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19c42be91c105f6632934d6753cdb5a1a20f69ff | A nursery nurse has become the North's 'real life' Princess Elsa from smash-hit film Frozen. Samantha Van Rossen was used to putting on shows for her pre-school children at Elswick House Nursery School in Newcastle. But after seeing the Disney smash hit - which is the highest-grossing animated film of all time with takings of $1.1 billion so far - she decided to buy an 'Elsa' Ice Queen dress and offer her services on Facebook. Scroll down for video . A nursery nurse has become the North's 'real life' Princess Elsa from smash-hit film Frozen . After seeing the Disney smash hit Samantha Van Rossen decided to buy an 'Elsa' Ice Queen dress and offer her services on Facebook . Since becoming the 'real-life Elsa', Samantha has been inundated with requests for appearances at toddlers' birthday parties and shows. 'I've got seven Elsa jobs in one day just before Christmas, and I'm averaging three a week,' the 30-year-old from Fenham said. 'When kids see me they really think I'm Elsa. It's really taken off.' Frozen has united young and old, girls and boys with its feelgood tale of sisterly love. And the sold-out Frozen 'Snow Glow' Elsa doll is the most sought-after Christmas present of the year in the UK, changing hands for up to £90 online. The 30-year-old was used to putting on shows for her pre-school children at Elswick House Nursery School in Newcastle . 'I noticed that there was an Elsa costume available to hire and I thought I could do it myself using my childcare experience to enhance it,' Samantha said. 'So I bought a dress and made a Facebook page. What I like about it is that I know that I'm making memories for those families and that it will be a memory that will last a lifetime.' Clocking up almost 400 'likes' and five stars already on the social media site, Samantha wakes up every morning to at least one new Elsa booking request. In a 20-minute routine to transform into Elsa, Samantha backcombs her hair, puts in extensions, does her makeup and places on her turquoise-coloured sparkly dress. Then she spends time with children where they have singalongs, dance and story time. Since becoming the 'real-life Elsa', Samantha has been inundated with requests for appearances at toddlers' birthday parties and shows . 'I've got seven Elsa jobs in one day just before Christmas, and I'm averaging three a week,' Samantha from Fenham said. 'When kids see me they really think I'm Elsa. It's really taken off.' The sold-out Frozen 'Snow Glow' Elsa doll is the most sought-after Christmas present of the year in the UK, changing hands for up to £90 online . Samantha says she likes knowing that I know she's making memories for families that will last a lifetime . Samantha wakes up every morning to at least one new Elsa booking request . Mother-of-two Marie Air, 36, from Bedlington booked 'Elsa' for her four-year-old daughter Libby's birthday, earlier this month. 'Libby cried herself to sleep in bed that night because she loved Elsa so much. She dresses up as Elsa almost every day and everything in our house has to do with Elsa. We have every toy, we have the Frozen film going and the music playing every day. Sam was absolutely amazing. The children were gobsmacked, she looks really, really good. I had to explain to Libby that Elsa had to go report to Santa and that she had to go work on the next film.' Lisa Doyle, 41, from Gateshead said her daughter Isla almost cried when Samantha as Elsa arrived at her seventh birthday party. Elsa came as a surprise during the Frozen-themed party which made Isla happy after she had been unwell with a virus. 'She's such a bubbly character and she's super to do that role,' said Lisa, speaking of Samantha. 'She brought so much happiness and sparkle to the room. I started to cry when we all sang Let It Go because we were singing our hearts out and it was just such a special moment.' In a 20-minute routine to transform into Elsa, Samantha backcombs her hair, puts in extensions, does her makeup and places on her turquoise-coloured sparkly dress . Samantha believes that the film has become so popular among children because it is not a traditional storyline. She said: 'It's not like other stories where the princess meets the prince. I think the catchy songs, and the fact that she's saved by her sister, has made it popular.' Samantha believes that the film has become so popular among children because it is not a traditional storyline. She said: 'It's not like other stories where the princess meets the prince. I think the catchy songs, and the fact that she's saved by her sister, has made it popular.' Samantha, who has three stepchildren of her own, said they are in awe of her role-playing as Elsa. She said: 'The youngest, who is five, was confused if her stepmum really was Elsa.' 'I would love to do this full-time,' Samantha said. 'The goal is to have an army of princesses and develop male characters. I want to run parties during the day, have loads of events and continue to do charity appearances.' For more information about booking Samantha as Elsa visit her Facebook page www.facebook.com/BeYourGuestCharacterHire . | Samantha Van Rossen dresses up as the cartoon character at kids parties .
The blonde wears a sparkling dress and hosts singalongs and story time .
The film is highest-grossing animated film ever, taking $1.1billion so far . |
19c49f3cdfeaf30a92eefb6a04cb441f1865ec21 | A recent Treasury Department report of misconduct by a banking regulator is giving watchdogs some ammunition to argue that financial regulators are too cozy with the banks they are tasked with overseeing. The report, part of a small batch just released by the department's inspector-general, says that a government employee in Florida who served as a bank examiner accepted "gratuities (golf fees and/or food) on at least four occasions" from a bank he was reviewing. The report, conducted in 2010, called the situation a "conflict of interest" for the employee, who worked at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. "You have a government employee, during a time when he has a special responsibility to oversee this bank, actually taking time from work and going to play golf with these folks," said Michael Smallberg, a researcher with the Project on Government Oversight. "It was a pretty striking example of a government employee actually cozying up to the folks he's supposed to be regulating." But Inspector-General Eric Thorson, who polices the Treasury Department and released the files, defended the agency. "These investigative reports are good examples of the fact that the department has been successful in demonstrating that there is little toleration for individual misconduct." "My opinion is that Treasury has an institutional highly ethical culture," he added. But Smallberg is still critical. "When folks wonder why regulators didn't do a better job of stopping the financial crisis, or they're wondering why OCC didn't spot the huge trading loss at JP Morgan earlier this year, I think part of the issue is just that the examiners were just too close to the folks they were supposed to be examining," he said. Smallberg wrote about the case last week, after the Treasury inspector-general's report was posted online by the disclosure organization GovernmentAttic.org. The website obtained it through a Freedom of Information Act request. Five other reports from the last few years, in which allegations of misconduct were substantiated, were also made public. In one case, an employee was found to have used his work computer to solicit prostitutes via the online classified site Craigslist and arrange trysts on three occasions. In another, an employee was found to have emailed internal information about Treasury contracting to her husband, who worked for a contractor. The rest involved disorderly conduct at a stadium; running up a $240 FedEx bill on the government's dime; and banking with a bank that was also regulated by the agency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency responded that it attaches great importance to ethical conduct, and any alleged misconduct is investigated. "These are isolated incidences, and do not diminish the highly ethical behavior of thousands of other OCC employees," the agency said in a written statement. And Christian A. Weideman, the Treasury Department's deputy general counsel, said there is "absolutely no evidence of any pattern or trend." "Unfortunately, in all institutions of every size, there are some employees who act inappropriately," Weideman said. "Although any misconduct is unacceptable, this is a small number that does not fairly reflect a Department with tens of thousands of employees." While employees are disciplined for any misconduct, the overwhelming majority of them "serve the American people with professionalism, diligence, and integrity," he added. The disciplinary outcomes for the six employees were not listed -- except for the prostitution case, where the employee retired. Treasury officials referred five of the six cases to criminal prosecutors, although charges were not ultimately filed. "They did refer them out for prosecution, and I can't see taking more aggressive action than that," said Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "No question that it's all embarrassing, and that it's all unacceptable; but I think Treasury can also be credited for taking it on, doing something about it, not trying to sweep any of this under the rug." | A Treasury report documents several incidents of misconduct by employees .
One bank regulator got gifts from a Florida bank on at least four occasions .
Inspector-general says reports show Treasury has little tolerance for misconduct . |
19c54f502bb6c00d3bd84e56ae8f729151a8a727 | Officials say 11 people are safe after being rescued from their sinking tow boat carrying thousands of gallons of diesel fuel off the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The Coast Guard says it received an emergency call on Thursday afternoon from the 95-foot Nalani after it began taking on water about 2 1/2 miles offshore. Emergency vessels rushed toward the scene, while an alert went out for boats in the area to help with a rescue. Survivors: Coast Guard crew members standing with 11 survivors of the Tug Nalani at Coast Guard Station in Honolulu on Thursday after their two boat sunk over 2,000 feet . Spill: 75,000 gallons of diesel fuel are sinking beneath the water and an oil sheen was spotted in the ocean . Two vessels reached the stricken craft and brought all 11 people aboard to safety, later transferring them to a Coast Guard boat. No one was injured. The Coast Guard says it was carrying 75,000 gallons of diesel fuel when it sank in 2,200 feet of water. Crews are assessing what to do about the fuel. An oil sheen was spotted on the ocean. The cause of the sinking was being investigated. 'Right now, we're working with state and local partners as to how we're going to proceed on this," said Zachary Smith of the Coast Guard to Hawaii News Now. 'We also contacted NOAA and requested an oil trajectory to where, if there's a release, where all this would make landfall.' The Nalani was recently sold to tow the old Superferry barges to South America so the passengers prepared for a long journey. The length of travel was why there was so much fuel on board. Recently sold: The Nalani was recently sold to tow the old Superferry barges to South America so the passengers prepared for a long journey, the reason being so much fuel was on board . | Officials say 11 people are safe after being rescued from their sinking tow boat off the Hawaiian island of Oahu .
The Coast Guard says it was carrying 75,000 gallons of diesel fuel when it sank in 2,200 feet of water and an oil sheen was spotted in the ocean .
The cause of the sinking is being investigated . |
19c55e7de3ad563a51f5b58d5f454955fd41bfed | (Tribune Media Services) -- Italy's Cinque Terre is a quintet of villages clinging to a bit of rugged coastline between Genoa and Pisa. Long cut off from the modern world, this remote chunk of the Italian Riviera only became easily accessible with the coming of the train. Boats are a way of life in Vernazza. Each village is a variation on the same theme: a well-whittled, pastel jumble of homes, filling a gully like crusty sea creatures in a tide pool. Locals are the barnacles -- hungry, but patient. And we travelers are like algae, coming in with the tide. Since my mind goes on vacation with the rest of me when I'm here, I think of the towns by number, east to west: no. 1 Riomaggiore (a workaday town), no. 2 Manarola (picturesque), no. 3 Corniglia (on a hilltop), no. 4 Vernazza (the region's dramatic cover girl), and no. 5 Monterosso al Mare (the closest thing to a beach resort). To preserve this land, the government has declared the Cinque Terre (CHINK-weh TAY-reh) a national park. For a small entrance fee (about $8 for a one-day pass), visitors can hike the trail connecting all five towns, a trek that takes about five hours. You can choose any village for a home base, but Vernazza is my favorite. At the top end of town a little road hits a post, effectively a dead end for drivers. Like the breakwater keeps out the waves at the bottom of town, the post keeps out the modern storm at the top. No cars enter this village of 600 people -- except on Tuesday morning, when a few cars and trucks show up for a tailgate-party street market, augmenting the meager business community. Vernazza has the only natural harbor in the Cinque Terre. In the Middle Ages, there was no beach or square. The water went right up to the buildings, where boats would tie up, Venetian-style. Vernazza's fishing fleet is down to just a couple of boats. Still, Vernazzans are more likely to own a boat than a car. Boats remain on buoys, except in winter or when the red storm flag indicates bad seas. In that case they're allowed to pull up onto the main square, usually reserved for restaurant tables. Vernazza has a humble little working beach -- a pebbled cove littered with scenes of a community that lives off the sea ... and travelers who love the views. Well-worn locals fill the benches while tourists sunbathe on rocks. In the summer, the beach becomes a soccer ground, where teams fielded by local bars and restaurants provide late-night entertainment. The town has two halves. Sciuiu (Vernazzan dialect for "flowery") is the sunny side on the left as you face inland, and luvegu (dank) is the shady side on the right. On the far right, a castle -- now just stones and a grassy park -- served as the town's lookout back in pirate days. Below the castle an interior arcade connected the houses -- ideal for fleeing attacks. These days, "Ligurian pastel" colors are regulated by a commissioner of good taste in the regional government. Vernazza's harbor-front church is unusual for its strange entryway, which faces east (altar side). Hanging on the wall inside are three historic portable crosses -- replicas of crosses that Vernazza ships once brought along on crusades to the Holy Land. During Easter processions, these crosses are taken down and carried through town. Located in front of the church, a tiny piazza -- decorated with a river rock mosaic -- is a popular hangout spot. It's where Vernazza's old ladies soak up the last bit of sun, and kids enjoy a patch of level ball field. Beyond the town, vineyards, with their many terraces, fill the mountainside. Someone -- probably after too much local wine -- calculated that the roughly 3,000 miles of terrace walls have the same amount of stonework as the Great Wall of China. Wine production is down nowadays, as younger residents choose less physical work. But locals still maintain their tiny plots and proudly serve their family wines. Evenings in Vernazza are well spent sitting on a bench and enjoying the scene, either with a gelato or a glass of local white wine (borrow the glass from a bar, they don't mind). Observe the passeggiata (evening stroll), as locals meander lazily up and down the main street doing their vasca (laps). Or gaze at the people looking out the windows of the faded pastel buildings, like a gallery of portraits hanging on ancient walls. Here in Vernazza the generation that didn't grow up with television spends time posted at their windows, watching over a world as reassuring as the Mediterranean tide. Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. E-mail him at rick@ricksteves.com, or write to him c/o P.O. Box 2009, Edmonds, Wash. 98020. Copyright 2009 RICK STEVES, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. | Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows .
His TV series, "Rick Steves' Europe," airs on PBS stations .
Steves' company, Europe Through the Back Door, conducts European tours . |
19c5c590fc0fce6f17b5b5fecdba90d02773f719 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A San Francisco Bay Area private all-girl Christian high school has won the ire of parents after an ill conceived decision to put fried chicken, cornbread and watermelon on a Black History Month celebration lunch menu. Officials at Carondelet High in Concord have had to dole out some serious apologies for the debacle, which some students actually first conceived on Friday as a way to celebrate the holiday. But good intentions weren't enough to keep community members angry at the arguably racist menu at bay. Bad idea: A private Christian high school in Northern California has apologized for putting fried chicken, cornbread and watermelon on the menu for a month honoring back history month . 'Chicken, watermelon, collard greens,' University of San Francisco professor James Taylor told KNTV. 'These stereotypes of black Southern culture come from the same place that the N-word comes from.' Apologies: Principal Nancy Libby quickly apologized for the outrageous mistake. 'Please know that at no time at Carondelet do we wish to perpetrate racial stereotypes,' she said . Because of responses like Taylor's that school officials held an assembly Wednesday to discuss the issue. Officials also sent a letter apologizing to parents. Principal Nancy Libby wrote that the items were taken off of the menu and that the last thing the school wanted was to appear in any way racially insensitive. 'I'd like to apologize for the announcement and any hurt this caused students, parents or community members,' Principal Libby wrote in the letter. 'Please know that at no time at Carondelet do we wish to perpetrate racial stereotypes.' According to KNTV, members of the school's black student union approached school officials asking that just the watermelon be taken off the menu. Libby said the entire menu, including the chicken and cornbread, would be nixed. She also said the school plans to hold a racial sensitivity assembly for both faculty and students. Neither Libby nor the school's dean of students would discuss the matter directly with media. Meanwhile, Professor Taylor emphasized just how wrong the school was in ever making the decision. 'This is not like, "This food represents this heroic moment in African-American experience." What it represents is the degradation and the stereotyping of African-Americans.' | Bay Area all-girl Christian school Carondelet High apologized for what they reportedly thought would be a way to honor black history . |
19c643aa1133ada37dae9ff85441d4e22d01ca2d | An investigation has been launched into the leaking of Defence Minister David Johnston's travel and hospitality receipts. The Defence Department is probing how Senator Johnston and his Chief Of Staff Sean Costello’s expenses were made public, the ABC reports, after it was revealed they indulged in a series of expensive meals with industry officials who are chasing lucrative government contracts. Dining receipts obtained by News Corp journalist Ian McPhedran show Mr Johnston, Mr Costello and defence industry executives spent $6384 of taxpayers money in pricey restaurants during November. Scroll down for video . Receipts showing thousands of taxpayers dollars being spent on lavish meals by Defence Minister David Johnson have been revealed, with this $662 receipt from Sean's Kitchen in Adelaide . The revelations of the meals - often washed down with $200 bottles of wine - come as ordinary troops in Australia's armed services face cuts to their entitlements and a 1.5 per cent pay increase which is below the rate of inflation. A spokesman for the Defence Minister told Daily Mail Australia that the spending was all within guidelines. 'All hospitality hosted by the Defence Minister and extended to foreign dignitaries or industry heads, including at the time of the Albany Commemoration, has been within guidelines and is consistent with previous Defence Ministers’ practice,' the spokesperson said. However, the Opposition's Nick Champion told the ABC the Prime Minister should take action against Senator Johnston. 'It's up to Tony Abbott really, to do what we all know needs to be done,' Mr Champion said. 'We all know it's going to be done. This minister is either going to be demoted, shifted out of his portfolio or sacked completely and put on the backbench.' This receipt shows some of the items indulged in at Balthazar restaurant in Perth on November 12 . The first lavish dinner took place on November 2 at Perth's Matilda Bay Restaurant, where rib eye steaks, lamb and snapper along with three bottles of Henschke Mt Edlestone Shiraz at $190 a bottle contributed to the $2332 bill, News Corp reported. The prestigious establishment has waterfront views of the Swan River. Just a few days later, on November 5, Mr Johnston and Mr Costello were in Adelaide dining with Bruce Carter, chairman of submarine builder ASC and one of the companies chasing government work, sources told News Corp. The trio polished off two bottles of $143 shiraz at Sean's Kitchen, and two martinis at $20 each, according to the $662 receipt. Defence Minister David Johnston (left) and his Chief Of Staff Sean Costello (right) dined with industry executives hoping to secure billion dollar government contracts . These accusations come as defence personnel are facing cuts to their allowances and pay . The next stop was Balthazar Restaurant in Perth where the $722 bill - again racked up between just three people - included two $172 bottles of Omensetter Shiraz, two pork fillets and a cheese platter, News Corp reported. For the November 12 dinner, Mr Johnston and Mr Costello shared a meal and a few drinks with 'a senior executive from Austal.' Shipbuilder Austal is also seeking defence work from the government according to News Corp. Matilda Bay in Perth was revisited on November 15 where the bill racked up by seven guests at the waterfront restaurant was $2062. Rib eye steaks were on the menu again, as were two bottles of Picardy Chardonnay at $170 a pop. Bruce Carter, Chairman of submarine builder ASC (left) and Andrew Bellamy, head of WA shipbuilder Austal (right) were among some of the pair's dinner guests . The final dinner destination for November was the Courgette in Canberra, where Mr Johnston and Mr Costello were joined by two others, totalling $599 for dinner and drinks. In stark contrast, ordinary defence personnel who travel on business are afforded allowances of $24 for breakfast, $28 for lunch and $47 for dinner. | Defence Department launches an investigation into leaked receipts .
Receipts show $6384 of taxpayers money was spent on lavish dining by Defence Minister David Johnston and his Chief Of Staff Sean Costello .
The pair entertained industry heavyweights looking to secure lucrative government contracts .
The dinners included pricey meals and $200 bottles of wine .
The receipts emerged as ordinary defence workers are facing below inflation pay rises and entitlement cuts . |
19c6dfe686963af2010b702467cd58dadd65b13a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:03 EST, 25 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:03 EST, 25 June 2013 . Serena Williams has issued a new apology for what she called 'insensitive and misinformed comments' she made about the victim in the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case. In a Rolling Stone story posted online last week, Williams said the 16-year-old girl 'shouldn't have put herself in that position.' On Monday night, a before Williams her first-round match at Wimbledon, . she released another statement on her website, saying she also wanted to . 'extend an apology to the millions of sexual assault victims in America . whose pain could have been compounded by my inappropriate remarks.' Serena speaks: During a press conference, Williams made her first apologies for the comments she made about the Steubenville rape case in a Rolling Stone interview . Williams said in the interview, 'Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk . like that, your parents should teach you - don't take drinks from other . people.' 'She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse,' WIlliams added. 'She's lucky. Obviously I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different.' Her comments caused a storm of controversy, with many upset that a woman in Williams' position would blame the teenage victim for the rape. Williams claimed on that Rolling Stone misquoted her. 'I am currently reaching out to the girl's family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article,' she said. 'What was written - what I supposedly said - is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.' Stick to what you know: Serena Williams is likely to be more . successful on court at Wimbledon than commenting on current affairs such . as Steubenville rapists Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond (right) Williams also apologized at a news conference for the comments. The new apology reads: . 'I am deeply sorry for my insensitive and misinformed comments. It was not my intention to cause the victim and her family any additional pain. But I did, and I am sorry. I am grateful to them for the opportunity to personally apologize, and I am humbled by their strength, grace, and forgiveness.'I also want to extend an apology to the millions of sexual assault victims in America whose pain could have been compounded by my inappropriate remarks. Rape and all forms of sexual assault are completely unacceptable, no matter the circumstances.' Sexual assault, Williams wrote, 'is never acceptable and never the fault of the victim.' | Tennis ace issued a second apology for her comments about the Steubenville rape case on her website .
Said 'sexual assualt is never acceptable and never the fault of the victim.'
Williams plays her first Wimbledon match on Tuesday . |
19c7e48d028fd7102c188e7f04997d5bcc6d41ca | A Perth man has been charged with reckless driving for speeding at more than 200km/h with two young children in the car. Officers stopped the driver of a black Holden Commodore sedan about 8.45am on Saturday, after allegedly catching him driving 211 kilometres an hour on the Forrest Highway in West Coolup, Western Australia, a 110 kilometres and hour zone. The man was charged with reckless driving and his vehicle was seized for 28 days. Police allege there were two children in the car at the time of his arrest, reports ABC. Officers stopped the driver of a black Holden Commodore sedan about 8.45am on Saturday . Police posted a photo of the vehicle on Twitter, labelling the driver a 'loser' in two posts on the Western Australia Traffic Police account. The first post reads 'it seems some people never learn, this morning, a driver clocked at 211km/h in a 110km/h zone with two small children in the car.' A tweet from the the Western Australia Police Traffic account . A second post from the read: 'What a loser... lost his car for 28 days and he had two kids in the car!!' He will appear in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on January 20. A Perth man has been charged with reckless driving for speeding at more than 200km/h with two young children in the car . | Police pulled up a black Holden Commodore sedan 8.45am on Saturday .
The driver was allegedly going more than 211 kilometres an hour .
The man was charged with reckless driving and his vehicle was seized .
Police posted a photo of the vehicle on Twitter, labelling the driver a 'loser' |
19c86874df2b653f86acfe4e8cc3d9f795abff1f | Gaining just five pounds can lead to an increase in blood pressure, a new study has found . Gaining just a small amount of weight can put people at risk of raised blood pressure, a new study has found. Researchers found people who put on just five pounds saw their blood pressure rise. Many people are aware of the health implications of being severely overweight or obese, but scientists at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. wanted to see the impact of small weight gain of five to 11 pounds. Lead author Dr Naima Covassin, said: 'To our knowledge, for the first time, we showed that the blood pressure increase was specifically related to increases in abdominal visceral fat, which is the fat inside the abdomen. 'Our research suggests that healthy people who are more likely to gain weight in the stomach area are also more likely to have their blood pressure increased.' At the beginning of the eight-week study, a 24-hour monitor tested the blood pressure of 16 normal weight people. Researchers fed them an extra 400 to 1,200 calories each day with their choice of an ice cream shake, chocolate bar or energy drink to increase their weight by about five per cent. Afterwards, their blood pressure was taken for another 24-hour period. Their results were compared to 10 normal weight, healthy people who maintained the same weight over the eight weeks. The researchers found those who gained weight had a systolic blood pressure (top number) increase from an average 114 mm Hg to an average 118 mm Hg. Those who gained more weight inside their abdomen had a greater blood pressure increase. However, a five to 11 pound weight gain did not affect cholesterol, insulin or blood sugar levels. The study was conducted in healthy people aged 18 to 48. Dr Covassin said further studies will need to be conducted to see if the results are similar in different age groups, those with a family history of high blood pressure and other groups. 'The public awareness of the adverse health effects of obesity is increasing; however, it seems most people are not aware of the risks of a few extra pounds,' added Dr Covassin. 'This is an important finding because a five to seven-pound weight gain may be normal for many during the holiday season, the first year of college or even while on vacation.' The research was presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. found a five to 11 pound weight gain did not affect cholesterol, insulin or blood sugar levels. Dr Naima Covassin, said: 'This is an important finding because a five to seven-pound weight gain may be normal for many during the holiday season, the first year of college or on vacation' | Mayo Clinic study found gaining five to 11 pounds increases blood pressure .
Researchers believe it is the first time a study has showed the link was specifically related to an increase in abdominal fat .
Found weight gain did not affect cholesterol, insulin or blood sugar levels . |
19ca0909f6db4108c944cdc359b03363ac62a639 | By . Liz Hull . Last updated at 10:33 PM on 6th January 2012 . A ‘despicable’ thief stole a retired banker’s bicycle as he was drowning in a canal. Michael Houghton, 51, was face down in the water when Adam Lowther, 22, came along the towpath. Instead of rescuing the unconscious father of three or calling for help, Lowther picked up his mountain bike and rode off on it. As Michael Houghton (left) lay dying in the Leeds-Liverpool canal, Adam Lowther (right) stole his bike, later selling it for just £20 . The thief told police he assumed Mr . Houghton was already dead. In fact, he was still alive and might have . been saved had Lowther alerted emergency services. Mr Houghton was eventually pulled from the canal in Leeds by two passers-by, but he died in hospital three days later. Jobless Lowther, meanwhile, sold the . bike for £20. He was arrested on suspicion of murder, but never charged, . and served four months in jail after admitting theft. Detective Inspector Martin Hepworth, . of West Yorkshire police, told an inquest into Mr Houghton’s death: ‘Had . there been an offence for not being a Good Samaritan, as there is in . France, I would have charged Lowther with that, but there is not. ‘It isn’t just a matter of being public spirited, it’s a matter of public duty.’ Coroner David Hinchliff criticised Lowther for failing to get help. ‘The fact that he didn’t shows what a . thoroughly cowardly and despicable young man he is in contrast with the . two that did,’ he said. ‘What makes this all the more . unpleasant and callous was that he was perfectly prepared to steal a . cycle while leaving someone in the water.’ The Leeds court heard on Thursday . that Mr Houghton was on his daily cycle ride from his home in Horsforth . to Leeds city centre along the Kirkstall stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool . canal when he fell off on July 29 last year. Michael Houghton died after falling into a stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool canal near Kirkstall . He landed in the water, which was only 3ft deep, possibly banging his head on a boulder. Fellow cyclist Lowther was the first . person to find Mr Houghton, shortly after 6.30pm. He discarded his own . bicycle, which had a puncture, in bushes and pedalled away on the dying . man’s Apollo Vortice mountain bike. At 6.50pm, cyclist James Atkinson and . jogger William Bentall pulled Mr Houghton from the water and gave him . first aid until paramedics arrived. He was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary and placed on life support, but died three days later on August 2. A post-mortem examination revealed . that Mr Houghton, who retired at 49 to care for his sick wife, Angela, . died of brain damage caused by drowning. Police traced Lowther after he gave his details to a pawnbroker’s shop, where he sold the bike for £20. Initially he claimed he had not seen Mr Houghton in the water, but later said he thought he was already dead. An Apollo Vortice mountain bike like the one Adam Lowther stole from Michael Houghton as he drowned . Lowther said: ‘I picked up this bike and was just about to get on it and noticed in the canal a dead body. ‘I was shocked so I rode off. All I did was take the bike.’ He claimed that his mobile phone had run out of battery and admitted he did not try to alert the authorities. Addressing Mr Houghton’s distraught family, who wept as the details of his final moments were revealed, Lowther said: ‘I’m really sorry for your loss. I didn’t mean it. I made a stupid mistake.’ Recording an open verdict, Mr Hinchliff said: ‘What leaves a nasty taste in everybody’s mouth is that an opportunistic thief came along, saw [Mr Houghton] in the water, believed he was dead, and choosing to do nothing, saw an opportunity to steal his cycle.’ Mr Houghton’s family were too upset to comment after the hearing.Lowther was charged with theft and jailed for four months at Leeds Magistrates’ Court in November last year. He has finished serving his sentence. | Adam Lowther said he thought Michael Houghton was already dead so didn't try to help him .
He sold the stolen bike for just £20 . |
19ca0be081d972e95662c2b570aa6f41c97a6227 | A British jihadi bride has taken to Twitter to warn her 'sisters' back in the UK against contacting married men in Syria and to get their own militant husbands. Aqsa Mahmood, a 'bedroom radical' who travelled to Syria earlier this year, advised women thinking of joining extremists in the Middle East 'not to be a home wrecker' in a series of Twitter posts this week. Writing under an alias, the 20-year-old invited 'sisters' to use encrypted messaging services to make contact with those waging jihad abroad, but urged them not to ask questions 'already answered' in extremist blogs. Scroll down for video . Aqsa Mahmood, a British jihadi bride who travelled to Syria earlier this year, has been tweeting advice for 'sisters' in the UK . Posting for the first time since threatening the West on the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, she wrote: ‘Sisters please for the sake of Allah contact the sisters whom [sic] are online. 'Also know the fact many brothers whom you contact and chat to are married. Have some self respect and don't be a homewrecker.' The messages come after a string of threats against the West were detailed in an online diary by the former student. As well as warning against contacting the husbands of female extremists, she told would-be militants to 'pack thermal clothing' if they intend to travel to Syria, where the winters are 'too much'. 'Bun (forget) Scotland, the winters here are too much. Sisters please don't forget to pack thermal clothing or you'll regret it later on,' she wrote. She also hinted at her whereabouts, making reference to the Syrian town of Manbij, north east of Aleppo. The 20-year-old posted a series of tweets from a Twitter account offering other female jihadists advice . The former student also referred to a horse in the Syrian town of Manbij and tweeted this photograph . Today a spokesman for the 20-year-old's family said the posts were 'torturing' her parents. 'The family are aware of recent tweets. The best advice they could offer Aqsa is to not to offer any advice to young Muslims to whom she is essentially offering a death sentence,' Aemar Anwar, the family's lawyer, said. 'It's an extremely painful (situation) of mixed emotions - of extreme anger that their daughter has shamed them and shamed the community of Scotland. 'She has joined a cult that murders and tortures innocents. Yet again she's out there tweeting, attempting to take other children from their families. 'It's extremely difficult for her parents, not knowing whether she's dead or alive, wondering whether she will ever return home safely and added to that is the anger and shame at what she continues to do. 'What she claims to do in the name of Islam doesn't match with any of the values they taught her. A spokesman for the girl's parents Muzaffar and Khalida Mahmood said Aqsa's continued messages is 'torturing' the couple who are trying 'to move on with their lives' 'It's daily torture for them worrying about her yet having to get on with their lives. They have three other children to think about. 'She's gone now, but there's still this constant drip from Aqsa.' Mr Anwar added while her parents would still welcome the youngster back to the UK, the window of opportunity for her safe return is narrowing. 'She'll either be killed there by a drone or another militia. Or she can come home. 'We publically stated that every case should be treated on a case by case basis, and it may well be the situation that the authorities will want to speak to her. 'But if she was to face criminal sanctions it would be much better than what is likely a death sentence in Syria. Mahmood has not been seen by her family since fleeing their Glasgow home last November. In February, the former private schoolgirl married an extremist and began chronicling her life in the Middle East in a series of blog and Twitter posts. A spokesman for Police Scotland said: 'Enquiries are continuing into this matter.' | Aqsa Mahmood fled Glasgow for Syria after marrying an Islamic extremist .
The 20-year-old former private schoolgirl posted series of tweets this week .
Warned 'sisters' in Britain not to contact married men fighting for ISIS .
Advised would-be extremists to 'pack thermal clothing' before travelling .
Her messages are 'torture' for her parents 'trying to get on with their lives' |
19cb5579bb48dcb484ecd80317021f273a95fbf3 | (CNN) -- A U.S. District Court judge has overturned South Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage. The ruling, by Judge Richard M. Gergel in Charleston, does not mean an immediate issuance of marriage licenses for same-sex couples, however. The judge set the order to go into effect on November 20, to give opponents time to appeal if they wish. Gergel, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, issued a permanent injunction against enforcement of provisions of the state constitution or state laws or policy "to the extent that they seek to prohibit the marriage of same sex couples." If the judge's ruling stands and same-sex marriage becomes legal, South Carolina would become the 33rd state in which same-sex marriage has become legal. Same-sex marriage is under court review in Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana and Texas. It is banned in 12 other states. | A South Carolina judge overturns the state's ban on same-sex marriage .
The order is set to go into effect on November 20 .
Those opposed might appeal by then . |
19cbcc61791a81716ed3dd0f4481dfd96003ea13 | (The Frisky) -- We were worried that Sandra Bullock was going to disappear out there in the Texas flatlands and take a Hollywood hiatus for good. Thank goodness we were wrong. The word is that she may be coming out of hiding to reunite with her costar from "The Proposal," Ryan Reynolds, for a new action comedy called "Most Wanted." Welcome back, rom-com queen! Inspired by this quirky, funny re-coupling, here are nine more classic and endearing onscreen couples that we want to see get back together on the big screen. The Frisky: 8 celebrity dudes describe their dream women . 1. There is no magic like the magic of Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in "The Notebook." We need them back together ASAP ... on and off screen. 2. Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio have done a couple of brilliant collaborations, but what about Kate's chemistry with Jim Carrey in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?" We can't forget it. The Frisky: 6 celeb couples dish on their (cheap!) first dates . 3. We wish that Johnny Depp and Winona Rider could put all the broken engagement and shoplifting drama behind them and give us another taste of that Burton-style bad romance, à la "Edward Scissorhands." 4. It's been way too long since Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau were so "money" together in "Swingers." The Frisky: Is Julia Roberts' "Eat, Pray, Love" the most boring movie poster ever? 5. I don't think it's too late for Diane Keaton and Woody Allen to bring back some of their neurotic, onscreen charm from "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan." 6. Do Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in "Good Will Hunting" count as a couple? If so, let's try it again, shall we? The Frisky: Team Bella? What the "Twilight" credit cards looks like . 7. We're hoping for another movie starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, only this time they end up together, unlike in "500 Days of Summer." 8. Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray's chemistry was never "Lost in Translation" for us. Let's do part deux! 9. We need to see Lloyd Dobbler (aka John Cusack) and Diane Court (aka Ione Skye) from "Say Anything" all grown-up and back onscreen. The Frisky: Is "Bachelorette" Ali really single? TM & © 2010 TMV, Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | There is no magic like the magic of Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in "The Notebook"
It's not too late for Keaton and Allen to bring back some neurotic, onscreen charm .
Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray's chemistry was never "Lost in Translation" for us . |
19cbd95b40255d6a72ff681abe4d5619fb500ff1 | This is the heartbreaking video of the survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting as they sing Over The Rainbow in memory of the friends and teachers they lost. The 21 elementary school children, aged between six and nine, gathered together to sing the Judy Garland classic for charity and mark the one-month anniversary on Monday. Some of the children had been inside the school in Newtown, Connecticut when a gunman opened fire, killing 20 children and six teaching staff on December 14. Scroll down for video . Healing process: The children who survived the Sandy Hook school shooting recorded a version of Over The Rainbow and will be featured in the Grammy Awards this Sunday . Singing her heart out: A little girl holds her headphones as she joins in the charity version of Over The Rainbow with other Sandy Hook children . The students appeared with singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson on Good Morning America today. They recorded the song at the home of two former band members of Talking Heads. The track went on sale today on Amazon and iTunes, with proceeds benefiting a local United Way and the Newtown Youth Academy. Kayla Verga, ten, says she sang for her friend, Jessica Rekos, who was killed at Sandy Hook. She says it feels like Jessica is beside her, singing along with her. Good cause: The schoolchildren recorded the song at the home of Chris Frantz from the Talking Heads (back right) in Connecticut . Hugs all round: The children wore green ribbons in their hairs and no their sweaters to remember the friends they lost . Recovering: The children take a break from song practice of the Judy Garland classic Over The Rainbow . The song was recorded at the home of musicians Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, who performed with bands Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. The Song for Sandy Hook was recorded at the couple's home studio in Fairfield, Connecticut while parents looked on. The little girls wore green ribbons in their hair and pinned to their sweaters to remember their friends and teachers. Mr Frantz told the Daily News: 'It was emotional, absolutely. But the kids were resilient. They loved to sing and they were good at it.' In memory of friends: The schoolchildren appeared on GMA just one month after the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school . Moving tribute: The children, aged six to nine, appeared with singer Ingrid Michaelson on GMA this morning . Angelic: The song has been released on Amazon and iTunes today, with proceeds going to United Way and Newtown Youth Academy . | The children, aged six to nine, recorded the Judy Garland classic on January 14 .
Song released on iTunes and Amazon today with proceeds going to United Way and Newtown Youth Academy . |
19cd7bc71bad2047c3f9d10806024889ac2d5b74 | Cameron appointed Joanna Shields, a former managing director of Facebook in Europe, to the Lords . David Cameron has long faced criticism over how he has made Downing Street far too close to internet giants since he became Prime Minister. In summer, the concerns reached fever pitch when he appointed Joanna Shields, a former managing director of Facebook in Europe, to the Lords. Despite the fact that the firm has avoided paying its UK taxes, there is even speculation that she could one day be granted a ministerial role. The appointment deepened concerns that the Conservatives are too close to firms such as Facebook and Google and that they have the ear of the government on sensitive topics. Facebook is a US-based social network company set up by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg in 2004. Its UK arm is based in Covent Garden, and focuses mainly on advertising sales. Miss Shields had a long history in internet firms. She was the managing director of Google in Europe and Africa until 2006, and then chief executive of Bebo, another social networking site. She then went on to take the helm at Facebook, where she was managing director of the company’s European wing between 2008 and 2012 – around the time that the firm was accused of avoiding tax. Facebook UK only paid a small amount of corporation tax in 2011 – much lower than experts said would be expected. And in 2012, Facebook paid zero corporation tax in the UK. It was one of a number of global firms accused of registering subsidiary companies in low-tax countries to avoid paying their full British tax obligations. Facebook UK filed a pre-tax loss of £2.4million on turnover of only £34.6million, despite estimated ad revenues of £223million. The company pushed much of its revenues through a complex scheme in Ireland. At the time, the chairwoman of the powerful Commons public accounts committee called it ‘deliberate manipulation of accounts’. And last month, it emerged that Facebook had not paid any corporation tax in the UK for a second year in a row, despite recording sales of £50million in 2013. Despite the controversy over the firm’s tax affairs, Miss Shields was unveiled in 2012 as Mr Cameron’s digital adviser and chief executive of the government’s ‘Tech City’ to help boost internet start-ups in east London. The dual US and British national is a non-executive director of the London Stock Exchange. She also sits on Boris Johnson’s ‘smart board’ which aims to establish London as Europe’s digital capital. In August, Miss Shields was raised to the Lords – prompting Labour MP John Mann to say: ‘This is showing two fingers to every taxpaying business and taxpayer in the country, and it’s a green light to tax avoiders.’ Facebook says it always pays tax according to the laws of each country. Last month, Mr Cameron pledged tough actions to force companies such as Facebook – along with Google, Starbucks and Amazon – to meet their full UK tax obligations. ‘We’ve cut the rate of corporation tax down to 20 per cent, we’re the most competitive place to come and start a business, but here’s the deal – if they have a low tax rate, those companies have damn well got to pay it.’ But some will question whether the government, which has such close links to these firms, will really apply the required pressure. The Tories are even closer to Google, which has also been accused of avoiding tax. Their bosses enjoy regular access to senior ministers, while some Conservative employees have taken jobs with the company. For example, Rachel Whetstone, Google’s global head of communications, is a close friend of the Camerons and is married to Steve Hilton, the Prime Minister’ s ex-policy chief. And Naomi Gummer, a former adviser to Jeremy Hunt when he was Culture Secretary, is now a public policy analyst at Google. | Cameron appointed former Facebook head Joanna Shields to Lords .
Facebook has not paid any corporation tax in the UK for a second year .
Tories are close to Google, which has also been accused of avoiding tax . |
19cd7e88236e7b4b4841e89fdb6164774e942551 | Footage has surfaced of a woman verbally and physically assaulting a media crew, moments after she was released from police custody for punching a security dog. Tiffanny Maree Jager, 18, is seen storming towards a Channel 7 cameraman, punching his camera on to the pavement before confronting a photographer. The media crews attempt to calm barefoot Jager down as she demands they 'get the f*****g cameras out my face,' shove the photographer and strike him on the head. Jager was released moments earlier from Brisbane City Watch House, where she spent the night and was fined $500 for attacking a security dog on Sunday at Roma St station, reports News.com. Tiffanny Maree Jager, 18, points out a Channel 7 cameraman moments after being released from Brisbane City Watch House . Moments earlier, Jager was released from police custody after being fined $500 for attacking a security dog at at Roma St train station on Sunday . Brisbane Watch House, on Roma St, where Jager spent the night . Jager, from Ipswich, west of Brisbane, Queensland, was asked to leave the station when she was found smoking on the platform at 9.50pm on Sunday night. She racially abused the station manager, shoving her and saying 'f*** you, you Indian s***, before again being asked to leave the station. Shortly afterwards, Jager returned, attacking a muzzled security dog, punching the animal repeatedly in the head and body. Jager suffered minor injuries to her leg during the incident. Magistrate John McGrath reportedly told her: 'You were very lucky that dog had a muzzle on because the wounds to your leg may very well have been far more serious.' He also added that if Jager didn't change her conduct immediately she would find herself in 'a lot more strife.' Jager pleaded guilty to public nuisance, smoking on a train platform and animal cruelty. A spokesperson for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia '(Police) is aware of the incident and is looking into the circumstances.' Roma St station, where Jager attacked a security dog after abusing a train guard . Jager is seen approaching the photographer and striking him in the head as she screams to 'get the f*****g cameras out my face' | Tiffanny Maree Jager attacked a police dog at Roma St station on Sunday .
She pled guilty to public nuisance and animal cruelty, and was fined $500 .
She spent the night in Brisbane Watch House, where media waited for her release .
She attacked numerous media crews, punching their equipment and verbally lashing out at them . |
19cdc6a5952e2e419d1009e63e6b30c7bdb0a6c5 | Wayne Hennessey, take a bow. Then your man-of-the-match prize. It requires something special to shift the Welsh spotlight away from Gareth Bale, but on a night when the Real Madrid player did not quite produce his comic-book heroics, Crystal Palace's second choice staopper earned his nation a point with a performance that defied logic as much as the Bosnian attack on Friday night. Out from the Selhurst Park freezer, his string of saves very nearly got Wales all three. In added time, Bale advanced with predatory instinct and struck a fearsome shot that Asmir Begovic strained every sinew to tip wide. Then Bale whipped over the corner but Hal Robson-Kanu to get himself in a mess from two yards out. Wales forward Gareth Bale narrowly misses with this shot on goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina . Wales (3-5-2): Hennessey 8; Gunter 7, A Williams 6.5, Chester 6.5, Davies 6.5, Taylor 6.5; Ledley 6.5, King 6, J Williams 7 (G Williams 83’); Bale 7.5, Church 5.5 (Robson-Kanu 65’ 6.5) Booked: Taylor, Chester, A Williams . Manager: Chris Coleman 7 . Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-3-1-2): Begovic 7; Mujdza 6, Hadzic 6.5, Sunjic 6, Lulic 6.5; Susic 6.5, Besic 7.5, Medunjanin 7; Pjanic 7; Dzeko 6.5, Ibisevic 6.5 (Hajrovic 83’) Booked: Hadzic, Pjanic, Dzeko . Manager: Safet Susic 6.5 . Ref: Vladislav Bezborodov 5 . MoM: Hennessey . Att: 30,741 . Ashley Williams had an excellent chance too in the 78th minute, arriving unmarked onto Bale’s free-kick six yards out only to head over. Hennessey provided that platform though, his best save of the night coming 10 minutes from the end. Miralem Pjanic hit his free-kick from 25 yards with dip and swerve but Hennessey threw his 6ft 6in frame into the air, reached up a glove, and diverted the ball wide. It was as thrilling as goalless draws come, and sees Wales top Group B in qualifying for Euro 2016. This was the most eagerly anticipated home international in years and it showed in the roads around Cardiff. Heavy traffic meant the stadium bore plenty of empty seats at kick-off. Eventually the projected 30,741 crowd assembled to mark the biggest since England visited the Millenium in March 2011. They had come hoping to see Wales make a statement of their intentions in this qualifying campaign; they had come wanting Bale to do the business again. In the seventh minute, he should have. Joe Ledley fed the ball to Chris Gunter on the right wing and the Reading player immediately saw Bale had somehow been granted more space in the Bosnia area than he might expect walking atop Mount Snowdon. A swift cross followed but, from inside the six-yard box, Bale fluffed his lines and missed the ball. Defender Toni Sunjic leapt to divert it for a corner. It was a promising start nevertheless. Bale had another opportunity when Ben Davies sent a high pass forward but world’s most expensive left boot only managed to send a lofted volley wide. Then Gunter volleyed over from Neil Taylor’s cross. Wales forward Gareth Bale gets in a shot at goal during the EURO 2016 qualifier . Wales forward Gareth Bale races past Bosnia's Miralem Pjanic at Cardiff City Stadium . Wales' Simon Church (centre) and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Toni Sunjic (left) battle for the ball . Gradually, though, with Everton’s Muhamed Besic doing an excellent job marking Bale, Bosnia gained increasing possession. Pjanic, so effective for Roma at Manchester City in the Champions League, was at the heart of most it. He had already seen a deflected shot from range test Hennessey before he fired an effort just wide in the 27th minute. The second period saw Hennessey come to the fore. He may be keeping the Palace bench warm but he was alert time and again as Bosnia laid siege to the Welsh goal for the first ten minutes after the interval. Wales' goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey dives to make a save from Bosnia and Herzegovina's Haris Medunjanin (3rd left) Wales' goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (3rd R) comes through a crowd of players to punch the ball clear . Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu has a shot at goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina . He spread himself to deny Haris Medunjanin from four yards following Tino-Sven Susic’s cross, then saved twice from Edin Dezko, the second at full-stretch as the City striker nodded a high ball into the far corner. His second save from Medunjanin, as Wales groaned under the pressure, was just as impressive. He pushed the Bosnian’s shot from range far away from the three lurking attackers. The intensity of the evening was laid bare when a mass melee broke out following James Chester’s firm, yet fair, tackle on Besic that earned him an undeserved yellow card. Ashley Williams and Dzeko were both booked by referee Vladislav Bezborodov, seemingly for the crime of being captains. The episode illustrated Welsh steel, something missing during previous campaigns. ‘We dug deep,’ said manager Chris Coleman. ‘Last time we got bullied by Bosnia (in a 2012 friendly) but we were never bullied tonight.’ Bosnia and Herzegovina's striker Edin Dzeko (R) runs with the ball during the Euro 2016 qualifier . Gareth Bale remained upbeat despite failing to find a way through the visitors' defence . Wales defender Ashley Williams (2nd left) went close with a header in the second half . Gareth Bale clashes with Edin Dzeko during a mass melee following James Chester’s firm tackle on Besic . Hal Robson-Kanu had a great chance to grab a late winner but he got into a mess and put his header well wide . Bale's girlfriend Emma Rhys-Jones (centre right) watches the action at the Cardiff City Stadium . | Gareth Bale forced two fine saves from Asmir Begovic in the Bosnian goal .
Ashley Williams and Hal Robson-Kanu both headed wide from close range .
Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made excellent saves to thwart Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko . |
19ce1bd8f80853f698e72adb9db8204d57415a26 | (CNN) -- An intense typhoon made landfall in the southern Philippines early Tuesday amid fears that it could be worse than a 2011 storm that killed more than 1,200 people. Typhoon Bopha struck the southern island of Mindanao shortly before 4:45 a.m. (3:45 p.m. Monday ET), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center reported. The storm packed top winds of 175 kph (110 mph) as it came ashore over the city of Baganga, and millions of people -- many of whom live in remote and unprepared communities -- were in the storm's path, Philippine authorities and aid groups said. The tightly packed but powerful storm threatened to bring devastating flash floods and landslides. High winds could blast some homes into sticks, uproot trees and cut power for days, government officials warned. The storm weakened slightly as it moved west across Mindanao during the course of the morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The storm, dubbed "Pablo" in the Philippines, had blown up into a super typhoon at one point Monday, with sustained winds greater than 240 kph -- the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported. That wind speed is two and a half times the top winds of Severe Tropical Storm Washi, known in the Philippines as Sendong, whose heavy rains set off landslides that swept away entire villages in the same region a year ago. "Many emotional people in (Mindanao) trying to prepare for Pablo with Sendong fresh in their minds," Carin van der Hor, the Philippines director for the children's charity Plan International, wrote Monday on Twitter. In the fishing village of Hinatuan, officials had warned coastal and island residents to evacuate to government shelters in the final hours before the storm hit, CNN affiliate ABS-CBN reported. At sea near the storm, waves reached as high as 52 feet, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. On land, the outer bands of the storm had already begun to bring intense rain and high winds to coastal communities before landfall was made, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Government agencies had moved millions of dollars worth of relief supplies into position for quick delivery to storm-hit regions and put emergency crews, the military and hospitals on standby. School classes were suspended in many cities, and at least 80 flights were canceled, according to the disaster agency. The threat to Mindanao comes just weeks ahead of the first anniversary of Washi, whose heavy rains set off flash floods in the middle of the night that swept away entire villages. More than 1,200 people died and hundreds of thousands were left homeless, prompting a humanitarian crisis. Stormy weather in recent months also has caused death and destruction in other areas of the Philippines, where poor infrastructure leaves many communities highly vulnerable. Severe flooding in the region of the capital, Manila, killed more than 80 people in August. And Tropical Cyclone Son-Tinh left at least 27 people dead after sweeping across the central Philippines in October. Palau, a tiny island nation roughly 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) east of Mindanao, had a close shave with Bopha as the typhoon churned past, catching some outlying parts of the archipelago. "It was headed right toward Palau," said Derek Williams, a meteorologist for the U.S. National Weather Service in Guam. But at the last minute, "it just turned to the west and fortunately went south of them," he said. "I really think they escaped the brunt of the storm," Williams said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, noting that Palau doesn't usually get hit by strong typhoons. Bopha nonetheless brought down a lot of trees and caused widespread power outages in Palau, according to Williams. "The fast movement of the system really prevented a lot of flooding," he said. "I think probably only a few inches of rain fell, so that's certainly good news, because Palau itself is susceptible to mudslides." CNN's Michael Pearson reported from Atlanta and CNN's Jethro Mullen reported from Hong Kong. | NEW: Typhoon Bopha weakens slightly as it moves across Mindanao .
The storm hit the southern Philippine island early Tuesday .
Philippine authorities warn of flash floods and landslides .
The typhoon comes almost a year after a storm killed more than 1,200 people on Mindanao . |
19cf3eabd3d21c571688964451f3cc2cd001b7f6 | A dime-sized endangered spider found at a Texas construction site has wound up tripling the cost of a planned new highway and delaying the project for years. A Bracken Cave meshweaver spider, only the second ever recorded by man, was discovered in a cave that San Antonio crews unearthed while building a highway in 2012. Years later, the project originally slated for completion in 2012 has yet to break ground and is projected to cost at least $45 million by the time it's done. Big headache: A Bracken Cave meshweaver spider, only the second ever recorded by man, was discovered in a cave that San Antonio crews unearthed while building a highway in 2012 . Stopped everything: The spider was only the second ever seen, but it had previously been placed on the endangered species list, so construction of the $15 million highway stopped abruptly . The original budget was $15 million. And ground won't even be broken until 2015. An underpass originally planned is being replaced with an overpass to accommodate the spider, known by its Latin name Cicurina Venii. So what's so special about this tiny, blind bug? 'The thing that was unique about this spider is that it had been seen only once before in recorded history,' Josh Donat, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, told the San Antonio Express-News. The last time a person had seen the spider was in 1980 in northwestern Bexar County. But that one time was enough to get the meshweaver placed on the federal endangered species list in 2000. Which means big headaches for contractors, crews and some locals. 'I think that kind of tripling of infrastructure cost is a complete budget buster. 'Patrick Natale, executive director of the American Society of Civil Engineers, told CBS News. Comptroller Susan Combs agreed. 'When they're told that there is a dime-sized spider, which nobody had ever heard of, and it's going to maybe cost lives because of ambulances or you can't get to work, they don't understand it. They don't see its value and they're shaking their heads,' she said. Costly: The project was slated to be finished in 2012 but now won't even break ground until 2015, and at a cost of at least three times the original $15 million cost . | A Bracken Cave meshweaver was found in a cave uncovered by construction in the middle of a San Antonio area highway in 2012 .
The dime-sized, translucent arachnid was only the second ever discovered .
Biologists ordered the cave sealed, work stopped and the construction contract was terminated .
Years and at least $30million later, the project will finally break ground in 2015, though it was originally slated for completion in 2012 . |
19d14e2cb5864a2761bd21d98f267ccbdf2c1d63 | (CNN) -- England striker Wayne Rooney is expected to be fit for the World Cup in South Africa despite suffering another injury setback on club duty with Manchester United on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who last month was sidelined with ankle damage, went off with a recurrence of his recent groin problem 13 minutes from the end of United's 4-0 victory over Stoke. He was unable to score, finishing his European season with 34 goals and missing out on the Premier League's golden boot award to Chelsea's Didier Drogba, who netted a hat-trick in the 8-0 victory over Wigan that ended United's three-year grip on the title. England coach Fabio Capello will name his provisional 30-man squad for South Africa on Tuesday, and United were quick to dispel any fears that Rooney might be not fit for his second World Cup finals appearance. "He should be okay," assistant manager Mike Phelan told the UK Press Association. "All the phone calls and all the worries we can dispel straight away. "He should be fine. It is just a precaution and he will be looking forward to his World Cup." Marcello Lippi, coach of world champions Italy, will also name his preliminary squad on Tuesday. Veteran striker Francesco Totti's chances of being called out of international retirement were seriously damaged by his red card in the Italian Cup final defeat by Inter Milan last Wednesday. The 33-year-old redeemed himself with two goals on Sunday as second-placed Roma kept the Serie A title race going into the final round of the season, but on Monday he was handed a four-match Italian Cup ban for his controversial challenge on Inter striker Mario Balotelli. Balotelli, who said Totti had abused him, was also given a one-match suspension along with Inter teammate Cristian Chivu for separate incidents. Totti won the last of his 58 international caps in the 2006 World Cup final win over France, which ended Lippi's first stint in charge, and made himself unavailable a year after that. Totti's Roma strike partner Luca Toni also faces an anxious wait to see if he will be included in Lippi's squad. German media reported on Monday that his parent club Bayern Munich do not want him back despite having a contract until the end of next season, while Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport said Roma president Rosella Sensi was unwilling to extend his stay. | Manchester United insist Wayne Rooney will be fit for World Cup despite latest setback .
England striker went off in final game of Premier League season with groin problem .
Italian World Cup hopeful Francesco Totti hit with four-game Italian Cup suspension .
Totti was sent off last Wednesday for clash with Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli . |
19d1ba9fb7698f635d465d0fc404c151c55b279d | Blessed with children as well as a career outside the home, working mums may seem to have it all. But actually they suffer a double guilt burden – that they are bad mothers because they work and bad employees because they have a family, a study shows. Researchers found that working mothers agonised more about their job outside the office than fathers and had more negative thoughts about their family while at work. Guilt: Mother-of-four Victoria Beckham (with husband David and sons Romeo, Cruz and Brooklyn) admitted to Vogue last year that she feels 'guilty' every time she goes out to work . Both parents think about their . families, but only for mothers is this type of thought associated with . increased stress and negative emotions. Shira . Offer, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and . Anthropology at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, studied mental labour in . working parents in pressurised jobs. She . defines the term as thoughts and concerns that can impair performance, . make it difficult to focus on tasks, and even hurt our sleep. The . study, presented to the American Sociological Association, relies on data . from the 500 Family Study, which investigates how . middle-class families balance family and work experiences. The . study looked at 402 American mothers and 291 fathers in dual-earner . families who completed a survey and a time and emotions diary. Asst . Professor Offer found that working mothers engaged in mental labour in about . one fourth of their waking time. Working fathers spent one fifth of their working time engaged in it. This amounts to approximately 29 and 24 hours per week of mental labour for mothers and fathers, respectively. Working guilt: Sarah Jessica Parker starred in the film 'I Don't Know How She Does It', playing ever-juggling working mother Kate Reddy . However, . mothers and fathers both spent about 30 percent of the time they were . engaged in mental labour thinking about family matters. Last year, Victoria Beckham spoke of her guilt of going out to work. Mrs Beckham - mother to Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 11, Cruz, eight, and Harper, two, - admitted balancing her parenting duties with managing her clothing empire leaves her feeling 'constantly guilty'. Speaking at London's Vogue Festival, the 39-year-old, said: 'I think you feel so torn, don't you? But I've got great people who handle my schedule and everything does revolve around the children.' Commenting on her research, Asst . Professor Offer said: 'What my research actually shows is that gender differences in . mental labour are more a matter of quality than quantity. 'I assume that because mothers . bear the major responsibility for childcare and family life, when they . think about family matters, they tend to think about the less pleasant . aspects of it and are more likely to be worried.' Asst . Prof Offer added: 'We know that mothers are the ones who usually adjust . their work schedule to meet family demands, such as staying home with a . sick child. 'Desperate to be with her': Daybreak presenter Lorraine Kelly said last year that she 'suffered terribly from working mother guilt' 'Therefore, . mothers may feel that they do not devote enough time to their job and . have to ‘catch up,’ and, as a result, they are easily preoccupied with . job-related matters outside the workplace. 'This illustrates the double burden, the pressure to be "good" mothers and "good" workers, that working mums experience. 'I thought that highly educated fathers holding professional and managerial positions would often be preoccupied with job matters when doing things such as housework or during their free time. 'It appears, however, that fathers are quite adept at leaving their work concerns behind and are better able to draw boundaries between work and home. 'I believe that fathers can afford to do that because someone else, namely their spouse, assumes the major responsibility for the household and childcare.' She added: 'It is true that fathers today are more involved in childrearing and do more housework than in previous generations, but the major responsibility for the domestic realm continues to disproportionately fall on mothers’ shoulders and this has to change.' | Mothers agonise more about their job outside work hours than fathers .
They also worry more about family life while at work, say Israeli researchers .
This may be because fathers know their partner will worry on their behalf . |
19d1fab5c98b3a289f3b541182111787c93811c1 | (CNN) -- Very few things will make my skin crawl more than listening to someone totally misrepresent the famous "I Have A Dream" speech the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave on August 28, 1963. It's clear that far too many people haven't bothered to actually read or listen to the speech. Instead, folks -- especially those who likely would have branded King a Communist, a socialist, a Marxist or a racial hell-bent on destroying America -- love to tout King's "content of character" line in order to push back against a variety of issues, especially affirmative action. Just today, I saw a press release from Project 21, a coalition of black conservatives, suggesting that a rally planned Saturday by a radio talk show host and Fox News personality is akin to King's 1963 march. Coby Dillard, a member of Project 21, is quoted as saying, "The dream of King -- that every person be judged by their character rather than their color -- is one of the tenets that makes our nation honorable in the minds of people around the world. King's legacy is a gift to us all, and no one person or organization holds claim to his work and his message. I can think of no better way to honor him by renewing our shared commitment to uphold those principles that have held our country together throughout history." It's clear that Dillard, and so many others, hasn't read a history book or other publications surrounding the march and instead loves to continue to spread falsehoods, misrepresentations and outright fabrications stemming from the Washington march. First, we need to stop calling it the March on Washington. It was officially called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. If you leave off the "Jobs and Freedom" part, it sounds like black folks just went for a walk that day. Upset with the lack of economic opportunities for blacks at the time, as well as the voting rights injustices, the organizers wanted to put pressure on Congress and the President Kennedy administration to put their muscle behind a comprehensive civil rights bill. No, the 1963 march had nothing to do with some hokey values espoused by a radio/TV windbag. It was a day to assemble a mass of people to represent a show of strength and to get leaders in Washington to listen to the urgent need across the country. Second, we continue to misrepresent King's speech as the "I Have a Dream" speech. As CNN's Soledad O'Brien reported in the special "MLK Papers: Words That Changed a Nation," the speech was never called that. It was actually titled "Normalcy: Never Again." In fact, the "I Have A Dream" portion, which represents the bottom third of it, wasn't in the original text. As Soledad reported, King often gave variations of the "Dream" portion of the speech, and on that day, he was encouraged by gospel great Mahalia Jackson to tell the audience about his "dream." There is no doubt that his soaring oratory about the need for racial harmony continues to send chills down our spines today, but if we as a country get so excited and wrapped up in the "dream" sequence, we forget the economic nightmare King painted in the top two-thirds of the speech. When I give speeches, I often tell folks that the "I Have A Dream" portion is the "hoop" part, which is when the pastor begins sing, scream and shout when he/she has finished the sermon. But the real measure of a sermon is the scripture, which serves as the thesis. So let's get to the meat -- or the purpose -- of King's 1963 speech. At the top, he lays out the vision of slaves being freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, yet 100 years later, "One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land." Then he makes clear that the purpose of going to the Lincoln Memorial is to "dramatize a shameful condition." "In a sense, we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check," King said. "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. "This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the 'unalienable rights' of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds.' "But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice." King then began to talk about the "fierce urgency of now," laying out the treacherous conditions upon which black people lived in, and having to deal with violence and the trampling of their rights. He laid bare the despair of not being able to stay in hotel rooms, having to drink out of segregated water fountains and the lack of voting rights. Then King launches into the portion about his "dream." Folks, the fulfillment of King's dream wasn't about getting along. It was about every man and woman being afforded equal rights and an opportunity to find a job, raise their family and not have to suffer from brutality. His speech wasn't partisan or political; it was prophetic and about prosperity. How is it relevant today? If anyone wants to model that march, then stop with the ego-driven nonsense and focus on pushing Congress to enact a jobs bill so Americans can work. Tell Democrats and Republicans to stop playing footsy with lobbyists and looking out for Wall Street's interests. Tell leaders in Washington to give a damn about the poor of this country, from the hills of West Virginia to the dusty roads in Alabama. Tell some Republicans to stop their shameful condemnations of Americans who can't find a job. For the nearly 250,000 who gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, it wasn't about ego; it was about results. There was no partisan agenda; it was one where whites and blacks refused to stand idly by and watch black Americans denied an opportunity to thrive in this country. In the final five years of his life, King fought for equal pay for sanitation workers in Memphis and was planning a Poor People's Campaign for DC to highlight the economic injustices. Please, take the time to go and read or listen to the speech. Understand the context. Examine the overall mission. And don't try to pimp and pervert King's prophetic word so you can score some political points. And that goes for a charlatan, even if they have a TV or radio show, who seeks to align themselves with King's momentous and radical speech 47 years ago. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Roland S. Martin. | Roland S. Martin says the famous speech is often misrepresented .
He cites a rally set for Saturday in Washington as one example .
Two-thirds of speech paints picture of an economic nightmare, he says .
The best move today would be to push for a jobs bill, Martin writes . |
19d308f900b05d2f6429342d158a92f68cd7fe04 | A Utah driver should been as honest with himself as he was with the officer who pulled him over last year. According to police, Jason Barlow blurted out 'I am way too intoxicated to drive now' when he was pulled over by an officer on November 24. Barlow, 45, was allegedly caught driving at 100mph in a 65mph zone and had a blood-alcohol content of .185, which is more than two times the legal limit in Utah. Arrest: Jason Barlow was pulled over by a Utah police officer near 3900 South and 600 West on November 24, 2014 (pictured) Even before his frank admission, Barlow told the officer, 'I am in big trouble' when he was first appraoched in his car. Asked why he was worried by the officer, Barlow replied, 'Because I was just arrested for DUI a month ago and I am way too intoxicated to drive now,' according to court paprts. Barlow, appeared in court on Monday charged with DUI and speeding. The same court records show Barlow has been in and out of trouble with the police for DUI's since 1991. | Jason Barlow, 45, charged with DUI and speeding for the alleged November incident . |
19d320ffb3d1bcb460d9acc6fdb59c043fd44ed7 | Pope Francis extended an invitation Sunday to the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to travel to the Vatican for a "peace initiative," after earlier calling for a two-state solution to the intractable conflict. The pontiff's remarks came at the end of an outdoor Mass in Bethlehem's Manger Square on the second day of his three-day trip to the Middle East. "In this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, together with Israeli President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace," Francis said. "I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer." He added, "Building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant torment. The men and women of these lands, and of the entire world, all of them, ask us to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace." The Palestinian side has accepted the invitation and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will go to the Vatican, a Palestinian Legislative Council member, Hanan Ashrawi, told CNN. The Israeli President's office said that he welcomed the invitation. "President Peres has always supported, and will continue to support, any attempts to progress the cause of peace," his office said. Pope Francis then traveled on to Tel Aviv, where in remarks on the airport tarmac to Peres and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he again issued an invitation to pray for peace at the Vatican. He also reiterated the Vatican's support for Israel's right to exist in peace and security. The next stop on his historic trip was Jerusalem. Two states . Earlier, speaking alongside Abbas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Francis called for the recognition of a Palestinian state -- but he made the same demand on behalf of the state of Israel. He urged "the acknowledgment by all of the right of two states to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognized borders." The Pope called on all sides to pursue a path to peace together and not take unilateral actions to disrupt it. "I can only express my profound hope that all will refrain from initiatives and actions which contradict the stated desire to reach a true agreement, and that peace will be pursued with tireless determination and tenacity," he said. Middle East peace talks recently stalled despite high-profile efforts by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to push them forward. The government of Israel has objected to unilateral initiatives by Palestinians to seek international recognition as a state, and Palestinians have objected to Israeli initiatives to expand settlements on the West Bank. Protecting Christians . In his remarks in Bethlehem, Francis called on Abbas to protect the religious rights of Palestinian Catholics. The Vatican has expressed concern over the emigration of Palestinian Christians. The pontiff also took a stand for the poor, suffering under tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. "Even in the absence of violence, the climate of instability and a lack of mutual understanding have produced insecurity, the violation of rights, isolation and the flight of entire communities, conflicts, shortages and sufferings of every sort," he said. After meeting with Abbas, Francis cruised in the Popemobile through a crowd of hundreds of Catholic faithful and onlookers gathered in Manger Square as they awaited the papal Mass. Priests and the faithful swayed to religious music, while many waved red, green, black and white Palestinian flags and others yellow and white Vatican flags. The Pope hopped off the Popemobile to shake hands with people in the crowd. In a symbolically charged moment, he also stopped the vehicle to cross over to the separation barrier erected by Israel, its surface daubed with graffiti including the words "Free Palestine!" There, arm outstretched, he touched the concrete wall, his head apparently bowed in prayer. Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestine National Initiative, told CNN, "The Pope did not only put his hand on a concrete wall. He put his hand on occupation. He put his hand on (an) apartheid system, on a system of separation, and discrimination, and oppression." Refugee children make appeal . Francis also met with a group of Palestinian refugee children while in the West Bank. As they entered, the children held up signs about the occupation of Palestinian territories, typed in Arabic, Italian and English. "Muslims and Christians live under the occupation," read one. Another said, "I have never been to the sea!" in an apparent reference to the restrictions on movement under which Palestinians live. After the children sang and presented him with gifts, the Pope responded in his native tongue, Spanish, to say he had heard their message. "Never let the past determine your lives," he said. "Violence is not overcome by violence. Violence is overcome by peace." While in Jerusalem, Francis will meet with Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. His visit to the region commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark meeting between Pope Paul VI and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians at the time, Patriarch Athenagoras, in Jerusalem. The pope will also meet the city's grand mufti and chief rabbis, visit the Western Wall and Yad Vashem, a memorial to the Holocaust, and lay a wreath on the grave of the founder of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl. The Holy Land visit is the first for Francis as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and just the fourth for any pontiff in the modern era. 'Urgent' solution needed to Syrian crisis . On the first day of his trip, Francis also gave a message of unity as he celebrated Mass at a stadium in Amman, Jordan -- a majority Muslim nation with a significant Christian community. In his homily, Francis spoke of the need for tolerance and diversity and urged everyone to put aside grievances and divisions. "The mission of the Holy Spirit is to beget harmony ... and to create peace in different situations and between different people," he said. "Let us ask the Spirit to prepare our hearts to encounter our brothers and sisters so that we may overcome our differences rooted in political thinking, language, culture and religion." Christian refugees from Syria, Iraq and the Palestinian territories were among those present, and 1,400 children received their First Communion at the Mass. The Pope's trip to the Holy Land has been billed as a "pilgrimage for prayer," with its roots in faith, not politics. But in a region where religion and politics are so closely intertwined, his every remark takes on an added significance. The pontiff is traveling with two friends -- a rabbi, Abraham Skorka, and a Muslim, Sheikh Omar Abboud, who leads Argentina's Muslim community. The Vatican has said their presence is symbolic of his call for unity. The Pope's first stop was at al-Husseini Royal Palace in Amman, where he met with Jordan's King Abdullah II. In televised remarks after that meeting, Francis paid tribute to Jordan's efforts to promote interfaith tolerance and to the welcome that the small nation has given to Palestinian refugees and, more recently, those fleeing war-torn Syria. Francis said it was "necessary and urgent" that a peaceful solution is found to the crisis in Syria. While in Jordan, Francis met some of the 600,000 Syrians who have fled since the start of the civil war in 2011, as well as refugees from Iraq. He also visited the River Jordan, where many Christians believe Jesus was baptized. Everything to know about Pope Francis . Pope Francis in the Holy Land: 5 things to know . | Pope Francis arrives in Tel Aviv, speaks to Israeli leaders .
Pope invites Palestinian and Israeli leaders to the Vatican to pray for peace .
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will go to Vatican, official says .
Israeli President Shimon Peres welcomes the invitation, his office says . |
19d44380f4bac3ac3bcefc7ec2823ad0f7b8df7f | By . Kelly Strange . PUBLISHED: . 06:30 EST, 18 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:25 EST, 18 October 2013 . Lita Morgan, who was adopted when she was two-years-old, has now spoken out after her mother was convicted of cruelty against her . A woman subjected to a decade of abuse at the hands of her cruel adoptive mother has spoken of her ordeal for the first time. Christine Morgan forced her adoptive daughter to drink bleach from a cloth used to clean toilets during her ten-year reign of terror. The violence also included holding the child’s head under the bath water until she couldn’t breathe and threatening to kill her. Lita Morgan, who was adopted when she was two-years-old, has now spoken out after her mother was convicted of cruelty against her. Miss Morgan, 27, reported the crimes to police after suffering post-traumatic stress, caused by the abuse, as an adult. She said: 'I never want a child to suffer in the way I did. Nobody capable of such violence should be able to adopt a defenceless child. 'I feel let down and angry that I was left to suffer at her hands for so long. Social services could have saved me but they missed the signs and believed every word she said. 'I doubt I will ever get over what happened to me but I hope speaking out might save another child from the same hell I went through.' Miss Morgan was adopted at the age of two, but the abuse started when she was four-years-old. She said: 'For as long as I could remember mum had treated me differently to my brother who was also adopted. 'I was kept locked in my room and dressed in dirty clothes. If I asked for something to eat she would slap me in the face. 'I was bullied and teased at school for being smelly but she didn’t care.' Miss Morgan, 27, reported the crimes to police after suffering post-traumatic stress, caused by the abuse, as an adult. She is pictured here as a baby with her adoptive mother Christine Morgan . Miss Morgan once asked her mother why she treated her so badly. 'She told me she had wanted to adopt twin baby boys but they had gone to another mother and she got left with me instead. 'I wondered why she had gone ahead with the adoption if she didn’t want me. I dreamed of her taking me back to a children's home so another family could have me. 'I didn’t understand what I had done so wrong for her to despise me as she did.' As she grew older Miss Morgan said the beatings got worse and her adoptive mother often left her covered in bruises. 'She would grab me around the throat and tell me to die. Miss Morgan was adopted at the age of two, but the abuse started when she was four-years-old . 'It wasn’t unusual for her to smack me until my skin was bright red and pull my hair out in clumps.' One day Morgan held her adopted daughter's head under the bath water, leaving the young girl fearing she would die. 'I really thought that was it. I came up gasping for air lucky to alive.' Another time her mother forced a bleach soaked rag used to clean toilets into her mouth. 'I . had been playing on the stairs and she just got angry and grabbed me . and dragged me into the bathroom where she had been cleaning. 'I never want a child to suffer in the way I did. Nobody capable of such violence should be able to adopt a defenceless child' - Lita Morgan . 'She had the dirty rag in her hand, got me in a hold and rammed it into my mouth. 'It was burning like acid and I was gagging. Eventually I managed to escape from her grip to run to my room and throw up.' Miss Morgan claims there were several missed opportunities to rescue her from the abuse. She said: 'One day two women turned up from social services. The school must have told them about my bruising. But mum was a good actress and told them I was just clumsy so they went away again. 'I remember breaking down because I knew then I was never going to be saved.' She said Morgan’s husband also colluded with her to keep the abuse hidden by backing up her lies. Miss Morgan said: 'I was upset but I never blamed him. I could see he was afraid of her too and I honestly think he didn’t know how bad it was because most of it happened when he was at work. Christine Morgan (pictured) was convicted on two cruelty charges at Southampton Crown Court last year . 'He was also scared of losing me because he knew social services would take me away if they knew about the abuse.' It was only after he passed away when she was 17 that Miss Morgan found the strength to leave. 'Without dad the abuse got even worse. I couldn’t take anymore. I confided in a friend who let me stay with her.' Eventually she found a job and a flat and worked all hours to block out the memories of her childhood. But, she said, no matter how hard she tried, she could not forget. She said: 'I suffered flashbacks and nightmares. I would dream I was six years old again with my head under the water gasping for breath.' Her GP referred her for counselling, but Miss Morgan says talking about the abuse made the flashbacks even worse. One day she suffered a breakdown and found herself at her local police station asking for help. She said: 'For the first time someone listened. I made a statement and mum was arrested.' Christine Morgan, 61, appeared at Southampton Crown Court last year. She denied the charges and Miss Morgan gave evidence from behind a screen. During the hearing Elizabeth Bussey-Jones, prosecuting, said: 'She describes from a very early age being subjected to various forms of verbal abuse, being told by Christine Morgan that she hated her, that she was a waste of space and that she wanted to kill her. 'She recalls various acts of violence towards her which vary from being pinned up by the throat against a wall, being smacked and having her hair pulled.' The jury found her mother guilty and she was convicted on two cruelty charges. Morgan was warned to expect jail but because of her failing health Judge Gary Burrell handed her a 12 month suspended prison sentence and ordered her to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. She was also told to pay £1,500 in costs. Miss Morgan has now said: 'I was devastated by the sentence. It didn’t seem fair for what she put me through. But it helped me accept that there was nothing wrong with me and I did not deserve the abuse. 'I was a child who needed a loving home and instead I got placed with that lunatic. 'She didn’t know the first thing about being a mother and should never have been allowed anywhere near a child. 'I am sharing my story because I don't want anything like this to happen to another vulnerable child.' | Lita Morgan was forced to drink bleach from a cloth during years of abuse .
Adoptive mother also held her head under water until she couldn't breathe .
Miss Morgan has now spoken out after Christine Morgan was convicted .
She said she never wants 'a child to suffer in the way I did' |
19d512fdef85109f07e2c587c3118a4eafb836fd | By . Nick Enoch . Being the wife of a jockey can be nerve-racking, as Annabel Waley-Cohen found out at Cheltenham today. Her face, contorted into a variety of pained expressions, said it all as she watched her husband Sam finish third in the Ryanair Chase at Britain's biggest jump festival. But as well as being an amateur rider, Sam Waley-Cohen also has a rather fascinating claim to fame: he is believed to be the man who brought his close friends Prince William and Kate Middleton back together after their split in 2007. It was at a party thrown by Sam at his family’s mansion in Oxfordshire in June of that year that Kate and William were seen chatting - and within a few weeks they were holidaying together on a yacht in the Seychelles. Annabel Waley-Cohen watches her husband Sam ride in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham today. Sam Waley-Cohen threw a party in June 2007 - just months after his good friends Kate and William had split up. The reunited pair holidayed in the Seychelles weeks later . Annabel could hardly bear to watch as 'royal matchmaker' Sam rode Rajdhani Express in the Ryanair Chase . Annabel shouts encouragement to her husband . Annabel feels the relief after the race is over and her husband finished in third place . Speaking to the Mail in 2011, Sam was quick to play down his role as Cupid. ‘People love the idea that somebody put them back together but they put themselves together far more,’ he said at the time. By coincidence, it was at the Cheltenham Festival, in March 2007, that it first became clear there was any trouble in Kate and William's relationship. The spark appeared to be gone, whereas just a year earlier they were spotted kissing in public for the first time. Days later, pictures emerged of William partying in Boujis nightclub with other women. Sam Waley-Cohen (right) finished third in the race today. Speaking to the Mail in 2011, Sam was quick to play down his role as Cupid. 'People love the idea that somebody put them back together but they put themselves together far more,' he said at the time . Sam and Annabel (left) at Cheltenham yesterday. Right, Sam has been involved in organising charity events, including the DayGlo roller-disco in 2008 at which Kate Middleton wore yellow hot pants . It was at the Cheltenham Festival, seven years ago (above), that cracks in Kate and William's relationship became apparent . That Easter, Kate gave William an ultimatum - to either commit to their relationship, or it was over. So it was that the young couple, who had met while studying history together at St Andrews University in 2001, called time on their romance. Mere months later, Sam threw his party... and the rest is royal history. The son of leading racehorse owner Sir Robert Waley-Cohen and his wife Felicity, the daughter of Viscount Bearstead, Sam is the product of a privileged background. However, tragedy struck his family while he was a teenager. Prince William kisses his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding in April 2011 . Sam celebrates with Princess Anne after winning on Long Run at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2011 . In 1995, his brother Thomas, younger by two years, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He died in 2004, just days after his 20th birthday. For Sam, horse-racing helped him through his grief. In 2005, he unexpectedly won at the Cheltenham Festival, riding his father’s horse Libertine. And in 2011, he also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on another of his father's horses, Long Run. Fast forward to the present and Waley-Cohen rode Rajdhani Express to third, behind winner and favourite Dynaste and second-placed Hidden Cyclone. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and wife in the parade ring at the Cheltenham Festival today . | Rider Sam Waley-Cohen threw party attended by Kate and William a few months after they split up .
Weeks later, the young couple holidayed together in Seychelles .
Sam raced today in Ryanair Chase at Britain's biggest jump festival . |
19d534ea9bcb2703aa19c4fd447b5691e431b8e0 | Maria Sharapova swiftly banished the memories of almost making an early exit from the Australian Open with a commanding performance in the third round in Melbourne. Sharapova had to save two match points in the second round against qualifier Alexandra Panova, but needed just 61 minutes to thrash 31st seed Zarina Diyas and reach the last 16 on Friday. 'I think I rebounded really well,' the second seed said. 'I had a good hit yesterday, just kind of thought a little bit about what I wanted to try to achieve tonight no matter who I played. VIDEO Scroll down for Australian Open: Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-1 win over Zarina Diyas . Maria Sharapova breezed into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-1 defeat of Zarina Diyas . The world No 2 waves to the crowd after completing a routine victory in Melbourne . Sharapova is on course to meet tennis' new golden girl Eugenie Bouchard in the quarter-finals . The Russian was forced to save two match points against qualifier Alexandra Panova (left) in the second round . 'Of course I focused a little bit on myself more than anything else; just tried to be a bit more aggressive, concentrate. I thought I did a good job of focusing well. 'She can be a tough, tough player to play against if you give her the time to change down the line like she likes to do, step down and hit flat, low. She has that capability and if you give her the time, she'll do it.' Sharapova will face China's Shuai Peng in the fourth round and remains on course to come up against seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard in the quarter-finals. Bouchard beat France's Caroline Garcia 7-5 6-0 in a match which featured six breaks of serve in the first eight games. Bouchard made hard work of the first set before beating Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-0 in the third round . The Canadian beauty was embarrassed when asked to 'twirl' by a courtside reporter after the game . Australian reporter sparked a Twitter outrage after asking Bouchard to 'give a twirl' 'I wasn't playing great tennis in the first (set),' Bouchard said. 'I feel like she was putting some pressure on me and I really didn't feel like I got a rhythm. But I'm happy that I just kept going. Even if it wasn't going so well, I was able to turn it around. 'I loosened up a bit and started going for my shots and playing my game, which is what I need to do more; probably taking a bit of time away from her stepping in. 'She was playing that way as well. It ended up being first-strike tennis and I did that better in the second.' Bouchard will face Irina-Camelia Begu next after the 24-year-old Romanian beat Germany's Carina Witthoeft in straight sets to reach the fourth round in a grand slam for the first time. Third seed Simona Halep will take on Yanina Wickmayer after the Belgian beat 14th seed Sara Errani, with 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova up against Germany's Julia Goerges. Third seed Simona Halep has set up a fourth round clash with Yanina Wickmayer . The Romanian jumps into a forehand as she defeats American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 7-5 . Halep, who reached the quarter-finals here last year and lost to Sharapova in the French Open final, defeated American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4 7-5 and said: 'I'm okay with my game. I played well today, better than the second round, so this is good. 'She was very strong and I just wanted to play my game, but, you know, it was a great, great match for both of us. I was hitting aggressive and I stayed very close to the baseline. I served well. So I'm happy with my game now. 'Yanina has beat me every time when I played her, but the next round will be a new day. I have my chance to win it. But I expect a very tough match. She's very tall and she's very strong. So I have to wait and to prepare myself to be ready before the match.' | Maria Sharapova defeated Zarina Diyas to reach fourth round in Melbourne .
Second seed had to save two match points against qualifier Alexandra Panova in the previous round .
Sharapova is on course to meet Eugenie Bouchard in the quarter-finals . |
19d5d0ded03abb35c34fa46ba3210bca10922217 | By . Victoria Woollaston . Despite the condition not officially being recognised until the 19th century, cases of Down’s syndrome have existed throughout human history. References in archaeological records are extremely rare, but researchers from France believe they have found a child's skull showing the earliest signs of the disorder dating back to the 5th century. The body of the child was also found buried in the same position and location as others in the necropolis - and archaeologists believe this means the five- to seven-year-old wouldn't have been stigmatised or treated any differently when they were alive. The body of a five- to seven-year-old (pictured left) was found in a 5th century necropolis in Saint-Jean-des-Vignes. Researchers used CT scans to examine the skull (pictured right), and this revealed features including a flattened occiput at the back of the skull and tooth inflammation that are consistent with Down's syndrome . The remains were found by archaeologists from the University of Bordeaux in a necropolis that dates back to the 5th century. The sex of the child is unknown. They were placed in the grounds of a church in Saint-Jean-des-Vignes in Eastern France. Down's syndrome is a genetic disorder that delays a person's growth and causes intellectual disability. People . with Down's syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21, rather than . two. The condition was first detailed by English physician John Langdon Down in . 1862. He later characterised it as a mental disability in a widely published report in 1866. Despite . the lack of evidence in archaeological records, a number of historical . artwork is believed to portray Down's syndrome including the 16th century . painting The Adoration of the Christ Child. An infant showing facial signs of the condition is painted in the background. This latest case represents the earliest and youngest example of the condition in the archaeological record. Prior . to this, a possible case in a 9-year-old child from England, dating . back to 700 to 900, was found with a selection of consistent features. Using a combination of morphological and radiographic techniques, metrical data and scans, the skull of the child was compared with those belonging to people of similar age and location. They found the skull exhibited signs of brachycrany and metopism, in which the skull is short and broad with a disfigurement of the forehead. There was also evidence that the rear of the skull was flattened, and the teeth were inflamed. This combination of features is consistent with modern-day diagnoses of Down’s syndrome. Although less diagnostic, but important when taken in combination with the other features, the researchers also noted an absence of the frontal sinuses, a small face, low and thin mandibular ramus - jawbone running below each ear - and dental defects. According to the archaeologists, cases of Down’s syndrome in past populations are rare, frequently poorly described or discovered out of context. This case, therefore, represents the earliest and youngest example of the condition in the archaeological record. Although less diagnostic, but as important when taken in combination with the other features, the researchers also noted an absence of the frontal sinuses, a small face, low and thin mandibular ramus - jawbone running below each ear - and dental defects (pictured) The necropolis was in the grounds of a church in Saint-Jean-des-Vignes (pictured). The child was on its back, facing east to west. Other bodies discovered in the necropolis were found in the same position, suggesting the child's burial was no different - and archaeologists believe this means the infant wasn't stigmatised . Prior to this, a possible case in a nine-year-old child from England, dating back to 700 to 900 AD was found with a selection of these features. Elsewhere, . Professor Maïté Rivollat and his colleagues at the university also . noted that the context and funerary treatment of the child suggests that . they were was not stigmatised by other members of the community. For example, the child was placed on its back in the tomb, facing from east to west, with the head at the westward end. According to archaeologists, cases of Down's syndrome in past populations are rare, and this latest case is the earliest on record. Despite the lack of evidence in archaeological records, a number of artwork is believed to portray Down's syndrome, including the 16th century painting The Adoration of the Christ Child (pictured) Other . bodies discovered in the necropolis were found in the same position, . suggesting that the child’s burial was no different – and archaeologists . believe this meant the infant wouldn’t have been treated any . differently when they were alive. The cause of death, however, is unknown. ‘The results of our [study] lead us to conclude that the Saint-Jean-des-Vignes cranial skeleton reflects an individual who suffered from Down syndrome. ‘To our knowledge, this child represents the earliest and youngest case of this pathology. ‘It should be emphasised that, unlike previous published cases, the archaeological context is well known here, and provides evidence that this child was treated like the healthy members of the community.’ The child's skull was compared to the average skull of people of a similar age and location. This diagram reveals the differences and demonstrates the flattened rear . | Skull of the five to seven-year-old child was found in 5th century necropolis .
CT scans were used to examine the unknown child's skull shape .
It revealed features including a flattened rear, and tooth inflammation .
Combination of features are consistent with diagnosis of Down’s syndrome .
The child was also buried in the same way as others in the necropolis .
This suggests the child was not stigmatised by members of the community .
Down’s syndrome was described in 19th century and older cases are rare .
Researchers claim this case is the earliest in archaeological record . |
19d6af8bcb41fc884fecbee947e076cd6312e6e1 | By . Jacqui Goddard . Last updated at 11:11 PM on 27th June 2011 . Casey Anthony’s own defence team had her trial halted temporarily so that psychologists could determine whether or not she was mentally fit for trial, it emerged today. Trial goes on: Casey Anthony appeared in court today after a break in session on Saturday . In a bizarre turn of events, Judge Belvin Perry revealed at the start of proceedings in Orlando, Florida, today that Anthony, 25, had been examined by three state-appointed mental health experts over the weekend, after a motion filed by her lawyers brought proceedings to a sudden halt on Saturday. The episode came amid bafflement by legal commentators over where the accused murderer’s defence case is going. Five weeks into the trial her lead . lawyer, Jose Baez, has still not backed claims made during his opening . statement that Anthony’s behaviour following the death of her . two-year-old daughter Caylee in June 2008 stemmed from deep-rooted . psychological issues caused by her father sexually molesting her as a . child. In a separate . development, another of Anthony’s lawyers was today reported to have . filed a motion for a mistrial, attempting to have the death penalty . taken off the table as their client fights to save herself from a . first-degree murder conviction and possible execution. Today jurors were handed pieces of rubbish to smell. The debris, collected from Casey Anthony's car, was given to jurors to 'prove' that the foul smell prosecutors argued was a 'stench of death' was just rotting rubbish. Prosecutor Jeff Ashton asked the judge for permission to let the jurors smell for themselves, handing them a box and other rubbish that had been found in Anthony's car. Conference: Chief Judge Belvin Perry (L) confers with defense attorneys Cheney Mason (C) and Jose Baez (R) at the Orange County Courthouse today . Tense: Casey Anthony waits in court with her attorneys Cheney Mason (L) and Anne Finnell (R) today . Attorney . Ann Finnell, a death penalty expert, was said to have filed the motion . based on a ruling made by a judge in Miami last week relating to a 1991 . murder case. In that case, . the way in which the death penalty was applied was deemed . unconstitutional, though it does not automatically apply to every other . capital case. Despite the . manoeuvre, which was not immediately addressed in court, Anthony’s trial . continued this morning with evidence from the lead detective in the . case, following an address by Judge Perry explaining Saturday’s delay. 'On Saturday the defence team filed a motion to determine competency to proceed,' the judge revealed. 'Based . on that motion, the court ordered the defendant to be examined by three . psychologists to determine her competency to proceed.' Anthony - who on Saturday had appeared agitated with her lawyers, at one point gritting her teeth and snarling aggressively at defence team member Cheney Mason – sat calmly, reading legal documents and sometimes smiling, as she awaited the start of today’s court session. Judge Perry said that based on the independent psychologists’ reports, 'the court will find that the defendant is competent to continue.' The experts’ exact findings will remain secret. 'Those reports will be filed but pursuant to law those reports will remain under seal,' said the judge. Beginning: Defence attorney Jose Baez, centre, comes to the defence table where Casey Anthony sits before today's session . Huddle: Defense attorneys Ann Finnell, left, and Dorothy Clay Sims talk before today's trial . Anthony is accused of murdering her daughter by overpowering her with chloroform and then sealing her nose and mouth with duct tape, to free her up to 'live the good life', prosecutors allege. She has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse and providing false information to law enforcement. She was arrested in July 2008 after her mother, Cindy Anthony, became suspicious of her stories as to Caylee’s whereabouts. Anthony told her mother that the little girl was with a nanny but, when challenged further by her mother and law enforcement, claimed that Caylee had been kidnapped by the nanny. The nanny later turned out to be non-existent - one of several 'imaginary friends' that Anthony dreamed up, Mr Baez has admitted to the court. At the start of the trial last month, Anthony’s defence again changed as Mr Baez claimed that Caylee had actually drowned accidentally in the family’s pool on June 16, 2008, but that the child’s mother had covered it up out of fear. WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer explained that the attempt to have her declared incompetent for trial did not amount to an attempt at an insanity defence. Tragic: An image projected on a courtroom monitor last week showed Cindy Anthony (L) with her granddaughter Caylee . 'Like so many things we have seen in this trial, that’s unusual what we have just seen happen….but there’s a difference between employing the insanity defence and issues of competency to proceed. 'An insanity defence must be put by the defence before you ever go to trial in a case – it means you were insane at the time of the commission of the defence and basically boils down to that you didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. 'Competency to proceed' says that at any time during proceedings either the court, the defence or the prosecution feels that this client is not able to participate in their defence in a meaningful way, that the court should conduct an inquiry into whether or not the client is competent to proceed. 'Obviously Mr Mason or others thought that Casey’s emotional state was such that she could not proceed to help the defence.' | Defence called for Anthony to be seen by psychologists .
Jurors shown pieces of trash to 'disprove' stench of death theory . |
19d747ffd61e35579be8899b76f0dfcd0412aa5a | (CNN) -- Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo on Wednesday ordered the replacement of top military commanders, a day after publicly dismissing rumors circulating the capital about a military coup. The announcement came from the armed forces themselves, not the president's office. In his capacity as commander-in-chief, Lugo named replacements for the heads of the army, air force and navy, according to a statement from the armed forces. One day earlier, Lugo had addressed -- and dismissed -- reports of a possible coup. "In recent days rumors have surfaced about the placement of bombs, new kidnappings, assaults, coup d'etats," Lugo said at a news conference Tuesday. "We are a friendly, participative government, willing to analyze the criticisms we receive, but don't confuse that for a moment with a showing of weakness," Lugo said, adding that nothing would remove him from the presidential palace until the end of his term in 2013. Lugo, who was elected to a five-year term last year, is a former Catholic bishop. His victory brought an end to 61 years of one-party rule in Paraguay, but the honeymoon did not last long. In April, Lugo admitted he fathered a child during the period he was still a priest, and that he may have possibly fathered more. The revelation, which came as a shock to most, hurt his campaign image. Calls for his resignation began then and have continued, as Lugo has struggled to push reforms through a majority-opposition legislature. The new military commanders will be sworn-in at a ceremony Thursday morning. | Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo named replacements .
Lugo replaced heads of the army, air force and navy, said statement from armed forces .
One day earlier, Lugo addressed and dismissed reports of a possible coup . |
19d9e28b8d10b600da815c12460b6714661e20b5 | (CNN) -- Newspaper photography and photojournalism make up a craft unlike any other in journalism. A frozen moment can convey human strength or weakness like few other story forms. An image created by a photojournalist carries the power to change societies. Great images remain burned into our brains forever. Journalists like to say that newspapers write the first draft of history, but that's only partly true -- the best news photos are history. The Chicago Sun-Times nurtured great photographers since the paper was founded. In fact, in an early Page One nameplate, the paper called itself "The Picture Newspaper" and carried the icon of a professional camera. But on Thursday morning, May 30, that illustrious era ended when the paper's editor dismissed 28 photojournalists with just a few words. How did they respond? They captured the grief and horror and emotion with their reporter's notebooks -- their cameras. I was lucky enough to work with these pros during my four years as a visual editor at the paper and saw the extraordinary lengths they went to, and risks they took, to make powerful Page One photos or in-depth photo reportage for investigative projects, such as the legendary "Clout On Wheels" series. My fellow editors pushed them hard every day to bring the best pictures to our readers. A photojournalist knows how hard it is to record history when the authorities try to limit or prevent you from doing so. But these guys could get anywhere, they knew everybody, and they had the uncanny ability to somehow be in the right place when news broke. Their instincts are legendary. Sun-Times photographers ran toward chaos, they placed themselves and their cameras as close as possible to the action without fail. I looked up to them. I wanted to be one of them. My first moments as a journalist were as a news photographer for my college newspaper, The Daily Eastern News, 25 years ago. I wanted to be a shooter at the Sun-Times because that was a place that valued the power of hard news photography. Photographer John White, who won a Pulitzer Prize at the newspaper in 1982, famously said, "It is a privilege to be a photojournalist." And it is an extraordinary privilege. White told me a few years ago that he enjoys being the eyes to the world and bringing the eyes of the world to what he has seen. Watch: John White talks about video story telling . Media watchers have noted that the Sun-Times' new publisher, Timothy P. Knight, had committed a similar mass firing of all news photographers at Newsday in 2008. Knight is using his power to crush a guild-protected workforce in favor of freelance talent. Freelancers and staff reporters will carry the burden of creating original news images from places where it's hard to take great pictures. The freelancers, presumably, will be carrying professional camera gear, while the reporters will be trained how to do double duty by using smartphones for visual news gathering and video packages. Smartphones replace point and shoot cameras, they replace consumer-level video cams, they replace pro audio recorders. But smartphones can't replace digital single lens reflex cameras -- and especially can't replace the talent and experience required to make pictures for many types of newspaper assignments. I have filed video reports from student protests in Rome with a smartphone, and I have reported in stills with Nikon F3s and "fast glass," or fast lenses, from disaster scenes. The tools evolve, but they all have their own applications and abilities. The demands for print reproduction quality are much higher than for digital, so it is an open question how much of this new smartphone photography will actually be good enough to make it to the print editions. When I train journalists to tell visual stories with smartphones, their output is meant for digital audiences and is an adjunct to the work of the dedicated pros carrying better gear. But at the end of the day, quality storytelling matters, regardless of the form or who does the work. News consumers expect high quality when they pay for professional journalism from a Chicago brand that built its reputation on stellar news photography. White's work hangs in a private art gallery in the newsroom of the Sun-Times. It joins a collection more than 150 powerful news photographs that the photo staff of the paper produced over six decades -- a reminder for the employees who still work there of what their paper once stood for and accomplished. It is a shame that the public can't see this museum-quality exhibit. It is a breathtaking tour through Chicago's history seen through the eyes of some very brave witnesses. The photos are there, but the brave witnesses will no longer be in the building. So, what's been lost? A tradition of fearlessness, bravery, courage, knowledge and trust that was decades in the making. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Robb Montgomery. | Chicago Sun-Times fired its whole photography staff of 28 .
Robb Montgomery: Paper was known for photojournalism, won Pulitzer Prize .
Will use freelancers and smartphones, he says. Digital images aren't up to print standards .
Montgomery: But nothing can replace their guts, experience and quality of their work . |
19db2873d9abbeaa47d3c7d2161caca9ffa2403f | By . Emma Innes . People are more likely to commit suicide at night than during the day, new research has revealed. Far more suicides occur between midnight and 4am than during the daytime or evening, the study found. The researchers believe this could be because some suicides are trigger by insomnia and by nightmares. People are most likely to commit suicide between the hours of midnight and 4am, a new study shows . The researchers, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, found the average suicide rate per hour was 10 per cent after midnight, peaking at 16 per cent between 2am and 2.59am. In contrast, the average suicide rate per hour was two per cent between 6am and 11.59pm. When six-hour time blocks were examined, the observed frequency of suicide between midnight and 5.59am was 3.6 times higher than expected. ‘These results suggest that not only are nightmares and insomnia significant risk factors for suicidal [thoughts] and behaviour, but just being awake at night may itself be a risk factor for suicide,' said principal investigator Dr Michael Perlis at the University of Pennsylvania. According to the authors, previous research suggesting that more suicides occur during the day failed to account for the proportion of the population that is awake at each given hour - something that was taken into account for this study. It is thought insomnia and nightmares could play a role in prompting suicides at night . The current study involved archival analyses of both the National Violent Death Reporting System, which provided data for the estimated time of fatal injury, and the American Time Use Survey, which provided an hourly proportion of the U.S. population that is awake. A total of 35,332 suicides were included in the analysis. According to Dr Perlis, an important implication of the study is that the treatment of insomnia may be one way to reduce suicide risk. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that about 10 per cent of adults have a chronic insomnia disorder lasting at least three months. Accounting for more than 38,000 deaths each year, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In comparison, about 16,000 deaths occur each year due to homicide. | The most common time to commit suicide is between midnight and 4am .
Suicide rates peak between 2am and 3am and are lowest during the day .
Aside from insomnia and nightmares prompting some suicides, simply being awake at night may be a risk factor, say U.S. researchers .
For confidential support visit the Samaritans website or call the helpline on 08457 909090 . |
19db379f3ac4896fccd515f39d6aa2675220ce5b | By . Jill Reilly and Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 11:38 EST, 18 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:33 EST, 18 January 2013 . Death: Savita Halappanavar died in hospital on October 28 last year from suspected septicaemia . The husband of an Indian dentist who died after she suffered a miscarriage in Ireland said his late wife is giving him the strength to fight for the truth. Savita Halappanavar died in hospital on October 28 last year from suspected septicaemia. The 31-year-old's husband, Praveen, said after her inquest was opened: 'It's not easy to sit there in the court to see all the proceedings. 'I believe I'm getting that strength from somewhere to look forward. 'I suppose I believe it is coming from Savita. She was that type of a person. She was always there for me so I'm getting the strength from that.' He claims that doctors at Galway University Hospital refused to carry out . an abortion 17 weeks into her pregnancy because a foetal heartbeat was . present. He says they were told Ireland 'is a Catholic country'. As the inquest into Mrs Halappanava's death today, the Coroner for Galway city, Dr Ciaran MacLoughlin, promised her husband that her inquest will be transparent and open to public scrutiny. He offered his condolences to Mr Halappanavar and vowed to conduct the hearing with solemn respect, dignity and courtesy to him and to the memory of his 'beloved Savita'. Dr MacLoughlin said: 'It is my duty as coroner to ensure that the inquiry shall be independent, effective and prompt - that the procedures are open, transparent and accountable and are subject to public scrutiny.' He also added that her next of kin would be involved to an appropriate extent. He urged all sides involved in the hearing to respect the functions of the court after medical records stating that Mrs Halappanavar had requested an abortion were leaked last night. The family's legal team had previously said that medical notes they had seen did not record the request for a termination. Scroll down for video . Promises: Praveen Halappanavar, the husband of Savita Halappanavar outside Galway Coroners court today. He said he was getting strength from his wife. 'I'm getting strength from that' Grieving husband: Pictured on their wedding day, Mrs Halappanavar's husband Praveen Halappanavar begged doctors at Galway University Hospital to terminate the pregnancy after she began miscarrying and now refuses to assist investigators . The hearing, which is expected to last more than a week, will begin on April 8 at Galway Courthouse. Dr MacLoughlin was told 48 statements have already been furnished by health chiefs and gardai, with six more to be ready within a week. However, John O'Donnell, junior counsel for Mr Halappanavar, raised concerns about two more witnesses who have not, and may not, be able to assist the inquest due to personal difficulties. The pair, who had written in the patient's hospital records, have been unable to give statements for confidential reasons which were recognised and accepted by the coroner. Speaking about his wife's final moments, last month, . Mr Halappanavar said: ‘In the night, at around one o'clock, the nurse . came running, as I was standing outside ICU. ‘She just told me to be brave, and she took me near Savita, and she said: “Will you be ok to be there, living her last minutes? ‘I said: “Yes, I want to”. I was holding . her hand, they were trying to pump her heart, there was a big team . around. The doctor just told me they lost her.’ Devastated: Praveen Halappanavar (pictured with his wife Savita at their home in Galway) says he watched helplessly as she died from blood poisoning from a miscarriage after doctors refused to perform an abortion . Mr Halappanavar, who works as an . engineer at Boston Scientific in Galway, came to Ireland from India with . his wife four years ago to start a new life together. She had a job in . Westport, Co Mayo and the pair lived in Galway city. They were so excited about the expected . birth of their first child, which was due on March 20, that they had an . early baby shower in recent weeks when Mrs Halappanavar’s parents were . visiting. But their world began to fall apart, . when Mrs Halappanavar’s back pain worsened and she was forced to seek . medical help at University Hospital Galway on the morning of Sunday . October 21. After routine tests the young mother-to-be was told everything was fine and the couple were sent home. But within an hour of returning, Mrs Halappanavar was positive something was wrong after using the bathroom. Refused begging: Doctors at Galway University Hospital (pictured) refused Mrs Halappanavar refused an abortion because she was 'in a Catholic country' and the foetus's heartbeat was still present . ‘She was in tears, she was in shock,’ said Mr Halappanavar. ‘So immediately we rushed back to the hospital.’ After similar tests again showed up nothing unusual, Mrs Halappanavar asked to be seen by a doctor. Following a more in-depth examination, . she was told around noon that there had been a cervical dilation and the . medics would not be able to save the baby. The pair were told it would all be over . in four to five hours, and then the dentist could go home. But she . remained in agony and two days later her health began to sharply . deteriorate. Happy couple: Savita and her husband Praveen dancing at 2010 Diwali festival in Galway, video from YouTube . ‘On Tuesday night, things really started . getting worse... All of a sudden Savita started feeling cold, she . started shivering terribly,’ said Mr Halappanavar. She was taken into the hospital's high dependency unit before being transferred to intensive care. By Friday morning, Mr Halappanavar was . asked by a midwife if he had told wife’s family, who were travelling . back to India, about the severity of her condition. She had not wanted . to worry them until they returned home. ‘I just told them she is still in the . hospital and that she is fine, she is doing well. I only told them about . the miscarriage,’ said Mr Halappanavar, speaking to RTE from Belgaum, in . Karnataka, in south west India. ‘But (the midwife) said you have to tell . them that she is critically ill. She said it is better that her parents . and all her family know about it.’ In the early hours of Sunday, October 28, Mrs Halappanavar died. Mr Halappanavar said he believed his wife, a Hindu, would have survived if she had been given an abortion. Tribute: People light candles in Galway after the 31-year-old's death . Campaigning for change: Thousands took to the streets of Dublin to pay tribute to Mrs Halappanavar and demanded changes to abortion laws in Ireland . It is believed one of the areas the . hospital's Risk Review Group will investigate is the experience of the . consultant who oversaw the case. ‘Savita was in agony,’ he added. ‘She was very upset, but she accepted she was losing the baby. 'When the consultant came on the ward . rounds, Savita asked if they could not save the baby, could they induce . to end the pregnancy. ‘The consultant said, “As long as there is a foetal heartbeat we can’t do anything”.’ He said he had gone from being ‘on top of the world’ to having his world torn apart in just days. Protest: Anti-abortion campaigners hold placards in Dublin following Savita's death . | Savita Halappanavar died of blood poisoning after an abortion was refused .
Husband Praveen today: 'It's not easy to sit there in the court'
Medical records stating that Mrs Halappanavar had requested an abortion were leaked last night .
The hearing, which is expected to last more than a week, will begin on April 8 at Galway Courthouse . |
19dbfe3918d9bdd7b5f1792631c5e3e424146473 | (CNN) -- An Arizona mother has admitted to suffocating her 13-year-old daughter and trying to kill her other children by poisoning them, police said Tuesday. Officers in Casa Grande, Arizona, responded to a 911 call on Christmas Day. A man said that his ex-wife, 35-year-old Connie Villa, had stabbed him but that he had managed to escape and was driving himself to a hospital. When officers arrived at the home, they found Villa with stab wounds, holding a knife to her chest. They managed to subdue her and conducted a sweep of the home. Police found the body of Aniarael Macias, Villa's daughter, in the bathroom. "Although an autopsy for Aniarael was conducted ... the results of which did not identify a cause of death, investigators feel the evidence found at the scene of the crime along with interviews and medical information of the surviving children, give our Department cause to believe Connie Villa was attempting to end the lives of all of her children and her ex-husband, Adam Villa," police said in a statement. Connie Villa faces one count of first degree murder in the death of her daughter. She is also being charged with four counts of attempted murder of her ex-husband and her three surviving children, ages 3, 5 and 8. In an interview, she admitted she tried to kill her children by forcing them to ingest prescription narcotic drugs, police said. The kids had trace amounts of opiates in their systems. Police also said that she told them she was unsuccessful in forcing her oldest daughter to ingest the drugs, and so she suffocated Aniarael. Connie Villa reportedly told investigators she wanted to kill her children and ex-husband because she did not want him to have custody of them. The surviving children are all in good condition and were placed with the family of their father, Adam Villa, 33. He is in stable condition. Connie Villa was released Sunday from Maricopa Medical Center, where she was treated for what investigators believe were self-inflicted stab wounds. She was arrested the same day. According to Thomas Anderson, a police spokesman, she has made an initial appearance in court. No bond was given. Aniarael's father released a statement asking for privacy and prayers. "On behalf of Michael Macias, Ania's father, Vera Macias, Ania's grandmother and extended family, we request that the focus of this tragedy be a celebration of our precious Ania's life. She was a gentle, kind and beautiful spirit who was taken from us much too soon. Michael and his family are heartbroken," it read. "We are writing this statement in hopes that the media and other outlets will allow Michael and our family to grieve peacefully. We thank everyone for the outpouring of support for our family. We appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts. We pray that justice will be served." | Connie Villa told police she suffocated her daughter, Aniarael .
She also admits to trying to kill her other children, police say .
Her surviving children had trace amounts of opiates in their systems, police say .
Aniarael's father asks for privacy and prayers . |
19dc492122169ccff4ad4ed2991d3c3d9d0560d7 | (CNN) -- Officers in two Utah cities will make extra patrols Monday, the anniversary of the slayings of two women -- one in 2006, the other in 2008 -- who investigators believe were killed by the same person. Sonia Mejia, left, 29, and Damiana Castillo, 57, were killed on the same date two years apart, police say. Investigators recently learned forensic evidence links the February 9, 2006, killing of a pregnant Sonia Mejia and the February 9, 2008, slaying of Damiana Castillo, police in two neighboring Salt Lake City suburbs announced last week. No arrest has been made. Both women were Hispanic, and both were found slain in their apartments -- one in Taylorsville and the other a mile away in West Valley City. Authorities are trying to determine whether the date is significant, but they want residents "to be cautious in general" and not focus just on Monday, West Valley City police Sgt. Mike Powell said. Still, police will do extra patrols Monday "just so the public is aware we're out and about," he said. Investigators are not saying a serial killer was involved, Powell said. But the links are alarming for the involved neighborhoods, which are heavily populated by Latinos, the director of a Hispanic advocacy group said. "[News of the links] is important because, although I think law enforcement doesn't want to say it, this could be a serial killer type of thing, and there's concern from our point of view that there could be a guy that could be trying to kill people on a certain date," said Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah. Mejia, 29, was six months' pregnant when she was sexually assaulted and strangled, CNN affiliate KSL-TV in Salt Lake City reported. She was found dead in her Taylorsville apartment, and her unborn child died, too, police said. Her car was found abandoned outside a hotel in nearby Murray, Utah, according to KSL. Some jewelry of Mejia's is missing, Powell said. Castillo, 57, was found strangled in her apartment two years later in West Valley City, about a mile away from Mejia's apartment, according to CNN affiliate KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City. Her son found the body, and there were no signs of forced entry, KSL reported. Police in both cities announced on Wednesday that forensic evidence linked the slayings to one killer, and that they had reason to believe he was a Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20s, standing between 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 135 to 150 pounds and having short black hair. Powell declined to say how investigators arrived at those details or what kind of forensic evidence linked the killings. Police haven't said whether the women knew their attacker. Investigators haven't linked the killings to any other but are "not closing the door on anything that might be related," said Powell, who added he isn't aware of any other February 9 homicides in the two cities or surrounding communities in recent years. The link between the February 9 stranglings has rattled some residents in the area, KTVX reported. "I'm scared for me and my daughter to be here," West Valley City resident Elizabeth Berrelleza told KTVX. The police departments said Thursday they've created a joint eight-member task force to investigate the killings. The departments had known about each other's cases and had compared information for quite some time, "but it's just recently that we've been able to link the cases," Powell said. "[The significance of the date] is something that we're looking further into, and if someone has some information that would enlighten us, that would be helpful," Powell said. At a news conference Thursday, the task force made a special appeal to Latinos in the area, saying anyone with information -- including any undocumented person -- should come forward without fear. "Sometimes they're worried about their [immigration] status. We're not interested in that. Come forward regardless," Powell said in an interview after the news conference. Police reached out to Yapias and other leaders of Hispanic advocacy groups, Yapias said. Yapias' group is working with Spanish-language media in the area to spread information about the killings and investigators' request for information, he said. "Law enforcement has assured everyone that if someone is undocumented and they have information, they just want the information," Yapias said. "But if they're afraid because of their legal status, then I or any other community leader can act as a mediator to make sure they're going to be protected." Anyone with information about the slayings can call the task force's tip line at 801-965-5121 or send an e-mail to the task force at taskforce@wvc-ut.gov, police said. | Police: Evidence links killings that happened on same date two years apart .
Monday is anniversary of slayings, which occurred in neighboring Utah cities .
No arrest has been made; police investigating whether date is significant .
Both victims were Hispanic women, found dead in their apartments . |
19dc8bf1db1f112cf3cd3d25214bdc53b14ae487 | MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Four boys were killed Saturday when hurricane-force winds caused a roof to collapse at a sports center outside Barcelona, Spain, authorities said. A police officer inspects the site of the roof collapse Saturday near Barcelona, Spain. Nine people, including two adults, were injured. At least six others in Spain and four in France have died in storms that have socked the region, authorities and Spanish media reported. The sports complex collapsed shortly after 11 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) in Sant Boi de Llobregat, a suburb just west of the city, near the Prat airport. The boys who died, who were 9 to 12 years old, were among 17 youngsters playing baseball outside when strong winds began blowing. The adults took 11 of the children into the building, authorities told CNN sister network CNN+. The winds caused the metal roof and part of the building's concrete siding to collapse on those inside, said a reporter for CNN+. Watch rescuers dig through the rubble » . The six boys who stayed outside were not hurt. Earlier official reports that said they had been injured were wrong. Emergency workers thought they had rescued all survivors and recovered all bodies from the building by early afternoon, the CNN+ reporter said. Spanish media have reported winds of up to 99 mph in parts of Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona. Strong winds have also had much of northern Spain on alert. The winds would signify a Category 2 hurricane, which has wind speeds that range from 96 to 110 mph, according to the Saffir-Simpson scale. The winds toppled garbage containers and other objects in Madrid. Various northern airports had delays, as did high-speed train service between Madrid and Barcelona, authorities said. A Civil Guard officer in northwestern Spain died when a tree fell on him as he tried to clear other fallen trees, and a woman in Barcelona was crushed by a wall that caved in. The severe weather, which began Friday night, has also pummeled southwestern France, knocking out power for about 1.2 million homes, according to Electricite de France. On Saturday, two drivers in the city of Les Landes were killed when heavy winds downed trees that fell on their cars. A 78-year-old man also died after being struck by debris near his home, police said. In Gironde, a 73-year-old woman who was on a respiratory machine died after her home lost power. Regions hit include Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrenees, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Aude and Pyrenees-Orientales, officials said, with fallen trees and damaged roads hindering access. CNN's Per Nyberg and Sujatha Samy-Randy contributed to this report. | NEW: In France, woman on respirator dies when home loses power .
Six people killed elsewhere in Spain in separate incidents .
Stormy weather hits Spain, France, with winds of up to 99 mph .
Electricite de France: Power lost to 1.2 million homes . |
19de0927e626fe0e8d553e26aac5f87c1dacf589 | Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has an outside chance of making Monday’s Premier League trip to West Brom. The Spain international broke a rib three weeks ago and was expected to miss six weeks of football. However, Herrera has made rapid progress with his recovery and has told United boss Louis van Gaal that he can play against West Brom with a painkilling injection. Ander Herrera, pictured celebrating with Wayne Rooney, could feature against West Brom on Monday . Spanish midfielder Herrera broke a rib during Manchester United's win against West Ham on September 27 . Michael Carrick is expected to play against Burnley on Friday afternoon in a behind-closed-doors game . Antonio Valencia - hamstring, Paddy McNair - hamstring, Ander Herrera - rib, Chris Smalling - hip/thigh, Jonny Evans - ankle/foot, Ashley Young - groin/pelvis, Phil Jones - hamstring, Jesse Lingard - knee, Michael Carrick - ankle/foot . Van Gaal has other options, with players such as Marouane Fellaini available, while Michael Carrick may feature in a behind-closed-doors game at Burnley’s Turf Moor on Friday afternoon. The United boss will be hoping his side can follow up recent victories against West Ham and Everton when they travel to The Hawthorns. The Red Devils take on Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City after Monday's trip to West Brom. | Manchester United face West Brom on Monday night at the Hawthorns .
Ander Herrera says he'll play against West Brom with a painkilling injection .
Herrera broke a rib during 2-1 victory against West Ham .
Michael Carrick set to play in behind-closed-doors game against Burnley .
Man Utd currently sit fourth place in the Premier League . |
19de20f4213d3a7d4f5080e52e8155cab297becb | By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 06:38 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:33 EST, 29 November 2012 . Silly hats, extravagant colours and brave prints were left at home last night, as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie stepped out in London with their mother - and all three looked the picture of elegance. Attending the Valentino: . Master of Couture exhibition private view at Somerset House, the young royals and the Duchess of York wore black coats and knee-length dresses. Beatrice was out on the town for the second night in a row, having attended the British Fashion Awards on Wednesday night. Scroll down for video . Here come the girls! Princesses Eugenie, left, and Beatrice, right, spent the evening with their mother the Duchess of York, centre, at the Valentino: Master of Couture exhibition private view at Somerset House in London . The Duchess of York opted for a black sleeveless dress with ruffled neck, and black Aruna Seth black satin butterfly shoes, £595, while her daughter Beatrice, 24, chose a pretty cream frock with delicately embroidered detailing and black patent leather heels. Younger sister Eugenie, 22, opted for a fitted navy dress with a black zipped jacket with puff shoulders. Celebrities including Stella McCartney, . Tamara Beckwith, Liz Hurley, Hurley's ex-husband Arun Nayer and Olivia . Palermo also attended last night's opening of the new major exhibition . celebrating the life and work of Valentino Garavani - as did the Italian . designer himself. Aruna Seth is well-versed in furnishing famous feet, and counts those of the Duchess of York, both her daughters, Pippa Middleton, Kate Hudson and Pixie Lott among her most devoted. The designer never says no to Swarovski crystal detailing, and even made a limited edition Union Jack pair bedecked with 3,000 of the little gems for the Queen's Jubilee, and priced them at £1,500. Her butterfly shoes are the most popular, available in over 30 different styles and colours, and priced from £227.50 to £725. www.arunaseth.com . The mother and daughter trio - who also managed to fit in a trip to Lou Lou's private members' club in Mayfair for the after-show party - spent time with the man of the hour, whose retrospective opens to the public today. The glamorous exhibition focuses exclusively . on haute couture created by the legendary Italian designer. With . a 50-year career starting in the late 1950s this exhibition will . showcase over 130 hand-crafted designs worn by icons such as Jackie . Kennedy Onassis, Grace Kelly, and Gwyneth Paltrow. A prophetic designer and creator of exquisite, beautiful clothes, this is Valentino as he has never been seen before. Featuring . dresses from the couture catwalk and red carpet as well as designs . commissioned by private clients, this exhibition brings together a . comprehensive collection of couture, much of which has never been seen . outside the Valentino atelier. The . exhibition will give visitors a rare glimpse behind the closed doors of . Valentino’s world, allowing them to experience the thrill of walking . the runway and reveal Valentino’s craftsmanship. Let's hear it for the girls: Princess Eugenie, left, and Beatrice, right, spent the evening with their mother the Duchess of York at the Valentino exhibition private view in London's Somerset House . Women in black: The young princesses and their mother looked elegant and sophisticated in dark jackets and knee-length dresses . 'Each of these designs have a beautiful story,' says Valentino. 'The atelier crafted each so diligently by hand, taking hours, sometimes days to complete. 'The . details are incredibly intricate, though outside the runway shows and . events, the dresses have rarely been seen, so to be able to showcase . these designs at Somerset House, where they can be seen in great detail . by the public, is very unique.' Girls just wanna have fun: Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice looked happy and relaxed as they attended the private view together last night in central London . Me and my girls: From left, Princess Eugenie, the Duchess of York, Valentino and Princess Beatrice . Ladies' man: Valentino Garavani at his exhibition with the young royals and their mother, the Duchess of York . Girls on tour: The young royals arrive at Lou Lou's members' club in Mayfair for the exhibition after party . In good company: At the exhibition in Somerset House Hurley was pictured cuddling up to good friend Valentino . With his leading lady: Arun and his other half model Kim Johnson appeared to be in good spirits . Dressed to the nines: Tamara Beckwith and Stella McCartney were also on hand at the the high fashion event . VIDEO: Valentino unveils his retrospective and the A-listers flock to support him… . Pretty woman: Julia Roberts wore this Valentino dress, which is going on display at Somerset House, when she won an Oscar . Lady in red: Actress Anne Hathaway at last year's Oscars in a gown which is also in the exhibition . Historic: Jackie Onassis wedding dress from 1968 can also be viewed . Red carpet style: Jennifer Aniston is another . fan of the designer and wore this gown to the premiere of her film Along . Came Polly . Bridal chic: The wedding dress of Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece from 1995 one of the main exhibits . 'Valentino: Master of Couture' will be a glamorous exhibition focusing exclusively on haute couture created by the legendary Italian designer . Known . for his long-standing relationships with the world’s most glamorous . women, Valentino has designed for princesses, first ladies and Hollywood . icons. Speaking to Grazia magazine he said: 'When I first started there was only haute couture. 'I love the perfection of haute couture. I know the construction of each dress like the back of my hand.' The exhibition will give visitors a rare glimpse behind the closed doors of Valentino's world, allowing them to experience the thrill of walking the runway and reveal Valentino's craftsmanship . Dresses worn by stars such as Jackie Onassis's, the Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and Sophia Loren will go on display . As a result, exhibition . highlights will include the vintage dress worn by Julia Roberts when she . won an Academy Award in 2001, Jackie Onassis’s wedding dress from . Valentino’s 1968 White Collection and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece’s . pearl-encrusted ivory silk wedding gown, which the New York socialite . wore to marry Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece in 1995. The . exhibition design for Valentino: Master of Couture has been created . specially for Somerset House by internationally renowned design team . Kinmonth Monfreda, long time collaborators of Valentino, and realised in . collaboration with Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti. The exhibition has been curated by Alistair O’Neill for Somerset House with Patrick Kinmonth and Antonio Monfreda. Decades of designs: The exhibition shows off the best of Valentino's glitz and glamour . There will be a dazzling array of . evening gowns sure to capture the eye of any fashion savvy visitor . including this oriental dress, left, hand painted dress centre and . chiffon evening dress, right . It . promises to be a unique experience for each visitor and unseen personal . photographs, couture invitations and images of Valentino at work and . play from his personal archive in Wideville, France. For Valentino: Master of Couture, Somerset House’s Embankment Galleries will be transformed into a glamorous couture catwalk. Gwyn . Miles, Director of Somerset House said: 'We are delighted to welcome . Valentino to Somerset House and show off his beautiful designs in such a . spectacular way.' Somerset House say they are delighted to welcome Valentino and to show off his designs . | The trio attended the event at Somerset House last night .
Also went to Lou Lou's private members' club in Mayfair for after party . |
19df46e637845b95cbb2825fe954ce9bc80b5bd8 | A dog’s owner may not notice how fast their pet is growing, especially if they see them every day. But one owner from San Francisco didn’t want to miss a week of his Rhodesian Ridgeback’s development so created this lovely time-lapse. The 23-second clip shows Greg Coffin’s dog Sophia growing from a two-month old puppy into a fully-grown three-year-old. Scroll down for video . The footage was filmed by Greg Coffin from San Francisco. It shows the development of his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sophia as she grows from two months (pictured) to three years in just 23 seconds. This is then reversed to show Sophia shrinking back to a puppy . This is then reversed to show Sophia shrinking back to a puppy. The footage was taken by Mr Coffin, a senior art director at Digitas, every weekend, with help from his wife Amanda. It ends with outtakes that show Mrs Coffin attempting to keep Sophia still during the filming. Mr Coffin wrote on Facebook: ‘This is a pet project we've been working on for three years, that's finally completed. 'It's been amazing watch our little lady grow from a little burrito to the beautiful beast she is today.’ The time-lapse was taken by Mr Coffin, a senior art director at Digitas, every weekend, with help from his wife Amanda. It ends with outtakes that show Mrs Coffin attempting to keep Sophia (pictured at three years old) still during the filming . The fastest growth of a puppy occurs between four and six months. By the time it’s a year old, a dog's skeleton is usually fully developed, although it may continue to develop in larger breeds for the next six months to a year. In Mr Coffin's video, Sophia's rear legs are shown getting longer and larger even after this time. By three months, a puppy typically has a full set of baby teeth, which are replaced by adult teeth at around five months. It is likely the dog will begin a chewing phase at this point. Puberty typically begins at around four months old and sexual maturity can hit as early as six months. Between seven and nine months, a puppy will begin exploring more of their environment, and this can lead to a second chewing phase. The testosterone level in male puppies increases up to seven times higher than in an adult dog by the time it reaches 10 months, which can cause a growth spurt. This falls to a normal level by 18 months. Doggy paddle is one of the first strokes children develop when learning to swim, but despite inspiring the name, research has discovered dogs don’t paddle in water at all. Instead, they perform a more complex cycle of movements (pictured) underwater to maximise their speed through the waves and reduce drag . Doggy paddle is one of the first strokes children develop when learning to swim, but despite inspiring the name, research has discovered dogs don’t paddle in water at all. Instead, they perform a more complex cycle of leg movements underwater designed specifically to maximise their speed through the waves and reduce drag. Professor Frank Fish from West Chester University used underwater cameras to film eight dogs, across six different breeds, as they swam across a pool, . When a dog trots on land, their front paw rises and falls in time with the hind paw on the opposite side. For example, the left front paw will rise and fall with right hind paw. However, when a dog runs on land, in order to increase its speed, the legs move in a more complex, cyclical way. The left hind paw lands first, followed by its left front paw, right hind paw and right front paw in sequence. As the dog runs further, the legs rise in the same pattern. | The film was taken by senior art director Greg Coffin from San Francisco .
It shows the development of his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Sophia .
Time-lapse shows Sophia growing from two months to three years old .
This is then reversed to see Sophia shrinking back to a puppy .
Footage ends with outtakes that show Mr Coffin's wife attempting to keep Sophia still during the filming . |
19e06e29b883ca0101d30c87cba3df899661f4bc | A performer from Cirque du Soleil died in a weekend accident during a show at a Las Vegas casino, authorities said Sunday. The performer, 31-year-old Sarah Guillot-Guyard, was pronounced dead shortly before midnight Saturday, the Clark County, Nevada, medical examiner's office told CNN. The cause of death had not been determined Sunday afternoon. The accident happened during the show's finale, said Cirque Du Soleil spokeswoman Renee-Claude Menard. During the scene, performers are suspended up to 50 feet in the air on lines controlled by wireless remote controls, according to the troupe's website. Guillot-Guyard "was being hoisted up the side of the stage and then just plummeted down," witness Dan Mosqueda told the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. "Initially, a lot of people in the audience thought it was part of the choreographed fight. But you could hear screaming, then groaning, and we could hear a female artist crying from the stage." Guillot-Guyard was born in Paris, specialized as an acrobat and aerialist and had performed for more than 20 years, according to a website for Cirquefit, which describes itself as a circus and fitness program for kids. She taught classes through that program. Parents of some of her students left messages on the group's Facebook page remembering Guillot-Guyard. "No words. My boys loved every moment in Miss Sarah's class. Deepest sympathies to her loved ones," wrote one. "We will miss her terribly! She was an amazing teacher!" wrote another. Guillot-Guyard, nicknamed "Sassoon," was part of the original cast of "Ka," the long-running Cirque du Soleil show at the MGM Grand hotel and casino, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté said in a statement issued Sunday. The show has been canceled indefinitely, and the company is "working with the appropriate authorities and have offered our full cooperation," Laliberté said. Cirque du Soleil star battles shoulder injuries . "We are reminded, with great humility and respect, how extraordinary our artists are each and every night. Our focus now is to support each other as a family, " he added. The title of the show comes from an ancient Egyptian belief in the "ka," a spiritual copy of the body that's with people in this life and the next, according to the company. Cirque du Soleil, which translates as "Circus of the Sun" from French, is headquartered in Montreal. It was founded in 1984. How Cirque du Soleil scouts its performers . | A witness describes what happened during the accident .
Sarah Guillot-Guyard died during a performance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas .
She was born in Paris and specialized as an acrobat and aerialist .
Guillot-Guyard was part of the original cast of "Ka" |
19e0bec2f73b2be9e423a8f1639aa7a374554474 | If it was up to Kanye West, we'd all be strutting around in flesh-coloured body stockings next season. As ridiculous as it may sound, that may well be the case as the musician-come-designer has received an abundance of praise for his range for Adidas from fashion editors, authorities, and influencers. The collection made its way down the runway on the first day of New York Fashion Week yesterday, comprising of full body stockings, see-through skin-coloured crop tops and visible nude pants. It's certainly a new take on underwear as outerwear - one certainly not for the faint hearted. Scroll down for video . Deni Kirkova, 24, from London, stepped out on a London High Street to find out what the reaction from onlookers would be . She wore a High Street makeshift version of the types of outfits seen on the Kanye West X Adidas catwalk, right . The Kanye West Adidas Fall 2015 collection received an abundance of praise from fashion elite - but do the public agree it's a hot look? To win praise for his fashion is certainly a step forward for Kanye - now Femail are testing whether his clothes will be as popular with the public. Writer Deni Kirkova, 24, from London, trialled the full flesh-coloured body stocking look, stepping out on a London High Street to find out what the reaction from onlookers would be. She paired an American Apparel bralet (£12.50), crop top (£10), leggings (£14) and - of course - a £6 pair of pants, from Marks & Spencer, worn over the top, all in a beige flesh tone, topping off the look with a Kim K style parka jacket from Topshop. Speaking about her outfit, and whether she thought it worked, Deni said: 'The problem is visible pants. It's quite funny to walk around dressed like this now, and it's a bit of a laugh, but I wouldn't dare go out like this seriously. 'A nude crop top and leggings, though, could work. You'd have to tone this down a notch to take it from catwalk to High Street. 'I'm quite surprised that people on the street generally liked my outfit to be honest - some fashion know-it-alls praised how bold it was, noting the Kanye influence, and said that the jacket and lipstick went well with the all-nude look. 'Some though, of course, said that the pants were too much.' Deni paired an American Apparel bralet, crop top, leggings and pair of M&S pants worn over the top, all in a beige flesh tone, with a parka . Deni's look was inspired by Adidas Originals x Kanye West Yeezy collection seen in New York on Thursday. The designer's wife Kim Kardashian, 34, turned up wearing an ensemble from the range. She liked the look so much, she even posted an Instagram photo of herself, adding: 'My look for the Yeezy show!!!!!! Yeezy head to toe!!!!!' Critics similarly seemed to enjoy Kanye's latest fashion offerings with Vogue saying: 'Kanye West's New collection with Adidas lives up to the hype.' He had the fashion bible's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, and top designer Alexander Wang sitting front row. Kanye's wife Kim Kardashian showed up to the event wearing a brown body stocking with a grey crop top and a camo jacket . Everyone from builders to couples and fashionistas to old ladies seemed to like the bold look, much to Deni's surprise . Everyone from builders to couples and fashionistas to old ladies seemed to like the bold look, much to Deni's surprise . The problem for Deni was visible pants. 'It's quite funny to walk around dressed like this now, but I wouldn't dare go out like this seriously' A review posted on the fashion magazine's website said: 'Hems were raw and frayed, tops billowy, bottoms either skintight to slide into newly unveiled suede stiletto boots or cinched and ready to be tucked into aforementioned Boosts. 'There were immaculate flak vests and officer sweaters that looked like they’ve actually taken shrapnel, and everything was said to be unisex... On display, in rigid lines of expressionless youth, it was at the very least satisfyingly instigative for a line of sportswear.' Refinery 29 noted that Kanye's collection probably would sell well saying: 'It was a lineup of oversized jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, and leggings, interspersed with Vanessa Beecroft-esque nude-colored underwear. 'A camo parka that Kim Kardashian also wore was a highlight, and we thought the oversized backpack was a clever accessory that'll probably make it into a healthy stack of editorials.' Kanye claims that he wanted the collection to be made up of 'solutions based clothing,' saying, 'I don't want the clothes to be the life, I want the clothes to help the life.' It is also thought that it will have a relatively low price point compared to other designer clothes meaning the pieces can be snapped up by his fans. Now that the fully nude spray-on look has won approval from fashion darlings and the man on the street, will you be trying it out? Deni says maybe a nude crop top and leggings could work - without the pants. You'd have to tone this down a notch . The show is the first time Kanye has received praise for his attempts at fashion design . Kanye's collection featured baggy coats which sat over the body-stocking . Models stood in an army-like formation wearing their outfits designed by the rapper . | Kanye launched his debut collection of nude body suits and crop tops for Adidas at New York Fashion Week .
Wife Kim Kardashian arrived wearing the daring designs and critics have praised the collection of sports-wear .
Femail takes the style from catwalk to High Street to see if a real woman can pull off underwear as outerwear look .
Sent writer Deni Kirkova to test the trend and captured the public's reaction on camera (it may surprise you!) |
19e0c7111238d84dd5c0164525fc4330dfd365e6 | A local strolling on a beach in Cape Town has snapped terrifying photos of a deadly Cape cobra in the shallows. The snake, which was estimated to be up to 1.8m in length was spotted on Hout Bay beach, make its way along the sand to the water. Photos have since been shared on social networking sites, with Hout Bay resident Jeffery Rinks among those who managed to capture the snake on camera. A combination of deadly snake and sharks could make Hout Bay the world's most dangerous beach . The snake was trapped between photographer and the shark-infested water . Speaking to South African radio station 567 CapeTalk, snake and reptile expert Shaun Macleod said: 'That's fantastic, that's a beautiful size, they seldom get to that size.' He explained that snakes soak in water when they are about to shed as their skin gets irritated and says it probably ended up in the water on this occasion because the photographer was blocking its escape route. He said: 'So the snake was trying everything it could to move away from the photographer and ended up in the water, it's a fantastic shot. It looks like the guy's having a surf, [it's] fantastic.' Experts explained that the snake would only become dangerous if it is disturbed or people tamper with it and Macleod said 98 per cent of snake bites are self-inflicted. Hout Bay is known for its shark-infested waters and boat tours can be taken by visitors to see seal colonies and other marine life. The photos of the cobra were shared on Twitter, with many expressing their shock and disbelief at the size of the snake, as well as the situation itself. Residents who live on Hout Bay have voiced their worry after the deadly cobra was spotted on the beach . Ina Gouws wrote on Twitter: 'I'd collapse; scared to death,' while Thandile Ntshwanti said: 'This thing about the cobra and the beach in Cape Town, just messed up my holiday plans... Can't be swimming with no cobras. Ayanda Shayi wrote: 'A 2 meter long cobra having a swim in Cape Town Hout Bay... I think we need to review our vacation plan,' and JodieCocker added: 'Just when we thought it was safe to venture onto the beach or into the sea.. BOOM - Cape Cobra of Fear!' Iain Macdonald said: 'This must have been an impressive sight to see, especially the size of this Cape Cobra snake on Hout Bay beach.' Meanwhile residents who live near to where the cobra was spotted have voiced their safety concerns after the release of the pictures. The snake was ushered away from people and dogs by beach-goers throwing sand towards it . Speaking to the Daily Sun Lungisa Benzile said: 'I was shocked when I saw photos of that huge snake crawling on the beach. 'We will avoid the beach. We have had problems with snakes here before.' CapeTalk were contacted by Hout Bay-based Rinks, who told the radio station that along with a friend, they managed to encourage the snake off the sand and under a log until the reptile experts arrived to capture the animal. 'I immediately made sure people kept away from it, put the dog on a leash, and my priority then was to ensure the safety of the snake and the people and dogs that were out. 'I was joined by a woman who quite confidently suggested we try and herd the snake away from the water. 'Between the two of us we threw sand at the snake. Eventually the snake came up to a log and I stayed with (it) for about an hour.' | Snake spotted taking a dip on Hout Bay beach, in Cape Town, South Africa .
Visitors and residents photograph the snake as it plots its next move .
Reptile expert believes 1.8m snake was trying to plot escape route .
Residents living nearby speak of their fear following incident . |
19e14934dbfa80b7eb6a529bbdef79d946ac1aeb | (CNN) -- While President Barack Obama has made promoting rights for gays and lesbians worldwide a key foreign policy goal, that is little comfort to Ali Asseri, a former Saudi diplomat who is gay. Asseri is fighting a years-long battle for asylum in the United States, convinced his life will be in danger if he is forced to return home. The case presents a dilemma for the Obama administration as the President travels to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Abdullah amid a time of strained relations between the close allies. Saudi Arabia's radical form of Islam mandates the death penalty for same-sex relations. "I come from the darkest place on earth," Asseri said in a phone interview from his home in West Hollywood. "We are brainwashed that we have the best system and sharia law comes from god. But they teach us to hate others. I came to America to clear my mind." Asseri grew up in a middle class conservative Saudi family, the middle child with three brothers and three sisters. His parents had little education and raised him and his brothers and sisters true to Saudi culture and religion. There was no music or TV. He didn't know for years that he was gay. By age 13, he realized he was different than other boys his age, he just had no idea what that difference was. "We don't have any education about sex. You don't know what gay means. You just know that you have feelings. You can't talk about it with anyone. According to the Koran they are a sin. I thought it would just go away. I just had feelings but you can't talk about it with any person." As a law student, he considered a career as an attorney and took a job as a clerk for a judge in the Saudi court. After a few months, he quit. In a petition seeking asylum to the United States obtained by CNN, he wrote that "unfair bias" in the treatment of cases in Saudi Arabia made it "morally impossible for me to continue." "I was frequently upset and saddened by the system in general and the punishments given to the accused," he wrote. Investigates sexuality . For another year he worked as a trainee in the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution, where he would check on the prisoners to see whether they were receiving proper treatment. He was forced by his managers to witness prisoners being lashed, which gave him bad dreams. He quit his job once again, frustrated with the harsh punishments and his inability to do anything to stop them. At that time he started to investigate his faith, religion and sexuality. "Without these jobs I wouldn't be the same person now," he said. "I began to understand something isn't right about the way we practice religion. Something didn't feel good. I said to myself the only way you can have freedom is to be a diplomat and travel out of the country." He joined the Foreign Ministry as a diplomat and got married to a Saudi woman, all the time hiding his feelings and dreaming of the day he could leave the country and live his life as an openly gay man. When his wife gave birth to his son, Fahad, Asseri tried one last time to give his arrangement a chance. But he found he could not keep up the charade and they divorced in 2004. Asseri was transferred to the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles the next year. A double life . Here, he writes in his asylum petition, "I discovered the gay community, the gay culture and that I was in fact gay." For four years he led a double life. By day, he was a traditional diplomat. By night, he visited gay bars and told friends he was from Italy or any other country than his own. Asseri's two worlds collided in 2009 when he fell in love and moved into a West Hollywood apartment with his boyfriend. Finding happiness for the first time, he enjoyed an open social life in West Hollywood with his new friends. Soon his colleagues began to ask him about his life outside of work and started following him. When his passport expired and he submitted it for renewal, he received no reply. After several months, his office told him his time in the United States was up and he would have to return to Saudi Arabia. He began to fear he was found out. He called a friend in the foreign ministry in Riyadh, who told him indeed the Consul General sent a letter to the ministry stating he was gay and had information about his lifestyle. "This is when I became really scared and paranoid," he writes in his asylum petition. "I was so scared they would do something to me physically. I was even afraid to go to my car thinking there could be a bomb in it. When I came home I had to check every closet." He sent a letter to various news organizations saying he was being harassed by colleagues and he feared for his life. Fearing persecution . He applied for asylum as a gay person who would face persecution if sent home. In more than eight hours of questioning, immigration officers focused on his jobs in the Saudi courts and Bureau of investigation. His bid for asylum was no common occurrence. The last Saudi diplomat to seek asylum was in 1994, when Mohammed al-Khilewi, then first secretary for the Saudi mission to the United Nations, was granted asylum for publicly criticizing his country's human rights record and alleged support for terrorism. Fourteen months later in October 2011, the Department of Homeland Security denied Asseri's application. In the rejection letter, obtained by CNN, the government says "evidence indicates that you ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the persecution of others on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion." The case went to automatic appeal. "They interviewed him once and it took 14 months and it showed they were going for denial," says Ali Ahmed, a Saudi dissident and activist that has been helping Asseri with his case. "They used the reason that he worked for the courts to call him a human rights violator which is really bogus." Obama on gay rights . Two months later, Obama signed a Memorandum on International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of LGBT Persons. It included a program to protect gay refugees and asylum seekers, including "ensuring the federal government has the ability to identify and expedite resettlement of highly vulnerable persons with urgent protection needs." In the memo, Obama writes that the fight to end discrimination against LGBT people is "a global challenge" and "central to the United States' commitment to promoting human rights." "I am deeply concerned by the violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons around the world — whether it is passing laws that criminalize LGBT status, beating citizens simply for joining peaceful LGBT pride celebrations, or killing men, women, and children for their perceived sexual orientation," Obama said. In its most recent human rights report, the State Department said under sharia law in the Saudi Arabia, "consensual same-sex conduct is punishable by death or flogging." Ongoing case . It wasn't until this past February that Asseri was finally granted a hearing date for his appeal. At the court, the immigration officer offered him a deal to remain in the country permanently without possibility of asylum or a green card. Additionally, he could never leave the country. When he rejected the offer, the immigration officer applied for another continuance, saying she needed to submit more documents in the two-year case. He is now looking at a new hearing date in 2015. Today, Asseri barely makes ends meet as a part-time security guard. He lives on couches at friends' apartments in West Hollywood. His family has shunned him and his ex-wife won't allow him to talk to his son. As unbearable as his life in limbo is, he says returning to Saudi Arabia would be a death sentence. "There is no question," he says. "If you go back and say I am gay and proud and I don't believe in religion anymore. Under sharia law this is death. You will be happy if they kill you right away. " Ahmed, the Saudi activist, says Asseri is a victim of U.S. desires not to upset the Saudi monarchy. Asseri had been convinced that Obama's stated commitment to gay rights would trump politics and keep him safe in the United States. "When President Obama ran in 2008 I supported him. I cried for him, I encouraged my American friends to vote for him. Now I can't stand to watch him on TV," he says. "I'm angry. He said he supports the rights of gay people, so why is this happening to me?" The Saudi embassy in Washington and consulate in Los Angeles did not return phone calls. The Department of Homeland Security declined comment, saying asylum cases were confidential. | Former Saudi diplomat fighting battle for asylum in the United States, fears return home .
Case presents a dilemma for President Obama while in Saudi Arabia .
Saudi form of Islam mandates the death penalty for same-sex relations .
Obama has underscored efforts to end discrimination against LGBT people . |
19e23eedf120d7cb1d326118ce46e1785c07d76d | By . Jack Gaughan . Follow @@Jack_Gaughan . Louis van Gaal has touched down in Manchester ahead of familiarising himself with his new surroundings. The Manchester United manager touched down on a private jet in the city at 8.40 on Wednesday morning and was then whisked off to Carrington in a black Chevrolet from a private hangar. He will be greeted by senior figures at the club's training base and given a tour of the complex ahead of getting to know his new squad. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Maverick, master or madman... who is Louis van Gaal? Touchdown! Louis van Gaal (picured in Holland at the weekend) arrived in Manchester on Wednesday morning . Meeting his team: Van Gaal will be introduced to his squad at Carrington before taking training . There will be a chance to begin building relationships over lunch after he takes care of training for the very first time. United are likely to officially unveil their boss at a press conference on Thursday. That would represent a quick but necessary turnaround as the 62-year-old is to jet off again on Friday, this time with the rest of the first team as they play four fixtures over in America. The former . Bayern Munich manager believes that 'holidays are for wimps' and had no . intention of taking time off before getting stuck into the task at hand. Nevertheless, this will be a whirlwind couple of weeks for him after a World Cup adventure that ended in Holland finishing third. He has clocked up the miles - almost reaching 50,000km over the last five weeks - and that continues in earnest. Will they stay or will they go? Both Shinji Kagawa and Ashley Young could find their places under threat . Out and about: Robin van Persie is away on holiday with his family after being given three weeks off . La Galaxy, Roma, Real Madrid and Inter Milan are the opponents across the pond, giving the Dutchman time to assess his squad ahead of what is to be a critical Premier League season after the unmitigated disaster of David Moyes' reign last year. Van Gaal is expected to make swift decisions on individual players in order to arrest the alarming slide and welcomes Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw to his midst. Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa, Darren Fletcher, and Ashley Young are all waiting to see whether they will remain at Old Trafford. Robin van Persie has been given three weeks off in order to recuperate and manage niggling yet persistent knocks. VIDEO Van Gaal to start work today at United . | Manchester United manager touched down on a private jet .
The Red Devils fly out to America on Friday for pre-season tour . |
19e286d2709f77d9432de8ac0d8ed2e300e357f4 | A torrid day ended Tiger Woods' return from back surgery prematurely as the 14-time major winner missed the cut in the Quicken Loans National at Congressional. The world number five, playing his first event since undergoing a microdiscectomy in late March, recorded a four-over-par 75 for his second round to fall to seven-over for the tournament in Bethesda, Maryland. His next tournament is expected to be The Open at Hoylake. Feeling the strain: Woods' round of 75 saw him miss the cut on his return from injury . No way back: The former world number one found some momentum on the back nine but it wasn't enough . Slow progress: Woods has announced his intention to play at the Open but will need to find some form . There was a four-way tie for the lead between first-round leader Ricky Barnes (69), Australian pair Marc Leishman and Oliver Goss, who each shot five-under rounds of 66 and Patrick Reed, who closed with three birdies in his final five holes for a 68. Woods, who opened with a three-over-par 74 on Thursday, made pars on each of his first four holes before a double-bogey six at the fifth. A further dropped shot followed at the eighth before Woods birdied the par-five ninth. He sunk an 11-foot putt on the par-three 10th for a second consecutive birdie, before a run of four successive birdies was halted with a par-four at the 15th, leaving him five shots adrift of the projected cut with three holes to play. Get in the hole: Woods prepares to put on the 10th alongside Jordan Spieth (left) and Jason Day (right) In form: Australian Marc Leishman hit an unblemished round of 5-under to tie for the lead . Another birdie followed at the par-five 16th, but it was too little, too late as Woods finished with consecutive birdies to miss the weekend's action. Major winners Mike Weir, YE Yang, Ernie Els and Keegan Bradley also missed the cut. At the top end of the field, Leishman and Goss each recorded unblemished rounds featuring five birdies to take their share of the lead. Barnes also made five birdies, but his round was marred by three bogeys as he was denied the outright lead with a round of 69. Hudson Swafford and Stuart Appleby were one shot behind on five-under-par. | Woods hadn't played since March .
A round of 75 saw him miss the cut .
Marc Leishman, Ricky Barnes, Oliver Goss and Patrick Reed share lead . |
19e2b641d3f2fe84b233ed4618454e83205bccc7 | "Mr. Gulden works in two great photographic traditions -- that of Edward Curtis, who devoted his life to documenting the passing of a way of life, and that of Ansel Adams, who wanted to make photos of nature that were indelible. To have combined them is another remarkable accomplishment." So wrote the Wall Street Journal in a review of photographer David Gulden's most recent book "The Centre Cannot Hold," (Glitterati), published last year. Known for his evocative black and white images of wildlife, the New York native has spent the past two decades photographing primarily in Kenya. Gulden's obsessive patience, his passion for these animals and his talent are evident in his work -- many of his photographs capture an animal in the most intimate of moments, blissfully unaware of being observed. In her foreword of his book," writer Susan Minot introduces him as "someone who tears the doors off vehicles so he can set his camera down at a unique low angle." We caught up with the adventurous photographer between shoots in Nairobi. CNN: Your photos are known for "not glorifying" the animals that you shoot. What does that mean to you? David Gulden: I try to make my photos a bit gritty, a bit raw. I don't wish to over dramatize my subjects and I wish to avoid sentimentality. There's beauty in east Africa's wildlife but it's a stark and often harsh beauty. There's no glory, only survival. CNN: Have you ever had any accidents while photographing on safari? David Gulden: An agitated female black rhino with a young calf charged my vehicle. She smashed into the driver's door with full force and then, like something out of "The Flintstones" -- she thrust her horn up through the ceiling and it popped out the top of the roof. No one got hurt including the two rhino. CNN: What are some tips for photographing on safari? David Gulden: Don't be afraid to get weird or try something unusual. Be wary of the safari guide who thinks he knows everything. CNN: What cameras do you use? I'd been using Nikon film cameras but my vehicle caught fire and burned to the ground with all my gear inside. Now I use Canon digital cameras. More: Amazing desert photographs taken by paragliding photographer . CNN: Why do you prefer using black and white in your photography? David Gulden: Black and white is more timeless than color -- it invites the viewer to look more closely. CNN: What is the longest you've ever waited for a shot? David Gulden: It took three years to photograph the mountain bongo. There are less than 100 of them in the wild and they live in rough, remote, densely vegetated mountain terrain and they are extremely shy. I have yet to see one -- I got the photo using a sophisticated camera trap. CNN: How did you first get into safari, and what made you keep going back? David Gulden: My father took me on safari when I was 15, and I fell hard for it. When I was 18, before I returned to take a semester course in Kenya with the National Outdoor Leadership School, my dad introduced me to the photographer Peter Beard -- the most interesting man imaginable -- and there was no turning back. CNN: How often do you travel? David Gulden: I live in the suburbs of Nairobi, so I have to travel to get to the wilderness. The good thing about my home is that I can go in any direction and in only a few hours' drive, I'll find the greatest wildlife on the planet. More: 9 not-in-the-guidebook Africa safari tips . | Kenya wildlife photographer David Gulden shares some of his best work .
The longest he's ever waited for a photo is three years for a shot of a mountain bongo .
His advice for safari: "Be wary of the safari guide who thinks he knows everything" |
19e554350976853d60f4eed4ad90d06ec7ef4c86 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 05:32 EST, 6 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:13 EST, 6 March 2014 . Al Qaeda militants have executed a Yemeni man accused of being an infiltrator and tied him to a football goal as a ‘warning’ to others, security officials say. The unidentified man was accused of spying on al Qaeda for the U.S. and was shot dead in the town of Shahr in Yemen’s southeastern Hadhramout province. Security officials say the man was killed on Thursday by a militant firing squad and his body was tied to the goal for public display by the militants. Horror: The body of a man accused of spying for the U.S. is seen tied to a football goal post outside al-Shihr city in Hadhramout, Yemen . Shockign: The dead man was accused of spying and as punishment for the alleged crimes, was shot in the head by al-Qaeda militants and strung to the goal as a 'warning' An al Qaeda flier distributed to residents said the execution was in ‘retribution’ for anyone who deals with Americans. The . flier claims the man had been placing microchips in cars and safe . houses used by al Qaeda members to guide missiles fired by U.S. drones. Al Qaeda wields significant power in some remote areas in southern Yemen, where state authority is almost non-existent. The area is unstable, with government forces and militant rebel groups, with al Qaeda just one, are clashing on a regular basis. The unidentified man was accused of placing microchips in al-Qaeda members' cars and safe houses to guide missiles fired by U.S. drones . An al-Qaeda flier distributed to residents said the execution was in 'retribution' for anyone who deals with the Americans. On . Sunday, unidentified gunmen ambushed a colonel in the security forces . in central Yemen, south of the capital Sanaa, killing him and wounding . his guard. In a separate . incident on the same day, armed tribesmen clashed with security forces . on the southern edge of Sanaa, leaving two gunmen dead and three . soldiers wounded. Yemen is the main base of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as AQAP or Ansar al-Shari'a, an offshoot of al-Qaeda believed to have several hundred active members. In 2011, CIA officials branded AQAP 'the most dangerous regional node in the global jihad'. | Man accused of spying for the U.S. killed by al-Qaeda in Yemen .
Militants said he was planting microchips to guide U.S. drones .
He was shot dead and tied to a football goal as a 'warning'
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES . |
19e68274e610ea1ba8c50d25ddcd1084cf8a6791 | With a beauty industry saturated with lotions and potions promising to turn back the clock, treating fine lines and pigmentation on our face is already enough of a minefield. If the daily cleanse, tone and moisturise routine is already too much for you (and that's before you've even considered serums, toners and oils), it's about to get a lot more complicated. New ranges of creams and serums targeted at beating hand wrinkles are starting to hit shelves so that beauty buffs can give their mitts the same attention as their faces. Another body part to worry about! With hands being one of the most tell-tale signs of ageing, new ranges of creams and serums targeted at beating hand wrinkles are being rolled out . But why do we need more products to add to our already lengthy beauty regime? Here's why: As the years pass, skin on the hands thins, causing veins to become more prominent and liver spots to appear. While make-up can disguise tell-tale signs of ageing on the face, it's more difficult with hands - which is why it's often said that hands are the best indicator of age. In fact, research by beauty firm No7 showed one in eight of us is more worried about our hands betraying our age than our faces. That's where a new host of potent products come in that are designed to plump hands, beat wrinkles and reduce dark spots. Damage done: As the years pass, skin on the hands thins, causing veins to become more prominent and liver spots to appear . New range: Mavala has a whole range of treatments aimed at hand health, such as the Repair Night Cream (£36.50), which is packed with the all-important hyaluronic acid and silk amino acids to help cell renewal and even a cleansing mask, right, to refresh hands . One of the newest power players on the market is Hand Chemistry - a brand dedicated to improving the firmness, elasticity, density, evenness, brightness, texture, smoothness and hydration of hands. Their new Hyaluronic Concentrate has been formulated with a 19 per cent marine hyaluronic complex, which includes a 99.5 per cent pure hyaluronic acid - an ingredient well-known for providing incredible hydration to skin. There's also lots of other potent ingredients packed in there such as red marina algae, which apparently increases cell turnover, as well as tamarind to hydrate skin below the surface. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Anti-Ageing Hand Cream (great for those on a budget at £3.99 from Boots), has been dermatologically proven to protect your hands from dryness whilst reducing some of the visible signs of ageing. The hand cream contains glycerin and shea butter to diffuse active moisture into the skin and with its exclusive soy complex, the formula claims to visibly reduce the appearance of brown spots. Day and night: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Anti-Ageing Hand Cream, which has been dermatologically proven to protect your hands from dryness whilst reducing some of the visible signs of ageing, is great for daytime wear, while E45's offering boots regeneration whilst you sleep . The E45 Repair & Protect Overnight Hand Cream also costs £3.99 and promises to enhance skin cell repair and regeneration overnight and helps protect skin’s natural defences. Palmer’s £3.99 Eventone Age Spot Hand Cream helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and takes it one step further by helping to minimise the risk of further skin damages thanks to the built-in SPF. Mavala has a whole range of treatments aimed at hand health. First up is the Mavala Repair Night Cream (£36.50), which is packed with the all-important hyaluronic acid and silk amino acids to help cell renewal and moisture retention. It even comes with specially designed cotton gloves to enclose hands after application to help the rich cream penetrate effectively while you sleep. Potent: Hand Chemistry's new Hyaluronic Concentrate has been formulated with a 19 per cent marine hyaluronic complex, that is well known for providing incredible hydration to skin . They also have a £22.25 Cleansing Mask for Hands aimed at benefiting dry and damaged hands. It contains botanical extracts which remove impurities, refresh and invigorate, and aloe vera to calm and soften the skin. If that wasn't enough, there's the Mavala Anti Blemish Cream for Hands (£17.00) aimed at helping with pigmentary blemishes, which represent one of the major natural phenomena of ageing skin. Hormonal changes and frequent exposure to the sun are to blame. So, with the passing of time, pigmentary blemishes, more commonly called brown spots, appear on the skin. The brand say their cream tones down and prevents the appearance of pigmentary blemishes. Its botanical extracts (strawberry begonia and mulberry root) promise to help regulate the natural pigmentation, while an exfoliating agent and almond proteins allow a gentle peeling of dead skin overloaded with melanin, giving back radiance and suppleness. It's hardly surprising that these new hand creams are big business. Cosmetic surgery clinics have reported an 18 per cent increase in enquiries about anti-ageing procedures on their hands - proving how much of a concern it's becoming. The new cosmetic surgery trend, which sees women having dermal fillers and laser resurfacing to reduce the signs of ageing, has been dubbed the banishing of 'Madonna Mitts' after popstar Madonna, 55, who has 'anti-aged' almost every part of her body but often resorts to fingerless gloves to cover her hands. Dr Dennis Wolf, Joint Medical Director and fat transfer specialist at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, said: 'It is common for women, as they grow older, to lose weight in their hands, which means that veins and wrinkles can become more evident. Prolonged exposure to the sun will also speed up the ageing process. 'And while treatments like laser resurfacing to target the signs of ageing, or traditional fillers to make the hands appear fuller and healthier, can offer effective results, these can really only ever offer a temporary solution. 'A more long terms solution is fat transfer – a technique which is fast becoming one of the most popular for hand rejuvenation purposes. The procedure uses advanced technology to produce a pure and effective fat graft, which means that fat can safely be taken from one area of the patient’s body, such as their thighs or stomach, and injected into the hands. 'The fact that the procedure is minimally invasive is also an important factor. Many patients have careers which do not allow for them to be away from work for long periods of time. Fat transfer is a walk-in, walk-out procedure and one which is performed under local anaesthetic, so patients can undergo treatment without too much disruption to their lives. 'Over time I expect to see procedures such as this continue to grow in popularity, as women decide to invest further in different aspects of their appearance, later into life.' Dr Yannis Alexandrides, MD at 111 Harley Street said: 'One piece of advice I always give my patients is that skincare should not stop at the jawline. This new category of products show that an increasing number of women, who perhaps have a regimented facial regime, are now taking steps to ensure that their hands don’t give away tell-tale signs of age. 'Hands are exposed to the sun and environmental aggressors on a daily basis, and often age must faster than the face. 'There is very little fat on the backs of the hands, so when even a small amount of collagen or elastin fibres begins to break down the dermis thins, causing veins to become more prominent, and the skin wrinkles. Women who have conquered the unlined look above the face, still neglect their hands, and once that damage has been done, often non surgical treatments are the only options to restore volume in the skin. 'Filler is the most popular option, dubbed the ‘hand lift’ by my patients, and most of those who have this treatment are in their 40’s. I always prefer to use a patient's fat, which means that there is very risk of causing an allergic reaction. This treatment, although a little more expensive than regular filler, is permanent. The results are unrivalled as the stem cells in the fat give the hands plumpness in addition to radiance. 'For those concerned about age spots and pigmentation, injectables are not going to improve the hands condition. A laser resurfacing treatment like Fraxel can penetrate the top layer of skin, destroying brown spots and stimulating collagen production so that the skin looks smooth and even. It can be uncomfortable; hands can be red and swollen for a few days following treatment but the pigmentation and brown spots will flake off in about a week – with permanent results.' | Serums for hand pigmentation and wrinkles hitting shelves .
Hand Chemistry is brand with products solely for mitts .
Skin on hands thins, causing veins to become prominent and liver spots to appear . |
19e6d35d979d67667b792757ef7ec9a91cb8ed1a | Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is ready to quit the Emirates Stadium for a move to Manchester United. The Belgium international has told close pals that he wants to complete a controversial switch to Old Trafford after the World Cup. United manager Louis van Gaal wants to sign the central-defender this summer in a deal that could be worth in the region of £12million. VIDEO Scroll down to see Vermaelen parading the FA Cup with Arsenal . Out: Thomas Vermaelen wants to leave Arsenal and join Manchester United after the World Cup . International pedigree: Vermaelen (front left) is currently on World Cup duty with Belgium . Shrewd business? United manager Louis van Gaal wants to sign Vermaelen in a deal worth £12million . It is understood Vermaelen's representatives have already agreed personal terms with United. The next obstacle United must overcome agreeing a transfer fee with Arsenal, though Sportsmail understands the Old Trafford club will not make a formal offer for the defender until after his involvement in the World Cup is complete. Nevertheless, United will table a bid and, with Vermaelen on board, are confident of sealing his signature. Vermaelen has grown increasingly frustrated in north London during recent months as he's been forced to play second fiddle to first-choice central defensive pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is unwilling to let his skipper leave the club without having a replacement lined up. Having already lost right-back Bacary Sagna, who was the club's fourth choice centre-back, to Manchester City, the Gunners boss does not want to leave himself short of cover in the position. Vermaelen has a year left on his current Arsenal contract, meaning he can leave the club for nothing next summer - a scenario the Gunners are keen to avoid. The Gunners are ready to offer Vermaelen a new contract this summer, but without the guarantee of increased first-team opportunities next season, the Belgian is likely to be reluctant to sign. Back-up: Vermaelen played second-fiddle to Laurent Koscielny (left) and Per Mertesacker (right) last season . Gone: Arsenal have already lost defender Bacary Sagna to Premier League champions Manchester City . | Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has told close pals he wants to move to Manchester United after the World Cup .
United boss Louis van Gaal wants to sign Vermaelen in a £12million deal .
Vermaelen has grown frustrated at a lack of opportunities at Arsenal .
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to offer Vermaelen a new deal . |
19e728b37f07656b0ccd8de4c68c317f06e96cba | Hatem Ben Arfa has compared his playing career to a game of Super Mario on the Nintendo – admitting he only has 'one life remaining'. The Hull City loanee fell out favour at Newcastle during the summer and, with his contract up on Tyneside at the end of the season, will be available on a free transfer. And, in an interview on French television, the talented but troubled 27-year-old said: 'In the past, I only thought about myself. I thought I was alone in the world. I am very fragile, too fragile.' Hull City's Hatem Ben Arfa, (left) battles for possession of the ball with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere on Saturday . Ben Arfa has compared his career to a game of Super Mario on the Nintendo games console . He added: 'Being a free agent next summer? It is huge pressure. 'I have used up all my credits. It is like playing Mario - I have one life remaining, I have to take care, but I will take on the challenge. 'Playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe? I will achieve it.' Ben Arfa has made four appearances for the Tigers since his deadline-day move but it yet to open his scoring account. Ben Arfa could be available on a free transfer this summer after failing to establish himself at Newcastle . Newcastle boss Alan Pardew (right) allowed Ben Arfa out on loan this season . | The Hull City loanee fell out favour at Newcastle during the summer .
Hatem Ben Arfa said he is running out of chances in football .
The Frenchman could be available on a free transfer at the end of the season .
Ben Arfa has made four appearances for the Tigers since his move . |
19e7da3825355891b6b599d22fb1b06247b04a60 | (CNN) -- The Los Angeles Kings finally have their name in lights. Their Stanley Cup triumph has lifted a weight from the shoulders of die-hard fans who have been pining for a championship trophy for 45 long years. The scrappy Kings grabbed the National Hockey League's prestigious Stanley Cup with a 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Now La La Land is rolling out the red carpet for ice hockey's tenacious new champions, who won a long-elusive crown with Hollywood flair and reality-show grit. "I have no words to describe this," one fan said. "Other than my children being born and having graduated the Police Academy, this is the single most joyous day of my life." Now, he says, he can scratch one more item off his "bucket list." "The mountain has been climbed!" For him and other Kings' fanatics across Southern California and in the team's growing and crazed diaspora, the championship -- the first for the Kings since they began play in 1967 -- ended decades of futility for a franchise struggling for success in a sport typically associated with frigid temperatures and icy lakes. "We're No. 1!" long-suffering Kings fans shouted as they streamed out of the Staples Center after the game on Monday night, undaunted by a heavy police presence. Others formed a mosh pit outside the arena, jumping and smashing into one another other in celebration. As of late Monday evening, Los Angeles police reported a few minor arrests but no major problems. The Die Hard Los Angeles Kings Fan Page on Facebook chronicled the rapture, relief and disbelief from the legions who've pulled for the team, as one fan put it, "through thick and thin." "I love you My Boyzz," one elated fan said. Another didn't know if this was a Hollywood movie or reality: "I still need to be pinched." "An amazing feeling," another fan said. "Phew. Man. Just. Wow." Once an afterthought in the city of showbiz and bright lights, the Kings reached the pinnacle of professional hockey in a region long dominated by the NBA's Lakers and Clippers, baseball's Dodgers and Angels, and football and basketball at UCLA and University of Southern California. The Kings have even been overshadowed by their crosstown Pacific Division rival, the Anaheim Ducks, which won the Stanley Cup in 2007 just 14 years after the franchise started. This year, Los Angeles just edged into the playoffs as the 8th and last seed in the NHL's Western Conference. Regarded as a solid and respectable team, chances appeared slim that the team would advance in the grinding post-season play that started two months ago. But the black-clad underdogs, led by goalie Jonathan Quick, slew Goliaths in several best-of-seven series on their way to glory. They humbled the Vancouver Canucks , a team that had scored 111 points in this year's regular season, the most in the league. Then the Kings swept the St. Louis Blues and overpowered the Phoenix Coyotes. They dominated the Devils, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, in the first three games of the series, but New Jersey, with great players such as Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrik Elias, and Zach Parise, didn't say die. After taking a 3-0 lead, the Devils beat the Kings in the next two games. For the Kings, the specter of losing the series after taking a 3-0 would have been a nightmare for a script that appeared headed to a happy ending. But the Kings rose to the occasion at the Staples Center on Monday night and blocked the Devils' dream of an upset. The pace of the game was set in the first period, when the Kings scored three goals during a five-minute power play in the first period after the Devils' Steve Bernier was ejected for boarding. That's when a player is pushed or checked violently into the boards of the rink. "I'm probably going to watch the Kings Stanley Cup DVD everyday until next season starts," one person said on the Facebook fan page. Quick displayed his usual prowess, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player during the playoffs. He outshone Devils' goalie legend Martin Brodeur in the finals, but he deferred credit for the Kings' success to the team. For example, Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter performed with power and flair. Darryl Sutter, longtime player and coach, took over as Kings' coach in December when the team was faltering, and he spurred the team to greater achievement. Captain Dustin Brown -- who hoisted the cup before a roaring home crowd at the Staples Center before the trophy passed from one screaming King to another -- was another cog in the Kings' wheel. "You can't say enough about this group and how hard they worked," Quick said. "I hope everyone realizes how amazing Quick is ... he had perhaps the best postseason ever for a goalie," a man on the fan page said. "The Kings need to lock him up for the next 10 years !!!" Champagne flowed freely in the Kings' locker room -- including into the Stanley Cup itself. The team reveled in the fact that it was the first-ever No. 8 seed and lowest seed in the modern era to win the NHL championship. The mood was much more somber in the Devils' locker room. "I'm not the kind of player that wants to hurt this team, I want to help them," Bernier told reporters. "They scored three goals in those five minutes." In-depth Stanley Cup coverage at Sports Illustrated . The fan mania is a reminder of that the NHL is popular in the South and the West, not just in Canada and the icy northern U.S. states. The NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers, the Dallas Stars, the Nashville Predators, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the San Jose Sharks sport popular franchises. In sunny Los Angeles, meanwhile, the high-pitched enthusiasm rippled through the palm trees. "This is," one man told reporters. "The best city for hockey." The last time the Kings garnered this much attention back home was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, propelled by the league's all-time top scorer, Wayne Gretzky. "So when are they gonna make the movie about our cup run???" one Kings' fanatic said on the Facebook page. iReporters, share your thoughts on Monday's game . CNN's Paul Vercammen reported from Los Angeles, and CNN's Holly Yan reported from Atlanta. | NEW: "I still need to be pinched," one disbelieving fan said .
NEW: This is Southern California's 2nd Stanley Cup; the Ducks won in '07 .
NEW: The Kings defeated better teams in the playoffs, including the Vancouver Canucks .
NEW: One fan says the Kings need to "lock up" Quick for the next 10 years . |
19e9c694e67ffa2e5678e669907f7a1c777ab8f3 | Eugenie Bouchard's quest to match her stellar 2014 record in Grand Slam tournaments started on a positive note when she beat Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the Australian Open. Bouchard, who reached the semi-finals at three majors last year and lost in the Wimbledon final, broke Friedsam's serve in the ninth game of the second set and held serve in the next to clinch the match when the German player hit a forehand wide. At the All England Club last year, Bouchard became the first Canadian, male or female, to reach a Grand Slam final. Eugenie Bouchard made serene progress into the second round of the Australian Open . Bouchard celebrates her straight-sets win over Anna-Lena Friedsam as she reached the next round . Bouchard has proved to be a hit with supporters after enjoyuing a stellar year on the tour in 2014 . Friedsam had no answer to Bouchard's game as she crashed out at the first hurdle in Melbourne . | Eugenie Bouchard made a bright start to her Australian Open campaign .
The Canadian beat Anna-Lena Friedsam in straight sets in the first round .
Bouchard reached the last four of each of the majors last year . |
19ea921c6bb92abbc8ec459aae53f0531a2b9c93 | For just under five minutes on Saturday, England’s supporters found their voice. With Springbok lock Victor Matfield in the sin bin, Stuart Lancaster’s side finally gave the 82,125 fans inside Twickenham hope with two tries to level the score at 20-20. Swing Low echoed around the rain-soaked old stadium but they had barely got through the first verse before it all went flat again. Just as the power failed before the match, the lights went out on England’s momentarily sparky performance. With Matfield still off, the hulking Schalk Burger muscled his way over in the right-hand corner and South Africa never looked back. VIDEO Scroll down to see where Stuart Lancaster feels England lost the game . England captain Chris Robshaw's emotion shows what the loss, their fifth successive, means to the England players . England's players look dejected as they trudge off the Twickenham turf following their defeat on Saturday . South Africa players celebrate the only try of the first half which came from an intercept by Jan Serfontein . England: Brown, Watson, Barritt, Eastmond, May, Farrell , Care; Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Attwood, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw (c), Vunipola . Replacements: Webber, Mullan, Brookes, Kruis, Morgan, Youngs, Ford, Yarde . Tries: Wilson, Morgan, Barritt . Penalties: Farrell (2), Ford . Conversions: Farrell (2) South Africa: Le Roux, Pietersen, Serfontein, De Villiers (c), Habana, Lambie, Reinach; Mtawarira, Strauss, Du Plessis, Etzebeth, Matfield, Coetzee, Burger, Vermeulen . Replacements: Du Plessis, Nyakane, Oosthuizen, Botha, Mohoje, Hougaard, Pollard, Hendricks . Tries: Serfontein, Reinach, Burger . Penalties: Lambie (3) Conversions: Lambie (2) Field goal: Lambie . Another consolation try seconds from time put gloss on the scoreboard but, make no mistake, for large parts of this game England were abject. If the alarm bells were ringing following defeat to the All Blacks, the sirens are screaming from the Twickenham rooftops after this loss. Five defeats in succession, albeit against the best two sides in the world, is England’s worst run since 2006. And as the countdown to the World Cup continues, there is no sign of significant improvement. For the second week running, an opposition No7 — this time Burger — won the man-of-the-match award, leaving more questions over England captain Chris Robshaw’s suitability for the openside role. For the second week running, England were second best at the breakdown. For the second week running, Owen Farrell was unable to spark his back line. For the second week running, the scoreboard told a false story. England created next to nothing when South Africa had a full complement on the field. On the few occasions they did, they bombed their chances. The first 15 minutes were truly dire with balls regularly spilled in slippery, but far from treacherous, handling conditions against a side who tackled fiercely, sat back and waited for their chances to come. And come they did. Before England knew it, they were 10-0 down and they were lucky to reach half time at 13-6. That became 20-6 just after the break when Cobus Reinach crossed for a brilliantly worked try before England briefly rallied with Matfield in the bin. But with momentum swinging, Burger and co wrestled control back and closed out the game. England had few answers. Lancaster said: ‘We got some good field position in the second half and took those chances well. In the first half we could have been a bit smarter in those conditions. It was one of those days when territory was going to be important and in the first half South Africa benefited from our errors. Springboks centre Jan Serfontein runs away for the first try of the match after intercepting the pass of Danny Care . England's Kyle Eastmond takes on South Africa's Pat Lambie as the centre makes his full international debut . Springboks' forwards engulf England's Billy Vunipola after he takes the ball from a lineout . Owen Farrell adds two points after the try of Wilson to make his tally two penalties and two conversions before being replaced . A break from England full back Mike Brown is halted by try-scorer Serfontein . South Africa celebrate Cobus Reinach's first international try in his first start for the Springboks in the first minute of the second half . ENGLAND . 83 (2) 107 . 388 . 5 . 1 . 28 . 14 . 13 . 4/4 . 19/20 . 80/89 . 58% . 60% . Tackles (missed) Carries . Metres . Clean Breaks . Offloads . Kicks (hand) Turnovers . Pens against . Scrums won . Lineouts won . Rucks Won . Possession . Territory . STH AFRICA . 123 (20) 77 . 217 . 2 . 4 . 34 . 14 . 15 . 3/3 . 13/13 . 60/63 . 42 . 40 . ‘But we’re not going to sit here feeling sorry for ourselves because I believe in the coaches, I believe in the players and I believe in what we’re doing.’ No one player should not carry the can for another collectively poor display but No8 Billy Vunipola will not seek out the highlights reel of this match with any relish. Substituted after 43 minutes, the young Saracen can rarely have produced a more error-strewn display. Ben Morgan will surely start next week if the strike-threatened clash with Samoa goes ahead. Almost as soon as Vunipola was replaced by Morgan, England found some bite. Two tries in three minutes from the industrious David Wilson and then from Morgan himself gave England’s fans hope. But like so many times under Stuart Lancaster’s reign, the home side flattered to deceive, lacking the nous to beat one of the Southern Hemisphere’s big three. Just as New Zealand did last week, South Africa gripped this game at precisely the right time. Once again England were strangled as discipline disappeared and attacking quality went missing. Dylan Hartley was sent to the bin for a cynical 61st-minute stamp on Duane Vermeulen, which could easily have brought a red card from referee Steve Walsh. As it was, the yellow compounded his side’s woes and undid a lot of excellent work from England’s hooker. Indeed, most concerning for England’s coaches is that despite the set-piece being rock solid, they are failing to create chances and field position on the back of it. England out-scrummaged their opponents with ease in an area the Springboks would have expected to dominate. England’s lineout functioned well again, with Courtney Lawes enjoying a fine game in tandem with his Northampton team-mate Hartley. So what on earth is going wrong? Victor Matfield was shown a yellow card after collapsing a maul following warnings to both sides by referee Steve Walsh . Mike Brown takes a high ball and is tackled in the air by South Africa's full back Willie Le Roux . England full back Brown pushes his South African counterpart Le Roux . David Wilson crosses for England as the hosts make South Africa pay following the sin-binning of South Africa's Matfield . England's Ben Morgan twists in the tackle to get the ball down for England's second try . Another try for the England forwards comes from Morgan as the home side make the most of the one-man advantage . 1) Losing the breakdown battle. Must generate quick ball for the backs. if you won’t use them?2) Talented wingers are isolated. Why pick them . 3) Kicking game needs improvement. No territory means no points. 4) Missed chances. England must start taking the few they’re creating. 5) Talk straight. Some home truths need telling behind closed doors. In his first start on the right wing, Anthony Watson hardly touched the ball while Jonny May was also criminally underused on the other flank. England’s much-criticised kicking game was barely any better on Saturday, with Farrell unable to manoeuvre his forwards around the pitch and lacking the passing game to get the back line moving. The England No10 was completely outshone by his opposite man Pat Lambie, who kicked 16 points including a late drop goal and pulled the strings superbly for his side. Scrum-half Danny Care was ponderous around the breakdown as England’s back row were dominated and the quick ball backs desperately crave to attack the gain-line never materialised. Tom Wood carried better than in recent matches but gave away too many penalties while Dave Attwood failed to let Watson loose with the line at his mercy on 25 minutes. Same old mistakes, same old story. Lancaster may not be for turning, but England’s fans deserve so much better than this. With the World Cup looming, there’s very little to sing about. England captain Chris Robshaw converses with referee Steve Walsh during their Test at Twickenham . Dylan Hartley walks from the pitch after being sin-binned following Walsh's chat with his TMO . England lock Courtney Lawes charges down the kick of Lambie . Stuart Lancaster's side must now regroup ahead of next week's clash with Samoa . | South Africa defeated England 31-28 in their second autumn international at Twickenham on Saturday .
For the second week running, England were beaten at the breakdown and the scoreboard flattered the hosts .
The first 15 minutes were dire with balls regularly spilled in slippery, but far from treacherous, handling conditions .
England were quickly 10-0 down and were lucky to reach half time at 13-6, which was soon 20-6 after the break .
With Victor Matfield sin-binned, England hit back with tries through forwards David Wilson and Ben Morgan .
Ben Morgan will surely start next week against Samoa after a dire performance from Billy Vunipola . |
19efea8b69ee50e8ec3859e3d46ae412b9d0dd10 | A couple who who were asked to leave an Iceland store because their seven-year-old autistic son was 'out of control' claim they have been discriminated against. Matthew Lawton was shopping with his wife Amanda, 38, and his son Bradley at an Iceland store in Sheffield, when he claims a security guard asked them to leave. Mr Lawton claims his autistic son had been putting his hands in the freezers and was running up and down the aisles in the store. Iceland contends Bradley was potentially endangering himself and other customers 'by striking the lids of freezer cabinets while wearing a heavy ring'. Matthew Lawton, pictured with his wife Amanda and his son Bradley, seven, have claimed 'discrimination' after they were asked to leave an Iceland store in Sheffield because their son, who has autism, was running around the store and putting his hands in freezers; the family has been given a £20 voucher from Iceland . The Iceland store in The Moor, Sheffield, where the Lawton family was asked to leave by store security . The 40-year-old claims the security guard at the store on The Moor, accused him of not being able to control Bradley. He said: 'I am absolutely furious. He wasn't in a bad meltdown, but to be told you can't control your son is absolutely disgraceful. I couldn't believe it.' Mr Lawton said he explained to the security guard that his son had autism, and later called Iceland's head office to complain.The store sent him a £20 voucher. Mr Lawton said: 'I want to use the incident to raise awareness of disabled discrimination. 'Because Bradley doesn't need a wheelchair, people sometimes don't realise his condition. 'I'm very passionate about the fact that awareness isn't there and often it's the older generation that frown or don't seem to understand.' Mr Lawton said his family had suffered 'discrimination'. Iceland has said that it is investigating the incident and will take 'any action that may be appropriate'; pictured above is The Moor Market, where the Iceland store is located . He said: 'When you have someone in that job, you have to have an awareness about what you can and can't say. It's discrimination. 'I think we're a little bit behind in this country.' A spokesman for Iceland said the company is 'opposed to all forms of discrimination'. 'We are well aware of, and sympathetic to, the issues faced by the parents of autistic children and we try our utmost to make allowances for sometimes challenging behaviour in store. However, we must also have regard for the safety of our other customers and staff.' The spokesman said a security guard approached the Lawtons and asked them 'to calm' Bradley down and warned they they would have to leave the store if they couldn't. Iceland gave the family a £20 voucher, the spokesman said, as a 'gesture of goodwill'. 'We offered them as a gesture of goodwill and have already returned to shop in the same store, and we hope to see them and their son in store many times again in the future.' Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour. It includes Asperger syndrome and childhood autism. Children with ASD can display challenging behaviour, which can sometimes appear physically aggressive. The condition can also include behaviours like pica (putting inedible things in the mouth) and repetitive hand flapping, tapping or twisting. The world can be a confusing, isolating and daunting place for a child with autism and it is their difficulties with communication and social interaction that are often the root cause of difficult behaviour. The child's behaviour is not caused by bad parenting, the National Autistic Society says. Because of these difficulties, children can find it hard to communicate their needs or to understand what other people are saying to them, or asking them to do. Children with an ASD may not understand 'social rules' - the unwritten rules that govern social situations, such as how loud or quiet they must be, what behaviour is appropriate in public places, how close to stand to other people or how to take a turn in conversation. This is especially true if children find themselves in a new, unfamiliar situation. Therefore, social situations or new situations can be daunting and unpredictable. This can cause considerable frustration and anxiety which, if it can't be expressed any other way may result in challenging behaviour. Source: The National Autistic Society . | Matthew Lawton has claimed his family has suffered 'discrimination'
After being asked to leave an Iceland store in Sheffield because of his son .
Iceland has given the family a £20 voucher and is investigating their claims .
But says the voucher is a 'goodwill gesture' and not compensation . |
19f3a4985a24a5ede1fb8118b2b261f778851f2f | California pastor Danny Goia and wife Daniela claim they've received a sign from god in the ghostly image of a veiled woman hovering in the background of a photograph. 'I can clearly see the face,' Daniela said. 'I can even see the long hair. I can see, like a veil that covers all the way to the floor.' The couple, who preside over First Romanian Pentecostal Church in Anaheim, said the photograph came to them through a member named Radu. Signs: Could this picture of a factory worker have captured the image of an emissary from God? Sign from above: A California pastor believes this photo captures and angel and is a 'sign from God' Man of faith: Pastor Danny Goia said the picture was shown to him by a newly baptized member of his church . Radu declined to appear in person for television news crews, but explained that he had taken a picture of a co-worker at an Irvine warehouse two weeks ago and saw the figure floating over the man's shoulder. Radu claimed not to have altered the image in any way. Radu and his wife were recently baptized at the church and married later that day. Fact or fiction? The photo was taken at a warehouse as a man was trying to take a picture of his co-worker . 'The next day was when this photo was taken,' Daniela told CBS 2. 'God is trying to reveal to the people before something major will happen,' Danny Goia added. Preacher: Goia has shown the image to his flock and warned them to right themselves with God . The pair believe that the image is both a message from God and an angel watching over their new member. Danny Goia presented the image to his flock on Thursday during church service, admonishing them to prepare for big events. 'God wants to say, 'Hey, get ready. Get well with me because something good is gonna come soon,' he said. . | Pastor and wife believe image means God has something big planned .
Photo was taken by a new church member the day after being baptized .
Photographer claims not to have altered the image in any way . |
19f3ff0a9c9ed7544090ec89ee44a17684cc8761 | A thief made off with a hot air balloon at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta that had been in the owner's family for three decades. Lucinda Wallace traveled from California to witness her daughter fly the balloon in honor of her late husband and was staying at the Nativo Hotel when the balloon disappeared Saturday morning. KOB reports that the balloon was stolen from the Nativo Hotel along with Wallace's Chevy Suburban bearing vanity plates that read 'baluner.' Scroll down for video . Robbed: A balloon belonging to Lucinda Wallace disappeared Saturday morning along with the family's Chevy Suburban and a trailer . The family awoke on Saturday to find only broken glass where the car had been. Wallace's daughter Marilyn and a ballooning team were planning to pilot the balloon in honor of Marilyn's father Rick Wallace, who died about two months ago after battling cancer. The family had almost decided against going to the festival, but changed their mind in order relive some of the family's happy memories from ballooning. 'It was a little insult to injury because dad's gone and now the suburban's gone and the trailer's gone and the balloon's gone and we really wanted it to be about moving forward,' said Wallace's daughter Marilyn. The family first purchased the balloon in 1981 and says that it has flown over the United States and Europe. Airborne: The Wallace's balloon featured an American flag and an American flag stretched over a powder blue baloon . Fiesta: Balloons are inflated and alight during the 43rd Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta this past weekend . 'It's been very difficult, he was my very best friend, we did everything together,' said Wallace. 'He loved the balloon and loved sharing it with other people.' The Wallaces salvaged their time at the festival, flying back home to Santa Monica, California, to pick up another balloon before driving back to the Fiesta, with plans to fly it Monday. | Lucinda Wallace and her daughter Marilyn traveled from California to New Mexico so Marilyn could fly the balloon for her late father .
Rick Wallace had passed away two months before from cancer .
The family flew back to Santa Monica to retrieve another balloon and drove back to Albuquerque with plans to fly on Monday . |
19f469d00fd6af941e5e1a1f1744dfa546794162 | By . Sophie Borland . PUBLISHED: . 15:59 EST, 3 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:02 EST, 3 May 2013 . The new NHS 111 system faces meltdown this weekend, doctors fear. The warning came as it emerged that at least three patients may have died because of failings in the helpline. As well as the deaths, a further 19 cases involving poor care are being investigated – even though 111 has been running for only a few weeks. The figures emerged as A&E departments braced themselves for a surge of patients over the bank holiday weekend as a result of flaws in 111. A&E departments are braced for a surge of patients over the bank holiday as a result of flaws with 111 . Hospitals have already been inundated with patients with non-urgent conditions sent by unqualified call centre staff manning the new line. This weekend is the first bank holiday since the helpline was launched last month and there are concerns it will not be able to cope with the extra demand brought about by GP surgeries being closed for three days. Many hospitals have drafted in extra doctors and nurses to deal with a surge in admissions expected this weekend and back-up plans are in place to set up temporary wards. The 111 system has replaced NHS Direct and local GP out-of-hours numbers. But the lines are manned by call centre staff with no medical training using a computer system which is liable to crash. Some critically-ill patients have waited 11 hours to be called back by a nurse and the British Medical Association has warned that lives are being put at risk. Figures obtained by Pulse magazine confirmed that at least three patients are feared to have died due to failings in the helpline. But the true number is likely to be higher because many organisations contracted to run 111 refused to provide data. One 83-year-old patient died in the East Midlands after their friend called 111 and said they had collapsed with severe abdominal pain. It is feared that the call centre employee failed to summon an ambulance quickly enough and when paramedics eventually arrived the patient was dead. At least three people have died as a result of flaws in the system, while the real figures are thought to be higher . Another patient died in the West Midlands after they dialled 111 and were told to go to their nearest GP clinic. NHS Direct, which runs the helpline in that area, would not provide details but said it was being investigated along with six other non-fatal incidents. A third death involving a suspected overdose is being looked at in the East Midlands. The family called 111 and requested mental health assistance but the patient was found dead at their house. A total of 22 ‘serious untoward incidents’ – including the three deaths – are being investigated although the true number is likely to be higher as most organisations refused to provide figures. Dr Peter Holden, a senior GP at the British Medical Association said: ‘We don’t know how serious these incidents have been. More to the point, we don’t know how many calls have been abandoned. East Kent NHS Trust said extra doctors and nurses would be working this weekend at all three of its A&E units – at William Harvey in Ashford, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate and Kent & Canterbury Hospital. Managers have drawn up contingency . plans in case there is a surge of patients. These include providing . extra beds and temporary wards. Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals have hired extra nurses. Dr Taj Hassaan, vice president of the College of Emergency Medicine, who works at Leeds said: ‘We’re worried that this is the first bank holiday following the launch of 111. At a time where 111 in parts of the country is fragile, we need to plan as well as we can.’ The concerns come as the Government is considering making GPs take back responsibility for out-of-hours treatment. A controversial contract negotiated under Labour in 2004 enabled them to opt-out of working evenings and weekends even though their salaries soared. NHS England, the new body running the health service which earlier this week announced an urgent review of the 111 helpline, said fines would be handed out to organisations responsible for ‘seriously poor performance’. Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: ‘It has collapsed. What’s happening is that because people are not able to get through they are giving up and self-referring to A&E. ‘Waits of between 12 and 24 hours [in A&E] are now commonplace.’ | Doctors fear that the NHS 111 system faces meltdown this weekend .
It emerged that three patients may have died due to failings in system .
Hospitals have seen a rise in patients with non-urgent conditions .
They were sent by the staff of 111, many of whom are unqualified . |
19f4b6b424f68baa45b3285911ac7482e7d8015f | Steven Gerrard starred in Liverpool's win against Leicester on Tuesday night – and manager Brendan Rodgers revealed he is prepared to carefully manage the player's season to get the best out of him. The 34-year-old, playing behind striker Rickie Lambert instead of the deeper role in front of the back four he occupied last season, scored and showed signs of the midfield force he used to be. Rodgers and Gerrard speak on a daily basis and the Liverpool boss insisted if they work closely together they can maximise his influence on the team. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers: We saw the energy in Steven Gerrard's legs . Steven Gerrard celebrates during Liverpool's win over Leicester after beating Stoke at Anfield at the weekend . Gerrard has to decide whether he will stay or leave Liverpool with a new contract offered by Brendan Rodgers . Rodgers said: 'No matter how good a player is there comes a time when the wheels are out and they're ready to land. Gerrard's wheels are not out yet, he's got plenty of energy. 'I've shown in my time at Liverpool sentiment doesn't come into it for me. I pick Gerrard because I still think he can influence a game of football for us. People when I first came in were talking about if he can play in the way I work. 'Last season he was magnificent. For me irrespective of the player or status, it's what's best for the team. Right now I know if I can manage him with training and games he can have a real impact. Even approaching 35 he can. 'He's a guy that we look at each game. At this stage in his career it's about the level of the game. He's a very important player for us. He's not 24 anymore. You have to do that with players at this stage in their career. It's about mapping out the season for him.' VIDEO Gerrard still influences games - Rodgers . Gerrard discusses tactics with manager Rodgers during the 3-1 win over Leicester on Tuesday night . Gerrard battles with Leonardo Ulloa for the ball during Liverpool's 3-1 win over Leicester on Tuesday . After the game, Gerrard refused to be drawn on whether or not he would sign the new contract which has been offered by the club. Rodgers explained his reasoning for moving Gerrard further forward, adding: 'How I set team up last year Steven was playmaker. He played behind the midfield. 'We had three super quick players; Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling. He wasn't defensive midfield. He was playmaker in a deeper position. We don't have that similar type of style this season. 'He can still have a great influence, Steven. We've changed the structure behind that. As a coach you are looking at players and you have to get the best out of them. 'He looked fresh, dropped behind. His natural instinct is to get forward. He had combinations with Sterling and Rickie Lambert. He was outstanding.' Rodgers also claimed he knew little about the Football Association racism probe into Mario Balotelli and plans to get up to speed on the situation today. Steven Gerrard scores for Liverpool against Leicester City during the 3-1 win at the King Power Stadium . | Steven Gerrard scored in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Leicester on Tuesday .
The 34-year-old was placed behind Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert .
Gerrard was used in a deeper role last season in front of the back four . |
19f55a6d4e67e71e4cbddbb3e6b2d5cbd1f7b5e2 | (CNN) -- We can spend the next few years beating ourselves up and debating the proposition that George W. Bush saved Iraq and Barack Obama lost it. Or we can get real and try to sort out what we can do now to protect U.S. interests in a region that's melting down. Iraq was never the U.S.'s to win. That point -- along with lowered expectations and focused goals -- must be the basis of any new approach to the region. And here are three reasons. 1. Demography: There are two factors that nations -- even functional ones (and Iraq is not) -- can't alter: What they are -- their demography; and where they are -- their geography. Iraq has been dealt an unhappy hand in both departments. There is, to be sure, a sense of Iraq national identity. But at the same time the end of Saddam Hussein's cruel rule -- for which the U.S. is responsible -- opened up a Pandora's box of sectarian tensions and expectations -- for which the U.S. is partly responsible -- that have never been adequately addressed. In essence, the U.S. overturned a brutal minority Sunni rule and enabled Shia majority rule. The ins became the outs, and the outs the ins. And guess what? Despite several successful elections, $25 billion from the U.S. to train and equip the Iraqi military, and another trillion in support of the Nuri al-Maliki government, Iraq never equitably distributed political and economic power. Sunnis became disenfranchised, angry and vulnerable to jihadi persuasions; Shia sought to get even, get ahead and maintain a privileged position; and Kurds sought to protect their own interests and effectively create a separate governing authority. Iraq these days isn't so much a nation as it is a collection of battling sectarian groups, each seeking advantage at the expense of the Iraqi state. 2. Geography: Iraq's neighbors, particularly Iran and Saudi Arabia, do not share America's vision of an equitably balanced and independent polity. Each of them has its own vision. Iraq has become a pawn in a regional competition between Sunnis and Shia and Arabs and Persians. Iran wants a weak, stable Iraq not aligned with the West, under Shia influence. The Saudis want al-Maliki out and are happy that the militant group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria may provide that opportunity, even as they fear the jihadists. They want Sunnis empowered and Iran disempowered. Turkey has made its peace with the Iraqi Kurds and hopes to get them to moderate the radical tendencies of those in Syria, but really has no answer to the ISIS contagion. Jordan is vulnerable to ISIS too, but can't exercise much influence in Iraq. And that leaves Syria. The regime of Bashar al-Assad is aligned with both Iran and al-Maliki, and -- likely under Tehran's encouragement -- has begun to use military force against ISIS along the Syria-Iraq border. All this regional maneuvering reflects the reality that the neighbors' interests will continue to trump America's by virtue of their proximity, their influence in Iraq, and the reality that Iraq is more vital to them than it is to us. 3. Syria: Iraq can't be stabilized without dealing with Syria. And to date, the U.S. -- by default the only power that remotely has the capacity to alter the course of the civil war there -- has been unable and unwilling to do that. The ISIS threat may prompt a review of the Obama administration's Syria policy, but we should be under no illusions that Washington is ready to jump in with a comprehensive political, economic, and military strategy to end the conflict. Indeed, the United States will be faced with some tough choices. It may find itself in the odd position of ramping up support for the more moderate Sunni rebels in Syria but also striking ISIS. That means we will be trying to weaken al-Assad on one hand, but indirectly strengthening him on the other by attacking a common enemy. Under no circumstances should the Obama administration commit to trying to put two broken nations back together again. Bottom line is that the real challenge is ISIS, which is likely to remain ensconced in parts of Syria and Iraq. What should Obama do? First let's be clear about what he shouldn't do. The United States needs to abandon any illusions that it can transform or find an easy way out of the situation. It is stuck in a region that it can't fix or leave. There isn't a single problem in this region that has a comprehensive or definitive solution. Instead, the U.S. should accept the reality that it will be dealing with outcomes, not happy endings, there. Iraq may never be a unified polity, but it need not necessarily be a failed one. The question is, can we shape these outcomes to our advantage? Bush 43 tried to do too much; Obama too little. Is there a balance? The U.S. needs at least three different but related approaches: . 1. Coordinate with regional partners. Sure, in the case of Iran, it's like putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop. But the U.S. can't begin to deal with ISIS on its own. Iran is the key external power in Iraq. And Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have a stake in stopping ISIS's advances. The U.S. may have to accept the reality that the evil al-Assad is a hedge against ISIS, even though his policies helped to facilitate its rise. 2. Think diplomacy first, then military force. You need the first to make the second effective. That coordination must try to produce a more acceptable political arrangement in Baghdad, with or without al-Maliki. Without the Iraqi government regaining Sunni support, ISIS will continue to roll. And this means some new and more inclusive political arrangement in Baghdad to share power. Forget democracy and making Iraq whole. To bring Sunnis around and check ISIS, we may have to not only concede influence to Iran but also to some pretty bad Sunnis, including former Saddam supporters and insurgents. 3. The U.S. will need to do what it can to buck up the Iraqi military. This could easily lead to sending additional advisers, but under no circumstances should it involve the use of combat forces. We may well have to use airstrikes and drones against ISIS. And this is tricky, because it risks feeding jihadi sentiment. That's why a new political arrangement is mandatory. But even without it, the United States must face the reality that ISIS -- with money, passports, and a base of operations -- will emerge as a threat to our friends in the region, to Europe and ultimately to us. We shouldn't run scared. ISIS's own ideology will produce a counterreaction among Iraqis who will oppose its harsh, unforgiving ideology. Indeed as the International Crisis Group points out, ISIS is its own worst enemy. The region is littered with the remains of failed jihadi efforts, including al Qaeda central. In 2013, there were 17,800 global fatalities as a result of terrorist attacks. Only 16 of those were Americans. Terror is not a strategic threat to the homeland right now. But it may well require a coordinated counterterror effort with our regional and international partners to prevent it from becoming one. | Aaron Miller: Debating what went wrong in Iraq not useful; protecting U.S. interests now is .
Iraq is complex, he says, with sectarian groups at odds, neighbors with own interests .
He says U.S. must work with Iraq's neighbors, even al-Assad, to halt ISIS. Democracy can wait .
Miller: U.S. must help right Iraqi military, but without combat forces. Point is to check terror . |
19f5639896f56854802d8c7fc4a48b0e722474f8 | For those who lust after the lean, toned limbs of a supermodel, but lack the know-how on how to achieve it, Lara Stone has revealed the -surprisingly simple- moves that she used to bounce back into catwalk shape after childbirth. Appearing with her 'guru', Bodyism founder James Duigan in a video for Net-a-Porter's E-magazine The Edit, she praises the 'super gentle' routine he developed for her. The dutch model, who married Brit actor David Walliams in 2010 speaks candidly in the video about her struggle to lose weight after childbirth. Lara appears in the video with her fitness 'guru' and Bodyism founder James Duigan . While showing the moves that helped her regain her figure after childbirth, Lara admits she found the weight loss 'stressful' The five moves are designed to provide all over toning and fat burning specifically for those who haven't exercised for some time such as those who have just given birth . Having gained weight while pregnant with the couple's first child Alfred, who was born in May 2013, Lara, 30, admits that like most women, the task of losing the extra pounds was daunting. 'I'd never had to lose a significant amount of weight', Lara explains. 'I found it quiet stressful; this huge mountain of weight to lose. 'You [James] showed me that it wasn't really about that and it was about being a mother and having this beautiful baby. The five moves are designed to provide all over toning and fat burning specifically for those who haven't exercised for some time such as those who have just given birth. The first involves keeping your feet on the floor with your toes up- which engages your glutes- before slowly raising you hips up and squeezing your buttocks. This simple move is repeated about 10 times. 'They are so easy to do anywhere like in a hotel,' Lara says. James claims the next move, 'The Superman', is the 'supermodel secret to a flat tummy'. Involving kneeling on a mat on all fours before extending and retracting the opposite leg and arm simultaneously. Other key moves involves the basic squat while inhaling on the way down and exhaling on the way up, and leg lifts using a Bodyism band round the knees to add resistance. Leg lifts are done using a Bodyism band round the knees to add resistance and give extra toning . Lara shows off the results of the routine in head-to-toe black as she watches an example of the squat move . The 'non-surgical boob lift' is demonstrated; holding a slight squat also works the lower body at the same time . The final move the power pair demonstrate is the 'non surgical boob lift', which involves going into a half squatting position and holding that while fully extending the arms outwards and upwards. 'This really engages all the muscles that are going to lift up your chest,' James explains. It is difficult to imagine the notoriously elegant Lara repeating such bizarre looking moves over and over again, but the results were clearly worth it. The dutch model, who married Brit actor David Walliams (left) in 2010 speaks candidly in the video about her struggle to lose weight after childbirth . Appearing in head-to-toe black lycra Lara shows why she is still one of the most sort-after models in the industry even after giving birth. Refreshingly, maintaining her supermodel body doesn't seem to have stopped Lara enjoying life. Last week she was seen out with husband David enjoying dinner at famed restaurant Scott's in London. Earlier this year, Lara told Harper's Bazaar that one of the things she has in common with her husband is a 'mean' sense of humour. 'On our very first date, I was so nervous,' she recalled. 'I was in the cab home afterward and thought, I should text him and thank him for dinner. When I did, he texted back, "Who's this?"' The blonde beauty added that since the birth of their son Alfred in May 2013, she's enjoyed watching her husband gleefully take on daddy duties. 'Just one look and he can put me and Alfred in hysterics,' she said. | The model reveals the five simple moves that keep her body lean .
Appears in video for Net-a-Porter with Bodyism founder James Duigan .
Admits she found the task of losing weight after childbirth 'stressful' |
19f57fabedb970419c9866b89f4cde0786f52f72 | It's one of the world's most famous clubs but is not quite as exclusive as we may have thought. New figures show more than a tenth of Britons have got it on up in the air and joined the Mile High Club. Revealing figures from a Lastminute.com survey says of that number, 30 per cent say their attempt to get raunchy at 30,000-feet was been thwarted by the cabin crew. In the battle of the sexes, one sixth of British men admitted their 'achievement' compared to one twelfth of women. One tenth of Britons say they've joined the Mile High Club, reveals a survey by lastminute.com . A toilet tryst is not a mystery to one in 10 Brits, but one in three say they've been thwarted by cabin crew . French - 27 per cent . Germans - 18 per cent . Britons - 11 per cent . Italians - 6 per cent . Spanish - 4 per cent . Racy flyers from Birmingham are the most likely Brits to be members of the 'club' with one fifth of those surveyed from the West Midlands saying they've been there up there, double the national average. But compared to the frisky French and game Germans, we're relative prudes. One in four of the 1,000 French jet-setters have frolicked in the air while one in five Germans were wily enough to slip by the staff and into the loo. Surprisingly perhaps, Brits are ahead of Latino lovers with those from Italy and Spain lagging behind. Lastminute.com, who surveyed 2,000 British travellers, says food service time in the best to sneak away . Along with the survery, Lastminute.com has issued advice to wannabe Mile High Clubbers keen to follow in the footsteps of alleged Mile High pioneer, pilot Lawrence Burst Sperry. Mr Sperry, or so the story goes, made the most of his autopilot-equipped Curtiss Flying Boat with socialite Mrs Waldo Peirce near New York in 1916 and famously founded the MHC. Lastminute's tips include forking out the extra cash for business class, where the toilets are slightly more comfortable than the average three by three foot of economy and passengers get a bit more leeway. They add that a night flight taking off after sunset is a good choice for high-altitude romance as most passengers will be asleep, lights will be dimmed and flight attendants patrol the aisle less frequently. Engaged! One in four French flyers say they've got down and dirty in a plane's convenience . Time is also of the essence, according to their toilet tryst tips, with drinks and food service an opportune time to sneak into the lavatories while the staff are busy. Even seat choice can be factored in, with an empty row the optimum if it can be selected at time of check-in online. An anonymous lastminute.com spokesperson, who is a member of the Mile High Club, said the most important thing is to 'be strategic and don't walk down the aisle hand in hand.' Pioneering pilot Lawrence Sperry is said to be the founder of the Mile High Club . 'Rather let one person sneak in first and use a coded knock for the door to ensure your plans get a smooth flight,' the amorous staffer said, adding the poll lived up to stereotypes about French lovers. 'It doesn't come as much of a surprise to see the French top this poll, they are certainly doing what they can to live up to our expectations, proving to be the most amorous in Europe,' the spokesperson says. 'Perhaps these results will give Italy the shake-up they need to take on the French in the romance stakes. We always encourage travellers to be spontaneous and if that means getting jiggy in the sky then we're all for it!' | One in 10 Britons claim to have become members of the Mile High Club .
Survey by Lastminute.com says one in three have been caught trying .
One in four French flyers say they have got frisky up in the air .
But Brits are apparently more amorous than Spanish and Italians . |
19f6603b2c34b21a38c96277e416d360e67231b4 | (CNN) -- While Li Na was battling to keep her French Open title defense alive on Saturday, the scene of last year's triumph was being recreated in her native China. Such has been the impact of Asia's first grand slam singles champion in her homeland that tennis chiefs are seeking to bring a bit of Roland Garros to Beijing. A clay court and two giant screens have been set up in one of the city's major shopping malls for an interactive experience that will last until the tournament ends on June 10. "I'm very pleased that a country like China follows our prestigious tournament," French Tennis Federation president Jean Gachassin said in a statement. "For us, it's an extraordinary opportunity to promote clay-court tennis. I'd like to heartily thank the Chinese Tennis Federation for welcoming us on their home soil for this fabulous event." Courting a country with a population of 1.3 billion makes sense for any sport serious about global growth, and the exhibition has been backed by major sponsors such as Longines, Lacoste and Peugeot. Li has become a marketer's dream in the past 12 months, securing lucrative endorsement deals which have made her the second highest-paid athlete in the world behind fellow tennis star Maria Sharapova. Her hopes of being around for next weekend's women's final remained alive after she came from behind to beat young American Christina McHale on Saturday. The 30-year-old rebounded from a first-set debacle in which she made 24 unforced errors to triumph 3-6 6-2 6-1 and earn a last-16 clash with Kazakh qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova. The world No. 7 had a surprisingly tough match against an opponent 10 years her junior and 29 places lower in the rankings, one who lost in the first round in Paris last year and in 2010. "Tennis is best of three sets, so even if I lose the first set, I still have a chance," said Li, who is the only Chinese player left in the tournament after Peng Shuai lost to Sharapova on Saturday. "In the first set I was just following what she was doing. I felt like she was the champion on the court. But I changed a little bit at the beginning of the second set to play my way, and I'm happy I was able to do that today." Li beat Francesca Schiavone in last year's final, but the 2010 French Open champion will not feature in the second week of this tournament after suffering a 3-6 6-3 8-6 defeat by Uzbekistan-born American Varvara Lepchenko. The 63rd-ranked Lepchenko's reward for beating the Italian is a daunting clash with fourth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova, who battled to a 6-2 4-6 6-1 win against Russia's world No. 109 Nina Bratchikova. Second-ranked Sharapova cruised into the fourth round as she crushed 28th seed Peng 6-2 6-1 to set up a clash with Czech Klara Zakopalova, who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The 25-year-old Sharapova was a semifinalist here last year and in 2007, but the Russian may finally win the only grand slam title to elude her if she can keep up the form that has seen her drop just five games in three matches so far. However, fellow former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki must continue her agonizing wait for a first major title. The Dane, now ranked ninth, saved four match-points before losing 1-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 against Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi. Kanepi blew 5-1 leads in the last two sets, but held her nerve to earn a last-16 clash with 21-year-old Dutch player Arantxa Rus. Last year Rus beat former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters before losing in round three, and she has gone one step further after eliminating German 25th seed Julia Gorges 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-2 in a match that ended as darkness fell. | Defending champion Li Na reaches the fourth round of the French Open .
Fans in her native China can watch her progress at special exhibition in Beijing .
The 30-year-old has become one of the world's highest-paid female athletes .
She is joined in the last 16 at Roland Garros by world No. 2 Maria Sharapova . |
19f679cdd76bfcf9f16bdb93baa581a64736a6d3 | Gays and lesbians who adopt children are ‘recruiting’ them to their cause claims evangelist Franklin Graham in his latest outspoken remarks about homosexuality. Graham caused controversy last week when he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for protecting children from gay 'propaganda' in a column in the March edition of Decision magazine. In an interview published on YouTube on Tuesday Graham said - rather inaccurately – that gays and lesbians can’t have children. Scroll down for video . Evangelist Franklin Graham has spoken out again against homosexuals and said that those that adopt children are trying to 'recruit' them to join their lifestyle . ‘Of course, gays and lesbians cannot have children,’ he told the Charlotte Observer. When it was pointed out that homosexual couples can adopt children, Graham responded: ‘They can recruit. You can adopt a child into a marriage, but you can also recruit children into your cause. 'I believe in protecting children from exploitation – all exploitations.’ Graham, who is the son of famous evangelical Christian evangelist Billy Graham, claimed he was only saying what his father would say if he were a younger man and in better health. ‘You talk about controversy – my father stood with Martin Luther King in the early 1960s,’ Graham said. Man of God: Franklin Graham thinks Putin is doing a far better job protecting people from the homosexual influence then that lax and 'shameful' views of Obama . ‘My father never worried about polls. I don’t care about them, either. And with the issues we are facing today – if my father were a younger man, he would be addressing and speaking out in the exact same way I’m speaking out on them.’ Billy Graham is bedridden at his Montreat home after taking ill following his 95th birthday party last November. 'He’s very, very weak,' said Graham. Franklin Graham has been accused by his critics of steering the Charlotte-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association away from his father's later-in-life emphasis on a loving God towards a conservative political agenda. In his column in Decision magazine, Graham praises Putin as better than President Obama whose embrace of gay rights he said was 'shameful.' 'In my opinion, Putin is right on these issues,' Graham wrote. 'Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation's children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda. 'Our president,' he continued, 'and his attorney general have turned their backs on God and His standards, and many in the Congress are following the administration's lead. This is shameful.' Generations: The elder evangelist Billy Graham (pictured here with son Franklin) once called communism a tool of Satan but softened in his later years . Putin was widely criticized by gay rights activists for persecuting homosexuals in his country in the days leading up to the Winter Olympics. Obama even included openly gay athletes in the U.S. delegation to Sochi in response. While Graham hedged his bets by noting that 'I am not endorsing President Putin,' he still praised his treatment of homosexuals as a deviant, outright dangerous group. 'Isn't it sad, though, that America's own morality has fallen so far that on this issues -- protecting children from any homosexual agenda or propaganda -- Russia's standard is higher than our own?' Graham also took sides in the ongoing civil war in Syria, backing the macho Russian leader's interests as an ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. 'Syria, for all . its problems, at least has a constitution that guarantees equal . protection of citizens,' Graham wrote. 'Around the world, we have seen . that this is essential where Christians are a minority and are not . protected. …Christians in Syria know that if the radicals overthrow . Assad, there will be widespread persecution and wholesale slaughter of . Christians.' Hard heart: Putin has been criticized for denying homosexuals basic human rights . Graham's father, evangelist Billy Graham, once called communism a 'religion that is inspired, directed, and motivated by the Devil himself who has declared war against Almighty God.' However he softened his fire-and-brimstone critique in his later years. 'If I had it to do over again, I would avoid any semblance of involvement in partisan politics,' he wrote in his 1997 autobiography, 'Just As I am.' Franklin Graham's comments have even angered some religious leaders who note that some gay Russians have been beaten, stabbed, and even killed. 'It's really disturbing when a religious leader seems to endorse laws that lead to this kind of behavior,' Marianne Duddy-Burke, head of the gay Catholic group DignityUSA, to the Huffington Post. Franklin Graham hopes that his family's time in Russia long ago may have influenced a young Putin while the future president was an agent for the KGB in 1982. 'In fact, he was in charge . of monitoring foreigners in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) when my . father preached there in 1984,' Franklin Graham. 'If he was . eavesdropping on our meeting, which I hope he was, he heard the Gospel!' Video: 'Gays and lesbians can't have children,' says Franklin Graham . | 'Gays and lesbians can't have children,' said Graham in his latest outburst .
He believes that allowed homosexuals to adopt is exploiting the children because they are 'recruited' to the lifestyle .
Last week Graham praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for protecting children from gay 'propaganda'
Graham's critics have accused him of moving his father's ministry away from loving God towards a conservative political agenda . |
19f739365136e09f6d5a76208b5d1d3d3b76b585 | A Puerto Rican kite surfer who saved a turtle from fishing nets was rewarded for his actions with a hug from the endangered sea creature. The underwater rescue and touching encounter with the turtle afterwards was filmed on a GoPro camera at the start of the year by two friends who were spear fishing off Baja on the Mexican coast. When kite surfer Cameron Dietrich and Colin Sutton spotted the distressed sea turtle they quickly dived in the ocean to try to rescue it. Scroll down for video . Touching: A sea turtle swims nose-to-nose with Cameron Dietrich after he freed it from tangled fishing nets . Rescue: Dietrich uses a dive knife to cut away the tangled mess of nets that had wrapped around the turtle . 'When I saw the turtle tangled up I jumped in the water and began to cut it free,' Dietrich told MailOnline. 'It was totally worn out from fighting for its life for last probably 12 to 20 hours.' Using a dive knife, Dietrich carefully cut away the tangle of rope and netting that had wrapped itself around a front fin, while Sutton helped the turtle to float. Once it had been freed, Dietrich described how he stayed beneath the turtle to make sure it had the strength to swim after its traumatic experience. Reassured that the turtle was going to be fine, Dietrich swam away from it, stopping a short distance away to watch the creature. But in an unexpected move, the turtle slowly circled back and returned to the surfer, stopping inches from his face and letting him gently hold it, as if to say thanks. Dietrich and his friends spotted the turtle in distress while they were spear fishing off the Mexico coast . Colin Sutton films on a GoPro camera as Dietrich dives in to help the turtle . Professional kite surfer Dietrich said sadly it has become common to see turtles and other wildlife injured by debris dumped in the oceans . 'It returned back to me on top of my chest and came right up to my face and . let me touch its under shell,' he said. 'It got right up to my mask then swam off.' 'For me, it was an unusual and wonderful moment,' he added. 'After it came up to my face it swam off into the blue straight.' Dietrich told MaiOnline that as a professional watersports athlete he has seen many animals trapped by the debris dumped in the oceans. 'We are being poor stewards of our ocean. It bothers me to both see the disregard for our planet but also the endangering of animals,' he said. Since the video of the touching rescue was uploaded on YouTube earlier this month it has been viewed more than 1.9 million times. The friends work quickly to free the sea turtle, which calmly allowed Dietrich to get close . The freed sea turtle started to swim away before suddenly turning back towards Dietrich . The turtle swims over to Dietrich and lets him embrace it . Dietrich floated under the turtle for a sort distance, fearing it would be too exhausted to swim after its ordeal with the nets . | Turtle was worn out fighting for its life, athlete Cameron Dietrich said .
Surfer shocked when freed turtle returned, stopping inches from his face . |
19f9a64b761242f2f66b1065abaa82dc95478ede | Editor's note: The staff at CNN.com has been intrigued by the journalism of VICE, an independent media company and Web site based in Brooklyn, New York. The reports, which are produced solely by VICE, reflect a very transparent approach to journalism, where viewers are taken along on every step of the reporting process. We believe this unique reporting approach is worthy of sharing with our CNN.com readers. Brooklyn, New York (VICE) -- "You know, it's weird, man. It's like everybody's real cordial with each other. But, at the end of the day, we're, like, buying weapons to destroy each other. I don't want to, like, sound too liberal or anything. But it's really not glamorous. This s*** f***** kills people." Shockingly, the guy who said this wasn't some antiwar hippie who had just dropped acid. He was a 6'4" Marine Corps Force Recon sergeant who had recently returned from two tours in Afghanistan. We were both attendees at the 2010 Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) in Jordan. His reaction was prompted by the trade-show floor -- a sea of displays and kiosks from weapons companies hawking missiles, machine guns, tanks, and bombs like they were next year's luxury sedans. Even more unsettling, the biggest dealers were from the U.S. When I was a young punk kid, it was fashionable to say things like, "The military-industrial complex is taking over the world." At the time, I didn't know what "military-industrial complex" meant, but the conference rapidly provided me with a very literal definition of the term. SOFEX takes place every two years in Amman, and is largely the brainchild of Jordan's King Abdullah II, who has a penchant for special operations and massive displays of artillery. Over the course of a week, more than 12,000 attendees tromped through massive tents housing hundreds of arms manufacturers. The atmosphere was insidious but open, an organized free-for-all in which American companies like Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics sold weapons to almost any nation that could afford them. See the rest of SOFEX: The Business of War at VICE.COM . I've been to hundreds of depressing media trade shows, and SOFEX's salespeople are no different from the rest, except that their wares are designed to destroy things and kill people. I witnessed representatives from almost every nation spending millions of dollars on heavy munitions. I was wondering if the transactions were padded by foreign aid from the U.S. and other countries. I heard high-ranking soldiers say things like, "When I retire I'm going to be on the other side of the table -- ha ha ha ha." What this means is that it's not uncommon for generals with government-controlled salaries around $100,000 a year to spend the twilight of their careers purchasing billions worth of munitions from arms companies who, in turn, offer these same senior officers state-side "consulting" gigs with multimillion-dollar salaries. It's blatant payola, the whole thing so corrupt it borders on absurd. Absurdity, as it turned out, was a running theme of the conference. | VICE goes inside a huge biennial weapons convention in Amman, Jordan .
Over a week, 12,000 attendees peruse tents housing hundreds of arms manufacturers .
Missiles, machine guns, tanks, and bombs are among the wares for sale . |
19f9d906cb5583c42b0bb3171bdd5df8c83c421d | By . Daily Mail Reporters . PUBLISHED: . 22:22 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:16 EST, 13 December 2013 . Home invasion survivor William Petit has had a wonderful year and for the first time since 2007, he will be able to enjoy Christmas with one of his children. Dr Petit and his wife of one year, Christine, have shared photos of their newborn son William and are clearly enjoying their time as parents once more. The latest photo that Christine, a professional photographer, shared on her Facebook wall of the father holding his weeks-old son looking out at the first snowfall, captioning the picture with lines from a poem about rebirth. Looking out at the future: Dr William Petit is pictured holding his son 'little Bill' up to the window as they look out at the first snow of the season in Connecticut . Dressed for the season: The Petits have a lot to celebrate this Christmas, and it looks like the newborn boy is ready to help raise their Christmas spirits in this holiday outfit . 'Love these two! This poem really touched me... just so appropriate for the situation, and so moving,' Christine wrote of The First Snowfall by James Russell Lowell. Happy and uplifting family photos are something that have not been a familiar sight in the Petit household ever since 2007, when Mr Petit's wife and two teenage daughters were raped and killed in a brutal home invasion. The family was held hostage for hours at their Cheshire, Connecticut home before it was set alight by Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky. Dr Petit was severely beaten and dumped in the basement but managed to escape. His daughters Michaela, 11, Hayley, 17, and wife Jennifer were killed in the home. Happy: The couple (at their wedding last year) met when she offered to take photos for his foundation . Tragic loss: Dr Petit with his wife Jennifer Hawke-Petit and their daughters, Hayley, top center, and Michaela. The three women died in a horrific home invasion in 2007 . After the tragedy, Dr Petit met Christine Paluf at his local country club when she offered to volunteer for the Petit Family Foundation, which was created in the memory of his late wife and daughters. When the killers went on trial in 2011, Christine was there for Petit, sitting behind him in the courthouse along with his relatives and listening through hours of agonizing testimony. Last year they married and moved into a small home in Farmington River in western Connecticut. In August, the couple announced that Christine was pregnant with their first child, and the boy was born just days before Thanksgiving. Adorable: Christine wrote on Facebook 'Pinkies up!! There's a new nerd in the Petit household!' 'Our son is a beautiful Thanksgiving and Christmas gift,' Dr Petit said at the birth of his son, William Petit III. 'He is very lovable and sweet. I will tell him of his two big sisters, Hayley and Michaela, and how they always helped others with smiles on their faces. I am sure they and their mother Jennifer are smiling down upon him.' Christine, whose marriage to Dr Petit was her first, has been happily adding photos of her adorable young son to the Facebook page for her photography studio. In one, he poses with a copy of Le Petit Prince and wears horn-rimmed glasses and she jokes that 'there's a new nerd in the Petit household!' Hello Daddy! Baby William Petit, who is now nine days old, looks up at his father, Dr William Petit, in a new image released by the family. His birth comes six years after Dr Petit's family was killed in a home invasion . Bundle of joy: William Arthur Petit III was born on November 23 to Christine Petit and her husband Dr William Petit . The new year is bound to bring big changes for the growing family- aside from the presence of 'little Bill'- as Christine wrote that she found a new photography studio on the river just days before her son was born. Dr Petit's name has also been speculated as being a possible Republican challenger in a run against the sitting Democratic congressman. He has apparently had meetings with state party leaders but has made no formal statements pertaining to his run yet. Since his wife and daughters' deaths . in 2007, Dr Petit has retired from practicing medicine after losing his . wife and daughters, and he has now dedicated his life to the foundation . he created in their honor. His . foundation aims to foster the education of young people, especially . women in the sciences, to improve the lives of those affected by chronic . illnesses and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by . violence. You can donate to the Petit Family Donation here. Deadly scene: Michaela and her 17-year-old sister, Hayley, . were tied to their beds and died of smoke inhalation after the house was . doused in gas and set on fire . | William Petit and his wife Christine welcomed a son on November 23 - six years after his first wife and two daughters were killed .
Dr Petit was also tied up in the home invasion but managed to escape .
The couple named their bundle of joy William but have given him the nickname 'little Bill' |
19fa64cb3eaa8d90a505a6442bc264363d6d1e33 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . It's obvious to choose a flight based on the cheapest option. But with so many add-on fees to consider as additional to the cost of a ticket, Business Insider reporter Sara Silverstein decided to go looking for the best price overall. The journalist decided to book flights for the Fourth of July weekend - one of the busiest American travel times - from New York to Los Angeles, to determine which airline offers the greatest deal. What she found was the most popular carriers, such as Delta and United, had the costliest extras. Don't forget the add-ons: Business Insider conducted a report into the cheapest airline to fly from New York to Los Angeles on Fourth of July weekend in terms of overall fees, and determined SouthWest offered the best price . The report found that JetBlue and Southwest Airlines did not charge customers to check in one item of luggage. However American Airlines, Delta and United all charged $25 to check a bag. Picking a seat is also an important and expensive option. SouthWest determines their seating arrangements on the order that people check in, but for $12.50 you can reserve a spot toward the front of the plane. JetBlue offer more spacious seats for $80. United has economy plus for $99, while Delta has economy comfort for $99. American Airlines has the fewest available complimentary seats. Upgraded seats cost between $66 and $86. SouthWest Airlines charged the least amount of additional fees overall, Business Insider concluded . The cost for a good seat and a checked seat one-way on Delta and/or United is almost $250. Silverstein determined that SouthWest were the best all-inclusive option. However that is without being able to choose a seat. Delta and United were the most expensive for Fourth of July when it came to additional fees. | Study conducted by Business Insider into the cheapest overall airline for Fourth of July Weekend .
Determined SouthWest offered the least in additional fees .
Delta, United and American Airlines charged steep add-ons . |
19fb2b426d5a9144f60a32f5567f2ec98cf89b24 | By . Andy Dolan . Last updated at 11:31 AM on 29th September 2011 . New evidence could cast doubt on whether it was Golding (pictured) who actually passed on the sexually transmitted infection . A traffic officer who was jailed for giving his ex-girlfriend genital herpes today walked free from prison on bail after launching an appeal against his conviction. David Christopher Edward Golding, 28, from Braunston, Northamptonshire, was jailed for 14 months at Northampton Crown Court last month after admitting causing grievous bodily harm. But new evidence could cast doubt on whether it was Golding who actually passed on the sexually transmitted infection to the woman, the Court of Appeal heard today. A prosecution-commissioned medical report suggests that it could not be proved that it was definitely Golding who gave the victim the disease. Mr Justice Burnett, sitting at the London court, granted Golding's application for bail to allow him to go home while new evidence is gathered for his appeal. Golding, who worked for the Highways Agency, was accused of recklessly infecting his then partner with the genital herpes virus when they were together about two years ago. But his jailing caused outrage among sexual health groups, who said the sentence would add to the stigma attached to carriers of the 'trivial' condition. The appeal is to be based around . examination of a blood sample given by the woman some time ago, which . might cast doubt on Golding's guilt, Mr Justice Burnett told the court. 'This whole matter should not go into the long grass whilst both parties seek further expert evidence,' the appeal judge added. 'It is important that this proceeds . with some speed. If the conclusion following the further medical . evidence is that causation really could not be proved, then the sooner . that is, the better. 'As importantly, if the outcome . excludes the possibility of causation by another route, then that needs . to be known as quickly as possible because the appellant may, in those . circumstances, have to return to custody to continue to serve his . sentence.' Granting bail pending appeals is a rare move for the Court of . Appeal, pictured, but Mr Justice Burnett said Golding's was an 'exceptional' case. Granting bail pending appeals is a rare move for the Court of . Appeal, but Mr Justice Burnett said Golding's was an 'exceptional' case. His legal team may also argue that it . was wrong that he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, rather . than the less serious offence of causing actual bodily harm, which . carries a lesser sentence. At the time of the sentencing, Golding’s parents, Janet, 64, and Christopher, 59, said they were shocked by the jail term. Mrs Golding said: ‘This is David’s . first offence and we are distraught at what might happen to him in jail. He’s a good son who did not deserve this.’ Her husband said that he found the sentence ‘difficult to understand’. The virus which causes genital herpes . could cause an outbreak or lie dormant for years, during which time it . is not infectious. Many people remain unaware they are infected. Those who do display symptoms usually suffer fever, headache and tiredness and small blisters and itching. Nigel Scott, spokesman for the Herpes . Viruses Association, said Golding’s sentence was ‘outrageous’ and . compared the case to prosecuting children for ‘giving their friends . chicken pox’. He added: ‘It is such a trivial . infection that most people don’t notice it. It has exactly the same . medical implications and consequences as an ordinary facial cold sore.’ Marian Nicholson, director of the . HVA, added: ‘Many of those who are diagnosed are reluctant to disclose . their status but this is because of the unnecessary stigma, not because . it is serious ... emphatically it is not.’ The appeal is unlikely to return to court . for at least a month, but Golding will be allowed to go home while . further investigation is undertaken. | Granting bail pending appeals is rare but Mr Justice Burnett said Highway Agency worker's case was 'exceptional'
Medical report suggests it could not be proved that it was definitely Golding who gave victim the disease .
Herpes Viruses Association said his sentence was ‘outrageous’ and compared case to prosecuting children for ‘giving their friends chicken pox’ |
19fc49751f2c360ce9573f420eb182f80f6e6290 | Washington (CNN) -- In an unprecedented action, an Air Force commander has stripped 17 of his officers of their authority to control and launch nuclear missiles. The 17 are being sent to undergo 60 to 90 days of intensive refresher training on how to do their jobs. The action comes after their unit performed poorly on an inspection and one officer was investigated for potential compromise of nuclear launch codes, according to Lt. Col. John Dorrian, an Air Force spokesman. The story was first reported by The Associated Press. The action was taken by the deputy commander of the 91st Operations Group, Lt. Col. Jay Folds, whose officers run launch control centers for the Minuteman III nuclear missiles from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Folds announced the action in an emotionally charged April e-mail to his unit, saying in part, "Did you know that we, as an operations group, have fallen -- and its it time to stand ourselves back up?" In that e-mail, Folds said, "We're discovering such rot in the crew force," while they are on alert status -- standing watch over the nuclear force -- that the unit is accepting of violations of weapons safety rules, and code compromises. In words not often used by military officers, Folds told his troops to "crush any rules violators" and said, "We are, in fact, in a crisis right now." CNN obtained a copy of the e-mail, which was also first obtained by the AP. Dorrian confirmed that Folds was referring to a potential deliberate violation of Air Force rules regarding nuclear launch codes and the failure of his troops to report when they see potential violations. The Air Force action affects only the 17 personnel deemed to need the training; others remain on duty. The unit underwent a regular comprehensive inspection in March, according to Dorrian. The inspection consisted of an evaluation of 22 tasks. At the time, the unit was announced as having passed with a "satisfactory" rating, which is third on a scale of five. But on one of the 22 tasks involving launch operations, it was rated "marginal" which is one step above "unsatisfactory." Dorrian called it the equivalent of a "D" grade. Then the incident of potential compromise of launch codes occurred. Dorrian said the investigation found no compromise, but did find the codes were "potentially handled improperly," by one officer, who is now facing discipline. All of this then led to Folds' e-mail and action, according to Dorrian. Dorrian noted that while some in the Air Force might view Folds' e-mail as "emotional," his actions are fully supported at the highest levels of the Air Force. In other portions of his e-mail Folds told his unit: . -- "Turn off the TVs." -- "Clean your patches, uniforms and get your hair cut." -- "Bring to my attention immediately any officer who bad mouths a senior officer." While some nuclear officers are sent for retraining every year, this is the most extensive action taken to date, Dorrian confirmed. It comes after a 2008 Pentagon report was sharply critical of the Air Force for not focusing on the post-Cold War nuclear mission, and for a bomber that, in a flight over multiple states, carried nuclear-tipped missiles without the Air Force realizing it. Hagel: 'Outrage, disgust' as Air Force leader charged with sexual battery . | Seventeen officers will have to undergo up to 90 days of retraining .
Their unit performed poorly on an inspection, an Air Force spokesman says .
The 91st Operations Group has "fallen," its deputy commander says . |
19fcbbe8813a0718913917d1f9a0be9c49958e36 | Olympic diver Tom Daley has launched his first official calendar and admits that he plans to try modelling in the future. London 2012 bronze medallist Daley, 18, appears in a variety of poses - some of them shirtless and covered in water. But Tom has said his soon-to-be-released 2013 calendar is 'almost a bit of a mick take.' He said: 'The one on the front cover where I’m covered in water was really funny to do. Someone had to pound a bucket of water over me, it wasn’t cold, it was sort of lukewarm. It took a few takes to get to get it right through because the water needed to be in the right place.' Tom Daley's calendar is the third biggest seller of 2012 - despite being launched less than a month ago . Body beautiful: Daley shows off his honed torso in January's image . He continued: 'I’m going to give it to all my friends at Christmas, it will be a funny present. My friends all think the calendar is really funny. It’s a mick take almost. It’s the first calendar I’ve done and it was good fun. I really enjoyed it and I just hope people like it. 'Apparently the Calendar Club said there is a lot of interest in it. 'It really just sums up my year. There are a couple of Olympic-themed pictures so it’s a good souvenir too.' Body beautiful: Daley shows off his honed torso in January's image . Hot: Daley shows off his saucy side in these images from his 2013 calendar . Although the 18-year-old might look as . if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, some of the shots featured in the . calendar reveal that he has a saucy side. Among the photos are several shirtless shots, including one that sees him wrestling with a turquoise fine knit jumper. Unsurprisingly though, Tom, of . Plymouth, Devon, says his favourite picture falls on his birthday month . of May, which shows him receiving his bronze medal at the London 2012 . Olympics. In total, nine of . the twelve photos show off his toned, tanned torso, although three are . action shots. The remaining images show off Daley's conservative sense . of style, including a scrubbed up shot of the diver sporting a lilac . cotton shirt. Although Daley has never modelled in an . advertising campaign, he's no stranger to editorial photo shoots and has . posed - in varying states of undress - for numerous British magazines . and newspapers. That's more like it! Daley as we're more used to seeing him . Model ambition: Daley strikes a pose . | First look at pictures from Olympic bronze medallist Daley's 2013 calendar .
Diver describes calendar as 'a bit of a mick take' |
19fe2a8e0bef37b495afcc83c2f46b60c56039bf | The 87th Academy Awards are less than a week away, and Wednesday in Los Angeles preparations began for the most important part of the night - the red carpet. The actual carpet was laid out along Hollywood Boulevard while a dozen giant Oscar statues were brought out to line the carpet. The awards will air this Sunday night on ABC. Scroll down for video . Workers roll out the red carpet as preparations for the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony get underway in Hollywood . Dina D'Angelo touches up Oscar statues as preparation . A sign advertises this Sunday's ceremony, featuring host Neil Patrick Harris . Back in New York, fashion week continued on, with many designers no doubt hoping that one of the looks they sent down the runway would find its way to Sunday's ceremony. Neil Patrick Harris will host this year's show, which will feature A-list nominees including Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Keira Knightley and Meryl Streep, to name just a few. Among the presenters will be last year's winners in the acting categories Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong'o, Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett. Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel lead all films with nine nominations, and both are nominated for Best Picture. The other Best Picture nominees are Boyhood, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash, Selma and American Sniper. | Oscars air at 8.30pm on Sunday night on ABC . |
19fe76d56a91c932d50372b1f384e49e1a9222ae | Christmas has come early for Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid team-mates, after the forward thanked them all with Bulgari watches worth £6,500. World Player of the Year Ronaldo has enjoyed a successful five years at Madrid to date, winning numerous individual trophies, and wanted to thank his team-mates for their help, reports AS. The watches, given to every one of Ronaldo's Madrid team-mates, are engraved with the recipients name, as well and 'CR7' and the words 'La Decima', to celebrate Carlo Ancelotti's side winning their 10th European Cup last season. Alvaro Arbeloa (right) was the first to show off his watch, posting on social media site Instagram . The words 'La Decima' are inscribed on the watches, celebrating Real Madrid's Champions League success . The Madrid squad (Ronaldo pictured second right) trained on Thursday ahead of their match against Almeria . Ronaldo himself scored a late penalty in their 4-1 win over Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid, to secure their Champions League triumph. The 29-year-old presented his colleagues with their new watches before they travelled to their team hotel ahead of Friday night's La Liga match against Almeria. The first of the Madrid squad to show off his new accessory was defender Alvaro Arbeloa, who posted a picture to Instagram of himself, the watch, and Ronaldo. | Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to thank his team-mates for their help .
He bought each of them a personalised Bulgari watch worth £6,500 .
The watch features the recipient's name, 'CR7' and the words 'La Decima'
Alvaro Arbeloa was the first Madrid player to post a picture to social media . |
19ffae4fc4baa1cb85d32046928a040420ed89ec | Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- An insurgent attack on a Thai military camp in the country's south killed four soldiers and wounded six others, a military spokesman said Thursday. "There were about 20 to 30 insurgents (who) attacked our permanent infantry camp in Maruebotok Village, Narathiwart province ... around 7:30 a.m. local time," said Col. Parinya Chaidilok, spokesman of the 4th Division of Internal Security Operation Command. Parinya said the military had received a tip-off information that there would an attack on Thai military posts. "But we are surprised that they launched their attack at our permanent camp instead of small temporary posts," he said. Muslim separatists in southern Thailand have long battled government forces in a country that is overwhelmingly Buddhist. The conflict came to a head after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra took office in 2004. Several thousand people died in the violence. | Muslim separatists in southern Thailand have long battled government forces .
Several thousand people die in a wave of violence that erupted in 2004 .
The military had received tip-off information that there would an attack on Thai military posts . |
1a00ce94f8983f4ecf9517fd5073c9bdd26e57c1 | Public health officials are urging the public to spend short bursts in the sun from April to October to ensure they get enough Vitamin D. NICE, the health watchdog, has issued guidance which says Vitamin D is crucial for protecting the bones, yet figures show that 1 in 6 adults are deficient. The guidelines do not specify how long but previously experts have recommended that 13 minutes between 11am and 3pm in summer would be sufficient. Health watchdog NICE now advises people to go out for short bursts in the sun from April to October, to ensure they get enough Vitamin D for strong bones. One in six adults is deficient in Vitamin D, NICE warns . Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive and director of health and social care at NICE, said: ‘Although exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays for too long can increase your risk of developing skin cancer, being out in the sun can be good for you too – it provides both a good source of vitamin D and the opportunity to be physically active. ‘A balance needs to be struck. This depends on a number of factors including geographical location, time of day and year, weather conditions, natural skin colour and time spent in the sun.” ‘Those likely to be at higher risk of skin cancer include people with lighter skin who may burn more easily, as well as babies and people who work outside. ‘People at higher risk of having low levels of vitamin D, include those with darker skin, pregnant women, children, older adults, and people who don’t get much sun exposure.’ Sarah Williams, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘It’s important to enjoy the sun safely, by striking the right balance between making vitamin D while not increasing the risk of skin cancer. ‘Most people should make enough vitamin D during the UK summer through short, regular exposures to the sun, without getting sunburnt. 'But everyone’s skin reacts differently to the sun, so there isn’t a one size fits all recommendation.’ Conversely, the watchdog is also urging the public to avoid using phrases such as ‘healthy tans’ and ‘escaping to the sun’ as they undermine the dangers of skin cancer. Conversely, NICE is urging people to avoid using phrases such as 'healthy tans' and 'escaping to the sun' as they undermine the dangers of skin cancer. People assume they are fully protected by suncream when this isn't the case, particularly if cream isn't applied to all areas of the skin or washes off after going swimming . It has issued guidance calling for better awareness of the risks posed by spending even short periods in the sun. Officials are particularly worried that adults and teenagers who sunbathe here or abroad assume they are fully protected by suncream. This isn’t the case – the watchdog points out – particularly if cream isn’t applied to all areas of the skin or washes off after going in the pool or sea. Rates of the most deadly form of skin cancer have quadrupled since the 1970s, partly due to the popularity of package holidays and sunbeds. There are 13,300 new cases in the UK every year leading to around 2,100 deaths. The guidance states that adverts or pictures in newspapers and magazine should avoid references to ‘healthy tans’ or ‘escaping to the sun.’ | NICE now advises short bursts in the sun between April to October .
This is to ensure people get enough Vitamin D for protecting the bones .
Conversely, it is also urging people to stop using phrases like 'healthy tan'
These phrases undermine the dangers of skin cancer, NICE says . |
1a00d647f797e97f99e9a7bb4be30f3d632a8556 | A new pop-up store in Manhattan will sell its products for the price of a post to any social media account. The Velcro Brand Holiday Hackshop has declared Monday, December 15, its 'Social Currency Day,' when customers can pay for select items with 'retweets, posts and more' in which the brand is mentioned. Though the company is still determining exactly what they will be 'selling' based on stock, a representative told MailOnline the products will be worth around $5 each. Welcome to the Hackshop! Velcro Brand is hoping to get more followers on social media sites by running a holiday pop-up shop in lower Manhattan where customers are encouraged to post about their experience . Will you Tweet for these? On Monday, December 15, customers can pay for select Velcro Brand products by posting to social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter . Items customers can potentially buy include garland ties, holiday decor wrap and adhesive fabric strips. To further encourage social media activity, the store is offering daily giveaways for customers who post about it on Instagram, with prizes like eBooks, one-night stays at resorts and kitchen appliances. The shop will also be offering free gift wrapping and photos with Santa, DIY craft stations and special events throughout its run. The boutique, which is located at 199 Lafayette Street in New York's trendy Soho neighborhood, will be open every day through December 19 from 8 am to 8 pm. Enter to win! The brand is giving away a prize every day to one lucky winner who posts about the brand on Instagram . This is made of what? All of the decor at the pop-up shop - including these lamps - was made using Velcro Brand products. Velcro, which was invented in 1948, is hoping to shed its image as a product strictly for fastening, according to the company's publicist. To ramp up its efforts, Velcro Brand recently enlisted HGTV star Sabrina Soto as its spokesperson for the next two years. Though the product has been a household fixture since it was introduced commercially in the 1950s, the company didn't launch its first e-store until earlier this year. | The Velcro Brand Holiday Hackshop has declared Monday December 15 its 'Social Currency Day'
Products, which usually cost $5 apiece, can be purchased with retweets and posts that mention the Velcro brand .
Items customers can buy include garland ties, holiday decor wrap and adhesive fabric strips . |
1a00f31b9e341ad594596b3fcec9b9b7362c23f9 | (CNN) -- Young people around the world love their cell phones -- and a new Nielsen report sheds light on which phones they're using, how they choose their phones, and how they use them. The report focused on youth ages 15-24 from Brazil, Russia, India, China, Vietnam, Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and the U.S. Some highlights: . In all countries studied, the majority of young mobile users own feature phones (basic phones that don't run apps) -- which isn't surprising, since they indicated that price is the main driver in their purchase decision (except for Russia, where design was ranked as slightly more important). In the U.S., only 33% of young mobile users have smartphones. Italy had the highest smartphone penetration among youth (47%), and India had the lowest (10%). One surprise: Most young U.S. smartphone users (55%) are female. In every other country studied, most young smartphone users are male. Across all types of phones, China and the U.S. have the most young users who use advanced mobile data services. "84% percent of Chinese youth use their phones beyond voice and text, compared to 47 percent of Chinese adults." said the report. Meanwhile: "83% of U.S. youth use advanced data -- 32% higher than U.S. adults." But in terms of mobile Web usage, Chinese youth are leading the way: 73% of young Chinese mobile users access the Web from their phone. Young American mobile users, while in second place, are far behind -- only 48% report using the mobile Web. The report took a special look at U.S. teen texting. "If it seems like American teens [ages 13-17] are texting all the time, it's probably because on average they're sending or receiving 3,339 texts a month. That's more than six per hour they're awake -- an 8% jump from last year," said the report. Teen girls are doing most of that texting, the report said -- they send and receive an average of 4,050 texts per month. Who pays for young people's cell phones? This varies by age. In the U.S., only 27% of mobile users aged 15-19 pay for their own service; in Germany and Brazil, that figure is 56%. But once German and Brazilian mobile users reach the 20-24 age group, those numbers jump to 84% and 82%, respectively. For U.S. mobile users aged 20-24, 45% are paying their own mobile phone bills. Which is a bit surprising: Are most U.S. families really willing to foot the mobile bill for a 24-year-old? How do young people pay for their phones? In Russia, a whopping 98% of young mobile users have prepaid phone plans; in the U.S., only 19% do. However, prepaid plans are more common and diverse in most countries outside the U.S.; so this might not be solely an age-related issue. | A new Nielsen report focuses on cell phone use by youth ages 15-24 from all over the world .
In all countries studied, the majority of young mobile users own feature phones .
More young Chinese mobile users access the web from their phone than young Americans . |
1a019a4b4aa81180cbf77e77e0c93d9b08364652 | By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 01:15 EST, 17 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:49 EST, 17 September 2013 . If Prince Harry wasn't sure what he has let himself in for, he knows now. He emerged blowing his hands yesterday from 24 hours in a giant freezer to simulate the conditions he will face trekking to the South Pole. Harry, 29, and a group of British servicemen and women with amputated limbs will take on teams from the US and Commonwealth in a charity race to the Pole over 15 days in November and December. Scroll down for video . The group practised putting up tents and using cross trainers inside British engineering design specialists MIRA's whole-vehicle environmental test chambers . Prince Harry braved the icy conditions during a cold chamber training exercise with the 'Walking with the Wounded' South Pole Allied Challenge 2013 British team . Get used to the cold: The youngest Prince rubbed his hands for warmth as he prepares for the South Pole . The walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge will see them travel 208 miles across the Antarctic in temperatures as low as -50C pulling 11stone sledges. The group were subjected to -55C at engineering design specialist MIRA's training base in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. They practiced putting up tents without getting frostbite and skied on cross-trainers for 12 hours, two hours at a time with ten-minute breaks. Exiting the cold chamber, Harry joked that the worst part had been 'going in'. They had to ski for up to two hours at a time before taking a brief 10 minutes and then repeating it again all over again . Challenge: Prince Harry joins member of the British Team taking part in the Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge on a training day in a -35C weather simulator . During . their training, the team were subjected to ambient temperatures of . minus 35C, with wind speeds of 45mph - which caused the thermometer to . plummet to minus 55C. Dressed . in his cold weather gear, Harry had to practice putting up his tent, . eating, sleeping - and even going to the toilet – all while learning how . to avoid frost-bite in the inhospitable Antarctic climate. The . team members were also given a cross trainer each in order to recreate . the sheer physical exertion they will face pulling their pulks across . the barred Antarctic landscape. This involved them ski-ing for two hours at a time, with a break for ten minutes, over and over again for 12 hours solid. Then it was time for a quick cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit, before heading back off to work. Tricky: Prince Harry and Team Glenfiddich attempt to construct a tent while wearing thick gloves in -35C . Prince Harry eats a biscuit after a cold chamber training exercise. Harry practised with the clothing he will wear on the 200-mile expedition and learned how to avoid frost-nip and frost-bite in the inhospitable climate in Antarctica . Don't eat them all at once! The prince will joins wounded service personnel from Britain, the United States and the Commonwealth to race 335km to the South Pole in November . The . British team are fundraising for the Walking With The Wounded charity, . of which the prince is patron, which raises money to re-train service . personnel who are wounded, injured or sick, and assisting them to find a . career outside the military. Harry . was determined to join the expedition after missing out on an attempt . to conquer Mount Everest with the group last year because of his . military commitments. He was also forced to withdraw early from a . successful North Pole expedition to attend his brother's wedding in . 2011. The royal shared a . tent on Monday night with Captain Ibrar Ali, 36, who lost his right arm . in a roadside bomb blast in 2007, and Major Kate Philp, who chose to . have her left leg amputated after her Warrior armoured vehicle struck an . IED (improvised explosive device) in Musa Qala in Helmand Province in . 2008. The Prince, who is a patron of the Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge, will take part in a 24 hour Cold Chamber Training Exercise with the British Team . New home: Prince Harry and a member of Team Glenfiddich can be seen carrying equipment into the cold room which became their home for 24 hours . Maj Philp, from Knightwick in Worcestershire, said Harry was a ‘good extra pair of hands’ during the training exercise. The . 35-year-old Royal Artillery officer added: ‘He's experienced at this, . having spent some time at the North Pole. He knows what he's doing. He's . got his military training, and it's very, very easy, so he's a good . extra pair of hands.’ Oxford graduate Maj Philp, who still serves with 3 UK Division in Bulford, Wiltshire, said the team was bonding well. ‘The . reality is definitely dawning now, and certainly having experienced . what we've just experienced here at Mira [training facility] it's really . put it into sharp focus for us,’ she said. To support Walking With The Wounded, click here. Prince Harry has joked he 'will have a brew ready' at the Pole for the other teams taking part in the race . On November 16 the team will fly to Cape Town, South Africa, before flying to Novo, Antarctica, where they will spend a few days checking kit and acclimatising before being flown to begin the race . Test: The team had to work together to set up camp - just like they will have to in the South Pole . Training venue: British engineering design specialists MIRA's whole-vehicle environmental test chambers in Nuneaton, Warwicks, where the teammates attempted constructing their tents in conditions similar to the South Pole . Prince Harry formed part of the Walking with the Wounded expedition team in 2011. He is pictured testing an immersion suit on the island of Spitsbergen, in preparation for their walk to the North Pole . Under the patronage of Prince Harry, the Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge launched on 19th April 2013 . | Prince Harry is a patron of the charity Walking With The Wounded .
He will join ex-servicemen and women on a grueling trek to the South Pole .
Harry and his teammates spent a day in a -35C cold chamber to prepare .
They practised skiing and putting up their tent in the icy conditions . |
1a022047c638cdc1a9530d2c382e5efa845d4a86 | When Arsenal signed Danny Welbeck on transfer deadline day it was seen by many as a decent stop-gap until Olivier Giroud returns from injury. The French striker will be back come the New Year and Arsene Wenger was in desperate need of cover. But in the long run, with Theo Walcott soon to return to action, Welbeck's arrival could mean a significant change of style for Arsenal. A front three of the former Manchester United forward, Walcott and summer signing Alexis Sanchez is on the cards. And it could be the quickest front three in the Premier League. VIDEO Scroll down for Danny Welbeck: I've envisaged myself playing for Arsenal before . The shirt fits: Danny Welbeck in his new shirt after the Arsenal agreed a £16m deal with Manchester United . Speedster: Welbeck could link up with new £30m signing Alexis Sanchez on the wing . On the mend: Theo Walcott could be part of a frightening front three when he returns from injury . Options: Arsenal's probable line-up? In truth Wenger now has a wealth of attacking options. Welbeck joins Walcott, Sanchez, Yaya Sanogo, Joel Campbell and Lukas Podolski as men who can lead the line. And behind that there is even more choice. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey provide a wealth of possibility at the Emirates Stadium. A probable forward line, with all players available, of Welbeck, Walcott and Sanchez will mean a move away from that measured style for Wenger. Of course, the passing football will remain in tact, but the slow build-up and lack of penetration should be long gone. Arsenal badly missed Walcott after his injury in January, without any players running in behind Giroud. Wenger has tinkered with a 4-5-1 formation this season to get the best out of Ramsey and Wilshere, though the 4-3-3 will best suit this team. A flavour of Arsenal's 2003/04 counter attack could be back on the cards, with Ozil able to thread through balls through to the raft of speedsters. 'I believe the style of play the manager's got and the boys play and with the magnificent players in midfield slotting balls through, I can run on to the end of those balls and slot them away,' Welbeck said upon arriving at the club. Bench life: Welbeck will be given more chance to impress in his favourite central role at Arsenal . Time to create: Mesut Ozil will have plenty of runners to thread through this season in the Premier League . Often played on the wing and out of the goals at United and for England, the 23-year-old now has his chance. And with the players around him, there should be no excuse. Welbeck's speed and power coupled with Sanchez and Walcott is a mouth-watering prospect, so watch out Premier League. | Welbeck sealed £16m move from Manchester United on deadline day .
Will be Arsenal's new striker with Olivier Giroud out through injury .
Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott could for frightening front three .
Mesut Ozil will have players running on to his through balls . |
1a02cfb292a198c5c22638b08f3285b6ec5c024a | A witness in the Oscar Pistorius trial posted a Facebook message bemoaning that his reputation was being 'destroyed' by the prosecutor - but vowed to mark the end of his testimony with a pint. Forensics expert and geologist Roger Dixon has been called to cast doubt on the prosecution's account that the Paralympian deliberately shot Reeva Steenkamp during a fight. But the former police officer found himself being repeatedly, and at times mockingly, accused of not being qualified . to give evidence by state prosecutor Gerrie Nel. After a bruising day of cross-examination yesterday, Mr Dixon wrote on his Facebook account last night that he was bracing himself for much of the same today. To make matters worse - having told the court he did not . have a television or radio and had not followed the . state’s case because it was 'better not to be influenced by external . factors' - his Twitter account was discovered, revealing that he had . re-tweeted earlier coverage of the trial. Hands-on: Forensic expert Roger Dixon holds Oscar Pistorius's prosthetic leg as he gives evidence after posting a Facebook message bemoaning that his reputation was being attacked by the prosecution . Credibility in question: The Facebook message by Roger Dixon, a defence expert in the Oscar Pistorius trial. He wrote it after being accused by the prosecutor of not being qualified to give evidence . Glib: Mr Dixon said he would mark the end of his three-stint on the witness stand by having a beer . Writing on Facebook, he said: 'Third day in court today. Let's see how much of my credibility, integrity and professional reputation is destroyed. 'It is difficult to get belief in those who will not listen because it is not what they want to hear. After that, beer!' A picture of the message - apparently shown on a mobile phone screen - was posted on Twitter this morning. Mr Dixon later confirmed the Twitter and Facebook accounts belonged to him. He is also said to have told reporters during a break in the hearing that he had been inundated with 'hate mail' because of his involvement in the case. Accused of being 'evasive': Mr Dixon holds a magazine rack as he discusses the sequence of shots that hit Miss Steenkamp when she was in the toilet . Mr Dixon has offered a different sequence . for the shots that killed Reeva Steenkamp, contradicting testimony by a . police ballistics expert and the pathologist who performed the autopsy. However, . he has appeared unsteady during his cross-examination as Mr Nel warned . him it was irresponsible to 'try and be an expert' in areas he was not. Mr Nel asserted in his . cross-examination that Mr Dixon was not an expert in light, sound, . ballistics, gunshot wounds or pathology - all areas about which he was . testifying. Mr Dixon worked . at the police forensic laboratory in Pretoria until he left the force in . December 2012. He was a specialist in analysing materials at crime . scenes. He now works in the geology department at the University of Pretoria. Mr Nel also accused him of not answering questions directly. In despair: Oscar Pistorius holds his head in his hands as the court is shown a graphic image of the toilet where he shot Miss Steenkamp surrounded by a pool of the model's blood . 'For an expert you are evasive,' Nel said, prompting the judge at one point to tell the energetic prosecutor to 'restrain' himself. The prosecutor also criticised Dixon for not bringing photographs and his written reports with him and abruptly told him to bring them on Thursday. 'I said I will,' Mr Dixon snapped back. 'Good,' Mr Nel responded. Nel ridiculed Dixon's finding about the sequence of the shots that Pistorius fired at Steenkamp through the door, testimony which contradicted that of a police ballistics expert and state pathologist Professor Gert Saayman. 'I use the word "finding" very loosely,' Mr Nel said wryly of Dixon's theory. Pistorius denies pre-meditated murder. The trial continues. | Roger Dixon has testified for defence about night athlete shot girlfriend .
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel accused him of not being qualified to give evidence .
Of Mr Dixon's theory, Mr Nel said: 'I use the word "finding" very loosely'
Mr Dixon says he's been inundated with hate mail for appearing in case .
Twitter account reveals he has been re-tweeting coverage of the trial . |
1a03007b15f2715595f9ab6cf886f423a4d15b36 | A word of warning. When you leave the house today, don’t forget your coat – or you’ll be in for a rather chilly shock. The Indian summer we have been enjoying will come to an abrupt end this morning, forecasters predict, with the country waking up to a ‘short, sharp shock’ of cold, windy weather. There could even be some ground frost in parts of northern Britain, as temperatures fall as low as freezing overnight. Beautiful scene: People walk past fallen leaves yesterday as the trees begin to take on their autumn colours at The Royal Victoria Park in Bath, Somerset . Pretty picture: The dew gathers on fallen leaves as the trees begin to take on their autumn colours at The Royal Victoria Park in Bath, Somerset . Green fingers: A resident attends to her plants on the balcony of a house overlooking the park as the trees begin to take on their autumn colours in Bath, Somerset . Wonderful: Although later than normal, experts at the Forestry Commission are predicting a spectacular autumn this year due to an ideal mix of sunshine and rain . It will also be blustery, with winds reaching 60mph on the east coast. The gusts could cause disruption along coastal roads as waves breach sea walls, causing flooding. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning affecting the East Midlands, East of England, North East England and Yorkshire and Humber regions, and urged people to avoid coastal paths in the affected areas. Met Office forecaster Dan Williams said: ‘Compared to the last few days it will really feel a fair few degrees colder. It is also going to be fairly windy in parts, particularly along the east coast, where we have a weather warning. Combined with the drop in temperatures it will suddenly seem a lot colder.’ He added: ‘The weather was pretty decent in the past few days, with many parts of the country enjoying temperatures above 20C (68F). We’re well into autumn and the next few days will remind us of that. Crash: A huge wave soaked a cyclist as he tried to ride through the difficult conditions yesterday at Old Colwyn in Colwyn Bay, North Wales . Dangerous: Cars were covered by strong waves as a cyclist tried to ride through the treacherous conditions yesterday at Old Colwyn in Colwyn Bay, North Wales . Completely soaked: This cyclist was covered in water after getting hit by a wave while trying to ride his bicycle at Old Colwyn in Colwyn Bay, North Wales . On the ground: A conker or Horse Chestnut seed lies among fallen leaves as the trees begin to take on their autumn colours at The Royal Victoria Park in Bath . Change: Temperatures were expected to plunge as low as freezing in parts of Scotland last night and today with 50mph winds in north-east England . Getting colder: Forecasters said a cold front will start moving south from Scotland, bringing rain and cooler temperatures to most of the country . ‘After today, the temperatures will . pick up slightly, but as well as windy conditions, there will be the . risk of rain and showers in the south into the weekend.’ On Tuesday, some parts of Britain basked in . above-average temperatures as high as 22C (72F). Today it will struggle . to reach 11C (52F) in most parts. The Environment Agency said: . ‘Strong winds and large waves could cause minor disruption along the . North Sea coast from Yorkshire to Essex. 'The high winds and localised . flooding on roads could make driving conditions difficult in coastal . areas.’ Going for a stroll: People walk their dogs past fallen leaves as the trees begin to take on their autumn colours at The Royal Victoria Park in Bath, Somerset . Mercury falling: Temperatures will reach a maximum of 13C (55F) during the day and plunge into single figures overnight in many parts of Britain . Up in the air: An ideal mix of sunshine and rain has meant a great growing season for the nation's trees, pictured here at The Royal Victoria Park in Bath, Somerset . Watch out: The Indian summer is set to disappear over the next few days as high winds and freezing temperatures hit parts of Britain . Looking ahead: The UK outlook for Thursday and Friday is for blustery showers along eastern parts of the country. The Royal Victoria Park in Bath is pictured . Splash: Two people walk along the beach at Ballycasle in County Antrim yesterday, as strong winds forced ferry crossings to nearby Rathlin Island to be cancelled . Meanwhile, a beautiful set of . photographs yesterday showed how trees were beginning to take on their . autumn colours in a park in Bath, Somerset. Although later than normal, experts . at the Forestry Commission are predicting a spectacular autumn this year . due to an ideal mix of sunshine and rain. This . provided perfect conditions for the sugars to build up in the leaves . that help them change colour and develop their vibrant autumn hues. Forecasters . said Britain would feel the contrast in weather after basking in . above-average temperatures up to 22C (72F) in some areas in recent days. | Forecasters say cold front has started moving south from Scotland, bringing rain and cooler temperatures to UK .
Strong winds set to batter coastal areas and large waves in the North Sea could breach sea walls in some areas .
Beautiful photographs show how trees are starting to take on their autumn colours at park in Bath, Somerset . |
1a0331e88fafad356dec35259e0665d85886dfa5 | By . Robert Hardman . PUBLISHED: . 20:56 EST, 3 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:09 EST, 4 January 2014 . Serenaded by a jazz band, a chapter of Hell’s Angels, his family and more old geezers than on the Old Kent Road, Ronnie Biggs made his last escape yesterday afternoon — to the hereafter. His wicker coffin draped in the flags of Britain and his adopted Brazil, the best-known — if least important — of the Great Train Robbers was almost a figure of suburban respectability as he took his final bow in the same North London crematorium as Sigmund Freud, George Bernard Shaw and the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar. But here, too, were all the trappings of a traditional gangland funeral — minus the horse-drawn hearse and gold knuckledusters. Scroll down for video . The Great Train Robber's coffin, draped with a Union Flag, a Brazilian flag and a scarf of his beloved Arsenal football team is carried into Golders Green Crematorium . Tribute: Biggs's granddaughter Ingrid and son Michael speak during the funeral service . Guests had been respectfully asked not to dress in black or wear ‘aggressive or offensive jewellery’. How thoughtful. The rules did not seem to apply to floral tributes, though. One mourner had sent one in the shape of Biggs’s trademark V-sign. Shakespeare . and the poems of Biggs the bard himself were liberally quoted in a . service that drew large numbers of shaven-headed men in leather coats . and a few hard-smoking women. How . many actually knew the man? One of the Hell’s Angels cheerfully . admitted he was just a ‘hanger on’, but said he was glad to be part of . it all. There was also a smattering of celebrities from showbusiness and . the criminocracy. Actor . Steven Berkoff arrived late — ‘the traffic was murder’ he told a . congregation not unfamiliar with the real thing — to deliver his . reflections on ‘a modern-day Ulysses’. Drug . smuggler-turned-author Howard Marks saluted ‘a man of great nobility’ while admitting he had never actually met Biggs in person. Celebrity . ex-gangster Dave Courtney arrived bearing a floral display in the shape . of a train and the succinct inscription ‘Gutted’. In loving memory: A copy of the order of service for the funeral of Ronnie Biggs . Send off: The Hells Angels bikers arrive at the funeral, leading the coffin to the crematorium . Armed . robber and certified madman Charles Bronson also sent a bouquet from . prison and a separate message that was read out during the service: . ‘Ronnie was an icon, a man’s man. Max respect to a diamond geezer.’ There . was a lot of this sort of stuff all afternoon and on into the night as . the mourners grew increasingly lachrymose at a boozer on the Finchley . Road. Also represented was . another strand of London criminal folklore in the form of Freddie ‘Brown . Bread’ Foreman, erstwhile henchman of the Kray twins. But . for all the clapped-out tough guy posturing and half-hearted clenched . fist salutes, the most genuine moment of the day was when Biggs’s son, . Michael, delivered a moving eulogy to the father who had, for many . years, raised him as a single parent in Rio. Acknowledging . that Biggs the villain had been a ‘petty crook who never had any real . success’, he spoke emotionally of the jazz-loving, samba-dancing, . Arsenal-mad champion of the underdog who became ‘my dad, my mum, my . entire family’. Tribute: A six-piece Dixie band joined the procession for the final part of the journey to the crematorium.Leading the hearse and funeral cars, it played songs including When the Saints Come Marching In . Defiance: Ronnie Biggs, seen last year when he made his final public appearance (left), gives a two-fingered salute. He was involved in the Great Train Robbery when he was much younger (right) in 1963 . Michael was . the product of Biggs’s affair with a Brazilian dancer after he had fled . to Rio from Australia when his cover was blown in 1970. His . first wife, the devoted Charmian, remained in Australia with their two . surviving sons (another boy, Nicky, died in a car accident). She . still lives there, still bears his name and had sent her own recording . of Shakespeare’s sonnet — ‘Let me not to the marriage of true minds. Admit . impediments ...’ This was more than goodbye to a famous ex-con. This . was a farewell to that black-and-white world of old-style cops and . robbers, of ‘Slipper of the Yard’ and ‘Buster’ Edwards, of bygone heists . planned in smoke-filled pubs and exhaustively chronicled by Fleet . Street for the benefit of a more innocent world. The . Great Train Robbery remains the last criminal showstopper of modern . times which did not involve guns, knives, death, sex or drugs. The . 30-year sentence Biggs received would be inconceivable now. Final sendoff: Draped in both a British flag and a Brazilian flag - in honour of the South American country where he spent so many years on the run - Ronnie Biggs' coffin is taken to his funeral . Hells Angels: The bikers went in front of the funeral cortege as the coffin was driven to the crematorium . Tribute act: The bikers arrive at Ronnie Biggs' family's home in Barnet, north London, to make the journey to the crematorium . For . all the sentimental tosh spoken about it yesterday, however, it was no . Ealing comedy. Train driver Jack Mills received a savage beating and . many of those involved were never the same again. Biggs . was not a key member of the gang that seized more than £2.6 million . from the Glasgow-to- London mail train in August 1963. His job had merely been to supply a bent train driver to replace Mills (in the end, Biggs’s man was not even up to the task). Biggs himself once likened his role to that of ‘teaboy’. His . notoriety and enduring celebrity followed his escape from Wandsworth . Prison to Australia and, latterly, Brazil, where he spent 31 years . raising his proverbial two fingers to British justice. Even after returning home in 2001, upon which he was immediately imprisoned, his attitude was much the same. Short . of cash and laid low by three strokes, he threw himself at the mercy of . the NHS and the British taxpayer, pleading: ‘I am a sick man. My last . wish is to walk into a Margate pub as an Englishman and buy a pint of . bitter.’ Defiant to the last: Thief Ronnie Biggs swears at photographers at the funeral of fellow Great Train Robber Bruce Reynolds last year . Living it up: Ronnie Biggs relaxes in Brazil in 1997 where he spent 36 years on the run from British justice before returning to get medical care . Notorious: Ronnie Biggs, who died last month, revelled in the fame his heinous crime brought him . In 2009, Britain was taken for another ride when Biggs was released from prison in the belief that he was about to die. Two . years later, he was still well enough to say that he was ‘proud’ to . have been one of the robbers, adding: ‘I would do it all again without . the slightest hesitation!’ Nine . months ago, hunched in a wheelchair at the funeral of gang leader Bruce . Reynolds, Biggs raised another two-fingered salute at the media. Yet . it was the media whom Biggs had to thank for the one thing that kept . the money rolling in long after his stolen loot ran out: the legend of . Ronnie Biggs. Yesterday, that legend came to an end, far from the dancing girls of the Copacabana, in Golders Green crematorium. As his son admitted fondly, the old rogue had not even left enough money to cover last night’s bar bill. | Ronnie Biggs, the Great Train Robber, died last month aged 84 .
A Brazilian flag draped over Union Flag across the coffin .
Biggs gave a two-fingered salute last time he was seen in public .
Great Train Robbers fled with £2.6m in 1963 - £46m in today's money .
Train driver Jack Mills was beaten over the head and never fully recovered . |
1a04049012f8f01518b1209f49312e872681fb67 | The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 97 to 0 in approving modest reforms aimed at strengthening prosecution of sex assaults in the military. Last week, senators blocked legislation that would have dramatically altered the way serious crimes in the military, like sexual assault and rape, are handled. The newly approved bill now goes to the House for consideration. Sen. Claire McCaskill said the changes adopted Monday, which were designed to bolster a series of similar reforms adopted last year, mean the U.S. military has "one of the most victim-friendly justice systems in the world." For months, the Missouri Democrat and former prosecutor was locked in battle with fellow Democrat, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, over how to best reform sex assault prosecutions in the military. There has been a steep rise in reported cases in recent years. Some 26,000 incidents of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact were reported in 2012 alone, according to a Pentagon study. Gillibrand's proposal, which was supported by a majority of senators but fell five votes shy of the 60 votes it needed to pass, would have removed commanders from deciding whether their subordinates should be prosecuted, leaving those decisions to military prosecutors. Opinion: New women's issues, new challenges . The idea was opposed by the Pentagon on the grounds that it would weaken command authority. McCaskill argued Gillibrand's proposal would have led to fewer prosecutions and warned more victims could face retaliation from their fellow service members if their commanders weren't involved in the cases. The bill approved Monday would largely disallow the so-called "good soldier" defense, which permits defendants to enter evidence of their good military character at trial to mitigate the charges against them. Groping allegation against Army officer who helps fight sex crime . It also gives victims input into whether their case is prosecuted in a military or civilian court, providing "a victim a greater degree of control of his or her case," according to a summary provided by McCaskill's office. In addition, it would apply the reforms adopted last year to the military service academies. The major reforms that became law last year include: removing the authority of commanders to overturn convictions; providing attorneys to victims; making it a crime to retaliate against a victim; and requiring a dishonorable discharge for anyone convicted of sexual assault. Survivors of military sex assaults frustrated with legislation . | Senate bill offered modest reforms to prosecuting cases .
Chamber last week turned back a bill that would have been tougher .
Measure was in response to spike in sex assault reports in the military .
Bill now goes to House for consideration . |
1a04a2b270d910ca3f5dad75d6f6d8e5ef369fbd | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:44 EST, 18 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:16 EST, 25 April 2012 . Don't mind sitting in the sunshine firing off a few tweets to friends? Well then, don't let the grass grow under your feet, apply to become the World's first Mower Monitor! A Spanish company has put out an advert to find a 'grass guard' with responsibility for keeping a very relaxed eye on an automatic lawn mower as it chops its way through a park in Madrid. The staggering job offer by Spanish gardening company Husqvarna comes with a salary of 2,000 euros (£1,636) for a month's work. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Mean machine: Pictured the Husqvarna Automower 230ACX robotic lawn mower. An automatic mower similar to this will be used by the new Grass Guard in Madrid . Advert: It reads: 'We are searching for young people aged between 25 and 35, and capable of watching the grass grow while the Husqvarna Automower does the work for you' According to the advert the candidate who becomes the first Husqvana Automatic Lawnmower Supervisor will 'be able to read, tweet, surf the internet, check emails and sunbathe' as the lawn mower cuts the grass. Hi-tech Husqvarna, which makes machines for forests, gardens and . parks, if offering the position in an attempt to promote the robot lawnmower which costs up to £3,600. The company claims the automatic grass cutter requires no human . intervention and the new employee will effectively just have to watch the grass . grow in a park in Madrid during month of May. Futuristic: Husqvana's £2,600 Automower Solar Hybrid is the world's first fully automatic lawn mower that is partly powered by the sun. The top of the range £3,600 sends a text to your mobile phone should its mowing be disturbed . Anyone between the ages of 25 and 35 years old who is one of Spain's millions of long-term unemployed and crucially is familiar with social . networking is invited to apply. The latter is essential as the chosen applicant will be . expected to relate his or her experiences on Facebook and Twitter. As may be expected with Spain’s unemployment figure above . the five million mark and around 50 per cent of young people out of work, . applications have been flooding in. The company has also been using its Facebook page to ask . fans to suggest which Madrid park it should use to show off its latest product. Madrid's botanical gardens and Parque Juan Carlos I have both been put forward as suggestions . More than 400 people have already applied to be the ‘grass . guard,' in what Husqvarna is calling ‘the best gig this spring.’ VIDEO OF THE MOWER IN ACTION . | Spanish company puts out advert for someone to watch over automatic mower .
Salary of £1,636 a month .
Lucky candidate will be able to sit back and tweet! |
1a053b1997c09cb3bc90aaa50955c29f11e667ef | An elderly man who was locked in a Houston garage for more than a year so his captor could allegedly cash in his welfare checks has died a week after he was freed. William Merle Greenawalt, 79, was one of three men held captive in the garage without beds or bathrooms on July 19, police said. A fourth man was found in the property's house. Their alleged captor, 31-year-old Walter Renard Jones, beat Greenawalt with a cane, according to the felony complaint. The man died on July 25 and his cause of death has not been released. Greenawalt was found in a garage that authorities have called a 'dungeon'. The men were forced to sleep on the filthy floor, had no restroom, were only given scraps of food and there was a variety of locks on the door to keep them inside, court records show. Tragic: Four elderly men were discovered held against their wills in 'deplorable' conditions at a home in Houston, pictured, earlier this month. Police have now said that one of the men has died . Another man was discovered in the house, where Jones lived with his grandmother. He said he had been held at the home for around six months. They were found after a neighbor tipped off police, who arrived to carry out a welfare check. Police found the garage door nailed shut and had to break burglar bars on the window to reach the men. Charged: Walter Jones, 31, was charged with injury to the elderly after the grim discovery . The converted garage . had no furniture except for one chair, a malfunctioning air conditioning . unit, . and was filthy, with police describing it to ABC 13 as like 'a warehouse for people'. The men were so badly malnourished that hey were carried from the home on stretchers and hospitalized. The two others - Dean Cottingham, 59, . and John Edward Padget, 64 - have now been released to the custody of Adult . Protective Services. It is believed they were homeless before the ordeal. They told police that Jones persuaded them to move into the house in exchange for shelter and food, but they were locked in and forced to turn over their Social Security and veteran's benefit checks. 'They were . apparently given scraps to eat,' police spokesman Jodi Silva said. 'Very little food was being . provided to them. They didn't have access to a restroom. 'They clearly stated to us they were being kept against their will.' The fourth man, who was living at the house, allegedly told officers he did not want to leave. In custody: A man believed to be Jones sits in a police car. The captives were lured inside under the promise of cigarettes and alcohol while the captor used them to cash their government assistance checks . Jones was arrested on July 19 and charged with injury to the elderly by act and injury to the elderly by omission. Police have not said whether they would upgrade the charges in light of the death. It is not . yet known if four women who had been living in the main part of the . house, owned by Jones' grandmother Essie Mae Scranton, were also being held captive. Three of them were said to have disabilities and mental illness, and the fourth was described as a caregiver. Adult Protective Services has been called to help in the investigation. Red flag: Police found the alleged victims during a welfare check, after a tip off from a neighbor . Little explanation: No names of individuals involved have been released, but police described the building where the men were being held as being 'deplorable conditions' Harris County court records show that Jones has a criminal record extending back to 2001 and has previously been arrested for theft and possession of marijuana. In 2009, a grand jury indicted him on a charge of failing to register as a sex offender after he was convicted in juvenile court in 1997 of two counts of felony aggravated sexual assault of a child. But this 2009 charge was eventually dismissed for lack of evidence, court records show, NBC News reported. Details: The Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva said the men were given little food and had no access to a restroom as she spoke to the media after the discovery . | William Merle Greenawalt, 79, died a week after he was found locked in a garage where he was given little food and had no bed or restroom .
He was locked up with two other men, aged 59 and 64, in the garage .
Alleged victims so malnourished they were taken away on stretchers .
Walter Jones, 31, 'held them captive to cash their welfare checks' |
1a05574cae86d1bdc17b27614a7d5e93d7b51e61 | Wonder drug: A new heart drug has shown to cut deaths by a fifth and reduce hospital admissions . Thousands of lives could be saved by a new drug for heart failure that researchers claim outperforms the current best treatments. Clinical trials for the new drug – currently called LCZ696 – were halted early because of the ‘emphatic’ results delivered by the treatment. Research on more than 8,000 patients found that it saved 20 per cent more lives than the current ‘gold standard’ treatment – the ACE inhibitor enalapril. A co-leader of the trial, Professor John McMurray of the University of Glasgow, said: ‘We have what we believe is a much more effective replacement for one of the gold standard drugs for the treatment of heart failure. This is a major advance in the treatment of this terrible problem.’ Heart failure affects almost 900,000 Britons, most of them elderly, and claims 140,000 lives a year. It causes symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness, increased heart rate and swollen ankles, and can lead to serious complications. It occurs when the heart cannot pump blood around the body effectively, possibly following a heart attack. The body responds to the low flow of blood by producing hormones such as angiotensin II and noradrenaline. But these hormones constrict blood vessels and actually make it harder for the failing heart to squeeze blood into them. Over time, the constant production of these hormones further damages the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Enalapril, the current treatment, works by blocking them, which slows or halts the progressive worsening of the condition. Professor McMurray said LCZ696 has a similar impact but the twice-a-day tablet has additional benefits. ‘What this new drug does is simultaneously inhibit the bad hormones – like enalapril – but in addition boosts the production of beneficial hormones,’ he told a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Barcelona. ‘Several of these stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine – to excrete sodium and water – and act to relax blood vessels. All of these actions unload the failing heart. By having this dual effect LCZ696 had extra beneficial actions compared with enalapril and in this way improved patient outcomes.’ In the trial 8,400 patients with heart failure were given either 200mg of LCZ696 twice daily or 10mg of enalapril twice daily – in addition to recommended therapy – in a bid to compare mortality and hospitalisation rates. Early results published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that 914 (21.8 per cent) of patients in the LCZ696 group died of cardiovascular causes, compared with 1,117 (26.5 per cent) in the enalapril group. A further 711 (17 per cent) of patients receiving LCZ696 and 835 (19.8 per cent) of those receiving enalapril died of other causes. This represented a 20 per cent reduction in death from cardiovascular causes and a 16 per cent reduction in death from any cause for those in the LCZ696 group. Improvement? Sicentists claim it will prevent more deaths than the current heart treatment Enalapril does . The new compound also reduced hospitalisation for heart failure by a fifth, experts said. The ‘emphatic’ results prompted researchers to bring the trial to an early close after 27 months. Another study leader, Professor Milton Packer of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, described the findings as ‘highly statistically significant and clinically important’. The drug’s manufacturer, Novartis, plans to apply for a licence early next year, meaning LCZ696 could be available in 2015. Professor McMurray said: ‘Compared with our current gold-standard bedrock treatment enalapril, LCZ696 made patients live longer, stay out of hospital and feel better, fulfilling all our goals of treatment. ‘This is a remarkable finding.’ Nick Hartshorne-Evans, CEO of the heart failure charity The Pumping Marvellous Foundation, said: ‘Heart failure is a major and growing public health problem in the UK. Almost one million people in the UK live with the syndrome but awareness of it is low. We welcome the results of large-scale clinical trials, especially those that might advance the medical treatment of such an under-invested area.’ | LCZ696 described as a 'major advance' in the treatment of heart failure .
Research compared the drug with existing treatment Enalapril .
Reduced deaths from cardiovascular causes and from all other causes .
Also reduced hospitalisation for heart failure by more than 20 per cent . |
1a07bde60d3313b95b71fe811c1b4da874205d8f | Families SA considered the parenting skills of Chloe Valentine's drug-using teenage mother to be 'good enough' despite evidence of neglect, an inquest has heard. Chloe was four years old when she died of massive head injuries in January 2012 after being forced to ride a motorbike and repeatedly crashed over a three-day period in her Adelaide backyard. An inquest into the girl's death has heard her short life was marred by horrific squalor and chronic neglect but she was never removed from her mother, Ashlee Polkinghorne. Scroll down for video . Chloe Valentine was just four when she died of massive head injuries in January 2012 . Social worker Leanne Stewart told the inquest on Wednesday she believed 18-month-old Chloe was receiving 'good enough' care in early 2009, despite substantial evidence of neglect and multiple child abuse notifications, when her mother was 17. Chloe's teenage mother allowed the 18-month-old to be supervised by other teenagers for extended periods, despite being warned by Ms Stewart that this was not acceptable. Family members, including Polkinghorne's father, raised alarms about infant Chloe's safety and told agencies they would be happy to take care of the girl if she was removed from her mother. But Ms Stewart believed some of the allegations may have been malicious or exaggerated because there was 'frequent conflict' in Polkinghorne's family relationships. An inquest into Chloe's death heard that social workers knew that her mother, drug user Ashley Polkinghorne, was neglecting her daughter from 18-months-old . Chloe died at the hands of her parents after she was repeatedly forced to crash a motorbike over a three-day period . Polkinghorne was 'just a teenager' and found it difficult to prioritise tasks such as cleaning her often rubbish-strewn house, Ms Stewart said. Counsel assisting the coroner, Naomi Kereru, questioned why Ms Stewart was excusing Polkinghorne's behaviour, saying her obligation was to protect infant Chloe. 'She was a teenager with a baby,' Ms Kereru said. Polkinghorne, was jailed for at least four years and nine months while the 22-year-old's then-partner, Benjamin McPartland, 28, received four years and two months . Chloe died of 39 different injuries in 2012 . 'You're there to protect the baby, not make excuses for the mother, aren't you?' 'That's what you just did.' Ms Stewart denied that she was reluctant to act on the child abuse allegations, saying it took time for parents such as Polkinghorne to make sustained changes. Polkinghorne, now 22, and a later partner, Benjamin McPartland, 28, were jailed this year over Chloe's death after pleading guilty to manslaughter through criminal neglect. The inquest continues. | Chloe Valentine died at the hands of her neglectful mother Ashley Polkinghorne and her partner Benjamin McPartland in 2012 .
She suffered massive head injuries, black and swollen eyes, a cut to her head and bruises all over her body .
Social worker Leanne Stewart told the inquest into Chloe's death that she believed the toddler was receiving 'good enough' care in early 2009 .
This is despite substantial evidence of neglect and multiple child abuse notifications against her mother at the time .
Counsel questioned why Ms Stewart was excusing Polkinghorne's behaviour, saying her obligation was to protect infant Chloe .
Polkinghorne, 22, and McPartland, 28, pleaded guilty to manslaughter through criminal neglect . |
1a082af1a725f85b460b141a76e8d85c9760cf9f | A stunning catalog of torture and the widespread abuse of even the weakest of North Koreans reveal a portrait of a brutal state "that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world," a United Nations panel reported Monday. North Korean leaders employ murder, torture, slavery, sexual violence, mass starvation and other abuses as tools to prop up the state and terrorize "the population into submission," the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights (COI) in North Korea said in its report . The commission said it would refer its findings to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for possible prosecution. It also sent a letter warning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he could face prosecution for crimes against humanity, and said other options include establishing of an ad hoc tribunal by the United Nations. Even before the report's release, China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and staunch ally of North Korea, has said it would not to allow human rights charges to proceed to the ICC. The almost yearlong investigation traced the abuses directly to the highest levels of the North Korean government while simultaneously blaming world leaders for sitting on their hands amid untold agony. The U.N. panel released its 400-page report after hearing from more than 320 witnesses in public hearings and private interviews. North Korea is a state, it concluded, "that does not content itself with ensuring the authoritarian rule of a small group of people, but seeks to dominate every aspect of its citizens' lives and terrorizes them from within." "The suffering and tears of the people of North Korea demand action," commission Chairman Michael Kirby told reporters. The government of North Korea -- also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK -- rejected the report as a ginned-up effort to undermine its government. "It is nothing more than an instrument of political plot aimed at sabotaging the socialist system by defaming the dignified images of the DPRK and creating an atmosphere of international pressure under the pretext of 'human rights protection,'" the government said in a prepared statement. North Korea did not respond to requests for access to the country and information about its human rights practices, according to the commission. China had previously stated it would not approve human rights charges on North Korea to go to the International Criminal Court. On Monday, prior to the report's release, a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "Submitting human rights issues to the International Court of Justice won't help improve a country's human rights condition." She maintained that China advocates "constructive dialogue and cooperation to resolve differences on human rights issues." The commission of inquiry sought access to parts of China that border North Korea during the 11-month investigation, but was denied. The commission also requested a visit to Beijing to meet relevant officials and experts on North Korea issues -- a request that was also denied by China with the reasoning that based on its "position on country-specific mandates, especially on the Korean peninsula, it would not be possible to extend an invitation to the Commission," according to the report. In the report, the commission recommended that China abstain from forcibly repatriating North Koreans who've escaped their country, due to the punishment they face once they are returned. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department expressed support for the UN report and urged North Korea "to take concrete steps -- as recommended by the [Commission of Inquiry] -- to improve the human rights situation for the North Korean people." "We look forward to thoroughly reviewing the report and discussing its recommendations with our partners, who share our deep concern about the human rights situation in North Korea." The group Human Rights Watch released a statement saying that "the devastating findings of this inquiry should not be ignored." "Since the crimes were perpetrated by state actors, only an international tribunal can properly carry out criminal investigations aimed at holding perpetrators accountable," said Kenneth Roth, executive director at Human Rights Watch. During the compilation of the report one witness, a survivor of a North Korean prison camp, told the commission of seeing a guard beat a nearly starving woman who had recently given birth, then force the woman to drown her baby. Others told of being imprisoned for watching soap operas, trying to find food for their families, traveling without permission or having family members considered suspect by the government. "Because we saw so many people die, we became so used to it," one prison camp survivor told the commission. "I'm sorry to say that we became so used to it that we didn't feel anything." Kirby that he hoped the report would galvanize the world to act. "We cannot say we didn't know," he said. "We now do know." | U.N. report warns North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he could be prosecuted .
Widespread abuses are meant to terrorize "the population into submission," panel says .
Group says it will refer its findings to the International Criminal Court .
North Korea calls the report fake, says it's an effort to undermine the government . |
1a087883312e5a5dfdb9ac7fa7deafd25bd2f7f8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Hackers have launched an attack on eBay which meant that bidders were redirected to a malicious site designed to capture their names and passwords. The scam was spotted by an eBay user based in Scotland, who accused the company of taking too long to remove and shut down the rogue account. He said the auction site was alerted to the problem on Wednesday night but did not remove the suspect listings until more than 12 hours later. Hackers have launched an attack on eBay which meant that bidders were redirected to a malicious site designed to capture their names and passwords. File image . Paul Kerr, an IT worker from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, said that other less tech-aware users might not have realised the danger they were in. ‘You can bet your bottom dollar that somebody’s going to click on that and be redirected to a third-party site and they’re going to enter their details and be compromised,’ he told the BBC. ‘You don’t know how many of the people who use eBay will have done that.’ An eBay spokesman said: ‘We take the safety of our marketplace very seriously and are removing the listing as it is in violation of our policy on third-party links.’ In May, eBay revealed that a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data had been compromised. Paul Kerr, an IT worker from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, said that other less tech-aware users might not have realised the danger they were in. File image . | The security scam was spotted by an eBay user based in Scotland .
Paul Kerr said less tech-aware users might not have realised the danger .
He said the auction site took more than 12 hours to remove suspect listings . |
1a08c0288e9b414e40833d7129658f2901ad5113 | (CNN) -- Portugal winger Nani has been ruled out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a collar bone injury. Nani, who plays for English premier League side Manchester United, suffered the injury in a training session with his national side in Portugal, before leaving for the tournament which begins on June 11. Nani's injury was not immediately levelheaded by coach Carlos Queiroz, but the Portuguese football association announced that the winger would not be taking part in the World Cup on their official Web site on Monday. "After daily assessment of the evolution of the injury, including the carrying out of complementary exams, we have concluded that Nani was not able to compete," a statement read. Nani will be replaced in the squad by Benfica midfielder Ruben Amorin, ahead of Portugal's first match against Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth on 15 June. With Nani watching from the stands, Portugal labored to a 3-0 victory Mozambique in their final warm-up game in Johannesburg on Tuesday. After a goalless first half, Danny collected a pass from Deco to open the scoring in the 51st minute, before striker Hugo Almeida came off the bench to score twice. Nani is the latest Premier League player to succumb to injury in the build-up to the finals. Chelsea duo Michael Essien of Ghana and John Obi Mikel of Nigeria, and Manchester United's England Captain Rio Ferdinand, are also missing the showpiece. Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, who also plays for Premier League champions Chelsea, is a doubt for the tournament after breaking his arm in his team's friendly against Japan on Friday. Meanwhile, European champions Spain warmed up for South Africa in style with a 6-0 thrashing of Poland. Winger David Silva and striker David Villa made it 2-0 at half-time before Xabi Alonso added a third early in the second period. Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres both marked their returns from injury by coming off the bench to score and Pedro added a sixth ten minutes before full-time. But many people's World Cup favorites suffered an injury scare when Barcelona star Andres Iniesta limped off after 39 minutes with a thigh injury. In other news, Switzerland defender Philippe Senderos has joined Fulham from Arsenal on a three-year contract. | Portugal winger Nani is out of the World Cup with a collar bone injury .
Portugal defeat Mozambique 3-0 in final World Cup warm-up match .
Nani is the latest Premier League player to withdraw from the tournament through injury .
Spain thrash Poland 6-0 but Andres Iniesta comes off injured in first half . |
1a08c6fb114b8a8b1a8b67bc51e09f54807cd7a1 | By . Richard Spillett . A lucky hillwalker was given a personal air show by the most famous aerobatics team in the world when he witnessed a training session by the RAF's Red Arrows. Dave Savage, 43, was enjoying a peaceful walk through the Mach Loop hills in central Wales when the stillness of his surroundings was broken by the roar of the afterburner jet engines from the iconic aircraft. The nine-plane flying team were using the area to practice low-level flying ahead of this summer's air shows, allowing Mr Savage to get some of the first pictures of their new Union Flag tail design, painted on to mark their 50th anniversary. The father-of-three said: 'It was spectacular, exciting, noisy and totally unforgettable. It was like they were putting on a show just for me. 'It was such a buzz when the planes went screaming past. Sometimes I didn't even lift my camera up because I was just standing there in amazement.' The Red Arrows had left their base in Lincolnshire in singles before flying through the loop - named after the nearby town of Machynlleth - and then heading back to their headquarters. Mr Savage, from Newtown, Powys, was able to climb up the hillside so he was higher than the Red Hawk T1 aircraft which were at times just 200ft above the ground . Mr Savage said: 'I've always been aircraft mad and I've seen the Red Arrows in airshows up and down the country. But this was the closest I've ever been to them - I could see the pilots quite clearly' The aerobatics team were practicing low-level flying in the Welsh hills, and buzzed hill walkers at speeds of up to 500mph . Mr Savage, who said the experience was like having his own personal air show, was just yards from some of the passing aircraft . The famous red aircraft snaked around the Mach Loop hills - named after the nearby town of Machynlleth - before heading back to their base in Lincolnshire . Hillwalkers looked on awe-struck as the pilots practiced using their famous red, white and blue vapour trails . The Red Arrows, officially the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, performed their first display on May 6, 1965 at Little Rissington, Gloucestershire. Now numbering nine members – all volunteers – they have appeared at events in more than 50 countries around the world showcasing the skills of RAF pilots. The planes are painted red for health and safety reasons – red being most visible in the sky – although officially it is in tribute to the Red Pelicans, their predecessors as an air aerobatic team. The Red Arrows whose motto is Éclat, meaning brilliance, have been based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire since December 21, 2000. Three pilots are changed every year, so that there are always three first-year pilots, three second-year pilots, and three in their final year. The pilots always fly in the same place in the formation and if one is unwell then they fly in an eight-man formation. However, if the lead pilot is unable to fly, then the team's performance is cancelled. In 2010 Flt Lt Kirsty Moore became the first female Red Arrow pilot. Mr Savage's photos are thought to be among the first to show the Red Arrows aircraft with their new Union Flag tail colours, which they have had painted on to celebrate their 50th display season . Unveiling the new design earlier this year, Squadron Leader Jim Turner said: 'We are extremely proud of our heritage and we hope this tailfin design brings with it a sense of pride for both past members of the team and for members of the public to share' After taking the incredible close-up photos, Mr Savage said: 'I have explained to friends what it is like but its not you have to be there to get the full thrill. I would recommend it to anyone just to experience it once in their life' The team will put on 85 displays in nine countries during the 2014 display season, which runs from the end of May until the close of September . Many of the pilots have recent frontline experience with the RAF and use skills gained during combat training during the hair-raising routines . | Dave Savage managed to get amazing close-up photos of the display team when he was walking in the Welsh hills .
The incredible photos show the daredevil pilots practicing low level training, flying 500mph just 200ft above ground . |
1a08d5cc23fdc16cb343989af3b8649f51424ede | Roy Hodgson took the decision to start Raheem Sterling on the bench in England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia after he complained he was tired the day before the game. The Liverpool forward has been heavily criticised for his stance since, but was he entitled to say he was suffering from weary legs? Sportsmail takes a closer look at the 19-year-old's schedule in the build up to Sunday's clash in Tallinn. Raheem Sterling (second from left) started England's game against Estonia on the bench . DAY ONE . Roy Hodgson met his players at St George's in the afternoon and took a light training session for those who had not played on Sunday. Liverpool had played on Saturday. DAY TWO . Full training in the morning, the most intense and rigorous session of the week. Short meetings in the afternoon for attackers, midfielders and defenders. Liverpool midfielder Sterling trains at St George's Park in Burton with his England team-mates . DAY THREE . Light session at St George's, then a two-and-a-half-hour journey by train to The Grove hotel in Watford. Sports psychiatrist Steve Peters was available to see England players on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Players decided if they wanted to speak to him. DAY FOUR . Stroll and stretch in the morning before team meeting and game against San Marino at Wembley. Sterling came off at half-time. Hodgson said afterwards this was to preserve energy for Estonia. Sterling, pictured in action against San Marino, played the first half at Wembley before being substituted . DAY FIVE . Warm-down session at The Grove in team units, in a large function room with stretching mats and spinning bikes under care of fitness coach Chris Neville. 'We did virtually nothing in terms of what I consider to be training,' said Hodgson. DAY SIX . Light session at The Grove. Sterling spoke to Hodgson after the 15-minute warm-up, telling him he was not 100 per cent. He was excused the rest of the session but not ruled out of the team. Three-hour flight to Tallinn and walk round the stadium. Sterling had another chat with Hodgson about his condition. Sterling chats with England boss Roy Hodgson on the pitch at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia . DAY SEVEN . Stroll outside the hotel and stretch after breakfast. England stayed in UK time (two hours behind) while in Tallinn. Sterling was named on the bench against Estonia and came on for the last 26 minutes. England flew straight back home after the game, landing in Manchester at just gone midnight. VIDEO Sterling defends England tiredness . | Sportsmail takes a look at Raheem Sterling's seven days before Estonia .
The Liverpool midfielder was named on the bench by England in Tallinn .
Sterling had complained of tiredness to manager Roy Hodgson .
He played just 45 minutes of the Three Lions' 5-0 win against San Marino .
England had only one intense training session in seven days . |
1a0a04fdd78f0752b3c8792f717bcb8026e4cbce | By . Tom Kelly and Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 16:24 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:24 EST, 5 October 2012 . Tax avoidance: Anne Robinson, pictured, has avoided paying £4million after joining the Liberty tax strategy, it was claimed . Anne Robinson avoided paying tax on £4million after joining an aggressive scheme to shelter earnings from the Treasury, it was claimed yesterday. The BBC Watchdog presenter was one of the largest participants in the Liberty tax strategy which enabled investors to pay just 7p in the pound to the company rather than 40 per cent income tax. Take That stars Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen were also reported to be among the 2,000 who tried to shelter a total of £1.2billion from the taxman in the scheme between 2004 and 2008. It is the latest revelation about legal but aggressive tax avoidance schemes used by celebrities and the super-rich which the Prime Minister has described as ‘morally repugnant’. HM Revenue and Customs believe that personal tax avoidance costs the economy £4.5billion a year. Liberty exploited a loophole to buy and sell dividends offshore to generate more than £1billion in artificial losses which members could offset against their tax bills. It meant higher-rate taxpayers could earn £1million a year tax free by paying £70,000 in fees to Leeds company Mercury Tax Strategies, which provided the scheme. Miss Robinson, 68, was reported to have avoided tax on about £4million through Liberty after paying £280,000 in fees. Barlow attempted to shelter at least £3million after paying £210,000, Owen attempted to shelter at least £1.4million after paying £101,500, and Donald attempted to shelter £2.1million after paying £147,000. In total, Liberty was used to shelter an average of £300million a year between 2004 and 2008. It was first investigated by the Inland Revenue 2006 and was eventually shut down in April 2008 when legislation was brought in to close the loophole. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is taking it to a tax tribunal in spring, but it is unclear whether any of the beneficiaries will be made to pay any avoided tax. Comedian Jimmy Carr was forced to apologise earlier this year after it was revealed he put his earnings into a Jersey-based avoidance scheme called K2, which cut the income tax liability of participants to as little as one per cent. The BBC, pictured in Salford, hands out 25,000 contracts a year that can help its workers pay less tax . Miss Robinson has hosted BBC’s Watchdog for more than a decade, presenting herself as a crusader for ordinary consumers. She reportedly earned £6million for a two-year contract with the BBC for presenting The Weakest Link. Yesterday it emerged that the BBC hands out 25,000 contracts a year that can help its workers pay less tax. The arrangements include 148 news presenters such as Fiona Bruce and Jeremy Paxman. Mercury Tax Strategies, the provider of the Liberty scheme, declined to comment yesterday. Miss Robinson, Barlow, Donald and Owen all failed to respond to requests to comment. HMRC said it couldn’t comment on individual cases. A spokesman said: ‘It does sometimes take a long time for cases to be investigated. This is why we advise anyone who thinks about using a tax avoidance scheme that they should be prepared to be subject to an in-depth enquiry.’ | Presenter was one of largest participants in Liberty tax strategy . |
1a0a0a13a46a72e00605257bbe69860f7fc4b19b | (Travel + Leisure) -- Stockholm has a reputation for being one of Europe's most expensive cities. T+L hits the streets of the fashionable capital and proves otherwise. Stockholm's Strommen River . 9:00 a.m. I plot my day over a complimentary breakfast of homemade yogurt and knäckebröd (crispy bread) at Hotel Anno 1647 (3 Mariagränd; 46-8/442-1680), housed in a former tobacco and clothing factory in the hip island neighborhood of Södermalm. My room ($170), No. 21, is small and peaceful, with rustic pine floors, an antique crystal chandelier, and, thankfully, blackout drapes -- essential in a city that gets 18 hours of sunlight a day in the summer. 10:00 a.m. The hotel is around the corner from Götgatan, one of Stockholm's most seductive shopping strips. Though it feels a little early to start spending, I can't resist a jar of cloudberry honey ($6) from Iris Hantverk (37 Götgatan; 46-8/641-9190), a store that specializes in handmade items by visually impaired artisans. I crave almost everything I see in DesignTorget (31 Götgatan, 46-8/462-3520), which carries an eclectic range of accessories by Swedish designers, including hand-printed dish towels and colorful kids' toys. But I force myself to move along. 12:00 p.m. For lunch, I circle back to busy Slussen square -- Stockholm's answer to Grand Central. The main attraction here (besides a major subway stop) is the humble Nystekt Strömming (fried herring) wagon, encircled by picnic tables crowded with locals on their lunch breaks. I sidle up and order the signature dish ($6.25) topped with a dollop of crème fraîche. From my bench, I can see the silhouette of Gamla Stan, the old section of the city just across the bridge. 1:00 p.m. Down along the harbor, a freckled blond girl at a candy cart snips off a sample of her salt licorice (free), a delicious flavor called Häxvrål -- "scream of the witch," she translates. After a short stroll past the steamboats and Baroque mansions of Östermalm, I arrive at the Vasamuseet (14 Galärvarvsvägen; 46-8/5195-4800), a maritime museum built around a meticulously reconstructed boat that was shipwrecked in the 17th century. I buy a ticket ($15) and explore the gigantic ship, feeling a little like an extra on the set of "Pirates of the Caribbean." 3:30 p.m. Risking museum burnout, I head to the galleries ($12.50 admission) of the Moderna Museet (Skeppsholmen; 46-8/5195-5200), designed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, to see its collection of 20th-century European and American art. Here, I discover the contemporary Swedish painter Karin Mamma Andersson, whose lush, layered paintings look like dreamscapes. I also find one of the city's best photo ops -- the panoramic view of the port from the glass-walled museum café. 5:00 p.m. I forgo a pricey taxi ride across the city in favor of an infinitely more charming and scenic walk toward Gamla Stan, which is touristy but irresistible once I'm weaving through a knot of cobblestoned streets and storybook 17th-century houses. My reward is a hot chocolate ($4.70) at Kaffekoppen (18-20 Stortorget; 46-8/203-170), a candlelit cellar with tea-stained walls and low vaulted ceilings. 7:00 p.m. While wandering the alleys of Gamla Stan, I stumble upon what may be the city's top bargain: a classical music concert ($11) at Storkyrkan, Stockholm's central cathedral (1 Trangsund, Gamla Stan; 46-8/723-3016). I take a seat in a wooden pew as a local pianist fills the space with the music of Chopin. Dusky evening light filters in through leaded glass windows and shimmers off the golden angels on the high brick ceiling. Divine. 9:30 p.m. The lingering sunlight has affected my eating schedule, but I'm finally hungry again. On the patio of Babylon (4 Björns Trädgårdsgränd; 46-8/640-8083), surrounded by chattering clusters of young fashion plates and artist types, I wrap myself in one of the restaurant's green fleece blankets and gobble down a late dinner of potatoes and röding ($25.80), a local fish. From my barstool, I watch skinny blond skateboarders dip and sail around a cement half-pipe in the adjacent park, and revel in a priceless travel high: the giddy feeling of having discovered the coolest place in town. TOTAL SPENT: . $251.25 E-mail to a friend . Planning a beach getaway? Don't miss Travel + Leisure's guide to Affordable Beach Resorts. Copyright 2009 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. | Hotel Anno is located in the hip island neighborhood of Södermalm .
Locals crowd around the fried herring wagon in Slussen square .
Moderna Museet features a collection of 20th-century European and American art . |
1a0a2682c0933b74438a01cabef13eff67ce2180 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 11:12 EST, 11 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:48 EST, 11 July 2013 . Female athletes believe the development of breasts could seriously hinder their careers - and could even prevent them from reaching Olympic standard. And some are going to drastic lengths to remove them - or even to stop them developing in the first place. According to ESPN magazine, gymnasts push themselves to the 'brink of starvation' to avoid developing breasts and a host of professional athletes have spent a lot of money to surgically reduce them. 'For the modern athlete, the question isn't whether breasts get in the way -- it's a question of how to compete around them', the magazine reports. While there's no suggestion that U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone has any qualms, many gymnasts are pushed to be as breastless for as long as possible to help their career . ESPN writer Amanda Hess cites female Ultimate Fight Championship competitor Ronda Rousey's fight in February as a perfect example of a female athlete being hindered by her breasts. As soon Rousey flipped her opponent to the floor, she notes that she quickly rushed to adjust her sports bra straps - a move that ended in disaster. 'I got kicked straight in the chest right as I was trying to adjust my bra,' Rousey told Hess. 'You don't see big titties in the Olympics, and I think that's for a reason,' she added. Joan Ryan, author of the 1995 expose . of gymnastics and figure skating, Little Girls in Pretty Boxes, wrote . that elite gymnasts would undereat and overtrain to delay menstruation. 'You can't afford to have a woman's body and compete at the highest level,' she said. Dominique Moceanu, who at 14 was the youngest competitor on the 1996 gold medal USA Olympic team . added: 'The sport pushes us to be breastless little girls as long as . possible. But though breasts were forbidden, privately we longed for . them.' Legends surrounding women's breasts affecting their sporting prowess have circulated for years. One such legend suggests that female Amazons cut off the right breast to hurl spears and shoot arrows more efficiently. In 1995, a controversial CBS golf analyst called Ben Wright told a newspaper that 'women are handicapped by having boobs. It's not easy for them to keep their left arm straight. Their boobs get in the way.' And Wright may have a point. Judging by the latest research, women do seem to be held back - especially by larger breasts. A third of women taking part in the 2012 London Marathon with cup sizes ranging between . AA-HH reported breast pain from exercise; eight per cent even said the pain . was 'distressing, horrible or excruciating'. A typical A-cup breast weighs 0.43 of a pound and every additional cup size adds another 0.44 of a pound, according to research. It has also been found that the nipples of a woman who has C- or D-cup breasts can accelerate up to 45 mph in one second: faster than a Ferrari. Ronda Rousey (left) has spoken out to say: 'You don't see big titties in the Olympics, and I think that's for a reason' Paul Banwell, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, McIndoe Surgical Centre, East Grinstead, has treated a number of elite athletes and sportswomen with this very problem. He says that large breasts are associated with a whole host of health issues including back and neck pain, skin rashes and bra straps digging in. It can also lead to poor posture and low self-esteem, which can affect an athlete's performance. 'Over the years I have treated many elite athletes in a variety of sporting disciplines including hockey players, runners and female footballers'. 'Breasts can weigh a lot so they really can physically get in the way. 'Many athletes want to maintain their womanly figure but also reduce discomfort so it is a compromise and this must be discussed carefully with every patient,' he adds. It has been found that a woman who . has a C- or D-cup breast's nipples can accelerate up to 45 mph in one . second, which is faster than a Ferrari . Dr Puneet Gupta, Cosmetic Doctor at The . Private Clinic of Harley Street, the first doctor in the UK ever to . offer a non-surgical technique for breast reductions said: 'For professional athletes who maintain intense training regimes, these problems will of course be felt far more heavily. 'Training for long hours each day will only intensify the discomfort, meaning the size of their breasts won’t just get in the way of them exercising, but it can also affect their downtime away from sport, because it may take longer for them to rest and recover if they are still in pain in the back and breast areas. 'Over the years the inability to exercise or take part in sport has certainly become a more commonly cited reason for patients I see who are seriously considering undergoing a reduction. Dr Gupta says that medical advancements may also have contributed to the growing number of female athletes undergoing breast reductions. 'Now there are non surgical breast reduction methods that exist, which can allow women to undergo a reduction with very limited downtime. 'For females who train regularly or are actively involved in sport, but are being prevented from doing so because of the size of their breast, a minimally invasive reduction technique could be a feasible solution, reducing the amount of time they would need to take away from sport to recover. Protest: South African beach volleyball player Alena Schurkova launched a big-boob-pride campaign after Simona Halep (pictured) announced she was having her breasts reduced from a 34DD to a 34C because they were slowing her reaction time . He does, however, warn of the dangers of breast reduction in young athletes, many who are under the age of 25. 'It’s important to note though that a breast reduction won’t be suitable for everyone. It is actually a procedure which is most suited to post-menopausal women, so a very young athlete, for example, might not be suitable for treatment,' he adds. South African beach volleyball player . Alena Schurkova launched a big-boob-pride . campaign after Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, 18, announced she was having her breasts reduced from a 34DD to a 34C because they were slowing her reaction time. Schurkova argued: 'If she does this, it sends out the message that girls with . big boobs can't play sports, and that is just wrong. 'I . am 32E, and I have never found them to be a problem. I could be double . what I have and I would still be okay to . perform.' 'I can't ever imagine my lacrosse coach . telling me to starve myself in order to shrink my boobs in case they get . in the way of my lacrosse stick! What a ridiculous notion' One international lacrosse player agreed with Schurkova. She said: 'To hear that some women are trying to stop themselves from developing breasts altogether is horrendous! 'We work so hard to ensure that our bodies are kept in peak physical condition and there are of course different considerations to take on board depending on the sport that you do. 'Gymnasts need to be smaller and more agile, but they also need to be strong and athletic in order to do all of the stuff that they need to - starving themselves in order to get rid of their boobs is not going to help their career in the long term. 'I can't ever imagine my lacrosse coach telling me to starve myself in order to shrink my boobs in case they get in the way of my lacrosse stick! What a ridiculous notion. 'Your boobs are your boobs. It's the body that you've been given and any athlete should know that you have to look after it and care for it in order to reach the top of your game.' | Female's breasts threatening their sports career .
'You don't see big titties in the Olympics,' female martial arts competitor says .
Cause back pain, rashes and discomfort .
Many hockey players and runners having breast reductions .
Elite gymnasts would undereat and overtrain to delay menstruation .
Siberian tennis player Simona Halep had breast reduction . |
1a0a7a0b9434c9962a80fbae5077a06e42a1e0b0 | (CNN) -- English football star Steven Gerrard has admitted punching a man in a bar, but the Liverpool captain insisted in his court testimony that it was in self-defense. England international Steven Gerrard is in court defending his actions after a bar brawl late last year. The 29-year-old is facing a charge of affray after an incident in the early hours of December 29, when he attacked businessman Marcus McGee following a dispute about the music that was being played. If found guilty, Gerrard faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $7,200. Gerrard, who denies the charge, told a judge on Thursday that he was sorry about his actions in Southport's Lounge Inn, but at the time he thought McGee was going to attack him. They had been involved in an argument after Gerrard tried to change the music on the bar's sound system, but McGee would not let him, the UK Press Association reported. "I thought he was going to hit me," Gerrard said. "He was on his way forward to me and his behavior had changed from when I was having a discussion with him. I didn't know why." Gerrard said he was unaware that his friend John Doran had already punched McGee when he himself started to hit the 34-year-old. "I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me," the midfielder said. "Now I know, obviously, he had been struck, reacted and thought the strike was by me and he came into me and that's when I reacted. I am sorry about the whole incident. "I grabbed the back of his jumper as he moved forward to me. When I had hold of Marcus, I remember swinging my right hand two or three times. "I was trying to stop still and I felt I had arms all over me. I could see a melee around Marcus McGee. When I was getting pulled away I realized people were patting me, some of whom were my friends. "I wanted to help control the situation. I was worried the fight I had with Marcus was going to get worse because people were going past me in that direction." Gerrard said that his friends had earlier told him to "forget" the argument, but he felt he needed to confront McGee. "I couldn't understand why the guy had such a problem with me, why he was so aggressive," he said. "I was also concerned that if I did leave it I would not have been able to enjoy my night, he may have come over to me. "I wanted to see why he had such a problem with it, why a total stranger had such a problem with me putting my favorite songs on. I asked why I couldn't have an input in the music and tried to explain that I had permission from the manageress." "I asked Marcus what was the problem with the music machine and why he treated me like that. Very quickly he came off the bar stool and was in my face right by me." Gerrard had been celebrating after scoring two goals as Liverpool thrashed Newcastle 5-1 to remain top of the Premier League, and admitted that he had been drinking alcohol. "I certainly knew I had had a drink. I was certainly in control of how I felt in my surroundings," he said. The father of two said he had not been in trouble with the police since the age of 19, when he was banned from driving for nine months for drink-driving. | English football star Steven Gerrard has admitted punching a man in a bar .
But the Liverpool captain says in court testimony that it was in self-defense .
Gerrard, 29, denies charge of affray for attacking businessman Marcus McGee .
If found guilty, he faces maximum penalty of six months in jail and $7,200 fine . |
1a0b07b1698bda81b2f189c24c78e44202b4ffca | Washington (CNN) -- A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Texas was sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison in conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. Juan Carlos Guerrero, 39, pleaded guilty to bribery and smuggling last year. His girlfriend, a nephew and two associates received lesser sentences for their roles in the scheme. Guerrero worked the midnight shift at several ports of entry, and his responsibilities included checking vehicles coming into the U.S. from Mexico. He admitted letting between 80 to 165 people illegally cross into the U.S. from January 2009 until May 2011. Guerrero and his cohorts received bribes ranging from $500 to $3,000 per person. Guerrero was placed on administrative leave after his October 2012 arrest. He resigned his job in December as part of a plea agreement. In addition to his prison sentence, Guerrero received a $30,000 fine. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement in response to the sentencing: "We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigation of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off duty." In fiscal year 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection employed 21,790 officers who processed people and cargo arriving at land, sea and airport based ports of entry. That's in addition to 21,394 Border Patrol agents who patrol the areas between the ports of entry and also operate interior highway checkpoints. Mexican police nab drug-launching cannon near border . 81 kidnapped migrants rescued in Mexico . | Juan Carlos Guerrero pleaded guilty to bribery and smuggling last year .
He admitted letting between 80 to 165 people illegally cross into the U.S.
Guerrero worked the midnight shift at several ports of entry in Texas .
Guerrero and cohorts received bribes ranging from $500 to $3,000 per person . |
1a0b1c073130314402fdf5b22fcfa72b907e41e7 | London (CNN)Actor and writer Stephen Fry confirmed Tuesday via Twitter that he plans to marry his partner, named in UK media as 27-year-old Elliott Spencer. Fry, a prolific tweeter with more than 8 million followers, made the announcement after a report in Britain's Sun newspaper -- saying he was very happy. According to UK media reports, Fry plans to marry in Dereham, in the county of Norfolk, where he's from. The news was apparently well received by his legion of fans. Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales last March. Fry, who appears in Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" movies, has been a familiar face on TV screens for years, as well being the author of several books. He starred with actor Hugh Laurie in the comedy series "A Bit of Fry and Laurie," "Jeeves and Wooster" and "Blackadder," as well as hosting the comedy quiz show "QI." In 2008, he made the six-part BBC series "Stephen Fry in America," in which he visited all 50 states. Fry has spoken openly about his struggles with manic depression and his diagnosis of bipolar disorder, as well as being an advocate for gay rights. | Stephen Fry says he's very happy but had hoped for a private wedding .
Same-sex marriage has been legal in England and Wales since March 2014 . |
1a0bdc061d62adbc1567008c226ebc05bd207b1a | A Chinese tradition which sees women wear headdresses made from the hair of their dead ancestors appears to be going strong in this part of the country. Instead of throwing away their hair when they comb it, women who are part of China's Long-horn Miao minority instead save the strands and add them to their collection of hair that allows them to create spectacular headdresses. The hairpieces are brought out for special occasions and carefully woven around horn-shaped headdresses fitted to the heads of the young women and girls. Instead of throwing away their hair when they comb it, women who are part of China's Long-horn Miao minority save the strands and add them to the collection that allows them to create spectacular headdresses . The special hairpieces are brought out for special occasions and carefully woven around horn-shaped headdresses fitted to the heads of young women and girls . Every wig is passed down from mother to daughter and includes not just yarn and twine but also the hair from a line of female ancestors which the owners of the headdresses claim go back hundreds of years . The tradition is believed to have originated with the wearing of the horns as the cow was a sacred animal in the past for people in this rural area, a Chinese expert in minority cultures has said . Although there are now less than 5,000 people in the Miao minority, the strong tradition carries on, as revealed by these pictures taken in the village of Suojia, in Liupanshui city in southwest China's Guizhou province. Every wig is passed down from mother to daughter and includes not just yarn and twine but also the hair from a line of female ancestors which the owners of the headdresses claim go back hundreds of years. It is dyed and carefully maintained to keep it shiny and healthy. Shu Tu, 27, a Chinese expert in minority cultures said: 'The wigs are worn on all sorts of big occasions from weddings through to feast days, and traditionally they also used to be worn by the men but it seems as if it was at the end of the day too much effort for the menfolk - and they gradually dropped the tradition. Although there are now less than 5,000 people in the Miao minority, the strong tradition carries on . The headdresses are worn for a range of big occasions, including weddings and feast days . The headdress traditionally also used to be worn by men, but the custom has only been carried on by women . Shu Tu, 27, a Chinese expert in minority cultures, said: 'It's regarded as a living way for them to honour their ancestors' 'But it continued among the women and the hairdos that they have now include hair not only from the mother and grandmother but probably even the great-grandmother and even older - all woven together. 'It's regarded as a living way for them to honour their ancestors. Every time a woman combs her hair, she collects it, and she hands it to her daughter when her daughter marries. 'It probably originated with the wearing of the horns as the cow was a sacred animal in the past for people in this rural area, but this no doubt developed from a desire to decorate the horns and to honour not only the animal itself but also ancestors.' She added: 'For some people, their history is in books. However, for the Miao, their history is on their heads.' | Women in China's Long-horn Miao minority save strands of ancestors' hair .
They use them to create spectacular headdresses for special occasions .
Owners of headdresses claim some hair goes back hundreds of years . |
1a0cca23343f2631ace307bda53103e3ee664ef3 | Loss: Prominent preacher Myles Munroe was among nine people killed in a plane crash Sunday in The Bahamas . Severe weather was likely a factor in the small plane crash that killed nine people, including a prominent Christian minister and his wife, on approach to the island of Grand Bahama, the foreign minister said Monday. Heavy rain was buffeting the region when the Lear 36 Executive Jet struck a shipping container crane in Freeport as it tried to land, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell said. Mitchell said that a commercial Bahamasair flight making the same route, from Nassau to Freeport, had turned back because it was unable to land around the same time as the flight carrying the Rev. Myles Munroe and several members of his Bahamas Faith Ministries. Civil aviation authorities launched an investigation on Monday. The death of Munroe, one of the most prominent pastors in predominantly Christian Bahamas, stunned the country. 'It is utterly impossible to measure the magnitude of Dr. Munroe's loss to the Bahamas and to the world,' Prime Minister Perry Christie said. 'He was indisputably one of the most globally recognizable religious figures our nation has ever produced.' Born in 1954 in the islands' capital of Nassau, Munroe founded Bahamas Faith Ministries International in the early 1980s after studying at Oral Roberts University, a Christian liberal arts school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Preacher and his wife: Dr Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth were killed in a plane crash in Grand Bahama. The plane crashed while making an approach for landing at Grand Bahama International Airport . Wreckage: The crash took place on Sunday afternoon and killed all nine people on board the private jet. The plane struck a crane at the Grand Bahama Ship Yard, exploding on impact and crashing into the ground near a junkyard area . Stunned: The Department of Civil Aviation reported that the plane was a Lear 36 executive jet which departed the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) for the Grand Bahama International Airport . Life's work: Monroe, 60, was president and founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International and was traveling to Grand Bahamas to attend the 2014 Global Leadership Forum . In shock Tearful mourners gathered at Bahamas Faith Ministries last night soon after they learned that Dr Myles Munroe died in a plane crash on Grand Bahama with eight others yesterday . The charismatic pastor quickly became an influential religious leader among many evangelical Christians, giving sermons around the world and occasionally appearing on televangelist Benny Hinn's popular programs. He was also a motivational speaker and the author of numerous books, including the 2008 best-seller 'God's Big Idea: Reclaiming God's Original Purpose for Your Life.' As news of the plane crash spread, members of his church were shown weeping on a Bahamas TV station or raising their hands in prayer. Fellow Christian pastors expressed shock. 'At times like these, I don't try to figure things out, I just know that all things ultimately figure into a larger and higher purpose that we may never fully understand in this present limited reality,' Bishop Carlton Pearson, a high-profile U.S. minister who was a friend of Munroe's for 40 years, wrote on his Facebook page. Well-known: Dr. Myles Munroe, a prominent pastor, and his wife, Ruth, were among those killed in the crash. Munroe was the founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship which has extended from the shores of the Bahamas to Africa and Asia . Personality: Dr Munroe is a well-known author and motivational speaker who visited various African countries. Tough conditions: Heavy rain was buffeting the region when the Lear 36 Executive Jet struck a shipping container crane in Freeport on landing . Munroe, 60, and his entourage were traveling to Grand Bahama to attend the 2014 Global Leadership Forum that he organized. He planned to have dinner in Freeport about 90 minutes after his plane's scheduling landing with former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, a speaker at the event, Mitchell said. Munroe's wife, Ruth, was also on the plane, along with the pastor considered second-in-command at Bahamas Faith Ministries, Richard Pinder, as well as the group's youth minister and his wife and child. Munroe, who grew up poor in the Bahamas, was considered an inspiration for many people in the island chain and abroad, the foreign minister said. 'He has really put his name on the world stage and helped the Bahamas achieve recognition for talent,' the foreign minister said. 'He was a leader in our country,' said Christopher Duncan. 'He spoke at a number of national events. I've read some of his books. Just the way he viewed life and the way he understood God's purpose for our lives made you look at life a different way.' 'Dr. Munroe was a spiritual fiber of our country,' added Monique Dorsett, who lives in the Bahamas but is vacationing in Miami. 'He epitomized Christianity and the way he lived. He was international .' Followers: The nince passengers killed in Sunday's crash were on their way to a Global Leadership Forum hosted by the Dr. Munroe's Bahamas Faith Ministries organization . | The Lear 36 Executive Jet struck a crane at the Grand Bahama Ship Yard .
It exploded on impact and crashed into the ground .
Two of the dead have been named as Dr Myles Munroe, the leader of Bahamas Faith Ministries, and his wife Ruth .
The passengers were on their way to an event in Freeport being hosted by Munroe's organization . |
1a0dbf6bc0b833558e3a5aa41ca168f81df4df71 | Strictly Come Dancing 2014 champion Pasha Kovalev is the star attraction as P&O Cruises have announced their 2015 line-up for their special themed voyages. Dancing alongside the Russian professional will be fellow 2014 Strictly finalists Karen Hauer, Kevin Clifton and Kristina Rihanoff. In 2015, P&O Cruises has four dedicated Strictly Come Dancing themed cruises, in partnership with BBC Worldwide Ltd. Pasha Kovalev and Caroline Flack were the winners of Strictly Come Dancing 2014 - and the former will be part of P&O Cruises professional dance line-up . Pasha Kovalev, pictured here dancing with Caroline Flack in Saturday's Strictly final, is joined on the P&O Cruises roster by Karen Hauer, Kevin Clifton and Kristina Rihanoff . Each cruise will feature four of the show's favourite professional dancers with the opportunity to meet them and maybe learn a move or two from the experts themselves during the regular dance classes. Also joining each cruise will be a guest judge, and a special celebrity guest to offer a Strictly experience to remember. P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said: 'Our Strictly cruises really do capture the magic of the Strictly experience. We get superb feedback from everyone who joins in the lessons and watches the incredible professional dancers perform. The Strictly dancers will be joining passengers on a selection of P&O cruise ships in 2015 . 'In 2015 we will have a fantastic line up making it an all round fabulous holiday.' The Strictly stars will offer up close and personal interviews on board, photo and meet and greet opportunities, and spectacular Strictly Come Dancing showcase performances produced by BBC Worldwide. P&O will also be joined again on all cruises by a team from DanceSport International, official designers and suppliers of dresses and costumes to the show: a stunning selection of these costumes will be on display around the ship, and available to buy, with organised fashion events to showcase them at their very best. Passengers can also participate in a dance competition culminating in grand finale performances in the ship's main theatre, with a judging panel including the Strictly celebrity and guest judge. | 2014 Strictly champ Pasha Kovalev part of star-studded line-up .
Russian dancer won the title alongside TV presenter Caroline Flack .
Kristina Rihanoff, Karen Hauer and Kevin Clifton also on board . |
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