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16eb079e90a6147319e2c64612ebeee414acc8d9 | (CNN) -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth was charged in Florida on Wednesday with killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office said. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth has been charged with DUI manslaughter . Authorities charged Stallworth, 28, with DUI manslaughter in the death of Mario Reyes, spokesman Ed Griffith said. Stallworth is expected to surrender in court Thursday, Griffith said. The charge is a bondable offense, and bail is expected to be set at $200,000. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. According to Griffith, Stallworth's blood-alcohol level after last month's accident was measured at 0.126 percent, higher than the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent. Stallworth was drinking at a Miami Beach, Florida, club early March 14, court documents say. He later left the club and went to a Miami residence for about 45 minutes before leaving in his black Bentley GT at 7:07 a.m. He was driving east on the MacArthur Causeway, which connects Miami to the South Beach area of Miami Beach, when he struck Reyes, prosecutors said. Reyes, a construction worker, was crossing the eastbound lanes of the causeway. CNN affiliate WSVN reported that he was heading to a bus stop after leaving work. Reyes, 59, was struck by the right front and fender of the car and suffered critical head, chest and abdominal injuries, according to an affidavit. He died a short time later at a hospital. Read the affidavit (PDF) Stallworth told the arriving officer, "I hit the man lying in the road," the affidavit said. He said he had time to honk his horn and flash his headlights to alert Reyes, according to the documents. Police smelled alcohol on his breath, the documents said, and Stallworth provided a blood sample at the scene. Stallworth released a statement four days after the incident saying he and his family were "grief-stricken." "My thoughts and prayers are with the Reyes family during this incredibly difficult time," he said. Among the expected conditions of Stallworth's bail are that he consume no alcohol or drugs, submit to random drug and alcohol testing, abide by a curfew between midnight and 6 a.m., surrender his passport and not drive, according to an agreement setting conditions of his release. He will be allowed to reside in Ohio and Florida as needed, but he must notify authorities 24 hours in advance when traveling. Stallworth and his attorney have been cooperating with authorities, Officer Deborah Doty, spokeswoman for Miami Beach police, said Wednesday. Stallworth, a former University of Tennessee player, has also played professionally for the New England Patriots, the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles. CNN's Rich Phillips contributed to this report . | NFL player is expected to surrender in court Thursday; bail expected to be $200,000.
Donte Stallworth's blood-alcohol level was 0.126 percent; state's legal limit is 0.08 .
If convicted, Stallworth could face up to 15 years in prison. |
16eb8fd3baeec8de20fc65ede92606b441c87b0a | (CNN) -- Honduras suspended diplomatic relations with Argentina on Tuesday in retaliation for having its ambassador expelled from Argentina last week. Riot police stand in front of marchers supporting ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Tuesday. The move stems from tensions between the two countries over a June 28 military-led coup in which Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya was replaced by congressional leader Roberto Micheletti. When Honduran Ambassador Carmen Eleonora Ortez Williams, who had been appointed by Zelaya, did not protest the coup, Argentina took exception. Most countries in the world -- as well as the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the European Union -- have denounced the coup and demanded that Zelaya be restored to power. Those nations still consider Zelaya president and do not recognize any officials from Micheletti's government or any functionaries who support him. Argentina asked Ortez to leave last week "for supporting the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti." On Tuesday, Honduras suspended relations with Argentina and asked the South American nation's diplomats to leave within 72 hours. Honduras' relations with Argentina will be "channeled" though the Argentine embassy in Israel, said a release issued in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. "With regards to Argentine personnel stationed in Tegucigalpa and who are finishing their functions in Honduras, they will be granted, based on the principle of strictest reciprocity, the same treatment, time and facilities that was conceded to Honduran functionaries accredited in Argentina," the Honduran release said. The Honduran political crisis stems from Zelaya's desire to hold a referendum that could have led to extending term limits by changing the constitution, despite the country's congress having outlawed the vote and the supreme court having ruled it illegal. Zelaya vowed to hold the vote anyway but was ousted before the voting started. The congress named Micheletti provisional president shortly after Zelaya was detained by the military and sent into exile. Micheletti said Zelaya was not overthrown in a coup, but rather removed from power through constitutional means. | Honduras takes action after its ambassador is expelled from Argentina .
Argentina ousted ambassador because she backed new Honduras government .
Argentina among nations demanding that ousted Honduran president be restored .
Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya ousted in military coup in June . |
16ec8892e8eb61ff2c27e437cd3f3276cca1c1b6 | (CNN) -- Former President Clinton published a list of donors to his foundation Thursday to help clear the way for his wife to become secretary of state. Bill Clinton speaks to at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in Hong Kong in early December. The donations to the William J. Clinton Foundation include amounts of $10 million to $25 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and real estate mogul Stephen Bing, a personal friend of Clinton's. The Clintons came under intense pressure during Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to release the names of donors to both the foundation and to the Clinton presidential library in Arkansas. Bill Clinton agreed to the release the list after President-elect Barack Obama nominated Hillary Clinton to become secretary of state. The governments of Kuwait and Qatar are also on the list, as is Saudi businessman Nasser Al-Rashid, who has close ties to the Saudi royal family. Saudi Sheikh Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi, reputed to be one of the richest men in the world, is among the donors as well. Both Saudis contributed in the $1 million to $5 million range. A group called Friends of Saudi Arabia and the Dubai Foundation appear in the same category. Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal also donated between $1 million and $5 million, as did the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Princess Diana Memorial Fund and the Open Society Institute, which George Soros founded. Israeli-born television mogul Haim Saban, owner of the Spanish-language TV station Univision, donated between $5 million and $10 million personally or through his foundation. The two biggest donors are UNITAID, a new international organization that purchases drugs for the world's poorest people, and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, both of which donated more than $25 million. Clinton donated between $500,000 and $1 million personally or through his family foundation, which is separate from the William J. Clinton Foundation. The foundation's projects include the Clinton Global Initiative, which seeks to combat poverty and climate change and promote health and education programs worldwide, as well as separate initiatives directed at childhood obesity, global warming, HIV/AIDS and malaria, inner city entrepreneurship and economic growth in Latin America. It also funded the construction of the Clinton Presidential Library in Arkansas. The full 2,922-page list is at www.clintonfoundation.org/contributors. It includes only donation ranges, not specific amounts, and no information about donors beyond their names. CNN's Elise Labott, Dugald McConnell, Juan Carlos Lopez and Rebecca Sinderbrand contributed to this report . | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave between $10 million and $25 million .
Bill Gates, Univision TV owner also gave millions .
Kuwait and Qatar governments are also on list .
Clinton agreed to release list to help nomination of wife as secretary of state . |
16ecb7b71c9f1cdab3c676acb42927a399d2f45d | Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Thousands of people who filled the streets of Cairo on Tuesday hope their demonstrations against corruption and failing economic policies will cause upheaval in the government, like the similar protests in Tunisia that inspired them. But analysts caution that in Egypt, the protesters are up against a different set of challenges. Juan Cole, a Middle East historian at the University of Michigan and blogger, describes Tunisia as "a little bit unique." "There have been lots of civil wars. There's been lots of societies in turmoil. But this kind of phenomenon where you had crowds peacefully coming into the streets to demand a change in their own contract with their government -- in the Arab world proper, this is the first time it's happened and it's the first time since 1979 in the Middle East," Cole told CNN last week. He noted that Tunisia is the "most secular country in the Arab world." Its traditions have favored women's rights and its Islamist influence is negligible. Tunisia also lacked the oil resources of other Arab states and the ethnic divisions seen in other Middle Eastern countries, which make it harder for opposition movements to unite, he noted. Looking at the protests Tuesday in Cairo, Mamoun Fandy of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told CNN he was not seeing a "turning point or tipping point yet." Noting the strength of the army, he said, "The Egyptian system is too strong and too resilient." A key question that will show the potential strength of the demonstrations Tuesday is whether hardcore protesters will stay through the night, or whether the rallies will fizzle down, he said. Eric Trager, a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the University of Pennsylvania and a former Fulbright fellow in Egypt, wrote in The Atlantic, "Egypt's liberal activists overwhelmingly come from the wired generation of Twitter and Facebook, and this makes them optimistic that pro-democratic movements can go viral, even in a political environment as traditionally illiberal as the Middle East. ... Yet Egyptian activists face tremendous odds -- in particular, an entrenched dictatorship that is determined to discredit the very idea of domino-effect democratization." Time.com published a story Thursday from writer Abigail Hauslohner in Cairo headlined, "After Tunisia: Why Egypt Isn't Ready to Have Its Own Revolution." Some Egyptians "believe the time is now" for protests to bring about change like in Tunisia, and several people in Egypt have set themselves on fire or attempted to in recent days -- much like the self-immolation of a young unemployed man in Tunisia that sparked protests in that country," she writes. "But in Egypt, it doesn't go much deeper than that." A greater percentage of Egypt's population than Tunisia's lives below the poverty line, she writes. "The citizens of Egypt regularly complain of a neglectful regime that knows more about torture than it does about public service, and they're furious with a regime that seems to swallow any domestic profits before they can reach the lower classes. And yet no one predicts a revolutionary reset anytime soon." Two factors distinguish Egypt from Tunisia in this respect, Hauslohner writes: Tunisia's government spent generously on education, creating a frustrated educated but unemployed population. And in Egypt, "the military stands with" Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Time.com is a partner of CNN.com. Writing in Newsweek, journalist Mike Giglio suggested the "upcoming protest in Cairo could mark the beginning of another upheaval." "Tuesday will be the first real test of whether the revolution is contagious," he wrote in a story published Monday. Many protesters believe their demonstrations will prove to have far more power than naysayers suggest. A Facebook page that has served to help organize Tuesday's protests in Cairo says, "Many young Egyptians are now fed up with the inhuman treatment they face on a daily basis in streets, police stations and everywhere. ... Egyptians are aspiring to the day when Egypt has its freedom and dignity back, the day when the current 30 years long emergency martial law ends and when Egyptians can freely elect their true representatives." | Analysts: Egypt is a different story from Tunisia .
Analyst: Tunisia "a little bit unique"
Time writer says Egypt "not ready" for revolution .
Protesters believe Cairo demonstrations can help trigger change . |
16ed43c906f3d928571557587cfe2b9f811320f4 | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The half brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai was shot dead at his home in Kandahar on Tuesday, authorities said. Ahmed Wali Karzai, the Kandahar provincial council chief, was killed during a gathering, said Tooryalai Wesa, provincial governor. He did not know a motive. While the governor initially said a friend killed Karzai, his spokesman later clarified that the death was at the hands of a guard. Saidkhan Khakrezwal, a member of the Kandahar provincial council, told CNN he and others were with Ahmed Wali Karzai when a guard named Sardar Mohammad came into the room and asked to talk to him. The guard then "takes Wali to another room and shoots him with a pistol that he had in his hand," Khakrezwal said. The shooter was shot dead by other guards. Sardar Mohammad was a trusted man who had worked as a guard for Karzai for eight years, Khakrezwal said. He was also a commander for a police post where there were about 30 policemen. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying that the guard accused of shooting him was working for them. Karzai suffered bullet wounds to his head and chest, said Mohammad Dawood Farhad, the head of Kandahar Hospital. "My brother Ahmad Wali Karzai was killed today," said the Afghan president in a previously scheduled news conference with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "The Afghanistan people have suffered a lot. Every Afghan family has suffered. I hope one day these sufferings end." White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Barack Obama comdemned Karzai's murder and extended thoughts and prayers to his family. "The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the murder of President Karzai's half brother in Kandahar," Carney said. "There's been some claims and we will certainly work with the Afghan authorities on that, but right now the moment here is a personal one and we express our condolences." Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan said ISAF will help the Afghan government "bring justice" to those involved in the killing. "President Karzai is working to create a stronger, more secure Afghanistan, and for such a tragic event to happen to someone within his own family is unfathomable," Petraeus said. Ahmed Wali Karzai, who has been dogged by drug dealing and corruption accusations, had been the subject of WikiLeaks cables leaked last year. Without being prompted, he discussed the accusations with a senior U.S. diplomat, according to one of the cables. He said that the claims are part of a campaign to discredit him and offered suggestions on how to stop drug dealing. "He is willing to take a polygraph anytime, anywhere to prove his innocence," the cable said. "He suggested that the coalition pay mullahs to preach against heroin, which would reduce demand for poppy cultivation." A U.S. official who authored another cable wrote that even though he must be engaged as head of Kandahar's provincial council, "he is widely understood to be corrupt and a narcotics trafficker." He said Karzai's "reputation for shady dealings" should be considered when he recommends "costly infrastructure projects. The official said dealing with people like Ahmed Wali Karzai represents a major challenge in Afghanistan: Fighting corruption and building support for government when government officials are corrupt themselves. Karzai "appears not to understand the level of our knowledge of his activities, and that the coalition views many of his activities as malign, particularly relating to his influence over the police," the author of the first cable said. In addition to discussions of war, drugs and Afghan politics, a comment in one of the cables also addressed his days as a restaurant owner close to Chicago's Wrigley Field, the iconic baseball stadium. "His restaurant was a hub for American(s) in the Midwest who had worked or lived in Afghanistan prior to the Soviet invasion," the cable read. CNN's Matiullah Mati contributed to this report. | NEW: White House condemns "in the strongest possible terms" the killing .
Provincial council member says shooter was a trusted guard for Ahmed Wali Karzai .
Gen. David Petraeus calls the shooting "unfathomable"
The Taliban claim responsibility, saying the guard was working for them . |
16ee51f1f04db908dc12515d02857774b8b66ee4 | (CNN) -- Poor Steve Ballmer. The burly Microsoft CEO, who announced Friday that he will retire next year, has been the victim of some unfortunate timing. When he took over leadership of Microsoft in 2000 Ballmer had to follow iconic co-founder Bill Gates, who had built the software titan into the most valuable company in the world. Then Ballmer was blindsided by the swift rise of Steve Jobs and Apple, whose iPod, iPhone and iPad led a mobile revolution and made Microsoft appear slow and out of touch. On a more positive note, Ballmer has been credited more recently for re-imagining the company's core product with the bold Windows 8 operating system and leading a 2013 revival of Microsoft's once-flagging stock. Under his reign, Microsoft has a mixed record of success with its consumer products. Here's a look at some of the company's more notable hits and misses of the Ballmer era. Hits . Windows XP -- This version of Microsoft's desktop operating system was released in 2001 and used on more than 80% of PCs at its peak. The software also showed surprising staying power: Many IT managers, frustrated by the buggy Microsoft Vista, downgraded to the older but more reliable XP. Today, 12 years after its launch, XP still runs almost 39% of the world's desktop computers. Xbox -- Launched in 2001, the venerable video gaming console and its successor, the Xbox 360, have sold more than 100 million units. Some blockbuster games, such as the "Halo" and "Gears of War" series, are available only for the Xbox. Its Kinect system was hailed as a step forward in motion-control gaming, while Xbox Live, Microsoft's online multiplayer gaming network, now has more than 46 million members worldwide. Microsoft will release its next-generation console, the Xbox One, in November. Bing -- Ballmer in 2009 introduced Microsoft's Bing search engine, which drew praise for its attractive visuals and predictive-text features that produced search suggestions before users were done typing queries. It won't challenge Google's dominance any time soon, but Bing has emerged as a credible rival. It has gradually increased in popularity and now commands almost 18% of the U.S. search engine market. Windows Phone 7 (and 7.5) -- With this launch in late 2010 and early 2011, Microsoft completely rebuilt its mobile operating system from the ground up by adding a more intuitive interface, better social-networking tools and a high-def screen with colorful "live tiles." It was a radical move for a company that for years had been playing it safe. Misses . Internet Explorer 6 -- This version of Microsoft's widely used desktop browser was roundly criticized for its security flaws and lack of support for modern Web standards. Zune -- In 2006, Microsoft finally launched its answer to Apple's hot-selling iPod. But the clunky Zune line of portable media players never caught on, and by late 2009 their market share had dropped to 2%. It didn't help that at midnight on December 31, 2008, all of Zune's 30GB models froze up for a day -- a problem with the way the device's internal clock recognized (or didn't recognize) leap years. Microsoft put the Zune out of its misery in 2011. Vista -- Released in 2007, this successor to Windows XP was an immediate dud. Critics complained about its cost, sluggish speed, restrictive licensing terms and how Vista aimed to discourage the copying of protected digital media. One survey of corporate users found only 8% said they were "very satisfied" with the operating system. Stung by the reaction, Microsoft rushed out Windows 7 less than three years later. Surface tablets -- Again, Microsoft found itself chasing Apple, this time with a belated attempt to dethrone the market-leading iPad. Launched in October 2012 -- more than two years after the original iPad -- the Surface tablet was Microsoft's first attempt to integrate its new Windows 8 operating system with its own hardware. Despite some good reviews, the Surface hasn't clicked with consumers. Microsoft earned only $853 million from the Surface between its launch last fall and the close of the company's fiscal year -- a small fraction of iPad sales revenue during that time. Said AllThingsD, "That's a particularly sad showing for the tablet, given the blustering smack-talk with which Microsoft launched the device." | Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced Friday that he will step down in the next 12 months .
Under Ballmer's reign, Microsoft has had a mixed record of success with its products .
The Xbox console has been a consistent seller, while the now-defunct Zune music player was a dud . |
16eedea791de84660539e59a0cf4c8019af1dffd | At 16 her gangly beauty saw her become the face of the 1960s. Fifty years on, Twiggy’s still very much in fashion. At 65, the model and Marks & Spencer designer has been named as the latest ambassador for L’Oreal. From face of the 1960s: Twiggy in her heyday (left) ... to face of the 60 somethings, in an M&S design (right) This time her enviable blonde locks will be the focus of the adverts for the brand’s Professionnel line of hair products. Her appointment comes after the French cosmetics giant signed up Dame Helen Mirren, 69, as a representative on a reported £9million deal in October last year. Jane Fonda, 77, has also fronted the company’s campaigns. Actresses Jennifer Lopez, 45, and Andie MacDowell, 56, have also represented the more mature woman. However, much younger celebrities usually star in L’Oreal commercials, such as pop star Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, 31, and actress Blake Lively, 27. Twiggy modelling for the L'Oreal Professionnel line of hair products aged 65 - she also designs for M&S . And, at 65, she is more than twice the age of other celebrity representatives Cheryl and Blake. Twiggy said: ‘I am absolutely delighted. I truly believe in the skill of the professional hairdresser and am so proud to represent the brand. Twiggy with her trademark pixie cut and long, spiky eyelashes pictured in her heyday in the 1960s . 'I hope to inspire women to be confident in their personal style and never to be afraid of trying something new. It is not Twiggy’s first signing for a cosmetics company – she has also been the face of skincare brand Olay. Twiggy was first recruited by M&S to front an ad campaign in 2005 and has also turned her hand to designing her own collections. Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby but given her nickname for her slender build, was one of the world’s first supermodels appearing on the cover of British Vogue and Elle in the 60s. She has also appeared in a number of movies including The Boy Friend (1971) and was briefly a co-presenter of ITV’s This Morning in 2001. Talking about being the face of the Sixties at 16, she told an interviewer: ‘The thing is, when you’re 16, you don’t feel young. 'At the time you think you’re quite grown up. 'It wasn’t until much later, when I had a daughter and she got to be 16, that I looked at her and thought, “Oh my God, I was that young when it happened”. 'It’s amazing, really, that I didn’t go stark raving bonkers.’ | At 16 her gangly beauty saw Twiggy become the face of the 1960s .
Now 50 years on she has been named as the latest ambassador for L'Oreal .
She will model for the brans'd Professionnel line of hair products .
Says she is 'absolutely delighted' and proud to model for the brand . |
16ef40f742f058591c4605d04373011de729374c | New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- Encouraged by results so far, BP and the government agreed Saturday to another 24 hours of testing of the recently recapped Gulf well. BP's 48-hour window for pressure testing expired Saturday afternoon with no reports of flowing oil or evidence that the giant sealing cap caused further damage. The testing will now go into Sunday afternoon. Retired Adm. Thad Allen, the government's response manager, said once testing is eventually stopped "we will immediately return to containment, using the new, tighter sealing cap with both the [vessels] Helix Producer and the Q4000." Pressure was still rising Saturday though it had slowed considerably as expected, BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells said earlier in the day. Officials are looking at the testing in six-hour windows. "The longer the test goes the more confidence we have in it," Wells told reporters in a conference call Saturday. "There's no evidence we don't have integrity." Higher pressure means oil is not leaking out from another source in the well. Lower pressure would indicate otherwise. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration sonar ship has been brought in to monitor the sea floor around the well, Allen said in a statement. "The pressure in the capping stack continues to increase very slowly and we want to continue to monitor this progress." The latest pressure reading inside the well was 6,745 psi (pounds per square inch), Wells said. That falls short of the optimal 8,000 to 9,000 psi needed in order to conclude without doubt the well is not leaking. "Based on the data and pressure readings compiled to date, the test has provided us with valuable information which will inform the procedure to kill the well and a better understanding of options for temporary shut-in during a hurricane," Allen said. Allen said Friday that the rising pressure readings were generally good news. But he added, "I think we're at a point where there's enough uncertainty about the meaning of the pressure that we're seeing that we have to use due diligence moving forward. We don't want to do harm or create a situation that cannot be reversed." Reopening the valves would allow oil to once again flow into the Gulf and recovery operations from the surface to resume. No oil has gushed out since Thursday when BP closed all the valves in a new custom-made cap that was lowered into place earlier in the week. The undersea video images of a quiet ocean sprouted new hope in the hearts of Gulf Coast residents devastated by three months of disaster. Still, they remained cautiously optimistic, as did officials including Allen and President Barack Obama, until BP is able to announce conclusive test results. Engineers and scientists intensified monitoring of the well, pouring over images and data collected by robots, sonar scans and seismic and acoustic examinations. A government ship is in the area, fitted with equipment for detecting methane gas, which would be an indication of a leak. The well integrity test began Thursday after two days of delays, first as government scientists scrutinized testing procedures and then as BP replaced a leaking piece of equipment known as a choke line. The oil stopped gushing out Thursday afternoon, the first time the energy giant has been able to gain control since the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded April 20 and triggered the catastrophe. All that was made possible by a new, tightly fitting containment cap. Meanwhile, BP restarted work on drilling two relief wells. Wells said Saturday that the first relief well is now about five feet away from the ruptured Macondo well and an intersection will occur by the end of July. BP then plans to pump mud and cement down to kill the ruptured well. "We are feeling very good at this point on how the well is lining up," Wells said. When they are ready, mud and cement will be pumped into one of the relief wells to permanently seal BP's crippled well. In the coming weeks, BP also plans to bring in two more oil collection ships in addition to the two already in the Gulf, bringing containment capacity to 80,000 barrels (about 3.4 million gallons) of oil a day, more than high-end estimates of how much oil had been leaking. But it's possible some oil may be released into the Gulf again, before all the ships are ready. The skimming vessel "A Whale," which underwent extensive testing, was found unsuited for the task and will not be deployed, Adm. Paul Zukunft said. President Obama spoke about the developments with a note of caution. "I think it's important that we don't get ahead of ourselves here," he said. "You know, one of the problems with having this camera down there is that when the oil stops gushing, everybody feels like we're done, and we're not. We won't be done until we actually know that we killed the well and have a permanent solution in place." The president expects to return to the Gulf Coast in the next few weeks. He took some heat from some corners on Saturday for taking a vacation in Maine instead of heading to revisit oil-affected areas. First Lady Michelle Obama is slated to return to the region Friday to meet with Coast Guard personnel who've been responding to the oil spill and to christen a Coast Guard cutter named in honor of Dorothy Stratton, the service branch's first female commissioned officer. | NEW: Government, BP encouraged by well pressure testing .
Testing will continue; pressure is still rising, though slowly .
Scientists are pouring through undersea images and data .
No oil has gushed into the Gulf since Thursday . |
16ef6fd77f7352e4ed9ef09f744d262299c4ea34 | A woman was forced to leave a plane because passengers were being disrupted by her travelling companion - a pot-bellied pig. The unidentified individual boarded the US Airways flight to Connecticut with the animal on Wednesday. She took the creature, said to weigh up to 70 pounds, to her seat and then attached it to her armrest - but when it became disruptive flight attendants asked her to leave the plane. The unidentified passenger was asked to leave the US Airways flight after the pot-bellied pig she carried on became disruptive . Jonathan Skolnik, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst told ABC News today he thought the woman was carrying a duffel bag and headed straight for the empty seat next to him. However he then realized he could smell the animal and noticed it was on a leash. 'The pig was walking back and forth,' he told the station. 'I was terrified, because I was thinking I'm gonna be on the plane with the pig . In 2012 it was revealed that the Department of Transportation had certain guidelines allowing animals, including pot-bellied pigs, could be taken on flights. Along with monkeys and miniature horses, they could be designated as 'Emotional Support'. Transportation officers would have to determine whether the animal is permitted on the plane by running through a list of guidelines. Pigs are favored service animals for people allergic to dogs. Guidelines suggest they are intelligent companions and attuned to dangerous situations. American Airlines, the parent company of US Airways, said the woman had the pig as an emotional support animal and was asked to leave the plane after it became disruptive. American Airlines, the parent company of US Airways, said the woman had the pig as an emotional support animal - which is allowed under Department for Transportation guidelines . | Woman boarded US Airways plane in Connecticut on Wednesday .
Tied the pig to an arm rest when she sat down and it began to walk around .
It became disruptive, so the woman was asked to leave the aircraft .
A passenger said he was 'terrified' when the animal started walking around . |
16ef7c76154436ae504882d8d04e490bac0d399b | By . Will Stewart . PUBLISHED: . 13:18 EST, 7 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:48 EST, 7 May 2013 . The media magnate Alexander Lebedev yesterday protested his innocence over a charge of hooliganism motivated by ‘political hatred’ as a Russian judge lifted a travel ban allowing him to fly to Britain. The businessman, whose family own the Independent and the London Evening Standard, faces up to five years in jail in a case that raises acute concerns over state interference in newspaper freedoms. Mr Lebedev, 53, travels to London today insisting that he will not follow dozens of President Vladimir Putin’s wealthy enemies and seek asylum in Britain. Russian media magnate Alexander Lebedev (front left) leaves a court after a hearing in Moscow . Defiant: Lebedev portrays the case as President Vladimir Putin's revenge for criticising the Kremlin and a warning to other rich businessmen . Instead, he will obey a court order . to return to Russia by next Wednesday, even though he expects to be . imprisoned in a case that is widely seen as revenge by officials loyal . to the Kremlin strongman. Ostensibly, Mr Lebedev is on trial . for punching businessman Sergei Polonsky during a TV talk show in 2011, . but analysts and diplomats believe that the prosecution is vengeance . for the relentless anti-corruption exposés of Novaya Gazeta, the . newspaper he owns with the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Its editor, Dmitry Muratov, warned: ‘They are trying to finish off Lebedev before our eyes.’ A Western diplomat monitoring the . case said: ‘With the bulk of the Russian media already cowed, this shows . what happens when newspapers and television have no independence from . state control.’ Mr Lebedev accepts he struck Mr . Polonsky, but denies any political malice and claims he acted in . self-defence, fearing that the businessman, a former paratrooper, was . about to attack him. Footage of the punch, which knocked . Mr Polonsky backwards off the TV stage in his chair, went viral on the . internet, and Mr Putin swiftly described his behaviour as ‘hooliganism’. Before yesterday’s hearing in Moscow, . Mr Lebedev said the case was Mr Putin’s revenge for his criticism of . the government and a warning to other rich Russian businessmen known as . oligarchs. ‘It’s the government that’s against me,’ Mr Lebedev said. Independent owner Alexander Lebedev alegedly lashing out at Sergei Polonsky during a Russian TV debate . Sergei Polonsky on the receiving end during a Russian TV debate with Independent owner Alexander Lebedev . Footage of the punch, when Polonsky fell backwards and was knocked off his chair, went viral on the internet . On a trip to London and Italy, he . will attend the 33rd birthday party of his son, Evgeny, now in charge of . the family’s British newspapers, who has expressed fears for his . father’s life if he is jailed. After yesterday’s short court . hearing, Mr Lebedev, who also owns a bank in Moscow, said: ‘I don’t . understand the accusation. It is made up from the first to the last . word.’ Vowing to declare his innocence in court at the next hearing, he . said: ‘It’s simple – I don’t accept the guilt.’ He admitted that he might have . ‘overestimated the threat’ of Mr Polonsky hitting him, but claimed: ‘I . definitely did not cause anyone any damage, did not commit any act of . hooliganism and did not show any political hatred.’ Judge Andrei Bakhvalov relaxed the . travel ban despite strong objections from prosecutors, but warned the . billionaire of ‘serious measures’ if he absconded. The judge yesterday . delayed the case until May 20 after Mr Polonsky and his lawyer failed to . attend, as did a string of witnesses whose testimony Mr Lebedev alleges . has been fabricated to buttress the case against him. Russian President Vladimir Putin dubbed Lebedev's behaviour 'hooliganism' He mentioned a woman who supposedly . complained to police about the punch after allegedly watching it on TV – . but only on the day after she turned 18, the minimum age for a witness. She has been accepted by the state as a key witness, he said. He claimed other basic errors have also been made in the investigation. In another development, Mr Lebedev . yesterday drew attention to reports that Mr Polonsky may have skipped . bail in Cambodia – where he is under a court order not to leave the . country over accusations of kidnapping and assaulting a group of boatmen . – to travel to Europe. Mr Polonsky is believed to have been . in Switzerland and Luxembourg in recent days, amid speculation that he . could give evidence in person against Mr Lebedev. The tycoon called on Cambodia to issue an international arrest warrant for Mr Polonsky. | Former KGB spy faces up to five years in jail over hooliganism charge .
Lebedev, 53, travels to London today .
insisting he won't seek asylum .
His family own Independent titles and the London Evening Standard . |
16f0177a7b90b1d1c986adc3f7e8ffad9c120560 | (CNN) -- When was the last time you looked at the label on your clothes to check where they were made or what they are made of? A few years ago, I was living a paradox familiar to many Americans: eating local and organic food, carrying reusable bags to the grocery store and choosing eco-friendly products wherever I could. This mindfulness was in no way extended to my closet -- I owned more than 350 items of clothes, every single bit of it cheap, trendy, poorly made and assembled in low-wage factories in other countries. See the lifecycle of your cotton T-shirt . Fashion today has a here-today-gone-tomorrow mentality, where the latest look, lowest price or the hottest designer are paramount and quantity is valued over quality. For the first time in history, we are consuming clothes as a disposable good, buying a cheap dress for a date night and wearing it but once or twice. These changing attitudes prompted me to write my book, "Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion," and what I learned about the fashion industry during the process compelled me to change. Complete coverage: Fashion Week . Our consumption of clothing is growing at an alarming rate. Most Americans have closets brimming, if not overflowing with clothes. Few of those purchases are made here -- 3% of apparel is produced in the United States, down from about half in 1990. While American factories sit empty, our thirst for cheap imported clothing has kept the cash registers at many stores humming throughout the recession. Fashion's environmental footprint has also mushroomed. There are more than 80 billion garments produced around the world today, and according to a study by the UK's Cambridge University, the industry is creating 70 million tons of waste water as of 2006 in the UK alone. In China, the largest clothing manufacturer in the world, the textile industry is also a major polluter. Last year, I traveled undercover to southern China and saw smog enshrouding a landscape of factories and, more shockingly, hundreds of factory workers wearing cheap, trendy clothes. As China's consumer class grows, already-scarce resources like water and petroleum may soon buckle under all of this shopping. In July, when it came out that the Olympic uniforms were made in China, Americans were outraged, making it clear that we're growing weary of soulless consumption. I believe we're ready for more meaningful wardrobes, and to support our amazing clothing heritage. My mother recently gave me a dress that she wore in high school in the 1960s. It was made by Jonathan Logan, a juniors brand that was considered cheap for its day -- the dress is 100% wool, fully lined, finished with French seams and made in the USA. What's so wonderful about locally made fashion is that it offers designers tight control over their product, has a lower environmental footprint and makes it easier to keep an eye on any labor problems. And according to a Cotton Incorporated Lifestyle Monitor survey, approximately 55% of consumers agree it is "very/somewhat important" that their clothing is made in the U.S. I was recently in Portland, Oregon, and met with the owners of Spooltown and the Portland Garment Factory, two small shops that have opened recently in a city that had very little existing garment industry infrastructure. They were able to build profitable manufacturing businesses from scratch. Just imagine what other Americans cities could do with the right government and consumer support. Major fashion brands also have an obligation to dramatically reduce the amount of water and energy used and waste emitted in making and selling their clothes, as well as to offer consumers more stylish products that are made out of recycled and eco-friendly materials. Nike is creating athletic team uniforms out of recycled PET bottles and has recycled more than 28 million pairs of athletic shoes through their Reuse-a-Shoe program; Eileen Fisher has just released a beautiful line of bluesign-certified silk shirts dyed without hazardous chemicals; and H&M has agreed to stop using toxic and nonbiodegradable perfluorinated compounds, called PFCs, in their outerwear by 2013. These efforts need to be expanded. Clothing designers also need to rethink the materials they're using and how they're sourced. Fortunately, eco-friendly textiles have improved so much in recent years that luxurious eco-friendly fibers like Tencel, Modal and Cupro have far more in common with silk than a hemp sack. Some emerging designers are eschewing new textiles altogether for upcycling, which means taking waste and reclaimed textile material and turning it into a product with higher value. I recently bought a lovely red tunic upcycled from a men's dress shirt produced by a small Brooklyn designer called State. Designer on the rise: Mohapatra's moment . According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we are throwing away 68 pounds of textiles per person per year and donating such a staggering volume of clothes that a majority of our donations to charity have to be sold to textile recyclers who then sell more than half of our used clothes overseas, largely to Africa. Retailers like Eileen Fisher and Patagonia are accepting returns of their worn products -- Fisher resells them in her Green Eileen retail store, while Patagonia recycles theirs into new products. Fast-fashion stores need to start these types of recycling programs. Consumers can also take more responsibility by repairing and caring for the clothes they own, trading their duds at clothing swaps and, for the particularly creative, refashioning last year's styles into fresh looks. Now for the million-dollar question: How can you afford this? It all starts by taking an honest look at how you're spending money on clothes. The average American consumer spends $1,700 a year on apparel. Most of us own more clothing than we know what to do with, so I encourage people to first of all buy less clothing and to try to limit trendy, throwaway purchases to only one or two a season. Divert the rest of your clothing budget to clothes that you truly love and are going to wear for several seasons. If just a quarter of our purchases were put toward locally made or eco-friendly fashion and fashion companies with a commitment to sustainability, we could change the face of the industry. I also believe we'd be happier with our clothes. See what a cotton T-shirt goes through before it gets to you. Is your closet filled with cheap, disposable clothing? Do you think it's worth changing how you shop? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. The opinions in this story are solely those of Elizabeth Cline. | Elizabeth Cline: Major fashion brands should reduce water and energy use, and waste .
The average American consumer spends $1,700 a year on apparel .
About 3% of apparel is produced in the United States . |
16f14fbfe989a39e3dc6b83710faeacfe5873267 | Republican opponents of White House-backed legislation that would rein in NSA surveillance programs narrowly blocked the Senate from taking up the bill Tuesday after warning it could help terrorists escape detection. On a tally of 58 to 42, a procedural vote failed to get the supermajority 60 votes it needed to advance. Supporters of the USA Freedom Act, a rare mix of liberal Democrats and libertarian Republicans, hoped public outrage over the secret mass collection of phone and Internet records -- revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden -- would lead to passage of the reforms. But many opponents argued the changes would hamper the National Security Agency's ability to track nimble and elusive terrorists. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell led the charge against the bill, saying the new rules would prevent the United States from capturing the terrorists who killed Peter Kassig, a U.S. citizen doing aid work in Syria. Kassig was executed over the weekend. "Many of these fighters are familiar with America's intelligence capabilities, and many are savvy with communications. These are terrorists who know how to use encryption, and they how to change devices quickly," he said. "This is the worst time to be tying our hands behind our backs." "It basically takes us back to a pre-9/11 lack of capacity to identify terrorists making telephone calls in the United States, said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking Senate Republican. "I think that sort of unilateral disarmament would be bad for the country." McConnell also argued the measure should be debated and voted on in the new Congress next year, not by lawmakers in a lame duck session who are leaving Washington. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, the bill's principal author, disputed the critics saying that while it puts checks on the NSA's powerful capabilities, it "does so responsibly." "The bill contains key reforms to safeguard Americans' privacy by prohibiting the indiscriminate collection of their data. It also provides for greater accountability and transparency of the government's surveillance programs," he said. "The bill also ensures that the intelligence community has the tools it needs to keep our country safe." Under the bill, the government could no longer store massive amounts of call information in its databases, a practice President Barack Obama said he wanted to end. That job would fall to the large telecommunication companies. But the government could get permission from a secret surveillance court to review specific call information if it could show it might be linked to terrorists. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said this arrangement "solves" a "very practical problem" raised by those who are uncomfortable with the government storing calling records of Americans. But Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the public's privacy would be better protected by strict federal government safeguards of that information than by the thousands of employees at private phone companies. In a statement Monday, the White House urged passage of the bill. "This legislation will help strengthen Americans' confidence in the government's use of these important national security authorities. Without passage of this bill, critical authorities that are appropriately reformed in this legislation could expire next summer. The administration urges Congress to take action on this legislation now, since delay may subject these important national security authorities to brinksmanship and uncertainty." The bill is supported by a coalition of technology companies, including Google, Apple, AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo, who have deep concerns that their customers' privacy is being violated by the current NSA techniques. Supporters suffered a setback last week when Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, who had favored the measure, announced he would not back it. However, other like-minded Republicans such as Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah voted to advance the bill. | Supporters of bill that would curb NSA fail to get supermajority of 60 votes .
White House, liberal Democrats and some libertarian Republicans supported the bill .
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell led the charge against the bill .
Under bill, government could no longer keep large amounts of call information in its databases . |
16f22f2a94a42f5e90e76690b24a45940c5bd653 | Furious railway staff called in police after discovering an airline's marketing team at one of their busiest stations - trying to lure their customers away. Managers at First Great Western were angered when they spotted Flybe workers at Exeter St David's train hub in Devon handing out coffees and promoting flights. The low-cost airline has just launched daily services from London to Exeter in direct competition to First Great Western rail services. Staff for the low-cost carrier turned up at 7am at the Devon station to promote the airline's new route (file) Flybe claim their Exeter to London City route is cheaper and quicker than the train, but First Great Western said they don't include the time to get to the airport and check-in and said rail is a 'strong alternative' on the service . As part of the promotional drive for the £60 return flights, they dispatched staff to stand outside the Exeter station to advertise the deal to commuters. Angry railway workers complained they did not have permission to stage the guerilla marketing drive and were causing an obstruction. British Transport Police confirmed they were called at 7am on October 23 after a complaint was made by station staff. The incident was eventually defused without any arrests although both sides have refused to back down following the spat which was dubbed 'transport wars' by travellers. First Great Western operates the only major rail route from Devon and Cornwall to London with tickets costing £93.50 for a return from Exeter to London. Flybe said it was 'regrettable' that First Great Western felt in necessary to contact the police as it was a 'free market' but railway managers said the airline's marketing team had 'inadvertently strayed onto our property' The new Flybe flights from Exeter to London City Airport are cheaper and quicker - taking 1hr 20 mins compared to 2hr 25 mins on the train. The company boasts of prices as low as £34.99 for a one-way ticket. Andrew McConnell, Flybe's director of communications, said: 'It is regrettable that in a commercial free market, First Great Western felt it necessary to contact the police to try to protect themselves from Flybe's offer of free coffee in a public space. 'Nothing's going to stop Flybe from being faster, cheaper and more punctual than rail travel.' First Great Western responded: 'We welcome healthy competition but Flybe's promotional team inadvertently strayed onto our property last week. 'Direct flights between Exeter and London are good news for the South West, providing those travelling with greater choices. 'However, with the time taken to check-in at Exeter International Airport and the distance the airport is to Exeter city centre, rail remains a strong, viable alternative - and the quickest way to travel.' British Transport Police said: 'We had received a complaint from station staff regarding representatives of Flybe operating at the station without permission, and a vehicle outside causing an obstruction. 'We spoke to both parties, and the staff representing Flybe agreed to leave the station.' | Flybe marketing staff were promoting carrier's new London to Exeter route .
Stood outside Devon's main station in early rush hour to 'spread the word'
First Great Western railway said the guerilla campaign was 'an obstruction'
Police were called and marketing crew with budget airline agreed to move on .
Bemused passengers looking on at stand-off dubbed it the 'transport wars' |
16f25923a023286e5b443db5235e5f51819d91d5 | A girl who overheard part of an incident involving Florida teenager Trayvon Martin can help prove he was killed "in cold blood" by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, an attorney for Martin's family said Tuesday. The girl, who was dating the 17-year-old, "completely blows Zimmerman's absurd self-defense claim out of the water," lawyer Benjamin Crump told reporters. The girl -- who he said does not wish to be identified -- "connects the dots" about what happened that day when she lays out what she overheard while on the phone with him, he said. 911 calls paint picture of chaos . Martin was fatally shot on February 26 while walking to the house of his father's fiancee in Sanford after a trip to a nearby convenience store. Zimmerman has acknowledged shooting Martin. Speaking on the phone shortly before he was shot, Martin told the girl that someone was following him and that he was trying to get away, Crump said. The girl said that, during the phone call, she heard someone ask Martin what he was doing and heard Martin ask why the person was following him, Crump said. The girl then got the impression that there was an altercation in which the earpiece fell out of Martin's ear and the connection went dead, Crump said. Based on what she heard, the girl believes that Martin was pushed, said Crump, who added that the girl did not hear any gunfire. Phone records show Martin was on the phone with her much of the day, including around the time of the killing, Crump said. He argued that if Martin were really "up to no good," he wouldn't have been chatting with his friend on the phone. The girl said Martin was "his regular self," Crump said, arguing that any suggestions that the boy was "high" are "preposterous." "It's what Zimmerman wants you to believe so he can justify killing this kid in cold blood," Crump said. Natalie Jackson, another attorney for the Martin family, said police had not interviewed the girl. Sanford Police Sgt. David Morgenstern said "at the onset, we asked any and all witnesses with information to come forward." He would not say say whether the department has contacted the girl. Morgenstern said Martin's cell phone was collected from the crime scene and investigators were working to acquire records associated with the phone's use. The girl provided her account to Crump in a recording, which he said he will share with the Department of Justice, which is investigating. Justice Department, FBI to investigate Florida teen's death . Crump said the Martin family does not trust Sanford police to investigate. Federal prosecutors and the FBI will investigate the incident, which has sparked claims of racial profiling and widespread calls for charges to be filed against Zimmerman. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Florida, Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett and Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte met Tuesday with Justice Department officials: Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roy L. Austin Jr. "The gentlemen we spoke with -- they said they will not only look at what we've done, but they will also ... I think his exact comment was there will be no stone that won't be overturned," Triplett said. A grand jury will also help investigate the death of the unarmed African-American teenager. A police report describes Zimmerman as a white male; his family said he's a Spanish-speaking minority. The Seminole County Grand Jury will convene April 10, State Attorney Norm Wolfinger said in a statement. Gov. Rick Scott, who is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide "any assistance necessary" to local investigators, insisted Tuesday he would work to ensure "justice prevails." The governor met Tuesday in Tallahassee with criminal defense lawyers and protesters who said his office should be more involved and form a task force on racial profiling. But Scott said any such task force shouldn't be formed until after a formal investigation. "There should not be racial profiling anywhere," he told the group. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was "devastated and deeply troubled" over the killing. "When someone loses his life at the hands of another, there cannot be any questions surrounding the circumstances of the death," she said in a statement. She said she had spoken with FDLE Commissioner Gerald M. Bailey, "and I know that a complete and thorough review of the facts will be conducted." She added that while it is up to the Seminole County State Attorney's Office to decide whether to file charges, "I will remain vigilant in ensuring that questions are answered." Police say they have not charged Zimmerman, 28, because they have no evidence to contradict his story that he shot in self-defense. In a police report, Officer Timothy Smith says that, when he arrived at the scene of the shooting, a black male was laying face down on the ground, his hands underneath his body. "I attempted to get a response from the black male, but was met with negative results," the report says. After speaking with Zimmerman, who had called 911, Smith observed that Zimmerman's "back appeared to be wet and was covered in grass, as if he had been laying on his back on the ground. Zimmerman was also bleeding from the nose and back of his head." Smith wrote that Zimmerman stated, "I was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me." Martin's family insists it was Trayvon Martin who was heard yelling for help. Three witnesses who were nearby have said it was Martin who was heard screaming for help in the 911 call placed by Zimmerman, Crump said. Martin's father said the family believes race was a factor in their son's death, fueling public outcry over the incident in the racially mixed community 16 miles northeast of Orlando. "I think that's an issue that Mr. Zimmerman himself considers -- as someone suspicious -- a black kid with a hoodie on, jeans, tennis shoes," Tracy Martin, the teenager's father, told CNN. "Thousands of people wear that outfit every day, so what was so suspicious about Trayvon that Zimmerman felt as though he had to confront him?" Zimmerman's family has denied race played any role. Zimmerman has "many black family members and friends. He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever," his father, Robert Zimmerman, said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel. The case was one of the most-discussed topics Tuesday morning on Twitter, much of it dedicated to an online petition posted by Trayvon's parents calling on Florida authorities to charge Zimmerman. As of Tuesday evening, more than 638,000 people had signed the petition at Change.org, making it one of the site's largest petition campaigns ever, spokeswoman Megan Lubin said. More than 10,000 people an hour were signing the petition early Tuesday. Demonstrators who have turned out in recent days to protest police handling of the case have mocked Zimmerman's claim, carrying bags of Skittles like the one Trayvon had bought shortly before his death. CNN has made numerous attempts to contact Zimmerman but has been unsuccessful. Zimmerman has moved out of his home after receiving death threats, his father said. Shooting renews debate over 'stand your ground' laws . Florida's deadly force law, also called "stand your ground," allows people to meet "force with force" if they believe they or someone else is in danger of being seriously harmed by an assailant, but exactly what happened in the moments leading up to Trayvon's death remains unclear. In his statement last week, Zimmerman's father said his son never followed or confronted Trayvon. But on Monday, police released 911 recordings in which Zimmerman says he is, in fact, following the boy. "Something's wrong with him. Yep. He's coming to check me out," Zimmerman tells a police dispatcher. "He's got something in his hands. I don't know what his deal is. Send officers over here." The teen started to run, Zimmerman reported. When he said he was following, the dispatcher told him, "We don't need you to do that." Minutes later, someone who lives near the scene of the shooting called 911 to report an altercation. In the background, someone can be heard screaming for help, but the caller said she was too afraid to go outside and see what was going on. "It's heart-wrenching, because those actually were my son's last words," said Trayvon's father. "And to hear his last words being cries of help, is devastating. It tears me apart as a father." The state attorney's office also said a voice analysis would be conducted on 911 calls from the night of the shooting to determine who was yelling for help. Opinion: My son could be Trayvon . Florida Rep. Dennis Baxley, who was the prime House sponsor of the deadly force legislation, told CNN Tuesday that "nothing in 'stand your ground' authorizes (you) to pursue and confront." White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday that the FBI was monitoring the case but that the White House was not going to "wade into a local law enforcement matter." The Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus have also called for a federal investigation, with the Black Caucus saying Sanford police showed "blatant disregard for justice." | Sanford police say they asked all witnesses to come forward .
Governor says he will work to see "justice prevails"
George Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and back of his head, a police report says .
The 17-year-old was not armed when he was killed last month in Florida . |
16f25a0c21c0df3a79f3c9a7d7e1896a82b6d60e | (CNN) -- Brazilian military police say they destroyed a small explosive device over the weekend after discovering the item in a bathroom near a sanctuary Pope Francis is scheduled to visit later this week. The device was found in Aparecida, where Francis is scheduled to visit a historic Roman Catholic sanctuary Wednesday. It had "low destructive power" and wasn't in an area on the pope's route or in an area where pilgrims would be gathering, military police in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo confirmed to CNN. The explosive was made from a small plastic cylinder wrapped in duct tape, they said. "The artifact was sent to military authorities for verification," police said. "Security personnel quickly cordoned the area off." A tactical squad was called in to destroy the device "without any further risk," police said. Francis landed in Rio de Janeiro on Monday for the start of the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day. Hundreds of thousands of pumped-up young Catholic pilgrims are on hand for the weeklong festival, hosted by a country eager for good news after a summer of protests. Anger over high taxes, corruption and lavish spending on the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament spurred Brazilians to turn out for the largest protests seen in 20 years. The demonstrations, held in Sao Paulo, Rio and the capital of Brasilia, were sparked by a planned increase in bus fares in June. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff promised to address the concerns, announcing that she heard "the direct message from the streets" for better services and social reforms. Singing priests revive Catholic Church in Brazil . | Police find "homemade explosive" near site of upcoming papal visit .
The device was destroyed "without any further risk," police said .
Francis landed in Brazil for World Youth Day on Monday . |
16f3a76ef00928e45006db8d6b4cc775ebc7e313 | This clip captures a woman's disastrous attempts to line up her car with the fuel cap at a petrol station. And embarrassingly, it takes her an astonishing five attempts to park her car with the cap on the correct side. Captured on CCTV footage, a security worker can be heard laughing as he records the woman make blunder after blunder. The woman driver comes into the petrol station and quickly realises her fuel cap is on the wrong side . The clip, posted on YouTube, has racked up more than six million views in less than four days. It begins as the woman drives into a station in Leicester and emerges from her vehicle only to spot the cap is on the wrong side. But hilariously, she drives around and emerges again on the wrong side, repeatedly failing to spot her mistake. It takes five tries over a three-minute period for the woman to realise her error, perform a three-point turn and finally fill up her tank. But at least she got there in the end. She proceeds to drive around to the other side, only to come out and realise her cap is still on the wrong side . Third time lucky? She comes around yet again but still doesn't spot the problem . The footage, captured on CCTV, shows her go around a third time and a security work can be heard giggling . Her fourth attempt is yet another fail, but her amusing blunder racked up six million views on YouTube . But the fifth time proved the charm as the woman finally spots her mistake and does a three-point turn . | Takes her five attempts to park her car with the cap on the correct side .
Captured on CCTV footage, a security worker can be heard laughing as he records the woman make blunder after blunder . |
16f3b02fecfdbf5a38384862fe5d770a0bc3e44f | One of the most authoritative anti-doping figureheads has blasted the governing body of global athletics, the IAAF, for failing to act upon serious allegations of systemic state doping in Russian sport first revealed 16 months ago by this newspaper. Dick Pound, the former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said. ‘I don’t find it surprising they didn’t respond to your report. I find it sadly typical.’ The allegations resurfaced this week, as German TV station ARD and French sports paper L’Equipe reported Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, who came first in the London marathon before being stripped of the title, had paid €450,000 (£355,000) to the Russian athletics federation. Dick Pound has lambasted the IAAF for not acting on allegations of systematic Russian doping . Lilya Shobukhova came first in the London marathon but was then stripped of her title . ARD also showed Olympic 800m champion Maria Savinova admitting to doping, and reported that coaches, athletes and even the anti-doping authorities are involved in doping and cover-ups. The Russian Athletics Federation has called the ARD claims ‘lies’. In light of the ARD allegations, the IAAF say an investigation is already ongoing, without providing any detail. Pound added: ‘If the allegations are proved with sufficient certainly, the IAAF, WADA and IOC could say the Russians are non-compliant (with the WADA code) and that they’re suspended from all competitions until they clean up. ‘What I don’t know is if there are sufficient balls within these organisations to make that happen.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Dick Pound says it is 'sadly typical' of IAAF to not follow up the allegations .
Pound is the former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency .
The Russian Athletics Federation has called the claims 'lies' |
16f43bad39068823000e47d8d39c674b37ec7b07 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A photographer whose unforgettable image of a crowd of people watching in horror as the World Trade Center burned is trying to locate his subjects. Patrick Witty was on the scene in Manhattan’s Financial District 12 years ago and the image he caught has since been published dozens of times worldwide. Since starting his quest on September 11 last year, Witty has identified two of the people in his iconic photo, but he’s nowhere near finished. Engaging: Twelve years later, Patrick Witty, the man who snapped this iconic photo of horrified onlookers in Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, wants to meet his subjects . ‘I want to know them all,’ Witty wrote on Time.com’s Lightbox blog. The photographer is now the international photo editor for Time magazine. On September 11, 2001, he was a freelance photographer living in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. ‘I heard screaming on the roof of my building, and went up and saw the World Trade Center on fire,’ Witty told Yahoo News. ‘When the second plane hit, I grabbed my camera gear and went down there.’ Witty stayed and took photos of the ash-covered aftermath until the police kicked him out. Found: Benjamin Tabile is pictured here with unidentified family. He is one of the two subjects of Witty's photo who've come forward since the photographer began searching for names to put with the faces . What they saw: Witty's subjects were looking up just as the South Tower began to collapse . But it is just one of his pictures that has become a part of the nation’s collective consciousness, a photo he calls ‘a cross-section of New Yorkers, united in terror, standing at Park Row and Beekman Street in lower Manhattan.’ Last year, Witty posted his photo on Facebook and Twitter in the hopes of contacting each and every person he captured on film that day. ‘After it was shared more than 10,000 times,’ he said. ‘I now know two of them.’ One of those people is Benjamin Tabile. Witty was contacted by Tabile’s son Edward after he posted his photo on September 11 last year. Tabile is the man at the center of the photograph wearing glasses. He looks more shocked than the others, and with good reason. He was on his way to the World Trade Center that day for a job interview, but was running late. ‘As I walked out of the subway, I saw the building on fire and didn’t know why,’ he told Time. ‘I was in complete shock. I would have been in that building while the planes hit.’ Witty believes there are other stories like that contained in his photo and he wants to hear them. He urges anyone who recognizes someone in the photo to reach him at patrick_witty@timemagazine.com. He’s also on Twitter @patrickwitty. | Patrick Witty's photo of people staring up as the South Tower began to crumble has been republished dozens of times worldwide .
He's now met two of his subjects, including Benjamin Tabile, but he's posted his image on social media to meet more of them . |
16f526015d9a1089f6742f991aaf9ca76d8ae504 | Hong Kong (CNN) -- In the latest stomach-churning food scandal to hit China, authorities have seized over 30,000 tons of chicken feet contaminated with hydrogen peroxide, according to state media. Thirty eight people have been arrested on charges of producing the tainted items, while 11 suspects remain at large. Images on Chinese news websites show large troughs filled with chicken feet soaking in what authorities say is hydrogen peroxide, a colorless chemical compound used for sterilization and bleaching. The chemical, which causes vomiting and other stomach problems if consumed, may have been used to give the chicken feet a whiter, cleaner appearance. A report by official news agency Xinhua said the tainted items were first discovered in Yongjia County in Zhejiang, eastern China. A subsequent investigation revealed hydrogen peroxide was being used in nine factories in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Guangdong, affecting several well-known brands of chicken feet sold in stores. 'I want to throw up' Chinese internet users are reacting with disdain and frustration. A top-rated comment on a microblog run by state television CCTV asks: "Are there any Chinese foods left that are safe?" Another fumes: "From now on, don't tell us what we can't eat — please tell us what we can eat!" One commenter says: "Yesterday I ate a lot of these, now I want to throw up." Chicken feet are popular in China, where they are often available as a packaged snack. However, this is not the first time the item has found itself at the center of a safety scare. In July 2013, police confiscated 20 tons of badly expired chicken feet from a frozen meat warehouse — some of the feet were reportedly 46 years old. | Authorities have seized over 30,000 tons of contaminated chicken feet .
Chicken feet are a popular snack in China .
Hydrogen peroxide is used as a disinfectant and bleach, but is harmful to eat . |
16f540484ea4f95a034d781aa260ede1c95013a1 | (CNN) -- Oklahoma State University women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed when their plane crashed on the way to a recruiting trip in Arkansas, university officials said Friday. Former Oklahoma state Sen. Olin Branstetter and his wife, Paula, also died in the crash Thursday, university spokesman Gary Schutt said. "It's a terribly sad day," he said. The crash occurred in Perry County, Arkansas, leaving no survivors. The plane, a Piper Cherokee PA-28, according to FAA records, crashed under "unknown circumstances" in a wooded area about four miles south of Perryville, Arkansas, about 4:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, agency spokesman Lynn Lunsford said Friday. No additional information about the crash was immediately available. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent investigators to the crash site, the agency said Friday. Budke and Serna were on a recruiting trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, the university said. "For any coaching community to lose bright stars like Kurt and Miranda is tragic," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement. "This is a profound loss for the Oklahoma State women's basketball family, the entire university and future women's basketball players as well." University officials credited Budke for turning the school's women's basketball program around, culminating with a top-10 national ranking and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. He was in his seventh season with the school. "Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes," Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis said. "He was an outstanding coach and a wonderful person. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Shelley, and their children, Sara, Alex and Brett." Serna was also in her seventh season with OSU after coming to the school to work for Budke from Louisana Tech, where they both previously worked. She served as the program's recruiting coordinator, according to the school. Hargis called her "an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies." "Its our worst nightmare," he added. The school called off games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, and grief counselors were on hand for athletes and staff, the university said. Jim Littell, the team's associate head coach, will take over as interim head coach, according to Mike Holder, OSU vice president for athletics. The crash is the second fatal plane crash to strike the OSU basketball program in nearly 11 years. Ten people, eight of them associated with the university's men's basketball program, died when their plane crashed in a Colorado snowstorm on January 28, 2001. | Plane crash kills two OSU women's basketball coaches, ex-state senator and his wife .
Crash a "profound loss" for Oklahoma State University, NCAA president says .
It's the second fatal plane crash for OSU basketball since 2001 .
The school calls off games for Saturday and Sunday . |
16f64b7f792c3a59641a7b0d4eb062df2de73be1 | (CNN Student News) -- September 10, 2013 . The U.S. Congress is debating the issue of Syria, President Obama is planning a speech to the nation, and Russia is offering a proposal regarding Syria's chemical weapons. On Tuesday, CNN Student News examines how the crisis in Syria reached its current state. We also catch up on a young education activist. Plus, we report on the happiest nations in the world and the potential of pilotless planes. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, Maps pertaining to today's show, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . Could Malala Yousafzai's story have an impact in places where education rights are limited? Explain. Key Concepts: Identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today's show: . 1. education rights . 2. Denmark . 3. automation . Fast Facts: How well were you listening to today's program? 1. What events lead to Syria's civil war? 2. Why did Malala Yousafzai recently travel to the Netherlands? 3. What criteria did a recent survey use to rank countries' "happiness"? Discussion Questions: . 1. What advantages and disadvantages might a president face when addressing the public? Do you think that President Obama's scheduled speech will have an impact on public and congressional opinion concerning Syria? Why or why not? 2. What might be the pros and cons of using "pilotless" airplanes over traditional, manned planes? What other uses can you think of for the pilotless plane technology seen in the program? 3. What are your thoughts on the advice shared by high school students in the program? What is the best advice someone has given you? What did you do with it? CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. MAPS . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . Asia . Syria . Europe . Denmark . FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request. | This page includes the show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and Maps .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum offers the Media Literacy Question of the Day, Key Concepts, Fast Facts and Discussion Questions .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum . |
16f666b3502d564810e98eb8f0eb85287545dd42 | While Surrey were being beaten by Durham in their One-Day Cup group match, Kevin Pietersen was relaxing on the beach with his family. The former England international has been playing for Surrey on a game-by-game basis, but he was not present as they lost by five wickets at Chester-Le-Street. Pietersen was spotted with his wife Jessica Taylor, and their son in Miami . VIDEO Scroll down to watch Kevin Pietersen find the middle of the bat in nets at the Oval . Break Kevin Pietersen and his wife Jessica Taylor relax on the beach in Miami, Florida . Contract: The former England international has been playing for Surrey on a game-by-game basis . The 34-year-old has not played for Surrey since the beginning of the month in their T20 Blast quarter-final win over Worcestershire. And, worryingly for Surrey, they have failed to win all four of their one-day matches since then. Pietersen will return to the side later this month in the T20 Blast Finals Day on August 23 at Edgbaston. Surrey face a possible semi-final against Warwickshire and then the South African born cricketer could face his old club Hampshire in the final. Holiday: The last game ke played was T20 Blast quarter-final win over Worcestershire earlier this month . Crucial: Since Kevin Pietersen last played, Surrey have failed to win any of their four one-day matches . Return: Pietersen will play in T20 Blast finals day on August 23 at Edgbaston . One-Day: Durham's Scott Borthwick is bowled out by Surrey's Tillakaratne Dilshan in their One-Day Cup match . | Kevin Pietersen on holiday with wife Jessica Taylor .
Former England international has been playing for Surrey .
Surrey lost to Durham .
Surrey haven't won a one-day game since Pietersen last played . |
16f7882a03e711cf029c4a1ec6d1669f831b70d7 | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 06:31 EST, 6 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:21 EST, 6 February 2013 . Gifted: Swimmer Chloe Waddell has collapsed and died hours after celebrating winning a clutch of swimming awards at a sports ceremony . A gifted schoolgirl tipped to represent Team GB at the next Olympics collapsed and died just hours after she celebrated winning a clutch of swimming awards at a sports ceremony. Chloe Waddell, 16, had gone to a party with friends after receiving a series of trophies at a presentation evening - but was taken ill at home the following morning. The Year 10 pupil took part in the London 2012 Olympics trials last year where she competed against Rebecca Adlington. She had represented Great Britain. She was rushed to hospital but died just minutes later, despite the efforts of doctors to save her. British Swimming said in a statement: 'British Swimming sends its thoughts and condolences to the parents, family, friends and team-mates of Chloe Waddell following the news that the Swim Trafford swimmer passed away on Sunday morning. 'Sixteen-year-old Chloe was one of the squad's most promising young stars and had gone from strength to strength since joining the squad several years ago.' James Stannard, Swim Trafford's head performance coach said: 'We are deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of Chloe and as a small squad, this news has rocked us.' The cause of her death is unknown but police today ruled out gossip on social media sites that Chloe’s death was down to excessive alcohol consumption. However, they are examining claims Chloe may have accidentally tripped over during the party and hit her head shortly before she was collected and taken home by her businessman father David, 50 and 46-year old mother Fiona. It is believed the family kept watch upon her overnight at their £400,000 house in Timperley, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester before her condition worsened at 8.30am on Sunday and an ambulance was called. Today, tributes poured in for Chloe who who was due to take her GCSEs at the 1,350 pupil Altrincham Girls Grammar School - one of the most prestigious and successful girls' grammar schools in the UK. Chloe had represented Great Britain in an Open Water Talent Camp in France in the summer of 2012 and was tipped to swim for Team GB in the next Olympics after qualifying at trials. Last year she won a bronze medal at School Games in London, May 2012 at the Olympic Aquatics Centre - an event which involves the most talented athletes from the whole country. Talented: Chloe had gone to a party with friends after receiving a series of trophies at a presentation evening - but was taken ill at home the following morning. She is pictured during a swimming event . Star: Chloe had represented Great Britain in an Open Water Talent Camp in France in the summer of 2012 . The tragedy occurred last weekend after Chloe attended a presentation evening for Altrincham Swimming Club with her family. There she received many cups from the Annual Club Championships and also an award for Outstanding Achievement. Her family said she then went on to a . party at a friend’s house, from which her parents picked her up and she . went to bed as normal. The emergency services were called the next . morning and Chloe was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital. In a statement issued through their lawyers, the Waddell family today said: 'Chloe Waddell was a much loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and cousin. 'She attended Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and was a dedicated, hardworking student who was preparing to take ten GCSEs this year. She was extremely popular with her school friends and staff at the school. 'She was a dedicated and talented swimmer who was a member of Altrincham Swimming Club as well as Swim Trafford-Trafford Borough’s Performance Squad. 'Chloe was popular with anyone she met due to her bubbly, lively personality and infectious sense of humour- she always had a smile on her face. 'She had time to care for everyone and encourage all in every aspect of life; she was able to mix with and relate to young and old alike. Chloe was patient, kind and thoughtful with everyone she knew.' The statement added: 'Chloe swam within . the top five nationally in distance swimming events. She was also a keen . Open Water Swimmer and represented Great Britain on an Open Water . Talent Camp in France in the summer of 2012. Much-loved: Chloe attended Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and has been described as a 'dedicated, hardworking student' Heartbreaking: Chloe died shortly after being taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, pictured . 'Chloe . will be missed by everyone who knew her, but especially by her family. She was an inspiration to all and left a positive and lasting impression . on everyone. We will all treasure our happy memories of the time we . shared with her.' A spokesman for Swim Trafford a performance swimming club which trains promising athletes said 'Everyone at Trafford Community Leisure Trust & Swim Trafford is devastated to learn the news that swimmer Chloe Waddell passed away on Sunday morning. 'Chloe was one of the squad’s most promising young stars and has gone from strength to strength since joining the squad several years ago. 'Chloe was selected from Altrincham Swimming Club to join the squad and achieved many things in her swimming career including swimming in at Nationals and British Championships in 200m, 400m, 800m Freestyle & Open Water events and being selected to attend GB talent camps. 'She was inducted onto the Leisure . Trust’s roll of Honour in 2012 for representing her country. She was . inducted through her selection to compete in the UK School Games where . she picked up a Bronze Medal in the 800m Freestyle. 'Chloe . also competed at the London Aquatic Centre a second time when she took . part in the British Olympic Trials competing proudly against Becky . Adlington. Dedicated: This image shows the talented Team GB hopeful in action . 'We will support . swimmers, parents and coaches through this difficult time. Our thoughts . and condolences go out to Chloe’s parents, family and friends. James Stannard, Swim Trafford’s Head Performance Coach said: 'I am deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of Chloe. As a small squad, this news has rocked us'. Mary Speakman headmistress of Altrincham Grammar School for Girls said: 'We are shocked and truly saddened by this terrible news. 'Chloe was a truly gifted student and a valued member of the school both by her peers and staff and was a highly regarded member of the school community, Chloe was a real live wire. 'She was an exceptionally talented swimmer and had real prospects of making Team GB. Likewise she was also a high achiever who achieved excellent grades. 'Chloe knew a lot of girls not just in the school but also from her local area and swimming team.'We are all truly shocked by the news and Chloe is going to be sorely missed by all and our thoughts are with her family at this awful time.' Greater Manchester Police confirmed its officers attended the family home at 8.30am on Sunday. 'Paramedics were there to treat a 16-year-old girl who had gone into cardiac arrest,' the force said. 'She was taken to hospital but sadly died. A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death, which at this stage is not yet known, however there are not believed to be suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and the details have been passed to the coroner.' | Chloe Waddell, 16, had gone to a party after presentation .
evening .
But the talented swimmer was taken ill at home the following morning .
She was rushed to hospital but died minutes later .
Police examining claims Chloe tripped at party and hit her head .
She represented Great Britain and was tipped .
to swim in Olympics . |
16f843e4643be07f3295d4c5470a5f9bd67f085c | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- From land, water and air, tens of thousands of police officers, federal agents and National Guardsmen are being deployed in an unprecedented effort to make sure the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama is safe. A law enforcement agent looks toward Capitol Hill ahead of the inauguration on Tuesday. "Right now, we have no credible threat that there is any direction of interest on the inauguration," Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told CNN. FBI agents and intelligence officials have been checking with sources around the United States and the world to make sure no leads are overlooked, and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said intelligence will be scrubbed and rescrubbed right through the inauguration. "We are literally going to be watching this every minute between now and the conclusion of events on the 20th," Chertoff said. Federal officials acknowledge the inauguration of the first African-American U.S. president could be an attractive target. Since Obama's election, the number of threats against him has increased, according to a recent federal intelligence assessment. FBI officials say the number of tips coming in has increased, as is common before an inauguration. Investigations, however, have not uncovered a real threat. The FBI has been especially aggressive in examining white supremacy groups, which have ramped up their anti-Obama comments. "We have not seen any activity by the groups," said FBI Assistant Director Joseph Persichini. "We have seen a lot of chatter, we have seen a lot of discussions, we have seen some information via the Internet. Again, but those are discussions. We look at the vulnerabilities and whether or not the groups are capable of taking on action." Persichini said he believes the bureau has "a good operational plan" for dealing with the groups, but says that right now, there is no evidence they are trying to launch anything. Watch more on inauguration security » . The Secret Service is coordinating security for the inauguration, which will involve 58 federal, state and local agencies. All of them are represented at the Secret Service command center, where they can communicate and work together to respond to any report of a possible problem. Airspace restrictions around the Capitol are being tightened. The U.S. Coast Guard is closing portions of the Potomac River. Miles of roads will be closed, along with most of the bridges into the District of Columbia. Checkpoints are going up, and undercover teams are being deployed to look for suspicious people or vehicles. Explosives-sniffing dogs will be on hand to nose out bombs, and horses trained in crowd control are on duty. Thousands of security cameras are being used to monitor activities, sharpshooters are being stationed, and sensors will be used to detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. In addition to Secret Service agents, the security effort will involve 8,000 police officers from the District of Columbia and other jurisdictions, 10,000 National Guardsmen, about 1,000 FBI personnel, and hundreds of others from the Department of Homeland Security, the National Park Service and U.S. Capitol Police. Another 20,000 members of the National Guard are ready to respond if there is an emergency, according to Chertoff. Security planners have drawn up procedures to deal with improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers and the use of a weapon of mass destruction. A recent intelligence assessment, however, said a lone wolf would pose the greatest potential threat. Chertoff said an individual or small group planning to do harm is difficult to detect. "Whether the motivation is racism or some psychological disorder ... in an open society, it is impossible to keep a single individual from doing some damage," he said. A major unknown is how large the crowd will be for Tuesday's activities. Estimates have ranged from 1 million to 2 million. The FBI's Persichini said only that "we know it is going to draw a lot of people here to the nation's capital." Those attending the swearing-in ceremony or entering the parade route will undergo tight screening, including passing through magnetometers. Spectators who are unable to get into those events will be routed to the National Mall, which, for the first time, will be open from end to end for an inauguration. Security there will be less stringent. There has been extensive planning to ensure the crowds can be moved in an orderly and safe way, and to prevent a stampede if there is any kind of security incident. Local and federal agencies have even consulted with a crowd expert. Authorities say the massive security operation is not intended to deter people from coming to Washington. "Our efforts are to make sure people are safe," Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said. "We'd like for as many people to come as want to come. And again, during our planning, we have made sure we could accommodate however many people decide to come." That inaugural events are spread over a four-day period has made security even more challenging. Organizers say they started their security planning the day after the last inauguration and ramped up their efforts in July. Officials involved say this is the biggest event they have been involved in, but believe they are prepared. "There are a lot of things we all think about, and I'll admit that at 3 in the morning, I might wake up thinking about something, but I have to tell you, I am so confident in this plan," the Secret Service's Sullivan said. "I just don't see any benefit to worry, and I think we just have to go along the way we're going right now and do everything that we can do to make sure that this event is going to be a safe event, that this historical event will be an enjoyable event for everybody and that, quite frankly, that the day isn't about security, but the day is about our president and the day is about our country." | Officials say Obama's historic inauguration poses high security risk .
FBI has been especially aggressive in examining white supremacy groups .
A major unknown is how large the crowd will be for Tuesday's activities .
Security planners have drawn up procedures to deal with bombs, weapons . |
16fab9d4c0c15613ab54c0f31f7894bd2ad5a379 | (CNN) -- Dallas has long been a sociological curiosity. With its mix of sweeping ranches and high-end shopping, it's sort of a "country meets culture" destination. And you don't have to drive all over the metroplex (as the locals call the Dallas-Fort Worth area) to have a good time. All the food, fun and fanciness can be found in the 1.5-mile radius of downtown. While the core of downtown Dallas has always been a thriving business district, it only recently began to attract visitors after 5 p.m. Dinner and a museum . Take restaurants, for example. Drive down any downtown street and it's clear that food is definitely a big part of Big D. "Dallas has more restaurants per capita than New York City," says John Crawford, president and CEO of DowntownDallas, a private organization that serves as downtown Dallas' leading advocate. He says that in the downtown area alone, there are 250 places to dine, ranging from the elegant French Room (1321 Commerce St.) in the grand Adolphus hotel to family-friendly pizza joint Campisi's (1520 Elm St., Suite. 111). The fare is versatile, too: Sure, Dallas does Tex-Mex well, but the town also boasts plenty of places that offer twists on the basic burrito. Fuse (1512 Commerce St., Suite 100), a hip eatery that opened in 2006, serves up dishes like brisket pot stickers in a style they refer to as "TexAsian." The only thing that rivals the restaurant scene in downtown Dallas is the arts scene. It's true. "We've got the largest urban arts district in the country," says Crawford. "It stretches across 17 continuous square blocks." This includes the renowned Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood) and the Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora St.). Visitors often overlook the Crow Collection of Asian Art (2010 Flora St.), and it's free. For music there's the Meyerson Symphony Center (2301 Flora St.), and theater buffs can see plays, musicals and big-name comedy acts like Jay Leno at the Majestic (1925 Elm St.). Downtown's revival . While the core of downtown Dallas has always been a thriving business district, it only recently began to attract visitors after 5 p.m. Like most cities, Dallas felt the effects of suburban sprawl in the early '90s. In fact, as recently as 1996, only 200 people called the central business district home, according to Crawford. Now he estimates that in the next 18 months, there will be more than 7,000 residents just in the core of downtown. Crawford and his colleagues believe people are migrating downtown partly because of revitalization efforts and partly because of environmental concerns related to long commutes. Whatever the reason, visitors to downtown Dallas are certainly benefiting from all of this migration. "As you get more residential, you get a number of supporting services, and that's probably the reason for the number of restaurants that we have and the level of activity that's occurring," Crawford says. Shopping and bar hopping . Included in that hustle and bustle is Dallas' favorite pastime -- shopping. First, there's downtown's flagship store, Neiman Marcus (1618 Main St.), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Dallas-born department store paved the way for other retailers to set up shop downtown, including national chains like high-end men's clothing store Jos. A. Bank (1508 Commerce St.) and smaller, stylish boutiques like edgy and sophisticated Crimson in the City (1514 Commerce St.). After a day of downtown shopping, you'll probably be inclined to check out the Dallas nightlife. (Where else are you going to show off your purchases?) Again, there's no need to leave the downtown area: You could hit the historic West End, where the preserved 19th-century buildings now house 21st-century attractions like restaurants and bars. It's got its share of obvious places like TGI Friday's, but also unusual eateries like Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, which features an extensive wild game menu. For the opposite take on the city, go to the opposite side of downtown. On the east end, you'll find funky Deep Ellum, where the vibe is young, artsy and eclectic. The area is known for its live music scene with bars like Club Dada (2720 Elm St.) featuring up-and-coming and even well-known acts. Even dinner can be offbeat if you check out Monica's Aca Y Alla (2914 Main St.). Folks come for the unique Mexican dishes as well as to sneak a peek at Monica, the restaurant's transgender owner. Uptown holds the newest side of downtown -- Victory Park. The highlight of this area is the posh W Hotel (2440 Victory Park Lane) which boasts the trendy Ghostbar on its 33rd floor. Discriminating tastes will also appreciate N9NE Steakhouse. And just when Victory Park starts to feel like a mini-Vegas, you'll spot the colossal American Airlines Center (2500 Victory Ave.), home to the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars (just another reminder that even among all of this Victory Park privilege, you're still in sports-loving Texas). Family favorites . Don't forget the kids; there's plenty for them downtown, too. The Dallas World Aquarium (1801 N. Griffin St.) offers marine life from around the globe in its 85,000 gallons of water. Plus, the rainforest section of the venue has non-sea creatures from South America like monkeys and toucans. For some history, families can visit The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (411 Elm St.) in the West End. The National Historic Landmark District is the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The permanent exhibit focuses on the days leading up to the tragedy as well as the impact it had on the world. Mild Texas temperatures allow visitors to be outdoors throughout all four seasons. And since there are more than 200 events every year, there's sure to be some sort of festival or parade going on, no matter when you visit. So pack your shopping shoes, your love of art and your appetite and head to Big D (cowboy hat optional). E-mail to a friend . | Dallas has more restaurants per capita than New York City, officials say .
The city's arts district stretches across 17 continuous square blocks .
Businesses are housed in preserved 19th-century buildings in the West End . |
16fb1298787bb260db79a2ec9d042c44709769b5 | By . Ben Ellery and Amanda Perthen . PUBLISHED: . 04:42 EST, 25 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:39 EST, 28 May 2012 . A devastated teenager told last night how her friend drowned after they leapt off a bridge and into a river hand-in-hand to cool down. Megan Simmons had no idea that her companion, Hussain Mohammed, was unable to swim – and battled in vain to rescue him from the Thames. The pair giggled together on Donnington Bridge in Oxford before taking the spur-of-the-moment decision to leap into the water. Tragic: Hussain Mohammed, 15, drowned after getting into difficulties when he jumped off Donnington Bridge in Oxford on Friday. His friend Megan Simmons, pictured being comforted by her mother Angela, battled to save him after they leapt into the River Thames together . Crouching on the bridge in front of flowers left in memory of Hussain, Megan, 16, said: ‘I had no idea he couldn’t swim. We jumped off the bridge for a joke. Once we hit the water he got into trouble and started screaming and panicking. I tried to help him but he was too heavy. ‘I managed to swim to the side and could still hear him screaming but no one could help him until it was too late. I’m stunned by the whole thing and can’t believe it’s happened.’ Megan’s mother, Angela Eldridge, said her daughter was deeply shocked. She added: ‘Megan has been up all night and so have I. She couldn’t sleep at all and was just sobbing. She and Hussain had been hanging out together all week. They weren’t boyfriend or girlfriend but were very close. ‘Megan and Hussain had been walking home from school together. Their route took them over the bridge and it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to jump in. ‘She’s devastated and I don’t think she’ll ever get over it.’ Hussain, 15, was celebrating winning a college place to study engineering just before the pair jumped into the river at about 8pm on Friday. Witnesses described seeing Megan emerging from the water immediately, but Hussain was struggling and shouting for help. Onlooker Kayleigh Robbins, 21, a volunteer sea cadet, was the first to jump in to try to help Hussain but when she was within touching distance he disappeared. About a dozen members of City of Oxford Rowing Club also dived in as emergency services launched a rescue attempt. Tragedy: Kayleigh Robbins (pictured) at the spot where 15-year-old Hussain drowned. The 21-year-old made several desperate attempts to find him . Fatal scene: Girls leave floral tributes on the bridge from which the pair jumped . Struggle: Onlookers jumped in to help the boy after watching him struggle, but were unable to pull him to safety. Emergency services spent two hours searching before he was located and pulled out . Firefighters searched for the teenager and a police helicopter was also used. After two hours, an unconscious Hussain was pulled from the water on to a rescue boat. He was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he was pronounced dead. Megan was also taken to hospital for treatment. Yesterday, Hussain’s sister, accounting student Mehreen Akhtar, 28, said her brother had been ‘full of life’. Miss Akhtar, from the Cowley area of Oxford, said: ‘Hussain was always helping out around the house and would do anything for you. ‘He was full of life and cheeky and would constantly tease his four sisters. He had a permanent smile on his face and was a good brother. ‘Two days ago he was accepted to study engineering and was over the moon. It’s a disaster, the whole family is shocked. I saw my little brother leave home as happy as can be and a few hours later he was dead.’ Floral tributes at the bridge read: ‘RIP Hussain. Sleep tight. Gone but never forgotten.’ Another read: ‘I’m going to miss your smile.’ Detectives have appealed for witnesses. Last night Hussain’s parents were too upset to speak. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Hussain Mohammed got into difficulties after leaping into the Thames from a bridge in Oxford .
He had jumped into the water hand-in-hand with his friend Megan Simmons . |
16fbb11447fbce4f0900a6e32e9ebecddd378fbb | 'It's a real honour to join Manchester United' - read what Victor Valdes had to say after sealing his switch to Old Trafford . 'David de Gea is the best goalkeeper in the world' - and click here for his view on the man he'll battle for a place in the United line-up . Manchester United have moved a step closer to securing David de Gea on a new contract on the very day they confirmed the arrival of his new No 2 Victor Valdes. United have handed Valdes an 18-month deal with the option of an extra year's extension and Old Trafford manager Louis van Gaal confirmed that the 32-year-old will slot in as the club's No 2 goalkeeper. However, it is the future of De Gea that is concerning many fans and it is understood that United are now confident of agreeing a lucrative new deal with the 24-year-old very soon. Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is close to extending his current deal at Old Trafford . Red Devils ace De Gea has been in fine form during the course of the season . Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes (left) has joined Manchester United as De Gea's understudy . Sportsmail recently reported that United and De Gea's agent Jorge Mendes wanted to conclude a deal quickly and sources at the club have now confirmed that the matter is moving rapidly in the right direction. De Gea is now recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the game and only has 18 months left on his contract at United. Indeed his compatriot Valdes suggested on signing his own deal that De Gea now has no peers in world football. Valdes, speaking to MUTV, said: 'I think now, at the moment, he is the best goalkeeper in the world. 'His performance every day and in every game shows everybody that his level is very high. He has had a great year and it is very nice. Now I think he is the best goalkeeper in the world.' On the anticipated rivalry, Valdes added: 'I am here to help everybody. Always in my career, I have played to help my team-mates, to help my coach and to help everybody. I am a part of the team and I am not a problem, I am just a part of the team.' Former Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes has joined Manchester United on an 18-month deal . Valdes worked under Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal during his time at Barcelona . | Manchester United are confident of tying David de Gea down to new deal .
De Gea's current deal expires at the end of the 2015-16 season .
Agent Jorge Mendes is keen on concluding a deal for his client .
Victor Valdes will provide back up for De Gea after joining on free transfer .
Click here for all the latest Manchester United news . |
16fc89449f24f4dae171feefceabd7fe412e28b1 | By . Derek Lawrenson . He showed up and played 18 holes, but there the good news endeth concerning Tiger Woods. If only there was an instant cure for his game to go with the one for his latest back problem. Instead, there was just more evidence of his alarming decline, vividly illustrated by the coarse shriek at his 11th hole as another drive sailed off line. ‘For ****’s sake, Tiger!’ he raged. It got worse — the golf that is, not the swearing. The swearing is always bad. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Woods making no excuses for poor day . One to forget: Tiger Woods finished the day three-over-par after a round of 74 at Valhalla . Uphill task: The American is planning to add the PGA Championship to his list of major titles . VIDEO Woods making no excuses for poor day . He hit a drive so far right on his 16th hole it was still rising when it cleared the gallery. It was so far off line it would have taken Usain Bolt seven or eight seconds to reach it from the middle of the fairway. ‘Is that OB?’ he asked playing partner Phil Mickelson, as in Out of Bounds. Woods ended with a 74 to be comfortably outside the top 100. There are times when he tries kidology and says things are progressing when plainly they are not. This was so bad he didn’t even try to pretend. ‘It wasn’t very good at all,’ he said. ‘I hit a lot of bad shots and couldn’t get my putts to the hole and that’s not a good combo.’ In the past he would have headed to the range to sort things out but that wasn’t possible. ‘I’m going to get treatment and make sure this thing is nice and loose tomorrow,’ he said. Actually, in the past, if Woods was this out of shape, he wouldn’t have showed up at all. Which begs the question: why is he here? Fighting fit: On the plus side, Woods showed little signs of the back spasms that have been troubling him . Waterfall: Woods lines up a put on the idyllic 13th hole at Valhalla Golf Club . Off course: Woods is forced away from the fairway on the seventh hole . ‘If I get under par for two rounds, that will be right in the ball game,’ he said. Woods will not qualify for the four-tournament FedEx Cup series that follows and so has no more golf scheduled this side of the Ryder Cup. Not exactly a convincing argument for a wild card, is it? Woods was part of a three ball featuring Mickelson and Padraig Harrington; three men with no fewer than 22 major championships between them. A decade or so ago you’d have bet the mortgage that you were watching the eventual winner. Here, there was no evidence of that, even though Mickelson, by virtue of his prowess around the greens, somehow delivered a two-under 69. Harrington laboured to a 73. When it was over, Mickelson went to the media interview area and was asked about Woods (left). He smiled and thought for a second about what he could say. ‘I thought he showed a lot of heart,’ he remarked, eventually. That was about the sum of it. Loyal support: Crowds swarm to watch Woods' approach shot on the 18th hole . Feel the force: Woods puts all his effort into his drive . | Woods was doubt to tee off at Valhalla after back spasms .
Cards round of 74 to leave him on three-over .
Lee Westwood and Kevin Chappell share early clubhouse lead . |
16fe91a54d9817da57de0c1c7f94c5263a106fac | It's another small sliver of information in the expanse of mystery surrounding Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. A failed satellite phone call suggests the missing passenger jet may have turned south slightly earlier than previously thought during its enigmatic journey, Australian authorities said Thursday. After Flight 370 dropped off radar on March 8, Malaysia Airlines ground staff tried to make contact with the plane using a satellite phone, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said at a news conference in the Australian capital, Canberra. The attempt was unsuccessful, he said, but subsequent analysis of the failed call has given experts a better idea of the aircraft's position and where it was traveling. The latest analysis of the available data has put a focus on southern parts of the search area in the Indian Ocean, Truss told reporters. MH370 vanished with 239 people on board during a flight that was meant to go from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. The search operation, described by Australian officials as the largest in history, has so far turned up no debris from the plane. International aviation experts have relied on information from radar and satellites to try to plot the Boeing 777's course, concluding that it went down in a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean, far off Australia's west coast. The experts are sticking to the same vast search zone announced in June, Truss said at the news conference Thursday. But some of the information that the analysts now have suggests that areas of the zone farther to the south may be of "particular interest," he said, noting that the focus of the search continues to be refined as experts keep reviewing the available data. Uncertainty over location of turn . Flight 370 was last detected by radar flying northwest over the sea between Peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. A series of subsequent communications between satellite systems and the errant plane -- known as "handshakes" -- determined that at some point, MH370 turned south toward the southern Indian Ocean. It was initially assumed that the southern turn took place at the northwestern tip of Sumatra. But the team of experts has since said there's no conclusive evidence about where the turn to the south took place. To calculate the current search area, they said they took two approaches to the uncertainty surrounding the turn. They analyzed the satellite data using a range of assumed locations for the turn, and also without any assumption of where the turn took place. The final radar detection of MH370, by the Malaysian military, occurred nearly an hour after the plane had veered off its planned course. Three minutes later, a satellite handshake indicated that the plane was still traveling northwest. The unanswered phone call took place 14 minutes after the handshake, according to information previously released by Australian authorities. Just over an hour later, a second handshake suggested that the plane had turned and was heading south or southeast. It's unclear from Truss' comments Thursday how much more clarity the analysts now have on the timing and location of the turn. The crucial question of why the aircraft flew wildly off course also remains unanswered. Without the aircraft's wreckage and flight recorders, investigators are struggling to piece together what happened. How flight attendants keep flying after air disasters . Undersea volcanoes . The search for the remains of the plane and the people on board remains primarily focused on a 60,000-square-kilometer area, roughly the size of West Virginia, in the southern Indian Ocean. An underwater search that will involve three ships is expected to start in the area next month, using a range of sophisticated sonar equipment. The process is expected to take about 12 months, Truss said. Officials hope as much searching as possible can be done in the next few months before weather conditions are likely to deteriorate, he said. Ships have already been mapping the undersea terrain in the isolated swath of ocean to help the searchers. Much of the geography of the area was previously unknown before MH370's disappearance drew attention there. The mapping process has revealed dramatic new challenges for the search teams. The "remarkable geographic features" discovered by the surveying include at least two volcanoes and an area where the seafloor drops away from a depth of 600 meters (1,970 feet) to 6,600 meters (21,650 feet) over a short distance, Truss said. "It would not be safe to put the towed sonar equipment into the water if we didn't have this kind of information about the seabed," he said. How long will the search continue? Cost of search to be shared . Truss spoke after meeting with Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai and Chinese Vice Transport Minister He Jianzhong. Liow said at the news conference that Malaysia's financial contributions to the search will match Australia's commitment. Australia has estimated a yearlong underwater search will cost $48 million. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is overseeing the underwater search at Malaysia's request. The majority of the people on board MH370 were Chinese. All countries involved remain "cautiously optimistic" that the wreckage of the missing plane will be found, Truss said. Malaysian couple charged with alleged theft from MH370 passengers . | Official: Airline staff tried to reach the plane by satellite phone after it dropped off radar .
The call failed, but later analysis has given experts a better idea of MH370's position .
The Indian Ocean search zone for the missing aircraft remains the same .
Some areas a little to the south may be of "particular interest," Australian deputy PM says . |
16ffd9f386ca82b16dfca2b9a1eec5b50ba272d7 | By . Michael Zennie . and Daily Mail Reporter . The New York Police Department reportedly has assigned nearly three-dozen detectives from various units to figure out who who scaled the Brooklyn Bridge Monday night and hoisted white flags above the New York City landmark. Investigators have reportedly identified some of the suspects, but currently only know their nicknames, according to published reports. Police believe that the flags were taken down and then replaced with bleached-white banners. Scroll down for video . Whitewash: This photo shows that the flags above the Brooklyn Bridge appear to have been bleached American Flags - the stars and stripes are faintly visible . No one knows why or how the flags were hoisted above the Brooklyn Bridge. Officials called it a major security breach . According to the New York Post, the . NYPD has taken investigators from homicide, counter-terrorism, intel and . transit units to find the culprits. The . paper reports that detectives from Manhattan’s Sixth, Seventh, Ninth . and 10th Precincts also have been brought in for the investigation. 'We have no good images of these guys on cameras . . . None of the . footage captures the perpetrators of this crime,' a police source said. The . NYPD is treating the prank as a serious security breach and many New . Yorkers are wondering how the culprits were able to slip past the police . officers and surveillance cameras unnoticed at 3.30am. Police . believe that there were four or five thieves and that they worked in . two teams - one for each bridge tower - to take down the flags. A video from ABC News shows NYPD officers taking down the defaced banner after scaling the bridge about 11am on Tuesday. As the New York Post reports, however, this isn't the first time that the American flags have gone missing from the bridge - one of New York's most recognizable icons. In 2012, thieves swiped the flags from both ends of the bridge, though the story never made it to the media, bridge painter Nick Krevatas told the Post. The flags were replaced and the thieves have still never been caught. In 2004, during the Republican National Convention in New York, the flags were also stolen. NYPD officials said that they believe the vandals may have been at the top of the bridge before. They tacked aluminum covers on the lights illuminating the flags, so that no one would notice the Stars and Stripes had been taken down until daybreak. 'For . someone to go around it and go up to the tower and have right size . cover to put over the light, there's some indication of pre-operational . planning,' NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said on Tuesday. EarthCam . video of the bridge shows that the first tower went dark about 3.35am. The second tower went dark seven minutes later, indicating the heist was . at least a two-person job. So far, the NYPD has no clue who is . behind the flags or why they were hoisted above the bridge - though they . don't believe it has any connection to terrorism or politics. Police promptly raised American flags back to their rightful place above the bridge - replacing the Stars and Stripes that had been stolen . It's unclear how the vandals slipped past the police officers and security cameras guarding the bridge . 'This . may be somebody's art project, or it may be an attempt at a . statement,' Miller said. Several . officers scaled the bridge and were seen lowering the flag on the . Manhattan side around 11am Tuesday as traffic inched along the bridge. The . bridge is one of the most heavily secured landmarks in the city, . constantly monitored by surveillance cameras. Police patrol cars are . also stationed at both ends of the bridge. Detectives . are reviewing security footage in an attempt to determine who put up . the white flags - and how they gained access to the span. The support towers are 273-feet tall and it's unknown how the thieves managed to climb them without anyone noticing. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams blasted the vandals who took the American flags. 'If flying a white flag atop the Brooklyn Bridge is someone’s idea of a joke, I’m not laughing,' he told the New York Post. 'The public safety of our city is of paramount importance, particularly our landmarks and bridges that are already known to be high-risk targets. We will not surrender our public safety to anyone, at any time.' In April, New York artist Brendan Fagan - aka Justin Supine - scaled the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge and planted an art installation at the top. He was later arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespass. | Vandals managed to slip unnoticed past police officers and surveillance cameras guarding the Brooklyn Bridge early Tuesday and install white flags .
Police say they know the nicknames of some the suspects .
They boarded up the lights illuminating the flags so that nobody noticed the white banners until daybreak .
EarthCam video of the bridge shows the lights above the towers went out at 3.35am and 3.42am .
Detectives are working around the clock to find the culprits . |
1700d071bb6a347283ad4067bf7c9a987bd361c5 | An ecologist who fell to his death at a beauty spot where he regularly went birdwatching was suffering depression triggered by a battle to land his 'dream job', an inquest heard. Antony Wainwright, 42, from Westhoughton, Bolton, was said to have struggled to get the career he wanted after securing a 2.1 honours degree in ecology and environmental science at university. The father of two died after he fell over the edge of Cox Green Quarry in Egerton, near Bolton, in August. At an inquest into his death in Bolton on Friday, coroner Alan Walsh recorded an open verdict as he described Mr Wainwright as 'a very intelligent man with an excellent degree'. Antony Wainwright, 42, from Westhoughton, Bolton, was found at the bottom of Cox Green Quarry in Egerton, in August. The inquest into his death heard how he had suffered from depression since leaving university . The ecological consultant had been heavily involved with sports facilities, especially golf courses, and provided ecological appraisals, surveys and a range of wildlife-related reports including studies of migratory birds. He was also a keen ornithologist and was the appointed recorder of birds for Greater Manchester, often visiting the quarry where he died to record bird sightings. Last January, he eventually got the job he wanted as an ecologist at the Sports Turf Research Institute in Bingley, West Yorkshire, but within months his marriage broke down. Shortly afterwards, he took an overdose of painkillers while on holiday in Malaga with his family. However, his family were said to be unaware of the overdose and it only came to light after he told doctors upon his return. After the breakdown of his marriage in June, he moved in with friends. His estranged wife Lyndsey told the inquest: 'We had talked about a reconciliation. 'We said we would consider it but just not now.' She said she knew he had suffered from depression and said it had centred on the fact he struggled to get into the career he really wanted. She told the hearing: 'I knew he suffered from depression. I think it had always been there but started really after university when he struggled to into the career field he wanted. 'The job he had now is his dream job. He had got his dream job, he was doing want he wanted. 'He loved work. He would often go out by himself and watch birds as a recorder but also because it was his passion. 'He would travel abroad a lot with his job and would go to Ireland a lot. He was set to travel to Ireland the Sunday after he was found.' Mr Wainwright was found dead at the bottom of Cox Green Quarry, near Bolton (pictured), on August 3 . The inquest also heard how Mr Wainwright was held in police cells in March 2011 after threatening to jump off a quarry following a drunken works party. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly after police went to the quarry following reports he had run away from his friends after a 'significant amount to drink' and made a comment that would jump off. He was kept in a cell for the night but freed without charge. Ms Wainwright added: 'It was some work do. He was just drinking. I wouldn't say he intended to take any action - he had just been drinking far too much.' She said she last saw him on August 1 when he popped around to their family home to collect his driving licence to take with him for a work trip to Ireland. She said: 'I was at home with a work colleague and Antony returned home to collect his driving licence to go to Ireland. 'He was fine. He spoke to me and my friend, found his licence and left. He didn't contact me again.' Phillip Coyle, a friend of Mr Wainwright, told the inquest that he was aware of the police incident in 2011 and said the pair had discussed the breakdown of Mr Wainwright's marriage. He said: 'He told me once he got drunk with some do at work and he was at a pub near Cox Green Quarry and told police he was going to do something stupid. 'He told me he spent the night in a police cell to sober up. I think it was more of a joke to do with drinking too much basically. 'We had talked about his reconciliation. He said they were talking and had been going through peaks and troughs but good times were more than bad times. He seemed to be getting better.' Mr Wainwright had been living with Mr Coyle and his girlfriend Joanna Bednarz at the time of his death. Ms Bednarz told the inquest that he had seemed 'very happy' when she last saw him. She said: 'I knew him before the marriage broke down and he was much happier then but as is normal with the breakdown of marriage he was sad. 'He never mentioned any suicidal thoughts. I spoke to him on the Friday and he seemed to be very happy. 'Then we had a conversation about what he had planned for the weekend. 'At 7.30am on Saturday morning I heard him moving down stairs. I didn't see him. I thought he had gone to get himself a drink. At 8.15am we went downstairs and he had gone.' Mr Wainwright was found at the bottom of the quarry on Sunday August 3 after his friend put out a missing person enquiry. Police were alerted after a passerby reported seeing his car parked at the beauty spot for around 24 hours. He died from severe neck injuries. Coroner Mr Walsh returned an open conclusion and said: 'I have considered whether he took his own life by jumping from the top of the quarry to the ground beneath. 'I am sure he did the act that caused his death as there was no third party involvement but I am not sure he meant to take his own life.. He left no notes and nor did he indicate his intent. 'He was a very intelligent man with an excellent degree. He was someone who wanted to work as an ecologist and wanted to work in the open and he had achieved this.' | Antony Wainwright, 47, found at bottom of Cox Green Quarry in Egerton .
Inquest heard father of two suffered depression since leaving university .
He separated from his wife earlier this year and had moved in with friends .
Bolton coroner described ecologist as 'a very intelligent man' at inquest . |
1700fddb57a77126294cd03b196790d7e27301c9 | Despite reports Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus bends in a pocket, and critics claiming its a carbon-copy of Samsung devices - its popularity hasn’t been dented. T-Mobile boss chief executive John Legere has revealed that the larger, phablet device is 'exceeding expectations' - and is on par with the smaller iPhone 6 model. He said he had expected the Plus model to make up around 20 per cent of sales, but this figure has been closer to 45 per cent. Scroll down for video . T-Mobile boss chief executive John Legere (pictured) has revealed that the iPhone 6 Plus is exceeding expectations, and is on par with the smaller iPhone 6 model. He said he had expected the Plus model to make up around 20 per cent of sales, but this figure was closer to 45 per cent . Mr Legere was talking at Recode’s Code/Mobile event in Moon Bay California. He admitted the figures were more than twice the sales his firm had expected. These figures bolster those observed on the weekend the two devices were released back in September. A Piper Jaffray survey found the larger model was outselling the smaller version, and analyst Gene Munster said at the time the Plus was ‘more popular’. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch screen, while the iPhone 6 Plus 5.5-inches. Both models include the Apple-designed A8 chip with second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture, said to boost performance and power efficiency. They also have advanced iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, and users in the US will also be able to use the devices to pay for goods using Apple Pay. Besides larger screens, the new phones offer faster performance and a wireless chip for making credit card payments. In the US, the iPhone 6 starts at $199 for 32GB on a two-year contact, $299 for 64GB and $399 for 128GB. A SIM-only handset starts at £539 in the UK. The iPhone 6 Plus costs $299 on a two-year contract for 16GB, $399 for 64GB, $499 for 128GB. Unlocked, the handset starts at £619 in the UK. In a survey, 57 per cent of shoppers intended to buy the iPhone Plus. With the larger screen, as well as the storage options, cited as the main driving forces. Prior to the release, the firm said it expected customers would ‘overwhelmingly’ prefer the smaller iPhone 6 - seen as the direct upgrade to the iPhone 5S. Figures from marketing firm Localytics earlier this month, however, reported a skew in the opposite direction. By studying app usage and analytics across a range of devices, its figures show the iPhone 6 taking 6 per cent market share, compared to the Plus model’s one per cent. The firm also found that the iPhone 6 is being adopted at twice the rate of its iPhone 5S predecessor - which had a 3 per cent share of all iPhones at this time last year. Although people who have bought the larger model are using it more. According to Localytics, the iPhone 6 Plus has ‘stronger user engagement’ with 13 per cent longer session length, and 11 per cent more app launches than the iPhone 6. Currently, last year’s iPhone 5S is the most popular model among consumers at 27 per cent of all iPhones. Following the launch in September, Apple reported it sold more than 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models over the first weekend - a three-day record for a new model. According to app analytics firm Localytics, the iPhone 6 Plus has ‘stronger user engagement’ too, with 13 per cent longer session length, and 11 per cent more app launches than the iPhone 6 . Following the launch, Apple reported it sold more than 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models (pictured) in a weekend - a three-day record for a new model. This beat the previous record of 9 million for last year's iPhone 5S and 5C . This beat the previous record of 9 million for last year's iPhone 5S and 5C. And during initial benchmark tests by Anandtech, the iPhone 6 was found to have the fastest web browsing and page loading times on any device, just ahead of the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 also performed well in graphics testing, coming second with an average frame per second rate of 49.5. This was only behind the NVIDIA Shield tablet, on 57.1. The iPhone 5S was third, on 40.2, followed by the iPhone 6 Plus on 34.4. Furthermore, the display on the iPhone 6 Plus was praised by experts at DisplayMate, who called the screen ‘the best performing smartphone LCD’ the site has ever tested. But, other figures from Localytics report a sales skew in the opposite direction. By studying app usage and analytics across a range of devices, its figures show the iPhone 6 taking 6 per cent market share, compared to the Plus model’s one per cent (pictured) | iPhone 6 Plus is exceeding sales figures, according to operator T-Mobile .
Boss John Legere said he expected the model to constitute 20% of sales .
But this figure was closer to 45% - more than twice his firm's predictions .
Apple released 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in September .
Analytics firm additionally found Plus owners use their device more regularly . |
170142e81aa4862bc60e94b30d54f73707c9b4c7 | It's the Spain squad no one watching the Premier League back in January would have thought possible. Coach Vicente del Bosque named his 23 for Brazil yesterday and Juan Mata and Fernando Torres made the plane at the expense of Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas. ‘It breaks my heart to leave Navas behind,’ said Del Bosque. ‘But he has not been right for the past two months and I prefer to take someone who is 100 per cent.’ That criteria was not applied to Diego Costa. Spain’s Brazilian-born striker is struggling with the hamstring problem that reduced his participation in the Champions League final to just eight minutes. VIDEO: Scroll down to see how many efforts Torres needs to score . Singin' the Blues: Alvaro Negredo (L) and Jesus Navas didn't make Spain squad despite helping Manchester City win the title . Off the boil: 'The Beast' impressed in the first half of the season before struggling for form and fitness . But the top scoring ‘Spaniard’ in La Liga . last season is given extra time to get back to full fitness and his . place in the 23 was only ever going to leave two other striker berths. Del Bosque has opted for experience with David Villa and Torres in ahead . of Negredo. To overlook ‘The Beast’ Negredo would have been unthinkable at the turn of the year and reflects a disastrous second half of the season for the Manchester City striker. He did not seem to be too upset by what was ultimately a widely predicted omission, tweeting that he was off on holiday with model girlfriend Clara Garcia Tapia. Torres’s inclusion might baffle everyone outside of Spain but he is seen as a big occasion player, an excellent squad member and a favourite of Del Bosque, who has never been convinced by Negredo who he barely used at Euro 2012. Teacher's pet? Vincente Del Bosque has picked Ferando Torres despite another average season for Chelsea . Brazil bound: Atletico striker Diego Costa has been included in the final 23, despite recovering from injury . For Navas it represents a major disappointment after being an important squad player four years ago when Spain won the World Cup in South Africa. He came on against Holland in the final and it was his mazy run out of defence that led to Andres Iniesta’s extra-time winning goal. He had tweeted just before the squad was announced: ‘Back fully fit and raring to go, ready to have a good World Cup.’ His absence means that both Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla and Manchester United’s Mata made the cut. Special Juan: Manchester United playmaker Mata has booked his place on the plane to Brazil . Mata tweeted: ‘Couldn’t be happier, very proud to make the squad, let’s make history again.’ His season was the opposite of Negredo’s with an awful first half out in the cold under Jose Mourinho seeing him leave Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford. Del Bosque’s concerns never centred on Mata’s ability but on his amount of first-team action and the transfer yielded the playing time needed to join Cazorla in the squad. Despite the absence of the City pair there are 10 players in Del Bosque’s squad who perform, or have played, in the Premier League. All smiles: Torres is congratulated by teammates after scoring in Spain's 2-0 friendly win against Bolivia . Six of those should feature in Spain’s . opening fixture against Holland, with the holders likely to name Cesar . Azpilicueta at right-back in a defence that will include Gerard Pique, . Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba; Koke, Xabi Alonso and Sergi Busquets in . midfield with Iniesta, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas in attack, the . former Arsenal captain operating as a false nine as he did in the last . European Championship. Spain . play a friendly against El Salvador on Saturday in Washington. Crocked . Costa could be given a run-out in that final warm-up with Del Bosque not . ruling out using Fifa’s Article 29, which allows him to make a final . squad change 24 hours before their opening game against the Dutch. If . Costa is ruled out, Juventus forward Fernando Llorente will take his . place alongside Fabregas, Torres and Villa as Spain defend their crown. Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), David De Gea (Manchester United) Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) Midfielders: Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich) Forwards: David Silva (Manchester City), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Pedro (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Villa (Atletico Madrid) | Manchester City players Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas have missed out on Spain's World Cup squad .
Fernando Torres will go to Brazil despite his poor form for Chelsea .
Spain won their penultimate warm-up game against Bolivia 2-0 in Seville .
Diego Costa, David Villa, Juan Mata and Cesc Fabregas also make cut . |
1701edd5d86fc2a3b7ee0955c7cc5cc2f5068a2b | (CNN) -- A TV show can be wildly popular online, inspiring binge-watching marathons and feverish Twitter chatter, but it's still the number of people turning in via a regular television set that are counted most by networks. In a sign of our increasingly connected age, the Nielsen Company will finally add streaming viewers to its influential ratings of who's watching what on TV. The new ratings will collect data on people who watch their sitcoms, dramas and crime procedurals on computer, tablet and smartphone screens. Nielsen first announced it was testing programs to track streaming viewers in April. In mid-November, it will release a software development kit that clients can use to figure out who's tuning in online. Nielsen ratings are used to figure out how many people are watching a show and the demographics of the overall audience. Networks use those numbers to determine how much to charge for ads and even to help make scheduling decisions, such as canceling shows that pull in dismal numbers. Television sets are still the primary way people watch TV, but online viewers are growing fast. They stream shows to non-TV screens, such as computers, tablets and smartphones. Their viewing habits are different, too: They consume entire seasons in single sittings and catch up on "Daily Show" clips during commutes. The streaming and mobile audiences tend to skew younger, a coveted age group for advertisers. Nielsen typically tracks demographics such as age, location, gender, race and income. To gather that type of detailed information about online viewers, the company says it will match demographic information with data providers such as Facebook that already collect that information about Internet users. Not all online views will count as part of the main Nielsen TV ratings. Shows that don't include the same ads online as on TV will be counted as part of separate Nielsen Digital Ratings. Shows streamed directly by networks through their own sites and apps typically include the same set of ads, and those viewers are counted towards the traditional Nielsen totals. This is the latest attempt by Nielsen to catch up with current digital-media technology. Earlier this month, the company announced it was launching Twitter TV ratings, tracking the number of people tweeting about a show and how many people were reading those tweets. Nielsen ratings are typically collected in several old-fashioned ways. For example, it still has households record their viewing habits in handwritten diaries, documenting any show they watch for more than five minutes. | Nielsen, which measures TV ratings, will begin tracking online-viewing habits .
A new software development kit will be released to clients in November .
While most people still watch TV on televisions, a growing number stream shows online . |
1702143a88668377a4d10948d4013b14d719fcf5 | (Health.com) -- Parents who believe that playing video games is less harmful to their kids' attention spans than watching TV may want to reconsider -- and unplug the Xbox. Video games can sap a child's attention just as much as the tube, a new study suggests. Elementary school children who play video games more than two hours a day are 67 percent more likely than their peers who play less to have greater-than-average attention problems, according to the study, which appears in the journal Pediatrics. Playing video games and watching TV appear to have roughly the same link to attention problems, even though video games are considered a less passive activity, the researchers say. "Video games aren't less likely than television to be related to attention problems," says the lead author of the study, Edward Swing, a doctoral candidate in the department of psychology at Iowa State University, in Ames. "They were at least as strong as television at predicting attention problems." However, the study doesn't prove that video games directly cause attention problems. It could be that kids who have short attention spans to begin with might be more likely to pick up a joystick than a book, for instance. Health.com: Quiz: Do you have adult ADHD? The relationship between video games and attention is probably a two-way street, Swing says. "It wouldn't surprise me if children who have attention problems are attracted to these media, and that these media increase the attention problems," he says. Swing and his colleagues followed more than 1,300 children in the third, fourth, and fifth grades for a little over a year. The researchers asked both the kids and their parents to estimate how many hours per week the kids spent watching TV and playing video games, and they assessed the children's attention spans by surveying their schoolteachers. Previous studies have examined the effect of TV or video games on attention problems, but not both. By looking at video-game use as well as TV watching, Swing and his colleagues were able to show for the first time that the two activities have a similar relationship to attention problems. Health.com: Attention sappers: 5 reasons you can't concentrate . C. Shawn Green, Ph.D, a postdoctoral associate in the department of psychology at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, points out that the study doesn't distinguish between the type of attention required to excel at a video game and that required to excel in school. "A child who is capable of playing a video game for hours on end obviously does not have a global problem with paying attention," says Green, who has researched video games but was not involved in the current study. "The question, then, is why are they able to pay attention to a game but not in school? What expectancies have the games set up that aren't being delivered in a school setting?" Experts have suggested that modern TV shows are so exciting and fast paced that they make reading and schoolwork seem dull by comparison, and the same may be true for video games, the study notes. Health.com: 10 kid-targeted junk foods . It's unclear from this study whether that's the case, however, because Swing and his colleagues didn't look at the specific games the kids were playing. "We weren't able to break [the games] down by educational versus non-educational or nonviolent versus violent," says Swing, adding that the impact different types of games may have on attention is a ripe area for future research. The study also suggests that young kids aren't the only ones whose attention spans may be affected by video games. Health.com: Too much TV linked to earlier death . In addition to surveying the elementary school kids, the researchers asked 210 college students about their TV and video-game use and how they felt it affected their attention. The students who logged more than two hours of TV and video games a day were about twice as likely to have attention problems, the researchers found. These attention problems later in life may be the result of "something cumulative that builds up over a lifetime" or "something that happens early in life at some critical period and then stays with you," Swing says. "Either way, there are implications that would lead us to want to reduce television and video games in childhood." The American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading professional organization for pediatricians and the publisher of Pediatrics, recommends that parents limit all "screen time" (including video and computer games) to less than two hours per day. Health.com: The 10 habits of healthy families . For his part, Green says that how much time kids spend playing video games should be a matter of common sense and parental judgment. "A hard boundary, such as two hours, is completely arbitrary," he says. "Children are individuals, and what makes sense for one won't necessarily work for another." Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2010 . | Video games were at least as strong as TV at predicting attention problems, study said .
TV and video games have a similar relationship to attention problems .
AAP recommends that parents limit "screen time" to less than two hours per day . |
170235abf6483f888f8411c96d319709b9d9a0aa | (CNN)More Chris Pratt equals even more awesome. The "Guardians of the Galaxy" star appears in an adorable fan "pop culture mashup" You Tube video of two of his projects, "Parks and Recreation" and the upcoming "Jurassic World." Scenes with Pratt's "Parks" character Andy Dwyer are spliced into the trailer for his new film, in which he plays Owen, a member of the staff at the Jurassic World theme park. The loveable and goofy Dwyer announces that he can serve "Security. Sweets. Body Man. Javelin, if need be," and Owen warns that a hybrid, genetically modified dinosaur is highly intelligent and has the ability to "kill anything that moves." The video, posted by Thanks Mom Productions, is not the best editing job in the world, but who cares when it means double the Chris Pratt? "Jurassic World" will be released June 12. | The video combines his "Parks and Recreation," "Jurassic World" characters .
The "Jurassic Park" sequel will be released in June . |
1702401061081ba7060d0e6526de95a9b48c117c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:09 EST, 1 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:13 EST, 1 December 2013 . Microsoft has been accused of alienating its female customers after providing a sexist note to gamers promoting the new Xbox One. With the holidays approaching, the company released an online form letter for men to send their girlfriends in a bid to convince them the latest model console would be a good present, for the both of them. The note 'We got your back,' began: 'Hey honey, not sure if you've heard but Xbox One is now available. ...I know, I know. You'd rather knit than watch me slay zombies, but hear me out on this. Xbox One is actually for both of us. Seriously.' Outrage: Microsoft has been accused of alienating its female customers after sending the online form letter, pictured, to gamers promoting the Xbox One . The note immediately sparked a backlash on Social Media, with critics labeling it condescending and heteronormative, according to the Daily Dot. Female gamers highlighted they don't need a man to bully them into buying games and pointed out the company doesn't understand that women make up nearly half of its customers. According to a recent USAToday report, some 45 per cent of gamers in 2013 are women. Xbox: A security guard stands beside a pile of XBOX One video game consoles at a Toys 'R' Us store during their Black Friday Sale in New York November 28, 2013 . Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal numbers . show nearly 40 per cent of Xbox users are women. And the company has . actually bragged about this in the past. The letter lists five reasons why the girlfriend, who is interested in Tracy Anderson fitness videos, dancing and Skyping her sister, should buy her man, a gaming and football fanatic, the new Xbox, or at least allow it into the home. The initial outrage prompted the company to revise the original note to make it more gender-neutral and less condescending. Lines like 'You'd rather knit than watch me slay zombies,' have been replaced with 'You'd rather do your taxes early than watch me slay zombies.' The approach was perhaps unsurprising given the boys club inside Microsoft. According to a September Huffington Post article titled 'MicBROsoft,' nearly 80 per cent of the firm's employees are men, including seven of nine board members and all of the four people charged with finding Microsoft a new CEO. | With the holidays approaching, the company released an online form letter for men to send their girlfriends in a bid to convince them the latest model console would be a good present, for the both of them .
The note 'We got your back,' began: 'Hey honey... You'd rather knit than watch me slay zombies, but hear me out on this .
It immediately sparked a .
backlash on Social Media, with critics labeling it condescending and .
heteronormative .
Microsoft later caved to pressure and changed the wording to make it more gender neutral . |
17037e60a34b62505e08d74da780c9a28d78f1ea | By . Paul Bentley . The distraught wife of a sergeant major broke down as he was convicted of sexually assaulting a lesbian soldier, screaming: ‘You promised me you didn’t do it.’ Warrant officer Timothy Jones, 40, was yesterday found guilty of attacking the 21-year-old after a debauched party on Army barracks. The father of two wept as the verdict was handed down before being confronted by his wife Stacey, 36, a charity fundraiser, who stood by him throughout the case. Sergeant Major Timothy Jones and his wife Stacey. Distraught Mrs Jones broke down as he was convicted of sexually assaulting a lesbian soldier, screaming: 'You promised me you didn't do it' She was not in court but waited to be told of the outcome in a room outside. Later, she could be heard screaming ‘no’ and ‘you promised me you didn’t do it’. Jones, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Northern Ireland and Bosnia during a 23-year military career, faces prison when he is sentenced next month. He assaulted the lesbian soldier after a 12-hour drinking session at Buckley Barracks in Hullavington, Wiltshire, in May last year. Fuelled by vodka, port, whiskey, Jägermeister and beer, soldiers from 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment partied at a barbeque before seven continued drinking shots in the bedroom of the female private’s girlfriend. There, they danced, undressed and Jones swung his top over his head and ‘snogged’ a young male soldier who was known to have suffered from psychological problems. The female victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also kissed her lover, a corporal with the regiment. After telling the other males to leave the room, Jones locked the door and texted a friend: ‘I’m lying between two lesbians, what should I do LOL?’ The female private later woke up to find he had undressed her from the waist down and was sexually assaulting her. She was in pain and froze for five minutes before waking her girlfriend and breaking down in tears, telling her what Jones had done. Jones, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, Northern Ireland and Bosnia during a 23-year military career, faces prison when he is sentenced next month . Bulford Military Court heard DNA matching Jones’s profile was recovered from the shorts the female private wore to sleep that night. An expert witness said the DNA is believed to have come from his saliva and is 103million times more likely to have been from him than any other person. Jones told officers during an initial military police interview that the girl’s arm or leg might have touched him during the night. Four months later, he changed his story, claiming she got on top of him while he slept. He insisted he was ‘shocked’ and ‘sickened’ by the allegation and initially accused her of honey- trapping him. At court, he said he was just ‘clumsy’ and an ‘old fool’ but that he was not a ‘middle-aged pervert’. After five hours of deliberation yesterday, a panel of five male soldiers found Jones guilty of one charge of assault by penetration. As the verdict was announced, he shook violently and wept. He sat down and cradled his head in his hands while shouting: ‘I didn’t do it!’ Jones earlier told the court that being reported for sexual assault had ‘destroyed’ his family, adding: ‘My wife has gone through hell.’ Mrs Jones, who has attended much of the trial, has supported her husband since he was reported and cried throughout his evidence on Wednesday, at one point fleeing the court room in tears. The couple, who have been married for seven years, have a daughter who turned four last week. Jones also has a teenage son from a previous relationship. Jones joined the Army when he was 16, inspired by his grandfather who served in the military. During the early years he was a driver, before being posted around the world, where he mentored young soldiers. In April 2012, Jones was made sergeant major, in what he described as the ‘happiest day of my life’. Yesterday, he signed the sex offenders’ register but was not remanded in custody. He will be sentenced on June 12. | Warrant officer Timothy Jones, 40, found guilty of attacking 21-year-old .
Wife Stacey, 36, a charity fundraiser, stood by him throughout case .
She was not in court but waited to be .
told of outcome in a room outside .
Later, she could be heard .
screaming ‘you promised me you didn’t do it’
He assaulted the lesbian soldier after 12-hour drinking session at barracks . |
1704059783fb01ba0538e87710b637f149586461 | By . Richard Moore . Usain Bolt was a late withdrawal, but in his absence his young pretender, Kemar Bailey-Cole, sprinted to an easy victory against a world class field in Zurich on Thursday night. Bailey-Cole is the double gold medallist from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow who trains with Bolt under Glen Mills, and he was Bolt-esque as he unfolded his tall body and then eased up to cross the line in 9.96, the only man under 10 seconds. Britain’s European 100m champion James Desaolu was third in 10.06 while the 200m champion, Adam Gemili, was fifth in 10.13. It was a better night for Britain’s women’s sprinters who won the 4x100m relay ahead of a strong Jamaican quartet. Scroll down for videos... Speed demon: Kemar Bailey-Cole won the 100m final at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich . Long limbed: Kemar Bailey-Cole was only man to run below 10 seconds in a strong field . Asha Philip, Anyika Onuora, Ashleigh Nelson and Desiree Henry won in 42.21, a new national record and three-hundredths faster than the time that three of them – with Onuora coming in for Jodie Williams – ran on their way to European gold in the same Letzigrund stadium eleven days earlier. ‘It’s amazing,’ said Nelson. ‘We just wanted to run well again. The crowd was amazing, the girls are amazing.’ Henry, who ran the anchor leg, said; ‘I just looked to my left and right and thought, oh my God, these are the quickest girls in the world, but you know what, I consider myself one of them and I knew that these girls would do a fantastic job to put me in a good position. I’m so glad that we were able to get the baton around smoothly.’ Withdrawal: Usain Bolt was pictured out on the town in London during the week . Desaolu was merely content with his performance in the men’s 100m, running from lane one. ‘I felt pretty good, and I’ve still got a few races left so hopefully I’ll be able to improve. I’m 100 percent fit,’ said the injury-prone Desaolu. Gemili, who confirmed afterwards that this would be his final race of 2014, said: ‘I didn’t realise until I took my first stride, it was hard. Coming off the back of two championships I had done a lot of work. But to finish fifth ahead of Nesta Carter, who’s run under 10 seconds this year, is good.’ Earlier, Martyn Rooney, the European 400 metres champion, faced LaShawn Merritt and could only manage 45.10 for fourth, with Merritt winning in 44.36. Flying the flag: (L-R) Desiree Henry, Anyika Onoura, Asha Philip and Ashleigh Nelson won the women's 4x100m . ‘That was poor,’ said Rooney. ‘I’m really disappointed with that. You need to challenge but if you give LaShawn Merrit five metres it’s very hard to chase him down. I’ve had two championships, one better than the other, but these opportunities don’t come everyday.’ It’s not too late to play MailOnline Fantasy Football… There’s £1,000 to be won EVERY WEEK by the highest scoring manager . CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | Kemar Bailey-Cole won 100m final at Diamond League meeting in Zurich .
Comonwealth double gold medallist was only man to run below 10 seconds .
World record holder Usain Bolt pulled out of the meeting with injury .
Briatian's Desiree Henry, Anyika Onoura, Asha Philip and Ashleigh Nelson won the women's 4x100m relay . |
17042de0be9cada759b9056974d1d98cf7b3776f | The future may be renewable, but evidence of ancient civilizations isn't always reparable. "Time for Change; The Future is Renewable" was the message of Greenpeace activists protesting at the ancient Nazca Lines UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Peruvian desert on Monday. The activists placed yellow letters next to a famous hummingbird design, and now Peruvian authorities are threatening to sue Greenpeace and criminally charge the activists with "attacking archaeological monuments," according to The Associated Press. The demonstration was timed to coincide with United Nations' Lima Climate Change Conference ending Friday. "It's a true slap in the face at everything Peruvians consider sacred," Deputy Culture Minister Luis Jaime Castillo told The Associated Press of the activists' decision to enter a "strictly prohibited" area next to a famous hummingbird design. "You walk there, and the footprint is going to last hundreds or thousands of years," Castillo told the AP. "And the line that they have destroyed is the most visible and most recognized of all." Don't make these stupid travel mistakes . Located about 400 kilometers south of Lima and covering about 450 square kilometers, the Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana World Heritage Site has geoglyphs and lines dating from 500 B.C. through A.D. 500. Artwork that is made from placing or moving stones, earth or other objects, geoglyphs in the area fall into two general categories, according to the site's UNESCO listing. One type is representational, featuring animals, plant life and other extraordinary figures. The other consists of the lines, mostly straight lines crossing the region's pampas in different directions. Some are long -- several kilometers -- and form shapes. The designs are believed to have had ritual astronomical functions. Greenpeace has apologized for the action. "Without reservation Greenpeace apologises to the people of Peru for the offence caused by our recent activity laying a message of hope at the site of the historic Nazca Lines," the organization said in a statement. "We are deeply sorry for this. "Rather than relay an urgent message of hope and possibility to the leaders gathering at the Lima UN climate talks, we came across as careless and crass." First UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Greenspace says it has met with the government to apologize and will cooperate with any investigation and face "reasonable and fair consequences." The group says its international executive director, Kumi Naidoo, is in Lima this week to personally apologize and to participate in discussions with the Peruvian authorities. Peru's World Heritage Sites have had a difficult year. Tourists had also been stripping around the ancient grounds at Machu Picchu just for fun. Incidents of "naked tourism" at the 15th-century Inca citadel were on the rise this year, but tourists trying to visit sans clothing are being detained. Machu Picchu's naked tourism problem . | Greenpeace hosted a stunt at the ancient site to focus on climate change .
Peru says the group's activists destroyed part of the famous Nazca Lines .
Greenpeace has apologized for the action . |
170461ef167df9082bac5232f4849028ea72435a | (CNN) -- Authorities in Santa Monica, California, fatally shot a mountain lion Tuesday, acting on public safety concerns after it tried to escape from an office building courtyard in the city. Initial efforts to tranquilize the animal failed, and "police were forced to use lethal force to prevent that animal from escaping the courtyard and endangering the public," a police statement said. An officer from the California Department of Fish and Game fired a tranquilizer dart into the animal, which normally takes about 10 minutes to take effect. In the meantime, authorities used water hoses and "less than lethal" pepper ball rounds in an effort to contain it. But when the animal tried to escape, authorities say the decision was made to use deadly force. The mountain lion, which was thought to be a juvenile weighing just under 100 pounds, had apparently strayed in the from the wild and was first reported just before 6 a.m. in downtown Santa Monica after a maintenance worker spotted it, the statement said. Mountain lion spottings are common in Southern California this time of year, though typically occur away from densely populated areas, according to Andrew Hughan, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game. Unlike bears, they typically shun human contact, he said. CNN's Stella Chan, Sonya Hamasaki and Chuck Conder contributed to this report. | Authorities in Santa Monica fatally shot a mountain lion Tuesday when it tried to escape .
Initial efforts to tranquilize the animal failed .
The animal was first reported just before 6 a.m. in downtown Santa Monica .
Mountain lion spottings are common in Southern California this time of year . |
170486ae5d2113450c582b5d5d4896900faeefaf | Craig Kieswetter has taken to Twitter to show off his battle scars after being struck in the face by a cricket ball. Kieswetter suffered a broken nose and fractured right cheekbone whilst at the crease for Somerset during their LV= County Championship match at Northamptonshire on Saturday. Accompanied with the light-hearted message: 'Apparently chicks dig scars...!? #rocky', the picture shows his right eye heavily swollen and cut. Sore one: Craig Kieswetter took to Twitter to show his horrific facial injury after a cricket ball hit him in the face . Ouch: Somerset's Kieswetter was hit in the face after mistiming a pull shot against Northamptonshire . Devastated: Kieswetter (bottom) was struck in the face off the bowling of David Willey (top) on Saturday . Seeing red: Kieswetter had blood gushing from his right eye following the delivery at the County Ground . Urgent help: Team doctor's from both sides quickly came to the aid of Kieswetter who had to retire hurt . The 26-year-old was struck off the bowling of David Willey whilst at the crease for Somerset. Pitched as a bouncer, Willey's delivery lodged inside Kieswetter's helmet as he mistimed a pull shot. The England One Day and Twenty20 international's injury was so severe that he was forced to retire hurt from his innings as blood gushed from his face. Team doctor's from both counties quickly attended the incident as Kieswetter left the field heavily compressing his damaged right eye. The South African-born wicketkeeper had scored 14 runs off 16 minutes in the Division One encounter at the County Ground before the painful blow. After winning the toss on Saturday, Somerset elected to bat as they try to close the gap on Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire at the top of the table. Down and out: Kieswetter (left) exited the field with his eye heavily compressed after scoring 14 runs . | Craig Kieswetter posts picture on Twitter of his horrific eye injury .
Kieswetter suffered a broken nose and fractured cheekbone during Somerset's LV= County Championship match at Northamptonshire .
Kieswetter had a bloody right eye after a cricket ball was lodged into his helmet whilst batting on Saturday .
The wicketkeeper was struck in the face off the bowling of David Willey and had to retire hurt after scoring 14 runs at the County Ground . |
170561a1619cffbb8d62b5183c1fffd45b072372 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 16:04 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:43 EST, 6 March 2014 . Scientists have modified genes in the blood cells of HIV patients to help them resist the AIDS virus. The American researchers say the treatment seems both safe and promising. The results give hope that this approach might one day free patients from their grueling daily drug regime. Scientists have found a way of modifying genes in the blood cells of HIV patients to help them resist the AIDS virus. Image shows HIV in human lymphatic tissue . As a result, the researchers say it could offer a form of cure. The news comes just the day after doctors in Boston announced they hope they have cured a baby born with HIV. The baby girl, who was born in Los Angeles last year, is the second to have been put into remission - and possibly cured - by very early treatment. She was treated four hours after her birth and, now, shows no signs of being infected. The girl's doctors say they are cautious about claiming she is cured but say they hope this is the case. The idea for the gene modification treatment came from an AIDS patient who appears to be cured after receiving a cell transplant seven years ago in Berlin. The treatment could free patients from a daily regime of taking antiretroviral drugs . The transplant came from a donor with natural immunity to HIV. Only about one per cent of people have two copies of the gene that gives this protection. So, researchers are seeking a more practical way to get similar results by using gene therapy to modify patients' own blood cells. A study of this in 12 patients was led by Dr Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania. HIV usually infects blood cells through a protein on their surface - a 'docking station' called CCR5. A Californian company, Sangamo BioSciences Inc., makes a treatment that can knock out a gene that makes CCR5. The 12 HIV patients involved in the study had their blood filtered to remove some of their cells. The Sangamo BioSciences Inc. gene-snipping compound was added in the lab, and the cells were infused back into the patients. Four weeks later, half of the patients were temporarily taken off AIDS medicines to see the gene therapy's effect. The virus returned in all but one of them, but the modified cells seemed to be protected from HIV infection and were more likely to survive than the cells that had not been treated. 'We knew that the virus was going to come back in most of the patients, but the hope is that the modified cells eventually will outnumber the rest and give the patient a way to control viral levels without medicines,' said Dr Pablo Tebas, one of the Penn researchers. That would be what doctors call a 'functional cure', because the virus would still be present but held in check without treatment. The lone patient whose HIV did not return turned out to have one copy of the protective gene, so 'nature had done half of the job already,' Dr Tebas said. Experts say the treatment could offer a 'functional cure' as HIV would still be present in the patient but no further treatment would be required to keep it under control . The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases sponsored the work with Sangamo and Penn. 'The ultimate goal is to create an immune system in the body that's been edited genetically so the cells are not capable of being infected with HIV,' said institute director Dr. Anthony Fauci. 'But we are a long way from there at this point.' Jay Johnson, 53, who works for Action AIDS, an advocacy and service organisation in Philadelphia, had the treatment more than three years ago during an earlier study. Although the virus rebounded when he temporarily went off HIV medicines, tests show his modified blood cells are still multiplying. 'Hopefully one day I'll be able to say I'm HIV negative again,' he said. | Scientists modified genes in cells of patients to help them resist the virus .
If effective, this could mean they no longer need antireteroviral drugs .
As a result, it could be classed as a 'functional cure' - HIV would still be present in their bodies but they would need no treatment to control it .
Yesterday, doctors announced that they hope they have cured a baby girl who was born HIV positive but was treated within hours of her birth . |
1705c9930e02566f5e6494ba367a721eb49d54fe | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The U.S.-led war in Afghanistan marked its 10th year Friday having passed two major milestones: The Taliban has been forced out of power and Osama bin Laden is dead. But there was little observance by U.S. troops in Afghanistan, where a month earlier many participated in commemorations to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "We really celebrated the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and we were out here in Afghanistan," Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John Toolan Jr., commanding general of ISAF troops in southern Afghanistan, told reporters during a briefing on Thursday. "I think that to us it was a far more significant date than 10 years of fighting in Afghanistan because, really, when you look at the 10 years, you're looking at different levels of forces, different levels of attention given to Afghanistan." The U.S.-led war in Afghanistan began October 7, 2011, with an air campaign that was followed within weeks by a ground invasion. President Barack Obama has called it "the longest-running war in the nation's history". The aim was to oust the Taliban and dismantle al Qaeda's leadership, though the leaders of both groups -- Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden -- managed to escape capture. Bin Laden was killed in May during a raid by U.S. commandos on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The whereabouts of Mullah Omar is unknown, and he has not been seen in public in years. As the United States turned its attention toward Iraq, insurgent violence in Afghanistan flared against Afghan civilians and security forces as well as the U.S. and its coalition partners. More than 2,700 troops from the United States and its partners have died during the 10 years of war, according to a CNN count. Of those, 1,780 were American, 382 were British and 157 were Canadian. Since the conflict began, the number of casualties has risen by the year, with a significant jump from 2008 to 2009. At least 296 coalition troops died in 2008. It nearly doubled in 2009 when 517 coalition troops were killed. That year, President Barack Obama authorized a surge of 33,000 U.S. forces to Afghanistan to combat the violence. Two years later, the United States outlined its plan to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, beginning with pulling the 33,000 surge troops by the end of 2012 and the remaining 68,000 by the end of 2014. The move was followed by withdrawal announcements by most of the NATO nations. On Thursday, defense ministers from the 49 nations that make up the International Security Assistance Force pledged their support to Afghanistan even as they make plans to withdraw troops by 2014. "Let there be no mistake: transition is not departure. We will not take our leave when the Afghans take the lead," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters Thursday in Brussels, Belgium. The ministers are scheduled to meet again in May in Chicago where Rasmussen said they will "need to decide what more we will do." While NATO has insisted that the transition of security for the country to Afghan forces is conditions-based rather than calendar-driven, the clock is ticking on the withdrawal deadline. The planned withdrawal has raised a number of questions about the stability of Afghanistan, which has been hit by a wave of high-profile attacks in recent months that have jeopardized the peace negotiations. Last month's turban bomb assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, revered by many as a father of the Mujahideen movement that ousted the Soviets in the 1980s, appears to have dealt the biggest blow to the peace process. Rabbani was the chairman of President Hamid Karzai's High Council for Peace, which has been trying for a year to foster dialogue with the Taliban -- a strategy that Karzai publicly abandoned following Rabbani's killing. The war in Afghanistan, once viewed by a majority of Americans as a must, has become widely unpopular as concerns have shifted to the economy and job losses. In a new Pew Research Center report on war and sacrifice released this week, half of post-9/11 veterans said the Afghanistan war has been worth fighting. Only 44% felt that way about Iraq, and one-third said both wars were worth the costs. Robert Messel is among those veterans who question the war. Messel, who was a freshman in college and a ROTC student on September 11, 2001, said he remembers thinking that the war in Afghanistan would be over before he joined the Army. But as the war continued, Messel said he began to have mixed feelings. "I joined to defend the country, and I feel that a lot of the things we were doing were not exactly that," he said in a CNN iReport. "In my opinion, it basically should have been limited to what we initially were going in to do: Hunt down bin Laden and the architects of the attacks." Messel said it is very difficult to look back objectively on the experience. "You lost friends and made sacrifices. You don't want to ever think that everything that happened was in vain," he said. But Asmatullah Kohistani has a different perspective on the war, which he says gave his family back their home and their livelihoods. He was 13 when he and his family fled their home in Afghanistan's Kapisa province amid a civil war that would see the Taliban take control of the country. Driven out by bombardments and fighting, his family crossed into Pakistan, making their home in Islamabad. Kohistani, 28, said "everything changed" after the Taliban were forced from power. Kohistani, who worked for a U.S. business for two years upon his return to Afghanistan, founded media startup Afghan123.com last year. "(E)veryone can have a job and go to school (now), and I can have my business," he said in a CNN iReport. | The U.S.-led war in Afghanistan began October 7, 2001, with an air campaign .
More than 2,700 NATO troops have died during the war, according to a CNN count .
Of those killed, 1,780 are American, 382 are British and 157 are Canadian, according to the count .
The U.S. and most NATO nations have announced plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by 2014 . |
17065e72751f771959e4a4a935b87b5f75d3ef92 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 05:23 EST, 1 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:28 EST, 1 May 2013 . Catharine Bell has felt permanently airsick since flying to Turkey in 2005 . A mother-of-two has been battling a constant feeling of travel sickness since taking a flight eight years ago. Catharine Bell, 46, was left struggling to balance, nauseous and feeling permanently dizzy after she disembarked the flight in Marmaris, Turkey, in 2005. Ms Bell, from Bellingham, Northumberland, thought the feeling would pass but was horrified when her symptoms worsened throughout the holiday until she could no longer walk down the hotel corridor without holding onto the wall. Even after arriving back in the UK following the two week holiday with her daughters, Jessica and Annie, now aged 18 and 13, Ms Bell’s symptoms failed to subside. She was eventually diagnosed with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) and has suffered from incurable, and sometimes debilitating, attacks ever since. Ms Bell said: ‘I got on the plane and I was perfectly healthy, it was a perfectly normal flight. And then when the plane landed I stood up to get my bag and I felt a bit weird. ‘As soon as we landed and I stepped off the plane I felt seriously odd. The whole world had transformed into bouncy castle land and I felt as if I was walking on a giant marshmallow. ‘Throughout the holiday that feeling never went away, it was like being on the Pirate Ship at the fairground my world was moving up and down and from side to side constantly. ‘I felt sick, had a headache and felt decidedly unwell. I presumed I had an ear infection and thought I would wait it out, go home, and see the doctor.’ However, when the family’s flight home took off all of Ms Bell’s symptoms disappeared and she thought she was better. Unfortunately, the respite was short lived and the symptoms returned as soon as she stepped off the plane. Ms Bell said: ‘And so started a terrible few months of doctor visits, travel sickness pills, ear syringing, lying on the floor crying, hanging onto the bed, throwing up, and nobody finding anything wrong with me. ‘I felt like my world was constantly moving, I felt nauseous all the time, I couldn't sleep because when I lay still everything would keep moving up and down, back and forth. ‘After five to six weeks I was tired, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't read because the words would jump out of the page, and I couldn't sit still because the more still I was, the worse it was. She was left struggling to balance, nauseous and feeling permanently dizzy after she disembarked the flight in Marmaris . ‘And then one day I woke up and it was gone. I was so relieved I thought I was cured, I really thought it was an imbalance in my ear and it had settled down.’ However, when Ms Bell went to Turkey with her daughters again the following year, her symptoms returned and this time they were worse. When she returned she was left unable to sleep, read or walk in a straight line. At one point she could not stand up and was left clinging to the carpet in her living room as her world spun around her. Megan Arroll from the University of . East London, said: ‘Mal . de Debarquement Syndrome, or the "sickness of landing", is a condition . characterised by persistent feelings of rocking and swaying, similar to . those of being on a boat. ‘MdDS . is usually triggered by long-haul air and/or sea travel but there have . been cases where symptoms began after engaging in motion-based games and . fun fair rides. ‘Additional symptoms can include nausea, headaches, fatigue and sensitivity to light. ‘Our . research within the Chronic Illness Team at the University of East . London has shown that these symptoms can last for years and impact . significantly on individuals' lives, disrupting work, relational and . recreational activities, which in turn can lead to depression and . anxiety. ‘This is an . invisible illness - the person may not look unwell. ‘It can be very difficult to gain a diagnosis as there is still much uncertainty . surrounding MdDS; we do not know the cause of the illness at present . and it is currently a very under-researched condition. ‘There . is no 'cure' for MdDS at this time although interestingly, those with . the condition often find symptoms temporarily diminish during motion, . for instance car travel, which differentiates MdDS from conditions . concerning the inner ear.’ Despite several visits to her GP, doctors were baffled by her condition. Desperate for a diagnosis, Ms Bell turned to the internet and came across Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS). This is a neurological disorder triggered by travel, such as boat or plane journeys. The symptoms last long after the journey has finished. Instead of the usual symptoms of motion sickness, such as nausea, people with MdDS feel as though they are rocking or bobbing constantly. This feeling can last for months, or even years, and the only time this feeling subsides is when they are in motion again. When Ms Bell read about MdDs on the internet, she took the information into her doctor who confirmed this was what she had. However, the doctor informed her that there is no cure and so she has been forced to live with the condition ever since. She said: ‘When I got home from holiday I staggered to the doctors and I actually lay down on the floor in the doctors’ surgery and gripped onto the carpet, I felt so ill. ‘The doctor and another patient had to practically carry me into the surgery and onto the couch. I had to hold onto the wall because I was convinced I was going to fall off the couch. ‘None of the conventional vertigo tablets made any difference so I started to research and found MdDS online. I knew instantly this was what I had, I showed the research to my doctor and he confirmed it. Ms has now had the symptoms every day for the last four years. She no longer drinks alcohol as it is difficult enough to maintain her balance without a drink, she cannot dance and she finds it difficult to read. She also cannot sit still for longer than an hour at a time. But despite her condition, Ms Bell leads a normal life - she has two jobs as a school caretaker and a play leader, continues to go on holiday every year, and does everything she can to prevent the condition ruining her life. She felt unwell throughout the holiday but assumed that she had an ear infection and decided just to visit a doctor when she got home . She said: ‘I've never had it as bad as the first two episodes but I've now had it constantly for almost four years. ‘I take precautions to avoid my symptoms worsening. I don't drink, I eat well, I exercise a lot, I avoid any kind of boat journey, if I fly I walk on the plane and I try not to sit still for too long. ‘At the moment I live in a wibbly wobbly world, if I stand still or sit down I can see the world swaying slightly. It makes it hard to read or watch TV and I have a constant headache and feel sick. ‘If I'm tired or I've been on a long journey, I am worse but it's usually at its worst when I'm still. ‘Walking on a treadmill is really hard, I fall over, standing still with my eyes shut is impossible, I find myself falling backwards, almost like I'm being pushed. ‘Dancing is almost impossible, anything where I have to be spun around or do a quick turn is a big no no. The symptoms did not improve on her return to the UK and she was eventually diagnosed with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome . ‘In between work I go to the gym for up to two hours a day, and walk my dog five times a day, anything to keep me moving. ‘There is no cure, there's no medical information, no treatment, there's nothing that's going to make it better - I just have to live with it. ‘I lead a very full, happy, if slightly topsy turvey life.’ Megan Arroll from the University of East London, who is conducting research into the condition, said: ‘Mal de Debarquement Syndrome, or the "sickness of landing", is a condition characterised by persistent feelings of rocking and swaying, similar to those of being on a boat. ‘MdDS is usually triggered by long-haul air and/or sea travel but there have been cases where symptoms began after engaging in motion-based games and fun fair rides. ‘Additional symptoms can include nausea, headaches, fatigue and sensitivity to light. The cause of the condition is not known and there is no cure so Ms Bell has had to learn to live with it . ‘Our research within the Chronic Illness Team at the University of East London has shown that these symptoms can last for years and impact significantly on individuals' lives, disrupting work, relational and recreational activities, which in turn can lead to depression and anxiety. ‘This is an invisible illness, the person may not look unwell, and we have found that there is the additional problem of stigma and lack of social support. ‘It can also be very difficult to gain a diagnosis as there is still much uncertainty surrounding MdDS; we do not know the cause of the illness at present and it is currently a very under-researched condition. ‘There is no 'cure' for MdDS at this time although interestingly, those with the condition often find symptoms temporarily diminish during motion, for instance car travel, which differentiates MdDS from conditions concerning the inner ear.’ | Catharine Bell started to feel unwell after a flight to Turkey in 2005 .
Suffers from sickness, dizziness, balance problems and headaches .
Struggles to read, watch TV, and sit still as she feels like she is moving .
Diagnosed with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome after finding it on internet .
Only way she gets some relief from symptoms is to walk or go to the gym . |
1706999cc039d722f01757a03cd478521c4ca002 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Andrew Dice Clay, one of the hottest and most controversial comedians two decades ago, sits on his front porch late at night, plotting his comeback. "I was almost like self-exiled from the business, you know, other than going out and making a living for myself, I wasn't really making any career moves," Clay says, talking with fellow comedian Tom Green. "I was bringing up my family." Green, who was on "Celebrity Apprentice" with "Diceman" in 2009, had his camera rolling when Clay invited CNN to hang with him a recent Friday night -- just days before his first television comedy special in 17 years airs on Showtime. "I want to be able to make people laugh as hard as they possibly can, and I really think they need that," Dice said. His TV special premieres at 10 p.m. New Year's Eve "so people can just have a couple of drinks and just laugh until it hurts." Clay rose to iconic status in the 1980s, selling out hundreds of large arenas -- including New York's Madison Square Garden two consecutive nights in 1990. He acted in movies and performed on HBO comedy shows. But after a tough divorce, he decided to focus on raising his two sons -- Max, now 22, and Dillon, now 18 -- who lived with him. A career resurgence started last year when he landed a role in the final season of HBO's hit series "Entourage." He played himself with his older son, Max, also in the show. Clay's back in Las Vegas, headlining at the Hard Rock Casino in February. Woody Allen saw his five episodes on "Entourage" and gave him a major dramatic role in his next movie, due in theaters next summer. His co-stars include Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett and comedian Louis C.K. His being in a Woody Allen film is "kinda shocking," Clay said. Shocking, though, is something the 55-year-old Brooklyn-born comic is known for. Critics frequently scorned him, calling his act racist, misogynist and homophobic. His jokes about gays, women and midgets are still there in his new material. "I make no apologies for anything I did on that special, or any joke I tell because that's the thing about jokes," he said. "That's all it's meant to be taken as. Whether they're clean, dirty, it's just humor. You know, it's just jokes. This society today, the politically correct, I think people are just sick of it." Politically incorrect jokes, however, have seriously hurt comic careers in recent years. Think Michael Richards and the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Or Tracy Morgan and his anti-gay humor. "Some of these comics are on like CBS or ABC, so, you know, it's the powers-that-be that turn around and go 'You've got to apologize for what you said.'" Clay said. "And that's just wrong because, you know, comedy is like the last art form where you can get up there and just do whatever you want. You know, like they say, you are the producer, director, writer, star. And if they take that away, you know, that's what America is, that's what we were built on, freedom." Clay knows what it is like for a network to turn on him for his humor. MTV banned him "for life" after his performance on a 1989 MTV awards show. The ban was recently lifted. "I've been getting in trouble my whole life and I really don't care what anybody thinks of what I do on stage as a comic," he said. "I know there are people out there who don't even like this kind of comedy. Turn off the TV, turn the channel. Don't watch me. But I have millions of fans out there that have been waiting for this special and waiting for me to come back like this." And Dice is back -- still with his edgy, expletive-filled humor and a cigarette as a constant prop. He chain-smokes through the front-porch conversation, but you won't hear the profanity. "I certainly don't walk around my home or being with my family and just using profane language all the time, but on stage, it's a constant," he said. "Because I'm also hammering these different points across and because a lot of it is sexual, I just use the real words." You will see his sons on stage, though. Max, who also does stand-up, plays drums, while Dillon is on guitar on singing. They are two-thirds of a rock group called "L.A. Rocks." His ex-fiance -- comedian Eleanor Kerrigan -- is his opening act in the Showtime special. With Eleanor sitting on a child-size plastic chair next to him, Dice calls her, "The greatest opening act I've ever had -- as a woman." As he enjoys her reaction to the backhanded compliment, he throws in, "She's a killer." Despite their romantic history, Eleanor is a frequent visitor at his Los Angeles home. She and his wife are "like best friends." Sister wives, he jokes. "When I got together with Valerie (his wife) I told her there's one woman in my life that, you know, I can't turn around and say 'I can't see you anymore,'" he said. "Eleanor helped me bring up my boys, you know. It's almost like she is an ex-wife, but one I get along with." As for the smoking, Clay got some electronic cigarettes for Christmas. While he says he may rotate them into his personal routine, don't expect to see them in his hand on stage when he's reciting his infamous versions of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. For that, it's the same Dice you've seen for decades. | Dice's resurgence started last year with a role a role in HBO's "Entourage"
Clay rose to iconic status in the 1980s, selling out hundreds of large arenas .
His first TV special in 17 years is on Showtime on New Year's Eve .
"I make no apologies for anything I did on that special," Clay tells CNN . |
1706dafa83236fca286cd971a4f86110933291a0 | A 56-year-old 'Teacher of the Year' lured one of his 14-year-old students with a fake Facebook profile before raping her in his car, it has been claimed. Joaquim Andrade, who teaches English at Brockton High School in Massachusetts, allegedly engaged the teenager in conversation about soccer via the popular social networking site. He then reportedly drove to her home, picked her up and traveled to another location, where he sexually assaulted her. The attack took place on October 7 off school grounds, it is alleged. Andrade was arraigned on Friday and charged with the rape of a child with force, the enticement of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, Plymouth County District Attorney's Office said. Charged: High school teacher Joaquim Andrade, 56, allegedly lured a 14-year-old female student with a fake Facebook profile before raping her in his car. Above, the suspect is seen during his arraignment on Friday . The father-of-four, who has been voted the school's 'Teacher of the Year' twice in the past seven years, is being held on $20,000 bail and denies the charges, Brockton Enterprise News reported. Andrade, who began teaching at the school in 1993, allegedly contacted the student on Facebook after teaching her in his ninth-grade 'English as a Second Language' class. Following the alleged assault, he reportedly dropped her off at a soccer game with his phone number, alongside a false name to put in her phone. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, reported the allegations to school officials on October 10, prompting a three-week-long investigation by Brockton police. School: Andrade, a married father of four, teaches 'English as a Second Language' at Brockton High School (pictured) in Massachusetts. He has been voted 'Teacher of the Year' twice in the past seven years . Social network: The suspect allegedly engaged the teenager in conversation about soccer via Facebook (file picture). He then reportedly drove to her home in Brockton, picked her up and sexually assaulted her . During the inquiry, Andrade was placed on administrative leave. On Friday, School Superintendent Kathleen Smith said the situation has not changed despite his charges. The teacher, who hails from Cape Verde in West Africa, has rights, 'both in regard to the court system and in regard to his employment status,' Ms Smith said. But she added: 'Rest assured, however, that the Brockton Public Schools will deal with this situation as aggressively as it can,' should his status change.' Andrade's arrest has shocked parents at the school, who were notified of the investigation as soon as the charges against the 23-year teacher, soccer coach and mentor emerged. Rich Cogliano, whose child attends the institution, told WCVB: 'It's something you'd never expect in a school environment. You pray it would never happen.' Wendy Murphy, a nationally recognized expert on sex crimes and child abuse, added that sometimes a teacher who seems too good to be true 'is' too good to be true. Investigation: If Andrade posts bail, he will be required to surrender his passport, keep away from the alleged victim and avoid unsupervised contact with children under 17. Above Andrade's Brockton home . The city's elected leaders are offering support to the teenager. School administrators have also been working with the victim and her family, Ms Smith said. If Andrade posts bail, he will be required to surrender his passport, keep away from the alleged victim and avoid unsupervised contact with children under the age of 17. | Joaquim Andrade, 56, allegedly contacted his student, 14, via Facebook .
Engaged her in conversation about soccer, before picking her up in car .
Then reportedly drove the teenager to another location and raped her'
Andrade arraigned Friday and charged with rape, among other charges .
He is being held on $20,000 bail and has denied claims, prosecutors say .
Teacher at Brockton High School has had successful 23-year-old career .
He has been named school's 'Teacher of the Year' twice in past 7 years . |
1707b801f033829fda5a34f98e62696e8e6ef96f | Defending champions Exeter made it two wins from as many matches in the LV= Cup after coming from behind to beat Bath 18-6 in front of a record Sandy Park crowd of 11,785. Gavin Henson and his opposite number Gareth Steenson exchanged first-half penalties before the former added a second after the break to give Bath a 6-3 lead. But tries in the final quarter from Carl Rimmer, converted by Steenson, and Moray Low gave the Chiefs back-to-back west country victories to remain top of Pool Four. Gareth Steenson of Exeter Chiefs kicks a last minute penalty during the LV= Cup match against Bath . Despite having one eye on Friday night’s trip to Franklins Gardens to face Aviva Premiership leaders Northampton, Exeter fielded a full strength side and gave a debut to Scotland A international full-back Byron McGuigan. The visitors made six changes from the side that beat London Welsh 47-7 last weekend with lock Dominic Day back from injury, while full-back Luke Arscott was returning to Sandy Park for his first encounter against his former club. Former Wales international Henson got the visitors off to a perfect start with a 15-metre penalty from in front of the posts after two minutes. Henson then saw his long range drop goal charged down by Chiefs’ skipper Dean Mumm. Fly-half Henson looked to have set-up Bath for the opening try midway through the half with a neat grubber kick through but new signing McGuigan was on hand to beat outside centre Matt Banahan to the touchdown. Despite having a number of players away on international duty, it was Bath who were doing all the attacking until the Chiefs came back into the game for the final 10 minutes of the half as they camped out on the Bath line. Carl Rimmer of Exeter Chiefs goes over for the opening try during the LV= Cup match . But the visitors’ defence stood firm and scrum-half Micky Young snatched a loose ball to feed wing Olly Woodbury, who eased the pressure as he kicked the ball into touch deep in the Chiefs half. Five minutes before the break Bath were penalised for not following away at the tackle just outside their own 22 and fly-half Steenson slotted his kick from out wide on the right to level the scores. Bath wasted little time getting back into the game after half-time when wing Richard Lane burst through a slack defence only to be stopped just short of the line. Henson nudged the visitors ahead 13 minutes into the second half with a perfectly struck kick 12 metres inside the Chiefs half and close to the right touchline but saw a second attempt, just inside the opposition half, hit the cross bar. Don Armand of Exeter Chiefs stretches for the line out during the LV= Cup match . On the hour mark Exeter won a penalty for a scrum infringement, after Lane knocked-on, and they kicked to the corner. From the catch and drive replacement prop Rimmer crossed the line and Steenson converted. With less than five minutes to play the Chiefs were again camped out on the Bath line after a steal from flanker Dom Armand. They battered the visitors’ defence until replacement prop Low crossed for his first try for the Chiefs . Steenson’s conversion from outside on the left sailed just past the wrong side of the bear upright but he added a penalty from 22 metres out with the last kick off the game. | Defending champions Exeter make it two wins from two in LV= Cup .
Victorious over Bath in front of record crowd of 11,785 at Sandy Park . |
1708406a1a0116d2782a8a373d58d8c0c5ace5ce | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Manchester United fans all around the world will be eagerly scouring for transfer news and gossip over the possible arrival of new players during the close season. Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney sports the club's new kit for the forthcoming season . But just as important to many supporters over the break will be being among the first to get their hands on the club's new kit. The English Premier League champions have just launched a new home kit for the forthcoming season which pays homage to their 100th year playing at their Old Trafford stadium. United's new shirt features a large chevron across the chest, which echoes the same pattern United wore on their shirts during the 1909/10 season when Old Trafford first opened. What do you think of the new kits launched by Manchester United and Chelsea? How do they compare to other shirts? Add your comments to the 'Sound off' box below. Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand revealed the players are just as excited as the fans when it comes to wearing the latest club uniform. He said: "You feel very proud every time you put the United kit on. When I first signed that was the thing I was most looking forward to -- putting it on and seeing how it felt. I was like an excited kid! I'm sure we'll all be buzzing when we run out in the new kits next season." Ji-Sung Park hopes the chevron design will help inspire the players to reach new heights in the forthcoming season and added: "I like to think of it as 'V' for victory and hopefully we can win every game we play in the new kits!" See our photo gallery of the good, the bad, and the ugly of football shirts throughout the years. » . Although United fans are not quite as lucky as Ferdinand and Park and will have to wait until July 16 before they will be able to proudly show their colors. FA Cup winners Chelsea also have a smart new home kit which features a gladiator-style breast plate design and draws inspiration from looks that have graced the Kings Road over the years, especially seen in the ergonomically fitted shape and crew collar. The new shirt, which is on sale now, certainly meets the approval of Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou who told the club's Web site: "The new kit is nice, so now let's see what happens in it during the new season." Of course, football kits are not just a way of visually separating two teams on a playing field; they are increasingly an important part of a club's commercial operations. The world-record transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid could be worth up to $75m a season in revenue to the Spanish giants, according to research commissioned by Weber Shandwick Sport with one of the world's leading sport business experts. Speaking on behalf of Weber Shandwick Sport, Professor Simon Chadwick, Director of the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS) at Coventry University, suggests that with Kaka already moving to the Bernabéu, Real Madrid could benefit from $175m a year in additional revenue generated by the two stars. He said: "Ronaldo can be viewed in the same bracket as David Beckham when it comes to global commercial impact, if their image is controlled right and Real Madrid improve their results in the UEFA Champions League as a result of their arrival. "Becks sold a million shirts in his first six months at Real Madrid when he was just one of several 'galacticos' turning out for the all-whites, alongside the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Raul and the Brazilian Ronaldo. "Even if Real signed one or two of the other stars, there would be a real focus on Cristiano Ronaldo's and Kaka talents on the pitch, but also their brand off it. That will pay for their transfers several times over, even with a bumper salary package." Dan Jones, partner in the Sport Business group at accountancy firm Deloitte, told CNN that shirt revenues were not massive, but they were still important in taking the club's brand around the globe. Jones said shirt sales are dominated by the biggest clubs and figures would "closely mirror" the top of the "Football Money League" rich-list which would Real Madrid and Manchester United as the two biggest shirt-sellers worldwide. The outlook for sales for the forthcoming season might not be as profitable as previous years though as the global economic situations impacts on the spending power of the average fan. The "Football Fans' Inflation Index" released earlier this year by Virgin Money has showed large increases in the cost of an average game day for fans which could result in a drop in kit sales. Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation in England, added: "It will not be surprising if sales of replica shirts suffer as a result of the recession. The bottom line for fans is that you need a ticket to get into the game but you don't need a replica shirt, and when money's tight, it's the non-essentials which will go." | Manchester United and Chelsea reveal kits for the forthcoming campaign .
The sale of shirts can be a big source of revenue for many football clubs .
Some shirts have been good, others bad and some downright ugly . |
1708b757795b922be2729ac44077872d8f364e94 | A young woman who says she's addicted to sunbeds admits even getting skin cancer hasn't put her off tanning. Lucy Simm, 29, from Morecambe, was keen to get back on a sunbed as soon as she had recovered from an operation to remove a cancerous mole on her leg. She told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on today's This Morning: 'It's been very hard to stop, I want to hide away. I feel like a tan gives me a blanket and without it, I have to hide away. I tried fake tan and it's just not the same.' Scroll down for video . Addicted: Lucy, left, can't stop using sunbeds despite getting skin cancer. Her sister Sam has also had to have moles removed over fears they were cancerous . Mother-of-one Lucy appeared on the ITV show with her twin sister, Sam, who has also had a skin cancer health scare. The pair, who are care workers, both started tanning at the age of 14 and it quickly became a daily ritual. They liked the way the tan made them look and feel more confident. 'It was new to our town, it was a thing to do,' Sam explained. Mother-of-two Sam stopped going on sunbeds four years ago but some damage was already done. Dying for a tan: The twins started using sunbeds at the age of 14 and have both had health scares . She said: 'I noticed a mole on my side which I thought was chocolate because of how quickly it came but it didn't wipe off. I went to the doctors to have it looked at and they referred me and took it off straight away. 'There was a difficult four to five week wait to see if it was cancer but it was ok.' Despite Sam's scare, Lucy was not put off going on a sunbed. 'I put what happened to Sam to the back of my mind. I thought it wouldn't happen to me,' she admits. But then she also noticed an unusual-looking mole on her leg that was turning a dark blue colour. 'I showed it to Sam and she knew straight away there was something wrong with it,' she said. The mole was removed but further tests revealed Lucy was not as lucky as her sister had been. 'I was told it was cancer - melanoma - and I would need further treatment. I felt stupid, like I had done it to myself,' she said. Be safe: Fake tan is an alternative to using sun beds for those who want a tan without the dangers . A good way to tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma is to use the ABCDE checklist: . A stands for asymmetrical: Melanomas have two very different halves and are an irregular shape. B stands for border: Unlike a normal mole, melanomas have a notched or ragged border. C stands for colours: Melanomas will be a mix of two or more colours. D stands for diameter: Unlike most moles, melanomas are larger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter. E stands for enlargement or evolution: A mole that changes characteristics and size over time is more likely to be a melanoma. Information taken from www.nhs.uk . 'I couldn't take it all in, I had to leave the room. It's still unbelievable. I had an operation on my leg and I've been left with a big scar.' But despite the shock diagnosis and treatment, Lucy still can't give up using sunbeds. She's been back on them following her operation and said she needs help to conquer what she calls an addiction. 'My face wasn't going right without the sunbed,' she said. 'I felt like the skin on my face was drying out and my make up doesn't sit right without a tan.' Presenters Holly and Phillip encouraged Lucy to try fake tan as an alternative to sun beds and invited her back on the show next week to test them. The show's resident medical expert, Dr Chris, who has suffered from skin cancer, advised Lucy to follow her sister's example and give up sunbeds for good. He told her to think of her son and how she was putting him in danger of growing up without his mother. 'I will be happy in my skin one day, it's just getting there,' Lucy said. | Lucy Simm, 29, from Morecambe, has had skin cancer .
She and her twin sister Sam used sunbeds daily as teenagers .
Sam has also had to have a mole removed .
Despite getting the disease, Lucy still uses sunbeds .
She said: 'I tried fake tan and it's just not the same' |
170948acc50f38a4112593b1a74f09d86d3db53d | The Belgium team enjoyed the 'Red Devils Family Day' on Saturday ahead of the nations Euro 2016 qualifier against Andorra next month. Having reached the quarter-finals of the summer's World Cup finals in Brazil, only to be beaten 1-0 by eventual finalists Argentina, Marc Wilmots and Co spent time with supporters in the Belgian city of Ostend; signing autographs, posing for photos and even appearing on stage. With a squad full of Barclays Premier League stars, Chelsea frontman Eden Hazard showed off perhaps the best hidden talent as he spent time on the decks. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Belgium's Ciman beati Mignolet with incredible overhead kick . DJ Hazard: Chelsea star Eden spun the decks during Belgium's 'Red Devils Family Day' on Saturday . On their way: The Belgium squad posed for a snap on the team coach ahead of meeting their fans . Team effort: The Belgium squad stand on stage and acknowledge the many fans in Ostend . The 23-year-old played some tunes while Adnan Januzaj went head-to-head with a football freestyler as the Manchester United star bid to show who had the best skills. Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, who was joined by his 20-year-old brother Jordan, told RTBF: 'The season has started and everyone wants to be here. 'There is good competition within the national team and no one is ever sure of their place. All the players want to show off to the coach . 'The level of training is higher than at the big clubs because we play with the best Belgian players.' For the fans: Belgium skipper Vincent Kompany signs one young supporters football shirt . Skills: Manchester United star takes on a football freestyle during the 'Red Devils Family Day' Keeping it in the family: Romelu Lukaku (right) and his brother Jordan share a joke on stage . | Belgian squad entertained fans by signing autographs and posing for photos .
Eden Hazard took a turn as a DJ on the decks .
Belgium take on Andorra in their first Euro 2016 qualifier next month . |
170b4936602df252f31747caea85fdb2b0acfc9c | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 10:30 EST, 16 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:44 EST, 16 December 2013 . On trial: Neville Neville, the father of England footballers Gary and Phil, stands accused of sexual assault which his alleged victims claims happened when she dropped him home . The father of former Manchester United and England footballers Gary and Phil Neville sexually assaulted a woman after having 'far too much to drink' and told her 'I like the chase', a jury heard today. Neville Neville, 63, is on trial at Bolton Crown Court accused of a single count of assault by penetration after the woman gave him a lift home on a snowy evening. The alleged victim - who said she feared she was going to be raped - told police: 'The thought he could do that without my consent and to think he "likes the chase" made me feel dirty', the court heard. On the first day of his trial today his famous sons, Gary and Phil, were in the public gallery to support him. The incident is said to have taken place in Bury, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of March 23, but Neville denies the offence. The jury of eight women and four men was told that the accused knew his alleged victim. The incident happened following a night out in which the alleged victim offered the defendant a lift home in her car in the cold, snowy conditions at the time. Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, said when she was about to drop him off near his home, he suddenly 'lunged' at her and forced his tongue in her mouth. She said she told him to stop but he persisted and grabbed her breast before he pushed his hand down her trousers and inside her underwear, the prosecutor said. When she later reported the matter to the police, married Neville did not deny the incident took place but told detectives it was consensual. Mr Cadwallader told the jury: 'The Crown . say it was not consensual and he knew full well it was not consensual . because she told him so.' Scroll down for video . Concerned sons: Gary and Phil Neville leaving Bolton Crown Court today on the first day of their father's trial . The prosecution said she was effectively pinned to her seat as she told him to stop when he began kissing her. Mr Cadwallader continued: 'The Crown would say he had far too much to drink. 'The defendant did not stop with kissing her. He pushed his hand up her top and grabbed her breast. 'By that stage she was feeling more and more distraught and frightened by the persistence. 'She did not know what it would end with.' He then pushed his hand down her trousers as he attempted unsuccessfully to undo the buttons, the court heard. Forcing her thighs apart he then sexually assaulted her in a 'rough' manner, the court was told. She continued to tell him to stop and eventually the defendant got out of the car and she drove off, said Mr Cadwallader. The prosecutor added: 'She was in a distraught condition. She did not know at that stage what to do.' Supportive: Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, right, and his brother former Everton captain Phil Neville, left, were in court to back their father . The alleged victim entered the witness box to give evidence without screens. The jury was played a video of her police interview. 'I said 'What are you doing?' and he said "I like the chase".' 'The thought he could do that without my consent made me feel dirty' - Neville Neville's alleged victim . She told the interviewing female officer: 'I feel cheap. I have never been made to feel like that in my life. 'I felt I was doing him a favour on dropping him off because it was snowing... he abused that kindness really. 'I did not want him to fall in the snow and slip. And he is a big guy so I said 'I will drop you off'. I had no reason not to give him a lift.' Describing the moments before the alleged sexual assault, she said Neville told her to pull over. 'He said 'Turn the engine off' and I just did it. 'He took his seatbelt off. I didn't take mine off.' 'He forced his head on me,' she said. 'It was a really forceful kiss. His tongue, like, forced down my throat. 'I had never been in a situation like that, especially with someone I knew.' Prosecution: Bolton Crown Court, pictured, heard that Neville was a 'big man' who sexually assaulted the woman in a 'rough' manner because he 'liked the chase' She said she initially thought she would be blamed for what had happened for not pushing him off. 'I just froze,' she said, 'My whole body froze. I could not speak. I just panicked. 'He forced himself on me totally. His hand up the side of my shirt, inside my bra. He grabbed hold of me but at the same time forcing me down with his face. He is a very, very big man. That was stopping me moving. 'He went down my trousers... he forced my legs apart and he was trying to rip my trousers off. 'I said 'Stop what you are doing'. I didn't say 'No'. 'I said 'You are a married man, are you not happy?' and he said 'I'm very happy'. 'I said 'What are you doing?' and he said 'I like the chase'.' The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Neville Neville, 63, denies a single count of assault on unnamed woman .
His successful footballer sons were both at Bolton Crown Court today .
Alleged victim claims he 'lunged' at her after 'far too much drink'
Neville told police afterwards incident happened but it was consensual .
Woman gave evidence and told jury: 'He forced himself on me totally'
'I said "What are you doing?" and he said "I like the chase",' she said . |
170c5d2cd949d66da05d2094bdb594ee89d42d03 | A spy plane equipped with a thermal imaging camera has found that more than 6,000 outbuildings in one town could be 'beds in sheds' converted by rogue landlords. Slough Borough Council is the first local authority in the country to pay for the specially-adapted aircraft to fly over streets picking up heat from sheds and garages. It spent £24,000 on flights to build up a precise 3D map of every building in the Berkshire town. The results mean thousands could be living there without planning permission or contributing council tax. Welcome to Slough: This thermogram image shows data recovered after flying over the town, with the red representing high levels of heat escaping. The council said the imaging helps them identify outhouses because the cameras can pick up areas of high heat loss - although few can be seen outside the houses in this snippet . Normally: This satellite view from Google Maps shows the area captured by the 3D thermal imaging software in Slough, Berkshire. A school is seen to the right, while the rest of the area is mostly residential . Illegal: Councils want to crack down on rogue landlords turning sheds into illegal and often substandard living accommodation, such as this conversion in nearby Slough . The plane criss-crossed streets, picking . up heat signals from outbuildings which could signify they are being . used as ‘sheds with beds’. Analysis . of the images captured in the two-hour night flight has now revealed a . staggering 6,350 suspicious dwellings in the borough. Although . many of the outbuildings are habitable, some are described as being . unsafe, with little or no heating, or do not comply with building or . fire safety regulations. Landlords . face £200 fines and the prospect of their so called 'beds in sheds' being demolished if caught illegally renting them out. Bottom of garden: Large numbers of homes are believed to have converted outbuildings like this one without permission. Thousands could be living in Slough without planning permission or contributing council tax . Spot the difference: A normal map (left) of a street and a school in Slough, Berkshire, and then how it looks with the thermal camera (right). It cost the council £24,000 to send up an aircraft with equipment to make the map . Thermal imaging: Although many of the outbuildings are habitable, some are described as being unsafe, with little or no heating, or do not comply with building or fire safety regulations . The council commissioned aerial imaging . company Bluesky International to produce a thermal map of the town to . target dodgy landlords and people living under the radar. During . a single flight in March they gathered thermal, 3D and aerial images . which allowed officers to pinpoint warm areas in outbuildings. Initial . analysis of the images from just a small part of the town highlighted . 211 buildings that needed further investigation, but a further 6,139 . have now been identified. A . spokesman for the council said the outbuildings do not have planning . permission to be used as accommodation and further checks will now be . carried out to find out if people are living in them. UK first: A plane equipped with thermal imaging cameras flew over . the town of Slough, Berkshire, to track sheds being used to illegally . house immigrants (computerised image over the River Thames in London) Up above: The thermal imaging cameras on the plane (stock image) is able to locate where people are living in the town by their body heat. The plane criss-crossed streets, picking up heat signals from outbuildings . Growing problem: Slough Council estimates there are up to 3,000 'beds in sheds' in the Berkshire town. It has been granted extra Government funding to help improve the condition of houses in multiple occupancy . 'The raw data we've received from . Bluesky is very useful because for the first time it gives us an . accurate figure of the number of outbuildings we have in the borough . that we need to investigate,' said Ray Haslam, head of environmental . services and resilience at Slough Borough Council. 'This certainly gives us a good starting point and we've already started investigative work' Ray Haslam, Slough Borough Council . 'People may well be using their . outbuildings for legitimate purposes, so we don't want to rush into . assumptions that they're all being used for housing, but this certainly . gives us a good starting point and we've already started investigative . work.' Slough Borough Council has been . granted extra Government funding to help improve the condition of houses . in multiple occupancy and reduce the number of beds in sheds. A project team has been set up who . will liaise with other agencies such as the police, Fire and Rescue . service, Home Office and HMRC as part of the clamp down. Cut backs: People living in these illegal conversions use council services but do not contribute any council tax towards them - so town halls use thermal imaging to find them . Out the back: Some of the buildings uncovered in Slough may be allowed to remain a dwelling but others will be demolished. The council spent thousands sending up an aircraft with thermal-imaging equipment . A . spokesman for the authority said those found living in illegal . accommodation will be offered help finding somewhere else to live and . welfare advice. 'This issue has been of concern to us locally for some time and I am pleased strong foundations are now in place to enable us to tackle it effectively' Slough Councillor James Swindlehurst . The council's planning enforcement team has the power to force the demolition of illegal dwellings or demand they are returned to their legal use, such as a garage or store room. Councillor James Swindlehurst, deputy leader and commission for neighbourhoods and renewal, said: 'This issue has been of concern to us locally for some time and I am pleased strong foundations are now in place to enable us to tackle it effectively. 'Our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of people living in the outbuildings and we will be doing whatever the law allows us to do to protect them and hold rogue landlords to account, as well as enforcing regulations.' | Slough Borough Council spends £24,000 building up 3D map from air .
Authority uncovered 6,350 suspicious sheds and garages emitting heat .
Thousands could be living in converted outbuildings without permission .
Plane criss-crossed streets, picking up heat signals from outbuildings .
Analysis of images from night flight revealed suspicious dwellings . |
170cd57c0f2b6c521c300d861d2fcad9a393a517 | The deadly Ebola virus is more likely to claim the lives of those aged 45 or older, scientists have claimed. A new study carried out in Sierra Leone - one of the West African nations worst hit during the outbreak - has produced the most complete picture to date of how the virus affects sufferers. From its discovery in the north eastern region of Zaire in 1976, the deadly virus has proved hard to track. Until the death of a two-year-old in Guinea in December last year sparked the largest outbreak in Ebola's history, there had been just 1,500 deaths during 25 outbreaks spanning 37 years. As a result, and in comparison to other deadly viruses, relatively little data on the virus existed. A new study carried out by health workers and scientists at Sierra Leone's Kenema Government Hospital, has found the fatality rate for those aged 45 or older is 94 per cent . Forty-seven doctors and nurses collated the information while caring for 106 patients at Kenema Government Hospital, pictured, in Sierra Leone - one of the nations hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak . Health workers working with the bodies of Ebola victims at Kenema Hospital in Sierra Leone . A volunteer medical team carry the body of a victim during the burial of seven people who died from Ebola in Kenema . The team's work found the younger a patient is the more likely they are to survive, fever is the most common symptom when victims first seek care, and early medical help is crucial. Pictured, health workers carry the body of a victim in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown . The team tasked with discovering Ebola in 1976, led by Professor Peter Piot, took detailed notes of their findings. But in the central African nations plagued by the virus there commonly lacked a standardised procedure for taking medical notes. What scientists know often came from informal doctors' notes, charting incomplete recollections of the virus' effect on patients. No medical records or charts were in place to note patients' symptoms, vital signs and treatment. The team's work found the younger a patient is the more likely they are to survive, fever is the most common symptom when victims first seek care, and early medical help is crucial. The fatality rate for patients under 21 was 57 per cent, while for those aged 45 and older, mortality soared to 94 per cent. One striking finding was how devastating the severe diarrhoea, a symptom of the disease, is for patients. The report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, estimated the incubation period of the patients they examined was six to 12 days - similar to that seen during the outbreak. Fever was the most common symptom reported by patients with 80 per cent suffering a raised temperature, . The study found the higher the temperature recorded on admission to hospital, the more likely patients were to die from Ebola. Eighty per cent of patients suffered a headache, 66 per cent noted weakness, 60 per cent suffered dizziness, 51 per cent diarrhoea, 40 per cent abdominal pain and 34 per cent suffered vomiting. Only one patient was found to suffer internal bleeding - one of the most deadly symptoms. There was no way of recording accurate death rates. But at the Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone for the last 10 years, a team of US scientists has been working with staff and the country's health department to establish a new medical records system. It was introduced to help patients suffering Lassa fever, Time reports. But when the Ebola outbreak reached Sierra Leone's third largest city in May this year, the system in place began to collate the most comprehensive set of data ever collected on the virus. The findings, published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, have added to knowledge of the disease. According to the World Health Organisation, the virus has so far claimed almost 5,000 lives. In Sierra Leone there have been 5,235 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of the disease, of 13,703 across the world, while 1,500 people have died. Forty-seven doctors and nurses collated the information while caring for 106 patients at Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone - one of the nations hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak. Seven of the health workers conducting the research died - six from Ebola, while one suffered a stroke. Among them was Dr Sheik Humarr Khan, the doctor hailed a hero by his government having led Sierra Leone's fight against the virus until his death in July. According to the World Health Organisation, the virus, pictured under the microscope, has so far claimed almost 5,000 lives. In Sierra Leone there have been 5,235 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of the disease, from 13,703 across the world, while 1,500 people have died . Dr Sheik Humarr Khan, the doctor hailed a hero by his government having led Sierra Leone's fight against the virus, died conducting the study in July . The team's work found the younger a patient is the more likely they are to survive, fever is the most common symptom when victims first seek care, and early medical help is crucial. Dr John Schieffelin, an infectious diseases specialist at Tulane University in the US, said the findings highlight the advantage of youth. The fatality rate for patients under 21 was 57 per cent, while for those aged 45 and older, mortality soared to 94 per cent. Dr Schieffelin said: 'They're more resilient and younger and tougher. 'This is definitely the most detailed analysis of symptoms and factors related to survival,' he added. One striking finding was how devastating the severe diarrhoea, a symptom of the disease, is for patients. 'If you can keep up with simple hydration during that phase, you can prevent a lot of deaths,' Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of infectious diseases at North Shore University Hospital, New York, told CBS News. Basic supportive health care, providing intravenous fluids and nutrients, and maintaining a patient's blood pressure can be the difference between life and death. Of the 213 people initially tested for signs of haemorrhagic fever, around half - 106 patients - were diagnosed with the disease. An Ebola checkpoint in Sierra Leone, where Oxfam is providing handwashing facilities and electronic thermometers. Individuals are stopped, have their temperature taken and if they are older than 38 and have signs of a fever they are taken to a holding centre for diagnosis . The report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, estimated the incubation period of the patients they examined was six to 12 days - similar to that seen during the outbreak . The report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, estimated the incubation period of the patients they examined was six to 12 days - similar to that seen during the outbreak. The World Health Organisation advises the incubation period can range from two to 21 days. Fever was the most common symptom reported by patients with 80 per cent suffering a raised temperature, . The study found the higher the temperature recorded on admission to hospital the more likely patients were to die from Ebola. Eighty per cent of patients suffered a headache, 66 per cent noted weakness, 60 per cent suffered dizziness, 51 per cent diarrhoea, 40 per cent abdominal pain and 34 per cent suffered vomiting. Only one patient was found to suffer internal bleeding - one of the most deadly symptoms - but researchers said some other cases may have been missed as a result of incomplete record-keeping. The study found patients suffering weakness, dizziness and diarrhoea were more likely to die. | 47 health workers at Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone conducted comprehensive study of Ebola patients .
Seven of the team died during study - six from the virus .
They found age is a key factor establishing the fatality rate for over 45s is 94% while for those aged up to 21 is 57% .
Study is significant because it adds new knowledge of the virus .
From Ebola's discovery in 1976 there were just 25 outbreaks in 37 years, killing around 1,500 people .
As a result in comparison to other viruses relatively little reliable data existed for scientists trying to understand the disease .
Study found incubation period was six to 12 days and if those patients who suffered weakness, dizziness and diarrhoea were more likely to die . |
170f4ce21b1791c53bff5f80f0e1874dc6c7db1b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Certain parts of England have twice as many immigrants as previously thought, revised figures have suggested. There are three times more foreigners in one part of Lincolnshire than previously estimated, while areas in Herefordshire and London have twice as many immigrants. Revised figures from the Office of National Statistics, published this week by the Greater London Authority, have increased the population of London by 130,000, while its immigrant community has gone up by 16 per cent to nearly 950,000. The ONS currently measure the number of immigrants in Britain through voluntary questionnaires filled out at airports and ports . In Boston, Lincolnshire, new statistics show that the number of immigrants in the past five years has trebled to 7,500. While some areas have increased their foreign community as a result of the methodology change, other council areas have seen the number reduced by as much as half. Cambridge, Norwich and Durham all saw their immigrant community numbers reduced. The number of foreigners coming to live, study or work in Britain is currently based on a questionnaire which is filled in at airports and ports, while detailed estimates of where new arrivals settle have been calculated in different ways. The methodology employed by the ONS . sees migrants separated into 'streams', depending on their age and . employment status, and their movements are followed using education, . welfare and health registers. The revised totals, as published by the GLA, have highlighted an apparent shift in the spread of immigrants across the capital . In Newham, east London, there was a 102 per cent rise in the number of immigrants, while Herefordshire (180 per cent) and Aylesbury Vale (104 per cent), also recorded sharp rises. Overall, the estimated number of immigrants arriving for more than 12 months between 2006 and 2010 decreased by 0.4 per cent, to just over 2.5million, under the new system. Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch UK, told the Telegraph: 'The impact of immigration on London has been revised up by 130,000 to very nearly one million in just five years. 'This is a measure of the huge churn in our population as a result of mass immigration which has serious consequences for our schools, housing and health services.' The revised ONS figures have not been officially adopted by the Government and have not yet affected local funding levels, partly because more reliable population data will soon be available from the recent census. Immigrant hot spot: The figures show Boston in Lincolnshire and London had the highest percentage of short-term migrants per population . UK-wide: Statistics reveal that the migrant population is spread across the country . | London's immigrant community is 16 per cent higher than thought - at almost one million . |
170fa7400a25b00904bbc33a29f14cd258bf72f0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:02 EST, 29 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:35 EST, 29 October 2013 . A jury has awarded more than $150 million in damages to a 13-year-old girl who watched her family burn to death in a fiery crash on a Southern California freeway. 'It's hard for her to comprehend' the scope of the verdict reached last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorney Brian Brandt said Monday about his young client. The jury found a California trucking company and one of its drivers liable. Kylie Asam was 9 when she and her 11-year-old brother, Blaine, managed to escape from their family's mangled SUV after it struck and got caught under a big rig parked on the shoulder of Interstate 210 nearly four years ago. They saw their parents and older brother get burned alive after the vehicle they were trapped in caught fire. Parents Michael and Shannon Asam, along with 14-year-old son Brennen (centre) were killed during the 2009 early morning crash on Interstate 210 . The Asam family were travelling on the Interstate 210 on November 22, 2009, en route to visit grandparents for Thanksgiving, when they struck the back of a big rig truck unlawfully parked in the shoulder. The driver had ignored signs and pulled over to sleep. He did not have any emergency lights on . The verdict included $8.75 million the jury awarded to Blaine, who committed suicide on his mother's birthday, before the trial began, Brandt said. That money will go to Kylie as her brother's successor-in-interest, but all of the award will be placed in a trust until she is 18, he said. A jury deliberated for about three days before finding Friday that the truck driver, Rudolph Ortiz, was negligent for parking on the side of the freeway in the early morning darkness without leaving on any light or emergency reflector. Ortiz and his employer, Watsonville-based Bhandal Bros. Trucking, were found jointly liable. Asam's wrongful death lawsuit alleged Ortiz pulled over to sleep, ignoring written warnings that stopping there was allowed only in emergencies. The suit said Ortiz parked on the same shoulder Asam's father tried to reach after he struck debris on the freeway and tried to stop. The family from Riverside was headed to Oregon to visit relatives for Thanksgiving when the crash occurred on Nov. 22, 2009. Kylie and her brother Blaine managed to crawl out the window of the family's crumpled SUV - a 2007 GMC Yukon - and escape. Their parents, Michael and Shannon, and her older brother Brennen, 15, burnt to death in te wreck . 05 Jan 2006, Detroit, Michigan, USA --- 2007 GMC Yukon XL Denali --- Image by © Car Culture/Corbis . During the trial, defense attorneys countered that Ortiz stopped to take medication for a severe headache, which constituted an emergency. Attorney Raymond McElfish also contended the truck driver broke no law because he was parked on the dirt to the right of the shoulder. Although California Highway Patrol officers found no debris on the road, Brandt said a dent in the rim of one of the SUV's tires was proof that the SUV hit something. He said the children flagged down a driver who used a fire extinguisher and shoveled dirt to try to put out the growing fire. The driver said Ortiz came out of the truck after a second 911 call was made to authorities. The jury agreed that Asam's father also was negligent, but determined his actions were not a substantial factor in causing his family's deaths. Kylie Asam now lives with her aunt and uncle in Orange County. | Car crash in 2009 claimed the lives of Kylie Asam's parents and older brother in Southern California .
Kylie and her other brother Blaine watched as the three burnt to death in the family's mangled SUV on Interstate 210 after hitting a truck illegally parked in the freeway shoulder .
Blaine killed himself following the accident .
LA court grants $150 million to Kylie after finding trucking company and driver liable because driver ignored warnings and pulled over to sleep .
Case being hailed as the largest-ever damages payout . |
171096aaeb067d6303d8abeff87d0bd5b88719bf | By . Paul Donnelley . and Sam Creighton . An album of messages kept by a nurse during the First World War and written in by the soldiers she saved, is to be sold at auction. The book, once belonging to Red Cross nurse Hilda Stephen Thomas, also contains photographs and drawings and has been unearthed in Derbyshire. The earliest entry dates back to 1907 and tells the story of Hilda, from Glamorgan, South Wales, who cared for soldiers at a hospital in the Mumbles area of Swansea. The book is full of messages from soldiers Hilda treated during the war . Private Parry's message: 'Flowers may wither, leaves may die, friends may forget you, but never will I' The album also contains sketches and paintings, presumably also done by wounded soldiers . The album contains touching messages, such as one from Private J. Parry 2555, of the Monmouthshire Regiment, who wrote in 1916: 'To my sisters at the Red Cross Hospital Mumbles... Flowers may wither, leaves may die, friends may forget you, but never will I.' Another . entry, dated June 24, 1915, was . written by Bandsman S Farrell of the 2nd Leinster Regiment. It reads: 'When the war is all over and peace is proclaimed, the cannons have long . ceased their grumbles, we will shout hip aray and long for the day to . return once again to old Mumbles. 'So . now boys, I ask you to join in with me in praise of the sisters we . mention. May god from above protect them with love for we may want again . there attention.' Photographs of wounded soldiers and of a funeral, included in the album . One of the sketches in the album that is to be sold at auction on Monday . The touching messages have been unearthed after many years . Another drawing, dating December 7, 1914 . A third, from 1915, reads: 'Come all my brave old Comrades, . attention pay to me, if by chance you do get wounded and sent across the . sea, come straight away to mumbles and there you'll have some gaff. Your wounds will soon be mended by the good old Red Cross Staff' The album . also contains a pen and ink drawings and photographs, showing two . recovering soldiers playing chess, with a nurse- who may be Hilda- . watching on. The book was found by Charles Hanson, manager of Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire. He said: 'The album is a remarkable archive of content. 'I . hope the album, for its poignancy of content, will appeal to an . institution where it can be placed on permanent display. It may even . appeal to a medic.' Hilda's . album will be entered in to Hansons military auction titled 'A . Century On' which will take place on Monday April 28 and is expected to fetch up to £200. The flute will be played by Andrew Fairley, who bought it in a junk shop in 1963 . A flute thought to have been carved during the Great War is to be played for the first time in more than 50 years tomorrow. Andrew Fairley bought the instrument, which is made from a cardboard tube, printed Wills tobacco paper and bullet casings, at a junk shop in 1963 in Brentford, Middlesex, paying he thinks five shillings. Retired professional flautist Mr Fairley, 74, is playing polka and waltz pieces on it as a solo at a charity concert in Woodbridge, Suffolk. He said: ‘It is amazing that it has survived this long and I thought the time was right to play it to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. ‘It is fairly basic and quirky, but I have learned to temper it and use some odd fingering to get round some suspect notes.’ The divorced father-of-two recently the sent 11in-long flute, which he keeps in a drawer at his home in Felixstowe, Suffolk, to be examined by officials at the Imperial War Museum who wrote back to say it was highly likely to have been made in the trenches. Mr Fairley added: ‘They said it was totally unique and they had never seen anything like it before - but all the materials it was built from came from the war period. ‘The tone hole, or embouchure hole, is a bullet casing cut down and the blow hole is also made from brass bullet casing. ‘Holding that part together is rifle pull through cord. They had to make do with simple stuff, anything that was available in the trenches. Mr Fairley said the flute had been waxed, possibly with boot polish, to hold it together and make it waterproof. He added: ‘I have got no idea who made it. I guess it landed up in the junk shop after a house clearance. I just bought it as a curiosity.’ The instrument is to be played at a concert given by the 30-piece Community String Orchestra which Mr Fairley conducts. | The album contains pages of messages, photographs and sketches .
They were left by wounded soldiers during WWI for the nurses who tended to their wounds .
It has been uncovered and will be auctioned on Monday . |
1711c4314eda26a09c91d85442a1eeecd484ccbc | Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is in line for a timely return to action in the Champions League in Rome on Wednesday night. The City skipper has missed the club's last two games with a hamstring injury and was not expected to make the flight to Rome ahead of a game Manuel Pellegrini's team must win if they are to qualify for the next stage of the competition. But it is understood the Belgium international is increasingly positive that he has a chance of playing in the Olympic Stadium. Vincent Kompany is set for a timely return from the hamstring injury sustained in the Southampton game . Manchester City's captain is set to return in their Champions League match against Roma in Italy . Kompany's return is a welcome boost for City manager Manuel Pellegrini ahead of the must-win match . City have plenty of work to do if they are to advance to the knockout phase of the Champions League . City will definitely be without Sergio Aguero, who limped out of Saturday's match with Everton . Kompany trained on Monday and has told Pellegrini he is ready to play if required. City may also welcome back playmaker David Silva, who has not played since October 29 because of a knee problem. Meanwhile centre forward Sergio Aguero is expected to be out for longer than the four weeks initially expected after scans showed his knee injury to be the same problem as the twisted medial ligament suffered by Silva against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup. | Captain Vincent Kompany set to return for crucial match against Roma .
The Belgian has missed City's last two matches with a hamstring injury .
Manuel Pellegrini's team must win to advance in Champions League .
City may also welcome back David Silva for Stadio Olimpico clash .
But striker Sergio Aguero could be out for longer than four weeks . |
1712d6a3a9ac92d2d9ba953ab7bc79ad21fc81be | (CNN) -- A tip led to Wednesday's arrest in Louisiana of a suspected serial bank robber dubbed the "Granddad Bandit," federal authorities said. Michael Francis Mara, 52, was captured at his home in Baton Rouge, FBI Special Agent Sheila Thorne told CNN. The FBI went to the residence to execute an arrest warrant when Mara retreated into the house, she said. "After six hours, he came out and was placed under arrest," she added. The "Granddad Bandit" is wanted in at least 25 bank heists in 13 states -- from Virginia to Texas to Kansas -- since 2008, the FBI said in a statement. He was given the name because he appeared elderly, Thorne told CNN. The bandit, described as balding, heavy and wearing glasses, captured the public's attention because of his non-threatening image and his nickname. But federal authorities said he was anything but harmless. He would point to his waistband and indicate he had a gun, but it was unclear if he actually had one. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's field office in Norfolk, Virginia, got a tip earlier this month, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Wednesday. The tipster identified and provided photographs of Mara that were compared to surveillance footage, the office said in a statement. Investigators "allegedly found consistent key identifiers between the surveillance images and the photographs of Mara, including a hat, eyeglasses and wrist watch that appear to be identical." Mara has been charged with one count of bank robbery and is in custody, Thorne said. He could receive a 20-year sentence if convicted. Mara worked for a vehicle transportation company and traveled from state to state on business, the FBI said. In recent weeks, the FBI launched a billboard campaign featuring surveillance pictures of the robber hoping he would be identified. Authorities cited this and other publicity as being effective. An FBI affidavit released Wednesday gave some insight into how the "Granddad Bandit" did his business. "[He] presents a demand note with a request for the specific dollar amount. The Subject does not appear to wear any disguises or concealment to hide his identity. The subject enters the bank calmly, oftentimes patiently waiting for his turn in line and then approaches the victim teller," the affidavit said. "Once the Subject's demands are met, he retrieves the demand note and exits the bank quietly, not bringing attention to the crime he just committed." . CNN's Gabriel Falcon and Carol Cratty contributed to this article. | NEW: Tip led to arrest of bank robbery suspect .
Michael F. Mara, 52, currently charged with one count of robbery .
Authorities say the "Granddad Bandit" is responsible for some two dozen bank robberies .
Suspect was arrested at his home in Louisiana on Wednesday . |
17147169a0f8925bc17c51a9fd503149dd3c0a4c | (CNN) -- A Colorado convict serving time for attempted murder was recaptured Wednesday after breaking out of prison over the weekend, and a female hostage with him was released unharmed, prison officials said. Douglas Alward was caught near Yuma, Colorado, about 145 miles east of Denver and about 50 miles south of the Sterling Correctional Facility he broke out of Sunday, prison spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti told HLN's "Prime News." Alward, 48, was serving a 20- to 40-year term for attempted murder, assault and kidnapping and had broken out of prison three times before, Sanguinetti said. He was up for parole in October, according to prison records. Investigators found him in a trailer near Yuma about noon Wednesday. He surrendered once confronted, releasing the woman with him without injury, said Ari Zavaras, executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections. Zavaras said searchers tracked Alward to a 4-square-mile patch of cornfields outside Yuma on Wednesday morning. "He didn't offer any resistance, let alone armed resistance," Zavaras said. Zavaras released few details of the escape, but said an investigation into how Alward broke out of the maximum-security facility was under way. He promised a "top to bottom" review was in the works. He said Alward "breached" the fence around the facility somehow, and some tools used in the breakout were found nearby. The fence was not cut, he said. Prison officials are looking at how Alward obtained the tools, but don't believe he had outside help, Zavaras said. Kevin Milyard, the prison's warden, said a guard noticed something wrong within an hour of the breakout, and an emergency head count quickly confirmed Alward was missing. Alward is facing a likely charge of escape and other charges that remain to be determined, Zavaras said. | Douglas Alward broke out of an eastern Colorado prison Sunday .
He was recaptured Wednesday about 50 miles away .
A hostage with him was released unharmed, prison officials said . |
17149ebf4f465068ecab8b025a31c5c2ec6c8191 | (CNN) -- Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is serving a life sentence for his role in the killings of peaceful protesters during the revolution that eventually deposed him, will get a new trial. Mubarak and his former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly had appealed their life sentences. A judge agreed, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported Sunday. Mubarak's lawyer said Mubarak will remain in jail as he awaits his next court date, which will likely be in April. The judge also said that others facing charges should also be retried, including six interior ministry deputies, the state-run MENA news agency said. Essam El-Erian, a senior adviser to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy, said that they looked forward to a second trial, the Freedom and Justice Party stated on its website. "God willed the retrial would take place under Morsy's rule, with new evidence and new defendants," El-Erian said. Mubarak. who ruled Egypt for 30 years, was found guilty last June of ordering the killing of protesters and was immediately transferred to Tora prison in southern Cairo to serve his life sentence. The 84-year-old has suffered a range of physical problems since he was driven from office in February 2011, following weeks of protests by Egyptians demanding more freedom and reforms. He attended his trial later that year on a gurney. Last month, Mubarak was transferred to a military hospital after suffering a head injury and a bruised chest when he slipped in a prison hospital bathroom, Egyptian state-run media reported. Journalist Sarah Sirgany contributed to this report. | NEW: Adviser to current president said they're looking forward to second trial .
Hosni Mubarak was found guilty last June of killing protesters .
Former president to remain in custody, lawyer says .
The court also accepted appeals by Mubarak's co-defendants . |
1714b87d31c961dbaa9fc636b4f69e78110be3a4 | By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 11:35 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:57 EST, 9 January 2014 . His home is a graveyard, his job, shoplifting and his skin, cracked and pitted with psoriasis - the result of sleeping rough and a raging addiction to heroin and crack. Shanki, a 30-something from India's Punjab region, is just one of the estimated 600,000 illegal immigrants currently thought to live in Britain. But as new Fergal Keane documentary, The Hidden World of Britain's Immigrants, reveals, the British dream all too often proves a nightmare. Bleak: Keane inside Shanki's dilapidated squat before he is thrown out and forced to sleep rough . Along with Shanki, others to appear in the film, which focuses on the London borough of Ilford, include Harish, another Punjabi rough sleeper who has resorted to industrial quantities of alcohol to get through the day, and Lucky, a persistent thief. Yet despite their appalling living conditions and inability to get a job, the men say they would prefer stay in the UK rather than lose face by returning home to their families empty handed. 'I am crazy for drugs. I do not look after myself or my body,' Shanki reveals. 'But I don't have the willpower [to stop]. He adds: 'I . am ashamed to go home and you know why? I have been here nine years and I . have f***ing zero. 'I don't want to go to India like this, never, ever. Really, I need to stop the drugs. I'm finished man, I'm finished. Finished, finished, finished.' Grim: Like this group of migrants found camping in a Heathrow underpass, Shanki sleeps rough . Problem: A quarter of London's homeless are from Eastern Europe, including the Romanians of Marble Arch . But it isn't just migrants from India and Pakistan who arrive to discover that the UK is a far less welcoming place than they anticipated. Eastern Europeans now make up a quarter of London's rough sleepers, and Lithuanian Oksana is one of them. She came to the UK with the help of a fixer who had promised her a job but he soon disappeared, leaving her to struggle alone. As an EU citizen, Oksana is entitled to benefits but is filmed sleeping rough while she and her husband wait for the payments to begin. 'I was thinking England might be easier, you [can] find work easier,' she explains, but as a former heroin addict with a conviction for shoplifting, getting a job has proved difficult. She adds: 'Of course we are sad about the situation.' Difficult: Many who overstay are not picked up because the Border Agency doesn't monitor exit records . When Keane returns three months later, the pair are still unemployed but have moved into a house paid for by their benefits. 'Every week we get £72 [each]. So £100 for Steve [their landlord] and £44 for us. In Lithuania we don't have anything like this.' Although the pair say they are searching for work, Oksana admits she turned down a cleaning job in a hotel because of an old injury picked up while addicted to drugs. By contrast, Shanki and his friends are desperate for work but find it even more of a struggle thanks to their lack of work visas. 'Nowadays everybody is scared,' explains Shanki. 'If they . find [an] illegal immigrant in any job, [the employer is given a] £10,000 fine. That's why they don't . give job to anyone without passport or visa.' For some, the answer is to throw in the towel and go home. Among those to choose voluntary repatriation is Setal, a former Indian Army soldier. 'I have never stolen anything, I have . never gone to jail,' he tells Keane. 'I do not have any such record - I have a clean . record here. Complaints: Shopkeepers in Ilford have complained about the antisocial behaviour of Shanki and his friends . 'There is a rule in the [Indian] army that if you come home in nine . years, your pension continues. That's why I want to get home.' Parminder Singh, an elder and magistrate at Ilford's Sikh temple, which provides food for unlucky migrants such as Setal, thinks he's making the right decision. A third generation Briton, Mr Singh is proud of his father and grandfather's contribution to the UK, including stints fighting for the Allies in the World Wars, but says he feels threatened by the antisocial behaviour of Shanki and his friends. 'This . is my country. I need a visa to go somewhere else but I don't need a . visa to be here,' he explains. 'I'm not saying they're bad people. It's the system that has allowed them to be trafficked and brought over . here. Moving on: Keane with Setal who has now returned home to India after volunteering for repatriation . 'I feel they have a lot of contributions to make to . their own countries and they should get back there and do it.' For Setal, a plane ticket home really is the end of the nightmare but for others, Shanki among them, things just get worse. Several months after Keane first meets him, he's been sent to prison after being caught red-handed stealing £1,500 of clothes from a local Marks & Spencer. It's his fourth prison term and the Home Office have asked to see his files - the start of the deportation process. Despite his hopes of a better life, it seems that for Shanki, his British nightmare could be coming to an end. The Hidden World of Britain's Immigrants, tonight at 9.30pm on BBC2 . | Among those to appear is Shanki, a crack addict who sleeps rough .
Oksana, a former addict who now lives on benefits, also features .
Some go home, among them Setal, who says he had a better life in India .
Government has increased fine for employing illegal migrants to £10,000 .
Shanki says this means he can't find work and must steal to survive . |
1715599930d3112ab75a6bebd52120e43a8b8e01 | Tokyo (CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday described as "dangerous" and "regrettable" the actions of a Chinese navy ship that Tokyo says put a radar-lock on a Japanese vessel last week. His comments come amid severely strained relations between the two Asian powers over a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea. The tensions over the islands -- which Japan currently administers but both countries claim sovereignty over -- have resulted in maritime standoffs and the scrambling of Japanese fighter jets in recent months. In the latest incident, Japan accused the Chinese navy ship of using radar to gather information on the location of a Japanese warship in the East China Sea. That type of radar could be used to produce data needed to fire upon the Japanese vessel. "This is dangerous action that could have brought about an unexpected situation," Abe, who took office in December, said in parliament Wednesday. The prime minister, seen as more hawkish than his predecessor, Yoshihiko Noda, urged Beijing to show restraint "so that the situation doesn't escalate." Dispute explained: How a remote rock split China and Japan . The Japanese foreign ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador for a meeting Tuesday to lodge a formal protest regarding the accusations. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Tuesday that Tokyo also suspects that China put a radar-lock on a Japanese navy helicopter on January 19. Japan repels Taiwan activists near disputed islands . China accuses Japan of provocations . China countered on Tuesday that it has been conducting regular patrols in Chinese waters and asked Japan not to interfere. "We think the top priority for now is for Japan to stop all provocative actions it has been doing as sending ships and flights into Diaoyu islands sea and air space," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said, using the Chinese name for the disputed islands. The Japanese call the small, uninhabited islands the Senkakus. Near them are important shipping lanes, rich fishing grounds and possible oil deposits. The United States is "concerned" about the latest maritime incident between China and Japan, according to Victoria Nuland, the spokeswoman for the State Department. "Actions such as this escalate tensions and increase the risk of an incident or a miscalculation, and they could undermine peace, stability and economic growth in this vital region," Nuland said at a regular news briefing Tuesday. The United States has tried to avoid getting dragged into the dispute, saying it doesn't take sides on such competing claims of sovereignty. But officials have admitted that the islands fall under a mutual security treaty between Washington and Tokyo. Asia's disputed islands -- who claims what? Relations soured by a sale . Disagreement over who owns the remote, rocky islands soured diplomatic and economic relations between Japan and China since September, soon after Japan announced it had bought several of the disputed islands from private Japanese owners. The deal was struck in part to prevent the islands from being bought by the controversial Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, who had called for donations for a public fund to buy them. China was outraged, as were protesters who marched through several Chinese cities calling for boycotts of Japanese products and asserting Beijing's sovereignty over the islands. Some of the protests turned violent and damage to Japanese offices and businesses was reported. Dangerous Rocks: Can both sides back off peacefully? In December, the dispute escalated when Japan scrambled fighter jets after a Chinese plane was seen near the islands. A number of Chinese ships have also entered contested waters despite warnings from the Japanese Coast Guard. China says its claim extends back hundreds of years. Japan says it saw no trace of Chinese control of the islands in an 1885 survey, so formally recognized them as Japanese sovereign territory in 1895. Japan then sold the islands in 1932 to descendants of the original settlers. The Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945 only served to cloud the issue further. The islands were administered by the U.S. occupation force after the war. But in 1972, Washington returned them to Japan as part of its withdrawal from Okinawa. Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province, also lays claim to the islands. But the self-governing island has seldom rigorously advanced its claims because of an unwillingness to risk its good relationship with Japan, said Alan Dupont, a strategic analyst at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He said last year that Taiwan's decision to become more assertive was a response to actions taken by China and Japan in the second half of 2012, as well as concerns over access to fishing and marine resources. Last week, Japanese Coast Guard ships fired water cannons and shouted warnings at a boat carrying activists from Taiwan who were attempting to land on the islands. | China rejects complaints about its navy patrols by Japan .
Japan had accused China of using radar to track a Japanese ship and helicopter .
Taiwan, China and Japan are disputing a group of islands .
China says it is patrolling its waters near the islands . |
17170a747d1816e3228da5f644dec2ee3e5b9d72 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CNN) -- Health officials continued on Monday to investigate the causes behind the mysterious deaths of 64 children in Cambodia after saying they had made an important discovery over the weekend. The Institut Pasteur in Cambodia tested samples taken from 24 patients and found 15 had tested positive for Enterovirus Type 71 -- a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease that can also cause severe neurological complications, mainly in children. "These results now give a good explanation to this outbreak," Dr. Philippe Buchy, head of the institute's virology unit, said in an e-mail over the weekend. "We will get more results hopefully by next Tuesday or Wednesday." The World Health Organization also noted that a "significant proportion of the samples" had tested positive for EV71, but it cautioned that the outbreak had not been fully solved, and more analysis was needed. Outbreaks of the enterovirus "occur periodically in the Asia-Pacific region," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brunei had its first major outbreak in 2006. China had an outbreak in 2008. Though the detection of EV71 in Cambodia is significant, there may be other factors, said Dr. Beat Richner of Kantha Bopha hospitals. Over the past three months, 66 children -- between 2 and 3 years old -- were admitted to Kantha Bopha facilities. All but two died mysteriously after suffering severe neurological and respiratory complications, Richner said. In their last hours of their life, the children experienced a "total destruction of the alveola(e) in the lungs," Richner said. The patients also suffered from encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, he said. "We have now to see what really is causing the deadly pulmonary complication and see if a toxic factor is playing a role too," he said. Investigators probe mystery disease killing Cambodian children . The positive test for EV71 does not particularly help in the treatment of the illness, as there is no effective antiviral treatment for severe EV71 infections, and no vaccine is available. The way the syndrome is attacking the children is "merciless," Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, said from Cambodia. Gupta noted, though, that the disease did not appear to be "clustering," or spreading rapidly in particular geographic areas, reducing fears of a possible epidemic. In milder cases, EV71 can cause coldlike symptoms, diarrhea and sores on the hands, feet and mouth, according to the journal Genetic Vaccines and Therapy. But more severe cases can cause fluid to accumulate on the brain, resulting in polio-like paralysis and death. Adults' well-developed immune systems usually can fend off the virus, but children are vulnerable to it, according to the CDC. On Sunday, a World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Cambodia warned the new discovery "does not mean we have solved the problem of the undiagnosed cases. A lot more analysis is needed, and further laboratory investigations need to be done." The WHO said that other pathogens had been detected in the investigations, including dengue and Streptococcus suis. It added that samples tested negative for H5N1 and other influenza viruses. Tensions have arisen between the WHO and Kantha Bopha hospitals about the dissemination of information about the outbreak. The international organization has provided a lower death toll than the hospitals, saying Sunday that 52 out of a total number of 59 children affected by the mysterious syndrome had died between April and early July. In his statement Sunday, the hospital official Richner criticized the WHO for previously making statements to the news media "without being clear on the facts." "WHO was telling whole the world: New mystery killer disease in Cambodia! This was causing unnecessary panic in Cambodia," Richter said. Richner has said the number of cases affected by the mysterious disease is relatively low -- 34 cases in June, compared with the 75,000 sick children at Kantha Bopha's outpatient clinics and 16,000 hospitalized kids. But Pieter van Maaren with the WHO in Cambodia rejected suggestions that his organization caused any kind of panic. He said Richner was the one who stated, in a letter to the government, that the situation in Cambodia was "most severe." "WHO has not made any statement about the disease, other than what we issued in the joint press release with the Ministry of Health," van Maaren said. The ministry reported the outbreak to WHO through the International Health Regulations, which 194 nations are parties to, van Maaren said. "Since this event fitted the criteria of being an event where the underlying agent, disease or mode of transmission is not identified at the time, WHO is obliged to communicate information to other member states," he said. EV71 was first isolated in California in 1969, according to the CDC. Mystery illnesses: A mother's painful quest for answers . CNN's Tim Schwarz, Sara Sidner, Madison Park, Jethro Mullen and Josh Levs contributed to this report. | Dr. Sanjay Gupta says the syndrome is "merciless" in the way it attacks .
Fifteen of the 24 patients screened have tested positive for Enterovirus Type 71 .
But officials say further analysis is necessary to fully solve the outbreak .
At least 64 children have died mysteriously over the past three months . |
17171d35d8d046fc2703be19ef9bea44a2a18acc | Ayaan Hirsi Al, a vocal critic of Islam and staunch feminist, has today hit back at a Massachusetts university which withdrew its offer of an honorary degree following student protests. Brandeis University announced in a statement yesterday it would not honor the Somali-born activist at next month's graduation ceremony. 'The slur on my reputation is not the . worst aspect of this episode. More deplorable is that an institution set . up on the basis of religious freedom should today so deeply betray its . own founding principles,' Hirsi Ali wrote in a statement, according to The Boston Globe. 'I can only wish the Class of 2014 the best of luck - and hope that they will go forth to be better advocates for free expression and free thought than their Alma mater.' Scroll down for video . Backflip: Brandeis University in Massachusetts will no longer award Somali feminist Ayaan Hirsi Ali (pictured in 2007) an honorary degree after staff and students complained her views were anti-Islamic . Hirsi Ali also distanced herself from the university's claim that she had been consulted in the decision and rejected its offer to participate in on-campus discussions. 'I assumed that Brandeis intended to honor me for my work as a defender of the rights of women against abuses that are often religious in origin,' she wrote. 'For over a decade, I have spoken out against such practices as female genital mutilation, so-called “honor killings” and applications of Sharia Law that justify such forms of domestic abuse as wife beating or child beating. Part of my work has been to question the role of Islam in legitimizing such abhorrent practices.' The university had come under growing criticism in recent days for its decision to honor Hirsi Ali, a member of the Dutch Parliament from 2003 to 2006 who is a vocal critic of Islam. Her comments in a 2007 interview with Reason Magazine were particularly inflammatory. 'Once it's defeated, it can mutate into . something peaceful. It's very difficult to even talk about peace now,' she said of Islam. 'They're not interested in peace. I think that we are at war with Islam. And there's no middle ground in wars.' Activist: Somali feminist Ayaad Hirsi Ali (pictured left and right) has been a vocal opponent of some of the most extreme elements of Islam, particularly relating to the treatment of women . Power couple: This is the first time Ayaan Hirsi Ali and historian Niall Ferguson, now married, first met. They were photographed at a Time magazine party in New York in May 2005 . When news of the award circulated, more than 85 of about 350 faculty . members at Brandeis signed a letter asking for Hirsi Ali to be booted . off the list of honorary degree recipients. And an online petition created on Change.org Monday . by students at the school of 5,800 had gathered thousands of signatures . from inside and outside the university as of Tuesday afternoon. 'This . is a real slap in the face to Muslim students,' senior Sarah Fahmy, a . member of the Muslim Student Association who created the petition, said . of the honor before the university withdrew it. Bernard Macy, a 1979 Brandeis . graduate, sent an email this week to Lawrence and several members of the . faculty saying, 'Thank you for recognizing Ayaan Hirsi Ali for . defending Muslim women against Islamist honor violence.' But . Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic . Relations, the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group, said, 'It is . unconscionable that such a prestigious university would honor someone . with such openly hateful views.' The organization sent a letter to Lawrence on Tuesday requesting that it drop its plans to honor Hirsi Ali. 'This . makes Muslim students feel very uneasy,' Joseph Lumbard, chairman of . Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, said in an earlier interview. 'They . feel unwelcome here.' Protest: More than 6,800 people signed an online Change.org petition (pictured) calling for Brandeis University to cancel its plan to award Ayaan Hirsi Ali an honorary degree . Restricted access: Although Brandeis University in Massachusetts (pictured) have withdrawn their plan to award Hirsi Ali an honorary degree, they have invited her to participate in any future academic discussions . Ignored: Hirsi Ali said Brandeis University President Frederick M. Lawrence (pictured) did not discuss the plan to withdraw the honorary degree with her . In a statement on Tuesday, the university announced its decision to withdraw the award. 'She . is a compelling public figure and advocate for women's rights, and we . respect and appreciate her work to protect and defend the rights of . women and girls throughout the world,' the university said in a statement.. 'That said, we cannot overlook certain of her past statements that are inconsistent with Brandeis University's core values.' The statement implied Hirsi Ali and university President Frederick Lawrencediscussed the withdrawal before it was announced. Hirsi Ali was raised in a strict Muslim . family, but after surviving a civil war, genital mutilation, beatings . and an arranged marriage, she renounced the faith in her 30s. In . 2007, Hirsi Ali helped establish the AHA Foundation, which works to . protect and defend the rights of women in the West from oppression . justified by religion and culture, according to its website. The . foundation also strives to protect basic rights and freedoms of women . and girls. This includes control of their own bodies, access to an . education and the ability to work outside the home and control their own . income, the website says. Hirsi Ali, a native of Somalia, has written and spoken extensively of her experience as a Muslim girl in East Africa. She moved to the Netherlands as a young woman, and she was later elected to the Dutch Parliament. She wrote the screenplay for 'Submission', a 2004 film critical of the treatment of Muslim women. Shortly after its release, the director, Theo van Gogh, was murdered on an Amsterdam street by a radical Islamist, who also pinned to the victim’s body a threat to kill Hirsi Ali. Hirsi Ali is married to British historian and public commentator Niall Ferguson, who left his wife of sixteen years, former Fleet Street editor Susan Douglas, for the Somali intellectual. He had three children with the former Daily Mail assistant editor. Hirsi Ali and Ferguson are understood to have met at Time magazine’s prestigious 100 Most Influential People In The World party in New York in May 2005. Controversial: Niall Ferguson (right) left his wife of 16 years to be with Hirsi Ali (left) | The Massachusetts university announced the plan last week .
The award was cancelled yesterday after more than 6,800 staff and students signed an online petition against the decision .
Critics said Hirsi Ali's 'Islamophobic' views were inconsistent with the university's 'core values'
The Somali feminist today denounced the decision, saying the university bowed to critics who wanted to silence her .
Hirsi Ali has actively campaigned against genital mutilation, forced marriage and some of the more extreme elements of Islam .
The former politician is married to British historian and public commentator Niall Ferguson . |
1717293c591121bea0ad1e1c5f1b3a2ed9e9109a | A teenage girl died after doctors failed to carry out basic checks that may have revealed she was suffering from life-threatening brain damage, an inquest has heard. Doctors at Basildon Hospital in Essex didn't check if Amie Miller, 15, could open her eyes or examine her pupil size after she was admitted suffering headaches, vomiting and fitting. But a duty doctor said that the tests, which may have indicated that her condition was deteriorating, weren't carried out because he 'didn't worry too much' about the schoolgirl and believed that she was 'getting better'. Amie's mother, Sonia, said: 'She wanted to be a paedatrician and she was a promising student so we are sure she would be at university now. We have had to hold it together for our four other children, but we miss her every day.' Amie, who had just finished her mock GCSE exams, died of a swelling on the brain on November 19 2008, but it has taken experts five years to find out how she died. Chelmsford Coroner's Court heard that Amie, from Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, had suffered headaches for seven days and was admitted to the hospital's A&E department on November 16 after she began vomiting and fitting. She was admitted to an adult ward at the hospital because there was a lack of beds at London's paediatric intensive care units and was given a CT scan, sedated and put on a ventilator. Lawyers for Amie's family claim that doctors failed to properly investigate why scans showed that her brain was swollen. Instead of carrying out checks on her condition, doctors believed that Amie's condition was stabilising the day after she was admitted to hospital and the court heard that she was largely ignored by consultants. They decided to send the teenager for a lumbar puncture on November 19 to remove brain fluid from her spine and carry out tests to find out if her condition was caused by bacteria. Amie was admitted to Basildon Hospital in Essex after suffering headaches, vomiting and fitting . But consultant paediatrician Dr Nawf . Shareif said that the tests should only be carried out if her condition . stabilised and she responded to neurological tests first - otherwise a . lumbar puncture could cause more problems by acting as a suction and . pulling the brain down. The . inquest heard however, that tests were not carried out after duty doctor . Michel Sun Wai was told by a colleague that Amie's condition had . improved and that scans were normal. He told the court: 'With hindsight the neurological observations should have been done. It wasn’t done because, to me, I didn’t worry too much about Amie because I believed her to be a young girl getting better. 'I didn’t focus on the neurological observations at all. At that moment in time we were just waiting for the lumbar puncture to take place. I didn’t need to interfere with the plan.' 'I didn’t worry too much about Amie because I believed her to be a young girl getting better.' Dr Michel Sun Wai . Although doctors argued that Amie's . sedation would have made the tests difficult to carry out and may not . have shown problems straight away, Dr Sun Wai admitted that they might have helped. 'I am not denying that neurological observations would have helped with Amie’s condition. 'But the handover to me was that the patient was waking up and was getting better.' Further scans the same day showed mass fluid on the brain and she later died of encephalitis. Doctors also defended their decision . to sedate the youngster with propofol - a drug known to cause high . levels of potassium and abnormal heart rhythms in children - instead of . the normal morphine. Dr Sun Wai, said: 'I would do the same again in the same situation. Amie was kept on an adult ward at the hospital because of a shortage of beds at London's paediatric intensive care units . 'When you stop infusing propofol it wears off fairly quickly. I knew she needed to be woken up the next morning. 'We know we shouldn’t use it in very small children on a high dosage for a long time, but Amie was adult size and the amount we were given was very minor.' The inquest continues today and is expected to conclude tomorrow. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Amie Miller was admitted to Basildon Hospital in Essex after she'd been vomiting and fitting .
She was admitted to an adult ward because there were no beds in the children's ward .
One doctor said he 'didn't worry too much' about the checks because Amie was 'getting better'
Amie died in November 2008, but it has taken experts five years to find out how she died . |
171823b02e9b54c1e4ef07e845a85d8fa6679e96 | But Newt Gingrich said he is willing to go before the NAACP and . urge blacks to demand paychecks, not food stamps . By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 07:52 EST, 6 January 2012 . Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum engaged in a hostile exchange over gay marriage on Thursday, when asked to explain why he, personally, would be affected if same-sex marriages were legalised. The meeting ended with Santorum getting booed by much of the crowd in Concord, which included many college and high-school students, after suggesting that children raised by same-sex parents are being 'harmed'. 'How does it affect you personally if two men or two women get married?' Santorum was asked at the College Convention 2012, to broad applause and cheers. Scroll down for video . Controversy: Santorum drew jeers from the crowd during a campaign stop on Thursday in Concord, New Hampshire for his position on gay marriage . Santorum said that basic rights taken for granted by married people, such as the ability to visit their loved one in the hospital and make medical decisions on their behalf – can also be arranged for same-sex couples. 'That can be done legally, through contract.' The former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, who is coming off a surprise near-victory in this week’s Iowa caucuses, then pivoted, and went on to equate same-sex marriages to multiple marriages. 'What about three men?' he said, as jeers rang out. 'If you think it’s okay for two, you have to differentiate for me why you’re not okay with three. Any two people, or any three, or four.”' 'He was comparing same-sex marriage to polygamy. I find that very insulting. We asked about two consenting adults,' said Tyrone Davis, 18, who was attending the College Convention 2012 in Concord from his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 'I don’t support Santorum at all. It seems he’s trying to create a theocracy.' Tense: Santorum equated same-sex marriages to multiple marriages during his speech as students tried to interrupt . Santorum went on to say that . marriages that produce children should have 'privileged status,' which . might be news even to straight, childless couples. 'Marriage . is the union of a man and a woman. God made men and women. Men and . women come together in a union to have children. It should be valued and . have privileged status over people who want to have a relationship . together. 'The uniqueness of marriage is it provides an intrinsic good to society. It’s the union that causes children to be born and raised in an environment that’s a birthright. When we deny children that birthright by saying other types of relationships are okay – I think we are harming children.' - Rick Santorum . 'The uniqueness of marriage is it provides an intrinsic good to . society. It’s the union that causes children to be born and raised in . an environment that’s a birthright. 'When we deny children that . birthright by saying other types of relationships are okay – I think we . are harming children,' Santorum said. The . College Convention is a once-every-four-year event that gathers college . and high school students from across the nation to discuss the . political climate. Rhiannon Pyle, 17, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, asked Santorum the question about how his same-sex marriage opposition squared with support of constitutional rights for all. 'We don’t see same sex marriage as a big deal,' the high school student said. “I’m sure it’s not going to be the first issue for a lot of people.' Gay marriage has been legal in New Hampshire since 2010. Santorum was asked if, should he become president, he would uphold state laws on issues such as that and the legality of medical marijuana. “I don’t believe that we can have 50 definitions of marriage in this country,” he said. The youth vote: The College Convention is a once-every-four-year event that gathers college and high school students nationwide to discuss politics . He went on to draw a parallel between . states being allowed to set policy on things like medical marijuana use . and states being allowed to sterilize their citizens. 'States have . rights. But they don’t have the rights to do anything they want to.' The . heated exchange followed another line of fire as the politician . defended his infamous 2003 comments on homosexuality and 'man on dog' sex on Wednesday night in an interview with CNN's John King. 'If you think it’s okay for two, you have to differentiate for me why you’re not okay with three. Any two people, or any three, or four."' - Rick Santorum . Asked by an Associated Press reporter . on whether he thought that if someone is homosexual, he would argue . that individual should not have sex, Santorum responded in part: . 'Every society in the history of man has . upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on . the future of the society. And that's what? Children. Monogamous . relationships. 'In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing. And when you destroy that you have a dramatic impact on the quality.' But in response to King asking how he 'connected the dots' and made the link, Santorum insisted his words had been misconstrued. Tongue tied: Santorum caught more heat after campaigning at The Daily Grind in Sioux City, Iowa on Sunday, where he reportedly singled out 'black people' in referring to federal benefits . Getting it straight: Santorum denied making the remark appearing on FOX News' 'The O'Reilly Factor', insisting he said 'blah' people, not 'black' people . He answered: 'Hold on a second, John. Read the quote. I said it's not. It is not. I didn't say it is. I said . it's not. You know, I don't - I'm trying to understand what you're . trying to make the point. I said it's not those things. I didn't connect . them. I specifically excluded them.' Santorum . also denied today making comments on Sunday about 'black people's . lives', after sharp criticism from the NAACP for singling out . African-Americans about federal benefits. 'He was comparing same-sex marriage to polygamy. I find that very insulting. We asked about two consenting adults.' - Tyrone Davis, 18, Baton Rouge, Louisiana . The former senator reportedly told . reporters at an Iowa campaign stop: 'I don't want to make black people's . lives better by giving them somebody else's money. I want to give them . the opportunity to go out and earn the money.'Appearing on FOX News' 'The O'Reilly Factor', he said the remark occurred when he stumbled over his words. 'I looked at that, and I didn't say that. If you look at it, what I started to say is a word and then sort of changed and it sort of - blah - came out. And people said I said "black." I didn't.' The swarm of scrutiny is rising as . Santorum, who until Iowa had been treated as little more than a footnote . through the primaries, achieved a near-victory in the leadoff caucuses . by a narrow eight votes, nearly edging out chief rival Mitt Romney. But he is not the only GOP contender who has caught heat amid reports of racially-charged comments in recent days. Republican presidential candidate . Newt Gingrich said Thursday he is willing to go before the NAACP and . urge blacks to demand paychecks, not food stamps. Gingrich told a town hall meeting at a senior centre in Plymouth, New Hampshire, that if the NAACP invites him to its annual convention this year, he'd go there and talk about 'why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps.' He also said he'd pitch a new Social Security program aimed at helping young people, particularly African-American males, who he said get the smallest return on Social Security. Scroll down for video . | Debate at College Convention 2012 in Concord drew jeers from college and high school crowd .
Equated same-sex marriages to multiple marriages .
Said 2003 interview was misconstrued .
Denied reports he singled out 'black people' in earlier reference to federal aid programmes .
But Newt Gingrich said he is willing to go before the NAACP and .
urge blacks to demand paychecks, not food stamps . |
171895e25f0de7efc3c118b2719c88436c8638f1 | (CNN) -- Basketball is often viewed as a game of opposing sides. But one man is using the game to bring young Catholic and Protestant men together on the same team in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After graduating college, Michael Evans coached basketball at two high schools in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Former college basketball player, Michael Evans, 26, in partnership with another basketball player, Dave Cullen, created the organization Full Court Peace to help forge friendships between between schools in the divided communities. He spoke with CNN's Nicole Lapin about how Full Court Peace works. The following is an edited transcript of the interview. Lapin: So you wanted to use basketball as a bridge but you started Full Court Peace almost to dupe these youngsters into working together? Evans: Yea that's one way to put it. I think what I did was I just coached basketball separately in two high schools. And, uh, on the opposite sides of these walls I've been talking about. And I got roughly five on each side to latch on to me. These 16-year-old boys. You know, they came from broken homes and I showed them loyalty. That's what coaches do, is show their players loyalty and the kids latched on to me, so much that I was able to sell the idea of making an integrated team out of their enemies and it was a complete success. Watch more on Michael Evan's organization » . Lapin: They didn't think that they were going to work with the other side. Like Robert, for example, one of your players who is Protestant. What did he think when he was going to work with a Catholic team? Evans:That was a pretty discouraging moment throughout the whole process of forming that team. I told Robert the news and he shunned me. He couldn't believe that the time I'd spent with him alone was really just basically me trying to convince him to join this team. I thought I might have lost him. Lapin: Now he's also friends with the other side to this day. There was a little bit of hesitation at first, I know they did speak, but are they still friends? Evans:They are still friends. I recently went back to Belfast and had dinner with a lot of them all together. And the ones that couldn't meet for the integrated dinner asked about their team mates. The neighborhoods are too divided for them to visit each other so they communicate a lot online through bebo.com which is a social networking site over there. And they keep up with each other. They're not bashful about having pictures of each other, arm-in-arm on their social networking sites, and they communicate through me about each other because I'm in touch with all of them. Lapin: So that's amazing, Michael. How do you think you do this? How does sports diplomacy, which is really what this is, succeed where world leaders, prime ministers and presidents have failed? Evans: I mean just because a politician, two politicians come together and say they agree on something, it doesn't mean that the people on the ground are going to be agreeing on it. And most importantly the youth that are growing up in these environments, that doesn't mean that they agree with what's going on. So that's sort of just a face to the whole solution. I think what sport does, namely basketball, is that you put kids in a small, very small group together and they're forced to communicate in order to succeed; in order to win. And then the coaches role is very unique in that the kids all bond over having one voice and one person telling them what to do and guiding them along and helping them with success. | Michael Evans on organization to forge friendships in Northern Ireland .
He put Protestant and Catholic high school students on one team .
Even after graduating from school, the former teammates are still friends .
The friends communicate via Internet because it's too dangerous to visit . |
171cdeac08a1e0d39768ada9c499f4f8abf92d7b | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 09:52 EST, 30 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:14 EST, 30 October 2012 . Who is he? Poster appealing for information about nineteenth-century serial killer Jack The Ripper. He has now been identified as an Essex doctor . British serial killer Jack the Ripper has been identified as an Essex doctor called Stephen Herbert Appleford - by a Uruguayan mathematician who has never set foot in London. Eduardo Cuitiño says two years of painstaking research has uncovered what Scotland Yard has failed to do since 1888 - in naming the man who murdered at least five prostitutes that year in the capital's East End. The Professor of Statistics at the University ORT of Montevideo said Appleford was a surgeon working in the London Hospital of Whitechapel - the area where the victims died. He claims he was around 36-years-old, what he deemed 'the appropriate age of a psychopath', and had an IQ well above average, another trait common in that type of criminal. Appleford was from the Essex town of Coggeshall, where Cuitiño said residents were famed as being 'stupid', which may have turned him into a social outcast. Despite later marrying, he was at the time of the murders 'single, without children and living crammed into a house with his sisters'. He also had 'great physical strength' because at university he competed in rowing and swimming. According to Cuitiño, Appleford started to commit his crimes after the death of his mother, to whom he was very close, in 1881. A year later there was an attempted murder on a woman which the Uruguayan attributes to the Ripper, and therefore Appleford. She was found stabbed in the back, the surgeon was close by and, after being identified as a doctor, was called to help her. He later produced a report in which he claimed that he had injured herself. Appleford was also left-handed, according to Cuitiño, 'just like the killer, who cut throats from right to left'. This, he said, was concluded from analysis of the doctor's handwriting obtained from a digital census record signed in the early 20th century. The Professor of Statistics at the . University ORT of Montevideo said Appleford was a surgeon working in the . London Hospital of Whitechapel (pictured) the area where the victims died . A scene from the film 'From Hell' (2001) which tells the story of Jack the Ripper starring Johnny Depp . Cuitiño said he used Google Maps 'to develop a geometric theory' around the crimes, especially the two committed the night of September 30, 1888. The mathematician also pointed to an article the doctor published in the British Medical Journal British Medical Journal about a small case to carry medical knives which could be concealed about the body. ROBERT MANN: Historian . Mei Trow points the finger at mortuary attendant Robert Mann. He was . well educated in anatomy, lived locally and came from a poor background. The first two victims, Polly Nichols and Annie Chapman, are known to . have been delivered to his mortuary. PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR: He . killed the women after being driven insane by syphilis, according to an . article in The Criminologist in 1970 by Dr Thomas E A Stowell. MONTAGUE JOHN DRUITT: Druitt . was a barrister who came under suspicion because he committed suicide . just after the final murder. However, he lived in Kent – and most Ripper . experts believe the suspect was local to Whitechapel. DR THOMAS NEILL CREAM: Cream, . a doctor specialising in abortions, was hanged in 1892 for several . murders he committed in London and his last words were reportedly ‘I am . Jack…’. This, Cuitiño thinks, was a way of poking fun at the police, reports Spanish newspaper El Pais. Appleford died on August 31, the same date as the first crime, in 1940 when he was 88-years-old the year corresponding to 1888 - the year of the murders. Cuitiño added: 'He probably committed suicide, laughing at England and the English until his last sign of life.' Cuitiño . has admitted there may be a degree of speculation as to his claims, . published in an essay called Travelling through time to trap Jack the . Ripper, seeing as he lives 11,000 km away from London and has never set . foot in the city. But the . 38-year-old said: 'My interest is to link the history of mathematics, I . try to give a mathematical approach to the riddles and mysteries' And . to reach his conclusion, he said he spent two years analysing the . geographical locations of the crimes on a series of computer simulators, . and using information garnered online. The Ripper struck five times during a blood-soaked ten weeks in 1888. The . victims - Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine . Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly - were all East End prostitutes. Three had . their wombs removed. The Ten Bells Pub in Commercial Street, Whitechapel, one of the pubs frequented by Jack the Ripper's victims and part of the Jack The Ripper trail . The signature on a letter dated 29 October 1888 written by a person claiming to be Jack the Ripper that was sent to Doctor Thomas Openshaw of the London Hospital Whitechapel . | Eduardo Cuitiño identified the Ripper as an Essex doctor called Stephen Appleford who said he was a surgeon in Whitechapel .
He claims he was around 36-years-old, .
what he deemed 'the appropriate age of a psychopath', and had an IQ well .
above average . |
171d0b6b89233b0a9e35426cb0363fbee21cbe99 | (CNN) -- A federal court on Monday sentenced a Somali man to 30 years in prison for acts related to high-seas piracy, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia. "Today marks the first sentencing in Norfolk for acts of piracy in more than 150 years," U.S. Attorney MacBride said in the statement. "Piracy is a growing threat throughout the world, and today's sentence ... demonstrates that the United States will hold modern-day pirates accountable in U.S. courtrooms." Jama Idle Ibrahim pleaded guilty in federal court in August, admitting he had intended to seize a U.S. merchant vessel on April 10 and hold it for ransom. Ibrahim and five other would-be pirates learned too late that they had instead pulled alongside a U.S. Naval vessel, the USS Ashland. They were captured after firing at those on board, according to the statement. The attack occurred in the Gulf of Aden between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Until this year, there had not been a piracy-related conviction in the United States since 1861, during the Civil War, officials said. In May, Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, who was accused of leading the attack on the Maersk Alabama in April 2009, pleaded guilty to felony counts of hijacking maritime vessels, kidnapping and hostage taking. CNN's Terry Frieden contributed to this report . | NEW: A Somali man is sentenced to 30 years in prison in high-seas piracy attempt .
Jama Idle Ibrahim is one of a group of would-be pirates who were captured .
He has admitted to trying to seize a U.S. merchant vessel and hold it for ransom .
Until this year, the last piracy-related conviction in the United States was in 1861 . |
171ddc77618dece373e4e19a8bc35762d6732c14 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:40 EST, 21 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:57 EST, 22 November 2012 . Victim: Six-year-old Jersey Bridgeman was found dead in an empty house Tuesday, and authorities are ruling hear death as a homicide . A six-year-old girl, whose father and stepmother were arrested and jailed last year for chaining her to a dresser, was found dead early on Tuesday morning. Authorities found the body of Jersey Bridgeman, from Arkansas, in a vacant house approximately 10 minutes after she was reported missing. She had just turned six years old last week. So far, investigators are ruling her death as a homicide but have yet to say how exactly the girl died or release any names of suspects. With the investigation already in its second day, officers have conducted searches of three homes, including the girl’s, the building where she was found and a nearby trailer. Through the process, they have collected about 50 pieces of evidence, which they are currently examining. Meanwhile, Bridgeman's body has been sent to the state crime lab in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the results of an autopsy are pending. Police are also patrolling the area and have kept officers watching Bridgeman's home and the home where her body was found. The FBI has been . brought in to assist in the investigation. Meanwhile, it is still unclear where Jersey's biological mother, DesaRae, was at the time of the missing persons call. Bentonville Police Department said that certain details of the case were being withheld 'to maintain the integrity of the investigation'. After the arrest of her father and stepmother, Jersey was put under the care of her real mother. DesaRae is listed on Facebook as being in a relationship with E-Z Mart attendant Brandon Thomas. According to police reports, Bridgeman died between midnight and 6:43 am, when police received the call that the girl had gone missing. Police said the six-year-old had been living with a 'relative' when she went missing. Stepmother Jana Bridgeman, also identified as Jana Slinkard in court records, is serving a 12-year prison sentence, plus three years for a probation revocation, according to online Department of Correction records. David Bridgeman is serving an 18-year prison sentence. Prison records show he has a tattoo that says Jersey. Birthday: Jersey turned six-years-old last week . Questions: Police have yet to release a cause of death or a list of suspects and are still attempting to find the whereabouts of Bridgeman's mother and caretaker. Jersey made headlines last year when her father and stepmother chained her to a dresser as part of a punishment. In conversations with childcare specialists, the six-year-old said that she slept on the floor of her parents' room and that she was tied up for misbehaving. Behind Bars: Bridgeman's father was sentenced to 18 years in prison for having chain the girl to a dresser as punishment. 'She said that Jana and David chain her to the dresser because she had gotten up and eaten some pies, cereal, and bread,' Rogers Police Detective Larry Taylor wrote in the court affidavit. He added that the girl 'stated that they put a belt around her waist so that she could not get up and get any food.' The woman who first contacted the police . about possible child endangerment said she saw Jersey tied up to the dresser with a . silver chain, which appeared to be a dog collar. Bridgeman's father David admitted in court that he did tie up his daughter with a belt but defended his actions by saying that this was to prevent her from getting into medication and other dangerous materials around the house. 'He said that he thinks she may be sleepwalking and that they discussed buying a child gate, but since he does not have a job, they could not afford to buy one at that time,' Taylor wrote in the court affidavit. The father added that he had first cut a belt to fit around his daughter's ankle and added a lock on it after she had broken free. Then after she complained about the pain in her leg, he chained her by the waist instead. 'It should be noted that the chain that David used was approximately one to two feet in length and appeared to be a dog choke collar,' Taylor added. Both Bridgeman's father and stepmother pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, permitting abuse of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor. For their crime, the father is serving an 18-year prison sentence, while the stepmother was sentenced to 12 years. Tragic: Jersey pictured with her biological mother DesaRae Bridgeman. It is not clear where she was when Jersey was reported missing . Shaken: More than 100 people gathered Tuesday to hold a candlelight vigil for Bridgeman. Remembered: The six-year-old was well loved in her community and many describing her as being special. The ongoing drama surrounding Bridgeman's death has left her community shaken. The local school district is currently working on ways to address the death and help students cope with the loss. Administrators said they hope to have finalized plan ready by the time classes resume on Monday. Meanwhile, Brad Brown, a neighbor, told the local ABC affiliate that he is now concerned about his and his loved ones' safety. 'You . get worried because it's in your backyard, you know,' he said. 'I mean . this is literally across the fence and across the street in my backyard. There's people around here that's by themselves a lot, and there's lots . of kids here. Who wouldn't worry about it?' And on Tuesday, more than 100 people gathered at the Children's Advocacy Center to hold a candlelight vigil in honor of the girl. Members of the event were visible distraught by the girl's death, and to many, she was well-loved. 'There was a unique quality about Jersey," Beverly Engle, the center's executive director, said. 'A little old soul, but such a delight.' | Jersey Bridgeman was in the care of her biological mother DesaRae Bridgeman at the time of her death .
Her body was found in a vacant house close to where she lived with her mom and mom's boyfriend .
Police have classified case as homicide pending autopsy results .
Father and stepmother both serving lengthy prison sentences for child abuse . |
171e56b2c37c9e659454d1cf1438c9d61da5bd87 | Amid the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon spa in a lava field in south-west Iceland, Lee Cattermole relaxes and reflects with his girlfriend. Three years ago, it was he who was erupting, the then Sunderland captain arrested and later accepting a police caution for damaging five vehicles in Newcastle during a night out with team-mates. Earlier that day, Martin O’Neill had been confirmed as his new manager; it was hardly Cattermole’s wisest move and merely served to vandalise his own character. Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole insists he has calmed down from the unpredictable player he once was . Gus Poyet readily admits Cattermole is among the first names on his Sunderland team sheet . Current Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was certainly sceptical upon his arrival one year ago. ‘If somebody tells me this guy is a b*****d and I need to be careful, then I will be. I was told he was impossible to control, that he will get sent off a hundred times and he will let you down,’ says Poyet. ‘I was told he could not play football like I want to. I was told he was training on his own away from everybody else. I thought I’d meet Lee and he’d have a gun and he’d shoot me in the head.’ Twelve months on and Poyet readily admits that Cattermole is the first name on his team sheet. The 26-year-old has just been voted North East Football Writers’ Player of 2014 and the manager is backing his on-field lieutenant for an England call-up — ‘In Uruguay, he would be the hero, the captain,’ he says. The respect is mutual. Cattermole says he has come a long way in 12 months under Poyet. ‘In the last year I have learned a hell of a lot,’ says the anchorman. Poyet took over as manager of Sunderland in October 2013 and continues to work with Cattermole . ‘Gus coming in has been a massive factor in winning the award, which I’m chuffed about. Gus is very much my kind of person, very English minded. ‘It is totally different playing under Gus than any other manager. I think he played street football a lot more. He almost taught himself, which is why he was a very natural player. ‘And he has told me in no uncertain terms that, in the position I play, if I don’t do what he wants then I won’t play. On and off the pitch this is as good as I have ever felt. The manager has stuck with me.’ As Cattermole suggests, off the pitch was a big issue — there was a three-year ban from pubs in his hometown of Stockton in 2008. ‘I have calmed down off the pitch as well as on it,’ he says. ‘I had a couple of incidents during my career which people have read too much into. ‘I have just matured and I even have a girlfriend now. When anyone is 26 they look back to when they were 18 and there is a world of difference — and I am no different.’ Indeed, pubs have made way for geothermal spas and romantic getaways in Nordic lava land. Cattermole — and Poyet — will be hoping his days of boiling over are a thing of the past. Cattermole says he has 'matured' at Sunderland and puts it in no small way down to Poyet's management . | Gus Poyet took over as Sunderland manager in October 2013 .
Poyet was cautious of Lee Cattermole due to his reputation at first .
But Cattermole admits he has 'matured' under Poyet's management . |
171fce51f82062f28c679bda0969ecf1ea384231 | (CNN) -- Four people died when a small plane with 10 aboard crashed in southwestern Alaska on Friday evening, authorities said. The Cessna 208 went down near St. Mary's village after it was reported missing the same day. Its wreckage was later discovered. The relatives of the deceased have been notified, said Megan Peters, a spokeswoman for Alaska State Troopers. The deceased are Rose Polty, Richard Polty, Wyatt Coffee and the pilot, Terry Hansen. No more information was available on the victims. The U.S. Coast Guard, state troopers and Life Med Alaska responded to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, the agency said in a tweet. | NEW: NTSB is investigating .
The Cessna 208 went down near St. Mary's village .
It was reported missing the same day .
The relatives of the deceased have been notified . |
1720c9c01d3d2666a9acbb672a0486ad24dea66d | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 10:10 EST, 5 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:21 EST, 5 November 2013 . A mother who became pregnant after months of gruelling cancer treatment suffered further heartache when her baby son was diagnosed with meningitis. Nikki Anderson, 28, had feared she would never have another child after suffering a rare cancer of the adrenal gland. But to her total surprise, she discovered she was pregnant after months of gruelling surgery and chemotherapy - only for baby Cody to be diagnosed with meningitis when he was just three weeks old. Nikki Anderson, 28, had feared she would never have another child after suffering a rare cancer of the adrenal gland. But shortly after finishing gruelling chemotherapy, she discovered she was expecting baby Cody . Doctors discovered the tennis-ball sized tumour on top . of Mrs Anderson's kidney in August 2011 when looking for a cause for her . continual weight gain. The tumour was causing her to overproduce testosterone - making her pile on the pounds - and stopping her from getting pregnant. It . was removed a month later, and she endured three months of daily . chemotherapy before doctors found a second tumour, removed in May. Shortly after that, and to her total surprise, she discovered she was expecting. Mrs Anderson, from Bristol, said: 'I really thought that my body was just ruined by all I had been through. 'I . had to have fertility treatment before for my daughter, so with all the . chemo, operations, and scarring on top of that, I thought I would never . get pregnant - not in a million years. Baby Cody arrived on September 14, weighing a healthy 6lb 1oz. But just three weeks later, he was rushed to hospital with a high temperature and diagnosed with meningitis . 'When I found out it was a big shock - you forget all the cancer. 'I do believe things happen for a reason and that really this was meant to be.' Baby Cody arrived on September 14, weighing a healthy 6lb 1oz. But just three weeks after he was born, he was rushed to hospital with a high temperature. Doctors warned Mrs Anderson and her husband Steve, 28, that Cody most likely had potentially fatal meningitis - which was later confirmed by a lumbar puncture. Mrs Anderson said: 'It was petrifying. When they first did all the tests I didn’t want to believe what was happening to my baby. Mother and son are both well again, although Mrs Anderson must have regular check-ups . 'We were sleeping at the hospital for four nights and I would rather have taken his place. 'They were telling us to prepare for things like brain damage. He was so tiny and wired up. Luckily it was viral, so he could fight it on his own and pulled through and he’s fine now, gaining weight and really healthy.' Mrs Anderson is now cancer free, but has to return to hospital every three months for check ups. She added: 'It is just all about waiting but for now I’m looking forward to a different Christmas with Cody and the rest of the family.' | Nikki Anderson, 28, had feared she would never have another child after suffering a rare cancer of the adrenal gland .
But after months of gruelling treatment, she discovered she was pregnant .
Baby Cody arrived on September 14 weighing a healthy 6lb 1oz .
But just three weeks later he was diagnosed with potentially fatal meningitis .
Both mother and son have since battled back to good health again . |
17210ebaf3240098c56f0f7ab39fd9fc52ab0be3 | New York (CNN) -- Miss USA Rima Fakih is a Muslim with Lebanese heritage, but her family is "not defined by religion," Fakih said. "I'm an American girl," Fakih said. "And just to be clear, my family comes from many different backgrounds and religions." The newest Miss USA, crowned last weekend, was interviewed Wednesday for HLN's "The Joy Behar Show." Fakih downplayed the significance of photographs that emerged online this week showing her dancing against a stripper's pole. "Everyone took them as if I was stripping, which to be honest with you was just a competition," she said. "It was more of an event held by a radio station." THIS JUST IN: Is Miss USA a Muslim trailblazer? The Detroit, Michigan, radio station promotion held three years ago was like a class to help women "learn how to dance and feel sexy," she told Behar. The photos show her dancing in short pants. "To be extra funny, because I'm known to be silly, I put money in my bra," she said. The controversy, however, has made her name a top search term on the internet, she said. "Yeah, I'm the number one person on Yahoo or Google, I heard," she said. Cheesecake photos helped last year's Miss USA runner-up, Carrie Prejean, become well known, but she was eventually stripped of her Miss California crown when racier images emerged. Behar asked Fakih if there were any such photos of her that might eventually surface. "Nothing at all," she said. "I've always been known to be very respectful to my family and my reputation." The stripper pole photos did not upset her family, she said. "They're very proud of me," she said. "They take it as if I'm not up there for beauty, or to pose in a bathing suit, but for something more significant -- for being beautiful on the inside, for being wise." Fakih was born in Lebanon, but her family moved to New York when she was young. She moved to Michigan in 2003, where she attended the University of Michigan. "My family comes from a Muslim background, and we're not defined by religion," she said. "I would like to say we're a spiritual liberal family." Fakih will represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, in August. | Miss USA Rima Fakih downplays significance of photographs that emerged online this week .
She says pole-dancing pictures were part of radio station promotion .
She says her family is from Muslim background but not defined by religion . |
1722f209595f2f97cd03888cd25e578d749e7aad | (CNN) -- Grammy-winning trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, a leading figure in jazz during a five-decade career, has died at age 70, about a month after suffering a heart attack, his publicist said Tuesday. In the 1970s, Freddie Hubbard made a series of funk- and fusion-oriented albums, such as the 1970 hit "Red Clay." Hubbard died Monday morning in Sherman Oaks, California, outside Los Angeles, after a long battle with heart disease, spokesman Don Lucoff told CNN. He had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack the day before Thanksgiving and took a turn for the worse last week, Lucoff said. "Freddie Hubbard, in terms of the advent of modern jazz, the birth of bebop, was probably among the five greatest trumpet players that has ever lived ... He's really right up there with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, Roy Eldridge, an innovator and great composer," Lucoff said. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Hubbard moved to New York in the late 1950s. By the mid-1960s, he was playing alongside such major jazz figures as Art Blakey, Oliver Nelson, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. In the early 1970s, he made a series of funk- and fusion-oriented albums, such as the 1970 hit "Red Clay" and 1972's Grammy-winning "First Light." "The thing that set Freddie Hubbard apart was he played rapidly, he played soulfully and he really set the pace for a lot of the trumpet players who have come after him in the last 20 or 30 years," Lucoff said. Hubbard was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006. He is survived by wife, Briggie, and son Duane. | Grammy-winning trumpeter long fought heart disease, spokesman says .
Hubbard played with major jazz figures including Art Blakey and Herbie Hancock .
Hubbard was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2006 . |
17234e7436a00004ec67bb72d47b48e43d8ad16f | (CNN) -- Once the most popular smartphone, the BlackBerry has been losing ground in the past year to iPhone and Android models. So Research in Motion is trying to carve out a new market with the PlayBook (the upcoming BlackBerry tablet) due to hit stores in the U.S. and Canada on April 19. Prices start at $499, same as for the iPad 2. However, the BlackBerry operating system is definitely not on the cutting edge of smartphone platforms. So there's been ample skepticism about how attractive a BlackBerry tablet might be to consumers, especially compared with slick offerings such as Apple's iPad and the growing array of Android tablets. On March 24, in a move apparently aimed at compensating for the weaknesses of the BlackBerry OS and relatively lean BlackBerry App World offerings, RIM announced that the PlayBook will support Android apps, as well as the Java-based apps that currently run on BlackBerry smartphones. According to the news release, "RIM will launch two optional 'app players' that provide an application run-time environment for BlackBerry Java apps and Android v2.3 apps. These new app players will allow users to download BlackBerry Java apps and Android apps from BlackBerry App World and run them on their BlackBerry PlayBook." However, the release also notes that "The new app players for the BlackBerry PlayBook are expected to be available from BlackBerry App World this summer." So if you rush out to buy a PlayBook this spring, you'll have to wait a few months to get those Android apps and see how well they run. Crackberry clarified, "This doesn't mean that RIM is working with Google to bring Android marketplace to BlackBerry, but rather that developers who have made Android apps can sign up as BlackBerry App World developers (which is now free of charge) and distribute their apps to BlackBerry PlayBook owners via App World." And as to the user experience, Crackberry notes, "Because these Android Apps and BlackBerry Smartphone apps will be running in a sandboxed environment, to use RIM's vocabulary we can likely expect the experience to be more along the lines of simple open-and-use 'apps' rather than the deeply integrated 'super apps' that RIM often likes to talk about." Media analyst Jean-Louis Gassée sharply criticized RIM's app strategy for the PlayBook, as well as RIM's entire business approach of late. He points out that touting the PlayBook as running Android apps is misleading, since consumers won't be able to download apps from the Android app market and run them on the PlayBook. Rather, developers will have to adapt their Android apps to run within the PlayBook's app player and then get them approved to be offered in the BlackBerry App World, a hurdle few developers are likely to be willing to jump for a new, unproven tablet with established competition. "Launching what is clearly an immature product and trying to compensate for a dearth of applications with a misleading claim of compatibility with the wrong version of Android is insane," Gassée wrote. I'm puzzled by the market strategy here. Clearly, RIM is using the PlayBook to push hard to get more users in the consumer media and gaming market. But that represents a huge away shift from the company's original (and still strong) market base, which is mostly corporate users focused on messaging services. On that front, there's a further complication: The PlayBook reportedly falls short in terms of supporting the integrated messaging services that die-hard BlackBerry fans love. According to Information Week: "The PlayBook will first launch in a Wi-Fi only configuration (Sprint will sell a WiMax version this summer). That means the PlayBook can only snag emails and other data when in range of Wi-Fi hotspots. Email, contacts, and calendar data are not 'live' on the PlayBook as they are on a regular BlackBerry. In fact, the only way to access live corporate PIM data is to tether a BlackBerry to the PlayBook via Bluetooth. The PlayBook will then mirror whatever data is on the BlackBerry." This sounds like a huge drawback for RIM's existing business users. It means that in order to take advantage of the features BlackBerry users love, they'll have to carry around both devices and take the time to tether them. It's good that RIM is branching out in new directions, and a tablet makes sense. But why not build on the company's strengths to create a robust tablet experience for business users rather than go flailing after the consumer and gaming markets, a strategy that pits the PlayBook squarely against the iPad? Doesn't sound like a fair fight. The opinions expressed in this post are solely those of Amy Gahran. | BlackBerry's PlayBook tablet hits stores April 19 and will start at $499 .
In an effort to make the PlayBook more attractive, BlackBerry is opening it to Android apps .
But few Android app developers may be willing to jump through hurdles for an unproven tablet .
The PlayBook also falls short in terms of supporting integrated BlackBerry messaging services . |
1723c18dab98919c28c2e505790d7ee41e65a225 | (Wired) -- After releasing two generations of iPhones with exactly the same form factor, Apple is expected to show off a new chassis design -- and possibly new materials -- in its sixth-generation smartphone. And a little-known alloy that Apple has quietly been using for the past two years could be just the ticket to make consumers swoon. Korea IT News reported Wednesday that the iPhone 5 is likely to be housed in Liquidmetal, the commercial name for an alloy of titanium, zirconium, nickel, copper and other metals. It would make the outer surface of the phone "smooth like liquid," according to the report. "The next iPhone needs to truly stand out from the crowd," Canalys analyst Chris Jones told Wired via email. "A change in materials is a likely way to differentiate its form factor." Liquidmetal was discovered at the California Institute of Technology in 1992. It's a class of patented amorphous metal alloys (basically metallic glass) with unique properties including high strength, high wear resistance against scratching and denting, and a good strength-to-weight ratio. Apple was granted rights to use it in August of 2010. "Liquidmetal allows precision parts to be fabricated similar to plastic injection molding, but with similar properties to metal," IHS senior principal analyst Kevin Keller said. In today's metal-based gadgets, you either need to bend a piece of sheet metal, or die-cast with an inferior alloy like aluminum or magnesium. In die-casting, the alloys tend to be brittle and have poor wear resistance. Liquidmetal's injection molding process is still a relatively new technology, and it's fairly expensive -- but that's not necessarily anything that Apple would shy away from. Liquidmetal has been used in Apple products (as well as those of other manufacturers) for several years. The SIM card ejector tool in some North American first-generation iPads was made of Liquidmetal, and since then, Keller said, it's been used in a number of other internal parts and small mechanical components. "We expect Apple and other manufacturers to start using this not only for larger and more visible portions of devices, but also entire enclosures," Keller said. Thus, a Liquidmetal iPhone chassis seems entirely reasonable to expect in the not-too-distant future. Jones also noted that the discovery and use of new materials was one of Steve Jobs' obsessions. "But Apple will need to ensure a change in material does not compromise the performance of the device," he added, noting the infamous "antenna-gate" issue with the iPhone 4. Reports that an upcoming iPhone could have a metal back and a unibody case have been circling since well before the iPhone 4S was announced. Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT! Click here! Copyright 2011 Wired.com. | Korea's IT News reported that the iPhone 5 is likely to be housed in 'Liquidmetal'
Liquidmetal was discovered at the California Institute of Technology in 1992 .
The molding process is still a relatively new technology, and it's fairly expensive . |
1724bd9bf22ed8ac9757b2674129438e6b0e30ca | Cairo, Egypt (CNN)It was news Lois Greste hoped to hear for more than a year. "I sort of dreamed about it quietly, not daring to think about it too much," she said Monday, grinning as she described her relief at learning her son was released from prison and safely out of Egypt. Australian Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste had been behind bars since December 2013. On Sunday, family members learned he was finally free. "I'm ecstatic, you know, I just can't say how happy I am about it all," his mother said. "I'm very excited and pleased, and thank goodness this is all over." But as they thanked government officials, journalists and supporters around the world for helping push for his freedom, the Greste family also told reporters at a press briefing in Australia on Monday that there's more to be done. "On a more somber note, we also -- and I know Peter sincerely wanted me to mention this point -- we want to acknowledge that Peter's two other colleagues are still there," Andrew Greste said. "They also deserve to be freed. Peter won't rest until they're released from prison, and we hope that will follow in the very near future." Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, fellow Al Jazeera journalists, remain behind bars. All three were convicted of supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood, but have maintained their innocence. Al Jazeera demanded their release, as did a chorus of many other international journalists. Egypt's highest court recently accepted the appeal of the three journalists and granted them a retrial. On Sunday morning, Greste's family started to hear rumors that something might happen, then checked with their contacts. It seemed like it could be true. "But Egypt is a very uncertain and unpredictable place, and until he was on that plane, anything could have happened. ... He wasn't out of there until he was out of there," Andrew Greste said. Now Peter Greste is in Cyprus, "gathering his thoughts," his brother said. "He's safe, healthy and very, very happy to be on his way home." After his release, family members said he enjoyed a meal of beer and pork. Now, his family members say they're giving him time to figure out where he'll go -- and what he'll do -- next. "He needs that space to start with," Lois Greste said, "but we're sure he's going to be fine." Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Greste had been released "unconditionally," but will need some time to adjust to life outside prison. "He was somewhat bewildered. He was only given short notice by Egyptian authorities that he was to be released unconditionally. We moved as fast as we could to collect him from the prison and escort him to the airport and make arrangements for his immediate departure," she said "He will make his way home, in his own time. I think he wants a little bit of rest and recreation, but he also wants to be reunited with his family and friends as soon as possible." Greste left Egypt around 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) Sunday, Egyptian Interior Ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif said. But one of Greste's lawyers suggested there could be more legal issues ahead for Greste. "According to Egyptian law, this is considered an extradition," lawyer Amr Eldib, said. "Peter must be tried in Australia and authorities there must determine if he is guilty or not." Al Anstey, the managing director of Al Jazeera English, said he spoke with Greste earlier Sunday. The journalist " sounded strong." "He sounded immensely relieved -- perhaps not celebratory but immensely relieved," Anstey told CNN's "Reliable Sources." Anstey sought to keep attention on Fahmy and Mohamed. "It's very unclear what's happening to Baher and what's happening for Mohamed," he said. "But we just need to bring this injustice to an end and to get them out." At the time of their arrest in December 2013, Egypt was mired in political turmoil surrounding the removal, by coup, of President Mohamed Morsy in his Muslim Brotherhood-backed government. After Morsy was ousted, the longstanding political party was declared a terrorist organization by the military, which had staged the coup. Greste described in a January 2014 letter how he and his colleagues were detained, saying that interior ministry officials burst into a hotel room that he and Fahmy were using. Officials rushed Baher Mohamed's home, he said. "I am nervous as I write this," the letter read. "I am in my cold prison cell after my first official exercise session -- four glorious hours in the grass yard behind our block and I don't want that right to be snatched away." "That is why I have sought, until now, to fight my imprisonment quietly from within, to make the authorities understand that this is all a terrible mistake, that I've been caught in the middle of a political struggle that is not my own," he wrote. "But after two weeks in prison it is now clear that this is a dangerous decision. It validates an attack not just on me and my two colleagues but on freedom of speech across Egypt." Read the letter Greste wrote while in prison . Amnesty International and other observers have long held that Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed were pawns in a geopolitical dispute between Egypt and Qatar, the small Middle Eastern country that finances Al Jazeera. Qatar has long been perceived as a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt is the sixth leading jailer of journalists in the world, according to a census the non-partisan Committee to Protect Journalists took in December 2014. The jailing and sentencing of the Al Jazeera journalists generated outrage from colleagues and activists around the world. A campaign led by Al Jazeera declared that "Journalism is not a crime." For Egypt, Al Jazeera prisoners were PR disaser amid bigger problems . Many tweeted under the hashtag #freeajstaff and journalists, including CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, who held up a sign with the campaign on her show. On Sunday, CPJ called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to "pardon and release Greste's Al Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, and the other journalists still behind bars for doing their work." Human Rights Watch did the same. Al Sisi issued a law last November giving him the power to deport foreign defendants. It brought hope to two of the Al Jazeera defendants' families, but stoked concerns for others. Greste is Australian. Fahmy, who used to work for CNN, has dual nationality, with Egyptian-Canadian citizenship. Mohamed is Egyptian. Some worried that the case would lose its international appeal if Greste and Fahmy were released, leaving the Egyptian defendant behind bars. Jihan Rashed, Baher Mohamed's wife, told CNN that she couldn't believe Greste has been released. Why him and not her Egyptian husband? "Because they were all three in the same case, I don't know (how) only one got released. I don't know why they released him (Greste) now after a year. What's special about this timing?" she demanded. "Are the foreigners more important in our country? We used to hear that the three would be pardoned, but does this mean that only foreigners will be released?" Rashed is worried but optimistic because she's confident that Greste will tell the world that their imprisonment is unjust, she said. "No one will be silent. We won't be silent," she said. "Peter won't be silent." Rashed said that releasing Greste proves that the case isn't about terrorism as the Egyptian government claimed, but about targeting journalists. "(Mohamed) was doing his job," she said. "He was relaying news, saying what the Muslim Brotherhood said and what the government said. Do I need to explain what a journalist should do?" Fahmy's mother, Wafa Abdel Hamid Bassiouni, appealed to Al Sisi in a statement that an Egyptian news outlet published Sunday, telling the President that her son is ill with Hepatitis C and an injured shoulder. "As a mother and an Egyptian citizen I appeal to you, Mr. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to pardon my son... It hurts me to see his health deteriorating while I have little access to him," she wrote. "My father and uncles have served in the highest ranks of the police force and the military. They have spent their lives defending Egypt... It breaks my heart that the son of a patriotic family like ours has been wrongfully framed as a terrorist in a trial that produced no evidence to (support) the accusations." Read her full letter . CNN's Ian Lee and Sarah Sirgany reported from Cairo, and Ashley Fantz and Catherine E. Shoichet reported and wrote this story in Atlanta. CNN's Hilary Whiteman, Josh Levs and Brian Stelter also contributed to this report. | Australia's foreign minister says journalist Peter Greste was released "unconditionally"
Greste is "safe, healthy and very, very happy to be on his way home," his brother says .
He says the Australian Al Jazeera journalist "won't rest" until his colleagues are also freed . |
17256593a4bea94933fb368d25e247ae4f040546 | (CNN)Here's the complete list of nominees for the 87th Academy Awards. The Oscars show will be held February 22. Best Picture . "American Sniper" "Birdman" "Boyhood" "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "The Imitation Game" "Selma" "The Theory of Everything" "Whiplash" Best Director . Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman" Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" Bennett Miller, "Foxcatcher" Morten Tyldum, "The Imitation Game" Best Actress . Marion Cotillard, "Two Days, One Night" Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything" Julianne Moore, "Still Alice" Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl" Reese Witherspoon, "Wild" Best Actor . Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher" Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper" Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game" Michael Keaton, "Birdman" Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" Best Supporting Actress . Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood" Laura Dern, "Wild" Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game" Emma Stone, "Birdman" Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods" Best Supporting Actor . Robert Duvall, "The Judge" Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood" Edward Norton, "Birdman" Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher" J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash" Best Adapted Screenplay . Paul Thomas Anderson, "Inherent Vice" Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash" Jason Hall, "American Sniper" Anthony McCarten, "The Theory of Everything" Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game" Best Original Screenplay . Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Dan Futterman and E. Max Frye, "Foxcatcher" Dan Gilroy, "Nightcrawler" Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo, "Birdman" Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" Best Foreign Language Film . "Leviathan" "Ida" "Tangerines" "Timbuktu" "Wild Tales" Best Documentary Feature . "CITIZENFOUR" "Finding Vivian Maier" "Last Days in Vietnam" "The Salt in the Earth" "Virunga" Best Animated Feature . "Big Hero 6" "The Boxtrolls" "How to Train Your Dragon 2" "Song of the Sea" "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya" Film Editing . "American Sniper" "Boyhood" "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "The Imitation Game" "Whiplash" Best Song . "Everything Is Awesome" from "The Lego Movie" "Glory" from "Selma" "Grateful" from "Beyond the Lights" "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" from "Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me" "Lost Stars" from "Begin Again" Best Original Score . Alexandre Desplat, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Alexandre Desplat, "The Imitation Game" Johann Johannsson, "The Theory of Everything" Gary Yershon, "Mr. Turner" Hans Zimmer, "Interstellar" Best Cinematography . Roger Deakins, "Unbroken" Emmanuel Lubezki, "Birdman" Dick Pope, "Mr. Turner" Robert Yeoman, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski, "Ida" Best Costume Design . "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "Inherent Vice" "Into the Woods" "Maleficent" "Mr. Turner" Best Makeup and Hairstyling . "Foxcatcher" "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "Guardians of the Galaxy" Best Production Design . "The Grand Budapest Hotel" "The Imitation Game" "Interstellar" "Into the Woods" "Mr. Turner" Best Sound Editing . "American Sniper" "Birdman" "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" "Interstellar" "Unbroken" Best Sound Mixing . "American Sniper" "Birdman" "Interstellar" "Unbroken" "Whiplash" Best Visual Effects . Captain America: . "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" "Guardians of the Galaxy" "Interstellar" "X-Men: Days of Future Past" Best Short Film, Live Action . "Aya" "Boogaloo and Graham" "Butter Lamp" "Parvaneh" "The Phone Call" Best Short Film, Animated . "The Bigger Picture" "The Dam Keeper" "Feast" "Me and My Moulton" "A Single Life" Best Documentary, Short Subject . "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1" "Joanna" "Our Curse" "The Reaper" "White Earth" | Oscar nominations were announced in Hollywood Thursday morning .
"Birdman" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" led with 9 nods apiece .
"The Imitation Game" received 8 nominations . |
17271772198999984826904553adf1efdc9863e1 | By . Emma Glanfield . This is the moment an Argentinian polo player broke the royal protocol by placing a hand on the Queen’s back as she presented a winner’s trophy at the Cartier Polo Cup. Sportsman Facundo Pieres placed a tender hand on the top of the Queen’s back and again on her shoulder as Her Majesty presented him with the 'most valuable player' award at Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Berskhire. The 28-year-old, who is a professional polo player from Buenos Aires, seemed unfazed by his faux pas which came after his team Zacara won the Queen’s Cup at the prestigious event. Scroll down for video . Sportsman Facundo Pieres placed a tender hand on the top of the Queen¿s back and again on her shoulder as Her Majesty presented him with the 'most valuable player' award at Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park . The polo player also placed a hand on the Queen's shoulder before the pair posed for photographs . The Argentine, who was born into a family of polo players, is ranked number two in the world in his sport and became the youngest player ever to hold a 10-goal handicap at just 19. It is not believed to have been the first time the sportsman has met the Queen. Last year, after again receiving the ‘most valuable player’ award at the same event, he would’ve come face-to-face with England’s monarch. Dressed in royal blue Angela Kelly, the Queen seemed in good spirits at today’s event - which she attended with the Duke of Edinburgh just a day after celebrating her official birthday. Her Majesty smiled to spectators and staff as she toured the ground before watching play get underway at the annual prestigious event, which attracts leading polo players from around the world. The royal historically attends Finals Day to present the cup to the winning patron, and it was during today’s ceremony the player broke the protocol. With the team name Zacara emblazoned on the back of his shirt, Mr Pieres put his arm around Her Majesty as they posed for photographs. The Queen looked in good spirits as she attended the Cartier Polo Cup, held at Guards Polo Club in Windsor . The monarch awarded the Queen's Cup trophy following the tournament final at Guards Polo this afternoon . The Queen (left) was joined at the final day of the Cartier Polo Cup event by the Duke of Edinburgh (right) According to centuries-old protocol, the Queen should not be touched in any way beyond a polite handshake. Last . year shop manager Kerry Bickerstaff appeared to touch the Queen as she . escorted her inside West Quay Fisheries in Newhaven, East Sussex. And a furore broke out in 1992 when . Paul Keating, the former Australian Prime Minister, touched the Queen’s . back during a visit to Canberra. The Queen’s appearance at the Cartier Polo Cup today, comes ahead of a busy week which includes five scheduled appearances at Royal Ascot next week. A keen racing fan, the Queen's career as a racehorse breeder and owner spans more than 60 years, and began with the handful that she was left by her father George VI. Since then, her horses have since . triumphed in more than 1600 races, including all five British Classics, . with the exception of the Epsom Derby, although she has managed a second . place finish with Aureole in 1953 and came third in 2011 with Carlton . House. Last year shop manager Kerry Bickerstaff appeared to touch the Queen as she escorted her inside West Quay Fisheries in Newhaven, East Sussex . While the Derby has so far eluded her, the Queen has bred some of the finest horses ever to race in the UK, among them Dunfermline who managed to win both the Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes in 1977, Carozza, who triumphed in the Epsom Oaks in 1957 and Pall Mall who took the 2,000 Guineas in 1958. Last year, Royal Ascot was the scene of another triumph for the Queen, after her filly Estimate romped home to take the prestigious Gold Cup - much to the obvious delight of the monarch. Her appearance at next week's Royal Ascot will be the latest in a series of engagements, which began two weeks ago with the State Opening of Parliament and a state visit to France for the D-Day celebrations, before visits to a school and Trooping the Colour this week. | Facundo Pieres placed a tender hand on the Queen's back after polo match .
Her Majesty attended the annual event in Windsor with Duke of Edinburgh .
According to protocol, Queen should not be touched except for handshake . |
1727576ef74d4458c9f6c1a5a1fd69d4172949f6 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor and Becky Barrow . PUBLISHED: . 06:32 EST, 13 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:03 EST, 14 November 2012 . The crippling rise in university tuition fees has fuelled the biggest increase in the cost of living for more than a year, official figures revealed yesterday. Inflation jumped to 2.7 per cent in October, up from 2.2 per cent in September. This means it has been above the Government target of two per cent since November 2009, when it stood at 1.9 per cent. The Consumer Prices Index rate of inflation rose to 2.7 per cent - a bigger-than-expected increase after falling steadily since June . The rise of nearly 20 per cent in . education costs helped push up the figure, said the Office for National . Statistics. It is the largest monthly increase in this category since . its records began in 1996. Tuition fees rose to up to £9,000 a year from September. Andrew Goodwin, of accountants’ Ernst . & Young’s ITEM Club, said the sharp rise in the Consumer Price . Index was ‘a very nasty surprise’ at a time when Britons are still . suffering a squeeze on their incomes. The ONS figures also showed that the price of essentials was still rising. Between September and October, . clothes and shoes cost 1.2 per cent more and food jumped 0.5 per cent, . with the rise blamed mainly on meat, fish, fruit and sugar. The cost of living has risen sharply, fuelled by increases in food prices and the trebling of tuition fees. The Treasury said the figures were . ‘disappointing’ as experts predicted the Consumer Prices Index would . break through three per cent by the New Year. Inflation had been steadily falling in recent months after peaking at 5.2 per cent in September 2011. But the rate of rises in prices . continues to outstrip pay increases for those in work, leaving millions . of families worse off every month in real terms. The ONS said education costs jumped by 19.1 per cent last month - the largest increase since records began. It follows the government’s decision to increase tuition fees from £3,375 to up to £9,000. The decision to increase tuition fees to £9,000, which triggered angry protests and clashes between students and police, has fuelled a sharp rise in inflation . Terrible . weather this summer has blighted crops, in particular potatoes and . carrot harvests. As a result food prices have risen sharply. Since . last month’s most of the big energy firms have announced major . increases in prices which are likely to bump up inflation in the coming . weeks and months. Some experts think CPI could reach 3.5 per cent by the middle of next year. James Knightley, an economist at ING Bank, said he expected inflation to rise to 3 per cent by January.Economist Samuel Tombs, of Capital Economics, said the inflation data provides an ‘uncomfortable backdrop’ to the Bank of England’s inflation report tomorrow. ‘Nonetheless, we still think that the weakness of economic activity will bring inflation down further in time,’ he added. This week the government managed to quell a rebellion from Tory backbenchers over a planned 3p rise in fuel duty with a promise that more help for hard-pressed families will be announced in next month's autumn budget. Catherine McKinnell, Labour’s shadow treasury minister, said: ‘This is a worrying increase in the inflation rate. But instead of easing the squeeze, the Government is adding to the cost of living crisis for people on low and middle incomes.’ | Consumer Prices Index rises by bigger-than-expected 2.7 per cent .
Near-trebling of tuition fees to £9,000 and floods wiping out potato and carrot harvests blamed .
Treasury says rise is 'disappointing' as experts predict it will top 3 per cent by January . |
1727dbbcd8a52702587e761f464c3f9ad6247ab5 | Craig Kieswetter suffered a horrific eye injury after a cricket ball hit him in the face during Somerset's LV= County Championship match at Northamptonshire. The 26-year-old was struck off the bowling of David Willey whilst at the crease for Somerset. Ouch: Somerset's Craig Kieswetter was hit in the face after mistiming a pull shot against Northamptonshire . Devastated: Kieswetter (bottom) was struck in the face off the bowling of David Willey (top) on Saturday . Seeing red: Kieswetter had blood gushing from his right eye following the delivery at the County Ground . Urgent help: Team doctor's from both sides quickly came to the aid of Kieswetter who had to retire hurt . Pitched as a bouncer, Willey's delivery lodged inside Kieswetter's helmet as he mistimed a pull shot. The England One Day and Twenty20 international's injury was so severe that he was forced to retire hurt from his innings as blood gushed from his face. Team doctor's from both counties quickly attended the incident as Kieswetter left the field heavily compressing his damaged right eye. The South African-born wicketkeeper had scored 14 runs off 16 minutes in the Division One encounter at the County Ground before the painful blow. After winning the toss on Saturday, Somerset elected to bat as they try to close the gap on Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire at the top of the table. Down and out: Kieswetter (left) exited the field with his eye heavily compressed after scoring 14 runs . | Craig Kieswetter suffered a horrific eye injury during Somerset's LV= County Championship match at Northamptonshire .
Kieswetter had a bloody right eye after a cricket ball was lodged into his helmet whilst batting .
The wicketkeeper was struck in the face off the bowling of David Willey and had to retire hurt after scoring 14 runs at the County Ground . |
17283e60cfbcd76106e100e3958327209ca1bc5c | (CNN) -- Gunmen launched grenades and used machetes against Muslims being evacuated in a truck convoy in Central African Republic, killing at least three children and 19 adults, a humanitarian group said Saturday. At least 23 more people, including children, were injured in Friday's attack and were being treated in a hospital in Bouar, in the northwestern part of the country, said Michael McCusker with Save the Children in Bangui, the nation's capital. The African country has been wracked with such serious religious and ethnic violence, including between Muslims and Christians, that the United Nations has said it fears a genocide could be brewing, and aid groups warn of a humanitarian crisis. The convoy was carrying mostly Muslim families from the village of Vakap when a grenade was launched into the trucks, said officials with Save the Children, a U.K.-based aid group. Attackers hacked many victims with machetes, the group said. Nearly a million flee violence . The mostly Muslim families in the convoy were being evacuated from violence and were ultimately destined for refuge in neighboring Cameroon. "It is a sign of the still fraught and highly dangerous situation in the Central African Republic that children and their families have been attacked and killed while trying to evacuate to safety," said Robert Lankenau, the group's director in the country. The Bouar hospital treats both Christians and Muslims, the group said. Security has deteriorated since the country's interim leaders, President Michel Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, announced their resignation at a regional summit in Chad this month. Chaos struck the Central African Republic last year after a coalition of rebels dubbed Seleka ousted President Francois Bozize, the latest in a series of coups since its independence. Rebels infiltrated the capital in March, sending Bozize fleeing to Cameroon. Djotodia, one of the Seleka leaders, then became interim president in a coup. Since then, political turmoil and violence has spread. Seleka is a predominantly Muslim coalition. To counter the attacks on their communities, Christians assembled vigilante groups and fought back. The violence prompted U.N. fears about a genocide brewing. Children beheaded as violence grows . At least 1,000 people have died in the violence, and some 958,000 more people, many of them children, have been forced from their homes within the Central African Republic, according to the United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR. There are also more than 86,000 refugees in Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo who fled the Central African Republic in 2013, the UNHCR said Friday. Some 100,000 people have gathered at a makeshift camp by the international airport in Bangui, seeking refuge from the violence. French troops have deployed under a U.N. mandate to assist African peacekeepers. Sick and desperate, migrants wait for airlift home . | "It is a sign of the still fraught and highly dangerous situation," aid leader says .
Attackers strike a convoy carrying Muslims, Save the Children group says .
The African country is wracked by violence between Christians and Muslims .
At least 23 more people are injured and being treated at a hospital the group supports . |
17288bf7103fab9459507c8331368c6f252f1709 | By . Ap . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:27 EST, 7 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:57 EST, 8 January 2014 . A Florida inmate was executed Tuesday for fatally stabbing a prison guard with a sharpened spoon while on death row for abducting and killing a Miami couple. Askari Abdullah Muhammad, previously known as Thomas Knight, was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison, the governor's office said. The execution took place in the same prison where Muhammad killed corrections officer Richard Burke in 1980. 'This is where my dad took his last breath,' said the slain guard's daughter, 47-year-old Carolyn Burke Thompson. She was among several family members who witnessed the execution and could be seen crying in the front row as it was carried out. Executed: Askari Abdullah Muhammad was put to death Tuesday for murdering a Florida couple and a prison guard . 'The system finally has worked. I am at peace knowing I don't have to wait any longer. I miss my dad a lot,' she said. Before his execution, Muhammad ate a meal of sweet potato pie, coconut cake, banana nut bread, vanilla ice cream, strawberry-and-butter pecan ice cream and Fritos corn chips — all washed down by a quarter of a bottle of Sprite, according to the website Death Penalty News. Muhammad, 62, was initially condemned to die for the 1974 abduction and killings of Sydney and Lillian Gans of Miami. Tuesday's execution was specifically for Burke's killing. Muhammad was visited by his four sisters Monday and earlier Tuesday by a friend. He declined to make any statement before the sentence was carried out. A small group opposed to the death penalty protested outside the prison. His execution was delayed for so long by numerous appeals and rulings, including a 1987 federal appeals court tossing out his original death sentence because he hadn't been allowed to put character and background witnesses on the stand during the penalty phase. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear his final appeals, but Justice Stephen Breyer said in a dissent he would have granted a stay to hear Muhammad's claims that it may be unconstitutional to execute an inmate after such a long time on death row. Justice: In October 1980, Muhammad thrust a sharpened spoon into the chest of corrections officer Richard Burke, 48 (pictured), because the prison would not let him see his mother . Court documents show that Muhammad fatally stabbed Burke as he was being escorted to the prison shower. The inmate had become upset, the documents say, because he was told he couldn't see a visitor unless he shaved his full beard. The documents added he had been overheard by guards to remark that 'it looks like I'll have to start sticking people.' In the earlier slayings, Muhammad had worked for Gans at a paper bag company before abducting him in the business parking lot with a rifle. He ordered Gans to drive home, pick up his wife and then head to a bank to withdraw $50,000. Inside the bank, Gans asked a manager to alert authorities. Both the FBI and police were able to follow the car for a while, including use of aircraft, but lost track of it for a short time in a rural area of Miami-Dade County. Trial testimony showed that's when Muhammad shot the couple and tried to hide by burying himself, the rifle and the money in mud and weeds. Muhammad was found soon after and arrested. While awaiting trial, he and 10 other inmates escaped from jail, leading to a nationwide manhunt including a top 10 fugitives listing by the FBI. Authorities say Muhammad was involved after his escape in the fatal October 1974 shooting of a liquor store clerk during an armed robbery in Cordele, Ga., that wounded a second clerk. He was never tried in that case. The FBI finally arrested Muhammad on New Year's Eve in 1974 in Florida. Muhammad converted to Islam in prison, changing his name from Knight. During his 1996 resentencing, he cursed at the judge and lawyers and yelled 'Allahu Akbar!' - 'God is great' in Arabic. | Askari Abdullah Muhammad murdered a Florida couple and a prison guard .
Muhammad killed the guard with a sharpened spoon .
Muhammad had been on Death Row for nearly 40 years . |
1728b9a1dcba7fa792374cfc1d3b4b86c4344c6d | Americans are more skeptical of climate change than people in other leading countries, according to an international survey. Global Trends 2014, a survey of more than 16,000 people in 20 countries, also revealed how divided Americans are over the cause and treatment of global warming. When asked if climate change is largely man-made, just 54 percent of US respondents agreed - ranking last in the international poll and ten points lower . than the next lowest countries on the list, Britain and Australia. However in China, 93 per cent of respondents believe the climate change we are witnessing is largely the result of human activity. Skeptics: When asked if climate change is mainly man-made, just 54 percent of US respondents agreed - ranking them last in the poll of countries including Russia, Poland and India . Disbelief: Just 57.3 percent of American respondents believe that we are headed for environmental disaster if we don't change our behavior or habits . The survey, conducted by British market research company Ipsos MORI, also found just 57.3 percent of Americans agreed that we're heading for environmental disaster unless we change our habits quickly. This compares with 91.1 percent of Chinese and 84.2 percent of Italian respondents, who accept that behavioral and attitudinal change is needed to stem the effects of global warming. Half of American interviewees believe the government is using climate change as a way to raise taxes, a view that is shared by the majority of respondents in nearly all the countries polled. However, there appears to be global consensus on the role of companies in addressing climate change. About 65 per cent of Americans surveyed don't think companies pay enough attention to the environment - second last among 20 nations surveyed. Natural disaster: The remnants of the Jet Star roller coaster in Seaside Heights, New Jersey are pictured after Superstorm Sandy hit in 2012 . Environmental Defense Fund spokeswoman Keith Gaby told CBS News that although American opinion is divided, other polls have found a large proportion believe some type of action is needed against global climate change. 'But it is true that a very loud minority has made action on climate change more difficult. I think that's because the issue - which should be judged on science - has gotten caught up in partisan politics,' he said. 'We need to [reopen] a productive, [bipartisan] dialogue about solutions that will help our environment and our economy.' In April, an Associated Press-GfK poll found only 33 percent of Americans were extremely confident that global temperatures are rising due to greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. In Gallup's annual environmental poll, 42 percent of respondents said reports of climate change are exaggerated. These views persist despite mounting evidence showing climate change is already affecting coastal flooding to global food supplies. 'Climate change is happening, the signs of it, the impacts, are detectible already,' Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, lead author of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. 'If you live in a city, if you live along the coast, or if you eat to live, this is a problem you have to worry about.' | 16,000 people in 20 countries interviewed for Global Trends 2014 survey .
54% of Americans believe climate change is largely human-caused .
But only 57% think we're headed for environmental disaster unless we change our habits . |
172a83e31be04816afa95453ee5395518a2d1771 | An al-Qaeda linked terror group has issued a chilling propaganda video threatening Western shopping centres and singling out 'Jewish owned' Westfield malls as targets. In a 76-minute long message issued overnight, a masked militant purportedly from the al-Shabaab organisation encouraged Islamic fundamentalists to strike at shopping centres around the world. Dressed in military fatigues, the spokesman named complexes owned by Frank Lowy's Australian group as among potential targets, dwelling on two Westfield malls in East and West London. 'If just a handful of mujahideen fighters could bring Kenya to a complete stand-still for nearly a week, just imagine what the dedicated mujahideen could do in the West to American or Jewish shopping centres across the world,' he said. Scroll down for video . Chilling: A new video, apparently released by Al-Shabaab, calls for 'Westgate-style' attacks on shopping centres including two malls owned by the Australian company Westfield in London . Westgate siege: Donning a camouflage jacket with a headscarf covering his face, the fighter threatens action and refers to the group's 2013 siege on Kenya's Westgate Mall (pictured), in which more than 60 people died . Return fire: Shortly after the Westgate Mall incident in September 2013, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. More than 60 people died, while around 200 people were injured. Above, police in the shopping mall . ‘What if such an attack on the Mall of America in Minnesota or the West Edmonton mall in Canada or in London’s Oxford Street. Or any of the hundred or so of the Jewish owned Westfield shopping centres. ‘Take the Westfield shopping centre in (London's) Stratford or White City for example, what would be the implications of such an attack, one can only imagine. ‘All it takes is a man with firm determination, of which our Muslim ummah (community) has plenty of. ‘So hurry up and hasten to Heaven and do not hesitate.' A Canadian shopping complex and the Mall of America - the United States' biggest shopping centre, - were also listed as targets. No specific threats were made to Australian shopping centres. Fighter: Sitting in front of a black background, the unidentified militant (pictured) says: 'If just a handful of mujahideen fighters could bring Kenya to a complete stand-still for nearly a week, just imagine what the dedicated mujahideen could do in the West to American or Jewish shopping centers across the world' Running to safety: In the newly-released video, Al-Shabaab describes the attack, complete with images of terrified men, women and children running through the mall for their lives. Above, people escape the mall . Terrifying: Shoppers are pictured crawling across the floor as they try to escape the mall in September 2013 . Westfield was co-founded by Sydney resident Mr Lowy and operates scores of complexes in Australia, the United States and United Kingdom. Daily Mail Australia has approached Westfield for comment about whether any precautions are being taken in Australian centres. Shortly following the bloody September 2013 attack, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the Westgate siege which left 67 people dead and hundreds injured. In the newly-released video, al-Shabaab runs a documentary-style account of the deadly attack, complete with images of terrified men, women and children running for their lives through the mall. The footage, posted online by the terror group, includes images of terrorist activity and discusses Kenya's military intervention in Somalia. The masked militant then appears on-screen and suggests a range of attacks on the Western targets. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has warned visitors to the Mall of America to remain vigilant. 'If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they've got to be particularly careful,' he told CNN. Targeted: The Mall of America (pictured) in Bloomington, Minnesota, is America's largest shopping center. It boasts 40million visitors a year and contributes nearly $2billion in annual economic activity to Minnesota . Crowded: 'I would say that if anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they've got to be particularly careful,' Mr Johnson said on CNN's 'State of the Union.' Above, the busy interior of the mall . Popular: The militant also encouraged radicalised Muslims to target Oxford Street (pictured) in London, England . Mentioned: The masked militant also calls for assaults on West Edmonton Mall (pictured) in Alberta, Canada . | Westfield shopping centres singled out in terror group video threat .
Threat was released by the al-Shabaab jihadist organisation who were responsible for the bloody 2013 Westgate siege .
The Australian shopping company co-founded by Frank Lowy owns scores of stores in Australia, the UK and the United States .
'Just imagine what the dedicated mujahideen could do in the West to American or Jewish shopping centres across the world,' jihadist said .
Malls in America and Canada were also listed as potential targets by the group . |
172c150e7d2016e63c3f2d535b3fa965966d3ef9 | SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea's Incheon International Airport has been voted the best in the world, according to a 10-month survey of airline passengers. Seoul's Incheon, pictured, edged out Hong Kong's International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport. Incheon, located about 70 km (43 miles) from Seoul, often ranks among the busiest airports in the world. It boasts a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, a casino, and indoor gardens that, according to the airport's Web site, offer "travelers an oasis of calm and tranquility permeated with the refreshing scent of pine." It is no surprise then that the annual survey conducted by the British-based consultancy group, Skytrax, ranked Incheon the No. 1 airport. The survey asked 8.6 million passengers at 190 airports to rate the facilities based on their experiences at check-in, arrival, departures and transfers. Incheon edged out Hong Kong's International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport -- but barely. "At one stage, it looked possible there might be a dead-heat result between these top three airports," Skytrax said in a statement. The annual survey also judged airports on individual categories. Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates came out tops for having the best duty-free shops, Hong Kong serves the best food, Helsinki-Vantaa in Finland is least likely to lose passengers' bags and Japan's Kansai International has the cleanest restrooms. The top 10 airports, according to the survey, are: . | Incheon boasts a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, casino, indoor gardens .
Survey asks 8.6 million passengers at 190 airports to rate facilities .
Incheon barely edges out Hong Kong's and Singapore's airports .
Dubai voted tops for duty-free shops; Helsinki-Vantaa voted least likely to lose bags . |
172c98952c6b774b12e34419e9071042ba9cb96c | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Actor Charlie Sheen voluntarily entered an undisclosed rehabilitation center for treatment Friday, his representative said. "He is most grateful to all who have expressed their concern," Sheen representative Stan Rosenfield said. The announcement came a day after Sheen was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where Rosenfield said he was treated for severe pain related to a hernia. He checked out of the Los Angeles hospital Thursday night, he said. "Charlie has had a hernia condition for some time," Rosenfield said. "I was told by the person who made the 911 call that it was hernia-related." Sheen's hit CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men" has been placed on "production hiatus," CBS and Warner Bros. Television said Friday. "We are profoundly concerned for his health and well-being, and support his decision," their joint statement said. Porn actress Kacey Jordan, who was at Sheen's house the night before his trip to the hospital, issued a statement through her representative Friday. She is "very happy that Charlie decided to get some help, it was clear to me if he didn't he would have died," Jordan's statement said. "He is such a talented actor, and has his beautiful children to think about." It was the second emergency trip to a hospital for Sheen in three months. He spent several hours in a New York hospital in October after police responded to an early morning call about "an emotionally disturbed person" at the Plaza Hotel, a law enforcement source said at the time. Sheen's representative blamed an "adverse allergic reaction" to a medication. Sheen, the son of actor Martin Sheen, spent at least a month last year at a Malibu, California, rehab center, but it was never disclosed what he was treated for there. He was arrested in December 2009 after his wife, Brooke Mueller, told Aspen, Colorado, police that he threatened her with a knife at their holiday home. A Colorado judge allowed the actor to count his time at Promises of Malibu toward a 30-day jail sentence after he entered a guilty plea in August in that case. The plea deal reduced the charges from felony domestic violence to a misdemeanor third-degree assault count. CNN's Brittany Kaplan, Brooke Anderson and Kareen Wynter contributed to this report. | Porn actress says she's "very happy" Sheen's going to rehab .
The decision to enter rehab comes a day after he was rushed to a hospital .
CBS puts "Two and a Half Men" on "production hiatus"
His rep blames the hospital visit on "a hernia condition" |
172d2668b011501c20181b4925ebb6ba582f9a2f | (Real Simple) -- October 31 seems to creep up on us every single year. Still set on treating Junior to that one-of-a-kind disguise? Frightened by the idea of making your own costume from scratch? Don't be. Get into the spirit with creative ideas that can be pulled together with cupcake liners, coffee filters, and more household items. Real Simple: Last-minute Halloween costume ideas . Race car driver . He'll go from zero to race-ready in a jiffy by decorating an everyday track suit with a few strips of tape (get the how-tos). Yellow duckling . Here's an idea that's sure to quack your little one up. A bunch of faux feathers and a pair of bright orange boots will have your lucky duckling ready to waddle around the 'hood. Get the how-tos here. Shark . This ferocious guy will be terrorizing the neighbors—for an extra handful of candy, of course. Only a few supplies are needed to create this shark's tough skin. Is the suspense killing you? Get the how-tos here. Strawberry . Think strawberry season is long gone? Think again. This sweet disguise starts with a ripe red shirt and a pair of matching leggings. Complete the fruity look with a stem made from felt, pipe cleaners, and more (get the how-tos). Real Simple: Delicious pumpkin recipes . Bookworm . A novel idea for the kid who always has his nose in the books. Pull the disguise together with felt, styrofoam balls, and more (get the how-tos). Wondering who's behind those oversized specs? This cute little dude (who you've probably spotted on his mom's blog joined our cast to show off his squiggly (and scholarly) style. Wise owl . Whooo needs a last-minute costume idea? This night owl's getup starts with brown leggings and shirt and calls for cupcake liners, faux feathers, and more (get the how-tos). Mermaid . Is everything really better down where it's wetter? Make a splash out of water with this easy-to-create costume that requires streamers, cupcake liners, and more (get the how-tos). Our little aquatic friend from nicolephoto.com emerged from under the sea to debut her loveliness on land. Ice cream sundae . This costume calls for the works: vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup, chocolate fudge, and a cherry on top (get the how-tos). For super sundae cuteness, the littlest lady at Oh Joy! modeled this sweet disguise. (Cue the screams of delight.) Real Simple: Simple Halloween costumes . Fairy godmother . Once upon a time there was a mommy who wished a Halloween costume could be made with the wave of a wand. Wish granted. This easy and enchanted disguise requires a tutu, star-shaped stickers, and a few more magical accessories (get the how-tos). Vet . The doc is in. And he'll be mending and repairing the stuffed animals, bath toys, and robots. Getting dressed for surgery requires an oversized button-down shirt, shower cap, and more (get the how-tos). When this guy is not on-call, you can find him in the playroom spending quality time with his patients. Lamb . What's blaahk, white, and fluffy all over? This sweet little lamb. To create a fleece as white as snow, you'll need to dip into the cotton ball stash (get the how-tos). Flower . Mary Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With a pipe cleaner stem, petals of felt, and a smile that will make your heart melt (get the how-tos). Real Simple: DIY Halloween costumes . Aviator . Prepare for takeoff. Imaginations will soar when your kid steps into this clever disguise made from a sweatshirt, tape, and more (get the how-tos). Yes, goggles are required. Love bug . Hooray for the pink and red lady who just landed in the garden. Her cuteness is off the charts and she's dressed in a disguise that's made from tulle and felt hearts (get the how-tos). Turquoise peacock . Spotted on the front lawn: An exotic (and adorable) little birdie with feathers bursting in a bright shade of blue (get the how-tos). Cobalt peacock . Here comes little miss magnificent with her vibrant blue feathers (get the how-tos) and her chipper disposition. Real Simple: Best Halloween movies . Rainbow fish . One fish, two fish, red fish, rainbow fish! Create these multicolored scales from that stash of cupcake liners in the pantry (get the how-tos). Flapper . A Roaring Twenties revival: Dancing her way around the neighborhood with a bob cut, strands of pearls, and a hot pink dress that, well, we made for twirling (get the how-tos). Fisherman . This seafarer is sure to reel in compliments (and candy!) with this low-maintenance disguise. There's no catch—but there are a few household items required (get the how-tos). Jailbird . Free to hit the streets on Halloween night, this guy's disguise comes together with faux feathers, white tape, and more (get the how-tos). Real Simple: Healthier Halloween candy . Lightning cloud . When Halloween strikes, this fierce dude will bolt from house to house making a serious dent in the neighborhood candy supply. Create the disguise with a few household essentials (get the how-tos). Skeleton . A sweet twist on a classic costume that requires a few frilly strands of ribbon to make those funny bones at home (get the how-tos). Get a FREE TRIAL issue of Real Simple - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2011 Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Make last-minute Halloween costumes from cupcake liners and coffee filters .
Star-shaped stickers and colored tape can transform regular clothing .
Never underestimate the power of felt and pipe cleaners on Halloween . |
172d6226f2e8bf0d36546cec5973ac4474fc9587 | (CNN)It's long been known that dogs and cats, with their highly developed sense of smell, can be trained to identify the volatile chemicals released by human illnesses. In some cases, researchers have even trained household pets to detect cancer or predict epileptic seizures. But what if we could fine tune that sense and put it into a microchip, allowing us to create a breathalyzer for diseases? For Dr. Andrew Koehl, the inventor of the microchip spectrometer technology at the heart of this "digital nose", the technology that will allow us to do just that is already here. "We can detect down to parts per billion levels," Koehl says. "To give you an analogy that's equivalent to one drop in an Olympic size swimming pool." The sensor, which is no bigger than a dime, works by creating a spectrum of what chemicals are in the air. It then identifies each chemical's unique make-up. If the sensor is set and calibrated to a certain level, it will trigger an alarm. Work continues to shrink it even further in a bid to enter the healthcare market. Within several years, the company hopes to develop it as a diagnostic tool. "What's amazing is that there really are compounds on your breath that indicate illness, that's been shown through a number of studies and we can detect those," he said. "There have already been a number of research papers published suggesting we can detect cancer, detect tuberculosis, detect asthma." Initially, the technology had been developed for defense purposes. He said the threat posed by the events of September 11 had got him thinking about the security applications of this type of sensor. "Originally it was aimed at detecting things like explosives, toxic chemicals and other threats that might occur," Dr Koehl told CNN. Developed at a research lab at the University of Cambridge in the UK and now in commercial production at a company called Owlstone with close links to the university, Dr Koehl says the sensor is already in use by oil industry giants like BP and Shell and in the food industry by Coca Cola and Nestle. Eventually the sensor could become a part of many everyday appliances, alerting consumers to which foods are going bad in the fridge or even the optimum moment to take the roast out of the oven. You could even, one day, have a digital nose that you could carry in your hip pocket. "More recently we've been looking at consumer spaces so we're talking to a number of manufacturers of mobile phones and mobile phone components," he said. "We want to develop a module small enough to put into mobile devices like phones." | Researches know that dogs and cats can sometimes detect diseases with their keen sense of smell .
Owlstone has created a microchip that can detect chemical molecules in the air with great accuracy .
Eventually the company wants to enter the healthcare space with a breathalyzer that could detect diseases .
Its 'digital nose' can already detect down to parts per billion, equivalent to one drop in an Olympic swimming pool . |
172dc212091a37f6a5500edeec8682cb3e7fc61b | Critics of Uber have attempted to crash the taxi app in any way they can, one of which is getting drivers to rate passengers just one star and thereby making the rating system meritless. A Daily Dot journalist named Nimrod Kamer was fed up with Uber's privacy issues, their desire to dig up dirt on journalists, and their assault allegations. Kamer decided to shake Uber's rating based system so that he could cause chaos for the popular app and fuel the anti Uber revolution. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Amused: When drivers heard journalist Nimrod Kamer's request for them to rate him one star they were very hesitant because they didn't one a low rating for themselves . Disbelieving: This Uber driver laughs in disbelief when Nimrod Kamer asks him for just one star . The man with the plan: Journalist Nimrod Kamer believes that by asking for a one star rating he inspire others to take suit who will then overthrow Uber's rating based system . Uber demands that both drivers and passengers rate each other anywhere between one and five stars with five being the best and one being the worst. Kamer believes that if passengers ask drivers to rate those, just one star that it, 'will throw the drivers off-guard, mixing up the system, and sparking total anarchy.' Kamer explains that since drivers need high scores to stay employed that they might be afraid to give a passenger one star in fear of getting one themselves. When Kamer visited New York in November he got 15 different drivers to rate him one star and ended up with an average rating of 1.8. Kamer told Business Insider that he 'is the first one to get a 1-star average, but it doesn't mean I'm a bad passenger, it just means I convinced fifteen drivers to give me a low rating. An Uber driver with a rating below four stars runs the risk of losing his position with the company. Kooky idea: Colorful British journalist Nimrod Kamer visited New York in November he got 15 different drivers to rate him one star and ended up with an average rating of 1.8. Rating based system: Uber demands that both drivers and passengers rate each other anywhere between one and five stars with five being the best and one being the worst . | Nimrod Kamer was fed up with Uber's privacy issues, their desire to dig up dirt on journalists, and their assault allegations .
Kamer decided to shake Uber's rating based system so that he could cause chaos for the popular app and fuel the anti Uber revolution .
Kamer believes passengers asking for one star 'will throw the drivers off-guard, mixing up the system, and sparking total anarchy' |
172e42c1855e7a08654e701bc7a9a382ccdf2971 | They look like two typical fans posing in front of Kayne West as he performs at the wedding of the favourite grandson of Kazakh dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev. But the pair with their eyes on Kim Kardashian's boyfriend are two eligible Kazakh 'princesses', from enormously powerful clans in the oil and gas rich ex-Soviet state made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen mocking film starring TV reporter 'Borat'. On the left is Venera Nazarbayeva, 23, the tyrant's granddaughter, whose Sandhurst-educated brother Aysultan, a Kazakh military intelligence officer, was celebrating his wedding with West's $3 million gig. Controversial: Venera Nazarbayeva, left, and Shynar Nematova, right, are two eligible Kazakh 'princesses' from enormously powerful clans in the oil and gas rich ex-Soviet state . Concert: Kanye West with Shynar Nematova, the daughter of Kazakhtan's Deputy Prime Minister . On the right is Shynar Nematova, 22, a graduate of University College, London, and daughter of ambitious deputy premier of Kazakhstan, Kairat Kelimbetov, a close Nazarbayev crony. Other pictures posted on the web by guests at the lavish celebration in Almaty were captioned as showing glamorous Shynar and West on the dance floor together. Aysultan, 23, is being groomed as a possible successor of the 73 year old president, say some sources in Kazakh capital Astana, though fierce battles between influential clans mean it is hard to predict what will happen when he goes. Nazarbayev - widely criticised for human rights abuses and rigging elections - employs Tony Blair as an advisor in an £8 million a year consultancy deal. Ironically, one of Nazarbayev's most implacable foes is Rakhat Aliyev, ex-husband of his daughter Dariga, and father of both Aysultan and Venera. Aliyev, once head of Nazarbayev's secret services, now lives in exile in Europe where he fears he could be seized by Kazakh spies and forced to face 'political' charges in his homeland. 'Kayne West should have thought twice before performing in Kazakhstan for the Nazarbayev family,' said an opposition source. Connections: West dances with Shynar Nematova . Criticism: West has found himself embroiled in controversy after the rapper raked in a reported $3 million to perform at the wedding . 'Kim should have warned him about the truth behind these glamorous people he was singing and dancing for.' West has found himself embroiled in controversy again after the rapper raked in a reported $3 million to perform at the wedding, according to TMZ. President Nazarbayev, who is . reportedly worth billions, is a controversial figure and has been at the . centre of claims of violating human rights and corruption. Singer Sting previously refused a similar invitation because of his record on human rights. The bash took place at the Hotel Royal . Tulip in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, the country memorably . lampooned by Sacha Baron Cohen in his 2006 movie Borat. Payday: Kanye West reportedly raked in $3 million to perform at the wedding of controversial Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s grandson on Saturday . Controversy: Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, . addressing the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly at . the UN in New York in 2007 . Expensive tastes: Kanye and his girlfriend Kim Kardashian (pictured at the Met Ball in May) like to splash out on the finer things in life . Kanye performed a selection of his hits . including Can't Tell Me Nothing and part of his set was captured on . video by a wedding guest, who posted it on Instagram. In . 2011, Sting pulled out of an arranged concert for the president over . claims of human rights violations on oil workers in the Central Asian . country. He said at the time, ‘Hunger strikes, . imprisoned workers and tens of thousands on strike represents a virtual . picket line which I have no intention of crossing. ‘The . Kazakh gas and oil workers and their families need our support and the . spotlight of the international media on their situation in the hope of . bringing about positive change.’ David Mepham, director of Human Rights . Watch has said: 'Kazakhstan's serious and deteriorating human rights . situation includes "credible allegations of torture, the imprisonment of . government critics, tight controls over the media and freedom of . expression and association, limits in religious freedom, and continuing . violation of workers' rights".' Kazakh . website Tengrinews wrote that the party celebrated the nuptials of . Aysultan Nazarbayev and Alima Boranbayeva. Aysultan, 23, is the youngest . son of President Nazarbayev's eldest daughter. He is a graduate of Sandhurst, and now works for the country's ministry of defence. Meanwhile his bride Boranbayeva, 20, reportedly attends London's Courtauld Institute of Art. Kanye is worth millions, but he and girlfriend Kim are well known for their expensive taste. The couple who recently welcomed their first child North West, have splashed out a whopping $750,000 on four gold-plated toilets for their new home. They are also said to have spent an incredible £750,000 on special-edition luxury beds for the $11 million Bel Air mansion. Borat: Sacha Baron Cohen famously lampooned Kazakhstan in his 2006 movie Borat . | Pair looking at Kim Kardashian's boyfriend are two Kazakh 'princesses' |
172e805bed2098f6d77419739fd637a627e44de2 | By . Bianca London . Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has a body most of us can only dream of possessing - until now. Bodyism, the lifestyle brand that Rosie swears by, has just launched a delivery service offering all the food and supplements that the supermodel lives on. Rosie, 27, religiously follows Bodyism's Clean & Lean diet, which is made up of lean light proteins, simply cooked, and foods that are unprocessed and close to the way nature made them. Although it's loved by supermodels, including Lara Stone and Elle Macpherson, the diet promises that it can work for anyone, . from housewives to office workers and everyone in between. Will it make us look like her? Rosie Huntington-Whiteley religiously follows the Clean & Lean diet, which is made up foods that are unprocessed and close to the way nature made them - and now they've launched a daily delivery service . And now, the company has joined forces . with healthy food delivery service, The Detox Kitchen, to deliver a daily 1,800 calorie meal plan and . supplement range that the likes of Hugh Grant, Rosie and Gwyneth Paltrow . may eat on a daily basis. Including muesli for breakfast, juices throughout the day, . and king prawns with a quinoa, mixed pepper and spring onion salad for dinner, the creators say that this is designed to boost your energy levels, encourage healthy weight management and improve your general wellbeing. The delivery service aims to make healthy living more accessible for time-poor Londoners and each day's menu promises to be wheat, dairy and refined sugar-free. Other dishes include lentil and roasted sweetcorn salad with salmon, king prawns and green papaya and mange tout salad, as well as chicken burger (the virtuous kind, of course) with courgette noodle salad. Will it fill you up? The delivery service aims to make healthy living more accessible for time-poor Londoners and each day's menu, including avocado and eggs, left, and healthy chicken burgers, right promises to be wheat, dairy and refined sugar-free . Each daily delivery also comes with a serving of recommended Bodyism supplements. Boxed up goodness: The creators say that this is designed to boost your energy levels, encourage healthy weight management and improve your general wellbeing . The supplements include Beauty Food - a daily elixir of super greens and marine collagen peptides - and Serenity, a calming combination of chamomile, hops and lavender to promote restful sleep. The only downside? Looking and living like Rosie doesn't come cheap. A day's worth will set you back £42.99. James Duigan and his wife . Christiane are the brains behind the vastly . successful Bodyism brand, which comprises smart gyms in London, The . Maldives and Turkey, Clean & Lean books, a health-supplement range . plus the company’s Brazilian Body Collection of workout wear. Oh, and they've helped whip the likes of Elle Macpherson, Hugh Grant and David Gandy into shape too. James' most recent project was teaming up with supermodel Lara Stone to pen the Clean & Lean . Pregnancy Guide, which he co-wrote with former . Grazia health editor, Maria Lally, and bills itself as 'the healthy way . to exercise and eat before, during and after pregnancy'. He called on good friend and . client Lara to write the foreword for his latest book, which features . gentle, safe exercises, illustrated with step-by-step photographs, for . every stage of your pregnancy. There . are specific exercises designed to get rid of your 'mum tum', healthy . eating dos and don'ts, plus advice on the best choices when eating out . and tips on dealing with cravings. The . book also includes flexible meal plans, healthy recipes and advice on . life post-baby, including getting enough sleep, recovering lost energy . and what to eat when breastfeeding. What does it take to look this good? James . Duigan and his model wife Christiane have established the hugely . successful Clean & Lean empire, but what do they eat themselves? The . power couple have revealed all . Speaking about the new delivery service, British Dietetic Association spokesperson Sioned Quirke said: 'It seems like some of the meals are balanced and some don't seem to be, especially with regards to carbohydrates. 'Including the main food groups - protein, carbohydrate and fruit and veg at each meal will ensure we get a variety of the essential nutrients to prevent deficiencies. 'If we don't have carbs at each meal we can become low in energy. We don't promote the use of supplements, unless prescribed by a health care professional, as we should get all the nutrients we require from our diet. Our bodies use nutrients derived by food more effectively. 'I would also promote physical activity as a part of a healthy lifestyle and weight loss. The price is certainly enough to put people off - just stick to a healthy balanced diet, portion control and exercise for long tern success.' Fans: Left, supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley . has been following the Clean & Lean plan for some years now, while . right, Lara Stone has been following the plan to get back into shape . after the birth of her baby . BreakfastMuesli with hazelnuts, raisins and coconut, served rice milk . Morning Beauty JuiceCucumber, mint, apple and celery, made with the Bodyism supplement, Beauty Food. Nut potBrazil nuts . LunchKing prawns with a quinoa, mixed pepper and spring onion salad . SnackAvocado salad . DinnerRoasted chicken breast with courgetti and green beans served with a cashew and basil pesto . Evening SerenityBlended cashew, rice milk and cinnamon, made with the Bodyism supplement, Serenity. | Rosie, 27, follows Clean & Lean diet .
Founders partnered with The Detox Kitchen to create daily delivery service .
They say it will boost energy levels and help with healthy weightloss .
British Dietetic Association say some meals aren't balanced enough . |
1731407f71214cee3b3418a7ad6514a4155fbb07 | By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 08:28 EST, 11 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:44 EST, 11 March 2013 . An student's rubber band ball started making a ball of rubber bands in class - and 65,000 bands later, it had stretched into the world's bounciest office chair. Industrial Design student Preston Moeller, 26, spent 336 hours designing and building the 3ft tall chair. It weighs 35lb and can support the weight of a grown adult. The rubber band chair, modelled by Maegen Eichinger, right, took 336 hours of design and building work . It took 65,000 rubber bands and 336 hours of work to make the colourful chair . His colourful creation earned him the $3,000 first prize in the Appalachian State University’s 6th Annual Chair Design Competition . Preston Moeller, 26, bagged the top prize at his university's design awards . Mr Moeller, from Cleveland, North Carolina, constructed the chair by wrapped rubber bands around a wire frame, hidden from view. On his personal website, he reported that the chair was proving to be incredibly hardy. He wrote: 'It has been moved around to multiple shows and I have been using it for the last couple months as my computer chair and it still looks as good as new. 'On the other hand, I have other smaller pieces that have started to dry up after around four years so I'm not sure how long the chair has to live. 'It looks as if the frame under the rubber bands is helping to keep them fresh but I don’t expect it to last forever.' The chair was even shown off during New York Design Week as part of the Industrial Designers Society of America’s booth. Preston Moeller, 26, has put the rubber band ball to a more unconventional use - as an office chair, modelled by former Appalachian State classmate Maegen Eichinger . The chair, with a wire frame hidden beneath the rubber bands, stands three feet tall and weighs 35lbs . | Industrial Design student Preston Moeller spent 336 hours making the chair .
His creation earned him a $3,000 prize at Appalachian State University . |
1731db7fdf93f1c13c05719566cf0aa8ffe5a72d | By . John Drayton . World Cup sticker albums will cost, on average, £450 to complete, according to new research by two mathematicians in Switzerland. With 640 stickers in the current Panini World Cup sticker album and 50p for a pack of six it should cost just £63.99 to complete the collection. However, allowing for duplicates it is estimated that 899 packs are actually needed at a cost of a whopping £449.50. Costly: New research has shown the real price of completing the World Cup sticker album . Straightforward: Without duplicates and swaps it could be as little as £63.99 to finish the lot . Andrew Palmer from the Economist attempted to explain the workings while taking into consideration his own personal knowledge of collecting. He told BBC Radio Five Live: 'It's a statistical technique called the Coupon Collector's Problem. I won't go into the maths part because I don't understand it but the idea is basically that if you as an individual just bought pack after pack after pack and didn't do any swapping how long would it take you to fill your album. 'Of course the probability of getting the card that you need goes down the more slots that you fill in the album. 'So on average these statisticians from the Swiss university reckon that it is just under 900 packs which in Britain is £450 give or take, which is a horrifyingly large amount.' Setback: But in reality that figure is likely to be closer to £450 . | Real cost of World Cup sticker albums is revealed by Swiss mathematicians .
Completing an album could cost as much as £450 and take 899 packs . |
1731f2797f8269d00f5cd87120e35b0ae7a7710e | The mystery of the Loch Ness monster has drawn millions to the Highlands in the search of the mythical beast. More than 80 years since she was first photographed, a recent spate of Nessie sightings has added weight to the claims that there really is something lurking in the depths of the loch. But the numerous sightings of the so-called beast over the last weeks could be something far more mundane, with experts at the Woodland Trust suggesting people could just be seeing logs floating on the water. Scroll down for video . Earlier this year Richard Collis captured footage of Nessie's head and neck emerging from Loch Ness, but was it just a log? Branch or beast? Another picture taken on the loch showed a strange shape emerging from rough waters . Comparison: Monster photographer Jonathan Bright drew a rough sketch to show how he sees the mysterious object in the water . Several Nessie spotters have come forward in the last few weeks, but the environmental charity claim people could be mistaking driftwood for the mythical creature. The Woodland Trust say 'deadfall' washed out by rivers from nearby Urquhart Bay Wood could explain the vast number of sightings since the Loch Ness Monster was first photographed in 1934. 'Large amounts of wood flows out of the woodland through the two winding rivers that flow into Loch Ness each year, peaking when water is high in late autumn and spring,' a spokesman for the trust told the Independent. 'I think that some of that debris explains the long thin, sometimes stick-like, shapes seen.' The spokesman added that the wood was effectively a 'Nessie spawning ground'. Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster date back to the 6th century, but became more common from the 1930s after George Spicer and his wife claimed to see 'a most extraordinary form of animal' cross the road in front of their car. This underwater photograph from 1972 is said to have been taken during an expedition using sophisticated underwater cameras and sonar equipment . This picture, taken in 1934, sparked a surge in visits to Loch Ness by people desperate to photograph the beast . The Spicers' story led thousands of people to visit Loch Ness to try to take a photograph of the creature. After sonar searches, countless hoaxes and dozens of weird and wonderful explanations for the sightings, no one has taken a clear picture of Nessie. In 2006, palaeontologist Neil Clark, from Glasgow University's Hunterian Museum, put forward an intriguing explanation linking the Loch Ness monster sightings to elephants. He said circuses used to visit Inverness often and would stop on the banks of Loch Ness to give the animals a rest. There are similarities between trunks and some of the most famous Nessie photographs, he said. 'The circuses used to take the road up to Inverness and allow their animals to have a rest, swim about in the Loch and refresh themselves,' Dr Clark said at the time. More recently, images have emerged allegedly showing Nessie poking her head out of the water, but the blurry images and video are not clear cut. Last year a satellite picture from an Apple map app appeared to show a large, mysterious creature swimming through the loch. The Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club said the sighting was 'likely' to be a true image of the beast. In 2013, this shadowy form measuring around 100ft long and seemingly having two giant flippers powering it through the waters of Loch Ness was photographed by an Apple map app . A poll conducted in 2012 found that 24 per cent of people professed belief in the Loch Ness monster . Following Nessie's first modern sightings in the 1930s, which were often printed in newspapers, thousands took to Loch Ness to try to take their own picture of the mysterious creature. Dozens of blurry images emerged, with some taking to creating elaborate hoaxes of the hidden beast. Here are some of the most famous sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. This blurred picture, said to show the Loch Ness Monster, was taken by Hugh Gray in 1933 and published in the Daily Express . A close-up of what could be the Loch Ness Monster. The photo was taken by William Jobes in 2011 . In 2001 semi-retired photographer James Gray and friend Peter Levings took this while they were out fishing . | Loch Ness monster sightings may actually be logs, Woodland Trust say .
Driftwood could be to blame for all Loch Ness sightings, the charity said .
Several people claim to have seen the creature in the last few weeks . |
17329a436a5f99bb018a6faca885d8d3bd1896f8 | Looking as impeccable as the Queen clearly takes some effort - and she certainly doesn't travel light. A van crammed with shoes, hat boxes and bagged dresses accompanied her as she arrived in Scotland today. After the royal couple, who were celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary with a trip to Moray, had been driven away from Elgin Station, staff quickly unloaded the royal train and ferried a succession of boxes to the waiting vehicle. The items were all labelled with yellow tags with 'The Queen' written on them. A number of suitcases were also packed into the vehicle which followed the Queen, who was resplendent in lavender Karl Ludwig and a hat by Angela Kelly, as she travelled to RAF Lossiemouth. Scroll down for video . Royal luggage: Staff pack a van full of the Queen's clothes and accessories as she takes a trip to Scotland . No mistaking whose clothes these are: The bags were all clearly labelled 'The Queen' Plenty of headwear to choose from: Staff carry hat boxes from the train to the van . Today's look: The Queen wore an elegant lilac ensemble by Karl Ludwig and a matching hat by Angela Kelly . The Queen was welcomed by Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Johnston, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, on the platform as she arrived in Elgin . Mothers with young children then greeted the Queen after she stepped off the train . Nice to meet you: The Queen looked delighted when a little boy approached clutching a posy of flowers for her . Hello there: The adorable little boy looked almost as thrilled to meet the Queen as she did to see him . Earlier, the Queen was all smiles as she was welcomed by Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Johnston, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, on the platform at Elgin Station. The monarch's smile grew even broader when a little boy approached clutching a bouquet of flowers, which she happily accepted before spending several minutes chatting to the child and his mother. Prince Philip, who is fresh from a visit to Germany where he presented service medals to troops returning from Afghanistan, also looked on fine form, smiling broadly as he met well-wishers, many of whom were waving Union flags. The royal couple had arrived in Elgin ahead of a visit RAF Lossiemouth and the neighbouring Kinross Barracks, where the Queen unveiled a plaque at the new purpose-built Quick Reaction Alert facility. Once there, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed with a flypast, which included two Typhoons and a Tornado jet, following a parade inside the aircraft hangar which also saw them inspect personnel from No.1 (Fighter) Squadron. It was the Queen’s first visit to the base since 2003 and formally recognised the transfer of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facility from RAF Leuchars to Lossiemouth. The facility is one of two in Britain that stands ready to scramble jets to intercept any unidentified aircraft in northern airspace. The other is at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. A warm welcome: The Queen is greeted by Pipe Major Ryan Anderson after arriving at Elgin rail station . Visit: The Queen was in Elgin ahead of a visit to RAF Lossiemouth which was once the home of the 617 Dambusters Squadron . Busy: The trip to Scotland comes in the midst of a busy week for the royals, with Prince Philip spending yesterday in Germany . Slow journey: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh travelled to Scotland on the Royal Train . The Queen and Prince Philip, who were married on November 20 1947, travelled overnight from London on the Royal Train to Elgin and were then driven to nearby Lossiemouth, where they met pilots and their families, including eight-year-old Lennon Gallagher, who gave the monarch a second posy. The Lossiemouth schoolboy said he knew it was their wedding anniversary but was not nervous to hand over the flowers, made up with colours from the RAF Lossiemouth tartan, to mark the visit. 'I got the day off school to give the Queen flowers,' he explained. 'She said "thank you, they’re so beautiful".' His father, Corporal Brendan Gallagher, added: 'We were told (about the visit) last month but we had to keep it quiet because Lennon didn’t know. 'We knew he’d be super excited and want to tell people in school if we told him too early, so we only told him the other day. It’s been great, we’re so proud of him.' One of the oldest Royal Air Force bases in Britain, RAF Lossiemouth began life in 1938 and first saw active service during World War Two when it became the base for No. 15 Flying Training School before being handed over to Bomber Command in 1940. More introductions: The Queen was met by Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Johnston on the platform at Elgin Station . Ravishing: The Queen looked wonderful in a pretty lilac ensemble and her trademark Launer London 'Judy' handbag . All smiles: The Queen seemed pleased to meet her welcome party who stood at the station waiting her arrival . Although much of the work done at the base involved training bomber crews, it was also the home of the famous Dambusters squadron, which launched the successful raid on the German battleship Tirpitz from the base in 1944. Now home to three combat squadrons as well as 'D-Flight' which operates Sea King search and rescue helicopters, it remains one of the busiest RAF bases in Britain. Most recently, Typhoon aircraft based at Lossiemouth had to be scrambled after a Russian Bear Bomber approached UK air space at the beginning of the month. The Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-95 aircraft were tracked as they flew across the North Sea before being intercepted by RAF pilots, who escorted them out of British airspace. Wing Commander Mike Sutton said: 'QRA is one of the most critical roles that the UK military has. It is made up with Typhoon aircraft permanently on standby to launch at very short notice, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to assist aircraft in distress or for any incursions on UK airspace that we need to investigate. 'Today is an enormous day for RAF Lossiemouth and we’re delighted to be hosting Her Majesty. As you can see we have lots of families visiting today and there’s a real good feeling on the station.' Here she comes! Her Majesty's silhouette could be seen from inside the train carriage as she approached the exit . All smiles: Both halves of the royal couple looked in good health and on fine form as they arrived at the Scottish station . Cheers: The royal couple were met by an enthusiastic crowd which numbered a group of flag waving school children among its members . Next stop: The Queen is presented with a posy of flowers by eight-year-old Lennon Gallagher as she arrives at RAF Lossiemouth . Inspecting the troops: Personnel from No 1 (Fighter) Squadron stand to attention as the Queen passes . Getting an update: The Queen hears about the recent work carried out at the facility . Aerial display: Two Typhoons and a Tornado jet flypast during a visit by the Queen to RAF Lossiemouth . Long union: The couple's trip fell 67 years to the day after they married . Happy anniversary: The pair were all smiles during their trip . | The Queen visited RAF Lossiemouth which was home to the famous 617 Dambusters Squadron .
She was met by cheering crowds as she stepped off the train in Elgin and was presented with a posy .
Staff then filled a van with her mobile wardrobe of hat boxes, suitcases and clothes bags .
Joined by the Duke of Edinburgh on royal couple's wedding anniversary .
They were at Lossiemouth to unveil a plaque at the new Quick Reaction Alert facility .
Earlier this month, jets from Lossiemouth intercepted Russian Bear bombers as they approached UK . |
1732a71716c54da942e03bad8612522366b0cabd | A 20-year-old Russian footballer has been shot dead while driving home in a region that has become the focus of Islamic militant activity. Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder Gasan Magomedov was driving home last night when his car was pelted with machine-gun fire. He died while being taken to hospital. No arrests have been made and the motive is unclear, the club said in a statement. Gasan Magomedov, who played for Anzhi, was shot while driving in to his village in Dagestan last night . Anzhi sent 'deepest condolences' to the family of Magomedov, a player in the club's youth and reserve teams. The club added: 'One thing can be said with confidence - Magomedov could not have provoked anything like this in any way.' There were no reports of any other casualties. Anzhi chief executive Sergey Korablev said: 'We grieve together with everyone who was dear to Gasan. 'I hope the police quickly find the killers and they suffer just punishment.' Makhachkala (pictured) is the main city in the Dagestan Republic in Russia - the region has become the focus of Islamist miltant activity with as many as 300 people from the area fighting reportedly fighting for ISIS . The footballer was shot in the region of Dagestan - where the club are based - and which has become the focus of Islamist militant activity in the North Caucasus. As many as 300 people from Dagestan are fighting for ISIS and about ten returnees have been killed in Russian anti-terror operations, it has been reported. The North Caucasus region is the part of Russia that slopes up towards the main ridge of the Caucasus mountains, often considered the border between Europe and Asia. It is home to dozens of nationalities and languages and gun battles between rebels and Russian security forces are not uncommon. Anzhi challenged for the Russian Premier League title in recent years financed by billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov. With his funding, the club spent eye-watering sums on star players such as former Brazilian player Roberto Carlos, Chelsea winger Willian and striker Samuel Eto'o who was reportedly paid around £350,000 a week. Under his ownership, the club twice reached Europe and played the likes of Liverpool. But when Mr Kerimov withdrew his backing, Anzhi were relegated to the second tier with the worst record in the whole of European football. In the past the club encouraged big-money stars like Willian (left) and Samuel Eto'o (right) to sign for the club . | Anzhi Makhachkala player Gasan Magomedov shot dead driving home .
He was pelted with machine-gun fire and died while being taken to hospital .
The footballer was shot in the region of Dagestan in North Caucasus .
That region has been the focus of Islamist militant activity in Russia . |
1734ed12f7e374594f7ab89b8c2f03ad0b037d39 | Two British researchers detained in Qatar while looking into the poor treatment of migrant workers as the Gulf state prepares to host the 2022 World Cup have been released. Researcher Krishna Upadhyaya, 52, and photographer Ghimire Gundev, 36, from London, went missing in the Qatari capital of Doha on August 31 as they were preparing to leave the country. Qatari authorities confirmed on Saturday that the pair were arrested for unspecified violations of Qatari law. Krishna Upadhyaya (left) and Ghimire Gundev (right) have been released after they were detained in Qatar while looking into the poor treatment of migrant workers as the Gulf state prepares to host the 2022 World Cup . The men's employer, the Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD), yesterday said the men had been set free but had not yet left Qatar. The group said it does not have details on the reason for their detention. The group said it spoke to Upadhyaya on Monday night and that both men were doing well. It said: 'The news is a fantastic relief for the families ... and all those who have been following the case.' The Global Network for Rights and Development, which is based in Stavanger, Norway, describes itself on its website as a neutral organization set up in 2008 to promote human rights and development. It has been critical of Qatar's treatment of migrant workers in the past. Qatar, like other Gulf Arab states, relies on vast numbers of mainly Asian low-paid migrant workers. Labor rights activists have raised concerns about dangerous working conditions, allegations of unpaid salaries and other abuses since Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup. The researcher and the photographer went missing in the Qatari capital of Doha (pictured) on August 31 as they were preparing to leave the country . Qatar has said the men were arrested for 'having violated the provisions of the laws of the state of Qatar.' Officials in Doha had no immediate comment on the men's release. Upadhyaya and Gundev had been due to fly from Doha to London on Sunday but failed to arrive at the airport. The GNRD said the pair had 'feared they might be in danger' after being harassed by police and had decided to leave the country when they disappeared. They had reportedly been looking in to reports of poor treatment of Nepalese migrant workers as Qatar prepares to stage the football World Cup in 2022. | Two researchers had been looking into poor treatment of migrant workers .
They went missing on August 31 while preparing to leave the country .
Their employer has said the men have been set free but not yet left Qatar . |
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