article
stringlengths 310
11.4k
| highlights
stringlengths 45
2.68k
| id
stringlengths 40
40
|
---|---|---|
By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 11:55 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:02 EST, 15 May 2013 . Israeli police on horseback charged Palestinians as tens of thousands marched in protest to mark the 65th anniversary of the Jewish state's creation. There were violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians waving their national flag to commemorate 'Nakba Day' - or 'the day of the catastrophe'. Every May 15, Palestinians hold rallies to protest against their mass displacement during the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. Tension: Israeli police on horseback charged a group of protestors they said were taking part in an 'illegal march' Remembrance: Palestinians protest every May 15 which to mark their 'nakba' meaning 'catastrophe' when Israel was created . Clashes: Tens of thousands of Palestinians marched today to mark the 65th anniversary of the creation of Israel . The dispute over the fate of those . Palestinians and their descendants, now numbering several million . people, remains at the core of conflict in the Middle East. Israel views the possibility of Palestinians returning as demographic suicide and expects the displaced and their descendants to be taken in by a future Palestinian state. But intermittent Israeli-Palestinian attempts to agree on the terms of such a state have so far failed. Across the West Bank, sirens wailed at noon for 65 seconds to commemorate the 65 years since the 'nakba.' Thousands marched in Ramallah from the grave of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to the city center. Many wore black in a sign of mourning, holding Palestinian flags and large keys symbolizing the homes they left behind. 'The right of return will not die,' chanted the protesters. Schools closed at midday and parents brought their children to the demonstration. Battle: Fourteen protesters were arrested by Israeli police in east Jerusalem . Emotions: A Palestinian man is arrested by Israeli police near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's old city . In Ramallah, 38-year-old Manwal Awad brought her 11-year-old twins to the protest. 'Every year I bring them with me to inherit the story of our nakba, and to keep the dream of return,' she said. Rallies were elsewhere in the West Bank as well, and in several places demonstrators throwing rocks clashed with Israeli security forces, who responded with tear gas, Israel's military said. Near the volatile city of Hebron, a fire bomb hit at an Israeli military vehicle, causing it to overturn and injuring four soldiers. In east Jerusalem, Israeli police used water cannon and officers on horseback to disperse an 'illegal march,' police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Fourteen protesters were arrested, as was a Palestinian suspected of attacking a Jewish man as he walked near the Old City, he said. In Gaza, around a thousand people marched to the U.N. headquarters in Gaza City, where the demonstrators chanted: 'We shall return. We will never give up or compromise over our land.' Militants in Gaza, which has been under the control of the militant Hamas group since 2007, fired a rocket into southern Israel that exploded in an open field causing no injuries, Israel's military said. In a speech televised last night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian cause earned international acceptance last year with the United Nations' de facto recognition of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 'We won the support of the world,' Abbas said, adding that Israel's policies toward the Palestinians are 'condemned internationally.' Conflict: Palestinians chanted 'the right of return will not die' during today's protests . Violence: Tear gas was fired and police charged on horseback during the clashes in Israel . Last year, Abbas created a stir when he told Israeli media that he himself has no wish to live in Safed, the city of his birth, in northern Israel. Although widely condemned by Palestinians, Abbas' remarks were seen as a reflection of a decades-old understanding among Palestinian officials that likely only a limited number of refugees would ever be able to return to their original homes in Israel as part of a compromise that would result in a future peace agreement. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been trying to renew Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which collapsed four years ago over the issue of Jewish settlements. Palestinians insist they will not resume talks unless the construction of settlements in territories they want for their future state ends first. Israel says negotiations should resume without preconditions and that settlements will be resolved through talks along with the other issues. In efforts to jump-start the talks, Kerry has managed to persuade Arab leaders to reissue their 2002 peace proposal with new incentives, including a suggestion that final borders between Israel and a future Palestine could be modified from the 1967 lines through agreed land swaps. The 2002 initiative, which at the time was endorsed by the Arab League and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, offered Israel normalized relations in exchange for a full withdrawal from territories captured in 1967. However, it was overshadowed by Israeli-Palestinian fighting and was greeted with skepticism by Israel. Israel has been mostly quiet on the proposal so far. The Palestinian statistics bureau in the West Bank says the number of Palestinians today has reached 11.5 million. Of those, 4.4 million live in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza; 1.4 million in Israel while the remainder live in the diaspora. | Palestinians mark May 15 as 'Nakba Day' - meaning 'day of the catastrophe' Thousands were displaced following the Arab-Israeli war in 1948 . Violent clashes in Jerusalem between security forces and protesters . | be55d562f4e5717b940318669a2a80bf7d98a3f6 |
By . Tania Steere . Sir Mick Jagger has found comfort in the arms of a mystery brunette, it was reported last night. The Rolling Stones singer was pictured smiling and obviously enjoying life again on his hotel balcony with an attractive young woman, sparking speculation he may have a new girlfriend. Sir Mick, 70, was left distraught when his partner of 13 years, L’Wren Scott, killed herself in her Manhattan apartment in March aged 49. Lovers: Sir Mick Jagger and L'Wren Scott were lovers for 13 years . The Stones were forced to cancel their Australian tour as a result of the tragedy. At the time, Sir Mick, who was pictured looking drawn and unwell, told fans in a statement he was ‘shocked and devastated’. He said: ‘We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves.’ Sir Mick described his partner, a fashion designer, as having ‘had great presence’, adding: ‘Her talent was much admired, not least by me.’ The new pictures suggest he is finally putting the tragedy behind him and attempting to move on with his life. He was photographed on the balcony of his penthouse suite in Switzerland with a brunette several decades younger than him. According to The Sun, which published the pictures, the pair met in a Zurich nightclub last weekend and spent two days together. They were seen on Saturday morning smiling and looking carefree. In the afternoon, Sir Mick reportedly emerged from his room bare-chested to speak on the phone. The couple appeared again on Saturday night, with Sir Mick wearing a striped shirt and the woman clutching a drink. A source in Zurich told The Sun: ‘He’s worked very hard to get the Stones back on the road. He’s a single man and he’s Mick and he’s having some fun.’ The Stones spent four days in the Swiss city as part of their world tour. Loss: Sir Mick cancelled the Rolling Stone's tour of Australia following the fashion designer's death in March . Sir Mick and Keith Richards, 70, Ronnie Wood, 67, and Charlie Watts, 73, are due to play at the Pinkpop Festival in Holland this evening. The band resumed their world tour in Norway at the end of May after cancelling shows following Miss Scott’s death. Her body was discovered in her Manhattan apartment by her assistant at around 10am on March 17. It emerged after her death that the fashion label she founded had been heavily in debt. Sir Mick has said previously that he failed ‘to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way’. He said that the couple had spent ‘many wonderful years together’. | Sir Mick Jagger seen with a mystery brunette while on holiday, reports claim . Appeared happy and relaxed while on a hotel balcony in Switzerland . Was left devastated when partner of 13 years L'Wren Scott died in March . Fashion designer was found dead in Manhattan apartment aged 49 . | d5cab58c488471fee1fc53c8a4319e642b71e09c |
An electrician has been ordered to pull down the £10,000 security fence he built after he was burgled ten times in two months - because it might scare motorists. Graham Jaggar, 51, built the barrier after thieves relentlessly targeted his home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. But he now claims council chiefs have told him to remove the fence - because it could pose a hazard to drivers. Graham Jaggar has been ordered to pull down the £10,000 security fence after he was burgled ten times in two months - because it might scare motorists . He said: 'Over the last few years I've had around £30,000 worth of stuff stolen by these idiots, it's just a scandal. 'It's mostly been expensive tools from this house, which means I can't work, and building materials. 'They have also stolen model aircrafts worth a few thousand pounds and even my children's toys from the garden. 'From my old house, which I left because I thought I would be more secure in another property, I had a boat stolen, two cars, a motorbike and my daughters scooter. 'They have even stolen four or five wheelie bins - and one of them was full of rubbish. The boat had around £4,000 of work done on it. 'I reckon I have been bugled around 20 times over the past six years.' Self-employed Mr Jaggar built the six foot fence last year after his electrics business was threatened for months by the burglars. Mr Jaggar, 51, built the barrier after thieves relentlessly targeted his home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. But he now claims council chiefs have told him to remove the fence - because it could pose a hazard to drivers . He said the fence had been up for almost a year but the council contacted him a couple of months ago to tell him about the complaint and ordered that the fence is amended by January 7 . But now, he said a neighbour's complaint that it causes a blind spot has put his house at risk of being targeted again. He said he was given 'verbal planning permission' by a man from the council who has since left. He said: 'The fence means there is a very small blind spot, but there are hazards everywhere in the roads so all it takes is caution and common sense. 'It causes a brief blind spot, for the blink of an eye, when you come out of the junction. 'I've not had any burglaries since putting it up 12 months ago but now I might have to spend even more adjusting it. 'I could be left with a bill of thousands of pounds after changing the fence to what the council want. 'I can't take it down - I've been burgled so many times the insurance won't even pay out anymore. 'It's ridiculous and a scandal, why can't anyone use some common sense?' He added that the fence has been up for almost a year but the council contacted him a couple of months ago to tell him about the complaint and ordered that the fence is amended by January 7. Mr Jaggar estimates has now spent around £12,000 in total on security - including the fencing, CCTV, an electric gate, walls and bushes to protect his home . He claims his grandchildren are 'terrified' to visit the house for fear of burglars, added: 'They've given me two weeks to get it sorted, which is impossible at this time of year. 'It's so much hassle, someone is just being vindictive about it. It's going to cost a fortune and it would be an eyesore. 'I could plant ten foot conifers around this house and get away with it, there's no common sense whatsoever. 'I put this up about a year ago and had no trouble, so I don't know why neighbours are complaining now.' Mr Jaggar, who lives with partner Stephanie, 56, made the headlines in 2013 when a sign outside his property warning against thieves. He estimates has now spent around £12,000 in total on security - including the fencing, CCTV, an electric gate, walls and bushes to protect his home. He said: 'The council just won't see any sense. They have cocked up and I've been left to to cough up the costs - I need to protect my house. 'The fence also acts as a safety guard because so many children climb on the three foot wall it sits on and fall off, then I'm the one that gets the blame.' MailOnline has contacted Kirklees council for comment. | Graham Jaggar built the barrier after thieves relentlessly targeted his home . But he now claims council chiefs have told him to remove the fence . A neighbour has complained that the fence could pose a hazard to drivers . | 8dfce46492a117a61e60c22517891b5912e6de42 |
By . Jack Doyle . PUBLISHED: . 19:16 EST, 22 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:34 EST, 23 December 2013 . Romanian and Bulgarian migrants coming to Britain in the New Year could put huge pressure on housing, schools and hospitals, a major report warns today. The study by the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research says most of the new arrivals will settle in London and the South East – meaning public services in these areas will be most affected. It warns that Britain could see an increase in anti-social behaviour, aggressive begging, rough sleeping and criminality from next week. Under fire: The report from the Institute for Public Policy Research said that David Cameron's changes to benefit rules - designed to discourage migrants - are 'largely symbolic' And it says David Cameron’s much heralded changes to benefits rules are ‘largely symbolic’ and will make little or no difference. The report will ratchet up the pressure on ministers ahead of January 1, when the remaining controls on working rights for nationals of the two countries will expire. Mr Cameron has resisted calls to face down the EU and extend the controls, despite opinion polls showing huge public support for such a move. The report calls for ‘urgent action’ to deal with the wider housing crisis. It states: ‘Future migration to the UK from Bulgaria and Romania is likely to place added pressure on the lower-end of the private rented sector, particularly in the areas of London and the South East where most Romanian and Bulgarian migrants currently live and where housing is already in high demand.’ The report warns schools – which are already facing huge pressure due to existing population growth – and hospitals will also bear the brunt of a surge in numbers. ‘In the short term, the need for extra school places and additional usage of NHS services in some areas are likely to be the main consequences,’ it says. It concludes that crime could increase because Romanians are ‘disproportionately reflected’ in the crime statistics. Crime: The report says lawbreaking could increase as Romanians are 'disproportionately reflected' in crime statistics. Pictured are two Romanian travellers with a policeman in London's Park Lane . They are second only to Poles in terms of foreign national arrests since 2008 – despite being far fewer in number. The report warns of potential problems with ‘anti-social behaviour (including aggressive begging), rough sleeping and even criminality’. It is scathing about the changes to benefit rules, which were much heralded by Downing Street. They will mean EU migrants cannot claim out-of-work benefits for three months after arriving. The political response, it says, has been ‘more symbolic than substantive’ – and it accuses ministers of ‘rushing through last minute measures limiting access to entitlements’. Ministers should set up a dedicated fund of millions of pounds and use it to help communities where pressure on public services is particularly acute, the report says. It is published as Mr Cameron faces criticism from the president of Bulgaria over efforts to restrict future EU migration. Rosen Plevneliev accused the PM of trying to build an ‘iron curtain’ in Europe and pandering to nationalist sentiment. In an interview with the Observer newspaper, he called on Britain to stay true to its legacy as ‘a great global power that pioneered integration’. Mr Plevneliev added: ‘Isolating Great Britain and damaging Britain’s reputation is not the right history to write.’ A third of Big Issue sellers are from Eastern Europe, the magazine’s founder has revealed. John Bird, 67, said of that group, more than half are originally from Roma communities. He said there had been a rise in the number of immigrant vendors in recent years as more migrants came from Eastern Europe. Many Roma turned to selling The Big Issue to escape lives of ‘feral poverty’ he added. Controversially, he also said their reasons for choosing Britain were ‘made up maybe of [claiming] social security, maybe the ability to beg, maybe the ability to thieve’. One in three of the babies born in England and Wales last year had at least one parent who was born overseas. In London, almost seven in ten babies had at least one non-British-born parent, and in parts of the capital it was nearly 90 per cent. The Office for National Statistics figures show the stark changes in the number of migrants having children in this country over the past decade. Since 2000, the proportion of babies with foreign-born parents has increased by half. Then, 21.2 babies had at least one, but by last year that figure stood at 31.4 per cent. | Major report by the Institute for Public Policy Research gave a warning . Said that London and the South East will be particularly at risk . There could also be more aggressive begging, anti-social behaviour, rough sleeping and criminality from the new year, when restrictions are lifted . | c04fa027e1c6a2d2a8330ebb7c69f21e2d021010 |
The Orange love their red cups, according to the Princeton Review, which on Monday named Syracuse University the top party school in the nation. "I'm excited about it," said Matt McGee, a junior information technology and philosophy major from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. "I was definitely a little surprised, but it's a cool title to have." The university administration does not share his joy. "Syracuse University has a long-established reputation for academic excellence with programs that are nationally and internationally the best in their fields," the school said in a statement on its website. "We do not aspire to be a party school." Rounding out the top five schools were last year's winner, the University of Iowa; University of California-Santa Barbara; West Virginia University; and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. And apparently, the title means something. PJ Grund, who is set to begin his final semester at the University of Iowa this fall, told CNN that he and his fellow Hawkeyes were quite aware of being the "No. 1 party school" and frequently bragged about it. University of Iowa has ranked among the top five schools for four years straight. "We took pride in it," he said. "It's always nice to know that your school has a good atmosphere and you want a fun campus to be on." "Win or lose, Hawks still booze," he said, quoting a popular saying. However, Grund and other University of Iowa students stressed the title also had a negative connotation for parents, administration and people from other schools. And they said it frequently distracted from the first-class education they received in Iowa City. Liz Lindeman graduated this spring from the university with a degree in social work. "It was the best four years of my life," she said. "But when you have a reputation as a party school, you also want your school to have a good reputation for education as well." "I'm also going to be a professional." McGee said he understood those concerns, as well as school officials' disappointment, and said he worried that "partying would overshadow Syracuse's academic success." However, this hasn't stopped some current students from being overjoyed. McGee said the only worry is that school administration will overcompensate with disciplinary action to limit student enjoyment. "The second the news broke, everyone was pretty pumped," he said. "I've never seen anything chaotic and don't really think the school needs to do more to limit partying. ... It's pretty controlled." The title now rests in the East, but Lindeman doesn't expect Syracuse to hold onto it long. Frankly, she sees Midwestern schools as the collegiate party capital of America. "There's something about the Midwest," she said. "I guess we have nothing else to do." | Syracuse tops Princeton Review's yearly list of the nation's top party schools . In a statement, Syracuse says it's disappointed, but one student says the title is "cool" "Win or lose, Hawks still booze," says a student of former No.1 University of Iowa . | 1aebde15b9bfc59c96c4167e79a91ed87decb4b2 |
Russell Investments chief economist Mike Dueker was found dead Thursday, and police said it appeared he had taken his own life by jumping from a ramp near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State. His death is the latest in a series of untimely deaths among finance workers and business leaders around the world this past week. An officer who knew Dueker was missing in the area spotted the body about 8:30 a.m. at the base of a 40- to 50-foot embankment for a Highway 16 ramp, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. Suicide: Russell Investments¿ Chief Economist Mike Dueker was found dead in an apparent suicide in the United States, the latest in a series of untimely deaths among finance workers and business leaders around the world this past week . Dueker, 50, had been missing since January 29, and friends and law enforcement had been searching for him . Dueker's car was parked at nearby War Memorial Park and it appears he jumped over the 4-foot fence of a bike-jogging trail along the ramp, Troyer said. Police do not believe the death was an accident or that Dueker was a victim of a crime, Troyer said. Dueker, 50, of University Place, apparently died early Wednesday when his family thought he was out jogging. But he was not dressed for jogging and was wearing jeans and a sweater, Troyer said. His family had been looking for him. The body was hard to spot, Troyer said. Dueker had joined the financial services company in 2008. A spokeswoman, Jennifer Tice, said she couldn't speculate on any issues Dueker had. Career man: Dueker worked at Seattle-based Russell for five years, and developed a business-cycle index that forecast economic performance. He was previously an assistant vice president and research economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis . 'We were deeply saddened to learn today of the death of our colleague and friend Mike Dueker. Mike was highly respected and regarded at Russell Investments and in the broader financial services industry. In the five years that he worked at Russell, he made valuable contributions that helped our clients and many of his fellow associates. Our thoughts are with Mike's family and friends during this difficult time,' Russell Investments said in a statement. As chief economist for Russell Investments, Dueker wrote for Russell's Market Outlook publications, forecasting the business cycle and the target federal funds rate. He developed and maintained a business cycle index published monthly on Russell.com. Well-respected: Dueker had published dozens of research papers over the past two decades, many on monetary policy, according to the St. Louis Fed¿s website, which ranks him among the top 5% of economists by number of works published . Dueker also led Russell's participation as one of 50 Blue Chip forecasters for both Blue Chip Economic Indicators and Blue Chip Financial Forecasts. The suicide in Washington follows a series of deaths among finance workers and business leaders this past week. Last Sunday, police in London found William Broeksmit, a 58-year-old former senior executive at Deutsche Bank AG, dead in his home after an apparent suicide, and on Tuesday, 39-year-old Gabriel Magee, a JP Morgan employee, died after falling from the roof of its the European headquarters of JP Morgan in London. Mr Magee's parents have today told of their grief of their son who had worked as Vice President in the technology department for six years. He was said to be in a happy relationship with a long-term girlfriend. His parents, Bill, 64, and Nell, 74, Magee are now demanding answers to how he could have got up on to the roof of the building in Canary Wharf before he fell 500ft on Tuesday morning. 'We are shattered beyond words. This was a young man, we cherished him,' said Mrs Magee, 74. 'He was named after the angel Gabriel, the messenger who always had good news. He always brought us good news.' She said: 'I’ve spoken to the embassy, the police. I want to know the truth. I want to know what happened. 'How was he able to get up there. There was no reason for him to be up on that roof.' The executive had recently agreed with his bosses that he could work four days a week instead of five and was thought to be planning a family with his partner. His father, a former US military pilot, last spoke to his son a fortnight ago and said that he seemed content. 'It was very comforting to see him in a relationship that he thought had longevity,' he said. Mr and Mrs Magee will be travelling to London in the coming days. Tragic: The parents of Gabriel Magee are demanding answers after he jumped from the top of JP Morgan's headquarters in Canary Wharf, London, to his death yesterday . Mrs Nell revealed that Gabriel was in a long term relationship with his girlfriend Veronica, whose family are from San Diego, and that they were planning a family together. Her son was also a talented musician and loved playing his guitar. Nell said: 'I want to know why JP Morgan has not had the decency to call me. I’ve spoken to the embassy, the coroner, the police. Nell said that as far as she knew Gabriel was 'a happy person who was happy with his life'. He and Veronica were not engaged but 'had an understanding' and were going to spend the rest of their lives together. Nell said: 'There was no reason for him to up on that roof'. Furious: The Magees said they would be demanding answers from JP Morgan, revealing that nobody from the company had 'had the decency' to call them after their son Gabriel plunged to his death . Gabriel's parents revealed that he had recently started working four days a week instead of five, a deal his bosses were happy with. His body was found on the ninth floor roof of the JP Morgan office, which serves as its European HQ. He was named in an email sent to all JP Morgan staff Tuesday afternoon. A company spokesman said: 'We are deeply saddened to have lost a member of the J.P. Morgan family at 25 Bank Street today. Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family and his friends'. A source close to Gabriel said he was in 'good standing with his bosses and colleagues. He was well liked.' Investigation: Scotland Yard said they were called to 25 Bank Street at 8.02 a.m. yesterday and detectives were not treating Gabriel Magee's death as suspicious . Scene: Gabriel Magee, who'd worked for the company for nearly two decades, fell from the top of the 33-storey JP Morgan skyscraper shortly after 8am on Tuesday . On Sunday, former Deutsche Bank senior manager, William 'Bill' Broeksmit, 58, was found hanging in his home in South Kensington . Location: The body of William 'Bill' Broeksmit, 58, was found at his home in South Kensington, central London . If you live in the UK and are struggling with any issues and need someone to talk to, contact The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or via email [email protected]. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK. | Mike Dueker, 50, was the chief economist at Russell Investments . He was found dead at the side of a highway in Washington State after jumping over a fence . The economist was having problems at work and had been an employee at the reserve bank from 1991 to 2008 . He had published dozens of research papers over the past two decades . His death is the third death in six days in apparent suicides in the world of finance . Gabriel Magee, a 39-year-old JP Morgan bank executive, died on Tuesday . The American threw himself off the top of the bank's London headquarters . His parents Bill and Nell Magee say they will travel from New Mexico to Britain to demand answers and collect their son's belongings . Last Sunday, former Deutsche Bank senior manager, William 'Bill' Broeksmit, 58, was found hanging in his South Kensington, London home . Both deaths have been ruled non-suspicious by the Metropolitan Police . | 7363524bc42b81afe78fa6c9cb2f0576200ecabb |
No one can cane it like Kate Moss. The woman can't even stick a detox in a luxury health resort in Turkey for more than three days. If she isn't entertaining fellow passengers on easyJet, she's bouncing around on the beach, fag in one hand, cocktail in the other, ricocheting from party to party. If there was any justice in this world, she'd be well on her way to joining Marianne Faithfull in the pantheon of had-it-all-but-partied-it-away great ex-beauties of our time. Instead of which she still looks better than most women half her age, even when she's at her roughest. Following Kate's lead: The model manages to look good the morning after the night before . Those of us who aren't species supermodel have to try a little harder. I have a friend who swears by a mouthful of ice cubes first thing in the morning: wakes you up and de-puffs, apparently. My dentist, meanwhile, has some rather more scientific advice: always use ibuprofen for a hangover, never paracetamol: apparently the latter is processed via the liver, which has enough on its plate breaking down the excess alcohol. The ibuprofen, by contrast, leaves via the kidneys. So it's true: the best way of preventing a hangover is a large glass of water and two Nurofen before bed. Personally, I swear by milk thistle. I take a course of it twice a year, once in the summer and once at Christmas, and I'm convinced it makes a difference. Well, it must do, because I had my liver function checked recently and it's tip top - despite the fact that I'm 2st overweight and partial to the odd G&T. A happy liver is key to most things. It will clear up dark circles under the eyes, and also stop your skin from taking on that grey-ish tinge that’s associated with the occasional bout of excess. It also helps things enormously if you choose your poison. Did you know, for example, that the paler the drink, the gentler the hangover? That's because dark-coloured drinks - red wine, whisky, rum - contain higher levels of congeners, which are the natural by-products of fermentation, and give you hangovers. Nutritionist Amelia Freer takes the sensible holistic approach. Her response is to work on building up reserves from within through sustained healthy eating before, after and during your vacation. Make sure your holiday diet doesn't just consist of a packet of salt and vinegar crips and a slice of pizza. Eat plenty of dark greens (spinach, kale, broccoli etc), onions, garlic, tomatoes and peppers. All these encourage the production of glutathione in the body, a powerful antioxidant that helps support the liver. The other problem with having that extra tipple is that it increases inflammation in the body. So avoid inflammatory foods such as wheat and sugar, and fill up on things like avocado, oily fish and nuts. As to make-up, my biggest problem is usually bleariness from not taking off my mascara properly, sleeping in my contact lenses (I always know it's been a good night when I wake up able to see properly) or stabbing myself in the eye with the cotton wool. For this there is really no better remedy than Optrex straight from the fridge. Cucumbers work, of course; but if that's not practical, try Boots Cucumber Eye Gel (£1): very effective and quite possibly cheaper in the long run. If you've got time, a little lie-down with an Alka-Seltzer and a cooling eye mask works wonders (also for hay fever sufferers): try the Aqua Eye Mask (£6) from Body Shop. If you're beach-bound, you probably won't feel like caking much on the day after - Kate certainly doesn't bother. A quick slap in the chops with something invigorating always helps, though, to wit Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (from £8.50). It's the eucalyptus in this that does it for me. Finally, for those with deep pockets, Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream (£70) is the actual product that the actual Kate Moss uses. Tilbury being Moss's go-to make-up artist, she has plenty of experience of being handed a weary, worn-out party girl and transforming her into a hot-to-trot supermodel. Then it's just a case of a large pair of sunnies, a slick of lippie, a truck-load of attitude - and off you go. Mind that step, now. The all-in-one hair wash is back . 12-in-one: Grow Gorgeous is a cleanser and conditioner with a host of other effects . 'Take two bottles into the shower? Not me... I just want to Wash And Go!' Remember that? You must be as old as me then. Vidal Sassoon's all-in-one shampoo and conditioner was the archetypal product for the yuppie decade. After all, if Gordon Gekko thought lunch was for wimps, imagine what he would have made of hair conditioner? Thirty years on, and the one-bottle hair trend is back. Only this time it's known as co-washing. Sounds like one of those Gwyneth Paltrow-style euphemisms; in fact it's just short for conditioning wash. Essentially, it's washing your hair in a souped-up conditioner in order to remove dirt and grease without stripping the hair of its natural oils. African and Afro-Caribbean women will probably already be familiar with it, as will those with very curly hair. But in this age of straighteners and curlers and rainbow colours, co-washing has become more mainstream, as it offers the ideal solution to the difficulties of caring for over-treated hair. Nevertheless, it's best suited to thick or curly hair, although if your mop is colour treated, or if it's had a lot of sun exposure this year, you may also want to give it a go. If you like that audible feeling of squeaky cleanliness, though, avoid. And if you suffer from dandruff or psoriasis, check with your dermatologist beforehand. CRUSH... Words like 'miracle' and 'flawless' are often bandied around in the beauty industry, but in the case of Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation, they're justified. £30.50, www.yslbeauty.co.uk. FAIL... Do we really need to see reality star Millie Mackintosh's facemask, below? Enough already with the selfies! If you're one of those sporty types who washes their hair daily, try to limit your co-washes to three a week, and use a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo in-between. And be careful if you have hair-extensions: the added oils may loosen the connections. Needless to say, the number of co-washing products on the market is growing almost hourly. Here's the pick of the current crop... Grow Gorgeous: A new 12-in-one cleanser/conditioner, no less, promising volume as well as shine, softness, smoothness and a host of other miraculous effects. £19.29, Boots. Ojon Rare Blend Moisture-Rich Cleansing Conditioner: Sulphate and glycerin free, and enriched with coconut oil for extra de-tangling. £18.50, ojon.co.uk. Mizani True Textures Cleansing Cream Conditioning Curl Wash: Designed for curly hair, it will also work on very dry tresses. Leaves hair feeling very soft and light. £9.99, lookfantastic.co.uk. | How does party girl Kate Moss always look so good? Could it be thanks to her make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream? I swear by milk thistle . | f21a6c7d420d11206a4587d62ad9ed3e95063e98 |
By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 23:28 EST, 20 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:00 EST, 21 November 2013 . Republican Florida Rep. Trey Radel told is taking a leave of absence from Congress following his conviction on a narcotics possession charge in Washington, D.C. But the 'cocaine congressman' is resisting calls for his resignation, and dodging the toughest questions journalists have lobbed at him. He told reporters in a scripted press conference Wednesday night that wants 'to be held accountable for the bad decisions that I made in my life,' and ultimately to 'be a role model for millions of others that are struggling with this disease.' Radel has blamed a drinking problem for his drug use. His mother, he said Wednesday, also battled alcoholism. She died during his 2009 wedding reception. Scroll down for video . Republican Rep. Trey Radel is taking a leave of absence from Congress after his conviction on a cocaine possession charge . Radel apologized to voters on Facebook Tuesday, shortly after his Oct. 29 arrest became public . Judgment day: Radel emerged from a Washington, D.C. courthouse on Wednesday after his sentencing . 'Sometimes in life you need a wakeup call,' he said. 'This is my wakeup call.' He plans to donate his salary to a charity while he's pursuing drug rehab treatment, beginning with time in an 'intensive inpatient' facility. Radel received a sentence of one year's supervised probation and a small fine for buying 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover policeman. If he stays out of trouble, his conviction will be expunged from his record. 'I have no excuse for what I have done,' he said Wednesday night. 'I’ve let down our country. I've let down our constituents. I've let down my wife. And even though he doesn't know it, I've let down my two-year-old son.' Radel was elected to Congress in November 2012, and represents the South Florida cities of cities of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples and Sanibel Island. Radel's wife Amy is 'my rock,' he said, and his two-year-old son Henry is 'my little guy' -- but Mrs. Radel was nowhere to be seen during the press conference . Radel says he's 'taking responsibility' for buying cocaine from an undercover officer, but some Floridians won't be satisfied until he resigns . He's a former conservative talk radio host who came to Washington on the crest of a tea party wave, and – and now faces intense criticism because of the conservative values that he parlayed into a political victory. Vacancy? Trey Radel's office door was closed all day Wednesday, and his staff wasn't talking to the media . 'You've admitted to breaking the law yourself!' one reported shouted Wednesday night. No answer. 'You voted to drug-test people who have food stamps!' yelled another. No answer. 'You were on the floor voting the day that the bust happened,' a third blared. 'How do you expect to be a qualified lawmaker when you were living a lie yourself?' No answer. According to the Fort Myers News-Press, Radel has told the chairman of the Lee County Republican Party that he will return to work after the December congressional recess, and serve out his term. Connie Mack IV, the former congressman whose seat Radel how holds, said in a statement after the Wednesday night press conference that 'I certainly hope Trey gets the help he needs.' 'Time and his own actions will determine whether the people are willing to give him a second chance.' | The Florida tea-party Republican says he'll come back to work after December, donating his salary to charity in the mean-time . Radel is entering an 'intensive, inpatient' drug rehab program . In a Wednesday night press conference, he dodged questions about whether he should resign, and why he waited so long to confess publicly . He was arrested on Oct. 29, but no one knew until his name turned up on a court docket three weeks later . Radel got off easy for his first offense, drawing a 12-month probation sentence and a chance to wipe the slate clean if he stays out of trouble . | fe9d07cdba1a2decd557fa5932a404ff0a226704 |
The terror group targeted by US airstrikes in Syria this week are behind the threat that caused a ban on uncharged electronic devices on American-bound flights earlier this summer, intelligence sources have claimed. The Khorasan Group was believed to be in the final stages of a plot to blow up commercial planes with toothpaste tube bombs before they were hit by air attacks overnight on Monday. This follows information received by security officials in July that the Al-Qaeda cell was close to perfecting bombs that could be packed into laptops, cell phones or tablets and pass through security without detection. Information that the Khorasan Group was close to perfecting an undetectable bomb that could be packed into electronic devices such as mobile phones prompted the TSA to up their security (file picture) According to ABC News, the concerns prompted the US Transportation Security Administration to boost surveillance and increase security at American airports. As part of the checks, security agents asked travelers to turn on their electronic devices at checkpoints and if they did not have power, they were not allowed to be taken on the plane. At the time, the Khorasan Group and radicals from other groups were believed to have been working with other elements in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Their aim was to bring down a US or Europe-bound plane with a hidden bomb, with help from one of the thousands of Americans and other foreign fighters who have joined extremist groups in the Middle East. The group is said to be made up of seasoned Al-Qaeda veterans who have travelled to Syria to find a 'safe haven'. The group's leader Muhsin al-Fadhli, 33, is thought to have been close to Osama bin Laden since around the time of September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States . The group's leader Muhsin al-Fadhli, 33, is thought to have been close to Osama bin Laden since around the time of September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States. Eric Holder, who stepped down from his post as US Attorney General earlier this week, told ABC News in July that the 'underwear bomb' threat that failed to detonate a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009 was also related to the group. He believes it is 'more frightening than anything' that has taken place during the Obama administration. They are also believed to have been behind the printer cartridge bomb plot against Chicago synagogues in 2010. The Pentagon claimed that the strikes earlier this week prevented the terror group from carrying out a plot against US airlines. Lieutenant General William Mayville, the Pentagon's director of operations, said Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from US warships in the region were used to hit the group's compounds, workshops and training grounds around the city of Aleppo. 'Intelligence reports indicated that the Khorasan Group was in the final stages of plans to execute attacks against Western targets and potentially the US homeland,' he said. Khorasan is understood to intercept Westerners travelling to fight for radical groups in Syria, including ISIS. As many of these would-be jihadists retain their passports and travel to Syria without their home nation's knowledge, Khorasan trains them not for combat in the Middle East - but rather for future terror attacks back home in the West. As part of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al Qaeda-affiliated groups in Syria, FBI Director James Comey has said the government is spending 'a tremendous amount of time and effort trying to identify' anyone who's gone to Syria, but 'the challenge' is not missing anyone. FBI director James Comey believes plans against the West by the Khorasan group may still be in the works, despite the air strikes by the US and five Arab airlines overnight on Monday . He told reporters today that plots against the U.S. and Europe by the Khorasan Group may still be in the works and says it's possible the air strikes have not thwarted their plans. Comey says remains at the top of the FBI's list of terrorism concerns.He added that he also worries about a homegrown attack inspired by the Islamic State group. The US and five Arab nations joined in airstrikes Monday and early Tuesday against the Islamic State group's headquarters in eastern Syria, using land- and sea-based US aircraft as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from two Navy ships in the region. | Group believed to have prompted ban that was put on flights in July . Intelligence sources suggested that Al-Qaeda affiliate group had found a new way to pack undetectable explosives into electronic devices . Organisation is said to be made up of seasoned Al-Qaeda veterans . Their aim was to bring down a US or Europe-bound plane earlier this year . FBI director James Comey has said there is no indication that the airstrikes conducted by the US and its allies this week has halted the group's plans . | 2eb6e0de93cfaaedb9e455d96d1590292801304f |
By . Jack Crone for MailOnline . After spending $184,000 on a new motor, most people would - at the very least - expect the car to have working doors. But if the model in question is the rarest Mini ever made - one of just of 15 and a personal favourite of the Queen - perhaps you could make an exception. The 1962 Austin Mini Beach Car, built without doors or side-pillars, fetched more than double its estimated value of $70,000 at Bonhams' Quail Lodge sale in California this week. Only 15 models of the Austin Mini Beach Car were made by British Motor Corporation in 1962 . The car, built without doors or side-pillars, was bought for $184,000 at Bonhams' Quail Lodge sale in California this week . The car, which has a tiny 849cc engine producing a modest 34bhp, was built 52 years ago by British Motor Corporation - with all but one being made as left-hand drives with the intention of being shipped over to the USA. The one right-hand drive that was produced was loaned to the Royal Family and it is thought that the Queen enjoyed driving the golf-buggy-like motor around Windsor Castle. At the time, the Daily Express wrote: 'The Queen, a knowledgeable motorist, doubtless enjoys travelling in this unconventional little vehicle as much as she does in her Rolls.' Despite being 52-years-old, the car has had just three owners since it was first shipped to San Francisco and has covered only 12,000 miles - an average of 4.4 miles per week. At $184,000, it is a world record price paid for a Mini at auction and 200 times what the original model cost back in 1962. Despite being 52 years old, the vehicle has done just 12,000 miles, having been kept in a showroom in California for most of its existence . The 1962 model has a tiny 849cc engine developing a modest 34bhp and is the rarest Mini ever to be made . At $184,000, it is a world record price paid for a Mini at auction and 200 times what the original model cost back in 1962 . The car also cost the frivolous buyer $157,000 more than the cheapest Mini currently made by BMW is worth. David Swig, motorcar specialist at Bonhams, said: 'This powder blue, beach-going Mini - also known as the Riviera Buggy - is the rarest Mini variant. 'Built by hand, the car is a quirky, fun, early example from the iconic British Mini brand, perfect for beach lovers.' | Rarest Mini ever made - sold for 200 times its original 1962 price . It's one of just 15 models built - with another being loaned to Royal Family . Car, which has no doors or side-pillars, said to be a favourite of the Queen . | 4250a8e0879c8f3f88eb4c20c53e8830298b8c4a |
(CNN) -- Jon Meis' reported habit of carrying pepper spray may have saved students' lives after a man opened fire at a Seattle college. The shooter had just wounded three people Thursday, one of whom died. He was reloading his shotgun when Meis, a volunteer security guard, saw an opening. He doused the gunman with the spray and tackled him to the ground. Other students at Seattle Pacific University piled on and took the weapon away from suspected shooter Aaron Ybarra, 26, police said. Officers are convinced the bloodshed at the Christian school would have been worse had Meis and the others not intervened. A man who said he was close friends with Meis' older brother and sister-and-law described him as "amazingly resourceful." "I wasn't surprised to see he was the hero -- his resourcefulness, love for others and knowledge of the greater good are what defines him, in my mind," Andrew Van Ness told CNN in an e-mail. Van Ness said Meis enjoyed playing a campus "humans versus zombies" game organized by the school's Student Union Board, finishing in the top 10 both times the game was held. On Thursday, Meis appeared shaken, at moments on the verge of tears, when ambulances arrived to tend to the wounded. Medics put him on a stretcher and took him to a hospital to check him over. Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg didn't identify Meis by name but said a man believed to be the student hero was thoroughly evaluated and released. He had no injuries, she said. Police would not give out his name, but one of his friends was quick to point him out to CNN affiliate KOMO and pour out his gratitude. "I could have been one of these people that was injured or in critical condition," said Meis' friend Patrick Maguire. "A lot of (students) were in that building, and he stopped him in the lobby. He didn't get any farther than that. I'm grateful for him, yeah." Meis, an engineering student, has a reputation for keeping a low profile, not seeking attention, The Seattle Times reported. He is known as a devout Christian and an excellent student. Meis' sister told the newspaper that the family wasn't commenting for the moment. But he hasn't been able to dodge the social media limelight, which has plastered his name and photos across the Internet with emphatic kudos. "Hero" was the common refrain. "Jon Meis is a hero. I have no words for his courage," user Molli Elizabeth posted to Twitter. "Jon Meis, You are my hero! Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. (Jn 15:13)," Tweeter Shane Bengry posted with reference to a Bible verse. His longtime roommate Ryan Salgado told The Seattle Times about the pepper spray. He said Meis regularly carries it, just in case. CNN's Justin Lear and Rick Martin contributed to this report. | NEW: Family friend describes hero as "amazingly resourceful" Authorities haven't named the man but say he saved lives . Friends identify the hero as Jon Meis . He reportedly regularly carries pepper spray around with him . | f40d507e9e240829a35439d2d949f93ea6f66078 |
By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 07:00 EST, 16 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:48 EST, 16 April 2013 . Hero: Boydy the dog, who stayed with his owner Herbert Schutz for four days after he crashed his car . Trapped and seriously injured beneath the wreckage of his car, 76-year-old Herbert Schutz thought he was facing certain death. In agony and without protection from the elements, he knew the chances of being found quickly on his remote farm at the foot of an Australian mountain range were slim. But luckily for Mr Schutz, his faithful sheepdog Boydy was with him. Boydy knew just what to do – he snuggled next to his owner to keep him warm as temperatures fell to 4C (39F). He even refused to leave his master’s side when rescuers finally located them four days later. Mr Schutz became trapped after his four-wheel-drive vehicle crashed into a tree on his property near Rylstone, in central New South Wales, on Friday. He managed to clamber out but as he did so the car rolled over, pinning him under the chassis. He suffered a fractured skull, two broken hips and a dislocated shoulder. Neighbours set out to look for Mr Schutz after his worried daughter rang on Monday to tell them she had not been able to contact her father. One neighbour, Eric Merritt, and his friend Julian Barrett discovered the upturned vehicle at the foot of the Nullo mountains yesterday afternoon. ‘We saw the car and that no one was in it,’ Mr Merritt said. ‘Then his dog ran around the front of the car and then we heard him call for the dog. That’s when we found him.’ Mr Merritt said Mr Schutz had Boydy’s hair all over him, a sign that the dog had provided some body warmth to help his owner combat the low night-time temperatures. ‘Even when we found him, the dog ran straight to his side and cuddled up to him. He didn’t want to leave him even then,’ Mr Merritt said. Ordeal: The car under which Mr Schutz was trapped for four days . Recovery: His daughter, who declined to give her name, released a statement today saying it was 'amazing' that he was now remaining conscious and lucid in hospital . Mr Schutz told his rescuers that several of his horses had approached during his ordeal and some of his internal injuries may have occurred as they accidentally trampled him while walking around the wreckage. His daughter, who declined to give her name, released a statement last night saying it was ‘amazing’ that Mr Schutz, who had no food or water with him, had survived his ordeal. She said she wanted to express her ‘deepest gratitude to neighbours for responding so quickly to her requests to check on his wellbeing after she could not get in contact with him’. ‘She is extremely thankful to her neighbours for locating her father and then staying with him until the emergency and rescue services arrived,’ the statement said. She paid tribute to the emergency services and the ‘fantastic’ staff at John Hunter Hospital in the town of Newcastle, 100 miles north of Sydney, where Mr Schutz is recovering from his ordeal. Although doctors described his condition last night as still being ‘serious’, his daughter added: ‘He is in very good care and is conscious and lucid at the moment, which is amazing given what he has been through.’ | Herbert Schutz, 76, lay in agony after crashing into a tree on his farm . Did manage to clamber out car but it rolled over and pinned him under . Received visit from several horses, although they trampled on wreckage . | 51cbe0c5bfc721559563169c85b2fcac3efb5f3e |
Hull owner Assem Allam has warned he will stop 'throwing money' at the club if he cannot force through his controversial 'Tigers' rebrand. Allam has been bankrolling Hull since saving the club from financial calamity in 2010, and has invested upwards of £70million in the team since then. He believes the only route to sustainability lies in changing the official name from Hull City AFC to Hull Tigers, a move he thinks would lead to sizeable overseas investment. Hull owner Assem Allam (left) wants Hull City to be renamed 'Hull Tigers' to attract overseas investment . Despite the Football Association Council throwing out his proposal in April, Allam backed manager Steve Bruce's rebuilding plans this summer with over £30million of transfer funds. But the 75-year-old Egyptian, who is engaged in arbitration with the FA over its decision and has also put the club up for sale, insists there will be no more spending unless he gets his way. 'That [the money] stops now. It has to stop,' Allam told BBC's Football Focus. 'I won't pay out if I cannot create income. That is called 'throwing money at it'.' 'I won't throw money at a problem. I want to deal with the problem.' Allam's latest intervention cannot have been welcomed by Bruce, who has done his level best to play peacemaker in an increasingly bitter stand-off between the owner and sections of the fan base for over a year now. Hull have struggled on the pitch this season and haven't won in the Premier League since the opening day . That his words come on the eve of a home match against Crystal Palace, meanwhile, represents an unwelcome case of deja vu. It was the corresponding fixture last season when protests against the name change plan reached fever pitch, with supporter demonstrations proving an unwanted distraction as Hull slipped to their first home defeat. The atmosphere at the KC Stadium has been on a knife edge at times this term, with chants of 'City Till We Die' now booed by rival elements of the crowd. Allam took over in 2010 and has since helped them get into the Premier League and reach the FA Cup final . What awaits in the stands on Saturday, when Bruce's main priority is a first win since the opening day of the season, is now an open question. But the manager was pragmatic when asked to comment on Allam's position ahead of the match. Bruce noted that no further spending was now possible until January but insisted he would not be shy about requesting funds when the time comes. Hull manager Steve Bruce has had to act as a peacemaker between Allam and angry supporters . 'The window's finished and I'm sure he (Allam) is delighted, but it's my job to knock the door and want better and if I'm not doing that I'm not doing my job right,' he said. 'I will always, always ask the question. Of course it's not a bottomless pit, we understand that, and I have to say the chairman and the owners have assembled a wonderful squad together here. 'We can't argue or grumble about what we've been able to put together. So I wont be mithering him now but then the window doesn't open for another three months. I'll have a little nibble then.' | Hull City owner Assem Allam wants to rename the club 'Hull Tigers' to attract overseas investment . He has warned that he will stop investing unless the change goes through . The Egyptian bought the club in 2010 and has invested more than £70m . Hull host Crystal Palace on Saturday and are 16th in the Premier League . | 4e6f24e903176bea418b0b2165d14fe46b7092cc |
These previously unseen pictures reveal the preparations in the hours leading up to the US nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombings of the two cities in Japan were conducted by the US during the final stages of World War Two in August 1945. To this day, the bombings remain history's only acts of nuclear warfare. A group of men check over bomb casings that were sent to Tinian, in the Mariana Islands, south Japan, which was the launching point for the atomic bomb attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki . The inside of the 'Little Boy' bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, being wired up to test and charge components . Francis Birch (left) numbers 'Little Boy' Unit L-11 while Norman Ramsey (right) watches. This is the actual unit that was dropped on Hiroshima . The 'Fat Man' bomb nearly assembled and about to be placed in its casing - the bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 . A man puts the finishing touches to the 'Fat Man' device before it is transported to the airfield in Tinian in the Mariana Islands . Once the 'Fat Man' device was virtually complete, workers began to sign their names on it . A close up of the names and messages written on the 'Fat Man' bomb once it was completed . 'A Second Kiss for Hirohito (Emperor of Japan)!' signed by Rear Admiral W.R. Purnell, US Navy on 'Fat Man' The Fat Man bomb is lowered on the transport and checked over for the trip to the airfield in the Mariana Islands, to the south of Japan . By August 1945, the Allied Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory had devised two types of bombs. The 509th Composite Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces was equipped with a Silverplate Boeing B-29 Superfortress that could deliver them from Tinian in the Mariana Islands, to the south of Japan. A uranium gun-type atomic bomb, code-named 'Little Boy', was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by a plutonium implosion-type bomb, called 'Fat Man' on the city of Nagasaki on August 9. Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the effects killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki. Almost half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. The completed bomb was then towed towards the airfield under cover with an escort . The bombs were placed inside this pit in Tinian in the Mariana Islands, to the south of Japan . The bomb was lowered manually by a group of workers, some with their shirts open, towards the pit . The bomb was raised up on a hydraulic lift and the metal gutters which guided it over the pit were removed . The device is lowered in to the pit where two men work - it remained covered up for security reasons . The aircraft used to carry the device backed up slowly over the pit to collect the bomb . The 'Little Boy' bomb about to be loaded on to the aircraft to drop the nuclear device . The hydraulic lift lifts the bomb in to the aircraft - to this day, the two bombings were the first and remain the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare . During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizeable garrison. On August 15, just days after the bombing of Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war, Japan announced its surrender to the Allies. The 'Little Boy' bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, killing 90,000 - 166,000 people - almost half were killed on the day it landed on the city . A view of the devastation left by the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, on August 6 1945 . Three days later, the 'Fat Man' bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, which killed 60,000 - 80,000 people . Survivors of the Nagasaki atomic bomb find a way through the ruins of the city . The rare pictures were revealed in the same week that the US Department of Energy released transcripts of the 1950s hearings on the security clearance of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Project developed the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The once-celebrated physicist lost his security clearance following the four-week, closed-door hearing when he was accused of having communist sympathies. Transcripts were released this week of the 1950s hearings on the security clearance of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory . Oppenheimer was accused of having communist sympathies after a four week, close-door hearing . Officials also alleged that Oppenheimer's wife and brother had both been communists and he had contributed to communist front-organizations. Steven Aftergood, director of the Project on Government Secrecy for the Federation of American Scientists, said the release of the documents finally lifts the cloud of secrecy on the Oppenheimer case. 'This was a landmark case in U.S. history and Cold War history,' Mr Aftergood said. 'It represents a high point during anti-communist anxiety and tarnished the reputation of America's leading scientist.' After the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer served as director of Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study until he retired in 1966. President Lyndon B. Johnson later tried to erase the embarrassment of Oppenheimer's treatment by honouring him with the Atomic Energy Commission's Enrico Fermi Award in 1963. Oppenheimer died of throat cancer in 1967. | Previously unseen pictures reveal preparations in hours before the attacks . US nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki conducted during the end of World War Two . A uranium gun-type atomic bomb, code-named 'Little Boy', was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 . This was followed by a plutonium implosion-type bomb, called 'Fat Man' on the city of Nagasaki on August 9 . To this day, the bombings remain history's only acts of nuclear warfare . | ae281f6ffe4b87906504a262f306215b5de16e8e |
By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 07:33 EST, 7 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:56 EST, 7 February 2013 . Facebook is developing a new smartphone app to track the location of users in an effort to target them with localised adverts, according to reports. The app will help users to find friends who are nearby, alert them when it detects one in close proximity even when the app is not open on the handset, it is claimed. It will be just one of a whole suite of mobile apps Facebook is building up to help it profit from the increasing proportion of its users who access the social network on the go. But privacy campaigners warned it was another example of 'profit trumping privacy' and called the function 'intrusive'. The loading screen of the Facebook mobile app: The social network is developing a new smartphone app to track the location of users in an effort to target them with localised adverts . European regulators have already warned Facebook over the way it handles users' personal data, forcing the company to turn off its facial recognition feature for European users. The new app would help Facebook target advertising to users based on their location and their daily habits, helping corporate clients to reach the audiences they feel are most likely to want their products. Plans for the app were leaked to Bloomberg by two people 'with knowledge of the matter', the financial news service said. Development of Facebook's location software is being led by Peter Deng, a product director who joined the company from Google in 2007, one source said. Mobile first: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg last week told investors that the company would focus on generating revenue from mobile apps . The team also includes engineers from Glancee, a location-tracking company Facebook bought out last May, and Gowalla, a location-based social network snapped up in December 2011, Bloomberg reported. Facebook's privacy policies already warn users that the social network may use location data to 'tell you and your friends about people or events nearby, or offer deals to you that you might be interested in.' Mr Zuckerberg last week boasted that the company had redirected itself to focus on becoming a truly mobile company, in a move that he feels is paying off since their mobile ad revenue is growing. ‘2012 was a big year for us,’ the 28-year-old social media entrepreneur said in a conference call following the release of the Q4 earnings report a day earlier. Facebook's biggest challenge - and its greatest opportunity - lies in mobile devices which is an area that the company did not pay much attention to until just last year. Most Facebook users access it using a mobile phone or tablet computer, yet the nine-year-old company only started showing mobile ads about nine months ago. The company said it generated 23 per cent, or $306million, of advertising revenue from mobile, marking an increase from 14 per cent in the third quarter. 'When we get your GPS location, we put it together with other location information we have about you (like your current city),' says the social network's data use policy. 'But we only keep it until it is no longer useful to provide you services, like keeping your last GPS coordinates to send you relevant notifications.' Matrix: Facebook's privacy policies already warn users that the social network may use location data to 'tell you and your friends about people or events nearby, or offer deals to you that you might be interested in' Consumer efforts to protect personal data and remain 'invisible' online is leading to a 'data blackhole' that could adversely impact digital advertisers, according to a new report. The move to seek 'new tools that allow them to remain ‘invisible’ — untraceable and impossible to target by data means' will impact advertisers who rely on that information to target their audiences, technology research firm Ovum said yesterday. Surveying consumers in 11 countries around the world, the research firm said 68 per cent of respondents said they would select a 'do not track' feature if this was easily available. Mark Little, a principal analyst at Ovum, said Internet users were increasingly getting more access to new tools to 'monitor, control and secure their personal data as never before'. The recent scandal involving privacy breaches by mobile messaging service WhatsApp and lingering concerns over data use policies on Facebook and Google are prompting Internet users to be more guarded, Ovum added. The new tracking device-style application has already raised concerns among privacy campaigners. Nick Pickles, director of privacy . campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: 'Data about where you are at any . one time is hugely sensitive and should only ever be shared when users . are fully aware of how the data will be used and remain in full control . of who can see it. 'Yet again it seems the case that the . demands of advertisers trump consumer’s right to privacy, and Facebook . needs to be very careful with these plans otherwise users will rightly . be up in arms again. 'The reality is that smart phones are . capable of tracking our movements in real time, however consumers are . largely kept in the dark about who can access the data and how it is . used. 'This has to change and the law needs . strengthening to protect consumers from overly intrusive attempts to . monitor our behaviour.' There is already a range of other apps which constantly track user locations to help them find friends or places of interest. However, privacy concerns and the heavy toll they place on smartphones' battery life mean that they have failed to gain wide audiences. | App intended to alert users when Facebook 'friends' are nearby . It will also help the social network target localised adverts . Privacy campaigners warn it is 'profit trumping privacy' | cb4038905d9ba9f12951c35cce0a2d8ee7e37102 |
High school students have paid tribute to a mother-of-three who was allegedly killed by her husband in the front yard of their south-west Sydney home. Zoran Crnobrnja, 51, is accused of murdering his 49-year-old wife, Vesna, at their Casula home reportedly with a gardening tool on Monday. More than 50 students streamed up Flame Street on Tuesday and left flowers on the front fence of the home where the tragedy unfolded, 9News reported. Scroll down for video . It's estimated around 50 students from a nearby high school marched down Flame Street in tribute . Vesna Crnobrnja's husband Zoran has been charged with murder after she was found outside the couple's south-west Sydney home . The students were classmates of the Crnobrnja's 17-year-old son, according to Seven News. One student led a touching prayer as others bowed their heads, asking God to 'guide [the couple's children] through this tough time'. The day after the horrific incident the couple's well-manicured lawn looked eerily untouched and deserted, with a rolled-up newspaper lying on the driveway as the family car sat parked in front of a basketball hoop. Earlier on Tuesday, Crnobrnja appeared in Liverpool Court where he did not apply for bail and will next appear in Campbelltown Court on December 3. Remnants of police tape and a plastic bag left by forensics were strewn near the fence after officers were called to the home about 2.20pm on Monday after reports of a disturbance to find a woman's body in the front yard. Students paused to pay their respects outside the couple's home, where 49-year-old Vesna was killed . Some students lay flowers while others said a quiet prayer for the mother-of-three . Typically domestic objects were dotted around the front of the house - cans of spray paint, a bucket, and over-flowing wheelie bins. It comes after chilling CCTV footage emerged showing Crnobrnja talking on his mobile phone and police swooping on the home moments after the alleged murder. Crnobrnja can be seen on the street, dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, talking on his phone in CCTV footage captured by a neighbour in the minutes after the alleged murder. A newspaper on the driveway and the family car parked out the front of the Crnobrnjas' quiet suburban home . The couple had reportedly been discussing ornaments for the front yard; remnants of police tape were strewn by the fence and a plastic bag was left behind by police forensics . A neighbour who claims to have witnessed the attack says he is traumatised . A plastic bag of rubbish lies on the front lawn . Typically domestic objects lay on the driveway and by the house - from a bucket, to pain and over-full bins . The grainy vision also shows the moment police vehicles arrived at the house before Crnobrnja, who had left the scene following the phone call, returned home. Crnobrnja was arrested at the scene and later charged with his wife's murder at Liverpool Police Station after an initial delay due to a language barrier. Police said the death was domestic related and it is believed the couple had an argument while gardening before Vesna's body was found. 'Police have been to the house in the past and the man is known to police,' Detective Inspector Dean Johnson said. 'This appears to be a domestic violence incident.' Zoran Crnobrnja can be seen on his mobile phone in this CCTV vision captured by a neighbour . The CCTV footage shows the moment Crnobrnja returns home after leaving for a short while after the alleged murder . Both Crnobrnja and police can be seen driving towards the house in a neighbour's CCTV vision . The man is confronted at the scene by police who arrived after reports of a disturbance . Police say the woman's death appeared to have come after a domestic incident . The couple have three children, including two adults and a 17-year-old, who were not home at the time of the attack. A young neighbour, Emmanuel Nunes, witnessed Ms Crnobrnja's death and is now 'traumatised', The Daily Telegraph reported. He said the couple had been happily gardening together just moments before the attack. 'I looked around and found him standing over her,' Mr Nunes told the News Corp newspaper. 'They had been happily gardening that morning. I spoke to him moments before and he was calm and happy. 'They had been talking about what ornaments to find for the garden.' Initial reports suggested Vesna had been shot dead. A blue tent covers the body of Vesna Crnobrnja (right) who was murdered outside her Casula property . A 51-year-old man was arrested after his wife's body was found in their front yard . The man is known to police and was arrested after returning home . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Vesna Crnobrnja, 49, found dead in her front yard after police were called . Her husband Zoran Crnobrnja, 51, has been charged with her murder . CCTV footage shows him talking on the phone moments after the incident . Police are investigating if the woman was killed with a gardening tool . More than 50 students from a Casula school left flowers outside the home . | 21cf6e7b875252fde55450be6097f3e5f0f030a0 |
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told a cheering crowd of conservatives Saturday night that the next U.S. president should shutter the much-maligned Internal Revenue Service and turn the agency's 110,000 employees loose to police the U.S.-Mexico border. 'That's slightly tongue-in-cheek,' he said in Denver at the Western Conservative Summit. 'But think about it for a second: You travel thousands of miles, you cross over and see 110,000 IRS agents? You'd turn around and go home!' His speech before a partisan crowd of hooting and hollering Republicans was the main draw at a conference that brought an estimated 3,500 to hear pols including former VP candidate Sarah Palin, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee and rising right-winger Dr. Ben Carson. Cruz delivered a speech full of anti-Obama barbs Saturday night, touching on immigration, education, foreign policy and religious freedom . Thousands came to Denver, the site of President Obama's 2008 presidential nomination, cheering for the man they hope will win the White House in 2016 . But Cruz brought down the house with a speech that sounded as much like practiced campaign stumpery as a laundry list of grievances with Barack Obama's administration. The normally stolid and bloated GOP establishment, Cruz hinted Saturday, is dismayed at his rise to prominence among tea party sympathizers and other grass-roots conservatives, and he wore his outsider status like a badge of honor. 'I spent most of the week back in Washington, D.C.,' he began. 'So it's great to be back in America.' Cruz described American politics as a cross between 'poly, meaning many, and tics, meaning blood-sucking parasites.' His biggest applause line: 'If you see a candidate that Washington embraces, run the other way.' He called for the abolition of two conservative bugaboos – Obamacare and the Common Core education standards. 'Education is too important to be left to bureaucrats in Washington,' said Cruz. 'Besides, we already have a "common core" in this country: It's called the Constitution of the United States.' But the Texan reserved a special brand of ire for the Obama administration's management of America's southwest border, where more than 90,000 unaccompanied children from Central America will have streamed into the U.S. illegally by the end of the government's fiscal year on September 30. Fresh from a visit to a U.S. Border Patrol station in MacAllen, Texas, he said agents told him they apprehended 622 illegal immigrants on Friday at that location alone. 'That was yesterday,' he said. 'And roughly 25 per cent of those coming in are unaccompanied minors – little kids brought in by violent drug cartels.' When he asked his hosts why they thought the flood of immigrants were risking life and limb to make harrowing journeys northward, Cruz said, 'every single border patrol agent sitting in the room said the same thing: "They're coming because the believe they will get amnesty".' Cruz's prescription for what Obama has acknowledged is a 'humanitarian crisis' is to deport as many of the children back to their home countries as possible, and as soon as possible. 'The compassionate thing to do is, humanely and expeditiously, to reunite them with their families back home, so we don't have next year tens of thousands of little boys and little girls being victimized.' Animated: A high-energy Ted Cruz told reporters after his speech Saturday night that President Obama was to blame for providing families with an incentive -- immigration amnesty -- to send their children thousands of miles to the United States . With the children have come reports of sexual abuse, hostage taking, and worse. On . Saturday Cruz re-told anecdotes he has shared publicly before, . describing 'coyotes' – paid human traffickers – extorting money from . families in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and sending home body . parts of their children when they can't pay. In . some cases, he said, the coyotes threaten some children with instant . death if they refuse to cut off fingers and ears of others. 'The people who are bringing these kids are not well-meaning social workers in Birkenstocks with long beards,' he charged. 'These are vicious, hardened, transnational drug cartels.' Obamacare is a Republican hobby horse Cruz rides almost as much as immigration policy. On Saturday he ripped into the White House for pressing the position in court that religious organizations shouldn't be exempt from the health insurance law's requirement to cover abortion-inducing drugs as part of qualifying policies they offer employees. In one case wending its way through the judicial system, the Little Sisters of the Poor are opposing that mandate. ''Let me give you a simple rule of thumb,' he cracked: 'If you're litigating against nuns, you've probably done something wrong.' Rock star: In conservative circles, the 43-year-old Cruz is seen as the Barack Obama of 2016 and signs autographs wherever he appears in public . Near the end of his remarks, Cruz bulked up his arsenal of foreign policy critiques with broadsides about what he called Obama's 'return to Jimmy Carter.' The two presidents, he claimed, advanced 'the same feckless and naive foreign policy, making the world much, much more dangerous.' 'In the last five years we've seen America recede from leadership in the world,' said Cruz, 'and into that vacuum have stepped nations like Iran and Russia and China. And the world is a whole lot more dangerous place.' 'If there's one principle from time immemorial,' he said in a line that Republicans will likely hear in Iowa and New Hampshire, 'it is that bullies and tyrants don't respect weakness or appeasement.' 'And when you have the President of the United States being openly mocked by leaders of nations like Russia and Iran, it is profoundly dangerous.' In one momentary lapse that seemed almost scripted, Cruz transposed Obama and President Ronald Reagan, putting the former in Berlin in April 1987 to challenge the Soviet Union. 'We all remember,' he said, 'when President Obama stood before the Brandenburg Gate and uttered the most important words uttered by any leader in modern times: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall".' After audience members in the front row told him what he had just said, he conceded that it was 'an interesting slip.' Recovering quickly, Cruz asked: 'Can we possibly imagine president Obama uttering such words?' 'Look,' he said, head suddenly bowed. 'it is heartbreaking, the absence of leadership.' | Texas GOP senator ripped into Barack Obama's stewardship of the U.S.-Mexico border and said the next president should shutter the IRS . Called for the abolition of Obamacare and Common Core school standards, saying 'education is too important to be left to bureaucrats in Washington' Blamed Obama for incentivizing Central American families to send their children across the U.S. border with drug-cartel 'coyotes' Laughed at the White House for taking the Little Sisters of the Poor to court over Obamacare birth-control drug requirements . 'Let me give you a simple rule of thumb,' he cracked: 'If you're litigating against nuns, you've probably done something wrong' | 1b081a27658b96e154c537df1497998cef71320c |
(CNN Student News) -- May 3, 2013 . Media Literacy Question of the Day . How might reporters use social media to get information for a story? What implications might this have for people who use social networking sites? * . * . Know Your News -- The following questions relate to events that were covered this week on CNN Student News. Write your answers in the space provided. Click here for the PDF of this Newsquiz. 1. What American Founding Father is featured on the new $100 bill? * . * . 2. What nation's new king is Willem-Alexander? * . * . 3. What is the tallest active volcano in Europe? * . * . 4. Cameron Lyle gave up his college athletic career to donate what kind of tissue? * . * . 5. What country is Mexico's largest trading partner? * . * . 6. What country has detained American Kenneth Bae? * . * . 7. What was the first permanent English settlement in North America? * . * . 8. Which of these rivers is longest: the Ganges, Mississippi, or Thames? * . * . 9. Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, was nominated to what presidential Cabinet position? * . * . 10. What is New York City's tallest building? * . * . | Use the weekly Newsquiz to test your knowledge of stories you saw on CNN Student News . Write your answers in the space provided . Today's Newsquiz includes the Media Literacy Question of the Day . | b1206e442b9352daa0da89837255cb4ca28dbcb8 |
Sheriff's investigators Saturday were reviewing a video of an incident in which hip-hop music mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight hit two men with his pickup truck, killing one, that may help provide clarity on whether Knight was the victim or attacker in his most serious run-in with the law to date. The video is in 'police custody' said Knight's defense attorney James Blatt, and he said he would be seeing it on Monday or Tuesday. He also said it would exonerate his client. Scroll down for videos . This image from video shows Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight, right, walking into the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department early Friday morning . A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department photographer checks the scene of an accident at a parking lot in Compton, Calif. Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida confirmed that detectives were reviewing the video, but 'they have made no such arrangements with the attorney' nor did they plan to show it to him. Meanwhile, Knight remained jailed on suspicion of murder after turning himself in early Friday. He's being held on $2 million bail. Sheriff's deputies said Knight hit and killed his friend Terry Carter, 55, with his pickup truck Thursday in the parking lot of a Compton fast-food restaurant, also injuring Cle 'Bone' Sloan, 51, an actor and film consultant who was hospitalized and in stable condition late Friday. Blatt said Knight was an innocent victim who accidentally ran over the men as he tried to escape a vicious attack. The incident was the latest in a long line of brushes with death and the law for the 49-year-old founder of Death Row Records, one of the genre's leading labels. Knight started the label that helped solidify West Coast rap with Dr. Dre, who had been a member of the legendary group N.W.A. The label also launched the career of Snoop Dogg and had Tupac Shakur in the last months of his life. FILE - In this Aug. 15, 1996, file photo, rapper Tupac Shakur, left, and a founder of Death Row Records, Marion "Suge" Knight, attend a voter registration event in South Central Los Angeles . The fatal run-in occurred a short while after Knight was told by deputies providing security to leave a film location after arguing with Sloan, who was working on the set, during a break from filming a promotional video for the biopic "Straight Outta Compton" about the rise of N.W.A. The argument resumed and escalated a short while later at a fast-food restaurant a few miles away, with Knight and Sloan exchanging punches through his open window, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said. Corina said Knight backed up his pickup truck and knocked Sloan down. 'Then he puts the truck in drive, drives forward, running over him, and then keeps going forward and keeps on driving, and runs over Carter, who is standing in the parking lot, and keeps on going after that,' Corina said. He said witnesses told investigators it looked like an intentional act. Authorities said they do not believe Carter was involved in the altercation. Blatt said Knight was called to Tam's Burgers in Compton by Carter for a meeting and was attacked by four people, including Sloan, as he slowed his truck. The men beat him through his window, tried to pull him outside, and threatened to kill him. Knight punched the gas and fled in fear, Blatt said. He had no idea he hit two men. Corina said that claim is hard to believe, and there's no evidence thus far of four attackers. The incident came less than six months after Knight was shot six times at a West Hollywood nightclub in August — the second shooting he's survived. No arrests have been made. At 6-foot-4 and weighing 325 pounds, Knight has a reputation as an imposing figure that is credited, in part, with helping create Death Row Records when he strong-armed another label to release Dr. Dre from his contract, said Chuck Creekmur, CEO of allhiphop.com. Knight was at the center of one of the most notorious rap conflicts of the 1990s, pitting Tupac Shakur against Biggie Smalls in an East Coast-versus-West Coast rivalry. Knight was sent to prison for nearly five years for badly beating a rival with Shakur at a Las Vegas hotel, just hours before Shakur was fatally shot while riding in Knight's car just east of the Strip. Smalls, whose real name was Chris Wallace, was shot to death in a similar attack six months later. Knight and Dre later had a falling out, and Dre left. The record company eventually declared bankruptcy and was auctioned off. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, another former N.W.A. member, were at the film location Thursday, but they didn't see Knight. In November, Knight pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge filed after a celebrity photographer accused him of stealing her camera in Beverly Hills. Because of prior convictions, he could face up to 30 years in prison. | Suge Knight allegedly 'ran over and killed' Terry Carter, 55, on Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of a burger restaurant . Police have revealed there is video of the incident and they have it in their possession . Knight's attorney James Blatt says he is seeing the video next week and it will prove his client was trying to flee a vicious attack . Authorities say Blatt will not be seeing the video . Carter was a former business partner of Ice Cube and leaves behind 'devastated' wife, two daughters . Eyewitnesses are now saying it was murder, and that Knight purposely ran over the man's head with his truck . | 4ea89bbd04f4d66bd2786eab45c7191ed1009008 |
By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 08:33 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:55 EST, 4 December 2013 . An Avon Lady and her husband who quit their jobs and started selling cosmetics to pay off their debts are now living a luxury lifestyle with an income of £125,000-a-year. Nadine Rowlands, 44, first started selling Avon make-up to her friends and family as a means to pay off her £30,000 debts. However, after leaving her role as a legal secretary to sell the firm's cosmetics full-time, and convincing her husband Wayne to do the same, she is now Avon's top saleswoman with the pair earning almost as much as the Prime Minister. A pretty penny: After quitting their jobs to work for Avon, husband and wife Wayne and Nadine Rowlands make £125,000-a-year and have bought this Jaguar XK - complete with personalised number plate . When Mrs Rowlands, from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, started selling door-to-door in 1996 she could not even afford to buy the products she was selling. She and Mr Rowlands, 54, were living in as cramped rented attic room, and struggling to pay off debts, let alone save enough money for a deposit on a house. However, Mrs Rowlands decided her only option was to throw everything into her new business venture, quitting her £20,000-a-year job at a law firm eight years ago so she could commit all her time to selling for Avon. Avon Calling: Mrs Rowlands is now the company's top saleswoman, but says she still enjoys visiting customers door-to-door . She said: 'I was clutching at straws, and we were really desperate to pay off our debt and be able to afford a deposit to buy our own house. 'The first few months were tough, but I knew in my gut I was going to be successful. 'I was earning about £20,000 a year as a legal secretary, and Wayne about £28,000 as an engineer - but we really threw everything into the business. 'Our family and friends thought we were mad. 'Secretly I think they were worried that everything was going to come crashing down again, but we knew it was the right thing to do and we took a leap of faith.' Her decision paid off, and now the award-winning sales leader, manages 1700 representatives across the UK, although she still enjoys visiting customers door-to-door. Through working for Avon, Mr and Mrs Rowlands have paid for an extension to their home, bought a Jaguar XK, complete with registration plate 'AV04 REP' and go on regular holidays abroad, including to the Algarve in Portugal. Mrs Rowlands success story mirrors that of a fellow Avon rep, Jeanette Stewart, 34, from County Durham, who now has an annual turnover of £1million, after taking up selling make-up to pay of a credit card debt of £60,000. Single mother Gail Reynolds, another Avon Lady, built a £5.5million empire through selling cosmetics in her hometown of Weymouth, Dorset, while Rebekah Testar, from Burbage Leicestershire, has sold more than £4million worth of make-up. Self-confessed workaholic Mrs Rowlands says that the healthy bank balance comes does come at a price and says she still works until 11pm most evenings. She said said: 'Before I started Avon, I hadn’t been on an holiday abroad for more than 14 years. 'But now, it’s not uncommon for me to be lying on the beach with a cocktail answering my work emails. Team effort: Mr and Mrs Rowlands were living in a cramped rented attic room when they started selling products for the cosmetics firm, only to become two of Avon's most successful sales reps . 'When I used to work full time and do Avon in my spare time, many of nights would I spend knocking doors, talking to people and I saw them as my friends not just customers. 'Not a lot has changed, I still do my rounds but extra duties like training other budding representatives also fall under my sales leader role, and I embrace every new challenge that comes my way. 'Some people ask us how we’ve done it and want a slice of the high life, but the truth is me and Wayne have worked hard to get where we are now, it didn’t just happen overnight and I wouldn’t have it any other way.' Rewards: Through selling door-to-door the couple have funded an extension for their home in Greater Manchester and regularly jet off to destinations such as Monte Carlo, pictured . | Nadine Rowlands, 44, started selling make-up to pay off £30,000 debt . Mrs Rowlands gave up her job as a legal secretary work for Avon full-time . Husband Wayne is also an Avon rep and the couple make £125,000-a-year . Selling cosmetics has paid for Jaguar XK and trips to the Algarve . | d875a5ec5a76248d3e4047374cc573ce50942536 |
(CNN) -- Bernie Madoff's victims, who were collectively swindled out of more than $50 billion, effectively recouped more than $2 million on Saturday in an auction of the investment titan-turned-villain's personal items. The U.S. Marshals Service sold off nearly 500 pieces of personal property belonging to Bernie and his wife Ruth Madoff in New York on Saturday morning. The money raised through the auction goes the U.S. Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund to compensate the victims of Madoff's history-making fraud. "Another chapter (in the Madoff saga) ended here today," Deputy U.S. Marshal Roland Ubaldo told CNN by e-mail. "All 489 lots of ill-gotten gains sold today and the proceeds will go toward something good for a change." For months, Madoff successfully avoided detention after his arrest for engineering a sprawling Ponzi scheme, posting $10 million bail and cloistering himself with his wife in their $7 million Manhattan apartment. But he lost his freedom -- as well as access to his once vast wealth -- when he pleaded guilty in 2009 to 11 counts including money laundering and perjury. A judge, saying he had perpetrated "extraordinarily evil" crimes, later sentenced him to 150 years in prison. On Saturday, some of Madoff's riches taken from his homes in New York City and Montauk, Long Island, were on the auction block. Several items went for significantly more money than had been expected in what the U.S. Marshall's office deemed "a very successful day." A 10.5-carat diamond engagement ring fetched $550,000 at the auction -- appreciably more than the $350,000 auctioneers had hoped to get. A Steinway and Sons grand piano, which had been expected to get $16,000, went for $42,000, while a pair of black velveteen slippers embroidered with the initials BLM in gold thread were sold for $6,100, said Ubaldo. Last year, the first auction of Madoff's property brought in more than $900,000, with most items selling for prices well beyond the highest pre-sale estimates. The 71-year-old is now at the Butner Federal Correction Complex, a medium-security prison in North Carolina, and scheduled to be released on Nov. 14, 2139. He masqueraded his investment firm as legitimate when it was nothing more than a front. He would use the funds from new investors to send payments to his more mature investors. He would falsely portray these payments as proceeds from investments, when they were actually stolen money. CNN's Susan Candiotti contributed to this report. | An auction of convicted scam artist Bernie Madoff's personal items brought in over $2 million . The big-ticket items included an engagement ring, piano and velveteen slippers . Maddoff, 71, admitted heading a scheme that defrauded clients out of billions of dollars . | f7902b9c505b0cb756fa99c8f3e601060b5d4fc8 |
Police forces across Britain were on alert last night after a warning of an Islamic State-style plot to kidnap and behead an officer. More than 7,000 officers in the West Midlands were warned they were in imminent danger following a telephone threat. Police chiefs in Britain’s second largest force were so concerned at the ‘anonymous but credible’ threat that they stopped officers going off duty until they had attended a security briefing. Police forces are warning officers not to wear their uniform or ID badge when off duty due to an Islamic State-style plot to kidnap and behead an officer . However, it was reported that senior officers feared a female officer would be targeted for 'shock factor'. A source told the Daily Mirror: 'It is known police are worried jihadists are going to behead an officer. 'They believe they want to target a WPC for shock factor. The fear is a terror cell will think female officers make easier targets.' Other forces urgently reviewed safety precautions and warned officers not to wear their uniform or ID badge when off duty – normally they are allowed to wear uniform when travelling to and from work. The alert came after Islamic State called on followers to launch ‘lone wolf’ attacks on the West. The official threat level to officers was already heightened amid fears extremists will attempt to copy last year’s murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby – which, as the Mail reported last week, has led to soldiers being warned not to wear their uniform off duty. One concern is that a woman police officer or a civilian PCSO could be targeted. PCSOs do not carry a baton or other personal protection equipment, . Last night a 31-year-old man was arrested by counter-terrorism police investigating the threats against West Midlands Police. The threat to officers was already heightened amid fears extremists will attempt to copy the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby (pictured) Assistant Chief Constable Garry Forsyth said: ‘We have received information relating to the safety of West Midlands Police officers and police staff. 'There is nothing at this time to suggest there is an increased risk to members of the public. We have taken the opportunity to remind all employees of the need to be vigilant.’ Mr Forsyth insisted officers remain on patrol in the same numbers, adding: ‘We’ve taken appropriate measures to ensure our staff have the information they need to continue to provide the business they do, day-in and day-out.’ Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he is considering strengthening his force’s security measures. ‘We’ve advised our staff to take reasonable precautions. We don’t tend to advertise what those are. We do not want to overreact,’ he added. Asked if police officers were in danger as never before, he replied that police were also a target during the decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The security services are increasingly concerned at the number of plots aimed at the police, military or Government. They have already uncovered evidence in at least three alleged conspiracies that frontline police officers and soldiers were in grave danger. They have also recovered evidence of suspected extremists monitoring a Territorial Army base and buying knives and Islamic State flags. The threat to West Midlands Police was apparently passed on in a telephone call on Monday evening. The national security level remains at severe, signifying a terrorist attack is highly likely. In October, the threat level to police officers was raised, following an Islamic State video telling followers to take retribution against countries leading the bombing campaign in northern Iraq and Syria. Dr Charlotte Heath-Kelly, an expert in counter-terrorism from Warwick University, said: ‘Attacking a single police officer or member of the forces is much easier than say, bombing a shopping centre. There is much less planning... and less chance of being caught by the security services.’ The Home Office declined to comment, describing the threat as ‘purely an operational matter for the police’. | 7,000 West Midlands officers said to be in 'imminent danger' following call . Force enforced staff security briefing after 'anonymous but credible' threat . It was reported that a WPC may have been targeted for 'shock factor' Alert comes after ISIS urged followers to launch 'lone wolf' attacks on West . Man, 31, arrested by counter-terrorism police probing threats against force . | 3ceff6138bc345049fcff48b7d8f028750488738 |
United Nations (CNN) -- The Chinese government could embrace Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo with pride and respect "with a little twist of the mind," actor and activist Richard Gere told a small group of activists at a New York rally in honor of Liu, who has been imprisoned by Beijing. The rally took place in Ralph Bunche Park, named for another Nobel Peace Prize winner who was involved in the formation of the United Nations. Standing beneath a portrait of Liu behind symbolic Styrofoam bars, Gere read an excerpt from the jailed dissident's final statement, "I Have No Enemies," issued two days before he was sentenced to an 11-year prison sentence on December 25, 2009. "I hope to transcend my personal experiences as I look upon our nation's development and social change," Gere read. "And to counter the regime's hostility with utmost goodwill, and to dispel hatred with love." Gere was invited to remove the first prison bar from the hanging banner of Liu. He joined a group of nongovernmental organization representatives in removing the remaining bars from the banner, created by artists Zhang Hongtu and Tenzing Rigdol. Descending the park steps, Gere said that Liu, alone in jail, is "more courageous than organizations like the U.N. or the president of the United States." In the bitter cold outside U.N. headquarters, Gere called for a moment of silence to reflect on Liu's achievements and on his imprisonment. "It's funny," Gere said. "It just got a little warmer thinking about those things: Liu Xiaobo, freedom and compassion." During the Nobel ceremony in Oslo, Norway, earlier in the day, Liu's prize was placed on an empty chair, symbolizing the winner's absence. Gere called the empty chair "an extremely eloquent symbol." Liu is the first winner in 75 years who was unable to accept the Nobel Peace Prize medal, diploma and accompanying $1.5 million check. The last time a winner did not travel to Oslo was in 1935, when Carl von Ossietzky, a German journalist and pacifist, was barred from accepting the award and attending the ceremony. Ossietzky was imprisoned in a concentration camp and suffering from tuberculosis. The German Propaganda Ministry decreed publicly that he could travel to Norway for the prize, but he was never issued a passport. The government barred the press from mentioning Ossietzky's prize and decreed that no German could accept any Nobel prize. | Protest to honor Liu Xiaobo draws small crowd . Actor reads from a statement Liu issued before he was sentenced . Liu is the first Nobel Peace Prize winner in 75 years to be unable to accept the prize . | 8ea7835887864580eb35f10b612078620621e8e0 |
An empty glass bottle bought for just $5 at a flea market turned out to be an incredibly rare 130-year-old forerunner to Coca-Cola. Jim Vergo, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, bought the French Wine Coca bottle after it caught his eye among a heap of bric-a-brac and took it home to put in his collection. It was only when he noticed the bottle was embossed with the name John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola, that he realised what he had just bought. This empty glass bottle, which was bought for just $5 at a flea market, is in fact an incredibly rare 130-year-old forerunner to Coca-Cola . French Wine Coca was the brainchild of Dr Pemberton, a pharmacist who had fought in the Civil War, and was a blend of wine, alcohol and cocaine launched in the early 1880s. Pemberton marketed it as 'nerve tonic' and extolled its astounding medical qualities, claiming it could cure morphine addiction, headaches, constipation and even impotence. Its paper label boasted it was: 'The marvellous invigorater! The great nerve tonic! The queen of stimulants! The intellectual beverage!' The concoction was an instant hit but with laws tightening around the use of alcohol in 1886, Dr Pemberton developed a non-alcoholic variation using the kola nut. He named the new elixir Coca-Cola after its two main elements - cocaine and kola nut. It wasn't until 1929 that the drink became completely free of the narcotic. It was only when Mr Vergo noticed the bottle was embossed with the name John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola, that he realised what he had just bought . Coca-Cola went on to become the world's best selling drink. An estimated two billion glasses of Coca-Cola are now drunk worldwide every day. After being studied by experts the bottle, now for sale for $5,000, was revealed to be the best example of only three French Wine Coca bottles known to exist because its label is still in tact. It is the only one ever to come up at auction, and is now estimated to sell for 1,500 times the price Mr Vergo paid for it just six months ago. Mr Vergo, a casino poker dealer and amateur antiques collector, said: 'It caught my eye and I could see that it was related to the coca plant because it had a coca leaves on the label and it said "wine coca". 'It was embossed with the name Pemberton. I'm not a big Coca-Cola collector so it wasn't until I got home that I Googled and saw that it was Dr. Pemberton, the creator of Coca-Cola. French Wine Coca was the brainchild of Dr Pemberton, a pharmacist who had fought in the Civil War, and was a blend of wine, alcohol and cocaine launched in the early 1880s . 'It sounds like it's the only one like it in the world with the label in tact. If that's the case then a Coca-Cola collector needs to own it.' Tom Slater, director of Americana at auctioneers Heritage, said: 'The bottle, embossed with Coca-Cola creator John Pemberton's name and retaining 90 per cent of the original label, has been dated to the 1880s and is believed to be one of just three such bottles known to exist. 'This is as rare a piece of pop culture relating to the world's most beloved beverage as you are ever likely to see. 'The mostly intact original label establishes the example we are selling as being in the finest condition of the few specimens known to exist. 'Condition is nearly as important as rarity to serious collectors of antique advertising items. 'When these two qualities converge in the same item, as is the case here, interest from hobbyists increases exponentially. 'There's really no telling what something like this is potentially worth since nothing like it has ever really been up for public auction. 'We're opening the bidding at what we feel is a conservative jumping off point and we'll await the verdict of the marketplace.' The auction will take place in Dallas on May 24. | Jim Vergo bought the French Wine Coca bottle for $5 at a flea market . He only realised what he had bought when he found it was embossed with the name of John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola . Pemberton marketed it as 'nerve tonic' and extolled its medical qualities . | 33c9ab0c0e3df5ef819915605d5067b78181b913 |
Tourism in African countries not affected by Ebola is being brought to its knees because of ignorance about the geography of the continent, it has been claimed. Holiday-makers terrified by the outbreak of the deadly virus are turning their backs on the Gambia in West Africa - even though it does not border countries where thousands have died from the disease. Dr Marina Novelli, reader in the School of Sport and Service Management at the University of Brighton, said panic caused by misinformation has had a huge impact on tourism in Ebola-free countries. Tourism in African countries not affected by Ebola is being brought to its knees because of ignorance about the geography of the continent, it has been claimed . She said: 'I want to appeal to everyone to spread the word. 'This country is open for business and is not affected by the Ebola outbreak - otherwise I would not have travelled there.' Ms Novelli, who was in the country working on tourism and sport capacity building projects, said: 'It broke our hearts seeing the industry on its knees; hotels closing and staff being laid off as a result of tourists' cancellations and tour operators reducing scheduled flights. 'This is all due to ignorance about the geography of Africa and panic caused by misinformation. 'The Gambia is shielded within Senegal and both countries are Ebola-free. 'Air links with countries affected by Ebola have been suspended as they have in many other parts of the world. 'The UK Government itself has declared the Gambia to be Ebola-free, but spreading this message is proving incredibly difficult, and businesses and people here are suffering as a result.' Holiday-makers terrified by the outbreak of the deadly virus are turning their backs on the Gambia (pictured) in West Africa . Ms Novelli said tourism was about 65 per cent down since last year and charter flight arrivals as of November this year, the start of the high season, were about half what they were last year. She said: 'Some hotels have closed and those which have remained open are doing their very best to keep staff on rota, but there is uncertainty about what is going to happen in the next few months. 'Anecdotal evidence shows that every person employed in tourism usually supports between seven and 10 people, so the reality is that the impact on an economy, which relies so heavily on tourism is dramatic. The Sierra Leone government declared a five-day lockdown in the country's Northern Province today to step up efforts to contain the Ebola epidemic. 'Within this period, no shops will be opened. No market will operate. 'No unauthorised vehicles or motorcycle taxis will ply the route in or outside towns and villages except those officially assigned to Ebola-related assignments,' Alie Kamara, resident minister for the Northern Region, told AFP. 'Generally, people will rely on the support of their families but because so many people depend on tourism the intrinsic impact is difficult to measure. 'Families are already suffering hardship and businesses are at risk, and this is a tragedy that is worsening and unfolding before our eyes.' Ms Novelli said only Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have been significantly affected by the current Ebola outbreak to date. She added: 'Ask yourself, if the Ebola virus had spread to Italy would people be frightened to travel to the nearby UK? Probably not. 'Africa is a huge continent and there is absolutely no reason not to travel to non-affected West African destinations. 'Whether you are travellers, tourists, educators or experts in aspects of development, I urge everyone to keep informed and to continue travelling to countries like The Gambia. 'The Gambian tourism industry and the Gambian people need us all.' | Travellers turning backs on the Gambia in West Africa over Ebola fears . But country does not even border the nations affected by deadly outbreak . Expert claims tourism in the Gambia has since been brought to its knees . The British government has declared the Gambia to be Ebola-free . But charter flight arrivals are currently about half what they were last year . | a7a2ec6c2430e42b5806fe630fc09f75bb536b33 |
(CNN) -- Crimea's parliament has voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, and has scheduled a referendum for its residents to decide whether to stay or go. It is one of the biggest developments in the fast-moving crisis in Ukraine. Who is voting? The voters deciding Crimea's future would be the residents of that region. Crimea has a population of about 2 million. Crimea is known as a pro-Russian area, but it is not without its diversity. The autonomous region has a 60% ethnic Russian population, having been part of Russia until it was ceded to Ukraine in 1954 by the Soviet Union. But not everyone may be as keen on coming under Moscow's direct influence. A quarter of the peninsula's population is Ukrainian and about 12% Crimean Tatars, a predominantly Muslim group. The Tatars have shown no interest in breaking away. How much credibility will the vote have? The legality of the referendum has been challenged from the outset. While the Crimean parliament voted to hold the referendum, at the federal level, Ukrainian leaders say a referendum is illegal. It's an "illegitimate decision," interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Thursday. "Crimea was, is, and will be an integral part of Ukraine." Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said the Crimean parliament's decision is illegal because under the constitution, only national referendums are permitted. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has sent a military observer mission to Ukraine, but it can only expand its mission to monitor the vote if the Ukrainian government invites it to. In Crimea, worlds collide . What's next if the referendum passes? See above. Even if the vote goes as planned, its legitimacy will continue to be questioned. Michael Crawford, a former British ambassador in Eastern Europe, cautioned that whatever the result of the vote, it may be meaningless. "It does not follow that if Crimea votes to join Russia, that anyone will accept it," he said. "For Russia to start cherry-picking bits of the former Soviet Union, cranking up referenda in Kazakhstan or Latvia or wherever you like, to try to carve off bits, would be against international law, and it would be something (that Russian President) Vladimir Putin has said he doesn't want to do." In short, it is not clear how easily Crimea could secede from Ukraine and join Russia. Who would benefit from Crimea's secession? It is not clear. At first glance, it may appear that many Crimeans would get what they want and Russia would gain a territory, but the benefits are not so clear-cut. "While separatism may seem emotionally gratifying to some (Crimean) residents, the practical results seen elsewhere, especially in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, have been economic isolation and a heightened dependence on Russia," Michael Hikari Cecire, an expert on the region, wrote recently. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are two separatist regions of Georgia that Russia occupied in 2008. For Russia, peeling off a slice of territory from Ukraine isn't productive, Cecire wrote. Its goal is to get all of Ukraine under its influence. Taking steps toward separatism has only deepened the crisis, as Russian intervention has galvanized anti-Russian sentiment in other parts of Ukraine. The referendum, scheduled for March 16, will probably just add fuel to the fire. Five possible directions in Ukraine . | Crimea is 60% Russian . The Crimean referendum may be illegitimate, experts say . It's unclear what will happen if the referendum passes . | facae945064f6154d3e84359ec77df1e988c139d |
A television commercial starring Pamela Anderson and a lesser-known actress exposing their bras and cleavages has been banned as sexist and degrading to women. The 45-year-old Baywatch star and her assistant Vanessa are shown in an office boardroom full of businessmen in the banned advert for domain and web hosting company Dreamscape Networks. While the assistant pours coffee and cream, her cleavage is revealed to one of the men, Adam, who then fantasises about the pair dancing in bikinis. Scroll down to watch . The Advertising Standards Authority has banned an advert featuring Baywatch star Pamela Anderson for being sexist and degrading to women . The advert features Pamela Anderson and her 'assistant' dancing in bikinis while 'writhing around in cream' Advertising watchdogs upheld complaints from four viewers. The Advertising Standards Authority said it realised the advert - which had a timing restriction for screening after 9pm - was intended as a parody of a mundane business meeting and that the women were portraying dynamic businesswomen. But it said: 'We considered that they were also portrayed sexually throughout the ad - not just during the fantasy sequence. 'We noted that, even though they were wearing business attire, their shirts were buttoned down so that they were exposing their bras and cleavages. 'Furthermore, during the fantasy sequence, they were seen dancing and writhing around in cream whilst wearing bikinis. 'Although the fantasy scene, which we considered was sexually suggestive, was limited to Adam's imagination, we considered it gave the impression that he viewed his female colleagues as sexual objects to be lusted after. The Advertising Standards Authority said it realised the advert was intended as a parody of a mundane business meeting and that the women were portraying dynamic businesswomen . The watchdog said the advert gave the impression Adam 'viewed his female colleagues as sexual objects to be lusted after' 'Because of that, we considered the ad was likely to cause serious offence to some viewers on the basis that it was sexist and degrading to women.' The industry watchdog said the advert must not be broadcast again in its current form. 'We considered the ad was likely to cause serious offence to some viewers on the basis that it was sexist and degrading to women' - Advertising Standards Authority . The London-based company said it did not believe the advert was offensive or degraded women. A spokesman said: 'We did not believe the ad objectified women, as it was clear the exaggerated fantasy sequence was limited to Adam's imagination. 'It was his musings and easy distraction which were meant to be over-the-top and comical - especially in the context of a business meeting and because they were suddenly interrupted. 'It was a tongue-in-cheek approach to promoting our product. We believed the majority of viewers would find the ad fanciful and humorous.' | 45-year-old and assistant feature in advert in office full of businessmen . One of the men fantasises about the pair dancing in bikinis . Watchdog ASA has banned advert for being sexist and degrading to women . | 96b57c4456e39177686f51dcf0ef52e3b0611ac6 |
The World Cup is just nine days away and excitement is building. Each week our man in Brazil, Joe Callaghan, brings us the latest news and views from South America - as well as traveller tips for those heading out there - and provides a flavour of exactly how the World Cup in Brazil is shaping up. .................................................................................................................................................... Paris and the rest of the world will have to wait. The most expensive central defensive partnership ever assembled will not be on show in Goiania on Tuesday night. Brazil's penultimate World Cup warm-up against Panama will feature David Luiz, Paris Saint-Germain's latest record-breaker, but club and country captain Thiago Silva has been left at base to fully shake off a niggle before real battle commences next week. PSG's money men may have been able to put a price (£85million, give or take) on the Luiz-Silva tandem, even if some sceptics are convinced they have missed a decimal point on the former's world-record fee. But it's likely that Luis Felipe Scolari would be unable to do similar. For him, the duo who make up the beating heart of his defence are utterly priceless. Central role: Neymar is the poster boy for Brazil's hopes at the World Cup this summer . Foundations: But Luiz Felipe Scolari has built his side on a firm defensive structure . No way through: David Luiz and Thiago Silva have been a major factor in Brazil's recent success . The game against Panama will mark the 21st match of Scolari's second stint at the helm of the Selecao. It's been a pretty successful 18 months in charge for the former World Cup winner, last summer's Confederations Cup victory the undoubted highlight. Neymar is thrust forward as the poster boy of that victory and Big Phil's redesigned national team, but it is his defensive pairing who have been the true starting point, the bedrock for a construction job that the manager hopes will end on July 13 with a second crown. A need to blood the previously untested Dante coupled with an injury here and there for the captain meant Scolari hasn't been able to pair Luiz and Silva together as much as he'd like - namely every minute of every game. But when he has done so, the results are staggering. On Scolari's watch, Brazil have a winning percentage of 83.33 percent when Luiz and Silva start together. Without them, that number plummets to 50 percent. They have partnered up 12 times in his 20 games, with 10 wins (nine of which have come against teams who will feature at the World Cup) and two draws. Throw in their 50 percent rate of clean sheets and their momentous importance is clear. Fearsome combination: Silva and Luiz have won 10 of their 12 appearances together under Scolari for Brazil . Expectation: Scolari is under massive pressure to win the World Cup for Brazil on home soil . 'Thiago is a great friend, a great player and I get along very well with him,' said Luiz this week. The younger of the two by two years, he made his debut in 2010 against the USA inevitably alongside Silva. They are indeed friends, but Ant and Dec are friends, they're not going to win you a World Cup. The narrative that they make for an odd couple may seem like an easy one. But it's also true. Opposites off the field, they're very different defenders too. And that might just be why it's worked so well. Arguably the finest defender at this World Cup, Silva is a supreme reader of a game, his mental strengths, his concentration unparalleled. It is specifically in that part of the game that Luiz has suffered the brain fades that caused Jose Mourinho and others to lose a little trust in him as a last line. But he remains technically gifted and one hell of an athlete. If Luiz has one of those 'moments' (of which he has had a lot fewer than most critics imply), there's a good chance Silva will have seen it coming. If Silva is technically outfoxed, there's a good chance Luiz will be able to scramble and have his partner's back. Understanding: Silva and Luiz will become team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain next season . During that relentless run to the Confederations Cup crown, two Brazilian toddlers by the names of Lian and Murillo became viral sensations, being retweeted from coast to coast and sending social media into a frenzy. The problem was almost nobody who saw the image of the two Disney-movie adorable kids sitting on the bonnet of a car knew who Lian and Murillo were. Instead they were told it was a picture of Thiago Silva and David Silva as children, not their mini-mes. And they lapped it up. In that motivational poster font that jumped the shark around the same time as Big Brother, taglines like 'some things never change', 'childhood friends are the best friends' or 'started from the bottom, now we here' were added. The intervening 12 months have seen it pop up on twitter or blogs oh, about every five minutes, as people fall for it all over again. Apart from the incredible likeness - especially so from mini-Thiago - the reason it's fooled so many for so long now is because it kind of just fits. Watch Brazil's odd couple do their thing at the back and it's easy to believe, such is the incredible depth of understanding between them, that they've doing it since they were both fresh out of nappies and kicking worn-bald leather balls up dusty streets. They haven't. The scary thing is they've only been doing it for a couple of years. They've just made up for a lot of lost time. Stand-in: Bayern Munich defender Dante is likely to play alongside Luiz in Silva's absence . Those who lamented Paraguay's failure to qualify for Brazil can celebrate last-minute redemption. No Roque Santa Cruz and co aren't going to feature after all but the World Cup's most famous semi-clad fan is. Larissa Riquelme became a bit of a global sensation, being labelled the girlfriend of the World Cup, during the last tournament when she promised to run naked through Asuncion if Paraguay won it all. Of course they didn't, but in the end the supermodel and actress did it anyway. Fears that Paraguay's absence may mean her 15 minutes of fame were definitely up were alleviated yesterday though when she confirmed on Brazilian TV that she is on her way. 'As I always say, there will be a thousand 'Larissa Riquelmes' competing for the title, but they can never replace me. The others can be lovers, wives, muses, but I'm the only girlfriend of the Cup,' she said, sounding a bit on the over-possessive side. Unfortunately for her followers, she is also the girlfriend of an actual human being - Paraguayan international Jonathan Fabbro. Sensation: Paraguay fan Larissa Riquelme shot to global fame during the 2010 World Cup . Missing out: When Paraguay failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup there were fears Riquelme wouldn't attend . No fear: But in an interview in Brazil, Riquelme has confirmed she will be in attendance this summer . Samba star: Riquelme's decision to grace the World Cup will undoubtedly please plenty of football fans . With organisers upgrading their projected figures for foreign visitors from 600,000 to over 800,000, Brazil's domestic clubs must be hoping some of the tourists hang around to take a game or two in after the tournament. The cradle for football the host nation may be, but you wouldn't know it from the desperate state of the domestic game. The Brasileirao championship takes a break for the duration of the tournament but in the nine rounds that have already taken place, the average attendance comes in just a sliver over 12,000. That's respectable for the upper half of England's third tier. Not so much when you're talking about Brazil's biggest and brightest. 'I had spoken with the coach...they had already got the paperwork ready. We had a conversation but nothing that enthused me. I never wanted to play for another country.' Bayern Munich defender Dante reveals he how he turned down Belgium's approach in 2009 and in the process gets a sharp dig in at Diego Costa, who was clearly 'enthused' enough by Spain's advances to jump ship. Denial: Brazil defender Dante was not interested in representing Belgium at international level . Jibe: Dante's comments could be perceived to be targeted at Diego Costa who chose Spain over Brazil . Brazil's stadiums are largely good to go - handy that, seeing as the thing kicks off next week - but they will not be mobile-friendly. 3G is a no-go zone even during Brazilian league games at the likes of the Maracana or the Corinthians Arena. So sack the selfies, turn off Twitter and watch the game. It's a World Cup after all. Eyes on the pitch: Selfies are popular, as shown by this picture of England footballers Daniel Sturridge, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but they may not be possible in Brazilian football stadiums due to a lack of 3G . A whole pile better than in Miami, that's for sure. | Luiz Felipe Scolari has built his team with a sound defensive structure . David Luiz and Thiago Silva are the key to Brazil's solidity at the back . The international team-mates will also link up at PSG next season . Brazil win over 80 percent of the time when Luiz and Silva start together . Silva to miss World Cup warm-up game against Panama because of injury . | dc2d211357f9e23be8efb22b1f4ef797936f3c3e |
CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- Suzanne Hagelof and Iris Botros dreamed of adopting babies. Separately, they visited orphanages in Egypt. Hagelof adopted a child, and Botros was in the process of adopting twins, when they ran foul of authorities. Now they are in jail, accused of being part of a conspiracy to traffic children. Iris Botros and her husband, Luis Andros, are accused of trying to smuggle twins out of Egypt. Last week, the two women were led into a Cairo courtroom in handcuffs, along with six other people. They stood in a big black cage in the courtroom, looking apprehensive amid the hubbub. To their defenders, all they were trying to do was provide orphans with a better chance in life. To the prosecution, they were involved in forging documents to try to adopt children illegally and smuggle them out of the country. Along with the two American women, the accused include their husbands, two doctors, a nun who ran an orphanage, and an Egyptian banker. Watch the women get bundled into court » . A year ago, Hagelof, a U.S. citizen who lives in Egypt with her husband, adopted a child from an orphanage run by the Coptic Christian Church, a religious minority in Egypt. She says no money changed hands. Several months later, Luis Andros, a U.S. citizen who is originally from Greece, and his wife, Iris Botros, left their restaurant business in North Carolina for Egypt. Botros, who is originally from Egypt, visited another orphanage run by the church. She paid the orphanage about $4,600 for the twins -- partly for clothes and partly as a donation. Both women wanted to take the children to the United States -- in Hagelof's case for a visit, but in Botros' case to begin a new life in Wake Forest, North Carolina. And that's where the trouble began. To get a visa for the children, both women went to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. According to their attorneys, the documents they presented included birth certificates and certificates signed by doctors stating they were the natural mothers. According to defense attorneys, the two women knew they were using forged documents. Embassy officials became suspicious of the documents -- partly because the women seemed too old to be the mothers. Both Hagelof and Botros are in their mid- to late forties. The embassy contacted Egyptian authorities, and both Hagelof and Botros -- along with their husbands -- were arrested soon afterward, as was a nun from a Coptic orphanage and a banker who allegedly helped Botros make contact with the nun. Also arrested were two doctors who had written the certificates for the three infants, all of whom are now at an orphanage not affiliated with the church. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the U.S. State Department will comment on the case, citing the ongoing trial. Botros' husband, Andros, blames the embassy for their plight. Asked through the bars of the courtroom cage what had happened, he replied, "Well, our American Embassy, instead of helping the people, they put them in jail." His wife interjected, insisting they would not get a fair trial. A few feet away, Suzanne Hagelof called out, "We want to tell our story," while her husband, Medhat, looked on, quiet and dejected. As reporters tried to talk to the defendants, a guard intervened, shouting "Sit down, sit down." Adoption has long been illegal under Egyptian law as well as being forbidden under sharia, Muslim religious law. Fostering is legal but uncommon. It has become a high-profile issue since Suzanne Mubarak, wife of the president, embarked on a campaign to stamp out human trafficking. She recently told CNN that human trafficking "exists in all societies." "I came to realize what an insidious crime this was and how it was just really built on profit. On not only low morals, on no morals at all," she said. And that's how the prosecution seems to be framing this case, using a law passed last year that provides for tough penalties for human trafficking. Khalil Adil El Hamani, the attorney representing Hagelof, says Egyptian authorities want to prove that all the defendants are from one gang and are trafficking children, so as to make the case seem to be a giant conspiracy. Both couples insist they had no idea what they were doing was illegal and have no link with human trafficking. The attorney representing Botros and her husband says their only crime was to dream of being parents. "They are now are in jail because of this dream," he told CNN after the first hearing in the case a week ago. "They never thought that they will be in jail. They thought that they are going to adopt only. They didn't think they are making something against the law in Egypt." All eight defendants remain in jail -- the men at the Tora prison in Cairo, well known for its overcrowding. The next stage of the trial takes place May 16, and proceedings could last six to eight months. If they are convicted, the accused could each face up to 10 years in prison. | Women adopted children from orphanage run by Coptic Christian Church . Alert was raised when they sought visas for children at U.S. Embassy in Cairo . The women now face human-smuggling trial in Egypt, where adoption is illegal . | 575b7a415b5ed874786aa594be0dbea868ed1e78 |
(CNN) -- There are few rivalries in sport that capture the imagination like the coming together of Real Madrid and Barcelona -- a soccer match of such enormity that it has its own nickname: "El Clasico." On the field, it is a billion-dollar grudge match between the two best teams in the football-mad country of Spain. Off the field, it is a tale of two cities -- a clash of Castilian nationalism and Catalan pride; and a rivalry of cultures forged in the Spanish civil war and the reign of General Franco. The two will clash Wednesday at Real Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabéu before traveling to Barcelona for the second leg of the Champions League semifinal next week. In a freak of fixture commitments, the superpowers of Spain will have met four times in the space of 18 days by May 4, giving the historic rivalry an epic new chapter. Is Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho the master of mind games? Billion-dollar ball game . The modern-day El Clasico brings together the world's two highest-earning sports clubs -- boasting combined revenues of over $1 billion, according to international consulting firm Deloitte. The great rivals also lead the sports world in wages. According to Sporting Intelligence, Barca paid an average salary of $7.9 million to players last season, with Madrid dishing out $7.4 million. The New York Yankees baseball team are third on the list, paying an average $6.8 million. "Both teams (Madrid and Barca) have steadily grown their revenue streams in recent years, contributing to their on-pitch performance through investment in better facilities, players and the development of youth team players," said Dan Jones, sports business partner at Deloitte. But while the two teams clearly share a license to print money, they have contrasting approaches to the business of spending it. Madrid are famed for their extravagance -- with the $130 million paid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 typical of their cavalier policy in the transfer market. They profess the '"Galacticos" mentality -- a team of superstars -- demonstrated by a 2010-11 squad that cost an eye-watering $689 million to assemble. Barca are not without their big-name signings, but rely far more heavily on homegrown talent -- with the likes of Lionel Messi and Spanish World Cup winners Xavi and Andres Iniesta being products of the club's youth academy. Barca's current squad cost just $254 million to assemble. History of rivalry . Barcelona and Real Madrid played for the first time in 1902, but the rivalry soon transcended the confines of a soccer match. Barca came to represent the fight for Catalan independence from Spain, and a rejection of the nationalist regime that ruled the country from Madrid -- especially under the rule of Franco, who came to power at the culmination of the bloody Spanish Civil War in 1939. "In Spain, the population of Catalonia don't consider themselves Spanish," said Adi-Oula Sebastian, editor of Barca fan site barcablaugranes.com. "When the General Franco dictatorship forbade the use of regional dialects, the Camp Nou (Barcelona's home stadium) became one of the few places Catalans were allowed to speak their language, without having to fear repercussions." Madrid were the all-powerful institution. They had political and royal backing -- the "Real" in their name, meaning "Royal," was a gift from King Alfonso XIII in 1920 -- and from the 1950s, boasted a collection of the world's best and most glamorous players. "For Madrid fans, the game isn't just about getting one over on our eternal rivals, it's about winning a small argument about the country itself," said Gabe Lezra, editor of fan site, managingmadrid.com . "In many ways, Madrid fans view these games as a playful argument about the way to see and understand the country as a whole." The relationship was exacerbated by the transfer of Alfredo Di Stefano to Madrid in 1953. The Argentine was wanted by both clubs, and both thought they'd signed him. But it was Madrid who got the legendary striker, and Di Stefano duly inspired a decade of dominance at the Bernabeu. Barca have always suspected foul play. Their official website claims a "royal decree" persuaded Di Stefano to join Madrid, and there has long been the suggestion that the establishment pushed the deal through. "To this day supporters of Barcelona feel robbed, while Madrid fans argue the legitimacy of the deal," said Sebastian. "Imagine if Michael Jordan gave his word to sign for the Chicago Bulls, then joined the New York Knicks instead!" El Clasico personalities . The El Clasico as we find it today is defined by two world-class players, and two world-beating coaches. It is Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo against Barca's Messi on the field, and Jose Mourinho against Pep Guardiola on the sidelines. Is Jose Mourinho the master of mind games? Ronaldo is the powerfully-built Portuguese winger, with speed to burn and an armory of tricks at his disposal. Messi is the pint-size Argentine genius, who took Ronaldo's crown as World Player of the Year in 2009 -- and retained the award in 2010. "There's no-one to touch Messi at the moment. People compare him to the great Diego Maradona, and it's a fair comparison," said Tim Hanlan, author of "A Catalan Dream." "Ronaldo is not quite on the same level, but his strength and pace can make him just as effective as Messi on his day." Both players are having prolific seasons in front of goal, with each vying to be Europe's top scorer. Their coaches have equally impressive resumes. Guardiola took over at Barcelona in 2008, and led his team to Champions League glory in his first season in charge. Mourinho oversaw Porto's shock European triumph in 2004, and repeated the feat with Inter Milan in 2010. "I've always loved Mourinho. Since his time at Porto I wanted him to join Madrid," said Lezra. "He's a brilliant tactician, an incredible motivator and a born winner. And his personality fits Real Madrid perfectly." Footballing duopoly Until relatively recently the Real-Barca rivalry was a one-sided affair. Madrid built dynasties in the 1950s and 1960s, and continued to dominate domestically and in Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Barca enjoyed sporadic success, but it wasn't until the early 1990s that they finally launched a dynasty of their own -- winning four titles in a row under Dutch coach Johan Cruyff before lifting their first European Cup in 1992. The balance of power shifted back and forth over the next 15 years, but Barca are now in the ascendancy. Guardiola's team have won the last two Spanish titles, and claimed a third Champions League crown in 2009. Meanwhile, Madrid are without a European success since 2002. "Barcelona are definitely on top right now. They've put together a great team, and have been playing the same style, with more or less the same players, for the last four years or so," said Lezra. "Madrid, on the other hand, have fired managers, brought in new players and made various tactical adjustments -- not a good strategy if you're looking for long-term success." Whether Barca can stay on stop will undoubtedly be influenced by the outcome of this year's Champions League semifinal -- the latest chapter in a rivalry as fierce and colorful as any in sport. Who are you rooting for? "The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is special because both teams are made up of superstars," said Sebastian. "You'll be hard-pressed to find as many world-class players sharing the pitch at the same time. In football, the El Clasico rivalry is as good as it gets." | Real Madrid and Barcelona are Spain's richest and most successful football teams . Their rivalry began in 1902, when Barcelona won a Spanish Cup semifinal 3-1 . The teams have since shared 51 Spanish La Liga titles, Madrid winning 31 to Barca's 20 . In 2011 Barcelona and Real Madrid were drawn to play four times in 18 days . | f880652a0d6b3778ccc2f5e6e9674dae8031f491 |
He was given four years of free tuition after both of his parents died by his freshman year. Now, 35 years later, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald has given Haverford College $25million back. Howard Lutnick, who lost 658 employees at the financial firm, including his younger brother, Gary, in the 9/11 terror attacks, made the generous contribution to the college in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Handing over a check to president Daniel Weiss, the 53-year-old said: 'Haverford was there for me and taught me what it meant to be a human being.' Returning the favor: Howard Lutnick (pictured), 53, was given four years of free tuition after both of his parents died by his freshman year. Now, 35 years later, he has given Haverford College $25million back . College: Mr Lutnick, CEO and chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, made the generous contribution to the college (pictured) in Pennsylvania on Saturday. He said: 'Haverford taught me what it meant to be a human being' In response, Mr Weiss said the contribution, which is the largest single gift in the highly selective college's 181-year history, will be partly used to pay for much-needed library renovations. 'It's transformational, an overused word for sure, but not here,' said Mr Weiss, who presides over 1,200 students at the college, which prides itself on its Quaker heritage. Lutnick, who has been CEO of the New York City company since 1991 and chairman since 1996, was a senior in high school in Jericho when his 42-year-old artist mother, Jane, died of cancer (lymphoma). The following year, during his first week at Haverford, his father, Solomon, who taught at Queens College, passed away in hospital while being treated for colon and lung cancer. Generous: Haverford College president Daniel Weiss (right) said the contribution will be partly used to pay for much-needed library renovations. Left, Lutnick is pictured with his wife, Allison; they have four children . Paying tribute: On September 11, 2001, Lutnick (pictured at the 9/11 memorial) lost 658 employees at the financial firm in the terror attacks. The firm was based in the World Trade Center's North Tower . A nurse treating the history professor had given him 100 times the dose of chemotherapy drugs that he was supposed to receive. The tragic mistake in 1979 left Lutnick and his brother orphaned. A week later, then-president of Haverford, Robert Stevens, called Lutnick and offered him a full scholarship for his degree in economics. 'Howard, your four years here are free', he told him. Lutnick, whose extended family had largely abandoned him, his brother and sister Edie, gratefully accepted the gift and went on to graduate in 1983, before joining Cantor Fitzgerald the same year. Speaking of the full scholarship, the businessman told The Philadelphia Inquirer: 'Since I had only been at the school for a week, they couldn't possibly have known about me. Tragic: Lutnick's younger brother, Gary (pictured), passed away during the 9/11 terror attacks in New York . One of the attacks: Lutnick would have also died but he was taking his son to his first day of kindergarten . 'It was more about who they are as an institution than it was about me.' On September 11, 2001, Lutnick would have died with the rest of his employees in the World Trade Center's North Tower, but he was taking his son, Kyle, to his first day of kindergarten. Despite the majority of the company's 960 New York employees having perished, Lutnick made a risky decision - Cantor Fitzgerald would survive. In subsequent years, he rebuilt the firm into a global business with 8,000 employees, while giving 25 per cent of its profits - around $180million in total - to the families of 9/11 victims for five years. Siblings: Lutnick's extended family largely abandoned him, his brother and sister Edie, following their parents' deaths. Above, Lutnich and his sister are pictured at Cantor Fitzgerald's annual charity day in 2013 . Lutnick, whose net worth is now an estimated $45million, and his employees continue to forgo a day's pay on September 11 each year and the company donates a day's revenue to charities. Over the past 25 years, Lutnick, who is the chairman of Haverford's board of managers and lives in New York City with his wife Allison and four children, has donated $65million to the school. The money has been used to build an indoor tennis and track center bearing his brother's name and an integrated athletic center in the name of his former best friend, Douglas Gardner, also a Cantor Fitzgerald employee who perished in the World Trade Center attacks. The funds - in particular, Saturday's record gift of $25million - have contributed greatly to the college's capital campaign, which aims to raise $225million by 2017. | Howard Lutnick was in high school when mother, Jane, died of cancer . Following year, his academic father, Solomon, passed away in hospital . At time, Lutnick was in first week at Haverford College in Pennsylvania . Then-college president Robert Stevens offered him a full scholarship . Now, Lutnick has made donation of $25million to prestigious college . Contribution is largest single gift in the institution's 181-year history . Multi-millionaire has been the CEO of Cantor Fitzergerald since 1991 . In 2001, he lost 658 employees in deadly World Trade Center attacks . Younger brother, Gary, who worked for firm, perished in North Tower . | 06dd6676f8e516238e85397fb4b0e88c5db02003 |
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 23:34 EST, 28 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:17 EST, 1 March 2013 . A female employee with the U.S. Department of State who was vacationing in Brazil was found strangled in a hotel room in Rio de Janeiro last week, police revealed Thursday. Victoria Tcaciuc, 38, had been travelling through the South American country and was discovered by staff of the hotel, which is located in the Copacabana neighborhood. The Rio police homicide division have named Brazilian ex-firefighter Alessandro Rufino Oliveira Carvalho, 42, as the main suspect in the murder. Police say he was captured on security camera video entering her hotel. Scroll down for video . Victoria Tcacuic, a 38-year-old U.S. citizen and State Department contract employee was last seen going into a hotel in Rio de Janeiro on February 20; she was found strangled by hotel staff . Tcaciuc and a Brazilian ex-firefighter spoke with the Casa Blanca hotel clerk before going up to a room; the man claims that all Tcacuic wanted to do was smoke a cigarette and watch TV . Rio police homicide division have named Brazilian ex-firefighter Alessandro Rufino Oliveira Carvalho, 42, as the main suspect in the murder; security footage shows him leaving the hotel alone . Carvalho, who served eight years in prison for an assault charge, denies the murder charge and said that he left the American traveller alone and alive in her room on February 20. ‘In the hotel, all she wanted to do was smoke a cigarette and watch television,’ he said, according to Brazilian newspaper The O Globo. ‘There was no sex and when I left, she was very much alive.’ The two had apparently met at a crafts fair, had lunch, and went to the Casa Blanca hotel. Security footage shows the blonde Tacaciuc walking behind Carvalho into the hotel lobby. It appears that Carvalho did most of the talking with the hotel's attendant, at one point reaching for his wallet and handing the man several bills. Rivaldo Barbosa, the head of the city’s homicide division, told reporters: ‘We suspect that he killed her because she refused to have sex with him.’ Barbosa said Carvalho left the hotel less than an hour after entering and traveled to Sao Paulo. Carvalho was arrested Thursday when as he was returning to Rio. The two checked into the Casablanca Hotel on this street in Rio; a hotel worker later found her body in one of the rooms . The State Department worker was staying near the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, pictured, and had plans to visit four other locations in Brazil . It is unclear when Tcaciuc arrived in Brazil, but Barbosa said the woman was planning to visit at least four other cities before returning to the U.S. on March 4. She was divorced and had no children. The press office of the U.S. Consulate in Rio said Tcaciuc was a contract employee of the State Department. Citing privacy act considerations, the consulate did not provide her hometown or other information, though Brazilian reports state that she lived and worked in Washington, D.C. A State Department official told MailOnline in a statement: ‘We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Department of State contractor Victoria Tcaciuc. ‘We express our deepest condolences to her friends and loved ones. Officials from the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro are providing all appropriate consular assistance,’ adding that local authorities were handling details of Ms Tcaciuc’s murder. | U.S. Department of State contract worker Victoria Tcacuic, 38, had been travelling around Brazil . Went to hotel in Copacabana neighborhood on February 20 with Brazilian ex-firefighter . Hotel staff found her strangled that day . Alessandro Rufino Oliveira Carvalho, 42, named suspect in murder . | 165b15f2933ed01982e4fdffce3ebdd9b2ddcded |
By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 10:36 EST, 18 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:36 EST, 18 October 2012 . Suicide: Wendy Harries, 39, had been targeted by a mystery person over Facebook and email for two years before she committed suicide . A woman hanged herself six weeks after receiving a voodoo doll from an anonymous stalker, an inquest heard. Wendy Harries, 39, had been targeted by a mystery person over Facebook and email for two years before she committed suicide. She was harassed ‘every couple of days’ with strange messages that started by telling her where she had been and what she was doing. The mother-of-three became so paranoid she put extra bolts on her garden gate and ensured she always locked the doors when at home, the inquest heard. Miss Harries, an infant school teaching assistant, received a voodoo doll through the post on December 12 last year as did her former-boyfriend Steve Cock. She was found hanging at her house in Poole, Dorset, on January 28 this year. Mr Cock told the inquest: 'Early in 2010 she started to get odd emails from unknown sources trying to split us up. 'One of the emails said they’d seen her out in Poole when she was on a hen party and we were seen out together on the harbour front. 'It seemed like we were being watched.' Susan Austin, Miss Harries’ best friend, said the messages were disturbing. She said: 'She was getting them all the time, every couple of days, she locked the doors straight away behind her and put extra locks and bolts on the back gate.' No one has been prosecuted over the messages despite a police investigation. Detective Inspector Rebecca Riggs, from Bournemouth CID, said: 'Sadly, the police have not been able to identify anyone responsible for sending the communications to Miss Harries. 'Therefore this will be filed as undetected.' Tragedy: Upton Infant school where Wendy Harries worked. She received a voodoo doll through the post on December 12 last . year as did her former-boyfriend Steve Cock. She was found hanging at her house in January . The Bournemouth inquest heard that Miss Harries had also been distressed after her son went to live with ex-husband Mark Harries. Sheriff Payne, the Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset, said there was insufficient evidence to tie the harassment to Miss Harries’ death. He said: 'There is not a clear enough or recent enough link to suggest she decided to take her own life because of this. 'I think there were other things going on that persuaded her that her life was not worth living.' He recorded a verdict of suicide. | Wendy Harries, 39, had been targeted by a mystery person over Facebook and email for two years before she committed suicide . She was harassed ‘every couple of days’ with strange messages that started by telling her where she had been and . what she was doing . For confidential support on suicide matters call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details . | 09b599e72c32a1a26e05be79fe53874cd5a18651 |
It is the mobile phone you can use in the bath or shower without fear - and can even survive being dropped down the toilet. Sony has unveiled its latest mobile phone - and hopes the waterproof design will help it take on the iPhone. The Xperia Z was unveiled at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. Sony's Xperia Z handset can be dropped in water thanks to a special coating . Sony says the handset, which has a 5in (12.7cm) screen, is capable of being submerged in water of up to one metre (3.3 ft) in depth for 30 minutes. The firm says it can survive being dropped in a toilet, and if it gets dirty, can simply be washed under a tap. Sony claims that about one in 10 people had dropped their phone down a toilet at some point, something this would protect against.The trade-off is that handset's various ports, including the one for its headphones, all feature protective plastic covers that must be unclipped before they can be accessed. The handset also has an NFC chip allowing owners to play back video on their TV simply by tapping the phone against it. This chip could also be used as a credit card in the future, it is believed. MailOnline tried the new waterproof handset . The Sony Xperia Z, out in the next few weeks, is a mobile phone with a 5in screen. Apart from the Samsung Galaxy Note devices which are part-phone, part tablet, this is the biggest-screen phone yet. Even so, because it’s slim and has the narrowest of bezels round the display, it didn’t feel big. Though it sure didn’t feel small. The phone’s display has the highest resolution yet seen on a mobile – knocking the iPhone’s Retina display for six. The 5in screen had as many pixels as a 55in Full HD flatscreen TV, and it showed. The display was eye-poppingly sharp, with rich colours. Since the phone has a quad-core processor, it’s fast and responsive with no lags or stutters. This looks like it could be a real challenger to the current market leaders, the Samsung Galaxy S III and the Apple iPhone 5. It felt great, thanks to a shatterproof glass back and exceptional build quality. Other features included a high-resolution 13-megapixel camera and – handy if you tend to drop your phone in the bath – water resistance. It can be immersed in two feet of water for 30 minutes without harm. Stuart Miles, Editor-in-chief of tech website Pocket-lint.com told MailOnline: 'The Sony Xperia Z has so many features and so much going for it, . it really could be the phone to restore Sony Mobile’s fortunes. 'It’s . probably the company’s best phone yet.' 'With Xperia Z, we are bringing over . half a century of innovation in TV, imaging, music, film and gaming to . create a superphone experience that truly stands out,' said Kuni Suzuki, . President and CEO, at Sony Mobile Communications. 'With great specifications, Sony’s . media applications, One-touch functions and outstanding battery life, . Xperia Z is well positioned for leadership in the smartphone market. 'By . putting smartphones at the heart of our strategy, Sony is enabling . people to create, enjoy and share content and experiences like never . before. However, analysts has the firm has a tough battle, with both Apple and Samsung set to reveal new handset in the coming months. 'In . isolation this looks like a very strong product and it's the most . attractive Xperia phone that I have seen for a very long time," said Ben . Wood of CCS Insights. Sony's new Xperia Z smartphone is displayed in water at the Sony booth at the Consumer Electronics Show . The handset can be used in the shower, and even dropped into the toilet without damaging it . Sony Electronics President and COO Phil Molyneux holds up a Sony Xperia Z smart phone at CES . And the Xperia wasn’t the only waterproof gadget on show. Sony announced . a pair of waterproof headphones with built-in MP3 player. The Walkman W273 is a light, flexible pair of wraparound earphones which are designed to work while you’re swimming. And it’ll work flawlessly with everything from Handel’s Water Music to songs by Wet Wet Wet. The Walkman W273 goes on sale on 1 February for £60. Sony's waterproof headphones, which cost £60 and go on sale next month . Sony's waterproof headphones come in a range of colours . | Xperia Z handset is electronic giant's new flagship it hopes will compete with the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy . Runs Google's Android software, and set to go on sale in March . Has waterproof coating . | d3134a13d5bcceb84084802dded08bb5306bcac6 |
By . Andrew Levy . PUBLISHED: . 20:45 EST, 27 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:30 EST, 31 December 2012 . Two young sisters died after a car driven by their father’s new partner veered off a road during a trip to the cinema. Jessica Portor, seven, and Tamzin, ten, were visiting their father Allan over the Christmas break when the Ford Focus crashed into a ditch before rolling into a wooden gate. Both girls suffered severe head injuries and were pronounced dead at hospital. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Tamzin and Jessica Porter, 10 and 7, with their mother Lorraine on her wedding day . Family: Tamzin, middle, and Jessica to the left sharing a Christmas breakfast . Tragedy: The car the sisters were travelling in left the A47 near Wisbech, Norfolk yesterday evening. It went over the wrong side of the road and into a ditch before flipping on its side and hitting a gate . Police are investigating how the car . lost control in light rain on the 60mph road at Walsoken in Norfolk on . the border with Cambridgeshire. There is no evidence that it was . speeding or that another car was involved in the tragedy near Wisbech on . Thursday evening. Mr Portor, 38, his son Liam, 12, and 43-year-old . partner Marie Easter all escaped with minor injuries and were kept in . hospital overnight. Mr Portor is understood to have recently moved into Miss Easter’s home in Terrington St Clement, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. A man who answered her door yesterday said: ‘The police have told them not to speak to anybody, I am afraid. ‘My sister is in a hell of a state. This time yesterday those poor girls were running about and looking . forward to going to the cinema in Peterborough. ‘Marie and Allan are out of hospital and they are very sore. The little boy is fine. You can just imagine how they are.’ Scene: Chief Inspector Chris Spinks at the scene of the fatal crash on A47 near Wisbech, Norfolk. The car hit this gate and the two sisters died from serious head injuries. Jessica and Tamzin lived with their . mother Lorraine Mason, 31, in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, and are . believed to have acted as bridesmaids at her wedding to husband Daniel . earlier this year. Mrs Mason, who split from Mr Portor . around seven years ago, was too upset to talk about the loss last night . at her semi-detached home. A friend, who asked not to be named, . said: ‘This is just an awful tragedy. She was devoted to her girls and . is absolutely devastated.’ A sign had been hung outside the . Riverside Pub where Mrs Mason works yesterday. It said: ‘We are sorry . but due to tragic circumstances there will be no meals today.’ Police are appealing for information about the accident at 6.40pm last night on the 60mph road . A . colleague said: ‘They are a lovely family. This is a really difficult . and upsetting time for them.’ Five ambulances raced to the crash . scene on the A47 shortly before 7pm on Thursday and the road remained . closed in both directions for almost four hours. Paramedics fought to save the sisters but they were declared dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.. Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, head of . road policing in Norfolk and Suffolk, said: ‘Fatal collisions are . tragic in any circumstances but given the fact that two young lives . have been lost at this time of year seems to make it that much worse . ‘Specially trained family liaison . officers are supporting the bereaved relatives and collision . investigation officers are piecing together the events that led to the . crash. 'The circumstances are still unclear at this stage and I would ask . anyone who thinks they might have information, no matter how . insignificant it may seem, to come forward.’ An East of England Ambulance Service . Trust spokesman said: ‘Crews worked very hard in very difficult . circumstances but despite sterling efforts they were sadly unable to . save the two children.’ The crash happened less than 40 miles . from another double fatal accident on Christmas Eve on the A47 at . Dereham, Norfolk. A couple in their 70s, who have not been named, were . killed when their car collided with a vehicle travelling in the opposite . direction. Brothers Adnan Habib, ten, and . Arsalaan, four, were killed in a Christmas Day tragedy when the car they . were in crashed on the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent. Their aunt, Bushra . Tazarib, 32, also died. The family, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, were on their way to a wedding in Bolton. Precious jewels: Adnan, left, and Mohammed, right, were tragically killed when the car they were in - also a Ford Focus - crashed on the M6 motorway on Christmas Day . | Crash happened on the busy A47 near Wisbech, near Kings Lynn yesterday . The girls were travelling in a black Ford Focus with their brother, their father and his partner . Car flew off the tarmac and landed on its side on treacherous road at around 6.40pm last night . | b1b62b3d0757478933f5829507ab50a38ee15105 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:43 EST, 29 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:36 EST, 30 August 2013 . An Idaho criminal, who replaced an 'Aryan Warrior' forehead tattoo with words 'Irish Thug,' a shamrock and several other facial inkings, has been arrested. Jesse Starkey, 32, was originally charged with assault in 2007 after chasing his roommates with a chair before drink driving and almost hitting a pedestrian. At the time of the original arrest, the Boise local had the words 'Aryan Warrior' tattooed across his forehead in a neo-Gothic font, making clear his views on race and violence. Tattooed: Jesse Starkey, pictured left in 2007 and right on Thursday has been arrested. The Idaho man has steadily added to his facial tattoo collection in the intervening years . On Thursday, Jesse Starkey was arrested again with additional inkings that completely cover his face and ears. The original 'Aryan Warrior' tattoo is only faintly visible now, and is covered by a new inking which reads 'Irish Thug.' Starkey who carried a fuller face his first mugshot, appears slimmer in his latest picture. Other standout tattoos include, the abbreviation FTW, which often stands for F*** The World on his right ear lobe, 'Stay Gold' above his eyes, spider webs on his nose, and Boise - his hometown tattooed on his left cheek. Custody: The noticeably slimmer Starkey is being held at Ada County Jail, pictured, in Boise . According to Boise Weekly, Starkey faced misdemeanor charges for assault and for vehicular assault in the summer of 2007. After breaking his parole, officers pulled him over in July after he crashed into a curb and almost took out a passerby. He then refused to take a breathalyzer test. Starkey is being held at the Ada County Sheriff jail in Boise. | Jesse Starkey, 32, originally charged with assault in 2007 after chasing down his roommates with a chair then drink driving, and almost hitting a pedestrian . Boise, an Idaho local had the words 'Aryan Warrior' tattooed across his forehead . On Thursday Jesse Starkey was arrested on a state warrant . His face is now completely covered with tattoos. However, the offensive forehead inking has been replaced by a tattoo that reads 'Irish Thug' | 71fe99877cde8ab5b077cba5844ec52665936584 |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 11:05 EST, 2 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:37 EST, 2 February 2013 . Hero: Wartime pilot Tony Rogers led an incredible life before he passed away aged 91 . A Polish war hero with an incredible story of survival during World War Two has died aged 91. Flight Lieutenant Czeslaw 'Tony' Rogers braved a 830-mile trek on foot across the Soviet Union's frozen wastes to India after being freed from a prison camp before eventually making it to Britain. He then became a decorated Spitfire and Lancaster bomber pilot who flew daring RAF missions against targets in Germany. Lt Rogers, who adopted the English surname of his screen heroes Roy and Ginger, had fought in 1939 when his native country became a target for oppression following the non-aggression pact between Hitler and Stalin. The German Luftwaffe decimated the Polish air . fleet and pilots like Lt Rogers were handed machine guns and told to fight on . the ground - against German forces invading from the west and Russian . soldiers from the east. Lt Rogers was then taken prisoner by the Russians and sent to a gulag in Siberia. Best friend Gordon Scott-Whale, 85, of Fairford, Gloucestershire, recalled: 'In Krakow Tony told me he and his comrades hid inside graves at a cemetery. 'Can . you imagine firing at Russian tanks from inside a grave? One of his . friends was killed but Tony escaped and managed to make it back to his . village.' He was later arrested by the NKVD secret . police and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, deported in a cattle . truck which took three days to reach a prison camp in Siberia. Mr Scott-Whale said: 'There were women and children in . the trucks and whenever a child died en-route they just had to throw . their body out into the snow.' Following Hitler's invasion of Russia in 1941, . Stalin allied with Britain and America against the Germans. Prime . Minister Winston Churchill requested the release of Polish nationals . from Siberia - and Lt Rogers was one of them. Remembering what his friend had told him . about escaping from the gulag, Mr Scott-Whale said: 'They opened the gates of the . camp and told them to go. 'At . first they thought it was some trick and that they'd go out and get . shot. But off they went in groups of ten, on specially made sledges. 'In . Tony's group only he and another airman survived, the others just . collapsed in the snow. Scroll down for video . Lt Rogers won the RAF Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal and the highest accolade of Polish medals, the Virtuti Militari . Flight Lieutenant Tony Rogers with his family (left) in the Far East after the war and (right) with his wife Nan . Heroes: RAF Spitfire fighter pilots scramble to get airborne during World War Two (file picture) 'But . Tony and his companion trekked 830 miles on foot before they could . smuggle themselves onto a train heading south, and they finally make it . to India, from where he got passage to Britain.' Once in England, with his new . Anglicised name, Lt Rogers met Nan, a WAF driver, who would become his . wife and mother of their two children. During . the rest of the war he flew Spitfires for the RAF before being drafted . into Bomber Command to fly the Lancaster because of his experience in . Poland of flying twin engine aircraft. Lt Rogers flew the iconic Spitfire fighter plane when he joined the RAF in the 1940s (file picture) The Avro Lancaster bomber, shown during a Royal Air Forces Battle of Britain memorial flight, was another aircraft Lt Rogers piloted (file picture) He was in 138 squadron Special Operations (Moonlight Squadron) in the B Flight, based out of RAF Tempsford in Cambridgeshire. In 1944 he flew a supply mission into . Warsaw – in a Halifax or a Stirling – flying low to parachute down . supplies including arms, explosives and radio sets at a place where . lights flashed to indicate underground members. German . fighters were waiting for the planes to rise but they kept at low . level, but many crews were lost and the missions were stopped afterwards . for being too risky. Following the German invasion of Poland, many Polish pilots - a great number of whom had fought the Luftwaffe - escaped and made their way to France and Britain. In June 1940 the Polish Government in Exile formed a Polish Air Force in the UK, with two fighter squadrons - 302 and 303 - composed of Polish pilots and ground crews, with British commanding officers. The two fighter squadrons went into action in August. Most of the Polish pilots had hundreds of hours of pre-war flying experience and were among the most experienced in the battle. They had learned from combat experience to fire from close range. Between them the Polish pilots claimed 201 aircraft shot down. 303 Squadron, in which Brigadier General Tadeusz Sawicz served, claimed the highest number of kills - 126 - of all Allied squadrons in the Battle of Britain. The Polish War Memorial on the outskirts of RAF Northolt was dedicated in 1948 as a commemoration of the Polish contribution to Allied arms. Lt Rogers continued to serve in Bomber Command flying Lancasters, until his retirement from the RAF in 1948. His service log books highlight 12,000 flying hours in a variety of . aircraft types: Spitfires, Lancasters, Wellingtons and after war ended . Meteor jets. Before the war, Lt Rogers had originally wanted to become a doctor in 1930s Poland, but was attracted to a career flying aeroplanes by a friend of his brother, who was part of the pre-war programme to strengthen the Polish Air Force. In the early 1950s Lt Rogers and his family moved to Singapore, where he was the personal pilot to General Sir Gerald Templer, British High Commissioner in Malaya during the Communist insurgency. Mr Scott-Whale said: 'Tony would fly light aircraft such as the Auster to spot terrorist activity in the Malayan jungle so that the ground troops could move in and flush them out.' Lt Rogers won the RAF Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal and the highest accolade of Polish medals, the Virtuti Militari. Gordon commented: 'In later life Tony would always be guest of honour at Battle of Britain memorial dinners at RAF Brize Norton, and sit at the top table with the Commanding Officer. 'He also met the Duke of Kent in 2002 at Fairford Air Tattoo, and last year met the Queen in London at the unveiling of the bomber command memorial.' Lt Rogers was eventually immobilised by a stroke and the RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in to provide a mobility scooter. He was so inspired by this that he went on to become a keen supporter of the RAF Benevolent Fund. In memory of his friend Gordon said: 'There are not so many of these chaps left now. Tony was a perfect friend and a wonderful man. I hope his story is not going to be forgotten.' Lt Rogers passed away on January 15 at Hyperion Nursing Home in Fairford, Gloucestershire. | Tony Rogers braved 830-mile trek on foot across Russia's frozen wastes . He made it to India, before eventually finding refuge in Britain . Rogers then became a decorated WW2 Flight Lieutenant in the RAF . The hero died at Hyperion Nursing Home in Fairford, Gloucestershire . | cd7fd5fe08946d16e65d527a3e809c1ddb8b0c55 |
Cairo (CNN) -- Thousands of demonstrators who gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square for a protest titled "Day of Justice and Cleansing" confronted two officers and sent them running late Friday, according to a witness. The numbers in the square have swelled dramatically compared to last Friday's rally, in part because the Muslim Brotherhood has now joined alongside secular, liberal groups to put pressure on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which currently rules Egypt. Demonstrators stepped up their demands this week. Muhammad Taman, a spokesman for the January 25 Coalition, told CNN the diverse collection of political groups are demanding Egyptian authorities bring ousted president Hosni Mubarak before a court for his alleged role in the deaths of hundreds of activists last January and February and on corruption charges. If Mubarak is not prosecuted, Taman said, activists are prepared to organize a march towards the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Mubarak has been living on his estate since he stepped down from office on February 11. "This is the army's last chance," Taman warned. Mubarak's eldest son, Gamal, is expected to appear before the Justice Ministry's Illicit Profiteering Committee on Sunday. Meanwhile, Mubarak's long-time chief of staff, Zakaria Azmi, was questioned and then arrested on Thursday by Egypt's general prosecutor. Azmi is being investigated for alleged corrupt activities. He was shown on Egyptian television Friday being escorted to a vehicle by uniformed Egyptian police while bystanders chanted, "Thief, thief!" An army lieutenant colonel and a military police officer tried to walk to the center of square, where they were surrounded by demonstrators who chanted "get out, get out," said journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, who witnessed the incident. Within moments, members of the crowd began pushing the officers and knocking their hats off their heads. "The officers got scared and started running and they were pursued," said Fahmy. Demonstrators are protecting 15 army officers and soldiers who broke ranks with the Egyptian military and joined Friday's Tahrir Square protest, ignoring a warning from the top military brass that any uniformed troops participating in the rally would be arrested. Some of the officers addressed the demonstration, demanding Egypt's ruling military council be replaced by a presidential committee of civillians. | NEW: Two Egyptian officers forced to leave square, witness says . Numbers of demonstrators have swelled because the Muslim Brotherhood has joined . Groups are seeking prosecution of former president Hosni Mubarak . Mubarak's chief of staff has been arrested . | 88bc1a5db132e880c7b80f8f9d058c03ce0c31cc |
Missing: Terror suspect Ibrahim Magag who was under close police surveillance has gone missing, it emerged this evening . Police last night launched a nationwide manhunt after an Al Qaeda-linked terror suspect went on the run. Somali-born Ibrahim Magag, 28, was being held under security measures because of the threat he poses to the public. He has not been seen since Boxing Day. Counter-terrorism detectives made the unusual decision to appeal for help to trace the extremist after he went missing. Home Secretary Theresa May had earlier asked the High Court to lift a ban on identifying him over fears he may try to meet other terror suspects or flee the country. The police appeal came as a second terror suspect and former associate of Magag appeared in court accused of breaching a similar order. Both men were being held under Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (T-Pim) notices, which were introduced in January 2012. Magag’s disappearance is a blow to the Government’s T-Pim programme, which critics have warned is a ‘watered down’ version of the previous control order regime. Magag is thought to be a member of a UK-based network that supports the Al-Shabaab terrorist group which controls much of Somalia and is affiliated to Al Qaeda. Police were alerted on Boxing Day that he had gone missing after he failed to return to his overnight accommodation. He was last seen in Camden, North London, wearing a khaki robe, navy Converse plimsolls and a black Berghaus anorak.’ Gone: The last sighting of Ibrahim Magag was in the Camden area of north London on Boxing Day . Magag had been forced to live in the . West of England under a control order imposed in October 2009. When . T-Pims were introduced last year he returned to London because the law . no longer allowed ministers to relocate him. This was despite an earlier High Court . ruling that it was ‘too dangerous’ to allow him to return to London . ‘even for a short period’. The judge was told moving him from . London would disrupt his extremist activities and stop him planning or . carrying out terrorism. Ibrahim Magag is the first terrorist suspect to abscond while under a new monitoring regime called Terrorism Prevention Investigation Measures. These ‘T-Pims’ were introduced a year ago to replace the previous regime of control orders at the insistence of the Lib Dems after a major Coalition row. Opponents of T-Pims say their introduction has weakened public protection. The shift to T-Pims cut the number of hours a terror suspect could be forced to obey a home curfew from 16 hours a day to ten. It also meant suspects could no longer be forced to change address and would be allowed restricted use of mobile phones and the internet. The changes mean the police and security services must wrestle with terror suspects spending an extra six hours a day on the streets. As a result of the new burden, ministers promised an extra £30million to spend on investigation and surveillance. Unlike their predecessors, T-Pims must lapse after two years unless there is new evidence of continued terrorist activity. There are now ten terror suspects under T-Pims, including Magag. In July it emerged that one suspected terrorist on a T-Pim was found five times near the Olympic Games venue. He had been jailed after 15 breaches of his control order, including attempts to buy a computer and visiting an internet café. The former associate of Magag, known . only as ‘CC’, received terrorist training in Somalia and fought . alongside rebel soldiers. ‘CC’ also helped procure weapons for . terrorists and planned attacks in Somalia and overseas. He appeared amid . high security at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of . six breaches of his T-Pim. Magag travelled to Britain as a . refugee aged 12. His wife continues to live in a London council flat. High Court documents detail how Magag, a married former train conductor . and father of five, is closely linked to the Al-Shabaab group. He was arrested in 2007 after . returning from an Al-Shabaab terrorist training camp he attended with . Bilal Berjawi, a close friend. Magag was detained in Nairobi and . found to be carrying three new mobile phones and over £3,000 cash. While . being held he tried to destroy phone numbers by eating a piece of . paper. The following year, police in London . stopped Magag and found he was carrying £1,000 in cash. Detectives . believe the money was for terrorist associates. He was also accused of sending . associates to Somalia to join terrorist fighters by providing money, . false passports and other documents. Berjawi, 27, was killed in a US drone strike last which hit his car near Mogadishu. He had joined Islamic fighters after being stripped of his British citizenship 12 months earlier and deported. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said . Magag does not represent a ‘direct threat’ to the public. However, he . warned members of the public not to approach Magag. David Anderson, the independent reviewer of terror legislation, said no security measure is ‘foolproof’. He said experts believe there may be . 50 British fighters in Somalia, adding: ‘Worst case, there could now be . one more – an influential one.’ Speaking about T-Pims, he said: ‘The only sure way to prevent absconding is to lock people in a high-security prison.’ Security Minister James Brokenshire . said: ‘The Home Secretary today applied to the High Court for an order . protecting anonymity to be lifted in order to assist with their . investigation. We do not believe [Magag’s] disappearance is linked to . any terrorism planning in the UK. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Counter terrorism detectives today appealed to the public for help in tracing Ibrahim Magag . He is believed to have absconded from a terror control order known as a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures notice . The 28-year-old was last seen in Camden, North London . Police have urged anyone who sees Magag to ring 999 immediately . | 667e91334dd2b32e0875122c7acccfdb2d12967b |
By . Andrea Magrath and Anita Bennett . UPDATED: . 13:32 EST, 19 July 2011 . Last week when news of her new relationship broke, it seemed that Elin Nordegren had finally been able to move on from her traumatising divorce from Tiger Woods and had found happiness once again. But the 31-year-old's new romance has taken a shocking twist, after it was claimed that her boyfriend Jamie Dingman, had also allegedly enjoyed trysts with Tiger's former mistress, Rachel Uchitel. Elin is said to be fuming over the allegations, despite the businessman's denials. No escape? Elin Nordegren is understood to be furious of the allegations that her new boyfriend Jamin Dingman had an affair with Rachel Uchitel, former mistress of her ex-husband Tiger Woods . According to celebrity website TMZ, Jamie Dingman and Rachel Uchitel spent two and a half weeks together at the Miami home of his business partner Chris Barish in October 2009. At the time Dingman was in a relationship with a model named Inez. Friends of the wealthy investor has hit back at the claims, saying the Miss Uchitel is lying about the affair. But others have allegedly told TMZ: . 'Jamie came into Rachel's room late at night twice and the two hooked up . ... and they heard Rachel discussing it with Barish the morning after . each liaison.' Affairs: Jamie Dingman (right) allegedly enjoyed trysts with Uchitel while they both stayed at the home of his business partner Chris Barish (left) in October 2009 . TMZ also claims Rachel left Jamie when . things started to heat up with Tiger, but the wealthy investor wasn't . exactly broken up over the split and told Rachel: 'That's ok. I'll . date his wife, Elin.' In a further twist, at the time Barish allegedly was dating Jen Madden - the woman who sold the original story about Tiger's affairs to the National Enquirer. According to the website, Miss Madden obtained much of her information from overheard conversations between the group. Former model Elin has been quietly dating Dingman, the son of billionaire Michael Dingman, for several months. Mistress: Miss Uchitel allegedly spent two and a half weeks with Dingman, who was in a relationship at the time, and informed him of her affair with Tiger woods . He has . previously been linked to Princess Madeleine of Sweden and American . actress Bridget Moynahan. Jamie splits his time between China and the Bahamas where his father’s Shipston Group company is based. But despite his jet setting lifestyle, it appears he has still had time to visit Elin in her native Sweden. It has also been said the pair first met at the Red Cross Ball in Florida last January attended by Princess Madeleine. Battle: Uchitel, pictured in 2009 with her lawyer Gloria Allred, has returned most of the $10m 'hush money' she received after Wood's lawyers claimed she breached the agreement . Elin divorced golf ace Woods after it . emerged that he had been involved in a considerable number of . extra-martial affairs which came to light in December 2009. Although . she initially stood by him amidst the claims, she eventually filed for . divorce and the couple’s marriage ended in August 2010. The pair have two children together Sam, three, and two-year-old Charlie. Elin, who walked away with $100million as part of her . divorce settlement from Woods, is said to have been dating Jamie for months. Betrayal: Tiger and Elin divorced last year after it emerged he . had cheated on her with a number of women. Pictured in happier times in . 2004 . Rachel Uchitel was the first mistress to be outed, and was paid $10million in 'hush money' hours before she was set to hold a tell-all press conference. It has emerged that Uchitel has returned most of the money, after being threatened with a lawsuit by Woods' lawyer Jay Lavely, who claims she has violated the confidentiality agreement by speaking to media and also going on reality show Celebrity Rehab for treatment for her 'addiction to love'. Her lawyer Gloria Allred is said to have advised Rachel to return the money as she believed she would lose a . court case, but now Rachel is threatening Allred with a malpractice . suit. Family: Elin seen with her children Sam and Charlie last year after she divorced their father Tiger Woods . She claims Allred struck the deal to ensure she received her legal fee rather than going to court and risking not getting paid if they lost. In a statement, Allred said: 'I was not involved in any way in the allegations set forth in the TMZ story which appears today and which references me. 'I have not had a conversation with or communicated with Jay Lavely about any client in more than a year. I am reserving all of my legal rights and remedies against anyone who defames me.' Do . you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness . desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683. For U.S. stories, phone 310 642 . 2317. | Jamie Dingman 'denies' allegations that he enjoyed trysts with Miss Uchitel . Claims he shared a house with Uchitel for two weeks in October 2009, just weeks before Tiger Woods scandal broke . Dingman had a girlfriend at the time of alleged affair . Uchitel allegedly told Dingman of affair with Woods, to which he allegedly joked 'That's ok, I'll date his wife' Uchitel has returned $10m 'hush money' after allegedly violating confidentiality agreement . | 08843f01c382dff3086fa1268f7d09a284d693f9 |
It’s the kind of gadget to have Patsy and Edina purring with approval… Champagne at the press of a button. But this vending machine is not a prop from Absolutely Fabulous. It has been installed in the luxury department store Selfridges. Well-heeled customers can enjoy chilled 200ml bottles of Moët & Chandon at £18 a pop. The vending machine holds 350 bottles, each of which is coated in mini Swarovski crystals – without any of the more usual fizzy drinks in sight. Scroll down for video . The Moet and Chandon dispenser is the first champagne vending machine in the world . It holds 350 200ml bottles of the fizzy tipple - and each one is coated in mini Swarovski crystals. The golden Moet and Chandon vending machine has taken pride of place at famous London department store Selfridge’s. The vending machine is so flash that it doesn’t accept coins. Instead shoppers have to pre-pay for the champagne at a special counter in the heart of the Oxford Street store’s ‘Christmas Emporium’. And, unlike normal vending machines where items are dropped from a height, clattering down into a tray below, the Moet dispenser delivers its spoils with a golden robotic arm. The 200ml bottles are coated in mini Swarovski crystals and cost £18 each . But buyers will have to bring their own glasses if they want to enjoy their posh purchase on the go. Dawn Davies, wine and spirits buyer at Selfridges, said: 'Working with Moet & Chandon to unveil the world’s first champagne vending machine has been an exciting collaboration for Selfridges. 'The timing couldn’t be more perfect - they make a lovely little stocking filler. 'The installation forms part of our bespoke, personlised gifting taking place throughout the store. 'This year, Selfridges have taken Christmas to a whole new level, transforming the entire fourth floor into a one-stop destination for gifting. 'The inclusion of the world’s first Moet vending machine makes a decadent addition to our Christmas Emporium.' The Moet and Chandon dispenser is the first champagne vending machine in the world, and the latest in a line of luxury vending machines to be unveiled. Westfield Shopping Centre in London has a machine that dispenses gold bars while its LA malls are stocked with dispensers selling caviar, truffles and snails. A vending machine at the Mondrian South Beach hotel in Miami sells luxury items such as Bentley cars, Jean Paul Gaultier dresses and 24 carat gold handcuffs. They may seem unlikely wine-makers but a rosé created by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has been judged the world’s best. The Hollywood pair’s first vintage, made at their 1,000-acre estate in the South of France, came 84th in Wine Spectator magazine’s Top 100. It is the first rosé to ever make the list. The £18 bottle was described as ‘refined and elegant’ and given an ‘outstanding’ 90 out of 100. French experts helped produce the wine, but Jolie, 38, and 49-year-old Pitt - nicknamed Brangelina - had a role in the blending process at their £20million Château Miraval estate in Provence. Bottles of the 2012 Jolie-Pitt & Perrin Côtes de Provence Rosé Miraval sold out within hours when it was released in March. | Machine holds 350 200ml bottles of Moet & Chandon . Each bottl is coated in miniature Swarovski crystals . Do not pay using coins, instead pre-pay at counter in Selfridges . Rather than dropping, bottles are carefully lowered by gold robotic arm . | c0355635e513c7684e25a7dbf4f1c37067960d25 |
By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 10:40 EST, 14 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:16 EST, 14 October 2013 . A disabled man has finished the Chicago Marathon more than 16 hours after it began. Maickel Melamed, 38, completed the marathon in 16 hours and 46 minutes at 1:30am Monday. The average completion time is about four hours. Surrounded by supporters chanting his name, Venezuelan Melamed crossed the finish line to whoops and cheers, the very last of 45,000 runners who participated. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Triumphant: Maickel Melamed made slow and steady progress and finally crossed the finish line after almost 17 hours of exertion . Melamed suffers a rare muscular condition similar to muscular dystrphy. His condtion, generalized muscle hypotonia, was caused by a complication during birth from nuchal cord, which occurs when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around a fetus' neck. Hypotonia causes low muscle tone, which makes most activities that require any strength extremely difficult for sufferers. Doctors told Melamed's mother he would never walk. Endurance: The Chicago marathon was Melamed's third; he completed the New York Marathon in 2011 and the Berlin Marathon in 2012 . Melamed began running marathons two years ago, successfully completing the New York city Marathon in 15 hours and 22 minutes after two years of training in his hometown of Caracas. Today, with an entourage of almost 30 people, Melamed finished the 26.2-mile course in Chicago. It was his third marathon, having already competed in New York City in 2011 and the Berlin marathon in 2012. Accomplished: Melamed is also an economist, psychotherapist and motivational speaker . 'If you dream it, make it happen. Your life is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. So, make the best of it,' Melamed said after the marathon. The inspirational long-distance runner is also a motivational speaker, economist and psychotherapist. In 2006, Melamed climbed Venezuela's highest peak, Pico Bolivar. He also has run the New York and Berlin marathons, and hopes to run the marathons in Tokyo and Boston. Melamed has said he takes on these challenges to show young people all over the world anything is possible if you put your mind to it. The winner of the Chicago Marathon was Kenyan Dennis Kimetto, who finished the course in two hours, three minutes, 45 seconds. | Venezuelan Maickel Melamed, 38, suffers hypotonia, or low muscle tone, making any physical exertion extremely difficult . He completed the Chicago Marathon in 16 hours and 46 minutes . Melamed has also completed the New York and Berlin marathons . | 570755c8c1ce242fd6d1f5f7d8838edc0b84d9de |
Baghdad (CNN) -- Five U.S. servicemembers were killed Monday in central Iraq, the U.S. military said in a written statement. The deaths are the single largest loss of life among U.S. troops in Iraq since 2009, and they come as Iraq debates whether to request U.S. troops stay beyond a January 1, 2012, deadline that requires 46,000 American forces out of the country. The U.S. military did not say how or where the five died. But two Iraqi security officials told CNN Monday that the servicemembers were killed during an early morning mortar attack at a U.S. military base in southeastern Baghdad. Five servicemembers also were wounded in the attack, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. The two officials said some of those killed and wounded were sleeping in trailers when the base was attacked. U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Anishka J. Calder, a spokeswoman in Baghdad, declined to comment on details surrounding the deaths. The names of the servicemembers were being withheld pending notification of next of kin, the military said in the statement. The deaths follow warnings by the U.S. military that attacks against American troops in Iraq by armed militias are on the rise, an attempt to demonstrate their power ahead of an anticipated U.S. withdrawal at the end of the year. U.S. troops have increasingly been targeted by roadside bombings and mortar attacks, largely in Baghdad and southern Iraq, Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, spokesman for U.S. Forces-Iraq, recently told CNN. While al Qaeda in Iraq -- predominantly Iraqi Sunni insurgents -- continue to launch strikes, Buchanan has said the militia attacks against the United States are "designed for power and they want to claim credit for our redeploying, for us leaving." Meanwhile Monday, 20 Iraqis were killed in a series of explosions across the country. The deadliest attack was in Tikrit, where a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into a security checkpoint staffed by Iraqi army and police, killing 11 people and wounding 17 others, according to Interior Ministry officials who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Most of the casualties were Iraqi security forces, Interior Ministry officials told CNN. | The deaths are the single largest loss of life among U.S. troops in Iraq since 2009 . Iraqi security officials say a mortar attack at a U.S. base in Baghdad killed the five . The deaths follow warnings by the military of increased attacks on U.S. troops . The U.S. military did not immediately say how the troops were killed . | 93311387ac13d11c7c9bfa2794feae73d0060297 |
Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greek police arrested an 18-year-old suspected of having hacked into the electronic systems of the FBI and Interpol, they announced Wednesday. He reportedly also took over the computers of unsuspecting users, accessed their data and used it to obtain new credit cards in their names. A raid on his home turned up over 120 credit cards and thousands of euros in cash, police said. He faces charges of computer fraud, forgery, illegal violation of privacy, and illegal weapons possession. The teen, who was not named, was arrested at his home in Athens, according to the Greek police electronic crime squad. They seized computers and related equipment as well as flares, shotgun cartridges and a homemade incendiary device, they said. Greek police said they had been seeking the youth for two years, after attacks that took place in February 2008 and February 2009. U.S. and French authorities cooperated with the investigation, they said. | An 18-year-old is detained on suspicion of attacks on the FBI and Interpol, Greek police say . He is also accused of illegally obtaining credit cards through hacking . He is charged with computer fraud and forgery as well as illegal weapons possession . | ee5cb12fcf086c503eea371052d219b88a162372 |
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama is seriously contemplating withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan sometime in 2014, a senior administration official told CNN's Jessica Yellin. The Obama administration had been considering leaving a force of at least several thousand soldiers to act as trainers and to hunt leaders of the Taliban and other militant groups after the long-scheduled withdrawal of all combat troops in December 2014. But Obama has grown increasingly frustrated in his dealings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who last month cut off negotiations about the size of the post-2014 American military force. Karzai objected to the United States beginning formal direct discussions with the Taliban about peace; he regarded this move as happening behind his back and a betrayal. Let's stipulate that Karzai can be a frustrating leader to deal with and that he can even be quite mercurial on occasions. That said, the Obama administration shouldn't be making important strategic decisions merely on the basis of whether or not its leaders like dealing with another country's leader. Further, Karzai will be gone in April 2014, when the next Afghan presidential election will take place; in only nine months, the Obama administration won't have to deal with him at all. In any case, zeroing out U.S. troop levels in the post-2014 Afghanistan is a bad idea on its face -- and even raising this concept publicly is maladroit strategic messaging to Afghanistan and the region writ large. Why so? Afghans well remember something that most Americans have forgotten. After the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan, something that was accomplished at the cost of more than a million Afghan lives and billions of dollars of U.S. aid, the United States closed its embassy in Afghanistan in 1989 during the George H.W. Bush administration and then zeroed out aid to one of the poorest countries in the world under the Clinton administration. It essentially turned its back on Afghans once they had served their purpose of dealing a deathblow to the Soviets. As a result, the United States had virtually no understanding of the subsequent vacuum in Afghanistan into which eventually stepped the Taliban, who rose to power in the mid-1990s. The Taliban granted shelter to Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization from 1996 onward. After the overthrow of the Taliban, a form of this mistake was made again by the George W. Bush administration, which had an ideological disdain for nation building and was distracted by the Iraq War, so that in the first years after the fall of the Taliban, only a few thousand U.S. soldiers were stationed in Afghanistan. The relatively small number of American boots on the ground in Afghanistan helped to create a vacuum of security in the country, which the Taliban would deftly exploit, so that by 2007, they once again posed a significant military threat in Afghanistan. In 2009, Obama ordered a surge of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan to blunt the Taliban's gathering momentum, which it has certainly accomplished. Read more: Inside the Taliban . But when Obama announced the new troops of the Afghan surge, most media accounts of the speech seized on the fact that the president also said that some of those troops would be coming home in July 2011. This had the unintended effect of signaling to the Taliban that the U.S. was pulling out of Afghanistan reasonably soon and fit into the longstanding narrative that many Afghans have that the United States will abandon them again. Similarly, the current public discussion of zero U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan after 2014 will encourage those hardliner elements of the Taliban who have no interest in a negotiated settlement and believe they can simply wait the Americans out. It also discourages the many millions of Afghans who see a longtime U.S. presence as the best guarantor that the Taliban won't come back in any meaningful way and also an important element in dissuading powerful neighbors such as Pakistan from interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs. Read related: Afghanistan vet finds a new way to serve . Instead of publicly discussing the zero option on troops in Afghanistan after 2014, a much smarter American messaging strategy for the country and the region would be to emphasize that the Strategic Partnership Agreement that the United States has already negotiated with Afghanistan last year guarantees that the United States will have some form of partnership with the Afghans until 2024. In this messaging strategy, the point should be made that the exact size of the American troop presence after 2014 is less important than the fact that U.S. soldiers will stay in the country for many years, with Afghan consent, as a guarantor of Afghanistan's stability. The United States continues to station thousands of troops in South Korea more than five decades after the end of the Korean War. Under this American security umbrella, South Korea has gone from being one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. It is this kind of model that most Afghans want and the United States needs to provide so Afghanistan doesn't revert to the kind of chaos that beset it in the mid-1990s and from which the Taliban first emerged. Read more: What's at stake for Afghan women? | White House mulling withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, official said . Peter Bergen said the idea would be dangerous and send the wrong message . He says U.S. abandoned Afghanistan before and the Taliban stepped into vacuum . Bergen: U.S. should follow model it set in South Korea at end of Korean War . | fb16e4aa978e91502701625c54564e57887b575e |
(CNN) -- The family of American student Amanda Knox is happy that new DNA analysis has called into question her murder conviction, but won't celebrate "until she walks out of that prison," her mother said Thursday. In an interview with CNN's "Newsroom," Edda Mellas said her daughter is "not taking anything for granted." But a priest who was visiting Knox reported the results were met with "jumping and hugging" on Wednesday. "There are many people that support her," Mellas said. "He said he could finally see the light back in her eyes, and she looked like she could finally breathe after three and a half years." Knox and her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were found guilty in the 2007 killing of Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher. Kercher was found dead in the villa she rented with Knox in the central Italian university town of Perugia, semi-naked and with her throat slashed. In December, Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison. But Wednesday, forensic experts told an Italian court that the DNA evidence police used to link Knox to the murder weapon may have been tainted. The next hearing in her appeal is scheduled for July 25, with further hearings on July 30 and August 1. Mellas said a decision on the appeal could come in late September. She said her daughter was "a naive, idealistic, easygoing 20-year-old" when she was arrested, but has "gone into her own little shell" while in jail. "She's definitely grown up," Mellas said. "She's had to learn how to survive and take care of herself. She has become much more closed in that environment in order to kind of survive." At the trial, prosecutors said a knife found in Sollecito's home had traces of Knox's genetic material on the handle and Kercher's in a tiny groove on the blade. Investigators also traced DNA on Kercher's bra to Sollecito. But in a 146-page report, forensic science professors Carla Vecchiotti and Stefano Conti concluded that while Knox's DNA was present on the knife handle, tests for Kercher's DNA were unreliable. "There is no conclusive scientific evidence regarding the nature of the blood," the their report states. It added, "It cannot be excluded that the result obtained from sampling the find B (knife blade) could be the result of contamination" occurring at any stage of the testing process. Investigators did not follow "international inspection procedures and protocols for gathering and presenting evidence" in testing either the knife or the bra fastening," they found. Prosecutors say the knife had been used to stab Kercher in the neck and that it had been cleaned. The DNA matter attributed to Kercher consists of flesh, not blood, they say. But the sample was so small that forensic scientists investigating Kercher's slaying were unable to double-test it in accordance with international forensic science norms, which Knox's legal team says raises doubts about its validity. Defense lawyers also say the tiny metal clasp from Kercher's bra, which was cut from her body after her murder, may have been contaminated because it was not collected as evidence until nearly six weeks later. In an appeal hearing Monday, Knox took to the stand herself following testimony from a third person convicted in the case, Rudy Guede. It was the first time the three defendants had appeared in court together since a preliminary hearing years ago. Guede, who was found guilty of murder in a separate fast-track trial and sentenced to 16 years, refused to say Knox was not involved in the killing. A prosecutor then read out a letter sent by Guede in 2010 in which he said he thought the American and her then-boyfriend had killed Kercher. An emotional Knox responded, saying: "The only time that Rudy Guede, Raffaele Sollecito and I were in one room together was in a court room.... He knows what the truth is. I don't know what happened that night." Journalist Livia Borghese contributed to this report. | A favorable DNA report was met with "jumping and hugging," Knox's mother says . Evidence involved in Knox's conviction could have been contaminated, experts say . Knox and her ex-boyfriend were convicted of killing Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher . She was sentenced to 26 years in prison, but is appealing the verdict . | fb9d021ddad636614ef79293224e6022787d0bf0 |
By . William Turvill . PUBLISHED: . 13:35 EST, 11 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:42 EST, 11 October 2013 . Two companies have been banned from selling kits to make ordinary cars look like Bentley models. A judge has ruled that 'Bentley car kits' infringe copyright and patent designs. Two business owners from Florida, United States, have been sued by Bentley Motors Limited, which said they were counterfeiting and diluting its trademark and cars. Two companies have been banned from selling kits to make ordinary cars look like Bentleys . A judge has ruled that 'Bentley car kits', used to imitate cars such as this, infringe copyright and patent designs . The business owners from Florida, United States, have been sued by Bentley Motors Limited . And soon after the papers were filed, in the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Bentley applied for a preliminary injunction to block the making, advertising and selling of the kits, according to ABC News. The companies sued were Fugazzi Cars in St. Petersburg, owned by Matthew McEntegart, and Keeping It Real Auto Customizing Inc, owned by Robert Frary III. According to the website, Mr Frary's attorney, John McGuire, said his client only painted the cars that had kits already on them and that he had stopped doing this when he received the law suit. He claimed to have only made around $1,500 in profit from doing this, but Bentley is said to be asking for tens of thousands of dollars in compensation. This example of a Porsche 356 'Speedstar' body is not implicated in this case . Lamborghini Countach LP400 body design - this model is also not one implicated in counterfeit claims . Bentley would not comment on the ongoing legal case. These car models are not involved . Bentley would not comment on the ongoing case. Mr McEntegart, who claims to have filed for bankruptcy because of the claim, has denied infringing Bentley's copyright. He said he is hoping to stay in the car kit business with his own body designs. | Two Florida companies sued by car firm for using 'Bentley car kits' Bentley also applied to block making, advertising and selling of them . | 1c0909a3a230576be71a3bf1e3e8a16f7391e62f |
(CNN) -- Under mounting pressure from activists and advertisers, Facebook is ramping up efforts to stamp out hate speech, particularly depictions of violence against women. The move, announced Tuesday, came after a weeklong campaign by women's groups targeting pages that celebrated or made light of rape, domestic violence and sexual degradation of women. "In recent days, it has become clear that our systems to identify and remove hate speech have failed to work as effectively as we would like, particularly around issues of gender-based hate," Marne Levine, a Facebook vice president in charge of public policy, wrote in a post on the site. "In some cases, content is not being removed as quickly as we want. In other cases, content that should be removed has not been or has been evaluated using outdated criteria. We have been working over the past several months to improve our systems to respond to reports of violations, but the guidelines used by these systems have failed to capture all the content that violates our standards. We need to do better -- and we will." A coalition of women's groups, under the banner Women, Action & the Media, celebrated the announcement, saying that Facebook has asked them to be part of an ongoing conversation about improvements to the social network. Pages flagged as offensive by the group had such names as "Kicking Your Girlfriend in the Fanny Because She Won't Make You a Sandwich," "Violently Raping Your Friend Just for Laughs," "Raping Your Girlfriend" and "Fly Kicking Sluts in the Uterus." Searching for those pages Wednesday delivered no results. "It is because Facebook has committed to having policies to address these issues that we felt it was necessary to take these actions and press for that commitment to fully recognize how the real world safety gap experienced by women globally is dynamically related to our online lives," author Soraya Chemaly, who helped spearhead the effort, said in a post on the group's site. In Levine's post, Facebook promised to: . -- Update guidelines that its Community Standards team uses to identify hate speech, with help from legal experts and women's groups . -- Update training for team members who police hate speech . -- Increase accountability for Facebook users whose pages don't legally qualify as hate speech but who post content that is "cruel or insensitive" -- Implement a policy that requires users who create pages with questionable content to publicly attach their personal account to them . -- Encourage groups already working on cyber-hate issues to include the women's coalition. "These are complicated challenges and raise complex issues," Levine wrote. "Our recent experience reminds us that we can't answer them alone." Tasked with policing a site with roughly 1 billion users, Facebook says it has sought to strike a balance between cracking down on hateful content while still allowing for freedom of expression. "We seek to provide a platform where people can share and surface content, messages and ideas freely, while still respecting the rights of others," Levine said. "To facilitate this goal, we also work hard to make our platform a safe and respectful place for sharing and connection. This requires us to make difficult decisions and balance concerns about free expression and community respect." Such issues have come up repeatedly in the past, notably when Facebook users created fan pages celebrating accused Colorado theater shooter James Holmes or Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The recent campaign by women's groups was launched last Tuesday with an open letter to Facebook complaining about pages deemed offensive. The letter complained of a double standard toward imagery on the site in light of past controversies over Facebook removing more innocuous content, such as photos of women breastfeeding. "These pages and images are approved by your moderators, while you regularly remove content such as pictures of women breastfeeding, women post-mastectomy and artistic representations of women's bodies," read the letter, signed by dozens of women's groups from around the world. "It appears that Facebook considers violence against women to be less offensive than nonviolent images of women's bodies. "In a world in which hundreds of thousands of women are assaulted daily and where intimate partner violence remains one of the leading causes of death for women around the world, it is not possible to sit on the fence. We call on Facebook to make the only responsible decision and take swift, clear action on this issue, to bring your policy on rape and domestic violence into line with your own moderation goals and guidelines." On Twitter, supporters posted violent images they said were originally shared on Facebook pages. They included a picture of a woman at the bottom of a stairwell with the caption, "Next time, don't get pregnant" and multiple postings of a dramatized photo of a man threatening a frightened woman with captions like "Dishes: Do them now" and "Women deserve equal rights ... and lefts." The letter also encouraged people to contact Facebook advertisers. According to the group, supporters sent more than 5,000 e-mails to advertisers, in addition to posting messages to advertisers on Twitter and Facebook itself. The group claims that 15 companies said they were pulling their ads from Facebook as a result of the efforts. Nissan UK and Nationwide were among those who announced they were doing so while others, like Dove soap, said they were working with Facebook on a solution. "We fully support that today @womenactmedia & @Facebook reached a joint position on rights," Nissan UK posted on its Twitter feed late Tuesday. User responses on Facebook's post were mixed. While many of the roughly 300 comments Wednesday morning thanked the site, others suggested it wasn't enough or speculated that it wouldn't have happened without pressure from advertisers. There was also pushback from users who called it a threat to free speech. "Oh look," said user Mathew Bates. "The hurt feelings police is attempting to undermine the First Amendment again." Many, however, seemed optimistic -- but cautious. "It's a start but I'll believe it when I see it in the long term," wrote user Melissa Perault. "We need to make sure FB follows up on this." Facebook's community standards page says, "Facebook does not permit hate speech, but distinguishes between serious and humorous speech. While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition." | Facebook ramps up crackdown on hate speech after pressure from women's groups . Protest focused on pages that celebrate violence against women . Site says it will increase training, update guidelines, work with activists . About 15 companies pulled advertising, according to protesters . | 078266cea1aa6e46d5c2bf3e41f18998ebf44807 |
It is a view which is bound to make any sports fan set the countdown clock for 2016. These are the first images showing what we can expect from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in just under three years’ time. Built on a waterfront peninsula in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood of the city, it stretches out over 300 acres and will help Rio host 15 Olympic sports and 11 Paralympic competitions at 34 venues across the city. Scroll down for video . Let the games begin: As well as the sports parks and venues, the Rio de Janeiro Olympic park will also feature a 12,000 capacity waterfront lawn where sports fans can watch the games on big screens . Bright lights, big city: The triangular peninsula will be lit up in the colour of the Olympic flag at night, according to this prediction by designers . Resourceful design: The peninsula upon hosted the 2007 Pan-American Games at three venues which will now be incorporated into the new Olympic Park . The 2016 Olympic Park has been designed by the same architects who created the now iconic London 2012 Park, located in Stratford, East London. London-based International Architects Studio Aecom won the bid in 2011, basing their design on classic Brazilian architecture and nature, with the aim to create a legacy for the city. The . 15 venues will be interconnected by flowing pathways, intended to . remind the great Amazon River, and for those who fail to get their hands . on the much-coveted tickets, a waterfront open green space is to be . built to host 12,000 people who will be able to follow the actions on . big screens. A specific . broadcast centre will play host to 20,000 journalists from around the . world, and the Olympic villages will be located nearby. Architects . say the construction of the Rio Olympic Park is set to be much more . straight forward than the 2012 Games, as several venues are already . operating. Paved with good intentions: What the park will look like in 2016, during the Olympic Games . Olympic legacy: Once the Games are over the Olympic site, pictured as planned in 2018, will begin a conversion from mammoth sports Mecca to a resourceful addition to the city . Complete conversion: The image shows the site plan for 2013, with many of the venues converted into housing and schools, much needed in Rio . Unlike the London Games, the main Olympic stadium is not at the park - athletes will use the famous Brazil football stadium, the Maracana, which will also be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the Joco Havelange Stadium - home to the club side Botafogo. The Olympic Park itself is centered around three original sports venues which were built for the 2007 Pan-American Games. The . vision for the future is not just to create a global stage for the . Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2016, but also, in the longer term, to . create a new legacy district with new homes, jobs and places for leisure . activities,’ Aecom said. 'Every . Olympics needs to reflect the character and ambitions of the host city . and this is where the differences between the two parks are most . pronounced. ‘While London . was about demonstrating how a short global event can lead to the long . term regeneration of one of the most neglected and deprived areas of the . city, Rio is about celebrating Brazil's emergence as a world power as . well as making sure there is a strong legacy plan in place.' Good track record: The London architecture firm which was chosen to design the Rio site, was also responsible for creating the 2012 Olympic park in Stratford . Lighting up the world: Rio's Olympic Park will be located next to the water's edge in the Barra area of the the city, built on the former Brazilian grand prix track . | Olympic Park for Rio Games is being built on a peninsula in the city's Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood . 15 of the Games' 34 venues will be located at the Olympic Park, as well as a village and media centre . Designed by the same architects behind the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford . | 188f04c7f0bb57a793cbe97fe2c35e33506d547a |
An Australian commuter turned a boring subway trip on a recent holiday in Hong Kong into a fun pun game to pass the time by. Melbourne student, Scyler Yang, came up with the idea of creating the puns from the stations on the subway map with his sister on a 15-minute journey from from Admiralty to Mong Kok while on a family trip two weeks ago. The Malaysian national is a self-confessed 'punster' which he says is not always appreciated by his friends. Scyler Yang came up with the idea of creating the puns from the stations on the subway map with his sister . The 21-year-old was on a subway in Hong Kong with his family about two weeks ago at the time . The siblings made up eight puns during the 15 minute journey then Scyler was inspired to do more later . 'I believe I'm like many of the other Punsters out there - usually making puns among their other (relatively normal) friends in daily life and they all respond with rolling eyes and helpless cries,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'So I suppose I just felt like making puns when I saw the perfect opportunity on the train, especially when the carriage wasn't seriously crowded like how it would usually be.' The 21 year old engineering student came up with eight of the puns on the short train trip. 'One of my sisters and I decided to look at the map of the train line, and we started thinking of puns,' he said. 'When we found a (presumably) good one, I would align and take a picture with my phone camera, so I could edit them later. 'The rest, which are cropped, from an online map, was further inspired by the Singaporeans' version of the MRT puns.' So has Scyler's new-found recognition for his puns impressed his mates? 'Well, my closer friends typically have the usual rolling of eyes, while others came to congratulate me for my recent slight uprising in Internet fame,' he said. The puns just keep on rolling from the train journey including the play on words with 'typo' (right) The Malaysian national is a self-confessed 'punster' which he says is not always appreciated by his friends . Fast food and coffee featured in Scyler's collection of puns of the Hong Kong subway . | Scyler Yang, 21, was on holiday in Hong Kong with his family . The Australian student and his sister came up with the puns on subway . The siblings created the lines from the subway station map . Malaysian national is a self-confessed 'punster' | c51a0764e79ac5b96ff88982daee7edb0ce52787 |
An anti-bloodsport campaigner and councillor has provoked fury by claiming that the suicide of a former soldier and game hunter was the ‘best use of a gun I can think of’. Thomas Woodward is facing calls to quit over the ‘outrageous’ remarks, which were posted on the Hunt Saboteurs Association’s Facebook page. The 48-year-old – a Liberal councillor on Ryedale District and Pickering Town councils in North Yorkshire – made the comments after reading reports about the death of Allan Ellis. Thomas Woodward is facing calls to quit by claiming that the suicide of former soldier and game hunter, Alan Ellis, above, was the ‘best use of a gun I can think of’ Mr Ellis, 50, a former Scots Guard from Bacup, Lancashire, shot himself in August after learning he was to be sued over a £40,000 debt. Mr Woodward wrote: ‘We would all rather live in a world where no one kills for fun. However, if you choose to own a gun and kill for pleasure, then it’s best you kill yourself.’ Richard Ali, of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, said: ‘Mocking the suicide of anyone is absolutely unacceptable. Going further and stating that lawful gun owners should “kill themselves” is despicable behaviour. This man is not fit to hold a public office.’ Tim Bonner, of the Countryside Alliance, called the remarks ‘outrageous’ and added: ‘Mr Woodward should consider his position and those in authority in his party and council should consider disciplinary action.’ Mr Woodward, a builder who also runs a B&B with his wife Debbie at their Pickering home, said he did not need to apologise because ‘I did not say I was glad he killed himself’. He added the only risk to his position as a councillor was if he was voted off in an election. Mr Ellis, 50, a former Scots Guard from Bacup, Lancashire, shot himself in August after learning he was to be sued over a £40,000 debt; Mr Woodward wrote: ‘We would all rather live in a world where no one kills for fun. However, if you choose to own a gun and kill for pleasure, then it’s best you kill yourself.’ ‘I don’t agree with guns,’ he said. ‘People buy guns to kill things. If someone is going to buy a gun then the best reason for doing so is to kill themselves. ‘I disagree with killing anything. If disagreement with killing things means I upset shooting enthusiasts, then so be it.’ The Liberal Party, a group of councillors who have refused to join the Liberal Democrats, said that it could not comment in case there was an investigation. Ryedale Council leader Linda Cowling said there had been numerous complaints that would trigger an investigation. Mr Ellis’s widow Heather declined to comment. | Thomas Woodward is a Rydedale District and Pickering Town councillor . And maintains he has no need to apologise over the suicide remarks . The Rydedale council said it had received numerous complaints . | b9ceb789ccb6aca1f2e00981f7fb6f0dcaa6b354 |
By . Ben Spencer . PUBLISHED: . 03:54 EST, 9 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:04 EST, 9 February 2013 . Probe: Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for a police investigation into the Stafford Hospital Scandal . Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for a police investigation over the Stafford Hospital scandal which led to the deaths of up to 1,200 people. An inquiry into the trust this week reported a ‘disaster’ in the care of vulnerable and elderly patients at the hospital and said it revealed failings at every level of the NHS. Mr Hunt said it was wrong that nobody had been ‘brought to book’ at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust in the wake of the report. ‘I think it’s absolutely outrageous that potentially more than a thousand people lost their lives because of poor care and not a single person has been brought to book,’ he said. ‘This was a public inquiry that was designed to help us understand why the system didn’t pick up what went wrong but I think it is absolutely disgraceful with all those things happening, whether it is doctors, nurses or managers, nobody has been held to account.’ Asked whether the information should be passed to the police, he added: ‘Well that evidence is in the public domain. And you know, it’s there for the police - and it’s there for the professional bodies, the GMC (General Medical Council) and the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) to look at and they should do that.’ Mr Hunt said that it was not for him to judge which individuals should be prosecuted. ‘As a politician, I am not in a . position to say this nurse is guilty, this nurse is not, and all these . things have to be decided at arm’s length following due process,’ he . told the Daily Telegraph. ‘This is about people’s careers and livelihood and there has to be fairness of course.’ Scandal: An inquiry found up to 1,200 patients died on casualty wards at Stafford between 2005 and 2009 due to an obsession with targets . Robert Francis QC, who led the . inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, said there were . failings at every level of the NHS and that the culture among . healthcare staff must change. He said: ‘What we need to avoid is yet another wholesale reorganisation of abolishing organisations and creating new ones. Sir David Nicholson, the head of the NHS, has resisted calls to step down over the scandal at Stafford Hospital . ‘This is about how people behave when . they go to work and their ability to raise concerns and be honest about . what’s going on in their hospitals.’ The . change would only happen when NHS managers, clinicians and staff . started to address the failings ‘rather than waiting to be told what to . do from Whitehall, or by the top of the NHS,’ he added. Sir David Nicholson, the head of the NHS, has resisted calls to step down over the scandal at Stafford Hospital. Heather . Wood, who headed an earlier investigation into the hospital in 2009, . said: ‘If this were a private sector organisation that had failed to . such an extent, we would be calling for the boss to take responsibility. ‘There is a big case to answer for the creation of that culture.’ Patients’ campaigner Julie Bailey, whose elderly mother Bella died at Stafford . hospital, called for individuals in the NHS to be held accountable for . the failings in care. She said: ‘This is an opportunity to put down the gauntlet and say enough is enough. ‘From today you will be held accountable for your actions - it’s no good saying in the future you will be held accountable. ‘We want accountability for the hundreds of deaths and the suffering our loved ones had to put up with.’ NHS . medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh has launched a review into . five other trusts where there were 3,000 more deaths than expected . between 2010 and 2012. Patients’ campaigner Julie Bailey, (left) whose . elderly mother Bella (right) died at Stafford hospital, called for individuals . in the NHS to be held accountable for the failings in care . A whistleblower at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital today urged others in similar situations to act as she did. Helene Donnelly, a former casualty nurse at the hospital, said healthcare workers who saw poor care had a duty to speak out. Asked on BBC Breakfast whether she would have blown the whistle if she . had known that nobody would be disciplined over what happened, she said: . 'Just because you think nothing's going to happen doesn't mean you . don't try, and that would be my message to other nurses out there right . now, who may be in a very similar situation, that if they're witnessing . poor standards of care, they have a duty to speak out.' She said the report by Robert Francis QC into the Mid Staffordshire NHS . Foundation Trust had highlighted that there may be a legal obligation to . report wrongdoing. 'But I think it goes much further. The Francis report can only go so . far, it's up now to the individuals and organisations to take that . forward to implement change.' Ms Donnelly said that people should be held accountable for their actions. 'I think individuals have to be accountable for their own behaviour, and . from a nursing point of view, you have a duty of care for your . patients, and if you are not delivering that, and particularly if you . are doing harm, you need to be made accountable.' Asked if there had been a culture of neglect at the hospital, she said: 'There was, and there was a culture of bullying as well, both towards . staff and patients.' She said there were 'immense' pressures on the nurses. 'We were hugely understaffed, and had very poor equipment, inadequate . equipment, and that obviously led to the nurses being under immense . pressure, and there was pressure to always meet the four hour accident . and emergency ward target. That had a knock on effect to patient care.' | Mr Hunt said it was wrong that nobody had been 'brought to book' Inquiry reported a 'disaster' in the care of vulnerable and elderly patients . | 7491b15faa634c3cb2511adfb87b305954fe9f87 |
An unopened bottle of wine made on the orders of Adolf Hitler to celebrate his 54th birthday has gone up for sale. The rare 1.5-litre bottle was among a batch made on Hitler's orders to mark his birthday on April 20, 1943, which he then gifted to high-ranking German officers. The wartime dictator called the red wine 'Fuhrerwein' - meaning 'leader's wine' - and insisted the bottle's label carried a picture of himself in uniform. A rare unopened 1.5-litre bottle of wine made to celebrate Hitler's birthday in 1943 has surfaced and will now go on sale . A wax label on the bottle carries an image of an eagle on top of a swastika and a stamp of the Reichszeugmeisterei, the central office that supplied Nazi equipment. The wine itself is 12 per cent Schwarzer Tafelwein - 'black table wine' - thought to have been made in Germany but, despite a wax seal on the bottle, experts say it would now be undrinkable. Hitler wouldn't have enjoyed the wine himself however, because he was famously teetotal. The bottle was given to a Hungarian prisoner of war by a German soldier after the war and has remained in the same family ever since. Hitler famously did not drink alcohol but gave the wine to his top military officers . The bottle contains a stamp of the Reichszeugmeisterei, the central office that supplied Nazi equipment, . and the wine is described as Schwarzer Tafelwein, meaning 'black table wine' Hitler had little to celebrate in 1943, as Allied forces turned the tables on the Nazis in Europe and on the Eastern Front. In . April 1945, just days after his 56th birthday, Hitler shot himself in . his underground bunker at the Reich Chancery in Berlin as Soviet forces . advanced. The bottle has a wax seal and a label carrying an image of an eagle on top of a swastika . The wine, which has been verified by historians, has emerged just days before the 125th anniversary of Hitler's birth in Austria. It is expected to fetch £2,000 when it is sold following an online auction ending on April 21. Dominic Hughes, from McTear's Auctioneers in Glasgow, said: 'The bottle was consigned to us by a Hungarian man whose father had procured it during World War II. 'The owner's father was taken as a prisoner of war and when he returned home he was given this bottle by a German soldier. It has been in his family ever since. 'Hitler commissioned the red wine to be made for his 54th birthday to give as presents to his general staff. 'He was so self obsessed that he called the wine Fuhrerwein and insisted the label carried a picture of himself on it. 'The . wine was possibly produced in Germany and would not have been amazing . when it was bottled, but now it would be completely undrinkable. 'Two years after it was made Hitler was dead and the war was all but over. The bottle is a 1.5-litre magnum which is very rare. 'I . think that the bottle is an important historical artifact - it is . certainly not a bottle that you would come across very often, if at . all.' A German gun which was adapted by British secret services for an audacious plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler is now on display in Essex. The Luger pistol - specially adapted with a British-made silencer - had been set to be used during the Second World War in a bid to kill the Nazi leader at his holiday home in Bavaria. The plan was eventually ditched in late 1944 after British intelligence disagreed over whether killing the Nazi leader at that point in the war was a sensible strategy. The specially-silenced Lugar was to be used by a sniper who was going to be dropped behind enemy lines . The pistol is now proudly on display as part of the Donnington Collection at the Combined Military Services Museum in Maldon, Essex. Clive McPherson, historian at the museum, said: 'I think this is a really interesting sideline to history. It's interesting to think what would be different if they had gone ahead with the plan.' The assassination attempt - code named 'Operation Foxley' - was put together after a captured German guard revealed Hitler enjoyed a morning walk every day whilst staying at his holiday hideout in the Bavarian Alps. Hitler would wander unguarded for around 20 minutes from the Berghoff to a local teahouse at around 10am each morning. Historian Clive McPherson believes the plan never went ahead because Hitler was making so many mistakes at the time, it was better not to kill him . An English sniper and a Polish soldier, who spoke fluent German, were set to be disguised as German mountain troops and parachuted in close to Hitler's residence in Berchtesgaden, Germany, to shoot him as he went for his morning walk. The sniper was equipped with a Mauser for the sniper shot as well as the specially-silenced Luger pistols to kill anybody who uncovered the plot. The plan had been set to go ahead around the time of the Normandy landings in June 1944 but was eventually scrapped. It is believed intelligence chiefs in Britain disagreed over whether killing Hitler was a good idea, with some claiming he was a bad strategist and feared he might be replaced by a better leader, and others believing he could become a martyr to Nazi forces, who would become more difficult to defeat. The firearm has now gone on display in the Donnington Collection at the Combined Military Services Museum in Maldon, Essex . Other secret murder plots considered included bombing Hitler's personal train or poisoning the water supply. The Donnington Collection is a unique collection of weapons used and captured by the British Army during the 19th and 20th centuries, assembled by MOD Donnington. Mr McPherson added: 'These pistols were German but were caught from the enemy during the war. 'Only 10 of the Luger pistols were ever specially adapted by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) for the mission and we have three on display here. 'German's did not use silenced weapons so British-made silencers were added to the pistols.' There are thought to have been more than 25 attempts to kill Hitler between his rise to power in the 1930s and his death in 1945. The most famous is the so-called 'July 20 Plot', when senior officer, Colonel Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg (pictured right), planted a bomb at the leader's Wolf's Lair headquarters. The plot was planned to coincide with a seizure of power in Berlin, but failed when Hitler was only concussed and burned in the blast and the military coup failed. The botched plan lead to the arrest of around 7,000 people believed to have been involved and the execution of around 5,000. Colonel von Stauffenberg was played by Tom Cruise in a 2008 film adaption of the episode, called Valkyrie. In an earlier attempt on Hitler's life, the Oster Conspiracy of 1938, another group of high-ranking German officials planned to storm the Reichkanzlei building. But the plan relied on strong British opposition to Hitler's seizure of the Sudetenland and after then-Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed a peace deal with Hitler the plan fell away. In a later assasination bid, a Major General Henning von Tresckow attempted to kill Hitler as he flew back from field headquarters near Vinnitsa in Ukraine, on 19 February 1943. He handed a bomb, disguised as a box containing two bottles of cognac, for a friend in Germany. But the device failed to go off because it was placed in the cargo hold of Hitler's plane, where it is believed to have been too cold for the detonator to work. | Wine made in 1943 given to Hungarian prisoner by German soldier after war . It has now been handed to a Glasgow auction house for an online sale . Bottle - expected to sell for £2,000 - features picture of Hitler on the label . But experts say the red wine, which carries a swastika stamp, is undrinkable . Lugar Pistol adapted by British spies in daring plot to kill the German leader . Gun, set to be used near Hitler's mountain base, now on show in Essex . | 18e49bc30d32396143f399dc3e6747955c2c272e |
An amateur space enthusiast hoped to have finally discovered life on Mars after spotting what looked like a crocodile roaming the red planet. Unfortunately, the jawed beast spotted by keen-eyed amateur astronomer Joe White, from Bristol, was nothing more than a chuck of rock. Nasa has been beaming photos from space since mobile robot Curiosity landed there in August 2012. An amateur space enthusiast hoped to have finally discovered life on Mars after spotting what looked like a crocodile roaming the red planet . The chunks of rock bore an uncanny resemblance to the long jaws of a crocodile . Mr White, 45, a space video journalist, has been eagerly watching the images for signs of alien life. But he has been more successful at spotting familiar items in the rock formation. He said: 'I was playing another game of 'interplanetary I spy when I found the crocodile looking thing just sitting there on Mars. 'Compare the nose and mouth morphology.' Mr White runs the You Tube channel ArtAlienTV and trawls through Nasa's images every day to find unusual shapes. The image was shot from the six-foot-high right hand side mast cam on the Curiosity Rover earlier this year. There have been rocks that look like traffic lights, and even a perfectly rounded stone discovered on the surface of Mars. Another of the latest bizarre formations appears to show a rock in the shape of a cannon. Nasa has been beaming photos from Mars since its Curiosity rover landed in August 2012. Another picture appears to show a cannon (pictured left) Mr White said: 'I think it looks like a gun - as in an artillery piece - but it's way too small for that really.' Last month, a perfectly rounded rock was also spotted on the Martian surface, and continuing the cannon analogy, it looks similar to a cannonball. The rover's top speed is 1.5 inches (3.8 centimetres) per second. Curiosity is the fourth rover to visit Mars. It took around seven minutes to land on the Red Planet. The rover is fitted with 17 cameras. It weighs about the same as a Mini Cooper at approximately 900kg (2,000lbs). Scientists considered 60 possible landing sites before deciding on Gale Crater. The same week, a rock shaped like a traffic light was also spotted as Curiosity roamed around the base of Mars' Mount Sharp. In the image, a set of three large rocks - admittedly with a larger fourth one as well - are shown being stacked on top of each other. They bear a striking resemblance to traffic lights on Earth. But it’s highly unlikely this same feature was built by a martian civilisation. The image was shot from the six-foot (1.8 metre) high, left-hand side mast cam on the Curiosity Rover. The 'traffic light' rock was also spotted by Mr White, who runs a YouTube channel called ArtAlienTV. ‘I saw this one and I thought “hang on, that looks a bit strange”. I think it looks like a traffic light. ‘It is hard to tell how big it would be without any point of reference, but I would estimate it was about 12 inches [30.5cm]. ‘I posted it on the internet and people said they thought it looked like a set of traffic lights too - although some people did say it looked like a totem pole.’ The Curiosity rover recently spotted a rock that looks like traffic lights on Mars (shown in the red ring in this image). Washington-based Nasa is yet to comment on the latest discovery. The finding highlights just how weird and wonderful some of the rock formations on Mars can be . The 'traffic lights' (left) were spotted by Curiosity (right) on its way to the base of Mount Sharp, a geologically fascinating region that could explain how Mars lost its wet and habitable environment. Other people have said the strange looking rock resembles a totem pole . The rock was spotted by space video journalist Joe White. Mr White said: 'I saw this one and I thought "hang on, that looks a bit strange". I think it looks like a traffic light' (stock image shown). The image from Curiosity is just one of many fascinating rocks on the red planet that resembles something we are familiar with on Earth . Just days earlier, Curiosity spotted the ball-shaped rock on the surface of Mars. Nasa said it was likely an example of Martian concretion, the process of compacting and hardening a mass of matter, according to Discovery News. Curiosity is currently at the base of Mount Sharp, which has been the target for the mission since it landed just over two years ago. The area is geologically fascinating as it contains layers that may provide an insight into the history of Mars. And, scientists hope the region might reveal how and why Mars lost what was once thought to be a habitable environment, with water flowing on its surface. This, in turn, may provide answers on the future of Earth. The discovery follows another intriguing image that showed an almost perfectly round rock on the Martian surface (shown). Nasa said it was likely an example of Martian concretion, the process of compacting and hardening a mass of matter. Continuing the cannon analogy, it also looks like a cannonball . | The Curiosity rover has spotted a rock that looks like a crocodile on Mars . Discovery follows other intriguing images that showed an almost perfectly rounded stone, and a traffic light-shaped rock on the Martian surface . Curiosity is currently at the base of Mount Sharp on the red planet . | eb6ec3fef6bc4e243e66b7d57456de8690e56559 |
(CNN) -- Roger Federer is through to a tenth consecutive Australian Open semifinal after beating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets at the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. The world No.2 fought off a gutsy challenge from the seventh seed to eventually prevail 7-6 4-6 7-6 3-6 6-3 in three hours 34 minutes to set up a clash with Britain's Andy Murray on Friday. Sloane Stephens stuns Serena Williams . "It was a tough close for sure but whole match was tough," Federer said. "You never know what Jo is going to come up with ... I feel a bit lucky to come through, but I felt I played some great tennis and it was a pleasure to play against Jo tonight because he played great too." Tsonga fought back twice from being a set down and saved four match points, but as so often, Federer prevailed in the deciding fifth set, breaking the Frenchman in the fourth game before going on to serve out the match. Federer won the last of his four titles in Melbourne against Murray back in 2010 and is relishing facing the Scot again. "It will be extremely tough. It was great to have seen him play such a great year last year and finally get his first slam, and the Olympic gold was an amazing achievement after a tough loss in the Wimbledon final. I'm looking forward to it. He's a great guy and a great player," Federer said. Earlier, Murray dispatched Jeremy Chardy in straight sets 6-4 6-1 6-2 to reach his fourth consecutive Australian Open semifinal. The world No.3 overpowered the unseeded Frenchman -- who knocked out Juan Martin del Potro in the third round -- in one hour 51 minutes. "Today was the best I've played so far," Murray said afterwards. "I struggled in my last few rounds and I knew he'd beaten some top players. I knew I had to be sharp. I moved well today." World No.1 Novak Djokovic and Spain's David Ferrer will meet in the other semifinal on Thursday. | Roger Federer beats Frenchman Tsonga in quarterfinals of Australian Open in Melbourne . World No.2 will play Britain's Andy Murray who enjoyed straight-sets win over Jeremy Chardy . Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer will contest other semifinal on Thursday . | 12d11bd91ab0acdecea530e3e1c5efd7c4312358 |
By . Steph Cockroft . An ice cream van driver who lost attention 'for a few seconds' killed a motorcyclist after failing to spot him during rush-hour traffic. Mohammed Zabeur Khan, 49, was making a right turn in his Ford Transit van in Bolton in April this year when he crashed into Andrew Wood, who was travelling in the opposite direction. The court heard that Mr Wood, from Bolton, was overtaking . stationary traffic on his own side of the road when Khan pulled out . across the traffic. Mohammed Zabeur Khan, 49, pictured left, was making a right turn in his ice cream van when he crashed into motorcyclist Andrew Wood, 23, pictured right, who was travelling in the opposite direction . Khan - who was said to be 'utterly devastated' about what had happened - did not spot Mr Wood’s motorcycle approaching. The 23-year-old, who worked at an animal . sanctuary where he cared for sick and abandoned creatures, died in . hospital from his injuries. In a statement released by police, Mr . Wood's family said he had been a 'hard-working, honest and friendly . person' and they were 'completely overcome' by his death. During the hearing at Bolton Crown Court, Khan pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. The court heard that Khan - who needed an interpreter in the proceedings - had momentarily lost attention. Mr Wood had been . travelling in the opposite direction in his own lane and on the outside . of queuing traffic, the court was told. Mohammed Nawaz, representing Khan, said the collision had been 'no more than a few seconds of momentarily in-attention'. He said: 'He was on a main road in Bolton, in rush hour traffic. He was wanting to execute a right turn, he positioned himself in the centre of the road and indicated to turn right. The crash, which took place in Bolton, pictured above, during rush-hour traffic, took place after Khan momentarily lost attention. Mr Wood died later in hospital from his injuries . 'He waited for a gap in the traffic. Once a gap appeared he began his right turn.' He added that the defendant accepted that carelessness had led to the crash, but that he had been left shattered by the outcome. He said: 'He (Khan) is a man almost in . his 50s, he drives for a living. He was driving an ice cream van at the . time. He has a clean record and no previous convictions. 'He is a family . man with children. He is utterly devastated by the consequences of the . collision.' Prosecutor Peter Cadwallder said: 'Clearly in-attention was only for a . few seconds but in light of tragic circumstances I would put it in . category two although not at the top of that.' Khan pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court, pictured above, to causing death by careless driving and was told it was unlikely he would be sent to prison for the crime . Judge Timothy Clayson said the defendant would be unlikely to go to jail for the killing. He said: 'Momentarily in-attention means exactly what it says. The case doesn’t easily fit in. It seems to me that it is placed at the bottom end of the second category. 'This case, if the defendant pleads guilty will not attract a prison sentence.' The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. Khan will be sentenced in September at the court. He was issued with an interim driving ban ahead of sentencing. In a statement released by police, Mr Wood’s family said: 'Andrew was a dedicated son, brother and uncle and will be sorely missed by his close circle of friends. 'He was a hard-working, honest and friendly person who enjoyed walking with his dog and riding his motorcycle. 'He worked with sick, injured and abandoned animals at a local animal rescue centre. He had a lovely girlfriend and they had plans to move into their first home together in the near future. 'We are all completely overcome by his loss and our lives will feel empty without him.' | Mohammed Zabeur Khan, 49, was making a right turn in Ford Transit van . He crashed into Andrew Wood, 23, who was travelling in opposite direction . At Bolton Crown Court, Khan admitted causing death by careless driving . Mr Wood's family are 'completely overcome' by animal rescue worker's death . | 9607a3d5d627e0746bb18dcf7bcf8baab7d4998c |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi has been indicted on charges he promised to support legislation in exchange for a land deal that netted the Arizona Republican more than $700,000, the Justice Department said Friday. In a 35-count indictment unsealed early Friday, Renzi, 49, is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, extortion and insurance fraud. Also named in the indictment is Renzi's former business partner and real estate investor, James W. Sandlin, 56, of Sherman, Texas, and Andrew Beardall, 36, of Rockville, Maryland. Renzi's attorneys, Reid Weingarten and Kelly Kramer, denied their client had done anything wrong. "We will fight these charges until he is vindicated and his family's name is restored," the attorneys said in a statement. The attorneys said their client had buried his father, Eugene Renzi, at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday. "We are disappointed that the Department of Justice would not allow a decent amount of time to pass to allow a son to mourn the passing of his father," the statement said. At a news conference in Phoenix, Arizona, prosecutors said Renzi conspired with Sandlin to conduct a land swap in exchange for the congressman's push to get a House committee's approval for the deal. Federal prosecutors said Renzi received $733,000 in the deal but did not disclose the income to Congress in his 2005 financial disclosure statement. U.S. Attorney Diane Humetewa said that Renzi "used his official authority as a United States representative" to ensure that the 2005 federal land exchange included land owned by Sandlin. Another goal of the conspiracy was to conceal that Renzi received a portion of the proceeds from the deal, according to the indictment. Renzi was having financial difficulty in 2005 and "needed a substantial infusion of funds to keep his insurance business solvent and maintain his personal lifestyle," the indictment said. The 26-page indictment outlines a series of transactions involving Renzi and Sandlin, who were co-owners of Fountain Realty and Development, until Renzi ran for a seat in Congress and sold his share of the company to Sandlin. Sandlin bought out Renzi's interest for $200,000 and a note for $800,000, according to a statement from the Justice Department. In 2005, when Sandlin still owed him $700,000 on the note, "Renzi insisted that two separate entities doing business in Arizona purchase Sandlin's property in exchange for his support on land exchange legislation," authorities said. Renzi and Beardall are charged with insurance fraud, accused of embezzling more than $400,000 in insurance premiums from the trust account of the Patriot Insurance Agency, a business owned by the Renzi family in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, to fund his congressional campaign in 2001 and 2002. They're also accused of making false statements to influence state regulatory investigations, a statement said. "There were concealment efforts, misrepresentations and fraudulent statements made," Humetewa said. If convicted, Renzi could face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and extortion and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and concealing money laundering as well as lesser sentences for convictions on the other counts, prosecutors said. Renzi and the other defendants will be served summonses to appear in U.S. Magistrate Court in Tucson, Arizona, for an arraignment March 6, Humetewa said. Renzi has been under an ethical cloud since the FBI raided a family business last year. The FBI said it was investigating whether the congressman had used his office for personal gain. He stepped down from the House Intelligence Committee in April after the raid. Renzi, a three-term member of the House, announced in August that he would not seek re-election. He represents Arizona's 1st Congressional District. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Terry Frieden and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. | NEW: Rep. Rick Renzi received $733,000 from land deal, indictment says . NEW: Renzi's attorneys say their client has done nothing wrong and will fight charges . Indictment says Arizona Republican pushed land swap benefiting former partner . The 35-count indictment names Renzi, two other businessmen as defendants . | 990d46690babb355065e0251f33ad5eec4a6666f |
By . Mike Jaccarino . PUBLISHED: . 17:55 EST, 28 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:17 EST, 29 August 2012 . A Florida cement facility worker is presumed dead after plummeting into a towering dry cement-filled silo that quickly filled with rainwater from the approaching Hurricane Isaac. Officials and co-workers are still searching for the body of Pierre Mezidor, a 58-year-old Haitian father of two, after he was entombed Aug. 17 in what reportedly been described as, 'a horribly gruesome event.' Macabre: Pictured here is the 200-foot-tall silo into which a worker plunged on Aug. 17 when its roof buckled and collapsed . Pierre Mezidor, a 58-year-old immigrant father of two, was standing atop the silo, measuring the quantity of dry cement inside, when the accident occurred . "His son is like collapsing inside," family friend Yolaine Casimier told Local 10 News outside Mr. Mezidor's Florida homestead. Mr. Mezidor was reportedly standing atop the 200-foot silo located in Medley, Fla. around 8:30 a.m., measuring the level of dry cement inside, when the roof beneath him freakishly buckled and collapsed. Along with the piecemeal roof, Mezidor reportedly fell some 140 feet into a silo that one fire official said was only 20 per cent full of dry cement at the time. Rainwater from Tropical Storm Isaac quickly poured into the suddenly-open silo, not quite creating wet concrete, but rather a gooey mush that has bound to debris - and hampered recovery efforts. "I just look at the situation myself, my head ready to blow and seeing that big thing," Casimier told Local 10 News. "From what we see the situation he's not going to come out alive." Casimier was reportedly one of the many friends and family members gathered at Mezidor's home Saturday, offering support to his wife, step-daughter and 16-year-old son. Freakish Accident: The incident occurred at Titan America's Tarmac Cement Plant in Medley, Fla., which manufacturers dry cement . Macabre: The interior of the silo (pictured) quickly filled with rainwater from Hurricane Isaac, entombing Mezidor in a gooey mush from which he is yet to be extracted . Mezidor had been working at the Tarmac Cement plant, which is owned by Titan America, for 19 years, according to Local 10 News. His step-daughter has said that he loved his job so much that he would go into work on his days off. Titan America told The Miami Herald that company officials “deeply regret the incident and emphasize that employee safety is their primary concern.” 'I just look at the situation myself, my head ready to blow and seeing that big thing. From what we see the situation he's not going to come out alive.' But family members have already hired an attorney in anticipation of filing a civil suit. “This type of death in and of itself is unspeakable,” Edward Blumberg told The Herald, “and the family still does not have the closure of having a body.” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reportedly lowered sophisticated cameras and listening devices into the silo - devices sensitive enough to hear someone tapping - but heard no signs of life. "We have cadaver dogs that detect only dead people and we have live rescue dogs," MDFR Lt. Arnold Piedrahita told Local 10 NEws in the day. "Hopefully, with those dogs we will be able to determine whether this is going to be a recovery operation or continue as a rescue operation." A Furious Search: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has furiously searched for the fallen Mezidor with, among other things, cadaver-sniffing dogs, but to no avail . Tireless Worker: Mezidor reportedly loved his job at the plant, for whom he worked for 19 years, that he would come in on his days off . | Pierre Mezidor was standing atop the silo Aug. 17 at a Florida cement manufacturing facility, measuring how much was inside when its roof collapsed . Rainwater pours into the suddenly-open silo, entombing the father-of-two in a gooey mush . Officials presume Mezidor dead after 11-day hunt for his body . Heartbroken son repeatedly collapses at news of his father's death . | 0268411c1214cb3aa3550bb4ea8d25be6a636fd0 |
(CNN)The newest additions to Monaco's royal family, month-old baby twins Gabriella and Jacques, made their first appearance before their subjects Wednesday. Their parents, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, presented them to a crowd of flag-waving onlookers from the balcony of the royal palace. Each carrying a baby swaddled in white blankets, the proud couple smiled and waved as the crowd cheered and applauded, while church bells rang and a military band played. The infant royals appeared to sleep through the event, for which a public holiday was declared. The twins were born on December 10 at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco, a tiny principality bordered on three sides by France and on the fourth by the Mediterranean Sea. Gabriella Therese Marie arrived in the world two minutes ahead of her brother. But in line with Monaco's rules of succession, Jacques Honore Rainier was named the Crown Prince and his sister next in line to the throne after him. The first pictures of the royal babies were released on the royal family's official Facebook account on December 23. "A beautiful Christmas gift to Monaco, friends of the Principality of Monaco and the royal family," said the post. One of the tiny additions to the royal family wears a pink babygrow and the other a blue one. Royal twins born in Monaco . The twins are the first children born to Charlene Wittstock, a former South African Olympic swimmer who married Prince Albert II in 2011. Prince Albert, 56, also has two children born out of wedlock in 1992 and 2003 who are not in line for the throne. He succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III, as Sovereign Prince of Monaco on his death in 2005. At 2.02 sq km (77 sq miles), it is the second smallest state in the world, after the Vatican, and about half the size of New York's Central Park. It sits on the French Riviera and is a popular tourist destination, famous for its casino and luxury hotels. | Baby twins Gabriella and Jacques were born on December 10 . Jacques has been named the Crown Prince of Monaco . | 2ed542efc4eef8f2521c0c9e113eb2e0dfef8584 |
(CNN) -- When the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 ruling Thursday, the American Medical Association was quick to release a statement in support of the "historic" decision that will give more people access to health coverage. But (and there's always a "but") medical professionals across the country are wondering: When an additional 32 million Americans get medical insurance, who exactly is going to treat them? "We've expressed some concerns before about whether or not we're going to have enough physicians out there," AMA President-Elect Ardis Hoven said. They have good reason to worry. When Thailand enacted the "30-bhat scheme" in 2002, requiring all patients to be covered by health insurance, 14 million people were added to the country's health care system. The result was longer waits at the doctor's office and complaints of subpar service. 8 countries that have universal health care . A physician shortage in the U.S. was expected even before the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Now the group estimates that there will be a shortage of 63,000 doctors by 2015 and 130,600 by 2025. The shortage is a result of several factors. A large number of medical professionals are reaching retirement age, as is a large group of patients: Nearly 15 million will become eligible for Medicare in the coming years, the Association of American Medical Colleges reports. On top of that, there is a lack of residency spots available for students graduating from medical school. In 2011, more than 7,000 were left with degrees that said "M.D." but no place to continue their education, according to the National Residency Matching Program. Why your waiter has an M.D. Many residency spots are funded by Medicare, and there's a cap on the number a hospital can claim each year. That number, about 100,000, has remained steady since 1997. While the Affordable Care Act will redistribute some unused residency slots and increase funding for the National Health Service Corps, more needs to be done, advocates say. "There will be real physician shortages if we don't do more to lift the residency cap," said Dr. Atul Grover, the Association of American Medical Colleges' chief advocacy officer, in a statement. "People on both sides of the aisle have realized the need to train more doctors." Opinion: We don't need more doctors . The biggest scarcity will be in primary-care physicians, Hoven said, thanks to better insurance coverage for preventative care. "I would like to note that these are not newly appeared patients," she said. "They've been in emergency rooms, for things that are not necessarily an emergency. It's going to be a reshuffling of where they get their care and when they get their care." This, of course, is a good thing, Hoven said. Doctors will be able to detect diseases earlier and focus on wellness, which in turn might lower health care costs. But that will require more internists, ob/gyns and pediatricians -- at a time when many private practices are struggling to stay afloat financially. Nurses would be a perfect fit to handle the increase in preventative medicine practices, said registered nurse Karen Daley, president of the American Nurses Association. Nursing's holistic approach focuses on wellness and community-based health needs. Unfortunately, America has been talking about the nation's nursing shortage since the early 2000s, and the numbers haven't improved. "We're going to be facing serious shortages unlike anything we've ever seen in the next decade," Daley said. The American Nurses Association was a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act, and the group wrote a brief in support of the legislation. Even if it's not a perfect law, Daley said, there are several important protections that have been put in place, protections that will give access to millions who otherwise might have avoided care. But, there's always a "but." "This is going to have to be a system that, in order to be effective, is going to have to be able to meet demands for the work force. We need more resources to provide more access." | American Medical Association expresses concern over physician shortage . Estimates say there will be a shortage of 63,000 doctors by 2015 . Shortages due to lack of funding for residency programs and baby boomers . | 6c398e13a4c50c58ea70e4725a0e37cf2b88d593 |
A milkman was sacked after he appeared on the Jeremy Kyle Show accused of cheating on his wife while he was on his rounds. Shaun Dadds, 44, took lie detector tests to see if he had been unfaithful to his wife, who was also on the ITV programme in September. Just hours after appearing under the title 'Is my husband cheating on his milk round?', Mr Dadds' bosses at Dairy Crest claimed he had brought the milk firm into disrepute. Scroll down for video . Milkman Shaun Dadds (left) was sacked after taking sick leave to appear on the Jeremy Kyle Show alongside his wife, Anne-Marie (right), to take lie detector tests . They were furious that the milkman, from Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, took sick leave on the day of the recording, the Sun reported. Dairy Crest bosses also said Mr Dadds had brought the firm into disrepute as customers may have seen him on the daytime show. Mrs Dadds, 43, also angered her husband's managers by using the company's slogan 'Milk and More' in a conversation on Jeremy Kyle's programme. She said: 'There was nothing there between us — not just the sex, but no intimacy, no affection. 'I said to him, "It says you deliver Milk and More but that seems to be the only thing you deliver".' On the show, Mr Dadds took lie detector tests to determine whether he had 'sexual contact', 'sexual interaction' and 'passionate kissing' with another woman while he was in a relationship with his wife. The tests found that Mr Dadds (centre) had cheated on Anne-Marie in the early stages of their relationship . Mr Dadds (centre) was sacked after appearing on the show but he and his wife have saved their marriage . He failed all three tests because of a fling in the early stages of their relationship. Milk round supervisor Mr Dadds was sacked from his job, which he had held for six years, in October. Despite losing his job and the couple's marital woes, the pair have got their marriage back on track after Jeremy organised eight weeks of counselling for them. Mr Dadds said: 'I thought they'd give me a final warning. 'It was worth it. Even though I have lost my job, it saved my marriage.' Mother-of-two Mrs Dadds added: 'I feel guilty. We're left on benefits.' A spokesman for Dairy Crest said: 'Dairy Crest and Milk&More have stringent employment and HR procedures in place. We don’t comment on individual cases, but can confirm that all procedures were followed in this instance.' | Milkman Shaun Dadds was sacked after appearing on Jeremy Kyle Show . His wife had accused him of cheating on her while he was on his rounds . Mr Dadds took three lie detector tests to see if he had been unfaithful . He failed all the tests and was sacked after appearing on the programme . Dairy Crest angry that Mr Dadds' wife said firm's 'Milk and More' slogan . They said he brought the company into disrepute by going on the show . He was sacked for gross misconduct a month after the programme aired . But the couple took counselling and say the TV show saved their marriage . | 43530731f9b608efcf8cf4c362651ab84a392999 |
By . Associated Press . Michelle Obama's annual question-and-answer session with the children of Executive Office employees took a serious turn Thursday when a 10-year-old girl in the front row told the first lady that her dad had been out of work for three years. Then the girl popped up to hand the first lady his resume. The First Lady seemed a little taken aback but then explained to the other children, who might not have heard the girl's comment, that the matter was 'a little private, but she's doing something for her dad.' Mrs Obama promised to deal with the matter later. Scroll down for video . Charlotte Bell, 10, handed Michelle Obama her dad's resume during the White House's annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day' on Thursday . After the event Michelle Obama gave the little girl a hug and took the resume with her . When the event ended, Obama gave the . girl, Charlotte Bell, 10, a hug and then reached back to grab the resume . off a table as she left the East Room. The first lady played host to . the children at the White House on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work . Day. Bell's family had joked over the weekend about making a job pitch to the First Lady, but her parents didn't know she would give it a try, according to her mother, an executive branch employee who did not want to be identified. Bell's father, Ben Bell, has been looking for a policy job for more than two years and recently has been trying to get a job with the Obama administration. He worked on the Obama campaign in 2012. Miss Bell's father worked for Obama's 2012 campaign and has been looking for a policy job . First lady Michelle Obama takes questions from children of Executive Office employees during the White House's annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day . | Michelle Obama held a question-and-answer session with with children of Executive Office employees on Thursday as part of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work . Day . During the event, Charlotte Bell, 10, gave the First Lady her jobless father's resume . After the event Obama gave the little girl a hug . She also took the resume of the girl's father, Ben Bell, with her . | a9e2a4f82b26e7f68bbe560b8fbbc587d911538f |
Washington (CNN) -- In a lawsuit challenging the federal no-fly list, a U.S. District Court in Oregon has ruled that passengers have a constitutional right to fly internationally, but it has yet to decide if the government's procedures are enough to deny that right due to security concerns. The 13 plaintiffs, including four U.S. military veterans, sued in 2010 after being stopped from traveling in aircraft. They say they believe they are on the federal no-fly list. They also say they were prevented from traveling overseas to make religious pilgrimages, visit family and attend school, since other means of travel, such as boat trips that would have lasted more than a month, were impractical. The American Civil Liberties Union, which supported the case, hailed the partial decision as a victory. "This is the first federal court decision to recognize that when the government bans Americans from flying and smears them as suspected terrorists, it deprives them of constitutionally protected liberties and must provide these Americans a fair process to clear their names," Nusrat Choudhury, a staff attorney for the ACLU who argued the case, told CNN. The Justice Department would not comment on the case. The plaintiffs also say the government violated their right to due process when they were put on the list with no notice or meaningful way to fight the inclusion. About 20,000 people were on the no-fly list as of 2012, according to a counterterrorism official, including about 400 Americans. U.S. officials will not confirm who is on the no-fly list or various other terrorist watch lists complied by the F.B.I. and used by the Transportation Security Administration, airlines and other countries. The judge has asked both the government and the plaintiffs' attorneys for more information about the redress process before deciding if the procedures are enough to prevent people from flying. There is a process for removing a person's name by submitting information to the Department of Homeland Security. If would-be passengers aren't happy with the results, they can take the government to court. The plaintiffs said that process is not adequate, since the government never holds an administrative hearing, acknowledges if a person's name is on the list or if it has been removed, or tells why the name was on the list in the first place. The government argued in court documents that it can't tell people if they are on the no-fly list because that would reveal classified information that needs to be "shared across the government to maximize the nation's security, without fear that such information will be disclosed whenever anyone cannot travel as he or she might choose." The next court date is set for September 9. CNN's Rene Marsh and Carol Cratty contributed to this report. | 13 plaintiffs, including four U.S. vets, sued in 2010 after being stopped from traveling in aircraft . The plaintiffs say they believe they are on the federal no-fly list . They call other means of travel, such as boat trips lasting more than a month, impractical . The ACLU hails the ruling; the Justice Department would not comment on the case . | 71b9f584229b156b7402d10cb0e3a0d1e09507dd |
A British forensic archaeologist has unearthed fresh evidence to prove the existence of mass graves at the Nazi death camp Treblinka - scuppering the claims of Holocaust deniers who say it was merely a transit camp. Some 800,000 Jews were killed at the site, in north east Poland, during the Second World War but a lack of physical evidence in the area has been exploited by Holocaust deniers. Forensic archaeologist Caroline Sturdy Colls has now undertaken the first co-ordinated scientific attempt to locate the graves. Treblinka death camp in Poland where 17,000 Stone Memorial is one of the few reminders of the horrific events of the past . As Jewish religious law forbids disturbing burial sites, she and her team from the University of Birmingham have used 'ground-penetrating radar'. Her work at the site, where the Nazis tried to destroy all traces of industrial-scale killing, is being followed in forthcoming Radio 4 documentary The Hidden Graves Of The Holocaust. Sturdy Colls said: 'All the history books state that Treblinka was destroyed by the Nazis but the survey has demonstrated that simply isn’t the case. 'I’ve identified a number of buried pits using geophysical techniques. These are considerable in size, and very deep, one in particular is 26 by 17 metres.' The programme’s presenter says that the pits contain the burnt remains of thousands of bodies. The forensic archaeologist, who has now presented her findings to the authorities responsible for the memorial at Treblinka, added: 'I really hope this is the first stage in a long-term programme to seek out those hidden graves of the Holocaust.' Survivor Kalman Taigman remembers his arrival at the camp’s railway station, packed into a cattle wagon. 'I . was with my mother. We were about 100 people in a wagon. They opened . the doors, firing guns and hitting us, and sent us into a yard. I ran . with my mother and tried to calm her. 'They . told me to leave my mother but I didn’t do it quickly and I was hit on . the head. When I got up, she was gone. She went with all the rest of the . women to the gas chamber.' Treblinka was a Nazi death camp in occupied Poland near the village of Treblinka during World War II . The camp was constructed as part of Operation Reinhard . Treblinka operated between July 23, 1942 and October 19, 1943 . During this time, approximately 850,000 men, women and children were killed at Treblinka. This figure includes more than 800,000 Jews, as well as a few thousand Romani people . The camp, which was operated by the SS and Eastern European Trawnikis, was split into two sections named Treblinka I and II . Treblinka I was designed for forced-labour center . Treblinka II was designed as a death factory with more than 99 per . cent of all arrivals being immediately sent to its gas chambers. Treblinka II ended operations on October 19, 1943 following a revolt by its Sonderkommandos. Beginning in March 1942, the SS implemented Sonderaktion 1005 to . cover up the murder of millions of people during Aktion Reinhard. There actions were so comprehensive that ever since the end of the Second World War, Holocaust deniers have used the site as evidence of misinformation about Nazi genocide. They claim the site was merely a transit camp - a myth now debunked by the latest discoveries of mass graves. | 'Ground penetrating radar' used because Jewish burial sites cannot be disturbed . Holocaust deniers had previously used the lack of graves to support their theories . | 936577f9f24f596cf49fe8133cc1da6afa26606d |
By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 06:54 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:56 EST, 17 October 2013 . Everyone's a food photographer nowadays: sometimes it feels like you can't escape from the endless stream of supper club plates and flourless chocolate cakes on Instagram and Facebook. But now one photographer is trying to do something a little different with edible subjects. Food and drink snapper Sarah Anne Ward is recreating famous artworks using sweets, cake, ice cream and jelly. Ward recreated Rothko's White Center, which sold for £45.5 million in 2007, using cake, chocolate sauce and ice cream . Ward's Skull . Candy photograph pays homage to Damien . Hirst's For The Love Of God diamond skull, with the jewels replaced by the pastel-coloured boiled sweets. Together with food stylists Michelle Gatton and Heather Meldrom, Ward recreates Rothko's White . Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose), which sold for £45.5 . million in 2007, using cake, chocolate sauce and ice cream. The mouthwatering photographs form part of Ward's Dessert Art project. 'Nowadays people just vomit food imagery with Instagram and Facebook,' Ward says of her motivation for shooting the series. 'I am always trying to find new ways to shoot, style, and just reimagine the food and our relationships and experiences with it.' And so, in Ward's world, Jackson Pollock's work is recreated with Rice Krispie cakes while Mondrian's famous 1930s primary-coloured Compositions are represented using shaped jelly. Working with food stylists Michelle Gatton and Heather Meldrom, Ward has recreated famous pieces, such as Damien Hirst's For The Love Of God diamond skull, here replicated with boiled sweets . The candy self-portrait is inspired by one of Ward's favorite artists, Cindy Sherman . Jeff Koons's giant shiny balloon dog . is remade with Twinkies (American sponge cake with creamy filling) and . Georges Seurat's Eiffel Tower 1889 is copied on top of a sponge cake, . the blurry, pointilliste effect mimicked with candy sprinkles. The candy self portrait is inspired by one of Ward’s favorite artists of all time, Cindy Sherman, and the Cubist movement features with Picasso and Braque-inspired pinwheel cookies. Ward, from Manhattan, New York, takes playing with food to an altogether higher plane with her fascinating project. She . specialises in food, drinks, and still-life product photography. Her . clients include J Crew, The New York Times, Random House, Esquire, Ralph . Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Ward's delicious-looking treats resemble artwork, from Rothko to Jeff Koons - here, the artist's giant shiny balloon dog is remade with Twinkies . The 'Jackson Pollock' Rice Krispie treats look visually compelling... and very tasty . Shaped jelly pays tribute to Piet Mondrian's iconic compositions of the 1930s . Georges Seurat's The Eiffel Tower 1889 is represented as a Pointillist-style sprinkle cake . The Cubist movement features with Picasso and Braque-inspired pinwheel cookies . | Photographer Sarah Anne Ward recreates famous artworks using cake . Rothko, Hirst, Pollock, Mondrian, Seurat and Picasso feature . | b2c5eb61425fe1927b95cc5f2d57ddd573ff2365 |
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos and are set to make a stunning move for his team-mate Arjen Robben. A £20million deal for Kroos was agreed when David Moyes was still in charge at Old Trafford and his successor, former Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, has said the move can go ahead. Kroos, 24, flourished under Van Gaal at Bayern and is keen to work under his old coach again. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arjen Robben and Tonis Kroos in action for Bayern Munich . Done deal: Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos for £20m . Green light: The deal to bring Kroos to Old Trafford was agreed when David Moyes was still in charge . Wing wizard: Van Gaal is preparing a stunning move for Kroos' Dutch Bayern team-mate Arjen Robben . All smiles: Van Gaal looks on as former Premier League stars Rafael van der Vaart (second left) and Dirk Kuyt (second right) take part in a Holland training session on Wednesday . The same is true of Robben, who was one of Van Gaal’s first signings in Germany when he joined from Real Madrid for £20m in 2009. The 30-year-old winger has recently signed a three-year deal but that is unlikely to discourage Holland coach Van Gaal, who will be working with Robben at the World Cup. United are understood to have agreed a £27m fee with Southampton for left back Luke Shaw and Borussia Dortmund centre half Mats Hummels is a target. International duty: Southampton left back Luke Shaw (right), seen here speaking to England manager Roy Hodgson in Vale Do Lobo, is set to move to Manchester this summer . On the list: Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels (front) is one of Van Gaal's targets . Close quarters: Van Gaal gives instructions to his players as they prepare for the World Cup . Straight to the point: Van Gaal hands out some advice as he holds a training session in Portugal . Over here: Van Gaal (centre) is animated as he gives his team orders during the training session in Lagos . Tough talking: The new United boss is preparing his Holland side for the upcoming World Cup Finals in Brazil . | United have agreed a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Kroos . The Red Devils are now set to make a move for Robben . United are understood to have agreed a £27m deal for Luke Shaw . Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels is one of Louis van Gaal's targets . | 3983c4e461acbbf978f04a480ccd913a8de56f97 |
Women are used to seeing scary sights in the mirror during a trip to the hairdressers. But instead of a frightful new hairdo customers were confronted with the face of a ghost during terrifying but hilarious stunt. The elaborate practical joke had unsuspecting patrons shrieking in terror, with shop staff pretending not to notice the pale and bloodied face of a young girl appearing before them. The same youngster - who looks as if she has been possessed by an evil demon - then crawls into the shop, upside down on all fours, with her back arched at a painful angle sending everyone fleeing in fear. Scroll down for video . Ghost in the mirror: An unsuspecting salon customer is frightened by the scary face appearing in front of her . Spooked: Another petrified woman shrieks with fear as she falls victim to the beauty salon prank . Pranksters: The ghostly figure is in position, ready to give the customers the fright of their lives . Some customers were so petrified, that they leap from their seats and run out of the store. The . stunt was captured on hidden camera to promote the release of The Last . Exorcism Part 2, a horror film due out in the U.S. next month. The . trick involved replacing the standard mirrors inside the salon with . special two-way mirrors, which the actress then sat behind. Staff also put a horror film on the television in the store to make the atmosphere a little more tense. Most of the woman jump when the figure first appears, before questioning themselves and what they have just seen. Nail in the coffin: The grand finale has customers running for the exit when the girl appears on the shop floor . Petrified: Customers scream at the sight of the young girl, who appears to be possessed by an evil demon . One customer tries to reassure herself by asking: 'What was that ... maybe it came from the TV?' Another tries to convince salon . staff, who are playing dumb, of her ghostly encounter. She says: 'Oh my . God. That thing just scared me ... the thing in the mirror, the scary . thing. I know I'm not tripping.' But when the girl appears again, most . of the women let out a huge scream, with some jumping from their seats . and others covering their faces. Those brave enough to remain in front . of the mirror are soon running for the exit, however, when the young . girl appears before them on the shop floor. Possessed: The supple actress warms up for the role as she prepares to give salon customers a flexible fright . Run for your life: The stunt had most people jumping from their seats and running for the exit . Most of the staff cannot resist bursting into laughter on seeing their customers beside themselves with fear. The video has attracted thousands of . views online and is similar to a stunt in Brazil, which was also an . internet hit, last year. The 15-rated Last Exorcism Part 2 follows Nell . Sweetzer as she tries to rebuild her life after the frightening events . featured in the first film, when the evil force that has once possessed . her returns. It stars Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, . Spencer Treat Clark and has been directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly, who also . co-wrote the screenplay. Hidden: The actress takes her place behind the two-way mirror ahead of the arrival of her unsuspecting victims . VIDEO: Beauty salon customers are spooked by a ghost in the mirror . The prank involved the lights and power . turning off in a lift and a ghostly looking young girl climbing inside . the elevator to give the person trapped in the elevator a fright when . the lights came back on. The Last Exorcism Part 2 is released in UK cinemas on June 7, with the first movie grossing nearly $70 million dollars (£46m) worldwide. It also won an Empire award in 2011 for best horror, but its marketing in the UK was not without controversy. There were 77 complaints made about one of the posters, which showed a young girl, bent over below a crucifix and wearing a dress covered in blood. The complaints promoted the Advertising Standards Agency to restrict the use of the poster, but did allow it to be used as the back cover of the Cineworld magazine. Trendsetter: The salon set up was similar to a stunt in Brazil last year when a young girl appeared in a lift . | Customers shriek when face of a young girl appears before them . The youngster then crawls into the store, upside and on all fours . Victims are left beside themselves with fear and run for the exit . Stunt was set up to promote new horror film The Last Exorcism 2 . | 4c89c83e8bdc6602073526072ca745b14fdb6f25 |
By . Ruth Styles . and Martha Cliff . He's the former child star turned documentary maker and now Tyger Drew-Honey has set his sights on explaining why modern men are coming under increasing pressure to look good. In the latest episode of his BBC3 series, Tyger Takes On..., Drew-Honey, 18, meets the boys and men going to extreme lengths to look good, whether that means surgery or steroids. 'One guy I met was Marcus who had taken so many . steroids that he had had a heart attack at 18,' reveals the star, incredulous. Working out: Drew-Honey is tackling male body image in the latest episode of his BBC documentary series . 'He didn’t want to show us his body because he felt ashamed of it . but I looked at it on Instagram later and he was ripped. 'He had an . amazing body and it seemed mental that he thought there was something . wrong with that.' And it's not just insecurities about muscle mass that plagues British men. According to eating disorders charity beat, males make up anywhere between 10 per cent and a quarter of anorexia and bulimia sufferers. So why are men going to extreme lengths to look good? According to Drew-Honey, natural competitiveness should bear some of the blame. 'It’s this idea of being competitive,' explains the 18-year-old star. 'We . see all these pictures of underwear models and pictures on the Instagram . because, essentially, we communicate through pictures these days. Unhealthy: Many men, desperate to get a bodybuilder look, are overusing steroids in a bid to gain muscle mass . Pressure: Men's bodies are coming under the same sort of scrutiny as women's do . 'We are . all in a race and we’re gonna go mad. We get more and more competitive . and then eventually we are in competition with ourselves.' Making it worse, he reveals, is the celebrity selfie culture which projects an ideal that the majority of teenagers and twenty-somethings will never achieve. 'People use this selfie culture . as a way of advertising themselves,' he adds, 'and people constantly feel have to live up . to the perfection that they see on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram more . and more.' What's more, this is one teen trend that isn't just about impressing the girls. 'There is that idea of looking good for . the opposite sex but a lot of the time men want to impress other men,' explains Drew-Honey. 'When I was hanging around with the boys in Coventry [for the documentary], they said they . didn’t care what the women thought - they only cared about what the men said and not . because they were gay but because of their competitive nature.' And Drew-Honey himself isn't immune to the lure of a ripped pair of abs. 'I think my main insecurities are with my . body,' he confesses. 'My body is . alright, I watch what I eat and try not to eat loads but I enjoy the . odd bit of chocolate. But I don’t do masses [of exercise] although I do walk my dog.' Less charitable types might be inclined to write off the sufferings of men as nothing much - particularly in light of the pressure that women have suffered for years. Insecure: Tyger (right) with some of the stars of the show, from left, Mitch, Sammy and James . Drew-Honey, however, says this is missing the point. 'I think that the issue . with women was right to be addressed because of . all the issues that followed size zero models and so on contributing anorexia and . bulimia. 'But men’s insecurities need to be addressed too because there are a . lot of issues with guys taking loads of steroids and visiting the gym . constantly. He adds: 'I think if there was a boy or a girl who didn’t have any . insecurities that would be ridiculous - everybody feels insecure . sometimes and I don’t think anyone will ever be completely happy with . how they look.' Tyger Takes On...The Perfect Body, Thursday night at 9pm on BBC3 . | Men account for 10 to 25 per cent of eating disorder suffers say beat . Tyger Drew-Honey explores male body image in a new BBC3 documentary . One interviewee had a heart attack at 18 because of steroid overuse . Male competitiveness is a big part of the problem, according to the star . | 69e579374d1d25e4ee90a821444230c66cd84d46 |
By . Laura Collins . PUBLISHED: . 11:42 EST, 1 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:02 EST, 1 October 2013 . The ship’s Captain portrayed by Tom Hanks in a forthcoming Hollywood movie is at the centre of a $50million lawsuit – brought by the very men whose lives he is credited with saving. According to legal papers seen by MailOnline, the true story of the Maersk Alabama – the US cargo vessel captured by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden four years ago – is not a simple narrative of Captain Richard Phillips’s personal sacrifice in the face of extreme danger. Instead it is a story of corporate greed and hubris, in which Phillips captained his ship against more than seven maritime warnings and his own men's pleas, sailing deep into waters notorious for pirate attack. Scroll down for video . Heroism or hubris? Tom Hanks with Captain Richard Phillips whom he portrays in a film based on the captain's ordeal at the hand of Somali pirates. Hostage to fortune: A still from 'Captain Phillips,' shows Tom Hanks as the lead of the title, but was it bad luck or bad judgement that put the Maersk and her crew in peril? Speaking to MailOnline, attorney Deborah Waters, who first brought the 11 men’s claims in 2009, said: ‘He put them in harm’s way and they suffered as a result and were hurt as a result. ‘It is galling for them to see Captain Phillips being set up as a hero. It is just horrendous and they’re angry.’ The Maersk Alabama came under pirate attack on 8 April 2009. For the 20 strong crew and their Captain that was the first of a five day ordeal. Captain Phillips offered himself as a hostage in return for his crew’s safety. Ten hours into the hijack, with the Maersk under pirate control, crew members managed to take a prisoner of their own with sheer 'brute force.' By luck they taken the pirates' leader. Speaking shortly after the attack Second Engineer, Richard Matthews recalled: ‘Right then and there we had a chip. They came on with a plan and now their plan was disrupted.’ Hero's welcome: A weary Captain Phillips is met by his children at Vermont airport on 17 April 2009. His ordeal ended five days earlier, when US Navy SEAL snipers shot three of his pirate captors dead . Safe harbour: A team tow the Maersk Alabama lifeboat on which Captain Phillips was held captive to assault vessel USS Boxer on 12 April 2009 . It meant that Captain Phillips was able to offer the pirates an exit strategy– a hostage swap and a lifeboat for a clean get away. But the agreement was not honoured by the pirates. Instead, after securing the return of their leader they took off with Captain Phillips as hostage. The drama unfolded on news networks across America and beyond. The Maersk Alabama was the first US vessel to be taken in these waters and now its Captain’s life hung in the balance. President Barrack Obama meets Captain Phillips and wife Andrea in the Oval Office in May 2009. The President praised Phillips's heroism as an example to all . His story of survival, of attempted escape, beatings and ultimately liberation by US Navy SEAL snipers was compelling and inspiring. President Barack Obama went as far as to commend the Captain and issue the statement: ‘I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew.’ He added: ‘His courage is a model for all Americans.’ In the days that followed Captain Phillips's dramatic rescue, this quiet family man from Vermont, married to a nurse, Andrea, was much feted. The Making of a Hero: Tom Hanks poses with 'real life hero' Captain Phillips on the cover of Parade magazine. The 58-year-old father of two, originally from Boston, was praised as the epitome of an ordinary hero: a veritable Everyman who had heroism thrust upon him by circumstance. And he had shown great courage. He had stepped up to the mark and placed himself between the pirates and his crew. He had shown an instinct to protect and survive. The immediate aftermath was filled with jubilation and relief at Phillips's and his crew’s safe return. They made the arduous trip home from Mombasa, Kenya on 12 April. And, once there, the decisions that had put them in such danger in the first place passed with little mention, publicly at least. But that chain of cause and effect was always bound to be scrutinised. WIthin months of the ship's return lawsuits were in motion. The suits are not being brought against Captain Phillips personally. Instead they are being brought against the ship-owners, Maersk Line Limited and the crew’s employers Waterman Steamship Corporation. But the ‘hurt and anger’ described by Mrs Waters, and experienced by her clients is personal. Speaking on behalf of her clients, Mrs Waters said: ‘The crew had begged Captain Phillips not to go so close to the Somali coast. 'He told them he wouldn’t let pirates scare him or force him to sail away from the coast.’ In the two days before the Maersk Alabama was taken, two other vessels had come under pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden prompting official Maritime safety groups to issue warnings. 'The crew begged him not to go so close to the Somali coast...He told them he wouldn't let pirates scare him.' Attorney Deborah Waters . Key among those advisory notices was, according to the lawsuits, one issued ‘on or about April 6, 2009.’ Then, Maritime authorities issued a warning to ‘sail at least 600(nautical) miles off the coast of Somalia because pirates were in the region and taking hostage ships and their crews.’ ‘In spite of the notices and warnings,’ the suit continues, the decision was made ‘to sail Maersk Alabama within approximately 250 (nautical) miles off the coast of Somalia. Easy target: The Maersk Alabama was well beyond the distance from the Somalian coast designated 'safe' by Maritime authorities when pirates struck . Three members of the special US Navy escort that ensured the Maersk Alabama's safe passage to Kenya stand aboard the beleaguered vessel . The Maersk Alabama arrives in Kenya on 11 April 2009. Captain Phillips returned one day later. In the foreground the hundreds of the world's media wait and watch the end of the enthralling drama . Navy records place the Maersk Alabama just 240 nautical miles off the coast when it came under attack. It was, according to Mrs Waters, ‘A purely financial, business decision,’ to take such a hazardous course in the face of increased pirate activities in those waters and repeated warnings. The Maersk Alabama was heading to Mombasa, Kenya, carrying 17,000 tons of cargo – much of it aid destined for Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. Sailing the safe distance from the coast would add a day to the trip and use extra fuel and manpower. A bridge too far: A still from 'Captain Phillips' recreates the terrifying moment Somali pirates took control of the Maersk Alabama . Troubled waters: An image taken two months BEFORE the Maersk Alabama was seized shows Somali pirates surrendering to a US Navy patrol in the Gulf of Aden at a time when pirate activity was known to be on the rise . Mrs Waters said: ‘Captain Phillips made that trip all the time. His decision was signed off by Maersk absolutely. There’s a constant communication between the bridge and the outside world. The company knew precisely what was going on and Captain Phillips was absolutely aware of the warnings.’ As for Maersk and Waterman, the suits allege both, ‘knowingly, intentionally and wilfully sent their employees into an area where pirates were attaching merchant vessels…exposing their employees to grave danger.’ It has taken the 11, four years of fighting to secure trial dates. The same amount of time it took Captain Phillips to secure a book deal and see that book turned into a movie. Mrs Waters said: ‘They fought and fought but we finally got everyone to agree on the jurisdiction of this suit. At one point we were lodging papers in Virginia, Alabama and Texas.’ Now MailOnline has learned the cases are set to be heard in Mobile, Alabama in December. . In the prelude to his eponymous movie ‘Captain Phillips’ has said: ‘Most heroes don’t have a choice. They just do the best they can.’ But Mrs Waters is quite clear that there was a choice made. The choice was to carry on into dangerous waters. According to the lawsuit it was a decision made purely to save money. And it was a decision that very nearly cost the crew of the Maersk Alabama - and her captain - their lives. | Two pirate attacks and more than 7 warnings went ignored as Phillips captained the Maersk Alabama deep into the danger zone . Claim he boasted he 'wasn't scared of pirates' Ships told to sail no closer than 680miles from the Somali coast; the Maersk was just 270miles from it when pirates seized it on 8 April 2009 . Crew members 'galled' by seeing Phillips feted a hero in Hollywood and the White House . Four years after their pirate ordeal a court date has been set . | d96d5d930181c235d65f66a515cde676e02171c4 |
Former Home Secretary David Blunkett has called for tough police action after a violent street fight between rival groups of immigrants. The Labour MP spoke out after Page Hall in Sheffield - part of his constituency - was consumed by violence on Monday, which led to several arrests and one teen needing hospital treatment. He had warned last November that tensions between local people and Roma migrants in the are could escalate into rioting unless action was taken to improve integration. Scroll down for video . Tensions came to a head last night when more than 25 people got involved in the mass disturbance which broke out in the Page Hall area of Sheffield at around 8pm . One teenager was left needing hospital treatment as a result of the violence, which escalated quite quickly . Tensions came to a head when . more than 25 people got involved in the mass disturbance which broke out . in the residential area at around 8pm. A 17-year-old boy suffered a suspected broken arm in the disturbance, which was watched by dozens of concerned residents who poured into the street to watch the clash unfold. Several rang 999 after becoming concerned at the scale of the disorder and many have now called on the authorities to do more to help ease community tension. Mr Blunkett said: 'We were all very apprehensive about the emergence of the long warmer nights, and recognise this was going to be a moment of pressure. 'The police have devoted sufficient manpower and expertise, but what is required is a clear, visible presence in the evening, so there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind about the determination to clamp down on any kind of unacceptable behaviour. 'It’s fine having the numbers but they have to be there at the right time. Those who perpetrate unacceptable behaviour need to understand the police mean business. 'The cause of the problem is believing they can behave in this fashion.' One local said: ‘Members of the existing community are tired and quite frankly frightened at the swiftness of how the situation became enflamed. ‘Council and Government agencies need to be aware of the truth and how the decent residents of this troubled district need support and assurance that they are safe to walk the streets.’ A Section 60 order, which allows officers to stop, search and disperse individuals, was issued in the area to help ease tensions after the rival groups clashed . South Yorkshire Police has not revealed the ethnicity of the 25 people involved in the disturbance but confirmed no arrests have yet been made. A Section 60 order, which allows officers to stop, search and disperse individuals, was issued in the area to help ease tensions. Former Home Secretary David Blunkett warned of rioting in the Page Hall area of Sheffield last November . Inspector Richard Burgess said: ‘There was a police presence in the area throughout the evening to ensure no further issues developed and we will continue to provide a high visibility policing presence in the following days. ‘Officers are thoroughly investigating and are continuing with enquires. We are determined that those responsible for this outbreak of disorder will be held to account for their actions.’ Last year Mr Blunkett warned of potential rioting in the suburb which is plagued by unrest among ethnic groups. The MP, who was born in the city, said the area could ‘explode’ in the same way that street warfare broke out in other northern towns between ethnic groups two decades ago. ‘We have got to change the behaviour and the culture of the incoming community, the Roma community, because there’s going to be an explosion otherwise,’ he said at the time. He also accused the coalition Government of ‘burying their heads in the sands’ over the sheer scale of gipsy arrivals. The Roma population in Sheffield is said to be between 2,000 and 4,000 and growing. More than 1,000 Roma patients are registered to two GP practices alone. | Former Home Secretary speaks out after violent clash on Monday . More than 25 people involved in mass disturbance in Page Hall, Sheffield . One teen injured in violence which broke out at around 8pm on Monday . Labour MP last year warned of rioting in area due to Roma migrants . He warned of 'explosion' if culture of incoming community did not change . Local Roma population said to be between 2,000 and 4,000 and growing . | aae303b80a213971c849635a847c3a06ad533484 |
MUMBAI, India (CNN) -- Inside the blacked-out Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, hallways were littered with bloodied bodies. A commando in disguise give details of what went down in the Taj hotel when commandos went in. Terrorists were still holding 200 people 33 hours after the assault began. Knowing next to nothing about what they might encounter in the dark recesses of the hotel, Indian Army commandos decided to go back in -- and were met by terrorists firing mercilessly, throwing grenades and continuously switching positions. The sound of gunfire and explosions reverberated throughout the hotel's atrium, making it impossible to pinpoint the origin of the shots. Through it all, the commandos walked down pitch-black halls, trying to navigate the damaged hotel without knowing the layout. A commando spokesman, his face and hair swathed in a black scarf and wearing dark glasses to hide his identity, revealed these details of the mission inside the Taj at a news conference Friday. At 6:30 a.m. Friday, the battle at the Taj came to a head with a final firefight at the room holding the 200 hostages, he said. Watch what it was like inside the hotel for commandos » . When the gunfire stopped, commandos -- known as the Black Cats -- entered the room and freed all 200 hostages. Their difficulties had been apparent from the beginning, he said. "We did not know the layout of the hotel," the commando told reporters. "There was one person on the hotel staff who was helping to guide us around." They entered the hotel for the first time essentially blind to what was ahead. They had no idea what kind of people they would encounter, what kind of weapons might be pointed at them, and whether they might be blown up by explosives. Learn more about the Taj's past and future » . "Then we heard gunshots on the second floor and we rushed toward the fired shots," he said. "While taking cover we found that there were 30 to 50 bodies lying dead. At that point we also came under fire. The moment they saw us, they hurled grenades." When the shots stopped, the commandos moved toward the source of the gunfire. See the first photos from inside the Taj Mahal hotel » . "At that time, they vanished ... they had gone elsewhere," the commando said. The attackers had a clear advantage, commandos said, because it was apparent from their movements they knew the hotel's layout. Some tourists rescued from the hotel said the building's large dome and a massive atrium made the sounds of gunfire and explosions reverberate endlessly. It was impossible to pinpoint where the shooters were. Because of the darkness, commandos could not tell how many terrorists were there -- were there many, or only a few who continued to change positions? At one point, commandos believed some of the terrorists were hiding on the eighth floor. As the commandos approached one of the rooms, attackers opened fire at them and said all the people in the room were dead. "We fired at them and they fired at us, but because the room was absolutely dark and we had just gotten [inside] it made it difficult for us," the commando said. Watch commandos talk about fighting the attackers » . During the fight, two commandos were shot. They decided to flush out the terrorists by blocking entry and exit routes. But the attackers knew all the doors, he said. When they made it inside the room, the terrorists had disappeared again. Inside that room, commandos found AK-47 ammunition rounds, including seven magazines fully loaded, and 400 other rounds for other weapons. They found grenades, credit cards, U.S. notes, foreign money and bags of dried fruit, which they believed helped sustain the attackers during the siege. During the three-day assault, the attackers fired indiscriminately. But the commandos were forced to use caution. "Let me tell you one thing," the commando said. "Within the first exchanges of fire, we could have got those terrorists -- but there was so many hotel guests -- there were bodies all over and blood all over. And we were trying to avoid the causalities of civilians. We had to be more careful in our fighting." In trying to rescue hostages and trapped civilians, commandos had to convince guests they were there to help, not terrorists trying to trick them, Indian Army Lt. Gen. Noble Thamburaj said. "There are a number of rooms that are locked from inside," he told reporters. "It is possible that some of the hotel guests have locked themselves in and for their own security and safety. Even though we have identified ourselves they are not opening the doors." The overall operation may have been made more difficult because of a late start, CNN sister station CNN-IBN reported. CNN-IBN said that attacks at the Taj Mahal Hotel were well under way at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, but unnamed sources said the commandos were not given the go-ahead to take part in the rescue until midnight. Those sources told CNN-IBN said that once the commandos got the go-ahead, it took nearly three hours for them to leave for Mumbai from their undisclosed location. Once they arrived, the sources said, commandos had no precise maps of the hotel layout or its access points. While local police and other officers were at the scene, the sources said, the commandos and army special force units are the only ones equipped and trained to rescue hostages. | Disguised commando tells reporters rescuers entered unknown layout in the dark . Commandos had to avoid hurting civilians, convince them they were not terrorists . Attackers knew layout well, moved around frequently, commando says . 33 hours after siege, commandos rescued 200 people from Taj Mahal Hotel . | 802531133b69a9164d3c57c8d10eb535de6fde7f |
(CNN) -- A judge set bond at $2 million Thursday for a 35-year-old woman who faces charges in the case of a woman whose baby was ripped from her womb. Darlene Haynes, pictured with one of her other children, was found slain in her apartment closet, authorities said. Investigators detained Julie A. Corey on Wednesday afternoon and charged her with being a fugitive from justice. They found her with a newborn in Plymouth, New Hampshire, during an investigation into the death of 23-year-old Darlene Haynes, whose body was found Monday in the closet of her home in Worcester, Massachusetts. Haynes was eight months pregnant. Haynes was last seen July 23, and police suspect she had been dead for several days when her body was discovered, wrapped in bedding. Watch neighbors describe victim » . A friend told CNN affiliate WHDH that she received a text message from Haynes at 11:20 p.m. July 23 that said she was having wine coolers with a friend at her apartment. Officers received tips from women who became suspicious of another friend of Haynes' who turned up with a newborn girl when Haynes disappeared. Worcester police said they learned that "a woman connected with Ms. Haynes" told her acquaintances she had delivered a baby sometime during the night of July 23 or morning of July 24 at an undisclosed Massachusetts hospital. "When the woman appeared with the newborn baby girl in Worcester on Friday, July 24, the suspicions of a number of this woman's acquaintances were piqued. In the aftermath of the discovery of Ms. Haynes' body and the information that her fetus was missing was reported in the media, several of these acquaintances advised detectives of their suspicions," the police statement said. Police sought and found Corey and determined she and a man had moved to New Hampshire, the statement said. The two were brought in for questioning and Corey was arrested on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice. "This charge is supported by probable cause developed by the Worcester Police Department alleging the kidnapping of the infant child found in the custody of Julie Corey," the Worcester police statement said. The baby was determined to be a few days old, said Michele Hutchins, spokeswoman for Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth. "She is in good condition and doing just fine," Hutchins said. Hospital officials are expecting to transfer her custody to Massachusetts child welfare workers. "As the story began to unfold more over the last 24 hours, and then of course with the arrest of someone here in Plymouth tied to that, and then subsequently a baby coming into our hospital, a lot of people are certainly touched and hoping for the best," Hutchins said. During an arraignment Thursday, Corey did not waive extradition to Massachusetts. She is scheduled to appear in court again on August 31. CNN Radio's Steve Kastenbaum contributed to this report. | Darlene Haynes, who was eight months pregnant, found dead in apartment closet . Friend tells WHDH that Haynes sent text saying she was drinking with friend . Police charge Julie A. Corey, a friend of Haynes, with being a fugitive from justice. Officers were led to Corey after she told friends she recently had child . | ebefde3b866b4ea8b9c3a68edf4c3a2830c91296 |
By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 5 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:52 EST, 5 November 2012 . Barack Obama told voters in a bullish speech as he today stormed into the final day of campaigning before Election Day in the US: 'I may be full of grey hair now, but I’m just as motivated as I was four years ago. We’ve come too far to turn back. I’m not tired. I’m not weary.’ Ahead of tomorrow’s big day, the President and his Republican rival Mitt Romney once again visited the country’s toughest battleground state in Ohio, which has picked the winner of the last 12 elections. It came as Mr Romney pulled ahead of President Obama in the key Rasmussen daily tracking poll. It gave the Republican a one-point lead by 49 to 48 per cent. The same survey had them tied yesterday. Mr Romney was also given a two-point lead in Virginia, Florida and Ohio - but a national poll of more than 36,000 voters in 27 states said the President will win re-election by two percentage points. Scroll down for videos . In profile: The winner is not determined by the nationwide popular vote but in state-by-state contests, making nine 'battleground' states very important in such a tight race . The two contenders are locked . in one of the closest presidential races in recent U.S. history, but a . majority of surveys in the battleground states show President Obama with . a slight advantage. That gives him an easier path to the 270 electoral . votes needed for victory. No Republican has won without Ohio, . and Mr Romney could still make a late visit there on Election Day. The . winner is not determined by the nationwide popular vote but in . state-by-state contests, making nine ‘battleground’ states that don't . consistently vote either way very important in such a tight race. Winning a state gives Mr Romney or . President Obama that state's electoral votes, which are apportioned to . states based on a mix of population and representation in Congress. There is a chance of a replay of . 2000, when Republican George W. Bush won the presidency with an . electoral vote majority while Democrat Al Gore had a narrow lead in the . nationwide popular vote. Battle: President Barack Obama (left) starts to move to the music of performer Stevie Wonder who was off-stage performing at the end of the campaign event yesterday in Cincinnati, Ohio; while Mitt Romney (right) gestures as he greets supporters as he arrives at a Florida campaign rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport, in Florida . Big fans: President Barack Obama greets supporters after speaking at a campaign event at McArthur High School yesterday in Hollywood, Florida . All dressed up: Kathy Furz, of Strongsville, Ohio, stands outside of Lakewood High School after Vice President Joe Biden had a campaign rally in Ohio . Both President Obama and Mr Romney say . this year's winner will be determined by who can get the most . supporters to the polls. ‘This is going to be a turnout election,’ the . President said today. 'I may be full of grey hair now, but I’m just as motivated as I was four years ago. We’ve come too far to turn back. I’m not tired. I’m not weary' President Barack Obama . President Obama’s campaign knows that . the feeling of making history by electing America's first black . president that fired up the 2008 campaign has cooled. Rock legend Bruce . Springsteen and rapper Jay-Z were joining Obama for Ohio events today. ‘We have one job left,’ and that's . getting people out to vote, Mr Romney told a Florida crowd this morning. The crowd chanted, ‘One more day!’ Mr Romney, who described himself as . ‘severely conservative’ during the GOP primary campaign, is now . appealing to the centre and highlighting his ‘bipartisan record’ as . Massachusetts governor. Here we go: Bags filled with voting supplies wait to be doubled checked prior being sent to precincts in Charlotte, North Carolina, today . Explained: Election volunteer Boyd McGee (left) talks to first-time volunteer Shawn Meachem (right) as they prepare to double check voting supplies in Charlotte . Backing: Salmon Jackoyo, 32, puts the finishing touches to a hat painted with the flags of the USA and Kenya and reading 'Obama for President' in Kisumu, Kenya . He continues to insist that his . experience as a businessman would help fix the still-weak U.S. economy - . a top issue with voters. President Obama meanwhile has come back from a . weak performance in his first of three debates with Mr Romney last . month and hammered at his rival’s shifting positions. 'One more day!' Crowd's chant at Mitt Romney event in Florida . The final national NBC/Wall Street . Journal Poll, released yesterday, showed President Obama with the . support of 48 per cent of likely voters, with Mr Romney receiving 47 per . cent. The final national poll from the Pew . Research Center found President Obama with a three-point edge over Mr . Romney of 48 per cent to 45 per cent. This was an improved showing that . indicates the President may have benefited from his handling of the . response to last week's Superstorm Sandy. He suspended three full days . of campaigning to deal with the East Coast disaster. Vote for me: U.S. Republican presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks today at a campaign rally in Sanford, Florida . Child's play: A boy in the audience holds a puppet of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney today at a campaign rally at the airport in Sanford, Florida . Even babies are involved: Supporters of U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney attend a campaign rally today in Sanford, Florida . Supporter: Former President Bill Clinton, right, speaks at a rally for Barack Obama yesterday at Pullen Park in Raleigh, North Carolina . If the election were held now, an AP . analysis found President Obama would be all but assured of 249 electoral . votes by carrying 20 states that are solidly Democratic or leaning his . way and the District of Columbia. Mr Romney would lay claim to 206, from . probable victories in 24 states that are strong Republican ground or . tilt toward the Republicans. Up for grabs are 83 electoral votes spread across Colorado, Florida, Ohio, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin. Of those, Republicans and Democrats . alike say President Obama seems in slightly better shape than Mr Romney . in Ohio and Wisconsin, while Mr Romney appears to be performing slightly . better than President Obama or has pulled even in Virginia and Florida. With President Obama sustaining his . lead in Ohio, Mr Romney has made a surprise, last-minute move in . neighbouring Pennsylvania. The state has voted Democratic in the last . five presidential elections and has long been counted in the President . Obama column. Mr Romney made his first visit of the . autumn campaign yesterday. The theme from the movie ‘Rocky’ blared from . the loudspeakers as he stepped to the podium in a Philadelphia suburb. ‘The people of America understand . we're taking back the White House because we're going to win . Pennsylvania,’ Mr Romney told a large crowd on a cold night. President Obama's campaign said Mr . Romney's move in Pennsylvania showed the Republican's desperation over . his diminished chances in Ohio. And the Obama campaign announced that . former President Bill Clinton - President Obama's most powerful . surrogate - would make four campaign stops in Pennsylvania today. About 30million people have already . cast ballots in 34 states and the District of Columbia, although none . will be counted until Election Day. Storm-hit New York and New Jersey . hurried to make voting accessible in a region where more than 1million . remain without power. But the states are seen by both campaigns to be . heavily in favour of the President. VIDEO: Obama rallies supporters in Wisconsin a day before election . VIDEO: Do you want real change? Romney on campaign in Colorado . | Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are neck and neck in swing states which will decide winner of the White House . Both visit country's toughest battleground state in Ohio // Rasmussen poll gives Romney tight 49% to 48% lead . Winner is determined in state-by-state contests - making nine 'battleground' states very important in tight race . | 989879167ece34fbe5918fefefa118bd968bad84 |
By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor and Emma Reynolds . Last updated at 5:39 PM on 25th January 2012 . Snaking queues formed on the forecourts today as petrol pumps began to run dry following the closure of one of the UK's largest refineries. Fearful motorists found themselves backed up in jams stretching out of petrol stations in the South East as pumps displayed signs warning that supplies had been drained. Drivers attempting to fill their tanks at Waitrose in Southend, Essex, were greeted by a message that diesel had run out. Chaos: Long queues formed at petrol station in the South East today - like this one at Waitrose in Southend, Essex - after Coryton refinery stopped trading . The chaos follows the closure yesterday of Coryton refinery in Essex, which supplies 10 per cent of the UK's fuel and a fifth of the petrol used in the South East. Fuel prices have risen again just 24 hours after the refinery's Swiss parent company Petroplus went bust and Coryton ceased supplies to filling stations. And petrol retailers and motoring groups have warned that more hikes are in the pipeline, adding: ‘The only way is up.’ Diesel rose to 142.32p ( from 142.21p) per litre – and is now within a fraction of 1p of a new record. Petrol rose to 134.03 (from 133.89p) per litre the previous day, the AA reported. The knock-on effects of action would have come too late to have an impact on the latest prices, but motoring groups have warned that ‘profiteering’ speculators will seize on the restricted supply to drive up the wholesale cost of petrol and diesel, pushing up prices to consumers at the pumps. Drained dry: A petrol pump displays a sign warning drivers that diesel has run out . It has sparked fears of ‘panic buying’ to avoid shortages and big price hikes. Coryton’s administrators Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) confirmed at lunchtime that no fuel supplies were leaving the refinery today – three days after they were stopped. But production is continuing with refined fuel being stored on site. Energy ministers insist the lost supplies are being made up from other refineries and from abroad and have urged motorists not to panic. Petrol retailers predict diesel prices in particular are set to soar by up to 3p to a new record £1.45 a litre. That would see a £100 fill-up for ‘Mondeo Man’ in a family saloon with a 70-litre tank. Record fuel prices were set in May last year when diesel hit 143.04p and petrol 137.43p. This time last year, petrol was 128.51p – around 5p per litre less than today and diesel 133.15p per litre – nearly 10p cheaper. Instability in Iran and their threat to blockade key oil tanker routes in the Straits of Hormuz the Gulf, coupled with the strong dollar, is also storing up trouble, retailers warned. Fears escalate: Retailers are worried about panic buying making shortages worse and forcing up prices further . AA president Edmund King said: ’There is no doubt that the loss of supplies from a major UK refinery, plus the problems in Iran, is going to give the speculators a field day. ‘When they speculate, the only way is up as far as fuel prices are concerned. Motorists are going to have to get used to seeing petrol and diesel prices creeping up.‘It’s only a matter of time before the diesel record is broken.’ RMI Petrol’s Brian Madderson said shortages would push up the price of fuel as traders and speculators exploit the situation for profit. ‘I expect diesel to rise 3p a litre to a new record of £1.45 by the end of the month.The first impact will be a push through on wholesale prices.’ MPs and unions joined the chorus warning of shortages while forecourt bosses said there was a risk of parts of the South East ‘grinding to a halt’ after supplies from the Coryton refinery were suspended. Crisis looms: MPs and forecourt bosses warned parts of the South East could 'grind to a halt' amid reports production had stopped at the giant Coryton refinery in Essex, pictured . No petrol, diesel or other products, including bitumen for road building, were leaving the site today. The action came when the refinery’s owner ran out of cash and was unable to extend its credit facilities. PwC said it had no idea when supplies would resume but was ‘talking to customers’. The warnings came along with the threat to up to 1,000 UK jobs at the formerly BP-owned refinery. A separate strike by more than 80 tanker drivers at the South Killingholme refinery in Lincolnshire, which supplies around 340 Jet filling stations, is exacerbating supply concerns. But energy ministers and oil industry bosses said they were doing their best to make up the shortfall from the UK’s seven remaining refineries and by buying in from abroad. If today's rush to the pumps continues, however, filling stations could run dry. PwC said refining was continuing at . Coryton but supplies were being stored rather than being sent out. It . could not say when normal service would resume. Steven Pearson, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: ‘Our immediate priority is to continue to operate the Coryton refinery and the Teesside oil storage business without disruption while the financial position is clarified and restructuring options are explored.’ Warning: East of England Euro MEP Richard Howitt said he didn't want to be alarmist but said that the suspension could impact the Olympics . The Government insisted it was doing all it could to find a buyer. Forecourts fear a repeat of the crisis which caused chaos in Scotland in 2008 when the giant Grangemouth refinery was hit by strike action – leading to pumps running dry, ‘sold out’ signs, and some cases of petrol rationing north of the border. RAC Motoring Strategist Adrian Tink said: ‘The message for motorists in the area is a simple one – don’t panic buy and potentially create a problem.’ East of England Euro MEP Richard Howitt said: ‘I don’t want to be alarmist about this, but I don’t want to be dishonest either. Supplies across London and the South East could be affected and I have been told this could impact the Olympics.’ Coryton has refining capacity for ten . million tonnes of crude oil per year. Some 36 per cent of its output is . petrol and 27 per cent diesel, the rest a mixture of other fuels. There . are seven other refineries in the UK – at South Killingholme and . Lindsey, both in North Lincolnshire; Fawley, near Southampton; . Grangemouth, near Falkirk; Stanlow in Cheshire; and Milford Haven and . Pembroke, both in Pembrokeshire. Petroplus previously owned a refinery . in Teesside, which closed in 2009. Panic stations: The refinery supplies 20 per cent of the petrol used in London and the South-East as well as other areas around the UK . The UK has 8,500 filling stations of which 2,132 are in the South East. Of these, about 600 are BP and Texaco sites supplied from Coryton. Petroplus reported a net loss of £265million in the first nine months of last year, while in December its banks withdrew a £675million portion of its £1.29billion credit facility. The other main supplier for the South East and London is the Exxon Mobil refinery in Fawley. A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman said it was helping to look for buyers but that the ‘immediate priority’ was to keep the Coryton refinery and Teesside storage business operating’. He added: ‘In the short term, companies have made alternative arrangements to ensure adequate supplies of products are available in the South East.’ Petroplus had been increasingly relying on its British offshoot for funds. At the end of 2009, it owed the British arm £42million. But by the end of 2010 the Swiss company’s borrowings from its British subsidiary had ballooned to £114million. The company’s fate was sealed when 13 banks, including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas, froze a $1billion loan that was keeping it going. | Signs warn supplies of diesel run out on forecourts . Chaos at petrol stations in South East . Petroplus, owner of Coryton refinery in Essex, files for bankruptcy . Diesel within a fraction of 1p of a record . Threat to 1,000 jobs at plant . Retailers warn: 'The only way is up' MEP warns the disruption could affect the Olympics . | c4a8a9ef7c2768fb091f2a32c22e86c3acc605d0 |
Between three and four billion years ago, changes in an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter hurled a devastating barrage of space rocks at our planet. Astronomers are only now beginning to understand the scale of the bombardment - analysing the impacts from tiny 'spherules' preserved in rocks today. Some of the asteroids were bigger than the 9-mile rock that wiped out the dinosaurs - but the 700-million-year barrage may have delivered chemicals crucial to the beginnings of life on our planet. Astronomers are only now beginning to understand the scale of the bombardment - analysing the regularity and size of the impacts from tiny 'spherules' preserved in rocks today . Researchers are learning details about asteroid impacts going back to the Earth's early history by using a new method for extracting precise information from tiny 'spherules' embedded in layers of rock . ‘What we have done is provide the . foundation for understanding how to interpret the layers in terms of the . size and velocity of the asteroid that made them,’ said Jay Melosh, . professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, physics and aerospace . engineering at Purdue University. 'This is the first real solid evidence that this asteroid bombardment . actually happened,’ Melosh said. ‘Some of the asteroids that we infer . were about 25 miles in diameter, much larger than the one that . killed off the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago. But Melosh and his team believe that the bombardment may have delivered chemicals crucial to the evolution of life on our planet. The study also seems to show that the bombardment lasted far longer than previous estimates, which suggested the 'Late Heavy Bombardment' lasted roughly half as long as Melosh's team estimates. 'But when we looked at the number of impactors as a function . of size, we got a curve that showed a lot more small objects than large . ones, a pattern that matches exactly the distribution of sizes in the . asteroid belt. For the first time we have a direct connection between . the crater size distribution on the ancient Earth and the sizes of . asteroids out in space.’ Melosh and his team use 'spherules' - tiny markings in rocks - to work out the scale of the asteroid bombardment. The spherules were created when asteroids crashed into the Earth, vaporizing rock that expanded into space as a giant vapor plume. Small droplets of molten and vaporized rock in the plume condensed and solidified, falling back to Earth as a thin layer. The round or oblong particles were preserved in layers of rock, and now researchers have analyzed them to record precise information about asteroids impacting Earth from 3.5 billion to 35 million years ago. The period of heavy asteroid bombardment - from 4.2 to 3.5 billion years ago - is thought to have been influenced by changes in the early solar system that altered the trajectory of objects in an asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter, sending them on a collision course with Earth. Meteor Crater in Northern Arizona: Some of the asteroids were bigger than the 9-mile rock that wiped out the dinosaurs - but the barrage continued for up to 700 million years, as an entire asteroid belt 'emptied' itself at our planetBecause craters are difficult to study directly, impact history must be inferred either by observations of asteroids that periodically pass near the Earth or by studying craters on the moon. Now, the new technique using spherules offers a far more accurate alternative to chronicle asteroid impacts on Earth, Melosh said. ‘We can look at these spherules, see how thick the layer is, how big the spherules are, and we can infer the size and velocity of the asteroid,’ Melosh said. ‘We can go back to the earliest era in the history of the Earth and infer the population of asteroids impacting the planet.’ For asteroids larger than about 10 kilometers in diameter, the spherules are deposited in a global layer. ‘Some of these impacts were several times larger than the Chicxulub impact that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago,’ Johnson said. ‘The impacts may have played a large role in the history of life. The large number of impacts may have helped simple life by introducing organics and other important materials at a time when life on Earth was just taking hold.’ A 40-kilometer asteroid would have wiped out everything on the Earth's surface, whereas the one that struck 65 million years ago killed only land animals weighing more than around 20 kilograms. ‘Impact craters are the most obvious indication of asteroid impacts, but craters on Earth are quickly obscured or destroyed by surface weathering and tectonic processes,’ Johnson said. ‘However, the spherule layers, if preserved in the geologic record, provide information about an impact even when the source crater cannot be found.’ The Purdue researchers studied the spherules using computer models that harness mathematical equations developed originally to calculate the condensation of vapor. ‘There have been some new wrinkles in vapor condensation modeling that motivated us to do this work, and we were the first to apply it to asteroid impacts,’ Melosh said. The spherules are about a millimeter in diameter. The researchers also are studying a different type of artifact similar to spherules but found only near the original impact site. Whereas the globally distributed spherules come from the condensing vaporized rock, these ‘melt droplets’ are from rock that's been melted and not completely vaporized. ‘Before this work, it was not possible to distinguish between these two types of formations,’ Melosh said. ‘Nobody had established criteria for discriminating between them, and we've done that now.’ One of the authors of the Southwest Research Institute paper, David Minton, is now an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue. Findings from the research may enable Melosh's team to enhance an asteroid impact effects calculator he developed to estimate what would happen if asteroids of various sizes were to hit the Earth. The calculator, ‘Impact: Earth!’ allows anyone to calculate potential comet or asteroid damage based on the object's mass. | Findings from analysis of tiny 'spherules' in present-day rocks . Rocks from asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter four billion years ago . Bombardment lasted up to two times as long as previously thought . | 556704aca9831ada545e2f2cdf2a7166ca8c351a |
By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 16:45 EST, 4 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:46 EST, 4 November 2013 . A 21-year-old woman had acid thrown in her face as she prepared for her engagement party after telling her attacker she already had a fiance. Hong Kim Huoi, 21, suffered 30 per cent burns to her body, including face, arms and thighs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Seven other people were also burned when Nguyen Van Dung attacked the woman and her friends as they prepared to leave for their engagement party. Hong Kim Huoi was waiting for a cab with her friends in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (pictured) when a jilted suitor threw acid in her face . Dung was arrested on Sunday after the terrifying attack, which he carried out on a scooter while Huoi and her friends were waiting for a taxi. The group of girls were heading to the airport to return to her hometown on Phu Quoc Island for the engagement ceremony. He splashed acid on them and ran after them, continuing the acid attack as they tried to escape. Three bystanders including a 45-year-old woman and two children, both 11 years old, suffered burns. Dung tried to escape on his scooter but was seized by locals who handed him over to the police. He confessed to police he had declared his love to Huoi who told him she was engaged to another man. Two British teenagers, Kirstie Trup (left) and Katie Gee (right), were also hurt in an acid attack in Zanzibar earlier this year . Huoi's fianci Dang Minh Tri, 22, said he and Huoi have been in relationship for more than two years and their betrothal ceremony was planned for Tuesday. The news follows in the wake of a spate of similar attacks, including on two British tourists in Zanzibar in September. Two 18-year-old girls, Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, were left badly injured after two men on a moped threw acid at them while they walked to dinner on the Indian Ocean island. Terrorist group Al Shabaab have been linked to the attack after several of the 15 suspects arrested were confirmed to be members. They were taken into custody following another acid attack on Catholic Priests shortly after the Britons were targetted. Tara Quigley, 28, (left) was sprayed with acid by 16-year-old Liam Sibbons while Jitendra Sakhpal, 21, (right) tried to force his ex-girlfriend to drink acid when she rejected his marriage proposal . Last month 16-year-old Liam Robert Sibbons was jailed for eight years for spraying Tara Quigley, 28, with chromic acid after he knocked on her door. Sibbons, who was also burned during the attack, admitted the offence but refused to say why he did it, claiming that he could not remember how he had ended up at the house. Just two weeks ago Indian newspapers reported that a jilted lover met up with his ex-girlfriend before trying to force her to drink acid. Jitendra Sakhpal, 21, had proposed to the unnamed 18-year-old girl but she had refused because her family did not approve of him. According to police, he allegedly met up with the girl, held her mouth and tried to pour acid into it before pushing her into the sea. Some of the acid spilled on her face and she suffered 10-15 per cent burns, leaving her in critical condition. | Hong Kim Huoi told suitor Nguyen Van Dung that she had a fiancee . Huoi was on her way to the engagement party when she was attacked . Dung drove past on a scooter and threw acid in her face . He was stopped by locals and handed to the police . | f5c86acc77dc2483fff7e64eeaf80a8c7f0170ae |
By . Mark Prigg . The Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could change the way we watch TV. New York firm Aereo sends live TV broadcasts to mobile devices - but broadcasters wants it to stop. Now the entertainment conglomerates that own U.S. television networks are waging a legal fight, culminating in Tuesday's Supreme Court argument. Scroll down for video . The Aereo system allows tablet owners to watch live TV anywhere . Aereo currently has paying subscribers in 11 cities, and charges from $8 a month. It is available in New York, Boston, Houston and Atlanta, among others. Subscribers get about two dozen local over-the-air stations, plus the Bloomberg TV financial channel. In the New York market, Aereo has a data center in Brooklyn with thousands of dime-size antennas. When a subscriber wants to watch a show live or record it, the company temporarily assigns him an antenna and transmits the program over the Internet to the subscriber's laptop, tablet, smartphone or other device. The antenna is only used by one subscriber at a time, and Aereo says that's much like the situation at home, where a viewer uses a personal antenna to watch over-the-air broadcasts for free. Aereo Inc currently has paying subscribers in 11 cities. Backed by billionaire Barry Diller, has plans to more than double that total. Broadcasters including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS have sued Aereo for copyright infringement, saying Aereo should pay for redistributing the programming the same way cable and satellite systems do. The U.S. networks increasingly are reliant on these retransmission fees, estimated at $3.3 billion last year and going up to more than $7 billion by 2018, according to research by SNL Kagan, which analyzes media and communications trends. They fear that they will lose some of that money if the Supreme Court rules for Aereo. Aereo's service starts at $8 a month and is available in New York, Boston, Houston and Atlanta, among others. Subscribers get about two dozen local over-the-air stations, plus the Bloomberg TV financial channel. In the New York market, Aereo has a data center in Brooklyn with thousands of dime-size antennas. When a subscriber wants to watch a show live or record it, the company temporarily assigns him an antenna and transmits the program over the Internet to the subscriber's laptop, tablet, smartphone or other device. The antenna is only used by one subscriber at a time, and Aereo says that's much like the situation at home, where a viewer uses a personal antenna to watch over-the-air broadcasts for free. 'Aereo is in some ways novel, but it is also among a host of technologies that uses the Internet to offer consumers the ability to do what they always have more cheaply and conveniently,' the Dish Network and Echostar Technologies said in a supporting legal brief filed in the Supreme Court. But the broadcasters and their backers argue that Aereo's competitive advantage lies not in its product, but in avoiding paying for it. 'Aereo is simply a blatant free rider trying to make a quick buck without paying anything toward the true costs of what it misappropriates,' Time Warner Inc. said in a court filing. The broadcasters told the court that Aereo's "competitors pay for the rights to retransmit 'live TV' to the public — as they must to avoid liability for copyright infringement — while Aereo does not." The federal appeals court in New York ruled that Aereo did not violate the copyrights of broadcasters with its service, but a similar service has been blocked by judges in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said its ruling stemmed from a 2008 decision in which it held that Cablevision Systems Corp. could offer a remote digital video recording service without paying additional licensing fees to broadcasters because each playback transmission was made to a single subscriber using a single unique copy produced by that subscriber. The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal from movie studios, TV networks and cable TV channels. Barry Diller, whose firm Aereo is set to take on TV broadcasters . The entertainment industry has changed dramatically since the high court ruled in favor of home video recording in 1984 in a 5-4 decision. Then, Sony was the maker of the Betamax recorder and Universal City Studios and Walt Disney Productions were arguing for protection under copyright law. Now, Disney owns ABC and cable giant Comcast owns NBC and Universal. In the Aereo case, a dissenting judge said his court's decision would eviscerate copyright law. Judge Denny Chin called Aereo's setup a sham and said the individual antennas are a "Rube Goldberg-like contrivance" — an overly complicated device that accomplishes a simple task in a confusing way — that exists for the sole purpose of evading copyright law. The Obama administration, artists, actors, Major League Baseball and the National Football League all support the broadcasters. But the administration and computer software and telecommunications groups are urging the court to avoid a broad ruling in favor of copyright protection that could call into question the rapidly evolving world of cloud computing, which gives users access to a vast online computer network that stores and processes information. Smaller cable companies, independent broadcasters and consumer groups are backing Aereo. FM radio and cable TV were initially derided as unnecessary, inefficient or just bizarre, said the digital civil liberties watchdog Electronic Frontier Foundation. In a legal filing joined by other public interest groups and the consumer electronics trade association, the group said the justices should not become regulators of technology and 'the court should not attempt to predict the future of television.' | Aereo allows subscribers to watch live TV on their mobile device . Broadcasters say the firm is taking 'a blatant free ride' with their content . | 23042d47cc11c0920abd1190b4f4512e18ba12b8 |
(CNN) -- An Iranian actress has been sentenced to a year in jail and 90 lashes for appearing in a film critical of the country's government, an opposition website said. Actress Marzieh Vafamehr stars in the recently released "My Tehran, For Sale," which challenges the limits imposed on artists in the Islamic republic, according to the website, Kaleme. "As producers of the film ... we would like to express our deep shock and sadness at the sentence imposed by the Iranian government against actress Marzieh Vafamehr and we continue to offer our support to Marzieh and her family by respecting their wishes to let the case and the appeal follow the proper legal channels," said Kate Croser and Julie Ryan. The movie features Vafamehr playing an actress who is banned from working in Iran and then tries to leave, the Kaleme website said. The website did not offer specifics about what Vafamehr was convicted of or when she was sentenced. In August, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said it had interviewed the actress's husband, Iranian filmmaker Nasser Taghvai. "It is a bitter tale why our artists should end up in prison for their profession; this is so painful. An actor cannot say I would do this in a film, or I wouldn't do that in a film. (If they did,) nobody would give them work anymore," the rights group quoted Taghvai as saying on its website. "This film has a producer and a director. If there is a problem, they should be accountable," he was quoted as saying. "Why should my wife be punished for them? These arrests have a bad reflection both inside and outside the country." CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report . | The film producers express "deep shock and sadness" Actress Marzieh Vafamehr stars in the film, "My Tehran, For Sale" There are no specifics about what Vafamehr was convicted of or when she was sentenced . Opposition group says actress is sentenced to a year in jail and 90 lashes . | 299b7f590970dff9eaacd3ba8d7963d468fd9cb1 |
President Barack Obama's summer vacation off the Massachusetts coast has come to an end. The . president returned to the White House late Sunday after spending . two weeks with his family on the island of Martha's Vineyard. What . a break it turned out to be. His attempt at rest and relaxation was . largely overtaken by events involving Islamic State militants in Iraq . and Syria, including the videotaped execution of an American journalist . they had been holding hostage, and the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, . following the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man. Scroll down for video . U.S. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia returning from their two-week vacation on Martha's Vineyard . Obama's vacation was largely overtaken by events involving Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man . Obama . broke from his vacation to deliver statements on Iraq, Missouri and . journalist James Foley on four separate occasions, including one . delivered during two days he spent back at the White House in the middle . of the getaway. The unusual midvacation return to Washington had been . scheduled before those issues came to dominate the news. Still, . in the midst of daily briefings on these and other matters, telephone . consultations with world leaders and other responsibilities, Obama . squeezed in nine rounds of golf on the island he has made his summer . presidential retreat while shrugging off criticism about how he was . spending the time away from Washington. US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia walk off Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland . Obama broke from his vacation to deliver statements on Iraq, Missouri and journalist James Foley on four separate occasions, including one delivered during two days he spent back at the White House in the middle of the getaway . 'Just . because the president is in a different location doesn't mean he's not . doing his job,' White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. Obama . also ate dinner out a few times, danced at a birthday party for the . wife of Washington powerbroker Vernon Jordan, treated first lady . Michelle Obama to a jazz performance and took the family to a fireworks . show near the home of senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, who also was . vacationing on Martha's Vineyard. Obama returned toWashington, DC once during the vacation to attend national security meetings with senior staff . in coming weeks, Obama will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, before stops in New York and Rhode Island on Friday to raise money for Democratic candidates ahead of the November midterm elections . Before leaving on Sunday, Obama and . his wife went hiking with friends near the Obamas' rental home in . Chilmark, on the western part of the island. The White House did not . identify the friends. Back at the White House, . Obama will have to decide whether Foley's killing and the broader . threat the Islamist State extremist group poses to U.S. interests in the . region and elsewhere is reason enough to now seek to intervene . militarily in Syria. "Just because the president is in a different location doesn't mean he's not doing his job," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said to critics of the president's leisure activities . He has resisted going that route for three years, . even as the death toll in Syria's civil war approached 200,000, the . government used chemical weapons against its people and the Islamic . State group grew more powerful amid the chaos. Pressure . to go after the Islamic State inside Syria is coming from Obama's own . military leaders, as well as some of his critics in Congress. Obama also . must weigh that thirst for forceful action against his aversion to the . risks that could come with plunging the United States into a country . that has been torn apart by an intractable internal conflict. White . House officials have suggested that airstrikes in Syria are an option, . though the officials say specific military proposals have yet to be . presented to the president. Obama also must weigh that thirst for forceful action against his aversion to the risks that could come with plunging the United States into a country that has been torn apart by an intractable internal conflict . Obama will be a rather scarce commodity at the White House in the coming weeks. He . plans to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday to address the . 96th national convention of the American Legion, before stops in New . York and Rhode Island on Friday to raise money for Democratic candidates . ahead of the November midterm elections. Travel . to Estonia followed by attendance at a NATO summit in Wales begins . immediately after Labor Day. The trip is expected to focus on U.S. and . European concerns over tensions between Russia and eastern Ukraine. | Spent two weeks golfing and spending time with his family . Critics lambasted the president for images of him on the golf course . White House shot back: 'Just because the president is in a different location doesn't mean he's not doing his job' | 21c11d8da124b398df7cf1264e8d2e1b2311a8bf |
By . Kieran Corcoran . It is always good form to wear a sunhat at the beach - but at one sandy spot today hard hats were more in order. In Eastbourne, Sussex, today hundreds of tons of gravel were sprayed from just off-shore by a giant dredger drafted in to repair the devastation caused by the huge storms this winter. Miles and miles of English coast was battered by high winds and powerful waves, which has sped up the rate at which the beach is dwindling. The process of longshore drift - where natural tides gradually shift sand and sediment along the shoreline - was put into overdrive by the unnaturally fierce weather. In an attempt to restore the shrinking sands, the Envrionment Agency and local councils have begun using the dredging vessels - such as the Sospan Dau pictured below - to suck up sediment from one point along the beach, mix it with water and spit it back out. The process, known as rainbowing, should help protect the beach in years to come. Scroll down for video . Gravel: The dredger sprayed a mixture of sediment and water, as workmen looked on, in a bid to repair the damage caused this winter . Spray: The dredger could be seen in Eastbourne, Sussex, today topping up the sediment by the beach . Operation: Local authorities and the Environment Agency have deployed the dredgers along the English coast . Decline: The dredger has been brought in to counter longshore drift, which gradually moves sediment away from Eastbourne's beach . 'Rainbowing': The ship sucks up sediment further along the shore then spits it out at the necessary point . Imperative: The work was necessary after the impact of this winter's storms, which moved more sediment than usual from the beach . Top-up: The process should secure the integrity of the beaches for the time being . | Huge dredger was seen spraying mixture of sediment and water onto the beach at Eastbourne, Sussex . | 0b2bab0ec065b5ba458a114592f13a31a68c4870 |
By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 07:09 EST, 14 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:20 EST, 14 November 2013 . A former cheerleader who reached 16 stone after giving up on her exercise regime has shed almost six stone in just 18 months - and landed a spot in the final of a modelling contest. Jaime Anglin saw her weight soar after she left school where she had always been an active member of the track and cheerleading teams. But with her active days behind her, the 31-year-old admits she became complacent and began to eat what she wanted without paying any attention to her health. Back to her former glory: Jamie, left, has reached the finals of lingerie brand Curvy Kate's modelling contest after shedding six stone. Right, she was fit and slim at school but saw her weight soar to 16 stone after she left . Ballooned: Jaime, 31, reached 16 stone after leaving school - and exercise - behind and overindulging in unhealthy foods . It wasn’t until Jaime, from . Marysville in Michigan, USA, outgrew all her clothes that she became . uncomfortable with her image and decided she needed to shed some weight. After . slimming down to 10 stone Jaime, now with a newly slender body and 32F breasts, entered the Star In A Bra competition held by British full bust lingerie brand Curvy . Kate. Full-time mother Jaime, who has two children Mia, aged four, and Kara, 18 months, said: . 'Keeping . in shape stopped being part of my daily routine so I got lazy - I . didn’t pay attention to what I was eating. I just ate whatever I wanted . when I wanted it. 'At . my heaviest I reached 220lbs aged 30 and in the end finally snapped and . grew tired of way I looked - I grew out of all my clothes. Athletic: Jamie at Marysville High School aged 17 in 2000 . 'I . felt uncomfortable where when I was at Marysville High School I was . always active. So I decided I needed to pick that up again at find the . activity in my life I knew would help me stay in shape. 'I . picked up some fitness DVDs and slowly worked my way up to running 5k . races before signing up for swimming classes and then eventually . entering my first triathlon in the summer. 'Within 18 months I managed to lose 80lbs and felt great again - now I look for exercise to get me through my day.' Jaime found Curvy Kate lingerie - which offers D-K cups - on Facebook while searching for places to find underwear for curvy women and spotted their ‘Star in a Bra’ competition. She added: 'I’m always looking for bras which will fit me and look cute and eventually began learning more about the company and how it encourages people to love their bodies no matter what. 'When I saw the competition I thought I’d be a good candidate for the company - I wanted to celebrate my accomplishment and my new body so thought I’d go for it. Jaime pictured in 2012 with one of her daughters, reached 220lbs aged 30 at her heaviest . 'I would love to win as I feel I could be an inspiration to other mums who might feel their bodies are ruined after giving birth. And I also want to set a good example for my daughters as a lot of images of women in the public eye are unrealistic - I hope they would be proud of me. 'My husband Chris loves me no matter what size I am but we’re both excited about how much weight I’ve lost because I’m more beautiful when I’m confident.' Hannah Houston, marketing manager for Curvy Kate, said: 'The world is made up of different shapes and sizes and we feel not all sizes are represented. 'We want all our customers to feel that they are being catered for and that being above a D cup and curvy is something to be proud of.' Voting for the next Star in a Bra begins on November 12 and ends at midnight on November 19. The winner will be announced on November 21 and will gain a 12-month modelling contract with Curvy Kate and a year’s supply of Curvy Kate lingerie. | Jamie Anglin, from Marysville, Michigan was slim,fit athlete in high school . On leaving she stopped exercising and began to eat what she wanted . Her weight rose to 16st and she outgrew her entire wardrobe . Slowly took up exercising again, working from fitness DVD to triathalons . Now slimmed to 10st and has reached the final of model competition . In running be star of British lingerie brand Curvy Kate's next campaign . | d575c54a91ed51d834e2611f3c4f4378e6524c00 |
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen admits he's convinced that Real Madrid will slip-up in the title race and that Barcelona just need to keep on winning games to catch them. The Catalonia side trail Carlo Ancelotti's men by one point coming into the second half of the season and have won four La Liga games on the bounce. Ter Stegen believes that if they carry on winning games, then Madrid will slip up at some point. Barcelona's Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (right) says Real Madrid will stumble and that his side can catch them . The German goalkeeper has found game time hard to come by but is still focused on winning the La Liga title . 'In the league we hope Madrid stumble, which they surely will do. To stay in the title race we have to keep winning our games,' Ter Stegen told the official Barcelona website. 'We have to stay focused. We've also shown that we can be tough on defence if necessary.' The German stopper, who is yet to establish himself as the clubs number one ahead of Claudio Bravo, believes that his side also has the ability to end the season with a treble. 'In the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, luck certainly is a factor; we have to make our own luck. 'I think if we keep playing well defensively, we have a shot at succeeding in all three competitions.' Ter Stegen (top left) says his side can win a treble this season if they play defensively and have some luck . | Marc-Andre Ter Stegen believes that Real Madrid will stumble this season . Barcelona remain one point behind their rivals but have won four-in-a-row . The German goalkeeper has backed his side to win a treble this season . Click here for all the latest Barcelona news . | dc24bdce9f36101ee56a375343d2a0bbf30a390f |
By . Katy Winter for MailOnline . As the level-headed detective at the centre of BBC’s hit crime thriller The Killing, Sofie Grabol is rarely seen without the patterned jumper that has become her trademark. Detective Sarah Lund’s quirky fashion sense spawned a revival of chunky knitwear in high street fashion. But now designers Gudrun & Gudrun have lost a battle against Danish company Stof og Sy over copyright of their famous ‘Lund’ jumper design. Scroll down for video . Character detective Sarah Lund has become as known for her chunky knit jumpers as her cool demeanor . Demand for the traditional style of jumper has sky rocketed since The Killing was picked up by the BBC in 2011 . Makers of the jumper, Faroese based company Gudrun & Gudrun, have argued they have an exclusive right over the distinctive star pattern, after Stof og Sy produced a similar, much cheaper, jumper. While an original Gudrun & Gudrun Lund jumper will set you back £240, the ‘knit it yourself’ kit sold by Stof og Sy is just £40. The Observer reports that representative for Stof og Sy, Lene Langballe, argued in court that the history behind the pattern meant that despite Gudrun & Gudrun’s protests, they were perfectly within their right to produce it themselves. The Faroese jumpers worn by lone wolf Sarah Lund are knitted on the island group and archipelago which sits under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and is situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Norway and Iceland. The unusual patterns stitched into the sweaters are a traditional Faroese marking, originally used by the fishermen's wives to distinguish their husbands as they approached the shore after long periods working at sea. Detective Sarah Lund's quirky fashion sense spawned a revival of chunky knitwear in high street fashion . Viewers in both Britain and Denmark, where the series originated, have become enamoured with the look, clamouring to get their hands on similar jumpers. ‘Everybody wanted that sweater,’ says Sofie. ‘The company in the Faroe Islands that makes them couldn’t keep up.’ The jumper was Sofie’s idea after producers said they wanted to avoid the cliche of the woman in a suit in a man’s world. ‘I saw the sweater and I just knew,’ she says. ‘It tells so many things about the character. It tells of a woman who has so much confidence in herself that she doesn’t have to use her sex to get what she wants. She works in a cynical world, but the sweater says that maybe deep down there’s a longing to, I don’t know, sit around a fire with a guitar.’ Unbelievably there is even an entire website devoted to the jumper. Sarahlundsweater.com details where fans can buy both the original Gudrun & Gudrun sweater used in the show as well as cheaper alternatives, as well as information about the show and how to knit your own version of the Lund. | Famous star knitwear worn by actress Sofie Grabol in The Killing . Faroese based company Gundrun & Gundrun made jumper used in show . Took Danish Stof og Sy to court over their similar 'knit-your-own' version . Court ruled that jumper design not exclusive to Gundrun & Gundrun . | 1490ddde5cc48adc0722f0fc0df444e46e65fea8 |
By . Jennifer Newton . and Sam Webb . A private school teacher has been arrested after the teenage girl was allegedly spotted hiding under a blanket in his car. John Wunderle, a maths teacher at the £15,000-a-year Bancroft's School in Essex, was already on bail after being accused of grooming the girl for six months and was arrested in May. But he was detained again when he allegedly attempted to drive off with a youngster in Woodford Green, north east London on Friday after the girl was seen in his vehicle. Wunderle was a maths teacher at the private Bancroft's School in Essex, pictured, but has now resigned . The 34-year-old, who is said to weigh 20 stone, has now been remanded in custody by magistrates and faces four allegations dating back to March of this year. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man was arrested on Friday for breaching bail conditions and subsequently appeared at Redbridge Magistrates on Saturday. Wunderle had already quit his job at the school, where he has worked for the last six years, before the alleged offences. The school is described as an independent day school and caters for pupils aged seven to 18. It is believed he earns more than £40,000 in his job at the school but he had recently been living with his mother. Wunderle was remanded in custody after appearing at Redbridge Magistrates Court, pictured, on Saturday . Headteacher at the school, Mary Ireland said: '(Wunderle) had already resigned and had a job somewhere else. 'That was a couple of months before (the arrest) and he was working through his notice. As soon as we were made aware of the allegation we immediately contacted the LADO (Local authority designated officer, a council official acting to safeguard children). 'As soon as we contacted the authorities they took over until the police investigation was complete. 'The school couldn't take any disciplinary measures and he was suspended on full pay. We've continued to co-operate and we are trying to support the family of the girl involved at the same time.' She said Wunderle's resignation had nothing to do with any inappropriate behaviour towards the girl. The Good Schools Guide gave Bancroft's a glowing report in the 2013 edition, stating: 'A splendid school, catering for bright children and those who will seize opportunities. Deservedly over-subscribed. Brings glory to Essex well beyond its immediate catchment.' He is expected to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court later this month. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | John Wunderle arrested after the girl was allegedly seen hiding in his car . Teacher was already on bail after being accused of grooming a teenager . 34-year-old, who is said to weigh 20 stone, has been remanded in custody . Maths teacher quit his £40,000 job at Bancroft's School shortly before arrest . Essex school say it is fully co-operating with police and social services . | 08c928ef17118500f8ec681273b385aa28abb495 |
Taliban fighters have beheaded 15 civilians in battles for control of a key district near Kabul in a chilling echo of the brutality meted out by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Ghazni provincial government said it has lost contact with police in the province's western district of Ajrestan after hundreds of insurgents stormed several villages in the area. The attack by an estimated 700 Taliban fighters began about five days ago and early reports were that more than 100 people had been killed, provincial deputy governor Ahmadullah Ahmadi said. At least 15 of those were decapitated, he added. The main highway linking Kabul to southern Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been making advances in recent months, passes through the province, which lies southwest of Kabul. 'If there is no urgent help from the central government, the district will collapse,' said Asadullah Safi, deputy police chief of the area. Scroll down for video . Ruthless: Taliban fighters have beheaded 15 civilians in a battle for control of a district near Kabul (file picture) The battle for Ajrestan illustrates the grave challenges facing Afghanistan's new president and the security forces in holding territory as foreign combat troops prepare to leave at the end of the year. No longer pinned down by U.S. air cover, Taliban fighters are attacking Afghan military posts in large numbers with the aim of taking and holding ground. Heavy fighting was continuing in Ajrestan today. Safi said a suicide car bomber attacked a police checkpoint early in the day before provincial authorities completely lost contact with the district. The militants have been focusing on regaining important opium-growing areas, such as the southern province of Helmand, and areas where they have traditionally enjoyed support, such as Kunduz province in the north. Control of Ghazni's mountainous Ajrestan district, about 200 km (125 miles) from Kabul, could provide the Taliban with a launching point for attacks in two bordering provinces and along the crucial artery connecting the capital to Afghanistan's second city of Kandahar in the south. The growing Taliban threat is likely to be the most urgent challenge for the new, U.S.-brokered government of national unity between President-elect Ashraf Ghani and his former rival Abdullah Abdullah. Fragile: The offensive illustrates the grave challenges facing Afghanistan's new president Ashraf Ghani (above) and the security forces in holding territory as foreign combat troops prepare to leave at the end of the year . Key target: Control of Ghazni's mountainous Ajrestan district, about 200 km (125 miles) from Kabul, could provide the Taliban with a launching point for attacks in two bordering provinces . Provincial authorities have appealed for help from the central government in Kabul, where Ghani is in the process of taking over the presidency from Hamid Karzai. 'We have asked repeatedly for helicopters to evacuate the wounded, but so far nothing has been done,' Ahmadi said. However, a regional spokesman for the Afghan army, Nazif Sultani, said on Friday that reinforcements had been sent to the district the previous day. He said he had no further information. Months of deadlock over a disputed election and uncertainty over whether any U.S. troops will remain beyond this year has battered morale among Afghan security forces. 'Peace with the Taliban requires a strong government. 'At the moment the Taliban think they can fight in every province and they believe they can overthrow the government,' said Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdullah's running mate and the leader of Afghanistan's ethnic Hazara minority. 'Without international support it will be hard to provide security... The example of Ajrestan district shows that without international commitment of troops, it will be difficult to handle the Taliban.' | 700 militants battle for control of key opium-growing district near the capital . More than 100 civilians killed and 15 decapitated during five days of fighting . Taliban are attacking military posts now that U.S. air strikes have stopped . | e88768b541d292ba106a7d4bab43e7b959be6654 |
By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 07:19 EST, 11 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:55 EST, 11 November 2013 . Barratts Shoes has gone into administration for the third time in four years, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. Directors at the Bradford-based chain were left with no choice after an investor pulled out of a plan to inject £5 million at the end of last week as the company sought to shore up its finances, according to a statement. It comes four years after the company went bust in 2009 when parent company Stylo threw in the towel forcing 220 of 380 stores to be shut. Just two years later, the company called in the administrators again, only to secure an 11th-hour rescue deal in January 2011. No bailout: Directors at the Bradford-based chain were left with no choice after an investor pulled out of a plan to inject £5 million at the end of last week as the company sought to shore up its finance . This time round, Philip Duffy and . David Whitehouse of financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff . & Phelps were appointed administrators on Friday afternoon. The administrators said they were reviewing the company's financial position and seeking a sale of the business as a going concern but said: 'At this stage redundancies and/or store closures cannot be ruled out.' Amid the many shoe factories of Northampton, William Barratt started his mail order company. W Barratt & Co invited customers to 'Walk the Barratt Way' in advertisements that first appeared in 1903 in the Carpenter and Builder journal. The company's Boots-by-Post service boasted that it sold 'the World’s Best Brogues at Barratt's Factory Price'. In 1913, Mr Barratt built the W Barratt Footshape works, designed to look more like a big country house than a factory. The company flourished to the extent that in 1964 it was bought by rival shoe company Stylo and made the firm’s principle brand. In 2008, Stylo – which had been founded in 1917 by Fanny Ziff, a 27-year-old Russian immigrant – purchased 24 stores from collapsed retailer Dolcis and rebranded them as Barratts. Barratts . Shoes operates from 75 stores and 23 concessions across the UK and . Ireland, employing 1,035 people, of whom 521 are part time, the . statement said. Staff have been informed and stores . are trading as usual but further announcements on the future of the . chain's outlets are expected in the next few days. Recent reports suggested that Barratts owner and boss Michael Ziff was seeking cash to pay for stock without which it would be running perilously low during the crucial run-up to Christmas. Mr Duffy said: 'Difficult trading conditions in the sector led the directors to explore potential refinancing options and additional equity for the business. 'The company had recently received an offer from an investor to inject £5 million into the company but that offer was withdrawn on the evening of November 7. 'In view of the financial position of the company and withdrawal of that equity offer, the directors were left with no choice but to appoint administrators.' The first time the business was put into . administration saw Mr Ziff, chairman of Barratts . Priceless parent company Stylo, buy 160 shops from Deloitte after the . chains were put into administration at the height of the recession in 2009. At the time, Deloitte closed 220 stores but Mr Ziff was able to safeguard around 3,000 jobs. Then, in December 2011, Barratts watched its concessions business collapse with a loss of 1,600 jobs. The firm again, however, found a buyer to rescue 89 of its standalone stores, protecting . 1,184 jobs. Nevertheless, that deal came at a cost of 191 stores and 371 concessions. Darina Kerr, partner at law firm Dundas & Wilson, said today's announcement was another example of 2011’s crop of high street casualties declining from 'walking wounded to fatally injured.' 'Barratts’ descent into administration also underlines the fact that debt arrangements alone are not a long-term solution,' she said. 'Although debt arrangements can, in some cases, be agreed to stave off total collapse, if the fundamentals of a business are not reformed to withstand rapidly-changing market trends, high street retailers will continue to risk entering insolvency after insolvency. 'Best brogues at factory price': In 1913, Mr Barratt built the W Barratt Footshape works in Northampton. Here it is in action in 1931 . 'Good footwear': By the 1920s the company was flourishing as, as this 1924 advertisement suggests . 'Given that a substantial . restructuring took place in the wake of the company’s last brush with . administrators in 2011, the terms of a new financing arrangement may . prove to be extremely onerous considering the already strict conditions . for Barratts' last rescue package two years ago.' Britain’s . battered High Street chains have been struggling in recent months as . austerity cuts continue to bite into household budgets. The challenging consumer environment is having a mixed effect on Britain’s retailers. Troubled times: Recent reports suggested that Barratts owner and boss Michael Ziff (pictured) was seeking cash to pay for stock without which it would be running perilously low during the crucial run-up to Christmas . The wealthy continue to splash out in upmarket stores such as Mulberry and Burberry, while hard-up consumers dodge mainstream chains. Last month Blockbuster's chain of film and computer game rental shops in Britain was set to go into administration for the second time in 10 months after its private equity owner failed to turn the business around. Earlier today budget airline, Flybe . announced plans to axe another 500 jobs its latest round of cost-cutting . after reporting passenger numbers grew by 5.6 per cent to 4.3 million, . while it returned to profit with a surplus of £13.8million. | Move comes after investor pulled out of plan to . inject £5 million last week . Administrators said they are reviewing finances and seeking to sell business . But they added: 'Redundancies and/or store closures cannot be ruled out' Barratts operates from 75 stores and 23 concessions across UK and Ireland . | d99a8c7628e9e15d1d60ffd4a709ab247eb95ee7 |
(CNN) -- You know her best as a multi-platinum recording artist and a 14-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. But Alicia Keys has also made quite a name for herself as a philanthropist and AIDS advocate. It was in 2003, on her first trip to Africa, when Keys witnessed firsthand the disease's devastation. When she returned to the United States, she co-founded "Keep a Child Alive," an organization that has raised millions to care for HIV/AIDS patients in Africa and India. "So, as I've grown, you know, I think one of the things that I've realized is that there are not the headlines about the AIDS pandemic here in America that there should be, and it is shocking, and it is unacceptable," Keys told CNN last month. CDC: Half of young people with HIV don't know it . "Yet we're not speaking about it, and so that's what's kind of brought me around to really becoming a part of what I like to say, 'bridging the conversation' so that there's not only an international conversation, there's not only a domestic conversation, there's a global conversation that we can all be a part of." Keys brought that conversation to Washington, where she met with women being treated at the United Medical Center's Infectious Diseases Clinic. She also teamed up with Greater Than AIDS, a national public information group founded by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Black AIDS Institute, to launch her latest initiative -- a campaign aimed at reaching out specifically to American women. It's called "Empowered" and phase one features a video of Keys and five women who are HIV-positive from all walks of life. They include Stephanie, a college graduate diagnosed at 19; and Kym, diagnosed three years ago after her new husband got sick and died of the disease (she did not know he'd been HIV-positive for a decade). Also included are Cristina, a graduate student born with the virus; Jen, a wife and mother who was diagnosed at 18; and Eva, a wife, mother, grandmother and home health care professional who found out she was HIV-positive when she was just 17 -- and pregnant. The women share their stories and their determination to change the course -- and the face -- of HIV/AIDS. Keys said she wants all women to know the facts about HIV and its impact on women; to be able to speak openly about the disease with family and friends; to protect themselves and their loved ones; to get tested without shame; and to live rich, healthy lives by getting and staying on treatment. Why youths aren't getting tested for HIV . "We can't act like it's not happening. We have to make sure we know that we're all at risk. This is all of our issues, you know. This doesn't make you bad. ... You shouldn't feel like you're ashamed. We have to make sure that we are demanding access to being tested. We have to demand access to treatment with dignity." She found an ally in senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, whose passion about the epidemic inspired her. Part of that passion, Jarrett said, comes from losing her sister-in-law nearly 20 years ago to the disease. "She was married with a young child and didn't really get the testing that she should have had early on in her illness because it never occurred to anyone that a married mom would actually ... be HIV positive," Jarrett told CNN. "Losing her was just devastating for our family and so that's where I began to realize, of course, this could happen to anybody's family." More than 1.1 million Americans are HIV positive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in five don't know they're infected. One in four people living with HIV is a woman. In Washington, one of the hardest-hit areas in the country, rates among African-American women have skyrocketed -- more than 92% of women living with HIV there are black. It was here, last year, that Keys and Jarrett came together and decided to support each other's efforts. President Barack Obama is committed to the goal of an AIDS-free generation and will do everything in his power to eradicate the disease, according to Jarrett. That includes $23 billion for HIV in next year's proposed budget. But, said Jarrett, HIV still has to be brought out of the shadows. Timeline: AIDS moments to remember . "We can't pretend it doesn't exist," Jarrett said. "When people share these stories, it de-stigmatizes it, it brings it out in to the light and when we do that, we improve the quality of life that all people will have." For its part, Empowered will provide community-based grants of up to $25,000 for programs focused on women. That, Keys hopes, will help open up a meaningful dialogue in this country. "For a woman and a black woman, you know, this is a conversation that we must have as all women. Again, as all human beings, we have to have this conversation," she said. "I feel like this is an incredibly wonderful opportunity that we have to have a real dialogue, woman to woman, mother to mother, sister to sister, brother to sister ... father to daughter, daughter to mother, you know, friend to friend. This is what we have to start absolutely being open about." | One in four people living with HIV is a woman . Alicia Keys is launching Empowered, a campaign aimed at women . She hopes to start a global dialogue about HIV and women . | f5d77de191bc9ce2b92b5688cb509183babed0d3 |
(CNN) -- "Saturday Night Live" was formed in the crucible of the mid-1970s, when Watergate brought respect for politicians to all-time lows, the counterculture was taking over comedy, and many television viewers were seeking out something fresh and bold. Fred Armisen played Barack Obama in a talked-about sketch Saturday night on "Saturday Night Live." It was a powerful combination -- and after 34 years, the combination of "SNL" and politics can still strike sparks among political observers. The most recent example came this past weekend when Fred Armisen, as President Obama, chided "those on the right" for saying that he was "turning this great country into something that resembles the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany." Not true, said Armisen as Obama. "When you look at my record," he said, "it's very clear what I've done so far -- and that is nothing." Watch the sketch -- and the reaction » . The sketch has caused a rumble among the inside-the-Beltway chattering classes and New York news nabobs. Wrote Washington Post blogger Jonathan Capehart, "When your 'friends' start talking about you like this -- and friends with a huge megaphone and a feel for the national mood -- the White House should listen." "Humor with some truth in it is always dangerous. Make no mistake, a drumbeat of belittlement can damage a president," added CNN political contributor Ed Rollins in a column. The White House had no comment when asked about the sketch by CNN. "SNL" cast members weren't available for interviews, an NBC representative said. "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels also turned down an interview request but has said the show doesn't take sides. "I think 'SNL's' role is, the moment they're in power, we're the opposition," he told CNN's Alina Cho last year. "We're not partisan. We're not, you know, we're not putting on anything that we don't believe is funny." Video gallery: "SNL" takes on presidents through the years » . The recent sketch is indicative of the end of Obama's honeymoon, Syracuse University pop culture professor Robert Thompson says, but he doesn't want to read more into it than that. "Comedy is about going after the people in power," he said. The president has also taken recent shots from "The Daily Show" and "Real Time with Bill Maher." "What this says is that the comedy-industrial complex has turned its sights on the reigning president of the United States," he said. But, he added, "I wouldn't put this into the meme category," referring to concepts that travel so quickly they take on a life of their own, such as Tina Fey's Sarah Palin sketches from last year. "The [Obama] sketch wasn't that funny." Indeed, the show's overall impact is often mixed, observes Slate columnist and Rutgers media studies professor David Greenberg. It can "capture or intensify" a storyline that's being passed through the news media, but the show is more a barometer that can change with events. "It's not incapable of influencing things," he said, noting the show's slash-and-burn '70s satire and Fey's Palin parody. "But since the early '80s, those moments are pretty rare. ... You'll see good impersonations but not the underlying critique you had with, say, Dan Aykroyd as [Richard] Nixon." Besides, he added, the Obama sketch may have titillated the politico-media crowd, but he wonders whether its impact went any wider. "I'm a political junkie," he said, "and this is the first I've heard of it." Indeed, the ratings for the episode were a far cry from last year's Palin-fest -- from a 7.3 rating for the same week in 2008, to 4.7 -- and the Armisen sketch didn't get the frenzied online dispersion the Palin sketches did. iReport.com: 'SNL' won't hurt Obama . However, Obama should be concerned about one thing, observes Thompson. In general, "SNL" mocked previous presidents' personal characteristics, such as Clinton's outsized appetites or George W. Bush's struggles with spoken English. With Obama -- who lacks the same kind of easily caricatured traits, Thompson says -- the show went after his record. "In some ways," Thompson said, "he's vulnerable to more serious damage." | Recent "Saturday Night Live" sketch attacked President Obama . Political pundits, media seized on sketch as meaningful . It marks end of honeymoon, one observer says, but probably not much more . "SNL" can "intensify" storylines but is mostly a barometer, says expert . | e4b37d48ecf8962be0c1d7374e8abeac8a5d341e |
By . Bianca London . A beauty queen born with half an arm is hoping to inspire girls just like her to overcome their disabilities. Katie Cooper, from Worcester, entered a beauty pageant to prove to her daughter, Eden, who has Cerebal Palsy, that disabilities shouldn’t hold people back. And she has now been crowned Miss Dream Street Worcestershire - and is in the running to take the national crown. Inspired: Katie Cooper, 20, pictured with her daughter Eden, 16 months, is using her title as a beauty queen to raise awareness of disability and encourage youngsters to pursue their dreams . Katie, 20, had always been embarrassed of the stump on her left arm and used to hide it under a jacket to stop people staring. Despite these fears, her twin sister enrolled her into the beauty pageant and the avid dancer came out on top. Katie is hoping her endeavors will inspire her 17-month-old daughter, Eden, who was born with cerebral palsy, to follow her dreams no matter what. Beauty queen: Katie, pictured competing in the Miss Worcestershire beauty pageant, wants to prove that having a disability doesn't hold you back in life . Mother and daughter: Katie had always been embarrassed of the stump on her left arm and used to hide it under a jacket to stop people staring . Walking proof: Katie entered a beauty pageant to prove to her daughter, Eden, who has Cerebal Palsy, that disabilities shouldn't hold people back . Confident: After winning the regional competition, and another branch of the contest - Miss Inspirational - she says there's no looking back . Katie said: 'Ahead of the pageant I wasn’t very confident of winning. My sister Claire entered me and I really wasn’t sure about putting myself out there - but I wanted to set my daughter a good example. 'I used to get bullied because of my stump when I was a teenager, so badly that I had to move schools. 'I had never seen myself as having a disability but I used to get very embarrassed of my arm. 'People would stop and stare, so I used to hide it under a jacket. But now I know I’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.' Big plans: Whether she wins the pageant or not, she is hoping to use these new lessons to achieve her dream of becoming a professional dancer . Setting the standards: Katie that ahead of the pageant she wasn't very confident of winning. 'My sister Claire entered me and I really wasn't sure about putting myself out there - but I wanted to set my daughter a good example,' she said . Competition: Katie is looking to beat 70 other women when she competes in the Miss Dream UK Finals in Birmingham on August 9 . Katie’s confidence was so low she only decided to take part in the pageant three days before. After winning the regional competition, and another branch of the contest - Miss Inspirational - she says there’s no looking back. Katie said: 'Winning the competition really boosted my confidence. I want to pass the experiences I’ve had on to Eden so she knows she can do whatever she wants in life.' Katie is looking to beat 70 other women when she competes in the Miss Dream UK Finals in Birmingham on August 9. Whether she wins or not, she is hoping to use these new lessons to achieve her dream of becoming a professional dancer. She added: 'My arm has never stopped me from dancing, which I started doing when I was 11. 'I really want to dance professionally or become a showgirl. Doing this pageant has shown me I don’t need to fear doing either of those things.' Sharing her experiences: Katie said: 'Winning the competition really boosted my confidence. I want to pass the experiences I've had on to Eden so she knows she can do whatever she wants in life' | Katie Cooper crowned Miss Dream Street Worcestershire . Is now in the running to take the national crown in August . Had always been embarrassed of the stump on her left arm . Twin sister entered her into first pageant and she won . Katie is looking to beat 70 other women in Miss Dream UK Finals . Wants to go on to become a professional dancer . | 492b2f14e9c863a966b197f21742445f08eddbe2 |
A suspected housebreaker has been charged with murder after he shot his accomplice through the heart with a stolen gun, police have claimed. Anthony Wayne Jeffcoat, 46, was charged with murder after Lexington County Sheriff's Department found the dead body of suspected thief Steven Lee Boone, 4, lying outside his home on Thursday. A suspected housebreaker shot his partner with a stolen gun before leaving him for dead outside his house in West Columbia, Lexington County. Wayne Jeffcoat is accused of shooting his accomplice Steven Boone through the heart with a stolen gun . Jeffcoat was remanded in custody to Lexington County Jail after he handed himself in to authorities . Lexington County Sheriff Lewis McCarty said witnesses reported seeing two men arguing outside a shed at Boone's home around 1.30pm on Thursday. Officers believe that Jeffcoat had been living in the shed and was arguing with Boone over the proceeds of some recent burglaries. A post-mortem confirmed that Boone died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, which pierced his heart and lungs. Jeffcoat fled the scene immediately but later handed himself into authorities where he was taken to Lexington County Jail. According public records, Jeffcoat is being held on a murder charge. Detectives in Lexington have met with their counterparts in Calhoun county where Jeffcoat and Boone are suspected of conducting a string of house burglaries. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Wayne Jeffcoat is accused of shooting partner Steven Boone in the heart . Jeffcoat and Boone were arguing over the spoils of some burglaries . Sheriffs believe Jeffcoat shot Boone with a stolen gun and fled the scene . Jeffcoat handed himself into Lexington County Sheriff's Department . He is currently in Lexington County Jail facing a charge of murder . Detectives are also investigating a string of burglaries linked to the pair . | 2d14850c796ce7338a888b81a01823aabc14d042 |
London (CNN) -- British Foreign Secretary William Hague met a range of Syrian opposition figures Monday, saying London was "seeking to step up the international pressure on the Assad regime, a regime that has long since lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the wider world." Syrian President Bashar al-Assad needed to know that "the rest of the world is talking to the Syrian opposition and we are looking for a different future for Syria," Britain's top diplomat said. "I think the Assad regime will find that more and more governments around the world are willing to work with the opposition," Hague said. Hague told the opposition leaders that they needed a "unified platform and a unified body," indicating Britain may hope the various Syrian opposition groups could replicate the Libyan National Transitional Council that brought down Moammar Gadhafi. The Syrians came from two different groups, the Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Body, Hague said. He met with Syrians including SNC chairman Burhan Ghalioum, Ausama Monajed, Nibras al-Fadel, Haytham Manna, Khalaf Dahowd and Rami Abdel Rahman, a source familiar with the meeting said. The source asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation. Syria has faced months of unrest from opponents of al-Assad, and security forces have responded forcefully. The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have died since the uprising began in March. The Arab League has demanded that Syria stop the violence. Syria's government has said it is fighting armed terrorists, maintaining the death toll is much lower than international observers and opposition groups say. | NEW: More and more countries will meet the opposition, William Hague says . Britain is "seeking to step up pressure" on Syria, the foreign secretary says . Hague urges opposition groups to unify . The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have died in the Syrian crackdown . | b682cdb44c15f513f286db5324a39da824017728 |
By . Robert Verkaik . Undercover: The MI5 agent pictured during a terror trial in Brussels in 2003 . An MI5 agent who infiltrated terrorist cells and worked on the investigation into the 7/7 bombings has been granted police protection after becoming the target of death threats by Islamic extremists in Britain. The 33-year-old Moroccan-born undercover agent worked for MI5 for six years – risking his life to prevent terror attacks on the UK. Despite this, the Government has refused to allow him to stay indefinitely in Britain. But now it has emerged that his . identity has been compromised and Islamic extremists in the UK have made . death threats against him. One . threat was made by someone in a prison and another by extremists . meeting at a Central London shisha bar. Scotland Yard has installed a . panic button in the man’s home and officers patrol the streets outside. There are plans to move him to a secret address and the security bill could reach £50,000 a year. The . agent infiltrated Islamic extremist cells, worked on the investigations . into the 7/7 bus and Tube attacks on London and the Madrid train . bombings as well as providing vital intelligence which led to the arrest . of Al Qaeda suspects. His vital work was praised by Tony Blair. But . after leaving MI5 in 2006, he has had to live a double life, unable to . tell anyone about his work with the Security Service. And although he has lived in the UK since 1999, the Home Office has refused to grant him a permanent right to remain in the UK. Report: How the Mail on Sunday broke the story back in 2007 . The man claims this has made it harder for him to lead a new life away from the scrutiny of extremists. The . Mail on Sunday can also reveal that his case is being investigated by . the Investigatory Powers Tribunal which holds the security and . intelligence services to account. The . investigation will look at whether MI5 broke the law when they . recruited the man and whether they failed to protect him after he . stopped working for them. He . also has a case before the immigration tribunal, which will review the . Home Secretary’s decision not to grant him the permanent right to remain . in the UK. In a second case, he is suing the Government for breaches of its duty of care. The . man, who married a British citizen with whom he has a five-year-old . daughter, left Morocco when he was 15 and arrived in the UK three years . later after travelling across Europe. He . stayed at the Finsbury Park Mosque where he met radical preacher Abu . Hamza, whose followers sent him to Georgia and then Chechnya. London bombings: The wreck of the Number 30 double-decker bus is pictured in Tavistock Square in central London . According . to legal papers seen by The Mail on Sunday, he says that when he . returned to the UK in 2000 he was approached by MI5 and recruited. In December 2001, he was sent to Belgium to infiltrate an extremist . cell but was arrested and held for two years in solitary confinement . without charge. In January . 2004, he claims he was visited by an MI5 officer who told him that then . Home Secretary David Blunkett had authorised his transfer to the UK. He . says he was offered the choice of remaining in prison in Belgium, . returning to Morocco where he claims he faced arrest and torture, or . continuing his work with MI5. He . was then sent to a house in Swansea where he was trained how to be a . spy. He was shown how to use fake credit cards, how to infiltrate . extremist groups without raising suspicions and how to interact with his . MI5 handlers. During the . investigation into the 2004 Madrid bombings, which killed 191 people, he . provided vital intelligence on the kind of detonation system used. On . the day of the 7/7 bus and Tube attacks on London the following year, . he helped to track down extremists linked to the bombers. He claims he was repeatedly told by MI5 that Mr Blunkett and Mr Blair were very pleased with his work. During . his time with MI5, he says he was paid £300 a week, given housing . benefit and had meetings with his MI5 handlers every three days. When . he was working on important missions he was taken to meet senior MI5 . officers in a safe house, 15 minutes from Waterloo Station in London. Blindfolded in the back of a van, he was driven to a top-secret building which was sound-proofed and had tinted windows. But in February 2006, he was told that the relationship was being terminated because MI5 felt he was no longer any use to them. Mr . Blunkett has denied having any knowledge of the case. But the man’s . lawyer, Christophe Marchand, said: ‘They told him that if he agreed to . work for MI5 he would have a new life in the UK. 'But . he was very vulnerable at this time, he was young and held in solitary . confinement where he was psychologically weak. He believed he had no . choice.’ | 33-year-old Moroccan-born undercover agent worked for MI5 for six years . Bill for plans to move him to a secret address could reach £50,000 a year . Agent infiltrated extremist cells and investigated 7/7 attacks on London . His work has been praised by powerful politicians . Despite all his work Government refused to allow him to stay in Britain . | 3235ec1f622f6065a54a53ce23ed4e22110ef865 |
Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court for the third time this year has stopped the pending capital punishment of a Texas inmate, giving lawyers for the man more time to file their appeals. The justices on Tuesday issued an order granting a stay of execution for Cleve Foster, about 2 1/2 hours before his scheduled lethal injection. The Gulf War veteran was convicted along with another man of the 2002 murder of Nyanuer "Mary" Pal, a Sudanese immigrant he met at a Fort Worth bar. The court indicated it would need more time to rule on the inmate's claims of prior ineffective assistance of counsel, and related claims of innocence of the murder. This is the third time Foster, 47, has been granted a high court reprieve. His previous scheduled execution was stopped in January and April, once after he had already been given his last meal. His April procedure was to be the state's first execution using a new sedative, the first in the lethal drug cocktail. A nationwide shortage of sodium thiopental forced corrections officials to announce they would use pentobarbital, a barbiturate that has alternately been used to put animals to sleep. Foster's lawyers had challenged that change, saying Texas foisted the new protocols so late, with little time for legal or medical review. The state has since executed several inmates with the new drug mixture, without noted complications. Foster has blamed his co-conspirator for the murder. His lawyers in their Supreme Court appeal presented letters from three fellow inmates who said co-defendant Sheldon Ward told them he acted alone in Pal's murder. The state countered Ward's statements to a psychologist implicating Foster as the mastermind behind the killing. They also said DNA from both men were found in the victim. Texas has a planned lethal injection Wednesday. Lawrence Brewer, 44, was one of two white men convicted in the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr., an African-American. That widely reported crime led to national movement to step up prosecutions and penalties for hate crimes. Brewer has no pending appeals. It would be the 11th execution this year in Texas, the most active death-penalty state. The current case is Foster v. Texas (11-6427). | Court grants Cleve Foster his third stay of execution . The order came just 2 1/2 hours before the scheduled lethal injection . He was scheduled to die for the 2002 murder of a Sudanese woman . Court said it needed more time to rule on his claims of ineffective counsel . | 284c2e4ce0c834459ce27fbcaba85190bb6e3fc2 |
Madonna was today threatened with legal action and accused of being an ageing self-publicist after she depicted the head of one of France’s biggest political parties as a Nazi. An image of National Front leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead appeared on a giant screen at the singer's concert in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday. The furious politician has threatened to sue Madonna if she repeats the stunt when her tour reaches France in July. Swastika: Marine Le Pen's image appeared on a giant screen, with the Nazi symbol on her forehead . Ms Le Pen said: 'We understand how old singers who need to get . people talking about them go to such extremes.’ Asked if she was likely . to sue, Ms Le Pen, 43, said: ‘If she does that in France, we’ll be . waiting’. Madonna, who will turn 54 in August, is due in France next month, when she will appear at the Stade de France in Paris and then in Nice on the Riviera. Other sources in the National Front, which has frequently been linked with anti-Semitism and racism, said Madonna had offended all of its members. ‘We are not a Nazi party, and object to being depicted as such,’ said a source in the party, which won a fifth of the popular vote during the first round of presidential elections in April. Controversy: Madonna, onstage in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 31 . ‘If you accuse the National Front of . being anti-Semitic and racist then you accuse a fifth of the French . people of being anti-Semitic and racist. 'If Madonna repeats this slur in . France then she will certainly be taken to court.’ Wallerand de . Saint-Just, the National Front’s lawyer, confirmed he was looking into . the possibility of legal action. Marine Le Pen pledged to reform the party after taking over the leadership from her notorious father, Jean-Marie Le Pen last year. He is a convicted racist and anti-Semite who has in the past denied that the Nazi Holocaust actually took place during World War II. Despite this, he came runner-up in the French presidential election in 2002, proving that he had widespread support. Ms Le Pen has toned down the party’s extremist views, but regularly pledges to limit Muslim immigration, and to clamp down on Islamic culture in France. Madonna’s depiction of Ms Le Pen appeared as she performed her song ‘Nobody Knows Me’ in Tel Aviv last Thursday. The international superstar is well known for her provocative acts, and is currently dating a Frenchman called Brahim Zaibat who has a North African Muslim immigrant background. Ms Le Pen won just under 18 per cent of votes in the presidential election and is currently standing to become an MP in France’s National Assembly . | Le Pen's face appeared on a giant screen with a swastika on her forehead . She threatens to sue if Madonna repeats stunt in France next month . | 2f07ba5759dc31902cf0f20c1bc5750457829a73 |
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Ukip faced fresh accusations of double standards today amid claims Eastern Europeans have been hired to hand out flyers in its anti-immigration election campaign. Latvians have been hired by a firm in Croydon to hand out flyers ahead of elections on May 22. It follows revelations the party used an Irish actor in a poster about Brits missing out on jobs, as David Cameron today stepped up his attack on Ukip, accusing his rivals of not believing the country has a bright future. Ukip leader Nigel Farage has used a £1.5million poster campaign to take on the bigger parties ahead of local council and Euro elections on May 22 . Ukip faced embarrassment after it emerged the builder in its latest anti-immigration advert was an actor, Dave O'Rourke, who is from Ireland . Ukip has launched a £1.5million publicity drive in the hope of triggering a 'political earthquake' by topping the Euro poll on May 22. But the campaign attacking 'open doors' immigration from the EU has been dogged by allegations of spin, fakery and hypocrisy. Today it emerged that Ukip flyers were being delivered by Eastern Europeans hired by company Fast Leaflet in Croydon. Boss Andrew Spalis told the Huffington Post many of his employees are from Latvia and 'only yesterday' had been working for Ukip. Tory MP Gavin Barwell said: 'Ukip’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. They say they are against Europeans taking our jobs and then, when they have a chance to offer some British people work delivering their leaflets because they can’t find volunteers to do it, they employ European workers.' The row comes after it emerged that one of the stars of a Ukip poster campaign, who appeared to be a British builder ‘hit hard by unlimited cheap labour’, was actually an Irish actor, Dave O’Rourke. Today Ukip launched an investigation into a tweet from a party account boasting about its 'indigenous, white candidate' in the Newark by-election, Roger Helmer, who today gave an interview stressing he was now more relaxed about gay people. David Cameron took another swipe at Ukip during Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons today . Ukip has urged to 18 per cent in the latest Survation poll for the Mirror, with the Tories just one point behind Labour. The Conservatives have been torn between attacking Ukip and trying to woo its supporters. But today in the Commons, Mr Cameron accused Ukip of having a negative outlook about the future. Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, he said: 'Britain has benefited from being an economy that is open to investment and open to people coming who want to contribute and work hard here. 'So much of their view seems to be that we don't have a bright future in this country. 'I absolutely believe that we do, if we get our deficit down, we get our economy growing, we invest in apprenticeships, we show that we can be one of the success stories of the 21st Century. We're making progress and that is the way to challenge their world view.' Ukip has made gains in the polls after stepping up its attacks on immigration and the EU. Yesterday the party confirmed its controversial MEP Roger Helmer will fight the upcoming Newark by-election for the party - despite recent controversy over a series of remarks about homosexuality. The party's local Twitter account - UKIP Newark - tweeted soon after: Newark: Our indiginous white candidate is ready to rock and roll #LetsDoThis.' Party aides inititally suggested the account was not official, but later it posted another message stating: 'Several members have access to this account. Tweet deleted. Investigation begun.' Soon after Roger Helmer was named as Ukip's candidate in the Newark by-electon, the Twitter account UKIPNewark posted this controversial comment . Amid confusion about whether the account was official, this message appeared hours later . Mr Helmer sparked outrage in 2012 after likening gay marriage to incest. The 70-year-old has also claimed people should be able to prefer being straight to being gay - like some people prefer Earl Grey to ordinary tea. And in 2000 he said being gay is ‘not worthy of valid equal respect’. But in an interview with The Times today he said he had relaxed his views, but appeared to suggest gay people are more likely to have threesomes. Mr Helmer said: 'I was raised in a very traditional home and I guess I grew up with those attitudes, but hell, we are now in the 21st century and my position is exactly the same as the party's position: that we are a broadly libertarian party and what two consenting adults, or indeed more than two consenting adults, choose to do together is none of my business, none of the party's business and as far as we're concerned, they're free to get on with it.' Roger Helmer has rarely avoided controversy during his career as an MEP, but has been returned to Brussels three times . Mr Helmer's selection comes after Ukip leader Nigel Farage ducked the chance to fight the Nottinghamshire seat. The byelection was called after the disgraced former Tory MP Patrick Mercer resigned in the wake of a cash-for-questions scandal. Mr Helmer was elected to the European Parliament in 1999 as the Tory MEP for the East Midlands - and re-elected in 2004 and 2009 - before defecting to Ukip in March 2012. His outspoken views have caused controversy throughout his career and last year even Mr Farage said he had gone 'too far' with his attack on gay marriage. In 2012 Mr Helmer said: 'If two men have a right to marry, how can we deny the same right to two siblings? Are we to authorise incest?' His made the bombshell remarks in a pamphlet entitled 'Straight Talking on Europe'. Nigel Farage decided not to fight the Newark by-election - leaving himself open to accusations that he 'bottled' his big chance . The year before he asked: 'Why is it OK for a surgeon to perform a sex-change operation, but not OK for a psychiatrist to try to "turn" a consenting homosexual?' Mr Helmer has also dismissed homophobia as a 'weasel word'. He said: 'The homosexual lobby is not content with decriminalisation. It wants to be accepted as a "valid alternative lifestyle". 'But it is not a valid lifestyle worthy of equal respect. 'At the risk of offending the politically correct, I will argue that homosexual behaviour is abnormal and undesirable.' He previously questioned the existence of 'homophobia', saying some people found gay relationships 'distasteful if not viscerally repugnant'. He defended the remarks, saying: 'Different people have different tastes. You may tell me you don't like Earl Grey tea. That may be a minority view but you are entitled not to like it if you don't like it. The Ukip candidate added: 'I simply made the point that people were entitled to their personal preferences. 'It is morally acceptable to prefer heterosexuality over homosexuality, or vice versa. Most of us prefer one or the other.' He later added: 'I said that people may prefer heterosexuality or homosexuality. I did not say that people could dislike – much less hate – other people on the grounds of their sexual orientation. 'The mainstream media are engaged in a feeding frenzy against Ukip, and are prepared to twist the facts to suit their agenda.' Mr Helmer also insists that he has condemned homophobia during his career. He said 'prejudice, hostility and violence against homosexuals are wrong and totally unacceptable'. But Mr Helmer's controversial views are not restricted to homosexuality. He has claimed that women who are date raped must ‘share part of the responsibility’. Mr Helmer said in 'stranger rape' the blame was 'squarely on the perpetrator' but in date rape cases 'the victim surely shares a part of the responsibility, if only for establishing reasonable expectations in her boyfriend’s mind'. The outspoken MEP has also claimed the Catholic Church was ‘systematically paedophilic’. He said: ‘So far as I know it has no rules or systems designed to support or promote paedophilia. 'But I think it would be perfectly fair to describe it as systemically paedophile.’ Despite Mr Helmer's controversial past, he was 'overwhelmingly' endorsed by the Newark constituency association at a hustings meeting on Monday before being backed by Ukip's National Executive Committee, a party spokesman said. Mr Helmer said: 'I am both proud and humbled to have been selected by the constituency association in Newark to represent the UKIP cause in this historic town in what could well prove to be an historic by-election.' 'It would be a huge honour to be elected to serve as Newark’s MP and I will be giving my all over the next few weeks to achieve that outcome.' Mr Farage said: 'He is a massively experienced and respected figure on the national political stage and on the local political stage as well. 'I know that the Ukip membership will rally to the cause of making Roger our first directly elected MP.' The Newark by-election is scheduled to take place on June 5, with the Conservatives selecting Robert Jenrick to run and Labour represented by Michael Payne. The Lib Dems are expected to choose a candidate in the coming days. | Leafleting firm says it uses people from Latvia and other European countries . Eastern Europeans spotted handing out flyers in Croydon . David Cameron steps up attack on Ukip in the House of Commons . Ukip investigates who posted tweet about Newark candidate Roger Helmer . Mr Helmer sparked fury over a series of remarks about homosexuality . Said being gay was 'not worthy of valid equal respect' The former Tory will fight the Newark by-election set to be held on June 5 . | fc04e5499632386a9e260a187c73f6fff9903486 |
Orlando (CNN) -- The judge handling the defamation lawsuit against Casey Anthony has stepped away from the case, leaving open the question of whether the Orlando woman will have to submit to a formal interview by her accuser's lawyers just days after leaving jail. Judge Jose Rodriguez, after a 14 minute sidebar, announced without explanation that the case would be assigned to another judge. A new judge, Lisa Munyon, was assigned to the case later Friday morning. She was expected to hold another hearing Friday afternoon. Anthony, 25, is being sued in civil court by a woman named Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez. Anthony told investigators that was the name of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee's nanny, and that the woman had taken the girl and disappeared. Investigators were never able to find evidence such a woman existed, but were able to find Gonzalez, who denied knowing Anthony or her daughter. Gonzalez said Anthony's accusations turned her life upside down and led to death threats against her and her children. Two-year-old Caylee's remains were found in a wooded field not far from the Anthony's home. Anthony was acquitted July 5 of murder and child neglect charges in her daughter's death. The jury did convict her of lying to investigators and she is expected to be released from jail on Sunday. The lawsuit is separate from those charges. Lawyers for Gonzalez want Anthony to answer their questions in a deposition on Tuesday. In seeking an emergency order forcing her to attend, they wrote that they expect her to leave the Orlando area and change her name, making it impossible to interview her. After the abbreviated morning hearing, Gonzalez attorney Keither Mitnik said there's no reason the deposition should not go on as scheduled. "She's under subpoena, there's no protective order," he said. "She better have her behind in that deposition." But Anthony's attorney in the civil case, Charles Greene, said she can't be forced to sit for a deposition so soon after a trial that left her "emotionally and mentally exhausted." Greene also said he will be in trial on another case that day. If forced to attend the deposition, Greene said Anthony would invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. "Consequently, the deposition would be nothing more than yet another media spectacle and frenzy," Greene wrote in court documents. | NEW: A new judge is assigned to the Casey Anthony defamation lawsuit . Judge Jose Rodriguez stepped aside Friday morning . It's still unclear whether Anthony will have to attend a deposition . Anthony is being sued by a woman with the same name as the nanny she said took her daughter . | 21669542fc55d6fd255f8f85799fa215306c286e |
Angola has reportedly declared Islam illegal and ordered for all of the country’s mosques to be closed down. Minister of culture Rosa Cruz e Silva said that mosques in the largely Christian country would be closed until further notice. She described Islam as a ‘sect’ that would be banned as counter to Angolan customs and culture. Angola (capital, Luanda, pictured) has reportedly declared Islam illegal and ordered for all mosques to be closed . There are unconfirmed reports that mosques across the African country are being destroyed, according to the International Business Times. President Jose Edurado dos Santos reportedly told the Osun Defence daily: ‘This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country.’ Along with Islam, which is a religion associated with less than 1 per cent of the population of 19 million, 194 other ‘sects’ have been banned in the nation, where more than half the population is Christian. Ms Cruz e Silva said: ‘The legalisation of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights [and] their mosques will be closed until further notice.’ Clashes between Christians and Muslim people are frequently reported in the local media. Manuel Fernando, director of the Angolan . Ministry of Culture's National Institute for Religious Affairs, denied . the reported measures.'There is no war in Angola against Islam . or any other religion,' Fernando told Agence France-Presse. 'There is no . official position that targets the destruction or closure of places of . worship, whichever they are.' Less than 1 per cent of the Angolan population of 19 million people are Muslim . | Minister of culture described Islam as a 'sect' which is banned as counter to Angolan customs and culture . Nation's president said: ‘This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country' | eb6de6cf435bc6d48a20c2f28d2947e95c998aa3 |
As Alexis Sanchez celebrated his first Premier League goal against Leicester on Sunday afternoon, he probably wasn't aware of its significance. The Chilean's effort, which flashed past Kasper Schmeichel to give the Gunners the lead at the King Power Stadium, also made him the 100th player to score for the north London side in the Premier League era. It was the £30million summer signing's second goal for the club, following on from a priceless winner against Besiktas in the Champions League play-offs. VIDEO Scroll down for Arsene Wenger: Alexis Sanchez gives Arsenal a new dimension . Neat finish: Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez reacts quickest to give the Gunners the lead at Leicester . Back of the net: Sanchez's strike goes beyond defenders Paul Konchesky (left) and Wes Morgan (right) All smiles: Sanchez's goal made him the 100th player to score for Arsenal in the Premier League era . The former Barcelona star joins an illustrious list of players to have found the back of the net for Arsenal since the Premier League began back in 1992. Club legend Thierry Henry leads the way in the goalscoring stakes, having netted 175 times during his eight-year career at Highbury and the Emirates. In second place, but miles behind the Frenchman, sits Ian Wright with 104 league goals to his name, while Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is third having scored 96 times before leaving for Old Trafford in 2012. Goal-getters: Thierry Henry (left) sits top of Arsenal's goalscoring chart above Ian Wright (right) Flying Dutchmen: Robin van Persie (left) and Dennis Bergkamp (right) are third and fourth in the Gunners' list . Other names near the top of the Gunners' list include Dennis Bergkamp (87 goals), Robert Pires (62 goals), Emmanuel Adebayor (46 goals) and Cesc Fabregas (35 goals). Sanchez joins a group of 19 players to have scored a single league goal for Arsenal, with the likes of Gael Clichy, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Nacho Monreal and Serge Gnabry each having celebrated just one top-flight strike in the red and white. There will surely be more to come from the Chile star, however. Despite Sanchez's goal being a piece of history it was not enough to seal a win for Arsenal at Leicester as Leonardo Ulloa earned Nigel Pearson's side a share of the points with a fine header. Pure joy: Gunners midfielder Serge Gnabry celebrates his first and only goal against Swansea in 2013 . On target: Nacho Monreal's only Premier League goal for Arsenal arrived against Swansea in March 2013 . ARSENAL'S 100 PREMIER LEAGUE SCORERS . Thierry Henry (258, 175) Ian Wright (191, 104) Robin van Persie (194, 96) Dennis Bergkamp (315, 87), . Robert Pires (189, 62) Emmanuel Adebayor (104, 46) Freddie Ljungberg (216, 46) Theo Walcott (194, 45) Cesc Fabregas (212, 35) Sylvain Wiltord (106, 31) Kanu (119, 30) Olivier Giroud (72, 28) Paul Merson (160, 28) Patrick Vieira (279, 28) Marc Overmars (100, 25) Nicklas Bendtner (108, 24 . Nicolas Anelka (65, 23) Kevin Campbell (97, 23) Andrey Arshavin (105, 23) Ray Parlour (333, 20) Lukas Podolski (54, 19) Aaron Ramsey (130, 19) Samir Nasri (86, 18) Tomas Rosicky (155, 17) Gilberto Silva (170, 17), . Jose Antonio Reyes (69, 16) Santi Cazorla (72, 16) John Hartson (53, 14) Mikel Arteta (95, 14) Abou Diaby (124, 14) David Platt (88, 13) Thomas Vermaelen (110, 13) William Gallas (101, 12 . Tony Adams (255, 12) Gervinho (46, 9) Emmanuel Petit (85, 9) Laurent Koscielny (122, 9) Mathieu Flamini (131, 9) Kolo Toure (225, 9) Lee Dixon (305, 9) Davor Suker (22, 8) Marouane Chamakh (40, 8) Alan Smith (75, 8) Sol Campbell (146, 8) Ashley Cole (156, 8) Edu (79, 7) Alex Hleb (89, 7) Alex Song (138, 7) Eduardo (41, 6 . Denilson (96, 6), . Lauren (159, 6) Mesut Ozil (28, 5) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (58, 5) Andy Linighan (91, 5) Per Mertesacker (92, 5) Emmanuel Eboue (132, 5) Yossi Benayoun (19, 4) Francis Jeffers (22, 4) Stephen Hughes (49, 4) Philippe Senderos (64, 4) Jack Wilshere (88, 4) Gilles Grimandi (114, 4) Bacary Sagna (213, 4) Nigel Winterburn (270, 4) Martin Keown (310, 4), . Jermaine Pennant (12, 3) Chris Kiwomya (14, 3) Paul Dickov (21, 3) Julio Baptista (24, 3) Mikael Silvestre (26, 3) Christopher Wreh (28, 3) Carlos Vela (29, 3) Sylvinho (55, 3) Pascal Cygan (63, 3) Paul Shaw (12, 2) Jimmy Carter (19, 2) Andre Santos (23, 2) Anders Limpar (33, 2) Stefan Schwarz (34, 2) Giovanni van Bronckhorst (41, 2) Steve Bould (175, 2) Alexis Sanchez (3, 1) Paolo Vernazza (5, 1) Stefan Malz (6, 1) Fran Merida (6, 1) Serge Gnabry (10, 1) Sebastien Squillaci (23, 1) Scott Marshall (24, 1) Jeremie Aliadiere (29, 1) Paul Davis (32, 1) Justin Hoyte (34, 1) Nacho Monreal (36, 1) Carl Jenkinson (37, 1) Glenn Helder (39, 1) Steve Morrow (60, 1) David Hillier (61, 1) Johan Djourou (86, 1) Kieran Gibbs (90, 1) John Jensen (98, 1) Gael Clichy (187, 1) | Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring against Leicester on Sunday . The Chilean's goal made him the 100th player to score for the Gunners during the Premier League era . Thierry Henry is Arsenal's leading scorer with 175 goals . Ian Wright, Robin van Persie and Dennis Bergkamp all high on the list . Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs among players to have scored one league goal for Arsene Wenger's side . | a26328ad10fe5b7296f0489e1b663ebac9cf7f86 |
The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is the most extensive and expensive ever undertaken, but it’s been claimed the plane could have been located if its tracking software had been upgraded - something that costs just £6 ($10) per flight. According to new book Flight MH370: The Mystery, the Boeing 777-200ER had a ‘data package’ that only transmitted the most basic flight information, so authorities weren’t able to get a GPS fix on it. For just six pounds, however, this package could have been improved, the book says, resulting in far more detailed information about the 777's movements being pinged. Flight MH370 has been missing since March 8 - but could have transmitted a GPS fix on its location if its tracking software had received a £6 upgrade, it's been claimed . Huge task: The search for MH370 is the most expensive and extensive ever undertaken . Investigation: The book weighs all the theories about what happened to MH370 . The book, by Nigel Cawthorne, says: ‘Along with several other carriers, Malaysia Airlines had opted for a cheap data package for its aircraft that transmitted only minimal information rather than pay an additional small fee to transmit detailed flight data.’ The new publication, which weighs all the theories about what happened to the flight, highlights a quote regarding the tracking system obtained by the Daily Telegraph. ‘For US$10, you could have told within half an hour’s flying time where the plane would have gone,’ a source told the paper. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, meanwhile, has called for real-time tracking of planes and improvements to their communication systems to prevent a repeat of the 370 tragedy. In an opinion piece published on Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal, Najib called for changes that would ‘make it harder for an aircraft to simply disappear, and easier to find any aircraft that did.’ ‘One of the most astonishing things about this tragedy is the revelation that an airliner the size of a Boeing 777 can vanish, almost without a trace. In an age of smartphones and mobile Internet, real-time tracking of commercial airplanes is long overdue,’ he said. The Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 239 people was traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 when it disappeared. The search is focused in the Indian Ocean, west of Perth, Australia, but it has not been found. Inmarsat Plc, a British provider of global mobile satellite communications services, said Monday it will offer free basic tracking services for planes flying over oceans. The service will be available to most of the world's long-haul commercial fleet. The Malaysian plane sent a signal to an Inmarsat satellite, but not location data. Engineers conducted a novel analysis of those signals to determine the plane's flight path, but the effort took time. Australia's Ocean Shield is carrying a robot submarine, the Bluefin 21, to survey the ocean floor for MH370's black box . Najib also urged the aviation industry to consider changing planes' communications systems so that they can't be disabled midair. The government has said someone severed the plane's communication systems with the ground and deliberately diverted Flight 370. He said the capacity of the cockpit data recorder, one of a plane's two black boxes, should be extended from two hours currently to recording the entire flight, while its location beacons should be made to last at least 90 days, instead of 30 days now. ‘The global aviation industry must not only learn the lessons of MH370 but implement them,’ he added. Najib reiterated that Flight 370 was one of world's greatest aviation mysteries. ‘Nobody saw this coming, nobody knows why it happened, and nobody knows precisely where it is,’ he said. He said the government has done its best but admitted there were mistakes in the early days of the crisis, with a disorderly public communication and a slow start to search efforts. He said an independent investigation is ongoing so the government can learn from mistakes. A Malaysia Airlines employee writes a message expressing prayers and well-wishes for passengers of MH370 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport mosque . Najib assured families of passengers that Malaysia will ‘keep searching for the plane for as long as it takes.’ Australia is leading the search, which is moving into a second phase in which commercial underwater operators will be contracted to scour a vast expanse of seabed with sonar equipment looking for wreckage for the next one year. An Australian ship on Tuesday returned to the area where underwater sounds consistent with black boxes were heard in April, the search coordination center said. The ship had returned to port briefly to be resupplied. The Ocean Shield is carrying a robot submarine, the Bluefin 21, to survey the ocean floor. | The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight is most expensive ever . A £6 software upgrade to plane could have given GPS fix, claims new book . Flight MH370: The Mystery says tracking software on plane was too basic . Flight MH370: The Mystery, by Nigel Cawthorne, is out now (£7.99, John Blake Publishing). | 83534db798631207b39d06620992e36d4dea0ce8 |
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 23:52 EST, 1 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:14 EST, 2 August 2013 . Diners are queuing to sit at the same table where Charles Saatchi grabbed his wife Nigella Lawson by the throat and pulled at her nose. Customers have allegedly been trying to book the same table where the assault happened at London's exclusive Scott's restaurant. The pair's regular table outside the restaurant has become a macabre novelty for diners eager to photograph themselves in the same spot where the multi-millionaire held the 53-year-old by the throat and pulled her nose. Diners are keen to sit at the table Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi, would regularly use when they dined at Scott's restaurant . Regular: Charles Saatchi at Scott's last night, where he has been so many times he has a special table and chair . The Mayfair restaurant has been 'inundated with requests', The Sun reported. A source told The Sun: 'People are quite embarrassed to ask but it seems they want to get their picture taken as the spot where it all happened.' Scott's were unavailable to comment when the Mail Online contacted them. After the row in June, Miss Lawson ended her ten-year marriage to the art mogul this week on the grounds of his ‘unreasonable behaviour’ – in a hearing which lasted for just 70 seconds. The couple were granted a decree nisi at the High Court in London on the grounds that the marriage had ‘irretrievably broken down’, less than eight weeks after they had a heated row which saw Mr Saatchi grabbing Miss Lawson's throat. Mr Saatchi – who initially described the incident as a ‘playful tiff’ – has now accepted a police caution for assault. Nigella Lawson ended her ten-year marriage to the art mogul this week on the grounds of his 'unreasonable behaviour' Celebrated: Scott's, in the heart of Mayfair, is popular with the rich and famous from all over the world . Neither the 53-year-old television chef nor her art collector husband, 70, attended the hearing. Starters: . Parma ham with fried goat's cheese, nectarines and hazelnut dressing - £12.75 . Girolle, broad bean and samphire risotto - £13.75 . Sautéed monkfish cheeks and snails with bacon and Bordelaise sauce - £14.75 . Mains: . Monkfish and scallop brochette with fregola salad & harissa dressing - £25 Fillet of John Dory with sweetcorn and clam broth - £29.75 . Scampi Provençale with fennel pilaf - £24.75 . Desserts: . Pimm's Royale jelly with elderflower sherbet - £9.75 . Oreo Chocolate with cookie ice cream - £9 . Bakewell pudding with almond ice cream - £8.75 . However papers lodged at the High Court revealed it was Miss Lawson who petitioned for the divorce. She also answered ‘yes’ when asked if Mr Saatchi’s behaviour had continued. Lawson, who was the applicant in the case, also confirmed in the document that they were living apart. The document was signed by the popular cook and broadcaster on July 9. The pair now have to wait for a decree absolute, which is usually issued six weeks and a day later, ending their marriage. Neither the couple or their legal representatives attended the hearing. A decree nisi is a statement saying the court sees no reason why a divorce cannot be granted. It is thought the divorce will be rubber-stamped some time in September. The pair, who are said to be worth an estimated £150million and shared a £12million home in Chelsea, are believed to have agreed never to publicly disclose the terms of the divorce or financial settlements. They are also understood to have signed a pre-nuptial agreement when they wed in 2003. | Customers 'try to book the same table where the assault happened' Pair's regular table outside the restaurant has become a macabre novelty . Miss Lawson ended 10-year-marriage to Saatchi this week . | bb598bef887b5156e3ca574cd09041d86472c385 |