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By . Andrew Levy Education Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:01 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:01 EST, 9 August 2013 . For many they are a rite of passage – a first holiday away from home without the parents. But foreign exchange trips are on the wane, according to school leaders and education experts, with some schools even banning them. Parents fear for their children’s safety while they are abroad and are unenthusiastic about the time and effort involved in hosting someone else’s child for the return trip. Instead, pupils often swap letters with a child from a foreign country or chat via an internet video link on Skype. Cultural experience: Visiting a European country for a foreign exchange used to be a popular rite of passage for many schoolchildren . Dr Shirley Lawes, of the University of London’s Institute of Education, said: ‘These kinds of school exchanges were starting to diminish in the late 1990s. The 1996 rape and murder of British schoolgirl Caroline Dickinson during a school trip in Brittany marked a watershed moment in attitudes.’ The modern foreign languages specialist added: ‘Paradoxically, her murder took place in a youth hostel, not a family home. But from around that time parents, in an unwarranted way, started getting concerned about their children going into a strange family.’ A rule introduced in 2009 forced host families to undergo criminal record checks despite no evidence of any visiting children ever being abused. It was swiftly overturned, but confidence in the system had already been damaged. Changing times: Students now chat with their foreign peers online instead . Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘There has been a cultural change, certainly in this country, and families are less willing to take someone into their own family. They would much prefer for the children to go on a trip without the hassle of looking after someone at the weekend.’ Some schools have responded by still taking pupils abroad but under the care of teachers instead of exchange families. Four local authorities in Wales are known to have banned home-stays. Children stay together in hostels and visit local families in pairs. But many teachers feel this approach limits the learning opportunites of the trip. Hilary French, president of the Girls’ School Association, said: ‘If a school takes a trip to a French chateau to do some activities, it is a step removed. You’re always with English people – you’re not really living in the culture.’ A fall in the number of children learning foreign languages at school – by 31 per cent between 1997 and 2011 also means there is less demand for schools to arrange trips abroad.
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Language learning holidays on the wane - some schools even ban them .
Parents have fears of their children's safety abroad .
Instead pupils swap letters or chat via videolink using Skype .
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By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 16:47 EST, 28 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:47 EST, 28 June 2012 . Held: Suspected British paedophile Michael Hunter, pictured, has been arrested in America after allegedly posing as a teenager and staying with a 15-year-old boy and his mother . A suspected British paedophile has been arrested in America after posing as a teenager and staying with a 15-year-old boy and his mother. Michael Hunter, 25, was being held in jail on suspicion of flying to Florida to carry out illegal acts with a minor. Hunter, from Birmingham, had been staying with the teenage boy and his mother after meeting online in an internet chat room. He is understood to have told the family he was 17 years old. When he was arrested he told detectives he was 17 and also gave a false name. After FBI agents began making checks it was revealed Hunter was actually aged 25. It also emerged that he had travelled to America on a previous occasion to stay with the same family he had duped into believing he was a teen. Hunter's alleged masquerade came to and end after the father of the teen became suspicious and alerted police. When detectives arrived at the family home in Fruit Cove, Florida, Hunter emerged from the house carrying a suitcase. He gave officers a false name of Gary Johnson and said he was 17 years of age. He also gave officers conflicting stories saying he met the victim at school and had also been kicked out of his home. The 15-year-old boy told police Hunter was 'just a friend' and said they had met in an Internet chat room. After local police began questioning Hunter they called in FBI agents to assist in questioning. Hunter was being held on a charge of traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of an illegal act. He is being held in St John County Jail on £75,000 bond. Arrest: When detectives arrived at the family home of the 15-year-old boy in Fruit Cove, Florida, Hunter emerged from the house carrying a suitcase. This picture shows Fruit Cove .
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Michael Hunter is being held in jail on suspicion of flying to Florida to carry out illegal acts with a minor .
Hunter, from Birmingham, had met the teenage boy in an internet chat room .
He is understood to have told the family he was 17 years old .
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(CNN)Sen. Marco Rubio had only kind words for potential Republican presidential rivals Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney on Wednesday, but he argued if he runs he'll have better credentials to offer than the two former governors. "I believe that the central obligation of the federal government ... is providing for the national security," he said during a breakfast briefing for reporters hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. "The next President of the United States needs to be someone who has a clear vision of American's role in the world." "For governors that's going to be a challenge, at least initially," Rubio added, "since they don't deal with foreign policy on a daily basis." The argument offers an early look at what the Florida senator's primary pitch would be if he does decide to make a play for the White House in 2016. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, Rubio has been an outspoken critic of Obama's foreign policy, and most recently took the lead in opposing the President's move to thaw diplomatic relations with Cuba. And with the GOP primary field shaping up to include potentially a dozen prominent Republicans, Rubio's foreign policy experience could potentially offer him a needed boost to break away from the pack. But on Wednesday he refrained from taking any hits at his potential opponents, calling Bush "a very credible candidate" and defending Romney against critics who say he ran a gaffe-prone and lackluster campaign in 2012. "I don't necessarily think there were flaws in that candidacy," he said. "I think oftentimes, we forget that in these campaigns, 90 percent of the outcome is determined by the blocking and tackling of politics. And I think the Obama campaign was a superior campaign operation." He said, however, he's got the support of his family if he wants to run, and he's "down to the last decision...the fundamental one." "And that is, where is the best place for me to serve the country at this time in my life, at this time in my career?" This weekend could bring some clarity to that decision, when his top aides and donors huddle in Miami Beach to discuss the senator's future. Rubio's made one thing abundantly clear, however, and he repeated it Wednesday: He won't try to run for both reelection to the Senate and for president at the same time. "If I decide that I want to be president of the United States, that's what I'm going to run for," Rubio said. "If I decide to make that decision, it will not be with the intention of looking for a Plan B if it doesn't work out."
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Marco Rubio praised Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney, but argued governors don't have the foreign policy chops needed for the White House .
He said he'll choose between running for the White House or reelection .
Rubio might have some clarity on the decision during his weekend confab with donors and strategists .
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Ashes hero Steve Harmison has been appointed as manager of non-League Ashington. The former Durham and England bowler, who was nicknamed the Ashington Express during his playing career, has taken the surprise move into football management. Harmison took 226 wickets in his England Test career and helped England win the Ashes in 2005. Former England bowler Steve Harmison has been named as manager of non-League Ashington . Hamison played a key role in helping England win the Ashes in 2005 . Harmison will take charge of Ashington - who are struggling in Division One of the Ebac Northern League – for the first time on Tuesday away at Bishop Auckland. Harmison played in central defence for the club until his late teens before giving up football to concentrate on cricket, from which he announced his retirement in 2013. The 36-year-old takes charge with the club sitting in 17th out of 22 teams following a 4-0 defeat to Marske United over the weekend. The former cricketer will be helped by head coach Ian Skinner and Lee Anderson as part of a new management team at Woodhorn Lane. Harmison was known as the Ashington Express during his playing days and is a Newcastle fan . Harmison has taken the surprise move to go into football management following his retirement from cricket . Ashington chairman Ian Lavery – also the MP for the area – said: ‘All three have a wealth of experience in the sporting world and together can build on the success that Ashington Football Club have had since moving to Woodhorn Lane.’ Harmison is not the only member of the 2005 Ashes winning team to branch out into a new sport after retiring from cricket. Close friend Andrew Flintoff tried his hand at boxing after initially hanging up his whites in 2010, winning a four-round decision over little-known heavyweight Richard Dawson in his only professional bout in November 2012. Flintoff has since made a return to Twenty20 cricket with Lancashire and BBL side Brisbane Heat. Michael Vaughan - Commentator for BBC's Test Match Special and also works for Sky on their domestic cricket coverage . Geraint Jones - Captain of Gloucestershire in first-class cricket and also plays international cricket for Papua New Guinea . James Anderson - Still playing for Lancashire and England. Part of the World Cup squad in Australia . Ian Bell - Part of England's Test and One Day International side. In Australia preparing for the World Cup . Paul Collingwood - Part of Scotland's coaching team for the Cricket World Cup . Andrew Flintoff - Retired in 2009 due to injury, but came back to play Twenty20 for Lancashire and Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. One of the team captain's on Sky's A League of Their Own and has an upcoming TV show on Sky One called Flintoff: Lord Of The Fries . Ashley Giles - Former England ODI coach. Now director and head coach of Lancashire . Steve Harmison - Manager of Ashington AFC in the Northern Football League. Also does work for Sky Sports . Matthew Hoggard - Pundit on television and radio as well as working as an after dinner speaker. Simon Jones - Working as an analyst for Sky Sports. 2015 is also his testimonial year . Kevin Pietersen - Still playing cricket. Most recently for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. Andrew Strauss - Working for Sky Sports as a commentator and pundit. Chris Tremlett - Still playing cricket for Surrey in the County Championship . Marcus Trescothick - Still playing for Somerset but also works for Sky on their cricket coverage .
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Former cricketer Steve Harmison makes surprise move into football .
Harmison played in 63 Tests for England and helped win the Ashes in 2005 .
Ashington play in Division One of the Ebac Northern League .
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An altercation at a Texas community college Wednesday afternoon escalated to gunshots and a campus lockdown but no injuries were reported and a suspect was captured, according to officials at Victoria College in Victoria, Texas. College President Tom Butler told CNN that students were playing basketball in the college sports center when the incident occurred. "It was not an official game," Butler said. "There was an altercation. I don't really know the motive, but an individual who's not currently a student did fire some shots and then ran from the building." The sparsely populated campus was put on lockdown with students and personnel altered by e-mail and texts, but Butler said a suspect was "pretty quickly apprehended ... about 10 minutes after he fired the shots, actually." "No one was hurt," Butler said. "No one was hit in the fire. The suspect's name was not released pending booking at the Victoria County jail.
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Gunfire erupts as students play basketball at a Texas community college .
A campus lockdown follows, and a suspect is captured .
No injuries were reported .
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Two early casts from Auguste Rodin's masterpiece The Gates of Hell have sold for a total of more than $16 million (£10.3m) at a New York City auction. The Thinker sold last night for $15.3 million (£9.8m), a new record for the figure beating a price of $12 million for a casting sold in 2010. There are more than two dozen castings of the statue, although the most famous, in bronze, is at a Paris museum. Big spenders: Two early casts from Auguste Rodin's masterpiece 'The Gates of Hell' have sold for a total of more than $16 million at a New York City auction . Sotheby's has not revealed the identity of the buyer. The full-scale sculpture was commissioned by publishing magnate Ralph Pulitzer in 1906 and made under Rodin's supervision. It had belonged at different times to publisher Ralph Pulitzer and the late CBS Chief Executive William Paley. ' For sale: 'Le Penseur' by Auguste Rodin is on display during a preview of Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Art sales in New York . On display: 'Ugolin et ses enfants; is looked at the New York exhibition . Artistic flair: French sculptor Auguste Rodin . The pieces were consigned by a private collector. The Gates is based on Dante's 'Inferno - tt was never fully realized. Philadelphia's Rodin Museum owns the first bronze cast of 'The Gates. Paul Cezanne’s Les Pommes sold for $41.6 million - it was the second-highest tally in the category since the recession began in 2008. Ugolino and His Children, from 1883, sold for $965,000. 'The Kiss,' from 1909, did not sell. The $230 million tally for the auction came close was $100 million short of last year's when Edvard Munch’s The Scream sold for $120 million. 'It was a difficult act to follow,' said Simon Shaw, head of Sotheby’s Impressionist and modern art department in New York told Bloomberg. Meanwhile a French painting owned by Madonna has sold at a New York City auction for more than $7 million. Sotheby's auction house hasn't said who bought Fernand Leger's Three Women at the Red Table for $7.2 million on Tuesday. The abstract work had a pre-sale estimate of $5 million to $7 million. Proceeds of the sale will benefit the Ray of Light Foundation, which supports girls' education in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries. Madonna says she wanted to 'trade something valuable for something invaluable' in countries where female education is rare or nonexistent. She bought the work at Sotheby's in 1990 for $3.4 million. Leger created the work in 1921 as part of a series depicting women with still-life compositions.
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The Thinker sold yesterday for $15.3 .
million in New York .
New record for the figure beating a price of $12million in 2010 .
Identity of buyer has not been released .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . John Bishop (pictured with his wife) has become embroiled in an access row at his £2million mansion . Comedian John Bishop has become embroiled in an access row at the grounds of his £2million mansion. Local residents have reportedly complained about being denied access to a route on his land which they were previously allowed access to. A spokesman for Mr Bishop has said the comedian maintains a public footpath at his own expense through the land, but changed the security code on a gate to his driveway, which the previous owner of the property allowed neighbours to have. Mr Bishop, 47, bought the £2.25million ten-bedroom mansion, which is surrounded by 24 acres of landscaped lawns, last year. According to The Sun, a resident has said the previous owner allowed neighbours access. The resident went on to say an application had been put in to the local council. A spokesman for Mr Bishop however has said: 'There is not a dispute about access over John Bishop's land. There is in fact a public footpath within his land, which is signposted and maintained at his expense. 'The dispute is about access to a private drive way and entrance via a gate with a security code. This road is private and has never been public. 'The previous owner allowed neighbours to have the code and enter via that gate. The code was understandably changed for security reasons and not redistributed on the advice of the police. 'The matter is not "dragging on" because of Mr Bishop. The facts are that the lead petitioner has refused contact from the council, as he has now moved from the area and as such, cannot claim to be involved. Mr Bishop wants it resolved asap.' Lawyers for Mr Bishop meanwhile have told The Sun: 'Any suggestion our client has lost touch with his working-class roots is both untrue and would be defamatory.' The current home of Mr Bishop, who grew up in a three-bedroom council property, features an inside swimming pool, tennis court and lake with an accompanying island. On Saturday, the Daily Mail reported how Mr Bishop's new family home is the result of his remarkable rise from circuit stand-up comedian to household star who has made millions of pounds through TV appearances, sold-out stadium tours and impressive DVD sales. Bishop’s autobiography How Did All This Happen? has also stormed the bestseller charts with more than 93,000 hardback copies sold since last year. In the book the BBC star describes how he keeps his feet firmly on the ground with the help of a reminder of his less luxurious start in life - the street sign from where he grew up. He describes how his brother Eddie ‘nicked’ the Severn Walk sign from the 1960s estate and presented it to him before a gig with the message: ‘So you don’t forget where you are from.’ The comedian grew up in a three-bedroom council property . Mr Bishop says the sign ‘now hangs in my . kitchen, in pride of place’. He adds: ‘You can’t return to your . childhood, but you don’t have to leave it, either.’ The star says growing up in the estate helped define him along with his sense of humour. Having made his success, Mr Bishop adds he is keen to remain living in Cheshire and not make the move to London. He said in a recent interview: ‘There are socialist elements ingrained in you if you’ve grown up on a council estate; it’s something I’m proud of. But I also don’t feel you should apologise for your success if you have managed to move on to good things. ‘I can’t see any reason to leave. It’s never crossed my mind. I think that if you live in the North of England you are a very, very lucky person. I can’t see myself in Primrose Hill drinking cappuccinos. This is where I belong.’ Mr Bishop gave up his successful job as a pharmaceutical salesman to concentrate on comedy in 2006.
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Residents say they were previously allowed access .
Comedian's lawyers have said there is 'no access right' to driveway .
John Bishop bought the £2.25million ten-bedroom mansion last year .
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By . Lucy Crossley . Armed police and a helicopter were called to a branch of Waitrose after a row broke out between two shoppers and one threatened to return with his two shotguns. Supermarket workers called police after an irate customer announced he would ‘come back with some guns’ during a heated argument with a fellow shopper. A police helicopter and armed response unit tracked the customer as he stormed out of the supermarket in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Response: Armed police and a helicopter were called this branch of Waitrose in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, after a row broke out between two shoppers and one threatened to return with his two shotguns . The 65-year-old, from Rayleigh, Essex, was later arrested at a nearby branch of Sainsbury's. It is still unclear what triggered the row at around 12.45pm last Tuesday. 'There was a dispute and the customer made threats, saying he would come back with some guns,' said Chief Inspector, Simon Anslow, district commander for Southend. 'There are serious consequences for making threats, whether you intend to carry out the full action or not. 'If you mention firearms, Essex Police will take that seriously. Heated: Supermarket workers called police after an irate customer announced he would 'come back with some guns' during a heated argument with a fellow shopper . 'We had the helicopter out, numerous firearms officers and road closures are often involved. 'While that is taking place, officers are being taken away from dealing with other incidents.' Police later discovered the disgruntled shopper owned two shotguns, which have since been seized. The man was taken to Southend police station and given a caution after admitting disorderly conduct. A Waitrose spokesman said: 'There was an exchange of words between two customers which was brought to our attention and we felt it necessary to inform the police. 'We are grateful to the police for their support.'
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Supermarket staff called police after argument between customers .
Shopper announced he would 'come back with some guns' during row .
Police helicopter and armed response unit tracked man as he left store .
65-year-old later arrested at nearby branch of Sainsbury's .
He was taken to a police station and given a caution for disorderly conduct .
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(CNN) -- The race for line honors in the annual Sydney-Hobart yacht race is developing into a thrilling battle between three giant maxi yachts. Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo was leading after the fleet emerged from the first night, but less than five nautical miles separated the New Zealand 100-footer from British entry ICAP Leopard, skippered by Mike Slade, and four-time line honors winner Wild Oats X1, with Australian Mark Richards at the helm. Light winds have ruled out a realistic chance of any of the contenders breaking the race record set by Wild Oats in 2005 of one day, 18 hours and 40 minutes, but the three-way tactical battle is the closest for several years. The official race Web site www.rolexsydneyhobart.com reported that the three leaders were traveling at just over 11 knots with an east-south east wind as they headed to the finish in the Tasmanian capital. 100 yachts started the 628-nautical mile "Bluewater Classic" from Sydney Harbor on Boxing Day and it made for the usual impressive spectacle. Four retirements had taken place by daylight, with Alan Brierty's Limit, representing the organizing club, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, going out due to rigging problems. Limit was one of the favorites for overall victory on handicap. The annual race was first held in 1945 and has been hit by severe weather conditions in previous years. In 1998, six competitors died and several boats were lost during a fierce storm on the first night. Two years ago the fleet was also hit by similar conditions and eight yachtsman had to abandon a sinking craft. The forecasted light winds are expected to favor the bigger yachts who can use their giant spinnakers to good effect as they head for Constitution Harbor in Hobart.
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Three giant yachts are battling it out for line honors in Sydney-Hobart classic .
New Zealand's Alfa Romeo leads from ICAP Leopard and Wild Oats X!
Wild Oats bidding for fifth straight line honors success in 628 nautical mile test .
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CLICK HERE to read Jeff Powell's exclusive on the night Kell Brook was stabbed . For a man who four months ago had a machete embedded in his left thigh, Kell Brook has no plans to tread slowly now that he has reclaimed his future in boxing. There was certainly an air of impatience around Sheffield’s world champion yesterday as he set about the challenge of making up for lost time, starting with his ring comeback on March 28 and moving on, you sense, to a future date with Amir Khan. The particulars are that he will defend his IBF welterweight title for the first time at Sheffield Arena against Jo Jo Dan, the Canadian-based Romanian who is mandatory challenger for a belt Brook won only weeks before he was viciously assaulted in Tenerife. Brook will defend his IBF welterweight title for the first time since winning it last year . Brook attends a press conference to confirm his next fight against Jo Jo Dan on March 28 . The world welterweight champion was forced to delay the fight after being stabbed in the leg while on holiday . The British boxer is already looking ahead to a big money fight with either Amir Khan or Floyd Mayweather . The fascination of this fight will be learning how much Brook has been affected, in a physical sense, by that brutal episode last September. Quite aside from the blood transfusion that helped save his life, Brook needed more than 60 stitches to piece two deeply cut muscles together again. Speaking to Sportsmail nine days after the assault, he admitted there was no feeling at all around the wound. He went on to say that the surgeon had told him the sensations might never return, so it is against that backdrop that Brook’s comeback must be judged. Will the wonderfully talented 28-year-old still have the speed and movement that contributed so much to his 33 wins from 33 fights? That is what should be discovered from a reasonably tough assignment against a challenger who has won 34 fights and lost only two. Kell Brook will return to the ring after he was stabbed in the leg while on holiday in Tenerife . Brook said he was the 'victim of an unprovoked attack' when on holiday in September . Only after his title defence will it be possible to judge if he could still mix with Khan, in the event that Brook’s management succeed in luring the Bolton man to a fight. ‘It was the lowest part of my career,’ said Brook yesterday, as he announced his first fight since he won the world title from Shawn Porter in California last August. ‘I went from winning the world title and being on cloud nine to being on the bottom of the ocean, lying on that hospital bed. I was wondering if I would walk again, never mind fight. I did not know. ‘But now I am great, very fit and healthy. My leg is bang on, fine and I’ve worked hard. ‘It will be emotional. I can’t wait to get in and defend my world title among the Sheffield fans and in Great Britain. I am undefeated and that is how I mean to go on.’ The 28-year-old recalls the fateful night in an exclusive interview with Sportsmail's Jeff Powell . Brook rests at home while he recovered in the company of his pet dog . Of Dan, Brook added: ‘He is No 1 contender for the title and a very tough customer. He comes to fight southpaw, he’s awkward and I’ll have to work hard. I’ll have my work cut out.’ While the mere occurrence of this bout represents a victory for Brook, the bigger picture calls for a fight with Khan. Sportsmail revealed in the aftermath of Brook’s world-title win that his promoter, Eddie Hearn, had eyes on a Wembley date. The two men have long disliked one another, with Khan of the opinion that he belongs in a higher category of fighter. The truth of the matter is that Brook holds the belt and with it has a handsome bargaining chip, not least because Khan looks no closer to securing a fight with Floyd Mayweather. Hearn told Sportsmail this week: ‘I offered Khan $5million to take the fight before Kell won a world title. With a world title involved, the pot of money for this fight is even bigger. If Khan truly thinks he could beat Kell, then he should step up. Brook won the IBF world welterweight title when he beat Shawn Porter in Los Angeles in August . The world welterweight champion training before . ‘I would back Kell every day of the week to win that fight. We are more than happy to have a 60-40 for the winner or 70-30 for the winner. In fact, how about winner takes all? It’s big balls time.’ For his part, Brook said yesterday: ‘I want the hardest fights, the massive fights for the summer, to fill an arena, a massive stadium. ‘We are looking at the biggest names. Names like Juan Manuel Marquez, and Marcos Maidana. Maybe the kid from Bolton (Khan), if he wants to do it. I am ready. ‘But don’t get me wrong, Jo Jo Dan is no walkover. He is a tough customer and he is coming to fight hard.’ That should not be a major problem compared to what Brook has already encountered.
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Kell Brook defends his IBF welterweight title for the first time on March 28 .
Jo Jo Dan is Brook's opponent in his comeback fight after being stabbed .
Brook was attacked with a machete and suffered a serious leg wound .
The 28-year-old described it as the 'lowest part of his career'
But insists his leg is completely healed and he is ready to fight .
The Sheffield fighter is eyeing a bout with fellow Brit Amir Khan .
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New York (CNN) -- The gunman who ambushed and killed two unsuspecting firefighters as they battled a blaze in upstate New York couldn't buy his weapons legally so he allegedly got his neighbor's daughter to purchase them for him, said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. Dawn Nguyen of Rochester, New York, faces charges over allegedly lying when she purchased an AR-15 rifle -- a .223-caliber weapon -- and 12-gauge shotgun that the gunman had with him during the attack. Authorities say she told the gun dealer that she planned to be the owner of the weapons, but had instead purchased them on June 7, 2010,for gunman William Spengler. "It is absolutely against federal law to lie relating to the acquisition of firearms," said Hochul, who said Spengler indicated in a suicide note that he had gotten the weapons from the neighbor. Dispatcher told firefighter: 'Brother, hang tight' Nguyen, 24, was "turned ... over to ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) agents to be processed at the federal level, and arraigned by a federal magistrate this afternoon," according to state police Investigator James Newell. Spengler, 62 -- who had been convicted of killing his grandmother decades ago -- used the same type of weapon employed in the recent assault on Sandy Hook Elementary School, which left 26 people dead, including 20 children. As a convicted felon, Spengler was not allowed to legally possess weapons. Autopsy shows suspect died of self-inflicted wound . "He was equipped to go to war," Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said. The gunman was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound hours later. In his possession were three firearms, including two .223-caliber Bushmaster rifles and a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun. While Nguyen's charges involve two weapons, authorities indicated the possibility of additional charges regarding the third weapon. Nguyen's attorney was not immediately available for comment. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in jail and $250,000 fine. CNN's Kristina Sgueglia and Laura Ly contributed to this report.
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NEW: The woman was a neighbor of the gunman who ambushed firefighters .
Dawn Nguyen of Rochester, New York, faces charges of filing a falsified business record .
Nguyen's attorney was not immediately available to comment .
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By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:10 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 23:38 EST, 12 December 2013 . A woman survived nearly three nights in bitter interior Alaska cold by burning her snowmobile and huddling with her small dog, Alaska State Troopers said on Thursday. Vivian Mayo, 57, of Cantwell, was found at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, taking shelter under the burned-out hulk of her snowmobile and sharing body heat with Elvis, a small, brown dog of unknown breed. She was severely hypothermic and in need of immediate medical attention, troopers said. Vivian Mayo, 57, of Cantwell, Alaska, was found at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday sharing body heat with Elvis, a small, brown dog of unknown breed . Megan Peters, spokeswoman for the troopers, said the dog likely helped Mayo preserve her body heat. 'It really did help save her life,' Peters said. 'Elvis is a little hero.' Mayo's ordeal began over the weekend. She and her husband, Scott Mayo, 61, traveled on snowmobiles to a cabin near Mile 105 of Denali Highway, a mostly gravel east-west road east of Denali National Park and Preserve. The highway connects two paved highways but is not maintained during winter months and is not open to cars and trucks. Scott Mayo departed the cabin by snowmobile Saturday to check on a trap line that started four to five miles away, Peters said. He had not returned by Sunday. The Mayos were not due back to Cantwell, a community at the west side of the Denali Highway, until Tuesday night, and Vivian Mayo made the decision to return to Cantwell and seek help for her husband. She did not get far. Her snowmobile broke down Sunday about a mile from the cabin. Vivian's husband Scott Mayo was found just two to three miles from their cabin and he is reported to be in good condition despite four nights in the cold . The Mayos had told family members they would be back by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, and if they weren't back by 10 p.m. on Tuesday, to alert authorities. Family members called troopers on Tuesday night. Alaska Wildlife Trooper James Ellison and volunteer rescuers headed out and found Vivian Mayo in about three hours, Peters said. Mayo was starting her third night in the frigid temperatures, which dipped as low as minus 20 degrees. Her mobility was limited, Peters said, and she could not simply walk the mile back to the cabin. The burned-out snowmobile had been tipped over and Mayo was using the shell for shelter, cuddled with Elvis, Peters said. She did not know how Mayo ignited the snowmobile. Mayo at one point told rescuers that she saw wolves approaching but troopers found no tracks or other indication of the predators. Ellison activated a personal locator beacon to alert the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center in Anchorage and took Mayo and Elvis back to the cabin. Vivian and Scott Mayo traveled on snowmobiles to a cabin near Mile 105 of Denali Highway, a mostly gravel east-west road east of Denali National Park and Preserve . The searchers turned their focus to finding Scott Mayo. Ellison at 2:45 a.m. reported finding what he believed was Scott Mayo's trail. He gave trail coordinates to the rescue center, which responded with a C-130 airplane and a Pave Hawk helicopter. Searchers in the airplane spotted Scott Mayo at 5:13 a.m., just two to three miles from the cabin, Peters said. Tracks from his snowmobile indicated he had traveled much farther. He had built a small warming fire and was reported in good condition despite starting his fourth night in the cold. The Pave Hawk landed and took Mayo back to the cabin before the Mayos were flown by helicopter to Anchorage. Both Vivian and Scott Mayo had been released from a hospital by Thursday afternoon, Peters said. Calls to their home Thursday went unanswered.
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Vivian Mayo, 57, of Cantwell, Alaska, was found on Wednesday sharing body heat with Elvis, her pet dog who hadn't left her side .
She was severely hypothermic and in need of immediate medical attention .
Vivian's snowmobile broke down after she went to search for her missing husband .
Scott Mayo was found just two to three miles from their cabin and he is reported to be in good condition despite four nights in the cold .
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By . Louise Eccles and David Williams . PUBLISHED: . 18:49 EST, 7 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:34 EST, 8 September 2012 . Blade runner Jonnie Peacock is tipped to become Britain’s first Paralympics millionaire after his spectacular gold medal run into sporting history. Six million people tuned in to watch the 19-year-old on Thursday night as he destroyed a star-studded field led by South African Oscar Pistorius to win the T44 100m in record time, cheered on by an 80,000-strong crowd. Now, the baby-faced sprinter could become the nation’s highest-paid Paralympic athlete as sponsors rush to sign him up. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Family pride: Jonnie Peacock is congratulated by his mother Linda and grandmother after his win . But yesterday the new superstar of British sport was playing down its significance. Still wearing his gold medal, Peacock, whose right leg was amputated below the knee after he contracted meningitis as a five-year-old, seemed oblivious to his newfound fame, insisting: ‘I don’t think life’s going to change too much. ‘Maybe I’m naive, but I’m still going to go out to Nando’s with my mates. I think I will be able to go out without being noticed.’ Nigel Currie, a sports marketing expert, . said the Cambridge-born athlete would become the new must-have ‘face’ for corporate sponsors. Flying the flag: Jonnie may become Britain's first Paralympic millionaire after winning the Men's 100m T44 on Thursday . He . said: ‘Peacock comes across very well in the media. 'There are big . global opportunities for him which could realise him earnings of around . £500,000 in the next 12 months alone. ’Peacock did not rule out the possibility . of being selected for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio, making him the . first British Paralympian to compete in the able-bodied Games. He said: ‘Never say never, but it would be a lot harder because of the disadvantage at the start.’ Blade runners typically have a slower response time off the starting blocks than able-bodied athletes. The . medal haul of Britain’s Paralympians passed 113 yesterday – the target . for London 2012 had been 103 – with two days of competition to go. That . included a bronze for cyclist Rachel Morris, 33, in the H1-3 road race . at Brands Hatch, who was hit by a car while out training in July. Morris . had hoped to share the bronze with her friend and training partner . Karen Darke – the pair held hands as they crossed the finishing line . together at the end of the 30-mile race. But they reckoned without the photo-finish equipment, which showed Morris just ahead. Britain’s first gold of the day had come in the Olympic stadium from Bristol-born Josie Pearson who broke the world record three times to claim victory in the F51 discus, an event she took up only 18 months ago. The 26-year-old, who was paralysed from the chest down aged 17 after a car crash that killed her boyfriend, said: ‘I don’t think it will sink in for quite a long time.’ VIDEO: Jonnie Peacock reflects on historic Paralympic victory .
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19-year-old set to make sponsor gold after record win on Thursday .
Jonnie Peacock beat Oscar Pistorius who failed to get a medal .
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Socialites Ben and Kate Goldsmith were divorced today in 65 seconds on the grounds of Kate's adultery. The . multi-millionaire couple split last year after Mrs Goldsmith was . believed to have had a passionate affair with American rapper Jay . Electronica - leading to Mr Goldsmith's arrest for assault following a . confrontation with his ex-wife and a bitter war of words over Twitter. However, the pair are now believed to be on far better terms. And . today, a judge at London['s High Court held that Mrs Goldsmith, 30, had . 'committed adultery...and that the petitioner finds it intolerable to . live with the respondent.' Mistake: Ben Goldmsith has admitted he was . 'stupid' to have rowed on Twitter with his ex-wife Kate Rothschild, . pictured together in 2011, left . Gone in 65 seconds: Ben and Kate Goldsmith were divorced today at London's High Court on the grounds of her adultery. Eight years: Ben and Kate Goldsmith were married for eight years and have three young children. The affidavit in support of Mr . Goldsmith's petition says he first became aware of his wife's adultery . on May 31, 2012, and this is also admitted in Mrs Goldsmith's . acknowledgement of service of the divorce petition. The co-respondent was un-named in the documents. The couple were just 23 and 21 when they married in Paris in September 2003 and have three young children. After raging over Twitter, Mr Goldsmith - the . son of the late billionaire James Goldsmith and socialite Annabel . Goldsmith - admitted he was 'stupid' to have become embroiled in a nasty . row after their breakup two years ago. He . is now dating film producer Jemima Jones, while the exact nature of . Kate's relationship with rapper Jay is now unclear. Young love: Ben and Kate Goldsmith at their second wedding ceremony at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in September 2003. New Orleans-born rapper Jay, 36, whose real name is Timothy Elpadaro . Thedford, is the father of singer Erykah Badu's daughter, Mars Merkaba Thedford. The couple were together for nine years. Financier Mr Goldsmith, 32, has just returned after whisking off his girlfriend of six months, Jemima, 25, to Morocco. And . earlier this month, he told the Mail's Richard Kay: ‘Things are good. We’ve just returned from a romantic trip and it was wonderful.' The . pair made their first public appearance last September at fundraiser . for anti-factory farming campaign Pig Business at London restaurant Sake . No Hana. ‘I am going to . introduce her to Kate in the next two weeks,’ financier and . environmentalist Ben told his sister-in-law Alice at the event, . organised by the Marchioness of Worcester. ‘Kate doesn’t love me any . more – she doesn’t care.’ In love: Ben Goldsmith and new girlfriend, lingerie model Jemima Jones, in London in September last year. All smiles: Ben Goldsmith and new love Jemima Jones at a London bash last September . His elder brother, MP Zac, 38, made Kate’s younger sister Alice, 26, his second wife, in March. Mr Goldsmith admitted that he was foolhardy to have lashed out at his ex-wife on Twitter, telling The Telegraph: 'I was stupid to have said anything on Twitter. It's no excuse, but I was devastated,' he told The Telegraph. Police arrested Mr Goldsmith at the couple’s . £20million Kensington home in April 2011 on suspicion of actual bodily harm. Kate Rothschild and US rapper Jay Electronica seen together after her split from Ben Goldsmith . It followed a confrontation between . the Eton-educated financier, who . inherited £300million after the death of his father, and his wife over . explicit texts and emails between her and Jay Electronica. Mr Goldsmith later accepted a caution for assault before announcing he was filing for divorce on grounds of adultery. A . friend of Mr Goldmsith told The Sunday Times: 'He was in a terrible . state. Unless you've been through an acrimonious divorce you can't . imagine what they were going through. Ben was desperately in love with . her and I think marrying so young was a way of escaping the Goldsmith . playboy image and establishing a stable foundation for his life. Then it . all went wrong.' During the Twitter row, Mr Goldsmith responded to an interview his estranged . wife had given, blaming their split on the young age at which they . married, said: . ‘Someone PLEASE shut this girl up. It’s embarrassing.’ His tweet then . provoked a response from the man Mrs Goldsmith left her husband for. Responding . to Mr Goldsmith, Jay Electronica tweeted: ‘I’m getting sick and tired . of your bull***t, Ben,’ and he added: ‘Get a grip.’ After . the series of bitter messages, the couple released a joint statement . through a PR company. It said: ‘We are both deeply saddened that our . marriage has ended after nine years. ‘It . is a matter of regret to us that, at a time when our emotions and those . of our friends have run high, things have been said in public which . should have been kept private. We accept our full share of . responsibility for this. ‘There will be no further comment, either directly or indirectly, from us on any aspect of our family’s private life.’ Record . company boss Mrs Goldsmith is still living in her marital home with her . children – just a stone’s-throw away from Jay Electronica, who moved . from Belgravia to be near her. However, . last September, the Mail on Sunday reported that she was was . 'unimpressed' by his budding friendship with stunning Burberry model . Cara Delevingne. A source said: ‘Kate and Jay are having fearful rows as he’s getting too close to Cara for her liking.’
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Multi-millionaire couple embarked on a Twitter war during split .
Ben Goldsmith blamed his behaviour on heartbreak as wife Kate had a 'passionate affair' with American rapper Jay Electronica .
Wealthy financier Ben is now dating film producer Jemima Jones .
The couple have three young children .
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A Manhattan judge approved a millionaire investor's request for a restraining order against his 'volatile and unpredictable' younger girlfriend in Family Court on Friday. The motion to grant former hedge fund manager Brad Zipper, 50, a two-year protective order against 29-year-old former flame Nicole Raef was the finale to a legal ordeal with several dark twists. Though saying both parties had a problem with 'credibility,' Justice Mary Bednar eventually sided with Zipper, who claimed in court his girlfriend was prone to violent fits and once threatened him with a kitchen knife. 'Sad day': A Manhattan judge approved private investor Brad Zipper's investor's request for a two-year extension of a restraining order against girlfriend Nicole Raef . The New York Post reports that Zipper's fashion consultant girlfriend allegedly picked up a 5-inch blade in the $6million townhouse where they lived during an argument last September 4. She reportedly changed her mind and grabbed a 10-inch knife after judging the first to be too small, according to Zipper's testimony. 'She was screeching at the top of her lungs. She had a blade of significant size, and I was scared,' he said. 'She was coming at me, then I was scared she was going to kill herself.' The investor even brought the two knives to court last week, and was allowed to enter them into evidence after Raef admitted she waved the knives as a joke. The couple's tumultuous relationship became public back in November, when Raef told the Post she'd found herself homeless after being served with a protection order at Zipper's Hamptons estate. 'I was 100 percent shocked,' she told the paper, saying she'd had to pawn a pair of diamond earrings to afford legal counsel. 'We’d been arguing, but we’d worked things out.' Farewell: The Post reports that 29-year-old Raef left the courtroom upset after the judge ruled she'd committed harassment, menacing and criminal mischief, focusing on an issue where she brandished knifes at Zipper . Evidence: Zipper brought the knives in question to court, which were entered into evidence after Raef admitted she'd waved them jokingly . Zipper told the court then that the restraining order was the only way he could end an abusive relationship that he'd 'attempted to break up several times and somehow was convinced not to.' 'I laid in the same bed with her' on September 5, Zipper said after being asked by Raef's attorney, Brett Kimmel, and though he could not recall if they had sex then, Raef claims they did. In documents filed for the original restraining order, Zipper described coming home to find his oven on fire and Raef passed out in the guest room one night in 2012. 'When she woke up, she was delirious and didn’t even remember driving and getting into an accident with my car that night,' the documents stated. He also claimed Raef threw wine bottles at his head during a party over the summer, and tossed thousands of dollars worth of his possessions into the pool at his summer home. The relationship with the former head of Zinc Capital Management came with luxurious perks, such as ski trips to Aspen and beach getaways in St Barts, along with access to a $1.7million home in Southampton. But Raef also alleged he'd been pushing prescription pills on her, saying she felt pressured to take the anxiety and depression medication Ativan by Zipper. 'There’s times when he’s made me feel worthless or completely desperate, and I did take it, as he encouraged me to and stood there with his hand out,' she said in court. The trial also brought an admission from Zipper that he had taken illegal drugs at least 20 times over 4 years with Raef, according to the Post. In court on Friday, Zipper's lawyer, Marcy Katz, made mention of prescription pills, when talking about an email exchange where Raef apologized for breaking a door and said she took a Xanax afterwards. Granting the two-year extension for the protective order, Judge Bednar said she found issues regarding the 'credibility' of both parties, but took the threat at knifepoint seriously. 'Certainly a nine-inch chef’s knife being waved at someone . . . with a threat to commit suicide . . . gives someone cause for concern for their own physical safety,' Bednar said. She found that Raef committed harassment, menacing and criminal mischief and urged her to seek mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment. 'She believes she is the victim here and I believe that this is what the evidence established,' said Kimmel after the decision was handed down. 'All Nicole could do was try to defend herself,' Kimmel said about the claims of abuse and harassment. 'The bar in these types of cases is set very, very low.' Leaving the courtroom, Zipper's only comment was to say 'It’s just a sad day.'
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Former hedge fund executive Brad Zipper, 50, filed a protective order against his girlfriend in November .
Fashion consultant Nicole Raef, 29, had allegedly threatened Zipper with a knife in September, reportedly only one of a series of violent incidents .
It emerged in court that Zipper had tried to break up with Raef then, but was lured back with makeup sex .
A Family Court judge approved a two-year extension on the restraining order against Raef, though she said both sides had 'credibility' problems .
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Tired of trying to tempt your children into a plate of greens? Well one supermarket suggests you try a more colourful approach. Tesco is hoping to give exasperated parents a helping hand in getting their youngsters to eat beetroot with their latest launch, the sweetroot. Beetroots are known to be a superfood packed with nutritional benefits but they are also notoriously unpopular with children. Tesco are launching two new vibrant varieties of beetroot in a hope to encourage children to eat them . Traditionally beetroot has suffered from a so-called 'Marmite syndrome', with people 50 and above enjoying it and the younger generation disliking it. It has seen a resurgence recently, but it is the juice variety that is seeing rocketing sales rather than the raw vegetable. However, Tesco are hoping to change this when they launch a sweeter version of the root exclusively across UK stores tomorrow. The supermarket giant will be offering two long-lost varieties, the organic candy stripe beetroot and the golden beetroot. The candy stripe variety is officially called Chiogga and is named after the northern Italian coastal town where it was first cultivated in the early 1800s. Beetroot has traditionally suffered from 'marmite syndrome' with the younger generation disliking it . The golden beetroot is a Victorian variety that also goes by the name of Burpee's golden, after the American seed house where it was first grown. The colourful veg is said to have a sweeter flavour than the dark purple original and this combined with the bright appearance is said to encourage children to eat them. Tesco beetroot buyer Ravi Patel says he understands the struggle that parents go through when it comes to meal times but hopes their Candy Stripe Beetroot can help. 'Every parent knows that getting youngsters to eat vegetables is never easy but we believe that the Candy Stripe variety will help make that dinner time task a lot simpler. 'We've worked with our main beetroot grower to see how we could encourage more people to enjoy this wonderful vegetable and discovered that this sweeter Candy Stripe variety had generally been forgotten about and never been grown on a commercial scale before. The Candy Stripe Beetroot is said to taste sweeter than the traditional deep purple root . 'It looks and tastes absolutely wonderful and will definitely also bring a lot of colour and fun to the dinner table.' The new varieties have been grown by the UK's biggest producers of beetroot, Gs, based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, which offers perfect growing conditions of soil, sun and water to produce a sweet, full-flavoured root. G's managing director Anthony Gardiner says that these new vegetables should be enough to add a little excitement to children's meal times. 'We were specifically looking for varieties of beetroot that would excite the palates of a new audience of shoppers seeking healthy foods. 'We know that beetroot is becoming more popular but thought that if we could add a sweeter profile as well as introducing different coloured varieties we could help widen this wonderful vegetable's appeal.' Ravi added that he hopes the new take on the unpopular veg will encourage a whole new generation of fans of the root. 'We're hoping that both these varieties will appeal to a whole new audience.' Both varieties will be sold in 450 gram packs and will cost £1.50 each. Fat-Free with typically less than 0.5g fat per 100g . Low in calories with typically less than 37 calories (kcal) per 100g . Low in salt for healthy blood pressure . Seven slices of fresh or bottled beetroot (or three 'baby' whole beetroots) count as one of your five-a-day . A source of folic acid which supports the development of your baby before and during pregnancy . A source of folic acid for a healthy immune system and to reduce tiredness . Source of manganese for healthy bones, energy metabolism . Source of pantothenic acid for energy metabolism, to reduce tiredness, for healthy mental performance . A source of potassium to help maintain a healthy blood pressure, a healthy nervous system .
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Beetroot has often been shunned by the younger generation .
Tesco have launched two new sweeter varieties of the veg .
The Candy Stripe and Golden Beetroot will be launched in store tomorrow .
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Waiting game: David Writebol waited three weeks in quarantine before finally getting the okay to see his beloved wife Nancy, who was infected with Ebola virus while they worked in Liberia . The husband of an American missionary aid worker who contracted Ebola has emerged from 21 days of quarantine. With his three weeks of observation over, there is no longer a threat that David Writebol and he's now been reunited with his beloved wife as she recovers at Emory University. 'I have had the great joy to be able to look through the isolation room glass and see my beautiful wife again,' Mr. Writebol said in release. 'We both placed our hands on opposite sides of the glass, moved with tears to look at each other again.' Nancy is one of two American relief . workers with Ebola being treated at Emory University Hospital. The other . is Dr. Kent Brantly. Both were airlifted from Liberia in the days following the terrifying diagnosis. Writebol says his wife is continuing to gain strength. He had been quarantined at the SIM USA charity's campus south of Charlotte since he returned last week from Liberia. The . couple had been in Liberia for a year, working in a clinic. Nancy . Writebol's duties included disinfecting staff entering or leaving the . Ebola treatment area. Mrs. Writebol's recovery has likely been made possible by an experimental . Ebola treatment that was flown to Liberia at the onset of the . grandmother's disease. Brantly initially passed himself over in order for Writebol to get some of the precious experimental serum. Now Mr. Writebol reveals that was just part of a flood of compassion he and his wife have received since her diagnosis. 'In . the ensuing days, we learned much more about the disease than we . already knew. We also learned a great deal about the love and . compassion of people toward Nancy through the overwhelming outpouring of . prayers and well-wishes on our behalf. For this we are truly . grateful,' he said. Emotional reunion: 'I have had the great joy to be able to look through the isolation room glass and see my beautiful wife again,' Mr. Writebol said in release. 'We both placed our hands on opposite sides of the glass, moved with tears to look at each other again' Nancy Writebol and her husband David were missionary aid workers in Liberia when she became infected with Ebola. She's since been given an experimental treatment and been flown to Atlanta where she is now recovering . Writebol said his wife's journey back to health continues, slowly but surely. 'She was standing with her radiant smile,' he said of their reunion. 'She is continuing to slowly gain strength, eager for the day when the barriers separating us are set aside, and we can simply hold each other.' In what would be a shocking next step to some, the Writebol's son revealed last week his parents may return to Africa after his mother gets better. In an interview on NBC's Today show on Tuesday, Jeremy Writebol said his parents still feel called to serve and could return to their Christian mission work in West Africa. 'This is what they've been called to do and this is what they feel in their heart,' he said. 'It won't be an easy decision for them but I won't be surprised.' Dedicated: Jeremy Writebol, son of Nancy and David, shocked many when he revealed last week that his mom and dad may very well return to West Africa to continue their missionary work once Nancy Writebol recovers .
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David Writebol finally emerged Sunday from required 21 days of quarantine after wife Nancy's Ebola diagnosis .
He soon reunited with his wife Nancy at Emory University, where she's in recovery from the terrifying infection .
Nancy and David Writebol were missionary aid workers in Liberia when Nancy contracted Ebola three weeks ago .
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When Pieter Franken visited Hong Kong one of the first things he did was measure the level of radiation in his hotel room. A Geiger counter is not usually packed by a business traveller, but well as having a banking industry day job Franken is part of a Tokyo-based citizen action group set up to map the radiation levels of cities across the world. Called Safecast, the group was founded as a response to the dearth of accurate, comprehensive data on the radioactive fall-out from Fukushima's stricken nuclear reactors. Read more about Japan's recovery from the Fukushima nuclear disaster . "The whole idea is to measure everything (rather than only performing spot checks)," said Franken. Hong Kong lies just 50 kilometers from a nuclear power station located in Daya Bay in Guangdong province, but its 12 permanent radiation monitoring stations are not in heavily populated urban areas. On a six-hour drive around the city's major commercial and residential, Franken mapped radiation levels with a portable monitoring kit devised by Safecast. All the data is publicly viewable as interactive heat maps on Safecast's website. The drive revealed that Hong Kong had a constant level of radiation that hovered around 0.2 microsievert per hour for an annualized dose of 2 millisieverts. This was slightly higher than the 0.1 microsievert per hour that Safecast mapped in the major urban centres of Tokyo and Beijing. One millisievert per year is an internationally-recognized nuclear factory guideline for exposure to radiation by the general public, according to Dr. John Leung, radiation expert and physics professor at the University of Hong Kong. "Your risk of having cancer is increased for 4 to 5% per sievert of radiation your body absorbs," explained Leung. "The way to control it is to receive as little as possible." On his drive around Hong Kong Franken wanted to see how localized the radiation was, "but it seems to be all over," he said. "In Tokyo, you will come across hotspots, sudden spikes in readings, but here you don't have that kind of concentrated source." More on Rebuilding Japan . Much of the radiation we are exposed to everyday is naturally-occurring—produced by the sun, soil, water and rock. The World Health Organization estimates that on average, people are exposed to 2.4 millisieverts per year from natural background radiation. However this natural background radiation did not explain the uniformity of Safecast's Hong Kong findings or the spikes in radioactivity in tunnels. It led Franken to believe that the common denominator throughout the city, concrete, was a key source of the radiation. Or more specifically, the locally-sourced granite aggregates used in place of pricier cement to make the concrete. "Hong Kong is lying on a high-background radiation level because the radionuclide content in the granite in this region of the country is a bit higher than the world average," said Leung. "There is more uranium and thorium in our granite. It's natural." A study conducted by Leung and his colleagues in 1990 found that the gamma radiation dose rate of local soil to be 1.8 times the world average. Hong Kong's concrete infrastructure poses no immediate harm to residents' health, but some wonder if more attention should be given to how buildings are made in the city. "When we make concrete, we don't pay attention to the mineral content of the rock, so long as it is strong enough," said University of Hong Kong structural engineering professor, Albert Kwan. "If it's really is the case (that local granite has elevated radioactivity), perhaps we should import our granite from elsewhere." The everyday doses of radiation we encounter are far from being fatal in one shot, but it is the accumulated exposure that may be cause for concern. According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), there is no direct evidence of ill effects on human health up to an accumulated dose of 10 millisieverts. For comparison, a typical dose from a one-hour flight is 0.003 millisieverts per hour, while a 10-second chest X-ray would expose you to 0.05 millisieverts. An accumulated exposure of 10 to 1000 millisieverts may result in an "increased incidence of certain types of cancer, years to decades later...The incidence of cancer in a population increases with the radiation dose received," according to UNSCEAR. In 2006, the World Health Organization estimated that up to 4,000 cancer deaths would occur among over 500,000 clean-up workers, evacuees, and residents remaining in highly-contaminated areas near Chernobyl, many of whom were exposed to doses exceeding 100 millisieverts. To reduce everyday levels of radiation Safecast suggests opening doors and windows to ventilate rooms. This minimizes the accumulation of radon - a radioactive gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium and thorium. Inhaling radon - one of the leading sources of human exposure to natural radiation - in the home and workplace causes tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer annually, according to the World Health Organization. "What Safecast is doing provides a context for people to understand radiation," said Franken, producing two photos he planned to contribute to an online photography magazine. One was of a snow-covered Kyoto and the other of his seven-year-old daughter. "The first photo shows where my family went after the crisis hit Tokyo, and the second shows the purpose of what we're doing all this for."
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Hong Kong's natural background radiation comes from local granite .
Rock aggregate used in cement for local buildings .
Radiation was monitored by Tokyo-based citizen action group .
Levels of radiation in city are not harmful .
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Since last week's Boston Marathon bombing, some people have called for placing more surveillance cameras in America's cities. This would be a mistake. It would be dangerous to our civil liberties, and it would be bad policy. I felt last week's tragic events personally -- as a parent of young children, a runner and a graduate of Bedford High School in the Boston area. And it's easy to see why those extraordinary images made us all more sensitive to the everyday possibility of danger. But the big picture is this: In a very unusual set of circumstances, two bad guys set off bombs. They killed three people, and injured many more. The people of Boston refused to be terrorized, and they worked with the police to catch those responsible in a few short days. Even under these extraordinary circumstances, our system worked. Bad people did bad things, but we found the suspects and we caught them. Surveillance cameras of course played a part. They probably allowed the suspects to be identified more quickly, and they will surely provide useful evidence at the surviving suspect's criminal trial. Would more cameras have meant quicker apprehension of the suspects? There's no evidence to suggest this. And it's important to remember that there are already lots of cameras in Boston. And though some may believe that blanketing our public areas with video surveillance will make us safer, we should reject this call. First, surveillance cameras are expensive. They are costly to install and maintain, and in a time of limited budgets, they could be mistaken for an adequate substitute for human police officers on the street. Should we trade off the cost of human police (or schools, or roads, or lower taxes) for even more robotic surveillance eyes? I don't think so. Second, surveillance cameras don't necessarily deter serious crimes. Boston's numerous cameras didn't stop the crime at the Boston Marathon, nor did London's more extensive network of cameras deter the 2005 subway bombings. Boston's talented police commissioner, Edward Davis, put it best right after last Monday's events when he said that despite the city's extensive security preparations, little short of a "police state" could have stopped the attacks. It is to Davis' great credit that as police commissioner he didn't want a police state. This brings me to my third point. Surveillance cameras, or other government surveillance technologies, have costs in civil liberties as well as in money. Surveillance cameras like we already have in Boston are like having a police officer with perfect memory on every street corner. It might be relatively easy to say that even more video cameras would amplify that effect while posing little threat to privacy. But surveillance cameras are getting better, and it's now possible to pair them with facial recognition technology linked to state driver's license databases. When this technology matures, it'll give the police the power to monitor all of our movements in public linked to our real identities, not just to our anonymous faces. Such a system would conceivably give the government increased power over us, power that could be used not just to monitor, but in some cases, potentially, to blackmail, persuade or discriminate. Police on every corner might be one thing, but police who can instantly see your identity papers and constantly track you are another. We might decide we want a limited version of this system, but we need to talk about these things now, before well-meaning local governments make the decision for us. It might be difficult to hear, but we can't be perfectly safe all the time. And part of living in a free and open society means that occasionally some people will abuse that freedom. That's why we have a criminal justice system in which the police investigate crimes. It's better to punish the people who abuse their freedom and harm others than to take everyone's liberties away and subject us all to the eye of the state. Less privacy, less civil liberties. Being constantly observed might make us feel slightly safer, but this would be only an illusion of safety. History has shown repeatedly that broad government surveillance powers inevitably get abused, whether by the Gestapo, the Stasi, or our own FBI, which engaged in unlawful surveillance (and blackmail) of "dangerous" people like Martin Luther King Jr. Last week's events gripped our attention because they were extraordinary. Terror attacks, plane crashes, even school shootings stick in our head out of all proportion to the danger they pose to us as individual citizens precisely because they are extraordinary. But remember the big picture. How many people do you know who have been the victims of terrorism? On the other hand, how many people do you know who have suffered from cancer, or obesity, or gun violence? If we're interested in safety, public health and gun control are much more important issues than terrorism. They, not surveillance, should be our safety priority. We should honor last week's victims. We should praise the Bostonians, police and private citizens, who helped find the culprits. But we should also rest secure that our system of government is working. We should reject, like Edward Davis did last week, any call to move further towards a police state.
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Neil Richards: After Boston terror attack, some call for more surveillance. That's a bad idea .
He says cameras helped ID suspects, but it was the police system that worked .
He says more cameras would be costly, could not stand in for humans .
Richards: Punish those who abuse freedom, hurt others; don't take liberties away .
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Two hundred people including 12 children have been diagnosed with HIV after being treated by an unlicenced doctor in Cambodia. Medic Yem Chrin, who made house calls for nearly two decades in the remote rice farming village of Roka, has been arrested after police say he admitted to reusing needles and syringes. Among the infected are 16 members of the same extended family, along with the 82-year-old abbot of a nearby Buddhist monastery.Medic Yem Chrin . Medic Yem Chrin has been arrested after 200 people were diagnosed with HIV in the remote Cambodian village of Roka (pictured, Em Mom, one of those infected with HIV, prepares to take her medication) Medics in Roka (pictured) began noticing unexplained cases of HIV last August, but the true scale of the infection was only uncovered recently. Police say Chrin has admitted to reusing needles and syringes . Mr. Chrin, who trained as a nurse treating people at a refugee camp after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime which killed nearly two million people, is currently being held in nearby Battambang. He has been charged with aggravated murder, intentionally spreading HIV, and is accused of practicing without a licence. The tragedy in Roka, a remote village which is three miles from the nearest paved road, first came to light in August last year when a pregnant woman showed positive for HIV during a routine test. Medics were unable to explain the infection, but after another expectant mother also tested positive a few weeks later, medical centres were inundated with villagers asking to be screened. At the time the country's Prime Minister refused to accept the results as genuine, saying he was '100 per cent' sure it was not HIV. But he was to be proved tragically wrong. More positive results flooded in and the centres were filled with people weeping and hugging each other, reports the New York Times. Grandmother Chem Mao, 55, even considered committing suicide after her diagnosis, but as she arrived home the sight of her grandchildren playing beside her cinder-block house stopped her. Despite the horrific infection sweeping through the village, many locals have staunchly defended Chrin, describing him as a philanthropic man willing to step in during times of need. Roka is a small rice farming community in Cambodia's west, which is three miles from the nearest paved road. Here Em Seiha (left), who is among those infected, goes to work in the fields . Among the infected are 12 children, the 82-year-old abbot of the local Buddhist monastery, and 16 members of the same family. Despite the scale of the outbreak, many villagers stood by Chrin . Chhay Yao, 76, the head of the family in which 16 people were infected, said: 'Honestly I don't think the doctor caused this. 'He was so clean. And he's not a bad person. If we had money we gave it to him. If not he would always say, pay me later.' According to Chrin's daughter, Chrin Reaksa, he moved to the region after his time in refugee camps, and the villagers began coming to him for help. After a while, he established a practice to deal with the number of requests. Locals said he was always willing to help, offering free treatment if they couldn't pay. Ms Reaska said that, before the infection, officials never asked her father about a licence. While the quality of healthcare in rural Cambodia has been described as 'poor' by the World Health Organisation, it has also been praised for its efforts in reducing the spread of HIV and Aids. Rates of infection in the far eastern country are a third lower than those in neighbouring Thailand, and cases of mass infection such as this are rare. Cambodia's government has been criticised for its treatment of HIV/Aids sufferers. In 2009, families infected with the virus were forcibly moved into huts in a de-facto commune in Tuol Sambo (pictured) In September last year there were still 50 families living in the commune, which has poor access to water, a single shop (pictured) and a lone medical centre . The government has a widespread programme of providing free antiretroviral drugs to those suffering from the life-limiting infection, and has stepped in to provide them in Roka. Despite this, villagers have reported being treated like outcasts, shunned by those from surrounding towns, and forced to wash their hands with disinfectant whenever they visit public buildings. In the past Cambodia's government has been criticised for its treatment of those infected with HIV/Aids after it created a de-facto commune for families suffering from the illness. In 2009 Amnesty International blasted the Cambodian government after it moved 20 infected families living in the Phnom Penh area into green shacks built in Tuol Sambo. Villagers around Tuol Sambo were quoted as saying the settelment was built as a centre for those with the virus, and Amnesty warned that a lack of heating, sanitation and access to clean water would likely endanger the health of those sent there. Around 50 families were still living in the metal huts in September last year, and were entirely dependent on one clinic for their medication, which is handed out free of charge once a week.
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Around 200 people infected in poor, remote rice farming village of Roka .
Unlicensed medic Yem Chrin arrested and admits to reusing needles .
Authorities say he made home visits in settlement for the last 20 years .
Villagers stand by him, including head of family where 16 were infected .
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The heatwave sweeping through Donetsk threatens to affect England's Euro 2012 opener against France tomorrow, but that hasn't dampened England fans' moods. Supporters revelled in the sunshine and enjoyed beers with the locals in the Ukrainian city despite fears that the footballers will be unable to adjust to the soaring temperatures. England will open their campaign in temperatures of up to 32C tomorrow, 13C higher than those they have acclimatised to in their Polish base of Krakow, while France have been training just down the road at local club Shakhtar Donetsk's centre. England fans Stan Stansfield and Dex Marshall enjoy a beer with locals in Donetsk, Ukraine, this afternoon . Fans set up flags around Donetsk and enjoyed the heatwave which threatens to affect tomorrow's opener against France . And it would seem that English football chiefs have little confidence in England's ability to achieve a result tomorrow, having already booked the England team's plane home - for after their final group stage game. England are due to face tournament co-hosts Ukraine in their last group game of the tournament on June 19, but FA bosses have already chartered a private jet home the day after. The plane is scheduled to fly from England's base in Krakow, Poland, and land at Manchester airport at 4pm on Wednesday 20 June before flying to London. The FA was unavailable for comment, but is believed to insist the measure is standard procedure. England are preparing for their opening game tomorrow, but FA bosses have already booked the plane home . The scheduling appears to display little confidence in the national team's ability to qualify from a group comprising France, Sweden and Ukraine. After France, they are due to face Sweden on Friday and Ukraine the following Tuesday before a potential quarter final on the weekend of June 23-24. Liverpool fan Jonny Bunt, 24, from Swindon, said: '[The heat] could make a difference. You would think the French would be more used to it and able to deal with it better.' Reflecting the national pessimism, the number of travelling England fans will be the lowest at a tournament for many years, with just 3,000 tickets sold through the official supporters' club for the France game. But those who did turn up enjoyed sizzling temperatures and friendly conversation with the locals. Two England fans in particular garnered attention, due to their full Crusaders costume including boots, silver trousers, the St George's Cross and leather arm guards. Dex Marshall, 52, and Stan Stanfield, 42, posed for pictures with amused Ukrainians near a giant statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin. Mr Marshall, a financial adviser from Uckfield, East Sussex, said: 'We went to a nightclub and the people were loving it. 'The only problem is the language. They all want to help us but we can't communicate.' When asked if the weather could be a factor, he replied: 'It will be a concern because we do have a colder environment than most countries. 'I think it will be a 1-1 draw if we're lucky.' Earlier this week Government officials chose to boycott England's group stage matches over Ukraine's treatment of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, although this stance may change if England do make it past the group stages. Preparation: England in training on Friday ahead of their opening fixture against France tomorrow evening . France, pictured training in Donetsk yesterday, have acclimatised to the sweltering temperatures . Manager Roy Hodgson remained defiant ahead of the kick-off, and insisted the team have 'no fear' of their opponents. 'There’s healthy respect for the France team, as they deserve to have. But I don’t get the feeling the players are cowed by the task. They’re more motivated in a way,' Hodgson said yesterday. The last time England failed to get through the group stage of a major tournament was at Euro 2000, when they were managed by Kevin Keegan. Belief: England manager Roy Hodgson, left, is confident of success. The FA, led by chairman David Bernstein, right, who is accompanying the team in Poland, has booked a flight home for after the group stage . France go into tomorrow's match as favourites and on a 21-game unbeaten run but Hodgson said this will provide additional motivation for England. 'It may be quite nice for them to go into a game where people are saying, "It’ll be tough and France are a better team than you". 'I would think they’ll probably quite enjoy the fact that the favourite’s position is now being taken from us and given to France. We know we can give them a good game. No question,' he said. But French supporters in Donetsk were confident their side would take all three points. Sebastian Peyres, 36, who works at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, said: 'It will be very difficult for England to organise their team without Rooney and Lampard. It will be 2-0 to France, I hope.' Hodgson is due to reveal his starting lineup to the players tonight - in stark contrast to former manager Fabio Capello, who notoriously told his players if they were starting just half an hour before the match. The squad has been strengthened by the return of striker Jermain Defoe, who flew home on Thursday following the death of his father, but Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck is expected to be preferred to Defoe and Andy Carroll. Steven Gerrard leads his players in training on Friday. The players will find out who will start tomorrow's game today . Jermain Defoe has returned to the England squad but Danny Welbeck is expected to start up front tomorrow .
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Fans enjoy Donetsk sunshine, but are wary ahead of crucial opening fixture .
FA book plane from Krakow on June 20 - the day after game against Ukraine .
England travel to Ukraine today before tomorrow's match in 32C heat .
Hodgson remains defiant ahead of game and insists England have 'no fear'
France go into game as favourites after 21-game unbeaten run .
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Click here to read Sportsmail's interview with Blackpool president Valeri Belokon . Blackpool have sacked manager Jose Riga. Riga held talks with chairman Karl Oyston this morning where it was agreed it was time to end the manager’s four-and-a-half month spell in charge at Bloomfield Road. The Belgian’s time at the club has been blighted by constant rows with his chairman and their relationship reached a point of no return over the weekend. Blackpool are expected to part company with beleaguered manager Jose Riga this week . Ex-Birmingham City manager Lee Clark is being sounded out as Riga's replacement at Bloomfield Road . Riga lost eleven of his 16 games in charge after starting the season with just 13 players on the opening day. A statement on the club's website read: 'Blackpool Football Club can confirm that Head Coach Jose Riga has had his contract terminated with immediate effect.' Former Birmingham manager Lee Clark has emerged as the early candidate. Sportsmail understands Clark - sacked by Birmingham City just last week - could be appointed as soon as Wednesday. Clark is used to working under a strict budget given the financial constraints put on him at St Andrew's and remains highly thought of within the game despite a turbulent time in the Midlands. August 10: Mark Robins (Huddersfield) August 15: Tony Pulis (Crystal Palace) August 28: David Hockaday (Leeds) August 31: Beppe Sannino (Watford) September 1: Graham Kavanagh (Carlisle), Joe Dunne (Colchester) September 12: James Beattie (Accrington) September 18: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Cardiff), Felix Magath (Fulham), Micky Adams (Port Vale) September 24: Russell Slade (Leyton Orient) September 29: Oscar Garcia (Watford) October 3: Dougie Freedman (Bolton) October 4: Colin Cooper (Hartlepool) October 7: Billy McKinlay (Watford) October 8: Russ Wilcox (Scunthorpe) October 13: Nigel Worthington (York), Rob Edwards (Tranmere) October 20: Lee Clark (Birmingham) October 25: Darko Milanic (Leeds) October 27: Jose Riga (Blackpool) Total: 21 .
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Jose Riga has been sacked as manager of Blackpool .
Lee Clark is being sounded out to become the new Blackpool boss .
Riga presided over Blackpool's worst start to a league season .
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By . A. Greg . A fixture of New Jersey Republican politics and her husband have been found dead in their home in an apparent murder-suicide. Police have not publicly identified the couple who were found Thursday morning, but the Arden Road home belonged to retired Morris County clerk Joan Bramhall and her husband John Bramhall. The Star Ledger reports that sources close to the investigation have confirmed the couples' identities. Recently retired: New Jersey Republican fixture Joan Bramhall is believed to have been found dead along with her husband John Bramhall in their home . Joan Bramhall, 75, had been a fixture in . local Republican politics and retired in December 2013 after serving as . county clerk for 15 years. The couple had four children together but lost one, and also raised four of their grandchildren. Police were dispatched to the property after a relative reported a person found deceased in the home at 10am Thursday. Officers then found a second body in the house. According to the Daily Record, one daughter-in-law of the couple was staying at the home but was not present at the time of the deaths. Police released a statement saying that a male and female in their seventies had been found dead in the home. They said the investigation is in its preliminary stages but that 'there is no indication...that there is any threat to the community.' No further details were given. Joan Bramhall had been a longtime member of the Morris County Republican Committee and served as its chairwoman from 1988 to 1994, and worked alongside present Governor Chris Christie as a freeholder from 1993 to 1998. John Bramhall had owned a construction company which was responsible for many of the large homes in the couple's neighborhood, reports the Star Ledger. 'It's a damn tragedy. God, she just retired. She had done so much - county clerk, chairwoman of the Republican Party, a great supporter of me as I was of her,' Senator Anthony Bucco told the Daily Record, adding that he'd just seen Bramhall a month ago. Family home: The couple were found in their Arden Road home after police received a call from a family member . He said she'd told him that she and her husband had travel plans for their retirement and that she'd hoped to go to Alaska. Other friends and former colleagues were equally shocked and distraught. Assembleyman Michael Patrick Carroll said Bramhall was incredibly kind and helpful to him when he began in politics in the 1970s. 'She was a great lady, everybody's friend. She never had an ill word about anybody,' Carroll told the Star Ledger. 'At the end of the day, if you could stay serving the people in the state of New Jersey for basically 50 years, even somewhere as relatively civil as Morris County, and never piss anyone off, that says a lot about your personality.' When she announced at the age of 74 in January 2013 that she would not run for a fourth term as county clerk, Bramhall said she was looking forward to her retirement. 'You know when it's time to stop and I want to stop and smell the roses, so to speak,' Bramhall said, reports the Daily Record.
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A couple were found dead in their New Jersey home Thursday morning .
Police have not confirmed their identities, but the home belonged to Joan Bramhall, 75, and her husband John .
She served as Morris County clerk for 15 years before retiring recently .
Police have said there is no threat to the community .
Joan Bramhall was described as 'an institution' and spent 50 years in local politics .
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Carl Jenkinson believes West Ham have made a statement of intent by drafting in no fewer than nine new players this summer. The on-loan defender from Arsenal was one of many new faces at Upton Park, including the likes of Alex Song, Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate and Morgan Amalfitano. And the 22-year-old right back says the ambition shown in the transfer market is one of the reasons he moved to West Ham for the season from Arsenal. Arrival: Carl Jenkinson joined West Ham on loan from Arsenal for the season . He told whufc.com: 'We've made some great signings and that was half the reason I joined. The Club is clearly making a big push this season and we've signed some more players since I signed. I think that's a real sign of intent. 'Hopefully the players we have brought in, along with myself, can do ourselves justice in a West Ham shirt.' Jenkinson, who met West Ham fans at their store in Lakeside Shopping Centre on Tuesday, is looking forward to playing with former Arsenal midfielder Song, who joined on a season-long loan from Barcelona. In action: £12m new signing Enner Valencia playing against Southampton . Ovation: Alex Song, who joined on loan from Barcelona, was paraded before the game against Southampton . 'Alex justifies the response he got at the stadium on Saturday (when he was unveiled) because everybody knows how big a signing he is for the club,' Jenkinson said. 'He has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world and you don't do that through luck. 'He is a top player and West Ham have done very well to bring him in. Me, as much as the rest of the boys and the fans, are very excited to have him on board because he'll bring an awful lot to the side. 'He hasn't played regularly for a while now, so he needs to get his fitness up as he has said, but when he's firing on all cylinders he'll be a fantastic player for West Ham, I'm sure.' Day out: Jenkinson (left), Matt Jarvis (centre) and James Tomkins (right) met fans in Lakeside . Jenkinson has missed West Ham's first three Premier League games after suffering a hamstring injury during a friendly against Schalke. But the young defender hopes to be fit in time for West Ham's next game, at Hull City on September 15. 'Fingers crossed, I should be back for the next game,' Jenkinson said. 'It seems like a long time out, but I have only missed three league games, so it's not been the end of the world. I'll be back soon and hopefully I can do the business on the pitch.'
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Jenkinson one of nine new faces at Upton Park this summer .
Defender joined on loan from Arsenal for the season .
Alex Song, Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia among other signings .
Jenkinson hopes to make debut against Hull after injury problems .
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During the 1990s, financial adviser to the stars Dana Giacchetto lived like the punk-rock prince of New York City who by his own admission, 'flew too close to the sun and spun out of control.' His palace was a mammoth SoHo penthouse where he hosted drug-fueled orgies witnessed by a pair of cockatoos named Angel and Tiberius - one each for him and his best-friend, Leonardo DiCaprio. At the height of his rebel-reign, he and the then 23-year-old star of Titanic defiantly watched the 1998 Academy Awards at his Manhattan apartment, while over in Los Angeles the James Cameron blockbuster won 11 Oscars. Now and then: Dana Giacchetto at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse in February where he is facing fresh fraud charges and (right) at a party in Los Angeles in June 1999 . Best friends: Leonardo DiCaprio enjoys lunch with his one-time pal, Dana Giacchetto in New York in 1998 . 'I was king of the world,' said Giacchetto to The Hollywood Reporter.. 'We projected the Academy Awards on the wall and had every star come to New York to give the middle finger because we felt the Academy Awards were a complete f---ing sellout and anti-punk rock.' His influence on DiCaprio was such, that he reputedly inspired the Hollywood stars' performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, despite their friendship ending when he pleaded guilty to misappropriating nearly $20 million of his clients' money in 2000. Giacchetto, who is now 51, spent three-years in prison for his fraud after swindling millions from clients who included, R.E.M front man Michael Stipe, Spiderman star Tobey Maguire, Cameron Diaz and Ben Affleck. Indeed, he was back in court in February facing charges that he used a friend's credit card to rack up $10,045 in charges to buy liquor, a plane ticket and food, according to court filings. But while he vehemently denies that, in new revealing interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he positively revels in the speculation he was his former friends muse for The Wolf of Wall Street. Party time: Dana Giacchetto with tragic super-agent Jay Moloney (left) and Hollywood financier Tom Lassaly (right) in Los Angeles in 1999 . However, unlike trader Jordan Belfort, whose story is told in the Martin Scorcese hit, Giacchetto tries to claim he is not a fraud - despite his conviction. 'I'm the Lamb of Wall Street,' said Giacchetto to The Hollywood Reporter. 'If I wasn't dragged from an airplane at gunpoint, I would've been able to fix the positions. Whether clients lost money because the market went down or because I was a f—-up, I felt really bad about it. 'I never stole money in my life. Why would I do that to the people that I love?' Inspiration: The muse for DiCaprio's performance in the Martin Scorcese movie The Wolf of Wall Street was allegedly Dana Giacchetto . In 2000, Giacchetto was arrested at Newark Airport, traveling with a fake passport trying to flee the country having admitted fraud involving his incredible list of clients money. Displaying the charisma which no doubt enamored him to talented actors, musicians, directors, artists and Oscar winners, punk-rock fan Giacchetto's big break was brokering the deal for a small underground Seattle record label, Sub Pop, in 1991. On their books was an unknown grunge band named Nirvana, who were tipped for the top. Together with Giacchetto's investment firm, the Cassandra Group, 49-percent of Sub Pop was sold to Warner Music Group in 1994 for $20 million - many times its expected value. By his 37th birthday in 1998, Giacchetto controlled by his estimation, $5 billion in assets - needing to hire a young lawyer called Chris Cuomo, the brother of New York Governor Andrew and current host of CNN's New Day. Armed with success and money, Giacchetto embarked on one huge party - and the celebrity he was indelibly linked to was a young Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor, 12-years Giacchetto's junior, was already on the road to superstardom and spent months living in his friends lavish SoHo apartment. He took him on tours of the New York Stock Exchange and they were frequently spotted at parties together and lunching. Giacchetto told The Hollywood Reporter that he believes he is definitely the inspiration for DiCarpio in The Wolf of Wall Street, although the actor has never mentioned this . Rooftop: Leonardo DiCaprio is seen here in The Wall of Wall Street - more than a decade earlier he was a guest at Giacchetto's penthouse apartment for months at a time . He claims to have been told that when DiCaprio was asked if his old friend was his template, he demurred, 'No, not exactly.' Calling this 'lovely', the convicted fraudster reminisces about the life he led and its similarities to the crazed-lifestyle portrayed in movie. 'I lived it -- not the stealing-money-from-poor-people part. Listen, the sex and the drugs and the decadence in my life was 10 times worse than Wolf, a bacchanalian orgy for 10 years,' said Giacchetto to The Hollywood Reporter. 'There was sex constantly, there were drugs constantly, but there was no sex without condoms ever that I ever witnessed. There were certain rules, and that was one of those rules.' Like a raging Master of the Universe or Wall Street Jay Gatsby, the tales of Giacchetto's parties are legendary. 'There were lots of weird sex scenes,' says one prominent Giacchetto partygoer to The Hollwyood Reporter. 'The loft had $300 champagne, $5,000 hookers, top models, rockers, actors and artists. There also were two cockatoos, Angel and Tiberius -- one each for Giacchetto and DiCaprio. Friends: Michael Stipe of R.E.M. (left) was one of the fraudsters friends as was Ben Affleck (right with his best friend Matt Damon) 'Victoria Leacock Hoffman, a friend of Andy Warhol, Martin Scorsese and Giacchetto, attended a Christmas party at the loft and later threw Molly Ringwald's 30th birthday party there, both of which she says were fairly tame. 'Leo was always sweet and gentlemanly,' she says. Giacchetto's riotous parties also welcomed Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Kate Moss, Michael Stipe and Mark Wahlberg - although there are no accounts or suggestions of them partaking in anything nefarious. 'I had all my windows open, and John F. Kennedy Jr. was standing there,' said Giacchetto to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Everyone's like, 'Don't fall out that f---in' window!' His friendship with DiCaprio was so strong that it went beyond money - he claims to have fallen out with the actor's manager over his career trajectory. 'I had a fight with DiCaprio's then-manager Rick Yorn,' said Giacchetto to The Hollywood Reporter. 'He wanted Leonardo to make American Psycho,' as did DiCaprio. 'I called Leo's dad, George, I called Leo's mom, Irmelin. I said, 'Leo, if you do this movie, you must move out. Cutting people up? Is that what you're about?' Former partners: Guests at Giacchetto,'s SoHo parties included Johnny Depp and Kate Moss when they were still a couple . Giacchetto also told The Hollywood Reporte about his controversial relationshps with one time Walt Disney Company chief Mike Ovitz and Hollywood superagent, Jay Maloney, who tragically ended his life in November 1999 after problems with depression. 'My performance for so many years was so good and quantitative -- not bullshit, not boiler room, really good -- that I started to get the Ovitzes of the world and the very, very serious heavy-hitter asset managers to say, 'This guy actually f---ing knows how to trade,' said the fraudster. 'He has a gift. He may be a flake, he may be effeminate, but he knows what he's f---ing doing.' I'm some crazy mathematical rock-star wacko who sold Sub Pop and Matador and made a lot of money.' Despite his convictions, Giacchetto denies he was a thief. His problems began when his previously safe investments began to falter in the late 1990s and instead of telling his famous friends, he attempted to cover up his losses. He began moving money from one account to another, but when he was taken into custody on April 12, 2000, he was carrying only $4,000 in tens and fives. Investments: Dana Giacchetto helped broker the deal that sold Sub Pop - who boasted Nirvana and Kurt Cobain on their books to Warner Music in 1994 and hosted JFK. Jr. to one of his parties too . 'I never planned to steal people's money. I got in over my head on deals that lost money. But I never stole.' His friendships with the rich and famous ended - or they did officially according to Giacchetto. 'When I go to Hollywood and see all my old clients, which I do, it's always off the record,' he said to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Even the people that I loved the most, they would answer the phone like, 'I'm afraid to see you,' because Hollywood is so small. Leo, I mean, we only talked through lawyers through the years because we're afraid.' Despite his impending credit card fraud, Giacchetto says that he has found happiness as the father of two children, although their mother has left him. He is friends with heiress and fashionista Daphne Guinness and plays in Manhattan with his band, Element 4. Indeed, his entrepreneurial skills are still strong. He owns a food business called Taste which makes salsa. However, he will always remember the heady days of the late 1990s as witnessed by his 2001 sentencing, when he told the judge, 'I lived in a world of fantasy.' Fallen: The stockbroker-to-the-stars', leaves Manhattan Federal Court following a hearing on charges of wire fraud and access device fraud, Thursday, February, 20, 2014. Giacchetto is a disgraced money manager who palled around with actor Leonardo DiCaprio and other A-listers in the 1990's .
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Investment adviser Dana Giacchetto lived a life of celebrity excess in the late 1990s out of his Manhattan penthouse .
He was best friends with Leonardo DiCaprio - who spent months living with the multi-millionaire investor .
Giacchetto controlled money belonging to Ben Affleck, Cameron Diaz and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe .
Giacchetto's wild parties were legendary in New York - guests included Johnny Depp, Kate Moss and JFK. Jr.
In April 2000, he was arrested trying to flee the country and spent three-years in jail for fraud .
He is estimated to have stolen up to $20 million from his A-list clients .
Is rumored to be the real inspiration for DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street .
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Wendy Purcell, pictured, was suspended on full pay last summer after she commissioned seven custom-made chairs costing £95,000 . A university chief accused of wasteful spending has been allowed to return to work on her full £250,000 salary despite having her role drastically downgraded. Professor Wendy Purcell was suspended as vice-chancellor of Plymouth University after commissioning seven custom-made chairs costing £95,000. She was also criticised over a three-day trip to Miami, when she stayed in a luxury boutique hotel and spent £3,500 on business-class flights. Another report claimed she ran up a £15,000 expenses bill for first-class train travel. Miss Purcell was suspended on full pay last summer but returned to work as Plymouth’s vice-chancellor and president in November. However, she did not resume her duties running the university and it was announced last week that she is now president only, with her former deputy now the interim vice-chancellor. Despite her much reduced responsibilities, Freedom of Information requests from the Times Higher Education journal have revealed that Miss Purcell has returned to work on full pay. The university said: ‘The vice-chancellor’s present salary is £250,000, the same as in 2013/14.’ It refused to say whether Miss Purcell’s pay would be cut now she will not be vice-chancellor. Disclosures also show that the university has run up a £270,000 legal bill over the matter. The university did not reply to requests for a comment. The news will pile further pressure on Plymouth over its handling of several months of crisis. A second leading figure, retired judge William Taylor, resigned as university chairman last year amid allegations that he sexually harassed female colleagues. He denies the claims. The controversy over Miss Purcell includes claims she was responsible for initiating a project to commission seven hand-crafted ceremonial chairs – costing £13,500 each – to be used at graduation ceremonies. Prof Purcell is no longer the vice-chancellor of Plymouth University, pictured, but remains college president . She was part of a panel that selected designer John Makepeace to lead the project. But news of the £95,000 commission sparked anger among students and staff – despite the university’s insistence that the cost of the furniture would be met through fundraising. The university then said that ‘approval of the project was not sought from the University Executive nor the University Board’. It later said the vice-chancellor decided she wanted no further involvement with the project but ‘did not advise cancellation’. The Plymouth Herald newspaper reported that the university also spent £24,000 sending six staff, including Miss Purcell, on a three-day conference in Miami. It further reported that she had taken a first-class train journey on average once every eight days for three years on expenses.
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Wendy Purcell was suspended after she commissioned chairs worth £95k .
She was also criticised over taking business-class flights to Miami .
She also spent £15,000 on first-class rail travel and claimed it on expenses .
Prof Purcell continues to receive £250,000-a-year after her return to work .
She returned to work in November as president and vice-chancellor .
However, it has been announced that she is now only the president .
Her deputy has been appointed the interim vice-chancellor .
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Los Angeles (CNN)The last hand in the "two thumbs up" film critic team, Roger Ebert, died Thursday, two days after revealing cancer returned to his body. Ebert and Gene Siskel co-hosted the iconic review show "Siskel and Ebert At The Movies" until Siskel's death in 1999 after a battle with a brain tumor. The Chicago Sun-Times, the base of operations for Ebert's syndicated reviews, announced his death at age 70."We were getting ready to go home today for hospice care, when he looked at us, smiled, and passed away. No struggle, no pain, just a quiet, dignified transition," his wife, Chaz Ebert, said in a statement Thursday. "I'll see you at the movies," were the last words Ebert wrote to his readers. They were published in an essay titled "Leave of Presence" on his blog Tuesday, in which he explained he was planning to slow down and reduce the number of movie reviews he wrote. "My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me," Ebert wrote. "What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review." Ebert had already lost his voice and much of his jaw after battling thyroid and salivary gland cancer. He suffered a hip fracture in December, and it recently led to the revelations about cancer, he said. Ebert started as the Sun-Times film critic on April 3, 1967, writing about 200 reviews each of those 46 years, he said. The last year however, was his most prolific. "Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles," he said. "I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call 'a leave of presence.'" Ebert: The critical critic with an open mind . Ebert, who won a Pulitzer Prize for film criticism in 1975, had a way with words and a sharp wit that is not easily matched. -- About Rob Schneider's "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" in 2005: "If he's going to persist in making bad movies, he's going to -- have to grow accustomed to reading bad reviews." -- Concerning Schneider's reaction to another critic who panned the film: "But Schneider is correct, and Patrick Goldstein has not yet won a Pulitzer Prize. Therefore, Goldstein is not qualified to complain that Columbia financed "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" while passing on the opportunity to participate in "Million Dollar Baby," "Ray," "The Aviator," "Sideways" and "Finding Neverland." As chance would have it, I have won the Pulitzer Prize, and so I am qualified. Speaking in my official capacity as a Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Schneider, your movie sucks." Two years later, flowers showed up at Ebert's door with a card, signed "Your Least Favorite Movie Star, Rob Schneider." "The bouquet didn't change my opinion of his movie, but I don't think he intended that," Ebert wrote. "It was a way of stepping back. It was a reminder that in the great scheme of things, a review doesn't mean very much. Sometimes when I write a negative review, people will say, 'I'll bet you can't wait to hammer his next film.' Not true. I would far rather praise the next film to show that I maintained an open mind." -- A good example of Ebert's willingness to keep an open mind comes from his review of Tom Green's 2001 comedy "Freddy Got Fingered" of which he wrote one of his most scathing reviews: . "This movie doesn't scrape the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn't below the bottom of the barrel. This movie doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with barrels." But after watching Green in "Stealing Harvard" a year later, Ebert revisited the film that he had awarded a rare zero stars: . "But the thing is, I remember 'Freddy Got Fingered' more than a year later. I refer to it sometimes. It is a milestone. And for all its sins, it was at least an ambitious movie, a go-for-broke attempt to accomplish something. It failed, but it has not left me convinced that Tom Green doesn't have good work in him. Anyone with his nerve and total lack of taste is sooner or later going to make a movie worth seeing." -- Reviewing "Crocodile Dundee II": "I've seen audits that were more thrilling." -- Giving no love to "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith": "To say that George Lucas cannot write a love scene is an understatement; greeting cards have expressed more passion." Ebert: The film philosopher . -- "Every great film should seem new every time you see it." -- "No good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough." -- "If you have to ask what it symbolizes, it didn't." -- "If a movie isn't a hit right out of the gate, they drop it. Which means that the whole mainstream Hollywood product has been skewed toward violence and vulgar teen comedy." -- "I am utterly bored by celebrity interviews. Most celebrities are devoid of interest." Ebert: Remembered . --Wife Chaz Ebert: "I am devastated by the loss of my love, Roger -- my husband, my friend, my confidante and oh-so-brilliant partner of over 20 years. He fought a courageous fight. I've lost the love of my life and the world has lost a visionary and a creative and generous spirit who touched so many people all over the world. We had a lovely, lovely life together, more beautiful and epic than a movie. It had its highs and the lows, but was always experienced with good humor, grace and a deep abiding love for each other. "Roger was a beloved husband, stepfather to Sonia and Jay, and grandfather to Raven, Emil, Mark and Joseph. Just yesterday he was saying how his grandchildren were 'the best things in my life.' He was happy and radiating satisfaction over the outpouring of responses to his blog about his 46th year as a film critic. But he was also getting tired of his fight with cancer, and said if this takes him, he has lived a great and full life." -- American Film Institute president and CEO Bob Gazzale: "Roger Ebert championed the art of the moving image and by the courage of his personal example demonstrated how much movies matter. Ebert chaired the AFI AWARDS jury of critics, filmmakers and scholars who selected the year's 10 best films in 2004. He held the gavel that day with the same enthusiasm for excellence that made his voice a force in American popular culture." -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: "Our whole city learned with sadness today of the passing of Roger Ebert, whose name was synonymous with two things: the movies and Chicago. In a Pulitzer Prize winning career that spanned more than four decades, thousands of reviews and countless acts of generosity to others, Roger championed Chicago as a center for filmmaking and critiques. With a knowledge of his subject as deep as his love for his wife Chaz, Roger Ebert will be remembered for the strength of his work, respected for his courage in the face of illness, and revered for his contribution to filmmaking and to our city. The final reel of his life may have run through to the end, but his memory will never fade." -- Sun-Times Media Editor in Chief Jim Kirk: "The long relationship between Roger and his Sun-Times family speaks volumes about Roger's commitment to his craft and to his fans around the world. Roger's reviews were highly anticipated by readers and the film community. Film commentary was only one of several gifts. He was a reporter first, in every aspect of his craft. He could write as eloquently about world affairs as he could on the upcoming blockbuster. Roger will be missed not only by the Sun-Times family, but by the journalism and film communities. Our thoughts are with Roger's wife, Chaz, and their family during this time."
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"No struggle, no pain, just a quiet, dignified transition," his wife says .
Ebert told readers Tuesday he planned to slow down because of cancer .
"I'll see you at the movies," were the last word's Ebert wrote to his readers .
He started as the Sun-Times film critic on April 3, 1967 .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . Wine snobs who tell you that champagne must never be stored for long in the fridge are wrong, scientists have discovered. Far from killing its fizz and bouquet, keeping bubbly at 4C prolongs its life. The same applies to prosecco and cava which should not be kept in a cellar at or just below room temperature. Glamorous: Wine snobs who tell you that champagne must never be stored for long in the fridge are wrong, scientists have discovered. Far from killing its fizz and bouquet, keeping bubbly at 4C prolongs its life. It has long been thought that the air in our fridges is too dry to store effervescent wines. Internal light and vibrations from the motor were also thought to spoil it. But a Barcelona University research team conducted tests that proved keeping champers in the fridge prevented it developing a browning compound called 5-HMF that turns wine bad. They tested bottles stored over two years and searched for the compound at different temperatures: room, cellar and refrigerator. The study, published in the Journal of . Agricultural and Food Chemistry, showed refrigerating sparkling wines . almost completely prevented browning. Beverage of billionaires: A Barcelona University research team conducted tests that proved keeping champagne in the fridge prevented it developing a browning compound called 5-HMF that turns wine bad . Currently, wineries detect the so-called browning of bubbly by measuring its absorption of light. But experts agree on one thing. Champagne should not be stored upright because that can cause the cork to shrink and allow oxygen inside.
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Chilling bubbly stops it developing a browning compound called 5-HMF .
The same applies to other sparkling wines like prosecco and cava .
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This giant floating egg on the River Beaulieu could well be Hampshire's quirkiest living space. It may look like it comes straight from the set of a low-budget science fiction movie, but the giant wooden pod cost £40,000 to build and will in fact be the home and workspace of artist Stephen Turner, 58, for the next year. The 40ft self-sustaining structure, which is registered as a boat, floats up and down with the tide and is designed to have minimal environmental impact. Stephen hopes to highlight climate change while living there. Scroll down for video . The Exmoor Egg is artist Stephen Turner's home and workspace for the next year . Turner will spend 12 months experiencing nature while staying on board and working in the Exbury Egg. It features in the second series of Channel 4 documentary George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, which premiered on Thursday. 'My artwork is very much about nature and natural processes and the relationship we have with nature,' says Turner. Architect Wendy Perring and project manager Phil Smith faced the task of translating Turner's values into the practical space. They showed architect and presenter George Clarke the miniature plastic prototype, demonstrating how the two halves are joined together. A door reveals an open-plan living space with kitchen and desk area. Each half of the egg is made of two wooden skins with a membrane in between to make it watertight. It is wider at rear allowing room for two storage cupboards either side, and a very simple bathroom. Stephen Turner (l) hired boat builder Paul Baker (r) to construct his living space - a feat Baker describes as 'very difficult' Both presenter and architect George Clarke and boat builder Paul Baker were astonished at how spacious the egg feels once you're inside . It took boat builder Paul Baker six . months to build the space. He used 8km of cedar to complete it . and says trying to get wood to bend round a sphere template was . difficult. Every one . of the hundreds of planks was fitted by hand. After the first layer was . complete, Baker added waterproof Epoxy Glass matting before adding the . second layer of wood. Baker says in terms of boat building there's . 'difficult, very difficult, and then the Egg'. A prototype demonstrates how the two halves are joined together, and a door reveals an open-plan living space with kitchen and desk area . Stephen Turner’s work often involves . spending long periods in odd abandoned places, noting changes in the . complex relationship between human-made and natural environments. His . latest project will enable him to have a space to live in whilst he . studies the life of the creek. His latest venture is part of a project to explore the nature of . the landscape and the meaning of place, amidst environmental changes. He . is sharing his work on a blog and with local schoolchildren and once he . has finished his residency, his work will go on display. Paul Baker used 8km of cedar to complete it and says trying to get wood to bend round a sphere template was difficult. Every one of the hundreds of planks was fitted by hand . After the first layer was complete, Baker added waterproof Epoxy Glass matting before adding the second layer of wood . The Exbury Egg has been funded by the Arts Council and private sponsors. He approached Phil Smith from SPUD (Space, Place-making and Urban Design) who . gathered a team of architects and engineers to design the structure. Smith has said he may eventually tour the egg to places like the Tate Modern, and is . potentially interested in using it for other functions after Stephen Turner's tenancy there ends in June 2014. George Clarke's Amazing Spaces is on Channel 4, Thursdays at 8pm. You can also watch the first episode on 4od. Craftsman Paul Baker, who made the Egg, says in terms of boat building there's 'difficult, very difficult, and then the Egg'
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British artist Stephen Turner, 58, will live and work inside £40,000 40ft Exbury Egg for a year .
Structure took six months to build and features in George Clarke's Amazing Spaces on Channel 4 .
Stephen hopes to highlight climate change, study local wildlife and host Q&A sessions there .
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When scuba diver Will Hood zipped up his wetsuit and secured his mask for a dive off the coast of Cornwall, he was perhaps hoping to see crabs scuttling on the sea bed. What the 6ft 3in teenager did not expect was to find himself overshadowed by a vast, white, barrel jellyfish with a violet fringe and lace-like trailing tendrils. Will’s father, Charles Hood, who took this photo of his son with the giant near St Michael’s Mount, Penzance, said they had seen an unprecedented number of jellyfish this summer. Scroll down for video . Will Hood, who stands at 6ft 3in tall, swims next to a giant barrel jellyfish off the coast of Cornwall . ‘We usually get perhaps a dozen sightings a year, but at the moment they are everywhere.’ It’s not the first time this year that barrel jellyfish have made the headlines. In May, wildlife photographer Steve Trewhella found a rubbery mound on a gravel beach in Portland, Dorset, while out for a walk. It became clear that the glistening, gelatinous mass, which measured about 20in across, was an extremely large barrel jellyfish or Rhizostoma Pulmo, one of the largest species to be found in British waters. Also known as ‘dustbin-lid jellyfish’ due to their size, the creatures can reach up to 35in in diameter and weigh up to 6st. Rarely do they stray close to land. However, Mr Trewhella says he has now counted five of the bizarre creatures — which are distinguished by their large size and thick, rubbery skin — on Portland’s beaches. So what has caused this astonishing rise in the number of barrel jellyfish in British waters? And have we anything to fear from this eerie, underwater invasion? Wildlife experts believe they have been brought close to shore by a combination of strong winds and rising sea temperatures. When the creatures appear in very large numbers it is known as a ‘jellyfish bloom’. This occurs when strong ocean currents force large numbers of them into swarms, carrying them in the same direction. These ‘blooms’ can include hundreds, or even thousands, of jellyfish. Barrel jellyfish, sometimes known as bin-lid jellyfish because of their size, can measure up to 35 inches in diameter and weigh up to six stone . Because they don’t have a central nervous system, jellyfish have limited control over their movements, meaning they are carried from place to place — and even stranded on beaches — by the movement of the currents. Scientists believe blooms like the one off the Cornish coast are becoming much more common. Though there are few records of past jellyfish populations, recent surveys suggest their numbers are increasing dramatically. One theory to explain this is that over-fishing has reduced the number of sea creatures, such as sardines and anchovies, competing for the same foods, mostly plankton. It has also meant there are fewer fish such as herring in the ocean, which feed on jellyfish eggs before they mature. So tenacious are jellyfish that some experts warn of an apocalyptic future when they will dominate the seas completely. Within 40 or 50 years, British marine biologist Professor Callum Roberts has theorised, other species will have died out and the oceans will be home only to slimy algae and jellyfish. Certainly, there seem to be a lot of them around Britain’s coastline. Suzanne Sheldon, 48, stumbled upon a three-foot barrel jellyfish when she was walking her dog on a beach in Dorset in May. Earlier that month, more than 50 barrel jellyfish washed up on a beach in Maenporth, Cornwall and a further 12 were glimpsed in Weymouth Harbour, Dorset. In December, it was claimed that jellyfish sightings in Ireland had reached their highest level in 25 years. And while the barrel jellyfish is harmless to humans, the same can’t be said of every specimen in British waters. Last August, several red and orange ‘Lion’s Mane’ jellyfish were spotted off the west coast of Scotland. With tentacles more than 100ft long, they are sea monsters. The largest on record, spotted in 1870, had 120ft tentacles and a diameter of 7ft. Their sting can cause severe blisters and muscle cramp and can be deadly to those with heart problems. This time last year, swimmers were warned to keep their wits about them after several Portuguese Man o’ War jellyfish were sighted in Cornwall. They deliver a severe sting by affixing their tentacles to human skin. Even after the sting has been pulled from the flesh, still more venom can be released if the skin is rubbed, causing large red welts, nausea, convulsions — or even, in rare instances, death. In 2012, Roland Singh, a 58-year-old grandfather, died after suffering severe anaphylactic shock when he was stung by a Portuguese Man o’ War near Cape Town. In the Philippines, up to 40 people die each year from jellyfish stings. Among the most venomous are the Pacific-dwelling box jellyfish, which have 24 eyes and grow to 10ft. Several Portuguese Man o' War jellyfish were spotted in waters Cornwall last year. Their tentacles can affix to human skin, delivering a severe sting which become worse if rubbed . The minuscule Irukandji jellyfish, on the other hand, rarely grow to a width of more than 25mm, but can still cause almost instant death by anaphylaxis — a severe constriction of the airways. Given their deadly powers, it’s little wonder that jellyfish inspire such fear and fascination. And few creatures boast such a colourful history. They have been drifting around the oceans, largely untouched by evolution, for at least 500 million years. Their name, which came into use in the 18th century, is deceptive. Jellyfish aren’t real ‘fish’. They have no vertebrae and no specialised digestive, respiratory or central nervous system. Instead, they absorb oxygen though their extremely thin skin. Nutrients are taken in through a stalk-like tube hanging down from the underside of their body, which has a mouth at its tip. Typically, they feed on plankton, crustaceans and fish eggs — though some species, such as the Lion’s Mane, are cannibals, feasting on other jellyfish. ‘They are really quite remarkable,’ says Dr Peter Richardson, director of the Marine Conservation Society’s biodiversity programme. ‘They are such a simple creature — but that’s one reason they are so successful.’ ‘And, unlike other creatures, jellyfish do quite well in water where oxygen levels are low, so they thrive even in severe pollution.’ While other sea animals have faded into extinction, jellyfish have thrived, and there are more than 3,000 species, range in size from 1mm to just under 7ft in diameter. But what does the current influx mean for beach-goers? In Europe, swarms have closed entire resorts, ruining holidays for thousands and putting local firms out of business. A horde even forced the shutdown of a nuclear power plant in Sweden last year after they clogged the cooling system, while fishing boats in Japan have been capsized by refrigerator-sized jellyfish caught in nets. If the jellyfish boom continues, coastal areas may find themselves forced to take extreme measures to repel gelatinous visitors. With this fear in mind, scientists in Korea have developed so-called ‘jellyfish terminator’ robots that can patrol the coastline. Irukandji jellyfish rarely grow larger than 25mm across, but can still kill thanks to anaphylaxis . The machines float along the surface of water and use on-board cameras to detect jellyfish. They then suck them up in nets and shred them into pieces. Thankfully, Dr Richardson says there’s no need for such a drastic response yet along the coasts of Britain. But, despite the barrel jelly’s harmless nature, he recommends keeping your distance if you see one. Unless you are very sure of its identification, it could be a more harmful species. For those who do get stung by a jellyfish, treatments vary according to the nature of the sting and which type of jellyfish is responsible. ‘The most important thing to remember is that when you are stung,’ says Dr Richardson, ‘the jellyfish usually leaves its tentacle on you, so you should wash the wound and add ice.’ Taking antihistamines, scraping the skin with a (not-too-sharp) knife edge and applying iced water to the injured area are just three methods used to soothe injuries. There’s no ‘miracle cure’ for a jellyfish sting. Urinating on the wound does not help — although it is widely believed that it does. But if you are stung by a box jellyfish overseas — or even a Lion’s Mane here in Britain — you must seek medical attention. While the jellyfish bloom might be bad news for swimmers, there are some people who are celebrating. ‘From a natural history point of view, it’s exciting,’ says photographer Steve Trewhella. ‘We should embrace the chance to get to look at them.’ Fine, but you first, Steve . . .
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Barrel jellyfish spotted this week by diver off the coast of Cornwall .
Beast is latest sighting of giant jellyfish of the shores of Britain .
Experts believe warming seas and strong winds are to blame for rise .
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San Juan, Puerto Rico (CNN) -- Investigators don't know if the massive fire at a fuel storage facility near San Juan was deliberately started or was an accident, the agent in charge of the FBI's San Juan office said Monday. The blaze, which started with an explosion at the Caribbean Petroleum Corp. facility in Bayamon municipality early Friday, was extinguished Sunday, firefighters said. Some of the tanks continued to smolder and crews stood ready to fight any flare-up. "We don't know if it's a crime scene," said FBI Special Agent Luis Fraticelli. "We don't know if it's an accident, so we're not making any determinations at this point until our experts do their work, do their analysis and then provide input to us as to what they feel happened here." Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. The FBI is investigating graffiti found on two San Juan tunnels that referred to a fire, Special Agent Harry Rodriguez said Friday. A spray-painted message on the tunnels, less than three miles apart, said: "Boom, fire, RIP, Gulf, Soul, ACNF." Caribbean Petroleum owns the Gulf Oil brand, but Rodriguez said he did not know what ACNF referred to. Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze, which began with an explosion early Friday morning. That explosion shook the ground with the force of a 2.8-magnitude earthquake, authorities said. Flames shot into the air while plumes of thick, black smoke hovered over the region. Agents from the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating to determine whether the explosion was an act of sabotage or an accident. Seventeen tanks were destroyed by flames and the initial explosion. Puerto Rico's governor, Luis Fortuno, said the main priority of his government is to counter any long-term effects of air and water pollution caused by the disaster. Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency have been checking air quality near the fire. "We're not finding levels that would be of concern," said Bonnie Bellow, EPA spokeswoman. She said the fire had been so intense because it was "burning off chemicals that are part of the fuel." About 600 displaced people stayed in shelters on Sunday night, but many were being sent home. Dr. Lorenzo Gonzalez, Puerto Rico's health secretary, tests conducted on the air and water showed no reason for concern. Because they were placed in close proximity in the facilities, everyone in the shelters and all the emergency personnel were vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus as a precaution, Gonzalez said. President Obama declared an emergency in Puerto Rico, which frees up federal aid. Fortuno said the blaze has cost the island at least $6.4 million. The governor sought to allay fears over gasoline supplies. Caribbean Petroleum owns 200 gas stations in the island and several inland distribution facilities, and supplies much of the island's fuel. Puerto Rico will receive 3.6 million gallons of regular gasoline, more than 1 million gallons of premium gasoline and more than 1 million gallons of diesel fuel to help make up for what may have been lost, Fortuno said. The company has been cited for violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the main law in the United States that deals with the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, according to EPA spokeswoman Bellow. Caribbean Petroleum is under a corrective-action plan, she said. CNN's Rafael Romo and Arthur Brice contributed to this report.
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Blaze started with massive explosion early Friday .
Graffiti found in two San Juan tunnels made reference to fires .
Puerto Rico to receive fuel imports to make up for what burned .
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(CNN) -- U.N. forces withdrew Monday from the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights, the world body confirmed. The U.N. statement cited the "exceptionally challenging environment" posed by armed rebel groups advancing on peacekeeping positions its observer force has held for close to four decades. The confirmation comes hours after a journalist working for CNN saw dozens of peacekeeping vehicles crossing into territory controlled by Israel. The withdrawal comes a little more than two weeks after Islamic militant fighters took some peacekeepers hostage and besieged others. Al-Nusra Front freed 45 U.N. peacekeepers from Fiji in good condition last week, while forces from the Philippines escaped after exchanging fire with militant fighters, according to media reports. The incidents occurred after Syrian rebel fighters took control of the only border crossing between Israel and Syria in the Syrian town of Quneitra in late August. U.N. forces have been stationed in the Golan Heights since 1974 following negotiations between Israel and Syria to reduce tensions along their shared border after hostilities in 1973. Israel has occupied a portion of the territory since seizing it during its 1967 war with Egypt, Jordan and Syria. The U.N. Disengagement Observer Force includes 1,250 troops from six countries. In addition to Fiji and the Philippines, India, Nepal, Ireland and the Netherlands have troops assigned to the force. Austrian troops who had been taking part in the forces in 2013 pulled out after fighting in the Syrian-controlled Golan Heights between rebels and Syrian government forces. Golan Heights: Making wine in the shadow of war . CNN's Kareem Khadder and Ben Wedeman contributed to this report.
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U.N. peacekeepers withdrawing from Syrian-controlled Golan Heights .
The withdrawal follows the capture of some peacekeepers by Syrian rebels .
The peacekeepers were eventually released; others escaped a militant siege .
U.N. peacekeepers have been in the region since 1974 .
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Holidaymakers were given a boost today as the pound soared to a seven-year high against the Euro. The pound is now worth just over €1.36 – the highest level since December 2007, just before the economic crash. Sterling was also up against the dollar – rising to under $1.55 – in the wake of yesterday's stock market surge which saw the FTSE hit a 15 year high. The pound is now worth just over €1.36 – the highest level since December 2007, just before the economic crash . The strengthening pound is a major boost for British families who had seen the cost of a holiday to France, Spain, Greece and other Eurozone countries soar. It comes amid growing signs that the economic recovery has finally taken hold – with unemployment down and growth set to be the strongest in nearly a decade. Inflation has also hit a record low and pay is finally taking off . The head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Angel Gurria yesterday urged the Government to push ahead with its economic reforms. He said: 'My main message to you is: well done so far ... but finish the job.' In a major boost for George Osborne, Mr Gurria lauded the Government's 'remarkable' stewardship of the economy. He even echoed a Tory slogan by hailing the Government's 'long term economic plan'. But the organisation also warned that UK plc's recovery would be in jeopardy unless productivity improved - and highlighted the continuing threat from high property prices. Launching the OECD's latest survey of the British economy, Mr Gurria noted that 2.6 per cent growth last year was the highest in the G7. The organisation expects the rate to be the same this year. David Cameron has been buoyed by a string of positive economic news, including a 'pat on the back' from the OECD yesterday . The FTSE 100 Index has risen to a record high, its previous life-time high set on December 30, 1999 . Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said interest could be cut below 0.5 per cent - but it was still more likely that they would rise . Interest rates could be cut even further from their already record low of just 0.5 per cent, the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney revealed yesterday. The Bank chief said the banking system could cope with interest rates being cut closer to zero – but refused to say how far they could fall. However, Mr Carney insisted it was still more likely that rates would go up after inflation returns to normal after a period of falling prices this year. Mr Carney said that three-quarters of the current weakness in inflation was due to falling prices of oil and food, which he said was a 'temporary, one-off development'. He stressed that if there was any evidence of a sustained fall in inflation, the Bank could 'if necessary' cut interest rates from their current 0.5 per cent low to zero, but he emphasised that the 'focus of policy is towards tightening'. He said: 'Because of the resilience of banking and building societies has increased, we are in a position where we could, if necessary, cut bank rates towards zero. That is – to a level that is still above zero – but we haven't specified a specific level.' Mr Gurria said the performance of the labour market had been 'remarkable', with three million jobs created over the past five years. Relative to the size of the UK population, the figures were even better than those recorded in the US over the period, he said. 'Even as unemployment has fallen, inflationary pressures have vanished ... real wages are on the rise,' Mr Gurria told a press conference in the Treasury. 'We are predicting this economic expansion will continue this year and next. What a difference effective economic policies can make.' The fall in the oil price combined with fears over Greece had pulled markets lower at the start of 2015 but tentative hopes of a new deal on Athens' debts have, together with a slight bounce-back for oil, helped them recover. It comes after the FTSE 100 ended 2014 lower than it started in the first annual fall since 2011, leaving investors hoping for a better performance this year. Tom Stevenson, investment director at Fidelity Personal Investing, said that UK shares had underperformed relative to Wall Street in the last couple of years, leaving them relatively cheap. Equities had been held back by falling commodity prices and anxiety over the Scottish referendum, meaning the market now offers better valuations for those hunting dividends, he said. Added to the likelihood of interest rates remaining low until the end of the year, it produced a 'positive combination' for investors. Mr Osborne seized on the praise from the OECD, including the Tories' election slogan about having a 'long term economic plan'. The Chancellor wrote on Twitter: 'The OECD report shows we have right strategy & Sec Gen Gurria says 'Britain has a long term economic plan & we need to stick to it' - I agree.' Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: 'This report confirms that the UK economy is returning to health and highlights the vital role of key Liberal Democrat policies in the turnaround. 'Our dramatic increases in the personal allowance, the greening of the economy, the focus on infrastructure, and putting the financial sector back on an even keel are just a few examples of where Liberal Democrat thinking has been central to the economic turnaround. 'Our commitment to continue the same balanced approach in the next parliament is in stark contrast to the Conservatives, who are abandoning fairness and the centre ground. 'By urging years of cuts for cuts' sake, by unfairly finishing the job of balancing the books on the backs of the least well-off and undermining our position in Europe, they will put this hard-won recovery at risk.' Shadow chief secretary to the treasury Chris Leslie said: 'The OECD is right to highlight the challenge of increasing productivity in order to sustainably raise living standards and so get the deficit down. 'This is what Labour's better plan for Britain's prosperity, which we published this month, is all about. Our plan includes cutting business rates for small firms, reforming the banking sector, investing in training and apprenticeships and keeping Britain in a reformed EU. 'Government standing back and hoping wealth will trickle-down from the top to everyone else simply won't work. We need a recovery that reaches kitchen tables across Britain, not one which has left working people £1,600 a year worse off since 2010.'
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The pound is now worth just over €1.36 – highest level since end of 2007 .
Sterling was also up against the US dollar – rising to under $1.55 .
Strengthening pound a major boost for families holidaying in Europe .
Comes after OECD praised 'remarkable' stewardship of economy' in UK .
Bank of England also said interest rates could be cut to close to zero .
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By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 18:53 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:57 EST, 4 October 2013 . After five years of trying for a baby, Julie Cummings was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. She had taken fertility drugs for two years, to no avail. Eventually, she and her husband David decided to resort to IVF. But weeks before the treatment was due to begin, Mrs Cummings became pregnant – after giving up bread. Julie Cummings was told IVF was her only chance of conceiving a child following five years of trying with no success . The result was the couple’s daughter Maisie, now two, who was born two weeks late in January 2011 after a healthy pregnancy. Mrs Cummings, a 37-year-old engineer, stopped eating foods containing high levels of yeast on the advice of a nutritionist, who she went to see because she wanted to adopt a healthier lifestyle before starting IVF. She explained: ‘I cut out potatoes, bread, garlic bread, toast from my diet, and mainly ate just vegetables and fruit. I also took some health supplements. ‘Two months later – that was the only change I had made for five and a half years – and I was pregnant. ‘Now we are just very happy, especially after everything we went through, that Maisie’s come into our life.’ She and David, 50, met in Germany in 2004, when they were both in the military, and started trying for a baby a year later. After nine months with no luck, Mrs Cummings went to see an army medic and was eventually diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, which stops eggs being released. Mrs Cummings, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, said: ‘They said I’d need extra help to get pregnant and that it wouldn’t go away on its own. ‘They recommended I go to a fertility clinic in Hertfordshire, where I started on a course of treatment.’ Julie was pregnant with her daughter Maisie within two months and she was born in 2011 after a healthy pregnancy . Mrs Cummings took clomid, a fertility drug used to help re-balance the body’s hormones to increase the chance of ovulation, for more than two years – without success. Doctors told her the next step would be IVF. But when she visited Caroline Sproule, a nutrition and fertility consultant at Bromsgrove Allergy and Nutrition Centre, she was told she was suffering from an infection caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans. This is encouraged by eating foods that contain yeast, such as bread. One of its side effects is menstrual problems, including the stopping of periods altogether, which in turn prevents pregnancy. In March 2010, Mrs Cummings had her first period in six months and by April the same year she was pregnant. She added: ‘I didn’t really go to the centre to get pregnant, just to stand me in good stead for IVF but thankfully we didn’t have to go down that route. ‘It just shows what years of abuse – drinking too much and eating the wrong things – can do to your body.’
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Julie Cummings, 37, met her husband in 2004 while in the military .
Was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome a year later .
Couple were about to try IVF and visited a nutritionist .
She diagnosed an infection exacerbated by foods containing yeast .
After two months of eating no bread Julie was pregnant .
Gave birth to daughter Maisie who is now two years old .
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(CareerBuilder.com) -- "When the cat's away, the mice will play," is a term most people can relate to. When the manager is gone -- be it on vacation or just away from her desk -- some employees act like a teenager whose parents are out of town. They sneak out early or come in late. They chitchat with co-workers more frequently, usually about nonwork-related things. They make personal phone calls, take extra-long lunches -- heck, maybe they'll even enjoy a cocktail with their meal. Many employees do it -- but why? "The answer is simple: It's a direct reflection of the boss's leadership. When a workplace isn't compelling to people -- where employees lack the desire and ability to be accountable for their own success -- misbehaving or slacking in the boss's absence is merely a mask for boredom. It's also important feedback for the boss: "Raise your game," says Linda Galindo, a consultant specializing in individual and leadership accountability and the author of "The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success." We asked employees what they do when the boss isn't looking. They had some very entertaining stories: . "At the time I was an assistant manager at Publix Supermarkets of Florida. Not content with the absolute misery of the hourly employees I was responsible for, I tried to inspire and entertain them. It worked; those under me had the highest productivity rate, got the best raises, were promoted faster and would do just about anything in the world for me because they knew I would do anything in my power for them. While this usually meant me working alongside them or personally training them for continuous quality improvements, it occasionally took on a slightly wilder side. Riding a motorcycle through the store aisles after closing, bowling for two-liter soda bottles with frozen turkeys, baseball in the stockroom, laser tag on the roof, contests to see who could catch the most shoplifters, hide and seek, a chess tournament, foot races, pizza parties, karate training, book club and a few hundred practical jokes." -- J.Olson . "I've been building my life-coaching business for over a year while I've held down an executive assistant job from 9-6, Monday through Friday. The boss works across the street from the office that I'm at, and I spend the majority of my day (at least four hours, maybe more) building my coaching business -- posting to my blog, tweeting, communicating with clients, writing newsletters, even doing sessions during my lunch -- break -- you name it!. Thankfully it's paid -- off -- I'm giving notice in about a month to coach full-time." -- M.W. "When I worked at this pizza shop, myself and two fellow employees would try to make each other laugh by making faces behind the boss. For example, I would be running the oven and the boss would be right next to me, so if I laughed I was screwed. So my friend X would be at the cook line, about 2 feet behind my boss so I can see him and the boss couldn't. And the facial expressions and motions he would make were hilarious. I must say I never [saw] him get caught." -- M.W. "[My] story has more to do with a colleague who always has some very important thing to do at home/with the baby/his elderly mother-in-law, or has a sudden urgent need to deliver something to one of our member organizations that takes him out of the office for long stretches of time when the executive director is away. Recently, when the boss went on an extended holiday around Christmas/New Years, I and another colleague kept a spreadsheet of this slacker's arrivals, lunch breaks and departures, and then averaged out the numbers. All told, he was in the office an average of 5.5 hours a day while the boss was away. And, given all the adorable postings I see on Facebook from him every night, I imagine there's at least another hour in there taken up in Facebook upkeep and Web browsing." -- D.C. "To be honest, before I became a boss and I worked for someone else, I did some of everything when the boss was a way. From surfing the Internet to making personal calls and paying bills [to] taking an extra hour at lunch [to] going home early to sleep. I've even made out with a woman or two at the office." -- J.D. "I know what one of my employees was doing when I was out of the office or at meetings. She was on Facebook! A few vendors told me about it privately, so I set out to bust her in the act. I invited her to become my Facebook friend, and she took the bait. Then, I wrote her up and attached the summary of the days and times she was commenting on her Facebook page, which was during business hours, while I was away. I don't particularly like writing up employees, but I loved this write up with the Facebook evidence attached!" -- K.P.W . "When our bosses aren't looking or even better when they walk away and leave their computers unlocked, someone sneaks in and sends a short e-mail to someone else in the office. These e-mails range from the quirky to the flirtatious to the potentially insulting, but they are always good for a laugh. At least as long as the boss still isn't looking." --T.D. "I work in a small doctor's office with only one doctor. My office manager is very cool and participates in our slacking. When the doc or his wife are not around and we don't have any patients ... we make fun of the doc and his wife. When we make fun of our bosses, we really make fun of them and create scenarios that we act out, we raise our voices to impersonate them, and when we laugh, we laugh really loud. We also order food during lunch and eat it in the waiting room where we have a TV, computers and Internet (something that is not allowed during work hours). We snoop on the doc's computer. We always catch him on the Internet so we like to see what he does on the computer all the time. Needless to say, we found porn in his favorites! Also, his wife forgets to sign out of her e-mail (don't ask me why) but everyone uses the computers so we saw in her e-mail a message that read 'Thank you for signing up to lesbian porn.'" -- Vanessa . "For the past two years I've been self-employed, but before I started my company I always enjoyed reading news articles on the Internet during the day. My project managers often frowned upon us surfing the Internet during the day, but I found a creative way around this. At the beginning of the day I'd find interesting articles online and copy and paste the text into a word document. The word document had the company logo in the header, so if somebody walked by my cube it would appear that I was reading an official work-related document rather than the top sports news of the day." -- S.M. "I have a co-worker who is two completely different people when our boss is out of the office. When she is in, he makes sure to get to work before her and leave after her, even though he is just messing around on Skype and YouTube all day long. She took a one-week vacation in August, and he worked 9-5 every day (our hours are 8:00 to 6:30). Then, he put the icing on the cake in the week after Christmas. Most of our team was out of town, including our boss. Apparently he thought he was going to be the only one in the office, and didn't even come in to work. He'd occasionally send out an email to make it seem like he was there. Finally, on the Wednesday after Christmas, he strolled in around 11:00 am. When he saw another team member was here, he turned beet red, and stammered how he thought she was out for the week. No one has said anything to our boss yet, but we are dying to." --J.J. "I placed an online order to American Apparel to restock my underwear supply. Instead of shipping them to my house, I had them shipped to the office -- more reliable. When the package arrived, I couldn't wait to see what the panties looked like ON. Literally, I couldn't wait. I didn't even take time to close my office door. I pulled out the first pair (light blue thong), lifted up my skirt, and pulled the panties over my leggings. They were cute! Unfortunately, just at that moment my boss arrived at my door -- a 60-year-old man face to face with a 28-year-old female employee. It wasn't good. Next time I'll wait until he's out of the office to try on my undies." -- K.H. © CareerBuilder.com 2011. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority.
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Some people like to play at work when the boss is not looking .
One female worker was caught trying on new underwear she'd had delivered to office .
At the market, workers bowled for bottles with frozen turkeys, played laser tag on roof .
Updating the Facebook page, writing own newsletters, seeing private clients .
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By . Ian Sparks . PUBLISHED: . 12:42 EST, 30 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:42 EST, 30 October 2012 . French officials will exhume former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's remains next month in a bid to discover if he was murdered. A team of medical and forensic experts will arrive in the West Bank city of Ramallah on November 24 to carry out the gruesome operation. The exhumation comes after Arafat's widow Suha asked judges in France this summer to launch a murder probe into her husband's death. Investigation: Yasser Arafat (right) in 2004 with his wife Suha who alleges he was poisoned . Mrs Arafat, 48, believes her husband's death at a Paris hospital eight years ago was caused by the radioactive toxin polonium. She claims he was poisoned because he was an 'obstacle to peace'. Mrs Arafat launched her legal action after Swiss scientists who analysed her husband's belongings said in June that they found 'surprisingly high' levels of the lethal substance on his clothes. Palestinian authorities have now given final approval for Arafat's body to be exhumed so further tests can be carried out. Polonium-210 was also used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. Poisoned: Alexander Litvinenko was killed by polonium-210 in 2006 . Mrs Arafat's lawyer Pierre-Olivier Sud told the French media: 'Suha Arafat hopes that the authorities will be able to establish the exact circumstances of her husband's death and uncover the truth, so that justice can be done. 'She and her family want the truth and nothing but the truth. There is no question of any ideological or political exploitation.' Mrs Arafat also told arabic TV channel Al Jazeera in July that both the US and Israel had regarded her husband as 'an obstacle to peace'. She added: 'I want the world to know the truth about the assassination of Yasser Arafat.' Scene of the crime? Percy military hospital, where Mr Arafat died . Arafat had been confined by Israel to his headquarters in Ramallah when he fell ill in October 2004. He was jetted to the Percy military hospital near Paris, telling aides before he left: 'God willing, I will be back.' But less than a month after arriving, he slipped into a coma and died on November 11th, 2004. Doctors who treated him said at the time he may have died of a blood clotting disorder and ruled out poisoning. French daily Le Monde reported at the time that it had 'very good sources' who had revealed he died of a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In mourning: Suha Arafat with then French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin (right) at the funeral . It described the condition as 'the complete disruption of the mechanisms which normally assure proper blood clotting and can lead to major internal bleeding and possible death'. The paper quoted one doctor as saying: 'We also worked on the question of poisoning, using sophisticated techniques, before concluding with a negative.'
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Operation on Arafat, who died in 2004, will take place on November 24 .
Pressure from his widow Suha who believes he was poisoned has forced the issue .
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088e22bf78e39d57c0951cd1d3b7ef9d0b819b57
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London (CNN) -- Something strange is going on in Britain. Some of the biggest TV stars of the 20th century are donning luscious wigs and scaring the wits out of children. And Queen Elizabeth isn't in a position to stop them either -- she's guilty of joining in herself. Overweight men are squeezing themselves into dresses, young women are prancing about on stage incessantly slapping their own thighs, and everywhere families are wildly screaming "He's behind you!" It doesn't make any sense. But then, that's pantomime -- or "panto" as the British fondly refer to it -- a musical comedy unleashed across theaters every Christmas season and like nothing you've ever seen before. Imagine your favorite childhood fairy tale -- "Peter Pan," "Cinderella," or "Robin Hood." Now subvert it with cross-dressing, topical references, audience participation, big song and dance routines, and you've pretty much got the idea. Small stage, big names . But wait. What's this? Recently panto has been getting a celebrity makeover. Once the realm of local actors, now international stars are getting involved. Henry Winkler, better known as "The Fonz," from TV show "Happy Days," and David Hasselhoff, better known as, er, "The Hoff," are wearing Renaissance wigs, badly drawn mustaches, and 45 kilograms of embroidered velvet as they bring to life one of the most infamous panto characters of all -- Hook. "For me, there's no other part," said 68-year-old Winkler, who has been playing the Peter Pan villain since 2006, resurrecting him again at London's Richmond Theater this year. "All of a sudden you just hear the tiniest voice on the planet either yelling 'Booooo' or 'Peter! He's behind yoooouuu.' Then when Peter is banishing me from Neverland you hear this voice go 'Yay!' and I turn to where it's coming from and say 'Well, I didn't like you much either.' It's just great." Read this: Step inside master clown's fairy tale home . And it's true, one of the great joys of panto is seeing the audience erupt with lines that have been passed down through generations; youngsters standing on their seats to yell "Oh yes he is!" while parents laugh at the sexual innuendo flying just above their heads. "It's not the kind of theater-going experience where you have to sit still and shut up and feel that you have to be very educated to understand," said professor Katherine Newey, chair in theater history at the University of Exeter. "I think one of the joys of seeing it with children is that you've got an excuse to be a child again." English eccentricity . Not even Queen Elizabeth is immune to the magic of panto, with a treasure trove of old photos recently revealing she wore her own curly wig when she played the male lead of Prince Florizel in a palace production of "Cinderella" in 1941. Swimming in lace ruffles and silk knickerbockers, the then-15-year-old Elizabeth starred opposite her 11-year-old sister Margaret -- who took the title role. "It's the one opportunity for us to let our hair down," said Newey. "It seems like this weird, eccentrically British thing -- so of course we keep doing it because part of our national self-image is taking delight in being a bit odd and eccentric. "Yes, the pantomime dame is a man dressed as a woman. Yes, the princip boy, the hero, that's a woman dressed up in tights and knee-high boots, slapping her thigh. Obviously." Happy Days . And then there's the larger-than-life villain. Enter The Fonz. "Everyone who is 35-and-up recognizes me from 'Happy Days,' said Winkler, today a grandfather-of-three. "And they can call me The Fonz all they want because they have also gone with me on my journey -- I've never been restricted in my career by it," adds the man who tells me that over his career he's produced 19 years of TV series if you watched them back-to-back, and in 2011 received an Order of the British Empire for his work with dyslexic children after also suffering from the condition. Read this: 342 takes for one movie scene . The native New Yorker admits he never heard of panto before getting involved. But now he's, ahem, hooked. "It's the story of Peter Pan with Vaudeville in the middle -- it's like chocolate candy with this delicious melted syrup in the center," said Winkler. "As Hook, I'm wearing about 100 pounds of velvet, I'm wearing a King James wig with curls down to my shoulders, I'm wearing a hat. If you don't make that animated, you will get swallowed up and then I would just be lost. So the movement is very calculated. It's a very important part of bringing the character to life." Rich tradition . Today, panto is seen as a uniquely Christmas tradition, but it wasn't always the case. "Pantomime as we know it now really emerges in the second half of the 19th century," said Newey. "The original pantomimes had an opening scene, generally a fairy tale, with characters which wore these big masks and were often quite satirical of contemporary politics or events." When Victorian writer Charles Dickens began writing about Christmas and pantomime, the two became cemented in the national psyche, with panto even spreading to other Commonwealth nations. And with many Britons having Boxing Day -- December 26 -- off work, it became an ideal time of year to enjoy the show. With The Fonz and The Hoff now tackling panto, does that finally make it cool? "I never knew it wasn't," says Winkler.
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Cross-dressing, audience participation, dance routines. It's got to be "panto"
Unique British Christmas tradition sees classic fairy tales brought to life onstage .
International stars are getting involved, including Henry Winkler and David Hasselhoff .
Queen Elizabeth II dressed as a prince, in palace production during teenage years .
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By . Nelson Groom for Daily Mail Australia . The Abbott government is preparing to cancel the passports of a number of suspected allies of the Islamic State. Counter terrorism teams are said to be intercepting suspects at Australian airports on a daily basis, after Prime Minister Tony Abbott raised the terror threat in Australia to high last week for the first time in history. The Government believes there is a growing number of Australians travelling to join the Insurgency in Iraq and Syria, despite warnings they will face jail sentences if they return to Australia. The Abbott government is preparing to cancel the passports of a number of suspected allies of the Islamic State . The Government believes there is a growing number of Australians travelling to join the Insurgency in Iraq and Syria, despite warnings they will face jail sentences if they return to Australia . Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop told The Courier Mail that more than one passport is being cancelled a week. 'I can confirm I have cancelled three passports in the past week, four this month, and seized one foreign passport this week for security reasons.' 'Since July 1, 2013, a total of 55 passports were cancelled. About 45 have been done by me.' These figures are set to rise when the Government introduces tough new terror laws in the next Parliamentary sittings. The planned legislations will make it easier for the Government to cancel passports and suspend foreign passports for those with dual citizenship. Julie Bishop (above) has said that more than one passport is being cancelled a week, and that 55 have been cancelled since July 2013 . 'If they are killed in conflict, they know the risks' Tony Abbott speaking on Australian citizens who have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State . Khaled Sharrouf, the number one most wanted terrorist in Australia, pictured in Syria . This week, the first Australian troops have flown to the Middle East in preparation for strikes against the Islamic State. The group of Special Air Service soldiers flew in secret from the RAAF base in northwest Sydney, headed for an operating base in the United Arab Emirates. The soldiers will be based there until they are called upon by the United States to begin strikes against the Islamic insurgents. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has recently sent a clear warning to Australian citizens fighting with the Islamic State that if they are killed by fire from Australian fighter jets: . 'They knew the risks, they took their chances, they broke Australian law, they are doing something which is a very serious offence under Australian law. Mr Abbott added that Australian defectors were one of the motives for this weeks campaign. 'It was one of the principle reasons for committing to the anti-ISIL fight, that there are Australians there in significant numbers who wish to do us harm.'
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Four Australian passports have been seized this month .
55 passports have been cancelled since July 2013 .
Government is preparing to launch new terror laws which will improve their ability to cancel passports .
It comes as the first squadron of Aussie troops have flown to the Middle East to prepare for conflict .
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088ed4a16aa3381636eb3f71338121ebe02ab4e4
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(CNN) -- A home remedy for insomnia shared by Dr. Oz on his TV show left a New Jersey man sick, sore, lame and disabled from third-degree burns, according to a lawsuit filed last week in New York. Dr. Mehmet Oz called it "my night sleep special" on the April 17, 2012, episode of his NBC show titled "Dr. Oz's 24-Hour Ultimate Energy Boost Plan." It's the "Knapsack Heated Rice Footsie." Specifically, it is a pair of socks with uncooked rice -- "just enough to fill the toe of the sock" -- and heated in a microwave oven. "You put this in the microwave until it's warm," Oz told viewers. "Don't get it too hot, just warm." Put the socks on your feet and go to bed, he said. "When you do this and lie for about 20 minutes with those socks on in bed, the heat will divert blood to your feet to your heat," Oz said. "when your feet get hot, guess what happens to your body. It gets cold. Your body will automatically adjust its core temperature and as it gets cooler, you're going to be able to sleep better because your body has to be cold in order to be sleepy." This, in combination with a cup of Rooibos Tea to reduce "tensions, headaches and irritability," should put you to sleep, Oz said. "If you can do this the right way, you're going to be thanking me for years to come," he said. Frank Dietl, watching the show in his Southampton, New Jersey, tried it that night. "Dietl was severely injured, bruised, and wounded, suffered, still suffers and will continue to suffer for some time physical pain and bodily injuries and became sick, sore, lame and disabled and so remained for a considerable length of time," said the civil complaint, filed last Friday in a New York state court. Dietl, 76, suffers from "neuropathy of the lower extremities," a result of diabetes, according to the lawsuit. The condition means Dietl has "a diminished sensation in his feet," it said. He couldn't tell whether the rice was dangerously hot. Dr. Oz and his producers and distributors -- including co-defendants NBC, Sony Pictures Television, ZoCo Productions and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions -- should have warned viewers such as Dietl, the suit said. It was "reasonably foreseeable" that someone suffering from neuropathy might have tried the "Knapsack Heated Rice Footsie" and "thereby sustain serious physical injury." Oz neglected his "duty and obligation to warn viewing audience as to the possible effects of following the advice offered" and "to warn against certain effects of said medical advice as to those persons suffering from other additional medical conditions," it said. Dietl is asking the court to award him monetary damages for the "careless and negligent manner in which the defendants offered medical advice." His injuries caused him to be "confined to bed and home, has required medical attention, and has been prevented for some time to come, from pursuing his usual and ordinary activities," the suit said. A spokesman for the show gave CNN a brief response to the lawsuit. "At this time, The Dr. Oz Show has not been served with any complaint and therefore cannot comment on the matter however we stand by the content in our program as safe and educational for our viewers," Oz spokesman Tim Sullivan said. CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report.
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"Knapsack Heated Rice Footsie" caused third-degree burns to feet, lawsuit contends .
Dr. Oz should've warned Frank Dietl about risks to someone with neuropathy, it says .
Neuropathy caused by diabetes lessens sensitivity in lower extremities .
Oz show info is "safe and educational for our viewers," Oz spokesman says .
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Madeleine Peyroux has carved out a successful career as an interpreter of songs from greats such as Billie Holiday, Patsy Cline and Leonard Cohen. But on her fourth album, the smoky-voiced singer holds the mirror up to herself. Madeleine Peyroux takes a clear-eyed look at her life and relationships on "Bare Bones." "Bare Bones" is Peyroux's first album for which she wrote or co-wrote all the tracks. And she doesn't shy away from touchy subjects. "River of Tears" was inspired by her difficult relationship with her late alcoholic father. "I think it's the kind of feeling that you can get any time of your life when you just have to face some things," she says about getting personal. "You have to let it all hang out, let go of the ideas that were more comfortable and embrace some of the sadness in your life. And then perhaps let it float." Watch Peyroux get personal » . Born in Athens, Georgia, Peyroux (pronounced "Peru") spent some time in a domestic violence shelter as a child. After her parents' divorce, she moved to Paris with her mother which is where, as a teenager, she tested her mettle as a performer by busking on the streets. Critics responded favorably to Peyroux's 1996 debut album, "Dreamland," and international recognition followed with 2004's million-selling "Careless Love." While Peyroux prefers to keep a fairly low profile, she took the time to talk to CNN about stripping down to the bare bones on her newest album. CNN: This is the first album where you've written or co-written all the material. What was that like? Madeleine Peyroux: I was just excited about it. Every day was another opportunity to keep writing for this record, so I spent a year and a half co-writing with a lot of other people as well so that I could go through different processes and get the songs written. Now I'm singing these songs and I feel that looking back ... it was time really well spent. CNN: Was there apprehension about revealing too much about yourself? Peyroux: No. I think of the things that I wrote on this record as stories of being a young woman walking the streets of Paris late at night in "Our Lady of Pigalle," or trying to touch on the Southern culture of drinking and surviving on the basic sayings that we have in order to understand what life is all about. ... But the question was ... would anybody want me to actually tell the full story from beginning to end and make sense of it? Because in the end, I'd like these songs to make sense to everyone and not just be my story. CNN: Tell us about the song "River of Tears." Peyroux: My producer, Larry Klein, had the idea. He wrote the lyrics at the beginning of the song because he had been working with me during the time my father passed away and he knew the story. ... He wrote, "Stop all this talk, turn off the telephone. Open up another bottle. I'm gonna float down this river of tears." We kept writing it together. CNN: What was your relationship like with your dad? Peyroux: Complex. ... He was a complex character. He's definitely a big part of the material on this record. CNN: The album ends on a very uplifting note with the song "Something Grand" and the line "all's forgiven." Is it true that song was inspired by President Obama? Peyroux: It was. ... I live in Brooklyn, New York, and I was up at 4 a.m., the quietest hour, where the highway just slows down for about five minutes so you don't hear any trucks banging over the potholes. I had the windows open. The debates [had been] on television. It was an exciting feeling, and we knew that there was a change coming. And I needed to know that in my bones, and I wanted to feel it. Luck would have it that Obama was elected the day that I recorded the vocals on that song. CNN: What is it about early female blues singers that captivate you? Peyroux: I think I was probably an early teenager when I discovered Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and a bunch of people that are on a long list of artists. They were important to me, especially as an early adolescent. ... To have a female role model that first of all touches me personally and deeply. ... They were very strong women. Bessie Smith, for example, created her own life. She ran the show, she owned a railway train. CNN: You've had a tough life so far, haven't you? Peyroux: Tumultuous. I think eventful ... with traveling and going through a lot of changes in my household, my family, moving around quite a bit. But [I've had] a lot of luck, you know. So not as tough as just a little crazy. ... Music was a big part of [my luck]. And it has the power to change a lot of people from being jaded and take them back into something soothing and healing.
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Madeleine Peyroux's new album, "Bare Bones," is unflinching .
Peyroux had alcoholic father, spent time in domestic violence shelter .
Singer with smoky voice wants songs to be universal .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:14 EST, 28 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 22:47 EST, 28 May 2012 . A young woman who lost a foot and several fingers to a flesh-eating bacteria could hardly believe it when she was able to speak on Sunday for the first time since she was taken to a Georgia hospital more than three weeks ago. ‘Hello. Whoa. Wow, my mind is blown,’ were Aimee Copeland's first words addressed to her sister and mother, according to her father, Andy Copeland. Mr Copeland was in church at the time and had to wait until Sunday evening to hear his daughter's voice. When her father finally got into Copeland's room around 5pm, he asked her how she felt. He said he was thrilled to hear her respond, ‘It feels weird being able to talk.’ Thrilled: Aimee, left with mother Donna, father Andy and sister Paige, has delighted her family by speaking for the first time since her shocking extreme surgery . The 24-year-old University of West Georgia graduate developed a rare condition called necrotizing fasciitis after cutting her leg in a May 1 fall from a homemade zip line over a west Georgia river. Her left leg, other foot and both hands have been amputated. Copeland began breathing on her own early last week and the ventilator was wheeled out of her room on Thursday, the same day she was able to sit up in a chair on her own. She no longer has tubes in her nose and is down to three IVs from an initial 12, her father said. She also is finally able to eat soft foods. A vegetarian, she had a tall breakfast order for her mother on Monday: veggie sausage, a biscuit, white gravy, a fried egg over easy and fresh fruit. 'She'll probably eat one bite,' said Copeland's mother, Donna. ‘But sure I'm going to make it. What mother wouldn't make it?’ Andy Copeland described his daughter’s newly regained voice as weak and raspy, but said that she already has been joking with family, talking about her life at the hospital and asking what everyone else has been up to. In silence: Miss Copeland had been unable to speak because of her breathing tube in her throat, and her parents had learned to read lips to communicate with her . Copeland had to have most of her left leg, hands and right foot amputated at Augusta Hospital, Georgia, and doctors thought she had only a slim chance of surviving the aggressive infection. She had been unable to speak until Sunday because of her breathing tube in her throat, and her parents had learned to read lips to communicate with her. Miss Copeland has improved incredibly rapidly with the support of her family and well-wishers who have made donations on the website Mr Copeland set up for his brave daughter. She was able to ask for ice-cream, and let her family know when she was bored and wanted a book to read. Miss Copeland suffered a deep gash in her leg after falling from the zip line over a Georgia river, and the bacteria took hold in the wound. Doctors at the local emergency room in Carrollton closed the wound with nearly two dozen staples, but it became infected within days. On May 4, she was diagnosed with the rare infection and flown 200 miles to Augusta for treatment by specialists at Doctors Hospital. Prayers: Aimee Copeland's father has said the progress she has made after contracting the aggressive virus was a 'miracle' The flesh-eating bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, emit toxins that cut off blood flow to parts of the body. The affliction can destroy muscle, fat and skin tissue. Only a fortnight ago, doctors gave her little chance of survival, but she became increasingly alert, despite several major operations. Now she has spoken for the first time, although she is likely to remain in hospital for several months. 'This doctor can't fathom a reason for why she's improved the way she has,' Mr Copeland said. 'Her spirits are extraordinarily high. I am absolutely amazed. A week ago, Mr Copeland revealed that his daughter was breathing on her own, as she was taken off her ventilator for several hours. She surprised doctors by sitting for five hours on Tuesday, after nurses thought she would only be able to sit up for an hour. Aimee 'is breathing completely on her own! How cool is that?' he wrote on his blog. Miss Copeland's amazing recovery has brought support from all over the world and her father had said how grateful he is for the outpouring of concern from across the world. 'The level of prayer and support has been phenomenal and we intend to read every card and send thank you cards for every gift,' he wrote after she began breathing independently. Stoic: Aimee Copeland has now been removed from a ventilator at the Georgia hospital after contracting a flesh-eating bacteria . 'Aimee is being Aimee. She's cracking jokes, speaking frankly, displaying her usual early morning grumpiness and she has been off of the ventilator for over 10 hours.' When Miss Copeland learned she would lose her hands and remaining foot on May 19, she responded by saying: 'Let's do this.' Mr Copeland wrote about the difficult talk he had a day earlier with his daughter after she contracted the condition. He said she 'shed no tears, she never batted an eyelash. I was crying because I am a proud father of an incredibly courageous young lady', Andy Copeland wrote. He said he was finally able to tell his daughter after she began communicating what had happened since that outing, and how she's been the focus of an outpouring of love from around the world. 'We told her that the world loved and admired her,' he wrote. 'We explained that she had become a symbol of hope, love and faith.' Difficult times: Miss Copeland was only given a small chance of survival as she battled the infection . Distraught: Paige Copeland, centre, cried as her parents Donna and Andy spoke about Aimee after she had her leg amputated . He recalled how Aimee's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Then, Mr Copeland took his daughter's hands and held them up to her face. 'She didn't draw back in horror. She knew the condition she was in,' he wrote. He explained that doctors believed her hands were hampering her progress, and they must be removed. Aimee nodded, her father said. 'She smiled and raised her hands up, carefully examining them,' her father wrote. 'She then looked at us. We all understood her next three words - "Let's do this".' Doctors had hoped they would be able to save her remaining foot after two days of treatment using a hyperbaric chamber, in which patients breathe pure oxygen to boost white blood cells and accelerate healing. Cherished: Miss Copeland, a 24-year-old graduate from Georgia, has fun with friends . He said the family also wanted to make sure a hospital counsellor was available to help Miss Copeland once she was informed of her condition. Losing a limb is extremely difficult emotionally, and can be particularly difficult for young people, said Dr Nadine Kaslow, chief psychologist at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. 'There is a process that they go through, a grief process,' said Dr Kaslow, who is not involved in Miss Copeland's care. 'There is shock, disbelief, anger, sadness and then a period of reconciling one to the situation and healing and figuring out how they are going to move forward in their life.' Miss Copeland's father said she faces a long recovery not just from her amputation but also from kidney failure and other organ damage caused by the infection. 'She's going to be here for months,' he said. 'She's going to need to regrow skin that was removed. She's going to need to learn to use prosthetics. She's going to still be on dialysis for a while.' Fun loving: Aimee's father, Andy, says describes her as 'outdoorsy' and a 'lover of people' Necrotizing fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease', is a rare but extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotizing' refers to something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy skin, muscles and fat. The disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Because it is so virulent, the bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body. Symptoms include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin, rapidly-spreading bruising, sweating, chills, fever and nausea. Organ failure and shock are also common complications. Sufferers must be treated immediately to prevent death, and are usually given powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue. Amputation can become necessary if the disease spreads through an arm or leg. Patients may undergo skin grafts after the infection has cleared up, to help the healing process or for aesthetic reasons.
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Aimee Copeland has spoken for the first time since being infected after cutting her leg in a zip line accident .
Father described her voice as weak and raspy .
The 24-year-old had hands, left leg and right foot amputated .
Doctors gave her a slim chance of survival .
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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 06:21 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:45 EST, 9 August 2013 . Children as young as 11 have been left 'suicidal' because paedophiles have blackmailed them for cash and sexual pictures on a notorious website. A UK cyber-charity says they are getting 15 'desperate' calls a week from youngsters who have done a webcam strip show after being targeted by predators on Chatroulette.com. Blackmailers then ask them for cash or more naked pictures after threatening to post the lewd images or videos on their school's Facebook site or Twitter feed, experts have said. System: Chatroulette attracts 1.3m people every day who meet at random via webcam, but it has become renowned for sexual activity and a charity says children are being exploited on it . Scott Freeman, who founded Cybersmile after his daughter was trolled, said: 'We have seen it grow from one call in the . first week and since then it has become 15 calls a week in the past fortnight. 'These children are desperate for help and often believe death is the only way out. This is a huge issue as so many are suicidal. 'The blackmailers who ask for money often use foreign bank accounts but the ones who ask for sexual material seem to be British. 'The people give them a time limit and say, "If you don't do this within an hour or two hours we will put the pictures online". 'Because it is a space for teenagers, it attracts predators and . paedophiles. It is like an online school playground. It is as . dangerous as it gets. 'We want to contact all schools to warn them this is happening so they can tell their pupils'. Chatroulette was set up by Russian teenager Andrey Ternovskiy, in 2009, and now has more than 1.3million visitors per day. Chatroulette is in the top 500 most . popular websites, and even celebrities have claimed to use the site, . including Jessica Alba, Paris Hilton, Justin Bieber and Olly Murs. Blackmail: Children as young as 11 have been contacting a charity saying they have been forced into stripping online (file picture) It allows users to chat to total strangers via a webcam but has attracted criticism for attracting voyeurs. In order to find a new person to talk to, users simply press the 'next' button, known as 'nexting', and you can remain anonymous. But predators are using chats to work out who the child is and then blackmail them. One teenager who contacted Cybersmile was duped over a Rubik's Cube, when man asked if she could solve it in 15 seconds. When she failed he wrote: 'Flash me', and when she refused, said . 'Try showing cleavage instead', to which she obliged. He then wrote: 'Well, can I . put screenshots and a video of you showing me cleavage online ... show . me a little more and I'll delete them. Deal?' Chatroulette has been asked to comment but has failed to respond. It has said it has systems in place to detect when people are flashing on screen and stops the chat, but it only detected this in 60 per cent of cases.
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Children forced to strip or transfer money after threats from paedophiles .
Predators say they'll post images unless they do more pictures or videos .
Charity Cybersmile are getting 15 calls a week from 'suicidal' children .
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By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 11:10 EST, 30 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:11 EST, 30 May 2012 . An antioxidant supplement may be an effective therapy for autism, according to scientists. The antioxidant - called N-Acetylcysteine, or NAC - lowers irritability in children with autism and also reduces their repetitive behaviour patterns. Irritability affects 60 to 70 per cent of children with autism. Future treatment? An antioxidant called N-Acetylcysteine, or NAC, lowers irritability in children with autism and also reduces their repetitive behaviour . Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital studied 31 children with the disorder. Lead researcher Dr Antonio Hardan said: 'We're not talking about mild things - this is throwing, kicking, hitting, the child needing to be restrained. 'It can affect learning, vocational activities and the child's ability to participate in autism therapies.' The study tested children with . autism ages 3 to 12. They were physically healthy and were not planning . any changes in their established autism treatments during the trial. In a double-blind study design, children received NAC or a placebo for 12 weeks. The NAC used was a pharmaceutical-grade preparation donated by the neutraceutical manufacturer BioAdvantex Pharma. Subjects were evaluated before the . trial began and every four weeks during the study using several . standardised surveys that measure problem behaviours, social behaviours, . autistic preoccupations and drug side effects. During the 12-week trial, NAC . treatment decreased irritability scores from 13.1 to 7.2 on the Aberrant . Behaviour Checklist, a widely used clinical scale for assessing . irritability. The change is not as large as that seen in children taking antipsychotics. 'But this is still a potentially valuable tool to have before jumping on these big guns, Dr Hardan said. In addition, according to two . standardised measures of autism mannerisms and stereotypic behaviour, . children taking NAC showed a decrease in repetitive and stereotyped . behaviours. Finding new medications to treat autism and its symptoms is a high priority for researchers. Currently, irritability, mood swings and aggression, all of which are considered associated features of autism, are treated with second-generation antipsychotics. But these drugs cause significant side effects, including weight gain, involuntary motor movements and metabolic syndrome, which increases diabetes risk. By contrast, the side effects of NAC are generally mild, with gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, nausea, diarrhoea and decreased appetite being the most common. The state of drug treatments for autism's core features, such as social deficits, language impairment and repetitive behaviours, is also a major problem. Dr Hardan said: 'Today, in 2012, we have no effective medication to treat repetitive behaviour such as hand flapping or any other core features of autism.' The researchers believe that NAC could be the first medication available to treat repetitive behaviour in autism - if the findings hold up when scrutinised further. 'One of the reasons I wanted to do this trial was that NAC is being used by community practitioners who focus on alternative, non-traditional therapies,' Hardan said. 'But there is no strong scientific evidence to support these interventions. Somebody needs to look at them.' Dr Hardan cautioned that the NAC for sale as a dietary supplement at chemists differs in some important respects from the individually packaged doses of pharmaceutical-grade NAC used in the study, and that the over-the-counter version may not produce the same results. He said: 'When you open the bottle from the drugstore and expose the pills to air and sunlight, it gets oxidised and becomes less effective.' Although the study did not test how NAC works, the researchers speculated on two possible mechanisms of action. Firstly, NAC increases the capacity of the body's main antioxidant network, which some previous studies have suggested is deficient in autism. In addition, other research has suggested that autism is related to an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. NAC can modulate the glutamatergic family of excitatory neurotransmitters, which might be useful in autism. The scientists are now applying for funding to conduct a large trial in which they hope to replicate their findings. Dr Hardan said: 'This was a pilot study. Final conclusions cannot be made before we do a larger trial.' Stanford University is filing a . patent for the use of NAC in autism, and one of the study authors has a . financial stake in a company that makes and sells the NAC used in the . trial. The researchers said that the . findings must be confirmed in a larger trial before NAC can be . recommended for children with autism. The study appears in Biological Psychiatry.
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Scientists believe N-Acetylcysteine, or NAC, could be an effective therapy for autistic children .
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0892fc2908f83d76b147c3ba1847af0056a47e9f
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Harvey Schwartz spent the past 40 years collecting antiques, art and odd items that he rented to TV and movie studios as props and set decorations. These "aliens" are among the items to be auctioned off by 20th Century Props. During a tour of his huge North Hollywood, California, warehouse, Schwartz, owner of 20th Century Props, opened a morgue vault door, revealing the legs of a crusty corpse, built for the "X-Files" TV series. "Fun piece," he said with a smile. "Love the sound effects." Schwartz must now sell everything -- including a submarine, a fake nuclear warhead and Austin Powers' cryogenic chamber -- at auction because of a dramatic decline in Hollywood productions over the past year. Watch a tour of the prop warehouse » . "I guess it would be the end of Hollywood as I know it and for everyone, because there won't be any place to get all these products again," Schwartz said. While 2009 has been a good year at the box office, more production is leaving Los Angeles for states that offer tax incentives unmatched by California. "It's very, very tough," said Jack Kyser, economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission. "If you are doing feature film production, you are probably going to go out of state because 44 other states have been offering incentives for feature film productions. California just started their incentive program." With companies spending less on advertising in a down economy, broadcast TV is suffering and people who make commercials have less work, Kyser said. The writers' strike last year and the stalled actors union contract talks added to the slowdown, and it's getting even tougher for struggling young actors and writers pursuing their Hollywood dreams, he said. "We have a slang phrase: 'There's a lot of WAMs out there: waiters, actors, models'," Kyser said. "And if you go to restaurants you see the wait staff is looking better and better all the time, physically." Stephon Fuller, an actor who moved to Los Angeles 11 years ago, said, "It's never been this quiet for me." Still, Fuller said he expected auditions for new roles to pick up later in the summer. On-location film shoots dropped 25 percent overall in the first half of the year, including a 50 percent loss in feature film production in Los Angeles, according to a group that helps process filming permits. "If you are doing a feature film you have to rent equipment, you have to rent props," Kyser said "If you go out on location you have to rent a truck to take you there, you have to have a location caterer, and all these people are feeling the pain." Schwartz, 67, started suffering last year with a 40 percent drop in business, and it has gotten worse in recent months. "I just can't hold on any longer," he said. "I've run out of money." An auctioneer will begin the long process of selling everything Tuesday morning. "I talk lightly that I have 93,752 pieces under this roof, but it doesn't really strike a note until you start putting a little auction lot number on each piece or a bunch of pieces." Potential bidders have registered from dozens of countries, and hundreds are expected to show up at the warehouse, Schwartz said. Visitors can be overwhelmed by what they see in Schwartz' warehouse. The largest item on the block is a 162-foot-long submarine built for "Down Periscope," a 1996 comedy starring Kelsey Grammer. It's not seaworthy -- since it actually never left a movie sound stage -- and it will be an expensive job moving it. Complete with torpedoes, it has been used in several TV productions in recent years, Schwartz said. The nuclear warhead John Travolta used in his 1996 film "Broken Arrow" will also be sold, along with the cryogenic tube used to preserve the Mike Myers character in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," an identical tube that housed a frozen Gary Coleman and Dr. Evil's escape egg. See photos of the items up for auction » . Fans of Beyonce can bid on the giant champagne glass the singer bathed in for her "Naughty Girl" music video in 2003. The inventory also includes a large drill used by Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis in the 1998 film "Armageddon." A spaceship built in 1959 for a "Twilight Zone" episode and used in Will Smith's "Men in Black 2" hangs in the warehouse. Schwartz is also selling the metal chair used to strap down a naked Natasha Henstridge in an unforgettable scene from the movie "Species." Schwartz has also collected thousands of pieces of vintage furniture, including art deco bedroom sets and office desks that were used on movie sets. Schwartz, who wrote a book about rattan furniture, points with pride to a set made famous by its weekly exposure on the "Golden Girls." Nearby is a rattan chair seen with Marlon Brando in "The Godfather." Schwartz has an endless selection of vintage lamps, scones and chandeliers -- including those made for "Titanic." "Yeah, it's all going to be sold to collectors," he said. "This is the first time in 60 years that Hollywood has had a big sale like this, where they've dissipated Hollywood props to all parts of the planet." Schwartz shakes his head, wondering how studios will find their props if and when production gears up again in Hollywood.
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Dramatic decline in Hollywood productions over the past year prompts auction .
Submarine, fake nuclear warhead and Austin Powers' cryogenic chamber to be sold .
Inventory also includes a drill used by Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis in "Armageddon"
Potential bidders have registered from dozens of countries .
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By . Kieran Gill . Follow @@kie1410 . Jack Colback was promised Newcastle were going places by manager Alan Pardew before he swapped the Stadium of Light for St James' Park, and the midfielder says he made the right call. The 24-year-old left one North East club for the other in June, becoming the first player to cross the Wear-Tyne divide in 17 years. And Colback, one of six signings made by Pardew this summer, has spoken of how impressed he has been, saying he's glad he can 'be a part of a team really looking to go places'. VIDEO Scroll down to see if Newcastle were wearing GPS units during their friendly . On the run: Jack Colback (right) runs with the ball during Newcastle's pre-season friendly in New Zealand . Switch: Colback is glad to be 'part of a team really looking to go places' at St James' Park with Newcastle . Chase: Colback was promised that there would be more influential signings by the Newcastle boss . Happy days: New signing Colback holds a Newcastle scarf and poses for photographs pitch side . Controversial: Colback crossed the North East to sign for his boyhood club Newcastle in June . BORN: Killingworth, England Oct 24 1989) 1999-2008: Sunderland (youth) 2008-2014: Sunderland (115 apps, 4 gls) 2009-2010: Ipswich (loan) (37, 4) 2010-2011: Ipswich (loan) (13, 0) 2014-NOW: Newcastle (0, 0) 'It's important in every player's career to play at as high a level as they can, and at Newcastle I've got a chance to be part of a team really looking to go places,' Colback told to The Sun. 'If you ask the manager, he'll tell you he is looking to really go for it this season and trying to push Newcastle to where we should be, high up the table. 'Before I joined he was telling me about the type of players he wanted and he has practised what he preached. 'He has brought in some quality players to add to the quality that was already in the squad. De Jong in particular has looked really high quality in training. His finishing has been brilliant and he looks a class act. Divide: Colback signed for Newcastle from Sunderland in June and says it was the right decision . In and out: Colback says Newcastle manager Alan Pardew promised him the team was going places . Swap: Colback became one of SIX new signings by Pardew, who 'practised what he preached' 'I'm sure the Newcastle fans can't wait to see him and the rest of the new signings.' Along with Colback, Pardew has signed Remy Cabella, Daryl Janmaat, Siem de Jong, Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere. It means Newcastle, currently on a pre-season tour of New Zealand, have some gelling to do. 'With trips like this, you are with the lads 24/7, so you get that bond and that helps build a spirit between you,' Colback added. 'All the lads and the staff have been great ever since I arrived so it has been a pleasantly easy transition.' Newcastle's Premier League season begins at home against champions Manchester City. Chin up, Jack: Colback reckons he has been able to up his career 'a level' by signing for Newcastle .
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Jack Colback says manager Alan Pardew told him 'about the type of players he wanted and he has practised what he preached'
Colback became first player to sign between North East rivals for 17 years .
Midfielder is one of SIX new signings at St James' Park made by Pardew .
Remy Cabella, Daryl Janmaat, Siem de Jong, Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere also signed for Newcastle .
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A man accused of murdering a Sydney woman whose body was found in an Adelaide hotel room on New Year's Day will apply for bail next week. Chungaung Piao, 27, of Allenby Gardens in Adelaide's west, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday after being arrested on Saturday. He is charged with murdering sex worker Ting Fang, 25, whose body was found in a room at the Grand Chancellor Hotel in the city centre. Scroll down for video . Ting Fang, 25, was found murdered in an Adelaide city hotel room with a slashed neck on New Year's Day . Chungaung Piao, 27, of Allenby Gardens, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court two days after he was arrested. He has been charged with Fang's murder . Ms Fang was found deceased in the hotel room with her neck slashed open. The court heard that, 'there was an extremely serious injury to (Ms Fang's) neck, both her (internal and external) jugular veins were cut,' she said. Police at the time said she had been in Adelaide for three or four days. It's understood she was working as a sex worker. Prosecutor Lucy Boord alleged that Piao's fingerprint was found on the victim's shoe, according to the Adelaide Advertiser. Defence lawyer Julian Kelly said Piao denied involvement in the murder. Police at the time said she had been in Adelaide for three or four days. It's understood she was working as a sex worker . Ms Fang was found deceased in the Hotel Grand Chancellor Hotel when the hallway and the level below her twelfth-floor apartment began to flood. A tap was running in the room where she'd been killed . Ms Fang was found murdered in her twelfth-floor hotel room in Adelaide's city . 'My client voluntarily attended the police station on Saturday night... the fingerprint as I understand was found on a shoe, which is not inconsistent with his version of events to police,' Mr Kelly said. The court heard that Piao is married with an eight-month-old son. He is a Chinese national and has been living in Australia for four years on a bridging visa. For this reason, the magistrate Luke Davis ruled that Piao is a flight risk and he was refused bail, according to the Advertiser. The 27-year-old was seeking release on home detention bail so he could return to his family. Piao was remanded in custody until January 19 when he will formally apply for bail. The man who has been charged with her murder, Chungaung Piao, is a 27-year-old father-of-one who is from Allenby Gardens in Adelaide's west . Police at the time said she had been in Adelaide for three or four days. It's understood she was working as a sex-worker .
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Chungaung Piao, 27, has been charged with murder of Ting Fang, 25 .
Body was found at Grand Chancellor Hotel in Adelaide on New Year's Day .
Ting Fang was killed when her neck was slashed severely .
She lived in Sydney and had been in Adelaide for 3-4 days as a sex worker .
Piao is the married father of an eight-month-old son and his application for home detention bail was rejected .
The prosecutor alleged that his fingerprint was found on the victim's shoe .
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(CNN) -- New Wave rockers The Cars are on the road again, the first time in nearly 25 years. Their mission? To bring their brand of quirky, syncopated pop music to a new generation. The new album "Move Like This" hits shelves, or your favorite download site, Tuesday -- the same day the band begins an 11-city, coast-to-coast tour. So, how does the new model of The Cars sound? "I think it sounds like The Cars in 2011," keyboardist Greg Hawkes said of the band that formed in Boston in 1976. "It sounds like a modern album, yet it sounds like The Cars." It's hard to argue with Hawkes. The first two songs -- "Blue Tip" and "Sad Song" -- off the new album sound instantly familiar. The Cars always have been a bouncy combination of understated guitars, layered synthesizers, punchy rhythm section and songwriter Ric Ocasek's often-cryptic lyrics dancing among them. The genesis of the project began nearly a year and a half ago. "I think about January of last year, I got a call from Ric saying, 'What do you think about doing a Cars album?' I was surprised to say the least," Hawkes said. As lead singer and primary songwriter, Ocasek was key to any Cars reunion. "I think he sort of had a lot of songs that he had written and was sort of getting a backlog of material," Hawkes said. "I think he was just thinking that a lot of them just might work in the context of a new Cars album." Ocasek stayed busy in the interim years, recording six solo projects and producing albums by a variety of artists, including Weezer, Guided by Voices and Bad Religion. The Cars were a radio staple in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with hits like "Just What I Needed," "Drive," and "You Might Think." The band's eye-catching videos also were a hit in MTV's formative years. The combination fueled more than 23 million in U.S. album sales, according to figures tallied by the Recording Industry Association of America. The recording sessions were the first for the band since bass player and vocalist Ben Orr died from cancer in 2000, making The Cars a four-piece band. In addition to Hawkes and Ocasek, the other original members are Elliot Easton on guitar and drummer David Robinson. "We missed him a lot," Hawkes said. "We were talking about him a lot during the time that we were recording. His presence was definitely missed." In Orr's absence, Hawkes took over bass duties in the studio. The Cars enlisted producer Garret "Jacknife" Lee for the project, who like Ocasek had worked with Weezer, to get the band motoring again. "To have an outside producer helped," according to Hawkes. "It was a good way to get us working with each other." The result is 10 new Cars songs, half produced by Lee and the rest by the band. The trick with The Cars, Hawkes said, is for each member to add their own musical personality to the Ocasek-penned songs. "I usually go in with a few sort of things that I want to do or try," he said. "The other inspiration sort of comes from spur of the moment kind of messing with sounds and seeing what fits with the track as it gets created." But will any of their old fans be waiting after a quarter-century hiatus? "I guess there is that danger," acknowledged Hawkes, who said he's up for the challenge of trying "to win over some new ones." The Cars also are attempting their comeback in a music industry that has largely imploded since the band's last album in 1987. The companies that market music are mere skeletons of their former selves as the digital age has changed the dynamics. "The Internet has made it so that a lot of bands are kind of making it on their own through their use of the Internet, without a traditional record company," Hawkes said. The new album is being released through Hear Music, a joint venture between Concord Music Group and Starbucks. The java chain is also marketing music by Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt and K.D. Lang. "It's kind of hard for me to know exactly where The Cars are going fit into that whole strange new world," Hawkes added with a chuckle. "Hopefully there are a lot of people who will be curious to hear what The Cars are up to these days." CNNRadio's Shelby Lin Erdman contributed to this report.
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The Cars begin an 11-city, coast-to-coast tour Tuesday .
The new album is called "Move Like This"
Bass player and vocalist Ben Orr died from cancer in 2000 .
The band formed in Boston in 1976 .
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By . Matt Chorley and Tamara Cohen . PUBLISHED: . 03:53 EST, 23 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:06 EST, 24 October 2012 . The controversial badger cull was postponed at the eleventh hour yesterday after ministers said there were too many of the animals for two pilot schemes to be carried out effectively. The Government was accused of ‘shambolic’ planning for announcing that the culls would have to be put off until next year, days before they were due to start. The decision came after a survey showed badger numbers were twice as high as expected in the two pilot areas. With too few trained marksmen, it would be difficult to meet targets to kill enough badgers to reduce tuberculosis in cattle. Scroll down for video . A badger cull in Gloucestershire and Somerset was due to start imminently . As well as the problems over badger numbers, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson also blamed the wet summer, legal challenges by animal charities and a police request to wait until after the Olympics for delaying the pilot culls so that they could not be carried out during the ‘open season’ which runs until the end of January. Government advisers say 70 per cent of badgers in each of the pilot cull areas must be killed within six weeks to reduce disease. Otherwise, it could actually exacerbate the problem because badgers would flee the cull area and spread TB further afield. Farmers, who back the cull in the hope it will reduce TB in cattle which has devastated the dairy industry, were assured by Mr Paterson that it will go ahead next June. He insisted it was not a U-turn and that he was ‘utterly convinced’ a cull would help tackle the disease which killed 26,000 cattle last year and has cost the taxpayer £500million. A Government-commissioned study of badger culls in the 1990s showed a 16 per cent decrease in bovine TB in nine years. But campaigners who claim shooting thousands of the much-loved animals would not reduce TB and could make it worse were celebrating the stay of execution. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is to give a statement to MPs today in which he is expected to say the badger cull will still go ahead, but not until next year. Queen guitarist Brian May (right) has led a campaign opposing the cull . The issue has provoked strong passions . with animal rights activists threatening to disrupt the shootings, and . 150,000 people signing a petition against the policy. Animal lovers say . many healthy badgers will be killed. The cull was finally plunged in doubt . last week after farmers’ estimates of 2,000 badgers in each pilot area . in the South-West were found to be wide of the mark. Natural England, which is handing out . the cull licences, became concerned last month and commissioned a . recount, which found 3,500 in Gloucestershire and 4,300 in West . Somerset. Mr Paterson told MPs: ‘Despite a . greatly increased effort over the last few days and weeks, the farmers . delivering this policy have concluded that they cannot be confident that . it will be possible to remove enough badgers based on these higher . numbers and considering the lateness of the season. The decision to order a cull has attracted emotional protests and legal challenges . ‘Having looked at all the evidence . over many years, I am utterly convinced that badger control is the right . thing to do. I remain fully committed to ensuring the pilot culls can . be delivered effectively, safely and humanely next summer.’ NFU president Peter Kendall said the . higher numbers left farmers with a ‘huge challenge’ to meet the targets . for disease control and ‘reluctantly’ it had been decided to delay. Labour’s environment spokesman Mary Creagh said: ‘The Government’s handling of the cull has been incompetent and shambolic.’ She added that a cull ‘would cost . farmers more than it saved them, put a huge strain on the police, and . spread bovine TB in the short term as badgers move out of cull areas’. And scientist Lord Krebs, who devised the trial cull in the 1990s said the Government needed ‘rethink its strategy’ and that culling would have only ‘limited effect’. Dairy farmer David Horton from South Devon, who said his own herd had . been hit by TB, described the delay as a ‘disaster’ for the industry. He said: ‘We have been waiting to see . some action and now we have had this action postponed and everyone will . be devastated.’ James Small, 37, who owns 1,000-acre Warren Farm near . Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said: ‘As a livestock farmer I am very . disappointed that we have a delay in trying to make a start on tackling . the disease.’ The father of two, who owns 177 cows . and lost two animals to TB this year, added: ‘This won’t be solved in . one or two years, it will take about 15 years, but every time we delay . now, it will add on more and more years at the back end. ‘The disease is spreading across the country now.’
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Government ordered cull in Somerset and Gloucestershire to tackle TB in cattle herds .
Delays caused by Olympics and legal challenges left just six weeks before the closed season .
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson abandons trade visit to Paris to appear in the Commons .
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(CNN) -- A rare working model of the Apple 1, the tech giant's first desktop computer, sold for more than $671,000 over the weekend at an auction in Germany. The computer, along with a letter from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to its original owner, is believed to be one of only six working Apple 1s and one of only three on the open market. The buyer, who chose to remain anonymous, is from the Far East, according to Uwe H. Breker of Auction Team Breker, which auctioned off a roster of vintage tech Saturday in Cologne. The Apple PC was expected to bring at least $400,000. But Breker said it's no surprise that it fetched more than 50% more. In November, his team auctioned a similar model for $640,000. Sotheby's New York sold one last year for $375,000. Prices for the rare devices have gone up since Jobs' death in 2011. In November 2010, Christie's auctioned an Apple 1 for $212,000. "It's not only the technology of the world's first ready-to-use PC," Breker said in an e-mail to CNN. "It's more the symbol of the American Dream -- the story of two dropouts who had a superb idea ... and 35 years later their company is the richest and highest-valued company ever." Jobs and Steve Wozniak famously created the Apple computer in Jobs' family garage, building the device by hand and financing the company through the sale of Wozniak's fancy calculator and Jobs' VW camper van. About 200 Apple 1s were built, and fewer than 50 are believed to exist still -- most of them not in working order. Saturday's lot also included the letter from Jobs to a Fred Hatfield at Computer Data Systems in Columbus, Ohio. Dated January 18, 1978, the letter offers Hatfield the chance to trade in his Apple 1, and $400, for an Apple II. He obviously did not take Jobs up on the offer.
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Only 200 Apple 1s were made, and only six are believed to be in working order .
Rare Apple 1 computer sells for $671,000 at auction .
The working Apple 1 was auctioned in Germany to an Asian buyer .
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A three-year-old autistic girl has made a splash in the art world with her extraordinary paintings. Iris Grace Halmshaw began doing art as therapy, but when her parents decided to put the works on sale they began fetching prices of up to £830. And painting has also helped improve the youngster's condition - she is now eager to play with her parents and has adopted a much happier demeanour. Artwork: This is one of the paintings by Iris Grace Halmshaw, an autistic three-year-old and budding artist . Therapy: Iris Grace was encouraged by her parents to start painting as a form of medical treatment . Her mother Arabella Carter-Johnson, of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, said she had received positive feedback since posting her daughter's paintings on Facebook. 'We realised about three months ago she is actually really talented,' she said. 'Inquiries to buy her paintings were flooding in from all over the world and a framed print sold in a charity auction in London for £830.' Iris Grace's financier father, Peter-Jon Halmshaw, added: 'When she started doing art therapy we thought it was amazing, but we're her parents so we think everything she does is amazing. 'But lots of other people started saying it was great. It went berserk from there.' So far, the family has sold eight of Iris Grace's artworks, and is planning to makes prints of the paintings available too. Striking: Iris Grace's works became instantly popular when her mother posted them on Facebook . Lucrative: Eight of her paintings have now been sold, with one fetching as much as £830 . The three-year-old, who does not speak, was diagnosed with autism last year after her parents noticed she rarely made eye contact with them, and they tried a number of different therapies to help socialise her. 'We started with play therapy and we've had speech, equine, occupational and music therapy, looked at her nutrition and quite a few other methods,' said Ms Carter-Johnson, 32. 'With the expert help of many therapists she changed dramatically in a short space of time. 'She used to be consumed by books, eye contact was a rare occurrence, she didn't want to, or know how to, play with us and got desperately distressed when we took her near any other children. 'She now rides on my back in fits of laughter, plays and communicates by creating her own signs. Impressionistic: Iris Grace refuses to use an easel, and prefers laying the paper flat on a table while painting . 'We still have a long way to go with her social skills and speech, but we are having many more good days. 'Her autism has created a style which I've never seen in a child of her age - she has an understanding of colours and how they interact. She beams with excitement and joy when I get out the paints.' Iris Grace's talent came to light a few months ago when her mother first encouraged her to start drawing. 'As part of play therapy I tried to get Iris Grace to draw,' she said. 'I then got out an easel - which she hated - but when I put the paper and paints on the table she loved it. 'She was soon high-flicking and stabbing with the brushes. She loves to experiment.' Progress: Although the three-year-old does not speak, she has become much more socially aware recently . Mrs Carter-Johnson added: 'I would love to think that Iris Grace's story can be an inspiration to any parents with an autistic child.' Michaela Butter, co-director of Embrace Arts, the University of Leicester's inclusive arts centre, said: 'As Iris Grace's paintings demonstrate so well, disability is no barrier to creativity.' The family are hoping to arrange an exhibition in London to give Iris Grace's paintings a wider audience. All profits from sales go towards art materials and paying her therapists.
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Iris Grace Halmshaw started painting as part of autism therapy .
When her mother put pictures online they received a rapturous reception .
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Peter Greste's family are holding their breath for Egypt's president to deport the jailed Australian journalist after a court ordered a retrial. An Egyptian court has ordered Greste and his two colleagues, Canadian-Egyptian Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohammed, be retried after more than a year in jail. Greste's family is hopeful Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will honour a decree he issued in November which gives him the power to repatriate foreign prisoners detained in Egypt. Greste's brother Andrew says the retrial presents a window of opportunity because Peter has become an accused, rather than a convicted, person. Scroll down for video. Retrial: Egyptian Baher Mohamed (left), Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy (centre) and Australian journalist Peter Greste (right) pictured at an earlier hearing . Mike (left) and Andrew (right) Greste, brothers of Australian journalist Peter Greste, speak to media during a press conference in Brisbane . 'Hope': Mohamed Fahmy (left), Peter Greste (centre) and Baher Mohamed (right) will face a retrial . "It really opens up this option under the presidential decree," he said. "Now that Peter is essentially an innocent man, he's not convicted anymore, it does allow for some room to move and for him (al-Sisi) to step in ... and deport them." Peter Greste's lawyer has applied to the Egyptian attorney-general for deportation. The retrial effectively means the original legal proceedings now count for nothing, international law expert Don Rothwell says. "The ordering of a fresh trial is a real vindication, I think, for Greste, his legal team and others who have been pointing out the irregularities in the case," he said. "It's reflective of a decision by the Egyptian legal system that they recognise there were flaws with the first trial." Greste's brothers Mike (left) and Andrew (right) are hopeful Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will honour a decree he issued in November which gives him the power to repatriate foreign prisoners detained in Egypt . 'Disappointed': Marwa Omara, the fianceé of Mohamed Fahmy, outside the Egyptian court (left), while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (right) says the court's decision was some cause for optimism . Andrew Greste said it was not clear how long the process would take. "We've got to be hopeful. It's a new decree and there's very little understood about it, there's very little regulation, there's no precedent. We are in uncharted waters," he said. "I'd like to think the decree was enacted to be used. We are going to test it out." If deportation is unsuccessful, the family will apply for bail at the retrial. Mike Greste said the past 12 months of fighting for his brother's freedom had been full of confusion and "trying to come to terms with a system we are totally unfamiliar with and having to take one day at a time". Their parents, Juris and Lois Greste, have been in Egypt for a month and are allowed to visit their son every 15 days but have not had a chance yet to talk to him about the latest events. High court: Egyptian security forces stand guard in front of the court during the journalists' hearing . Imprisonment: Presiding Judge Mohamed Nagy Shehata handing down the sentences to the journalists last year . Lois Greste said they were initially dismayed the court did not throw out the original conviction, but "despite some of our disappointments, I think overall it's been a good outcome today." Foreign Minister Julie Bishop agreed the court's decision was some cause for optimism. "He's back in the position of an accused person awaiting a trial rather than a convicted person facing seven years in jail," she told ABC television on Friday. The reporters were accused of aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood and spreading "false information" after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Greste and Fahmy were both sentenced to seven years, and Mohamed was jailed for 10.
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Appeals court in Cairo decided the trio would face a retrial .
Mohamed Fahmy, Peter Greste and Baher Mohamed were not bailed .
Al-Jazerra English journalists are serving lengthy prison sentences .
Retrial is expected to take place within a month .
Greste and his colleagues have spent more than a year in jail .
Family hopeful President will honour decree to repatriate foreign prisoners .
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089819f4cfd2e1addd9b82f72f3a9a44de77c069
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . A woman named Cameo Crispi tried to set her ex-boyfriend's home on fire by burning a pound of bacon, police have said. The 31-year-old mother from Uintah County, Utah was arrested on March 14 and has been charged with arson. Her arrest came after her ex-boyfriend called Naples police to say that he had received numerous phone calls and texts from Crispi in just an hour and wanted her to stop, charging documents said. Caught: Cameo Crispi, left in her mug shot and right on Facebook, has been accused of trying to set her ex's home on fire by leaving a pound of bacon on the stove and scattering hot coals on the floor . Speaking with officers, he also said that he did not want her at his house. When an officer went to the home, he found Crispi there and noted she was drunk. He also saw smoke coming out of the front door, the Deseret News reported. 'I asked to come in and observed a wood stove left open with a fire burning inside and hot coals on the floor around the stove,' the officer wrote. He also found a cookie sheet covered with a pound of bacon sitting on top of the stove. 'I observed the burner to be on the setting "High" and the bacon to be severely burned and smoking badly,' the officer wrote. Mother: Crispi, who as allegedly drunk when she was arrested at her ex's home, is pictured with her son . Together: Crispi is pictured last November with a man she calls 'the love of my life'. The ex she allegedly targeted in the arson attempt has not been identified by police . The officer stopped the fire and arrested Crispi. A test found that she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.346 and she was taken to the hospital for a medical clearance before being booked into jail, the charging documents state. 'The doctor asked her about the fire… and she stated she was attempting to start a fire in the house to get back at (her ex-boyfriend),' the charges state. Crispi is also charged with burglary, assault by a prisoner, interfering with an arresting officer, electronic communication harassment and intoxication. She is due in court on April 14.
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Cameo Crispi, 31, 'tried to set fire to her ex's home with a pound of bacon left burning on a gas stove and hot coals on the floor by the stove'
She was stopped by a police officer after her ex called cops to say she was bombarding him with messages and wanted her out of the house .
She has been charged with felony arson .
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08982a4a3ea11e3dba293882ec9728917241979e
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By . Toni Jones . PUBLISHED: . 09:28 EST, 19 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:36 EST, 23 July 2012 . Usually city girls wouldn't be seen dead in a pair of wellington boots unless they were glamping at Glastonbury.But thanks to the soggiest summer the UK has seen for years, wellies have broken out from farms and festivals to become must-have summer footwear, as stocks of flip-flips and sandals have been replaced on the high street by wellington boots in every colour, size and style.Value retailer Shoe Zone has seen a storming increase in the sales of rubber boots since the start of the ‘summer’ season, selling 115,000 pairs since the start of May, with 23,000 pairs now sold every week – that’s two pairs of men’s, women’s or children’s boots sold every minute. Forget festivals: Now trendy city girls are wearing wellies to work . No mud in sight: The new way to wear wellies as seen on Millie Mackintosh posing with her boyfriend Professor Green at a dry Wireless festival . And sales are up almost 100% at department store Debenhams . Natelle Baddeley, Head of Footwear & . Accessories Design at says: 'We have seen unprecedented demand for . closed footwear, and some of our fastest selling lines are new ankle boots . which normally would not appear on our best sellers for at least another . month. 'In particular we have seen sales of wellies go through the roof . as a direct result of the bad weather. 'For this month alone, sales of brollies have been . up 178% on last year, and wellies up 99% on last year. 'The numbers usually peak at festival times and our fashion wellies sell . very well throughout this period, but these current levels are very . unusual. This is clearly down to the bad weather, having had the wettest . June on record and July looking to follow suit' Palace vs party: The Duchess of Cambridge and Kate Moss are both huge welly fans and have inspired welly-wearing in their own unique styles . Naomi Shefford, Marketing Director at . Shoe Zone adds: “The cold and damp summer has not been ideal for . retailers and it’s a shame high summer lines are still sitting on the . shelves. City slicker: Manhattan girl Sarah Jessica Parker is often seen out in wellies . 'Sales have been driven by muddy festivals, but it seems more and more people are wearing them every day now too.' Indeed, wellies are fast becoming every day wear for even the most glamorous girls. New research by online fashion site . very.co.uk shows that women are wearing the waterproof boots more often . than they are sporting trainers, wedges or sandals this summer. Damp . skies are of course the main drive behind the change in footwear . fashions, but the celebrity influence of stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate . Moss and Keira Knightley wearing rubber rain boots as part of trendy . day-time outfits is helping give wellies a glossy new image. 57% of women surveyed said that they are now happy to wear wellies on their . morning commutes to work and 68% said there’s absolutely no shame . whatsoever in stepping out in the city in a pair. Travel website style-passport.com has . also seen a big increase in sales of smart wellies to stylish city slickers. Editor of the site Sophie McElligott says:'Sales . of wellies have exceeded all expectations this summer and we are . replenishing our Hunter stocks all of the time (another best-seller is . the Rainwave mac which sells out as soon as they arrive on the site). 'With . festival figures down this year from last, we know that the rain has . put people off outdoor camping and glamping but are seeing a big . increase in the acceptability of wearing our much loved rubber boots in . urban areas. 'We think this . demonstrates the brilliant, effortless style of the British woman - even . if it's raining and grey it's all about a pretty dress and a pair of . wellies and that’s the quintessentially British combination of charming . optimism and practicality.' Balmoral Lady Neoprene £115 Hunter . Tory Burch £58.50 TheOutnet.com . Striped with buckle £36.95 Joules . Le Chameau £145 Kurt Geiger . The 'William' £95 Carvela . Polka dot £9.99 Shoe Zone .
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Bargain retailer Shoe Zone is selling 23,000 pairs per week .
Sales up 99% from summer 2011 at Debenhams .
57% of women happy to wear wellies on their morning commutes to work .
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089855a33abec1c3c6989d90a6cc6f9c0b80a136
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By . Mark Duell . Dozens of Mobula Ray fish were mysteriously washed up on the beach in Gaza City yesterday and carted off to market by Palestinian fishermen. It was the first time the fish had been seen on the beach for six years, according to a local video report purporting to show fisherman examining the Rays. The fish are of a similar appearance to the more well-known Manta Rays, which are in the same family, and can reach a width of up to 17ft. Scroll down for videos . On the beach: Palestinian fishermen were pictured with dozens of . Mobula Ray fish that were washed up on the beach in Gaza City and carted . off to market . Bloody scene: The fish are of a similar appearance to the more well-known Manta Rays, which are in the same family, and can reach a width of up to 17ft . The Rays can weigh more than 12 stone and sell for around five shekels (£0.90) per pound in local markets, the Ma'an News Agency reported. Bob Rubin, of Santa Rosa Junior College in California, is one of the world's leading expert on Rays, and spoke to MailOnline about the find in Gaza. He said: ‘Mobulas often travel in huge schools of thousands of animals and also leap from the water and twist in the air. Very cool indeed. 'This observation is strange to me and unknown to me as well. I have worked in the Gulf of California for many years where there are abundant mobula schools and I have never seen a "mass stranding". ‘These animals seem to have blood on the "wings" - pectoral fins - which may have come from slapping something - boats, rocks, sand, each other?’ On the move: It was the first time the fish had been seen on the beach for six years, according to a local video report purporting to show fisherman examining the Rays . On the way to market: Palestinian fishermen transport several Mobula Ray fish that were washed up on the beach in Gaza City today . In the dark: A Palestinian policeman looks at stranded Mobula Rays on the Gaza beach earlier today . He . added that without seeing the fish and looking further into other . possible causes such as their stomach contents and condition of their gills, . he could not determine what might have caused the stranding. 'This observation is strange to me and unknown to me as well. These animals seem to have blood on the "wings" - pectoral fins - which may have come from slapping something - boats, rocks, sand, each other' Bob Rubin, of Santa Rosa Junior College in California . ‘Large underwater noises or electrical signals may have caused some state of disorientation but that is only a guess on my part,’ Mr Rubin said. Elsewhere, mounds of starfish were pictured baking in the sun on Olango Island at the start of their journey from sea creature to home decoration. The animals were plucked from the tropical waters of the Philippines and bleached to remove their natural colour and smell before being exported. Some will be dyed in bright colours and others left white. They are shipped around the world and used to decorate picture frames or brighten bathrooms. Elsewhere: Mounds of starfish were pictured baking in the sun on Olango Island, Philippines, at the start of their journey from sea creature to home decoration . Hard graft: A worker sorts through piles of bleached starfish in the sun on Olango Island. They are gathered and bleached to remove their natural colour and smell . Baskets: Workers sort through a huge pile of starfish being bleached in the sun on Olango Island at the start of their journey from sea creature to home decoration .
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It was the first time the fish had been seen on the beach for six years, according to a local video report .
Reaching up to 17ft in length, Mobulas are of a similar appearance to the more well-known Manta Rays .
They can weigh more than 12 stone and sell for around five shekels (£0.90) per pound in local markets .
Rays expert says blood on their pectoral fins may have come from slapping something such as boats .
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Cara Delevingne might be racking up the showbusiness column inches but in the fashion industry there's only one contender for the title of the world's top model and her name is Joan Smalls. The Puerto Rican is ranked number one in the models.com industry hot list of best models thanks to the constant demand for her from leading photographers and fashion editors, global brands, magazines and fashion show producers. And her latest job, which sees her smouldering in a shoot for this week's edition of net-a-porter's digital magazine, The Edit, proves why she still holds the prestigious top spot. Smouldering: Joan Smalls, who is ranked number one on models.com's hot list, poses for net-a-porter this week . Under the creative direction of Editor-in-Chief Lucy Yeomans and shot by industry heavyweight Mario Testino, Joan models the famed photographer's exclusive MATE clothing and accessories collection. Speaking about working with friend and fellow Latin American, Mario Testino, Joan said: 'It is always such an honor to work with Mario, so I love that he mentioned me in connection to this collection. 'He always creates such a beautiful story that embraces you and takes you on a ride. 'He loves what he does so much. Whenever we shoot with him, we have to travel the day before just to do fittings. Dream team: Shot by industry heavyweight Mario Testino, Joan models the photographer's exclusive MATE collection . 'Mario will sit down with the stylist and he will go through every single look. He has an opinion and feels very strongly about what he shoots, and he says the fitting is the best part of the process. 'He is as much a stylist as a photographer, and is involved in every stage,' she said. But Joan doesn't just show her strength in editorial shoots. The 25-year-old has walked for the likes of Givenchy, John Paul Gaultier and Stella . McCartney, and she also appeared on the runway during H&M's inaugural . show. Colourful: The exclusive capsule collection includes silk and cotton blend kaftans, silk scarves, tote bags and clutches . In Milan this season she appeared . at Balmain, walked for Gucci, Fendi and Versace and she was the star of . Tom Ford's London show - that's 13 shows in total in under three weeks. And now the famed model has revealed her secrets to having fun on the runway. She said: 'I like to mess with the other girls. 'We stare each other out as we walk past and try to make the other girl smile. I play with Karlie [Kloss], but she has her game face on and never cracks, but on Karmen [Pedaru] and Abbey Lee [Kershaw] it works. Seasoned pro: The 25-year-old has walked for the likes of Givenchy, John Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney, and she also appeared on the runway during H&M's inaugural show . Messing around: Joan says she tries to make pal Karlie Kloss laugh on the catwalk . 'The trick is to do it when you’re going back and they are coming towards the camera, so nobody knows it’s me!' She may have numerous campaigns under her belt (she is currently the face of H&M denim, and is also starring in campaigns for Prabal Gurung and Estée Lauder) but Joan is still thinking big for the future. 'I think of myself as an empire. I am super- ambitious, but also believe in superstition, so I never show all my cards. 'It is about being associated with luxury brands, being in fragrance and cosmetic campaigns, or creating your own line of whatever it may be, so people associate your name with something, rather than what you are just the face of.' The It crowd: Models Lily Donaldson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Joan Smalls hang out together a lot . The Mario Testino for MATE collection . features abstract and enlarged sections of Testino’s exhibition, Alta . Moda which opens on April 18th, 2013 at Avenido Pedro de Osma in Lima, . Peru. Alta Moda is a series of photographic portraits of Peruvians . wearing traditional and festive attire from the mountainous region of . Cusco. To create Alta Moda, Testino made several trips to Cusco city . over a five-year period after discovering an archive of costumes from . the region. The exclusive capsule collection . includes silk and cotton blend kaftans, silk scarves, tote bags and . clutches. Jewellery is designed by Vicki Beamon with a modern take on . Peruvian craft. Mario Testino’s book, Alta Moda will also be available . to purchase from net-a-porter. Holli Rogers, Fashion Director, net-a-porter, said: 'We are huge fans of Mario’s photography and are . delighted to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to wear his . works of art. 'The color and detail in the Peruvian costumes are . unbelievable and this has paved the way for a fun range of clothing, . bags and jewellery.' 20 percent of net sales profits will be donated to . MATE . Alta Moda is a series of photographic portraits of Peruvians wearing traditional and festive attire from the mountainous region of Cusco .
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Puerto Rican, 25, is ranked number one in the models.com industry hot list .
Latest job is modelling Mario Testino's MATE collection for net-a-porter .
Says she tries to stare out Karlie Kloss on the catwalk and make her laugh .
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(CNN) -- The United States, along with the United Kingdom and Canada, is refusing to sign a United Nations treaty on telecommunications and the Internet that has been under negotiation for the past two weeks. Terry Kramer, the U.S. Ambassador to the World Conference on International Telecommunications, said Thursday that "the U.S. cannot sign the [treaty] in [its] current form." "We candidly cannot support an ITU treaty that is inconsistent with a multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance," said Kramer during a conference session. "As the ITU has stated, this conference was never meant to focus on Internet issues. However, today we are in a situation where we still have text and resolutions that cover issues on spam and also provisions on Internet governance." "Internet policy should not be determined by member states but by citizens, communities, and broader society, and such consultation from the private sector and civil society is paramount," he continued. "This has not happened here." The U.S. decision to withdraw comes following a surprise move late Wednesday in which the chair of the conference called a voice vote on controversial proposal that encourages governments to help expand global Internet access. It was approved in a controversial manner that left some participants confused and upset. Additionally, many countries -- the U.S. included -- are opposed to including in the treaty any language about the Internet at all. Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré, chair of the conference, released a statement arguing the agreed-upon treaty does not include Internet provisions. Instead, he said the controversial proposal voted upon Wednesday is found in a non-binding annexed resolution to the treaty. "The conference did NOT [sic] include provisions on the Internet in the treaty text," said Touré. "Annexed to the treaty is a non-binding Resolution which aims at fostering the development and growth of the Internet." Kramer had initially indicated the U.S. would remain engaged in negotiations after Wednesday's diplomatic ruckus. He also denied rumors the U.S. would be leaving the conference earlier this week. Later on Thursday, several other countries indicated they agreed the conference is the wrong forum to discuss Internet issues. Called the World Conference on International Telecommunications, or WCIT, the conference was intended to update a treaty governing international telecommunications that hasn't been refreshed since 1988. Since the conference began, the American delegation has argued that Internet governance issues are outside the scope of the conference. Other countries, including Russia and China, disagreed, submitting proposals intended to help governments fight cyberattacks and spam. The Americans -- and many open Internet advocates -- warned those proposals would be used to censor Internet users and would open the door to further disruptions to the open web. SEE ALSO: Unexpected controversy erupts at UN Internet conference . The U.S. also argued in favor of governments taking a hands-off approach to the Internet. "The Internet has given the world unimaginable economic and social benefit during these past 24 years," said Kramer. "All without U.N. regulation." © 2011 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.
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U.S., other countries refuse to sign United Nations treaty on telecommunications and Internet .
Ambassador: "Internet policy should not be determined by member states but by citizens ..."
UN is hosting global communications conference in Dubai .
American delegation argues Internet governance issues are outside conference's scope .
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Police have arrested a British teenager at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism, police revealed today. The 19-year-old man, from Coventry, was seized on British soil as he stepped off a flight from Jordan after landing at the airport. Counter terrorism officers swooped after suspecting the man was involved in a terror threat and planned the arrest prior to his arrival back in the country. The 19-year-old man was arrested on British soil as he stepped off a flight from Jordan after landing at the airport . A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said they detained the teenager at around 3pm on Thursday. He is currently in custody in the West Midlands area where he still being questioned by police over preparing for acts of terrorism - an offence which falls under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act. A spokesperson for the West Midlands Police said: 'A 19-year-old man from Coventry has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism. 'The arrest was pre-planned and intelligence led. The suspect did not pose any risk to the flight.' The suspect is currently in custody in the West Midlands area where he still being questioned by police . Earlier this month a 26-year-old Bangladeshi was arrested on the same charge after a late night raid at a Cornish curry house. Officers from South East Counter Terrorism Unit moved in on the Balti King Indian restaurant in small town of Hayle, Cornwall. Police sources say the arrest related to activities over the internet in connection to terrorism in Syria. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Man, 19, arrested on British soil as he stepped off flight from Jordan .
Counter-terrorism swooped on Thursday after suspecting terror plot .
The suspect is currently being questioned by police in West Midlands .
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London (CNN) -- Even a king can get them. Researchers working with the remains of King Richard III said on Wednesday that he was infected with roundworms in his intestines. They know because they found multiple roundworm eggs in soil samples from around his pelvis, where his intestines would have been, according to a study published online in the journal Lancet. New mystery: A coffin inside a coffin . Eggs were not found in a sample taken from near the king's head, and a sample from around his grave showed only scant contamination, the researchers said. Last year, archaeologists unearthed a body buried beneath a nondescript parking lot in the city of Leicester. In February, they confirmed the remains were those of Richard III, the last king of England to die on the battlefield. Is this the face that launched 1,000 myths? The news drew global attention, thanks in part to Richard's bloodthirsty reputation -- as immportalized in William Shakespeare's play "Richard III." As many as 1.2 billion people in the world are thought to be infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, the kind of roundworm eggs found in the king's remains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ascaris lives in the intestine and eggs are passed in the feces. Some people infected show no symptoms, but some can have abdominal discomfort. In severe cases, the infection can cause intestinal blockage and stunt growth in children, the CDC said. Cases in present day Britain are rare, according to the National Health Service, with most cases now diagnosed occurring in people who have traveled from parts of the world where roundworm is present. War of the Roses . King Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, at age 32. It was the last fight in the War of the Roses, which ended with Henry VII of the Tudor line on the throne. The Leicester site is where a church, known as Greyfriars Friary, once stood. Back from the grave, King Richard III gets rehab . Over the centuries, the whereabouts of the friary's remnants were forgotten, but it remained in the records as the burial place of Richard III. Last year, archaeologists began to excavate the parking lot site, and in February announced that they were convinced "beyond reasonable doubt" that the skeleton found there belonged to Richard. Mitochondrial DNA extracted from the bones was matched to Michael Ibsen, a Canadian cabinetmaker and direct descendant of Richard III's sister, Anne of York, and a second distant relative, who wished to remain anonymous. Experts said other evidence -- including battle wounds and signs of scoliosis, or curvature of the spine -- found during the search and more than four months of tests afterward strongly supported the DNA findings. The king's remains are due to be reburied in Leicester Cathedral, close to the site of his original grave, next year. CNN's Dana Ford wrote in Atlanta and Laura Smith-Spark in London. Jethro Mullen contributed to this report.
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Multiple roundworm eggs are found in samples from where his intestines would've been .
King Richard III's remains were discovered beneath a parking lot in Leicester .
He was killed in 1485, at the Battle of Bosworth Field .
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After being eliminated from the FA Cup at the hands of Bradford City in January, Chelsea's players have a rare weekend off before returning to action in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. And midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who returned to action after a hamstring problem in the 1-0 win against Everton on Wednesday as 70th minute substitute, appears to be using the extra time to enjoy some moments with his family. His pregnant partner Daniella Semaan, uploaded an image on Instagram with the caption '#life' alongside their two children. Daniella Semaan (second right) uploaded the above picture to Instagram of the Fabregas family . Cesc Fabregas (left) returned to action for Chelsea in their 1-0 win against Everton on Wednesday . Fabregas (left) joins in with the celebrations after Chelsea's win against Everton at Stamford Bridge . Fabregas will hope he can return to Jose Mourinho's starting line-up for the first leg of the last 16 clash against PSG in France next week. Chelsea are one of the favourites to progress to the latter stages of Europe's most prestigious club competition and fans will hope that Fabregas, who has been inspirational for Chelsea since arriving at the club, has overcome his injury problems for the second half of the season. After playing PSG, Premier League leaders Chelsea will resume their domestic campaign at home to Burnley.
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Chelsea are not in FA Cup action after Bradford defeat last month .
Cesc Fabregas returned from injury in Chelsea's game against Everton .
Chelsea's next game is at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League .
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An incredibly rare coin bearing the head of Edward VIII has sold for a record £516,000, the highest sum ever paid for a British coin. It is one of only two ‘proof’ gold coins that were struck ahead of the production of commemorative sovereign coins to mark the king’s coronation in 1937. But in December 1936 Edward abdicated in order to marry US divorcee Wallis Simpson, before the sovereigns were made, making the coins redundant. Today the coin collector who bought it said he would have bid another 50 per cent to secure the coin he called 'the greatest and most famous British coin of all.; . Record: This coin with the head of Edward VIII has sold at auction for £516,000 . Happy buyer: Auctioneer Ian Goldbart, with Jordan Lott, right, of Regal Rare Coins, holding the sovereign . Jordan Lott, of Regal Rare Coins, based in Chester, told MailOnline: 'I was the first to place a bid and I was determined to be the last. 'In the world of coins, it's the coin's story that makes it important, and this coin has the most fantastic story. 'It's also beautiful and in mint condition - I would have paid another £50,000 to make sure I got it.' Mr Lott, whose firm is part of the Regal Group which is featured in Pawn Stars UK, the British version of the hit TV series Pawn Stars, says he will hang on to the coin, which he believes will be a good investment. He said: 'It last sold in Tokyo in 1984 for £40,000 and I wish I'd bought it then. British coins are seriously undervalued.' Only six of the coins were ever made to show the King: four are in museums, one is in a complete set of rare sovereigns, and this is the sixth. After some fierce bidding it eventually sold for £430,000, but with fees the total hit £516,000. Abdicated: King Edward VIII stepped down from the throne in 1936 to marry a divorcée . The price represents a world record for a Royal mint coin produced in the UK. Ever controversial, Edward refused to follow coinage tradition and . have his head face the opposite direction to his predecessor, his father . King George V, who had faced left. This tradition started in the 17th century with King Charles II who wished to face the opposite way to Oliver Cromwell and has been followed ever since. Edward sat for portraits and presentations of plaster models for the coin in February 1936, a month after he became King. On the reverse of the gold coin is St George slaying a dragon with his sword and the year of 1937.
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Coin is one of two gold 'proofs' struck before planned 1937 coronation .
But it was never properly struck because Edward VIII stepped down in 1936 .
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By . Harriet Hernando . A mystery portrait of an unknown First World War soldier has finally been identified - 100 years after his death. For years the painting of the unknown soldier hung in Carmarthen County Museum in Wales but no one knew his name or if he survived the horror of the trenches. It remained a mystery until an amateur historian posted a picture of the painting on the Great War Forum website and asked for help to uncover his identity. For years this painting hung in Carmarthen County Museum in Wales but no one knew the soldier's name - until a team of historians looked him up . Historians scoured obituaries in wartime archive The Bond of Sacrifice and were astounded to see a photograph of the young soldier identical to the face staring out from the oil painting. The soldier was identified as Second Lieutenant Paul Chancourt Girardot who was just 18 when he was killed. And historians believe his mother Mary, who was an artist, may have painted the portrait in tribute to her son's tragic death. Records show the 18-year-old officer was killed in the second month of the war when a German shell landed in a quarry he was resting in. Girardot was serving in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry when he died at Soupir on 16 September 1914. First World War enthusiast Martin Gillott, 49, was one of a group of four experts who pooled their knowledge of military history and uniforms to solve the mystery. Together they identified the cap badge, unique double leather shoulder straps and button-badge on the lapel, as belonging to a Second Lieutenant in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. The fact the officer didn't have any medals in the portrait led Mr Gillott to think it was painted early in the war as a memorial to a fallen soldier. Mr Gillott used the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website to create a list of officers killed between August 1914 and June 15 - and Second Lieutenant Paul Chancourt Girardot from Carmarthen jumped out at him. Historians searched wartime archive The Bond of Sacrifice and chanced across a picture of the unknown soldier in this obituary - and were able to solve the mystery of who he was . Mr Gillott, from the Witterings, West Sussex, said: ‘The photograph in his obituary was an exact match for the painting. ‘I defy anyone to say it is not the same person - I would say the photograph has been used to create the memorial portrait.’ Records show the young officer was the only son Lieutenant-Colonel John Francis Girardot and his wife Mary. His widowed mother was born in Cardigan, West Wales, and lived in Carmarthenshire after the death of her only son. Staff at the Carmarthen County Museum, in West Wales, are delighted they can now put a name to his face and have begun telling the lost story of his sacrifice to local school children. The painting 'Portrait of an Unknown First World War Officer' has now been renamed 'Second Lieutenant Paul Chancourt Girardot (1895-1914)' - and the story of his sacrifice revealed to a new generation. The museum had no record of when the portrait came into their possession but the soldier's identity was unknown when they re-catalogued their art collection in the 1970s. Museum spokeswoman Debbie Williams said: ‘We are delighted this discovery has been made - it is wonderful to finally find out who he is. ‘It is a tragic story but it is always nice when a piece of the jigsaw is put back in place. ‘The portrait has gone back on display with the new name and information about his service added. ‘We have a lot of school children coming through our doors and in this First World War centenary year it is wonderful his service will be remembered by a new generation.’
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The picture hung in Carmarthen County Museum in Wales for years .
No-one knew the identity of the soldier in the oil painting .
But a historian posted it on the web and asked for help to uncover the truth .
After scouring war-time archives, they chanced across the soldier's picture .
The soldier is Second Lietenant Paul Chancourt Giradot .
They believe his mother painted the portrait as a tribute to her only son .
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By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 15:19 EST, 17 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 18 September 2013 . Protests have erupted in France after a decision to charge a jeweller with voluntary homicide because he shot and killed an escaping robber. Stephan Turk, 67, has been held under house arrest after shooting Anthony Asli, 19, last week in the French Riviera city of Nice. An accomplice escaped on a motorbike as Asli's body lay in the street outside the shop. Stephan Turk (back seat left), has been charged with voluntary murder after killing a thief who broke into his jewellery store . In a country where gun violence is rare but armed robbery is increasingly common, the shooting - and the formal charges of voluntary homicide - have placed the government in a difficult position. 'Even when faced with the unbearable, we have to let justice prevail,' Interior Minister Manuel Valls said today in Nice, where he was sent by the president a day after a protest by hundreds of Turk's supporters. Jewellers in southern France say they're being targeted like never before and lack the resources to protect themselves. Yan Turk, the son of the jeweller, told the Nice Matin newspaper: 'It was a difficult situation. I don't know how I would have reacted myself. 'I don't endorse what he did, but he had been beaten and threatened with death.' Yahya Turk, the son of Stephan Turk (left) and Franck de Vita, lawyer of Stephan Turk (right) 'We've had it with being targeted by robbers.' Asli had been in trouble as a juvenile and was freed about a month ago from his most recent stint in detention, shedding his own electronic bracelet and moving in with a longtime girlfriend who is pregnant with their child. Asli's family described him as impressionable and immature. Olivier Castellacci, Asli's family lawyer, said: 'The family's not condoning the robbery. They're not condoning it and they're not excusing it. It was Anthony's fault. But did he deserve to die in these conditions?' 'We don't have, in France, the notion of taking justice into your own hands. The family is revolted by that.' France has seen a spate of high-profile jewellery thefts recently and Castellacci said the mobilisation in support of the jeweller is a reflection of unease with increasing violence. Protestors in Nice hold a banner campaigning against the charge brought against Stephan Turk . The robbery was carried out with a shotgun, he said. It wasn't clear whether Asli and the accomplice both had firearms. A single gunman in the southern city of Cannes made off with millions cache this summer. That was followed by another armed robbery days later in the same city. In Paris' wealthy Place Vendome on September 9, thieves drove a sport utility vehicle into a jewellery store, snatching two million euros worth of loot, then set the vehicle on fire and escaped. 'The number of jewelry store robberies has been climbing for years. There's one robbery a day in France,' Christine Boquet, president of the union of jewellers and watchmakers, told the Nice Matin. 'This creates enormous stress for the merchants. They live with this fear and insecurity every day.' Yet the sister of the 19-year-old who was killed says Turk shot him in the back and deserves prison. Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, third from the right, and Yann Turk the son of Nice jeweller Stephan Turk, take part in a demonstration . 'He shot a kid in the back. He's a traitor, he's a coward,' said Alexandra Asli, his older sister. Asli, who was shot dead in the street outside the jewelry store, had been convicted 14 times in juvenile court, according to Eric Bedos, the Nice prosecutor. Bedos defended his decision to bring preliminary charges Friday against Turk, whose gun he said was not legal. The voluntary homicide charge is similar to a second-degree murder charge or voluntary manslaughter. 'After he was threatened, the jeweler grabbed his firearm, moved toward the metal shutters, crouched and fired three times. Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, left, and Yann Turk, son of Nice jeweller Stephan Turk . 'He said he fired twice to immobilise the scooter and a third time he fired because he said he felt threatened,' Bedos told the media. 'I'm convinced that he fired to kill his aggressor. When he fired, his life was no longer in danger,' the prosecutor said. Valls acknowledged the frustration of jewellers, saying armed robberies of their businesses had been climbing steadily for years. 'We understand the exasperation and anger of the merchants,' he said. 'Those who rob must know that there is no impunity and they will be pursued relentlessly.' Castellacci said the Asli family would be satisfied if the jeweller was jailed ahead of trial, justice was done, and people stopped gloating over the 19-year-old's death. 'They don't understand how people can react this way. They haven't yet buried Anthony, and there's this protest. And the jeweller is still free.'
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Stephan Turk, 67, charged after shooting Anthony Asli, 19, in Nice .
The teenager broke into his shop with an accomplice who got away .
Jewellers in southern France say they are being increasingly targeted .
Officials are calling for justice to be allowed to take its course .
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(CNN) -- Faced with a deluge of opposition that included pressure from lawmakers and internal dissent, one of America's leading breast cancer advocacy groups on Friday reversed itself on a decision that would have cut off funding to some Planned Parenthood projects. "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives," the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation said in a statement. "We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities." The group's earlier decision not to renew part of its longstanding partnership with Planned Parenthood, which operates hundreds of family clinics that perform abortions, triggered strong emotions across the country. It provoked objection even from some of its own affiliates. Planned Parenthood said funding from the Komen foundation has largely paid for breast exams at local centers. In the last five years, grants from the group have directly supported 170,000 screenings, making up about 4% of the total exams performed at Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide. In Washington, 26 Senate Democrats had signed a letter calling on Komen to reconsider. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a longtime Planned Parenthood supporter, pledged $250,000 in matching grants to help make up for the loss in funding. "Politics have no place in health care," the mayor said. "Breast cancer screening saves lives, and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way." Bloomberg's gift came on top of $400,000 that Planned Parenthood reported raising online from 6,000 donors the first 24 hours after the initial announcement. By Friday, the group had raised more than $3 million. "It's a testament to America's compassion and sincerity," said Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. Addressing the controversy, Zdravecky said only about 3% of the group's services provide for abortions, a hot button issue in presidential politics, while the majority of the group's work is based on prevention, screening and family planning. An anonymous donor had also offered $300,000 in matching grant money earlier this week, Zdravecky said. "Today, the interests of women's health prevailed over partisan politics," said Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-New Jersey). "The Komen Foundation did the right thing." Other lawmakers expressed outrage over Friday's announcement. Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers added that the group's "original stance to stop funding pending an important congressional investigation was an act of courage and prudence, making their sudden reversal today appear hollow and weak." Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said he was "deeply disappointed " in the decision. CREDO, which describes itself as the largest corporate donor to Planned Parenthood, said Thursday that 250,000 of its members had signed a petition urging the Komen Foundation to reverse its decision. "The (earlier) move is clearly connected to attempts by Republicans in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood," the organization said in a statement. "In responding to questions about its decision, the foundation cited as its rationale a sham 'investigation' into Planned Parenthood launched by Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns," who the group called "one of the most militant anti-choice members of Congress." In September, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which the Florida congressman sits, began an investigation into Planned Parenthood over the organization's "compliance with federal restrictions on funding abortions." The group said Tuesday that the Komen Foundation had "succumbed to political pressure" by cutting its funding for breast cancer screenings amid increased scrutiny by Congress over how Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. But the American Life League said in a statement that the foundation's decision was justified. Planned Parenthood "is currently the focus of a congressional investigation, and multiple affiliates are under state investigations," it said. "Planned Parenthood operatives are lashing out at Komen across the Internet and throughout the media, in what appears to be a coordinated effort to paint Komen's policy as cowardly and politically motivated." The Komen Foundation had also denied that its decision stemmed from politics. "We've always had the right to cancel contracts for organizations that came under investigation for potential wrongdoing," said Nancy Brinker, CEO and founder of the group. In all, grants were not renewed to 16 of 19 Planned Parenthood clinics, she said. "We don't base our funding decisions on emotions or politics or whether one side or another will be pleased." Brinker was a political appointee of the George W. Bush administration, in which she served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary and as chief of protocol. Susan G. Komen was Brinker's sister. Komen Foundation President Liz Thompson said the funds would have been redirected "to other programs in our communities that can provide these services more directly." She said there was "amazing consensus" among foundation board members about the decision, which was made "over the better part of two years." That consensus did not include Dr. Kathy Plesser, a member of the foundation's medical advisory board in New York, who had pledged to resign if the decision was not overturned. "I cannot as a physician and advocate for women's health continue to be a part of the organization if it continues in this direction," Plesser said. "A big part of what Komen does is reach underserved communities of women. With this (earlier) decision, they're not living up to this mission." Mollie Williams, the group's managing director of community health programs, left Komen this month. "It was an honor to oversee and expand their public health efforts during my six years there," Williams said. "At the same time, I respect the work of Planned Parenthood, including their lifesaving efforts to detect cancer in its earliest stages. The divide between these two very important organizations saddens me." It wasn't immediately clear whether she had resigned. Thompson said it's policy not to release information about employees other than start and end dates.
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Donors rush to support Planned Parenthood .
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation reverses decision not to renew funding .
Planned Parenthood said Tuesday that the foundation had "succumbed to political pressure"
In Washington, several Senate Democrats signed a letter calling on Komen to reconsider .
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(CNN) -- An ice jam on the Yukon River in Alaska sparked flooding in the city of Galena, where some 300 people have been evacuated, authorities said. Most of the people who left their homes were being housed in either Ruby or Fairbanks, said Kerry Seifert, operations section chief at the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Some are at shelters, while others were with friends and relatives. "We expect the flooding to become worse before the waters start to recede," said Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, who surveyed the damage this week. "Ensuring the safety of those impacted by the flooding remains my top priority." According to Seifert, the cause of the jam was a late break up of ice. Colder temperatures meant there was no melting until a rapid warming put lots of water in the river basin. A wall of ice got hung up at a steep curve in the river near Galena, he said. Water appeared to be beginning to move around the sides of the ice Wednesday, Seifert said, which could be good news for people living in Galena. When the jam breaks, however, downriver communities of Koyukuk and Nulato may be at risk. Alaska volcano "fountains" with fire, spreads expansive ash cloud .
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A wall of ice got hung up at a steep curve in the Yukon River .
Some 300 people are evacuated .
"We expect the flooding to become worse before the waters start to recede," governor says .
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With 11.9million people tuning in to find out who killed Lucy Beale, last night's episode of EastEnders brought an end to months of speculation. And as 11-year-old Bobby was unmasked as his half-sister's killer, thousands took to social media to express their shock and awe at the plot's outcome. But impatient viewers weren't the only ones kept in the dark as producers worked towards unveiling the killer's identity. Among the last people to find out was the 'killer' himself, with the actor playing murderous Bobby Beale only told of his role in the saga on Monday. Scroll down for video . The actor playing Bobby Beale was left in the dark about the murderous 11-year-old's storyline until just three days before the dramatic semi-live episode . Elliot Carrington, 12, was sworn to secrecy after being told of the twist just days before last night's episode. The actor, who has starred in Billy Elliot, Casualty and a host of TV adverts, was seen leaving the EastEnders set with a woman thought to be his mother shortly after the episode last night. Even his onscreen victim was left out of the loop, discovering Bobby's role as her murderer just hours before the nationwide audience. Speaking after show last night, Hettie Bywater, the actor who played Lucy, said: 'I was so shocked, I found out seven or eight hours ago. 'I had no idea. We've all been speculating a little bit, everyone was pushing towards Peter. I was completely wrong.' The revelation came after 10 months of precise planning and script-writing, with executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins thinking up the sinister plot a year ago. 'We've been looking over our shoulders for months and known who killed Lucy for about a year,' he said in a Q&A with series producer Sharon Batten last night. Eliot Carrington was seen leaving the studio last night after performing live. The 12-year-old had been sworn to secrecy after learning he was Lucy Beale's killer on Monday . Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins thought up the plot a year ago, keeping cast members in the dark until the very last minute. Hettie Bywater, who plays Lucy Beale (right), discovered her murderer's identity just hours before the semi-live episode . The revelation is the start of a larger story line surrounding the Beales, producers said. Above, Ian Beale in last night's dramatic episode . 'Most people didn't know, we had to keep it quiet because things leak. I always say that if you're told a secret you tell at least one person and we just couldn't have afforded that. 'We told Bobby on Monday. But we had told his Dad before that to check that it was OK of course, then we told him. 'Eliot (Carrington) is so clever though that when we told him he said: "Oh that makes sense!"' Producers considered only one other outcome for the plot, reverting to Bobby as the murderer almost immediately. 'There was one other suspect for about a day and it didn't feel right. 'The story had to come from the heart and with this it's the start of a whole big new story for the Beales.' Mr Treadwell-Collins added he hoped viewers had enjoyed the year of suspense and not found it too frustrating. 'People want that surprise, you don't get it much these days so people want to be surprised. 'We want to be surprised watching telly too, that's what we've tried to do.'
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Elliot Carrington, who plays Bobby Beale, found out his role on Monday .
The 12-year-old was sworn to secrecy as cast mates remained in the dark .
Hettie Bywater, who plays Lucy Beale, learned truth hours before episode .
Producers say the revelation is start of 'even bigger story' for character .
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In a 2011 conversation about the Affordable Care Act, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, one of the architects of the law more commonly known as Obamacare, talked about how the bill would get rid of all tax credits for employer-based health insurance through "mislabeling" what the tax is and who it would hit. In recent days, the past comments of Gruber -- who in a 2010 speech noted that he "helped write the federal bill" and "was a paid consultant to the Obama administration to help develop the technical details as well" -- have been given renewed attention. In previously posted but only recently noticed speeches, Gruber discusses how those pushing the bill took part in an "exploitation of the lack of economic understanding of the American voter," taking advantage of voters' "stupidity" to create a law that would ultimately be good for them. The issue at hand in this sixth video is known as the "Cadillac tax," which was represented as a tax on employers' expensive health insurance plans. While employers do not currently have to pay taxes on health insurance plans they provide employees, starting in 2018, companies that provide health insurance that costs more than $10,200 for an individual or $27,500 for a family will have to pay a 40 percent tax. "Economists have called for 40 years to get rid of the regressive, inefficient and expensive tax subsidy provided for employer provider health insurance," Gruber said at the Pioneer Institute for public policy research in Boston. The subsidy is "terrible policy," Gruber said. "It turns out politically it's really hard to get rid of," Gruber said. "And the only way we could get rid of it was first by mislabeling it, calling it a tax on insurance plans rather than a tax on people when we all know it's a tax on people who hold those insurance plans." (The White House press secretary said at a press briefing in 2010: "I would disagree with your notion that it is a tax on an individual since the proposal is written as a tax on an insurance company that offers a plan.") The second way was have the tax kick in "late, starting in 2018. But by starting it late, we were able to tie the cap for Cadillac Tax to CPI, not medical inflation," Gruber said. CPI is the consumer price index, which is lower than medical inflation. Gruber explains that by drafting the bill this way, they were able to pass something that would initially only impact some employer plans though it would eventually hit almost every employer plan. And by that time, those who object to the tax will be obligated to figure out how to come up with the money that repealing the tax will take from the treasury, or risk significantly adding to the national debt. "What that means is the tax that starts out hitting only 8% of the insurance plans essentially amounts over the next 20 years essentially getting rid of the exclusion for employer sponsored plans," Gruber said. "This was the only political way we were ever going to take on one of the worst public policies in America." Unions and employers who object in 2018, he noted, "at that point if they want to get rid of it they're going to have to fill a trillion dollar hole in the deficit...It's on the books now." (When the Cadillac tax was first rolled out, it was explained by Obamacare backers as a tax that would only impact those with "high end plans" -- not all employer sponsored plans. A White House economic adviser in 2009 set "the record straight" by saying "the excise tax levied on insurance companies for high-premium plans, the so-called 'Cadillac tax,' will affect only a small portion of the very highest cost health plans -- a total of 3% of premiums in 2013.") Gruber's are at about the 30:38 mark here. Former White House press secretary Jay Carney told CNN that Gruber's remarks in general were "very harmful politically to the president." Gruber "speaks from the Ivory tower with remarkable hubris about the American voter and by extension the American Congress," Carney told The Lead with Jake Tapper. "Any health care reform that sought to control costs and expand insurance would involve winners and losers. And that's always going to be the case." Many of the videos were discovered by a Philadelphia-area financial adviser named Rich Weinstein who has spent the last year researching Obamacare after his family insurance premiums doubled. Weinstein told CNN that he had assumed, incorrectly, that since he liked his health insurance plan and he had insurance, he wouldn't be much impacted by the new law.
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MIT economist Jonathan Gruber is considered the architect of Obamacare .
Videos where Gruber insults voters and explains the law have recently emerged .
Opponents of Obamacare see this as evidence of the law's ill will .
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Dejan Lovren says Liverpool cannot afford to defend the way they did against QPR when they face Real Madrid. Liverpool conceded two late goals in a 3-2 win at Loftus Road on Sunday and despite winning the game, QPR had a number of good chances. Brendan Rodgers’ side face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday at Anfield and Lovren knows Liverpool must defend better if they are to keep out Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Real ready for tough week - Ancelotti . Dejan Lovren admits Liverpool cannot afford to defend the way they did against QPR when they play Madrid . Liverpool know they are up against it on Wednesday as they have managed 17 goals this season - two less than Ronaldo who has scored 19. And Lovren said: 'Obviously, Ronaldo is an amazing player. Eight games, 15 goals in La Liga this season. But it's not just Ronaldo, you can't just concentrate on him because you have other players who are scoring goals. We need to be like a team. Lovren and Martin Skrtel face back to back Champions League games against Real Madrid . 'We will not play as we did against QPR when we play Real Madrid, you can be sure of that. We will be better. 'We cannot play the way we did against QPR because we know what we can expect from Real Madrid. Their players, we know who they are and we will prepare a little bit different. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 19 goals this season - two more than the whole of the Liverpool team combined . 'It's not daunting. It's a pleasure to play against these players. I am not afraid. No-one in our team is afraid. We respect their players but we will show something completely different on Wednesday.' Liverpool have three points from their first two games in this season’s Champions League ahead of back to back games with the current holders. VIDEO Real ready for tough week - Ancelotti .
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Liverpool face back to back Champions League games against Real Madrid .
Brendan Rodgers' side's recent defensive performances have been woeful .
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored two more goals this season than Liverpool .
Dejan Lovren and Liverpool conceded two late goals at QPR .
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By . William Cook, Andy Dolan, Nick Fagge, Neil Sears and Paul Bentley . PUBLISHED: . 09:46 EST, 30 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:14 EST, 30 October 2012 . Police are investigating allegations that a BBC radio journalist killed himself after being sexually harassed by a female colleague. Russell Joslin, 50, whose father is a former chief constable, suffocated himself last Monday despite being on suicide watch at a psychiatric hospital. His family claim he was driven to his death after bosses at the BBC failed to take seriously allegations that he was being bullied by a female colleague. Gathering information: Police are assisting in establishing the circumstances surrounding the death of Russell Joslin, pictured left in 2008 and right, before his death in a psychiatric hospital last Monday . The woman is said to have targeted . him after he spurned her sexual advances during a night out at a . restaurant in 2007 near his home in affluent Kenilworth, Warwickshire. She allegedly left him a series of abusive phone messages, in which she swore and belittled him. In them, she accused him of being ‘flaky’ and a ‘loser’. ‘Don’t ever ever ever think of me as your mate again. 'Do what you have to at the BBC because you are a loser on 27 grand a year,’ one message said. Mr Joslin had apparently spoken with . the BBC’s occupational health department about the allegations this . spring when he was off work sick with stress. Mr Joslin’s father, Peter, the . retired chief constable of Warwickshire, has called for the BBC to act . and a corporation spokesman says it will hold an investigation to . establish the facts. His family have welcomed the involvement of the police as 'the first step towards justice for Russell'. Yesterday, Warwickshire Police confirmed they had been asked by Russell’s father Peter - a former chief constable who led the force for 44 years - to investigate allegations his son was sexually harassed and bullied by the woman. A force spokeswoman said: 'We can confirm that Warwickshire Police is assisting the coroner in establishing the circumstances of Mr Joslin’s death, including gathering information from the family which is normal practice in these matters. 'As such we are working with, and will be led by, the coroner who is responsible for conducting an inquest into the circumstances of Mr Joslin’s death.' 'It's what he would have wanted': Joslin's Father, Peter, 78, a retired chief constable, welcomed the involvement of the Police . A statement from Joslin’s family said: 'This is what Russell would have wanted. It is the first step towards justice for Russell.' Joslin's parents had previously blamed the BBC for failing to prevent his death. After calling for a BBC inquiry, the . family called for an independent inquiry into whether the . corporation’s management properly responded to Russell’s complaints . about the alleged sexual harassment. It has emerged that Joslin, who lived in a flat next door to his parents’ home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, had received a text message in error from a BBC chief days before his death. The text, from BBC West Midlands’ head of programmes Cath Hearne to Russell, read: 'However, do not contact him until he gets back to me. This is massively sensitive.' Joslin's family say his descent into mental illness began after he allegedly spurned unwanted sexual advances by the woman broadcaster during a night out at a restaurant near his home in affluent Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Mr Joslin’s parents said he was forced to leave her in the restaurant because of her behaviour, after which she sent him a flurry of abusive phone messages which have been played to the Daily Mail and in which she swore and belittled him. Peter Joslin said that while questions need to be asked at the hospital over how his son was apparently able to take his own life, the BBC should hold an investigation into his treatment. Mr Joslin, 78, added: ‘There is some evidence to support accusations that Russell was being sexually harassed or bullied. ‘I am shocked to discover the apparent attitudes of certain individuals to their employees at the BBC. ‘I believe he was ignored by his bosses, despite outlining his concerns about the particular staff member he claimed had sexually harassed him. ‘He enjoyed his work at the BBC but in recent years the situation had become intolerable for him there.’ Mr Joslin, who lives with wife Kathy next door to their son’s home, retired in 1998 after 44 years’ service – the longest-serving policeman ever in the UK. He said his son’s alleged ‘sexual harassment’ by the female colleague at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire was the ‘trigger’ which caused his mental illness. There had been ‘plenty of opportunities’ for managers to intervene after he complained, but ‘nothing was done to help him’. Mr Joslin said he felt more should have been done to pick up the problems as his son was clearly quite distressed. Their son was admitted to St Michael’s psychiatric hospital in Warwick on Friday after suffering minor injuries when he walked in to the road and was hit by a bus in an apparent suicide attempt. Mr Joslin senior said the hospital ‘specialises in people who are at high risk of committing suicide and he was checked every 15 minutes.’ He was found choking on Sunday and taken to nearby Warwick Hospital, where he was pronounced dead the following afternoon. St Michael's hospital where Russell Joslin was admitted for help and later found dead . His family and his ex-girlfriend, Lucy Poulson, claimed that after propositioning him in the restaurant, the woman – no longer at the station – began targeting him in other ways at work, deliberately cutting him off while he was on air. It is understood that Mr Joslin, a bachelor who covered south Warwickshire for the station, first complained about her to management after she sent him an unpleasant email. He is thought to have approached bosses again early this year to complain about being sidelined at the station, concerned he had been overlooked for news reading and presenting opportunities. Miss Poulson said he then became consumed by worry and stress ‘because he knew that people don’t go very far by speaking out against organisations like the BBC’. He was diagnosed with depression and suffered a breakdown soon afterwards. Miss Poulson, 28, a freelance theatre director, told the Daily Mail that the BBC had paid for him to receive counselling. Russell Joslin recorded the following three messages from his female colleague after he left her in the restaurant. ‘Thanks . a lot, you’ve p***** on your chips. I’m trying to get a taxi to . Coventry. Thanks for abandoning me. Don’t ever ever ever think of me as . your mate again. Do what you have to at the BBC because you are a loser . on 27 grand a year. But don’t ever ever encroach on me or my talent.’ ‘Hi, . it’s me. I’m in a taxi from Kenilworth to Coventry. Russell, don’t ever . count on me as a friend. I’m going home. Please don’t think you can . rely on me – you’ve insulted me. You have left me stranded in . Kenilworth. You are flaky, you are poor, you are weak. I don’t want . anything to do with you except on the radio. Goodbye.’‘Hi, it’s 9.21. I’m back at my car. Don’t ever ever ever presume friendship with me again, all right? Goodbye.’ His GP and the corporation’s own occupational health specialist all advised him not to return to work at the station for the good of his health. But despite this bosses told him he would have to return full time before he could think about transferring to another station. Mr Joslin eventually went back to work three months later, but on a part-time basis. Miss Poulson said she split from Mr Joslin in 2010, after four years together, but the pair remained close. She said that in recent months he had been ‘the happiest I had known him’ and was considering returning to freelance journalism. She said that for years he felt unable to speak out against his tormentor. When he finally did pluck up the courage to speak out, she said the office climate left him fearful for his job and future. Miss Poulson added: ‘Russell told me that this woman treated many people badly at the station, but nothing was done because of her senior status. 'It seemed everybody was scared to tackle her. People need to know that this culture still exists – of allowing certain individuals to be in control, when others don’t seem to matter.’ Neither Warwickshire Police, responsible for policing in Kenilworth, or West Midlands Police, which covers Coventry, could find any record of Mr Joslin reporting the alleged harassment. The woman he accused said there was never a complaint against her and she denied any wrongdoing. She said she was asked by managers to try to help him. She told the Daily Mail: ‘I got a message to say Russell had died. I’m really upset about it and can’t say any more.’ Told of the Joslin family’s allegations that his illness had been triggered by her alleged behaviour, she said: ‘I don’t know what you are talking about’ and put the phone down. Mr Joslin’s colleagues are being offered counselling by the BBC. His funeral is to be held on Wednesday. A BBC spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Russell Joslin’s family at this sad time. 'This is a difficult time for everyone who knew him. 'The BBC is committed to working constructively with the family to ensure that their concerns are vigorously addressed. It would not be appropriate to comment further until the facts are established.’ An inquest into Mr Joslin’s death was opened yesterday at the Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa. Coroner Sean McGovern was told the radio presenter died of ‘asphyxiation’. Contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 if you need help or advice.
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Russell Joslin, 50, found dead after being admitted to psychiatric hospital following previous suicide attempt .
Family of BBC radio reporter say he was bullied by colleague after spurning her sexual advances .
His father Peter, a former chief constable, asked police to investigate allegations .
Warwickshire Police confirm they are assisting in 'establishing the circumstances' of death .
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By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 11:29 EST, 13 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:29 EST, 13 March 2014 . A key figure in France’s high-tax socialist government kept millions of pounds hidden in Britain, his estranged wife claimed on Thursday. Jerome Cahuzac, 61, was President Francois Hollande’s Budget Minister - meaning he was in charge of clamping down on wealthy citizens trying to avoid paying tax - until he was forced to resign in shame last year. But now his wife Patricia, who is divorcing her disgraced husband, has claimed he kept more than £2 million hidden in a bank account on the Isle of Man. French President Francois Hollande expelled Jerome Cahuzac amid revelations he hid millions offshore . Much of it was due to be invested in properties in London, where French judges are currently carrying out an inquiry. Mr Cahuzac faces prosecution and possibly five years in jail after he admitted to the account during ‘an investigation into tax fraud,’ according to France’s Sud Ouest newspaper. ‘The money trail led to the Isle of Man, where the equivalent of 2.5 million euros was found in an account opened between 1997 and 2004. The money would mostly have been invested in property in the UK’, the newspaper said. Judges Renaud van Ruymbeke and Roger Le Loire are now widening their inquiry to other parts of Britain, especially London. Jerome Cahuzac has been accused of tax fraud . Lawyers for the Cahuzacs would not . comment on the latest revelations, which were confirmed by legal sources . close to the tax investigation. Mr Cahuzac resigned from Mr Hollande’s government a year ago following revelations that he also kept millions hidden in accounts in Switzerland and Singapore. It was a devastating blow to Mr Hollande, who has admitted to disliking the rich and whose flagship policies include a 75 per cent top rate of income tax. Mr Cahuzac originally made a fortune as a cosmetic surgeon but is now seen as the personification of the greed and hypocrisy of French socialists. Like Mr Cahuzac, many wealthy French people now see Britain as a safe haven for their money, and thousands have flooded across the Channel since Mr Hollande came to power in 2012. Mr Hollande has expelled Mr Cahuzac from his Socialist Party and announced tough new measures against corruption, including a ban from public life for any politician found guilty of tax evasion.
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Ex-Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac, 61, accused of having secret nest egg .
Estranged wife said he kept the money in British account to avoid tax .
He was forced to quit French cabinet last year amid claims he also hid money in Singapore and Switzerland .
President Francois Hollande expelled him from ruling Socialist Party .
France's most wealthy hit by 75% tax rate since Hollande came to power .
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Just 48 hours before the G20 leader's meeting kicks off, Queensland police said they have not received a request from any foreign security services to carry guns in Australia. Deputy Police Commissioner Ross Barnett said authorities have yet to receive a request from the typically armed to the teeth US Secret Service that guards President Barack Obama or any guards Russian president Vladimir Putin or another world leader may hope to bring. Mr Barnett said: 'At the moment no formal application has been made to the commissioner for any foreign service personnel to carry firearms in Queensland.' Australian police have received no requests to carry weapons from any nations attending the G20 in Brisbane this weekend . Police showed off a 'flotilla' of more than a dozen security boats on the Brisbane River on Thursday morning . Hundreds of police are monitoring, from the water, air, and on the ground . But that may change over the next 'twelve, twenty-four, forty-eight hours', he told reporters, adding that the requests could be expedited. He said requests had to be made to the Federal government who forward them on to the police commissioner, who has the 'final say' on who carries weapons in the state. The expected size of President Obama's entourage is not yet clear but he is typically accompanied overseas by a small army of Secret Service personnel and a considerable motorcade. The expected size of President Obama's entourage is not yet clear . He is typically accompanied overseas by a small army of Secret Service personnel . Brisbane is starting to go into lockdown ahead of the arrival of world leaders for the weekend meeting . His personal helicopter Marine One buzzed the Brisbane CBD on Monday as the city began to go into lockdown. A US embassy spokeswoman said there would be no comment on any matter regarding the President's security. Russian leader Vladimir Putin may not have applied to bring guns into the country yet but he has a fleet of four vessels currently off the Queensland coast, in what some interpreted as a 'shipfront' to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Police showed off a 'flotilla' of more than a dozen security boats on the Brisbane River this morning, whole streets have been blocked off in the Southbank area, helicopters are regularly buzzing overhead and hundreds of police are roaming the city. Local council workers are scrambling to clean up the area between Brisbane and the University of Queensland to show off the city's 'best face' to President Obama.
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'At the moment no formal application has been made,' says Deputy Police Commissioner .
Requests may be made over the next 'twelve, twenty-four, forty-eight hours'
Police commissioner has the 'final say' on who carries weapons in the state .
President Obama's Marine One helicopter buzzed the Brisbane CBD on Monday .
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08a1563bccf8ed7526f2409fef7bd210faabc77e
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(CNN) -- A U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber caught fire Friday after a landing at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, U.S. military officials said. A sweep-wing B-1 bomber, similar to this one, caught fire after landing Friday in Qatar, the U.S. military says. The crew evacuated safely, the officials said. They said the fire began while the plane was taxiing after landing about 9:10 p.m. at al-Udeid, the headquarters of U.S. military air operations for the Middle East. Officials said the fire on the bomber was contained. A military board of inquiry has been appointed to investigate the incident, they said. The officials said initial reports said the plane crashed at the headquarters of the U.S. military's air operations for the Middle East. The B-1B Lancer is widely used by the U.S. military to bomb targets over Iraq and Afghanistan. Learn more about B-1 bombers » . It carries a host of satellite and laser-guided bombs and is able to remain over targets for long periods of time to assist in close-air support for troops on the ground. In December 2001, a B-1 crashed while returning from a bombing run over Afghanistan to a British base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Originally designed to speed nuclear bombs into Cold War Russia, the B-1 was retooled to become a long-range bomber able to carry more conventional bombs, allowing it to hit more targets over a wider area. Al-Udeid, about 20 miles south of Qatar's capital of Doha, has the military's longest runway in the Middle East. About 3,300 U.S. troops, mostly Army, are stationed at the base. E-mail to a friend .
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NEW: Bomber burned after landing at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar .
NEW: Crew was able to evacuate aircraft safely, military says .
Al-Udeid Air Base has the military's longest runway in the Middle East .
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08a16f7ffb9968774fe4562acfb79aa6a1a59a2b
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Overnight trips to Rome could become even more expensive as the Italian capital considers hiking its hotel tax just four months after it was doubled. The proposal calls for the tourist tax to increase to €10 a night (approximately £7.60) at five-star hotels, according to local media, despite fears that it would deter tourists from planning a holiday in The Eternal City. It comes after Rome’s government hiked the tax to between €3 and €7, depending on the type of hotel, last September. Tourists would be forced to pay even more while staying in Rome if the city's hikes its luxury hotel tax . The Italian Hotel Association, which represents angry hotel owners, announced that it is ‘concerned’ by Rome’s decision to increase the tax at luxury hotels. Giorgio Palmucci, the association’s president, told media that the local council ‘takes no account of the dynamics of the tourist market that could be an important key to development and jobs for the city.’ He questioned whether tourists would see any additional services following another tax increase and pointed out that cities such as London and Madrid do not apply a tourist tax, while Paris’ tax is ‘marginal’. Local media say the tax would increase to €10 a night at five-star hotels (pictured: Regina Hotel Baglioni) He added: ‘There is no doubt that such a chose will not have negative impact on businesses but also on the image of the city.’ Hotelier Steve Brenner told The Local that a tax increase for luxury hotels would affect the broader tourism industry, calling it a ‘very shirt-sighted plan’ from an ‘out of touch’ government. The owner of The Beehive Hotel in central Rome said: ‘I had ten people come in the other day. It was €157 in tourist tax for their stay, I was embarrassed.’ He said he has seen little evidence that the tax is being used to improve services for tourists or residents. Rome's hotel association fears another tax increase would deter tourists from planning a holiday in the city . Last September, when the tourist tax was doubled, the World Travel & Tourism Council said hotels risked losing business as it would drive tourists away and heavily punish Rome’s travel and tourism sector. It said the ‘punitive’ tax sends the message that travellers are not welcome in Rome and its tourism industry ‘does not matter’. The organisation is calling on the ‘counter-productive’ tax, which was introduced in 2010, to be scrapped.
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Local media say the tourist tax would increase to €10 at luxury hotels .
Rome doubled the tax to between €3 and €7 last September .
Italian Hotel Association says it is 'concerned' about another increase .
There are fears it would drive tourists away and hurt businesses .
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08a1fd9e0116f4e14b5acd0f4ba8c14fb7b52b36
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By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 02:23 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:37 EST, 10 May 2013 . A top novelist has asked her fans to redesign classic novels as if they were being marketed at women in protest at the 'girly' imagery publishers use on book covers for women authors. American writer Maureen Johnson claims publishers use fluffy imagery to market novels by women, so she asked her Twitter fans to 'coverflip' classics such as Jack Kerouac's On The Road and Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange as if they had female authors. She was amazed at the number designs sent in from readers sympathetic to her gripe. Coverflip: The disturbing A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (left) is re-imagined as a book written by and intended for a woman (right) Horror classic Carrie by Stephen King, which traditionally has disturbing images of the female protagonist on the cover, was reimagined with a smiling blonde in lipstick and soft pastel shades. The female version of fantasy masterwork A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, or Georgette R. Martin in this case, boasted a young adult-orientated pink and purple cover with a pretty Daenerys Stormborn and a cute child wielding a sword. Dennis/Denise Lehane's Shutter Island, a stark psychological drama, now has a beautiful ocean view on the cover and is subtitled: 'A novel of self-discovery'. Not quite as scary: Stephen King's horror masterpiece is wildly different in its new female-friendly incarnation . Many women writers feel their work is lumbered with patronising covers by publishers . Ms Johnson, the author of the Shades of London and the Suite Scarlett series, said: 'I do wish I had a dime for every email I get that says: "Please put a non-girly cover on your book so I can read it – signed, A Guy".' She even used one of her own covers as an example. The cover of Key to the Golden Firebird shows a neon pink background, an image of a beautiful teenage girl displaying her midriff, and features the words 'a novel' in a dark pink heart. She told The Guardian: 'It's about three sisters who are dealing with the sudden death of their father. May, the middle sister, is trying to hold her family together and learn how to drive. This is the cover.' Gender reassignment: Even Maureen Johnson's own young adult novel 13 Little Blue Envelopes is changed into how it may look as written by a man . From sinister to silly: Crime writer Harlan Coben becomes Helen Coben . She added: 'The simple fact of the matter is, if you are a female author, you are much more likely to get the package that suggests the book is of a lower perceived quality because it's "girly", which is somehow inherently different and easier on the palate. 'A man and a woman can write books about the same subject matter, at the same level of quality, and that woman is simply more likely to get the soft-sell cover with the warm glow and the feeling of smooth jazz blowing off of it.' It's Kind of a Funny Story (left) deals with controversial themes like teenage depression and suicide, but you wouldn't know it from the new female version . Amanda Hocking, the million-selling self-published novelist, blogged about the 'gender cover-up'. She said: 'More women read books than men, more women write books then men, but only a small fraction of books that win literary awards are written by women. 'Women are the publishing industry's bread and butter, we are the backbone of the damn entertainment industry, but we are constantly demoted to "fluffy" to "light" to "meaningless".' 'I'm sick to death of this. I am so sick of the constant, blatant sexism. And any time any one points anything out as being sexist, they're accused of "whining" or "nagging" or "not taking a joke".' British author Polly Courtney went so far as to drop her publisher after her third book, It's a Man's World, was given the tagline 'but it takes a woman to run it'. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas loses the pretty model for a distinctly more gender-neutral design . Maureen Johnson says she receives messages from male fans who don't feel comfortable reading her books because of the 'girly' nature of the cover . Reception: It's hard to imagine the reviewers who gave Jonathan Franzen's Freedom (left) glowing reviews would praise the book on the right quite as highly .
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Maureen Johnson claims publishers pigeonhole books by women .
She asked fans to 'coverflip' books like On The Road and Shutter Island .
She was inundated with classics with new 'girly' covers .
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08a2df846bfc79279b9f30bc2650bf710ec77139
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A co-founder of the popular frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry has been ordered to stand trial on charges he beat a homeless man with a tire iron in California. A judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss the assault with a deadly weapon case against Young Lee. Lee is free on bail and is no longer is affiliated with Pinkberry. Legal problems: Pinkberry co-founder Young Lee, pictured with his attorney Philip Kent Cohen at a court hearing in Los Angeles last month, had illegal guns in his home, police claim. He is accused of beating up a homeless man with a tyre iron . Forty-two-year-old Donald Bolding testified this week that he was begging from drivers on a freeway off-ramp last year in Hollywood when his shirt rode up and revealed a sexually explicit tattoo. He says a man he identified as Lee got out of a car, demanded he apologize to his wife, then attacked him. Bolding was struck twice in the head and suffered a broken arm before witnesses stopped the attack. Lee's attorney claims his client was threatened by the man and thought he had a weapon. But . police believe it was the Korean-born entrepreneur who first approached . him after seeing what he deemed a disrespectful tattoo. They . believe that Lee drove over to the man, rolled down his window and . started arguing with him, before getting out to confront him. Officials . say Lee demanded that the man kneel on the ground and apologise and . even though he consented, he still attacked him with the tyre iron. Craze: Lee co-founded Pinkberry with partner Shelly Hwang. They opened their first shop in Hollywood in 2005, immediately gaining a celebrity following . The homeless man was beaten so brutally he had to be hospitalised. Former kickboxer Lee paints a very different picture, however. His . attorney Philip Kent Cohen last month told the Los Angeles Times: . 'The transient made explicit threats as if he had a weapon, which he may . have had. 'As the evidence comes out, the reality will be much different than has been presented. 'All of the people in the car felt at risk and felt threatened.' Lee . - who co-founded the healthy, low-calorie dessert chain - was arrested . after a witness called police and gave the license plate number of the . Range Rover involved, which was rented in Lee's name. Hugely successful: The Korean-born entrepreneur already has a conviction for possession of a firearm . Investigators later recovered the tyre iron through the rental car agency. Witnesses picked Lee from police photos and authorities obtained the warrant while the 47-year-old was traveling overseas. According . to police, a federal database alerted Los Angeles detectives that Lee . was aboard an inbound flight from Korea to Los Angeles Airport in January, when he was arrested. Lee has also been accused of owning illegal guns, according to police. Police searched Lee's Los Angeles home and fleet of luxury cars after his arrest in January this year and found two handguns, a Colt .45 and a Para Ordnance Brand .45. It is unclear whether the firearms were found in Lee's house or high-end vehicles including a 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB and a 2010 Mercedes G Wagon. Accused: Young Lee, one of the founders of the Pinkberry yogurt chain appears during his arraignment in the Los Angeles Criminal Courts Building in Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 . A police search warrant affidavit obtained by TMZ.com states that, due to a 2001 conviction for drugs possession, Lee is not allowed to 'own, buy, receive, possess, or have custody or control of any firearms'. He also has a conviction for possession of a firearm and could now face this same charge again. Lee, a kick-boxer-turned-architect-turned-entrepreneur, co-founded Pinkberry with partner Shelly Hwang, CBS Los Angeles reports. They opened their first location in West Hollywood in 2005, gaining a celebrity following and sparking a frozen yoghurt craze.
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Young Lee, 47, was arrested last month and charged with assault with a deadly weapon .
He allegedly attacked a homeless man for having a sexually-explicit tattoo in June 2011 .
LAPD officers 'found two illegal firearms' in his home .
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08a2e8fd227f9b7d6d7cfb533d4369fe8b12d1bd
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If you've ever dreamed of a fairytale tree house, complete with twinkling lights and romantic bridges, it probably looks a lot like this. The Buckland retreat, nestled in pristine woodland in the heart of Atlanta, has now been listed on AirBnB, and it even comes with wifi! Set amid the branches of a 150-year-old Southern Short-Leaf Pine tree, the enchanting tree house is the handywork of creative couple Peter and Katie Bahouth, and consists of three separate rooms that are connected by rope bridges strewn with fairy lights. If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise... This stunning tree house is nestled amid lush woodland in Atlanta . Peter and Katie Bahouth bought the land in 2000 and spent six months designing and building the fairytale retreat, which they now rent out . Former Greenpeace executive director Mr Bahouth, bought the pretty woodland spot in 2000, and spent the next six months designing and building the perfect forest hideaway. The cosy living room is decked out with a masterful blend of beautiful antiques and up-cycled furniture, including a chandelier to add a touch a glamour to scheme, and an 80-year-old butterfly window. And just in case you feel like entertaining, there is even an indoor dining area with room to comfortably seat six people. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior with natural light, while pretty fairy lights and swishy curtains add a dash of romance to the scheme . The rustic living room has been decked out with shabby chic furniture, while colourful accessories add warmth to the cosy scheme . Over in the bedroom, you'll be able to enjoy nature without leaving the comfort of your bed, as it can be pushed out onto a platform overlooking a local stream. You don't even have to worry about catching a chill - the organic linen bedding has been teamed with a heated mattress pad to keep you toasty all night long. The tree house consists of three separate rooms which can be reached via rope bridges strewn with fairy lights to light the way . Outside, a generous decking area seats up to 10 people and comes complete with a hammock for day-time dreaming or star-spotting at night. But if you do get the urge to leave the confines of the tee house, the Bahouth's have provided a list of local beauty spots to explore. Or, like some guests, you could just order pizza delivered straight to your branch. But enchanting beauty doesn't come cheap. A minimum two night stay at the retreat will set you back £236 per night - but we reckon it's worth it! The couple have even installed wifi in the tree house for those guests who feel the need to stay connected to the outside world . Pretty mirrored furniture and pooling curtains create a sense of romance in the retreat's only bedroom . The luxurious double bed is on wheels and can be pushed out onto the mezzanine for guests who want sleep outdoors . It's no surprise this Peter Pan-style tree house comes with a five-star rating from former guests. One former occupant called Brent said: 'I surprised my wife with a visit for her birthday. The whole visit was like something out of a fairy tale... all lit up in the night. 'I enjoyed the rickety bridge and the feeling that we were on a pirate ship. Every detail is quirky and fun, including a bed that pushes out on a track so you can sleep on a plank under a canopy of trees - unbelievable.' But don't worry, you won't catch a chill. Raw linen bedding has been teamed with a heated mattress to keep guests toasty all night long .
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Peter and Katie Bahouth spent six months designing the perfect woodland retreat in Atlanta, USA .
The Buckland is adorned with fairy lights and has a hammock, rope-bridges, and a deck that seats up to 10 people .
You can book a minimum two-night stay in the tree house on Airbnb .
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08a3b774bc89c84bf7e9a476b7a16d6d68c61106
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A supermarket chain has been forced to apologise after a manager suggested an 89-year-old war veteran selling poppies buy a warmer coat because there was not space for him to set up a stall to sell them inside. Bill Daw, 89, was left standing outside the store in Taunton in Somerset on Saturday morning after he claims he was told by a manager: 'you can't come in here, you'll need to stand out there.' The pensioner, who served with the West Kent regiment added: 'I said to him, "But we've doing been this for years." I couldn't understand the man.' Veronica Roach, a shopper claimed to have found the pensioner 'freezing' outside the store asked the manager why the elderly man was not selling poppies inside as temperatures dipped to around 14C. Scroll down for video . Bill Daw, 89, was forced to sell his poppies outside the supermarket in Taunton because of space issues . She said once she found the manager he said their current promotion at the doorway meant there was not enough space for a poppy stand as well. Mr Daw said once Morrisons they found out what had happened they were told we could go in the supermarket. Ms Roach argued with the manager and claims he then told her: 'Well, he'll have to wear a warmer coat tomorrow.' In a lengthy post of Facebook, which has since gone viral, Veronica Roach, a former member of the Women's Royal Air Force, described meeting the poppy seller outside the supermarket on Saturday morning. 'I took his hand, which was freezing and asked why he'd set up outside,' she wrote. 'I hunted down the manager and challenged him. He said they had their promotion at the door which meant there was no room for the poppy stand.' The manager allegedly said Mr Daw should 'get a warmer coat tomorrow' to sell poppies outside . Mr Daw is the standard bearer for the Taunton branch of the Burma Star Association. The old soldier, who as a 19-year-old private helped form a guard when the Japanese surrendered in Rangoon, is resilient to adversity. He said: 'We've got over it. It is all sorted out.' The Royal British Legion said its poppy sellers preferred to collect outside the supermarket rather than in the foyer because of a greater footfall. Morrisons said there had been a misunderstanding and the manager did not know that by the afternoon there was a different seller outside the supermarket. The Met Office said temperatures in Taunton on Saturday morning were likely to be between 14C and 15C. 'The British Legion in the morning confirmed they wanted to collect outside,' Morrisons said in a statement. 'However at lunchtime their volunteer changed to an 89-year-old gentleman. This changes everything. 'We can confirm that our manager did not know this and therefore his comment re 'wrap up warm' is then exceptionally inappropriate and he is very saddened by this. 'We at Morrisons are very sorry at how this misunderstanding has looked, we will of course donate to the British Legion, and will be making a special gift to both Veronica and our 89-year-old veteran. 'Veronica is a very welcome regular in the store and is known by lots of the staff and the store manager and this issue has caused concern to all of them. 'We spoke to the British Legion this morning and the store have removed a number of static items in the foyer to enable the British Legion to be inside the store. 'The British Legion and the store are managing this situation together and are both concerned regarding any adverse reaction towards the store. Morrisons has been forced to apologise after the manager of the branch in Taunton, Somerset suggested that an 89-year-old poppy seller buy a warmer coat because there was not space for him to sell them inside . 'We can confirm that Veronica, The British Legion and Morrisons have worked together to resolve this matter and would ask you to respect their action.' A spokeswoman for the Royal British Legion said collectors had been offered positions inside and outside and had opted for the outside position because of the greater footfall. She said collections would continue there. She added: 'We are grateful to Morrisons, as we are to all commercial outlets, who permit Poppy Appeal collections on their sites throughout the UK and in doing so strengthen our fundraising efforts which ensure the Legion can continue to offer vital support and care to the Armed Forces community.'
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Bill Daw, 89 was told to sell poppies outside because there was little space .
Burma war veteran was forced to stand outside Morrisons in the cold .
Pensioner was told 'you can't come in here, you'll need to stand out there'
Veronica Roach came across the 'freezing' pensioner selling poppies outside .
She claims Morrisons manager said he should 'get a warmer coat tomorrow'
Temperature was around 14C on Saturday morning in Taunton, Somerset .
But Royal British Legion said sellers prefer to collect outside supermarkets .
Morrisons said there had been a 'misunderstanding' by manager of store .
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08a40f6bf61b50be943254200ab75fc2c5c6abe6
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Pledging to take the train seemed to be causing quite a strain for Simon Burns yesterday. The Transport Minister looked nonplussed as he waited on the platform for the 5.58am, then almost bemused as he queued to board it. Things only got worse when he found his 2nd class carriage was full and he was forced to stand in the corridor for the 36 minute journey from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street, London. Lonely: Transport Minister Simon Burns waits for the train to Liverpool Street following pressure from commuters after it was revealed he had been using a chauffeur-driven car to get to work . Early riser: Mr Burns was pictured waiting for the 5.58am train from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street Station . But at least he did not have any of those troublesome red boxes to worry about. All he had with him was a newspaper and a book which he buried his nose in to pass the time on the journey, for which the cheapest single ticket costs £14.20. It was the third day running this week Mr Burns has gone to work by train after being railroaded into not using his chauffeur-driven car. There was an outcry after a Sunday newspaper reported it cost the taxpayer £80,000 a year. Mr Burns, a Tory Minister of State with responsibility for ‘rail strategy’ and ‘fares policy’, denied his journeys into London from his home cost that figure. Easy-rider: Map showing Mr Burns car journey from Chelmsford which he took while others endured the train . Rise and shine: Mr Burns leaving his Chelmsford home before boarding the packed train . Rough and tumble: Mr Burns was unable to get a seat on the train so was forced to stand up and he is pictured battling through the crowds at a busy Liverpool Street Station . Mr Burns appeared to feel the cold as he stepped out at Liverpool Street Station . He uses a Department for Transport . pool car, he said, which, because of ‘flat rate’ charges which apply . regardless how many journeys are made, would cost £80,000 even if he did . not make the 35-mile commute in it. But after mounting pressure from . commuters and fellow politicians, he decided to ‘adjust’ his working . practices and how he travels to and from work. ‘My previous arrangements were not intended as a snub to hard-pressed rail travellers,’ he added. Mr . Burns claimed he took the car from his Chelmsford home only because he . was barred from working on his Red Box of official Ministerial papers on . the train for security reasons, the Mail on Sunday reported. But he was contradicted by the Cabinet . Office, which said Ministers could work on papers in public as long as . they ensured sensitive material could not be seen. So where were Mr Burns’ Red Boxes were when he caught the train yesterday? His . spokesman said: ‘He has changed his habits more broadly than just how . he travels. He is working later in the office so not having to travel . with the boxes.’ The spokesman added that the boxes were not transported . by another means but stayed in the office instead. It . was unclear if Mr Burns has bought a season ticket, but his spokesman . insisted the change to his travel habits was ‘not just this week, but . on-going’.
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Outcry when it was revealed Simon Burns was being driven to work .
Reported that the chauffeur-driven car cost the taxpayer £80,000 a year .
After pressure from commuters he decided to 'adjust' his travel .
Tory MP pictured taking train from Chelmsford to London for third day .
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08a434ffcfdf20aef15d1f45298c0f4682dbdd55
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By . Michael Marot . Spain’s Marc Marquez kept his perfect record intact Sunday by winning his 10th straight MotoGP race and becoming the first back-to-back Indianapolis Grand Prix winner. Marquez beat Jorge Lorenzo of Spain by 1.803 seconds on Indy’s reconfigured 2.591-mile, 16-turn road course. Italy’s Valentino Rossi was third. It’s the fourth straight year that Indy’s pole winner reached Victory Lane. He's done it again: Marc Marquez celebrates his 10th MotoGP win in a row at the Indianapolis Grand Prix . Winners spoils: Marquez is congratulated by a group of promotional models after his win . The defending world champ shattered the series’ previous record for the youngest driver to win 10 in a row. Mike Hailwood was 24 years and 86 days old when he did it in 1964. Marquez is 21 years, 174 days. Marquez gave up four spots with a bad start, and then rallied to take the lead before giving it right back. When he regained the lead a second time, nobody got close to him again. Close run: The Repsol Honda rider twice gave up the lead before beating the field to the line with ease .
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Jorge Lorenzo of Spain was beaten by 1.803 on 2.591-mile course .
Italy's Valentino Rossi finished third on 16-turn road .
It is the fourth year straight that Indy's pole winner reached Victory Lane .
Marquez gave up four spots with bad start but rallied to make it back .
He then lost the lead again before allowing nobody to get close .
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08a4a5daf141c1308c6757c6eed8eed44eb8d135
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By . John Hall . Components originating from Britain are being used inside North Korean missiles, a UN report has claimed. Temperature gauges, pressure gauges and generic resistors manufactured by unidentified companies based in Britain were found among debris recovered from the sea after a North Korea missile test in December 2012, the UN Panel of Experts concluded in an 127-page report. The discovery has led to questions over how British parts found their way into North Korea's illegal programme to manufacture intercontinental ballistic missiles - especially as the country is currently under UN sanctions banning the delivery of military goods. Scroll down for video . Launch: Gauges and resistors manufactured by British companies were found in among the debris of an Unha-3 rocket (right) that North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un (left) ordered to be test fired in December 2012 . As well as the British equipment, parts made in the U.S., Switzerland, and China were discovered among the debris of an Unha-3 rocket that crashed after an event Pyongyang described as a satellite launch. The U.S. said the satellite claims were nonsense however, adding that North Korea had in fact been testing intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Panel of Experts described all the British parts found in the missile as 'off-the-shelf items that do not meet any of the specifications in the lists of prohibited items, in particular the ballistic missile-related list.' The report said that all the British items had entered North Korea through third party countries - including Taiwan - with some of them arriving as recently as 2011. The report did not name the manufacturers of the items. Dispute: The U.S. said Pyongyang's claims that the Unha-3 rocket was a satellite were nonsense, adding that North Korea was in fact continuing to test military weapons (pictured) Evidence: Although the foreign parts may have found their way into North Korea innocently, the UN report said they proved Kim Jong-un's ability 'to assemble complex systems with globally sourced components' Only one foreign item found among the debris met some but not all of the criteria defined by the list of items banned from being exported into North Korea under the current UN sanctions. These were radial ball bearings found inside the turbo pumps of the four rocket motors. However the report said these items were likely to have been made in the 1980s in the former Soviet Union, so could easily have passed into North Korea long before the UN restrictions were installed. Although the foreign parts may have found their way into North Korea innocently, the UN report said they proved Pyongyang's ability 'to assemble complex systems with globally sourced components'. 'The acquisition of components abroad for its prohibited programmes despite its Juche philosophy of self-reliance points to the limitations of its own industrial production capabilities,' the report added. Ready for action: Earlier this week it was reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un told his military chiefs to prepare the nation's soldiers (pictured) for war against South Korea in 2015 . Within the report, a number of Taiwanese companies and individuals were named as being suspected of purchasing dual-use components on behalf of North Korea. The UN said this aspect of the report would need further investigation. This is not the first time dual-use components have found their way an international debate about military sanctions. In 1998 Iraq's then leader Saddam Hussein launched 'Project Babylon' - a campaign with objectives that remain unclear to this day but involved plans to build a series of 'superguns'. Dual-use components have long been part of the debate about military sanctions. In 1988 Saddam Hussein launched a campaign to assemble 'superguns' using metal tubes built in Britain (pictured) Many of the parts for the weapons were made from dual-use items made by various companies in Europe - including metal tubes for the barrels and gun cradles purchased from Sheffield Forgemasters in South Yorkshire and Walter Somers in Worcestershire. The majority of the parts were seized in transit and destroyed, but the resulting debate over the export of dual-use items led to more stringent restrictions on what could be exported to countries that were under sanctions. Earlier this week it was reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un told his military chiefs to prepare for war against South Korea in 2015. According to South Korea's largest daily newspaper, a source has revealed that the dictator plans to invade and has ordered the army to remain 'combat-ready'.
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British gauges and resistors found among debris of Unha-3 rocket .
The parts entered the country through Taiwan as recently as 2011 .
Components from U.S., Switzerland and China were also discovered .
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08a5ff20e5541ba9e3f6a9b046c8762d4ebd4ed9
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By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 00:25 EST, 15 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:24 EST, 15 January 2013 . A piece of glass on display at Swansea University has been identified as a lost fragment of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian vase at Cairo Museum. The fragment is believed to have come from a 15in high vase from the tomb of queen Tiye, the wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned from 1386 to 1349BC. The piece of glass, which is on loan to the university's Egypt Centre from Swansea Museum, is part of an amphora, a kind of vessel usually used for transporting wine. The rest of the vessel is currently on display in Cairo. The missing fragment of the 3,000-year-old Egyptian vase is currently kept at Swansea University . Although it was found in the tomb of the wife of Amenhotep III, the 4cm fragment bears the name of his grandfather . Amenhotep II, who is thought to have ruled Egypt between 1427-1401BC. and was given to the museum by the family of Harold Jones . in 1959. Mr Jones was an artist in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings . in the early 20th century. The long piece of glass displays two names of the king picked out in red and yellow on a background of brilliant blue. The names are surmounted by red . sun-disks and yellow feathers. The missing piece was originally . prefabricated separately and then sunk into the body of the 40cm high . glass amphora. The complete vessel consists of a white amphora decorated with brown and light blue decoration. The 3,000-year-old vase, left, is thought to have been sourced by Harold Jones, right, who was an artist in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings in the early 20th century . Dr Carolyn Graves-Brown, Curator of . the Egypt Centre, said: 'Glass of this date is extremely rare in Egypt . and was usually given as diplomatic gifts between the kings of the . region. 'Vessels and other artefacts from the . reign of Amenhotep II are part of an extraordinary array of . sophisticated techniques from an innovative period of glass production. 'Large vessels such as that in Cairo . Museum, from which our fragment originated, were not attempted even in . later years. At this date the manufacture of glass was a royal monopoly . and as valuable as gold and silver.' Royal consort: Ebony, gesso and gold head of Queen Tiye, the wife of Amenhotep III and the mother of Akhenaten. From the Egyptian Museum, Berlin . Amenhotep III's reign is said to mark . the zenith of civilisation in ancient Egypt, for both its cultural . achievement and political power. He is thought to have died around 1354 BC and was buried in a tomb in the secluded western branch of the Valley of the Kings. The Swansea piece which bears his grandfather’s name . would have been prefabricated and placed upon the body of the vessel . while it was still in a molten state. Interestingly, one of the names for glass in ancient Egyptian was ‘the stone that flows’. Garethe El-Tawab, Curator of Swansea . Museum said: 'The loan of this very rare piece of ancient glass by the . Museum to our colleagues in the Egypt Centre is a marvellous example of . partnership working in international research.' Visitors will be able to see the rare . piece of Egyptian glass for themselves when they come to the centre . which is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and is free to the . public.
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Piece of glass has been identified as part of 3,000-year-old Egyptian vase .
Fragment has been on display at Swansea University's Egypt Centre .
The vase is though to have come from the tomb of queen Tiye .
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08a6a2ea60dabff2a9c52340d585ddfd84bcc3a6
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(CNN) -- By the time Edward Lee Elmore won his freedom at age 53, he had spent 30 years -- most of them on death row -- imprisoned in South Carolina for a crime he says he did not commit. Law enforcement planted evidence and prosecutors manipulated facts to cast Elmore as the only suspect in the 1982 murder of 75-year-old Dorothy Edwards, his lawyers claim. Even with seemingly overwhelming evidence in Elmore's favor, it took nearly two decades to win his release, in what an appeals court called "one of those exceptional cases of 'extreme malfunctions in the state criminal justice systems.' " Read the U.S. Court of Appeals opinion on the case (PDF) His experience raises nearly every issue that shapes America's capital punishment debate: DNA testing, mental retardation, a jailhouse snitch, incompetent defense lawyers, prosecutorial misconduct and "a strong claim of innocence," said author Raymond Bonner, who wrote about the case in "Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong." In other words, a prime example of when "innocence is not enough," Bonner said. Elmore would probably still be on death row if not for Diana Holt, who began investigating his claims of innocence in 1993. When Holt met Elmore, she was surprised that a convicted killer on death row could be "so docile and gentle." Two post-conviction review courts rejected Elmore's claims, though one noted that he "may well not be guilty." But Holt never considered giving up. "If I throw in the towel, a client dies. If I stop working, they stop breathing," Holt said. "Sometimes, I am the first person who ever stuck by them or treated them with respect." A bloody crime scene . Elmore was arrested in January 1982 for the rape and murder of Edwards, a wealthy widow in Greenwood, South Carolina. Edwards' longtime neighbor and friend, Greenwood City Councilman Jimmy Holloway, told police he let himself into her house after noticing newspapers piling up in her driveway. Inside the house, he discovered her bloody corpse in a bedroom closet and alerted police. Holloway also identified Elmore, who had cleaned Edwards' windows and gutters the month before, as a possible suspect. Within 48 hours, police arrested Elmore based on a thumbprint found on Edwards' back door. By April, a Greenwood County jury had convicted Elmore of murder and sentenced him to death. It would be the first of three times he would stand trial in the case, followed by years of appeals and post-conviction reviews. When Holt took on the case, she says, she discovered a disturbing chain of events that led to Elmore's conviction, starting with law enforcement's willingness to build a case around Holloway's timeline. From there, Elmore's lawyers say, prosecutors suppressed blood and fingerprint evidence that could have cast doubt on their case. Instead, Elmore's lawyers claim that prosecutors deliberately introduced falsely incriminating statements from a jailhouse informant and hairs from Elmore that were not found at the crime scene. A breakthrough finally came in 2011, when the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reversed Elmore's conviction and ordered a new trial, based partly on findings that Elmore's trial lawyers blindly accepted the prosecution's case without bothering to examine the evidence in his first trial and retrial. "A healthy skepticism of authority, while generally advisable, is an absolute necessity for a lawyer representing a client charged with capital murder," a judge wrote in the majority opinion. "Elmore's lawyers disregarded their professional obligation to investigate critical prosecution evidence, thereby engendering 'a breakdown in the adversarial process that our system counts on to produce just results.' " 'Couldn't believe my eyes' None of it would have come to light if not for Holt. She was in her mid-30s when she joined the case the summer before her third year of law school. Her journey to law school had been hard-fought, with a history of abusive relationships and a stint as a teen serving time in a Louisiana prison for armed robbery. At 28, she began taking community college classes and earned the grades to enter Southwest Texas State University. Given her past, Holt was pleasantly surprised when the University of Texas accepted her law school application in 1991. Her professors nudged her in the direction of death penalty litigation when she began to show a knack for the persistent digging the job demands. Through internships at the Texas Resource Center, Holt met lawyer John Blume, executive director of the South Carolina Death Penalty Resource Center. During an internship there, Blume asked her to help with Elmore's case by interviewing jurors. "I started reading the trial testimony and couldn't believe my eyes," Holt said. "All the forensic evidence evaporated under the smallest measure of scrutiny." She became immersed in the case, "all Elmore, all the time," and "classes became more like an annoying distraction," she said. Blume offered her a job as a staff attorney once she graduated, but she couldn't wait and moved to South Carolina before the final spring semester, for "Elmore and John Blume," she said, half-joking. A few things about the case jumped out at her. For one, police said they had seized pubic hairs from Edwards' bed and identified them as belonging to Elmore. If that was true, Holt wondered, where were crime scene photos of those hairs on the bed? Why weren't they packaged like other evidence taken from the scene? Why didn't investigators collect the bedsheets for further analysis? Elmore conceded that hairs introduced into trial evidence belonged to him but claimed that police pulled them from his head and groin area after his arrest. Meanwhile, fibers and hairs collected from Edwards' body and marked "item T" on an evidence log were never introduced into evidence. For years, the state claimed they were missing, until 1998, when they were found in the private office of an investigator in the case. Testing revealed a "Caucasian pubic hair inconsistent with Mrs. Edwards" that Elmore's team claims could have cast doubt on the state's theory that he was the only possible killer. Holloway's "farcical" trial testimony also led Holt to question his portrayal by prosecutors as a shocked neighbor and longtime friend. When Holt interviewed Holloway in 1993, within five minutes, she said, he told her, "I am the only one who could kill her and get away with it, the way she trusted me so." Holloway died in 1994. And yet, when Elmore walked out of prison in 2012, he was not fully exonerated. Elmore agreed to a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to maintain his innocence while pleading guilty. In exchange for pleading guilty to murder, the state dropped a burglary charge and agreed to a 30-year sentence with credit for time served. In the 2012 hearing, prosecutor Jerry Peace said that the state still believed it had a strong case against Elmore but that the victim's daughter supported the plea as a means of ending the case. Read more about the plea deal (PDF) Holt, however, told the court that his defense team believed Elmore is "100% innocent" but also sought to end the case. He could have gone to trial, but she has seen other clients wait years for a retrial. She also would have preferred an all-out acquittal, but "immediate freedom stymied ongoing justice," she said. "That the justice system provided an avenue for an immediate release to freedom for Mr. Elmore that was previously not available to him is more justice than injustice," she said. "Justice was better served with his freedom." If you were in Elmore's shoes, would you plead guilty to a crime you did not commit, in order to get out of prison? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Edward Lee Elmore was sentenced to death for a murder he says he didn't commit .
Lawyers: Law enforcement planted evidence and manipulated facts to convict him .
Federal appeals court blamed "extreme malfunctions" in the justice system .
To win his freedom, Elmore pleaded guilty to murder while maintaining innocence .
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08a6f9d0fd18214778ce673b2a496780446e1bd4
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(CNN) -- Not even football - or soccer, for those in the U.S. - could stop them. While the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament for next year's football World Cup, went on, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte and many other major cities in Brazil. Read more: A new age of protests . In the beginning, they were few, mostly youngsters disgruntled with a 20 centavos (10 cents) rise in bus and train fares. After a violent response from the police, they were joined by Brazilians of all ages who had their own issues to shout about. Corruption, poor public services, increasing inflation, lack of security and the not-so-much-loved-anymore World Cup. At a time when Brazil was supposed to be celebrating, the streets were full of anger, chanting, confrontation with the police and destruction, produced by a minority of radical demonstrators. Watch running battles between police and protesters in Rio . Why did the protests gain traction? Tricky question, but there is one thing no-one can deny: A significant number of Brazilians are very upset with the state of the nation. The transport fare hikes were canceled on Wednesday, after local authorities in Sao Paulo and Rio agreed to a U-turn in an attempt to bring back peace and order to the streets. It is still unclear whether this will mean an end to the protests. More important than the issue, though, seems to be the timing of all this. Bus fare increases in previous years had not led to any significant popular reaction. The same movement that started this month's protests - the Movimento Passe Livre (Free Pass Movement, or MPL) - had been active in previous years. After each announcement of a new bus fare they would go to the streets in their hundreds, sometimes only dozens, without being noticed by many. Authorities expected the same in 2013. The latest increase, of less than 7%, was the first in two years and below the inflation of the period. The government, the press, the police and even bystanders were taken off-guard. But, somehow, the timing was just perfect for a national revolt. Brazil protesters: World Cup only benefits outsiders . That could be explained by the way we look at Brazil. In the past decade, when the country took some 30 million people out of poverty, Brazilians enjoyed looking at what the country and its people had achieved: More formal employment, more investment, more growth, greater spending power for those who had none, more security and better outlook on life. On top of that, Brazil had secured the privilege to host the two main sports events in the world - the football World Cup and the Summer (Winter in Brazil) Olympic Games - in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Brazil just seemed to have it all. With only one caveat: It did not. When facts of life began to remind many Brazilians that their lives were not as good as the government claimed, and the football extravaganza got closer, indicating more costs for the state without apparent benefits for the people, many people began to look at their country in a different light. Instead of focusing on the achievements, they looked at what they did not have, and that view seemed to go as far as the Amazon. In 2010, after eight years with a hugely popular president, the former metal worker Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil saw his former minister Dilma Rousseff elected as his successor. From the same leftist Workers Party (PT), Rousseff became the first female Brazilian President. Two-and-a-half years have passed, and she is still popular among the poorest, but the recent protests were led by a different bunch: The traditional middle class. On the streets, well-educated people, from central, urban areas, shouted that they had been sold a lie. Inflation is once again a major concern, violent crime is on the rise, cases of corruption fill the press, healthcare is in a precarious state, infrastructure projects have not materialized and street traffic is depressingly worse than ever. While TV showed the inaugurations of costly, lavish football stadiums, people felt their lives were getting worse by the day. After all, the World Cup will cost the nation some $15 billion, and the promised legacy in infrastructure is still nowhere to be seen. Worst of all: A government accustomed to surf on its safe popularity, secured mainly by the distribution of money to the poorest, did not feel the need to listen. Rousseff's message, in pre-recorded announcements on TV, has been that the country just could not be better. The National Congress is even more to blame, with its representatives lashed by public opinion for shocking privileges, high salaries and cases of sleaze. A survey by Datafolha institute, conducted this week in the city of Sao Paulo, shows a drastic fall in the prestige of political institutions in the past decade. Only 19% of respondents say they hold the office of president in high regard, compared with 51% in 2003. The percentage of respondents who say they hold the National Congress in high regard has fallen from 30% in 2003, to 12% now. Many who took to the streets in Brazil - and inspired Brazilians around the world to do the same in their adopted countries - carried banners saying: "It is not only about R$ 0,20." What they meant is that the bus fare rise was perhaps the least of their concerns. Corruption, lack of accountability and a realization that many promises have not been fulfilled were what led them to the streets. The suspension of the transport fare rise may take them back to their normal lives. The issues, however, will not go away any time soon. And unless they are properly addressed, those problems can make the people march again. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rogério Simões.
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Simões: Brazil just seemed to have it all. With only one caveat: It did not .
Inflation is a major concern, violent crime is on the rise, cases of corruption fill the press .
Many realized that their lives were not as good as the government claimed, he says .
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(CNN) -- Can't wait for the royal wedding? Here's your essential guide to Prince William and Kate Middleton's big day. The couple may be keeping many details under wraps for now, but if it's out there and it's official, we'll post it here to keep you in the know. The couple . Prince William, second in line to the British throne, elder son of heir to the throne, Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, will marry Kate Middleton, daughter of Michael and Carole Middleton. Inside William and Kate's St Andrews . The couple met while studying at St Andrews University in Scotland. Prince William proposed in October 2010 in Kenya, with his mother's diamond and sapphire engagement ring. Friends open up about Kate Middleton . The ceremony . The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on April 29 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. It takes place at the following times around the world: 3 a.m. in Los Angeles 6 a.m. in New York 12 noon in Paris 2 p.m. in Abu Dhabi 6 p.m. in Hong Kong 8 p.m. in Sydney . Unveiled blog: The latest on the ceremony . The ceremony will probably last around an hour. Getting to the church . The bride-to-be will travel to Westminster Abbey by car, rather than horse-drawn carriage as Diana, Princess of Wales did on her wedding day 30 years ago. Kate to ride to Abbey in Rolls Royce . It's likely Kate will leave from one of the London palaces or possibly an exclusive London hotel, while Prince William will start off from Clarence House, Prince William's official residence, though these details are yet to be confirmed by the Prince's office. The venue . Westminster Abbey is over 700 years old and holds 2,200 people. It's been the site of coronations since William I's in 1066. Westminster Abbey: In-depth profile . Many royal weddings have taken place here, including current queen, Elizabeth II's to Prince Philip in 1947. The Abbey is considered a more modest, but fittingly grand, alternative to the larger St Paul's Cathedral. Key players . The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, will marry the couple. The Dean of Westminster will conduct the service. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, will give the address. He is a family friend of the Windsors and spoke at Diana, Princess of Wales's memorial in 2007. William has chosen his younger brother, Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, as best man. Kate's sister Philippa, often known as Pippa, will be her maid of honor. There will be four younger bridesmaids and two younger page boys, including two of William's godchildren. Who are the bridesmaids and page boys? The music . Two choirs, one orchestra, a fanfare team and trumpeters will play at the wedding: . - The Choir of Westminster Abbey, formed of 20 boys and 12 professional singers. The Abbey's sub-organist will play the organ. - The Chapel Royal Choir, formed of 10 boys and six professional singers. - The London Chamber Orchestra, the longest established professional chamber orchestra in the UK. Its 39 members will play from the organ loft in the Abbey. - The Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, which consists of seven players and their conductor. - The State Trumpeters of The Household Cavalry, eight trumpeters drawn from the Band of the Life Guards and the Band of the Blues and Royals. The guests . Around 1,900 people have been invited to the main ceremony at Westminster Abbey, mainly made up of the couple's friends and family. The other guests will be members of foreign royal families, heads of state, members of the army, navy and air force and around 80 regular joes from the charities Prince William supports. Check out the guest list! Six hundred people have been invited to a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by The Queen. Just three hundred people have been asked to an exclusive dinner in the evening thrown by Charles, Prince of Wales. Wedding invitations stamped and sent . The Swedish royal family has confirmed. The Japanese royal family has pulled out due to the devastating events in Japan. Bahraini crown prince to skip royal wedding . The biggest snub so far is for Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Andrew, Duke of York, who has not been invited. Royal procession . After the ceremony, the newlyweds will travel back to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn five-carriage procession, along a set route lined by fans and well-wishers. The route takes in some of London's most historic places: Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade and The Mall. Royal route: Interactive map . William and Kate will likely use the 1902 State Landau, which Prince Charles and his first wife, the late Diana, Princess of Wales also used at their wedding. If it's raining, the newlyweds will revert to the Glass Coach, which has a roof. The white-looking Windsor Greys, which are usually reserved for the Queen, will pull the newlyweds. Full details on the carriages . The reception . William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, will host a reception at Buckingham Palace for the couple's friends and family. Chefs prepare 10,000 canapes . It's traditional for the couple to make a public appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace before joining the reception. The whole world will be hoping for a romantic kiss from the newlyweds. Prince William chooses cake made from cookies! Later on, William's father, Prince Charles, will host a dinner for close friends and family at Buckingham Palace. Wedding gifts . The couple have asked that members of the public who would like to give them a gift instead donate to charity. They have set up a dedicated website where donations can be made. Charities from Canada, the UK and Australia will benefit and include Oily Cart, New Zealand Government Christchurch Earthquake Appeal and Earthwatch. The honeymoon . Clarence House hasn't yet disclosed where the couple will honeymoon. Once back, they will live on Anglesey, Wales, where Prince William works as a Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter pilot. What's next . The couple will go, on their first official trip, to Canada in June and visit Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and the National Capital Region.
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Royal Wedding explainer: The essentials for Kate Middleton and Prince William's nuptials .
Everything from ceremony times around the world to a who's who of the wedding party .
Need-to-know guide regularly updated with the latest news from the royal family .
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(PEOPLE.com) -- Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber squeezed in some very public displays of affection at a hockey game in Canada on Saturday night, but just one day earlier, they made a decidedly more private outing to a local animal shelter -- and quietly adopted a dog. Winnipeg animal rescue D'Arcy's A.R.C. got a surprise visit from the young lovebirds, who stopped by for some canine therapy. "They spent a lot of time with the puppies," the rescue's chief executive officer, D'Arcy Johnston, tells PEOPLE. "I was told that [Gomez] was missing the dogs that she has at home." Gomez, who is currently on tour and performed in Winnipeg over the weekend, owns five rescue dogs and has advocated publicly on behalf of animal rescue. During the hour she and Bieber spent at the shelter, they zeroed in on a 10-week-old husky mix and fell in love -- puppy love, that is. "I wasn't expecting her to adopt a dog while she was on tour and has a busy schedule," Johnston says. Gomez went through the standard screening process and was able to leave with the puppy, which she named Baylor, that day. "Baylor probably would have had a bad life or a very short life," Johnston says. "But he got rescued and brought to our shelter and is now going to live a very good life." See the full article at PEOPLE.com. © 2011 People and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
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Gomez and Bieber quietly adopted a dog .
Gomez is currently on tour .
Gomez and Bieber stopped by for some canine therapy .
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul has been fined $25,000 for criticizing a female official after a loss at Cleveland. The NBA announced the fine on Saturday. Paul was given a technical by rookie referee Lauren Holtkamp on Thursday night in the third quarter of a 105-94 loss to the Cavaliers, a game that featured five technicals against the Clippers. After the game, Paul called the technical on an inbounds play 'ridiculous' and said 'this might not be for her.' Holtkamp is one of only two female officials in the NBA. Paying: LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (left) has been fined $25,000 by the league for criticizing female referee Lauren Holtkamp (right) during the team's loss against Cleveland last week . Ouch: After the game, Paul (left) commented about the call and said that referring 'might not be for her' - referring to Holtkamp (right) Paul appeared to say something to her as he waited for an inbound pass after a Cavaliers' free throw. Paul said Friday that he was only upset with the call. The penalty is in line with others the NBA has levied for criticism of officials. Paul got his technical with 10 minutes 17 seconds left in the third. Following a free throw by Cleveland, the Clippers were attempting to inbound the ball quickly when Holtkamp stepped in. After the game Paul said: 'The tech I got was ridiculous. That's terrible. There's no way that can be a technical. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court. Fight: The foul in question happened in the third quarter, when the Clippers were trying to rebound a free throw. Paul was also slapped with a flagrant fould against Cleveland Cavalier Timofey Mozgov (right) in the second quarter . Holtkamp is one of just two female referees in the NBA. Pictured on the left officiating a game between the Orlando Magic and LA Lakers on January 9. Paul on the right during the game against Cleveland . 'When we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh'' I said, 'Why uh-uh?' and she gave me a technical. That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her.' Clippers coach Doc Rivers also received a technical and forward Matt Barnes was ejected in the third by Lewis after getting his second 'T.' Barnes got tangled up with Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, shoved him and got the technical. He got the second one when he complained about teammate Jamal Crawford getting called for a charging foul and told Lewis, 'Don't give them the game.' Barnes is tied for the league lead with 11 technicals and has been ejected twice. 'It keeps happening,' Barnes said. 'Some of these I earn, some of them I don't.' Loss: Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers yells to players during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in Cleveland. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 105-94 .
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The LA Clippers guard criticized female referee Lauren Holtkamp after the team's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last week .
Holtkamp, one of two female referees in the NBA, hit Paul with a technical foul in the third quarter .
After the game, Paul told reporters that refereeing 'might not be for her'
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(CNN) -- Iran executed a man in a rare public hanging in Tehran on Wednesday morning, local media reported. The man, identified only as "Yaqub," was convicted of stabbing a man to death in broad daylight in October, said the official Islamic Republic News Agency. The public hanging, which was attended by the victims' family and large crowds of onlookers, took place in the main square of the affluent northern Tehran neighborhood of Sa'adat Abad. The October murder sparked outrage amongst Tehran residents after videos of the stabbing surfaced on the Internet and were replayed on Iranian state television. The killing took place in front of two police officers, the news agency said. Although executions are common in Iran, public ones are not. A death sentence can be handed down for crimes from murder to adultery. The latest execution brings the total number this year to 20, according to a CNN count from local media reports. On Monday, Iranian authorities hanged seven convicted drug traffickers in the city of Kermanshah, the news agency said. Amnesty International says Iran only trails China in the number of executions worldwide.
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The man is convicted of stabbing another in broad daylight, news agency says .
Executions are common in Iran; public ones are not .
Amnesty International: Iran trails China in the number of executions worldwide .
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Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- Shot in the head less than a week ago, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues to make positive progress, her husband and doctors told CNN in exclusive interviews on Thursday. The chief of neurosurgery at Tucson's University Medical Center said that Giffords' eye movements suggest the congresswoman is experiencing "glimmers of recognition." "That tracking of the eyes tells you a whole lot more, that she's aware of her surroundings to some extent," Dr. Michael Lemole told Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent. "She's trying to engage that reality." Giffords opened her eyes briefly for the first time Wednesday, with her husband, her parents and other members of Congress in the room, and continued to open them on Thursday. "It was extraordinary," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who was holding Giffords' hand when she opened her eyes on Wednesday. "It was a miracle to witness." The incident occurred shortly after President Barack Obama had visited Giffords in her hospital room. "I think she realized the president of the United States was there, but I'm not sure she knew why," Mark Kelly, Giffords' husband, told CNN Thursday in an exclusive interview. Giffords' breathing tube could be removed as early as Friday, Kelly said. Less than an hour after his Wednesday visit, given permission to disclose the information by Kelly, Obama electrified a memorial-service crowd and a national television audience by revealing one of the most promising pieces of news about Gifford's condition to emerge since an assassination attempt against her on Saturday. Giffords was squeezing and stroking Gillibrand's hand, as doctors previously said she had been able to do. Giffords "absolutely could hear everything we were saying," Gillibrand said. "And Debbie (Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida) and I were telling her how much she was inspiring the nation with her courage, her strength, and we were talking about the things we wanted to do as soon as she was better." Gillibrand mentioned having another night out with Giffords and her husband for beer and pizza. And Wasserman Schultz recounted telling her, "Come on, you've got to get better, because we expect you up in New Hampshire this summer" at Wasserman Schultz's vacation home. "And just as I said that, that's when she suddenly was struggling to open ... her eyes," Wasserman Schultz said. "First just a little bit. And the doctors couldn't believe it. They said, 'This is such a good time.' " Kelly saw her struggling, Gillibrand said, and he and the others began to encourage her, saying, "Open your eyes, Gabby. Open your eyes." And Giffords did. Her right eye remains bandaged, but Giffords is opening both of them, doctors said Thursday . "She took a moment to focus, you could see she was focusing," Gillibrand said. "And then Mark said ... 'Gabby, if you can see me, if you can see me, give us a thumbs-up ... She didn't only give a thumbs-up, she literally raised her entire hand." But Giffords didn't stop there, Gillibrand said. She reached out and grabbed her husband "and is touching him and starts to really choke him like she was really trying to hug him." He asked her to touch his wedding ring, "and she touches his ring, then she grabs his whole watch and wrist and then the doctor was just so excited, he said, 'You don't understand ... this is amazing what she is doing right now and beyond our greatest hopes.' " "It was, as you can imagine, a glorious moment," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who was also in the room. Of the six patients the hospital is still treating from Saturday's shooting, Giffords is the only one in critical condition. Four others are in fair condition, and the sixth was being released from the hospital Thursday, said Dr. Peter Rhee, medical director of the University Medical Center's trauma center. Giffords remains in critical condition because doctors are worried about her losing ground, said Lemole. Giffords' doctors spoke exclusively to CNN Thursday about the first moments after her arrival at the hospital. "My first response was I grabbed her hand, leaned into her an said 'Ms. Giffords, you're in the hospital, we're going to care for you, please squeeze my hand' and she did," said Dr. Randall Friese, a trauma surgeon. "I got the impression that she was trying to communicate but was frustrated by the fact that she couldn't communicate," he said. In some of his first public comments since Saturday's shooting, Giffords' husband told CNN he was in Houston when he got a call saying that his wife had been shot. Worried that a commercial flight would take too long, Kelly, a NASA astronaut, flew in a friend's plane to Arizona and met Giffords in the intensive care unit after surgery. A 9-year-old girl, Christina Green, and Arizona's chief federal judge, John Roll, are among the dead, along with Gabe Zimmerman, a Giffords staffer. A funeral mass was held for Green on Thursday. Also Thursday, first lady Michelle Obama released an open letter to parents about the shooting. "In the days and weeks ahead, as we struggle with these issues ourselves, many of us will find that our children are struggling with them as well," she wrote. "The questions my daughters have asked are the same ones that many of your children will have -- and they don't lend themselves to easy answers." "But they will provide an opportunity for us as parents to teach some valuable lessons -- about the character of our country, about the values we hold dear, and about finding hope at a time when it seems far away," the first lady continued. Authorities say Giffords was the target of the shooting. Twelve other people suffered gunshot wounds, the Pima County Sheriff has said, while others were injured trying to flee the scene. Tucson resident Jared Lee Loughner, 22, is facing federal charges in the attack. A bag that is believed to belong to Loughner contains the same kind of ammunition as was used in Saturday's massacre, authorities said Thursday. Even when Giffords' prognosis was grim, she has consistently defied the odds and met or exceeded expectations. The next step, doctors told reporters Thursday, is the removal of Giffords' breathing tube. She is breathing on her own "with very little support," Rhee said, but he wasn't sure when the tube might come out. Giffords is "becoming more and more alert at this time," he said, telling reporters she acts like someone waking up in the morning -- yawning and rubbing her eyes. She has been opening her eyes more often since Wednesday, Lemole said. "This is all very encouraging," he said. "... It is a significant move forward." Rhee said Giffords has been undergoing physical therapy, in which staffers sit her up with her legs dangling off the side of the bed. When asked, she can move both legs, straightening them out, he said. Safeway, which owns the grocery store where the shooting took place, took out a full-page ad in Tucson's Arizona Daily Star newspaper Thursday, saying it is proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply about one another. The company is working to reopen the store, it said. Doctors have cautiously described Giffords' recovery as going according to plan, so far absent of any complications or issues, and have said throughout that she has been able to communicate when they lessen her sedation and allow her to awaken. Lemole said he was in the room when Giffords opened her eyes, saying it might have been the "unexpected familiarity" of having close friends visit that perhaps Giffords wasn't expecting. "This is the part that doctors, I think, have the hardest time with -- those intangibles in medicine," he said, referring to the role that family and friends can play in prompting patient progress. "Miracles happen every day," Lemole said. "... A lot of medicine is outside our control." CNN's Steve Dolce contributed to this report.
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NEW: Surgeon says Giffords responded to request to squeeze his hand before surgery .
Doctor: Giffords' eye movements suggest "glimmers of recognition"
Giffords' husband: "I think she realized the president" visited her Wednesday .
Gabrielle Giffords opens her eyes with friends in the room on Wednesday .
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Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- An American aid worker died from a gunshot wound suffered in the southern African nation of Lesotho, the Peace Corps said in a statement. Peace Corps volunteer Thomas Maresco, 24, died in the country's capital, Maseru, on Friday. "The deceased was attending a farewell function at the Maseru Sun Cabanas Hotel ... he and a female friend decided to return to the center on foot even though their vehicles were waiting outside the Hotel," Inspector Lekhotla Mojete, of the Lesotho police, told CNN in a phone interview from Maseru. "The area the hotel is in is very safe -- with not much crime, but we think they were observed leaving the hotel on foot and when they were returning, (an) assailant was waiting outside the Hotel," Mojete said. "The stranger started making demands of them, which they didn't fully understand and (the assailant) then shot the deceased." He said the woman accompanying Maresco rushed back into the hotel to get help, but police were unable to find the gunman when the arrived on scene. "We believe this was a robbery," Mojete said. A description of the attacker was provided to law enforcement officials by the woman. No arrests have been made yet and an autopsy was scheduled. "Tom was an exceptional volunteer, leader, teacher and coach -- he was an integral part of his host community where he shared his passion for teaching, music and sports," said Aaron S. Williams, the Peace Corps' global director. "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and I ask that you keep Tom's family, and our volunteers and staff in Lesotho in your thoughts and prayers." The statement said that Maresco is from Port St. Lucie, Florida. He taught secondary education in the highlands district of Thaba-Tseka since November 2009. Maresco was scheduled to serve until January 2012. Maresco's work also involved HIV awareness in the communities he served, according to the Peace Corps. Peace Corps has 91 volunteers in Lesotho. More than 2,100 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in the nation since 1967. The tiny country in southern Africa is roughly the size of Belgium or the U.S. state of Maryland, according to the Peace Corps. Its border is completely surrounded by the nation of South Africa. CNN's Les Neuhaus contributed to this story.
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Volunteer Thomas Maresco, 24, was teaching secondary education .
Robbery may have been a motive for the attack .
91 Peace Corps volunteers are in Lesotho .
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08ae1e0f12d64bd99ea222df405f76d2b6853a1a
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The former teacher of a 19-year-old track star who killed herself because she could not deal with the pressures of college life is a step closer in his push for new laws to help potentially suicidal students. Edward Modica, 64, who taught Madison Holleran in the fifth grade, launched an online petition for change after his former student jumped to her death from a parking garage in January 2014. Madison, who was a popular and talented runner on the University of Pennsylvania's track team, had sought help for depression just weeks before her death in Spruce Street, Philadelphia. In his petition, launched last March, Mr Modica urged universities to take action to prevent other undergraduates from killing themselves to escape the 'pressures of college expectations'. Call for action: Edward Modica (right), 64, who taught Madison Holleran (left) in the fifth grade, launched an online petition for change after his former student jumped to her death from a parking garage last January . Tragic: Madison, who was a talented runner on the University of Pennsylvania's track team, had sought help for depression just weeks before her death in Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Above, Madison and mother Stacy . 'Rigorous demands': In his petition, launched last March, Mr Modica urged universities to take action to prevent other undergraduates from killing themselves to escape the 'pressures of college expectations' He proposed the Madison Holleran Law, which has two provisions. Firstly, that colleges be required to 'publicly list the number suicides and attempted suicides on their campuses annually'. Secondly, that colleges be ordered to have certified suicide prevention counselors 'to help potential victims, address their needs and allay their fears about the rigorous demands of college life.' The petition, which stated that the freshman's death 'left a void in the hearts of so many people across the United States', quickly spread online. A year on, it has gained nearly 8,500 signatures. And now, it is closer to influencing the passage of new state laws after Mr Modica, who taught Madison at Brookside School in Allendale, New Jersey, turned to a politically active friend. The retired teacher approached Pamela Philipp, who worked for many years in politics and helped push another law regarding fatal genetic diseases in children through the state legislature. He told her of Madison Holleran Law and the lives he believed it could save. Philipp offered to help, telling him that the proposal would likely be divided into two separate bills based on its provisions. Victim: He proposed the Madison Holleran Law, which has two provisions relating to how universities deal with potentially suicidal students. Above, Madison (left) with her father James and (right) smiling with a friend . School: Mr Modica taught Madison in the fifth grade at Brookside School (pictured) in Allendale, New Jersey . Final moments: The freshman posted this shot of Rittenhouse Square to Instagram an hour before her death . She then set up a meeting at the Wayne offices of Sen. Kevin O'Toole and Assemblyman Scott Rumana. The pair represent the 40th legislative district, including Madison's hometown of Allendale. O'Toole and Rumana's office told NJ.com that the bills are currently being drafted. Philipp believes that the second of the two bills - relating to on-site counselors - will be an easier sell. 'As long as something is passed in her honor to help other young adults then I'm pleased,' Mr Modica told the news site, adding that Madison's grief-stricken family support his efforts. According to the Suicide Prevention Center, about seven per cent of undergraduates in America seriously consider suicide as a way to escape their academic demands and other issues. 'It seems, unfortunately, that suicides have become a regular occurrence on campuses,' Mr Modica, who also taught Madison's two sisters, told the New York Daily News last year. 'This would allow parents to know what's going on and the parents could delve into those issues before school begins.' Madison's suicide last year rocked the UPenn community and sent shock waves through Allendale. Before her death, the teenager had told her parents she was seeing a therapist for depression. Embrace: James Holleran (center) is comforted by a mourner ahead of the funeral of his daughter last year . Heartbreaking: Mourners, including Mr Holleran (center) leave a memorial mass for 19-year-old Madison . 'We knew she needed help,' her father, James Holleran, told the New York Post. 'She knew she needed help. She had lost confidence in academics and in her track abilities.' Speaking through tears, he added: 'There was a lot more pressure in the classroom at Penn. She wasn't normal happy Madison. Now she had worries and stress.' Although he and his wife Stacy had encouraged their daughter to stay home or transfer to a different college, the determined teen had insisted on staying at school, he said. On the day that Madison jumped to her death, her father texted her encouraging her to see a therapist for some anti-depressants, and she said she would. Scene: Madison Holleran jumped to her death from this Spruce St, Philadelphia parking garage last January . But just hours later, she took her life. She left her parents a note and gifts for her family on top of the parking garage before she jumped. She finished the note: 'I love you all... I'm sorry, I love you.' Madison's family have launched a foundation in her name to help prevent suicides. This year, they are also awarding a scholarship to students at her high school, Northern Highlands, in her name.
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Edward Modica began petition after Madison Holleran committed suicide .
Penn track star jumped to her death off parking garage in January 2014 .
Mr Modica declared new laws were needed to deal with college suicides .
Urged institutions to help students deal with 'demands of university life'
Now, he is step closer in efforts after meeting with New Jersey officials .
Bills are now being drafted in the Senator's and Assemblyman's offices .
Mr Modica taught Madison in fifth grade at Brookside School, Allendale .
For confidential support in the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org.
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Washington (CNN) -- While administrations come and go, and power in Congress teeters between political parties, one thing remains constant in the lives of Washington, D.C.'s, elite: the power lunch. Between noon and 2 p.m., brokers meet to clinch deals, with the emphasis more on power than on lunch. Just steps from Capitol Hill, Charlie Palmer is one of the places to see and be seen at lunchtime. Depending on the week, the modern American steakhouse serves between 70 and 80 congressmen and between 20 and 30 senators. "I'd bet we've had every member of Congress and every senator in the restaurant at some point," says Matt Hill, executive chef for the famed eatery. It's not just the proximity to Capitol Hill that draws Washington's elite to Charlie Palmer. The restaurant has several private dining areas -- including a rooftop with scenic views of the city -- and an executive chef who prides himself on serving homemade, inventive fare. "We do anything, we've got senators from Hawaii that come in, and they ask for Hawaiian hors d'oeurves, we've got, you know, people from Texas that ask for things from Texas," Hill says. "So, we can really vary the menu, and it makes it interesting for me to try to come up with new ideas." Thirty-seven years ago, Tommy Jacomo moved to Washington with his brother and built The Palm with his bare hands. Now, as executive director of the famed power spot, Jacomo is known by Washington's elite as the keeper of the keys to The Palm. Everyone knows him. "It's pretty frightening, yeah, you can't even walk down the street sometimes, Jacomo said. "People say, 'Hey, Tommy! Put me down for two at 12:30,' and I don't even know who the hell they are." The Palm has hosted every president from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton. President Obama has yet to make a visit. But it's not just presidents who visit The Palm. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has frequented the restaurant since the Clinton administration. Cabinet secretaries including Madeleine Albright, administration officials, senators and representatives, Supreme Court justices, the city's top lobbyists, lawyers, strategists and media elites are all regulars at the Dupont Circle steakhouse. And if you become a regular, you get your picture on the wall. "People used to think when we first opened up that we had all the [portraits of] Republicans on one side and all the [portraits of] Democrats on the other side," Jacomo said. "It's not really as much thought behind it. It just goes up, it's good customers, loyal customers, famous people, infamous people, and I decide where I want to put them when I get the chance," he joked, pointing out the minimal space left on the wall. Not everyone is willing to put their picture on the wall. James Carville and Mary Matalin, who are political strategists and CNN contributors, chose to have their dogs' portraits on the wall instead of their own. While steakhouses remain a favorite, not all power restaurants dish out filet mignon. Steps from the White House are three of Washington's oldest power spots: The Oval Room, which serves up American fare; Bombay Club, which is Indian; and Old Ebbitt Grille, which also specializes in American cuisine. Cafe Milano, in Georgetown, and The Monocle and Johnny's Half Shell, on Capitol Hill, also remain abuzz with some of the most prominent people in Washington. Italian restaurant Posto on 14th Street has become a favorite among younger administration staffers because of its laid-back atmosphere and expansive dining room. Posto's sister restaurant Tosca, owned by Paolo Sacco, has kept D.C.'s top lobbyists and politicians coming back since it opened in 2001. Not only known for the power scene and homemade Italian cuisine, Tosca has set itself apart from others by having some of the most attentive waitstaff in the city. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, known by friends as a big foodie, has dined at Tosca, as have Emanuel and Obama adviser David Axelrod. The Washington Post reported that former Sen. Tom Daschle convinced then-freshman Sen. Obama to run for president at the Italian eatery. The newest member of the Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, is known by friends as a "very adventurous diner." She is a fan of Lebanese Taverna, in Woodley Park, which serves up Middle Eastern fare. Serving up inventive sushi dishes like a fish-and-chips roll, or wasabi guacamole with wonton chips, SEI in Penn Quarter has established itself as a newcomer to the power scene, along with its neighbors Rasika and Oyamel -- all reported to have recently hosted first lady Michelle Obama. "One of the things that's been sort of fun to watch over the course of this year is the Obamas have eaten out in a wide variety of places," says Garrett Graff, editor of Washingtonian magazine. "You've seen them come and get burgers up here on the Hill, you've seen them go out for burgers in Virginia, you've also seen them go out to some of the nicest restaurants in the city, like Citronelle and Blue Duck Tavern, where they went this fall for their anniversary dinner. But then you see Barack eating on his own -- he's going to a place like Ben's Chili Bowl or he's going to a place like Ray's Hell Burger." Graff points out one top restaurant at which the Obamas have yet to dine. "They still haven't been to what is widely considered to be the city's best restaurant, which is a small Greek place near Dupont Circle called Komi," Graff said. "But one of the challenges with a place like Komi is that it's very small and books up far in advance, so it might be hard for the Obamas to sort of drop in there like they've been dropping in at a lot of these other restaurants."
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The power lunch is a constant of Washington's elite .
Executive chef of Charlie Palmer says every member of Congress has been in .
Most presidents since Nixon have dined at The Palm .
The Oval Room, Bombay Club and Old Ebbitt Grille are steps from the White House .
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(CNN) -- The sister of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says there are no hard feelings after a "leaked" family photo raised questions about online etiquette and privacy on the social network. Randi Zuckerberg, Facebook's former marketing chief and producer of the Bravo reality series "Silicon Valley," posted a photo Wednesday of her family laughing with their smartphones while apparently playing with Facebook's new Poke app. In the background of the photo, taken in a spacious kitchen, is her brother Mark, sporting his trademark hoodie. It's unclear exactly what happened next. Either Zuckerberg accidentally made the photo available to all her subscribers instead of only her friends, or a friend of a friend saw it when one of Zuckerberg's friends "liked" or commented on it. Either way, Callie Schweitzer, a marketing director for Vox Media, saw it and shared it on Twitter with her 40,000 followers. "@randizuckerberg demonstrates her family's response to Poke," she wrote, with a link to the photo. Zuckerberg quickly replied: "Not sure where you got this photo. I posted it only to friends on FB. You reposting it on Twitter is way uncool." She then turned around and offered more general commentary to 132,000 followers of her own. "Digital etiquette: always ask permission before posting a friend's photo publicly. It's not about privacy settings, it's about human decency," she wrote. (Most of those comments have since been deleted but were captured by tech blogs and other sites.) What, if anything, the incident says about Facebook's privacy policies is subject to debate. Some Internet wags were quick to pounce on the episode as an ironic example of Facebook's confusing privacy settings: See? Protecting your information on Facebook is so tricky that even a former Facebook executive couldn't do it. But who among us has never misclicked something in a drop-down menu? And if Schweitzer did, in fact, see the photo because a friend commented on it, that's how Facebook is supposed to work -- unless users have adjusted their default settings. Privacy, though, is always a tricky business for the social megasite. This month, Facebook announced an overhaul to its privacy settings, addressing past complaints that the tools available to clamp down on one's profile are scattered and hard to find, much less use. And Instagram, the Facebook-owned photo apps, recently backed down on a controversial change to its terms of use that appeared to give the company the right to sell photos to advertisers. That said, all appears to have ended well in Randi Zuckerberg's case. Schweitzer quickly issued a mea culpa. "I'm just your subscriber and this was top of my newsfeed. Genuinely sorry but it came up in my feed and seemed public," she tweeted to Zuckerberg. And later: "fwiw, I thought the photo was incredibly endearing which is why I liked it. We never see humans on the Internet!" By Thursday, Zuckerberg was putting a happy face on the whole thing. "Fwiw, I've been exchanging emails w/ @cschweitz & she seems lovely," she wrote. "The silver lining? Glad to see a thoughtful debate on sharing/etiquette."
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Randi Zuckerberg, former Facebook exec and CEO's sister, in flap over shared photo .
She said a family photo on Facebook was for friends, but it was seen and shared on Twitter .
Some say issue speaks to confusion over Facebook's privacy controls .
Zuckerberg says it's about etiquette, not privacy and that all is well .
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Miami (CNN) -- Former teen idol David Cassidy was ordered to serve a year of probation and had his license suspended for six months after pleading no contest Wednesday to a DUI charge in Florida. Among the other terms of the plea, the former star of the TV series "The Partridge Family" must attend DUI school, pay a $500 fine and serve 50 hours of community service, said Gayle Braun, supervisor of the misdemeanor and juvenile divisions of the state attorney's office for the judicial circuit encompassing St. Lucie County. The sentence was the minimum mandatory sentence for all first-time DUI offenders who plead no contest. The attorney for the 60-year-old actor and musician entered the plea for his client, who was not present in court. A Florida Highway Patrol officer stopped him in Fort Pierce last November after his Mercedes left the roadway and went onto the shoulder rumble strip two times before cutting off another car at an exit ramp, the police report said. Cassidy failed roadside sobriety tests and registered at 0.14% blood alcohol content on a breath test, nearly twice the state's 0.08% legal limit, according to the arrest report. The singer-actor "appeared to be somewhat confused" and was "very apologetic for having to be stopped," the arresting officer said. Police found a half-empty bottle of bourbon under the seat of Cassidy's Mercedes, although he told the officer he had consumed only one glass of wine with lunch several hours earlier, the report said. He also told the officer he had taken a hydrocodone pill -- a pain medication also known as Vicodin -- about three hours earlier. On the TV series, Cassidy played the eldest of five children of a widowed mother (Shirley Jones, who was Cassidy's real-life step-mother). The family -- all of them musicians -- traveled to gigs in a repainted school bus. When the show was canceled after four seasons, Cassidy launched his own pop music career, filling concert halls with screaming teen-aged girls attracted to such hits as "I Think I Love You." His most recent acting job was on the 2009 ABC Family sitcom "Ruby & the Rockits," in which Cassidy played an aging former teen heartthrob. The show was canceled after one season.
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Former star of "The Partridge Family" ordered to serve a year of probation .
Cassidy also had his license suspended for six months .
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A teenager has been viciously stabbed to death as he tried to flee a gang of youths. The victim, named locally as Danny O'Shea, was chased and had his throat slashed outside his mother's front door in Newham, east London last night. Paramedics fought for 30 minutes to save the 18-year-old's life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene in front of horrified neighbours at 6.50pm. Killed: Tragic Danny O'Shea was chased for 300 yards and stabbed by a gang before he died outside his mother's front door . Police have yet to establish whether the teen's mother was in at the time when her son was chased 300 yards before the attack outside the house. Tributes have already started pouring in to a memorial group on Facebook, which has attracted over 500 people. Friends of Danny O'Shea today said the 18-year-old 'wouldn't hurt a fly'.Danny's family were said to be too 'devastated' to speak about his death. However a friend, speaking outside the family home, said: 'Danny wouldn't hurt a fly, he was completely harmless. 'His family are devastated.' A large patch of dried blood was still clearly visible opposite the groundfloor flat. A door of a neighbour's home had been taken off for forensic testing and replaced. Tributes: Hundreds have taken to Facebook to pay tribute to Danny O'Shea, who died from stab wounds . Paramedics tried to revive Danny at the scene, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. There have been no arrests and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Piles of flowers covered the drive of the family home, with balloons, a single candle and pictures with tributes including one from his sister reading 'to my darling bro, we love you so much. 'Dan you're one in 1000's millions RIP. Angel forever, love Jessie, Georgie, James, Lauren, Isabella and Phoebe.' A steady stream of family and friends visited the family home, many in tears and some carrying flowers. The teen's grandfather, Michael O'Shea, told The Sunday Mirror: 'He was a wonderful lad. We're all in shock.' A police spokesman said earlier that next of kin had been informed but formal identification had not yet taken place. Murder hunt: The scene where an 18 year-old was chased down the street and stabbed to death . There have been no arrests. John MacDonald, detective chief inspector of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: 'We believe that the victim may have been chased from Butchers Road at the junction of Hooper Road down into Boreham Avenue, E16. 'The people chasing him comprised of a group of black males.'
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Danny O'Shea chased and knifed outside his mother's front door .
Teenager 'wouldn't hurt a fly' according to friends .
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A convoy of British diplomats made it safely into Tunisia from Libya despite an attack on its vehicles Sunday, British officials said. "There was an attempted carjacking of a British Embassy convoy this morning," UK Ambassador Michael Aron said in a Twitter posting Sunday. "Shots were fired at our vehicles but all safe." Several Western embassies, including those of Britain and the United States, were evacuated over the weekend as heavy militia violence raged in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The German government renewed its "urgent call for citizens to leave Libya" because of the dangers of kidnappings and fighting. Britain warned its citizens against all travel to Libya and asked that any of them in the country "leave now" by commercial means, which is made difficult by the limited flights out of the main airport. 'Libya is reaching a critical stage' Fighting in Tripoli and Benghazi is the worst seen since the revolution that overthrew the regime of Moammar Gadhafi nearly three years ago. The central government has been outgunned by increasingly powerful militias. Witnesses reported heavy shelling and fighting around the Tripoli international airport Sunday, which has been under attack by an alliance of powerful militias from the city of Misrata and Islamist militias. The fighters are trying to take it from militias from the city of Zintan, which have controlled it since the 2011 revolution. Dozens of people, including some women and children, died in fighting in Benghazi in recent days, according to the Libyan state news agency. Intense shelling continued Sunday, the reports said. Violence erupted in Benghazi last Monday when Islamist militias attacked military bases in the city. The Libyan Health Ministry said at least 32 people who were killed and 62 wounded were taken to the Benghazi medical center on Saturday and Sunday. The ministry counted at least 97 killed and 404 wounded in Tripoli over the past two weeks. The casualty numbers do not count those taken to smaller field hospitals. Envoys from the Arab League, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement Saturday calling for "a ceasefire from all sides." "The situation in Libya is reaching a critical stage. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing violence across the country and its humanitarian consequences," the envoys said. The statement called for "a willingness to compromise" by all sides in "an inclusive political dialogue on the back of the ceasefire agreement." U.N. 'should play a leading role' The United Nations "should play a leading role in reaching a ceasefire in conjunction with the Libyan government and other internal partners, with the full support of the international envoys," the statement said. The U.N. and other international organizations and businesses temporarily evacuated staff from Libya earlier this month. The envoys also said Libya's recently elected Council of Representatives "must have the opportunity to convene according to the time table set out in the law" and "carry out its tasks in a spirit of inclusiveness, moderation and in the interest of the country." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, at the U.S. Embassy in Paris meeting with the Turkish and Qatari foreign ministers Saturday, called upon various factions to engage in a political process, saying "the current course of violence would only bring chaos." Kerry added that due to the "freewheeling militia violence that is taking place in Tripoli" the U.S., along with other countries including Turkey, has "suspended our current diplomatic activities at the Embassy." 'Robust package of military forces' standing by . The U.S. evacuated its 150 personnel, including 80 U.S. Marines, from the embassy in Tripoli on Saturday. Their convoy drove across the border into Tunisia, U.S. officials confirm to CNN. U.S. officials stress operations have been "temporarily suspended" until "the security situation on the ground improves." The embassy will continue to operate from other locations. A senior State Department official said some of the staff will be sent to other U.S. embassies in the region and others will return to Washington. U.S. President Barack Obama approved the State Department recommendation to temporarily relocate personnel because of the "ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity" of the embassy, a White House official said. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is "currently exploring options for a permanent return to Tripoli as soon as the security situation on the ground improves. In the interim, staff will operate from Washington and other posts in the region," Harf said in a statement. "Securing our facilities and ensuring the safety of our personnel are top Department priorities, and we did not make this decision lightly. Security has to come first. Regrettably, we had to take this step because the location of our embassy is in very close proximity to intense fighting and ongoing violence between armed Libyan factions." The Pentagon had a "robust package of military forces" in the vicinity but out of sight, ready to move in if the convoy of evacuees had come under attack. Two F-16s were on combat air patrol overhead, while a drone tracked the convoy to the border and a Navy destroyer watched from offshore in the Mediterranean, CNN learned. An "airborne response force" of several dozen Marines was on V-22 Osprey aircraft flying nearby, prepared to land and protect the Americans if they came under attack during the transit to the Tunisian border. The Pentagon had pressed for weeks to evacuate the embassy, especially after the Tripoli airport came under repeated militia attack, leaving Americans no way to get out via commercial air, the official said. The decision to use vehicles to drive the Americans across the border was seen as the best low-profile approach to conducting the evacuation rather than sending U.S. military helicopters and troops into Tripoli. This comes nearly two years after attacks on U.S. government facilities in the Libyan city of Benghazi. The assaults of September 11-12, 2012, left four Americans dead, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, and spawned political controversy in Washington. Republican lawmakers have claimed the Obama administration tried to mislead the public about the cause of the attacks and should have done more to prevent them. GOP critics say they plan to make Benghazi an issue for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, under whose watch the attacks occurred, should she decide to run for president.
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British diplomats are safe after attack on evacuation convoy .
Germany renews an "urgent call for citizens to leave Libya"
"The situation in Libya is reaching a critical stage," envoys say .
Dozens died in fighting in Benghazi on Saturday, reports say .
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Suspected Boko Haram militants kidnapped at least 20 young women over the weekend in northeastern Nigeria, 8 kilometers from a town where more than 200 schoolgirls were taken nearly two months ago, local officials said Monday. The incident in the village of Garkin Fulani is the latest in a series of abductions for ransom in the area, according to an official with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, the umbrella union of all nomadic Fulani in the country. The MACBAN official, who is in Garkin Fulani, put the number of women kidnapped at as many as 40. The suspected militants came into the village in broad daylight on Saturday, heavily armed and wearing military uniforms. "(They) took away 40 women, all of them young mothers," said the official, who asked not to be named for safety reasons. A Borno state official confirmed the abduction but said only 20 women were abducted. "We are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction," the government official said on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak about the incident. Alhaji Tar, a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, a loosely formed civilian force tasked with providing security, also put the number at 20, along with three young men who were left to look after the village while the other men took their cattle to graze in the bush. The location of the women is still unknown and the kidnappers have not made contact with their families, Tar said. "This is not the first time women are being kidnapped in this area. It has happened several times," said the MACBAN official. "They come and herd young women into their vehicles and will only release them when 30 to 40 herds of cattle are paid as ransom." The fear of deadly reprisals prevents the nomads from seeking military assistance, he said. The terror group Boko Haram abducted an estimated 276 girls on April 14 from a boarding school in Chibok. Dozens escaped, but more than 200 girls are still missing. The kidnapping drew widespread international condemnation. Nigerians and others have accused the government of not acting swiftly or efficiently enough to protect the girls seized in the dead of night. Mike Omeri, the coordinator of the National Information Centre in charge of counterterrorism, was unaware of the latest reported kidnapping. "We have not received any information on the kidnap of any Fulani women," Omeri said. Omeri did, however, note a Nigerian military operation over the weekend that killed 50 suspected Boko Haram militants in Bita village, near Garkin Fulani. The soldiers recovered 30 Kalashnikovs, 36 grenades, 11 rocket-propelled grenades and seven automatic rifles, Omeri said. The Ministry of Defense also confirmed the operation. Boko Haram translates as "Western education is a sin" in the Hausa language. The militant group says its aim is to impose a stricter enforcement of Sharia law across Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south. Last week, hundreds of people were killed in raids by suspected Boko Haram militants in Borno state. Local officials estimated between 400 and 500 villagers killed. If the death toll is confirmed, it will be the worst attack by Boko Haram in its five-year insurgency that has killed thousands, mostly in the northeast.
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One official puts the number of women kidnapped at 40 .
The abduction takes place in broad daylight by suspected militants from Boko Haram .
The group is behind the April kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls .
Saturday's kidnapping happens 8 kilometers from where the schoolgirls were taken .
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08b1319d7a00848a21f3f90f8e2ee5e35d0b83cb
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(CNN) -- Defending champions Chelsea marched five points clear at the top of the English Premier League on Saturday with a 2-0 victory that left Wolverhampton in the relegation zone. Carlo Ancelotti's team bounced back from last weekend's goalless draw at Aston Villa to put the onus on title rivals Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United. Arsenal travel to City on Sunday, while United face a potentially tricky clash with Stoke in the club's first match since England striker Wayne Rooney -- who is sidelined with injury -- made a surprise turnaround and decided to sign a new five-year contract after threatening to leave. Chelsea faced a Wolves team who had not won since the opening day of the season, but made hard work of the victory after taking the lead in the 23rd minute. Nicolas Anelka helped Yuri Zhirkov -- his fellow goalscorer in the midweek Champions League win over Spartak Moscow -- set up France winger Florent Malouda for the opener. The visitors belied their lowly league position and squandered several chances to equalize, coming closest when halftime substitute Stephen Hunt's header was cleared off the line by Michael Essien. Hunt was booed when he came on the pitch by the home fans, who have still not forgiven him for the collision that left Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech with a fractured skull four years ago. Salomon Kalou replaced Malouda with 18 minutes to play, and the Ivory Coast forward made it 2-0 on 81 when he finished off a series of passes involving him, Essien and Didier Drogba, who returned from injury to lead the attack. Tottenham Hotspur moved up to third place with a 1-1 home draw against Everton in Saturday's early kick-off, after Rafael van der Vaart's first-half strike equaled Leighton Baines' goal for the visitors. Defender Baines put David Moyes' men ahead at White Hart Lane in the 17th minute with a deftly-struck left-foot free-kick that sailed into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the area, but the advantage proved to be short-lived. Spurs, who made three changes to the side who lost 4-3 to Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek, equalized three minutes later. Capitalizing on a defensive mix-up between Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and Phil Neville from a deep cross, Van der Vaart celebrated his return from European suspension to slot home his fourth of the season on 19 minutes when the ball fell at his feet just yards from the goal line. Everton looked to have greater energy as the game progressed though Yakubu, who had managed well as Everton's only forward, was replaced with France striker Louis Saha after sustaining an injury. The move prompted Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp to shuffle his pack and introduce the presence of striker Roman Pavlyuchenko in place of speedy winger Aaron Lennon, as both sides gambled for the win. Promoted West Brom joined Tottenham on 15 points with a 2-1 victory at home to Fulham, moving up to fourth place ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United. Roberto Di Matteo's team, had to come from behind after Scott Carson could only push Zoltan Gera's ninth-minute effort onto the post -- and the ball bounced back off the former England goalkeeper and into the net. But Congo midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu leveled eight minutes later after collecting Chris Brunt's throughball and beating keeper Mark Schwarzer. Striker Marc-Antoine Fortune made it 2-1 five minutes before halftime with a cool finish after winger Jerome Thomas cut the ball back from the byline. Fulham boss Mark Hughes brought on former England striker Andy Johnson for his first appearance since January, but his team could not equalize and have now not won away since the opening day in August. Sunderland moved up to seventh place after beating Aston Villa 1-0 to end a run of five successive draws, as Richard Dunne's first-half own-goal proved the difference between the teams. The Republic of Ireland defender could only divert French midfielder Steed Malbranque's 25th-minute cross into his own net, and Villa earlier saw winger Stewart Downing hit the post and striker Emile Heskey completely miskicked in front of goal in the second half. Sunderland have scored just 11 times in nine league matches -- seven from England striker Darren Bent, two from record signing Asamoah Gyan, and two own-goals. Bolton joined Sunderland on 12 points with a 1-1 draw at Wigan, who moved above Fulham into 14th place. Wigan took the lead just before the hour mark through Colombia striker Hugo Rodallega, but Sweden forward Johan Elmander leveled in the 66th minute. Birmingham moved up to 12th place with a 2-0 win over Blackpool, who also have 10 points along with Everton, Stoke and Wigan. Defender Liam Ridgewell scored Birmingham's first home goal since August 21 in the 36th minute, nodding in from close range after Nikola Zigic headed against the crossbar. The giant Serbia striker scored his second goal in successive matches 10 minutes after the halftime break when Blackpool could not clear Ridgewell's cross. Newcastle won 2-1 at bottom club West Ham in the late match to move above Villa on goal difference, with young striker Andy Carroll netting a 68th-minute winner for his fifth league goal this season. West Ham went ahead in the 12th minute through striker Carlton Cole's first of the campaign, but visiting captain Kevin Nolan leveled 10 minutes later.
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Chelsea beat lowly Wolverhampton 2-0 to move five points clear of Manchester City .
City host Arsenal on Sunday, when title rivals Manchester United travel to Stoke .
Tottenham move up to third place with a 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Everton .
Promoted West Brom climb up to fourth, also on 15 points, after beating Fulham .
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British embassies are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds to woo foreign visitors at lavish parties around the world. Spending on entertainment and hospitality by British diplomats seems to have increased - with almost £350,000 spent by just five embassies in the last two years. The spending appears to resemble the parties popularised in the Ferrero Rocher adverts, where overseas guests at posh soirees are presented with the expensive chocolates and utter the infamous line 'Ambassador, you are really spoiling us.' British embassies have spent £350,000 on entertaining guests abroad, resembling the lavish parties made famous by the Ferrero Rocher advert, where a guest utters the line 'Ambassador, you are really spoiling us' And it would appear that British diplomats really are spoiling their guests. At just five British diplomatic bases Brazil, Mexico, Bangladesh, Turkey and Holland £210,000 was spent on entertaining in 2013. This is an increase on £137,000 spent the year before. The figures were revealed by the Labour party which has called for the foreign office to justify how public money is being spent, the Sun reported. Thomas Matussek, former German ambassador, pictured at a party next to the chocolates in 2004 . Susan Elan Jones said: 'Ministers must justify every penny when families struggle to make ends meet.' Earlier this year an analysis of spending by embassies found that £16,000 was spent on cigars, while almost £3,000 went on buying flowers. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that the money had been spent on events such as the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic events. They also said some of the money had been spent on celebrations to mark the Queen's birthday as well as specialist trade events for business figures. The Foreign Office said this type of spending on hospitality and entertainment is justified as it will 'help secure investment and promote British business.' She said: 'This is entirely appropriate and provides good value for money for the taxpayer.'
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Five embassies spent almost £350,000 entertaining guests at posh soirees .
Spending increased from £137,000 in 2012, to more than £210,000 in 2013 .
Cash was spent by British diplomatic bases in Brazil, Mexico, Bangladesh, Turkey and Holland on parties resembling those in Ferrero Rocher adverts .
Foreign Office said money spent on events for London 2012 Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, and it encourages investment in British business .
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08b330a011dc129ada473c0bd6eb087c35f8a6f7
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It has been long admired that cats can always land on their feet but this one feline has the added benefit of an extra six toes to keep her steady. Natasha, the ginger tabby, was a stray on the streets of New York before she was adopted at the age of nine by Shirley Belwood and the pair emigrated to Wimborne in Dorset ten years ago. The cat has a rare condition which left her with oversized paws and 24 toes - six more than the average feline. Natasha, the ginger tabby, has a rare condition which means she has oversized paws and six extra toes . But Natasha, who is now 19 and spent a year looking after herself on the Upper West Side, has seven toes on both front paws - two more than normal - and five on her hind paws instead of four. Ms Belwood, who has two other cats, said the extra digits has made her clumsier than most cats. 'If you give her certain toys, she can't play with them properly,' she said. 'It's so funny, she looks so awkward because she just can't grab them. 'I heard her crying for ages outside my apartment window in New York and I just had to find her. 'She's got a lot of attitude and she's quite the character but we're so close. She doesn't do as much these days as she has diabetes, but she's still so frisky and cranky - a typical New Yorker. 'The nurses at the vets say she "swears a lot" at them whenever she goes. That just shows what she's like.' Natasha was adopted by Shirley Belwood ten years ago and the pair emigrated from New York to Dorset . Ms Belwood added that she gets on with her other two cats but Natasha prefers a quieter life. 'She does like to keep herself to herself, she's an older lady now and likes peace and quiet,' she said. The world record for the cat with the most toes is currently held by a Canadian cat named Tiger who has an impressive 27. Some polydactyl cats have problems with joint growth, the forming of legs and nail beds and extra thick claws fusing together. They are sometimes referred to as 'Hemingway cats' because author Ernest Hemingway became a famous fan of them after being given a six-toed cat by a ship's captain. Kittens Fred (left) and Ned (right) are polydactyl cats with 54 digits between them. Fred has 10 more than a usual cat and Ned has eight extra toes . Cats born with more than the average number of toes have the congenital physical anomaly known as polydactyl - a dominant genetic trait. The word is Greek in origin, with 'poly' meaning 'many' and 'daktylos' meaning 'digits'. Normal cats have a total of 18 toes, with five toes on each front paw and four toes on each hind paw but polydactyl cats can have as many as eight digits on their front and hind paws. The condition seems to be most commonly found in cats along the east coast of North America and in South West England, Wales and Kingston-upon-Hull. Polydactyl cats were popular with Nobel Prize-winning writer Ernest Hemingway, who collected more than 50 after he was given his first cat named Snowball by a ship's captain. After his death in 1961 his Florida home was turned into a museum and home for his cats. It is because of his love of the animal that they are fondly referred to as 'Hemingway Cats'. They are also referred to as 'mitten cats' because the extra digits on their front paws can make it seem as though they are wearing mittens. Polydactylism is a condition that can also affect humans and dogs.
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Tabby Natasha was a stray on streets of New York when she was rescued .
Shirley Belwood took her and emigrated with her to Dorset ten years ago .
Natasha has a rare condition where she has oversized paws and more toes .
The 19-year-old has seven toes on front paws and five on her hind paws .
World record for cat with most toes is held by Canadian cat named Tiger .
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08b37e45001966a39dfd0c07b5fa5a756b9381a4
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By . Liz Hull With Mia De Graaf . Fighting: Counter-terrorist teams fear two 16-year-old Muslim girls have joined ISIS fighters in Syria after fleeing their bedrooms in Manchester last week . Twin sisters aged 16 may have travelled to Syria to become jihadi brides, it is claimed. The British citizens crept away from their home in the middle of the night and boarded a flight to Turkey. The girls’ distraught parents raised the alarm after finding their beds empty when they went to wake them for college. Police discovered their passports and belongings missing and established that they had flown to Istanbul. They alerted counter-terrorism colleagues when the ‘extremely religious’ pair contacted relatives to say they were in Syria. Officers are investigating how the girls paid for the trip – amid fears that it was bankrolled by jihadi fighters in the Middle East who want them as their wives. It is thought the sisters, who have nine siblings, travelled to Syria after an elder brother went there to fight for Al Qaeda-inspired militants ISIS. Mohammed Shafiq, the head of Muslim group the Ramadhan Foundation, said their ‘moderate’ parents were shocked. He added: ‘I’ve spoken to the mosque where the family worship and others in the community where they live and people are saying they are a decent family. We know they have gone to follow their brother, but they are putting themselves in danger and I’m sure that the moment they arrive in such a savage country they will regret it.’ British fighters: Reyaad Khan and Nasser Muthana appeared in this ISIS recruitment video earlier this month . Sources said it was unlikely women would be recruited to fight and becoming jihad brides was the most likely scenario. They admitted there was a risk they were being groomed as suicide bombers. ‘We’ve . seized their computers and not found any videos or statements of . intent, but are not ruling anything out,’ the source said. The sisters, . who fled ten days ago, are of Somali origin and go to a sixth form . college in Manchester, where the family is thought to have moved ten . years ago. Last week . Sir Peter Fahy, chief constable for Greater Manchester police, who sits . on the Association of Chief Police Officers’ counter-terrorism . committee, warned young women as well as men were being ‘brainwashed’ by . ‘perverted messages’. He . said: ‘We’ve got some information about girls trying to get to Syria . and some we believe may have gone out there on the idea of being a jihad . bride. So there are a number of absolutely perverted messages which can . brainwash impressionable young people and parents are feeling . desperate about this. It’s a bit like parents agonising about youngsters . getting into street gangs or drugs, but the consequences are far more . extreme.’ Greater Manchester police said they had a ‘line of contact’ with the girls and were working to bring them home. ‘The . family are very worried,’ a spokesman said. ‘We don’t know exactly . where they are but their parents are obviously very keen to have them . returned home.’ Calls: ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, issued a plea for the world's Muslims to 'obey' his quest for domination . As many as . 1,500 Britons may have travelled to Syria to fight. A number have posted . messages online promising to use their ‘terror skills’ if they return . to Britain. On Friday, . reclusive ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made a rare appearance to . order all Muslims to ‘obey’ him. A video of his sermon at the Great . Mosque in Mosul, Iraq’s second city, went viral on jihadist websites. David Cameron has warned that jihadis returning to the UK after fighting . in Syria and Iraq are ‘the most serious threat to Britain’s security . there is today’. Mr Shafiq . said: ‘ISIS is a barbaric and evil organisation, which has no regard for . human life and is contrary to Islamic teaching, and we urge people not . to go out there to fight with them.’ Nawal . Msaad, 26, was the first British woman charged with terror offences . over the Syrian conflict. Msaad, of north London, was arrested at . Heathrow in January as she tried to board a flight to Istanbul with . €20,000 wrapped in cling film in her underwear.
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16-year-olds flew from Manchester International to Istanbul, Turkey .
Parents woke at 8am to find both missing, girls then contacted from Syria .
Family of 11 children 'moved from Somalia to Britain 10 years ago'
Girls are believed to have followed their brother who is an ISIS fighter .
Counter terrorism teams are working to trace the girls and bring them back .
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08b3a1907da206fc96b3edcb2e1f7eb5d8b008d6
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By . Emma Reynolds . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 17 September 2011 . He was once a clean-shaven Canadian jock with a crew cut and dazzling white smile. Now his ragged appearance makes Brad Pitt's foray into the forest of facial hair look positively restrained. Hirsute rugby player Adam Kleeberger is desperate to cut out the caveman act - only his fans won't let him. Because he's worth it: Adam Kleeberger looks as though he could be selling shampoo rather than playing rugby for his country . The furry flanker is now trending on Twitter because of those tangled locks - which topped off his man-of-the-match performance in Canada's win over Tonga at the rugby world cup on Wednesday. 'It would be pretty hard for me not to shave it off,' he told the tournament's website. 'I kind of miss having my face. 'But right now I'm just focusing on this Rugby World Cup and I'll think about that afterwards.' The shaggy beard and long hair have been his crowning glory in the eyes of an adoring public after the Canucks' excellent start to the World Cup. They have attracted headlines such as 'Fear the beard' and 'Kleeberger helps his country win by a hair'. One less generous observer added: 'Kleeberger is 27, but his beard looks a bit older'. In a tangle: Fans don't want Kleeberger to chop off his flowing locks . Kleeberger has sparked a fashion for the castaway look among his national team, with Hubert Buydens and Jebb Sinclair also hoping that flowing beards will prove a source of strength. The rugby players are not the first smooth-skinned stars to try out a more rugged style. Boyishly handsome celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Ashton Kutcher and Jared Leto have all gone wild for the low-maintenance look. But Kleeberger has taken his dragged-through-a-hedge-backwards image to new extremes. Head band: Canada team-mate Hubert Buydens (centre) joins Kleeberger in letting his hair down ahead of the Rugby World Cup . The straggly, ginger chin fluff and brilliant play has wowed fans, who describe him as a 'beast'. The fashion-forward flanker - who plays for Canada's British Columbia Bears - is just hoping the publicity will bring in a crop of offers from top teams as a result of the publicity. 'If it does then that's great,' he said. 'I didn't really have a reason for growing the beard when I started and it's now got more attention than I ever thought possible. Chin stroke: The flanker is itching to get rid of his long hair and beard . 'So if that comes (a contract), hopefully it's based on the way I'm playing as well. But it would be nice.' Either way, rugby fans will be shorn of their unlikely style icon when Kleeberger eventually takes the scissors to his seven months of dedicated hair-growth. But he won't be getting the chop from the Canada team any time soon. The country takes on France this Sunday at the New Zealand tournament, and they are still hoping to win by a whisker.
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27-year-old's whiskers a highlight of Rugby World Cup .
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