id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 48
15.9k
| highlights
stringlengths 14
7.39k
|
|---|---|---|
114a0d4636f88a47a3b7ebc9ee8f3341127e4c73
|
(CNN) -- What do you do when your 10-year-old son wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, "There's a 'roo in my room!" Beat Ettlin wrestled a kangaroo out of his house near Canberra after it crashed through a window. If you're Beat Ettlin, you wrest the marsupial into a headlock, drag it down your hallway and toss it out your front door. Ettlin and his family were woken early Sunday when a 6-foot-tall kangaroo crashed through a window, landed on their bed and thrashed around their house in the suburb of Garran, south of the capital of Canberra, Australia. "At first, he (my husband) thought it was a lunatic ninja," said Ettlin's wife, Verity Beman. "It leaped through the window, this martial-arts kind of figure. It was very Jackie Chan." The family's one-story house is in a suburb that butts against a kangaroo reserve. About 2 a.m. Sunday, their dog began barking furiously. Possibly possums, they thought. The family had put up with possums scampering across their roof every night since they moved in three weeks ago. Moments later, the window was smashed and a black figure landed on their bed. Ettlin, after gathering his wits about him, exclaimed, "It's OK. It's only a kangaroo," Beman recalled. "I was cowered under the quilt, thinking, 'No, it's not OK,'" she said. The kangaroo jumped on top of the blanket that Beman and her 9-year-old daughter were hiding under. It then leaped onto the nightstand, punched holes in the furniture and left blood stains on the wall as it bounced into their son's room. "That's when his male instinct kicked in," Beman said of her husband. After putting the 90-pound creature in a choke hold, Ettlin kept it low to the ground and pulled it toward the front door. He knew that kangaroos carry their strength on their hind legs, Beman said. "He held it by one arm. He opened the front door with the other, then the screen door," she said. "It bounced across our veranda and bounced away." Ettlin is a chef, originally from the Swiss city of Stans. Beman thinks he would not have tackled the kangaroo so readily were he Australian. "They would be fully aware of the risk," she said. The house in shambles -- with blood and shattered glass everywhere -- Ettlin stood surveying the damage in his shredded underpants. Scratch marks ran down his leg, but otherwise he was fine. "I kept marveling at what he did," Beman said. "I called him my hero. My hero in Bonds undies."
|
Beat Ettlin wrestles with kangaroo that leapt through window into house .
Kangaroo jumped into son's room but Ettlin got it in a headlock .
Wife: "It leaped through the window, this martial-arts figure. It was very Jackie Chan"
|
114b38450df4b25d1561e76e9cacf047be7cb1b2
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:55 EST, 4 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 5 November 2013 . As the beleaguered Motor City searches for help out of its deep economic holes, voters seem prepared to shake things up Tuesday by electing the first white mayor in 40 years. Former healthcare executive Mike Duggan, 55, is known for pulling Detroit's hospital system from the brink of bankruptcy and the 82 percent black city is poised to choose him over their history of choosing a mayor who looks like they do. If Duggan beats his African-American opponent, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, it will be a first since Coleman Young set a new precedent as the city's first black mayor in 1974. And the win appears likely. A poll released last week showed Napoleon lagging well behind Duggan, who also holds an almost 3-to-1 fundraising and spending edge. 'The White Guy': Mike Duggan, the leader of beleaguered Detroit's mayoral race, would become the city's first white mayor since 1974 if he's elected tomorrow . Though Duggan, who is a recent transplant to Detroit, is somewhat of an outsider, even a leader of black nationalist group New Black Panther Nation supports him. 'In the last two national elections, African Americans have asked the nation to choose the best person for the job and not get caught up in colour. And twice, Barack Obama has won,' said Malik Shabazz, who's known for leading provocitve protests and calls to violence against the white establishment. 'Now, in Detroit, in 2013, the best man running is a white brother, and that’s OK,' he said. Duggan's rise to prominence has been anything but typical. History: Detroit, an 82 percent black city, has a 40 year history of electing a mayor who looks like they do . Duggan would become the first white man to lead the city in 40 years. Here, the last four leaders of the Motor City are current mayor Dave Bing (top left); Kenneth Cockrel Jr, who was elected in 2008 (top right); former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who is now serving a 28 year prison sentence for corruption charges (bottom left); and former mayor Dennis Archer (bottom right) Only recently moved to Detroit from the outlying suburb of Livonia and even face pushback over his residency in the city during the primary. But instead of throwing in the towel, the former hospital executive mounted a write-in campaign and beat Sheriff Napoleon by 20,000 votes. Both Democrats have now advanced to the general election, which takes place Tuesday. 'A major part of why I have so much support is that everyone in the city understands that if you’re broke, you can’t deliver any services,' Duggan recently told the Washington Post. 'So I think there is a strong feeling in the city that we need a mayor who can balance the budget and operate the city well financially.' Trailblazer: Coleman Young became Detroit's first black mayor in 1974 and led the city for the next 20 years . Only, regardless of who the winner is, the next mayor of the city that became America's largest to ever file for bankruptcy in July will have very little power. Detroit is being guided through the filing by a state-appointed emergency manager, who must OK any requests for money made by the mayor. 'I think they're kidding themselves if they think they are going to regain financial control of this city,' said Detroit-based bankruptcy attorney Kenneth Schneider. 'Even after Kevyn Orr, there will be a financial advisory board that will maintain control of the city's finances indefinitely. The first part for any new mayor is to accept that and work with the state on how to right this city's finances.'
|
Over 80 percent black, Detroit has elected only black men to lead its city since Coleman Young's 20 years on the job began in the 1970s .
Duggan made it to the general election after winning the August primary as a write-in candidate by 20,000 votes .
Even New Black Panther Nation leader Malik Shabazz has endorsed Duggan .
|
114b3ba87693006dc4c21911d3aa2f87ccd527d2
|
By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 02:56 EST, 18 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:19 EST, 18 September 2013 . Prison: Robert McLaughlin, 52, has been jailed for 16 weeks after being caught behind the wheel five times over the limit and dressed as a WPC . A drink driver found slumped behind the wheel while dressed in a female police officer's uniform has been jailed. Robert McLaughlin, 52, was five times the drink-drive limit when he was discovered at the wheel of a car wearing a female police top, black trousers and boots, a court heard. He also had a communication earpiece in, with the wire going into his collar, and a police helmet that belonged to his stepson on the passenger seat. His solicitor told the court he had been in a relationship with the owner of the uniform and they would 'occasionally dress up' in her gear. Wakefield magistrates heard a cyclist was nearly knocked down by a car that was trying to avoid the McLaughlin's Citroen, which was parked diagonally across the road. The cyclist went to confront McLaughlin and found he was 'slumped and appeared to be wearing a police uniform'. Richard Ogden, prosecuting, said the cyclist described unemployed McLaughlin as 'seeming out of it' and 'totally and utterly confused' when he spotted him on the road in Ackworth, West Yorkshire, around 1.50pm on May 28. Believing the drink-driver to be a police officer who 'may have had a stroke', the cyclist called an ambulance. A roadside breath test then revealed that McLaughlin was five times over the drink driver limit. He was arrested, and then taken to hospital due to the high amounts of alcohol in his system. A blood test showed he had 366mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 80mgs. Mr Ogden revealed the articles of uniform belonged to a female constable with a debilitating medical complaint, who McLaughlin befriended and helped out around the house. Eventually she gave him a key. 'The officer whose items they were said she was extremely distressed to find these items had gone missing,' said Mr Ogden. Ban: Wakefield magistrates jailed McLaughlin for 16 weeks and banned him from driving for four years . The fleece McLaughlin, of Wakefield, was caught wearing displayed the officer in question's details. Since the incident she has changed her name, the court heard. His stepson is also a police officer and the court was told that the helmet found in the seat was an old one he had damaged in training. Mr Ogden said a further nine items of police issue equipment and clothing were found when they searched McLaughlin's home. Ruth Gill, mitigating, told the court that rather than just be befriending the officer, McLaughlin had been in a relationship with her for 18 months. Mrs Gill said: 'During that time they used to occasionally dress up in the police stuff that was subsequently found.' At an earlier hearing, McLaughlin admitted drinking and driving and being in possession of a police uniform while not being a member of a police force or a special constable. Due to the high level of alcohol in his system McLaughlin was jailed for 16 weeks and banned from driving for four years.
|
Robert McLaughlin, 52, was found behind the wheel dressed as a WPC .
Tests revealed he was five times over the legal drink drive limit .
McLaughlin was jailed for 16 weeks and banned from driving for four years .
|
114b69f6e6ea7063037b5ad99514b296f01068cc
|
The Indian military has spent six months investigating 'Chinese spy drones' violating its air space - only to discover they were in fact Jupiter and Venus. The planets were apparently mistaken for unidentified flying 'drones' after repeated sightings in the skies above eastern Ladakh near the disputed Himalayan border area between India and China. The military documented 155 air violations of the border - known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which India shares with China - by 'unidentified flying objects' between April 2012 and February 2013. With tensions increasing between the two countries, India feared that China was making nocturnal sorties across the border. Sightings: The Indian military spotted 155 air violations above Ladakh, pictured, near the Indian-Chinese disputed border, by unidentified 'flying objects . Two astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, were tasked with discovering what exactly the army had been witnessing. Astronomer Tushar Prabhu told the Calcutta-based Telegraph: 'Our task was to determine whether these unidentified objects were celestial or terrestrial.' The astronomers identified the two planets from their movements across the sky in relation to the stars. The Telegraph suggested the soldiers who spotted the 'drones' ought to be let off lightly for the mix-up as planets can appear much brighter as a result of the different atmosphere at altitude and the increased use of surveillance drones by both sides. But the suspicions will have done nothing to help ease Indian-Chinese bilateral relationships which is already on tenterhooks with India frequently accusing its neighbour of making incursions onto its territory. The situation reached a heated three-week-long stand-off in April after Chinese troops were accused of setting up a camp on the Indian side of the LAC boundary. Growing tensions: Chinese troops ventured across the Line of Actual Control and 19km inside Indian territory in the Depsang valley near Daulat Beg Oldi in April . Indian officials have reported several minor incursions since then, including three in the past week, when Chinese troops entered the Indian side in the Leh region of northern India adjacent to southwestern China. India and China have separately held 16 rounds of talks since 2003 to resolve their border dispute, without making much progress. China claims around 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of land in India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, while India says China is occupying 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas. The two nations face tensions in other areas as well. China is a longtime ally and weapons supplier to Pakistan, India's bitter rival. The presence in India of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile irks Beijing. China is also suspicious of New Delhi's growing ties with the United States. Despite the tensions, trade between India and China has soared, with China becoming India's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade jumped from $5 billion in 2002 to nearly $75 billion in 2011, but declined slightly last year because of global economic conditions. India is concerned, however, that trade remains heavily skewed in China's favor.
|
Military recorded 155 air violations above the disputed Himalayan border it shares with China between April 2012 and February 2013 .
India feared that China was making nighttime incursions into its territory .
But two astronomers confirmed the 'spy drones' were actually planets .
|
114d4c352cd6167a164bd4f215d438c4a15437e6
|
(EW.com ) -- It's official: Emma Stone will make her Broadway debut in the current Roundabout Theatre Company revival of "Cabaret." The 25-year-old will replace Oscar nominee Michelle Williams, who made her debut in the role of showgirl Sally Bowles when the revival opened at Studio 54 in April. Stone will take over as Sally beginning Nov. 11 (Williams exits Nov. 9) and will play the role until Feb. 1, 2015. EW: Full coverage of Broadway . Alan Cumming—who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of the show's Emcee in the 1998 Broadway production, which serves as the basis of this revival—will extend his run through March 29, 2015, thus confirming that yet another actress may get to tread the Cabaret boards before the show's run is through. EW: Emma Stone in talks to replace Michelle Williams in Broadway's 'Cabaret' Stone was linked to the show in 2013 during Roundabout's initial announcement, but film scheduling conflicts forced her to back out. Last week, word broke that she had entered negotiations to join the show when Williams vacates the iconic role. Unrelated but completely related, Stone's beau Andrew Garfield made his Broadway debut in 2012's "Death of a Salesman." Again, unrelated... but completely related. See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
|
Stone will replace Michelle Williams .
Alan Cumming is extending his run .
Stone's boyfriend, Andrew Garfield, starred in "Death of a Salesman"
|
114e0e30cc5ef8e887116cdaa3d9d6a1313bf079
|
Cambria Gordon was reaching for a cell phone . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 1:48 PM on 9th February 2012 . The wife of the creator behind hit TV series 24 pleaded no contest after she hit an 83-year-old grandfather with her car who later died. Cambria Gordon, wife of Howard Gordon, was driving when her cell phone slipped out of its holder and onto the floor. The mother of three lost control of the SUV as she reached to pick it up and struck William Howard Smerling, 83, who was crossing a street in Santa Monica, California. Community service: Cambria Gordon (left), who is married to creator of 24 Howard Gordon (right) escaped jail after she knocked down an 83-year-old man in California last year . Mr Smerling died in hospital from his injuries a month later. Mrs Gordon pleaded no contest to the charge of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after the accident in July last year and will not be sent to jail. The maximum sentence the charge carries is one year. The writer and environmental activist, did not appear in court but given 36 months on probation and 360 hours of community service, according to TMZ. Her lawyer read from a letter she had written in court which said: 'Not a day has gone by since July 20, 2011 that I haven't thought about and prayed for Mr Smerling and his family.' Fatally injured: The 83-year-old grandfather and Korean war veteran had been crossing the road when he was hit by an SUV . Cambria Gordon and her husband Howard are facing joint civil action from the family of Mr Smerling. According to funeral.com, Mr Smerling, who served in the Korean War, had dedicated himself to charity work and caring for his grandchildren since his retirement from the dry cleaning business he started. Howard Gordon was executive producer of the highly successive drama 24 about a counter-terrorism unit which stars Kiefer Sutherland as agent Jack Bauer. His current series Homeland was recently nominated for three Golden Globes. Cambria Gordon has written books about global warming and sits on the Los Angeles Leadership Council of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
|
Cambria Gordon was reaching for a cell phone .
|
114e0fe4d9f27a058381e12fd3654402de9e1738
|
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 14:38 EST, 10 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:51 EST, 10 October 2013 . A casualty consultant who sent a dying woman home from hospital with painkillers had her written apology to the family literally thrown back in her face at an inquest today. Angry mum Carole Woodward flung the hand-written apology across the courtroom towards A&E consultant, Delia Parnham-Cope, as she gave evidence at the inquest in Gloucester. Mrs Woodward’s daughter, Jayne Hughes, 44, died at home on December 19 from an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism - a blood clot on the lungs. She had been rushed into Gloucestershire Royal Hospital A&E two days earlier after becoming dizzy and falling downstairs, banging her head and shoulder, at her home in Lydney, Gloucestershire. Carole Woodward (left) with a picture of her deceased daughter Jayne Hughes and granddaughter Keeley. Delia Parnham Cope (right), the A&E consultant who sent dying Ms Hughes home with painkillers . The inquest heard that Ms Hughes was breathless, had high blood pressure and heart rate and a low oxygen saturation - all symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. But Miss Parnham-Cope made no checks for an embolism or DVT and instead concentrated on checking Ms Hughes’ injuries from the fall. After X-rays and an ECG showed no fractures or heart problems Miss Parnham-Cope sent Ms Hughes home with painkillers and a muscle relaxant drug, diazepam - even though her blood-oxygen level was still falling. Miss Parnham-Jones told the inquest she had not considered DVT or an embolism because Ms Hughes did not complain of leg pain or swelling. Jayne Hughes with her granddaughter. Ms Hughes died of an undiagnosed blood clot on the lungs . The doctor agreed with assistant coroner Katie Skerrett that the decision to discharge Ms Hughes was ‘wrong.’ 'She should have kept Ms Hughes in and reviewed her, looking for signs of low oxygen levels,' she said. The doctor said she had ‘learnt lessons’ from her mistake and had since received extra training in the recognition and management of blood clots as well as how to cope in a busy department and improve communications. The inquest heard that within hours of being discharged from A&E that morning Ms Hughes’ condition was worsening and her worried mum took her to the Severn Bank GP Surgery. There she was seen by locum GP Dr Meenakshi Raina - who decided her symptoms were due to her known conditions of anxiety and asthma and also sent her home. Practice nurse Lorna Bird said when Ms Hughes came in she ‘looked dreadful, very unwell’ and distressed and was breathing rapidly, . She immediately put her on oxygen while waiting to see the GP, she said. 'My memory is that she said she felt "like I’m dying" or something of that nature.' Dr Raina said: 'There was no complaint to point me towards pulmonary embolism. She did not complain of pain in the leg or chest pain or coughing up blood all of which were things that would have alerted me to an ambolus.' The inquest heard that night that Ms Hughes felt so poorly she did not get up from the sofa and spent all night there. In the morning she was still the same and her son Lee Weldon, 25, who lived with her helped her to the bathroom and then to bed. He said in a statement that she was feeling hot and complaining of breathlessness, He last saw her alive when he went to bed himself between 11.30pm and midnight - and he found her dead in bed the next morning. The note sent to the family of Jayne Hughes by A&E consultant Delia Parnham Cope . Pathologist Dr Chamia de Cates said Ms Hughes died from bilateral pulmonary embolus caused by a blood clot in a vein of the left calf. Accident consultant Dr Tom Llewellyn, who led a hospital investigation into the tragedy, said symptoms were ‘overlooked’ by Miss Parnham-Cope and a result appropriate treatment was not given. She had failed to undertake a thorough and detailed examination considering all symptoms, he said. This was partly due, he added, to an increasing workload in A&E and also to the absence of a middle grade doctor to assist. Lack of training of nursing staff also played a part. The assistant coroner said she did not find that the failures amounted to a verdict of neglect. Instead she recorded a narrative verdict saying: 'The deceased had a history of asthma, panic attacks and anxiety. 'She suffered a DVT causing pulmonary embolus which on the balance of probabilities caused her to fall on 17th December 2012 , causing admission to hospital later that day where the pulmonary embolus went undiagnosed and the deterioration in her condition went unrecognised.' 'She later attended her GP who declined to re-refer her to hospital. taking the view that her head injury had already been investigated and her breathlessness was due to exacerbation of her asthma and anxiety. Her condition continued to deteriorate and she passed away on 19th Dec 2012.' After the hearing Mrs Woodward said: 'I am not happy. The verdict should have been neglect. My battle starts now because I intend to complain to the doctor’s professional body to get her struck off. 'Miss Parnham-Cope is still working in her £120,000 a year job or whatever it is but my daughter is dead and I am serving a life sentence. 'My daughter had a pulmonary embolism in 2009 and was in hospital for several days so it was a known problem she had. Yet in the inquest the said they could not find any record to show that, which was very convenient for them. 'I was so angry when the consultant was giving evidence that I threw her card back at her. I know I shouldn’t have done but I was so upset to see her there admitting she made a mistake which cost my daughter her life.' 'I assessed Miss Hughes, organised . investigations and subsequently decided Miss Hughes did not need admission. 'I . apologise wholeheartedly that I got your daughter’s diagnosis wrong. I . have spent the last nine months reviewing with my colleagues in the . hospital how I could have made such a mistake.' 'I saw Miss Hughes as a trauma patient. As we were very . busy I focused on rapidly assessing and reviewing patients. 'I saw your . daughter, made decisions about her injuries and was re-assured as her chest x-ray and shoulder x-ray were normal. I then discharged your daughter. 'I clearly should have been looking in depth at what caused your daughter to be unwell and subsequently fallen downstairs. 'Over . the last nine months I have reviewed what has happened, had additional . training and looked very closely at how I practice especially when the . department is busy. 'I can only say sorry and work harder to improve my clinical practice in the future.'
|
Carole Woodward's daughter Jayne died from an undiagnosed blood clot .
Mrs Woodward was handed apology by A&E consultant - but flung it back .
Assistant coroner says the incident did not constitute neglect .
|
114eaf57bc382c661e64967bbdb847a64e1d9732
|
From their hairy bodies to their rippling legs, spiders can strike terror into even the the most seasoned nature lover. Now a new video showing a giant parasitic worm bursting from the body of a huge Australian arachnid may push arachnophobes over the edge. The disgusting spectacle was filmed by YouTube member BaskWith2 in Australia, who was shocked to see the writhing worm after spraying the spider with insecticide. Scroll down for video . The disgusting sight of a giant parasitic worm bursting from the body of a huge Australian arachnid (pictured), may push arachnophobes over the edge. It was filmed by YouTube member BaskWith2 in Australia . His video seems to show a giant parasitic nematode, or roundworm, erupting from the dead spider’s body in a spiral shape, before unfurling to look like a strand of wriggling wholemeal spaghetti. It appears to be over 15 times longer than the spider’s body and around the same size as the arachnid’s abdomen. Once the parasite is wriggling in a foamy sea of insecticide, the disgusted cameraman blasts it with more poison, as the video cuts out. BaskWith2 writes on his YouTube page : ‘Ok so I was just editing my latest montage and this huge spider came out, so I sprayed it and killed it, then this f*****n alien worm came out of it!’ Comments include: 'Just what in the sweet, holy, blessed reaches of sacred heaven is this???!! ' and 'Kill it with fire'. There is some conjecture as to exactly what the parasite is. The video seems to show a giant parasitic nematode worm erupting from the dead spider’s body in a spiral shape, before unfurling to look like a strange of wriggling wholemeal spaghetti. An expert from ZSL London Zoo told MailOnline that it is a a Mermithid nematode worm, which infects arthropods, such as spiders . A Mermithid nematode worm is a parasite of arthropods. Mermithidae is an old family of nematode worms that live in arthropods such as crabs and spiders. A specimen is even preserved in a 40 million-year-old piece of amber. They are wire-like and smooth, with a tubular digestive tract with openings at each end. Their larvae is eaten by an unfortunate arthropod and the parasite drinks its body fluids and east its digestive glands and muscles to grow. The host becomes less mobile but stays alive because its vital organs are not eaten. The 'zombie' worm may take control of its host's nervous system to guide to towards somewhere with water, to ensure the aquatic parasite's survival. It bursts through its host's body, eventually killing it. Dave Clarke, Head of Invertebrates at ZSL London Zoo told MailOnline: ‘This is a Mermithid nematode worm, a parasite of arthropods. ‘The worm would have emerged at some point soon anyway but was obviously annoyed by the spraying of the spider. ‘The size of the worm is shockingly large in proportion to the body size of the host.’ The worm has also been identified as a hairworm, which looks similar to the untrained eye and can also infects spiders. Mermithidae is an old family of nematode worms that live in arthropods such as crabs and spiders. A specimen is even preserved in a 40 million-year-old piece of amber. The worms are wire-like and smooth, with a tubular digestive tract with openings at each end. The unfortunate spider likely ate its larvae, which then feasted on its host’s body fluids, digestive glands, sexual organs and muscles to grow into a sizeable worm, ABC reported. The spider would have become less mobile but because its vital organs were not eaten, probably remained alive, despite the parasite filling its abdomen and cephalothorax (mid-section). Even without the insecticide, the spider would likely have met a grisly end, because the Mermithid nematode worm would have burst out of the creature’s body, killing it. The parasite (pictured) appears to be over 15 times longer than the spider’s body and around the same size as the arachnid’s abdomen. Mermithidae is an old family of nematode worms that live in arthropods such as crabs and spiders - a specimen is even preserved in a 40 million-year-old piece of amber . Ingeniously, the aquatic parasite may also have taken control of its host’s nervous system, causing the probably thirsty spider to seek out water and possibly drown in it, so that the parasite could continue to survive in liquid. The video may prove even more unpalatable for some, because humans can be infected with thousands of tiny nematodes too. Dr Brian Farrell, an entomologist at Harvard University, told The Huffington Post: ‘Most have no obvious effect on us, and we are mostly unaware of their presence, but a few are large enough to cause diseases such as trichinosis.’ There are plenty of examples of zombiism in the animal kingdom. A fungus called Cordyceps takes over the minds of insects. It starts life as a spore that lands on an ant, which slowly stops performing its usual role in a colony, so it’s thrown out by more diligent worker ants. The fungus takes control of the ganglion cells that make up the insect’s brain, forcing it to bite down hard on a leaf with its mandibles. At this point, Cordyceps kills its host, causing a stalk to erupt through the ant’s head and release more zombie spores to secure the fungus’ grisly existence. Zombiism can be seen in the natural world: A fungus called Cordyceps takes over the minds of insects. It controls the mind of its host ant, before killing it and releasing spores through its body (pictured) Similarly, a tiny thorny-headed worm of the phylum Ancantho cephalia, burrows into the brain of a tiny crustacean, Gammarus lacustris, to take control of its nervous system. It forces the crab to swim towards the ocean’s surface where it will be attacked by predators. In humans, tapeworms can make its way into the brain to change our behaviour, but a microbe called Toxo plasma gondii (T.gondii) goes a step further. Found in cat faeces, it can infect humans and stop them fearing risky behaviour, with tragic results. People can get roundworm, for example from swallowing microscopic eggs in food and water, or by touching contaminated soil. While it can be treated with medication – and some 80 cases are reported in the UK every year – symptoms include a persistent dry cough and fever.
|
Terrifying footage was filmed by YouTube member BaskWith2 in Australia .
Writhing spaghetti-like worm unfurls from the dead arachnid's body .
It appears to be over 15 times the length of the spider's abdomen .
Expert from ZSL London Zoo told MailOnline the parasite is a Mermithid nematode worm, which lives inside arthropods .
Parasite eats muscle and takes control of a creature's nervous system .
It finally bursts forth, killing its host, as seen in this video .
|
114f33b80ba38f86fe14bcff65d108cf7cedc59f
|
A designer dog which became an online sensation and attracted thousands of followers after he was bought for £1,600 has been stolen by burglars. Jamie Green, 29, bought Chow Chow puppy Misiu, which means little bear in Polish, as a surprise for his girlfriend five weeks ago. He said he is 'heartbroken' and feels as though he has lost a child after thieves broke into his house in Stanmore, northwest London, on Wednesday. Chow Chow puppy Misiu, which means little bear in Polish, has been stolen by thieves from his London home . 'All I want is for Misiu to come home. It has been a horrible shock and I feel violated. If we get him back I won't press charges,' he told MailOnline. 'He's only three months old, he's a little baby. I feel like someone has stolen my child and I need time to grieve. 'I'm worried that someone saw his picture or his profile online and targeted my house deliberately. I just hope he is being looked after. He is so precious to me. 'I'm scared to go outside but hate being here as someone broke in.' He became an online hit after Mr Green posted photographs of the dog on Imgur, where they were viewed almost 2.5million times. On his Instagram page, which has 138 followers, Misiu is described as: 'A half bear, half dog model' He bought the three-month-old puppy as a surprise present for his girlfriend of two years Joanna Gluminska . A photograph of Misiu on Buzzfeed attracted 80,000 likes and he has 1,110 likes on his Facebook page. Mr Green believes that the thieves were deliberately targeted designer breeds, which can have a high resale value, because they left behind his other dog, a Palmolein called Honey. 'I was coming back from working and I would normally hear him scratching at the door, but I didn't hear anything at all,' he said. 'I called his name, but when I went into the kitchen I saw the window was smashed and there was glass everywhere. It started to dawn on me that he might have been stolen. 'He was the only thing that was taken. They left money, an iPad a laptop and a £1,000 watch. I just hope whoever has taken him is looking after him properly. Owner Jamie Green (left) is convinced he was targeted by dog thieves looking for expensive designer animals, pictured (right) is the damage to him home in Stanmore, northwest London . 'Misiu is such a distinctive dog and I have had so much attention [over] him. People love him. The fact not much was taken and my other dog was left is proof to me they targeted us for Misiu.' On his Instagram page, which has 138 followers, Misiu is described as: 'A half bear, half dog model from London.' Chow Chow dogs are originally from northern China where they are referred to as Songshi Quan, which means 'puffy-lion dog'. Dog theft is increasing by about 15 per cent annually, according to charity Dog Lost. Spokeswoman Nik Oakley told the Evening Standard: 'In London it is almost always designer dogs that are stolen -expensive pedigree animals that are worth a great deal of money.'
|
Chow Chow puppy Misiu stolen by burglars who broke into London home .
Owner Jamie Green, 29, believes he was targeted by 'designer dog' thieves .
He bought the dog from a registered breeder five weeks ago for £1,600 .
Photos of the puppy were viewed more than 2.5million times on Imgur .
|
114f8399abaaef98c2ab04cfc7df1508dfa5132d
|
After a busy couple of weeks campaigning for the Democrats in the run up to the midterm elections, Michelle Obama looked happy to be back on safer ground on Monday when she attended several non-political events including an award ceremony for after school programs at the White House. With her husband’s approval ratings at a record low, the first lady was on the campaign trail in Iowa, Florida, Wisconsin, Maine and other states ahead of last Wednesday’s elections in a bid to try and rally Democrat supporters. With the disappointment of the party's poor election cycle behind her, she looked radiant in a sleeve-less black top and multi-colored skirt as she returned to more typical first lady business on Monday. Michelle Obama looked happy to be back on safer ground on Monday when she attended several non-political events including an award ceremony for after school programs at the White House . The first lady hugs Cristone Ingram, 15, of the Delta Blues Museum Arts and Education Program, of Clarksdale, Mississippi, during the 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards on Monday . In Arlington, Virginia, she spoke at a career development forum for women veterans transitioning to civilian life and encouraged them to be bold in their next career step. ‘If you want a job, you can't be modest. You've got to show off a little bit,’ she said. ‘And believe me, you all have so much to show off.’ On the eve of Veterans Day, she announced new commitments from online networks LinkedIn and Coursera in partnering with the government to help service members and veterans. After that she rushed back to the White House when she presented national arts and humanities awards to 12 after-school programs from across the country and one international program. Michelle Obama pauses as she delivers remarks during an event with military children and families that screened a special Veteran's Day episode of Disney's Doc McStuffins, on Monday . In Arlington, Virginia, the first lady spoke at a career development forum for women veterans transitioning to civilian life and encouraged them to be bold in their next career step . The first lady thanked the art educators for not only teaching children skills, but for putting a 'spring in their step' and giving them something to look forward to after school. The White House ceremony included a head-bopping musical performance from the Delta Blues Museum Arts and Education Program Band of Clarksdale, Mississippi, and remarks by 16-year-old Jennifer Guadalupe Gonzalez of Chicago, who explained how acting in a Shakespeare production gave her a boost of confidence. The 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards are hosted by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with three national cultural agencies. Afterwards the first lady also made the time to speak at another White House event for military children and families. Michelle Obama greets people after speaking at the Women Veterans Career Development Forum at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial (WIMSA) at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Michelle Obama hugs Sendie Brunard, 18, of New Victory Usher Corps, of New York, during an awards event in the East Room of the White House on Monday . Once again she spoke to the families present before the screening a special Veteran's Day episode of Disney's Doc McStuffins, that explored the emotions children face when a parent is deployed. Prior to last Wednesday’s midterms, Michelle Obama has been on a whirlwind tour of the country since September, appearing roughly 40 times with Democratic candidates. While only 41 percent of Americans approve of the president’s job, some 62 percent of respondents in a July Pew Research Center poll said they had a favorable view of the first lady. 'She just tells a different story, because she's not a politician and she's not an elected official,' Jim Demers, a Democratic lobbyist, told the Wall Street Journal. Big name support: Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown received support from Michelle Obama the day last Wednesday's election but he still failed to win the race .
|
Following the midterm elections, the first lady has returned to her non-partisan role and attended three separate events on Monday .
In Arlington, Virginia, she spoke at a career development forum for women veterans transitioning to civilian life and encouraged them to be bold .
Back at the White House she presented national arts and humanities awards to 12 after-school programs from across the country .
From September until last Wednesday's midterm elections she has appeared 40 times with Democratic candidates .
|
11510e9d38c40cb51b527cef61b426259c34f132
|
Staff working for NHS England racked up expenses bills of more than £7m on travel and staying in hotels in just 12 months. NHS England was established in 2013 as part of reforms to the health service which aimed to save the NHS money by reducing bureaucracy and consolidating commissioning in one centre. But the move continues to prove costly for the taxpayer. NHS England racked up an expenses bill of £7.1m in just one year. One of the highest claimants was Tim Kelsey, director for patients and information, who claimed £46,000 in expenses for travel and hotel bills . The total expenses bill submitted by NHS England staff last year equates to about £1,334 spent per staff member on flights, travelling on trains and staying in hotels in the UK and abroad, the the Yorkshire Post reported. NHS England has offices in Leeds and London and employs around 5,000 staff. Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: 'It is alarming that such vast sums of money are being spent in this way. At a time when the NHS is under such huge financial pressures, this type of waste is unacceptable. 'We must remember that the NHS is paid for by the tax-payer, and it belongs to patients and the public. 'Every pound spent on expenses is a pound lost for the delivery of frontline services. This money would have been better invested in resourcing our wards with front-line staff and in improving patient care. We cannot continue to allow patient care to suffer due to poor management and wasteful spending of precious resources. Unison said the spending appeared to be high and said the organisation should be 'tightening its belt' at a time when staff were being refused pay rises. Christina McAnea, head of health at Unison, said: 'When times are tight, this is one of the areas that NHS England must be cutting back on. 'Huge amounts of money being spent on executive travel, cars and other perks sends out completely the wrong message.' The central NHS body was set up to cut bureaucracy in a reorganisation by ministers and led by Sir David Nicholson. Sir David Nicholson (left), who spearheaded the reforms, claimed £32,000 in expenses while chief nurse Jane Cummings (right) submitted a £27,000 bill which included money claimed for hotels and travel expenses . This saw strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) abolished and replaced by NHS England and locally run clinical commissioning groups. The changes were designed to reduce the number of managers and put decision-making in the hands of doctors. But the measures, introduced by the then health secretary Andrew Lansley, been criticised as introducing dozens of new quangos and expenses for the health service. A spokesman said: 'NHS England has staff based all over England, and it is necessary for them to be out talking to patients, clinicians and others in order to carry out the work of commissioning healthcare. 'Staff are expected to think like patients and act like taxpayers, and from April 2014 no staff were permitted to travel first class, and must use public transport where available.' NHS England was set up in 2013 to save money . All staff at NHS England are expected to book travel and hotel arrangements through Leeds-based company Redfern and to use public transport instead of taxis. This is not the first time the organisation has been hit be revelations of large expenses claims by its staff. In the first year of NHS England's existence £195,802 was spent by just nine board members of NHS England on travel and hotels. The top spender was Tim Kelsey, national director for patients and information at NHS England, who lavished £46,000 on taxi bills and plush hotels. Sir David Nicholson, former chief executive of the organisation, claimed £32,000 in expenses, while Jane Cummings, chief nurse, spent £27,000. Since the revelations about expenses, staff have been banned from using first class rail travel. The quango also spent £1.2m on kitting out staff with iPhones and iPads since it was launched in April 2013. Critics also claim the NHS wasted money by giving managers axed by the reforms large pay-offs, only to rehire them again with large salaries.
|
Staff working at NHS England spent £7million on train and plane travel .
Expenses bill equates to £1,334 spent per member of staff at NHS England .
Critics say the spending 'sends the wrong message' when times are tight .
NHS England was set up in 2013 as part of reforms to save NHS money .
But new figures reveal organisation is proving a costly service to run .
|
115111db0d1991a307e4ea4aa556acd697ebd25c
|
(CNN) -- As Elizabeth Sullivan stood on the field at Comfort Zone Camp, staring out at the "normal" kids playing ice-breaker games and elbow tag, she realized, "It's OK to have fun." Six months earlier, she lost her father when he collapsed while jogging at night. He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The 12-year-old never got to say goodbye. But not all of the one in seven Americans who lose a parent or sibling before the age of 20 learn to cope the way Sullivan has. In fact, 73 percent of adults believe that their lives would have been "much better" had their loved ones not died when they were young, according to a survey released Monday by Comfort Zone Camp, a nonprofit provider of childhood bereavement camps, and Matthew Greenwald and Associates Inc. Of the 1,006 adults surveyed, 110 had lost a parent before the age of 20, 52 lost a sibling, and 13 lost both. Participants had to be at least 25 years old to take part in the poll, which was conducted between November and December via the Internet. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. The majority of participants agreed that they would trade one year of their life for one more day with their departed parent. However, about 59 percent of people who lost a parent at a young age think they have become stronger as a result, saying that losing a loved one gave them a greater appreciation of family relationships. There is not one way to interpret each individual's idea of "much better," said Pete Shrock, national program director at Comfort Zone. But with any loss, life is going to be different; however, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be worse. "The family is a unit, and everyone plays a significant role in how that family communicates and works. ... It's like a link in a chain," he said. "When you move that link -- it doesn't matter if it's directly in the middle, to the left or the right -- there's a disruption in the chain, and it will never be the same." About 85 percent of parents who lost a spouse said they wish there were more resources for their grieving children. Kate Killion does, too. Killion, 53, who lost her father suddenly when she was 8 years old, said there were very few bereavement services available for children in the 1960s. "People didn't recognize how children process death and grief," she said. "The adults in my life tried to protect me by not talking about it. They thought I wouldn't think about it as much. That isn't the case. Giving children the chance to express their feelings and help them process [loss] is so important." Killion started dealing with the loss when she was in her 20s by talking openly about her father -- something she could not do with her mother, who shut down after her father's death. Killion said her brother, who was 12 at the time, never found the support she found. "He just closed up. He's that way to this day," she said. "That's how much it changes your life. He was a vulnerable, confused little boy, and he still hasn't dealt with it. It stays with you forever unless you can really go there and deal with it." Not only do siblings tend to deal with the same loss differently, there are many differences in the ways men and women handle grief, Shrock said. While 38 percent of the women surveyed for Comfort Zone's study "strongly agreed" that "losing a parent was the toughest thing [they've] had to deal with," only 29 percent of men agreed. Daddy's little girl is going to react differently to the loss of her father than the young man who just lost the person who was supposed to teach him to play catch and drive a stick shift, Shrock added. Milestones such as proms, graduations and weddings are among the top concerns for many children and young adults. But for Sullivan, now 23, it's more about the little things, like going to a college football game. It's all about learning how to cope, she said, which she finally managed to do while making breakfast eight years after her father's death. She was making pastina, an Italian dish she and her father used to make together. After cracking an egg over the tiny pieces of pasta and butter in her pot, she began to stir quickly so the egg would spread before everything congealed. "When we used to make it before I went to school, he would cheer me on and tell me to stir faster, 'stir, stir, stir,' " she said. "Making that pasta and thinking about him cheering me on and laughing was the most connected I've been able to feel to him. That's when I realized how I need to cope: by doing the things that make me feel connected." There are always going to be good days and bad days, she said. "I remember a lot of people telling me initially that I should write in a journal. That wasn't for me at the time. It's important not be afraid to try things and figure out what works for you. Be willing to talk to people .... There's not a right or a wrong way to grieve."
|
One in seven Americans lose parent or sibling before age of 20 .
Many people said they would trade one year of their life for one more day with deceased .
59 percent of people who lost parent at young age said it has made them stronger .
|
11518338b620b2e7b38ecfeb646b20e99cc41b69
|
By . Laurie Whitwell . Follow @@lauriewhitwell . Kenny Jackett sits in a sunlit meeting room at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ training ground explaining how his genial manner hides a clinical disposition. He may be nice, but he can wield a knife. This summer, as he plots a path for the club’s return to the Barclays Premier League, he has once again sliced eight players (earning a total of around £7million a year) from his squad, telling them their services will not be needed. That group, who are training separately from the first team and will not feature in pre-season games, includes Kevin Doyle, Jamie O’Hara and Roger Johnson — players with top-flight experience on seven-figure wages. It is a hardline stance but Jackett, entering his 11th consecutive year in football management, knows there can be no softening of a policy that rid the club of the toxic atmosphere caused by successive relegations and gives his team a better chance of success on the field too. VIDEO Scroll down to watch angry Wolves fans invade the pitch after losing to Burnley . They're back! Kenny Jackett guided Wolves to promotion from League One to the Championship in May . Some of the clubs who have enjoyed double success: . Watford: Div 4 to Div 2 (promoted in 77-78 & 78-79) Wimbledon FC: Div 4 to Div 2 (82-83 & 83-84) Man City: Div 2 to Premier League (1998-99 & 99-00) Hull: Div 3 to Championship (03-04 & 04-05) Norwich: League One to Premier League (09-10 & 10-11) Crawley: Conference National to League One (10-11 & 11-12) Southampton: League One to Premier League (10-11 & 11-12) Having begun the interview by offering a cup of tea, he offers his thoughts. ‘It was our ambition to only spend one year in League One. Some big clubs have stayed down for two, three, four years — both Sheffield clubs, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest. ‘I’ve seen when it’s two-and-a-half years before all those big contracts run out and you get a group of hungry young lads that nobody’s ever heard of coming through. They see the fantastic potential, the big crowds, and want to make a name for themselves. ‘What I tried to do was accelerate that process. We couldn’t drift along. We needed to have that type of turnover in one summer. I had the benefit of being a rival manager coming to Molineux. I felt the relationship between the crowd and players had broken down. Those players needed to be removed. It’s not a patient industry I’m in.’ As if to remind, a painting of a pack of wolves hangs on the wall. Harsh words can be delivered humanely, however. ‘I just tried to be as clear as I could that they weren’t in my plans,’ Jackett, 52, continues. ‘Also, I felt they would benefit from a move. There were a lot of people who’d spent a few years in the Premier League and it’s quite hard to then come down.’ He adds: ‘As manager your successful times are when you are being proactive. In many cases you have to make the calls before the mistakes happen. After that, on a human level, the one thing you need to be is straight with people, to be open and honest.’ Top of the league: Leigh Griffiths celebrates scoring as Wanderers went to the summit of the third tier . So it came to pass that only two members of the side who featured in the defeat at Brighton on the final day of the 2012-13 season — a result that underlined relegation for Wolves and saw angry exchanges between fans and players — appeared in the 6-4 win over Rotherham in April that celebrated immediate promotion back. The crowd was raucous that day, too. Homegrown players such as Danny Batth, 23, and Jack Price, 21, blossomed, while signings Michael Jacobs, 22, and James Henry, 25, proved instant hits. Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko are the duo providing continuity. Wolves clinched the League One title with a record 103 points as Jackett implemented an attractive passing game. Win or lose, players recognised fans with applause. It wasn’t just a bloated squad Jackett trimmed for gains. The training ground canteen menu had swollen from players pushing their individual tastes. Too many cooks. Choices now are fewer and healthier but there is no Paolo Di Canio-style ban on tomato ketchup. Fading fast: Jamie O'Hara and Kevin Doyle have been training on their own during this pre-season . Confidence in youth: Jackett wants to build his side around the likes of Danny Batth . Pedigree: James Henry blossomed at Molineux after Jackett landed the former Millwall man . ‘I felt the menu was catering to too many different opinions that weren’t the experts,’ says Jackett. ‘We employ a full-time sports scientist. His job is to dictate the menu, what is eaten, when and why.’ If last season’s goals were clear — right wrongs, lift the mood, gain promotion — this season presents a more complex landscape. But Jackett has one vision. ‘It again is to try and go up,’ he says without hesitation. ‘Three lucky teams will get into the Premier League by the end of this Championship season. We want to be one of them. Wolves are big enough to be competing.’ Jackett is wise in the ways of promotion. As a member of Graham Taylor’s Watford side of the 1980s he reached the FA Cup final and was capped 31 times by Wales before retiring aged 28 after knee injuries, going into coaching early. Confrontation: Wolves supporters were upset with Doyle and Roger Johnson after relegation in 2013 . In the late 1990s, as assistant to Taylor, he saw Watford into the Premier League after successive promotions then, as No 2 to Ian Holloway, helped Queens Park Rangers go up from what is now League One. As manager, he took Swansea from the bottom rung as they began their ascent up the leagues, while Millwall reached the Championship under his guidance. Wolves, though, is a chance to show his teeth. ‘Do I hope there are many more opportunities for me in the future? Yes. I suppose that will be dictated by how well I do at Wolves. I’m fully aware of the insecurities of football management. ‘I’d love to manage in the Premier League, I’d love to perhaps manage at international level. It is my ambition to go as high as I can.’ Do not discount the steel behind the smile.
|
Manager has opted for youngsters instead of Jamie O'Hara and Kevin Doyle .
Roger Johnson has also been left out in the cold .
Danny Batth and James Henry have impressed at Molineux .
|
1151cffe1aa55e51f21dcf14755bcf28ff60237d
|
Middlesbrough's on-loan FA Cup hero Patrick Bamford can see plenty of his Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in his current manager Aitor Karanka. Bamford, 21, is enjoying a superb campaign on Teesside, having moved from Stamford Bridge on a season-long deal. The move was given the full blessing of Mourinho, who had Karanka as his assistant during his time in charge at Real Madrid. Middlesbrough striker Patrick Bamford celebrates after scoring for his side against Manchester City . Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka (right) watches on during the match at Manchester City . Karanka is now making an impact at the Riverside Stadium, with his Boro side second in the Sky Bet Championship and through to the FA Cup fifth round after a stunning 2-0 win at Manchester City. England Under-21 international Bamford set Boro on the way to that famous victory at the Etihad Stadium with the opening goal and was asked afterwards if Karanka's methods compared to Mourinho's. 'Yes, definitely,' he said. 'Training is very similar and the big thing is the desire to win. You could see that on Saturday - the passion, every detail is in there. Jose Mourinho talks with his former assistant Karanka during their time together at Real Madrid . 'He doesn't miss out a thing and he is very rigorous with his approach to every single game, whether it is Manchester City or whoever else we might play. 'Even if it was a lower-league team in the cup, it would be the same approach. It is all about winning.' Asked if Karanka could then be considered a 'mini Mourinho', Bamford said: 'Yes, I think he is getting there!' Bamford was highly impressive as Boro took charge of the game in the second half. Middlesbrough forward Bamford raced through before opening the scoring for the Championship side . The first period had remarkably ended goalless after City spurned a number of chances, although most of them were brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Tomas Mejias. Bamford's 53rd-minute strike, as Boro pounced on a defensive mix-up, changed the game and Lee Tomlin went close to a second by hitting the post soon after. Frank Lampard did hit the woodwork late on for City but Kike, made victory certain for the visitors in stoppage time. Bamford, who has now scored 10 goals this season, hopes his continued good form will eventually result in greater opportunities at Stamford Bridge. Karanka celebrates with Grant Leadbitter after knocking Manchester City out of the FA Cup . Karanka and Mourinho share a joke during their time working together out at Real Madrid . With that in mind, he feels it can only be beneficial that Karanka and Mourinho have such a good relationship. Bamford said: 'They are always in touch and whenever he speaks the gaffer always says he's had a little chat with him and always makes a joke about it, so it is nice to know that I am in his thoughts. 'I've played against three Premier League teams now - Sunderland, Liverpool and Man City - and I have scored against all of them. 'I think it has shown that I can cut it at the top level, but we'll see what happens. 'I'd say this season is probably too early and I'm out on loan and that is helping me, but next season you never know.' Middlesbrough players celebrate with their travelling supporters after full-time at the Etihad Stadium . Bamford began his career at Nottingham Forest but moved to Chelsea in 2012 and has since had loan spells at MK Dons and Derby. His eight goals for Derby last term helped the Rams into the Championship play-offs, but he regards his display this weekend as his career highlight to date. He said: 'I can't really put it into words the feeling when I scored the first and especially when we scored the second, even though it wasn't me that scored it... just the relief. 'To win against the champions of England has to be the best result of my career so far and one that all the lads will enjoy. 'It's particularly pleasing being a Chelsea player - so hopefully Chelsea will hear about that!'
|
21-year-old is at Middlesbrough on a season-long loan from Chelsea .
Aitor Karanka was Jose Mourinho's assistant at Real Madrid .
Middlesbrough knocked Manchester City out the FA Cup on Saturday .
|
1151e28352e5d92937eeefb9ede8ad63137b9a20
|
(CNN) -- When it comes to rebooting Marvel's tale of an adolescent web crawler, Sony seems more than happy to sing the same old song with today's release of "The Amazing Spider-Man." Only 10 years have passed since Tobey Maguire started swinging through the urban jungle in "Spider-Man," and now Andrew Garfield is stepping into his flight path in what often feels like a straight-up remake. Considering how important the idea of evolution is to this story, is it unreasonable to expect something more inventive than the same origin tale? Note to Sony: The entire planet saw Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man," and you guys know this better than anyone! Copping iconic scenes from "Superman," "Batman" and "King Kong" only makes matters worse. Yes, there are variations; "Amazing" isn't a carbon copy. And, to some extent, there are improvements. The biggest plus point has to be Garfield, the Anglo-American actor who played Mark Zuckerberg's former friend and ally in "The Social Network." At 28, Garfield's slightly older than Maguire was when he played Peter Parker in 2002, but his combination of fresh-faced innocence, nervous agitation and wry humor is immediately appealing. Garfield's Peter is still very much a boy -- the prologue introduces him as a child, searching for the father he's about to lose. He's a good-hearted, curious kid who isn't prepared for the hormonal surges that sweep his body shortly after he's been bitten by a genetically modified spider in the research laboratory of one Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans). The next thing Peter knows, he's climbing the walls. He's stronger, stickier and getting a good deal further than he ever thought possible with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Not surprisingly, director Marc Webb -- whose last film was the sleeper rom-com "(500) Days of Summer" -- employs a deft hand with the relationship scenes, and Garfield and Stone have a nice, frisky rapport. The dialogue scenes are light and "on point." But none of this can dispel the whiff of déjà vu. At least we get a new bad guy. When the semi-sympathetic Dr. Connors rashly doses himself into a poor man's Godzilla -- a Middle-aged Mutant Ninja Lizard -- Webb dutifully strings together three or four wham-bang set pieces, including a novel interlude in the sewers, where Spidey spins his own advance warning system, a welcome breath of presumably foul air after all his usual zip-lining antics. The action is mostly coherent and the CGI is a notch or four up from the first Sam Raimi movie, but not a significant advance on the last of them unless you're crazy for 3-D. (A couple of dizzying subjective close-ups do make the case for it -- but they're the exceptions.) This is yet another blockbuster sprinkled with numerous continuity errors, ridiculous coincidences, contrivances and gaping lapses in logic. To take just one minor example: An 8-foot reptile rampages across the Williamsburg bridge during rush hour, and no one gets a photograph? And just because it runs two-and-a-quarter hours doesn't mean you should expect the filmmakers to tie up loose ends. The sinister billionaire who is bankrolling Connors' work, some chap by the name of Osborne, remains ominously off-screen, and we never do find out what happened to Peter's parents. But I suppose that's not carelessness as much as it's confidence. "The Amazing Spider-Man" is slick and entertaining and artfully packaged, and Andrew Garfield is utterly engaging, so yes, you can count on seeing more of the same. Prepare to be unamazed.
|
"The Amazing Spider-Man" sings the same old song as its predecessors .
There are some improvements, with the best being Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker .
But none of its positives can dispel the whiff of déjà vu .
|
1151ff9c7f0ee56e628465b4a0ed46bfaaa24185
|
Dresden, Germany (CNN) -- To understand the full beauty of the ancient Mediterranean city of Rome you have to come to wintry, cold Germany. In the east German city of Dresden, artist Yadegar Asisi has designed a panoramic scene of epic proportions, breathing life into a long-forgotten view of the Italian capital. Using a detailed and much-praised painting by Alexander von Wagner and Josef Bühlmann from 1886 as his inspiration, Asisi painted a first draft of Rome's cityscape in 1994. Nearly 17 years later, an even more impressive version has gone on display; it will remain in Dresden only until September -- a deliberate decision by the artist. "To me art is a constant process. I always want to improve my panoramic scenes," Asisi told CNN. His 360 degree view of Rome in 312 AD is 27 meters high, 107 meters long and weighs 750 kilograms -- making it one of the world's largest panoramic scenes. Visitors overlook the city from a 15 meter high metallic tower located in the center of the perfectly circular museum: Standing on top of the tower, viewers feel they are part of Rome -- though sadly unable to wander down the stairs and walk to the Colosseum. Asisi chose as his subject a historical moment, the influence of which is still felt in Europe and around the world today: The triumphal procession of the Emperor Constantine the Great on October 29, 312. Constantine's brutal success over his rivals marked the beginning of the Christian West. At that time Rome was vital to Europe, and the days when many of its magnificent buildings would lie in ruins were a long way off. "Moments that have shaped our world have a huge impact on my art", said Asisi, sitting in his large Berlin studio, its walls filled with his paintings and photographs of ancient buildings or old reliefs. "But this panoramic scene is not really about showing a cityscape, it is more about the stories hidden within the city," Asisi said. The panorama is a museum that needs no words to tell its stories. An art form dating back to 19th century Europe, panoramas fell out of fashion with the coming of the cinema. But why are people so fascinated? "It seems Asisi's artistically and archaeologically-underpinned reconstruction of an ancient cityscape fills a large audience with enthusiasm for panoramic scenes and classical antiquity even today," said Andreas Scholl, director of Berlin's antiquities collection. Asisi has created a second historic panorama showing the ancient Greek city of Pergamon (today located in Turkey), which is currently on show at Scholl's Pergamonmuseum, on the Museum Island in Berlin. Asisi has been working on super-sized 360 degree panoramas since 1994. It takes him at least a year to design a single work, with previous subjects including Mount Everest and rainforests. "Over the years the way panoramas were made has changed dramatically. I love to design on the computer as well as painting in the traditional way", Asisi said. Today music samples, lighting and special effects are used to increase the impact of the panoramas, which change throughout the day, allowing visitors to see them by daylight or night. Asisi has formed a symbiotic relationship between science and art: To him research is as important as artistic know-how. "I don't know whether my work is art or science. Probably it is both: Art starts where science stops," he said. His passion for details has taken him to Rome countless times -- and visitors' reactions suggest all that study has been worth the effort. "This panorama is fascinating," said Rene Gust, 32, from Berlin. "I have read about the beautiful Roman buildings lots of times before. But only now I understand why." "It is amazing to see how they go out of the museum," Asisi said. "Lots of them are touched by the painting. "I hope that the emotional connection between the panorama and the visitor will change their relationship with their environment." Having grown up in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) some of his art focuses on social issues. He is planning a panorama of the Berlin Wall, but says that rather than examining the cruelties of the GDR regime, it will instead focus on a normal day in the once-split Berlin. "To me it is extremely interesting why so many people in the former GDR did accept to live in such a country," he said. "Many people - including me." Meanwhile his panoramas are exciting more and more interest overseas. In 2003, Asisi drew a panorama for Daniel Libeskind which showed the architect's plans for the Ground Zero site in New York. Libeskind won the tendering process, and his design is currently under construction. It was Asisi's first panorama to not only fake reality - but create it. "And there is much more to come," Asisi said. Yadegar Asisi's Rome 312: Experience the Ancient Metropolis is on display in Dresden until September 2, 2012. Pergamon: Panorama of the Ancient Metropolis is on view in Berlin until September 30, 2012.
|
German artist Yadegar Asisi specializes in super-sized panorama paintings .
360 degree views of the ancient cities of Rome and Pergamon on display in Dresden and Berlin .
The Rome panorama is 27 meters high, 107 meters long and weighs 750 kilograms .
Each work takes at least a year to create, and is enhanced with lighting effects and music .
|
11529057c7d3294c581d4a9f41517ad815b13f4b
|
Forget planking, get over owling, this is the hot new posing craze sweeping the internet - putting your breasts on things. Mamming as it's known is aimed at both women and men and involves resting your bust on random objects. It's the brainchild of Michelle Jaret and Michelle Lamont who wanted to inspire women to take action and get a mammogram early if they suspect a problem. Scroll down for video . Breast internet craze yet? Mamming is aimed at both women and men and involves resting your bust on random objects . Popular: The idea began in New York thanks to Michelle Lamont and Michelle Jaret but is now sweeping the internet . Objective: The creators hope the craze will become as big as planking or owling . Aged just 25, Michelle Lamont is a breast cancer survivor and she knows early detection is vital to fight the killer disease. Now ad agency executive Michelle, from New York, has seen her idea go global as more and more people take to the internet to post their 'mamming' poses. She said: ‘Overall the response has been very positive, although there have been some people wondering how a campaign like this is going to “cure” breast cancer. Clean act: The idea is to keep things 'PG' and not bare too much flesh . Chest file it: The photographs are all sent to thisismamming.com which urges people to 'embrace the awkwardness' The creators wanted to break through the clutter of Breast Awareness Month . ‘When I was sick, I asked my doctors about a cure - one actually told me that the best cure we have is prevention. ‘Prevention is screening like mammograms and self-exams and they are the best tool we have to catch cancer early, and catching it early is how we beat it. ‘We would love to see mamming become as big on the web as planking and owling. Part of the reason that we love mamming as a vehicle for spreading awareness is because it taps into an existing trend that is really fun and relevant to everyone. The creators of mamming say that it taps into an existing trend - and is great fun . The creator of the mamming initiative (not pictured) was a breast cancer survivor and she knows early detection is vital to fight the killer disease . Bra-vo: This mamming participant has decided to post a rather fruity picture . Mam's the word: The photographs are a way of women showing solidarity with those having to have mammograms . ‘Our goal was to create something fun that would break through the clutter of breast cancer awareness month. We've seen breast cancer awareness campaigns that use humour and sexuality, and ones that don't mention mammograms or breasts at all. ‘We wanted to do something that focused on the woman as being responsible for her breasts and her health. Overall, we hope that mamming reminds women to get screened, and maybe makes them feel a little less awkward about putting their boobs in the mammogram machine. ‘We hope people will keep it PG, but the only real rule is to make your mam awesome. We love seeing people get really creative.’ To post your own mamming pose visit: www.thisismamming.com. Make a boob of yourself: Any flat surface can be used to perform 'mamming'
|
The phenomenon is the brainchild of New Yorker Michelle Lamont and Michelle Jaret .
The aim of the photos is to inspire women to get a mammogram .
|
115320f959adb4573b243ec8b9f84d6e635e7c4d
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:00 EST, 1 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:31 EST, 2 January 2013 . Gift: Quiet Manhattan widow Mary McConnell Bailey left $20 million to the New York Public Library and Central Park . A quiet Manhattan widow shocked friends by giving a pair of $10 million checks to the New York Public Library and the Central Park Conservancy before she died. Mary McConnell Bailey, who preferred track suits over designer frocks and didn't care much for expensive jewels, left the checks for her two favorite institutions before her death in February of 2011, the New York Post reported. She was 88 years old. The library and the conservancy, a nonprofit that looks after the park, were shocked after receiving the checks for $10 million each. The money was sent by Bailey's estate. Friend and neighbor Lizanne Stoll told the Post that she led a quiet, modest life. 'You never would have known,' Stoll said of Bailey's wealth. 'She was very secretive about it all.' Bailey lived in a two-bedroom apartment on East 57th Street and 1st avenue in New York that has an estimated worth of $760,000 on the real estate website Zillow.com. The library (pictured) and the park were Bailey's two favorite New York institutions . The money for the park is going to the Central Park Conservancy, a nonprofit that looks after it . 'Her apartment had that 1950s . fresh-out-of-college look,' Stoll said. 'She had nice antiques, but all . the art on the walls seemed to be copies from MoMA.' Bailey's husband died in World War II and she had no children. Born in 1922, she grew up in North Hampton, Massachusetts and moved to New York in her 20s. She never remarried. 'Modest life:' Bailey lived in a two-bedroom apartment on East 57th Street and 1st avenue in New York that has an estimated worth of $760,000 . When she was young, she attended . Columbia and volunteered at hospitals and schools. After her mother died . and left Bailey and her siblings a large inheritance, she began a life . of philanthropy. Her family money reportedly came from shares in the Roaring Spring Blank Book Co., which produces the black-and-white marble notebooks that are required materials at most grade schools. Throughout her life, Bailey has been quietly involved in philanthropy, giving tens of thousands of dollars to a handful of New York institutions. But her biggest gifts came after her death. 'I met her many times and had lunch with her twice, but I cannot remember her voice - that’s how soft-spoken she was,' John Bacon, the New York Public Library’s director of planned giving, told the Post. 'She was always neat and careful, but nothing fancy. No jewelry, no nothing. And always a track suit — day, night or otherwise.' Half of her gift to the library will go to local branches, he said.
|
Mary McConnell Bailey lived quiet life in New York before her death in 2011 .
Officials at the New York Public Library and Central Park Conservancy were shocked to receive $10 million checks in her name .
Bailey, whose husband died in World War II, inherited money from her mother .
|
115353339610df211ee7a4bcc8d0b90c5260fe93
|
(CNN) -- Two Tennessee National Guard members were shot during a fight at a suburban Memphis armory on Thursday, and a third was in custody, authorities reported. The suspected gunman was subdued by others at the armory, said Rita Stanback, the police chief in the northern Memphis suburb of Millington. Each of the victims was shot once, one in the leg and one in the foot, Stanback said. A U.S. military official told CNN's Barbara Starr that a Guard member shot two others during a fight. The armory is on property leased to the Guard by the U.S. Navy, which has its personnel and recruiting commands across the road. The Navy compound was on lockdown after the shooting, the lockdown has since been lifted, the service reported via Twitter.
|
NEW: The suspect was subdued by others at the armory, police chief says .
Two wounded, one in custody at a National Guard armory outside Memphis .
A lockdown at a nearby Navy facility has been lifted .
|
11538318610048b33cea9946562fd0222ce77efe
|
(CNN) -- On that first date, when you bonded over barbecue, the sauce drips on her chin only made her look cuter. You knew it was love when you learned John Donne was his favorite poet, too. What hooked you on the slopes was how she made black diamond runs look easy. These are the romantic moments you'll always remember. Isn't it time to make more? One of the best ways to remember why you and your mate chose each other in the first place is by enjoying an adventure around your shared interests. Meet on common ground, then head out to discover new terrain. From wine tasting to cozy ski weekends, we've got ideas for you. Skiers' paradise . Bretton Woods, New Hampshire . With both gentle-pitch, beginners' trails and expert-level, tree-speckled ridges, Bretton Woods offers skiing to suit all tastes. A family-friendly spot, Bretton Woods provides a good option for parents looking to squeeze a little romance into a vacation for everyone. Tiffany glass, Italian plasterwork and a wraparound verandah make the Omni Mount Washington Resort an elegant après-ski option. Kids' club activities and babysitting let parents claim a little grown-up time for a Friday or Saturday night ski, a dip in the pool or Jacuzzi or a duet massage. An Ooh Là Là Romance Package add-on includes a special turndown service with robes, music and lighting; sparkling wine; and French macaroons. Other romantic adventures such as a sleigh ride or dog sledding can also be arranged. Jackson Hole, Wyoming . Once considered an expert-only ski area, the Teton Mountains now offer beginner-friendly trails as well as other winter activities such as snowmobiling and sleigh rides through local elk herds. If a mammoth resort isn't your scene, consider the more intimate, family-run Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa. The staff's goal is "understated luxury," and with in-room fireplaces, a cozy library with oversize leather chairs, an outdoor Jacuzzi with fire pits, a well-tended bar, an on-site restaurant and an in-house spa, the lodge can meet all your romantic requirements. Should you want a change of scenery, Jackson Hole's shops, restaurants and bars are mere steps away. Literature lovers . Concord, Massachusetts . For a rich literary getaway, head to Concord, Massachusetts, where the country's earliest prose writers, poets and patriots made their mark. Between fields where Minutemen once defended the nation stand the former homes of some of America's most famous writers, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, all open to the public and most within walking distance. Visit the graves of these esteemed writers at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery before stopping at the Concord Museum to view Emerson's study and Thoreau's flute as well as Revolutionary War artifacts, including Paul Revere's lantern. After a long day on your feet, retire to the Hawthorne Inn's Emerson Room to enjoy the relaxed elegance of a four-poster bed, in-room fireplace and bubble-jet tub. Brooklyn, New York . Literary legends have called Brooklyn home since Walt Whitman sang his borough's praises. The former homes of nearly a dozen famous writers are all within walking distance in Brooklyn Heights. While the residences aren't open to the public, a self-guided tour can take you to places where works such as Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," W.H. Auden's poem "New Year Letter" and Thomas Wolfe's "Of Time and the River" were penned. Other writers' homes include those of Henry Miller, Norman Mailer, H.P. Lovecraft and Truman Capote. After all that walking and ogling, head to the River Café for first-class waterfront dining. Bring a copy of Whitman's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" to read aloud while admiring the Brooklyn Bridge and imagining the borough as it was in his day. Oenophile bliss . Sonoma County wine country, California . What better way to reconnect than while driving through Sonoma wine country, stopping to taste the terroir at wineries along the way? Visit Copain for the views and the pinot, Arista for the Japanese gardens and Lambert Bridge for intimate barrel-room tastings. Then settle in at the Farmhouse Inn in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The inn's "barn rooms," situated in a grove of mature trees, are designed to blur the boundaries between outside and in. The "heritage rooms," meanwhile, range from huge luxury suites to compact queen-size spaces the innkeepers call "our little jewel box rooms." Be sure to check out the Sonoma Bath Bar with complementary seasonal scrubs, salts and soaps, and consider adding on the inn's special romance package, which includes chilled champagne, candles, cut flowers and an intimate couple's massage. Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, Virginia . Virginia is for lovers -- wine lovers included. Discover small colonial towns, walk along the shoreline and drop by George Washington's birthplace in Westmoreland County between tastings at 13 wineries along the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail. Local wineries feature Cabernet Franc, chardonnay, Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin wines, and among the most romantic are Dog and Oyster, Good Luck Cellars and Athena. Stay at the Tides Inn in Irvington, where lush gardens, waterfront views, a full-service spa, a golf course and a marina with a sailing school offer plenty of post-tasting relaxation. For even more amorousness, choose a Suite Romance Getaway package, featuring an intimate three-course dinner, a 60-minute couple's spa treatment and a Carter's Creek Cove cruise for two. History buffs . Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana . Step into antebellum elegance where, in 1837, aristocrat Jacques Roman wooed French Quarter debutante Celina Pilé by building a Greek-revival mansion to entice her to leave her New Orleans life behind. Stroll along the levee to watch the Mississippi roll by on the way to your private, century-old cottage, where you can prearrange to have champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries or souvenir waffle robes waiting. After a full country breakfast, visit the blacksmith's shop, sugar cane-harvesting equipment and antique car collection. Explore the big house with a guide in period costume, stop by the reconstructed slave quarters to learn about the workers whose labors made plantation luxuries possible, then amble along the quarter-mile canopy of giant oaks, appreciating what it means to be free. Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina . Imagine you are personal guests of the Vanderbilts, one of America's oldest and most well-known families, at Biltmore, an 8,000-acre estate built by George Vanderbilt at the turn of the 20th century. Savor a meal at the Stable Café in the former horse stalls now transformed into booths or take a carriage ride through grounds and gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. In Antler Hill Village, view the vintage farm equipment exhibits and displays of traditional trades such as blacksmithing and woodworking. Then take a butler's tour of the 250-room National Historic Landmark building for a behind-the-scenes look at the house's inner workings, including the servants' quarters and the then-state-of-the-art technologies the Vanderbilts employed for lighting, heating and cooling. Foodie feasts . New Orleans . From the ornate balconies of the French Quarter, to the manicured landscapes of the Garden District, to the horse-drawn carriages in Jackson Square, New Orleans offers an array of stunning backdrops for rekindling romance. And for foodie couples, woo-inspiring dining choices abound. Lilette tops the list. Travel + Leisure magazine dubbed the dining room, with its tin ceilings and cast-iron columns, "the sexiest" in New Orleans, but the real aphrodisiac is the food, prepared by Chef John Harris, a James Beard finalist for best chef in the South. For authentic Cajun Southern cooking, visit Cochon, where chefs prepare locally sourced pork, fresh produce and seafood. Try the fried cauliflower with chili citrus sauce and the catfish court bouillon. If the sparkling lobby, with its golden columns and crystal chandeliers, of the Roosevelt Hotel doesn't grab you, surely the 24-hour, four-star room service will. Since opening in 1893, it's considered New Orleans' most romantic hotel. Portland, Oregon . Up-and-coming foodie hot spot, Portland has plenty of palate-pleasing (and challenging) restaurants to choose from. Bluehour is a top pick for its dramatic high ceilings and Mediterranean-inspired meals. And Castagna is known for quirky contemporary dishes featuring adventurous combinations that "reinterpret local cuisine." Start off your meal with the wild steelhead smoked over chestnut with sweet lime and herb sponge and finish with the Meyer lemon curd with green juniper meringue and Hefeweizen. For a more traditional French meal (think: foie gras, escargot languedocienne, bisque de mer), head to Cocotte, a bistro with cozy banquette seating that's perfect for getting close. And once your bellies are full, relax at the Heathman Hotel. During your stay, be sure to visit the Tea Court Lounge, where afternoon tea flows smoothly into evening cocktails and live jazz.
|
Wine tastings and waterfront scenery await along Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail .
The Biltmore House is likely to wow history buffs with a peek at the high life of another era .
New Orleans is never short on woo-inspiring culinary treats .
|
1153a142500daf72a4e6a0f81fd25d7aa373b98f
|
By . Jessica Jerreat . Charged: Convicted sex offender Kathy Perkins has been accused of kidnapping her stepchildren . A Washington state sex offender has been accused of kidnapping her step-children and trying to disguise them as she started a new life with her boyfriend. Kathy Kay Perkins, who is on the sex offenders' register, was charged earlier this month with kidnap, after a school contacted police with concerns about some new students. Perkins allegedly dyed the hair of ex-husband's children and tried to enroll them at an elementary school using new names. A counselor at Hazelwood Elementary School contacted police in Auburn last October, after becoming suspicious of Perkins. The 42-year-old is accused of taking the young girls from their Oregon home in March or April last year. She took them to California, where she told a court she was their mother and that she was filing a restraining order against the children's father, according to court papers seen by Seattle PI. Her stepdaughters were enrolled at a school in California under fake names, but Perkins is accused of fleeing with them again when police started to investigate. During the time the children were away from their father, Perkins was using the surname of the new man she was dating. She is accused of trying to convince the children that she was their real mother, and their father was not biologically related to them. Raise the alarm: Hazelwood Elementary School staff contacted police after Perkins enrolled the girls under a fake name . 'The girls would later disclose in an . interview that Kathy had told them multiple times that she was their . true mother and [their father] was not their real dad,' a detective . said in charging papers. Perkins, who had been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register over an indecent liberties charge from 2004, used several aliases, including the surnames Brown, Hall, Fox, Woods, and Johnson, as well as the name Rios Hall. She was already wanted for failing to register as a sex offender and now faces two counts of custodial interference.
|
Kathy Perkins took girls from their home in March last year and created new identities for them .
42-year-old was caught after elementary school staff became suspicious .
|
115433982aa0885eccbd181d711fcabccb4fdb69
|
Princess Stephanie of Monaco can't keep away from the circus - she spent a third night at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo yesterday evening. Wearing a smart long leather jacket, Stephanie, 49, was presented with a bunch of flowers by the a cast of clowns, who all seemed incredibly happy to see her again. The Princess is a huge supporter of the circus and appeared delighted to greet the colourful performers, who were decked out in their best costumes. Scroll down for video . What a gang: Wearing a long black coat Princess Stephanie of Monaco spent her third day at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo . Sealed with a kiss: Princess Stephanie was greeted by the ring master who gently kissed her hand . The Princess looked radiant on the evening, wearing her long dark hair down around her shoulders, while a lacy top peeked out from underneath her coat. For the second night in a row, Princess Stephanie was treated to a kiss on the hand from ringmaster Petit Gougou during the show. She attended the event with her youngest daughter Camille, who recently celebrated her 16th birthday. Controversy surrounded Camille's birth in 1998 as Stephanie neglected to name a father on her birth certificate. As such, Camille is not included in the line to the Monegasque throne, unlike her brother Louis Robert and her sister Pauline Grace. It was rumoured at the time that her father was Jean-Raymond Gottlieb who was Princess Stephanie's former body guard, but nothing has ever been confirmed. Natural beauty: Princess Stephanie looked radiant on her night out at the circus wearing a bright red lipstick . Like mother, like daughter: Princess Stephanie attended the event yesterday evening with her look-a-like daughter Camille, pictured in the red patterned jacket . Clowning around: As Stephanie posed for a photograph one of the performers tried to chat with her . Just the day before her trip with Camille, the Princess had also attended the circus for a rare night out with her brother Prince Albert of Monaco. Beaming broadly as a spiky haired Italian clown named Fumagali approached, Prince Albert was clearly in a good mood as he enjoyed the evening. The festival is an annual event in the principality and has been running since 1974. But while Albert and Stephanie appeared to be enjoy the show, the newest additions to Monaco's royal family were nowhere to be seen. New mother Princess Charlene was absent, having chosen to remain at home with month-old twins, Jacques Honoré Rainier and Gabriella Thérèse Marie. All smiles: Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie enjoy the antics of Italian clown Fumagalli . What a gentleman! Ringmaster Petit Gougou plants a kiss on Stephanie's outstretched hand . Their absence didn't prevent Prince Albert from enjoying himself, although the event did briefly take a sombre turn at the beginning of the night. Part way through the opening ceremony, a minute's silence was held in memory of stunt rider Kevin Ferrari, a.k.a Flic Flac Moto X, 24, who was killed during an accident in rehearsals on Wednesday. Despite his death, the show continued after the minute's silence with elephants, acrobats and clowns all on the billing. Royal approval: The clown, real name Giovanni Huesca, raised smiles all round . Round of applause: Albert, who was taking a night off from daddy duties, claps at the end of the performance . Welcome: New father Albert also got a round of applause of his own and waved at the crowd appreciatively . Looking good: Despite having two tiny babies to care for, Albert looked surprisingly fresh . Royal wave: Albert waves to the Monte Carlo crowd from the comfort of the royal box . Tribute: Ahead of the performance, there was a minute's silence for a performer who died earlier this week . The prince certainly appeared to enjoy rest of the show though, gasping in delight as a daredevil stunt rider appeared and threw himself into the air from the back of his galloping horse. At the time Stephanie, who is patron of the International Circus Festival, was making her second visit to the Big Top in a week, having already met clowns and elephant trainers on Tuesday. During that visit, the 49-year-old, who eloped with an elephant trainer in 2000, was seen patting one of the circus' pachyderms, looking unruffled as it began waving its trunk. The royal, who also helps to oversee the Circus Festival and is involved in everything from choosing the acts to the choreography, first attended the event when she was just nine. Her father Prince Ranier was the brains behind the first festival, which now as then, specialises in traditional circus acts from clowns to acrobats. Left at home: Princess Charlene chose to remain at the Palais Princier along with the baby twins . Glamorous: The chic 36-year-old was last seen on the 7th January when the babies were presented . Daredevil: A member of Russian group Yakov Ekk performs in front of the royal box . Ouch! An Asian elephant trained by Elvis Errani shows off his dexterity during the performance . Amazing: Equilibrist acrobats from China's National Acrobatic Troupe show off their impressive skills . Awe inspiring: An Asian elephant completes its turn as do Russians Elena Petrikova and Elena Baranenko . Magnificent: Russian equine troupe Yakov Ekk wave a Monaco national flag during the finale of their act .
|
Princess Stephanie of Monaco spent a third day at the circus yesterday .
She attended the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo with daughter .
Stephanie is a patron of the festival and looked happy to see the cast .
|
11543a012d692d5ef479108f5bd5dd91b815b1be
|
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 05:12 EST, 14 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:35 EST, 14 December 2012 . An afternoon messing about in a nearby stream ended up taking two bored 11-year-olds on a journey back to prehistoric times when they stumbled across a 13,000-year-old mastodon bone. Eric Stamatin was hunting for crayfish behind his backyard in Troy, Michigan, with his cousin Andrew Gainariu when they spotted what they thought was a rock in the water. On closer inspection, the boys noticed a large hole in the middle of the object and wondered if it might be something else. Fossil fun: Eric Stamatin (left) and his cousin Andrew Gainariu with the 13,000-year-old mastodon bone they found while hunting for crayfish in a stream in Michigan . But when they took it home to Eric's mother, she guessed it was probably just a cow's bone and it sat on a shelf in the dining room for months. It was only when she finally contacted a paleontologist in November they realised they had in fact found a second vertebrae in the spinal column of an American mastodon. 'Oh my gosh, we were liked psyched,' said Eric, from Shelby Township, after learning of his discovery, which he made in a branch of the Clinton River in June. Thought it belonged to a cow: The bone was a second vertebrae in the spinal column of a mastodon (pictured) which roamed America until their extinction around 10,000 years ago . Mastodons lived from about the Oligocene of the Paleogene period, about 30 million years ago, in North and central America until about 10,000 years ago. Although similar to elephants and woolly mammoths, they are not that closely related. They are thought to have become extinct due to nomadic hunters and an abrupt climate change when temperatures plunged to glacial conditions. 'I thought it was a rock at first, but a . couple minutes later I looked more at it. I didn't think it was a . dinosaur bone, but I wasn't sure.' The mastodon, which resembles a woolly mammoth although not closely related, roamed the plains of North and Central America until their extinction around 10,000 years ago. John Zawiskie, a geologist and paleontologist at the Cranbrook Institute of Science, rushed over to Eric's house to tell them the news. He told CNN: 'Every once in a while - by construction workers or exploring 11-year-old boys and girls - something like this comes to the forefront and reminds us of the incredible history of Earth's landscape.' Eric is now preparing to give his science class their 'coolest' show-and-tell ever. 'I feel really special,' he said. 'People said it's just amazing how I found this.'
|
Eric Stamatin and cousin Andrew Gainariu spotted strange object in stream .
Took it home to Eric's mother who assumed it was probably just cow's bone .
Paleontologist revealed it was vertebrae of woolly mammoth-like mammal .
|
1154a968e79e9d78c995913218b7d9cd6ca0bb69
|
By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 19:17 EST, 19 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:14 EST, 20 March 2013 . £4.8bn move: The Chancellor George Osborne will agree to unlock billions in child trust funds and allow parents to transfer their investments into more generous junior ISAs . The savings of more than six million children are to be rescued and the remaining elderly victims of one of Britain’s biggest financial scandals compensated in a twin Budget boost for young and old. Chancellor George Osborne will today agree to unlock £4.8billion in child trust funds and allow parents to transfer their investments into more generous Junior ISAs. His move follows a long-running Money Mail campaign. The Chancellor will also use his Budget statement to announce that thousands of elderly people who lost up to half their life savings when Equitable Life came close to collapse a decade ago will receive compensation. Policyholders over the age of 60 who bought annuities from the world’s oldest insurer before September 1 1992, who have previously been excluded from a repayment scheme, will receive up to £10,000 each. The Chancellor’s fourth Budget will be delivered against a grim economic backdrop, with flatlining growth putting his deficit-reduction plans under great strain. He is expected to scrap a planned 3p fuel duty rise due in the autumn, and increase the threshold for income tax to £10,000, benefiting 24million basic rate taxpayers. Treasury sources told the Daily Mail that one key move to boost savings will be an announcement that funds will be allowed to be transferred from child trust funds to Junior ISAs. Many parents and grandparents have contributed thousands of pounds to child trust funds on the back of promises from the last Government that they would prove ideal long-term investments for their child. But Coalition austerity measures meant the £250 being paid to every newborn to start a fund was stopped and the trust funds scrapped, to be replaced by Junior ISAs with no state contribution. Pressure: The Chancellor's move to rescue the savings of more than six million children follows a long-running campaign by Money Mail . Those with a child trust fund – children born between September 1, 2002, and January 2, 2011 – have not been entitled to open a Junior ISA or transfer their cash to one. But there have been growing concerns that the £4.8billion in the funds could be condemned to years of poor returns. Experts have warned that investment firms no longer able to attract new customers have little incentive to put their best managers in charge, while banks and building societies have paid derisory interest rates. Crucially, the rates paid on Junior ISAs are much better, and there are thousands of funds to choose from. Mr Osborne will announce a 12-week consultation on how to allow transfers of funds from child trust fund accounts into Junior ISAs. These transfers could be voluntary or mandatory. The Chancellor will also extend compensation for Equitable Life policyholders – the subject of another Daily Mail campaign. Up to a million victims lost out when Equitable Life closed to new business. Victims: Mr Osborne will also extend compensation for Equitable Life policyholders who lost money when the firm collapsed in 2000 . The Government was obliged to pay compensation to some policyholders following a series of scathing judgements. Parliamentary ombudsman Ann Abraham concluded there were ten instances of maladministration between 1998 and 2001 at the Department of Trade and Industry, the Government Actuary Department and the Financial Services Authority, which contributed to the firm’s collapse. Currently, policyholders who bought a with-profits annuity from Equitable Life before September 1, 1992 are not included in a compensation scheme announced in 2010. Campaigners have asked that a specific group of 9,000 elderly policyholders should be included. Now, those over the age of 60 will get £5,000, with an additional £5,000 for those in receipt of Pension Credit.
|
Chancellor to unlock £4.8bn in child trust funds in Budget statement .
The move follows a long-running campaign by Money Mail .
George Osborne will extend compensation for Equitable Life policyholders .
|
1155ca83a45f4d9a9ede0438d16d0798592c9f98
|
Boasts: Jihadists fighting with terror squads in Iraq are using social networking sites to lure young Muslim teenagers from the UK into joining the Islamic State fanatics, such as British IS fighter Reyaad Khan seen posing with a man tied to railings . British jihadists fighting with terror squads in Iraq are using social networking sites to lure young Muslim teenagers from the UK into joining the Islamic State fanatics. The extremists, who boast of ‘slaughtering’ innocent Yazidis and ‘taking their women as slaves’, are advising 15-year-olds that they are ‘not too young’ to die fighting for Allah. Asked by a British 18-year-old girl if she is too young to join, one of them replied: ‘I know sisters younger than you. I heard of maybe 16-year-olds being here from UK. You aren’t too young.’ They are informing their British ‘brothers and sisters’ every day how to make their way to Iraq, claiming they are ‘ordered’ to defy their parents and fight jihad. After one British teenager wrote of having a ‘bad feeling I can’t hack it there and my family will want me to come back’, British jihadist Abu Farris replied: ‘We’re all bros here. Trust me, don’t be scared. 15-year-olds can hack it bro, so why can’t you. It is from Allah.’ And the chilling posts reveal they are advising them down to the smallest detail on how to prepare for travelling to the region – from where to get guns and bulletproof vests to what trainers they should bring and how to avoid being bitten by bugs at night. The revelations raise urgent questions for the security services over whether enough is being done to prevent the spread of radical Islamic ideology among British teenagers. Young British Muslims are now known to be among the IS terror squads besieging the area around Mount Sinjar where thousands of refugees are trapped, the Mail can reveal. Intelligence officers have identified UK nationals as being part of the fanatical IS army that has swept across northern Iraq, carrying out a horrifying catalogue of medieval war crimes. Scroll down for video . Before they fled: Jihadists Reyaad Khan and Nasser Muthana (circled) hand out food to the needy in Cardiff last year. Both have been tweeting about their involvement with IS while on the front line . The . British IS fighters, who refer to themselves as the ‘Baadiya Boys’ after their original base in Syria, include Reyaad Khan and Nasser . Muthana, the 20-year-olds from Cardiff who notoriously featured in a . jihad recruitment video for the group. The former Catholic college students . have been joined on the frontline by young Muslim men and women from . across the UK, including a group of five friends from Portsmouth, two of . whom have already been killed. Using Twitter, social media site Ask.fm and smartphone apps, the jihadists are posting disturbing updates on their progress. Uploads . have included pictures of mass executions, beheadings, child soldiers . and selfies with men captured and tied to railings in the oppressive . heat. A British girl who has gone to Syria also posted a picture of . herself in the area, wearing a niqab and with a gun by her side. Some of the British jihadists command followers to ‘make hijrah’ – an Arabic term meaning emigration. They boast about what weapons they are using and offer advice on how to get into Syria and where to buy guns. If those messaging them appear serious about joining IS, they send private messages on mobile apps Kik and Surespot, which they claim are encrypted and impossible for authorities to monitor. It is thought about 500 British nationals have travelled to the region. United Nations War Crimes investigators said they are monitoring Islamic State online postings. A spokesman for Twitter declined to comment last night. Ask.fm and Kik were unavailable for comment. A spokesman for Surespot said: ‘Any technology has the potential for abuse by nefarious individuals. ‘For example, digital cameras can be used for child porn but they can also be used to take lovely pictures. Are we then to stop selling them? ‘In the same vein, are we supposed to give governments access to all of our private information?’ The Home Office said it is aware of the IS propaganda online and is working with social media companies to remove extremist material. A spokesman added: ‘We do not tolerate the existence of online terrorist and extremist propaganda. ‘We work with the internet industry to remove terrorist material hosted in the UK or overseas.’ One British fighter, Abu Farris, took to the website Ask.fm – criticised for failing to crack down on harmful content – to convince radicalised youths to join him. Here are some of his slang-filled posts from his question-and-answer session: . Q: Don’t you miss your mum? Why don’t you just be a British Muslim and live in peace? A: Of course I miss my mum, I’ll see her in jannah [paradise] if Allah accepts me. Regardless of how we feel, its obligatory. This is more important than my family. Q: Since u left have ur family been more understanding or confused? A: To be honest, my family think IS are extreme. They think I was brainwashed. By the grace of Allah I’m not upset. I know that if Allah accepts me I’ll intercede for them and show them who was right on judgment day. Q: I have a bad feeling I can’t hack it... A: Trust me, when ur here you will have ur brothers to talk to. Don’t be scared. 15-yr-olds can hack it bro, so why can’t you? Ask Allah for help. Q: How much British have you met over there? A: So many. Q: Would you advise people going over to learn Arabic first? A: You’ll pick it up here inshallah [God willing]. You can even study here. Q: I’m 18. Do you know any 18-year-old sisters from the UK? I think I am too young. A: I heard of maybe 16-year-olds being here from UK. You aren’t too young. Q: Do u find a spouse in advance? A: There are bros here that wanna get married and sisters out there that wanna get married. Just find a bro or a sis, thru friends or however. Q: Are there gun stores there? A: Yep, u can buy loads of stuff. Q: Are bulletproof vests hard to get where you are? Would a person be better buying it in Turkey and then crossing over with it? A: You can buy it here easily, like any random military store in Raqqah u’ll find it.. they’re like $100. Q: Do you use night vision goggles? A: Of course, we even have spy planes. Q: Are Nikes sufficient footwear? A: I brought one pair of Adidas high-tops. You’ll get what you need here. You won’t enter the battlefield unless ur kitted up and you have ammo etc. Q: Are there a lot of bugs there? Like if I’m sleeping, are they gonna crawl on me? Sorry if this is a weird question. May Allah reward you. A: Nope inshallah, you’ll be fine. Even if there was bugs, there’s those bug eliminators. It’s not bad, only thing is mosquitoes really. Q: Is there internet at your homes? A: Sometimes your house can be near an internet cafe so you can use internet from there. Q: Are there jobs to be an executioner, like when you capture kuffar [non-believers]? A: Yep. Q: How do you earn money? A: We get ‘pocket money’ to spend, to look after your wife, buy some clothes etc.. they give us what’s necessary. Q: Do I need to do a front-flip during training? Nope, training here isn’t as hard as u think. It’s more psychological training, like mentally training you.
|
Extremists posting updates on Twitter, Ask.fm and smartphone apps .
Jihadists informing British 'brothers and sisters' how to get to Iraq .
They claim teens are 'ordered' to defy parents and fight jihad .
Images of beheadings, child soldiers and mass executions uploaded .
Britons known to be among IS terror squads besieging Mount Sinjar .
British fighters include Reyaad Khan and Nasser Muthana, both from Cardiff .
|
1155f5fe7e43ce947ede557841ee9fc9447f594a
|
O.J. Simpson's lawyers submitted a super-sized appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court, seeking the former football star's release from prison and a new trial in his 2007 Las Vegas armed-robbery case. The lawyers met a midnight on Wednesday deadline to submit a request for them to review Simpson's claim that 2008 trial in Las Vegas was tainted by his fame and notoriety following his 1995 acquittal in Los Angeles in the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend. However, the document totaled 19,993 words, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said on Thursday. That was some 43 per cent longer than the 14,000-word length limit the court had set. O.J. Simpson during an evidentiary hearing at Clark County District Court in Las Vegas in January. Simpson's lawyers submitted a supersized appea on Wednesday asking the Nevada Supreme Court for a new trial in his 2007 Las Vegas armed robbery case . It will be up to the seven justices to decide whether to accept it for filing and consideration. Until that time, the document wasn't made public. The court hasn't decided whether to hear oral arguments. Simpson, 66, is serving nine to 33 years in a northern Nevada prison after being found guilty of leading a group of armed men in a September 2007 confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas casino hotel. He was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges. He's not eligible for parole until late 2017. The appeal stems from arguments rejected last year by Clark County District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell that Simpson's trial attorney botched Simpson's trial and first appeal to the state Supreme Court, the only appeals court in Nevada. Simpson attorney Patricia Palm said the appeal ran long because she and attorneys Ozzie Fumo and Tom Pitaro were responding in detail to the judge's November 26 ruling, which totaled 101 pages. Simpson's lawyers requested a new trial for their client saying his 2007 armed robbery court case was unfair because it was tainted by his notoriety. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 in the deaths of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend . The judge's decision stemmed from five days of hearings in Las Vegas on a 94-page petition Palm filed in May 2012 seeking a new trial on 22 possible grounds. The judge said she reviewed the entire Simpson court record and determined that evidence was overwhelming that Simpson orchestrated the armed kidnapping and robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers. Bell said Simpson's current attorneys failed to demonstrate how his former lawyer's actions changed the outcome of the case. Simpson claimed he was trying to retrieve from the memorabilia dealers items that had been stolen from him after his Los Angeles trial and a 1997 civil court a wrongful-death judgment that put him on the hook for $33.5 million to the estates his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. The NFL hall of famer testified last year that he thought he had a right to get his own belongings back, and he never knew any of the men with him were carrying guns.
|
Simpson's lawyers claimed on Wednesday that the former sports star's .
2008 trial in Las Vegas was tainted by his fame .
Simpson, 66, was found guilty of leading armed men in a confrontation with two sports .
memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas casino hotel in 2007 .
The 66-year-old is serving 33 years in a Nevada prison .
|
11560905b7c25d5cbb19abc4413e13f347c25b5b
|
(CNN) -- New Zealand's national airline announced the world's first scheduled route for Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliner on Thursday. As the latest Dreamliner's first customer, Air New Zealand will be flying the launch aircraft from Auckland, where the airline is based, to Perth, in Western Australia starting in October 2014. A cabin mock-up was revealed as part of the announcement at the opening of the airline's Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Auckland. Latest features . The launch aircraft will offer 302 seats total, with the business premier cabin housing 18 lie-flat seats, a premium economy cabin with 21 seats and two economy cabins with 263 seats total. The plane will also have 14 Skycouch rows -- a design unique to the Kiwi airline that turns a row of three economy seats into a three-seater "couch." New features also include a slimmer seat back due to more compact inflight entertainment monitors, allowing more personal space for the passenger. Following the Auckland-Perth route, Air New Zealand will be flying its fleet of 10 787-9 aircraft on Auckland-Tokyo and Auckland-Shanghai routes. More on the Dreamliner . The 787-9 is a bigger version of its predecessor, the 787-8. Able to hold 40 more passengers, the 20-foot-longer Dreamliner also has a greater range of 8,000-8,500 nautical miles, compared to the 787-8's range of 7,650-8,200. Marketed for its fuel efficiency -- it uses 20% less fuel than other aircraft of its size -- the new plane also offers lower seat-mile costs (the cost to fly a single seat one mile). So far, orders for the 787-9 have accounted for 40% of all 787 orders, with 26 customers ordering 396 aircraft. Boeing announced on Thursday that the second 787-9 aircraft had completed its first flight from Everett, Washington to Seattle.
|
Auckland-Perth scheduled route will begin mid-2014 .
Air New Zealand is the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner's first customer .
Airline's economy cabins will feature 14 Kiwi-designed Skycouch rows .
|
1156b0821cc66f3482dcccee66077e7ba88fff56
|
By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 22:38 EST, 29 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:38 EST, 29 September 2013 . The inhabitants of Easter Island lived off local rats, according to scientists who analysed the teeth of 41 skeletons. The island, also called Rapa Nui, first settled around A.D. 1200, is famous for its more than 1,000 'walking' Moai statues, most of which originally faced inland. Researchers compared the teeth that had been excavated previously to animal bones unearthed on the island. Inhabitants on the remote Easter Island - famous for its Moai statues (pictured) - lived on rats . By looking at the nitrogen and carbon isotopes of each, they round that Polynesian rats, also known as kiore, was one of the main sources of protein in the first few centuries of the island's history. The rat is somewhat smaller than European rats and, according to ethnographic accounts, tasty to eat. Located in the South Pacific, Rapa Nui is the most isolated inhabited landmass on Earth and the closest inhabitants are located on the Pitcairn Islands about 1,200 miles to the west. The researchers were also able to radiocarbon date 26 of the teeth remains, allowing them to plot how the diet on the island changed over time. Radiocarbon dating works by measuring the decay of carbon-14, allowing a date range to be assigned to each individual. Report co-author John Dudgeon, from Idaho State University, told LiveScience that rats should not be underestimated in their value as a food resource. Researchers said catching a rat to eat may have been easier - and tastier - than catching a fish . He said for the people who lived on Rapa Nui, 'it was probably easier to go get a rat than it was to go get a fish.' The Polynesian rat commonly travels with humans on ocean voyages and, like any other rat, multiplies rapidly when it arrives on a new island. In some cases, the rats were probably transported intentionally to be used as food, something supported by ethnographic accounts stating that, in some areas of Polynesia, rats were being consumed at the time of European contact. Additionally, previous research has suggested the rats were at least partly responsible for the deforestation of Rapa Nui. The research, which was published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, also found that islanders rarely ate seafood but added to their diet with chickens and C3 plants, such as sweet potatoes, bananas and yams. Scientists compared teeth from 41 skeletons excavated from the island with animal bones found there . Amy Commendador, of the Idaho Museum of Natural History at Idaho State University, told LiveScience: 'Traditionally, from Polynesian cultures you have a heavy predominance of using marine products, especially in the early phase of colonization.' She said one reason people did not eat seafood is that the north of the island contains steep cliffs and would have been difficult to fish from. Its southerly latitude may make it cooler and affect fishing, she said. 'Because of their geographic location and climate conditions, there just weren't as many marine products for them to get,' Commendador said. Some of the skeletons studied by the researchers appeared to eat more fish than others. The reports suggests that fish eaters may have lived on a part of the island where fishing was easier or that eating fish was a mark of having a 'higher status'.
|
Researchers compared skeleton teeth with animal bones from island .
Discovered many people used Polynesian rats as source of protein .
Despite living on island, inhabitants rarely appeared to eat fish .
|
1156cd642a9a86b5d5298841510ec735a212c83e
|
Menace: The Tineola bisselliella moth has infected the Olympic village . They came in the dead of night, attracted by a blaze of light so vast it could be seen from miles away. To an inquisitive moth, the Olympic village must have looked like paradise - 9,000 brand new wardrobes, each containing enough clothing to see athletes through two weeks of the Games. Or, to put it another way, a fortnight of prime packed lunches for Tineola bisselliella and its pesky cousin pellionella. For the Olympic park is at the centre of an area infested with fabric-chomping moths - and Stratford was pinpointed yesterday as one of the worst hit areas in the UK. Don't even dare to imagine what might happen should they chance to munch on the women's beach volleyball bikinis. Perish the thought that British athletes will parade proudly in uniforms that invite critics to describe our opening ceremony as moth-eaten. And forget the fact that so much unpalatable Lycra and man-made 'performance fibres' will deter the larvae of the common clothes moth (bisselliella) or the case-bearing clothes moth (pellionella). With this many people concentrated into such a small area, there is enough grub here for a plague of biblical proportions. The revelation that the Olympic stadium's recently assigned E20 postcode is a hot-spot for moth invasion came from anti-moth and homecare company Caraselledirect. It monitors pest control sales daily . to determine which areas are most affected. On a moth map of the UK, . Stratford is plotted at the epicentre of what it described as an . escalating 'epidemic'. Figures . suggest the problem is 40 times bigger than in Newcastle upon Tyne, for . example; nearly 400 times worse than in Belfast; and greater than in . the whole of Scotland. On the menu? Members of Team GB model their Olympic kit as they arrive at the Olympic Village yesterday . Rich pickings: The Olympic village has 9,000 brand new wardrobes, each containing enough clothing to see athletes through two weeks of the Games . 'They show no respect for Savile Row suits, Primark jumpers or athletes' outfits,' said the firms moth expert, Jonathan Beriland. 'Anything they can get their teeth into - jackets, trousers, underpants - will become a casualty.' London and the south east saw a big increase in moth populations recently because of unseasonal or prolonged spells of cold, wet weather. That meant homes, offices (and flats in the Olympic village) kept windows closed and heat on - perfect conditions for moths to lay eggs that turn into cloth-eating larvae. Females can lay 40 eggs in three weeks, producing larvae which may carry on chomping for up to a year before pupating. No doubt granny would simply have shaken out the clothes and stocked up on pongy mothballs. Don't even think about it! Members of the Australian beach volleyball team during a training session at Horse Guards Parade yesterday . By . the time athletes notice any adult moths flying out of their wardrobes, . however, the seeds of sartorial disaster will already have been sown. Ironically, the Stratford stadium . boats that 'sustainable development' has provided new habitats for a . host of species, including the toadflax brocade moth, whose larvae spurn . athletics gear in favour of the plant from which it takes its name. But . even recently revamped security measures, plus surface to air missiles, . appear to not to have stopped the airborne cloth-destroyers . infiltrating. Olympic . officials said yesterday they had 'not been overwhelmed' by complaints . about masticated clothing, or by reports of munching sounds from inside . athletes' wardrobes (which, it is understood, have no moth protection). But one did report that an American athlete spent an uncomfortable night swatting moths after leaving his balcony doors open and dozing off with the light on. Finally, a terrifying thought. Just where did those big holes in the Olympic rings come from?
|
London and south east have seen a big .
increase in moth populations because of unseasonal or prolonged .
spells of cold, wet weather .
|
1157a08300c676704c340de28ed5f700be30b6a7
|
By . Daniel Martin . It was the policy announcement that really ruffled feathers among Labour’s 47,000 Twitter followers. After a prankster managed to hack into the party press team’s Twitter account yesterday, it seemed that Ed Miliband had come up with his most revolutionary policy so far. ‘Everybody should have his own owl,’ said the tweet that quickly took flight on social media. Shad-owl Cabinet: Ed Miliband in a mock picture on Twitter yesterday . Owl;s your sandwhich: A Twitter used the now renowned photo of the Labour leader eating a bacon sandwhich last month . The Labour Press Team was left bemused after its Twitter accounts accidentally sent a message declaring that 'everybody should have his own owl' The offer was quickly dubbed Ed Miliband's 'Harry Potter Policy', with many Westminster insiders joking that it was his most popular idea yet . Former deputy leader John Prescott was quick to reply. ‘I’ve always been Owl Labour,’ he declared. The . political blogger GuidoFawkes tweeted: ‘For more information about the . Labour owl policy, contact their press office on 28 28 20.’ One . tweeter said: ‘We had hoped our compulsory owl guarantee would be a . head turning policy, but sadly it’s no longer going to take flight. #tweettwoo’. Another, Lucy Vine, said: ‘You know... I think a free owl . would actually genuinely make me vote Labour.’ Other . internet posters put up mock images of Mr Miliband with owls, . including one that was pasted on to the picture of him struggling with a . bacon sandwich last month. More . serious-minded observers pointed out that it would be a policy . unlikely to find support at the Treasury, as baby barn owls cost around . £80 each. To provide one . for all 63million people in the country would cost a barnstorming . £5billion a year, or around 5 per cent of the entire budget for the NHS. What a wise owl would think of Labour’s chances of winning the General Election next year is another matter. The party deleted the message but not before it sparked an internet craze. Labour's press Twitter account sent a message later trying to make light of the gaffe . Gordon Brown's manifesto in 2010 pledged a 'future fair for all'. Internet spoofs quickly emerged today claiming Ed Miliband would go into the 2015 general election promising a 'future owl for all' Owls, like these at the Surrey Bird Rescue Sanctuary, can cost hundreds of pounds each on bird trader websites . Florence Nightingale famously had a pet owl named Athena which died in 1854. The nurse and her pet are seen here in a drawing by her sister Parthenope, later to become Lady Verney .
|
Party accidentally unveils new 'Harry Potter policy' in Twitter message .
Labour quickly deleted the tweet, but not before it was spotted online .
Harry Potter and Florence Nightingale both had pet owls .
|
115a59d5c4916cb14b4c408bec36bbc6116043cc
|
By . Lizzie Edmonds . Hitler's bodyguard, the last surviving member of the Fuhrer’s entourage who was with him in the Berlin bunker on the day he killed himself, has died aged 96. Rochus Misch was a member of the SS and deeply admired Hitler, calling him ‘the Boss’ up until the end of his own life. He was the telephone operator in the underground refuge when Hitler and his bride Eva Braun killed themselves on April 30, 1945. Cult: Rochus Misch, pictured outside the famous Berlin bunker left, was Hitler's bodyguard for five years . Underground: The site of Hitler's bunker in Berlin pictured in 1947 . Misch died in a hospital less than three miles from the site of the bunker near the Brandenburg Gate. He was born in 1917 and joined the SS in 1937. After being wounded in battle he was assigned to the Fuhrer’s SS Escort. Leader: Adolf Hitler, pictured here giving the Nazi salute from his car in 1934, was served by Misch during the Second World War . He . steadfastly claimed after the war that he never heard Hitler talking . about the destruction of the Jews, nor was he ever asked to transmit a . message about the Holocaust through the equipment entrusted to him. ‘He . was so nice, so friendly,’ he would say. ‘The Boss was good to me. I . can never imagine him as a mass murderer. As the war went on he became . more lonely, staring for hours on end at a portrait of Frederick the . Great. The war took a great toll on him.’ He . also recalled seeing the bodies of Hitler and Braun after they killed . themselves. ‘I saw Hitler slumped with his head on the table. Eva Braun . was lying on the sofa. Her knees were drawn tightly up to her chest.’ Misch . was captured by the Russians in May 1945 and taken to Moscow, where he . was tortured. After eight years in prison camps he returned to Berlin . and took over a friend’s painting business. Films: Hilter is portrayed here in the 2005 film Downfall. In the film Heinrich Schmieder played Misch . He was even consulted by Christopher McQuarrie, the writer of 2008 film Valkyrie, about an assassination attempt on . Hitler's life. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, who starred in the . film, refused to meet Misch and told the Los Angeles . Times: 'I didn't want to meet him. Evil is still evil, I don't care how . old you are.' With the death of Hitler Youth courier Armin Lehmann on October 10, 2008, Misch was the last survivor of the Führerbunker staff.
|
Rochus Misch died after a short illness .
Bodyguard saw Hitler after he had killed himself in .
Führerbunker, Berlin .
Lived in Berlin, only two miles away from the bunker, until his death on Thursday .
Was depicted in several Second World War films including Downfall in 2005 .
|
115a69be9c88ca2f0c01034de13135af617bb833
|
By . Ian Drury . The 3,500 servicemen now drafted in to bolster security during London 2012 will be forced to camp in disused buildings. Derelict schools, warehouses, factories and hospitals near the Olympic Park could be commandeered to give them somewhere to sleep. Many personnel – some only just back from gruelling tours on the Afghan front line – have been ordered to cancel home leave or holidays with their friends and families. About 1,000 will be flown in from Germany. A soldier on duty at the Olympic park in Stratford on Thursday. He'll soon be joined by 3,500 other troops . They will join 13,500 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines already deployed to protect the Olympics against a terrorist atrocity. The 17,000 force is greater than that fighting the Taliban. And the decision to fill the shortfall of civilian guards left by G4S has left a massive headache for defence chiefs who have to find temporary accommodation for them all. Some will camp in a tented ‘city’ within London. It is understood camps will be erected inside Wellington Barracks near St James’s Park and at the Royal Artillery base at Woolwich. But a Whitehall source said the ‘favoured option’ was to find disused buildings large enough to house vast numbers of troops. ‘We are looking at industrial buildings, disused office blocks, disused schools. That is the most likely option. The conditions will be pretty austere but troops are more than used to making the best out of spartan conditions.’ Home Secretary Theresa May was forced to plead with The Ministry of Defence for help with security during the Olympic Games . To add insult to injury, Home Secretary Theresa May rewarded troops who have had leave cancelled with tickets to the dress rehearsal of the opening and closing ceremonies. She was criticised for failing to allow servicemen and women who were bailing her out to watch the real thing while MPs get free tickets for the blue riband 100 metres final. Around 5,000 extra tickets were made available for the practices, making a total of 7,000. One serving military officer said: ‘A lot of soldiers have had to cancel well-earned holidays with their loved ones to help dig Theresa May and the Olympics organisers out of this fiasco. It’s a bit condescending to say to them, “Here are some tickets to thank you – but, sorry, they’re not for the proper opening and closing ceremonies.” It’s insulting. I wonder how many MPs will be watching the dress rehearsals and how many will be watching the real thing.’ The Government has already announced 10,000 tickets are available for the Armed Forces under the Tickets For Troops scheme. Among the soldiers called up to rescue Olympic security are those serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which was axed as a fighting force just days ago in defence cuts. Soldiers begin installing a battery of surface-to-air missiles on the roof of the Fred Wigg Tower council block in Leytonstone, East London, to protect against an Olympic terror attack from the sky . The men of the 131-year-old unit are already reeling from the demoralising news that it will be reduced next year to ceremonial duties. Personnel who had already been allocated to the Games were to do 12-hour shifts on six-day cycles for three months, with one day a week off. Many of the jobs involve checking bags, tickets and vehicles. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: ‘Ministers across government recognise the burden that this additional short-notice deployment will impose upon servicemen and women and their families, especially over the summer holiday season. ‘We will ensure that all those taking part receive their full leave entitlement, that no one is out of pocket due to cancelled personal arrangements and that all deployed personnel are appropriately supported.’
|
Disused schools and warehouses could be commandeered .
Many troops just back from Afghanistan will have to cancel leave .
|
115a9f2a41c138bf4f70875f8a1b80729925e731
|
By . Emine Sinmaz . PUBLISHED: . 01:28 EST, 2 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:12 EST, 2 August 2012 . A father who allegedly pushed his ex-girlfriend and three-month-old son out of a third-floor window is expected to be charged with murder after the infant died in hospital. After the pair plunged three levels, Frederico Bruno, of Belleville, New Jersey, reportedly climbed down the fire escape and continued beating them with a table he found in the yard as they lay unconscious on the ground. He was found hiding in a refrigerator on Friday evening after the brutal attack which left the 20-year-old woman, who has not been identified, in a medically-induced coma. Charged: Frederico Bruno, 19 of Belleville, New Jersey, pictured, was found hiding in a refrigerator on Friday evening after the brutal attack . Tragic: The brutal attack left the 20-year-old woman, who has not been identified, (left) in a medically induced coma while her son (right) tragically died in hospital . Damien Bruno, the suspect's baby, . tragically died from his injuries at Hackensack University Medical . Center on Tuesday after fighting for his life for four days. The . 19-year-old currently faces 17 counts, including attempted murder and . child abuse, but he is expected to face upgraded charges after . investigators receive the results of the baby boy's autopsy. Bruno was originally charged with two counts of aggravated assault. His bail was also raised from $300,000 to $500,000. Before his court appearance via video link from jail on Wednesday, Bruno allegedly smeared his face in feces, according to the Jersey Journal. Scene: Bruno allegedly pushed his ex-girlfriend and their child out of this third-storey window . Fall: Police gather outside the brown apartment block, seen behind, from where the woman and child fell . Bruno reportedly blurted out 'it's a . lie' as the judge read the complaint against him, according to the . newspaper, but his public defender quickly cut him off and advised him . to remain silent. Police said Bruno let himself in to . his former girlfriend's Jersey City apartment on Friday morning and hid . while he waited for her to come home. When she returned with Damien and a . friend, he allegedly attacked the woman and turned on her 21-year-old . friend with a carving knife when she threatened to call 911. After . slicing the friend to within an inch of her life, he pushed his ex-girlfriend into an air conditioner, causing her and the infant to go through a window and fall three stories. Arrested: Bruno currently faces 17 counts, including attempted murder and child abuse, in the assault on the boy and his mother . Anger: He appeared in court via video link from jail and shouted 'It's a lie!' as the judge read the complaint . In court: Bruno reportedly smeared feces over his face before appearing in court . Bruno then climbed . down the building's fire escape and, using a table, continued to attack . the mother of his child, who was lying on the ground on top of her son, police said. The friend stabbed in the attacked was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries, but has since been released. The ex-girlfriend had an order of protection against him, authorities said. According to NBC, Bruno fled to a . family member's home after the alleged attack and slept for most of the . day, then told his teenage niece and nephews what had happened when he . woke up. Wanted: Police released this Wanted poster but Bruno was later found hiding in a refrigerator. He had also allegedly brutally stabbed his ex-girlfriend's friend . 'I know he's always had a bad temper but I never thought he could do this,' Bruno's niece, 17-year-old Ahsley Archelus, told NBC. 'To a baby? How could he do this to his own baby?' Police cordoned off the area surrounding the four-story building on Rutgers Avenue as they searched for Bruno, whom they described as armed and dangerous. They eventually found him hiding in a refrigerator in a vacant building near where his siblings live.
|
Frederico Bruno, 19, continued beating his ex-girlfriend and their baby with a table as they lay unconscious on the ground .
The 20-year-old mother remains in a medically-induced coma in hospital .
|
115b9eb55e4e9cd982c77970f5d8710cbaeb3b52
|
(CNN) -- The adage says "a picture is worth a thousand words," but when Leeann Lewandowski happened upon a photograph of her late mother on Facebook after her home was destroyed in Superstorm Sandy, she was speechless. "The first thing I see on my Timeline is my mother holding my daughter, Katie, on the day that she was born. I'm usually a very cheery person, but I absolutely crumbled," said Lewandowski, a 47-year-old elementary school teacher and mother of twin 14-year-old girls from Union Beach, New Jersey. Union Beach is a small seaside community with fewer than 6,500 residents, and Sandy hit it hard, destroying nearly 200 homes and decimating the coastline. "It was kind of like 'The Wizard of Oz,'" said resident Pamela Vasquez. A hot tub was found a block and a half away from where it once sat. Remnants of wooden decks floated in the tide. Family photo albums were buried under piles where multistory houses once stood. Powerless in New Jersey post-Sandy . Jeannette Van Houten also lost her Union Beach home in Sandy, but buried among the devastation she found a calling -- to return memories of happier times to the 1.8-square-mile township by reuniting residents with the family photographs that Sandy scattered to the winds. The day after the storm, Van Houten went for a walk along the shoreline to assess the damage and she stumbled upon a photograph of a couple attending a wedding. She leaned down, picked it up and, suddenly, her mission became clear. "Photos are the only things that hold us to the past. My niece was murdered in 2008 and the only thing we have left of her is our photos," said Van Houten. She soon started a Facebook page where she uploaded the pictures she found, hopeful that through the power of social media, residents of the small community would see them and be able to identify the faces and families in the photographs. Since she started, Van Houten has uploaded more than 2,000 photos to the Facebook page -- and she's still looking each day for more lost memories among the debris. About 60 families have reclaimed photos so far, she said. And some people, like Lewandowski and her daughters, have since joined the effort. Read more: Remembering the victims . After all, Van Houten is the reason Lewandowski saw her late mother on Facebook and broke down that day; Van Houten is the reason she got a rare memento of her mother back. "My mother, very much like myself, hated having her picture taken. That day, I didn't see anything but a picture of my mother holding my baby. I even posted 'Today is going to be a good day.' It's such a gift," said Lewandowski. Vasquez, who also lost her home, found baby photos of her now grown children on Van Houten's Facebook page. "You hold your memories in your heart, but yet to be able to look back, it's amazing," she said. "My husband's parents are both gone and we had a picture of both of them in our living room. We don't have them anymore. It's nice that somebody's out there trying to find your memories and give them back to you." Paying it forward, Vasquez has also begun to take photos she finds to the police station to be uploaded to the online forum. Read more: Salvaging smeared memories in Sandy's wake . "You can lose your home, you can lose your possessions. Volunteers can help you get food, get shelter, get clothing, but in the end, if no one thinks of picking up the photos or the objects that were miles from where they were supposed to be, people don't feel whole," said Van Houten. As more communities that were ordered to evacuate are allowed to re-enter their neighborhoods, similar initiatives have begun to pop up along the badly beaten Jersey Shore. Map: See images of destruction, recovery across the East Coast . Jeannie Esti recently started the For Shore Photos Project, which asks residents and cleanup volunteers to collect photographs that were strewn about in the storm surge. Esti lives in Rhode Island now, but she grew up in Mantoloking, New Jersey, where her parents still live. Her childhood home was luckily left unscathed, but in the backyard, she found kitchen cabinets, books, even a little boy's football helmet signed by the actor and former football player John Amos. And, of course, photographs. "I grew up with sand in my pants in my whole life," she said. "It's that moment where you sit back and think these could be my pictures." For those without photo scanners, Esti has teamed up with local New Jersey businesses like Joe Leone's specialty food stores in Sea Girt and Point Pleasant as drop-off locations for lost-and-found photos that are then collected and uploaded to the For Shore Photos Facebook page. "Photography is so common and ubiquitous that we take it for granted, and we don't realize how important it is to us," said Marina Berio, who heads the general studies program at the International Center of Photography. "It's the despair of losing part of yourself. Your very memories are being taken away from you." Jenika McDavitt, a photographer who studied psychology at Yale and runs the blog "Psychology for Photographers," agrees. "We as humans become habituated to our environment. We forget the way that grandma's house looked. When you find a photo that shows those things that you are habituated to and you forgot, it brings back all those memories that you forgot to stop and remember," she said. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, Sue Weber of Erie, Pennsylvania, also recognized the power of photography and started The Picture Project. After seeing a reporter on television hold up a picture that was found in the middle of the street of a child in a dance costume, Weber had a revelation similar to Van Houten's. "Then it hit me -- many families on the Gulf Coast had lost their entire history in family photos due to Katrina and I should do something about it," she said. Partnering with Kodak, the Biloxi Sun Herald and United Van lines, among others, The Picture Project was able to return thousands of photos to their rightful owners. Weber's revelation also came about because of the coffee table book "The Last Album: Eyes from the Ashes of Auschwitz-Birkenau," which sat in front of her during the news report. Weber had attended a presentation at the Erie Museum by the book's author, Ann Weiss, several years prior. During a tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1986, Weiss discovered an archive of more than 2,000 photographs confiscated from Jewish families at the death camp. Trying to keep the family business afloat after Sandy . "They wanted to bring their emblem of who they were, and they wanted to remember the lives that they lived and the people that they loved. Or even, just remember the people they themselves once were," said Weiss. Weiss fought red tape to obtain the pictures and after doing so, traveled around the world tracking down any survivors, family members and friends that they might belong to. Being stripped of family memories in the Holocaust is very different from losing belongings in a natural disaster, Weiss pointed out, but the end result of both is profound loss. "I think all photos are incredibly important because photos are the emblem of our lives. They're tangible proof that we lived, that we're here and when there's a natural disaster -- after the people and after the pets -- what's the first thing we want to save? It's always the pictures," she said. "Pictures encapsulate our lives, our dreams, our essence of who we are." Like CNN Living on Facebook .
|
Jeannette Van Houten is trying to reunite Superstorm Sandy victims with lost photographs .
Van Houten uploads 2,000 photos to Facebook, hoping people will recognize them .
Similar photo reunion projects were started for Hurricane Katrina and the Holocaust .
"Photography is so common and ubiquitous that we take it for granted," expert says .
|
115d5430e407987d15bf8373dbde7dd753826d39
|
Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Laith repeats my question back to me, chuckling. "What is the Iraqi media saying about the US elections?" He pauses, thinking how best to answer. "Man, the situation is so bad now, we only pay attention to staying alive." He laughs again. An Iraqi journalist who works for several international news organizations, Laith tells me that he only narrowly escaped being killed by a car bomb the previous day. "If I had been a few minutes late for work, you wouldn't be able to talk to me." Laith chuckles again like so many people do in Baghdad, a resilient, tough, warm laugh. It's been nine years since the United States and its allies invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein. And although the war officially ended when American combat troops withdrew at the end of 2011, it's far from peace time here. Postcard: "Ignore us at your peril," Afghans say . Although violence in Iraq is down significantly since 2006 and 2007, bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations are part of everyday life across the country. The Iraq Body Count database estimates that seven people have been killed every single day by suicide and car bomb attacks this year. The bomb that missed Laith killed at least seven people . At 6:30 a.m. the following morning, I'm met more with confusion than humor when I ask the same thing of a group of day laborers in the rundown neighborhood of Bataween. "We only watch football," says one man. "We don't care about elections." In fact, only one of the workers in the group of 40 or so standing around even knows that there's an election going on in the United States. Rayad Salam, a 25-year-old from Nasiriya, catches my attention. Like everyone else on the corner, he is wearing a generic threadbare soccer tracksuit, the ubiquitous uniform of the terminally poor. Postcard: Athenians fear what follows U.S. election . Rayad came to Baghdad after graduating from university with a degree in Classical Arabic. He wanted to be a teacher, but couldn't find a job back home so came to the capital to work. Rayad makes 25,000 IQD day ($20) if he manages to find work, which he only does about three days a week. He tells me he'll take any kind of work, including the most dangerous job in Iraq: policeman. When I ask him why, his answer is so universal it could have come from any one of the millions of Americans still suffering from the financial crisis: "All I want is a job so I can take care of my family." He leans forward to tell me something else, but a middle aged man pushes his way through the crowd and tells me I'd better leave. The group standing around me is drawing attention to itself and we're now making a perfect target for a bomb attack. Traffic squeezes its way around Baghdad's clogged streets, which are pinched every few miles by military checkpoints where bored soldiers lazily hold metal rods — nicknamed "Solomon's cane" — next to passing cars, in the hope they will "sniff" out hidden bombs. Postcard: Should U.S. raise fist to Cuba? The cars gridlocked in traffic make it clear that although Baghdad is still dangerous, it certainly isn't poor. Among the old and beat up vehicles are plenty of brand new Land Cruisers, Pajeros, BMW X series, and black Hummer H3s. These are not the armored versions that move in convoys from fortified location to fortified location -- they are the personal cars of the city's middle class. In the evenings the city's wealthy roam the streets of Karada, in the center of the city, where the lights shine almost as bright as Times Square. Here you can indulge in handmade ice cream, or splash out on the latest European fashions. With oil exports in Iraq at a 30-year high (August's revenues were $8.4 billion), a lot of well-positioned people are getting extremely wealthy. More: Get latest news at CNN Election HQ . Here there is a vague understanding of the two different candidates for those that watch the international Arab language channels such as Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya. Not surprisingly, Bush's party is deeply unpopular. Toma Zaki Zahroon, a leader of the Mandean ethnic minority, explains that the "Republicans make trouble for the U.S. Republicans will create tension with the Arab world." Someone else tells me, "Obama is a peaceful man, but if Romney is elected he'll damage Arabs. I don't know his policy but when I see his face he looks like the devil." The most nuanced view, however, comes from Sheikh Jawad Al-Khalisi, a highly respected Shiite religious leader: "There's not a big difference between Democrats and Republicans. I don't trust either candidate because they are both influenced by lobbyists. U.S. policy is actually against the American people. In 2003 Americans protested against the war, but they weren't heard." Postcard: Why India longs for U.S. election . Baghdadis don't trust U.S. politicians, but neither do they trust their own. "The government is full of thieves," 23-year-old Karar tells me in his home in Hurriya, a dangerous neighborhood in northwest Baghdad. Corruption, in fact, is what most Baghdadis talk about when they talk politics. Iraq's parliament is in a constant state of dysfunction; warring coalitions block each other at every turn and assassinations and police brutality are used as political tools. Karar doesn't care for politics. He's a college kid whose life is dominated by working, studying, and just surviving. A year ago he was injured in a bomb attack in his neighborhood and then just a few weeks ago another bomb went off near his house, killing three of his friends. Karar tells me all of this in a very matter-of-fact way, and I ask him why he seems so unaffected by it. "I feel sad. I'm so sorry about their families. But what can I do? This is normal for us. If you see your friend today, you don't see him tomorrow." As he pauses, the electricity cuts out and the ceiling fan stops turning. Even with the oil exports, new cars, and imported fashions, basic services in Baghdad are still terrible. On average Baghdadis receive eight to 12 hours of national electricity a day, which makes life in the summer -- when temperatures easily reach 120 degrees -- almost unbearable. Even in September, once the ceiling fan has stopped rotating, the room immediately begins to heat up. Karar gestures at everyone sitting in the room sweating and he finally answers my question about what he thinks of the U.S. election. "I don't think that a change of American presidents will have any effect on Iraq," he says and then a huge grin spreads across his face and he starts to laugh that unique, resilient Baghdadi laugh.
|
U.S. troops withdrew last year, but the violence continues in Baghdad .
Republican party still seen as the party of George W. Bush by many in Baghdad .
Many who follow the election see little difference between Democrats, Republicans .
|
115d8637cfd5425731c6a3304505038b8371d314
|
(CNN) -- Prince Harry -- Capt. Harry Wales, to his mates -- is coming to the U.S. Southwest this week to begin a two-month series of training exercises for British attack helicopter pilots. The Apache crews will train at Naval Air Facility El Centro in California, about 90 miles east of San Diego, officials said. The prince, 27, also will be training at the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field in southern Arizona. It's part of a two-month series of maneuvers dubbed Exercise Crimson Eagle, in which British fliers will practice with the Apaches in terrain similar to southern Afghanistan, where some British troops are currently based. Officials stress that Harry is coming as a serviceman, not as a potential heir to the throne. "We are treating him like any other O3 (junior grade officer)," said Kristopher Haugh, deputy public affairs officer at the El Centro facility. Still, it's possible that the prince, like others who train in the area, may frequent area clubs, restaurants, theaters or bowling alleys. The El Centro Chamber of Commerce has asked businesses and restaurants to treat Harry with respect and safeguard his privacy. The prince may also be drawn to outdoor diversions. According to Cathy Kennerson, chief executive officer of the Chamber, the area is known for off-roading, hiking, birdwatching and the Salton Sea, also in the agriculture-rich Imperial Valley. Residents of the city of 42,000 will take the visit in stride, Kennerson said. "They just want to put their best foot forward." Harry is the younger son of Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and the late Princess Diana. He served on the front line in Afghanistan as a forward air controller and saw combat, but was withdrawn in February 2008 after news of his deployment broke. Harry's brother, Prince William, is also an army officer. But as second in line for the throne, he is specifically barred from combat. According to the Telegraph in London, Harry intends to return to Afghanistan next year after he completes his training. He has been told by flying instructors he has a "natural flair" for flying, the newspaper reported this summer.
|
Prince Harry joins British military exercises in California and Arizona .
As "Captain Wales," he is flying Apache helicopter gunships .
He saw combat in Afghanistan in late 2007 and early 2008 .
|
115da4ab28b6fafa6be64c813538b3b70664d738
|
By . Martin Robinson and Jaya Narain . PUBLISHED: . 07:27 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:38 EST, 4 January 2013 . First came the Tamworth Two, now the Durham Duo. Two little black pigs brought drama to the coastal town of Seaham after escaping from an allotment. Police raced into action as traffic was held up by the runaway pair, and one was last night under arrest after being found rooting for food in a waste bin. Pig hunt: Two of the animals went on the run yesterday but this one was caught after it stopped to raid a bin for a bite to eat . But its friend continued to show . officers a clean pair of trotters and, as night fell, the trail was as . cold as a frozen pork chop. The drama in Seaham, six miles south . of Sunderland, is reminiscent of the famous dash for freedom made by . Butch and Sundance – the Tamworth Two – in 1998. The story of the Tamworth Two was later made into a hour-long BBC television drama. They cheated the butcher’s knife by . going on the run from an abattoir, swimming the River Avon and . disappearing into a dense thicket. They were eventually caught but, . thanks to the Daily Mail, were given a reprieve from their death . sentence and lived out their days in an animal sanctuary. All went quiet in the sphere of . porcine escapology until Wednesday evening, when the two black pigs – . thought to be Berkshire crossbreeds – made a break from Hill Crescent . Allotments in Seaham. One of the runaways was lassoed by . 37-year-old mother-of-three Shereen Temple, who found it in a back alley . with its snout in an overflowing bin. She is keeping it on her own . allotment until it can be reunited with its friend. Piggy dinner: This little hog was nabbed on Fox Street but his friend from the allotments is still on the loose . Neighbourhood sergeant Jim Peel of . said: 'The owner of the pigs normally whistles at them to get them to . come back. Everyone is keeping an eye out for the one which is still . missing.' Police officers were alerted to the . escapees after being called when one of the pigs was seen trotting along . the middle of the road heading towards the Dawdon Welfare Pub in the . town. Sightings of the new fugitives were reported on social networking sites as they caused mayhem around Seaham. Dan Johnson Stafford commented via Facebook said: 'Not every day you see a pig holding up the traffic lol.' Safe: The captured pig, nicknamed Porky, is now being looked after back at the allotments but is missing his partner in crime . Helpers: Painter and decorator Shereen Temple lassoed Porky with the help of her son Robert, 11 . Munching: It was this pig's prodigious appetite that caught up with it last night, and he is now being fed fresh fruit and vegetables among other delights . After capturing one of the pigs, Seaham Police tweeted: 'After struggling for 30 mins we caught the pig in Fox Street in Seaham.' Miss Temple, who helped to catch one of the runaway pigs last night. The painter and decorator helped to lasso the pig in a back alley after it was cornered by police. 'He was found in a back lane that was full of rubbish,' she said. 'He was scared when we found him, I tried to catch him but he scarpered down the alley. 'I tried to lasso it once with a dog lead but it slipped away the first time and the second time I managed to loop it around it's neck. 'The pig has been nicknamed Porky by some, everyone's talking about him.' Idyllic: The seaside town of Seaham is said to have been thrown into chaos by the fleeing pigs . Captured: The one pig intercepted was spotted trotting towards the Dawdon Welfare Pub . Shereen kept the pig in her allotment where she keeps 14 chickens. She also owns two horses which are kept in stables, enjoying fresh food including carrots, apples, grass roots and some horse feed. 'He's having a good time digging up my vegetables and he's being kept in the chicken shed for now. 'Apparently the other pig was seen near the allotments this morning, and he was caught but he got away before the officers came to rescue him. 'It's been quite exciting helping to catch them - we just want to reunite him with the other one - we don't know if it's his brother or not.' While the RSPCA took in the runaway pig, the other has still not yet been found. Police were made aware of a sighting of the other pig at Seaham Harbour around 11pm last night but when they attended, the pig could not be found. Another sighting was reported at around 8am this morning, but again when officers arrived at the scene, the pig had once again escaped. Parallels: This latest escape has reminded people of dynamic duo 'The Tamworth Two' Sundance, left, and Butch, who went on the run from an abattoir . Neighbourhood Sergeant Jim Peel said: 'We had a call around 8pm last night to say that there was a pig on the loose. 'It was running around the roads in Seaham. 'Two PCSOs and response officers attended and they chased the pig into a back alley where the pig was detained. 'That was it for about an hour until a second pig was reported to also be loose. 'About 11pm last night there was a second call saying that a pig was running around Strangford Road, Seaham. 'However when officers searched the area, no pig was found. 'Another call came in around 8am this morning to say that a pig had been seen on Mount Stewart Street in Seaham. 'A further area search revealed no signs of the pig, meaning there is still an animal on the loose.'
|
One was found munching on food from a bin but the other is still missing .
Police say the fugitive has been spotted but keeps fleeing the authorities .
Pair launched daring escape in Seaham, County Durham .
Draws comparison to legendary 'Tamworth Two' pigs who fled an abattoir .
|
115e0da2973e779c787d64debefd677efad7a5a9
|
(CNN) -- France has too many foreigners and is not integrating them properly, President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview on French television. "Today we have a problem," Sarkozy said Tuesday night on France 2 TV. "Our system of integration is working worse and worse because we have too many foreigners on our territory, and we can no longer manage to find them accommodation, a job, a school," he said. France places a premium on national identity, pressing the population to put "Frenchness" before religion or national background. Sarkozy is running for a second term in office, with voting set for April 22. He faces a strong challenge from Francois Hollande of the Socialist party and a range of candidates from smaller parties, including the far-right Marine Le Pen. Sarkozy, a conservative, offered cautious praise for Hollande, but said he could not imagine his rival as president. "Francois Hollande is an intelligent man," Sarkozy said. "I do not have a problem with him. The only thing is, he has never held office at the state level. Honestly, can you imagine Francois Hollande as president of France? Imagine it!" He said peace in the Middle East would be a top priority for him if he were re-elected. "I hope that France -- and all of Europe -- we would take an initiative for the year 2012 to be the year of peace between Israel and the Palestinians," he said. And he said if he won a second term he would "celebrate with those I love -- my wife and daughter." Issues surrounding immigration and integration have troubled French politicians for years. Last year, a controversial French law went into effect banning Islamic face coverings in public places. In 2010, hundreds of Muslim youths rioted after a man died in a shootout with police. France has had an influx of about 130,000 people from other countries each year for the past several years, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The country also had about 48,000 asylum seekers in 2010. The French population is about 66 million, according to the CIA World Factbook.
|
NEW: France has an influx of about 130,000 people a year .
France is not integrating immigrants well, President Sarkozy says .
He is running for a second term in office and facing a strong challenge .
He says he cannot imagine his rival Francois Hollande as president .
|
115e50fa91d77fd5284d604242eff3fb457eee7b
|
(CNN) -- Three years ago, Phillip Loughlin made a choice he knew would brand him as an outsider with many of his fellow hunters: . He decided to shoot "green" bullets. "It made sense," Loughlin said of his switch to more environmentally friendly ammo, which doesn't contain lead. "I believe that we need to do a little bit to take care of the rest of the habitat and the environment -- not just what we want to shoot out of it." Lead, a toxic metal that can lower the IQs of children, is the essential element in most ammunition on the market today. But greener alternatives are gaining visibility -- and stirring controversy -- as some hunters, scientists, environmentalists and public health officials worry about lead ammunition's threat to the environment and public health. Hunting groups oppose limits on lead ammunition, saying there's no risk and alternatives are too expensive. The scope of the trend is difficult to measure. Americans spent an estimated $1.08 billion on ammunition in fiscal year 2008, according to tax reports from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. But the bureau does not track ammunition sales by type. Industry groups are tight-lipped about their sales figures. Manufacturers contacted by CNN declined to release specific numbers. Barnes Bullets, which manufactures copper bullets because, the company says, they perform better than lead, is seeing increased interest in its non-lead products, said Jessica Brooks, the Utah company's spokeswoman. Loughlin, of Union City, California, has noticed new manufacturers jumping into the green bullet game. "They're definitely coming out. Winchester and Remington, all the big-name ammo makers are loading green ammunition now," he said. Some firing ranges are banning lead for safety reasons. Lead bullets contaminate military training grounds across the country and are the subjects of many environmental cleanups. California and other state governments have taken up lead bullets as a matter of policy. They worry that lead from the bullets contaminates ecosystems and could affect people. Last year, California banned lead bullets in the chunk of the state that makes up the endangered California condor's habitat. The large birds are known to feed on scraps of meat left behind by hunters. Those scraps sometimes contain pieces of lead bullets, and lead poisoning is thought to be a contributor to condor deaths. Arizona, another condor state, gives out coupons so hunters can buy green ammunition. Utah may soon follow suit. In North Dakota, a hunter has raised concerns about lead's potential impact on humans. Dr. William Cornatzer, a dermatologist and falconer, saw a presentation about the potential dangers of lead at a board meeting of the Peregrine Fund, a group devoted to conserving birds of prey. He decided to collect and test venison samples that were going to be donated to a local program for the hungry. About half of the 100 samples -- all shot by hunters -- tested positive for lead, he said. Food banks and shelters pulled the meat from their shelves after the report. "When we did this, I about fell out of my shoes," he said. "The scary thing is these fragments are almost like dust in the meat. They're not like metal fragments you would feel when you bite down." States in the area started investigating the issue after Cornatzer's findings. Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the North Dakota Department of Health ran a test to find out the health effects of lead-shot game. The agency compared blood-lead levels of people who regularly eat meat shot with lead bullets with the levels of those who don't eat much wild game. The results were inconclusive. Those who ate the lead-shot meat had slightly higher blood-lead levels than those who didn't, but none of the 738 people in the study had levels above the government's threshold for danger. Still, the health department recommended that children younger than 6 and pregnant women stop eating venison shot with lead bullets because those groups are at particular risk for lead poisoning, even at low levels. The department also recommended lead-free bullets as the simplest solution to possible contamination. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources followed with its own study, which found that when lead bullets explode inside an animal, imperceptible particles of the metal can infect meat up to a foot and a half away from the bullet wound -- farther than previously thought. More research is needed to tell for sure if lead-shot meat poses a risk to people, said Dr. Steve Pickard, an epidemiologist at the North Dakota Department of Health. But until that research is done, people should take sensible precautions, he said. "There is no cause for alarm, but it is another source of lead in the environment," he said of lead ammunition. Hunting groups say lead bullets pose no risk to people or the environment. Available studies -- particularly the one from North Dakota -- prove that point, said Ted Novin, spokesman for National Shooting Sports Foundation. "The CDC study confirmed what hunters have known for centuries: Consuming game hunted with traditional [lead] ammunition has never been shown to pose a health risk to anyone," he said. Pickard said Novin's group is misrepresenting science. The NSSF and the National Rifle Association say efforts to ban lead ammunition are veiled attempts to take guns away from hunters. They also point to the fact that lead's main alternative, copper, is more expensive and isn't available in all calibers. Novin said the added expense will drive many people away from a sport that is part of American heritage. "Many hunters believe lead is the best metal to be used for hunting," he said. "Add into that that it [lead] is very affordable and it is very available. We think this absolutely should be left up to hunters." Dr. Joseph Graziano, interim department chair of environmental health sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said the public should switch away from lead bullets -- even if the research is still developing. "It's hard to imagine that you could make a bullet out of something more toxic than lead," he said. Loughlin, who switched to green ammo and blogs on the issue, said that lead shouldn't be banned from hunting but that hunters and the public should be more aware of lead's potential to cause harm. "Lead will get into you, and we need to be working towards getting it out of the system," he said. "I think it's something we could do away with over time."
|
Green bullets are those that don't contain lead, a toxic metal .
Last year, California banned lead bullets in the area where an endangered bird lives .
Copper bullets are the main alternative to lead .
Hunting and gun groups oppose bans on lead bullets, saying they pose no risks .
|
115ecbcb0c1ded6fae4a5671ac37203492f98b07
|
(CNN) -- Despite President Barack Obama's signing of a law repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates sent a memo to troops warning them that it remains in effect until 60 days after the government certifies that the military is ready for implementation. The Pentagon says it does not know how long the certification process may take. In the meantime, Gates is essentially telling gays and lesbians serving in the military not to come out until 60 days after that determination is made. "In order to prevent any confusion, I want to be perfectly clear: at this time, there are no new changes to any existing Department or Service policies," said the memo, released Thursday. "Service members who alter their personal conduct during this period may face adverse consequences," Gates wrote. Before the ban is completely lifted, the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will have to certify that the repeal can move ahead without negatively affecting unit cohesion and military readiness. Since October, the military has dismissed at least eight service members for violations of the policy, according to Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan. But Lapan said those dismissals had been approved prior to Oct. 21, when Gates tightened the rules about who in the Pentagon can dismiss a service member for violating the policy. Now, only the civilian service secretaries, in consultation with the Pentagon's top lawyer and head of personnel, can order dismissals. No new cases have resulted in dismissals since then. Gates also said he now endorses all the recommendations of the Pentagon's working group on "don't ask, don't tell" as the road map for implementation. There will be no special bathroom or housing facilities to accommodate homosexuals, except in special cases. And troops who oppose serving with homosexuals will not be allowed to quit the military before their commitment is up.
|
President Obama signed into law a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell"
Secretary Gates said that the government must certify that the military is ready .
There is also a 60-day waiting period after that .
In a memo, Gates tells troops to abide by waiting period .
|
115f4657695499d475ce8bc70ff347077f2f724b
|
By . Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 20:59 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:02 EST, 14 June 2013 . Cheap supermarket sausages can give shoppers 'more banger for their buck' compared to big brands costing much more, it is claimed. A study by consumer experts at Which? found the Sainsbury’s Basics range pack of pork sausages contains 42per cent meat, which is the same as Richmond thick pork sausages. However, the big brand version costs three times more at £2.40 versus just 80p. Bang out of order: Sainsbury's Basics sausages for 80p contain the same amount of meat as Richmond thick sausages, which is three times as expensive at £2.40 . Which? also found that a shopper prepared to pay £2.99 for a pack of Sainsbury’ s premium range pork sausages – 59p more than the Richmond brand - would get 97per cent meat. Researchers also found a similar pattern with burgers, which are particularly popular as the country enters the barbecue season. Meat feast: Sainsbury's premium range sausages for £2.99 contain 97 per cent meat at only 59p more than the big brand . For example, Birds Eye Original beef burgers cost £8.30 per kg yet only contain 77per cent meat, while Tesco’s quarter pound beef burgers are 90per cent beef and cost £6.12 per kg. The recent horsemeat food fraud scandal has turned the spotlight on just what goes in to the nation’s processed meat products, with many people changing their diets. At the same time, some eight in ten shoppers now check the ingredients in the hope of getting some reassurance on the ingredients. Currently, there are strict rules . about what goes into a sausage or burger with minimum limits for meat . content to ensure shoppers are not misled. For example, anything claiming to be a pork sausage must be a minimum of 42per cent pork meat. Other . products can be called simply a ‘sausage’ if it contains at least 32per . cent pork, at least 30per beef or lamb, or at least 26per cent chicken. Despite . the recent horsemeat scandal, Which? complained that the UK government . is currently trying to push through a weakening of labelling rules, . which includes decriminalising food labelling violations. As a result, rogues who decided to con . the public with suspect food labels and ingredients will face much . weaker sanctions, if any. Not packing much: Birds Eye Original beef burgers contain 77per cent meat compared to Tesco's beef burgers' 90 per cent, yet is still £2.18 more per kg . Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: ‘We want mislabelling to remain a criminal offence, even more so after the horsemeat scandal, so those responsible for misleading consumers can be held to account.’ He added: ‘Branded goods don’t always provide the best value for money, as we’ ve found shoppers can get more banger for their buck by choosing supermarket own-brand sausages. ‘It’s important that people know what they’re getting so they can make an informed choice. ‘In the wake of the horsemeat scandal, we want the Government to think again over their plans to decriminalise food labelling offences to help restore trust in the food industry.’
|
Supermarket's own products contain more meat than big brands'
Burgers and sausages from Tesco and Sainsbury's value for money .
|
115f625fb0d91792bcea484249af822a401b88bf
|
(CNN) -- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday that he has "no interest" in government service in response to a recently televised suggestion by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell that President Obama name Powell as White House chief of staff. "I haven't been asked, and I don't expect to be asked," Powell told CNN's "Larry King Live" in an interview set to air Monday night. "... I don't expect to be asked because I've had 40 years of government service ... I have no interest in government service." Instead, the retired Army general suggested Rendell would be a better pick. "He's been running around throwing my name around," Powell said. "This is the first chance I've had to suggest that Ed Rendell is an accomplished politician, accomplished governor, mayor of a great city. I think he'd be a terrific chief of staff." Pete Rouse has been serving as interim White House chief of staff since Rahm Emanuel exited the post October 1 to run for mayor of Chicago, Illinois. An increasing number of senior Democrats inside and outside the White House say it's looking more likely that Rouse will stay on. Powell, who served as secretary of state from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush, also reflected on the results of this month's midterm elections, calling them "more than a shellacking" against Obama. "The American people are losing some focus on President Obama, what he's trying to do," he said. "And when you look at the election results, as he said, I mean he got shellacked. But I think it was more than a shellacking, I think it was a real body blow that he now has to reflect on and figure out how to come back." Powell also addressed the controversial waterboarding interrogation technique that gained a level of infamy during the Bush administration, saying he wouldn't support the practice now. "The president of the United States, who has a responsibility to protect the American citizens, felt that, in that circumstance, waterboarding was appropriate, and as he clearly said, approved it and takes responsibility for the approval of it," Powell said. "I think subsequently, as you kind of go down the years and take a look at what has happened over the years, I think it could now be called torture." Powell noted that the FBI and other intelligence agencies have downplayed the quality of information the technique elicits, saying authorities can get better tips "through more vigorous and professional interrogation." "But the president of the United States is the one that is responsible for our safety and at that time the one thing we were most concerned about is to make sure we get everything we need to prevent another 9/11 attack," he said. Bush recently took responsibility for the go-ahead for waterboarding terror suspects in his memoir "Decision Points," released earlier this month.
|
Colin Powell responds to suggestion he be named White House chief of staff .
"I haven't been asked, and I don't expect to be asked," he says .
He calls midterm election results "a body blow" for President Obama .
|
115f861c1e8d8d901c92e94f19b7b28faa16b76a
|
By . Emily Kent Smith . In a drive to find homes for pets in its care, the RSPCA has launched a campaign pairing its animals up with some unlikely companions - characters from the television series Game of Thrones. Officials at the animal charity have taken shots of some of their lonely pets who they say are doppelgangers for stars of the hit television show and not just when it comes to their looks. They say a whole host of homeless pets, including dogs, horses and even pigs look like and are similar in nature to Game of Thrones characters. Three-year-old Barry, a green-eyed bull mastiff has been paired with character The Hound played by Rory McCann . 12-year-old Sheba the cat, found herself matched with the 'Mother of Dragons' ,actress Emilia Clarke, thanks to her beautiful blonde locks . Three-year-old Barry, a bull mastiff, is one of the animal look-a-likes, who has been paired with character Sandor Clegane, also known as The Hound, played by Rory McCann. The Hound is also a bodyguard for King Robert in the series and is known for his brutal, but also compassionate character. Similarly 12-year-old Sheba the cat, found herself matched with Daenerys Targaryen, known as the 'Mother of Dragons' played by Emilia Clarke - thanks to her beautiful blonde locks. Two-year-old cocker spaniel Buster was paired with character Jon Snow because of his personality. Buster is described as 'dogged' and 'loyal' and has 'puppy-dog eyes to die for'. Jon Snow is played by actor Kit Harington and known for his fighting skills and moral character. Two-year-old cocker spaniel Buster was paired with character Jon Snow as 'he is dogged, loyal and has puppy-dog eyes to die for . One-year-old spaniel Coco found herself coupled with ladylike Sansa as a result of her personality - 'happy, lively and has a love of company' One-year-old spaniel Coco found herself coupled with ladylike Sansa Stark as a result of her personality - 'happy, lively and has a love of company'. Milo, the two-year-old pig, is said to be the twin of King Robert, as the pair are 'sociable, outgoing and can have voracious appetites'. A spokesman for the RSPCA said it is hoped the latest campaign will see many of their pets rehomed. The spokesman said: 'They may not have . much in common on paper but the characters of the hit TV show Game of . Thrones have some unlikely animal doppelgangers. 'Like . the diverse cast of GOT, the RSPCA wants to showcase its wide variety . of animals up for rehoming - from dogs and cats to pigs and horses. 'Whether . you are from House Stark, Lannister or a wanna-be 'Mother of Dragons' all these Game of Thrones animals are looking for homes and loving . owners to take them in.' Milo, the two-year-old pig, is said to be the twin of King Robert, as the pair are 'sociable, outgoing and can have voracious appetites' Clipper, the horse who was made homeless as a result of the floods, was paired up with Khal Drogo who leads a nomadic life as a powerful Horse-Lord . Beatrix, the cat who is homeless at 16, has been paired with Game of Thrones character Joffrey - but carers insist they are not alike in nature . The latest figures released by the charity show it takes an average of 42 days for a dog to find a new home, higher than ever before. Clipper the horse, one of the latest to find themselves homeless, as a result of the floods, was paired up with Khal Drogo who leads a nomadic life as a powerful Horse-Lord. Beatrix, 16, found herself unfortunately paired with teenage Joffrey, the current ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, known by many as a 'vicious idiot'. Carers were quick to add that the cat did not share Joffrey's unfortunate personality and was merely a sweet-natured look-a-like. The much anticipated fourth season of HBO's Game of Thrones launches on Sunday in the U.S. and hits UK screens the following day. The RSPCA urges anyone who would like to adopt any of these animals to visit its website by clicking here.
|
RSPCA has created the unlikely pairings after new figures reveal that it takes average of 42 days to rehome a dog .
Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke has been matched with a white cat called Sheba .
Animal shelter volunteers factored in personality as well as looks when creating the pairs .
|
11607129a380024cd2eaf6526a02bc88ab5bf46f
|
With their ears pricked up and tails wagging, these excited hounds are raring to go as they bound through the autumn countryside as part of their exercise regime ahead of the new hunting season. With the season traditionally starting on November 1, huntsman Andrew German, of the Cheshire Forest Hunt, made sure the dogs were prepped and ready as they raced through fields and over beds of orange autumn leaves . Although a ban on fox hunting has been in force since February 2005 many supporters of fox hunting are continuing to call for a repeal of the ban, saying the current law is hard to interpret and enforce. Boundless energy: Huntsman Andrew German of The Cheshire Forest Hunt exercises his hounds in the autumnal countryside in preparation for the start of the new hunting season . Upholding traditions: The hunting season traditionally starts near to November 1st . Bright-eyed: The dogs look eager to get started on the hunting season as they frolic through the fields . Changing times: Although a ban on hunting has been in force since February 2005 many supporters of fox hunting are continuing to call for a repeal of the ban, saying the current law is hard to interpret and enforce . The Hunting Act of 2004 bans the hunting of wild mammals, notably foxes, deer and hares, with dogs in England and Wales, although dogs are allowed to follow an artificial scent. A trail of scent is set out in such as way to mirror the movements of hunting live quarry, although with no live prey the progress of the hunt is less predictable and of a slower pace than that of a drag hunt. A combination of oil and either animal meat or urine is used, with the scent being dragged across the land for 10 or so miles. Raring to go: These hounds eagerly await the opening of this gate so they can get out for some exercise . Outlawed: The Hunting Act of 2004 bans the hunting of wild mammals, notably foxes, deer and hares, with dogs in England and Wales, although dogs are allowed to follow an artificial scent . Excited: The hounds of The Cheshire Forest Hunt eagerly await their morning walk . Playtime: The dogs play fight with one another and push their noses through the gates of their kennels in Knutsford, Cheshire as they prepare for their walk . Hunting in its current form can be traced back to the 16th century. Proponents of fox hunting view it as an important part of rural culture and useful for reasons of conservation and pest control, while opponents argue that it is cruel and unnecessary. Under the Hunting Act a person also commits an offence if he knowingly permits land which belongs to him to be entered or used in the course of hunting wild mammals, or allows a dog belonging to him to be used for hunting. Anyone found guilty under the Hunting Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine. The pursuit of foxes with hounds was banned in Scotland in 2002, although it remains legal in Northern Ireland. A dog's life: The hounds are pleased to see huntsman Andrew German . Countryside pursuits: The Cheshire Forest Hunt includes country areas previously hunted by the Wirral and North Cheshire Hunts, Delamere Forest and Mouldsworth . History: In 1947 Philip Hunter founded the Cheshire Forest Hunt, taking over vacant land and buying sporting rights from the North Cheshire Hunt . Walkies!: Some of the hounds appear to be trying to pick up a scent as they stroll around land surrounding their kennels with Mr German . Tender moment: One of the dogs is petted by Mr German as the others crowd around looking for attention . The Cheshire Forest Hunt is located in Cheshire, with the dogs kept in kennels at Knutsford. The hunt includes country areas previously hunted by the Wirral and North Cheshire Hunts, Delamere Forest and Mouldsworth. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s hunts in Cheshire hunt were divided and reunited. In 1947 Mr Philip Hunter founded the Cheshire Forest Hunt, taking over vacant land and buying sporting rights from the North Cheshire hunt. The Cheshire Forest hunting coat is distinguished by a saxe-blue coloured collar, the racing colours of the Hunter family. Running free: The dogs look pleased to be enjoying the open space of the countryside . Past times: Hunting in its current form can be traced back to the 16th century .
|
The annual hunting season traditionally begins on November 1 .
Hunstman Andrew German of the Cheshire Forest Hunt has been making sure the hounds are ready for the season .
Ban on fox hunting has been in force since 2005, but many supporters are calling for the law to be repealed .
|
1160d7b92026f36612f1597f24cfcb5ee314c75b
|
By . Alexandra Klausner . and Jessica Jerreat . New York is home to many stars, but it's only four times a year that its biggest sets right between the east-west streets of Manhattan's grid and turns almost all who cross its path into a paparazzi. Manhattanhenge, sometimes referred to as the Manhattan Solstice, was scheduled to occur at 8:16 on Thursday night and a group of disappointed New Yorkers gathered to take a photo of the glistening sun. But while the sun and the grid system were perfectly aligned, the weather was not - with clouds blocking out the event. It wasn't until Friday night that onlookers were able to experience the magical moment where cosmopolitan meets cosmos at 8:19 p.m. Hundreds of people gathered all over Manhattan to witness the Manhattanhenge on Friday night . New Yorkers did everything they could to take a perfect photograph of the rare New York occurrence . The sun sat perfectly aligned behind buildings during the Manhattanhenge occurrence Friday night . The sun was radiant and in perfect view on Friday night as hundreds gathered to capture its rays . As the sun began to set completely, it did so amidst the sparking city lights that make New York 'the city that never sleeps' Some photographer attempted to take a post-modern approach to capturing the rare occurrence on Friday when the skies were clear . The term Manhattanhenge was coined in . 2002 by Neil deGrasse Tyson and is an amalgamation of Manhattan and . Stonehenge, the ancient English monument built in accordance with the . sun's path, explains Wordsense. The best . viewing on Friday night was along 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th streets, and along . both the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. In . a good year, Manhattan-henge lights up the city skyline with a burst of . red and orange and Friday nights spectacle was far more resilient than . the obfuscated sunset the night before. Earlier in the day on Thursday, the forecast looked . promising with clear blue skies, but as sunset drew close at 8.15pm - . and eager spectators lined the city streets - clouds obscured the sky. 'The setting sun aligns precisely with the . Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across . Manhattan's brick and steel canyons,' Neil deGrasse Tyson, of the American Museum of Natural History, told USA Today. The spectacle lights up every cross street in Manhattan and is 'a unique urban phenomenon in the world, if not the universe', he added. Disappointed . photographers who had hoped to capture the event resorted to putting up . images of the city looking dull beneath cloudy skies. Good thing Friday night was the perfect time to view the illustrious setting sun. Sun worshipers: Crowds gather in Manhattan in the hope of watching the city light up during Manhattan-henge . Disappointment: Photographers and tourists had their hopes of seeing Manhattan-henge dashed when clouds obscured the sky . Determined: A tourist holds their camera above the crowd in the hope that the sun would break through the clouds . Fading fast: As the time of the sunset came and went, those who had gathered for Manhattan-henge realized they had missed it . Planning: A woman gets in position on 42nd Street in the hope that the clouds would leave before the sun sets . Ready: A group of friends wait on the grass in Bryant Park in the hope of seeing Manhattan-henge on Thursday but only saw cloudy skies .
|
Manhattanhenge happens only four times a year and is when the sunset is perfectly aligned with the New York grid .
Thursday night clouds blocked the spectacle .
Friday night hundreds gathered to capture a photo of the rare occurrence .
|
1161226844bd2c824630d301187143bc330f2a1d
|
(CNN) -- After a student made obscene comments about her on Twitter, a high school teacher in northern Mexico taught a lesson with an online post of her own: a video showing her confronting the girl in class. Now the teacher is on administrative leave. The student has been suspended. The video has gone viral, with hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. And there are now copies floating around. The eight-minute video gives a glimpse of a lesson that students at the science and technology high school in Mexico's Tamaulipas state aren't likely to forget. At first, it looks like a typical classroom scene, with students attentively listening as human resources teacher Idalia Hernandez Ramos presents the day's lesson. For several minutes, Hernandez asks one student to stand up read a statement about social media out loud, then peppers her with questions about how harmful it can be and how people can be prosecuted for what they've posted. The student mentions possible problems with cyberbullying. "And the destruction of the image of another person?" Hernandez asks. The student nods vigorously. That's when Hernandez confronts her. "Knowing that, could you tell me why you wrote this?" she says, handing the student a phone. A long, tense silence follows. The student then admits being the author of the tweet, saying that she was "upset." Growing visibly emotional, Hernandez tells the student that she's also "very upset." She then points to several other students recording the incident on cell phone cameras and tablets and demands an apology. "My family saw it (the tweet) and now you're going to apologize in front of these cameras," Hernandez says. "I made a mistake," the student says in a barely audible voice. "The teacher didn't deserve being called those things." A fellow student who apparently shared the comments is also chastised by the teacher, who calls them both "cowards" in front of the whole classroom. Hernandez then repeated the words used against her -- b*tch and whore -- in front of the shocked group of students. "Listen to me well: I will not allow anyone to call me that, especially a young brat like you and you," Hernandez says. An official at the CBTis 103 science and technology high school told CNN that Hernandez has been temporarily taken out of the classroom while the August incident is investigated. The 17-year-old student was suspended for two weeks but is back in school, the official said. CNN is not disclosing the student's name because she's a minor. Debate has surged on social media over the video, with some praising the teacher and others criticizing her for humiliating the student. The school official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that "most of the teacher's colleagues are siding with her." The official also said federal education authorities in Mexico City are reviewing the case. "It may take up to four months to make a final determination on whether the teacher is fired or not," she said.
|
A teacher confronts a student who posted obscene insults on Twitter .
A viral online video shows the classroom confrontation .
Official: The teacher has been temporarily pulled from the classroom .
|
1163594b2caab591ba4cb164cd581ec9d7862204
|
By . Emily Payne for MailOnline . An airport runway was closed and flights diverted after an unexploded World War II bomb was found next to a highway close to Frankfurt airport. The 500kg device was discovered during construction work on a stretch of the A3 highway near Offenbach. Police shut off a 1,000 metre area of the autobahn, which is one of the busiest stretches of road in the country, causing long traffic jams. Disruptions: A stretch of the A3 highway near Offenbach was closed after the 500kg explosive was found . One of the airport's four runways was then closed for landings after experts warned that aircraft should avoid flying over the bomb site. The device had been outfitted with a chemical detonator, increasing the difficulty of the bomb disposal's job, who finally decided to destroy it in a controlled explosion after detonation was deemed impossible. Planes were allowed to take off from the runway, but only in the direction away from the bomb site. One of the airport's runways was closed for landings after experts advised against flying over the bomb site . Live bombs dating back to the aerial bombing of Germany during World War II are still frequently found. Most local authorities have teams working full-time to detect and defuse them. In May, bomb disposal experts were called to Reddish, in Manchester, after a live World War Two bomb was found in an outside toilet. Police evacuated people from 10 houses on the street and neighbouring roads for around two hours, and set up a 100m cordon. The device was taken to nearby Reddish Vale Country Park where a controlled explosion was carried out.
|
Explosive found next to the busy A3 highway just outside the city .
One runway was closed for landing, causing flight disruption .
The 500kg bomb was disposed of in a controlled explosion after defusing .
|
11648f206a871bc4e08d2f46a06993a11f652204
|
Top degrees have been awarded to every single student on dozens of British degree courses, a Mail on Sunday investigation into ‘rampant’ grade inflation has found. On more than 50 courses at universities across the country, in subjects ranging from engineering to English, 100 per cent of students were awarded a First or a 2:1. At some institutions, the proportion of students achieving at least a 2:1 - a key requirement for many employers - has leapt over the past five years. On more than 50 courses at universities across the country, in subjects ranging from engineering to English, 100 per cent of students were awarded a First or a 2:1 . Critics said universities were pushing up grades as a ‘marketing ploy’ to attract students paying up to £9,000 a year, and warned that degrees no longer reflect the true abilities of graduates. However, universities said the rises reflected improvements in A-level grades. Among the 40 universities that responded to freedom of information requests, 32 had degree courses where between 90 and 100 per cent of students were awarded a First or a 2:1. On some courses, more than half of the students were awarded Firsts. All 31 students on the music technology and popular music degree course at Huddersfield University were awarded a First or a 2:1 this year - compared with 33 per cent five years ago. Similarly, all 25 students on the building services engineering course at Liverpool John Moores University were awarded a First or a 2:1 this year, compared with 61 per cent five years ago. And everyone studying English language and linguistics at the University of the West of England achieved a First or a 2:1, up from 71 per cent five years ago. All 31 students on the music technology and popular music degree course at Huddersfield University (pictured) were awarded a First or a 2:1 this year . Among the 40 universities that responded to freedom of information requests, 32 had degree courses where between 90 and 100 per cent of students were awarded a First or a 2:1 . As in previous years, elite institutions - including Oxford, Cambridge and University College London - had the highest number of courses recording between 90 and 100 per cent Firsts or 2:1s. The Higher Education Statistics Agency warned that where student numbers on courses are very low, a few individual results could skew the outcome. But the agency’s own data showed a record two-thirds of all students got either a First or a 2:1 in 2012. Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said that grade inflation had become ‘rampant’ because there were no national standards for degrees, and it enabled institutions to boost their rankings in league tables. Fellow Buckingham academic Professor Geoffrey Alderman said: ‘It is the “all must have prizes” approach.’ Birmingham University Professor John Thornes said grade inflation was a ‘marketing ploy’. But Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said: ‘There may be a range of factors behind these results. The number of students on many of the courses is small. The degrees in question also represent a fraction of the courses often available at individual universities. ‘The proportion of Firsts and 2:1s has increased marginally in recent years, reflecting increases in entry qualifications. A-level performance has improved, as have learning methods. However, the current degree classification system is a blunt instrument.’
|
More than 50 university courses across UK awarded students a First or 2:1 .
Number achieving 2:1 or above has leapt over five years at some institutions .
Critics say grades have been pushed up as a 'marketing ploy'
Universities said the rises reflected improvements in A-level grades .
|
11652f2d48139be71df7aee83a86048cd64222a5
|
By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 22:32 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:33 EST, 5 March 2014 . Leading scientists have given their backing to introducing a 99 per cent accurate Down's Syndrome test on the NHS. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can predict whether a baby has Down's Syndrome as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. It also screens for the rare genetic conditions Edward's syndrome and Patau syndrome. NIPT is currently only available in private hospitals, costing from around £300, but is being considered for use on the NHS by the UK National Screening Committee. Leading scientists have given their backing to introducing a 99 per cent accurate Down's Syndrome test on the NHS . It will make a formal recommendation on whether to introduce the test once the results of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London become known. In a new development, a scientific impact paper published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) supports giving the test to all women who want it in early pregnancy. At present, testing for Down's Syndrome involves a combination of an ultrasound scan of the baby and a blood test for the mother. Experts then estimate a woman's chance of having a baby with Down's. Those found to be at high risk can opt for invasive tests - amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Both carry a one in 100 risk of miscarriage. A formal decision whether to introduce the test will be made once the results of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital are known . The new NIPT blood test detects a baby's genetic material and does not carry any risk of miscarriage like the invasive tests. Professor Peter Soothill, consultant in foetal medicine at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and author of the scientific impact paper, said: 'This is the most exciting development in pregnancy care in many years. 'The new test is so accurate that the number of women who will need invasive tests is going to fall very dramatically while still informing those who wish to know about chromosomal abnormalities. 'The test is not yet available on the NHS but we think it will become a primary screening tool for all women who wish to know about foetal chromosomal abnormalities.' Advantages of the test include its high accuracy rate (over 99%) and ability to avoid invasive tests. However the experts said one disadvantage is that pregnant women may occasionally be informed of findings of uncertain significance, such as when there is a discrepancy between the chromosomal make-up of the cells in the placenta and the cells in the baby. Dr Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami, chair of the RCOG's scientific advisory committee, said: 'The potential for this technology is exciting and will provide much more accurate results for pregnant women. 'However, it is important that there are resources and training for health professionals offering this testing and an emphasis on discussions with the pregnant woman before the test about the implications of the results.' About 750 babies with Down's Syndrome are born in the UK each year.
|
Non-invasive prenatal testing predicts if a baby has Down's Syndrome .
It also screens for Edward's syndrome and Patau syndrome .
NIPT is currently only available in private hospitals, costing from £300 .
It is now being considered for use on the NHS following clinical trials .
|
1165dcea827428a18b64770a855d497b9965d690
|
By . Jack Doyle, Home Affairs Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 19:35 EST, 10 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:00 EST, 11 September 2013 . A new smartphone app - nicknamed the iPlod - will allow the public to report crimes directly to the police. Every year hundreds of thousands of crimes - including burglary, theft and violent attacks - go unreported because victims can’t be bothered with the ‘hassle’ of calling the police. And last year around half a million calls to the non-emergency 101 number went unanswered because operators were too busy. Ministers want the police to be more efficient through the use of mobile technology. Home Secretary Theresa May, pictured with a neighbourhood policing team in South West London in 2010, was speaking at yesterday's Superintendents' Conference . The free app, which is named ‘Self Evident’, allows users to report the crime without making the call. The information - including the location of the crime, when it happened and the victim’s personal details, are then passed on to their local beat bobby or the police headquarters. The app was the idea of charity Witness Confident, which was set up to help improve relations between the public and the police. Guy Dehn, the charity’s director, said he hoped the app would improve levels of unreported crime and ensure the police get all the details they need. He said: ‘The Self Evident app is a state-of-the-art expression of Sir Robert Peel’s principle that ‘the police are the public, the public are the police’. ‘Self Evident makes it easy for the public to report crime, make statements and file evidence with the police simply and securely. An Apple iPhone - but the free app, which is named 'Self Evident', allows users to report the crime without making the call . ‘Mobile technology is an incredibly powerful tool and this app will put that power in the public’s hands so they can help cut crime in their area.’ The app is available to download on iPhones and Android smartphones. In London and Northumbria, crime reports filled in on the app will be sent to the police headquarters. Elsewhere, the data is sent directly to the neighbourhood police team via the police.uk website. The charity estimates that some 406,000 victims of crime do not report what happened to them because of the inconvenience. Ministers have said they want the police to be more efficient through the use of mobile technology. Yesterday Theresa May said officers would be able to use iPhones to get instant access to the Police National Computer - allowing them to remain on the beat while carrying out checks. In her speech to the Superintendents’ Conference yesterday she also pledged £50million for a new Police Innovation Fund designed to help pay for new inventions. She said IT was currently the ‘bane of every officer’s life’. ‘IT is central to efficient policing, and we are going to end the situation where a police officer either carries an out-of-date device that cannot link him to essential databases, or none at all. ‘It is soon going to be possible to connect a range of the most popular mobile devices to national policing systems - and without compromising security. ‘This will mean that officers will be able to use an iPhone (for instance) to get on to the PNC to check criminal and other records - which will increase their efficiency very considerably.’
|
Hundreds of thousands of crimes go unreported each year because .
victims can’t be bothered with the ‘hassle’ of calling the police .
But last year half a million calls to the non-emergency 101 number went unanswered because operators were too busy .
The free app, which is named ‘Self Evident’, allows users to report the crime without making the call .
|
11668f859da2bfcfbef8661926da669a34407661
|
By . Peter Campbell, City Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 18:41 EST, 2 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:58 EST, 2 December 2013 . Chris Train said that in order to receive the 'luxury' of electricity, customers would have to pay for billions of pounds worth of infrastructure . A power boss sparked uproar yesterday by saying the amount of electricity families in Britain use is a ‘luxury’. The extraordinary claim by Chris Train, a senior director of the National Grid, coincided with energy companies refusing to rule out more price rises. Mr Train warned that providing ‘the luxury of electricity that we desire’ would mean customers paying billions more to upgrade the power network. His comments – described as ‘hugely misjudged’ by critics – came as the Big Six energy firms made a mockery of the Government’s latest attempt to bring down bills. Ministers unveiled measures which they promised would take £50 off the average bill. But power firms will not pass on the savings until deep into the winter months, leaving customers paying higher rates over Christmas. And despite trimming their tariffs, every major supplier yesterday left the door open for another crippling increase. It left Energy Secretary Ed Davey forced into the embarrassing admission that despite the £50 cut in green levies that energy firms have to pay, he was unable to promise that bills will not rise again. Mr Train made his comments when he was asked about the security of Britain’s energy supplies. Critics accused him of being ‘out of touch’ with the struggles ordinary families face in paying their bills. Labour energy spokesman Tom Greatrex said: ‘It’s a hugely misjudged comment. ‘Electricity is not a luxury. The reality is it’s hard for all but a handful of people to live without it. ‘If parts of the energy sector can’t understand that then little wonder that public anger over energy is the way that it is.’ Ann Robinson, director at price comparison site uSwitch, said: ‘To use the word luxury was misguided. Despite protests over sky-high bills last week, energy companies have refused to rule out yet more price rises . ‘That’s a very unfortunate was of describing something that’s absolutely essential to keeping the lights on.’ Family power bills have doubled in recent years as most have seen their incomes squeezed. Recent figures suggest 33,000 people will die from the cold in Britain this winter – many of them elderly and vulnerable. Subsidies . for wind farms and solar panels could face the axe after Energy . Minister Michael Fallon said it was ‘immoral’ to pin the cost on . taxpayers. The average household pays £30 a year for large-scale renewable schemes. They are the second biggest green levy on bills, after insulation schemes – which the Government has just cut. But subsidies often go to landowners who rake in thousands of pounds a year from green energy. Mr Fallon said wind farms and large solar farms were ‘mature technologies’ which no longer need to be subsidised. ‘It . is immoral for hardworking base-rate taxpayers to be lining the pockets . of landowners by funding large scale deployment of mature renewables . that shouldn’t need further subsidy. ‘Piling regressive taxes and green levies on to bills is unfair.’ Mr . Fallon said green policies are the only part of bills that could be . cut, as it is impossible to control world oil and gas prices. Five of the Big Six have already unveiled another round of inflation-busting price rises and the sixth, E.ON, will be announcing an increase on Friday. Mr Davey said he did not have the power to prevent prices rising again, despite the taxpayer-funded cut in green levies that are used to pay for homes to be insulated. ‘They [energy companies] are going to have to reduce bills for households compared to what they would have been,’ he said . But households will still face bills rising faster than inflation and critics said the move failed consumers. Clare Welton, from Fuel Poverty Action, said she ‘would not be surprised to see price rises in the coming months and years’ from ‘companies that have always put their shareholders’ returns before the right of their customers to keep warm and healthy’. And Miss Robinson said: ‘It’s vital that consumers do not walk away from this thinking that they have a cast-iron guarantee that they are protected from future hikes. They aren’t.’ And Adam Scorer from Consumer Futures . said £50 a year off bills ‘will not make a substantial difference to the . millions of people suffering fuel poverty’. British . Gas has said it will lower bills by £53 on January 1 as a result of the . green levy cut – but that is not until customers have spent this month . paying full rates. Npower . – which announced the biggest recent price rise, 10.4 per cent – said . it would pass on the levy cut to consumers through a price freeze. Chief . executive Paul Masarra said: ‘We don’t plan to increase energy prices . before spring 2015 – unless there are increases in wholesale energy . costs or network charges.’ Energy Secretary Ed Davey has admitted that even with the £50 cut to green levies for every customer, bill may still go up . Southern Electric owner SSE said it may not lower its prices until the end of March. ScottishPower boss Neil Clitheroe said: ‘We will continue to try and avoid further price rises in 2014, but this will depend on whether there are increases in wholesale energy prices or other costs outside our control.’ Experts have warned that Britain faces an energy crisis, with ageing power plants closing and plans to build new generators behind schedule. National Grid, which transports power and gas around the country, says it needs to spend billions upgrading its networks. A spokesman said: ‘In order to ensure that the UK continues to experience the secure and reliable electricity supplies that we need for homes and businesses, then there has to be investment in capacity and for that we need a stable investment environment.’
|
Chris Train, head of National Grid, said electricity was a 'luxury'
Said customers will have to pay billions to upgrade the power network .
At the same time energy firms ruse to rule out more price hikes .
|
11670b6fc5c9bd9abea9be3acead8b79bd35bdb4
|
By . Emma Glanfield . PUBLISHED: . 07:35 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:16 EST, 12 March 2014 . A haul of jewellery worth £110,000 which was seized from the ringleader of a £26million tobacco smuggling operation has gone under the hammer. The collection included a luxurious nine-carat diamond ring valued at £40,000 and four jewel-encrusted designer wristwatches collectively worth £30,000. Also among the 30 lots was a 4.5 carat single-stone ring worth £8,000, a pair of seven-carat diamond earrings worth £15,000 and a bizarre solid gold baby’s dummy worth £500. The haul of jewellery worth £110,000 which was seized from Daniel Harty - the ringleader of a £26million tobacco smuggling operation - is set to go under the hammer later this month . The bizarre solid gold baby's dummy worth £500 was also confiscated from Harty - the mastermind of a criminal gang jailed for smuggling 150 million cigarettes and two tonnes of low quality tobacco into the UK . The gold baby's dummy worth £500, pictured, was one of the many expensive items of jewellery seized from Harty on his arrest in early 2011 under the Proceeds of Crime Act . The items were confiscated from Daniel Harty, the mastermind of a criminal gang jailed for smuggling 150 million cigarettes and two tonnes of low quality tobacco into the UK. Harty created a distribution network around the north of England transporting cigarettes to warehouses, storage yards and farms. The shipments were then broken down into smaller loads and delivered to towns and cities across the UK to sell on the black market. Daniel Harty, 30, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was jailed in June last year for four and a half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to evade excise duty . His eight-man gang evaded paying £26million of duty. Harty, 30, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was jailed in June last year for four and a half years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to evade excise duty. The jewellery was seized from Harty on his arrest in early 2011 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A judge ordered it should be sold to satisfy a £330,000 confiscation order. Elizabeth Dashper, director of Sheffield Auction Gallery which is now selling the items, said it will be the second time they have sold goods seized under the Proceeds of Crime act. She said: ‘We are used to selling . valuable items of jewellery but it is unusual to find such an impressive . collection of luxury items from one vendor. ‘We are pleased to be able to assist South Yorkshire Police in maximising the potential sale value. ‘Pre-auction interest on this unique collection is expected to be substantial. ‘The . auction is being held live on the internet in real time enabling . potential buyers to bid from wherever they are in the world.’ Four jewel-encrusted designer wristwatches collectively worth £30,000 are part of the haul which will go under the hammer at Sheffield Auction Gallery on March 21 . Rolex: An 18 carat Rose Gold Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Diamond Set Gent's Wristwatch is one of four watches to go under the hammer at the auction later this month . A pair of single stone diamond earstuds, left, . and a diamond cocktail ring, right, make up part of the £110,000 haul of . jewellery which was confiscated from criminal Daniel Harty . Elizabeth Dashper, director of Sheffield Auction Gallery which is now selling the items, said: 'It is unusual to find such an impressive collection of luxury items from one vendor' Graham Wragg, fraud manager for South . Yorkshire Police, said: ‘Both South Yorkshire Police and HMRC had an . interest in this individual and worked in partnership to secure his . conviction. ‘The courts . have ordered he should realise all his available assets to repay his . benefit from crime and to ensure that he does not profit in any way from . his offending.’ The auction is being held at Sheffield Auction Gallery on March 21. The collection includes a luxurious nine-carat diamond ring valued at £40,000 and four jewel-encrusted designer wristwatches collectively worth £30,000, pictured . An 18ct Gold Imperiale Diamond Set women's wristwatch, pictured, will also go under the hammer at the auction at Sheffield Auction Gallery later this month . Harty created a distribution network around the north of England transporting cigarettes to warehouses, storage yards and farms. His eight-man gang evaded paying £26million of duty .
|
Haul seized from Daniel Harty who smuggled 150 million cigarettes into UK .
Harty, 30, and his eight-man gang evaded paying £26million of duty .
He was jailed for four and a half years for conspiracy to evade excise duty .
Judge said jewellery should be sold to satisfy £330,000 confiscation order .
Items up for auction included diamond ring, designer watches and earrings .
|
116859ab0e61bcaf021b1190a1ca7f22d28b7fa1
|
(CNN) -- Michelle Obama gave an impassioned speech before the International Olympics Committee. President Obama traveled overseas -- in the middle of debates over health care and Afghanistan -- to make his personal pitch to bring the 2016 Olympics to his hometown. President Obama personally appealed to IOC members for the 2016 summer Olympic Games to be in Chicago. But despite their efforts, the Obamas will come home empty-handed as Chicago's dreams of hosting the Games evaporated in the first round. The news stunned those awaiting the announcement, many of whom thought the battle was between Chicago, Illinois, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio also beat out Madrid, Spain, and Tokyo, Japan, to host the games. Although the White House says the trip was the right thing to do, some Republicans say it will have some consequences for the president. "Other than people who like to cheer, 'We're No. 4! We're No. 4!' I don't know how this is anything but really embarrassing," Republican strategist Rich Galen said, adding that Obama's failed pitch will probably be the joke on Capitol Hill for weeks to come. "Given the last two months starting with the August recess and all of the issues that surrounded that, I think that the White House staff, the senior staff needs to get together somewhere and figure out how they are going to fix this, because they are in a deep slump," he said. Upon returning to the White House on Friday, Obama expressed no regret about his trip, saying it is "always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States." "One of the things that I think is most valuable about sports is that you can play a great game and still not win," the president said. "Although I wish that we had come back with better news from Copenhagen, I could not be prouder of my hometown of Chicago." White House senior adviser David Axelrod said that although the results were "disappointing," Obama did the best he could. "The president made, I think, a very strong appeal, and it didn't work out. But it was well worth the effort. Any time this president has a chance to go and promote the interests of this country and promote the interests of a city or a state within this country on something of this magnitude, he's going to take that opportunity," he said. Axelrod said Obama's appeal wasn't strong enough to overcome the "internal currents," pointing out that former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch was among those leading the bid to bring the games to Madrid. "I think there were other things that played there that we simply couldn't overcome, and that's life. Life goes on," he said. U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, a Chicago Democrat, said the loss is "kind of heartbreaking. ... A tremendous amount of effort has been put into trying to win the bid." It wasn't a mistake for Obama to make the trip, Davis said. "I think the president did what we would expect him to do, and that is show leadership," he said. Obama spent just four hours in Copenhagen and flew back before the announcement was made. The president also met with his commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, aboard Air Force One, following up on a Wednesday meeting with his national security team on how to proceed on the war, the White House said. Before his trip, critics questioned whether Obama should leave the country to make his pitch, given his already full plate. "Listen, I think it's a great idea to promote Chicago, but he's the president of the United States, not the mayor of Chicago," House Minority Leader John Boehner said, Politico reported. "And the problems we have here at home affect all Americans, and that's where his attention ought to be." Last month, when the Obamas hosted an event on the White House lawn to rally support for Chicago's bid, Obama was against making the trip. "I would make the case in Copenhagen personally, if I weren't so firmly committed to making -- making real the promise of quality, affordable health care for every American," the president said. But the administration had little choice but to raise the stakes, White House officials said, given that the other competitors all were sending their heads of state to Copenhagen. CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley said Obama's failure to bring the Games to Chicago won't cause any enduring political damage. "It opens him to criticism and it makes it difficult for him for a while. But will it mean NATO isn't going to send more troops to Afghanistan because he didn't get the Olympics? No. Does it mean that any Republican or Democrat will change their mind on health care? No. "He's going to be in a lot bigger trouble if he doesn't deliver on health care, believe me," she said.
|
NEW: "I could not be prouder of my hometown of Chicago," Obama says .
"I don't know how this is anything but really embarrassing," GOP strategist says .
Critics had questioned whether Obama should make trip, given his full plate .
Chicago eliminated in first round; Rio de Janeiro wins .
|
11685ca47ef887009caa65dba6606bac149195ff
|
Rangers have agreed an out-of-court settlement with former commercial director Imran Ahmad, who was suing the club for breach of contract. Ahmad last week won the right to arrest £620,000 from the club's bank account pending the court case in light of their ongoing financial difficulties. Rangers were given leave to appeal that Court of Session decision with their case due to be heard in two months, but they announced an imminent end to the case in a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Friday morning. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Graham Wallace denies Rangers will enter insolvency (archive) Rangers' former commercial director Imran Ahmad has reached an out of court settlement with the club . Ahmad had claimed he was owed £500,000 in unpaid bonuses from Rangers. The statement read: 'Rangers have agreed formal terms of settlement with former commercial director Imran Ahmad regarding his current court action. 'The sum agreed is significantly less than the total amount which Mr Ahmad had been granted permission to arrest. 'As part of the settlement terms Mr Ahmad has agreed to refrain from arresting funds in Rangers' bank account or in the hands of others pending the formal removal of the case from court. 'No such arrestment will now take place. The case will be formally taken out of court in the next few days.' Rangers were granted leave to appeal the decision to freeze £620,000 of the club's assets last week . Ahmad was Charles Green's main partner when his consortium took control of Ibrox in an assets purchase of the liquidation-hit Rangers in June 2012. He left his role in April 2013, while Green had quit as chief executive the previous week following claims over links with former Rangers owner Craig Whyte. The news of the settlement came hours before the deadline for applications for the latest Rangers share issue, from which the club hope to raise almost £4million. When the issue was launched two weeks ago, the board issued warnings about their ability to meet financial obligations if the fundraising exercise fails.
|
The Ibrox side continue to face ongoing financial difficulties .
Imran Ahmad won the right to arrest £620,000 from the club last week .
Rangers were given leave to appeal the Court of Session decision .
Club announced to the London Stock Exchange on Friday morning an end to the case having agreed a deal with Ahmad .
|
1168b604eac7c1dcc8ec36132649b60128b50204
|
By . John Hall . A school at the centre of the Islamist ‘Trojan Horse’ takeover plot has refused to accept the findings of an Ofsted report that claimed it is failing to do enough to protect children from extremism. The report - made public yesterday but . leaked to the Daily Mail on Monday - revealed Golden Hillock, in Birmingham, . was doing 'too little to keep students safe from the risks associated . with extremist views'. It was placed in special measures after . Ofsted noted ‘staff views are polarised’ about leadership and that sex . and relationships education was not taught properly. Denial: Golden Hillock school (pictured) has refused to accept the findings of an Ofsted report that claimed it is failing to do enough to protect children from extremism. The charges were rejected as politically motivated . The charges have been rejected by the school’s management as being . politically motivated. A statement from the school said it disputed the . validity of the inspection. Golden . Hillock secondary school in Sparkbrook is one of three managed by the . Park View Educational Trust - all of which are believed to have been . rated inadequate. A . Trust spokesman said Ofsted found no evidence that Golden Hillock . either promoted or tolerated extremism or radicalisation. It added it . did not accept Ofsted findings that the school was inadequate.’ It . said: 'The Trust does not accept the findings of the Ofsted report, . which mischaracterises the school, and is now challenging it through the . appropriate legal channels.' Golden . Hillock was one of 21 schools inspected after a letter - now widely . believed to be a hoax - referred to an alleged plot by hard-line Muslims . to seize control of governing boards in the city, dubbed Operation . Trojan Horse. The . Trojan Horse letter, which was unsigned, undated and first sent to . council officials and teaching unions late last year, has sparked . several separate investigations including by Birmingham City Council, . West Midlands Police, the Department for Education and Ofsted. In . its statement, PVET, said it believed that the inspections had been . conducted 'in a climate of fear created by the 'Trojan Horse' letter'. Controversy: Park View School, which is at the centre of the Trojan Horse plot allegations, has been accused of segregating women and children during lessons . Inspectors . who visited Golden Hillock concluded that the school was not doing . enough to raise students' awareness of 'risks of extremism', according . to PVET's statement. But . the Trust said it was crucial to note that Ofsted's report contained no . suggestion, or evidence, that the school either promotes or tolerates . extremism or radicalisation. It added . that it disputed the inspectorate's finding that there had been slow . progress in ensuring that staff had been trained in recognising the . signs of radicalisation and how to tailor their teaching to counter . this. And it claimed a finding that students are not being properly prepared for life in modern Britain was a 'misrepresentation'. It said: 'On behalf of the staff, students and parents who have worked so hard to improve their school, we are extremely disappointed to confirm that Ofsted has decided to place Golden Hillock in special measures.' Education: Michael Gove has been accused of 'sitting on' warnings of Trojan Horse plots since 2010 . 'While we support the role of Ofsted in holding schools to account in a fair and transparent way, we wholeheartedly dispute the validity of these gradings. Golden Hillock is categorically not an inadequate school. It is also crucial to note that the school had been part of Park View Educational Trust for just five months at the time of the Ofsted inspection in March 2014. 'A number of the judgments are based on data and information that pre-date the Trust's involvement.' PVET runs three schools, including Park View Academy which has been at the centre of some of the most serious allegations. In the past, Trust chairman Tahir Alam has called the allegations 'a witch-hunt.' Earlier this week, it was revealed that three other schools inspected by Ofsted had been given a clean bill of health. The Birmingham-based schools published letters received from the watchdog which all found governance and leadership to be either good or outstanding - the highest rating available - and concluding that child-safeguarding standards were being met. Ninestiles School - an academy in Acocks Green - Small Heath School and Washwood Heath Academy were the first to publish the results of their inspections, after Education Secretary Michael Gove sent Ofsted in over the Trojan Horse allegations. A separate over-arching report by the head of Ofsted and Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw is expected to be published next week, along with any remaining Ofsted reports for the individual schools concerned. Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: 'Gender discrimination, undue influence of extremist views, the school curriculum influenced by hard-line beliefs. This report confirms that Michael Gove can no longer seek to distance himself from this episode. He is responsible.' 'In 2010, Michael Gove was warned by a highly respected Birmingham headteacher that this was going on. Four years on, he has failed to act and has not explained why.' 'Rightly, his record is now being called into question. Rather than rowing with Theresa May, he needs to answer why he has refused to act.'
|
Golden Hillock school refused to accept 'extremism' claims made by Ofsted .
Education watchdog accused the school of failing to protect its pupils .
Also claimed sex and relationship education is not being taught properly .
School rejected the accusations, saying findings are politically motivated .
Golden Hillock is at centre of Islamist 'Trojan Horse' takeover plot allegations .
|
116906276b6b6a5aaad78b9122ca660d8bc43784
|
(CNN)Jeb Bush will make his first scheduled appearance this year to the critically important state of Iowa next month for the Iowa Agriculture Summit in Des Moines on March 7. Bush's spokeswoman, Kristy Campbell, confirmed Wednesday that Bush will attend the event in the Hawkeye State, which holds the first nominating contests in presidential election years. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and real estate titan Donald Trump are also confirmed for the event. Other invited speakers include a range of potential Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Bush's scheduled speaking slot was first reported by the Des Moines Register. The former Florida governor makes his first major public address Wednesday since announcing in December he was actively exploring a presidential bid, though he hasn't officially announced a campaign. He's set to pitch a message at the Detroit Economic Club that he's a "reform conservative" and will offer an optimistic view for how to help the middle class. Bush skipped the most recent cattle call in Iowa last month, when close to 10 potential GOP presidential candidates addressed an assembly of core caucus goers in Des Moines. RELATED: Jeb's invisible man strategy . His absence seemed to be welcomed by many activists at the event. He was a frequent punching bag for some of the speakers — Donald Trump said to big applause: "The last thing we need is another Bush" — and the former governor's push for Common Core education standards was an even bigger target that day. New Hampshire State Rep. Bill O'Brien blasted the idea of "nominating a liberal supporter of Common Core because he has a familiar name." A recent Iowa poll also showed troubling signs for Bush. He garnered 8% support among likely Republican caucus goers, falling behind Scott Walker at 15%, Rand Paul at 14%, Mike Huckabee at 10% and Ben Carson at 9%. The Hawkeye State is already seeing a range of potential candidates making stops in the state. Sen. Rand Paul will be there on Friday and Saturday for an "Audit the Fed" rally and to attend an Iowa State University basketball game. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a Dallas County GOP event in Iowa on Monday. CNN's Jeremy Diamond and Dana Bash contributed to this report.
|
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will attend an agriculture summit in Iowa next month .
It'll be his first scheduled appearance in the Hawkeye State .
Iowa holds the first nominating contest in presidential election years .
|
11696184654cbda7525d6ba04a441a23471b1880
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:57 EST, 30 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:00 EST, 30 October 2013 . Horrific: Brett Lee Curtis, 28, kidnapped his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hamilton, 26, on Monday night before leading police on a chase and killing himself . A 26-year-old woman abducted by her ex-boyfriend who led police on a high-speed chase before killing himself says she always 'knew that he had something wrong'. Brett Lee Curtis, 28, kidnapped Elizabeth Rae Hamilton when she finished work at Lakeland Square Mall, Florida, late on Monday night and forced her into a car. Curtis threatened to kill her early Tuesday morning - the same day he was due to face court for a restraining order Hamilton had filed against him. The couple had dated for three years and were engaged briefly. 'I knew that he had something wrong, but no, I didn't have any proof of anything,' Hamilton told ABC News. 'I didn't want to get shot. There were eight police cars behind us. Lights, so bright, and they were screaming.' Hamilton had a tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend. According . to Polk County court records, Hamilton's father, Joe Hamilton, filed . for an injunction against Curtis on September 27, claiming Curtis . threatened to hurt him, his wife Robin and their daughter. The injunction hearing was set for Tuesday - the day of the abduction. That's what led police to think Curtis, from Lakeland, was the kidnapping suspect. When Robin Hamilton . went to pick up her daughter from work at A Great Asian Massage about . 7.30pm on Monday, she wasn't there and her purse was thrown on the . ground. Scroll down for video . Lucky to be alive: Elizabeth Hamilton, 26, was abducted from work by her ex-boyfriend before leading police on a high-speed chase and killing himself . On the job: Brett Lee Curtis kidnapped his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hamilton while she was working at A Great Asian Massage at Lakeland Square Mall . Police issued a statewide be-on-the-lookout alert for Curtis and Hamilton. The Ledger reported a South Daytona police officer spotted the white Nissan Altima that Curtis was driving about 3am on Tuesday near Beville Avenue. Curtis didn't stop when the officer signaled him, instead leading police on a high-speed chase south on Interstate 95. The 100m/h pursuit crossed Volusia County into Brevard County, where deputies were ready to continue the chase. The officers continued to follow Curtis after he warned a 911 operator that he was going to start shooting. 'If he continues to follow me, I will fire warning shots,' Curtis told the operator. 'he third will not be a warning. Is that understood?' During the chase, Curtis called 911 several times. In one call, he told the operator he had weapons inside the car and threatened to kill Hamilton. Pursuit: After a statewide BOLO (be on look out) for a white Nissan Altima was released, South Daytona police located the driver and chased him (pictured) Surveillance footage captured the 100 miles/hour pursuit on the I-95 . 'He's threatening to kill me if they keep following him,' Hamilton told the operator. 'He says he's got a gun. He's got a nine millimeter...He's got a rifle.' Curtis began shooting at officers, but police did not open fire. About 3.30am, Brevard . County Sheriff's deputies deployed 'stop sticks' and deflated all four . of the car's tires. As the car slowed near mile marker 225 . on the I-95, Hamilton got out of the car and ran. She later said Curtis had told her to get out. She was not injured. Curtis then fatally shot himself before police approached the car. 'He wasn't asking me to get back with . him. He wanted me to spend the last moments of his life with him,' Hamilton told ABC's Good Morning America. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office has opened a death investigation, while the LPD continues to investigate the kidnapping. Robin Hamilton refused to comment on the case, but issued a statement through the Lakeland Police Department: 'We would like to express our deep gratitude and sincere . thanks for the efforts of all law enforcement and security agencies who . aided in the process which culminated in our daughter's safe return. 'We . would also like to especially thank the officers and detectives of the . Lakeland Police Department for their immediate response, steady . determination, and exemplary manner in which they handled this matter.' Armed: Brett Lee Curtis fired shots at police cars which chased him before he was cornered . Forced to stop: Officers used stop sticks to disable the car near a rest stop about six miles south of Stuckway Road in Florida before the driver killed himself .
|
Florida's Brett Lee Curtis, 28, kidnapped his ex-girlfriend from work and killed himself after leading police on a high-speed chase .
Curtis warned officers he would kill Elizabeth Hamilton, 26, if they didn't stop following him about 3am Tuesday .
He told her to get out of the car before killing himself .
Hamilton had filed a petition for a restraining order against Curtis in September .
He was due to face court on Tuesday .
The pair had dated for three years .
|
116994f5a396a0f2c3f479c25ff4067061c76a14
|
This is the dramatic moment a captive golden eagle was knocked out of the skies after straying into the airspace of its wild cousins in Scotland. The 15-year-old trained raptor was hunting in the Grampian mountains with its owner when a pair of wild golden eagles pounced. The aerial battle erupted at 1,500ft and ended with the trained golden eagle crash-landing in the snow. Attack: This is the dramatic moment a captive golden eagle (bottom) was attacked by a wild female in the Grampian mountains in Scotland. A wild male had already just pounced . Owner Barry Blyther was forced to intervene to rescue his golden eagle from the talons and beaks of the wild pair. The trained bird, a female weighing 4.5kgs and with a wingspan of 2.1m, escaped unhurt. She managed to fend off an attack by the wild male but was no match for the female of the pair. Barry, who owns Elite Falconry in Cluny, Fife, said the experience was 'terrifying'. He said: 'I've owned this bird from when she was just a chick and she's been with us for 15 years. Trained raptor: The 15-year-old bird is owned by Barry Blyther, who said the incident was 'terrifying' Prepares to swoop: As the trained bird (right) soars through the Scottish sky, a wild female golden eagle appears from above and begins to circle the smaller animal . Sent spinning: The wild female dives into the smaller trained male, who is sent tumbling through the air . Moves in for second attack: As the 4.5kg captive bird struggles to regain its composure, the wild golden eagle prepares to launch another assault . 'I have quite a connection with her and my heart was in my throat when I saw she was being attacked by a wild male. Length: 75 - 90 cm . Weight: 3 - 6 kg . Wingspan: 190 - 230 cm . Scottish population: 400 wild pairs . World population: Around 170,000 . Main prey: Rabbits, hares and squirrels . 'My heart about exploded when the wild female turned up. Females are much larger than the males and she was the one who eventually knocked my girl out the sky. 'Once she had crashed into the snow I ran over and managed to scare the wild birds off. 'Luckily, she seemed absolutely fine and after about 20 minutes she was up and hunting again.' There are over 400 pairs of wild golden eagles in Scotland, and their territory can range in size from three to 100 square miles. Adults will aggressively defend their territory and ward off any rival birds who come near. The male will usually begin the attack, and if he is unsuccessful then the female will intervene. Hot pursuit: The captive bird, who had already managed to fend off a wild male, is struggling to cope with the wild female's relentless chase . Crash-landing: Much to the dismay of owner Barry Blyther, his trained eagle hits the snow at speed in its desperate attempt to escape . Safe again: Once the trained eagle had crash landed Mr Blyther ran towards it to scare the wild birds away.
|
Raptor hunting in Scotland's Grampian mountains when it was attacked .
Trained bird had already managed to fend of a male wild golden eagle .
But then a larger female arrived and ruthlessly pursued the captive eagle .
Dramatic photos show 4.5kg bird crashing into the snow as it flees pursuer .
|
116a6d4e8a65f7c92be15bfec01042bd2d7b60d3
|
Hickory, North Carolina (CNN) -- North Carolina authorities have been in contact with Zahra Baker's biological mother in Australia and have asked for the medical records of the missing 10-year-old girl. "We're in the process of getting medical information from Australia, and we're in the process of getting medical records here," said Clyde Deal, the deputy police chief of Hickory on Monday. Officials did not specify what kind of medical records they were seeking. Dental records are sometimes used to identify a body. Although authorities believe Zahra is dead, her remains have not been found. Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt has said that Zahra's disappearance is being investigated as a homicide. Zahra was reported missing October 9 and no one other than a family member has reported seeing her since September 25, when a woman reported seeing her at a furniture store, Deal said. Police have been searching for the girl in and around the city of Hickory. "We're speaking to her on a regular basis," Deal said of Zahra's biological mother. "She's very concerned, and she's very appreciative of everything being done to solve this case." The deputy police chief said authorities are not clear on the circumstances of the split between the mother and father. Police said last week that the girl's stepmother, Elisa Baker, admitted to writing a fake ransom note that was left at the family's home. She was arrested October 10 on unrelated charges, including writing worthless checks. More recently, authorities charged her with obstruction of justice, a felony, after she admitted writing the fake note, according to Hickory Police Chief Tom Adkins. Elisa Baker remains jailed on those charges. Her bail has been set at a combined $70,000, an amount her lawyer called excessive. Police said the girl's father, Adam Baker, also faces bad-check charges, but has not been arrested. He is assisting police in their search. "Every time we ask him to be somewhere, he's there," Deal said. The disappearance of Zahra -- a freckle-faced youngster who uses a prosthetic leg and hearing aids -- has made international news. The girl lost her leg to bone cancer, according to CNN affiliate WCNC. Family members and neighbors have told reporters that Zahra's stepmother had abused her. Her attorney, Scott Reilly, vehemently denied those allegations during an interview Monday. "Whatever investigation was done, there was never anything substantiated regarding child abuse by Elisa Baker," he said. "The lady saying they were keeping Zahra in the attic, and they thought it was squirrels, that lady has squirrels in her head," Reilly said, referring to a woman who spoke to the media. "She had no business saying things that were untrue. Someone else says she was kept in a locked room and only allowed to come out five minutes a day to eat. Those people [reporting that information] should have their media credentials revoked." Earlier, a relative said that the alleged abuse was reported to the state Department of Social Services but the relative did not know the outcome. The state office said such a report would have been handled by a county office but that the agency is barred from commenting because of strict confidentiality laws. Reilly said he has filed a motion to reduce Elisa Baker's bond, and a hearing has been set for Wednesday. HLN's Beth Carey and Natisha Lance contributed to this report.
|
Police did not specify what kind of records they are seeking .
Zahra, 10, was last seen September 25 .
Police are investigating her disappearance as a homicide .
|
116bded692ea4842fb7092373116899a4e7d70c8
|
By . Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 08:52 EST, 14 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:36 EST, 14 December 2012 . The Queen has been given a collection of 97 original works of art by members of the Royal Academy including David Hockney and Tracey Emin as a Diamond Jubilee gift. Fortunately there are no unmade beds included, but with Hockney’s Beverly Hills Housewife selling at auction for more than £5.2 million three years ago, the present is likely to be worth a small fortune. Fortunately the monarch, who celebrated 60 years on the throne in June, has given the collection of Jubilee-inspired prints, drawings, photographs and works in oil, watercolour and mixed media, to the Royal Collection on behalf of the nation, who will display them at the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham palace next autumn. The Queen, left, is being gifted a collection of 97 works of art by members of the Royal Academy incluiding David Hockney, whose creation, right, was made on an iPad . A Royal Academy of Arts employee displays 'Sixteen Appearances of the Union Jack' by Tom Phillips, as part of the Diamond Jubilee gift of 97 original artworks to Queen Elizabeth II . The Queen is Patron of the Royal Academy, which was founded by George III in 1768 as a professional body for artists and a venue for exhibitions that would be open to the public. Remarkably, Yorkshire-born Hockney chose to create his Jubilee-themed masterpiece on his iPad, while Emin chose to offer a surprisingly restrained monoprint portrait - a form of printmaking that has images or lines that can only be made once - of the Queen herself. Tracey Emin, left, created a portrait of the Queen as her contribution, right . An employee of the Royal Academy of Arts displays 'Design for Kenilworth AM1' by Grayson Perry, as part of the Diamond Jubilee gift to Queen Elizabeth II . Anish Kapoor has offered something called Untitled but looks rather like what can only be described as a blazing red ball. Transvestite potter Grayson Perry has, also rather oddly, contributed a sketch of a Kenilworth AM1 motorbike, while Richard Wilson's 'Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea!’ is a collage featuring a bus which has crashed on top of a building. Fortunately Sculptor John Maine’s Westminster Abbey, a drawing of the Abbey’s Cosmati Pavement, the spot where The Queen was crowned, is a little more traditional. Grayson Perry, left, and David Hockney, right, both contributed works to the collection . Grayson Perry's contribution to the collection of 97 original artworks gifted to the Queen . The architect Michael Manser has also contributed a drawing and photograph of The Queen’s Suite at Heathrow Airport, which he designed in 1988. The Royal Academy’s chief executive, Charles Saumarez Smith, said: 'We are delighted to be giving this portfolio of works to the Queen for Her Diamond Jubilee. We are proud of our royal heritage and feel privileged to be able to mark this historic occasion.’ President of the Royal Academy of Arts Christopher Le Brun displays his work 'The Complete Journey' Anish Kapoor has offered something called Untitled but looks rather like what can only be described as a blazing red ball . Jane Roberts, Librarian and Curator of the Print Room, Royal Collection Trust, responded: ‘The generous gift from the Royal Academicians to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee is yet another highlight in this wonderful celebratory year. It is hugely exciting to be adding this magnificent body of contemporary graphic art to the Royal Collection.' The Royal Collection is among the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. The Royal Collection is held in trust by the Sovereign for her successors and the nation, and is not owned by The Queen as a private individual. An artwork on paper by Christopher Le Brun . The artwork by Tom Philips . Joe Tilson's For Her Majesty a PC from Venice . Michael Manser artwork of The Queen's Suite, Heathrow Airport, designed in 1988 by the artist . John Maine has contributed a crayon drawing of the Cosmati Pavement in Westminster Abbey, the place where the Queen was crowned in 1953 . David Nash's work is simply called Yellow .
|
Collection includes works by Anish Kapoor, David Nash and John Maine .
Works, all on paper, given to Royal Collection 'on behalf of .
the nation'
Will be displayed at Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham .
palace next autumn .
Collection thought to be worth a 'small fortune'
|
116d6fb538ab1dc41b50a452c4795efd6903ef2f
|
By . Will Stewart and Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 10:52 EST, 17 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:40 EST, 17 October 2012 . An actress who claimed to have uncovered startling new details about the murder of Princess Michael's 'toyboy' millionaire has been killed in a mysterious Moscow car crash before she could disclose them. Mikhail Kravchenko, who shared a four-day break with the royal . in a Venice hotel in 2006, was gunned to death in his Mercedes in May. Marina Golub, an actress and close friend of Mr Kravchenko's, has now been killed in a Hyundai taxi, after apparently having been warned off for asking questions about his death. Mysterious killing: Mikhail Kravchenko, who shared a four-day break with Princess Michael in Venice in 2006, was gunned to death in his Mercedes in May . The Princess was seen dining at Harry's Bar with the younger man, gazing into his eyes and stroking his cheek . Princess Michael, 67, was said to have been 'very distressed' when told of the murder of the 46-year-old Russian furniture tycoon, who was 21 years her junior. The pictures of her gazing into his eyes and gently stroking his cheek in the romantic city caused great embarrassment for husband Prince Michael, the Queen's cousin. They dined at Harry's Bar, took gondola rides and shopped in boutiques, after she had checking into the Cipriani under a fake name. Many theories surfaced when Mr Kravchenko was murdered. Some claimed he had been in dispute with Russia's . powerful Interior Ministry shortly before his death, while others speculated that it could have been a case of mistaken identity. Friends in high places: The pictures of the millionaire and Princess in Italy are said to have caused great embarrassment for her husband, Prince Michael (centre with the pair in Moscow in 2006) Secrets: Marina Golub, a well-known Russian actress, apparently contacted Mr Kravchenko's mother with urgent information on his murder . There are suspicions that his lucrative . furniture stores were desired by a top business clan who decided Mr Kravchenko was dispensable. The Russian tycoon had apparently known for years that . someone had wanted him dead, after surviving two bungled murder attempts . as well as four arson attacks at his Moscow factory. While police have made arrests over the . tycoon's death, including an alleged mastermind named as Alexei Pronin, . 36, friends suspect a cover-up. The wealthy businessman's mother Galina, 65, now claims 54-year-old actress Golub - a familiar TV face in Russia - had uncovered new information about her son's death and was about to reveal what she knew. 'She said, "I will come and tell you, I can't discuss it on phone",' revealed a shocked Mrs Kravchenko. Former Kravchenko aide Svetlana . Savelyeva said her 'very close friend' Golub had told her three days . before her death that she had been warned that 'she was digging too . deeply into the circumstances of Mikhail's murder; and that she should . take her nose out of it'. Another friend, Roksolana Chernoba, added: 'It . is a horrible situation - it was Mikhail first, killers sprayed him . with bullets. Then four months later she dies. It is a mystery.' Mrs Kravchenko added: 'She said somebody told her, "You're . digging too deep, watch your back. It may end in a bad way, you better . go quiet."' 'All of us, all who love him, all of us carry on trying to find out something about his death.' Buried truth: Mr Kravchenko's murder sparked many theories, and sources claim the actress was warned off probing the case any further . Murder plot: The Russian tycoon had apparently known for years that someone had wanted him dead, after surviving two bungled attempts on his life . 'Given modern technologies, I want to say that her death cannot be a coincidence.' The actress died after she hailed a late-night taxi. The driver, who had a fake licence, was killed with her when a Cadillac jeep failed to stop at red lights and struck the Hyundai. She was declared dead at the crash scene and the driver of the jeep sped off into the night at high speed. He was named as Alexei Rusakov, 31, but has not been located despite repeated police appeals.
|
Marina Golub was allegedly warned off probing his death any further .
Mikhail Kravchenko was gunned down in his Mercedes in May .
He and the princess were pictured holding hands in Venice in 2006 .
Ms Golub was killed in a car crash after hailing a late-night taxi .
She had apparently told the tycoon's mother she had new information .
There are many theories on Kravchenko's mysterious death .
|
116d99fb897fcc4675cfd9e5c5d6ffb2e4a9c76a
|
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Somalia-born writer, activist, and former member of the Dutch Parliament. She is an outspoken advocate for women's rights in Islamic society and a strong critic of Muslim extremism. Outspoken critic of Islam, Ayaan Hirsi Ali . Hirsi Ali fled to the Netherlands in 1992 to escape an arranged marriage in Africa, and served as a member of the Dutch parliament from 2003 to 2006. In parliament, she promoted the integration of non-Western immigrants into Dutch society and defending the rights of women in Dutch Muslim society. In 2004, she worked with the late director Theo Van Gogh on the film "Submission," which highlighted the oppression of women in conservative Islamic societies. The airing of the film on Dutch television resulted in the assassination of Mr. Van Gogh by an Islamic extremist, and she went into hiding. Her memoir, "Infidel," published in 2007, recounts her decision to denounce Islam and become an atheist, and her transformation, she says, from "the world of faith to the world of reason." Ayaan was named one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People of 2005," one of the Glamour Heroes of 2005, and Reader's Digest's "European of the Year." She has also received Norway's Human Rights Service's Bellwether of the Year Award, the Danish Freedom Prize, the Swedish Democracy Prize, and the Moral Courage Award for commitment to conflict resolution, ethics, and world citizenship.
|
Hirsi Ali is an outspoken advocate for women's rights in Islamic society .
Somali-born activist went into hiding after death of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh .
Hirsi Ali served as Dutch lawmaker from 2003 to 2006 .
She was Anamed one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People of 2005 .
|
116ef5df4a08fe325ea25045cad85e17fcbbc2c3
|
(CNN) -- A wildfire that has burned more than 4,300 acres south of Salt Lake City, Utah, is 25 percent contained, officials said Tuesday. About 400 personnel were in Herriman, Utah, to battle the Machine Gun fire, as the blaze has been dubbed, said fire spokesman Marshall Thompson. Equipment on scene included 35 fire engines, a total of five air tankers and four Black Hawk helicopters, he said. But high winds may hinder efforts to fight the flames. The National Weather Service has issued a red-flag warning for winds that could gust up to 45 mph, Thompson said. The fire has destroyed three homes, and it caused significant damage to a fourth, said Nicole Martin, spokeswoman for Herriman city. Officials said on Monday the flames had crept to within 30 feet of some residences. About 450 homes remained evacuated, down from 1,600, said Chief Mike Jensen of the Unified Fire Authority. The Red Cross was assisting families, Martin said. Members of the public were asked not to come to the scene unless there is an urgent need, as people must be escorted in the area, authorities said. Thompson said the blaze has burned 4,346 acres, significantly less than the 10,000 acres the fire's footprint was estimated to be on Monday. Authorities expressed optimism about firefighting efforts Monday, but warned that weather conditions could cause a resurgence of fire activity. The fire was sparked Sunday by ammunition fired by Utah National Guardsmen at nearby Camp Williams. National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Hank McIntyre acknowledged Tuesday that "we made some mistakes," and said steps are being taken to hold those responsible accountable. About 120 National Guardsmen are helping fight the fire, he said, and the Guard provided the helicopters being used. McIntyre said earlier the on-base firefighters thought they had extinguished the brush fire started during the training exercise, but then winds resuscitated the flames. The blaze marched north through an artillery impact area containing some potentially unexploded ordnance that, if heated, could explode, so it was too risky for the firefighters to chase the flames into that area, he said. CNN's Melanie Whitley contributed to this report.
|
400 personnel are on scene to fight Machine Gun Fire .
The blaze has burned 4,300 acres south of Salt Lake City .
Utah National Guard acknowledges "mistakes" after fire started from ammunition .
|
117050c9ae0877c9e1b5a3d0d874ffcc5d271710
|
By . Neil Ashton . PUBLISHED: . 16:40 EST, 28 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:13 EST, 28 January 2014 . For Mathieu Flamini it was a moment of madness: he showed his studs and is set for a four-match ban. What a chump. The consequence of his reckless challenge, when he launched himself two-footed at Morgan Schneiderlin 10 minutes from time, will hit Arsenal hard as he will miss League games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Manchester United and the FA Cup clash with Liverpool. To do what he did to a fellow professional is disrespectful and dangerous. Pegged back: Southampton's Adam Lallana, centre, celebrates scoring his equaliser against Arsenal . Marching orders: Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini, in yellow, is given a red card by referee Lee Mason . Yellow peril: Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, centre, celebrates scoring his side's second against Southampton . French connection: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring the equaliser against Southampton . Click here for our brilliant Match Zone . Southampton: Boruc 5, Chambers 6, Fonte 7, Yoshida 5, Shaw 7, Cork 5, Schneiderlin 5, S. Davis 5 (Do Prado 90), Lallana 7, Rodriguez 6, Gallagher 6 (Ward-Prowse 70, 6). Unused subs: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Wanyama, Hooiveld, Isgrove. Goals: Fonte 21, Lallana 54. Booked: Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse. Manager: Mauricio Pochettino 7 . Arsenal: Szczesny 5, Sagna 6, Mertesacker 5, Koscielny 5, Monreal 4, Arteta 5, Flamini 3, Ozil 6, Cazorla 7 (Gibbs 86), Gnabry 5 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 70, 7), Giroud 7 (Podolski 90). Unused subs: Vermaelen, Fabianski, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Gibbs. Goals: Giroud 48, Cazorla 52. Booked: Giroud. Sent off: Flamini. Manager: Arsene Wenger 5 . Att: 31,284 . Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire) 7 . Man of the match: Adam Lallana . *Player ratings by Neil Ashton at St Mary's . When you play for a team chasing their . first title since 2004 — and have served a ban for five bookings so . receive a longer suspension for a dismissal — it is also rank stupidity. Sadly, it also means Southampton's outstanding performance is of secondary importance. Instead it felt as though Arsenal’s season could be shaped by Flamini’s dismissal. The advantage has swung the way of their title rivals and Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City will go top if they beat Tottenham on Wednesday evening. Chelsea are also waiting in the wings. Southampton played this game at full throttle, taking the lead when Jose Fonte converted Luke Shaw's teasing left wing cross. To Arsenal's credit they recovered from a dreadful first half to level through Olivier Giroud and then went ahead with a delicious strike from Santi Cazorla. To see Arsenal panic as they did in the first half and for much of the second, when they were unable to put their foot on the ball, was extraordinary. Mauricio Pochettino’s team were full of exuberance, feeding off the raw, rampant enthusiasm of Sam Gallagher in his first Premier League start. At the age of just 18 he has the makings of a proper player, making life hell for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. The kid didn’t give them any rest. Equaliser: Lallana score Southampton's second goal against Arsenal . Vital strike: Cazorla scored Arsenal's second against Southampton . I will take that: Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny wins the ball off Southampton's Jay Rodriguez . Showing no fear: Southampton's Sam Gallagher was excellent against Arsenal in his first Premier League start . Watching on: Southampton manage Mauricio Pochettino runs to the aid of his injured left-back Luke Shaw during the Arsenal match . February 2: Crystal Palace - League (h) February 8: Liverpool - League (a) February 12: Manchester United - League (h) February 15: Liverpool - FA Cup (h) To play as he did, against a team with the best defensive record in the Premier League, was something special. Gallagher, pinched from Plymouth’s youth team two years ago, played because Rickie Lambert’s hamstring injury ruled him out. He inspired Southampton’s opening charge, linking brilliantly with Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and the lung-busting runs of Calum Chambers down the right. Wenger’s team were untidy, sluggish and sloppy; careless in possession as Southampton built up a head of steam. Gallagher’s early strike drew a save from Wojciech Szczesny, flying to his right to tip the ball away for a corner. Game on. Southampton took the lead in the 21st minute. Shaw put in the hard yards, buying some time and space down the left and his cross was met by the head of Fonte at the far post. They could have been two up when Gallagher’s effort inside the six-yard box hit a post. Opening strike: Southampton's Jose Fonte, left, scores the first goal of the match against Arsenal at St Mary's . As half-time approached Wenger was desperate to get his team back down that tunnel and at the break he tweaked his system, encouraging his side to be more adventurous whenever they were in possession. It worked. Within minutes of the restart they were level when Bacary Sagna, in an advanced position for the first time in the game, poked the ball into Giroud’s path. The Arsenal forward improvised, turning Sagna’s ball beyond Artur Boruc for the equaliser. It was a special strike. Southampton were stunned, conceding again . when Cazorla’s sweetly struck effort on the edge of the area beat the . Polish goalkeeper. It was a remarkable turnaround for Arsenal, but . Southampton responded with an equaliser of their own after 54 minutes. Making his mark: Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil keeps a close eye on Southampton's Calum Chambers . Tough night: Wenger says the red card was harsh on Flamini as Arsenal drew 2-2 . Lallana read Jay Rodriguez’s cut-back and steered Southampton’s equaliser beyond Szczesny. It was a stunning response. Arsenal . poured forward for the winner and Boruc looked beaten when Cazorla’s . chip was somehow deflected on to the top of the crossbar. Szczesny . rescued Arsenal again when he tipped Fonte’s effort around the post . three minutes from time. It was another escape. Flamini, who will start . his ban on Sunday against Palace, was nowhere near as lucky. Start of Saints' march: Fonte enjoys opening the scoring against Arsenal .
|
Lallana strike gives Southampton a share of spoils at St Mary's .
Flamini sent off after reckless challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin .
He will miss Crystal Palace, Manchester United and two Liverpool clashes .
Saints took the lead through Jose Fonte's first-half goal .
Gunners hit back through Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla .
Draw gives Manchester City and Chelsea chance to close gap in title race .
|
11711aef4a42865c72e9d6637bf0aed24a83e050
|
(CNN) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigating drinking water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming, found benzene and methane in wells and in groundwater, agency officials said. At a community meeting with well owners, EPA officials revealed Tuesday they found low levels of petroleum compounds in 17 of 19 drinking water wells sampled, and that nearby shallow groundwater was contaminated with high levels of petroleum compounds such as benzene, according to the report. The affected well owners were advised not to drink the water at the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and told to use alternate sources of water for drinking and cooking, agency officials said. Meanwhile, the EPA is working with various government partners and EnCana, a natural gas company, to provide affected residents with water and to address potential sources of the contamination, agency officials said. The study included sampling 21 domestic wells within the area of concern, two municipal wells, plus sediment and water from a nearby creek. The EPA also sampled groundwater and soil from pit remediation sites, and produced water and condensate from five production wells operated by the primary natural gas operator in the area, agency officials said. No health concerns were found related to inhalation exposure to chemicals while showering or using evaporative coolers, agency officials said. The EPA has not reached any conclusions about the sources of chemical compounds found in drinking water wells, including hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," the controversial process used to extract natural gas from underground, agency officials said. Officials are uncertain if the contaminated shallow groundwater will migrate to the drinking water aquifer, according to the report. "EPA will work as long as necessary to ensure that Pavillion residents have safe water," Jim Martin, EPA's regional administrator in Denver, said in a statement released Tuesday. "While our investigation continues, EPA has secured commitments from our partners to identify alternate sources of water for affected homes and to evaluate long-term solutions." In addition to detecting several petroleum hydrocarbons, the EPA found a number of "inorganic constituents" such as sodium and sulfates in drinking and groundwater wells, according to the report. In spring 2008, residents of Pavillion -- concerned about the quality of their drinking water -- contacted the EPA in Denver, Colorado. The agency sampled 39 individual wells (37 residential wells and two municipal wells) in March 2009 and found nitrate, arsenic and methane gas. The agency conducted the second sampling in January 2010. Over the past week, officials from EPA and the federal agency for toxic substances met privately with individual residents to provide health information and recommendations based on well-specific sampling results, agency officials said.
|
Residents of a Wyoming town became concerned about well water in 2008 .
EPA tests have found various chemical compounds .
Affected well owners have been advised not to drink the water .
Federal officials have not determined the source of the compounds .
|
1172406ab9280117ba1c6cda439ff74f273d1386
|
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (CNN) -- Sean Cononie bounded out of the back of an ambulance ahead of most of the other volunteers. A bullhorn in his hand, he was, in a sense, the pied piper. "If there's anybody out here, that wants the swine flu vaccine, please come over here," he said. And come they did. Outside Fort Lauderdale's main library, a crowd started to build, and soon about a dozen homeless people were rolling up their shirt sleeves -- in the middle of the street -- for the H1N1 vaccination. "You stop spreading the germs," Cononie said. "Because if a homeless person gets positive for the swine flu, they get sick, they go into a gas station and use the bathroom, transfer those germs to a public bathroom, [then] mom and dad come in with little ones, use that bathroom -- boom. Bingo. Contagious. Swine flu." The volunteers are with the Homeless Voice -- a nonprofit homeless advocacy center that also runs a shelter in Hollywood, Florida. They've hit the streets for about three weeks to vaccinate the homeless population in Broward County. They requested the vaccine through the Florida Department of Health to help part of a population that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls an at risk group. Many homeless people often have untreated medical conditions, and the lack of sanitary conditions makes it easier for them to catch the virus. So far, the group has vaccinated about 300 homeless people . "Some have high blood pressure, some are alcoholics and are more susceptible to the flu, the seasonal flu, and the swine flu," said Dr. Chad Frank, a family practice physician who is a volunteer. "We're protecting them, and we're also saving the emergency rooms here as well from being overloaded with potential patients, swine flu patients." Wearing a yellow reflective T-shirt, Frank spends his nights on the street during the vaccination effort. "I think it's needed," he said. "And believe it or not, it's fun. That's why I'm a doctor." Russell Ahamed was one of the first people in line. He lives in the park next to the library in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The volunteers took his temperature to make sure he wasn't running a fever and took his name down so he could be entered into a Department of Health database. "I appreciate this. There's not a whole lot of people that come by and do something like this," Ahamed said. "I know people can die from [the flu]." But on this night, not everyone was able to get the shot. William -- the only name he gave to volunteers -- was ready and willing but not able. Alcohol had gotten the best of him, and he could no longer stand. Fearing a possible bad reaction to the vaccine, the volunteers would not give it to him. Calmly, Cononie leaned down to talk to William, who was sitting on the grass, and explained why they couldn't vaccinate him then. "William, I'm gonna put something in your bag. It's a piece of paper," Cononie said. "When you wake up in the morning, promise me you're going to look for this piece of paper, OK? It says our phone number. Call us in the morning. We'll come back and give you a shot when you're a little more sober." William insisted, "I need the shot now." Cononie replied, "Well, we don't think tonight's a good night because you have a lot of alcohol in you." The volunteers, who travel with a police escort in case they encounter any situation they're not equipped to handle, described the homeless as a forgotten population. Lee Engels is newly homeless. He lost his trailer and his construction job in Martin County, Florida, and headed south to Fort Lauderdale, he said. He's been homeless for three weeks, and he's trying to stay sober. "It's tough out here, but it's how you make it," Engels said, rolling up his sleeve to get the vaccine injection. The volunteers said there's no way to know how much of an effect they are having in stopping the spread of H1N1, but they believe they are doing a public service. "A true blessing," Engels agreed. "You don't have to go to a hospital and pay the bill."
|
Volunteers hit streets to offer H1N1 vaccine to homeless in Broward County, Florida .
They travel with a police escort to help with any situation they're not ready to handle .
Lack of sanitary conditions makes it easier for homeless to catch the virus.
"A true blessing," says one of the men who received the shot .
|
11741909480ff60de5ef7aa267e3cd0a8a7bc2af
|
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A series of major international sporting events, a weak currency and its perennially sunny perch on the tip of South Africa are making Cape Town one of the hottest sailing destinations of 2009. Lucky strike: The port city of Cape Town is set to benefit from several major sporting events . The Indian Premier League cricket tournament was recently relocated to South Africa because of security concerns, and now Cape Town is slated to host the opening match on April 18. Both the Lions Tour rugby and the FIFA Confederations Cup football will follow the cricket tournament, heading down to South Africa later this year. Combined with the arrival of the World Cup in 2010, South Africa has suddenly become the ultimate holiday spot for sports fans. Calvyn Gilfellan, chief executive of Cape Town Routes Unlimited -- the region's tourism board -- told CNN the boost to the region had arrived at a crucial time. "When the financial crisis started people went into gloom and doom but these events are helping a lot to restore confidence in the industry. "The fact that we have a positive exchange rate also helps us a lot as a destination," he said. But South Africa's government is so focused on ensuring the success of the upcoming games that it recently denied a visa to The Dalai Lama. Critics contend that South Africa bowed to pressure from the Chinese government in refusing Tibet's spiritual leader entry to attend a peace conference that was partially intended to help promote the World Cup. As the focus strengthens on these international events, the Cape Town region looks set to benefit more than many from the expected surge in tourism. Gilfellan says this is largely due to the city's location. "We are lucky to be in such a wonderful spot. A lot of these events revolve around the marine industry and revolve around the harbor." This weekend harbor will play host to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival -- one of many upcoming festivals in the area. Cape Town's picturesque Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain, has become South Africa's most visited tourist attraction. Commodore of the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) John Martin, told CNN the Cape Town port was used widely for business, leisure and sports. As well as being the country's second biggest functioning port for trade, the port played host to racing yachts in events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and the Clipper Round-the-world Challenge. "We have several major yachting events that stop here and we are very proud of that." Martin said the popularity of the port means water space is "at a premium," but there are hopes a new harbor and breakwater will be constructed in the next few years. Still, Cape Town has the capacity to cater for foreign visitors on super-yachts and international cruise-liners. "Cape Town is a real focal point for refueling and repairs and it's also quite cheap here so people tend to stay for a while," he said. Gilfellan said she felt the surge of massive sporting events would undoubtedly have spin-off benefits for the marine industry. The Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket, which starts this month, had been tipped to go to England, but ultimately South Africa was chosen for its sunny weather. The tournament, which will feature 59 matches across six venues, will run from 18 April to 24 May . The 2009 British and Irish Lions tour officially kicks off on May 30 in Rustenberg. Matches will be held in Cape Town on June 13 and June 23. The eight-team Confederations Cup runs from June 14-28, and will take place across four cities. The event marks the first time an African nation will host an international FIFA tournament. The landmark event foreshadows the much-anticipated World Cup football tournament in June 2010, for which qualifying matches are currently being held. Although that's still a year away -- there are signs that the excitement in South Africa is already palpable. A new television commercial that began airing last month features Spain and Liverpool star, Fernando Torres, and Brazilian icon Kaka showing off their football skills. The advertisement ends with Torres saying "Ke Nako", which in South Africa's Sotho language means "it's time." It seems for Cape Town and the whole country -- this could not be more true. Mike Steere contributed to this report.
|
MainSail's 'Port of the Month' is Cape Town, South Africa .
The area is one of South Africa's most popular tourist destinations .
Cape Town is set to benefit from major international sporting events .
The port is the country's second biggest and hosts major yacht races .
|
117429e635d713d0805f72ea958211243d5536e8
|
(CNN) -- Federal authorities raided the office of a University of Florida professor on Wednesday who, along with his wife, is suspected of defrauding NASA. The FBI searched the school's Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute, founded by Samim Anghaie, and his office on campus, said university spokesman Steve Orlando. Anghaie is a professor of radiological engineering. FBI spokesman Jeff Westcott would only confirm the searches on campus, referring all questions to the U.S. attorney's office. Calls to the U.S. attorney's office were not returned Wednesday. According to an affidavit filed February 19, investigators from the FBI and NASA said that since 1999, the government has awarded 13 contracts to the couple's company, New Era Technology Inc. (NETECH), and deposited $3.4 million into the company's corporate account. Investigators allege they diverted much of the money from the corporate account into personal accounts to buy cars and property. According to NETECH's Web site, the company was established in 1988 as a research and development firm to perform "high-tech, cutting edge research." It boasts "a highly skilled staff of research scientists, engineers, and physicists" and lists NASA, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy among its employers. Anghaie's wife, Sousan, is president of NETECH, which is listed under the couple's residential address in Gainesville, according to court documents. The couple have two sons; Hamid, 28, and Ali, 31. Since 2001, Hamid Anghaie, who lives in Tampa, has been director and vice president of the company. Before Hamid took over, his father had the post, according to court documents. Ali Anghaie, who lives in Manchester, Connecticut, works for an aerospace firm, Pratt & Whitney, also listed among NETECH's employers. Calls to the home of Samim and Sousan Anghaie were not immediately returned Wednesday. Authorities said the Anghaies took advantage of two federal grant programs set up to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector and strengthen the role of small businesses. Under the NETECH name, they "submitted multiple fraudulent certified contract proposals to NASA, in order to receive the maximum funding for proposed research contracts," according to court documents. The couple allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices to reimburse payments to "alleged employees," which ultimately resulted in the government overpaying the company, the documents say. The money was allegedly diverted to personal accounts through the intentional overpayment of employees, including Samim Anghaie, or the payments made to "illegitimate" employees, including the two sons, according to the documents. Samim Anghaie, who has worked for the University of Florida for nearly 30 years, has been placed on administrative leave with pay, Orlando said. CNN's Samira Simone and Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report.
|
FBI raids office of Florida professor accused of taking money from NASA .
Investigators: Samim Anghaie, family used money for personal gain .
Anghaie has been placed on administrative leave with pay .
|
117591b3e7b0a744876fa6af490f49a55af0f980
|
(CNN) -- Alain Prost has revealed that he hopes to resurrect the French Grand Prix, a race he won six times during his illustrious Formula One career. The four-time world champion driver is meeting with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone about reinstating the event, which was last held in 2008, at Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille. "We were very close to organizing a French Grand Prix in Paris a few years ago and now I've been asked to advise and see if everything is correct," the former McLaren driver told CNN ahead of this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. "I have the opportunity to meet Bernie and we'll see what happens. It might be the right timing, that's all I can say. But in the end it is always a question of money." The Frenchman picked up the first of his 51 grand prix wins at his home race in 1981. That year it was held in Dijon, which was rotated as a venue with Paul Ricard from the early 1970s until Magny Cours took over in 1991. "We could have organized a race in Paris a few years ago which was really the best project," explained Prost, who also raced for Renault, Ferrari and Williams during a 13-year spell behind the wheel. "If we cannot do that, I think the Circuit Paul Ricard is really the best place ... in Europe, we are in a way missing Formula One. We still have some races but we miss the historical races. "We still have Monza, we still have Silverstone, but we see that it is not that easy to organize. We have been everywhere in the world for the benefit of Formula One but at the end of the day, the culture, the tradition of Formula One and motor racing is really in Europe." Prost has special attachment to the track in Le Castellet, where he took some of his first steps on the road to F1. "I feel a little bit nostalgic," he said. "In my heart I would be very pleased -- it became a fantastic track, a fantastic place and it would be a shame not to use it. "I have a lot of memories. It's like Silverstone in England. If you stop racing you lose almost all of the history from the country and that is not good." After this weekend's Abu Dhabi race, teams will stay at the Yas Marina circuit to take part in the annual young driver test event -- where a Prost will take to an F1 track for the first time since the 1993 Australian Grand Prix. Prost's oldest son Nicolas is a development driver for the Lotus team, formerly known as Renault. The 31-year-old is a latecomer to motorsport, instead deciding to attend university in the U.S. where he was a keen golfer. "I feel proud about what he's doing today," said Prost. "He's going to follow what the team want him to do, I know they are testing a few things for next year. It's exactly what he wants to do." Prost is unsure whether his son will follow him onto the grid, saying: "We'll wait and see. He's very realistic, that is his quality. So he's not going to be disappointed." Meanwhile, reports have suggested F1 teams face increased entry fees next season as the sport looks to increase revenue. Motorsport's world governing body, the FIA, will charge every entrant $500,000 plus further expenses for each championship point won this season. The constructors' champions -- likely to be Red Bull -- will have to pay $6,000 per point, compared to $5,000 for the rest of the teams, according to the Autosport website. If these financial rules had been in place at the start of the 2012 season, Red Bull would have had to part with $4.4 million to enter the championship after picking up 650 points in 2011. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel's late-season charge towards a historic third successive drivers' title gathered pace as the Red Bull driver set the fastest time in practice ahead of Sunday's grand prix. The German, who holds a 13-point lead over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with just three races to go, pipped McLaren's Mercedes-bound Lewis Hamilton by 0.168 seconds on Friday. Vettel, the youngest double world champion in F1 history, has won the last four grands prix to derail Alonso's bid to win Ferrari's first world championship since 2007 and his third overall. The Spaniard struggled to match the frontrunners, finishing the final session seventh fastest.
|
Alain Prost reveals talks being held over reinstating the French Grand Prix .
The race at the Circuit Paul Ricard was last held in 2007 .
Reports suggest the FIA is to increase entry fees for team for the 2013 season .
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel sets the fastest time in practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP .
|
117618989c76a4949be10924a31bb0d1ffed8b3c
|
(CNN)Just the other day, en route to school, my husband and daughters ended up walking behind a smoker on the street. The three of them immediately talked about how "gross" they think smoking is. My younger daughter, who's 7, asked why someone would start to smoke in the first place, according to my husband. Then, my nearly-9-year-old said she read a book in which a guy wouldn't kiss a girl because she smoked. It's exactly that sentiment -- that smokers may be considered less attractive, appealing or desirable -- that a provocative new music video hopes to capitalize on to persuade teens never to start smoking in the first place. The video plays off the term "left swipe," which with the popularity of dating apps like Tinder and OKCupid has come to define someone as unattractive. If you like someone on a dating app, you swipe them right. If you don't like them, you give them a "left swipe." (Full disclosure: I had no idea what these terms meant until I reported this story!) And so, in the video, featuring musical performers Becky G, Fifth Harmony and a host of Internet stars including Grace Helbig, Harley Morenstein and King Bach, each time a profile picture appears with someone smoking, there is a call to #LeftSwipeDat. Smoking, drinking, prescription drug abuse by teens is down, survey says . "Yeah, you work out, you are in shape, OK. I like the six-pack abs, not the six packs a day," sings Becky G. The video is part of the "truth" campaign, one of the largest national youth smoking-prevention initiatives in the country, and is directed and funded by the national public foundation Legacy. "We wanted to debunk a few things here," said Robin Koval, chief executive officer and president of Legacy. "One, (smoking) doesn't make you more attractive, and we know the thing that young people care about most is connecting with other people, especially for romantic opportunities, and that social smoking, whatever you call it, light smoking, intermittent smoking, is smoking. "From our perspective, if you light it, you should left-swipe it. It's just a bad idea." Some research shows how dating profiles featuring smoking get less traction than those that do not. The anti-smoking group Action on Smoking & Health conducted an experiment. It created two identical profiles -- "Heather" and "Sara" -- on the dating app Tinder, each featuring the same attractive woman. Heather was smoking; Sara was not. Heather and Sara then both swiped right on 1,000 men over a week, again meaning they liked them. Fifty-four percent of the men chose Sara, the nonsmoking profile, while 29% selected Heather, the profile with a cigarette, according to the group's findings. The campaign comes as cigarette smoking has reached historic lows among teens, according to the latest Monitoring the Future survey by the University of Michigan, released in December. FDA launches teen anti-smoking campaign . Among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders who were polled in 1997, 28% said they smoked in the prior month. That number dropped to 8% in 2014, according to the report, which is amazing. But there are reasons to be concerned, including how teens seem to have dramatically different perceptions about the impact of social smoking versus being a regular smoker. "One of the things we see is a belief among young people that if you only smoke occasionally, light smoking or intermittent smoking, that somehow that's not as dangerous," Koval said. In a recent study, though most teens said they believe that heavy smoking is harmful, only 64% said light smoking, consuming a few cigarettes a day, was very harmful. Nearly 25% believed that intermittent smoking caused little or no harm, according to the survey of nearly 25,000 teens in the United States and showcased in the Journal of Pediatrics. Would you tell your kids you got high? E-cigarette use among teens is also on the rise: Seventeen percent of 12th-graders, 16% of 10th-graders and 8% of eighth-graders said they had used them in the past month, according to the recent Monitoring the Future survey. And 23% of 12th-graders said they smoked tobacco using a hookah in the past year in 2014, up from 17% in 2010. In addition, 19% said they smoked small or little cigars, often called cigarillos, in 2014, down from 23% in 2010. "Young people just don't understand that a little cigar is just as dangerous as a regular cigarette," Koval said. "It's very concerning and really, really dangerous. ... We know for sure that combustible tobacco will kill you." The video marks a departure from other ad campaigns, including some by the FDA last year, that try to graphically show teens the health risks associated with smoking. Koval says those ads are effective too, but this approach may have more impact when it comes to changing perceptions. Why it's still a big deal if your teen smokes pot? Young people think they are "never going to get old. They are never going to get sick. They don't even really think their social smoking, if you will, behavior is really real smoking or that dangerous," she said. "Doing it when they're out with others, believing that it makes them more attractive, that it helps them connect with others is an increasing trend." Koval would not reveal the cost of airing the 60-second version during the Grammys but said the move clearly represents a "significant" investment. "It's very hard to aggregate live audiences of young people, the moments when you can do that are far and few between, so we want to take advantage of them," she said. "We know that youth will be watching." And the hope is that they won't just watch but will share the video on social media along with the hashtag #LeftSwipeDat. Do you think this new anti-smoking music video will impact teens? Share your thoughts with Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook.
|
An anti-smoking music video will capitalize on popularity of dating apps among teens .
A 60-second spot was to be showcased during the Grammys .
Survey: Teen cigarette use down, but teens don't view social smoking as very harmful .
|
11768f5494db9c298a704b4a5f70359362e31210
|
(PEOPLE.com) -- Pregnancy joy turned to sadness for the stars of TLC's "The Little Couple," as they learned on Tuesday's episode of the successful transfer of an embryo to their surrogate, who later miscarried their unborn child. Dr. Jennifer Arnold and husband Bill Klein, who both have skeletal dysplasia, a bone-growth disorder that causes dwarfism, have documented their road to parenthood on the show. They decided to use a surrogate to have a baby, because of the challenges a pregnancy could pose to her health. On the season finale, Arnold and Klein learned their surrogate was expecting. "After we got pregnant, the craziness ensued with us wondering what to do with the baby's room, making sure our surrogate was getting her daily dose of baby vitamins," Klein tells PEOPLE. But since filming their happy visit to the doctor, the couple's surrogate lost the pregnancy. Klein had to contact his wife, a neonatologist at Texas Children's Hospital, while she was at work in order to tell her the heartbreaking news. "I didn't want her to be the last person to find out," he says. "Ugly or happy, it needs to be told. It was a very tough day, and Jen took it harder than she originally expected." "I cried my eyes out," Arnold tells PEOPLE. "I deal with families who lose their babies and I will cry with them, but I thought I would be stronger. Nothing can completely prepare for all that when it is about you." When the couple were able to get together at the end of the day, they mourned, crying and comforting one another and later talking to family and friends. The next day they decided they would continue trying to start a family, with both surrogacy and adoption as possible paths. Kim Kardashian's Marriage: Mistake or Fake? "Bill was a rock, and he held me through everything," Arnold says. "By the next morning, I realized that I needed to try again. We were so close and so pregnant with the ultrasound looking good, and so it was horrible for it to end. But I couldn't have said I was done. A lot of family asked, 'Do you want to go through this again?' And my answer is, yes. I would be miserable if I didn't try again." A Rocky Road . Because both Klein and Arnold carry a single gene for their type of skeletal dysplasia, there is a chance they could both pass the gene on to their child, which could be lethal for their baby. To avoid this, embryos are genetically tested before implantation. If no skeletal dysplasia genes are passed on, the baby would be healthy and average sized; if one gene is passed, the baby would be a healthy little person. Also, Jen is on medication to stimulate her ovaries, which produced only half as many eggs as expected. "We appreciated all the prayers and positive thinking," says Arnold of sharing her difficult story with the world. "That is comforting and is giving us strength. When we lost the pregnancy, we wondered how we were going to handle it. But by sharing our story, whether it be positive or negative, I think it can help others going through similar things." Ultimately, becoming parents is what means the most. "We are so in love with each other and supportive of each other that we are going to be okay," she says. "We really want to be parents, and that is the goal here through surrogacy and adoption. We are not done trying yet." Kris Jenner: 'People Have to Stop Judging' Kim for Ending Her Marriage . Until that day comes, Klein cherishes life with his wife. "I could go the next 50 or 100 years with just the two of us, because we have a great relationship," he says. "Few people are so lucky to have that from the moment you meet that one person, and everything we add to our relationship is exciting." Challenges -- both past and future -- will only make their bond stronger. "We really just feel crazy fortunate to have found each other," Arnold says. "We were both at a point of giving up. Being a little person, everything is a struggle, and it is wonderful when you achieve something you really wanted. You don't let that go so easily." See full article at PEOPLE.com. © 2011 People and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
|
Arnold and Klein both have skeletal dysplasia, a disorder that causes dwarfism .
They used a surrogate to have a baby, because pregnancy could pose problems to her health .
Since filming their happy visit to the doctor, the couple's surrogate lost the pregnancy .
|
1176c8a2013646bd50bd0cda0d564055dab724fd
|
By . Associated Press . Last updated at 9:27 PM on 10th October 2011 . Brand management: Dr Pepper Ten is a 10-calorie soft drink Dr Pepper Snapple Group is rolling out on Monday with a macho ad campaign . Dudes don't drink diet. Or at least that's the idea behind Dr Pepper Ten, a 10-calorie soft drink Dr Pepper Snapple Group is rolling out on Monday with a macho ad campaign that proclaims ‘It's not for women.’ The soft drink was developed after the company's research found that men shy away from diet drinks that aren't perceived as ‘manly’ enough. To appeal to men, Dr Pepper made its Ten drink 180 degrees different than Diet Dr Pepper. It has calories and sugar unlike its diet counterpart. Instead of the dainty tan bubbles on the diet can, Ten will be wrapped in gunmetal grey packaging with silver bullets. And while Diet Dr Pepper's marketing is women-friendly, the ad campaign for Ten goes out of its way to eschew women. For instance, there's a Dr Pepper Ten Facebook page for men only. And TV commercials are heavy on the machismo, including one spot that shows muscular men in the jungle battling snakes and bad guys and appear to shoot lasers at each other. ‘Hey ladies. Enjoying the film? Of course not. Because this is our movie and this is our soda,’ a man says as he attempts to pour the soda into a glass during a bumpy ATV ride. ‘You can keep the romantic comedies and lady drinks. We're good.’ Dr Pepper Ten is not the first diet soda aimed at men. (Think: Coke Zero and Pepsi Max.) But it’s the first ad campaign to be so overt about courting men who want to drink a soda with fewer calories. The ads come at a time when overall sales in the $74billon soft drink industry are slowing as more Americans buy healthier options like juice and bottled water. Volume has fallen from slightly over 10 billion cases in 2005 to 9.4 billion cases in 2010, according to Beverage Digest data. ‘Regular sugared soft drinks have declined in recent years, and some consumers have taste issues with some of the diet sodas,’ said John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest. Dr Pepper said men, in particular, are dissatisfied with the taste and image of diet drinks. The company wouldn't disclose the formula of Dr Pepper Ten, but said that the drink has 10 calories and 2 grams of sugar, which gives it a sweeter taste. Dr Pepper said there are 23 flavours in . its regular soda, (which has 150 calories and 27 grams of sugar per can) and Dr Pepper Ten contains all of them. Interesting approach: It's not often that a major brand tries to block out an entire segment of the population, but that's exactly what Dr Pepper is doing with the launch of its latest product, Dr Pepper Ten . The company, which declined to give figures for how much was spent on the campaign, also worked hard to craft a macho message. 'One topic people never tire of talking or arguing about is differences between men and women, particularly if women are excluded. That will always get someone's attention' Deborah MitchellUniversity of Wisconsin . The company said ads for Dr Pepper Ten will air on all major networks, FX and ESPN during college football games. A Facebook page for the drink contains an application that allows it to exclude women from viewing content, which includes games and videos aimed at being ‘manly.’ For instance, there's a shooting gallery where you shoot things like high heels and lipstick. There is also a ‘man quiz’ with questions on activities like fishing and hunting. ‘One topic people never tire of talking or arguing about is differences between men and women, particularly if women are excluded,’ said brand expert Deborah Mitchell. 'Regular sugared soft drinks have declined in recent years, and some consumers have taste issues with some of the diet sodas' John SicherBeverage Digest . ‘That will always get someone's attention,’ added Ms Mitchell, executive director for the Center for Brand and Product Management at the University of Wisconsin School of Business. As for whether the ads will resonate with men remains to be seen. Paul McDonald, 25, who works in green energy contracts in Berkley, California, says he drinks soda labelled ‘diet’ and doesn't think there is any stigma attached. ‘No one has ever made fun of me for drinking a Diet Coke, and I'm on a rugby team - we make fun of each other for everything,’ he said. 'Women get the joke. "Is this really for men or really for women?” is a way to start the conversation that can spread and get people engaged in the product' Jim TrebilcockDr Pepper . And women? Jim Trebilcock, executive vice president of marketing for Dr Pepper, said he's not worried that they'll be offended by the campaign. The drink and marketing were tested in six different markets across the country before being rolled out nationally, and women weren't offended, he said. In fact, about 40 per cent of people who have tried the soda so far are women. ‘Women get the joke,’ he said. ‘“Is this really for men or really for women?” is a way to start the conversation that can spread and get people engaged in the product.’ See video here .
|
Research found men shy away from diet drinks not perceived as 'manly'
Drink is about-turn from Diet Dr Pepper - with calories and sugar included .
Ad campaign features men battling snakes and shooting lasers at each other .
|
11776ec820ac75e55bab9616774a114d82185e66
|
For anyone who has experienced the brutality of a bully, a blunt-talking mayor in California with a horseshoe mustache now weighs in with this bit of wisdom: "Grow a pair." Looking and talking like an Old West figure, Mayor Cameron Hamilton made his declaration while on the dais of the Porterville City Council last week. "I'm against bullying, but I'm getting damn tired of it being used as a mantra for everything and the ills of the world," Hamilton said during the City Council meeting. "(Most) people just have to grow a pair and stick up for them damn selves." Hamilton imparted his advice while discussing a proposal to create an anti-bullying safe zone for students. His remark immediately ricocheted around the council chambers -- and, in subsequent days, around the country. Councilwoman Virginia Gurrola immediately challenged the mayor. "It's hard to just grow a pair when you're a 10-year-old girl," Gurrola shot back. The councilwoman's retort was just the beginning of how the mayor's tough-talking comments have roiled many people nationwide, especially advocates of bullying prevention. What's bullying . Indeed, in the past few years, a robust debate has been unfolding about what is -- and isn't -- bullying. Sponsors of National Bullying Prevention Month say it's wrong to view bullying as "a childhood rite of passage" and something to make "kids tougher." In fact, bullying can be a traumatic experience, causing school avoidance, anxiety, depression and loss of self-esteem. Some researchers, however, say "bullying" has been misused and misstated in recent years -- recklessly assigned to describe mere slights, teasing or inevitable growing pains in childhood relationships. The bald, cigar-smoking Hamilton seemed a little wounded this week by the resulting controversy, but he wasn't backing down. He has also received some hate e-mail. "Of course, I wish I would have put it a little different, a little less colorful, but let's not lose track of what the message is," Hamilton said in a CNN interview. Watch Hamilton speak about the controversy . "We're starting to define any action that is a little bit controversial as bullying," he continued. "We're not addressing the fact that the students are running to or running from (something) or never allowed through the zero-tolerance policies of the schools to actually stand up for themselves. "The one I worry about the most is physical intimidation, and that's certainly not advocating that we meet violence with violence," he said. "But if somebody puts their hands on you, it's up to you and your friends to put a stop to this." People should "just tell the bully we're not going to put up with this," he said. Raising two grandchildren . Hamilton has been raising two grandchildren for 10 years because he lost his daughter in a wreck. "I guarantee I'm not raising them to be whiny," Hamilton said. But he's frustrated with school policies that don't allow bullied pupils to stand up for themselves, he said. His grandson came home from school a month ago after he and another boy had a tussle. In fact, the principal called Hamilton about the incident. "I asked my grandson afterwards, what'd you do about it?" Hamilton said. "I didn't do anything," the grandson told him, according to Hamilton. "Why?" Hamilton said. "Because I'll get in trouble," the grandson told him. Hamilton expressed exasperation -- and blamed zero-tolerance zones in school as a big part of the problem. Those zones empower bullies, Hamilton said. "How do you have a safe zone when the schools are telling the kids to stand down and not really holding the bully accountable?" Hamilton said. "They don't expel them or don't suspend them. They have them come back to class, and you're brought back in the same environment." When Hamilton was in 7th grade, he was bullied by "a guy that kept pullin' a knife on me," he said. "I made up excuses not to go to school. ... I didn't tell my mom and dad what was going on, didn't tell my friends cause I didn't want them to think I was afraid of this guy," Hamilton said. "Finally it came to a head. I dropped him like a rag doll. Everything was cool again," he said. Hate mail . Hamilton acknowledged he's receiving a lot of e-mail excoriating him. "I could show you e-mails right now that would blow your mind," he said. One e-mail was profane and condemning, but Hamilton read it aloud in a CNN interview. "Hey there mayor... Just reading this makes me want to throw up in my mouth," the e-mail read, according to Hamilton. "You have no idea what it's like to be bullied. You have no idea what it takes for a 10-year-old to stand up to someone who is picking on them. And you have no idea how much bad press you bring on Porterville. That town is a backwards bastion for bigotry, and you made it worse by becoming mayor." Among experts taking exception with Hamilton is Simone Bienne, a British human behaviorist and therapist who appears on U.S. television programs. "I would like to say that the mayor is actually coming off as a bully," Bienne said. "You can very easily say 'I'm against bullying,' but then blame the people, the victims who were being bullied and say grow a pair. "What does that actually mean? Be braver and you won't get bullied? I don't think that's how bullying works," Bienne said. "If we put responsibility on children to do an adult's job, or to do a politician's job or to do a teacher's job, then what we are basically doing is asking children -- children! -- to be adults."
|
Mayor is raising his two grandchildren not to be 'whiny'
His daughter died in a wreck 10 years ago .
Mayor Cameron Hamilton is now receiving hate e-mail .
Porterville, California, mayor says at meeting that the bullied should stick up for themselves .
|
11784575be376fce4c7df68795ae7e62e08b1c93
|
A 'controlling' bigamist has been jailed for life for murdering his wife and hiding her body in the boot of a car. Pierre Legris killed his wife, Rui Li, by hitting her over the head at the home they shared in Bournemouth, Dorset, before driving her body to the garage owned by his other wife, Irene Smith. Ms Li's body was later driven to a nearby road by Legris' son, Jonathan, where it was found by police in the boot of the abandoned car a week later. Murdered: Pierre Legris, left, killed his wife, Rui Li, right, by hitting her over the head at the home they shared in Bournemouth, Dorset. He was jailed for life at Winchester Crown Court today . Legris, also known as Alain Baron, will serve a minimum of 25 years in prison after being found guilty of murder at Winchester Crown Court today. The trial heard that Legris was believed to have killed Ms Li to benefit from her life insurance policy worth £300,000 to help pay off the 'desperate' financial debts of the three defendants. The couple also ran a massage company from their home which provided 'sexual services' and that Pierre Legris would sometimes join in, the court was told. The couple were also involved in local swinging networks, it was said. Legri struck 44-year-old Li, a Chinese national, at their home before wrapping her in a building sheet while she was still alive, the court was told. He said: 'No such heavy weapon has been found and in addition very little blood was found at the scene - it suggests a thorough clean-up has been done to prevent blood from escaping to the scene nearby.' Jonathan Legris, right, a former racing car driver was convicted of assisting an offender by driving the Fiat Punto with Ms Li's body inside. Irene Smith, left, was jailed for three years . Mr Lickley said that Pierre Legris had bought several bags of cement and added: 'It may be there was a plan to bury Rui Li under the floor of that property. He said that Ms Li's body was then placed in Legris' Ford Transit van which the following day was taken to Cromer Motors, owned by 66-year-old Smith. There, Jonathan Legris replaced the starter motor while Ms Li's body lay in the back of the van. Mr Lickley added that the body was later moved to a Fiat Punto, owned by Jonathan Legris, which he abandoned in a nearby road. Her body was found a week later. The prosecutor said that following the killing, Pierre Legris was 'cool and focused and clear in what he was doing'. Jailed: Pierre Legris, right, with wife Irene, whom he married in 1987, and their son Johnathan Legris . He added: 'He rushed or in a panic, he had a plan and it involved others, his son, Jonathan Legris and his other wife Irene Smith'. Legris reported Li missing the following week after colleagues at Poole Hospital began to make inquiries to her whereabouts. Her daughter from a previous marriage, Lu Yao, 18, had also begun asking questions about her mother. Legris denied murder but admitted perverting the course of justice. He told the court that he only moved her body after finding her dead in their home. He said he had tried to hide his wife's body because he was worried that their unconventional sex life would be made public. The judge, Mr Justice Dingemans, said that as well as a financial motive, Pierre Legris might have murdered Ms Li because of her decision to adopt a child. He said: 'It may equally have been the fact that Pierre Legris, as a controlling person, was not prepared to deal with the apparently late decision that Ms Li had made to adopt a child from China which would have compromised his way of living.' The scene in Verwood Crescent, Bournemouth, where Ms Li's body was found in the boot of a car last year . Jailing Pierre Legris, Judge Dingemans said: 'I am sure the murder of Ms Li was planned with great care and the murder weapon must have been placed for Pierre Legris to render Ms Li unconscious and without any noise. There was a clear intention to kill.' Before the start of the trial, Legris pleaded guilty to an offence of bigamy by marrying Ms Li in 2007 while having been married to Irene Smith since 1987. Legris was sentenced to three years imprisonment to run concurrently for the bigamy offence, with no separate penalty for perverting the course of justice. His son, Jonathan Legris, a former racing car driver was convicted of assisting an offender by driving the Fiat Punto with Ms Li's body inside. He was jailed for two years. The judge said: 'He was prepared to do anything for his father, that is obvious. My view is I still have not heard the full truth of what his father told him.' Smith,was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by providing a false alibi to her husband, and she was also convicted of assisting an offender by hiring a storage facility to hide her husband's clothes and French passport. She was jailed for three years on each offence to run concurrently. Jonathan Legris and Smith were both cleared of a charge of conspiracy to murder.
|
Rui Li, 44, was found dead in the boot of a Fiat Punto on May 30 last year .
The Chinese national had been hit over the head with a blunt object .
Her bigamist husband Pierre Legris was found guilty of her murder today .
Couple had massage company and were involved in swinging networks .
Legris is believed to have killed her for life insurance money, court heard .
His first wife, Irene Smith, and their son, Jonathan Legris, were also jailed .
|
1178f691206cbfad007605c56d9b2e6e358d21f9
|
By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 07:05 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:24 EST, 5 October 2012 . They stopped short at recreating the famous bongs of Big Ben, but this Russian television news programme seems to have modelled itself almost entirely on ITV's News at 10, using the same music and even copying the motifs on their desk. RM News features a remarkably similar opening sequence complete with the instantly-recognisable theme music coupled with yellow and black graphics. The male and female presenters are perched casually behind a white open desk . decorated with yellow squares just like their ITV counterparts. Scroll down for video . Imitation: Russia's RM news bears an uncanny similarity to ITV's ITN news using an almost identical opening sequence complete with the same theme music . Similarity: The Russian news team sit behind a white, open desk decorated with yellow squares, (left) just like the ITV presenters' desk (right) The programme appears to have an . almost identical format, with the same running order for their mix of . hard news, human interest, entertainment and sport. Stories . praising the athletic prowess of Vladamir Putin or debating the cost of . Vodka are interspersed with identical snippets of the theme music although the Russian team appear to have have stopped short of mimicking ITV's light-hearted And Finally section. An . edition of the Russian programme was posted on YouTube where one . bemused, presumably British, viewer posted: 'Y U NO HAVE ALASTAIR . STEWART?!' referring to the ITV newscaster. Role models: News at 10's current presenters Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham . Imitators: The Russian presenters sit at their almost identical desk in front of a strikingly similar backdrop . The famous theme music, entitled The . Awakening, was written by British composer Johnny Pearson who led the . Top of The Pops orchestra for 16 years. It is not the first time the theme music has been mimicked. The 2008 video game Saints Row 2, features a news broadcast using the theme as does the 2009 video game Ratchet & Clank Future. Other examples of Pearson's work included the theme music to All Creatures Great and Small and Captain Pugwash. In the United States, his composition Heavy Action is used for ABC's Monday Night Football.
|
RM News uses similar opening sequence with yellow and black graphics .
They have almost identical white desk decorated with yellow square motifs .
|
1179092d0b3c99e4c098ec462be9ddf53076d9b3
|
PUBLISHED: . 00:01 EST, 3 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 00:01 EST, 3 March 2014 . Colour, music and dancing filled the streets of Badajoz, Spain, on Sunday for the annual and ancient city festival. Members of comparsas, or troupes, dressed in flamboyant costumes and make up entertained the cheering crowds as they performed throughout the day. And it wasn't just the adults of Badajoz, close to Spain's border with Portugal, who were part of the show - children, too, took part in the celebrations. Some performers' costumes at the Badajoz festival appeared to be inspired by outer space . Children joined in the fun too, some dressed as Edward Scissorhands (left) while flamenco dancers and matadors also wowed the crowd . It might have been a traditional Spanish festival but some of the costumes were Russian themed . While some were dressed as feather-covered dragons, complete with exotic face paint, younger members of the community were decked out as Edward Scissorhands, the ghost-like character made famous by Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp. Other costumes were inspired by flamenco dancers, clowns and little drummer boys. One troupe even had a Russian theme, complete with models of Red Square on their hats.The common thread, though, was colour and extravagance. The whole town, together with residents of towns throughout the province of the same name, spend months making the costumes and practicing musical performances for the Group Parade. Monday night transforms in to a giant street party until a sardine, represented by a puppet, is buried to signify the beginning of Lent on Wednesday and the end of the celebrations - until next year. Colour - and plenty of make up - was the order of the day for this Latin-themed group of performers . This fire-coloured plume of feathers warmed up proceedings in Badajoz . Some of the performers had a regal theme for the festival, including this golden ensemble . The streets of Badajoz were filled with the sound of drummers and this troupe chose an Aztec-themed costume .
|
Performers in exotic costumes fill the streets of Badajoz, western Spain, for annual festival .
Adults and children from around the province took part .
Costumes ranged from dragons to ghouls to flamenco dancers .
Festival ends with the burying of a 'sardine', signifying beginning of Lent .
|
117999f25e08069e078c4b4b8476eb1032f9c398
|
A young driver who crashed her car into a rail and killed her friend after he pulled her bikini top string as she drove at 65mph has been cleared. Brittany Lahm, 24, from Manhattan, crashed on the Thruway, New York, in July 2008, killing Brandon Berman, 19, and injuring several other passengers. Moments before Mr Berman had playfully untied her bathing suit top as they returned home from a day at Jersey Shore to celebrate Mr Berman's 19th birthday. Ruling: Brittany Lahm, 24, from Manhattan, crashed on the Thruway, New York, in July 2008, killing Brandon Berman, 19 and injuring several other passengers . Miss Lahm took her hands off the wheel to cover up and the Lexus veered off course and struck the guardrail, flipped multiple times in the air, before coming to rest on its roof in the middle of the southbound lanes. Mr Berman of New City was a rear seat passenger - he was partially ejected and suffered massive head trauma. He was pronounced dead at Nyack Hospital. The Brooklyn Appellate Division upheld the conclusion of a Rockland jury, which found Miss Lahm's bikini top problem constituted 'a sudden and unforeseen emergency not of her own making' reported the New York Daily News. It was decided that even though Mr Berman had acted disruptively throughout car ride, 'Brittany did not anticipate that he would suddenly pull the strings on her bikini top, thereby causing the top to fall and her breasts to be exposed.' Day out: Mr Berman playfully untied Miss Lahm's bathing suit top as they returned home from a day at Jersey Shore (pictured) The decision was taken following a civil trial brought by Jason Pelletier of Suffern. He sued Miss Lahm for damages after his promising football career at Yale University was cut short due to his injuries. He was in the rear seat of the car and testified at the 2011 trial that Miss Lahm had leaned forward for up to 20 seconds as she tried to retie her bikini top. His lawyers argued she should have pulled over saying 'the plaintiff argues that Defendant Brittany Lahm should have slowed her vehicle down, kept both hands on the wheel, and pulled off of the highway, before attempting to re-tie her bathing suit, and the mere fact that she may have been embarrassed by the exposure of her breasts to the passengers in the car does not excuse her failure to do so.' But Miss Lahm testified that her hands were off the steering wheel for only a split second and the jury absolved her of any liability. The dissenting appellate judge, Justice Sheri Roman, said that Mr Berman’s behavior was disruptive before the bikini top prank - he had opened an umbrella inside the car and stuck his feet in the driver’s face. 'That Brandon would ultimately commit an act which would cause Brittany to lose control of the vehicle, under the circumstances of this case, cannot be deemed sudden or unexpected,' Ms Roman wrote. Miss Lahm now works as an 'Assistant to GM of WWE Music Group' according to her LinkedIn page. In 2011 she graduated from Syracuse University following a four year degree in Music & Entertainment Industries. Before the crash Miss Lahm was a member of pop music girl band Huckapoo - each member portrayed a character from a different social group typically found on any high school campus and Miss Lahm was a cheerleader. After the ruling Miss Lahm declined to comment.
|
Brittany Lahm, 24, .
crashed her Lexus on the Thruway in July 2008 .
Brandon Berman, .
19, died and other passengers were injured .
The teenagers were all heading back from a day at Jersey Shore .
|
117bde49eaebf906945a12f87778c685b7c2bd96
|
Rockhampton, Australia (CNN) -- River levels were slowly receding in eastern Australia on Friday, but officials warned residents to steer clear of roads damaged by devastating floods. In Rockhampton -- one of the hardest hit cities -- the fast-flowing Fitzroy River remained near its recent peak of 9.2 meters (about 30 feet). With many major roads underwater, some residents holed up in homes surrounded by the deluge were still using boats to travel. Government officials warned residents to avoid flooded areas. "We are still seeing incidents of people driving through floodwaters, getting stuck and having to be rescued. We understand people feel confined and are increasingly frustrated at not being able to get from place to place easily, but I cannot stress enough how unsafe some road infrastructure is after being flooded for days," Queensland Acting Chief Superintendent Brian Codd said. Officials said the degree of damage remained unclear. "The full extent of the damage to the 33,000 kilometers of state roads is impossible to quantify right now," Craig Wallace, Queensland state's minister of main roads, said. "It will be an unprecedented long-term repair job that will take months, perhaps even years to fully complete," he said. Rainfall continued in some areas, prolonging problems in some of the hardest hit places, Queensland's government said. Nearly 2,000 people had been evacuated from flood-affected areas, the government said, with 640 of them in shelters across the state. The flooding also affected about 40 mines in the coal-rich state, the government said in a statement. Environmental officials were monitoring water discharges from the mines, the statement said. Farmers were particularly hard hit, as water washed over crops and blocked roads used to transport them to market. Global transport of commodities like coal and steel out was also stymied. The seasonal flooding in the state of Queensland intensified last month after monsoon rains caused rivers to spill over their banks and reach record levels. The floodwaters covered an area the size of France and Germany combined, stretching from Queensland into the neighboring state of New South Wales. Police said 10 people have died as a result of flooding since November 30 -- many of them swept away by swift waters. The airport in Rockhampton closed Sunday and was expected to remain closed for weeks, according to Emergency Management Queensland. At least 200,000 people have been affected by prolonged flooding, police have said. CNN's Phil Black contributed to this report.
|
"It will be an unprecedented long-term repair job," one official says .
With roads underwater, some residents are still using boats to travel .
Nearly 2,000 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas in Queensland state .
Police say 10 people have died in flooding since November 30 .
|
117bfe4f73f0b73ea9521ad0deff06726661e09e
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:19 EST, 14 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:45 EST, 14 January 2013 . A millionaire property developer and his wife, who say they were ruined because of a simple banking error, have lost their High Court claim for more than £3milion in damages. Michael and Carol Ann Gatt are now faced with a £1million legal bill after they were left living in a bungalow on a building site near their former home - £4million Melksham Court, a Cotswold country estate once sought after by the actor Hugh Grant. The couple, both 66, claimed Barclays wrongly told credit reference agencies Mr Gatt was over his agreed overdraft limit, ruining his credit rating and killing their business. Ruined: Michael and Carol Ann Gatt say they were ruined because of a simple banking error. They lost their claim for more than £3million in damages . Judge Patrick Moloney QC rejected claims of negligence, breach of contract and defamation and said the couple probably would have lost their assets in the credit crunch anyway. The Gatts had ‘borrowed beyond their means’ and their business would have been unlikely to survive the crash in the property market, he said. Speaking after the judgment was handed down, Mrs Gatt told Judge Moloney: ‘It is an absolute mockery, I have £30 in my bank account’. The judge, who heard the High Court trial last year, said the Gatts had been successful property developers who ‘lived the lifestyle of prosperous, indeed wealthy, people’. They sold their £2million home in Kent in 2004 and moved to Melksham Court, a medieval manor house with substantial grounds and outlying cottages. There, they had space for Mrs Gatt's stable of quarter horses, a £240,000 mobile home, as well as Mr Gatt's Ferrari and collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The judge continued: ‘Plainly, they were not afraid of borrowing, as some people are, but regarded being overdrawn for business and living purposes as a normal condition, confident of being able to repay when their ship came in.' Former home: The couple were left living in a bungalow on a building site in the shadow of their previous home - £4million Melksham Court (pictured) Disaster struck for the couple in April 2008 when they were refused remortgage finance by RBS on their home, which they needed to plough into development projects. They soon learned that Barclays had provided reports to credit reference agencies stating that Mr Gatt's account was ‘delinquent’, since it was £260,000 overdrawn when the agreed limit was only £1,500. Lack of finance resulted in the collapse of development projects and their GLN Holdings Ltd business, the repossession of Melksham Court and Mr Gatt's eventual bankruptcy. Unable to fund anywhere else to live, they moved into a bungalow, owned by their son, on the boundary of the historic Melksham Court estate, in Stinchcombe, near Dursley. The bungalow was part of a development property and so the couple, who had once lived in the nine-bed stately home, were left living a stone's throw away, surrounded by building works. They sued on the basis that, although Mr Gatt was indeed £260,000 overdrawn, it was with the permission of the bank and should not have led to adverse credit reports. Claims: The couple claimed Barclays wrongly told credit reference agencies Mr Gatt was over his agreed overdraft limit . Giving his judgment today, Judge Moloney said that, on the evidence before him, the bank was correct in saying that the account was well overdrawn. The higher limit had been sanctioned to provide funds in February 2007, but for four months only, after which it reverted to the £1,500 limit. The information disclosed by the bank to the credit agencies was with Mr Gatt's contractual consent and was ‘true and not misleading’, he said. ‘It is more probable that, like so many others, the Gatts, who had prospered on the rising market but had spent their profits and continued borrowing beyond their means, would not have been able to survive the falling market even if these credit reports had not been published, and even if they had continued to speculate with more borrowed money into 2009. ‘In short, they would probably have lost their net assets, which were in fact very few, in any event.’ The judge allowed a counterclaim by the bank for the repayment by Mrs Gatt of £847,287 in outstanding loans and overdrafts, as well as £80,000 in costs. Mr Gatt had originally been a claimant in the case, but his claim was bought by the bank from his trustee in bankruptcy and discontinued. He was in court alongside his wife throughout.
|
Michael and Carol Ann Gatt were left living in a bungalow on a building site .
They claimed Barclays wrongly told credit agencies Mr Gatt was overdrawn .
Judge rejected claims and Mr Gatt and his wife - who says she has £30 remaining in her account - now face legal bill of £1m .
|
117cceead5468de681b370e596c9317dec601daa
|
Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is in a Las Vegas hospital after a second operation for abdominal problems. The 61-year-old boxer, who catapulted to fame by beating Muhammad Ali in 1978, had the second surgery in recent days after complications from the first emergency surgery, his wife said. 'It's going to be a long road ahead, but he's strong and he's starting to recover,' Brenda Spinks told The Associated Press. Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is in a Las Vegas hospital after a second operation for abdominal problems . Brenda Spinks said she doesn't know how long her husband will be hospitalized, but that she's optimistic about his recovery. 'There were complications after his first surgery, but everything has been fixed,' she said. Earlier, singer Tony Orlando sent out a tweet asking people to pray for Spinks, a good friend of his. Orlando wrote that Spinks was 'facing the greatest fight of his life.' The 61-year-old boxer, who catapulted to fame by beating Muhammad Ali in 1978, had the second surgery in recent days after complications from the first emergency surgery, his wife said. Fans flocked to Twitter to wish the legend well. Spinks and younger brother Michael both won Olympic gold medals in 1976 in different weight classes and went on to become heavyweight champions. Leon's rise was meteoric — he got a shot at Ali and the heavyweight title on Feb. 15, 1978, after just seven pro fights. Few in boxing — including Ali — gave Spinks any chance in the fight, but he used his energy and awkward style to frustrate Ali and win a 15-round split decision at the Las Vegas Hilton. But he lost the title back to Ali in their rematch seven months later before more than 60,000 people at the Superdome in New Orleans. 'Ali thought I was a wimp and I had to prove to him I wasn't,' Spinks said recently. 'I knew I could beat him after watching his fights.' Spinks would get one more chance at the title in 1981 against Larry Holmes, only to be stopped in the third round. He would never become the heavyweight champion again but fought until 1995, finishing with a career mark of 26-17-3. Leon's rise was meteoric — he got a shot at Ali and the heavyweight title on Feb. 15, 1978, after just seven pro fights . Spinks was known to mix partying with training, and quickly burned through the big money he made early in his career. He would later move to Nebraska, where he worked as a custodian at a YMCA before moving to Las Vegas in 2011. Spinks, who has slurred his words since his active boxing days, was diagnosed in 2012 with shrinkage in his brain, which doctors said was likely caused by the punches he took during his career. 'My brain has got to let me know I'm doing all right and I've got to do things to help my brain now,' Spinks said after the diagnosis. Michael Spinks upset Holmes for the heavyweight title in 1985 and fought Mike Tyson in a title showdown three years later. Tyson knocked him out 91 seconds into the fight, and he retired. Fans flocked to Twitter to wish the legend well. 'Prayers for #LeonSpinks please!' wrote Paul Shortino. 'Hope Leon Spinks pulls through,' tweeted user Hands of Stone. 'I've been in his company a few times and he's a really nice guy, get well soon, Champ,'
|
61-year-old boxer hospitalized after undergoing two operations .
Second surgery was brought on by complications from first abdominal surgery .
Wife Brenda Spinks says he has a long road to recovery .
|
117dbddeb212ad2b593e7ab0b821d0dfed01864c
|
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Chicago authorities asked Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to issue a disaster declaration after rainfall Saturday in the Windy City broke a single-day record that had stood for more than two decades. Chicago received more than 6 inches of rain Saturday, breaking a 1987 record. The deluge flooded streets and stranded residents in their homes. Officials worked to rescue people Sunday as the city grappled with another day of drenching. O'Hare International Airport recorded 6.64 inches of rain Saturday -- breaking the all-time record of 6.49 inches set in 1987, according to the National Weather Service. Records have been kept since 1871. By 4:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, emergency management and law enforcement officials were reporting widespread flooding across much of northern Illinois and extreme northwest Indiana, with rainfall totals of 4 to 7 inches in certain areas, the weather service said. Commissioner John Spatz of Chicago's Department of Water Management said the north branch of the Chicago River "rose quickly and began to flow down the 5000 block of North Monticello," causing flooding northward and southward. Watch how Chicago flooded before Ike's rains arrived » . In the worst-hit area, Albany Park, about 340 homes were in danger. About 40 residents were evacuated -- some of them by boat -- and taken to a shelter. About 90 billion gallons of water fell on the city's water district, authorities said. More than 20 water department crews were out, and widespread sandbagging operations were under way. Spatz said the city's sewer system was still "working well." City officials said that, in general, things were under control. Saturday's pounding rain was not related to Hurricane Ike. Remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell, which had come in from the Pacific, got caught up with a cold front, sending a wave of moisture into the region. But on Sunday, as the remnants of Ike -- by then a tropical depression -- worked their way farther into the country's heartland, heavy rain was expected over much of the region, including Illinois. On Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center said flood and flash-flood watches were in effect for much of the state. But police reported no major incidents.
|
Records kept since 1871 say Saturday's rain marks worst in more than century .
Heavy rain more related to Tropical Storm Lowell in Pacific than Gulf Coast's Ike .
Commissioner: Chicago River flowed "down the 5000 block of North Monticello"
Authorities say 90 billion gallons of water fell on the city's water district .
|
117e3942b92bbc2875c72d99769bfc2bda54fc07
|
By . Katy Winter . Andy Murray is facing rising star Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon today, and while the two tennis titans clash on court, their respective other halves were expected to be cheering them on in the stands. But while devoted Kim Sears arrived at SW19 looking chic and relatively cheerful ahead of what is sure to be a nail-biting game, there was no sign of Maria Sharapova, who yesterday crashed out of the competition in a humiliating match against Angelique Kerber. While demure Kim has been a constant . presence at Wimbledon this year - as ever, immaculately blow-dried - Maria has yet to be seen in the stands. Devoted Kim arrived at Wimbledon alone today, while Dimitrov's girlfriend Maria Sharapova was a no-show . Kim put on her own 'game face' as she strode into the stadium to watch the quarter final in a bold pink sleeved dress . Sticking to a well-established formula Kim, 25, wore a knee-length bright pink scoop necked dress by Goat, £440, and the same Burberry wedges she has been seen in every day of the competition so far. And of course she carried her loved Aspinal Marylebone tote bag - which costs an eye-watering £1395 - as she walked into the stadium. While Kim kept up her unwavering support for her partner, Maria Sharapova was noticeably absent. Until now the Russian has naturally been more concerned with her own game than supporting boyfriend Dimitrov, whom she has been dating since 2012. But yesterday saw the 27-year-old suffer a humiliating shock defeat to German ninth seed Angelique Kerber, ending her dreams of a Wimbledon title, and she was expected to show support to Dimitrov at the match today. As Kim took her place in the stands, her trademark blow-dried hair was shown off to its very best . Kim has been a rock to Murray, supporting him from the stands - and reportedly cooking him dinner each evening . Kim looked relaxed as she smiled and joked with friends, carrying her much loved £1,395 Marylebone tote . Kim's hair looked as glossy and perfectly styled as it has on her other four visits to Wimbledon . Kim, who has been dating Andy for nine years, has attended all of his matches thus far in the championship . While leaving the competition is no doubt a huge blow to the ambitious blonde, it has freed her up to watch boyfriend Dimitrov in action. The pair began dating in 2012, but only confirmed their relationship in 2013 after the Madrid Open, and while she is known for a will of iron, she may find her hands are full with the 23-year-old Bulgarian. His talent and good looks have seen Dimitrov make something of a name for himself as a ladies' man. He has previously dated Sharapova’s on-court enemy, Serena Williams - at 32 another older woman - and the relationship had a famously acrimonious end. Serena, who was defeated by Sharapova in the 2004 Wimbledon final, has spoken out about Dimitrov, giving an interview to a US magazine in which she described Sharapova as ‘boring’ and accused Dimitrov of having a ‘black heart’. Nevertheless, Sharapova seems smitten with the buff Bulgarian and responded by pointing out that Williams was believed to be dating her married coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov have been dating since 2012 but she did not turn up to watch him on court today . Maria Sharapova yesterday lost on Centre Court against Angelique Kerber . The 6ft 2in blonde, who has previously said that she feels Dimitrov's tennis is of a better standard than her own, was spotted supporting him in the stands as he won the French Open last month. While it's unlikely Maria follows Kim’s example and cooks for her man each evening of the tournament - being too busy working on her own game - Dimitrov has credited his other half with helping his performance, saying: ‘She’s just been unbelievable supporting me throughout the year.’ Now that she's got a bit of spare time, the 27-year-old plans to visit Sugarpova, the pop-up sweet shop she has opened down the road from the All England Club. ‘I love going there, my favourite sweet is a liquorice with a marshmallow middle and strawberry flavour,’ she gushed. It appears that when it comes to style Kim Sears is taking inspiration from the Royal Box. Andy Murrey's doting girlfriend arrived for Wimbledon today in a pink knee-length dress that looked strangely familiar. The dress bore an uncanny resemblance to the Duchess of Cambridge's frock that she wore to her visit to a primary school in Highbury and Islington, North London, yesterday. Both dresses come from luxury brand Goat, the label that began as the go-to cashmere range for the fashion connoisseurs over ten years ago. But the similarities didn't end there. Both dresses have a conservative shape, tucking neatly in at the waist and finishing just below the knee. Kim even opted for identical colours with both dresses coming in an eye-catching hot-pink colour. Both Kim and Kate's dresses were finished with buckle detailing at the waist, but Kim kept to a slightly shorter sleeve for the hot summer weather. It appears that when it comes to the Kate Effect nobody is immune!
|
Kim opted for a bold pink dress for her fifth time at Wimbledon .
Has watched all of Murray's matches so far .
Scot faces Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov today in quarter finals .
His girlfriend Maria Sharapova was noticeably absent today .
The Russian was herself knocked out of Wimbledon yesterday .
|
117e84cc371dc8d6df84b5cebb56e09686a50bd6
|
By . Associated Press . A degenerative eye disease slowly robbed Roger Pontz of his vision. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as a teenager, Pontz has been almost completely blind for years. Now, thanks to a high-tech procedure that involved the surgical implantation of a 'bionic eye,' he's regained enough of his eyesight to catch small glimpses of his wife, grandson and cat. 'It's awesome. It's exciting — seeing something new every day,' Pontz said during a recent appointment at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Scroll down for video . Clear to see: Roger Pontz wears special glasses that house a small video camera and transmitter at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center . Pioneering: The Kellogg Eye Center at Ann Arbor is the first facility in the U.S. to implant a "bionic eye" since the FDA signed off on it last year . Let there be sight: The pulses stimulate the retina¿s remaining healthy cells, causing them to relay the data to the optic nerve. The visual information then moves to the brain, where it is translated into patterns of light that can take the shape of an object's outline, allowing the patient to regain some visual function . The 55-year-old former competitive . weightlifter and factory worker is one of four people in the U.S. to . receive an artificial retina since the Food and Drug Administration . signed off on its use last year. The facility in Ann Arbor has been the site of all four such surgeries since FDA approval. A fifth is scheduled for next month. Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited disease that causes slow but progressive vision loss due to a gradual loss of the light-sensitive retinal cells called rods and cones. Patients experience loss of side vision and night vision, then central vision, which can result in near blindness. Not all of the 100,000 or so people in the U.S. with retinitis pigmentosa can benefit from the bionic eye. An estimated 10,000 have vision low enough, said Dr. Brian Mech, an executive with Second Sight Medical Products Inc., the Sylmar, Calif.-based company that makes the device. Of those, about 7,500 are eligible for the surgery. Technology: The glasses are part of a system developed by a California company that wirelessly transmits images from the camera, converted into a series of electrical pulses, to an array of electrodes on the surface of Pontz' retina . Pioneers: Dr. Thiran Jayasundera, left, looks at Roger Pontz's left eye as Pontz's wife, Terri Pontz, right, looks on. The artificial implant that currently resides in Pontz¿s left eye is called the Argus II, and is part of the system developed by a California company that includes a small video camera and transmitter housed in a pair of glasses . The artificial implant in Pontz's left eye is part of a system developed by Second Sight that includes a small video camera and transmitter housed in a pair of glasses. Images from the camera are converted into a series of electrical pulses that are transmitted wirelessly to an array of electrodes on the surface of the retina. The pulses stimulate the retina's remaining healthy cells, causing them to relay the signal to the optic nerve. The visual information then moves to the brain, where it is translated into patterns of light that can be recognized and interpreted, allowing the patient to regain some visual function. When wearing the glasses, which Pontz refers to as his 'eyes,' he can identify and grab his cat and figure out that a flash of light is his grandson hightailing it to the kitchen. The visual improvement is sometimes startling for Pontz and his wife, Terri, who is just as amazed at her husband's progress as he is. 'I said something I never thought I'd say: 'Stop staring at me while I'm eating,' Terri Pontz said. She drives her husband the nearly 200 miles from tiny Reed City, Michigan, to Ann Arbor for check-ups and visits with occupational therapist Ashley Howson, who helps Roger Pontz reawaken his visual memory and learn techniques needed to make the most of his new vision. Seeing is believing: Images from the camera are converted into a series of electrical pulses that are transmitted wirelessly to an array of electrodes on the surface of the retina . Learning to see: Dr. Naheed Khan, right, works with Roger Pontz, left, on an exercise to test how well he sees shapes on a computer screen. Pontz suffers from a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa and is the second patient in the U.S. to surgically receive a 'bionic eye' At the recent visit, Howson handed Pontz white and black plates, instructed him to move them back and forth in front of light and dark backgrounds and asked that he determine their color. Back home, Terri Pontz helps her husband practice the techniques he learns in Ann Arbor. For them, the long hours on the road and the homework assignments are a blessing. 'What's it worth to see again? It's worth everything,' Terri Pontz said. The artificial retina procedure has been performed several-dozen times over the past few years in Europe, and the expectation is that it will find similar success in the U.S., where the University of Michigan is one of 12 centers accepting consultations for patients. Candidates for the retinal prosthesis must be 25 or older with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa that has progressed to the point of having 'bare light' or no light perception in both eyes. Dr. Thiran Jayasundera, one of two physicians who performed the 4.5-hour surgery on Roger Pontz, is scheduled to discuss his experiences with the retinal prosthesis process during a meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery on Friday in Boston. He calls it a 'game-changer.' Pontz agrees: 'I can walk through the house with ease. If that's all I get out of this, it'd be great.'
|
US patient Roger Pontz has been blind for years .
He has now had some of his vision restored thanks to a bionic eye .
The eye gives those the ability to see shadows and shapes .
|
117f312ec75a28ee8c91a6c9695aa541e090c145
|
It's been a painfully slow courtship, but the United States may finally have fallen in love with the game it calls soccer. They have been coming to World Cups for decades, but never has their battle cry 'I believe that we will win!' been so fervently sung. It has been adopted as the nation's catchphrase as millions of fans - some new converts to soccer, others veterans - have followed the progress of Jurgen Klinsmann's team with an infectious enthusiasm. Scroll down for video . Main man: Jurgen Klinsmann watches with a smile as his United States team train in the sunshine of Salvador ahead of their World Cup last-16 meeting with Belgium . Unity: The players laugh and smile as Klinsmann delivers his team talk to the huddle in training at the Roberto Santos Stadium . Delight: The United States celebrate as they reach the last-16 despite a 1-0 defeat to Germany in Recife on Thursday . With President Barack Obama leading the star-studded cheer squad, the American nation will again be entranced on Tuesday night as the US take on Belgium in their last-16 clash in Salvador. For the first time, there is genuine belief that Team USA can beat anyone in their path and that confidence was much in evidence as they trained on the eve of the match in the sunshine at Roberto Santos Stadium. Klinsmann, the coach who has done so much to accelerate the development of soccer in the States during his three-year tenure, stood smiling as his players whizzed around him in a blur. The mood was upbeat, energetic, confident, a squad happy to be considered the underdogs and thriving on it. They emerged from the group when few expected them to - beating Ghana, coming within seconds of beating Portugal and narrowly losing to Germany, one of the tournament favourites. VIDEO Altidore return is huge - Klinsmann . Watching on: Klinsmann keeps a close eye on the training drills at the Roberto Santos Stadium. He says the match with Belgium is a 50-50 contest . Stretch it out: Alejandro Bedoya warms up ahead of the training session in Salvador on the eve of the last-16 clash with the hotly-tipped Belgians . Close control: Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron takes down the ball on his chest during the training drills . Leg up: Timothy Chandler (centre) and his team-mates get the joints loosened by stretching their legs out . Stopper: Goalkeeper Tim Howard practises his kicks during the training session held 24 hours before the last of the eight second round ties . Things won't exactly get easier against Belgium but Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990, has instilled such a self-belief that they do genuinely believe they can win. 'We made it out of a difficult group and now every game is 50-50,' the coach said. 'We need to be spot on, right now, give everything we have. I am confident that if every player gets to his limits tomorrow we will have a positive outcome. 'We started a process three years ago, we see a lot of things developing on many fronts, but you know you get judged by how good the outcome is in the World Cup.' The Us will certainly have excellent backing in Salvador. More American fans have travelled to the World Cup in Brazil than any other nation outside South America, while hundreds of thousands have been watching on big screens set up in major cities back home. VIDEO USA has chance to pull off upset . Marathon man: Michael Bradley ran further than any other player during the World Cup group stage, covering a remarkable 23.6 miles in three games . Rollercoaster: Bradley was criticised for giving the ball away in the lead-up to Portugal's last minute equaliser in the second match but redeemed himself with his hard graft . Leading the line: Clint Dempsey (right) will once again carry the American's goalscoring hopes against Belgium on what will be his 109th cap . In Chicago, for example, after more than 20,000 supporters gathered in Grant Park to watch the Germany match on a big screen, plans have been made to open up the 61,000-capacity Soldier Field for an outdoor screening of the Belgium game. Soccer invading the backyard of American Football, by popular demand. Nationwide, 25 million tuned in for the Portugal match, a new record for televised soccer in the States. That will almost certainly beaten by the Belgium encounter. 'You can't stop it anymore, the sport is breaking through in the United States,' Klinsmann added. 'It is coming through at every level, there are kids playing it anywhere, but the recruiting office is the national team, in every country. This is a cool moment right now, but we have to take advantage of it. 'The support back home means a lot to us. The backing we get is communicated to us and the energy from the US is transmitted directly to the players. VIDEO Team Profile: USA - qualifying highlights . Keepie uppie: The American players juggle the ball in a circle as they make their final preparations for the match with the Belgians . One giant leap: Jermaine Jones hops over the hurdles as the US team tune up for their biggest match of the tournament so far . Whizzing along: Kyle Beckerman (centre) picks out the camera as his team-mates jog during the warm-up . 'With the thousands of fans following us here in Brazil, you can see where the game is going, but when the game starts, you have to prove you are the real deal and get the message through.' Klinsmann doubles up as the technical director for US Soccer, overseeing the development of the country's youth team as well. His son Jonathan is a member of the under 18 squad. He is encouraged by the progress being made - 'millions of kids playing soccer throughout the country, it is going to another level' - but his steely focus is very much on the present. 'We are not thinking at all about the future right now, we are thinking about the present and we want to go far', he said. 'The more experienced players like Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones, this is the moment, you have to squeeze everything out of yourself. 'Right now it is all about Brazil, this World Cup.'
|
United States play Belgium in World Cup last-16 in Salvador .
Coach Klinsmann keen to embrace feel-good factor back home .
German confident the US can advance to quarter-finals if they produce best .
Unfancied team emerged from tough group of Germany, Portugal and Ghana .
|
117f997f104b3d0b771f0d60925ddd2c43b96f0f
|
By . Joel Christie . PUBLISHED: . 13:36 EST, 3 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:00 EST, 3 March 2014 . He's no stranger to filing lawsuits himself, once successfully stopping Playgirl from publishing some full-frontal naked photos. But now Leonardo DiCaprio has found himself the defendent for producing the 2013 film Out Of The Furnance - purportedly based on the Ramapo Mountain people of New Jersey - with members of the community saying they were wrongly portrayed as violent, drug-using 'inbreds' and 'hillbillies' and that the movie has caused them emotional distress. According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline, eight members of the Ramapo Mountain community filed a defamation lawsuit in early January over the film, which starred Casey Affleck, Christian Bale and Woody Harrelson. The film is about two hard-up brothers - Bale and Affleck - in Rust Belt Pennsylvania, with Affleck's character getting messed up with one of the most ruthless crime rings in the Northeast. Scroll down for video . Sued: Out Of The Furnace producer Leonardo DiCaprio - along with seven other people affiliated with the 2013 drama - are being sued by the Ramapo Community of New Jersey, who claim they are portrayed in the film as violent, inbred hillbillies. The claims in the lawsuit center mostly around a character played by Woody Harrelson named Harlen DeGroat, a psychopathic 'inbred' crime boss who deals hard drugs in the Ramapo Mountains . Out Of The Furnace also stars Casey Affleck as an unemployed Pennsylvanian who gets into trouble with a ruthless Ramapo drug ring . The suit specifically refers to Harrelson's psycopathic characer, Harlen DeGroat, the 'Ramapo ringleader' who deals hard drugs and is 'the most awful human being walking'. Documents says the movie uses characters with standard Ramapo surnames - such as a DeGroat, Van Dunk and Mann - with seven of the eight plaintiffs in the lawsuit carrying such names. The suit claims that 'by using DeGroat and Van Dunk surnames in an extremely negative manner and by making several negative comments regarding the Ramapo people in the movie which result in the negative association between the Plaintiffs and the movie'. The group claims they have been left embarassed and 'continue to suffer emotional and psychological damages'. 'Plaintiffs and their family members are harassed and discriminated against. The children are teased at school. The conduct of the defendants constitutes defamation,' the papers claim. Leader of the Ramapo - or Ramapough - Mountain community, Dwaine Perry, said Out Of The Furnace was a 'hate crime' upon his people when it was released late last year. However Perry is not listed as one of the plaintiffs on the lawsuit against the filmmakers . 'The Plaintiffs are not the worst people, do not live in trailer homes, are not involved in an underground bare-knuckle fight ring, and do not live in a self-contained world of drugs and violence.' The group are claiming the movie showed Ramapo Mountain people as 'inbred mountain folk from Jersey' who 'have fights' and are 'nasty' and 'crazy'. The New York Post has also been named as a defendant for a movie review that was published. They are asking for a jury to award them restitution in 'an amount to be determined by a jury'. After seeing the Out Of The Furnace - which has grossed $11.3 million - upon its release, Ramapough Indian Chief Dwaine Perry described the film as a 'hate crime' that 'stepped over the boundaries of decency', according to NJ.com. 'It eats up and destroys one's self-esteem, particularly for the children,' Chief Perry said. 'You can't really measure the destruction. It's a massive social humiliation. Not only is it a hate crime, it's an extremely violent crime.' DiCaprio, along with the seven other listed plaintiffs - including celebrated director Ridley Scott - are yet to comment on the suit. Out Of The Furnace, starring Christian Bale, was released in December last year and has so far grossed $11.3 million at the box office . According to a 2010 article in The New Yorker, the Ramapo people call themselves Ramapough Mountain Indians or the Ramapough Lenape Nation, referring to old spelling of the river that cuts through the Hudson and North Jersey Highlands. The Ramapoughs number a few thousand, marry largely among themselves, and are concentrated in three primary settlements: on and around Stag Hill, in Mahwah; in the village of Hillburn, New York, in the hollow below Stag Hill’s northern slope; and, west of Stag Hill, in Ringwood, New Jersey, in the remains of an old iron-mining complex. Despite spanning two states and three counties, the Ramapough settlements are essentially connected if travelling through the woods, by foot or by A.T.V, the article said.
|
Out Of The Furnace, a drama-thriller starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson, was released in December .
Plot centers around a ruthless and lawless crime gang set in the Ramapo - or Ramapough - Mountain community of New Jersey .
Eight community members have filed a lawsuit claiming the film and its portrayal of Ramapo people has caused them 'emotional distress' and 'embarrassment'
They say the film depicts them as 'inbreds' and 'hillbillies' who are 'violent' and 'crazy'
Leonardo DiCaprio, a producer on the film, along with eight others affiliated with the movie have been sued .
The film has grossed $11.3 million .
|
118084bec6ab90d4c74ad0c2488f67230fa72427
|
By . Leon Watson . The original painting of the Chinese Girl, thought to be the most reproduced print in the world, was bought by billionaire British businessman and jeweller Laurence Graff for nearly £1million today. Mr Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds International, owns the Delaire Graff Estate near Stellenbosch, South Africa, where the picture will go on public display with the rest of his art collection. The jeweller, who in 2010 spent a staggering $46million (£30million) on a 24.78-carat rare pink diamond, paid £982,050 - nearly double its expected price - for the painting. Victoria Eaton of Bonhams in central London, adjusts Chinese Girl by the Russian artist Vladimir Tretchikoff . The work by Siberian-born artist Vladimir Tretchikoff was part of a sale of South African art at Bonhams auction house. Millions of reproductions of the picture, also known as the Green Lady because of the unusual blue-green skin tone of the subject, have been sold since it was painted in the 1950s. A Bonhams spokesman said: 'It's very exciting. Suddenly the market has decided they like what they can see with Tretchikoff.' Forbes magazine put Mr Graff’s net worth at $4.3billion (£2.8billion) this month, making him the eighth richest man in Britain and the 299th in the world. A self-made tycoon, Mr Graff grew up in the East End of London and dropped out of school at age 14 to become a jeweller's apprentice, the magazine said. The 74-year-old billionaire has more than 20 stores worldwide, including new outposts in Hong Kong, Gstaad and Dubai. The Sultan and Queen of Brunei, Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump are listed as clients. Laurence Graff who bought the original Chinese Girl painting, pictured with a diamond . Chinese Girl is the most iconic work by Vladimir Tretchikoff and is said to be the most widely reproduced and recognisable picture in the world . The sum is the highest ever paid for a work by Tretchikoff, who was born in Russia in 1913 but emigrated to South Africa after the Second World War, working for a period as a propaganda artist for the British Ministry of Information. The familiar image of the woman, with her dark hair and bright red lips, has featured on T-shirts, mugs and posters. The picture, which has been described as one of the most important pop culture images in Britain, was inspired by Monika Sing-Lee, who modelled for Tretchikoff after he spotted her at work in her uncle’s launderette in Cape Town, South Africa. The Bonhams spokesman added: 'It's almost triple the £380,000 we sold his painting Lenka for last year. 'It shows he's beginning to close in on the other major figures on the South African art landscape, Irma Stern - whose picture Arab Priest we previously sold for £3million - and Pierneef.' Pierneef's work Landscape, Stellenbosch sold for £713,250 and Stern's painting Congolese Beauty for £541,250 at the Bonhams auction today. Tretchikoff, who painted with oils and watercolours, died in Cape Town in 2006 at the age of 92. His work was often regarded as 'kitsch' during his lifetime, but Tretchikoff hated this categorisation and insisted he was a serious artist. In 1991 he rejected a request to have his work on the front cover of a book on kitsch for this reason. Tretchikoff's other notable works include Weeping Rose, Blue Monday, and The Dying Swan, which featured the dancer Alicia Markova.
|
Laurence Graff paid nearly double the expected price for the painting .
It will go on public display with the rest of his collection in South Africa .
|
1180b6a0249b66d95c2e2df9a11d7c925e23fb83
|
By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 08:22 EST, 29 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:33 EST, 29 June 2012 . Peaceful: Olivia died in the early hours of Friday morning . A terminally-ill seven-year-old girl who travelled to Mexico for specialist cancer treatment has died two days after returning to Scotland. Olivia Downie died peacefully in the early hours of this morning. Her family said they were 'blessed' to have had her in their lives. Olivia and her family, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, flew to the Central American country earlier this month to get her treatment for neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer. While there, she fell seriously ill and her family was told she would need expensive medical treatment on any flight home. Olivia, her mother Lauren and father Steven touched down in Aberdeen on a medical plane on Wednesday after a fundraising drive helped meet the £110,000 cost. She was taken straight to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital. In a statement released through NHS Grampian, her parents said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce that our darling daughter Olivia slipped away peacefully this morning after her long and courageous battle. 'We are so thankful that, thanks to the generosity of so many people, we have been able to take her home to Scotland so she could have her family by her side. Words cannot express how grateful we are that this final journey was made possible. 'We would like to extend our gratitude to the medical and nursing teams, both at NHS Grampian and overseas, who have also been part of our lives for so long. 'We were blessed to have had Olivia in our lives and her cheeky smile that shone like a star will be with us forever.' The charity Families Against Neuroblastoma (Fan) helped the family with fundraising to bring her home. Almost £155,000 was donated through a JustGiving page set up to raise money for their flights and medical costs. However, last weekend, online problems with NatWest bank delayed pledged funds . from appearing in the charity’s account, although FAN said the bank . worked all day to resolve the issue. The medical bill for the hospital in Mexico was eventually settled. Olivia and her family returned to Scotland on a private ambulance thanks to funding raised by people touched by her story . Olivia pictured at home during her battle with cancer. She was diagnosed in 2009 . Olivia was diagnosed in January 2009 after suffering severe backache and tiredness. Following visits to GPs, she was taken to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital and diagnosed with neuroblastoma.Fan said Olivia had a tumour the size of a grapefruit in her stomach. Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nervous system and can occur anywhere in the body. Fewer than 100 children are diagnosed with it each year in the UK and most who suffer from it are younger than five years old. The charity now has a petition calling for a campaign to raise awareness of the illness. It states: 'We are requesting a Government-funded awareness campaign to educate the public to recognise the signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma, and empower parents and GPs to adopt a policy of early testing when symptoms first present.' There had been fears that doctors in Mexico would turn Olivia's life support machine off if funding had not been raised . At one point father Steven and mother Lauren, who is heavily pregnant, were told that the hospital had not received the money due to a NatWest glitch . Happier times: Olivia, before she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2009, with mother Lauren .
|
Olivia and mother touched down in Scotland two days ago and taken to the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital .
She was diagnosed with rare form of disease in 2009 .
|
11817ebe16e17be253121ec277e7dc83467742df
|
Residents of Dale Farm, the UK's largest illegal travellers' site, lost their High Court battle against eviction today. The travellers, who have vowed to lodge another appeal, said that they will stand their ground and cannot be moved until Monday at the earliest . They attempted to block their removal from the controversial site near Basildon, Essex, in three linked applications for judicial review. The decision means officials will finally be able to evict hundreds of travellers living illegally at the site since 2005 after a legal battle estimated to have cost £18m. The picnic's over: Dale Farm residents, and sisters, Margaret, Maria, Nora and Kathleen McCarthy sit and drink tea outside the High Court on Friday . Day in court: Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council which is attempting to evict the travellers, arrives at the High Court on Friday . However this afternoon Mr Justice Ouseley, . sitting in London, ruled they had delayed too long in challenging . Basildon Council's decision to take direct action against them. He said the travellers were breaking criminal law on a daily basis by remaining on the site and their removal was necessary to avoid 'the criminal law and the planning system being brought into serious disrepute.' The judge said: 'It is the residents of Dale Farm who have to comply with the obligation to leave voluntarily. 'If the removal becomes forcible it would be because of decisions made by the residents not to comply.' Dismissing all the arguments, the judge observed they had been properly taken into account in many legal actions over the years. The judge said he recognised that the removal of the travellers was going to cause 'considerable distress and disruption - but in my judgment the time has manifestly come for steps to enforce the law to be taken'. Mr Justice Ouseley, whose ruling lasted more than three hours, said: 'The conclusion has been reached time and again that this is just the wrong site for travellers.' The planning system had always included a 'fair consideration' of 'personal circumstances'. He added: 'The Dale Farm residents have had that, but they have lost.' The judge said: 'The criminal law applies equally to all - travellers and others alike.' Support: Residents have created a Save Dale Farm! message using paper close to the site . Dispute: The Dale Farm site has become a target for protesters who sympathise with the travellers . Candy Sheridan, vice-chair of the Gypsy Council, said: 'We are disappointed. We are not surprised but the fight goes on. We will be seeking permission to appeal.' Another resident, Jake Fulton said outside the gates of the site that families were 'oo distraught' to speak after they lost their Hbattle. 'People are already flooding back, both travellers and supporters,' Mr Fulton told reporters. 'We are expecting a big swell over the next couple of days and we'll be ready for when they come.' He added: 'Of course we are going to try and appeal this decision but we don't know what's going to happen there. 'At the end of the day we will be here for them and we'll have to rely on the physical defences now that the legal ones have failed us.' Basildon Council has been fighting to remove the travellers since 2005, but a judge gave them a stay of execution last week. The residents triumphantly declared they would be still be living there in 30 years. The 86 families who face eviction argued that they should not be removed because the land they bought in 2001 was being used as a scrapyard. Their lawyers had argued the council's decision earlier this year to take direct action to clear the land was in breach of their human rights and unreasonable. Or will you? The travellers now face removal by bailiffs if they refuse to leave the land . They also argued there had been a failure to offer residents suitable alternative accommodation and to take account of vulnerable residents, including the sick in need of regular medication and children whose schooling would be disrupted if families were evicted. Basildon Council said only a small part of the farm was being used as a scrapyard and it has always hoped to return it to green-belt status. Pleased: Basildon Council Leader Tony Ball arrives at the High Court yesterday, and said after the verdict that he took 'quiet satisfaction' from it . Some critics have condemned the court battle as a 'farce', which could cost in the region of £18million. One of the applications has been brought by Mary Sheridan, who claims being evicted would be a breach of her human rights. Although Basildon Council has said the travellers can apply for accommodation, her barrister Marc Willers argued that it had an ‘obligation to facilitate the gipsy way of life’. Mr Willers said the case had an 'extensive history' but Ms Sheridan was not claiming she should be allowed to stay at Dale Farm 'forever - or indeed for many years, or even a year'. Basildon Council's leader Tony Ball said tonight: 'This is not a day for triumphalism, but I do take quiet satisfaction on behalf of local people that in all matters the council has been found to have acted lawfully. 'The residents of the illegal settlement at Dale Farm have now had their day in court. For almost three weeks every aspect of the council's decision to clear Dale Farm has been scrutinised in great detail and our position has been upheld. 'As for the travellers - having engaged with the legal system they must now abide by the law. 'I would like to reflect on what the judge said that the criminal law applies equally to all, travellers and others alike. They have reached the end of the road. I would therefore urge them to do two things. 'Firstly I would ask them to see that their supporters stand down and preferably leave the site. If they have the travellers' best interests at heart they will do this. There is now nothing to be gained by their continued resistance and certainly not if it involves violence and other forms of law breaking as some have suggested. 'Secondly I hope the travellers will now comply with the court's ruling and leave Dale Farm in a peaceful and orderly manner. 'I strongly urge the travellers not to return to the path of unlawful resistance. 'It is too early yet to say exactly when the site clearance will begin. That will be a decision for the officers and our partners, such as the police, and will primarily depend upon how quickly all the necessary resources can be put back in place so it can be done safely.'
|
Travellers vow to appeal again and cannot be evicted until Monday .
Three linked appeals against eviction fail after judicial review .
Legal battle estimated to top £18m including huge bill for Basildon Council .
Judge: 'The criminal law applies equally to all - travellers and others alike'
Ruling by Mr Justice Ouseley lasts more than three hours .
Clearance 'will not be before Monday' the council confirmed tonight .
|
1182a87328e3d4966f9cfb9543073f697f018551
|
(CNN) -- How many people can play the same video game? Not in the same video game, mind you, but play the exact same game at once? With the help of a social-media robot, more than 80,000 people are currently trying. A version of "Pokemon Red/Blue," a 1990s game for Nintendo's Game Boy, has been streaming on Twitch.tv, an online video platform devoted to gaming, for the past five days. A user known only by the gamer tag "TwitchPlaysPokemon" set up the "social experiment" to accept chat commands as the equivalent of button pushes. You know, typing "up" moves your character up, "down" moves him down and whatnot. Except that tens of thousands of other people are doing the same thing at the same time. The resulting movements of the main character have been spastic, to say the least. Although the horde managed some success in the first few days, capturing several of those elusive Pokemon, the sheer number of people now tapping commands into Twitch's chat window is causing the game's main character, Red, to wander back and forth over the same spot, bang into walls and check his inventory with neurotic frequency. The page has been viewed more than 10.6 million times, with the number of active users peaking at about 81,000. "This is one more example of how video games have become a platform for entertainment and creativity that extends way beyond the original intent of the game creator," said Matthew DiPietro, vice president of marketing for Twitch. "By merging a video game, live video and a participatory experience, the broadcaster has created an entertainment hybrid custom made for the Twitch community." The modified game's creator, whose real identity is unknown at this point, has implemented some features to cut down on trolling and help with coordination. The "start" command has been disabled, after people started spamming it into the chat, and the game now has "Anarchy" and "Democracy" modes that players can select via a virtual voice vote. "Anarchy" is essentially the experiment's original form, in which everyone's command is applied immediately. In "Democracy," players are allowed to vote on their character's next move. It takes a vote from 75% of the players to switch modes, though. And you can imagine how easy that is. Fans of the game have created their own subreddit, Twitch Plays Pokemon fan art, progress tracking via a Google document and a Twitter feed. Twitch.tv hopes this inspires others to transform gaming into entertainment. "I didn't really have any plans for it from the beginning," the creator said in an e-mail to gaming site Polygon. "I just wanted to put it up to see how people would respond. I put it together and put it up on a dedicated server all within a few days." He, or she, has been keeping track of players' progress, or lack thereof, and says it would be considered a win if they masses defeat the game's Elite Four -- opponents who need to be bested before a final confrontation. "But I have my doubts about it being possible without much better coordination," TwitchPlaysPokemon wrote.
|
"Twitch Plays Pokemon" has drawn tens of thousands of followers .
Game lets crowd control an old Game Boy game through chat commands .
"Social experiment" has spawned Reddit blog, fan art, Twitter feed .
Its creator isn't optimistic about success .
|
11845e3aaf00a3cc053e820c0ec748f7ad471c92
|
(CNN) -- The English Premier League has rejected a proposal to bring Scottish Premier League sides Celtic and Rangers into English football's top flight. The Glasgow-based sides, who have dominated their own league both competitively and financially in recent years, had hoped to be part of plans submitted by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside who is keen on a two-tier league of between 36 and 40 teams. Both Celtic and Rangers would have been invited to join the lower of the two leagues under the plan, but the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected. English Premier League clubs will now consider whether to introduce a two-tier system as part of a wider strategic review. A statement from the Premier League said: "Bolton Wanderers submitted a discussion paper detailing ideas concerning the restructuring of the Premier League into two tiers with the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers. "The clubs welcomed the additional input into an ongoing process, however, they were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable. "The other relevant ideas contained within Bolton's paper will now be taken forward as part of the wider strategic review being undertaken by the Premier League since November 2008 with the aim of providing recommendations before December 2010." The rejection comes as Rangers revealed that they made a loss of nearly $22 million last year, compared with a profit of $11.3m the previous year. Rangers are currently seeking new owners, with former chairman David Murray keen to off-load his controlling stake. The club have also been hit by a fine by governing body UEFA for crowd trouble during their Champions League match against Unirea Urziceni on November 4 in Romania. Rangers have been fined $30,000 for the behaviour of their supporters while Romanian outfit have been hit with a fine of around $12,000 for their organisation at the Group G clash.
|
The English Premier League have rejected a proposal to bring Celtic and Rangers into English football's top flight .
The Glasgow-based sides had hoped to be part of plans submitted by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside .
Rangers have also been fined by UEFA for the behavior of their fans during their match against Unirea Urziceni .
|
11848762a02d3809ded890d3898e415bbe9cf544
|
Andy Carroll hopes to help Sam Allardyce's rejuvenated West Ham challenge European qualification on his return to fitness. The England striker is yet to feature this term due to an ankle injury he suffered in the summer, but is now back in training. In his absence, the Hammers have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City - Premier League runners-up and winners in 2013-14 - and are fourth in the standings after nine games. Andy Carroll takes part in a West Ham training session last Friday at Chadwell Heath training ground . Carroll sprints during training as he prepares to return to action following an ankle injury . Carroll celebrates after scoring for West Ham against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light back in March . 'I think we can push right on for Europe,' Carroll told whufc.com. 'I don't see why not - I think all the lads are positive about that and I know the gaffer is too. 'We're playing fantastically. The gaffer has signed some great players and we're showing the quality we've got with the goals we're scoring. That's why we are where we are in the league.' Allardyce has often been criticised for a direct approach, with targetman Carroll key, but the likes of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho have given the Hammers an added dimension. Diafra Sakho (left) celebrates with Aaron Cresswell after scoring for West Ham against Manchester City . Morgan Amalfitano and Enner Valencia end up in the crowd after West Ham took the lead against City . Carroll has also been keenly watching Aaron Cresswell's performances at left-back and is relishing the chance to work with a player who has delivered accurate crosses time and again this term. The 25-year-old former Newcastle and Liverpool striker added: 'We scored three headers at Burnley, and another on Saturday (against City) with Cresswell crossing the ball in. He whips them in and puts them on a plate. 'The service that everyone is putting in the box to create chances has been great. That's what I thrive on. I can't wait to be involved with that.'
|
Andy Carroll is back in training after recovering from an ankle injury .
West Ham currently sit fourth in the Premier League after nine games .
Carroll has praised Aaron Cresswell's performances at left-back .
|
1184f6e51cf920c9278c1ef735180bdb0e7f84be
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 11:27 EST, 5 August 2011 . Electricity officials in heatwave-hit Texas have warned of impending rolling blackouts from power shortages as the U.S. state struggles to cope with the relentless scorching temperatures. Texans have turned to air conditioners in huge numbers in a bid to beat one of the hottest summers on record in America's second most populous state. But bosses for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) say the soaring power demand in the face of the brutal heatwave has left the state one power plant shut-down away from rolling blackouts. Starved of water: Texas State Park police officer Thomas Bigham walks across the cracked lake bed of O.C. Fisher Lake on Wednesday as the state battles the month-long heatwave . Lifeless: The remains of an alligator are seen in Fisher Lake, San Angelo State Park, Texas on Wednesday as the much-hoped for rain from Tropical Storm Don didn't materialise . Temperatures in Texas are currently topping 100F (37.8C) and have been soaring for well over a month. Record highs have also been recorded this week in nearby states Oklahoma and Arkansas as the relentless heatwave spreads across southern America. In Forth Smith and Little Rock, Arkansas, the mercury hit 115F on Wednesday. ERCOT, which runs the power grid for most of Texas, cut power to some large industrial users after electricity demand hit three consecutive records this week alone. The grid operator now faces rolling blackouts similar to those which hit Texas during a bitter cold snap in February. In Dallas, Texas, a pensioner died from 'heat-related' causes after her air conditioning unit was stolen from her house. At risk: A map shows 'excessively dry' conditions in, among others, Texas, New Mexico, . Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana and Arkansas in southern America . Delores Grissom, 79, had the unit stolen from her front yard last month and died two days later after telling neighbours, 'I'm getting so hot'. Although the electricity firm have done their best to regulate power use and prevent shortages, experts admitted a further shut-down is a possibility. Arshad Mansoor, senior vice president at the Electric Power Research Institute, said: 'You always have to expect the unexpected can happen.'A unit can shut. The wind may not blow.' Ice storms in February crippled dozens of power plants, forcing ERCOT to impose rolling blackouts for hours as electric power demand outstripped supply. The drought in San Angelo, Texas, has been so severe that this lake was left with a fraction of water left which turned red . More remains of alligator gars are left by the brutal heatwave which has dried out several lakes in Texas . Power usage in ERCOT reached its highest level ever on Wednesday at 68,294 megawatts, almost four per cent over last year's peak. The Texas grid faces at least one more day of extreme stress before temperatures cool slightly over the weekend. Temperatures in Houston, the state's biggest city, should return to near normal levels in the upper 90s over the weekend, according to AccuWeather.com. The state's biggest power generators, including units of Energy Future Holdings, NRG Energy, Calpine Corp and others, have been running flat out to cash in real-time prices that have hit the $3,000/MWh cap in recent days. But the state's reserve margins have been running razor thin. On Wednesday ERCOT came within 50 megawatts of interrupting flows to industrial customers. One megawatt powers about 200 homes in Texas during hot weather when air conditioners are running for long periods. Extreme drought: Tropical Storm Don didn't offer any respite to areas like Manor, Texas. By the time it made landfall, Don had been downgraded to a tropical depression . Preparations: A line of cars crawls over the Queen Isabella Causeway as residents of San Padre Island move inland ahead of Tropical Storm Don last week . Kent Saathoff, ERCOT's vice president of system planning and operations, said more generation supplies would help, but added that state power generators cannot be expected to prepare for every extreme in weather. He said: 'You have to determine if it is worth spending millions or billions to avoid a one in 10-year event.' With record-breaking demand came . record-breaking prices. Prices for Thursday power topped $400 per . megawatt hour, the highest in at least a decade. Friday's power prices . approached $600. Real-time prices also hit the $3,000 market cap over the past few days. ERCOT has about 73,000 MW of natural . gas, coal, oil, nuclear and wind generating facilities, but not all of . that capacity is available all the time. Texas has the most wind power in the . country, but the wind does not blow during the summer. Ercot said it got . about 2,000 MW from wind during the peak hour on Wednesday.
|
Arkansas and Oklahoma also see record highs as temperatures soar .
Texas woman dies after having air conditioning unit stolen .
'Excessively dry' conditions announced in ten U.S. states .
|
11856b24e2be38bb9e21cf4fe9670cb9d8ef6a37
|
By . Associated Press . Last updated at 3:54 PM on 19th January 2012 . No remorse: Maksim Gelman listens to relatives of his victims during his sentencing at Supreme Court in New York, Wednesday . A 24-year-old man who pleaded guilty to murder and other crimes in a violent stabbing rampage in New York City last winter was sentenced today to 200 years in prison during a hearing in which he hurled epithets at one of his victims and was told by the judge that he was a 'sociopath'. Maksim Gelman, born in Ukraine, pleaded guilty in November in Brooklyn to murder and other charges in the spree in February 2011, which included stabbing his stepfather and two others to death, fatally running down a pedestrian, stealing a car and attacking a subway passenger. Today, he was sentenced to the maximum sentence for each of 13 counts; some of the sentences will run consecutively, resulting in the 200-year term. 'You are a violent predator and sociopath,' Judge Vincent Del Giudice said. Gelman's deadly spree on February 11 started with a family argument over whether he could use his mother's car. He . stabbed his stepfather to death in their Brooklyn home, then took off . in the car and drove to the home of an acquaintance, Yelena Bulchenko. Bulchenko's friends have said he was obsessed with the 20-year-old woman . and imagined a romantic relationship with her. She wasn't home, but Gelman stabbed . her 56-year-old mother to death, then waited nearly nine hours with the . body for the daughter to return. When she walked in, he stabbed her 11 . times, killing her, authorities said. On Wednesday, Gelman interrupted . Bulchenko's boyfriend, Gerard Honig, telling him he had fallen in love . 'with a heroin addict,' to which Honig responded, 'You can burn in . hell.' Gelman was then removed from the courtroom for a short time. Maxiumum sentence: Some of Gelman's sentences will run consecutively, resulting in in the 200-year term for each of the 13 counts . Tense: Gelman during the sentencing interrupted the boyfriend of one of his victims, telling him he had fallen in love 'with a heroin addict,' to which the man responded, 'You can burn in hell' After stabbing Bulchenko, Gelman left the home, rear-ended a car and wildly stabbed at the driver, authorities said. The driver survived. Stealing the wounded man's car, Gelman drove off and ploughed into 62-year-old Stephen Tanenbaum, who died from his injuries. After abandoning the car, he later hailed a livery cab and attacked its driver, then approached another car, attacked a man inside and seized the car, police said. Both men survived. All those attacks happened in . Brooklyn. As authorities hunted him, Gelman was next spotted hours later . on a subway train in Manhattan, where passengers recognised him from . newspaper photographs and notified police. Tragic: Gelman is accused of driving to 20-year-old Yelena Bulchenko's home on East 24th Street and stabbing her . Gruesome: Yelena and her mother, 56-year-old Anna, were killed at the same Brooklyn address . Victim: Gelman is accused of repeatedly stabbing Joseph Lozito, 40, on the subway, before he was arrested in February . He dashed across the tracks, switched . trains and attacked a final passenger before he was grabbed by police . who were in the subway car looking for him on the tracks. The livery driver, Fitz Fullerton, spoke at the Wednesday hearing in a whisper because his voice box was damaged by Gelman.'I just got caught up in this, this is my like third time ever seeing him and I hope he gets what he deserves,' Fullerton said. Gelman also made a brief statement, saying 'I'm not the bad guy here,' and that it wasn't his fault. He also said he was being followed by federal agents in an undercover investigation. Gelman had previously said he wasn't guilty, was under medical supervision and his attorney, Edward Friedman, described his client's mental state as fragile. Arrest: Gelman is led away from the subway after stabbing an innocent passenger on the train on February 13 . Spree's over: Gelman, of Brooklyn, is put into a car by officers outside the 61st Precinct . But given the evidence and a psychiatrist's recent opinion that Gelman couldn't argue he was not guilty by reason of insanity, he decided he wanted to get out of his holding cell and start serving his time in a permanent facility, his lawyer said. No plea deal was offered. On Tuesday, Gelman admitted trying to kill passenger Joseph Lozito on a train on February 12 at the end of his two-day spree. Police later recovered a bloody knife, three straight razor blades, a paring knife and $932. When asked by police why the four victims had to die, Gelman said, 'Because I said so,' according to the documents.
|
Maksim Gelman, 24, pleaded guilty to killing four people and wounding four others in a 28-hour stabbing spree across New York .
Killed his stepfather Aleksandr Kuznetsov, 54, the woman he stalked, Yelena Bulchenko, 20, and her mother, Anna, 56 .
Arrested in February after the rampage that stretched from Brooklyn to Manhattan .
Received maximum sentence for each of his 13 counts .
Judge called killer a 'violent predator and sociopath'
|
1185b388ad7aa1e2b0a869b3d577a3e45a5a9f60
|
By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 19 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:19 EST, 19 October 2012 . Have you ever had a lovely dinner party ruined when an unwanted, uninvited dinner guest turns up? Well, these angry lions have - they were enjoying a delicious meal of antelope steak on the banks of a river in Zambia when, all of a sudden, a crocodile turned up and tried to sneak a bite to eat. The lions are captured with an all-too-human stunned look of surprise on their faces when they look up from their feast and find a crafty additional mouth at the table. Double take: The lions look by turns angry, shocked and bemused by their unexpected dinner guest - who just wanted a helping of antelope to himself . The fearless Nile crocodile - known as charmingly enough as 'Fred' to residents of South Luangwa, Zambia - risked taking on two fearsome adult females who were feeding their cubs. But as this remarkable video and pictures show Fred had no qualms about wandering over to try his luck and steal a chunk of an impala - an African antelope - the lionesses had just killed. It takes the big cats a few moments to realise Fred is coming towards them and at one stage it looks like he might succeed as he opens his massive jaws. On the approach: The crafty and apparently fearless three-metre crocodile makes the sneaky crawl to the dinner table . Closer still: You can almost feel the crocodile's hunger as he opens his jaws wide and looks at the scene . You can see how engrossed they are: There's almost no room at the table as the lions devour their prey - but the croc will find a way . The lion cubs wisely scatter to avoid themselves becoming a meal, and for a second it looks like Fred has the upper hand. But the huge lioness mothers decide . enough is enough and spurred on, both by anger at the intruder and the . instinct to protect their young, they begin to claw and bite Fred until . he decides it's time to go. Almost as quickly as it started the . titanic struggle is over, and Fred runs through the grass back to the . safety of the river at the South Luangwa, Zambia. Get out of here! The lions are stunned by the sneak attack, and with a roar they tell the crocodile to back off - and the petty thief makes a break for it . 'And don't come back!': The mood of the meal is ruined, with the lioness staring at the interloper who ruined their meal . Not happy: The lions make sure the crocodile - known as Fred - does not make another attempt, walking him away from the table . Photographer and bushcamp manager Oli . Dreike, 34, from The Bushcamp Company, was just 20 metres away in his . tent when the action unfolded. He said: 'As the Luangwa Valley heats . up towards the end of September it's best to wake up early if you want . get things done and avoid the heat of the day. 'What I was not expecting, as I woke up at 5.30am that morning, was to witness a clash of the titans metres away from my tent. 'I just washing my face, when the . waiter came rushing over to my tent calling 'bwana, bwana come quick if . you want to see the lions hunting. 'I pulled on some clothes and dashed . over to the dining area, where he had been preparing breakfast, to see a . lioness and three cubs out on the plain in front of camp.' Oli said the lion pride were . well-known to local conservation researchers the Zambia Carnivore . Programme and were lead by a male lion dubbed 'Scarface' and a scar on . his face he ironically received in a crocodile attack. And just to make sure, the lionness roars her disapproval: It looks like the aggressive animals took a few seconds to come to their senses following the rude interruption . Oli said: 'I ran back to my tent to . get my camera, to find one of the lionesses crouching in wait on the . other side of a small, spring fed channel not 20 metres from my tent. 'Having grabbed my camera and tripod, we both sat in wait, while a nearby group of impala started making alarm calls. 'Then, suddenly out of the tall . grass, came bounding her pride mate, sending the impala into a panic and . one right into the claws of the other lioness, right in front of me. 'The rest of the pride rushed in to start feeding on the impala, a small meal for seven hungry mouths. 'But the cats were so engrossed in . their meal, that it took them a while to realise that they had an . uninvited table guest the huge crocodile that lives in the channel that . runs through camp had smelt it's opportunity and decided to try it's . luck at grabbing a piece of the action. 'The lionesses seemed to be . protecting the kill as well as their cubs, although the croc does seem . to have gotten away with a small chunk of meat. This battle of the titans was a very . noisy affair, all going on some 15 metres away, with nothing between me . and the action, but a narrow stream. 'I could not believe what I had just seem, let alone been able to film and photograph it.'
|
Dinner party held by the edge of the Nile in Zambia gets an unwanted, crafty guest .
|
1188451ccc0e054214cb7f115759cbbed0e98415
|
(CNN) -- The media got it wrong when it came to reporting about actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's death, the late Oscar winner's friend said Wednesday in an exclusive broadcast interview on CNN's "New Day." Not only did the reporting inaccurately depict Hoffman as a man in a death spiral, playwright David Bar Katz said the press also was lax when it came to a National Enquirer story claiming he and Hoffman were lovers. The report, since debunked, was cited in mainstream outlets. "I don't know why they did it," he said of the Enquirer. "I know that it's lousy journalism." Katz sued the Enquirer over the story, reaching a settlement in which the tabloid agreed to fund an award for unpublished playwrights in Hoffman's memory. Hoffman died of apparent drug overdose February 2. Katz found his body. On Wednesday, the National Enquirer took out a full-page ad in The New York Times saying it "made a good faith error by publishing an interview with a person who falsely and convincingly claimed to be Mr. Katz." The real Katz told "New Day's" Chris Cuomo he believes the Enquirer was misled but he was still stunned the publication ran with the story without cross-checking it with other sources -- and that other media outlets picked it up. "I always knew they made stuff up, but I never knew they made up even having an interview with someone that they never had, and then the degree of seeing how everyone picks it up and, as you just said, treats it like news," Katz told Cuomo. More broadly, Katz said the media had gotten the narrative wrong when it came to Hoffman's life and death, saying the well-respected actor was not in a destructive death spiral the night he died. "I can just say that I think a lot of it has been totally overblown," he said. "It gives a false picture of him because he was focused, he was working, he was focused on his family, he was not a partyer, he was not someone that was in a spiral, he was not self-destructive in any way." "It's a cliché that makes it very easy and that people like, but Phil was not that guy," Katz said. When police were called to the actor's fourth-floor Manhattan apartment, they found him lying on the bathroom floor with a syringe in his left arm. Investigators discovered close to 50 envelopes of what they believed was heroin in the apartment, law enforcement sources said. They also found used syringes, prescription drugs and empty plastic bags of a type commonly used to hold drugs, the sources said. Katz declined to talk about what police found in Hoffman's apartment. But he said the actor had been sober "most of his adult life" and suffered an unfortunate relapse. He said he hoped Hoffman would be pleased by his efforts to set the story straight but said his friend would as likely have other things on his mind. "He would more be amused that I spilled ink on my pants and I was on national television and giving me a hard time about that," Katz said. Hoffman's will guides son away from Hollywood .
|
NEW: National Enquirer apologizes for story in New York Times ad .
Tabloid claimed playwright was actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's lover .
David Bar Katz says he was stunned by the account .
He will use settlement proceeds to set up an award for playwrights .
|
1189fc3053780dfb15066fc34b89608e011bf234
|
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:13 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:07 EST, 18 March 2014 . It seems that even the world's most talented people faced rejection before they became household names. Letters collected by Mental Floss reveal how Madonna, Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath and even Gertrude Stein were turned away by their respective industries before making it big. Madonna was rejected by the music producer behind Dirty Dancing's soundtrack the year before she debuted her first album, meanwhile The Museum of Modern Art turned away Warhol in 1956, and in 1962 Sylvia Plath was dismissed by the New Yorker. While there is no date on this rejection letter sent to Madonna's team, it was clearly before she signed with Sire Records in 1982, a year before she released her first, self-titled album . While there is no date on a rejection letter . sent to Madonna’s team, it was clearly before she signed with Sire . Records in 1982, a year before she released her first, self-titled album . (which has sold more than ten million copies worldwide). The . letter is from music producer Jerermy Ienner, who is responsible for . the music in films such as Dirty Dancing, Sister Act and White men Can't . Jump. Mr Ienner felt that Madonna 'was not ready yet' to have a full album produced and that he would 'pass for now'. Letters collected by Mental Floss reveal how Madonna and Andy Warhol were turned away by their respective industries before making it big . The rejection letter is part of the archives at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh - dated 1956, the MOMA notified Warhol that its collections committee had decided to turn down the drawing Shoe . In a letter dated 1956, the MOMA . notified Warhol that its collections committee had decided to turn down . the drawing Shoe, which the artist, who had moved to New York seven . years prior to work in advertising, had offered as a gift. 'I . regret that I must report to you that the Committee decided, after . careful consideration, that they ought not to accept it for our . Collection,' wrote the museum's Alfred H. Barr Jr. Today, the MOMA owns more than 100 of Warhol's pieces, including Gold Marilyn and Campbell's Soup Cans, both created in 1962. The rejection letter is part of the archives at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, according to the Andy Warhol Foundation. In 1912, when Gertrude Stein was just two years shy of her 40th birthday, she had a hard time selling the manuscript for The Making of Americans (finally published in 1925) to publishers . Even critically acclaimed writers Slyvia Plath (left) and Gertrude Stein (right) struggled to get the attention of publishers before they became household names . In 1962, two years after having considerable success with The Colossus and Other Poems, The New Yorker editor Howard Moss rejected Sylvia Plath's poem Amnesiac - but admitted that 'Perhaps we're being dense' The same year that Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, Jr., and Adam Clayton released U2's first ever single 11 O’Clock Tick Tock in Dublin, they had been rejected by London-based RSO Records. In a letter to Bono (born Paul Hewson), RSO Records deamed U2 as 'not suitable for us at present.' But despite the setback, they signed with Island records that same year. In 1912, when Gertrude Stein was just two years shy of her 40th birthday, she had a hard time selling the manuscript for The Making of Americans to publishers. Arthur C. Fifield, a publisher from London, was one such publisher and told Stein that 'hardly one copy would sell'. The book was eventually published in 1925 and is still available for purchase today. The same year that Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, Jr., and Adam Clayton released U2's first ever single 11 O'Clock Tick Tock in Dublin, they had been rejected by London-based RSO Records . As far as rejection goes, Walt Disney went easy on Tim Burton -- in 1976, while still in high school, Burton sent a copy of his children's book, The Giant Zlig, to Walt Disney Productions for publication consideration . In the mid 80s, Jim Lee, one of the world's best-known figures in the world of comic books, was rejected by Marvel Comics, a company he now runs . In 1962, two years after having considerable success with The Colossus and Other Poems, . The New Yorker editor Howard Moss rejected Sylvia Plath’s poem Amnesiac . - but admitted that 'Perhaps we’re being dense' in having trouble with . it. Plath famously said that she loves her rejection slips, and collected hoardes of them because: 'They show me I try.' And as far as rejection goes, Walt Disney went easy on Tim Burton. In 1976, while still in high school, Burton sent a . copy of his children’s book, The Giant Zlig, to Walt Disney Productions . for publication consideration. It was rejected for being 'too . derivative of the Seuss works to be marketable' by editor T. Jeanette . Kroger, but a few . years later, the company brought Burton on as an animator’s apprentice.
|
Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, U2, Gertrude Stein and Tim Burton were all turned away by their respective industries before they became famous .
|
118a6f188df5ddab5c87b742dd53ad5a40862c97
|
By . Sophie Jane Evans . This is the moment two robbers beat up a bus conductor - only for a crowd of vigilantes to break into the vehicle and mob them just minutes later. The thugs were captured carrying out the brutal assault on a bus in Jaboatão dos Guararapes in Pernambuco, Brazil, yesterday. They could be seen punching, kicking and throttling the conductor - before attempting to steal wads of cash from the till. Scroll down for video . Attack: Two robbers beat up a bus conductor in Jaboatão dos Guararapes in Pernambuco, Brazil, yesterday . Brutal: They can be seen punching, kicking and throttling the cashier, who is wearing a pale blue shirt and jeans . Afraid: But they are stopped when a group of vigilantes spot what is going on. Above, the thugs cower in the bus . Revenge: The vigilantes crowd on to the bus, before kicking, punching and shouting insults at one of the robbers. The other thug has managed to escape the bus, but is being chased down the street by others . However, they were stopped when vigilantes spotted what was going on, broke into the bus and mobbed them. The shocking incident was caught on CCTV and later posted on LiveLeak and YouTube. Footage shows the young men walking on to the bus and paying, before strolling out of sight - only to return just seconds later. The conductor then asks them to move down the bus - at which point, the pair turn on him and start punching, choking and shoving him around. The robbers enter the bus: The shocking attack was caught on CCTV and later posted on LiveLeak and YouTube . Paying: Footage shows the men paying the conductor, before strolling out of sight - only to return seconds later . Instructions: The conductor then asks the robbers to move down the bus - at which point, the pair turn on him . Fury: The thugs start punching, choking and shoving the conductor, who unsuccessfully tries to protect himself . The victim unsuccessfully attempts to protect himself using his hands and feet - but finally manages to escape out of a window as the bus comes to a halt. Meanwhile, the robbers appear unsure as to whether to leave the stationary vehicle or not as they spot a large crowd of passersby waiting outside. One of them cautiously waits at the door, but is forced out on to the street when another passenger flees the vehicle. Stealing: One of the robbers, donning a black cap and green top, is pictured trying to steal cash from the till . Fleeing: The conductor finally manages to escape as the bus comes to a halt, while one robber steps outside and is confronted by the vigilantes. Seconds later, he flees the scene, leaving his accomplice inside the bus . Looking worried: The remaining robber appears unsure as to whether to leave the stationary vehicle or not . He can then be seen running away from the vehicle as several angry members of the public give chase. Meanwhile, the other thug is captured cowering inside the bus, holding his hands behind his head, as the mass of vigilantes crash through the doors of the vehicle. But despite his submissive gestures, the mob crowd on to the bus - before kicking, punching and shouting insults at the fallen robber. Closing in: As the vigilantes close in, the thug cowers inside the bus, while holding his hands behind his head . Lunging for him: But despite his submissive gestures, the mob crowd on to the bus and reach out for the thug . Violent: CCTV footage captures the vigilantes kicking, punching and shouting insults at the fallen robber . The video ends with footage of the vigilantes dragging the thug on to the streets, before restraining him and waiting for the police to arrive. It is not known whether anyone has been arrested following the incident.
|
Robbers caught on CCTV beating up bus conductor in Pernambuco, Brazil .
Could be seen punching and throttling victim, before trying to steal cash .
But they were stopped when vigilantes broke into bus and mobbed them .
|
118cfe16c50e23fe5f38e11c14adbcade8eb1289
|
New York (CNN) -- A billboard has sparked controversy in New York after an anti-abortion group erected a sign focused exclusively on African-American abortion rates. The sign -- which was paid for by an organization called Life Always -- reads: "The most dangerous place for an African-American is in the womb." The billboard -- located roughly a half mile from a Planned Parenthood facility in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood -- features an African-American girl. "They're attacking women for choosing abortion while simultaneously destroying family planning," said spokeswoman Mary Alice Carr for the New York-based National Institute for Reproductive Health. "Their hypocrisy is as large and as obnoxious as this billboard." But Pastor Stephen Broden, a Life Always board member, told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that "it's hard to celebrate Black History Month" with abortion "hanging over our community." "Abortion is out-pacing life in our community" and he said the billboard's message is meant to be a "provocative" way to illustrate the problem. African-Americans tend to have high abortion rates when compared to other demographic groups, according to Rebecca Wind, a spokeswoman for the Guttmacher Institute, a New York-based research center for sexual and reproductive health. The disparity is in part attributed to a "lack of adequate services" in many black communities, which "has resulted in more unintended pregnancies," Wind said. According to the Life Always website, the move is an attempt "to raise public awareness of Life issues through advertising and raise truths about Life issues to educate and empower individuals." The sign is part of a national campaign where more billboards will appear over the next couple of months across the country, Life Always spokeswoman Marissa Gabrysch said. Critics say the message is misleading. "The issue is here they are doing a campaign, targeting one group of women and making them feel guilty and shameful about family choices that they are making," Carr said. "You can't take a woman and lift her out of her experience." But Rev. Derek A McCoy, another Life Always board member, told reporters something needs to be done about abortion in the black community and this is "calling attention to a dramatic event." "This is a truth and tragedy," he said. Broden said "The child (in the billboard) was selected for her innocence."
|
A New York billboard focused on exclusively on African-American abortion rates .
The billboard is located roughly a half mile from Planned Parenthood abortion facilities .
Blacks tend to have high abortion rates compared to other groups, research center says .
|
118d17dabf30543039d4e951dbe7de408ede23e3
|
A committee of MPs is under fire after claiming cuts in Britain's spending on international aid could have contributed to the spread of the Ebola virus. Ministers were accused by the international development committee of undermining £20 million of previous UK-funded work in Liberia by failing to help prevent the government there holding back EU-channelled aid from the health sector. But government sources dismissed the idea Britain was to blame for the spread of the deadly disease as 'factually wrong'. Scroll down for video . Health workers tackle the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, with figures showing more than 3,000 people in west Africa have been killed . Experts have warned that the outbreak in West Africa has developed at an unprecedented scale with the current rate of infection standing at 1.7, meaning that for every 10 people that contract the virus a further 17 will be infected. A summit on how to tackle the spread of the virus is being held in London today. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Development Secretary Justine Greening and Ernest Bai Koroma, the president of Sierra Leone, are among those taking part in the global event at Lancaster House in central London. The UK Government has promised a further £20 million aid to pay for vital medical supplies including chlorine, personal protection equipment such as masks, protection suits and gloves, and essential water and sanitation facilities. It will also be used to deploy clinicians, global health experts, epidemiologists and infection control advisers from Public Health England, King's Health Partners and the United Nations. But the Commons international development committee said that while that was a welcome move, far wider action was needed to reverse a failure to prioritise Sierra Leone and Liberia. In a scathing report, the parliamentary watchdog said the crisis 'demonstrates the dangers of ignoring the least developed countries in the world', accusing ministers and aid agencies of switching focus to 'higher-profile' places. International development secretary Justine Greening insisted the government was acting to help countries affected by the outbreak . The MPs accused the Department for International Development (DfID) and the European Union of doing nothing to deal with the fact that tens of billions of pounds of EU-led health aid was not being passed on by Liberia's finance ministry. 'There is an alarming lack of capacity in the health system, including a shortage of skilled clinicians,' the MPs said, noting that 10 per cent of Sierra Leone's domestically trained nurses are working in the UK health system. The committee said it was 'shocked' to discover that only 3.9 million US dollars (£2.4 million) of 60 million dollars (£37 million) EU health sector support was passed on by Liberia's ministry of finance to the ministry of health over a two-year period. 'Neither the EU nor DfID seemed to be doing anything to resolve the situation. DfID has been working for the last five years on building up the Liberian health system and have spent £20 million doing so. 'Ministers should be concerned that this work is being undone, not least because DfID provides 16 per cent of its total budget to the EU (£1.23 billion).' But Miss Greening insisted said Britain was 'working urgently with Sierra Leone to scale up the international response to the disease'. 'Last month, Britain pledged to support 700 treatment beds in Sierra Leone, but keeping basic public health services running is vital to halt the spread of the disease. 'Our latest support will allow stretched medical staff and aid agencies to prevent further infection.' A government source added: 'It is just factually wrong to claim that an Ebola outbreak could have been prevented, and factually wrong to suggest Britain is not helping Sierra Leone in its hour of need.' More than 40 British military personnel and aid experts are working in Sierra Leone following a direct request for assistance from the World Health Organisation and the country's government. More than 160 NHS staff are due to travel to Sierra Leone after answering a call for volunteers to help fight the disease earlier this month. Doctors and scientists are in a race against time to find a medical solution to the epidemic that is spiralling out of control. Select committee chairman Sir Malcolm Bruce said the scale of the crisis 'may well be connected to declining levels of international support for health system improvements' in Liberia and Sierra Leone. 'In the midst of this devastating epidemic, and at a time when the UK has reached its 0.7% target for overseas development assistance, it is wrong for the UK to cut its support to these two countries by nearly a fifth,' he said. 'The planned termination of further UK funding to the Liberian health sector is especially unwise. 'The UK can be proud of the work DfID has done to help deliver many improvements in Sierra Leone and Liberia following the civil wars in both countries. We believe that this work should continue through bilateral aid programmes. 'It is also good that in the short time since our report was agreed DfID has provided extra support for Ebola and many NHS staff have volunteered to go to Sierra Leone. 'However, UK ministers must now work harder to track the use of sector support given to Liberia and Sierra Leone through multilaterals we help fund.' Experts believe they have a 90-day window to halt the spread of Ebola, which could otherwise have infected around 1.5 million people by January . Experts believe they have a 90-day window to halt the spread of Ebola, which could otherwise have infected around 1.5 million people by January. The death toll from the highly infectious condition, which has spread across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, has reportedly risen to more than 3,000. At least 3,700 children have lost one or both parents to the virus since the start of the outbreak, according to preliminary Unicef figures, with fears that this could have doubled by the middle of next month. Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth said: 'The UK Government has taken the lead on supporting Sierra Leone to tackle this crisis, but it cannot act alone. 'The scale of the Ebola epidemic is devastating and growing every day, with five people infected every hour in Sierra Leone last week. 'We need a co-ordinated international response that ensures treatment centres are built and staffed immediately. 'This is not only an immediate humanitarian threat, but risks completely undoing the hard work which has been done to build up fragile health systems in Sierra Leone and Liberia after the devastating wars of the past few decades. '
|
Select committee linked scale of the crisis to international funding cuts .
Blamed ministers and aid agencies for switching to 'higher-profile' places .
International Development Secretary Justine Greening insists UK is acting .
Summit is being held in London to discuss how to contain spread of virus .
|
118ebb029d1d09df933258fcb1940741eaed2d45
|
A German opera has been cancelled amid a storm of criticism after it featured performers dressed in Nazi uniform, a Jewish family being massacred and a brutal rape scene. Members of the audience began walking out of Burkhard C. Kosminski's interpretation of Wagner's classic 'Tannhaeuser' after only 30 minutes and some required medical attention for 'psychological trauma'. The Rhine Opera House in Duesseldorf said although it knew the concert would be 'controversial' it had not expected such an extreme reaction. Criticism: The opera upset some members of the audience because it featured performers in Nazi uniform . Controversial: In one scene the character Wolfram, left, brutally rapes Elisabeth, right . Kosminksi said he had wanted to 'address' the anti-Semitic attitude of composers like Wagner, who was known to be one of Adolf Hitler's favourites. In one scene, naked performers came onto the stage in smoke-filled gas chambers to kill the character Venus, dressed as an S.S. officer, and a Jewish family in a parody of a WW2 massacre. In another, a character . called Elisabeth was brutally raped by Tannhauser’s rival Wolfram and left . bloodied and crying on stage. And finally, a mother, father and daughter were led up by . members of the Wehrmacht - their clothes were removed, they were shaved and . shot. Kosminski was reportedly confronted at the first night after-party by angry critics who told him he had made 'a travesty of German culture'. Anger: Many members of the audience walked out in disgust at the interpretation of Wagner's 'Tannhaeuser' The Rhine Opera House has cancelled the stage production for the remainder of the dates following the outcry . Israel’s ambassador to Germany voiced his displeasure, and . some left the theatre 'bathed in sweat' according to a report in the online . edition of the local Rheinische Post. Oded Horowitz, head of the Jewish community of North Rhine, . said; 'Survivors are likely to find the provocative handling of Nazi history in . this Tannhaeuser production quite painful.' 'While remembrance of Nazi crimes is . important', he said, 'a theatre scandal is not our preferred form of confronting . the past.' The Rhine Opera House has confirmed that the production will be performed as a concert only for the remaining dates. Last July, Russian opera singer Evgeny Nikitin was pressured . to withdraw from Germany’s famous Bayreuth Opera Festival because of Nazi . tattoos on his chest and arm. He was supposed to sing the lead in 'The Flying . Dutchman'.
|
Interpretation of Wagner's classic 'Tannhaeuser' sparks furore .
Audience began walking out after 30 minutes and some treated for 'trauma'
Director Kosminksi said he wanted to 'address' anti-Semitism .
Rhine Opera House cancels stage production for remaining dates .
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.