages of the tournaments this year but I think I have also put in some very good performances and I’m confident that I’m back to where I want to be, so it’s just a case of being patient and believing in myself. 'Things with Amelie (Mauresmo) have been going well here this year on the practice court, and we had a really good training block in Miami as well. I trained harder and smarter there than I had been able to for a long while, so that’s important, both mentally and physically.' Turnaround: New coach Amelie Mauresmo has been tasked with getting Murray's career back on track . Fully fit: Murray says he is over the back problems that have plagued him over the past year . Murray has been handed a tough draw, beginning with Robin Haase, the Dutchman who nearly upset him over five sets in New York three years ago. 'Robin and I have had some great matches over the last few years, obviously the last time we met at the US Open in 2011 it was a tough match. Hopefully this year I will be able to get out of the blocks a little quicker, but he can be a tough player, so I won’t be underestimating him.'
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Andy Murray has not reached a final since Wimbledon 2013 .
He is seeded eighth for the Grand Slam event, which starts on Monday .
The Scot takes on Robin Haase in the first round .
Britain's No 1 says he is enjoying being coached by Amelie Mauresmo .
Murray won the US Open in 2012 .
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Members of some of the United States' most notorious street gangs have infiltrated shelters housing illegal immigrant minors from Central America and are recruiting them, say Homeland Security sources. An estimated 57,000 minors from Central America have flooded across the border from Mexico to the U.S. in recent months, and gang leaders are reportedly filling their ranks from among them. Transnational gangs such as the Mara Salvatruca, also known as MS-13, and the 18th Street gang are using established juvenile members from Central America to cross the border and recruit other children to the cartels, say sources. Recruiting drive: There are reports that gangs are trying to recruit young immigrants from Border Protection facilities where they're being held . Transnational: A young El Salvadorean member of the Mara MS-13 street gang. There are reports that young members are enlisting other youngsters crossing the border . According to Fox News, Border Control agents have witnessed gang members using a Red Cross phone bank at the facility at Nogales, Arizona, to 'recruit, enlist and pressure' other minors into crossing the border. Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Control Patrol Council, a union which represents border agents, says agents have witnessed the recruiting process. The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement said earlier this week that they have no knowledge or evidence that gangs are recruiting immigrant minors. 'We know it’s happening because agents are telling us,' Moran told Fox News. 'The Border Patrol is trying to downplay it.' Gang culture learned in the U.S.: Carlos Tiberio Ramirez, one of the leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang . Flood: More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended at the southwestern border since October, more than twice the total this time last year . He said agents have overheard conversations in which recruits are given phone numbers to call after crossing the border in order to contact gang members. Ironically, many immigrants flooding across the southern border of the U.S. say they're fleeing violent gangs in Central America. Experts, however, say those gangs are actually a byproduct of U.S. policies in the 1990s that sent many immigrants back to Central America after they had been indoctrinated into gang culture in this country. The violence they took with them easily took hold and flourished in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala - countries with weak, dysfunctional governments. One study estimated some 350,000 Central American immigrants illegally came to Southern California from 1980 to 1985 while trying to escape civil war and corruption in their home country. They arrived with few English skills, and many settled in poor neighborhoods with strong Mexican gangs and black gangs. To survive and avoid bullying, some formed gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha or joined others such as the 18th Street gang. They committed serious crimes and were sent to prison, where they were further exposed to violent gang culture. Detainees: Many of the children arriving from Central America are fleeing gang violence in their homelands . In the 1990s, the U.S. increased deportations of immigrants facing criminal charges, particularly gang members. As many as 1,500 Salvadoran, Guatemalan and Honduran youths were sent back each month to Central America. They arrived with the notoriety of being a Los Angeles gangster. 'There's this huge explosion in all three of these countries of the gangs and the number of gang members, partially because it's the way of street kids getting status and reputation, and partially because it's a way of surviving,' said Tom Ward, a University of Southern California associate professor who has studied the issue. What is the relation between the gangs and the influx of immigrants at the U.S. border? Many people fleeing Central America say they are running from violence perpetrated by the gangs. But the migration is also an effort to reunify families. At least 80 per cent of youths stopped at the border have one parent or a close relative already in the United States, said Doris Meissner, former commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and senior fellow for the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. Family members already in the U.S. have saved enough money to pay a smuggler to bring their children across the border so boys won't be forcibly recruited into gangs and daughters won't be subjected to sexual violence.
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Border Control agents have allegedly witnessed gang members recruiting members from among the influx of unaccompanied immigrant minors from Central America .
Shawn Moran of the National Border Control Patrol Council says agents have told him about the enlistment .
Border Control .
agents have allegedly witnessed gang members using a Red Cross phone bank at the .
facility at Nogales, Arizona, to 'recruit, enlist and pressure' other .
minors .
Authorities say there is no evidence of such activity .
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Supermarket Aldi has launched a maternity clothing range - meaning the Duchess of Cambridge could snap up everything she needs for just £50. While it is highly unlikely that Kate will need to watch her budget for baby number two, many expectant mothers will welcome the news. The discount store's cut-price maternity fashion range includes leggings, a nursing bra, feeding top, maternity dress and baby changing bag. The range is a first for supermarket Aldi, and will no doubt be welcomed by cash-strapped expectant mothers . The discount store's cut-price maternity fashion range includes leggings, feeding top and maternity dresses for women both before and after giving birth . The entire cost of the five items is just £50.95. The recommended retail price of similar items on the high street would come to a total of £110 - more than twice as much. The new range has been introduced a week after Clarence House announced the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second child. The nursing bra is just £6.99 (left) while the baby changing bag is only £14.99 (right) It is unlikely that the duchess of Cambridge, who announced she was expecting her second child last week, will be buying her maternity wear from Aldi . It includes an elegant wrap-a-round dress - a style which is famously associated with Kate, 32 - which only costs £11.99. Ladies maternity leggings - £6.99 . Nursing bra - £6.99 . Ladies maternity feeding top - £9.99 . Ladies maternity dress - £11.99 . Baby changing bag - £14.99 . Mothers-to-be can also get their hands on an essential nursing bra and maternity leggings for £6.99 each, and a feeding top for 9.99 pounds. A baby changing bag for £14.99 completes the new range, which goes on sale on September 18. Tony Baines, Managing Director for Corporate Buying at Aldi, said: 'At Aldi, we're constantly developing our offering to present our customers with competitively-priced products. 'This includes clothing, without compromising on quality. 'The launch of our new maternity wear range offers mums-to-be a range of stylish, great quality clothing and accessories at affordable prices. 'It is perfect for expectant families wanting to tighten the purse strings ahead of their new arrival.'
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Budget supermarket Aldi have release first ever maternity range .
Includes leggings, a nursing bra, feeding top and changing bag .
The entire cost of the five items in the collection is just £50.95 .
Retail price of similar items on the high street would come to £110 .
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Relatives of two Britons murdered on a Thai beach have today come face-to-face for the first time with those accused of killing their loved ones. Court proceedings began today for the case of two Burmese men charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, whose badly mutilated bodies were found on a picturesque Thai beach in September. Family members of the British pair today sat through the proceedings, held on the island of Koh Samui, where defence and prosecution lawyers submitted plans for the evidence and witnesses involved in the case. The bodies of Ms Witheridge and Mr Miller were found on a Koh Tao beach the morning after a party . Court proceedings for the case against Burmese migrant workers Win Zaw Htun (left) and Zaw Lin (right) began today. The two have been charged with the murder of tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge . A judge set a trial date for July 8, when the case is expected to resume with evidence from prosecution witnesses. Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, both 21, deny killing Mr Miller, from Jersey, and Ms Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The judge also rejected a plea from the defence to delay proceedings until they could further prepare their case. Before today's unexpected hearing, the trial had been expected to start in February. The victims' bodies were found with severe head wounds on a beach on the holiday island of Koh Tao on September 15. Police claimed that Ms Witheridge was raped during the attack and that two semen samples had been found on her body. The two suspects retracted confessions initially made to police in October, claiming that they had only confessed after being beaten and threatened by officers. Thai police have been criticised for their failure to secure the crime scene and releasing the names and pictures of suspects who were not subsequently charged. At a hearing earlier this month the pair's lawyer, Nakorn Chompoochart, said they had pleaded not guilty to several charges relating to the deaths. They are accused of conspiracy to commit murder, rape, criminal cover-up, illegally entering Thailand and staying in the country without permission, according to previous court papers seen by the BBC. The backpackers bodies were found on Sairee Beach (pictured), on the island of Ko Tao, in September. File image used . A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We continue to monitor the case closely and expect the trial to be conducted in a fair and transparent way in line with international standards. 'The British government cannot interfere with Thailand's judicial processes just as other government's are unable to interfere in UK judicial processes. 'We continue to provide support and assistance to both the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.' About 2.5 million people from Burma work in Thailand, most as domestic servants or industries such as construction, fisheries or the garment sector. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Court proceedings against Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin began today .
The two are accused of murdering Mr Miller, 24, and Ms Witheridge, 23 .
The British pair were found dead on a Thai beach in early September .
An autopsy revealed both had died from head wounds during attack .
The defendants have plead not guilty to charges of conspiracy to murder .
Families of the victims today sat through Thai court proceedings .
British Foreign Office is monitoring trial for 'fairness and transparency'
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Canada's Supreme Court has rejected a challenge by three immigrants to ditch its citizenship oath, which requires would-be citizens to pledge allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II . Canada's Supreme Court has rejected a challenge by three immigrants to ditch its citizenship oath, which requires would-be citizens to pledge allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II. The appeal was launched by longtime permanent residents Michael McAteer, Simone Topey and Dror Bar-Natan who wanted to become citizens without making the vow to the Queen and royal family. The trio cited different reasons for not wanting to take the vow, including religious objections. But Canada's Supreme Court refused to hear the challenge to the citizenship requirement leaving intact an earlier ruling by Ontario Court of Appeal. Mr McAteer, 81, said he was disappointed but not surprised after learning of the decision. 'It's been a long haul,' said McAteer, a staunch republican who came to Canada from Ireland 51 years ago. '(But) I feel the same: If the oath stands, then I won't take Canadian citizenship.' Topey, a Jamaican Rastafarian, said her religion forbids taking an oath to the Queen. 'I'm trying to become a citizen not a subject,' she outside court, according to Canadian TV news. Bar-Natan, an Israeli, argued that the oath represents entrenched privilege he opposes. The Supreme Court gave no reason for refusing to hear the case. Canada's Citizenship Act requires would-be citizens to swear to be 'faithful and bear true allegiance to Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors.' Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth and the Queen is the country's honorary head of state. The federal government had argued that taking the oath has been around since Confederation. In its ruling last year, the Ontario Court of Appeal noted the Queen remains Canada's head of state, calling the oath a 'symbolic commitment to be governed as a democratic constitutional monarchy unless and until democratically changed.' The Queen is the honorary head of state in Canada, which is part of the Commonwealth. Pictured: The Queen and her husband Prince Philip, pictured following a church service in Jasper, Canada, in 2005 . Canada's Supreme Court refused to hear the challenge by the trio. Pictured: The Queen meeting well wishers in Edmonton, Canada, during her 2005 tour of the country . Lawyer Peter Rosenthal said the high court refusal to hear the case doesn't necessarily indicate an endorsement of the oath, but simply means the justices did not feel the case was worthy of their attention. Australia, which is also part of the commonwealth, scrapped its similar pledge to the monarchy 20 years ago.
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Three immigrants challenged Canada's citizenship oath at Supreme Court .
As part of Canada's Citizenship Act swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II .
Michael McAteer, Simone Topey and Dror Bar-Natan launched appeal .
Judges sitting in Supreme Court refuse to hear trio's appeal .
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By . Sean Poulter . A hotel price-fixing scam that led to guests being overcharged for rooms on ‘discount’ websites has been brought to an end following an investigation by the consumer watchdog. The Office of Fair Trading probe found some hotel chains had joined forces with booking sites, meaning the ‘cheap’ rates offered online were really the same as the normal price. As a result, people shopping around for cut-price rooms on the internet have been wasting their time. Agreements: Expedia was one of the websites involved in the discount capping deals with hotel chains . The OFT probe looked at the activities . of the InterContinental Hotels Group, plus Booking.com and Expedia. Both sites entered into agreements with the chain that restricted their . ability to discount the rate for room-only hotel bookings. The . ‘sweetheart’ deals have now been blocked by the OFT. All three . companies have signed a legally-binding agreement to end the . price-fixing regime, to avoid legal action. It is hoped the move will . bring about a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in rates. But . some industry insiders believe the new regime will make little . difference. This is because the agreement contains several small-print . clauses which mean travellers will have to jump through hoops to make . sure they get access to the best discounts. Families will have to sign up to a membership scheme of the online travel agent (OTA) or hotel to be able to view specific discounts. Before people can book any discount deal they must first have made at least one undiscounted booking with the agent or hotel. The discounts offered by OTAs will be funded through their commission or margins. Booking.com: The OFT found hotel chains and travel websites had been capping discounts so people shopping around for cheap rooms have been wasting their time because websites and hotels charge the same . Consumers' anger over rip-off holiday prices has been boiling over in recent days. Eariler this week one man's rant about the hike in the cost of Center Parcs holidays during school holidays was shared 143,000 times in Facebook. But while officials can do little about companies choosing to raise prices to make the most of spikes in demand, the sweetheart deals between hotel chains and online resellers could have fallen foul of the Competition Act. The OFT investigation into the issue was triggered four years ago by British businessman, Dorian Harris, the founder of the discount rooms website Skoosh.com, who complained rivals tried to put him out of business because he undercut their prices. He said: ‘We started getting some calls from angry and confused hoteliers insisting that we were selling their rooms too cheaply. ‘I realised a website had been on to them threatening all sorts of nonsense if they didn’t either remove their hotel from Skoosh or force Skoosh to raise its prices.’ He added: ‘I had hotels calling me and emailing me to raise my prices. I found out that other hotel booking websites were then also tipping off the hotels about my prices. ‘Soon I found the wholesalers who provided me with rooms stopped working with me. I would say that I lost about 70 per cent of my business.’ The Crowne Plaza in Bloomsbury: Booking.com and Expedia each entered into separate agreements with the chain which restricted their ability to discount the rate at which room bookings were offered . Mr Harris, feels the changes announced by the OFT do not go far enough. The German authorities are about to outlaw any price agreements between hotels and travel agents. He warned the deal signed by the hotel groups and travel agents only runs for two years. ‘I really can’t see these proposals will offer any meaningful savings. We should just have a free market in hotel rooms where prices are clear,’ he said. OFT senior director, Ann Pope, insisted that consumers will see benefits. ‘The travel industry, fuelled by the internet, has seen significant changes in recent years, and we want to ensure those changes continue to work in consumers’ interests,’ she said. ‘That is why we are pleased to have secured this outcome which, by allowing OTAs and hotels to offer discounts, should increase competition and mean travellers across Europe can benefit from reductions on hotel accommodation throughout the UK. ‘By shopping around, people can compare the different discounts offered by hotels and OTAs, and ensure they get the best deal.’
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Hotels and websites had agreed to cap discounts, OFT found .
Companies involved sign binding agreement to end the practice .
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Dave Brat, an economics professor and former seminary student, pulled off the biggest political upset of the year by ousting the No. 2 House Republican Eric Cantor in a primary challenge on Tuesday night. "This is the happiest moment, obviously, of my life," Brat told his supporters at a post-election event in Glen Allen, outside Richmond, on Tuesday night. "The reason we won this campaign, there is just one reason, and that's because dollars do not vote -- you do." Brat, who raised less than $300,000 to the House majority leader's campaign war chest of $5.4 million, said, "It's not about David Brat winning tonight, it's about returning the country to its principles." Just how surprising were the results? A close ally of Brat's told CNN shortly before the results were in that he was "shocked" and that senior campaign officials didn't believe he could pull in more than 40% of the vote. Brat ended up besting Cantor 56%-44%. Cantor's team included some veteran Virginia political hands while some of Brat's top campaign staffers hadn't worked on a major campaign before. Many political pundits were quick to credit the tea party for boosting Brat's campaign, but his campaign did not get any significant financial support from conservative groups because they were funneling money into other primary challengers they believed had a better shot at beating GOP incumbents. Opinion: Who said the tea party was dead? 'A shock on your hands' In an interview a day before the vote, Brat made a prediction most political candidates make to try to energize their supporters, telling CNN, "On Tuesday you're going to have a shock on your hands." Brat joked that he expected to see a CNN van in his driveway to cover his victory on Wednesday. Brat's main argument in the race was that Cantor lost touch with his conservative principles. He told CNN, "My beef with Cantor isn't not a right- or left wing thing." Citing his expertise on economics, Brat said the GOP leader and other top congressional Republicans in Washington had set aside their "free market principles" when they backed the bailout legislation that helped bolster Wall Street banks after the fiscal crisis in 2008. But the longshot candidate centered most of his attacks against Cantor on the issue of immigration, arguing that the majority leader's support for small measures allowing some type of legal status for children of undocumented immigrants was "amnesty." Much of the media coverage about the race focused on Brat's attacks that Cantor wasn't pushing the conservative position. Cantor worked to reassure Republicans that he would not allow any legislation to come up for a vote that provided "amnesty." He sent out mailers to Republicans in the district with the message "conservative Republican Eric Cantor is stopping the Obama Reid plan to give illegal aliens amnesty." But Brat told CNN the issue of "amnesty" resonated more than other issues like Obamacare and jobs "because it shows Eric flip-flopping and being unprincipled." Jack Trammell is the Democrat who no longer has to face Eric Cantor . Ad spending . In addition to the top GOP leaders' position on immigration, Brat repeatedly touted his experience as an economist, and criticized both political parties for ignoring proposals to address Medicare and Social Security. "Neither side of the aisle will talk about the most important issues because that is going to involve pain." While he is a political neophyte, Brat has served on state and local government boards and was a president of the Virginia Association of Economists. Despite being the overwhelming favorite, there were signs that Cantor's campaign sensed a threat. It spent more than $1 million on television and radio ads that attempted to paint Brat as a liberal. They noted that he was appointed to one of those boards by then-Democratic Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. But Brat argued that Cantor's aggressive ad spending did him the favor of boosting his name identification around the district at a time when he didn't have the resources to run his own ads. Brat, 49, grew up in the Midwest and moved to Henrico in 1996 to begin teaching economics and ethics at Randolph-Macon College, a small liberal arts institution. He has chaired the school's Economics and Business department for the past six years. He and his wife Laura have two children. Graham defeats conservative challengers, avoids runoff . Eric Cantor loses primary in big upset . Cantor 'earthquake' rattles Capitol Hill .
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Upstart Dave Brat beat heavily favored incumbent Eric Cantor .
Brat raised less than $300,000 compared to Cantor's $5 million .
Challenger's main argument was that Cantor had turned his back on conservative principles .
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By . Hayley Peterson . PUBLISHED: . 00:00 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:17 EST, 26 November 2012 . 12 days after Superstorm Sandy New York is still struggling to recover with Congressmen asking the military to take the lead in restore power to thousands still left in the dark and dwindling fuel supplies have forced Mayor Michael Bloomberg order new rules for gas rationing. Long Island congressman Peter King and Steve Israel announced they were requesting the Army Corps of Engineers and Energy Department take over the work of getting power back on in the embattled neighborhood calling the attempts of Long Island Power Authority 'abysmal.' 150,000 homes and businesses on Long Island are still without power, with as many as 60,000 so flood-damaged that extensive repairs are needed before workers can even begin the process of restoring power, Long Island Power Authority said. Scroll down for video . Wait in line: A New York City Police Department officer manages the line of cars waiting for gasoline, in New York . Wrong number: A policeman turns away a vehicle from the gas pumps because it's number plate ends in an even number . Should gas rationing be enforced in the wake of Hurricane Sandy? Some of the lucky ones who did get power back lost it again when a nor'easter hit on Wednesday. Meanwhile the fuel situation remains dire. Drivers in New York City and on Long Island have been lining up at gas stations since before dawn after fuel rationing was enforced in the city for the first time since the early 1970s. New York City cops were out in force at gas stations this morning to enforce a gasoline-rationing system in . which drivers can only buy fuel on a limited number of days, depending on their license plate number. The order, announced yesterday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, applies . to every driver in the city with the exception of taxis, commercial . vehicles, emergency vehicles and buses. Cars with medical plates are . also be exempt. Long Island Congressmen Peter King and Steve Israel are so fed up with the wait to restore power they want the military to take over . All affected drivers are prohibited from . buying gas every other day, under the emergency rule. Those with . license plate IDs ending in odd numbers will only be permitted to buy . gas on odd-numbered days, while those with license plates ending in even . numbers will be restricted to buying gas on even-numbered days. Drivers with license plates ending in letters or other characters must buy their gas on odd-numbered days. Only a quarter of the city's gas . stations are currently open. Some are closed because they are . out of power, others because they can't get fuel from terminals and . storage tanks that can't unload their cargo. At a Hess station in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, drivers said the rationing appeared to be working so far.Luis Cruz, 35, of the Bronx, gassed up the Dodge minivan he uses as a pet chauffeur. 'It's a lot better,' Cruz said. 'A couple of days ago I waited four hours. They should have done this a long time ago.' The line to the station was just a block and a half long Friday morning, and customers said they waited about 15 minutes. Last week, some lines stretched for a mile or more. People wait in line for gasoline at a Hess station in Brooklyn . Rations: Only a quarter of the city's gas stations are currently open . Why has rationing been introduced?Superstorm Sandy seriously damaged the north east region’s petroleum infrastructure and rationing will help ease long waits at the pumps and prevent panic-buying.How long is it expected to last?No definitive end date has been set, but Mayor Bloomberg has said shortages could last another couple of weeks.How does the license plate system work?Those drivers with license plate IDs ending in odd numbers are only permitted to buy gas on odd-numbered days, while those with license plates ending in even numbers are restricted to buying gas on even-numbered days. Drivers with license plates ending in letters or other characters must buy their gas on odd-numbered days. Which areas are impacted?The measures introduced by Mayor Bloomberg impact all of New York City and Long Island. In New Jersey, Gov. Christie has introduced similar measures, although drivers are also limited to buying 10 gallons at a time.What vehicles are exempt?Taxis, commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and cars with medical plates.When was the last time fuel was rationed?The last time fuel was rationed in New York was the Arab oil embargo of the early 1970s.Is rationing working?It is early days, but lines were reportedly shorter this morning. Can I get gas at any station?Only a quarter of the city's gas stations are currently open, so be prepared to drive around until you find one. A long line outside is a good indicator that a station has gas. VIDEO: Long lines remain despite gas rationing . Officials said rationing was imposed . because something had to be done to ease the long waits for fuel which, . they say, has caused panic-buying and hoarding. 'This is designed to let everybody . have a fair chance, so the lines aren't too oppressive and that we can . get through this,' Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday. The law is designed to help mitigate the city's gas shortage after Hurricane Sandy swept through the northeast and damaged the petroleum infrastructure in the region. Long lines at gas stations have been backing up traffic for hours in the wake of the storm. Mayor Bloomberg tweeted: 'This is not a step we take lightly' Police are out in force at gas stations in New York City and on Long Island to enforce the new system . 'Last . week’s storm hit the fuel network hard and knocked out critical . infrastructure needed to distribute gasoline,' Bloomberg said. 'Even as . the region’s petroleum infrastructure slowly returns to normal, the . gasoline supply remains a real problem for thousands of New York . drivers.' He described the emergency order as the best way to cut down the lines and help customers buy gas faster. Out-of-state drivers are also subject to the system and Mayor Bloomberg said the shortages could last another couple of weeks. The temporary law is similar to the . one that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently implemented in his . state, as New Jersey drivers faced similar shortages in the aftermath of . Sandy. Christie also limited gas purchases to 10 gallons per driver. Long lines at gas stations have persisted as the city struggles to get back on its feet after Superstorm Sandy . The law is designed to help mitigate the city's gas shortage after Hurricane Sandy damaged the petroleum infrastructure in the region . 'This is not a step we take lightly,' Bloomberg tweeted, 'But given gas shortages and the growing . frustrations of NYers, we believe it’s the right step.' FEMA . has tried to assist the region by shipping gasoline to stations in the . hard-hit areas of the Northeast and at one point the federal agency . offered $10 in free gas to consumers. But the free gas ended up causing further problems for police. Police . made several arrests in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn . recently after people jumped ahead of the thousands of otherwise patient . drivers waiting in line to fill their tanks. City . officials were hoping the situation would ease after the New York . Harbor re-opened, allowing for more bulk delivers of millions of gallons . of gas. But the long lines at gas stations have persisted as the city . struggles to get back on its feet. A drivers pushes his car to the gas station during the oil crisis in 1973 . The long lines and frayed nerves at gas stations in New York and New Jersey has revived memories for some of the crippling Arab oil embargo of 1973, the last time that gasoline was rationed in New York. That crisis started in October 1973, when the Arab oil-producing states imposed an embargo against nations supporting Israel in the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, also known as Yom Kippur. The oil embargo, and the cut in production that accompanied it, doubled the price of crude and reduced overall supply. That forced gasoline prices to skyrocket at the pump and led to rationing and prompted Washington to question its reliance on Arab oil in a region known for its instability. Long gas station lines and frustrated motorists became iconic images of the early 1970s. The embargo eventually end in March 1974.
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Gas rationing started at 6am in New York City, 5am in Long Island .
Only cars number plates ending with an odd number can fill up Friday, even numbered plates can go to the pumps Saturday .
Taxis, commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, buses and cars with medical plates are exempt .
Reduced waiting times reported at some stations .
Mayor Bloomberg said shortages could last another couple of weeks .
Rationing also in place in New Jersey, where drivers are limited to 10 gallons .
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The tequila sure looks real, so do the beer taps. Inside the hospital at the National Institutes of Health, researchers are testing a possible new treatment to help heavy drinkers cut back - using a replica of a fully stocked bar. The idea: Sitting in the dimly lit bar-laboratory should cue the volunteers' brains to crave a drink, and help determine if an experimental pill counters that urge. True, there's no skunky bar odor; these bottles are filled with colored water. The real alcohol is locked in the hospital pharmacy, ready to send over for the extra temptation of smell - and to test how safe the drug is if people drink anyway. Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, left, and NIAAA scientist Dr. Lorenzo Leggio pose in a research laboratory designed as a bar inside the National Institutes of Healthís hospital in Bethesda, Maryland . 'The goal is to create almost a real-world environment, but to control it very strictly,' said lead researcher Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, who is testing how a hormone named ghrelin that sparks people's appetite for food also affects their desire for alcohol, and if blocking it helps. Amid all the yearly resolutions to quit, alcohol use disorders affect about 17 million Americans, and only a small fraction receives treatment. There's no one-size-fits-all therapy, and the NIH is spurring a hunt for new medications that target the brain's addiction cycle in different ways - and to find out which options work best in which drinkers. 'Alcoholics come in many forms,' explained Dr. George Koob, director of NIH's National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which has published new online guides, explaining who's at risk and what can help. What's the limit? NIAAA says 'low-risk' drinking means no more than four drinks in any single day and no more than 14 in a week for men, and no more than three drinks a day and seven a week for women. Genes play a role in who's vulnerable to crossing the line into alcohol abuse. So do environmental factors, such as getting used to drinking a certain amount, not to mention how your own brain's circuitry adapts. Treatment can range from inpatient rehab and 12-step programs to behavioral therapy and the few medications available today. Koob, who specializes in the neurobiology of alcohol, says it usually takes a combination and ultimately, 'you have to change your life.' Yet a recent review for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimated that less than a third of people who need treatment get it, and of those, less than 10 percent receive medications. Three drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat alcohol abuse. One, naltrexone, blocks alcohol's feel-good sensation by targeting receptors in the brain's reward system - if people harbor a particular gene. The anti-craving pill acamprosate appears to calm stress-related brain chemicals in certain people. The older Antabuse works differently, triggering nausea and other aversive symptoms if people drink while taking it. Sitting in the dimly lit bar-laboratory should cue the volunteers' brains to crave a drink, and help determine if the experimental pill counters that urge (file picture) Recent research suggests a handful of drugs used for other disorders also show promise: . -Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute found the epilepsy drug gabapentin reduced relapses in drinkers who'd recently quit, and improved cravings, mood and sleep by targeting an emotion-related brain chemical. -A study by NIAAA and five medical centers found the anti-smoking drug Chantix may help alcohol addiction, too, by reducing heavy drinkers' cravings. -And University of Pennsylvania researchers found the epilepsy drug topiramate helped heavy drinkers cut back, if they have a particular gene variation mostly found in people of European descent. Back in NIH's bar lab, one of about a dozen versions around the country, the focus is on ghrelin, the hormone produced in the stomach that controls appetite via receptors in the brain. It turns out there's overlap between receptors that fuel overeating and alcohol craving in the brain's reward system, explained NIAAA's Leggio. In a study published this fall, his team gave 45 heavy-drinking volunteers different doses of ghrelin, and their urge to drink rose along with the extra hormone. Now Leggio is testing whether blocking ghrelin's action also blocks those cravings, using an experimental Pfizer drug originally developed for diabetes but never sold. The main goal of this first-step study is to ensure mixing alcohol with the drug is safe. But researchers also measure cravings as volunteers, hooked to a blood pressure monitor in the tiny bar-lab, smell a favorite drink. Initial safety results are expected this spring. 'Our hope is that down the line, we might be able to do a simple blood test that tells if you will be a naltrexone person, an acamprosate person, a ghrelin person,' Koob said.
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Researchers at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism hope bar will cue volunteers' crave to drink .
The environment can test whether the experimental drugs are effective .
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Taxpayers paid out more than £2,300 a month for a council chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones to drive around in a luxury Porsche, it was revealed today . Taxpayers paid out more than £2,300 a month for a council chief executive on a £195,000 a year salary to drive around in a luxury Porsche, it was revealed today. Chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones' high-powered office car was leased at more than £28,000 a year, and funded by taxpayers in Pembrokeshire. Then, the cash-strapped council had to pay £8,600 to end the hire contract on the Porsche Panamera when Mr Parry-Jones, 62, quit his post last October. The highest earning council boss in Wales had the sleek £90,000 Porsche leased for him while earning a salary of £195,000 plus benefits, earning him more than the Prime Minister - who is paid £142,500 a year. The car, a favourite of popstars and professional footballers, cost the council a further £2,368 a month - and over the course of the year added up to more than the average annual salary of £26,500. A graduate nurse is paid around £21,000 a year, while a newly qualified teacher would be on a starting salary of £22,000. Last month, Pembrokeshire Council was ordered by the Information Commissioner to reveal the full cost of the hire car within 35 days. A local councillor then revealed that ending the lease agreement ahead of schedule had cost £8,670. The council has confirmed this figure was correct. Mr Parry-Jones was handed a £280,000 golden goodbye, despite the fact he had been forced to quit over a suspected unlawful payments scandal. Details of his car only emerged at the start of December after a long Freedom of Information battle with the council. Insiders said the extravagant expense had 'stuck in the craw' of cash-strapped council workers who knew about it for months. Campaigners and politicians hit out at the 'offensive waste of money' at a time when the council was making cuts to local services. Last year, Pembrokeshire Council revealed it would have to make savings of £20million over two years. Proposed measures include closing public toilets, charging for social services and increasing parking fees. Council tax rose by 3.4 per cent this year. The highest earning council boss in Wales had the sleek £90,000 Porsche Panamera leased for him while earning a salary of £195,000 plus benefits . Paul Miller, who leads the opposition Labour group on the Independent-controlled council, said: 'Why a council chief executive needed a Porsche is completely beyond me. 'It's an absolute disgrace, the way he used to operate that council was outrageous. 'He was a dictator and it got to the point where he thought he could do whatever he wanted and it was council tax payers who footed the bill.' Mr Parry-Jones came under pressure to resign from his post after it was revealed he had taken cash payments which the Wales Audit Office said were unlawful. The payments to Mr Parry-Jones were investigated by police, who later decided there was no evidence of wrongdoing, and no further action should be taken. Last year, Pembrokeshire Council revealed it would have to make savings of £20million over two years .
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Bryn Parry-Jones, 62, was leased Porsche for Pembrokeshire Council role .
It cost £28,000 a year to hire, more than the average £26,500 yearly salary .
He left the position in October with a £280,000 'golden goodbye'
Council had to pay £8,600 to end the hire contract on Porsche Panamera .
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There are more registered sex offenders living in the community in England and Wales than ever before, new figures show. Probation workers are now monitoring 43,664 sexual predators, compared to 32,347 in 2008-2009, according to the latest Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) report. The figure has gone up because more sex offenders are being imprisoned, for longer, and then being supervised by police and probation officers, the report says. There are more sex offenders living under supervision in the community in England and Wales than ever before (file image) Another reason for the growing number of sex offenders is thought to be more people being caught downloading porn. Coming a week after it was revealed that sex offenders were being released without undergoing any treatment to address their behaviour because of a shortage of places, the latest report showed that over the past five years, almost 400 sex offenders were charged with further serious offences. And despite surveillance by public protection agencies, 7,294 offenders breached their licence. Meanwhile the number of violent offenders living in the community under supervision has also gone up. The report by MAPPA, under which umbrella police officers, probation workers and staff from other public protection agencies work to supervise known offenders in the community, gives figures for the year 2012-2013. It shows there are now 16,140 violent offenders being monitored by probation services, up from 11,689 in 2008-2009, and that more than 300 of them have committed further serious offences in that time. Today, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said that the average sentence length for those convicted of sexual offences had gone up from 40 months in 2003 to more than 55 months in 2013. Justice Minister Jeremy Wright, left, said more offenders were given longer sentences and supervision orders; meanwhile Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, right, has postponed the privatisation of the probation service . And Justice Minister Jeremy Wright said the increase in the number of sex offenders being supervised meant his team were simply doing a better job. He said: 'We make no apology for high numbers of offenders in prison who have committed violent and sexual offences – and for them serving longer sentences. 'This is crucial for public safety, and is exactly why we are scrapping automatic early release for child rapists. 'We make no apology for high numbers of offenders in prison who have committed violent and sexual offences - and for them serving longer sentences.' Justice Minister Jeremy Wright . 'When offenders are released, we are making them subject to longer and more robust periods of supervision that include monitoring by the police and probation services and use of GPS satellite tags. 'These allow us to keep closer watch on offenders and make our communities safer. Sex offenders will also be forced to take lie detector tests. 'Any supervised offenders who give cause for concern can be recalled to prison immediately.' Last week concerns were raised about the number of sex offenders being released into the community without their behaviour having been addressed while they were in prison. Prison . reports showed that despite the number of convicted sex offenders . rising, the number of offenders being treated for the causes of their . crimes had fallen. And the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling put back the deadline for privatising . the probation service after he was told there would be public safety . issues if he went ahead. He delayed the privatisation of 70 per cent of the probation service by two months to give the new 'community rehabilitation companies' time to test their working methods before going live.
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There are 43,664 known, convicted sexual predators in England and Wales being monitored by police and probation officers .
This is an increase on the 2008-2009 figure, when there were 32,347, says the report by Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangments (MAPPA)
Ministry of Justice says the figure has gone up as more are being caught and imprisoned for longer, then monitored for longer when freed .
Last week it emerged that sex offenders were being freed without going on behaviour programmes .
And there are concerns that privatising the probation service may pose a danger to the public .
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(CNN) -- Some say it's funny, some call it creepy. Either way, a new Old Spice commercial dubbed "Momsong" has the Internet buzzing. The commercial, part of a series called "Smellcome To Manhood," promotes a new line of Old Spice body sprays. The sprays, according to the ad, quickly turns teenage boys into men -- something that a group of moms in the commercial apparently aren't ready to come to terms with. One mom is seen hiding behind the door in her son's bedroom as she sadly sings about her boy quickly becoming a man after using Old Spice. The song is picked up by other moms as they spy on their sons hanging out with girls. The ad rocketed to viral status on Sunday when it was shown at commercial breaks during the NFL playoff games. Within a day, the term "Old Spice" was tweeted over 50,000 times, according to social analytics company, Topsy, and the video has had more than 1 million views since it was posted a few days ago. Reaction on Twitter was fast and furious. This isn't the first viral commercial for the brand. A series of commercials featuring pitchman Terry Crews won the internet's heart a few years ago with his pectoral flexes and ear shattering screams. "Momsong" may be just the beginning for Old Spice's new campaign. The company's YouTube page features two other new "Smellcome to Manhood" commercials in the vein of "Momsong." We will just have to wait to see what they have in store for the upcoming Super Bowl, an event known to feature bizarre commercials.
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The commercial is part of series to promote Old Spice body sprays .
The campaign is called "Smellcome To Manhood"
The ad rocketed to viral status Sunday when it was shown during NFL playoff games .
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By . Emma Glanfield . Tracy Johnson, 52, who claimed ££50,000 of disability payments has been jailed . A globe-trotting benefits cheat who travelled the world while claiming she was agoraphobic and housebound has been branded ‘one of the worst benefit fraudsters ever’. Former model Tracy Johnson, 52, claimed she was a ‘prisoner in her own home’ and said she was so unwell that she could not leave her own house or walk more than five metres without help. But the mother, from Frome, Somerset, was actually enjoying a 'champagne lifestyle', travelling the world while writing travel guides, cookbooks and steamy novels as she falsely claimed benefits of around £50,000. Johnson, who has only paid back £600, was jailed for one year for 13 charges of fraud, dishonestly making a false representation and dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances between January 2008 and July 2012. However, she will not have to pay any more of the money back – as it has all been spent. Johnson lived it up in a variety of exotic locations including spending a four-month stint in India, which she told a court she thought she was ‘entitled’ to. She also enjoyed shopping sprees in New York and Madrid and spent six months working in sunny Argentina as a tour guide while receiving cold winter payments. And the day after telling benefits officials she could not walk more than five metres without help, she went on a two-day trip to central London. Tracy Johnson, 52, is pictured here at the Salinas Grandes salt flats in Argentina . She claimed she could barely walk whilst she was working as a tour guide trekking in South America. She is pictured here (left) at Ruins of Quilmes in Argentina . Judge Andrew Grubb told her: ‘You spent time in the USA and in Argentina operating a travel guide business and wrote a book. ‘You travelled and lived abroad while receiving benefits. ‘During that time you failed to inform the relevant bodies you were spending time outside the UK.’ Johnson, who was wearing a low cut grey top and tight-fitting black trousers, thanked the judge from the dock at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court as he jailed her. Prosecutor Joanna James did not apply for a Proceeds of Crime order saying: ‘There is no money left - it has all been spent.’ Johnson was arrested after an anonymous tip-off about her worldwide travels. Earlier this month, a jury at Merthyr Crown Court convicted her of the 13 charges. Prosecutor Miss James said: ‘It was absolute, blatant dishonesty. ‘Tracy Johnson was living the life that honest, decent, hardworking taxpayers could only dream of.’ The judge revealed that after Johnson was found guilty he received an email from a ‘person in Argentina’ who confirmed she was working there as a tour guide. Johnson asked the judge: ‘Who was that?’ But Judge Grubb declined to say because it was not relevant. He said: ‘Your actions amounted to a sustained and multiple benefit fraud involving a substantial amount of public money to which you were not entitled. ‘There are significant and aggravating features about the case.’ Johnson claimed she was suffering from agoraphobia brought on by post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001 while living in New York. But the court was shown her personal profiles on internet sites including LinkedIn where Johnson described herself as a dancer, actress, former model, DJ, interior designer and wedding photographer. She has written three racy novels including one called The Last Tango in Buenos Aires - some of which were inspired by her worldwide travels. Johnson lived it up in a variety of exotic locations including spending a four-month stint in India, which she told a court she thought she was 'entitled' to . And while in Argentina she set up her own tour company called Northwest Nomads taking trekkers on expeditions to the country’s vineyards and mountains. Andrew Penhale, of the Crown Prosecution Service, described the fraud as one of the worst he had ever seen. He said: ‘Tracy Johnson plotted a blatant fraud against the public purse. ‘She used taxpayers’ money to fund a lavish, globetrotting lifestyle, all the while exploiting a system designed to support society’s most vulnerable citizens. ‘Ms Johnson claimed more than £1,000 per month in benefit payments over five years, when in truth she was spending the majority of her time either travelling or working abroad. ‘Not only did Ms Johnson travel the globe while claiming she was “a prisoner in her own home,” but she also ran her own tour guide company in South America and earned money working as a wedding photographer. ‘In 2011 she even authored a book entitled “Last Tango in Buenos Aires”, detailing her experiences as an English woman living in Argentina. Johnson is pictured here at the Basalt Cliffs in Patagonia. She was arrested after an anonymous tip-off about her worldwide travels . ‘Making a false claim to suffer from anxiety, depression and agoraphobia undermines those who do genuinely suffer from these debilitating conditions. ‘This is one of the worst examples of benefit fraud that we have seen.’ Among the overwhelming evidence prosecutor Joanna James brought before the jury were several posts Johnson had made on social networking sites. One of her Facebook posts read: ‘I am one spoilt girl. Early lunch in the Himalaya Spa. Lunch here would be two weeks’ wages in India.’ But Johnson told the jury during her trial: ‘I was entitled to a little break. I think I’m entitled to go and sit on a beach in Goa. ‘But you can sit on a beach in Goa watching the sunset and still be in a pretty desperate state.’ She also went on her Facebook page to describe Buenos Aires as ‘magical - like a new lover’. And her bank statements showed a six-month period where large sums of money were withdrawn from cash machines in Argentina - but not a single transaction occurred back in the UK. Johnson had claimed someone in the South American country had copied her card - while she had remained totally bed-ridden at her mother’s in Builth Wells, mid Wales. She also insisted transactions at stores including Ann Summers, lingerie outlet Victoria’s Secret and a luxury bedding firm had been made by her teenage son.
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Former model Tracy Johnson, 52, claimed she was ‘prisoner in own home’
Said she was so unwell she couldn't walk more than five metres unaided .
But mother, from Somerset, was actually enjoying 'champagne lifestyle'
She travelled the world as she falsely claimed benefits of around £50,000 .
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By . Tim Shipman . PUBLISHED: . 18:06 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:42 EST, 9 January 2014 . David Cameron pledged to crack down on fixed odds betting machines, dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of the High street yesterday. The Prime Minister branded the machines, on which punters can lose up to £300 a minute, ‘a problem’ and called for cross party support for action when a review of the dangers reports back in the Spring. Mr Cameron intervened after Labour forced a vote in the House of Commons on plans outlined by Ed Miliband to give councils more powers to restrict the spread of the machines, which carry electronic roulette. Scroll down for video . Problem: David Cameron has acknowledged there should be action over the fixed-odds machines on which people can lose up to £300 a minute . MPs last night voted to reject Labour’s plans by a majority of 82. But the Prime Minister said Mr Miliband had a ‘reasonable point’ when he said the machines were harming families and communities but also called for councils to use existing powers more rigorously if they have a problem. As a first move, Culture Minister Helen Grant used the debate to announce that the betting industry will introduce new controls on high-stakes betting machines at the end of March. Culture Minster Helen Grant has charged the UK's five largest bookmakers to make changes . She told the Commons she has challenged the five largest UK bookmakers to implement precautionary player protection measures on the machines. ‘There’s going to be precautionary protections placed by the industry at the end of March and then we will do whatever is needed to make sure people are protected. 'I challenged them to develop a plan to link players with play in a way that allows us to better understand player behaviour and to assess the effectiveness of harm mitigation measures.’ She added: ‘I’m not prepared to delay taking action.’ According to the Gambling Commission, there are more than 33,000 of the fixed odds terminals making over £1.2 billion every year. While the Gambling Act 2005 limited the terminals to four per betting shop, Labour says bookmakers have simply opened more branches to get around the restrictions. Mr Cameron told MPs: ‘This is a problem, it does need looking at, we have a review under way. Frankly we are clearing up a situation that was put in place under the last government but I think if we work together we can probably sort it out. ‘I think you are making a reasonable point but first we’ll just deal with the facts. Councils already have powers to tackle the issues and I believe that councils should make full use of that power. I’m not arguing that is job done, there may well be more to do.’ Labour claims action could be taken before the review by putting betting shops in a separate class of building use so councils can use planning powers to restrict new premises opening. Mr Miliband disputed the Prime Minister’s claim that councils have the power to tackle the spread of the machines. He said London mayor Boris Johnson and the Conservative chairman of the Local Government Association had both called for local authorities to be given more powers. ‘One in three calls to the gambling helpline is about these machines and they are clustered in deprived areas,’ said Mr Miliband. The bookmakers appeared to give ground . last night. Neil Goulden, Chairman of the Association of British . Bookmakers, said: ‘We accept that there are concerns about gaming . machines and are always open to a constructive dialogue with politicians . about the appropriate powers for local authorities. Ed Miliband has said that one in three calls to the gambling helpline is about automated machines which are clustered in deprived areas . ‘The betting industry does not target deprived areas and is committed to doing everything it can to help society tackle problem gambling. 'That is why we are cooperating in full with the government review already underway. It is also the reason why we recently brought forward a new code of conduct for player protection and responsible gambling.’ Representatives from the gambling industry are due to meet ministers at the end of this month to detail what progress they have made in fulfilling Ms Grant’s requests. Tory MP Philip Davies, an ally of the bookmaking industry, attacked Labour for condemning pursuits enjoyed by the poor. He said: ‘This is basically middle-class people being patronising to working-class people, telling them that they know best on how they should spend their money.’ But Gareth Wallace, public affairs adviser for The Salvation Army, demanded immediate action: ‘The government already possesses sufficient evidence to take action on highly addictive gambling machines and local authorities lack adequate powers to say no to betting shops. ‘Every year in the UK people lose more than £1 billion on FOBTs; problem gamblers lose nearly £300 million a year on these machines. 'We believe these official statistics clearly demonstrate that these gambling machines are a problem which demands action.’
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David Cameron has branded machines a 'problem'
He has called for cross party support after report in Spring .
Fixed-odds machines allow people to lose up to £300 a hour .
One in three calls to gambling helplines relate to machines .
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By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 23:06 EST, 8 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:19 EST, 9 September 2013 . Two men dressed as superhoes saved a cat from dying in a burning West Virginia home Saturday. Batman and Captain America, aka John Buckland and Troy Marcum, had been working a children's event nearby when they saw smoke engulfing the Milton home. The dynamic duo rushed to see if anyone was inside the home and that's when they foudn the lucky kitty. Scroll down for video . Where's Catwoman? Two Milton, West Virginia men dressed as Batman and Captain America swooped into a burning home and rescued a stranded cat Saturday . Real life heroes: Batman and Captain America, or John Buckland and Troy Marcum just happened to be in the area of a house engulfed in smoke and jumped into action like superheroes . Professional: Jeff Buckland, aka Batman, runs Heroes 4 Higher, which sends superheroes to events where they teach children positive lessons . Buckland runs an organization called Heroes for Higher that uses costumed avengers to spread positive messages to kids. He and Marcum had been at a nearby American Legion and when they saw the fire, they knew it was time to turn their teachings into action. 'I grabbed his shoulders, gave it everything we got and the door opened,' Buckland told West Virginia ABC affiliate WCHS. Buckland is a former firefighter and Iraq veteran and said his training kicked in and they immediately smashed out a window. Trapped: As flames ripped through the Milton, West Virginia home, Buckland and Marcum broke inside to search for possible victims and found an especially furry one . 'I'm glad no one was inside': Buckland is a former firefighter and said his training immediately kicked in. He grabbed the cat and pulled it outside to safety . 'The smokes lets out and as I can start to see I reach down and grab something furry!' It was the cat, of course, but it was unresponsive. Buckland took it outside and began rescue efforts. 'The cat comes around,' Buckland said. 'Takes a look at me, then hissed!' Rescued! The cat was poorly responsive when they emerged from the fire, but Batman worked his magic and managed to coax the kitty back to life . Buckland said the cat hissed when it came to, but that's understandable. 'He got rescucitated by Batman,' he said. 'That's a pretty scary thing to wake up to.' Buckland joked that the response was warranted. 'He got rescucitated by batman, that's a pretty scary thing to wake up to.' The occupants of the home were out of town and only the cat was home at the time of the fire, a fact that made Buckland grateful. But he was also left with questions, which comes as no surprise when the man in question counts Catwoman among his greatest frenemies. 'I just want to know what's going through that cat's mind,' he said. 'I'm just glad that nobody else was in that house.'
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John Buckland and Troy Marcum dress as superheroes and attend events where they teach children positive values .
The home caught fire as the duo worked at a nearby Milton, West Virginia American Legion .
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Los Angeles (CNN) -- Two charges against Chris Brown were dropped Tuesday, but the singer is still accused of hit and run after a minor traffic crash. Brown's lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and a judge ordered him to show up at a sheriff's station within a week to be officially booked on the charge, according to a court spokesman. The prosecutor dismissed charges of driving without a license and driving without proof of insurance during a hearing Tuesday in a Van Nuys, California, court. Brown allegedly sped away from the accident scene in May after a confrontation with the driver of another car, having refusing to provide his name, driver's license and insurance information. The hit and run charge threatens Brown's freedom since it led a judge to revoke his probation last week in connection with his conviction in the beating of his girlfriend, Rihanna. The judge allowed Brown to remain free until a trial is held. A Brown representative said last week that the singer expected all of the charges to be dropped and probation reinstated this week. Brown, 24, was already facing a probation violation trial after prosecutors accused him of not completing the community labor ordered for his 2009 felony assault conviction. Brown was ordered to return to court on August 16 for a hearing to set a trial date to determine if the probation revocation will stand. If it does, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Brandlin could order Brown to jail to serve part of the original five-year jail sentence imposed for the attack on Rihanna. A woman whose Mercedes was allegedly rear-ended by a Range Rover that Brown was driving on a Los Angeles street told investigators that he "went ballistic" after the traffic accident and screamed at her. According to the police report on the incident, the other driver, Olga Gure, quoted Brown as shouting at her: "You are a b---h!" The report added more from Gure, who quoted Brown as saying, "Who do you think you are, b---h? Do you think if you driving Mercedes so got money, b---h? Do you think I am just a black n----r? I got more money than you, b---h!" The trigger for Brown's alleged rage was that Gure took a photo of him and his girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, to document the scene -- since he allegedly refused to show her his driver's license, she said. When Brown tried to grab the camera, Tran screamed, "Don't touch her, don't touch her," Gure said. "I was so shocked that I was speechless," she said. "Just a moment ago he was a nice guy. After screaming some insulting nonsense for a while longer, he slammed a door and drove away fast and noisy." Brown's Twitter defense . Brown used his Twitter account to protest the traffic charges last month: . "It's not a hit and run if u get out the car, exchange information (who has NO DAMAGE to either cars).This is really ridiculous" "I have a valid drivers license and I gave the woman the right info. She saw cameras and wanted to make a scene." "She contacted the cops thinking of a payday from Chris Brown when I followed the proper procedures." "My lawyers will be contacting you. I will not stand for this bullying and yellow journalism!" "My profile pic is the pic I took of the persons car after "the hit and run". NO damage. Just a dirty car. once again, I gotta clear my name" "I work my ass off to provide for my entire family. I've made mistakes in the past and have worked hard to be a better person. " "19-24 years of age. I don't have all the answers and you can't show me a person that age who has it figured out. We live and grow. Let me live" Other probation violation charge . Brown punched Rihanna inside a rented Lamborghini on a Hollywood street, leaving her face bruised and bloody on the eve of the Grammy Awards in February 2009. He entered a guilty plea seven months later and was sentenced to serve five years' probation and to spend more than 1,400 hours in "labor-oriented service" for the assault conviction. The judge allowed him to serve the sentence in Richmond, Virginia, under the direct supervision of the police chief. In a court filing in February 2013, prosecutors accused Brown of not completing the community labor. The paperwork Brown submitted to show he had completed community labor is "at best sloppy documentation and at worst fraudulent reporting," District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. Brown wasn't in town on some of the dates reported, the motion said. Geragos, Brown's attorney, said the prosecutor's filing was so fraudulent that he would ask the judge to punish the deputy district attorneys involved and call for a contempt of court hearing for filing false documents with the court. "And I don't mean just false, it is fraudulent," Geragos said. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office has "tortured" Brown during his probation more than any client he's ever had, Geragos said. The prosecutor is asking the judge to order him to restart his 1,400 hours of community service under the supervision of a Los Angeles probation officer. CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report.
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Chris Brown must report for booking within a week .
Brown's rep previously said they expected hit and run charge to be dropped .
Traffic charge could mean jail for Brown because of his probation in Rihanna beating .
Brown faces trial to determine whether he violated probation .
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(CNN) -- When the late Sen. Edward Kennedy was growing up, there was a family edict: Kennedy men don't cry. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, left, and Ted Kennedy Jr. appear on "Larry King Live" on Monday evening. On "Larry King Live" Monday night, the senator's sons -- Ted Kennedy Jr. and Rep. Patrick Kennedy -- said times have changed, and that includes the no-tears rule of an earlier generation. In a wide-ranging interview, they also discussed the moment of their father's passing, how their mother, Joan, was handling her ex-husband's death, the legacy of Chappaquiddick, the Kennedy "curse" and their impressions of their dad's memoir, "True Compass." The 77-year-old senator died August 25 after a battle with brain cancer. "You know my father was very good at overcoming his own kind of old, traditional sense of not talking about your feelings, not really expressing a lot of emotions," Patrick Kennedy told King. The family has had plenty of moments over which to shed tears. King asked Ted Kennedy Jr. if there was crying when he lost his leg to cancer as a boy. "Absolutely," he replied. Ted Kennedy Jr. said his father's memoirs explore his father's emotional tribulations. "[It talks] about the very difficult things that he had to do, for example telling my grandfather that my uncle Jack had been killed." Both sons said their father's last year was a gift to them and the family. His brothers -- President John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy -- had their lives cut short by assassinations in the 1960s. Watch sons tell of their last year with their father » . "He also was able to enjoy a lot of accolades, not just from obviously his natural constituencies in the Democratic Party, but ... quite moving testaments from many of his Republican colleagues," Teddy Kennedy Jr. said. "It was really wonderful to see my father actually be able to revel in a lot of those compliments that people had to say about my dad." "The really beautiful part about having that extra year with him where he didn't have to traipse all around the world and all around the country was that he was able to spend time with us, and we were able to be there for him emotionally and physically," Patrick Kennedy said. Despite their many family tragedies, they debunked the so-called "Kennedy curse." "You don't buy the idea of a curse?" King asked. "No. No. Obviously my dad had a sense of spirituality that transcended his ability to face these problems, you know, in a way that would have otherwise paralyzed the normal person," Patrick Kennedy said. Ted Kennedy Jr. added, "The Kennedy family has had to endure these things in a very open way. But our family is just like ... every other family in America in many ways." He also described the moment of his father's passing. "I was there, Larry. It was very peaceful. ... He was suffering in those last few weeks [so] it really did take the sting out of his final passing. ... And it was a very peaceful, extremely spiritual thing." The sons elaborated on how their mother, Joan, has handled being divorced, her ex-husband's death and their thoughts on their stepmother. "My dad was and remains a central figure in her life. Obviously, they both shared so much of their lives together," Patrick Kennedy said. "The fact is that my dad and Vicki [Sen. Edward Kennedy's second wife] were so gracious. In all of the holidays, my mom was included. There wasn't any of this bitterness and everything. ... And I really am so grateful to Vicki for that, to my dad for that. "Vicki was such a great sense of support to my dad at the end. "My mom has been such an inspiration to me," Patrick Kennedy went on. "She has struggled, as we talked about in an earlier program, with this disease called alcoholism, which I suffer from as well. She's been so public in her fight on this that she's inspired so many people and inspired me." The sons also talked about their father's memoirs, including the now-infamous episode at Chappaquiddick. After a July 18, 1969, party for those who had worked on Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign, Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts. Although he managed to escape, his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, drowned. Kennedy did not report the incident immediately and later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. "Years ago, he spoke to me about exactly what happened that night," Ted Kennedy Jr. told King."And I knew how sorry my father has been each and every day of his life for what happened that night. If he could undo that moment, he would give anything to have been able to do so. "And in this book ... he doesn't make an excuse -- any excuses. He accepts responsibility for what happened. But ... it's what you do with these tragic events that happen in your life that's really the measure of the person." They said they drew a lot of inspiration from reading "True Compass." "I feel like this book ... is a gift. It's a gift to me and my children who of course knew him as a grandfather but never really knew him as a man in the fullest sense of the word," Ted Kennedy Jr. said. "I was a little worried when I first opened up the pages because even though he'd been talking about it and even though I'd heard many of these stories before, I really didn't know what to expect. And what I found was ... a riveting, riveting two-day read." "Many people castigated him and attacked him and made him a caricature where he actually was a very real person as we've seen in this book," Patrick Kennedy told King. "There wasn't a better politician around. My dad had the ability to just connect with anybody."
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Sons of late Sen. Edward Kennedy say dad learned to embrace emotional side .
They say they don't believe in the so-called "Kennedy curse"
Ted Kennedy Jr. says moment of his father's passing was peaceful, spiritual .
On Chappaquiddick: He accepted responsibility for what happened, sons say .
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Los Angeles (CNN) -- It's official: Ashton Kutcher is filling the gap left by Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men." "I can't wait to get to work with this ridiculously talented 2.5 team and I believe we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers' homes," Kutcher said Friday in a statement released by CBS and Warner Bros. Television. "I can't replace Charlie Sheen but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people!" Kutcher, who gained his early fame on a TV sitcom, "That 70s Show," has more recently been seen on the big screen. His last film was "No Strings Attached," which hit theaters in January. He's also made his mark as a TV executive producer, most notably for MTV's hidden-camera show "Punk'd." "Ashton is a pop culture triple threat -- film star, cutting-edge producer and a social media pioneer," said Nina Tassler, the head of CBS Entertainment. "He brings creativity, energy and personality to everything he touches. We are thrilled to have him." CBS and Warner Bros. did not disclose how much Kutcher will earn. Sheen, who is embroiled in a lawsuit over his sudden dismissal from the show in March, was earning a reported $2 million for each episode. Sheen responded to the news by praising Kutcher while taking a shot at the show's executive producer, Chuck Lorre. "Ashton Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer. Oh wait, so am I!!," Sheen said in a written statement. "Enjoy the show America. Enjoy seeing 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB. Enjoy planet Chuck, Ashton. There is no air, laughter, loyalty, or love there." Producers had been scrambling in recent weeks to find a replacement for Sheen to keep one of TV's highest-rated sitcoms on the air for another year. CNN's Alan Duke contributed to this report.
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NEW: Sheen takes a shot at the executive producer of the show .
Ashton Kutcher will replace Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men"
Sheen is involved in a lawsuit over his dismissal from the hit show .
Kutcher first gained fame on the TV sitcom "That 70s Show"
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Belfast, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned recent outbreaks of violence in Northern Ireland and urged a continued commitment to peace during meetings Friday with political leaders in Belfast. "There can be no place in Northern Ireland for any violence; the remnants of the past must be quickly condemned," she said. She described the violence as "a sad reminder, unfortunately, that -- despite how hardy the peace has been -- there are still those who not only would test it, but try to destroy it." Three people were arrested Friday, and two officers were injured, said Elsie Glendinning, a press officer for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Some cars were set afire, she said in a statement. Twenty-one officers were injured during this week's disorder, said Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr, who appealed for calm. "This behavior is simply not acceptable," he said. "These people are only wrecking their own communities and putting innocent people's lives at risk." Friday's violence came a day after four men were arrested Thursday after police investigating "ongoing dissident Republican activity" found what they described as a homemade rocket that could have been used to attack an armored police vehicle when they stopped a car in the area of Londonderry. Read more: The war is over, yet conflict continues in Belfast . Police said they discovered an unexploded letter bomb in a mailbox in the village of Clough. Violence broke out this week after a vote by Belfast city councilors to change the year-round policy of flying the British Union flag outside Belfast City Hall, restricting it to certain days. Police have come under assault in incidents in Belfast, Ballymena and Carrickfergus. Buildings linked to the cross-community Alliance Party, which backed the flag's removal, have also been targeted. Read more: Reminders of Irish 'troubles' rise to surface . The party said that its sole lawmaker in the UK parliament at Westminster, Naomi Long, was told Thursday night to leave her home and was advised not to go to her constituency office in east Belfast on Friday after receiving a death threat. Clinton spoke alongside First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont, the seat of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government, in east Belfast. She recalled her first visit 17 years ago with then-President Bill Clinton, at a time when the first glimmers of peace were on the horizon. On that occasion, the couple turned on Belfast's Christmas lights. Read more: Queen makes history with ex-IRA leader handshake . "Peace does take sacrifice and compromise and vigilance, day after day, and we have seen again this week that the work is not complete because we have seen violence break out again," she said. "There will always be disagreements in democratic societies. We are experts in that in the United States ... but violence is never an acceptable response to this." Clinton joined Robinson and McGuinness in condemning the recent violence in the Belfast area and the threats against Long. Read more: Police brace for trouble as thousands join Northern Ireland march . Robinson and McGuinness presented Clinton with an award recognizing her contribution to Northern Ireland's peace and economic progress. She then returned to Washington. McGuinness, a former commander in the anti-British Irish Republican Army, shook hands last summer with Queen Elizabeth II -- a gesture marking a step forward in the peace process relating to British rule of Northern Ireland. Belfast was the last stop on Clinton's European tour, which began with visits to the Czech Republic and Belgium. She was in Dublin on Thursday for an international security conference at which she met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the U.N. special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. The timing of her visit to Northern Ireland, which she has held up to other nations as an example of a divided community that has transitioned to peace, is seen by observers as unfortunate, given the unrest. The vote on the Union flag followed a summer of heightened tensions between Northern Ireland's Catholic and Protestant communities. Riots in September left dozens of police officers injured. Just more than a month ago, a prison officer was killed in a suspected dissident IRA attack, the first such attack in years. In recent days, a number of suspected dissident IRA members have been arrested. On her first visit as secretary of state, in 2009, Clinton paid tribute to the efforts of Robinson, McGuinness and other political leaders in helping to secure more than a decade of peaceful progress for Northern Ireland. The majority of the island gained independence in 1921, following two years of conflict. But six of the nine counties of the province of Ulster chose to stay in the United Kingdom, eventually becoming the country of Northern Ireland. In the late 1960s, the conflict between mainly Protestant unionists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and largely Roman Catholic nationalists, who want it to be reunited with the rest of Ireland, exploded into a political and sectarian war, known as the Troubles. The three decades of ensuing violence between loyalists and the IRA claimed more than 3,000 lives, most of them north of the border. While the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 effectively ended the conflict, distrust remains between Catholics and Protestants. Under the terms of the accord, groups on both sides dumped their weapons, and members of Sinn Fein, the political affiliate of the IRA, now work with pro-British politicians in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government. CNN's Laura Smith-Spark wrote from London and journalist Peter Taggart reported from Belfast. Nic Robertson contributed to this report.
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3 people are arrested Friday and 2 officers injured, police say .
"Violence is never an acceptable response" to disagreements, she says .
Violent disorder broke out in Belfast after a vote on flying the Union flag .
Northern Ireland is the last leg of the secretary of state's European tour .
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By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 19:20 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:51 EST, 16 May 2013 . Groundwater found bubbling up from nearly two miles beneath the surface of Canada may predate the emergence of multicellular life, researchers announced today. A joint British and Canadian team discovered the ancient pockets of water, which they say are like 'trapped time capsules' cut off from the surface for as long as three billion years. It could be some of the oldest water on the planet and may even contain life, the researchers claim, as it contains an abundance of chemicals known to support organisms in the absence of sunlight. Billion year old sparkling water: Showing collection of ancient water and gas in a mine nearly two miles beneath the surface of Ontario, Canada, that may be almost half as old as the Earth itself . More exciting still, the similarity between the rocks that trapped it and those on Mars raises the hope that comparable life sustaining water could be locked deep beneath the surface of the Red Planet. Researchers from the universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Toronto and McMaster analysed the water which poured out of boreholes in a mine 7,875ft beneath Ontario, Canada. 'These are like trapped time capsules,' said Barbra Sherwood Lollar, a geochemist at the University of Toronto. 'They may tell us about the atmosphere 2.7 billion years ago, and about the fluids that formed the valuable ore deposits that are the foundation of Canada’s mineral wealth.' Geochemical reactions with the rocks means the water contains dissolved hydrogen and methane, as well as noble gases like helium, neon, argon and xenon, that have been trapped since early in Earth’s history. These gases could provide energy for microbes that may not have been exposed to the sun for billions of years, the researchers say. Project leader Chris Ballentine, of the University of Manchester, said: 'Our finding is of huge interest to researchers who want to understand how microbes evolve in isolation, and is central to the whole question of the origin of life, the sustainability of life, and life in extreme environments and on other planets.' Using ground-breaking techniques developed at the University of Manchester, the researchers say they have shown that the fluid is at least 1.5 billion years old, but could be significantly older. It could even date back to the formation of the crystalline rocks surrounding the water, which are thought to be around 2.7billion years old - about half as old as the planet Earth itself. Before this finding, the only water of this age was found trapped in tiny bubbles of rock, but the water found in the Canadian mine on the other hand pours from the rock at a rate of nearly two litres per minute. It has similar characteristics to far younger water flowing from a mine 1.7 miles below ground in South Africa that was previously found to support microbes. Buried life? Gas that bubbles out of the floor in the deep mine has a chemical composition that could provide the food source for microbes living in the deep ancient fluids totally in the absence of sunlight . Dr Greg Holland of Lancaster University said: 'Our Canadian colleagues are trying to find out if the water contains life right now. 'What we can be sure of is that we have identified a way in which planets can create and preserve an environment friendly to microbial life for billions of years.' Large regions of Mars are made up of terrain like that of the Earth’s Precambrian Shield – billions of years-old rocks with similar mineralogy. Professor Sherwood Lollar said: 'The ancient waters of the Canadian Shield contain abundant chemicals that we know microbes can use as energy in the absence of sunlight-driven photosynthesis. 'This shows that ancient rocks have the potential to support life and this could be the case whether they are three kilometres below the Earth’s surface or below the surface of Mars.' The Canadian Shield discovery pushes the age of water much farther back than the South Africa discovery, identifying a groundwater system isolated from the surface for billions, rather than tens of millions of years. 'Our discovery establishes that ancient fluids, hitherto thought to have survived only in microscopic fluid inclusions trapped in the rocks, may instead still flow from ancient fractures,' said Professor Sherwood Lollar. Professor Ballentine, who is based in Manchester’s School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, added: 'While the questions about life on Mars raised by our work are incredibly exciting, the ground-breaking techniques we have developed at Manchester to date ancient waters also provide a way to calculate how fast methane gas is produced in ancient rock systems globally. 'The same new techniques can be applied to characterise old, deep groundwater that may be a safe place to inject carbon dioxide.' David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, sais: 'This is excellent pioneering research. It gives new insight into our planet. 'It has also developed new technology for carbon capture and storage projects. These have the potential for growth, job creation and our environment.' The findings were published today in the journal Nature.
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Ancient pockets of water are like 'trapped time capsules' cut off from the surface for nearly three billion years, researchers say .
The similarity between the rocks in the mine and those on Mars raises the hope that similar life-sustaining water could exist there .
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fd96eacd2dd59e5c4de0d51ca39da73492751de6
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Arrested: Devon Coley, 18, was arrested on Monday after posting a threat to police on social media . Police have increased security at some stationhouses and made at least four arrests over threats made since the deadly shootings of two officers last weekend, and the mayor vowed on Wednesday to protect officers. Emergency Services Unit officers and swat teams were providing additional protection at two Brooklyn precincts, where they were stationed starting Tuesday. Graffiti reading, 'kill the cops' lined the streets of Brooklyn as cops searched for suspects threatening police safety. Police said on Wednesday they were remaining vigilant while investigating the origin of the threats, which they didn't detail. Meanwhile, an 18-year-old was facing charges of making a terroristic threat after authorities said he put up a menacing photo and message online on Saturday hours after the afternoon ambush of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos by a gunman who had signaled his plans on social media. Teenager Devon Coley posted a photo on his Facebook page Saturday night of a gunman shooting at a patrol car, symbols showing a gun pointed at an officer's head and a caption with his local precinct's number and '73 next,' according to a court complaint. His lawyer, Daniel Ades, said on Wednesday that the state terroristic-threats law was being misapplied. 'Nobody's condoning threats against police,' he said, but 'even if this is proven, it doesn't amount to a crime.' He noted that the law requires a 'reasonable expectation or fear' that a threat meant to influence government or intimidate the public is about to be carried out. Prosecutors sought $250,000 bail for Coley, who was already facing unrelated gun possession and other charges, the New York Post reported. Court records show a judge released him without bail on the threats charge. Officials said they had assessed hundreds of online postings and calls to emergency lines, initiating about 40 threat probes, with about half of those being closed or referred to other agencies. The police department said one 52-year-old man had been arrested after walking into a Manhattan stationhouse and saying: 'If I punch you in the face, how much time will I get?' and refusing to leave. Increased threats: Police have increased security at two New York City stationhouses while investigating threats against them in the wake of the deadly shootings of two officers last weekend . Incriminating post: Devon Coley, 18, allegedly posted this photo of a man shooting police along with the caption, '73 next' indicating he was targeting the 73rd precinct . In addition, two Staten Island residents were arrested in separate incidents on Tuesday. A 16-year-old named Yasin Shearin was arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat and a 46-year-old man was charged with making a false report. Mayor Bill de Blasio denounced the various threats Wednesday and said the city 'will protect the men and women who protect us.' 'New York City stands with our police officers in this time of tragedy, as we do every day, and our city will not be intimidated by those spouting hateful, violent messages,' he said in a statement. In Colorado, a 33-year-old military veteran was arrested Monday for posting online threats calling for the killing of current and former police officers under the name 'Vets Hunting Cops.' And in Northern California, presidents of the three biggest Northern California police unions warned that recent anti-police sentiments are threatening officers' safety. Recent demonstrations against police brutality have devolved into tasteless vilification of officers, including chants calling for dead police officers, the union heads said in a letter posted online Tuesday. Stationed: NYPD swat team members now stationed outside 79th and 81st precinct stationhouses after alleged threats from the Baltimore based gang the Black Guerrilla Family . Police said on Wednesday they were remaining vigilant while investigating the origin of the threats. A confidential informant told cops about rumors of a gang plot to 'shoot it out' at the station houses, reported the NY Post. The gang member who supposedly made the threat served three years in jail for robbery and attempted murder, reports the NY Post. Cops were varied in their opinion of how serious the threat was to their safety. A senior police official told the NY Post, 'We’re investigating that threat, but at this time, it does not appear to be credible.' President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, Ed Mullins, seemed to think the threat was a cause for concern. Amping up security: A confidential informant told cops about rumors of a gang plot to 'shoot it out' at the station houses so they are increasing security accordingly . 'I’m told it’s credible,' said Mullins . 'We’ve got emergency service personnel providing additional security outside of precincts. It’s credible.' This is the second supposed threat against police that comes from the Black Guerilla Family this month. CBS reports that the 75th and 104th precincts in Queens also received telephone bomb threats on Tuesday but that both buildings were swept by the bomb squad and cleared. Earlier this month,police were instructed to wear bulletproof vests and also bring extra ammo because of a 'verified' threat that they were being targeted by the Baltimore based gang. On Saturday, Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were killed by a gunman who had posted online about his plans to attack police. Ramos and Liu worked in the 84th precinct, which is also in Brooklyn. Early on Saturday morning, before murdering officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn, Ismaaiyl Brinsley turned up unannounced at his ex-girlfriend's home in Owings Mills, Maryland and pointed a gun to his head, according to Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. NYPD officers: The gunman fired a fatal round of bullets at Wenjian Liu (left) and Rafael Ramos (right) Gunman: Brinsley killed himself after he was chased into the subway by cops following the murders . Victim: Shaneka Thompson, pictured, managed to talk her ex-boyfriend Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, out of shooting himself on Saturday but he shot her instead and went on to kill two police officers in Brooklyn . His ex, Air Force reservist Shaneka Thompson, managed to talk him out of taking his life - before he turned the gun on her instead. After his attack on Thompson, he rode a Bolt bus to New York - as police started tracking Thompson's cellphone in a bid to follow him. After arriving in New York City, he took the subway to Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where he dumped his ex-girlfriend's stolen cell phone. Around this time, Baltimore County Police sent the NYPD a fax alerting them to Brinsley and his intentions - but it did not reach cops on the streets in time. Brinsley identified his targets at Tompkins Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, then instructed passersby to watch before firing four shots at the two police officers in their car. He then ran into the subway station but a waiting train closed its doors. With police making chase, he then shot himself dead. On Tuesday, uniformed cops had laid bouquets, lit candles and left toys around the street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of the city where a crazed gunman shot dead officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. In mourning: Slain NYPD officer Wenjian Liu's wife, Pei Xia Chen, comes back from the 84th precinct and needed assistance standing and officers helped her back to her home . Ignoring requests: Despite calls from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to curb protests until after the funerals of slain NYPD officers, demonstrators took to the streets to exercise their first amendment rights . They were joined by mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife, who also laid flowers at the site in a show of unity with the police force, elements of which say the mayor had turned against them before the deaths. Wenjian Liu's wife, Pei Xia Chen, needed assistance standing as officers helped her back to her home following the news. De Blasio later led city officials in a moment of silence at 2.47pm Monday - exactly three days after Ismaaiyl Brinsley opened fire on officers Ramos and Liu as they sat in their patrol car. Officers amassed at the memorial fell silent to honor their fallen comrades, as city leaders urged people around New York and the country to do the same. Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of New York City on Tuesday evening to condemn police brutality, ignoring calls from New York's governor, the city's mayor and others calling for restraint in the wake of recent news. Protesters, carrying signs reading ‘Jail Killer Cops’ and 'Stop The War On Black America' marched en masse to demand justice for those who have died recently at the hands of police. The rallies began in Union Square and outside City Hall and protesters then marched through midtown Manhattan. Some protesters chanted 'Hey-hey, ho-ho. These racist cops have got to go' and 'How do you spell racist? N-Y-P-D.' as they marched along Fifth Avenue. The demonstrations went on despite calls by Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday for a hiatus on demonstrations until after the funerals of the two NYPD cops - Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu - murdered by Ismaaiyl Brinsley on Saturday. Organizers ignored de Blasio's call for the march to be cancelled and said there was no reason to 'give in to hysteria' and call off the event. At first, marchers stayed on the sidewalks as a large police presence, with officers - some wearing riot helmets and face shields - keeping protesters from impeding holiday traffic.
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Devon Coley, 18, was arrested on Monday allegedly targeting the 73rd Brooklyn precinct on his Facebook page .
A 16-year-old named Yasin Shearin was also arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat to police .
As of early this morning NYPD swat team members were stationed 79th and 81st precinct stationhouses following alleged gang threats .
A member of the Baltimore-based Black Guerrilla Family was allegedly overheard planning a 'shoot out' at those locations .
The 75th and 104th precincts in Queens also received telephone bomb threats on Tuesday but that both buildings were cleared .
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He is no stranger to accusations of being a Communist. And Barack Obama did himself no favours today unveiling a new campaign slogan that critics say has unfortunate similarities to ones used by Chairman Mao and other Communists. The President released his new slogan 'Forward' in a triumphant seven-minute campaign video. Scroll down for video . Forward: Critics point out the unfortunate similarities between Barack Obama's new slogan and Chinese Leader Chairman Mao's, right, Great Leap Forward campaign of forced industrialisation . Plainly stated: Obama's re-election team unveiled its new motto in a video released Monday morning . Sombre: The seven-minute video begins by recalling the grim state of the nation's economy when Obama took office . But long-time critics of the President such as Breitbart.com have . pointed out the similarities to Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward . campaign of forced collectivisation and industrialisation - which . resulted in the deaths of millions. 'Spring Forward' was also a slogan used by Vladimir Lenin in Communist Russia. It has been used as the title of a large number of socialist publications, reflecting the Marxist conviction that the triumph of their ideology was an inevitable part of the progress of history. One magazine with the title was the mouthpiece of the Communist League in the 19th century, associated with Communist trailblazers Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. Commentators have been quick to point out that Obama’s new motto seems to be borrowed from MSNBC’s 'Lean Forward' slogan. But a fair few have thought of using 'Forward' in their marketing campaigns before, including Chairman Mao Zedong, pictured above. The leader of the Chinese Revolution launched his 'Great Leap Forward' campaign in 1958. In it, he aimed to create a communist society through collectivization and industrialization. The disastrous campaign resulted in the deaths of millions of civilians and is known to be one of the most deadly of mass killing in history. The campaign also witnessed economic regression. Other companies that have chosen 'Forward' include: Metro, who opted for 'Forward: a better ride for you', The Jewish Daily 'Forward' newspaper, and Focus Forward – a short film company. Festival organizers in Washington DC chose the name Forward for their five-day music, art and media event. Obama's re-election team today . unveiled the new motto in the video that compares the President's record . on jobs to the preceding years of the financial crisis and trumpets his . record. The film cites . landmarks of Mr Obama's Presidency such as the auto industry bail-out, . Osama Bin Laden's death and the end of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in the . military. But observers have pointed out that . the new slogan bears strong similarities to MSNBC’s ‘Lean Forward’ as . Obama ditches his successful 2008 motto - ‘Hope and Change’. The video that unveiled the slogan tries to make the case for Obama's re-election in 2012 by saying there is still more work to do going forward. The video begins in black and white with . sombre music and depicts the year 2008. It shows queues of people . searching for jobs and uses graphs to highlight declining employment . rates that Obama faced when he entered the White House. News reporters detailing the bleak economic outlook are heard saying snippets such as, ‘worse financial collapse since the Great Depression’ and ‘economic disaster.’ The video suddenly changes to colour . when it shows Obama addressing his supporters in 2009 before rattling . through his achievements since taking office. With images of everyday Americans going about their working lives, the video recalls the auto industry rescue, credit card and Wall Street . reforms, healthcare reform, student loan reform, green energy . investments, lower taxes for the middle class, equal pay for women and a . repeal of the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ law that banned gays from serving . openly in the military make up. In a move sure to anger the president's critics and . opponents the video then focuses on 'the victory no one saw coming' - the . killing of Osama bin Laden on May 2 last year. Common touch: The majority of the video rattles off Obama's achievements during office and shows him 'connecting' with the 'ordinary folk' Surprise, surprise: The promotional video highlights 'the victory no one saw coming' - the killing of Osama bin Laden - this is the moment Obama told the world of the terror leader's death . The campaign also uses the video to . target congressional Republicans, saying Obama had to overcome GOP . obstruction on Capitol Hill in order to pass legislation. 'Instead of working together to lift . America up, Republicans were waging a campaign to tear the president . down,' the narrator says over changing images of congressional . Republicans. However, Republicans have turned the 'Forward' motto on its head with the Republican National Committee creating the trending Twitter hashtag #Foward. They have used the hashtag to tweet: 'Under Obama's budget, Americans can look #FORWARD to $1.9 trillion in higher taxes.' The campaign says the video will be played for supporters attending the president's first re-election rallies Saturday in Ohio and Virginia. Watch video here .
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Barack Obama has moved on from his 2008 'hope and change' campaign with the message that there is still more work to do .
Motto has strong similarities to MSNBC's slogan: 'Lean Forward'
Critics also point to Chinese Communist leader Mao's Great Leap Forward .
Announcement comes before the President's re-election rallies this weekend .
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Bestseller: Unlikely author, Barbara 'Cutie' Cooper, pictured, is shooting her way up the Amazon bestseller list with a self-help guide to a happy marriage . An unlikely author is shooting her way up the Amazon bestseller list with a self-help guide to a long and happy marriage - and she is very qualified to dish out the advice. Barbara 'Cutie' Cooper, 96, was married to husband Harry, who passed away in 2010, for a whopping 73 years and, with the help of her granddaughters, has jotted down her pearls of wisdom on how to go the distance with your partner - including sassy sex tips. 'If you wish to stay connected and happy in your marriage, never be too tired or too busy to feel love for your partner,' she writes. 'When your life is nearly over, you will regret it if you look back and recall too many nights when you made excuses instead of making love.' 'Fall in Love for Life: Inspiration from a 73-Year Marriage,' published by Chronicle Books, hit the shelves on January 1 and has since made its way to the Amazon Top 100 bestseller list. Before he died at age 98, Cutie and Harry 'PopPop' Cooper were known for their blog 'The OGs', where the LA couple shared stories, photos and videos about their neighborhood and trips abroad as well as advice on how they kept their marriage alive so long. Many of those tips found their way into 'Fall in Love for Life.' In the book, Cutie writes: 'I don't understand couples who say they are too busy or too tired to sleep together. Unless they are building roads all day or running a multi-national corporation, I expect they have just lost sight of priorities.' Book: 'Fall in Love for Life: Inspiration from a 73-Year Marriage,' published by Chronicle Books, hit the shelves on January 1 . Love: Barbara 'Cutie' Cooper, 96, pictured right, was married to husband Harry, left, who passed away in 2010, for 73 years and now she's written a bestselling book about how they did it . She says for a healthy relationship, you have to train yourself to focus most of your attention on the person you love. 'When your sweetheart comes into the room, whether it's just from taking care of some chores in the garage or from a long day at work, your job is to put down whatever you're doing, look him in the eye, and verbally express your delight at seeing him again. It's really so little to ask, and delivers so much - to both of you.' She writes in the guide, that some people have affairs because they don't think they're getting enough attention at home or that their partner isn't meeting all their needs. Sex advice: Cutie's pearls of wisdom on how to go the distance with your partner include sassy sex tips . Advice still rings true: Cutie says in the book, pictured, for a healthy relationship, you have to train yourself to focus most of your attention on the person you love . 'Well, whoever told them that one person . could meet their every need?' she exclaims. 'You can actually live . quite comfortably without having all of your needs met. Try thinking . about it that way; you might be surprised how liberating it is. 'You are . not perfect, and neither is your partner, but you can make a very . pleasant life together if you are both serious about providing the love . and support that go along with a marriage.' She accepts that life gets pretty hectic when children enter the equation, but Cutie's advice is to squeeze some romance into the chaos at any opportunity, no matter how small a dose. Romance: She accepts that life gets pretty hectic when children enter the equation, but Cutie's advice is to squeeze some romance into the chaos at any opportunity . Blog: Before he died at age 98, Cutie and Harry 'PopPop' Cooper were known for their blog 'The OGs' 'It's true that when your babies are small, there isn't much time left over for romantic gestures. But the wonderful thing about romance is that it is the quality, never the quantity, that matters.' She suggests throwing a blanket on the living room floor when the baby is sleeping and slicing some peaches or plums, pouring a glass of something bubbly, and enjoying a 'mini picnic.' 'Write love notes to each other and slip them in between the clean diapers,' she writes. 'Be creative, and if you want your love to flourish, it certainly will do so.' 1. Make time to make love 'I don't understand couples who say they are too busy or too tired to sleep together. Unless they are building roads all day or running a multi-national corporation, I expect they have just lost sight of priorities. If you wish to stay connected and happy in your marriage, my advice to you is to never be too tired or too busy to feel love for your partner. When your life is nearly over, you will regret it if you look back and recall too many nights when you made excuses instead of making love.' 2. Always greet your partner 'If you want your relationship to survive and to thrive, you will have to train yourself to focus most of your attention on the person you love. When your sweetheart comes into the room, whether it's just from taking care of some chores in the garage or from a long day at work, your job is to put down whatever you're doing, look him in the eye, and verbally express your delight at seeing him again. It's really so little to ask, and delivers so much - to both of you.' 3. Keep the romance alive, even when you have children 'It's true that when your babies are small, there isn't much time left over for romantic gestures. But the wonderful thing about romance is that it is the quality, never the quantity, that matters. So when the baby is napping, throw a blanket on the living room floor, slice some peaches or plums or whatever you have in the house, pour a glass of something bubbly, and enjoy a mini picnic. Write love notes to each other and slip them in between the clean diapers. Be creative, and if you want your love to flourish, it certainly will do so.' 4. Be honest about money problems 'The most important ingredient for getting through tough economic times is THE TRUTH - it's so important it should be capitalized and italicized. So this means that if you have any financial secrets you are keeping from your partner, you must put them on the table. Doesn't that sound scary? I am sure it does, but as with so many unpleasant things that only get bigger and stronger in the dark, these secrets have a funny way of shrinking in the light of the truth. And as they get smaller, your stress and worry will fly away. There's never a better time to be honest with your partner and yourself and make a plan for dealing with your debts and your excess spending - together. I promise, you will not regret it.' 5. Control your anger 'Have you ever noticed that you can't spell dangerous without anger? I'm no linguist, but I don't think that's a coincidence. When you're ready to blow, you might say anything hurtful, things you would normally spare the person you love from hearing. Don't say something you'll regret forever. Don't give your partner an excuse to come back to you with his or her own resentments. Instead, find a way to get your anger under control. For myself, I simply run through my mind a short movie of how foolishly I have been acting. You may have better luck singing a silly song, or patting your head while rubbing your tummy, or doing whatever little trick helps bring you outside of yourself long enough to regain control.'
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Los Angeles grandmother Barbara 'Cutie' Cooper was married to husband Harry, who passed away in 2010, for an incredible 73 years .
With the help of her granddaughters, she has jotted down her pearls of wisdom on how to go the distance with your partner .
'Fall in Love for Life: Inspiration from .
a 73-Year Marriage,' published by Chronicle Books, hit the shelves on .
January 1 and has since made its way to the Amazon Top 100 bestseller .
list .
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(CNN) -- Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are getting their group back together this spring for a reunion tour of Asia and Australia, according to a source close to the group. Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon, here performing at a 2007 gala, are planning to tour this summer. Reunion plans apparently began after Simon and Garfunkel played three songs together during Simon's two-night gig at New York's Beacon Theatre in February. Tour rehearsals begin in New York in May and the tour will launch in New Zealand around the first week of June, according to the source. Shows in Australia and possibly Japan will follow, the source said. Simon's manager, Jeff Kramer, has asked the group's musicians to clear their calendars -- which means canceling other shows -- from late May through June, the source said. Kramer, in a statement to Rolling Stone magazine after the February show, hinted that a tour was in the works. No official announcement has been made and Simon's publicist has not responded to CNN requests for comment. "Yes there have been conversations taking place, but nothing has been confirmed," Kramer told Rolling Stone. Simon and Garfunkel last reunited for their "Old Friends" tour in 2003 and 2004, which Rolling Stone estimated earned $123 million. The duo, friends since childhood, is famous for breaking up and making up about every dozen years. Their biggest hits together came in the late 1960s -- including "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Mrs. Robinson" and "Scarborough Fair."
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Source: Simon and Garfunkel to tour Asia, Australia this summer .
Award-winning duo has had ups and downs since early-'70s split .
Pair, known for many hits, last toured in 2003 and 2004 .
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By . Andrew Levy . Taoreed Ogboye has been jailed for five years after returning to a life of burglary . Having admitted to 178 burglaries, and with a previous spell in jail for the same offence to his name, Taoreed Ogboye must have been expecting another stint in prison. Instead, the judge gave him another chance and ordered him to take part in a rehabilitation course. Ogboye, 24, began in a positive fashion by starring in a crime prevention video for police, in which he advised families to keep lights on, install alarms and CCTV and keep valuables in safes. But barely a month later he was ransacking people’s homes again. He has now been jailed for five years for the crime spree, which netted around £400,000 of valuables – none of which has been recovered. And the Mail can reveal the initial reprieve was granted despite Ogboye previously receiving a 42-month jail term for burglary, the proceeds of which paid for an Audi TT and an apartment in a luxury development where he rubbed shoulders with pop stars, actors and Premier League footballers. One of his victims, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He wasn’t a drug addict who arguably couldn’t help himself – he was just plain greedy. Why did they give him the chance to offend again?’ Ogboye’s life of crime began when he was 16. By 2007, he was ransacking homes throughout Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and London. He targeted Asian families, believing they would be more likely to have valuable gold and jewellery. Last September, he entered a house in . Luton and took £30,000 of valuables. On December 16 a neighbour alerted . police to a raid on a Watford address and Ogboye was found hiding in a . wheelie bin. At court on April 23, he admitted to three offences and asked for 175 more to be taken into consideration. Judge Andrew Bright, QC, deferred . sentence and put him on the ‘Choices and Consequences’ rehabilitation . programme, under which he had to wear an electronic tag and obey a 9pm . to 6am curfew. Chance: Judge Andrew Bright QC told Ogboye that he had wasted an . opportunity to change his life when he jailed him yesterday at Luton Crown . Court . But as soon as May 28, London-born . Ogboye was back to his old ways, when he and another man broke into a . house in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. More jewellery was taken from a house . in Barnet on June 5. Ogboye, of Hatfield, was arrested after his electronic tag showed he had been in both areas at the time. Appearing at Luton Crown Court . yesterday, he admitted attempted burglary and burglary. He was also . dealt with for the offences he admitted earlier this year. Prosecutor . Neil King described the defendant as a ‘burglar of considerable . professionalism’ whom other criminals paid to act as a ‘burglary . consultant’ by identifying the best properties to target. Veronica Reeve, defending, claimed her . client broke into homes to prove he wasn’t in league with police after . other criminals saw the anti-crime video and assumed he was informing on . them. Jailing Ogboye yesterday, Judge Bright . said he had ‘seemed to be trying’ to leave his life of crime behind but . added: ‘Your commitment was shortlived.’ A Hertfordshire Police spokesman . yesterday defended the rehabilitation programme, saying: ‘Ogboye was . addicted to a lavish lifestyle, which is quite difficult to get away . from. He liked living the high life. ‘He couldn’t be helped but admitted 170-odd offences which might never have been solved otherwise.’
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'Professional' burglar Taoreed Ogboye pleaded guilty to three burglaries and two attempted break-ins .
Asked for a further 175 burglaries to be taken into consideration .
Defence counsel said making police break-in videos had actually led to him re-offending .
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Los Angeles (CNN) -- Katy Perry is the "most rewarded digital act" ever, according to the organization that hands out gold and platinum records. Perry fans have bought 72 million singles online, which is 20 million more digital singles than the No. 2 artist, Rihanna, has sold, the Recording Industry Association of America announced. Taylor Swift is third with 51 million digital singles sold. How iTunes changed music, and the world . The music industry group, which started honoring vinyl record sales in 1958, launched its digital sales awards in 2004 when online music downloads -- not including the pirated versions -- became a mainstream way of buying songs. The RIAA added online music streaming to its tracking last year. Katy Perry is the most followed on Twitter . Perry has earned 18 gold, 16 platinum and 56 multiplatinum digital singles awards in addition to her multiplatinum awards for her album "Teenage Dream" and a platinum award for the album "One of the Boys." Perry's top hits include "I Kissed a Girl," "Hot N Cold," "Dark Horse" and "Birthday." RIAA Chairman Cary Sherman, at a ceremony Wednesday, called Perry "a force to be reckoned with in music." "She embodies all that makes a true global superstar: the musical talent, the extraordinary drive and genuine charisma, and an intrinsic connection with her fans," Sherman said. "The award is a reflection of her deep commitment to those qualities and to her music, which has propelled her to this historic milestone." Katy Perry disses Miley's tongue, Miley bites back .
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Her fans have bought 72 million digital singles online .
She has 18 gold, 16 platinum and 56 multiplatinum digital singles awards .
Recording Industry Association of America began awarding gold and platinum digital singles in '04 .
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(CNN) -- Rebecca Privitera desperately wanted to lose the excess weight she had carried around her entire life. In 2010, she had the opportunity to do it when her employer organized a company weight loss challenge. But when she lined up to weigh in, Privitera realized the scale wouldn't hold her 381-pound frame. "They wanted me to go down to shipping and receiving and get on the shipping scale," she says. She refused. However embarrassing this moment was, it wasn't enough to prompt Privitera to change. A couple of months later, in early 2011, the Cabot, Arkansas, native was put on bed rest because her blood pressure was too high. Doctors gave her three blood pressure medications and an anti-depressant. Read Rebecca Privitera's story on CNN iReport . "I was out of work for about four weeks," Privitera remembers. "They were afraid I was going to have a stroke." Before going on bed rest, she had bought a wedding dress. By the time the dress came in, it was too tight to wear. Privitera had to have a second dress specially made overseas. Instead of a dream night, Privitera's wedding in April 2011 felt like a nightmare. "I was hot and a sweaty mess," she says. "I was so overweight and so uncomfortable. I was miserable. I couldn't stand it." A few weeks after her wedding, Privitera's new mother-in-law asked her to join her in a 5-kilometer run. It took her an hour and 14 minutes to complete. "My body was physically hurting; I didn't want to do it anymore," she says. "I hit rock bottom." Father's nursing home inspires son to lose weight . After the race, Privitera and her husband, Justin, had an honest conversation. He told her they couldn't afford weight loss surgery or food supplement programs, and she would have to lose weight the old-fashioned way. She agreed and embarked on a journey to lose more than 200 pounds in just over two years. Her first step was to get active. Privitera invested in cardio DVDs and started working out at home. She felt too embarrassed to go to a gym and felt that personal training was too expensive. "The videos showed results that gave me hope, so I gave it a shot," she says. In the beginning, she was losing 10 to 12 pounds a month. She posted her results on Facebook and the overwhelming response from her friends and family pushed her to continue exercising. After losing about 65 pounds, Privitera started to modify her eating habits. She started looking up calorie counts for meals before going out to eat in order to make smarter choices at restaurants. She also began to create healthier versions of meals at home using better ingredients. Privitera was obese her entire life. Her parents divorced when she was 12 years old. Her mother worked two jobs and struggled to make ends meet. "A lot of our food choices came out of a paper bag -- I lived on fast food," she remembers. There were days during her high school years when she would eat McDonalds for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She recalls being able to eat an entire half-gallon of mint chocolate-chip ice cream in one night. She was a 16-year-old who weighed more than 300 pounds and developed a blood clot in her leg. Even with this serious medical issue, she still made poor nutrition choices and her weight continued to balloon into adulthood. 'From Fatman to Ironman;' Dad loses 135 pounds . Now, more than two years into her weight-loss journey, Privitera is incorporating new foods into her diet. "I've followed meal plans with food like quinoa and asparagus," she says. "Until recently, I had never had Brussels sprouts before." Privitera approaches this journey as exactly that -- a journey. She allows herself to indulge once in a while, reminding herself if she wants something she can eat it, just not all the time. Instead of focusing on calorie restriction, she focuses on eating reasonable portions of healthy foods. "You have to balance it out," she says. "You can't extreme diet for the rest of your life." She credits her success to the support of her husband and family, but also to the community of people around her. The majority of her 211-pound loss has come from exercise done right inside her home. She has used programs such as TurboFire and Beachbody, and is now on her fourth round of P90X. She's developed friendships and found accountability partners in the people who use the online message boards for these at-home programs. Privitera works out six days a week, taking Sunday off, and spends anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours a day exercising. She has been able to avoid any physical setbacks by training safely and not over-exerting herself. She has continued to use home videos because it keeps her from making excuses to miss workouts. "I hate being pressed for time," she says. "Working out at home, I get up and get started." She has faced a lot of mental road blocks that nearly made her give up. During these times she has had to rely on people like her mother-in-law to tell her that she has what it takes to keep going and accomplish her goals. Her motivators have inspired Privitera to become a motivator for others. Privitera says she has helped other women lose a combined 200 pounds by motivating them on Facebook, Instagram and through online communities like the ones she uses. She also regularly teaches a cardio-kickboxing class at a local community center. About a month ago, she spoke to a class of high school students. She told them that overweight teenagers can make small choices now that will make a world of a difference in their lives. "One young lady shared that she eats two double cheeseburgers, medium fries, a medium Sprite and three cookies from McDonalds every single night," Privitera recalls. "She had no idea how many calories and how much fat there was in it." Her weight loss success has inspired the people closest to her. Privitera's husband has started his own program and lost 35 pounds. She says this experience has brought them closer together. "My husband sees that I have a real passion," she says. Justin says he's mostly surprised by her new attitude. "She is more positive, upbeat and always looking on the bright side of things," he says. "It inspires me every day to do better. I'm very lucky to have a wife like her." Privitera set out to complete 13 races in 2013, including three 10Ks. Her 13th race of the year was in late October and it was a big one: her first half-marathon. She completed the race with her mother-in-law by her side the entire time. Unlike their first race together, this time she wanted to do it and not give up. "I cried after I finished this half-marathon," she says. "You look for that moment when you cry and think, 'I've done something that some people cannot do.' " No magic bullet for keeping off the pounds .
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Rebecca Privitera lost 211 pounds in just over two years .
At her peak weight, she was 381 pounds; now she weighs 170 .
Her husband, Justin, told her she had to lose weight the old-fashioned way .
Privitera has lost most of her weight by completing in-home exercise DVDs .
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A driver is lucky to be alive after his car ploughed into the wall of a Beefeater pub and ended up wedged in the toilets. The red Mazda swerved off the road, in Cannock, Staffordshire, before hitting the wall and smashing into the lavatories at Longford House Beefeater Public House. The driver, a man in his late 30s, was trapped for at least 90 minutes. Trapped: The red Mazda ploughed into the side of the pub and ended up wedged in the toilets . Blood supplies had to be transported from a nearby hospital while emergency teams worked against the clock to free him. The crash happened at 1.35am this morning. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'Crews arrived to find a car that had left the road, travelled over a wall and entered the toilets of the Longford House Beefeater Public House. 'The car was embedded in the building and the man driving the car was trapped. The driver of the car is lucky to be alive after he crashed into the side of the pub in Staffordshire . Blood supplies had to be transported from a nearby hospital while emergency teams worked to free the man . 'The man, believed to be in his late 30s, continued to received treatment to his leg injuries for the 90 minutes that he was trapped. 'On request of the trauma Doctor at the scene, blood supplies from hospital were transported to the incident to aid his treatment and release from the vehicle. 'Once the man was released, he was transferred by ambulance with the doctor on board to University Hospital Major Trauma Unit for further emergency treatment. 'The hospital had been pre alerted to the man’s arrival and his injuries.' 'Considering the damage to the car and the extensive damage to the building, it is extremely fortunate no one was more seriously or fatally injured in the crash.' Scene: Longford House Beefeater Public House in Cannock, Staffordshire, where the man crashed .
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The red Mazda swerved off the road, in Cannock, Staffordshire .
It smashed into a wall at Longford House Beefeater Public House .
The driver was trapped for at least 90 minutes .
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By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 15:28 EST, 7 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:30 EST, 8 October 2013 . A duck-hunting trip turned deadly on Saturday afternoon. 23-year-old Adam Earl Poole, and a friend were hunting in a channel between two lakes in northern Minnesota when they both stood up at the same time to shoot at ducks. Mr Poole's hunting partner lost his balance while firing and accidentally shot him in the head with his shotgun. Passionate: Adam Poole, 23, was passionate about duck hunting . Duck hunt: Adam and Allie just got married in September. Adam's passion for duck hunting could be seen in his waistcoat and baseball cap . Newlywed: Adam had only been married for a month before the terrible accident happened . Tribute: A Facebook tribute page set up to remember Adam portrays a man who lived life to the fullest and loved the outdoors . 'They both stood up in the boat in an effort to shoot at a duck,' a statement from the Sheriff’s Office read. 'The hunting partner lost his balance, and the shotgun he was carrying discharged. Poole was struck in the head and died from his injuries.' Authorities say they are treating Poole’s death strictly as an accident. The Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the hunting partner. Adam and Allie: They were perfect for each other according to friends. They both loved the outdoors . Hunter: It's rare to find a photo where Adam hasn't caught something . First responders received a 911 call just before 5 p.m. but by the time they arrived Poole had died of his injuries. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy but at this point Mr Poole's death appears to be a terrible accident. Mr Poole had recently got married and was someone who loved the outdoors in order to hunt and fish. Wedding pictures posted on his Facebook page featured an overjoyed groom and groomsmen dressed in satin camouflage vests and hats. He married his wife Allison on September 7th. Duck lover: He loved her, but he also love hunting and wore a duck camouflage vest at his wedding to Allie just a month ago .
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Adam Poole had only been married for one month .
Hunting with his buddy, they stood up at the same time in their boat .
Friend lost his balance and fatally shot his partner .
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Cycling could help ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, scientists believe. The exercise improved connections between brain regions linked to the disease and boosted patients’ co-ordination and balance, research has shown. Exercising on a bike is ‘an effective, low-cost therapy for the disease’, one researcher said. Some 120,000 Britons have Parkinson’s. Symptoms include tremors, speech problems and a gradual slowing down of the body. As the disease progresses, speech and balance can be affected and some sufferers become wheelchair-bound. Hope: New research says pedal power could ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease (file picture) High profile: Actor Michael J Fox, left, and Muhammad Ali, right, have raised awareness about the disease . High-profile patients include Michael J Fox, who was just 30 when he was diagnosed with the condition, and Muhammad Ali. US neuroscientist Jay Alberts began the research after noticing improvements in his companion, a Parkinson’s patient, after a long-distance tandem ride across Iowa. Dr Alberts, of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Ohio, said: ‘The finding was serendipitous. I was pedalling faster, which forced her to pedal faster. 'She had improvements in her upper extremity function, so we started to look at the possible mechanism behind this improved function.’ In the study, he carried out a series of scans on the brains of 26 Parkinson’s patients who used exercise bikes three times a week for two months. Some pedalled at their own pace, while others undertook ‘forced-rate’ cycling, in which they were made to pedal faster by motors fitted to their bikes. The scans revealed pedalling, particularly vigorous pedalling, boosted connections between brain regions linked to movement, the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago heard. Research: The study was carried out at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College Research Institute . Researcher Chintan Shah, also from the Cleveland Clinic, said: ‘The results show that forced-rate bicycle exercise is an effective, low-cost therapy for Parkinson’s disease.’ The scientists are now studying how patients fare with exercise bikes in their homes. They also want to see whether other forms of exercise such as swimming and rowing have similar benefits. The charity Parkinson’s UK welcomed the research, saying the balance and co-ordination can be badly damaged as the disease progresses. However, it also cautioned that not all patients will be capable of exercising intensely. Dr Kieran Breen, the charity’s director of research, said: ‘While it is too soon to encourage people with Parkinson’s to get on their bikes three times a week on the basis of this study, we do know that exercise can be beneficial. ‘A regular exercise routine can help those with the condition to not only improve their general fitness but can also help to improve movement and balance as well as other symptoms of the condition such as anxiety and depression.’
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Scientists say exercising on a bike is an 'effective, low-cost therapy' for the disease .
US neuroscientist Jay Alberts started research after noticing positive impact it had on partner who suffers from disease .
Scans revealed pedalling boosted connections between brain regions linked to movement .
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There may never be a British Edward Snowden because GCHQ treats contractors 'as if they are people', the outgoing head of the government's listening post has said. In his first ever print interview today, Sir Iain Lobban revealed he feared Mr Snowden could have been a Brit when his leaks were first reported - before discovering he was American. But he insisted a key fact was that Mr Snowden was an unattached contractor with high-level access but little loyalty to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). Unlikely: Outgoing GCHQ chief Sir Iain Lobban, pictured before a parliamentary committee last year, said a British Edward Snowden was unlikely because the spy agency treats contractors 'as if they are people' Unattached: Edward Snowden (pictured) was a contractor with less loyalty to the government, Sir Iain said . Security experts in Britain, on the other hand, were likely to be more loyal because they were more firmly embedded with the government. The 54-year-old was forced to defend his organisation to MPs in an unprecedented public hearing after the U.S. whistleblower revealed it was gathering millions of pieces of data on British citizens. Almost a year later, he has given an interview just days from stepping down as the head of the spy agency. He told Charles Moore, a former editor of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph: 'When I heard the news... I lay awake saying to myself: "I hope this isn't a Brit".' But, he insisted, GCHQ 'treats our contractors as if they are people. We wouldn't body-shop them' - so they are unlikely to betray their employers in the same way. Based in a doughnut-shaped building with more than 5,000 employees in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) was formed in 1919 and employed Enigma code-breaker Alan Turing in the Second World War. Rare appearance: Sir Iain (right) addressed MPs alongside the heads of MI5 and MI6 last year. He told them: 'We don't want to delve into innocent e-mails and phonecalls. I don't employ the type of people who would do' Doughnut: Sir Iain made the fresh comments in his first print interview at GCHQ's Cheltenham headquarters . The rise of digital communications has pushed it to the forefront of British spying - as well as the headlines which surrounded the Snowden affair. The 31-year-old leaker, who is sheltering in Russia, claimed GCHQ was monitoring up to 600 million communications a day by 'tapping' fibre-optic cables which carried data into Britain. Despite believing there are few employees who think like Mr Snowden, Sir Iain told Mr Moore the leaks had 'made my job a thousand times more difficult'. Another staff member in the Cheltenham headquarters said jobs which once took two weeks now take six because of the leaks. Whitehall chiefs revealed Sir Iain would be leaving his role just two months after he was forced to defend his organisation before the government's Intelligence and Security Committee. In an unprecedented 90-minute hearing alongside the heads of MI5 and MI6 last November, he claimed terrorists were already changing their tactics because of Mr Snowden's revelations. He added: 'We don't want to delve into innocent e-mails and phonecalls. I don't employ the type of people who would do. 'If you think of the internet as an enormous hay field, what we are trying to do is to collect hay from those parts of the field that we can get access to. 'When we gather that haystack, and remember it is not a haystack from the whole field, it is a haystack from a tiny proportion of that field, we are very, very well aware that within that haystack there is going to be plenty of hay which is innocent communications from innocent people. Defence: In a hearing before the Council of Europe in April (pictured) Mr Snowden said: My motivation is to improve government, not to bring it down.' He added: 'I remain in a position of significant legal jeopardy' 'The cumulative effect of the media coverage, the global media coverage, will make the job that we have far, far harder for years to come.' Despite Sir Iain being just 53 when his departure was revealed, the government insisted it was not linked to the Snowden row and had been long in the planning. The NSA whistleblower defended his decision to leak thousands of documents in an appearance in April before Europe's largest human rights watchdog. He told the Council of Europe, a human rights group with 47 member states: 'My motivation is to improve government, not to bring it down.' Despite the changes which had been made because of his revelations, he added: 'I remain in a position of significant legal jeopardy'.
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Sir Iain Lobban, 54, is retiring from government's listening post this month .
He gave only ever print interview to former newspaper editor Charles Moore .
Communications chief reveals he feared whistleblower Snowden was a Brit .
The U.S. citizen was a contractor without personal devotion to the NSA .
British agency, he says, 'treats our contractors as if they are people' instead .
Sir Iain had to defend agency's record in Parliament after Snowden story .
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Family, friends and classmates have gathered at the University of Southern California to mourn a Chinese graduate student who was beaten to death near campus in a robbery. Hundreds attended a campus memorial service was held Friday for Xinran Ji. The engineering student was beaten with a baseball bat last week and left a trail of blood before dying in his off-campus apartment. Four teens have been charged with the killing. Through an interpreter, Ji's parents said their only child had only a year left before graduating. The dean of the USC School of Engineering announced a scholarship in Ji's honor. The parents of slain graduate student Xinran Ji, his mother, Jinhui Du, center left, and father, Songbo Ji, center right, attend his memorial service at USC . Deputy Consul General of Los Angeles Lei Wang bows toward family members of Ji Xinran, the USC grad student who was murdered a week earlie . University of Southern California (USC) students and faculty watch a memorial service for murdered USC graduate student Ji Xinran, 24, from China on a television screen on the USC campus . A poster-sized photo of the 24-year-old in a graduation cap and gown was on the stage next to a huge bouquet of white roses and lilies . Several representatives of the university spoke. Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni began the memorial. 'Today . we gather in shock and in sadness to mourn the tragic death of our . beloved student Xinran Ji who leaves behind a hole no one can fill,' he . said. 'He was cruelly taken from us far too soon. And his passing has . left us heartbroken, filled with confusion, anxiety and despair,' Soni . continued. 'We ask ourselves, can there be a sorrow greater than this; a . lament greater than that for a young life lost?' Faculty and students watch a memorial service. More than 300 people attended . Chinese students all studying at different universities in the United States. They flew in from Illinois, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere to be with the family . Also among those in the audience were half a dozen high school classmates of Xinran Ji, all from inner Mongolia . Services were held in both English and Chinese, making it clear the grief spreads across both continents . The . deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles Lei Wang . spoke urging USC and the L.A. Police Department to take . further measures to ensure the safety of students. About 300 people came to the University of Southern California the service. An overflow of guests gathered around monitors set up in a courtyard outside the service at Newman Hall. 'An excellent student in engineering. He was recognized as an innovator and a future leader in his profession. It was clear, I am told, at a very early age, that Xinran would thrive in a field where technical and critical thinking could shine,' acting USC President and Provost Elizabeth Garrett said. The dean of the USC School of Engineering, Yannis Yortsos, announced a scholarship in Ji’s honor, which would be awarded every year to a foreign student. Yannis Yortsos, Dean of the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering spoke at the service. He announced a scholarship in Ji¿s honor, which would be awarded every year to a foreign student . Xu Yuan, president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, spoke. Loved ones praised Ji as popular, hard-working and having a promising future . Xu Yua, President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, bows to a photo of Ji Xinran before speaking at the memorial service . 'Like all of you, I am devastated,' Yortsos said. 'So that out of Xinran’s senseless loss will grow the flower of hope and the seeds for a better world.' Everyone stood silently as the parents and other family members of Xinran Ji entered. His parents, uncles and aunts flew in from China this week. A poster-sized photo of the 24-year-old in a graduation cap and gown was on the stage next to a huge bouquet of white roses and lilies. Each speaker bowed before the image and then turned and faced his parents, bowing deeply to them. President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association Xu Yuan spoke as if talking directly to the deceased Xinran Ji, saying, 'We want you to know we will take care of your mom and dad, so please rest peacefully.' At Friday¿s memorial, services were held in both English and Chinese, making it clear the grief spreads across both continents . The electrical engineering student had graduated from Georgetown University with honors. He had the opportunity to return to his native China but instead wanted to come to USC, according to Ji¿s parents . t was a touching service that carried another message for law enforcement: plenty of people are counting on justice for a student who was taken from them much too soon . The words drawing the most emotional response came from a representative of the family. An uncle read a message from the father who was sitting in the audience but felt he might not be able to make it through the speech. It was a loving letter written from a father to his son. As the uncle read in Chinese, many of the Mandarin speakers in the auditorium started crying. Also among those in the audience were half a dozen high school classmates of Xinran Ji, all from inner Mongolia and all studying at different universities in the United States. They flew in from Illinois, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere to be with the family. Four people have been charged with capital murder in the slaying of Xinran Ji, 24 . According to LAPD, the 24-year-old student was attacked by a group of teenagers outside his apartment last Thursday morning. Prosecutors allege the suspects used a bat and wrench to beat up the electrical engineering student during a random robbery. Two men, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl have been charged with capital murder in the slaying, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The four teens are being held in county jail without bail. Jonathan DelCarmen, 19, Andrew Garcia, 18, Alberto Ochoa, 17, and Alejandra Guerrero, 16, face murder charges with the special circumstance of murder during an attempted robbery, prosecutors said. DelCarmen and Garcia are eligible for the death penalty. Ochoa and Guerrero, who were charged as adults, face life in prison without the possibility of parole. They are ineligible for the death penalty because they are under 18. Daniel Dang, the family's attorney, is upset for his clients. He had a message for the university. 'If you do not do enough to ensure the safety of Chinese students, will have no choice but warn our parents not to send their kids to USC.' University: A Chinese graduate student from the University of Southern California, pictured, was beaten to death near the campus . According to Dang, Ji's parents last . saw their son over Christmas in China. They hoped he would return over . summer, but he decided otherwise. When . the university called them to inform them of their son's death they . refused to believe it was true. It was only when the news was confirmed . by the Chinese consulate that they made plans to come to the U.S. Ji’s killing was the second deadly attack on USC graduate students from China during a botched robbery in as many years. In . 2012, two 23-year-old graduate students, Ying Wu and Ming Qu, were shot . to death as they sat in their car double-parked near the campus. Bryan . Barnes, 21, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison . without the possibility of parole for the slaying. Javier Bolden, 21, is . awaiting trial in connection with the killings. Apartments: City Park Apartments on W. 30th Street and Vermont Avenue where Ji died .
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Students, family and friends gathered at USC’s Newman Hall on Friday to pay tribute to a 25-year-old graduate student .
Services were held in both English and Chinese, making it clear the grief spreads across both continents .
Loved ones praised Ji as popular, hard-working and having a promising futureUSC engineering student Xinran Ji, 24, was beaten to death .
Family members say the graduate student was ambitious and dedicated .
Four teens have been charged with murder .
Los Angeles police said Ji was attacked with a blunt object .
It is the latest in a series of assaults to take place near the university .
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(CNN) -- Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel looks set to join Ferrari after announcing his shock exit from Red Bull on Saturday. The German, who has spent the past six seasons with Red Bull, is being hotly tipped to join the Italian racing marque from the start of 2015. Vettel broke the news of his departure in Suzuka ahead of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, but has so far remained tight-lipped on his plans. But F1 racing legend Niki Lauda believes all roads now point to Maranello for the German. "My logic tells me that Sebastian will now go to Ferrari," Lauda said, AFP reported. "Why? Because Fernando Alonso has fallen out of favor there. There is new management (at Ferrari), they need some new motivation in the team and, of course, Sebastian is the world champion, German and in the same style as (Michael) Schumacher," added Lauda, who won two of his three F1 world titles with Ferrari. Alonso wouldn't be drawn on the issue when interviewed by journalists following Saturday's qualifying session saying his priority was to help Ferrari. Last month, he said there was "no problem" with him seeing out the remaining two years of his contract with the Italian team. But Lauda thinks otherwise and says that the Prancing Horse would be well served by "some German thoroughness" that Vettel could bring. Ferrari has yet to comment on the status of either driver while Vettel himself says an announcement on his future can be expected "very soon." Vettel's news shocked the F1 paddock and will bring to an end a long relationship with the UK-based team, first as a junior racer then Toro Rosso before moving to Red Bull in 2009. In his second season Vettel clinched the first of his four world titles but the 27-year-old has struggled this year and currently lies fifth in the standings and trailing his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian is third in the drivers championship, taking the fight to the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg who have dominated this year. It was with this backdrop that Vettel made his move. "After 15 very enjoyable and successful years with Red Bull, I have decided to leave Red Bull at the end of this year," Vettel said in a statement. "Of course it is a big step and hard to make such a decision. The chance to drive in F1, the first win with Scuderia Toro Rosso, the four Championship wins with Infiniti Red Bull Racing and many other great memories have bound Red Bull and myself together into a kind of family. No one can take these times away from us." Musical chairs . No sooner had Vettel announced his impending departure was Red Bull filling the empty cockpit with Daniil Kvyat graduating from the Toro Rosso team after just a single season in F1. "It's been our philosophy for several years now to back youth and grow our own talent and that's what we did with Sebastian Vettel," said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. "Daniil's an exciting talent and prospect and it's an exciting new dawn for Infiniti Red Bull Racing." Horner noted that it had been "one hell of a journey" with Vettel referencing both his and the team's achievements which amount to four constructors' titles and 38 grand prix victories. "He joined us as a young man and now he's matured and he's decided it's time to move on, it's his decision, we're not going to hold him back and it's an exciting time for us," Horner added. "I think he reached a stage in his career where he fancied a new challenge, so that's his prerogative and like in any relationship, if someone's heart is not in it, then it's time to move on." If Vettel does replace Alonso at Ferrari then the Spaniard could be on his way back to McLaren. Alonso spent one season with the UK-based team in 2007 before moving on Renault then to Ferrari in 2010. Should he return then either Jenson Button or Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen would have to make way with the smart money on the 34-year-old Briton who is out of contract come the end of the season. Mercedes lockout front row . Meanwhile out on the track, Nico Rosberg pipped teammate Lewis Hamilton to pole in qualifying for Sunday's race at Suzuka. Williams driver Valtteri Bottas was third quickest with his teammate Felipe Massa directly behind him in fourth. Vettel scraped into the top ten and will start in ninth place while teammate Ricciardo is three places ahead in sixth with Fernando Alonso steering his Ferrari to fifth. Hamilton currently leads Rosberg by three points in the drivers' championship with five races remaining. Read more: Dutch teenager makes F1 history .
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Sebastian Vettel says his future plans will be revealed "very soon"
Four-time F1 world champion announced Saturday he was leaving Red Bull .
Veteran racer Niki Lauda says Vettel could replace Fernando Alonso at Ferrari .
Alonso tight-lipped on future and has been linked with a return to McLaren .
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Estonia summoned Russia's ambassador on Friday to demand an explanation regarding what it described as the abduction of a security official near its joint border. The news came the same day Russia announced it had detained an Estonia security officer in its northwest Pskov region, where Russian officials allege he was carrying out an undercover operation, according to a report from state-run news agency Itar-Tass. The dueling claims follow mounting tensions between the two nations. Just days earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Estonia, where he promised to protect the Baltic nation against Russian aggression. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet called the abduction of the Internal Security Service official by unidentified individuals from Russia, near the Luhamaa border checkpoint, a "very disturbing incident." "We expect to receive all manner of help and cooperation necessary from Russia in solving this case and bringing the Estonian citizen back to Estonia," Paet said, according to the Estonian Foreign Ministry. Neither Paet nor the Foreign Ministry provided details as to how they know the individuals are Russian. Meanwhile, Russia confirmed it detained a man named Eston Kohver, who its security service, known as the FSB, said was detained on Russian soil. The Estonian officer "had a Taurus handgun, an amount of €5,000 in cash, equipment for covert audio recording, and materials indicative of an intelligence mission," Itar-Tass reported, citing the FSB.
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Estonia's foreign minister says unidentified Russia individuals are behind abduction .
"We expect all manner of help and cooperation" from Russia, minister says .
Russia says it detained a security official in its northwest Pskov region .
It identified the official as Eston Kohver .
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By . David Mccormack . and Associated Press Reporter . A recently deceased 80-year-old Puerto Rican woman attended her own wake on Monday, just as she had stipulated while she was still alive. The body of Georgina Chervony Lloren took center stage at the ceremony at the Marin Funeral Home in San Juan. Georgina appeared propped up in her favorite red-cushioned rocking chair and she was dressed in the gown from her second marriage 32 years ago. Georgina Chervony Lloren, who died of natural causes on Sunday, had instructed her daughter that she wanted to attend her own wake sitting in her favorite rocking chair and wearing her wedding gown . She had also asked to be surrounded by plants and flowers. Her daughter, Miriam Chervony, said her mother specified that this was how she imagined her wake. Georgina had died on Sunday from natural causes. The Marin Funeral Home is well-known for putting on unusual, thematic wakes. At one wake, a slain boxer was memorialized standing in a makeshift boxing ring. At another, the deceased was propped up on his motorcycle. The body of Georgina Chervony Lloren took center stage at the ceremony at the Marin Funeral Home in San Juan, surrounded by plants and flowers . Georgina's daughter, Miriam Chervony, said her mother specified that this was how she imagined her wake . Georgina Chervony Lloren of San Juan, Puerto Rico, died from natural causes on Sunday, she was 80-years-old .
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Georgina Chervony Llore, 80, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, died on Sunday .
On Monday she attended her own wake just as she had stipulated while still alive .
Georgina sat propped up in her red-cushioned rocking chair .
She wore the gown from her second marriage from 32 years ago .
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By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 00:44 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:42 EST, 19 February 2013 . A gorilla born at a South Texas zoo last month is headed to Ohio to be introduced to a troop at a zoo there because the baby's mother has been ignoring her. Officials from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas have been caring for the yet-unnamed western lowland gorilla who was born on January 29. She will be moved this week to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, where experts hope she will bond with two adult female gorillas kept there. Scroll down for video . Show of love: Zoo keeper Cindy Stones feeds the female baby gorilla at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas after she was rejected by her mother . New arrival: Zoo director Jerry Stones cuddles the tiny gorilla who is heading to a new home in Cincinnati, Ohio . Zoo director Jerry Stones told UPI: 'The mother just ignored it and walked away; every once in a while there’s a female that does that.' The baby gorilla was born last month to mother Kiazi and a silverback male called Moja. Carers at the zoo have been taking it in turns to make sure that the new arrival is fed every two hours. Kiazi moved to the Gladys Porter Zoo in 2011 as part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums species survival breeding plan. The mother was from the Pittsburg Zoo & PPG Aquarium but was on a breeding loan transfer from the Cincinnati Zoo. Adorable: The baby gorilla is heading to Ohio in the hope that other adult female gorillas will surrogate her . Cute kid: Animal experts are hoping that the new baby bonds with two female gorillas at the Ohio zoo . Bundle of joy: The baby gorilla has to be hand-fed by zoo keepers every two hours in Texas . 24-hour care: The keepers are feeding the little gorilla after she was rejected by her mother .
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Unnamed female gorilla was born at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas on January 29 .
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One of Britain's most respected car designers has given the classic Jaguar Mark 2 a 21st-century makeover. Ian Callum, who is the design director at Jaguar and the brain behind cars like the Aston Martin DB9, had always wanted one of the sought-after models and bought one just over two years ago with the hope of transforming it. The 1962 saloon, like the one driven by Inspector Morse, was re-engineered by Classic Motor Cars in Shropshire where a team of mechanics brought it up to speed both inside and out. Scroll down for video . Ian Callum, the design director at Jaguar, has given the manufacturers classic 1952 Mark 2 saloon a 21-century makeover, both inside and out . Mr Callum bought a Mark 2 Jaguar just over two years ago and worked with Classic Motor Cars in Shropshire to make it faster and more modern . While it was always a beautiful car, Mr Callum said it could be 'even more exciting in shape and performance' The exterior of the vehicle was dressed-up with new front and rear bumpers. The wings were also widened, the chrome moldings were removed, the lights were adjusted, and the exhaust was centrally-mounted. Underneath the bonnet, the car was given a power-injection, with an uprated 4.3-litre straight-six engine which delivers 275bhp. The car now has a five-speed manual gearbox, unique independent rear suspension and upgraded front brakes. And inside the car now boasts a Scottish leather interior and all the high-tech gadgets of a modern machine - a DVD player, reversing camera and iPhone connector. The car's exterior was given a significant overhaul, with new front and rear bumpers, widened wings, adjusted lights and a centrally fitted-exhaust - it now sits 30mm lower . The car now has a five-speed gearbox so the driver can make the most of its upgraded engine . The Jaguar's interior has been given a tech upgrade and now has a DVD player, reversing camera and an iPhone connector, in keeping with a car of the 21st-century . The interior of the Jaguar was fitted out with the finest red Scottish leather, a stark contrast to its exterior . The Mark 2 now sits on 17-inch split rim spoke wheels and has a far more modern, sporty appearance . The project took 18 months to complete, with the now, not-so-classic, car being unveiled this week. Mr Callum, who is behind the current Jaguar F-Type, described the result as a 'a very personal statement'. While he said the Mark 2 was always a 'beautiful car' it could be 'even more exciting in shape and performance'. Mr Callum said: 'Whilst maintaining the purity of the car's form, I wanted to add a number of modern twists to the design. Simplification and clarity was my objective. The Mark 2 now has an uprated 4.3-litre straight six engine which delivers 275php . Mr Callum worked on the project for 18 months before the vehicle was unveiled this week . The Jaguar has four louvres on the side of the car to 'add that sense of power and something different' Mr Callum said while he wanted to mantain the purity of the car's form, he wanted to 'add a number of modern twists to the design' Former Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis said the new-look Mark 2 was something Mr Callum and the team at Classic Motor Cars should be 'very proud of' 'The stance of the Mark 2 is already excellent, but I wished to make it even better.' The car now sits 30mm lower and on 17-inch split rim spoke wheels and the bumpers are part of the overall form of the car, 'it is a fine balance of extracting and adding'. 4.3-litre straight-six engine delivering 275bhp . A five-speed gearbox . New front and rear bumpers and wider wings . Independent rear suspension and upgraded front brakes . 17-Inch split rim spoke wheels . Red Scottish leather interior . DVD player, reversing camera, iPhone connector . Mr Callum added: 'I have always loved traditional louvres as seen on many older race cars. Four louvres appear on the side of the car to add to that sense of power and something different. 'Of course they had to work, so they have been designed in a low-pressure area for a better internal airflow from the modified engine.' The car was unveiled at the opening of CMC's state-of-the-art headquarters in Bridgnorth in front of racing driver legend John Surtees and former Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis. Mr Dewis, 94, who has been associated with Jaguar for more than 60 years and was their chief development test engineer for 33 years, applauded the results of the Mark 2 makeover. He said: 'Mark 2 by Callum is something special and I was delighted when I was asked to unveil the car. 'It is something that both Ian Callum and CMC should be very proud of.'
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The car was a special makeover project for Jaguar's design director .
It now has a 4.3-litre straight-six engine which delivers 275bhp .
The project took 18 months to complete and is a 'very personal statement'
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(CNET) -- Coming from a company known more for its plasma HDTVs, the Panasonic TC-32LX85 is a pleasant surprise in the 32-inch LCD category. Attractively designed and well appointed with generous connectivity, it is also a good performer overall, although by no means perfect. I was particularly impressed with the set's color accuracy, which is something I really don't expect from entry-level displays. Compared with the competition, the LC-32LX85 represents a compelling value in small LCD screens when you consider its performance characteristics. Design . Basic in its design, but simultaneously elegant-looking, the TC-35LX85 has a glossy black finish, with a 3-inch-wide bezel surrounding the screen on all sides. It is a small and unobtrusive television that will fit into just about any decor nicely. Side panel AV inputs are neatly tucked away behind the right side of the screen. The remote control is identical to Panasonic's current plasma line of HDTVs, with an excellent ergonomic design. It is on the large side, but slender enough to fit in the hand comfortably. Unfortunately, the remote is not backlit. The internal menu graphical user interface is also quite simple and intuitive to use and navigate. Features . The Panasonic TC-32LCX85's offers a fairly comprehensive feature package for an entry-level 32-inch LCD TV. Its native resolution is 1366x768, or around 720p, whereas many higher-end models have a 1080p native resolution. At this screen size, however, the benefits of 1080p resolution are nearly impossible to discern with moving video, whether standard- or high-definition. If you plan on regularly using your 32-inch LCD TV as a computer monitor, however, you might want to consider a 1080p model. Picture adjustment options are OK, but not as extensive as found on the Samsung LN32A450 or LG32LG30 for example. Preset picture modes include Cinema, Game, Custom, Vivid, and Standard. Custom can be adjusted independently per input while the others can be tweaked as well and apply to every input. Selectable color temperatures include Warm, Normal, and Cool. The Backlight feature may be the most important in terms of optimizing the panel's picture, as it helps it achieve reasonably deep black levels when lowered from its factory setting. Some dubious picture-adjusting features include Color Management and AI Picture, both of which should be shut off for optimum performance. AI is an auto-contrast feature that raises and lowers the light output of the panel depending on ambient room lighting. This ultimately makes black and white level a moving target, and both of these parameters really should remain constant. In the Advanced menu there are two varieties of noise reduction, called Video NR and MPEG NR, and for high-quality sources both should be turned-off. Black Level should be set to Light for full shadow detail, although intuitively I would think Dark would be correct. (Panasonic always had Lighter and Darker settings that were intuitively correct at 7.5 and 0 IRE respectively in their DVD players. Strangely, for their TVs, it is backward.) Connection options are generous enough on the Panasonic, although unlike most other small-screen flat-panel sets it lacks a VGA-style PC input. The rear panel does have two HDMI inputs, one component video input, one AV input with a choice of either composite or S-Video, and one RF input. One set of analog audio outputs, and one digital optical audio output for routing sound to an external AV receiver are also on tap. Side panel inputs include one HDMI, and one set of AV inputs with composite video only, and an SD Card slot on the right side of the panel for viewing your digital photos. We'd like to see a headphone jack on the side as well, but no dice. Performance . The Panasonic LC-32LX85 is one of the better performers at its size in the entry-level, 720p-resolution LCD category. Color accuracy and black level performance are its main strengths, while color decoding and standard-definition processing are not. I didn't have to make too many adjustments during the user menu calibration to get the little TV looking its best. Since there are no custom color temperature controls in the user menu, I simply chose the best picture mode (Custom) and color temperature preset (Warm) and then tweaked the remainder of the basic picture controls. Afterward I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of the grayscale; you can click here to access my full picture settings. For my comparison I looked at the Panasonic alongside the Sony KDL-32M4000, the Westinghouse VK-40F580D and the Vizio VP322, two LCDs and a 32-inch plasma respectively. Black level: Blacks are reasonably good for an inexpensive LCD flat-panel TV, and deeper than either the Sony or the Vizio, although not quite as deep as the Westinghouse. The Panasonic also delivers the blacker-than-black video signals that many more expensive displays cannot, which helps lead to improved shadow detail. Chapter two of "X-Men: The Last Stand" showed off the LC-32LX85's compelling blacks very nicely. This high-contrast scene takes place at night, with bright explosions going off to provide a good look at an HDTV's shadow detail capability. There was plenty of fine detail in the background dark areas of the picture. The black areas of the picture were deep, rich, and inky, and the scene was relatively free of low-level noise. Color accuracy: As you can see from the Geek Box, grayscale tracking in the Warm color temperature preset was impressive, and the primary colors of red, green, and blue also measured reasonably close to the HDTV standard, which is unusual even in some expensive flat-panel displays. Color decoding does push red a bit though, so we had to desaturate the color somewhat and remove some of the picture's punch. Colors still appeared vibrant, however, and skin tones looked quite natural. Chapter four of the awesome transfer of "I, Robot" proved an excellent scene to show off the Panasonic's contrast ratio--good blacks and whites creating a snappy picture--as well as its accurate color reproduction. Video processing: Unlike most modern HDTVs the LC-32LX85 doesn't accept 1080p sources, so my evaluation had to be with all HD sources set to 1080i. The set lacks an aspect ratio that provides for zero overscan, which would be a bigger issue if it were a 1080p resolution panel, but really isn't a big deal the panel has only a 720p resolution. The video processing does roll off the high-frequency video somewhat, a common flaw with many flat-panel sets on the market today. Uniformity: White-field uniformity was reasonably good on this panel, and that is saying something for an LCD. As you may know LCD display technologies, whether flat panel or projection, suffer from poor white-field uniformity. As a result you may see red and blue splotches in scenes that are primarily white like the ice in a hockey game or a movie like "Ice Age." This Panasonic, while not perfect, was better than most in this performance test. Standard-definition: The Panasonic is a mediocre performer with standard-def material. It didn't resolve every line of horizontal resolution according to the charts on the HQV disc, and as a result some images appeared a bit softer than normal. It did a below-average job of smoothing out jaggies on rotating diagonal lines, and there were a good number of such artifacts in a waving American flag. The set's noise reduction, on the other hand, was very good at cleaning up moving motes in low-quality images of skies and sunsets, and the set engaged 2:3 pull-down detection quickly and effectively. PC: Absent a VGA-style PC input I attempted to test the Panasonic's capability to handle digital signals from a PC via its HDMI jack. The best resolution the video card allowed was 1,280x768, which is short of the set's native resolution, and there was enough overscan that important areas of the screen, including the Windows taskbar, were obscured. People who want a PC display should probably choose another set. © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission.
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As a 32-inch LCD TV, the Panasonic TC-32LX85 is a good overall performer .
It's one of the better models at its size in the entry-level, 720p-resolution category .
Model delivers surprisingly impressive HD picture quality for a small-screen LCD .
But standard-def images look softer than normal .
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By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 10:05 EST, 24 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:09 EST, 24 July 2013 . A bank robber handed a cashier a handwritten note reading: '£5,000 now, Shhh!!! or I'll shoot' before fleeing with the money. Detectives hope the photo of the note and CCTV images of the man will help trace the offender after the raid on the NatWest bank in Salford. No weapon was seen but an amount of cash was handed over before the suspect fled. Brazen threat: The note the bank thief handed to the cashier in Salford, Greater Manchester, before fleeing with the cash . Hunt: The suspect is caught on CCTV inside the bank branch. Police have released the picture in an attempt to catch the suspect . Detective Chief Inspector Ben Ewart, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'Since this brazen robbery we have conducted numerous inquiries to try and identify the suspect. 'We are determined that the person responsible for this crime is brought to justice and I am now appealing to the public for help. 'While no weapons were seen, the offender has robbed a bank and in the process - through the medium of the written word - threatened to shoot staff if they did not comply.' Some of the cash was recovered nearby after the offender activated a security dye pack. Search: The thief fled with an undisclosed sum of money from the bank in Salford following the raid last year . He is described as white, between 5ft 10in and 6ft, of slim/athletic build, in his late 20s or early 30s, with a sallow complexion, pock marks on his cheeks and slight stubble. He was wearing a thick black woollen hat, black snood, waist-length jacket, light- coloured jogging bottoms and had a blue stud earring. The raid, in Bolton Road, Salford, happened on December 11 last year. Anyone with information is asked to call Swinton CID on 0161 856 5351, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Police hope releasing the note and CCTV will help them trace the suspect .
Some of the cash was found nearby after the raider activated a security dye .
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By . Chris Hastings . PUBLISHED: . 19:01 EST, 1 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:02 EST, 1 December 2012 . Hard-up: John Cleese (with fourth wife Jennifer Wade) is going to great lengths to sell his old Bentley Eight . As Basil Fawlty, the irate owner of Britain’s most notorious hotel, he was not known for his love of cars and famously gave one ‘a damn good thrashing’ with a tree branch. But funnyman John Cleese clearly has a soft spot for his old Bentley Eight – and is going to elaborate lengths to sell it. He has agreed to have lunch with whoever buys it and give an handwritten story of some of the car’s most famous passengers, including Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline, his co-stars from the film A Fish Called Wanda. He is also offering a signed photograph of the classic scene of him ‘thrashing’ the red Austin 1300 in Fawlty Towers. Cleese, 73, has put his 1987 Bentley, which is currently in storage in Kent, up for auction on the website of the Original Memorabilia Company with a starting price of £2,500. In a description he writes: ‘Twenty-five years on it is a little faded, and needs some TLC to restore its natural beauty including some attention to the battle scars from a quarrel with a gate post the last time I drove it, but it remains a fabulous car to drive and is the most beautiful car I have ever owned.’ The money will come in handy for the four-times married Monty Python veteran. In his acrimonious 2009 divorce settlement with his third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger, Cleese was ordered to pay £12.5 million in finance and assets, including £612,000 a year until 2016. It prompted him to embark on his ‘Alimony Tour’ to meet the costs. His divorce from second wife Barbara Trentham cost him £2.5 million in 1988. The terms of his divorce from first wife Connie Booth, who co-wrote and starred with him in Fawlty Towers have never been made public. Earlier this year he married fourth wife, Jennifer Wade. On the website, Cleese says that the car, which has just over 73,500 miles on the clock, is in ‘excellent condition mechanically’ and has ‘just sailed through its MOT’. Not Fawlty: The 1987 Bentley Eight which John Cleese says is the 'most beautiful car'. He has agreed to have lunch with whoever buys it and a signed photograph of a Fawlty Towers scene . He also posted a tweet yesterday which said: ‘My dear old Bentley of 25 years needs a new home and I will be delighted to take its new owner to lunch.’ He is using the same site to sell copies of a 1970 photograph which shows all six Monty Python stars doing trademark silly walks. The limited edition prints are signed by Cleese. 'Damn good thrashing': Cleese is offering a signed photograph of the classic scene of him 'thrashing' the red Austin 1300 in Fawlty Towers and has set the starting price at £2,500 .
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John Cleese is selling his Bentley Eight and set the starting price at £2,500 .
He is also offering to have lunch with the buyer, a handwritten story of some of the car's famous passengers and a signed Fawlty Towers photograph .
The car is in storage in Kent and 'needs some TLC' he said .
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BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- The fiery leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant movement assured Lebanon on Monday that his movement will cooperate in the country's political life. Supporters carry posters of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Hassan Nasrallah said: "We don't want to have control over Lebanon, or to have governance over Lebanon or to impose our ideas over the people of Lebanon, because we believe Lebanon to be a special and diverse country that needs the collaboration of everyone." Nasrallah spoke a day after Lebanon's parliament elected Michel Sleiman the country's president after a six-month vacancy in the position. Nasrallah, speaking at a packed stadium, told his followers: "I renew my appeal and invitation for a true national partnership with no eliminations or impositions. The national unity government is not the victory of the opposition against the pro-government. It is the victory of all Lebanese." He said Sleiman's election "renews the hope amongst the Lebanese people to a new era and a new start." "I must say that there are deep wounds from our side and theirs, we are both in front of two choices; either to expand the wounds and add salt to them or try to cure them for the sake of Lebanon and we prefer the second choice." The parliament had tried 19 times to vote on a new president, but failed because of disagreements over how to share power in a new Cabinet. Lebanon's Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition reached a deal last week aimed at ending an 18-month political crisis that pushed the country to the brink of civil war, and paved the way for Sleiman's election. The agreement, reached in Doha, Qatar, calls for a consensus government in which the Cabinet would be comprised of 30 posts -- 16 for the majority, 11 for the Hezbollah-led opposition and three set aside for the president to nominate. The seat allocation had been a key sticking point for the opposition, which wanted to ensure it had the power to veto major decisions. With 11 Cabinet posts, it will have that power. In exchange for the veto power and a redistricting plan ahead of next year's elections, Hezbollah agreed to end its sit-in protest that has paralyzed downtown Beirut since late 2006. In his speech, Sleiman expressed gratitude to Qatar and to the Arab League for helping broker the deal. Sleiman was the consensus candidate, and is viewed as a neutral party by Lebanon's political factions. The nation's previous presidents have been seen as either pro-Syrian or pro-Western. In his 10 years as chief of the army, Sleiman also is believed to have unified the splintered military. However, he inherits a nation grappling with divisions. Lebanon's elected, pro-Western government has long been locked in a power struggle with Hezbollah. In public statements and demonstrations in recent years, Hezbollah threatened to use its power and popularity to oust the Sunni-led government, triggering fears of a new civil war that could further destabilize the volatile region. The election helped end a political crisis that deteriorated into violence this month. That crisis was defused when the Lebanese government gave in to two key Hezbollah demands -- lifting a government ban of Hezbollah's telecommunications system and reinstating the chief of security at Beirut's airport. "The performance of the opposition proved that it did not organize a coup, but only wanted the illegal government to withdraw its two decisions," Nasrallah said. "I promise that the opposition's representation in the government will not be monopolized by Hezbollah, Amal and the Change and Reform bloc. We will give other opposition parties shares - and unfortunately we must speak of shares - even if it is at the expense of Hezbollah's shares." Hezbollah has been linked to numerous terrorist attacks against U.S., Israeli, and other Western targets and the United States lists it as a terrorist organization. But many in Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East -- particularly Shiites -- view Hezbollah militants as freedom fighters.
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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah says Lebanon needs collaboration of everyone .
Nasrallah praises election of Michel Sleiman as president after six months .
Election comes after Hezbollah and government agreed power-sharing deal .
Sleiman is considered a consensus president in the divided country .
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A giant 18-metre tall Santa Claus that has watched over a capital city each festive season since the 1960s may have seen in his last Christmas. Looking down on busy Queen Street in the city of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island, the huge icon has been deemed unworthy of the $180,000 bill it takes to care for him each year. Locals know the figure for his 'creepy' winking eye and wagging finger, The New Zealand Herald reported, but they're also devastated to see him go. Scroll down for video . This giant Santa that has looked over Auckland for more than half a century may have seen his last Christmas . Tipping the scales at five-tonnes the Santa statue is more than half a century old, and his care was funded by national bookstore chain Whitcoulls until December 2008. But according to the website, Whitcoulls announced they were no longer in a position to foot the bill and gave Santa to the city of Auckland as a gift. From then the city centre business association Heart of the City (HotCity) partially funded the creepy statue's existence with the help of some sponsorships. He has been looking over Auckland, New Zealand for more than half a centurt . The jolly man had a make-over and his disturbing winking eye was fixed so his presence was a little less frightening. But despite this a few years back he was voted the world's creepiest Christmas ornament by an American website. New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key spoke to More FM on Thursday morning, calling the demise of the special Santa Claus a national outrage. 'I remember that Santa there with the slightly dodgy winking eye and the finger. But apparently the winking eye has been fixed up. It's been around since 1960 for goodness sake.' A few years back he was voted the world's creepiest Christmas ornament by an American website . He added that a working bee could be a good idea to help cover the costs, as the government wouldn't be able to help the city out and fund the friendly figure. In a bid to try and save the Santa Claus the SkyCity hotel in Auckland has kicked off donations with $50,000, and encouraged other businesses to join. But for now, the jolly statue is in pieces in storage, and will be kept there until it's decided what to do with him. But one thing is for sure, locals are very upset about the loss of the statue that's knows when they're all sleeping, and knows when they're awake . For now, the jolly statue is in pieces in storage, and will be kept there until it's decided what to do with him .
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The huge Santa Claus figure has looked over Auckland since the 1960s .
He may not see another Christmas because he costs $180K a year .
New Zealand's Prime Minister suggested a working bee to save Father Christmas .
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A 911 dispatcher is under investigation after security footage proved she was using her cell phone during an emergency call while the victim lay dying. The call center operator, Shauna Justice, was training a new staff member in Volusia County, Florida, when the call came through on September 4. Bob Hill, 58, had suffered a heart attack while playing a game of racquetball with friends. In video footage of the incident - obtained by Click Orlando - Justice is seen using her cell phone while her subordinate entered the wrong location. See video below . 'What is your emergency?': Shauna Justice (left) is seen in this video footage scrolling through a personal cell phone while the trainee she is supervising (right) sends paramedics to the wrong address . 911 dispatcher Shauna Justice is said to be 'very remorseful' about using her cell phone on duty. She now faces a five day suspension . The trainee accidentally sent the ambulance to a different recreational center following a miscommunication with the person reporting the emergency. Fifteen minutes passed before paramedics arrived at the scene. Deceased: Bob Hill, 58, died of a heart attack while waiting for paramedics to arrive . Mr Hill died in that time. In the 911 call, the caller clearly states the cross streets of his location, but said the wrong name of the center. He misidentified Nova Community Center, which is in Ormond beach, as the 'Ormond Rec Center'. Instead of sending paramedics to the cross streets, the trainee dispatcher looked up 'Ormond Rec Center' and sent units to 176 Division Avenue. The dispatcher is heard guiding the caller through CPR, but almost 10 minutes passes before he realizes his mistake. An internal review said Justice failed to properly supervise. It is believed that, had Justice not been looking at her phone, the proper address would have been identified. Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson said Justice was 'remorseful' about the incident. Mishap: Emergency crews were sent to the wrong recreational center. Supervisor Shauna Justice was on her cell phone when a trainee entered the address. It took 15 minutes to get to the correct location . 'She admitted her mistake,' he said. 'We messed up. 'She was very remorseful about what happened, very caring about it. 'She admitted to what her mistake was.' Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson said 911 dispatcher Shauna Justice was 'remorseful' and had 'admitted her mistake' It's unclear whether the mistake contributed to Hill's death. Johnson, however, still said it was a 'serious mistake' that 'could have been avoided'. Justice is now facing a five day suspension. The dispatcher who handled the call was given a written reprimand but was not taken off the job. Watch video here ... video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player .
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Shauna Justice was supervising a trainee at a dispatch office in Volusia County, Florida .
When a call came through about a man having a heart attack, the trainee entered the wrong location .
Security footage also shows Justice looking at her cell phone .
The victim, Bob Hill, died in the 15 minutes it took the ambulance crew to get to the right address .
The incident has forced police to admit: 'We messed up.'
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By . Hayley O'keeffe . PUBLISHED: . 05:28 EST, 2 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:21 EST, 2 November 2013 . The cry of 'it's a girl' is usually a happy surprise after the birth of a new addition. But as 11-week-old Skyla Ratcliffe, from Weymouth, Dorset represents the fifth generation of females in her family, her gender was no real shock. There are 83 years between Sheila Walbridge and her great-great-granddaughter. The family have lived within two miles of each other in Weymouth for their entire lives. Great-great-grandmother Sheila Walbridge says that she is the head of a family of 'strong women' The third generation started with great grandmother Linda Frampton, 62, and then grandmother Cinamon Ratcliffe, 44. Cinamon’s daughter Jade Ratcliffe, 25, marks the fourth generation and is mother to baby Skyla. The whole family live within just two miles of each other and have spent their whole lives in Weymouth. The new grandmother, who stays at home to look after her family, said: 'It’s really nice to have five generations of girls in the same family, my grandmother was really thrilled when Skyla was born. 'It’s quite nice having a young family because you can all look after one another and it’s lovely when we are all together. 'I don’t think people really grasp it when they find out that there are five generations, but we were all quite a similar age when we had our children, which is why. 'People have also said that I don’t look old enough to be a grandmother, but I prefer to say nanna because grandmother makes me feel like I’m in my 70s.' Sheila was married to Harold Walbridge, 82 who died seven years ago, and she had her two children before the age of 24. Linda also has two children and gave birth to Cinamon in 1968 when she was 17. Cinamon lives with partner Terry Ansell, 61, who runs a caravan sales business and her two children are from a previous relationship. Jade and her boyfriend Ben O’Brien, 25, a lifeguard at a holiday park, are also parents to four-year-old Alfie. Great-great grandmother Sheila, who is proud to be the matriarch of the female dominated family, said: 'It’s a family of strong women.'
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Baby Skyla Ratcliffe is the fifth generation of girls in her family .
Great-great-grandma says her family is full of strong women .
All the women live within two miles of each other in Weymouth .
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The investigation into the actions of former NFL tight end Aaron Hernandez, who is accused of killing friend Odin Lloyd, has turned to Hernandez's fiancee as law enforcement searches for the .45 caliber gun used in the slaying. Lloyd's bullet-riddled body was found in a Massachusetts industrial park on June 17, Father's Day, about a mile from Hernandez's Massachusetts home. He was shot five times, and the gun has not been found. Prosecutors have accused the former New England Patriot of orchestrating what they call Lloyd's execution-style slaying. Hernandez, 23, has pleaded not guilty to murder and is being held without bail. Search warrant affidavits obtained by CNN contain new details about fiancée Shayanna Jenkins. In them, authorities alleged that Hernandez, Jenkins, his cousin Tanya Singleton and Ernest Wallace "have all made overt attempts to hide evidence, render assistance for suspect to elude law enforcement, and to hinder and mislead this investigation." Shayanna Jenkins has not been charged in connection with the investigation, and lawyers representing her fiancé, Hernandez, have not responded to requests for comment. Official: Lake search didn't turn up weapon . Wallace has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder. The documents indicate investigators became suspicious of Shayanna Jenkins after they spoke with her sister Shaneah Jenkins. Shaneah Jenkins was Lloyd's girlfriend. The court papers describe the following allegations: . The day after Lloyd's body was found, Shaneah Jenkins told authorities she was with her sister, Shayanna, and two uncles at Hernandez's home. During that time, Shaneah Jenkins said she saw her sister go into the basement with an empty trash bag. Shayanna asked Shaneah to borrow her car and had a cell phone "communication" with Hernandez. The women's uncle told Shayanna that "Mr. Hernandez wanted weapons taken out of the house" and told Shaneah that weapons "were discarded into 'the woods.'" Did Hernandez store guns in a box after killing? The documents go on to describe a mysterious, if not cryptic, text message obtained by investigators from Hernandez to his fiancée that allegedly read: "Go back in back of the screen in movie room when u (sic) get home an (sic) there is a box...jus (sic) in case u (sic) were looking for it!!! Member (sic) how you ruined the big tv Imao WAS JUST THINKIN bout that lol wink wink love u TTYL....K" "TTYL" is common shorthand for "talk to you later." According to the court papers, Jenkins allegedly answers: "ok-that was awful...Perfect tv...Love u." About an hour later, a home surveillance video shows Jenkins leaving the house carrying something "rigid" and "consistent to a lock box or safe" placed inside a garbage bag and covered with clothing, according to the documents. Police state Jenkins drove away and returned an hour later, but she was not carrying the "rigid" item back into the house. Prosecutors have said no lock box was found in the home. A search of a rented storage unit in Bristol, Connecticut, allegedly paid for by Hernandez, did not locate the weapon used to kill Lloyd, according to law enforcement officials. Singleton, Hernandez' cousin, remained jailed on a contempt of court charge for failing to cooperate with a grand jury, according to two law enforcement sources. Grand jury indictments are expected in the case as early as next week, officials have said. Hernandez responds from jail to fan letter .
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Search warrant: Aaron Hernandez's fiancee and others have tried "to hide evidence"
Papers: Shayanna Jenkins carried something like "a lock box or safe" from house .
Jenkins has not been charged in connection with Odin Lloyd's June death .
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in Lloyd's killing .
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A 35-year-old Detroit mother accused of killing two of her chidlren and stuffing their bodies inside a deep freezer said through her attorney Thursday that she loves her two surviving kids and wants to see them. Prosecutors charged Mitchelle Blair Thursday with felony murder, premeditated murder and torture. Court officers carrying out a March 24 eviction at the family's apartment found the frozen corpses of 13-year-old Stoni Ann Blair and 9-year-old Stephen Gage Berry. Impassive: Mitchelle Blair, pictured left and right in court Thursday, appeared stone-faced during her arraignment on murder and abuse charges . Laundry list of counts: Prosecutors charged Mitchelle Blair Wednesday with felony murder, premeditated murder and torture. Inked: The tattooed names of her four children, including Stoni and Stephen, are visible on her right forearm below the crossed out name of an ex . Blair initially was charged with child abuse, but more charges had been expected after autopsies revealed the siblings were beaten to death. Investigators believe Stephen died in August 2012 and Stoni died the following May. Blair's two surviving children — ages 8 and 17 — have been placed into a relative's care. Appearing in court Thursday for a probable-cause hearing, with the names of her four children inked on her forearm, Blair was arraigned on two counts of felony murder, first-degree premeditated murder and torture. The 35-year-old woman previously had been charged with four counts of first-degree child abuse and one count of committing first-degree child abuse in the presence of another child. Responding to a reporter's question about the woman’s two surviving children, Blair’s defense attorney, Wyatt Harris, said his client 'loves her children very much.' He then added he is sure Blair 'wants to see her children,' reported The Detroit Free Press. Blair's daughter, Stoni (left) and son Stephen (right). Stoni's sister claimed Blair killed Stoni by strangling her with a T-shirt and suffocated her with a plastic bag . 'Violent': The 35-year-old woman previously had been charged with four counts of first-degree child abuse and one count of committing first-degree child abuse in the presence of another child . confession: According to police, during her arrest March 24, Blair admitted to killing the two children, saying: ‘They’re both dead! I did it!’ Attorney Wyatt Harris (right) told reporters his client loves her surviving children and wants to see them . Harris entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Blair, who appeared impassive as she stood by his side with her tattooed arms crossed and wearing blank expression on her face. The attorney made a motion for an independent mental health evaluation for his client, which Judge Kenneth King granted. Experts will assess Blair’s mental competency to waive her Miranda rights, to be held criminally responsible for her actions and to stand trial. Judge King also gave the defense attorney permission to review two videotaped interviews conducted with Blair's surviving children by child advocates working with law enforcement. At the request of the prosecution, the lawyer was ordered not to share the recordings with anyone other than doctors or members of Blair’s family. Mitchelle Blair was ordered held without bail pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 19. According to police, during her arrest March 24, Blair admitted to killing the two children, saying: ‘They’re both dead! I did it!’ She also allegedly stated that she was not evil, ‘It was just an evil act.’ A medical examiner has determined that the exact cause of death was blunt force trauma and ruled it a homicide. A joint funeral for Stoni and Stephen will be held April 13 in Detroit. At Harris' (left) request, a judge ordered a mental health evaluation for Blair to determine if she was cempetent enough to waive her Miranda rights and stand trial . Details of death and extreme abuse emerged Thursday as Mitchelle Blair appeared in court, two days after the bodies of her 9-year-old son, Stephen Berry, and 13-year-old daughter, Stoni Blair, were discovered . Child welfare officials revealed last week that Blair's two surviving children had been terribly abused in a house of horrors. The Michigan Department of Human Services is taking steps to end Blair's rights to her two other children, a 17-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son, who are currently with a relative. In a court filing, the state said her daughter described a home where she and her surviving brother were beaten with an extension cord and piece of wood and hit and burned with a hot curling iron. Medical exams revealed evidence of abuse, including numerous scars, on the surviving children. Twenty-five scars were found on the boy's back that were consistent with being hit by an extension cord, according to a petition obtained by the Detroit News. Blair's teenage daughter also described how her siblings were killed, according to court papers. 'Blair tortured Stephen for approximately two weeks prior to his death by tying a belt around his neck, throwing hot water on him while in the shower and putting a plastic bag over his head,' the state said, quoting the 17-year-old. Court officers serving an eviction notice at Blair's home (pictured) opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter Stoni Ann Blair and her son Stephen Gage Berry . In a court filing, the state said the teen described a house of horrors, where she and her surviving brother were beaten with an extension cord and piece of wood, hit with a hot curling iron and burned with a clothing iron . Stephen was 'unresponsive' on Aug 30, 2012, and Blair wrapped his body in bed linen and put him in the freezer, the state said. Nine months later, Blair became 'enraged' when Stoni said she didn't like her surviving siblings and strangled the girl with a T-shirt and suffocated her with a plastic bag, the department said. Blair then made the teen 'put Stoni in the deep freezer following her death,' the agency said. The bodies of the children were discovered on Tuesday while court officers were serving an eviction notice. The apartment was reportedly filled with food and trash and rendered almost 'unlivable', according to the report. Blair's 8-year-old boy also was aware that his sister and brother were killed and subsequently placed in the freezer, the department said. While being questioned, Blair told investigators she placed Stephen 'in a boiling hot tub of water until his feet blistered' because she found out Stephen was allegedly sexually assaulting a relative, according to the Detroit News. Blair also told police that when he died, she wrapped him 'in his favorite blanket' and put him in the freezer, the police report states. The surviving children did not mention sexual abuse when they were interviewed by counselors, according to a juvenile court petition. A woman walks past notes left on the door at at the family's home on Wednesday. The teenager said neither she nor her siblings have attended school for two years . Blair's teenage daughter said neither she nor her siblings have attended school for two years. Neighbor Shanetria Lanier, 21, told the Detroit News Blair home-schooled her children and 'that's why no schools were wondering where they were'. There is no record of the children attending classes, according to a Detroit Public Schools official. People did notice that two of her children seemed to disappear about a year ago. Lanier told the newspaper: 'When people asked her where her other two kids are, she said they were at their aunt's house. 'Or sometimes she'd tell people they stayed inside because they didn't like to be around people.' Tori Childs, who also lives in the complex, told the Detroit News she often saw the children and sometimes gave them clothes or food. She said they were 'the nicest kids' who were 'so respectable'. 'This is just wrong,' she said in tears. Childs said she saw two bodies on the floor after police arrived at the home on Tuesday. 'It was a little girl and a little boy,' she said. 'The little girl had on a pink jacket.' Earlier Thursday, Blair appeared in court on child abuse charges via a video feed from a police lockup. Magistrate Renee McDuffee entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf. The state said it investigated allegations of abuse in 2002 and 2005. Blair was referred to counseling and allowed to keep custody of her children. Toni Williams, 28, left, and Natasha Bell, 30, leave balloons at the house on Wednesday . The two fathers of Blair's surviving children are unfit to care for them, according to the state. Together they owe $50,000 in child support and haven't seen the kids in two to three years. Neighbors say Blair has lived in the complex at least 10 years. She was unemployed and having money troubles, and she had gotten behind on her rent. Neighbors said they knew about the impending eviction. Court records show a judgment filed last month against her for $2,206 owed to the complex. 'While we all understand the desire to know what happened in that home is strong, I will ask you to be mindful of the two children who were also in that home and are still living,' Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters Wednesday. 'They've been through a lot, a tremendous trauma.'
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Mitchelle Blair, 35, was arraigned Thursday on charges of felony murder, premeditated murder and torture.
The deaths of two of her children Stoni Blair, 13, and Stephen Berry, 9, have been ruled a homicide .
She will undergo a mental health evaluation to determine her competency .
Blair's surviving children were discovered to have been terribly abused, according to child welfare officials .
Blair's 17-year-old daughter said her mother forced her to put her sister's body in the deep freezer .
Her 8-year-old son said he knew his brother and sister were killed and put in the freezer .
Police said during her arrest March 24, Blair admitted to killing the two children, saying: ‘They’re both dead! I did it!’
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Nashville, Tennessee (CNN) -- Aspiring entrepreneur Abigail Franklin began selling clothes from a truck because she was looking for a way to stay in one place. That might sound odd until you learn she is a wardrobe stylist based in Nashville who tours the world with musical acts. It was 2010, and she had just married her husband, a sound technician she met while touring with Bon Jovi, when she decided to set down roots. Given her two decades of experience dressing male performers including Prince and members of Creed, she set her sights on opening a menswear store. When she couldn't find a location that fit her budget, she went into business with Nashville fashion designer Kyah Hillis. Drawn to the opportunity to keep startup costs low, they decided to take a chance on mobile retail, which was catching on in Nashville after starting a few years earlier on the West Coast. People buy tacos and barbecue from retrofitted trucks and campers and some even live in them, so it was likely just a matter of time before entrepreneurs started using them to sell clothes, jewelry and shoes. "We can bring our products to you instead of waiting for you to come to us," said Franklin in an interview in her truck last week, a former Snap-On-Tools truck from Indiana she found on Craigslist. It took about $25,000 to get "The Trunk" up and running in spring 2012, with Hill's dresses and jewelry on one side of the 10-by-5-foot retail space and Franklin's selection of men's hats and grooming products on the other. People follow the Trunk's movements on Twitter and on its website. On any given day, it could be a music festival, a tailgate, a restaurant parking lot or outside a Bon Jovi concert when the band plays in Nashville. Named so it could accommodate a rotating cast of products, brands or designers, Franklin sees it as a "medicine chest" of opportunities. "It just made sense. There's less overhead, and we can usually cover it in one day," she said. "I love the possibilities of the truck. We can use it to sell clothes or whatever we want." Most people launch mobile boutiques as faster and cheaper alternatives to traditional brick and mortar retail, said Jeanine Romo, who launched Le Fashion Truck with business partner Stacey Steffe in Los Angeles in 2010. Usually, there's no lease involved and monthly expenses are lower than they would be to run a store. Before inventory, Le Fashion Truck's monthly costs run from $1,500 to $2,000 for generator, liability and auto insurance, cleaning supplies and storage rent, for starters. That pales in comparison to rent alone for a retail space, which could start at $7,000 in Los Angeles, Romo said. As budding entrepreneurs look for new ways to stand out from the crowd, interest in mobile retail appears to be growing. Romo and Steffe started the West Coast Mobile Retail Association in 2011 to unite and support mobile boutique owners. It now has 32 members, some of whom have taken active roles in proposing legislation and working with cities to develop regulations for mobile retail. In response to growing numbers of inquiries from outside the West Coast, the WCMRA expanded to become the American Mobile Retail Association, which has 60 members from across the country and new inquiries coming in each day, Romo said. "It's just a new way of doing business. It's creative, it's interesting, it's the now," she said in a phone interview. Most of the boutiques carry women's clothing and accessories and gifts in the vein of what you might find on Etsy, but some trucks are expanding into shoes and sneakers, records, even flowers. But, it's labor intensive, physically and otherwise, the pair has learned. When they're not on their feet setting up and breaking down the 10-by-5-foot retail space, or checking the generator, they're looking for new places to show or ensuring their permits, licenses and knowledge of local codes are current. Recently, through WCMRA, they proposed new permit legislation. "There's still no business plan template for this kind of business, so it's all happening on a case-by-case basis," Romo said. "The rules are still being written and figured out and the owners of mobile boutiques are at the forefront of the action." The trucks are also becoming springboards for online boutiques and occasionally an actual storefront. It cost Vanessa Lurie of Portland, Oregon, (known for its truck-friendly policies) about $2,000 to gut, paint and re-panel a 1969 Cardinal Deluxe trailer formerly used for hunting excursions and transform it into a two-rack vintage boutique with a tiny dressing corner in 2010. By July 2012 she had nearly enough capital to open a store in Portland by the same name, Wanderlust. Through the trailer, she learned how to run a retail business while generating revenue to invest in a real store. She worried at first that not having the novelty of the trailer would make it hard to distinguish herself from other vintage stores. But, she has found that having a permanent location makes it easier for her to build a loyal customer base that knows where to find her, she said. "They're just really different experiences. People were so amazed by the trailer itself and the setup. You'd get into these really funny situations when people had to use the teeny dressing room," she said. Though she misses the "intimacy" of the trailer, she can carry more inventory now and become involved in the business community, she said. "Now, it seems like I'm a little more established. People know where to find me, and I have a lot more regulars. I'm a business owner and people in the community embrace me for that." Lurie, 30, still plans to use the trailer on a more selective basis, like festivals and fairs, of which Portland has a lot in the spring and summer. Franklin is also looking forward to spring in Nashville. Unlike its West Coast counterparts, who enjoy mobile retail-friendly weather most of the year, "The Trunk" had to hibernate for winter; it gets cold in Nashville, after all. When "The Trunk" reopens in 2013, Franklin plans to expand offerings for women since they make up the majority of customers, she said. Being at the mercy of inclement weather is one downside to mobile retail along with hoping customers will find you, she said. Brick and mortar stores rely on the same good fortune, of course. But a truck can pick up and leave if business isn't good. Follow Emanuella Grinberg on Twitter . Would you frequent a mobile retailer? Share your take in the comments section below.
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Aspiring entrepreneurs launch fashion trucks as cost-effective alternatives to brick and mortar stores .
"We can bring our products to you instead of waiting for you to come to us"
Most mobile retail trucks sell Etsy-type clothing and crafts; some offer shoes, records .
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By . Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline . A dazzling conjunction of Jupiter and Venus will be visible on Monday morning, shortly before sunrise in the UK. A 2012 conjunction over Canada is pictured . A dazzling conjunction of Jupiter and Venus will provide an impressive light show on Sunday night and Monday morning. The two brightest planets in the sky will form a spectacular 'double star', hanging low on the north-eastern horizon. This will be visible shortly before sunrise at around 5am BST (midnight EST) and will appear only 0.2 degrees apart - less than half the width of a little finger held out at arm's length. A number of similar conjunctions were captured in 2012, but this will be the closest and brightest conjunction of the two planets since 2000. Experts believe their combined brightness and low position in the sky could keep switchboards busy with reports of UFOs. Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: 'They will be so close together that it's going to be quite a striking sight. 'Undoubtedly people could mistake them for a UFO, especially being so low down. 'They might appear to move around because of the distortion effect of the atmosphere.' Although the planets appear to be kissing-distance apart, as seen from the Earth, they are actually separated by hundreds of millions of miles. Venus and Jupiter pair up about once a year on average, but their conjunctions vary greatly in separation and visibility. Some are missed completely because they occur in daylight. The next Venus-Jupiter conjunction is due to occur on June 30 next year, but will be less close. During Monday's conjunction, Venus will appear six times brighter than Saturn, even though its diameter is less than a tenth that of the larger planet, which measures 86,881 miles (139,821km) across. The two brightest planets in the sky will form a 'double star', hanging low on the north-eastern horizon. This will be visible shortly before sunrise at around 5am BST (midnight EST) and will appear only 0.2 degrees apart (pictured) - less than half the width of a little finger held out at arm's length . During Monday's conjunction, Venus will appear six times brighter than Saturn, even though its diameter is less than a tenth that of the larger planet. Venus and Jupiter pair up about once a year on average, but their conjunctions vary greatly visibility. Venus and Jupiter at twilight in March 2012 in Canada are pictured . The planets' combined brightness and low position in the sky could keep switchboards busy with reports of UFOs in the early hours of Monday morning. Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: 'They will be so close together that it's going to be quite a striking sight. 'Undoubtedly people could mistake them for a UFO, especially being so low down. 'They might appear to move around because of the distortion effect of the atmosphere.' That is because Venus is much closer to the Earth and also nearer the sun, causing its clouds to be lit more intensely. A pair of binoculars will heighten the conjunction experience, but even a small telescope should provide a dramatic view. Venus will mimic a tiny full moon, while Jupiter will appear three times wider. Jupiter will also be accompanied by its four brightest moons strung out in a row. Ideally the conjunction should be seen from a high unobstructed vantage point. 'People who have buildings, hills or trees in the way might miss it, but even a roof top in London should offer a good view,' said Mr Scagell.
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Jupiter and Venus will form a 'double star' on the north-eastern horizon .
Will be visible before sunrise at around 5am BST (midnight EST) on Monday .
The planets will appear only 0.2 degrees apart - less than half the width of a little finger held out at arm's length .
It will be the closest conjunction of the bright planets since 2000 .
Experts believe many people may mistake the sight for a UFO .
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Alzheimers affects 800,000 people in the UK - and that number is growing . Carey Mulligan and PM gathered at Downing Street to launch the campaign . By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 05:38 EST, 10 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:08 EST, 10 December 2012 . Spotting the early signs of Alzheimers is essential in helping sufferers of the condition to get the treatment they need. Now, the Alzheimers Society are using the festive period to help raise awareness of the condition - particularly important over Christmas when people may be . seeing relatives for the first time in months and notice changes in . behaviour. As part of the campaign, celebrities such . as Lynda Bellingham and John Challis – Only Fools & Horses’ Boycie – . will share their favourite Christmas memories on a Tumblr blog alongside Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan and David Cameron. Scroll down for videos . Campaign: David Cameron, Carey Mulligan and Dominic and Jilly Batty gathered at Downing Street today to help launch the dementia campaign . Alzheimers currently affects 800,000 people in the UK and that number is rapidly growing, so it was with that in mind that Carey and the Prime Minister gathered at Downing Street this morning to launch the campaign. Carey, star of forthcoming film The Great Gatsby, and Cameron shared some of their favourite Christmas memories. Carey spoke about Christmasses with her grandmother ‘Nans’ while the Prime Minister shared a story about rushing son Ivan from hospital down to Devon in time for a family Christmas. Nostalgia: Carey told stories of her favourite Christmases with her grandmother . Support: The campaign offers support and advice for those who worry their relatives may be suffering . They were joined by Dominic Batty, who . lives with dementia, and wife Jill to launch the campaign Christmas to . Remember by hanging a Dementia Friends bauble on the Number 10 tree. Carey is encouraging people returning home for Christmas to look out for signs that a loved one may be living with dementia. Carey, whose grandmother 'Nans' has dementia, said: ‘My favourite Christmas memory is every Christmas we spent with my grandmother. 'She used to alternate between us and our cousins and every year we were lucky enough to have her was particularly precious. 'This Christmas we want people to tell us about their favourite Christmas memory - it can be funny, sad, silly or serious. 'Write a memory on a piece of paper, take a photo and tweet using #xmas2remember or comment at facebook.com/alzheimerssociety’. Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society said: ‘Christmas is a time when families who may not see each other all year come together. 'If you are worried about your own or a loved one’s memory or think they might have dementia it’s important to know that there is help and support available. 'This year you can follow advice and information on the internet or call our National Dementia Helpline. 'You can also give yourself the gift of becoming more dementia aware by registering your interest in becoming a dementia friend.' Prime Minister David Cameron added: ’Dementia is one of the biggest challenges facing our population today which is why I launched the Dementia Challenge and am supporting the Dementia Friends project. 'There are already nearly 700,000 people in England with dementia who need support, but hundreds of thousands of them aren’t diagnosed and aren’t receiving the help they need. 'We may not want to think about dementia at Christmas time, but spotting the signs of dementia as soon as they start is the best way to help our friends and family keep the memories they make for as long as possible. 'That’s why I’m launching the Christmas to Remember campaign and encouraging everyone to share their Christmas memories. 'By working together to raise awareness of the signs we can tackle this dreadful disease and make Christmas a happier time for millions.’ Calls to Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia Helpline increase by a third immediately after Christmas, many of these calls are from worried relatives. The number to call is 0300 222 1122. What are the early signs of dementia? Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include: . Christmas can be a very stressful time for people with dementia (posed by models) • Memory loss. We all forget where we have put our keys or to pass on a message from time to time. But when memory problems start to interfere with day to day life, or if early memories become easier to remember than more recent ones, this could be an early sign of dementia. • Problems thinking or reasoning, or finding it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes• Feeling anxious, depressed or angry about memory loss, or feeling confused, even when in a familiar environmentWhat should someone do if they are worried about a loved one’s memory . If you are worried that someone may have dementia, try and encourage them to visit their GP to get a proper diagnosis. Alzheimer's Society provides tips on how to raise the topic of dementia with a loved one. These include: . • Be positive - a diagnosis can give people access to the help and support they need, or the GP can help you rule out dementia and treat other symptoms. • Make notes of situations that have got you worried. Giving examples will help you to express yourself in a clear and real way.• Make sure it's an open conversation and be a good listener. Allow the person to discuss their feelings and thoughts . People with dementia at Christmas . Christmas can be a very stressful time for people with dementia - from the confusion of battling with panic-stricken shoppers for presents to the disorientation of spending the day in a packed and potentially unfamiliar house. Alzheimer’s Society has compiled some top tips for having a guest with dementia this Christmas: . • Plan ahead: If the house is unfamiliar to your guest, putting labels on doors could help – for example, the bathroom, the kitchen. • Think about safety: make sure you leave lights on and doors opens so the person with dementia is less likely to get confused if they’re up at night. • Don’t overload your guest’s plate at dinner time. Although many people eat a lot at Christmas, a full plate can be quite daunting for someone who has difficulties eating. • Think of some activities the person may enjoy doing in quieter moments. Try to involve people in your own activities, such as walking or cooking.• If the house becomes very busy, designate a 'quiet room' and agree not to watch television or listen to music in there. • It might be enjoyable for the person to sing carols – it’s good to do something jointly with other people but singing also stimulates both mind and body. VIDEO: Carey helps launch the 'Christmas to Remember' campaign at Downing Street...
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Alzheimers affects 800,000 people in the UK - and that number is growing .
Carey Mulligan and PM gathered at Downing Street to launch the campaign .
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By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 13:53 EST, 19 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:17 EST, 19 March 2012 . A relaxing Sunday on California's ski slopes turned deadly when two people were killed and another person was injured in three separate accidents, according to authorities. Tim Cohee, the owner and general manager of China Peak Mountain Resort located northeast of Fresno, says a 30-year-old man was snowboarding alone when he fell head-first into the snow and suffocated. Another visitor to the . resort spotted the snowboarder and rushed to his aid a few minutes later, but it was too late. Risky: Two people were killed and another person was hurt in separate accidents on California slopes . 'That's why we always tell people to go with a buddy,' Cohee told the Fresno Bee. He added that this marked the first death at China Peak so far this year. In Northern California, a skier identified as 54-year-old Yiwei Hu, of Gold River, died after falling into a hole created by an underflow of water at the Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort. El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Tim Becker said in a statement that Hu was found by other skiers at around 1:43 p.m. in an expert ski part of the resort. Deadly: A man snowboarding at China Peak Mountain Resort died after falling head-first into the snow . First responders who arrived on the scene found the 54-year-old man unresponsive and could not revive him. Nearly an hour later at Kirkwood Mountain Resort near South Lake Tahoe, a skier was hurt in a minor avalanche. According to Michael Dalzell, the spokesperson for Kirkwood Mountain Resort, the victim was taken to a hospital, but there is no word on the extent of his injuries.
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Man suffocated to death on snow while snowboarding near Fresno .
Skier Yiwei Hu died after falling into a hole in Northern California .
Another skier was hurt in an avalanche at Kirkwood Mountain Resort .
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(CNN) -- Passenger Jasper Schuringa told CNN that with the aid of the cabin crew, he helped subdue and isolate Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was charged Saturday with trying to destroy a plane. Schuringa of Amsterdam, Netherlands, said he was traveling to Florida to visit friends. The journey aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 had been mundane, he said. But as the plane neared its destination of Detroit, Michigan, he heard a pop that sounded like a firecracker going off, and someone started yelling: "Fire! Fire!" Then, there was smoke. "Around 30 seconds later the smoke started to fill up on the left side beneath this person," he said. That's when Schuringa said he knew something was wrong. "I basically reacted directly. I didn't think. When you hear a pop on the plane you're awake, trust me," Schuringa said. When he noticed that Abdulmutallab was not moving, he grew suspicious. "I was on the right side of the plane and the suspect was on the left side, there were quite some seats in between." He jumped over the passenger next to him and lunged over Abdulmutallab's seat, "Because I was thinking he's trying to blow up the plane, and I was trying to search his body for any explosives." Schuringa said he saw that Abdulmutallab was holding a burning object between his legs. "I pulled the object from him and tried to extinguish the fire with my hands and threw it away," Schuringa said. "Water! Water," he said he screamed. He heard fire extinguishers as he pulled Abdulmutallab out of his seat. "Just to be sure I grabbed him with another attendant and we took him to first class and there we stripped him and contained him with handcuffs and we made sure he had no more weapons, no more bombs on him." Schuringa said Abdulmutallab seemed dazed. "He was staring into nothing." Schuringa said the incident sparked panic aboard the flight. "The whole plane was screaming. The suspect, he didn't say a word." We were holding [him,] but we wasn't struggling." Schuringa said other passengers applauded as he walked back to his seat. "My hands are pretty burned. I am fine," he said. "I am shaken up. I am happy to be here." Schuringa said he wasn't the only hero. "A lot of people were trying to help later on," he said. "We had very brave flight attendants that also helped, so thank you for those people. They are also heroes." CNN was not able to independently confirm Schuringa's account.
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NEW: "I was trying to search his body for any explosives," Dutch passenger says .
NEW: "We had very brave flight attendants that also helped. They are also heroes," he says .
Jasper Schuringa says he became suspicious when man didn't move amid panic .
Heroic account not independently confirmed .
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(CNN) -- The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has increased one tenth of a cent to $3.542, marking the second consecutive increase, the motorist group AAA said Saturday. However, the national average is still down 57.2 cents, or about 13.9%, on the record high of $4.114 reported on July 17, 2008. The highest prices at the pump are in Hawaii, averaging about $4.34 per gallon, and the lowest in South Carolina, at $3.22, according to the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The price of light, sweet crude oil, for September delivery, increased $0.13 to settle at $107.46 per barrel on the NYMEX Friday. CNN's Lindy Royce contributed to this report .
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AAA: National average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline up one tenth of a cent .
Highest gas prices are in Hawaii and lowest in South Carolina, says the motorist group .
The price of light sweet crude oil, for September delivery, increased Friday by $0.13 .
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This is the terrifying moment a trainer was mauled by a tiger at a zoo founded by the late Steve Irwin. David Styles, 30, suffered puncture wounds to the neck and shoulder after the tiger dragged him into the water after becoming 'over excited' at Australia Zoo. He was treated by paramedics before being flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital by the RACQ Careflight helicopter in a serious condition. Scroll down for video . Attack: This is the terrifying moment a trainer was mauled by a tiger at Australia Zoo, the Queensland institution made famous by the late Steve Irwin . Mauled: David Styles, 30, suffered puncture wounds to the neck and shoulder after the tiger dragged him into the water after becoming 'over-excited' after a show . Injured: A colleague rushes to his aid. Mr Styles is in a serious, but stable condition at hospital following the attack . He was conscious and breathing, but was sustained two large puncture wounds from the attack. He is now in a serious, but stable condition with his family and friends at his bedside. The . zoo is famous throughout the world as it was owned by crocodile hunter . Steve Irwin who was killed by a stingray barb while swimming off the . North Queensland coast in 2006. Australia Zoo director Wes Mennon was quick to comment the actions of a group of zoo keepers nearby who saw the attack and helped drag the trainer away from the tiger. Tragic: David Styles has worked with big cats for nine years but suffered horrifying injuries in the attack today . He said: 'At the time of the incident, our emergency response team were on the scene immediately.'They acted professionally and calmly. My hat goes off to them.' Mr Mennon said Mr Styles had nine years experience with big cats and had raised the tiger since it arrived at the zoo as a cub. He added: 'Our priority is the wellbeing of the handler, who is a valued member of our Australia Zoo family. Our full support is with the handler and family.' Rushing to the rescue: Mr Styles colleagues can be seen beating the animal with a large stick as they try to pull him to safety . Bravery: Australia Zoo director Wes Mennon commended the other zoo keepers for behaving 'professionally and calmly' Dragged to safety: The attack took place by the edge of the water, witnesses said it looked as if the animal was trying to drown his handler . The shocking attack was witnessed by as . many as 50 people, among them 14 year old Jake D'Olimpio, who told the . Courier Mail that the incident occurred during a performance with the . tiger. He said he saw the tiger jump on the front of the trainer and lunge at the man's neck with his jaws. He said: 'It was horrifying.They fell in the water and the tiger was trying to hold him under. 'The other trainers, maybe four of them, tried to fight the tiger off. One of them was hitting it with a stick.' Prior to the attack, Jake told the paper, the trainer had been patting and playing with the tiger. 'It was an accident,' he insisted. 'It was not an act of aggression. It was part of a routine and just an unfortunate mistake.' Asked what would happen to the tiger, Mr Wes Mannion, the zoo's director, said: 'Nothing.' The . zoo keeps three Bengal and eight Sumatran tigers. Visitors are offered . the chance to be photographed with the animals every afternoon. Frantic: A team of six paramedics work on Mr Styles in an attempt to stabilise him before being transferred to hospital . Emergency evacuation: Mr Styles is carefully loaded into a waiting air ambulance to be flown to hospital . In 2009 there were two attacks on . keepers at the zoo, one by a Bengal tiger and another by a Sumatran . tiger, in both cases the keepers were hospitalised but recovered from . their injuries. It remains unclear what caused this attack but it is thought to be the most serious in the zoo's history. Steve Irwin's widow, Terri, still has involvement with the zoo and the crocodile hunter's children Bindi and Bob are young TV stars in both Australia and the US. Daring displays: A handler feeds a tiger at Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, which is home to three Bengal and eight Sumatran tigers . Family venture: The Crocodile Hunter with his wife Terri, and their four-year-old daughter Bindi pictured in 2002 . Mr Irwin, who shot to fame as the star of the hit show The Crocodile Hunter, died on September 4, 2006, aged 44. He was swimming with stingrays in the Great Barrier Reef when, it is . thought, one of the fish went into defensive mode. It flipped up its . tail and hit Steve in the chest with a barb that pierced his heart. His . daughter Bindil, then aged eight captivated the world when she strode . onto the stage at her father's funeral to give a tear-jerking eulogy in . front of 5,000 people and 300 million TV viewers. In . her address she described the conservationist as ‘my hero’, adding, ‘He . listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was . fun.’ Now 15 she is a . TV presenter, wildlife campaigner and Hollywood film star in her own . right and continues to work towards her father's conservationist goals.
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David Styles, 30, suffered puncture wounds to the neck and shoulder .
Tiger dragged him into the water after becoming 'over excited' after a show .
Airlifted to hospital after being pulled to safety and is in stable condition .
Shocking attack was witnessed by as many as 50 horrified visitors .
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By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 30 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:57 EST, 30 October 2012 . Complaint: District Judge Lonnie Cox, sitting at . Galveston County drug court, Texas, allegedly ripped up court . papers and threw them in the air . A judge screamed swear words at a pregnant defendant and told her she was worthless before storming out of a court room, it has been alleged. District Judge Lonnie Cox, sitting at Galveston County drug court, Texas, also allegedly ripped up court papers and threw them in the air when he discovered the womn had missed probation meetings regarding her drugs conviction. Wesley Clements, acting on behalf of Maricelda Marie Aguilar, 22, of Alvin, said he had asked Judge Cox to recuse himself from the hearing following the outburst. He said he had filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct about Judge Cox's alleged conduct earlier this month. Judge Cox said he was unable to comment and filed an order refusing to recuse himself. Aguilar, who is seven months . pregnant, has been in custody since July for violating her probation for . an earlier drug conviction. While . in prison she developed a bacterial infection which could harm her . unborn baby, and Judge Cox had agreed that she be moved from Montgomery . County Jail to a rehabilitation centre until she gave birth. However, . the outburst was sparked when, at a hearing on October 5, Judge Cox . discovered Aguilar had missed several probation meetings. According to www.chron.com, the recusal motion said: 'The judge while sitting on the bench in open court looked at the plea papers and then screamed. 'This is s***. This kind of b******* is not what the drug court should be doing and it is just costing the taxpayers money'. Court drama: The outburst at Galveston County Drugs Court was sparked when, at a hearing on October 5, Judge Cox . discovered pregnant defendant Aguilar had missed several probation meetings . The motion continued to explain how the judge told the defendant she was 'worthless' and 'not worth the paper and ink that the plea agreement was written on'. He then ripped up the court documents and threw them in the air before 'storming out'. Fourteen witnesses apparently saw the incident, including Aguilar's mother. The complaint is ongoing.
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District Judge Lonnie Cox, sitting at .
Galveston County drug court, Texas, also allegedly ripped up court .
papers and threw them in the air .
Outburst occurred when he discovered the defendant had .
missed probation meetings regarding her drugs conviction .
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(CNN) -- Sizing up the magnitude of Mexico's obesity problem is as simple as visiting a clothing manufacturer. At Arush, a clothing factory in Mexico City, the changing demand has modified production. Buyers, including Mexican giant retailers like Soriana and Liverpool, are increasingly asking for "large" and "extra large" sizes, which have all but replaced production of "small" and "medium." Designer Adriana Moreno, who works at Arush, said they're simply adapting to Mexico's new reality: an explosion of overweight and obese people, mostly in the last three decades. "In our market, I can tell you we've had a 50% growth in sales of large and extra-large sizes in the last three years," Moreno said. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 69.5% of the Mexican population aged 15 and older is overweight or obese. This is the highest rate in the world, even higher than in the United States -- which historically had the highest rate -- and the United Kingdom, which has the highest in Europe. The Mexican government launched a campaign last year urging people to exercise, drink more water, and eat fruits and vegetables. President Felipe Calderón said that "since 1980, the percentage of overweight or obese Mexicans has tripled." The problem starts early: 4.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 are already overweight. Many school districts have banned junk food in their facilities, but it's readily available right outside, much to the chagrin of parents. "You can see how many stands there are outside. And they're all selling junk food! I think they should also control what they sell out here," Daniela Piña said as she waited for her child outside a grammar school in Mexico City's Doctores neighborhood. Adela Garcia, a stay-at-home mother, said parental responsibility plays a vital role in solving the problem. "It really starts at home," she said. "We as parents have to take that kind of food away from children so that they eat healthier." Mexico's Institute for Public Health reports that the number of overweight or obese school-aged children increased from 18.4% in 1999 to 26.2% in 2006. It also says that diabetes -- of which obesity is a contributing factor -- has become the No. 1 cause of death in Mexico. Other statistics provided by the institute are very telling. Mexicans drink 160.1 liters (42.3 gallons) of soft drinks per year. The institute also says that school-aged children get at least a fifth of their calories from drinks with a high content of sugar and other sweeteners. "We trust that the public interest will prevail over private interests and that the federal government will do, under the law, everything possible so that our proposals are quickly implemented," the institute says. Their proposals include increasing physical activity in schools and improving nutrition guidelines. Back at the clothes factory, Adriana Moreno is faced with a challenge: pleasing people in spite of their size. "It's a very demanding market, very demanding. People are always trying to look good, not seem so overweight. They look for a beautiful garment, a good design that doesn't make them look heavier than they really are," Moreno said. The war on drugs has killed 30,000 people in the last four years, and violence is front-page news in major newspapers across Mexico. But obesity, excess weight and their related health problems claim almost five times more lives than the war against drug cartels. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, individual prevention programs could avoid as many as 47,000 deaths from chronic diseases every year. Mexico's Health Ministry reports that obesity and excess weight cost the country $5.5 billion in expenses associated with treating people with diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. CNN's Rey Rodriguez in Mexico City contributed to this report.
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Diabetes is the No. 1 killer in Mexico, health agency says .
Nearly 70% of the population is overweight or obese .
Mexicans drink more than 42 gallons of soft drinks per person each year .
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By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 06:27 EST, 2 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:18 EST, 3 August 2012 . Not the job in hand: The Missile Defence Agency workers should have been developing rockets like this SM-3 rather than looking at pornography . The Pentagon has ordered staff at its top-secret missile defence unit to stop watching porn and concentrate on the job in hand. Military chiefs are furious that workers at the Missile Defence Agency have been wasting valuable hours surfing the web for smut rather than developing state-of-the-art weaponry. The violation came to light after fears were raised that viruses may have already been smuggled into the department's mainframe through x-rated sites. An internal probe then found that some staff had been downloading adult material on office computers and sharing them with each other via the internal network. It constitutes a massive security risk to one of America's most secretive agencies because porn sites provide perfect cover for criminals and foreign spies to sneak snooping software past even the most sophisticated of firewalls. In a bid to curb the abuse, the agency's executive director sent a stern memo warning staff that 'appropriate disciplinary action' would be dished out to anyone caught surfing the net for smut. 'There have been instances of employees and . contractors accessing websites, or transmitting messages, . containing pornographic or sexually explicit images,' John James Jr . wrote in the July 27 memo leaked to Bloomberg News. 'These actions are not only . unprofessional, they reflect time taken away from designated duties, are . in clear violation of federal and DoD and regulations, consume network . resources and can compromise the security of the network though the . introduction of malware or malicious code, he wrote.' He added that anyone caught misusing . the agency's network will face losing their security clearance and could be . suspended, even fired. Security breach: The Pentagon's defence chiefs are understood to have been furious upon hearing that some staff members had accessed websites 'known to have had virus and malware issues' Agency spokesman Rick Lehner told Bloomberg that the . memo was written after 'a few people' downloaded . material 'from some websites that were known to have had virus . and malware issues'. One government cybersecurity expert, who wished to remain anonymous, said criminal gangs and foreign intelligence agencies, such as Russia, embed spyware deep within the coding of pornographic websites in a bid to access and harvest confidential data from governments and corporations. Such sites contain high-quality images and videos that contain complex computer coding - the ideal place to hide viruses. The Missile Defense Agency is responsible for developing, . fielding and upgrading the nation’s ground- and sea-based . missile defense programs. Inside the heart of defence: The revelation constitutes a massive security risk because pornographic sites provide perfect cover for criminals and foreign spies to smuggle spying software past even the most sophisticated of firewalls (stock image) It works closely with countries including Japan and Israel as well as companies such as Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. In July last year, America vowed to retaliate with military . force against countries that sabotage its computers in the . Pentagon’s first ever strategy on how to fight escalating cyber . attacks. Anxious to contend . with growing internet incursions linked to Russia and China, U.S. military chiefs reportedly agreed that the most serious sabotage . attempts should constitute an act of war. The . document was designed to tackle a changing . world in which computer hackers could cripple America’s financial . markets or public transport systems.
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Workers at the Missile Defence Agency .
were caught downloading x-rated material on office computers and sharing .
them with each other via the internal network .
Fears raised that criminals or spies may have hacked agency's mainframe .
Porn sites provide perfect cover for hackers to smuggle spying software past sophisticated firewalls .
MDA is responsible for developing, .
fielding and upgrading the nation’s ground-and sea-based .
missile defense programs .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:10 EST, 31 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:44 EST, 31 March 2013 . Costly change: A move to ban councils from putting street lights on electricity poles could cost town halls 'millions of pounds' Villages and towns across the country face reductions in street lighting because of a health and safety ruling. For years, councils have fixed street lights to poles belonging to electricity firms, saving money and reducing street clutter. Phone companies used them too, combining three services in one pole. However, the practice is under threat following the death of a BT engineer who was electrocuted while working on an electricity network pole. Councils may have to erect their own poles for street lights, at a cost of around £1,000 each. Parish and town councils are saying they just don’t have the money, so street lights will have to be turned off instead. The National Association for Local . Councils is seeking urgent talks with the Government over the . policy which it estimates will cost authorities 'millions of pounds.' A spokesman said: 'The National Association is extremely worried about the situation which arisen from this policy. 'The cost to local councils to maintain . existing lighting with new types of poles is going to be . disproportionate to the overall budgets of these councils. 'We know that in a small rural parish . council in Cumbria that the costs could amount to £65,000; which is . greater than its total annual budget. 'There is a risk that in some areas of . the country there will be darkness which then is a risk to the . vulnerable in our society and this is not right.' Dan McLean of the Campaign to Protect . Rural England (CPRE) said: 'It’s daft really. What we don’t want is more . infrastructure such as 'street furniture' being put up. 'There is no point having three poles next to each other, each carrying one service, when one pole will do. 'Surely people can be trained in the . necessary safety procedures and the electricity, local authorities and . communications services can collaborate with each other. That is the . sensible option.' Catalyst: The policy follows the death of a BT engineer . The ban on hosting street lights was revealed by Electricity North West's chief executive, Steve Johnson. He says other companies are taking the same action. Mr Johnson says other electricity companies across the UK are taking the same action. Street lights are thought to deter crime and there are fears the move could lead to an upsurge in muggings, thefts and burglaries. The move has horrified the parish of Beetham in Cumbria, which has just 1,724 residents and about 40 lamps fitted to electricity poles. The council estimates it would cost £40,000 to replace them, twice its total annual expenditure. Councillor Pru Jupe said: 'The Government is doing nothing at all to help. There is just no money to do this work and we will have to turn off all lights affected in this way if nothing is done to help.' She said town and parish councils would be saddled with massive debt due to the change in health and safety policy. 'I appreciate that it is very sad that someone died after climbing an electric wire pole,' she said. Blackout: The ban on hosting street lights was revealed by Electricity North West's chief executive, Steve Johnson. He says other companies are taking the same action . 'However, we don’t have chapter and verse as to the exact circumstances and it seems to me that the key issue is training. 'We don’t close all roads, or stop people driving on them because of one single accident. The response has surely to be proportionate.' A spokesman for Electricity North West said councils were alerted of this safety requirement two years ago to allow time to plan for the change. 'We have not sought to remove all such equipment immediately, rather we have phased the work over several years as part of our routine refurbishment work on electricity poles. 'We will continue to give councils six months notice when we will be removing the lighting from our poles.' Tim Field of Energy Networks Association said: 'There is no obligation within the standard for a network provider to allow any attachments from third parties on their equipment, and each network operator will make decisions based on their own risk assessment.'
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For years councils have fixed street lights to poles belonging to electricity firms .
But the practice is now under threat following death of a BT engineer .
National Association for Local Councils is seeking urgent talks with Government .
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(CNN)It's official -- world football's controversial leader Sepp Blatter is set to enter the enemy's lair just weeks after accusing UEFA of plotting to depose him. The FIFA president is prepared to the risk of public humiliation in Vienna next month as he faces the three men who plan to usurp him with European governing body UEFA considering giving each candidate the chance to make their case at its congress on March 24. FIFA confirmed to CNN that Blatter plans to be in Austria for the congress as he steps up his campaigning to retain the presidency. With 209 federation votes at stake, the candidates will have the opportunity to influence over a quarter of them as they address UEFA's 54 member nations at an event that would be broadcast online. Seeking a fifth consecutive term in office at the age of 79, Blatter is facing challenges from Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, Dutchman Michael van Praag and former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Luis Figo. All three of Blatter's opponents have declared their willingness to take part in a live debate with the Swiss, who has previously rejected such offers by claiming football should not "imitate politics." That's a reference to the political debates, for example in the United States and Britain, where politicians slug it out in front of the cameras ahead of elections. While Prince Ali has called for an open debate and Van Praag even suggested a Google hangout, UEFA is examining the possibility of giving each candidate an allotted amount of time to outline their plans to repair FIFA's battered image. The world governing body's reputation has been dragged through the mud by the furor over alleged corruption surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. That criticism reached a fever pitch when the man brought in by FIFA to investigate, U.S. lawyer Michael Garcia, resigned in protest last year, unhappy that his published summary did not accurately reflect his findings. While an actual debate is unlikely at this stage, the opportunity for Blatter's opponents to speak to congress and potentially highlight the incumbent's failings right in front of him could potentially prove embarrassing to the Swiss. Speaking at his campaign launch in London on Tuesday, Prince Ali threw down the gauntlet to Blatter, suggesting an open debate between candidates should take place. "If we are talking about transparency, I would like to see, at least before the elections a public debate, including the incumbent," Prince Ali said. "If we talk about reform, proper reform, I'm not confident I've seen it. He's had the chance to do it," added Prince Ali referring to Blatter. "We've also had promises from him that he would not run again. He has been the president and, definitely, the president needs to be held responsible for what happens." Both Prince Ali and Jerome Champagne, who failed to gain the required number of backers to qualify for the election, have been scathing over FIFA's image in recent days. In an open letter, Champagne said that he was unable to collect the five nominations needed as a number of associations feared they would be punished for supporting him. "I warmly thank the three federations that have endorsed me and the many presidents who explained, with candor and friendship, that they could not do it despite their interest in my program," he wrote. "The reasons were numerous. Because they feared reprisals from their confederations having issued 'recommendations.' "Because their federations were candidates to host continental competitions. Because they relied too heavily on the financial support. Because they were committed to defend a united continental front." Prince Ali has gone as fas as to suggest that FIFA is run by a "culture of intimidation" with some national associations fearing retribution if they back any other candidate other than Blatter, though the Jordanian didn't provide specific examples. FIFA declined to comment when contacted by CNN over Prince Ali's "intimidation" reference. Allegations of corruption have blighted Blatter's 17-year reign and Michel Platini, president of UEFA, has been outspoken of his desire to see the Swiss removed from the top of world football. Blatter is aware of Platini's stance and speaking to CNN last month, he insisted UEFA was waging a campaign to depose him. They want to get rid of me," he told CNN. "All this opposition is coming now it's unfortunate to say it, it's coming from Nyon, from UEFA. They don't have the courage to come in. "So let me go (on) -- be respectful! Because in football you learn to win but you also learn to lose. So I'm going now. If I win the better, if I lose OK!"
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Sepp Blatter could face his presidential rivals in Vienna next month .
All four men set to be invited to speak at the UEFA congress .
Luis Figo, Michael van Praag and Prince Ali keen on open debate .
UEFA considers giving each candidate allotted time to speak at its congress .
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Mario Balotelli failed to impress during his second-half cameo – but the Italian wasn’t too impressed with Sunderland either. As he left the Stadium of Light, the out-of-form frontman sniped: ‘This is the f*****g coldest city I’ve ever f*****g played in.’ Cold and slippy, it seems. For Balotelli, having outwitted John O’Shea with his one moment of quality, duly lost his footing and landed on his backside as he made his way through on goal. Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli said Sunderland was the coldest city he had ever played in . Balotelli dribbles with the ball while being closed down by defender Wes Brown at the Stadium of Light . According to holiday-weather.com, Milan, where Balotelli played for AC and Inter, has an average January temperature lower than Sunderland. And so does Turin... where Juventus play. Try again, Mario . Sunderland 5°C . Milan 1°C . Turin 3°C . Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, formerly of Sunderland, admits he did not warn his team-mate about the North-East climate. ‘I didn’t warn Balotelli about how cold it was because otherwise he would have been worried before the game,’ he said. ‘It certainly was cold and windy out there. Afterwards, though, he could smile about the three points like the rest of us.’ Balotelli certainly wasn’t smiling following his expletive-laden assessment of Wearside. Brown struggles to keep control of Balotelli as the Italian skips by the central defender . Lazar Markovic trots away after giving Liverpool a one-goal lead away at Sunderland on Saturday lunchtime . But lucky for him, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri could take Balotelli off Liverpool's hands in January after confirming his interest in the struggling striker. Allegri worked with the Italy forward at AC Milan and has admitted he would like to bring his former player back to Serie A on loan with talk of a permanent option for £14million during the summer. 'We would like to recruit him, but we do not know if it's possible,' The Times quote Allegri. 'Mario had a good season with me. 'Unfortunately he's built up a character outside the world of football and everyone talks about what he does off the pitch. All coaches love to lead the best players. 'But Balotelli is a Liverpool player and I think first he has to think about playing well, sacrificing and giving his best - especially to show everyone who says he is an important player.' Mario Balotelli could be set to return to Italy with Massimiliano Allegri, this time with Serie A club Juventus . Allegri worked with the Italy forward at AC Milan and has admitted he would like to bring his former player back .
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Liverpool beat Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday .
Lazar Markovic scored the only goal of the Premier League clash .
Mario Balotelli came off the bench in the second half .
But the Italian wasn't impressed with the weather in the city .
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Fort Campbell, Kentucky (CNN) -- President Barack Obama met Friday afternoon with members of the military team responsible for conducting the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, and promised a war-weary nation victory over al Qaeda. "We are ultimately going to defeat al Qaeda," the president told more than 2,300 troops who recently returned from Afghanistan. "We have cut off their head." "Our strategy is working and there is no greater evidence of that than justice finally being delivered to Osama bin Laden," he declared. "We're still the America that does the hard things, that does the great things." The president made his remarks at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home to the Army's 101st Airborne Division and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the group that operated the helicopters used in the raid. Bin Laden death leaves roots of terror untouched . While at Fort Campbell, the president, along with Vice President Joe Biden, privately met with members of Navy SEAL Team 6, the unit that conducted the raid. Among the SEALs that Obama met was the one who fired the fatal shots at bin Laden, but that person was not singled out to the president, a senior administration official told CNN. The president met a canine that was also part of the operation, according to the official. Obama visits ground zero; honors victims of 9/11 . Obama and Biden thanked the commandos and were briefed on the operation by the unit members who conducted it, according to a White House official. Obama awarded Presidential Unit Citations to the units involved in the Pakistan mission, the official said. The citation is the highest such honor that can be given to a military unit. "They practiced tirelessly for this mission, and when I gave the order they were ready," the president told the troops. "They're America's quiet professionals." It was a "job well done," he said. Trove of data found at bin Laden home . Friday's visit to Fort Campbell came a day after Obama's first presidential visit to New York's ground zero, the focal point of bin Laden's 9/11 terror attacks. It also came one day after a nationwide alert was issued regarding rail security, the first terror threat notification linked to materials found during the raid on the Abbottabad compound in Pakistan. The terror plot was planned for the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As early as February 2010, al Qaeda members discussed a plan to derail trains in the United States by placing obstructions on tracks over bridges and valleys, the alert said, according to one law enforcement official. No specific rail system was identified in the plans for the attacks, the official said. With bin Laden's death, there has been a growing call among some lawmakers to immediately withdraw the 130,000 U.S. and allied troops still battling the late al Qaeda leader's followers and his Taliban allies. Did bin Laden's wife rush Navy SEALs? Obama has repeatedly said he is confident the United States can meet a self-imposed deadline to begin bringing troops back home in July without compromising Afghan security, though military commanders and government officials have raised concern about the readiness of Afghan security forces. Lawmakers also have started questioning the U.S. relationship with Pakistan. During a Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing Thursday, legislators on both sides of the aisle said a new approach to Pakistan is now needed. Pakistan's government is "very irrational," said Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican. But Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said it is a "false charge" to assert that Pakistani authorities did not go after bin Laden. He said his country's intelligence agency alerted the United States about the presence of al Qaeda operatives in Abbottabad as early as 2004. Former Pakistan intel chief: Obama lying . Pakistani armed forces chiefs issued a statement Thursday admitting that there had been "shortcomings in developing intelligence" on the terror leader's presence in the country. The army chief of staff, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, also "made it very clear that any similar action, violating the sovereignty of Pakistan, will warrant a review on the level of military/intelligence cooperation with the United States," the statement said. Pakistan has ordered U.S. military personnel on its territory drawn down to the "minimum essential" level in the wake of the raid, the statement said. Anti-U.S. sentiment was growing in Abbottabad, where about 600 demonstrators gathered Friday at a rally, chanting "Go America, go America, your show is over." CNN's Bonney Kapp, Brianna Keilar and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.
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NEW: Canine involved in operation at meeting with president .
Obama promises victory over al Qaeda while addressing troops at Fort Campbell .
Obama and Biden met members of the team that raided bin Laden's compound .
Obama awards the Presidential Unit Citation to units involved in the mission .
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Teenage sensation Martin Odegaard showed why he's being billed as Europe's hottest property by inspiring Stromsgodset to a 2-1 league victory. The 15-year-old, who has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, scored both goals against Lillestrom on Sunday. Odegaard opened the scoring with a superb run and shot in the 21st minute and grabbed his second in the 41st minute by starting and finishing a move with a clinical strike. Norway's Martin Odegaard comes on as a sub against Bulgaria to become the Euros' youngest every player . Odegaard became the youngest player in the history of the European Championship when he came on as a substitute in Norway's 2-1 victory over Bulgaria. Aged 15 years and 300 days, Odegaard replaced Cardiff's Mats Moller Daelhi in the 63rd minute, as goals from Tarik Elyounoussi and Havard Nielsen either side of a Nikolay Bodurov equaliser saw the hosts run out winners at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. The European Championship has been running since 1960 and Odegaard beat the previous record held by Sigurdur Jonsson of Iceland, who had held it since playing in a Euro 1984 qualifier aged 16 and 251 days. Odegaard, aged 15 years and 300 days, tries to keep the ball under pressure from two Bulgarians . Odegaard (right) celebrates Norway's second goal with scorer Havard Nielsen (centre) and Alexander Tettey . 1. Martin Odegaard (Norway) 15 yrs, 300 days . 2. Sigurdur Jonsson (Iceland) 16 yrs, 251 days . 3. Peter Jehle (Liechtenstein) 16 yrs, 265 days . 4. Levan Kenia (Georgia) 16 yrs, 325 days . 5. Daniel Frick (Liechtenstein) 17 yrs, 79 days . The appearance of Odegaard in the Group H Euro 2016 qualifier will have been noted Europe's biggest clubs, who have already been hot on the tail of the wonderkid likened to Lionel Messi. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid lead the hunt, while Odegaard has been to England to train with Manchester United and has spent time in Germany with Bayern, Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. Liverpool are also keen on the Stromsgodset star, aware that Martin and his father Hans-Erik are lifelong Reds supporters. Odegaard made his debut for Norway on August 27 in a friendly against United Arab Emirates and came on against Bulgaria in Oslo with his side pushing for a winner. The record for the youngest player to actually appear in the European Championship finals is Jetro Willems, who at 18 years and 71 days came on for Holland in their Euro 2012 group stage match with Denmark. So another record could be in Odegaard's sight should Norway's positive start in qualification continue and take them to France for the 2016 finals. VIDEO Mastour's got talent - AC Milan wonderkid .
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Martin Odegaard came on as substitute in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier .
At 15 years and 300 days he is the youngest player in competition's history .
He has trained with Manchester United and Liverpool also interested .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 05:41 EST, 27 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:30 EST, 27 July 2012 . A little girl left critically injured in a car crash was today told the heartbreaking news that her big sister died in the accident. Megan McGrady, five, was left unconscious after the smash which claimed the life of her sister Sadie, six, who she was devoted to. The girls’ grieving parents have kept a round-the-clock vigil at Megan’s bedside while she lay in intensive care. Heartbroken: Megan (left) was told the devastating news that her older sister Sadie (right) had died in the car crash . The youngster came around three days later and started asking for her sister when her parents had to break it to her that Sadie had died in the crash. Their grandfather John McGrady, 62, said: 'It is heartbreaking - the two girls were inseparable. 'They were always together in the house or if they went out together. Always together, always playing.' The sisters were in the back of the family car when it was in a head-on crash near the family home in Mostyn, North Wales last Sunday. Their parents Kate Barlow, 34, who was driving, and John Paul McGrady, 39, escaped without serious injury. But 'little angel' Sadie died at the scene and 'critically injured' Megan was airlifted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. Grandfather Mr McGrady said: 'She wasn’t conscious when she got to hospital - she was in intensive care but they’ve moved her out of there now. Best of friends: Megan (right) was rushed to hospital and only learned that Sadie (left) had died after waking up from a coma . 'I have spoken to John Paul and said Megan woke last night and cried, asking for her sister. 'She is sitting up in bed now - I think they have explained to her.' Mrs McGrady and her husband, a wind turbine technician, have been at Alder Hey with their surviving daughter since the crash. Mr McGrady said: 'Sadie’s gone but Megan is still there, she will be in hospital for a few more days but she will pull through. 'Sadie was a beautiful girl. She was never in moods or anything like that - always happy. 'Sadie enjoyed school, she enjoyed herself. 'It’s hit everybody, it’s such a shock. I haven’t been out. 'I used to go out every day, but I just can’t face people in the street, it’s just too hard' Seven people, including two of Sadie’s cousins, were injured in the two car crash on the A548 in the village of Gwespyr, North Wales. Playmates: Sadie (left) and her sister Megan (right) were inseparable. Their grieving parents escaped the crash without serious injury . Flowers were yesterday left outside Bryn Pennant school where Sadie was a pupil. Assistant head teacher Julie Davies said: 'Sadie was a bright and confident child with her whole life ahead of her. 'She was popular and well-loved by pupils and staff. She would greet visitors with a beautiful smile and a friendly comment and loved lengthy chats with her teachers. 'She was kind, sensitive, thoughtful and wise beyond her years, a real character who was adored by everyone. 'For her to be so cruelly snatched at such a young age is absolutely devastating. 'We cannot begin to imagine the distress that her poor parents and family are experiencing. 'Our hearts ache for them in their suffering. This has had a tremendous effect on the whole community.' Mostyn councillor Patrick Heesom said: 'The whole community is distraught. Sadie was a little angel and this is completely devastating. 'Sadie was a darling - she could often be seen playing with her sister and friends. 'This is heartbreaking and my thoughts and prayers are with her parents and the rest of the family.' Police are still investigating the accident between a Vauxhall Corsa and a Ford Focus. An inquest into Sadie's death has been opened and adjourned .
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Megan McGrady was unconscious for three days after the crash which claimed the life of her older sister .
Parents escaped without serious injury .
Little girl woke up and immediately began asking for her sister .
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It's only as I'm inviting my friend to lunch that I realize the prospect might not sound that appetizing. "There will be a murder," I say. "Someone will die." Surprisingly undeterred, he agrees to meet me at London's Victoria Station the following week and it's only once we're standing on the platform amid a rapidly swelling crowd that he starts to look a little worried, nervously asking: "Who are all these people?" We're being joined by a diverse crowd on our lunch date, which is probably only to be expected since we're booked in for an afternoon of fine dining with an extra helping of homicide. That's the menu on board the Murder Mystery Lunch train, a luxury rail ride around the English countryside that pitches passengers into a cloak and dagger world worthy of Agatha Christie -- but with greater quantities of champagne. Many of our fellow diners -- some celebrating anniversaries or birthdays -- are entering into the spirit, dressed in 1920s flapper dresses, gangster suits or as extras from "Downton Abbey." It's hard to say whether the passing commuters are doing double takes at this oddly attired throng or at the train: the magnificent Belmond British Pullman. Golden age of travel . This king of the railroad is -- appropriately for a trip that'll involve murder -- a sister to the Orient Express and its 11 gleaming carriages that channel the spirit of a golden age of travel. Amid this eccentric crowd, a portly gentleman dressed all in gray stands out more than others. The double-breasted suit, the hair, the hat are gray. As is the cat cradled in his arms which, he tells us with a perfectly straight face, is called Pussy. "Pussy isn't real, you do realize that?" says Mr. Gray as I tickle his stuffed feline under its chin. Mr. Gray is the first of a string of actors we meet, each stopping by like an old pal for a chat, exchanging cheeky repartee and dropping clues. Before we can meet any more of the cast, we're shepherded on to our carriage. It has plenty of dark wood, polished brass, art deco finishing and plush armchairs. On the table, between the silverware and crystal-cut wine glasses, is a sheet of paper -- one side is printed with an incomprehensible set of clues, the other is blank for us to take notes. There's also a section for us to name the suspect and their motive. After all, this afternoon isn't just about getting tipsy before sundown -- there's a murder to solve. We don't have to wait long for the killer to strike. The train has barely left Victoria Station when a woman stumbles into our carriage and declares, "I've been stabbed!" 'Don't panic!' She screams, flails about and then staggers out the carriage, giving us a good view of the dagger sticking out of her blood-splattered back. We have our victim. The stabbed woman's cries can still be heard as a dashing young man called Matt storms into the carriage, shoves a gun in my face and shouts: "There's been a murder. Don't panic!" It's hard not to laugh. At times the acting is as hammy as a deli counter. There are, however, more somber moments along the journey when we get to question characters, including a detective, a newspaper reporter and the head of British intelligence agency MI5, about what's going on. The champagne makes it easy to slip into this whodunit on wheels. Bubbles before noon always feels decadent, but the added buzz from the mix of murder, mystery and a 170-mile journey quickly goes to the head. "Don't bother looking out the window, it's the same view as on the cheap train," quips the train manager as he passes through the carriage making polite conversation. We mistake him for one of the cast and begin grilling him on the murder before realizing that he is in fact the real train manager. Despite what he says, it's worth taking in the view as the train rolls through the county of Kent, a rural corner southeast of London known as the garden of England because its rolling landscape of farms and coastline has long supplied some of the country's best crops. Back in the carriages, lunch arrives and the waiting staff appear to be in on the game, making quips about the suspects without letting anything slip. Life-changing event . The five-course meal that began with murder finishes with a cheese platter. By now everyone is putting forward their theories, some wilder than others, in the hope of winning a take-home bottle of champagne. An enthusiastic young American comes up with an elaborate theory involving a tin of paint that surprises the world-weary detective. "I've been doing this six years and I've never heard that one," he remarks. An older honeymooning couple, both on their third marriage, have conflicting suspicions. She thinks it's Mr. Gray's daughter, he suspects the head of MI5, but each group can only nominate one suspect. He backs down and goes with her suggestion -- a man with the wisdom of two marriages behind him. By the time train slips back into Victoria Station everyone is swaying slightly as though disembarking from a boat. The young American wins the champagne -- nothing to do with paint -- and farewells are said as though we'd shared a life-changing event. And we had: we dined, we drank and someone died. The next Murder Mystery Lunches on the British Pullman are on October 2 and November 13, departing Victoria Station at 11: 45 a.m. Tickets cost £510 ($833) including a five-course lunch with champagne and wine; +44 845 077 2222 .
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Murder Mystery Lunch train departs London's Victoria station for a trip around rural Kent .
Guests get a five-course meal but must also find a murderer in their midst .
There's a bottle of champagne for the guest who solves the mystery .
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By . Francesca Infante . PUBLISHED: . 07:21 EST, 7 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:42 EST, 7 August 2013 . An animal loving couple who adopted a one legged stray . dog from Romania are trying to raise nearly £4,000 - to buy her a set of . prosthetic limbs. Vanessa Bamkin and her husband Roger have taken in . four-year-old Glory as one of the family after seeing pictures of her on a dog . re-homing site on Facebook. Glory was living as a stray on the streets but was looked after by factory worker called Manuela Moncanu, who would feed her every day. Glory had to be re-homed by the charity that rescued her because they could not afford the specialist treatment and equipment that she needs to have a normal life . But when he went away for a week she was viciously attacked and had to . have her front legs and part of one of her back legs amputated. And although she has now settled into her new home in . Carlisle, Cumbria, Glory still struggles to get around and keep up with . Vanessa's three other dogs. The family believe that fitting her with prosthetic limbs . is the best way to give her a chance at a normal life, even though it could . cost as much as £4,000. Mrs Bamkin said she was moved to tears when she saw the . terrible condition Glory had been left in. She said: ‘When I . saw all about Glory's situation on Facebook I was close to tears and I said to . my husband - we need to help her. ‘My husband was a bit more sceptical and thought it may . have been a scam - of course sending money to Romania is a giant leap of faith, . but it has been worth it to give Glory a new start.’ Transporting a dog from Romania to the UK is an expensive . and difficult process but the Bamkin family never wavered. Glory needed vaccinations and checks before she could . leave the country but donations came in from Holland, Germany and the UK and . 350 Euros were raised to pay for her passport and medical care. Vanessa and her husband picked up the bill for Glory to . travel the 1,887 miles in a sprinter van over three days from Bucharest to the UK . and she finally arrived with her new family just over a week ago. Glory was a stray in Romania but was looked after by factory worker called Manuela Moncanu who would feed her every day but when he went away for a week she was attacked . Since then Vanessa has wasted no time in trying to . improve Glory's life and the family are waiting to get her a wheely cart to . help her move around. Vanessa added: ‘She has learnt to walk on her front . stumps, similar to if we were to crawl on our elbows. ‘She has been incredibly brave and we want to help her . get around as normal.’ The Bamkins are currently saving up to buy her a . prosthetic back leg in order to help her balance on her wheels, but Vanessa . said her dream would be to pay for Glory to have three prosthetics, so she . could run around like other dogs. She said: ‘We will see how she gets on with the one . prosthetic leg but I am prepared to do all I can to help her. ‘The total cost of one prosthetic is £1365.33, but if we . were lucky enough to raise £3350, that would cover all three, and the mobility . that all three would give Glory would be incredible. New owners Vanessa and Roger Bamkin had to hire a sprinter van for three days to transport Glory the 1,887 miles from Bucharest to Carlisle . ‘I would love to be able to help Glory walk again and I . will save up if I have to.' Since Glory arrived in the UK Mrs Bamkin has set up a . donation page to try to raise funds from other animal lovers, and said that . people ‘have been so generous so far.’ Corina Ana, who co-ordinates the care and adoption of the . stray dogs in Romania, said it was important that Glory be re-homed because the . centre in her home country could not afford the specialist care she needed. She said: ‘I have been helping dogs to be re-homed . internationally for the past eight or nine months but Glory had the most major . handicap I had ever seen on a dog we have helped. ‘I am thrilled she has been adopted. We couldn't afford . to offer her a garden and a cart to help her walk so we thought the best thing . would be to put her up for adoption. ‘I am so pleased she has a family now who are looking after . her so well.’
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Vanessa and Roger Bamkin first saw four-year-old Glory on a dog re-homing site on Facebook .
The couple, from Carlisle, Cumbria, were moved to tears when they saw how she only had one working leg .
Glory had been living on the streets in Romania and being fed by a kindly factory worker but when he left town she was viciously attacked .
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PARIS, France (CNN) -- Hundreds of French workers, angry about proposed layoffs at a Caterpillar factory, were holding executives of the company hostage Tuesday, a spokesman for the workers said. Caterpillar's French staff say they are angry about a lack of negotiations over layoffs. It is at least the third time this month that French workers threatened with cutbacks have blockaded managers in their offices to demand negotiations. Executives were released unharmed in both previous situations. The latest incident started Tuesday morning at the office of the construction equipment company in the southeastern city of Grenoble. The workers were angry that Caterpillar had proposed cutting more than 700 jobs and would not negotiate, said Nicolas Benoit, a spokesman for the workers' union. They did not want to harm the Caterpillar executives, Benoit told CNN. One hostage was released Tuesday evening leaving workers with four captives inside the Caterpillar building. The released man was a human resources director identified only as Mr. Petit, because he has heart problems, union representative Bernard Patrick told CNN. Petit had a heart attack a few weeks ago, Patrick said. The four others still being held are Nicolas Polutnik, the head of operations; two other executives; and Petit's personal assistant, he said. About 500 employees were also outside the building protesting. A top Caterpillar executive called the hostage-taking unhelpful. "The actions that are taking place today, led by a small minority of individuals, are not helping as we work for a positive resolution of this situation," said Chris Schena, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for manufacturing operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, in a statement. "The best way to resolve this matter is to continue the negotiations through the Works Council to find a solution that's fair to our employees and allows Caterpillar to remain a leader in a rapidly changing global marketplace," Schena said, adding that the company was "concerned for the safety of our employees." Benoit said all the workers wanted to do was negotiate with Caterpillar and they were upset that the company did not show up to two earlier scheduled negotiating sessions. The employees being held in their office were being allowed to get food, Benoit added. Police arrived at the scene two hours after the incident began but it had not been settled. Employees at a French 3M factory held a manager hostage for more than 24 hours Wednesday and Thursday of last week over a dispute about terms for laid-off staff. Luc Rousselet, who was unharmed, was allowed to leave the plant in Pithiviers, central France, early on Thursday morning after talks between unions and officials from 3M France. Earlier this month, the boss of Sony France was held overnight before workers freed him after he agreed to reopen talks on compensation when the factory closed. France has been hit by nationwide strikes twice in the past two months.
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NEW: Workers release one of five people being held hostage at Caterpillar factory .
Workers angry that Caterpillar propose cutting more than 700 jobs .
They did not want to harm the executives but get them to negotiate, official says .
A senior Caterpillar executive called the hostage-taking "unhelpful"
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Airport arrest: Michael Hamlyn has been charged with possession of cocaine and amphetemines . Millionaire film and theatre producer Michael Hamlyn has been charged with possessing cocaine and amphetamines. Hamlyn, who made the Oscar-winning The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, was held by police at Stansted Airport. Officers are believed to have arrested him after allegedly finding the class A drugs on his return from a board meeting with a youth arts charity in Northern Ireland. If convicted, Hamlyn, 58, faces a . jail sentence of up to seven years. He is due to appear at Chelmsford . Magistrates’ Court on December 30. Friends . say he is worried about a possible drugs conviction barring him from . entering the US where he once had an office and often attends celebrity . parties in Los Angeles. Hamlyn is registered as living on his own at a £3.8million four-storey Georgian terraced house in North London. He . was originally due to appear in court next Monday but it is believed he . had the court appearance put back so he could travel to visit family in . Australia. During the 1980s Hamlyn’s film company made critically-acclaimed music videos for the Rolling Stones, U2 and Bruce Springsteen. He . brought his 1994 hit film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to the stage . in a musical in 2006. It has since played in the West End and on . Broadway, winning many awards. Hamlyn’s position in the art world was so prominent that he was once a governor of London’s Southbank Centre. The . drugs charge is likely to be highly embarrassing to Hamlyn’s family and . friends, who include Sir Terence Conran. He part-owns the Bibendum . restaurant in Chelsea with the British designer. Hamlyn has two children, Lili, 20, and Reuben, 18, with his former wife Sara. The couple divorced in 2000. Award: Hamlyn made the Oscar-winning The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert . His father was the publishing baron and controversial Labour donor Lord Hamlyn who left £530million when he died in 2001. Lord Hamlyn donated a record £2.5million while Tony Blair led the party and was made a life peer in 1999. During the 1980s, he had a run-in with Margaret Thatcher over his publication of Spycatcher, the memoirs of MI5 agent Peter Wright, which was banned in England. Hamlyn is a trustee of his father’s charity, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, which has given millions of pounds to artists and good causes. Essex Police confirmed Hamlyn had been arrested on December 5 and was charged with possessing class A and B drugs. Both Hamlyn and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation declined to comment.
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Oscar-winning producer was held by police at Stansted Airport .
Customs officers are believed to have found cocaine and amphetamines .
His firm made music videos for the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:36 EST, 13 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:36 EST, 13 June 2012 . Mrs Seamons lost her baby in the 37th week of pregnancy. She was not seen by a doctor for six hours after going to hospital suffering from bleeding and was then sent home . A grieving mother blames a hospital’s 'human error' for the death of her unborn baby. Georgina Seamons and husband James Rogers lost their son Edward in the 37th week of pregnancy. On February 9 the first-time mum experienced bleeding and visited Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, south London, at 4.30am. She was not seen by a doctor until 10.30am and was not sent for a scan until the following day. Mrs Seamons, 24, was sent home on February 11. She was told everything was fine as she had stopped bleeding. The children's charity worker from London, said: 'They couldn’t tell me what had happened. 'From the moment I got into the bed to the moment I left we were asking what’s wrong and I was asking to be induced. 'But they kept saying it was best for the baby to stay in me longer.' On February 13 Mrs Seamons went back to the hospital after she started bleeding and was given an ultra sound where she was told her baby had died in the womb. Three months later Mrs Seamons and her GP received a letter from consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Nigel Perks, which stated: 'Clearly, it is a matter of huge regret that we did not delivery her before the second bleed and this is obviously very difficult for the couple to deal with.' Mrs Seamons said: 'In the post mortem report they actually say there was nothing wrong with him. 'He was the right size and his organs were fine. It’s human error that my son is dead.' She added: 'If they had just listened to me he would still be here, but how could I have argued with medical staff? 'It’s just a nightmare that me and my partner had to go through. 'We understand unfortunately women do have still births but they haven’t given us consistent answers.' Mrs Seamons has sent a letter of complaint to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, London, about her treatment . Mrs Seamons has sent a letter of complaint to the hospital, her local MP David Evennett and David Cameron. She said: 'I want to make sure other women don’t go through what I went through. 'When you go to hospital make sure you demand answers. Don’t leave until you are satisfied and don’t let them palm you off like they did to me.' She added: 'I used to think they were good and would look after me but after everything that’s gone on I was just another number on a piece of paper to them. 'I don’t ever want to step foot in that hospital again.' A South London Healthcare NHS Trust spokesman said: 'We are deeply sorry for the distress caused and are undertaking a thorough investigation into whether there were any actions we could have taken, mindful of the information we had at the time, which could have prevented the still birth of this baby. 'We are due to meet with Mrs Seamons in the next week and we hope this will be beneficial.' The trust points out the number of serious incidents in the maternity service dropped by more than half in the past year to just over 0.2 incidents per 100 deliveries in 2010/2011, which makes its service the third safest among London trusts.
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The couple lost their son Edward in the 37th week of pregnancy .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:05 EST, 26 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:18 EST, 27 September 2012 . Leaving a simple phone message could help spot the early signs of Parkinson’s years before serious symptoms develop, say scientists. Researchers have discovered they can detect the disease through voice recordings with initial studies already showing a 99 per cent accuracy rate. A team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a computer programme that is able to recognise the tremors, breathiness and weakness in the voice, which are thought to be early indicators of the condition. The technology works partly by tracking the motion of the vocal cords and detecting any tremor . The voice analysis software can even provide an unprecedented level of detail that can distinguish how far along a patient is with the disease. The Parkinson’s Voice Initiative led by British scientist Dr Max Little, is looking to see if the same results can be repeated with voice recordings taken over the telephone. Dr Little’s wider study calls on healthy volunteers as well as patients with Parkinson’s to take part in a three minute phone call where they are asked to say 'aah', speak a few sentences and answer some questions. Dr Little is creating a database of voices to help diagnose Parkinson's . If the research proves successful, it . could have the potential to offer hope to thousands of people and become . a quick and cheap diagnostic tool of the future that can be done from . the comfort of the home. Dr Little said: 'Science tells us voice impairment might be an early sign of Parkinson’s. It sounds counterintuitive as Parkinson’s is a movement disorder but the voice is a form of movement. 'We don’t tend to think of the larynx and vocal chords but you are moving them when you make speech sounds. It’s a complex sound of movement and it tends to degrade in Parkinson’s. 'Neurologists look at changes in the ability to move, which is done with the limbs, but we are looking in the vocal organs - the sounds that come out of the mouth. 'We are fairly confident we can detect the disease over the telephone.' The breakthrough technology could alert doctors to prescribe early treatment, which could slow the progress of the disease. The current approach to a Parkinson’s diagnosis can take years, as there is no blood test that detects it. Dr Kieran Breen, director of research at Parkinson’s UK described the study as an 'exciting prospect'. Mr Little says combining voice recordings with computer technology can show exactly where someone lies between health and disease . He said: 'The Parkinson’s Voice Initiative could lead to voice recognition tests that can diagnose and monitor Parkinson’s. 'We . know that speech is often affected in people with Parkinson’s - so . developing a test that can spot the earliest subtle changes is an . exciting prospect. 'At the moment we don’t have a . definitive test to diagnose Parkinson’s, and no reliable way to monitor . the development of the condition - which is a massive barrier to finding . a cure. Bob Hoskins has retired from acting after being diagnosed with Parkinson's . 'Finding simple and accurate ways to diagnose and monitor Parkinson’s is one of our key research priorities.' There are 127,000 sufferers in the UK living with the incurable disease with the number set to soar due to the ageing population. Parkinson’s disease often starts with hand tremors followed by symptoms including muscle rigidity or stiffness and slow movement. Sufferers don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some cells in their brain have died. Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things. Most people who get Parkinson’s are over 50. American actor Michael J Fox, 51, was diagnosed in 1991 and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, 70, who appeared in the London Olympics opening ceremony, also has the condition. Veteran actor Bob Hoskins, 69, announced earlier this year he would be retiring from acting after being diagnosed with the disease. The researchers are building up a database of 10,000 voices from across the globe to aid their study. To take part and leave a voice recording, call 01865 521168 from the UK or 1857 2848035 from the U.S or visit www.parkinsonsvoice.org .
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A team at MIT has developed a computer programme that is able to recognise the tremors, breathiness and weakness in the voice .
These symtpoms are thought to be early indicators of the degenerative condition .
Study leader Dr Max Little is building up a database of 10,000 voices to support his project .
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These despicable images show four men about to be put to death by ISIS in Iraq, apparently because they are spies. The shocking pictures emerged just hours after campaign group CAGE defended Jihadi John, today unmasked as west London student Mohammed Emwazi, as 'beautiful' and a man who 'wouldn't hurt a fly'. The scarcely believable comments about Emwazi were made by CAGE leader Asim Qureshi at a press conference in which he blamed MI5 for radicalising the University of Westminster graduate. Scroll down for video . The victims are blindfolded and lined up ready to be shot by Islamic State fighters in the horrific images . The alleged spies, clearly terrified, are marched to their deaths under the murderous eyes of their killers . The ISIS fighters hold aloft the handguns with which they have just shot and killed the four 'spies', whose bodies are slumped before them on the ground . In the guise of Jihadi John, Emwazi has apparently been responsible for the beheadings of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, British aid worker David Haines and taxi driver Alan Henning, and American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known as Peter. The gruesome murders were filmed, expertly edited and distributed in the name of Islamic State. Jihadi John's trademark black hood can be seen covering the faces of the four executioners in the latest pictures, thought to have been taken in Salahuddin province in Iraq. Each man was accused of being part of a spy ring and were executed under the crime of spying for the Baghdad government. Clad in the familiar orange jumpsuits the victims, named as Sabi Khalif Mohammad al-Taghi, Mohammad Mahdi Salah al-Jamili, Abdullah Mahmoud Abdullah al-Khamili and Salwan Saidy Suleiman al-Jabouri, are pictured being marched into a clearing under the dark gaze of their killers. Amid bright sunlight filtered through surrounding trees, they are photographed standing separately while their three alleged accomplices kneel with their heads down in the background. Suleiman al-Jabouri fixes the camera with a defiant gaze, moments before he is apparently shot and killed . A snapshot of the slick webpage on which the images were posted, including graphic black and white shots . Sabi Khalif Mohammad al-Taghi appears more afraid as he is shown with his alleged accomplices behind . Some of their faces show defiance and others fear, before they are lined up on their knees with their black-clad killers standing behind. In gut-wrenching images the four are then seen slumped on the ground, apparently having been shot in cold blood, as their ISIS murderers raise hand guns in the air. Blood pools around the heads of the dead men, which are shown in close-up in images too horrific to reproduce. Earlier today Qureshi was branded an ISIS sympathiser as he appeared to launch a defence of Emwazi and his barbaric crimes. He described Emwazi as 'the most humble young person that I knew', adding: 'He was such a beautiful young man, really. 'It's hard to imagine the trajectory, but it is not a trajectory that's unfamiliar with us. 'When are we going to finally learn that when we treat people as if they're outsiders, they are going to feel like outsiders and they will look for belonging elsewhere.' About to meet his death, Mohammad Mahdi Salah al-Jamili is pictured handcuffed my the militants . The four, including Abdullah Mahmoud Abdullah al-Khamili, were killed because they were allegedly spies . He also revealed that he'd been in regular contact with Emwazi before he left for Syria. In the wake of Emwazi's unmasking as the world's most wanted man, CAGE yesterday released a statement entitled 'Jihadi John: 'Radicalised' By Britain'. The release stated that Emwazi 'desperately wanted to use the system to change his situation, but the system ultimately rejected him,' a view later echoed on CAGE's press conference, which was broadcast live on both BBC and Sky News. Qureshi then used the statement to criticise the British security services, arguing that counter-terror measures turned young Muslims into extremists. Other videos have emerged of Qureshi suggesting he is a jihadi apologist, including oneat an anti-US rally in London at which he is filmed urging protesters to 'support the jihad of our brothers and sisters' in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Chechnya. Qureshi can be seen speaking through a microphone at the the pan-Islamic Hizb ut-Tahrir movement rally. CAGE leader Ashim Qureshi (left) pictured at the press conference where he defended Mohammed Emwazi, seen right in the guise of the infamous Jihadi John . Qureshi pictured at a London rally at the height of the Iraq war in 2006 calling for protesters to 'support the jihad of our brothers and sisters' He says: 'When we see the example of our brothers and sisters fighting in Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, then we know where the example lies. 'When we see Hezbollah defeating the armies of Israel, we know where the solution is and where the victory lies. 'We know that it is incumbent upon all of us, to support the Jihad of our brothers and sisters in these countries when they are facing the oppression of the West. 'Allahu Akhbar! Allahu Akhbar! (God is great, God is great!)' Qureshi stands alone on a stage in the 54 second clip, shot at the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in 2006. And in a second video, in which Qureshi is quizzed by Juliane Assange on his view of Sharia law, in particularl stoning, he said: 'I agree with Islamic concepts of how we practice our punishments.' Asked if he believes in the use of the death penalty, he added: 'From an Islamic perspective, yes. As long as all the due process elements are met.'
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Despicable images show four men about to be put to death by ISIS in Iraq .
They are apparently then shot in the back of the head for being spies .
Orange-clad men reportedly killed in cold blood in Salahuddin province .
Emerged just hours after campaign group CAGE defended Jihadi John .
ISIS figurehead was unmasked as west Londoner Mohammed Emwazi .
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Washington (CNN) -- New U.S. military intelligence suggests Iran plans to smuggle new shipments of weapons into Afghanistan in the coming weeks as part of an increased effort to interfere with coalition operations, a senior U.S. Defense Department official said Friday. The information came from an "Iranian source" whose tips on past shipments have been verified by the United States, the official said. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information. He also declined to offer more details on the identity of the Iranian source. Intelligence gained by talking to people, sometimes referred to as "human intelligence," is always considered sensitive for fear of compromising sources. "There are indications the Iranians have stepped it up," the official said. But another U.S. official said Iran is only providing "limited supplies of weapons to the Taliban ... not enough to cause major problems for coalition forces." The official also noted that Iran -- a majority Shiite country -- and the Sunni Taliban almost went to war with one another in the late 90s, so it's not really in their interest to be a major source of top-shelf arms to the Taliban. Earlier this week, however, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Afghanistan he was 'taken aback" when he learned of a "significant shipment" of weapons from Iran into Kandahar in southeastern Afghanistan. Mullen and his aides declined to offer any other details. And the Defense Department official said the source has told the United States of "volumes of Iranian munitions coming into Afghanistan." Tehran has consistently denied supporting groups opposed to the Afghan government. U.S. and coalition troops have seen evidence of some Iranian weapons inside Afghanistan found in seized caches or in the aftermath of attacks. Some munitions have recent manufacturing dates and serial numbers. "That leads us to believe there are ongoing and current shipments coming into Afghanistan from Iran," the official said. The Iranian weapons include not only rockets and grenades but also material and explosives to make improvised explosive devices. The official said the United States has found high explosives that are clearly manufactured in Iran with a particular process and design "similar to what we saw with Iranian weapons in Iraq." The Pentagon official said some of the upcoming shipments might be designated for Kandahar, adding that the U.S. military would do everything it could to stop that from happening. The official indicated it had been several months since coalition forces had seized any weapons shipments at Afghanistan's western border with Iran. Authorities believe shipments are broken up into smaller loads at the border and then brought into the country as unobtrusively as possible by truck convoys. The issue of just how much Iran is interfering inside Afghanistan remains under debate in the administration's national security circles. Recently, Defense Secretary Robert Gates accused Iran of playing a "double game" in Afghanistan, both aiding the Taliban and more publicly helping finance some public institutions. But he then described Iranian assistance to the Taliban as "pretty low-level." "We have really not seen an increase of Iranian assistance, whether it's equipment or weapons or training, in western Afghanistan," Gates told reporters on February 22. "We're obviously keeping an eye on it, but it seems pretty modest at this point."
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Info was from reliable "Iranian source," the Defense Department official said .
"Limited supplies" of weapons won't cause major problems, another official said .
Joint Chiefs chair said this week he was 'taken aback" by news of Iranian arms shipments .
Tehran has consistently denied helping Afghan anti-government forces .
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(CNN) -- It took a lot of effort for Leo Bonten to turn his amputated leg into a fully functional lamp. For starters, he had to break the damn thing in a freak kiddie pool accident. As one does. Seriously. That's how it all started, thus confirming what I've always said: "Kiddie pools are not toys, and should only be used as giant, outdoor toilets." I chose that as my high school yearbook quote over "Carpe diem." But it really happened. In July 2012, the unfortunate Dutchman suffered a terrible break while goofing off with his cousin in south Rotterdam. Over time, the leg became infected, ignored, and more infected to the point where, in July of this year, doctors had to remove it surgically. So, Bonten, now 53, settled in to the fact that he would be losing his right leg -- a harsh reality for an otherwise healthy and active man. But it was damaged beyond repair, and there was nothing he could do. Except, you know, maybe ask to keep it. "It's my leg," he told me over the phone. "It's my legal right." Sort of. We'll get to that. Either way, he asked for it, which I'm sure lead to a rather awkward, if not spirited, conversation with hospital administrators. "Sir, we just can't give it to you." "Right. Well, what if I bring in my own tin foil?" Generally speaking, hospitals use very specific protocol with amputations. For safety and sanitation reasons, they're usually required to incinerate them. Body parts can also be buried during some sort of official funeral (and, perhaps, exhumed) with proper legal oversight. But that was an expensive option, and not one Bonten was able to afford. Though, probably worth it just to see the face of the grave digger. "Don't go anywhere, Dave. And hold on to that shovel." So, Bonten wouldn't be doing that. There would be no funeral. Still, he wanted his leg, for he had a crazy idea. He would turn it into a lamp. Sort of like the one from Ralphie's house in "A Christmas Story." But real. And significantly more severed. Thus, Bonten and the hospital entered a complicated period of legal negotiations, where they finally came to a mutual agreement after a strange set of circumstances. You see, leading up to his surgery at Erasmus Medical Center, a news reporter gave Bonten a book by Joris van Casteren about a mysterious leg found by a fisherman in the IJssel River. That book led Bonten to a pathologist named Frank van de Goot, who was more than happy to help with all this lamp nonsense. You see, as per his profession, van de Goot was able to legally obtain Bonten's leg from the hospital after surgery. Thus, the leg was then couriered to van de Goot as specified by the law. He would inspect it. He would study it. And, ultimately, he would preserve the leg with chemicals so it could remain ... a leg. Problem solved. Almost. Someone still had to make it into a lamp. Eventually, as Bonten's story became an even bigger media sensation, a designer named William Schaper Kotter decided to reach out and offer his services to complete the vision. This thing was actually going to happen. And now it's done. They made a lamp out of his leg. Today, the leg sits suspended in a glass cylinder filled with a solution. Surrounding that cylinder are metal bars, symbolizing two years of physical "imprisonment" suffered by Bonten while the leg deteriorated. Above that is an empty space. This represents the rehab period. And on the top sits a large remote-controlled LED light, flanked by two metal wings, honoring Bonten's upcoming freedom from the help of a new limb. Which is where the story takes another twist. The issue of the prosthetic. Bonten explained to me that the one he's getting through his insurance is not top of the line. Quite simply, he wants something better. Something stronger. Something more agile. Because, before all this, he played soccer. He ran. He boxed. It was one silly accident that changed everything. But a high-tech prosthetic will cost him. So, he decided to sell his lamp on eBay for €100,000 -- an endeavor that lasted not even two days before the online bidding site rejected his listing. You can't sell human parts on eBay. On the plus side, you CAN sell used socks. Don't ask me why I was looking. Just know that you can. So, until somebody comes to him with an offer, Bonten will just keep it at home, where he just returned after a lengthy stint in rehab. His lamp will arrive on Sunday, and he'll finally be re-united with his leg. "My leg is amputated," he says, fully understanding the humor and absurdity in all this. "But it gives me a good feeling that I still have it." And if he wants to cover the foot with a dirty, used sock ... sadly, I know just the place. Follow @JarrettBellini on Twitter. And prepare to be underwhelmed. See more content with questionable news value at CNN Comedy.
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Leo Bonten broke his leg in a backyard accident in Rotterdam .
His leg eventually had to be amputated due to infection .
Bonten tried selling his leg on eBay after turning it into a lamp .
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A scuba diver who found a wedding ring on the sea bed while on holiday in Mexico has launched a Facebook campaign to reunite it with its owner. Daniel Roark from Gloucester, Massachusetts had been diving off the coast of Playa del Carmen, earlier this year when he came across the gold ring. He believes it must be a wedding band and it is engraved with the name Jessica on the inside, with the date of 16 02 13 and the letters TYYJCEM. Scroll down for video . Daniel Roark, who was scuba diving off the coast of Playa del Carmen in Mexico earlier this year when he found a wedding ring on the sea bed . The gold wedding band has the name Jessica engraved inside it along with the date of 16/02/13 and the letters TYYJCEM . Thinking it could be a meaningful piece of jewellery, he has started a campaign on social media to track the owner. And now the appeal has gone viral with his post on Facebook being shared almost 120,000 times, creating the hashtag #thelostweddingband. Writing on Facebook with a picture of the ring, he explained: 'Ok, so while scuba diving around Playa Reef, Playa Del Carmen last week, I happened to find this ring. 'Unfortunately there is no way for me to know whether it was lost or intentionally thrown into the ocean. 'Assuming it was not the latter, I'd like to find the owner so I can send it to them. Mr Roark is desperate to reunite the ring with its owner but despite his high-profile campaign, nobody has yet come forward . Mr Roark had been scuba diving while staying at Playa Reef in the Mexican resort, pictured, when he came across the ring . 'If you know a couple who was married on February 16th, 2013, who lost a wedding band (likely while diving) near Playa Del Carmen Mexico, please have them contact me at thelostweddingband@yahoo.com. 'If not, please take a second to share this. Let's make some social media magic happen!' But despite the high-profile campaign, the owner has yet to come forward and Mr Roark is keen to find the owners soon. In another post he added: 'I'm shocked at how much support the search for the wedding band owner has received! 'Sadly the owner has not been found yet, but my hope for humanity was certainly restored! 'Always remember, even in this crazy world, there are a lot of kind people.'
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Daniel Roark from Massachusetts had been scuba diving in Mexico .
While underwater he came across a gold wedding band on the sea bed .
Ring is engraved with the name Jessica inside and the date of 16/02/13 .
Brought it to the surface to try to reunite it with its rightful owner .
Has started a Facebook campaign so he can track down who it belongs to .
Appeal has gone viral with his Facebook post being shared more than 120,000 times .
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By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 09:11 EST, 11 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:08 EST, 11 June 2013 . He may only be holding a button, but this newborn slow loris is so tiny he looks like he is clutching a gigantic steering wheel. The big-eyed animal was born at El Paso Zoo, Texas, alongside his twin sister. The pair are so tiny they each weigh about 25 grams - equivalent to about two tablespoons of white sugar. Scroll down for video . Tiny new arrival: The slow loris holds a button that looks as big as a steering wheel against his tiny body . Peeking out: Born to El Paso Zoo residents Steven Tyler and Kym Ly, the pair have not yet been named . They are the first offspring for their parents Kym Ly and Steven Tyler - they have not yet been named. Experts at zoo bred the pair of pygmy slow loris in a bid to boost the primitive species' threatened population. 'We are excited about our first birth . of pygmy slow lorises at the Zoo, especially because they are twins,' said Collections Supervisor Griselda . Martinez. 'It’s evident that through our staff’s hard work and dedication, this has . been a successful birth.' Boost: The zoo bred the pair in an attempt to boost the primitive species' threatened population . Light as a feather: They each weigh the equivalent to approximately two tablespoons of white sugar . But visitors may have a hard time seeing them in their exhibit because they are nocturnal animals and they may be sleeping in clinging to mom, in their hammock, deep baskets or nest boxes. Slow lorises are found in south and south-east Asia, including Indonesia, Burma, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia. They live in rainforests and mangrove forests, preferring high dense canopies they can easily travel across. The creatures are omnivores, eating insects, small birds and reptiles, eggs, fruits and other vegetation. As a defence mechanism lorises will bite aggressors, producing a toxin to infect the wounds. To humans the bites cause a painful swelling, but the toxin is mild and not fatal. The single reported case of human death by loris bite was believed to have resulted from prophylactic shock. Excitement: Collections Supervisor Griselda Martinez said: 'We are excited about our first birth of pygmy slow lorises at the Zoo, especially because they are twins' Hidden: Visitors may have a hard time seeing them in their exhibit because they are nocturnal animals and they may be sleeping in clinging to mom, in their hammock, deep baskets or nest boxes . Taking a nap: The tiny animal hangs on a branch as it takes a rest .
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Experts at The El Paso Zoo managed to .
safely breed the pair .
Population of slow lorises has declined over the years .
The twin baby lorises have not yet been named .
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By . Claire Coleman . PUBLISHED: . 17:21 EST, 7 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:46 EST, 8 July 2013 . Top gloss: Tamara's bouncy blow-dry . From Sloanes to WAGs, no one has gorgeous, flowing manes of hair like very rich women do. And they don't get much richer than Tamara Ecclestone, the perma-tanned, yacht-flitting daughter of Formula 1 boss Bernie, who recently married in a £7 million extravaganza in the south of France and is said to be worth £300 million. Socialite Tamara's bouncy blow-dry puts even the Duchess of Cambridge to shame. It speaks of luxury, pampering and - whisper it - the free time to spend in expensive salons which comes of not having to work. Which is why her latest venture, Show Beauty, a premium haircare range comprising 11 'volumising, thickening, conditioning and finishing products for the world's most discerning customers', has attracted so much attention. The 'indulgent and luxurious' line is stocked only in the most exclusive department stores - Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Every product is scented with a fragrance developed by Givaudan, the eminent perfume house behind iconic scents including L'Air Du Temps, Opium, Obsession and Poison. Its adverts can be seen in upmarket glossy magazines this month, and promise us mortals the chance to look like multi-millionaires. The price tags are pretty striking too. The cheapest products are the dry shampoo, a texture spray and a hairspray, each of which costs £30; the most expensive is a £55 hair fragrance. In fact, were you to purchase every product - as some women are said to have been doing in Harrods - then it would set you back £375. For that sort of money, you would hope for a wig made of Tamara's own hair - or a shampoo and a conditioner at the very least (both of which are conspicuously absent from the line-up). The products undoubtedly look expensive, coming in metallic bottles with quilted relief designs and chunky plastic lids that - from a distance, if you squint - look like cut-glass stoppers. As for the fragrance - to me, it smells like burnt sugar. But apparently I'm missing the point. According to the website, Tamara's Show Beauty is 'more than a luxury haircare brand, it is a lifestyle statement and a window into the often untouchable world of elite elegance'. I'm not sure any window is worth this sort of cash. After all, you can buy a can of Batiste dry shampoo for £2.99 and good old L'Oreal Elnett hairspray for £4. Show off: Tamara's range of very expensive luxury haircare products . So to find out if Tamara's stuff is any better, we asked top stylist Stephen Low of London's exclusive Neville Hair & Beauty salon to blind test £245 worth of Show Beauty products against High Street best-sellers at a total of £38.01. Stephen looks after the locks of seriously groomed posh girls such as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Poppy Delevingne, so he's perfectly placed to judge. To make the test as fair as possible, we decanted all the products into clear plastic bottles or used masking tape to disguise the branding. Here's what Stephen had to say: . HAIRSPRAY . Tamara's Show Beauty Finishing Spray, £30, harrods.com . This smells terrible and it's too sticky on the hair. It does give a firm hold, but also leaves a residue on the hair if you apply too much. Not for anyone who wants a natural look with movement. L'Oreal Elnett, £4, boots.com . I liked the fresh smell of this and it gave a good hold with no residue left behind. It brushed through the hair nicely - a good product that I would happily work with. WINNER: High Street . DRY SHAMPOO . Tamara's Show Beauty dry shampoo, £30, harrods.com . The cloying scent was really unpleasant, although it left no residue and still created a fresh and revived look to a style. Batiste dry shampoo, £2.99, boots.com . I really liked the smell, but when it came to performance I was disappointed. It left a white powdery residue that might be OK on blonde hair but would really show up on a brunette. WINNER: Tamara (as long as you can put up with the smell) Turn up the volume: Tamara's volumising product was hard to work with . MOUSSE . Tamara's Show Beauty Lux Volume Mousse, £30, harrods.com . This had a good foam and was not too sticky. The hair looked great. I'd be happy to use this product again. Garnier Fructis Style Big Volume Mousse, £2.65, boots.com . This was a little heavy and actually gave a bit too much grip to hair making it quite difficult to blow-dry. This meant the hair was left feeling rather tacky. WINNER: Tamara . TREATMENT OIL . Tamara's Show Beauty Pure Treatment Oil, £50, harrods.com . This leaves a lot of residue. Be careful how much you use - it can weigh the hair down and make it look greasy. Lee Stafford Argan Oil, £11.99, boots.com . I wasn't impressed with this either. When you're putting oil on the hair, a light texture is essential and neither of these scored well on that front. WINNER: Neither. I prefer Shu Uemura Nourishing Protective Oil (£39.50, feelunique.com). VOLUME LOTION . Tamara's Show Beauty Lux Volume Lotion, £40, harrods.com . This was very hard to work with - dense, sticky, tough to blow-dry and the smell wasn't very appealing either. Tresemme 24 Hour Body Dramatic Volume Blow Dry Lotion, £5.50, boots.com . This was also a bit too sticky on the hair - although I did like the fresh smell. WINNER: High Street. Not my favourite volumising product, but better than the other one. THICKENING SPRAY . Tamara's Show Beauty Divine Thickening Mist, £35, harrods.com . Although this did thicken the hair, it made it hard to blow-dry and dragged it down. Samy Fat Hair Thickening Spray, £5.99, superdrug.com . This wasn't too sticky, blow-dried well and gave a good hold. I liked the smell, too. I would be happy to use this on my clients. WINNER: High Street. Knot great: Tamara's Texture Spray was heavy and tended to make hair clumpy . TEXTURE SPRAY . Tamara's Show Beauty Premiere Working Texture Spray, £30, harrods.com . This was heavy and I had to be very careful how much I used to avoid clumping or matting. Aussie Dual Personality Texturising & Conditioning Gel Spray, 150ml, £4.89, boots.com . Lightweight, with a great fresh scent. WINNER: High Street . STEPHEN'S VERDICT . I've always felt you don't have to spend a fortune on haircare; it's about finding products that you like, not packaging or price. The basis of gorgeous, glossy hair is a great shampoo and conditioner. If hair's not properly prepared, you won't get the best results from other products. I won't be swapping any of my usual kit for Tamara's products - not least because I find the smell really unappealing. If you're desperate to buy them, the dry shampoo and mousse are your best bets. I wouldn't use the rest.
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The socialite has just released a new line of luxury haircare products .
The packaging is striking - but so is the price tag .
Stylist Stephen Low blind tests the range to see if it's worth it .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:45 EST, 23 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:45 EST, 23 January 2013 . The 19-year-old college student accused of poisoning her roommate’s iced tea with bleach has been arrested again for allegedly making contact with the young woman at a bar. Kayla A. Bonkowski, 19, who was charged with a felony last November for allegedly spiking her roommate’s drink, had her bond revoked after showing up at a bar in Wayside Central, Michigan and making her alleged victim feel uncomfortable. Bonkowski’s $20,000 bond is now revoked and she is back in jail. Prosecutors allege that Bonkowski was at Wayside Central Bar and was staring at her alleged victim, Emily Joseph. Roommate: Kayla Ashlyn Bonkowski, 19, has been charged with felony poisoning after she poured bleach into her roommates iced tea in Michicgan . They added that the Central Michigan . University student violated the two conditions of her bond, which were . not to make any contact with her former roommate, and not to enter a . drinking establishment, MLive.com reported. The poisoning occurred on November 7 at the students' apartment in Union Township, located near . the Mount Pleasant school of Central Michigan University, authorities said. Miss Joseph was taken to hospital for treatment but later released. After she filed a complaint, Bonkowski was arrested. The 19-year-old 'verbally admitted' to police that she put bleach in the drink because 'Joseph is mean', according to ABC. The college student faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Vicious: Bonkowski (left) allegedly sprayed bleach into Emily Joseph's iced tea after they argued about the dishes . Student life: The two young women shared an apartment in Union Township while they attended Central Michigan University .
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Kayla Ashlyn Bonkowski, 19, charged with felony poisoning in Michigan .
Told police her roommate Emily Joseph, 20, was acting 'mean'
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Former South Africa leader Nelson Mandela will spend Christmas Day in hospital as he continues to recover from his operation. Mr Mandela's doctors confirmed the news today, the presidency has said in a statement. The anti-apartheid figure was admitted on December 8 to a hospital in Pretoria, the South African capital. Recovering: Former South African leader Nelson Mandela spent Christmas Day in hospital but has now been released . He was airlifted from his rural village in the south of the country to the hospital for a series of tests. Doctors found the former president and hero of the anti-apartheid struggle had a recurrent lung infection and had developed gallstones. He underwent surgery to remove the gallstones on December 15 and is still in hospital. Officials have said Mr Mandela is improving and is responding to treatment. South African president Jacob Zuma said the whole country is behind Mr Mandela and he urged people to keep the former president in their thoughts on Christmas Day and throughout the festive season. Mr Zuma describes Mr Mandela, who was imprisoned under apartheid for 27 years, as an 'ardent fighter'. Getting better: Mr Mandela is said to be improving and is responding to treatment .
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Former South African leader is to stay in hospital for Christmas Day .
Mr Mandela is said to be improving and responding to treatment .
President Zuma has said the whole country is behind Mr Mandela .
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(CNN Student News) -- March 7, 2014 . Could part of Ukraine secede from the rest of the country and become part of Russia? That question begins this Friday edition of CNN Student News, which also includes reports about North Korea, the Paralympics, and daylight-saving time. Get ready to spring forward this weekend (and to find out why we do it)! On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . If you were a producer, what kinds of stories would you want to include in your coverage of the Paralympics? Why? Weekly Newsquiz: The following questions relate to events that were covered this week on CNN Student News. Write your answers in the space provided. 1. What is the capital of Ukraine? 2. What is the most populated state in the U.S.? 3. With what country has NASA teamed up to launch a new satellite that will track global precipitation? 4. What was the name of the first man-made satellite in orbit, launched in 1957? 5. What 1,100-mile dog sled race through Alaska is known as "the last great race"? 6. In what southern region of Ukraine are local government officials holding a referendum on possible secession? 7. What country, home to the world's second-largest economy, convened its National People's Congress this week? 8. What college entrance exam will undergo major changes, including a new top score of 1600, by the year 2016? 9. Which kind of civil time covers most of the calendar year for most Americans? 10. What nation reportedly fired a rocket whose trajectory was in the path of a Chinese passenger plane? CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request.
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This page includes the show Transcript and the Daily Curriculum .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum's Newsquiz tests students' knowledge of events in the news .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum .
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A 60-mile wide 'no drone zone' will be set up around the Super Bowl on Sunday as part of the stringent security operation. The Federal Aviation Authority is setting up flight restrictions in several circles around Phoenix, Arizona, for the big game and have threatened to prosecute those who ignore the ban. It follows a video campaign from the government agency to make sure no drones hover anywhere near the action at the University of Phoenix stadium. The Department of Homeland Security has also announced it will be scanning social media in a bid to uncover any potential threats which may arise. Scroll down for video . 'No drone zone': The Federal Aviation Authority is believed to be setting up flight restrictions in several circles in Phoenix, Arizona, for the big game on Sunday. It includes a strict ban on unmanned aircraft . Within 10 miles of the stadium no aircraft - including media banners and blimps - will be allowed. According to the FAA a second outer ring will encompass the airspace between 10 and 30 miles from the stadium. General aviation aircraft will be able to operate there provided they have filed flight plans, are using transponders that broadcast specific information about their aircraft. No unmanned aircraft will be allowed in either ring, but Gizmodo reports that any spotted within a 60 mile radius could be in violation. Pilots have also been warned 'deadly force' could be used against them if they pose and imminent security threat. The FAA expects an additional 1,200 to 1,400 general aviation flights into the Phoenix area for Super Bowl XLIX, and has been planning for the event for more than a year. According to Nextgov Homeland Security will be using social-media tracking technology to filter bogus and real threats made online. It comes after a number of flights were grounded this week because of messages . Message: The government agency launched a video campaign to make sure no drones hover anywhere near the action during game time . U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson met top local law enforcement officials in Phoenix on Wednesday and will visit the University of Phoenix stadium in nearby Glendale, where the Seattle Seahawks will play the New England Patriots for the National Football League championship. Ticket-holders are being told to get there early for a rigorous security screening procedure that will involve metal detectors and a pat-down search. Deadly shootings in Paris and the recent arrest of suspects in Belgium, Greece and Germany have heightened fears of more attacks around the world, and social media accounts linked to Middle East militant groups have carried a number of threats to attack high-profile U.S. events. Federal security officials have said U.S. agencies are unaware of any specific or credible terrorist threat against the Super Bowl. Johnson echoed that on Wednesday. At a news conference, NFL Chief Security Officer Jeffrey Miller said: 'Most items cannot be carried into the stadium.' Only clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags measuring 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or 1-gallon freezer bags, will be permitted, as well as small clutch bags 'approximately the size of a hand,' he said. Coolers, backpacks, computer and camera bags, and all other kinds of luggage are prohibited, as are bottles and beverages including alcohol, camcorders, food, fireworks, Frisbees and umbrellas, according to an NFL list. Exceptions will made for medically necessary items, after an inspection at a specially designated stadium gate. 'While the level of security is high, there should only be a moderate inconvenience for our fans: a very small price to pay,' Miller said. Debora Black, chief of the Glendale Police Department, said that while most people viewed the Super Bowl as an exciting finale to the football season, others saw the event as a target. 'We are confident that we are prepared to identify and protect against any threat,' Black said. 'While the world is focused on the (Phoenix-area) Valley for this week, we have been focused on this week for over a year.' Super Bowl security officials acknowledge the NFL championship game represents a high profile target on a world stage but are unaware of any specific credible threats against Sunday's showcase. Over 4,000 private security personnel will be deployed and the almost 3,000 member Phoenix police force will be on Super Bowl duty . 'There is no specific credible threat,' said Johnson, who has appointed a 'federal coordination team' to work with local, state and federal agencies to ensure safety of fans, players and other workers associated with the Super Bowl. 'I'm confident we will have a safe and secure and successful event.' Sunday's game has been given a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) 1 rating, the same as in previous years, except for the year after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, when a higher level was declared. But security will be tight and visible around Super Bowl-related events as well as during the game itself. All fans will pass through metal detectors and pat downs. Over 4,000 private security personnel will be deployed and the almost 3,000 member Phoenix police force will be on Super Bowl duty. Nuclear device sniffing teams will be deployed and a network of Bio-Watch detectors will be set up to provide a warning in the event of a biological attack. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a press release it had held special cyber-security and anti-sniper training sessions.
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FAA to set up circles of flight restrictions in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday .
No aircraft will be allowed within a 10 mile radius of the action at any time .
Up to 1,400 additional flights are expected into the area before the game .
Homeland Security will be trawling social media in a bid to uncover threats .
Policies put in place as part of a huge wide-ranging security operation .
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Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro announced on Monday that the Communist Party will hold a long-delayed congress next April as the country struggles to reshape its Soviet economic model. There hasn't been a congress since 1997. Castro postponed one scheduled for the end of 2009 so the government could focus on preventing a full-blown economic crisis. Castro made the announcement alongside Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at an activity to renew a social and economic pact between the two countries. The congress will also be important because it will determine if Fidel Castro will stay on as the head of the Communist Party, the only legal party in Cuba. He stepped down in 2006 and has renounced all other titles. This will be the party's sixth congress since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. The meetings are used to set policy.
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Cuba's last Communist Party congress was in 1997 .
The meetings are used to set policy .
The congress also will determine if Fidel Castro will stay on has head of the party .
He renounced all other government titles after stepping down in 2006 .
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Jerusalem (CNN) -- The father of a New Jersey man who went missing while studying in Israel has joined police and hundreds of volunteers searching the forest outside Jerusalem where his son disappeared. Yeshiva student Aaron Sofer, 23, was reported missing Friday by a friend who was hiking with him in the Jerusalem Forest, Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CNN. Sofer's father, Moshe Zvi Sofer, arrived in Israel Monday with his wife from their home in Lakewood, New Jersey, to join the search, which is now in its fifth day. The couple is offering a 100,000 shekel (about $28,000) reward for whoever finds their son, Sofer's father said in a video posted online. "It means a lot to us that everyone is doing their share, whatever they could to help us find my son," he told CNN at the search site Wednesday. Police, volunteers search forest . Avishai Landau, who is organizing the search, said the group of "hundreds and hundreds of people" started combing the forest Saturday. Landau, who's been volunteering on search and rescue missions for years, called Sofer's disappearance "extremely unusual," and said that the search party has come up empty-handed. "We have absolutely nothing that could explain what happened to him," he said. Police have questioned a friend of Sofer's who was "the last man who saw him face-to-face, eye-to-eye," Rosenfeld said. The friend lost contact with Sofer while walking with him and reported the disappearance to authorities, the police spokesman added. What happened? "We are looking in a number of directions," Rosenfeld said. "It is not clear if the disappearance was personal [or a] kidnapping. It's not clear at all." The missing man's brother, Joel Sofer, told CNN Tuesday that family members are "just praying hard and doing everything we could do." He said he had visited the area where his brother went missing. "I actually was over there today on site," he told CNN's Jake Tapper. "And you know, there's nothing. They have no evidence. They can't find anything." Binyomin Isseeman, Sofer's rabbi in Lakewood, called the young man a "very normal, a very healthy boy." "His mind is clear, no problems at all," Isseeman said to CNN affiliate WCBS reported. U.S. State Department assisting . Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey said the U.S. Department of State was helping Israeli authorities in the search for Sofer. "There are concerns, as we all know, about the possibility of abduction," Smith said, according to CNN affiliate News 12 New Jersey. Sofer's disappearance comes two months after what Israeli authorities have called the revenge killing of Palestinian teen Mohammed Abu Khedair, 16. His body was found in the Jerusalem Forest on July 2, just miles from where Sofer went missing. Two minors and an adult were indicted in the killing. Prosecutors allege the killing was retaliation for the deaths of three Israeli teens whose bodies were found in the West Bank in June. One of the Israeli youths also had American citizenship. CNN's Michael Schwartz reported from Jerusalem and Leigh Remizowski reported from New York. CNN's Jethro Mullen also contributed to this report.
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NEW: Search leader: "Hundreds and hundreds of people" are searching for Aaron Sofer .
NEW: Sofer's parents offer 100,000 shekel reward to help find their son .
Sofer, 23, disappeared while hiking in the Jerusalem Forest .
Police are questioning a friend who was with Sofer .
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Canada will stop issuing visas to . people from the three West African nations where the Ebola is . widespread, the government said on Friday. The federal citizenship ministry, explaining the move, said . in an official document that 'the introduction or spread of the . disease would pose an imminent and severe risk to public . health'. About 5,000 people have died in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra . Leone this year in the worst Ebola outbreak on record. Fears . rose that the disease could spread beyond the region after a few . cases were diagnosed in Spain and the United States. Cut off: Visa for Canada will no longer be issues for countries affected with Ebola outbreaks, namely Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia . Banned: The ban applies to all visas for people who have been in a country with widespread Ebola transmission in the past three months . Canada - which has not reported any cases of Ebola so far - . is following in the footsteps of Australia, which on Tuesday . became the first rich nation to issue such a ban. The country's . official in charge of the response to Ebola said the move was . medically unjustified. Under the new regulations, which come into force . immediately, Canada will not process visa applications from . foreign nationals who have been in an Ebola-affected country . within the previous three months. U.S. President Barack Obama is so far resisting pressure to . impose similar travel restrictions. Codie Taylor, the chief spokeswoman for Immigration Minister . Chris Alexander, did not immediately respond to a request for . comment. Precautions: Immigration authorities said they made the decision because 'the introduction or spread of the disease would pose an imminent and severe risk to public health in Canada' During SARS, the World Health Organization issued travel advisories directing people around the world to avoid places battling severe outbreaks. It is a tool the organization has not used since. One of the places hit with a travel advisory was Toronto. Ontario's then health minister, Tony Clement -- now president of the federal treasury board -- was among those incensed by the WHO's move. Clement led a delegation to Geneva to successfully demand the WHO rescind the travel advisory against Toronto. Under the IHR, countries agree not to restrict trade or travel over and above what is recommended by the WHO during Public Health Emergencies of International Concern, known as a PHEIC. The WHO declared Ebola a PHEIC on August 8 and in doing so said countries should not close their borders to the West African countries struggling with Ebola. It has repeated that advice several times since. The IHR stipulate that countries that go beyond the WHO's recommendations have to back up their decisions with solid rationale. The latest figures from the WHO suggest at least 13,567 people have been infected since this Ebola outbreak began, and 4,951 have died. The only nations which currently meet the definition of countries with widespread and persistent, intense transmission are Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
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Canada has stopped issuing visas to people from the West African countries at the heart of the Ebola outbreak .
Authorities said they made the decision because the 'spread of the disease would pose an imminent and severe risk to public health in Canada'
The ban applies to all visas for people who have been in a country with widespread Ebola transmission in the past three months .
The countries affected are Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia .
Applications in the pipeline will not be processed .
Australia took a similar step earlier this week .
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A gang of murderers may have lured their victim to his death in a Bronx apartment building by using Facebook. Ricardo Romero, 16, believed he was on his way to what he thought was a meeting with a 17-year-old girl identified on Facebook as 'Chiquita Andy' Friday night when he was attacked in the Creston Ave. building in Fordham Heights. He was stabbed in the left of his chest, hit in the head with a bottle, and had his wallet stolen as well as his cell phone. Ricardo Romero, 16, believed he was on his way to what he thought was a meeting with a 17-year-old girl identified on Facebook as 'Chiquita Andy' Friday night when he was jumped in the Creston Ave. building in Fordham Heights . He collapsed on E. 182nd St. where a witness flagged down police who called Romero an ambulance. Unfortunately it was too late, and he died at St. Barnabas Hospital less than 30 minutes later. His sister Viridiana Romero said: 'I was crying. I couldn't believe it.' The New York Daily News reports that the attack was captured by a surveillance camera. One building resident, Christian Juarez, has already been apprehended and charged with murder, robbery, and weapon possession. Held without bail, he has identified a man named 'Skip' as the one who stabbed Romero. 'I was going through the victim’s pockets, then Skip pulled out a knife from his back pocket and stabbed him two to three times in the torso,' Juarez is quoted in court papers. Romero collapsed outside the building on E. 182nd St. where a witness flagged down police who called Romero an ambulance . Juarez's girlfriend, Andy, said Skip was responsible for the violence. 'Christian had nothing to do with it,' she told the court Saturday. 'I told him to run. I ran.' Police have yet to confirm the identity of the woman they believe lured Ricardo in. She has been questioned but not charged. Juarez's mother denied her son was a criminal. 'Everything they're saying is a lie,' she said. 'He did not do anything.' One building resident, Christian Juarez, has already been apprehended and charged with murder, robbery, and weapon possession . Another man who was active in the robbery, 27-year-old Christopher Garcia, was held on $50,000 bail. Garcia told police he joined the group when Juarez told him about the planned robbery. 'Christian came to me and asked me to help out with a robbery that him and his girl was going to do,' he told officers. 'I agreed to it no problem. I get dress(ed) and followed Christian to the apartment.' Another unidentified attacker is still being searched for.
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Ricardo Romero, 16, believed he was on his way to what he thought was a meeting with a 17-year-old girl identified on Facebook as 'Chiquita Andy'
He traveled to the a Creston Ave. building in Fordham Heights where he was jumped by several men .
He was stabbed in the left of his chest, hit in the head with a bottle, and had his wallet stolen as well as his telephone .
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Arrest: Verna McClain has been charged with capital murder in the killing of 28-year-old Kala Marie Golden, after she shot her and stole her baby . A mother was shot dead by a nurse who kidnapped her newborn baby. Kayla Golden, 28, was blasted seven times with a handgun when Verna McClain reportedly pulled up alongside her in a car. Despite her injuries she tried to stop McClain snatching three day-old Keegan but was knocked to the ground and later died. Police eventually traced McClain – who had reportedly targeted Miss Golden at random – to a home near Houston, Texas. Keegan was found safe and well. According to U.S. reports, McClain – a mother of three – had in recent weeks told her family she was adopting a child. After allegedly killing Miss Golden she told her sister Corina Jackson she now had a fourth child in her family. McClain is now facing a capital murder charge which means she could be given the death penalty if convicted. The horror began when Miss Golden took Keegan to her local paediatrician in Houston for a routine check-up on Tuesday afternoon. McClain and an unidentified male passenger are said to have pulled up alongside Miss Golden’s pick-up truck in their blue Lexus before she opened fire. Plan: McClain (pictured right with her sister Corina) had told her sister she was about to adopt a baby . Taken: Keegan Schchardt (left) was snatched after his mother Kayla Golden, 28, (right) was fatally shot . Witnesses described the sound as being like ‘pop pop pop’ and that even after being shot blood-stained Miss Golden managed to try to grab her baby back. Lieutenant Dan Norris of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said: ‘The child was being put into the suspect vehicle and that’s when the mother tried to get into the car. ‘The car sped away, knocking the lady to the ground.’ The Lexus was traced to McClain’s sister’s house in Houston and when a SWAT team burst in they found Keegan. From there investigators were able to find McClain herself in another home just outside the city. According to a police affidavit obtained by ABC News, McClain has admitted to the shooting and told her sister that she did it because she wanted to ‘adopt’ another child. Search: Officers enter an apartment where they found a woman speaking to the suspect on the phone . Closing in: Officers had tracked the blue Lexus used as a getaway car back to the apartment . Officers take cover behind a car at the apartment complex while SWAT team members broke down the door . She already has three children aged six, ten and 16. The killing comes only a day after Keegan’s father Keith Schuchardt posted pictures on his Facebook page announcing the baby’s birth. He wrote: ‘Baby keegan is here. born 4/14/12 6 lbs 15 oz, 20 inches long. Looks like me lol.’ According to U.S .reports he has not even signed the child’s birth certificate yet. Keegan is currently in the care of social services and his family are waiting for a full background check on them to be finished before they can have the child back. Support: The baby's father, Keith Schuchardt, is comforted by friends and family outside his home . Grief: Mr Schuchardt said how much he loved Golden and how they'd been excited about their future . The baby’s grandmother Linda Golden said she rushed to the scene but was not there in time to say goodbye to her daughter. She said: ‘I wanted to kiss her before they put her in the ambulance. She died trying to save her baby.’ Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said Miss Golden was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that McClain just wanted any child to add to her family. He said: ‘There were statements as indicated in the arrest record that were made by Miss McClain that led us to believe that, in fact, this was an intentional act on her part. Caught: McClain (pictured right with her sister Yoki) has three children and is a registered nurse . Proud: Golden with Mr Schuchardt, who had announced the birth of their son on Facebook on Saturday . ‘Not that Miss Golden was targeted specifically, but that this was part of a plan to kidnap a child.’ McClain’s alleged male accomplice was also arrested but had not been charged last night. Collecting evidence: Ms Golden's sandals sit beneath her pickup truck at the pediatrician's office where she was gunned down . Crime scene: Miss Golden's car red pickup truck sits in the parking lot of the pediatric clinic, its doors still open . See below for video . video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player .
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Kayla Marie Golden, 28, shot dead in Houston suburb of Spring .
Registered nurse Verna Deann McClain, 30, has been arrested .
The mother of three told her sister she was about to adopt a baby .
Baby Keegan Schuchardt driven away as dying mother cried: 'My baby!'
Child found 'alive and well' after SWAT team stormed nearby apartment .
Another person of interest being questioned by police .
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A make-up artist fears a mystery illness which has caused her to double in size in just six months will soon leave her unable to move. Laura Pell, 34, weighed 9st (126lb/57kg) last summer and kept herself in shape by going to gym three times a week and eating a sensible diet. But after being struck down with a mystery illness which has baffled doctors, she began to retain fluid which has caused her body to swell in size. She now weighs 17 stone (238lb/108kg) and describes her life as 'hell'. On average, she is gaining an average of one-a-half-stone every month and has gone from a slender size 10 to size 22. Scroll down to video . Laura Pell, 34, weighed 9st last summer (left) but has ballooned in size due to a mystery illness . Fluid retention has caused the 34-year-old to nearly double in size - from a size 8 to 22 - in just six months . Miss Pell, who lives in Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire, has also been forced to buy a completely new set of clothes. She has also been forced to give up her job as a wedding make-up artist because she struggles to walk and fears she she will soon be unable to move if a cure is not found. She said: 'I am in absolute agony and I am struggling to move. The last six months have been hell, and I just have no quality of life. 'When you're fat you're supposed to be flabby and wobbly, but my skin is just completely taut and tight. 'I know that some people who look at me in the street must be thinking I've just let myself go and eat too much, but I actually less than I did before I had this condition. 'I joke to my boyfriend Mark that I'm like Violet from Willy Wonka when she turns into a blueberry - I need to be sent to the juicing room. 'I'm a bit like a human waterbed, I'm just so full of liquid, you can see it in my skin.' On average, she is gaining an average of one-a-half-stone every month and says her confidence is shattered . Miss Pell has also been forced to give up her job as a wedding make-up artist because she struggles to walk. She fears she she will soon be unable to walk if a cure is not found for the fluid retention . The mysterious health problem has led to rapid fluid retention, high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. Despite several weeks of hospital treatment and taking medication to ease the fluid retention, Miss Pell’s condition has not improved, the Northampton Chronicle reports. After exhausting all treatment routes available on the NHS, she is now raising money for a private medical appointment to see a specialist who may be able to diagnose the cause of the problem. Miss Pell's new appearance has also severely damaged her confidence. As a result, she barely leaves the house and also finds travelling painful. 'My heart rate goes up to about 180 beats per minute whenever I try to do any form of exercise,' she said. Miss Pell, who does not have any children, has suffered from Primary Immune Deficiency for years and needs regular injections to replenish plasma levels in her blood. The condition has caused her to suffered from a number of health problems, including meningitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia and Clostridium Difficile. Last August, doctors discovered a benign tumour on her pituitary gland but this was dismissed as a cause to her rapid fluid retention. She was prescribed powerful diuretics and steroids in an attempt to drain the excess fluid from her body but all treatments have so far failed. She is now planning to see an neurologist and an endocrinologist at a private clinic in Manchester in a desperate bid to find a cure. 'I have had so many doctors tell me I am a "complicated case", but I know that already. 'I want someone who knows how to sort this out. 'My boyfriend and my mum are basically my carers now. I'm 34 years old, but I feel like I'm 90. 'I don't fit into any of my old clothes and it's costing a fortune to buy new ones.' She said: 'I'm a bit like a human waterbed, I'm just so full of liquid, you can see it in my skin' Doctors are baffled as to why she is retaining so much fluid, describing her as a 'complicated case' 'I have two Jack Russell dogs called Sam and Millie and they are often the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning, but I can't even walk them so Mark has to do that. 'I have been with Mark about 18 months but he has stuck by me through all this. I am very lucky he is with me because he loves me, not for how I look. 'When I catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a window or mirror I don't recognise myself.' Her friends have also rallied round and set up a Facebook group called 'Laura Needs Our Help' which already has hundreds of supporters from around the world. Miss Pell said: 'I'm used to being ill because of my immune problems, but this has been so tough.' 'It was really embarrassing the last time I went for an MRI scan because the machine is quite small and they were afraid that if I went in I would get stuck. 'I had to have an alternative CT scan instead. 'No one seems to have any idea what is causing this and I'm genuinely scared I'll soon end up too large to walk.'
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Make-up artist Laura Pell, 34, was a size 8 and weighed 9st last summer .
But she suddenly began to balloon in size, and is now 17st and size 22 .
Says the increase in her weight is due to horrific fluid retention .
Doctors are baffled by her bizarre condition, admitting she is 'difficult case'
Miss Pell already struggles to walk due to her size and says her life is 'hell'
Is now saving to see a doctor privately who may be able to diagnose her .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:53 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:29 EST, 4 January 2013 . Several of the horses used on HBO's canceled series 'Luck' were drugged, underweight and sick during production, an animal rights worker who oversaw conditions on the show alleges in a lawsuit. Barbara Casey's suit filed Monday says she was wrongfully fired from her post at the American Humane Association after complaining about the conditions horses faced on the show, which was canceled after a series of high-profile animal deaths. The suit claims four horses died during the show's production, not three as previously reported. Horses were 'often drugged to perform,' and 'underweight and sick horses unsuited for work were routinely used' by producers, her lawsuit alleges. Actor Nick Nolte touches a horse in a scene from 'Luck', which was canceled following the deaths of several animals . Animal rights worker Barbara Casey, who worked on Luck, claims she was wrongfully fired for complaining about the poor conditions horses were subjected to . Casey is suing HBO, which has repeatedly denied abusing horses on the show, and the humane association. The association declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit. 'We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production,' HBO wrote in a statement. Casey's suit states she urged the humane association to report HBO and producers to authorities for possible animal-cruelty criminal charges. The association 'bowed to political and financial pressure and refused to report the production defendants' conduct to the authorities,' the lawsuit states. Casey served as director of the association's Film and Television Unit, which oversees animal welfare and often allows a notice to be attached to the end of films and television shows that says no animals were harmed during production. The nonprofit association's film- and TV-monitoring efforts are paid for through entertainment industry grants, according to the lawsuit. The HBO series featured (from left) Joan Allen, Dustin Hoffman, John Ortiz and Dennis Farina . HBO canceled 'Luck,' starring Dustin Hoffman, in March 2012 after three horse deaths were reported during production. Casey claims a fourth horse, named Hometrader, was killed in summer 2011 but its demise wasn't documented because it occurred during a hiatus in filming. The final horse that died during the series' production had been examined by a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian shortly before it suffered a head injury while being led by a groomer to a stable. By that point, the humane association and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had both been critical of the show's safety record and praised its cancellation. Casey's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Canceled: John Ortiz in a scene from HBO's Luck which has been accused of the inhumane treatment of horses .
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Barbara Casey claims she was wrongfully fired after complaining about conditions horses faced on the show .
Her lawsuit reveals that four horses, not three as previously reported, died during the show's production .
Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman, was canceled due to series of horse deaths .
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Jailed: Pakistan-born Atiq Rehman, who was twice refused leave to remain in the UK, was jailed for six years . An illegal immigrant who was twice refused asylum in Britain raped a woman before he could be deported, a court heard yesterday. Atiq Rehman, 20, spotted his 22-year-old victim leaving a club and tricked her into thinking he was a taxi driver. He then lured her into the back room of a corner shop and attacked her on a mattress for 45 minutes. Yesterday the Pakistani national was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape. Sentencing him, Judge Usha Karu said: ‘The fear she must have experienced simply can’t be imagined.’ Rehman had applied for asylum in the UK twice last year. His initial asylum application and subsequent appeal were rejected by the Home Office. After his rejection, he dropped under the radar of the authorities and may have used a fake name to avoid detection. In the hours before the attack, his victim had spent the evening with friends at Infernos nightclub in Clapham, south London. Within minutes of luring her into the shop, Rehman raped her. He threatened to tie her up with duct tape if she did not stop crying. He then raped her again before callously asking her how many children she wanted to have. After the attack on April 29 he threw her out of the shop. The young woman stumbled to a friend’s house in nearby Balham and called the police. Describing the attack, prosecutor Jeffrey Israel told Inner London Crown Court the victim met Rehman after becoming separated from her friends outside the club. ‘He approached her and she mistakenly thought he was offering a taxi service,’ Mr Israel said. ‘Mr Rehman had keys to open the metal shutters to the shop, and led her through to the back room. Attack: Rehman led the woman to Newspoint store in Clapham . Common Southside, (pictured) after she became separated from her friends outside . the club following a night socialising . There were two mattresses on the . floor, and the woman began to cry. She was scared because she didn’t . want to be in that room alone with the defendant.’ During the attack the woman was ‘shouting and crying’ and ‘physically trying to push him away from her’, he said. ‘Throughout, she was shouting at him . to stop and trying to escape from him,’ Mr Israel said. ‘She told him . she didn’t want to do this, and was begging him to stop. Rather than . stopping, he pushed her on to her back and pulled her arms. She was . struggling to get away.’ Club: Rehman had led the girl from outside Inferno’s nightclub in Clapham, south London, (inside pictured) with the promise of a taxi ride home before threatening to tie her up with tape while he carried out the attack . The owner of the shop, Bilal Akbar, . was initially arrested on suspicion of rape, but told detectives he had . lent his keys to Rehman, who had fled to Manchester. Rehman handed himself in to police on May 26, but initially claimed a friend was responsible and he had been wrongly accused. Later he changed his story and claimed . he had consensual sex with the victim. Eventually he pleaded guilty to . two counts of rape. However, even in court yesterday he continued to . maintain the sex had been consensual. Rehman, of Thornton Heath, . Surrey, was jailed for six years on both counts of rape, to run concurrently, and . he was ordered to be deported on his release from prison . Judge Karu said his crimes had been . compounded by an ‘element of abduction’, the length of the ordeal, and . the fact he took advantage of a woman who had been drinking. The judge ordered Rehman, of Thornton . Heath, South London, to be deported on his release from prison. Outside . court, investigating officer Detective Constable Lisa Greedy, said: . ‘This was an horrific attack by a man who had no qualms in exploiting a . woman who he believed to be intoxicated. ‘The fact that he then threatened his victim with violence only added to her trauma. ‘I would like to pay tribute to the victim who showed strength and determination throughout the investigation.’
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Atiq Rehman lured a .
22-year-old woman into the back room of a corner shop and attacked her .
on a mattress laid on the ground .
He led her from outside .
a nightclub before threatening to tie her up with tape while he carried out the .
attack .
When he carried out the rape he was free on the condition he reported regularly to authorities .
He was jailed for six years on both counts of rape, to run concurrently, and .
ordered to be deported on his release from prison .
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(CNN) -- I'm in a Las Vegas hotel room, hiding from Christmas. The odds are not in my favor. This is not a war on, jihad against or campaign to counter anyone else's annual allotment of holly jolly joy. If it were up to me, I'd quietly exile myself from the merrymaking so as not to dim others' bliss like a burned-out bulb on an otherwise twinkly light strand. I'm not a Grinch or a Scrooge or any of the other soot-stained slurs hurled by people fed up with a loved one's reluctance to join the reindeer games. What I am is depressed. In the cold, dark, ash-end of the dying year, it is hard for me to pry my head from my pillow and draw breath into my lungs -- let alone don gay apparel and fa-la-la along with the rest of the festive public. But I do it -- alongside countless other people suffering from seasonal affective disorder, active grief, debilitating panic, PTSD and a whole host of other emotional issues that are thrown into sharp relief amid the mandatory revelry. I don't want to drag anyone else into my darkness and take the shimmer off their star. I try to slough off my dull gray sweater and don a gaudy holiday number that I hope will distract from the listlessness in my eyes and my affect, and I will myself to snap out of it. That may successfully deflect attention from friends and family caught up in holiday chaos, but I am thoroughly unable to force myself into a state of good cheer. The attempt makes it worse. "I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel. ... I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed." Read more: Going public with depression . As a child, it was surprising and oddly comforting to see my strange feelings articulated by a beloved cartoon character amid the Technicolor cheer of holiday TV specials. But then again, I have always identified with poor ol' Charlie Brown -- and the response his confession of yuletide unease received from his peers. "Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem." Nope -- not just you, Charlie Brown. The rest of us just don't talk about it for fear that the Linuses of the world will pass judgment; if you can't join in the joy of the most wonderful time of the year, you are clearly defective. You are a misfit toy, minus the solidarity of an island full of kindred spirits. Even for those who don't struggle with chronic or seasonal depression, there are myriad reasons why some approach December with dread. For many who have who always celebrated holidays with warmth and abandon, there's a raw and tender spot where a departed family member used to be. Even if the grief is not fresh, the rites and rituals that once brought such delight now awaken the ache of loss. For others, economic strain, family estrangement, the pressure of others' expectations, overtaxed schedules and plain old exhaustion can mount and crush the happiness out a season that was previously a source of comfort. But rarely, if ever, are we given a strings-free opportunity to opt out. "It's only once a year!" a friend said to me just yesterday, kvetching about her sister-in-law's reluctance to suck it up and make merry. I've never met the woman, but I had to argue on her behalf. I come from a family in which Christmas Day e-mails have become an acceptable level of holiday hoopla, but have married into a family heavily invested in the celebration. As much as I love and cherish every member of my husband's massive multigenerational clan, their celebrations operate at an unfamiliar frequency. Being launched into the holiday machine with a family that celebrates bigheartedly, boisterously and lavishly became a source of yearly panic and dread for me. I was terribly ashamed of myself for feeling that way. Yes, it's only once a year, but my mother-in-law is nearing 90. The desire to deliver the brand of holiday she's come to expect added so much weight to the event, I'd find myself almost unable to breathe at the very thought of it. Read more: National Depression Screening Day: Sharing experiences . Then I'd fret that someone would notice my distress (they did) and take it personally if I slipped away to compose myself. (Where's Kat? She's taking a nap again? Doesn't she want to spend time with us?) After several years of that stress, I realized something was going to have to give -- and it was going to have to be me. I can't say I'm ever going to actively enjoy Christmas, but I love my family (and myself) enough to make the most out of it and have found ways to manage my seasonally fragile mood in a way that might minimize upset from either side. I save up my vacation days, hotel points and and frequent-flier miles to visit somewhere sunny -- usually Las Vegas. While trees, cheeky holiday decor, and jazzed-up carols have begun to encroach upon this den of depravity and excess, it's still a relatively safe haven for Christmas cranks like me, and the darkness sets in a shade later than it does back home. On the ground at Christmas central with the in-laws, my husband and I have taken to getting a hotel room, rather than staying with family. Though that may not be the most economically sensible option, we don't have to worry about overtaxing anyone's generosity, and the autonomy offers a little breathing room that helps me more calmly and thoroughly appreciate the time we spend together in celebration. Once in the familial fray, I try to make myself as useful as humanly possible. Need that platter washed? Gimme! We're out of cinnamon? Where are the car keys? The children need someone to chase around the yard to wear them out? Whooooooooosh! And I've added my own ritual to the mix -- crafting multiple pitchers of rye sours made with freshly-squeezed lemons and clementine juice. It busies my hands for at least an hour, lightly buzzes the crowd for a couple more and I get to spend one-on-one time with each person as I serve them. It has by all accounts been a most welcome addition to the holidays, and for a while our moods align happily and brightly. This may not be ideal for every family, but we make the most of what we've been given. I'll take my Christmas spirit any way I can get it. Like CNN Living on Facebook and follow Kat Kinsman on Twitter. How do you get through the holiday doldrums? Share your secrets in the comments section below.
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Many people become sad during the holidays due to depression or past events .
CNN's Kat Kinsman faced overwhelming depression during the season in the past .
Kinsman devised coping methods, such as visiting sunny climes and keeping busy .
Those facing seasonal affective disorder or depression can find resources here.
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Washington (CNN) -- President Obama's top economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, is leaving the administration to return to the University of Chicago, the White House announced Monday night. Goolsbee has been an outspoken defender of Obama's policies as the U.S. economy struggles to find its footing following the steep recession of 2007-09. In a statement announcing Goolsbee's departure, Obama called him "a close friend" and "one of America's great economic thinkers." "Over the past several years, he has helped steer our country out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," Obama said. "And although there is still much work ahead, his insights and counsel have helped lead us toward an economy that is growing and creating millions of jobs." The announcement came after a series of reports that showed the U.S. economy struggling to maintain headway after the housing bust, banking crisis and recession. Sunday, Goolsbee told CNN's "State of the Union" that despite disappointing employment, manufacturing and housing price figures, the long-term trends remain positive. Goolsbee taught at the University of Chicago for 14 years before joining the administration and will return to the school in time for the fall semester, the White House said. Before being named chairman of the advisory council in September, he served as a senior adviser to Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and as staff economist for the Economic Recovery Advisory Board. "There's no question as you come out of the worst downturn in most of our lifetimes, that it is going to be fragile," Goolsbee said. But he said the economy was "a million miles" from its condition when Obama took office, "when the economy's losing 780,000 jobs a month and people are actively talking about will there be an end to the financial system in the United States."
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Longtime economic adviser Austan Goolsbee headed back to Chicago .
Goolsbee has been an outspoken defender of Obama's policies .
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(CNN) -- Talk about eerie. One of two recent UFO sightings in China occurred almost on the 63rd anniversary of news that a "flying disc" had been found in Roswell, New Mexico. And like in 1947, people either choose to believe or be skeptical that visitors have stopped by from outer space. Nothing has officially been ruled in or out by Chinese officials, who are looking into whether the objects were private or military aircraft, rocket flares, reflection in the sky or something else. The first sighting occurred at Hangzhou's Xiaoshan Airport, in the eastern part of the country, according to the state-controlled Xinhua news agency. Eighteen flights were delayed or rerouted and operations shut down after twinkling lights were spotted above the terminal around 9 p.m. July 7, the agency said. According to Xinhua, speculation has centered on a private aircraft. The state-run China Daily quoted a source saying the object had a military connection. "No conclusion has yet been drawn," said Wang Jian, head of air traffic control with Zhejiang branch of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and the investigation continues. Purported photos of the unworldly object have appeared online and on YouTube. Meanwhile, The Shanghai Daily reported a UFO appeared above the city of Chongqing on Thursday. Witnesses said four "lantern-like objects forming a diamond shape" hovered for an hour above a park. "I stared at it and it did not move," one resident told the newspaper. "After hovering for an hour, the thing started to fly higher and finally out of people's sight." UFO sightings around the world are common, but a little rarer in China. The International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, educates visitors, conducts research and receives sighting reports. Its website summarizes the Roswell incident, which came to light July 8, 1947. "Once it became public, the event known as The Roswell Incident, the crash of an alleged flying saucer, the recovery of debris and bodies and the ensuing cover up by the military was of such magnitude and so shrouded in mystery, that 60 years later there are still more questions than answers." The U.S. government has long contended that no aliens or spaceships were found. Mark Briscoe, library director for the museum, said the center looks for credibility whenever it records UFO reports, including a documented date, time and location. He sees many photos, and an outside researcher provides information. "You can tell some of them are a little different. A little off," Briscoe said of some UFO submissions. But he recently recorded 300 he found to be credible. He said one of the photos circulating about the Chinese airport could be legitimate, but he had not seen the others. The blog Forgetomori weighed in on Internet and news media images purporting to be from Xiaoshan Airport. "All of these other photos, with the exception of a single one, are also simply long-exposure photos of aircrafts, but in this case, helicopters," the blog says. "Not only that, they have nothing to do with China and were published on the web long ago." CNN's Helena Hong and Journalist Annie Tai contributed to this article.
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Two UFO sightings were recently reported in eastern China .
One incident shut down operations at an airport .
Museum in Roswell, New Mexico, gets reports of UFO sightings .
Web site contends purported photos of one incident are not legitimate .
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By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 06:12 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:16 EST, 8 January 2014 . 'Stabbing': Jacqueline Warren, 52, was rushed to hospital after apparently being stabbed in her home . An 80-year-old man has been charged with the attempted murder by police investigating the stabbing of his daughter who had spent two years researching their family tree. Harry Warren was arrested after mother-of-four Jacqueline Warren, 52, was knifed several times at the house they shared in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Ms Warren, a former barmaid was airlifted to Wythenshawe Hospital by air ambulance and underwent emergency treatment for stab injuries. She is said to be in a serious but stable condition. The incident at breakfast time on Monday occurred just 48 hours after divorcee Jacqui, who had lived in the area for 20 years, posted messages on Facebook proudly talking of her work on her family tree. During her research she had managed to reunite long lost relatives including a mother who had given up her daughter for adoption and a father and child who had not seen each other for ten years. It is believed Jacqui's father moved in with her around six months ago after struggling with his advancing age. Today Warren was due to appear before Rochdale Magistrates' Court after being questioned by detectives. One neighbour said: 'It's such a shock. Jacqui's a lovely neighbour who would do anything for anybody and she absolutely adores her family. 'She even helped me out a few times with household chores. Her father is as quiet as a mouse and we barely saw him. 'We believe he he had been struggling with advancing age and she was just helping him out. He'd only been living there about six months. We're just hoping and praying Jacqui will pull through. She is a genuinely good and caring person.' Another said: 'I was speaking to Jacqui's daughter who said she was seriously ill but the family think she'll a be alright. The first I knew about it was when I heard the helicopter. It was right over the house. 'Attack': Police were called to this home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, after reports that a woman had been stabbed . 'Attack': Mother-of-four Jacqueline Warren, 52, who had recently been researching her family tree . 'They were trying to land on the green opposite but they couldn't because of the trees and overhead lines and had to land on a nearby road. The police cordoned off drive and put up a scenes of crime tent. There must have been six or seven police cars outside.' Jacqui has two daughters and two sons and is believed to have grandchildren herself. She had been looking forward to becoming a godparent to a newborn baby. In a message on Facebook on January 4 she said: 'I'm so glad that I can bring some joy and happiness into people's lives. 'I've found someone's mother as she was adopted at birth and they were both overjoyed to be reunited and I've just found someone's daughter he's not seen for 10 years. 'Happy days spring to mind. I've been doing my family tree for about two years now so if i can help anyone feel free to message me.' A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said they were called to the property shortly after 8.30am on Monday morning. They said they found a woman at the scene with a 'number of stab wounds'. The victim's father was taken into custody. Detective Inspector Melani Linton of Greater Manchester Police said: 'People are bound to be extremely shocked when they hear news of this incident, but I would like to try and reassure them as much as I can. 'We have a team of detectives investigating what exactly has happened here. This was an isolated incident and we do not believe there was any threat to the wider community.'
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Harry Warren 'repeatedly stabbed his daughter Jacqueline Warren'
The mother-of-four posted messages on Facebook proudly talking about her work on the family tree hours before the incident .
Mr Warren, 80, had moved in with his daughter as he struggled with old age .
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Backs: L Williams (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Toulon), T Prydie (Newport Gwent Dragons), G North (Northampton), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), H Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Metro), C Allen (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Scarlets), D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro), R Webb (Ospreys), R Williams (Scarlets). Forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), P James (Bath), N Smith (Ospreys), A Jarvis (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), R Jones (Scarlets), R Hibbard (Gloucester), E Phillips (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), L Charteris (Racing Metro), D Lydiate (Racing Metro), J King (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), D Baker (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Wales boss Warren Gatland has told autumn Test selection casualties Adam Jones and James Hook ‘the door is not closed’. Despite boasting more than 170 caps between them, Cardiff Blues prop Jones - a triple Six Nations Grand Slam winner - and Gloucester fly-half Hook have not been chosen in a 34-man squad for appointments with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa next month. Gatland, whose squad includes six props, said: ‘It’s important that he (Jones) continues to keep working. We have had that conversation with him. ‘He looks in reasonable shape physically and there are other aspects of his game, particularly around the field, that we want him to keep working on and improving. ‘Definitely, the door is not closed for Adam Jones or James Hook. We know what Adam Jones is capable of giving us and I am sure if there is an injury or we need to look at bringing someone like Adam back, then we are able to do that. Veteran Wales tight-head Adam Jones, in action for Cardiff (right), has been left out of the 34-man squad . Gloucester fly-half James Hook has also failed to make the cut for the forthcoming Autumn Series . ‘With the scrummaging rule changes, that put a lot of pressure on tighthead props. It probably dropped the value of tightheads by half overnight and what has become paramount is the ability of front rows to be more mobile.’ Ospreys prop Nicky Smith is the solitary uncapped player, with Sam Warburton confirmed as captain. France-based players Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate also feature. But 33-year-old Jones and 29-year-old Hook — both British and Irish Lions — find themselves on the outside looking in less than a year before the World Cup. Wales head coach Warren Gatland (left) has once again selected Sam Warburton as his captain .
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Wales face Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa in November .
Head coach Warren Gatland includes uncapped Ospreys prop Nicky Smith in 34-man squad .
Eli Walker, Cardiff Blues hooker Matthew Rees and fly-half Rhys Patchell also fail to make the cut .
France-based players Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate all included .
Cardiff openside Sam Warburton confirmed as captain for Autumn series .
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Andy Murray has a season-defining fortnight ahead of him; the month of January will certainly go some way to teeing up the rest of the year. It is one of the most important starts to a calendar the Scot's ever encountered - and he's putting in the hard work to make sure he doesn't come up short, although he appears to have turned into Danny Cipriani given his latest Instagram picture. This snap looks rather like the fly-half - but the star on the physio bed is someone who has excelled far more in their field. Tennis star Andy Murray posted this selfie on Instagram ahead of Great Britain's clash against Australia . The Scot is playing alongside Heather Watson at the Hopman Cup in Perth before the Australian Open . The selfie looked as if it had been taken by England and Sale Sharks fly-half Danny Cipriani . Murray is the man ironing out any potential problems before the Australian Open in Melbourne, which starts a week on Monday. The Scot, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals Down Under this time 12 months ago, warms up for Great Britain this week. Murray is playing alongside Heather Watson at the Hopman Cup in Perth, with GB having won once and lost once thus far. The pair take on hosts Australia on Friday before Murray travels east for the first Grand Slam of the year. He has enjoyed a good start to season, winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championships exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week, albeit opponent Novak Djokovic was forced to withdraw before the final due to illness. Murray was knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Australian Open this time last year . Murray won the Mubadala World Tennis Championships exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week .
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Andy Murray competing for Great Britain at the Hopman Cup .
Heather Watson partners Scot in the doubles Down Under .
Murray is looking to improve on last year's Australian Open quarter-final .
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By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 11:46 EST, 20 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:02 EST, 20 November 2012 . It is a blunder that would embarrass even the most brazen of employees. A photograph of a topless young man - albeit with a six-pack - was mistakenly posted on an official supermarket Twitter site. And although he might have been impressed with the photogrpah, Twitter users who spotted the picture were clearly not. But the Co-operative brushed off claims they were 'morons' and grabbed the opportunity to entice their 18,000 followers to their cut-price deals. Topless: An image of a topless young man was posted on the Co-operative Food's official Twitter site in a 'technical' blunder . Apology: The Co-operative say the picture was result of a 'technical hiccup' On Twitter, the supermarket blamed the posted photograph on a 'technical hiccup'. An official spokesman for the Co-operative Food said: 'We are not responsible for posting this photograph on our Twitter feed and are currently investigating how this happened.' The photograph was deleted in due course - but not quickly enough for the blunder to spread like wildfire across the internet. The Twitter page has nearly 18,000 followers and those behind it were keen to make the most of the attention by advertising cut-price deals . The supermarket was lambasted as 'fools' and 'morons'. They responded denying they were 'morons' Unimpressed followers of the chain branded the company as 'fools' and 'total morons' - to which the Co-operative responded: 'not quite morons, but affected by a technolagy (sic) bug which is being looked into'. Perhaps the 'technolagy' bug also caused the spelling error. The Co-op did admit on their Twitter site it wasn't 'our finest moment'. After gaining more followers, the company tweeted; 'Whilst we have your attention...LAST CHANCE for our big deal on Walkers sensations 150g, now £2.15 each buy-ONE-get-TWO free. Ends today.' They also apologised, saying: 'Hmm, sorry about that folks. Slight technical hiccup which we are still investigating - but we hope we gave you all a smile! *Mel.' One Twitter user, Helen Purves, wrote: 'They're clearly morons'. Another user, Lauren G, wrote: 'YOU FOOLS'.
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Co-op supermarket grabbed opportunity to entice 18,000 followers to deals .
Twitter users branded chain 'fools' and 'total morons' in series of tweets .
Co-operative blamed a 'technical error' for the embarrassing blunder .
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