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By . Ashley Collman . The two children were injured Saturday when a bounce house became untethered have spoken out about the terrifying experience. Friends AJ Ruder, 11, and 12-year-old Madison Kelsay were playing together in the bouncy castle on Saturday while their siblings competed in a lacrosse tournament at a Littleton, Colorado park. When the bounce castle became detached from its stakes in the ground, the two were taken for a painful ride, 300 feet across the soccer field. Madison fell out of the castle along the way, but Ruder was trapped inside until the house finally came to a rest and says he lost consciousness. Scroll down for video . Not fun: AJ Ruder, 11 (left), and 12-year-old Madison Kelsay (right) were injured Saturday when a bounce-castle slide became untethered and took them for a painful ride across a soccer field in Littleton, Colorado . Tumbling: A spectator at the lacrosse tournament took video of the bounce slide being blown 300 feet across the soccer field . Must be stopped: Parents are seen in the video chasing after the castle, trying to bring it to rest . Injured: Both children were treated at the scene and one of the ten-year-olds was taken to urgent care . 'It was like I was picked up into the air and I was just thrown around a lot,' A.J. Ruder told ABC News. 'I couldn't get a grip on anything.' 'By the time I hit the ground, I just pretty much blacked out,' he said . The two children escaped with just minor injuries, and AJ sported a brace on his left foot during the GMA interview. However, when the parents saw their children flung around in the bounce house they feared much worse. Thankfully, Madison and AJ received only minor injuries. AJ pictured above wearing a brace on his left foot . 'It was just complete terror,' Madison's mother Cassie Kelsay said. 'He was emotionless, expressionless,' AJ's dad Brian Ruder said of when he saw his son laying helpless on the ground. 'His eyes were opened in shock.' Madison says she won't be going back into a bounce house anytime soon while AJ says he won't enter one ever again. Madison's mom Cassie Kelsay (right), says she was overcome with terror when she saw the bounce slide blow away. Pictured above with her daughter and husband Shane . Brian Ruder says his son was emotionless, and expressionless, when he found him lying helpless on the ground after the incident . Airbound, the company that owns and operates the slide, issued a statement to ABC, saying: 'We feel terrible for what happened. Safety is our No. 1 concern.' Saturday's incident comes just a few weeks after another boucne castle in upstate New York was blown away, seriously injured two children. Earlier last month, two children were seriously injured when another bouncy castle took flight in South Glens Falls, New York .
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Friends AJ Ruder, 11, and 12-year-old Madison Kelsay were playing on a bounce slide while their siblings competed in a lacrosse tournament .
The bounce house become unlatched from its stakes in the ground and flew 300 feet across the soccer field .
Both children received minor injuries .
The company that owns and operates the bounce house has apologized for the incident and says safety if their priority .
It was the second time this month that a bounce castle was blown away in the wind .
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By . Australian Associated Press . and Freya Noble . Father Stanislaus Hogan, 69, pleaded guilty to accessing and possessing child pornography at the District Court in Adelaide on Monday . A Catholic priest who had over a thousand child pornography images in the bedroom at the college he worked at struggled to reconcile his sexuality with his Jesuit beliefs, an Adelaide court has heard. In Father Stanislaus Hogan's locked room at St Ignatius College in Adelaide, police discovered 1,555 images and police also located magazines and videos bought legally in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sophie David, for Father Stanislaus Hogan, said the 69-year-old had done a lot of good in his life but had now lost his teaching career and his good reputation had been 'indelibly stained'. 'He has also made clear his intention to apply to be released from his vows on August 14,' she said on Monday at Hogan's sentencing hearing in the Adelaide District Court. He has pleaded guilty to an aggravated count of possessing child pornography and a count of using a carriage service to access child pornography at Athelstone between April 20 and June 10 2012. Prosecutor Scott Swain said the ages of the children ranged between three months and 16 years. 'His main interest was in images of boys in the low-to-mid teens, the very age range of children at the school where he was employed,' he said. Ms David said Hogan, who previously taught at Xavier College in Melbourne and St Aloysius college in Sydney, sought professional help after his arrest and now had insight into his offending. More than 70 percent of the images were classed in the least serious category involving no sexual activity, but five images and videos were in category five, the most serious. The 1,555 images were discovered at Saint Ignatius College in Adelaide, however Hogan also taught at St Aloysius College in Sydney, pictured . A psychologist said Hogan had previously suffered with alcohol problems and depression, which were directly related to his struggle to reconcile his sexuality with his ethical and religious beliefs. Ms David urged the judge to impose a suspended jail term, saying he had excellent prospects for rehabilitation. But Mr Swain said such a sentence would be 'manifestly inadequate'. Hogan, whose bail was continued, will be sentenced on a later date. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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A court heard Catholic priest Father Stanislaus Hogan struggled with his sexuality .
Police found 1,555 child pornography images in his room at Saint Ignatius College in Adelaide .
The ages of the children ranged between three months and 16 years .
Hogan will be sentenced at a later date .
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Charges: Justin Ross Harris, pictured in court earlier this year, has been indicted on eight counts . Justin Ross Harris, the Georgia dad who left his 22-month-old son to die in his hot car earlier this summer, has been charged with the boy's murder. If convicted, 33-year-old Harris faces a mandatory life sentence and possibly the death penalty. A Cobb County grand jury indicted him on eight counts including malice murder - which states that he left his son behind 'with malice aforethought' - and two counts of felony murder on Thursday morning. He also faces counts of cruelty to children in the 1st degree, cruelty to children in the 2nd degree, criminal attempt to commit felony exploitation of children, and two counts of dissemination of harmful material to minors. The charges of criminal attempt to commit a felony and dissemination of harmful materials are not related to Cooper's death - rather, they refer to allegations that Harris sexted underage girls. Harris pleaded not guilty to murder and child cruelty charges in mid-June, but these charges filed in a grand jury indictment supersede the previous charges. More information will become available about the latest charges at a 3pm press conference. Harris was arrested after his son Cooper was found dead in the back seat of his hot car, which was parked outside the Home Depot where he worked on June 18. Scroll down for video . Indicted: Harris has been charged with malice murder for the death of his 22-month-old son Cooper, pictured, who died after Harris left him in his hot car in June. As the boy died, he sexted numerous women . Found: Temperatures soared to the high 80s as Cooper was left to die in the SUV, pictured, on June 18 . Police said the toddler was left in a vehicle for about seven hours as temperatures in the Atlanta area soared into the high 80s. The medical examiner's office has said the boy died of hyperthermia - essentially overheating - and has called his death a homicide. During subsequent investigations, it emerged that Harris had sexted as many as six women while Cooper died. He even texted one 16-year-old girl an image of his erect penis, documents reveal. The latest indictment refers to these allegations, accusing Harris of requesting a nude photo of a minor's genitalia and sending the same girl descriptions of 'sexual excitement and sexual conduct'. In mid-June Harris pleaded not guilty to charges of felony murder and second-degree child cruelty, claiming he had simply forgotten to drop his son off at daycare that morning. Staying silent: Harris' wife, Leanna, appears in court for her husband's bond hearing earlier this summer . At the time, Cobb County Chief Magistrate Frank Cox signed off on the charges, saying Harris must have noticed that 'the stench in the car was overwhelming' when he got in it and 'drove it for some instance' before stopping to check on his son. Prosecutors have claimed that Harris, an unfaithful husband to wife Leanna, had wanted a life without children - even looking at website advocating a child-free lifestyle before the death. Investigations found he had also researched online how long it takes to die in a hot car. Another allegation was that Harris had taken his son's new forward-facing seat out of the car and switched it for an old rear-facing one before his death. If Cooper had been in a forward-facing seat, there would be more chance of Harris seeing the toddler when he got out of the car. During a three-hour hearing in July, prosecutor Chuck Boring questioned a police detective at length, outlining evidence he said proved that Harris intentionally left his young boy in the hot SUV. But defense attorney Maddox Kilgore argued that the evidence was insufficient and that the boy's death was a tragic accident. Harris is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and moved to Georgia in 2012 to work for Home Depot.
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Justin Ross Harris, 33, was arrested in June after his 22-month-old son Cooper was found dead in his hot car outside his workplace .
It emerged Harris had been sexting underage girls while the boy died .
On Thursday, he was indicted by a Cobb County grand jury on eight counts, including malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children .
He also faces charges for sending harmful material to minors after it emerged that he allegedly sent an image of his penis to a 16-year-old girl .
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By . Hamish Mackay for MailOnline . Follow @@H_Mackay . Kevin Sutherland made history on the Champions Tour on Saturday by becoming the first person to card a sub-60 round, with a magical 59 seeing him storm to the top of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open leaderboard. Perhaps what is most remarkable about the 50-year-old's record is that he made a bogey on the final hole of his second round, with his tee on the 18th finding the rough costing him a chance of recording 14-under-par 58. He began the day at Endicott, New York by incredibly picking up shots at the first eight holes, the highlight of which was an eagle at the par-five fifth to approach the turn in 28. History: Kevin Sutherland became the first person to card a sub-60 round on the Champions Tour . Final: Remarkably, Sutherland actually made a bogey on the final hole of the round . He birdied the 10th and 11th and then added another three from the 15th, and only needed a par on the last to completea sensational 58. It was not to be, but he settled for a 13-under-par round that featured 12 birdies to move to 14-under-par overall, three shots clear of his nearest challenger. While the feat has not been achieved on the Champions Tour before now, six players have carded 59s on the PGA Tour. Card: The 50-year-old golfer scored 59 as he stormed to the top of the leaderboard in New York . Success: Sutherland picked up shots in each of the first eight holes, including a brilliant eagle on a par-five .
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Kevin Sutherland became the first person to card a sub-60 round .
50-year-old was playing at Endicott on the Champions Tour .
Sutherland actually made a bogey on final hole but still carded 59 .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:32 EST, 25 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 25 June 2012 . Knock-off movies are enjoying a resurgence thanks to the rise of online film distribution sites which make it easier to 'confuse' customers into buying the wrong flick. Production companies say distribution systems such as Netflix and Redbox provide a 'great opportunity' to sell their imitations, which are made at a fraction of the price. But consumers have taken issue with the . tactics because it is harder to distinguish between the two when glancing online as opposed to browsing in the rental store. Confusing: The DreamWorks blockbuster Puss In Boots (left) cost $130million, whereas its 'mockbuster' Puss In Boots: A Furry Tail had a budget of just $1million. The imitation was released around the same time on DVD . Slick: The DreamWorks version of Puss In Boots was made using the very latest an animation over four years . Mocked up: Behind the similar DVD cover design of Puss In Boots: A Furry Tail lies a rather less sophisticated animation . The knock-offs - known as . 'mockbusters' - are what the film industry calls a 'drafting . opportunity' which looks to piggyback off a box office smash by using . similarly titled versions. They . invariably come out on DVD at around the same time as their . budget-busting equivalent in a bid to cash in on the $18.8billion-a-year . home entertainment business. One example was last year's Puss in . Boots: A Furry Tail, which was made by 12 people in an office building . by Renegade Animation for less than $1million. By comparison, the DreamWorks version . Puss in Boots, starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, was made by . 300 people for fours years at cost of $130million. Too similar: Production company The Asylum . changed the name of its Battle: Los Angeles mockbuster, Battle of Los . Angeles, to Attack Los Angeles because it was confusing buyers . Big budget: A scene from 2011's alien-invasion film Battle: Los Angeles . Cashing in: Battle of Los Angeles looked to exploit its blockbuster by creating a similar look to original . Its other knock-off The True Story Of Puss 'N Boots was given more than 1,300 negative reviews on Redbox. One customer said: 'I made the mistake of renting this thinking it was the Antonio Banderas version. BIG mistake.' Other mockbusters include Abraham Lincoln Vs Zombies . (imitating Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), Kiara the Brave (based on . Pixar's Brave) and Life's a Jungle: Africa's Most Wanted (exploiting . Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted). David Rimawi, a partner at The Asylum, which has built much of its business on mockbusters, admitted to the Los Angeles Times that they are having to change the designs of their products to avoid such confusion. As a result, 2011's Battle Of Los Angeles became Attack Los Angeles. 'Preying on confusion': Disney's animation Brave (left) has an imitation in the form of the cut-price Kiara The Brave (right). The rise of sites like Netflix appear to be making it easier for consumers to pick the wrong film . Feeding off the box office hit: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and its knock-off Abraham Lincoln Vs Zombies . Piggybacking: The big budget DreamWorks production Madagascar 3 (left) and its mockbuster (right) Drafting opportunities have been given quite a free reign legally since 1993 when Disney lost a lawsuit against Good Times Entertainment, now owned by Gaiam, over their versions of Aladdin. A U.S. district court judge ruled that the VHS boxes were not similar enough to violate the law. More recently, Universal Pictures sued The Asylum over claims the latter's American Battleship knock-off was too similar to the former's Battleship. The companies settled out of court, with The Asylum agreeing to change its name to American Warships. 'As people have migrated to these new platforms, it has been a great opportunity for us," said Sam Toles, vice president of content and acquisitions for Gaiam Entertainment. 'We're not trying to confuse people. We're trying to take advantage of a level of interest in a concept that exists thanks to the major studio release', he told the Los Angeles Times.
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Imitations enjoying a resurgence as they look to cash in on $18bn industry .
Rise of online film sites like Netflix make it 'harder to distinguish DVD covers'
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Ahead of the release of his new movie, Manny Pacquiao has been showing off his acting skills as he put on an impressive Scottish accent. The boxer was appearing on sports talk show Men in Blazers as he was invited to discuss football, boxing and the release of 'Manny', which will be out on Friday. During the show the WBO welterweight champion broke into a Scottish accent and said: 'I'm from Scotland and I'm fighting for freedom against the Englishmen.' Manny Pacquiao gave an impressive Scottish accent during appearance on talk show Men in Blazers . The WBO welterweight champion had the presenters in hysterics with the accent . Pacquiao arrives at Heathrow airport from the United States on Thursday and was greeted by supporters . Pacquiao smiles for the cameras as he poses for pictures with fans after touching down in London . Pacquiao signs autographs as fans take pictures of the boxer as he leaves the airport . Perhaps the Filipino is practicing an audition for the role of William Wallace in the re-make of 'Braveheart'. Meanwhile, Pacquiao, who is desperate to fight Floyd Mayweather, has set the undefeated American a January deadline to agree their $200million bout. The Filipino has already agreed terms for the most eagerly-awaited fight in boxing which has been penciled in for May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. But Mayweather has yet to commit to a bout that has been more than five years in the making.
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Manny Pacquiao appeared on sports talk show Men in Blazers .
The WBO welterweight champion put on a Scottish accent .
Pacquiao's new film 'Manny' is due to be released on Friday .
The Filipino is waiting for Floyd Mayweather to agree to mega-fight .
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1420cd52f747e121ca54d84a3706cab9f2378d68
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John Butler was jailed for seven years for manslaughter of his ex-partner Pauline . A businessman who appeared in a BBC reality show has been jailed for seven years for stabbing his estranged partner to death. John Butler, 62, killed his former partner Pauline with a kitchen knife at the flat she had moved into in Leeds after their relationship began to fail. Leeds Crown Court heard he left her dying on the floor after she threatened to stop him from seeing his granddaughter and then returned home to drink a beer and smoke a cigar. Butler was cleared of murder by a jury yesterday but had already admitted manslaughter. Sentencing Butler today, the judge, Mr Justice Edis, said he did not accept Butler's argument that at no point did he intend to kill, pointing to the severity of the injuries he inflicted on Ms Butler. The jury had heard how the defendant and his family appeared in a 2012 episode of The Fixer, featuring Alex Polizzi. The programme was about one of Butler's businesses - Kettley's Furniture, in Yeadon, Leeds. Butler and his partner had been together for 30 years but had drifted apart after their three sons had grown up. Pauline Butler, 61, who took her partner's name despite never marrying him, went to live in a flat while Butler remained at the family home in Rawdon, Leeds. On April 14 this year, Butler went round to the flat and after Ms Butler told him she hated him and asked him to leave, he stabbed his estranged partner in a 'sustained attack'. Scroll down for video . John Butler, 62, left, killed Pauline Butler, 61, right, to death in a violent attack during a row in which she said she would stop him from seeing their granddaughter . The court also heard how on two occasions, rows between the couple had resorted to Pauline using a knife to threaten Butler, when he had to restrain her. The judge said he sentenced on the basis that the jury must have decided that Butler had suffered a 'loss of control' at the time of the attack. He said he accepted that Ms Butler had been contemptuous in her comments to him as their relationship deteriorated and she had threatened him with a knife on three occasions. The judge said: 'People who wish to end their relationships and live alone without their former partner are entitled to do so without being killed. 'It is clear that for nearly ten years you had been living increasingly separate lives under the same roof. 'You spent many nights in the pub and in your den drinking too much. 'She was no doubt lonely and frustrated with what her life had become. 'She came to despise you as a weak father and a drunk, and said frequently that she deserved better than you. 'With a degree of cruelty she even said you were not a good father. 'This happened principally because you could not let go. The threat in relation to you granddaughter was the straw which broke the camel's back.' Forensic officers at a property in Rawdon, West Yorkshire, where 61-year-old Pauline Butler was found dead . 'It was your view that your family life really was over that led to your loss of control. 'Your granddaughter was very important to you and in your desperate state the prospect of no longer going out with her overwhelmed you. That was a serious verbal threat to something you hold very precious.' He added: 'In that state of mind you formed the intention to kill her. The evidence is not compelling because you say you cannot completely remember what happened.' He added: 'I'm unable to say exactly how the knife ended up in your hand.' 'You drove the knife deep into her left shoulder and sliced into her neck in a deliberate motion and drove it into her right shoulder. 'I reject your your explanation this was accidental as you fell. Something happened in that room which you have not told us about. 'Had you not intended she would die you would have called an ambulance. Instead you took out the knife, washed it and took the dog back to the family home. Miss Polizzi had tried to turn around the fortunes of the family's furniture store and funeral directors in Yeadon . When the family's business was featured in the show, the BBC programme said: 'Kettley's Furniture has been run by John Butler and his family for 33 years, but it just hasn't moved on in that time' 'When your son Richard saw you, you said 'I think I've killed your mother'. I think you knew she was dead when you left her flat.' Sending the disgraced boss down the cell, Justice Edis said: 'You have still not faced up squarely to what you did.' The couple's middle son, Richard, saw his father walk in with blood on his face, carrying a blood-stained orange towel . Butler stood with his head bowed as he was sentenced, sporting short dark hair and dark-rimmed glasses. He was wearing a grey suit with a light blue shirt and patterned blue tie. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Snow, of West Yorkshire Police, said Butler attacked his ex-partner 'sustained and violent attack' He said: 'John Butler has been convicted of killing of his long-term partner Pauline Butler, after she left him to embark on a new life without him . 'After more than 40 years together Pauline decided to leave John, sadly this was something he could not come to terms with. 'On the morning of April 14, John Butler visited Pauline at her new home. It was whilst there that an argument developed. 'Mr Butler then armed himself with a large knife and carried out a sustained and violent attack on Pauline, which resulted in her immediate death. 'Pauline was devoted mother and grandmother and was loved by many. His actions that day have without doubt had a profound effect on all those who knew and loved Pauline. 'John Butler will now for the rest of his life have to live with the consequences of his actions that fateful morning. 'I hope that after today's sentencing, the family of Pauline can in some way start to rebuild and move on with their lives.'
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John Butler, 62, stabbed his estranged partner Pauline, 61, to death .
Butler was jailed for seven years at Leeds Crown Court today .
His family firm featured in BBC makeover show The Fixer in 2012 .
Jury cleared him of murder but he was convicted for manslaughter .
Judge told him: 'This happened principally because you could not let go'
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By . Louise Boyle . A waterfront restaurant that has been plagued with problems for years sank this morning - and not just in the financial sense. The Waterfront Restaurant in Hebron, Kentucky, was underwater on Tuesday morning at its dock. The owner, Jeff Ruby, tweeted a photograph of the submerged flamingo-pink barge with the message: 'Just another day in paradigm.' That sinking feel: The Waterfront Restaurant in Hebron, Kentucky, tipped forward and sank on Tuesday . The owner of the ill-fated venue tweeted a picture of his business on Tuesday with the message: 'Just another day in paradigm' The restaurant was keeled over on Tuesday morning in the Ohio river, causing staff to rush to the site to secure it . Owner Jeff Ruby, tweeted a photograph of the submerged flamingo-pink barge on Tuesday after three years of problems . The restaurant has been closed since 2011 after it came free of its dock on the Ohio River in Cincinnati causing diners to be rescued. It broke free again in February and floated 85 feet before being stopped by a bridge. An employee was inside at the time, according to reports. Staff rushed to the tipping structure on Tuesday to secure it. No one was on board at the time it sank between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. There had been plans by owner Mr Ruby to reopen the restaurant on dry land. Mr Ruby told Fox 19: 'It's sexy to dine on a floating restaurant, but it's not safe sex.' There had been plans to reopen The Waterfront (pictured here before it sank) on dry land this year . Jeff Ruby's The Waterfront restaurant before it closed down in 2011 after it floated away and guests had to be rescued .
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The Waterfront Restaurant in Hebron, Kentucky, was underwater on Tuesday morning at its dock .
It floated away twice in the past including in February when one staff member had to be rescued .
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1422b50834f7fcd013ff3982aa24821d1d323b27
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By . Sarah Griffiths . The origins of Little Red Riding Hood have been traced back 2,000 years by scientist. A Victorian image is pictured . The origins of Little Red Riding Hood have been traced back 2,000 years by scientists. And they believe finding the roots of other folk tales could show how humans migrated throughout history. Using techniques pioneered by evolutionary biologists, the new study reveals the folk tale first appeared in a spoken version called The Wolf and the Kids, which is still told in some countries. Today the two stories are distinct, although their shared root has evolved into a number of different stories told in Africa and Asia since the original yarn first appeared in Europe in the first century AD. Experts at Durham University used mathematical modelling to plot the 'evolutionary tree' of The Wolf and the Kids - a tale about a wolf that impersonates a nanny goat and eats her young. They found the British favourite Little Red Riding Hood, whose wolf character devours a young girl in a similar deception, branched off around 1,000 years along the evolutionary tree. It evolved as a spoken story in France, Austria and northern Italy before being written down by French author Charles Perrault in the 1600s and was later re-told in its most familiar form by the Brothers Grimm, 200 years ago. While The Wolf and the Kids - which is popular in Europe and the Middle East - was evolving from spoken word to the printed tale of Little Red Riding Hood in Europe, it travelled south to Africa and eastwards to Asia to become The Tiger Grandmother in Japan, China and Korea. Because the tale spent much of its early existence as a spoken story, it was difficult to trace back through time, as there are no written versions that could give researchers a reference point of date and place. Experts at Durham University used mathematical modelling to plot the 'evolutionary tree' of The Wolf and the Kids and found the British favourite Little Red Riding Hood, whose wolf character devours a young girl in a similar deception, branched off around 1,000 years along the evolutionary tree . Durham anthropologist Dr Jamshid Tehrani, used a technique called phylogenetics - a mathematical modelling system - to compare 72 areas of similarity between 58 variations of the folk tale collected from around the world. The method is used by biologists for grouping closely-related organisms to map their evolution, but it helped him build a 'tree' that revealed the most likely branches, or paths, that the various versions took through time and revealed a surprising coincidence. Dr Tehrani explained: 'This is rather like a biologist showing that humans and other apes share a common ancestor but have evolved into distinct species. An illustration based on the fable The Wolf and the Kids, which highlights the dangers of talking to strangers . 'My research cracks a long-standing mystery. The African tales turn out to be descended from The Wolf and the Kids but over time, they have evolved to become like Little Red Riding Hood, which is also likely to be descended from The Wolf and the Kids. 'This exemplifies a process biologists call convergent evolution, in which species independently evolve similar adaptations. 'The fact that Little Red Riding Hood ‘evolved twice’ from the same starting point suggests it holds a powerful appeal that attracts our imaginations.' His findings, published in the Public Library of Science journal PLOS ONE, also overturned the theory believed by some that a forerunner to Little Red Riding Hood originally came from the Far East. 'It is claimed the tale spread west, along the Silk Route, and gave rise to both The Wolf and the Kids and the modern version of Little Red Riding Hood, Dr Tehrani said. 'My analysis demonstrates that in fact the Chinese version is derived from European oral traditions, and not vice versa. 'Specifically, the Chinese blended together Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf and the Kids and local folktales to create a new, hybrid story. 'This implies that the Chinese version is not derived from literary versions of Little Red Riding Hood but from the older, oral version, with which it shares crucial similarities,' he said. Dr Tehrani added that applying the technique to other folk tales could reveal how humans migrated throughout history, by tracing the folk stories’ origin in time and geographically. The tale of The Wolf and The Kids morphed into a German fable by the Brothers Grimm and is about a mother goat who leaves her kids at home but warns them not to open the door to a wolf who might impersonate her high voice. She says they can also recognise her by her white feet, but the wolf covers himself in flour so he has white feet and mimics her voice, enters the house and eats all except the smallest of the kids. The mother finds the wolf and cuts him open with a pair of scissors and her young spring out unharmed. She fills the wolf's stomach with rocks before sewing him up and the wolf is so thirsty, he goes to drink in a stream and drowns, while the family of goats live happily ever after. The tale of The Grandmother Tiger features a similar warning about strangers. A mother leaves her two children at home in a quiet village while she goes out on a long journey to get food and tells the children not to let strangers inside while she is away over night. But in the village there lives a bad tiger with a penchant for eating children. The big cat dresses up as a grandmother and in the middle of the night, eats the younger child. Realising the grandmother is really the tiger, the older, wiser child runs outside to wait for the mother to return.
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The original yarn, upon which Little Red Riding Hood was based, first appeared in Europe in the first century AD .
Durham anthropologist Dr Jamshid Tehrani .
used a mathematical modelling system to compare 72 areas of similarity between 58 versions of the folk .
tale .
He found Little Red Riding Hood 'evolved twice'
from the same starting point, suggesting the story holds a powerful appeal .
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14239f7a8aa7d23f31a43b8dd92de37c6b9340a8
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(CNN) -- Space shuttle Discovery launched just before midnight Friday on a mission to the international space station. Space shuttle Discovery lifts off late Friday from Kennedy Space Center in a photo from iReporter Alan Walters. The crew of seven astronauts includes one from Mexico and another from Sweden. One of those seven, Nicole Stott, will remain on the station as a flight engineer, while astronaut Timothy Kopra is to return home aboard the shuttle. Also on board: The Leonardo logistics module, science experiments and the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT), named for fake newsman Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." Colbert won an online poll conducted by NASA to name the newest space station compartment, but Colbert and the space agency compromised to give the moniker to the treadmill. The new compartment was given the name Tranquility. NASA astronaut Cady Coleman said the treadmill is an essential addition to the space station. Watch shuttle launch » . "We have the treadmill now to keep them healthy, which is really part of being able to come home in one piece. So it is an essential part," Coleman said. iReport.com: Discovery lights night sky . Discovery's liftoff, originally set for Tuesday, had been postponed three times -- first for bad weather, and twice more while mission managers checked out indications of a faulty valve.
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Space shuttle Discovery launches just before midnight Friday .
Discovery is scheduled to fly to international space station with a crew of seven .
Logistics module, science experiments, Stephen Colbert treadmill also aboard .
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1424f97c7959479223d9a4c9c6ce48a156d4ae5d
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Click here for all the stats from Chelsea's win using our fantastic match zone service . Normal service has been resumed. Four days after their first defeat in eight months and Chelsea delivered a nerveless return to form. They have completed the group phase with 17 goals - more than any other team - and Jose Mourinho declared the Champions League starts here, with the ‘sharks in the ocean’. It was just the response he hoped for after losing at Newcastle United on Saturday. His team were in control early thanks to a Cesc Fabregas penalty and Andre Schurrle’s first goal since September. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Chelsea 3-1 Sporting Lisbon . Chelsea beat Sporting Lisbon 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night to knock the Portuguese side out of the Champions League . Cesc Fabregas slots home his penalty to put Chelsea in front early on at Stamford Bridge against Sporting Lisbon . The former Arsenal midfielder salutes to the crowd after giving the Blues the lead on Wednesday night . Andre Schurrle's sublime finish doubled Chelsea's advantage as the visitors started poorly . The German winger has been starved of first-team opportunities but celebrates his deserved goal . Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6 ; Azpilicueta 6, Zouma 6, Cahill 6, Filipe Luis 6.5; Mikel 6, Matic 6.5; Schurrle 7 (Ramires 74), Fabregas 7.5 (Loftus-Cheek 83), Salah 6.5 (Remy 71 6); Diego Costa 6. Subs not used: Beeney, Ivanovic, Oscar, Drogba. Manager: Jose Mourinho 7 . Scorers: Fabregas 8 (PEN), Schurrle 16, Mikel 56 . Sporting Lisbon (4-3-3): Rui Patricio 6.5; Ricardo Esgaio 5, Mauricio 5, Paulo Oliveira 6, Silva 6.5; Adrien Silva 6, William Carvalho 6 (Montero 61 6), Jaoi Mario 6 (André Martins 70 6); Carillo 5.5, Slimani 6, Capel 5.5 (Carlos Mané 61 6). Subs not used: Marcelo, Sarr, André Geraldes, Oriol Rosell, . Booked: William Carvalho, Silva, Paulo Oliveira, Adrien Silva, . Manager: Marco Silva 5.5 . Scorer: Paulo Oliveira 50 . Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Nor) 7 . MOTM: Fabregas . Player ratings by SAM CUNNINGHAM at Stamford Bridge . There was no discernible apprehension that the first serious set-back of the campaign might develop into the type of stumbling sequence which Carlo Ancelotti liked to call ‘a bad moment’. The outcome was barely in doubt. Even when they threatened to nod off and allowed Sporting Lisbon to shorten the deficit, five minutes into the second half, Chelsea struck again, through John Mikel Obi. The sight of a Mikel goal always signifies a special occasion for Chelsea supporters. This was only his fifth in more than eight years at the club, and his first ever in the Champions League. Another treat for fans at the Bridge was a hotly anticipated debut for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, an 18-year-old midfielder, who has advanced through the club’s youth ranks to great acclaim. He is the flag-bearer of what they hope will be the ‘Made in Chelsea’ generation but it will take more than this brief cameo to establish that. There was also a favour for former favourite Roberto Di Matteo. Defeat for Sporting allowed his Schalke team to progress at their expense with a win in Maribor, but most important for Mourinho was a professional reaction to Saturday’s defeat. ‘We were focused and serious,’ said the Chelsea boss, satisfied his squad have the mental application to launch another long unbeaten run. ‘We showed a good attitude and did what we had to do. We played seriously and deserved to win.’ That said, Sporting did not provide the most formidable opposition and seemed strangely uninterested in acquiring the point which would have been enough for them to qualify for the last 16. This has not the most testing of Champions League groups for Chelsea. But, not only were they prolific, with 17 goals, they conceded only three in six games. Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus leap out as those to avoid in Monday’s draw for the last 16 but Mourinho said: ‘We have five possible opponents and each one is hard. Paris would be good because it’s easy for travel and easy for our fans. You think Basle is easy? We lost twice against them last year. They beat Liverpool. Leverkusen is not easy, or Shakhtar. It is not easy. ‘I don’t think any of the big teams is out. Maybe Liverpool, but all the teams who want to win it are in it. There are a few sharks in the ocean, but I like it this way.’ Mourinho swam with sharks on holiday in French Polynesia. ‘I didn’t want to go, but my wife and kids pushed me,’ he grinned. This time, he goes happily into the knockout phase of a competition he has twice won. ‘The real Champions League starts now,’ said Mourinho. ‘What can we do? I don’t know. Last season, we were not one of the top four for sure and we played in the semi-finals. Let’s see what we can do this time step by step.’ This win was achieved while resting players like John Terry, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian and those who stepped in proved they are ready and able. There was the reassuring presence of Petr Cech in goal and it was an important night for Mohamed Salah and Filipe Luis, who were in tandem on the left and quickly capitalised on the inexperience of right-back Ricardo Esgaio. Jonathan Silva gave the Portuguese side a lifeline to make it 2-1, but Sporting head out of the Champions League . The midfielder is congratulated by Andre Carillo during the Group G clash . John Mikel Obi taps in a third from barely a yard out to seal the game for the hosts . Teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek comes on to replace Cesc Fabregas with 10 minutes remaining . Filipe Luis is felled in the box early on before Fabregas slots home Chelsea's opener . Luis squared up to Esgaio, stuck the ball through his legs and drew the foul. Fabregas converted the penalty in the eighth minute. Schurrle, making his first start since he was hauled off at half-time during a draw Maribor last month, scored the second from the edge of the box. The move started on the left with Luis then Nemanja Matic carrying the ball forward. Schurrle controlled the pass, turned centre-half Mauricio and unleashed a crisp drive which flashed into the bottom corner. Sporting offered little more after the interval, but as Chelsea relaxed and lost impetus, Jonathan Silva pulled a goal back. Loftus-Cheek is welcomed to European football with a crunching tackle from Oliveira at Stamford Bridge . Chelsea players comfort the debutant after he is taken out on the half-way line . Diego Costa was a menace up front again but failed to get onto the scoresheet on this occasion . Silva shows off his Gareth Bale-esque celebration after scoring at Stamford Bridge . John Mikel Obi, starting in his second successive game, is tracked by Islam Slimani of Sporting Lisbon . Mohamed Salah - tracked by Paulo Oliveira and Carillo - was handed a rare start at Stamford Bridge . Schurrle was guilty of failing to deal with a deep and swirling cross and his clearance fell to Silva who took the ball down on his chest and volleyed low past Cech. For six minutes, there was a game on, but Mourinho’s players stirred and Mikel struck, toe-ending the ball over the goal-line from a couple of inches, after a swerving free-kick, taken by Fabregas, had been flicked on at the near post. This was the sign for Mourinho to send on his substitutes including Loftus-Cheek with seven minutes to go. ‘I said to him, I give you this and you give me a nice bottle of red wine,’ said Mourinho. ‘He said, “no problem”.’ Jose Mourinho chucked oon the bench as several of Chelsea's regulars watch on from the stands . The travelling Sporting fans let off a green flare in the stand to show their colours for their team . Young Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma grabs a hold of Islam Slimani during the game . It was a tough night for Sporting and their young coach Marco Silva . Oliveira goes down holding his face after clashing with Filipe Luis . Loic Remy came on as a substitute but the poacher was unable to get on target for the Blues . Ruben Loftus-Cheek shows off his skills in the warm-up - the teenager was named on Chelsea's bench on Wednesday night .
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Chelsea and Schalke qualify from Group G in the Champions League after both side's win .
Jose Mourinho rested several players but two early goals set them on the Blues on their way .
Cesc Fabregas opened the scoring after Filipe Luis was fouled in the box .
Andre Schurrle's classy finish put the hosts 2-0 up inside 20 minutes at Stamford Bridge .
Jonathan Silva gives Sporting Lisbon a lifeline but John Mikel Obi wraps up victory with rare goal .
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(CNN) -- Michael Schumacher has been one of Pirelli's biggest critics this season, but Formula One's tire supplier has backed the seven-time world champion to end his long wait for a victory at Sunday's European Grand Prix. The 43-year-old, who has not finished on the podium since coming out of retirement in 2010, told CNN that dealing with the rapidly degrading rubber this year was like "driving on raw eggs." He has been outshone by Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, but Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery believes the German can perform well in Valencia, where he has failed to make the top-10 in two previous attempts. Schumacher did, however, top the qualifying times at another street circuit last month in Monaco, but started the race sixth due to a penalty and ended up retiring early -- as he did last time out in Canada. "I think you have to look at someone like, maybe Michael, getting the pole position," Hembery told F1's official website. "He probably would have won Monaco if he hadn't been penalized, so why not here? Michael for Valencia, that's where the money should go." Sauber chief: "F1 better than ever" Schumacher, who won 91 grands prix between 1992 and 2006, was penalized in Monte Carlo due to a collision with Bruno Senna at the Spanish Grand Prix. The former Ferrari driver has endured a miserable start to the 2012 season, collecting just two world championship points and retiring from five of the first seven races. Rosberg, meanwhile, is fifth on 67 points and clinched the first race win of his career in China. But Schumacher, who has won the European Grand Prix a record six times at its former homes in Jerez and Nurburgring, is confident Mercedes can overcome the reliability issues which have dogged him. "Our motto in the last few days has been to roll our sleeves up and focus on the job in hand," he said. "Everybody in the team has taken that approach to heart, so we can travel to Valencia in an optimistic mood." Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, who worked with Schumacher at Ferrari, conceded he has not provided him with an adequate car. "The performance of our car and our tire management were generally good in Canada, however our competitiveness was compromised by reliability problems and mistakes," said Brawn. "This is a disappointment that is deeply felt by everyone in our team, and we have been working hard to ensure we understand the reasons and deal with them. "Achieving zero-defect reliability is our highest priority. The opportunities available if we can give both drivers a reliable car and a clean weekend are clear." After this weekend's race in Valencia, the world championship will head to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix on July 8.
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Michael Schumacher tipped for success at Sunday's European Grand Prix .
The Mercedes driver has not won a race since coming out of retirement in 2010 .
The seven-time world champion has retired from five of seven races in 2012 .
Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg collected his first ever win in China .
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A mother whose aorta burst when she was eight months pregnant ended up having life-saving surgery during which her baby was also delivered. Edita Tracey, 35, suffered a foot-long rupture in the main blood vessel taking blood from her heart to the rest of her body. Miraculously, she is now back at home with her daughter and is expected to make a full recovery. Edita Tracey, 35, nearly died when her aorta ruptured when she was 36 weeks pregnant . Mrs Tracey, from Philadelphia, was 36 weeks pregnant and in the hairdressers when she started suffering pain back pain, Fox 29 reports. She says the pain was not severe – it was more of a pressing pain. She phoned her husband, Ken, who was on a business trip but said he would fly home immediately. But when the pain spread to her chest, she called an ambulance. She told Fox 29: ‘The last thing I remember is emergency people coming, and that's it. I don't remember anything else.’ Mrs Tracey was rushed to hospital where tests revealed her aorta - the largest blood vessel in the human body - had ruptured and she did not have long to live. Medics immediately sent Mrs Tracey’s scans to a cardiologist and organised for her to be airlifted to another hospital. Mrs Tracey had nine hours of emergency surgery during which baby Arabella was delivered and her aorta was repaired. She and Arabella are pictured with her husband, Ken . Amazingly, baby Arabella did not suffer any ill effects as a result of her traumatic birth . When she arrived she was rushed into emergency surgery and within 30 seconds of her being put to sleep, her baby had been delivered. Miraculously, Arabella was born completely healthy and weighing 6lbs 12oz. Mrs Tracey was extremely lucky to survive the rupture in her aorta as it is the largest blood vessel in the body. Image shows an aorta . However, her mother remained in surgery for nearly nine hours as surgeons fought to repair the foot-long tear in her aorta. Dr Omar Lattouf, the cardiologist, said it was the most complicated case he had ever encountered in his 30 years of operating. He had to drain all of the blood that was gathering around her heart, before putting her on a heart and lung bypass machine. The surgical team then had to reduce her body temperature to prevent brain damage while they repaired her aorta. While Mrs Tracey was still in surgery, her husband arrived at the hospital and was able to hold Arabella for the first time. He told Fox 29: ‘You think about the baby, this should be a joyous occasion. And now your mind goes right back, it goes right back to if she's going to make it. The whole night was up and down.’ It was not until the next day that Mrs Tracey woke up. She was in intensive care but was able to be brought her newborn baby. She is now recovering at home and says she is incredibly grateful to the surgeons who saved her life. She is expected to make a full recovery but doctors are still trying to establish why her aorta ruptured. They believe she may have developed pre-eclampsia as a result of the pregnancy and that this could have caused her blood pressure to increase, putting pressure on her aorta.
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Edita Tracey, 35, called an ambulance when she developed bad chest pains .
She was 36 weeks pregnant and was rushed to hospital for a series of tests .
Doctors found she had suffered a huge tear in her biggest blood vessel .
She had nine hours of emergency surgery to repair the tear and save her life .
At the start of the surgery, baby Arabella was delivered miraculously healthy .
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Kamaishi, Japan (CNN) -- Ikuo Fujiwara stops in front of the wreckage of the Buddhist temple, brings his hands together and prays. The monk bursts into tears, an involuntary act, as he asks heaven what he can do to comfort his destroyed hometown and begin to rebuild his house of worship. Fujiwara needs heaven to speak to him, for he must preside over Kamaishi's first mass burials in memory. Behind his temple, the sound of heavy machinery digging giant ditches for unmarked coffins echoes through the shattered remains of the 300-year-old building. "We don't have enough places to cremate the bodies," says Fujiwara. "So temporarily, we're burying the bodies here." The ditches sit within 50 meters of the Buddhist burial plots, where cremated remains lie underneath grey headstones. This is a sacred practice that every Japanese person expects at death, explains Fujiwara. A Japanese funeral is elaborate, formal, and ritualized in the Buddhist faith. So the wide ditches and the coffins, which will eventually lie in them side by side, are an unbearable insult in the minds of ordinary Japanese citizens. But ordinary expectations have been abandoned in Japan's tsunami zone, where entire towns were decimated by a wall of water that struck in the wake of a magnitude-9.0 earthquake March 11. "I feel very sad about this," says Fujiwara, adding that the mass graves are only one component of the overwhelming pain felt throughout Kamaishi. "My friends and my temple members, I don't know yet how many of them I lost. And the town is destroyed. I'm concerned if we can rebuild." Fujiwara doesn't look like the monk of this temple, wearing a fisherman's boots and winter coat. The tsunami destroyed all of his robes. Like many of the tsunami victims mourning the dead, he can't dress in proper funeral attire. Fujiwara says he will still try to administer the most respectful service he can offer to the survivors who will line the ditches. But he knows in the minds of many of those families, it will never replace a proper Japanese Buddhist ceremony. However, city health leaders say they have no choice but to bury the dead in mass graves. Thousands of bodies pulled from the rubble have been stored in school gymnasiums-turned-morgues. About 17,000 people remain missing, so officials believe more bodies will be recovered. Even if they can be identified, the crematoriums on Japan's northern coastline are either damaged from the tsunami or already full. A shortage of gas has meant bodies can't be taken to other parts of the country for cremation. Stressing the burials will be temporary, cities have begun the process of placing bodies in mass graves to prevent disease outbreak. Tadaharu Kinoshita, searching through Kamaishi's morgues for his brother, says it hurts his heart to think of his kin lying in a mass grave. But there is a greater indignity, he says. "My one hope is to find his body," says Kinoshita. "If he remains missing, we'll never really know. Even if he's in a mass grave, at least then, we'll know."
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Buddhist funerals typically are highly ritualized .
The town of Kamaishi lacks the resources to cremate the dead .
The bodies must be buried in mass graves to prevent a disease outbreak .
Officials say the mass burials are temporary .
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1427b71c108fff885462ac50b3b2120f254630ab
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(CNN) -- Veteran American Paul Goydos has become just the fourth player in PGA Tour history to break the 60-shot barrier after carding a remarkable 12-under-par 59 in the opening round of the John Deere Classic on Thursday. Goydos follows in the footsteps of Al Geiberger (1977), Chip Beck (1991) and David Duval (1999) after his 12-birdie blitz at the TPC Deer Run, Silvis, Illinois. However, Goydos, who at 46 is the oldest player to achieve the feat, is the only one of the quartet to break the barrier on a par-71. The Californian closed out the back nine in just 28 shots, with eight birdies in nine holes, while he took just 22 putts all day. Michael Letzig and Australian Matt Jones head the chasing pack after carding seven-under-par 64s, with Letzig also keeping a bogey off his card. Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is the only player to shoot a round of 68, which he achieved in the final round of The Crowns on his home tour on May 2. Meanwhile, Irishman Darren Clarke leads the field after the opening round of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. The former Ryder Cup player carded a six-under-par 65 to hold a narrow advantage over Graeme Storm, Damien McGrane and Edoardo Molinari in the traditional British Open warm-up. The 40-year-old Clarke has still not secured a place in the St Andrews field next week and he told reporters: "This is the first round and there's an awful long way to go, but of course I would love to qualify." A further seven players, including American John Daly, are a further stroke behind, while world number two Phil Mickelson is off the pace after an opening round level par 71.
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Veteran American Paul Goydos cards a 12-under-par 59 in the John Deere Classic .
The 46-year-old becomes the fourth player to achieve the feat in PGA Tour history .
The Californian is the first player to break the milestone on a par-71 course .
Irishman Darren Clarke cards a six-under-par 65 to lead the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond .
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(CNN) -- The coach of four-time major winner Ernie Els has urged golf's governing bodies to come to a quick decision on the proposed banning of anchored putting. Golf's rulemakers Royal & Ancient (R & A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA), which governs the game in the U.S. and Mexico, announced in November they intend to ban the method of putting by which a club is anchored to a part of the body by 2016. The decision has been backed by the European Tour, but Tim Finchem, commissioner of the lucrative U.S.-based PGA Tour, opposes the rule change which would essentially outlaw the controversial "belly putter". Els is one of a clutch of recent major winners who favor using the belly putter -- three of the last five majors have been won by a player using the technique. Els' coach Claude Harmon III has called for a solution to be found soon in order to protect the integrity of the game. "They have to make a decision quickly," Harmon told CNN's Living Golf. "Brandt Snedeker, who's easily the best putter on the planet, got up and said to Tim, 'You've got to make a decision now. "If we let this thing continue for three or four more years the guys that are still using the long putter are still going to be winning golf tournaments and then do we put a asterisk, is there a stigma attached to that. "The longer this keeps going and they still can't find a decision, a guy like Keegan Bradley, does he practice and waste time away from his game to try and do something or does he just continue to do what he is really good at?" Bradley and fellow American Webb Simpson both used the anchored putting technique to win the PGA Championship in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Harmon joined Finchem in questioning whether the method offered players an advantage over more conventional putting techniques. "None of the best putters in the world use a belly putter and I know from talking to guys like Ernie, like Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson, I think they do feel a little bit that there's a target on their back," added Harmon. "I think it is going to be very hard to quantify with data an advantage that a belly putter gives players. "The PGA Tour and the European Tour and golf at a professional level is a sport absolutely, but it is also a business. "For me what Tim Finchem is trying to do is say to the governing bodies, this is just my opinion, that if you're going to make decisions that affect the professional game you have to involve the professional game." Former world No. 1 Martin Kaymer, who uses a traditional putter, also wants to see the issue put to bed. "I'm a little tired of it," 2010 PGA championship winner Kaymer told CNN. "Everybody should make a decision and we move on. All the speculation now is a little bit too much. "The PGA Tour, the R & A, the European Tour, they should sit down and make a decision together." Kevin Garside, of British newspaper The Independent, suggests the reintroduction of golf at the 2016 Olympic Games means anchored putting will be banned, despite U.S. resistance. "I think it's clear where this is going," said Garside. "You can't get this far and then say, 'OK, as you were.' The putter is going to be banned. "The Olympic Games is coming up, you can't have an anchored putter at the Olympic Games. It's as simple as that." According to Bob Harig of ESPN.com, the PGA Tour will have to back down in order to avoid a division within the sport. "You can't have different rules," Harig said. "They're going to have to fall in line with whatever the USGA and R & A do. "It would be chaotic if the PGA Tour wrote their own rule on this, which they've never done. It would be a major departure."
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Ernie Els' coach calls for a decision on anchored putting .
PGA Tour spoke out against a ban on the technique, which could be outlawed .
Claude Harmon III says a delay on the decision could damage integrity of golf .
Els, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson have all won recent majors using belly putter .
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14292b828ba851d056bd7e992350a1befae90f04
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By . Paul Thompson . PUBLISHED: . 00:56 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:59 EST, 25 October 2013 . A man has . been accused killing two of his mother's pet Chihuahuas - because she . loved them more than him. Adam Kosa . is alleged to have slit the throats of the animals with a box cutter. Two other . dogs had their throats slit but survived. The 23-year-old was found on the porch of the home in Melbourne, Florida, drenched in . blood, according to WTSP. Police claim . he spared two of the miniature dogs. Jealous: Adam Christopher Kosa killed the dogs to spite his mother for loving them more than him . An arrest . report cited by the station revealed that Kosa said after killing one of the dogs he got an 'adrenalin rush' and chased after and caught another three. Kosa allegedly said . he began to feel guilty about slaughtering the animals and spared two from a . grisly death. He also allegedly told . detectives he was jealous that his mother paid more attention to her six dogs . than him. After the . killing, deputies say Kosa walked to a 7-Eleven where he encountered a family . friend and confessed. So cute: Mr Kosa slashed the throats of two chihuahuas similar to this one . He returned . home and dialed 9-1-1, but disconnected before talking with a dispatcher, according to the station. Deputies . who responded to an emergency call two dogs dead . and two severely injured, police told the station. Family . members took the two injured dogs to a hospital, deputies reported they were in . stable condition. Kosa was . arrested and charged with four counts of felony cruelty to the animals. He is . being held at Brevard County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
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Adam Kosa allegedly slit the dogs' throats with a box cutter .
He allegedly spared another two dogs after feeling guilty for killing the first two .
He is being held in jail on a $20,000 bond .
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1429817ff3b8da2fef24fd0b415fd8bb1da8d439
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Injured Arsenal star Jack Wilshere was up with the lark on Friday morning as he recovered from his ankle operation on Thursday. The 22-year-old faces quite some time on the sidelines, but that was not enough to dampen his spirits as he kicked back and watched the latest sporting news. Cup of tea in hand and his his foot neatly wrapped in bandages, the Gunners midfielder took to social media to show his fans that his mind is still in the game. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsene Wenger: Jack Wilshere is out for three months . Jack Wilshere showed off his bandaged ankle as he recovered from Thursday's surgical procedure . On Thursday Wilshere posted a picture of his ankle in a cast after the operation and insisted he will return soon . Posting a picture on his Instagram on Friday, the England midfielder, who was injured in a challenge with Manchester United defender Patrick McNair, was laid up on a couch with his crutches at his side. Not wanting to miss a minute of the action, Wilshere wrote: 'Early morning catch up on @SkySportsNewsHQ.' The injury has led to Wilshere becoming the subject of criticism, with one media outlet saying he has 'brittle ankles.' The image Wilshere shared on his personal Instagram account showing Paddy McNair's challenge . Letting loose on his Instagram account once again, the Arsenal man showed an image of the challenge with Paddy McNair that led to his injury. 'As this picture clearly shows' most people/players would have broken their ankle if someone tackled them like this. 'Luckily I have 'loose joints', not brittle' and only damaged ligaments #Fool #GetTheFacts,' Wilshere finished. On Friday, Wenger said of the midfielder: ‘He’s prepared and focused to come back and finish the season well. 'I think he will be back at the end of February, beginning of March and he will focus on coming back to rehab, having a strong rehab, and then I’m sure he will help us to do well until the end of the season’ The midfielder posted a similar image after his last ankle surgery, on the other foot, in 2013 . Wilshere was injured during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday . Wenger does not believe the 22-year-old's persistent injury problems are a result of how he plays: ‘I think his injury is just a consequence of a tackle that is very bad but not malicious because I don’t think that McNair wanted to hurt Jack,’ added Wenger. ‘He has joints that are quite lax and he deals very well with kicks and tackles. This was too hard. When you see it again, I don’t think that anybody would have escaped without surgery in this tackle.’ Wenger confirmed that Wilshere is frustrated by another injury: 'He is very down. He is a football man who loves the game. On the other hand he is very strong as well and has learnt to deal with adversity from a very young age. The midfielder has been beset by injuries, and will have missed 119 weeks of football by the time he returns . VIDEO Arsenal handed double injury blow . ‘He always comes out stronger and when I spoke with him he is already determined, it is already in his mind the final sprint to the season. He is a very strong boy.’ Ahead of their trip to West Brom on Saturday, Wilshere's injury leaves Arsenal with three recognised senior midfielders — Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky. The Gunners will also be monitoring the fitness of captain Mikel Arteta (calf) and Yaya Sanogo (hamstring) following their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. Wilshere was injured by this tackle from Paddy McNair during last weekend's defeat by United . Wilshere was clearly in pain after the tackle and it is unlikely that he will be back for Arsenal before March . October 24 2009 - Ankle - until Dec 2 (5 1/2 weeks) Jan 8 2010 - Hamstring - until Feb 9 (4 1/2 weeks) November 14 2010 - Back - until Nov 23 (1 1/2 weeks) August 1 2011 - Ankle - until Oct 27 2012 (65 weeks) February 9 2013 - Hip - until Feb 16 (1 week - missed 0 games) March 3 2013 - Ankle - until April 13 (4 1/2 weeks) May 20 2013 - Ankle surgery - until July 4 (6 1/2 weeks) October 31 2013 - Ankle - until November 10 (1 1/2 weeks) Jan 24 2014 - Ankle - until Feb 8 (2 weeks) March 5 2014 - Ankle - until May 11 (9 weeks) October 26 2014 - Ankle/ilness - until Nov 9 (2 weeks) November 22 2014 - Ankle - Up to four months (16 weeks) Total: 119 weeks injured . Wishere's Arsenal and England team-mate Danny Welbeck consoles his colleague after the tackle .
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Jack Wilshere posted a picture whilst recovering from an ankle surgery .
The 22-year-old also responded to claims he has 'brittle ankles'
The Gunners star was injured in tackle with Paddy McNair on Saturday .
Wilshere will be out until at least February following an operation .
Arsenal midfielder has missed 119 weeks in total through injury .
Wilshere has only appeared in 95 league games in the past five years .
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Beijing (CNN) -- Chinese authorities Monday arrested dozens of demonstrators in Hohhot as protests spread to the provincial capital and other cities in Inner Mongolia despite tightened security and reports of martial law, activists told CNN. "Several hundred people, mostly students and ordinary Hohhot residents, gathered at Xinhua Square around 11 a.m. Monday, chanting slogans and holding signs demanding legal rights for the Mongolia people," said Enghebatu Togochog, director of the New York-based Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center. "Paramilitary troops dispersed the crowd after an hour and dozens were arrested." Sources in the city told him the protest turnout was much smaller than planned, Togochog said, as officials sealed local campuses and shut down social media. He added that, in addition to Hohhot, the government has also deployed paramilitary troops into Tongliao, Chifeng and other cities, putting more areas in Inner Mongolia under de facto martial law. Local officials continue to dispute activists' accounts, even as state-run media reported some conciliatory gestures by the government. "There was no protest in downtown Hohhot," Wen Fei, an official with Inner Mongolia's foreign affairs office, told CNN. "Everything is normal and there is no martial law." "All students are free to move around," echoed Ji Shugang, a spokesman for the government of Xilin Gol prefecture. "Journalists are welcome here, but you need to apply for permission first." Xilin Gol is the site of one of the largest protests last week, as an estimated 2,000 Mongolian students took to the streets to show solidarity with a Mongolian herder, who was struck and killed by a Chinese coal truck driver. In an unusual move, Inner Mongolia's Communist Party chief visited the Xilin Gol area Friday to meet with students and teachers, the Inner Mongolia Daily reported. Hu Chunhua said authorities had detained the suspects in the herder's death and promised swift punishment to those found responsible, according to the newspaper. The government has also sacked a top local official and pledged to better manage the mining industry to reduce its impact on herders' livelihood. The Beijing-based Global Times, a mass-circulating tabloid, ran an editorial Tuesday, calling some demands of "largely peaceful protesters" in Inner Mongolia "reasonable" while accusing Western media of exaggerating ethnic clashes in the region. Activists acknowledge officials' effort to calm tensions, but doubted their sincerity in resolving the dispute long term. They say the government's push in recent years to expand coal mining in areas traditionally used for grazing has threatened the very existence of Mongolian herders and their culture. "Officials just temporarily shut down a coal mine where the herder was killed," Togochog said. "Hu Chunhua still stated development must go on, so they won't halt coal mining and production in the area forever." The grassroots and peaceful nature of the Mongolian demonstrations has made it difficult for authorities to justify a harsh crackdown, he added, noting Beijing's more heavy-handed responses in the past to protests by Tibetans and Uighur Muslims. "By carrying out this non-violent movement, Mongolians are gaining confidence in people power, in its ability to demand changes," he said. The Chinese government has hailed Inner Mongolia as a "model autonomous region" with rapid economic growth -- spurred by the mining industry -- and ethnic harmony. With the recent unrest gaining international attention, Beijing is playing down the ethnic dimension. "Local authorities are trying to balance environmental protection and economic development," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu commented Tuesday on the herder's death. "Overseas parties who try to use this incident to stir up trouble have ulterior motives." Mongolians have lived in the area for centuries, but the Han Chinese -- who arrived in large numbers after the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 -- now make up almost 80 percent of Inner Mongolia's population.
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The protests move to other cities in Inner Mongolia .
"Troops dispersed the crowd after an hour and dozens were arrested," an activist says .
This follows protests last week .
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By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 10:24 EST, 14 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:49 EST, 14 June 2012 . Egypt's Supreme Court has ordered for the country's parliament to be dissolved after ruling that its election six months ago was unconstitutional. The country's top court said a third of the Islamist-dominated legislature was elected illegally and new elections will have to be held. In it's ruling, the court said that 'the makeup of the entire chamber is illegal and, consequently, it does not legally stand.' The Egyptian parliament has been ordered to be dissolved by the Supreme Court . There was a heavy military presence outside the court as judges announced that Ahmed Shafik could stand for presidential election run-off . The explanation was carried by Egypt's official news agency and confirmed to The Associated Press by one of the court's judges, Maher Sami Youssef. The ruling means that new elections for the entire parliament will have to be held. The law governing the parliamentary elections, held over a three-month period starting in November, was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court because it breached the principle of equality when it allowed party members to contest a third of seats set aside for independents. The remaining two thirds were contested by party slates. Hosni Mubarak's health has continued to decline since the former dictator was sentenced more than two weeks ago. Whe was jailed for life for failing to stop the killing of hundreds of demonstrators as his regime crumbled around him during last year's Arab Spring. Security officials said Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa, were by his side at the intensive care ward of Torah prison hospital, south of Cairo. Mubarak ruled Egypt for almost 30 years, but his authoritarian regime was overthrown in February last year after tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Cairo's Tahrir Square and elsewhere. Demonstrators returned to the square last week after Mubarak was jailed for life but cleared of corruption. In a separate ruling, the court said Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, could stay in the presidential race, rejecting a law passed by parliament last month that barred prominent figures from the old regime from running for office. Shafiq will go head-to-head on Saturday and Sunday in a runoff against Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's strongest political group. The ruling said the legislation was . not based on 'objective grounds' and 'constitutes a violation of the . principle of equality,' leading to discrimination on 'illogical . grounds.' The Brotherhood . stands to lose the most by the rulings since it controls just under half . of all seats in the legislature and is likely not to do as well in the . next election. Its . popularity has declined since the legislative election over its failure . to translate its parliamentary domination into real political power and . its perception as a power hungry group more preoccupied with its own . interests than national ones. The . legal wrangling adds to the suspense around an election that is . supposed to seal a transition to democracy after Mubarak was toppled in . an Arab Spring uprising last year, but has laid bare deep divisions over . how Egypt should be governed. The ruling means that new elections for the entire parliament will have to be held, six months after the first vote . Ahmed Shafiq, former prime minister under Hosni Mubarak, is a presidential candidate for the elections . The . law denying political rights to Mubarak's officials had prompted a . state election committee to disqualify Shafik from the presidential . race, but he was let back in on appeal, pending the court ruling. The . drama is emblematic of the tortuous and messy transition overseen by a . council of generals since Mubarak was ousted 16 months ago. A first-round presidential vote last . month pushed more moderate candidates out of the race and the choice now . facing 50 million eligible voters reflects a society torn between . desire for change after six decades of military rule and anxiety over . the damage wrought on Egypt by the subsequent political chaos. Unrest . has simmered on the streets of Egypt's cities throughout the period of . military rule, with opponents of the army calling for the removal of . 'feloul', or Mubarak-era remnants, from politics. The demand is far from . unanimous. 'Shafik is a . respectable man. We want him as president because we are not ready for . Egypt to return to the Dark Ages,' said Shafik supporter Sawsan Ali . Abdo. 'There is no such . thing as 'feloul'. We are all Egyptians. No to the plot seeking to . divide Egypt,' read one banner in the capital. Across the street, Shafik campaign posters were spray-painted red to obscure his face. It was deemed unconstitutional because it breached the principle of equality . Shafiq will go head-to-head on Saturday and Sunday in a runoff against Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's strongest political group . Hosni Mubarak, pictured as he was sentenced, was toppled in an Arab Spring uprising last year . Protests held in Cairo's Tahrir Square have become commonplace since the uprising last year .
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Ruling by country's top court means new elections will have to be held .
Separate ruling allows Mubarak's former PM to stand for presidential election .
Heavy police and military presence outside court for today's ruling .
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(CNN) -- Authorities searching for a missing Oregon boy are seeking information from the public on the child's stepmother. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office released a flier Friday with pictures of Terri Horman, who told investigators she last saw her stepson, Kyron Horman, 7, inside Skyline Elementary School in Portland on June 4. A form to be filled out and returned to the police by anyone who was at the school the day Kyron disappeared was attached to the flier. "At any time did you see Terri Horman at or near the school?" was among the questions in the form. Capt. Jason Gates issued the following statement Friday on the decision to request information on Kyron's stepmother: . "Detectives work in this case is exhaustive and they, along with Kyron's family, are asking for the community's assistance regarding anyone who saw not only Kyron, but also who may have seen Terri Horman and/or the truck she was driving that morning. Terri is the last person known to have seen him before he disappeared." In a brief phone interview with CNN, sheriff spokeswoman Lt. Mary Lindstrand said the focus of the investigation is not on Terri Horman. "We're looking for every bit of information that we can," Lindstrand said. "We are not in a position to name anybody a person of interest." The two-week-old case has been labeled a criminal investigation, involving one of the largest police search and rescue operations in state history. Kyron's family released a statement Friday urging the public to help bring him home. "It has been two weeks since our son, Kyron, disappeared," the family said. "For the last 14 days, we haven't been able to talk to him, see him playing around the house, or tuck him in bed. Any parent would understand the grief this has caused our family. "Father's Day is Sunday. For the first time in seven years, we will not have Kyron around to hug and talk to. It hurts us deeply and our hearts are broken," the statement reads. Kyron was wearing dark cargo pants and a black T-shirt with the "CSI" logo on it at the time of his disappearance. He is 3-foot-8, weighs 50 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
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Authorities searching for missing 7-year-old Kyron Horman .
Two-week-old case now labeled a criminal investigation .
Search is one of the largest in Oregon history .
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Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro admitted he had to think of his long-term future after pulling out of the Australian Open with a recurrence of a wrist injury. Del Potro returned from 10 months out of the game at the Sydney International earlier this week, but since bowing out in the quarter-finals to Mikhail Kukushkin has felt pain in his wrist. And the 26-year-old Argentinian, who won his sole grand slam title to date at Flushing Meadows in 2009, said he did not feel ready to play five-set matches in the first grand slam of the year in Melbourne. Juan Martin del Potro practiced in Melbourne ahead of the tournament but felt pain in his wrist . 'It's been hurting the last couple of days and weeks,' he said. 'Nothing new, nothing dangerous. But I think my wrist is not ready for play in this important tournament. 'I have to be smart. I'm looking forward to my future and my career. I'm still positive. I want to play tennis but I don't want to put my body and wrist at risk. 'I think it was a tough decision, but it could be a smart decision if I want to stay healthy and play for the whole year. I have to be smart and see more than my present now. I have to do what the doctor says. Del Potro announces his retirement from the Australian Open at a press conference . 'I really enjoyed playing tennis again in Sydney, winning a couple of matches. I didn't expect that for sure. But that's given me a little bit of motivation for getting through this pain again.' Del Potro said he would consult with his doctor before deciding when he might be able to compete again, adding: 'I want to stay calm a few days, then see the doctor, see what's going on with my plan.'
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Juan Martin del Potro has suffered a recurrence of his wrist injury .
Argentinian had missed the last 10 months due to injury .
Del Potro says he has taken to decision to withdraw so not to put his body at risk from a more serious injury .
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This could have been avoided. If Roy Hodgson had said he wanted to give Adam Lallana the chance to build on his eye-catching efforts against San Marino, we would have been none the wiser about Raheem Sterling’s fatigue. Every word the England manager says is scrutinised. I can see where Hodgson was coming from but an issue has been created that both men could have done without. Had Hodgson explained he wanted to use Sterling for an impact – which he had, by winning the decisive free-kick against Estonia – there would be no quarrel. Now, though, Sterling is in the spotlight and contending with questions such as ‘how can a 19-year-old be tired?’ but those who believe he has made a mistake saying he wasn’t in the right condition to play for England are not looking at the full picture. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Roy Hodgson reveal Raheem Sterling was too tired to start . England's Raheem Sterling looks quite relaxed on the substitutes' bench during the first half against Estonia . Jordan Henderson makes way for Sterling in the 64th minute in Tallinn as England went on to beat Estonia 1-0 . Sterling told England manager Roy Hodgson that he was not 100 per cent and that he was too tired to start . Of the players England used against Estonia, only Gary Cahill has played more minutes this season than Raheem Sterling . 1164 - Gary Cahill . 1079 - Raheem Sterling . 1064 - Jack Wilshere . 1035 - Jordan Henderson . 995 - Calum Chambers . 990 - Joe Hart . 990 - Leighton Baines . 919 - Phil Jagielka . 836 - Danny Welbeck . 758 - Wayne Rooney . 741 - Fabian Delph . 538 - Adam Lallana . It doesn’t matter whether you are 19 or 29, if you play nine games in a month, like Raheem did in September, it will leave a mark on you physically. So, in some respects, he has been brave to confront the issue and explain his concerns to Hodgson. Would I have ever done it? No. I feared if I missed a game, someone would come in and take my place. I also never wanted to give managers an excuse to leave me out, so there were times when I played in games I shouldn’t have done. Was it the right thing to do? No. Injuries are what I would mask but I remember a game at Bolton in September 2006 when I was shattered, having been to the World Cup in Germany. We lost 2-0, one of the goals came from a cross into the box. I tried to jump for a header but had nothing in my legs. Had I been right, I know I would have got my head to the ball first. As a central defender, you can find a way of getting through a game, you don’t have to operate at the rapier pace that Raheem moves with. His game is based around high intensity sprinting and he needs sharpness to go past opponents, with or without the ball. The England substitutes watch on as 19-year-old Sterling (second right) was rested from the starting line-up . 32 - Jagielka, Lambert . 29 - Baines . 28 - Rooney, Cahill . 27 - Hart . 26 - Lallana . 24 - Henderson, Delph . 23 - Welbeck . 22 - Wilshere . 21 - Oxlade-Chamberlain . 19 - Chambers, Sterling . We want Raheem to thrill us, to be an exciting figure for many years to come. We don’t want him to get to 25 and his best form be a thing of the past. If he is managed properly now and looks after himself, he won’t suffer burn out like another former Liverpool and England teenage prodigy. A few weeks ago, I spent some time with Sir Alex Ferguson. During our conversation, he remembered how, in 1997, Michael Owen and I had played at the Under-20 World Cup in Malaysia. Michael came back and went straight into Liverpool’s first team at the start of the season. By contrast, the United players in that England squad – Ronnie Wallwork and John Curtis – were both given a month off to recover but Michael was on a rapid upward curve and at the end of that campaign, he set the World Cup finals in France alight. Michael wanted to play in every game for club and country but, in October 1998, Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans – in their brief reign as Liverpool’s joint managers – decided to rest him for a UEFA Cup game against Valencia. Michael wasn’t happy and said in an interview “I’ll rest when I’m 40”. Former Liverpool and Englad striker Michael Owen wanted to play every game for club and country . Sterling told Hodgson he was feeling tired and not in the right mental state during training on Saturday evening . VIDEO Sterling defends England tiredness . That comment went down well with supporters and ex-players but was he right? No. Michael played far too much for Liverpool and England too early, never getting a summer off to recharge physically or mentally. Was it a coincidence that he suffered a serious hamstring injury in April 1999? Raheem is becoming like Michael, with stature and his pace and his importance to club and country at such an early stage of his career but there have been signs over the last few weeks that such a punishing spell is beginning to catch up with him. He may have only played two games at the World Cup but Sterling was training every day in stifling conditions, having just come off a season in which he had been a key figure in Liverpool’s title charge. After three weeks off, he then went to the USA for Liverpool’s pre-season tour. Don’t underestimate what an impact that schedule will have had on him, physically and mentally. Figures back that up. Between May 30, 2013 and October 13, 2013, Raheem had played 615 minutes of football. In the same period this year, that figure had shot up to 1682 minutes. Sterling may have only started two games at the 2014 World Cup but the England winger was in training daily . Sterling came on in the 64th minute but still received criticism from those on Twitter for his decision . Sterling, warming up during the first half, complained of feeling tired in training ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier . Hodgson and Brendan Rodgers will talk about how to handle him going forward but, naturally, they are going to want to use him when they can as he is a match-winner. That’s why he played against Middlesbrough in the League Cup. Liverpool’s poor start in the league meant Rodgers needed his quality. Liverpool could not have afforded to be on the end of a giant-killing that night, so the plan would have been to get the game won and get Sterling off early. As it was, things never went to plan and he subjected to 120 minutes. Since then, his performances have been notably lacking sparkle. Sterling retweeted those criticising him online before writing: 'Now listening to... Excuse me for being human' His importance at Anfield is vital and that is why, at the end of last season, Rodgers called him “the best young player in Europe”. He was dazzling in that spell but that was a spell when Liverpool were only playing one game a week. This is the first time he has played consistently in games of this pressure and will take some adjustment. But If he is become one of the top players in the world, he will ultimately have to get used to an unrelenting schedule.
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Raheem Sterling told Roy Hodgson he was too tired to start for England against Estonia on Sunday .
The Liverpool winger came on as a 64th-minute substitute in the 1-0 win .
Those saying he was wrong to pull himself out of the starting line-up are not thinking of the consequences .
Former Liverpool and England star Michael Owen wanted to play in every game for club and country, and he once said: 'I'll rest when I'm 40'
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When Amy Winehouse transformed the musical landscape with her classic albums Frank and Back To Black, a wave of talented homegrown divas emerged in her wake, with Adele, Duffy and Paloma Faith all becoming major stars. But her influence stretched beyond these shores, as Dutch singer Caro Emerald acknowledges. The 31-year-old from Amsterdam, with a Rubenesque figure and voice straight out of the Forties, is gaining a substantial following in this country, thanks to appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, Jools Holland and Children In Need. Forties chic: New fans for 'The Shocking Miss Caro Emerald' Last month, she sold out the Royal Albert Hall, and new dates have been added to her autumn tour. And a lot of the credit, she admits, should go to Amy. ‘She was my big inspiration,’ Caro says. ‘When she came along, there wasn’t much jazz or swing in the charts. But Amy sexed up the whole genre. ‘I discovered her while studying jazz at the Amsterdam Conservatory. I loved the old-school singers but also R&B, hip-hop and soul.’ Winehouse’s lead has given Caro impressive staying power, too. Her million-selling debut, Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor, this week returned to the UK Top 20, two years after its first chart run. Talent: Caro Emerald bombed out in an audition for Dutch TV talent show ¿Idol¿ and was making ends meet as a music teacher when she was discovered singing backup . But, as Caro explains, her recording . career began by accident. A struggling session singer in the Dutch . capital, she bombed out in an audition for Dutch TV talent show ‘Idol’ and was making ends meet as a music teacher when she was invited to sing . on a demo tape by Canadian songwriter Vince Degiorgio and two local . producers. Inspiration: Late singer Amy Winehouse . The song she performed, Back It Up, . was going to be offered to other artists, but her stunning vocals . changed all that. It became her first single and launched a partnership . with her team that is still intact. If . Emerald’s music is built around Forties big-band flourishes and . smouldering vocals, her image is also a quirky mix of old and new. Her voluptuous curves are draped in chic vintage clothes on her new album sleeve; sexy but strangely demure. ‘You can be sexy without throwing everything on the table,’ she insists. ‘I wouldn’t have wanted to live in the Forties, though. As a woman, I wouldn’t have the same rights as now. I’m a liberal Amsterdam girl, so I wouldn’t have been happy, but it’s nice to be nostalgic about the past.’ Caro’s new album pushes her music beyond the Hollywood theme of her debut. With its dramatic string sections recorded at Abbey Road, it harks back to the romance of Twenties Paris, with Black Valentine also nodding to Portishead. A stylish sequel, it should further enhance the status of a singer who was once dubbed the ‘Dutch Adele’. ‘Any comparison with Adele is a compliment, though I think my voice is different’ Caro tells me. ‘I’d love to have a beer with her one day.’ The Shocking Miss Emerald is out on May 6 on Dramatico. Caro Emerald’s UK tour starts on September 6 at Sheffield City Hall (gigsandtours.com)
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Dutch singer Caro Emerald credits her success to late Amy Winehouse .
Miss Emerald, 31, has sold out Royal Albert Hall and tours UK this autumn .
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By . Marie-louise Olson and Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 23:38 EST, 7 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:03 EST, 8 October 2013 . The 27-year-old zookeeper whose arm was torn off by a tiger has been pictured for the first time as she vowed to return to tending the big cats at the GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. In a statement read by controversial zoo owner Joe Schreibvogel at a press conference, Kelci Saffery said she broke park protocol by putting her hand into the tiger's cage instead of using a stick - effectively admitting it was her fault she lost her arm. Schreibvogel said Saffery is in good spirits and is hoping to make a swift recovery and return to work with the big cats. 'I broke protocol and stuck my hand in a cat cage instead of using the stick provided. The cat let go and pushed my arm back through the cage. This tiger was not aggressive towards me. I hope for a healthy recovery so I can return to work everyday with my tigers,' she said in a statement. Scroll down for video... Recovering: This is Kelci Saffrey, the 27-year-old zookeeper whose arm was torn off by a tiger. She has vowed to return to the park . Attack: An employee at the G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, was injured when she was attacked by a tiger at the park Saturday morning . Closed for a time: The zoo was expecting lots of visitors this weekend because of the cooler temperatures . According to KFOR, Saffery underwent surgery on her arm Monday morning and has lost only the tip of her ring finger. Doctors say she will remain in hospital for about two weeks. Her statement read: . 'I . Kelci Saffery release this statement to the press on October 5th. I . broke protocol and stuck my hand in a cat cage instead of using the . stick provided. The cat let go and pushed my arm back through the cage. This tiger was not aggressive towards me. I hope for a healthy recovery . so I can return to work everyday with my tigers.' 'Her fault': The park's owner, Joe Schreibvogel, said the employee violated safety protocol by placing her arm inside the tiger cage. She almost lost her arm in the incident on Saturday . Joe 'Exotic' Schreibvogel, said there was 'no other way of avoiding' incidents like today's other than 'handcuffing' his employees' hands behind their backs . Schreivogel said Saffery was an exemplary employee. 'She . was probably one of the best people I’ve ever worked with. Most . dedicated. You had to force her to take a day off,' Schreibvogel told . KFOR. The tiger attack occurred at the GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood at around 10am on Saturday. Joe Schreibvogel, told MailOnline hat the employee 'violated safety protocol' by placing her arm inside the tiger cage. He said there was 'no other way of avoiding this other than handcuffing my employees' hands behind their backs'. 'All I can do is train them and work with them as an employer. I can’t babysit them,' he said. 'I can't babysit them', says Schreibvogel about his employees . The eccentric Schreibvogel, who sometimes wears sparkly clothing as he poses with his wild beasts, told the Mail Online that the animal would not be put down because 'it was not the tiger's fault'. According to Schreibvogel, the employee had 'three comments' before she was air-lifted to OU Medical Center. 'She . said it was her fault, that she wanted to come back to work and asked . us not to release her name until she had spoken to her family,' he said. The park was closed after the incident but reopened only a few hours later. An update on the park's Facebook page said the woman was out of surgery and that her arm had been saved. ‘She . has a long road of repairs ahead of her but this is a miracle and . thanks for the prayers everyone,’ said the post on Saturday evening. The park's owner said the animal would not be put down because 'it was not the tiger's fault' Schreibvogel said he did not know why the employee put her hand into the cage with the tiger . This is not the first time the GW Exotic Animal Park has been at the centre of controversy, and the 54-acre park, which is located outside Oklahoma City, has had previous run-ins with regulators. GW . Exotic is licensed by the federal government because it's open to the . public - charging admission to come very close to what Schreibvogel . calls the largest 'refuge' for 'unwanted' animals in the world. The . park is home to nearly 170 big cats: lions, tigers, leopards, and about . 800 other animals, including camels, monkeys and exotic birds. He . also runs a controversial breeding programme, selling tiger cubs - only . to zoos, he says - for up to $5,000 each and, at the same time, . cross-breeding exotics like ‘ligers’, a cross between a lion and tiger, . and even what he calls a tuliger, a mix of a liger and a tiger, . according to CBS News. However, Schreibvogel admits he does not have a background in zoology or veterinary medicine. ‘I grew up a farm kid, and that's pretty much my background,’ he told CBS. Over . the years, GW Exotic has come under scrutiny by the U.S. Department of . Agriculture (USDA) for concerns ranging from 'public contact with . dangerous animals' to a 'lack of physical barriers'. The park is home to nearly 170 big cats: lions, tigers, leopards, and about 800 other animals, including camels, monkeys and exotic birds . Records show that, in 2006, it had its license suspended for two weeks and paid $25,000 for 'facilities violations'. It is currently under investigation by the USDA for the death of 23 tiger cubs between 2009-2010, according to CBS News. The Humane Society of the United States sent an activist undercover into GW Exotics in 2011, posing as an employee. The . video, which the Humane Society calls ‘alarming’, shows Schreibvogel . smacking a cub to make it walk and other tigers being hit and dragged . across gravel. In another incident on tape, a boy was suddenly attacked while interacting with a young tiger, and began screaming. They . say at least five tigers died at the facility during the investigation – . two of them had been sick for months and ‘may have been shot by GW . employees’, according to their website. The . society also says a number of visitors at the park have suffered bites . from tigers, including one child whose bite became infected. 'Dangerous': Critics of the park, such as the Humane Society of the United States, says several people have been bitten by tigers at the park. But Schreibvogel says it is not true . However, Schreibvogel says that they have 'never had an accident here at this facility'. 'I . most confident that our visitors here at the park are safe. We have . spent milions on building our cages to where our park is safe. No one . is allowed to go into a cage with an animal,' he told the Mail Online on Saturday evening. According to Schreibvogel, today's incident should 'not reflect on exotic animals or on any zoo being safe or not'. 'We don’t know why she stuck her arm into the tiger.' Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society, says GW Exotic is ‘a ticking time bomb’. According . to CBS News, Schreibvogel responded to the comment saying, ‘It is a . ticking time bomb - if somebody thinks they're going to walk in here and . take my animals away, it's going to be a small Waco.’ He . said: ‘I have poured my entire life into what I do, to care for . animals. Nobody is going to walk in here and freely shut me down and . take my rights away from me as long as I am not breaking the law.’ The owner says he has 'poured his life' into the park 'to care for animals' A . Waco-type tragedy in Zanesville, Ohio, in October 2011, saw the owner of an . animal park, Terry Thompson, release 56 dangerous animals into the wild . before committing suicide. Forty-eight . of his animals were eventually killed by authorities concerned over . public safety, pushing Ohio lawmakers to author a bill restricting . private ownership of exotic pets. The . Humane Society is currently urging the US Department of Agriculture to . adopt regulations banning public contact with dangerous wild animals no . matter the age of the animals. Current . regulations generally allow public contact with tiger cubs between the . ages of 8 and 12 weeks, and encourage the reckless over breeding of . tiger cubs and surplus of captive adult tigers. Baby cubs: Current regulations allow public contact only with tiger cubs up to the age of 12 weeks . The . HSUS is also urging Congress to pass H.R. 4122, the Big Cats and Public . Safety Protection Act to prohibit the private ownership and breeding of . tigers and other dangerous big cats. However, Schreibvogel says a ban would not stop accidents happening. 'You . can ban public contact with animals till the cows come home, but that . doesn’t mean it stops employees from breaking protocol,' he told the . Mail Online. According to Schreibvogel, the accident was 'not the zoo’s fault'. 'An . employee made a mistake and we’re paying for it. She was an excellent . employee, and she is more than welcome to have her job back.' He said it was 'next to impossible' to hire more staff members because it was 'hard work' being employed at the park. 'You come to work here to clean cages and scoop poop. This is not about cuddling with full grown tigers, and a lot of people think that it is.' 'We have a high turn over because this is very hard work,' he told the Mail Online. Schreibvogel . said he is planning to release a six-song country-western music album, . titled Joe Exotic – The Tiger King, with music videos, on November 15 to . ‘help fund tigers in the wild’. Schreibvogel says the accident was 'not the zoo's fault' and banning contact with wild animals was not the solution . The HSUS is also urging Congress to pass H.R. 4122, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act to prohibit the private ownership and breeding of tigers and other dangerous big cats . Stable condition: A female employee was mauled by an adult tiger on Saturday but survived the attack and did not lose her arm .
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The woman whose arm was mauled by a tiger GW Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma has been named as Kelci Saffery, 27 .
Saffery released a statement absolving the zoo of any wrongdoing .
Zoo owner Joe Schreibvogel read out the statement at a press conference Monday .
Saffery says she put her hand into the cage instead of using the stick provided .
Schreibvogel says Saffery is one of his top employees .
GW Exotic runs a controversial breeding program selling tiger cubs to zoos .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:28 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:38 EST, 30 November 2013 . A new cut of steak has been discovered hiding in an area of the cow that normally is used for chuck due to its fat, gristle and cartilage. Meat expert, Tony Mata, found the so-called Vegas Strip in the shoulder area of the animal which butchers and chefs usually turn their nose up at. He made his discovery after several years of trial and error and made his discovery by not following standard butchering procedures, such as following the seam on that particular piece of meat. Scroll down for video... Chuck no more: A new cut of steak, the 'Vegas Strip', has been discovered hiding in an area of the cow that is normally used for chuck . A real pro: Tony Mata, left, who has a PhD in meat science, has taught butchers how to cut the steak in 25 seconds flat . 'Pretty big deal': Rick Gresh, the executive chef at David Burke's Prime House in Chicago, said new cuts of steak are very important . Mata, who patented his procedure, has trained butchers to perform it in as little as 25 seconds, and they do so by trimming the bad from the good. It is the first time in 10 years a new steak has been invented. The last one was the flat-iron steak, which Mata also discovered. Rick Gresh, the executive chef at David Burke's Prime House in Chicago, said new cuts of steak are very important. ‘I think it's a pretty huge deal,’ he told CBS News. Mata, who has a PhD in meat science, says ‘there’s a diversity of eating experiences’ in the beef carcass. A little slice of heaven: Mata, who patented his procedure, has trained butchers to perform his procedure in as little as 25 seconds, by trimming the bad from the good . Et, voila! They new Vegas Strip steak is already a popular choice, according to chef Gresh . ‘I thought it was the coolest thing ever, and for me as a chef it really opened my eyes to look at all animals that way, and there's some great cuts out there that people don't know about,’ said Gresh. And the steak is already popular. The chef said when the Vegas Strip is on the menu as a special it does ‘quite well’, claiming he’s sold as many as 400 in one day. Other well-known cuts are the rib eye, tenderloin, the strip and the T-bone steak.
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Meat expert, Tony Mata, found the so-called Vegas Strip hiding in the fatty area of the cow that is normally used for chuck .
He has developed a method of slicing the meat from the cartilage and gristle in that area into a prime piece of steak .
Mata also discovered the flat-iron steak 10 years ago .
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(CNN) -- What harm does it do? That's the challenge the casino industry puts to its critics. A new report by the Institute for American Values presents the answer. Until the late 1980s, casino gambling was illegal almost everywhere in the country. Today, casinos are allowed in 23 states. These newly authorized casinos are not Las Vegas-style grand hotels. Their customers come from nearby. They don't stay overnight. They don't watch a show or eat in a fine restaurant. Perhaps most surprisingly: they don't play cards. Modern casino gambling is computer gambling. The typical casino gambler sits at a computer screen, enters a credit card and enters a digital environment carefully constructed to keep them playing until all their available money has been extracted. Small "wins" are administered at the most psychologically effective intervals, but the math is remorseless: the longer you play, the more you lose. The industry as a whole targets precisely those who can least afford to lose and earns most of its living from people for whom gambling has become an addiction. The IAV report cites a Canadian study that finds that the 75% of casino customers who play only occasionally provide only 4% of casino revenues. It's the problem gambler who keeps the casino in business. Slot machine payouts vary state by state. Some states set a required minimum: 83% in Arkansas, for example. Others leave that decision up to the casino, as in Georgia and California. Some states require casinos to disclose their payouts. In others, that information is kept confidential. Based on what is published, however, it's a fair generalization that a player can expect to lose 10% to 15% of his or her stake at every session. The cheaper the game, the lower the payout: slots that charge $5 per round pay better than slots that charge a penny. When New Jersey allowed casinos into Atlantic City back in 1977, casino advocates promised that gambling would revive the town's fading economy. The casinos did create jobs as promised. But merchants who expected foot traffic to return to the city's main street, Atlantic Avenue, were sorely disappointed. The money that comes to the casinos, stays in the casinos. Liquor stores and cash-for-gold outlets now line the city's once-premier retail strip. The impact of casinos on local property values is "unambiguously" negative, according to the National Association of Realtors. Casinos do not revive local economies. They act as parasites upon them. Communities located within 10 miles of a casino exhibit double the rate of problem gambling. Unsurprisingly, such communities also suffer higher rates of home foreclosure and other forms of economic distress and domestic violence. The Institute for American Values is sometimes described as a socially conservative group, but with important caveats. Its president, David Blankenhorn, has publicly endorsed same-sex marriage, and its board of directors is chaired by Bill Galston, a former policy adviser to Bill Clinton. The IAV is as worried that casinos aggravate income inequality as by their negative impact on family stability. Before the spread of casino gambling, the IAV comments, the typical gambler was more affluent than average: it cost money to travel to Las Vegas. That's no longer true. Low-income workers and retirees provide the bulk of the customers for the modern casino industry. And because that industry becomes an important source of government revenue, the decision to allow casino gambling is a decision to shift the cost of government from the richer to the poorer, and, within the poor, to a subset of vulnerable people with addiction problems. From the IAV study: . "Modern slot machines are highly addictive because they get into people's heads as well as their wallets. They engineer the psychological experience of being in the 'zone' - a trance-like state that numbs feeling and blots out time/space. For some heavy players, the goals is not winning money. It's staying in the zone. To maintain this intensely desirable state, players prolong their time on the machine until they run out of money - a phenomenon that people in the industry call 'playing to extinction.'" How heavily does gambling weigh upon the poor, the elderly, the less educated, and the psychologically vulnerable? It's difficult to answer exactly, because U.S. governments have shirked the job of studying the effects of gambling. Most research on the public health effects of gambling in the United States is funded by the industry itself, with a careful eye to exonerating itself from blame. To obtain independent results, the Institute for American Values was obliged, ironically, to rely on studies funded by governments in Britain and Canada. But here's what we can conclude, in the words of the Institute: . "[S]tate-sponsored casino gambling ... parallels the separate and unequal life patterns in education, marriage, work, and play that increasingly divide America into haves and have-nots. Those in the upper ranks of the income distribution rarely, if ever, make it a weekly habit to gamble at the local casino. Those in the lower ranks of the income distribution often do. Those in the upper ranks rarely, if ever, contribute a large share of their income to the state's take of casino revenues. Those in the lower ranks do." Is this really OK? Are Americans content to allow the growth of an industry that consciously exploits the predictable weakness of the most vulnerable people? 27 states still say "no." If yours is one such state, fight to keep it that way. If not, it's never too late to find a better way. Read the full Institute for American Values study for yourself and see how much is, quite literally, at sake. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum.
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David Frum says a new report makes clear the damage casinos do .
He says they extract earnings from Americans least able to afford it .
Casinos are bad for property values, don't revive troubled neighborhoods, he says .
Frum: Government benefits from taxes on casinos and officials don't question the harm .
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(CNN) -- Navigating a narrow channel through the reef, our Zodiacs slide onto a crushed coral beach and we scramble onto Mature-vavao, an uninhabited atoll at the eastern edge of French Polynesia. It's a gorgeous little island, shaded by thousands of coconut palms and encircled by bands of water that run a dozen different shades of blue. Expedition leader Jack Grove thinks this might be the first time a cruise ship has ever visited the island and there's a good chance nobody has set foot on the atoll in 30 years. The landing party turns left along the shore. But I blaze my own path straight ahead to the lagoon that dominates the middle of the island. Boobies, terns and other seabirds pay me scant attention. Most have probably never seen a person. Wading into the lagoon to cool off and spy on the tropical fish, I'm overcome by the sense I'm one of the few people who has ever set foot on this small patch of planet Earth. It's as close as I'll ever come to the emotion that Neil Armstrong must have felt when he first set foot on the moon, or the rush that mariners like Magellan and Cook no doubt got when they came across terra incognita. Discovering the remote . But that's what this cruise is all about. A three-week journey between Easter Island and Tahiti, it calls on some of the world's most remote and least-visited islands. Organized by Seattle-based Zegrahm Expeditions, the voyage includes gourmet cuisine, top-notch lecturers and a bartender who can make even the most obscure cocktails. But the real reason that 60-odd passengers have paid five figures for this cruise is geographical bragging rights -- a chance to boast to friends and colleagues back home that you've hobnobbed with Fletcher Christian's kinfolk on Pitcairn, explored ancient Polynesian cave dwellings on Henderson Island and frolicked with manta rays off Hiva Oa before visiting Paul Gauguin's grave on the same secluded island. You know a cruise is something special when your fellow passengers include renowned marine archeologist Jim Delgado and best-selling author and shipwreck detective Clive Cussler. Even for men like these, with all the adventures already under their belts, the voyage is unique. We're three days out from Easter Island before land is spotted again -- uninhabited Ducie Island, a small atoll in what really is the middle of nowhere. Tumbling into the water, I explore the reef with Jack Grove, one of Zegrahm's founders and a veteran marine biologist. Grove wants to show us something he found 25 years ago -- three rusty anchors -- all that remains of the mail ship "Acadia," which ran aground on Ducie in 1881. An incredible array of sea life floats around the wreck -- Moorish idols, butterflies, turquoise parrots and white tip reef sharks that warily watch us from afar. Island stops . The following day we land on Henderson Island, an uplifted coral block that resembles a huge white table that's emerged from the ocean. Other than odd geology, the island's claim to fame is the real-life "Moby-Dick." When the American whaler "Essex" was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in 1820, this is where the survivors took refuge. (No, their captain wasn't named Ahab.) But those shipwrecked whalers weren't the first residents. I follow expedition anthropologist Campbell up a cliff face and into a cave where there's evidence of long-ago human occupation -- a fire pit and stone scraping tool. "We don't know for sure," says Campbell, "because nobody was around to record their history, but we think a small Polynesian colony existed here more than 500 years ago." Pitcairn is the first populated island we come across in nearly a week. And it's just barely inhabited -- roughly 50 people, nearly all of them related to Fletcher Christian and other "Bounty" mutineers. It's a strange little corner of the British Empire, with a long and sometimes dark history. The only way to land on Pitcairn is literally surfing 12-foot waves into the tiny, jetty-enclosed harbor. From there it's an uphill climb to Adamstown, the only settlement, where the residents greet us with a fish-and-chips lunch, cold beer and open-air craft stalls hawking Pitcairn flags, postage stamps, organic honey and "Bounty" replicas -- one of the islanders' only means of making foreign exchange. One of those I meet at lunch is seventh generation Pitcairn resident Andrew Christian, who invites me to hop on the back of his ATV for a spin around the steep volcanic isle. Covered in tattoos and body piercings, he seems every bit as roguish as his mutinous ancestor. Like most everyone on the island, Christian is a jack of several trades: DJ and photographer, government warehouse supervisor and cemetery caretaker, black pearl jewelry artist and website creator. His mountaintop home looks out over the vast Pacific, both an inspiring view and a constant reminder of how isolated Pitcairn remains even in the 21st century. Spear throwing and octopi . From Pitcairn we sail north towards the Marquesas Islands, calling on several isolated atolls along the eastern edge of French Polynesia. The residents of Puka Rua entertain us with a spear-throwing contest and a demonstration of barehanded octopus fishing. In the tiny Catholic church on Puka Puka -- the first island that Magellan spotted on his trans-Pacific passage -- local Jim Galindo spontaneously bursts into a Latin hymn he remembers from his choir boy days. The fabled Marquesas finally come into view near the end of our second week at sea. Like something out of "King Kong," towering volcanic pillars and jungle-shrouded cliffs mark the entrance to the Bay of Virgins on Fatu Hiva island. Rising behind the shore are cloud-shrouded heights that look as if they just might harbor giant apes or some other mystical creature. But the most menacing thing we encounter hiking into the Fatu Hiva highlands is a pond full of spotted, foot-long eels. Grove tries to catch one with his bare hands, but they're far too slippery. Further up the trail we come across the remains of three old marae -- shrines made from dark volcanic stones and now almost hidden by the jungle. This spot was somehow sacred to the ancient Polynesians who built these temples. Perhaps they thought their gods lived up here or maybe it was the splendid isolation. We explore even higher, bushwhacking our way with machetes to the base of a colossal cliff laced with veil-thin waterfalls. Nearby is a natural rock pool that offers liquid relief from the sweaty uphill climb. Nobody, not even Grove, has been here before or even knew it existed. Lying on my back in the water, staring up at the misty volcanic peaks, I find myself wondering yet again how many human beings have ever been here. Zegrahm Expeditions offers its Easter Island-Tahiti cruise once per year, with rates from $11,970 per person. Joe Yogerst is a freelance travel, business and entertainment writer based in California.
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Three-week journey from Easter Island to Tahiti stops at remote French Polynesian islands .
Henderson Island's claim to fame is the real-life "Moby-Dick"
The only way to land on Pitcairn is to surf 12-foot waves into the tiny, jetty-enclosed harbor .
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(CNN) -- Gone are the days of the grainy camera phone images with the resolution of a poor imitation Monet. Today's smartphone cameras are so advanced that mobile photography is becoming an art form in its own right, turning photo-sharing apps like Instagram into portable galleries for amateur photographers, and professionals like street style photographer Tommy Ton and chief official White House photographer Pete Souza. "You have the dark room in your pocket," says Pierre Le Govic, the Paris-based founder of Out of the Phone, the world's first publishing house dedicated to mobile photography. This month, Out of the Phone follows its debut publication, last year's book of mobile photos from two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer Richard Koci Hernandez, with Out of the Phone: The Mobile Photo Book 2014, a diverse selection of 100 Instagram images taken by users from 25 countries. Democratizing photography . Before founding Out of the Phone in 2013, Le Govic ran a fine art photography printing company that counted Daido Moriyama and William Eggleston as clients. He first started following mobile photography on Instagram in 2011, and was surprised and impressed by the quality of work that hobbyists were creating. "Now there are many well known photographers who use the platform, but at the very beginning, there were many people who didn't know so much about photography, and these were the kind of people that I wanted to showcase," he says. "But on the other hand, it was also something confusing because there are too many images." The desire to curate what he was seeing, coupled with a longtime ambition to create books, led him to give publishing a try. While Le Govic had preselected a number of established photographers to feature in this year's inaugural anthology (he's hoping it will become an annual publication), he also gave Instagram users the chance to put themselves up for consideration, using the hashtag #outofthephone to nominate their best works. He was astounded to receive over 20,000 submissions. What was he looking for in a successful entry? Technical skill was understandably important, but Le Govic says he also sought something less tangible. "At the end, what is important is the story and the sensibility of the photographer ... It's a mix between a good story, a good composition," he says. "Photography, for me, is a sort of fresh air, a way to look at things differently. So I'm looking for that sort of feeling when I look at pictures." Preserving "moments of grace" Now that The Mobile Photo Book has been published, Le Govic is looking forward to promoting his concept and expanding. He's looking to start hiring in the New Year (so far, it's been a one-man operation), and solicit investors and partners. Several projects are set for release next year, including books from award-winning documentary photographer Benjamin Lowy, and other photographers he believes are using the medium to its fullest. "Some images deserve to get to paper because it's a kind of memory," he says. "If I can help to keep memory of interesting moments, some moments of grace perhaps...I think it's interesting to fix them on paper and to alert to people not to forget them." Out of the Phone: The Mobile Photo Book 2014 is available for purchase online. Unseen pictures of the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd . Supercar Shangri-La: Full throttle through Italy's 'Motor Valley' This aerial photographer captures the eerie geometry of life . A peek inside Europe's most prestigious photography festival .
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Out of the Phone is the first publisher to focus on mobile photography exclusively .
A new anthology highlights 100 of the best Instagram pictures of 2014 .
Founder Pierre Le Govic aims to showcase both amateur and professional photographers .
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(CNN) -- Severe weather turned deadly Wednesday night in north Texas. Officials say at least 10 tornadoes touched down, leaving at least six people dead and more than 100 injured in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you are looking for missing loved ones, you can call 817-579-2888 to get info from Lake Granbury Hospital. One of the hardest hit areas was a community of homes built by Habitat for Humanity in Granbury, Texas. Most of the 110 homes in that neighborhood are completely destroyed. This is a community that will need help to recover from this devastation. The Hood County Sheriff's Office urges people wishing to volunteer to report to the First United Methodist Church, 301 Loop 567 in Granbury. Several groups are in Hood County getting the effort started. The Red Cross . The Red Cross is on the scene and providing shelter for those who need it. It has opened two shelters in Hood County and you can find their locations here. The Red Cross is not collecting items but encourages monetary donations at this time. You can use the Red Cross' Safe and Well site to alert your loved ones that you are safe or if you are concerned about someone you can't reach. The Salvation Army . The Salvation Army went into action Wednesday night, deploying three Disaster Canteen mobile kitchens to the area, with two more on standby. These canteens provide food as well as emotional and spiritual support for the residents and first responders affected by the storm. The Humane Society of North Texas . When homes are lost, families are displaced, including pets. And when there are only moments to get to safety, pets can become separated from their owners in the chaos. The Humane Society of North Texas is bringing a trailer to the area to help with animal control and displaced animals. Habitat for Humanity . Many of these homes were built by Habitat for Humanity and the Dallas chapter has vowed to stand by the families of Grandbury. They are assessing the damage and will respond accordingly when needs are determined. In the meantime they will welcome and encourage donations on behalf of the rebuilding effort and will have volunteer opportunities listed on their site soon.
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Tornadoes leave at least six dead, more than 100 injured in Dallas-Fort Worth area .
The Red Cross currently has two shelters open for those in need .
The Salvation Army is on the scene providing food and spiritual support .
Humane Society is helping with animal control and displaced animals .
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Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama on Thursday said he wants the people of France to know the United States "stands with you today, stands with you tomorrow" in the wake of this week's terror attacks. He made the remarks during an appearance in Knoxville, Tenn. to announce a new higher education initiative. Obama told the audience in Knoxville "we stand for freedom, and hope, and dignity of all human beings," adding, "that's what Paris stands for." "That spirit will endure forever," he added, "long after terrorism is banished from this world." His comments follow a tumultuous few days for France, where two hostage situations and a shooting at a French satirical paper erupted in two days, resulting in numerous deaths. Obama made a visit to the French Embassy on Thursday to offer his condolences following Wednesday's attack by three gunment on journalists at Charlie Hebdo, which resulted in 12 deaths. The Charlie Hebdo attack: What we know and don't know . He signed a book of condolences for the victims of the attack shortly after returning from a trip to Arizona for a speech previewing his State of the Union address. "On behalf of all Americans, I extend our deepest sympathy and solidarity to the people of France following the terrible terrorist attack in Paris," the President wrote. "As allies across the centuries, we stand united with our French brothers to ensure that justice is done and our way of life is defended. We go forward together knowing that terror is no match for freedom and ideals we stand for -- ideals that light the world. Vive la France!" Obama also met with the French Ambassador, Gérard Araud, who called the visit "a moving and highly significant gesture" in a tweet. "The French are grateful," the ambassador said. Obama on Wednesday vowed to "hunt down" the perpetrators of the "cowardly, evil attacks," and the United States is supporting the French government in its investigation into the attack. On his flight back from Arizona, the President spoke with his national security team about the latest developments.
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President Barack Obama says America "stands with" France following the terrorist attacks this week .
He offered America's "deepest sympathy and solidarity" to the country .
The U.S. government is supporting the French government in its investigation .
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By . Associated Press . Three people were killed and three deputies injured in a shootout after a domestic dispute at North Carolina mobile home park Wednesday, law enforcement officials said. Deputies were called to the Crystal Springs Mobile Home Park southwest of downtown Fayetteville for the dispute between a grandfather and a grandson about 7 a.m., Cumberland County Sheriff Moose Butler told local media outlets. There, he said, gunfire was exchanged with one person, who was among the three killed. Shots were fired while deputies were inside the home. Deputies did not immediately say whether the other people died in the domestic dispute or in the shootout. Tragic gunfire: People comfort each other after a shooting in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Wednesday, July 30, 2014, that killed three . Though police spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said the suspected shooter ran from the home and was apprehended after being shot by a nearby street. According to the newspaper, the suspect was firing an assault rifle from a wooded area off Saltwood Road. Jermarl Eppes, 30, lives across from where the shooting occurred and told The Fayetteville Observer he heard two shots and looked out the window and saw a man with a gun. 'I watched him unload his gun,' Eppes said. 'It was like a movie. It was pretty scary.' Another neighbor, Danny McGirt, said he heard the gunshots from his home. 'It sounded like somebody was banging on the door, and then I said "Hell no, that's gunshots,"' he said. Scene: Law enforcement officers look over a highway patrol vehicle that had its window shot out in Fayetteville when a domestic dispute erupted into a gun battle with deputies . The names of those involved have not been released and the nature of the dispute isn't clear. One of the injured deputies underwent surgery for gunshot wounds and was in stable condition, Butler said. A second was treated at the scene for a grazing wound. There were no details about the injury to the third officer. It was unclear whether anyone was in custody. A spokeswoman for the sheriff's department did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. The State Bureau of Investigation was at the scene, standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. Members of a forensics team were in the nearby woods looking for evidence.
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Deputies were called to the Crystal Springs Mobile Home Park southwest of downtown Fayetteville for the dispute between a grandfather and a grandson about 7 a.m.
There, authorities said, gunfire was exchanged with one person, who was among the three killed .
Deputies did not immediately say whether the other people died in the domestic dispute or in the shootout .
Three officers were injured in the gunfire exchange .
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By . Andrew Levy . Tragic: Christian Smith, 38, was killed instantly when he was hit by a suspected drink-driver hours into a 248-mile charity cycle ride . Donations were flooding in last night for a cyclist who was killed by a suspected drink driver during a 24-hour charity ride. Christian Smith, 38, had almost completed the 248-mile trip through Kent and Sussex when he was hit by the car. The married father of three was declared dead at the scene by paramedics early on Saturday. Mr Smith was aiming to raise £1,000 for mental health charity Mind. But by 1.30pm yesterday £1,455 had been donated by 50 people. And as news of the tragedy spread, hundreds more visited his JustGiving donations website. Just two hours later the total had soared to £13,533 from 860 people. Further gifts continued to roll in from generous members of the public, with the total reaching £20,000 before 6pm and £30,000 by 8.30pm. One £1,000 donation came from a stranger who gave his name as James. He wrote: ‘We haven’t met. Like many others, I was very moved by your story. May you rest in peace brother. My deepest sympathies go out to your family, loved ones and friends.’ Mr Smith set off on his ‘Kent Epic’ challenge on Friday and was hit by a blue Peugeot 206 near Chestfield, Whitstable, at 4am the following morning. He is understood to have been less than two hours from home. An 18-year-old woman from Herne Bay was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and causing death by dangerous driving. She has been bailed until July 26. On his JustGiving page, Mr Smith, who was married to Katie, 40, said he wanted to support Mind to help end the stigma attached to mental health problems. Donations: Friends have given thousands of pounds to charity in Mr Smith's memory . He wrote: ‘I have had my own . misfortune to suffer from a spate of poor mental health which was . unexpected and has been a real “game changer” in how I now view the . future. It has been a tough road to get to this point but I have been . fortunate enough to have the support of my family and friends. ‘There . are those who are not so fortunate to have the same level of support . and understanding. They suffer in silence and are alone.’ Mr . Smith, from Boughton Aluph, Kent, planned to celebrate completing the . challenge by having drinks with friends next Saturday. He would have . turned 39 tomorrow. On his . online LinkedIn business profile he said he had worked as an operations . manager for a funeral director until December and was now ‘looking for a . new challenge’. His family . said in a statement: ‘Christian Smith was killed in the early hours of . Saturday morning while cycling to raise money for Mind. Christian leaves . a loving wife and three children.’ Mind chief executive Paul Farmer said: ‘We were shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Christian Smith. ‘Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.’ PC . Jamie Woodhams, of the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation . Unit, said: ‘We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward. In particular we would like to speak to anybody who saw the Peugeot . travelling along the road prior to the collision.’ The . public response is similar to when 30-year-old hairdresser Claire . Squires died during the London Marathon in 2012. She had hoped to raise . £500 for Samaritans, but news of her death sent the total soaring to . £1.2million. To donate, visit Mr Smith’s fundraising website by going to: www.justgiving.com/KentEpic . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Christian Smith, 38, aimed to cycle 248 miles around Kent and Sussex .
Set off on Friday, hit at 4am on Saturday near Chestfield, killed instantly .
Driver arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and bailed until July 26 .
Wellwishers donate £40,000 to charity Mind in memory of the cyclist .
Christian's last message on his charity page invited friends for birthday drinks next Friday 'if I'm still alive by then'
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The aunt of a missing 15-year-old schoolgirl who is thought to have been radicalised online before travelling to Syria says powerful jihadists are 'brainwashing' British teenagers through the internet. Sucdi Ali said her family are 'heartbroken' over suggestions schoolgirl Yusra Hussien may have become a 'jihadi bride' after she secretly left her Bristol home more than two weeks ago. She believes the teenager, who visited her in London over the summer, was radicalised online after spending increasing amounts of time on her laptop and smart phone and begged her to come home. Scroll down for video . Yusra Hussien, 15, may have become a 'jihadi bride' after she secretly left her Bristol home and fled to Syria more than two weeks ago . 'If she is in Syria, for her to become a thing, they say, Jihadi bride - if that is the thing Yusra did then internet grooming is definitely the case because where would this come from,' Ms Ali said. 'We don't want her to go to Syria and marry some unknown man, God knows who he is or what kind of guy he is or what kind of crime he's done or God knows what's in his head. It didn't come from us, where did it come from? 'We have to be all scared. If these powerful people are out there and they can brainwash these children or 15 or 19-year-olds to leave their own home then they are very powerful people. 'There will be more girls and boys leaving Britain or any other European country.' Her aunt Sucdi Ali (left) said she believed the teenager was radicalised online after, pictured with mother Safiya Hussien, and Ikram Mohamed . Family believe she was groomed by powerful jihadists online after spending increasing amounts of time on her laptop and smart phone . On the day of her disappearance she told her family she was leaving early for a school trip but was not seen again. 'If it can happen to Yusra it can happen to anyone,' Ms Ali said. 'She was just a normal, young girl. She was a home girl. 'There was no anger, no frustration, no 'why is Syria going through this, why is this happening in Gaza?' We had no idea.' Friends of Yusra claim to have spoken with her over the last few days via Facebook messages in which she said is 'safe and happy in her new life' but refused to say where she was. Yusra, who is of Somali descent, is thought to have met up with 17-year-old girl Abdirashiid Dirie from London and headed to Turkey, where police believe they attempted to cross the border into the neighbouring war-torn state. British authorities have expressed increasing concerns about hundreds of UK-born would-be jihadis who have gone to join Islamist forces in the Middle Eastern state. Ms Ali added: 'We want her to know she hasn't done anything wrong. Wherever she is we love her still. 'She's not in any trouble. She won't be arrested. We just want her to come back to the UK.' Her mother begged for her safe return after it was claimed that Yusra could have made contact with a dating site called Jihad Matchmaker. The Daily Mirror was told counter-terrorism officers believe she may have made contact with a Twitter account in the same name, which urges followers to 'picture all the little Mujahideen running around', a number of weeks ago.
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Yusra Hussien, 15, may have become a 'jihadi bride' after travelling to Syria .
Her aunt Sucdi Ali believes she was radicalised online by powerful jihadists .
Family noticed she was spending more time on laptop and smart phone .
Yusra and girl, 17, from London flew to Turkey 'to join extremists'
Friends say they have spoken with her and said she is 'safe and happy'
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1434798ed94e811cdeccfe63ac4a26f275b42c15
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(CNN) -- Germany captain Michael Ballack will miss the World Cup after he picked up an ankle injury during Chelsea's FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth at Wembley. The 33-year-old sustained ligament damage in a strong tackle from Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng that forced him to hobble off before half-time in a game that Chelsea won 1-0. A scan in Munich revealed the extent of Ballack's injury, which will rule him out for up to two months, according to the German Football Association. In a recent interview with CNN Ballack spoke of his excitement at leading his country to the World Cup, but he acknowledged it would be his last appearance at the tournament. Now he will be forced to watch from the sidelines as Germany open their bid for the trophy with a game against Australia on June 13. Ironically, Boateng may be representing Ghana at the finals, who are also in Germany's group. Ballack has 98 caps for Germany and made 36 appearances for Chelsea this season. A statement on the German Football Association's Web site read: "German captain Michael Ballack will not be able to play at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This is the result of a magnetic resonance imaging, which was performed this Monday in Munich. "The tomography showed a rupture of the cruciate ligament and a partial rupture of the syndesmosis at his right ankle, which will be immobilized in a cast. Ballack will then wear a specially designed shoe for two weeks. "German team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt said, that according to today's diagnosis, Ballack can look for a complete recovery, but that it should require a minimum of eight weeks before a possible re-entry into regular practice sessions."
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Michael Ballack has been ruled out of the World Cup through injury .
Ballack sustained ankle ligament damage playing for Chelsea in the FA Cup final .
German doctors say Ballack will be out of action for up to two months .
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A 56-year-old woman and her five-year-old grandson miraculously emerged with minor injuries from a car accident after they were both run over on Tuesday in Anapolis in the state of Goias, Brazil. A split second after the accident happens, the youngster gets up and walks over to his grandmother, who is lying on the floor, as if nothing has happened. Both are already home after the accident after being discharged from hospital suffering from minor injuries. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras, which show the moment Vilma do Nascimento and João Pedro Nascimento were hit when a runaway car collided with a stationery vehicle pushing it into their path. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . The car rolls right over the 5-year-old's head . The accident happened as the pair walked up an Anapolis street . The footage shows two people walking side by side in the road, just yards from the pavement. Up ahead, a car approaching the crossroads at speed from a road on the left of the screen crashes into another as it crosses the junction. Despite the efforts of the second car to swerve out of the way, the vehicle coming from the left fails to stop. The impact sends the car careering down the road where it collides with a stationery white car. Seeing the split-second accident unfold just metres in front of them, the grandmother grabs her grandson’s hand and rushes quickly towards the pavement in an attempt to avoid the car, which is hurtling towards them out of control. The white car barrels into Mrs Nascimento and João . The shocking footage shows how in a split second the pair were mown down . Miraculously the boy jumps straight back up and immediately goes to his grandmother's aid . But before they can reach safety the speeding car collides with the parked car shoving it into a reversed curved spin onto the pavement where it slams into the pair. The stationery car has been hit so hard, it races backwards only coming to rest seconds later after it has rolled over the victims twice – the body and head of the child and the legs and back of the women. Even as the accident is happening, the five-year-old manages to raise his head as he looks up to see where his grandmother has fallen – the lower half of his body is already under the car. A fraction of a second later the front wheel of the car rolls over the child’s head continuing over the grandmother’s back as she lays flattened on the floor by the impact. ‘I saw that the car run over him and come towards me. I thought my grandson’s skull had been crushed,’ Mrs Nascimento said in an interview with TV Anhanguera. But within seconds of it happening the youngster stands up making what appears to be an amazing recovery and walks over to his grandmother as if nothing has happened. The child later told reporters that he was more concerned about his grandmother than himself. ‘I thought my grandma had broken her spine and other things,’ he said. A passer-by who rushes to help the victims looks totally bewildered by what has just occured. ‘It was so quick. I tried to run to the sidewalk but unfortunately the stationary car hit us. It was a miracle we survived,’ the grandmother said. ‘I’m sure God’s hand protected us. João doesn’t even look like he’s been hit at all,’ she added showing off the bruises to her grandson’s face. Both are already home from hospital after undergoing a series of examinations. João was discharged on the same evening after the accident with minor abrasions to the right side of his face, chin and ear, and his grandmother was released Wednesday morning suffering from cuts and bruises to her legs and head. ‘The doctors said Joao’s injuries are just superficial. I’m not walking properly just yet but I have no fractures,’ Mrs Nascimento revealed. ‘It’s just amazing. João is already back playing with his friends and everyone is celebrating our survival.’ The drivers involved in the accident have both complained about the lack of signaling at the junction. The motorist who caused the accident denied speeding towards the intersection but admitted a degree of guilt. ‘I wasn’t paying attention as I approached the junction at the time but I don’t believe I was speeding,’ said Henrique Araújo, a sales representative. The other driver, João Birajara Camargo, also a salesman said: ‘I believe it was my right of way but I would have been able to avoid the accident if he hadn’t been speeding. I think he must have been doing at least 40kmph before he hit me.’ Anapolis local authority said it would be installing traffic lights before the end of the week.
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Vilma do Nascimento and João Pedro Nascimento were hit by a runaway car .
They were walking in Anapolis when two cars collided in front of them .
The collision sent a stationary car careering into them at high speed .
CCTV cameras positioned above filmed the car rolling over the pair .
The boy jumps up in a flash and goes straight to his grandmother's side .
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By . Thomas Burrows for MailOnline . Cameraman Huw Walters allegedly forged his wife's signature to pay off £59,000 in debts. He denies three counts of fraud at Cardiff Crown Court . An award-winning cameraman forged his wife's signature to pay off £59,000 in debts, before divorcing her, a court heard. Huw Talfryn Walters, 50, allegedly spent the money on buying expensive camera and photographic equipment. But the court heard the freelance cameraman kept his spiralling money problems secret from his wife, Helen Bowen. The case was brought before a new jury after the original jury failed to reach a majority verdict in March this year. Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday how Walters forged Miss Bowen's signature three times to take £59,000 from their joint mortgage on their marital home in Rhiwbina, Cardiff. During one application, he wrote: 'We need these funds urgently, so your speed in these matters would be welcome.' He then ended their 14-year marriage after telling his wife he needed to put their house up for sale. Walters allegedly told Miss Bowers: 'I'm divorcing you because if I don't I'm going to go bankrupt.' Prosecutor John Davies said: 'Miss Bowen made a career change around 2005 and after that left the mortgage and bills to her husband who she trusted. 'They separated in December 2011 and not long after that she became aware the mortgage had increased without her agreement. 'She contacted the bank to obtain copies of the three withdrawals which increased the size of the mortgage by £59,000. 'She realised the signatures on them didn't belong to her - they were written by her husband without her knowledge while they still lived together.' Freelance cameraman Walters has worked on programmes including the BBC Proms, Doctor Who and Channel 4's history show Time Team. He has won two Welsh Baftas for his cinematography and camera work in recent years. The court heard Walters spent thousands of pounds on expensive camera equipment. Mr . Davies told the jury: 'A total of £59,000 was acquired using the fake . signature of his then wife. He entered each signature having not . consulted her or asked to consent.' Scroll down for video . Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard how Walters forged Miss Bowen's signature three times to take £59,000 from their joint mortgage on their marital home in Rhiwbina, Cardiff . The court heard from a forensic handwriting expert, who proved Helen Bowen's signature had not been written by her - and was most likely written by her husband. Miss Bowers, a professional reflexologist, said she only discovered her husband had forged her signature a few months after their separation - when she was contacted by her mortgage provider. When asked if she agreed to the mortgage withdrawals, she replied: 'No, not at all. If I had been asked I would not have agreed to them.' Walters, now of Maesteg, in Bridgend, denies three charges of fraud. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Huw Walters, 50, denies three fraud charges at Cardiff Crown Court .
Court heard he forged his wife's signature three times and spent the money on expensive camera and photographic kit before ending 14 year marriage .
Freelance cameraman Walters has worked on programmes including the BBC Proms, Doctor Who and Channel 4's history show Time Team .
Case was heard by a new jury after first jury failed to reach verdict in March .
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Tossing pancakes on Sunday mornings helps David Cameron forget about the pressure of running the country. The Prime Minister said it is hard to ‘think too much about politics if you’re in danger of burning the pancakes’. He also revealed how he relies on a large entourage to do his job, is only allowed to listen to Bruce Springsteen if wife Samantha is away and suggested Wayne Rooney’s jitters at Manchester United developed after sitting next his mother, Mary, at a lunch. Scroll down for video . Foodie: David Cameron, pictured with a frying pan in 2006, revealed his love of making pancakes with his children . Music man: The PM, who visited a youth club in Wigan, revealed his music choices include Mumford & Sons and First Aid Kit . Mr Cameron has been plagued by allegations of ‘chillaxing’ when he should be running the country, from playing tennis at Chequers to becoming addicted to games on his iPad. Today he lifted the lid on another ritual in the Cameron household, this time rushing to escape burning political debate in the heat of the kitchen. Take part in a radio station Q&A session, he said his ‘perfect weekend’ is spent with his family in his West Oxfordshire constieuncy of Witney. He told Capital FM: ‘I love Sunday morning’s cooking pancakes with the children, it’s pretty messy but I love doing things like that. ‘I’ve got a nine-year-old, seven-year-old and a soon to be three-year-old, and doing things with them at the weekend is actually a great way of switching off. ‘It’s difficult to think too much about politics if you’re in danger of burning the pancakes.’ The admission immediately drew comparisons with Alfred the Great, who legend has it burnt cakes he was supposed to be watching in the home of a peasant woman in Somerset. Boss ban: The Prime Minister revealed he could only listen to Bruce Springsteen when wife Samantha was away because she ‘doesn’t like The Boss' The great mystery surrounding who advised Wayne Rooney to consider leaving Manchester United may have been solved - David Cameron's mum. The Prime Minister revealed how his mother sat next to the England striker at a lunch before Andy Murray's Wimbledon triumph last month. Mr Cameron was next to US golf champion Justin Rose, and was unable to hear what Rooney was discussing with Mrs Cameron. 'My mum sat next to Wayne Rooney and I was trying to listen in to that, because my mum she was a Magistrate for 40 years in Newbury, she’s not a big football fan. 'But, they seemed to be getting on fine, but I don’t know what advice she gave, maybe this is what set all this off.' Rooney trained with the reserves at Manchester United this morning. The England striker is determined to leave the Barclays Premier League for Premier League rivals Chelsea. In another insight into his private life, Mr Cameron revealed his musical ‘guilt pleasure’ was listening to Bruce Springsteen. Mrs Cameron ‘doesn’t like The Boss’ so he can only listen to him when she is away. In 1985 he queued for hours to see Springsteen in France in ‘one of those concerts that went on for four hours. ‘That was my guilty pleasure. I queued for hours and I was right at the front and I just thought he was fantastic. ‘So, when Samantha is not around there is a little bit of Dancing in the Dark or something like that, or, Born in the USA, so that is my guilty…but actually I like his stuff like Nebraska and all the rather grim dark stuffy, so that is my guilty pleasure I suppose.’ The PM was challenged over the cost of . childcare, and how he has it easy compared to most working parents . juggling his job with family life. He admitted: ‘You’re completely right, . of course I have a busy life but I’ve got hundreds of people working . for me, arranging everything, you know, so I can concentrate on the job . in hand. ‘And, I know as a dad how difficult it . is in the holiday times trying to keep your children entertained and . also work at the same time, it’s incredibly difficult.’ Like all politicians desperate to . appeal for the youth vote, Mr Cameron was also at pains to burnish his . musical credentials, boasting of listening to Mumford and Sons, First . Aid Kit and Kurt Vile. Speaking on XFM he said he listens to most music on Spotify, but quickly insisted he pays the subscription service. ‘They’re having to work very hard all . these pop stars these days, because of Spotify and everything else there . are many more live appearances, many more festivals, it’s back to the . days of the wandering minstrel they’re having to really earn their . keep.’ Tour: Mr Cameron has spent the week visiting towns and cities across the country, including taking part in a game of table football during a visit to the Wigan Youth Zone boys and girls club . Mr Cameron later claimed he was ‘too busy getting on with the job to think’ about his legacy as Prime Minister. ‘What I want to do is get the country going in the right direction, get the deficit paid down, get the economy moving, get unemployment falling, get jobs for people. ‘But, I think as important as those sort of economic things is a sense of values, I think the most important thing is for people to feel that in Britain if you work hard and do the right thing you can succeed, you can get on, you can make something of your life.’
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It's hard to think about politics while concentrating on cooking breakfast .
Admits to having an outargue to help with being a dad and running country .
Confesses to 'guilty pleasure' of listening to Bruce Springsteen .
But wife Samantha 'doesn't like The Boss' and bans him from being played .
PM's mother Mary gave advice to Wayne Rooney at a Wimbledon lunch .
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14364da85f15aaad66a0393a0a21f0c52e7f20d1
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By . Ben Spencer . PUBLISHED: . 03:06 EST, 14 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:06 EST, 14 June 2013 . Late care: New Government proposal could see schools staying open until 6pm, Education and Childcare Minister Liz Truss said . The school day could be lengthened and parents drafted in to run after-hour clubs to reduce the burden of childcare on working mothers and fathers, the government is proposing. Schools could stay open as late as 6pm under new plans to increase ‘school wrap-around childcare’ which are expected to be announced ‘shortly’, Childcare and Education Minister Liz Truss told a group of mothers yesterday. The proposals will set out plans for longer school days, which could see local childcare providers called in to look after pupils from 3pm or parents asked to run local school clubs, the minister said. Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, recently called for longer school days and a cut in the length of holidays to make life easier for working parents. Ms Truss said: ‘We are hoping to have new proposals out shortly, particularly on schools-based childcare and how we’re going to enable more schools to offer that.’ When challenged by one of the mothers present on how it could work, Ms Truss said: ‘This doesn’t mean teachers working longer hours. 'It can mean private sector nursery providers, voluntary sector providers or parents running an after school club.’ In her speech to about 50 working women, who are part of the networking group Citymothers, the Conservative minister said: ‘We want more schools to be involved in childcare. 'It’s crazy in this country that we have so many schools open 9am-3pm and then empty afterwards, when they have brilliant facilities. Many parents want to work longer than 9am-3pm. ‘We’re doing work to enable schools to be able to offer more of those services. 'There are some very good examples of schools that already offer 8am-6pm provision, either using teaching staff, teaching assistants, local nursery staff. There are many flexible ways it can be done.' Share the load: The later hours would see after school clubs run from 3pm-6pm by private sector nursery providers, voluntary sector providers or parents . Ms Truss, tipped for a promotion in a reshuffle next month, called on parents to be ‘more demanding’ of schools to stay open longer and make the burden of childcare easier. ‘In the case of schools they have an . opportunity to do more,’ she said. Parental support: The proposal is set to ease the burden of childcare on working parents . ‘As parents we need to be more . demanding of our system.’ Under the proposals, the minister also wants school nurseries to be allowed to admit two-year-olds, in order to help parents return to work. Currently nurseries have to seek permission and are only entitled to take on three to four-year-olds. During her speech, Ms Truss criticised the ‘complex’ childcare system, where British childcare costs are the second highest in Europe, behind only Switzerland. ‘Our parents pay more than double what parents in France and Germany are paying on childcare,’ she said, adding that government money put into the system doesn’t ‘flow through to the frontline’ as well as it should. ‘At the moment we have a system that isn’t working for parents.’ She also defended controversial changes to the childcare vouchers system, which at present is only available for a fifth of employees. The new system will make tax breaks available per child, although it will be less generous to higher-rate taxpayers.
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Government to announce plans to keep schools open until 6pm .
Education Minister Liz Truss promised longer hours in speech yesterday .
New plans could see parents drafted in to run after-school clubs .
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1436524a4170d626e37d5a572e98c713f8b0ce01
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FIFA Puskas Award contender Stephanie Roche is to leave her French club after a six-month spell. The 25-year-old Republic of Ireland women's international joined southern side ASPTT Albi, newly-promoted to the French top flight, last summer. However, as a non-French speaker Roche recently admitted it was proving tough to settle in her adopted home town. Stephanie Roche moved to play for French club ASPTT Albi from former side Peamount United . In a recent interview with Sportsmail, Roche admitted she had initially found it tough to adapt to life in France . According to the website of local newspaper Le Tarn Libre, Roche cited being 'homesick and the difficulties in adapting due to the language barrier' as cause for her decision to leave. She left behind family and boyfriend Dean Zambra, a Bray Wanderers midfielder, to strike out on her own in the professional French league. Roche will learn on Monday at the FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich whether she lands the prize for the world's best goal in the qualifying period which ran from October 3 2013 to September 26 2014. Roche brings the ball on to her left foot before unleashes a volley on goal for Peamount United . The opposition keeper has no chance as the ball flies into the top corner of the net . Her spectacular turn and volley for Peamount United against Wexford Youths Women on October 13, 2013 was witnessed by just 95 fans but has since been seen by over six million YouTube viewers. World Cup goals from James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie present the competition for Roche. Albi team manager David Welferinger told the French newspaper: 'This departure is linked to what is happening to her at the moment. 'She has been in high demand in recent weeks. I understand her decision even if it's sad.'
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Stephanie Roche is set to leave her French side ASPTT Albi .
The 25-year-old has only been at the club for six months .
Roche is up for the FIFA Puskas Award for her sensational volley for former side Peamount United against Wexford Youths in October 2013 .
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1436f93b55a1053a1902a267e927fb0890022c2e
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Stalking along the backstreets and failing miserably to blend into the background, the sight of this emerald-coloured stray has caused uproar in a Black Sea resort town. Locals in Varna, Bulgaria, assumed the cat was the victim of a cruel prank by vandals and set up a Facebook group called 'Punishment to the the perpetrator of this criminal act'. But it has now been revealed that the cat has developed a green hue because it usually sleeps on an abandoned heap of synthetic green paint in a garage. Scroll down for video . Green with envy: The sight of this stray roaming the backstreets in Varna, Bulgaria has caused uproar . Feline jealous? A video has appeared on which shows the emerald-green feline playing with a ginger cat . This has been backed up by reports which say the stray cat becomes more green each day. A video has appeared on YouTube which shows the feline playing with a ginger cat, whose marmalade-coloured coat stands in stark contrast to the bright-green fur. Varna is a popular tourist destination as it is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The RSPCA has warned that dyeing or painting animals for cosmetic reasons could have 'potentially fatal consequences'. Eye-catching: Locals in the Black Sea resort town assumed the cat was the victim of a prank by vandals . But it has been revealed that the cat usually sleeps on an abandoned heap of synthetic green paint . This has been backed up by reports which say the stray cat becomes more green each day . Blending in: Varna is a popular tourist destination as it is the largest seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast . Locals set up a Facebook group called 'Punishment to the the perpetrator of this criminal act' They were calling for vandals to be taken to court and punished for the act of animal cruelty . The RSPCA has warned that dyeing or painting animals for cosmetic reasons could have 'potentially fatal consequences'
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A bright green cat has been seen roaming the streets in Varna, Bulgaria .
Many assumed the stray was the victim of a cruel prank by vandals .
But the cat actually sleeps on a heap of synthetic green paint in a garage .
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14370187e4380f52048985ea387dfeb068118dd0
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(CNN) -- NBC has canceled "Whitney." And "Guys With Kids." And "Up All Night." And "1600 Penn." That's four half-hour comedies axed in one afternoon. And those are in addition to "30 Rock" and "The Office," which are having their final seasons this year. And let's not forget "Animal Practice," the network's previously cancelled comedy this season. And there still could be more carnage to come. We're also awaiting word on the fates of freshman comedies Go On and The New Normal, along with perpetual underdog veteran "Community." What has survived? NBC renewed "Parks & Recreation" for a sixth season today. "Parks" is NBC's best-performing show on Thursday night's after The Office, though it has an average adults 18-49 rating that's less than one third of CBS' Thursday leader "The Big Bang Theory" (2.0 vs. 6.2). NBC announced earlier that it will partly restock its lineup with a few new comedies. Highlights include Sean Hayes in Sean Saves the World, about a guy who must figure out how to parent his 14-year-old daughter, and a TV series version of the 2002 film "About a Boy," starring David Walton as a bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility until he meets a geeky young boy. 'Community' finale: The end (for now?) But NBC will have a tough time regaining its former legendary Thursday night comedy dominance. CBS made serious inroads into the evening with "Big Bang" and "Two and a Half Men" frequently ruling the 8 p.m. hour. Recently CBS experimented with putting repeats of other comedies into the 9 p.m. hour, raising the possibility of a full-scale two-hour comedy invasion into the evening next fall. Expect more NBC and CBS prime-time moves over the next several days as broadcasters prepare for their upfront presentations in New York City next week. NBC will announce its new fall schedule on Sunday and CBS will unveil its plans on Wednesday. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
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NBC has canceled "Whitney," "Guys With Kids," "Up All Night" and "1600 Penn"
That's in addition to "30 Rock" and "The Office," which are having their final seasons this year .
NBC announced earlier that it will partly restock its lineup with a few new comedies .
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143ab6f97680859c119b119383eb53c43980429a
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January 24, 2014 . Our last show of the week covers violent protests in the Ukrainian capital, a conference of mayors in the U.S. capital, and cyber crime that could affect some shoppers' capital. We also look into what the NFL plans to do regarding the Super Bowl if a Farmer's Almanac forecast is accurate. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . If you were following your local mayor to the National Conference of Mayors, how would you cover the story? Whom might you interview and what topics might you cover? Weekly Newsquiz: The following questions relate to events that were covered this week on CNN Student News. Write your answers in the space provided. 1. What U.S. government agency's controversial surveillance program was recently addressed by President Obama? 2. What important event in the Civil Rights Movement included Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech? 3. What is the name of the spacecraft that European Space Agency scientists "woke up" this week? 4. Who is the leader of the country where the upcoming Winter Olympic Games will be held? 5. What building, at a height of 1,776 feet, is the tallest in the U.S.? 6. In what city, known for its neutrality, did diplomats gather this week to discuss Syria's civil war? 7. What elected position usually serves as the chief executive of a city? 8. What Caribbean island nation's bobsledding team was once the subject of a Disney movie? 9. In what state will this year's Super Bowl be held? 10. What does 13-year-old McClain Hermes collect and distribute to people in need? CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request.
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This page includes the show Transcript and the Daily Curriculum .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum's Newsquiz tests students' knowledge of events in the news .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum .
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By . Josh Gardner for MailOnline . The pregnant wife of a Missouri crop duster pilot killed in a tragic plane crash has revealed that, just before his death, her husband heard their unborn baby's heartbeat for the first time. 'I'm so thankful for that,' said LeAnn Malone, whose husband Hollis Malone died August 20 while doing the work he loved. The 29-year-old pilot also left behind a 2-year-old son named Rylan when he died in the west Tennessee tragedy. Tragic: Hollis Malone (right) died in a crop duster crash on August 20 and left behind his pregnant wife LeAnn (left) Without a father: Malone also left behind his 2-year-old son Rylan (center) The fourth generation pilot and his wife had just announced LeAnn's second pregnancy when he died just a day after listening to his new baby's beating heart. Over 2,000 people attended Malone's funeral, which LeAnn told KFVS is a testament to what a great man he was. 'He was the most loving caring, would do anything for anybody, full of life,' she said. She also said he died doing what he loved. 'Being a pilot is in his blood, he's a fourth generation pilot, and he had every intention of Rylan being a fifth generation,' Malone said. Unknown causes: Officials have not yet determined the cause of the west Tennessee crash . Born to fly: Malone was a fourth generation pilot who friends and fmily said had crop dusting 'in his blood' Investigators have yet to uncover a cause of the crash, which occurred in the community of Bible Hill. 'I wish I would have talked him out of going into crop dusting at times, but I didn't want to hold him back from his dream,' Malone told KFVS. 'And I wanted to be supportive - but I knew how dangerous it was.' Regardless of what happened, a mourning wife must now deal with the loss of the family's breadwinner as she prepares for the birth of their baby. Malone had no life insurance, so friends and family have started a GoFundMe page in hopes of helping his family financially. 'If Hollis touched your life in even the smallest way I just ask that you would consider a donation in his name,' the page reads. Hoped his son would become a pilot: LeAnn Malone says their son Rylan loves planes as much as his father did .
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Hollis Malone died in a crop duster crash on August 20 .
The fourth generation pilot left behind his pregnant wife LeAnn and their son Rylan, 2 .
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French President Francois Hollande has warned that diplomacy with Russia 'cannot go on forever' as world leaders prepare to meet Vladimir Putin to discuss and end to the war in Ukraine. Speaking at a news conference in Paris this morning, Hollande said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will go to Kiev this afternoon to produce a conflict-resolution deal that would be acceptable to all parties. But he told journalists that while France and Berlin had chosen diplomacy rather than arming Kiev troops against the pro-Russian separatists, negotiations could not drag on indefinitely. Earlier this morning US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kiev to join the talks, with Hollande and Merkel confirming they will be travelling on to continue the talks with Putin in Moscow tomorrow. In a sign of the importance of the initiative, this will be Merkel's first trip to Moscow since the conflict in Ukraine broke out a year ago. Scroll down for video . Warning: Speaking at a news conference in Paris this morning French President Hollande said 'diplomacy cannot go on forever' as world leaders prepare to meet Putin to discuss an end to war in the Ukraine . Not forever: Francois Hollande told journalists that while France and Berlin had chosen diplomacy rather than arming Kiev troops against the pro-Russian separatists, negotiations could not drag on indefinitely . Big moment: In a sign of the importance of the visit, this will be Angela Merkel's first trip to Moscow since the conflict in Ukraine broke out a year ago . In a new push for peace in eastern Ukraine, the leaders of France and Germany this morning made the announcement that they were heading to Kiev and Moscow with a proposal to end the fighting. The surprise move came as the U.S. edged toward offering Ukraine lethal military aid as part of a new deal to help protect the country's borders. The flurry of high-level diplomacy aimed to end the resurgent fighting in eastern Ukraine that is threatening European security. France and Germany hoped this time they could come up with a peace deal that both Ukraine and Russia could agree to. Kerry is already visiting Kiev and in Brussels, NATO prepared to boost its forces today in response to Ukraine's unrest and Russia's increased military forcefulness. Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and government forces picked up in January after a month of relative calm, with more than 220 civilians killed in the past three weeks alone, according to the United Nations. The UN has sharply criticized both sides for indiscriminate shelling and called for a temporary truce. Talks: Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel have confirmed they will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured with chief of staff of Russia's Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov) in Moscow . Greeting: Earlier this morning US Secretary of State John Kerry (pictured shaking hands with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko) arrived in Kiev to join the talks . Arrival: John Kerry travelled to Ukraine this morning to show support for its embattled government as the Obama administration weighs sending arms to Kiev to help it fight Russian-backed separatists . At least three people were killed in overnight shelling in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, local officials said today, amid fierce fighting in several areas of eastern Ukraine. Hollande said he and Merkel would travel to Kiev today and then to Moscow tomorrow, with a proposal 'based on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.' 'It will not be said that France and Germany together have not tried everything, undertaken everything, to preserve the peace,' Hollande said. Merkel's spokesman Steffen Siebert said 'given the escalation of violence in the past days, the chancellor and President Hollande are intensifying their months-long efforts for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.' In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that Putin, Merkel and Hollande will discuss 'what the three nations can do to help put a quick end to a civil war in southeastern Ukraine, which has exacerbated in recent days with mounting casualties.' Kerry came to Ukraine to show support for its embattled government as the Obama administration weighs sending arms to Kiev to help it fight Russian-backed separatists. He brought $16.4 million in new U.S. humanitarian aid but the Ukrainian government is anxious to use the visit to reiterate its plea for lethal aid. Members of the armed forces of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic gather near an armoured vehicle destroyed during battles with the Ukrainian armed forces in Vuhlehirsk, Donetsk . An armoured vehicle and a building damaged during battles between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government troops are seen in Vuhlehirsk, Donetsk region yesterday . An elderly woman reacts as her friends board a bus to leave Debaltseve, Ukraine as a result of the conflict . President Barack Obama has opposed the idea of sending weapons to Ukraine but sources in his administration say this position could change in the light of recent fighting. Officials with Kerry said he would discuss those needs with Ukrainian officials as well as new initiatives to resurrect a moribund cease-fire and resume a political dialogue to end the conflict. Germany remains fiercely opposed to sending arms to Ukraine, a position that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier reiterated today. Speaking after meeting with his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkevics, in Riga, Steinmeier said it would not improve the situation if 'we now bring more weapons to the region.' 'We believe that we must make another attempt to finally bring the violence to an end,' he said, according to the DPA news agency. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the defense ministers meeting today are expected to approve boosting the size of the alliance's Response Force from 13,000 to 30,000, in reaction to Russian actions in Ukraine. Russia has vehemently denied allegations of helping the rebels in Ukraine . Pro-Russian rebels arrive at a hospital in Tekstilshik, Donetsk after it was hit by a shelling yesterday . The UN has sharply criticized both sides for indiscriminate shelling and called for a temporary truce . The diplomatic push to end the conflict, which has killed more than 5,000 people since last April, comes amid intensified fighting . The Kremlin acknowledged that Russian volunteers are fighting in eastern Ukraine but insists that Moscow has not sent its troops or weapons to help the rebels. Russia has expressed concerned about NATO's buildup in eastern Europe while defending a heavy military presence at its border with Ukraine. Hollande appeared to be offering a nod to Putin on one of his key demands: that Ukraine stay out of NATO. 'France is not favorable to Ukraine's entry into NATO, let us be clear,' Hollande said today. 'We have to speak the truth to all the countries that are around us. ... For the Russians who are worried ... We have to settle this problem among Europeans. We are on the same continent.' The news comes as EU leaders are expected to consider punishing new economic sanctions against Moscow next week, and as Germany hosts world leaders at a security conference over the weekend at which Ukraine is expected to be the main subject. Britain has confirmed it will make 1,000 troops available to a rapid reaction force in the Baltic. The creation of a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force to bolster the security of the alliance's eastern flanks was agreed when its leaders met for a summit in Wales last year. It will be on standby to deploy up to 5,000 troops within two to five days in the event of a new crisis to provide reassurance to allies who fear they could be the next targets of aggression from neighbouring Russia. UK armed forces will take the rotating lead role of the force in 2017. The RAF will also continue the deployment of four RAF Typhoon jets to upgraded airspace patrols over Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said the sustained fighting in Ukraine and Russia's continued arming and training of rebel forces was one of the greatest security challenges facing the world. It was vital, he said ahead of the gathering in Brussels attended by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, to 'make clear that Nato is determined to defend all Allies against any threats from any direction'. Mr Fallon said the UK would provide manpower to two regional headquarters - in Poland and Romania - and to force integration units in those countries as well as the three Baltic States and Bulgaria. 'Nato's credibility in the face of the security challenges we face depends on everyone playing their part to implement the decisions taken at Wales last year,' he said. 'The Readiness Action Plan demonstrates the Alliance's commitment to reinforce our collective defence but strong words must be backed up with firm action. 'That is why I am delighted to announce that the UK will lead the VJTF in 2017 and contribute to the Baltic Air Policing mission again in order to put the Plan into practice.' Around 3,500 military personnel are also taking part in a series of Nato exercises ths year intended to ensure a persistent alliance presence in the region while providing further financial assistance to the government in Kiev.
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Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel are travelling to Ukraine today .
They hope to broker a deal to help end the conflict in east of the country .
Leaders will travel to Moscow tomorrow to continue talks with Putin .
US Secretary of State John Kerry is also in Kiev to take part in the talks .
Meanwhile NATO has boosted its Rapid Response Force from 13,000 to 30,000, in reaction to Russian actions in Ukraine .
News comes as EU leaders consider tough new sanctions against Moscow .
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(CNN) -- The United States is vacating an air base in Pakistan at Islamabad's request following a NATO attack that killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers. U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter told Pakistan's Waqt TV on Monday that the United States is leaving Shamsi Air Base in Balochistan Province southwest of Quetta. U.S. drones have taken off from the base and refueled there for operations against Islamic militants, according to sources familiar with U.S. drone operations in Pakistan. The order to clear out of the base comes in the aftermath of a November 26 incident in which a NATO airstrike killed 24 Pakistani troops. According to two U.S. officials familiar with an initial assessment of the incident, U.S. commandos were working alongside Afghan troops when they came under fire. The troops did not tell Pakistani authorities about the mission ahead of time because they had thought it would take place entirely within Afghanistan, the officials said. U.S. and Pakistani officials said Friday there were conversations between the sides before the strike, but they differed on the content of those conversations. A Pakistani military spokesman said the attack hit the wrong target. A probe, headed by U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stephen Clark, is under way. The loss of the base is unlikely to have any major impact on operations in Pakistan, experts said. A U.S. official said Sunday that the "loss of access to this base would not lessen capabilities, as it has served primarily as a back-up capability for quite a while now." The United States flies drones out of Kandahar in nearby Afghanistan, so the impact should not be enormous, said CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen. Still, there would be an impact, said Anthony Cordesman, who holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "You're talking potentially 40 to 60 minutes' added reaction time," he said. But the issue is broader than simply closing an airbase, Cordesman said. "It's what Pakistan intends to do about its airspace," he said. "If it's saying, in addition to the base closing, that it will no longer cooperate to allow the United States to use Pakistani airspace and there will be no cooperation on targeting and no quid pro quo where we would use systems to hit at insurgents or extremists which were threats to Pakistan as well as Afghanistan, then it goes much further," he said. "It also basically means that, if you're going to do this, you're clearly violating Pakistani airspace and, if you're going to do it, you may have to rely much more on stealth." International law is clear, he noted. "You can't, in theory, send an intelligence aircraft over somebody's airspace. Period. The fact that people do it all the time doesn't make it legal. If you go beyond that, and the vehicle or airplane shoots something, that's an act of war." Former CIA covert operations officer Mike Baker said that, from a logistical point of view, closing the airbase is "irritating, inconvenient, concerning." But, he added, "It won't impact our ability to strike at a target." Baker, who is president of Diligence LLC, a global intelligence and security firm, described the base closure as "one more step down this dysfunctional road with the Pakistanis," but predicted that "cooperation between CIA and other intelligence portions of our military and the Pakistanis" will continue. "Regardless of what happens in the headlines, there is an operational level of activity that continues to move forward because, ultimately, it is in the Pakistanis' best interest to continue to try to counter some of the extremists' activity." High-level Pakistani officials have supported, quietly, the U.S. drone campaign for years, he said. "They've been playing the same game that any other nation will play -- they want a little bit of plausible deniability." In other words, when public opinion turns against the drone attacks, the officials will turn against them, too, Baker said. "Once they feel threatened from their own population because of their support and cooperation from the United States, that's when they'll turn on us," he said. "Will they decide a drone strike in Pakistani airspace without permission is an act of war? Doubtful." U.S. officials have long prepared for Plan B in Pakistan, he said. "If you have facilities in any country where you have a somewhat occasional volatile relationship, you're always looking for alternatives," he said. The issue of U.S. and other NATO forces entering Pakistan has been a sensitive topic in that country since May, when U.S. commandos killed al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad without Pakistani leaders' consent. NATO has called last month's casualties "tragic." U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called the incident a "tragedy" and offered condolences. President Barack Obama called Pakistan's president Sunday to express condolences over the airstrike. He said the incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan, the White House said. The incident exacerbated already strained relations with Pakistan. "Such attacks ... demonstrate complete disregard for international law and human life," Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the day after the attack. Khar asked the United States to vacate the Shamsi Air Base within 15 days. The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan confirmed Monday that Munter said the United States is complying with the request. On Monday, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan wants to have good relations with the United States based on mutual respect and clearly defined parameters. "I think that is doable," he told state-run Associated Press of Pakistan. "I think that it won't take long." He said that new ties being negotiated with the United States would ensure that the two countries "respected each other's red lines" regarding sovereignty and rules of engagement along the border. "I think we have evolved some mechanisms, and we are ready to cooperate" on peace efforts in Afghanistan, he said. In Washington, deputy State Department spokesman Mike Toner, referring to the cross-border incident in which two dozen Pakistani soldiers were killed, said he welcomed Gilani's remarks. "From the very moments after this tragedy, we've been clear that this relationship is vital to U.S. national security interests, it is vital to Pakistan's national security interests, it is vital to the region's interests that we work together productively. And we are committed to addressing the issues between us and moving forward," he told reporters. CNN's Pam Benson, Nasir Habib, Nick Paton Walsh and Barbara Starr and journalist Shaan Khan contributed to this report.
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NEW: Pakistan's prime minister says he wants good relations with the United States .
The U.S. is vacating Shamsi Air Base, which is used by unmanned combat vehicles .
The impact of vacating the air base is likely to be minimal, experts say .
Pakistan told the U.S. to leave the base after an airstrike killed 24 Pakistani troops .
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A California gym became a robotic warzone yesterday as drones battled it out in an annual engineering contest. The competition involved six teams of engineering students who were each given $800 (£480) to create machines that could fly or drive their way to victory. Organised by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), this year’s theme was ‘Raiders of the Lost Can.’ A quadcopter drags a competitor quadcopter off the platform during in this image showing the robots battling it out for a winning place in the contest . Students had to manoeuvre their robots on the basketball court inside Brown Gymnasium. The aim was to collect an empty soup can and get it to as close to the top a wooden hill after four-minute rounds. They also had to prevent or obstruct the other team’s robot from reaching the platform. Avengers team member Richie Hernandez wears a U.S. flag while operating a robot in the contest . A quadcopter takes off during the 'Raiders of . the Lost Can'-themed robotic Engineering Design Contest (left). A robot . carries its can and drags a competitor's can up the ramp (right) Black Widow team member Hima Hassenbruck-Gudipati (left) and Cunning Stunts team member Joseph Greet untangle their quadcopters . Students had to manoeuvre their robots on the basketball court inside Brown Gymnasium. The aim was to collect an empty soup can and get it to as close to the top a wooden hill after four-minute rounds. They also had to prevent or obstruct the other team’s robot from reaching the platform. According to the rules, the robots could be defensive but should not be designed to destroy the opposing teams’ machines. According to the rules, the robots could be defensive but could not be designed to destroy the opposing teams’ machines. The winners were a team dubbed ‘40 Piece Chicken McNuggets’ who created two identical rovers that drove instead of flew. In the final round, it came down to the McNuggets and a team called the Cunning Stunts, which used their budget to make three roving robots as well as one flying design. ‘This is where rubber meets the road,’ said Carl Ruoff, instructor of ME72: Engineering Design Laboratory told Pasadena Star-News. Competing robots get piled up during the 'Raiders of the Lost Can'-themed robotic Engineering Design Contest at the California Institute of Technology . A quadcopter takes off during the contest. Six teams of mechanical engineering majors are competing as part of a final project and core requirement, in which their robotic vehicles must climb or fly to get empty soup cans into an elevated five-foot target platform, while preventing competitor robots from doing the same . Avengers team members Erin Evans (left), Richie Hernandez and Joel Bryan (right) make robot repairs . ‘It’s all very practical,’ Mr Ruoff said. ‘You don’t want engineers making rockets that go into the ocean instead of into orbit.’ The ‘Soup Nazis’, a team based on the Seinfeld TV show, created a flying quadcopter named Elaine and a tank named Kramer. Meanwhile, a group called 'Team Avengers' took a defensive strategy with rovers named Iron Man and Hulk that could rundown opponents. Known as ME-72, the engineering design contest is the final project and core requirement for all Caltech Mechanical Engineering majors. California Institute of Technology Caltech ME72 mechanical engineering students with the '40 Piece Chicken McNuggets' team. From left: James Bern, Justin Koch, Matthew Queen, and Monica Enlow celebrate after winning the 29th Annual Engineering Design competition . A ground robot designed and created by a team of mechanical engineering students climbs a steeply inclined ramp . California Institute of Technology's Caltech ME72 mechanical engineering '40 Piece Chicken McNuggets' team's winning robot is pictured on the left .
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Six teams of Caltech students were .
given $800 (£480) to create machines .
Students manoeuvre robots inside a gym while collecting a soup can .
Aim was get can as close to the top a wooden hill after four-minute rounds .
They also had to prevent the other team’s robot from reaching the platform .
The overall winners were a team dubbed ‘40 Piece Chicken McNuggets’
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(CNN) -- Some 5,000 residents in eastern Pennsylvania were allowed to return to their homes Saturday afternoon, some 12 hours after they were evacuated when a tractor-trailer carrying 33,000 pounds of toxic hydrofluoric acid overturned after the driver tried to avoid a deer, authorities said. Traffic is backed up Saturday after a truck spilled hydrofluoric acid in eastern Pennsylvania. State police identified the driver as Raymond Leblanc, 54, of Harrow, Ontario, Canada. Leblanc, who initially was trapped in the truck, was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released. Police said a passenger in the truck was unhurt. No other injuries were reported. The truck flipped over on its side and slid along northbound State Road 33, which was closed in both directions from Belfast to Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, from the time of the early-morning accident until about 6 p.m. Saturday. Most of the acid in the tank was in the form of pressurized gas, but there also was some water, said Northampton County spokesman John Conklin. State and federal hazardous materials experts stopped the leak by noon. The wreck occurred at 3:30 a.m. near Wind Gap. Conklin said many evacuees -- those living within a mile of the accident site in Plainfield Township -- went to a shelter set up at nearby Pen Argyl High School in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania. A dispatcher with the Northhampton County Division of Emergency Management said residents were allowed to begin returning to their homes about 3:45 p.m. Saturday. Hydrogen fluoride is a hazardous chemical compound used mainly for industrial purposes such as etching glass, and is extremely corrosive. It also is an ingredient in high-octane gasoline, refrigerants, aluminum and light bulbs. Contact with concentrated solutions can cause severe burns, according to medical authorities. Inhaling the gas causes respiratory irritation, severe eye damage and pulmonary edema.
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5,000 evacuees able to go home 12 hours after evacuated because of acid spill .
Canadian driver tried to avoid hitting a deer, flipped tractor-trailer .
Leak of highly corrosive hydrofluoric acid stopped .
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The AFL has called play-on with an ambitious plan to see an Australia-wide women's competition, with the first bounce to potentially come as early as 2017. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan wants a national review into second-tier football that gets underway next month to include the launch of a women's competition in its discussions. Nearly $80 million is spent on the second-tier, the level directly under the AFL, each season. League executives Mark Evans and Dorothy Hisgrove will lead the review, which will explore how that money is spent and look into ways to 'footify' more women, children and multicultural communities. Participation rate in women's competition have soared, with Victoria 52 teams playing across seven divisions in Victoria. AFL Media Relations Manager Patrick Keane said it was a 'personal goal' of CEO Gillon McLachlan to have a women's competition in two years, and said 2020 was the 'very latest' the AFL would want it introduced. AFL Victoria competition manager of women's football Darren Flanigan said a national women's football league would be great for the sport. 'It'd be fantastic for women's footy,' Mr Flanigan said. 'It would really raise the profile of the competition, and bring a much deserved increase in recognition for players. 'Also, if it stopped being an amateur league and players were paid as semi-professionals or professionals, that'd be great.' AFL Media said it is a 'personal goal' of CEO Gillon McLachlan to have a national women's competition get underway in 2017. Mr Flanigan said the sport is in a boom period of growth, and is expected to continue into the future. 'We have nine new clubs and an increase of more than 30 per cent in participation,' he said. 'That sort of growth is something we have been seeing for a few years now. We'd expect it to continue in 2015, and even get a bit stronger.' Mr Flanigan said popularity is not only increasing across the country, but across all ages levels. 'The growth is coming all the way through from Auskick and right up through the junior levels and into the open-age leagues,' he said. 'Every state now has a female competition and most have a second division.' AFL Victoria competition manager of women's football Darren Flanigan said numbers are expected to increase further in the coming years. However, he would not comment on any potential funding wish-lists, and said that is 'a decision for the AFL'. 'What we are all about is creating a strong, positive environment for women who want to get out there and have a kick of the footy.' The AFL has taken steps forward in recent years in relation to including more women in the game, with St Kilda's Peta Searle becoming the league's first full-time assistant coach last year. in 2013, Richmond appointed Peggy O'Neal the first female club president.
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Women's league in 2017 a 'personal goal' of AFL boss Gillon McLachlan .
National league proposal part of 'second-tier football' review country-wide .
Participation booming in Victoria, with 52 teams across seven divisions .
Players in organised leagues up 30% last year, same jump expected in 2016 .
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Roy Hodgson has risked upsetting Merseyside by making an ill-judged comment about Wayne Rooney’s Scouse accent. The England manager, no stranger to controversial remarks, suggested that Rooney would not be able to stand up and lecture a room full of people because of his ‘Liverpool accent’. When asked what Rooney was like as an orator, Hodgson said: ‘Oratory is a much over-exaggerated quality. There are some people I think are very eloquent who don’t get messages across well and others who I don’t think you would regard as orators who get their message across very well. VIDEO Scroll down to see Wayne Rooney's latest instagram video of his son Klay . Roy Hodgson has risked upsetting Merseyside by making comments on Wayne Rooney’s Scouse accent . England manager Hodgson suggested Rooney would not be able to stand up and lecture a room of people . Rooney was born in Merseyside where he started his career with Everton before joining Manchester United . ‘Everyone knows Wayne is not the sort of person, with his Liverpool accent, who is going to be able to stand up in front of a lecture room of people. 'But he doesn’t need to. All he has to do is make certain the players he is talking to understand where he is coming from.’ The England manager’s most famous gaffe came in the ‘feed the monkey’ racism row when, at half-time of a World Cup qualifier against Poland, Hodgson urged Chris Smalling to pass to Andros Townsend, saying: ‘It’s like the old Nasa joke — feed the monkey’. He also upset the mayor of Manaus on the eve of the World Cup draw when saying the Brazilian city was ‘the venue to be avoided’. And in 2012 he apologised after letting slip to a passenger on the tube that he had left Rio Ferdinand out of his next England squad. Rooney trains with Manchester United after his sending off for kicking Stewart Downing last weekend . Manchester United captain Rooney trains with teammates Michael Carrick (right) and Robin van Persie (left) England boss Hodgson is no stranger to gaffes and his latest mishap is to do with Rooney's Scouse accent .
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Roy Hodgson suggests Wayne Rooney would not be able to stand up and lecture a room full of people because of his 'Liverpool accent'
Hodgson: ‘Wayne is not the sort of person, with his Liverpool accent, who is going to be able to stand up in front of a lecture room of people'
Hodgson staunchly defended Manchester United captain Rooney in the wake of his sending off for kicking West Ham's Stewart Downing .
The England manager is no stranger to gaffes after his infamous 'feed the monkey' racism row at half time of a World Cup qualifying match .
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For a nation conscious of limited resources like Sweden, investing in 'eco' product development seems a fail-safe business strategy. It worked for Ikea. Now luxury intimate lifestyle company LELO has looked to its Swedish roots and is marketing a flat-pack, fully recycled vibrator promising to 'take the meaning of do-it-yourself pleasure to a whole new level'. Scroll down for video . The LELO logo has been adapted to spookily replicate the IKEA logo, fitting with this campaign . The GӒSM, LELO's 'Cleanest, Greenest Vibe', is apparently made from 100% recycled materials, including compressed wood pulp and recycled rubber, and comes in a lush shade of forest green. The GӒSM, worth £120, requires you to charge it by hand rotation (Allen key included) and even assemble from scratch - as it arrives in an 8-piece set. Apparently, this is to 'allow you to . take pride in piecing together your pleasure' and 'the money saved on . production costs goes directly to you'. A video on the company's website demonstrates how to assemble the eco-friendly 'personal massager' but bafflingly there are no options to actually buy the thing until April 1st. Is someone yanking our crank? LELO normally sell luxury vibes worth up to £10,000, but the green DIY style one is so fun to assemble . The G¿SM, worth a whopping £120, requires you to charge it by hand rotation (Allen key included) DIY style pleasure toy features a 'silky-smooth sheathe made entirely of re-purposed rubber' 'The Most Exclusive Vibrator Ever Created' (and this one IS available to buy)INEZ is an elegant and luxurious pleasure object with an energetic buzz, crafted in stainless steel or 24K gold-plate. The metal, enticing and evocative against the naked skin, offers exciting prospects for users inclined to the sensual utilisation of hot or cold. Five pre-programmed stimulation modes and a virtually silent vibrator engine provide the basis for a multitude of enjoyable experiences. Her petite frame ensures discreet yet reassuring company, eager to sate daily desires. INEZ is rechargeable and a 2-hour charge provides up to 4 hours of bliss. Comes presented in an elegant wooden gift box, accessorised with charger, manual, satin pouch for stylish storage and a 1-year LELO warranty. INEZ is an elegant and luxurious pleasure object with an energetic buzz, crafted in 24K gold-plate .
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Swedish firm release £120 flat pack 8 piece vibrator in time for April 1st .
Green GӒSM sex toy is made from 100% recycled wood pulp and rubber .
Battery powered and rechargeable with manual hand-crank and Allen key .
Firm is actually super luxury, selling £10,000 24-karat gold vibrators .
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Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- President Barack Obama marked the first anniversary of the death of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden with an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, signing a long-awaited strategic partnership agreement meant to set the conditions of an American withdrawal from the war-torn nation. The president reiterated that U.S. forces will not remain "a single day longer" than necessary, that he remains committed to pulling 23,000 troops out of the country by September and that he will stick to a 2014 deadline to fully withdraw from Afghanistan. "We will not build permanent bases in this country, nor will we be patrolling its cities and mountains," the president said during a nationally televised speech to the U.S. people from Bagram Air Base early on Wednesday (Tuesday evening in the United States). "That will be the job of the Afghan people." An undetermined number of U.S. forces will remain in country past 2014 working as military advisers and counterterrorism forces, but officials have yet to decide for how long. The trip comes as Obama's election campaign gears up and just weeks ahead of a NATO summit in Chicago, where the details of the transition and future commitments to the region are expected to be discussed. Speaking to reporters from Turkey after the trip to Afghanistan, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and member Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, pointed to a series of lightening-rod issues expected to be addressed at the summit. They include hot topics such as Taliban and Haqqani safe havens in Pakistan, Afghan economic dependency on international spending and the grittier details of senior leadership positions within the nation's armed forces. "One thing we're going to see if there can be an early retirement of the officer corps to make room for the younger class (of Pashtuns from the country's restive southern and eastern provinces)," said Levin, noting those groups are underrepresented. "That's something that's going to be discussed in Chicago, a retirement incentive," he said, a subtle nod to lingering questions over the army's current legitimacy in traditional Taliban strongholds. Going back to the Vietnam War era, American television networks have covered presidents speaking to military personnel or alongside foreign leaders overseas. But Obama's speech was the first televised address to the nation delivered from a war zone on foreign soil, according to White House spokesman Josh Earnest. The president's trip was his third since taking office and comes amid heightened tensions between the Obama and Karzai governments after a string of incidents involving U.S. personnel. Among them include an American service member charged with killing of 16 Afghan civilians, Quran burnings at a U.S. military base and the release of photographs of Americans posing with the remains of dead militants. Read extensive excerpts of the speech . Meanwhile, two U.S. service members were killed and two were wounded in an explosion targeting their vehicle in Wardak province, officials said. About two hours after Obama left the country, a powerful explosion rocked the capital. Authorities later reported that it was a suicide car bomb that detonated outside the gates of Green Village, a compound that houses contractors and aid workers. The attack left at least seven people and wounded 17 others, including schoolchildren, officials said. "This is another desperate attack by the Taliban," said NATO spokesman Gen. Carsten Jacobson. "Another attack by the insurgency that resulted in the deaths of innocent Afghan civilians, with most of that being children from a nearby school." The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that the "indiscriminate and illegal attacks are unacceptable and that those responsible are fully accountable for the deaths and injuries of civilians." In an e-mail, the Taliban denied there were civilian casualties and said it planned the attack after word circulated that the American president was going to be in Afghanistan, marking the start of their so-called spring offensive. Obama also spoke of a "negotiated peace" and said his administration has been in direct talks with the Taliban. In March, the Afghan Taliban suspended the development of a diplomatic office in Qatar designed to allow them to hold talks with the United States, following public anger over the killing of the 16 civilians. "We've made it clear that they can be a part of this future if they break with al Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by Afghan laws," Obama said Wednesday. See reactions to Obama's surprise trip . Addressing Afghan concerns that America will abandon the country once its troops leave, Obama noted, "With this agreement, I am confident that the Afghan people will understand that the United States will stand by them." He later added that the U.S. "did not come here to claim resources or to claim territory. We came here with a very clear mission to destroy al Qaeda." Karzai offered his thanks to the American people for helping Afghanistan, and the presidents shook hands after signing the Strategic Partnership Agreement in the atrium of the King's Residence, part of the Presidential Palace in Kabul. "This agreement will close the season of the past 10 years and is going to open an equal relationship season," Karzai added. "With the signing of this agreement, we are starting a phase between two sovereign and independent countries that will be based on mutual respect, mutual commitments and mutual friendship." The security risks in Afghanistan seemed particularly pronounced given the secretive nature and timing of the trip. Obama landed in Afghanistan in the cover of darkness, and the signing ceremony occurred in the early morning hours. Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said, "I am pleased that President Obama has returned to Afghanistan." "Our troops and the American people deserve to hear from our president about what is at stake in this war," he said. "Success in Afghanistan is vital to our nation's security." More than 130,000 troops from 50 countries serve in Afghanistan. The United States is the largest contributor, providing some 90,000 troops, followed by the United Kingdom (9,500), Germany (4,800) and France (3,600). But war that began with widespread approval in 2001 is now increasingly unpopular in Europe and the United States. The latest CNN/ORC International poll in late March show 55% of respondents would like to see the U.S. remove all its forces before 2014. More than 2,700 troops from the United States and its partners have died in the conflict. The majority of them American. Last week, Afghan National Security Adviser Rangin Daftar Spanta and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker initialed the text that outlined the kind of relationship the two countries want in the decade following the NATO withdrawal. The deal had been long expected after Washington and Kabul found compromises over the thorny issues of "night raids" by U.S. forces on Afghan homes and the transfer of U.S. detainees to Afghan custody. It seeks to create an enduring partnership that prevents the Taliban from waiting out a U.S. withdrawal to try to regain power, the senior administration officials have said. CNN's David Ariosto, Tom Cohen, Barbara Starr, Keating Holland, Nick Paton Walsh and journalist Masoud Popalzai contributed to this report.
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NEW: Sen. Carl Levin says hot topic issues to be discussed at NATO summit .
Car bomb in Kabul kills at least 7 people, wounds 17 after the visit .
Two American service members killed, two others injured in Wardak province blast .
Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai sign an agreement on future cooperation .
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By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 11:13 EST, 2 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:00 EST, 2 April 2013 . A teenage motor scooter rider who was caught on camera standing up and waving his arms around while driving to 'show off to his mates' has been banned from the roads. The 16-year-old boy spread his arms out wide in a stunt which 'horrified' magistrates on an A-road. The youth, who cannot be named, was travelling with a group of friends on the A63 near Selby, North Yorkshire, when he was caught on camera by a mobile police traffic camera. Scroll down for video . Dangerous stunt: The boy, 16, stands up on his scooter as he rides down a dual carriageway in Selby, North Yorkshire. Scroll down to see the video . Police who caught the incident on camera said he was 'posing like Jesus Christ' on his 49cc scooter. Niall Carlin, prosecuting at York . Magistrates Court today, said: 'The photos show the youth standing up, . not holding the handlebars and holding his arms out. 'He not only endangered himself, but his whole group of friends and other road users in close vicinity.' The . student, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the day his trial was due to start. The court heard he is studying mechanics in motor vehicles at college. Chairman of the bench Malcolm Smith . asked the teenager: 'What on earth were you thinking? What was going . through your head at the time?' Danger: The boy, 16, who cannot be named, told magistrates he stood up on his scooter to 'impress his mates'. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving . 'Irresponsible': Police said the boy, who cannot be named, was 'very lucky he was not facing more serious, life-changing consequences' The . youth, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, replied: 'I was showing off to my mates behind me', to which Mr . Smith remarked: 'There would have been no showing off if you would have . ended up in the middle of the road with broken limbs. 'A . motorcycle enthusiast like you should know better than anyone about the . importance of safety on the road, I'm quite horrified to be honest. 'I'm amazed that with your interest in motorcycling that you even remotely thought about behaving like this. 'As . a parent myself, I had a call from the police saying my son had been in . a road traffic accident with a motorcycle. Trust me, it is the worst . phone call you could ever receive and your dad was so close to getting . that phone call.' He was . disqualified from driving any motor vehicle for 15 months and given a . six-month referral order. He was ordered to pay £200 court costs and a . £15 victim surcharge. No hands: The boy prepares to sit down after performing his dangerous stunt on the A63 . Traffic . Officer Andy Forth, from North Yorkshire Police's mobile safety camera . team said after the case: 'It was totally irresponsible of him, I . couldn't believe it when I captured him on the camera posing like Jesus . Christ. 'There have been . fatalities on this road before and it was so close to having multiple . fatalities again because of this incident.' Dave . Brown, who heads the unit, added: 'This young man has lost his licence . before he has even begun to drive. I hope both he and other young people . learn from this experience. He is very lucky he was not facing more . serious, life-changing consequences. 'The . case also sends a clear message that the safety camera is not just . capable of capturing speeders, but can record indisputable evidence of a . variety of offences. Motorists should take note and drive responsibly . as well as within the speed limit.' The incident happened on July 28 last year.
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Boy told magistrates he was 'showing off to his mates'
Police said he could have faced 'life-changing consequences'
Traffic officers filmed the incident on the A63 near Selby, North Yorkshire .
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Murder-accused Shrien Dewani told his new bride their relationship was 'not natural' and he was 'forcing' himself to be with her just five days after their wedding, intimate emails between the newlyweds reveal. Anni, who was 28 when she was shot to death in South Africa in 2010, threatened to walk out on him before their ill-fated honeymoon after he told her he regretted their marriage, his murder trial heard. The Swedish engineer sent two scathing late-night messages to bisexual Dewani, 34, just a week before her murder following his frank admissions which left her feeling hurt, confused and unable to sleep. Scroll down for video . 'Just because we had a Bollywood wedding, it doesn't mean we are Bollywood actors': An e-mail from murdered Anni Dewani to her husband Shrien shows she was willing to leave the relationship, a court heard . Troubled: In the email Anni states: 'You've hurt me a lot by this and I'm ready to pack and leave. This is not a joke. I can't sleep at night' Shrien wrote back: 'I love you. You know that. Surely, this is what is the most important thing. The rest will just come' Shrien's response: The 28-year-old expresses serious concerns over the state of the marriage . 'Because we had a bollywood wedding doesn't mean we r bollywood actors and just pretending that everything is good when it isn't will just end up with us hating each other,' the 28 year-old wrote on 5 November 2010. In another email, composed in her third language, the Swede asked: 'Seriously, do you want me to leave you? Its very mean of you to tell me these things that you told me just after marriage then you should have told me this before!!! 'I don't want an insecure man or a man that feelings doesn't (sic) come natural that you have to force yourself. 'Never expected things like that from you. Never expected things like that from you but now I want you to tell me exactly how u feel and honestly, u hurt me a lot by this and iam ready to pack and leave and this is not a joke! I can't even sleep at night.' Dewani, left, is on trial for allegedly arranging the murder of his new wife Anni, right, on their honeymoon . The correspondence was extracted from Dewani's phone by police a month after Mrs Dewani was killed in a township carjacking during her South African honeymoon, the Western Cape High Court heard. They were read into the record by Captain Paul Hendrickse whose investigation into the bride's death concluded that her husband of two weeks was the mastermind of her cold-blooded murder. Dewani's emailed response to his wife's outpourings was handed to Judge Jeanette Traverso by defence barrister Francois van Zyl. In contrast to his wife's excitable tones, Dewani's reply was curt, rebutting her concerns in numerical order – number two being the most revealing. 'When I said it was not natural and was forcing myself – we were talking about not feeling happy. Not that I was forcing myself to be with you,' he wrote, nearly four hours after his wife's two-part screed. The accused took copious notes during the testimony of Captain Hendrickse . 'They are very different comments and seriously you cannot just take a meaning that you want. 'You need to listen to what I meant.' Dewani denies recruiting taxi driver Zola Tongo to organise a fake carjacking as a cover for his wife's murder at the hands of two gunmen during their trip to Cape Town, exactly four years ago. Capt Hendrickse told the court he had been assigned to investigating Mrs Dewani's murder shortly after her body was discovered, with a fatal gun shot wound to her neck, in the back of Tongo's taxi. He formally interviewed Dewani 48 hours after he and Tongo had been freed unharmed from the ambush which claimed his wife's life and it was during that interview that the grieving husband's story began to unravel. Basic details from the first-hand account of the carjacking given to police by Dewani in the hours after the incident were then changed in his later statement, the court heard. Dewani told a new story about the location of the two gun men at the point they confronted the taxi carrying the newylweds, changed the number of guns the men were carrying and what valuables were stolen in the terrifying ordeal . In his first account to police, Dewani had described pleading for his bride's life in return for the weddings rings he handed over. The following morning, he had phoned Capt Hendrickse to tell him exactly where officers should look for his wife's £25,000 engagement ring - 'in the stitching' in one of the taxi's car seats, the court heard. The detective said he was'a bit confused because Dewani told me specifically where to find the ring, after he said [in his statement] that he gave the rings to the attackers.' After being confronted by the detective with the contradictory versions, Dewani 'became uneasy with the question and began pacing up and down my office and then gave me that explanation,' Capt Hendrickse said. The body language between Dewani and his family was noticeably tense as the policeman gave his testimony - during which Dewani took copious notes which he passed over the dock to his brother Preyen, who has sat with the defence team since the start of the trial last month. Capt Hendrickse told the court that by the time Tongo was in custody, Dewani had returned to England but kept in touch with the officer to check on the investigation's progress. During one call to the detective, he learned of Tongo's arrest. CCTV footage shows Dewani's reaction to the death of his wife . The vehicle where Anni's body was found. She had been shot in the neck . 'The accused was somewhat surprised that I had arrested the taxi driver,' the detective said. The following day, he was contacted by a lawyer, acting for Dewani, who wanted to know 'whether her client had been implicated in any way.' The policeman said that Dewani had failed to mention a number of vital facts during the hunt for his wife's killers, which would have entirely changed the direction of their inquiry. Most significantly, Dewani had not revealed that he had put R8,000 (£500) in his wife's bag before the couple had left on the night of the carjacking - or that it was payment for a surprise helicopter ride that he had asked Tongo to arrange. Dewani did not reveal to police that he had put R8,000 (£500) in his wife's bag before the couple had left on the night of the carjacking . It was only at the opening of his trial, that the helicopter trip was raised for the first time by Dewani as the cover for the secret meetings, phone calls and text messages between him and Tongo, and the cash the couple was carrying on the night of his wife's murder. 'If that explanation had been given to me, Mr Tongo would automatically have become a suspect,' Capt Hendrickse told the court. 'It would have created a motive for what transpired. I did not have any of those facts available. 'There would have been a motive for Tongo to have robbed Mr Dewani.' He dismissed Dewani's explanation as 'a newly-fabricated story'. After the lunch break, during cross-examination Mr van Zyl revealed that he had spoken to Tanya Lochner, the lawyer first instructed by Dewani in the wake of Tongo's arrest. The barrister put it to Capt Hendrickse that he had told Ms Lochner outside an earlier hearing dealing with the cases of Tongo and hit man Mziwamadoda Qwabe, that Mrs Dewani had been shot in error. 'She told me that you said they [hitmen] did not mean to shoot her. They only shot her because she wouldn't stop screaming,' Mr van Zyl said to the officer, who said he could not recall the exchange. Mr van Zyl also summed up his client's contribution to the fiery email exchange as, 'Shrien says he loves Anni', referring to bullet point number three of his e-mail. 'I love you. You know that. Surely this is the most important thing. The rest will just come,' it read. Intriguingly, the two-page print out of the correspondence revealed that it was an innocuous – if impersonal – message from Dewani, which was obviously followed by a more intimate confession in person - that triggered her fervent reply. In a stark list – under the subject: Things to get ready – Dewani offers his wife of five days a list of six items to pack – five of them electronic. Passports, your laptop, laptop charger, camera, camera charger, camera memory card. Mr van Zyl told the court: 'The accused will say that they had a discussion when they were in a hotel in Bristol. He said how he felt and she didn't like it.' Dewani denies five charges including murder and robbery. The trial continues.
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Murder victim threatened to walk out just five days after they married .
She said he had left her feeling hurt, confused and unable to sleep .
Shrien Dewani attempted to put her mind at ease in his reply .
Dewani, now 34, denies five charges, including murder and kidnapping .
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By . Nina Golgowski . Hero: Jon Candelaria, right, pulled a trapped taxi driver from his vehicle. The taxi driver left before Candelaria could get his name . As Hurricane Sandy's flood waters rose higher and higher around a stranded New York taxi cab on Monday night its, driver appeared helpless against the 14-foot storm surge that grew to his chin. But offering a final moment of mercy, witnesses watched as 25-year-old Jon Candelaria selflessly left his Upper East Side apartment to reach the man trapped in the churning water and wind. 'He looked like he was praying, preparing to die. He looked like he knew it was his time to go,' Mr Candelaria told DNA Info of the moment he reached the yellow SUV’s window. Standing at 6-feet-5, the East River’s water had swept up to Mr Candelaria's chest as he waded out to the vehicle he had spotted from his seventh floor apartment - a public housing complex on East 93rd street and First Avenue. From that window, at the peak of the storm, Mr Candelaria’s mother had let out a scream when catching sight of the cab as it abruptly lifted and spun 180-degrees around in the tide. 'That's when my mom flipped out,' Mr Candelaria recalled. Slipping on a jacket over a pair of shorts, Mr Candelaria began his dash outside and into the water while his mother dialed 911. '911 was overloaded. If we had waited for help, he would have died,' he said. Dipping into the water he estimated feeling like 40-degrees, Mr Candelaria said it didn't take long for the water to rise from his ankles to his chest. Wading one step at a time it was then a flash of his two-year-old daughter entered his head - his greatest risk of leaving behind. 'I would do it for anybody,' he later said of his decision. 'It doesn't matter who you are; you're a human being.' Dangerous: Standing at 6-feet-5, the East River's water had swept up to Mr Candelaria's chest as he waded out to the vehicle, pictured . Reaching the door he pulled at its handle but found it stuck, unable to budge against the water. Enlisting the driver's help, whom he said showed only brief panic, he signaled for them to both try on the count of three. Counting off, he said something unusual happened. 'As soon as I hit three, it seemed like everything became calm,' Mr Candelaria said, describing the wind briefly pausing for the first time. Pealing it open, Mr Candeleria was seen by other residents grabbing the driver from his vehicle and tossing him over his shoulder to begin their trek back. ‘Even if he had managed to get out of the car, I don't think he would have made it because he was so short,’ Mr Candeleria said of the man found to be 5-foot-1 in height. Floating: Mr Candelaria's mother had let out a scream when catching sight of the cab as it abruptly lifted and spun 180-degrees around in the tide . Inside his building, witnesses to the scene poured out to help and catch sight of the hero. 'I said "Oh my God, you are a hero,' Rita Callahan, a resident in the building recalled to DNA Info. '"That waster was churning. It could have swept you away.'" ‘I'm not a hero,’ Mr Candelaria said. ‘What was I supposed to do? Sit at home and watch a man drown and take pictures to post on Facebook? … That's not me.’ Brave: Jon Candelaria selflessly left his Upper East Side apartment, pictured, in New York to reach the man in the churning water and wind . Four days after superstorm Sandy lashed the East Coast with high winds and a huge storm surge, thee city is still recovering from the devastating effects . Poignant: A child's doll lies discarded in the mud following Sandy's impact on New York City . So eager to return to his family, . when police arrived the driver was gone, with neither Mr Candelaria nor . witnessing residents catching the man's name. A . photo of the two men was, however, snapped by one of the building's . residents, showing the pair both smiling. The driver stands just up to . Mr Candelaria's shoulders. ‘I remember him when he was just a baby in the carriage,’ Rose Bergin a resident of Mr Candelaria’s building told DNA Info. ‘Now he's a hero who grew up right here in public housing.’
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Wading into a 14-foot storm surge during Hurricane Sandy on Monday Jon Candelaria pulled a trapped taxi driver from his vehicle .
Spotting the driver from his apartment building Mr Candelaria rushed outside to save the man .
The 25-year-old father carried the driver over his shoulder to safety with the flood water reaching his chest .
Mr Candelaria: 'Even if he had managed to get out of the car, I don't think he would have made it'
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Sports stars around the world are joining in the celebrations as 2014 ticks over into 2015 and taking to social media to wish their fans and followers a Happy New Year. Gareth Bale and his wife Emma Rhys-Jones were ready to hit the town, with the Wales and Real Madrid star donning a dapper red tuxedo for the occasion. Barcelona star Luis Suarez appears to be attending a masked ball to celebrate the New Year and posted a picture with wife Sofia Balbi on his Twitter account. Gareth Bale and his wife Emma posted this picture as they prepared to head out and celebrate New Year . Barcelona star Luis Suarez and wife Sofia posed for a picture at their New Year's party . Tennis star Rafael Nadal partied in Abu Dhabi as sports stars rang in the New Year around the world . Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez meanwhile posted a photo of himself and his team-mates celebration in a hotel the night before their clash with Southampton at St Mary's. He wrote: 'At the hotel, receiving the 2015 with the team... Tomorrow is a very important match!!!' Tennis stars Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were also marking the New Year, with the Spaniard wearing a glittery hat while eating a plate of grapes in a picture posted on his Facebook page. Murray was wearing a Help for Heroes hoodie and was holding a cluster of balloons as he prepared to ring in 2015 at Zuma in Abu Dhabi, while Djokovic tweeted a picture with wife Jelena in front of their Christmas tree. Djokovic wrote: 'Happy New Year everybody! Lots of love, heath, happiness and success to all of you!' Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez celebrates with team-mates in his hotel on Wednesday night . Formula One driver Jenson Button announced his official marriage when wishing everyone a 'Happy New Year' Golfer Rory McIlroy posted a picture of two glasses of Champagne, with the message: 'Happy New Years everyone!! Have a great 2015' Andy Murray was also at Zuma in Abu Dhabi as the British tennis No 1 celebrates the start of 2015 . Novak Djokovic tweeted this snap with wife Jelena as he wished his followers a Happy New Year . F1 ace Jenson Button officially announced his marriage on Twitter too during the celebrations. He said: 'Happy New Year from Mr and Mrs Button!! We're excited to see in the New Year with family and loved ones, we hope you're too!' Golfer Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, saw in the New Year with some Champagne. He posted a picture of a bottle of bubbly and two glasses on Instagram, accompanied with the message: 'Happy New Years everyone!! Have a great 2015.' The relentless pace of the Premier League meant it was a quiet New Years for Manchester United's Spanish trio of Ander Herrera, David De Gea and Juan Mata. They are holed up in the team hotel ahead of the visit to Stoke. The German football team can look back on 2014 with fondness and Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski shared a picture of himself lifting the World Cup back in June with his New Year's message. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge made his New Year wishes club specific, saying Liverpool fans will 'Never Walk Alone'. Ander Herrera posted a picture with compatriots David De Gea and Juan Mata in the Man United team hotel . Lukas Podolski lifted the World Cup in 2014 and reminded us of the fact in his Happy New Year post . Chelsea's Andre Schurrle also commemorated a very successful 2014 for himself and the German team . Daniel Sturridge posted a Liverpool-themed Happy New Year message . Jonas Gutierrez paid tribute to his girlfriend in this Twitter post . And Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez, who overcame testicular cancer in 2014, paid tribute to his girlfriend, the Argentine model Alejandra Maglietti, in his New Year's tweet. He wrote: 'The last day of 2014. I learn a lot from this year and very proud to find this woman in my life @alemaglietti. happy new year for everyone.' Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko was pictured with a couple of lady friends, tweeting: 'Happy New Year everybody! Have a great one with lots of love, health and joy. #2015 #WeAreComing'. Interestingly, Liverpool legend Ian Rush also seemed to enjoy his night. The former striker tweeted a photograph of himself with ex-Everton star Peter Reid on the beach in Doha - before a picture of Rush with a cigar in his mouth and a 'Happy New Year' hat was also retweeted. Liverpool legend Ian Rush (left) celebrated in Doha with former Everton star Peter Reid (centre) Rush then retweeted a picture of himself with a cigar and a 'Happy New Year' hat on . Southampton manager Ronald Koeman welcomed the New Year with his family . Oscar was spending New Year's Eve at home with wife Ludmila and daughter Julia . Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, meanwhile, was accompanied by two female friends in his picture . Connor Wickham was on Sunderland's team coach heading down to Manchester for their match by City . Boxer Carl Froch was out celebrating with girlfriend Rachel Cordingley in this Twitter snap . It looked like a quiet night for Chelsea's Oscar ahead of their visit to Tottenham on New Year's Day, and he was pictured with wife Ludmila and daughter Julia at home. Sunderland striker Connor Wickham pictured himself on the team coach as they headed down to Manchester ahead of their match with City. Australian cricketer Shane Warne, meanwhile, celebrated the New Year dressed as Superman. Shane Warne was dressed as Superman at his New Year's Eve celebration .
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Sports stars the world over are celebrating the New Year .
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale wore a red tux as he posed with wife Emma .
Luis Suarez was wearing a mask as he posed with wife Sofia .
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray partied in Abu Dhabi .
Novak Djokovic posted a snap with his wife Jelena .
Shane Warne was dressed as Superman as he partied Down Under .
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Natalie Cole's search for a new kidney ended this week when someone with a compatible organ died and their family asked that it be given to the singer, according to the organ procurement group that handled the donation. Natalie Cole received a kidney transplant Tuesday in Los Angeles. Cole, who underwent a successful kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, was "responding well and recuperating" Thursday, her publicist said. Cole had been on what she called "a very long list" of people waiting for an organ donation when she got word recently that OneLegacy, an organ procurement agency in Southern California, had a kidney that was a biological match. It was a "directed donation" from a deceased organ donor, according to OneLegacy CEO Tom Mone. "Having heard of Ms. Cole's need for a kidney, the family asked that one of their loved one's kidneys be transplanted to Ms. Cole if they were a match," Mone said. Directed organ donations are rare, and rarer still are those directed to someone not related to or known personally by the deceased, he said. The donor will remain anonymous until the family gives permission for the name to be made public, he said. Cole's need for a kidney donation was highly publicized, including with an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live" on March 31. "I'm on a very long list, which is why we are looking to donors," said Cole, the daughter of legendary crooner Nat King Cole. Cole said her kidney troubles date to February 2008 when she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Cole said she attributes the Hepatitis C to her well-publicized struggles to stop using cocaine and heroin. Cole said she has been sober for some time now after two stints in a rehabilitation clinic. Cole said she underwent chemotherapy in an aggressive way to fight the virus. Within four months of getting chemotherapy, both of Cole's kidneys failed. "I couldn't breathe. I -- I went into -- literally, my kidneys stopped functioning. They stopped, you know, processing the fluid that was starting to build up in my body." Since then Cole has been on dialysis three days a week and has been searching for a kidney, she told King in one of the first public interviews about the issue. Cole won six Grammys for her 1991 critically acclaimed album "Unforgettable: With Love," a jazzy tribute to her father. She won a Grammy this year for her new album "Still Unforgettable" and another Grammy for her work on another album. Cole was still able to tour this year even with her kidney ailment. She canceled a planned show last week in South Korea because of her illness, which meant she was in Los Angeles when the organ became available. "I have been on dialysis in Istanbul, Milan, Indonesia, Manila, London. It's -- it's amazing," Cole said. During King's show, dozens of people sent e-mails to CNN telling Cole that they would get tested to see if their kidney could be donated. King handed a thick stack of paper to Cole. "These are all e-mails from dozens -- dozens of people offering to be tested to see if they can match, who want to give you a kidney," King said. Cole stared at the papers for a moment. "There are some great human beings out there. That's all I can say," Cole said. Cole is expected to return to the tour after three to four months of recovery. CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report.
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Natalie Cole's new kidney came from deceased fan; fan's family asked for Cole .
Natalie Cole underwent kidney transplant surgery Tuesday .
Singer received supportive e-mails when on CNN's "Larry King Live" in March .
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14458c9ff5d4afcf8d30ac04f3cf0ebc9b980545
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Comedian Tommy Cooper loved a good pun . Heard the one about Cadbury’s introducing an Oriental chocolate bar to its range? Could be a Chinese Wispa. That’s not my joke. It belongs to comedian Rob Auton and it has just won the annual award for Funniest Joke at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as voted for in a public poll. But it’s also, like most of the Top Ten gags in the poll, a pun — an old-fashioned, straightforward play on words. Indeed, it’s so old-fashioned that I can remember my sister reading out a similar joke from Smash Hits magazine in the Eighties: ‘Why did George Michael have chocolate on his face?’ — ‘He was Careless with his Wispa’. Is Rob Auton’s line really the funniest joke of the year? There’s probably two dozen equally good puns in the average edition of Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. But puns always dominate the Edinburgh list, because they require no context. They’re always quotable (and Tweetable) in a way that other jokes, requiring a long set up or an element of visual humour, may not be. Last year’s winner was ‘I’ll tell you who gives kids a bad name: Posh and Becks.’ It wasn’t particularly ground-breaking, it was perhaps a little out of date, but it had immediate, widespread appeal. The runner-up was Tim Vine’s ‘Crime in multi-storey car-parks — that’s wrong on so many different levels’, which, for me, is a better joke. You only have to look at Twitter, or read the headlines in the tabloids, or listen to gags being told in pubs and playgrounds up and down the country, to realise that we Brits love puns. Great writers: Chaucer loved puns while Shakespeare could never resist them . They have been embedded in British life and language for as long as we have spoken English. In fact, before we spoke English. In the 6th century AD, Pope Gregory I’s reaction to seeing fair-haired English boys for the first time was ‘Non Angli, sed Angeli’ — ‘they are not Angles, but Angels’ — proving that even Popes love a good pun. In Latin. And any student of English literature quickly realises that even our greatest writers have had a weakness for double-meanings. Chaucer loved them. Shakespeare could never resist them. It’s always satisfying to hear the audience groan in a Midsummer Night’s Dream when Bottom, magically given the head of a donkey, responds by saying ‘this is to make an ass of me’. You’d think, with such a literary heritage, that puns would be a highly regarded art, but quite the opposite is true. Puns are more often than not seen as an embarrassment. I remember a lecturer at Cambridge talking about Shakespeare’s ‘fatal weakness for puns’, as if it were a major flaw in the Bard’s credentials. Indeed, in the world of comedy, puns are seen as the lowest form of wit. Oddly John Cleese allowed some truly egregious puns into Fawlty Towers . ‘A pun,’ said John Cleese, of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, ‘is a substitute for a joke.’ Cleese would get famously angry at the pun-laden scripts of the Sixties BBC radio hit I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again. Oddly, though, he allowed some truly egregious puns into Fawlty Towers. One hotel guest, discovering that the salt cellar is full of sugar complains that he has just sprinkled it ‘all over the plaice’. ‘All over the place?’ explodes Cleese as Basil Fawlty. ‘What were you doing with it?’ Even those who hate puns sometimes just can’t resist ’em. Radio comedy in the Forties and Fifties revolved around puns, because radio comedy has to be about words rather than physical comedy. The biggest post-war wireless hit, Take It From Here — which launched its writers, Frank Muir and Denis Norden, towards decades of TV stardom — contained some famous ones, including the line ‘Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!’ which was later pinched for Carry On Cleo, and delivered by Kenneth Williams. It was an age of much greater censorship, and the BBC were particularly stringent. In 1948, the BBC’s Guide For Writers And Producers, known as The Green Book, placed an ‘absolute ban’ on ‘suggestive references to: honeymoon couples, chambermaids, fig leaves, prostitution, ladies’ underwear and lodgers’. Puns were used to smuggle rudeness into scripts, both in broadcasting and on stage. Everybody from Max Miller to Kenneth Horne used puns to get round the censors. Many of Miller’s are still too rude for polite company and would be banned before the 9pm watershed. Spike Milligan, meanwhile, wrote a character called Hugh Jampton into the Goon Show. Classics: Old favourites Les Dawson (left) and Spike Milligan (right) often used puns . Supposedly, he and Peter Sellers waited for the BBC to cut the line, but the bosses didn’t get the joke, and it stayed in. (The rhyming slang Hampton Wick was a reliable staple of British comedy.) Then there were the Julian and Sandy sketches of the mid-Sixties. These characters were two highly camp and clearly gay unemployed actors who were forever trying out different jobs. The writers, Barry Took and Marty Feldman, gave them puns of exquisite cleverness that constantly tested the boundaries. As lawyers, they claimed ‘we’ve got a criminal practice that takes up most of our time’ — a line delivered in the very year, 1967 — that homosexuality was decriminalised, and a rare example of a pun being used to make a satirical point. Later generations, not subject to the same restrictions of subject-matter, didn’t understand the subversive role of the pun, and came to regard puns as just old-fashioned and feeble. The punning songs of the Two Ronnies were mercilessly satirised by alternative sketch show Not The Nine O’Clock News, and critics regularly used ‘pun-laden’ as a term of abuse. Puns were seen as childish. Indeed, they are usually the basis of the first jokes children learn. Today, the BBC’s guidelines for sitcom writers expressly warn against puns. Which makes it all the more heartening for lovers of the English language, with all its glorious potential for verbal mischief, that in 2013 puns are alive and well and thriving in the stand-up routines of comics like Rob Auton and Tim Vine. But if you think puns are cheap or easy laughs, you’d be wrong. Think of the story of the headline writer on a Scottish newspaper confronted by the news that Inverness Caledonian Thistle had comprehensively beaten a poor Celtic side. This was an unexpected result, and Caley Thistle were delighted. The editor thought about it for a bit, and then wrote the headline Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious. That’s not an easy laugh. That’s genius.
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Rob Auton won annual award at Edinburgh Fringe Festival for Funniest Joke .
Like most of the top ten gags in the poll, it was a pun .
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By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 04:58 EST, 11 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:33 EST, 11 April 2013 . When Candace Frazee began to affectionately nickname her then-boyfriend Steve Lubanski 'Hunny Bunny', an obsession was born. Steve bought Candace a pet rabbit as a token of their love the next Valentine's Day and the couple began exchanging bunny-themed gifts on a daily basis. They have now amassed an astonishing 28,500 items - a Guinness World Record - and opened a museum for all things rabbit at their home in Pasadena, California. Scroll down for video . Obsessed: Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski are so devoted to bunnies that they've turned their home in Pasadena, California, into a rabbit museum . Living museum: As well as 28,500 rabbit themed items on show, the couple also have live rabbits who are litter-trained running around their house . Vast collection: Steve and Candace have amassed the world's largest collection of rabbit memorabilia . Can't say goodbye: The California couple are so obsessed with rabbits that they keep their dead pet rabbits in the freezer until they can afford to have then freeze-dried . But the couple's obsession spreads further than novelty nick-nacks. Alongside tubs of ice cream and their wedding cake, the couple keep their dead pet rabbits in the freezer. Steve and Candace can't bear to part with their pet rabbits after they've died and keep them in the freezer until they can afford to have them freeze-dried at $500 a time. As a surprise gift for their 19th wedding anniversary, Candace secretly took one of the dead rabbits - called Garetta - from the freezer and sent it off to the company that freeze-dries the corpses, ready to present to him as a romantic gift over dinner. Romantic nickname: The couple's obsession began when Candace gave her then-boyfriend the affectionate name 'Hunny Bunny' while they were dating . Handle with care: As well as stuffed toys, furniture and even toiletries, the couple have a vast array of china rabbits . Well-behaved: The couple say that their real pet rabbits roam free around the house because they are litter trained . The couple, who have been featured on new entertainment channel TLC's programme My Crazy Obsession, opened the museum at their home in 1998 and say that they attract visitors from all over the world. Most of their home is decked out in rabbit-related furnishings, including the light fittings, kitchenware and toiletries. As well as the 28,500 rabbit items, the couple also have real rabbits that do not live in cages and are apparently litter-trained roaming free around the house. Rebecca Chulew from Texas is also featured on My Crazy Obsession because of her all-consuming love of Barbie dolls. She was bought her first doll at the age of seven by her mother Margot and even had a special custom doll made up to look like her mother in her favourite photograph when she died in 2007. Rebecca looks set to pass the obsession on to her 15-month-old daughter Veronica as she has custom dresses made at a cost of $300 a time to match different Barbie outfits. I'm a Barbie girl: Rebecca Chulew, from Texas, dresses herself and her 15 month old daughter like her favourite doll . She even goes to the hairdressers once a week and takes a different Barbie along as inspiration for her new hair style. Rebecca has amassed 500 vintage Barbie dolls thought to be worth around $80,000. The young mother also scours recycling plants looking for discarded Barbies to restore. She has added around 8,000 to her collection over several years. Vast: Rebecca shows off some of her dolls . Home business: The couple opened their rabbit museum back in 1998 and say that it attracts visitors from all over the world . Keepsake: The couple's collection includes bags of real rabbit fur . Nick-nacks: Some of the items on display at the museum are more expensive than others . Work cut out: Candace has a long job on her hands keeping the exhibits dust free . But of all the items on show at the museum, the one that is said to attract the most attention is an Elvis rabbit. The couple say that while rabbits like Roger Rabbit are only known in certain cultures, the popularity of Elvis transcends cultures. My Crazy Obsession follows people whose fondness for objects has turned into an obsession, and reveals the effort needed to maintain these passions. Hopping mad: Candace and Steve have all manor of rabbit-related goods from the traditional to the 21st century . Romance isn't dead: As a 19th wedding anniversary present to Steve, Candace secretly had one of the couple's frozen dead rabbits freeze dried as a gift . Outlandish tastes: Even many of the couple's home furnishings and toiletries are rabbit-themed . The Best family from Las Vegas claim to be the world's strongest family and will also appear on My Crazy Obsession. Nick and Callie Best, their 11-year-old son Dylan and even five-year-old daughter Jessica are all obsessed with working out in the $80,000 gym they have built in the garage of their home after they were banned from three local gyms. Between them, the family of four spend a staggering 240 hours a week in the gym and eat ten dozen eggs a week. Flexing family: The Bests from Las Vegas claim to be the world's strongest family . Strong: Despite only being aged 11, Dylan can already deadlift 14lbs . Nick and Callie, who are both regular competitors at strong man and strong woman contests, met at a competition and have passed their fitness obsession onto their two children. Already Dylan can deadlift 140lbs despite his young age and five-year-old Jessica can lift more than double her body weight already. As well as working out in the gym, the family sling huge tyres down the street. Nick, who eats an astonishing 10,000 to 15,000 calories a day also pulls a truck weighed down with family and neighbours along the street once a week. Bizarre: Father Nick pulls a truck along the street, weighed down with family and neighbours, once a week .
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Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski have a rabbit museum at their home .
They keep dead pet rabbits in the freezer until they can freeze-dry them .
The pair hold the Guinness World Record for the most rabbit-related items .
Their obsession has been featured on TLC series My Crazy Obsession .
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The father accused of killing his six children in a house fire, ‘punched the air’ in anger when he was told his ex-mistress would not be arrested over an alleged threatening phone call, a court heard today. Michael Philpott, 56, said he would take matters into his own hands, according to a police officer who called to his house in Derby following the accusation against his former partner Lisa Willis. Mr Philpott is on trial alongside his wife Mairead, 31, accused of attempting to frame 28-year-old Miss Willis for the fire which killed six of his children. On trial: Michael Philpott (left), his wife Mairead (centre) and defendant Paul Mosley (right) have been accused of starting the fire which killed the children . Accused: Mairead Philpott and her husband Michael, pictured with the six children who died in the house fire, are both accused of manslaughter . It is alleged that the Philpotts, . along with a third defendant Paul Mosley, started the blaze in their . home in Allenton, Derby which killed their children: Jade, 10, John, . nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13. The petrol-fuelled blaze broke out in . the hallway of the home where Philpott lived with wife Mairead, 31, and . their own six children – all of whom perished as they slept. The court heard that until three . months before the blaze last May, ‘highly controlling’ Philpott shared . his cramped three-bedroom semi-detached home with his wife, mistress and . all 11 children he had with both women. Less than two weeks before the fatal . fire, Mr Philpott reported Miss Willis to the police, accusing her of . making a threatening phone call. PC Sharon Atwal told Nottingham Crown Court she was . one of the officers who went to see Mr Philpott in May after he alleged . his former mistress had threatened him over the phone. He told police Miss Willis had called him and said: ‘Leave me, my sister, and . my family alone or I’ll kill you,’ the court heard. ‘Mick told me that Lisa’s family had . never really liked him, they had never got on and they had never really . seen eye to eye,’ PC Atwal told the court. Prosecutor Richard Latham QC asked how . she thought he considered the alleged call, PC Atwal said: ‘Mick said . he did perceive it as serious and, in his words, he feared for his . safety and his children’s safety.' The children, five boys and a girl, aged between five and 13, died in the fire at their house in Derby, pictured. Flowers were left at the scene . Mick and Mairead Philpott, pictured with five of the six children who died in the house fire. The other identities have been obscured for legal reasons . The family shared an unconventional lifestyle - Philpott (right), 56, his 31-year-old wife Mairead (left), and his mistress Lisa Willis, 28, all lived in the same house together . PC Atwal also said that it was clear that Philpott wanted Miss Willis taken into custody over the alleged threats. 'I took it that Mick had already made up in his mind the outcome he wanted.’ ‘And that outcome was?’ Mr Latham asked. ‘Lisa being arrested.’ Jurors heard police decided no action . would be taken against Miss Willis. When they returned to tell Philpott . this, he reacted angrily. ‘Mick became angry, started to punch out into thin air. Created a fist and punched out into thin air,’ the officer said. ‘He said he’d take matters into his own hands.’ PC Atwal said she explained Miss . Willis would be spoken to by officers just not under caution but . Philpott did not accept the decision. He left the room, after which thumping . was heard, which PC Atwal said she believed to be a wall or a door. Jurors were told Philpott brought some of his children into the room to talk to officers. ‘He lined them all up . military-fashion, he directed them to sit down, and they did, then Mick . directed them to tell the officers what they had heard,’ PC Atwal said. She went on: ‘One of the children spoke out. ‘One of the children said ‘They said they were going to kill Daddy’.’ PC Atwal said she was not comfortable . talking to the children because proper procedures had to be followed and . told Philpott that officers from the child protection unit had to deal . with them. Jade Philpott, 10 . Jayden Philpott, 5 . John Philpott, 9 . Jack Philpott, 8 . Jesse Philpott, 6 . Duwayne Philpott, 13 . Shortly after, Philpott became unwell, . the officer said, and suffered an angina attack for which his wife had . to bring a medicated spray. Jurors also heard from Ian Cousins, husband of Lisa Willis’s sister Amanda, who was questioned about . his knowledge regarding the fire. It is alleged that Mick Philpott and . his wife Mairead, along with a third defendant Paul Mosley, started the . fatal blaze in order to frame Miss Willis as the culprit after she left . her relationship with Philpott. During Mr Cousins’ evidence to the . court, Anthony Orchard QC, defending Mick Philpott, asked him: ‘Are you . or were you connected to the setting of this fire?’ Mr Cousins answered: ‘Not at all.’ Mr Orchard asked: ‘Did you have any direct knowledge of who set the fire?’ ‘No,’ he replied. Arrival: A prison van believed to be containing the defendants arrives at Nottingham Crown Court today . The court heard Philpott (second from left) planned to frame his ex-girlfriend and eventually win his children back . Opening the case for the prosecution . last week Richard Latham QC told jurors the Philpotts lived an unusual . life at Victory Road. Miss Willis lived there with the . couple as Philpott’s mistress, along with her four children that were . fathered by him, and another child she had from a previous relationship. Another six youngsters, those who died in the fire, were the children of Mick and Mairead Philpott and also lived in the house. Jurors heard today from Mr Cousins . about events before the fire in February last year when Miss Willis went . to stay with him and his wife, from whom he is now separated, after she . had left Philpott. There was no love lost between Mr . Cousins and Philpott, he said, and both he and his wife were relieved . Miss Willis had finally decided to leave the relationship after 10 . years. ‘We knew that she had not been living in a very good situation and were just happy she had got out,’ Mr Cousins said. Fatal: Prosecutor Mr Latham told the jury the fire was started in the early hours of the morning on the day Miss Willis and Philpott were due in court to discuss the residency of the children . Floral tributes adorn the pavement outside the house following the fire . Mr Cousins, who was arrested by police . and questioned in relation to the fire before being released with no . further action, said Philpott had turned up at his home wanting to see . his children just weeks after Miss Willis had left. There was a tense confrontation, jurors heard, in which Mr Cousins and Philpott exchanged insults before police were called. The court also heard details of how . Philpott posted an entry on Facebook in which he accused Mr Cousins of . having an affair with Miss Willis and fathering the child she had when . she was 16. Mr Cousins said he and his wife both . knew the claims were not true, but conceded that the online post had . caused some upset between them. The court heard that on April 6, Philpott received a call from his wife while taking friends to a darts game in his minibus. Philpott . told his friends: 'Sorry guys, someone is threatening to torch the . house with the kids in it,' Mr Latham told the court. The Philpotts and Mosley, a fork-lift truck driver and also from Derby, each deny six counts of manslaughter. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Michael and Mairead Philpott allegedly started the fire at their Derby home .
The couple and a third defendant deny six separate counts of manslaughter .
Philpott had accused ex-mistress Lisa Willis of phoning death threats .
Said he would 'take matters into his own hands' when he heard Miss Willis, with whom he has four children, would not be arrested over 'threats'
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Three decades after Back To The Future hit the big screen, a legal battle is brewing over the futuristic muscle car-turned-time machine immortalized by the cult classic starring Michael J. Fox. Maverick automaker John DeLorean's eponymous creation co-starred in the 1985 movie as it transported Marty McFly back to the 1950s to engineer his parents' meeting — and, in a 1989 sequel, to a 2015 world that featured flying skateboards, automated dog-walkers and self-drying jackets. Now, DeLorean's widow, Sally, claims in a federal lawsuit that Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company has been illegally using the DeLorean name to peddle hats, pens, notebooks, key chains and other memorabilia, and has illegally licensed the name and images to other companies including Nike, Mattel, Urban Outfitters and Apple. The company has never been formally affiliated with the one John DeLorean started. Scroll down for video . Legal tussle: Texas based company that designs and sells DeLorean-themed products is being sued by John De Lorean's widow for trademark infringement. In this 2010 photo, cast members of the Back to the Future movies appear on the NBC Today show commemorating the 25th anniversary of the franchise . Maverick: Engineer John Z. DeLorean created the DMC 12, referred to simply as 'the DeLorean' - a futuristic car with gull-wing doors and an unpainted stainless-steel exterior . Immortalized: DeLorean's eponymous creation co-starred in the 1985 Back To The Future movie as it transported Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, back to the 1950s . The Texas company 'has improperly and illegally appropriated for its own use Mr. DeLorean's legacy, including the DeLorean Identity, together with intellectual property,' the lawsuit alleges. The suit claims the company has plans to manufacture an electric version of the car, which it says would be illegal because the car's design belongs to John DeLorean's estate. In addition to seeking to stop the company from continuing to use the trademarks, the suit seeks damages as well as the company's profits derived from their use. Through its attorney, the company has denied all claims and asserted it has the right to the trademarks. The two sides have a settlement conference scheduled for next month. John Z. DeLorean was an automotive innovator who began his career at General Motors and is credited by some with creating America's first 'muscle' car, the Pontiac GTO, in the mid-1960s. He left GM in the early 1970s to start his own company and eventually produced the DMC 12, referred to simply as 'the DeLorean' - a sleek, angular car with gull-wing doors and an unpainted stainless-steel exterior. Part 2: In a 1989 sequel, McFly used the DeLorean to travel to a 2015 world that featured flying skateboards, automated dog-walkers and self-drying jackets . Futuristic: The DeLorean was chosen by the makers of Back To The Future because it would plausibly look like a spacecraft to people in the 1950s flashback scenes . Time machine: Interiors of the DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future II is on display at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Convention Center in Detroit. January 14, 2014 . Only about 9,000 of the cars were produced before DeLorean's company went bust in the early 1980s, but the car's look and cult following helped land it a role in the Back To The Future franchise. According to the Internet Movie Database, the car was chosen because it would plausibly look like a spacecraft to people in the 1950s flashback scenes. DeLorean died in New Jersey in 2005 at age 80 after years of court battles that included a highly publicized drug trial in the 1980s in which he was acquitted of conspiring to sell millions of dollars of cocaine. His former estate in the rolling hills about 40 miles west of New York City was converted into a golf course by developer Donald Trump in 2004. Sally DeLorean lives in New Jersey with her daughter. Attorney R. Scott Thompson, who represents Sally DeLorean, said John DeLorean bought his company's trademarks, images and other intellectual property during the company's bankruptcy proceeding. Hot commodity: Only about 9,000 of the DeLoreans were produced in the decade between mid-70s and 80s . DeLorean's widow, Sally, claims Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company has been illegally using the DeLorean name to sell merchandise, even though the company has never been formally affiliated with the engineer . Signature look: Profile static view of a stainless steel, silver 1981 DeLorean sports car with the gull-wing doors open, parked in front of a commercial building . DeLorean Motor Company says it existed for 10 years prior to John DeLorean's death in 2005 and has registered trademarks . The lawsuit alleges that in 2004 he gave the owners of the Texas company permission to make a small modification to the car's user manual, and they acknowledged that DeLorean owned the intellectual property. 'There is definitely no written agreement' relinquishing the trademarks, Thompson said, adding, 'to the extent that any written agreement exists, it says the opposite.' At that time, the lawsuit contends, the Texas company was a 'small forum' where DeLorean enthusiasts could buy or sell parts or exchange information. The company, disputes this characterization. William Mead, a New Jersey-based attorney representing DeLorean Motor Company, said in an email that the company existed for 10 years prior to John DeLorean's death and has registered trademarks. He said DeLorean was aware of its operations and didn't express opposition. The lawsuit claims the company has plans to manufacture an electric version of the car, which it says would be illegal because the car's design belongs to John DeLorean's estate . Failed venture: DeLorean's company went bust in the early 1980s. This file photo shows the automaker at Press Bankruptcy Conference in February 1982 in London . The Texas company has been assembling and selling DeLorean cars made from original factory parts it acquired in the original bankruptcy proceeding, Mead said. 'Now, years after Mr. DeLorean's death, Sally DeLorean has unfortunately filed a lawsuit as a representative of the Estate of John DeLorean,' Mead said. 'The DeLorean Motor Company denies that the Plaintiff has any right or authority to prevent the DeLorean Motor Company from operating its thirty-year-old business, and has no right to money damages.'
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Automaker John DeLorean's widow, Sally, claims Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company has been illegally using the DeLorean name .
DeLorean's eponymous creation co-starred in 1985 movie as it transported Marty McFly back to the 1950s .
DeLorean Motor Company has never been formally affiliated with the one John DeLorean started after leaving GM in the 1970s .
John DeLorean is credited by some with creating America's first 'muscle' car, the Pontiac GTO .
Only about 9,000 DeLoreans were produced before the automaker's company went bankrupt .
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144841823b4e10f289bfc9a721e796006a71a0b7
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . An assistant principal has resigned after a former student that she allegedly molested 15 years ago confronted her in a phone call before posting the conversation online. Jamie Carrillo posted a YouTube video last Friday where she can be seen calling her alleged teacher rapist Andrea Cardosa at her office in Alhambra Unified School district in California where she was currently working. The now 28-year-old mother said that she made the video post as the statute of limitations has run out for her to be able to prosecute and that she didn't want Cardosa around other children. Scroll down for video . Andrea Cardosa has been accused by a former student of sexually abusing her when she was 12 years old . Jamie Carrillo confronted a teacher on the phone last week whom she alleges sexually abused her when she was 12 years old. She said that she did so as she did not want the woman, who is still a teacher, around other children . In the call, she tells the woman, who identifies herself as Andrea Cardosa, that she did something terribly wrong at Chemawa Middle School in Riverside 15 years ago. Cardosa replies: 'Yes, and I regret it.' Ms . Carrillo then asks what the woman would do if a student told her that . she was having a sexual relationship with a teacher to which she replies . that she would involve law enforcement. She asks: 'So how is that any different from what you did when I was at Chemawa Middle?' To which the alleged molester answers: 'It's not.' Ms . Carrillo goes on to tell her alleged attacker that she has children of . her own and that her former teacher's actions ruined her life and that . she is 'disgusting'. When she hangs up the phone, Ms Carrillo shows that she made the call on the screen and reads out the number. She says: 'And I’m shaking like a leaf... not even an ''I'm sorry.'' Or anything. Just that she regrets it.' Ms Carrillo said that the teacher (pictured right) took her on out of town trips and made her feel 'special' Alhambra Unified School District . Superintendent Laura Tellez-Gagliano released a statement saying the . YouTube link was emailed to the school and they passed it to the . Alhambra Police Department. Cardosa, who was named by Ms Carrillo in the tape now seen 300,000 times, has stepped down from her job. She had worked at the school for four months, according to officials. Ms Carrillo's lawyer questioned whether Chemawa Middle School investigated Cardosa who reportedly met the young girl when she coached her at basketball. Ms Carrillo alleges that the coach kissed her in the locker room and put her hand down the 12 year old's pants. The former student then claims Cardosa, who is believed to have been in her mid-twenties at the time of the alleged assaults, organized out of town trips so that she could have sex with the underage girl. The 28-year-old alleges that her former teacher abused her when she was a student at a California high school . Ms Carrillo alleges that she was just 12 years old and a player on the school basketball team when the abuse started . At . a press conference on Monday, Ms Carrillo said that she expected others . who had allegedly been abused by the teacher to come forward. The 28-year-old told KTLA: 'Everything was stolen from me. She just completely manipulated me into thinking that I needed her and I wanted it.' Alhambra Police Department have investigated but said there were no victims or crimes reported at Cardosa's new school. The case has now been forwarded to police investigators in the school district where the alleged crimes took place. The 28-year-old mother posted a YouTube video last Friday where she confronted the woman who allegedly sexually abused her in middle school .
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Jamie Carrillo .
posted video last Friday where she confronted her alleged teacher .
rapist Andrea Cardosa about the alleged assault 15 years ago .
Cardosa was recently working as assistant principal at Alahambra Unified School district in California for 4 months .
Miss Carrillo said she was just 12 and at Chemawa Middle School in Riverside when Cardosa allegedly first kissed her in the locker room .
She told alleged attacker .
that she has children of her own and that her former teacher's actions .
ruined her life and that she is 'disgusting'
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'Lovely character': Schoolboy Daniel Spargo-Mabbs was just 16 when he died after taking ecstasy at a warehouse rave . The heartbroken father of a teenager who died at a rave after taking a lethal dose of ecstasy today told an inquest of his ‘unspeakable’ loss. Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, 16, fell unconscious after taking a lethal dose of the Class A party drug with his friends at a warehouse party in Hayes, west London. The teenager and his friends had clubbed together to buy £80 worth of the drug, and were supplied by Nicqueel Pitrora on January 17 last year. Known as ‘Shampz’ to the schoolboys, Pitrora, 19, was a regular dealer to children and used their payments to supplement his benefits . On their way to the rave, Daniel and four friends met a man on a bike who handed them three bags of white powder after the deal had been arranged with Pitrora. Four of the boys, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, dissolved the drug in 100ml bottles of water while using public transport to reach Silverdale Industrial Estate for the rave. But Daniel sprinkled around half a gramme of the crystalline powder into 500ml of water and drank it in one go once inside the warehouse. Shortly afterwards, the teenager took his shirt off, became animated about his girlfriend and started to dance. But by 4am, his temperature had soared and he collapsed to the ground. Daniel was rushed to nearby Hillingdon hospital by paramedics but nothing could be done to save him. His multi-organ failure became so severe that doctors considered lower limb amputation, but by the morning of January 20, doctors admitted their attempts at helping Daniel were becoming more and more futile. After consultation with Daniel’s family, a decision was made to turn off his life support machine and he was pronounced dead at 2.36pm at King’s College Hospital, where he had been transferred. His devastated father Tim today told West London Coroner’s Court that the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation had been set up in his memory to educate young people about the dangers of taking illegal drugs. Mr Spargo-Mabbs said: ‘We have seen the sort of hole a death like this leaves - we have lived it for a year. ‘And in response all we can find to do is offer ourselves in the service of the charitable foundation trying to prevent this happening to any other family.’ Mr Spargo-Mabbs said his son had led ‘such a good life’ and was a ‘lovely and outrageous character.’ He added: ‘He had a lot to teach me about how to live life well and take every opportunity, and to have a laugh in almost every situation. ‘There is no verbalising the loss we all feel and no end to the pain that his death leaves us with. ‘What there is, however, is the determination shared by his family, school, friends and church, to prevent this happening to anybody else, and that is the best we can pray for now.’ He added his ‘undying thanks’ to all those who had treated Daniel and supported the family. Popular: The teenager and four friends had taken the Class A drug on their way to the rave in Hayes, west London, but Daniel collapsed whilst dancing . Fun: Daniel's devastated father Tim said his son had taught him 'about how to live life well and take every opportunity, and to have a laugh in almost every situation' Popular Daniel was a member of Amnesty International and was known to run errands for pensioners on his paper round. Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe recorded his death as multi-organ failure and MDMA toxicity, which was ‘wholly in keeping’ with taking the drug. She said: ‘The tragic facts are that this is a young man, a teenager, who has attended a rave on the 17/18 January 2014. ‘He has taken MDMA - we know that this was a dose that was fatal. ‘He was found in a semi-collapsed state and taken by ambulance first to the Hillingdon Hospital. ‘The doctors, the nurses, the healthcare professionals tried in order to pull out every single stop to save him.’ Supplier: Nicqueel Pitrora was jailed for five years for supplying class A drugs last August . Pitrora, of London Road, Croydon, was jailed for five years in August last year for supplying Class A drugs. Ms Ormond-Walshe went on to praise both hospitals and the police for all their work. She said a desperate last attempt was made to transfer him to Kings College to save him, and doctors used the ‘most aggressive therapy’ available. She added: ‘He just could not be saved - he was too ill. The amount of MDMA in his blood was a fatal level, and that was the problem. ‘He was a fit and well 16-year-old who collapsed at a rave in a warehouse at the back of an industrial estate after having taken MDMA. ‘I have been very, very impressed with not only how courageous and positive the family have been but how much dignity the family have had after Daniel’s death, and how they have turned it into positive thinking in these devastating circumstances. ‘I have also been very impressed by what they are doing in relation to the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation. ‘It is such an insightful and positive and realistic notion that the family are taking forward. ‘I am minded to write an open letter to the foundation setting out some of the facts of Daniel’s case and how much I support the education of teenagers in relation to illegal drugs.'
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Daniel Spargo-Mabbs died after taking drug in January last year .
Devastated dad Tim says his son was a ‘lovely and outrageous character'
Charity set up in his name to educate young people on dangers of drugs .
Inquest today records death due to multi-organ failure and MDMA toxicity .
Dealer Nicqueel Pitrora was sentenced to five years jail last August .
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By . Ian Sparks . PUBLISHED: . 10:28 EST, 18 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:52 EST, 19 July 2012 . France's new socialist government is to pass a law making it illegal to arrest Britain-bound migrants flooding into Calais. The proposed legislation comes after the country's highest court ruled illegal immigrants cannot be held in custody for having no identity papers. It is feared the new rules - due to become law in the autumn - will unleash a fresh tide of migrants on the northern French coast hoping to sneak on lorries and ferries to Britain. France's new socialist government, led by President Francois Hollande (left), is to pass a law making it illegal to arrest Britain-bound migrants flooding into Calais. On Monday, Socialist MP Stéphane Saint-André (right) cut a red ribbon to declare a refugee camp dubbed 'mini-Sangatte' open . 'Mini-Sangatte': The wooden prefabricated huts currently have around 50 asylum seekers living in them . President Francois Hollande's ruling . left-wing party has also allowed the construction of 'refugee chalets' close to Calais which have been dubbed a new 'mini-Sangatte' - the . notorious Channel migrant camp closed down ten years ago. The . cluster of pre-fabricated buildings already have 50 migrants living in . them, and sources in the Pas de Calais department have said more migrant . chalets are set to be built. The . latest ruling by the Court of Cassation earlier this month means their . inhabitants are now free to make repeated attempts to sneak across the . Channel without fear of arrest. Originally a hangar for storing drilling equipment when the Channel Tunnel was under construction, the Sangatte camp began sheltering refugees in 1999 and was open for three years. The centre was initially handed over to the Red Cross to offer shelter to people, mainly families, fleeing the Balkans. That population was supplanted by people fleeing Afghanistan and subsequently Iraqi Kurds. Eurotunnel claimed it stopped 18,500 refugees trying to smuggle themselves into Britain in the first half of 2002 alone, the vast majority of whom were from the camp. In 2002 then home secretary David Blunkett and France interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy reached an agreement to shut it down. Despite the closure of the centre at the end of 2002, the problem remains, with refugees arriving in Sangatte every day. France's new interior minister Manuel Valls is keen to provide accommodation for the migrants in the area. After the election of the socialist government this spring work began on the new camp at Norrent-Fontes. Migrants can only be detained for up to six hours while police attempt to establish their identity. Even . if they are found to be in France illegally, the new law will state . they cannot held in secure detention centres but must be allowed to walk . free. The law will affect . around 1,000 illegal immigrants massed on the northern French coast, and . up to 60,000 across the whole of France. French . interior minister Manuel Valls said: 'The decision handed down by the . Court of Cassation forbids from now on placing people in custody on the . sole motive that they are here illegally. 'The prime minister has asked me to draw up a legal text as soon as possible to give this ruling a legal foundation.' The law would come before parliament in the autumn, a spokesman for Mr Valls added. The announcement has been hailed as a 'victory for human rights' by refugee groups in France. Agathe . Marin, spokeswoman for the Cimade refugees' association, said: 'Until . now, the police have been arresting and detaining immigrants on a . massive scale. 'After they . are detained, most of these people are released anyway. We hope that . this ruling will ensure that the police are respectful of immigrants' basic rights and stop treating them like criminals.' Since . the bulldozing of the Sangatte camp in 2002 - which acted as a stepping . stone for an estimated 50,000 migrants to reach Britain - numbers of . illegal immigrants in Calais have been gradually falling. The Red Cross-run centre which housed refugees at Sangatte, near the French terminal of the Channel tunnel was closed by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2002 . Waiting game: Refugees line up inside the former Red Cross-run housing center at Sangatte in 2000 . Former . president Nicolas Sarkozy ordered the destruction of a squalid woodland . camp known as the Jungle in 2009 and bussed almost 300 refugees out of . the area. A year later, another 100 migrants were removed from a woodland encampment in the Channel coast town of Teteghem. But . it is now feared the socialist's 'gentler' approach to illegal . immigration could see thousands more migrants flooding back to Calais. A . right-wing town councillor who asked not to be named said today: 'We . spent a decade trying to clear up this problem that has blighted our . town. 'Now with several strokes of the pen, the left-wingers in Paris and making it much more attractive for them all to return.'
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Proposed legislation comes after France's highest court ruled illegal immigrants cannot be held in custody for having no identity papers .
New rules due to become law in the autumn .
Fears that fresh tide of migrants will sneak into Britain on lorries and ferries .
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By . Dominic King . Follow @@DominicKing_DM . So, they have missed out on the first piece of silverware of the year. A last minute goal, scruffily conceded from a set piece, would suggest Brendan Rodgers was left tearing his hair out on a sultry night in Boston. If anything, the opposite was true. Liverpool's manager will not be losing any sleep after Daniel Agger's late own goal clinched the grandly-named Buick Trophy for Roma and for good reason. Liverpool's squad took a step closer to full fitness and a classy performance from Philippe Coutinho augers well for the future. Anfield may be mourning the departure of one sumptuously gifted South American but there is no doubt Coutinho has the ability to fill Luis Suarez's void and cement his place in Liverpool affections. Game won: Former West Ham man Marco Borriello celebrates, but it was Daniel Agger with the last touch . Full-blooded: Francesco Totti (right) goes in hard on Lucas Leiva in the first-half . Wing play: New signing Rickie Lambert floats the ball in from the left for Liverpool . Liverpool: Jones, Kelly, Skrtel, Coates, Enrique, Lucas, Allen, Coutinho, Borini, Lambert, Ibe . Subs: Ward, Agger, Henderson, Can, Suso, Coady, Phillips, Robinson, Peterson . Roma: Skorupski, Somma, Benatia, Castan, Cole, Florenzi, Keita, Nainggolan, Iturbe, Totti, Ljajic . If there was concern for Rodgers from . the game, it was the shoulder injury to Fabio Borini that curtailed his . night after just nine minutes but, that apart, this was just the kind of . work out Liverpool were looking for. And, with key performers such as . Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana to slot in - plus the . imminent arrival of Loic Remy to provide more forward options - it was . no surprise to see Rodgers make the post match lap of the pitch sporting . a relaxed smile. Results do . not matter at this stage of the campaign, it is about making sure . preparations go smoothly and since they have been in the United States, . Liverpool's have gone like clockwork. Another step forward will now be . essential when they face Olympiacos in Chicago on Sunday in the Guinness . International Cup. Rodgers' team stepped up on their opening friendly performances against Brondby . and Preston with a more accomplished workout against the classy Romans, . for whom Ashley Cole was making his first appearance. Men at the top: Brendan Rodgers, Kenny Dalglish and owner John Henry before kick-off in Boston . Eye on the ball: Jordon Ibe attempts to get the ball under control in front of the Green Monster scoreboard . Novelty: Fans in the stands at Fenway Park were in good voice despite a lacklustre opening . It . was a tight game, one that looked destined to be decided by a penalty . shootout but in the dying moments, substitute Marco Borriello’s header . took a big deflection off Agger, wrong-footing Liverpool keeper Brad . Jones and securing the win for Roma. Cole, . as you would expect, cruised through this contest for the time he was . on and while he was booed by a small pocket of Liverpool fans, he was . involved in the best scoring chance of what was sterile first 45 . minutes. With the pitch hard . and the temperature high, neither team was in a hurry to press and . press as they would normally but in the 33rd minute, Cole scampered down . the left-flank to catch Radja Nainggolan’s pass and, typically, he . produced a perfect cut back. Marshaled: Ibe competes with former Chelsea and England star Ashley Cole . VIDEO Cole hoping for fresh start at Roma . Something new: New recruit Emre Can is tacklied by Rodja Nainggolan . New start: A rather shocked-looking Cole on the ball for Roma . Unfortuately . for Cole, Francesco Totti, the veteran striker, slightly mistimed his . run and he only succeeded in making a connection with his knee, sending . the ball fizzing past the wrong side of Brad Jones’ right-hand post. Liverpool . had offered little in the opening half, other than shot from outside . the area that Coutinho dragged wide but, after the break, they . were a different proposition and dominated the game in terms of chances . created and possession. Coutinho, . a surprising omission from Brazil’s World Cup squad, was the reason . Liverpool were able to wrestle back the initiative, his dancing feet and . elusive movement carrying him beyond challenges and into the areas that . matter. Blessed with energy . and vision, he has all the attributes needed to flourish in the . Barclays Premier League and with Suarez now gone, the stage could . be set for Coutinho to step up a level and become a star in his own . right. He created . Liverpool’s best chance in the second period when he slipped a ball into . Rickie Lambert’s feet but the England striker’s powerful shot after 56 . minutes was beaten away by Roma keeper Lukasz Skorupski. Injury concern: Fabio Borini holds his shoulder and receives treatment after falling awkwardly . Trouble: The injury could come as a blow to Liverpool's attempts to sell Borini to Sunderland . A . raft of substitutions from both sides disrupted the flow of the contest . from then – Coutinho was given a standing ovation when his time was up – . on but the injury to Borini aside, Rodgers had reason to be satisfied, . not least when he thinks back to his last visit to Fenway Park two years . ago. Roma were the . opposition back then and they ran out comfortable 2-1 winners, . illustrating that Rodgers had a significant amount of work to do to . implement his vision and get Liverpool, who had just finished eighth, in . a position to challenge again. Borriello’s . header ensured another defeat at this famous old stadium but Rodgers . has confidence that Liverpool will again be a match for the best around . and, with another three weeks to hone their game, they should be in . shape for when it matters on August 17 against Southampton. Head up: Martin Kelly (left) gets in front of Roma's Adem Ljajic in the first-half . Attack: Defender Jose Enrique escapes two Roma players as he ventures down the wing . Colour: Fenway Park was a sea of red as Liverpool fans piled in to the baseball stadium to see their side . Shielded: Roma's Radja Nainggolan (left) keeps the ball from Philippe Continho . Line up: Liverpool's starting XI for the friendly against Roma in Boston . Preparation: Liverpool players warm up prior to the friendly at Fenway Park in Boston .
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Agger deflects in Marco Borriello's header in the 90th minute .
Fabio Borini goes off holding shoulder in the first-half after awkward fall .
Rickie Lambert tests goalkeeper with fizzing effort in second period .
First-half of few chances at Fenway Park baseball stadium in Boston .
Former Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole starts for Roma .
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(CNN) -- The announcement of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI came as a bolt from the blue to the world but not a moment too soon for many Catholics. The Catholic Church has continued to march backwards under Pope Benedict, seeming at times to be in a state of perpetual denial, whether the issue be that of child abuse, birth control, homosexuality or the role of women. At the heart of the church there lies a deep chauvinism that seems to have infected the whole edifice. More: Pope cites old age in resignation . Women may feel discriminated against in many institutions but few have made it so blatantly clear that the woman's place remains at the kitchen sink as the Catholic Church. The refusal to enter into a constructive dialogue about the possibility of having female clergy underlines just how male dominated the institution remains. Rubbing salt in the wounds in Britain has been the creation by Pope Benedict of the Ordinariate. This body facilitates the progress of those Anglicans who predominantly want to leave the Church of England because of the ordination of women into the Catholic Church. More: What next after Benedict resignation? This has seen a succession of married priests coming over, so providing a ready supply of candidates to fill the growing number of vacancies, due to lack of celibate males, in the Catholic Church. No one at the Vatican seems overly concerned about the contradiction that sees married Anglicans being allowed to join the Catholic Church and minister to the faithful, whilst a man ordained as priest in the Catholic faith who wants to get married has to leave in order to do so. It is this sort of heaping of contradiction on contradiction that has brought the church to its present position of crisis with people walking away in their droves. But perhaps the biggest crisis for the Church remains child abuse. It has shaken the whole edifice under the present pontiff's tenure, and no doubt taken its toll on him personally. Fulsome apologies have been made and actions taken to remedy abuse across the world. However, as cases like that of Cardinal Sean Brady in Ireland prove, many of those now in the positions of authority in the church are the very same who stood by, or worse still, colluded in the cover-up of abuse. More: World reacts to pope's resignation . There is no doubt still more to come. The church needs to face up to its responsibilities and show a greater concern for the victims than for protection of the institution at all costs. The laity feel largely ignored on these matters. They were not consulted over whether they wanted the Ordinariate nor over the recently imposed translation of the mass. A great number of the laity also feel hugely let down by the role of priests in abuse. Catholics worldwide must hope that the spirit moves the Cardinals when they gather in March to elect a new pope. Many will pray that the new pope is more in the mould of Pope John XXIII, who ushered in the Second Vatican Council that sat for much of the 1960s. This was a time of hope. Pope John called for the church to open its windows and engage with the world. Vatican II brought forward radical thought on issues from poverty and war to workplace justice and the family. The laity were given a say. Nothing less is required this time around. More: A traditional papacy ends with surprise . Vatican III would have to look at things like the dignity of the human person, empowerment of the laity, the role of women and the sex abuse scandal. In the case of abuse, change would mean examining those structures of the church that made these things likely in the first place. Central to this effort must be the role of the priest. The role must change to become that of one among equals. Priests, whether they be men or women, must become more accountable and not act in the authoritarian manner that many who hold the office do today. It would also be good to have a church that offers some ethical and moral leadership to the wider world. Views on things like climate change, war and peace, the present capitalist economic model and poverty would all be welcome contributions to the public discourse, rather than lectures on gay marriage. Stanley: Why pope will be remembered . If a new pope can kick start a Vatican III-style process that genuinely seeks to move the church forward beyond its most recent crisis, then there is hope for the future. The new pope may well come from Africa or Asia, given that it is in these areas where the church continues to grow. A southern perspective will no doubt help in bringing forth a more prophetic leadership in the church at this time. What is for sure is that more of the same will not do. A new pope who continues the backward approach of recent pontiffs will simply be one who continues to manage the decline of an institution that remains out of date for many in the 21st century.
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Catholic Church continued march backwards under Benedict, writes Paul Donovan .
Donovan: Church must reform in order to stay relevant in 21st century .
Church must be more democratic, more transparent, consider role of women .
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(CNN) -- A Tibetan student who died after setting herself on fire in western China had been experiencing difficulties following a head injury, the official Chinese news agency reported Wednesday. The student, Tsering Kyi, was the first of three Tibetans who reportedly self-immolated between Saturday and Monday. It is the only one of the three alleged acts so far acknowledged by the Chinese authorities. Tibetan advocacy groups say the self-immolations -- more than 20 of which are reported to have taken place in the past year -- are to protest Chinese rule. They follow an increase in security measures by the Chinese authorities in response to unrest among Tibetans in western areas of China in recent months and ahead of the sensitive anniversary of protests by Tibetan monks four years ago that ended in bloodshed. Activists say the disturbing acts reflect an increasingly repressive environment under China's control. Beijing rejects accusations of oppression of Tibetans, saying that under its rule living standards have greatly improved for the Tibetan people. Chinese officials have described the self-immolations as "extreme" acts. The report Wednesday by Xinhua, the government news agency, suggested Tsering Kyi, 20, had been troubled by the aftereffects of a head injury before she set herself on fire in the county of Maqu, or Machu in Tibetan, in Gansu Province. "She was sent to hospital and has had occasional fainting spells," Xinhua reported, citing the local police. "The medical treatment held up her studies and her school scores began to decline, which put a lot of pressure on her and made her lose her courage for life and study." A local official said similarities in the self-immolations point to a transparent political motive and behind-the-scenes orchestration, Xinhua reported. The victims were used by separatists to create chaos, according to Wu Zegang, chief of the Aba prefecture in Sichuan province. On Sunday, a mother of four named Rinchen died after setting herself alight in front of Kirti Monastery in the county of Aba, which Tibetans call Ngaba, in Sichuan Province, according to Tibetan advocacy groups like London-based Free Tibet. And on Monday, an 18-year-old Tibetan man named Dorje burned himself to death in a nomadic area of Aba, according to advocacy groups. Local officials reached by telephone declined to comment on the matter. It was not possible to independently verify the accounts of the self-immolations. China restricts journalists' access to the areas where they have been taking place. This month will mark the fourth anniversary of protest marches by Tibetan monks in Lhasa that ended violently in 2008. Tibetans say the situation escalated to violence when Chinese police beat monks who had been protesting peacefully; Chinese authorities claim Tibetans launched attacks on Chinese businesses. Officially the death toll is under 20; Tibetans in exile say the death toll is near 150.
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China says a Tibetan who set herself on fire had lost "her courage for life"
Tibetan rights groups say Tibetans are self-immolating to protest Chinese rule .
Three Tibetans reportedly burned themselves to death between Saturday and Monday .
This month marks the anniversary of Tibetan protests in 2008 that ended in bloodshed .
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(CNN) -- Two years after his wife of 34 years died in a fire, an Iowa man continues to maintain the blaze was started by a faulty cruise control switch under the hood of her 1996 Ford F-150 pickup -- while it was parked in the garage attached to his home. Ford says a faulty cruise control switch did not start the blaze that engulfed Dolly Mohlis' F-150 truck. Although Ford has denied -- and continues to deny -- the switch started the fire that killed 74-year-old Dolly Mohlis in 2005, the company recently settled a lawsuit brought against it by Earl Mohlis. And last week, it issued a recall of an estimated 3.6 million vehicles -- bringing the total recalled over the past decade to more than 10 million -- every single car and truck built with a similar cruise control switch. Dolly Mohlis woke up smelling smoke in May 2005, Earl Mohlis has told CNN. She woke him to find out the source while she called 911. When he looked in the garage, he said, he saw the truck was in flames. Earl Mohlis said he opened the garage door to try to get the truck out, but the wind -- blowing that night at about 50 mph -- fanned the flames, which spread to the house. The fire department in the Mohlises' rural town could not arrive fast enough. Dolly Mohlis, who suffered from debilitating arthritis, was suddenly trapped inside the home. "I says to Dolly, 'You got to get out of that house,' " Earl Mohlis told CNN. "She come a-running, and she never made it." Watch Mohlis describe how the flames trapped his wife » . In 2005, CNN began airing a series of investigative reports on unexplained and sudden fires in Ford cars and trucks. They found that a tiny electrical switch in the cruise control system could lead to the vehicle catching fire, even hours after the car was turned off. Although Ford had begun recalling the parts in some vehicles in 1999, a sweeping recall was not issued until earlier this month. Ford says media reports like those on CNN have sparked fear among Ford owners. The newly recalled vehicles, a Ford spokesman told CNN, do not have "a higher-than-normal fire incidence." Asked about the recall, a Ford spokesman told CNN the company was voluntarily announcing the recall because it "could not be confident about the long-term durability of these switches" and to address consumer concerns about the potential for fires. CNN has learned, however, that federal investigators were continuing to observe what one safety official said were elevated levels of suspect fires in Ford vehicles that had not been the subject of a recall. Since the cruise control switch was introduced in 1992, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had documented more than 600 blazes. The safety official said investigators with NHTSA were discussing safety concerns with Ford when the company announced the massive recall last week. Neither Mohlis nor Ford released terms of the settlement, but Mohlis told the Des Moines Register he still cries for his wife every day. E-mail to a friend .
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Earl Mohlis says faulty cruise control switch caused fire that killed his wife .
Ford denies the switch started the blaze; company settled Mohlis' lawsuit .
Ford has recalled more than 10 million vehicles in past decade .
CNN in 2005 began airing investigative reports on sudden fires in Ford vehicles .
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At least five off-duty New York Police Department officers have admitted being present at the savage revenge beating last weekend on the Henry Hudson Parkway, according to reports. Among the off duty cops were at least two detectives and three other officers, all who witnessed the attack and did little to stop it. One of the detectives, an undercover narcotics officer, watched as the violence broke out and chose not to break it up for fear of ruining his cover. The five officers were not the only ones present, WABC is reporting that the NYPD is investigating whether several off-duty corrections officers were also there. Police who saw the violent attack did not begin coming forward until Wednesday - four days later. Before and after: Edwin Mieses Jr suffered a broken spine, fractured ribs, a punctured lung and a torn aortic valve and now may never walk again . It is believed that the 38-year-old biker who was . seen on the video smashing his helmet into the Range Rover's window is . expected to turn himself in to police for his role in the melee, according to WABC. It is not clear what further role, if any, he played in the fracas. Investigators have already questioned some of the six individuals seen in the YouTube video of the assault, according to WABC. They plan to talk to as many as possible, the station noted. 'This is a complex investigation with a lot of people involved,' a source told WABC. One of the bikers who spoke to investigators said that Mr Lien 'drove erratically and bumped the bike on the side,' adding 'when he bumped that bike on the side, that bike became aggressive because his life was in danger,' according to WABC. The New York Post originally reported that the first undercover officer to admit being at the ruthless pounding was not the only cop at the scene, as several members of the motorcycle group- called the Front Line Soldiers- are police officers themselves. Internal Affairs of the NYPD are now investigating whether or not any of these officers were the ones who were pictured hitting the Range Rover, though they do not seem to be worried that the undercover took part . When reached by MailOnline for comment, an NYPD spokesperson said only that the involvement of off-duty officers 'is under investigation.' 'It is does not appear that he got involved at the scene,' a police source told The Post. That said, the undercover officer has hired a lawyer. On camera: This shows the moment the Range Rover driver panicked and hit some of the bikers as he tried to get away to protect his wife and child. It is believed he hit Jeremiah Mieses here . When they come to a standstill in heavy traffic, it takes moments before a biker jumps off and attacks the vehicle, smashing the driver's window with his helmet . He was not the only one to do so, as longtime partner of Edwin Mieses Jr, the man who was run over by the car, has hired famed defender Gloria Allred. 'He is the best father I know,' Dayana Mejia said at a Friday press conference. 'To learn that he almost died and that he may not walk again- that is all still sinking in. 'It tears me up that anyone could think that Edwin in anyway deserves what happened to him.' Mieses was one of dozens of bikers who rode alongside a black Range Rover on Manhattan's West Side Highway last weekend until a biker slowed down and the vehicles bumped, police said. Video captured at the scene shows the SUV surrounded by helmeted riders. The broken window on the passenger side of the vehicle shows that the male driver was not the only target . Scary: The Liens said they feared for their lives . Towed away: The car was brought to the NYPD's 33 precinct on Friday . In the video, one rider approaches the vehicle and peers into the driver's side window. Police said others tried to damage the SUV before the driver, Alexian Lien, took off and ploughed over Mieses. The . bikers then chased after Lien and smashed his car window with their . helmets, then pulled him from the SUV and beat him to the point where he . required stitches. Lien's wife, Rosalyn Ng, has said that . her family's sympathies go out to Mieses, but that they had to flee a . dangerous situation. 'He is the best father I know,' Dayana Mejia, Mieses' longtime partner, said at a Friday press conference . Support: Ms Mejia, seen with attorney Gloria Allred and Mieses' father Edwin Mieses Sr, said that they are still coping with how to deal with Edwin's injuries . She said her husband was trying to protect her and their 2-year-old child, who was also in the car at the time. Mieses, . who is from Lawrence, Massachusetts, suffered a broken spine, fractured . ribs, a punctured lung and a torn aortic valve, said his attorney, . Allred. His injuries may have left him paralyzed. Pain: Ms Mejia said that it is wrong to cast any of the blame of the incident on her partner . 'He told everyone to move on and go back to riding, and turned his back to the SUV to start walking back to his own bike,' Allred said. 'It was then, with his back to the SUV, and as he was in front of it, that he was run over and crushed.' Mejia said a difficult situation has been made worse by what she described as a 'perception' that some people have about the riders who participated in the rally on Sunday. 'They are not gang members. They are not thugs,' Mejia said. 'They are FedEx drivers, plumbers, military reservists, musicians. They are fathers and brothers and sons, and sisters and mothers.' She also said Mieses didn't know any of the people he was riding with on Sunday aside from one friend who traveled to New York with him. Mieses was recently arrested in Andover, Mass., for driving with a revoked license. He also never applied for a motorcycle license. Records show that in June he was named a habitual offender and his right to drive in the state was revoked until 2017. It wasn't clear if he had been licensed in any other state. Badly injured: Lien needed stitches after he was attacked by bikers in New York. He hit some bikers in a bid to escape them but they caught up and beat him . Mieses and the others seen on the video were participating in a periodic rally in which more than 1,000 bikers head for Times Square, police said. The Manhattan district attorney's office has charged one rider, 28-year-old Christopher Cruz, of Passaic, N.J., with unlawful imprisonment and reckless driving while authorities continue to search for other cyclists. Investigators and prosecutors are tracking down and talking to dozens of helmet-clad motorcyclists seen in the video, which was posted online.
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Injured biker Edwin Mieses Jr now faces permanent paralysis .
Two detectives and three other officers, all off-duty, witnessed the attack .
A number of off-duty corrections officers may also have been present .
The attacker is expected to turn himself in soon .
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(CNN) -- Actress and filmmaker Ricki Lake has a special connection to CNN Heroes. Her friend and onetime nanny, Marie Da Silva, was chosen as a Top 10 CNN Hero in 2008 for her work starting a school for AIDS orphans in her native Malawi. Lake sat down with CNN Entertainment senior producer Denise Quan to talk about CNN Heroes. Below are excerpts from that interview. Denise Quan: You have a very personal connection with Marie Da Silva, don't you? Ricki Lake: Well, let me just say that I'm the one who discovered Marie. I knew! No, Marie was my employee; she worked as my nanny for a decade. I knew from the second Marie walked in to the interview there was something special about her. She leads her life in such a positive way that she's just a great example for me. Quan: So besides the personal connection, why is this cause so important to you? Lake: My grandfather died of AIDS back in the late '80s, when a blood transfusion in a hospital could give you HIV and AIDS. So I'm personally, obviously, connected to this disease and wanting to find a cure. But then you look at continents like Africa and how the population is completely annihilated by it. With Marie, to see her family members that have succumbed to the disease and the children in her village that are all left behind -- not only without parents, but without an education -- it just seems like an obvious cause to get behind. And it's just remarkable when you think of what one person, a nanny of all professions, was able to do while working for me full time. To me, Marie's picture is in the dictionary next to the word "hero." Quan: This is your third year of involvement with CNN Heroes -- . Lake: Riding Marie's coattails. [laughter] Yes, I'm so appreciative of all that you guys do and personally how I've been affected by what you do. Quan: How have you been inspired by some of the CNN Heroes that you've met? Lake: They're amazing. The fact that they do so much in their own lives, it's like they're so separate but so organically similar. There are so many parallels about these remarkable people that give so much of themselves to help others for very little fanfare. That's what I love about this event. It gives this, you know, just due recognition, knowing firsthand what Marie did pre-CNN Heroes acknowledgment, and post. She's been able to build a secondary school. Now they have a school bus. Now her goal is to change the curriculum of AIDS education in all of Africa. It feels like none of that would have been possible without the exposure that CNN Heroes has given her. Quan: Why do you think celebrities like you keep coming back to help us out, year after year? Lake: I think we're all inspired. We're all just regular people and want to do our part. I want to be close to what you guys are doing, I want to do more. I can't wait to see who's being honored this year. I look forward to that night and just being a part of it. Being there live, it's in your blood, you know? You just feel like you're walking on air to meet these people. Quan: Why do you think we need to honor everyday heroes? Lake: We all could use a little inspiring. To see what our neighbor is doing to help others, I think, makes us do better and be better. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like you're doing something worthwhile. We all can do a lot more than we're doing.
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Marie Da Silva, a top 10 CNN Hero in 2008, was once a nanny for actress Ricki Lake .
Da Silva funds a school for AIDS orphans in her native country of Malawi .
Lake has a personal connection to the disease; her grandfather died of AIDS in the '80s .
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Iain Duncan Smith yesterday insisted . he would take ‘no bloody lessons’ from those calling for him to live on . £53 a week, saying he had been on the breadline twice. The Work and Pensions Secretary . accused Labour and the BBC of fuelling a ‘stunt’ after he suggested in a . radio interview that if necessary, he could get by on the amount a . benefit claimant said he had to subsist on. An online petition calling on Mr . Duncan Smith to live for a year on £53 a week, which has been seized on . by Labour MPs opposing cuts to the vast welfare budget, had last night . attracted almost 300,000 signatures. Iain Duncan Smith, seen here with his wife Betsy, insists he has lived on the breadline before . Back at work: David Bennett leaving home in Hunwick, County Durham, yesterday . But the minister insisted yesterday . that the Left had ‘lost the argument’ on reform of a welfare state that . kept people ‘trapped into dependency’ and was now trying to ‘set up a . stunt’. He said he would not agree to the . demands to show he could exist on the same income as market trader David . Bennett because he had ‘been there, done that’. ‘I’m not going take any lectures from . these people because the Left has opposed everything that we’ve done,’ Mr Duncan Smith told the Daily Mail. ‘What’s going on here is a campaign . by the Left to distract from the reality of our changes. My personal . details are quite simple. When I came out of the Army I was unemployed. I . lived in a bedsit and I had to look for work. ‘I left the Army at 26, 27. I went off . and did a heavy goods vehicle drivers’ course. I know what it’s like to . live on a low income. ‘I didn’t claim unemployment benefit – . I lived off the savings I had – but I went to the job centre. Later on . in life when I worked my way up I was made redundant, I again had to . start all over again from scratch and this time I had kids. I didn’t . have any financial backing and I had to pick up the pieces, find another . job and get back to work. ‘The honest truth is I don’t need any . lessons from these people. I have worked hard all my life for what I’ve . achieved and nobody has given me a damn penny. My earnings are what I . live on.’ Mr Duncan Smith, who earns £134,000 a . year and lives in a £2million Tudor country house with wife Betsy, a . member of the aristocratic Fremantle family, said he had lost his job at . a property company when interest rates soared after Black Wednesday in . 1992. David Bennett, working on his market stall yesterday, challenged Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week . ‘The company literally stopped working . and like a number of people I was made redundant. I was shocked, but I . had to go home and tell my wife that the wheels had come off the bus,’ he said. ‘It took about three months to find a . job. I picked up the paper every day, put a ring round all the job ads. I . went to the library, looked up the stock market yearbook, wrote blind . letters to people, used my Amstrad computer every day to look for work. Every bloody day I had to look for work. One of those blind letters got . me in to an interview. ‘So I don’t need any lessons from . people about living on a low income and making ends meet. I have done it . twice and I know what it’s like to have to been made unemployed and to . struggle. I’ve been there, done it. ‘I have never taken anything from . anybody else. I’m proud enough to believe I get on and make my own . bloody way in the world. I don’t believe in having anyone else do it for . me. ‘That’s why I want to reform the . system because it leaves people feeling helpless. This ridiculous . nonsense is a stunt, and it’s a stunt to avoid the reality that we . inherited a bust system – financially bust and morally bust.’ The Mail revealed yesterday that Mr . Bennett, who challenged Mr Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week, is a . regular gambler who lists his hobbies as ‘football, poker and beer’. Challenge: Market trader David Bennett, left, . asked Tory minister Iain Duncan Smith, right, if he could survive on the . new housing benefit level of £53 in a charged interview on Radio 4 . Iain Duncan-Smith's Buckinghamshire home. He is paid £1,581 a week but said he cwould be able to live on £7.57 per day if he had to . Tory MPs were furious the BBC allowed . him to confront the Work and Pensions Secretary apparently without . making the most cursory checks on his income, which is nearer £150 a . week. Conservative MP for Esher, Dominic . Raab, wrote to new BBC director-general Lord Hall, saying he was . concerned that the interview with Mr Bennett not only lacked accuracy . but ‘may well have failed in its duty of care towards Mr Bennett’. ‘What background checks were made by . the BBC to ensure the veracity of Mr Bennett’s claims?’ he asked. ‘Mr . Bennett claims that he “put a comment on [the BBC website] saying David . Cameron can stick his Big Society where the sun doesn’t shine”. Why did . the BBC not take this as an indication that his claims merited deeper . examination? ‘The BBC has persistently used highly politicised and partisan language in its coverage of the Government’s welfare reforms.’ Chancellor George Osborne said . yesterday: ‘I don’t think it’s sensible to reduce this debate to an . argument about one individual’s set of circumstances. ‘We have a welfare system where there . are actually lots of benefits available to people on very low incomes, . there’s jobseeker’s allowance, income support, working tax credit, . council tax benefit, housing benefit, if they have children, child tax . credit. ‘What this debate is about, it’s not . about any individual, it’s about creating a welfare system that rewards . work, supports people who do the right thing, helps people who want to . get on in life and has a regard for the many millions of people who work . hard and pay their taxes and expect them to be well spent.’ Mr Duncan Smith once stayed on a tough housing estate for a Channel 4 documentary.
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Iain Duncan Smith was challenged to live on £53-a-week by benefits claimant David Bennett on Radio 4 .
Work and Pensions Secretary says 'stunt' is overshadowing vital reform .
Petition challenging him to live up to claim backed by more than 250,000 .
A raft of benefits changes and reforms came into force on April 1 .
Government argues average families will be £300-a-year better off .
Downing Street insists David Cameron thinks the system is 'fair'
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145176ec7fa6abbea328bf39f524d1601228107b
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The BBC handed its own staff £369million in severance payments over eight years, the spending watchdog revealed yesterday. MPs said the massive sum showed an ‘outrageous disregard for licence-fee payers’ money’. The National Audit Office said the BBC often breached its own guidelines and had ‘put public trust at risk’ by authorising the payouts, including £61million to senior managers. Out: Payments to ten top managers, including former director general George Entwistle (pictured) and chief operating officer Caroline Thomson, totalled £4.9million . Some staff were even paid twice, pocketing a payoff after working out their notice period in full. The average individual payments to senior managers rose steadily to £191,000 last year, demonstrating the BBC had a ‘fat cat mentality’, MPs said. Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the damning report revealed a ‘culture of payoffs that simply cannot be justified’. As director general Tony Hall admitted the BBC had ‘lost its way over payments’, pressure mounted on its governing body, the BBC Trust, to explain why it had failed to ‘get a grip’ despite years of disquiet over payoffs to senior staff. Culture Secretary Maria Miller condemned 'a culture of pay-offs' at the Corporation which could not be justified . Lord Hall will appear before the influential Public Accounts Committee of MPs next week alongside BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten and former director general Mark Thompson, who authorised some of the most contentious deals. The NAO revealed: . The NAO report also accused the BBC of failing to keep proper records to document why individual payoffs were approved as it emerged some deals were simply agreed by divisional directors following verbal discussions. NAO head Amyas Morse said: ‘The BBC has too often breached its own already generous policies on severance payments. Weak governance arrangements have led to payments that exceeded contractual requirements and put public trust at risk.’ In an effort to reduce costs, the BBC has cut its senior management by more than 20 per cent since 2005. But 67 per cent of those who left claimed severance payments. These came under three categories: Redundancy payments, money given in lieu of notice in return for their swift departure, and ‘discretionary’ payments. Shockingly, the NAO discovered cases of senior managers claiming money ‘in lieu’ despite having served their full notice periods, effectively paying them twice for the same period of work. One unnamed manager, who earned £300,000, was given a full years’ salary in lieu of notice despite continuing to work for 14 months after agreeing a departure date. The payment was personally approved by Mr Thompson, who also agreed to give the manager a pension ‘augmentation’ of £266,288. In 2005/6, the average individual severance payment was £128,000. This rose steadily to £191,000 in the last financial year. Two staff members were offered £425,000 in lieu of notice even though they had already secured jobs with other employers before leaving. Other managers were given ‘discretionary’ severance payments, the reasons for which were ‘not fully recorded’, the NAO found. One received £219,000 – £141,000 more than they were entitled to, including £49,000 for ‘training and information technology equipment to improve the individual’s skills and career prospects’. Another received an ‘ex-gratia’ payment of £17,600, four months extra pay in lieu of notice worth £71,000, plus a redundancy payment of £88,100. In a separate development, the BBC revealed that Mr Entwistle, who resigned on November 10 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal after 54 days as director general, received a total of £802,000 during his final year with the corporation. As the Trust set his last day of employment on November 30, he was given an extra three weeks’ salary worth £25,000 on top of a severance payment of £470,300 and a series of generous benefits including legal support and private healthcare. Criticism: New director general Tony Hall admitted the BBC had 'lost its way' with big money pay-offs for senior staff . The BBC also admitted that Mr . Entwistle and Mr Thompson had racked up almost £200,000 in ‘legal and . related costs’ between them for their appearances before the Pollard . Review into how the BBC handled the Jimmy Savile scandal. Last . night Labour MP Margaret Hodge, who chairs the Public Accounts . Committee, said: ‘I expect [the BBC Trust] will say these payments are . not their responsibility. But they are there to protect the licence fee . payers’ interest and provide oversight. They should have got a grip on . it.’ She added: ‘The BBC . have shown an outrageous disregard for licence fee payers’ money. It . seems there has been a fat cat mentality in the BBC.’ Mrs Miller said: ‘The NAO has exposed a culture of payoffs that simply cannot be justified.’ Despite . accepting its processes were ‘not robust enough’, the BBC said it had . saved more than £35million overall by reducing senior managers. Lord . Hall said: ‘I accept in full the conclusions of the NAO report. The . level of some of these payments was wrong – I said so in my first week . in the job. I believe the BBC lost its way on payments in recent years. I . have already said that we will be capping severance payments at . £150,000 and we have now begun to improve our processes.’ Last . year 71 per cent of the BBC’s £5billion income was funded by the . £145.50 licence fee. The rest was made up by selling BBC programmes . internationally through its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. One former BBC executive was so . shocked that his £376,000 severance payment was not properly authorised . that yesterday he wrote a cheque to the BBC repaying it. Roly . Keating, who was the director of archive content, left last year after . 29 years’ service to become chief executive of the British Library. Even . though he was not made redundant, he was offered a full years’ salary . of £250,000, as well as some £125,000 in lieu of serving his notice . period. The NAO said the decision to award it was ‘seriously deficient’ and found the BBC agreed to pay the money because it believed he would . not otherwise have accepted his new job, which had a salary of £150,000. The . 51-year-old, who was previously controller of BBC2 and BBC4, left as . the corporation was making redundancies and the future of his role was . uncertain. After being contacted by the NAO, Mr Keating wrote a letter . to the BBC including a cheque for the entire sum. Explaining . his decision to BBC director general Tony Hall, he wrote: ‘You will . understand that as a matter of principle I would never wish to benefit . from a payment that could not be demonstrated to have been fully and . appropriately authorised. ‘This . week I was concerned to receive from the NAO ... new evidence, of which . I was not and could not have been aware, concerning the BBC’s internal . process for approval of the payment to me. ‘This . evidence has led the NAO to observe that the process in this case was . “seriously deficient”. I therefore enclose with this letter a cheque . payable to the BBC, amounting to the full sum I received as severance . payment after tax was deducted by the BBC at source.’ The BBC declined to comment.
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National Audit Office reveals BBC broke its own rules with big payouts .
Warns public trust has been put at risk by use of licence fee money .
George Entwistle received £470,300; one former executive gave his back .
Culture Secretary Maria Miller condemns 'culture of pay-offs'
The BBC has paid £369million in severance deals to 7,500 staff since 2005, including £61million to 401 senior managers.
Payments to ten top managers, including former director general George Entwistle and chief operating officer Caroline Thomson, totalled £4.9million.
One official, Roly Keating, actually gave back his £376,000 payout because he did not wish to benefit from a potentially inappropriate payment.
In almost a quarter of the cases reviewed by the NAO, the BBC paid out more than staff were entitled to.
Former BBC Worldwide chief executive John Smith received £1.6million when he stepped down in December.
The BBC applied gagging clauses to prevent senior managers revealing their severance deals.
Although Lord Hall promised to cap severance deals at £150,000, the BBC plans to honour 15 more payments totalling more than £2.25million.
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1451a652a0ff4033b44e946654bfa37b27671b0c
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(CNN) -- When Chuck Pagano showed up for work Monday, he drove by a giant inflatable Indianapolis Colts player at the team's entrance. The player had a sign on his chest saying "Welcome Back Chuck." It was a moment to celebrate. Pagano, the Colts head coach, missed nearly three months battling leukemia. He was cleared to return to work last week. Monday was his first day back at the Colts team facility. "It's really great to be back," Pagano said Monday at a press conference. "Like a kid in a candy store, get to come and be around the guys again, be doing what I love to do, what I've done my whole life." Pagano hasn't been on the sideline since September 23 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This week, if all goes as planned, Pagano will return to the Colts sideline for the team's final regular season game, a home game against the Houston Texans. Players, coaches, and staff welcome Pagano's return, including Colts owner Jim Irsay. "I'm very confident that he is ready, that it is the right decision, the right time for him to grab the reigns and put the head coaching cap back on and take over," Irsay said. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians stepped in as interim coach while Pagano went through treatment. Arians led the Colts -- the NFL's worst team last season -- on an improbable run, winning nine of their next 12 games. On Sunday, the Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 to improve to 10-5, clinching a playoff berth. "What a masterful, masterful job you did, Bruce," Pagano said. "You carried the torch, and all you went out and did was win nine ballgames, and got us our 10th win yesterday, and you got us into the playoffs. You did it with dignity and you did it with class, and you're everything that I always knew you were -- and more." Pagano also thanked his family, particularly his wife, Tina, for their support through his treatment. He said that Tina never left his side at the IU Simon Cancer Center, where he spent 25 days. "She's a soldier, a warrior, my soul mate," Pagano said. Although Pagano could not be at the team facility and at games while going through chemotherapy, the team and staff showed their support for him. The Colts began a campaign dubbed "CHUCKSTRONG." The purpose was to raise funds for leukemia research while also giving Pagano and his family support and well wishes. About 30 Colts players and coaches, including star rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, shaved their heads while Pagano underwent treatment. On November 25 in a game against the Buffalo Bills, two Colts cheerleaders had their heads shaved in response to the Colts organization raising money for cancer research. On Monday, Pagano said it was a "privilege" and a "blessing" to be back. "I'll go about my business as a football coach and those type of things in the same manner," Pagano said. "But what I asked the guys to do was to every day they walk in this door, the same way our coaches do, and the same way I'm going to do, is I'm going to work as hard as I can and take advantage of this great opportunity that was given to all of us and live every day to its fullest."
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Chuck Pagano was out for nearly three months battling leukemia .
30 Colts players, coaches, and 2 cheerleaders, shaved heads to support the coach .
Monday was his first day back at the team's facility .
"I'm very confident that he is ready, that it is the right decision," says Colts owner .
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145231ea35ea10a86082940be6eba7522551d423
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Rowdy teens, students and boozed up Brits are behind a revolting new craze that encourages people to deliberately defecate in hotel pools while on holiday. Travel experts say the troubling trend, known as ‘logging’, is responsible for thousands of innocent holidaymakers becoming infected with harmful bacteria that causes diarrhoea and sickness and could result in irritable bowel syndrome and even death in extreme cases. The party poopers are purposely ruining holidaymakers’ getaways without realising or caring about the threat they are posing to fellow guests. Scroll down for video . Holiday Village Red Sea is threatening guests with eviction and a £1,400 fine for pooping in the pool . Warning: Letter sent warning guests about the craze from Holiday Village Red Sea . At least one hotel has issued a stern warning to guests after its pools were fouled several times, and reps for tour operators are calling the vile incidents ‘code browns’. While it is believed teens or young adults are mostly responsible, children as young as 10 are now believed to be taking part. Travel law expert Nick Harris, of Simpson Millar solicitors, said the ‘worrying’ craze has taken off in the last few years. He said: ‘We have dealt with hundreds of cases where people have been left seriously ill. Some idiots think it is humorous to deliberately poo in a crowded pool and then sit back and watch the carnage unfold as people try to escape the pool like a panic scene from the film Jaws.’ Harris said the ‘disturbing and selfish trend’ may seem like harmless fun but it is ruining holidays and posing a serious threat to pool users. He said: ‘We have seen cases where people have had to have their bowels removed due to catching serious infections form people going in the pool.’ Harris said the law firm has already received more than 20 claims this season from travellers who became ill after being in a hotel pool. Revolting craze: Experts say 'logging' is exposing innocent holidaymakers to harmful bacteria . Fouling has become such a problem at a resort in Egypt that staff at the Holiday Village Red Sea are now threatening guests with eviction and a £1,400 fine for pooping in the pool. The resort in Sharm el-Sheikh, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, circulated a letter vowing to get to the bottom of what it suspects is a deliberate trend. The letter reads: ‘There have been numerous instances of excrement being found in the pools lately. We understand that accidents can happen, but the frequency of this suggests that it no longer remains accidental. ‘As a consequence all guests are being massively inconvenienced for several hours during pool closure whilst the hotel adds additional chemicals to the pool and backwash.’ The resort is asking guests to be vigilant and report anyone acting suspiciously to staff. Guests are being told to stay out of the water if they have an upset stomach and put swimming nappies on their babies. The dangerous bacteria could result in irritable bowel syndrome and even death in extreme cases . Problems have also been reported at Turkish, Greek and Spanish resorts that are popular with Brits. Pools at Holiday Village Turkey in Sarigerme, Turkey have been closed up to nine times in the last few weeks due to floating faeces. Guests are being warned over loudspeakers. A spokeswoman for First Choice, the company that runs the Holiday Village resorts, said the incidents are beyond its control. She said: ‘Once we have been notified of an incident, hotel staff members ensure that all customers leave the pool immediately and then put the pool water through an extensive filtration system.’ Dr Lisa Ackerly, Visiting Professor of Environmental Health at University of Salford and an expert on holiday illnesses, said: ‘It's becoming a really serious problem and I have come across it before when investigating illness in hotels. 'Many hotels now have CCTV to keep an eye on the situation, as it can occur at night when the pool is unguarded. ‘This totally unacceptable and selfish behaviour causes a serious health risk and massive inconvenience and expense to tour operators and other holidaymakers. What pranksters don't realise is that in many countries this could be seen as a criminal act, which could have serious consequences that they hadn't considered.’
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Disturbing trend responsible for infecting innocent holidaymakers .
Egyptian resort threatens to evict and prosecute party poopers .
Pools at Turkish resort have been repeatedly closed due to floating faeces .
Holidaymakers will be hit with £1,400 if caught pooping in the pool .
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14528edb109dd9d3e774f068bf6ba46eabfd6385
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For more than a century, this historic clock's chimes have been part of village life, day and night. But they are about to be partially silenced in the latest example of health and safety gone mad – after a complaint from a couple who recently bought the house next door. The decision in Ash, Surrey, was last night slated as a 'politically correct health-and-safety purge' by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who said he was issuing new guidance to councils to prevent it happening again. Battlefield: Victoria Hall (left) and Steve Tai, a legal expert who moved in to the house, four months ago . First, Mr Tai, who works as a case manager at the Royal Courts of Justice, complained to the trust that manages Victoria Hall – the community hall on top of which the three-faced clock stands . 'If people don't like the chime of a bell that has sounded for generations, they should reflect on whether they want to live next door to it in the first place or consider the merits of double glazing,' the minister told the Daily Mail. The row began shortly after legal expert Steve Tai, 44, and his accountant wife Yong Wong, 41, moved to Ash from a nearby village last September. First, Mr Tai, who works as a case manager at the Royal Courts of Justice, complained to the trust that manages Victoria Hall – the community hall on top of which the three-faced clock stands. Then he contacted the parish council and Guildford Borough Council, threatening to sue because the chimes, which have sounded every 15 minutes since 1900, had left the couple unable to sleep and 'depressed'. The trust was advised it would probably lose if the case went to court. So it has now had to buy a bespoke timer for £1,700 plus installation costs to stop the chimes between 11pm and 7am. However, in an inspiring show of community spirit, villagers have chipped in with donations to meet the fee, despite being outraged by the move. The chimes on the clock at Victoria Hall in Ash, Surrey, have sounded every 15 minutes since 1900 . The trust has now had to buy a bespoke timer for £1,700 plus installation costs to stop the chimes . David Brown, of the hall's management committee said: 'There's a lot of resentment that someone can come into a place and stop something that's been going on for 100 years without any real feel for the community in general. 'People have powerful memories of the hall and the clock. It has been a venue for wedding receptions, for all sorts of events and groups. In the First World War ladies gathered there to write letters to men at the Front.' Nigel Manning, chairman of Ash Parish Council, said: 'To my mind it's "buyer beware". You can't really miss the clock – it's 90ft tall and right next door.' Mr Pickles's department has now drafted guidance to councils that the local character of a place should be taken into account during noise disputes. 'In recent years, too many town halls have been over-zealous in trying to silence church bells and village clocks which have chimed for decades, if not centuries,' he said. 'We need some common sense to recognise such sounds are part of the fabric of Britain's life, rather than trying to whitewash all the character out of our heritage.' Mr Tai insisted he did not know the clock chimed every 15 minutes when he bought the house for £295,950 after just one viewing. 'We changed the double glazing and paid for sound-proofing but it's still not working,' he said. 'I don't think there's any point that they should chime after 11pm.'
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Steve Tai, 44, and his wife Yong Wong, 41, moved to Ash last September .
The legal expert first complained to the trust that manages Victoria Hall .
He then contacted the parish council and Guildford Borough council .
Threatened to sue as chimes left couple unable to sleep and 'depressed'
Chimes had sounded every 15 minutes since 1900 but will do no longer .
Villagers said there was a 'lot of resentment' but chipped in to buy a timer .
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1453a9e495b175357204ca21b040532c518ff6a2
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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers felt his side had shown great resilience to emerge triumphant from a crazy Capital One Cup tie against Middlesbrough. The third-round encounter at Anfield saw the teams level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra-time, with the Sky Bet Championship visitors, who hit the post near the end of normal time, netting their second equaliser in the dying seconds. An epic penalty shoot-out followed - believed to be the longest in the competition's history - which the hosts eventually won 14-13. Liverpool beat Middlesbrough 14-13 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in their Capital One Cup third round tie . And Rodgers said afterwards: 'It was a real good night for us. 'I was obviously pleased to get through, and that experience, even though it was a long night for everyone, was great for our young players. 'It is good to win no matter how you do it. We played okay in the game and didn't create a great deal to be honest, but we showed good perseverance to keep going. 'As it is at the moment, we made too many mistakes and got punished for that in the game. 'But the players showed great resilience and mentality to keep going and at the end, when it was needed, they showed wonderful composure - some of our young players stepping up to take the penalties.' Brendan Rodgers praised his side's perseverance and resilience, despite the holes in his defence . In a Liverpool side showing seven changes from Saturday's 3-1 Barclays Premier League loss at West Ham, 17-year-old local lad Jordan Rossiter made a swift impact on his senior debut, the midfielder coolly slotting in the opening goal of the game in the 10th minute. There were also notable contributions from 20-year-old forward Suso, scorer of the Reds' second, and fellow substitute Jordan Williams, a 18-year-old midfielder and another debutant, who converted in the shootout. Rodgers said: 'Tonight was a good night for our young players. Mario Balotelli took two penalties in the shootout, going left both times and scored each . 'Young Jordan Rossiter at 17 years of age - he could walk to Anfield, he lives just around the corner, and I was delighted for him. He got the opportunity and showed a wonderful finish, and composure to get that finish. 'I was also impressed with young Jordan Williams - he came on and showed real good stature and composure in the game. He is a wonderful footballer and a young player who is developing well. 'And young Suso hasn't had a lot of game time at all, but he has kept working and I thought he was really bright for us when he came on, and took his goal really well. 17-year-old Jordan Rossiter scored the first goal of the evening after a defensive mix-up from the visitors . Asked what the future held for Rossiter and Williams, Rodgers said: 'Opportunity - and I think that is the biggest thing a young player can want. 'I think all the young players and coaches in the academy will look at that tonight, and they know anyway through my work that I will always look to them. 'My job is to grow the top-class young talents, not just buy them in. We want to grow them, or there is no point having our youth academy. 'Tonight is a great night for them and a step towards them playing for the first-team regularly, hopefully.' Rodgers' was also pleased with Suso's performance, the Spaniard scored Liverpool's second goal . Balotelli (LIV) SCORE 1-0 . Bamford (MID) MISS 1-0 . Lucas SCORE 2-0 . Clayton SCORE 2-1 . Lallana SCORE 3-1 . Reach SCORE 3-2 . Suso SCORE 4-2 . Adomah SCORE 4-3 . Sterling MISS 4-3 . Vossen SCORE 4-4 . Williams SCORE 5-4 . Friend SCORE 5-5 . Toure SCORE 6-5 . Ayala SCORE 6-6 . Sakho SCORE 7-6 . Fredericks SCORE 7-7 . Manquillo SCORE 8-7 . Omeruo SCORE 8-8 . Enrique SCORE 9-8 . Wildschut SCORE 9-9 . Mignolet SCORE 10-9 . Blackman SCORE 10-10 . Balotelli SCORE 11-10 . Bamford SCORE 11-11 . Lucas SCORE 12-11 . Clayton SCORE 12-12 . Lallana SCORE 13-12 . Reach SCORE 13-13 . Suso SCORE 14-13 . Adamoah MISS 14-13 .
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Liverpool advance to last 16 of Capital One Cup .
Brendan Rodgers side beat Middlesbrough on penalties after 2-2 draw .
Liverpool boss also praised youngsters after impressive performances .
Jordan Rossiter singled out for praise by Rodgers .
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(CNN) -- In signing Argentina's same-sex marriage law, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said debate over the issue would be "absolutely anachronistic" -- archaic, out of date -- within a few years. Striking down California's Proposition 8 two weeks later, Judge Vaughn Walker was more specific, saying there was no evidence for old-fashioned stereotypes that painted gays "as disease vectors or as child molesters who recruit young children into homosexuality." Banning people from marrying based on sexual orientation, the President Reagan appointee explained, is "irrational." "Often courts will make decisions that are predictors of what public opinion is going to be a few years from now," said Brian Powell, an Indiana University sociology professor and co-author of the upcoming book, "Counted Out: Same-Sex Relations and Americans' Definitions of Family." As Walker indicated, attitudes are changing, and waning are concepts that homosexuality harms children, defies biblical teachings or destroys the fabric of society. "Public attitudes don't change really quickly, but this is one that's changing really, really quickly," Powell said. The trend is similar abroad, especially among younger people, said Suzanne Goldberg, a Columbia University law professor who heads the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law. The center has handled asylum cases for gay people fleeing persecution in countries including Jamaica, Brazil, Uzbekistan and Ivory Coast. Research indicates younger people are beginning to see sexual orientation as "benign variation, so that the differences between gay and nongay couples are simply not so interesting," Goldberg said in an e-mail. "Once that happens, societies have less interest in distinguishing between relationships of gay and nongay couples," she added. Before 2008, Massachusetts (via a court ruling) was the only U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, while the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada and South Africa were the only countries. Since then, four U.S. states, five countries, Washington, D.C., and Mexico City have legalized same-sex marriage. Watch why same-sex marriages are on hold in California . While some of these entities have track records of defending civil rights, some may appear more curious. South Africa resides on a continent particularly hostile to gay rights, and in some African countries same-sex relationships are punishable by penal labor, flogging, imprisonment or death, according to the International Lesbian and Gay Association. Mexico City, Portugal and Argentina, all of which legalized same-sex marriage this year -- and Spain, which OK'd it in 2005 -- are staunchly Catholic, and the church has made clear its aversion to same-sex relationships. Goldberg said she believes, in the Catholic countries, the emphasis on religion is trumped by a drive to ensure equality. "My sense is that the shift in the Catholic countries to recognize same sex-couples marriages stems from a complex set of political and social reasons and has been, in some nations, an indication of the church's shrinking political clout," she said. Argentina may fit the bill, as the country is 92 percent Roman Catholic, yet only 20 percent of the population is practicing. Watch couple comment on Argentina's first same-sex marriage . A recent CNN poll said Americans were split 51 percent to 49 percent against granting gay and lesbian couples the right to wed. Proposition 8 was approved by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent, but Powell noted referendums "do not necessarily reflect the will of the people." Older people tend to cast more ballots than younger folks, he said, and heated issues draw special interests into elections, which can skew demographics. Powell has been collecting data on American attitudes since 2003. While the full data will be released in his book in September, his research adds a layer of nuance to the poll numbers: Though many Americans simply do or do not recognize gay couples as families, 80 percent of Americans consider gay partners a family if they have children. His research shows American definitions of family are becoming flexible, he said, likening the same-sex marriage debate to the rumblings preceding the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision authorizing interracial marriages. Before the miscegenation ruling, researchers found younger people, those with liberal religious views and voters with higher education levels had fewer qualms with interracial marriages. Similar lines hold true in today's same-sex marriage debate. Powell added another variable: gender. Women have a "more inclusive" definition of family, he said. Goldberg said demographics were also at play in other nations, "reaching a tipping point" on same-sex couples. These societies have had long-standing commitments to end discrimination against gays at work, in courts and elsewhere, she said. iReport.com: 'Army of lovers' fights for rights . There is also "an increased demand by same-sex couples together with an increased recognition that there really are not nonreligion-based reasons to exclude same-sex couples from marriage," she said. The more open discourse on a topic, the more acceptance it garners, Goldberg and Powell concurred. Look to the tube. When Ellen DeGeneres kissed Laura Dern on her sitcom, "Ellen," in 1997, there was enormous backlash. Today, same-sex smooches are ratings grabs and shows with prominent gay characters, such as "Modern Family" and "Glee," are up for Emmys this month. "Once there is more discussion about it as a result of court cases, as a result of media representations, people become more comfortable," Powell said. Added Goldberg, "It's also true that as gay people live openly and as same-sex couples' relationships are recognized more broadly, fears that the sky will fall because of same-sex couples' marriages tend to fade away from the mainstream." Change is not swift everywhere, as the degree of acceptance around the world presently runs the gamut. Read Time.com's history of international gay marriage . In 2008, the U.N. General Assembly saw 66 countries declare they would support rights for gays and lesbians, yet a 2010 International Lesbian and Gay Association report said 76 countries punish people based on sexual orientation. The number last year was 77. India dropped off the list when its court changed the penal code in July 2009. "One country less compared to the 2009 list may seem little progress, until one realizes that it hosts one-sixth of the human population," the report said. There are countries such as Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, which can put people to death for certain types of sexual behavior, according to the report. There are places such as Aruba and Israel that will recognize same-sex marriages but won't perform them. There are also about 20 countries or parts of countries that recognize civil unions. Goldberg said policies in Uganda, which drafted an anti-homosexuality bill that would strengthen the nation's maximum sentence from life in prison to capital punishment, and in Iran are stark contrasts to the rest of the world, which is reluctant to condemn gays openly. As for countries embracing civil unions, it's a compromise, Powell said. People are in favor of many gay rights, just not marriage, he said. Goldberg described it as "typically political, where the pro-equality communities have enough power to gain substantial recognition for same-sex couples but not enough to overcome resistance from the more conservative segments of the political community." To those fighting for gay rights, Powell said, any step forward helps because it increases dialogue and people's comfort levels. "Contact makes things less scary, makes it more comfortable, and the more comfort you have the less opposition you're going to have," he said.
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Proposition 8 judge blasts stereotypes gays are "disease vectors," "child molesters"
Experts: Global attitudes shifting, resulting in acceptance for rights, marriage or civil unions .
Watchdog says Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen can put gays to deaths .
Lesbian kiss on TV stirred controversy in 1997; now, shows with gays up for Emmys .
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A woman in India has given birth to ten babies at the same time - but none of them survived. Anju Kushwaha, 28, from the Satna district of central Madhya Pradesh province, went into labour at just 12 weeks on Sunday evening and was rushed to hospital with her husband Sanjay. However during the 77mile (125k) journey the expectant mother gave birth to nine children, all of them stillborn, before arriving at the hospital. Anju Kushwaha, 28, gave birth to ten babies in India in a case of multifoetal pregnancy, an increasingly common condition which mostly produces twins (file picture) Multifoetal pregnancy is where two or more embryos develop in a woman's womb, commonly resulting in twins. This can either happen as one embryo divides into two, forming identical twins, or two separate eggs are fertilised, resulting in non-identical twins. A combination of these two processes can also form triplets, all, some or none of which may be identical. However, high order multifoetal pregnancies occur almost exclusively when a woman is undergoing fertility treatment as high hormone levels and multiple implanted embryos increase the change of more than one becoming fertilised. While the rise in fertility treatment has lead to a roughly 75 per cent rise in high order pregnancies, less than 1 per cent of women are affected and cases of ten or more children are extremely uncommon. If untreated, these cases almost always result in infant death as they lead to premature birth, with the children unable to survive because their organs have not yet developed properly. Dr SK Pathak, assistant superintendent of Sanjay Ghandi Memorial hospital, told Times of India: 'She delivered nine of them midway. Obstetric and NICU team at our hospital helped her to deliver the 10th one in the operation theatre - all were born dead at almost 12 weeks.' Mrs Kushwaha was experiencing an extreme form of a condition known as multifoetal pregnancy, which usually produces twins. Multifoetal pregnancy occurs either when a single sperm and single egg combine, but then split into two embryos, forming identical twins who will share identical DNA. Another possibility is that two sperm will fertilise two eggs, resulting in non-identical, or fraternal twins, who are often different in appearance and gender. Various combinations of this process can very occasionally produce triplets, all, some or none of which might be identical. High order multiples - more than three babies in the same womb - are exceptionally rare and occur almost exclusively while the woman is undergoing fertility treatment. This is because several embryos are often implanted into her womb to increase the chances of conception, and the fact that high hormone levels, used in most fertility treatments, also increase the risk. Mrs Kushwaha has been confirmed as . receiving fertility treatment. Dr Sumitra Yadav, a senior gynecologist, . added: 'It seems that that there was no regular follow-up of her . pregnancy after IVF. At least three offspring could have been saved by . reducing the pregnancy.' High order multifoetal pregnancies, such as this one, almost exclusively occur where a woman is undergoing fertility treatment such as IVF (pictured) but are still extremely rare . Anju lives in Koti village, in Madhya Pradesh province, nearly 80 miles away from the nearest hospital meaning she miscarried nine of the babies on the way there . Multifetal pregnancy reduction is where some of the unborn children are terminated in order to increase the chance of some of the foetuses surviving, and to reduce risk to the mother. Each addition foetus a woman is carrying increases the risk of premature birth, with around half of all children born this early dying from respiratory stress syndrome, caused by undeveloped lungs. If the pregnancy is confirmed it will mark the most babies in a womb in India, and the second highest in the world. In 1971 a doctor in Rome claimed to have delivered 15 children at one time, though all of them were also dead.
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Anju Kushwaha, 28, has reportedly given birth to ten babies in India .
Gave birth to nine on the journey to hospital and one in operating theatre .
None of the decuplets survived as they were born at just 12 weeks old .
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(CNN) -- Usain Bolt, the anchor of Jamaican sprinting success for the past six years, led his 4x100m relay team to a new world record and in the process picked up his third gold for the second successive Olympic games. He pulled away from Team USA anchor Ryan Bailey about half way through the final leg to cross the line in a time of 36.84 seconds, beating the previous record of 37.04 seconds. The Jamaican team seemed to show no concern that regular anchor Asafa Powell was missing through injury, as they eased up through the gears and ensured some perfect baton changes to keep in their destiny in their own hands. The crowd cheered not only a perfect end to Jamaica's campaign but also a great end to all the action within the Olympic stadium. And Bolt was celebrating with them, doing the 'Mo-Bot' -- copying the celebration of British athlete Mo Farah, who completed a Olympic double earlier in the day winning the men's 5,000m as well as the 10,000m earlier in the week -- as he followed his 100m and 200m golds with a relay victory. Bolt has now won seven out of eight of the major athletics competitions, only missing out on a World Championship 100m title in South Korea due to a false start. The United States claimed silver in a national record of 37.04sec, which matched the previous world record. Meanwhile, Canada's team of Jared Connaughton, Gavin Smellie, Oluseyi Smith and Justyn Warner crossed the line in third, but were disqualified after Connaughton ran outside his lane on the third leg. The bronze was given to Trinidad and Tobago.
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4x100m team of Carter, Frater, Blake and Bolt post World Record time of 36.85 secs .
Usain Bolt wins three gold medals for the second successive Olympic games .
Team USA second at 37.04 secs after Bolt pulls away in the final leg of the race .
Canada are disqualified after the race and the bronze medal is given to Trinidad & Tobago .
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By . Leslie Larson and Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 02:01 EST, 13 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:46 EST, 14 November 2012 . He is known for his cool on-screen persona as much as for his frosty off-camera feuds. And now TODAY show host Matt Lauer is upset that executive producer Jim Bell is being phased out for Alexandra Wallace, sources told RadarOnline. A source close to the situation exclusively told the website that the longstanding co-host of TODAY is ‘not happy that Bell…has been forced out,’ adding that Lauer never had a good working relationship with Wallace, who is a longtime supporter of ousted Ann Curry. Off with the old: Jim Bell (left, at a NYC event in Oct. 2010) is expected to . leave his role as executive producer at the Today show. Alexandra . Wallace (right) is reportedly going to take the helm at the fledgling morning . show . Today: The show has slumped in the ratings. Pictured in 2011 (from left to right) Steve Capus, president NBC News, Jim Bell, former co-anchor Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, Natalie Morales and Al Roker . Wallace, who previously worked with . NBC News and CBS, will also challenge Lauer’s wish to use only NBC-paid . experts to remark on current events, the source said, so as to be more . applicable to TODAY’s viewers. A spokesperson for NBC did not immediately return MailOnline’s request for comment. Mr Bell, who had worked for the show . since 2005, was responsible for the choice to broadcast this summer’s . Olympics on a delay, so that the events shot live in London would then . be shown at prime time in the U.S. The executive decision caused . outrage, as viewers missed out on London’s Opening Ceremonies, gymnast . Gabby Douglas’ stunning gold medal-winning performance, and sprinter . Usain Bolt’s 100m victory hours after they actually happened. Bell will go on to be the full-time executive producer of the network's Olympic coverage. He was also responsible for what many . thought was an offensive overlook of a national moment of silence on . the 11th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Rather than . airing the moment, the TODAY show aired a segment with Kardashian . matriarch Kris Jenner talking about her breast implants. Wrong direction? Matt Lauer, pictured today with Harry Styles of One Direction, left, and Savannah Guthrie, right; Lauer is said to be upset over the new executive producer . Smiling: Matt Lauer attended TIME's Person of the Year panel on Tuesday in New York . NBC is expected to officially announce . the departure of Bell soon, after the morning program lost its 16-year . consecutive ratings win to the competition. The . set at Studio 1A in New York's Rockefeller Center has been in a state . of constant flux, with a revolving door among the cast and a lack of . viewer confidence in the show that once dominated morning television. New York Times media reporter Brian Stelter broke the news on Monday, citing unnamed sources who said Alexandra Wallace, now a senior vice president of NBC News, will succeed Bell and become the first female EP of the morning program. Sources suggested to the Associated Press that Wallace will assume the role on an interim basis, while the Peacock Network searched for a replacement. But NBC insiders have remained tight-lipped about when the forthcoming changes could take effect at 30 Rock. Stelter spun the story on Twitter to highlight the fact that Bell is expected to assume a full time role producing the upcoming Olympics but the move is seen as a clear sign that Bell is taking the fall for the pandemonium on set that has been turning off viewers. Bad morning: After rumors of tension on the set, Ann Curry announced on June 28th that she was leaving the Today Show in an emotional farewell that left viewers squeamish . Not pleased: Though Matt Lauer tried to assure Curry of her contributions to the show, it was clear to viewers that she was shown the door . Bell, who started his career as a sport's producer, took the helm at Today seven years ago - taking on the role when the show was at the height of its success in 2005. The program has long been seen to be untouchable with its 16-year lead among viewers but ABC's Good Morning America has given the NBC show a run for their money. In April, Today lost in the ratings battle to GMA, which has grown in popularity among the am sect with its full-loving crew of Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. In response to the crushing loss, Today said farewell to Ann Curry, who was crowned the co-host of the show in 2011 after serving as the newsreader for years, but her unceremonious exit did not sit well with viewers. 'This is not as I expected to ever leave this couch,' she said on June 28, when she gave an emotional goodbye to viewers. Rumors were rampant that Matt Lauer, the long serving co-host, had been unhappy with Curry's performance and had pushed for her departure but Bell came forward as the fall guy, saying he had decided to push Curry out. 'We made some tough calls,' Bell told The Hollywood Reporter in a soul-baring interview in September. Winning: Good Morning America raced ahead of Today in the ratings. The GMA crew (pictured in August left to right) Josh Elliott, Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Lara Spencer enjoy their newfound success . 'I think it’s really unfortunate how that played out,' he continued about the drama over Curry's ouster. 'Obviously the transition didn't go quite as we had hoped,' he conceded, admitting that viewers may have been turned off by how the episode played out. 'Matt, I need to say for the record, . really should not bear any of the blame for that. I’m the executive . producer of the show. He’s not. He’s the public face of the show, so . he’s taken some of this. But it has been wrong. And that fact should be . corrected.' 'I think it’s really unfortunate how that played out. Obviously the transition didn't go quite as we had hoped' -Jim Bell in September about the network's changes to the show . Despite the bad press about the show's direction, he expressed confidence (at least, at that time) in the future. 'We’re taking some shots. But that’s OK. We have the right team in place now. We’re just trying to move forward here.' But . even with his assurances that Lauer was not the bad guy, Lauer became . cast as a bit of a diva when reports emerged he negotiated a lucrative . contract, estimated at $25 million, that reportedly allowed him to cut . back on his work schedule despite his pay increase. Former . lawyer turned cheery TV personality, Savannah Guthrie, was named . Curry's replacement in July and even with her girl-next-door charm and . astute reporting abilities, the show has continued to struggle alongside . the competition. Tension: Savannah Guthrie (left) joined the show this summer but Matt Lauer has reportedly been micromanaging decisions on set, frustrating the rest of the crew . Bad timing? At the precise moment that CBS and ABC were broadcasting the moment's . silence to commemorate 9/11 from, NBC's TODAY show was airing an interview with Kris Jenner about breast implants . Users of Twitter took to the social networking site to express their disgust over the perceived lack of respect from NBC in broadcasting an interview with Kris Jenner instead of the 9/11 moment of silence at 8.46. a.m. After taking a hit to their ratings, Lauer . addressed the show's decline in a CNN interview in May and took . responsibility for its lackluster performance. ‘Perhaps we have let up on in the . past couple of years ... the competition is tougher and there are a lot . of challenges out there,’ he said on Piers Morgan Tonight on May 30. 'When people start to write articles . about what might be wrong with the Today show you know where you should . point the finger, point it at me because I have been there the longest. And it's my responsibility,’ he added. But with a new side-kick, reports circulated that Lauer saw himself as the show's savior and began micromanaging decisions on set at 30 Rock, much to the chagrin of the show's crew.
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Executive producer Jim Bell fired after ratings have continued to drop .
Replaced by NBC Nightly News' Alexandra Wallace, the first woman producer for TODAY in show's 60 year history .
Sources say that Matt Lauer is 'not happy' with switch, in part because Wallace intends to upset status quo .
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Australia are desperately seeking a new coach for their European tour following Ewen McKenzie’s shock resignation on Saturday. The Wallabies are due to fly north on Friday but their preparations were plunged into crisis as McKenzie abruptly ended his turbulent reign by quitting shortly after Australia succumbed to an agonising 29-28 defeat by New Zealand in Brisbane. His position had appeared untenable as the Australian RU were thought to have begun discreetly sounding out potential replacements for the former Queensland Reds coach, who took over last summer. Ewen McKenzie handed in his resignation as Wallabies coach hours before his side's clash with New Zealand . Australia were leading the All Blacks 28-22 with seconds remaining before Malakai Fekitoa's late try . Kurtley Beale has been at the centre of several scandals in the Wallabies set-up over the past few weeks . He had been under siege after suspending maverick back Kurtley Beale for sending offensive texts about the Wallabies’ team business manager Di Patston, who promptly resigned. McKenzie was then forced to deny having a personal relationship with Patston. Bill Pulver, the ARU chief executive, blamed McKenzie’s departure on a media campaign against him. Australia are weeks away from games against the Barbarians, Wales, France, Ireland and England, and 11 months before the World Cup where they will be grouped with England and Wales. Former South Africa coach Jake White and Waratahs’ Michael Cheika are potential successors but Pulver said: ‘I don’t even know who can get on a plane on Friday.’ Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver criticised the media's behaviour towards McKenzie in recent weeks .
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Ewen McKenzie quit his role as Australia head coach hours before team's 29-28 defeat against New Zealand in Brisbane .
McKenzie resigned after series of scandals involving utility back Kurtley Beale and former Wallabies staff member Di Patston .
Wallabies due to travel to Europe on Friday for tough tour taking in Tests against Wales, France, Ireland and England .
Former South Africa coach Jake White and Waratahs’ Michael Cheika tipped as potential successors .
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Mogadishu, Somalia (CNN) -- A double car bomb attack outside of a hotel in Somalia's capital Wednesday night killed at least one person and injured up to a dozen others, police said. Police official Yusuf Ali said the first suicide car bomb exploded outside the main gate of the Jazeera Palace Hotel, with the second blast from a parked car following as first responders began gathering to evacuate the injured. Three of the wounded were security personnel stationed outside the gate. At the time of the Mogadishu blasts, there were several senior members of the Somali government inside the Jazeera hotel. It is believed the injured guards were part of the security detail of government officials. Of the 12 people injured, some were seriously wounded and transported to local hospitals. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Last month, another bombing at a hotel in the capital left five people dead and at least 15 wounded, a government spokesman said. A car bomb went off on November 8 outside Hotel Makkah Al-Mukarama in central Mogadishu, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the African country's interior and national security minister, told local media. Those killed included Abdulkadir Ali, the Somalian government's former acting envoy to Britain better known as "Dhub," said Abdirahman Omar Osman, presidential spokesperson. Some of Somalia's violence has been traced to Al-Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked organization that the U.S. government calls a terrorist group and was behind the deadly siege earlier this fall of a Nairobi, Kenya, shopping mall. A U.S. military drone strike in southern Somalia in late October killed two suspected Al-Shabaab members, U.S. officials said. And a recent joint raid by Kenyan and Somali forces killed at least 30 people believed to be part of that group. In September 2012, Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, escaped an apparent assassination attempt at the Jazeera hotel, just two days after being selected as the troubled country's new leader. According to a presidential press officer and several journalists at the scene, early indications are that the attack was carried out by two suicide bombers who set off explosives at the gates of the Jazeera Palace Hotel, where the president was having high-level meetings. At least four Somali government soldiers and one African Union soldier were killed in that attack, according to journalists at the scene. Journalist Omar Nor reported from Mogadishu, and CNN's Ray Sanchez wrote this story from New York.
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Double car bombs explode near Somali hotel .
At least one person is killed and up to a dozen wounded .
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By . Chris Greenwood . Lord Justice Leveson ignored direct police evidence of how blue-chip companies fuelled the illegal trade in personal information. A senior officer submitted documents outlining how a little-known three-year inquiry uncovered a nationwide network of corruption. The multi-million-pound investigation found law firms, debt collectors and insurers were behind the thriving underground trade. But despite holding eight months of gruelling public hearings at a huge cost to the taxpayer, Leveson dismissed the officer’s evidence in less than 18 minutes. To the point: Lord Justice Leveson dismissed police evidence in just 18 minutes . The revelation renews pressure on the High Court judge to explain why he ignored evidence of hacking and other illegal activities outside of the media. He is already under fire for refusing to consider an incendiary intelligence dossier compiled by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). It included a list of 102 companies and individuals linked to a group of rogue private eyes who blagged, hacked and stole sensitive data. Earlier this week Soca chairman Sir Ian Andrews resigned after failing to declare a conflict of interests as the row over the list rumbled on. The move raised hopes that members of the home affairs committee will find a solution to the deadlock created by his refusal to allow its publication.Last night, Labour shadow home secretary Stella Creasy said there was a growing sense of confusion and Soca’s ‘silence’ cannot continue. She said the crime-fighting agency had lost people’s confidence and there were ‘legitimate questions’ over whether disclosing the names would be in the public interest. She added: ‘We urgently need Soca to give clear answers to legitimate questions about its confidential list.’ Evidence about the three-year inquiry was given by Russell Middleton, who was then an acting assistant chief constable for Devon and Cornwall Police. Listen up: Evidence was given by Russell Middleton who was an acting chief constable for Devon and Cornwall Police . In papers submitted to the Leveson Inquiry, he revealed how he and others uncovered evidence of a network of corrupt public officials. Police officers, support staff, prison guards and benefits agency staff were all suspected of leaking confidential information to private detectives. They in turn were supplying corporate clients who were hungry for sensitive data that could not be obtained elsewhere. The inquiry, known as Operation Reproof, began after a member of public uncovered a building contractor’s criminal record during a planning dispute. Police suspected the information was obtained illegally and quickly discovered an illicit network handling private data. They found that the personal details of Gordon Brown, at that time Chancellor, were checked on the Police National Computer. Devon and Cornwall alerted five other forces, including the Met, as organisations including the prison service, benefits agency, BT and mobile phone companies were targeted. The inquiry led to six men – two serving police officers, two retired officers, and two private detectives – being charged. But the sprawling case was thrown out of court in 2005 by a judge who said it had no hope of securing any convictions. In a remarkable comment, the Exeter judge said he did not consider a PC passing private information to a former colleague as ‘a serious matter that amounted to misconduct’. Mr Middleton said that his inquiry nevertheless uncovered shocking evidence of how the illegal information trade went far wider than the media. He told Leveson he ‘never found any direct evidence or indirect evidence linking that information being requested by or for any part of the media or journalists’. Instead the clients were ‘national companies, insurance companies’ who were instructing investigations into civil claims, accidents and marriage disputes. The senior officer’s evidence adds weight to criticism of Leveson for focusing too narrowly on the media. Tory MP Nicola Blackwood, a member of the home affairs committee, has previously suggested that Leveson could have adopted a broader remit. Speaking last month about evidence contained in the suppressed Soca report, Miss Blackwood said it could have changed the course of the inquiry. She said: ‘I cannot understand why they did not make these points to the Home Office when the Leveson Inquiry terms of reference were being set in the first place.’ A Leveson Inquiry spokesman said: ‘The terms of reference for the inquiry related to the culture, practices and ethics of the press and how they engaged with the public, the police and politicians. Evidence on other issues was outside those terms of reference.’
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Investigation found law firms were involved in the underground trade .
But despite coming at a great cost to the taxpayer, Leveson dismissed it .
Already under fire for skirting over other interesting revelations .
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Tempted to up sticks to escape the British climate? Then take a glance across the Channel, where a tumbling euro and plunging property prices mean it’s now more affordable than ever to pick up your own French chateau. The prices of some fairytale French mansions have halved since 2007, with some as cheap as £270,000 - the average cost of a British home. One French estate agency this week reported that it had 136 rambling piles for sale, each costing £500,000 or less. So if you’re dreaming of joining the lucky few whose homes boast vast rooms, gables, turrets, towers and moats, here are ten of the most affordable piles on the market in La Belle France. Maison Saint-James . Saint-James, Normandy . The Spec: 3,000 sq ft; 11 bedrooms; third of an acre . A restored chateau, it was built on the foundations of a 200-year-old house which was destroyed by Allied bombing during the war. Until recently it was used as holiday accommodation and remains in good condition. West-facing, it’s great for sunsets, and is located less than 20 miles from the fabled Mont St Michel Abbey, one of the most visited cultural sites in France. Saint-James is a charming village where William the Conqueror built a fort in 1067 and spent happy days with his wife, Matilda of Flanders, and some of their nine children. A separate guest studio, located nearby in the grounds of the maison could be rented out. AGENT: French Entrée, www.frenchentree.com . Jardin de Cure . Totes, Normandy . The Spec: 4,500 sq ft; 13 bedrooms; five acres . Set in a beautiful park with ancient chestnut trees and a walled cottage garden, this 19th century stately home has been in the same family for the past 50 years and boasts oak parquet floors and high ceilings with ornate plasterwork in many of the reception rooms. The property comes with a large outbuilding at the park entrance, which could be sold as a separate home, and is just a stroll from the village, while Normandy’s beautiful beaches are just 30 minutes’ drive away. Much admired by villagers, the chateau was previously owned by the Mayor, but has since belonged to a French grandmother who raised her family there and feels it’s too big for her to manage. AGENT: Leggett Prestige www.leggettprestige.com . Chateau Sable Sur Sarthe . Mayenne, Loire . The Spec: 4,305 sq ft; 11 bedrooms; seven acres . Listed as a historic monument, this early 17th century chateau comes with its own moat and sweeping driveway. At this price, a full renovation is required, but there is a wealth of original features to work with, from limestone fireplaces to 19th century tiles, not to mention the vast 516 sq ft dining room. AGENT: Groupe-Mercure www.groupe-mercure.com . Manoir Puy de Dome . Vall ee de la Sioule, Auvergne . The Spec: 2,475 sq ft; seven bedrooms; three quarters of an acre . This traditional chateau dates back to 1830, the year in which the conservative government of Charles X was overthrown by Louis Philippe I in what became known as the July Revolution. There are high ceilings, marble fireplaces and a beautiful stone staircase to give you a sense of grand living. With a library, orangery, music room and four generously proportioned bathrooms, this has real Downton Abbey appeal. Outside there are two garages and a stable. The large walled courtyard garden has potential to be turned into a rather grand Versailles style affair, complete with fountains and topiary. AGENT: Proprieties de France www.proprietiesdefrance.com . Chateau Giat, £318,466 . Auvergne . The Spec: Nine bedrooms and four bathrooms set in 0.7 acres of land . This beautiful chateau is reached via a gravelled drive through wrought iron gates to give it that Brideshead feel. To the rear is a beautiful lawned garden with a swimming pool, while despite the privacy afforded by the walled garden the property lies close to a pretty market town. AGENT: Leggett Immoblier www.frenchestateagents.com . Chateau de Niort . Niort: Poitou-Charentes . The Spec: 3,443 sq ft; seven bedrooms; half an acre. Built in 1880 but fully renovated, this rather splendid home is being run as a b&b, with plenty of future bookings. Should you choose to take over the business, you don’t even have to see much of your guests, as they have a separate guest lounge and two bedrooms in one wing. Not a vast amount of land, but the gardens are pretty and the chateau is less than a mile from the nearest small town. AGENT: Prestige property www.prestigeproperty.co.uk . Chateau Figeac . Figeac, La Lot . The Spec: 7,319 sq ft; six bedrooms; two-and-a-half acres of tree-lined grounds . If you like history then this is the place for you, as it’s a patchwork affair with 12th century foundations and two wings built in the 17th and 19th century respectively. The 17th century tower has a 376 sq ft salon complete with balcony, should you wish to host a string quartet to entertain your guests. Fully restored aside from one tower, there is, alas, no central heating for those chilly winter nights, although there are fireplaces aplenty. The pretty grounds have small outbuildings which also have potential for development. AGENT: Groupe-Mercure . Manoir Rethel . Champagne, Ardenne . The Spec: 5,274 sq ft; three bedrooms; 4.7 acres. A fortress built in 1659, the castle has been given listed status as its four ancient towers, in the shape of waterdrops, were deemed so unusual. The roof has been fully restored, but if you’re dismayed by the lowly number of bedrooms, a third of the house remains unrenovated, so you could always create more. The living room has a vast fireplace and separate salon. It’s also just 30 minutes from Epernay, heart of the champagne region of Reims. AGENT: Groupe Mercure . Chateau Picardie . Abbeville, Picardie . The Spec: 5,274 sq ft; nine bedrooms; ten acres . Built in 1850, this beautiful 19th century chateau has remained in the same family ever since — that’s 165 years. It retains all its original features, from wood floors to marble fireplaces, but requires a bit of TLC. Outside, the gardens/woodland are filled with ancient oak and beech trees once used as hideouts by German soldiers during the war. A Chaussee Brunehaut, the French name for an ancient Roman road through the region and said to have been used by Julius Caesar, passes nearby the chateau, which lies 12 miles from the historic town of Abbeville. The fact that it’s only 80 miles from Calais makes it a plausible weekend getaway destination. AGENT: Leggett Prestige . Chateau Allier . Allier, Auvergne . The Spec: 6,458 sq ft; seven bedrooms; 14 acres . This 19th century chateau has the fairytale factor, with Disney-style turrets. The ground floor features a 300 sq ft south-facing terrace with stunning views over the Puy mountains. It’s habitable and retains a lot of traditional features, from parquet floor to carved woodwork. A sweeping set of steps from the front door lead to your land, comprising beautiful meadows and woods bordering a river. AGENT: Groupe-Mercure .
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French house prices have halved since 2007 and some mansions are now cheaper than the average UK home .
For £276,000 you could have an 11-bed former guest house in Normandy set in three quarters of an acre of land .
For those with bigger budgets, £500,000 will buy a seven-bed home in 14 acres of meadows and woodland .
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By . Cindy Tran for Daily Mail Australia . Shocking new footage has captured the careless actions of motorists and pedestrians who are gambling with their lives by ignoring the road rules and warning signs and interfering with the new light rail network. One of the videos obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows a taxi driver turning at an intersection before slamming on the brakes to avoid colliding with the tram at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. In another piece of footage from Tuesday, a man is seen walking beside a tram across a bridge in the suburb of Southport, completely ignoring the 'no walking' signs. Scroll down for videos . Near miss: a taxi driver turning at an intesection before slamming the brakes to avoid colliding with the tram . The man is seen walking along a tram track and completely ignoring the 'no walking' sign . The third filmed footage shows abother taxi driver turning blindly on to the tram tracks without checking to see the approaching tram. The drivers of the car and trams stop just in time. Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said no tram driver should have to be confronted with a situation where they are unable to stop. Mr Emerson said motorists and pedestrians need to follow the road rules and not take senseless risks such as illegal u-turns, turning on red signals and jaywalking. 'You’re not just breaking the road rules but you’re also placing yourself and tram passengers in a dangerous situation and possibly risking the lives of those on board the tram. The man is walking alongside a passing tram . Mr Emerson said he was appalled to see a man walking along the tram tracks and ignoring the 'no walking' sign . The man continues walking over the tram bridge at Southport . Mr Emerson said it was frightening to watch the taxi driver who failed to see a tram travelling alongside him before turning directly into its path. 'The tram and taxi had to come to a screaming halt to avoid a collision,' he said. 'I shudder to think how the scenario would have played out if the taxi driver realised his mistake a few seconds later. The taxi driver straightens up after coming within centimetres of the Gold Coast tram . Both the tram and taxi driver slam on their brakes to avoid a collision . Mr Emerson said the tram and taxi had to come to a screaming halt to avoid a collision . 'I’m appalled to see a man walking along the tram tracks, ignoring 'no walking' signs and putting himself and tram passengers at risk of an accident. It’s not hard to imagine the pedestrian’s actions could have resulted in a fatal hit. 'I cannot stress enough that if the drivers in these clips had made their mistakes a couple of seconds later, the incidents could have resulted in serious injury or death.' Following the array of dramatic footages, another man can be seen walking onto the light rail tracks, before realising a tram was headed towards him before he sprints through an oncoming traffic. A man can be seen walking onto the light rail tracks, before realising a tram was headed towards him .
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New footage has captured the careless actions of motorists and pedestrians dealing with trams on Queensland's Gold Coast .
Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson said drivers should not be confronted with the dangerous situations where they are unable to stop .
Motorists and pedestrians need to follow road rules, he said .
'Don't take senseless risks such as illegal u-turns, turning on red signals and jaywalking'
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By . Ryan Kisiel and David Wilkes . PUBLISHED: . 07:35 EST, 16 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:37 EST, 16 May 2013 . After her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Julia Wilkerson lovingly cared for her. But after six years, the strain on the former county golf champion became too much – and she hit the 71-year-old over the head with a broom. It happened during an argument while they were clearing out the garage at their £250,000 detached, four-bedroom home. Sportswoman Julia Wilkerson, 40, lashed out after caring for her 71-year-old mother . The blow left Clover Wilkerson . bleeding and led to her daughter, a former team captain of the Norfolk . Ladies County Golf Association and five times winner of the Norfolk . county championships, facing prosecution for assault. The pair’s ‘loving relationship’ broke . down as Wilkerson, 40, struggled to cope under the immense strain of . being a carer, King’s Lynn magistrates’ court was told. She had fallen into a ‘cycle of . resentment and guilt’ and feared her life was no longer her own. Yvonne . Neil, prosecuting, said Wilkerson’s mother admitted slapping her . daughter on the back first during the argument in the garage. That led to Wilkerson hitting her mother with the broom, which was an ‘entirely disproportionate’ reaction, the lawyer added. Ian Graham, defending, said it was an ‘unfortunate case of two people who clearly love each other’. Wilkerson, a former team captain of Norfolk Ladies County Golf Association and five-time winner of Norfolk county championships, found herself hauled into court . ‘The relationship has got into . difficulty,’ he said. ‘Julia has siblings but she was the person who . decided to take on the very serious responsibility of becoming her . carer. It appears to have got too much for her.’ Mr Graham said Wilkerson was someone . with previous good character who had got into a ‘difficult situation’ with her mother but it was hoped the two would now be able to reconcile . their differences. Wilkerson, of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, . was given a 12-month conditional discharge after magistrates were given . character references showing her to be a ‘very caring person’. Presiding magistrate Jill Skinner said: ‘Both you and your mother are probably very upset by the whole thing.’ Wilkerson, who had denied a charge of . assault by beating at a previous hearing, was also ordered to pay £100 . costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Police yesterday confirmed that . Wilkerson’s mother complained about her daughter on the day of the . attack, October 5 last year, which led to her arrest. Wilkerson was living with her mother at the time. Speaking at the house yesterday, her . mother said: ‘My daughter does not live here any more and it was part of . her bail conditions. ‘She works at a health centre but I . don’t want to make any further comment.’ Mrs Wilkerson lives a mile away . from her former husband Albert, who is remarried, and son Paul, 35. Neither was available to comment yesterday. Barbara Williams, director of research . and support charity Parkinson’s UK, said: ‘Parkinson’s is an incurable . condition that progresses over time, and caring for someone with . Parkinson’s can have a profound effect on mental and physical wellbeing. ‘It’s very common for carers to feel . stressed, fatigued and have difficulty sleeping but very often they . don’t prioritise their own care, missing doctor’s appointments and . putting off getting help. ‘Nonetheless they have the courage to keep going, and the support carers contribute is invaluable.’ She urged carers in need of support . themselves to contact the charity’s support workers and groups to ‘help . take the pressure out of the pressure cooker’.
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Julia Wilkerson, 40, lashed out after caring for her 71-year-old mother .
She is a former Norfolk Ladies County Golf Association team captain .
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(CNN) -- What could possibly draw 500,000 spectators to a Taiwan harbor front in the midst of typhoon Usagi threats? A giant inflatable rubber duck, of course. After stirring up a duck craze in Hong Kong in May and June, the 18-meter inflatable duck created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman arrived at Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan last Thursday. Some 500,000 people showed up to see the duck within five days, including on Saturday, when officials suspended the exhibition due to the expected arrival of Usagi. Kaohsiung City's love affair with the bird was kindled in 2009 when government officials went to see it on show in Osaka. More: 40 Taiwanese foods we can't live without . "When we found out the rubber duck was coming to Hong Kong this year, we sent Hofman photos of Kaohsiung City and our mayor sent him a letter," said Zeno Lai, director general of the Kaohsiung Government Information Bureau and also the event's spokesperson. "By the time we met Hofman in Hong Kong in June, he said more than 300 cities had contacted him for the next exhibition, including more than 20 cities in Taiwan," said Lai. How Kaohsiung City won the duck's heart . According to Lai, Hofman was persuaded to bring his rubber duck to Kaohsiung by the city's tremendous enthusiasm for the unusual display. Hofman has been gratified by the royal treatment he and his duck have received in Kaohsiung, said Lai. "We understand there were minor technical issues with the duck when it was in Hong Kong and Beijing, so we tested everything at least three times," said Lai. "We have already drafted emergency plans in case of bad weather or of harm being inflicted by visitors." More: Fowl play? Giant rubber duck drowns in Hong Kong . The duck, which had to be assembled in Taiwan rather than floated all the way there or flown, is inflated by a new air pump made by the Kaohsiung event team. "The rubber duck usually takes more than an hour to be inflated," said Lai. "But in Kaohsiung, it only takes seven minutes." The team has promised to pass on its new techniques and any lessons learned to other Taiwanese cities set to receive the duck. The yellow bird will be docked at Kaohsiung City until October 20, before floating to Taoyuan and Keelung in northern Taiwan (that's apparently not too far for a big duck to float) later this year. The spectacle is expected to lure more than 3 million visitors to the harbor and generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the city. Kaohsiung City has a population of about 2.3 million people, so many spectators from outside the city will be making the trek just for the duck. After the duck's first week in the city, final attendance figures are likely to exceed initial estimates. Find more on Hofman and his famed fowl at the duck's official website. More: How the big rubber duck was born .
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Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's giant rubber duck tour arrives in Taiwan .
Taiwanese team has impressed Hofman with new pumping technology that inflates duck in seven minutes .
Exhibition expected to draw more than 3 million visitors and generate $30 million in revenue .
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(CNN) -- Residents of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory, an official said late Monday. The question put to voters was: "Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?" More than 99% of voters said yes, according to Darren Christie, public relations manager for the Falklands Islands government. Just three people voted no. Turnout was 92%. "Speaks for itself, I think," Christie said about the vote. Monday marked the final day of a two-day referendum on the disputed Falkland Islands, which Argentinians call Las Malvinas. "My vote is yes. ... I believe we are like other people in the world, and we are entitled to determine our own future. ... I think it's dreadful that someone like Argentina should be trying to deny us that," Sharon Halford, a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, said before results were announced. "They obviously don't care what their own people think, but worldwide, everybody has the right to determine their own future and why should we not be the same?" Pictures at the polls showed some residents of the islands draped in Union flags as they cast their votes. Cars displayed banners that said "We're British and proud." A parade honoring British heritage marked the start of voting Sunday. The referendum was supported by the British government. But the Argentinian Embassy in London said Friday that the referendum had no legitimacy, characterizing it as "a further attempt by the British to manipulate the question of the Malvinas Islands." Because the area around the Falklands is the subject of a sovereignty dispute, it argues, "the United Kingdom has no right to alter the legal status of these territories, not even under the guise of a hypothetical 'referendum.' " Renewed tensions . The two countries went to war over the territory in 1982 after the then-military government in Argentina landed troops on the islands. Argentina put its death toll from the conflict at around 645. Britain says its civil and military losses amounted to 255. For more than a year, renewed rhetoric between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the islands has escalated to a fever pitch, with both sides accusing each other of colonialism. Prince William's military deployment to the islands last year further fueled tensions, drawing sharp criticism from Argentinian officials. In January, Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner wrote an open letter, published in the British press, calling on Britain to hand back the islands and accusing it of blatant colonialism. "The Argentines on the Islands were expelled by the Royal Navy and the United Kingdom subsequently began a population implantation process similar to that applied to other territories under colonial rule," she wrote. "Since then, Britain, the colonial power, has refused to return the territories to the Argentine Republic, thus preventing it from restoring its territorial integrity." She cited a 1965 U.N. resolution inviting the two countries to negotiate a solution to the sovereignty dispute and has called on the British to abide by the resolution. The British government accuses Buenos Aires of trying to coerce residents into becoming part of Argentina through intimidation of those involved in fishing and oil exploration, and efforts to isolate the remote islands even further by limiting access by sea. British officials have rejected Fernandez's call for negotiations, saying the people of the Falkland Islands have chosen to be British and "have a right to self-determination as enshrined in the U.N. Charter." "There are three parties to this debate, not just two as Argentina likes to pretend. The islanders can't just be written out of history," read a statement from the British Foreign Office. "As such, there can be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falklands Islands unless and until such time as the islanders so wish." Residents react . Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 480 kilometers (298 miles) east of the tip of South America, the Falklands have long been coveted as a strategic shipping stopover and potential wellspring of natural resources, including lucrative fisheries and a growing oil drilling industry. The islands, which raise their own taxes but rely on the United Kingdom for defense and foreign policy, are one of 14 British Overseas Territories and have been under British rule since 1833. More than 2,500 people from more than 60 nations live and work there, according to the government website, as well as forces stationed at the British military's Mount Pleasant Complex. Many Falkland Island residents are of British origin. About 1,600 voters from the Falkland Islands were eligible to vote in the referendum, officials said. Before results were announced, Halford said she didn't think the vote would put an end to Argentina's renewed bid for control of the islands. "They've been saying for ages that they have no intention of recognizing it, whatever the outcome, which I find interesting because they've been going to horrendous lengths around the world to try and discredit it," Halford said. For Argentina, she said, the islands are a "political football" used to distract Argentinians from problems at home. On its official website, the Falklands government rejects as false the Argentinian government claim that a civilian population was expelled by Britain in 1833 and argues for the inhabitants' right to choose their path. "We are not an implanted population," the government says. "Our community has been formed through voluntary immigration and settlement over the course of nearly 200 years. ... We are no more an implanted population than are the various populations of South America whose ancestors arrived as immigrants from Europe -- we arrived here as part of the same process and pattern of migration." The islands are economically self-sufficient, the government says, except for the cost of defense needed as a result of "the claim made by an aggressive neighbour." "The Falkland Islanders are a peaceful, hard-working and resilient people. Our society is thriving and forward-looking. All we ask is to be left in peace to choose our own future, and responsibly develop our home for our children and generations to come," the government says. CNN's Michael Holmes contributed to this report.
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NEW: More than 99% of voters said they want the Falkland Islands to remain a territory .
NEW: Turnout was 92%; "Speaks for itself," says an island official .
Argentina, which knows the islands as Las Malvinas, disputes British sovereignty .
Britain and Argentina went to war over the South Atlantic territory in 1982 .
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- The National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies are investigating not only what went wrong, but also what went right Thursday when a US Airways flight ended in the Hudson River without any deaths or major injuries. The aircraft remains in the Hudson River on Friday. Workers hope to lift it out Saturday morning. "Having a successful ditching is a very rare event," Kitty Higgins of the NTSB said Friday. "We'll not only celebrate what worked here, but also learn what worked. So many times you're only focused on what went wrong. A lot of things went right yesterday." Divers struggled against strong currents and frigid water temperatures to retrieve critical pieces of the puzzle from the Hudson River, where US Airways flight 1549 ended up less than three minutes after it took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport Thursday afternoon. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders -- both critical to determining exactly what happened -- remained attached to the tail section of the aircraft, which was still partially submerged but secured to moorings. Watch a former pilot tell how to water-land a plane » . Workers will be at the site until midnight, rigging the aircraft so it can be lifted out Saturday morning, attached to a barge and moved to a secure location for investigation, Higgins said. Both engines from the Airbus A320 double-engine jet were on the river bottom, after the water landing's impact apparently detached them from the plane. Authorities are using side-scan sonar to locate the engines, Higgins said. iReport.com: Were you there? Send images . The engines also will be brought in as part of the investigation into what happened, including the possibility of bird strikes. "I don't want to characterize anything at this point about this particular accident because we are just at the beginning stages," Higgins said, adding that this accident would be the first "in a very long time" where possible bird strikes may have been a factor. Watch water wash over the plane » . Meanwhile, passengers, city officials and aviation experts heaped praise on pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew, as well as first responders who acted quickly to minimize passengers' injuries in below-freezing temperatures and frigid water. The White House said President Bush called Sullenberger to praise him for "his heroic efforts to ensure the safety of his passengers and the people in the area." New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sullenberger executed an "incredibly skillful emergency landing." The pilot and crew of the flight will receive the key to the city, he told reporters Friday. "We typically like you to land at our airports," he joked, but said the water landing worked out with the best possible outcome. Watch Bloomberg honor heroism » . "We saw a lot of heroism in the Hudson yesterday," Bloomberg said. The mayor also gave certificates of appreciation to first responders who scrambled to help passengers to safety. Shortly after the flight, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, took off at 3:26 p.m. Thursday, passengers noticed quickly that something was awry. See a map of the plane's flight path » . A source familiar with the situation told CNN that Sullenberger reported a double bird strike, which was taken to mean that birds were sucked into both the jet's engines. The FAA said witnesses reported seeing the plane hit a flock of birds. Sullenberger was given clearance to return to LaGuardia for an emergency landing, a source said, but instead, he was forced to find someplace else to ditch the plane. In crowded New York City, the Hudson River provided the best option. Watch how the landing and rescue happened » . After the plane came to a stop, passengers quickly got out, standing on the partially submerged wings or on the emergency exit chutes, which also serve as life rafts. New York Waterway Capt. Vince Lombardi, operating a ferry in the Hudson, said he noticed something in the water as the boat pulled out of Pier 70. "I said to my deck hand, 'That's an odd-looking boat,' " he told reporters Friday. "He said, 'I think that's an airplane.' " The ferry headed straight for the plane, he said. "I was a little overwhelmed and scared for the people. The water is about 32 degrees. The outside air temp was in the 20s. We were worried if we didn't get them out right away, there would be casualties." As he arrived, he said, most passengers were calm, but some were cheering and crying. Some said, "Get me out of the water, please, I'm cold." Watch a Coast Guard lieutenant talk about rescuing passengers » . Detective Michael Delaney, an NYPD diver, recalled seeing a woman in the water clinging to the side of a ferry "in obvious distress" when he arrived. "We pretty much saw the distress that was in her face," he said. He and other divers pulled her off the side of the boat and swam her over to another boat and to safety, he said. The New York Waterway ferry reached the scene in less than four minutes, city officials said at a news conference on Friday. The first ambulance reached the shore in a minute and 12 seconds. Other boats arrived at the plane within seven minutes. About 25 people were treated at hospitals after the incident, but Bloomberg said Thursday there were no serious injures. Only a few people remained hospitalized Friday, according to the hospitals. They included a flight attendant with a deep laceration to her leg and a Coast Guard rescuer with a minor hematoma -- a localized swelling filled with blood. The flight attendant was in stable condition and the rescuer was in good condition. Most patients were treated and released, the hospitals said. With the air and water temperatures at the time of the incident, people could remain in the water only two to three minutes before the onset of hypothermia, said John Peruggia, chief of emergency medical services for FDNY. NTSB investigators planned to speak with Sullenberger and his co-pilot on Saturday, Higgins said. The agency wants to speak with Sullenberger before the media, so he has not been made available to reporters. NTSB investigators were interviewing other members of the flight crew Friday, Higgins said. CNN's Mike Brooks, Jeanne Meserve, Richard Davis and Mike Ahlers contributed to this report.
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NEW: Agencies hope to learn from plane in Hudson, spokeswoman says .
NEW: Currents, cold temperatures hamper efforts to retrieve engines, flight data .
First responders receive certificates of appreciation from mayor .
Mayor says he'll give key to the city to pilot and crew .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:57 EST, 2 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:01 EST, 2 September 2013 . It seems troubled Paul Gascoigne is back on the straight and narrow - as he balances precariously on a ledge while cleaning the windows on his top floor flat. A shirtless Gascoigne, 46 - who last month pleaded guilty to drunkenly assaulting a security guard at a railway station - climbed out of window to get to the dirt outside his apartment. The former footballer is recovering at the fourth-floor flat in Bournemouth following the latest in a list of alcohol-related incidents. Balancing act: Paul Gascoigne cleans the windows on his top floor flat in Boscombe . Head for heights: Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne perched on a ledge at his forth-floor apartment to reach some dirt windows . An onlooker told the Mirror: 'It was . an extraordinary display by Gazza. After recent events, you’d normally . be worried seeing him on a narrow ledge 50ft in the air. 'But . it seems he’s been looking after himself and staying off the booze. He . looked in really good shape and was ripped as though he’d been working . out. 'Perhaps he should be thinking about getting a window cleaner and stick to less dangerous household chores, though.' Watch your step: Troubled Paul Gascoigne, who last month pleaded guilty to a drunken assault, cleans the windows on his top floor flat in Boscombe . Dirty work: Paul Gascoigne decided to do some housework while recovering at his forth-floor apartment in Bournemouth . Gascoigne has battled alcoholism for . many years, but looked much leaner and healthier than on previous occasions as he did the housework on Sunday . The former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur star was arrested after police were called to Stevenage station in Hertfordshire at around 10.30pm on July 4. Last month, he was fined £600 for one charge of assault and £400 for a drunk and disorderly charge. His solicitor told magistrates he was making progress during one-to-one session at a rehabilitation centre near his home. Recovery: A tattooed Paul Gascoigne looked fitter and healthier than he has on previous occasions as undergoes rehab for alcohol addiction near his Bournemouth home .
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Paul Gascoigne, 46, is undergoing rehabilitation for alcohol addiction near to his Bournemouth apartment .
Troubled former footballer spotted cleaning windows on his forth floor flat .
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By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . A report issued by investigators inside the Environmental Protection Agency found rampant abuse in employees' use of the agency's government credit cards, warning that officials were ignoring a long list of safeguards designed to avoid the waste of taxpayer dollars. The EPA's Office of Inspector General found $79,254 in 'prohibited, improper or erroneous' spending in a sample of $152,602 in transactions. And more than 93 per cent of the time the employees used the cards, they 'were not in compliance with EPA policies,' the IG wrote. 'These transactions represented purchases of gym memberships, food [and] hotel space,' according to the report. And many purchases were 'split' among two or more transactions in order to avoid spending more than $3,000 at a time – an amount that should trigger more extensive scrutiny. Some of the 80 transactions the IG chose to audit represented payments to vendors listed in the categories like 'dance hall,' 'child care' or 'theater and music,' the report explains. Cha-ching! Several EPA employees used taxpayer-funded credit cards to buy themselves -- and their families -- gym memberships . EPA employees with government credit cards spent taxpayer dollars on gym memberships, gift cards, and even charity donations . Seven separate cases were identified where EPA employees bought untraceable gift cards with taxpayer funds. 'In one example, 20 American Express gift cards were purchased for $1,588 to provide on-the-spot awards,' the IG reported. 'There was no third-party verification that any awardees received the gift cards.' Congress has given the EPA $8.2 billion to spend this year, which is $50 million more than the Obama White House asked for. Three of the 80 transactions the IG reviewed were for 'gym memberships that required pre-payment for services totaling $2,867.' 'Two of those purchases were for family memberships, and not just the EPA employee,' the report explains. In addition, 35 per cent of the time the employees with the credit cards never verified that the items they bought were received. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy (C) has her hands full trying to persuade the coal industry that it's not headed for extinction -- and now this ... Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative anti-tax group in Washington, unearthed the March 4 report on Wednesday. 'An obvious culture of improper spending has developed at the EPA with little to no oversight,' the organization said in a statement. 'Thus in years to come Americans could again find themselves paying for EPA employees' gym memberships, gift cards, and whatever else may strike their fancy.' ATR president Grover Norquist took it in stride. 'The world is divided in two groups,' Norquist told MailOnline: 'Those who are not surprised that bureaucrats handed credit cards might misuse the opportunity, and those who believe deeply in unicorns.' 'Who is supervising this circus?' he asked. Four of the transactions the EPA's IG examined were categorized as 'charity' expenditures. They totaled $1,750.
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The Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general found 75 of the 80 transactions it examined involved waste, fraud or abuse .
The agency's annual credit card bills are 67,000 transactions deep .
Some expenditures were reported in categories like 'child care' and 'dance hall,' while others were for untraceable American Express gift cards .
In a few cases, EPA employees bought gym memberships for their entire families .
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Just $50,000. That was the humble fundraising goal Ryan Grepper set on July 8, lowering his expectations for the second Kickstarter campaign for his Coolest Cooler creation, a high-tech cooler jam-packed with all sorts of fun gizmos -- from a built-in ice crushing blender to Bluetooth speakers and a USB charger. See, the first time Grepper took to the crowdfunding site -- back in November 2013 -- his goal was far more ambitious: $125,000. Yet, after an encouraging strong start, interest in the campaign began wavering. By closing, the project managed to raise a little over $100,000 in pledges and eventually failed to hit its mark. The failure dealt a blow to Grepper's confidence -- but the entrepreneur, who describes himself as "part visionary, part mad scientist" refused to give up. Taking the lessons he'd learned from the failed campaign, Grepper re-grouped and last month re-introduced an advanced version of his creation. The result? Just over a month later: more than $8.2 million in pledges and some 41,000 backers. With 21 days still to go, Grepper's project has become the third most-funded campaign on Kickstarter ever -- and could very well hit the top spot if pledges continue to pile in. So, what was the secret behind Grepper's astonishing comeback? And what are the best tips that could help turn your business idea into a crowdfunding mega-success? To find out, CNN's Future Finance spoke to Grepper himself and Julie Wood from Kickstarter, as well as crowdfunding experts Piers Duruz and Salvador Briggman about their top tips for being a Kickstarter success. Ryan Grepper, Coolest Cooler creator . Make sure the design is visually compelling. My first Kickstarter campaign failed and I believe one of the biggest reasons was that I had not advanced the design far enough to capture the Kickstarter audience. Kickstarter is a very visual platform. When I took my design further along in the process I was better able to share my love of the Coolest and more people naturally connected. Consider the time of year when customers will be most receptive. I originally launched the Coolest in November. At the time I was thinking we might hit the Christmas shopping and tailgating audience, but what quickly became apparent was that folks were not focused on coolers in November. Relaunching in July was perfect because people are thinking about coolers during the summer and it was much easier to get exposure. This sounds obvious now, but I believe in learning from my mistakes. Develop a following before the campaign. Although my first campaign failed, I saw that some people were very interested in the Coolest. We nurtured that interest in between our first and second campaign and worked hard to grow that excitement. By the time we launched our second campaign we had a terrific core of interested backers. Now I can't believe how our group of backers has grown. Julie Wood, Kickstarter spokesperson . Make a video! Projects with videos have a higher success rate than those without. Your video doesn't have to be super pro looking. Some of our favorite project videos have a very DIY feel. Offer great rewards! Some rewards are straightforward, like a copy of the album you made. Other rewards are more creative and unique. The best projects tend to have a mix of both -- it's important to have great rewards at at all pledge levels. The most popular pledge amount on Kickstarter is $25, and the site-wide average for all pledges is about $70. Updates are a great way to build a relationship with your backer community. While your project is live, keep your backers informed about new developments and funding milestones. It'll inspire them to help you spread the word. Treat your project like a story that's unfolding before their eyes. Detailed updates like "Pics from last night's show!" or "We found a printer for our book!" are fun for everybody to follow along with. Piers Duruz, founder of Crowdfunding Dojo . Start building an email and social media audience immediately, with the promise of content that interests them for following you. Growing an audience takes time, but you can do it while you plan everything else. Even your journey to prepare can be interesting to the right people. The first 48 hours of your campaign is the most critical. If you can get your followers to visit and pledge at any time, make it right at the start. Read this: How to start your own currency . Start your promotion with the people who are closest to you and work your way out. Each group provides social proof to the next group, by showing other people have already backed you when they arrive. Salvador Briggman, founder of CrowdCrux . Don't re-invent the wheel. Study the creators that have come before you. How did they structure their Kickstarter page? What rewards did they offer? How many updates did they do throughout the campaign? In addition, by backing several popular projects in your category, you can see how other creators do backer communication and how long it takes them to fulfil their promises. Also, by browsing their list of backers, you can get an idea of whether the supporters are part of the Kickstarter community (backed multiple projects) or are first-time supporters, meaning the project drove a lot of its own traffic. Focus on emotion, but back it up with technical ability. It's no secret that part of what makes crowdfunding campaigns spread quickly and gather a supporter base is social media. Whether it's networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest ,or social bookmarking websites like Reddit, StumbleUpon, Digg, Blogs, and Tumblr, information can disseminate in a matter of hours and light up the web 2.0 news networks. What many people overlook is the reason why information spreads: it spreads when it makes a reader feel a certain way, which then makes them want to share that link. The feeling that prompts a backer to share that link could be "This is so cool!" or "This is an important cause." It's easiest to invoke a feeling when you have a prior relationship with your backers, as is the case with the multi-million dollar "Reading Rainbow" campaign. Although ultimately, you want your backers to come away from your video and campaign feeling something, you must also back up your pitch with technical ability. What prototype have you created? Why can your team deliver on their promises? You must engage both the left and right hemisphere of the brain when crowdfunding. Everything is sales. Typically, when we think of a salesman, we think of a slimy quick-talking city slicker with too-white teeth and a $2,000 suit. These types of individuals are an instant turnoff. The best types of salesmen don't make you feel like you are being "sold to." They have the ability to create the urge to buy. Usually this is the result of giving people what they want, or connecting problems people experience with an appropriate solution. Since you are going to be doing a lot of self-promoting, it's important that you adopt the mental mindset of your potential backers. What types of rewards would get them excited? How would they want to be pitched? What would turn them off? Read this: How to start your own currency . Read this: Would you bank with Starbucks?
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Want to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign? Here's how to do it .
Ryan Grepper raised $8 million for his Coolest Cooler .
Compelling design and the right timing are key, he says .
Experts say building a social media audience early is key .
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Manchester City have completed the £12m signing of Brazilian defensive midfielder Fernando from Porto. A short statement released by the club on Wednesday evening confirmed the 26-year-old, who has been at the Portuguese giants since 2007, has made the switch to Manchester. The statement, send by Porto to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), read: 'FC Porto hereby informs the market that it has reached an agreement with Manchester City for the permanent transfer of professional footballer Fernando Reges for 15million euros.' VIDEO Scroll down to watch Fernando in action for Porto . Close control: Fernando in action for Porto during their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid . Shield: Fernando does well to keep possession as Napoli's Marek Hamsik tries to challenge for the ball . Fernando Francisco Reges, to give him his full name, had signed a contract extension until 2019 back in February. But City, having tried to sign the player in January, have now been given the green light for a deal worth £12m. Porto sent a letter to the stock exchange confirming Fernando's transfer to the Premier League champions, along with the fee of €15m (£12m). Double swoop? Fernando (right), with another City target, Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala (centre) Comfortable: Fernando holds the ball under pressure from Sporting Lisbon winger Diego Capel . Fernando is City's second signing of the summer after Bacary Sagna's free transfer from Arsenal. Fernando would give City manager Manuel Pellegrini an extra midfield option in addition to Yaya Toure, Fernandinho and Javi Garcia. With City restricted to a net spend of £49million this summer as punishment for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations, such a deal could represent good value. Arsenal switch: Fernando is City's second signing of the summer after Sagna (left) who was a free agent .
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The Premier League champions have been tracking midfielder for a year .
The 26-year-old has been at Porto since 2007, but is now set for City switch .
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By . Jennifer Smith . PUBLISHED: . 07:08 EST, 13 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:40 EST, 13 November 2013 . A two-year-old boy was able to help police catch a wanted thief by pointing him out from his bedroom window. Ashton Millard from Clacton, Essex, called for his mother after spotting an unfamiliar man crouching in his garden. He pointed to the man who was tucked in beside the family's shed at their home on Meredith Road. Ashton Millard, 2, spotted the man hiding beside the family's blue garden shed on the other side of a fence from police officers . The toddler spotted the man who was on the run from police after allegedly stealing a packet of razors from a Boots store . Little did he know however the . police, who were on the other side of the fence that was shielding . the suspect, were led right to their target by his actions. Ashton’s mum Alice Owens said: 'Ashton was making noises in his room and I went in and saw him at the window. 'He was pointing and shouting. Ashton Millard with his mother, Alice Owens, who said police would not have found the man if it weren't for her son . 'I went to see what had got him so excited and after a few seconds I saw a man dash across the garden. 'It was a bit of a shock. You don’t expect to see strangers running around your garden.' Police were in the area looking for a man who had stolen a pack of razors from a Boots store in Pier Avenue, Clacton. They weren't sure of the suspect's whereabouts however until Ashton pointed from his bedroom window, which could be seen from the road officers were standing on. Ms Owens said: 'The police caught him when he jumped over our garden fence to get away, but they would never have known where he was if it wasn’t for Ashton. 'The police came round to the front door after they had arrested him and told me what had happened. 'They said they had seen Ashton pointing and it led them to the man. 'It’s not often you get to say a child that young helped to catch a criminal.' A 35-year-old man from Clacton was charged with two counts of theft, including stealing a gammon joint from a local Co-op store.
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Two-year-old Ashton Millard spotted man from his bedroom window .
Police searching in the area saw the toddler pointing to the suspect .
A man was arrested for shoplifting following the events in Clacton, Essex .
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Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- New NATO airstrikes shook Tripoli into early Tuesday after the alliance's secretary-general dismissed complaints that the allied campaign against longtime Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi had fallen into a stalemate. At least three rounds of explosions echoed across the Libyan capital in a three-hour span that began late Monday, and the roar of jets could be heard overhead. Government spokesman Musa Ibrahim told CNN that the warplanes hit administrative buildings in central Tripoli, and that a nearby hospital was "indirectly" affected. "Tonight was an exceptional night in Tripoli," Ibrahim said, noting that the strikes followed "an extended period of calm." "It is very sad," he said. "We are losing people every day on both sides. We think it is time to sit down and talk." NATO warplanes and missiles have been pounding Gadhafi's forces and government installations since March 31 as Gadhafi attempts to put down a nearly three-month-old revolt against his rule. Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told CNN on Monday that Gadhafi and his regime "have no future," but refused to predict how long the Libyan leader could hold on. Rasmussen denied that the situation in Libya had devolved into a "stalemate," insisting that NATO was "making progress" and had "taken out" a substantial part of Gadhafi's military capability. He said a political solution was required to bring the conflict to an end, but "It's hard to imagine an end to the violence as long as Gadhafi remains in power." Despite the ongoing bombardment, Gadhafi's forces have been inflicting a heavy toll on rebels in the port city of Misrata, survivors there have told CNN. Misrata is the only city in western Libya held by the rebels, and witnesses say indiscriminate shelling has left victims with crushed bones, burns and amputations. "They are shelling the port and civilian neighborhoods. It has become an operation of revenge, not just taking over the city of Misrata," said Ibrahim al-Neairy, a rebel who was injured in the fighting and evacuated to Benghazi. Mostafa Bozen, a spokesman for the rebels, said fighters attacked Gadhafi's forces about 22 kilometers (14 miles) from Tripoli, killing 12 and hitting a tank. The situation in Misrata "is at the forefront" of U.N. concerns about Libya's civilian population, Valerie Amos, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council on Monday. Two months of fighting and the ongoing shelling of the city's port has prevented aid ships from docking there, and between 150 and 300 non-Libyans are still waiting to be evacuated, she said. "Some people are running short of food, water and other basics," she said. "Medical facilities need supplies and more trained personnel." The Security Council voted in March to authorize the use of force to protect Libyan civilians from Gadhafi's regime. Nearly 750,000 people have fled the country, another 58,000 are displaced within Libya and another 5,000 are stranded at border crossings into Libya, Tunisia and Niger, Amos said. For those who remain, Amos said the fighting and the sanctions imposed on Gadhafi and his allies have caused "a severe disruption of supply lines within the country." The results have been "shortages of fuel, difficulties in obtaining commodities including foodstuffs, medicines and other essential goods, and there have been severe cash shortages throughout the country." Western Libya has about three months' supply of food remaining; the mostly rebel-held east has about two months, she said. Fuel and supplies for desalinization plants and other facilities that provide fresh water to many Libyans "are running out," she added. There have been widespread assumptions among experts that the conflict between pro- and anti-Gadhafi forces will continue to be a stalemate for some time. As time wears on, though, human rights groups have expressed growing concern for besieged Libyans in Misrata. The wounded arriving in Benghazi, the rebel hub city, painted a gruesome picture of the fighting in Misrata. Hanan Muhammad, who was evacuated along with about 800 others on an aid ship charted by the International Organization for Migration, was wounded when a missile struck near her home. "I was in my house praying when the first missile landed. Shortly after, more missiles, one after another started hitting our neighborhood," said Muhammad, who suffered a broken arm and shrapnel wounds. "Terror. Fear. People are scared every moment of the day no matter their age," she said. "Oh God, it's like a horror movie." Al-Neairy, who suffered facial burns and shrapnel wounds, said he does not regret fighting. "The price for freedom is high and it (is) necessary to be liberated from this regime," he said. Amnesty International has said Gadhafi's attacks in the port city may amount to war crimes. A report issued last week by the monitoring group accused pro-Gadhafi forces of the "unlawful killing of civilians due to indiscriminate attacks, including use of heavy artillery, rockets and cluster bombs in civilian areas and sniper fire against residents." "I'm not going to guess about a timeline. I want a solution sooner rather than later," Rasmussen said. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh, Sara Sidner and Amir Ahmed contributed to this report.
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NEW: NATO jets hit Tripoli late Monday and early Tuesday .
NEW: A U.N. official warns of food, fuel shortages in Libya .
Gadhafi and his regime "have no future," the NATO secretary-general says .
Misrata civilians and rebels say Gadhafi forces are indiscriminately shelling the city .
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Passengers stranded for hours on a freezing subway train during a 2010 blizzard are getting $2,500 from New York City's transit agency. The settlements were reached with 38 riders who sued the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. They were among some 500 passengers aboard A train that was trapped by two feet of snow. Some passengers stranded for hours on a freezing subway train during a 2010 blizzard are getting $2,500 from New York City's transit agency. Pictured: One of the passengers talks of his ordeal in 2010 . Passengers sat on the train for 10 hours without food, water or heat. 'When I think about it now, I can't believe it happened in New York City,' said Agnes Hui, one of two-dozen plaintiffs named in the biggest among a number of lawsuits. 'It was horrific,' she told the New York Daily News. Passengers on the stranded train said their frantic cellphone calls to 911 and the MTA did not result in any action - or even helpful information. With frost developing on the subway windows inside, passengers spent the night huddled together in one of the five cars to create some body heat, they said. One woman resorted to a makeshift toilet - outside between subway cars. Others urinated or defecated in the car filled with riders, some standing for hours because there wasn't enough room, according to the complaint. Passengers on the stranded train (pictured in 2010) said their frantic cellphone calls to 911 and the MTA did not result in any action - or even helpful information . Several passengers (pictured) had to be hospitalized after finally being rescued from the Manhattan-bound train, which was stuck on the tracks between the Aqueduct and Rockaway Boulevard stations . Several others had to be hospitalized after finally being rescued from the Manhattan-bound train, which was stuck on the tracks between the Aqueduct and Rockaway Boulevard stations. One rider developed bronchitis, another pneumonia. 'When the train was finally moved, the passengers were off-loaded at the next stop, in the freezing cold, with about three feet of snow on the ground,' the plaintiffs said in their lawsuit. Aymen Aboushi, a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, tells the Daily News, the goal of the suit was to ensure it did not happen again. MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz called it 'a fair settlement for all parties involved.' Among measures the agency adopted after the storm was a customer advocate to ensure riders' well-being on stuck vehicles. But Hui, who was returning with her daughter from JFK Airport after a flight was canceled, said it 'was really maddening the MTA never apologized.' The blizzard was part of a mammoth blizzard that stretched from Florida to Maine. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration was criticized for its slow response to the foul weather and its aftermath (file photo 2014) More than 2 feet of snow fell on some parts of New York City, combined with strong winds that led to a massive transportation gridlock. Hundreds of buses were stuck on streets, commuter trains were frozen onto tracks and major airports closed. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration was criticized for its slow response to the foul weather and its aftermath. Streets went unplowed for days, and cars, buses and other vehicles were stranded. Bloomberg acknowledged the response was not good enough.
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Settlements reached with 38 riders who sued Metropolitan Transportation Authority .
500 passengers aboard A train that was stopped by two feet of snow .
Passengers spent the night huddled together in one of the five cars to create some body heat, they said .
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By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 11:55 EST, 21 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:15 EST, 21 January 2014 . Smog blowing across the Pacific towards the United States from China is often caused by the manufacture of goods for export to America, a new study has claimed. Researchers found pollution choking the American West Coast comes from China's production of mobile phones, televisions and other consumer goods for export. Dr Steve Davis, from the University of . California, Irvine said: ‘We've outsourced our manufacturing and much of . our pollution, but some of it is blowing back across the Pacific to . haunt us. Cities like Los Angeles (pictured) received at least an extra day of smog a year from nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide from China's export-dependent factories, a report said . ‘Given the complaints about how Chinese pollution is corrupting other countries' air, this paper shows that there may be plenty of blame to go around.’ The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to work out how much pollution reaching the West Coast originates from China. Los Angeles, for example, experiences at least one extra day of smog that exceeds legal limits because of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emitted by Chinese factories producing goods for export. Black carbon has been linked to numerous health problems including athsma, emphysema, heart and lung disease and even cancer. It can be problematic because rain doesn't easily wash it out of the atmosphere. The study also revealed that as much as a quarter of the sulphate pollution on the US West Coast is tied to Chinese exports. Chinese citizens wear masks on their faces on a hazy day while walking to their respective destinations in Beijing . However, China is not responsible for the lion's share of pollution in the U.S. - cars, trucks and refineries pump out far more. Japan and South Korea have regularly suffered noxious clouds from their neighbour in the last couple of decades as environmental regulations have been sacrificed for economic and industrial growth. But powerful global winds known as ‘westerlies’ can carry chemicals over the ocean to the U.S in days, particularly during spring, causing dangerous spikes in contaminants. And dust, ozone and carbon can accumulate in valleys and basins in California and other Western states. The authors believe the findings could play an important role in the future negotiation of clean air treaties. China's huge surge in industrial activity in recent years, as well as poor pollution controls, has led to often fierce international debates. The researchers wrote: ‘International cooperation to reduce transboundary transport of air pollution must confront the question of who is responsible for emissions in one country during production of goods to support consumption in another.’ Dr Davis said: ‘When you buy a product at Wal-Mart, it has to be manufactured somewhere. ‘The product doesn't contain the pollution, but creating it caused the pollution.’ Pollution has been so bad in China recently that flights have been diverted. This picture shows cars in a haze in Beijing . Air quality is of increasing concern to China's stability-obsessed leaders, anxious to douse potential unrest as a more affluent urban population turns against a growth-at-all-costs economic model that has poisoned much of the country's air, water and soil. Authorities have invested in various projects to fight pollution, but none has worked so far. In Shanghai the smog has been so severe recently that flights have been diverted, schools closed and authorities left mulling whether to distribute gas masks to the mega-city’s residents. The population stands at 23million and it’s not been made clear whether every person would receive a mask, but officials are becoming increasingly concerned at pollution levels and may at least give one to people who work outside. Last year authorities claimed that illegal barbecues were contributing to the air pollution in Beijing and seized and subsequently destroyed 500 of them, according to Shanghai Daily.
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LA experiences an extra day of smog due to pollution from China, says study .
A quarter of sulphate pollution on the west coast is tied to Chinese exports .
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A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman who was reported missing nearly 24 years ago. Loyd Groves, 65, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody on Thursday for the murder of his co-worker Katherine Heckel. The pair allegedly had an affair in 1991 and were seen arguing shortly before she vanished. Loyd Groves, 65, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody on Thursday for the murder of his co-worker Katherine Heckel . The pair allegedly had an affair in 1991 and were seen arguing shortly before she vanished. He now faces charges of first and third-degree murder . Katherine Heckel was 40-years-old when she disappeared in July of 1991, but her body has never been found . Groves now faces charges of first and third-degree murder. Investigators recently reopened the homicide investigation in attempt to solve Heckel’s murder and brought it before a grand jury. Heckel was 40-years-old when she disappeared in July of 1991. But her body has never been found. A day after she went missing, her family reported that she hadn’t returned home from work at international paper company in Lock Haven, according to WNEP-TV. State police searched for her in the woods of Clinton County and found evidence of foul play. They also found her car in a hospital parking lot. Yet, although Heckel’s body has not been located, a grand jury recently recommended murder charges against Groves. Heckel and Groves were coworkers at International Paper and had a brief romantic relationship during the summer of 1991, the grand jury heard. Pennsylvania State police found her car in a hospital parking lot which suggested evidence of foul play . Pennsylvania State police searched for her in the woods of Clinton County and found more evidence of foul play . Prosecutors say Groves killed Heckel after she told him she wanted to end their relationship and co-workers remember them fighting at work hours before she disappeared. Groves then allegedly disposed of her body so that it would never be found. He is currently being held without bail. Attorney General Kathleen Kane says she hopes Groves' arrest brings relief to Heckel's loved ones after years of uncertainty over her strange disappearance.
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Loyd Groves, 65, was arrested for the murder of Katherine Heckel in 1991 .
Investigators recently reopened the homicide investigation to solve it .
Heckel was 40-years-old when she disappeared her body was never found .
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By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 18:16 EST, 19 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:15 EST, 20 October 2013 . A Brooklyn building owner has hired security guards and installed a metal gate to protect a work by the elusive British graffiti artist Banksy. The rolling gate went up Friday over a wall in the Williamsburg neighborhood where Banksy spray-painted two geishas strolling over a 'bridge' formed by a basement window arch and a bonsai tree spread beneath them. The security measures were taken after a rogue tagger spray-painted over the work and was tackled to the ground by the crowd. Installation: The owners of the building have installed plexiglass and a roller-door to protect the Banksy stencil on their wall . Opening hours: The owners are exercising some crowd control for the hoards who have gathered outside the south Williamsburg building to view the Banksy piece . Others undertook damage control, removing the offending black scribble with rubbing alcohol. Cara Tabachnick, whose family owns the building, write in New York Magazine that her father sent her a text on Thursday morning saying, 'Banksy painted our building last night and a huge crowd is forming. What should we do?' It's not a question to be taken lightly. Banksy canvases sell for upwards of $1 million and art-lovers collect his work with feverish zeal. Just an hour after the work was discoverd, the tagger defaced it and friends and neighbors urged the family to take measures to protect the work. Tabachnick says that she and her family realized that they had unwittingly become responsible for a piece of public art. Secure: The piece has drawn crowds of people since it appeared Thursday morning . Under guard: Feliciano Perez guards the work by British graffiti artist Banksy today in the Brooklyn borough of New York . Tagged: The work was up for less than an hour before a tagger, seen here in a purple scarf, spray painted over it. Two bystanders tried to stop the vandal . Japanese themed: The work uses a brick window archway on the side of a building in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, to stand in for a bridge . Thwarted: The building superintendent is seen here throwing the tagger to the ground. He called police, but the rival graffiti artist escaped . By late Thursday morning, word had spread and more than 500 people had gathered to view the stencil. The family hired a security guard to stand watch over the artwork, and several more to cover the night shift. Police . and local councilmen weren't interested in helping the family protect . their new acquisition, so they took matters into their own hands. 'We . still haven’t 100 per cent decided what to do,' Tabachnick told the . New York Post . 'But we do have the instinct - and are trying - to preserve it for . the public so it can be viewed and enjoyed, and not destroyed in any . way.' Although the work is . apparently being preserved for the viewing public, new pictures show the . family has imposed some opening and closing hours. Photos . posted to an Instagram account show a sign over the roller door (which . covers a sheet of protective plexiglass) informing people that the door . will come up for viewing at 3pm. Banksy . has caused quite a stir in the Big Apple, where he's undertaking a . monthlong 'residency.' New Yorkers wake every morning to discover a new . work adorning some corner of the city. Defacing street art: The tagger who scrawled over Banksy's work was tackled to the ground by a crowd who had gathered to see the piece . Other . building owners have also been quick to preserve what could be a big . money-spinner, or less cynically, a piece of art for public enjoyment. A . small stencil of the Twin Towers in TriBeCa was covered in plexiglass . and another Banksy of a heart-shaped balloon is under guard and welded . steel. Mayor Michael . Bloomberg said last week that graffiti ruins property and is 'a sign of . decay,' but said the NYPD is not actively searching for the artful . artist. In . the 19 days since Bansky came to New York City for a so-called . residency, fans of his work have had to race against taggers, who are . intent on covering it with their own marks. Some . of the taggers see Banksy as an interloper intruding on their turf, while some see him as a sell-out. Still others get a thrill out of putting their own mark on work by such a . famous artist.
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Banksy spray-painted an artwork on the side of a building in Williamsburg on Wednesday night .
Following a rogue tagger scrawling over the work, the building's owners have taken measures to protect it .
There are now a plexiglass screen, a roller shutter and 24-hours guards protecting the work .
Most recently, the owners have imposed viewing times on the art-loving public .
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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (CNN) -- Trapped beneath his collapsed home in Port-au-Prince, rescuers had to amputate Georges Exantus' right leg in order to free him. He was one of the survivors from Haiti's January 12 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people. Exantus, 29, was quickly rushed to a hospital in neighboring Dominican Republic, where he spent over two months recovering. Now, he is waiting at a bus stop in Santo Domingo, heading back to Haiti. Back to uncertainty. Back to zero. "Staying in the Dominican Republic is not an option," he said. That's because the Dominican Republic's government is forcing Haitian refugees to return home after they have received medical treatment there. But it is unclear where Exantus and others like him will go. It could take more than a decade to rebuild Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, which was devastated by the 7.0 magnitude temblor. Read more about Haiti's recovery efforts . "We share one island, but it is probably easier to find refuge for Haitians in France than in the Dominican Republic", said Hode Hyppolite, a family friend who accompanied Exantus back to Port-au-Prince. Haiti and Dominican Republic are united by geography, sharing the island of Hispaniola, both former sugar colonies under France and Spain respectively. However, Haitians and Dominicans have had tense relations dating back as far as the mid-19th century, when Haiti occupied Dominican Republic for more than 20 years. Following this year's earthquake, Dominican Republic offered its hospitals and medical services to Haitians. That solidarity gave hope to some Haitians inside the Dominican Republic that their status may change. "This is a double standard policy: Haitian immigrants are needed in the Dominican Republic but not wanted," said Bridget Wooding, who analyzes migration on Hispaniola. Dominican Republic has always relied heavily on Haitian workers for its agriculture and construction industries. A flood of Haitian workers poured into the country after the overthrow of Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 1986. Research conducted before the January 12 quake showed that Haitians made up nearly 80 percent of Dominican Republic's agricultural labor force, according to the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Santo Domingo and the International Organization for Migration. That is a reverse of the government's required ratio of 80 percent native workers to 20 percent foreign workers. While there are no official government statistics, analysts estimate that up to one million unauthorized Haitian workers live in Dominican Republic. Although the Dominican Republic's government says it has beefed up its border security, experts say the border remains porous. "Daily there are more than 100 trips carried out from the different places [along the border] loading Haitian immigrants," analyst Jose Luis Fernandez said. Fernandez analyzes refugee and immigration patterns for the Jesuit Refugee Services in Dajabon, Dominican Republic, on the border with Haiti. There are no exact figures, but based on his observations, Fernandez believes the number of illegal Haitian workers has quadrupled since the January 12 quake. Marie Noel, a Haitian who gives massages to tourists at the Boca Chica beach near Santo Domingo, knows how easy it is to cross. "You pay 5,000 Pesos [around $140] to an agent and if you have problems at the border you pay a little extra," she explained. Many Haitians usually arrive in the Dominican Republic to work on the sugar plantations for about $2 a day. Like most illegal immigrants with no papers, they face discrimination and live in constant fear of deportation. Amy Serrano has documented the labor conditions of Haitians and their children in Dominican sugar plants in her 2007 film, "The Sugar Babies." "People who are promised a better life end up on sugar plantations with no identification and no rights," she said. Further complicating the immigration issue, Dominican Republic's new constitution took effect just two weeks after the January earthquake. It restricts citizenship for the children of Haitian immigrants. The relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is a "work in progress," according to José Achécar, who monitors poverty data for the government in Santo Domingo. "There is a lot of xenophobia against Haitians," he said. "We are like oil and water, we don't mix. But we may get closer through this catastrophe. We need each other. We share one island." Those sentiments mean little for Georges Exantus, who had to be lifted onto the bus that took him back to Haiti. "I want to return to Haiti, it is my home," he said. "But there is nothing for me now."
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Haitians still illegally entering Dominican Republic, months after deadly quake .
One analyst says the number of illegal Haitians has quadrupled .
Dominican Republic wants all quake survivors to return home after receiving medical care .
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