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It was enough to leave the middle classes choking on their focaccia (well, if they'd had any to hand). A power cut left hundreds of Ocado customers without their online shopping at the weekend. Around 1,700 were told their groceries, mainly from Waitrose, had been cancelled or delayed – some were even warned their Ocado van would not arrive until 3.30am. Many complained that their weekend lunches and dinner parties had been ruined by a lack of such essentials as pork belly or pistachios. Jennifer Skillen, of Gloucestershire, posted a picture of Ocado avocados that were brown inside and wrote: 'I am rarely disappointed with Ocado but these avocados clearly didn't read 'ripen at home' on the label!' The problems began on Friday when, according to Ocado drivers, a power cut at a distribution centre caused orders to be delayed. An Ocado spokesman later attributed the delays to a faulty microchip. Shoppers soon went on Twitter to vent their frustration. Belinda Moore, a communications director, wrote: 'You are kidding me! Whole delivery cancelled. There's not a snowflake in miles of London. So unimpressed.' She added: 'Can't wait to get home, get the kids to bed and then spend two hours doing the food shop.' Sandra Oliver was told to expect a delay of five hours before it was eventually cancelled. She wrote: 'Ridiculous that my shopping is late again tonight – it's becoming a regular occurrence these days.' Helen Bullock tweeted: 'Unacceptable service. Notified at 11.30pm that 9pm delivery would not be turning up. Second time now. Loyalty being challenged big time.' Simon Langford was told to expect a two-hour delay on his delivery which was due at 10.30pm, and said: 'Really? I won't get that sleep back.' And a Twitter user named Charlie D wrote: 'Right royal cock-up with Ocado. My delivery has gone from being 2hrs 50mins late to 3hrs 30mins late – as if I want it at 1am.' Around 1,700 were told their groceries, mainly from Waitrose, had been cancelled or delayed – some were even warned their Ocado van would not arrive until 3.30am . Other customers later complained about items being out of stock or arriving past their best. Jennifer Skillen, from Gloucestershire, posted a picture of her Ocado avocados that were brown inside and wrote: 'I am rarely disappointed with Ocado but these avocados clearly didn't read 'ripen at home' on the label!' Another user called Palola had items missing from her order. She said: 'Wanted to roast a pork belly today from my order but have been emailed to say it's missing and no alternative – why?! Thank God I also ordered a chicken otherwise Sunday roast would be ruined!' A spokesman for Ocado said: 'A minor technical fault at our Hatfield Customer Fulfilment Centre on Friday caused issues for a small number of our customers. 'The fault was fixed within a day and affected customers have been contacted to rearrange delivery. We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused and we have offered a money-off voucher as compensation to those affected.'
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About 1,700 told their groceries, mainly from Waitrose, had been delayed .
Complained their weekend dinner parties and lunches had been ruined .
A power cut at a distribution centre caused the orders to be cancelled .
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By . Daniel Mills . An Australian rugby league player has become the first player banned for inappropriate use of social media after a gay slur was posted on his Twitter account. Grayson Goodwin, 24, was given a 26-week ban for the tweet 'Gay refs shouldn’t be allowed to ref because they r so s***' which appeared during an NRL game on March 21. It appeared for only a few minutes, but was retweeted 30 times by followers, and followers of followers. Banned: Grayson Goodwin pictured right with suspended NRL player Blake Ferguson. Goodwin has received a 26-week ban for a gay slur directed at homosexual referee Matt Checcin . The ban has effectively ended any hope of the 24-year-old playing in the NRL ever again. He admitted to it having ended his career. 'My career has been ruined and I can’t play at all,' the 24-year-old said. More... Don't worry, the PLANE has a parachute! Aircraft passengers miraculously survive engine failure after pilot deploys unique safety device . Confirmed: Nicole Kidman's Grace Of Monaco will open the 67th annual Cannes film festival despite ongoing controversy . 'A Mother's Day I will never forget!' Rachael Finch joins celebrity mums spending their special day walking for charity in Sydney . Goodwin, who plays for lower-tier club the Cabramatta Two Blues, told the NSWRL a friend tweeted the message when he went to the toilet and he removed it when he returned. It was posted during a game officiated by openly gay referee Matt Checcin and one in which his brother was involved in. But NSWRL Officials did not accept the testimony of the unnamed friend, who appeared at a hearing telling them he was the one who posted the tweet. Goodwin was later informed, via a letter, that he would not be eligible to return to the game until September 20. He told NSWRL officials the tweet was only live for eight minutes before deleting it. 'I opened my account and saw the Tweet and deleted it straight away,' Goodwin told the Daily Telegraph. Unprecedented: A friend of Goodwin admitted to posting the tweet but NSWRL officials still decided to suspend the player . 'I told my mate off and I forgot all about it. The post was only up for eight minutes.' The friend was a the hearing with Goodwin and took responsibility for the tweet. “He stood up and told them what had happened,” Goodwin said. In a bizarre twist, the Daily Telegraph reported that it was directed at openly homosexual referee Matt Checcin who used to baby sit Goodwin as a child. He said it was 'ironic' that he had been given a career ending ban for a tweet about a man he has the utmost respect for. Meanwhile Goodwin's ban is yet another sour note for the sport of rugby league after allegations of racism during a recent Under 20's State of Origin fixture. NSW Half back Mitchell Moses was banned for two matches and ordered to undergo an anti-vilification education program after calling an Queensland opponent Luke Bateman a 'f...ing gay c...'. NSW prop Matt Lodge received a two-match ban, after the word ''c---'' was found written on strapping tape. He was ordered to remove the tape by NSW team officials.
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Goodwin is the first player to be banned from the rugby league for inappropriate social media use .
A friend of Goodwin's admitted that he was in fact the one who posted it .
NSWRL officials did not accept his testimony and still banned Goodwin .
He will not be eligible to play until September 20 .
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The advice, published by the Medical Schools Council, comes amid concerns that youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds are still much less likely to study medicine (file picture) Children should learn about the medical world from the age of seven to encourage them to become doctors, according to experts. They say primary school pupils should have the chance to meet people working in medicine, visit universities and take part in practical medical and science workshops. The advice, published by the Medical Schools Council which represents medical schools all over the country, comes amid concerns that youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds are still much less likely to study the subject. Only two fifths of doctors attended non-selective state schools, while a third were privately educated. Medicine is a very popular career choice, the guidance says, with fierce competition. 'Medical schools have worked hard so that they can attract the right candidates and to establish admissions processes which are fair to all,' it says. 'Yet it remains that more needs to be done to ensure that the medical profession is representative of the society it serves, and that medical students are able to learn in a diverse environment.' This is the first time that the council has published advice on how to widen access to medical courses. It suggests that the 'journey to medicine' should start in primary schools, an area which is sometimes overlooked by medical schools. Pupils should be told about the qualifications and routes to becoming a doctor, the guidance says, and take part in 'lively and fun' activities linked to the profession. This could include roadshows, campus visits, demonstrations and workshops. 'Medical students acting as ambassadors are often the best people to lead activity, which can include demonstrations, campus tours and mentoring,' it says. 'Some medical schools formally recognise this work by medical students as part of their educational development.' In secondary schools, students should be taught about studying medicine at university and what a career in the profession involves. This includes helping pupils make the right subject choices for their GCSEs, Scottish Nationals, A-levels and other qualifications. The guidance goes on to suggest that when pupils are in the sixth-form, medical schools could offer would-be students help in making applications, including support in writing personal statements and preparing for interviews and admissions tests. Experts said primary school pupils should have the chance to meet people working in medicine, visit universities and take part in practical medical and science workshops to help encourage them to train up . They could also run master classes and summer schools for secondary school pupils of all ages. Professor Tony Weetman, chair of the Selecting for Excellence Executive Group, said: 'A candidate's journey to a medical degree starts long before the Ucas application is made. 'The commitment in terms of hard work and academic achievement is of course essential, but before that must come the awareness that studying medicine is an option. 'That realisation does not come readily to all potential candidates, be they school students or mature learners, and we know that one's background will play a central part here. 'Medical schools cannot leave potentially excellent candidates to learn this message on their own; they have a responsibility, where possible, to reach out to these people and show them first-hand that a career in medicine is for anyone with the ability and commitment.' Professor Les Ebdon, director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said: 'This guidance represents a major development in helping to improve access to the elite medical profession. 'Going to medical school opens the door to a career in a rewarding, high-status profession and that door should be open to everyone who has what it takes to be an excellent doctor, regardless of their background.'
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Primary school pupils should have chance to meet medics, experts claim .
Said learning about medical world from young age could encourage them .
Advice from the Medical Schools Council which represents UK medics .
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There are more than 7,000 islands and reefs sprinkled throughout the Caribbean Sea. Isn't it time you explored some place new? We've unearthed six singular destinations where you can stake out your own quiet stretch of sand. Isla de Providencia, Colombia The residents of Providencia, a 25-minute flight from neighboring San Andrés Island, make much of their association with Sir Henry Morgan, the 17th-century swashbuckler de picted on rum bottles worldwide. As well they should: Only a 492-foot-long floating bridge separates Providencia from Santa Catalina, one of Morgan's favorite bases. A quarter-mile hike to the top of Providencia's El Pico yields 360-degree views of pristine rain forests and of the area where Morgan hid his loot. Near Aguadulce Bay, Hotel El Pirata Morgan's 27 rooms have private balconies, many overlooking the pool (011-57/8-514-8232, from $62). About four miles away at Playa Manzanillo, Roland Roots Bar hosts beach parties with reggae music and drinks served in coconut shells (no phone, from $7.75). Comarca Kuna Yala, Panama One of Panama's largest indigenous groups, the Kuna people have lived on the Comarca Kuna Yala chain of more than 350 islands and coral cays since the 1600s. Kuna women make and sell molas, swatches of hand-embroidered cloth in vivid purples, reds, and blues that are typically made into garments. The men spend their days fishing for grouper and mackerel and leading visitors on boat trips to the archipelago's dozens of uninhabited islands, some barely 100 yards wide. Many hotels here offer immersive, all-inclusive experiences. At Cabañas Uaguinega on Achutupu Island, 45 minutes from Panama City by air, the rate for a bamboo-walled, solar-powered cabin covers two tours or cultural outings daily and all meals (uaguinega.com, from $140 per person). Water Island, U.S. Virgin Islands To call Heidi's Honeymoon Grill a restaurant would be an overstatement it's a food truck that parks on the beach and serves patrons seated at picnic tables but it's about as close to an actual restaurant as you'll get on this 490-acre speck of land a 10-minute ferry ride from St. Thomas. Honeymoon Beach serves as the unofficial community center for Water Island's 161 residents, hosting Monday night golf-cart drive-in movies, Wednesday night bingo, and candlelit gourmet dinners catered by Heidi's on Saturday evenings (340/777-5288, $25). Most people stay in one of the more than a dozen vacation homes (vrbo.com, from $1,200 for a week). Budget Travel: The Dominican Republic's last frontier Anegada, British Virgin Islands The 32-mile Horseshoe Reef surrounds tiny Anegada, a low-slung coral atoll that's a 12-minute flight from Beef Island. What the reef means for travelers is a lot more than great snorkeling; it protects some of the longest beaches in the British Virgin Islands and has also netted 200-plus shipwrecks, ripe for divers' explorations. Pomato Point Restaurant, on the southwest shore, is known as much for its museum of shipwreck artifacts as it is for its swordfish and conch dishes (284/495-9466, entrées from $20). At the nearby Neptune's Treasure hotel, paintings of boats on stormy seas hang in the nine rooms, set about 150 feet from the water (neptunestreasure.com, from $95). Terre-de-Haut, Guadeloupe You could be forgiven a double take upon arriving at Terre-de-Haut, a 45-minute ferry ride from Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe: It's like a slice of northwestern France, with goats nibbling scrubby plants on the hillsides and a culture steeped in the ways of early settlers from Brittany. In the villages, fishermen still mend nets on their front porches, while women sell tropical fruit tarts (called tourment d'amour) from wicker baskets. Even the 12 guest rooms at Auberge Les Petits Saints are decorated with French antiques (petitssaints.com, from $131). But it's not all about old times a cosmopolitan yachting crowd regularly drops anchor (and their swimsuits) at the west coast's Anse Crawen beach. Budget Travel: Nonstop Caribbean: Fly right to the beach . Carriacou, Grenada There's no need to worry about high-rise resorts blocking your view on this 13-square-mile island a 22-minute flight from Grenada; unwritten law forbids building a hotel taller than the average palm tree. Near Hillsborough, on the island's west coast, the appropriately sized Green Roof Inn rents six rooms and two cottages with Wi-Fi and sea-view verandas (greenroofinn.com, from $70). Carriacou is also known for the easy coexistence of cultural traditions passed down by both West African slaves and early 19th-century Scottish settlers. Ritual "big drum" dances remain a vital part of life here; they're performed for funerals and festivals, including the Carriacou Regatta, in which sailors race boats built according to old Irish and Scottish shipwrights' plans. Flight and ferry news . In October, US Airways increased nonstop service from Philadelphia to Barbados, and JetBlue added flights from New York City to St. Lucia and Barbados. The same month, ferry company Bedy Oceanline launched new daily routes connecting those two islands with Grenada, St. Vincent, and Trinidad (bedytravel.com, from $90 round trip). For a full list of nonstop flights to the Caribbean, see our Nonstop Caribbean tool. Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2011 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., all rights reserved.
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Check out these six destinations to escape the winter cold .
More than 7,000 islands and reefs are sprinkled across the Caribbean Sea .
List includes places in Panama, Grenada, Colombia .
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Iago Aspas was given a rough welcome back to La Liga after feeling the full force of Cadiz striker Kike Lopez's head on Saturday in a friendly. This wan't a headbutt where a player barely brushes another as they both fall to the ground; on-loan Liverpool man Aspas was caught full on by Lopez after a minor scuffle during a friendly match in Spain. Not happy: Aspas reacts angrily to a nasty challenge from Lopez, and stands up to face him . Failed: Aspas moved to Liverpool from Celta Vigo last summer but made just 15 appearances . Aspas reacted angrily to a hefty challenge from Lopez, before the Cadiz man returned the favour in a more violent fashion. A red card was shown to Lopez, unsurprisingly, and a brawl ensued during Sevilla's 3-0 win. Aspas, 26, moved to Liverpool from Celta Vigo last summer but had a disappointing season and made just 15 appearances, the majority as a substitute, and scored one goal. Butted: Lopez then crashes his head into Aspas' cheek as the former Liverpool man falls to the ground . Breaking out: A red card is shown to Lopez as a brawl ensues during Sevilla's friendly win . Also on Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta received a suspected broken nose after being headbutted by Bastia forward Brandao following Laurent Blanc's side's 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes. Video footage shows Brandao waiting for the Italian midfielder in the tunnel after the final whistle, smashing his forehead into Motta's face and then running away.
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Aspas reacted angrily to a nasty foul from Lopez during a 3-0 friendly win .
Sevilla man was then headbutted by Lopez before a brawl ensued .
Lopez was sent off as the referee attempted to calm the situation .
Thiago Motta was also headbutted on Saturday by forward Brandao during PSG's win over Bastia .
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By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 11:50 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:50 EST, 19 February 2013 . A pregnant woman who was critically injured in a collision with a Florida trooper last week has lost her unborn baby, according to officials. Crystal Crawford-McClure, 28, of North Fort Myers, was five months into her tern at the time of the crash that took place on Interstate 75 Friday night. Her husband, 29-year-old Christopher McClure, and the couple's one-year-old son, also named Christopher, were also injured in the accident. Family drama: Crystal Crawford McClure, left, her husband, Christoper, center, and their young son, Christopher Jr, right, were involved in a collision in Florida, which caused the woman to lose her unborn baby . Impact: The McClures' Jeep Cherokee flipped over onto its roof after being rear-ended by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper on Interstate 75 . Both the 28-year-old expecting mother and her husband were in fair condition Monday, but according to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) spokesman Lt Greg Bueno, sometime after the crash the woman lost the fetus, Naples Daily News reported. The accident happened at around 9pm Friday in the southbound center lane of mile marker 134 on I-75 when the family's Jeep Cherokee was rear-ended by FHP trooper Gustavo Reyes, 47. The impact caused the vehicle to veer . onto the grass-covered shoulder of the road and flip over onto the . roof, ejecting Crystal and her spouse. The . 28-year-old woman was initially listed in critical condition, which was . later upgraded to fair. Her husband and son suffered only minor . injuries. Reyes was not injured in the collision, and it remains unknown why he slammed into the back of McClures' Jeep. Write caption here . Officials have not revealed whether Mr and Mrs McClure were bucked in at the time of the crash, but it is known that their one-year-old son was property restrained in the back. The crash is currently under investigation. While the trooper was not placed on administrative leave, he has taken some personal time off, according to Bueno. The News-Press reported that Reyes was not responding to a call at the time of the collision, and both his lights and siren were off.
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Crystal Crawford McClure, 28, was five months pregnant with her second child at the time of the crash .
Her husband and one-year-old son were also in the Jeep Cherokee, but weren't seriously hurt .
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By . Rob Cooper . Last updated at 4:11 PM on 16th January 2012 . Sales of Charles Dickens' novels have soared because of the popularity of television adaptations, booksellers revealed yesterday. The BBC versions of Great Expectations and the Mystery of Edwin Drood have created a resurgence of interest in the Victorian writer. It means Dickens could find himself back among the bestsellers' list alongside modern authors JK Rowling, Stig Larsson and Stephen King. Great Expectations: Popularity of the BBC version, which starred Douglas Booth as Pip, right, and Estella, Vanessa Kirby, has led to increased interest in the books . BBC hit: Great Expectations attracted a quarter of the audience share when it screened on December 27. Here Douglas Booth plays Pip and Gillian Anderson is Miss Havisham . An audience of more than six million watched Great Expectations on the BBC over Christmas. In the TV adaptation Douglas Booth, 19, starred as teenage Pip, alongside actors Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson. It was followed by The Mystery of Edwin Drood which was watched by three million people when the first part of it was screened last week. Dickens died before the novel was finished so television scriptwriter Gwyneth Hughes wrote her own ending. Popular: Miss Havisham with a young Pip played by Oscar Kennedy in the TV adaptation of Great Expectations . Publishers' payday: Royalties don't have to be paid on Charles Dickens' novels because the copyright has expired . Melanie Harris, of Waterstones, said there had been new interest in the Victorian author because of the success of the television shows. 'The feast of Dickens themed TV over Christmas and the New Year has got people talking about Dickens again,' she said. 'A lot of readers watched Great Expectations and realised they have never read the book. 'We have definitely seen a resurgence of interest in Dickens and a number of fabulous new editions of his classic tales are now on the shelves.' Amazon and WH Smith also say Dickens is back in fashion thanks to the TV adaptation of Great Expectations. It means a big payday for publishers as there are no royalties to be paid because Dickens died so long ago. Dickens . is top of the charts for the best-selling single volume of all time . with A Tale of Two Cities which has sold more than 200 million copies. Dickens interest: Rosa Bud, played by Tamzin Merchant, and Edwin Drood, played by Freddie Fox, in the BBC version of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The novel was never finished by Dickens . The Mystery of Edwin Drood: Matthew Rhys, Tamzin Merchant and Freddie Fox star in the BBC version which attracted three million viewers .
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Great Expectations was watched by six million people and The Mystery of Edwin Drood attracts TV audience of three million .
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Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- A Pakistani man was arrested in Barcelona for links to a group that allegedly supplied forged passports to terrorists close to al Qaeda, Spanish police said Friday. Suspect, Malik Imtanan Sarwar, 30, was arrested Thursday. He was missing when police arrested 10 suspects in December -- seven in Barcelona and three in Thailand. The man was part of an alleged ring that stole passports in Spain and sent them to Thailand, police said. The passports were forged in Thailand and supplied to groups linked to al Qaeda, the police statement said.. Sarwar was an active part of the group, both in sending stolen documents to Thailand and in securing funds for the group, the statement said. The alleged leader of the group was a Pakistani man based in Thailand. He allegedly gave orders to other suspects in Europe about the type of passports to be stolen -- including the nationality and age of the passport holder -- so they could be sent to Thailand, forged and later used by terrorists to cross borders more easily in Europe and the West, the statement said. "This operation has neutralized an important cell that provided passports to al Qaeda, so that the forgery apparatus of this organization is weakened internationally, and also its operational capability," the statement said.
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The man, 30, was missing when police arrested 10 suspects in December .
Police: He was part of an alleged ring that stole passports in Spain and sent them to Thailand .
The passports were forged in Thailand and supplied to groups linked to al Qaeda .
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(CNN) -- Arsenal revived their English Premier League title hopes with a 3-1 win at relegation battlers Blackpool Sunday. The victory moved Arsene Wenger's men to within seven points of leaders Manchester United, with a further game in hand. Arsenal were forced to field 41-year German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann after Manuel Almunia was injured in the warm-up but they were largely in command after first half goals from Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue. Gary Taylor-Fletcher pulled one back for Blackpool in the 52nd minute when he scored after referee Lee Mason waved played on when Lehmann rushed off his line to foul DJ Campbell. If the penalty had been awarded, Lehmann a former Gunners favorite, might have well been given his marching orders. After some nervous moments, a late strike from Robin van Persie, with the home side appealing for offside, clinched their first win in four league games. Manchester United must travel to the Emirates on May 1 but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is more concerned about upcoming games. "We must win the game in hand. But let's first win our next game against Liverpool on Sunday," he told Sky Sports. Wenger was full of praise for Lehmann on his second Arsenal debut after his return from retirement to help them out with a goalkeeping shortage. "Jens can be very proud. The way he practises every day is outstanding. "He has helped the club win a big game and it will have an impact at the end of the season. He's intelligent and committed." Blackpool, who were hot favorites to return to the second flight at the first time of asking, remain in 17th spot, just above the drop zone. In Sunday's other EPL game, Aston Villa eased their relegation fears with a 1-0 home win over Newcastle. James Collins scored the only goal of the game in the first half as Gerard Houillier's men moved five points clear of the drop zone, but they had to survive some nervous moments as the visitors carved out a number of openings.
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Arsenal win 3-1 at Blackpool to close to within seven points of EPL leaders Man Utd .
41-year-old Jens Lehmann dons goalkeeping gloves for Arsenal .
Aston Villa beat Newcastle 1-0 to ease relegation fears .
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As Muslims from 160 countries descend on Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage, understandably the holy city is abuzz with excitement. Scores of pilgrims gather inside the Grand Mosque in anticipation of a religious journey that is considered one of the Muslim faith’s greatest acts of worship. Every adult Muslim is required to complete the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as long as they are physically and financially capable of making the expensive and difficult journey. Unity: Muslims from around 160 countries are descending on Mecca for Hajj . Central: Pilgrims will gather around the Kaaba - the most holy point of Islam . Believers: Last year over £1.3 million Muslims made the pilgrimage to Mecca . Pilgrims wear unstitched folds of white cloth as they make the trek to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, Islam’s most sacred mosque. And as these incredible photographs show, it's a chance for Muslims to come together as one, as well as take pride in their great act of worship. Pilgrims will gather around the Kaaba - a cuboid building in the middle of the Great Mosque which is also known as the Sacred House. It is this building that, wherever you are in the world, Muslims are expected to face when praying - it is the most sacred location in Islam. Souvenir: Gold pendants, such as the Kaaba (being selected) are sold as a reminder of the act of worshjp . Busy: Shopkeepers will be up against it with the huge footfall on the holy city . Classy: Stunning gold jewellery is admired by pilgrims on their visit to Mecca . The week of Hajj occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar and it requires pilgrims to perform a number of services or rituals before arriving in Mecca. When the faithful reach the Grand Mosque, they walk counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba. Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival, known as the Feast of the Sacrifice and is meant to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family. Memento: It will be a profitable time for shop owners during the pilgrimage . Marching together: Pilgrims wear unstitched folds of white cloth as they make the trek to Mecca’s Grand Mosque .
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Every adult Muslim is expected to make pilgrimage at least once .
Pilgrims will pray towards the Kaaba - the Sacred House and focal point for Islam .
Shopkeepers set for bumper sales of souvenirs .
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By . Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent . Almost half of new mothers are now over 30 as record numbers of older women choose to start families. And most of these women are married, in comparison with new mums in their 20s who are far more likely to be single or living with a partner. Nearly 360,000 women in their 30s gave birth last year – 49 per cent of the total – and just under seven in ten were married, the Office for National Statistics said. Changing times: The proportion of women having children aged under 25 has fallen sharply while over-35s has risen . Meanwhile 369,000 women under 30 gave . birth but their family situations were less stable than their older . counterparts on the whole, with almost two-thirds either cohabiting or . single. The average age of . new mothers also hit a historic high of 29.8 years, up from 29.7 in . 2011. The figure has been rising since 1975, when a woman typically gave . birth at 26.4 years. Now . the average age of motherhood is higher than it was during the 1930s and . 1940s, when it reached a peak of 29.3 years in 1944. The . Office for National Statistics said: ‘The overall rise since 1975 . reflects the increasing numbers of women who have been delaying . childbearing to later ages. ‘Possible . influences include increased participation in higher education, . increased female participation in the labour force, the increasing . importance of a career, the rising costs of childbearing, labour market . uncertainty, housing factors and instability of partnerships.’ Overall, . just over half – 53 per cent – of babies were born to married mothers. Family: Most parents are now aged over 30, with fathers more likely to be older, the ONS said . Warning: Midwives said older mothers were more likely to suffer from complications (file photo) Among . mothers in their 30s, 69 per cent were married, while only 37 per cent . of under-20s were married. This dropped to one in five among those aged . between 20 and 25. The ONS report suggests young mothers are . increasingly likely to be less well-off and in relationships that are . more likely to break down, while older mothers tend to be in stable . relationships and have reliable incomes. Previous . studies have found cohabiting relationships typically break up within . three years, often creating single-parent families. By contrast, . families of married couples are more likely to stay together, and are on . average wealthier, healthier, and the children benefit from a better . education. Author on the . family Jill Kirby said: ‘There is a big divide opening up between . better-off, better-educated women who wait until they are older and . marry before having children, and younger and often poorer mothers who . do not see marriage as a first step. They have children in more casual . relationships. ‘We should be . worried by this because it is clear from all the data that children . whose parents are not married have a much higher risk of seeing their . family break up. ‘We need reforms to encourage women to marry before they have children to give their children a better chance.’
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Average age of women giving birth is now 29.8 years, ONS reveals .
Proportion of over-30s giving birth has doubled in a generation .
Babies born to older mothers are more likely to have married parents .
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(CNN) -- British billionaire Richard Branson's dream of space travel that thousands of people can afford took a leap toward reality with the maiden flight of the world's first commercial spacecraft over California's Mojave Desert. Branson's company Virgin Galactic announced Monday that the VSS Enterprise had successfully completed what it called a captive carry flight attached to a carrier plane. The spacecraft's developer called it a "momentous day." "The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program," said Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites, which built the spacecraft. The VSS Enterprise remained attached to its carrier aircraft for the duration of the 2-hour, 54-minute flight, reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet, according to a statement from Virgin. Eventually, the 60-foot long rocket plane will be taken 60,000 feet above the Earth by its carrier and fire rockets to propel itself into space. The test-flight program is expected to continue through 2011, going first to a free glide and then to a powered flight before commercial flights begin. "Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking vehicles Burt and his team have developed for us," Branson said. "Today was another major step along that road and a testament to U.S. engineering and innovation," he said. Virgin Galactic has envisioned one flight a week, with six tourists aboard. Each will pay $200,000 for the ride and train for at least three days before going. About 80,000 people have placed their names on the waiting list for seats. "What we want to be able to do is bring space travel down to a price range where hundreds of thousands of people would be able to experience space, and they never dreamed that [they] could," Branson said last year. He has said he hopes the technology will lead to a new form of Earth travel, jetting people across oceans and continents faster through suborbital routes.
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VSS Enterprise remained attached to carrier aircraft for duration of near 3-hour flight .
Test-flight program is expected to continue through 2011 before commercial flights start .
Virgin Galactic has envisioned one flight a week, with six tourists aboard .
Each will pay $200,000 for the ride and train for at least three days before going .
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By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 04:27 EST, 7 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:44 EST, 8 February 2013 . Iran has rejected Obama's offer to discuss their nuclear programme saying the U.S. was proposing talks while 'pointing a gun at Iran.' The refusal came as state television broadcast footage allegedly extracted from a CIA drone captured in 2011. The black and white video shows an aerial view of an airport and a city, said to be Kandahar in Afghanistan. The release comes at a sensitive time as . the U.S. increased sanctions on Iran on yesterday, aiming to tighten a . squeeze on Tehran's ability to spend oil cash. Scroll down for video . View from the sky: Iran's state TV has broadcast footage allegedly extracted from a CIA drone captured in 2011 . Location: The black and white footage shows an aerial view of an airport and a city, said to be Kandahar in Afghanistan . Claims: Tehran has long claimed it managed to reverse-engineer the RQ-170 Sentinel and that it is capable of launching its own production line for the unmanned aircraft . Tehran has long claimed it managed to . reverse-engineer the RQ-170 Sentinel and that it is capable of launching . its own production line for the unmanned aircraft. The drone was used for covert . surveillance such as the operation to spy on the Pakistan compound of . Osama Bin Laden before he was killed in a U.S. raid in May. The TV also showed images purported to be the Sentinel landing at a base in eastern Iran. Narrating the video, the . Revolutionary Guard's air space chief, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, says . in one part that only after Iran captured the drone did it realise it 'belongs to the CIA.' Iranian officials have said the drone . came down over eastern Iran in December 2011, hundreds of miles from the cluster of . nuclear sites in the central and north-west of the country. On display: The captured RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone which Iran claims it tricked into landing in the country . Paraded for the cameras: Iranian Revolutionary Guard's General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh (left) inspects the U.S. RQ-170 drone . Malfunction: U.S. officials claim the drone broke down, but cannot explain how it was still in relatively pristine condition when found by the Iranians . Iran claims it 'took control of the drone and landed it' but US officials have said it malfunctioned and had to land. 'This aircraft has carried out many operations in the countries around Iran,' the narrator says. 'In the operations taken place in Pakistan, this aircraft guided many of the clashes ... Iran believes it can 'mass produce' the captured drone by 'reverse engineering' the aircraft. When the drone went missing President Obama made it clear the U.S. wanted the top-secret aircraft back. 'We have asked for it back. We'll see how the Iranians respond,' Obama said during a White House news conference. But in a later interview Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made it clear his country would not grant the U.S. request. Graphic: The RQ-170 was reportedly used to watch former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden during the Navy SEAL mission that killed him . 'The Americans have perhaps decided to give us this spy plane,' Ahmadinejad said. 'We now have control of this plane.' Speaking through an interpreter, Ahmadinejad said: 'There are people here who have been able to control this spy plane, who can surely analyze this plane's system also. … In any case, now we have this spy plane.' At the time Obama wouldn't comment on what the Iranians might learn from studying the downed aircraft. Defense . Secretary Leon Panetta said it's difficult to know 'just frankly how . much they're going to be able to get from having obtained those parts.' Request: President Obama during a 2011 White House news conference when he asked for the drone back . Panetta said the request to return the drone was appropriate. 'I don't expect that that will happen,' he said. 'But I think it's important to make that request.' Former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney blasted Mr Obama for his soft approach in trying to get the surveillance plane back, insisting he should have ordered an airstrike over Iran instead. He told CNN: 'The right response would have been to go in immediately after it had gone down and destroy it. 'You can do that from the air and, in effect, make it impossible for them to benefit from having captured that drone, but [Obama] asked nicely for them to return it, and they aren't going to.'
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The black and white aerial footage, Iran .
claims was from a RQ-170 spy plane .
Aired by Iranian news agencies .
and placed on YouTube .
Black and white footage shows an aerial view of an airport and a city .
Obama asked for the drone back after it went missing 2011 .
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By . Chris Wheeler . Follow @@ChrisWheelerDM . Liverpool’s penalty shootout win over Manchester City in New York will be little consolation for losing out in the Premier League title race on the final day of last season, but it gave some indication that Brendan Rodgers’s side are set to be contenders again. Both sides are expected to line up quite differently on August 17 and made a number of changes throughout Wednesday’s match, making it difficult to judge their pre-season progress. MailOnline looks at what we learned from the slug-out at Yankee Stadium … . Scroll down for videos . First blood: Liverpool defeated Manchester City on penalties in the International Champions Cup friendly . Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho impressed among the Liverpool starters and Raheem Sterling gave his side a much sharper attacking edge when he came on in the second half before scoring the late equaliser. It wasn’t the best of days again for Steven Gerrard whose latest slip let in Stevan Jovetic for City’s opening goal, but Rodgers has no doubt his skipper will be a key player in that deep-lying role again this season. ‘We were unfortunate with the first goal that deflected off Stevie and Jovetic got a toe on it,’ said the Liverpool boss. ‘But he’s been playing that role for the last 12 months and I’m sure he’ll play it this season as well. He’s got a wonderful range of pass, his movement is good to get on the ball and he’s very committed.’ Red leader: Steven Gerrard (C) is set to resume his deep lying position in midfield . Making up for lost time: Stevan Jovetic scored both of Manchester City's goals in normal time . It’s early days but already Jovetic looks determined to make up for lost time after an injury-hit first season at City. The Montenegro international scored twice to take his total to two in four games on tour, and will be as good as new signing 12 months after arriving from Fiorentina for £22m. Joe Hart made three fantastic saves after coming on at half-time even though he was outshone by Simon Mignolet in the shootout. The Liverpool keeper kept out Yaya Toure’s effort as the Ivorian made a subdued first appearance since threatening to quit the champions this summer. Liverpool changed formation and players so often it was hard to keep track. Rodgers may well settle for his midfield diamond again this season although it is clear he wants his side to be versatile as well. He said: ‘We played two different formations – a 4-4-2 diamond in the first half which refreshed the players from some of the work they had last season. At times we worked it well but it was good to see it. Second half it was more of a 4-3-3 and then we changed again with 20 minutes to 4-2-3-1. Multi-talented: Philippe Coutinho's versaility gave Liverpool plenty of options with formations . Double salvo: Jovetic scores City's second goal but could do nothing to prevent them losing on penalties . ‘We had a connection through Coutinho who played a lot from the sides and the top of the diamond. The last 20 minutes he played in behind Daniel Sturridge to connect midfield and the front men. That made passes shorter and the movement better.’ City lined up in more of a conventional 4-4-2 formation with Edin Dzeko and James Milner their first World Cup players to make an appearance in the US, although Manuel Pellegrini will probably revert to his favoured 4-2-3-1 once the season starts. It will be interesting to see how new £12m signing Fernando fits in with Toure and Fernandinho occupying those defensive midfield slots last season. City certainly have more in reserve with David Silva, Samir Nasri and Alvaro Negredo among the unused substitutes at Yankee Stadium. They are also waiting to welcome back captain Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and World Cup finalists Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis, who report back on Monday. Super sub: Raheem Sterling made an impression after coming off the bench at the Yankees Stadium . In the family: City goalkeeper Joe Hart embraces brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure at full-time . ‘The five players who arrived last Thursday, Hart, Milner, Yaya, Silva and Dzeko, I think that they will be ready for the Premier League,’ said Pellegrini. ‘We will with see the rest of the players who arrive next Monday. Can they be fit in 15 days? Maybe not all of them will do it.’ Sterling made the biggest impact of Liverpool’s substitutes, but Lucas Leiva supplied a sublime touch for Henderson to score their first goal and Mignolet emerged as the hero of the shootout. Both of the men in charge seemed happy enough with the evening’s exertions, if not the quality of parts of the playing surface. Coach Rodgers was delighted with the way his team twice fought back from a goal down. ‘Even though it was a pre-season game it was highly competitive,’ he said. ‘The players showed the character to keep going and come back. It was a really good game. We have to respect the quality we were playing against. City are a top side, one of the best teams in Europe.’ Coach trip: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers (L) and Man City's Manuel Pellegrini (R) were generally pleased . Coach Pellegrini knows there is more to come from his squad but was satisfied with what he saw. ‘It was a very useful game for both teams,’ said the City boss. ‘We are trying to prepare our team in the best way. We’ve had a very good pre-season with part of the team. We had another five players playing some minutes today. The rest of the squad arrive next week we are preparing well for the Community Shield and Premier League.’ Liverpool still need to convince people that they can withstand the loss of Luis Suarez and re-establish themselves as title contenders this season. New signing Rickie Lambert wasted a gilt-edged chance in the first half and Daniel Sturridge was also subdued for long periods. Kolo Toure and Sebastian Coates started in central defence but some question if they can be trusted after defensive frailties cost Liverpool dear last season. Weak link: There were question marks over Kolo Toure's performance in central defence . City, meanwhile, need to complete the £32m signing of Eliaquim Mangala which has been dragging on since January. Despite signing Fernando, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero, a new centre-back was the priority and Mangala does not seem to be falling over himself to come to Manchester. Judging by the form of Kelechi Iheanacho on tour, City also need to sort out a work permit for the Nigerian teenager as soon as possible. Of the squad that turned up at Yankee Stadium, Scott Sinclair, Matija Nastasic, Micah Richards, Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell could all be gone by the time the transfer window shuts.
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Liverpool defeated Manchester City on penalties in the International Champions Cup pre-season friendly, New York .
Steven Gerrard will resume his deep-lying midfield role this season .
Stevan Jovetic looks a new signing after scoring both City's goals .
Rahem Sterling impressed after coming on as a substitute to score .
Brendan Rodgers was able to change formations during the game .
Manuel Pellegrini still has the likes of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho to return .
Reds must prove they can compete in Premier League without Luis Suarez .
Blues needs to complete the £32m signing of Eliaquim Mangala .
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Incredible images showing the cratered surface of the moon are the first ever to be taken with a 3D printed telescope. The £100 ($160) Pikon is able to produce images with a quality equal to telescopes that cost ten times as much, according to its designers. And with plans available to download online, anyone can create the telescope themselves – as long as they own a 3D printer which costs at least £400 ($650). Incredible images showing the surface of the moon are the first ever to be taken with a 3D printed telescope . Physicist Mark Wrigley, one of Pikon's creator, said he believed the telescope would be a 'game changer,' making telescopes available to the general public. Pikon uses a £25 ($40) Raspberry Pi camera module and is based on Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope design. The design involves placing a concave mirror to form an image of whatever the telescope is focused on directly onto the Pi camera sensor. The camera is mounted onto components created by 3D printing and, due to its small size, can sit directly in front of the mirror. The telescope has a magnification of times 160, which means that on a cloudless night it will be capable of detailed lunar observation as well as galaxies, star clusters and some planetary observation. £100 ($160) Pikon is able to produce images with a quality equal to telescopes that cost ten times as much . With plans available to download online, anyone can create the telescope themselves. This is one of the first images to be taken using the 3D printed telescope . The Pikon telescope has a magnification of times 160, which means that on a cloudless night it will be capable of detailed lunar observation as well as galaxies, star clusters and some planetary observation . A SpaceX cargo ship rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday, carrying the first 3D printer for astronauts in orbit. Dragon should reach the space station Tuesday. It's the fifth station shipment for the California-based SpaceX. The space station-bound 3D printer was developed by Made in Space, another California company. It's sturdier than Earthly models to withstand the stresses of launch, and meets Nasa's strict safety standards. The space agency envisions astronauts one day cranking out spare parts as needed. For now, it's a technology demonstrator, with a bigger and better model to follow next year. The physicists unveiled the ambitious project, called Disruptive Technology Astronomy, as part of the University of Sheffield's Festival of the Mind. 'We've called this project Disruptive Technology Astronomy because we hope it will be a game changer, just like all Disruptive Technologies,' said Mark Wrigley, former physicist and member of the Institute of Physics. 'We hope that one day this will be seen on a par with the famous Dobsonian "pavement" telescopes, which allowed hobbyists to see into the night skies for the first time. 'This is all about democratising technology, making it cheap and readily available to the general public.' The telescope uses a £25 ($40) Raspberry Pi camera module and is based on Isaac Newton's reflecting telescope design. The physicists unveiled the project, called Disruptive Technology Astronomy, as part of the University of Sheffield's Festival of the Mind .
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Quality of Pikon images are equal to telescopes costing 10 times as much .
Pikon plans are available to download online and create using a 3D printer .
It uses Raspberry Pi camera and is based on Newton's reflecting telescope .
On a clear night, it is capable of seeing galaxies, planets and star clusters .
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(CNN) -- The St. Louis Cardinals finished their improbable run Friday night with a convincing 6-2 win, beating the Texas Rangers and giving the franchise another World Series championship. Instead of the furious comebacks the Cards have been known for this year, the Cards grabbed a commanding lead in the fifth inning Friday and held on. "We got it. It is unbelievable," outfielder Allen Craig said. "This is an unbelievable group of guys. I am just glad to be a part of this." Craig, who caught the last out of the game, was more than a part of it. He hit a home run in the third inning of Friday's game and stole a home run from Ranger Nelson Cruz leaping over the wall to bring the ball back. Another one of the stars of Friday's game was Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who had two hits and knocked in two RBIs. Another St. Louis star was hurler Chris Carpenter, who continued his undefeated postseason run by stymieing the Rangers for six innings Friday. Rangers pitchers were plagued with wildness Friday and throughout the series. In the fifth inning, the Cardinals were able to get two runs and jump to a commanding 5 to 2 lead without getting a hit, capitalizing on Rangers' walks. The win gives the Cards their 11th World Series championship. The Cardinals last won the championship in 2006. Friday's win may have seemed a little melodramatic compared to the instant-classic World Series game Thursday, when the Cardinals displayed their never-say-die attitude. The Cardinals were pushed to within their last strike in the ninth and 10th innings only to come back and erase two-run deficits both times. They finished the comeback in the 11th inning beating the Rangers 10 to 9 on David Freese's walk-off home run. Freese was named the most valuable player of the series. "This is a dream come true," Freese said. "This is why you keep battling." Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa said the fans, cheering and supporting, helped his team to the muster the strength to comeback so many times. "It is amazing, incredible," La Russa said. "This is for you, fans. Thank you so much." Comebacks are nothing new for the Cards, who made a furious dash just to reach the postseason. The team erased a 10.5-game deficit with the Atlanta Braves in the last month of the regular season just to make it to the playoffs. They punctuated that comeback by taking the must-win last two games of the season and stealing the National League wild card from the Braves. Once in the playoffs, the Cards defeated division champs Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. Both feats defied oddsmakers.
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The St. Louis Cardinals win 6-2 in Game 7 .
The win gives the Cardinals 11 World Series championships .
Cardinals' David Freese named World Series MVP .
"This is a dream come true," Freese says .
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(CNN) -- Folashade Abugan is the third Nigerian athlete to have failed a drugs test at the Commonwealth Games in India, where she won two silver medals, it was revealed on Friday. Abugan, who came second in the women's 400 meters last week and the 4x400m relay on Tuesday, has been stripped of both of her medals after testing positive for the banned anabolic substance testosterone prohormone. The 20-year-old, who was world junior champion in 2008, has waived her right to have her "B" sample tested, the Commonwealth Games Federation said a day after the four-yearly event finished in New Delhi. "Folashade Abugan returned an adverse analytical finding from a test conducted on October 8, 2010, after competing in the women's 400 meter final," the CGF said in a statement. The news comes as a blow to the Nigeria team, who were already reeling following the failed tests of both women's 100m champion Osayemi Oludamola and Samuel Okon, who came sixth in the men's 110m hurdles. That duo tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexanamine. The CGF statement also said Abugan has admitted liability for the failed test, and she has been disqualified from all the events she participated in. "Ms Abugan wrote to the CGF waiving her rights to have her "B" sample analyzed and a hearing, as provided for within the CGF Anti-Doping Standard (ADS). She also admitted liability. "She has been disqualified from all events she participated in during the Games, with the results nullified. This includes her silver medal in the women's 400 meters. "As she was also a member of her country's second placed 4x400m relay team, that result is also nullified." The silver medal she obtained in the 400m will now go to Aliann Tabitha Pompey of Guyana, with Christine Amertil of the Bahamas being promoted into the bronze medal position. England's quartet of Kelly Massey, Victoria Barr, Meghan Beesley and Nadine Okyere have been elevated to second position in the 4x400m relay, with Canada's Amonn Nelson, Adrienne Power, Vicki Tolton and Carline Muir now claiming bronze.
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Nigeria's Folashade Abugan has tested positive for a banned substance .
She has been stripped of the silver medals she won in the 400m and 4x400m relay .
She is the third Nigerian to fail a drugs test at the Commonwealth Games .
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By . Anthony Bond . Two 'bullying' nurses at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital ordered staff to fake casualty records to meet waiting time targets, a hearing was told today. Sharon Turner and Tracy White falsely logged that patients were discharged earlier than they really were because of targets that required them to be dealt with within four hours, it was said. Any staff who tried to disobey the senior nurses' orders were told that unless they lied, the hospital would get fined and they would get the sack, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard. Accused: Nurses Tracy White, left, and Sharon Turner, right, who worked at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital ordered staff to fake casualty records to meet waiting time targets, a hearing was told . Employees are said to have regularly sworn in the presence of patients, with Turner allegedly racially abusing a junior Asian doctor by calling him 'Osama's mate' and asking if he had a bomb in his rucksack. Black patients were also sometimes allegedly made to wait longer than those of other ethnicities, the hearing was told. Whistleblower Helene Donnelly has claimed she was 'ostracised and had to endure constant bitchy comments' whenever she tried to insist on putting down the true times. She said: 'The demands by Sister White and Sister Turner would appear frequently, during almost every shift. 'Sister Turner and Sister White would . often demand I or my colleagues change the discharge times to avoid a . breach. They would frequently lie about discharge times, and pressurise . members of staff to lie. Whistleblower: Helene Donnelly has claimed she was 'ostracised and had to endure constant bitchy comments' whenever she tried to insist on putting down the true times . 'They would speak nastily and swear at people who did not change the times, or would change the times themselves - change the discharge times behind my back. 'I believe everyone in A&E must have been aware of what was going on - even junior doctors. 'It is my opinion senior managers must have known staff were altering discharge times. There were gaps in the paperwork. 'To . me, falsifying patient records seemed insane. I was told, in no . uncertain terms, if we did not meet targets heads would roll. 'I was concerned about the terrible consequences our actions would have on patient care.' She claimed senior nurses 'would use scaremongering tactics to make us comply' with their orders to fake records. 'They would tell us if we had a patient in breach we could lose our jobs.' The . panel heard some patients were inappropriately sent on to other . departments in the hospital without being properly assessed, or even if . A&E staff knew there were no available beds there. Mrs Donnelly said sometimes staff were in such a rush to get patients out of casualty within four hours that staff 'left patients to lie in soiled sheets to meet the targets.' Recounting one occasion where she was scathingly told off by another manager for faking a discharge time, she said she looked at the paperwork and recognised White's handwriting. But the senior nurse did not come forward to admit the forgery was hers, the panel heard. 'I realised Sister White would have been happy for me, a junior nurse, to taker the blame for her actions,' said Mrs Donnelly. 'As a result of this, absolutely nothing happened to Sister White in terms of disciplinary action.' Both Turner and White were eventually subjected to an internal disciplinary inquiry in 2008, but they were later reinstated with no action taken against them. Worrying: Nurses were often marched up to account for themselves to executives at Stafford General Hospital if they breached the four-hour limit for treating patients and 'made a spectacle of', it was claimed . During their suspension, Mrs Donnelly said the 'incurred the wrath' of their friends in A&E. Mrs Donnelly said of their return: 'Nothing had been learned other than how to break the rules more subversively.' She said: 'Sister White would deliberately make patients wait. Black patients were being made to wait.' The nurse, who resigned in June 2008 because of the toxic environment, said: 'The attitude of the sisters had not changed. 'I knew I had to get out.' The accusations against White relate to a period between March 2006 and July 2010, while Turner's charges cover two years between July 2007 October 2009. Both nurses are being jointly represented by a barrister from the Royal College of Nursing.Turner admits a charge of calling a colleague 'stupid', and another of saying 'I don't give a flying f***' when talking about patients. She and White deny all the remaining charges against them. The ongoing central London hearing is expected to last ten days. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Sharon Turner and Tracy White accused of being 'bullying'
Claims they falsely .
logged when patients were discharged .
Targets required patients to be dealt with within four .
hours .
Turner allegedly racially abused Asian doctor - calling him 'Osama's mate'
Black patients also allegedly made to wait longer than other ethnicities .
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0fae8999dbe2909b4d00411b7ece9f2bd2ccaac8
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(CNN) -- Amid growing outrage over civilian casualties in Syria, there are ever more urgent calls to aid -- or at least protect -- the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. There is renewed talk of creating safe havens and humanitarian corridors inside the country. And those demanding tougher measures are again asking why events in Syria should not prompt Libyan-style intervention by NATO and its Arab allies. In Washington Tuesday, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said the United States "should consider all options, including arming the opposition. The blood-letting has got to stop." So far, the international community's response to the violence in Syria has been limited. There has been diplomatic censure, with envoys withdrawn or "recalled for consultations," and Syrian ambassadors expelled from several Arab states. A growing raft of sanctions is draining the Syrian regime's coffers but only gradually sapping its strength. This is not a country that has relied on international trade for its survival. An Arab League monitoring mission is in abeyance, after a much criticized few weeks on the ground that drew ridicule even from within its own ranks and fury (for its perceived complacency) from protesters. And back in November, France floated the idea of humanitarian corridors that would be protected by armed observers -- while ruling out military intervention. So far the idea has not gained traction. None of this amounts to the sort of pressure that will make the al-Assad regime buckle, especially when it perceives as divided both internal opposition and the international community. Compare the situation to that in Libya -- almost a year ago. As then-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was about to unleash his forces on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, the world came together in the shape of the U.N. Security Council to authorize international intervention and prevent a bloodbath. The French and British were prime movers behind U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973; the United States an enthusiastic supporter. Russia abstained, but at the time its ambassador noted that many questions remained "unanswered, including how it would be enforced and by whom, and what the limits of engagement would be." Russian later complained that a humanitarian mandate had become a blank check in support of the rebels. Perhaps in part because of the bad blood over Libya, the world body has reached no similar consensus over Syria. Rather, the opposite, with some of the harshest diplomatic language traded for years. To the United States, the vetoes were a "travesty." German ambassador Peter Wittig essentially said that Moscow and Beijing had Syrian blood on their hands. "China and Russia will now have to assume that responsibility in the face of the international public opinion and especially in the Arab world, the Arab citizens and, of course, in face of the Syrian people," Wittig said. Beyond the rhetoric, the vetoes had a more practical consequence. NATO officials have made it clear that the alliance cannot act, by enforcing a no-fly zone for example, without U.N. support. Writer Derek Flood, recently in Syria with elements of the Free Syrian Army, says NATO officials envision no role for the alliance in Syria this year. But they have not ruled out a "coalition of the willing" outside the NATO orbit. Both Russia and China are wary of any international action supporting protest against authoritarian rule. And Syria has been first the Soviet Union's -- and now Russia's -- key ally in the region after Egypt 'defected' in the 1970s. As it has for decades, Russia still supplies the Syrian government with weapons. One Russian analyst, Ruslan Pukhov, told CNN: "Once the Assad regime vanishes, we have zero influence in the region." According to Andrew Tabler of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, al-Assad has ably judged the "diplomatic red lines" to keep Moscow onside. There have been no massacres on the scale of what happened in Hama 30 years ago (when thousands were killed after a brief uprising against his father's rule) that might have forced Russia into a corner. The persistent drip of civilian casualties over almost a year has not unleashed a tide of irresistible outrage. Last weekend's casualties in Homs, which opposition activists said numbered in the hundreds, may have changed that. But what can be done? In Bosnia, the international community declared "safe havens" for Muslims but failed to protect them. The result in July 1995 was Srebrenica, the worst massacre in Europe since 1945, when some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim civilians were killed by Serb forces. Havens are only safe when protected against superior forces. Others support Sen. John McCain in arguing for arming the fledgling Free Syrian Army. Anne-Marie Slaughter, professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University, told CNN that is "the most likely [option], that the Arab League countries, Turkey and probably NATO as well arms the Free Syrian Army, gives them the means to fight back. "But then you've got a long and bloody civil war," Slaughter says -- reminiscent of Bosnia. Analysts say that even setting aside the lack of international will, successful intervention in Syria would pose problems not present in Libya: . Geography: Most regime targets in Libya were close to the Mediterranean coast and within easy reach of NATO air bases in Italy. Even so, NATO warplanes flew some 21,000 missions over nearly six months to enforce the no-fly zone, suppress air defenses and destroy command centers and armor. Military analysts say that, while no match for the best NATO members could summon, Syrian armed forces are better equipped and coordinated than anything Gadhafi could muster. Neighboring states: Few of Syria's neighbors would likely allow their territory to be used to pre-position supplies or military units. Certainly neither Iraq nor Lebanon, both countries with their own volatile sectarian mixes. The Hezbollah militia, strongly allied with Syria, remains powerful within Lebanon. The presence of foreign troops on Jordanian soil might have repercussions for a monarchy that already has plenty of problems domestically. Using Israeli territory would send the wrong message altogether. That leaves Turkey, a NATO member that has run out of patience with al-Assad. Last month, the Turkish foreign minister compared the Syrian president with former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, and on Tuesday Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned al-Assad -- pointedly in Arabic -- "What goes around, comes around." Turkey has military bases (Incirlik, Diyarbakir) close to the border that -- theoretically -- could serve as staging posts for intervention. But even for the Turks, there would be risks -- including a flood of refugees and possible retaliation by Damascus supporting the Kurdish terrorist group active in Turkey, the PKK. Topography: Libya was flat desert; there was little cover for regime forces and most of the fighting was along a narrow coastal strip. "Target acquisition" was relatively simple. Syria's physical geography is more challenging; and much of its northern border with Turkey and Lebanon is mountainous, with few major roads. Getting aid into any safe havens within Syria would be a logistical nightmare. The opposition: The Libyan rebels, for all their military shortcomings, quickly grabbed a swathe of eastern Libya and major air and seaports in Benghazi and Tobruk that became their resupply hubs. The Free Syrian Army (FSA), at best, controls a few neighborhoods in Homs and elsewhere. 'The FSA has established very small slices of liberated territory," says Derek Flood, who has just left Idlib province close to the Turkish border. He says the FSA is poorly armed; he was told the price of weapons on the black market has soared, "with a used AK-47 fetching as much as $2,000 - $3,000." Flood says the FSA in that area wants a 5 kilometer buffer zone inside Syria to provide protection from regime forces. Crucially, the regime retains control of Syria's frontiers, and its armed forces appear cohesive, according to analysts in the region. There have been military defections, mainly of low-rank conscripts, but not of entire units with their armor. Against all this and the political risks of western military action in yet another Muslim country, some argue there is a moral imperative -- as there was in Libya and Kosovo (done), Rwanda (ignored) and Bosnia (eventually.) Writing last month in The Atlantic, Steven Cook argued: "If there is no intervention and political will to stop Assad's crimes remains absent, the world will once again have to answer for standing on the sidelines of a mass murder." Cook -- a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations -- asked: "At what point in the body count is international intervention deemed to be an acceptably worthwhile option that can have a positive effect on the situation? After Assad has killed 6,000 people? 7,000? 10,000? 20,000?" Scholar Fouad Ajami agrees, telling CNN's Anderson Cooper: "Not just the Russians and Chinese, shame to the rest of us. There's abdication elsewhere, by the Turks nearby, abdication by the Arab League and Washington. Washington spent an enormous amount of time chasing after the false mirage [that] maybe we can get the Russians and Chinese on board." Some also argue that, despite the price, there would also eventually be a strategic gain: a post-al-Assad Syria would unlikely be as close to Iran as is the current regime and might also deprive Hezbollah of critical regional support. Others see the risks of international intervention as outweighing any benefits, with the danger that civil war would inevitably spill into Lebanon. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice preferred tighter and more coordinated sanctions, saying that "our strong preference is not to fuel what has the potential to become a full-blown civil war" by arming the opposition. Diplomats expect a new "contact group" on Syria to involve at least the United States, France, the Arab League and Turkey. "We think that the Assad regime is on its last legs, that the pressure is increasing, the economy is crumbling," Rice said. Syrians may already be discounting direct intervention by the West. In one YouTube video uploaded Tuesday from Homs, a doctor pleads for help from abroad. But he directs his message to the leaders of Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
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The United Nations' response to violence in Syria differs from its response in Libya .
Geman ambassador: Blood on hands of China, Russia .
Al-Assad has ably judged the "diplomatic red lines" to keep Moscow on its side, says Tabler .
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You may be unlikely to get a reply, but a US firm has revealed the first postal service to send items to the moon. Astrobiotic hopes to fund the development of its lunar landing by offering to take items - with prices ranging from $460 to $26,000. The firm, which has dubbed the service MoonMail, says it can even offer to give over entire missions for larger items that need more shipping space. Scroll down for video . The project aims to put a lander of the lunar surface containing hundreds of capsules people have bought to send everything from rings to photos to the lunar surface. The capsules purchased will be placed on this Griffin Lander, which is expected to blast off on top of a spaceX rocket in the next two years. Each MoonMail Kit that will consist of prepaid postage to mail items to Astrobotic, along with a map of the Moon Landing Site, a photo of the Moon Pod on the Moon, and a certificate of authenticity recognizing them as a Space Pioneer on the first commercial landing to the Moon. The collected mementos will be placed inside the Moon Pod that will be attached to Astrobotic's lunar lander, which will remain on the Moon for future generations. 'With MoonMail, people from around the world can send a memento on Astrobotic's lunar lander,' Astrobotic CEO John Thornton said. 'They'll make history by participating in the first commercial Moon landing.' 'With the starting price at $460, this exciting new offering from Astrobotic is an opportunity to commemorate major life events - graduations, weddings, birthdays, a loved one's memory - with a lasting symbol on the Moon,' it says. Astrobotic is a Nasa contractor, and is also an official partner with NASA on the Lunar Catalyst program. With its partner, Carnegie Mellon University, Astrobotic is pursuing the Google Lunar XPRIZE and is scheduled to launch the first mission within the next two years. It will launch on a SpaceX rocket. After achieving low Earth orbit, the Falcon 9 second stage re-ignites for trans-lunar injection (TLI) to propel Astrobotic’s spacecraft into a 4.5-day cruise to the moon. It consists of two spacecraft, a lander and the Polaris rover; lander and rover exist as a single spacecraft until touchdown on the lunar surface. The firm is now accepting orders for its capsules online. Each MoonMail Kit that will consist of prepaid postage to mail items to Astrobotic, along with a map of the Moon Landing Site, a photo of the Moon Pod on the Moon, and a certificate of authenticity recognizing them as a Space Pioneer on the first commercial landing to the Moon. Three basic sizes are offered, but can be customised, with prices ranging from $460 to $26,000. Each buyer will be send a picture of their item onboard the craft before it flies . The capsules will be put into a sealed container and placed inside the lander. The collected mementos will be placed inside the Moon Pod that will be attached to Astrobotic's lunar lander, which will remain on the Moon.. Astrobotic’s first mission will land near a pit in the Moon’s Lacus Mortis region and demonstrate unprecedented landing precision - if it goes according to plan. Astrobotic’s landing technology registers high-quality, real-time camera images taken during the lander’s descent with terrain maps derived from orbital imagery to achieve safe landing at a precise destination. This capability enables Astrobotic’s Griffin lander to fly directly over the pit, capturing close-up views of the floor and walls that cannot be seen from orbit or the ground, and then to land within 100m of the pit. It will search for ice that could help future explorers set up a moon base - and is powered by solat panels that give it the appearance of having a mohawk. The firm says everything from photos to rings can be placed in the capsules. Launch is by SpaceX Falcon 9. After achieving low Earth orbit, the Falcon 9 second stage re-ignites for trans-lunar injection (TLI) to propel Astrobotic’s spacecraft into a 4.5-day cruise to the moon. It consists of two spacecraft, a lander and the Polaris rover; lander and rover exist as a single spacecraft until touchdown on the lunar surface. Polaris is a robotic rover with a lunar drill, oven, and instruments for analyzing volatiles that will be delivered to the Moon's surface on Astrobotic’s lunar lander. The lander guides the spacecraft into lunar orbit and controls descent to the surface. The lander delivers 262 kg of payload to any destination on the Moon to support robotic lunar missions like skylight exploration, sample return, regional prospecting, and polar volatile characterization. Polaris will have a drill capable of getting a metre under the lunar surface to look for sign of ice . Polaris prospects for water at the lunar poles. Polaris has vertical solar panels to generate 250W of power and two radiator panels to reject excess heat. Stereo cameras and laser are used to guide Polaris and generate 3-D video and models of the lunar surface. The robot communicates directly with Earth using a pointed S-band antenna to receive commands and send video and data. Polaris carries up to 80kg of payload, such as a drill to take core samples and science instruments to identify water content. Polaris is capable of driving and avoiding obstacles autonomously, including traverses into dark regions in the lunar pole’s long shadows. Polaris’ suspension maintains four-wheel ground contact over sloped and rocky lunar terrain without the use of springs. The robot will explore for ten days until the 14-day cryogenic lunar night begins, then hibernate, recover at sunrise, and continue to explore. The lander and rover are both built to tolerate this cryogenic cold. The life sized working prototype of the Polaris rover that could mine the moon in 2015 . The Polaris rover is 5 ½ feet tall, 7 feet wide and . almost 8 feet long. It can move at about a foot a second on . 2-foot-diameter composite wheels. Its suspension will enable the rover to rise up over rough . terrain, but also lower itself to the ground to perform drilling. The . rover will weigh 150 kilograms, or about 330 pounds, and can accommodate . a drill and science payload of up to 70 kilograms. Polaris is a first of its kind solar-powered robot that will search for potentially rich deposits of water ice on the moon. Observations . by NASA and Indian spacecraft suggest that a substantial amount of . water ice could exist at the lunar poles. That ice could be a source of . water, fuel and oxygen for future expeditions, researchers say. Polaris . can bore one meter into the lunar surface and . can operate in lunar regions characterized by dark, long shadows and a . sun that hugs the horizon. It has been developed for an expedition to . the moon's northern pole that would launch from Cape Canaveral on top of a . SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Polaris . is a flight prototype but has the same configuration as the rover that . will eventually land on the moon. It includes a number of flight-worthy . components, including wheels and chassis beams constructed of light, but . tough composite materials. This . will enable Astrobotic team members to spend the coming months testing . and improving the robot's computer vision, navigation and planning . software, and software that can plot the rover's position on the moon . within 10 feet. The Polaris rover will hunt for ice on the moon that can be mined to help set up moon bases for future explorers . Astrobotic — led by CMU's William 'Red' Whittaker — develops robotics technology for planetary missions. 'It is the . first rover developed specifically for drilling lunar ice' said . Whittaker. Other robots built by the Field Robotics Center have . developed technologies necessary for lunar drilling, but none of them . were ever meant to leave Earth. 'What . Polaris does is bring those many ideas together into a rover . configuration that is capable of going to the moon to find ice,' Whittaker added. To find . the ice, a rover must operate as close to the dark poles as possible, . but not so far that it can't use solar arrays for power, Whittaker said. Polaris has three large solar arrays, arranged vertically to capture . light from low on the horizon. The solar arrays will be capable of an average of 250 watts of electrical power. Polaris . also makes use of software, pioneered in CMU's NASA-funded Hyperion . robot, that keeps track of the rover's position relative to the sun's . rays to maximize solar energy and husbands battery power for use in the . long shadows and dark regions found at the poles. Whittaker said the lunar day lasts about 14 Earth days, though only . about 10 days are suitable for water prospecting at the poles. The Astrobotic team expects Polaris . could drill 10 to 100 holes during that time as it locates and . characterizes water ice deposits. Astrobotic, in partnership with CMU, is also vying for the Google Lunar X Prize of more than $20 million. Polaris is one of two Moon rovers under development by Astrobotic in competition for the Google contest, which offers a total of $30m in awards to privately funded projects exploring the Moon. First prize – $20m – will be awarded to the company that can 'safely land a robot on the surface of the Moon, have that robot travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and send video, images and data back to the Earth.' If Polaris successfully survives the long, frigid lunar nights, as anticipated, the prospecting mission could be extended indefinitely. Astrobotic has won nine lunar contracts from NASA worth $3.6 million, including one to evaluate how Polaris can accommodate NASA's ice-prospecting instruments during a three-mile traverse near the moon's north pole.
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Prices range from $460 to $26,000 for capsules to be send to lunar surface .
Firm hopes to use cash to fund lunar lander attempt in 2015 .
Working with Carnegie Mellon University to win Google Lunar XPRIZE .
Also developing rover to search for minerals that can be mined .
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By . Victoria Woollaston . The Yo app may have been criticised for being useless, but its brilliance was in its simplicity. It is the latest application to have made it through the Apple’s App Store Guidelines by promising to be functional - albeit loosely. Other apps that border on useless, and have come under similar criticism, include an electric shaver simulator, an abacus and an app that scans for ghosts. The Electric Shaver Simulator app (pictured left) costs 69p and was developed by Mindgrip. It features 'realistic sounds and appearance' and is 'guaranteed to never nick.' The Ghost Radar: Classic app (pictured right) claims to be able to pick up paranormal activity using the microphone, and guides the user to the location of ghosts . The Electric Shaver Simulator costs 69p and was developed by Mindgrip. It features ‘realistic sounds and appearance’ and is ‘guaranteed to never nick.’ There is also a Razor User Guide that teaches users how to hold the phone to mimic the act of shaving. Meanwhile, the Abacus app from Pixio also costs 69p and lets users count beads on virtual rows. The Ghost Radar: Classic app is a radar that turns a phone into a ‘mobile ghost detector.’ Developer Jack Jones bills it as being able to pick up paranormal activity using the phone's built-in microphone, and guides the user to the location of the ghost. The description on the free app reads: 'Ghost Radar attempts to detect paranormal activity by making various readings on the device. Meanwhile, the Abacus app from Pixio also costs 69p and lets users count beads on virtual rows. There are four frame types and a multi-touch interface. One reviewer wrote: 'Utterly useless, one star is generous' The free Virtual Lighter app (pictured left) turns an iPhone into a Zippo lighter. Flicking the screen opens the lighter and produces an image of a flame on the screen. The 69p Hold On! game (pictured right) asks users to compete to see how long they can press the onscreen button. It also adds multiplayer elements, over Bluetooth . ‘Traditional paranormal equipment can be easily fooled when simple mundane bursts of normal energy occur. To . be accepted onto the App Store, apps must be functional in that they . must not crash, include hidden features or work in a way other than what . the developer advertised. They must also have a user function and developers can't charge for app that doesn't do anything. Any . app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place . the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected. Apps . that present excessively objectionable or crude content will be . rejected along with apps that are designed to upset or disgust users. Apps . containing pornographic material, defined by Webster’s Dictionary as . 'explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities . intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional . feelings', will be rejected. In . summary, Apple said: 'We will reject Apps for any content or behavior . that we believe is over the line. What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme . Court Justice once said, “I’ll know it when I see it”. And we think . that you will also know it when you cross it.' ‘Ghost Radar sets itself apart by analysing the readings and giving indications only when interesting patterns in the readings have been made.’ Other apps that have been criticised include the £2.99 Cry Translator app. It claims to be able to analyse and diagnose a baby’s cry, and offer solutions in less than 10 seconds. The app’s description states it can identify if a baby is hungry, sleepy, annoyed, stressed or bored. And during clinical tests, 96 per cent of babies stopped crying after the app's methods were applied. The developers caveat these claims by adding it’s not a medical device. The free iNap@Work app helps users sleep in the office by creating random common office sounds to convince colleagues they're working. And if users are bored at work but can’t sleep, they can play the 69p Hold On! game, that encourages people to compete to see how long they can press an onscreen button. It also adds multiplayer elements over Bluetooth. The free iFrench Kiss app invites users to snog their iPhone screens, and then rates their effort. One reviewer on the App Store complained the app kept telling them they were a ‘rubbish kisser’, and now they are more nervous about their first kiss. And the free Virtual Lighter app turns an iPhone into a Zippo lighter. Flicking the screen opens the lighters and produces an image of a flame on the screen. Other apps that have been criticised include the £2.99 Cry Translator app. It claims to be able to analyse and diagnose a baby's cry, and offer solutions in less than 10 seconds. The app's description adds it will identify if a baby is hungry, sleepy, annoyed, stressed or bored with 96 per cent accuracy . The Yo app (picutred) was criticised for being 'useless' and having limited functions, but secured $1 million in funding following its launch earlier this year .
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The Electric Shaver Simulator costs 69p and turns a phone into a shaver .
Ghost Radar: Classic uses the microphone to scan for paranormal activity .
Abacus lets users count virtual beads, while Hold On! encourages users to press an onscreen button for as long as they can .
Alternatively, for £2.99, iPhone users can translate their baby’s cries .
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Everton need to stop trying to play like Barcelona and return to what they had under David Moyes, according to Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness. The Toffee's defensive frailties were once again exposed during their 3-2 defeat by Newcastle on Sunday - meaning only QPR have conceded more goals than Roberto Martinez's side this season. Speaking after the game, Souness said: 'Everton are flattering to deceive at the moment. Roberto Martinez needs to change his style to arrest Everton's slump, says Graeme Souness . The Sky presenter claims Everton need to get back to playing David Moyes' direct style of football . 'The second goal typifies Everton at the moment, they are trying to play their way out of trouble when there's nothing wrong with putting your foot through it occasionally. 'They're trying to basically play like Barcelona at their best, but there's very few teams out there that can keep the ball when teams come after them big style. 'It's not all pass-pass-pass, sometime you have to mix it up at times.' The former Liverpool midfielder even went as far as to say that Martinez should consider sacrificing his expansive style in favour of the more direct approach that identified the club under previous manager David Moyes. 'You have to get back to what David Moyes had. They were a little bit more in your face, more direct and they mixed it up a little bit. 'Now, they are so predictable to play against and that's why they're conceding so many goals as well.' Papiss Cisse celebrates scoring to level Arouna Kone's opening goal at St James' Park . Ayoz Perez (centre) adopts an Alan Shearer goal celebration after giving Newcastle a first half lead . Jack Colback (left) watches the ball cross Joel Robles goalline for what was eventually the winner . Fellow pundit Gary Neville agreed that Martinez's philosophy of playing the ball out from the back is contributing to their woeful defensive record this season. 'Everton were beaten in every single department and the goals that they conceded were a result of play that Roberto Martinez tries to promote. 'Obviously playing out from the back, which is fine - but they have overplayed and it has cost them. 'But if that is the way that you promote to play then you have to lie and die by that. Alan pardew (left) consoles Martinez, but the Spanish manager insists he won't change his philosophy . However, the Spanish manager was defiant that he would persevere with the same tactics that led Everton to a praiseworthy fifth placed finish last season. Speaking to reporters, he said: 'As a team we need to stick with our principles, the doubts that people try to bring in makes you a stronger team. We showed last season what we could do, we haven't lost that talent, if anything we've increased it.'
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Everton were defeated 3-2 by Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday .
Toffees have now conceded more goals than anyone except QPR .
Roberto Martinez needs to change his expansive style for a more direct approach, says Graeme Souness .
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The head of a maraschino cherry factory who shot himself dead last Tuesday after police found a secret drug lab on site could have been making up to $10million a year from his illicit venture. Arthur Mondella, 57, president of Dell's Maraschino Cherries factory in Brooklyn, was believed to have been managing a huge marijuana operation on the side of his food business. According to a report in the the New York Post, he could have earned up to $6,500 for a pound of the substance - depending on the quality. Scroll down for video . Arthur Mondella (above) hid his massive marijuana business behind his hugely successful cherry business authorities believe. It has been claimed he could have been making up to $10million a year . The smell of the 400,000 pounds of cherries produced each day in his factory hid the smell of the 1,200 plants he grew . Mondella asked his sister Joanne Capece (right) to 'take care of [his] kids (two daughters Dana and Dominique and ex-wife Elaine left),' and then shot himself dead in his private bathroom . If he was growing 100 plants and the drug was 'high quality', it means he would have been making more than $2.5million every three months, a consultant told The Post. It was revealed on Saturday that he was able to keep investigators in the dark as the smell of the 400,000 pounds of Maraschino cherries his plant processed each week managed to mask the stench of the marijuana plants. Reports suggest he was capable of growing at least 100 at a time, but could have managed up to 1,200, meaning he could have been making substantially more from the criminal enterprise. Furthermore, the other red flag for authorities would have been the heightened electric bill from running grow lamps - something that was also masked by his large operation. This as many still have questions as to why the president of Dell's Maraschino Cherries, after cooperating with investigators for five hours Tuesday as they looked in to claims that his business was dumping hazardous waste, excused himself, asked his sister Joanne Capece to 'take care of [his] kids,' and then shot himself dead in his private bathroom. The New York Daily News reports that investigators then discovered a crawl space that led to a 50-foot-by-50-foot area that was divided into several rooms. Authorities now believe the rooms were for growing the plans. One room contained seeds of 60 different marijuana strains and about $125,000 in cash. Salvatore Capece (left), nephew of Mondella, and Dominique Mondella (right), his daughter, continued the family legacy by working at Dell's Maraschino Cherries . They believe a crop had just been harvested, as only three bags with about 100 pounds of marijuana were discovered during their search. All that, along with 120 expensive grow lamps, were completely hidden, leading one source to speculate he could have been working alone and not with the help of others at the company. 'In theory, it could have been him and outsiders,' said the source. 'This is a secreted part of a large factory that was designed so a large number of employees won’t know.' Despite all this, the company, which has contracts with numerous national restaurant chains such as Red Lobster, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chick-fil-A and TGI Fridays, is back in business and family lawyer Michael Farkas states managers are cooperating fully with the District Attorney's investigation. Mondella is survived by three children from two marriages. His father, Arthur Mondella Sr, started the business as a Brooklyn storefront in 1948.
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Arthur Mondella, 57, president of Dell's Maraschino Cherries factory in Brooklyn, shot himself dead at his home last Tuesday .
Authorities found a secret drug lab inside the manufacturing plant .
He could have brought in $6,500 per pound of the 'high quality' substance .
It is believed the smell of the cherries masked the drug's scent .
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By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 12:22 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:22 EST, 8 April 2013 . Some 300 motorcycle taxi drivers parked on an airstrip and turned their headlights on so a critically ill mother and newborn baby could be flown to hospital at night from one of the poorest places in Peru. The single-engine medical plane, which also carried a 17-year-old man with a tropical disease, took off from Contamana airport after the taxi drivers responded to a plea from a local radio DJ. They arrived at the 2,600ft airstrip within minutes and shone their headlights along the runway so the plane could take off for the town of Pucallpa. Hundreds of taxis lined an unlit airstrip in a jungle region of Peru so a medical plane could take three critically ill patients to hospital . The taxi drivers responded to a plea for help from a local radio DJ last Wednesday . The town's hospital is not equipped for emergency situations and the airport has basic facilities and no lights. 'We have always been people with a heart,' presenter Adolfo Lobo told AFP. The 17-year-old man, named as Samuel Tamani, had been diagnosed with leptospirosis, a disease that can be spread through animal and rodent urine, reported the Peruvian Times. He died of his illness days after his arrival at hospital last Wednesday, the newspaper said today. New mother Melita Murrieta was being treated in hospital with her child after a difficult delivery. New mother Melita Murrieta and her baby were flown out of Cantamana for treatment in Pucallpa . The single-engine plane took off from the 2,600ft airstrip illuminated by taxi headlights .
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300 drivers turn up at Contamana airport, which does not have lights .
New mother and baby receiving treatment at hospital in Pucallpa .
The other patient onboard, a 17-year-old man, later died of leptospirosis .
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The Oakland Raiders arrived in England battling jetlag and chasing a first win of the season. But that isn’t all, as they plan to make England their home for the remainder of the week. With a depleted linebacking corps and a worrying inability to score touchdowns, Dennis Allen’s side are certainly down, but not necessarily out. And as the bleary-eyed squad familiarise themselves with their sumptuous Surrey surrounds, the Raiders finished their first practice on English soil in high spirits ahead of their ‘home’ game with the Miami Dolphins at Wembley on Sunday. Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen gave his players some time off to recover from the jetlag . A Raiderette struts her stuff on Regent Street in central London this week . ‘I thought practice was pretty good,’ said head coach Allen. ‘Obviously we got here Monday morning and the guys had a little bit of time on Monday and Tuesday to catch up on a little bit of rest. Now we’ll get started with a normal game week preparation. 'I think the further we go into the week, the more acclimated the guys will get to the time change and hopefully that won’t be any sort of factor come Sunday.’ After arriving in these shores on Monday morning, quarterback Derek Carr spoke of the oddities of the international series. Oakland Raiders players prepare for a drill during training in Surrey on Wednesday . Quarterback Derek Carr is struggling to get his head around the time difference . ‘It’s crazy. I texted my wife this morning and she was still on Tuesday. I was texting her goodnight and she said “good morning”. It was weird. At the same time, the first day I got here, I tried to fight sleep as long as I could. I think I slept for like 11 hours that first day because I was trying to get caught up to this time zone. 'Obviously, still feeling it a little bit today. As the days have gone, it’s gotten progressively better. The faster I can get into the right time zone, which is here, the better it will feel. I’m glad we came out as early as we did because it definitely makes a difference.’ Devoid of two starters - wide receiver Rod Streater and safety Tyvon Branch suffered foot injuries during the agonising 16-9 defeat at New England - the Raiders know they need to win. And fast. Oakland Raiders brought their cheerleaders with them to London ahead of their Wembley clash . ‘That’s all I care about,’ said rookie quarterback Carr. ‘I’ve told you guys that I’ll throw five touchdowns or five picks, I could care less. I just want to win. That’s all this game is about. That’s all that matters in the NFL. I learned that quick. ‘As we saw last week, we score a touchdown, it gets taken away. We’re going in there, who knows what could have happened after that. It’s just that much. You learn how hard it is to win in this league and you learn how hard it is to get that first one. David Haye was presented with his own personalised Raiders shirt by Menelik Watson . 'That’s what I’m learning right now, how much it really takes to get one win, let alone 16, something that New England has done before. Hopefully we’ll get it this week. I don’t make any promises, I can tell you that.’ And Carr spoke in glowing terms of the explosive Cameron Wake. ‘I can go on and on on their whole defense. They have so much talent. Cameron Wake is obviously a great player. You have to know… when you turn the film on, you’re like “oh my goodness, who is 91?” It’s one of those guys. You’ve got to know where he’s at at all times.’ Khali Mack (left) is hoping for an improved performance against Miami Dolphins at the weekend . Meanwhile Khalil Mack, the fifth overall pick of May’s draft, was succinct about the Raiders’ fortunes so far. Asked to summarise his tender three-game NFL career, he replied: ‘Gotta get better, gotta get better, gotta get better.’ Like many, this is the linebacker’s first trip to England, with the 22-year-old replying: ‘It’s great. It’s different. I’m glad to be here and it’s a different experience for me. I’m glad to be blessed to have this opportunity.’ Oakland Raiders have been preparing for the showdown at Pennyhill Park in Surrey . They face an inconsistent Dolphins side, who have a rookie offensive line and concerns about Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. But their defense is a force to be reckoned with, as Allen alluded to. ‘It’s a good football team. Defensively, they’re fast. They’re aggressive. They do some different things. They like to pressure the quarterback. 'They’ve done a great job of getting pressure on the quarterback so we’ve got to understand what they’re trying to do. Their front four is outstanding as far as getting pressure on the quarterback. We’ve got to take care of the front four.’
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The Raiders are 0-3 and face the Dolphins at Wembley on Sunday .
Designated as the ‘home’ team Dennis Allen’s side arrived in England on Monday .
After their first practice on English soil, they are wary of Miami, who arrive on Friday afternoon .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:26 EST, 1 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:48 EST, 2 September 2012 . Resignation: Suzanne Barr resigned today amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior lodged by at least three Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees . A senior Obama administration political appointee and longtime aide to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano resigned Saturday amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior lodged by at least three Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees. Suzanne Barr, chief of staff to ICE Director John Morton, said in her resignation letter that the allegations against her are 'unfounded.' But she said she was stepping down anyway to end distractions within the agency. ICE, a division of the Homeland Security Department, confirmed Barr had resigned. The Associated Press obtained a copy of Barr's letter. Barr is accused of sexually inappropriate behavior toward employees. The complaints are related to a sexual discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a senior ICE agent in May . In her letter to Morton, Barr said she has been the subject of 'unfounded allegations designed to destroy my reputation' and is resigning 'with great regret.' 'Of greater concern however, is the threat these allegations represent to the reputation of this agency and the men and women who proudly serve their country by advancing ICE's mission,' Barr wrote. Former boss: Barr had been chief of staff for John Morton, pictured, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . 'As such, I feel it is incumbent upon me to take every step necessary to prevent further harm to the agency and to prevent this from further distracting from our critical work.' Barr went on leave last month after the New York Post reported on the lawsuit filed by James T. Hayes Jr., ICE's special agent in charge in New York. Additional employees came forward with their allegations around the same time. In one complaint, Barr is accused of telling a male subordinate he was 'sexy' and asking a personal question about his anatomy during an office party. In a separate complaint, she is accused of offering to perform a sex act with a male subordinate during a business trip in Bogota, Colombia. She's also accused of calling a male subordinate from her hotel room and offering to perform a sex act. The names of two of Barr's accusers were censored in affidavits reviewed by AP. Homeland Security's office of professional responsibility and inspector general have been investigating the allegations. Prior to the lawsuit, there were no complaints about Barr, according to a homeland security official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. Denial: The suit does not outline the nature of the relationship. Napolitano, pictured, has denied she is gay . In the lawsuit, Hayes described a 'frat house' atmosphere at ICE designed to humiliate male employees under Barr's leadership. James T Hayes Jr, the head of the New York ICE office, filed a discrimination lawsuit against Napolitano earlier this year. The latest affidavits have been submitted to his attorney . Hayes, who was transferred to New York from ICE headquarters in Washington, is asking for more than $4million that, among other things, would cover compensation he believes he is owed for relocation expenses and financial losses associated with his transfer. Hayes' lawyer, Morris Fischer of Silver Spring, Maryland, has declined to comment. The Justice Department is seeking to dismiss Hayes' lawsuit on the basis that he did not state a claim for retaliation. Barr, a 1995 graduate of the University of Arizona, was among Napolitano's first appointments after she became secretary in 2009. Barr started working for Napolitano in 2004, while Napolitano was governor of Arizona. Prior to that, Barr worked for Arizona Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain. In one of the new affidavits, an ICE employee claims Barr said to a senior executive, 'You a sexy m*****-f*****'. It continued: 'She then looked at his crotch and asked, "How long is it anyway?" Several employees laughed nervously.' The other witness statement details a . trip to Colombia in late 2009 made by Barr, ICE director John Morton . and Ray Parmer, ICE special agent in charge of Homeland Security . Investigations in New Orleans. Barr . and Parmer were 'drinking heavily' at the house of the deputy chief of . mission for the U.S. embassy, when Parmer allegedly took the BlackBerry . of another ICE employee, Peter Vincent, and sent 'lewd messages' to . Barr . 'Frat house': Napolitano's department became a workplace where men were regularly humiliated, it is claimed . The affadavit said: 'During this party, Suzanne Barr approached me and offered to' perform a sex act. Both witness statements were this week submitted to the defence attorney in the lawsuit Hayes filed against Napolitano. While Napolitano is named as the sole defendant, the suit details the behaviour of her advisers Barr and Dora Schriro.
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Suzanne Barr, the Immigrant and Customs Enforcement chief-of-staff, has stepped down amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour .
ICE employees have made alleged graphic comments made by Barr and another official working for Homeland Security boss Janet Napolitano .
Affidavits given as part of a discrimination lawsuit against Napolitano filed earlier this year by James T Hayes Jr, head of New York ICE office .
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By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 15:24 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:39 EST, 11 December 2013 . The owners of DiGiorno - the nation's largest frozen pizza company - have said that they have cut all ties with a Wisconsin dairy farm after undercover video revealed sickening abuse against the cows kept there. The footage, shot by animals rights group Mercy for Animals last month, shows workers at Wiese Brothers Farm in Greenleaf, beating the cows and dragging them with ropes from tractors - leaving them with gaping, bleeding wounds. Nestlé, who owns DiGiorno frozen pizza, confirmed today that they will no longer use any use cheese for their pizza from any firm supplied with milk by Wiese Brothers - as it emerged that the Wisconsin firm has fired two staff and that police are investigating the family firm. Scroll Down for Video . Sick: The animal rights group Mercy For Animals released the video on Tuesday. Director of Investigations Matt Rice says it was shot in October and November at Wiese Brothers Farm in Greenleaf, Wisconsin . Kicking out: This employee of Wiese Brothers lashes out at a cow at their Wisconsin farm while (right) this cow has a grizzly pustule on the side of its face in this video shot in October and November . Dragged: This cow is pulled by her head by a tractor along the floor as two staff members of Wiese Brothers watch . Swiss food giant Nestlé moved quickly to sever any links between them and Wiese Brothers and a spokesperson for their pizza division said they are 'outraged and deeply saddened by the mistreatment of animals shown in this video.' They confirmed that they have instructed their cheese supplier, Foremost Farms USA, that Nestlé 'will not accept any cheese made with milk from the Wiese Brothers Farm.' After viewing the horrific video which shows cows hanging from ropes and blistered with seeping sores, Foremost Farms USA declared themselves to be 'extremely disappointed.' 'To protect consumer trust and confidence in the dairy industry, we have discontinued receiving milk from the farm depicted in the video.' Horrible: This cow is bleeding heavily from an open wound and is not being treated by any employee at Wiese Brothers in Wisconsin . Grim: Another cow is hoisted into the air while at Griese Brothers and frantically runs its legs to try and escape . Faced with a public relations disaster, the Wiese family said that they were 'shocked and saddened' at the footage and added they have 'zero tolerance for animal abuse.' They confirmed that the two employees seen in the video had been fired and a third removed from 'animal handling' responsibilities. 'Further action will be taken if the investigation warrants it,' said the statement. The local sheriff's department in Greenleaf said that they are investigating the alleged abuse and will be pressing charges if warranted. The video was shot undercover by a representative of the animal rights group Mercy for Animals in October and November and was then handed over to NBC News. Cruel: This cow is hanging in the air as a forklift truck operated by an employee reverses backwards . Poked pulled and prodded: This cow looks distressed as it is pulled by its head upwards by a tractor . 'No socially responsible corporation should support dairy operations that beat, kick, mutilate and neglect animals,' said MFA’s executive director, Nathan Runkle. 'Due to its complete lack of meaningful animal welfare standards, DiGiorno has allowed a culture of cruelty to flourish in its cheese supply chain.' The gruesome video reveals repeated examples of cruelty towards the livestock at Wiese Brothers farm as bleeding animals are beaten with sticks or kicked and dragged by their legs or necks. Speaking to NBC News, one livestock expert said the video showed unequivocal evidence of abuse. 'Dragging live cows, and completely suspending them with the cow lift is severe animal abuse,' said Temple Grandin, an associate professor of livestock behavior at Colorado State University and an animal welfare adviser to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Reality: This calf has been separated from its mother and could possibly be killed for veal at Wiese Brothers in Wisconsin . 'The actions of these people went beyond rough handling and escalated to the level of cruelty. Kicking, beating, and hard whipping of downed cows is abusive.' Brown County Shefiff's Department said they were in the midst of an investigation after being handed the footage. 'It something we’re looking into right now,' said Captain David Konrath. 'At the conclusion of the investigation we’ll give the case to the district attorney and he will make a decision about whether charges would be filed.' Pizza and the farm: DiGiorno is the most popular brand of pizza in the United States and the milk its cheese suppliers use comes from Wiese Brothers . A Wiese family spokesperson said that they were working fully with Brown County Sheriff's Department and had invited an 'independent animal care auditor from a national evaluation firm' to come to their facility and begin a review of practices within 24 hours of being made aware of the footage in on November 26. 'We are shocked and saddened to see a few of our employees not following our farm's policies for proper animal care. We have zero tolerance for animal abuse. We are committed to providing optimal care and ask all our employees to demonstrate ongoing respect for every animal at all times,' the farm said. The farm, which has 4,500 cows that produce about 350,000 pounds of milk daily, was chosen at random to investigate.
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Shocking video shows Wisconsin based Wiese Brothers Farms employees viciously kicking, beating, stabbing and violently whipping cows in the face and body .
Sick or injured cows suffering from open wounds, infections and injuries left to suffer .
Baby calves being dragged away from their mothers immediately after birth .
Filmed in October and November and has caused parent company of DiGiorno Pizza to cut all ties with the farm .
Criminal investigation begun .
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Sharp-eyed viewers criticised the first series of Downton Abbey when latter day sights including a TV aerial intruded into its Edwardian scenes. Now ITV's award-winning period drama has fallen foul of keen-eared fans too – over its use of modern slang. Characters in the second series – written by Julian Fellowes and set in the First World War – have been uttering phrases not popularised until 40 years later. Illogical: Dan Stevens as Captain Matthew Crawley and Zoe Boyle as Lavinia Swire . Downton Abbey: The curse of anachronism has hit the ITV show once again . Footman Thomas Barrow used 'get . knotted' in one episode earlier this month, while in Sunday's instalment . he said: 'I am fed up seeing our lot get shafted.' Both expressions are believed to have . originated in the 1960s. Meanwhile, Captain Matthew Crawley, while in . the trenches, used the modern-sounding phrase: 'You have been taking . logic pills again.' ShaftedIn its colloquial meaning, the word is recorded in a slang dictionary from the late 1950s. Logic pillsThis unusual phrase is not thought to have been used in the early 20th century. Get knottedThis phrase, meaning 'go to hell', is not recorded in the OED until 1963. Everything in the garden is rosyThe phrase has not been found written down before 1929. And head housemaid Anna Smith told . John Bates in last week's episode: 'So everything in the garden is . rosy?' It is believed this phrase was not used until at least the . mid-1920s. The latest apparent gaffes come after . viewers accused the second series of historical inaccuracy when it . launched in September and a character used the phrase, 'As if'. John Simpson, of the Oxford English . Dictionary, confirmed that 'get knotted' was recorded as being in use . from 1963. He said: 'I did think "shafted" felt quite wrong... it . imposed too much of 1960s and 1970s culture on to the scene.' And he added that he had not found . the expression 'logic pills' in use around 1920 – or, indeed, 'much at . all' – while he had discovered the phrase 'everything in the garden is . rosy' in the 1929 edition of Electronic Engineering. 'One might assume it was around at . least a few years earlier,' he said. 'We need to bear in mind that the . programme is light entertainment,' he went on. Out of place: Characters Thomas Barrow . (played by Rob James-Collier, left) and Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens, . right) have been using inaccurate phrases for the period . 'Expressions may be anachronistic, and they may also be used by the wrong “class'. That is common with costume drama.' Una Maguire, of Downton production . company Carnival Films, admitted: 'We suspect "shafted" wasn't used . then. We didn't get that right.' But she claimed 'get knotted' was 19th . century naval slang. And she said of the 'logic pills' dialogue: 'It is . not a common phrase now and we are not saying it was a common phrase . then either.' 'It is original writing,' she said. 'We believe the phrase “everything in the garden is rosy' came in in about 1917.' 'Everything in the garden is rosy': The anachronistic phrase was said by . Head Housemaid Anna Smith (Joanne Froggatt, right) to Lord Grantham's valet John Bates (Brendan Coyle, left)
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Editor of Oxford English Dictionary says slips 'felt quite wrong'
Creators defend their choice of phrases saying show is 'light entertainment'
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It may boost lashes and hide signs of fatigue but your mascara could be wreaking havoc with your eyesight. A new survey has revealed that British women are putting themselves at severe risk of eye infections by using mascara that is up to ten years out of date. Unbeknown to many of us, mascara has a four month use-by date but, according to new research, 70 per cent of women regularly use mascara and eyeliner for much longer than that. Beware the mascara! A new study shows that some eye make-up expires after four months but many women continue using it and put themselves at risk of serious eye infection . Researchers also found that two thirds use mascara which is over a year old and some women continue using the same mascara for up to ten years, with one fifth not even realising that make-up has a use-by date. So what's the problem? Specialists at eye hospital group Optegra, who commissioned the research, are warning that wet products like mascara, which are applied to close to the eye's surface, are a breeding grounds for bacteria. Breeding bacteria: Specialists warn that if mascara smells, you should stop using it and because it's applied so close to the eye, it puts women at serious risk of eye infection . Consultant ophthalmic surgeon Anna Maino said: 'It’s worrying that so many use old eye products well past the use-by date, sometimes 10 years out of date.' Sharing her advice for avoiding any infection, she warned: 'They should look for a small open jar symbol with a number showing how many months it should be used once opened. 'We are urging all women to check their make-up bags. Then they should do their eyes a favour and get rid of anything that’s out of date, especially if it smells. 'Cosmetics normally contain preservatives to help prevent bacteria growth but storing them in a hot place will make it easy for bacteria to thrive. 'Get into good make-up hygiene habits by sharpening eye pencils between applications, washing brushes regularly and turning out old make-up.' Mascara and liquid eyeliner – discard after four months . Liquid foundation and creamy eye shadow – discard after six months . Powder eye shadow – 12 months . Pencil eyeliner, lip liner, powder blusher/bronzer – can last up to two years but don’t share!
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Some 70% of British women use mascara which is over a year old .
One in five Brits don't realise make-up has a recommended use-by date .
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Harry Kane scored with the final kick of the game as Tottenham fought back from two goals down to draw with West Ham. Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho gave the Hammers what appeared to be comfortable lead but Spurs fought back first through Danny Rose and then Kane. Here, Sportsmail gives their player ratings. Tottenham captain Lloris makes a superb save from Enner Valencia to keep the score at 1-0 . TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1) Hugo Lloris - 7 . Kept Tottenham in the game with superb saves at 1-0 down and 2-0 down. The Hammers would have been out of sight had it not been for Tottenham's captain. Kyle Walker - 5.5 . Both opposition goals came from crosses down his flank. Still a long way off his best but attacked well late on. Eric Dier - 5 . Poor positioning for the opening goal, failed to impress thereafter. Struggling to recapture his early season form. Jan Vertonghen - 5.5 . Like most of his team, not his best game. Occasionally looked a little flat-footed when balls were played in behind him. Jan Vertonghen indicates he thinks midfielder Mark Noble deserves a second yellow card . Danny Rose - 6.5 . Could have done better for Sakho's goal - called for offside instead of playing to the whistle. Did manage to score though, his goal riled up the crowd and sparked the comeback. Ryan Mason - 5 . Struggled to exert himself on the game against an impressive West Ham midfield . Nabil Bentaleb - 5.5 . Against Arsenal, he and Mason ran the show but Song, Noble and Kouyate didn't afford them the same luxury. Andros Townsend - 5 . Cresswell dealt with him well. Never got a chance to use his pace and was hauled off after an hour. Danny Rose strikes to pull one back for Tottenham with 10 minutes remaining in the match in north London . Mousa Dembele - 4.5 . His error led to the opening goal and was subbed at half time. Even with the ending, probably not a day he'll look back on fondly. Erik Lamela - 5.5 . Could have easily been substituted at half time instead of Dembele. Did not justify Pochettino's decision to start him ahead of Eriksen. Harry Kane - 7 . Looked frustrated for the majority of the game but kept trying and was rewarded with a penalty and a goal late on. Great strikers can score even when fed on scraps, Kane did that today. Subs: Eriksen - 6, Soldado - 5.5, Chadli - 6. Mauricio Pochettino - 5.5 . Tottenham were poor, the Argentine claimed after the match his team deserved more than a draw - they didn't even deserve that. Harry Kane missed the penalty but scored the rebound with the final kick of the game on Sunday afternoon . WEST HAM (4-3-3) Adrian - 5 . Should have done better for Rose's goal. Saved Kane's penalty late on but the rebound fell straight to the Spurs striker. Carl Jenkinson - 6 . Quiet game from the on-loan defender. Didn't have much joy going forward but solid defensively. James Tomkins - 6 . Kept Kane quiet for most of the game, not much he could do about either of Tottenham's goals. Winston Reid - 6 . Made a superb challenge on Kane in the first half to prevent a goal. Like Tomkins, not at fault for either goal . Defensive midfielders Song of West Ham and Nabil Bentaleb of Tottenham during the second half . Aaron Cresswell - 6.5 . Good going forward, provided the assist for the first goal (his fourth of the season). Unlucky not to be on the winning side. Alex Song - 6 . Really solid performance for the first 95 minutes of the match. Dominated the midfield with his team-mates. But a rush of blood to the head in the final 60 seconds cost his team the win. Cheikhou Kouyate - 7 . Great performance from the 25-year-old. Scored a goal and dominated the midfield with Song. Mark Noble - 7 . Assisted the second goal and played well but could have easily been sent off. Substituted in the second half to avoid that eventuality and it is no coincidence that Tottenham's comeback began shortly after. Tottenham midfielder Mousa Demebele attempts to evade opposite number Mark Noble at White Hart Lane . Enner Valencia - 6 . Denied a goal by a brilliant save from Lloris and struggled to make an impact thereafter. Could have scored in the second half but Sakho chose not to square it for a tap-in. Stewart Downing - 6 . Solid, if unspectacular. A Stewart Downing performance if ever there was one. Some nice passing, worked hard tracking back but nothing to get the crowd off their feet. Diafra Sakho - 6.5 . A confusing performance. His goal was brilliantly taken - a half-volley from a remarkably tight angel. All of his easier chances, however, he failed to take advantage of. Subs: Cole - 5, Jarvis - 5.5, Collins 5.5. Sam Allardyce - 7 . So unfortunate to only come away with a point, Allardyce got his tactics spot on but were undone by a bizarre goal from Rose and a late penalty. Cheikhou Kouyate leaps in between Tottenham's central defender's to head home the opening goal .
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Tottenham and West Ham drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane on Sunday .
West Ham took the lead through Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho .
Spurs fought back through Danny Rose and Harry Kane .
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There were only 27,099 supporters there to see it but Barcelona's lowest crowd of the season watched them give one of their most ruthless displays, beating La Liga's bottom club Elche in the Copa del Rey. Jeers for Luis Enrique and cheers for Lionel Messi echoed around the 98,000-capacity arena early in the first half. The coach is still battling to save his job and he picked his strongest possible side with Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez reunited up front - all three scored in the first half to all but put Barca in the quarter-finals where they will face thee winner of the Madrid derby between Atletico and Real after the formality of next week's second leg. Many Barcelona supporters were left asking why tinkerman Enrique had rested Gerard Pique, Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic, Neymar and Messi in the previous Sunday's difficult trip to Real Sociedad to then play them all against lowly Elche who are currently the worst side in Spanish football. Barcelona got back to winning ways against Elche on Thursday evening after their disappointing defeat to Real Sociedad . Brazilian forward Neymar opens the scoring for Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 clash against Elche . Former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez scores his side's second goal of the evening at the Nou Camp . Argentine star Lionel Messi scores his side's third goal from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time . Messi blows kisses to the crowd after scoring a penalty, which was won by team-mate Neymar, for Barcelona . Spain international Jordi Alba celebrates after scoring Barcelona's fourth goal against La Liga strugglers Elche . Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique (Samper 75), Alba (Correira 60), Bartra; Mascherano, Rakitic, Roberto; Messi, Suárez, Neymar (Adriano 66). Subs not used: Masip Montoya, Munir, Iniesta. Scorers: Neymar (x2), Messi, Suarez, Alba. Elche (5-4-1): Tyton; Cisma (Fragapane 72), Lomban, Suarez, Albacar, Pelegrin; Roco, Fajr, Pasalic, Coro (Jonathas 57); Herrera (Niguez 63). Subs not used: Adrian, Rodriguez, Freixanet, Galvez. Booked: Suarez, Roco, Pelegrin. Referee: David Fernandez . Att: 27,099 . Suarez looked especially inspired, assisting the first and scoring the second, meaning he now has goals in all three competitions for the club he joined this summer. Barcelona were both unlucky and wasteful in the first half hour. Neymar should have been awarded a penalty when he was bounced off the ball by Damian Suarez but the referee waved away the appeals. Then a perfect lofted pass from Messi dropped into Neymar's path. The Brazilian should have scored without breaking stride but he sent his shot wide. Neymar was all flicks and tricks against Elche's five-man defence and on 35 minutes he was given another chance and this time he didn't miss, hammering home Suarez's slide-rule pass across the face of the six-yard box. Suarez could have opened his account on 38 minutes but his lob was finger-tipped away by Elche keeper Przemysław Tyton. The former Liverpool striker was working hard though and he created an opening for himself just before half-time before drilling home the Barca second. Neymar was then tripped on the stroke of half-time and Messi scored the penalty, before blowing a kiss to supporters who were making it clear who they backed in the power struggle between coach and star player. Suarez was involved again 10 minutes into the second half, passing to Messi who threaded a pass through Elche's defence to Jordi Alba, who made it 4-0. And it was five when Neymar rifled in right-footed from the edge of the area. The Brazilian was kicked by Damian Suarez and taken off as a precaution but it's a measure of Enrique's popularity-low at the moment that his decision to bring on Adriano was booed by many fans. Adriano was put through by Suarez and should really have played the return pass but went for the lob instead and was wide with his finish. Suarez did little to hide his disgust. He at least had his fourth goal in a Barca shirt and the team had reminded everyone what they are capable of. Neymar scored his second, and Barcelona's fifth, goal shortly before the hour mark at the Nou Camp on Thursday evening . (From left) Dani Alves, Suarez, Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba celebrate during Barcelona's Copa del Rey clash at the Nou Camp . There were more than 70,000 empty seats at the Nou Camp for the Copa del Rey last-16 first leg between Barca and Elche . Messi takes a shot while surrounded by four opposition players on Thursday evening in Catalonia . Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta started the game on the bench as his team-mates looked to progress in the Copa del Rey . Messi bursts through a challenge from Elche duo Edu Albacar and Domingo Cisma during the cup clash . Barcelona forwards Neymar (No 11) and Suarez (No 9) share a joke after the Uruguayan's goal for the Catalan giants . Suarez congratulates his Brazilian strike partner Neymar, who scored a brace on Thursday evening in Barcelona . Suarez has been criticised by some sections of the Spanish press for not scoring enough since his £75million move from Liverpool . Former Santos forward Neymar goes down clutching his leg after a heavy challenge from an Elche player . Elche's Sergio Pelegrin clears the ball while being harried by Barcelona striker Suarez . Elche's Chilean defender Enzo Roco attempts to tackle two-goal Barca star Neymar on Thursday evening . Neymar (left) is substituted for compatriot Adriano before he has the chance to complete his hat-trick . Barcelona talisman and captain for the night Messi salutes the supporters at the Nou Camp . Former Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic tries to challenge Elche's Cristian Herrera (left) while Gerard Pique looks on (right) Barcelona manager Luis Enrique will be relieved his team returned to form after a disappointing performance against Real Sociedad .
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Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba all scored as Barcelona triumphed at the Nou Camp .
The victory gives them a strong lead to take into the second leg of the Copa del Rey last-16 clash .
Luis Enrique's side lost to David Moyes' Real Sociedad in their previous match on Sunday .
Elche have now won just one match out of their last 10 in all competitions .
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(CNN) -- Last month, the Polish city of Krakow joined the likes of Dublin and Edinburgh to become the latest Unesco City of Literature. Most people could probably name a Scottish or Irish author, but how about a Polish one? Readers who are not Polish or of Polish descent face a few obstacles to opening the rich and different world of Polish literature. Firstly, Poland is not a world player, and we tend to become interested in a country's culture only when it is a global power or a real or possible threat to us. Secondly there is the spelling and pronouncing of names. We can handle the Russian transliteration of Gregory as Grigory. But the Polish for Gregory, alas, is Grzegorz. All those z's. (I played Scrabble with a friend in Warsaw: a player gets one point for a Z.) Obstacle three is that the jewel in the crown of Polish literature is its poetry, and unfortunately poetry is what usually gets lost in translation (though the translations have been improving). However it's worth facing and overcoming these obstacles, because the Polish way of looking at the world has plenty to teach us. If Polish literature began in the Renaissance it blossomed in mid-19th century Romanticism. The Shakespeare of Polish Romanticism was the poet Adam Mickiewicz. His "Pan Tadeusz," a novel in verse, restores a lost world through the magic of art. There is dalliance, swordplay, music, a hunt -- but even a humble vegetable patch delights. Fast forward to the 20th century and Polish poetry and drama took a turn towards the avant-garde. The poetry had been remarkable from the beginning, but Cyprian Norwid, a contemporary of Emily Dickinson (his verse is strikingly similar to her quiet, difficult lyricism), showed the way to modern understatement. Check out Zbigniew Herbert and Poland's Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska. Absurdism and dark humor are Polish specialties and appear in the playful stories and novels of Witold Gombrowicz. Lovers of science fiction should know Stanisław Lem. A Kraków native, Lem became internationally known for "Solaris," (which gave rise to two films, one by Andrei Tarkovsky and a Hollywood version by Steven Soderbergh), satirical fantasy "The Cyberiad," and essays on humanity and future technology. His work is marked by fun, pain, and a probing intelligence. READ MORE: Poland's tangible heritage . All these poets, playwrights, novelists, and essayists write about the human condition, but there has always been a political element to most Polish literature; a consequence of growing up in a country with a history of partition and repeated defeat. Poland was a major European power during the 17th and 18th centuries. However weak kings and lack of organization led to a political vacuum and the country ceased to exist without a fight in 1795 when Prussia, Austria, and Russia divided it up among themselves. Poland did not exist again as a state until after World War I. During that long period of nationlessness, poets and novelists strove to preserve Polish identity at home and abroad. Soldiers fought in other lands, hoping to make a future Poland possible; and young men periodically sacrificed themselves in uprisings that were crushed (1830, 1848, 1863). Poles became known for their idealism, their valor in the face of overwhelming odds, their splendid if suicidal recklessness, their patriotism, and -- understandably, given that over and over again this patriotism proved futile -- for their cynicism. The 20th century added another shadow to the Polish mind: the Holocaust; before World War II, Poland had the largest Jewish community in Europe. Poland fought with the Allies but "in reward" (a Polish smile of irony here) had to spend the next fifty years behind the Iron Curtain. Irony is not unique to Polish writers but they are masters of it. It's telling that an American writer much loved in Poland today is Philip K. Dick, who felt that the world was against him. I offer an emblematic moment in Polish literature. A much loved author to Poles is Henryk Sienkiewicz. In "With Fire and Sword," a historical novel set in the mid-17th century, the soldier Longinus Podbipięta reminds us of Don Quixote. He has taken a vow of chastity and he may not pursue the object of his affections until he has cut off three enemy heads with a single blow of his enormous Crusader's sword. He manages that but then, without hesitation, offers himself up to martyrdom. The mix of humor, bitterness, and religious faith: very Polish. Michael Kandel received his PhD in Slavic at Indiana University. He works as an editor for the Modern Language Association. For Words without Borders he recently translated, from Polish, "Balm of a Long Farewell," by Marek Huberath.
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Get over the tricky spelling and Polish literature has plenty to offer, says editor and author Michael Kandel .
Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem inspired many, with his 'Solaris' twice made into a film .
Wisława Szymborska was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996 .
Irony, dark humor and faith are all common themes in Polish literature .
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Marco Reus scored one goal and set up another as Borussia Dortmund beat Augsburg 3-2 away on Friday for the side's first win of the new Bundesliga season. Reus opened the scoring in the 11th minute, finishing off a slick move involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Kevin Grosskreutz that carved open the Augsburg defense. Reus's one-two with Grosskreutz took out three Augsburg defenders before he clipped his shot coolly inside the far post. Greek defender and Arsenal target Sokratis Papastathopoulos then scored with a header from Reus's corner three minutes later. VIDEO Scroll down for Marco Reus scores and assists as Dortmund beat Augsburg 3-2 . Clinical: Marco Reus put Dortmund ahead in their 3-2 win against Augsburg after just 11 minutes . He's back: Reus appeared to be over his recent injury problems as he scored and set one up on Friday . 'I'm just happy to be back on the pitch, to be playing football,' said Reus, who missed Germany's World Cup-winning campaign through injury. Dortmund created the lion's share of chances and substitute Adrian Ramos all but sealed the result in the 78th minute, when he pounced on a rebound after Augsburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitz saved Mkhitaryan's initial effort. However, Augsburg striker Raul Bobadilla pulled one back with eight minutes to play - after Mkhitaryan had a penalty appeal turned down - and Tim Matavz ensured a frenetic finale by scoring in the 90th minute. Target: Arsenal have been linked with defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who also scored against Augsburg . 'We were too focused on the penalty decision rather than what was happening on the pitch,' Dortmund defender Neven Subotic said. 'We came here with the intention to play at full throttle for the whole 90 minutes, a couple more than 90 minutes, and that didn't quite work out.' Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller denied Tobias Werner an equalizer in injury time. 'A huge compliment to the side for continuing to play after it was 3-0,' Augsburg general manager Stefan Reuter said. 'Any time you score a goal the belief comes flooding back that perhaps something can be achieved.' Dortmund lost their opening game of the season to Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday.
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Marco Reus grabbed a goal and an assist in Dortmund's 3-2 win against Augsburg on Friday .
Arsenal target Sokratis Papastathopoulos also scored for Dortmund .
Reus missed Germany's World Cup triumph in Brazil through injury .
He reportedly turned down a move to Manchester United this summer .
Dortmund lost to Bayer Leverkusen in their first league match of the season last Saturday .
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Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama's decision to take executive action on immigration won praise from the religious community Sunday, when a leader of the U.S. Catholic Church endorsed the move. "The bishops of the United States -- we're very much in favor of action being taken to protect people who need to come out of the shadows," newly appointed Archbishop of Chicago, Blase Cupich, said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It's been too long of a time for people to wait for comprehensive immigration reform," he continued. "And so we see this as an important first step hopefully to jump start what's happening." Cupich, the ninth Archbishop of Chicago, is Pope Francis' first American appointed archbishop. His position generally reflects what the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops have called for in the past: a path to citizenship and government autonomy over the law enforcement process at the border. Over the past week, Republicans have been quick to slam the President for taking unilateral action, with some going as far as comparing him to a monarch or an emperor. On Sunday, Cupich said it's important for the President to compromise with Congress -- including the Republican-led House which has stalled on an immigration bill for the past 15 months. "I think it's very important that this be done very carefully but we applaud it as good first step," Cupich said. "More needs to be done. We encourage the President and members of Congress to get this work done." Cupich also admitted that he has some privacy concerns for illegal immigrants, should Obama's policy be overturned by a Republican president in the future. "My concern would be that we would have a policy and procedure that would have a confidentiality provision because if people come out of the shadows and sign up and give their names and information, they want to make sure that that is going to be protected in the future should the executive order change by another administration," Cupich said. According to Cupich, who served as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Spokane from 2010 until recently, amnesty is not just a priority of Obama's, but also God's. "The aspirations that people have for better life for their children -- in which they are reaching out in hope, as many people who have come to this country have -- those aspirations were placed in their heart by God. We have to attend to that," Cupich said. "This is not something that they're wanting on their own but God has always called us to a better life, has always called us to experiencing how we can provide for our families in a better way," he continued. "I think that being the grandson of immigrants I feel that very deeply."
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Blase Cupich, newly appointed Archbishop of Chicago, praised President Obama's immigration action .
Cupich is Pope Francis' first American appointed archbishop .
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(CareerBuilder.com) -- People love to be the first person to do something. Anything. Look no further than those annoying posts on blogs and online news stories where someone simply writes, "FIRST!" because they're celebrating being the first person to comment. Or watch any news program and see how they will report the detail of any minor celebrity in the off chance that it leads to a bigger, more exciting story. Then they can run ads that say, "We were the first news team to bring you the story of Jennifer Aniston's new puppy." Now, imagine if you could get paid to be that cool, hip person who gets try products and services before anyone else? When everyone else is claiming to have discovered this awesome new technology gadget, you can say, "Oh, that? Yeah, I tried it out months ago." With that pioneering (and braggart) spirit in mind, we put together a list of five jobs that let you try new things before they hit the market. You not only get paid to be the first person to try a new item, but your opinion matters. You can't beat that. CareerBuilder.com: Food workers, nurses forced to work sick . Here are five jobs that let you try an item before everyone else buys it: . 1. Video game tester . Yes, people are paid to test video games. This job isn't all fun and games, although it sort of is. But someone has to try new video games and look for flaws or glitches so programmers and designers can fix them before the release date. Consider how complicated today's video games are -- you're immersed in an interactive world that has come a long way from the 2-D world of Mario and Luigi. There are bound to be items that are overlooked, like a door that leads to nowhere or a secret code that doesn't do what it's supposed to. 2. Consumer Reports researcher . Independent testing organization Consumer Reports carries out extensive tests on products, such as cars, gadgets and home furnishings. A dedicated staff researches a product that is put through a battery of tests. They then administer a grade and detailed report for the product so that consumers know what its positive and negative attributes are. CareerBuilder.com: Have an incompetent boss? You're not alone . 3. Blogger . As blogging has shifted from a niche activity for a few writers to a respected outlet for news and topical conversations, bloggers have been granted some impressive privileges. Among them is access to conferences and company events, such as the unveiling of a new smartphone. Months before a new music player, smartphone or computer lands in your local retail store, the company announces it with great fanfare at a launch event. Bloggers who have large readership and respect in an industry are given prime seats at these events, where they can get their hands on these new gadgets minutes after they're unveiled. 4. Ice cream tester . If you thought testing video games was fun, consider the sheer joy of getting paid to try ice cream. Before you pick up a pint of a new, exotic flavor at the grocery store, someone had to make sure it was edible. For every whacky flavor like bubble gum, some food scientists tried out less successful flavors like spaghetti or pumpkin-wheatgrass. So the idea of eating ice cream for a living sounds fun until you realize it also means tasting some undesirable attempts, too. (Not to mention the damage done to your waistline.) CareerBuilder.com: Conflicting career advice: Which is right . 5. Critics . Before you see the must-see movie of the year, someone had to declare it a must-see film. Critics get to screen films weeks or months in advance so they can write a review for a magazine or newspaper before opening day. Music critics also get first stab at new albums. Record labels and movie studios give critics first access because their reviews drum up publicity for the respective projects -- and they hope the reviewers are positive, though there's no guarantee. Either way, critics get to enjoy some of pop culture's finest experiences for free. © 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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Listed are five jobs that let you try new things before they hit the market .
Consumer Reports carries out tests on products, such as cars, gadgets and home furnishings .
Some bloggers who have a large readership are given impressive privileges .
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A rail passenger was handed a bill of more than £1,000 by ticket inspectors - after he and his family boarded the wrong train to London. The man, in his 40s, was travelling from Birmingham New Street to London Euston with 38 of his family and friends who had each purchased London Midland only tickets. But they accidentally boarded the faster, and more expensive, Virgin Trains service. Shock: A rail passenger was handed a bill of more than £1,000 by ticket inspectors - after he and his family boarded a Virgin Trains service to London, having bought London Midland only tickets . Ticket inspectors discovered the family’s mistake on the 10.30am service on Monday when it pulled into Coventry. They gave the group the option of paying £800 to travel to the next stop - 100 miles away in Watford - or face an even heftier fine and prosecution through the courts. The party eventually agreed to pay £1,048 to complete their journey to London Euston, an average of £26.87 per person. A fellow passenger who witnessed the inspectors confront the head of the family said: 'It was a pretty heart-stopping moment. Mistake: The man, in his 40s, was travelling from Birmingham New Street to London Euston with 38 of his family and friends who had each purchased London Midland only tickets . Final destination: The party eventually agreed to pay £1,048 to complete their journey to London Euston . 'He looked a little faint and I’m not surprised really, I mean, it’s such a lot of money. 'The inspector was very matter of fact about it all and I understand he was doing his job - but it was an honest mistake. 'I think allowances should be made when it does look like a genuine error.' London Midland charges £6 to £70 for a single ticket for an adult to travel from Birmingham New Street to London Euston during weekdays at 10am, and £3 to £35 for a child. Off-Peak single, which can be purchased on the day of departure for services off peak services . London Midland only: £27.50 . Virgin Trains/Any route: £49.50 . Advance single, which must be bought in advance of the journey for a specific train . London Midland only: From £6 . Virgin Trains only: From £15 . Anytime single, which can be used at any time of day and bought at the point of departure . Any route: £82 . Meanwhile Virgin Trains charges from £20 to £82 for an adult, and from £10 to £41 for a child. The cost depends on whether passengers travel in standard class or first class, and how far in advance the tickets had been purchased. The revenue protection policy at Virgin Trains states that it issues Unpaid Fare Notices (UFNs) to customers travelling without valid tickets who are unable to pay at the time. A spokesperson for Virgin Trains said: 'If people are travelling in large groups we encourage them to make the most of our group offers; on our Birmingham to London route, fares would start at £7.50 for an adult single fare (£3.75 for children). 'That would mean all 39 could have travelled for a maximum price of less than £300. We run three trains an hour between Birmingham and London Euston, with journey times of one hour 25 minutes. 'Unfortunately, if passengers have booked to travel with another operator their tickets are not valid on Virgin Trains’ services.' Do you know the passenger handed the hefty bill? Call 0203 615 1265 or email lucy.crossley@mailonline.co.uk . Box on the pricing structure and validity of tickets. Are they always non-transferrable, or can I buy tickets that are? Confirm with virgin.
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Group of 39 people had all bought London Midland only tickets .
They then boarded the faster Virgin Trains service to London .
Mistake was spotted at Coventry, and group told they had to pay up .
Bill for all 39 to get to London came to £1,048 .
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Washington (CNN) -- Education Secretary Arne Duncan has spent the past couple days backpedaling from comments he made Sunday suggesting that Hurricane Katrina was good for New Orleans' failing schools. But, while he's apologizing for poor word choice, his comments echo a truth spoken by many in New Orleans. "It was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize," Duncan said Tuesday. In a Sunday broadcast of TV One's "Washington Watch with Roland Martin," Duncan was asked about the progress New Orleans schools have made since Katrina hit in 2005. He replied: "This is a tough thing to say, but let me be really honest. I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina. That education system was a disaster, and it took Hurricane Katrina to wake up the community to say that 'We have to do better.' " Excerpts of the interview were released by the show Friday. Shortly afterward, numerous networks and newspapers picked them up, sparking the controversy that continued once the remarks were broadcast. Friday evening, Duncan called New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to explain what he meant, his office said. Duncan said Tuesday that he regrets what he said but insisted that the storm motivated the city to reinvest in its children like never before. "I said it poorly. And my point was very simple. Hurricane Katrina was a devastating, devastating tragedy. The progress we've seen subsequent to that has been absolutely remarkable. The teachers, the principals there are working so incredibly hard," Duncan said. "Almost all the students missed three months, four months, six months. I talked to students who missed more than a year off school, and yet they came back. And in a short amount of time, four years, they came back, subsequent to the devastating tragedy. Amazing progress. And I just tip my hat to the hard work there. I was simply trying to point out how impressed I am, the remarkable commitment and the sense of urgency." Several Louisiana officials defended Duncan's remarks. The state's superintendent of education, Paul Pastorek, said, "I know it's a strong statement, but it's actually quite accurate. It was a pathetic system before the storm." Paul Vallas, superintendent of the Louisiana Recovery School District -- a special program administered by the state with the aim of boosting underperforming schools -- noted that "local people have said that time and time again." Duncan said in the TV One interview that New Orleans in the past "was not serious about its education" but called the school system's reform since Katrina "unbelievable." Duncan has made several trips to New Orleans since becoming education secretary one year ago. His most recent was October 15. Regarding that city, Duncan said, "What this is about was this huge sense of urgency. And folks understood you had to literally build from the ground up. ... I just want to do whatever I can to continue to support the remarkable, remarkable progress." Education is a priority in the Obama administration, as evidenced by the president's proposed 2011 budget, released Monday, which would increase federal education spending by 7.5 percent, or $4 billion. Duncan is using federal dollars to promote reform in state and local school systems. He also is overhauling former President George W. Bush's Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as the No Child Left Behind Act. But Tuesday, he said, "We talk about the growth of No Child Left Behind, and New Orleans is a prime example. Is it where it needs to be? No. Still, clearly, it's a long journey, a long ways to go. But the progress has been amazing."
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Arne Duncan said hurricane was best thing to happen to city's failing schools .
He apologizes for word choice but stands by sentiment .
"The progress we've seen ... has been absolutely remarkable," he says .
Many Louisiana education officials echo his thoughts .
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(CNN) -- When a new president strolls into the White House, there's a kick in his step and a twinkle in his eyes. This photo illustration projects what President-elect Barack Obama may look like in four years. But as the years go by, the high-stakes decisions, constant criticisms and the fluctuating public opinion chip away at the president. His shoulders slump a little and his energy may seem sapped. The president ages twice as fast while in office, according to a theory advanced by Dr. Michael Roizen, a chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic. "The typical person who lives one year ages one year," he said. "The typical president ages two years for every year they are in office." Using public information, Roizen looked through medical records of previous presidents back to Theodore Roosevelt. Assessing factors such as diet, blood pressure, physical activity and lifestyle habits, he calculated that the leader of the free world ages more quickly. Roizen, who is the author of "RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be?" has not assessed the "real age" of President-elect Barack Obama, who is 47, because of lack of medical data. "Barack Obama is a fairly young guy and doesn't have great of a risk," Roizen said. "If he's president for eight years, he ends up having the risk of disability or dying, like someone who is 16 years older." Former president Bill Clinton entered the office with a robust head of salt-and-pepper hair and a healthy habit of running. After bitter partisan battles, the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and impeachment by the House, Clinton left office with wrinkles and powder-white hair. "Chronic stress can produce lots of wear and tear on the body," said James A. McCubbin, a Clemson University professor of psychology and senior associate dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science. "This is what we see in the changes in the appearance in the beginning and end of the presidency." Roizen points to the experience of Ronald Reagan. "When Reagan came into office, he stood up absolutely straight. He was joking and incredibly quick-witted about current events. When he left office, he was hunched over. The age signs on face was there. His jokes were those of olden days rather than current events," he said. See the toll of the presidency » . On Wednesday, Obama, President George W. Bush, and all three living former presidents -- Jimmy Carter, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Clinton -- are meeting in the Oval Office and then having lunch together at the White House. After eight draining years in the Oval Office, an outgoing president like George W. Bush can reverse the tolls of stress by exercising and spending time with friends, Roizen says. "Do as many healthy things as you can adopt," Roizen suggested. "The main thing he should do is finding what he wants to do with the rest of his life, which is tough for presidents to find something meaningful to do." During his second term, Bush dealt with a troubled war, a struggling economy, and sagging approval ratings. But the avid runner, mountain biker and fisherman showed that his reflexes haven't slowed. "I mean, did you see him dodge that shoe?" said David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men's Health magazine, referring to a December news conference in Iraq where an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at the president and Bush swiftly ducked the flying footwear. Twice. The incoming president is also no slacker. Although accused by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of having skinny legs, Obama regularly frequents the gym and plays basketball. The president-elect was on the cover of Men's Health in November. "This is not a broccoli-shunning, pork rind-eating, McDonald's-popping guy. I mean, this is someone who eats arugula and guacamole and Hawaiian pizza," Zinczenko told CNN. Watch a report on presidential aging » . "If the worst that happens is that your hair goes a little gray, so be it." Many recent presidents have turned to sports to decompress. Presidents have enjoyed mountain biking (George W. Bush), golf (Clinton, Gerald Ford, Dwight D. Eisenhower), tennis (Ford, Carter, George H.W. Bush), jogging (Clinton, Carter and both Bushes), swimming (Ford), bowling (Richard Nixon), horseshoes (George H.W. Bush) and horseback riding (Reagan). Check out projected aging of other political leaders . "The daily routine of a president is really grueling," Ron Nessen, Ford's press secretary, told CNN. "It's hard to get thinking time. Ford talked about how when he was swimming laps, it gave him time to think about things." During the Democratic primaries, Obama worked out at the gym in the Cleveland Clinic the morning of his debate with then-rival Hilary Clinton. Living up to his nickname "No Drama Obama," the candidate was remarkably calm, considering a high-stakes debate was to take place that night, Roizen recalled. "Maybe he will age better, because he handles stress better," he said. "The fact that he smokes means he still has inner stress." Retaining a close group of friends and confidants is an important way to reduce the isolation of the presidency, Roizen said. CNN's Alina Cho and David S. Martin contributed to this report.
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Presidents age twice as fast, says a theory by expert on aging at Cleveland Clinic .
Analysis determined by looking at medical records of previous presidents .
Tolls of stress can be reversed with healthy habits, says Dr. Michael Roizen .
Roizen: Obama has good fitness habits of exercising, but smoking doesn't help .
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By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 13:01 EST, 27 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:01 EST, 27 June 2012 . Two million years ago, one of our distant ancestors lived on leaves and fruit from the trees in Africa. Scans of fossil teeth show the short and gangly South African Australopithecus sediba lived on a hard diet of trees, bushes and fruit two million years ago - similar to a chimpanzee. But virtually all other ancient human ancestors from Africa tucked into softer meals of grasses and sedges - even the 'Nutcracker Man', Paranthropus boisei, with his massive jaws and teeth. An analysis of the teeth of the short, gangly hominin australopithecus sediba shows it had a diet unlike virtually all of our other known ancestors . A. sediba had an upright posture and long arms, and embodied characteristics of both primitive and modern hominids - including a human-like ankle, short fingers and a long thumb for possible precision gripping and a relatively complex brain compared to earlier hominids. Researchers made the discovery by zapping fossilised teeth with a laser, which frees carbon from the enamel - allowing scientists to find the types of plants consumed and environments where the hominids lived. Although bark and woody tissues had not been documented as a dietary component of any other ancient African hominids before, these foods had been scoffed by many contemporary primates and contain both protein and soluble sugars. The diet of A. sediba also may have been similar to that of today's African savanna chimpanzees. The researchers also discovered microscopic, fossilised particles of plant tissue called phytoliths trapped in ancient tooth tartar - a hardened form of dental plague. University of Colorado Boulder doctoral student Paul Sandberg said: ‘The fact that these phytoliths are preserved in the teeth of 2-million-year-old hominids is remarkable and speaks to the amazing preservation at the site. Boning up on the facts: A right hand skeleton of Australopithecus sediba superimposed against a modern human hand . Remarkable find: One of two sets of bones from Australopithecus Sediba are unveiled at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg this week . Ancient: Scientists say the bones are 1.977million years old . ‘The phytolith data suggest the A. sediba individuals were avoiding the grasses growing in open grasslands that were abundant in the region at the time.‘It is an important finding because diet is one of the fundamental aspects of an animal, one that drives its behaviour and ecological niche. ‘As environments change over time because of shifting climates, animals are generally forced to either move or to adapt to their new surroundings. ‘What fascinates me is that these individuals are oddballs. I had pretty much convinced myself that after 4 million years ago most of our hominid kin had diets that were different from living apes, but now I am not so sure. ‘And while our sample is too small to be conclusive, the rate at which Malapa is spewing hominid fossils makes me reasonably certain we won't have to wait another two million years to augment our data set.’ The study was published by Nature. It was helped by the University of Arkansas, Johns Hopkins University, the Bloemfontein National Museum and the University of Witwatersrand, both in South Africa, and Texas A&M University.
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Two-million-year-old South African had different diet to other pre-humans .
'Missing link' fossil analysed to judge diet .
Short, gangly creature ate leaves and fruit like chimps .
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(CNN) -- Argentina football coach Diego Maradona has undergone plastic surgery on his face after being bitten by one of his dogs. The 49-year-old was admitted to the Sanatorio Los Arcos clinic in Buenos Aires on Monday after suffering an injury to his top lip, hospital spokesperson Izarriaga Facundo told CNN. He is doing well after undergoing reconstructive surgery last night and will be discharged later on Tuesday, the spokesperson added. Maradona spent several weeks in the same clinic in 2007 after developing serious health problems. Is Messi better than Maradona? His career has been interspersed with moments of glory and controversy. In 1986 he scored an infamous "Hand of God" goal against England on the way to inspiring Argentina to World Cup victory. He was suspended from football for 15 months in 1991 after failing a doping test for cocaine while playing for Napoli in Italy, and was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. for using ephedrine. Since retiring from playing aged 37, he has battled several health problems related to his weight, drugs and alcohol. Maradona's Argentina side made a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign before qualifying for the finals in South Africa via a late goal against Uruguay in their last game in October. Following the victory, Maradona unleashed an obscene tirade at journalists and was banned for two months.
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Diego Maradona has plastic surgery on his face after getting bitten by one of his dogs.
Maradona will be discharged on Tuesday, hospital spokesperson tells CNN.
Maradona will lead Argentina at the World Cup finals in South Africa in June.
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By . Mark Prigg . A major security flaw in Google's Play Store that could expose user's private data has been revealed by researchers. The bug, which the team has worked with Google, Facebook and other app makers to fix before revealing it, put millions of users at risk, the researchers said. The bug would allow hackers to steal user data from Facebook, Amazon and others using 'secret' keys the team uncovered. The Columbia Engineering Team found thousands of secret keys in android apps (shown by red arrows) that could be used to steal user data . The researchers created an app called PlayDrone, which used various hacking techniques to circumvent Google security to successfully download Google Play apps and recover their sources. They were then able to decompile the apps to see their code. They then found developers often store their secret keys in their apps software, similar to usernames/passwords info, and these can be then used by anyone to maliciously steal user data or resources from service providers such as Amazon and Facebook. The research was revealed in a a paper presented—and awarded the prestigious Ken Sevcik Outstanding Student Paper Award—at the ACM SIGMETRICS conference. Jason Nieh, professor of computer science at Columbia Engineering, and PhD candidate Nicolas Viennot said they were stunned by the scale of their find. 'Google Play has more than one million apps and over 50 billion app downloads, but no one reviews what gets put into Google Play—anyone can get a $25 account and upload whatever they want. Very little is known about what’s there at an aggregate level,' says Nieh . 'Given the huge popularity of Google Play and the potential risks to millions of users, we thought it was important to take a close look at Google Play content.' Nieh and Viennot’s paper is the first to make a large-scale measurement of the huge Google Play marketplace. The researchers created an app called PlayDrone, which used various hacking techniques to circumvent Google security to successfully download Google Play apps and recover their sources. PlayDrone scales by simply adding more servers and is fast enough to crawl Google Play on a daily basis, downloading more than 1.1 million Android apps and decompiling over 880,000 free applications. Google Play, the Android app store, has more than one million apps and over 50 billion app downloads . Nieh and Viennot discovered all kinds of new information about the content in Google Play, including a critical security problem: developers often store their secret keys in their apps software, similar to usernames/passwords info, and these can be then used by anyone to maliciously steal user data or resources from service providers such as Amazon and Facebook. These vulnerabilities can affect users even if they are not actively running the Android apps. Nieh claims that even “Top Developers,” designated by the Google Play team as the best developers on Google Play, included these vulnerabilities in their apps. 'We’ve been working closely with Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other service providers to identify and notify customers at risk, and make the Google Play store a safer place,' says Viennot. 'Google is now using our techniques to proactively scan apps for these problems to prevent this from happening again in the future.' In fact, Nieh adds, developers are already receiving notifications from Google to fix their apps and remove the secret keys.
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Bug put millions of users at risk .
Team worked with Google, Facebook and others to fix before revealing their work .
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Chelsea have re-opened talks with Atletico Madrid over their move to sign Filipe Luis. The left-back is viewed as a priority signing by boss Jose Mourinho but the Blues have so far been frustrated in their attempts to sign Luis. Target: Filipe Luis impressed for Atletico last season and is keen to make the move to Chelsea . Almost: Luis, not picked in Brazil's World Cup squad, is closing in on a switch to Stamford Bridge . The 28-year-old has a release clause, understood to be in the region of £20million, that Chelsea have been reluctant to trigger. But Stamford Bridge chiefs are back in talks with their Spanish counterparts with a view to concluding the protracted transfer in the coming days. Strengthening at left-back is a major concern for Mourinho going into the new season. Long-term left-back Ashley Cole has left the club for Roma after his contract expired. Cole was kept out of the side last season by Cesar Azpilicueta, but the Spaniard is a right-back by trade. On his way: the full-back could follow striker Diego Costa (above) to Stamford Bridge next season . VIDEO Chelsea reach Costa agreement .
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The 28-year-old has a release clause, understood to be around £20million .
The left-back is viewed as a priority signing by boss Jose Mourinho .
Long-term left-back Ashley Cole has left the club for Roma .
Brazilian Luis was not selected in Brazil's squad for the World Cup .
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(CNN) -- Pakistan was aware of increased U.S. intelligence activity in the country weeks before the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May, an Arab diplomat with direct knowledge of the events and a senior Pakistani official told CNN Saturday. The two sources offered slightly different versions of who knew what, when. The diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said Pakistan knew about the heightened intelligence activity, specifically in the city of Abbottabad, but "never, never had any idea the operation was about bin Laden." The diplomat was approached privately by a Pakistani to inquire about heightened U.S. intelligence-gathering activities. He said it was assumed Pakistan was asking all Arab allies. Meanwhile, the senior Pakistani official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on intelligence matters, said Pakistan was indeed aware of "heightened CIA activity in Pakistan" in the weeks prior to the raid, but that the information officials had was not "Abbottabad specific." "If folks in Islamabad had been able to pinpoint Abbottabad, they would have done something about it," the official said. Relations between Pakistan and the United States have been increasingly strained since bin Laden was killed in a Navy SEAL raid in early May. U.S. officials believe Pakistan is not doing enough to go after al Qaeda and other extremists, while the Pakistanis are upset with what they consider to be unilateral steps taken by the United States within their borders. Washington did not give advance notice to Pakistani officials about the raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad. Senior U.S. officials also suspect that some in Pakistan helped bin Laden live there. CIA Director Leon Panetta reportedly has told legislators that Pakistan was either involved in helping the world's most wanted fugitive avoid detection or was incompetent for not knowing he was living on Pakistani soil. The Arab diplomat said he is sure officials in Pakistan "had no idea where bin Laden was." He also said "it was always clear Zawahiri was going to replace bin Laden," referring to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the longtime deputy to bin Laden who is thought to have taken over leadership of al Qaeda. "It's not in their culture to go with someone else. They (al Qaeda) value loyalty," the diplomat said. CNN's Elise Labott contributed to this report.
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NEW: A second source says Pakistanis were aware of heightened activity, but did not pinpoint it to Abbottabad .
Pakistan knew about the intelligence activity in the city Abbottabad, first source says .
Pakistani officials did not suspect the uptick in activity was tied to Osama bin Laden, first source says .
The relationship between Pakistan and the United States is increasingly strained .
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Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said business leaders have a 'patriotic duty' make the case for Brussels . Labour today urged supporters of the European Union to speak out before it is 'too late'. Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said business leaders have a 'patriotic duty' make the case for Brussels. And he warned that the Conservative Party's approach to Europe poses 'the biggest risk to British national prosperity in a generation'. David Cameron has promised that if he remains prime minister after the election he will renegotiate Britain's EU membership before holding an in-out referendum by 2017. He has made clear that without agreement on curbing benefits, he will 'rule nothing out' – raising the prospect of backing Britain's exit from the EU if he does not get his way. Today Labour warned business leaders they must start making the arguments against severing ties with Brussels. In a speech to ambassadors from all 28 EU member states, Mr Alexander said pro-EU business leaders should learn the lessons of the Scottish independence debate. Many companies delayed expressing a view until the last minute when polls suggest a Yes vote could win, but were then seen as playing a crucial role in shaping the final days of the campaign. Mr Alexander acknowledged that many business leaders are wary of getting involved in political debates. But he added: 'For business to speak up for Britain's place in Europe is not about party political advantage, it is about recognising both where our country's national interest and your business interests lies. 'It is about patriotic duty. And good business sense.' Leaving the EU would mean 'actively choosing an economy with weaker investment, less trade with the rest of the world, poorer productivity and worse living standards,' said Mr Alexander. He claimed Mr Cameron had become 'a much more marginal figure in Brussels', adding: 'Ukip is on the march, and David Cameron is running.' Last month the Prime Minister used his long-awaited immigration speech to insist that curbs on tax credits, child benefits, jobseekers allowance and council housing will be a key demand for his talks on renegotiating Britain's EU membership. Issuing a direct appeal for other European countries who have seen thousands of their citizens move to the UK to support limiting movement across the continent, he insisted his demands were not 'outlandish' and Britain deserves 'to be heard'. And he threatened to block any new countries joining the EU unless controls are imposed to stop their citizens flocking to more successful economies like Britain. But Mr Alexander warned that a Conservative victory in the 2015 election would mean that within the course of the next Parliament, Britain could be out of Europe and thrust into a 'full-blown constitutional crisis'. 'The truth is that a Conservative government in 2015 would mean breaking not simply with the record of the last government, it would mean breaking with decades of history that have defined the country we are today, how our country is run, and the place we have in the world,' he said. 'That risk is real. And so too is the responsibility on business to now find its voice and to make the case with authority and passion, that the right road for Britain is not exit from Europe but reform within Europe.' David Cameron, pictured with pupils James Samur (centre) and George Bateman during a physics class at the Harris City Academy, has promised to renegotiate Britain's membership of the EU . The Prime Minister has made clear that without agreement on curbing benefits, he will 'rule nothing out' – raising the prospect of backing Britain's exit from the EU if he does not get his way . In a message to the 'quiet majority' of UK business leaders who he said were concerned about EU exit, he added: 'Now is the time to speak out. Now is the time to speak up. Because you know what is most at stake. You know what we have to lose. Your voice must be heard, because if you wait, it could be too late.' Mr Alexander said that Labour would push for reform of the EU, rather than exit, arguing for the creation of a Council of the Single Market to defend the interests of non-eurozone members and for changes to competition rules to allow national governments to support firms at times of crisis. Terry Scuoler, chief executive of manufacturers' organisation EEF, said: 'Manufacturers remain overwhelmingly of the view that our economic well-being and long term strategic interest of this country is dependent on being a full and leading player in the EU. Equally we do recognise that reform of the EU is also a key requirement. 'We do not want uncertainty on this subject. Jobs, investment and trade are all dependent on a thriving and effective EU, with Britain at its heart. That's what we all need to be striving to achieve.' Alisdair McIntosh, director of pro-reform pressure group Business for New Europe, said: 'The debate about our EU membership is about the national interest. Investment, growth and jobs are at stake. 'EU membership is particularly important to vital industries including aerospace, the automotive sector, engineering and pharmaceuticals. It also plays a crucial role in facilitating research and development. These areas are critical for jobs and competitiveness. Politicians and business leaders alike need to reflect this.'
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Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander urges business to speak out .
Says companies have a 'patriotic duty' make the case for Brussels .
Warns the Tory EU plan poses 'biggest risk to British national prosperity'
David Cameron has promised an in-out referendum before 2017 .
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A former British boxing champion accused of helping two men flee to Syria to fight with Islamic State (ISIS) will stand trial in June. Anthony Small, 33, who won both the British and Commonwealth championships in 2009, appeared at the Old Bailey alongside four other men today. Small allegedly helped Michael Coe, 33, and Simon Keeler 43, in their attempt to travel to Syria. Coe and Keeler were arrested at Dover on 30 November. All three men are charged with preparation, and assisting others in preparation, of acts of terrorism, support of the organisation ISIS and conspiracy to possess false identity documents. Former boxer Anthony Small (left) and Simon Keeler (right) are among five charged over an alleged plot to smuggle fighters through Dover docks and on to Syria to fight with ISIS . Zagum Perviaz, 35, is charged with conspiring to possess and produce false identity documents. The defendants appeared in court via videolink from HMP Belmarsh and HMP Wormwood Scrubs and spoke only to confirm their names during the short hearing. Hamzah Safdar, 24, of Plaistow, East London, pleaded guilty to conspiring to make fake passports and driving licences. He will be sentenced after the trial of his co-accused. They will stand trial on 8 June which is expected to last six to eight weeks. Judge Mr Justice Saunders remanded all five of the men in custody. Small, of Southend Lane, Beckenham, south-east London, is charged with two counts of preparation of terrorist acts, supporting a terrorist organisation and possession of a false identity document. Small won both the British and Commonwealth championships in 2009 before quitting the sport . Keeler, of Shadwell, East London, is accused of two counts of preparation of terrorist acts, supporting a terrorist organisation and possession of a false passport and driving licence. Perviaz, of East Ham, East London, is charged with conspiracy to copy false identity documents and possession of a false driving licence. Coe, of East Ham, East London, is also charged with two counts of preparation of terrorist acts, support of a proscribed organisation and possession of a false passport and driving licence. Safdah also pleaded not guilty to two charges of possession of a false passport and driving licence, which was accepted by the prosecution. None of the other defendants have entered pleas to any of the charges against them. The charges were brought after two men were allegedly found among migrants in a lorry at the Port of Dover . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Four men due to stand trial over alleged plot to smuggle fighters to Syria .
Among them is Anthony Small, a former boxing champion from London .
Two others, aged 33 and 43, are charged with attempting to travel to Syria .
A fourth man is charged with offences relating to false ID documents .
A fifth man has admitted a charge related to fake passports .
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(CNN) -- Those aboard an American Airlines airplane from London got to see a little more of America than they expected Friday, after their flight was diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma, due to engine trouble. Flight 79 took off from Heathrow Airport at 3 p.m. (10 a.m. ET), destined for Dallas, Texas, according to American Airlines' website. The Boeing 777-200 airliner made it over the United States, but not to its final destination. It was diverted to Tulsa due to an issue with the plane's left engine, American Airlines spokeswoman Laura Masvidal told CNN. She did not specify what the issue was. Its flight crew declared an emergency before landing at Tulsa's airport shortly after 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET). One problem -- besides whatever happened to the left engine -- is that Tulsa's airport doesn't have U.S. Customs and Border Protection workers on hand to handle incoming international travelers. That means the aircraft's 230 passengers and 14 crew members have to wait on the airport's tarmac, according to Masvidal. The aircraft that will take them to Dallas was set to leave that Texas city around 9:15 p.m. for Tulsa. According to American's website, it should have Flight 79's passengers and presumably crew on board when it departs Oklahoma at 10 p.m. If all goes according to plan -- this time around -- this aircraft should arrive at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport a few minutes after 11 p.m. local time. For those keeping score at home, that amounts to 14 hours after Flight 79's passengers first took off from London. CNN's Mayra Cuevas contributed to this report.
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American Airlines Flight 79 took off from London, destined for Dallas .
Spokeswoman: Its crew declared an emergency due to a left engine issue .
The 777 had to sit on the tarmac because Tulsa didn't have Customs agents .
A new aircraft will pick up the passengers and fly them to Texas .
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By . Matt Blake . Ever wondered what it's like to parachute into a sports stadium full of tens of thousands of screaming fans? Well, now you don't have to because the U.S. Navy Skydiving Team - aka The Leap Frogs - has done it for you ... and filmed the experience on a head-mounted camera. The footage begins with the team looking out through the plane's hatch over the Californian city of San Diego. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Go, go, go! The footage begins with the team looking out through the plane's hatch over the Californian city of San Diego . Dramatic: As they approach their target - The San Diego Padres' home ground at Petco Park - the roar of the crowd below can be heard getting louder . Their target - The San Diego Padres' home ground at Petco Park - is a mere speck in the distance. Then they jump. Circling above California's second largest city, the roar of the wind is replaced by the roar of the crowd, growing louder as they approach the stadium. Roaring wind: The team of three comprised Jim Woods, who wore the head-cam, Vic Maldonado and Brad Woodard, who both carried flags, one bearing the late Jerry Coleman's initials and one with his trademark star . T marks the spot: All three land within a yard of their target to wild cheering from the fans . The jump was in honour of baseball legend Jerry Coleman, a New York Yankees second-baser who was named the Major League's most valuable payer in 1950 and manager of the Padres in 1980. He died on January 5 this year. The team of three comprised Jim Woods, who wore the head-cam, Vic Maldonado and Brad Woodard, who both carried flags, one bearing Coleman's initials and one with his trademark star.
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The team, aka The Leap Frogs, glided into the Padres' stadium on March 30 .
As they approach the ground the roar of the crowd can be heard growing .
Jim Woods filmed the jump on a head-cam, while teammates carried flags .
The jump was to honour late ex-Yankee and Padres manager Jerry Coleman .
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James Ward slipped to a straight-sets second-round defeat to number four seed Grigor Dimitrov at the Queen's Club Aegon Championships. British No. 3 Ward saw off Slovenian Blaz Rola on Monday, but was unable to produce what would have been a big upset against Bulgarian Dimitrov. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Tomas Berdych answer quickfire question at Queen's . A step too far: James Ward was beaten in straight sets by fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov . Soaking up the sun: Maria Sharapova (top left) and Pippa Middleton (bottom right) watch Ward take on Dimitrov . Compatriot Dan Evans crashed out in straight sets to seventh-seed Kevin Anderson in the first match on centre court on Tuesday, and Ward was unable to fare any better. Ward was brushed aside 7-5 6-3 by the world number 13, unable to make light of his 142-place shortfall in the ATP tour rankings. Safely through: Grigor Dimitrov booked his spot in the third round at Queen's .
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British No. 3 loses 7-5, 6-3 to fourth seed at Queen's Club .
Ward follows compatriot Dan Evans in losing in the second round .
Maria Sharapova and Pippa Middleton soak up the sun in west London .
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An obese takeaway addict whose ankles were buckling under his 20 stone bulk has shed six stone - by eating Chinese food. Builder Matt Riggs, 35, piled on the pounds when his business was hit by the recession and he started binge eating for comfort. But he realised he had to change when he went to his GP with a suspected broken ankle but was told there was no break - he was just too heavy. Matt Riggs lost six stone in four months by cooking himself healthy versions of his favourite Chinese meals. He says at one point he was losing a pound a day. He is pictured (left) before his weight loss and (right) now . The dad-of-one had just started working in a Chinese takeaway restaurant and realised that if he took out fat he would be left with delicious, healthy food. He has now only eaten noodles and rice for four months and has lost an impressive six stone. Mr Riggs said: ‘I knew I had to sort my life out. I was eating far too many takeaways. ‘I noticed that many of the customers were overweight and was confused why the chefs at the Chinese were slim. ‘I watched the way they cooked the food they ate themselves. ‘It was basically the same but without the fat. Mr Riggs (pictured with his daughter, Cherry) weighed 20 stone before he changed his diet and he was so heavy that his ankles were being damaged. He now weighs 14 stone . ‘I had hardly ever cooked before, I would just get a takeaway or chuck something in the microwave. ‘But now I love cooking and have really enjoyed inventing my own recipes. ‘I was losing a pound every day when I first started. ‘People give up on other diets because they can't face lettuce or the other things you have to eat. ‘But with my diet you get to eat the food you like - just cooked healthily.’ At his heaviest Mr Riggs, from Bournemouth, Dorset, tipped the scales at a hefty 20st 5lbs. Mr Riggs shed the weight by cooking healthy, low-fat, versions of his favourite Chinese meals . But thanks to his new eating regime - which allows him cereal for breakfast and Rivita for lunch - he has now slimmed down to 14 stone. By swapping Chinese takeaways for home cooked versions, Mr Riggs has more than halved his fat intake. Each day he has one of his favourite Chinese dishes such as chicken chow mein, chilli chicken, Kung Po chicken or chicken chow. Mr Riggs said: 'I had hardly ever cooked before, I would just get a takeaway or chuck something in the microwave. But now I love cooking and have really enjoyed inventing my own recipes' Mr Riggs (pictured before his weight loss) believes that he has now halved his daily fat intake . An average takeaway chicken chow mein has 860 calories and 30g fat, but a home-cooked version can have just 458 calories with 15.8g fat. Mr Riggs says he has a second dieting secret - he always eats his main meal of the day before 5pm so his body has time to burn off the calories before he goes to bed. He says his wife Mel, 33, and daughter Cherry, one, have both been delighted with his new trim look. Before he went on a diet, Mr Riggs would have toast or a cooked breakfast in the morning then grab a supermarket sandwich or fast food for lunch. In the evening he would occasionally put a steak in the oven, but most of the time he stuck to microwave meals or takeaways. He would also down up to ten cans of lager a night. Nutrition scientist Dr Aine O'Connor, from the British Nutrition Foundation, said: 'When you're eating out or buying food that has been prepared for you, it's often easy to have more fat, salt and calories than you realise.' BEFORE: . Breakfast: Toast or a fry up . Lunch: A supermarket sandwich or fast food . Dinner: Microwave meals or takeaways . Drinks: Up to ten cans of lager a night . AFTER: . Breakfast: Fruit and fibre cereal . Lunch: Rivita and tuna . Dinner: Chinese meal such as salt and chilli chicken, Kung Po chicken, chicken chow mein, noodles or egg fried rice . Snacks: Fruit .
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Matt Riggs weighed 20st and his weight was damaging his ankles .
He worked in a Chinese takeaway and noticed the chefs cooked themselves food without as much fat as the food they sold .
He decided to ditch takeaways and start cooking his own low fat versions .
He has now slimmed down to 14st .
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When Sofia Vergara and Nick Loeb split in late May, it was assumed they were geographically incompatible (she lives in Los Angeles while he calls New York City home). But the publicity man explained to InTouch this week that while he wanted a family, the Colombian beauty (who already has a 22-year-old son) was more interested in fame. 'She's focused on her career,' the 39-year-old New Yorker said. 'The most important thing for me is to get married and have kids.' Scroll down for video... Before the break: Nick Loeb, pictured with Sofia Vergara in May just before their split, told InTouch they broke up because she didn't want to have children with him . The Loeb's Crunch founder added, 'I completely understand. She's at the height of her career, and, as she says all the time, she's taking advantage of her 15 minutes of fame because who knows how long that will last.' At age 42, Vergara is at the height of her career with a hit TV series (Modern Family) and starring roles in movies (such as Fading Gigolo). The cover girl also has numerous endorsement deals and her own perfume, which launched in September. Surprise: Nick ran into ex Sofia on the Angel Ball red carpet in New York City on Monday . Loeb added her new beau Joe Manganiello, 37, is a smarter choice for the actress. 'They are much better suited for each other,' he offered. The heir to the Loeb fortune did not clear up whether he was dating Sharon Stone, 56, or not. The two were caught getting cozy in New York City earlier this month, according to UsWeekly. Stone and Vergara worked together on Fading Gigolo, which was released in 2013. Still, Vergara and Loeb seem to be on good terms. At New York's Angel Ball on Monday evening they said hello to each other. Sofia was being interviewed by Extra's AJ Calloway. Whether Loeb planned the meeting or just happened to pass by his former fiancee, he didn't get much of a reaction on the carpet. Their meeting was brief. Magical talk: Vergara describes a visit to the Magic Mike XXL set during her red carpet interview . Ships passing: On his way to another carpet location, Loeb passes close behind Vergara and gets her attention . Back again: The Colombian only pauses slightly to note Loeb before turning to Extra's AJ Calloway . All good: The surprise encounter with Loeb doesn't shake Vergara's happy demeanor on the carpet . Both have claimed to remain friends following the end of their two-year engagement. Despite the absence of Vergara’s current boyfriend due to Manganiello’s filming obligations, the actress didn’t have to spend the evening alone - her adult son, Manolo, accompanied Vergara through the night. Look who it is... Sofia and Nick split in May . He's behind you! The pair were on-again and off-again over several years . Stunning: The actress' stunning look at the event could very well be the draw for Loeb .
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Nick and Sofia split in late May after a two year engagement .
The 39-year-old publicist said she was too interested in her career .
He added Vergara, 42, wanted to enjoy her '15 minutes of fame'
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An entire family of small frogs found on the coast of South America is thought to have been wiped out by a deadly amphibian disease. The Darwin's frog, and its cousin the Chile Darwin's frog, have not been spotted for months and scientists from Chile and Britain believe they are now extinct. The disease is called chytridiomycosis and the claims have been made by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Universidad Andris Bello (UNAB). An entire family of small frogs found on the coast of South America is thought to have been wiped out by a deadly amphibian disease. The Darwin's frog and its cousin the Chile Darwin's frog, pictured, have not been spotted for months and scientists believe they are now extinct . Darwin's frog and its cousin the Chile Darwin's frog are both named after . naturalist and evolutionist Charles Darwin. As its name suggests, the Chile Darwin's frog is endemic to Chile, while its cousin was also found in Argentina. Darwin first discovered the Rhinodermatidae darwinii species in 1834 in south Chile . during his voyage around the globe. The species have a distinct appearance, having evolved to look like a leaf, with a pointy nose. Darwin's frogs are small, reaching a size of only 3cm in length. Professor Andrew Cunningham from ZSL's Institute of Zoology said: ‘Only a few examples of the 'extinction by infection' phenomenon exist. ‘Although not entirely conclusive, the possibility of chytridiomycosis being associated with the extinction of the northern Darwin's frog gains further support with this study.’ The scientists claim the plummeting numbers and the disappearance of the creatures from most of their territory across Chile and Argentina cannot be explained by habitat loss alone. Hundreds of specimens of Darwin's frogs and other amphibians from similar habitats were collected between 1835 and 1989. Each were tested in order to find DNA pieces of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that causes the disease chytridiomycosis. Scientists claim the plummeting numbers of the Darwin's frog, pictured, and the disappearance of the creatures from most of their territory across Chile and Argentina cannot be explained by habitat loss alone. The disease is called chytridiomycosis and comes from a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) In addition, 26 populations of Darwin's frogs were surveyed in Chile and Argentina between 2008 and 2012 for the presence of Bd. Research leader Dr. Claudio . Soto-Azat, from UNAB and former ZSL PhD student said: ‘Amphibians have . inhabited the earth for 365 million years, far longer than mammals. ‘We may have already lost one species, the northern Darwin's frog, but we cannot risk losing the other one. There is still time to protect this incredible species. ‘Amphibians provide an important ecosystem service by maintaining balance in the environment. Without them insect plagues and their subsequent effect on agriculture and public health would be more frequent. ‘ZSL scientists are working to further understand the reasons behind the extinction of Darwin's frogs, and ensure the long-term survival of the species.’ Darwin's frog and its cousin the Chile Darwin's frog are both named after naturalist and evolutionist Charles Darwin. The species, pictured, has a distinct appearance, having evolved to look like a leaf, with a pointy nose. Darwin's frogs are small, reaching a size of only 3cm in length .
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Darwin’s frog and the Chile Darwin’s frog are both said to now be extinct .
It's thought a disease called chytridiomycosis has wiped them out .
One of the last known sightings of the small frog was in January 2013 .
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By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 09:39 EST, 2 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:00 EST, 2 January 2014 . A human skull has been found on a paper plate surrounded by beads in California. Police responded to a tip of a sighting of human bones along Grizzly Peak Boulevard in the Grizzly Peak area of Berkley. Officer Johanna Watson told CBS that police found the human skull 'out in the open' on Wednesday afternoon. Scroll down for video . Skull found: The skull was found on Grizzly Peak Boulevard, a high ridge popular with hikers and mountain bikers . Strange discovery: Police arrived to investigate the skull sighting around 5:40pm Wednesday . Little is known about the skull, including its age, but officer said it appeared to be more than several years old. According to the Mercury News, police do not believe the skull was of Native American origin. . The Alameda County Coroner is examining the skull. Grizzly Peak is a summit in the Berkley Hills popular with hikers, cyclists and tourists. 'Part of me is not surprised for how many different types of people I see up here all the time,' local resident Dakota Defiore told CBS. Mystery: Police say the skull appears to be old but have not released any further information (stock image) 'You know, it's dark, and sometimes people drink up here. But part of me is kind of shocked, you know? Never really thought driving up here I'd see a bunch of cop cars.' Police are investigating the bizarre discovery. They have not made any further information available but will provide an update on the case Thursday morning.
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Police found a human skull on a paper plate on Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkley .
The skull is being examined by the county coroner .
It is not believed to be a Native American skull but does appear old .
Police have not released any further information about the skull .
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'It shouldn't be five white men': Danny Cohen, the BBC's director of television, singled out Match of the Day for fresh criticism over the racial mix of pundits . Match Of The Day needs to become more diverse with fewer white men on its panel of pundits, the BBC has said. Days after announcing its dramas would include more black and gay actors to reflect modern Britain, the corporation turned its sights on sports shows. Danny Cohen, the BBC’s director of television, singled out BBC1’s Saturday football highlights programme for fresh criticism. He said: ‘If we have five people on a panel show, it shouldn’t be five white men. I think the same thing of Match Of The Day. It’s a very diverse sport and it shouldn’t be like that.’ Although Mr Cohen stopped short of calling for a diversity quota for Match of the Day hosts, he made it clear he expects to see changes to the make-up of sports panels in the near future. His comments may cause some anxiety for the programme’s current team of presenters. The weekly show is normally fronted by former England footballer Gary Lineker, 53, who is paid £1.5million-a-year for his services. He is often paired with his former teammate Alan Shearer, 43, and retired Scotland player Alan Hansen, 58, and they are frequently joined by a string of other white male pundits, including Robbie Fowler, 38, and Michael Owen, 34. The corporation does have some prominent black football pundits and has lined up Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand to join its World Cup team in Brazil this summer. The first female commentator to appear on Match of the Day was Jacqui Oatley in 2007, while Radio Five Live appointed Charlotte Green as the new voice of its classified sports results last year. Last month, Mr Cohen was embroiled in a row with one of the BBC’s top comics after he said it was ‘not acceptable’ to have all-male comedy panel shows and said every one filmed from now on will have at least one woman. His remarks were criticised by Mock the Week presenter Dara O’Briain, who said the move would make female guests appear to be ‘token women’. 'It¿s a very diverse sport and it shouldn¿t be like that': Although Mr Cohen stopped short of calling for a diversity quota, he made it clear he expects to see changes to the make-up of sports panels soon . But Mr Cohen reiterated his determination to change the gender balance of TV this week, saying: ‘There isn’t a problem on some of the panel shows - they try to have a good gender balance all the time. Others, it was like pushing water up a hill and we kept saying it, and it wasn’t happening. ‘We got to the point where we thought, this is not acceptable anymore, this doesn’t reflect the world we live in. ‘In a leadership role, I can either keep pushing and hope it’s going to evolve, or I can set some really clear examples to provide a beacon for what our expectations are.’ Speaking at a separate event, drama controller Ben Stephenson said he wants more black and gay actors on TV in a bid to ‘reflect Britain as it really is’.
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Comes after BBC said dramas should have more black and gay actors .
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Ministers are being urged to take ‘urgent action’ after cancer patients in Scotland were given access to another drug not available in England and Wales. Axitinib, aimed at kidney cancer patients who have stopped responding to other treatments, is to be given the green light north of the border after it was shown to significantly extend life. The drug – which costs £3,000 a month – could potentially help 6,000 sufferers a year, but has so far been deemed not cost effective by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use on the NHS in England and Wales. The body is currently considering an appeal against its decision. Price of life: At a cost of £3,000 a month Axitimib is expensive but it has been shown to prolong life in cancer sufferers who have stopped responding to other treatments . Experts have expressed dismay at the latest example of ‘health apartheid’ between patients north and south of the border. The decision of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to give the go-ahead for the drug in Scotland means taxpayers in England and Wales will have to contribute to the funding of the drug north of the border, but not benefit from it. Critics of NICE say it is judging drugs using criteria from the last century and said the case for a fundamental overhaul was now overwhelming. This year alone, the body has given only one positive recommendation for a new cancer medicine for NHS use, from the 12 ‘single technology’ appraisals on which it has made final or preliminary decisions. At the Conservative Party’s annual conference last month, David Cameron was forced to announce a two year extension to the £200million a year Cancer Drugs Fund – an emergency fund which funds treatments denied by NICE. But there are growing calls for more sweeping reforms. Professor Tom Powles, a consultant oncologist at Barts Health NHS Trust in London, said: ‘Whilst the SMC decision is good news for patients in Scotland, it’s important that all patients across the UK have routine access to innovative treatments. There is a clear need for kidney cancer treatments and it’s therefore very important that patients can have access to treatment options at all stages of the disease.’ Jonathan Emms, the UK Managing Director of Pfizer, which manufactures Axitinib, said: ‘Government needs to play its part in fixing age-old problems to ensure that innovative new medicines are used by the NHS and get to the patients that need them. ‘By continuing to focus on medicines as a cost not an investment, Government will not solve these issues. Instead it sends a clear message that innovation is not valued in the UK and it is not prepared to invest in life-saving and life-changing discoveries. Outdated: Critics of NICE say it is judging drugs using criteria from the last century and said the case for a fundamental overhaul was now overwhelming . ‘Decisions like today’s, where a vital cancer medicine is denied to patients in England and Wales by NICE, but at the same time approved for Scottish patients, further highlights the fundamental problems. We cannot allow this to become the norm. ‘The Prime Minister must take urgent action. A new pro-innovation mandate for NICE is needed to get patients the new medicines they need and prove that the UK is open for business.’ Ben Osborn, the firm’s oncology business unit head, added: ‘Whilst we welcome this decision for patients in Scotland, yet again we find ourselves in a situation where two health bodies, which have assessed similar information, reach an entirely different conclusion on the value of a medicine.’ Axitinib, which is marketed under the tradename Inlyta, is designed to treat adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma after failure of prior treatment with other drugs - sunitinib or a cytokine. One trial suggested it extended life by two months on average, with some patients surviving significantly longer. Patients in England will have to appeal to the Cancer Drugs Fund, though funding is not guaranteed. Patients in Wales have no access to any second line advanced treatment for kidney cancer and have to prove ‘exceptional circumstances’ in order to even be considered. Public Health England has warned that more people are being diagnosed with and dying from kidney cancer in England today, compared to ten years ago. Around 30 per cent currently present with late stage disease. Kidney cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the UK, with an estimated 3,850 people dying from the disease each year. Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: ‘Axitinib is currently being looked at for NICE by an independent appraisal committee. Earlier this year a draft decision to say no to Axitinib was appealed and the drug is being considered again. ‘Decisions on which drugs to approve are often finely balanced. Health services have to be confident that the extra benefit to patients justifies the price. If we are not sure, we have to say so, in the interests of all those of us who expect the NHS to apply its resources equitably across all of the demands we make of it. ‘NICE is, quite properly, scrutinised closely on its decisions and the methods we use to arrive at them. 'We regularly review our methods to ensure they are consistent with the ambitions set for the NHS and we are currently considering ways to make sure that we take full account of the impact of the severity of different diseases and conditions, together with the wider benefits to society of new treatments. 'We have always relied on feedback to draft the very best processes and guidance. We have asked patients’ groups, industry and our other stakeholders to help us develop this new value assessment approach. Drugs, especially those for cancer, which extend life for terminally ill people, have been given special weight by NICE since January 2009.’
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Axitinib, aimed at kidney cancer .
patients is to be given .
the green light north of the border after it was shown to significantly .
extend life .
But the £3,000 month drug has been deemed not cost effective for patients in England and Wales .
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0fc00f7d7ceca200a3c520ad97c5eccaef16f565
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A 29-year-old Iowa man allegedly feigned working as a Victoria's Secret representative in a plot to obtain photos of women in their underwear. Charged: Sean Boies, pictured, allegedly feigned working as a Victoria's Secret representative in a plot to obtain photos of women in their underwear . Iowa City resident Sean Boies faces an unauthorized computer access charge, as well as two identity theft charges, KCRG reported. Bogus mentioned his bogus occupation in an online survey he put up on January 9, police said in charging documents obtained by the affiliate station.. Women were allegedly asked to submit racy underwear photographs, police reportedly stated in the documents. The survey offered winners a Miami photo shoot that would be private, the documents reportedly said. Boies confessed two individuals sent in photographs, authorities said in a criminal complaint cited by KCRG. He also reportedly confessed to using the survey as a way to get women's photographs, the affiliate station reported. A March survey - in which Boies claimed again to work for the lingerie giant - offered a gift card worth $25 to those who filled it out with personal information, KCRG reported. Citing the complaint, the news outlet said that Boies confessed to not mailing out the gift cards. He also stated the surveys were used as a way to get personal data from respondents, according to The Iowa City Press-Citizen. Boies stole two University of Iowa students' login credentials to build his surveys with a software called Qualtrics, University of Iowa police told KCRG. From December of last year to May 31, 2014, over 6,200 people answered Boies' surveys, university police said. Police booked Boies Thursday and he was later released from the Johnson County Jail that morning, The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported. Arrest: Police booked Boies Thursday and he was later released from the Johnson County Jail, pictured .
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Sean Boies, 29, allegedly feigned working as a Victoria's Secret representative in a plot to obtain photos of women in their underwear .
He mentioned his bogus occupation in an online survey he put up in January, police said in charging documents .
Women were asked to submit racy underwear photographs - and the survey offered winners a Miami photo shoot that would be private, police said .
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0fc0bca13411623e49ce72aa99dbd2545e557cbb
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By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 23:53 EST, 10 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:11 EST, 11 January 2013 . As survivors and victims' families are forced to relive the grisly details of the night James Holmes allegedly went on a gun rampage at a Colorado movie theater, one woman sits quietly, taking notes. Misty Benjamin is unlike any other at the trial - the 30-year-old sits in the overflow section of the Arapahoe County courthouse in support of the man who is accused of shooting dead 12 people and injuring 70 more. Benjamin has even dyed her hair a shocking red in support of Holmes, of whom she says: 'I don’t think he is a bad guy. What he did was bad.' Besotted: Misty Benjamin, 30, has been attending pre-trial hearings in support of suspected Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes . Supporter: Benjamin, 30, said that she does not believe that Holmes is a bad guy but 'what he did was bad' The University of Phoenix graduate said that she made the decision to dye her hair so that 25-year-old Holmes would know that he had her support. She added: 'Tons of people are hating me because I’m deciding to be compassionate and show compassion for a person that committed a horrendous crime.' Benjamin lives in the town of Aurora which was changed forever on July 20 last year when a gunman entered a midnight showing of the Dark Knight Rises and sprayed bullets into the audience. Over three emotional days of pre-trial hearings, a succession of police and federal agents testified that Holmes spent weeks amassing guns and ammunition, concocted explosives to booby-trap his apartment and scouted the movie theater where he would allegedly unleash a horrific attack on hundreds of terrified people. On Wednesday, prosecutor Karen Pearson showed a series of photos that investigators said Holmes took of himself hours before the massacre. Deranged: James Holmes, 25, will face trial for the murder of 12 people and injuring 70 others in a Colorado movie theater last July . In one, he glares through black contact lenses, sticking out his tongue, as two locks of his orange-dyed hair curl out on either side of his head like horns. Despite the horrifying details, Misty Benjamin told the Daily Beast: 'When they showed photos of him, everything I saw were cries for help. She added: 'When I first saw him, I was physically attracted to him. I thought, oh crap. I think he is cute.' Benjamin, who joined the Church of Latter Day Saints in 2004 when her dentist committed suicide, admits that she keeps pictures of Holmes in her wallet and writes messages for him in the yellow notebook she carries to court. She also wears a plastic bracelet to court inscribed with the word 'besties' - her best friend in Michigan has the same. The pair met through a 'James Holmes is Innocent' Facebook group. For the women are not alone - Holmes has developed a bizarre fan base who call themselves 'Holmies', revere plaid clothing and Slurpees - which the suspected killer once mentioned a liking for. On Facebook, thousands of people have joined fan pages for Holmes where court sketches, memes and messages of support are written. Tumblr accounts have also been created, encouraging Holmes supporters to write to him in prison to 'let him know you care'. Misty, however, is keen to distance herself from these 'groupies', saying that she doesn't believe Holmes is innocent, just that he is in need of support as a human being. Without emotion: Holmes is pictured in a court sketch from the last day of his pre-trial hearing . Joker: One of James Holmes' self-taken photos is pictured in a court sketch from the third day of his pre-trial hearing in Centennial, Colorado . A judge ruled late on Thursday that there’s enough evidence for Holmes to face trial for the murdered 12 people and 70 injured. Judge William Sylvester said prosecutors have established probable cause to proceed with 166 felony counts, including murder and attempted murder. Holmes is due to be arraigned on Friday, but his defense attorneys filed papers on Thursday afternoon saying he’s not ready to enter a plea. They are likely to appear in court on Friday to ask for the arraignment to be delayed. Defense attorneys did not explain why they are not ready for arraignment. Their filing also objected to media requests to bring cameras into the courtroom. Other than during his brief initial appearance in July, cameras have been barred from court during Holmes’ case. Ordeal: Crowds of family members and survivors enter the court room this week in Centenneial, Colorado for the pre-trial hearing of James Holmes . Sylvester’s ruling came after a . three-day hearing earlier this week, in which prosecutors laid out their . case against Holmes, 25. The officers also described a hellish . scene inside the theater on July 20, when 12 people were shot to death . before their families and friends’ eyes and scores of others were . wounded amid a din of gunshots, screams and the blaring soundtrack of . the latest Batman movie. Holmes’ lawyers called no witnesses . and cross-examined only a few of those summoned by prosecutors during . the hearing. But they pointedly raised the issue of Holmes’ sanity at . strategic moments, possibly foreshadowing a defense that some believe is . his best hope to avoid the death penalty. 'You’re aware that people can be found not guilty on the grounds of insanity?' defense attorney Daniel King asked one witness. The . preliminary hearing, which ended Wednesday, was designed to determine . whether prosecutors’ case is strong enough to put Holmes on trial. Holmes’ lawyers haven’t said if he will plead not guilty by reason of insanity, . but since his arrest outside the theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora . immediately after the shootings, they have portrayed him as a man with . serious mental problems prone to bizarre behavior. Many legal analysts have said they expect the case to end with a plea bargain rather than a trial. Tom . Teves, whose son Alex was among the dead, said he would rather see . Holmes plead guilty to first-degree murder, avoiding a traumatic trial, . bringing a life sentence and closing the door to an insanity defense. Trauma: The scene outside the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado after a mass shooting last July 20 which left 12 people dead . Details: There was a thermos full of glycerin leaning over a skillet full of another chemical. Flames and sparks are created when they mix, and a trip wire linked the thermos to the door . If found not guilty by reason of insanity, Holmes could conceivably be released someday if he is deemed to have recovered. 'Don’t pretend he’s crazy,' Mr Teves said Wednesday. 'He’s not crazy. He’s no more crazy than you and I.' Prosecutors developed twin themes at the hearing: the horror and devastation of the attack, and a weeks' long process in which they alleged Holmes planned and prepared for the assault. Two officers were overcome by emotion when they testified about the chaos in the theater and the race to get victims to hospitals by police cars until ambulances could arrive. Other testimony included the names and injuries of the victims, read out one by one. Prosecution witnesses also testified that Holmes started assembling an arsenal in early May and by July 6 had two semi-automatic pistols, a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle, 6,200 rounds of ammunition and high-capacity magazines that allow a shooter to fire more rounds without stopping to reload. In late June he began equipping himself with a helmet, gas mask and body armor, the witnesses said. In early July, they testified, he began buying fuses, gunpowder, chemicals and electronics to booby-trap his apartment in hopes of triggering an explosion and fire to divert police from the theater. The bombs never went off. Also in early July, he took some interior and exterior photos of the theater, witnesses said. 'He picked the perfect venue for this crime,' prosecutor Karen Pearson said. Caren Teves, mother of Alex and wife of Tom Teves, said she saw Holmes smile when his self-portraits were shown in court. 'He just sat in the courtroom pretty much delighted. He was smiling. He was smirking,' she said .
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Misty Benjamin, 30, lives in the town of Aurora where shooting took place .
She says: 'I don’t think he is a bad guy. What he did was bad'
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This isn't the first time Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has faced allegations that he's racist. Audio recordings from a conversation full of racist comments attributed to Sterling surfaced over the weekend, bringing national attention to him and his team. But the billionaire real estate mogul has found himself in hot water in the past, denying in court accusations of discrimination tied to the NBA team and to property he owns. A top team executive accused Sterling of running the Clippers with a "plantation" mentality. Federal prosecutors accused his rental company of refusing to lease Beverly Hills apartments to African-Americans. And a group of tenants accused him of "numerous discriminatory statements and housing practices." "Actions speak louder than words, and Mr. Sterling's actions have been consistent," former NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" on Monday. Abdul-Jabbar, who coached the Clippers for about three months in 2000, said Sterling has "a bad reputation." "I'm not surprised by this very much," he said, "and that's really the most unfortunate part of this." Sterling, who has not publicly commented about the recordings, has owned the team for more than three decades. Clippers President Andy Roeser said Sunday that Sterling is upset and "emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect, his views, beliefs or feelings." Here's a look at what court documents reveal about several claims made against Sterling in the past: . 2009: Clippers' former general manager files a wrongful termination lawsuit . Elgin Baylor, who was executive vice president and general manager of the Clippers from 1986 to 2008, filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination against Sterling in 2009, saying that the team's owner underpaid him and treated him "as a token because of his race." Baylor, who is African-American and an 11-time NBA All-Star, said Sterling wouldn't let him negotiate players' salaries and had a vision of a "Southern Plantation type structure" for the team. Sterling, according to Baylor's complaint, told Baylor repeatedly that he "wanted the CLIPPERS team to be composed of 'Poor Black boys from the South' and a White head coach." The lawsuit also accuses Sterling of ageism and alleges that Sterling harassed him by making demeaning comments about his age. Sterling denied those accusations and said the team acted within its rights and "for good cause and not for any improper reason." Before the case went to trial, Baylor dropped the racial discrimination claim but maintained accusations of age discrimination. A jury sided with Sterling in 2011. At the time, the jury's foreman said jurors believed Baylor was fired because the "team hadn't been performing," according to the Los Angeles Times. 2006: Justice Department accuses Sterling of housing discrimination . A Justice Department lawsuit filed in 2006 accused Sterling's rental company of refusing to lease Beverly Hills apartments to African-Americans, refusing to rent to non-Koreans in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles County and turning away families with children from its properties. That case was settled in 2009, with Sterling agreeing to pay nearly $3 million but continuing to deny the accusations. "The magnitude of this settlement should send a message to all landlords that we will vigorously pursue violations of the Fair Housing Act," Thomas E. Perez, then head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, said at the time. Robert Platt, a lawyer for the Sterling Family Trust, said at the time that the settlement includes no admission of liability and the government "could not identify a single individual who was wrongfully denied the right to rent an apartment from the trust." He said the company had a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding discrimination. "My clients vehemently and unequivocally deny that anyone was discriminated against," Platt said in a written statement on the settlement. "Nevertheless, the insurance companies for the trust decided to settle the case because the cost of continued litigation far exceeded the cost of settlement." 2003: Tenants, nonprofit allege housing discrimination . The nonprofit Housing Rights Center and a group of tenants who lived in Sterling's properties filed a federal lawsuit in 2003 against Sterling, accusing him of "numerous discriminatory statements and housing practices," according to court documents. Court documents allege that Sterling told building staff that he did not like Hispanic or African-American tenants and that he preferred Korean-American tenants and made "disparaging comments" about African-American and Hispanic tenants. They also allege that Sterling's company refused to accept rent from African-American and Latino tenants -- then later attempted "to use the tenants' supposed failure to pay rent as a basis for eviction." And they claim that African-American and Latino tenants were asked to sign in as visitors at apartment buildings where they had long lived. Sterling, according to court documents, "vehemently denied" the allegations and accused the plaintiffs of "being unreliable tenants and for being driven by hidden agendas." The case was dismissed in 2005 after a settlement was reached. Details of the deal were not disclosed. According to court documents, a judge ordered Sterling to pay nearly $5 million in attorney's fees to the plaintiffs.
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Abdul-Jabbar: "Actions speak louder than words, and Mr. Sterling's actions have been consistent"
Court documents detail past discrimination claims against L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling .
In a 2009 settlement, Sterling agreed to pay nearly $3 million but denied accusations .
Sterling has repeatedly denied allegations of race discrimination .
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0fc1c3972978baf83044e4a5d0362e7e762a200a
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By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 08:01 EST, 12 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 12 July 2012 . A hacker group has posted online the details of 450,000 user accounts and passwords it claims to have stolen from a Yahoo server. The passwords could pose a severe security risk to Yahoo users if they use the same password and email combination across other sites. The information was posted by a previously unknown hacker group. Hacked? A hacker group has posted online the details of 450,000 user accounts and passwords it claims to have stolen from a Yahoo server . The Ars Technica technology news website reported that the group, which calls itself D33DS Company, hacked into an unidentified subdomain of Yahoo's website where they retrieved unencrypted account details. A Yahoo spokesperson declined to comment. The affected accounts appeared to belong to a voice-over-Internet-protocol, or VOIP, service called Yahoo Voices, which runs on Yahoo's instant messenger. The Voices service is powered by Jajah, a VOIP platform that was bought by Telefonica Europe BV in 2010. The hackers' website where the original claim was made, d33ds.co, was not available later on Thursday. It was registered in February. Industry website CNET reported the hackers as saying the breach was intended as a 'wake-up call and not as a threat' and that Yahoo's security was lax. The Voices hack is one of several in recent months. The business networking service LinkedIn admitted last month that 6.4 million member passwords had been stolen from its website.
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Unknown group claims Yahoo's security is 'lax'
Passwords and emails posted online .
450,000 Yahoo users at risk .
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0fc36db77aedcae4ac51a87ec530b4e6473a4d15
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A group of alleged jewellery thieves used Craigslist to lure victims to California where they would rob them of watches and diamonds worth tens of thousands of dollars. As the FBI closed in on the gang they found a criminal mastermind at the heart of it was an inmate serving 12 years for armed robbery. When agents searched the prison cell of the inmate, identified only as Confidential Human Source (CHS), they found a contraband phone he had allegedly used to run the scam. Search: The gang allegedly used Craigslist to find victims who were selling valuable watches and jewellery . Members of the gang would allegedly lure sellers across the country, paying for their airfare and a limo to collect them, before driving the victims to a remote location where they would be robbed. The gang is accused of carrying out 18 robberies and attempted robberies. Items taken from Craigslist sellers include: . In one case, in July last year, a Middle Eastern man flew from Los Angeles to Oakland with a four-carat diamond worth more than $175,000, and two smaller precious stones. He was intending to sell them to a buyer he had met on Craigslist, and who had paid for his plane fare and limo. The victim realized he had been scammed when the car, that was supposed to take him to a jeweller's or bank, instead drove to a remote location. When the car eventually stopped, three men, including one armed with a gun, robbed the victim who was pistol-whipped and left by the roadside. The case was one of 17 other robberies and attempted robberies listed in a recently released federal search warrant, according to the Daily Dot. Each time the premise was the same. The gang would pose as buyers on Craigslist, pay for the airfare and limo, then rob the seller at a secluded location. Mastermind: The robberies were alleged arranged by an inmate of California's Men's Colony Prison . Jewel theft: In one of the robberies, two 2-carat gems, not pictured, were stolen from a man who was also carrying a $175,000 4-carat diamond . A Cartier watch worth $90,000 and two Rolex watches, one taken from a 23-year-old woman and another from an older victim, were among the items stolen. The FBI were alerted to the gang allegedly behind the heists when two agents on a separate job saw an alleged attempted robbery taking place. In June last year, two agents in Oakland watched as a man waved down a limo and two other men, including one with a gun, approached it. In that case, the driver or potential victim, who had flown in from Denver to sell a diamond, were alerted to the attempted robbery and left before the men could get in the car. A search of phone records of the men, named in court documents as Keegan Leecodi Cotton Jr, Jaedon Evans and Rafael Davis, showed the intended victim was not the first to be targeted. Further cellphone records led the FBI to a suspected gang member who was operating out of California's Men's Colony Prison. When police seized his contraband phone, its browser history and email inbox was filled with allegedly incriminating conversations with other alleged gang members. The inmate - CHS - had even called Craigslist sellers direct from his cell. 'The browser history on the phone showed the user had been looking at Craigslist sales ads all throughout the country,' Agent Healy wrote in his search warrant affidavit. 'Text messages linked the imprisoned co-conspirator to other identified co-conspirators.' Stolen: A Rolex Pearlmaster, left, and Presidential watch, similar to the ones pictured, were taken . When agents questioned CHS in December he agreed to cooperate after hearing that his son had been implicated by other gang members who had already been arrested. Through questioning the FBI was able to monitor Michael Anthony Martin, one of the last remaining members of the gang. Martin allegedly often arranged the limo rides, often from Avis, to collect potent victims and would either hire an unsuspecting driver or use an accomplice. In December he is accused of providing a limo during what was a FBI sting. An agent, posing as a potential seller, was picked up by a car allegedly provided by Martin. The sting was called off when the agent realized the woman driver was one of Martin's accomplices. After the sting was aborted, Martin called police, saying he needed to know where the limo was because he did not want to accrue extra rental fees, according to documents seen by the Sacramento Bee. Luxury sting: The gang targeted people selling valuable items such as Cartier watches . Martin was arrested last month after the FBI listened in on calls between him and CHS. Over the course of several conversations, Martin allegedly implicated himself in several robberies, including the violent attack on the man selling the diamond. Martin allegedly told CHS he had been nervous since the arrest of three gang members in June. According to an affidavit, he 'looked out the window every morning at 5am, had a bag packed, an escape route, and a motorcycle without a tag'. Shortly afterwards, he was arrested at his Tracy, California home. Police found a pistol there which, because of a previous robbery conviction, he was not allowed to own. Neighbors of 40-year-old Martin, who lived at the home with his wife and two young children, spoke of their shock at seeing federal agents dressed in fatigues and driving an armored car, searching his home. Buddy Kirn told CBS Sacramento: 'It’s not every day you get the FBI busting down the house. They had percussion grenades.' According to Agent Healy, CHS offered to help, stating 'that he is hopeful they will give a better deal to his son' if he ends up facing prosecution.
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Gang 'paid for flights and limo for jewel sellers who would then be driven to remote location and robbed'
FBI began investigating after witnessing attempted robbery while on another stakeout .
Cellphone records led them to California inmate accused of finding potential victims online .
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0fc40f2c1c962a73f02a32f7eceef673f0c291f1
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(CNN) -- Google Places is gone, replaced by a new feature that combines its Google Plus social site and renowned restaurant reviewers Zagat. Announced Wednesday, Google Plus Local is the latest push by Google to incorporate its networking site into more of its other products, with the goal of creating a single, seamless Web experience. Plus Local is designed to let users discover and share information about local restaurants, shops and other sites. "Finding the best places to go is an essential part of our lives, as are the people and resources that help us make those decisions," Google product manager Avni Shah wrote on the company's official blog. "In fact, the opinions of friends, family or other trusted sources are often the first we seek when looking for the perfect restaurant for date night or the cafe that makes the best latte ever." A new "Local" tab on the side of a Google Plus page lets users click and search. Results will include reviews from Zagat, which Google bought in September, as well as ratings and comments from friends. The results also will appear when Google users search for a local site using Google search or Google Maps. Companies listed on the less-social Google Places can be converted over to Google Plus. According to the blog Search Engine Land, roughly 80 million businesses' pages already had been converted Wednesday morning. Google Plus reports being up to about 100 million users since opening to the public in September. That's a far cry from Facebook's roughly 900 million accounts. Some in the tech world were saying Wednesday that Google Plus Local might be a way to begin catching up. "What Google still lacks in Google+ is a way of getting different businesses' networks to interact with each other -- meaning, Facebook may have its own Facebook Places, but it also has a range of apps from others, like Gogobot and more, that enhance that experience," wrote Ingrid Lunden of TechCrunch. "Google is still largely relying on its own data to get the job done. That could make the experience more cohesive, or (the problem Google+ has been having up to now) a little too quiet."
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Google Plus Local will replace Google Places for local recommendations .
The tool incorporates reviews from Zagat as well as from users' friends .
Google is working to incorporate Google+ with its other products .
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0fc46b2a35d3d1ab1746352397905da43f80f20b
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By . Rob Waugh . Updated: . 10:35 EST, 20 January 2012 . Windows Phone will become the number two smartphone operating system in the world by 2015, predict analysts iSuppli. The analysts say that Android will remain the top operating system - as it is now - but Windows Phone will steadily rise until it overtakes iOS, the operating system used in Apple's iPhones and iPads. The key to the revival will be Nokia - and in particular its U.S.-focused Lumia 900 handset, which launched at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Nokia's Lumia 900: A leaked video shows off hi-tech new features coming to Windows Phones, including the ability to share apps with Windows . So far, Windows Phone has remained niche, despite fan and reviewer enthusiasm for the operating system. Last year, Windows Phone accounted for just two per cent of the smartphone market. By 2015, that figure will be 16.7 per cent, says iSuppli. The analysts say that Nokia's recent adoption of Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system will be key to the operating system's dominance. Analyst Wayne Lam says that the new Lumia 900 phone, a high-end smartphone recently unveiled by Nokia, will be the start of Windows Phone's revival - and will help Nokia regain the market share it has lost to Android devices and iPhones. IHS iSuppli's projection shows Android remaining in the lead, but Windows Phone rising to a narrow lead over iOS by 2015 . The update to Windows Phone will add compatibility for a range of new screen sizes, plus a 'digital wallet' function that will let users tap phones against shop counters to pay for shopping . 'One of the hottest new products . unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show was the Lumia 900, a Windows . Phone-based smartphone sporting a flashy set of features that makes it . competitive with the best alternatives offered by the Android camp,' said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. 'This . hot product represents Nokia’s first step to reclaim its market share. Combined with Nokia’s efforts to drive the development of the Windows . Phone ecosystem, the Lumia 900 and its successors will help Microsoft to . reclaim its No. 2 ranking in smartphone operating system market share . in 2015.' Nokia's focus on the American market will be key to its revival, says IHS. 'The introduction of the Lumia 900 shows that Nokia believes the road back to smartphone dominance runs through North America,' said Francis Sideco, senior principal analyst for consumer and communications at IHS. The Lumia 900 was developed with North American market dynamics and smartphone users in mind, with the product having been designed in and launched first in the region - a departure for the Finnish company.
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Revival driven by Nokia's Lumia handsets .
Will take second place from Apple's iPhone .
Android will remain world's top operating system .
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0fc698e99714687aeedb19e3968017157348e394
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(CNN) -- In the early hours of New Year's Eve in a small town in Michigan, two boys apparently got a rambunctious idea for some late night fun. When it was over, one of them was dead, authorities said. Brandon Burr and Adrian Chiquito sneaked out of the house early Tuesday in Niles, Michigan, and into Burr's grandfather's car, WOOD reported. The family was unaware of the boys' joy ride until Cass County sheriff's deputies came knocking at the door. When they asked Adrian's father, Kevin Waldrop, and his wife, Jalaine, if they knew that the car was missing from their garage, they were shocked, and Jalaine Waldrop ran into the boys' bedroom. They had not heard the boys leave, they told WOOD. They thought they were upstairs playing video games. Brandon and Adrian shared a room like brothers, because their families lived together under the same roof. "The kids were gone, and the blankets were stuffed with pillows, and she just knew," Kevin Waldrop told WOOD. "They took the car while we were sleeping." The crash had split the car nearly in two. Brandon, 14, was at the wheel and was injured, Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. said. The teen was speeding on roads slick from winter weather, lost control and ran into a tree, authorities said. He was taken to a hospital, where his condition was improving. Adrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, police said. He was 12.
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Two boys, 12 and 14, had an idea for late-night fun; it ended in tragedy .
They sneaked out of the house and made away with a family car .
Sheriff's deputies came knocking to question parents after the car hit a tree .
The 12-year-old passenger was killed; the older boy, who was driving, was injured .
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0fca9cb001fd2f60ff7bacb76b3db287366b1cd1
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(Mashable) -- According to documents leaked to Boy Genius Report, AppleCare representatives are being given a strong company line to deliver to unhappy iPhone 4 owners who complain about reception issues. Employees are told to say that the device's reception performance "is the best we have ever shipped" and that its critical antenna flaws are "a fact of life in the wireless world." They are told not to perform service on iPhones with these problems and instead to give customers a PR-driven recitative instead. These statements are dead ringers for CEO Steve Jobs' own assertions that the iPhone 4 antenna and reception issues do not, in fact, exist. "There is no reception issue," he told one user. But the very fact that this document exists suggests that Apple execs know there is indeed a widespread hardware flaw, even if they're unwilling to address it publicly at this time. After users complained about iPhone 4 reception problems, Apple released a written statement last week saying, "Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas." An Apple spokesperson said Monday the company would have no further statements on the subject. Apple did not immediately respond Thursday to an e-mail seeking comment on the leaked documents. Outside the reality distortion field, on the other hand, Mashable and many other sites have been able to duplicate the issue being discussed: When held by its sides, which are composed of a metal antenna band, the phone's reception quality drops dramatically. iPhone owners in our newsroom have seen reception decrease from five to two bars simply from holding the phone with two points of contact between the owner's hand and the antenna band. One law firm is even preparing for a class-action lawsuit against Apple and is soliciting iPhone 4 customers to contact them about reception issues. Also, while some folks have reported that using a bumper case prevents contact with the antenna band and preserves reception quality, AppleCare reps are being told to not give bumper cases to disgruntled users. Here's the full text of the document as reported: . 1. Keep all of the positioning statements in the BN handy -- your tone when delivering this information is important. a. The iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. Our testing shows that iPhone 4's overall antenna performance is better than iPhone 3GS. b. Gripping almost any mobile phone in certain places will reduce its reception. This is true of the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS, and many other phones we have tested. It is a fact of life in the wireless world. c. If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 3GS, avoid covering the bottom-right side with your hand. d. If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 4, avoid covering the black strip in the lower-left corner of the metal band. e. The use of a case or Bumper that is made out of rubber or plastic may improve wireless performance by keeping your hand from directly covering these areas. 2. Do not perform warranty service. Use the positioning above for any customer questions or concerns. 3. Don't forget YOU STILL NEED to probe and troubleshoot. If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held) it is not the metal band. 4. ONLY escalate if the issue exists when the phone is not held AND you cannot resolve it. 5. We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers -- DON'T promise a free bumper to customers. © 2013 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.
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AppleCare reps are told not to perform service on iPhone 4s with reception problems .
They are instructed to instead give customers a PR-driven recitative .
The document's existence suggests Apple knows there is a widespread hardware flaw .
One law firm is seeking clients for a possible class-action lawsuit against Apple .
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0fcb2f2af079e52577164daf9aef5cded6f0a069
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Steven Gerrard was confirmed as an LA Galaxy player on Wednesday, but supporters of the MLS club will have to wait until July to see him with the shirt. LA Galaxy announced the signing of the former England international before Gerrard gave an interview to Galaxy TV where he insisted he wasn't joining the California-based club for a holiday. ‘Football is my life and will continue to be for a couple of years,’ said Gerrard. ‘I’m not going over there for a holiday or to enjoy myself. 'I’m going over there to win, and if I win and play well, then my life becomes more enjoyable. Sportsmail’s mock-up of how Steven Gerrard could look in the colours of LA Galaxy . Gerrard discusses his future move in a video interview with LA Galaxy . The Liverpool captain insists he has not moved to the MLS for a 'holiday' but to continue winning medals . MLS Cup Winners (5): 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014 . MLS Supporters' Shield Winners (4): 1998, 2002, 2010, 2011 . MLS Western Conference Winners (Playoffs) (9): 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 . Winners (Regular Season) (8): 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011 . What Gerrard could look like for LA Galaxy in MLS in our mocked-up picture . ‘I still feel like a player. I still feel like I can perform for a number of years, so I want to go to a club with a winning mentality — a team that is used to winning but also a team that’s got people that want to win in the future. ‘Having spoken to the manager Bruce Arena and also the people above him, they’re very aggressive and they want success. ‘That’s what I want. That’s how I want to finish my career, so they are the reasons I chose LA Galaxy. Their pursuing me was very aggressive. They basically told me what I wanted to hear. I hope I can go there and play my part and contribute to help bring more silverware to this team.’ Gerrard remain a Liverpool player for the next six months and the midfielder stopped short of posing for photos holding Galaxy's shirt, presumably out of respect for the Reds supporters. Galaxy fans will have to wait until Gerrard makes the move to Los Angeles in the summer to see their new hero donning the white strip, where he will undoubtedly be officially presented to supporters amid much fanfare. The Reds icon admitted that he was a 'Scouser through and through' and would have to adapt to new lifestyle . Gerrard has guaranteed LA Galaxy supporters that they can expect 100 per cent commitment . Gerrard assured Liverpool fans that his departure will not spell the end of his relationship with the club . My next team is going to be La Galaxy. I'm really excited for a new challenge in my life - that's the team I will join at the end of the season. Their pursuing me was very aggressive. The talks Ive had with them are very positive, they basically told me what I wanted to hear. They told me about the winning mentality of the club, their aims and what their goals are for the future and it basically suits me at this stage of my career so I will be hopefully going over there to win some medals and finish my career over there. There's obviously a bonus of where the LA Galaxy are locateed as well. That will be nice for my family to come out of our comfort zone and try something different. It's really exciting both on and off the pitch but the most important thing is that I go there and it's a success on the pitch and then hopefully I can enjoy it off the pitch as well. The big challenge is going to be settling in, I've lived in Liverpool all my life. I'm a Scouser through and through. I love my City. I love my roots. But, you only get one life, it's important to try different things and experiences and it's also a big thing for my children too - to take them out of their comfort zone and give them experiences that will hopefully help them develop as humans as well. It's perfect timing for this new challenge. I'm really excited and looking forward to it, but I've still got a few things that I've got to try and achieve before I go so my focus is on that. There will be plenty of time to get excited at the end of the season about the new move. It's the right time for a new challenge, a fresh challenge at this point of my life and an exciting one too. I'm going to be moving to the most successful team in the US. I've watched a lot of their games and I also know a few of the players that have been there and sampled it and I've heard great things about it so for this stage of my career I believe the timing is right to move on. I still feel like a player, I still feel like I can perform for a number of years so I want to go to a club with a winning mentality - a team that is used to winning but also a team that's got people within there that want to win in the future. I know the players have got a winning mentality, they've proved it over a number of years. Having spoken to the manager, Bruce Arena, and also the people above him - they're very aggressive and they want success and that's what I want. That's how I want to finish my career so they are the reasons that I chose LA Galaxy. I'd like to think I've got the same attitude as the people that have tried to make this signing happen - the manager, the CEO and the owner - they all seem to me to be like winners and that is how I see myself. I'm very professional and go about my work to a good standard on a daily basis. I like to try and find consistency. I hope I can go there and play my part and contribute to help bring more silverware to this team. What I can guarantee is that I will go there and work hard and I will make sacrifices and be dedicated to perform at a consistent level and hopefully play my part in success for this team. Football is my life and will continue to be for a couple of years. I'm not going over here for a holiday or to enjoy myself. I am going over here to win and if I win and play well then my life becomes more enjoyable. My message to Liverpool fans, I owe them a lot. It's been a privilege to play for them and represent them for all these years and I will continue to do that until the end of the season and I can promise them I will give everything I have got within to try and bring success this season. And hopefully come back - that's the message, my relationship with Liverpool doesn't end in the summer. In fact it will never end. For the new team I am going to, I will come over there with the same attitude which 110 per cent every day - be professional, makes sacrifices and try and contribute. I like to think I'm a team player and I will play my part to try and help the team.
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Steven Gerrard gave his first interview for LA Galaxy on Wednesday .
The MLS club confirmed the signing of the midfielder earlier that day .
Liverpool icon Gerrard did not pose with the Galaxy shirt .
Fans will have to wait until July to see him donning the white strip .
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By . Jane Fryer . The view from Tim and Sheila Wilmot’s bedroom window is, frankly, rather astonishing. Palm trees as high as houses sway in the breeze, 15ft banana trees stand firm, Chinese windmill palms droop with huge clusters of green and purple seeds. There are enormous spiky agave plants, money trees the size of small bears, a 5ft bird of paradise. Scroll down for video . Jeepers creepers! Tim Wilmot, centre, is pictured surrounded by the exotic blooms of his garden in a suburb of Bristol - the product of decades' hard work . The air is sweet and hot and damp. You can hear water tinkling in the distance. All that’s missing is a troop of screaming monkeys swinging from liana to liana and a venomous snake or two. Vast ferns rustle in the shade - is that a tiger breaking cover? No, of course not. Don’t be so silly. Because Tim, 56, and Sheila, 60, don’t actually live anywhere near the Amazon rainforest, deep in the Congo or even in a particularly tropical spot of the Mediterranean. Home is a modern detached house in the sprawling commuter village of Yate, on the outskirts of Bristol, 50 yards from a thundering bypass. Neighbouring gardens boast neatly clipped lawns, conservatories, rose beds and nylon washing lines. But Tim, who runs his own software company, prefers things a bit more tropical. ‘I don’t know why. It’s a good question. I’ve never lived in the tropics. I’ve never lived abroad. I wasn’t even particularly interested in gardening when I was growing up,’ he says. Ready for action: Tim poses above with a pair of garden shears. He spends hours every day tending to his array of plants, which hail from all over the world . Could you guess? From the front Tim Wilmot's home in Yate, not far from Bristol and yards from a thundering bypass - looks like any other home . ‘But 20 or 30 years ago we’d go on summer holidays and I’d spend all my time looking at jelly palms and Canary Island palms and think: “Wow! I’d love one of those in my garden. One day...” ’ The Wilmot family moved in when son Max, now 25, was still a baby, Toby, now 21, wasn’t even a glint in the eye and the garden was, well, just as you’d expect a suburban garden to be. Nice big patio, beech hedge, leylandii, apple trees, decent stretch of grass, a bright orange Ronsealed fence, ornamental pagoda and not a banana tree or shrieking chimpanzee in sight. ‘It was fine for a bit. But no one else in the family is into gardening, so I just sort of started doing my own thing. I didn’t ask permission,’ says Tim. He is a self-taught amateur gardener. But, bit by bit, with the help of gardening books, information from the internet and trial and error, he transformed this quarter of an acre into looking like a painting by Henri Rousseau. Down came the beech hedge and the apple trees and the pagoda. The leylandii were ripped up and replaced with a bamboo plantation. In went jelly palms from South America, banana trees, ferns, ornamental cacti, yuccas, succulents, gunneras (which looks a bit like monster prehistoric spiky rhubarb) and rice paper plants. ‘I had a few tropical plants in our last garden, but they were all in pots and just waiting to be let loose.’ Once unleashed, they must have gone mad. Because today everything is massive, enormous, jungle-sized. The banana leaves are like sails. The foliage of the gunnera measures six foot across. The rice paper plant leaves are the size of coffee tables. Hours' work: Tim spends more than two hours every day watering his garden during dry spells - and has luckily never been hit by a hose-pipe ban . Despite his modesty, maintaining a jungle garden on the outskirts of Bristol isn’t simply a combination of gentle pruning and swinging like Tarzan through the foliage. ‘It’d be easier in London or down in the South-West - we’re in a frost pocket here.’ So during winter, Tim spends hours hunched over his own weather station checking for cold snaps and high winds, erecting vast home-made polytunnels made of curved drainpipes and polythene over his prized agaves (from sunny Mexico) and lovingly wrapping his tender palms and bananas in horticultural fleece. ‘I get very twitchy when it’s cold. I’ll be out there at three in the morning in my dressing gown, putting extra layers of fleece on.’ He also spreads ten bales of straw round the bases of the banana plants, builds plant shelters and decants the pot plants into a purpose-built greenhouse. This sounds a breeze, until you remember that many are 10ft and weigh half-a-ton each. ‘It takes three days with the help of Max to get them all in. They hate the cold, so I have a fan heater going to keep the temperature above three or four degrees.’ Humble roots: Mr Wilmot's gardening ambitions began with a few humble palm trees, but became more audacious over time . Then, come spring, he has to reverse the whole process, hoping and praying no lasting damage has been done. ‘It’s only in the spring you can tell if the palm trees are OK. They’re still green, but the central spear will go mushy and collapse. It’s very sad. ‘I have vision of how it should all look and then I end up with a blank spot in the garden. I’m very critical and I want everything to be perfect.’ Does Sheila get irritated, what with him buzzing in and out all night in his pyjamas, fussing over the palms? ‘Yes. I tend to get a bit engrossed and everything I do in the garden takes twice as long as I tell her it will. ‘But I think she minds more in the summer, when we could be going out for the evening and I’m busy watering.’ And watering, and watering. During a dry spell, he’ll spend at least two hours a night watering. ‘You could put a hose-pipe on a banana all day and they’d lap it up. They could live in water.’ Perfectionist: Tim admits to spending hours more than planed in his garden - and has reached the point where it is so full there is no extra room unless something dies . Happily, the Wilmots’ house was built in 1988, just before water meters were introduced. But what about hose-pipe bans? ‘We’ve never had a hose-pipe ban here, only a sprinkler ban. But I’ve got a well and a pump for emergencies.’ Over the years, there have been disasters - ‘I’ve had terrible losses with my tender palms’ - and triumphs. ‘It’s a very big moment when one of the banana trees produces a banana - you can’t eat them, of course. They’re small and there’s no flesh in them. But the flower! Ah, it’s a Triffid-like flower. It’s very exciting.’ Tim’s garden has won endless prizes, been featured in magazines and BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and is open to the public every year as part of the National Gardens Scheme (the next open day is Sunday, September 14). And today, finally, after 25 years of hard work, it is finished. ‘It’s done, it’s full. To be honest, it’s a bit of a relief. I can’t fit anything else in, so it’s a one-in-one-out system when something dies.’ And, rude question, but what about the cost of it all? Extensive: Much of the garden, pictured in the height of summer, is packed away in colder months . Exotic: The puya plant, pictured, originally comes from the mountainous Andres, but can survive in Bristol . Vibrant: Mr WIlmot's plants, such as this golden bamboo, are usually found thousands of miles away . ‘People always go on and on about the money, but I don’t think it’s that much - £10,000 altogether. You could spend that on a golf club subscription. It’s a hobby and it’s exercise, so it’s good value for money. And all my family get to enjoy it, too. We even had the sitting room windows made bigger so we could all see it better.’ But what if they ever move? ‘I’ll have to leave the plants behind. Maybe I’d donate some to Kew Gardens for their hot house.’ The garden would not appeal to everyone. Today there’s just teeny scrap of lawn left. Barely space for a washing line. The tropical plants dominates totally and utterly. But it is magnificent. The views from the house are extraordinary. Sit on their sofa and it really feels as if you’re in a jungle. The only thing missing is colour. ‘There’s loads of colour! It’s all colour!’ he says, outraged. But it’s all green. What about flowers? A rose or two or clematis? Tim shudders. ‘I see no attraction in roses or clematis. None whatsoever. They get diseases, they need lots of attention and everyone else is growing them. What’s the point?’ And what about the neighbours? ‘They don’t seem to be that into gardening. But I have noticed the odd bamboo springing up. And more palm trees. ‘Maybe it’ll catch on and in 30 years this whole area will be one big jungle.’
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Tim Wilmot, a software developer from Yate, near Bristol, has been working on his lush paradise for 25 years .
Behind regular-looking suburban home is a veritable jungle of palms, ferns and exotic plants from around the world .
Maintaining the dense network of shrubs, trees and plants is a labour of love which takes hours each day .
Whether guarding against deadly frosts in winter or endlessly watering in summer, Tim is always tending the plants .
He estimates the entire project - which has won stacks of awards - has cost as much as £10,000 over the years .
Well-travelled plants can still thrive in British weather - and Tim has even grown banana fruit (though it's not edible)
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(CNN) -- A Somali militant group publicly executed two teenage girls Wednesday after accusing them of being spies for the Somali government, according to the group, eyewitnesses and a relative of one of the girls. "Those two girls were evil and they were spies for the enemy (the Somali government), but the mujahedeen caught them and after investigation, they admitted their crime, so they have been executed," said Sheikh Yusuf Ali Ugas, commander of Al-Shabaab in Beledweyne, a town in central Somalia. The teens were blindfolded with their hands behind their backs against a tree, and shot, according to a local journalist. A resident of Beledweyne told CNN that Al-Shabaab called on the town's residents to come out and watch the execution. "Hundreds of people came out to watch the execution," he said. "It was very bad ... the girls looked shocked and were crying but [no one] could help." A relative of one of the teens denied they were spies. "My cousin, Ayan Mohamed Jama, was just 16 years old and she was absolutely innocent," said the relative, who did not want their name used out of fear of retribution from Al-Shabaab. "And Al-Shabaab caught her and the other girl between El-gal and Beledweyne and simply accused them of what they were not." The other girl, said the relative, was 15. Al-Shabaab refused their families' request to see the teens while they were in detention, "and they executed them at a public gathering, so this is inhumane and cruelty." The El-gal area has been the scene of heavy fighting recently between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab. "Ayan didn't have any contact with the government and even in her life, she never had a mobile [phone] so we can't understand how she could be accused of being a spy," the relative said. Last year, Al-Shabaab stoned a teenage girl to death in Kismayo, a town in southern Somalia. Al-Shabaab is waging a war against Somalia's government in an effort to impose a stricter form of Islamic law, or sharia. Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991, and fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated the humanitarian crisis in the famine-ravaged country.
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"Those two girls were evil," says an Al-Shabaab commander .
One man says the group called on residents to witness the execution .
A relative of one girl denies the two were spies .
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(CNN) -- Emergency crews called off a search in Texas for the wreckage of a C-17 transport plane after reports Monday of a possible crash proved unfounded. Callers to the Olney Police Department said they saw a low-flying plane, and a spokesman for Sheppard AFB initially reported a crash, but then retracted the report. Air Force officials said an Air Force C-17 had been flying at low altitude near Olney, but the plane returned safely to Altus Air Force Base in southwest Oklahoma. CNN's Mike Mount and Adam Levine contributed to this story.
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Emergency crews call off search for C-17 transport plane .
Initial Air Force reports of a crash were incorrect, Air Force spokesman says .
Police reported that callers said a plane was flying low to ground, then crashed .
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There are no brutal climbs, terrifying descents or ferocious man-eating beasts, but walking London's Thames Path has been named one of the world's greatest escapades. The capital's section of the trail that runs from its source in the Cotswolds almost to the North Sea came second in Lonely Planet's top 10 'city hikes'. The 29-mile section of Thames Path from Kingston . eastwards to Greenwich is described in the book as 'a London highlights . reel, passing Kew Gardens, Battersea Park and power station, . Westminster and Big Ben, the Millennium Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and so . on'. Scroll down for video . An ultimate adventure: The Thames Path between Kingston and Greenwich, pictured looking towards Richmond Bridge, has come second in a Lonely Planet list of the world's best city hikes . A world away from London: Cyclists ride along a peaceful section of the Thames Path near Kew . It adds: 'Expect . surprising contrasts: the leafy emptiness of the riverbank through . Richmond and Kew against the chaos of the Southbank, where the entire . world seems to come to meet.' It features in a new Lonely Planet guide book of 1,000 ultimate adventures, which consists of 100 'top 10' lists, showcasing 'the world's most daring, exciting and breathtaking experiences'. The walk was second out of the top 10 'city hikes' behind Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was followed by the Great Coastal Walk in Sydney in third place, the Hoerikwaggo Trail in Cape Town, the Berlin Wall trail, the Seawall in Vancouver, the South Mountain Park in Phoenix and the Coast to Coast walk in Auckland. Starting point: Hampton Court Palace near Kingston Upon Thames is one of the main tourists spots along the route . A quiet corner of London: The section of the path near Richmond, pictured, is described as being leafy and quiet in sharp contrast to the bustling chaos of the Southbank . Runner-up: The Thames path footpath, pictured near Richmond, London, came second behind the Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil . The list also included Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh in ninth place followed by the Hong Kong trail in tenth place. Arthur's Seat, a volcanic outcrop overlooking to Scottish capital, was praised for its views of the city landscape. Scotland as a whole was also named as one of the best destinations in the world for adventure travel, as it featured in 20 of the 100 top 10 lists. The country was praised for its treks, mountains and festivals, 'making it one of the best destinations for active travellers and adrenaline junkies'. Looking towards the Thames Barrier, the world's second-largest movable flood barrier, on the southern banks of the Thames on the Thames Path . Award-winning route: The 29-mile section of the Thames Path between Kingston Upon Thames and Greenwich is described as a 'London's highlights reel' Number one: The statue of Christ the Redeemer towers over the 8,150 acre Tijuca National Park, in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil, which came top of the list for the world's best city walks . The world's best city hikes according to Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures: . 1 Tijuca Forest, Rio de Janeiro . 2 Thames Path, London . 3 Great Coastal Walk, Sydney . 4 Hoerikwaggo Trail, Cape Town . 5 Berlin Wall Trail, Berlin . 6 Seawall, Vancouver . 7 South Mountain Park, Phoenix . 8 Coast to Coast Walk, Auckland . 9 Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh . 10 Hong Kong Trail, Hong Kong .
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Section of the Thames Path from Kingston .
eastwards to Greenwich came second in Lonely Planet's top 10 'city hikes'
Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, claimed the number one spot .
Other walks to make the list included the Hoerikwaggo Trail in Cape Town and the Coast to Coast walk in Auckland .
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It used to be as simple as folding a piece of paper up your sleeve or writing on the inside of your wrist. But now, as students across the world ready themselves for exam season, cheating is going high tech. With smartwatches, smartpens and Google glasses now on the market, the modern pupil has an array of gadgets to trick the sharpest pair of eyes. Educators now need to spot -- not just keep up with -- the latest tech inventions. "I do think wearable technology is going to be an issue," Larry Rosen, psychology professor at California State University, told CNN. The Educational Testing Service, or ETS, is likely to be "grappling with this for the SAT, GRE and other standardized exams that they administer," he said. There are "unanticipated consequences" of rules that lag behind technology, Rosen added. Governments are starting to respond to the high-tech threat, according to the UK Department For Education. Schools are expected to take "appropriate action" on cheating, it said in a statement, and report the incident to the exam boards. The invisible threat . But some devices are near impossible to see -- such as the so-called "invisible" Bluetooth earpieces. They work with a tiny microphone, which is synced to a Bluetooth cell phone. They can enable questions, whispered from exam rooms, to be answered from someone outside the room. Taylor Ellis, associate dean at the University of Central Florida, heads its testing center and is familiar with the tactic. Examiners are trained to look for suspicious behavior and "if we observe a student waving their pen in front of the computer, or if I see them waving their wrist close to it, these are all signs that they're probably taking a photo of the screen," Ellis said. "That's when we intervene." The center is equipped with cameras so, once the exam is over, Ellis can review the footage to pick up any suspect activity he may have missed. "I tell my staff we can't stop cheating, but I will find out about it." China shows way to future . China has been at the forefront of the tech cheating crackdown. Its schools and universities have been using technology to combat high-tech cheating for over a year. Among other anti-cheating tactics, staff members monitor radio signals and check students with scanners. Such advanced technology could, some argue, make teachers redundant. "It's hard to find a teacher who's up on what's happening in the tech world," digital media consultant Shelly Palmer said. "They don't know about the latest wearable technology, you only see that in medical schools or in a research lab." Palmer told CNN a complete overhaul of the education system was needed. Factoids and long division is a wasted skill in today's society because in the future, a child will never be without a computer, he said. "There was a time when you had to build a house and you needed the tools to do that, but most of us no longer translate mechanical energy into wealth, we don't plough the fields," Palmer added. Palmer said children would be better served by learning with such high-tech tools, rather than being separated from them. These days, it's "intellectual property" that is translated into wealth, he said. Read more: Keep kids from cheating in schoolRead more: South Korea cheating scandal hits university bidsRead more: Allegations of widespread .
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High-tech gadgets can be used by students to cheat in exams .
Examiners are trained to look for leads and hidden electronic equipment .
Some devices cannot be spotted, such as "invisible" Bluetooth earpieces .
Teachers could become redundant, some argue, because of technology .
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Covered in 'fish scales', Nusrit Shaheen lives each day in agonising pain, the oldest survivor of a rare skin disease. For the 30-year-old, each day is a battle. But she refuses to let her condition get in the way of living her life, playing sport and studying - determined to be a role model for children affected. She suffers Harlequin Ichthyosis - an extremely rare genetic disorder which causes the skin to grow seven times faster than normal. Scroll down for video . Nusrit Shaheen, 30, suffers Harlequin Ichthyosis, an extremely rare genetic disorder which affects around five babies a year in the UK. She is pictured with her nephew Hassan . The extremely rare genetic disorder causes the skin to appear tight the development of thick plates of hard scales that resemble armour plating. The skin splits at several areas causing deep cracks. And a sufferer's face looks stretched with turned out lips and eyelids, and the ears, hands and feet may be hidden by scales . The skin appears tight, with thick plates of hard scales resembling armour plating or the harlequin suit of a jester. The skin splits at several areas causing deep cracks. And a sufferer's face looks stretched with turned out lips and eyelids, and the ears, hands and feet may be hidden by scales. Four of Miss Shaheen's siblings died from the disease at birth. And at 30 years old, she is thought to be Britain's oldest survivor. Last year she was hospitalised with a bacterial infection and prescribed antibiotics, which caused all her toenails to fall off. And with the return of the cold weather, Miss Shaheen faces being confined to a wheelchair, as her skin stiffens up and cracks, restricting her ability to move. 'I've been in good health recently,' she said. 'It has its ups and downs. Harlequin Ichthyosis is extremeley rare, and comes out of the blue. The parents of an affected baby are carriers and will have a one in four risk of any baby being affected. The condition causes the skin to grow seven times faster than normal. The skin appears tight, with thick plates of hard scales resembling armour plating or the harlequin suit of a jester. The skin splits at several areas causing deep cracks. And a sufferer's face looks stretched with turned out lips and eyelids, and the ears, hands and feet may be hidden by scales. The extra skin needs to be removed constantly and ointment is also applied four or five times-a-day. Children who survive will need ongoing intensive skin treatment with creams and courses of retinoid medicine and many require physiotherapy and counselling. Source: The Ichthyosis Support Group . 'The cold weather really affects the condition so I'm braced for winter. 'My skin stiffens up when it's freezing so it can be really painful and tough to move.' Miss Shaheen, from Coventry, said she hopes she can be an example and inspiration to others who live in pain every day. Babies born with Harlequin Icthyosis have diamond-shaped scales that can cause problems with the respiratory system and restrict their movement. The cracks that appear in the skin can lead to dangerous infections, leaving sufferers bed-bound or hospitalised for weeks at a time. The condition, caused by a mutated gene carried by her parents, makes skin grow seven times faster than normal. The extra skin needs to be removed constantly and ointment is also applied four or five times-a-day. Miss Shaheen uses the moisturiser Hydromol and goes through three tubs of the over-the-counter cream every week. She said: 'It's strange. It's exciting to be the oldest person to survive with this condition but at the same time a little bit scary. Four of Miss Shaheen's siblings died from the disease at birth. And at 30 years old (pictured when she was younger) she is thought to be Britain's oldest survivor of the disease . The condition, caused by a mutated gene carried by her parents, makes skin grow seven times faster than normal. The extra skin needs to be removed constantly and ointment is also applied four or five times-a-day . 'I really want to show to young kids with this condition that you can grow up to a good age and you can do everything that you want to do in life. 'Just because you are born with this, it doesn't mean that it has to affect what you do with your life. 'Whenever I walk down the street, people stare, will make comments or they will laugh with their friends. 'I'm not bothered anymore. I have had to put up with this all my life so I've become used to it now. 'I usually ignore it, but if it gets to me then I'll say something or pull a face. That works.' Miss Shaheen is in the final year of her level three sports diploma at Hereward College in Coventry and hopes to pass her driving test soon. Despite her condition, the brave Coventry City and Manchester United supporter is not put off playing sport and loves athletics and football. She keeps in contact with other sufferers of the ultra-rare condition that affects just 14 people in the UK using Facebook and via the Ichthyosis Support Group. She has also appeared on ITV's This Morning and Channel 4 documentary 'Beauty and the Beast: The Ugly Face of Prejudice'. Miss Shaheen added: 'It's hard for some people to understand my condition without seeing the effects for themselves. 'Not everyone understands. I always think that if you have a visual example then it is much better.' For more information visit SHHiRT - a charity dedicated to the condition. Miss Shaheen (as a child) said: 'I really want to show to young kids with this condition that you can grow up to a good age and you can do everything that you want to do in life'
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Nusrit Shaheen suffers Harlequin Ichthyosis - a very rare skin disorder .
It causes the skin to grow seven times faster than normal .
It appears tight and splits causing deep cracks which can become infected .
Four of the 30-year-old's siblings died at birth from the disease .
She refuses to let her condition hold her back, and aims to be a role model for children born with the disorder and others who live each day in pain .
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By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 10:51 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:05 EST, 10 May 2013 . A bitter husband posted pictures of his estranged wife on an adult website with a message declaring she would 'do anything for £40'. Michael Anderson, 49, posted holiday snaps of his wife Michelle - with whom he has two children - in a bikini on a website called Hot Mums and MILFs. Anderson, who pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment without violence yesterday, added a comment which said his estranged wife of 22 years could 'go to the highest bidder', a court heard. Harassment: Michael Anderson, seen left outside court yesterday, posted holiday pictures of his estranged wife Michelle, right, in a bikini on an adult website . Anderson posted a link to the adult webpage on Facebook after adding the holiday photographs. 'Devastated' Mrs Anderson, 42, called the police when friends called her to tell her what he had done, and her estranged husband was arrested. Anderson was given a three-month community order at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court yesterday, and made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from making contact with his ex. Mrs Anderson said in an interview after the hearing that the former couple, who have two sons, split in October when she learned he had cheated on her with one of her close friends. But Anderson embarked on a campaign of harassment after she left him, Mrs Anderson said. 'He did not take the news well, bombarding me with texts and phone calls and even threatening to kill himself,' she said. 'In January he put the pictures on the Hot Mums and MILFs website and then posted a link to the page on Facebook. 'My friends started texting me and calling me to let me know what he had done. 'I wasn't friends with Michael on Facebook anymore, but my mates sent me the link. 'I was devastated when I saw the pictures and what he had written, it was horrific. 'I was so embarrassed,' said Mrs Anderson, who added that her ex had written that she would 'do anything for £40'. 'There were photos taken of me on holiday and I was wearing a bikini.' Mrs Anderson said the pictures were taken down after she called the police. 'They were online for about three hours altogether, but it was long enough,' said the mother-of-two, who said she wants to 'put him behind me and concentrate on my two children'. At yesterday's court hearing Paul Doney, prosecuting, told the court that the harassment all took place between the beginning of January and early February this year. 'The victim said he had been very controlling,' he said. 'Unpleasant': Anderson is seen with estranged wife Michelle in a photograph taken on a family holiday . 'On January 4 she was in the Chichester Arms in South Shields with one of their sons, who was playing in a poker tournament. 'At one point he went up to their son and said he was going to knock her head off. 'Later that day he turned up at her house and started shouting before trying to open the kitchen window.' Anderson was warned by the police to keep away from his former wife, but later in January he turned up at the house demanding a computer from her that he claimed was his. Mr Doney added: 'She then found out that he had posted holiday photographs of her in a bikini on this site, saying she would do anything for £40 and could go to the highest bidder.' A statement from Mrs Anderson read out in court said he had been making her life 'hell'. It said: 'I was scared of physical and emotional violence and feel like I am being stalked. 'He is making my life hell and he knows it.' Charlton James Carr, defending, said: 'It all happened in the aftermath of Christmas, a particularly emotional time for families. 'But since this happened there have been no more problems and everyone has got back on with their lives.' Magistrates read a report about Anderson from the probation service before sentencing him. Chairman of the bench Gordon Minto said: 'You appear to have a complete lack of acknowledgement that there was anything untoward about your behaviour. 'We don't see any evidence that you understand what you did was wrong - which makes this particularly unpleasant. 'The only saving grace is that this seems to have stopped.' Anderson was given a three-month community order with an electronically-tagged curfew between 7pm and 7am and made the subject of a restraining order. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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Michael Anderson, 49, admitted a charge of harassment without violence .
Posted holiday snaps of estranged wife Michelle wearing a bikini online .
Attached derogatory comments to pictures on Hot Mums and MILFs site .
Father-of-two given a community order and banned from contacting ex .
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Jack Rodwell made his first outing in a Sunderland shirt as late goals from Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham saw the Black Cats win their latest pre-season friendly. With the game goalless and seemingly staying that way, Fletcher broke the deadlock with a typical poacher's goal with 11 minutes remaining. Latching on to a loose ball in the box, the Scotland international made no mistake from close range. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Rodwell joins Sunderland . On the run: Jack Rodwell makes a probing dart into space as Real Betis players back off . On his own: Rodwell, who could cost the club £10m, made his first appearance in a Sunderland shirt . Sunderland: Mannone, Van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Larsson, Rodwell (Cattermole 46), Wickham, Johnson (Fletcher 67), O'Shea (Brown 46), Giaccherini (Gomez 38), Vergini (Mavrias 46), Roberge. Subs not used: Pantilimon. Goals: Fletcher, Wickham. Real Betis: Adan, Molinero, Bruno, Jordi, Xavi, Pacheco, Renella (Molina 72), Perquis, Cedrick, Castro, Alex. Subs not used: Gimenez, Matilla, Carlos, Chuli, Nono, Isaac, Isuardi, Garcia, Caro, Rodriguez, Pedro. Wickham's magnificent strike doubled the lead soon after to give the scoreline a fair reflection of the home side's dominance. It was a stunning effort from the 21-year-old, firing home from 25 yards to give keeper Antonio Adan no chance. Elsewhere, Patrick van Aanholt continued to impress for Sunderland, with new signing Santiago Vergini also making his first appearance for the club. But an injury to Emanuele Giaccherini, who hobbled off just before half-time, will give boss Gus Poyet something to think about. Hobbling off: . Emanuele Giaccerini leaves the pitch after sustaining an injury in the pre-season friendly . No contest: Connor Wickham and Real Betis' Figueras Jordi compete for a high ball at Heritage Park . Sunderland conclude their pre-season on Saturday with a tie against Serie A outfit Udinese. They open their Premier League campaign with a trip to West Brom. VIDEO Rodwell joins Sunderland .
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Rodwell played the first half after completing his £10m move from Manchester City .
Sunderland were dominant throughout yet had to wait for Fletcher to beak the deadlock with 11 minutes to go .
Wickham added a second soon after to give the scoreline a air reflection of the game .
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By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 02:55 EST, 14 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:57 EST, 14 February 2013 . A shopkeeper who fought off two armed robbers said the streets around his inner city Birmingham store were 'more violent' than his native Iraq. Kochar Rasul, 30, made a new life for himself and his family in Britain after fleeing from Kurdistan to escape Saddam Hussein's evil regime. But he was forced to defend himself using a shop sign when two gunmen pounced as he locked up his shop in Handsworth, Birmingham, just before midnight on Monday. Shopkeeper Kochar Rasul fended off armed robbers with a sign. He said the streets around his inner city Birmingham store were 'more violent' than his native Iraq . He told how he grabbed the sign and used it as a shield to fend off the robbers who pistol-whipped him and held a gun to his head. The father-of-two said he was bending down to lock the front door of Nine Wines and Food Store when he was attacked. 'I looked up and two men were standing over me and one had a gun to my head,' said Mr Rasul. 'They started to hit me around the head with the gun but I managed to grab it off them and it fell to the floor.' Mr Rasul said one of the robbers ran over and picked up the gun and walked back to him. 'He was coming towards me and I thought, oh no, he's going to shoot me this time,' he said. 'So I grabbed the nearest thing to hand which was the shop sign from next door. Mr Rasul, 30, made a new life for himself and his family in Britain after fleeing from Kurdistan to escape Saddam Hussein's evil regime . Mr Kochar fended off armed robbers with this sign . 'What else could I do? I had nothing else to use. I've got two kids and a wife and thought, how would they cope without me? 'So I picked up the sign and used it to shield myself and fight them off.' Luckily for the shopkeeper, an armed response police car was passing at the time and officers came to his aid. The robbers escaped with just Mr Rasul's carrier bag containing orange juice, a pizza and a packet of cigarettes. Police arrested a 26-year-old man at gunpoint in a nearby alleyway on suspicion of robbery. A suspected firearm was also seized. The man remained in custody last night, helping police with their inquiries. Mr Rasul came to Britain in 2003 when the Kurds were being persecuted in their native Iraq. 'I thought it would be safe here, but it isn't, it's very dangerous with crime always going on and lots of bad people around,' he said. 'It's more dangerous here than Iraq because at least there, you knew who your enemies are.' Detective Constanble Phil Langstone, from Force CID in Harborne, praised Mr Rasul's courage. 'The victim was very brave in his attempt to fight off the attackers and the fact that armed officers just happened to be passing at that particular moment was a case of being in the right place at the right time,' he said.
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Kochar Rasul, 30, was forced to defend himself using a shop sign .
Two men pounced as he locked up his shop in Handsworth, Birmingham .
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(CNN) -- A whole lot of us are stuck with credit-card debt that goes up each month, mortgages worth more than our homes and student loans that extend into infinity. So it's only natural that we look at the debt crisis from the bottom up: from the perspective of the 99% who are getting screwed. But what if we instead looked at this whole mess from the top down, from the point of view of the 1%: the billionaires and venture capitalists in Mitt Romney's world? Maybe, just maybe, their problem is our problem. In fact, as I have come to see it, short of civilization-ending revolution, solving the debt crisis might actually mean saving the 1%. They have the power and the money, they own our government, and they won't go down without taking everyone and everything else with them. Instead of backing them even further into the corner of fear and defensiveness, we need to help them find a way out. And that means helping them understand how they got there. The debt crisis is not entirely President Bush's or President Obama's fault. It's not even Congress' fault. It actually resulted from a short-term "fix" to the economy made about 700 years ago. See, for pretty much the entire first millennium -- what we call the Middle Ages -- the 00.01%, the feudal lords, enjoyed total control over the land and its people. The 99.99% worked the land and served the lords, who created no value at all. But by around 1100, the Crusades moved a whole lot of people and stuff around Europe. Peasants were exposed to sugar, cotton and all sorts of new weaving and milling technologies for the first time. Former peasant farmers started to get smarter and more productive. They established market days and traded what they grew and made with one another. They invented local currencies to store and exchange value instead of bartering. Local currency then worked very differently from the money we use today. Someone would simply bring grain they harvested to the grain store, and come out with a foil receipt. The receipt could be broken into smaller pieces, which served as money. Since some grain was lost to spoilage, the currency's value went down over time. This meant it had to be spent instead of saved. So the money circulated very rapidly. People got wealthy, invested in upkeep on their windmills, paid one another good wages, and got taller. Little towns got so rich that they built cathedrals. That's how a peer-to-peer economy works. Watch: "Pawning" for rich people . But the aristocrats weren't participating in any of this wealth. Without a dependent peasant class, they had no way to survive. They didn't know how to do anything themselves. They needed a way to make money simply by having money. So they came up with some ways to force new kinds of dependence. Their first trick was to outlaw local currency. If people wanted to trade among themselves, they would have to borrow money from the central treasury, with interest. Wars were fought, blood was spilled, but they got their way. We have all but forgotten that the money we use today is a monopoly currency that costs us more than it's worth. The second great idea was the chartered monopoly: the corporation. It gave just one firm -- one friend of the king -- the authority to do business in a certain industry. The British East India Trading Company, for example, had all rights to cotton in America. A farmer wasn't permitted to sell his cotton to neighbors, or to make it into anything. He had to sell it at fixed prices to the company, which shipped it to England and let some other chartered corporation make mittens and hats, which were then shipped back to America for sale. That's why we fought the Revolution. The problem with this scheme is that it works by stifling innovation and competition. The wealthy stay wealthy by extracting value instead of creating it. The more value they extract, the more laws they write protecting the rights and privileges of the extractors. As companies like General Electric realized, it was better to sell off productive assets and become more like a bank. The system was created for people who have money to make money. The value creators are the chumps. The most surprising victims in this whole saga, however, are the corporations themselves. You think you're scared? Talk to the heads of America's corporations. They have sucked all the money out of the system, and don't know how to create any more. According to Deloitte, asset profitability for American firms has steadily fallen 75% over the last 40 years. In other words, corporations have managed to absorb all the money, but they don't know how to do anything with it. They have no skills, no competencies and no vision. It's not the 99% who need to retrain themselves in order to get jobs. It's the 1% who need to face the fact that their 600-year workaround of the value creation has reached the very endpoint of diminishing returns. They need to consider whether they might actually make more money at this stage of the game by helping people create value instead of actively preventing it. What would that look like? Right now, companies like Google, eBay, Square, Kickstarter and even PayPal and Apple are at least pointed in the right direction. They create and sell tools and services that give people and small businesses the ability to create and exchange value with one another again. They understand that real value creation comes by fostering the peer-to-peer transactions of a bottom-up marketplace rather than simply repressing such activity. But we, the 99%, are the only ones who can show them the way. We need to begin by abandoning the fruitless quest for gainful corporate employment, and instead start working for ourselves and one another. We must stop outsourcing our savings and investments to bankrupt corporations, and instead invest in the people and businesses in our own communities -- however we define those. In doing so, we will very quickly create demand for the kinds of networks, supply chains and services that only larger companies can provide. We will give the 1% an opportunity to re-educate themselves, to find a path to success, and -- for the first time in centuries -- to experience the guilt-free satisfaction of working for a living. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Douglas Rushkoff.
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Douglas Rushkoff says the richest people tend to make money from finance .
He says historically, aristocracy took control from peasants of currency and its value .
Over time, they learned how to extract value and forgot how to create it, he says .
Rushkoff : The 1% could play a key role in new ways of creating value .
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By . Daniel Martin, Whitehall Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 11:09 EST, 27 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:28 EST, 27 February 2013 . Taxpayers face a £2million bill after plans to increase the amount that MPs contribute towards their gold-plated pensions were quietly dropped. The Treasury was expecting a 1.85 per cent rise in contributions to come into play this April – but yesterday the MPs’ expenses watchdog made the surprise announcement that the rise was being suspended. It means the taxpayer will be forced to plough even more money into MPs’ pensions to plug the gap, at a time when millions are having to tighten their belts to fund higher contributions towards their own pensions. MPs were expected to pay 1.85 per cent more into their pensions, but the expenses watchdog IPSA has postponed the increase leaving the Treasury plug the £2million gap . Almost all public sector workers are . facing contribution rises of up to 6 per cent, and for staff in the . private sector contribution rates are also going up. Chancellor George Osborne must now find the extra money to make up the shortfall . Despite this, the Independent . Parliamentary Standards Authority said it will put off any decisions on . members’ contributions until after it has considered the whole issue of . MPs’ pay and pensions in a report expected later this year. The decision means that policemen will be paying more towards their pensions than MPs by 2015. MPs’ pensions arrangements are among . the most generous in the country. They contribute an average of 13.2 per . cent of their £65,738 salaries into the schemes, which pay out after . they reach 65. In contrast, by 2015 policemen will be contributing 13.7 per cent towards their pensions. MPs have to pay into their scheme for . far fewer years than ordinary workers before getting a full pension. And . they benefit from a higher taxpayer contribution to their pensions . than any other group in the public sector – almost 29 per cent compared . with 14 per cent for teachers and nurses. A 1.85 per cent rise in their . contributions was due to start this April but this will no longer happen . following IPSA’s decision yesterday. It is expected that the Treasury will . have to find £2million to plug the gap – at a time when frontline . services are being pared to the bone. Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of . the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘MPs should be subject to the same . pension reforms they’re imposing on the wider public sector. Former pension adviser to the Treasury Ros Altmann said it was 'rather unusual' that MPs¿ contributions were not increasing when voters were feeling the pinch . ‘They say we’re all in it together, so . it’s only fair that politicians contribute more to their hugely . generous pension schemes to help repair our broken public finances.’ Last night Ros Altmann, former pension . adviser to the Treasury, said: ‘At a time when pensions are becoming . more expensive to provide, it is rather unusual that MPs’ contributions . are not increasing when they are everywhere else.’ IPSA said it deferred the rise so the . contribution rate could be considered alongside other aspects as part of . a wholesale review of pay and pensions. A spokesman said: ‘MPs’ pensions . certainly need looking at. And that is why we are in the middle of a . fundamental review looking at both MPs’ pensions and pay.’
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Expenses watchdog stuns the Treasury with decision to suspend planned rise in contributions made by MPs .
Decision leaves Chancellor George Osborne to find the extra money from the public coffers .
Critics slam the 'preferential treatment' being given to politicians .
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Glacial ice in the Peruvian Andes that took at least 1,600 years to form has melted in just 25 years, scientists have discovered. Researchers visiting Peru's Quelccaya Ice Cap have released a stunning pair of images to show the dramatic change. They were also able to obtain ice core samples from the area and track plant life as it moved into previously glacial areas.Two annually dated ice cores drawn from the tropical Peruvian Andes reveal Earth's tropical climate history in unprecedented detail—year by year, for nearly 1,800 years. Qori Kalis Glacier is the largest outlet glacier flowing off the Quelccaya ice cap: this collage shows the retreat of the Qori Kalis (1978 versus 2008) over 30 years . Researchers at The Ohio State University retrieved the cores from a Peruvian ice cap in 2003, and then noticed some startling similarities to other ice cores that they had retrieved from Tibet and the Himalayas. 'These ice cores provide the longest . and highest-resolution tropical ice core record to date,' said Lonnie . Thompson, distinguished university professor of earth sciences at Ohio . State and lead author of the study. 'In . fact, having drilled ice cores throughout the tropics for more than 30 . years, we now know that this is the highest-resolution tropical ice core . record that is likely to be retrieved.'The cores will provide a permanent . record for future use by climate scientists, Thompson said. This is . very important, as plants captured by the advancing ice cap 6,000 years . ago are now emerging along its retreating margins, which shows that . Quelccaya is now smaller than it has been in six thousand years. 'The . frozen history from this tropical ice cap—which is melting away as . Earth continues to warm—is archived in freezers at -30ºC so that . creative people will have access to it 20 years from now, using . instruments and techniques that don't even exist today,' he said. What . a difference This 2002 photo of Quelccaya Ice Cap Right) is, taken from . the same spot as a previous photo in 1977, and clearly shows the . retreat of the ice wall's vertical margins. The team also plotted newly emerged plants growing where previously there was a glacier . Patterns in the chemical composition of certain layers matched up, even though the cores were taken from opposite sides of the planet. The cores provide a new tool for researchers to study Earth's past climate, and better understand the climate changes that are happening today. The new cores, drilled from Peru's Quelccaya Ice Cap, are special because most of their 1,800-year history exists as clearly defined layers of light and dark: light from the accumulated snow of the wet season, and dark from the accumulated dust of the dry season. Quelccaya in 2005 showing 2002 plant deposits in the newly-uncovered areas . They are also special because of where they formed, atop the high Andean altiplano in southern Peru. Most of the moisture in the area comes from the east, in snowstorms fueled by moist air rising from the Amazon Basin. But the ice core-derived climate records from the Andes are also impacted from the west—specifically by El Niño, a temporary change in climate, which is driven by sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific. 'We have been able to derive a proxy for sea surface temperatures that reaches back long before humans were able to make such measurements, and long before humans began to affect Earth's climate,' Thompson said. The team have drilled ice cores . from glaciers atop the most remote areas of the planet—the Chinese . Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Papua . Indonesia among others—to gauge Earth's past climate. Each new core has provided a piece of . the puzzle, as the researchers measured the concentrations of key . chemicals preserved in thousands of years of accumulated ice. The remoteness of the site and the technology available at the time limited the quality of samples they could obtain, however. The nearest road was a two-day walk . from the ice cap, so they were forced to melt the cores in the field and . carry samples back as bottles of water. This made some chemical . measurements impossible, and diminished the time resolution available . from the cores. 'Due to the remoteness of the ice . cap, we had to develop new tools such as a light-weight drill powered . by solar panels to collect the 1983 cores. 'However, we knew there was much more information the cores could provide" -Mosley-Thompson said. 'Now the ice cap is just a six-hour walk from a new access road where a freezer truck can be positioned to preserve the cores. 'So we can now make better dust measurements along with a suite of chemical analyses that we couldn't make before.'
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Images show the astonishing differences - with the Quelccaya glacier left at its smallest for 6,000 years .
Researchers also removed ice cores showing year by year changes over 1800 years .
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Victim's screams and cries for help heard after she accidentally calls 999 . Arrogant Matthew Duggan tells police he deserves better cell because he is 'better than anyone else here' By . David Baker . PUBLISHED: . 13:14 EST, 9 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:18 EST, 9 March 2012 . Appalling: Wealthy estate agent Matthew Duggan has been jailed for six years after a court heard the brutal rape was broadcast on the victim's mobile phone which accidentally dialled 999 during the attack . An estate agent who boasted that he was better than anyone else raped a young woman unaware that his brutal attack was heard by emergency services via the screaming victim’s mobile phone. Matthew Duggan from Sunbury-Upon-Thames, Middlesex, beat the 19-year-old girl black and blue before forcing her to perform oral sex on him and trying to have sex with her. But what neither he nor his bruised and bloodied victim realised was . that her mobile had somehow dialled 999 - meaning her cries for . help and his angry threats were heard by control operators manning an . emergency switchboard. The 20-year-old Duggan was jailed for six years after being . found guilty of rape and attempted rape by a jury, following an eight day . trial at Guildford Crown Court. He was also ordered to be put on the sex offenders register indefinitely. The court even heard how the arrogant defendant told police when he was arrested: 'I should be put in a more luxurious cell because I’m better than anyone else here'. The chillling remark was kept from the jury at Duggan’s trial but was read out by the Judge, Recorder Jeremy Carter-Manning, at today’s sentencing hearing. Jailing the defendant the Judge told him: 'You have an inappropriate opinion of your status and an inappropriate attitude towards women'. The Judge added: 'Your behaviour that evening was absolutely appalling and very serious indeed'. He also said there were unusual features to the case which made it of particular concern but that it was only Duggan’s comparative youth that had saved him from a much longer sentence. The Judge added: 'Bizarrely, and for some . reason that we don’t know, a mobile phone at the scene recorded and . transmitted to the emergency services details of what was a very . harrowing incident'. Jailed: Duggan was sentenced to six years in jail at Guildford Crown Court today for rape. The brutal attack was inadvertently heard by police operators after the victim's phone accidentally called 999 . A recording of the incident was played to the jury, in which the terrified girl was heard begging for mercy as the defendant yelled: 'Open your legs. You’re getting raped.' Today’s hearing was told by defence counsel, Mr. Jon Swain, that his client came from a respectable supportive family and was highly thought of at work. But the events outlined in court showed a different and darker side to the defendant’s character. During the horrific ordeal the victim was stripped of her clothes and Duggan himself fled the scene naked after a local dog walker and friends arrived on the scene in a meadow at Chertsey, Surrey. The girl was rushed battered and bleeding to St. Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, by ambulance. In her evidence, the girl told police: 'He was trying it on. I said no and that’s what made him really angry. 'I was telling him no. He punched me and blood was coming down my face. I had no clothes on. 'All I can remember was him forcing me to perform oral sex. 'The shock made it a blur. I couldn’t believe it.' Ruby Selva, prosecuting told the . court: 'The victim had 33 separate injuries on her body and dried blood . on her face. She also had a chipped tooth.' But . despite the damning weight of evidence against him, the defendant . denied the charges, saying: 'Any sexual contact between us was . consensual.' Arrogant: Estate agent Duggan told police when he was arrested that he 'should be put in a more luxurious cell because I'm better than anyone else here' Duggan admitted beating the girl up and even offered to plead guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm in an unsuccessful plea bargain. In his defence he claimed he had lost his temper and become consumed with 'hatred' after the victim had performed a 'vile' and painful sex act upon him while they were kissing and cuddling in some grass near the Meads, Chertsey, after meeting up following a night on the town. 'I felt violated. I wanted to cause her maximum pain.' he said. But the prosecution rejected Duggan’s version of events and insisted that the real reason for the defendant’s dramatic loss of control was because the girl had rejected his advances. He was arrested the in the early morning, the day after the attack, on July 24 last year after he had helped himself to some clothes from a boat on the River Thames. He answered 'no comment' to police questions and a GP called to examine him in the police cells, Dr Paul Brigg, said he was astonished at how relaxed and care-free the defendant seemed even after having been accused of such serious offences. 'He was flippant and jokey and didn’t seem to be taking the proceedings very seriously. I found it quite extraordinary,' said Dr. Brigg. The court heard that the girl, from Surrey, had met Duggan when she had gone out drinking with her mates. Ms Selva said that several members of the group had gone to the Meads but the defendant and the girl became separated from the others. She said Duggan suddenly turned violent when the she rejected his advances. 'During the ensuing attack, he repeatedly hit her and threatened her,' said Ms Selva. But unknown to the defendant or the victim, the girl’s mobile had somehow called 999 and was on during the incident. 'It recorded some of the attack. The call was harrowing and horrific in its content. 'Throughout the incident, the complainant was fighting, crying and begging the defendant to leave her alone,' she said. Ms Selva said the phone recording was a key piece of evidence. She added: 'It captures his brutality and his crimes . 'The injuries which the victim was found to have sustained were wholly consistent with force being used.'
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Victim's screams and cries for help heard after she accidentally calls 999 .
Arrogant Matthew Duggan tells police he deserves better cell because he is 'better than anyone else here'
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0fd7b853165c2058f3b04a8ba8c5743ae1c72afd
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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 13:08 EST, 23 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:08 EST, 23 August 2012 . Struck off: Pathologist Dr Freddy Patel has been banned from working as a doctor after making 68 errors on G20 victim Ian Tomlinson's post-mortem . The pathologist who botched the post-mortem examination on G20 protest victim Ian Tomlinson was banned from working as a doctor today. Dr Freddy Patel's actions were found to be 'misleading, dishonest and liable to bring his profession into disrepute' over parts of his handling of the post-mortem on newspaper vendor Mr Tomlinson. A medical tribunal identified 68 failings, including the key fact that Dr Patel did not tell police that 47-year-old Mr Tomlinson suffered injuries that could have been consistent with a baton strike. Dr Patel was found guilty of misconduct at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), sitting in Manchester, and struck off the medical register. The doctor, who qualified at the University of Zambia in 1974 and has practised as a pathologist for 35 years, was excused attendance but listened in on the hearing by conference call from London. The court heard Dr Patel, who was described as being arrogant and having a bad attitude, was previously investigated on numerous occasions and suspended two times over his shoddy work dating back a decade. He had already botched previous post-mortem examinations dating as far back as 2002 by the time Mr Tomlinson died in 2009. Dr Patel was found guilty of serious misconduct and suspended for four months over his post-mortem examination reports in 2002 into the death of a victim of so-called 'Camden Ripper' Anthony Hardy. The naked body of Sally White, 31, was discovered in a room in Hardy’s flat in January 2002. Upset: Ian Tomlinson's son Paul King and Julia Tomlinson have been left distraught by his death and she said today Patel 'misled everyone' Dr . Patel explained away her injuries and ruled she died from natural . causes. In fact she was the first victim of serial killer Hardy and . suspected of having been asphyxiated. Mr . Tomlinson, 47, died on April 1 2009 after he became caught up in the . G20 riots in the City of London as he tried to get home and was forcibly . pushed over by Pc Simon Harwood. Dr . Patel carried out the post-mortem examination on Mr Tomlinson and . concluded that he died from a heart attack, but questions were raised . when an American tourist came forward with a video recording of him . being shoved by the officer. Further . medical reports suggested that Mr Tomlinson died from an injury to his . liver that caused internal bleeding and then cardiac arrest. At . the inquest into Mr Tomlinson’s death, Dr Patel’s claim that he died of . a heart attack was discredited by the jury in favour of the string of . experts who said he died of internal bleeding. Drunk: PC Harwood believed Mr Tomlinson, left, who was drunk at the time, was being deliberately obstructive during the G20 protests in April 2009 . [caption . Fall: After being hit Tomlinson fell to the ground but got up, walked 75 yards before collapsing . Laid out: The 47-year-old later died in hospital from internal injuries . Dr . Patel’s first post-mortem examination also made it all but impossible . to conclude with any certainty how Mr Tomlinson came to die. The inquest jury ruled Mr Tomlinson was unlawfully killed. The police officer who was cleared of . killing Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests in London will face force . disciplinary proceedings on September 17. Pc . Simon Harwood was acquitted of manslaughter last month, but police . watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) ordered . that he should face the internal Metropolitan Police hearing in public. Scotland . Yard confirmed that a gross misconduct hearing in front of a panel of . three people including a senior officer and a lay person. It is expected . to last up to four weeks. Harwood . told jurors at Southwark Crown Court that he had used only reasonable . force, and was cleared of killing the father-of-nine. Jurors in an . inquest into the death had earlier returned a verdict of unlawful . killing. The officer, . 45, from Carshalton in Surrey, had a controversial disciplinary record . before the fateful day when he came across Mr Tomlinson. A . series of allegations were made against him over a 12-year period, and . he was allowed to retire from the Met on medical grounds in 2001 despite . unresolved disciplinary proceedings. Later, . Harwood rejoined the force as a civilian worker, before becoming a . police officer for Surrey. He was then allowed to rejoin the Met in 2004 . as part of its Territorial Support Group, specialising in public order. The . Rev Robert Lloyd-Richards, chairman of the MPTS fitness to practise . panel, told Dr Patel today: 'Your rigid mind-set, illustrated by your . inability to reflect on the case of Mr Tomlinson and your unwarranted . confidence in your own abilities does not convince this panel that it . would be appropriate to impose conditions, even with the most stringent . supervision, on your registration. 'The . panel considers that you have a deep-seated attitudinal problem. You . have twice been suspended for your failings in relation to post-mortem . examinations you have carried out. 'You . have now appeared before a fitness to practise panel three times. The . failings against you both historically and presently involve five . separate post-mortem examinations.' Along . with Mr Tomlinson and the Camden Ripper case, other botched cases . conducted by Dr Patel include those of a four-week-old baby, a . five-year-old girl and an elderly woman. After . the hearing, Mr Tomlinson’s family said Dr Patel should not have been . doing the examination in the first place given his record. Mr . Tomlinson’s widow Julia said: 'We aren’t surprised he has been struck . off. It is more of a surprise that he was able to work as a pathologist . for so long and that he was selected to do the post-mortem on Ian. 'We . are pleased that he will not be able to put any more families through . the ordeal he caused us, but the damage he has done can’t now be . undone.' Last month, Pc Harwood was found not guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson following a criminal trial. Evidence . about his chequered disciplinary history as an officer was ruled . inadmissible and the jury was not told about a series of allegations . about his behaviour in the past. The . officer, who serves with the Metropolitan Police, faces an internal . disciplinary hearing being held by his employers next month.
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Dr Freddy Patel said the newspaper vendor died of a heart attack .
after he had been hit and pushed to the floor by PC Simon Harwood .
A medical tribunal found 68 failings in Patel's handling of the post-mortem on Mr Tomlinson after he died in April 2009 .
Patel found guilty of misconduct and struck off medical register .
Patel had already twice been suspended over other botched post-mortems .
Mr Tomlinson's wife Patel should not have been examining her husband considering his record .
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The New Zealand businesswoman who said she fell prey to an alleged group sex attack in Sydney after meeting a man on the dating app, Tinder, has retracted her statement. Police are no longer investigating the incident. They would not comment on why the woman withdrew her allegations. The 28-year-old, who was visiting Sydney on a business trip, had alleged she met up a with a man of Maori or Pacific Islander appearance at a restaurant in the Kings Cross nightclub district. Scroll down for video . Police warned that Tinder-users should take extra caution when meeting people from online as they are of 'sexual predators out there who use modern technology to find potential victims' This comes after a New Zealand woman met up with a man at Kings Cross, Sydney's inner city, on Saturday night after speaking to him through mobile dating app Tinder . The pair then headed to a bar in Martin Place, it was claimed, and soon after she began to feel dizzy and numb. The woman said she woke up at a property in Botany on Sunday, unaware of where she was. She later told colleagues and reported the incident to a hospital, and then police, on Monday. Sex Crime Squad investigators believed at least three men were involved with the incident. But as of Thursday, they had not identified any suspects. Police said yesterday the victim was 'struggling'. 'It's a very emotional time for her,' Detective Inspector Michael Haddow told reporters. 'A very difficult incident, the whole matter.' The woman has since returned to New Zealand and was being supported by family. The incident provoked police into issuing a warning to online daters to be cautious when meeting strangers for the first time. Inspector Haddow told reporters a persona on a dating app may differ from their real life identity. 'The message is not to not use sites like this, but ... to do so with a degree of caution,' he said. Scroll down for video . Police say the pair then moved on to a bar in Martin Place where they were joined by the man's friends . A New Zealand woman was sexually assaulted by three men after she met a man on the mobile dating app, Tinder . He further advised that those thinking of meeting someone from dating websites or apps should bring a friend on the date. 'We strongly advise people that if they decide to meet a person they have been introduced to via the internet, then ensure the meeting is in a public place and take a friend along with you.' 'Having a friend there ensures that one of you can always keep an eye on your drink, and you have someone to turn to who can help you out should you feel threatened or uncomfortable.' 'If it's not possible to bring a friend with you, then, at the very least, stay in regular contact with a family member or friend, keeping them abreast of how the night is going and where you may be heading to,' the inspector said. Last month a New Zealand tourist Warrienna Wright, 26, fell to her death from a Gold Coast apartment balcony hours after meeting a man she matched with on Tinder. Gable Tostee, a 28-year-old carpet layer, has been charged with Ms Wright's murder. There's been no comment from the dating app, Tinder, as yet. Police said they will not provide any further comment.
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Woman behind Tinder gang rape allegations retracts her statement .
Police announce the investigation has concluded, pending any further information .
The 28-year-old businesswoman said she felt dizzy and numb after a night out with a man she met on the dating app .
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0fd9ad6ec2604bd85ed62cfe088c1dc85febac34
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SPRINGFIELD, Virginia (CNN) -- Georgia Keightley strolled through the religion section at Barnes and Noble in Springfield, Virginia, on Monday searching for a last-minute Christmas gift. The Green Bible looks at the text through the lens of the environment. "I'm looking for a book on [the Apostle] Paul for my husband," she said clutching a 15 percent off coupon and lamenting the limited selection. She would have had better luck if she had been looking for a new take on the Bible -- on the next rack in front of her were three shelves filled with Bibles of various shapes and designs. Keightley said she and her husband already have five copies of the Bible in their home. Consistently the best-selling book on the planet, publishers are constantly repackaging it to lure new audiences. Harper One in October released the Green Bible, looking at the Bible through the lens of the environment. In an effort to keep it true to its eco-conscious motif, it was printed in the United States on recycled paper with soy ink, and has a sustainable linen cover. "It is still printed on paper though," conceded publisher Mark Tauber, who said a digital format would be greenest. Tauber said publishers were hoping to capitalize on the growing trend in Christian circles of eco-theology and creation care. The Green Bible is filled with essays from across the theological spectrum as a companion to the text. Former Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote the forward while Brian McLaren, a popular progressive author and pastor, and N.T. Wright, the staunch conservative theologian, contributed essays. Anytime the text mentions something about the environment, the letters are printed in green, similar to how some Bibles print the words of Jesus in red. In the United States, where religion and politics have danced and intertwined into a sometimes unrecognizable amalgam, environmentalism has been viewed by many politically conservative evangelicals as a "liberal issue." Matthew Sleeth is the author of "Serve God, Save the Planet" and for years he has been trying to convince churches that environmentalism and creation care are theologically sound. Their attitude, he said, has changed rapidly in the past few years. "Recently I went to Grace Fellowship, the largest church in Baltimore, [Maryland,] and the pastor introduced me and said, 'I used to be against this, but examined my heart and the Bible and came to the conclusion I was wrong.'" Another Bible out in time for the holiday season is The Illuminated Bible. The glossy oversized magazine format could easily mingle on coffee tables with Italian Vogue and GQ. It takes the text of the New Testament from the Good News translation and mixes it with editorial photos. Pages following a verse from Mark's gospel referring to John the Baptist -- "God said I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you" -- are adorned with pictures of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Angelina Jolie, Mother Teresa and Che Guevara to hammer home the point to a modern day audience. "The text is our heritage even if you're not a believer. We are stuck with it. Let's know more about it," said Dag Soderber, the Swedish advertising executive who is behind the project. Soderber said his motives were philanthropic. Though not a practicing Christian, he said the more people who read the Bible, the more who will see what it is all about -- and that will generate more religious tolerance. Soderberg's first goal was to make the packaging like a glossy fashion magazine so it would be more accessible to a modern audience, making it, "something you can find in a hair salon, something you can find anywhere," he said. The Illuminated Bible debuted last year in Stockholm, Sweden. When bookstores wouldn't carry it, Soderberg brought it to friends who owned fashion boutiques and design stores and said it flew off their shelves. There have been a few tweaks to the English language version. "There were some pictures that were sexy here [in Sweden] that we took out because I don't want to make it more offensive than I have to." Soderberg hopes to have an Old Testament version in stores in time for Easter. So how do such repackaged Bibles sell among the other versions filling stores' shelves? A manger at Borders Bookstore in Springfield, Virginia, said the Green Bible is selling briskly. Georgia Keightley thinks that's a good thing. "Anything that gets people to read the Bible is a good thing." Mark Tauber from Harper One said, "I've seen a statistic that the average American home has four to nine Bibles in their homes. There's always room for more Bibles. The industry has shown us that."
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Wide range of Bibles on the shelves this Christmas .
Green Bible printed on recycled paper with soy ink, sustainable linen cover .
The Illuminated Bible takes on magazine format .
"Always room for more Bibles," publishing exec says .
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She is just 10 months old, but baby Juanita Valentina Hernandez weighs the same as an average five-year-old. While the youngster was a normal 6lb when she was born, she began to expand rapidly in size just weeks later. She now tips the scales at 44lb (20kgs or just over three stone) and is undergoing tests to determine the cause of her surprise weight gain. The average 10-month-old baby should weigh 19lb or 8.5kg, Tam Fry, Patron of the Child Growth Foundation, told MailOnline. Scroll down for video . Ten-month-old Juanita Valentina Hernandez weighs 44lb - or 20kg - the same as an average five-year-old . While the youngster weighed just 6lb when she was born, she began to expand rapidly in size just weeks later. The average 10-month-old baby should weigh 19lb or 8.5kg . Juanita's mother says she has no idea what caused her daughter to balloon in size. 'She was born very thin... now she is 10 months I have realised she is morbidly obese' He said: 'Weight can vary with ethnicity, but regardless of that, this child is vastly, vastly overweight. It is tragic.' Juanita's anxious mother, Sandra Franco, from Libano, Colombia, said she has no idea what has caused her daughter to balloon in size. 'When she was 15 days old she was already looking chubby, because she was born very thin,' she explained. 'Since then she's been gaining weight. Now she is 10 months old and I have realised she is morbidly obese.' She added: 'Until now I haven't been able to treat her because I am unemployed and didn't have the money.' Mr Fry explained there are various medical conditions which can cause rapid weight gain in children. These include Prader-Willi syndrome, which causes a permanent feeling of hunger and can easily lead to dangerous weight gain. Conditions such as Cushings sydrome - where high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can cause weight gain - and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, known as an 'overgrowth syndrome' can also cause children to expand in size rapidly. Last month Colombian charity Gorditos de Corazon - Chubby Hearts - brought Juanita to the capital, Bogota, where a team of specialists began treatment. Bbay Juanita is now undergoing tests to determine the cause of her surprise weight gain . Charity founder Salvador Palacio Gonzalez has made it his mission to tackle a growing obesity problem, which increasingly is affecting children. Juanita is the third baby he has seen in the last year who weighs more than 20kg. Last year the charity helped the families of obese babies Santiago Mendoza and Mayra Caicedo who had a combined weight of 41kg (90lb or more than six stone). Speaking previously about the epidemic in his country, Salvador said: 'Thousands of children in Colombia - and millions around the world - suffer with obesity. 'From Colombia we have formed an international alliance to help people who are overweight.' Despite being less than one year old, young Juanita faces a bleak future if her rapid weight gain cannot be controlled. Last month Colombian charity Gorditos de Corazon - Chubby Hearts - brought Juanita to the capital, Bogota, where a team of specialists began treatment for her obesity . The most immediate risk of Juanita being so overweight is that she may develop type 2 diabetes within two or three years, an expert told MailOnline . The charity says it is crucial to intervene before the age of one in order to prevent illnesses associated with obesity becoming a critical health risk. The most immediate risk of Juanita being so overweight is that she may develop type 2 diabetes within two or three years, Mr Fry told MailOnline. He said: 'We are already seeing children aged four with this condition, which can lead to heart disease in the teenage years.' 'Overweight children and teenagers are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. It is an extremely difficult cycle to break.' Juanita's mother added: 'To all mothers that have babies like this, please take care of our children if we don't want them to get sick. 'Please don't let them die from one of these diseases.'
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Baby Juanita Valentina Hernandez was born weighing just 6lb .
But began expanding rapidly in size weeks later - and is now 44lb (20kg)
Average child of her age should weigh 19lb (8.5kg), experts said .
Juanita also risks developing type 2 diabetes within two years if not treated .
She is now being treated with help of a Colombian charity .
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By . Jonathan McEvoy . Roger Federer did not so much wield a racket as wave a wand on the sunlit grass of Wimbledon on Tuesday. It was another masterclass in a tournament of masterclasses from the seven-time champion, in this instance against Tommy Robredo, the usually stubborn Spaniard who was dismissed from the premises in 94 minutes of imperious precision. Comfortable: Roger Federer is through to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after demolishing Tommy Robredo . Unstoppable: Federer took just 21 minutes to take the first set, and didn't lose a point on serve in the second . It was almost as if time had stood . still and a young Federer in his first bloom was with us again. At 32, . he is no more likely to shrivel away and disappear from the All England . Club than its famous ivy. His . accumulation of statistics is phenomenal; he is the only competitor in . the men’s singles not to have lost a service game in four rounds. None . of his matches has lasted longer. ‘It’s like being a footballer,’ he . said. His serve was . dominant, his net play clean and incisive. Poor Robredo made the fatal . mistake of starting poorly, winning just 13 points in the first set and . committing a horrific series of unforced errors. By the time he was up . and running in the third set, it was way too late. That . was the story of one Swiss victory on Tuesday. The other was unfolding . on Court Two: a fractious contest won 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 by Federer’s . countryman and close friend Stan Wawrinka against Feliciano Lopez. Experienced: But it wasn't Tommy Robredo's day on Court No 1 . The . two men were locked in heated dispute as the match ended, tension having . built as the match developed, but they shook hands in the end and . claimed that everything was mended when they came to speak to the press . afterwards. The upshot is a . Swiss-Swiss quarter-final: Wawrinka versus Federer. Never before has . that country had two men reach the last eight here. More . intriguingly, set against Federer’s long period of success, Wawrinka . outranks Federer – third versus fourth – in the world standings. He is . also the player more recently to have won a Grand Slam tournament, this . year’s Australian Open. Yes they are buddies, but has Wawrinka’s recent success not changed the dynamic between them? ‘Which . dynamic?’ said Federer, leaning on 17 Grand Slam titles. ‘Well, I think . for him the dynamic has changed a lot. Definitely in terms of showing . up for the big moments, believing he can come through them after . previously losing a lot of close matches against many of the top guys. Sunny day: Fans packed into to watch the match at SW19 on Tuesday . ‘People clearly marked him out after the Australian Open, but it started at the US Open and just prior to that. ‘So . I am really happy for him that he’s been able to keep it going strong, . even though he had had some ups and downs that are inevitable after a . big win like the Australian Open.’ These . are heady sporting days for neutral Switzerland. A few hours after the . wins of Wawrinka and Federer, they scuttled back to their TVs – separate . screens, different locations – to watch the World Cup match between . Argentina and Switzerland. A loss, though it lasted a good deal longer than Federer’s match. Well, you can’t have everything. Just . before the match, the big-serving Wawrinka was wearing a t-shirt with . the slogan ‘Stan the Man’. When questioned, he said he wasn’t . necessarily the man – that sounded a bit boastful, he thought. It this . was just a nickname. I suppose a ‘Stan Not the Man’ t-shirt would be . ludicrous. Classy: Federer could be set for a semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal . But can he be the . man against Federer on Wednesday, just as he was in the final of the . Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo? On the negative side, due to the weather . delays on Saturday, will be playing his third match in as many days. ‘That win in Monaco will give me a lot of confidence,’ he said, ‘knowing that I can beat him on the big stage. ‘But . tomorrow it’s going to be a different experience. First time on grass. First time at Wimbledon. Five-set match. Yeah, it’s going to be tough.’ Did that not sound a touch defeatist? He . added: ‘You know when you play Roger at Wimbledon, when he’s fit and . confident and feeling well, it’s one of the biggest challenges in . tennis. It’s like playing Rafa in the French Open. These guys are . playing their best tennis for many years.’ Tommy Robredo will most certainly attest to that in the case of Mr Federer.
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Federer took first set in just 21 minutes, and didn't lose a point on serve in the second .
Seven-time champion will face Wawrinka in the quarter-finals .
He hasn't lost a game on serve throught 2014 tournament .
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By . Sean O'hare . PUBLISHED: . 09:43 EST, 4 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:54 EST, 4 December 2012 . An . over-protective son was jailed for life today after killing his mother’s toyboy lover with a kitchen knife. Manchester Crown Court heard how Ben Edgar, 20, was jealous of his 43-year-old mother's partner Mark Wood, 28, overtaking him as man of the house. Edgar killed Mr Wood just weeks after telling one family . friend: 'I swear to God, if he goes near my mum and I’m here, I will kill him - . I will do the time for him.' Ben Edgar (left), 20, was told today at Manchester Crown Court that he must serve at least 12 years for stabbing to death Mark Wood (right), 28, at their shared address in Little Lever, Bolton, in June this year . Caught in the middle: Edgar's mother, Samantha Bird (pictured) lived with her son and her partner Mr Wood in Ashston Street, Bolton, and endured a 'volatile' relationship with Mr Wood, Manchester Crown Court heard . He . then dialled 999 telling an operator: 'You best shut the f*** up and get here . or I’m gonna murder you all.' Mr Wood was stabbed in the neck with a 37cm . kitchen knife and died later in hospital. Edgar . was said to have been furious after his mother Samantha Bird, 43, claimed Wood . had beaten her up during an argument at their family home in Little Lever, . Bolton, Greater Manchester. It . was claimed he also resented the fact Wood lived at the property and believed . that he, as Mrs Bird’s son, 'should be the only man in the house'. Manchester . Crown Court was told the tragedy occurred after Wood moved in with Mrs Bird who . was 15 years his senior and worked as a call centre worker for a claims firm in . Bury. Miss . Katherine Blackwell QC prosecuting said the couple’s relationship was 'extremely . volatile with violence and threats of violence being used against the other.' She . added: 'A grudge had been harboured against Mr Wood by the defendant for some . considerable time and this defendant, fueled with a mixture of hatred and . jealousy, seized the opportunity to kill him. 'The . reason given for the hatred was that the defendant’s mother had been in violent . relationships in the past and the defendant didn’t want the same to develop . with Mr Wood. Jealous: Edgar, pictured here with his mother Samantha Bird, feared that her partner, Mr Wood, would overtake him as man of the house . Protective: Edgar (pictured being kissed by his mother) was said to be concerned for his mother as she had been in violent relationships in the past and he didn't want the same to develop with Mr Wood . 'The . defendant said he didn’t like the fact the deceased was living in the house and . that he, the defendant, should be the only man in the house.' The . court heard during a row on Easter Sunday this year, Edgar and Wood squared up to . each other at the family house. Wood began calling Edgar a 'psycho' to which Edgar . retorted: 'I am the man of the house - I will wipe you out' before Mrs Bird . split them up. The . following month, in May, Edgar texted his girlfriend saying: 'Just had a word wit . my mum about money and I z ur guna leave me skint. 'Since . she as got with tht n** she cum awful wit me n I’m sick off it.' Another said: 'were is e cz I’m gunna broke his legs.' He . also texted his mother saying: 'What as axacally gone on mum cz mark as just . rang me saying e asn’t hit u - mum r u okay n plz will u tell me whats gne on . so I can get all sorted out.' Violent: The court heard that during a row on Easter Sunday this year, Edgar and Wood squared up to each other at the family house during which Edgar said: 'I am the man of the house - I will wipe you out' before Mrs Bird split them up . When . she responded: 'I hit Mark yesterday he throw me on the bed and the weight . bench it my knee' Edgar retorted: 'I was ready for kill sum1 last nyt.' Tragedy . struck on June 11 after Wood and Mrs Bird had gone to the England v France Euro . 2011 match at a pub. Back at the house a row erupted between the couple in . their bedroom and Edgar stormed upstairs to intervene. He . grabbed Wood in a headlock saying he would not let go until the victim had . calmed down. In a further argument downstairs in the kitchen. he grabbed the knife . and stabbed the victim. In a phone call to the emergency services he said: 'I . have stabbed my mum’s boyfriend. 'I . can’t stay in the house, he is dead. He is dead. He is dead.' Screams from Mrs . Bird were heard in the background. Edgar . later claimed he acted in self-defence claiming Wood was wielding a chair. He . denied murder claiming he thought he had picked up a fork from the draining board and . not a knife. He insisted he had got on well with Wood and said the damning text . messages were 'figures of speech.' Mrs . Bird giving her evidence, said her son and boyfriend got on well together and . added. 'They had a great relationship - fantastic.' Passing . sentence Judge Andrew Gilbart QC told Edgar: 'I am in no doubt whatever that . his death occurred after he had drunkenly attacked your mother and you had . restrained him in an upstairs bedroom, where he had also threatened you with . violence. 'I . reject the Crown’s case that on that evening you had some premeditated plan to . attack Wood. The evidence of all witnesses present that evening shows that . relations between all of you were good until your mother and Wood got involved . in a drunken row. Crime scene: Tragedy struck on June 11 after Mr Wood and Mrs Bird had a row in their bedroom. Edgar stormed upstairs to intervene . Tragedy: The row escalated and continued downstairs where Edgar knifed Mr Woods and called emergency services and said: 'I have stabbed my mum's boyfriend.' 'In . my judgement the text traffic were the angry outbursts of a young man of . limited intelligence who heard that his mother had been attacked by her . boyfriend. 'It . follows that this is a truly tragic case in which a drunken domestic argument . between Mark Wood and your mother and his drunken attack upon her, led to your . entirely justified intervention and then in very short order, his death. 'You . have been convicted of a murder charge because you went too far in dealing with . his aggression.” After . the case Det Insp Andy Cunliffe of Greater Manchester Police said: 'Ben Edgar . held a grudge against Mark Wood because of the fraught relationship between . Mark and his mother. 'Edgar . had previously stated that he would harm Mark and on the night in question he . armed himself with a large knife and stabbed him. 'A . family has been torn apart and a much loved son, brother and father has been . killed and I would like to express my deepest sympathy to them.' Waste: Edgar was found guilty of murder because the judge said he took his agression too far at the family home (pictured) in Ashton Street, Little Lever, Bolton in June this year .
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Ben Edgar sentenced to life at Manchester Crown Court today .
He must serve at least 12 years for the murder of Mark Wood, 28 .
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By . Hannah Roberts and Meghan Keneally . UPDATED: . 10:06 EST, 22 January 2012 . The family of Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke, who died Thursday after an accident during a training session, launched a fundraising website to help collect money to cover the estimated $200,000 in medical bills. Burke, who was 29 at the time of her death and one of the top half-pipe athletes in the world, died at the Salt Lake City hospital where she was taken last week following the accident in Park City, Utah. She had sustained ‘irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest’, according to a statement released by her publicist. Winning spirit: Burke celebrates on the podium after winning the women's halfpipe freestyle title at the World Cup finals in Valmalenco, Italy . True champion: Burke won many prizes but will be remembered as much for the legacy she left for women in superpipe skiing . Now faced with massive debt due to his late wife’s medical bills, donations have come flooding in to a website dedicated to helping Burke’s husband Rory Bushfield pay for the expenses. Though originally the costs were originally estimated to be around $500,000, they were updated and lowered to $200,000. By Saturday morning, the site had already raised $246,701 which cleared all of her medical costs. ‘Due to the outpouring of love and support, enough funds have been raised to cover the anticipated costs related to Sarah’s medical care based on the numbers received from the hospital,’ the site read. There are potential complications with Sarah’s insurance coverage because she was treated in an American hospital as a Canadian citizen, and because she is only contractually covered by her health insurance when competing in a sanctioned event. Fatal accident: Sarah Burke crashed on the same halfpipe where snowboarder Kevin Pearce sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2009 . Sarah died after an accident on a training run for an event sponsored by Monster Energy Drink. She fell on the Eagle Superpipe in Salt Lake City, Utah, after performing a trick known as a Flat Spin 540. Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada's freestyle team, said the injury was due to a 'freak accident' after a trick that was well within her capabilities. He said she performed that stunt ‘many, many times,’ and it ‘was certainly in the realm of her skill capabilities.’ ‘This injury was one - it was more of a freak accident than one caused by anything in specific terms,’ he continued. ‘It was more of a fluke outcome. Safety was paramount to her.’ A four-time Winter X Games champion, she crashed on the same half-pipe where snowboarder Kevin Pearce sustained a traumatic brain injury during a training accident on December 31, 2009. As a result of her fall, Burke tore her vertebral artery, which led to severe bleeding on the brain, causing her to go into cardiac arrest on the scene, according to publicist Nicole Wool. Miss Wool said Burke's organs and tissues were donated, as she had wanted. The statement said: 'The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude for the international outpouring of support they have received from all the people Sarah touched.' Tragic: Sarah Burke who helped get superpipe accepted into the Olympics, died nine days after crashing at a training run in Park City, Utah .
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Skier was injured on training run in Park City, Utah .
Tests showed she had irreversible brain damage after cardiac arrest .
Injured after 'freak accident' from doing a trick 'well within her capabilities'
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0fdbfbf6968de91cac7deb506e28536777138ba3
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(CNN) -- Manti Te'o -- one of the best defenders this season in college football -- defended himself in an ESPN interview, saying there was no way he was part of a hoax involving a deceased girlfriend. "I wasn't faking it," Te'o told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap in an off -camera interview highlighted on the network Friday night. "I wasn't part of this." For days, the linebacker has been the subject of ridicule after reports surfaced that the girlfriend he'd said died this fall of leukemia never existed. Te'o rose to national prominence by leading Notre Dame's Fighting Irish to an undefeated regular season, amassing double-digit tackle games and becoming the face of one of the best defenses in the nation. As he and his team excelled, Te'o told interviewers in September and October that his grandmother and girlfriend -- whom he described as a 22-year-old Stanford University student -- had died within hours of each other. The twin losses inspired him to honor them with sterling play on the field, Te'o said. He led his team to a 20-3 routing of Michigan State after he heard the news. Opinion: Te'o tale a mirror to our gullibility? "I miss 'em, but I know that I'll see them again one day," he told ESPN. He was second in the Heisman Trophy race and led his team to the championship game, losing to Alabama. The fairy tale story ended Wednesday when sports website Deadspin published a piece dismissing as a hoax the existence of Te'o's girlfriend and suggesting he was complicit. Te'o released a statement Wednesday saying he was a victim of a hoax, but Friday night was the first time he publicly addressed the issue. "When (people) hear the facts, they'll know," Te'o told ESPN. "They'll know that there is no way that I could be part of this." After a 2½-hour interview, veteran sports reporter Schaap said Te'o's story sounded convincing. "He made a very convincing witness to his defense," Schapp said on ESPN. "He answered all my questions pretty convincingly. If he is making up his side of the story, he is a very convincing actor." The twisted tale of Te'o and the mystery woman named Lennay Kekua has left many with questions. Te'o sought to answer many of them Friday night. Timeline: How the story unfolded . Who created the hoax? Te'o told Schaap that the hoax was created by a man named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo and that Te'o had no role in creating the hoax. He said Tuiasosopo contacted him Wednesday via Twitter and explained that he created the hoax and he apologized, Schaap said. Tuiasosopo told Te'o he created the hoax along with another man and a woman, ESPN reported. CNN has not seen the tweets Te'o allegedly got from Tuiasosopo. "Two guys and a girl are responsible for the whole thing," Te'o said, according to ESPN. CNN went to the California home of Tuiasosopo, where Titus Tuiasosopo, Ronaiah's father, declined to comment. "But just wait, (the truth) will all come out," he said. "God knows our character. People are going to say what people are going to say." Ronaiah Tuiasosopo was named in the Deadspin article. Notre Dame's investigation into the matter confirmed that two men and a woman, including Tuiasosopo, were behind the hoax, a source with knowledge of the matter told CNN. The source requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. A woman pretending to be Kekua called Te'o last month, claiming she had faked her death last fall because she was afraid of drug dealers, the source said. Following that December 6 conversation, Te'o went to his coaches with the story, which spurred Notre Dame to hire outside investigators to look into it. The investigation began the day after Christmas, and the results were presented January 4, days before the national championship game that Te'o's team lost. Who's who on the Internet? Who knows . Why did relatives say they had met her? In September and October, when the story of Te'o and his girlfriend received a lot of press attention, several stories appeared about how they met. One in October by Indiana's South Bend Tribune, the newspaper of Notre Dame's hometown, said the couple met at a football game in Palo Alto, California, in 2009. Te'o's father was quoted in the article saying they exchanged phone numbers and a love affair began. On Friday, Te'o said he lied to his father about meeting Kekua because he was embarrassed to tell his family he was in love with a woman he'd never met. The hoax over social media . "I knew that -- I even knew that it was crazy that I was with somebody that I didn't meet," he told ESPN. "And that alone, people find out that this girl who died I was so invested in, and I didn't meet her as well." The lie he told his father led his family to tell reporters that Te'o had met his girlfriend, he told ESPN. The calls from the woman continued after December 6, but Te'o did not answer, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told reporters this week. At that point, Te'o confided in his parents and at least two friends and a girlfriend he had at the time about the calls, the source with knowledge of the matter told CNN. He and the "real" girlfriend have since ended that relationship. The Heisman Trophy was awarded December 8, and Te'o continued to make comments about losing his girlfriend. In the ESPN interview, Te'o said he wasn't fully convinced it was a hoax until Wednesday, Schaap said. Woman says her picture was part of hoax, though she didn't know Te'o . One woman whose photos were part of the hoax says that she was exploited herself. Donna Te'i told CNN earlier this week that she'd never talked to Te'o, nor did she have any involvement in the online plot involving the Notre Dame player and the woman he believed was his girlfriend. But the 26-year-old woman is part of the story. She was identified in pictures linked to a Twitter account using the name uilanirae, which has since been taken down, as the sister of the apparently nonexistent girlfriend known as Lennay Kekua, according to Deadspin. Donna Te'i acknowledged she was portrayed in the online images as Kekua's sister, but not of her own accord. Her father, Luteru Lou Te'i -- who spoke to CNN on Saturday, as his daughter was not at home -- said these pictures were illicitly taken from the Facebook page of another of his daughters. Donna Te'i herself met Ronaiah Tuiasosopo -- the Samoan-American, like her, who Mantei Te'o said created the hoax -- years ago through an acquaintance, and they came into contact again following the August death of her boyfriend, former University of Southern California football standout Fred Matua. Mutua was eulogized by Ronaiah's father, the Rev. Titus Tuiasosopo, according to Luteru Lou Te'i, who lives with his daughter in Carson, California. At some point, pictures of Donna Te'i became part of the scheme. Luteru Lou Te'i, 51, said his daughter believes Ronaiah Tuiasosopo was responsible, since he called her later to apologize for using her image. "I ... don't know what his motive was, but (Tuiasosopo) admitted to her that he did it," said Luteru Lou Te'i, noting this conversation happened "way before the story broke." Donna Te'i has been "distraught" since Deadspin first ran with the story, according to her father. Ronaiah Tuiasosopo and his family have not responded to CNN requests for comment on this and other allegations tied to the hoax. CNN's Stan Wilson, Sara Weisfeldt, Susan Candiotti, Ross Levitt, Phil Gast and Amanda Watts contributed to this report.
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NEW: A woman whose picture is tied to the scheme says she was exploited .
Manti Te'o talks to ESPN about hoax, telling the network, "I wasn't faking it"
Notre Dame's investigation backs Te'o claim of two men, one woman behind hoax .
Te'o rose to national prominence by leading the Fighting Irish to an undefeated regular season .
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By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 7 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:37 EST, 8 June 2012 . A motorist who killed a six-year-old boy in a hit-and-run incident while driving at almost twice the speed limit was today jailed for five years and three months. Peter Renshaw, 22, struck and killed Owen Wightman, who was crossing a road near his home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on June 18 last year. Leeds Crown Court heard how Renshaw barely slowed down after the collision and, despite stopping shortly after to check damage to his car, took three days to turn himself in to West Yorkshire Police. Hit-and-run: Peter Renshaw, 22, has been jailed for five years after struck and killed Owen . Wightman, 6, who was crossing a road near his home in Wakefield, West . Yorkshire. Mrs Wightman . Renshaw admitted causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident. He told officers at the time he had no idea he had collided with a pedestrian and thought he may have hit a pothole. Renshaw, who has a conviction for . possession of cannabis and a reprimand and caution for the same offence, . showed no emotion as he was sentenced. The court heard how Owen was struck by Renshaw’s Fiat Seicento car while out playing with a friend near his home in Wakefield. The court was told the speed of the Fiat in the 30mph limit was 57mph and Owen was carried 75ft (23 metres) down the road by the impact, which one witness said sounded like a gunshot. Owen was hit a glancing blow by the car and was struck by the front of the vehicle before being pushed onto the bonnet, the court was told. Trial: Owen's parents Neil, 33, and Joanne, 31, arrive at Leeds Crown court for sentencing . Grief: Neil and Joanne hold a picture of their beloved son. Mrs Wightman spoke of her heartbreak in a victim personal statement, briefly summarised for the court . Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, said Owen was a much-loved boy whose death had devastated the family. He said: 'He had his whole life in front of him. From what I have read...he was a vibrant, happy child.' He said he was loved by his family, adding: ' That day in June last year has devastated their lives. Life will never be the same for them again. 'The death of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare.' Callous: Renshaw showed no emotion as the judge passed sentence . Judge Marson Renshaw there were aggravating features to the case, in particular his failure to stop at the scene. The judge said as he fled the accident he was described as 'tanking on'. 'This gave no thought to the additional anguish to Owen’s family and you knew you had hit someone,' he said. He said Renshaw had shown a 'certain amount of remorse' but said it was difficult to accept his submission to police that he thought he was travelling within the speed limit. He said he also rejected his assertion that he had briefly walked back down the road after the collision. 'I entirely reject that last assertion. If you had walked back down the road you would have seen something,' he told him. He said Renshaw, who had completed his second year at university when the collision happened, would be affected by the tragedy for the rest of his life, but added: 'I have no doubt Owen’s family will say at least you will have a life to come back to.' The judge banned him from driving for six years and his licence was endorsed. Owen’s mother Joanne Wightman spoke of her heartbreak in a victim personal statement, briefly summarised for the court. In it she spoke of her 'inquisitive baby' who was quick to learn. Speaking about the day of the accident, she said: 'As I got to where Owen was I could see he was laid on the floor his head towards the kerb edge of the grass verge, there were people around him, they appeared to be working on him as if they were doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Anguish: Distraught father Neil carries his son's coffin. Owen was described as an 'inquisitive baby' who was quick to learn . 'I could see it was Owen, I wanted to . get to my baby, to cuddle him and make him well, but my legs were weak. As much as I tried to make my way to him I couldn’t get any closer to my . son.' 'Since this terrible . tragedy I have struggled to make sense of what had happened. I have an . empty space in my life which was once filled by my baby boy, like a . jigsaw with a piece missing. 'I struggle to make sense of what has . happened. I still believe he is at school and he will be coming home at . 3pm but then he doesn’t. Memory: Owen's mother Joanne's favourite picture of her son which she carries with her at all times . 'The . pain and grief has not subsided and although I know they say time is a . great healer, I can say that time will not heal my wounds, it will not . make me forget. 'I will always remember Owen. It will always hurt that his life was ripped from this world so early.' At . an earlier court hearing the prosecution alleged police found . 'additional' damage to Renshaw’s car which had been inflicted on the . vehicle with a 'view to disguise what had taken place.' Elements of the prosecution case were disputed by the defendant and a Newton hearing was held last month but halted when Renshaw eventually admitted failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident. The court was told he was also banned from driving for six months when he was 17 for having no insurance. On the day of the accident, the court was told he was delivering a Father’s Day card and present to his parents’ home in Emley, West Yorkshire, when he hit Owen who had stepped out into the road in a residential area close to his home. Renshaw’s barrister Richard Clewes said his client never intended the accident to happen.He added: 'He’s devastated by the loss he has caused and is extremely sorry for it, and in so far as he can, apologise for it.' He said he was 'basically a decent . person' who had 'wrestled with his conscience' in the days after the . accident and voluntarily handed himself in. He . said his university life was now over and he would struggle with a . custodial sentence. Outside court, Mrs Wightman questioned Renshaw’s . remorse. She told reporters: 'We miss Owen so much. It gets harder and harder without him. Our lives will never be the same again. 'Ripped from this world so early': Owen's mother Joanne watched as emergency workers tried to resuscitate her son as he lay by the side of the road . 'This lad has shown no remorse and if anything positive is to come out of this, it is that young drivers are deterred from speeding by thinking about what this has done to a family and a little boy’s life.' Jane Cryer, District Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Owen Wightman’s life was cut tragically short and his family suffered a heartbreaking and irreparable loss. 'The Wightman family have been foremost in our minds as we have built the prosecution case in close co-operation with West Yorkshire Police.'
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Peter Renshaw, 22, killed Owen .
Wightman, who was crossing a road near his home in Wakefield, West .
Yorkshire, on June 18 last year .
Took .
three days to turn himself in to police despite stopping shortly after collision to check damage to his car .
He has previous convictions for possession of cannabis and driving without insurance .
Distraught mother Joanne told how she watched as her son was given CPR by the side of the road .
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By . Rachel Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 09:21 EST, 20 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:46 EST, 20 November 2013 . An ancient pocket of seawater has been discovered deep underground in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, and provides hints at what the world's oceans were like during the time of the dinoaurs. The sample is thought to be 100 to 150 million years old and suggests that the Atlantic was once twice as salty as it is now. The water contains chloride and bromide . as well as other chemicals which helped the scientists age it to the . Early Cretaceous Period. The water is thought to date back 150 million years, when the Acrocanthosaurus roamed Early Cretaceous North America (CGI of dinosaur, pictured) The Cretaceous Period refers to the state of the Earth 142 million to 65 million years ago. It ended with the greatest mass extinction in history - the entire planet's dinosaurs died out. It is thought that a giant asteroid impact caused the mass extinction. Prior to this, the Earth was warm with no ice caps at the poles. Much of what we now know as dry land - . such as southern England and the midwest of the USA was underwater, . since sea levels reached their highest ever during this time. The . Atlantic Ocean grew much wider as North and South America drew apart . from Europe and Africa. The Indian Ocean was formed at this time, and . the island that was India began its journey north towards Asia. While older water has been discovered in Canada, the Chesapeake Bay water that sits more than half a mile underground is now thought to be the oldest large body of water known on the planet. 'Previous evidence for temperature and salinity levels of geologic-era oceans around the globe have been estimated indirectly from various types of evidence in deep sediment cores,' said Ward Sanford, a United States Geological Survey research hydrologist and lead author of the investigation. 'In contrast, our study identifies ancient seawater that remains in place in its geologic setting, enabling us to provide a direct estimate of its age and salinity.' Scientists have described the finding as 'like a fly trapped in amber', which was trapped by the aid of a massive comet or meteorite impact that struck the area about 35 million years ago, creating Chesapeake Bay. The largest crater discovered in the U.S., the Chesapeake Bay impact crater is one of only a few oceanic impact craters that have been documented worldwide. The largest crater discovered in the U.S., the Chesapeake Bay impact crater is one of only a few oceanic impact craters that have been documented worldwide. Scientists have described the finding as 'like a fly trapped in amber'. It is thought to have been trapped by the aid of impact of a massive meteorite (CGI pictured) About 35 million years ago a huge rock or chunk of ice traveling through space blasted a 56-mile-wide hole in the shallow ocean floor near what is now the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The force of the impact ejected enormous amounts of debris into the atmosphere and spawned a train of gigantic tsunamis that probably reached as far as the Blue Ridge Mountains, more than 110 miles away. The impact of the comet or meteorite would have deformed and broken up the existing arrangement of aquifers - water bearing rocks - and confining units - layers of rock that restrict the flow of groundwater. Virginia's 'inland saltwater wedge' is a well-known phenomenon that is thought to be related to the impact crater. The outer rim of the crater appears to coincide with the boundary separating salty and fresh groundwater. 'We knew from previous observations that there is deep groundwater in quite a few areas in the Atlantic Coastal Plain around the Chesapeake Bay that have salinities higher than seawater,' said Jerad Bales, acting USGS Associate Director for Water. 'Various theories related to the crater impact have been developed to explain the origin of this high salinity. But, up to this point, no one thought that this was North Atlantic Ocean water that had essentially been in place for about 100 million years.' 'This study gives us confidence that we are working directly with seawater that dates far back in Earth’s history,' Bales continued. 'The study also has heightened our understanding of the geologic context of the Chesapeake Bay region as it relates to improving our understanding of hydrology in the region.' Groundwater found bubbling up from nearly two miles beneath the surface of Canada may predate the emergence of multicellular life, but it certainly doesn't taste great, a leading scientist claimed earlier this year. A joint British and Canadian team discovered the ancient pockets of water, which they say are like 'trapped time capsules' cut off from the surface for as long as three billion years. Barbara Sherwood Lollar, an Earth sciences professor at the University of Toronto, who was studying the water, described it as tasting 'terrible' after feeling compelled to take a sip. The water, that is still being studied, could be some of the oldest on the planet and may even contain life as it contains an abundance of chemicals known to support organisms in the absence of sunlight. More exciting still, the similarity between the rocks that trapped it and those on Mars raises the hope that comparable life sustaining water could be locked deep beneath the surface of the Red Planet. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she said that what jumps out at you first is the saltiness. She said: 'Because of the reactions between the water and the rock, it is extremely salty. 'It is more viscous than tap water. It has the consistency of a very light maple syrup. It doesn't have colour when it comes out, but as soon as it comes into contact with oxygen it turns an orangy colour because the minerals in it begin to form — especially the iron.' She added that 'you would definitely not want to drink this stuff'.
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Water was discovered deep underground in Chesapeake Bay, in Virgina .
While older water has been discovered, this water is now thought to be the oldest large body of water known .
on the planet .
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0fe331584b0ad0471cffef6c4833a35c12a35777
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Want to try your banana trick shot? What better place than this completely potty, fruit-shaped pool table? The bright yellow gaming table is the work of British artist Cléon Daniel. The 25-year-old from Dorset roped in a family friend to help construct what he has dubbed BananaPool. Pot yellow: This wacky banana shaped pool table is the invention of British artist Cléon Daniel . Cléon previously put out a well-received book called of hilarious drawings for zany designs called'Unventions'. He explains: 'I've always had ideas and made things, it's over the past couple of years that I've hadopportunity to take things further. 'The book was doing well and this encouraged me to keep developing my work, it was around thistime I had the idea for Banana Pool. The curved 8.5ft-long games table in bright yellow adds a unique new dimension to the game . 'The idea came to me in a matter of minutes on the train; I have the page in my notebook where Isort of lucidly scribbled it down. 'I was working on some ideas around decay and ageing, thought how many different signs/patternsthere are for this in nature, and how life's journey, although leading to the same thing is affectedalong the way by environment and intervention, like a game. 'I thought of a banana and imagined something extrinsic pushing the spots around on it and how thepattern could be used differently, and it just clicked.' Labour of love: Artist Cléon Daniel at work building the pool table in his Dorset studio . Eye catching: With the frame ready the bright yellow felt is laid to out to be cut to size . The resulting design was for an 8.5ft-long games table in bright yellow. 'I approached an old family friend and retired carpenter in April last year with the table idea, he wasamused, and happy to help me make it. 'Work started in May in his workshop in Dorset and I juggled as many afternoon and odd days perweek in the workshop with freelance photography jobs for about 9 months. Taking shape: Inventor Cléon had the idea for the table during a train trip . Final touches: The metal work for the pockets had to be custom made to fit the unique shape . 'There was no clear or accurate plan, we just took it step by step, the legs had to be pentagonal, andthe shape had to be right, I spent a lot of time perfecting it by hand on a massive sheet of ply, andclimbing up a ladder to check. 'We had a lot of laughs making it. My uncle kept complaining how 'nothing's straight forward with this'and 'you're bloody mad that's your problem'. 'As it started to take shape it was strange to walk round, the shape is so unexpected at certainangles, it seems to command attention. Inventor Cleon Daniel tries out one of the pockets for size .
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Bizarre gaming table is the work of British artist Cléon Daniel .
He came up with the idea for the 8.5ft-long yellow table during a train ride .
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By . Martin Beckford . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 23 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:15 EST, 23 November 2013 . A plan to pay £1,000 ‘bonuses’ to Special Constables has been branded ‘policing on the cheap’ and a cut-price way to fill the gap created by the loss of 10,000 full-time officers. At present Special Constables - volunteers often with other jobs - only receive expenses. The Home Office hopes that by allowing local forces to make the bonus payments it will help them recruit more Specials. Dispute: The chairman of the Police Federation Specials working group said the plan could be an attempt to fill gaps which should be taken by regular officers . But Andy Fittes, chairman of the Police Federation Specials working group, said: ‘Our fear is this could be policing on the cheap, trying to fill gaps which should be taken by regular officers.’ In some areas, Specials, along with civilian Police Community Support Officers, already make up the majority of key town centre patrols on busy Friday and Saturday nights. They are trained and have the power of arrest but are less experienced than regular officers, and may have work commitments that mean they have to cancel shifts at short notice. Mr Fittes added: ‘When you start to rely on a group of people who have day jobs, you could have a scenario where no one turns up. It’s nothing to do with them as individuals or their training – it’s just they have a job outside the force.’ Adam Simmonds, crime tsar for Northamptonshire, believes the bonus plan would transform policing, especially in rural areas. Replacements? The plan comes ahead of a report which will warn that cuts are threatening the survival of the traditional beat bobby . He said: ‘Specials are the only realistic way to bring the village bobby back as a familiar trusted face, stopping the police from being a remote bureaucracy for many rural people.’ But James Deller, secretary of the Association of Special Constabulary Chief Officers, said: ‘Specials are members of the public keeping their neighbourhoods safe. If you start paying people, will you get a different person coming forward?’ The plan comes as a major report due to be published tomorrow warns that cuts are threatening the survival of the traditional beat bobby. The study, commissioned by Labour and produced by former Met Commissioner Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, will say that 10,000 frontline officer posts have been lost as a result of a 20 per cent cut in force budgets since the 2010 Election. It will also say that police are only now reacting to crimes rather than preventing them, as ‘bobbies on the beat are disappearing’.
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Special Constables could be paid a bonus under new Government plans .
At the moment they only receive expenses for their work .
Police Federation has warned that it could replace qualified policemen .
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By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 08:56 EST, 10 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:59 EST, 10 March 2013 . Kimani Gray, 16, was fatally wounded late Saturday evening in Brooklyn after allegedly pointing a handgun at undercover police officers . A teenager in New York City was shot and killed by undercover police last night after they say he pointed a gun at them. Kimani Gray, 16, was shot in the leg and stomach when he pulled out a .357 revolver in East Flatbush, Brooklyn . Police say they came across a group of young men on Saturday evening when Gray began walking away from his friends as he saw police arrive. Officers say the 16-year old began to adjust his waistband and started to act suspiciously. Gray . then turned around and pointed a .357 caliber gun at them. When the two . plainclothes officers saw the weapon they responded by opening fire and . shot him. The teen was rushed to Kings County Hospital but later died. According to witnesses, when the two . cops arrived on the scene in an unmarked car, Gray was part of a group . of six teenagers standing by the side of the road. Scroll down for video . Shooting: Two plainclothes police officers fatally shot a 16-year-old in Brooklyn last night, after the teen allegedly pulled a loaded gun on them . Investigation: It's not clear how many shots were fired by the officers or whether they had identified themselves as police before the teenager drew a weapon. The police have said the revolver, (red box) was loaded . Brooklyn shooting: NYPD anti-crime patrol officers were in an unmarked car as the teenage gunman he stood with a group of friends outside an East 52nd Street building near Snyder Avenue . One of Gray's friends, Devonte Brown told the New York post: 'As the cops opened fire, he was screaming, ‘Stop! I’m not running!’ His friends have not explained exactly what caused the police officers to shoot. Handgun: A .357 revolver - similar to the one police say Kimani Gray, 16, was carrying before they shot him. NYPD have said the gun was loaded with four bullets . Two shots: NYPD say they shot Kimani Gray after he pulled a gun on them. Gray was part of a group of young men police came across on Saturday evening in East Flatbush, Brooklyn . Police say Gray's gun was loaded with four bullets but have not yet determined whether the teenager fired his weapon. The teenager had been in trouble with the law before, having been arrested three times since October and had previously been charged with grand larceny and inciting a riot.
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NYPD shot and killed a 16-year-old gunman after police say he pointed a gun at officers .
Teenager was spotted by anti-crime patrol officers in an unmarked police car .
Officers saw the teenager fidgeting with his waistband as he walked away from the group of men .
When police approached to speak with the young man, cops say he turned on them and aimed a .357 caliber revolver at them .
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0fe4b6f2566f6124687c6f0a6db663309bf89c17
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The traditional fillings for French eclairs are cream or confectioner’s custard — delicious. But would they be quite so appetising if they were filled with goat’s cheese, salmon mousse or caviar? Harrods has created a range of savoury pastries for its food hall. Harrods have launched a new range of pastries, with traditional eclair fillings swapped for products such as goat's cheese . Another one of their new eclair features caviar, pictured, while another contains salmon mousse . As well as goat’s cheese, balsamic vinegar and caramelised walnut eclairs (£5.95), there are smoked salmon millefeuilles made with layers of flaky pastry, anchovy, caviar and coriander. If you’re not a big fan of pastries, there are savoury tiramisu-type desserts made with pumpkin and truffle, cauliflower and salmon, or pea and lobster mousses. The piece de resistance is an extraordinary-looking salmon gateau decorated with caviar balls and cream cheese ‘icing’. The offerings come at a time when stores attempt to lure customers with a range of unusual products. Reindeer carpaccio is to feature among the luxury delicacies being offered by budget supermarket Lidl this Christmas. Packs of the thinly sliced raw meat will feature in the ‘Deluxe’ range that the thriving German chain hopes will draw in shoppers who would normally go to the other major retailers. Lidl, who are also offering reindeer carpaccio as part of their luxury Deluxe range for Christmas . Although the meat is mainly considered a Scandinavian delicacy, Lidl has had some success selling reindeer steaks in Britain, and believes consumers are now ready to eat the meat in its raw form. It is one of 59 products being added to the budget chain’s upmarket range, taking the total number of luxury goods to 224. The list also includes whole serrano hams at £39.99, gingerbread houses at £4.49, a whole lobster for £5.99, scallops at £3.99, champagne at £11.99 and Rioja Riserva at £5.99.
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Department store is offering French eclairs with goat's cheese and caviar .
There are also salmon millefeuilles made with flaky pastry and anchovies .
Piece de resistance is a salmon gateau with caviar balls and cream cheese .
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A 5-year-old boy was sent home on his first day of kindergarten after school officials said his hair was too long. Malachi Wilson, who is half Native American and a member of the Navajo Nation, was dismissed from F. J. Young Elementary in Seminole, Texas for violating school policy that states boys can't have hair that is longer than the collar of their shirt, or wear ponytails. Many Native Americans believe that hair is scared, and cutting it is a manifestation of loss. Scroll down for video . Kicked out: 5-year-old Malachi Wilson was sent home from F. J. Young Elementary in Seminole, Texas on his first day of school because of his long hair, and told he needed to cut it to return . Heartbreaking: 'How do you explain to a 5-year-old that he’s being turned away because of what he believes in?' asked April Wilson, Malachi's mother . 'After we had enrolled him he was excited. He was ready to go. Everyday it was the question, "Mom, [am I] going to school?"' his mother, April Wilson, told KOSA. No sooner had he arrived however, than Malachi was sent home, with an order from the school's principal, Sherrie Warren, to cut his hair if he wanted to return. Adding insult to injury, when his mother protested his dismissal, noting her son's Native American religious beliefs, Miss Wilson demanded she show proof of his heritage. Once she had provided formal proof Malachi was indeed Native American, he was allowed to return to school, but the young boy still seems hurt. 'It was a sad day,' he said of being sent home. 'It’s kind of heartbreaking because how do you explain to a 5-year-old that he’s being turned away because of what he believes in? Because of his religion, because of what’s part of him,' his mother added. 'Our hair is sacred to us.' Proof: Malachi's mother April was asked to obtain formal paperwork of her son's Navajo heritage, and bring it to the school . School policy: The Seminole Independent School District does not allow boys to have hair that goes past their collars, or wear ponytails . She said she has not ruled out filing a discrimination lawsuit against the district. School district officials say they followed procedure, and pointed out the rule in their handbook that says, 'certain recognized religious or spiritual beliefs may qualify for an exception from provisions of the dress code.' Interestingly enough, the school's mascot is a Seminole, with long hair. Similar case: Adriel Arocha, a member of the Lipan Apache, tribe was was also sent home from school for having long hair in 2008. His family took their case to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and won . Malachi's story is very similar to that of another Texas kindergartner, Adriel Arocha, who is also Native American and was also sent home for having hair that was deemed too long by officials in his school district back in 2008. Adriel, a member of the Lipan Apache tribe, and his family were told by the Needville Independent School District that he must either cut or conceal his hair. The family eventually took their case to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after the district refused to give Adriel an exemption for religious beliefs, and in 2010 a judge ruled in the family's favor.
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Malachi Wilson, 5, is a member of the Navajo Nation, who believe hair is sacred and should not be cut .
He was sent home on the first day of school, and his mother told by the school's principal his hair would have to be cut for him to return .
The young boy's school, F. J. Young Elementary in Seminole, Texas, says boys cannot have hair past their collar or wear ponytails .
'It was a sad day,' said the youngster of his dismissal from school .
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(CNN) -- The political pyrotechnics of a face-to-face encounter between U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could eclipse a spectacular fireworks show set to illuminate the Normandy coastline to commemorate the D-Day anniversary. French President Francois Hollande has gone to great lengths to prevent such an uncomfortable meeting. On Thursday evening, Hollande dined with Obama before hosting a separate dinner with Putin. Talk about awkward dinner parties. Obama and Putin are among the leaders invited to take part in French ceremonies Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which helped change the course of World War II. The two are likely to cross paths in France, Obama said, but no formal talks have been announced. If they should speak, Obama has said, he will give Putin the same message on Ukraine that he has given him in phone calls over past weeks and in his public statements. On Thursday, after a meeting of G7 leaders in Brussels, Belgium, from which Russia was excluded, Obama offered stern words about Russia's actions in Ukraine. Putin "has a chance to get back into a lane of international law," Obama said. Obama said Putin could start by recognizing Ukraine's new President-elect Petro Poroshenko, stopping the flow of weapons over the border into Ukraine and ceasing Russian support for pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine. Putin, in an interview with French television station TF1, did not discount the possibility of meeting with Obama. "As for my relations with Barack Obama, I have no reason whatsoever to believe he is not willing to talk to the President of Russia," he said. "But ultimately, it is his choice. I am always ready for dialogue, and I think that dialogue is the best way to bridge any gaps." The D-Day events also could bring Putin and Ukraine's Poroshenko face to face. Asked if he would speak with Ukraine's new leader, Putin said he will not "evade" Poroshenko or anyone else. "There will be other guests, and I'm not going to avoid any of them. I will talk with all of them," he said, according to the Kremlin's translation. CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.
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Obama and Putin could come face to face in France at D-Day commemoration .
French President Hollande dined with Obama before separate dinner with Putin .
No formal talks have been announced; Putin says he won't avoid anyone .
Obama said he would reiterate comments on Ukraine if leaders meet .
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Bloomberg: 'Protesters are taking jobs away from the city' These are the shocking scenes that have led some people to accuse the Occupy Wall Street protesters living rough in New York's financial district of creating unsanitary and filthy conditions. Exclusive pictures obtained by Mail Online show one demonstrator relieving himself on a police car. Elsewhere we found piles of stinking refuse clogging Zuccotti Park, despite the best efforts of many of the protesters to keep the area clean. The shocking images demonstrate the extent to which conditions have deteriorated as demonstrations in downtown Manhattan enter their fourth week. Further pictures seen by Mail Online have been censored, as we deemed them too graphic to show. Raw sewer: An unidentified man seen defecates on a NYPD patrol car in downtown Manhattan . Smelly: Trash builds up at the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations . Pile: The rubbish has been building up in Zuccotti Park for days now . According to eye witnesses, when people ran to tell nearby police about the man defecating on the squad car they were ignored. Standing downwind of the piles of rubbish, bankers walking past the man did a double take before hurrying away. Brookfield Office . Properties, which owns Zuccotti Park, the site of the New York . demonstration, have already railed against protesters, who they claim are creating sanitation problems. 'Sanitation . is a growing concern,' Brookfield said in a statement. Despite claiming to represent 'the 99 per cent', not all Americans are behind the Wall Street protests. But according to the Financial Times, the President himself is unofficially backing their cause. The paper wrote: 'While not endorsing the protests, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have expressed understanding of the movement that has spread rapidly across the country. 'Mr Obama said people were angry because Wall Street had not been 'following the rules'. 'His vice-president even compared the movement on Thursday to the Tea Party, the conservative movement which has upended national politics in the past two years.' 'Normally . the . park is cleaned and inspected every week night. . . because the . protesters refuse to cooperate. . .the park has not been cleaned since . Friday, September 16th and as a result, sanitary conditions have reached . unacceptable levels,' CBS News reported. Although . many of the protesters are understood to be making strenuous efforts to . clean up after themselves, after three weeks of occupation, the strain . of hundreds of people living on the street has begun to take its toll. The authorities today warned of a dramatic crackdown on Wall Street demonstrators, as the protests spread across America. NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly has promised that if protesters targeted the police, authorities will respond with 'force.' Kelly blamed activists for starting the skirmishes with police that led to 28 arrests yesterday. Most were arrested for disorderly behaviour, CBS News reported. Crackdown: Police have promised to get tough on protesters. At least 10 were arrested Friday outside Bank of America in downtown Manhattan . Spreading fury: A protester takes part in an "Occupy Austin" protest in Texas . 'They’re going to be met with force when they do that — this is just common sense,' Kelly said. 'These people wanted to have confrontation with the police for whatever reason. Somehow, I guess it works to their purposes.' Mayor . Bloomberg added his voice to the furore, accusing the Wall Street . demonstrators of putting the city's economy at risk, the New York Post . reported. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg attacked protesters today, saying the demonstrations were harming the city. He said: 'What they're trying to do is take the jobs away from people working in this city. 'They're trying to take away the tax base we have because none of this is good for tourism.' Rubbish dump: Trash has built up in spite of best efforts by some demonstrators . Spreading disorder: Unrest is growing in a dozen US cities including Austin, Texas (pictured) Harsh backlash: The authorities have promised a crackdown on Wall Street demonstrators such as this one in Broadway, New York . 'What they're trying to do is take the jobs away from people working in this city,' the mayor said. 'They're trying to take away the tax base we have because none of this is good for tourism.' 'If the jobs they are trying to get rid of in this city -- the people that work in finance, which is a big part of our economy-- we're not going to have any money to pay our municipal employees or clean the blocks or anything else.' Supporter: American television personality and political commentator Keith Olbermann visits the protest . Growing discontent: Protesters gather in Minneapolis as authorities accuse demonstrators of putting the economy at risk . Wide ranging issues: The protests have covered a wide range of issues. Anti-Obama demonstrator in Jersey City . Union support: Protestor Julia Botello, 85, shouts as she leaves a Bank of America branch in downtown Los Angeles . Protests against corporate greed and economic inequality spread across America on Thursday. The Occupy Wall Street movement, that began in New York last month with a few people, has now swelled to protests in more than a dozen cities. They included Tampa, Florida; Trenton and Jersey City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Norfolk, Virginia in the East; to Chicago and St. Louis in the Midwest; Houston, San Antonio and Austin in Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Portland, Oregon, Seattle and Los Angeles in the West. Spreading unrest: Protesters gather on the front steps of the Idaho Capitol in Boise, Idaho on Wednesday . Coming down hard: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly have promised a crackdown . Widening demonstrations: Protests have now spread across many major cities in America such as Las Vegas, shown here . Protesters have raged against corporate greed and influence over American life, the gap between rich and poor, and hapless, corrupt politicians. 'I'm fed up with the government, I'm fed up with the bailouts. If I fail at my job, I don't get a bonus -- I get fired,' said Tim Lucas, 49, vice president of a software company, who was protesting in Austin. Hundreds of people have been arrested in New York since the protests began last month. On Wednesday, the biggest crowd so far of about 5,000 people marched on New York's financial district, and police used pepper spray on some protesters. But protests for the most part have been non-violent. Organisers predict momentum will continue to build, as labour movements join the growing numbers. 'This is the beginning,' said John Preston in Philadelphia, business manager for Teamsters Local 929. 'Teamsters will support the movement city to city.' Hula girl: A female protester entertains the passing crowds at Wall Street . Solidarity: Protester affiliated with the Occupy Las Vegas movement, takes part in a march earlier this week . Moral outrage: The demonstrators are protesting what they believe is greed and corruption among banking and business leaders . In Philadelphia, up to 1,000 protesters chanted and waved placards reading: 'I did not think 'By the People, For the People' meant 1 percent,' a reference to their argument the country's top few have too much wealth and political power. In Los Angeles, more than 100 protesters crowded outside a Bank of America branch downtown, while a smaller group dressed in business attire slipped inside and pitched a tent. Eleven were arrested when they refused to remove the tent. In Washington, protesters carried signs that read: 'Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed' and 'Stop the War on Workers.' 'I believe the American dream is truly in jeopardy,' said protester Darrell Bouldin, 25, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 'There are so many people like me in Tennessee who are fed up with the Wall Street gangsters.' In San Antonio, protesters gathered at the city's Confederate War Veterans Monument and chanted: 'The banks got bailed out, we got sold out.'
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Bloomberg: 'Protesters are taking jobs away from the city'
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The man who was mauled by a pack of lions after jumping into their enclosure at Barcelona Zoo, is a former police officer who now spends his time as a neo Nazi activist. Justo Jose, 45, remains in intensive care with serious injuries after he climbed into the lions' den, where he was attacked by three of the animals for about half-an-hour before he could be rescued. It has now emerged that that as well as being a former head of the municipal police force in Gelida near Barcelona, he had also spent 13 years working as a Civil Guard, but has been on paid leave from the force since earlier this year. A male lion lies down on top of a 45-year-old man, who jumped into the lions' enclosure at Barcelona Zoo . Mauled: The man has been left with serious injuries after jumping into a lion enclosure at Barcelona zoo . Jose told a local reporter earlier this year how he went on extended leave after he lost custody of his son, divorced his wife, and lost his mother. He also described himself as a survivalist, claiming he slept in the countryside most nights with just a poncho to cover his face although friends let him use their homes to shave and wash. In September he got past a police cordon at an official ceremony and set fire to a Catalan flag in front of TV crews. Last month he was arrested in Barcelona city centre after draping banners emblazoned with Swastikas over the famous Casa Mila building in an anti-abortion protest. Yesterday afternoon, Jose appeared by the lion enclosure at the zoo, dressed in military uniform, climbed over railings and began scaling one of the walls in the enclosure before being picked up by one of the animals and thrown into a pit. One of the female lions carries her loot in her mouth - the 45-year-old's backpack . The man was picked up by one of the animals after he jumped into the enclosure, and thrown into a pit . The 45-year-old was rescued around 30 minutes later, covered in scratches and bite marks. He was taken to the city's Hospital de la Vall D'Hebron where he remains in a serious but not life-threatening condition. According to Spanish reports, Jose climbed over fencing to enter the enclosure as horrified tourists watched on. Footage of the bizarre incident shows him scaling one of the enclosure's walls before being tossed by the leg into a pit by a lioness. He emerged some 30 minutes later after fire fighters used hoses to fight the animals off of him. Fire fighters were forced to use power hoses to scare the lions away from the man's body after he jumped into their enclosure in Barcelona Zoo . Police and ambulance staff care for the man who suffered scratches and bite marks, but is not in a life-threatening condition . Zoo keepers said the animals were not trying to kill the man but were merely attempting to play with him . Both staff at the zoo and emergency services said that it is clear that Jose's stunt was deliberate. 'The security system makes it impossible for a person to fall into the enclosure. It cannot have been by accident, to enter (the enclosure) you have to want to go in,' said chief fire fighter of the Bomberos de Barcelona, Hector Carmona. While he emerged from the enclosure covered in bite marks and scratches, zoo keepers have insisted the lions were merely trying to play with him, Spanish news outlet 20minutos reports. 'The intention was not to kill him, they were just trying to play with him, Ignasi Armengol, director of Barcelona Municipal Services said.'
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Man entered the lion enclosure at Barcelona Zoo in army dress .
Justo Jose, 45, is a former police chief-turned-Nazi activist .
He was dragged into a tunnel by the animals before being rescued .
Emerged covered in scratches and bite marks, local newspapers report .
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Schools across the country reported problems as Nick Clegg’s flagship policy of giving free meals to all young children was introduced yesterday. The initiative was hailed a ‘massive success’ by the Liberal Democrats, but even schools in Mr Clegg’s Sheffield backyard admitted they couldn’t cook their own hot meals. Nine primaries in the city are bussing in meals cooked at neighbouring schools amid claims of a £400,000 shortfall in funds to upgrade kitchens. Food for thought: Nick Clegg marking yesterday's launch of his flagship meals policy at a school in London . Reports also emerged of canteen renovations over-running and deliveries of vital equipment such as tables and chairs failing to turn up. One school is offering hot meals on a ‘first come, first served’ basis while another even considered serving airline food supplied by local airports before opting for cold sandwiches. As they battle to implement the controversial £1billion policy, some schools are seating children for lunch in classrooms, music rooms or Portakabins because they lack dining space. Others are running three lunch sittings, restricting pupils’ choice of food and asking seven-year-olds to serve drinks to younger pupils to take pressure off staff. Lib Dem Schools Minister David Laws declared the scheme, which involves offering free lunches to all four to seven-year-olds, a ‘massive success’, while Mr Clegg insisted that giving children hot lunches can be better for their learning than extra English and maths lessons. The Deputy Prime Minister said that ‘giving a healthy hot meal at lunchtime is as, if not more, effective than many of the, say, literacy and numeracy initiatives which have been undertaken in the past in the classroom’. Teething problems? Schools in his own constituency could not cook hot food for pupils on the first day . But critics claim the educational and health benefits touted by Mr Clegg have yet to be rigorously proven. They also claim councils and schools have been forced to raid other budgets to push the initiative through because the Government failed to properly fund it. Oliver Coppard, Labour’s candidate against Mr Clegg in next year’s national polls, said: ‘In trying to get this policy in place before the General Election, Nick Clegg has – as usual – over-promised and under-delivered.’ At Dudley Infant Academy in Hastings, East Sussex, hot meals are on a ‘first come, first served basis’, with a cold packed lunch available as an alternative. In Portsmouth, Solent Infant School will use its music room as a lunch area and a Portakabin has been installed at Devonshire Infant School to provide additional dining space. Bournemouth Council said 12 primary schools – half of the town’s total – will start the year by offering free cold packed lunches to some or all of its key stage one pupils rather than hot meals. Nick Clegg yesterday made a string of assertions about why his policy was destined to be an overwhelming success. Here, Home Affairs Editor JAMES SLACK sorts the claims from the reality. CLAIM: All the evidence, and this has been stress-tested and analysed, shows it has a dramatic effect on educational performance. REALITY: The Department for Education’s own evaluation of pilots in London and Durham found a 1.9 percentage point increase in the proportion of pupils reaching the expected level in reading at Key Stage 1 and a 2.2 percentage point increase for maths. Critics says that, overall, this is barely statistically significant. For the highest performing children, there was no positive impact. Crucially, the authors of the study admit the reasons for the improvement in overall performance were not clear. The pilots included a wider programme to promote healthy eating, such as providing advice to parents, which may also be responsible. CLAIM: It is good for children’s health. REALITY: The evaluation stated there was no evidence the two-year pilot led to significant health benefits. For instance, it found ‘there was no evidence of any change in children’s Body Mass Index’. Researchers also found the pilot did not appear to significantly improve children’s behaviour or absence rates from school. CLAIM: The policy is about having children share a healthy meal together at lunchtime rather than having children parcelled off, one group at one end of the room on free school meals and the other not. REALITY: Russell Hobby, of the National Association of Head Teachers, said he could think of no examples in ‘living memory’ of schools segregating pupils who receive free school meals. CLAIM: I strongly dispute this idea that as we balance the books we don’t do more to invest in a future in which every boy and girl irrespective of their birth gets the best possible chances in life. REALITY: The key point. Firstly, with the deficit still running at more than £100billion, the Government is not ‘balancing the books’. The money to pay for school meals amounts to £1billion of extra borrowing. Many head teachers argue it could be spent far better elsewhere. Coincidentally, councils warned last month of a £1bn shortfall in the funding they need to provide the school places needed to cope with Britain’s rapidly growing population. The number of children in classes of more than 30 has increased by 200 per cent since 2010 – breaking the Prime Minister’s promise to create ‘small schools with smaller class sizes’. Julian Rutherford, of Principals Catering, which supplies schools in the South East, said: ‘We are ready to launch the expanded free meals policy but it is likely there will be teething problems. ‘We are having to transport food into 16 schools which do not have kitchens, mostly in Faversham and Sittingbourne.’ In Somerset, the BBC reported that 46 schools out of 201 are unable to provide hot meals. In Buckinghamshire, the figure was 45 out of 159. Lynda Mitchell, contracts manager for North Somerset Council, said she had been ‘almost reduced to tears… by builders not meeting agreed deadlines and not apparently caring’. Jo Wotton, a catering manager for five schools in Cornwall, tweeted that one school was refusing to offer free meals at all ‘until they get their kitchen in October’. Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: ‘There will be some schools that will be providing a cold meal this term while they wait for the building work to finish off. ‘The logistics of getting large numbers of children through, how you schedule the timings of lunch and whether you’ve got kids eating in their classrooms or not – all that will be quite difficult for schools. They’ll manage it but it’ll put a huge burden on them.’ Some £1billion has been earmarked over two years to cover the cost of meals, while £150million has been spent upgrading kitchens, with an additional £22.5million going to smaller schools. The Department for Education said only 239 out of 16,500 schools would be providing a cold meal instead of a hot one this week. Mr Laws said: ‘I am absolutely delighted that our statistics, which come from local authorities and schools, show that 98.5 per cent of schools across the country – 16,500 schools – are delivering a hot meal option from the start of term.’ It was a ‘massive success’, he said.
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Nick Clegg launched flagship policy of free means nationwide yesterday .
But schools in his own constituency Sheffield couldn't cook hot food .
Reports also emerged of vital equipment, tables and chairs not turning up .
How is your child’s school coping with the free meals policy? Please email us on schoolmeals@dailymail.co.uk .
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Former England captain Martin Corry doubts Sam Burgess has enough time to prove himself worthy of a place in Stuart Lancaster's World Cup squad. Burgess was officially unveiled by Aviva Premiership club Bath on Thursday after completing his high-profile move from rugby league. The 25-year-old Yorkshireman will have to wait until December for his debut as he recovers from a fractured cheekbone and eye socket and Corry fears England 2015 may come to soon. Sam Burgess poses for the cameras at The Rec at his Bath unveiling on Thursday . Burgess chats to his new Bath team-mate George Ford at The Rec on Friday . Burgess played for England 13 times in the 13-man code, scoring seven tries . 'I don't want to get caught up in all this hype,' Corry told BBC Radio 5 Live. 'Sam has to come out and prove himself. The timeframe does scare me - can someone be fast-tracked so quickly?' Doubt hangs over Burgess' best position in union with Bath viewing him as a back row, while England have identified him as a possible solution to their long-term problems at inside centre. Corry, who won 64 caps in a distinguished Test career that ended in 2007, believes Burgess' power game and offloading skills are best suited to the midfield. 'Bath want him in the back row and England want him in the centre,' Corry said. Corry (centre) was part of the England squad that finished runners-up at the 2007 World Cup . 'The danger is Bath may have the problems Andy Farrell had with his integration, whereby Saracens started using him in the back row before realising he should be playing in the centres. 'I'd like to see him play at 12 because that's where England could use him and the position where he could be a game changer in exactly the same way Sonny Bill Williams is used by New Zealand. 'The problem is that Bath's two centres are playing some phenomenal rugby. 'Do they leave out Kyle Eastmond for someone who is as yet unproven?' Burgess' fellow league convert Kyle Eastmond has been in sensational form for Bath playing at inside centre . England coach Lancaster is keen to let Burgess settle at the Recreation Ground. 'Obviously I've spoken to him during the period when we knew he was going to arrive here, but I'll leave him pretty much to bed in at Bath,' Lancaster said earlier this week. 'I'm sure he'll have one eye on our games, but I think he'll need to get bedded in at Bath.'
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Sam Burgess joined Bath this week after switching from rugby league .
Rugby World Cup takes places in England in a year's time .
Burgess mooted as either an inside centre or No 8 .
Martin Corry worries Burgess won't have time to adapt to union .
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Mike Phelan is set to make an swift return to coaching by joining Hull City as number two to manager Steve Bruce. The former Manchester United assistant manager quit his coaching role at Carrow Road in the wake of Alex Neil’s shock appointment as Norwich boss. It looks like being a brief spell away from the game for Sir Alex Ferguson’s one-time deputy at Old Trafford, though, following claims on Humberside that he is set to join Hull’s coaching staff as assistant to Bruce. Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has left his role as Norwich first-team coach . Phelan, in discussion with new Norwich manager Alex Neil, has departed the Championship club . Phelen is set to join Premier League side Hull's coaching staff as Steve Bruce's number two . Ex-United centre-back Bruce has seen Hull slip into relegation trouble in recent weeks and is thought to view the vastly-experienced Phelan’s arrival as a move that will provide fresh impetus for his struggling side. Hull have only managed four Premier League wins all season and are currently on a run of three straight defeats without scoring. Phelan spent five years as assistant manager at United but left the club after Ferguson's retirement in 2013 following the appointment of David Moyes. The former defender joined Norwich, for whom he played between 1985 and 1989, as first team coach in November last year but, after a short spell as caretaker manager following the resignation of Neil Adams, but left his role after Neil took charge.
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Mike Phelan spent five years as Alex Ferguson's No 2 at Manchester United .
Phelan joined Norwich as first-team coach in November last year .
The 52-year-old is set to join struggling Hull as assistant to Steve Bruce .
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0feb009b1a66e4579904098c597aa0069844dbbe
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The extraordinary revelation this week that the Internal Revenue Service targeted tea party groups for more aggressive enforcement highlights exactly why caution is needed in any response to the much-vilified Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. It also shows how all Americans, from the most liberal to the most conservative, should closely guard their First Amendment rights, and why giving the government too much power to limit political speech will inevitably result in selective enforcement against unpopular groups. To the agency's credit, Lois Lerner, a senior official at the IRS, apologized on Friday for these unconstitutional practices, which are as unseemly as the Bush administration's targeting of the NAACP and the House of Representatives' defunding of Planned Parenthood on purely political grounds. Lerner said that career IRS staff who were reviewing applicants for tax-exempt status took a harder look at applications with "tea party" or "patriot" in their names. She stressed that the added scrutiny was done as a "shortcut," not out of "political bias." But her admission calls into question earlier claims by the agency that IRS scrutiny wasn't politically motivated, and it comes in the face of repeated complaints by right-wing groups that they have been treated unfairly. Collins says IRS revelations will fuel distrust in government . Before addressing the obvious constitutional concerns with the selective use of the tax code against political opponents, here's some background. Certain public interest groups, like charities and nonprofit athletic organizations, do not have to pay federal income tax on their donations or dues. These tax-exempt groups include 501(c)(4) organizations (named for the relevant section of the code). To qualify, a group must be "operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare." The definition of "social welfare" is broad, and applies to all points of view. The ACLU's lobbying arm, for which we work, is a 501(c)(4). So is the National Right to Life Committee. These social welfare groups are forbidden from engaging in too much partisan political activity. How much is too much, however, is controversial and remains uncertain. An organization that crosses over the fuzzy line will be denied tax-exempt status. Crucially, 501(c)(4) organizations, in most cases, need not publicly disclose their donors. That policy is driven by the same concerns that prompted the Supreme Court in a civil rights-era case, NAACP v. Alabama, to prohibit that state from forcing the NAACP to out its members as a condition of operating. The court reasoned, rightly, that such disclosure could lead to violence against existing members and would dissuade potential members from joining at all. Now, during the past couple of elections there has been a surge in applications for 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. Some argue that these new groups are being created specifically to help elect or defeat candidates, which would otherwise prompt full donor disclosure to the Federal Election Commission. Opponents claim these groups are abusively claiming tax-exempt status to keep their donor lists secret. Some further claim that these groups then allow wealthy individuals, corporations, and unions to anonymously funnel large amounts of money into ads supporting or attacking political candidates. As a consequence, the IRS has been under enormous pressure to speed up and aggressively investigate applications for tax-exempt status -- both reasonable demands, if carried out impartially. But much of this outside pressure has come from the left and has been directed at conservative groups, who have an advantage in this "dark" political money. It sounds as though the events surrounding the IRS announcement can be partly attributed to this growth in applications and the pressure to uncover "sham" 501(c)(4) groups. Although the IRS claims this was an honest mistake, these revelations are troubling on many levels. For instance, there are several proposals circulating in Washington right now that would make it much easier for the IRS and other regulators to force political groups to disclose their donors. These disclosure requirements would apply even when the group is advocating purely on an issue of public interest, from clean air to abortion, and would apply to groups of all political persuasions and not just to groups supporting or opposing candidates for office. The ACLU has expressed concern with these disclosure requirements precisely because they open the door to selective enforcement. Such concerns are often dismissed as speculative and overly pessimistic, but the IRS apology shows that concerns over selective enforcement are prescient. Those in power will always be tempted to use political speech restrictions against opposing candidates or causes. The IRS announcement demonstrates that we should carefully consider any new policy that allows the government to restrict or chill political speech, including broader donor disclosure requirements. Congress and the administration should also act immediately to create ironclad checks on the IRS to prevent this from ever happening again. It shouldn't need to be said: Even the tea party deserves First Amendment protection.
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IRS targeted tea party groups for more aggressive tax law enforcement .
Authors say politically motivated enforcement is a risk of efforts to counter Citizens United ruling .
IRS has been under pressure from the left to crack down on conservative groups, they say .
Authors: Administration, Congress need to enact ironclad rules to prevent repetition .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:47 EST, 19 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:07 EST, 19 January 2013 . Appointed: John Witherow takes over as acting editor of the Times after 18 years at the helm of the Sunday Times . A new interim editor of The Times has been announced despite opposition from the newspaper's independent directors. John Witherow, editor of the Sunday Times for the past 18 years, takes over from James Harding, who stood down last month. Mr Witherow is understood to have been the choice of Rupert Murdoch, chairman of The Times's parent company, who is thought to want to merge both titles in a seven-day operation. Such a move could mean waiving legal undertakings Mr Murdoch signed in 1981 to keep the titles separate. The deputy editor of the Sunday Times, Martin Ivens, has been made its acting editor. Mr Witherow, 60 tomorrow, will start at The Times immediately subject to formal approval by The Times independent directors, said News International chief executive Mike Darcey said in a statement . He added: 'Following a meeting of the independent national directors yesterday we welcome their clear understanding of the very difficult financial position of our newspapers and therefore the need to address the undertakings given in 1981. 'A thorough assessment of the undertakings will enable them to make recommendations to us and to government as to how the newspapers can be structured in order to reduce their costs and become economically viable. 'However, during this interim period of continued consultation over the undertakings, we still have a responsibility to provide these two newspapers and their journalists with strong and stable leadership.' Backing: Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch with new Times acting editor John Witherow . Mr Harding left his post last month. He said it had been made clear to him that the publishers wanted to . appoint a new editor. Mr Witherow was seen as the favourite to succeed him, but the reshuffle . has been delayed amid rows over the possible merger of the two . titles. Talks between News International and the paper's independent directors are now effectively at a stand-off, according to the BBC. News International management had expected Mr Witherow's appointment to be formally approved at a meeting two days ago. New editor: The Times and John Witherow when he took over at the Sunday Times 18 years ago . The six independent directors include Veronica Wadley, a former editor of the London Evening . Standard; Rupert Pennant-Rea, a former editor of the Economist and . deputy governor of the Bank of England; and Stephen Grabiner, a venture . capitalist who previously held senior commercial posts at the Daily . Telegraph and the Daily Express. Mr Murdoch signed legal undertakings . with Margaret Thatcher's government that The Times and Sunday Times had . to be kept separate. The appointment of The Times editor had to be approved by the paper's . independent national directors to protect editorial freedom. But other newspaper groups like the Daily Telegraph are now moving to seven-day working, to cope with . tougher financial conditions in the industry. The . BBC said that it understood News International has taken informal . advice from the Department of Culture Media and Sport, over whether the . government might allow the undertakings to be lifted and how that might be done. News International says it has 'more immediate priorities' than a merger .
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John Witherow takes over after 18 years at Sunday Times .
Murdoch understood to favour a merger of titles in 7-day operation .
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