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LONDON, England (CNN) -- A brain surgeon performed what he called a "life-saving" surgery on a teenager by removing a large brain tumor using a method he read about on CNN.com just three days earlier. Dr. Thomas Ellis is a senior neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Dr. Thomas Ellis, a senior neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, the United States, said he had become "very demoralized" after an unsuccessful six-hour operation to remove a tumor from a 19-year-old named Brandon. "I had had to give the boy's mother the bad news and that is not something I am used to. She was crying and it was very hard. Your story truly came at the perfect time," Ellis said. "I am inclined to believe that it is the work of God that I came across your article that very night," the surgeon told CNN. The article was about the "Omni directional dielectric mirror," a pen-shaped fiber-optic tool that allows surgeons to carry out minimally invasive surgery on areas too difficult or delicate to access. That night, Ellis contacted the neurosurgeon quoted in the story who put him in touch with Omni Guide, the Boston, Massachusetts-based company that manufactures the handheld device. It was originally devised for the U.S. military, and rolled out for surgeries three months before Ellis read about it. The tool allows surgeons to easily manipulate a CO2 laser and bend it to reach almost any tissue in the body, particularly in cases where scalpels may pose a danger. "Seventy-two hours later I held the device in my hands," Ellis explained. "Omni Guide sent someone to do a demo. I was extremely impressed and excited and very quickly I pretty much got the hang of it." Ellis added: "I think it's an amazing story because it's yet another demonstration of how interconnected we've become in this world. "You have a CNN reporter in London, who writes a story about a neurosurgeon in Chicago, who's using a device that was invented in Massachusetts. That story is read by a different neurosurgeon in North Carolina, and all within 72 hours, we have the device in North Carolina. "We have the patient lined up for a surgery, and in the span of just a few days we perform really a life-saving operation on this patient." Ellis first met Brandon on December 17, 2008, when his mother took him to the emergency department at Wake Forest Hospital suffering from what Ellis calls, "an extremely rapid decline in basic functions." "While he had been suffering from minor symptoms for about a year, he suddenly acquired terrible headaches and became very confused." Ellis ordered an immediate MRI scan of Brandon's skull and found an extremely large tumor, known as a teratoma, in the middle of his brain. Read an explainer about teratomas . He operated two days later, but despite spending six hours in the operating room and going through half a dozen scalpels, he only managed to remove 20 percent of the tumor. "In 15 years of doing neurosurgery, it really was the most difficult tumor that I ever encountered. It was very rubbery and hard to debulk," he said. "I wish I could demonstrate the firmness of the tumor that we were dealing with but it really was the case that after trying to dissect the tumor just five minutes with each scalpel, the scalpel would be dull and I would have to move on to use another scalpel. "I went through at least a half-dozen of them, and even after many, many hours of operating on this tumor with multiple scalpels with multiple microsurgical-dissecting tools, I couldn't remove very much of this tumor." Ellis advised the boy's mother, Tania, who asked we only give her first name, that her son would have to go through radiation treatment. Unlike chemotherapy, which involves the use of anticancer drugs, radiation treatment employs high-energy rays and particles to kill cancer cells. "Radiation therapy is a difficult process, especially for such a large tumor," Ellis said. He explained that he was feeling despondent about the patient's condition when he got home after the operation that night. "Being the father of four children myself, just the thought of having to go through something like this with one of my own children is just beyond words," he said. "As I do every night, I read CNN online and immediately saw on the front page that there was an article in the health section entitled, From military device to life-saving surgical tool. ... Read the original CNN.com story . "I finished the rest of the story and my first thought was: I would have given anything to have this tool available six or seven hours ago based on the description in the story. "Lasers have long been abandoned in neurosurgery," he said, "because they were too cumbersome to use. But CNN spoke of a brain operation performed by a Dr. Bernard Bendok in Chicago with CO2 laser and this new easy-to-use, perfect mirror tool." The following day, on Christmas Eve, Ellis along with Dr. Tamir Wolf, a physician OmniGuide sent to assist, brought Brandon back to the operating room. "After only 30 minutes, it was clear this laser device, as simple to use as a scalpel, was successfully debulking the tumor." Ellis operated on Brandon for four hours and managed to remove the remaining 80 percent of the tumor by vaporizing it from the inside with the laser and then excising it. "The boy was then extubated [removing the tube to his airway] after about 30 minutes and that same evening he was eating normally," Wolf said. Brandon has recovered his basic functions and is behaving normally. "I am very optimistic and so is his mother, although we still have to be careful and do regular check-ups to look for possible spreading of the tumor," Ellis said. He believes that "at the least, this device will become a valuable new tool for surgeons. But it may actually usher in a new generation of neurosurgeons who do microsurgery very differently." "Either way, this type of success story is what we neurosurgeons live for."
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Surgeon unsuccessfully attempts to remove patient's brain tumor .
Later that day, he reads CNN.com story on a groundbreaking new surgery tool .
He contacts makers of the tool that could help in removing his patient's tumor .
Three days later, the patient is operated on again and all the tumor is removed .
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138b8abcabd74df13402a1b3e5f4e2a8ccf9169e
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Abu Dhabi (CNN) -- The UAE recalled its ambassador to Iran on Thursday in protest of a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a disputed island. Abu Mousa is one of three Persian Gulf islands that are the subject of a longtime border dispute between the two countries. The UAE's Foreign Ministry said it was summoning Tehran envoy Saif Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi for consultations. The move comes a day after Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed condemned Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Mousa "in the strongest possible terms," according to a report by state news agency WAM. The UAE says Iran has illegally occupied Abu Mousa since 1971. The two other disputed islands are the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. The foreign minister described the visit as a "flagrant violation'' of UAE sovereignty and said it was a setback to efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the issue, WAM reported. Ahmadinejad used his visit to Abu Mousa to comment on the historical basis for the Persian Gulf's name, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA. Arab states refer to the body of water as the Arabian Gulf. Iran views the islands as part of its territory. CNN's Elise Labott contributed to this report.
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the disputed island of Abu Mousa .
UAE foreign minister described the visit as a "flagrant violation'' of his country's sovereignty .
The UAE and Iran are involved in a long-running dispute over three Persian Gulf islands .
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138b90c4c96f885b0dedc5f6e89b00e7fcebf5f7
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By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 09:02 EST, 2 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:17 EST, 2 October 2013 . Still missing: The 1988 case of missing Pinole, California girl Amber Swartz-Garcia was reopened Tuesday . Police in Northern California reopened on Tuesday the case of a 7-year-old girl who vanished from her family’s front yard 25 years ago. Amber Swartz-Garcia hasn’t been seen by her Pinole, California family since 1988, but officials bowed to pressure from her mother and local community members Tuesday by agreeing to reopen the case in order to use improved forensic technology. This, despite a 2009 confession to the girl’s murder by known area child killer Curtis Dean Anderson. Though her case had been subsequently closed, not everyone believed Anderson. ‘I think he wanted to make a name for himself and get off of death row,’ Amber’s mother Kim Swartz told KTVU. Swartz was joined by 1,300 others who signed a petition to get the case reopened. The announcement was made Tuesday night at a Pinole City Council meeting. ‘The . bottom line is Amber wasn't found and we want to make sure we do . everything we can to locate her,’ Police Chief John Hardester said. Meanwhile, . Hardester was clear that there is no new evidence in the case and that . Anderson, who died just a month after his confession, has not been . cleared in the case. Then and now: Amber was 7-years-old when she disappeared from her family's front yard in June of 1988. She has been missing since. Age progression technology was used to what Amber might look like now, in her early 30s. Murderer? The case was reopened despite a 2007 confession from known child killer Curtis Dean Anderson, who said he drove Amber to Arizona, killed her, and buried her body near a highway . Doubt: Anderson died just a month after he confessed to murdering Amber and police say they were unable to 're-interview' him regarding his crimes . Swartz was still buoyed by the new turn in her young daughter’s tragic case. ‘I'm totally excited,’ Swartz said before a cheering crowd. ‘Like maybe my days of running into brick walls is over with.’ The FBI offered Pinole police the use of their forensic labs in order to expedite the investigation. 'It is hoped that opening the case will encourage information exchange regarding the case,' police said in a statement, 'and to generate information that might lead to the recovery of Amber Swartz.' 'I'm totally excited': Amber's mother Kim Swartz was joined by 1300 people who sign a petition to get her daughter's case reopened . Good and bad: Community members cheered the announcement from Pinole Police Chief John Hardester, who maintained nonetheless that no new evidence has been uncovered to refute Anderson's confession . Anderson . told authorities that he forcibly took Amber from in front of her home . in 1988 and eventually killed and buried her in Arizona. Amber's body has never been located. His death came, according to police, before he could be 're-interviewed' regarding his confession. Amber . is among eight females Anderson was convicted of kidnapping and . murdering, including the most recent victim Xiana Fairchild. Fairchild . disappeared December 9, 1999. Despite . his death and confessions, the FBI is still ‘seeking the public’s . assistance in identifying alleged victims’ of Anderson’s. Serial killer: Curtis Dean Anderson had confessed to at least eight murders when he died in 2007. Police were subsequently unable to interview him further. Now family and supporters of Kim Swartz say they have room to doubt his confession . Curtis Dean Anderson was sitting on death row at California's Corcoran State Prison when he confessed to the murder of 7-year-old Amber Swartz-Garcia. He told police in 2007 that he forcibly took the girl and drove to Arizona, where he said killed and buried her along a highway in the town of Benson. One month after his confession, on December 9, 2007, Anderson died before police were able to 're-interview' him regarding his confession. The Swartz-Garcia case was closed in 2009. Her body has yet to be recovered. Anderson's most recent known murder was of a 7-year-old Vallejo, California girl named Xiana Fairchild in 1999, for which he was sentenced to 300 years in prison. The killer confessed to at least eight murders, though most of his victims--all of them female--remain unidentified. Nearly all were in or near the San Francisco Bay area beginning with the murder of a Marysville woman in her late teens or early 20s in 1984. Anderson admitted to two other murders in Mexico, but did not provide details. Despite his confessions and the time since the murders, the FBI website still says the agnecy is 'seeking the public’s assistance in identifying alleged victims of convicted killer Curtis Dean Anderson.' Anderson was first captured after one of his kidnapping victims was able to escape.
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Amber Swartz-Garcia disappeared from the front yard of her Pinole, California home on June 3, 1988 .
Over 1300 people joined Swartz-Garcia's mother and signed a petition urging authorities to reopen the case .
'I think he wanted to make a name for himself': The case was closed in 2009 after child killer Curtis Dean Anderson confessed to the killing, but many believe otherwise .
Amber's body has never been found .
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138bdd2c77914b8af8a44ef415509441fe3c225d
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A man has been left without genitals and with three missing toes after a witch doctor told him that losing his body parts would make him rich. Chamangeni Zulu, from Malawi, has been hospitalised at Chipata General Hospital in Zambia, near the Malawi border, after he allowed the hyena to eat his manhood. Mr Zulu told the Times of Zambia yesterday that he was promised by a witch doctor that by sacrificing his body parts he would become rich. Mr Zulu, from Malawi, said he was told by a witch doctor that if he sacrificed some of his body parts he would become rich . 'I met some business persons who told me the best way to become rich was to sacrifice parts of my body,' he told the paper. At around 4am on Monday last week, the man went into the Zambian bush. Mr Zulu said: 'I was instructed to be naked and a hyena came to me and started eating my toes and eventually my manhood was eaten.' Mr Zulu said that the witch doctor did not make it clear that his body parts would be 'lost'. Yet despite the horrific ordeal, Mr Zulu admitted he was still hopeful of becoming rich. 'Even if I have lost some important parts of my body, I still want to get rich,' he said. The Malawi man has been living and working in Zambia for the past four months. Chipata Hospital described the man's condition as stable and said that he had been brought to the hospital by police officers. The man went into the Zambian bush while he allowed a hyena (not the animal pictured) to attack him. The animal first ate his toes before eating his genitals . In 2012, 50 miles from the same spot in the area of Chadiza, a man was attacked in the country after going out to the toilet in his garden. Isaac Mwale, 42 said that he saw a black animal which looked like a dog leap at him before it mauled his leg. After the attack, villagers appealed to the Zambia Wildlife Authority to cull the number of hyenas in the area. The brutal attack happened in Chapita, a city near the Malawi border in Zambia .
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Chamangeni Zulu said was told that losing body parts would make him rich .
Said was 'instructed to be naked' by a witch doctor and to go into the bush .
Mr Zulu said witch doctor did not clarify that body parts would be 'lost'
Recovering in Zambian hospital and has lost three toes as well as genitalia .
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138c575e2fef915b11d8f1619b786bc33f8803a6
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Washington (CNN) -- Democratic congressional leaders unveiled a long-awaited $940 billion compromise health care plan Thursday, setting the stage for a final legislative showdown on President Obama's domestic priority. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced that Obama had decided to delay an upcoming trip to Australia and Indonesia to help push the bill over the finish line. The president had been set to depart Washington on Sunday, the same day that the House of Representatives is likely to vote on the measure. Watch Gibbs defend health plan maneuver . "I'm sure he wants to be here for the history," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California. If enacted, the measure would constitute the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid more than four decades ago. It would extend insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans, according to a preliminary analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Among other things, the plan would expand Medicare prescription drug coverage, increase federal subsidies to help people buy insurance, and ban denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions. It seeks to bridge the gap between previous House and Senate bills partly by watering down and delaying the implementation of a tax on high-end insurance plans. As with earlier House and Senate plans, it includes significant reductions in Medicare spending, in part through changes in payments made under the Medicare Advantage program. It also eliminates a deeply unpopular provision in the Senate bill that exempts Nebraska from paying increased Medicaid expenses. The compromise plan would cut the nation's deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It would further reduce the deficit by more than $1 trillion in the following decade. The full House is now tentatively set to consider two measures Sunday: the $875 billion plan passed by the Senate in December and the compromise, which would bring the total to $940 billion. The compromise plan cannot become law if the Senate bill is not also enacted. If the Senate bill passes, it would go to Obama to be signed into law. If the revisions unveiled Thursday are also approved, they would still have to clear the Senate. House members unhappy with the less expansive Senate bill have received assurances from top Senate Democrats that they will pass the $940 billion compromise. House Democrats pushed hard to ensure the compromise included an expansion of subsidies to low- and middle-income families, as well as a reduction in the tax on high-end "Cadillac" plans. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-California, told reporters Thursday that the budget office's cost estimate "will go a long way to get [fiscally conservative Democrats] to feel comfortable with the legislation." The Senate bill, if allowed to stand unchanged, would reduce federal deficits by $20 billion less than the compromise plan over the next 10 years. GOP leaders said the new budget office estimate of the revised plan had not changed their opinion of the overall measure, which they vehemently oppose. "It's not too late for the American people to continue to speak up," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday. "They need to yell a little louder, and we can stop this." Republicans insist the Democratic proposal will do little to slow spiraling medical costs. They also say it would lead to higher premiums and taxes for middle-class families while resulting in deep Medicare cuts. Pelosi has nevertheless expressed confidence in recent weeks that she will have enough support to pass both the Senate plan and the compromise bill when they come to the House floor. The speaker needs 216 votes from her 253-member caucus to pass the measures. No Republicans are expected to back either one. Watch Pelosi express her confidence in the plan . Twenty-seven House Democrats indicated to CNN on Wednesday they will join Republicans in opposing the Senate plan. That leaves opponents of reform 11 votes shy of defeating the measure. Pelosi has tried to sweeten the deal for House liberals by adding a large student loan reform measure to the compromise plan. The measure, which is a priority for Obama, would end the practice of having private banks offer student loans while expanding direct lending from the government. The speaker may also try to help House Democrats unhappy with the Senate bill by allowing them to avoid a direct vote on the measure. She is considering pushing for a vote on a rule that would simply "deem" the Senate bill to be passed. The House then would proceed to a separate vote on the changes incorporated in the $940 billion version of the plan. Read about the highlights of the compromise plan . Republicans failed Thursday to force a vote on a resolution requiring the Senate health care bill to be brought to an up-or-down vote. GOP leaders are also fuming over Democrats' decision to use a legislative maneuver called reconciliation, which will allow the $940 billion plan -- if passed by the House -- to clear the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes. Senate Democrats lost their filibuster-proof 60-seat supermajority in January with the election of GOP Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Republicans say that reconciliation, which is limited to provisions pertaining to the budget, was never meant to facilitate passage of a sweeping reform measure such as the health care bill. Democrats say that reconciliation was used to pass several major bills in recent years, including President George W. Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Public opinion polls indicate that Americans remain sharply divided over the Democrats' health care reform agenda, though individual elements of it remain widely popular. CNN's Ted Barrett, Dana Bash, Lisa Desjardins, Brianna Keilar and Kristi Keck contributed to this report.
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NEW: GOP effort to require up-or-down vote on Senate health care bill fails .
NEW: President delays trip to Australia, Indonesia to help push bill over finish line .
NEW: Bill cuts Senate bill provision that exempts Nebraska from paying Medicaid expenses .
Bill cuts deficit by $138 billion over 10 years; additional $1 trillion in cuts expected after that .
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138e5bddc0fb20e25c67bec4f65727f3b1293a61
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A little girl has gone from foster care to fairy tales as she lives out her fantasies through her dressing up box. Alice Lewis', 10 from Atlanta, Georgia, dreams became a reality after she was adopted by a photography couple who have encouraged their daughter's penchant for dressing up. Alice has assumed the identity of Alice in Wonderland, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Joan of Arc, thanks to her photographer mum and cosplay, a performance art which uses costumes and fashion accessories. Scroll down for video . Alice Lewis was adopted by photography couple Kelly and James who encouraged their daughter to live out her fantasies through the dressing up box . For years Alice played make-believe while she dreamed of having her own happily ever after with a family, which she found, aged 7, when she was adopted by James and Kelly Lewis. The mother and daughter began cosplaying almost immediately with the pair first dressing up just two weeks after Alice moved in with her new parents. Kelly and Alice were shopping when the young girl spotted a Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz dress and her mum asked if she wanted to buy the outfit and pose for a photo shoot in character. Alice has transformed herself into many cosplay characters including Joan of Arc, pictured . Kelly Lewis is a professional photographer so was already equipped with lots of props for the photoshoots, here Alice is transformed into the animated character Coraline . Kelly says that Cosplay helps Alice to cope with her past . It wasn't just her appearance that Alice wanted to change. With her new life the 10-year-old decided to reinvent herself by changing both her first and last name after joining the family in July 2012. Originally named Destiny by her birth mother, Alice thought long and hard about a new name. Kelly, 33, explains that choosing a new name was not a decision that Alice took lightly. 'Once we had an adoption hearing scheduled Alice started practicing her new last name. She then asked us if she could have a new first name as well. The ten-year-old was originally called 'Destiny' by her birth mother but decided to change her name once she was adopted . Alice renamed herself after the character form the Lewis Carroll story at the age of 7 . Alice opted for the fairy tale name as she saw some of herself in the character . This image of Alice was taken in the courthouse where she was adopted . The 10-year-old took part in the Alice in Wonderland shoot for her 8th birthday . 'We spent weeks of sifting through the names of various Disney princesses before Alice decided that she wanted to be Alice, after Lewis Carroll's beloved character. 'Alice asked to take on my middle name, as I was now her mother forever, and so she became Alice Elizabeth Lewis.' Alice says that she finally settled on the storybook name as she saw some of herself in that character. Kelly (left) often takes part in the photo shoots with her daughter . Here the pair dress as Morticia and Wednesday Adams from The Adams Family . 'I love the character of Alice because she's curious and clumsy. I like it when she is asking herself questions while she's falling down the rabbit hole.' In celebration of her new name, Alice dressed up as Alice in Wonderland and enjoyed a cosplay photo shoot for her 8th birthday on November 8th 2012. 'We both really enjoy buying the little dresses and props from thrift shops for our shoots.' Says Kelly. The mother and daughter enjoy going shopping together for fancy dress costumes, here she dresses as Marie Antoinette . Kelly says that Wonder Woman was Alice's favourite shoot as she was able to wear a wig and do the superhero pose . 'We took the Alice in Wonderland shots in several locations over a few days. 'The photographs of Alice in the room with the checkerboard floor were actually shot in the courthouse where she was adopted.' Kelly added that she believes that Alice's love of dressing up has enabled her to overcome her painful past. 'Alice is a very imaginative child. Playing make-believe is how she coped with all of the abuse, neglect, and rejection she's lived through. Alice's family are very open about her adoption and hope that their story will inspire others . Alice as India Stoker from the film Stoker with her mother Kelly behind the camera . 'Cosplaying gives her a creative outlet to express herself and be whoever she wants to be. It's her dream to become an actress.' Since the Alice in Wonderland adventure, the mother and daughter have enjoyed many other cosplay photo shoots, where Alice has posed as a variety of characters, including Marie Antoinette, Edward Scissorhands, and Wonder Woman, which was a particular highlight for the 10-year-old. 'Wonder Woman was Alice's favourite cosplay because she got to wear a wig and do the superhero pose' says her mother. Alice makes a convincing Edward Scissorhands in this cosplay transformation . Alice is transformed into a dark Little Miss Muffet (left) and Carrie White from the Stephen King novel Carrie . As photography was a part of Kelly's life before Alice arrived, she already owns plenty of props and outfits that come in handy when cosplaying. Kelly says that she hopes that Alice's story will help other couples who are thinking about adopting. 'We're very open about Alice's adoption and she's proud of it. 'If one person is inspired to adopt a child after reading or hearing about Alice's story then it's worth every negative comment from people who don't understand.' Kelly added that Alice herself is also hopeful that her story will encourage others to adopt. 'Alice is very passionate about kids in foster care. She independently started writing and illustrating her adoption story because she wants kids to know how great adoption can be.'
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Alice Lewis was adopted by photography couple Kelly and James in 2012 .
Kelly encouraged Alice to live out her fantasies in cosplay photo shoots .
Kelly says that it has helped Alice overcome her painful past .
The family hope their story will encourage others to adopt .
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139060f66be202a3227a28e0ab955de472f0d204
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An American who trained at an al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan in the spring of 2001 before losing his nerve testified Thursday how he encountered Osama bin Laden and the terror group's spokesman at a safe house — and that bin Laden hinted that a suicide attack on U.S. soil was in the works. 'Just know you have brothers willing to carry their souls in their hands,' bin Laden told the witness, Sahim Alwan, and other recruits, Alwan said on the witness stand in federal court in Manhattan. Asked what he thought that meant, Alwan responded, 'To die.' Signing them up: Osama bin Laden's son-in-law Suliman Abu Ghayth (right) is currently on trial in New York for recruiting terrorists before 9/11 . His testimony came at the trial of bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, who's accused of plotting to kill Americans by being a motivational speaker at al-Qaida training camps before the September 11 attacks and as a spokesman for the terror group afterward when it sought to recruit more militants to its cause. Alwan, 41, was among a half-dozen men who became known as the Lackawanna Six after their arrests on charges of providing material support to terrorists by attending bin Laden's al-Farooq camp in Afghanistan in 2001. He pleaded guilty in 2003 and served about seven years behind bars. Testifying under subpoena, Alwan told jurors that he became an aspiring jihadist after worshipping at a mosque in Lackawanna , New York, where he grew up. In April of 2001, he traveled to Pakistan and crossed the border to Afghanistan, where he was directed to the safe house to wait for an assignment to a training camp. Motivational speaker: Prosecutors say Ghayth was a motivational speaker at al-Qaida training camps before the September 11 attacks . While staying there, bin Laden showed . up in a truck with an entourage of AK-47-toting men with masks on their . faces, Alwan said. He testified that he recognized bin Laden as the . FBI's 'most wanted guy.' He also testified that Abu Ghaith showed up at the house days later and explained an Islamic oath, or 'bayat.' He said the defendant told the men that if they swore allegiance to bin Laden, they were also expected to back the Taliban. The . recruits were shown a video depicting the 2000 suicide bombing of the . USS Cole in Aden harbor in Yemen that killed 17 American sailors, Alwan . said. Prosecutors say the video was narrated by Abu Ghaith, and portions . of it were shown to jurors Thursday. After . seeing the video and understanding who was behind the USS Cole attack . and the bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa in August 1998 that . killed 224 people, including a dozen Americans, he said, 'I knew I was in over my head.' Once . at the camp, where bin Laden visited the trainees one day, Alwan . informed his trainers that he wanted to go home. He said he even faked . an ankle injury, hoping to be sent to Kandahar. But . he was told that he needed to meet face-to-face with bin Laden first . and that the al-Qaida leader knew he was from the United States even . though he and the others had been warned not to disclose that fact. He testified that Bin Laden quizzed him about America, asking, 'How are Muslims there? ... How are the youth there? What do they think of the operations?' By operations, Alwan said, he assumed bin Laden meant suicide missions. 'I just said, "Oh we don't think about it,"' he testified. Working together: Ghayth, left, joins al-Qaida founder Osama Bin Laden, center, and an unidentified man somewhere in Afghanistan .
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Sahim Alwan was trained at an al-Qaeda camp in Afhganistan in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks .
The Lackawanna, New York-native quit the terrorist group when he realized he might be used as a suicide bomber .
Alwan testified as a witness this week in the trial of Suliam Abu Ghaith - Osama bin Laden's son-in-law .
Ghaith is accused of recruiting members for al-Qaeda .
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1390b968c93793ec753115510eea305b1c7a2921
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Los Angeles (CNN) -- A bitter legal dispute between Michael Jackson's estate and a business partner of the late pop icon's mother was settled Tuesday, just before a trial on the matter was to begin, lawyers said. In the end, the lawyer for Katherine Jackson, who was not a party to the lawsuit, mediated the agreement, which gives the estate $2.5 million from the several companies involved. A federal judge had already ruled that Howard Mann and several associated companies violated Jackson's copyrights, which are controlled by his estate executors, and the only question for a jury was how much should be paid in damages. "In light of the court's rulings for the estate on summary judgment, this settlement seems appropriate for all concerned," estate lawyers Howard Weitzman and Zia Modabber said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. Mann's company published Katherine Jackson's 150-page coffee table book "Never Can Say Goodbye, The Katherine Jackson Story" two years ago and established a website -- MichaelJacksonSecretVault.com -- that the estate argued illegally used Jackson's images and lyrics. "This was a long, complex and difficult litigation that in the end will likely be equitable for Mrs. Jackson and the other parties involved," Mann said. "This settlement would not have been possible without Perry Sanders (Katherine Jackson's lawyer), who worked to bridge quite a distance." "I really really appreciated the reasonableness of all parties involved, and everyone is served well by getting this wrapped up," said Sanders, who helped mediate the settlement this week. The resolution of the dispute represents a new twist in the contentious relationship between the executors who control Michael Jackson's estate and the members of the Jackson family and some of their business associates. E-mails show promoter's doubts before Michael Jackson's death . Mann's involvement with the Jacksons began when he partnered with Henry Vaccaro, who bought a large amount of Jackson memorabilia purchased at an auction after Katherine and Joe Jackson's 1999 bankruptcy. A lien will be placed on those photos and other assets until a portion of the settlement is paid, a lawyer said. Katherine Jackson was not a defendant, but her name and those of her husband, Joe Jackson, and children Janet, Randy, Tito and Jermaine Jackson were on the defense witness list. The estate accused Mann of "wholesale misappropriation" of Michael Jackson copyrights and acting with "arrogant disregard" for the estate's rights by using unauthorized images . While the estate claimed the book sold about 25,000 copies for $1.5 million in the first two days, Mann's lawyers contended "actual sales are very minimal and the defendant's businesses have suffered a major net loss." The copyright violations also included screen shots from the "This Is It" documentary about the singer's last days and other "misappropriated" images, including Jackson's "Smooth Criminal Lean," which Mann's company used in its corporate logo. Mann's website, which the judge already ordered to be taken offline, "does absolutely everything in its power to suggest to its visitors that it is the hub for all things Michael Jackson, and that it is sanctioned and supported by the estate, when in fact it is neither," the estate argued.
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Companies involved agree to pay the estate $2.5 million for copyright violations .
"This settlement seems appropriate for all concerned," Jackson's estate says .
Jackson estate accused Howard Mann of "wholesale misappropriation" of copyrights .
Mann's company published Katherine Jackson's book "Never Can Say Goodbye"
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:06 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:08 EST, 30 November 2012 . Sir Cyril Smith has been accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old in Parliament . Child abuser Cyril Smith groomed and abused a young activist inside the Houses of Parliament, it has been claimed. The late Liberal MP for Rochdale has been accused of assaulting a 17-year-old-alleged victim in an office while other politicians passed by. The victim said the assaults worsened over time and that he was groomed over a period of 18 months by Smith who died two years ago. He claimed that the incident in Westminster was the culmination of the abuse. He told the Telegraph: ‘There we were in Parliament . and he was manhandling me. I was and still am deeply ashamed about what . I let him do to me.’ The accusation comes days after it was revealed that the 29-stone MP sexually abused boys at a children’s home as late as 1980. Prosecutors missed three chances to convict Smith for indecent assault, despite the fact detectives 40 years ago were convinced he was guilty. Simon Danczuk, the current MP for Rochdale, who spoke out about Smith two weeks ago, said the latest case indicated the MP had been abusing victims over three decades. He said: ‘I am confident in saying, having met a number of the victims, that he went on to abuse into the 70s, 80s and even into the 90s, so he was empowered by the fact that he hadn’t been prosecuted.’ The Telegraph reported that the alleged victim, now a businessman and a father of four, was a Liberal activist and said the abuse in Westminster came after 18 months of assaults. He met Smith aged 19 when he was in a vulnerable state having fallen out with his adoptive parents. He told Smith about it. Missed opportunities: Both Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said if Smith, right, had been accused today he would be charged and prosecuted . He said: ‘He offered to pick me up in . his car and took me to the moors. While he was driving and as we spoke . to each other, his left hand moved up my leg into my groin.’ On . some days, he said Smith grabbed and assaulted him but on others . nothing would happen when they were alone. He has reported the matter to . police. The assault in Parliament happened after Smith invited the alleged victim down for a day. Police have admitted that Cyril Smith should have been prosecuted . After 40 years, officers and lawyers have now agreed that Sir Cyril Smith attacked teenage boys and should have been prosecuted. A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: 'The Force is now publicly acknowledging . that young boys were victims of physical and sexual abuse committed by . Smith. 'Three separate . files regarding Sir Cyril Smith's actions were passed to first the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Crown Prosecution Service . although on each occasion no prosecution was pursued.' Nazir . Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor confirmed that a file was handed to Sir . Norman in 1970, which contained allegations made by eight men that they . had been subjected to indecent assaults by Smith as teenagers. But the then Director of Public . Prosecutions wrote back to the Lancashire Constabulary, who had passed . on the file, advising against a prosecution. The politician inflicted humiliating punishments on teenage boys at a . hostel in the 1960s. His victims detailed how he would spank their naked bottoms and order them to strip for ‘degrading’ and unnecessary medicals. The claims were later investigated by . police and files passed to lawyers but no case was brought against the . former MP, who died two years ago aged 82.
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Smith accused of assaulting a 17-year-old while other politicians walked by .
Victim said he was groomed over 18 months and attacks worsened over time .
Victim: 'I was and still am deeply ashamed about what I let him do to me.'
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:28 EST, 10 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:02 EST, 10 October 2012 . A young Russian woman has accused her ex-boyfriend of posting sexy pictures of her on a fake escort profile he created in a bid to get her deported from the U.S. Ruzilya Khusnutdinova, 24, claims Vladimir Dranovsky - a Brooklyn dentist twice her age - sent a link to the web page to immigration officials, according to court documents. She has filed a lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court demanding $16million in damages from the 42-year-old and the company hosting the profile. A Brooklyn dentist has been accused of creating a fake profile for his Russian ex-girlfriend on escort website escortsexguide.com (above) and sending the link to immigration in an attempt to get her deported . The page, which was still active yesterday, boasted she had a 'medium frame and very touchy breasts'. It offered an explicit menu of sexual services ranging 'from $200 to $600 per hour, depends on fantasy' alongside images of her posing seductively on a hotel bed in a black bra and thong. Mr Dranovsky says he has never heard of the site, doesn't recall taking pictures of her and claims Miss Khusnutdinova was actually a sex worker, it was reported in the New York Daily News. Miss Khusnutdinova told of the moment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers knocked on her door in May and showed her the advert on escortsexguide.com. 'They pulled out my naked pictures. At first, I’m scared, then surprised and shocked,' she said. She says she was questioned for several hours, during which she insisted she had not engaged in prostitution. Ruzilya Khusnutdinova . Her lawyer says she has unsuccessfully tried to get the profile removed by Florida-based Primal Ventures Inc, which runs the site. Miss Khusnutdinova says she was studying biochemistry in the Russian city of Kazan when she met Mr Dranovsky through a dating website. She says he helped her get a student visa by enrolling in a language school in 2009 and that it was while they were on a romantic trip to Lake George a year later that she claims the pictures were taken. But Mr Dranovsky, who owns a dental practice in Bensonhurst, said she was already working for an escort service at the time, a claim she denies. Court documents say she dumped Dranovsky after he became abusive and also refused to return her passport unless she gave him $4,000. He was charged with grand larceny, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in February, court papers show. Miss Khusnutdinova is seeking damages for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and civil rights violations, it was reported on www.courthousenews.com. Paul Brown, the owner of Primal Ventures, has not returned calls.
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Ruzilya Khusnutdinova, 24, claiming $16m damages from former boyfriend and company hosting profile .
Page boasted about her 'very touchy breasts' and had pictures of her posing on bed in thong and bra .
Vladimir Dranovsky, 42, 'sent link to the web page to immigration officials'
He denies setting up the profile and claims she actually was a sex worker .
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By . Graham Smith and Kirsty Walker . Last updated at 8:03 PM on 3rd February 2012 . Britain's sporting heroes should wear the EU flag on their national team shirts under contentious plans passed by the European Parliament yesterday. The measures stipulate that the EU's blue and yellow flag should be worn by all our teams - including football, rugby, cricket and the British Olympic team. The EU flag should also be flown at major British sporting events such as the FA Cup Final, the Ashes series, Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix. Flag bearer: England star Wayne Rooney could be forced to wear the European stars on his England shirt... which could look like our mocked-up image, right . To be flown: Britain's sporting heroes should wear the EU flag on their national team shirts under plans passed by the European Parliament yesterday . Following an outcry, MEPs have acknowledged that the measure should not be compulsory and individual member states will be given the final say over whether to display the flag. The idea is contained in a report on 'The European Dimension In Sport' which was overwhelmingly approved by MEPs yesterday. The recommendations will now be considered by the European Commission. Tory MEPs have furiously fought the proposals arguing that they are the latest example of Brussels attempting to impose itself on Britain's way of life. The report suggests 'that the European flag should be flown at major international sports events held on the EU territory'. It adds that sports should 'consider the idea of having it displayed on the clothing of athletes from Member States, alongside with the national flags; underlines that it should be entirely voluntary and up to Member States and sports organisations to decide whether they will use the aforementioned options.' Argument: English demands to wear a poppy on shirts led to FIFA allowing this armband to be worn in November . The report also seeks to bar sports . agents from operating anywhere in the EU unless they pay taxes there, a . move likely to starve many top British sides of overseas talent, . especially in cricket and rugby. Brussels already has the power to fine organisations in certain circumstances for not flying the EU flag. Recently, . it emerged that the University of Northampton was fined more than . £56,000 for not displaying the EU logo to acknowledge it had received . funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Emma . McClarkin MEP, Conservative spokesman on culture, education and sport . in the European Parliament, said the proposal was 'outrageous and . unnecessary'. 'Sport has a . special place in my country, and our national teams form a key part of . our identities and heritage,' she told the parliament. 'The EU cannot impose an artificial European identity on us by forcing our athletes to wear its emblem.' Bright idea: Members of the European Parliament attend a debate . She . added: 'The report also calls for any agent representing a sportsperson . who plays in Europe to have their fiscal residence in the EU; despite . the fact that many players are not European and many sportspeople . themselves have their fiscal residence outside the EU. 'Taxation . and legal frameworks operating at national level should be left alone - . it is up to each member state and the sport governing bodies to decide . how they run their national sports.' Other . major proposals in the report include a call on national governments to . make trafficking of performance-enhancing drugs illegal and the . creation of a European database of hooligans.
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Blue/yellow flag should be worn by all teams - including football, rugby, cricket and the British Olympic team .
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It may have just been the perfect weekend for John Terry following his side's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday. The Chelsea skipper topped it all off with some added sprinkles as he took a trip to an ice cream parlour with a difference whilst holidaying in Dubai. Posting a video on his official Instagram page on Monday evening, the former England captain showed us he still has the reflexes as he played catch with ice cream scoops with one of the parlour's employees. An employee at the ice cream parlour cranks his arm back ready to fire some ice cream at John Terry . Armed only with an ice cream tub, the Chelsea skipper bags the flying dairy product without problem . Terry was taking time out with family during international break and posted the video on his Instagram account . As England prepare to take on Slovenia on Saturday, Terry used the time off during the international break to spend some quality time with the family. The 33-year-old was clearly enjoying himself whilst flinging frozen goods in the United Arab Emirates' most populous city. Chelsea currently sit four points clear at top of the Premier League table and will look to resume their fine form after the international break. Terry's performance against Liverpool proved he is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League .
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John Terry posted a video on Instagram as he played catch with ice cream .
Terry showed fans he still has sharp reflexes as he joked with employees .
The Chelsea captain is enjoying some time off during the international break .
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By . Mia De Graaf . Tragic: Liam Hardy, 14, had been hospitalised after a suicide attempt less than a week before he died, an inquest heard . A 14-year-old schoolboy who was about to become a father was found hanged days after being discharged from hospital following a suicide attempt. Liam Hardy was allowed to leave St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, Surrey, after his first suicide bid - despite pleas from his mother for him to be sectioned, an inquest heard. Days later, he was readmitted when he tried to hang himself at home. Again, the teenager was released within hours. But that same week, Liam was found dead in his bedroom as his grandfather took him a cup of hot chocolate. He had just texted his girlfriend to say: 'It's no use, I'm giving up'. Despite . desperate attempts by Terry Hardy and paramedics to resuscitate the teenager, Liam never regained consciousness and died at St Georges’ Hospital, South London, nine days later. Giving evidence at an inquest into her son’s death, Janine Hardy wept as she claimed pleas to have her son taken into care as a precaution were ignored. She had caught Liam during his first attempt after school on November 15, 2012. Despite trying to calm him down, he persisted until police and ambulance crews arrived, treated him for a superficial injury and took him to St Helier. Even though he was seen by a doctor, a specialist nurse from the district Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) and his therapist, Liam was allowed to leave and go back to his pregnant girlfriend’s house, against his mother’s wishes. He was readmitted and discharged once more, before his grandfather found him on November 19, 2012. He died on November 27. Accompanied by her partner, Ms Hardy said: 'I gave her all Liam’s history about his self-harming, what was going on in the present situation, how he didn’t get on with [his therapist] Catelin, that he wasn’t taking help seriously, about the pregnancy. 'She said she would go and speak to Liam, she would go and speak to him alone. She was in there for about 10 minutes. We went back in to the room. There was the C.A.M.S nurse, myself and Dean. Devastated: Liam's mother, Janine Hardy, (pictured, left, outside Croydon Coroner's Court and, right, with her son) said she asked for him to be sectioned but her calls went ignored . 'She said that Liam was fine now, he didn’t intend to die, no he doesn’t want to die. I told her he intended to do this. 'She said that in her opinion it was fine for him to go back to his girlfriend’s house. 'I wasn’t happy with it, I asked why she was discharging him back to his girlfriend’s, why she isn’t keeping him in or sectioning him.' Liam, a pupil at Carshalton Boys Sports College who suffered from epilepsy, was expecting a child when he died . Liam, a pupil at Carshalton Boys . Sports College, had a history of psychological health issues including . epilepsy and had been assigned a therapist in May 2012. At . an earlier meeting with CAMHS in March, Ms Hardy had told how her son . was self-harming, had been found with red marks around his neck and that . 'he didn’t want to live'. She said she did not want her son to go into care at the time and was told 'there wasn’t any mental health issue there', although he was referred to Multi Systemic Therapy and eventually assigned to a therapist. However, Croydon Coroner’s Court heard how he struggled to interact with the therapist, who he was supposed to meet 'a couple of times a week'. Ms Hardy claimed her son felt he was not being taken seriously. After another altercation at their home in Worcester Park, Surrey, Liam was taken into custody after the police were called. Again, his mother asked for social services to section him after he self-harmed. However, he was allowed to leave the station before they had the chance to see him after being collected by his girlfriend’s father. Liam had been expecting a baby daughter with his girlfriend, who can not be named for legal reasons, who was seven months pregnant at the time of his death. In the stand today, his girlfriend told how she caught him choking himself in the weeks before he died, but he had promised her he wouldn’t do it again. However a letter found at his grandparents’ home said: 'I’m very sorry for everything and I’m nothing without [my girlfriend]'. A number of witnesses from local health agencies are due to give evidence. The inquest continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Liam Hardy died less than a week after he was discharged from hospital .
Mother took him to hospital after suicide bid, she asked them to section him .
He had been expecting baby with his girlfriend, who was 7 months pregnant .
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By . Graham Smith . Last updated at 9:43 AM on 2nd November 2011 . Postmen have been ordered to boycott homes on 'unmade roads' because of health and safety fears. Householders in Benfleet, Essex, received the news that they would no longer be receiving mail on Saturday - in the post. The notification letters said the uneven road surfaces presented an 'unacceptable risk' and this was their last delivery. Royal Mail bosses are worried that postmen could fall off their bikes. Non-delivery: Postmen in Essex have been ordered to boycott homes on 'unmade roads', such as Catherine Road (pictured) because of health and safety fears . The move means some residents must make a return journey of almost an hour to collect their post from the sorting office. Doreen and Meredith Chatterton, aged 88 and 89, of Catherine Road in Benfleet are among those who have been told that the post they received on Saturday was their last. Mrs Chatterton said: 'Royal Mail has said it's not delivering any mail at all to the unmade roads, and there's quite a lot in this area. 'We all had the letter from Royal Mail on Saturday and it starts now so we didn't even get any warning.' The letter stated there had been 'on several occasions a number of near miss accidents' which prompted a health and safety review that found an 'unacceptable risk' for delivery to homes on unmade roads. But the couple have lived on the road since 1969 and said it had never been a problem before. Mrs Chatterton said: 'What they could do is park in Clarence Road and walk a couple of minutes down the footpath. That's how they used to deliver the mail in the old days.' Mrs Chatterton said they would now be forced to travel 25 minutes each way to the sorting office to collect their post. She said: 'We don't want to be doing that every day, especially with winter coming.' Lack of vans? The move means some residents must now make a return journey of almost an hour to collect their post from the sorting office . John Baxter, 66, who also lives on Catherine Road, said: 'The letter arrived on Saturday and said this is your last post. All of a sudden they've brought in these changes overnight. 'It's got to be a cost-cutting measure and taking vans off the route and someone's going to lose their job.' Sheila Stainer has lived in Thundersley Park Road for 30 years and said she will struggle to get to the sorting office because of a spinal disability. She said: 'The roads are not made up because we're on greenbelt, but I've never known one person to fall off their bike or slip on the road. 'They've done it without consultation from everyone or anyone.' Mel South, 60, of Wensley Road has already submitted an initial stage one appeal against the ban. In his appeal letter, he wrote: 'I am a trained manager in both health and safety and the preparation of risk assessments so I am aware that you must have an accident record log which I request site of. 'Should you not be able to re-instate deliveries this will be essential at future stages, especially if the residents enlist professional help.' Royal Mail has three months to respond to the initial appeal, before it can move to stage two and three appeals. Residents in Bower Road and Rhoda Road have also been affected. Royal Mail spokeswoman Sally Hopkins said the decision to suspend deliveries is a temporary measure. She said: 'We have reluctantly decided to temporarily suspend deliveries to a number of addresses in a particular part of Benfleet. 'This is because the private, unpaved roads in the area are in a poor state of repair. 'That poor state of repair has meant some of our vehicles have been damaged and there have been some near accidents for our postmen and women. 'It is the responsibility of the residents to ensure that private roads are fit for purpose and do not constitute a safety risk. This is far from being a trivial matter and we will not compromise on the safety of our colleagues or the roadworthiness of our vehicles.'
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Uneven road surfaces present an 'unacceptable risk'
Royal Mail bosses worried postmen will fall off bikes .
Householders in Benfleet, Essex, received letters informing them they will no longer receive post .
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By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 01:22 EST, 22 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:46 EST, 22 February 2013 . The British company that built the Shard has landed a contract to manage the construction of what will become the world's largest building - and plans reveal the two look remarkably similar. London-based Mace won the £780million deal to build the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which will stand more than 3,280ft (1km) high. The Shard is currently western Europe's tallest building, while the company also played a role in several of London's most recognisable landmarks, such as the London Eye. Similar: London-based Mace, who built the Shard (right) won the £780million deal to build the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which will stand more than 3,280ft (1km) high (left) Gargantuan: The Kingdom Tower, which will have a construction area of more than 5,381,955 square feet (500,000 sq m), will stand at four times the size of the Shard . Mace will participate in a joint venture with fellow British firm EC Harris to create the huge building, which has been given a completion date of 2018. The Kingdom Tower, which will have a construction area of more than 5,381,955 square feet (500,000 sq m), will stand at four times the size of the Shard. It will overlook the Red Sea and is expected to take over from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which standing at an incredible 2,717ft (828m), as the world's tallest skyscraper. It is not yet known how tall the skyscraper will be as developers keep exact details of the plan a secret. Epic: It is not known how tall Kingdom Tower will be as developers have kept exact details a secret . Don't look down! According to plans unveiled in 2011, visitors will be able to take in majestic views like this . Head for heights: The plans have been designed by U.S. firm Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture . The development, unveiled by billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, is part of a £13billion redevelopment of the Kingdom City, north of Jeddah. The plans have been designed by American firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. When the design was originally unveiled in August 2011, it was said the tower will have a three-petal footprint and tapering wings to produce an aerodynamic shape that will help reduce structural loading due to wind vortex shedding. Each of its three sides features a . series of notches that create pockets of shadow to shield areas of the . building from the sun and provide outdoor terraces with stunning views . of Jeddah and the Red Sea. Robust: The tower is believed to have a three-petal footprint and tapering wings to produce an aerodynamic shape that will help reduce structural loading due to wind vortex shedding . Cool design: Each of its three sides features a series of notches that create pockets of shadow to shield areas of the building from the sun . Need for speed: The building will contain 59 elevators, with the quickest travelling at a rate of 10 metres per second and have a five-star Four Seasons hotel . It will contain 59 elevators, with . the quickest travelling at a rate of 10 metres per second, and have a . five-star Four Seasons hotel. The sprawling mega project, first . announced in 2008, will cover two square miles at its base, and will . also include serviced apartments, luxury flats and offices. The Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), which . appointed EC Harris and Mace to provide project, commercial and design . management, said the vision for the building belonged to bin Talal. In 2011, it was said that construction . firm Saudi Binladen Group had been given the contract to build the . structure, one of seven ambitious projects in the kingdom which is . OPEC's top exporter of oil. The Prince had initially wanted to . build the tower a mile high, but abandoned the proposals because he was . worried the soil would not support its foundations. But it will still shatter the record for Burj Khalifa, which opened in January 2010. Soon to be overshadowed: At 1,016 ft high, the Shard is currently western Europe's tallest building . Heading for record: A graphic showing how the Kingdom Tower will become the world's tallest building . That tower has 160 liveable floors and rises 2,717 feet, making it not only the tallest building but also the tallest free-standing structure in the world. Prince Alwaleed wants the tower to 'send a message of strength' in tough economic times. The work is intended to diversify the economy from the crude oil that has fuelled the kingdom's growth for years. It also reflects a continuation of the . unstated race between the oil rich Gulf nations that are also pumping . tens of billions of dollars into job creation and housing for their . lower income residents. JEC's chief executive officer, Waleed . Abdul Jaleel Batterjee, said: 'His vision is also that the project . itself will set the world's sights on our beloved Kingdom of Saudi . Arabia and particularly on Jeddah.' Building work will start later this . year and will be completed within 63 months. Meanwhile, JEC is in final . talks about appointing a quantity surveyor consultancy which will also . be a UK-based firm. Mark Reynolds, chief executive of . Mace, said: 'Kingdom Tower is a project of international importance and . immense ambition and we are delighted to be part of the joint venture . team tasked with its delivery.' Keith . Brooks, head of property and social infrastructure at EC Harris, said: . 'The Kingdom Tower is a landmark building that will clearly demonstrate . Saudi Arabia's ambitions to the world.'
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London-based Mace won £780m deal to build the Kingdom Tower .
Will stand 1km tall but designers have not revealed exact scale .
Will be four times bigger than western Europe's tallest building .
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By . Sadie Whitelocks . UPDATED: . 13:24 EST, 9 November 2011 . A couple who had waited for two years to hear their daughter to speak were overjoyed after the first words she uttered were: 'I love you daddy.' Toddler Bronte Cassell, who was born extremely premature, was given a tracheotomy to help her breathe when she was six months old. But because the tubes were inserted below her voice box she was left unable to speak. Two-year-old Bronte with parents Martin and Hellen Cassell who are overjoyed that she can now speak . After living with the breathing apparatus for a year and a half doctors at Sheffield Children's Hospital were finally able to remove the tubes, bringing her parents to tears with her first words. Mother Hellen, 41, from Rotherham said: 'It's been a long time in the waiting but more than worth it to hear those wonderful words. 'My husband Martin looked at her and . said : 'I love you Bronte' and she looked back and said "I love you . daddy". Then she looked at me and said ' I love you too mummy'. 'We just looked at each other and cried. It was the first time we had ever heard her really speak.' Bronte, who weighed just 1lb 12 oz when she was born, at one month . Bronte born at 25 weeks and weighing just 1lb 12 oz, spent her first 15 . weeks of life in hospital switching between intensive care . and special care wards. At the age of six months she stopped . breathing due to a tight narrowing just below her vocal cords and . underwent the tracheotomy before Christmas 2009. Unable to speak the toddler learned how to use sign language and to mouth words by communicating with her brother Noah, who is eight months older. Surgeons eventually operated on Bronte, removing the tubes and oxygen supply, enabling her larynx to function properly. Her father Martin, 41, said: 'It was one of the best days of our lives to see Bronte without her tubes and oxygen tank and to hear her say she loved us for the first time.' Neil Bateman, the surgeon who removed the tubes, said: 'It was a pleasure to operate on Bronte and be able to give her this new lease of life. 'It can be hard for families adapting to tracheotomy but for Bronte it has helped her to get through a difficult period of her life and it's fantastic she's now enjoying what a lot of other children can take for granted.'
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Tube inserted below the voice box left Bronte unable to speak for 18 months .
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1398a9cb87b7f07d992c3c2cae41816f64abee7f
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Andrew Lloyd Webber's driver was arrested after being caught stealing the Oscar-winning composer's housekeeping cash . Andrew Lloyd Webber's driver was arrested after being caught stealing the Oscar-winning composer's housekeeping cash. Police were called to the theatre impresario's £15million townhouse in Belgravia, central London, on Thursday and led away his 45-year-old driver in handcuffs. The chauffeur, who was wearing a bright purple tie and navy-blue jacket as he was taken to the police car, has now been sacked, according to Lord Lloyd-Webber's company, Really Useful Group. He was arrested on suspicion of 'theft employee' and taken to a nearby police station where he admitted the offence and accepted a caution. A source told The Sun that hundreds of pounds had gone missing from the composer's mansion in recent weeks. Lord Lloyd-Webber, the theatre impresario behind musicals including Cats and Evita, is worth an estimated £640million and was ranked 162 in The Sunday Times' Rich List last year. His annual profits were boosted by the success of his Charlie And The Chocolate Factory musical, as pre-tax profits of Really Useful Investments were raised to £6.2million to June 2014. The composer's revival of Cats, the musical, starring Nicole Scherzinger is set to extend its West End run with 100,000 extra tickets after 'extraordinary' demand from a new generation of fans. He recently said of the former Pussycat Doll, 'I think she is the real deal, the absolute real deal. 'She is what you might call an American theatre babe. I do believe she is the most exciting musical theatre artist I have found – well, that I have worked with – in very, very many years. I really do.' Lord Lloyd-Webber was recently named among a string of celebrities including David Beckham and Bob Geldof who are facing having to pay the taxman a total of £1billion in a dispute over a suspected tax avoidance scheme. Police were called to the theatre impresario's £15 million townhouse in Belgravia, central London, on Thursday and led away his 45-year-old driver in handcuffs . His annual profits were boosted by the success of his Charlie And The Chocolate Factory musical . The composer told the Sunday Times he was advised that he was being 'almost philanthropic by investing in the British film industry, and that this was a scheme to promote British films', adding: 'At no time did I consider it solely a tax scheme.' He lives in his Belgravia townhouse with his third wife, Madeleine Gurdon, a former equestrian sportswoman. A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called to reports of a theft at an address in SW1 at 1.20pm on Thursday 5 February. 'A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft employee and was taken into police custody. He was cautioned and there will not be a court appearance.' Lord Lloyd-Webber's spokesman refused to comment. The composer's revival of Cats, the musical, starring Nicole Scherzinger (pictured with Lewis Hamilton) is set to extend its West End run .
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Lord Lloyd Webber's driver led away in handcuffs from Belgravia house .
Chauffeur arrested on suspicion of theft and cautioned at police station .
He was sacked according to Lloyd-Webber's Really Useful Group Ltd .
A source said hundreds of pounds had gone missing from £15m mansion .
The composer behind musicals Cats and Evita is worth estimated £640m .
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139a302a16c0a254c5207717102478fe8e2a6e32
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Washington (CNN) -- The Pentagon is making detailed plans to send about 34,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in anticipation of President Obama's decision on the future of the eight-year-old war, a defense official said Tuesday. Obama held a lengthy meeting with top advisers Monday night and said Tuesday that he would announce plans for Afghanistan after the Thanksgiving holiday. A Defense Department official with direct knowledge of the process said there has been no final word on the president's decision. But planners have been tasked with preparing to send 34,000 additional American troops into battle with the expectation that is the number Obama is leaning toward approving, the official said. Obama ordered more than 20,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in March. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, reportedly has called for up to 40,000 more to wage a counterinsurgency campaign against the Taliban, the Islamic militia originally ousted by the U.S. invasion in 2001. The president has weighed several options for bolstering the American contingent, ranging from sending a few thousand troops to sending the 40,000 McChrystal requested. McChrystal was among those who took part in Monday's conference with Obama and other top advisers, which broke up at 10 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen and Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador in Kabul, were among the other senior officials in the meeting. Obama said Tuesday that the deliberations have been "comprehensive and extremely useful." "It's going to be important to recognize that in order for us to succeed there, you've got to have a comprehensive strategy that includes civilian and diplomatic efforts," he said at a news conference Tuesday with visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The military has planning under way to send these units: three U.S. Army brigades, totaling about 15,000 troops; a Marine brigade with about 8,000 troops; a headquarters element of about 7,000; and between 4,000 and 5,000 support troops -- a total of approximately 34,000 troops, according to a defense official with direct knowledge of Pentagon operations. CNN reported last month that this was the preferred option within the Pentagon. The troops would be dispatched throughout Afghanistan but would be focused mainly on the southern and southeastern provinces, where much of the recent fighting has taken place. Currently, brigades from Fort Drum in upstate New York and Fort Campbell in Kentucky are among those that are next in line to deploy. About 68,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, along with about 45,000 from the NATO alliance. Two U.S. military officials said NATO countries would be asked to contribute more troops to fill the gap between the 34,000 the Pentagon expects Obama to send and the 40,000 McChrystal wanted. The request is expected to come during a December 7 meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell would not discuss specific numbers, but he said NATO would be asked for additional help. "Clearly, if the president decides to commit additional forces to Afghanistan, there would be an expectation that our allies would also commit additional forces," Morrell said. U.S.-led troops invaded Afghanistan in response to the al Qaeda terrorist network's September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. The invasion overthrew the Taliban, which had allowed al Qaeda to operate from its territory, but most of the top al Qaeda and Taliban leadership escaped the onslaught. Taliban fighters have since regrouped in the mountainous region along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, battling U.S. and Afghan government forces on one side and Pakistani troops on the other. Al Qaeda's top leaders, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, remain at large and are suspected to be hiding in the same region. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 900 Americans and nearly 600 allied troops. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Tuesday suggests that the U.S public is split over whether more troops should be sent to Afghanistan. Fifty percent of those polled said they would support such a decision, with 49 percent opposed. The poll found that 66 percent of Americans believe the war is going badly, up 11 percentage points from a similar survey in March. Overall support for the war has fallen to 45 percent, with 52 percent opposed. iReporters sound off; share your views on sending more troops in Afghanistan . Afghanistan was among the topics Obama and Singh discussed in their meetings Tuesday. Singh said the international community needs "to sustain its engagement in Afghanistan, to help it emerge as a modern state." "The forces of terrorism in our region pose a grave threat to the entire civilized world and have to be defeated," he said. "President Obama and I have decided to strengthen our cooperation in the area of counterterrorism." India is one Afghanistan's biggest international donors, contributing $1.2 billion in aid. That involvement has been met with suspicion in Pakistan, India's nuclear rival in South Asia. But it has helped the United States by sharing some of the burden of stabilizing the country and providing civilian support. In addition, several leading analysts have argued that settling the decades-old tensions between India and Pakistan would allow both sides to pull troops off their borders, giving Pakistan more resources to battle the Taliban along its northwest frontier. "I think that will certainly be at the center of the agenda this week," Nicholas Burns, a former State Department official, said on CNN's "American Morning." U.S. prospects in Afghanistan depend partly "on convincing Pakistan to be more cooperative in the fight against those terrorist groups." "The United States is not going to be an outright mediator between Pakistan and India, but we can quietly, behind the scenes, push them to reduce their problems," Burns said. CNN's Elaine Quijano and Mike Mount contributed to this report.
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NEW: NATO allies will also be asked to send more troops, officials say .
Announcement on troop increase to come after Thanksgiving .
Obama met with national security team Monday night to discuss Afghanistan .
Obama wanted clarification on how, when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility .
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By . Simon Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 17:13 EST, 7 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:26 EST, 8 December 2013 . Career first: Lorraine did not want to abandon her UK success and move to LA . She's the glamorous former model turned TV chef, riding high with her own BBC show – but behind the scenes Lorraine Pascale has been dealing with the trauma of a heartbreaking split. Lorraine, 41, has separated from fiance Ged Doherty, a music and film executive, after turning down his offer to move to Los Angeles and settle down together. Sources told The Mail on Sunday how the former Sony Music chairman and chief executive had been keen to move their relationship to ‘the next level’ after four years together and set a date for their marriage. But the insider adds: ‘Lorraine feels that her career has got real momentum at the moment, and didn’t want to make such a big move. She’s settled in London and everything is really on the up with her TV shows and books – she just couldn’t commit to a move across the Atlantic and the relationship has broken down. ‘Ged is devastated about the break-up, but Lorraine just didn’t feel the timing was right. They’re both very cut up over it.’ Lorraine, whose Christmas recipe guide appears in The Mail on Sunday’s You magazine today, met former Brit Awards boss Ged, now 55, through mutual friends at London’s Claridge’s Hotel in 2009, and since then he has had a major impact on her career and life. The couple dated for some time before Lorraine felt comfortable enough to introduce Ged to her daughter, Ella, who was 13 when the couple met. But they quickly became serious about one another, spending most of their time together at her Chelsea flat . The well-connected media executive, who also runs a movie production company with actor Colin Firth, is said to have been instrumental in negotiating many of her deals. Lorraine, meanwhile, supported him when he lost his job as Sony Music’s most senior UK manager in 2011, encouraging him to start up his own business. Lorraine was unwilling to leave behind her success on cooking shows in England, such as Home Cooking Made Easy . Devastated: Ged (pictured right, with Annie Lennox and Lorraine, left) wanted marriage, claims a source . The source added: ‘Lorraine’s friends thought she had really settled with Ged and it seemed like it was going to last. Obviously they got engaged, which was a huge step, but she just didn’t feel able to commit and there doesn’t seem to be any way back for them. ‘It’s very sad that it has ended like this. She hasn’t had much luck with relationships over the years.’Her hit BBC television series – including Fast, Fresh And Easy Food and Home Cooking Made Easy – air in more than 60 countries and have resulted in several bestselling cookery books. But despite her professional success, Lorraine has been unlucky in love since her marriage to Polish musician Count Kaz Balinski-Jundzill ended in divorce. The pair married in 1995 and had Ella the following year, but separated in 2000. She later admitted the decision to tie the knot in her early 20s was ‘a bit of a gamble’. Lorraine is said to have been wary of serious relationships since but was linked for a short time to Princess Diana’s property developer confidant Christopher Whalley. And she told a biographer: ‘You don’t trust that anything will last. What I’ve done is accepted that it’s part of who I am. I don’t try to fight it any more.’ A spokesman for Lorraine declined to comment on the break-up.
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TV chef is said to be 'cut up' over collapse of relationship with music exec .
She was not willing to start again on other side of the Atlantic .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:07 EST, 2 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:09 EST, 3 October 2013 . Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion after failing to report income earned in a secret offshore bank account. The businessman behind the stuffed toy animal craze in the 1990s has already agreed to pay a penalty of more than $53 million. He apologized in a choked-up voice for hiding millions of dollars in a Swiss bank account. Cry baby: Beanie Babies founder Ty Warner apologized in a choked-up voice at a courtroom in Chicago and told a federal judge he had known his tax forms weren't accurate . Charges: Ty Warner, the man behind the Beanie Baby craze, allegedly failed to report income in an offshore bank account . Mr Warner, who lives in suburban Chicago and is the sole owner of TY Inc., still faces the prospect of time behind bars. A conviction on a federal tax evasion charge carries a maximum five-year sentence. 'When I signed those returns, I knew those moneys were missing,' Warner said. 'It was not accurate. I apologize for my conduct. It's a terrible way to meet you,' Warner told the judge. Struggling to keep his composure, Warner rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke and also said he had much to be thankful for. In court, Warner acknowledged that he told no one of his foreign bank accounts, not even his accountants. Big softy: Beanie Babies founder Ty Warner is escorted from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, Illinois . Warner even concealed his name from one account by registering it as 'Molani Foundation,' a 'sham company,' prosecutors said in court. Prosecutors say he failed to report $24.4 million in income from 1999 to 2007 and failed to pay taxes of about $5.6 million. He faces up to five years in prison for one count of tax evasion. Sentencing guidelines call for prison time of 46 to 57 months, according to Warner's 18-page plea agreement. Taxpayers must report financial accounts in foreign countries if their value exceeds $10,000. Such penalties can equal up to 50 percent of the amount in the account. The account had as much as $107 million at one time, it was disclosed . The 69-year-old, said by Forbes to have a $2.6 billion net worth, was behind the Beanie Babies craze that made the company hundreds of millions of dollars in the mid-90s. He ranks 209th in a recent Forbes list of the richest Americans. The small, plush toys come in various animal forms with heart-shaped name tags and were considered valuable collectors' items. His most valuable investment however, is said to be New York's Four Seasons Hotel. He turned down a $900 million offer to buy it in November last year. Mr Warner maintained a secret offshore account starting in 1996 with the Switzerland-based financial services company, UBS. His attorney, Gregory Scandaglia, said Mr Warner accepts full responsibility. 'This is an unfortunate situation that Mr Warner has been trying to resolve for several years now,' Mr Scandaglia said. According to prosecutors, Mr Warner earned $3.1 million in gross income in 2002 through investments held in the UBS account. Soft touch: Ty Warner hiding $25 million in income in secret Swiss bank accounts. The toy-maker's 18-page plea deal says guidelines call for a prison term of around four years. He is also going to have to pay a $53 million fine . Income: Ty Warner has agreed to pay a penalty and will plead guilty, his attorney says . He committed tax evasion by failing to inform his accountants about that income. By leaving out his UBS income, he falsely reported that his total income in 2002 was $49 million, prosecutors said. 'Regardless of wealth, everyone must pay taxes on all of their income, not just the amount they choose to report,' Gary S. Shapiro, the acting U.S. attorney in Chicago. He will be sentenced on January 15th, 2014.
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Ty Warner failed to report income in an offshore bank account .
$25 million was hidden in secret Swiss bank accounts.
69-year-old plush toy-maker's 18-page plea deal calls for a prison term of four years .
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(CNN) -- When an epidemic occurs, getting even the most basic necessities to those in need becomes an exercise in logistics. The countries hit hardest by the Ebola epidemic -- Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- are dealing with human suffering on an unimaginable level. We have heard the stories of quarantines, medical supply shortages and dealing with the removal of the deceased. But what about the basics? How are people in affected areas that have been isolated from the world getting necessities such as food? The United Nations World Food Programme is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger in the world today, and it is dealing with that very issue. The objective is to "prevent a health crisis from becoming a food crisis," according to the agency. Woman saves three relatives from Ebola . According to Bettina Luescher, the organization's chief spokeswoman for North America, the WFP has provided food and assistance to more than 430,000 people affected by the Ebola crisis, feeding people for six months starting eight days after the crisis was declared in Guinea. Food distribution is ongoing in all three countries, with more food on the way. The WFP buys food from the region, for example, 7,000 metric tons of rice being transported from Benin. Luescher said rice, lentils, cooking oil and rations are being distributed, food for hospital patients is cooked by partner organizations, and quarantined populations get the food and take it home to prepare. On the ground, aid workers explain how people should line up for food. They wear protective suits and use megaphones to avoid contact, out of basic safety precautions. "On the food front, there is tension and nervousness but not panic," said Martin Penner, a WFP public information officer and one of the agency's members in Monrovia, Liberia. "People are happy to see the food. Ebola is affecting the economy. ... People are finding it hard to get the food they need." Penner says officials will know more in the coming weeks about yield as they enter harvest season for the two main crops, rice and maize. Currently, he says, food can be found in the local markets, but often, people can't afford to buy it. The price of cassava (a root vegetable that is a major staple food in many countries) increased by 150% in the first weeks of August, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "These are areas where some families spend 75% of their income on food on a regular basis," Penner said. The organization also says labor shortages will impact the cropping season, despite favorable rain conditions this year. "With the main harvest now at risk and trade and movements of goods severely restricted, food insecurity is poised to intensify in the weeks and months to come. The situation will have long-lasting impacts on farmers' livelihoods and rural economies," Bukar Tijani, FAO regional representative for Africa, said in a statement. Battling Ebola: Two doctors for a county of 85,000 people . As the U.N.'s logistics experts, "we do more than food. We have started an air bridge with planes and helicopters to fly aid workers to help the people who are really desperate," Luescher said. The World Food Programme is 100% voluntarily funded by governments, companies and private donors. The World Health Organization says more than 3,000 people have died from the virus since March. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by the end of January, there could be 1.4 million Ebola cases. For ways to help, go to CNN Impact Your World. CNN's Sarah LeTrent contributed to this report.
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More than 3,000 people have died from the Ebola virus since March .
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been hit hardest .
The United Nations World Food Programme is feeding people in affected areas .
Workers use megaphones and "air bridges" to avoid contamination .
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(CNN) -- Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain claimed victory in Sunday's Italian MotoGP at Mugello to close the gap on Casey Stoner in the overall title standings. Australian Stoner began the race in pole position and led for the opening 17 of the 23-lap race. But Lorenzo took the lead with a superb overtaking move on a steep, downhill chicane and steadily pulled away for an impressive victory, with Stoner having to contend with finishing in third position after also being overtaken by Honda teammate Andrea Dovizioso on the final lap. American Ben Spies, the winner in Assen last weekend, finished fourth with Marco Simoncelli fifith and Italian legend Valentino Rossi -- racing in front of his home fans for the first time since joining Ducati -- finishing sixth. Talking to BBC TV, Lorenzo said: ""I'm so happy with the win. Casey was so quick but little by little, lap by lap I managed to catch him. "I finally saw the opportunity to overtake Casey on the downhill section and was able to take it," he added. Stoner blamed a problem with his tires for the defeat, adding: "I did everything I could but the tire pressure went up too high and I lost all grip in the rear. "I tried to keep a consistent pace but I was just too slow at the end," Stoner continued. The result leaves 2007 world champion Stoner with a 19-point advantage in the current championship standings. Stoner lies on 152 points after eight of the 18 races, with Yamaha rider Lorenzo lying second on 133 points. Dovizioso (119) and Rossi (91) lie third and fourth in the standings with Nicky Hayden (77 points) rounding out the top five. `
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Jorge Lorenzo claims victory in Sunday's Italian MotoGP at Mugello .
The Spanish world champion beats Andrea Dovizioso and Casey Stoner .
Stoner maintains his world title advantage by 19 points from Lorenzo .
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By . Sarah Griffiths . People go house hunting with specific criteria in mind – from a certain number of bedrooms or a country-style kitchen to a spacious garden with room for a trampoline. But few are likely to specify that they must have a hidden spaceship inside their home. However, for people looking to battle aliens in their attic, a £3.25million ($5.35million) house in London could be the answer to their home-hunting woes. This elaborate playroom lets people fight aliens from the attic. Kit reminiscent of many popular (slightly retro) sci-fi films has been installed from numerous boxy computer monitors and flashing lights to mysterious air vents and pipes . The 7,000 square foot house in south east London has eight bedrooms, a music and games room and most notably a spaceship playhouse in the attic. The Rightmove description of the property reads: ‘A sizable area of loft storage has been transformed into an amazing spaceship for the kids.’ Kit reminiscent of many popular (slightly retro) sci-fi films has been installed from numerous boxy computer monitors and flashing lights to mysterious air vents and pipes – all of which Hollywood has led us to believe are essential when battling extra-terrestrials. The exterior of this Victorian Gothic mansion looks like an unlikely hiding place for the spaceship. It is on the market for £3.25million ($5.35million) and can be found in an expensive area of south east London . The rest of the house is a real contrast to the futuristic attic as it is traditionally furnished with plenty of period features, including decorated ceilings and gothic-style arches in the hallway (pictured) Two car seats make mission control more comfortable and there is a toy chest full of dressing up kit, including a helmet. The rest of the house is a real contrast to the futuristic attic as it is traditionally furnished with plenty of period features, including decorated ceilings and gothic-style arches. The multi-million pound mansion is located in between Crystal Palace and Gipsy Hill in south east London and is describe by estate agents as a 'beautiful Victorian family home' ‘Rockmount’ house is a Victorian villa and ‘a sublime example of one of the best suburban villas on Church Road,’ according to the estate agents. ‘The imposing Gothic Grade II listed house also boasts self-contained accommodation, double garage, off-street parking for several cars, a wonderful garden and detached lodge,’ they said. Here, a floor plan shows the vast number of rooms in the Victorian house. The diagram on the top right shows the third floor of the house, which is home to the spaceship playroom as well as a study . 'Rockmount' house is a Victorian villa and 'a sublime example of one of the best suburban villas on Church Road,' according to the estate agents. Here, the opulent living room is pictured and photographs hint at the lucky children who might have used the spaceship playroom .
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£3.25million ($5.35million) house in south east London boasts eight bedrooms, a games room and wine cellar as well as a spaceship in the attic .
Kit reminiscent of many popular sci-fi films has been installed from numerous boxy computer .
monitors and flashing lights to mysterious air vents .
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Khartoum, Sudan (CNN) -- A mutiny led by members of the Sudanese Armed Forces' Joint Integrated Units along the north/south border in Sudan has left up to 50 dead, officials said Monday. Fighting broke on Thursday in the city of Malakal near the airport when south Sudanese soldiers loyal to Gabriel Tang, a southern Sudanese militia leader who fought in a 22-year-old civil war alongside the Khartoum government, refused to turn in their weapons. An agreement to end the war, which pitted the Arab-Muslim-dominated government of north Sudan against the predominantly Christian and animist south, was signed in 2005. The Joint Integrated Units are a coordinated military force consisting of the northern Sudanese Armed Forces and the southern Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army. Tang's forces had been merged into the units along with SAF. "The redeployment of Joint Integrated Units was scheduled to take place starting February 1 in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement," said Maj. Gen. Ahmad al-No, spokesperson for the Joint Defense Council, which oversees security and military arrangements between northern and southern Sudan. "Tang fled SAF nearly a month ago and is somewhere around Malakal," al-No said. Southern Sudanese voted last month in a referendum on whether to remain part of a united Sudan or go independent, with final results to be announced on Monday. Preliminary results show an overwhelming vote in favor of independence. Official independence would be declared in July this year. During the civil war, a number of southern militias loyal to Khartoum fought against the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), the rebel group that fought Khartoum and currently governs the south. Noting that it appears Tang is now in opposition to both Sudan's military and the southern separatists, al-No told CNN, "I am concerned that he may have and affect on the security in the region."
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Fighting broke out Thursday in Malakal, near the border dividing northern, southern Sudan .
Soldiers loyal to militia leader Gabriel Tang refused to turn in their weapons .
Tang had fought alongside government and loyalist forces in southern Sudan .
Southern Sudanese voted last month on a referendum for independence .
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(CNN) -- Halle Berry married French actor Olivier Martinez in a private ceremony in France on Saturday, her representative confirmed Sunday. It's the third marriage for the Oscar-winning actress, who announced in April that she is expecting a baby with Martinez. Berry, 46, and Martinez, 47, have been close companions since meeting on the set of "Dark Tide" last year. He was by her side through the last months of her bitter custody battle with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, the Canadian model who fathered her 5-year-old daughter Nahla. They reached "an amicable agreement" over custody last November, a week after a fistfight in Berry's Hollywood driveway between Martinez and Aubry. Berry was previously married to former pro baseball player David Justice -- from 1993 until 1996 -- and singer Eric Benet -- from 2001 to 2004. "I feel fantastic," Berry told CNN when discussing her pregnancy in April. "This has been the biggest surprise of my life, to tell you the truth. I thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it's been a big surprise and the most wonderful." CNN's KJ Matthews contributed to this report.
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Halle Berry announced in April that she is expecting a baby with Olivier Martinez .
Berry, 46, and Martinez, 47, have been close companions since meeting on a set last year .
The actress has been married to pro baseball player David Justice and singer Eric Benet .
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Donald Sterling’s wife Shelly reportedly called the police when she learned that V. Stiviano was at his Beverly Hills mansion yesterday. The episode has sparked speculation that the disgraced former NBA owner is back together with his ex-assistant. When Shelly learned of the tryst she told Beverly Hills police that Stiviano had broken into Donald’s home. Scroll down for video . Donald Sterling’s wife Shelly reportedly called the police when she learned that V.Stiviano (right, with Sterling) was at his Beverly Hills mansion yesterday . Shelly (left) had accused Stiviano of taking gifts from the Sterling family including a Ferrari, $240,000 in cash and a $1.8 million house on the outskirts of Beverly Hills . However, police were told by Donald that the model was an ‘invited guest’, according to TMZ and she stayed in the property after they left. In August Stiviano claimed that the former L.A. Clippers owner is gay and that she spent three years acting as his 'beard' so no one would suspect his true sexuality. Stiviano, who gained national notoriety earlier this year due to her alleged sexual relationship with Sterling, made the bombshell allegation in documents filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court in answer to a prior lawsuit filed by Sterling’s wife, Shelly. In her original lawsuit, Shelly had accused Stiviano of taking gifts from the Sterling Family including a Ferrari, $240,000 in cash and a $1.8 million house on the outskirts of Beverly Hills in exchange for sexual favors. Stiviano denies those allegations and even claims that Shelly Sterling was well aware of the exact nature of the relationship between Donald Sterling and Stiviano. ‘V.S. was D.T.S’s beard for three years prior to the filing of suit,’ the answer claimed. Stiviano gained national notoriety earlier this year due to her alleged sexual relationship with Sterling . ‘V.S. is informed and believes that (Sterling) is a homosexual and enjoys sexual acts and or sexual congress with males.’ The answer said that Shelly Sterling was ‘acutely aware of his orientation and condoned’ his behavior, including his decision to give ‘gifts, money and other properties’ to Stiviano for her public companionship, reports the Daily News. Stiviano also says that she ‘was not ever a sexual partner’ of Donald Sterling. She also states that the gifts are considered separate property, not 'marital or community property,' because they were purchased with funds earned by Donald after separation or 'estrangement' from her wife. Stiviano also filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against the Sterlings on Thursday. She claims they slandered her in the media by calling her a thief and saying she embezzled money and property from Donald. 'She’s delusional,’ Sterling’s lawyer, Max Blecher, told The Daily News. The drama began in April when a recording surfaced of Donald Sterling berating Stiviano for bringing black men to Clippers games. The audio spurred the NBA to ban Sterling for life and fine him $2.5 million. Shelly, his wife of 58 years, then took control of a family trust and negotiated a record $2 billion sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Shelly Sterling said she was initially given her husband's blessing to sell the team and he praised the deal she reached. When it came time to sign it at the end of May, however, Sterling said he would not sell and would sue the league. Ballmer officially became the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers at the end of August.
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V. Stiviano gained national notoriety earlier this year due to her alleged sexual relationship with ex-NBA boss Donald Sterling .
His wife Shelly called the police when she learned he was at his Beverly Hills mansion yesterday, telling them she'd broken into it .
Donald told police that she was actually an 'invited guest', according to reports .
In August Stiviano claimed that the former L.A. Clippers owner is gay and that she spent three years acting as his beard .
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139e1fbf7935b25c755d251467a4a90be3dbc3d0
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Whenever an endangered animal dies at the San Diego Zoo, researchers race out, regardless of the hour, to remove its sperm or eggs, maybe a bit of ear or eyeball, and carefully freeze the cells in liquid nitrogen. Today, the survival of the northern white rhinoceros and dozens of other species could hinge on the collection amassed over nearly 40 years that has become the largest gene bank of its kind: The Frozen Zoo. The icy vials may someday even be used in experiments to resurrect recently extinct animals, like the Hawaiian Po'ouli bird. The stainless steel tanks hold the genetic material of more than 10,000 individual animals from more than 1,000 species and subspecies. Scroll down for video . Futuristic: Barbara Durant, director of reproductive physiology at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, a.k.a. the Frozen Zoo, takes a peek at her stock . On a mission: Durant stands by a nitrogen-cooled stainless steel vat holding hundreds of vials of animal cells - The vats hold the genetic material of more than 10,000 animals from more than 1,000 species . The Frozen Zoo's work has taken on renewed urgency since the San Diego Safari Park lost 42-year-old Angalifu to cancer in December, leaving only five northern white rhinos left in the world - and all unable to reproduce. Scientists are racing against the clock to find the best way to utilize the bank's frozen sperm to produce another one before the northern white goes extinct, which could happen within a decade. Critics question whether it's worth spending millions of dollars on species that are down to so few. The bank is valued as a genetic archive that has helped advance artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, cloning and stem cell technology. But debate is stirring over how far such research should go. 'The frozen zoo is basically re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,' said Paul Ehrlich, a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. He noted the world needs to address the problem's root causes, such as population growth and climate change. Process: Durant submerges a tray holding vials of cells into liquid nitrogen - The bank is valued as a genetic archive that has helped advance artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, cloning and stem cell technology . Preservation: A small vial containing frozen animal cells is shown to the camera . 'Screwing around with science to save a white rhino might be fun and I would like to see it preserved and am all for biodiversity, but it's so far down the list of things we should be doing first,' he said. With species going extinct at a faster rate, zoos are taking on greater conservation roles and facing deciding which animals are worth focusing efforts on saving. Some may be extinct by the time another one is reproduced and possibly never live in the wild. The northern white's natural habitat is in war-torn countries like Sudan and Congo, which have been unable to stop poachers. The horn is coveted in Asia as an aphrodisiac, creating a market that threatens all rhino species. There's also the hurdle of producing enough offspring to avoid inbreeding. 'We can do all kinds of razzle dazzle things but it's one thing to make another animal or two or three, but it's quite another to make a sustainable population from a genetic standpoint,' said George Seidel, a Colorado State University professor who has written about resurrecting the woolly mammoth. The challenges, however, are not insurmountable for critically endangered species or possibly recently extinct species, said Barbara Durrant, director of reproductive physiology at The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, which houses the Frozen Zoo. 'We're not so much interested in bringing back dinosaurs or mammoths,' she said. 'There's really no place for them now.' The Frozen Zoo holds the cell cultures from 12 northern white rhinos - more than the living population: . 'There have been other species that have come back from numbers that small so we think there is good reason we can do this with the northern white rhino,' she said. Sperm from the Frozen Zoo has been used in artificial insemination to reproduce endangered animals from the giant panda to the Chinese monal pheasant. Its frozen cells also were used to clone two endangered types of cattle. On the brink of extinction: The northern white's natural habitat is in war-torn countries like Sudan and Congo, which have been unable to stop poachers . In high demand: The rhino's horn is also coveted in Asia as an aphrodisiac (above, the only northern white left in the United States, 40-year-old Nola at the San Diego Zoo) The gaur lived only a few days while the banteng survived for seven years before being put down after breaking a leg. Both animals, however, had genetic defects. The northern white rhino and the drill monkey were the first endangered animals to have their cells transformed into stem cells and stored at the Frozen Zoo. Theoretically stem cells can produce any body tissue. That means thawed stem cells from a male rhino could produce both sperm and egg in the lab, but the method has been done only once - in a mouse. Artificial insemination has seen success in producing other rhino species. Northern white rhino semen could be used to impregnate the closely related southern white to make a hybrid. Scientists are also looking at in vitro fertilization but that technique has never been done on any rhino species. On a recent day, the only northern white left in the United States, 40-year-old Nola, munched on apples at the San Diego Safari Park. When she dies, there is talk of placing her in the Smithsonian so future generations can see a northern white rhino.
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Whenever an endangered animal dies at the San Diego Zoo, researchers race out to remove its sperm or eggs .
They carefully freeze the cells in liquid nitrogen .
The collection, amassed over nearly 40 years, is known as the Frozen Zoo .
Stainless steel tanks hold the genetic material of more than 10,000 individual animals from more than 1,000 species and subspecies .
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139f803e8d7589c2a87270d9fc41abad7082225c
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Dublin, Ireland (CNN) -- The situation in Syria is accelerating, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday, amid reports that President Bashar al-Assad's government may be preparing to use chemical weapons. "Events on the ground in Syria are accelerating, and we see that in many different ways. The pressure against the regime in and around Damascus seems to be increasing," Clinton said before meeting with Russia's foreign minister and the U.N. special envoy to Syria. Chemical weapons were one topic on the table, said Clinton, who met with the leaders while she was in Dublin for an international security conference. U.S. officials are "very concerned" that al-Assad's forces may use chemical weapons as rebels advance, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters in Washington Thursday. "The intelligence that we have raises serious concerns that this is being considered," he said. The defense secretary did not provide additional details about the intelligence information. CNN reported Monday that Syrian forces battling rebels in fierce fighting had started combining chemicals that could be used to make deadly sarin gas for weapons. NBC reported Wednesday night that Syria is loading chemical weapons into bombs. CNN has not confirmed the NBC report. Read more: Syrian family hides from attacks . Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad rejected the suggestion Thursday. "Syria would never use chemical weapons, even if it had them, against its own people," he told Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV. He also warned that any foreign intervention against Syria would be "catastrophic" for the entire region. In Dublin Thursday, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said leaders were focused on a peace process to "get Syria back from the brink." "We have agreed that the situation is bad and we have agreed that we must continue to work together to see how we can find creative ways of bringing this problem under control and hopefully starting to solve it," he told reporters after his meeting with Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Russia has blocked action against al-Assad at the United Nations, but some have speculated that Moscow may be considering a different approach. On Thursday, a top Russian politician said the Syrian government "is not up to the task" of doing its job and cannot "fulfill its functions," the Interfax news agency reported. Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker Vladimir Vasiliev said Russia wanted to create conditions where security forces inside Syria would take the situation under control, but Russia's "influence with the Syrian leadership has been limited." The comments from a close ally of President Vladimir Putin came at a time when diplomats say Moscow, which has insisted there should be no "regime change" in Syria, now increasingly doubts that al-Assad can survive in power. Diplomatic efforts to help end the 21-month conflict, which opposition activists say has claimed more than 42,000 lives, have so far failed. At least 89 people died Thursday, most of them in Damascus and Aleppo, according to the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria. CNN cannot confirm claims by the government or the opposition because of government restrictions that prevent journalists from reporting freely within Syria. Clinton and Lavrov previously worked out a plan to try to end the fighting, but that plan ultimately stalled. That plan, negotiated in June in Geneva, proposed the creation of a transitional government along with al-Assad leaving office. But Russia later balked at any U.N. Security Council measure that would include sanctions or military action. Clinton insisted any U.N. resolution "have teeth." The United States has also expressed concerns about the increasing radicalization of some armed factions of the opposition and is moving toward declaring al-Nusra Front a terrorist organization. Such groups present a dilemma for the United States. Al-Nusra Front, officials say, has ruthless and effective fighters that are spearheading gains against al-Assad's weakening forces. Assad may be seeking asylum . But the stronger the radical groups become, the more the United States worries that the fighting -- not political efforts to find a solution -- will decide the outcome in Syria. As a result, Washington has been pushing the opposition to unite. That process is unfolding with the recent creation of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. Early next week, Clinton will travel to Marrakesh, Morocco, for a meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People, a gathering of countries that support the political transition. The Obama administration, while providing, for now, non-lethal assistance, is expected to take the first steps toward officially recognizing the National Coalition at that meeting. Clinton also reiterated Wednesday the strong U.S. position set out by President Barack Obama on Monday over any possible use by Syria of chemical weapons. She said the international community is sending a clear message to Damascus. "Our concerns are that an increasingly desperate Assad regime might turn to chemical weapons or might lose control of them to one of the many groups that are now operating within Syria," she said. "And so, as part of the absolute unity that we all have on this issue, we have sent an unmistakable message that this would cross a red line and those responsible would be held to account." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on a visit to Baghdad Thursday that he had expressed his "gravest concerns" to Syria's government over any use of chemical weapons and had written directly to al-Assad. He warned that anyone responsible for the use of chemical weapons would face serious consequences. Ban is to meet with the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Baghdad to discuss how it can work with the United Nations on the issue. Read more: Aleppo residents find little left . NATO foreign ministers agreed this week to a request by Turkey for Patriot missiles to be deployed along its border to bolster its air defenses against potential Syrian threats. Errant Syrian artillery shells struck the Turkish border town of Akcakale and killed five Turkish civilians in October. Early Thursday, the German Cabinet agreed to send Patriot missiles and up to 400 soldiers to Turkey to deter the Syrian civil war from spilling into the country. Germany's parliament will vote on the deployment next week, the foreign ministry said. In addition to Germany, the United States and Netherlands, both of which have Patriot capabilities, have signaled they would be willing to contribute missiles. "Any deployment will be defensive only. It will in no way support a no-fly zone or any offensive operation," the NATO statement said. NATO's decision was made as the fears surfaced that the Assad regime might be preparing to use chemical weapons. "The Syrian stockpiles of chemical weapons are a matter of great concern," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. "We know that Syria possesses missiles. We know they have chemical weapons and, of course, they also have to be included in our calculations," he said. "And this is also the reason why it is a matter of urgency to ensure effective defense and protection of our ally Turkey." In the United States, Republican Sen. John McCain said Thursday that time may be running out. "If true, these reports may mean that the United States and our allies are facing the prospect of an imminent use of weapons of mass destruction in Syria, and this may be the last warning we get," McCain said. "The time for talking about what to do may now be coming to a close and we may instead be left with an awful and very difficult decision." Opinion: Rape is shredding Syria's social fabric . CNN Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jill Dougherty reported from Dublin, Diana Magnay reported from Berlin, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote this story in London. CNN's Christine Theodorou contributed from Atlanta.
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NEW: At least 89 people are killed across Syria Thursday, opposition activists say .
NEW: Panetta says intelligence "raises serious concerns" about chemical weapons .
A top Russian politician says Syria "is not up to the task" to do its job .
Clinton meets with the U.N. special envoy to Syria and Russia's foreign minister .
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(CNN) -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft would rather make a donation to charity than invest millions of dollars in a top European soccer club because the economics of football make no business sense. Analzying football's business model, Kraft insisted he would not follow the example of Abu-Dhabi owned English Premier League winners Manchester City, which has ran up huge losses -- $300 million for the last financial year (the highest figure in English football history) -- to assemble a championship team. "Manchester City won the championship this year and I hear they're going to lose $156 million. I would rather give that money to charity if I had it. I want every business to stand on its own," the 71-year-old, told CNN. In the U.S. team sports such as American football, basketball and baseball are governed by a salary cap, which limits the amount of money a team can spend on players' wages. It was the absence of such a salary cap in the Premier League that deterred Kraft from investing in Liverpool, which was ultimately purchased in October 2010 by the Kraft Group chairman and CEO's compatriot John W Henry -- the owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise -- from Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Football culture: Warrior or tika taka technician? "I would only do it, if there was a salary cap. It's the same thing I said three years ago," said Kraft, who completed a then record purchase of NFL franchise the Patriots in 1994. "We could have bought Liverpool before the two ownership groups who preceded us and in the end I don't want to compete in a business where people throw money at something. "I want to be able to compete," added Kraft. "The fans in Liverpool are awesome and they are expecting to win every year, and if you are competing with people who have different rules then it makes it difficult." Drogba deal: China's vanity project? The former Patriots season-ticket holder argued that the lack of a salary cap combined with other clubs' decisions to run up significant levels of debt ensured that there was not a level playing field in English football. "We have the resources to do it, it's just I choose not to do it.," said Kraft, who was speaking in London, where he is taking in the tennis at Wimbledon for the 38th consecutive year. "I don't want to be in a business that does not stand on its own, I want every business to stand on its own, and for ego reasons I'm not willing to lose that kind of money. "The only way I would go into a sports business is to win. And, I don't think I can compete on an equal footing so I choose not to do it. " Elsewhere in the English Premier League, Tottenham's Wales international Gareth Bale has signed a new four-year contract with the London club.
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Robert Kraft would rather give $100m to charity than invest it in soccer .
Kraft is the owner of NFL franchise the New England Patriots .
The 71-year-old has considered purchasing EPL team Liverpool .
Kraft said the absence of a salary cap in English football put him off investing .
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PUBLISHED: . 15:57 EST, 25 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:48 EST, 26 February 2013 . Jon Snow, pictured with wife Precious Lunga, wrote of the unpleasant memories of his own abuse that had been brought up by the Savile scandal . Jon Snow told yesterday how the Jimmy Savile scandal has forced him to relive the abuse he suffered as a child. The Channel 4 News veteran described how when he was six years old he was ‘abducted’ by a member of the domestic staff at the school where his father taught. ‘He took me to his room and undressed me, and then himself. Thank heavens someone saw the abduction and eventually a member of staff intervened and rescued me,’ he said. ‘I remember to this day fretting over not being able to do my braces up. 'And I admit I have found Savile regurgitating the guilt and confusion I felt.’ Mr Snow first wrote about the abuse he suffered in his autobiography Shooting History, published in 2004. Yesterday he wrote on his blog on Channel 4’s website that the Savile saga was having a ‘vast effect’ on many abuse victims, with the ‘swirl of allegation and denial that is filling the airwaves’ leading many, like him, to relive what happened to them. In the blog article, titled ‘Our sexual watershed’, Mr Snow, 65, added: ‘When I started in television more than three decades ago, many of the few women in the newsroom were treated first and foremost as sex objects and only secondarily journalists. Remarks about physique and “sexiness” were rife. ‘There was improper touching too, a needless brushing in passing, a pinched bottom.’ He described how the bar was ‘in-house’ and inexpensive, many would start drinking at lunchtime and it was ‘commonplace for some newscasters to go to air the worse for wear’. Jon Snow said revelations about Savile exposed tolerance to gross misbehaviour if the celebrity was big enough . ‘And if that was happening in the news divisions, Savile tells us about what was happening in entertainment,’ he added. Oxford educated Mr Snow said the Savile affair had ‘exposed the institutional tolerance of the established media to gross misbehaviour, so long as the celebrity was big enough’. He praised the ‘courageous’ victims of Savile who have come forward to speak publicly about what he did to them, so inspiring others to come forward to expose their abusers. ‘This is a dramatic moment in the affairs of men and women; we shall all be tested,’ he said. ‘But don’t underestimate what this time means to the abused. I know.’ He said the contrast with today . is ‘acute’ and he knows ‘almost no one who drinks at lunchtime or indeed . any time before the working day is done’. ‘One . small comfort we can take is that many of us have truly been through a . genuine sexual revolution - both in attitudes and behaviourally.’ Oxford-educated Mr Snow became the main . presenter of Channel 4 News in 1989. For 35 years his partner was human . rights lawyer Madeleine Colvin, with whom he has two daughters. In 2010 . he married Precious Lunga, a Zimbabwe-born academic.
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Jon Snow said in blog post that scandal brought back guilt of abuse age six .
Said scandal showed media tolerance to sex abuse for big enough celebrity .
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The value of the rouble plummeted again today as Russia announced its economy had shrunk for the first time in more than five years. Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.5 per cent year-on-year to November, the economy ministry said, the first fall since October 2009. The announcement sent the rouble - which fluctuated wildly earlier this month prompting fears of a full financial collapse - plummeting another 5 per cent against the dollar this morning. Grim: Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin, pictured leading a cabinet meeting on Christmas Day, are facing the first contraction of their economy in more than five years . Sliding oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine have continued to take their toll on Russia, whose wealthier citizens have been looking to put their money in more stable investments abroad. The ministry chalked up the negative growth to a slowdown in a number of sectors including services, agriculture, extraction of mineral resources and construction. Inflation is also growing rapidly. Amid the rouble's collapse earlier this month, Russia's central bank raised interest rates to 17 percent from 10.5 percent to prop up the currency. Russians also snapped up imported goods ahead of expected price hikes. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov had already warned last week that the economy could shrink 4 per cent next year based on oil prices of around $60 a barrel - their lowest level for many years. Plummeting: How the value of the rouble has fallen against the pound in the last year, including in December . He predicted a budget deficit of 3 per cent and said the government would have to further reduce expenses or tap into its reserves, noting that a planned 10 per cent spending cut was not enough. The central bank has warned that the economy could contract by up to 4.8 per cent next year based on current oil prices, with a recovery not expected until 2017. During the total length of the global recession from 2008, Britain's economy contracted 6.4 per cent while Japan's fell 8.7 per cent, Italy's fell 6.9 per cent and Germany's fell 6.8 per cent. The Kremlin announced fresh steps today to keep Russia's banks afloat. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told a government session that he had just signed a decree to provide a total of a trillion roubles (£12.6billion) to Russian banks. The list of the banks and the amount that each of them will receive is expected drawn up by mid-January, according to Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. Rouble trouble: The Kremlin has announced fresh steps to try and prop up the ailing economy and the banks . Russia's central bank also said it will offer dollar and euro loans to banks so they can help major exporters that need foreign currencies to finance operations. Many Russian companies and banks have been locked out of Western capital markets following the sanctions imposed on the country for its involvement in Ukraine. The bank's foreign currency reserve has now dropped below $400billion for the first time since August 2009, as the government has been selling the currency on the market to support its own. Mr Shuvalov said the measures should help 'the banking sector be more stable in the new circumstances and safeguard it from new shocks if they do occur,' according to the Russian news service Tass.
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Kremlin said GDP contracted by 0.5% year-on-year in November .
The shrinking is the first recorded in Russia since October 2009 .
Rouble value shrank by 5% against the dollar as figures revealed .
Falling oil prices and Western sanctions continue to take their toll .
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Three-dimensional models of a 'priority area' in the Indian Ocean have been revealed as the search for MH370 ramps up. In the images huge mountains, deep trenches and dormant volcanoes are seen strewn across the search area - but there's no sign of the plane yet. The search for the plane is set to resume later this month, and mapping the ocean floor is essential to ensure the survival of underwater equipment that will be used. Three-dimensional models of the area MH370 is thought to have gone missing in the Indian Ocean have been revealed. They will be used to direct deep-sea equipment when the search for the plane resumes later this month. The maps reveal various features include large ridges and deep trenches (shown) Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared over the Indian Ocean on 8 March with 239 people on board, and no sign of the plane has been found since then. It has been widely reported that better maps of Mars exist than this portion of the sea floor where the plane is thought to be located, so the new maps will be key in the hunt for the plane. The models show the designated MH370 search area, which includes the seabed around an area known as Broken Ridge. 8 March 12:21am . Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 departs from Kuala Lumpur, south west Malaysia, due to land in Beijing at 6.30am the same day. On board are 227 passengers and 12 crew. 1.20am . Eight villagers report seeing lights in the sky and hearing noise in the Marang area of north east Malaysia. 1.30am . Air traffic control makes its last recorded sighting of air traffic control. The plane is last seen on civilian radar above the waters where the South China Sea meets the Gulf of Thailand. 1.45am . Several sightings of the planet are reported, including a businessman in Kora Bharu and a bus driver in Penaruk. 2.15am . Military radar detects what could be the jetliner 200 miles north west of Penang Island in the Northern Malacca Strait. The primary search area - dubbed the ‘priority area' - is an arc 23,000 square miles (60,000 square kilometres) in size, roughly the size of Croatia, 1,120 miles (1,800km) off the Australian coast. This area formed when two geological plates separated 20 to 100 million ago creating mountains, volcanoes and trenches. Seamounts - remnants of submarine volcanoes - are also present in the area. These large geological structures are typical of two such spreading plates. Structures include rugged ridges that reach heights of 985ft (300 metres) and trenches that are up to 4,590ft (1,400 metres) deep. At the end of this month the search will resume to try to find any sign of MH370 in this area. This will include using a deep-sea search vehicle attached to a boat by an armoured cable 6.2-miles (10km) long. Knowing where ridges and volcanoes lie is vital to ensure the equipment does not crash into an unseen object while underwater. The vehicle will use sonar to scan the ocean floor for anything that might resemble MH370, and it will also be able to detect the presence of aviation fuel. Knowing the location of the features is essential to steer deep-sea vehicles around them. Later this month equipment will be lowered on a cable to search the seabed using sonar and other techniques to try and find MH370. The maps reveal raised areas (shown) that will need to be dodged by underwater vehicles . The primary search area - dubbed the ‘priority’ area - is an arc 23,000 square miles (60,000 square kilometres) in size, 1,120 miles (1,800km) off the Australian coast. This area was created when two geological plates separated 20 to 100 million ago, forming large mountains, volcanoes and trenches (shown) ‘The recently acquired high-resolution bathymetry data [the study of ocean floors] has revealed many of these seabed features for the first time,’ the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a statement. ‘It is also revealing finer-scale seabed features that were not visible in the previous low-resolution, satellite-derived bathymetry data.’ The new 3D models were maid using high resolution survey data, including satellite gravity measurements and some ocean passage soundings. Identification of the features will assist in navigation during the underwater search phase. The estimated location of MH370 in this area was derived from a series of brief pings - electronic ‘hellos’ - from the plane to a satellite before it disappeared. And it's hoped some sign of the plane will finally be found when the search starts again. The deep sea search vehicle will use sonar to scan the ocean floor for anything that might resemble MH370, and it will also be able to detect the presence of aviation fuel. Seamounts (shown) - remnants of submarine volcanoes - are also present in the area . Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared without a trace in the early hours of 8 March while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The Boeing 777 with the registration number 9M-MRO is seen here on a previous flight over Poland on 5 February 2014 before its final flight .
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3D models of the area MH370 is thought to have gone missing in the Indian Ocean have been revealed by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau .
They will be used to direct deep-sea equipment when the search for the plane resumes later this month .
The maps reveal various features including large ridges and deep trenches .
Knowing the location of the features will be essential to steer deep-sea vehicles around them and prevent crashes .
Later this month equipment will be lowered on a cable to search the seabed using sonar and other techniques to try and find MH370 .
Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared without a trace in the early hours of 8 March while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing .
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A lawsuit has been launched in an effort to reclaim millions of dollars from Australian businessman Geoffrey Edelsten in order to repay his huge debts in the US. On Wednesday the former millionaire's stateside bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila kicked off a case in the Melbourne Federal Court in a bid to seize local assets. Among these assets are millions worth of property, luxury cars, shares, and loans, News Corp Australia reported. Mr Edelsten declared bankruptcy in the US in Ohio in January of this year. Scroll down for video . A lawsuit has been launched in an effort to reclaim millions of dollars from businessman Geoffrey Edelsten . Mr Kapila was ordered by Justice Jonathan Beach via Mr Edelsten's Australian lawyer Leon Zwier to contact more than 40 creditors - both companies and individuals - who Mr Edelsten is believed to owe money to. These beneficiaries include the Australian Tax Office, to whom Mr Edelsten owes $4.58 million, and the National Australian Bank who are out of pocket $3.8 million according to case files. Additional parties Mr Edelsten owes money to apparently include Carlton Football Club, Etihad Stadium, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and his 90-year-old mother Esther who resides in a luxury retirement village in Melbourne. Mr Edelsten, pictured here with fiance Gabi Grecko, has debts that could top more than $50 million . In the filings the 71-year-old apparently admitted his debts could top $50 million, with American Express and the City of Melbourne also owed funds. Mr Edelsten's estranged business partner Rafael Mawardi is reportedly the main beneficiary in the US with $10.4 million owed to him. The pair have a colourful past together with partnerships in the form of fashion label House of Nurielle and a casino in the Dominican Republic behind them. Gabi Grecko (right) is an American DJ and model, and the pair plan to wed early next year . Mr Edelsten's Australian case is due back in court for a hearing on October 10, while the US bankruptcy case will return to a Florida court on September 15. The former doctor, who was de-registered in the late 1980s, was married to American socialite Brynne Gordon until earlier this year. His current girlfriend is US model and DJ Gabi Grecko and the pair got engaged a few months back and are apparently set to wed in early 2015.
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Geoffrey Edelsten's debts could top $50 million .
The businessman owes more than $4 million to the Australian Tax Office .
Other creditors include Carlton Football Club, NAB, and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore .
A lawsuit has been launched by his US bankruptcy trustee to reclaim some of his local assets .
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13a40dd72ac77a576f3b2f50f55c86bbc3b3fca2
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He was derided for his co-commentary analysis during the World Cup, but Phil Neville has found an avid admirer in Hollywood actress Keira Knightley. The BBC received 445 complaints about Neville during England's 2-1 Group D defeat to Italy in June - with many criticising the former Manchester United and Everton star for his lack of emotion and 'monotone' style during the game. Knightley, however, has come to the aid of Neville in a staunch defence of the 37-year-old. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Keira Knightley reveals her fantasy football punditry team . Hollywood actress Keira Knightley has defended Phil Neville's co-commentary analysis during the World Cup . Neville was criticised for his lack of emotion and 'monotone' style during England's World Cup opener vs Italy . Knightley believes Neville (right) co-commentary criticism was unfair and described him as 'rather good' Mario Balotelli (right) scored the decisive goal as Italy defeated England 2-1 in their World Cup Group D opener . 'I didn't understand why Phil Neville got stick during the World Cup,' she said in an interview with ShortListTV.com ahead of the UK release of her latest film The Imitation Game. 'I thought he was rather good, I didn't understand what the problem was.' England's World Cup opener in Manaus attracted a peak audience of 15.6million viewers as Neville's co-commentary was quickly lambasted on social media. Many viewers took to Twitter to criticise him, with several joking that England physio Gary Lewin who was stretchered off after injuring his ankle had actually 'fallen into a coma' listening to Neville. Knightley, who starred in the 2002 hit Bend It Like Beckham, is a huge football fan and joins a long list of famous West Ham supporters that include Ray Winstone and Russell Brand. It's not the first time that the brunette beauty has been appraisal of a Neville after she described Phil's brother Gary's Sky Sports punditry as 'absolutely f****** amazing!' in March. Knightley has described her love for Neville's brother, Gary (right) as a Sky Sports pundit before in the past too . The 29-year-old also gave a positive review of Paul Scholes’ skills as a pundit following his retirement from football. Scholes was notoriously media-shy during his playing days, but Knightley believes the former midfielder was perhaps rarely seen because he is so opinionated. 'Paul Scholes he's doing an amazing job [as a pundit],' she added. 'He never did interviews when he played but that perhaps maybe could have been because he is very very opinionated so they [Manchester United and England] "were like shut up, shut up, shut up." I like his blog.' Knightley described Paul Scholes as doing 'an amazing job' since he became a TV pundit .
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Phil Neville was lambasted for his World Cup co-commentary this summer .
The BBC received 445 complaints about Neville during England vs Italy .
Knightley believes criticism of Neville's analysis in Manaus was unfair .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:56 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:32 EST, 1 January 2014 . Two Pakistani students married mentally handicapped British women so they could stay in the UK with one being deported but the other now claiming he has a human right to family life with his young son, High Court judges have heard. The first man, who is in his 20s, began a relationship with a woman in her late teens two months after exhausting his rights of appeal. They were married in a Muslim ceremony in June 2012, but last month the judge declared that marriage a sham and the man was deported. In both cases, it has been claimed that . the women's disabilities meant they did not have the capacity to enter . into a sexual relationship or consent to marry . The second man, who is in his 30s, married a woman, also in her 30s in a Muslim ceremony in late 2011 about six weeks after his application to stay in the UK was refused by immigration authorities. An anonymous informant had called to tell officials that the woman's stepfather had received £20,000 'in consideration' of that marriage. The woman became pregnant 'almost immediately' and gave birth to a son in the summer of 2012. The man is now demanding to stay in the UK, basing his claim on his right to family life enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. But in both cases, it has been claimed that the women's disabilities meant they did not have the capacity to consent to marriage. Details have emerged in written rulings published on a legal website following separate hearings in the Court of Protection in London. Judges said no-one involved in either case could be named. In the first case, a local authority had asked Mr Justice Keehan to make rulings about whether the teenager had the mental capacity to make decisions about her life - including the capacity to decide about entering into a 'contract of marriage'. Mr Justice Keehan concluded that one of the . women had the capacity to consent to sexual relations but said she did . not have the capacity to enter into a marriage contact . He said social workers became aware that she had begun a relationship with a Pakistani man in his 20s. Local authority officials and police had warned that the man might commit an offence because the woman was unlikely to have the capacity to consent to sex and marriage. Nevertheless the couple had 'entered into a purported Islamic marriage ceremony' at the man's home about 18 months ago. Mr Justice Keehan said the man had arrived in the UK to study in 2009 but an application to stay was refused after an immigration tribunal concluded that he had submitted forged documents and attempted to deceive officials. 'His rights of appeal were exhausted in June 2011,' said the judge. 'It is in this context that he began a relationship with (the woman) in August 2011.' The judge said that days after the marriage ceremony the man had claimed asylum because 'he feared he would be killed by his family who disapproved of his marriage to a white British woman'. He said the man had been refused asylum and deported in August 2012. Mr Justice Keehan concluded that the woman had the capacity to consent to sexual relations but said she did not have the capacity to enter into a marriage contact. And he ruled that the wedding ceremony she had been involved in was a 'non-marriage'. In the second case, a local authority had asked Mrs Justice Parker to make decisions about whether the woman in her 30s had the capacity to consent to marriage and sexual relationships. 'A Muslim marriage, not recognised in this jurisdiction, was performed between them,' said Mrs Justice Parker. 'An anonymous informant had telephoned to state that the (woman's stepfather) had received £20,000 in consideration of the marriage.' She said six weeks earlier the man's application to stay in the UK following the expiry of a two-year student visa had been refused. He had subsequently applied for 'leave to remain on the grounds of his marriage'. The judge said 'immigration proceedings' were 'as yet unresolved'. The judge concluded that the woman lacked the capacity to consent to sexual relations and lacked 'sufficient understanding' to consent to marriage. Mrs Justice Parker said the man was basing a claim to remain in the UK on his right to family life enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. 'The reality is that he is now relying on his married and fatherhood ... in support of his claim to remain,' said the judge. 'So, the reality is that whatever his original motivation, (the woman) is being used.' She added: '(The man's) position is bound to be self- serving.' Mrs Justice Parker said the case had been about the woman - not her son. She was told that man wanted stay in England with the baby. She said plans for the little boy's care would need 'rigorous evaluation'.
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Both women were married in Muslim ceremonies .
But disabilities meant they 'did not have the capacity' to .
consent to marry .
Stepfather of one of the women was paid £20,000 'in consideration'
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13a457d6ae8a252cb556a1b66057d0c11516562b
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By . Daniel Martin and Chris Brooke . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 24 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:49 EST, 24 November 2013 . 'Pathetic': Labour leader Ed Miliband has come under fire for his bid to shift blame over the Paul Flowers scandal . Ed Miliband was described as ‘pathetic’ yesterday after he accused David Cameron of smear tactics and plotting to run the ‘dirtiest election campaign’ in decades. The Labour leader said the Prime Minister was ‘demeaning his office’ with a political strategy to ‘sling as much mud as possible in the hope that some of it sticks’. His outburst follows weeks of negative headlines for the Labour Party, from the vote-rigging scandal in Falkirk to last week’s revelations about former Co-op chairman Paul Flowers, a former Labour councillor who was arrested as part of a drugs inquiry. Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, said Mr Miliband’s complaints showed the party could not take scrutiny and tended to ‘clam up’ when facing difficult questions. The Labour leader said in an article for the Independent on Sunday: ‘David Cameron used to claim he wanted to change his party and lead it back to the middle ground. ‘That project has now entirely disappeared. This is a Conservative Party preparing to fight the dirtiest general election campaign that we have seen in this country for over 20 years.’ Accusing the Tories of employing tactics of ‘smear and character assassination’, he wrote that at last Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cameron had ‘hit a new low by trying to use the gross errors and misconduct of one man, Paul Flowers, to impugn the integrity of the entire Labour movement’. Conservative chairman Grant Shapps expressed his surprise that Labour, whose spin doctor Damian McBride was forced to resign in 2009 after he sent emails discussing plans to smear senior Tories, was accusing anyone of dirty politics. ‘This is a pathetic attempt to evade the serious issues. Labour have big questions to answer, and when they are asked, they simply try to avoid them by claiming they are smears,’ he said. ‘It is an obvious tactic from the party that brought you the most disgraceful smear operation of modern times, fronted by Damian McBride, and known about, encouraged and tolerated by Ed Balls and Ed Miliband. And McBride was simply the latest in a long line of bullying Labour spin doctors, including Alastair Campbell and Charlie Whelan. Movie night: Disgraced Paul Flowers goes to the cinema in Liverpool with Ian Hu on Thursday night . ‘Incredibly, Labour’s new campaign chief Michael Dugher used to be McBride’s right-hand man – it’s the same old Labour. We suggest they explain how the corruption at Falkirk happened, and how the Rev Flowers was allowed to become and remain an adviser, rather than dismiss legitimate questions as smears.’ Mr Gove criticised the Labour leader for his ‘coquettish reticence’ in dealing with the scandals. He said it was hypocritical of Labour not to expect to have to answer questions about Paul Flowers, but he insisted there was no Tory plan to fight a dirty campaign. ‘We need to have lots of questions: that’s why the Chancellor of the Exchequer took the advice of independent people to set up an inquiry, which will ask searching questions about what went on right up to the moment that we discovered everything we discovered about Paul Flowers,’ he said. ‘The difficulty Labour has is they were the people responsible for appointing, or allowing Flowers to be appointed, on their watch.’ Mr Gove told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that when it came to questions over the Unite official at the centre of the Falkirk vote-rigging probe, Labour ‘tend to clam up’. Shameless Paul Flowers allegedly tried to acquire cocaine last week – after he was exposed on camera trying to buy drugs and after promising to seek professional help. He phoned a dealer on Tuesday and asked for drugs. He reportedly invited the dealer to stay with him in Liverpool and said ‘turn up and if you want to bring the boy Charlie, that’s fine too’. Charlie is Flowers’s habitual name for cocaine. Keeping a clean nose: Rev Paul Flowers last week . ‘I had absolutely no doubt Paul was referring to coke,’ the dealer told The Mail on Sunday. ‘He always used that word for it.’ After the publication of a video showing him handing over £300 to buy cocaine and other illegal drugs, former Co-op Bank chairman Flowers apologised for his ‘stupid and wrong’ actions in a statement made through the Methodist church last Sunday. He also vowed to seek help for his problem. The convicted dealer claimed Flowers had admitted using drugs since 2010 – which covers most of his time at the Co-op Bank – and the former Methodist minister allegedly admitted he didn’t believe in God. ‘Paul’s been a really heavy user of coke and ketamine for a long time,’ the dealer added. ‘I laughed when I saw his statement saying he was getting professional help. The only professional help he was seeking was from a professional drug fixer – me.’ The dealer said Flowers ‘sniffed a line of coke’ on Remembrance Sunday morning before going to a service in Bradford. Flowers has not been home since the scandal broke eight days ago and has been reportedly staying with fellow Methodist minister Ian Hu, 51, in Liverpool. They went to the cinema on Thursday. Further details of his debauched lifestyle are revealed in a string of texts he sent in recent weeks to his drug dealer. On the day he was due to appear before a Commons committee about the Co-op’s performance, he texted to say he has taken drugs and plans a night touring the gay bars of Bradford looking for ‘lots of likely lads’. In the days before his exposure in The Mail on Sunday, Flowers texted about watching porn and taking drugs. He also texted his dealer about a 17-year-old straight student he likes and suggests the teenager watches him having sex.
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Labour leader said PM was 'demeaning his office' and had political strategy to 'sling .
as much mud as possible in the hope that some of it sticks'
Outburst follows weeks of negative headlines and scandals for his party .
Include vote-rigging scandal in Falkirk and revelations about Paul Flowers .
Tory chairman said claims were a 'pathetic attempt to evade serious issues'
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If you have always fancied getting away from it all, this secluded island deep in the Canadian wilderness could be just the excuse. Mowgli Island in the remote Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, is the perfect getaway for any budding Bear Grylls or Castaway fans. However, buyers interested in the nine-acre islet - which comes complete with a 22-year-old four-bedroom waterfront property - will need to have deep pockets, as its priced at a staggering £2million. Into the wild: Mowgli Island in the remote Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, comes complete with a four-bedroom cabin . Island life: The secluded islet deep in the Canadian wilderness boasts seals and killer whales as its nearest neighbours . The award-winning designed home features approximately 3,400 feet of low bank waterfront with sandy beaches as well as a 50-foot L-shaped dock for year-round moorage. More than 1,000 square foot of expansive decks surround the home which provides endless exposure to the wild. The property is an hour from the nearest major town Victoria by boat and a 20-minute flight from Vancouver by helicopter. The award-winning designed cabin on the remote island is an hour from the nearest major town Victoria by boat . Ultimate getaway: The island property boasts an award-winning design as well as four bedrooms and a 350sqft studio house . Cabin retreat: Inside the four-bedroom wooden Mowgli Island home, which boasts a traditional fireplace and wilderness views . Remote: The island is located in the Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada, and is priced at £2m . And potential buyers will need to like their own company - the nearest neighbours in the area include seals and killer whales. The island is listed on Sothebys Realty, Canada, for around 3.8million Canadian dollars. On its website, the seller writes: 'Mowgli Island is an exceptional opportunity to own an exclusive private island. Rare buy: The property based on Mowgli Island is an hour from the nearest major town Victoria by boat . The property boasts sandy beaches as well as a 50-foot L-shaped dock for year-round moorage . Mowgli Island is based in the remote Canadian wilderness . 'Properties such as this rarely become available within the Southern Gulf Islands. 'The home is an award-winning Osburn/Clarke designed island retreat featuring 4 bedrooms and a separate 350sqft studio/bunk house. 'The home provides endless exposure to the Gulf Island lifestyle! This Island is truly the ultimate recreational getaway.'
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Mowgli Island is in remote Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia - and is an hour boat ride from next main town .
Boasts 22-year-old, four-bedroom waterfront home - with an award-winning design .
Island and property on the market with Sothebys Realty, Canada, for £2million .
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By . Ruth Styles . Hannah Swanson was just 16 when she met the man who would change her life forever. The youngest daughter of a nurse and a policeman, she was still at school and looking forward to a bright future. Not any more. That boy turned out to be a pimp and by the time she was 18, Hannah, a bright, educated, middle class girl, had disappeared into the world of vice and violence that blights Las Vegas. One of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 35 million tourists each year, Las Vegas is also one of the wealthiest with net profits worth an estimated $15bn generated each year by the lucrative casinos. Loss: Andrea Swanson told Ross Kemp of losing her daughter Hannah, now 18, to Las Vegas' vice rings . But the bright lights of the Strip conceal a dark underbelly; a seedy world of drug addicts, gambling junkies, gangs and violent pimps. And it's in this grim, vice-ridden world that Hannah now lives - much to the distress of her mother, Andrea. Speaking to Ross Kemp on the latest episode of Ross Kemp: Extreme World, Andrea told of her loss and utter distress that there's little she can do to get Hannah back. 'In the . autumn of her junior year at High School, she met this boy,' remembers Andrea. 'All of a sudden, . she's not angry anymore and it all seems to be because of this new . boyfriend. We were delighted.' But her delight at her daughter's seemingly benign new boyfriend wasn't to last. 'All . of a sudden, he ends up in prison for stealing cars,' she says. 'That's where . the grooming happened. Devastating: Andrea says her family has been ripped apart by the actions of their daughter's pimp boyfriend . Bright lights: Las Vegas is famous for its neon lights and casinos but they conceal a dark underbelly . 'He was writing her letters, filling her head with . all these promises... Writing me letters, telling me he cared for my . daughter...' After two years in prison, Hannah's boyfriend was released and Andrea and her family cautiously welcomed him back into their lives. 'We spoke to his . parole officer,' she adds. 'I felt in control of the situation but that only lasted two to three weeks. 'Then they stopped following the rules, they started coming in a . little later and we didn't always know where she was... Three weeks later, . Hannah was gone.' Drawn into a seedy world where women are sold for a few dollars and pimps reign supreme, Hannah was just 18-years-old and had had much to look forward to. And she's not alone. According to Chris Baughman, the head of the PIT team, a branch of the Las Vegas police department's human-trafficking section, middle-class girls are becoming an increasingly common sight on the streets. 'There used to be a time back in the 80s . where guys targeted the downtrodden - girls with drug addictions or from . broken homes but we're far past that,' explains Boffman. 'We've seen girls as young as 12 . and they've come from a decent family.' Chris Boffman of Las Vegas police says the level of violence dished out by pimps to their victims is 'unreal' Arrests: Chris has arrested more than 100 pimps, many making millions from vice, during his career . Sex is big business in Las Vegas, with colourful posters advertising escort companies on every other billboard and even on targeted ad vans. 'The catch is, they aren't selling . prostitution,' says Boffman. 'It is legal to run an escort company but some of these escort . companies are run by pimps.' And the rewards for those ruthless and violent enough to prosper can be huge. 'With . three girls, they can make $1m a year,' adds Boffman. 'One of the reasons they're . so violent and protective of the women that they're trafficking is that . they have so much to gain and so much to lose if the girl should try and . come to the police or run away. 'I've seen everything from women . sexually assaulted, group raped, burned with irons, tattoos burned off . them with irons, water boarding... The violence that we see here is . unreal.' For Andrea, her only hope is that her daughter will one day manage to escape her boyfriend, who they later discovered was a pimp. 'About two to three days . before she graduated high school, I came home from work early and Hannah . was there,' remembers Andrea. Drugs: Many of the women who frequent Las Vegas' underworld are addicted to drugs like crystal meth . 'I said "I'm worried about you Hannah" and she flipped out. She said "OK, OK, I f***ing trick-rolled! Is that OK now? 'You find the . drunkest motherf***er on the strip, you proposition him, you take his . ass up to the room and tell him to clean up. 'Then you steal him... you . steal him blind. You take his wallet, his watch, whatever. I did it, . Mum. Get the hell out of here!"' She told her FBI agent husband who immediately called in Chris Boffman and the vice squad. 'They came over and Detective Boffman had a three-inch binder with her . boyfriend's name on it. I was like "what is her boyfriend's name doing . on that binder? What's going on?" 'They basically said they had enough . evidence to build a case against her boyfriend as a pimp. I let him into . our house! I let him into my heart, into my family and he was slicking . off to fool me too.' She isn't fooled anymore but Andrea remains estranged from her daughter and has no idea where she might be. 'We need tourist money in this town, we just don't need it off the backs of our daughters,' she adds. 'The . attitude of Vegas is do what you would never do anywhere else, and . leave. And you don't ever have to think about it again but my family has . been ripped apart.' Watch the episode on catch-up. See sky.com for more information and full listings.
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Hannah Swanson, now 18, was 16 when she first met her pimp .
Disappeared into Las Vegas vice underworld - much to horror of parents .
Detective Chris Boffman says violence against women is 'unreal'
Says pimps burn, rape and even water board the women they control .
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By . Ruth Styles . For Krissy, 21, home is a large, rubbish-filled storm drain in the business district of Jamaican capital, Kingston. Homeless since the age of 12, his life has been one of hardship, moving from place to place, each squat becoming progressively dirtier, flimsier and more dangerous. But Krissy's bad fortune hasn't come about because he refuses to work or lacks education. Instead, Krissy, and others like him, are ostracised purely because he is gay. Tough: Krissy, just 21, has been homeless and ostracised since the age of 12 because of his sexuality . Jamaica is a country where 80 per cent of the population admit to being homophobic and having gay sex is punishable with 10 years of hard labour in prison. Evangelical preachers who promote homophobia attract huge and receptive audiences, while lyrics in popular songs regularly include exhortations to 'kill the batty boys'. As a result, men like Krissy, who says he has always felt like a man trapped in a woman's body, are forced to the margins of society, with many cast out by their families. Living with Krissy in the drain is a group of 25 men, many of whom have to work as prostitutes to survive, and all of whom face a barrage of violent abuse on a daily basis. 'This is a homophobic country,' says Thelma, another transgender man living in the drain. 'You can't . just go and sit in the park, 10 or 20 men, sit and hold hands and . laugh. 'If gay people are going to meet, you need a safe space to meet.' Cast out: Thelma (left), Krissy (centre) and Sachaberry (centre right) with journalist Ade Adepitan . Grim: The men share this filthy storm drain with 22 others and are flooded with sewage and water when it rains . Precarious: Sachaberry climbs down into the drain in her platform heels. She works as a prostitute . For now, that safe space is the drain, although as Channel 4's Ade Adepitan reveals in tonight's episode of Unreported World, that safety is precarious. In one scene, a crowd streaming back past the drain from an athletics meet turns violent, peppering the gully with stones and screaming insults. Asked what is happening, one replies: 'Them [the crowd] are troubling them because they . think them are gay, which is a man who goes with a man. 'Them boys will . come out and they will burn them up. I want them to burn them up.' When the riot police arrive, they turn their attentions not on the crowd but to the men instead. 'Members of the diverse society, or if . you want to call them, a group of homosexuals, throwing stones at people . passing, pedestrians,' one explains when asked what is going on. For Krissy and his friends Sachaberry and Thelma, this is a risk they run every day. 'It is very, very dangerous to do what I . do,' explains Sachaberry, who works as a prostitute. 'I'm running a great, great risk. I know friends who passed on . because of it, who died, got gunshots, were stabbed...' Sachaberry was herself stabbed when she went to meet a client and found an angry gang of more than a dozen men waiting for her. 'One of them was doing the damage,' she remembers. 'One of . them had the knife, one of them doing the damage. They punctured a . lung... Four times. I could have died.' Krissy too has suffered violent attacks and chose to leave home rather than allow his family, who live in a poverty-stricken part of the Jamaican capital, to be stigmatised by association with him. Painful: Sachaberry shows off one of the scars left after she was stabbed four times and almost died . Furious: Local councillor Carrie Douglas confronts the men. She wants them to be cleared out of the drain . 'You have some Jamaicans who will be moved [by my plight] but it would still leave like a stigma and bring down the family,' he says. Although still close to his sister, he hasn't seen his parents for years and cannot even walk the streets of the shanty where he grew up for fear of attack. 'If I could [walk through the streets], . life would be 100 per cent better for me,' he says. 'I wouldn't have to go back . into the gully. This is my yard, this is . where I was born. This is where I had most of my fun growing up in life.' Quite how precarious his life has become is made plain when you hear from local district councillor, Carrie Douglas, who would like nothing more than to turf the group out of the storm drain. 'Jamaica is homophobic, Jamaica isn't foreign,' she froths. 'So you can't . come to Jamaica and dress up like a drag queen like you are foreign. 'And . guess what! You can do it but if you do do it, you are going to be at a . disadvantage. Standing here, living underneath the gully is a . reflection of that.' Dangerous: Krissy, pictured with reporter Ade Adepitan, says he hopes an angel will take him away one day . 'Behind us is a residential community,' she adds. 'I get reports of petty theft, persons entering illegally into their back yards, whether to make out with people, or to use it as their bathroom. 'That is why the commander of the New Kingston police will try to remove them from this gully. I don't know where they will go after this. That is not my responsibility.' Although Sachaberry insists that a dangerous life on the margins of society is a price worth paying to be herself, it's clear that the strain is beginning to tell on Krissy. 'I think when I can't bear it anymore, . the Lord will send some angel for me who will let me feel relief,' he says, as tears slide down his cheeks. 'Right . now I'm going through a very hard time. I see where I come from and I . see my family and I miss them a lot. 'This life I'm living is not for me . but I have to cope with it and bear it.' See the full report on Unreported World: Jamaica's Underground Gays, tonight at 7.30pm on Channel 4 .
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Krissy, 21, has been homeless since coming out to his family aged 12 .
Left home because family could be stigmatised and lives in a storm drain .
Friend Sachaberry was ambushed by a gang and stabbed four times .
80 per cent of Jamaicans reportedly admit to being homophobic .
Gay sex is punishable by up to 10 years in prison with hard labour .
Many popular songs contain lyrics such as 'kill the batty boy'
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13a9f8e3f8592be50b0f650ac7031510224c71f1
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By . Lydia Warren . A teenager killed his ex-girlfriend by strangling her and watching his friend stuff a sock down her throat before they tied her body to cinder blocks and dumped it in a river, authorities have said. Je'Michael Malloy, 17, allegedly had help from his 18-year-old friend, Dominic Lock, in the grisly murder of his former girlfriend, Danielle Locklear, 15, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The teenage boys, who appeared in court on Wednesday, were arrested on Tuesday after Malloy allegedly confessed to strangling Danielle and dumping her body. Lock was initially charged with conspiracy for allegedly helping . carry Locklear's body, but this has now been dropped and he has instead been charged with second-degree murder, WRAL reported. 'Killer': Je'Michael Malloy, who is charged with the gruesome murder of his former girlfriend Danielle Locklear, makes his first court appearance on Wednesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina . 'Accomplice': Dominic Lock, pictured in court on Tuesday, allegedly shoved a sock in the victim's mouth . Authorities say he was the one who shoved the sock down the girl's throat. A massive search was launched for Danielle after she vanished on March 11 and her body was found in the South River by searchers on April 3. Before then, Malloy had feigned concern about his ex-girlfriend, offering her family help, looking for her and 'liking' a Facebook group set up as part of the search. But authorities say he killed her after they got into an argument when she went to visit him. She was allegedly murdered and her body was dumped in the river that night. Happier times: Malloy is pictured with his ex-girlfriend, Danielle Locklear, whom he allegedly killed last month . Tragic: Danielle was visiting Malloy at his house when they started arguing and he allegedly strangled her . Shocking: When Danielle went missing, Malloy feigned concern and helped her family search for her . Both teenagers now face charges of second-degree murder. Danielle's heartbroken family and friends attended the teenagers' hearing and wept as they said they would get justice for the South View High School freshman. Her aunt, Chena Simmons, told WRAL that the family was shocked when Malloy was arrested because he 'seemed like such a nice young man' and attended the same church as the family. 'That's another thing that's so devastating to us – that he could just stand there with us, asking "Is everything OK? Do you all feel OK?"' Simmons said. The former couple had been vocal about their relationship on Facebook, the FayObserver reported. Heartbroken: Darlene Heegel, center, Danielle's grandmother, leaves the Cumberland County Detention Center on Wednesday after seeing the teenagers accused of killing her granddaughter . Sadness: Friends and family members hold signs outside of the detention center following the hearing . Found: The teens allegedly dumped her body in the South River. A search boat can be seen on the river . Last August, Danielle wrote on Malloy's page: 'Truth is you're the best boyfriend ever, and any girl should be so lucky to have . someone so thoughtful, sweet and strong. I'm so lucky you're mine.' But in December, she wrote on her profile: 'i feel no love because some people are too busy with other friends to pay attention to there (sic) girlfriend. Christmas is supposed to be a happy time ... i feel like poo.' By Valentine's Day - a month before her death - things were back on track as she posted messages he's texted her and called him 'my sweet baby.' Both of the teenagers are in jail on a $100,000 bond.
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Danielle Locker disappeared on March 11 and her body was found in the South River, North Carolina on April 3 .
Her ex-boyfriend, Je'Michael Malloy, 17, 'confessed to strangling her during an argument then dumping her body in the river'
His friend Dominic Lock, 18, 'shoved a sock in her mouth and helped Malloy drop her body in the South River'
Relatives say they were shocked that Malloy - who went to their church - was a suspect because he had helped during the search for Danielle .
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13aa38661eed5f36483931ccb238b9704a90c648
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By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 10:14 EST, 17 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:20 EST, 18 March 2013 . Ukip is storming ahead of the Conservatives when it comes to pleasing right-of-centre voters on policies of government spending, immigration and gay marriage, a poll revealed today. The voters, who are undecided over which of the two parties to vote for, also told the survey that Ukip's Nigel Farage is a better party leader than Prime Minister David Cameron by 37 to 32 per cent. The ‘switchers’ would prefer London Mayor Boris Johnson to Mr Cameron as Tory leader and would put Home Secretary Theresa May in third place, the ICM survey for The Sunday Telegraph said. Favourites: Voters who are undecided over which of the two parties to vote for told the survey that Ukip's Nigel Farage (left) is a better party leader than Prime Minister David Cameron (right) by 37 to 32 per cent . The findings come two weeks after Ukip pushed the Conservatives into an embarrassing third place in the by-election in Eastleigh, Hampshire, which was won by the Lib Dem candidate Mike Thornton. There are concerns within the Tory party that Ukip will split their vote at the local elections in May, which could result in a strong result for Labour and put even more pressure on Mr Cameron. But the poll revealed that Mr Cameron’s policy on holding an ‘in/out’ referendum on Britain's EU membership is favoured by all voters when compared to Ukip’s plan of leaving immediately. The ICM poll overall gave Labour a six-point lead on 36 per cent, with the Tories on 30 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 18 per cent, when asking voters to predict the next general election result. Up and coming: The 'switchers' would prefer London Mayor Boris Johnson to Mr Cameron as Tory leader and would put Home Secretary Theresa May (pictured) in third place . The ‘switchers’ favour Ukip’s immigration policies over those of the Tories by 62 to 34 per cent, and 51 per cent oppose same-sex marriage in line with Ukip, compared to 39 per cent in support. When looking at government spending - covering health, pensioners and global aid - 64 per cent of ‘switchers’ favour Ukip’s policies, compared to just 28 per cent for the Tories. The Tories suffered even more grim opinion poll news when Ukip hit a record 17 per cent in the ComRes poll for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror - firmly cementing its third place. Support for the Prime Minister's Tories fell three points to 28 per cent, with Labour nine points ahead after gaining one point to 37 per cent and the Lib Dems also up one on 9 per cent. But by a majority of 38 per cent to 28 per cent, those polled said the Tories were more likely to win if they kept Mr Cameron as leader, following a bout of speculation of a challenge.
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Right-of-centre voters say Ukip's Nigel Farage is better leader than PM .
'Switchers' would prefer Boris Johnson as PM, with Theresa May in third .
Another poll gives Labour 37%, Tories 28%, Ukip 17% and Lib Dems 9% .
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13accf402f237a36d259b372fda3ca833f286be3
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By . Bianca London . A mother, who wanted to create an extravagant cake for her daughter's fourth birthday, went all out - by baking a four foot tall Peppa Pig cake. Devoted Maria Young spent four days creating the 133,000-calorie treat to look like piglet George. She got builder husband Wayne to make a wooden frame and then covered it in sponge, icing and Rice Krispies. It's life size! Brooke Young's mother Maria, created the extravagant Peppa Pig themed cake for Brooke's fourth birthday . The end result was a cake taller than daughter Brooke, which at five and a half stone, weighed as much as a ten year-old and was enough to feed 700 people. But thrifty Maria, 30, says it cost her just £100 after she took advantage of as many multi-buy offers as she could find. She melted 17 bags of marshmallow into almost 12 boxes of Rice Krispies to create the legs and head, which alone weighed in excess of 15lbs. Quite a mouthful: Maria's hard work resulted in a cake weighing five and a half stone . Good effort! Maria, 30, spent four days creating the 133,000-calorie treat to look like piglet George . She then baked five 12-inch vanilla sponge cakes, using 4lbs of flour, 4lbs of sugar, 4lbs of butter and three dozen large eggs. She covered the big cake in almost 9lbs of buttercream, using 3lbs of butter and 6lbs of icing sugar. Finally the whole thing was coated in 28lbs of icing made from 22lbs of fondant, 4lbs of icing sugar and 4lbs of butter - and six full bottles of food dye. Brooke, her sister Emily, eight, and brother Logan, nine, helped put the cake together in the lounge of their home in Dorking, Surrey. Hungry? Maria's masterpiece was enough to feed 700 people . Calorific: Doctors recommend girls aged four need 1200 calories every day, meaning the huge cake contains enough calories to feed little Brooke for more than 110 days . Enough to go around: Maria cut 40 portions of cake at the party and she says it barely made a dent . It was unveiled on Tuesday night at daughter Brooke's fourth birthday party in front of dozens of stunned family and friends. Maria said: 'I'm so proud of this cake. It took absolutely ages, but that's what Brooke wanted. 'I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and said she wanted a super tall George cake. 'I'm surprised she didn't want Peppa, but I didn't want to argue - making trousers out of icing is much easier than making a dress.' She added: 'The party was brilliant, everyone was talking about the cake. We must have cut out about 40 portions of the cake, and it barely made a dent. Chuffed: Brooke Young blows out the candles on her amazing birthday cake, created by her mother in four days . Slow and steady: The gigantic cake took Maria four days to construct . Prepared to share: Maria says that any leftover cake will be taken to local food banks . 'All my children have taken about 30 more servings each to school for their classmates, and Wayne took about ten big slabs to work for his mates. 'But even after all that, we've still got well over half of it left. I'm going to speak to my local food bank and ask if I can donate some cake to them.' Maria, who has no formal baking training, is planning on setting up her own bakery, specialising in massive cakes. Earlier this year for Emily's birthday, Maria made a My Little Pony cake containing 250,000 calories. She said: 'George was much more difficult than the pony cake, because it involved a lot more sculpting and precision work. 'After the pony, I vowed to never go baking mad again, but when Brooke asked for a special cake like her sister's, I just couldn't say no.' Doctors recommend girls aged four need 1200 calories every day, meaning the huge cake contains enough calories to feed little Brooke for more than 110 days. Helping hand: She got builder husband Wayne to make a wooden frame and then covered it in sponge, icing and Rice Krispies . Marshmallows - 11,300 calRice Krispies - 14,600 calCake body:Eggs - 2,800 calFlour - 7,300 calSugar - 7,800 calButter - 25,100 calIcing sugar - 11,700 calCovering:Fondant - 37,300 calButter - 7,200 calIcing sugar - 7,800 calTotal: 132,900 calories .
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Maria Young, 30, created 133,000-calorie cake in four days .
Her husband made wooden frame and she built it up with ingredients .
Feeds 700 people - she wants to take leftovers to a food bank .
Has previously created a My Little Pony cake for other daughter .
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13ae602a42e3cdb7d645561d9a68bdb266e906bf
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Striking images have revealed new insights into how the kidney develops from a group of cells into a complex organ. In a time-lapse video, a mouse kidney is seen developing, with cells growing out like the branches of a tree. It is hoped the images will help scientists to understand the early stages of development in mammals. University of Edinburgh scientists took time-lapse kidney growth images. They reveal structures called nephrons branching out like a tree. These are instructed to do so by a key protein called beta-catenin. By altering the protein activity, the researchers found that they could instruct the kidney to grow differently . Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute used time-lapse imaging to capture mouse kidneys growing in the laboratory on camera. They identified a key protein called beta-catenin that instructs cells to form specialised structures within the kidney. These structures - called nephrons - are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood to generate urine. Yesterday it was revealed that scientists had developed a transparent eggshell that allows the growth of an embryo to be monitored in a laboratory. While the ‘egg’ itself was artificial, the bird embryo inside is very much real - and allows the researchers a unique glimpse into how embryos develop . The method could be used to perform test drugs and techniques on embryos grown in this way, rather than performing tests on laboratory animals. The embryo featured in the video didn't hatch to grow into an adult bird, but scientists say their methods could allow embryos to be manipulated to understand how various biological processes work. Yellow areas in the video show where beta-catenin is most active, with higher concentrations instructing cells to form particular parts of the structure. The images reveal that a gradient in the activity of beta-catenin forms along the growing nephron. It is the concentration of the molecule that instructs cells to form each particular part of the structure. By changing the activity of beta-catenin in different places, the researchers learned that they could instruct cells to form the kidney in different ways. If nephrons do not work correctly, it can lead to a wide range of health problems - from abnormal water and salt loss, to dangerously high blood pressure. The findings will help scientists to grow nephrons in the lab that can be used to study how kidneys function. These pictures shows two different views of nephrons growing in the laboratory. On the left, the green and red areas highlight cells that filter waste products from the blood (shown in purple and red on the right. The blue/green section in both shows where urine is collected and taken away for excretion . Also, the use of time-lapsed imaging means that, rather than requiring different litters of mice to study different developmental stages, the same animals can be studied over time. This leads to a significant reduction in the number of animals needed for this type of research. 'This is the first time we have been able to identify the molecular signals that instruct cells exactly how to form functional nephrons,' said Dr Peter Hohenstein, of the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute. 'By using time lapse imaging, we can get detailed information about the signals that control how kidneys form at different time-points in development,' Dr Nils Lindstrom, of the University of Edinburgh, added. 'This means that we can use fewer animals and obtain much more information than normal imaging techniques.'
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University of Edinburgh scientists took time-lapse kidney growth images .
They reveal structures called nephrons branching out like a tree .
These are instructed to do so by a key protein called beta-catenin .
By altering the protein activity, the researchers found that they could instruct the kidney to grow slightly differently .
The findings could reveal more about how kidneys function .
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(CNN) -- Japanese authorities are expected to announce Friday that a "cold shutdown" has been achieved at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. That would mean the plant's crippled reactors have stayed at temperatures below the boiling point for some time. The announcement is a symbolic milestone. But experts say it will take years -- perhaps decades -- to fully clean up the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. The plume of radioactive particles that spewed from Fukushima Daiichi -- where reactor cooling systems failed in the aftermath of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami in March -- displaced about 80,000 people who lived within a 20-kilometer (12.5-mile) radius of the plant, as well as residents of one village as far as 40 kilometers to the northwest. The government has yet to determine when those evacuated can return to their homes. Significant work -- with significant risks -- remains to be done at the plant. "This is far from over, and the work will go on for a long time," Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Toshio Nishizawa told CNN this week. Citing government sources, Japan's Kyodo News agency reported Thursday that scrapping crippled reactors at the plant could take up to 40 years. In October, a spokesman for Tokyo Electric -- which owns the plant -- said temperatures in the three reactors where meltdowns occurred had already been brought down below 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), but the company would have to maintain those conditions for some time before declaring the reactors in cold shutdown. "They're making this out to be some big milestone, some big thing. But the reality of this is that it's not," said Michael Friedlander, a former senior operator at U.S. nuclear power plants. "The problem is, with these reactors and the condition that they're in, to suggest that they're in cold shutdown really doesn't do justice to the situation. They're no safer today than they were basically in June." Officials could start removing spent fuel rods from the facility next year, but it could be up to a decade before they are able to access the reactor vessels, he said. "They'll probably spend two or three years studying it," he said. Jack DeVine, who helped lead the cleanup of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant after the 1979 partial meltdown there, said the cold shutdown likely means officials may have one less thing to worry about. If they don't have to use as much water to cool the reactors, they also don't have to worry about what to do with contaminated cooling water -- one of many problems that have plagued workers at the crippled plant. "It's not like there's a dramatic difference. It's just a gradual incremental difference that does make life easier," he said. The earthquake and tsunami on March 11 killed more than 15,000 people in northeastern Japan. The country was on edge for weeks as cooling systems failed and utility and government employees scrambled to prevent a nuclear catastrophe at the six-reactor Daiichi plant, located about 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Tokyo. Hydrogen explosions blew apart the No. 1 and No. 3 reactor housings, while another hydrogen blast is suspected to have damaged the No. 2 reactor. Fires believed caused by heat from the No. 4 spent fuel pool damaged that unit's reactor building. Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency eventually categorized the accident as a level-7 event -- the highest level on an international scale for nuclear disasters -- putting it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. "We are going to check each reactor properly and determine what is going to happen to those left," Nishizawa, the Tokyo Electric president, said Wednesday. Removing spent fuel rods is the next step, but officials need to further survey the area before that happens, he said. "We are considering sending a robot into the fuel tanks to really have a good idea (about) the situation. This will be necessary when we take out the fuel," Nishizawa said. "But I don't believe what we see will be 180 degrees different from our simulations. But as we say, seeing once is better than hearing 100 times, so we will have a good look at what's happening inside." At Three Mile Island, where damage was less severe and only one reactor was affected, it took two and half years before officials were able to get inside the reactor to assess it, DeVine said. At Fukushima Daiichi, that process will likely take much longer, he said. "I think in terms of what's ahead, it's still the daunting task that it's always been, which is first of all, figuring out where everything is. ... They're going to be searching for and finding pieces of fuel, chunks of molten material that have now cooled, through all of that rubble," he said. CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet and Matt Smith in Atlanta, and Licia Yee in Tokyo contributed to this report.
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The announcement means temperatures have stayed below the boiling point .
Experts say significant work -- with significant risks -- remains to be done .
Kyodo News: Scrapping crippled reactors could take 40 years .
80,000 people who lived near the nuclear plant remain displaced .
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Kubrat Pulev has accused world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of feigning injury to avoid taking on the Bulgarian challenger in an IBF title bout in Hamburg next month. Klitschko postponed the fight, scheduled for Sept. 6, last week, saying he had torn bicep muscles during training in Austria. Earlier this week, the 38-year-old Ukrainian said the contest would now take place at the same venue on Nov. 15. 'Nonsense'! Kubrat Pulev (right) has accused Wladimir Klitschko of feigning injury to avoid fighting him . 'It's complete nonsense,' Pulev told local media on Friday. 'If it's a slight injury, you know what medicine can do today and he has a good staff of specialists, he would have been able to recover in time. 'If it's a serious injury he won't recover before Nov. 15. It's a fake injury. 'He knows it's not in his interest to fight. He knows there's a high risk as there's a huge possibility of losing,' added Pulev. Challenger: Unbeaten Kubrat Pulev has recorded 11 knockouts from 20 professional wins . 'I'm a big threat but I'll continue chasing my goal and I'll be even better prepared.' Klitschko also holds the WBO, WBA and IBO belts and has won 62 of his 65 bouts. The unbeaten Pulev, 33, who has recorded 11 knockouts from 20 wins, became the IBF international champion in 2011 and European champion in 2012. Defending champion: Klitschko defended his haul of titles in April, knocking out Alex Leapai of Australia .
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World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko postponed the fight due to an apparent torn bicep muscle in training .
Challenger Kubrat Pulev has accused Klitschko of having a 'fake injury'
The fight was due to be held on September 6 in Hamburg but will now take place on November 15 at the same venue .
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A 19-year-old Maryland woman who survived being shot by an ex-boyfriend has broken her silence with an emotional Facebook post just two weeks after the attack. Kristen Loetz first thanks both those who've helped her in her speedy recovery and CJ Abbott, the 19-year-old who died while protecting her from her attacker. Loetz then compassionately addresses Ryan Shallue, the angry high school flame who took his own life after forcing his way into her home near Salisbury University, shot her in the face, and murdered her heroic friend. Speaking out: Kristen Loetz (right) took to Facebook to speak for the first time since her jilted ex-boyfriend shot her in the face and murdered her friend who tried to protect her . 'Everyone needs to know how you saved my life that day,' writes the honors nursing student in her loving ode to CJ Abbott. Loetz had spent the 12 days previous recovering from wounds she incurred the night Shallue shot her and Abbott with a semi-automatic rifle before before going into a bathroom and shooting himself in the head. 'My fast recovery is greatly because of all of the love and support I have received from everyone,' Loetz writes. That support came first and foremost from Abbott, whose sister said he died a hero trying to stop Shallue from assaulting Loetz. 'I love ya ceej': Loetz thanks all her friends and family, but she gives extra thanks to the man who helped her keep her life but lost her own--CJ Abbott . 'Thanks for being my hero': Loetz wrote an emotional thanks to CJ Abbott, the 20-year-old who sacrificed himself to help save her life when ex Ryan Shallue pulled out a gun to exact his revenge . Haunting: As Shallue (left) lay dead, this photo of him with the woman he tried to kill remains on his Twitter account . 'It is so unfair that it was you and not me,' she writes. 'CJ, the most kind gentle hearted person who would jump at the chance to lend a hand to anyone.' Loetz writes of Abbott's 'fantastic family' and says 'one day I hope to meet them and tell them how amazing of a person I knew you to be.' 'I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for me,' she writes in a post dated September 15. Loetz goes on to thank the friend named Michelle 'for being so strong during this tragedy' and calling 911 after the shooting. Then Loetz writes something unexpected, a largely friendly acknowledgement of the ex-boyfriend who tried to kill her. 'You were never a bad person,' she writes of Shallue. 'I hope you have found a better place where you can find peace.' The 450 word letter closes: 'I love ya ceej, thanks for being my hero.' Police . say Ryan Shallue became increasingly disturbed after his high school . girlfriend Kristen Loetz, 19, dumped him four months ago. Shallue began stalking her and . bought a gun two weeks before the shooting. On the night of September 4, he showed up at Loetz's off-campus house, where she . discovered her with 20-year-old Charles 'CJ' Abbott. When Shallue began . fighting with Loetz, Abbott tried to intervene, police said. Shallue pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and pulled the trigger. Friends: Loetz, left, took to Facebook to thank all her friends. She especially thankful to CJ Abbott, who tried to stop the enraged Shallue when he entered Abbott's home September 4 . The Salisbury Daily Times . reports that Loetz and Shallue graduated high school together in . Stevensville, Maryland, in 2010. The Facebook profiles for both Loetz . and Shallue show dozens of photos of them embracing - appearing a happy . couple at the beach and at prom. After . high school, Loetz left and attended Salisbury University, an hour and a . half away. She became a promising nursing student whom teachers called . bright and attentive. She joined a sorority on campus and worked at a . community center for special needs children and teens. Shallue stayed behind and appears to . have done little with his life. His Twitter page shows a man becoming . increasingly bitter and obsessed with alcohol. High school sweethearts: Police say Ryan Shallue, 21, left, attacked his ex-girlfriend Kristen Loetz, 19, four months after she dumped him. Loetz was critically wounded. Shallue killed himself . Police say Shallue forced his way into his ex-girlfriend's house, just off the campus of Salisbury University on Tuesday night . Police say Loetz dumped Shallue months ago and that he spiraled into obsession and anger. Shallue's . Twitter page includes tweets like 'I just drank a fifth of vodka, dare . me to drive!' and 'I found the cure and its name is vodka!' Abbott was a skilled car mechanic in Salisbury. His bosses described him as hard-working and dedicated. His sister told the Daily Times that Abbott and Loetz had been seeing a lot of each other recently. She . said her entire family - including his twin brother - are devastated by . the shocking murder, but said no one was surprised he died trying to . protect a friend. 'It’s just like CJ to be a hero,' April Abbott told the newspaper. Police say Shallue became increasingly unstable after Loetz dumped him four months ago. She had moved away from their hometown and was a promising nursing student .
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'Thanks for being my hero': Kristen Loetz, 19, wrote her thanks to the friend who helped save her .
Ryan Shallue entered her home near Salisbury University in Maryland and shot and killed her new friend Charles 'CJ' Abbott then himself .
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Notorious 'serial stowaway' Marilyn Jean Hartman has struck again. The 63-year-old California resident was arrested Monday in Jacksonville, Florida, after she allegedly snuck onto a flight from Minneapolis Sunday by using someone else's identity. Once in Jacksonville, the woman allegedly used a fake name, Maria Sandgren, to get transportation to Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, where she checked into a $300-a-night villa. But her triumph was short-lived: Hartman fled hours later when the real guest showed up at the hotel. She's baaack! Notorious 'serial stowaway' Marilyn Jean Hartman, 63, was arrested in Florida after allegedly sneaking onto a flight and then checking into a posh resort using someone else's name . The fleet-footed senior citizen was discovered by security guards the following day hiding in a vacant room that was been renovated, reported NBC News. Hartman has been charged with felony fraud, defrauding an innkeeper and misdemeanor trespassing. She is due back in court Tuesday. The stowaway's long criminal record lists numerous similar incidents involving boarding flights without a ticket and entering places under false pretense. In August 2014 alone she was arrested no fewer than three times. Hartman has blamed her penchant for sneaking onto planes on an unrecognized medical condition she called 'whistleblower trauma syndrome. According to the woman, she was a whistleblower who was forced by the FBI to flee her home, forcing her to live on the streets. Police picked her up at Sky Harbor International Airport August 26 on suspicion of criminal trespass after officials noticed her loitering near the baggage claim. Repeat offender: In August 2014, Hartman was arrested no fewer than three times, including at Phoenix airport . Just two weeks earlier, Hartman was ordered to spend 117 days in jail 13 for a probation violation after she was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport when a court had banned from the premises just days earlier. However Hartman - who is said to have a 'fixation' on airports because they make her feel safe - was released Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood on August 16 - just three days later - due to overcrowding. It is unclear how she made it from L.A. to Phoenix in the last 10 days. After her August arrest in Phoenix, the 63-year-old wondered aloud at a press conference, 'Why has the government allowed me to get past security points?' Hartman, who has made previous attempts . to sneak aboard flights at other airports, was arrested August 4 after successfully taking a Southwest Airlines flight from San Jose to Los Angeles without a . ticket. At Mineta San Jose International Airport, Hartman tried at least three times to get to a plane before she finally went past a security screener who was busy checking a family's documents, law enforcement officials said. She later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of willfully and unlawfully entering Los Angeles as a stowaway on an aircraft and was sentenced to two years of probation. Her boarding status was discovered once the Southwest flight landed in Los Angeles, the officials said. Hartman later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of willfully and unlawfully entering Los Angeles as a stowaway on an aircraft. A judge ordered her to stay away from LAX unless she had a valid ticket. Outside . the courthouse after sentencing, Hartman said she would never try to sneak . onto a plane again. 'It was stupid, and it is something I don't want to . repeat,' she said. She added, 'Obviously they'll be on watch for me so I wouldn't dare attempt this again. I don't want to be that position. I want to go with a paid ticket,' reported News4Jax at the time. However, . Los Angeles Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon said he had a feeling . the woman 'with a fixation on flying' would return to LAX, so police . passed out fliers with her picture. Can't stop: Hartman was sentenced to 18 months probation for attempting to board three Hawaii-bound flights last year. She spent three days in jail . 'She was (then) seen wandering through several terminals in what appeared to be a scouting mission,' he said. In February, Hartman was sentenced to 18 months' probation in San Mateo County after being arrested for attempting to board three Hawaii-bound flights at San Francisco International Airport on three separate days. Her breach of security at the San Jose airport caused federal officials and the airline to launch investigations. It also prompted criticism of the airport in light of the trespassing of a teenage boy who stowed away in the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines flight and survived an arduous journey to Maui. Hartman, who authorities say has a history of mental illness, has now been arrested eight times for trespassing at airports this year - though this is the first time she's been caught after successfully boarding a flight. She said last week that homelessness drove her to take 'desperate measures,' and that she feels safer being in airports than in the streets. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said that Hartman has no family and has never married. According to a her blog, found by the San Francisco Chronicle, she has lived in sketchy motels and squalid apartments from Seattle to San Diego in the last few years. Records indicate Hartman was arrested November 6, 2010, at the Lihue Airport in Kauai after trespassing into the baggage claim area, the Chronicle reported. She was charged with simple trespass, but failed to show up for court hearings - and remains the subject of a bench warrant. Plane fixation: Hartman tried at least three times to breach airport security before she was able to get through a checkpoint without a boarding pass at Mineta San Jose International Airport August 4 . According to the newspaper, Hartman said in her blog that she had successfully hopped a plane once before. She was found out and detained - but later released without charge. In May - after being arrested seven times at San Francisco International Airport - Hartman was placed in a mental treatment program but she stopped attending last month. 'She declined all of our efforts to offer her assistance,' Wagstaffe said. 'And we tried all of the alternatives we had because we weren't interested in locking her up on our end.' Then she went back to the San Francisco airport, but Wagstaffe's office declined to file charges after her seventh arrest in July for another failed attempt. On Monday, Hartman was only caught after the plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport and the crew counted the passengers who remained on board for the final destination to Phoenix. She was hauled off the plane and charged with trespassing by the Los Angeles Police Department.
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Marilyn Jean Hartman, 63, arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, on charges of fraud and trespassing .
Police say she snuck onto flight from Minneapolis by using someone else's name .
She then checked into Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort using a false name, but had to flee when the guest returned .
In August 2014, she was arrested no fewer than three times, including at Phoenix airport .
Hartman has been arrested seven times at San Francisco airport alone .
She's blamed her obsession with planes and airports on unrecognized medical condition she calls 'whistleblower trauma syndrome'
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13b0a303ee2ca2e7324f490c1e4e0bdc3b278f0b
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 03:28 EST, 20 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:28 EST, 20 June 2013 . Casey Anthony could be at risk of 'disappearing' if the defamation cases against her continue, according to her lawyers. The 27-year-old from Florida has been accused of slandering two people by implicating them in the death of her daughter Caylee, whom she was cleared of murdering. But she is seeking to have their lawsuits dropped, claiming she does not have enough money to pay damages. At risk: Casey Anthony could disappear if she is forced to defend against lawsuits, according to her attorneys . Anthony is being sued by Roy Kronk, the workman who found Caylee's body after the two-year-old had been missing for six months, who says he has been accused of wrongdoing over the toddler's death. She also faces a suit from Zenaida Gonzalez, a woman with the same name as a fictional nanny who Anthony originally claimed had kidnapped Caylee. However, both cases were paused in January when Anthony filed for bankruptcy. Her lawyers are now seeking to have the suits dismissed, filing papers in Orange County Circuit Court claiming that Anthony could go into hiding as a result of her legal struggles, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Daughter: Anthony was acquitted of murdering two-year-old Caylee, who went missing for six months . 'She will either defend the cases or be forced to default because she has no money,' they wrote. 'She will be lampooned in the press. The death threats will again increase. 'She will be forced to find new accommodations, or just simply disappear and say it is not worth the fight anymore.' Anthony, who was widely vilified at the time of her trial for murder, has barely been seen in public since being acquitted of killing her daughter. She claims to be nearly $800,000 in debt thanks to heavy legal fees, and a bankruptcy trustee has sought to sell off the rights to her life story in order to pay her bills. Although Anthony was found not guilty of murder in 2011, she was convicted of lying to police after it emerged that she had made up her explanation of why Caylee was missing. Last month, the trial judge said that he was shocked by Anthony's acquittal and claimed that there was enough evidence to convict her of killing her daughter.
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Anthony is being sued for defamation but cases have been on hold .
Lawyer says she will face death threats and could 'simply disapper'
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13b0cd071cf54d55c8a696d18f62016cde844830
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American football fans were ecstatic when the 2014 NFL season kicked off last week but few expressed their joy more perfectly than George the dog. When shown a recording of the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers in 2014 season opener, George couldn't contain his excitement - as he well shouldn't given his four-legged status. George jumps and barks with vigour from the snap to the down, slightly less so between plays. And he calms down totally during commercial breaks. Barking mad: George the dog prances, jumps and barks when American football comes on TV . NFL fan: George can't take his eyes off the screen as the Green Bay Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks . When his owner cruelly switches the TV to an old episode of Kevin James sitcom The King of Queens, George isn't especially impressed, but the spring is back in the pooch when he turns back to the game. 'George, did you miss football?' the owner asks. 'I know I did.' From his joyous frolicking, it's fair to say George did, too. Though it's hard to tell if he's a fan of the Packers or Seahawks, who won 36-16. Play ball: The happy pooch is rivetted by the contest between the Packers and last year's Super Bowl winners .
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George the dog jumps up and down whenever the NFL is on TV .
The video shows the pooch jumping as Green Bay play Seattle .
The NFL season returned with the Packers vs Seahawks on September 5 .
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13b22389c48c4f0d43400820e9343827df1ff809
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By . Alasdair Glennie Tv Correspondent . Chris Evans is oficially the king of breakfast radio after attracting a record-breaking 9.83million weekly listeners (pictured with son Noah) He spent years in the showbusiness wilderness after his first stint at the BBC ended in disaster. But Chris Evans, 48, is now the king of breakfast radio after he pulled in a record 9.83million weekly listeners. The presenter helped Radio 2 to its highest ever ratings over the past three months, the latest listener ratings have shown. As The Chris Evans Breakfast Show added 10,000 listeners in a quarter, his Radio 1 rival Nick Grimshaw lost almost 400,000, according to audience measurement system Rajar. Evans is now nearly 1.7million ahead of veteran DJ Terry Wogan, whom he replaced in 2010. Sir Terry managed a peak audience of 8.1million listeners in his final three months. Radio 2 drew in 15.6million weekly listeners, up from 15.3million last year and its highest audience since records began in 2009. Radio 1’s figure of 10.5million was up 200,000 on this time last year, but down 400,000 on the last quarter. Grimshaw, 29, lost 526,000 listeners over the age of 25 in just three months but gained 130,000 under-24s. His overall weekly audience of 5.9million is almost a million down on his predecessor Chris Moyles who stepped down as the station tried to attract younger listeners and make it more distinctive from Radio 2. Last night Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said despite the audience decline, Grimshaw’s figures showed the strategy is working. He said: ‘I was asked to build a younger audience for Radio 1 and regenerate the brand, and these figures show we’re doing exactly that. Grimmy and the Breakfast Show continue to gain young listeners, which is the challenge I set him.’ Evans’ continued success is particularly remarkable considering how spectacularly his career imploded in the 1990s. Nick Grimshaw has lost Radio 1 almost a million listeners since he took over the slot from Chris Moyles, but has attracted nearly 130,000 under-24s as the show looks to attract a younger audience . The former TFI Friday presenter once admitted hosting most of his shows with a hangover when he was a Radio 1 star, and in 1995 was fined £7,000 when he turned up for work after a 17-hour pub crawl. He eventually quit two years later after managers refused to give him Fridays off so he would have more time to recover from his binges, which saw him drink up to 20 pints of lager a day. BBC radio boss Helen Boaden said: ‘The continuing success of the Chris Evans Breakfast Show is a tribute to all those who work so hard to make the show utterly unique.’ Radio 4’s weekly audience of 10.95million was up from last year’s figure but down from the last quarter’s record high of 11.2million. Radio 3 added 100,000 listeners in the past three months.
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Chris Evans attracts 1.7million more listeners a week than Terry Wogan did .
As Evans added 10,000 listeners in a quarter, Nick Grimshaw lost 400,000 .
However BBC Radio 1 presenter Grimshaw added 130,000 under-24s .
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13b2e785136113db462c48f1af68912230e62b4a
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BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday blamed supporters of the Dalai Lama for recent violence in Tibet, and said Chinese forces exercised restraint in confronting unrest there. "There is ample fact and we also have plenty of evidence proving that this incident was organized, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique," Wen said in a televised news conference. The Chinese premier also dismissed the Dalai Lama's claim that China is causing "cultural genocide" of his people in Tibet as lies. The United States has urged Chinese restraint after days of violent protests in Tibet, even as a deadline passed for anti-Chinese protesters to surrender. Death tolls from the violence vary. Exiled Tibetan independence campaigners say at least 80 people died while Chinese authorities put the figure lower. "There are 13 common people who died in the beating, burning and smashing in the riots," said Champa Phuntsok, the head of Tibet's regional government. "They died of fire, asphyxiation and beating. Some of them were set on fire by rioters and died in the burning." U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the United States is very concerned about the Chinese crackdown on Tibetan protesters. "We continue to urge restraint on the part of the Chinese government in terms of how it responds to these protesters." U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to wire service reports from Moscow, said: "We have really urged the Chinese over several years to find a way to talk with the Dalai Lama, who is a figure of authority, who is not a separatist, and to find a way to engage him and bring his moral weight to a more sustainable and better solution of the Tibet issue." In a news conference in Beijing on Monday, Champa Phuntsok blamed the violence on "a small group of separatists and criminals" who take their lead from exiled followers of Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. On Sunday, the exiled Dalai Lama condemned China's action in his homeland, accusing Beijing of "cultural genocide." Shops, schools and businesses were open Monday in Tibet's capital, Lhasa, but tensions remained high throughout the territory and three neighboring provinces after days of deadly clashes. Xinhua reported Monday that 160 locations in Lhasa were burned by rioters, including "banks, a press establishment, shops, schools and hospitals." Watch Chinese police on the streets » . The state-run news agency quoted police in Tibet giving protesters a deadline of midnight Monday "to stop their criminal activities and offering leniency to those who surrender themselves. "Those who surrender and provide information on other lawbreakers will be exempt from punishment," Xinhua quoted a police notice as saying. James Miles, a reporter for The Economist who arrived in Lhasa just before the violence began last week and has been allowed to stay, told CNN Monday that Lhasa was now quiet but damage was evident throughout the city. The number of people killed Friday -- and which side they were on -- remained in dispute, but Miles said it appeared the dead included Tibetans as well as Han Chinese who operated businesses there. Chinese security forces maintained a strong presence, checking identification papers of people on the streets, Miles said. Phuntsok said the protesters wanted to destabilize Tibet "at the critical and sensitive time that we are preparing for the Olympics." "There are 13 common people who died in the beating, burning and smashing in the riots," said Phuntsok. "They died of fire, asphyxiation and beating. Some of them were set on fire by rioters and died in the burning." He said Chinese police did not fire their guns or use anti-personnel weapons against the Tibetans despite 61 police officers being injured, six seriously. Watch riot police search homes » . Tibetan exiles described a much more violent response by police. A Xinhua story published Monday said the protesters had "indisputable links to peace-preaching Dalai Lama." Tibet is officially an autonomous region of China, but the Dalai Lama said that Tibetans are treated by the Chinese as second-class citizens in their own land. He said they need full autonomy to protect their cultural heritage. Since Tibet fell under Communist Chinese control in the 1950s, Han Chinese have moved into the province to participate in the government and operate businesses. Miles reported seeing incidents Friday of Tibetan crowds attacking Han Chinese residents with stones. He said many of the businesses burned by protesters belonged to Han Chinese. Violent protests were reported at or near Tibetan monasteries outside of Lhasa and in three other nearby Chinese provinces on Friday and in the days since. Watch the generational divide among independence activists » . Tibetan monks at the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe, Gansu province -- 750 miles from Lhasa -- apparently staged a protest Friday and Saturday that Chinese security forces acted quickly to stop. Spence Palermo, a American who was filming a documentary at the monastery, said Chinese officials banned his crew from returning to the monastery Friday. They were suddenly rushed from their hotel Saturday as a "seemingly endless convoy" of Chinese troops headed toward the monastery, he said. Newsweek magazine reported Monday that as many as 4,000 monks and lay persons clashed with police near the monastery Friday and Saturday. Tibet Watch, a group based in Dharamsala, India, told CNN that 34 people have died in the Nwaga County area of Sichuan province in western China. The dead include women and children, the group said in an e-mail, adding they were killed by Chinese police attempting to stop the protests. Eight bodies -- including the bodies of two monks -- were brought to the Nagaba Kirti monastery, the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamsala told CNN. Tibet Watch said another protest took place in Machu County in northwestern China Sunday. It was started by some Tibetan students distributing fliers. They were later joined by monks and laypeople. During the demonstration, several shops and a security headquarters were burned, the group said. An estimated 2,000 Tibetans were using firecrackers in the streets, the group said. Chinese authorities have denied CNN permission to enter Tibet to report on the current situation. E-mail to a friend .
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NEW: Chinese Premier says China's response to the protests was restrained .
NEW: Premier called Dalai Lama's claim of "cultural genocide" of his people lies .
Streets of Lhasa quiet but heavy security, witnesses say .
U.S. urges Chinese restraint; talks with Dalai Lama .
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13b2fec466834fd68c3dddd4cf2ab1a12a927e10
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Reuters is a global information company providing material tailored for professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets. Its information is trusted and drives decision making across the globe. In October 1851 Paul Julius Reuter, a German-born immigrant, opened an office in the City of London which transmitted stock market quotations between London and Paris via the new Calais-Dover cable. 18 months earlier he had used pigeons to fly stock prices between Aachen and Brussels, a service which operated for a year until the gap in the telegraph link was closed. Reuters, as the agency soon became known, eventually extended its service to other European countries. It also expanded the content to include general and economic news from all around the world. In 1865 Reuters was first in Europe with news of President Lincoln's assassination in the United States. As overland telegraph and undersea cable facilities developed, the business expanded beyond Europe to include the Far East in 1872 and South America in 1874. In 1883 Reuters began to use a "column printer" to transmit messages electrically to London newspapers and in 1923 pioneered the use of radio to transmit news internationally. In 1927 it brought in the teleprinter to distribute news to London newspapers. Today Reuters has over 16,900 staff in over 94 countries across the globe, and is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, with 196 bureaux serving approximately 131 countries. In 2006 Reuters filed over two and a half million news items, including 656,500 alerts, from 209 countries around the world, published in 18 languages. Although Reuters is best known as the world's largest international multimedia news agency, more than 90% of its revenue derives from its financial services business. Some 370,000 financial market professionals working in the equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, money, commodities and energy markets around the world use Reuters products. The company supplies news -- text, graphics, video and pictures -- to media organizations across the globe. It also provides news to businesses outside the financial services sector, as well as direct to consumers. E-mail to a friend .
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Reuters was founded in 1851 by Julius Reuter, transmitting market quotations .
The company was first in Europe with news of President Lincoln's assassination .
Today Reuters has 196 bureaux serving approximately 131 countries.
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13b36e3d70f4e17498a7e576379d79f909275d5b
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By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 12:34 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:34 EST, 22 January 2014 . James Edward Maxwell, 41, has been jailed after admitting 17 counts of fraud - he promised clients meetings with celebrities and luxury holidays . A conman who lured people into handing over tens of thousands of pounds for bogus meetings with famous people has been jailed for fraud. James Edward Maxwell, 41, from Sittingbourne, Kent, swindled clients out of £750,000 by offering them deals where they could attend high-profile sporting events and meet their heroes. A gambling addict, he tricked dozens of customers into paying for 'dream encounters' with celebrities, as well as luxury holidays and investment deals, but none of the promises ever came to fruition. Maxwell, who helped run The Autograph Store and Sports Idols, based in Sittingbourne, and also set up Premier Signings and Hospitality Ltd, was jailed on Friday after admitting 17 counts of fraud. Maidstone Crown Court heard that when customers complained, Maxwell spun even more lies, claiming his young son had a rare form of bone cancer and saying he himself had testicular cancer. Detective Constable Steve Payne said Maxwell spun a 'staggering . web of lies' in an attempt to pay for his gambling habit. He said: 'He betrayed dozens of people with his fraud when it emerged the deals he was offering were simply too good to be true.' Maxwell's offers included flights and . five star hotels, packages for the Monaco and British Grand Prix, and accommodation on a super-yacht . owned by motorsport tycoon Eddie Jordan. He . falsely claimed he could offer bargains at cost price because he had . ‘connections’ with celebrities, telling them: 'It’s not what you know in . this business, it’s who.' Customers . would be told days before that the yacht had been double-booked or the . deal had been cancelled, only for Maxwell to promise to invest their . money into another package. The swindler made up other aliases to protect his own reputation, and manipulated friends and customers into investing into his businesses by . saying he had ‘cash flow’ troubles. Court: Maxwell was jailed for three years, four months at Maidstone Crown Court after admitting fraud . He . then spent the money on his gambling habit or luxury holidays for his family. Clients grew suspicious after Maxwell made repeated excuses, or got his aliases muddled up, the court was told, but when . challenged, he would seek his clients' sympathies by telling them his father had just died, or spinning lies about cancer. Detectives, who were alerted by some of Maxwell's clients, discovered he had a gambling problem and had been spending up to £1,000 of his victims’ money feeding his habit in a single day. Maxwell was jailed for three years and four months, and was also disqualified from holding any limited company position for ten years.
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James Edward Maxwell, 41, from Sittingbourne, promised bogus meetings .
He boasted of celebrity connections and offered five-star luxury holidays .
Maxwell persuaded friends to loan him money which he never repaid .
He spent money gambling and on expensive holidays for his own family .
Clients grew suspicious when the deals he'd promised failed to materialise .
Maxwell made excuses, saying he had cancer, but police were called in .
Jailed for three years, four months, after admitting 17 counts of fraud .
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13b377edc2df2d1ba5bbdcea4fa8dc3b4ba1c6e9
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New York (CNN) -- Robbie Wilde thumbs through his iPhone as the sounds of voices and clinking glasses bounce all around him. His eyes never leave the phone's screen. During New York Fashion Week, Wilde, 27, passes the time with friends and management at an exclusive party in Hell's Kitchen before taking over the turntables. Wilde lives in a world of rhythm and bass. He just can't hear it. Ear infections at age 7 left Wilde completely deaf in his right ear and took away 80% of his hearing in his left one. It would be another four years before doctors would confirm what his mother, Maria Sapeta, dreaded: Her son was deaf. "It was heartbreaking as a mother," she recalled. "It was probably one of the hardest days of my life. But Robbie was the one who gave me a hug and said, 'Don't cry.'" Originally from Portugal, Sapeta and her husband, Emidio, then a cruise ship chef, had moved to the United States when Wilde was 5. From childhood, he always had a "persistent personality," Sapeta said, laughing. Unlike many other kids his age, he always finished what he started -- from puzzles to cabins made from Lincoln Logs. After losing his hearing, his grades slipped because he had difficulty understanding his teachers. Bullied in school, Wilde usually kept his deafness a secret. When his parents suggested he attend a specialty school, he insisted on staying in public school. He worked with a speech therapist and began reading lips. "I grew up in a way that I don't want any sympathy. I don't want to be treated differently," he said. "I just tried to maneuver around, reading lips and trying to hear my own way." When her son announced he wanted to be a professional DJ instead of joining the family restaurant business, Sapeta was cautiously supportive. "We could see his talent and his passion, but I kept worrying about that left ear," she said. "Anything to stop his dreams, he didn't want it." Hearing is the most important sense for a DJ, who manipulates music, scratches records and uses mixers. But Wilde was determined to succeed without his. Always drawn to music, he discovered turntables in high school through a friend's brother who was a DJ. Wilde got his first shot at performing as a DJ at his father's restaurant outside Newark, New Jersey, nearly a decade ago, and he hasn't looked back since. "I still consider it as a hobby. I really do love it," Wilde said. "I don't see it as a job, and that's the best part." Wilde started out playing CDs before pushing himself to scratch records, something he knew he needed help with. "It's a hard business alone for the hearing community," he said, "And I was like, 'I'm hearing impaired and how's that going to work?'" So he paired up with two-time DMC world champion DJ and Harvard math grad Sam Zornow, aka DJ Shiftee, who was teaching at Dubspot, a DJ school and production studio in New York. Mastering turntables is a skill that takes hours of practice to learn and can be a lifelong pursuit, Zornow said. "It takes two years just to get bad," he said. "And I mean 'bad' meaning bad." Still, Zornow was up to the challenge of working with Wilde. At first he didn't know what to expect, but he said Wilde's success has surprised him. "On paper it should be impossible. You're dealing with manipulating sound. Then combine that with a discipline that's hard in general, it's a really impressive task he's taken on," Zornow said. "From the beginning he believed in himself and continues to believe in himself." Computer giant Hewlett-Packard noticed Wilde's skills and put him in a commercial this fall for its new touch-enabled PC, thrusting him onto the world stage. (watch it here on YouTube) "It's a true story of inspiration," said HP marketing executive Danielle Jones. "His is a profound story of someone being able to do the things that matter to them and the things that they love through technology." Unable to hear lyrics or complete compositions, Wilde relies on technology to see the music by using his laptop and DJ software that helps him differentiate between vocals, bass and kicks. He also feels the vibration whether physically from a club's speakers or through a SubPac, which resembles a seat cushion and allows him to feel the music by directly transferring low frequencies to the body. Clubgoers and promoters dubbed him "That Deaf DJ" after he first came onto the scene in New Jersey -- a moniker even he uses. But Wilde said he wants to be more than just "a deaf kid trying to DJ." "I want you to see me as a great DJ who happens to be deaf," he said. Besides, he said, some things are better left unheard. "There's a lot of sounds out in the world you don't want to hear. I like it muffled," he said. "I like who I am; I'm proud of who I am." Wilde has gone from working small clubs to rocking this year's Consumer Electronics Show and Sundance Film Festival. When he's not behind the turntables, Wilde is in the studio producing music. Often questioned about the severity of his deafness, Wilde used to carry around a doctor's note and would show the back of his driver's license indicating his hearing impairment. When people question his abilities, he said he has only one answer: "I didn't hear you."
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Robbie Wilde lost his hearing due to ear infections as a child .
He refused to go to a special school, learning to read lips instead .
A friend's brother introduced him to the turntables .
Wilde has performed at the Sundance Film Festival and other events .
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13b3a95eccc169b738e74921518c14322d0b62d2
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A marketing manager who was too heartbroken to leave her dog at home every day has quit her high flying career of 20 years to open up a café for dogs. Lisa Owen-Jones, 44, from Stoke Newington, north London, was so distraught at leaving her Wire Fox Terrier, Florence, at home that she decided to do something about it. Earlier this year she realised her dream and opened a coffee shop catering exclusively to four-legged-friends and their owners. A marketing manager who was too heartbroken to leave her dog at home every day has quit her high-flying job to open up a café for dogs . Lisa Owen-Jones, 44, from north London, was so distraught at leaving her terrier Florence at home when she went to work that she quit her job - and opened Scooby's Boutique Coffee Bar, based in Muswell Hill . Scooby's Boutique Coffee Bar is based in Muswell Hill and has proved immensely popular with local dog owners. The menu includes doggy lollypups, cheese bone biscuits, flap Jack Russels, dog-gestives and puppaccinos as well as extra special weekend treats for hounds - and Lisa's tried them all. All dogs and humans are welcome and Lisa's over the moon that her beloved Florence can now go to work with her every day. The former marketing manager at BBC Concert Orchestra, said: 'I love my job, I can't think of a better way to spend my time than with man's best friend. 'When I got Florence in 2012 it really was love at first sight, I even carried her round in a puppy rucksack before she could even walk. 'Florence came everywhere with me, on the tube, to the pub, I'd have a beer and Florence would have an ice cube. Lisa Owen-Jones, 44, from Stoke Newington, was distraught at leaving her terrier, Florence . Some dogs 'refuse to walk past unless they can come in for their cheese bone or dog-gestive biscuit' 'But over time I found it harder and harder leaving her to go to my day job. Florence would sit next to the door with sad eyes, I felt so guilty. 'I started thinking about ways I could spend more time with her and Scooby's was born. 'Now some of my most loyal doggy customers refuse to walk past unless they can come in for their cheese bone or dog-gestive biscuit. 'I wouldn't have my life any other way now. 'We have both a human and hounds menu and we also host birthday parties and afternoon tea, we have so much fun. 'But you don't need to have a dog to come to Scooby's, everyone's welcome. It's a place to relax, meet friends and have a nice time.' Lisa's over the moon that her beloved Florence can now go to work with her every day . Both humans and hounds can enjoy a nice drink and treat inside come rain or shine . Lisa has wanted a dog for more than a decade. And after being dragged to countless dog shows, her mother decided to give her the best Christmas present she could ever wish for - a wire fox terrier puppy. The idea of Scooby's came to Lisa after she was left angered by other coffee shops turning her and her pooch away. Lisa said: 'I was tired of waving outside coffee shops trying to get the attendant to notice us. 'I got tired of standing in the rain drinking my coffee, there was no reason why we couldn't go in we just weren't allowed. 'Now both humans and hounds can enjoy a nice drink and treat inside come rain or shine.' Lisa had worked in classical music for over twenty years and had no experience of running a café or coffee bar before. Lisa said: 'It's been a sharp learning curve from writing business plans, learning about coffee machines to sourcing beans. 'In the beginning I signed me and Florence up for dog training classes, I really wanted to be able to feel in control of dogs in all situations. 'We've now passed our puppy foundation, bronze and silver Kennel Club Good Citizenship tests, we will get gold one day. 'Sometimes I think I must be barking but I don't regret the career change. 'I've now tried everything off the human and hound menu, it's all healthy, so why not. Florence favourites are the dog-gestives and mine are the flap Jack Russles. 'I really do love servings my hounds and humans and I've discovered that I really do like trying to make the perfect cup of coffee and love making puppaccions for the dogs - it's very satisfying.' Treats at Scoobys include cheese bone biscuits, flap Jack Russels, dog-gestives and puppaccinos . A bone birthday cake (l) and a hound doing his best to resist a doggy lollipup (r) Scooby's has recently started hosting events, last month Lisa held a photo-call with a pet-friendly Photo Booth to launch a competition for flea and tick protection company Frontline Spot On, which named Christine Hanson as the UK's most dedicated pet owner. Lisa said: 'We hold all kind of different events here at Scooby's, this has been one of my favourites. 'We had a photobooth and the dogs loved dressing up more than the humans, it was a lovely afternoon. 'The most dedicated pet owners were nominated and Christie was a worthy winner. 'Every week Christie drove her dog Roxie to have chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. 'Sadly in September, Roxie lost her battle and left Christie and her other pooch Copper heartbroken. 'It was an honour being involved in an event with people who adore their pets just as much as me.' For more information please visit scoobysboutique.co.uk .
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Lisa Owen-Jones from Stoke Newington, was distraught at leaving her pet .
BBC Concert Orchestra marketing manager, left Florence at home all day .
Decided to quite and open Scooby's Boutique Coffee Bar in Muswell Hill .
Serves flap Jack Russels, dog-gestives and puppaccinos .
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13b3d47141986a25381e2976107b92a800d3112b
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:35 EST, 27 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:37 EST, 27 February 2014 . A 30-year-old man who allegedly laced his pregnant girlfriend's pancakes with an abortion-inducing drug, killing the fetus, has been charged with first-degree murder. Scott Robert Bollig, from Wakeeney, Kansas, allegedly crushed up the drug on January 26 before giving it to his girlfriend, 36-year-old Naomi Abbott, who was between eight and ten weeks pregnant. She later miscarried the fetus, but the Kansas Attorney General's office would not say when. Authorities also did not reveal how Abbott learned that she had been poisoned. On Wednesday, Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed formal criminal charges against Bollig, who was arrested February 20. His bond was set at $500,000. Charged: Scott Bollig, left, allegedly crushed up abortion-inducing drugs and gave them to his girlfriend, Naomi Abbott, right, who was eight to ten weeks pregnant. The fetus was killed, authorities said . 'Bolling did, then and there, unlawfully, feloniously and intentionally commit an overt act, to wit: putting a crushed form of a medication used to terminate an intrauterine pregnancy on food,' charging documents state. The complaint, which does not name the medication that was used or how it was obtained, says Abbott suffered 'great bodily harm' following Bollig's alleged actions. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said only the information in the complaint would be released. Prosecutors will also ask the jury to consider charges of attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated battery and distribution of adulterated food. Bollig's lawyer, Daniel Walter, told the Salina Journal that he could not discuss any more specifics about the case, but said that he intends to challenge the law used to charge his client. Home: Bollig lives in Trego County, Kansas (pictured), where the alleged crime occurred last month . While authorities have not revealed the drug Billig used to induce Abbott's abortion, other recent cases have involved Misoprostol, also known by its commercial name, Cytotec. Misoprostol was initially FDA approved for the prevention and treatment of ulcers, but can also be used to induce labor or miscarriages of early-term pregnancies. It is about 88 per cent effective up to eight weeks gestation, and is believed to be a cheaper and less invasive alternative to surgical abortion, if taken early enough. The statute, Alexa's Law, allows prosecutors to charge someone with murder, manslaughter or battery for intentionally harming a fetus. Under the law, when a pregnant woman is attacked, prosecutors can charge the assailant with a crime against the woman and a separate crime against the baby, but the law excludes abortion. It is not clear how long the couple had been dating but Abbott, who has two sons from a previous relationship, divorced just over a year earlier, according to records. She is listed as a witness in the complaint, along with Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents, registered nurses and bank and post office workers. Trego County Sheriff Richard Hanks confirmed that Abbott is an employee in his office so although the crime allegedly occurred there, it is being dealt with by a neighboring county, Hays.
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Scott Bollig, from Wakeeney, Kansas, 'crushed up an anti-abortion drug and served it to his girlfriend who was eight to ten weeks pregnant'
Naomi Abbott, 36, miscarried the child and suffered 'great bodily harm'
Bollig has now been charged with first-degree murder .
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13b405c65bfb4b0a57dc1bea181e52c6a32b6f6b
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By . Bianca London . Made In Chelsea was back with a bang on Sunday night as TV's favourite toffs landed in New York for a stateside spin-off. Familiar faces such as loveable pug Spencer Matthews and pint-sized Louise Thompson returned to our screens - but there were also some newcomers to the show, including Binky's big sister Anna-Louise Felstead, who joins the West London set as they spend the summer in New York. Anna-Louise, 35, is the eldest of three Felstead siblings and could potentially serve as a shoulder to cry on as Binky's turbulent love life with Alex Mytton unfolds. Big Binky! Anna-Louise Felstead joined the Made In Chelsea cast as they starred in the debut New York spin-off show so FEMAIL caught up with her to find out what it's like to be Binky's big sister . As avid Made In Chelsea fans will be well aware, Alex repeatedly messed with Binky's emotions in the last season of the posh reality TV show but as Sunday's show revealed, Binky has finally seen sense and cut ties with the love rat. Speaking to MailOnline, New-York based artist Anna-Louise said: 'It was a given that I’d be there to support Binky following the break-up. Usually she has mum, her dog Scrumble and her friends in London so I was there to offer a strong family support network.' 'The whole family were pulling their hair out when she continued to date Alex,' revealed Anna-Louise. 'We're just all so relieved she's finally seen sense. She wasn't acting herself at all, she was blinded by him and was clinging onto that earlier feeling of being in a loving secure relationship. 'She is worth so much more than that so yes, we're all very relieved it's over.' Family first: Binky, Jane and Anna-Louise are extremely close and Anna-Louise said the whole family were so relived when Binky and Alex finally called it quits . Another cast member who shares Anna-Louise's train of thought is Cheska Hull, who Anna-Louise describes as 'properly supportive' and a 'wonderful' friend to Binky. Opening up about growing up with Binky (who got her nickname 'because she's the youngest - small and dinky - which ended up as Binky somehow), Anna-Louise said: 'We are very close, although not very similar. She's more like my brother (i.e. naughty!). I'm more arty. 'Early memories of Binks were me dressing her up and photographing her for my Foundation art projects. When she was very young, she was often pottering around the garden wearing nothing but bright Wellington boots bottle feeding our baby goats. 'She was also riding my old pony Megan in a basket saddle before she could even walk.' Arty: Anna-Louise started working as a reportage artist and illustrator, painting and drawing on location at events like London Fashion Week and The Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow in St Moritz, and now she's a full-time artist based in New York . Need for speed: Anna-Louise is selling off her racy illustrations of motorsport events on Easyart and Binky says she is sure the collection is going to be a 'huge success' While Binky followed the reality TV path, her sister pursued her passion for art and is fast becoming renowned in the creative world. Anna-Louise started working as a reportage artist and illustrator, painting and drawing on location at events like London Fashion Week and The Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow in St Moritz, as well as illustrating articles for magazines and newspapers such as The Independent, Guardian and Spears WMS. 'I started filling up my father's work diary a from a very early age - he would bring large empty calendars back from the office,' she said of her earliest art memories. 'I was constantly drawing and painting and when I was very young started painting our pet chickens to sell to my parents' friends. At Saint Martins I contacted the Royal Navy and asked to paint on board ships. I spent two weeks on HMS CORNWALL documenting life at sea.' It's over: Binky and Alex Mytton, pictured in happier times enjoying some cocktails on the beach during a romantic holiday together, have finally called it a day - and the Felstead family couldn't be happier . Avid art fan: The 35-year-old said she started filling up her father's work diary a from a very early age - he would bring large empty paged calendars back from the office - and now she's made a career out of it . Talent: Binky's sister is selling her works of art, which feature popular Chelsea haunts, on Easyart . Anna-Louise has been full-time self-employed artist since 2005 and has given Easyart the exclusive licence to print her eye-catching artworks that depict some of Chelsea’s most famed hotspots, often frequented by the Made in Chelsea cast, as well as her illustrations of motorsport events. Speaking about her sister's talent, Binky said: 'I’m really thrilled that my sister is working with Easyart. She is such an amazingly talented artist and I’m sure the collection is going to be a huge success.' Glamorous: While Anna-Louise pursued her love of painting, Binky has become one of Britain's best-known reality TV stars - but she's still a country girl at heart and spends a lot of time back in the 'Shire with her family .
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Anna-Louise, 35, joins cast in New York this season .
Says whole family are relieved Binky is back to herself after break-up .
Believes Cheska is a wonderful and supportive friend .
Is a New-York based artist who loves painting at motorsport events .
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13b4454680a760e18901debbf45a9a5864bb12bb
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(CNN) -- French scientist Francoise Barre-Sinoussi almost didn't get the chance to make one of the greatest medical discoveries of the 20th century. She shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with her colleague Luc Montagnier for identifying HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a plague that has killed about 35 million people since the 1980s. "Never before has science and medicine been so quick to discover, identify the origin and provide treatment for a new disease entity," according to the Nobel committee. Because of their discovery, scientists quickly developed a test for the virus. Their discovery also led to the development of drugs that dramatically increased the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients. But had Barre-Sinoussi listened to one leader at the lab where she would eventually find fame, she may never have been a scientist at all. Natural aptitude . Barre-Sinoussi has loved science since she was a girl. But coming from a family of modest means, she decided to forgo a more expensive medical school to take the research route at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Paris. But she says she ended up spending little time in class. "This is not the advice I would give young people. University is important," she warns. But she had another interest: She had fallen in love with lab work. About two years into her studies, she grew tired of the theoretical. She wanted to test her mettle in a lab. "It just was not done at the time, but I wanted to try," she says. After dozens of rejections, she reached the famous virologist Jean-Claude Chermann at the Pasteur Institute. He made her an unusual offer. "He said, 'OK, if you want to be a volunteer here part time, that would be fine with me,' " she recalls. She loved it immediately. "Suddenly, I understood that's what I really wanted to do." Her research then focused on the same family of viruses as HIV. She worked to find a connection between retroviruses, cancer and leukemia in animals. Friends shared their class notes so she could study late nights and weekends while spending full days at the lab. Incredibly, she passed her exams with top marks. She stayed at Pasteur and earned her doctorate. At the end of her Ph.D. program in the late '70s, she made an appointment with another head of the institute. She wanted to know if she could continue working there. She remembers the indignant tone of the man's response. "He said, 'You are expecting to have a position at Pasteur?' I said, 'That is one of my dreams.' And he said, ' A woman in science, they never do anything. They are only good at caring for the home and babies. Forget this dream.' " Instead, that conversation left her more determined to succeed. She went to do post-doctoral work at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. About a year later, she won a large grant, which meant a return to Pasteur. She returned to Montagnier's unit; his lab was one of the few still examining the connection between retroviruses and cancer. It was her dream job, and she's been doing it ever since, eventually becoming the head of the Virology of Retroviruses Unit in 1992. Nearly a decade earlier she performed the experiment that would change her life. The year that everything changed . A clinician named Willy Rozenbaum delivered a lunchtime lecture at the hospital at Pasteur. He talked about a new mysterious disease that seemed to be rapidly killing his patients. Many were young gay men who should have been at their healthiest. At the end of the lecture, he asked, "Does anyone here deal with retroviruses?" No one responded, said Barre-Sinoussi, who wasn't at the lecture. Rozenbaum went back to his clinic and complained to a friend that no one at Pasteur could help. His friend corrected him, telling him about the work of Montagnier and Barre-Sinoussi. In December 1982, he met with their team and told them about the disease. Barre-Sinoussi says she and Montagnier had never heard of it then, but they agreed to do some research. Everything they could observe in the clinic told doctors that the virus was attacking patients' immune cells, leaving them vulnerable to rare cancers and pneumonia. But there was a problem. As the disease progressed, it was hard to find enough CD4 lymphocytes, or T cells, to use in the lab tests. It made isolating the virus extremely difficult. The following month, a patient agreed to let the researchers do a lymph node biopsy. Barre-Sinoussi tested the sample every two days for activity. The first week there was nothing, but in the second, there was weak enzymatic activity. It started to increase quickly but just as suddenly dropped. The T lymphocytes in the culture started dying. "That was a really worrying day," Barre-Sinoussi says. She changed out all the reagent chemicals they were using, but that didn't stop the T cells from dying. The team wasn't able to see the virus; it was getting away. "So we knew it had to be something else," Barre-Sinoussi says. "We ran across the street to the blood bank and asked if we could get samples for our experiment. We knew it was urgent." She added lymphocytes from the blood donation, and it worked. The virus was still there. The researchers knew because it started to infect the new lymphocytes from the blood donation and there was enough that a colleague was able to take the first actual image of the virus. The team named it lymphadenopathy-associated virus -- the name human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, came later. The finding changed everything. "I called my good friend in the United States, my former boss, and I told him what I thought we had and he joked with me and said, 'Throw it all away,' " Barre-Sinoussi remembers. " 'This discovery will change your life forever.' " And it did. Barre-Sinoussi and Montagnier quickly put a paper together about the results. It ran in the May 1983 issue of Science. She presented her findings at an international conference and was invited to talk about her results at the National Institutes of Health and the CDC. "So many people ask me if we were excited about the discovery, but so many young people were dying," Barre-Sinoussi says. Hospitals were too afraid to accept patients because they didn't know how the virus spread. She recalls seeing young men in Paris with telltale signs of the illness. Others, including the actor Rock Hudson, heard about the lab's discovery of HIV and came to Pasteur. Some of them, she says, had only a suitcase and often no money. "They just wanted to be close to the place that made the discovery," she says. "We knew we had to work to do, and it was urgent." At the same time, an American lab claimed to have discovered the virus. A large legal battle and diplomatic fight raged for years. Ultimately, after French and American heads of state intervened, in 1987 they were all named co-discoverers and split the royalties from the blood test. The Americans, however, did not win the Nobel Prize. In 2008, when the Nobel Prize winners were about to be announced, the Nobel committee couldn't find Barre-Sinoussi to tell her. She had been working with doctors in Cambodia. Ever since she co-discovered the virus, she had traveled the world to try and help health professionals understand HIV better. She says the Nobel committee called her lab and her home without luck. A reporter tracked her down first. "When I picked up my mobile, she said, 'Francoise, have you heard?' and then she started to cry," Barre-Sinoussi says. "I thought something tragic had happened. I had already lost my husband that year and thought someone else must have died." These were tears of happiness, the journalist said, delivering the Nobel news. Barre-Sinoussi says she couldn't believe it. "It was like a dream," she says. No resting on her laurels . Some people might retire after such an honor but not Barre-Sinoussi. She has used her fame to open more doors. She is president of the International AIDS Society and continues working with clinicians, patients and activists -- particularly those from the gay community and those who try to help people in the developing world -- as they fight to eliminate the stigma of the disease and get patients the care they need. "This is a good thing of the Nobel Prize -- it is easier for me to get an appointment with the first lady or the president of the country," Barre-Sinoussi says. "It gives me the opportunity to try to be the voice for others. This is something that for me seems to be my responsibility, my duty." She says she has high hopes for a vaccine, noting that recent developments show some promise. "A total cure -- the total eradication of the virus will be extremely difficult if not impossible," she says. "Although in my language we say 'impossible' is not French, so I cannot say impossible." The attention her discovery has brought Barre-Sinoussi has changed everything, just like her friend warned, she says. It even won over the man who told her at the start of her career that a life in science would be impossible for a woman. He contacted her many years after the HIV discovery. "He called me to congratulate me and said how impressed he was," she says. "After a while of him saying these positive things, I finally interrupted him and said, 'You mean, because a woman can actually do something in science?' "Of course, he did not understand. He did not remember saying anything. I told him what he said. He couldn't believe it. He said he felt so bad. 'But you did,' I told him. 'You did.' And I'm so glad I did not listen."
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Francoise Barre-Sinoussi co-discovered HIV, the virus that causes AIDS .
Barre-Sinoussi shared the Nobel Prize for her work in 2008 .
A male colleague once told her that women in science "never do anything"
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13b44fdaa796035c9495ae9abe511485c2b64bfd
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By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 10:07 EST, 1 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:36 EST, 1 August 2013 . Police in Bossier City, Louisiana are searching for the heartless thief who stole $200 dollars from a woman who had just been injured in a car accident. On Monday, Shannon Slocum was on her way to pay her rent when she ran into an SUV pulling out of a dentist's office parking lot. Ms Slocum's Toyota rolled over and landed upside down, knocking her out. Highway robbery: Waitress Shannon Slocum was involved in a car accident Monday. While she was passed out in her flipped car, a robber stole $100 of her rent money . Grateful: Ms Slocum was hurt that the robber would heartlessly steal her money without offering to help her, but is just glad to be alive . While unconscious, some $100 dollars of her rent money went flying. A passerby saw the bills in the street and grabbed them up without stopping to help the injured Ms Slocum. Rushed to the hospital and treated for a broken nose, fractured ribs as well as cuts and bruises, Slocum didn't realize the money was missing until later. Injuries: Ms Slocum was in desperate need of attention when the robber took her money. She was later taken to the hospital for a broken nose, fractured ribs as well as cuts and bruises . Ms Slocum was released from the hospital Wednesday night and spoke with KSLA, saying she was just 'grateful to be alive.' Ms Slocum, who works as a waitress and relies on tips to make a living, is hurt by the loss of rent money but more hurt behind the robber's through process. 'It hurts me most that money is more important than life,' she said. Complete strangers have stepped up since the accident offering to buy her food in random acts of kindness. She hopes that whatever her money is being used for 'it makes them happy' because 'it makes me happy to say I'm still here.' Police are still looking for the robber. After reviewing security footage, they believe the man is middle-aged, wearing a denim jacket and 5-foot-10.
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Waitress Shannon Slocum was on her way to pay rent when she hit an SUV and flipped her car .
A passerby saw Slocum's money scattered on the street and grabbed about $100 without helping the injured woman .
Slocum was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken nose, fractured ribs,cuts and bruises .
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Luis Suarez appearing to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup shocked the football community and will certainly live long in the memory. Now, just a few months on, some fans have amusingly recreated the infamous incident using the new FIFA 15 game. In pictures posted to Twitter, fans have claimed the game is ‘so realistic’ for letting them relive the moment that saw the Barcelona striker banned from football for four months. Luis Suarez's apparent bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup shocked football and earned the frontman a lengthy ban . Fans have recreated the now infamous incident of Suarez's bite on the newly released FIFA 15 game . ‘FIFA 15 is so realistic’ said one Twitter user beneath an image that sees Suarez sinking his teeth into Holland's Daryl Janmaat. ‘Was playing the FIFA 15 Demo earlier got to say its pretty damn realistic,’ said another tweeter under an image of Suarez and new Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic. Of course, the ability to bite a player is not actually a feature of the new game. Instead, the gamers have used the game’s replay mode to spot some odd player collision moments in the game. The glitches seem to show Suarez’s mouth sinking into players, and it doesn’t help his case that in some his eyes are closed and teeth bared in an apparent biting action. One fan on Twitter joked that FIFA 15 was so realistic beneath a graphic of Suarez appearing to bite Holland defender Daryl Janmaat . Suarez signed for Barcelona from Liverpool after the World Cup in a £75million deal. However he is still yet to make his competitive debut as he continues to serve his ban for biting Chiellini. And that is replicated in FIFA 15 - fans picking up the game will be unable to use Suarez in the game’s career mode for the entirety of his ban. However playing one of the game's other modes that has full squads available without suspensions - such as an exhibition one-on-one against another gamer - allows the hilarious images to be taken. Suarez's real-life ban until October 26 is replicated on the new FIFA 15 game when users play as Barcelona . Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier plays a game of FIFA 15 with a young fan following the game's release .
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Images from the Fifa 15 video game appear to show the Uruguayan striker biting other football players .
Suarez was infamously banned for four months during the World Cup for seeming to bite Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini .
Fans have taken to Twitter mocking the striker with images from the game .
It is not really a new feature, but rather a result of gamers positioning players in the game to make it look like another biting incident .
In the game's career mode Suarez is serving his real-life ban until October .
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13b689c89da5c48e63e1dcae091f33979679d339
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:58 EST, 25 May 2013 . Jailed: Former traffic warden Robert Ives issued bogus parking tickets to former colleagues . A corrupt traffic warden who issued nine bogus tickets against a former colleague during a ‘campaign of bullying’ has today (Fri) been jailed for six months. Robert Ives, 59, dished out the dodgy parking notices to Kevin Phillips while based at Tooting police station in south London. Ives also forged Mr Phillips’ signature on another ticket handed to an innocent member of the public, pensioner Shamim Gilani. He was caught out after being linked to the tickets by his handwriting, Southwark Crown Court heard. On one occasion, Mr Phillips, with whom Ives had an ‘unpleasant relationship’, was given a ticket when he was parked miles away in a completely different part of south London. In a victim impact statement, Mr Phillips told how he suffered from high blood pressure and that his head had been left ‘spinning’ from the stress of disputing the tickets. Mrs Gilani, 73, said she paid the £65 fine ‘with a tear in her eye’ as she and her husband were on a tight budget. She has since been reimbursed. Ives, a Jack the Ripper enthusiast, who had been employed for the past 45 years, issued the parking notices in November 2011 - the same month he was made redundant. He has yet to find another job. Mr Phillips had left four months earlier to work as a PCSO. Ives, a father-of-one, insisted he had been ‘set up’. But a jury of four women and eight men took just 24 minutes to unanimously convict him of misconduct in a judicial or public office, after a trial at the court last month. Sentencing, Recorder Edward Cole told him: ‘Your misconduct appears to have been an unpleasant way of bullying Mr Phillips. ‘Why you picked on Mrs Gilani is not clear. ‘In the case of Mr Phillips, your misconduct amounted to a campaign of bullying. ‘Your conduct in each case was a . malicious abuse of power and a breach of trust put in you to administer . the system of parking regulation fairly and accurately. ‘Your conduct was in some ways similar those who pervert the course of justice. ‘Like all such offences, this investigation involved a waste of public resources. ‘Your behaviour involved a gross breach of trust and was persistent. ‘Public trust and confidence in those in public office is likely to be eroded by this sort of misconduct.’ Sentence: Ives was jailed for six months after a jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted him of misconduct in a judicial or public office Southwark Crown Court heard . Ives buried his head in his hands during the hearing but was stony faced as he was led out of the dock. Prosecutor Piers von Berg had earlier told the jury that Ives ‘wilfully or deliberately misconducted himself to such a degree to amount to abuse of the public trust in his office and he did so without reasonable excuse or justification.’ A handwriting expert who examined them concluded that there was a ‘strong possibility’ that they were penned by Ives and ‘certainly not by the other wardens’ at the unit, Mr von Berg added. Callous: Ives also forged his former colleague's signature on another ticket handed to an innocent member of the public . After getting wise to Ives’ handiwork, Mr . Phillips alerted his supervisor, prompting an investigation during . which it was noted that Citroen had been spelt incorrectly as ‘Citreon’ on several of the bogus tickets. ‘Mr Phillips was asked if anyone bore a grudge against him or ill will,’ Mr von Berg added. ‘He said he had a poor relationship with Robert Ives when they worked together and police decided to question the defendant.’ Ives claimed he had not been working on the days the tickets were issued and suggested the handwriting expert could be mistaken. David Parvin, defending Ives said he continues to maintain his innocence but has acknowledged that Mr Phillips and Mrs Gilani had endured ‘a lot of stress’. ‘Mr Ives believes he and Mr Phillips shared some friendship, they had some common interests and were both fans of Neil Diamond. ‘Their relationship can be described as up and down and this was really a practical joke that went horribly wrong. ‘As time went on it got more serious and Mr Ives felt he was unable to admit it.’ Ives, who has raised money for children’s charities, is a keen member of the Whitechapel Society, dedicated to keeping the east end alive. Mr Parvin added: ‘His hobby is learning about Jack the Ripper and he has quite a collection of books.’ Ives, of Tooting, denied the charge against him.
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Robert Ives, 59, dished out dodgy tickets to ex-colleague Kevin Phillips .
He also forged his signature on one handed to an innocent pensioner .
Jury convicted him of misconduct in a judicial or public office .
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13b6d127f2b4424c9ea6a90b4e149071e0926515
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(CNN) -- The United States and Afghanistan have reached a deal on the final language of a bilateral security agreement, guiding the role of American troops in that south Asian nation for years to come, America's top diplomat said Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the accord was reached during conversations Wednesday between himself and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Afghan leaders will hold a meeting -- known as a loya jirga, or grand assembly -- starting on Thursday to decide whether to accept or reject the deal, which lays out a limited support role for American forces beyond next year. "They have to pass it," Kerry said. "... It's up to the people of Afghanistan." If approved, the agreement would go into effect January 1, 2015, and last "until the end of 2024 and beyond, unless terminated" by mutual agreement and with two years notice by either party, according to a copy of the deal posted online Wednesday by the Afghan government that a U.S. official confirms is authentic. Rice: Reports of a U.S. apology to Afghanistan are false . The subject of military raids and strikes has long been a sore point between the two countries, especially given a number of incidents in which noncombatant men, women and children were killed. The proposed deal contains references to respecting "Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity," and adds U.S. forces "shall not target Afghan civilians, including in their homes." But this agreement does not address past transgressions. In fact, Kerry strongly rejected a U.S. apology for operations that resulted in civilian casualties was part of the back-and-forth, as some published reports suggested, insisting "it's just not even on the table." "I don't know where the idea of an apology started," Kerry said. "President Karzai didn't ask for an apology. ... There has never been a discussion of or the word apology used in our discussions whatsoever." The agreement does state that U.S. forces will play a support role in Afghanistan, while at the same time ceding that "U.S. military operations to defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates may be appropriate in the common fight against terrorism." "U.S. military counterterrorism operations are intended to complement and support (the Afghan military's) counterterrorism operations, with the goal of maintaining (the Afghan military's) lead and with full respect for Afghan sovereignty and full regard for the safety and security of the Afghan people, including in their homes," the tentative deal states. Mine blast kills seven -- and they were all children . The agreement also includes language on the U.S. government's continued funding for Afghan security forces, funneling such contributions through the Kabul-based government. The U.S. military "shall have the exclusive right" to discipline and prosecute its members for alleged acts committed on Afghan soil, according to the tentative deal, though Afghan authorities can ask that anyone be taken out of the country. U.S. troops first deployed to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, which were coordinated by al Qaeda leaders then based in the south Asian nation. Since taking office, President Barack Obama has promised -- and, in some cases, acted -- to reduce troop levels there, in addition to stating the goal of ending the U.S. combat mission by the end of 2014. The approval of a security agreement would pave the way for Americans troops to remain on the ground in Afghanistan beyond that. Speaking on Wednesday, White House spokesman Jay Carney stressed that any U.S. forces would have "a very limited mission" and would not be "patrolling cities or mountains." "The war in Afghanistan will end next year, as the president has promised," Carney said. "The combat mission will be over." Kerry used similar language in calling the U.S. military's role in Afghanistan "very limited," adding "it is entirely (to) train, equip and assist" Afghan forces. The language in the proposed security agreement, in fact, speaks to that point: "Unless otherwise mutually agreed, the United States forces shall not conduct combat operations in Afghanistan." Report: Opium poppy cultivation rises to new levels in Afghanistan .
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NEW: John Kerry says "it's up to the people of Afghanistan" to approve the agreement .
If they do, the deal would extend from 2015 through 2024 "and beyond"
It says U.S. "forces shall not conduct combat operations in Afghanistan"
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13b77262a366cda65873a76cdd6a2946429b4456
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(Travel + Leisure) -- Gunny, a devoted Peninsula Beverly Hills guest, often visits the posh hotel, and the staff joyously greets him as he strides along the lobby's marble floor. Retiring to his room, Gunny finds a specially monogrammed towel beside his bed and sits down to a grilled New York sirloin and scrambled eggs with aged Tillamook cheddar on bone china. And when he needs styling, the hotel's Rolls Royce shuttles him to the salon. All pretty normal for a 5-star hotel -- except Gunny is a golden retriever. "Like their owners, pets should have a chance to get away from their normal routine," said the hotel's head concierge, James Little. Travel + Leisure: America's best dog-friendly hotels . It's not uncommon for a hotel to be pet-friendly these days. "America is more pet obsessed than ever," said Andrea Arden, pet expert for the Today Show. "We see them as part as part of the family." But some luxury properties go to such extremes to cater to pets that the line between man and man's best friend is a bit, well, fuzzy. Pet bathrobes, pet massages, and pet treadmills are becoming practically de rigueur at five-star hotels these days. Vermont's Spa at Topnotch, for example, has doggy Reiki. Hotels are also competing for Fido's affection with food. The Mandarin Oriental, Miami offers grilled beef tenderloin, while Los Cabos' Las Ventanas al ParaÃso features made-to-order dishes for pets with special dietary needs. The list of extras doesn't stop with food, especially for chains like Loews, which has taken pet pleasing to new heights. When the surf's up at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, in California, pups can join Su'ruff Camp, where poodles and bulldogs alike can take a shot at catching a wave. And if you've dreamed of your pup becoming the next Britney Spears, the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville offers voice-coaching lessons and the chance to cut a CD. So what gives? Aren't we recovering from a recession? "With the economy in bad shape, people cut back on their own luxuries, but not on their pets," explains Arden. "For many, indulging their pet is more rewarding than indulging themselves." But some of these programs are focused on giving back as well. The Hotel Indigo Atlanta-Midtown donated $1 from each signature drink ordered during its "Canine Cocktail Hours" this spring to help a local dog park. The hotel even invited the Atlanta Humane Society to bring four-legged friends to the event to encourage adoptions. Some of these pets may even become hotel guests. "There's nothing like when you've had a bad day and you come home to your dog smiling and beaming unconditional love," says Peninsula Beverly Hills concierge James Little. "Why shouldn't you have that when you're in a hotel?" Travel + Leisure: Weirdest animal smuggling incidents . The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park . Before arrival, the staff contacts all guests to see if they have special needs or requests -- of course, this includes four-legged visitors as well. But there's plenty that comes with the Pampered Pooch package, too, like wrought-iron pet beds, 22-karat gold plated ID tags, and home-baked dog treats. And when water is pouring down from the sky, both pet and owner can borrow Burberry raincoats. Las Ventanas al ParaÃso, Los Cabos . A stress-reducing neck massage is the perfect antidote to a long flight, no matter whether that neck is human or canine. And at this Mexican resort, pets can also enjoy the beach or pool in a portable pet cabana. When it's time to dine, the Canine Delights menu (served in metallic bowls with faux gem stones) features items like Rin Tin Tin (shredded braised beef and steamed rice) or made-to-order dishes for pets with special dietary needs. Loews Hotels, Nashville, Coronado . Sure, there's gourmet room service and luxurious bedding at Nashville's Vanderbilt Hotel, but you can also have your pup cut a CD in a professional recording session. After being shuttled to a recording studio in a limo, dogs work with a voice coach (!) and howl along with a musician or bark to their favorite karaoke tune. It's part of the chain's Vacation for Pets learning camps, which includes Su'ruff Camp at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa in San Diego where pups can learn to catch a wave. The Peninsula Hotels, Beverly Hills, New York, Chicago . Humans have ergonomic chairs, so why shouldn't pets have the same for their bowls? That's just one of the perks at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, where they also receive monogrammed paw-printed towels and scented poop bags. At the Peninsula Chicago, treats include special room-service dishes like the Spaniel Spinach Salad with corn and chopped beef or Tabby Tuna Tartare. And the Peninsula New York offers a personalized menu option with the pet's preferred brand of food. Kimpton Hotels, New York, Denver . Side-by-side massages are usually meant for two humans, but at New York's Muse Hotel, the "Hers and Furs Pet-icure" the second creature should be canine. Kimpton properties have always featured a special devotion to animals, and that dedication has only grown; today, each property welcomes the pet on the lobby activities board, and many have a resident pup. At the Denver's Hotel Monaco it's Tulo -- a cocker spaniel "Canine Concierge" named after Troy Tulowitski, shortstop for the Colorado Rockies. Travel + Leisure: Most outrageous hotel concierge requests . One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos . Your pet may not need a passport to travel to Mexico, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want one. Hotel staff will take your pup's photo for a "Dog Passport" (written in, um, "Paw-lish") and marked with a One&Only Palmilla passport stamp. Once you both make it through immigration, Fido will find gourmet menu offerings like organic roasted chicken, beef tenderloin, and steamed Pacific salmon. Pets can even relax in poolside doggie cabanas. Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel & Resorts, Rome . There are no toga-clad waiters serving your dog grapes, but the hotel does offer four-course pet meals of fish, game, or vegetable soup in Gucci dog bowls (and on golden trays to boot). When it's a little chilly in the Eternal City, order an Odilia Prisco Dog Haute Couture cashmere sweater with your pup's name written in rhinestones. But Fido may not want to wear it during his visit to La Domus Aventina, a nearby dog spa, for his green-clay and aloe vera skin-and-hair-revitalizing massage. Hotel Indigo Atlanta-Midtown, Atlanta . Even pets have stressful days and (like their owners) need a happy hour. So every Thursday night this spring, this hotel obliged, serving chicken, steak, or vegan options for pups. Humans joined in, of course, and when they ordered one of the Hotel Indigo's signature drinks (a Greyhound, Salty Dog, or Yellow Lab), $1 was donated to the local Piedmont Park Dog Park. Mandarin Oriental, Miami . Four-legged guests receive a luxurious plush bed, a golden Mandarin Oriental collar tag, treats, bottled water, and a bone-shaped place mat. But so they don't go hungry, culinary choices include grilled beef tenderloin, organic chicken breast, and gourmet desserts. Afterward, pups can work out with a certified trainer at the hotel's Doggie Boot Camp and focus on issues like excessive barking, jumping, or housebreaking. And for the stylish dog, there are bathrobes with the Mandarin Oriental logo emblazoned in blue or pink Swarovski crystals. The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Phoenix . Who doesn't like welcome gifts -- especially if they include a cookie, commemorative bowl, and placemat? The Biltmore also features a special room-service menu with Zen Yo, a hearty vegetable stir-fry with poached eggs, steamed brown rice, and salmon, which is perfect fuel for taking your pet on a walk around the property's 39 landscaped acres (the hotel provides a map of the trails). Topnotch Resort and Spa, Stowe, Vermont . Reiki isn't just for humans. Here, pups can get a "Rover Reiki" massage on a magnetic dog bed. "Usually dogs are excited but calm down quickly as the therapist starts to work on them," says Alexandra Sharpe, the resort's spa director. "At the end of the treatment the dogs are usually relaxed and sleepy." Fortunately, they can then retire to an "Aero Paws" inflatable dog bed wrapped in soft fleece covers, with Mini-Bone cookies at turndown. Travel + Leisure: General travel secrets . Planning a getaway? Don't miss Travel + Leisure's guide to the World's Best Hotels . Copyright 2012 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Some luxury properties go to extremes to pamper pets .
Pet-friendly hotels now offer amenities from massages to gourmet food .
Four-legged guests at The Ritz-Carlton New York can enjoy a "Pampered Pooch" package .
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13b8ced1ebb8a227b3d3f18239855ab768562b11
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Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- Sister Maria Gomez is an 87-year-old Catholic nun. This month, she appeared in a Spanish court escorted by police. She is accused of snatching an infant from her birth mother and putting the child up for an illegal adoption in 1982. Sister Maria Gomez flatly refused to testify and was jeered as she stepped outside the court. The elderly nun wearing a gray habit has become the face of what is known in Spain as Ninos Robados or Stolen Children. Thousands of newborn babies -- according to groups working with the now-adult adoptees -- were taken from their mothers, straight out of hospitals, and sold to families desperate for children. At least 2,000 official cases have been filed with Spanish prosecutors, but some believe there could be tens of thousands more, dating as far back as the 1950s and continuing as recently as the 1990s. So far, it seems the cases, from all across Spain, were individuals making money from misery rather than a nationally coordinated network or organized crime gangs. But of all these cases, only one person has been named as a suspect, Sister Maria Gomez. One day after her appearance in court, she issued a statement denying the allegations saying they were deeply disgusting and that she has never known a single case of a newborn being taken from a mother through coercion or threats. We traveled to Spain to talk to those parents who believe their children were stolen and some who believe they were taken from their birth parents. Juan Luis Moreno and Antonio Barroso grew up together as childhood friends. Their parents had different interests and different jobs, but the two families vacationed every year in the city of Zaragoza. Decades later, when both were in their 40s, Moreno's dying father told his son the truth about those summer holidays: Both families were paying annual installments to a Catholic nun. He said the money paid for the illegal adoption of both boys as newborn babies. "In fact, my dad was given a choice: boy or girl," Moreno said. "They put it bluntly: This was a market for babies." Moreno said his father told him he had paid roughly double the price of their family home, a huge sum for a working-class family. The truth angered both men so much that they tracked down the nun - not Sister Maria Gomez - who facilitated the illegal adoption and confronted her. At first she denied receiving any payments, but then slowly remembers both of their adopted parents. Barroso said: "I was so angry and I threatened her: you're going to have problems. You're going to jail. It was the least I could do because I wanted to strangle her." "Imagine! She tells you with all the coolness of the world. There were two for the Penedes region. Like we were chickens in the market. Like two kilos of tomatoes. What kind of a twisted mind is this?" asks Moreno . After that, Barroso set up Anadir, an association for Spain's stolen children. The response has been overwhelming. Hundreds have contacted them in the hopes of finding their lost children or parents. Anadir has set up a database to register the DNA of parents searching for their children. So far, however, only a handful of matches have been made and the odds of families being reunited are slim. Read Juan Luis Moreno's birth certificate which lists the couple who raised him as his birth parents and does not mention any adoption . And his DNA test result which says the couple he knew as his parents could not be his natural parents . Ines Perez and her daughter, Ines Madrigal, have a typically loving mother-daughter relationship but are also caught in the stolen babies scandal. Ines junior is almost a foot taller than her small, stooped mother. She frets about her mother living alone, tidies up her mother's tiny apartment and combs down her mother's white hair. Ines senior is 89 but still has her health, sense of humor and, most importantly, a good memory. She remembers the day Ines Madrigal was born, precisely because she was not there. "She wasn't adopted, she was given as a present for taking care of a boy. They didn't give me flowers or money. They gave me a baby girl," she said. On the day Madrigal was born, she says the head doctor at the maternity clinic, Dr. Eduardo Vela, summoned her for a "surprise." When she arrived, she says, he placed a newborn baby in her arms and handed her a falsified birth certificate. The baby was small, born premature, she says. "The doctor said "Just put her in the car between two hot water bottles," Perez recalls. "A woman came in with the doctor. She was wearing operating clothes and trying not to show her face. Of course, you realize all this [with] hindsight." In the conversation that followed Perez remembers the woman saying they shouldn't do anything that would cause other women in the clinic to "discover the garlic" -- a local expression for arousing suspicion. Madrid's prosecutor says pursuing a criminal case has its problems. He says a false birth certificate is a crime that can no longer be prosecuted because it happened so long ago and it does not prove a baby has been stolen. In a summary of his testimony to investigators in the case of Ines Madrigal, Vela denies any wrong-doing, saying that he only helped women who wanted to put their children up for adoption, never pressuring any mother to do so. CNN tried contacting Vela but he refused to answer questions. Perez told the story to her daughter when she turned 18. They showed CNN the false birth certificate and the DNA tests that show the two are not related. But now Madrigal wants to know more. Was she simply given up for adoption or was she one of Spain's stolen babies? "If I wasn't stolen, then where is the signature of my birth mother?" asks Madrigal. "I just want to know the truth."
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A nun appears in court on an illegal baby adoption charge that could be the tip of an iceberg .
At least 2,000 official cases have been filed with Spanish prosecutors .
So far, it seems the cases were individuals making money, not a coordinated network .
One man whose father told him they had bought him said: "We were chickens in the market"
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13b906627d384e13b6ddeef6dd0bfabc8aee8dcd
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By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 19:12 EST, 4 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:31 EST, 5 January 2014 . From the end of Prohibition through the 1960s, New York's Stork Club was the epicenter of celebrity society. The night club in Midtown was founded by ex-bootlegger Sherman Billingsley, who kept his famous customers happy with good service - communicating to his wait staff through a secret language of hand signals that ranged from 'No need to pay attention to these folks' to 'Bring a bottle of champagne'. Billingsley revealed his secret code in 1944, and LIFE recently republished the set of the pictures. Perhaps the most surprising hand signal is a simple thumbs up, which meant 'Get them out and don't let them in again'. Secret language: LIFE recently republished Stork Club owner Sherman Billingsley's secret hand signal codes that he used in the legendary New York club. A thumbs up was not a good signal for a customer receive. It meant 'Get them out and don't let them in again' That's a hand signal Milton Berle, Elliott Roosevelt, Humphrey Bogart and Jackie Gleason probably all saw when they visited the legendary club, as all four were eventually banned. But most of the secret signals were good signs, and usually meant a treat for whatever customer Billingsley was chatting up that night. If he adjusted his tie, it meant the table wouldn't be seeing a check - Billingsley was footing the bill. When he grabbed his pocket square, a server somewhere was sent to fetch a $200 bottle of perfume as a gift. 'The music in the main dining room is too loud': Some of Billingsley's hand signals were purely for the servers and not comments about the people he was talking to . Spoiler: Billingsgley often showered his customers with gifts from free rounds of drinks (hand signal left) to $200 bottles of perfume (hand signal right) And more gifts: When he adjusted his tie, it meant he was paying the tables check. And a laid out hand on the table it meant to bring a complimentary bottle of champagne . Billingsley was notorious for his generosity, and customers often left with anything from a gold compact to cigar clippers. Other than getting the boot, the only bad hand signals were the ones labeling customers as bores. When he scratched his nose it meant the table he was talking to had no important people at it. And if he made a cuffing hand over his ear, he wanted a server to pretend he had a call so he could leave. Bores: Scratching his nose meant the table he was talking to wasn't important (left) and cuffing his hand to his ear meant someone needed to pretend he had a call so he could politely excuse himself from the table (right) But with clientele like Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and Ernest Hemingway, it's hard to imagine Billingsley used those hand signals very often. The Stork Club was torn down in 1965, and today a park sits in its place. But Billingsley's secret language of hand signals lived on even after his club's death and continues to be used in fine-dining restaurants across the nation.
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The Stork Club was an upscale Manhattan club located in Midtown from the end of Prohibition to 1965 .
In its heydey, the club owned by ex-bootlegger Sherman Billingsley attracted clients like Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Ernest Hemingway .
Billingsley created a secret hand signal to communicate with wait staff at his club without attracting the attention of his guests .
He shared these signals with LIFE in 1944, and they are now being republished .
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By . Rob Waugh . Last updated at 2:25 PM on 30th December 2011 . The 'Great Firewall of China': The Chinese government has announced it is to work with search engines to protect Chinese citizens. China is the origin of many cyber attacks including several high-profile hacks of foreign government officials . The Chinese government is stepping up internet security for its own citizens this week after a series of leaks of personal data from social networking sites and 'phishing' attacks on bank accounts. The government announced it would work with 10 Chinese search engines - which already censor the internet under Chinese law - to ensure 'fake' banks appear lower in search rankings. The move comes in the wake of several high-profile cyber attacks originating in China which targeted U.S and other government officials. China is widely suspected of being . the origin of many hacking attacks on government and commercial websites . abroad, but officials have repeatedly dismissed reports that the . government or military could be behind such attacks. Earlier this year, hackers based in Jinan, China targeted personal Gmail and Yahoo accounts of government officials. The methods used suggested insider knowledge about the offiicals according to many observers. The Chinese government denied any involvement. 'Blaming these misdeeds on China is unacceptable,' said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei after the attacks. 'Hacking is an international problem and China is also a victim. The claims of so-called support for hacking are completely unfounded.' China bans numerous overseas . websites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and some foreign media . outlets, fearing the uncensored sharing of images and information could . cause social instability and harm national . security. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security said on Friday it would work with 10 Chinese search engines to protect the website rankings of financial institutions to lessen the chances that Internet users will be duped by phishing websites. A phishing attack occurs when the user is persuaded to part with his or her username and password via a fake webpage that closely resembles the original. Through the collaboration, the official websites of several Chinese banks, such as Agricultural Bank of China and China Construction Bank will be ranked first in the search engine when a user searches for the related keywords, the Ministry said in an online circular on Friday. The move comes after a spate of personal data leaks that alarmed the online community and prompted calls for tougher scrutiny of who has access to online information. China claims the most Internet users in the world at 485 million, state media reported last month, and despite widespread censorship and monitoring online, many users have been up in arms about the reported data leaks and their implications. The user IDs, passwords and e-mail addresses of more than 6 million accounts registered on CSDN - a site for programmers - were leaked, Xinhua New Agency reported last week, citing an anti-virus software provider which discovered the problem. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that it would investigate the hacking incidents, 'The department believes the recent leak of user information is a serious infringement of the rights of Internet users and threatens Internet safety. The department strongly condemns such behaviour.'
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Will work with 10 search engines to tighten security for China's 485 million web users .
Many cyber attacks originate in China .
Several high-profile attacks on foreign officials .
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13ba860ab5b94789154d993ed39ff57f1c717fb3
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:18 EST, 21 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:47 EST, 21 December 2013 . Web investor Tim Draper has a grand vision to divide California into six new states, freeing Silicon Valley from the rest of the Golden State. The plan, which would need government approval, is to split the state into six smaller ones: Jefferson, North California, Central California, West California, South California, and Silicon Valley. Each new state would have its own government and elected officials, meaning the enclave of Silicon Valley would be free to achieve its techno utopia dreams. Golden age: Tim Draper wants to divide California into six smaller states . As outrageous as it sounds, the plan has backing from Chuck Reed, the mayor of Silicon Valley's largest city - San Jose. The venture capitalist told NBC Bay Area: 'It's absolutely appealing to cut ourselves off from the drag of the rest of California.' While the idea may appeal to many of California's 38 million residents, if the six-state plan were approved it would come down to government and not voters. 'Getting such a measure on California's . wacky ballot will be no easy task ... attempts to get initiatives on . the state ballot can cost millions of dollars, and often fail,' Gawker reported TechCrunch as saying. His plan was met with a mixed reaction on Twitter, with Nuzzel founder Jonathan Abrams tweeting: 'Tim Draper has idea even sillier than moon colony or seasteading.' Josh Elman, who has worked at various web companies such as Twitter and Facebook, tweeted that the plan reminded him of Ecotopia, a novel set in an ecologically sound future. And Bram Cohen of BitTorrent tweeted: 'Is Tim Draper just engaging in performance art or is he just delusional?' Co-founder of CentUp Len Kendall imagined what the resulting 'utopia' would look like, tweeting: 'AND THEN teenagers from the various territories will fight to the death in a closed arena to win health benefits.' The proposal has a long way to go, although raising the funds for such a campaign would not be problematic for Mr Draper, who just stepped down from his billionaire partnership at Draper Fisher Jurvetson, which backed more than 500 start ups including Hotmail, Skype and Telsa electric sports cars. Innovative: Venture capitalist Tim Draper says the plan will mean Californians have better representation . Dividing lines: If the plan wins approval, Silicon Valley will become a separate state . In an email to TechCrunch he said the reason for dividing the state up was so its large population had more appropriate representation in Washington. He added that this would mean decisions being made by government would be more relevant to the population. ''This initiative encourages more competition and less monopolistic power,' he said. 'Like all competitive systems, costs will be lower and service will be better.' The man behind other ground-breaking initiatives such as Draper University in San Mateo, added: 'Each new state can start fresh. From a new crowd-sourced state flower to a more relevant constitution.' Mr Draper added that Californias had been backing the idea of a divide since 1859, when 'Voters overwhelmingly approved the splitting of California into two states ... but Congress never acted on that request.'
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Tim Draper puts forward vision to create smaller states with better representation .
Dream may win support in Silicon Valley but it will need government approval .
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(CNN) -- Nearly 4,500 American soldiers lost and 32,000 wounded. A trillion dollars of borrowed money to remove Saddam Hussein and create an Iraq that would not only be safe from possessing weapons of mass destruction but also friendly toward the United States. These are the United States' heavy sacrifices in blood and treasure. One can be forgiven for expecting some Iraqi support for U.S. foreign policy aims in the region. On Monday, the Iranian-backed prime minister of Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki, met with President Barack Obama at the White House to express his thanks for liberating Iraq from Hussein and discuss next steps. The frosty news conference afterward told us that all was not well. Tense, lacking in warmth and smiles and with public disagreement about Iraq's neighbor, Syria, the appearance did not reflect a productive meeting. As the United States formally ends the almost nine-year war and nears the end of its troop withdrawal, there is still much at stake -- and it's not the relatively tiny Iraqi nation of 30 million people, but U.S. influence and foreign policy objectives in the region. The Iraqi prime minister knows that his country, particularly his armed forces, is not yet ready to contain the probable outbreak of sectarian violence. And he wants U.S. financial expertise in developing Iraq's private sector. He made no secret of wanting greater U.S. assistance on both fronts. Iraq, under al-Maliki, is keen to receive U.S. help in countering terrorism and developing its economy. It seems perfectly legitimate, therefore, for the United States to express its own expectations from Iraq. But what is the Iraqi response? First, ending, or more precisely, containing the Arab-Israeli conflict is a top priority of the U.S. in the Middle East. Iraq's support here would help bolster the U.S. position. Moreover, Iraq could financially help Palestinian activists committed to a two-state solution. But while Egypt, Jordan and Turkey recognize Israel, Iraq continues to refuse to do so. Second, the U.S. and Turkey have, mistakenly in my view, called for Syria's president, Basher al-Assad, to resign. But Iraq has defied the United States and supported the Assad regime. When Hussein killed Iraqi Shias, al-Maliki and others called for U.S. support for removing the Iraqi dictator. But the same logic does not seem to apply for al-Maliki and Iraq today. Forced to choose between the U.S. line and Iran's support for Damascus, Iraq opted for aligning with the mullahs in Tehran. Third, Iraq is seen as an outsider among Arab nations in the region today because of its political ties to Iran. Under Hussein, Iraq was a buffer against spreading Iran's religious and revolutionary fervor. U.S. attempts to isolate Iran and build regional support against Iran's nuclear weapons program are repeatedly scuppered by Iraq's failure to support such efforts, much less lead it. In contrast, Saudi Arabia (for different reasons) has been willing to support U.S. initiatives to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear warhead. With U.S. military and political presence inside Iraq coming to an end and with the passage of time, Baghdad will become ever closer to Tehran. Those who argue that the large and well-resourced U.S. embassy in Iraq will ensure that Baghdad is kept in check fail to remember that Tehran, too, once had a powerful U.S. embassy. Unless political will in Iraq exists to align with the United States, U.S. civilian contractors and a large embassy, much like in Pakistan, cannot create allies. Al-Maliki's comments at the White House, the trajectory of his government and the failure of the Obama administration to steer Iraq away from Iran raises these important questions for the United States: . What does Iran offer that the United States cannot? If after so much sacrifice, the United States cannot create an ally in Iraq, then is it realistic to expect that U.S. involvement in other nations (Syria, for example) will create U.S.-friendly regimes? Most importantly, what is it about U.S. foreign policy aims that make them so toxic for Iraq? If U.S. foreign policy is so detached from the lived reality of the Arab world, is it time to reformulate policy so that they can be accepted by those for whom the United States sacrificed so much? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Husain.
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Ed Husain: U.S. spent vast blood and treasure on ousting Saddam Hussein, building Iraq ties .
He says when Nuri al-Maliki, Barack Obama met to formally end war, things were tense .
He says Iraq still wants U.S. help aid but avoids U.S. foreign policy aims, has ties to Iran .
Husain: If U.S. can't count on Iraq by now, how will it hold sway in other nations in region?
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13bb1053721e4f194556e0f4d44dc51aed50c7bd
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(CNN) -- The U.S. Marine Corps on Friday identified the seven killed in a midair collision of two of its helicopters this week along the Arizona-California border. The Marines, who were preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, were killed Wednesday in a collision between an AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter and a UH-1Y Huey utility helicopter. The Marines were identified as: . _Maj. Thomas A. Budrejko, 37, of Montville, Connecticut. He was commissioned as an officer by the Marine Corps on May 24, 1996, and served as an AH-1W Cobra pilot and executive officer of attack squadron 469. _Capt. Michael M. Quin, 28, of Purcellville, Virginia. He was commissioned as an officer by on May 26, 2006, and served as a UH-1Y Huey pilot. _Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia, 31, of Montgomery, Alabama. He was commissioned as an officer on December 14, 2007, and served as an AH-1W Cobra pilot. _Sgt. Justin A. Everett, 33, of Clovis, California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on February 19, 2002, and served as a helicopter crew chief aboard a UH-1Y Huey. _Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Marietta, Georgia. He enlisted on March 30, 2009, and served as a helicopter crew chief aboard a UH-1Y Huey. _Lance Cpl. Nickoulas H. Elliott, 21, of Spokane, Washington. He on May 4, 2009, and served as a helicopter crew chief aboard a UH-1Y Huey. _Capt. Nathan W. Anderson, 32, of Amarillo, Texas. He was commissioned as an officer on December 20, 2002, and served as a UH-1Y Huey pilot. Anderson was assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, while the other six were assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Pendleton, California, the Marine Corps said in a statement. "Every single one of these Marines impacted our squadron in their own special way and the entire Marine Corps aviation community is feeling their tragic loss," said Lt. Col. Stephen Lightfoot, commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469. The cause of the collision, which occurred during routine training operations, remains under investigation, the Marines said. The crash occurred Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. ET in the Chocolate Mountains on the California side of the range, near Yuma, according to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Base Commander Col. Robert Kuckuk. While weather did not appear to play a factor, visibility may have been severely limited by nightfall and a significant amount of dust, referred to as a "brown out," created by the helicopters landing and taking off, Gunnery Sgt. Dustin Dunk, a spokesperson for Air Station Yuma, has previously said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, said 1st Lt. Maureen Dooley, a Marine Corps spokeswoman, said. The military has long used the AH-1W and UH-1 Huey for a variety of tasks. The military describes the AH-1W as "the backbone of the United States Marine Corps' attack helicopter fleet." The UH-1Y is a twin-engine, medium-size helicopter. CNN's Tina Burnside contributed to this report.
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Six of the Marines killed belonged to a Camp Pendleton-based squadron, the Corps says .
One Marine was assigned to a Yuma-based squadron, the Corps says .
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, Marines says .
The Marines were preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, the Corps says .
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13bb8fc59d1e186ea0b45ab0e0c46edce362a52b
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By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 05:21 EST, 10 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:06 EST, 10 October 2013 . Construction workers who were put on a secret industry blacklist after they raised legitimate health and safety concerns will be compensated by companies who worked with the list's . More than 3,200 names, mainly of building workers, were kept on the list, drawn up by a shadowy organisation called the Consulting Association. Workers involved claimed they were denied work, often for merely raising legitimate concerns about health and safety on building sites. Legal action is being taken on behalf of some of those on the list. Compensation: Building workers who appeared on the 'blacklist' claimed they were denied work, often for merely raising legitimate concerns (posed from library) The eight firms announced that they are working together to develop a scheme to compensate construction workers whose names were on The Consulting Association (TCA) database. A statement said: 'The companies - Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK and VINCI PLC - all apologise for their involvement with TCA and the impact that its database may have had on any individual construction worker. 'The companies have joined together to establish the Construction Workers Compensation Scheme. 'The scheme is intended to make it as simple as possible for any worker with a legitimate claim to access compensation. 'The companies have invited workers’ representatives to enter into a period of engagement to ensure that the . proposed terms of the scheme are fair and effective. The group is also . engaging with other interested parties. Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said Labour wants the companies guilty of blacklisting to come forward . 'At this time we are not able to share any further information on the proposed scheme. However, once engagement with the workers’ representatives has concluded, we will announce full details of the scheme which we would like to open to applicants as soon as possible. 'We have discussed the scheme with a number of other construction companies. 'We encourage participation from across the industry and would welcome interest from any company that had been a user of, or subscriber to, TCA. 'The companies involved in the scheme would support the introduction of a code of conduct to ensure nothing like this can happen within the construction industry again.' The Consulting Association was closed . down following a raid on its West Midlands offices by the Information . Commissioner’s Office. But unions said workers continued to be discriminated against if their names were on the list. A total of 44 firms were found to be using the blacklist. The names of a number of environmental activists were also on the blacklist. The TUC is organising a national day of action on November 20 over the blacklisting. The development follows years of campaigning by unions who welcomed the news; although some campaigners said more should be done. Justin Bowden of the GMB union said: 'Firms admitting they engaged in a terrible abuse of the civil rights of thousands of UK workers is an important step. 'The next step is clean up and pay up. This remains our demand on the construction industry.' Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: 'These employers appear to be responding to union demands to ‘own up, clean up and pay up’. 'However, any proposals cannot exclude the involvement of blacklisted workers and their trade unions. 'It is now time for the unions and the employers to thrash out the details and build on these proposals, which look encouraging. 'It must be a priority to get blacklisted workers back into work. Unite is calling on contractors to employ, and where relevant support the up-skilling of blacklisted workers. 'Firms admitting they engaged in a terrible abuse of the civil rights of thousands of UK workers is an important step. The next step is clean up and pay up' -Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail . 'Many of these workers have spent years out of work as a result of being blacklisted. Employers have a moral duty to give them back the jobs that were wrongly taken away from them.' Unions have demanded a thorough Leveson-style inquiry into the scandal. Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: 'Labour has led calls for those companies guilty of blacklisting to come forward, apologise and provide compensation to victims of the scandal. This announcement is a welcome step, though it should have been made a long time ago. 'Given that 44 companies have been named as having used the construction industry blacklist, it is regrettable this announcement only covers eight firms. 'We will be closely monitoring and scrutinising the compensation scheme as it progresses to ensure it provides proper redress to victims swiftly and commands confidence. 'It also underlines the need for a full inquiry into the blacklisting scandal to make sure it is never repeated. If ministers refuse to take this crucial step, a future Labour government will.' Steve Murphy, general secretary of the building workers’ union Ucatt, said: 'This is a step forward. The companies involved are admitting their guilt for the first time and are recognising that the victims of blacklisting deserve compensation. 'However, to be a legitimate scheme, all 3,213 blacklisted victims or their dependents must be notified that they were on a blacklist.'
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More than 3,200 names, mainly of building workers, were kept on the list, drawn up by a shadowy organisation called The Consulting Association .
Workers involved claimed they were denied work, often for merely raising legitimate concerns about health and safety on building sites .
Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska UK and VINCI PLC have all apologised for their involvement with TCA and may compensate blacklisted workers .
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13bd6e0f65c4361a74823290368c0a3128c5936e
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(CNN Student News) -- November 25, 2013 . A preliminary agreement involving Iran's controversial nuclear program could signal the end of decades of diplomatic gridlock. On Monday, CNN Student News reports on the details of the deal and some vastly different reactions to it. We also discuss the potential impact of winter weather on Thanksgiving travel. And we meet a teen who's planning for an upcoming hospital stay by thinking of her fellow patients. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, Maps pertaining to today's show, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . Do weather forecasts have an impact on people's holiday travel plans? If so, to what extent? If not, why not? Key Concepts: Identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today's show: . 1. world power . 2. forecaster . 3. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Fast Facts: How well were you listening to today's program? 1. What is known about a deal over Iran's nuclear program? What have been some reactions to this deal? 2. How has a winter storm system impacted parts of the United States ahead of Thanksgiving? What is this system expected to do? 3. What has the FCC proposed with regard to cell phone use on airplanes? Discussion Questions: . 1. What do you think might be the potential outcomes of a nuclear deal between Iran and six other countries? Why do you think different countries have vastly different opinions on this agreement? 2. What are some arguments for and against an FCC proposal to allow cell phone calls during flights? Do you think that the flying experience will change if this proposal is passed? If so, how? If not, why not? Do you think passengers should be allowed to make calls during flights? Why or why not? 3. What needs might hospital patients have over the holidays? What are your thoughts about what brain surgery patient Savannah Day is doing for other hospital patients? How might her story inspire others? CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. MAPS . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . Asia . Iran . North America . Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio . FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request.
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This page includes the show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and Maps .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum offers the Media Literacy Question of the Day, Key Concepts, Fast Facts and Discussion Questions .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum .
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13be5ec88e2670f4f9c71728f39f3dbe73847d41
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Stylish Samantha Cameron is known for her knack of dressing impeccably, whatever the occasion, and today the Prime Minister's wife chose a dramatic autumnal sari to take in London's colourful Diwali celebrations. Samantha, 42, chose a russet-coloured sari edged in gold for a visit to the Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, at Neasden in north-west London. She even combined the outfit proudly with a poppy. Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is a five day celebration undertaken by millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world. Stylish Samantha Cameron is known for her knack of always dressing impeccably for the occasion and today the Prime Minister's wife chose a dramatic autumnal sari to take in London's colourful Diwali celebrations . For Hindus, the five-year festival of Diwali is one of the most important events in the year. Fireworks and lamps are used to create a riot of colour to celebrate the victory of good over evil, sweets are traded and new clothes bought. Lamps are lit and kept on during the night and families come together to carry out traditional tasks such as cleaning the house to honour the goddess Lakshmi. While Samantha Cameron looked the part in her dramatic sari, David Cameron chose not to dress quite so spectacularly as his wife though, wearing his trusty navy suit and sensible blue tie. Mr Cameron was garlanded when he arrived at the Neasden Temple, as it is popularly known, and both he and Samantha were welcomed with a chandlo on their foreheads – the red mark adopted by Hindu worshippers and afforded to guests. As a customary mark of respect, they removed their shoes before entering (David’s were black slip-ons; Samantha’s nude pumps). Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is a five day celebration undertaken by millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world . For Hindus, the five-year festival of Diwali is one of the most important events in the year . Samantha took part in a ceremony at the Hindu temple . Samantha, who went barefoot in the temple, was draped in a floral garland as she was welcomed . Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, second right, Vinu Bhattessa, a trustee of the temple, right, Samantha Cameron, second left, and Rena Amin, a leading women's volunteer, walk past the Hindu temple . The Neasden temple which opened in 1995, is the largest of its kind outside of India . Each was also given a ‘nada chhadi’ cotton-thread wristband, symbolising a bond of friendship. Yesterday Mrs Cameron displayed hers on her right wrist as she effortlessly blended in with a line-up of sari-clad volunteers. Meanwhile Mr Cameron, also sporting a poppy and wearing his wristband beneath his sleeve, praised Hindu family and community values. He urged the UK’s million Hindus to be ‘ever more involved’ in shaping British life. He also announced he would return to India soon. The Neasden Temple, which opened in 1995, is the largest of its kind outside of India. Made of almost . 2,820 tons of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tons of Italian carrara . marble the temple was carved in India and then shipped to London for . building. Since opening the temple has attracted almost three million visitors. 42-year-old Samantha chose a russet-coloured sari edged in gold for a visit to the Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, at Neasden in north-west London . Samantha Cameron's husband David Cameron chose not to dress quite so spectacularly wearing a safe navy suit . Samantha Cameron wife of Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, greets a group of young women during the visit . David Cameron tweeted images of Sam being greeted with a Chandlo and then the couple inside the temple . David Cameron in front of some of the thousands of sweets that are shared during the festival . Prime Ministers and their spouses have often paid visits to Hindu . temples and other religious buildings during the festival of Diwali. Tony Blair and his wife Cherie used to attend Diwali celebrations at the . House of Commons and six years ago Cherie Blair made a speech at the . United Nations in New York during Diwali highlighting the plight of . widows. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair pictured during Diwali celebrations in the House of Commons in 2003 . Like Samantha Cameron, Cherie Blair adopted traditional costume during Diwali celebrations . Gordon Brown, the son of a Church of Scotland minister, also used to attend Diwali celebrations when Prime Minister and would receive the traditional sash made from flowers. American President Barack Obama also attends Diwali celebrations, most notably when he and his wife Michelle made a four-day visit to India in 2010 amid tight security. Gordon Brown (left) received a sash made from flowers when he hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street in London to celebrate the Diwali festival in 2009 . US President Barack Obama dancing with school students during Diwali celebrations in Mumbai, India in 2010 . Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visited the temple in 2009 to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi . Camilla was pictured being welcomed by the women of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir . Margaret Thatcher receiving the bindi at a Diwali banquet at London's Dorchester Hotel in 1998 . On his visit to England in 1970, Yogiji Maharaj consecrated a small . Swaminarayan Mandir in Islington, London. During his stay in London, on . 26 May 1970, Yogiji Maharaj expressed his dream that a traditional . mandir be constructed in the future. To realise the dream of his guru, . Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired the mandir and consecrated it in 1995.From . the moment the first stone was cut on 16 February 1993 to the moment . the final piece was packed in June 1995, over 1,500 skilled village . craftsmen, artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat – skilled in traditional . stone and masonry – worked round the clock chipping away to fashion the . rough stone and fine marble into the required forms. The finished . products of rich carvings were a testimony to their exquisite skills of . craftsmanship. The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest of its kind outside of India . Stone experts recommended limestone from Bulgaria . for the mandir exterior and marble from Italy and Ambaji (India) for the . mandir interior. The stone and marble chosen met necessary aesthetic . criteria, durable enough to withstand British weather conditions yet . soft and suitable enough for the delicate work of carving. The Bulgarian . limestone resisted remarkably well the effects of the extreme weather . conditions with temperature variations from 30ºC in the summer and . dropping to minus 15ºC in the winter. The limestone is very dense, with . fine grains and creamy-white in colour. Italian marble is favored for . its consistent white coloration, smooth texture and strength. Marble . from Ambaji is noted for its snow-white appearance and good finishing.Limestone . and marble were transported in consignments by sea to the port of . Kandla in Kutch, on the west coast of Gujarat. After the limestone and . marble blocks were unloaded, they would be transported by truck to the . main workshop in Kandla, some 8km away. It was decided that much of the . carving be carried out at Kandla itself for reasons of convenience. A 15 . sq km plot was acquired and cleared up and a mini-township built for . the craftsmen who would sculpt the stone. Five worksheds were in . operation at the Kandla site – one for cutting stones, one for marble . work, one for limestone work, one for polishing and one for packing . carved materials. It formed what was one of the biggest stone sculpting . sites in the world. Over 1,500 skilled village craftsmen from Rajasthan . and Gujarat, skilled in stone and masonry work based on centuries of . tradition, were involved in the mandir work at 14 different sites in . India. - www.mandir.org .
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Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India .
Diwali is a five day festival of light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains .
Prime Minister tweeted pictures of the couple to his 500,000 followers .
Samantha's husband stuck to a safe, navy suit and sensible tie .
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A 23-year-old Fairefield, Ohio resident was shot and killed on Saturday by a police officer called to regulate a fight between the 23-year-old and his father. Authorities say that the father and son scuffle started when Caleb Surface broke into his father Jeff Surface's house at the 2000 block of Spyglass Hill Court a little before 8pm. The pair began fighting physically and that's when Jeff called the police. WCPO reported that When police arrived, Caleb Surface ran out the back door and an officer met up with Caleb close by at the 2000 block of Saint Andrews Court. Caleb was shot by a police officer on Saturday just a week after he turned 23 years old . Caleb broke into his father's house at the 2000 block of Spyglass Hill Court just a little before 8 p.m. According to police, that's where an officer, whose name has not been released, fired two shots. Caleb died at the scene--exactly one week after his 23rd birthday on January 11. Surfaces body wasn't carried away from the scene by the Butler County Coroner's Office until 4:30 a.m., nine hours after the father called 911. Fairfied officer Doug Day said that Caleb Surface did not fire a shot at officer and is unsure as to what pushed his fellow officer to shoot the young man. It's unclear as to whether Caleb was armed or not but officer Day said that pointing a gun at an officer is enough to warrant shooting back. 'You display a weapon, you refuse our commands, you tell us you have a weapon, you make a furtive movement that makes us believe you're pulling a weapon at us, we will likely fire shots,' he said. WCPO reports that both Surface's father and his cousin Ed Kathman both believe that their son was unarmed the evening of the shooting. This a photo taken just two days before Caleb was shot dead by a police officer near his father's home . 'To the best of his father's knowledge, his son was unarmed, and that's what he told police,' Kathman said. He also said Surface 'didn’t take any weapons out of the house.' Surface's family say that he was 'a good kid' but that he struggled with drug addiction and was emotionally troubled. Status updates on Surface's facebook page indicate that he was struggling emotionally with feeling of helplessness and boredom. 'Some one save me from me please I just wanna blow my heqdnoff so bored!' wrote Caleb on January 16. He also wrote, 'What glimmers is sure to fade.' On the actual day of the shooting on January 18. Caleb wrote a prophetic poost reading, 'last words?' Chilling Prophecy: Caleb wrote 'Last Words?' on the same day that he died . Calebs friends and family say he was 'kind hearted' but that he struggled with drug addiction and depression . Even though Caleb wrote this on his facebook page he was believed to be unarmed during the time of the shooting . He even wrote, 'beer and a gun hmmm what to do.' Whether or not Caleb was armed is still not public knowledge. The immediate family said they will not comment on the shooting until the investigation is complete. 'The family expects a full and accurate accounting of what transpired from the time that Caleb left his father's home until his death a short time later,' the family's lawyer said. Caleb's cousin Ed Kathman said, 'It’s just an ongoing struggle with chemical dependency,' Kathman said. 'He was a good kid. He just struggled with drugs.' 'He was a good kid with a huge heart,' said Angie Kelley, Surface’s . aunt. 'He struggled with depression and he was unhappy. Life hasn’t been . easy on him lately,' she told the Dayton Daily News. The family has said that Caleb was 'kind hearted' and that his drug addiction overcame him. 'Will I sleep tonight that is the question,' Caleb wrote on his facebook on January 16 in an eerie foreshadowing. He turned 23 just a week before his death and seemed to be at a all time low. 'Drinking byyourself on your bday really isn't all that ,believe it or not' The police department is investigating the shooting and the officer who shot the boy, a 10-year veteran of the department, has been put on administrative leave while the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Fairfield Police Department investigate. Caleb struggled with drinking and drug addiction but was loved by family and considered a 'good kid'
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Caleb Surface broke into his father Jeff Surface's home where the two got into a fight and Jeff called the police .
When police arrived, Caleb ran from the house down the block where an officer fatally shot him dead .
Caleb's father believes his son was unarmed when he was shot .
Caleb was dead on the road for 8 hours before his body was taken away .
Caleb was described as a 'good kid' who had been depressed and had problems with drugs .
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The daughter of a Conservative politician who was murdered in the Brighton bombing 30 years ago has said she is friends with her father's killer. Sir Anthony Berry MP was one of five people who died when the IRA explosion ripped through the Grand Hotel on October 12, 1984. His daughter Jo now travels the world promoting peace and reconciliation with Patrick Magee - the republican bomber who planted the deadly device. 'I would say he is a friend,' she said. 'It is an unusual friendship but I care about him.' Scroll down for video . Jo Berry, daughter of Conservative politician Sir Anthony Berry, who was murdered in the Brighton bombing 30 years ago, pictured with Patrick Magee, who planted the device, in 2004 on the 20th anniversary . Although reluctant to say she has forgiven Magee for causing her father's death, Ms Berry claimed she understood why he turned to violence three decades ago. She added: 'I don't like to use the word (forgiveness). For me it is more about empathy and understanding. And the empathy is about understanding from his perspective why he did it. 'I am always going to be against any violence but if I understand why he, and others, chose to use violence then that can help me to look at how we can make the world a place where people are less likely to use violence. 'Forgiveness is such a difficult word. But he is my friend now. We spend a lot of time together.' Thirty people were injured in the attack on the eve of the Conservative Party conference but the terrorists' main target, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, escaped relatively unscathed. Sir Anthony Berry MP, who died in the Brighton bombing, pictured in 1966 with wife Sarah Anne Clifford-Turner . Then and now: Patrick Magee, pictured left in the 1980s and right, in 2001, was given eight life sentences in 1986 but was released just 13 years later . At the time of the bombing, Ms Berry, now 57, was a 27-year-old meditation student who had sympathised with the IRA hunger strikers' pursuit for political status in the Maze prison. She was about to jet off to Africa when the harrowing news of the bomb filtered through. 'It was a massive shock and we had a long, long wait before we eventually got the news in the afternoon that they had found my dad's body and that my step-mother was injured,' she said. 'I didn't just lose my father in that bomb -- someone I had become really close to -- I lost a part of me and I felt very strongly that I was now part of the conflict in Northern Ireland.' Magee was given eight life sentences in 1986 but was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 1999 after serving just 13 years. Shattered: The top four floors of the Grand Hotel, Brighton after the bomb exploded on October 12, 1984 . Fellow IRA members Gerard McDonnell, Peter Sherry, Martina Anderson and Ella O'Dwyer were also sentenced to life for conspiracy to cause explosions. They were also released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. A year after Magee's release, Ms Berry, who had deliberately stayed away from the court proceedings and distanced herself from media coverage, met him at a friend's house in Dublin. She did not tell her siblings about meeting which marked the beginning of a 'miraculous' journey. Since that first meeting, they have met to share a platform on non-violence more than 100 times. She said: 'It was very much 'we' talking rather than 'I'. He was talking for the group - for the IRA, or for Sinn Fein - rather than himself. But, I was very curious about what was beneath that. 'I didn't go into the meeting wanting to argue with him or prove points. It was really to listen and understand. 'He was disarmed by my giving him empathy and there was a second part of the conversation where he had taken off his political hat and was speaking much more as a human being.' Ms Berry, who now runs the Building Bridges for Peace charity, decided within two days of her father's death to extract something positive from the tragedy. In the past 13 years, the reconciliation talks have taken her and Magee to places like Palestine, the Balkans, Rwanda and Colombia. Patrick Magee and Jo Berry now travel the world together to give talks on peace and reconciliation . Patrick Magee walks with Jo Berry through Brighton city centre in 2004 on the 20th anniversary of the bombing . The extensive damage from the bomb inside the Grand Hotel, Brighton, planted by IRA member Patrick Magee . Ms Berry believes her father would have approved of her actions. She said: 'I hope he would have understood and given me his support. I think he would have. I am not a politician but, in my own way I think he'd understand that I am trying to change things. 'I never thought I would be planning two events in Brighton on the 30th anniversary with Patrick Magee. The pair will be taking part in a panel discussion at The Old Market in Hove to mark the 30th anniversary of the explosion. Ms Berry said it was important Magee attended. Patrick Magee's wife Eileen (third from left) outside the Old Bailey in 1986 where he was on trial for murder . There was heavy security outside the Old Bailey for the trial of IRA members accused of the Brighton bombing . She said: 'For me, inviting Pat to be there on Sunday is to show a living example of reconciliation and the power of empathy. It is really important to have him there to demonstrate that. 'Yes, some people will be upset but, I think, that for peace sometimes you have to take these risks.' Magee has declined to give press interviews ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Brighton bombing. Ms Berry believes he has changed considerably. She added: 'When he planted the bomb he wasn't seeing human beings. It was a strategy and now he sees human beings and wonderful human beings. It has been about him getting his humanity back. That has changed him, definitely. 'He regards me as a friend. He knows that my dad was a wonderful human being and he knows that some of the qualities I have came from my father and that weighs heavily on him.' Patrick Magee, pictured with Jo Berry in 2004, have met on more than 100 occasions to talk about non-violence . How the Daily Mail reported the attack on October 13 . It is 30 years since the Brighton bomb ripped through The Grand Hotel killing five people and seriously injuring 34 others. As well as Sir Anthony Berry, Eric Taylor, 54, chairman of the Conservative party's north west area, Anne Wakeham, 45, wife of the government chief whip, Jeanne Shattock, 52, wife of the chairman of the party's western area, and Muriel McLean, 54, wife of the Chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, were killed. The intended target of the IRA terrorist attack was Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her Tory Cabinet, who were staying at the hotel during the Conservative Party conference. But while Mrs Thatcher and her husband Denis narrowly escaped injury, others who were caught up in the explosion at 2.53am on October 12 1984 were not so fortunate. Former Tory minister Lord Tebbit, the then trade and industry secretary, was severely injured in the blast and his wife Margaret was left paralysed from the neck down and needing 24-hour care. 'I think about it every day in the sense that I look at my wife who was sentenced to life imprisonment in a wheelchair,' he said. Fiercely protective of his wife, Lord Tebbit, 83, says the anniversary is 'just another day' as he and Lady Tebbit live with the injuries they sustained in the attack. He said: 'There is nothing really to celebrate, or mark, it just goes on.' Age has brought its own problems exacerbating the injuries he and his wife suffered, he said. He said: 'There are only two alternatives. You either live with it or you die with it, and that's the way it is.' 'It just goes on': Lord Tebbit with his wife Lady Tebbit who was left paralysed after the attack . Lord Tebbit also says he has nothing but contempt for bomber Patrick Magee who was handed eight life sentences at the Old Bailey in 1986, with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 35 years. He was released in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement - having served 13 years for the crime. Lord Tebbit said: 'Magee is just a low creature and an object of contempt, particularly as he now tries to make something of a living out of talking about it. 'He was no more than a monkey on an organ grinder's organ.' Magee will be in the city on Sunday taking part in a panel discussion following a screening of documentary Beyond Right & Wrong at The Old Market in Hove. The programme follows the story of Jo Berry, whose father Sir Anthony Berry was killed in the explosion, and her reconciliatory journey with Magee. The Grand will also be marking the anniversary with a minute's silence at noon on Sunday. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was staying at the hotel for the Conservative Party conference but escaped relatively unscathed . Staff at the hotel will gather around a plaque in the lobby which was unveiled by Lord Tebbit on the 25th anniversary of the bombing. The flag on the roof of the hotel will be flown at half mast for the whole day and the flags on the front of the building will be taken down as a mark of respect to all those who lost their lives and were injured during the bombing. General manager Andrew Mosley said: 'It is an opportunity to remind the staff and ourselves of what happened 30 years ago on that day. 'To reflect on what it must have been like for our colleagues at the time and to remember those who lost their lives, those who were injured, the community in Brighton that was so badly affected, and members of the emergency services who were called to the blast. 'The message we want to send above all else is that we have not forgotten what happened here 30 years ago.' A fireman walks amongst rubble the morning after the bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton by the IRA .
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Sir Anthony Berry MP was killed in the explosion on October 12, 1984 .
Patrick Magee received eight life sentences for the bombing in 1986 but was freed in 1999 after serving just 13 years .
Berry's daughter Jo, now 57, travels the world promoting peace with Magee .
She says: 'Forgiveness is such a difficult word. But he is my friend now'
But former Tory Minister Lord Tebbit, who was injured along with his wife, blasted Magee for making a living from his crime .
He said: 'Magee is just a low creature and an object of contempt'
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:12 EST, 14 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:13 EST, 14 January 2013 . An 18-year-old boy discovered his mother bludgeoned to death at their home as his brother was charged with her murder, authorities said. The teenager, whose name has not been released, found Angela Lozano with a bloody head wound at their apartment in North Richland Hills, Texas in the early hours of Saturday. Several hours later, police arrested his 23-year-old brother Justin Cody Collins over Ms Lozano's death. Brutal killing: Angela Lozano was found bludgeoned to death at her home in North Richland Hills, Texas. Her son Justin Cody Collins (right) has been arrested on suspicion of her murder . Collins is being held at the North Richland Hills Jail on $1million bail after being caught by police at his father's home in Tarrant County. Police charged Wright with his mother's murder and said that there were no other suspects. A medical examiner said that 45-year-old Ms Lozano's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. Sgt Ed Wright told the Star-Telegram: 'We’re not releasing what weapon was used or if he used his hands.' Police refused to reveal if the suspect was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the time of the killing. Authorities also did not say if they had previously visited the home in connection with other disturbances. Ms Lozano had worked for the city's utilities department for 11 years where colleagues described her as having a 'smile and a helpful attitude'. Gruesome discovery: Ms Lozano's 18-year-old son found her body at their Texas home in the early hours of Saturday .
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Justin Cody Collins facing murder charges in North Richland Hills, Texas .
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By . Howard Fendrich . Marion Bartoli says she has no regrets about retiring shortly after winning Wimbledon a year ago. She also says she logs onto YouTube every couple of days to watch her last-point ace that ended the 2013 final at the All England Club. About six weeks after winning her only Grand Slam trophy, Bartoli announced she was quitting the sport at age 28. VIDEO Scroll down for Marion Bartoli: I watch my Wimbledon win every two days . No regrets: Marion Bartoli believes she was right to retire after her Wimbledon win last year . Victor: Bartoli lifts the Venus Rosewater Dish after her win over Sabine Lisicki in last year's final . Bartoli is the first reigning women's champion at Wimbledon since 1997 to decline to try to defend her title. Still, she held the traditional defending champion's pre-tournament news conference Sunday. She tugged down the collar of her white sweater to reveal blue tape providing support for her right shoulder and said: 'Literally, I can't even lift my arm every morning. ... So definitely no regrets at all.'
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Bartoli says she has no regrets following her retirement last year .
French star announced she was quitting six weeks after Wimbledon title .
It was her maiden Grand Slam crown in 47th attempt at victory .
Becomes the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1997 to not defend her crown .
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It’s not often that Tehran is considered a more popular tourist destination that Rome. But that’s the verdict according to Facebook users. The Iranian capital came in 32nd place in a list of 50 of the world’s top cities. By contrast, Rome came in 35th place. New York City is the most popular city in the world according to Facebook 'likes' with 15, 363, 714 . Each destination on the list has been ranked according to how many ‘likes’ it has received on the social networking site’s city guides pages. Facebook has created a profile page for each city around the world which it has linked to the country’s Wikipedia page. It also includes information shared by other Facebook users offering tourist tips and recommendations, news stories and popular posts from around the Internet related to each city. Paris comes in second place with 9,144,939 likes in a list compiled by travel company Fastbooking.com . London was placed in third position in the list of top 50 cities with 8, 546, 175 Facebook likes . The top ten features four North American cities, two South American cities and four European cities. Los Angeles came in forth place with 7, 176, 469 Facebook likes . The list, which has been compiled by travel company Fastbooking.com, places New York City in first place, with 15, 363, 714 ‘likes’. Paris comes in second place with 9,144,939 likes, while London was placed in third position with 8, 546, 175 likes. The top ten features four North American cities, two South American cities and four European cities. The rest of the top ten was made up by Los Angeles with more than seven million likes, Sao Paulo with just under five million, Las Vegas and Istanbul with more than three million, Rio de Janeiro with just under three million, Barcelona with 2.6m and Atlanta in Georgia, USA, with 2.3m likes. Facebook has created a profile page for each city around the world which it has linked to the city's Wikipedia page. Sao Paulo's Facebook page was liked 4, 915, 960 putting it in fifth place . Seoul in South Korea was Asia's most popular city, while Mumbai in India was next in 16th place . Perhaps surprisingly, Tehran in Iran came in 32nd place in the list, higher than Milan, Rome and Munich . Seoul in South Korea was ranked as the most popular city in Asia, while the next highest was Mumbai in India which came in 16th place. They were followed by Bangkok in Thailand in 19th place and Bandung in Indonesia in 21st place with 1.2m likes. London was the only UK city in the top 50, while the USA featured eight cities in the list, including Miami, Chicago, San Fransico and Houston in Texas. Berlin featured at the bottom of the list with 687, 726 likes, just behind Manila in the Philippines with 702,000 likes. 1 New York City 15, 363, 714 . 2 Paris 9, 144, 939 . 3 London 8. 546, 175 . 4 Los Angeles 7, 176, 469 . 5 Sao Paulo 4, 915, 960 . 6 Las Vegas 3, 286, 174 . 7 Istanbul 3, 221, 451 . 8 Rio de Janeiro 2, 913, 718 . 9 Barcelona 2, 614, 534 . 10 Atlanta 2, 343, 999 . 11 Seoul 2, 148, 993 . 12 Jakarta 2, 105, 105 . 13 Cairo 2, 082, 317 . 14 Miami 1, 973, 452 . 15 Madrid 1, 930, 495 . 16 Mumbai 1, 803, 387 . 17 Chicago 1, 628, 960 . 18 Mexico City 1, 474, 332 . 19 Bangkok 1, 444, 552 . 20 San Francisco 1, 422, 610 . 21 Bandung 1, 237, 728 . 22 Amsterdam 1, 158, 580 . 23 Bogota 1, 141, 537 . 24 Buenos Aires 1, 222, 502 . 25 Karachi 1, 076, 058 . 26 Sydney 1, 060, 778 . 27 Lahore 1. 036, 037 . 28 Kuala Lumpur 1, 032, 349 . 29 Toronto 998, 174 . 30 Houston 994, 386 . 31 Melbourne 991, 159 . 32 Tehran 961, 598 . 33 Milan 942, 586 . 34 Dacca 890, 575 . 35 Rome 865, 035 . 36 Marseille 853, 999 . 37 Bangalore 837, 435 . 38 Riyadh 789, 695 . 39 Casablanca 786, 783 . 40 Lima 784, 524 . 41 Hyderabad 782, 147 . 42 Munich 775, 708 . 43 Kolkata 761, 078 . 44 Santiago 754, 767 . 45 Singapore 754, 543 . 46 Medellin 747, 091 . 47 Tunis 731, 783 . 48 Chennai 709, 767 . 49 Manila 702, 366 . 50 Berlin 687, 726 . Source: Fastbooking.com . Facebook currently features more than 1.32 billion users. Many cities have now created their own official Facebook pages in a bid to try and promote tourist attractions and offer visitors information about what to see and do. However, many have not proved as popular as Facebook’s own online guides to each city, which has seen users from around the world posting photographs and sharing YouTube clips with information relating to each destination.
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List published of the world's top 50 cities according to Facebook 'likes'
Facebook's New York City page has more than 15 million likes .
London was ranked in third position with 8, 546, 175 likes .
Top ten has four North American cities and four European cities .
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(CNN) -- South Korea's prime minister has offered to resign, his communications office said Monday, after failure to win parliamentary approval to stop relocation of government offices out of the capital, Seoul. Prime Minister Chung Un-chan verbally offered to resign, but President Lee Myung-bak did not accept his offer, the office said. Chung offered to resign after failure to win the parliamentary approval, a major setback to Lee's government and a sign that his party is losing clout. The president's Grand National Party has taken a beating in local elections, which analysts see as a referendum on his handling of the Cheonan incident. The South Korean naval ship Cheonan sank March 26 in disputed waters. The loss of the ship and 46 sailors raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has vehemently denied charges it fired a torpedo that sank the Cheonan. CNN's Roya Shadravan contributed to this report.
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South Korea's prime minister offers to resign .
President Lee Myung-bak declines to accept his offer .
President's Grand National Party has taken a beating in the polls .
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A Russian TV news presenter who said the country's behaviour in Ukraine was 'wrong' during a live broadcast is being sent to Crimea by the channel's bosses. Abby Martin, a presenter on the Russia today television channel - which is funded through the Kremlin - denounced Russian action live on air. She said she 'would not sit here and apologise or defend military aggression,' before saying her 'heart went out' to the Ukrainian people who she described as 'the real losers here.' In an extraordinary move, Russia Today responded to her statement - saying they would be sending the presenter to Crimea to 'give her an opportunity to make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story.' Scroll down for video . Abby Martin, who works for Kremlin-funded Russia Today, said Russian action in Crimea was 'wrong' during her a broadcast . Ms Martin, a hosts on the American version of the channel, made her statement at the end of her show Breaking the Set. She said: 'Before I wrap up the show, I wanted to say something from my heart about the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine and Russia's military occupation of Crimea. 'Just because I work here, for RT, doesn't mean I don't have editorial independence and I can't stress enough how strongly I am against any military intervention in sovereign nations' affairs. 'What Russia did is wrong.' Speaking live from the show's Washington Studio, she continued: 'I admittedly don't know as much as I should about Ukraine's history or the cultural dynamics of the region, but what I do know is that military intervention is never the answer. 'And I will not sit here and apologize or defend military aggression.' 'Furthermore, the coverage I've seen of Ukraine has been truly disappointing from all sides of the media spectrum, and ripe with disinformation. The presenter added she 'would not sit here and apologise or defend military aggression'. Russia Today responded by saying they would send her to Crimea to 'make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story' 'Above all my heart goes out to the Ukrainian people, who are now wedged as pawns in the middle of a global power chess game. They're the real losers here. 'All we can do now is hope for a peaceful outcome for a terrible situation and prevent another full-blown Cold War between multiple superpowers. 'Until then, I'll keep telling the truth as I see it.' Russia Today later released a statement saying: 'Contrary to the popular opinion, RT doesn’t beat its journalists into submission, and they are free to express their own opinions, not just in private but on the air. 'This is the case with Abby’s commentary on the Ukraine. 'We respect her views, and the views of all our journalists, presenters and program hosts, and there will be absolutely no reprimands made against Ms. Martin. An armed man in military uniform sits atop of an Russian 'GAZ Tigr' infantry mobility vehicle outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit outside Simferopol, Crimea . A Russian soldier looks through the sights of his weapon as Ukrainian servicemen wait at Belbek airport . 'In her comment Ms. Martin also noted that she does not possess a deep knowledge of reality of the situation in Crimea. 'As such we’ll be sending her to Crimea to give her an opportunity to make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story.' Today in Crimea, Russian troops in control of the Belbek air base fired warning shots into the air. Wahl has accused the state-funded Russia Today of deliberately smearing America in order to make the Kremlin - and Putin - look good . About a dozen Russian soldiers at the base warned the Ukrainians, who were marching towards them without any weapons, not to get any closer. They fired several warning shots into the air and said they would shoot the Ukrainians if they continued to advance. The stand-off came as Vladimir Putin ordered thousands of Russian troops participating in military exercises near Ukraine's border to return to their base.
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Russia Today news presenter Abby Martin said country was 'wrong'
Said: 'I will not sit here and apologize or defend military aggression'
Channel responded by saying they would send presenter to Crimea .
Said she should 'make up her own mind from epicentre of story'
Russia Today is funded through the Kremlin .
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13c489438d218d411dcfceaee225979df4c97c50
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By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 11:41 EST, 29 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:14 EST, 29 October 2013 . A health care assistant and her lesbian partner have been jailed for fleecing three quarters of a million pounds from a wealthy elderly recluse. Celia Brinkley, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison after stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from 80-year-old Anthony Hornett while she was his home carer. Her partner Kerry Davies, 40, a qualified nurse, was also sentenced to 27 months in prison after admitting taking more than £80,000 of that sum from Anthony Hornett. St Albans Crown Court heard how the pair blew the pensioner's money on new cars, expensive trips and designer handbags and told colleagues at St Albans City . Hospital that they'd won £250,000 on the lottery when questioned the pair on their luxury lifestyle. Judge Andrew Bright QC told the pair it . was difficult to imagine a greater or deeper breach of trust inflicted . on an elderly, vulnerable man. Behind bars: Health Care Assistant Celia Brinkley, 40, pictured left, and her lesbian partner, qualified nurse Kerry Davies, 40, pictured right, have both been jailed for fleecing vulnerable 80-year-old Anthony Hornett out of hundreds of thousands of pounds while they were his carers . Prosecutor Laura Blackband said the couple first met Mr Hornett in 2009 when he was in his late 70s. 'Mr . Hornett was very vulnerable and lonely. He had lived alone for many . years. He had never married and had no children. He was not visited by . relatives and was a recluse in reality,' she said. The court heard how the pair left their full-time jobs after Mr Hornett agreed to pay them £2,000 each a month to be his carers in August 2010. Brinkley would visit him twice a day and Davies just once a week. He owned three properties in St Albans and agreed to rent them one in Central Drive, which had been neglected, at a reduced price. Ms Blackband said: 'They agreed they would clean it. He would provide the white goods and would pay the council tax. The rent was £500 per month. The market rental would be £1,000. They had a very good deal.' They took over the property in June 2009 and moved in that September after cleaning it. But over the next few months, the court was told how they began fleecing money from Mr Hornett. Brinkley had access to his cheque book and forged eight cheques. She also used his Barclaycard. By June the following year, Brinkley had received £127,000 in cheques and Davies £40,000. The court heard £30,000 was spent on a VW Toureg for Brinkley and she also obtained a Mercedes convertible for £43,000 as well as a scooter. One text message Brinkley sent to Davies read: 'Sorry babe he will only give you £5,000 for your birthday.' Davies replied: 'I think that will do babe.' In fact Mr Hornett wrote a cheque for £7,000. The court heard the couple also believed they'd managed to dupe Mr . Hornett into changing his Will so they would inherit the house they were renting. Ms Blackband Mr Hornett had been plied . with drink and was persuaded by Brinkley to write a letter to his . solicitor changing his Will to leave them the house in Central Drive. In court: Sentencing at St Albans Crown Court, Judge Andrew Bright QC told the pair it . was difficult to imagine a greater or deeper breach of trust inflicted . on an elderly, vulnerable man . The elderly man’s solicitor contacted him because she was suspicious about the proposed change to his Will. It was not changed but Mr Hornett allowed the two women to continue to think they were his beneficiaries. As a result they planned £200,000 worth of extensions to the house in Central Drive. This was paid for by £300,000 they had amassed from their victim in a joint account. But the pair were caught when a policeman visiting Mr Hornett became suspicious about the building work. He also saw the two expensive cars. As a result the police obtained a Production Order from the court to look into the couple’s financial affairs and they were arrested. Inquiries were carried out and the total loss for Mr Hornett was put at £733,563.46. 'It was a staggering figure,' said Ms Blackband. In an interview with the police, Mr Hornett said he had become frightened of Brinkley, who the prosecutor said was 'the prime mover' in the fraud. On one occasion he said she became aggressive when he questioned the cost of a £10,000 boiler that she said needed installing in her home. He said it had been easier to give in to them. Brinkley, from Dellfield, St Albans, admitted two charges of fraud, nine of forgery and one of converting criminal property. Davies, also from Dellfied, St Albans, admitted one charge of converting criminal property. Terence Woods, defending Brinkley, said she had been in a relationship with Davies and they had been looking to move out of hospital accommodation. He said Brinkley and Davies were the only two people in the world who had cared for Mr Hornett who was an eccentric individual. Gideon Cammerman, representing Davies, said she had studied for a nursing degree at Sheffield University and had been an excellent nurse. 'She knows the Nursing and Midwifery Council will ensure she never works as a nurse again,' he told the court before adding that the relationship between the couple had come to an end. Judge Bright said: 'It is difficult to imagine a greater or deeper breach of trust inflicted on an elderly, vulnerable man. They were nursing staff in St Albans hospital - a job they gave up to live off the proceeds of crime.' He told Brinkley: 'You targeted him relentlessly, mercilessly and in a truly wicked way in a gross breach of trust over a considerable period.' He said she had 'milked him for every penny' she could. In sentencing Davies he said she had allowed Brinkley to do her 'dirty work' for her. A confiscation hearing will take place in January next year.
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Health care assistant Celia Brinkley, 45, and her partner nurse Kerry Davies, 40, were employed by Anthony Hornett as his carers .
But the pair began fleecing money from the vulnerable 80-year-old .
Brinkley stole more than £160,000 by forging cheques from Mr Hornett .
The pair also purchased luxury cars and designer handbags with his money .
Investigators estimate the pair cost Mr Hornett a total of £733,563.46 .
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(CNN) -- Exploring Iceland's ancient landscape feels like stepping back in time. Breathtaking waterfalls, fjords, volcanoes, mountains and glaciers dot the map as landmarks on this seemingly small island. But adventuring across Iceland, you'll find that it is full of natural wonder and miles of undiscovered whimsy. "Once you've been there, you'll find there is something about Iceland that just digs in deep and keeps you wanting more," iReporter Mallory Swanson said. "Each time you think you've seen the most beautiful sight in the world, you'll drive around the next corner and have to update your top 10 list." Ring around the country: Nine days in Iceland . Adventure awaits around each corner, brimming with history and wonderment. Locals and visitors alike say the best way to experience Iceland is by planning on taking a two-week trip. Otherwise, you might miss out on some spectacular facet of this glimmering jewel in the North Atlantic Ocean. "I've traveled to around 30 countries, and I can say without any doubt that Iceland is the most beautiful place I've ever seen, not to mention the boundless warmth and humor of its people," iReporter Alan Patrick Watts said. Icelandic scenery at its best . At times, you'll feel isolated amongst the hauntingly beautiful landscape. That's the joy of taking a trip to Iceland; it is a true escape from anything you've ever known. "Get out of the city and visit the more remote locations, especially the South Coast, Snaefellsnes and the West Fjords," iReporter Amy Billing said. "Once you get out of Reykjavik, Iceland opens up into a vast, untouched natural landscape where you are likely to encounter few, if any other people." Prepare to see myriad wonders, some that even roll right into one another. It depends on what part of Iceland you want to experience. "Every few kilometers is another waterfall, some more spectacular than the last, but all different," iReporter Richard Wile said. "This lush lowland is constantly interrupted by evidence of Iceland's contrast of fire and ice; one minute you are in the lush lowlands and then a transition to black lava dust fields for miles, followed by vast moss-covered lava fields for hours at a stretch." Eat like a Viking in Iceland . Take a tour . The sheer, wide open expanse of Iceland can be intimidating to first-time visitors and venerable travelers alike. Don't assume that taking a tour will make you more of a tourist -- it could very well be the best way to experience Iceland. "Iceland is remote in many locations and can be somewhat difficult to navigate -- outside of Reykjavik and the Golden Circle -- on your own," Billing said. For the areas around Reykjavik, like the Glacial Lagoon and Snaefellsnes, she recommends taking a tour with Goecco. "If I were going to do one thing in Iceland, it would be to take a tour with Goecco," she said. "The guides from this company take small groups out to extremely remote locations that are beautiful beyond imagination. The guides are charismatic and offer an extremely unique perspective on both life in Iceland and its natural landscape." iReporter Marc Burba experienced Iceland while using a bus tour. "On our visits we used Reykjavik Excursions to tour parts of the country. We never felt crowded or rushed. The larger tour buses are roomy and comfortable, and the smaller tour vans are nice. We normally don't enjoy organized tours, but we've never gone wrong with them. They got us to remote waterfalls that we may not have found otherwise." Getting around . "I rented a car and drove clockwise around the island and never looked back!" iReporter Bryce Anzelmo said. Some visitors to Iceland swear by renting an off-road vehicle and exploring the country yourself, if you're feeling adventurous. But beware, these aren't like the traffic-clogged interstates you're used to. Farm animals and fresh gravel are the enemy here. Wile recommends maintaining a full tank of gas before venturing off, as well as food -- outside of the main towns, gas stations are few and far between. And just because the road sign says that a location is 80 km away, don't assume it will take an hour. A network of skinny, gravel roads comprise much of Iceland's countryside. "Get a respected guidebook and follow the recommended places to visit," iReporter Mark Bergner said. "There are amazing sites to see, but you may not know about them without a good guidebook." He also suggests that if you rent a vehicle, pay attention to the map and spend a little extra to include a trusty GPS. "If the map says you shouldn't take your rental vehicle down a particular road, believe it -- they're not just blowing smoke." Hiking is a favorite way to explore Iceland's wild side, but again, proceed with caution. "Don't wander off the trails if you go hiking," iReporter Christopher Duran said. "This is mainly due to the possibility of getting lost or overexposed after severely misjudging distances. The country has almost no trees and little atmospheric haze to calibrate against. Another good reason is due to patches of unmarked boiling mud." Experiencing Iceland's offerings . Making a little time to check Iceland's social calendar before you plan your trip could pay off. The country is known for hosting multiple festivals, and they are a must for first-timers. "Experience some of Iceland's many holidays and cultural events that are fun to participate in, such as Culture Day/Night, known as Menningarnótt, and music festivals like the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival," iReporter Catharine Wood said. "A good source of information is the Reykjavik Grapevine." Take time out of your vacation to relax in Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon. It's the perfect way to end a day of adventure. "Stop at the Blue Lagoon for a soak in the milky blue geothermal seawater," Burba said. "Floating in the Blue Lagoon at night, with steam rising around you while you gaze up at the black sky, is a truly memorable experience." Remember, no matter how you travel across Iceland, make the journey personal. Explore every inch that you can, and don't just sit in your vehicle. "Go out and explore," Swanson said. "Climb a mountain. There are mountains and hiking paths for every skill level and I can't say enough about how amazing it feels to get to the top of a mountain you never thought you would manage to climb. The views from the top will be worth it."
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Waterfalls, fjords, volcanoes, mountains and glaciers dot Iceland's landscape .
Don't be afraid to take a tour in order to make the most of your trip .
End your day with a lazy soak in Iceland's iconic Blue Lagoon .
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Republicans woke up Sunday to a wave of new polls that showed their Senate candidates surging ahead in key states -- including one in Iowa that looked particularly grim for Democrats -- giving the GOP a jolt of enthusiasm going into the 2014 campaign cycle's final hours. Two days from the midterm election, Washington's political class was buzzing around news that Iowa GOP Senate hopeful Joni Ernst was 7 percentage points up in a Des Moines Register poll, and Republican candidates and surrogates popped up on the Sunday news shows, gleeful about their prospects. "I think the wind is at our back," Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said on CNN's "State of the Union." He added that Republicans will "in all likelihood" win control of the Senate and added: "I think people are ready for new leadership." Fueling the Republicans' optimism was a Register poll that showed Ernst leading Democrat Bruce Braley, 51% to 44% -- prompting pollster J. Ann Selzer to tell the newspaper that "this race looks like it's decided." Hours before the poll's release, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spelled out what a loss in the Hawkeye State would mean for Democrats. "Iowa is critical. There's no other way to say it," Reid said Saturday in a conference call with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "Joni Ernst would mean — coming to the United States Senate — that Mitch McConnell would be leader of the United States Senate, who agrees with her on everything," he said, according to Politico. And it wasn't just Iowa that had good news for Republicans. A new set of NBC News/Marist polls unveiled Sunday morning gave Republicans boosts in three key Senate races -- including McConnell's in Kentucky, as well as Georgia, where Democrats had hoped to pickup a seat, and Louisiana, where Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu is in a tough race for her political career. Those incumbent Senate Democrats have spent the fall trying to distance themselves from President Barack Obama, whose floundering state-level approval ratings have been a drag for his party down the ticket as Republicans tie their opponents to the commander-in-chief every chance they get. "This is really the last chance for America to pass judgment on the Obama administration and its policies," former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said on "Fox News Sunday." Of course, polls are no guarantee for how elections will turn out on Tuesday, as the past several elections for midterms and the presidential race were dogged by major network surveys that turned out to be very different from the actual results. And Democrats cite the 2010 example of Colorado where Republican Ken Buck was consistently polling ahead in the final weeks of that race, only to be defeated by now Sen. Michael Bennet. Democrats swung back on the Sunday shows as well to make the case that their early voting numbers suggest they'll hold onto some of those seats. Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on ABC's "This Week" that her party's candidates will benefit from get-out-the-vote efforts targeting people who supported Obama in 2008 and 2012, but didn't vote in the 2010 midterm elections. "We have a ground game that I know [RNC chairman] Reince [Priebus] would take ours over theirs any day of the week," she said. She also pointed to Democratic surrogates -- including former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden -- and said they trounce GOP surrogates like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Paul and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. But Priebus shot back that "our ground game is whipping their ground game." "Look, if Americans who want change vote on Tuesday, the Democrats are going to have a terrible night. We're going to have a great night," he said. "And it's because Barack Obama's policies and Debbie Wasserman Schultz's policies and Harry Reid's policies are on the ballot." The GOP needs to pick up six seats to win a Senate majority, and with several other victories all but guaranteed, losses in swing states like Iowa could seal Democrats' fate. Senate Republican leader McConnell is ahead of Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes, 50% to 41%, according to an NBC News/Marist survey released Sunday. Democrats had hoped the contest would be among their few chances to pick off a GOP-held seat or at least divert resources from other key Senate races. Another of those targets is Georgia, but the Republican nominee there, David Perdue, has jumped to a 48% to 44% lead over Democrat Michelle Nunn, the NBC News/Marist survey found. That lead might not be enough to clench that race. To win in Georgia, candidates must earn more than 50% of the vote -- and if neither Perdue nor Nunn are able to reach that mark, they'd face each other again in a run-off election in January. In Louisiana, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu is in trouble, too. The NBC News/Marist poll found her at 44% support, but in the state's "jungle primary" she's facing two Republicans -- Rep. Bill Cassidy and tea party candidate Rob Maness. If Landrieu falls short of 50%, she'd face just one of those Republicans in a December run-off -- and without conservatives' votes being split, she'd be the underdog. The GOP is all but certain to win seats now held by retiring Democrats in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. They're also favored in Alaska, Arkansas and Louisiana -- states consistently won by Republican presidential candidates. Wins in swing state targets like Iowa, Colorado, North Carolina and New Hampshire would offer a huge boost to Republicans' chances -- and would insulate the party from potential losses in Georgia and Kansas, where independent challenger Greg Orman hasn't said who he'd caucus with and therefore can't be considered a reliable supporter of either party. Top Democrats, trying to narrow the gap, hit the trail Sunday, including Bill Clinton, who planned four stops in Arkansas -- where Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor is endangered and long-time Clinton foil Asa Hutchinson is expected to win the governor's race. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, was in New Hampshire, where Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Gov. Maggie Hassan are both facing stiff challenges in their re-election bids. She'll also attend the funeral for long-time Boston mayor Tom Menino. Obama, who's stayed away from most Senate races this year with the rare exception of a Saturday visit to Michigan on behalf of Democratic candidate Gary Peters, is in Connecticut Sunday to campaign for Gov. Dannel Malloy. Republicans are flocking to Kansas, where Orman is threatening to unseat Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. The party's 1996 presidential nominee, Bob Dole, and former Sen. Rick Santorum are campaigning for Roberts on Sunday. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a likely 2016 White House contender, is swinging through South Carolina, Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Another potential presidential candidate, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, is with Republican Dan Sullivan in Alaska, trying to help the Republican knock off first-term Democratic Sen. Mark Begich. The Florida governor's race -- one of the nation's tightest -- is also getting the attention of big names in both parties. Biden is campaigning for the Democratic candidate, Charlie Crist, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is making stops with Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
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Polls from the Des Moines Register and NBC News had good news for Republicans .
GOP surrogates took to the Sunday shows to cheer their poll results .
Democrats say their ground game and campaigns will close the gap .
Both parties have their biggest names on the trail Sunday .
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He may have recently been named the richest man in America for the 18th consecutive year, but for Bill Gates a hamburger is still a hamburger. The Microsoft co-founder, and man with a $59billion wealth, told students during a talk at the University of Washington in Seattle, that beyond a certain point, it all tastes the same. His words came as Sean Parker, the Napster founder and former Facebook president who has a $2.1bn fortune, complained of having added worries now he is rich and questioned whether life was better before. Same taste: Speaking to a packed atrium at the University of Washington yesterday, Bill Gates said past a point of wealth all hamburgers were the same . Keen listeners: Gates had been asked by a student at the university's Seattle campus how to get rich like him . Asked by a student for advice on how to become as rich as him, 56-year-old Gates replied, according to geekwire.com: 'I didn't start out with dream of being super-rich. 'Even after we started Microsoft we looked at guys running Intel and thought, wow, that must be strange (to be rich). It is, sort of strange. 'Wealth above a certain level is a responsibility to leave to children, which may or may not be good for them, or figure out how to give it away. 'I can understand wanting to have millions of dollars, there's a certain freedom, meaningful freedom, that comes with that. 'But once you get much beyond that, I have to tell you, it's the same hamburger.' Referring to a Seattle-area fast-food chain he added: 'Dick's has not raised their prices enough. But being ambitious is good. You just have to pick what you enjoy doing.' In 2000, Gates and his wife Melinda combined three family foundations into one to create the charitable Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which funds health and education projects around the world. It claims to be the biggest philanthropic organisation in the world and currently has more than $25billion in funds. Gates has promised to transfer 95 per cent of his money to the charity, rather than pass it on to his children. Meanwhile, . fellow billionaire Parker has provoked a storm of criticism of Twitter . after suggesting he had it tough being so wealthy. After . declaring he wanted to visit Occupy Wall Street Parker, who wears a . tuxedo in his profile picture, received a barrage of abuse. Money woes: Former Facebook president and billionaire Sean Parker, pictured at the the Web 2.0 Summit last week, said he has more problems now he is wealthy . Twitter row: Parker's followers were not too sympathetic to his heart-felt plea over cash troubles . In response the 31-year-old, who has $2.1bn fortune, wrote: 'You guys are really attacking me for being the 1%? I was broke and couch surfing just a few years ago.' He added: 'I have a whole new set of problems to deal with now: security, extortion attempts, kidnapping threats, death threats, etc. Life better b4?' Parker, who rents a mansion in Manhattan for $45,000 a month, later stated he was 'working on a plan to give it all away over time'.
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While Facebook billionaire Sean Parker complains of a 'whole new set of problems' brought by wealth .
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The brother of Olympic wrestling champion Dave Schultz, who was shot dead in 1996 by multimillionaire John du Pont, has said it has taken him 18 years to come to terms with his brother’s senseless murder. Foxcatcher is a Hollywood film that tells the incredible true story of Mark Schultz and his brother’s strange relationship with du Pont which ended when the eccentric philanthropist shot Dave Schultz dead on the driveway of his 800-acre farm in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The film, based on Mark's newly released memoir, is out this week and stars Channing Tatum as Mark, Steve Carell as du Pont, and Mark Ruffalo as Dave. The memoir of Mark Schultz, left with Channing Tatum, tells the story of his brother Dave Schultz's, top right, tragic murder at the hands of John du Pont in 1996 . Olympic wrestling champion Dave Schultz, left, who was shot dead in 1996 by multimillionaire John du Pont, is played in the movie by Mark Ruffalo . ‘I decided to write my autobiography because I didn’t want Dave to be forgotten,’ Mark Schultz, now 54, of Medford, Ore., told the New York Post. ‘It was a tough decision for me as I’ve always been a man of few words.’ The film, and Mark’s book, tells the incredible true story of how these championship-winning brothers managed to fall in with the wealthiest convicted murderer of all time. It starts in the mid-80s when du Pont approached Mark Schultz, an Olympic gold medalist and world champion, and invited him to his Foxcatcher Farms estate to put together a wrestling team for future Olympics. Mark, who says his opportunities at the time were limited, jumped at the chance although he now says he regretted the decision almost immediately after. ‘Looking back, I should have trusted my gut and never let him into my life - or, indeed, the life of my brother a few years later,’ said Schultz. Olympic wrestling champion Mark Schultz, left, is played in the film Foxcatcher by Channing Tatum, right . Foxcatcher, based on Mark Schultz's newly released memoir, is out this week and stars Channing Tatum as Mark, Steve Carell as du Pont, and Mark Ruffalo as Dave . ‘Everything about him was weird, from the dyed red Ronald McDonald hair with layers of dandruff in the roots to his dark yellow teeth, caked with food. Within weeks of working for him, I realized I’d made a huge mistake.’ Despite his bad feeling, the two men formed an odd bond that was a mixture of friendship and unspoken sexual tension, but ultimately du Pont’s erratic moods became too much for Schultz and he walked out in 1988. ‘I couldn’t look myself in the mirror and continue to work for du Pont or live on his estate. That was his whole strategy in his friendships and business relationships - to see how much money people would accept from him and how much they’d compromise themselves,’ said Schultz. To replace him, du Pont simply turned to Schultz’s older brother Dave who also had an Olympic gold medal and world title to his name. Tragedy stuck on January 26, 1996, when John du Pont shot Dave Schultz three times at close range on the grounds of his 800-acre Foxcatcher farm in Delaware County, Pennsylvania . In 1989, Dave Schultz and his young family moved into a house on the grounds of the Foxcatcher estate. Du Pont’s erratic behaviour continued to deteriorate and tragedy struck on January 26, 1996, when he shot Dave Schultz three times at close range. The murder was witnessed by Schultz's wife and du Pont's head of security and afterwards the multimillionaire locked himself inside his mansion for two days. Police negotiated with him on the phone before switching off his power and eventually arresting him when he ventured outside to fix his heater. ‘When my dad called to tell me that Dave had been killed, I threw the phone and destroyed everything in my office,’ said Mark. ‘Then, I curled into a ball and cried. I must have cried for a week.’ Steve Carell stars as eccentric philanthropist John du Pont in the movie . Du Pont, who was found to be mentally ill but not insane, was convicted in 1997 of murdering Dave Schult and died in prison in 2010 . No motive was ever offered for the murder, although friends had noted Du Pont was acting erratically beforehand, and an expert witness testified he was a paranoid schizophrenic who thought Schultz was going to kill him. Du Pont, who was found to be mentally ill but not insane, was convicted in 1997 of murdering Dave Schult in the third degree after the court rejected his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. He died of acute aspiration pneumonia in prison in 2010, aged 72. Now 18 years later, Mark Schultz says the process of writing his memoir and working on the film has helped him come to terms with his brother's death. ‘I spent nearly a week on set. Watching Steve Carell play du Pont was like coming face-to-face again with the man who broke our family’s heart,' he said. Mark Schultz's memoir Foxcatcher and the motion picture staring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo are both out this week .
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Foxcatcher tells the story of Olympic wrestling champion Dave Schultz being shot dead by multimillionaire John du Pont in 1996 .
It is based on the newly-released memoir of Schultz's brother Mark who was also a gold medalist in the sport and also knew du Pont .
Mark Schultz, played in the film by Channing Tatum, says the movie has helped him come to terms with what happened his brother 18 years ago .
He says his great regret is taking up the offer to work for the erratic du Pont, played in the movie by Steve Carell .
'Looking back, I should have trusted my gut and never let him into my life - or, indeed, the life of my brother a few years later,' he says .
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Green spender: People spend £30,000 a year on their garden, a third of which goes on planets . Homeowners spend £30,000 on their garden over a lifetime, a study has found. Researchers found the typical green-fingered adult will spend a third of the amount on plants alone. The rest of cost includes keeping the lawn, flowerbeds, shrubs and trees in tip-top condition, as well as forking out for garden buildings, ornaments and patios. The survey by online garden centre, GardeningExpress.co.uk, asked 540 gardeners about their spending habits. They found gardeners spend £9,500 during the course of their life on plants alone. This included buying seeds, bulbs, bedding plants, shrubs, trees, grass seed, turf and vegetable plants. The second highest expenditure was on hard landscaping at £9,000, with homeowners changing their patio or deck six times over the course of their gardening lifetime. Garden furniture, including tables, chairs and outdoor lighting accounted for £3,600 of the total amount. Those questioned said they needed something decent to sit on or relax in to enjoy their garden which explained why furniture was updated or replaced around eight times. This was closely followed by essential tools like spades, forks, rakes, shears and secateurs which totalled just under £3,500. Gardeners admitted to spending over £1,800 on their sheds and greenhouses claiming they replaced their shed four times and even their greenhouse twice. The cost of garden electrics, including a lawnmower, strimmer, hedge trimmer and garden vacuum, came in at £1,320 with the remaining spend, £720, being used on the barbecues gardeners purchased for the summer months. One male gardener, who was involved in the research, said: ‘I spend hours in the garden but had no idea quite how much it was costing me. About £3,500 is spent on essential tools like spades, forks, rakes, shears and secateurs . ‘For that I could buy myself a decent car or give my daughter a deposit for her house. I see my garden as an investment – if it looks good then it adds value to my property which has to be a good thing.’ A female respondent added: ‘Plants are my biggest weakness. Even if I just pop to the garden centre for a browse around, I end up leaving with a car full. Many I don’t really need – my garden is full up already, but I always manage to find a space to plant it in, even if it means digging up something else and giving that to a neighbour.’ Another added: ‘I never scrimp when it comes to garden furniture. It has to look good and it has to be comfortable. My husband loves pottering around in the garden. I like to use the garden for relaxing – a sun lounger on the deck with a glass of wine beside me and a good book is my perfect summers day. ‘ . The second highest expenditure is on hard-surfacing with adults changing their patios six times . Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress.co.uk said: ‘I would imagine very few gardeners would expect their garden to be costing them £30,000. ‘Many of the tools and electricals can last for years. It’s only plants that you need to buy every year so it’s very easy to lose track of how much you are actually shelling out.’ A study last year found those who spend their free time pruning the roses or pottering in the vegetable patch are trimmer than their non-gardening neighbours. Women were a dress size smaller, while men who went to an allotment could expect to be around a stone lighter. Previous studies have credited gardening with a host of benefits, from raising zest for life to boosting happiness.
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A third of the expense is spent on plants alone, researchers found .
Second priority is hard landscaping, homeowners change patio six times .
Green-fingered adults also spend £3,500 on spades, rakes and shears .
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(CNN) -- He is the player whose heart stopped beating for 78 minutes and who subsequently retired at the age of 24. Now the welfare of footballers is top of Fabrice Muamba's agenda and he has urged FIFA to put the wellbeing of players at the center of any decision on the scheduling of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced on Twitter last month that no decision on the staging of the 2022 World Cup -- be it in Qatar's summer or winter -- would be made until after the 2014 tournament in Brazil. "I hope FIFA will have a second thought because playing in those conditions is very dangerous for people," the 25-year-old told CNN. "The heat and the humidity in that country can damage people; they have to look at the bigger picture." Former England Under-21 international Muamba suffered an on-field heart seizure while playing for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham Hotspur in March 2012. The Congo-born midfielder was revived by medics before making a remarkable recovery in hospital. "You worry, not just me but every player," continued Muamba. "The humidity, the heat, playing in those conditions it is very worrying." President of world football's governing body since 1998, Blatter launched a consultation process on the issue involving "all stakeholders in Qatar 2022." Harold Mayne-Nicholls led the FIFA inspection team which examined each of the bidding countries for the 2022 World Cup before delivering his report in October 2010. Mayne-Nicholls concluded that Qatar was a high-risk option because of its soaring temperatures -- but it was still chosen by 14 of the 22 executive committee members in the final round of voting in December that year. "In June and July you cannot play," Mayne-Nicholls told CNN last month when asked about the conditions in Qatar. "It's not for the players. The players will be OK with the cooling system but what about the fans? "You'll have 50,000 fans walking three, four, even six blocks or more like in South Africa where I walked 10 blocks. "They will be walking in 40 degrees and it's too much. One or two crucial cases will damage the entire image of the World Cup and we must be careful." Muamba is pleased his experiences have raised awareness of heart conditions in football, but he wants to see the sport continue to prioritize player safety. "We're trying to reach a standard where we're providing the best available equipment for the boys," said Muamba, who began his career with Arsenal. "Also making sure every player gets a heart screen so we detect any damage or any medical issue. "What I tried to do was raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, having a defibrillator not just in the stadium but in every public place so we can save lives and ensure peoples safety."
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Fabrice Muamba wants FIFA to put player welfare at the center of Qatar 2022 decision .
Muamba retired after suffering on-field cardiac arrest in March 2012 .
The former England Under-21 midfielder's heart stopped for 78 minutes .
No decision on the scheduling of Qatar 2022 will be made until after 2014 World Cup .
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The scope and legality of the government's warrantless electronic surveillance programs was discussed Tuesday as a federal appeals court reviewed a lower U.S. court's injunction that would block collection of data from two plaintiffs who are suing . Activist Larry Klayman, an attorney who heads the group "Freedom Watch," filed suit last year based on published reports of wrongdoing from whistleblower Edward Snowden. The former contractor with the National Security Agency accused authorities of misusing some of the capabilities he observed, and acting without a judicial or statutory basis. Klayman, using himself as an aggrieved party from the surveillance, used the lawsuit to accuse the government of conducting "a secret and illegal government scheme to intercept and analyze vast quantities of domestic telephonic communications," along with communications "from the internet and electronic service providers." Tuesday he said he has the standing to bring the suit as a customer of Verizon, one of the companies known to be cooperating with warrantless surveillance. But when the appeals panel asked him for documented proof he had been targeted, Klayman said only that the broad scope of the surveillance made it likely. The other plaintiff is Charles Strange, whose son Michael was an NSA cryptologist and Navy SEAL in Afghanistan in 2011 when he was killed in the downing of his helicopter by insurgents. The father told reporters he has been the target of secret intelligence gathering because he's been asking questions about the circumstances surrounding his son's death. Both men late last year won a preliminary injunction that would have barred the government from collecting data on them, and it ordered authorities to destroy any data already gathered. But the District Court judge immediately stayed his order pending the appeal that was heard Tuesday, because of "significant national security interests" that could be affected. Justice Department attorney Thomas Byron, defending the government, asked the appeals court judges to reverse the injunction, saying a phone company's business records are not protected by the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable searches. Byron said there was no documentation that any records gathered were "intrusively acquired." He said Congress passes laws to protect privacy, such as for hospital records and banking, and that the government's surveillance is constrained by the provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, with activities judged by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Klayman responded by pointing out the government's admission of as many as 2,000 errors in how NSA conducted warrantless surveillance. "It's false to say 'we don't get into peoples' underwear,'" Klayman said, asserting the indiscriminate collection alone is an intrusion he considers unconstitutional. After the hearing, Klayman told reporters on the courthouse steps that he expects a ruling early next year, and that he expects the case to go the Supreme Court. He called warrantless surveillance by the government a case of monumental importance. "Just the inception of acquiring that information -- they're not entitled to it -- without any showing of probable cause, or reasonable suspicion of contact with terrorists, that's the problem. And that's a constitutional violation under our Fourth Amendment and our First Amendment." Klayman acknowledged in court he's been a controversial figure over the years. A judge asked him if he feels he is being personally targeted. "I'd be surprised if I'm not," he replied. Among his recent lawsuits is one filed in October accusing the Obama administration of supporting terrorism because of what he considers "reckless and grossly negligent" handling of the Ebola crisis. Klayman, in that lawsuit, said the lack of travel restrictions from areas affected by the Ebola crisis provides an opportunity for terrorists to use the disease for germ warfare.
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Justice Department says safeguards ensure compliance with the law .
Case descended from revelations by whistleblower Edward Snowden .
One plaintiff has also sued the government for handling of the Ebola crisis .
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By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 13:39 EST, 30 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:41 EST, 30 April 2012 . A man accused of murdering a gay . supermarket worker embarked on a campaign against uncaught paedophiles . using 'military strategy' to track them down after overhearing convicted . prisoners planning new offences while in prison, a court heard. Christopher Hunnisett, who is on trial . accused of killing supermarket worker Peter Bick, told the court he . used the internet and a network of 'live sources' - some made in prison - . to investigate rumours of child abuse. He assigned possible offenders militaristic 'call signs' depending on the strength of evidence against them, he said. Hit-list: Christopher Hunnisett, 28, left, put Peter Bick, 57, right, at the top of a list of men he planned to kill because he suspected they were paedophiles, the court heard . The jury at Lewes Crown Court was told . Hunnisett, 28, started the operation after being acquitted and freed in . September 2010 following a retrial for the murder of the Rev Ronald . Glazebrook, whom he accused of abusing him, for which he had already . served nine years of a life sentence. While on remand ahead of the second . trial, the court heard today, he took part in 'therapy sessions' at . Grendon Underwood prison in Buckinghamshire, designed as a form of . restorative justice to try to treat sex offenders. But he overheard . offenders planning a paedophile ring. Hunnisett told the court today he . investigated Bick, 57, after being told a 'rumour' about him, saying the . police lacked enough power to catch paedophiles. Giving evidence, he told the court . that after 'philosophy' discussions with other prisoners on how to deal . with sex offenders, he decided he wanted to track down 'rapists, . paedophiles, those who force women into prostitution, sex traffickers' by breaking the law and hacking into profiles on sex websites to see . what users were doing - something he claimed the police cannot do. 'There are so many paedophiles in this country, over 600,000 who just offend against children,' he said. 'Even if I stopped more than 100 a day . I would take over 20 years to deal with them. It is impossible for one . person to stop them all. Claims: Hunnisett, left, alleged that he was abused by Rev Ronald Glazebrook, right. Hunnisett served eight years of a life sentence for the clergyman's killing, but was later acquitted of his murder . 'I commend the police and the child . protection agencies for what they are doing but they are beaten by . certain rules and regulations. 'If you really want to find out ... you have to look at their (website) profiles and see who they are . talking to. It is not hard to find these people but the police are . beaten by the rules.' While in the witness box Hunnisett . used military terms like 'in the field' to describe how he investigated . claims of sex offending, using call signs like 'Sierra' to describe a . 'suspect' and 'Tango' to describe a 'target' against whom he had proof . of illegal activities. One they had been 'dealt with' they were reclassified as 'x-ray'. He admitted reading books about intelligence agencies to help him plan his activities. He said he tracked down Bick after a . contact gave him the name of a 'Peter' living in Bexhill, showed him a . digital picture and told him a 'rumour' of what he was alleged to have . done. Hunnisett said he investigated and met several men called Peter before he found Mr Bick. Mr Bick was killed during the early . hours of January 11 last year after Hunnisett, whom he had met for sex, . inflicted five severe blows to his head with a hammer and strangled him . with a shoelace, the court has been told previously. The jury has also heard that Hunnisett wrote to his girlfriend, Lucy Anderson, while on remand, admitting the killing. It read: 'I know you do not understand . why I did what I did. In short, I simply wanted to stop some really . nasty people hurting kids, the young, the weak, the vulnerable. 'I never planned to hurt him, I just wanted to stop him, get evidence on him to get him to confess and tell people what he was.' Hunnisett went on to tell Miss Anderson that when Mr Bick confessed to him he lost control, the court heard. He added: 'You have no idea how mad it makes me knowing that someone can do that and they think it's okay. 'It's disgusting and they have no idea how much it destroys a person and damages them, and no one gives a damn about it.' The trial has already heard there is no evidence that Mr Bick was a paedophile. Hunnisett, of Chanctonbury Drive, . Hastings, East Sussex, denies murder but admits manslaughter by way of . diminished responsibility.
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'Cold-blooded killer' Christopher Hunnisett told court he used the internet and sources in prison to draw up a hit-list of men .
Court told there was not a 'shred of evidence' that victim Peter Bick, 57, was a paedophile .
Hunnisett bludgeoned lover Bick, who he met on the internet, to death with a hammer then walked in to police station to admit to the killing, jury told .
Defendant had been convicted and later acquitted of murdering alleged sex offender Rev Ronald Glazebrook.
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By . John Stevens . She is used to enjoying the luxury of multi-million-pound mansions set in vast grounds, with swimming pools, tennis courts and private driveways. But Anthea Turner has moved a rung or two down the property ladder and is now living in a rented terrace house, it can be revealed. The five-bedroom townhouse in South-West London is worth around £1.2million, and the 53-year-old former GMTV and Blue Peter presenter is paying around £6,000 month in rent. Scroll down for video . Write caption here . Even so, it is a far cry from her most recent grand home, a £5million mansion in Esher, Surrey, which she shared with husband Grant Bovey. Standing in almost two acres of land, it had an indoor swimming pool and marble-floored hallway. She moved out of the marital home in November and was pictured locking up for a final time in tears after the pair ended their 13-year marriage following his affair with a 25-year-old. Miss Turner, once the highest paid woman on British TV, has to park on the street at her new home, which does not have its own parking or driveway. She is also having to get used to having neighbours again, with properties on both side on the tree-lined street, which is close to council-run allotments. She is thought to have chosen the smaller property to be close to her sister, Wendy, as she rebuilds her life. At the end of last year, she said: ‘They say the top three slots on the stress league table are death, divorce and moving house. Well, I’m currently going through numbers two and three.’ She ended her marriage with Bovey after discovering her was cheating on her for a second time with socialite Zoe de Mallet Morgan. Bovey, 52, who lost his fortune when his property empire collapsed, has also downsized to a rented property in Cobham, Surrey. He became one of the most high-profile casualties of the recession when his business Imagine Homes, Britain’s biggest buy-to-let company at the time, filed for bankruptcy. Miss Turner succeeded in ring-fencing her money because she was never a director of any of her husband’s firms. She was last year reported to be in the early stages of a relationship with former Dragon’s Den star and Australian private investor Richard Farleigh, also 53. Last week she returned to London from Austria after reaching the semi-final of celebrity winter sports programme The Jump on Channel 4. After Anthea Turner married Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell in 1990 the couple built a £1.8million detached mock Georgian house in Twickenham, West London, but moved out when they split. She and second husband Grant Bovey bought Barbins Grange, a farmhouse in 50 acres at Dunsfold near Godalming, Surrey, for £2.2million in 1999. It had a library, wine cellar, stables, cinema, helipad, pool and polo field. They sold it ten years later for £11.5million. £9million profit: 50-acre Barbins Grange near Godalming, Surrey . They downsized to Hascombe Court Farm, which they bought for £6million from DJ Chris Evans, but lived there for only a year. The four-bedroom house, also in Goldalming, had a separate three-bedroom cottage and two-bedroom barn. They sold it for £5million. Their final home together was the six-bedroom property in Esher, Surrey, which was bought for £4.3million in April 2011. The couple also had a £4million ski chalet with an outdoor whirlpool bath, massage room and sauna in the French Alps at Megève. She reportedly told friends last year that she was selling it. £1million loss: Anthea Turner and second husband Grant Bosey bought Hascombe Court Farm from DJ Chris Evans . For sale: The Alpine ski chalet in Megève, France .
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Miss Turner pays £6,000 a month for terraced house in South-West London .
It is a far cry from the grand properties in which she once lived .
She will have to use on-street parking and get used to having neighbours .
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13cc8373fe12e975cf90c83a41b59c3b969d9aec
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George Osborne last night claimed a qualified victory over the European Union as he declared Britain will only have to pay half of its controversial £1.7billion budget surcharge. But the Chancellor faced an immediate backlash from critics who said he was taking credit for a discount that would always have been offered. Mr Osborne said the UK would make two payments next year totalling £850million instead of £1.7billion in a lump sum by December this year. Scroll down for video . Chancellor George Osborne yesterday after announcing that Britain will only have to pay half of its controversial £1.7billion EU budget surcharge . The Chancellor said the agreement was ‘far beyond what anyone expected us to achieve’ and a ‘result for Britain’. But the European Commission hit back, claiming it had always intended to apply the complex budget rebate system to the payment, dramatically reducing the bill. Critics accused Mr Osborne of ‘smoke and mirrors’. Treasury officials firmly disputed that account, saying Britain had to ‘work hard’ to ensure the most generous calculation possible using the traditional rebate formula was applied and for the discount to be given in advance, rather than a year in arrears as is usual. The deal struck last night means that Margaret Thatcher’s budget rebate, which she negotiated in 1984, will be applied to the one-off demand for extra payment. The controversial surcharge was landed on Mr Cameron at a Brussels summit last month. EU budget rules allow for member states’ payments to be adjusted based on revisions to assessments of their economic performance. The latest review of the economies of EU member states since 1995 showed Britain had done significantly better than previously thought – triggering the huge bill. David Cameron angrily insisted the UK would pay nothing by the December deadline and called yesterday’s emergency meeting of finance ministers in Brussels for the overall sum to be renegotiated. David Cameron angrily insisted the UK would pay nothing by the December deadline and called the emergency meeting of EU finance ministers . The UK will now pay the smaller sum in two interest-free instalments in July and September 2015. The Chancellor said: ‘We have worked intensively and constructively with the vice president of the Commission and with the other member states and today I can say this: instead of footing the bill, we have halved the bill, we have delayed the bill, we will pay no interest on the bill and if there are mistakes in the bill we will get our money back.’ Kristalina Georgieva, vice president of the European Commission, said: ‘The adjustments for the UK means that UK has to pay more, but also that as a result of this increase, the UK rebate will go up.’ Asked if the rebate had been in doubt, the EC vice-president said: ‘No, absolutely not.’ But Government sources claimed the Commission was seeking to save face and avoid controversy with other member states by suggesting the rebate was always going to be applied. The Prime Minister, attending a meeting of the leaders of Nordic and Baltic states in Helsinki, said: ‘These negotiations have gone well for Britain. The Chancellor has done well.’ Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has called George Osborne's announcement as all 'smoke and mirrors' Challenged that the lower figure was inevitable because of the rebate calculation, Mr Cameron insisted: ‘This was far from inevitable. The bill has been halved, the bill has been delayed, no interest is being paid on the bill and we’ve changed the rules so that this can’t happen again and that is very good news.’ But Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said: ‘David Cameron and George Osborne are trying to take the British people for fools. Ministers have failed to get a better deal for the British taxpayer. Not a single penny has been saved for the taxpayer compared to two weeks ago when David Cameron was blustering in Brussels. ‘By counting the rebate Britain was due anyway they are desperately trying to claim that the backdated bill for £1.7billion has somehow been halved. But nobody will fall for this smoke and mirrors.’
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George Osborne declares Britain will only pay half of EU budget demand .
Chancellor explained UK would only pay £850million instead of £1.7billion .
But critics say he is taking credit for a discount that would always be offered .
David Cameron had said Britain would not pay the bill by December deadline .
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls calls the plan all 'smoke and mirrors'
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Washington (CNN) -- The growing outcry over how the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell deal with incidents of domestic violence has reached the nation's highest office. Even President Barack Obama has seen the footage of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee. "The President was shocked by what he saw. Let's put it that way," White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. The incident involving Rice is one of several high-profile scandals involving NFL players that have spurred complaints that the National Football League is too lenient on players. A few months after the Rice incident, Goodell suspended him without pay and fined him an additional game check. However, after the TMZ Sports video so clearly showed the forceful nature of the punch, Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely. Last week, the White House addressed the suspension with a statement saying the President believes domestic violence "contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society," but it wasn't clear whether he had seen the video of the incident from inside the elevator. McDonough said the White House wouldn't at this point try to characterize how the NFL is handling the Rice case. But he did speak generally about Rice's indefinite suspension. "We all know that Ray Rice being suspended indefinitely seems to be exactly the right thing," McDonough said. Other lawmakers Sunday were far more critical of Goodell and the league. "I have a feeling there's a lot of people that know stuff, what went on here," Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota told CNN's "State of the Union." "I'm waiting to see if there is a major cover-up, if it shows [Goodell] lies, there could be many factual situations where, in fact, he should step down." Klobuchar, a former prosecutor, is one of 16 female senators who sent a letter to Goodell calling on the football league to institute a "real zero-tolerance policy" in such cases. The NFL announced late Wednesday that former FBI Director Robert Mueller will lead an independent inquiry into the league's investigation and how it gathered evidence in the case. "Bob Mueller's integrity is on the line here, and hopefully he'll get the facts out," Klobuchar said of the investigation. "The fact that (the NFL) gave only a two-game suspension and then turn around and after the evidence goes public say, 'Oh, oh, we made a mistake. Now we're going to let him go.' I think that's problematic for the NFL and deeply concerning about how they handle these kinds of cases." Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who also signed the letter to Goodell, had scathing words for the NFL. "I think the way the NFL handled this was awful. It was outrageous," Gillibrand told CBS's "Face the Nation." "They had all the facts they needed. They had a player who admitted to beating his wife. They had video of him dragging her out an elevator. There was nothing left to determine. That player should've been fired immediately. So we are now looking to the commissioner to enforce a zero-tolerance policy." Gillibrand also said that if Goodell has covered up what he knew about the Rice incident, he should be benched. "Initially, I want him to lead the reform to actually create and enforce a zero-tolerance policy. But, given the recent debate, you know, if he lied, if he lied to the American people, then he has to step down," she said, "because he won't have the force of authority to change how they address these issues." Gillibrand said the bipartisan letter from lawmakers to Goodell may be merely the beginning of a broader congressional push for more accountability in the NFL. "If the NFL doesn't police themselves, then, you know, we will be looking more into it," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have hearings." Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, recently told CNN that he would not "rule out" congressional action to force the NFL's hand on domestic abuse. In the past, members of Congress have leveraged their titles and hearing rooms to press major U.S. sports leagues to face difficult issues. In 2007, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released the landmark Mitchell Report on steroid use in Major League Baseball. Household names such as Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte were named, and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig responded that the report was a "a call to action, and I will act." Baseball fans would eventually see both Selig and Clemens, along with baseball titans Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco, testify before Congress. Outcry over the NFL's response to the Rice incident has been compounded by two more recent incidents of domestic violence allegedly involving NFL players. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was indicted last week by a grand jury in Texas on a child abuse charge. Shortly afterward, he was placed on the inactive list for his team. The Carolina Panthers placed defensive end Greg Hardy on the team's inactive list in a surprise announcement Sunday, months after he was convicted of a domestic violence charge. Authorities say Hardy choked his then-girlfriend, threw her around, dragged her by her hair and threatened to kill her. Hardy -- 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds -- says he is innocent, and he has appealed a July guilty verdict rendered by a Mecklenburg County judge in North Carolina. Beyond the D.C. Beltway, California's second most powerful government official has called on the San Francisco 49ers to bench one of its own players involved in a domestic violence investigation. Ray McDonald, a starting defensive end, was arrested on felony domestic violence charges last month. "The 49ers' continued insistence on playing Ray McDonald during his ongoing criminal investigation is a painful affront to every victim of domestic violence and sends a troubling message to our community," Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife said in a statement. "We strongly urge the 49er organization we grew up revering to do the right thing -- right now -- and bench Ray McDonald, pending the outcome of his felony domestic violence investigation by San Jose law enforcement." McDonald told CNN affiliate KTVU last month that he couldn't say much about what happened. "The truth will come out," he said. "Everybody knows what kind of person I am ... a good-hearted person." CNN's Leigh Ann Caldwell, Mayra Cuevas and Steve Almasy contributed to this report.
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White House chief of staff: "The President was shocked" by punching video .
Lawmakers criticize the NFL and the league's commissioner .
"I'm waiting to see if there is a major cover-up," senator says .
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By . Mike Dawes . PUBLISHED: . 20:45 EST, 20 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:09 EST, 21 January 2014 . Richard Sherman didn't go into details about what happened, but somewhere during the offseason he felt slighted by San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree. It made his final play of Sunday's NFC championship game that much more special for Seattle's All-Pro cornerback. It was one of the few moments that San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to challenge Sherman, trying to find Crabtree on a throw to the end zone in the final minute. And Sherman was up to the challenge, deflecting the pass into the air long enough for teammate Malcolm Smith to race over and intercept the pass to clinch Seattle's 23-17 win and the second Super Bowl trip in franchise history. 'It's a small part of who I am': Richard Sherman said adrenaline and a long-standing grudge made him launch his attack on Michael Crabtree . Crucial moment: Richard Sherman (25) hit the ball away from San Francisco's Michael Crabtree (15) to prevent a game winning touchdown in the dying moments of last night's NFC Championship game . Sherman gives the camera some 'crazy eyes' after insulting 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree . 'I think everybody in the stadium was surprised,' Sherman said. 'You throw that, that's just a mistake.'Sherman . stole the spotlight of the NFC title game between his athletic . deflection, his taunting of Crabtree that followed and his television . rant on the field after Russell Wilson took a knee to run off the final . seconds. While Smith . was celebrating the interception, Sherman exchanged words with Crabtree, . got shoved in the face as a rebuttal then made a choking gesture toward . the San Francisco bench that he said was intended for Kaepernick. Sherman . ran over to Crabtree and gave him a pat on the backside, then appeared . to extend his arm for a handshake. Instead, Sherman got shoved in the . face before picking up his personal foul as his celebration continued. Asked . about the incident afterward by Fox reporter Erin Andrews, Sherman lit . up Twitter with a rant that began: 'I'm the best corner in the game. When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result . you gonna get. Don't you ever talk about me!' Sherman . didn't back down even after getting some time to collect his thoughts. He apologized to Andrews, then proceeded to call Crabtree 'mediocre', . making sure to annunciate each syllable of the word. 'I . was making sure everybody knew Crabtree was a mediocre receiver,' Sherman said. 'And when you try the best corner in the game with a . mediocre receiver that's what happens.' Firing back: Crabtree responded to Sherman's rant on Twitter . Sherman also attempted to defend himself on social media . Sherman remained unruffled after Crabtree's twitter response to his fiery rant . It . was a fiery, emotional rant from Sherman, who celebrated his first . conference title by racing around the field after Wilson took the final . knee, then leaping into the first row of seats in the south end zone to . celebrate with fans. 'I . know how passionate he is about the game of football. He said to me . before the game it's going to come down to us making big plays. We've . got to do it. Somehow we've got to find a way to make big plays,' teammate Doug Baldwin said. '(Sherman) has been doing it all season. He is arguably the best cornerback in the . NFL. They were trying to stay away from him the whole game. Eventually . they were going to have to go his way and eventually they did and they . made a mistake.' Sherman's . play capped a fourth-quarter of big plays from Seattle's defense. The . Seahawks forced three turnovers in the final quarter, including a sack . and forced fumble by Cliff Avril that was recovered by Michael Bennett, . and Kam Chancellor's interception of Kaepernick's pass with 7:37 left. While . Seattle failed to capitalize on the fumble, they were able to turn . Chancellor's interception into Steven Hauschka's field goal that gave . Seattle a six-point lead with 3:37 left. 'That's the way we've played the whole season, man. These guys are relentless,' Bennett said. 'All . we do is practice turnovers on defense and we just wanted to be in that . situation, where the game was on our back because we were like, 'Hey, . If we're going to win this game, then it's time to win it.' Game changer: Crabtree was thwarted by Sherman's brilliance on the field .
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After Seattle beat the 49ers 23-17 in the NFC Championship game, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman lambasted receiver Michael Crabtree .
'Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'm gonna shut it for you real quick!', he warned Crabtree .
Fox's Erin Andrews looked stunned and quickly handed back to the studio .
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13cefb708596e3c490339cffb0225f1836ebc1aa
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By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 11:33 EST, 21 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:43 EST, 21 January 2013 . Four Dutchmen who spent a terrifying day trapped up a tree hiding from a crocodile finally rescued yesterday - luckily with only bites from mosquitoes and sand flies. The construction workers had been crab fishing in Australia when their small tin boat overturned while they were in the country’s remote Northern Territory. They were unable to turn it upright so they swam towards a thick clump of mangrove trees, which grow out of the swampy water. But, unfortunately for the four, who are all aged in their 30s, there was a huge crocodile in the same area. In trouble: The construction workers had been crab fishing in Australia when their small tin boat overturned while they were in a swamp in the country's remote Northern Territory . In fear and desperation, they swam towards mangroves and clambered up on the highest trees they could find. The four were forced to shelter there for 22 hours while they waited to be rescued, spending a sleepless night hanging on to the branches. ‘It was a horrible experience,’ one of the men, covered in thick black swamp mud, told his rescuers. ‘It scared the s*** out of us.’ Crocodile experts in Darwin said if the men had been able to shine a torch into the dark water beneath them there is little doubt they would have seen the reflected red eyes of a number of crocodiles waiting for them to make the mistake of getting back into the water. The mangrove swamps of the Northern Territory are alive with man-eating saltwater crocodiles - ‘salties’, as they are known - and there have been numerous deaths, despite warnings for people to stay out of the water. Big beast: Salt-water crocodile similar to the one that sent the men clambering up a tree . Having seen a large crocodile themselves, there was no chance of the men getting out of their tree during the night. They told their rescuers that despite their discomfort they agreed they were going to cling to the branches throughout the night. Only when the tide dropped yesterday morning did the men agree to take a chance and swim the short distance back to their boat. They were able to swim under the upturned vessel and retrieve a distress beacon. When the Australian Maritime Safety Authority received the signal, a police launch and a helicopter were despatched to pick up the men. Scary: The incident occurred in Darwin Harbour, known for its large population of salt-water crocodiles . The helicopter reached them first and winched them out of the water and flew them back to Darwin. Their arms and legs were covered in sandfly and mosquito bites and they were suffering from dehydration and lack of sleep. They were also covered in thick black mud. Police experts agreed that if the men had not been able to summon help with their beacon it is doubtful they would have survived their ordeal. Their strength, whether they were still in a tree or clinging to their upturned boat, would have soon drained – and crocodiles would have moved in for the kill. ‘We’ve vowed not to go fishing for a while,’ said one of the men. ‘But we still have to go back out there to help recover the little boat which we had borrowed. ‘This time we’ll make sure we don’t tip over.’
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They were crab fishing in Darwin, Northern Territory, when boat capsized .
The men couldn't overturn boat so swam to trees as crocodile approached .
They stayed all night, clinging to branches as crocodiles waited below .
Finally rescued after tide went out to retrieve beacon in upturned boat .
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13cf19409bb80fdf6c62da4c773a1d5b9e138bc9
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Roy Hodgson has given England Under 21 chief Gareth Southgate the pick of his senior squad for next summer’s Euro 2015 tournament in the Czech Republic. Senior internationals, including Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling, Calum Chambers, John Stones, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Saido Berahinho, are all eligible for the Under 21 tournament. England have a fixture against Republic of Ireland in Dublin on June 7 followed by a trip to Slovenia for a Euro 2016 qualifier seven days later. Jack Wilshere, was was superb in England's recent 3-1 win over Scotland, is eligible for Southgate's side . Liverpool and England star Raheem Sterling is another senior star who could play in the 2015 tournament . Manchester United centre back Phil Jones could be available for Southgate in the Czech Republic . Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, fresh from his goal scoring heroics against the Scots, could also feature . Southgate, who is torn between picking the best players from the senior squad and sticking with the players who qualified, now has the final say. Hodgson, who finished off the international year with a 3-1 victory over Scotland on Tuesday, said: ‘It is very simple. My policy is this: after Gareth Southgate has picked his squad I will pick my squad. I will take whatever is left. Can it be simpler than that? ‘I’ve just said, he can pick any Under 21s who are available and I will take the rest. ‘He will speak to me, tell me what he wants to do. I can’t be fairer then to say it is his choice. Roy Hodgson has given England Under 21 chief Gareth Southgate the pick of his senior squad . Southgate could bring a stellar cast of senior England internationals to next summer’s Euro 2015 tournament . Southgate, however, is torn between including more senior stars and staying loyal to the likes of Danny Ings . ‘Whether he will want to take all these players that is up to him, that’s another matter. You will have to speak to him.’ The Under 21 tournament begins on June 17 and is increasing in importance at the FA following the country’s disastrous showing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A number of England Under 21 players have already expressed concern about the possibility of senior stars joining the squad and threatening the team spirit Southgate has engineered. Southgate could call upon a formidable central defence of John Stones (left) and Calum Chambers . Hosts Czech Republic, along with Denmark, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Serbia and Sweden have also qualified for the two-week tournament. Chambers, Shaw, Stones and Berahino, who have all experienced Under-21 football under Southgate, are expected to be named in Southgate’s squad next summer. Sterling, Jones, Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain are all eligible, but are unlikely to be considered unless they make it known to Southgate that they wish to be involved. Luke Shaw, in action against the Scots in Glasgow, has experienced Under 21 football under Southgate . Hodgson added: ‘If Gareth thinks the best way to win the tournament is to jettison a lot of the players he has been working with and take players from our team then that is fine by me, too. ‘He will be under no pressure from me whatsoever. We can deal with four or five absentees. ‘We have two senior games in June and it also would mean that any senior players playing in the tournament in the Czech Republic will be playing three tournaments in a row in the summer without a break. West Brom striker Saido Berahino has starred for the England Under-21 side this year . ‘The clubs’ co-operation when it comes to selecting players is always important. As far as I understand, the FIFA rules gives us the right to choose whatever players we want. ‘Whether the clubs will be happy with us choosing them, that’s another matter. But luckily it’s not my choice. ‘I will have a choice after Gareth’s selection of the players I want to take to play against Ireland and in Slovenia. I can assure that we will have 11 players on the field on both occasions.'
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Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw, John Stones and Saido Berahino have all experienced Under 21 football under Gareth Southgate .
Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling, Phil Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all eligible for the Under 21 tournament .
England play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on June 7 .
Roy Hodgson's side then travel to Slovenia for a Euro 2016 qualifier .
The tournament begins on June 17, 2015 .
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13cfb91a32be738b6d91c9ffcdfcc93158122659
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(CNN) -- A man suspected in the deaths of three people in Panama is now wanted in the slaying of an American woman whose body was found last week, Panama's national police said Saturday. The body of Cher Hughes, a native of suburban St. Louis, Missouri, was found Tuesday on the property of William Adolfo Cortez Reese, who is suspected in her death, said Javier Carrillo, director of the national police investigation unit. Carrillo said Cortez and his wife, Jane, are on the run. Cortez "may be from Holland. We're not sure that's his real identity," he said. "We found a false passport." He said Panamanian authorities are attempting to reach police in Holland. Hughes, who was in her early 50s, was identified by her husband, Keith Werle, who lives in Panama. A second body -- which has not yet been officially identified -- was found near Hughes. "We believe the motive is that he (William Cortez) is killing people to take their property," Carrillo said. He added that authorities do not know Cortez's whereabouts, and have not received any tips from the public. Werle said he was on Cortez's property, a massive piece of farmland on the island of Isla Colon in the western province of Boca del Toro, as police executed a search warrant. He said his dog led authorities to a shallow grave, where they found Hughes' body. Dwayne Cooney, a family friend, said Hughes had lived in Panama for the past decade and owned a hotel, the Casa del Sapo, in Boca del Torro. He described Hughes and Cortez as friends and neighbors. Hughes had lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she owned a neon sign business, before moving to Panama, Cooney said. CNN's Nick Valencia, Jackie Castillo and Anna Rhett Miller contributed to this report.
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The body of an American woman is found in a shallow grave in Panama .
The suspect is wanted in three other slayings .
Police say the motive is to kill people for their property .
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13d08744c0191531223364dc1ba943000dae544a
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Supermarket giant Coles has again been caught out misleading customers over the freshness of its groceries. In commercials, aired in August and September, celebrity chef Curtis Stone makes reference to Tasmanian grown apples being fresh at Coles right now and suggests that you 'feed your family better, fresher, with spring fruit and veg from Coles.' Following a complaint that the advertising was misleading, an investigation by the Advertising Standards Board found the company had breached the food code. Scroll down for video . Tasmania pink lady apples (pictured) were the subject of an investigation by the Advertising Standards Board who deemed Coles were misleading in their advertising saying they were 'fresh' The commercials in questions, which aired in August and September, were with well known chef Curtis Stone making reference to Tasmanian grown apples being fresh at Coles right now and suggests that you 'feed your family better, fresher, with spring fruit and veg from Coles' A Tasmania viewer lodged the complaint with the board saying these comments made were wrong and impossible. 'I live in Tassie and my apple tree is dormant! These apples would have been in storage for MONTHS, they are not fresh,' he said. 'This ad is misleading and my wife would like a personal apology from Curtis (or cash).' Coles said it was satisfied that it wasn't in breach of the food code and that the advertisement was not misleading. The food giant said it sourced the bulk of its apples from Tasmania, and the pink lady variety featured in the advertisement were harvested this year in Tasmania in the last half of April. It says for ten months of the year they could choose to source apples from outside of Australia to fulfil demand but it chooses to only sell apples from local growers. 'Coles is able to continue to deliver a fresh apple outside of the harvesting period due to the availability of advanced cold storage facilities.' 'Cold storage facilities place apples in a controlled low temperature and reduced oxygen (no nitrogen is added) environment to preserve their freshness.' While Coles said it was satisfied that it wasn't in breach of the food code for its advertisement of pink lady apples, the Advertising Standards Board said it was in fact misleading . Coles says it is able to continue to deliver a fresh apple outside of the harvesting period due to the availability of advanced cold storage facilities . Coles said it considers apples can remain fresh, even if placed in cold storage because 'Freshness' is determined with regard to the quality. 'Coles' view that produce can remain 'fresh' despite storage is consistent with the Macquarie Dictionary, which defines 'fresh' as retaining the original properties unimpaired,' it said. The Board noted that whilst the use of the word ‘fresh’ in relation to apples is not misleading, the reference to ‘Spring’ fruit changes the context of the word ‘fresh’ to imply that the apples have been freshly picked during the Spring season ready for immediate sale. The Board also considered that the likely interpretation of the advertisement by the average consumer would be that the Tasmanian apples being promoted as fresh this Spring would have been freshly picked in recent weeks and not over 3 months ago. It also referred to another case of 'fresh' produce at Woolworths in 2012 where the company was not deemed to be misleading in using the word ‘fresh’ on the basis that Woolworths had stated they may use cold storage, not freezing. The Board noted that whilst the use of the word ‘fresh’ in relation to apples is not misleading, the reference to ‘Spring’ fruit changes the context of the word ‘fresh’ to imply that the apples have been freshly picked during the Spring season ready for immediate sale . The commercials, claiming Coles' pink lady apples were 'fresh' featured well known chef Curtis Stone (pictured) With all evidence presented, the board made a ruling that the advertisement was in fact misleading and that Coles had breached the food code. In response, Coles said it would not air the advertisement again. In 2012, a similar case was dismissed against Coles about its 'freshly baked' bread. A complaint was made by a customer that their 'fresh bread' was frozen in the middle when purchased, when the store had implied it was straight from the oven. They received a reply stating that Coles did freeze their bread but their definition of fresh included 'fresh and frozen'. The board considered that the advertisement was truthful and was not misleading or deceptive.
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Supermarket giant caught misleading customers over 'freshness' of apples .
Complaint lodged following commercials that aired with chef Curtis Stone .
The Advertising Standards Board deemed Coles had breaches the food act .
In response, Coles said it would not air the advertisement again .
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13d1d2e1c17754534277039fbd9aaae5e05d6059
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Victim: Model Derryn Gaiger, 18, was beaten and mugged by Lauren Simpson, 19, for a cigarette . A young model was mugged for her phone by a teenager who told her 'I'm going to gouge your eyes out' after demanding a cigarette. Derryn Gaiger, 18, was beaten by Lauren Simpson, 19, from Barry, South Wales, who has been jailed for a year despite being due to give birth next month. Cardiff Crown Court heard Miss Gaiger had lost modelling assignments because of her injuries and suffers flashbacks and insomnia because of the attack. On August 8 last year she was walking home in the dark when Simpson confronted her and demanded she handed over a cigarette. Prosecutor Tracey Lloyd-Nesling told her: 'Simpson grabbed her and repeatedly punched her to the face. 'She put her hand over her mouth to stop her calling for help, held her by the throat and head and threatened to gouge out her eyes. 'Her Blackberry mobile phone was taken in the assault.' Catalogue model Derryn was treated in hospital for her injuries and later identified Simpson through her Facebook profile. Mother-to-be Simpson, of Penarth, Cardiff, later admitted actual bodily harm and theft. Stephen Jeary, for the defence, said a suspended sentence was suitable because she was due to give birth next month. But Simpson wept in the dock as she was sent to a young offenders' institution for 12 months. In shock: Miss Gaiger, who is also an actress, had lost modelling assignments because of her injuries and suffers flashbacks and insomnia because of the attack . Judge Neil Bidder QC described Simpson as 'a very violent young woman'. He told her: 'It was a mean offence. You caused your victim to suffer an utterly terrifying experience that she will never forget. 'You recognised your victim's fear, assaulted her repeatedly and threatened to gouge out her eyes' He added: 'I regret the fact that you will give birth in custody.'
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Derryn Gaiger, 18, was beaten by Lauren Simpson, 19, in South Wales .
Model and actress has lost work because of the severe injuries she suffered .
'Very violent' Simpson wept in court when she was told she would be jailed .
Mugger, who is eight months pregnant, will give birth to child in prison .
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13d38cac89a649458a9d8451e1ba61e254c36484
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A man who served time in prison for two cold blooded-murders, and who judges recommended should never be released, has been declared a free man. Francis James Carter, 59, was released from the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane, on strict parole conditions on Wednesday,The Brisbane Times reports. A spokeswoman from Queensland Corrective Service's Prisoner Location Line confirmed with Daily Mail Australia that Carter was not in custody. His release has prompted Queensland's Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie to request urgent legal advice regarding the issue and bring attention to the state's minimum non-parole period of 30 years for multiple murders. Scroll down for video . Francis James Carter, 59, was released from the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane, on strict parole conditions on Wednesday . Carter, who has only served 25 years in prison, was first locked behind bars in 1989 after killing a man for speaking to his girlfriend at a barbeque, according to author Paul B. Kidd. Mr Kidd writes in his book, Never To Be Released, that the murder saw the victim beaten to death with a baseball bat before having his throat cut, his fingers removed with a bolt cutter and his body stuffed into a forty-four gallon drum. 'It was one of the most vicious murders I have ever seen,' the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Constable Craig Hintz, was recorded as saying by Mr Kidd. Less than a year later, Carter was responsible for a second murder, this time while behind bars at the Sir David Longland Correctional Centre in Brisbane. Police forced Carter onto the floor after catching him following his escape from prison in 1991: He has served 25 years in prison for killing two men . Less than a year after being convicted for his first murder, Carter was one of three inmates who stabbed a fellow prisoner to death at the Sir David Longland Correctional Centre in Brisbane . His victim was Scott Wallace, a fellow inmate who Carter and two other prisoners were convinced had informed authorities of their foiled escape plan. 'Drunk on home-brew and armed with knives from the kitchen, the murderers mutilated Wallace in is cell by stabbing him about the face, head, neck and body at least twenty times,' Mr Kidd wrote. This crime won Carter a second life sentence and the recommendation that he never be released into the public from Mr Justice de Jersey who 'believed Carter would kill again "on the most trivial of provocation"'. During trial for the murder, the killer managed to lead a prison escape using a home-made ladder which allowed seven inmates to escape for almost a week. His release has prompted Queensland's Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie (pictured) to request urgent legal advice regarding the issue and bring attention to the state's minimum non-parole period of 30 years for multiple murders . However Carter's criminal history also extends to include armed robberies and an incident in which he assaulted a prison guard in an attempt to take a set of keys that allowed entrance to the sex offender's yard, The Courier Mail reports. In response to Carter's release this week, Attorney-General Bleijie said: 'We have done more than any other government to ensure violent offenders are kept behind bars. 'We are committed to making this state the safest place to raise a family and we share Queenslanders' frustration when serious offenders are released.' A spokeswoman from Queensland Corrective Services told Daily Mail Australia she was unable to confirm the circumstances of the decision to release Carter on parole.
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Francis James Carter has been released from the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre on strict parole conditions .
The 59-year-old was first imprisoned for beating a man to death with a baseball bat for speaking to his girlfriend .
He received a second life sentence for stabbing a fellow inmate to death in his cell with a kitchen knife .
A judge had previously recommended that he never be released as he believed he would kill again "on the most trivial of provocation"
Queensland's Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has requested urgent legal advice regarding the release .
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13d3db80d0f00806e251c90ae8dc685e523fef9b
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- North Korea has positioned what is thought to be a long-range missile on its launch pad, a U.S. counter-proliferation official said on Wednesday. A North Korean soldier stands guard in the border village of Panmunjom on December 1, 2004 in South Korea. The official confirmed a Japanese media report. North Korea recently informed a pair of U.N. agencies that it plans to launch a satellite. The launch is slated for sometime between April 4-8, according to Yonhap, South Korea's state-sponsored news agency. North Korea is technically capable of launching a rocket in as little as two to four days, according to Kim Taewoo, an expert at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, but who doubts a launch will come that soon. It would not make sense for Pyongyang to make such a move after going through official channels with its plans, Kim said. "The North could delay the launch if they experience problems with the weather, or within the leadership, but I don't see any reason why they would fire it ahead of time," Kim said. North Korea's announcement has triggered international consternation. U.S. and South Korean officials have long said the North is actually preparing to test-fire a long-range missile under the guise of a satellite launch. Watch what might motivate Pyongyang to pursue missile tests » . Japan said this month that it could shoot down the satellite that North Korean officials said they plan to launch. What the North Koreans would be testing may not be known until an actual launch. A U.N. Security Council resolution in 2006 banned North Korea from conducting ballistic missile activity. Japanese officials said they could shoot down the object whether it is a missile or a satellite. "As the U.N. resolutions prohibit (North Korea) from engaging in ballistic missile activities, we still consider it to be a violation of a technical aspect, even if (the North) claims it is a satellite. We will discuss the matter with related countries based on this view," Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said this month. The United States has no plans to shoot down the North Korean rocket, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday, but will raise the issue with the U.N. Security Council if Pyongyang carries out a launch. "We are doing our best to dissuade the North Koreans from going forward, because it is provocative action," Clinton said. "It raises questions about their compliance with the Security Council Resolution 1718. And if they persist and go forward, we will take it up in appropriate channels." South Korea echoed Clinton's statements. "The South Korean government believes that if the North conducts its launch despite continuous warnings of the South Korean government and the international community, it is a provocative action that constitutes a serious threat to the security of northeast Asia and the Korean peninsula," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-Young. "The launching of the long-range rocket is a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 1718, and we strongly urge North Korea to immediately stop such measures." The North Korean Taepodong-2 missile is thought to have an intended range of about 4,200 miles (6,700 kilometers) that -- if true -- could strike Alaska or Hawaii.
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NEW: U.S. Secretary of State Clinton says U.S. has no plans to shoot rocket down .
N. Korea positions what analyst is believes is long-range missile for launch .
Taepodong 2 rocket could launch either a warhead or a satellite .
North Koreans have said they intend to launch a communications satellite .
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13d40ef86400aa54fb142f44f52e430b6d423ffc
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By . Graham Smith . PUBLISHED: . 07:37 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:49 EST, 10 October 2012 . Victim: Michael Saxby, 83, said he was screaming for help as a man and woman trapped him against his car in a supermarket car park and then made away with his life savings . An elderly war veteran today accused shoppers of ignoring his cries for help as he was pinned to his car and robbed in a busy supermarket car park in broad daylight. Michael Saxby, 83, said he was screaming for assistance as a man and woman trapped him against his car outside his local Tesco and then made away with his modest life savings. Nobody ran to aid the frail pensioner - who can only walk with crutches - even though the attack happened just 20 yards from the supermarket entrance at 11.30am on a busy Friday morning. Mr Saxby, of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, believes the thieves filmed him on a mobile phone as he entered his PIN at the supermarket checkout. They later mugged him for his wallet and emptied his account of the £700 he relies on to tide him over with his pension payments. The grandfather, whose legs were injured in the 1950s by a landmine in the Malayan Emergency conflict while he served as an RAF medical orderly, today said he is devastated by those who failed to assist him. He said: 'I went to my car about six spaces from the main entrance when this man took my wallet out of my pocket and then pinned me to my car. 'He kneed me in the chest and when I fought back, the woman grabbed my wrist and snatched my wallet and took my bank cards. 'What made me really angry and upset was I was screaming for help at the top of my voice and there were around ten people nearby who just walked by and didn’t help. 'One woman did start to approach us but . then the woman robber put her finger to her head as if to tell her I was . mad and the lady walked away.' Crime scene: Mr Saxby said he was screaming for assistance during the daytime robbery outside his local Tesco in Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire . The widower, who who worked at Addenbrooke’s Hospital for 43 years and was honoured by the Royal Humane Society in 1942 for saving a drowning boy from a river, believes the thieves had monitored him while inside the store. Mr Saxby said: 'I had seen the woman who grabbed my wrist in the supermarket restaurant. 'She had her phone up every time an older person was at the till. I am sure she was filming us putting in our PIN.' Police hunting the assailants today described them as both wearing dark clothing. The man was of Mediterranean appearance and aged 23-24, while the woman was white and believed to be in her late teens. Fighting for his country: Michael Saxby just after joining the RAF at the age of 18, far left and right . Left with nothing: Mr Saxby (back row, second from the right) believes the thieves filmed him on a mobile phone as he entered his PIN at the checkout . A police spokeswoman said: 'This was a callous attack on a vulnerable man and it is vital we trace those responsible. 'Filming people at tills is one tactic used by criminals to get people’s PINs and we urge shoppers to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police. 'We know a number of people witnessed this incident - I urge them to come forward to report what they saw.' A spokesman for Tesco said today: 'We were deeply saddened to hear about this and wish Mr Saxby a very speedy recovery. We will of course be assisting police with their investigation in any way we can.'
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Man and woman trapped Michael Saxby, who uses crutches, against his car .
Robbery took place at 11.30am outside Tesco in Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire .
It is thought Mr Saxby's attackers had earlier filmed him entering his PIN .
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