id stringlengths 40 40 | article stringlengths 48 15.9k | highlights stringlengths 14 7.39k |
|---|---|---|
1a0e051dd5d840120e8ec2ae228808e53d6b39d4 | New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- Oil left on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico is breaking down naturally now that the flow of crude has been cut off beneath the surface, a Coast Guard admiral said Sunday after touring the scene. Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft said the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie did little to affect the oil slick, which is breaking down "very quickly." "The storm itself was not that significant," Zukunft told CNN after an aerial survey of the northern Gulf on Sunday. "We've had nine days of no new oil being released, so what we're seeing is the remnants of oil that was released nine days ago." BP crews managed to temporarily cap the undersea well at the heart of the three-month-old disaster on June 15. But efforts to close off the gusher permanently by drilling a relief well were delayed by the storm, which forced the ships involved in the process to evacuate the area. Those ships have returned to the area since the storm, he told reporters Sunday night. Zukunft told reporters that he saw only one large patch of emulsified oil, about 12 miles off Grand Isle, Louisiana, during his six-hour aerial tour. No oil could be seen in Louisiana's Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain or Chandeleur Sound, while only a light sheen was visible in other parts of the Gulf. "The oil is basically approaching the end of its life cycle," he said. Oil had gushed from the ruptured well for nearly three months after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, leaving 11 workers dead. Officials have said a relief well is the only permanent solution to the disaster, which saw as much as 60,000 barrels (2.5 million gallons) of crude spewing into the Gulf every day. Ships critical for drilling the well started evacuating Thursday and returning Saturday afternoon, once Bonnie lost her punch after crossing southern Florida. The weather forced officials to temporarily scale back efforts to search beneath the surface for leaking oil and permanently plug the leak, drawing some criticism from local officials that the federal government was overreacting to the storm. But retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who is leading the federal government's response to the spill, emphasized the need to move and protect equipment before a storm. He said told reporters Friday that he was still "haunted" by the sight of submerged school buses "that could not be used for the evacuation" after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. "We're going to be playing a cat-and-mouse game for the remainder of the hurricane season," Allen said. Sunday, Allen said officials were examining new oil deposits on the shoreline created by the storm, and booms that were in sensitive marsh areas caused damage during the storm and may need to be removed before another surge happens. But with the storm's passing, work on the relief well is scheduled to continue, he said. And by August 1, he said crews could begin pumping drilling "mud" into the ruptured well to force oil back into the reservoir below -- a process known as a "static kill." CNN's David Mattingly, Rich Phillips and Matt Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: Admiral says oil on the surface is breaking down "very quickly"
NEW: Drill ships returned to the well site Sunday .
Tropical Storm Bonnie forced ships to evacuate Thursday night .
"Static kill" effort could start August 1, Allen says . |
1a0ecdb82a8ab787bb9ce038cd7b5273681ca461 | At last night’s Democratic National Convention, there were many moments of cheering, chanting, and caterwauling. But one speech – made by former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm – seemed wholly bizarre, and was full of fist pumps, extreme facial expressions, and screaming. In her fiery address, Mrs Granholm attacked Mitt Romney’s handling of the auto industry crisis while praising President Obama’s bailout, all while wildly gesturing. Scroll down for video of Jennifer Granholm's speech . Emotive: Former Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm did not hold back during her address last night . Rousing speech: Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm addressed the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last night to an uproarious response from delegates . On the attack: In her speech, the charismatic Current TV host questioned Romney's response to the auto industry crisis . Yes we can: Gesturing heavily, she also praised Obama's rescue plan for American motors . Running the gamut: Her speech was filled with fist-pumping and clapping . Wearing a crisp electric blue blazer and white shirt, Mrs Granholm took the stage with visible energy, and began by telling the recent history of the auto industry in her state. She spoke of the hundreds of devastated workers who were hit hard by Ford’s decision to close one of its largest plants in Wixom, Michigan, and how many workers came up to her asking why this happened, as they were all hard-working and loyal to the company. The two-term governor said: ‘The entire auto industry, and the lives of over one million hard-working Americans, teetered on the edge of collapse; and with it, the whole manufacturing sector of this country. We looked everywhere for help. ‘Almost nobody had the guts to help us – not the banks, not the private investors and not Bain capital,’ she said, referring to Mr Romney’s op-ed appearing in the New York Times entitled ‘Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.’ The audience applauded, and the former governor continued, raising her voice and throwing her hands in the air, saying: ‘But, in 2009, the cavalry arrived: our new president, Barack Obama…he made the tough calls and he saved the American auto industry!’ The delegates in Charlotte, North . Carolina began cheering uproariously, and maintained their energy . throughout Mrs Granholm’s six-and-a-half minute speech. Standing O: At many points in her six-and-a-half minute speech, she brought the delegates to their feet . High flying adored: With a vast array of gesturing, the Canadian-born American politician and TV host brought delegates in Charlotte to their feet cheering and clapping . Broadcast: She was projected out on the DNC monitors so every delegate could see her speech . But it wasn’t just Mr Romney’s stance on the auto industry she attacked. Mrs Granholm went on to question the Republican presidential candidate’s wealth. ‘How did he make that fortune?’ she asked, ‘and at whose expense? 'America, let's rev our engines! In your . car and on your ballot, the "D" is for drive forward, and the "R" is . for reverse – and in this election, we're driving forward, not back!' ‘You know, too often he made it at the expense of middle-class Americans. Year after year it was profits before people.’ Mr . Obama, she said, saved more than one million American jobs with his . bailout for the auto industry. But the most intense moment in her speech . came when she again attacked Mr Romney, saying: . ‘Sure, Mitt Romney loves our lakes and trees. 'He loves our cars so much, they have their own elevator. But the people who design, build, and sell those cars? Well, in Romney's world, the cars get the elevator; the workers get the shaft!’ At this point in the speech, she had to pause because she was drowned out by chants and cheers of ‘USA, USA.’ Nominated: President Barack Obama, right, and First lady Michelle Obama walk across the stage with their daughter Sasha, left, after President Obama's speech . She concluded with several gestures: ‘America, let’s rev our engines! In your car and on your ballot, the “D” is for drive forward, and the “R” is for reverse – and in this election, we’re driving forward, not back! Let’s re-elect our great president, Barack Obama!’ Politico’s Dylan Byers said it was ‘by far the most energetic and well-received of any (speech) so far this evening while CNN wrote: ‘Her performance may be best summed up by a tweet: I’LL HAVE WHAT SHE’S HAVING!!!!’ Talking Points Memo critiqued: ‘Granholm’s wild gestures and energy level – which hovered between fired up and thermonuclear… - left the crowd delirious.’ However, not everyone was as wowed by the speech. Drudge Report, linking to a YouTube video of her speech, called it a ‘podium meltdown.’ The Canadian-born American politician serves as host for a prime time show on Current TV, the network created by former vice president and presidential candidate Al Gore, and is a columnist for Politico. | Two-term Michigan governor delivered energetic speech to DNC .
Was filled with fist-pumps, thumbs up, and theatrical facial expressions .
Attacked Romney's response to Detroit bailout but praised Obama for saving one million jobs in industry .
Was drowned out by cheers and chants of 'USA, USA!' |
1a0fcba46d26ea918f2c3fd78b82f7e8d7d8f3fd | A 21-year-old man was left in a coma and eight others were hospitalized after attending a weekend pool party in the Mexican city of Leon where organizers of the event poured liquid nitrogen into the water. According to authorities of the Health Department of Leon in the state of Guanajuato, the party that took place Saturday was organized by Jagermeister, the alcoholic beverage maker based out of Germany. According to witness accounts and videos recorded at the event, organizers of the soiree hosted in La Colonia Granjas El Palote attempted to create a smoke effect by pouring four buckets of liquid nitrogen into the pool. Scroll down for videos . Bad move: Employees dressed in orange unfirms could be seen pouring liquid nitrogen into the pool, which quickly filled with thick white smoke . Party gone awry: The event held in the Mexican city of Leon was hosted by the German alcoholic beverage company Jagermeister . Crowded soiree: There were about 200 people who turned out at the pool party, among them several hostesses hired to promote the drinks . Officials say that when the liquid nitrogen came in contact with the water, the chemical substance with a low boiling point displaced oxygen, leaving young party goers gasping for breath, Excelsior.com reported. Guests who were milling about around the pool quickly realized that those inside the water began passing out and quickly called for help. Blacked out: Hostess Jael Jimenez said she passed out from asphyxiation while swimming in the pool and was rescued because other gusts spotted her tray floating in the water . The victims were pulled to safety by paramedics and rushed to the regional hospital where many had been diagnosed with cardiovascular problems. One of the victims, identified by Univision Noticias as 21-year-old Jose Ignacio Lopez del Toro, remains in intensive care in a comatose state. The other eight people received medical attention in the Campestre Medical Hospital and have since been released. Assistant Attorney General Manuel Angel Hernandez has launched a preliminary investigation to determine if charges would be filed in connection to the incident. In a statement sent . to MailOnline Wednesday, Jagermeister stated that the company is aware . of the incident, which is currently being investigated by officials at . Jagermeister’s headquarters in Germany. ‘We are liaising with the responsible . distributor in Mexico who is working with the event organisers and the . investigating authorities to understand the full circumstances . surrounding the events last Saturday night,’ the statement read. ‘We fully support responsible drinking and adhere to the guidelines within each market in which we operate.’ Aftermath: Liquid nitrogen reacting with chlorine in the water formed a toxic cloud that left the young party goers gasping for breath . Injured: Nine people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, including a 21-year-old man who suffered from cardiovascular complications that landed him in a coma . The Saturday pool party organized by . Jagermeister brought together about 200 young people, among them several . hostesses hired to promote the company's alcoholic products. At . some point during the party, employees dressed in orange uniforms could . be seen pouring liquid nitrogen into the pool, which quickly filled . with thick white smoke. A . short time later, people standing on the pool deck raised the alarm . after noticing that some of the revelers cavorting in the pool appeared . unconscious. Among the victims was hostess Jael Jimenez. ‘They realized that I had fainted because they saw the tray floating alone in the pool, otherwise I might have drowned,’ Jimenez told Milenio.com. | Victim Jose Ignacio Lopez del Toro remains in a coma after suffering damage to his cardiovascular system .
Pool party was organized in the city of Leon by German alcoholic drink maker Jagermeister .
Liquid nitrogen dumped into the pool displaced oxygen, leaving partygoers unable to breathe . |
1a0fe50575a9617fb10338c51b1e1110d2c694d2 | By . Janine Yaqoob . PUBLISHED: . 12:06 EST, 29 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:31 EST, 29 November 2012 . A pair of binoculars that once belonged to the captain of the Titanic’s rescue ship are being sold on eBay by cash-strapped museum bosses. They have been forced to make the heartbreaking decision to sell off one of their ‘crown jewels’ to pay the bills. Financial pressures have forced the Titanic In Lancashire museum, in Colne, to consider parting with binoculars, which were presented to Captain Arthur Rostron. Capt Rostron was at the helm of The Carpathia, the ship which rescued a number of the White Star liner’s passengers a century ago. The eyeglasses have been placed up for sale on the auction website eBay, with a starting bid of $600. Binoculars which belonged to the captain of the Titanic's rescue ship are being sold on eBay . The binoculars (pictured) were once owned by Captain Arthur Rostron, who sailed The Carpathia . Originally they were presented to the veteran seaman, of Astley Bridge, near Bolton, by his friend Charles Allum, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Titanic’s demise. Museum curator Nigel Hampson said the venture would ‘absolutely, categorically prefer not to sell the binoculars’ but they needed to pay bills year-round. He added: 'We do not want them to go. But we are between a rock and a hard place. 'Keeping the museum open costs money. 'All the staff - myself included - are unpaid volunteers, all monies made are put back into the museum. Bosses at the cash-strapped Titanic In Lancashire museum, in Colne, where the binoculars are displayed (pictured) have decided to put the item up for sale . The Carpathia lies at anchor after bringing in survivors from the Titanic disaster in April 1912 . 'But the fact remains that gas, electricity, phone and day-to-day expenses all have to be covered. 'Museums like other attractions are seasonal and all suffer a quiet period at this time of year. 'We fundraise as best as we can, but keeping the museum open and running fundraising events as well, is hard work which requires a lot of time and also help and support from the community. The ill-fated Titanic hit an Iceberg off Newfoundland in 1912. Over 1,500 people died in the tragedy . 'Some people might say this is like selling off the family silver - and I totally agree with them. It is a horrible situation for us and one that is causing me many sleepless nights. 'But when the bills need to be paid what are you supposed to do?' The museum, which opened at the Old Grammar School last year, is also setting up its own friends group, to help with fundraising, and can be contacted on 01282 861833. | Captain Arthur Rostron's binoculars are up for sale on auction website eBay .
He sailed The Carpathia, which rescued Titanic passengers .
Titanic of Lancashire Museum in Colne has been forced to sell because of financial pressures . |
1a1148eceafdbf496a0b77aaadec0ac47ff68795 | A Spanish nurse who treated an Ebola victim in Madrid has become the first person in the world to contract the deadly virus outside of Africa. The 44-year-old is said to have spent the last 15 years working at Madrid's Carlos III Hospital, where the two Spanish missionaries infected with Ebola died. The woman, who is married, was part of the team that treated Spanish priest Manuel Garcia Viejo, who was brought back from Africa last month so that he could be treated for the deadly virus. Scroll down for video . The Spanish nurse has become the first person in the world to contract Ebola outside of Africa after treating a patient with the deadly virus at Madrid's Carlos III Hospital. Pictured: Police escort an ambulance with the nurse . The medical workers donned full protective clothing as they transported the nurse between Spanish hospitals . The 44-year-old Spanish woman was moved between the hospitals in a special fully-incubated stretcher . Medical staff could be seen removing the woman on an enclosed stretcher out of the ambulance last night . The woman has moved from Alcorcon Hospital to Madrid's Carlos III Hospital by those in full protective suits . A medical worker in protective gear stands next to a special stretcher carrying the infected Spanish nurse . Two separate tests confirmed that the woman, who has yet to be named, had contracted the disease. Colleagues tonight expressed their surprise at news that the nurse, from Galicia in northwest Spain, had caught the virus, saying that there had been 'extreme' measures in place to protect staff. One told Spanish daily El Pais that nurses were equipped with two protective overalls, two pairs of gloves and glasses. All medics had to use a special card to access the hospital's sixth floor - where the two men were treated. The Carlos III Hospital was evacuated before the arrival of the first missionary, Miguel Pajares, who contracted the disease in Liberia, but not for Mr Viejo as the sixth floor had already been hermetically sealed. Mr Pajares, the first person in Europe to be treated for Ebola, died at Madrid's Carlos III Hospital in August despite receiving experimental drug ZMapp after he returned. The Spanish nurse was part of the team that treated Spanish priest Manuel Garcia Viejo, who was brought back from Africa last month so that he could be treated for the deadly virus pictured. He died on September 26 . Mr Viejo was a member of the Hospital Order of San Juan de Dios who worked in the Western city of Lunsar . Mr Viejo died at the hospital the following month after contracting the virus in Sierra Leone. Ebola spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has the virus and the only way to stop an outbreak is to isolate those who are infected. The current outbreak in west Africa, the worst ever, has infected nearly 7,500 people and caused more than 3,400 deaths. The Spanish nurse is understood to have tested positive for Ebola in a first analysis after going to hospital in Alcorcon near Madrid with a high fever early this morning. Doctors isolated the emergency treatment room. A Ministry of Health source told respected daily El Mundo: 'She arrived at the University Hospital Alcorcon Foundation with fever and has undergone tests. The first test has come back positive.' Spain's Health Ministry today held a crisis meeting as they awaited for the results to be confirmed. British nurse William Pooley, 29, who was infected with the virus while working in Sierra Leone, recovered last month after being flown back to London for treatment. He later jetted to the US to give blood to an American battling the disease. Thomas Duncan, the first person diagnosed in the west with the disease, contracted Ebola last month in Liberia and is now 'fighting for his life' at a hospital in Dallas after flying to the US to visit his fiancee. Spanish nurse, Manuel Garcia Viejo, is pictured being flown home from Sierra Leone in a plastic isolation chamber. It is understood that the female Spanish nurse was part of the team that treated him . The researchers at Northeastern University, in Boston, calculated the countries most at risk in the short term, are: . Leading charity Save the Children warned recently Ebola is spreading at a 'terrifying rate' with the number of recorded cases doubling every week. Speaking at a conference in London co-hosted with Sierra Leone last week, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called for more financial aid, doctors and nurses. Scientists have warned that the deadly virus could spread across the world infecting people from the U.S. to China within three weeks. There is a 50 per cent chance a traveller carrying the disease could touch down in the UK by October 24, a team of U.S. researchers have predicted. Using Ebola spread patterns and airline traffic data they have calculated the odds of the virus spreading across the world. They estimate there is a 75 per cent chance Ebola will reach French shores by October 24. And Belgium has a 40 per cent chance of seeing the disease arrive on its territory, while Spain and Switzerland have lower risks of 14 per cent each. A team of scientists at Northeastern University in Boston have used air travel information to predict where the deadly Ebola virus could reach in the next three weeks . Professor Alessandro Vespignani of Northeastern University in Boston, who led the research, said: 'This is not a deterministic list, it's about probabilities – but those probabilities are growing for everyone. 'It's just a matter of who gets lucky and who gets unlucky. 'Air traffic is the driver. 'But there are also differences in connections with the affected countries (Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), as well as different numbers of cases in these three countries - so depending on that, the probability numbers change.' | Unnamed nurse believed to be part of team that treated Manuel Garcia Viejo .
First test on the woman has come back positive after going to hospital today .
Spanish missionary was brought back from Africa last month for treatment .
He died on 26 September at Madrid's Carlos III Hospital from deadly virus . |
1a11b9b9023c6c59067b2b43ccffae5a72fac9d5 | By . Gerri Peev, Political Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 19:14 EST, 26 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:21 EST, 27 January 2014 . Fear: Friends of the embattled Lord Rennard have warned he could expose Liberal Democrat sex scandals if he is expelled from the party . Friends of the embattled Lord Rennard have warned he could expose Liberal Democrat sex scandals if he is expelled from the party. The Liberal Democrat peer - who has denied allegations of sexual harassment - could go ‘nuclear’ if party leader Nick Clegg stops him from re-joining the party. Lord Rennard became active with the Lib Dems as an orphaned teen and has devoted his entire life to the party. Now friends feel he has been treated ‘cruelly’ and could retaliate if he is shut out permanently. He could reveal secrets, such as claims like that of a former MP who was known to be a persistent sex pest, the liaison between a Lib Dem peer and married MP, and details of gay affairs between peers and MPs, according to the Sunday Times. A spokesman for Lord Rennard declined to comment last night. The Lib Dem peer has kept silent in the last few days, as have the women who made allegations against him. According to one source, he has a ‘little black book’ filled with many politician and activists’ darkest secrets. The Lib Dem, who did not wish to be named, said that most of in the party ‘lived in fear’ of the Svengali-like figure because their careers - and family life - depended on him. The source said: ‘He is often offered up as a shoulder to cry on so everyone has off-loaded their skeletons on to him. But he has all their dirty little secrets apparently stored in a little black book. It’s no wonder that it’s taken ten years for anyone to confront him.’ Crisis management: Lord Rennard was also at the centre of managing other Lib Dem crises such as the discovery that Mark Oaten (left) had hired a rent boy and the extra-marital affairs of Lord Ashdown (right) Lord Rennard was also at the centre of . managing other Lib Dem crises such as the discovery that former MP Mark . Oaten had hired a rent boy and the extra-marital affairs of Lord Ashdown . when he was party leader. He was also chief executive at the time that former party leader Charles Kennedy resigned after his drinking habit was exposed. Another Lib Dem source revealed: ‘He is the mastermind of many of the dirty tricks campaigns during elections that we have, rightly or wrongly, become known for. Loyal: Lord Rennard became active with the Lib Dems as an orphaned teen and has devoted his entire life to the party . He once suggested printing a . photograph of an opponent’s house on a leaflet to point out that he did . not live in the constituency. This was vetoed.’ But . sources close to party leader Nick Clegg have called it a ‘grubby . threat’ and warned that ‘it is this sort of thing that got us into this . mess in the first place...it’s time to move past it.’ An independent mediator is being appointed by the Lib Dems to try and broker a truce between both sides. Not worried: Sources close to party leader Nick Clegg have called fears that Lord Rennard 'could go nuclear' a 'grubby threat' Plans for a second inquiry might be . dropped if Lord Rennard apologises but he will only do so if any threat . of legal action by the complainants is dropped. Mr Clegg’s leadership faced a fresh crisis last week after revelations that Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock sexually harassed a vulnerable constituent. Mr Clegg said the first he knew about the crisis was when he saw a report by an independent QC into the claims. There is no sign yet of the crisis abating. Yesterday (SUN), senior Lib Dem councillor in Portsmouth, Eleanor Scott, quit the party group over the way it had handled the affair. She has represented Fratton, the same ward as Mr Hancock, since 2002. Cllr Scott told the Mail she had quit the Lib Dem group of councillors on Portsmouth City Council. She added: ‘I remain a Liberal Democrat Party member, and committed to being a councillor and Portsmouth. ‘I hope that others involved in the Group’s decision On Friday will reflect on their positions, and do the right thing. ‘We need to run a city, not a game show. Cllr Scott added: ‘I have previously raised concerns with Liberal Democrat Party headquarters in London, and I trust that they will concede that they need to give me, and others here, support to clean out the Augean Stables.’ | Liberal Democrat peer has denied allegations of sexual harassment .
Sources say he could go 'nuclear' if he is not allowed to rejoin party .
Friends feel Lord Rennard has been treated 'cruelly' and could retaliate .
According to one source, he has a ‘little black book’ filled with many politician and activists’ darkest secrets .
A spokesman for Lord Rennard declined to comment on the claims . |
1a1243cdb80698db7398d90edb64ceff949d4aaf | The parents of Reeva Steenkamp today backed calls for Shrien Dewani to give evidence over the murder of Anni Dewani - supporting her parents' campaign to ensure the case is not dismissed. Barry and June Steenkamp urged the judge to make the accused face justice on Monday, and offered their condolences to Vinod and Nilam Hindocha whose daughter, like Reeva, was shot dead in South Africa. Mr Steenkamp and Mr Hindocha spoke on the telephone from Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and discussed the similarities in their cases. Both their daughters, who were in their twenties, were gunned down with their partners accused of their murders in incidents which shocked South Africa and threw the country's record of gun violence into the spotlight. The killings, more than two years apart, put the South African legal system under huge scrutiny as Reeva's killer was cleared of murder despite firing four bullets and Shrien Dewani may walk free on Monday without offering any defence. Scroll down for video . Support: June and Barry Steenkamp, whose daughter Reeva was killed by Oscar Pistorius, have sent their support to the parents of Anni Dewani to say 'We are in the same boat' In pain: Nilam and Vinod Hindocha, Anni's parents, told MailOnline they were deceived by Shrien Dewani over his sexuality. Their bid for him to face trial is being supported by the Steenkamps . Gun crime epidemic: Reeva Steenkamp, left, was shot by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day last year, he was found guilty of manslaughter. Anni Dewani's husband Shrien is facing trial for her murder . Cleared? Oscar Pistorius was cleared of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp but found guilty of manslaughter while Shrien Dewani, who is accused of killing his wife, will find out if he is to stand trial on Monday . Reeva was shot dead by athlete Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee who made history by competing in both the Paralympics and Olympics of London 2012. He was cleared of murder, but found guilty of culpable homicide and given a five-year prison sentence after he claimed he mistook Reeva for an intruder as they slept. Shrien Dewani is on trial for murdering Anni who was killed by a single bullet to the neck with her husband accused of masterminding and staging the shooting to look like a robbery. The Western Cape Court will decide on Monday whether the Bristol millionaire businessman can walk free with no case to answer or whether his trial must continue. He has applied for the charge against him to be dismissed claiming the prosecution have no evidence against him and he should not need to offer any defence. Mr Steenkamp confirmed to MailOnline that he and his wife are supporting Anni's parents in their bid to get the judge to continue the case and have offered their sympathy. Mr Hindocha said today: 'I am delighted that Reeva's parents have said they will support us and am very grateful for that. 'Mr Steenkamp and I talked about Reeva and Anni and I gave him my sympathy too. 'Only he and I as fathers can properly understand the pain of losing a daughter to bullets and then experience very difficult and high profile cases. Sham: Shrien and Anni Dewani married in a Hindu wedding that her parents described as 'false' after he was discovered to have been sleeping with gay prostitutes . Rage: Oscar Pistorius was accused of shooting Reeva Steenkamp dead in a fit of rage but the judge found that he mistook her for an intruder . 'Reeva's father told me 'we are both in the same boat' and that I needed to be strong. He and his family had been following our case. 'He hoped that we would get the right to hear the full case here and that he felt for us. 'I told him I am very sorry about what happened to Reeva and I know there is to be an appeal against the judge's decision in the Pistorius case and they also have our support on that.' The Steenkamps are unhappy with the outcome of the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius and are appealing against the verdict and the sentence given to the athlete who is known as 'Blade Runner.' He shot his model girlfriend Reeva during the middle of the night in his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day last year after she made a last minute decision to spend the night, having told her flat mate she would be returning. He claimed he thought an intruder had entered his home, but Reeva was gunned down with four bullets piercing the toilet door where she had locked herself inside. Pistorius denied murder and was cleared by Judge Thokozile Masipa who ruled he did not intend to kill when he unleashed four bullets. Instead, she decided he had acted negligently and was guilty of the lesser manslaughter charge. So strong: Nilam Hindocha, who lost her daughter on honeymoon, and June Steenkamp, whose daughter Reeva was killed on Valentine's Day last year, have fought for justice for their girls . Justice for Anni: Honeymoon murder victim Anni's father, Vinod, is campaigning for Shrien to face trial . Grief: Reeva's father Barry Steenkamp, who had his head in his hands when evidence of his daughter's treatment was heard, has spoken to Anni's father Vinod to offer his condolences . His five-year sentence means he could be released after serving 10 months in jail to complete the sentence under house arrest at his uncle's home, a punishment described as 'shockingly light' by prosecutors. If Pistorius is found guilty of murder on appeal, he would face a minimum of 15 years in prison, but his defence team is gearing up for another court battle. Dewani denies any involvement in his wife's murder and claims he is being framed by the real killers, three men who organised the car jacking and robbery without his knowledge. Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, the gunman, was given 25 years for Anni's murder. Zola Tongo received 18 years following a plea agreement. Qwabi and Tongo are state witnesses and accuse him of organising the shooting of Anni in Gugulethu township on November 13 2010. Mngeni has died in custody from a brain tumour. Anni died in the back of a taxi on honeymoon when two men attacked the vehicle and took it over at gunpoint, releaseing Dewani and driver Tongo. Tongo later told police he had been hired by Dewni for £1400 to enlist the gangsters and stage a robbery and carjacking. Anni's family are in the centre of a campaign to press the judge Jeanette Traverso to throw out Dewani's claim to have the case dismissed on Monday. Her brother Anish said: 'We just want the whole story and after four years, not many people would deny us that. It would be disgraceful if Shrien is allowed out of South Africa without going through a full trial and telling us what happened. 'We need to hear his story so that we can receive closure and try and move on with our lives'. | June and Barry Steenkamp want Dewani to face full trial for murder .
They offer support during emotional call with Anni's grieving parents .
Barry Steenkamp: 'We are in the same boat as Anni's family'
Both shootings shocked South Africa and exposed gun crime epidemic .
Dewani decision is due Monday with Pistorius case reopening 24 hours later . |
1a1315599031dccadf1e4d1b595c29168a03ea34 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Rapper 50 Cent entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence and vandalism charges in a Los Angeles County court Monday. The 37-year-old artist -- whose real name is Curtis Jackson -- was ordered to return to the Van Nuys, California, courtroom on September 4 for a pretrial hearing for one count of domestic violence and four counts of vandalism, according to a court spokeswoman. Model-actress Daphne Joy, who has a child with Jackson, accused her ex-boyfriend of kicking her and ransacking the bedroom during an argument at her condo in the Toluca Lake neighborhood in Los Angeles on June 23, according to the Los Angeles city attorney. Authorities allege Jackson caused $7,100 in damage to property and left the scene before police arrived. "During an argument, Jackson allegedly began destroying the female's property," the city prosecutor's office said in a written statement. "Allegedly when the female locked herself in her bedroom, Jackson kicked open the bedroom door and kicked her, causing an injury." Police found broken chandeliers and furniture throughout the home. The bedroom closet was ransacked, with clothes thrown all over the floor, and there was a broken television and lamp, the prosecutor's office said. If convicted on all five counts, Jackson would face up to five years in jail and $46,000 in fines. Although prosecutors initially did not release the alleged victim's name, her lawyer did in a statement to CNN last month. "Daphne Joy and Curtis Jackson have been together for a few years in an exclusive relationship," the lawyer's statement said. "They had a child and now Daphne's No. 1 priority is to ensure both her and the baby's safety during this difficult time. We also hope everyone will respect her and the baby's privacy." Joy was a principal mermaid in 2011's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." She's also had roles on TV's "CSI: Las Vegas," "Criminal Minds," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Wild 'N Out," her website says. CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report. | The rapper's next court date is September 4 for a pretrial hearing .
Model-actress Daphne Joy accuses 50 Cent of kicking her, trashing her bedroom .
Joy has a child with 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson . |
1a138839dec2ba904763780654d7c006dcf56b7a | (CNN) -- Rafael Nadal is on course for a comeback double as he bids for two titles at the VTR Open in Chile on Sunday. The 11-time grand slam champion will seek his 37th clay-court crown and 51st overall when he takes on 73rd-ranked Argentine Horacio Zeballos in the singles final at Vina del Mar. He will then team up with another Argentine, last year's tournament winner Juan Monaco, in the doubles final against Italy's Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace. "I'm really happy with what I've been doing this week," said the Spaniard, who has dropped to fifth in the rankings after being sidelined for over seven months due to knee problems. "I have a good feeling on the court, so I cannot ask for anything more. I will try to play better and better every day." "I won't compare myself to seven months ago, it's just the first week of competition. It's a great feeling to be in a final match after so much time without playing." Nadal's first real test of the week came in Saturday's semifinal against 26th-ranked French third seed Jeremy Chardy, but he had no problems in cruising to a 6-2 6-2 victory. "I played well today, better than the days before, which is important," he said. Zeballos, meanwhile, reached the second ATP World Tour final of his career -- the other being in St. Petersburg in 2009 -- by beating eighth-seeded compatriot Carlos Berlocq 6-3 7-6 (7-4). Richard Gasquet became the first player to win twice on the ATP Tour this year as he beat compatriot Benoit Paire 6-2 6-3 in Sunday's final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier. The 10th-ranked Frenchman has a 14-1 record in 2013, having won the Qatar title in January before losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open. In other men's news, Nadal's great rival Roger Federer will return to action in Rotterdam this week as he defends his World Tennis Tournament title. The world No. 2, who lost to Andy Murray in the Melbourne semifinals last month, will play 60th-ranked Slovenian Grega Zemlja in his opening match. In women's action, Petra Kvitova put the Czech Republic into the semifinals of Fed Cup on Sunday, as her 2-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Samantha Stosur gave the two-time defending champions an unbeatable 3-0 lead against Australia in Prague. The 2011 Wimbledon champion saved a match-point at 5-4 down in the second set against that year's U.S. Open victor Stosur. Kvitova's teammates Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka then beat Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua 6-0 7-6 (7-1). The Czechs will next face Italy, who edged the United States 3-2 in Rimini. Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci beat Liezel Huber and Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 6-2 in the decisive doubles rubber. Russia also went to a decider against Japan before sealing a semifinal clash with Slovakia. Japan leveled at 2-2 in Moscow as home No. 1 Maria Kirilenko was unable to play due to illness, as Ayumi Morita triumphed 6-4 6-1 against stand-in Elena Vesnina, but Ekatarina Makarova bounced back from her Saturday defeat to beat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-1 6-1. She then teamed up with Vesnina in a 6-2 6-2 doubles victory over Morita and Misaki Doi. Slovakia took an unbeatable 3-1 lead against last year's finalists Serbia as Daniela Hantuchova won 6-3 6-2 against Vesna Dolonc. | Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal reaches singles final in Chile comeback tournament .
Spaniard will seek his 37th clay-court title as he faces Horacio Zeballos in Vina del Mar .
Nadal can complete a Chilean conquest in the following doubles final on Sunday .
Roger Federer to return to action this week as he defends his title in Rotterdam . |
1a148c8fd898154da03cd8ab8cce1669e40d60a3 | (Mashable) -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), with the cooperation of Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN, has quietly shuttered 12 torrent websites in the U.S. and at least 39 sites abroad by filing copyright violation complaints with the sites' hosting providers. The names of the sites themselves remain unknown; so far, however, the major players seem to be unaffected. The specific URLs are not being released because frequently the affected sites will spring up elsewhere online under a different TLD (e.g., TorrentMovies.com becomes TorrentMovies.info). Releasing the names of the sites would make it much easier for users to find their new URLs in the future. This news, while interesting and concerning, is a far cry from the 70-plus sites shut down by the Department of Homeland Security last November, the culmination of a brewing crackdown effort. Some torrent and file-sharing sites, including RapidShare, have even taken to hiring lobbyists of their own. A company spokesperson told Mashable recently, "Given the fact that the U.S. government is currently undertaking great efforts to fight copyright infringements on the internet, our having a voice in Washington could be beneficial for us as well as for the U.S. government." According to TorrentFreak, BREIN "has (temporarily) disabled more than 1,000 torrent sites in The Netherlands, and they are now helping the MPAA towards doing the same in the U.S." In a BREIN release, the organization stated that it helped the MPAA take down around 29 sites last year; and earlier this month, it shut down 39 sites in the Netherlands for the MPAA, as well. BREIN also conducts these anti-piracy "stings" in 11 other countries, including Germany, France, Britain and Canada. Its director, Tim Kuik, said in the statement (via Google Translate), "There will be new sites, but we take them down fast so they cannot grow." © 2013 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | MPAA shuts down 12 torrent websites in the U.S. and at least 39 sites abroad .
Names of the sites remain unknown but major players seem to be unaffected .
Torrent and file-sharing sites have even taken to hiring lobbyists . |
1a153481ac07cb61f099827e69ca9c24ed8e9774 | Curbing immigration to Britain would be a 'disaster', Tony Blair has claimed in a warning against Labour copying Ukip policies. The former prime minister said Labour must be 'really careful' of saying things that suggested Nigel Farage's party is justified in its policies. The intervention comes as Ed Miliband faces the prospect of Labour being defeated by Ukip in the election of a new police and crime commissioner in South Yorkshire. Scroll down for video . Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said Labour must deal with Ukip 'by what you believe' Labour has been stung by the dramatic rise in popularity of Ukip, only narrowly holding the previously safe seat of Heywood and Middleton in this month's by-election. Recent polls have put Ukip on as much as 19 per cent, with Labour neck and neck with the Tories. Some senior Labour figures, including rising star Chuka Umunna, have launched strongly-worded attacks on the 'absolutely vile' views of 'racists' in Ukip. However, Mr Miliband has come under pressure to take a tougher stance on immigration and Europe to prevent the loss of working class voters. Last week he announced that a Labour government would immediately bring in an Immigration Bill and said the EU 'needs to change if we are to deal with the problems of immigration'. But Mr Blair insisted Labour should focus on its own values and not appear to lend credibility to Ukip's policies on halting immigration and leaving the EU. He said the way to tackle the threat from Ukip was to 'deal with it by what you believe'. Labour leader Ed Miliband (right) is urged not to try to copy the policies of Ukip leader Nigel Farage (left) Ukip has jumped four points to 19 per cent - one point above their previous highest rating in a ComRes telephone poll in June . He told Progress magazine: 'Let's be clear: We don't think that Ukip's right, not on immigration and not on Europe - so the first thing you've got to be really careful of doing is ... saying things that suggest that they're kind of justified in their policy because what you're actually going to do is validate their argument when in fact you don't believe in it.' Stopping immigration would be 'a disaster for this country', he said. Labour must not 'end up chasing after the policies of a party like Ukip, who you don't agree with, whose policies would take this country backwards economically, politically, in every conceivable way, and who, ultimately, at the heart of what they do, have a rather nasty core of prejudice that none of us believe in, which you've actually got to take on and fight. So the way to deal with this is to deal with it by what you believe'. Mr Blair claimed the way David Cameron is dealing with the threat from Ukip 'doesn't do them any electoral favours at all'. He claimed the Tories would be better off at the ballot box 'if they actually stood up against these people and said 'you don't understand the way the world works today, your policies will take us backwards and we're not going there'.' Mr Blair added: 'There's a huge desire in a large part of the media in this country to return British politics to a traditional Tory party fighting a traditional Labour party.' That would lead to a 'traditional result', he warned. Ed Miliband is facing a battle to hold off Ukip in his own back yard today – as voters go to the polls in South Yorkshire to elect a new police commissioner. A defeat for Labour would be seen as a major blow for Mr Miliband whose Doncaster constituency lies in the South Yorkshire police force area. Today’s contest was sparked by the resignation of Labour’s previous police commissioner Shaun Wright – who stood down in the wake of the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal, where an estimated 1,400 children were abused over 16 years by Pakistani gangs. Labour leader Ed Miliband is facing a fight to hold off the growing Ukip threat in the party's heartlands . Ukip has exploited the child abuse scandal to attack Labour. Last week, the party launched a poster featuring a young woman with the slogan: ‘There are 1,400 reasons why you should not trust Labour again’. Nigel Farage told MailOnline the election was be close – despite his party finishing a distant fourth in the 2012 contest. He said: ‘It will be nip and tuck. We definitely feel that if we win this it will add fuel to the fire that from Birmingham northwards, if you vote Conservative you get Labour.’ Mr Farage hopes it can keep its current momentum going by securing the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner post following its recent by-election success in Clacton. Voters are going to the polls across the Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster - but the turnout is expected to barely top 10 per cent amid widespread disinterest. Ukip’s candidate for the position is the retired police officer Jack Clarkson. Labour has chosen retired Anglican priest Alan Billings as its candidate – in a bid to distance itself from the Rotherham scandal. A lone voter enters an empty polling station on Herringthorpe Valley Road, Rotherham today, which had seen only nine voters by 10.30am . An empty polling station in Brinsworth, Rotherham today , which had seen less than five voters by 10.30am . An empty mobile library being used as a polling station on Rotherwood Avenue, Rotherham today, which had seen only two voters by 11am . There will be almost as much interest in how many of the 1,010,599 electorate bother to cast their votes as there will be on which of the four candidates wins when the by-election result is announced in Barnsley tomorrow. Mr Wright's initial refusal to step down highlighted the fact that there was no way to get rid of a PCC unless they had committed an offence. The saga surrounding his future further undermined confidence in the new PCC system, which had been dented first by the record low turnouts in 2012, and provoked furious calls for the law to be changed or the post to be simply abolished. The Lib Dems have branded the coalition experiment with directly-elected commissioners a failure and pledged to scrap them. The party decided not to field a candidate in the by-election for this reason . Labour has declared it is committed to scrapping them if it wins power in 2015. Ukip leader Nigel Farage with the party's candidate for the position of South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner Jack Clarkson (right) Mr Wright only resigned after weeks of pressure following the Jay Report which revealed how more than 1,400 children had been exploited by gangs of men in Rotherham. He was the councillor who oversaw children's services in the town between 2005 and 2010. But Labour's campaign to retain the post has been hampered by the controversy in Rotherham. Mr Farage has insisted Ukip can build the party's recent by-election victory in Clacton and close second in Heywood and Middleton by getting its first PCC elected. And his confidence has also been supported by strong Ukip showings in Rotherham's council elections this year and in the European elections in parts of South Yorkshire. But Ukip only came fourth when Mr Wright was elected in 2012. The English Democrats, came second two years ago and they believe they will still be the biggest rivals to Labour today's poll. Former police officer Jack Clarkson hopes to replace former Labour police commissioner Shaun Wright who stood down in the wake of Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal . Ukip has exploited the Rotherham child abuse scandal - where 1,400 children were abused - to attack Labour . English Democrats chairman Robin Tilbrook said his party has a high profile in South Yorkshire in the wake of it winning the Doncaster mayoral election in 2009 and pushing Labour hard in 2012. Four candidates have declared for the by-election: David Allen (English Democrats), Alan Billings (Labour), Jack Clarkson (Ukip), Ian Walker (Conservatives). Mr Allen came second to Mr Wright in the 2012 election. He is a trained foundry engineer and a sales manager from Doncaster who is married with two children. Dr Billings is a former deputy leader of Sheffield City Council and was once a parish priest in Sheffield. Mr Clarkson is leader of the Ukip group on Sheffield City Council. He is former police inspector in the city. Mr Walker is an engineer and a company managing director in Sheffield. He is married with four children. The turnout in South Yorkshire in 2012 was 14.93 per cent. | Former Prime Minister warns against copying Nigel Farage's party .
Miliband must be 'really careful' about saying Ukip justified in its policies .
Labour leader under pressure to take a tougher stance on immigration . |
1a16f10f9c13b8ef6b3ac3b5817cb41e18545d96 | Jourdan Dunn has been revealed as the first solo black model to grace the cover of British Vogue for more than 12 years. The 24-year-old Londoner shared the cover image of the fashion magazine on Instagram to her 954,000 followers after speculation on Twitter today. She wrote: 'I'm so Happy to finally say I'M ON THE COVER OF BRITISH VOGUE!!!' Scroll down for video... Jourdan Dunn posted her first Vogue cover to her Instagram account . Jourdan recently starred at the Victoria's Secret show in London . She added: 'Thank you Patrick Demarchelier and Kate Phelan for making this happen and also thank you all for the Love and Support it means everything to me #2015YearOfTheDunn.' The model used a string of kissing face emojis to highlight her joy. Patrick Demarchelier is a famed fashion photographer whilst Kate Phelan is an esteemed stylist. The cover, which is for the February 2015 issue, shows a simple shot of Jourdan looking stunning sitting in the sunshine in a short summer dress. Jourdan poses alongside her gorgeous Victoria's Secret model pals in matching leather jackets . Jourdan previously graced the front cover of Vogue in November 2008 alongside Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Eden Clark . Although this is her first solo Vogue cover, Jourdan did previously front the magazine in 2008 along with Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Eden Clark. This also marks a change for the fashion bible as it is the first time they have featured a solo black model on the cover since Naomi Campbell appeared in 2002. One hundred and forty six covers have been and gone since her natural, jeans and a white vest shoot. And the disparity hasn't gone unnoticed, with Naomi Campbell, Iman, and Bethann Hardison writing an open letter to the publication in September 2013, urging them to acknowledge in the time lapsed since the last solo cover for a black Brit. They wrote: 'No matter the intention, the result is racism. Not accepting another based on the colour of their skin is clearly beyond aesthetic.' Jourdan has previously revealed her struggles in the industry having been turned away from shows who told her they didn't want, 'any more black girls.' She said in an interview last year: 'I want to talk about what goes on. A lot of people are scared to speak up. It has been twelve years since the last solo black model, a fresh faced Naomi Campbell, was featured on the cover of the magazine . Jourdan has enjoyed a highly successful career so far and has been the face of Burberry beauty along with Cara Delevingne and Edie Campbell . 'The people who control the industry … say if you have a black face on a magazine cover it won't sell, but there's no real evidence for that. It's lazy.' Now the star is following in her idol's footsteps by putting an end to the 12-year void for models of colour to appear on the cover. Beyonce and Rihanna are among the 58 celebrities to feature on the covers of British Vogue in that time, while Jourdan finally succeeds Naomi among the 95 covers that showed models. This is the latest in a string of good news for the model. At the beginning of last month she took a highly successful turn on the Victoria's Secret runway as the show hit London for the first time. Then in mid December it was revealed that Jourdan and Naomi Campbell were the faces of Burberry's Spring / Summer 2015 campaign. She said of the shoot: 'This campaign is even more special for me because I was shot with Naomi Campbell for the first time - someone who I admire and respect within the fashion industry.' Jourdan posed in September 2013 with some of her model pals including Suki Waterhouse, Cara Delevingne, Georgia May Jagger and Clara Paget . Jourdan began her career at an early age after being spotted in a Hammersmith Primark in 2006 - she was signed to Storm Model Management not long after. Mother to a five-year-old son named Riley, Jourdan has previously worked for designers such as Calvin Klein, Balmain and Topshop. She is also a firm favourite on the fashion party circuit counting Cara Delevigne, Suki Waterhouse and Georgia May Jagger amongst her close friends. Last year, Forbes announced that she was the 10th highest paid model, making an estimated $4m last year and beating world-renowned beauty Cara, who earned $3.5m. Rihanna has previously fronted the magazine in 2011, however, she was the only black cover star for the whole year . | Is the first solo black model to grace the magazine since 2002 .
Jourdan previously starred on a joint cover but this is her first solo effort .
Recently announced as the face of Burberry SS15 with Naomi Campbell . |
1a17cb518c0f19a09968e3035834226184df9183 | By . Lucy Thackray . A ten metre sinkhole in the middle of the Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach is causing extensive delays to traffic and will not be fixed for at least another 48 hours. Motorists have been warned to avoid the area as one southbound lane remains closed on the Gold Coast Highway at Margaret Avenue on the main road which links the holiday strip. There are delays to repairs because emergency crews must first ensure the electricity is isolated before they can repair damage to the water main and resurface the road. Scroll down for video . Traffic chaos continues on the Gold Coast Highway on Monday afternoon, as crews repair damage caused by the sinkhole . The 10 metre sinkhole has forced lane closures on the Gold Coast Highway on Monday morning . Crews are forced to wait until site is deemed safe before repairs can commence at Broadbeach on Monday afternoon . A ten metre sinkhole at Broadbeach, Queensland caused massive delays for commuters on the Gold Coast Highway on Monday morning . A burst water main caused a 'raging torrent' on Sunday morning, creating a ten metre road collapse at the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and Margaret Avenue. Only one lane remained open on the busy highway on Sunday. The Gold Coast City Council confirm crews and utilities providers are working together on the site, with services in the area including high voltage electricity and gas mains. Crews have been working since Sunday to clear debris from the sinkhole, including road signs and traffic lights. Repairs to the broken water main and the road will commence once the site is declared safe. Crews waiting for electricity to be isolated from the site before they can repair the damage on Monday morning. It's expected work could take another three days. Gold Coast Water Simon Waite said work cannot commence on the main until the electricity has been disconnected from the site, according to ABC news. 'We're currently working with the other services, Energex, the gas company and some of the telcos we have, to isolate the electricity before we can actually get in there and start making the repairs,' Mr Waite said. Motorists are warned to expect big delays as work continues on the site, with one southbound lane closed on the Gold Coast Highway on Monday morning. Gold Coast Water Director, Paul Heaton says that with three thousand kilometres of pressure pipe under the Gold Coast's streets, 'every now and then something goes wrong,' according to mygc.com.au. 'Some of the pipes are older than others and obviously like all of us they get tired and eventually fail.' Gold Coast City council assures residents that the water supply in the region has not been affected. | Burst water main creates serious road collapse on the Gold Coast Highway .
Motorists advised to avoid area with delays expected for at least 48 hours .
Crews still waiting for clearance to start repairs on water main and road .
One southbound lane remains closed on the Broadbeach road .
The ten metre sinkhole has forced road closures since Sunday morning . |
1a17efe2d7dbe854a26446045f50e5392e8d8277 | It is one of the most recognisable and popular of all instruments, and yet its design has remained almost unchanged for 100 years. But now Hungarian musician Gergely Boganyi claims to have reinvented the grand piano after spending 8,000 hours and almost £1million building his own in a workshop in Budapest. With its edgy design, finished entirely in glossy black paint, music fans have dubbed the creation the Batpiano - for its resemblance to the Batmobile. Scroll down for video . Gergely Boganyi, 41, has spent ten years, 8,000 hours and almost £1million redesigning the grand piano in a workshop above a disused communist-era factory in Hungary . Bogyani has replaced most of the traditional wood with carbon fibre, designed two legs which act as sound deflectors to project music, and redesigned the key mechanism . Viewers of the new creation at a premiere event in Budapest earlier this month described the instrument as a Batpiano - because its angular body and black pain resemble the Batmobile . It is certainly futuristic, doing away with most of the wood traditionally used in grand pianos such as the Steinway, and replacing it with cutting-edge carbon fibre. Almost every single one of the instrument's 18,000 components has been redesigned. Rather than the traditional three legs, the Boganyi has only two, and both of them have been carefully shaped to help project the sound into the auditorium. He had also reinvented the key mechanism, meaning it applies only the slightest pressure to the soundboard - the anchor of the piano to which everything else is fixed. The board itself, instead of being made from the traditional wood, is made from more than 20 carbon composite layers woven one on top of the other. Boganyi, 41, a feted concert pianist who has spent more than a decade building the instrument in a workshop above a disused communist-era factory, is optimistic about the results. He said: 'What we created will enrich piano history. It is said that old pianos sound friendly, velvety, while new ones are stronger and more powerful. I was hoping for both.' The piano traces its history back to the dulcimer, an instrument made of strings stretched across a board played with hand-held hammers, which was invented in Iran shortly after the birth of Christ. However, the first modern piano was created by Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori in Florence, Italy, in 1709 and was called gravicembalo col piano e forte - which roughly translates as 'harpsichord with soft and loud'. Boganyi won his first music prize at the age of six, and has gone on to play as a soloist in some of the most critically acclaimed orchestras in the world, including the London Philharmonic in 2004 . Boganyi says that, unlike other modern redesigns such as though sponsored by Peugeot and Audi, his was focused entirely on the sound, rather than the appearance . Following a premiere concert in Budapest on Wednesday this week, the piano will go on sale later this year. Boganyi does not know how much it will cost yet, but says 'it will be expensive' It was designed to improve upon the harpsichord, the favoured instrument of Bach and Handel, which produced notes by plucking at strings, rather than striking them. The plucking action meant that the harpsichord was only capable of producing one flat tone, while the piano's hammer action meant the tone varied depending on how hard the key was struck. During the late 18th century, around the time Beethoven was playing, craftsmen added more keys to the instrument, as well as the first pedals to dampen or sustain notes. The suit the new styles of playing, the hammers were made heavier, and the strings stronger, producing a powerful new sound. Makers also experimented with upright versions, with the strings stretched vertically in front of the player, and square grand pianos. The last great period of invention came in the mid to late 1800s, when Steinway & Sons developed their grand piano, and added a third pedal underneath. But now Boganyi, who won his first music prize aged six and performs as a soloist in acclaimed orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, is hoping to add to that history with his latest version. He says the new instrument is based on innovations dreamed up, but not widely used, by 19th-century Hungarian piano makers. The instrument's soundboard, the central fitting to which all other parts are fixed, has been refashioned out of 20 layers of carbon composite woven together giving the piano a lighter, airier sound . Jazz pianist Gerald Clayton described playing the new piano as like being 'in a spaceship, like you are hovering above gravity (pictured, Boganyi plays the piano in his workshop) Boganyi and his design team are pictured with the new piano in their workshop in Szigethalom . And it seems that it could have been worth the wait as expert piano players agreed that the sound it produces is entirely new. Karoly Reisinger, CEO of New York piano repair shop Klavierhaus, was 'mesmerized at the sound he said brought lyrical qualities back to the piano after a century of power-focused development. He said: 'In this design you will be able to hear the 1850-1860 era qualities, lyrical, bell-like, precise – and also the modern instrument that our time is used to, which is clarity.' Four-time Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Gerald Clayton said he felt he had played a slick new type of instrument. He added: 'The sound almost feels as if you're in a bubble, it's so clear. It feels like you are in a spaceship, like you are hovering above gravity. 'When you play a lot of notes, or you play a chord, the sensation is different. It's super-clear.' Following a premiere in the Grand Concert Hall in Budapest earlier this month, the piano will go on sale later this year. Boganyi does not know how much each one will cost yet, but he says 'with these materials it will not be cheap.' | Feted classical musician Gergely Boganyi, 41, build his own grand piano .
Spent 10 years, 8,000 hours and £1million developing new instrument .
Made from ultra-modern carbon fibre with two legs that project sound .
Musician says sound is like 'being in a spaceship hovering above gravity' |
1a198a8d5ef6a08e95d6ab669d459046d62174be | The dining table could become a relic of . the past as nearly a third of Britons now confess to eating there only a . few times a year. New research suggests that the number of us who now eat at our dining or kitchen table is shockingly low. Just five per cent of those polled ate every meal at the table, compared with 13 per cent of those who ate at least one meal a day there. The traditional scene of a family sitting to enjoy a meal together may become a thing of the past, as a third only use their table a few times a year . Almost a fifth of respondents (19 per cent) said that they ate one or two meals a week at the dining or kitchen table. Over a quarter, 26 per cent, of those surveyed confessed to eating at the table no less than once or twice a month and nearly a third (30 per cent) admitted to using it just a few times a year. Only four per cent said they never ate any meals at the table whilst three per cent said they didn’t even own one. Sitting down to meals has been replaced by eating on the go to keep up with fast paced modern lifestyles . A spokesperson from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, who conducted the research commented: ‘Compared to 40 years ago, we now live in a society which moves at an extremely fast pace. Often, breakfast has to be eaten on the go, and in many cases so does lunch. 1. Every meal - 5% . 2. At least one meal a day - 13% . 3. At least once or twice a week - 19% . 4. At least once or twice a month - 26% . 5. A few times a year - 30% . 6. Never - 4% . 7. Don’t have a dining/kitchen table - 3% . ‘Also, with people working longer hours, a quick ready meal or a takeaway in front of the TV is the easiest option.’ One woman said: ‘I always make sure my children eat at the dining table, but once you’ve got home from work, fed them and put them to bed, it’s all you can do to crash out in front of the TV with a jacket potato. ‘I can remember always having meals at the table, but then again my mum was a homemaker and had the time to prepare everything.’ Another man commented: ‘I hardly ever eat at the table, I think the only times I do are at Christmas and Easter. ‘In fact the only table I regularly eat at is my desk in the office when I am having my lunch.’ One final respondent said of the poll: ‘I am really worried that my children are growing up in a society where eating meals at the table is something special and not the norm. ‘What does it say about family life in this country if all we can do at meal times is sit and watch the television while stuffing our faces.’ | Only 5% of Britons eat every meal at a table, 13% eat one meal a day there .
26% confessed to eating at the table just once or twice a month .
Nearly a third (30%) admitted to using it just a few times a year .
Three per cent admit they didn’t even own a dining table . |
1a19ca7f2c0b411415c511a8649002c473807dfb | Brendan Rodgers spoke slowly and quietly to add weight to his words. Mario Balotelli’s name had just been brought into the conversation and Liverpool’s manager had a message to broadcast. ‘I think in terms of goals, he needs to improve,’ Rodgers said. ‘It is as simple as that. Any striker — not just him — is judged on his goals and the number of assists he makes. At this moment, he has not hit the numbers he will have wanted.’ During a day when he had to confront a number of issues, from Daniel Sturridge’s fitness to Liverpool’s soft underbelly, nothing resonated louder in the aftermath of a potentially fatal defeat to Basle than the words that were reserved for the £16million man who arrived from AC Milan. Mario Balotelli reacts during Liverpool's 1-0 Champions League defeat in Basle on Wednesday . Mario Balotelli was frustrated all evening in Switzerland and never had a touch in Basle's box . Whatever honeymoon Balotelli had been enjoying at Liverpool is over after his wretched personal performance in St Jakob-Park, where he barely looked interested and rarely threatened to break into anything more taxing than a canter. One goal so far is not a sufficient return. It would be unfair to dump all that is currently wrong at Liverpool at Balotelli’s door — their problems run deeper than a misfiring centre forward — but his static, stuttering displays are exacerbating the situation and, five weeks into his Liverpool career, he has a decision to make. Is he prepared to put in the hard yards? Is he going to do what Rodgers expects of all his strikers, to hassle and harass defenders to the point of distraction? Will he become the focal point of Liverpool’s team and lead their charge, ramping up the intensity with his runs into channels? Brendan Rodgers and Mario Balotelli in training at Liverpool's Melwood base on Thursday . Steven Gerrard and Mario Balotelli train for Liverpool on Thursday at Melwood . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers watches his team train on Thursday after returning from Switzerland . None of that looked likely in Basle. Flouncing off the pitch at the final whistle without acknowledging the travelling supporters, he was the only member of Liverpool’s squad to be escorted back to the team coach and the only one to have something else on aside from an official club tracksuit. Aside from a glistening diamond in each ear, Balotelli was wearing an oversized baseball cap, an image that ensured he grabbed attention, but the time has come for him to realise that he has to start making statements on the pitch rather than off it. If Balotelli looks around Liverpool’s dressing room, he will see professionals who live a quiet life, get on with their business conservatively and push themselves to maximise their talent. He has a stage to make a name for himself but, so far, the penny has not fully dropped. ‘In terms of his behaviour since he came into here the boy is consciously trying to work hard at the aspects of the game that we would demand,’ said Rodgers. ‘In terms of the intensity and that work-rate. And over the course of the team that is the same. ‘We need to return to being a team. That has brought us success over the last 18 months. When confidence is a little bit low in the team, it can become more about the individual, but that is not what we are about. We are a team and when we work to that principle we are at our best.’ If that is the case, why did Rodgers sign a player who, as Sportsmail’s Jamie Carragher observed, does not have a history of making sacrifices for the team? How have Liverpool slipped so far when the memory of what Luis Suarez was inspiring last season is still fresh? Mario Balotelli's only goal for Liverpool so far came against Ludogorets at Anfield . Brendan Rodgers looked frustrated on the touchline in Basle at his team's showing . ‘I always said it was about availability and affordability of players,’ Rodgers explained. ‘Mario was the one right at the very end who was available for that. I said when he came in there was a calculated risk and it’s something I have to work on to try to make it work for the team. ‘There are very few players who can replace Suarez. Actually, there are no players who can replace Suarez. When you look at the availability of other players during the summer it was something that was difficult for us.’ Rodgers looked at a number of options when Suarez left for Barcelona, including Loic Remy, Radamel Falcao and Karim Benzema, and believes Liverpool did sign a world-class forward in the last window, but the spotlight is now shining to see whether Balotelli prove he is worthy of that description. Liverpool's talisman Luis Suarez left for Barcelona in the summer in a deal worth £75million . Liverpool signed Divock Origi from Lille in the summer for £10m and loaned him back to the French side . ‘It’s no good now, I know, but we took a player in Divock Origi who we believe will be world-class,’ said Rodgers. ‘We will get him (back from Lille, where he is on loan) next summer. Now he is a top player. He has everything — the speed, the profile and so on. ‘But we couldn’t bring him in now and that was unfortunate because he can run in behind, he can keep the ball, press and run but that was part of the deal. There were very few top-class forwards who were available. Mario was a calculated gamble we had to try and work with.’ If it doesn’t pay off, miserable nights such as the one in Basle could become a recurring theme. Like MailOnline Sport's Facebook page. VIDEO Liverpool wary of West Brom threat . | Mario Balotelli has scored just once for Liverpool since £16m move .
Italian striker was once again disappointing in defeat by Basle .
Liverpool have lost four times already this season .
Brendan Rodgers admits Balotelli 'needs to improve' |
1a19d96b92ae9bf75c9782b93229b293f6ac5436 | Two Liberal Party MPs have quit the party after sensational allegation were aired in the Independent Commission Against Corruption, including that New South Wales MP Andrew Cornwell was offered $10,000 in a brown paper bag by Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy just before the 2011 State Election. The boss of the Federal Liberal Party, Brian Loughnane, has also been caught up in the latest claims at ICAC. The hearing was told that emails allegedly showed that Mr Loughnane had been aware that property developer donations had been paid through federal channels, to avoid state laws. Scroll down for video . Liberal MPs Andrew Cornwell and Tim Owen have been forced to quit the NSW Liberal Party . Liberal Party campaign manager Rod Boswell (right) arrives to give evidence at ICAC in Sydney today . Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane . Political donations from property developers have been banned in NSW since 2009. Dr Cornwell told ICAC he was offered the money by Mr McCloy while sitting in the mayor's Bentley. In his opening address, counsel assisting the inquiry Geoffrey Watson SC said Dr Cornwell handed the money to a Liberal party colleague. Counsel assisting, Geoffrey Watson, during his opening address at the ICAC hearing into Liberal Party fundraising in Sydney . 'It would seem to us these actions were the result of inexperience,' Mr Watson said. There is no evidence that Mr Cornwell gave any preference to Mr McCloy. The money was fed through a company called Harmony Hill and eventually funnelled back to the Liberal Party. In another incident highlighted today, it was heard that Dr Cornwell gave Hunter region developer Hilton Grugeon a painting that he insisted on paying for. Mr Grugeon wrote a cheque for more than $10,000 for an 'embarrassed' Dr Cornwell. Dr Cornwell checked with his parents, both of whom are trained lawyers, and it was determined there was nothing wrong with accepting the cheque. The cheque was cashed and the money used in Mr Cornwell's 2011 campaign for the seat of Charlestown. Mr Watson said the inquiry will examine most or all of the Liberal Party finance executive. Councillor McCloy declined to comment on the allegations levelled against him. 'I must wait until I have my turn in the box,' he said. 'You'll hear my evidence in a few days.' City of Newcastle Greens Councillor Michael Osborne said Mr McCloy must stand aside as mayor during the ICAC's investigations. 'He should really do the right thing and stand aside so that Newcastle council doesn't get tainted by this air of corruption,' he said. | Liberal MPs Andrew Cornwell and Tim Owen have resigned from the Liberal Party after sensational evidence at the Independent Commission Against Corruption today .
Dr Cornwell - the MP for Charlestown in NSW - is alleged to have accepted $10,000 in cash in a brown paper bag.
ICAC heard the bag full of $100 bills was presented to him by Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy during a meeting in his Bentley before the 2011 state election.
Newcastle MP Tim Owen also stepped down after allegations some of those who campaigned for him were funded by property developers .
Federal Liberal Party director Brian Loughnane allegedly knew about property developer donations . |
1a1a21336716e0d03fdc4ed1480e5f300c40c3c1 | London (CNN) -- Three "extremely traumatized" women are being cared for by a charity after managing to leave a London house where they had allegedly been held captive for more than 30 years. One of the women -- a 30-year-old Briton -- "appears to have been in servitude for her entire life," Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland said. She and the other two women, a 57-year-old from Ireland and a 69-year-old from Malaysia, have been taken to a place of safety. Experts and charities explain how they might recover from their ordeal. How are the three women faring? A television documentary on forced marriages relating to the work of Freedom Charity prompted one of the victims to call for help; that organization's founder Aneeta Prem told CNN the women were coping despite their ordeal. "I've seen them on a number of occasions," she said. "They're doing remarkably well considering how harrowing it's been for them. Every effort has been made to ensure they're being taken care of, but it's going to be a very long journey. "Now we've heard of the arrests of the two people allegedly involved in this and that's going to be another journey in itself. It's going to be very difficult. We're really pleased with the work that we've done in partnership with the police and they're to be commended for taking this seriously." How can victims of slavery or abuse be rehabilitated? Time is of the essence when suspected victims of slavery or imprisonment are rescued, and the first moments are known as the "golden hour." Ann Reed, anti-trafficking response co-ordinator for the Salvation Army which helps trafficking victims in the UK for the first 45 days, said it was very important to quickly give them back their self-worth. "Many victims will have had no opportunity to make decisions for themselves, even down to the smallest things like when to sleep or what to eat. "So it's important to put them on a road to recovery by giving them a safe environment, allowing them to choose when to eat and sleep, making them feel at home, offering them kindness and compassion." It can be as basic as playing cards with the victims to put them at their ease, she said. Each case is different, with this latest being the most extreme one that Reed said she had ever heard about. "I assume it will take many years for the victims in this case to recover, although we do not know the full details. It's a complete one-off." How do people who have been held captive find resilience? Captives in similar situations draw strength from each other, Reed said, just as the three women who escaped this year after 11 years of sexual abuse in Cleveland, U.S., did. In that notorious case one of the victims, Michelle Knight, credited Gina DeJesus -- with whom she shared a dark room measuring about 7 feet by 11½ feet -- for saving her life. "I never let her fall, and she never let me fall," Knight told the trial of her tormentor Ariel Castro. "She nursed me back to health when I was dying from his abuse. My friendship with Gina is the only good thing to come from this situation." She returned the favor, at a cost to herself, placing herself in between Castro and DeJesus, taking on physical and sexual abuse herself to protect her friend, said Frank Ochberg, a pioneer in trauma research who testified in the case. Being the oldest, Knight often served as doctor, nurse and pediatrician for Amanda Berry and the young child that Castro fathered. She acted as the midwife, when it was born, delivering Berry's baby in a plastic swimming pool. Somehow, Knight, Berry and DeJesus kept hope. As Knight said, "We said we'll all get out alive some day and we did." Castro was sentenced to life imprisonment but was later found hanging in his prison cell. How many more victims of domestic slavery are there? Authorities have rescued about 1,200 men and women in England and Wales since July 2011, according to the Salvation Army. Many of those victims have endured sexual abuse in brothels, forced labor or domestic servitude. UK Special Envoy for Human Trafficking Anthony Steen told CNN he was not surprised by this case as there were likely to be many cases of domestic slavery in the country. "We don't know the number but we know it's pretty huge. Domestics are hidden away," he said. "The difference between slavery when it was manifest in America -- as it was in England -- was that you could see it everywhere," Steen said. "Since then having abolished it, it's grown, it's got bigger and bigger -- in fact they say it's between 10 and 20 times the size it was in the 1800s." Steen said the largest number of people involved in slavery in Britain were in brothels, and that group was followed by men held against their will in debt bondage. "Shadow City" was the title of one recent report into human trafficking in London, which explored where the abuses were taking place. "Increasingly the authorities and many residents in London know there is a criminal activity called human trafficking," it concluded. "What they don't usually know, accurately, is what human trafficking actually constitutes and what forms are taking place around them. Most London residents imagine that it does not touch directly on their lives -- that the exploitation takes place in brothels run by foreign gangs controlling foreign women. But it's nearer than they think." The Salvation Army's Ann Reed said if anyone had concerns about neighbors, they should contact police. Causes for suspicion could be if there were several people living in a house, people buying large amounts of food, inhabitants struggling physically or those who were malnourished. They may not go often, or be under the control of others. How do victims of domestic servitude live? Such victims often sleep on the floor in the kitchen, eat the leftover remains of the household and have no days off, Steen said. "Domestic slavery is rampant particularly in the Middle East countries, in Africa and in Europe. By and large it's people who have had their passports removed, they have no pay and are exploited and used. "It's not trafficking but slavery by any other word, except that you don't see it. The problem with this case is that you never know when it will appear: with millions of houses and people it's all behind closed doors. This exposes a problem in all western countries. It's not the police you should blame it's the next-door neighbor, but you don't know what to look for. "These people will be damaged for life. They will never recover." | A couple is alleged to have held three women captive in London for more than 30 years .
Experts and charities explain how they might recover from their ordeal .
Time of the essence when suspected victims of slavery or imprisonment are rescued .
Captives in similar situations draw strength from each other, experts say . |
1a1c2839d82cb89ee86f0daf3218a1e7f628b681 | By . James Salmon . Follow @@JamesSalmon79 . Chief executive Ross McEwan used his opening address at RBS annual meeting to signal a retreat from the high street . More RBS branches will shut because some of them ‘hardly see a customer’, the bank’s chief executive warned yesterday. Ross McEwan and chairman Sir Philip Hampton both used their opening addresses at the bank’s annual meeting yesterday to signal a retreat from the high street. Mr McEwan said: ‘The truth is some branches hardly see a customer, which is why we are taking tough decisions about closing some, and sometimes making staff redundant – although that is always a last resort.’ RBS, which includes NatWest, has 1,900 UK branches – 310 of which will be spun off in 2016 to form part of the resurrected Williams & Glyn brand. It has already earmarked 100 branches for . closure so far this year, including in rural communities such as East . Linton in Scotland and Kirkbymoorside, a small market town in North . Yorkshire. The bank would not say how many more outlets it plans to axe beyond this year’s 100 but Sir Philip said there was ‘no floor’. RBS is desperate to cut costs after slumping to a £8.2 billion last year. But its latest warning about branches was greeted with dismay by campaigners last night. Derek French, spokesman for the Campaign for Community Banking Services, said: ‘The bank has absolutely no excuse for doing this to communities most of whom do not fall in the one customer a day category.’ RBS is increasingly serving customers in more remote communities with its fleet of mobile vans, which provide basic banking services. Sir Philip stressed there would still be 'a major role for branches’ and said RBS still has more branches than Asda and Sainsbury’s , which have just over 1500 stores between them. RBS said more of its customers are doing their banking electronically, via internet banking or mobile ‘apps’ on smartphones. Online and mobile transactions have grown by 232pc since 2011, while branch transactions have declined by around 30pc. A succession of banks, including Barclays, HSBC and Santander have also warned they will shrink their branch network on the same basis. RBS bosses were more tight lipped . yesterday about the implications of Scottish independence and insisted . they would not take sides over September’s referendum. Mr McEwan said some branches hardly see a customer, which had led to some . 'tough decisions' about closing some branches and making staff redundant . Sir Philip Hampton stressed ‘we are not taking one side or the other’ and we will continue to maintain that neutral position.’ But he warned a ‘yes’ vote creates a ‘great deal of uncertainty’ over areas such as ‘our credit rating, tax and regulation.’ The issue is particularly sensitive for RBS whose headquarters have been in Edinburgh since it was founded in 1727. The bank also has 12,000 staff and 290 branches in Scotland. Shareholders - including the Government-backed UK Financial Investments which owns an 81 stake in RBS – yesterday approved lavish bonuses for last year. Controversial six and seven figure fixed allowances designed to dodge the EU bonus cap were also approved. Despite making a loss £8.2billion loss last year, RBS paid out £576million in bonuses and handed staff people received packages worth more than £1million. The huge loss last year was driven by a spiralling bill for mis-selling and is the biggest since it notched up the worst loss in UK corporate history of £24billion in 2008. If you're fed up with your bank - or your local branch is about to close its doors - and thinking of switching, there are plenty of incentives to move.This is Money's five of the best current accounts is a regularly updated guide to where the best offers are. Top deals include Halifax's Reward Account promising new customers £100 to switch and £5 per month if they stay in credit. First Direct pays . £100 to new customers who switch to its First Account. On top of that, . the bank is so confident in its customer service that it will give you a . further £100 if you chose to close the account within the first 12 . months. The Co-op, too, has introduced a £100 cash incentive for new customers. It will also donate £25 to charity on your behalf. If you switch your main current . account to one of the Post Office’s Standard, Packaged or Control . current accounts the bank will give you a £100 gift card. Lloyds Bank is tempting . desperate savers with its Club Lloyds current account - offering up . to 4 per cent for balances between £4,000 and £5,000. But you will have to pay in at least £1,500. TSB has also recently launched an interest-paying, the Plus Account pays 5 per cent on balances of up to £2,000 and only requires a minimum monthly deposit of £500. Santander's 123 current account, on the other hand, pays interest on in-credit balances . - 1 per cent on balances between £1,000 and £2,000, 2 per cent between . £2,000 and £3,000 and 3 per cent on balances between £3,000 and £20,000. Nationwide FlexDirect offers to pay 5 per cent interest on balances up to £2,500 for the first year, while its FlexAccount delivers . free travel insurance. It also operates a Refer a Friend scheme, . whereby both parties will receive £50 if an existing customers . successfully recommends friends or family to the bank. Amy Andrew . | Ross McEwan said RBS faced 'tough decisions' about closing branches .
The bank has already earmarked 100 of its 1,900 UK branches for closure .
'No excuse' for depriving communities of a branch, say campaigners . |
1a1c645bd4f5a07013295baf5d85027c58f17da6 | A marine science instructor snorkeling off the Southern California coast spotted something out of a fantasy novel: the silvery carcass of an 18-foot-long, serpent-like oarfish. Jasmine Santana of the Catalina Island Marine Institute needed more than 15 helpers to drag the giant sea creature with eyes the size of half dollars to shore on Sunday. Staffers at the institute are calling it the discovery of a lifetime. Scroll down for video . Incredible: An 18-foot-long oarfish found dead in the water off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, California . 'We've never seen a fish this big,' said Mark Waddington, senior captain of the Tole Mour, CIMI's sail training ship. 'The last oarfish we saw was three feet long.' Because oarfish dive more than 3,000 feet deep, sightings of the creatures are rare and they are largely unstudied, according to CIMI. The obscure fish apparently died of natural causes. Tissue samples and video footage were sent to be studied by biologists at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Science instructor Santana spotted something shimmering about 30 feet deep while snorkeling during a staff trip in Toyon Bay at Santa Catalina Island, about two dozen miles from the mainland. An illustration of Bank's Oarfish, circa 1850, the giant fish that inspired tales of sea serpents. The 18-foot oarfish found off California took 16 people to haul ashore . 'She was snorkeling and sees this giant fish at the bottom of the ocean,' Waddington told KTLA. 'She swims down and grabs it by the tail and swims it to the beach. It was awesome. There were people sprinting to go and see this fish.' Waddington said Santana dragged the fish ashore because 'she said, "nobody will believe me".' After she pulled the carcass by the tail for more than 75 feet, staffers waded in and helped her bring it to shore. The carcass was on display Tuesday for 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students studying at CIMI. The oarfish, which can grow to more than 50 feet, is a deep-water pelagic fish — the longest bony fish in the world, according to CIMI. They are likely responsible for the supposed sea serpent legends throughout history. The giant oarfish was first discovered in 1772 by Norwegian biologist Peter Ascanius. It's formal scientific title is Regalecus glesne, but the fish is also known as king of the herring, Pacific oarfish, streamer fish and ribbon-fish. The longest recorded specimen clocked in at 26 feet, however, the species is believed to grow as long as 50 feet and weigh as much as 600 pounds. Like . the equally mysterious giant squid, the oarfish would go on to enchant . fisherman and sailors and inspire stories of sea monsters. The fish lives at extreme ocean depths, between 656 feet (0.2 kilometers) and 3,280 feet (1 kilometer) deep. In 1996, a group of Navy Seals found a 23-foot long oarfish off Coronado, near San Diego, California. In 1996, Navy Seals pulled ashore this 23-foot oarfish that was found off the coast near San Diego, California . The Catalina fish is currently on ice while the fate of the carcass is decided. 'I am pushing to bury it and wait for it to be naturally cleaned so that we can then take the skeleton and articulate it and have it on display,' said Waddington. 'That is what I hope will happen. | Huge oarfish found in waters off Santa Catalina Island near Los Angeles needed 16 people to drag it ashore .
Inspiration for ancient 'sea serpent' legend can grow to 50 feet long and weigh 600 pounds .
Female snorkeler dragged giant carcass by the tail for more than 75 feet to prove to co-workers she had seen legendary fish floating underwater . |
1a1c9bd7e188a184da7852cdc0957a451695ce70 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:36 EST, 15 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:30 EST, 15 July 2012 . They may have been bitter enemies during the Cold War space race, but these days the U.S. and Russia work together to transport astronauts through the cosmos. And it's just as well - for since the demise of the space shuttle programme last year, NASA has been forced to piggy-back off other countries rockets for its space expeditions. This enforced co-operation was on show on Sunday, when American Sunita Williams joined colleagues from Russia and Japan on a Soyuz capsule headed to the International Space Station for a four-month mission. Scroll down for video . We have lift off: The Soyuz TMA-05M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan yesterday morning carrying three astronauts nearly 250 miles above the Earth to the International Space Station . Ms Williams, Yuri Malenchenko and Akihiko Hoshide launched successfully from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 0240 GMT. They are scheduled to berth early on . Tuesday, joining Nasa Flight Engineer Joseph Acaba and Russian . cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin aboard the ISS. 'The Soyuz had a very smooth ride into space,' a spokesman for Nasa said during a live broadcast on the agency's television channel. The Soyuz TMA-05M rocket blazed a bright orange trail through cloudy skies above the Kazakh steppe on the first stage of its journey to the ISS, a $100billion research complex orbiting 240 miles above Earth. Moscow hopes a successful mission will help to restore confidence in its once-pioneering space programme after a string of launch mishaps last year, including the failure of a mission to return samples from the Martian moon Phobos. The previous Soyuz launch on May 15 was delayed by more than a month after an accident during pressure tests damaged the Soyuz crew capsule. There were no such delays with Sunday's launch. Expensive trip: The U.S. is dependent on Russia's Soyuz TMA-05M rockets to carry personnel to the ISS since it scrapped its space shuttle programme last year . 'The most tense, the most difficult part (of the launch) has been successfully implemented,' said Vladimir Popovkin, head of Russian space agency Roscosmos. 'I have just spoken to the crew. They are feeling great,' Russian news agencies quoted Popovkin as saying in Baikonur. 'I have no doubts that all will go according to plan.' Colonel Malenchenko, a 50-year-old cosmonaut on his fifth space voyage, loosened his straps about 20 minutes after blast-off after conducting air pressure checks. Asked by Mission Control how the crew was feeling, he replied: 'Good.' A doll given to him by his daughter dangled from the roof of the capsule. Intrepid: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, center, U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams, right, and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, left, walk to the capsule before the countdown . Explorers: Colonel Malenchenko, left, and Captain Williams, wave to the cameras prior to launch . Captain Williams, 46, and Mr Hoshide, . 43, a civilian engineer, are both on their second space flight and their . first aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. They, along with Colonel Malenchenko, are scheduled to return to Earth in mid-November. The previous crew of three at the ISS returned on July 1. Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, NASA astronaut Don Pettit and European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers helped to dock the first privately owned spacecraft during a six-month stint in orbit. Destination space: The International Space Station is a $100billion research complex orbiting 240 miles above Earth . Sunday's launch took place less than three weeks after China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft returned to Earth, ending a mission that put the country's first woman in space. Although China is far from catching up with the United States and Russia, the Shenzhou 9 marked China's fourth manned space mission since 2003. It comes as budget restraints and shifting priorities have held back U.S. manned space launches. Watch the video . | Russian, Japanese and U.S. crew blasts off successfully .
Moscow hopes to restore confidence in space programme . |
1a1cefcfca60cce777bc36dde2ca7cebd5bfabad | By . Wendy Leigh . PUBLISHED: . 16:14 EST, 20 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:54 EST, 24 April 2013 . At the height of the Swinging Sixties, the decade’s biggest names – Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Terence Stamp, Peter Sellers and Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis – enjoyed an enviable existence, partying the nights away in Chelsea, sunbathing in Mexican resorts and cruising the Mediterranean on luxury yachts, while hordes of paparazzi pursued them, intent on immortalising their every moment. Little did the packs of photographers know that their illustrious prey often escaped to a secret hideaway: a single-storey house on Sydenham Hill in South-East London. It was owned by the late writer Peter Evans, their friend and confidant who chronicled them all in Goodbye, Baby & Amen, the book he and legendary photographer David Bailey published. Humble facade: The home of late writer Peter Evans where he entertained the stars of the Sixties has been put on the market by his widow Pamela for £1million . Today Peter’s widow Pamela has decided to downsize and sell the four-bedroom house that was once a mecca for the glitterati. She has put it on the market for £1 million and will be moving to Oxted in Surrey to be nearer her daughter. Originally, her husband worked as a showbusiness correspondent in America but returned to England in 1965. His Malibu beach house had been the ultimate Hollywood party palace despite appearing small and garage-like from the outside, and Peter decided to recreate this in London. Pamela recalls: ‘We were in love with the idea of walking through a discreet front door into a beautiful, spacious, glamorous house – something unexpected, and almost magical. So we worked with architect Louis Erdi and had the house built for £30,000. Then we began giving parties and intimate dinners for our celebrity friends. So many came here that Peter Sellers once announced, ‘‘A blue plaque should be put up outside the house saying: This is where swinging London really started.” ’ Where they sat: The living room which has been graced by celebrities such as Liz Taylor and Richard Burton and Peter Sellers . Wine and dine: The house was built especially for Peter and Pamela Evans for £30,000 in the Sixties . Space to socialise: The kitchen in the four-bedroom home in Sydenham Hill, south London . Sellers – whose authorised biography The Mask Behind The Mask was written by Evans – was virulently opposed to him moving to South-East London. ‘He tried really hard to talk us out of it and kept saying we should only live in North London,’ Pamela explains. ‘Then he came to see the house, fell in love with it and used to call it “My safe house”. ‘He was paranoid and insisted on a secret phone line being installed. A ‘‘phone expert’’ came to set it up, but it ended up knocking out all the phones in the neighbourhood.’ In those days there were only six houses in the area. Today, given its proximity to Dulwich College and the fact that the journey from Sydenham Hill station to Victoria is only 12 minutes, the neighbourhood has expanded considerably. The 4,000 sq ft cedar-wood house, set in a third of an acre, is surrounded by a white ranch-board fence, behind which is a brick patio. Three stone steps lead to double oak doors that open on to the entrance hall. Guest: Elizabeth Taylor . Another door at the house – a 13th Century Welsh monastery door, which Pamela and Peter used as a headboard – caught the eye of one of their most illustrious visitors, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. ‘She came to our house with Ari soon after their wedding. She told me she loved my old Welsh door. I should have given it to her,’ Pamela says, ‘because it was later stolen.’ From the entrance hall, double doors lead to the vast living room – the site of the celebrity parties – which has maple floors, French windows and a stone fireplace. To the right of the living room is the library, complete with a Turkish carpet from Onassis’s yacht Christina. Onassis, late one evening, turned up with it over his shoulder. The grand piano is a focal point of the living room. Pamela remembers: ‘Dudley Moore often played it. One night, Peter Cook got very drunk and spilled red wine on the carpet, but instantly got salt, threw it on the wine and declared, “Hoover it up in the morning, and the stain will be gone.” It was.’ At the height of their romance, Jean Shrimpton and Terence Stamp played backgammon on the living-room floor. Richard Burton took refuge in the house after many of his fights with Elizabeth Taylor and was once found in the Evanses’ sauna, sleeping off a hangover. Burton adored the garden and once said: ‘Staying here is like waking up in a Manhattan penthouse and then being able to step straight into an English garden.’ Another Hollywood icon to enjoy the garden was Ava Gardner, on whose autobiography Peter collaborated. Before his death last year, Peter remembered: ‘She said it reminded her of New England. But she was becoming increasingly frail, and I was worried about her. ‘She smiled her mysterious smile and said, “If anything bad happens to me, I’ll let you know. I’m a witch and I’ll send you a message.” ‘In 1990 there was a violent storm and an oak in the garden, which Ava had always loved, crashed through the window into my study at the very moment she died. I believe Ava sent me that message, just as she’d promised.’ The property is for sale with pedderproperty.com, 020 8299 0922, and themodernhouse.net, 020 7704 3504. | Four-bedroom home of late writer Peter Evans on sale for £1million .
Secret hideaway for Swinging Sixties' big names in south London .
Often visited by Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Peter Sellers . |
1a1d99bf2d28dae643e982a100835775ededc149 | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 06:37 EST, 18 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:39 EST, 18 October 2012 . A toddler had to be resuscitated after holding his breath while he had a tantrum playing with his brother and sisters. Donna High feared her son Kyle Parker had ‘gone’ when he stopped breathing and went ‘grey and floppy’. But thanks to the life-saving actions of neighbour Barbara Osborne, the 19-month-old is back on his feet. Lifesaver: Kyle with his mother Donna High, right, and neighbour Barbara Osborne, left, who brought the little boy back to life after he stopped breathing while playing with his brothers and sisters . Ms High, 31, said: 'He was playing, but when he doesn’t get his own way he holds his breath. We’re used to it and I blow on his face when he does it. But this time I couldn’t bring him back. 'If Barbara hadn’t been there I don’t know what I would have done. I was panicking and I thought there was no chance. 'I thought he was gone. It was the worst day of my life. I would never want anybody to have to go through that. 'I need the world to know how thankful I am to her. I know paramedics were on the scene a short time after but it was her that saved him.' Kyle stopped breathing as he played with his twin brother Kaiden and sisters Kelsey, 11, Ellie-Mae, eight, and Shelby, six. Ms High added: 'He just went grey and floppy in my arms.' Ms High raced out of her home at Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, last Tuesday, looking for help and ran to her friend Ms Osborne’s house. Paramedics arrived on scene a short time . later and took Kyle to the James Cook University Hospital (pictured) in . Middlesbrough. Just 40 minutes later he was back to his usual ‘cheeky . and mischievous’ self . She said: 'I wasn’t thinking properly. I was traumatised. I ran out the front door. Usually there are people all over but there was nobody around. 'I ran to my neighbour’s house screaming. I shot him to my friend’s mum and she told me to phone an ambulance.' It was while Ms High was calling for help that Ms Osborne brought Kyle back to life. The 57-year-old said: 'Donna came running in screaming: ‘My baby is dead’. He was blue there was nothing there at all. I think adrenaline just kicked in and I got on with it. I checked his mouth to check he wasn’t choking and then gave him mouth-to-mouth. 'It seemed like a long time but it was probably only like three or four minutes.' She said Kyle came round momentarily before going ashen again so she carried on resuscitating him until he started making gulping and swallowing noises. Paramedics arrived on scene a short time later and took Kyle to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. Just 40 minutes later he was back to his usual ‘cheeky and mischievous’ self. Ms High is now waiting on test results to see if there are any medical reasons that could have caused Kyle to stop breathing. She added that if it wasn’t for Ms Osborne she doesn’t believe Kyle would have survived. 'A lot of people would have been too scared and would not know what to do. It was so lucky that she was there. My kids are my life. Flowers or a card are not enough, how do you thank someone for saving your son?' Ms Osborne said it was due to first aid training she got as a teaching assistant that she knew what to do. She said: 'Everyone was panicking and didn’t know what to do. It just shows how important it is to learn first aid.' A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said: 'We are delighted that Kyle is back to normal, and we would like to congratulate and applaud the neighbour for their quick intervention. 'As an emergency service, we encourage as many people as possible to learn basic lifesaving skills. 'The techniques are really simple, and can keep someone alive until a patient is attended to by a medical professional.' | Donna High feared her son Kyle Parker had 'gone' when he stopped breathing and went 'grey and floppy' |
1a1ec0aff3b3630e3f18eb58eca4b8d5550fd184 | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 06:48 EST, 24 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:03 EST, 24 September 2012 . The parents of a two-year-old girl have to live in perfect peace - because any loud sudden noise could trigger an epileptic fit. Blisse Mellens, two, suffers from a rare medical condition where any sudden noise could trigger an epileptic fit. Her mother Laura and father Ashley watch their every movement, sneeze or cough to make sure their daughter isn’t startled by noise. Blisse Mellens with her mother Laura, father Ashley, and elder sister Nevaeh. Mrs Mellens says Blisse communicates with her eyes . Laura, 27, said: 'We have to think about every noise we make in the house every day. If you sneeze or cough you can make her fit. You have got to be absolutely quiet. 'It is a startle reflex. If someone gets up suddenly or she hears your shoe on the floor it startles her. 'I’ve even had to put my house phone put it on the low setting, because the ring can make her fit.' Placed house phone on the lowest setting . Told eldest daughter Neveah, 8, to play 'as quietly as she can' Make sure they don't sneeze or cough near Blisse . Family also don't make sudden movements, like getting up quickly by her . Only one alarm in house, which rings when Blisse has a fit. Parent's then take turns of check on her overnight . The youngster suffers from two rare brain conditions called polymicrogyria and Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia - and these trigger her epilepsy. The couple only discovered something was wrong after they took their daughter to a doctor when she began twitching at four months. Blisse has a sister Neveah, eight, who knows she has to play 'as quietly as she can' to keep her safe. One of the fits could be fatal - but most see Blisse slip into a trance like state that lasts about 20 seconds. The worst fits are called tonic-clonic seizures when Blisse turns blue and stops breathing. Laura, of Barry, South Wales, treated her with emergency medicine to save her life during the worst attacks. She said: 'We have learned to be able to manage at home without ringing the ambulance. But it is devastating. The doctors have told us she is probably never going to speak or sit or walk. 'We would love to hear what her voice is like and things like that but we have come to terms that that is not going to happen. 'I communicate with her with her eyes. I can tell by the expressions on her face whether she is happy or sad.' Blisse, pictured with her mother, cannot walk or talk, but can express emotions . Blisse is not expected to live past 40, but her mother says her smile gets them through each day . There is one alarm which rings out in the house - it is triggered if Blisse fits in her sleep. Ashley and Laura then take turns to look after her while the other sleeps. 'We have a nurse who comes one night a week so we have a full night sleep a week,' said Laura. 'It’s lovely. You just shut your eyes and when you wake up about 10 hours are gone. I don’t think we would cope without that.' Doctors say she may live to adulthood, but is not likely to survive past 40. But Laura said: 'As long as she smiles, that is what gets us through the day. Her smile lights up her face.' | Girl can fit if she is startled by noise. During most severe attacks mother treats her with life-saving emergency medicine .
Doctors don't believe Blisse will ever walk or talk .
Mother says: 'As long as she smiles, that is what gets us through the day' |
1a1fbf3e0ddf42442b26b15cfbd97e2310818670 | By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 07:31 EST, 14 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:50 EST, 16 August 2012 . A schoolboy who stunned his family with his bravery after he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, has died this morning. David Langton-Gilks, 16, who battled the disease for five years, had thought he had beaten the tumour in May this year. When he was told he had relapsed and would die in a matter of weeks, he stunned his relations by saying: 'You can’t win them all.' David slipped into a coma last Saturday and died at 6.10am today - six weeks after . doctors expected him to pass away. 'He died surrounded by love at home,' his mother Sacha, who is a singing teacher, said. Special evening: David was thrilled with the black limousine that arrived to take him to his school prom . David Langton-Gilks, earlier this year with the family dog Honey . She also revealed on . Twitter she found her son's will a few days before he died. He wanted . his things to be shared between his siblings, Rufus and Holly, with his . collection of jellybeans to go to his younger sister. His ukulele was to . go to a family friend. David was told at the beginning of June his condition was terminal and decided that he didn't want further chemotherapy. However, he was desperate to make his . school prom on June 28. His mother Sacha, 44, was able to tell friends . and supporters on Twitter that he fulfilled his ambition. 'DD's DONE it! Grinning in black tie by pristine black limo on our dirty, bumpy farm track,' she posted that evening. The limo was provided by the charity . Rays of Sunshine and marked the start of a very special night, during . which David won the award for 'Most Optimistic Person.' Mrs Langton-Gilk's Twitter updates also revealed David's wish to be cremated and have his ashes scattered at a local watering hole. She also paid tribute to his extraordinary philosophical attitude to life. The day after his prom he told her: 'It's funny how u (sic) realise the significance of your life just when you're about to lose it.' Later that day he said to his parents, Sacha, 44 and Toby, 46: 'I just want to say that I have very much enjoyed myself here; thank you very much.' David, pictured surfing in Cornwall. The trip was paid for by the charity Round Table Children's Wish Limited . The teenager, from Fontmell Magna, in . Dorset, had stopped going to school in May due to concentration problems . caused by the tumour and said his only regret was not being able to do . his Biology A level. His memory worsened as time went on which meant he had to replace reading and playing the guitar with simpler tasks such as cooking. But he still shared precious . exchanges with his family. His mother said his little sister would insist David play . with her saying: 'You can rest when you're dead.' David's mother, Sacha Langton-Gilks. She said David had shown her how to cope by being so strong . Then on 6 August, she recounted . another bittersweet conversation: 'DD 2 me: "Do I know u?" Me: "Yes, very well." DD: . "You look very like my mother." Me: "Yes I certainly do. She's . marvellous!"' The family were helped by Marie Curie nurses who provided much-needed nighttime relief and other support. They were also boosted by how well Team GB did at the Olympics, providing a much-needed distraction. Mrs Langton-Gilks and her family are backing the Headsmart awareness campaign run by The Brain Tumour Charity, to highlight the importance . of detecting brain tumours in children at an early stage. Although David displayed the symptoms . of the disease when he was 11, they were not simultaneous and it took . five-and-a-half weeks to get a diagnosis. Had . it been detected sooner, the tumour would have been around half the . size it was and David would have stood a much better chance of survival. The symptoms of the Medulloblastoma brain tumour include vomiting, headaches, and unusual eye movements. Children have the same risk of developing a brain tumour as meningitis. David's parents released a statement today that said: 'The Langton-Gilks family are determined that everyone knows how to spot the signs of a brain tumour in a child/young person. 'Supporting the HeadSmart Campaign is the fastest way to achieve this. This will save the lives of some of the two coachloads of children who die horribly every year from a brain tumour and massively improve the quality of life for those children, like David, who have to endure years of complex treatment.' They added: 'The family will never be able to express fully their gratitude & admiration to all of the doctors, nurses & support staff at Southampton General Hospital, Salisbury District Hospital & Shaftesbury Abbeyview Medical Centre as well as the following charities: CLICSargent, Marie Curie, the Teenage Cancer Trust and The Brain Tumour Charity who started HeadSmart.' Symptoms of brain tumours. For more information visit ww.headsmart.org.uk . Sarah Lindsell, CEO, The Brain Tumour Charity, said: 'We are so sad that David died this morning. Over the past few months he has inspired so many people with the help of his mum, Sacha. Together they have helped us raise UK-wide awareness about the symptoms of brain tumours in children and young people through the HeadSmart campaign.'His approach to his condition has touched thousands of people and we have had wishes of support from around the world. DD’s legacy will live on through the HeadSmart campaign. Our thoughts are with David’s family and friends at this time.' For more information about brain tumours visit www.headsmart.org.uk . To donate to David's Fund CLICK HERE . Parents who would like a free mobile symptoms guide for childhood brain tumours that mirrors the printed card should text SMART to 81400 and one will be sent back (texts are charged at your standard rate) | 16-year-old managed to go to his school prom where he won award for 'Most Optimistic Person'
David's mother praises Marie Curie nurses who provided nighttime relief in final weeks .
Brain tumours kill more children than meningitis or leukaemia . |
1a20072077a451b0ff275d7b59eb0adfe7b7b024 | Barack Obama's historic peace-deal with Cuba after 50 years of cold war hostility was a breakthrough not to be sniffed at. But that didn't stop the US president having a try, when he got close and personal to a Cuban on Wednesday ... not a citizen, but a cigar. Significantly, it was the first time in 52 years that a US president has officially savoured the Cuban delicacy since John F. Kennedy stockpiled a secret stash of his favourite Havanas in the hours before he imposed a trade embargo on the Communist state in 1962. This, of course, doesn't include Bill Clinton's adventures with cigars and Monica Lewisnky in the Oval Office. Scroll down for video . Close to a Cuban: Obama was attending one of two White House receptions to welcome the start of Hanukkah when a guest handed him a large cheroot, which he took in his hand and ran under his nose . Obama was attending one of two White House receptions to welcome the start of Hanukkah when a guest handed him a large stogie. He took it in his hand and waved it in the air before running it under his nose for a whiff. The room fell near-silent as he paused to take in its aroma, before declaring it 'pretty good' to everyone's relief. 'I had the unique distinction of gifting the President of the United States with one of Cuba's finest cigars, a Montecristo Series at the White House…after a ceremony in which a Menorah was lit,' John Berzner, who offered the cigar to the president on Wednesday, told ABC News. He had packed just one cigar for the event, but felt compelled to present it to Barack Obama in celebration of the deal to begin normalising relations between the United States and Cuba, after 18 months of secret talks over prisoner releases brought a sudden end to decades of tension. 'Pretty good': The room fell near-silent as he paused to take in its aroma, before declaring it 'pretty good' to everyone's relief . When Berzner handed the cigar to Obama, he said: 'Mr. President, a Cuban cigar for you!' 'Oh, nice!' Obama replied as he lifted the cigar to his nose. 'The finest,' Berzner replied. The president approved, telling Berzner, 'Pretty good!' Nigel Savage, who was also a guest at the event and shot the video, added, 'The president definitely looked like he appreciated a good Cuban cigar.' It is unclear whether Obama kept the gift or handed it to the Secret Service. Legal again: President Barack Obama lifted some of America's sanctions against Cuba on Wednesday, making it legal for Americans who travel there to bring back a limited supply of cigars . The president's smoking habits have long been in the news. Obama last year told a United Nations official that he hadn't smoked a cigarette in years — mostly because of First Lady Michelle Obama. 'I haven't had a cigarette in probably six years,' Obama was overhead telling Maina Kiai at the U.N. General Assembly in New York back in September 2013. 'That's because I'm scared of my wife.' In 2009, the president said he was a 'former smoker' but he would 'constantly struggle' with kicking the habit. 'Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes,' he confessed at a press conference in 2009. 'Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No. 'I don't do it in front of my kids, I don't do it in front of my family,' he added. 'And, you know, I would say that I am 95 percent cured. But there are times where...There are times where I mess up.' Michelle Obama in February 2011 said her husband stopped smoking about a year earlier. President John F. Kennedy was partial to a puff and even asked his press secretary to buy him 1,000 of his favorite Cuban cigars in the hours before he imposed the Cuban trade embargo . Obama is not the first US president to enjoy a Cuban cigar on occasion. It emerged this week that President John F. Kennedy ordered his press secretary on February 2, 1962 to buy him as many of his favorite Cuban cigars as he could lay his hands on – and held off signing the Cuban trade embargo until his precious stogies were safely inside the White House. Kennedy asked Pierre Salinger to find at least 1,000 H.Upmann petit coronas, and gave him just a half-day to accomplish the task before they would become contraband. The next morning, Salinger recalled in rare video footage of his storytelling, he reported that he had bought up 1,200 of Cuba's finest exports – a feat the president pronounced 'Fantastic!' just before he signed a decree that banned all the communist country's products from the U.S. Washington already had some limited sanctions in place, but Kennedy's decision was the beginning of a comprehensive ban on U.S. trade with the island that remained intact until Wednesday. In 1996 the Helms-Burton law tightened the sanctions further. But President Barack Obama made a shocking move on Wednesday to reopen relations with Cuba and establish an embassy there. That means Americans who travel to Havana – and there will be thousands – 'will be able to return to the U.S. with some Cuban products, including Cohibas and other Cuban cigars,' according to Cigar Aficionado magazine. | Obama was attending the White House Hanukkah reception on Wednesday .
Hours after the historic peace deal with Cuba, a guest handed him a cigar .
He ran it under his nose before guests and declared it 'pretty good'
JFK ordered secretary to stockpile cigars before signing embargo in 1962 .
Obama has said he struggles with tobacco addiction and has sneaked the occasional cigarette despite quitting years ago .
The president has said he stays away from smoking because he's terrified of First Lady Michelle Obama . |
1a208bddbb5c68c9d959fdc36ebd7dfa7301f596 | By . Associated Press . A better outlook for global manufacturing pushed the stock market to an all-time high on Tuesday. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed within two points of 17,000 for the first time after separate surveys showed that manufacturing expanded in China and the U.S., the world's two biggest economies. In China, manufacturing grew in June for the first time in six months and in the U.S. the sector notched its 13th straight month of growth. Highest ever: The Dow Jones industrial average reached it's highest point ever on Tuesday afternoon--16,998.70 . Smashing records: The last five years have shown the Dow as it has steadily risen toward 17,000, smashing re4cords all the way . General Motors rose the most in almost a . month. The automaker reported that its U.S. sales increased 1 percent in . June despite a record-setting string of safety recalls. Netflix jumped . after analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their outlook on the stock, . predicting the company will benefit from its international expansion. 'The economic news, by and large, isn't bad here,' said Phil Orlando, chief equity strategist at Federated Investors. 'Maybe investors are starting to think that this thing is going to grind higher.' The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 13.09 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,973.32. The Dow gained 129.47 points, or 0.8 percent, to 16,956.07. The index climbed as high as 16,998.70 in early afternoon trading before falling back slightly. Both indexes closed at all-time highs. The Nasdaq composite rose 50.47, or 1.1 percent, to 4,458.65. Stocks climbed from the open after HSBC said its Chinese purchasing managers index rose to 50.7 in June from 49.4 a month earlier. Numbers above 50 signal growth. The market added to its gains after another survey showed that U.S. manufacturing kept growing. Global growth: Trader William McInerney works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday. The stock market rose in early trading after a report showed that manufacturing in the US and China expanded in June, boosting the outlook for global growth . The gains were broad. Nine of the 10 industry sectors that make up the S&P 500 rose. Utilities were the only sector to fall. Health care stocks had the biggest advance with gains led by Regeneron. The company rose $19.53, or 7 percent, to $301.94 after French drugmaker Sanofi said in a regulatory filing that it had raised its stake in Regeneron. The S&P 500 index has now gained 6.8 percent this year, after jumping almost 30 percent in 2013. While stocks are no longer cheap, they are still a compelling investment compared with bonds or cash because interest rates are close to zero, said Joe Tanious, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Funds. 'In the long run market prices are dictated by the fundamentals,' said Tanious. 'And the underlying fundamentals suggest that markets can move higher from here.' Government bonds prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 2.56 percent from 2.53 percent late Monday. Bond prices have risen this year, pushing interest rates lower, even as the Federal Reserve has reduced its economic stimulus and the economy has improved. Netflix jumped $32.50, or 7.4 percent, to $473.10 after analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their outlook for the streaming video company. Goldman estimates that Netflix's potential audience of subscribers will double over the next three years as the company expands internationally.Twitter rose $1.08, or 2.6 percent, to $42.05 after analysts at Stern Agee raised their estimates for the company's earnings for next year and said that the social media company should benefit from increased use during the World Cup. The company also said today that it was hiring Anthony Noto, a Goldman Sachs executive, as its new chief financial officer.GM gained $1.29, or 3.6 percent, to $37.59 after reporting its June sales figures. Its sales gains were led by the Buick Encore small SUV, which gained 82 percent. | Chinese manufacturing has expanded for the first time in six months .
The American manufacturing sector has had its 13 straight month of growth .
Even beleaguered General Motors had a sales increase of 1 percent despite months of historically huge recalls . |
1a21c2eafecc62e91479e58edcce59b9b8f87cc3 | By . Inderdeep Bains . PUBLISHED: . 16:40 EST, 9 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:40 EST, 9 September 2013 . Shantelle Clarke has life-threatening injuries following the 70ft fall on Saturday . This is the 15-month-old girl who survived a horrifying 70ft plunge from her tower-block bedroom. Shantelle Clarke has life-threatening internal injuries after the fall, which her family has blamed on faulty child safety locks fitted to her window. Her distraught parents, Chelsea Westgate, 18, and 23-year-old Craig Clarke, remained at her hospital bedside last night as her condition was described as critical but stable. The couple, who also have a three-year-old son, Kurtis, are believed to have been asleep in another room in the fifth-floor flat at the time of the fall at 8.30am on Saturday in Plymouth. Yesterday, Shantelle’s family hit back at suggestions that her parents, who are engaged and expecting a third child, were to blame. Miss Westgate’s grandmother Doreen Pegg, 75, said: ‘Chelsea and Craig were in bed when it happened and Kurtis and Shantelle were playing in their bedroom. 'I think there must have been something wrong with the safety latch on the window when she fell but no one really knows. It was an awful accident which could have happened to any parent.’ The child’s aunt, Kelly Westgate, claimed on her Facebook page that the incident was down to the ‘window’s safety lock not kicking in’ despite the parents being told they were safe. Another relative, Kerri Phillips, claimed the locks were recently changed and had not been fitted properly. Shantelle's parents Chelsea and Craig are at her bedside at hospital where she is in intensive care. Her family said child locks on the window were faulty and did not work . Shantelle’s grandfather Ian Clarke, 48, who is looking after Kurtis, said: ‘Craig and Chelsea are fantastic parents and are devastated about this. They are in no way to blame. 'This was an accident and it’s upsetting that anybody could think otherwise. ‘Shantelle is in a really bad way and is currently in intensive care. It doesn’t look like she’ll be coming out any time soon. 'We’re all just hoping she’s going to be OK as she’s such a happy and bubbly little girl.’ The past year has been a difficult one for the family. The couple are believed to have been asleep in another room of the fifth-floor flat when Shantelle fell . They escaped an arson attack next to the . flat in October which left them homeless for several months, and in . February they were burgled. Police and child protection officers are believed to be talking to Sanctuary Housing, the firm that owns the six-storey block of flats in the Barne Barton area of Plymouth. A police spokesman said they were not treating the incident as suspicious. Sanctuary Housing refused to comment on concerns over the child safety locks but managing director Simon Clark said: ‘We are doing all we can to assist the police in their investigations and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.’ | Shantelle Clarke has life-threatening internal injuries after the fall .
Her family say child safety locks recently fitted to her window did not work .
Couple believed to have been asleep in another room when 15-month-old Shantelle fell from the fifth floor flat on Saturday . |
1a2563f0ac871eda43c5333300135cba8a2e141f | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 06:30 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 19 July 2013 . The entire Cabinet was sent into a panic thinking that the royal baby had arrived during a meeting at Chequers. But the piece of paper rushed into a meeting yesterday was not an update from the palace but the latest from Lord's. The . Prime Minister had instructed officials to keep him informed of the . score from the Ashes match between England and Australia. Mix-up: David Cameron, who spent the day watching the second Ashes test at Lord's, revealed on Radio 4 that yesterday's Cabinet meeting was disrupted by an update on the match . Chilling: David Cameron was in the stands at Lord's for the second Ashes test as MPs began their six-week . David . Cameron revealed how royal baby fever swept through his senior . ministers as he spent the day at Lord’s watching day two of the second . Ashes test. As MPs began . their six-week summer recess, the PM rushed to Lord’s in north London to . catch England batting their way to 361 all out. Speaking . on BBC’s Test Match Special during the lunch break, Mr Cameron revealed . how his interest in yesterday's match had triggered panic around the Cabinet . table. He said: ‘We had a . Cabinet meeting and I asked someone to bring in the cricket score half . way through just to see how it was going. ‘And a bit of paper arrived in the Cabinet room and everyone of course thought it was an announcement about the royal baby. ‘There . was a great intake of breath and actually it was because Ken Clarke . wanted to know what the score was because he was meant to be at Lord’s.’ Where's Dave? The Prime Minister was surrounded by ordinary fans as he watched England all out for 361 . Unusually . Cabinet ministers held their weekly meeting at Chequers, the Prime . Minister’s country retreat, yesterday instead of in Downing Street. The stately pile boasts tennis courts and a swimming pool but Mr Cameron’s official spokesman denied it was a ‘jolly’. Today . the Prime Minister seemed delighted to have started parliament's long . summer break with a few hours in the sunshine watching the cricket. He said: 'It's such a glorious sight coming here, the sun shining, England playing well. 'It always such a wonderful thing to see. I was a bit late and thought this morning that I wouldn't see England batting.' Asked . by former cricketer and broadcaster Geoffrey Boycott to join him at to . watch a match at Headingley, Mr Cameron replied: 'We could have a day . when we cancel Question Time and all come to the cricket.' Spotted: Cricket fans turn around to see the famous face in the row behind them . Hook: Mr Cameron watches intently from the stands at Lord's cricket ground in north London . Thirsty work: Mr Cameron sips from a water bottle as play continues . Ahead of the Ashes Mr Cameron hailed . the competition as the ‘big one’ and warned Britain had ‘high hopes’ for . Alistair Cook’s side as it took on the Australian’s. He . added: ‘Now whether you remember Botham and Willis at Headingley, like I . do, or Kevin Pietersen’s defiant stance at the Oval in 2005 - I . remember where I was when that happened - nothing captures the public’s . imagination quite like a Test match against Australia. ‘The nation’s got high hopes. We’re right behind the team, and I’m sure they’re going to rise to the occasion.’ The visit to the cricket is just the . start of a long summer for Mr Cameron, who has previously been accused . of spending too long chillaxing. He . is expected to take two holidays this summer - one in Cornwall and one . in Scotland – in the middle of his campaign against independence. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will be away at the same time, leaving William Hague and Theresa May in charge of the country. The . PM and his deputy are to leave the country on holiday at the same time . this summer – despite having six weeks to ensure one of them stays in . charge of the country. Mr . Clegg revealed earlier this month that he had been unable to co-ordinate . his family holiday so it did not clash with the Camerons’, and other . ministers will be left to ‘hold the fort’. After leaving Lord's the Prime Minister travelled to the Olympic Park to hand out goody bags to Olympic Games Makers who were there to celebrate one year on from the Olympic and Paralympic Games . Every . year Mr Clegg and his family go to the same village in Spain where his . wife Miriam’s family is from. They will be accompanied by their three . children Antonio, Alberto and Miguel. But like millions of schoolchildren, MPs couldn’t wait to start their six week summer holiday last night. But . without the chance to watch a DVD or play Buckaroo on the green benches . of the House of Commons hardly any politicians bothered turning up for . the last day of the parliamentary term. Maybe MPs can be forgiven for needing a break – it has been a whole month since the last time the Commons had a recess. At 5.20pm yesterday Commons John Bercow moved to adjourn the House of Commons until September 2. It means there will be no new legislation, no debates and no Prime Minister’s Questions for six long weeks. MPs argue they will spend the summer working in their constituencies. With . the general election now less than two years away, those with the . smallest majorities would be sensible to use the time to win over more . voters. However the chance to get away for a holiday – or two – will prove too great for most. As the Commons wound down yesterday it seemed most MPs have started their break early. Fewer than 50 of the 650 MPs turned out to see Business Secretary Vince Cable answer questions on the economy at 9.30am. Clash: Mr Cameron will be on holiday at the same time as his deputy Nick Clegg this summer, leaving William Hague and Theresa May in charge . By 1.30pm the numbers had dwindled to a couple of dozen for a debate on an EU-US Trade and Investment Agreement. As the clock ticked on to 4pm the number of MPs left for a general debate was struggling to get into double figures. And just three were left when Tory MP Bill Cash had a debate on HM Revenue and Customs. 10.02am: On the last day of term yesterday just a few dozen MPs turned up in the Commons to grill Business Secretary Vince Cable . 1.37pm: By lunchtime they were struggling to get into double figures on the green benches . 5pm: With most people still hard at work in the country, just three MPs could be seen in the Commons chamber before it packed up for the summer . In 2012-13 the Commons sat just 145 times, the second lowest figure since 1945 for a year where there was not a general election. Some in Westminster predict it could be even lower this year. Matthew Sinclair, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Any MP worth their salt will be busy in their constituency during the summer recess. ‘However, the long break means that ministers will get away without being scrutinised in Parliament for six whole weeks by the people we elect to hold them to account. ‘Week in, week out, we see debates on important legislation being curtailed as a result of strict timetable motions, which means Bills are getting passed by MPs without having been subject to detailed scrutiny. ‘This is bad for democracy and reducing the length of the recesses would make more time available for the Commons to properly debate new laws and hold the Government to account.’ | Prime Minister spotted in the crowds at Lords for the second Ashes test .
Mr Cameron describes England's battle against Australia as 'the big one'
He is expected to take two holidays this summer - in Cornwall and Scotland .
House of Commons not due to sit again until September 2 . |
1a2567410290945927b903653f2298ccbc4ccb5c | Anti-NSA protesters took to the streets in cities across the United States on Thursday, using the Independence Day holiday to call attention to recent disclosures about the U.S. government's telephone and Internet surveillance programs. The movement, called "Restore the Fourth," says the government programs such as Prism violate the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures without warrants. Specifically, it wants the National Security Agency's surveillance programs shut down. "It's important that we speak up and let our elected officials know that our rights are being violated," said Kyle Smeallie, a protester in San Francisco. Online, popular websites such as Reddit showed support for the protesters by embedding Restore the Fourth images emblazoned with a hashtag. Study: Reddit used by 6% of adult Internet users . The grassroots, nonpartisan movement started a month ago when a group of people met on Reddit and decided to take action. "It is something a lot of people care about. We're trying to get that narrative out there," said Sam Oslos, 23, one of the protest organizers. In the month following Edward Snowden's leaks about U.S. government programs collecting information from phone and Internet companies, some U.S. citizens seemed unsurprised and resigned to being monitored. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center last month, 56% of Americans think the collection of telephone metadata is acceptable. The loosely coordinated activist group helped organize protests in more than 80 U.S. cities using online message boards and Twitter. There were demonstrations in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles. In Utah, protesters gathered near the new $1.5 billion NSA data center, which is scheduled to open later this year. The movement even spread overseas, where protesters showed up in front of the U.S. Consulate in Munich, Germany, donning Edward Snowden masks. In San Francisco, protesters walked from City Hall to the Embarcadero with signs that read "Legalize the U.S. Constitution" and "I refuse to sacrifice my liberty for security." Police estimated there were at least 250 people protesting, but said the group was growing larger throughout the day. "The Fourth Amendment is there to protect us, but there comes a time when we have to step in and protect it," Parker Higgins, an activist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said to the crowd. He later told CNN.com that getting people on the street was a way to let officials know that there are people who care about their privacy. Dawn Ligiter was at the San Francisco protests with her husband and two dogs. "We're expecting our first child and we want him to have the same rights under the constitution that we grew up with," she said. Opinion: U.S. intelligence community is out of control . NSA director: Data mining follows law, thwarts terror . How to hide your data from Internet snoops . | Protesters in cities across the United States called for an end to NSA surveillance programs .
They are calling their movement "Restore the Fourth"
They say Internet and phone monitoring violates the Fourth Amendment . |
1a257b5b33bbbadf814606c2e02d929c46d81457 | Sometimes it's difficult to know what to wear while travelling. Do you opt for smart - looking good but feeling slightly restricted - or wear casual clothes for optimal comfort? If you're the Bathrobe Crusader you go for none of the above - instead, touring the world wearing a dressing gown. Bathrobe Crusader: The USC student pictured in front of Big Ben in London wearing a robe - and a T-shirt . Cultural experience: The traveller is pictured inside Marie Antoinette's private retreat in the grounds of Versailles . The social media traveller is currently touring Europe, posting photos of himself wearing the casual nighttime attire on Instagram. So far he has just 200 followers, but writes that it doesn't matter to him. On the site, his profile adds: 'Mr Bathrobe Crusader. Changing the world before before he changes his clothes. Among the crowds: The Bathrobe Crusader can be seen in front of the Mona Lisa at The Louvre in Paris . Appropriate attire: The student can be seen wandering the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles . A little chilly? The Bathrobe Crusader pictured with pigeons at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris . 'Follow, or don't, he doesn't care, he only crusades.' Little is known about the wander, except that he's a University of Southern California student. From a photo of him in front of Big Ben in London, to him pictured looking at a Monet painting in Paris, the Bathrobe Crusader is certainly making the most of his time travelling Europe. He's also posted snaps in Versailles, in the Louvre Museum in France, and reading a paper in Amsterdam. Chilling out... The traveller relaxes while reading a paper in a cafe in Amsterdam . The social media wanderer pictured with artist Cornelis Apostool framed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam . Touch of culture: The Bathrobe Crusader peruses a Monet painting Musee De l'Orangerie . Having a rest: Leaning on the George Washington statue in Trafalgar Square . He told www.brobible.com: 'I am traveling Europe for the summer in style and have created a new Instagram, @bathrobecrusader. 'I am a student at the University of Southern California. 'For example, I will be in Tropez soon with a group of ballers (for lack of a better word), and will be getting tables at VIP Room and will walk in wearing my bathrobe. 'I have been doing this at clubs in different countries almost every night and at famous attractions almost every day.' | University of Southern California student visits famous attractions .
Only wears a bathrobe and posts photos to Instagram .
Is currently in Europe, and has visited London and Paris . |
1a25a114f3fd650a973ede59e792a8cdf4907754 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 11:32 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:11 EST, 7 January 2013 . A student pilot narrowly avoided disaster after he was forced to land with one of the wheels missing. The 21-year-old Chinese man made a dramatic landing at Mangalore . Airport, north of Melbourne this morning. He was forced to circle the airport for several hours to burn off fuel, but touched down without damaging the plane, reported the Herald Sun. Scroll down for video . Coming in to land: The 21-year-old Chinese man made a dramatic landing at Mangalore Airport, north of Melbourne this morning . Testing times: He was forced to circle the airport for several hours to burn off fuel, but touched down without damaging the plane . Spin: The plane did a 180 degree turn when it hit the runway . The student, who has not yet been identified, had just 120 hours flying time, and noticed there was problem with the wheels as he took off at 9am this morning. After reporting his concern to his instructor he was told to fly near the airport so a visual inspection could be done. That was when it became clear that one of the three wheels had fallen off the single-engine Piper Warrior. The trainee pilot was then forced to circle for five hours to burn off the fuel. Safety: A fire engine sprayed the aircraft with foam when it landed at the airport to ensure it would not catch alight . Then when it was decided the fuel was low enough, he was guided to landing by his flight instructor using a two-way radio, speaking in his native language. Police, aviation safety authorities . and emergency services were on standby at the airport as the aircraft . missing its back right-hand wheel, touched down at Mangalore Airport . about 1.20pm. There was concern that a sudden impact could led to a crash and the remaining fuel could catch alight. As it hit the runaway the plane lurched, turned 180 degrees and then came to a sudden stop in the dust. The pilot remained in the cockpit as emergency crews poured more foam on the plane to prevent a fire. He was then helped from the plane by a member of the emergency services and led to an ambulance - he was not hurt. Acting Sen-Sgt Clayton Munro told the Herald Sun at the scene: 'It was an excellent landing.' Assistance: The student was taken from a plane by a member of the awaiting emergency services . Survival: As he walked across the airfield the student looked back at the aircraft . <p><a href="http://video.heraldsun.com.au/2323699698/Emergency-landing">VIDEO: Emergency landing</a></p> . | The 21-year-old Chinese man made a dramatic landing at Mangalore Airport, north of Melbourne this morning .
Forced to circle the airport for five hours to burn off fuel . |
1a26bf072f4ee5d555a46e3eb7249a5e5d343d61 | By . Harriet Hernando . While parts of Britain are mopping up after flash floods and others are basking in warm weather, stranger things appear to be happening in the sky. One photographer captured sun streaming through the clouds which looked like a spaceship was about to land or something out of 70’s movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while another snapped a cloud in Exeter in the shape of a magic carpet. Photographer Adrian Campfield was having dinner with his wife Louise at a restaurant at Beachy Head, East Sussex, when the eery rays suddenly appeared from between the clouds and beamed onto the water. Scroll down for video . Paranormal activity: Photographer Adrian Campfield took this image at Beachy Head in Sussex and said it looked like 'something from Close Encounters of a Third Kind' Mr Campfield said the eery lights were changing for about 15 minutes at Beachy Head in Sussex . The 59-year-old rushed outside onto the 535ft high cliffs to watch the spectacle unfold. Mr Campfield, a former graphic designer, from Bexley, Kent, said the light was changing for more than 15 minutes. He said: ‘I have taken pictures of rays before but never quite like this. It brought to mind the sequences from the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. ‘I was pleasantly shocked and stunned because you never expect to witness anything like this. This was an outstanding sight and I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.’ Mr Campfield took more than 50 photos, including his favourite of a gull standing on the rocky cliff edge. The rays looked similar to a scene from Spielberg's 1977 sci-fi film Close Encounters of the Third Kind . A message from outer space? A seagull watches the bizarre light shining through the clouds at Beachy Head . He said: ‘We looked out of the restaurant window and saw those rays starting to appear over the sea. Once outside, the height of the cliffs was ideal because my eye level was above the horizon, giving me much more dramatic angles and perspectives. ‘I had to work fast because the light and rays were changing all the time and the atmosphere and moods were fantastic.’ Meanwhile residents in Exeter, Devon, were amazed when they spotted what looks like a flying carpet in the sky. Magic carpet ride? Residents in Exeter, Devon, took this incredible shot of a cloud in the shape of a rectangle . Unsurprisingly Met Office experts rubbished claims this could be a close encounter of the third kind and explained the cloud was caused by a jet engine moving through a pocket of air . But officials at the Met Office was quick to dismiss the possibility of an encounter of the third kind. Met Office employee Laura Gilchrist tweeted the image on July 26: ‘So this evening, over Exeter, there was a rhombus-shaped cloud’. A spokesman for the Met Office said the cloud had been formed by a jet engine moving through a pocket of air with the ‘right conditions’. He said: ‘This cloud has been formed from the exhaust of a jet engine - known as a contrail.‘In this case an aircraft has moved through a pocket of air with the right conditions for the contrail to form, meaning there is just a short section. ‘The wind is blowing across the contrail, and due to the right atmospheric conditions this is causing the ice crystals in that trail to spread outwards - creating this rectangular shaped cloud. ‘It’s unusual to see the cloud edges quite so well-defined as in this example but the processes involved are very common.’ | Photographer Adrian Campfield captured the image at Beachy Head, Sussex .
He compared the sighting to something from alien movie Close Encounters .
Meanwhile an Exeter resident took a photo of what looks like a flying carpet .
But Met Office said it's just a rhombus-shaped cloud formed by jet exhaust . |
1a2769393e716173cd956476c72617419e08fc77 | By . Gerri Peev . PUBLISHED: . 18:46 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:37 EST, 8 January 2013 . Five technology giants that earned nearly £500million from taxpayer-funded government contracts paid no UK corporation tax last year. Oracle, Xerox, Dell, CSC Computer Sciences and Symantec had UK turnover of more than £7billion, MPs heard last night. Microsoft, which took £700million in government contracts, paid only £19million in tax. Under fire: Microsoft, which took £700m in government contracts, paid only £19m in tax . Oracle, Xerox, Dell, CSC Computer Sciences and Symantec had UK turnover of more than £7billion, MPs heard last night . Based on its estimated global earnings, this would be the equivalent of paying tax at less than 2 per cent. The global firms’ lack of corporation tax contributions were revealed to Parliament by Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, a former tax lawyer. Overall ten technology companies in receipt of more than £1.8billion of taxpayers’ money paid only £78million in taxes on UK earnings of £17.5billion. Mr Elphicke revealed the figures in a debate on corporation tax. He said: ‘We are seeing big business tax avoidance on an industrial scale. It’s unacceptable, unethical and irresponsible. The global firms' lack of corporation tax contributions were revealed to Parliament by Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke, pictured, a former tax lawyer . David Cameron has pledged to make a global tax avoidance crackdown a priority of his presidency of the G8 . Hard-pressed families struggling to get by pay their taxes, yet highly profitable big businesses abuse our tax system.’ The MP for Dover called for companies bidding for government contracts to declare what they would expect to pay in tax. David Cameron has pledged to make a global tax avoidance crackdown a priority of his presidency of the G8. | Microsoft, which took £700m in government contracts, paid only £19million in tax .
Oracle, Xerox, Dell, CSC Computer Sciences and Symantec also under fire . |
1a29a6526f5dd9cfb3b8a413568595c74c916597 | By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 18:13 EST, 23 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:26 EST, 24 June 2013 . Defence firms have been caught trying to charge the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds for Christmas parties, magicians and even ‘anticipated car accidents’. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has uncovered a string of startling claims submitted as part of multi-million-pound defence contracts. He said firms had got away with billing the Ministry of Defence for ‘inappropriate activities’ because they did not have to provide a breakdown of what their charges were for. Looking for savings: Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, left, and Chancellor George Osborne, right, have agreed a deal over the weekend to cut down on profligacy in MoD spending . Such profligacy, however, will be squeezed under a spending deal agreed between Mr Hammond and Chancellor George Osborne over the weekend. A review ordered by Mr Hammond has revealed extraordinary examples of ‘expenses’ which firms attempted to charge to the taxpayer, but have now been rejected. They included £16,500 for ‘depreciation costs for executive flats’ and £25,000 for ‘cake, flowers and catering for a commissioning ceremony’. Other examples included £9,500 for ‘staff team building’, £650 for ‘2 x magicians’, £24,000 for ‘mugs for a launch ceremony’, £200 for ‘attending Christmas party’, and £8,000 for non-specified ‘entertainment’. Perhaps the most bizarre attempted charge under a defence contract was £50,000 for ‘anticipated car accidents (two a week at £500)’. Defence sources said that it appeared many such claims were waved through without proper checks under the last government. Meanwhile, the Chancellor said yesterday he had reached agreement with Mr Hammond over the MoD budget for 2015-16 as part of the Coalition’s spending review, to be unveiled on Wednesday. There will be up to 2,000 further job losses among civilian personnel working for the ministry, but front-line servicemen will be protected from further cuts. Mr Hammond is also proposing a new independent watchdog to ensure that the taxpayer receives value for money from lucrative defence contracts which are currently not put out to tender. A system dating back more than four decades allows UK companies to bid for some military contracts without competition, on the grounds that they are sensitive to national security. Mr Hammond said: ‘It’s vital that we get value for taxpayers’ money in times of increasing financial pressures … Increased transparency on single-source contracts will help ensure tight resources are being spent properly while still allowing industry fair profits.’ Mr Osborne told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that he had now finalised a settlement with the MoD over its spending plans for 2015-16 after months of semi-public wrangling. The deal will mean between 1,000 and 2,000 further job losses – but no further reductions in military manpower. Furthermore, around £250million in fines from banks guilty of rate-rigging will be used over the next 25 years to support troops and veterans. | Philip Hammond said firms were billing the MoD for ‘inappropriate activities’
Mr Hammond and George Osborne will be clamping down on MoD spending . |
1a29c44266729ea6955e8138e93952c61e759ab8 | Two-year-old girl among the dead . Mosques targeted and homes destroyed . Troops and tanks also enter central city of Homs . By . Sara Nelson . Last updated at 11:25 AM on 15th August 2011 . Syria turned gunboats on the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia last night, killing at least 26 people protesting against Bashar Assad's regime. The coordinated attacks by the navy and ground troops were the latest wave of a brutal offensive against anti-government protests launched at the beginning of the month and came as thousands marched on the city over the weekend to demand the president's ousting. The assault showed Assad has no intention of scaling back the campaign even though it has brought international outrage and new U.S. and European sanctions. Smoke rises in the city of Latakia as Syrian tanks and navy ships shelled the Mediterranean port city yesterday, killing at least 26 people, activists claim . An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube shows what appears to be a Syrian navy vessel as it sails along the coast of Latakia . 'We are being targeted from the ground and the sea,' said a frightened resident of the al-Ramel district of Latakia, the hardest hit neighborhood. 'The shooting is intense. We cannot go out. They are raiding and breaking into people's homes,' he added, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. As the gunships blasted waterfront districts, ground troops backed by tanks and security forces stormed several neighborhoods including al-Ramel, sending terrified women and children fleeing, some on foot, to safer areas. In this image taken the Shaam News Network shows armoured vehicles as they take up positions along the waterfront of Latakia . Armoured vehicles stationed along the coast road in a residential area of the city . The al-Ramel resident said at least three gunboats were taking part in the offensive, and that many people have been killed and wounded. The shooting targeted several mosques in the area. 'Many homes have been destroyed and the shabiha have broken into shops and businesses,' he said, referring to pro-government gunmen, as they are called by Syrians. Further attacks came this morning as troops backed by tanks entered several towns in the flashpoint province of Homs in central Syria, activists said. Syrian soldiers carrying the coffin of their colleague Ali Ghanem Asad in Latakia . The assault on Latakia began Saturday, when tanks and armored personnel carriers rolled into al-Ramel district amid intense gunfire. The security forces appear to be intent on crushing dissent in the neighborhood, which has seen large anti-Assad protests since the Syrian uprising began in mid-March. On Friday, as many as 10,000 marched there, calling for the president's departure. After their initial assault on the city Saturday, Syrian forces pushed back into Latakia again Sunday. State-run news agency SANA said troops were pursuing 'gunmen using machine guns, hand grenades and bombs who have been terrorizing residents in al-Ramel district.' The agency denied reports the area was being targeted from the sea. It quoted a health official in Latakia as saying two law enforcement officials were killed. At least 26 people were killed in the city on Sunday, said Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. One of the dead was a two-year-old girl who was in a car with her father when security forces at a checkpoint opened fire, he said. The activist network the Local Coordination Committees gave the same death toll and said it included three children. A TV grab taken from Al Arabiya shows a soldier standing in a street near Homs, in Syria. Tanks rolled into the town this morning . Activists said at least two people were killed in al-Ramel on Saturday. Residents and several activist groups said gunboats in the Mediterranean were taking part in the offensive, firing machine guns. Many people were wounded from indiscriminate fire on houses, they said. 'They are trying to take control of the city as they did in other places,' said Abdul-Rahman.Ammar Qurabi, head of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, said the state was setting a 'precedent' by using gunboats to shell its own people. Using gunboats to fight protesters, who are mostly unarmed and peaceful, marks a new escalation in the regime's crackdown. But the determined opposition is so far unbowed even though at least 1,700 people have been killed since March, according to activists and human rights groups. Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak returned to court today to face charges of killing protesters, in a hearing that could decide if the head of the ruling military council will take the stand as a witness. Defence lawyers say that any testimony by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi on Mubarak's role in trying to suppress the 18-day uprising, in which more than 800 people were killed, could decide the fate of the 83-year-old. Tantawi, who was defence minister for two decades under Mubarak, heads the military council that took power when Mubarak was ousted on February 11 by the mass protests. Mubarak, accused of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters, went on trial on August 3 in a case that has gripped the Arab world, where leaders rule for life and are seldom held to account. The 83-year-old, who is said to have stomach cancer, was pictured today in a cage, and wheeled into court on a hospital trolley. The tough new offensive began with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the start of August and killed several hundred people in the first week alone. The brutality fueled international outrage with Syria, a hardline Arab state closely allied with Iran, and led to new sanctions against the regime by the U.S., Canada and Europe. The United States stepped up calls for a global trade embargo on oil and gas from Syria, warning even some of America's closest allies that they must 'get on the right side of history' and cut links with a government that uses violence to repress protesters. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said international opinion was hardening against Assad, noting a 'crescendo of condemnation' from world powers and Syria's Arab neighbors. But she said tougher action was required, too. In Latakia on Sunday, the sharp crackle of machine-gun fire and loud explosions sounded across parts of the city, once known for its beach resorts that attracted tourists throughout the summer season. Gray smoke drifted across the sea front. The city has a potentially explosive sectarian mix. Sunnis, which are a majority in Syria, live in Latakia's urban core, while Assad's minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, populates villages on the city's outskirts, along with small minorities of Christians, ethnic Turks and other groups. The crackdown, which has targeted predominantly Sunni areas of the city of more than 600,000, raised concerns of sectarian bloodshed in a country that has already seen an alarming rise in sectarian tensions since the start of the uprising. Amateur videos posted on the Internet by activists showed at least one gunship patrolling the coast opposite al-Ramel, and tanks rumbling along the waterfront. The Associated Press could not verify the activists' accounts or the contents of the videos. Syria has banned most foreign media and restricted local coverage, making it impossible to get independent confirmation of the events on the ground. The protests calling for the Assad regime's downfall have grown dramatically over the past five months, driven in part by anger over the government's bloody crackdown. Thousands of others have been arrested, many of them tortured, according to rights groups. The Observatory said in a statement Sunday that it has documented the names of 71 Syrians who have died under torture in Syria since the start of the uprising in mid-March. The government has justified its crackdown by saying it's dealing with terrorist gangs and criminals who are fomenting unrest. | Two-year-old girl among the dead .
Mosques targeted and homes destroyed .
Troops and tanks also enter central city of Homs . |
1a2a4413bbd96ae19b9a082d75e81859d8aed1fa | By . Ruth Styles . From a snowy Christmas lunch in Antarctica to the spectacular light projections currently brightening the facade of Sydney's St Mary's cathedral, the world is gearing up for Christmas in style. But for festive fun, little compares to London's very own Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which, as these stunning images reveal, comes with lashings of Christmas cheer. Also enjoying a spot of festive cheer were the crew of HMS Protector, a Royal Navy ice patrol ship, who stopped for an early Christmas lunch on an Antarctic ice floe. Scroll down for video . Festive fun: The crew of HMS Protector, an ice patrol ship, tuck into an early Christmas lunch while sitting on an Antarctic ice floe. Lunch was followed by a football match . Working holiday: The crew were forced to have their celebrations early because the ship will be at sea on Christmas Day which means there will be no time to celebrate . Record attempt: Chefs in Ham, a village in France's Picardie region attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the planet's longest Yule Log . Although the ship will be at sea on Wednesday - leaving no time for Christmas fun - Captain Rhett Hatcher allowed his crew time off for a roast turkey dinner in a real-life winter wonderland and a game of football. Captain Hatcher said: 'Spending Christmas in the coldest, windiest and driest place on earth comes with a number of challenges but it is a truly unique privilege.' Closer to home, a group of intrepid French pastry chefs attempted to break the record for world's longest Christmas log in the northern French commune of Ham in the French Picardie region. Equally tasty were the offerings of traders at the Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park, who enjoyed a bumper day as shoppers ventured out in search of the perfect present. The temporary, festive theme park runs for over six weeks and features an ice rink, several large rides and numerous food and gift stalls. Tasty: The chefs have to beat the Shanghai Pudong Shangri-La, which in 2011, created a new Guinness World Record with a 1068-metre long Yule log . Festive: A trader serves up a selection of beautifully decorated gingerbread hearts at Winter Wonderland in London's Hyde Park . Sparkling: The historic park has been transformed into a festive paradise complete with a neon ferris wheel, an ice rink and a miniature train set . Tasty treat: A warmly wrapped up couple inspect the colourful penny sweets on display at one large stand at Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland . Spectacular: Winter Wonderland has become an annual tradition and continues until January 5th 2014, although it is closed on Christmas Day . Further north, Bradford residents were enjoying the 18 Christmas-themed ice sculptures which were installed at City Park, Bradford, by artist Jamie Wardley earlier this month. Among them are characters from Wardley's own story, The Children of the Snow and the Boy with the Little Idea, and a life-sized sleigh complete with elves. In Country Durham, the Beamish Open Air Museum got a festive makeover, complete with lights for its collection of vintage trams and buses. A working steam carousel turned under the cover of darkness, while Santa Claus answered children's wishes in his fireside grotto. But perhaps most spectacular of all were the light images that appeared on the side of St Mary's cathedral in Sydney. Entitled Lights of Christmas, the light show includes projections of stunningly detailed biblical scenes, a portrait of Mary and baby Jesus and a gorgeous starry night. Magical: A local inspects three of the 18 ice sculptures on display in Bradford's City Park. The pieces are the work of children's author and artist Jamie Wardley . Old-fashioned: The Beamish Open Air Museum in Country Durham has had a festive makeover, complete with vintage lights and traditional Christmas trees . Edwardian: The Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham includes trams, buses and shop fronts from 100 years ago, including this tram with original ale adverts . What'll it be this year? A colourfully-dressed Father Christmas greets Libby Cooper, nine, and her sister Grace, eight, at the Beamish museum's vintage grotto . Tradition: A woman making a Christmas cake at the Beamish museum. The fruitcake's origins date back centuries to when dried fruit and spices were a delicacy . Engineering: The attractions included an original steam carousel, left, and a working early 1900s tram, right, at the Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham . Christmas spirit: An Edwardian musical duo played traditional folk songs on the cobbles of the replica town at the Beamish museum in County Durham . Lego: Mike Addis and Catherine Weightman spent 10 weeks making a 10ft gingerbread house out of 125,000 Lego bricks at their home in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire . Barmy: The house is the latest in a long line of giant lego decorations which the couple have made for their children Tom, 21, Holly, 18, and Christopher, 15 . Biblical: Scenes projected onto the walls of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney include the Annunciation and Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem (right) Tradition: The spectacular yearly light show has become a popular part of Christmas for Australians living in Sydney . Tribute: A series of differing portraits featuring the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus are projected onto the walls of the Sydney cathedral . Festive: A vast Christmas fir tree and a beautiful scene featuring a magical starry night complete the light show at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral . | In Sydney, St Mary's cathedral is being lit with stunning light projections of religious images .
The crew of the Royal Navy's ice patrol shop HMS Protector had an Christmas lunch in Antarctica .
At home, Londoners took in the sights and lights of Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park .
Beamish Open Air Museum got a festive makeover that included fairy lights for its vintage vehicles .
Pastry chefs in Ham, a village in Picardie, attempted to make the world's longest festive log . |
1a2bd063f5d1b57fa8d6da9154e852a05e373d84 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 13:06 EST, 18 January 2012 . Google will claim solidarity with thousands of websites preparing to 'go dark' at midnight tonight, Eastern Time, in protest against draconian plans to police the . internet and combat piracy. Some of the world's biggest tech . companies are planning to take part in the blackout, including . Wikipedia, Mozilla, Reddit and WordPress. But the search giant has ruled out the possibility of blacking out itself. Google instead said it would change its home page to show its support. Support network: Google will claim solidarity with websites blacking out on Wednesday but search giant has ruled out the possibility of blacking out itself . 'Like many businesses, entrepreneurs and web users, we oppose these bills because there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking American companies to censor the Internet,' a Google spokeswoman wrote in a statement seen by the Huffington Post. 'So tomorrow we will be joining many other tech companies to highlight this issue on our U.S. home page.' Wikipedia is to shut down its . English-language site. An estimated 100 million people will be . affected by the one-day closure of Wikipedia alone, which has . become a vital tool for businesses and students. Jimmy Wales, who founded the site, warned students via Twitter to ‘do your homework early’ ahead of the shutdown. The blackout is part of a widespread protest . campaign orchestrated via social sites such as Reddit - and other . internet heavyweights such as browser company Mozilla are to join in. They are angry about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), which are going before the U.S. Congress. Twitter is not joining in the protest. Its CEO Dick Costolo said at the weekend that applying single-nation politics to a worldwide service was 'foolish'. However co-founder Jack Dorsey did stand with other top tech companies who wrote an open letter to Congress last month warning of the dangers that SOPA would bring to business and innovation. Unprecedented: The English version of Wikipedia is being blacked out for 24 hours in protest against proposed legislation currently going through Congress - the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act . No show: Twitter Dick Costolo called the blackout 'foolish' The laws are designed to prevent online pirates from making music, film, television shows and eBooks available free of charge. However, . critics argue they go much further and amount to an attempt to control . and censor the internet, so curtailing freedom of expression. The Stop Online Piracy Act and the . Protect Intellectual Property Act in Congress - designed to . crack down on sales of pirated U.S. products overseas - has pit internet giants, consumer groups and freedom of speech advocates against film studios and record labels. The . House bill (SOPA) would allow a private party to go straight to a . website's advertising and payment providers and request they sever ties. Supporters include the film and music . industry, which often sees its products sold illegally. They say the . legislation is needed to protect intellectual property and jobs. Critics say the legislation could hurt . the technology industry and infringe on free-speech rights. Among their . concerns are provisions that would weaken cyber-security for companies . and hinder domain access rights. The . most controversial provision is in the House bill, which would have . enabled federal authorities to 'blacklist' sites that are alleged to . distribute pirated content. That would essentially cut off portions of . the Internet to all U.S. users. But congressional leaders appear to be . backing off this provision. Supporters say the legislation is . needed to protect intellectual property and jobs. Critics say the . legislation is too broad and could hurt the technology industry and . infringe on free-speech rights. There are also fears they will give . the U.S. authorities even greater powers to pursue alleged law-breakers . on both sides of the Atlantic. Last week, UK courts decided to extradite British student Richard O’Dwyer to the U.S. on charges of online piracy. In theory, the 23-year-old could be . jailed for ten years for setting up the TVShack website, which provided . links to free pirate downloads of films and TV programmes. His defenders claim he is small fry in . the piracy industry and say Google, which has huge financial and . political muscle, is a major player. Google has never been prosecuted even . though its search engine gives links to many sites that offer illegal . streaming or pirate downloads of films, music, TV shows and eBooks. Wales said in a statement: 'Today Wikipedians from around the world have spoken about their opposition to this destructive legislation. 'This is an extraordinary action for our community to take - and while we regret having to prevent the world from having access to Wikipedia for even a second, we simply cannot ignore the fact that SOPA and PIPA endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, and set a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world.' According to a press release, users of the site have discussed for more than a month whether it should react to the legislation and, in the past few days, tried to decide how. The foundation behind the site, Wikimedia, said it collected input from users over a period of 72 hours before making its final decision on Monday evening based on that feedback. 'This is by far the largest level of participation in a community discussion ever seen on Wikipedia, which illustrates the level of concern that Wikipedians feel about this proposed legislation,' a statement on the Wikimedia Foundation website reads. Protesting: Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales expects an estimated 100 million visitors to be affected by a Wikipedia black out . 'The overwhelming majority of . participants support community action to encourage greater public action . in response to these two bills.' 'Of the proposals considered by . Wikipedians, those that would result in a "blackout" of the English . Wikipedia, in concert with similar blackouts on other websites opposed . to SOPA and PIPA, received the strongest support.' Mr Wales told the BBC: ‘Proponents of . the Stop Online Piracy Act have characterised the opposition as being . people who want to enable piracy or defend piracy. ‘But that’s not really the point. The . point is the bill is so over broad and so badly written that it’s going . to impact all kinds of things that don’t have anything to do with . stopping piracy.’ Social news community Reddit has already announced that it will 'go dark' on Wednesday to protest against the bill. High-profile blog BoingBoing has also announced that it will protest. Browser maker Mozilla has . said that it also intends to protest by 'going dark' briefly and . hosting anti-SOPA content, although copies of its Firefox browser will . continue to work as normal. Comedy network Cheezburger (host of Failblog) also said it will join in. Several sites such as SopaStrike offer 'do it yourself' kits for smaller websites to 'go dark' in protest at SOPA. SopaStrike hosts a list of smaller sites that have said they will black out in protest. Not all sites who join the protest will 'switch off' entirely - some will host banners or turn the front page black instead. Facebook has voiced opposition to the bill but has not committed to any form of protest this week. Twitter will not join in - its CEO said that applying single-nation politics to a worldwide service was 'foolish'. He claimed the proposals were part of a wider attempt by governments to regulate the internet. ‘All around the world, we’re seeing . the development of legislation intended to fight online piracy, and . regulate the internet in other ways, that hurt online freedoms.’ Barack Obama has hinted he may water . down the proposals, which would remove the possibility of Google and . others being prosecuted for directing people to pirate websites. Big Brother Watch, the UK civil liberties campaign group, backed the protest. Its director Nick Pickles said: ‘The . proposals represent a blunt attack on freedom of speech, based upon a . deeply flawed understanding of how the internet works.’ A large-scale blackout is . expected from midnight Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday . until midnight on Wednesday. 'We are looking at a powerful protest,' said Jay Walsh, spokesman for the foundation. Tech . companies such as Facebook, Yahoo and others have also . questioned the legislation and said it poses a serious risk to the . industry. Several online communities such as Reddit, BoingBoing and others have announced plans to go blackout in protest. The Obama administration has also raised concerns about the legislation. The administration said over the weekend that it will work with Congress on legislation to help battle piracy and counterfeiting while defending free expression, privacy, security and innovation in the Internet. | Blackout of 7,000 websites expected from midnight EST on Tuesday .
until the same time on Wednesday .
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales called the move an 'extraordinary action' against the endangerment of free speech .
CEO of Twitter says his site will not 'go dark' calling the blackout 'foolish' |
1a2d41bd1845fe90ed00573d75c8ce8e42e417ab | The French media today reacted mockingly to Mr Cameron’s refusal to pay Britain’s EU budget contribution – likening him to an angry diner out of Fawlty Towers. All major outlets highlighted the Prime Minister’s fury, with the Dauphine Libere running the headline: ‘Angry Cameron refuses to take out his cheque book for Europe’. Europe 1 radio station was typical of those which took up the Fawlty Towers theme, portraying Mr Cameron as the kind of ranting and very dissatisfied restaurant customer who used to visit Basil Fawlty’s hotel in the 1970s comedy sitcom starring John Cleese. Scroll down for video . Ridiculed: French media today reacted mockingly to Mr Cameron’s refusal to pay Britain’s EU budget . Europe 1 writes on its website: ‘A diner unconvinced by the proposed EU menu, David Cameron refuses to pay the bill. ‘It has to be said this is a bit rich, because Brussels is demanding an additional two billion euros from Britain as part of its share of EU budget. ‘Faced with this request, the British Prime Minister has abandoned the traditional English reserve to rant at a press conference that was held on Friday.’ Le Parisien runs a picture showing Mr Cameron with his mouth wide open, and suggests that he was forced to act in such an angry manner by the success of the UK Independence Party. Mocked: Le Parisien said David Cameron's angry reaction was really prompted by the recent success of UKIP . ‘Under immense pressure from Eurosceptics, notably since the last European elections which saw Ukip win more than 27 per cent of the vote, David Cameron believes that this demand does not support the issue of Britain being in the EU,’ the Paris daily wrote. Like many other papers, L’Express and Le Monde concentrate on the reaction of Francois Hollande to the growing crisis, quoting the clearly irritated Socialist president as saying: ‘Respecting treaties is for everybody.’ Complaint: Europe 1 radio station likened the PM's rant to an angry restaurant customer from Fawlty towers . | Major outlets highlighted PM’s fury, likening him to Fawlty Towers customers .
One wrote 'a diner unconvinced by proposed EU menu..refusing to pay bill'
Another spoke of him 'abandoning traditional English reserve' in his rant . |
1a2dd3abbb07f9168335b2ba6b4f2dd74d1f96e5 | By . Associated Press . and James Rush . Police have released the frantic 911 call made from the soccer match where referee John Bieniewicz was knocked unconscious after he was punched in the head by a player. The 44-year-old died at a Detroit hospital on Tuesday following the attack on Sunday at a park in Livonia. 'The referee is knocked out. He's not waking up,' a woman who witnessed the attack can be heard telling officers during the emergency call. John Bieniewicz (pictured, right, with his family) died at a Detroit hospital on Tuesday after he was punched while refereeing an adult-league soccer match over the weekend . Mr Bieniewicz (pictured with his family), a dialysis technician at Mott Children's Hospital, lived in the Detroit suburb of Westland with his wife and two sons, ages 13 and 9 . After the assault, the woman says, the assailant and another man ran to a black Jeep Wrangler featuring 'a huge Brazil flag.' 'Oh God. They're peeling out,' the woman tells the dispatcher. Police said the attack at the Mies Park game came after Mr Bieniewicz announced his intention to send the man off during the match. Prosecutors have charged 36-year-old Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad, of Dearborn, with assault with intent to do great bodily harm. Referee Mr Bieniewicz, in yellow, was punched in the head after he indicated he planned to send a player off during Sunday's game . The Wayne County prosecutor's office . said the charges would be reviewed and possibly amended when it had the . necessary documentation. No new charges had been brought as of Wednesday, said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office. Prosecutors have charged 36-year-old Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad, of Dearborn, with assault with intent to do great bodily harm . County medical examiner's spokeswoman Mary Mazur said an autopsy would take place today at the earliest. Defense lawyer Brian Berry said Saad, an auto mechanic who has been playing soccer for 16 years in the area, is not guilty of the charges and 'wishes to extend his deepest sympathy to the family and friends of John Bieniewicz.' Mr Berry said Saad has two children and supports two stepchildren. 'Just yesterday, when I visited Mr Saad at the Wayne County jail, he stated: "I just want to go home and hug and kiss my kids,"' Mr Berry said yesterday. Mr Bieniewicz, a dialysis technician at Mott Children's Hospital, lived in the Detroit suburb of Westland with his wife and two sons, ages 13 and 9. He was a soccer enthusiast who refereed games for two decades. Two funds have been set up to help with funeral expenses and for Mr Bieniewicz's family. One, set up by friends, had raised $50,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. The other is through Huntington Bank. Earlier this week Jim Acho, a longtime friend of Mr Bieniewicz, said: 'I speak for all his friends when I say . we are devastated. Crushed. Just a senseless way for a great guy to go . out. He deserved better.' 'His friends love him. He lives life to the fullest. Never has a bad day. Ever,' Mr Acho said. Mr Bieniewicz was doing what he loved on Sunday when he was attacked at Mies Park, Mr Acho said. Police have released the 911 call made by a woman who witnessed the incident at the soccer match on Sunday . 'The referee is knocked out. He's not waking up,' the witness can be heard telling officers during the emergency call . | Police release 911 call made from soccer match where referee was punched .
Father-of-two John Bieniewicz, 44, died at a Detroit hospital on Tuesday .
On Sunday he was punched while refereeing adult-league soccer match .
Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad has been charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm .
Defense lawyer Brian Berry said Saad is .
not guilty of the charges . |
1a30131354d9c9e49d7b403b4e63ba5b1818e4b6 | ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Tyler Perry has, for the first time, revealed graphic details about the sexual, physical and emotional abuse he says he suffered as a child. "I'm tired of holding this in," Tyler Perry wrote on his Web site, "... so I've decided to give some away." Perry recounts in a message posted on his Web site and in an e-mail to fans that a prescreening of the film "Precious," due out later this year, dislodged "some raw emotions and brought me to some things and places in my life that I needed to deal with but had long forgotten. It brought back memories so strong that I can smell and taste them." Perry is an executive producer of the movie, which tells the tale of Claireece "Precious" Jones, an illiterate, obese 16-year-old girl from Harlem who is emotionally and physically abused. The 40-year-old producer says he can identify with the character, and he recalls a number of incidents from his childhood. Emmitt Perry Sr., a construction worker, uttered profane insults at him and relentlessly beat and belittled him, Perry says. The random, violent beatings were commonplace until Perry was 19, he said. "You ... jackass! You got book sense but you ain't got no ... common sense," he quotes his father as saying. "I heard this every day of my childhood," says Perry. Attempts to reach Emmitt Perry Sr. for comment were unsuccessful. Tyler Perry was born Emmitt Perry Jr. but changed his name to distance himself from his father. One night when his mother was gone, Perry says, his drunken father "got the vacuum cleaner extension cord and trapped me in a room and beat me until the skin was coming off my back." Perry says that while at a playmate's house when he was about 10 years old, his friend's scantily clad mother locked the friend in the bathroom and told Perry to leave. "I was at the front door trying to get out, when she came in and laid on the sofa and asked me if I wanted the key. I told her I had to go home as it was getting dark. "She put the key inside of herself and told me to come get it, pulling me on top of her," Perry writes on his site. Perry said he was sickly as a child, and that made his father angry. His grandmother contended the family was wasting money on allergy shots. She said Perry had germs on him. One day when Perry's mother was away, he said, his grandmother decided "to kill those germs on me once and for all. She gave me a bath in ammonia." The violence in the home caused Perry's mother to pack up the car with him and his sisters and drive from Louisiana to California. Her husband reported the car stolen, and the family members went to jail until the father came to get them. Perry said his father beat his mother all the way home. The producer said he got through by turning to God, and he forgave his tormentors to help himself heal. Perry, who previously has spoken publicly in more general terms about his childhood abuse, explains his latest revelations this way: "I'm tired of holding this in. I don't know what to do with it anymore, so I've decided to give some away." In October 2008, he told Ebony magazine: "I tell people, if you're thinking about suicide, all that stuff I've attempted and thought about it. If you think about it, life gets better. The key to life when it gets tough is to keep moving. Just keep moving." Perry also is the writer, director and actor in boisterous comedies such as "Madea's Family Reunion" and "I Can Do Bad All By Myself." | Tyler Perry said seeing "Precious" brought back memories of abuse .
Perry, who co-produced the film, wrote a blog entry about "raw emotions" it stirred .
Turning to God helped him forgive and heal, Perry says .
"Precious" is about an illiterate, obese Harlem girl who is abused . |
1a3147aa700e8504497119a072b24085b075a7d5 | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 11:27 EST, 28 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:28 EST, 28 October 2013 . John Force hoists the Funny Car World Championship Trophy after beating his daughter Courtney . A drag racer has won a record 16th title but had to compete against his teammate who happens to be his youngest daughter to take the trophy. John Force, 65, won three straight events and four overall this season to push his record career total to 138 beating his daughter Courtney Force in the final round in the NHRA Toyota Nationals. Mr Force said: 'I read an article this morning about being humble, but right now I'd like to scream and shout. 'If there is anything I've ever done right in my life, it's been a team effort.' He won the final with a 4.062-second run at 310.63 mph. 'We've . won the championship and we're glad to have done so, man we're having . fun. I don't want to end my career at 16. I want to end it at 17 at . least.' Force competed against Gary Densham, Del Worsham and Alexis DeJoria to reach the final round. 'I'd . like to scream and say, "Gee, it was me", but the truth is (crew chief) Jimmy Prock and the team he's got around him is unbelievable,' Force . said. 'It's a team effort and that's what I'm really proud of, holding together when it looked like we were falling apart.' Matt Smith also won at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to wrap up his second Pro Stock Motorcycle season title. John Force (left) won against his daughter Courtney Force (right) in the final round in the NHRA Toyota Nationals . Antron Brown won the Top Fuel event, and Shane Gray topped the Pro Stock field. Smith said: 'This team has been awesome and winning this championship, it's great'. 'I don't want to sound too confident, but we've almost been unstoppable lately.' Drag racing, also known in the industry as Funny Cars, has been dominated by Force. Funny Car driver John Force powers his Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to his third consecutive victory . His daughter Courtney dreamed of racing her father by drawing pictures of herself in a car alongside him. The vehicles allow drivers to hit 300mph within seconds of flooring the accelerator. A passion for racing clearly runs in the family as Courtney's elder sister Ashley was the first to demonstrate that female racers could compete successfully with men when she became the first woman to win a Funny Car event in 2008. She exceeded 300mph, beating her father in the final quarter-mile event. | John Force, 65, won three straight events beating his daughter Courtney .
Drag racing, also known in the industry as Funny Cars, has been dominated by Force . |
1a31604c7a0860a959f1a59107821170776d302c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 8:46 PM on 23rd January 2012 . An investigative hearing has recommended that an American soldier be court-martialed over hazing that allegedly led to a fellow infantryman's suicide in Afghanistan, but dismissed the most serious charge against him. Specialist Ryan Offutt is one of eight soldiers charged in the death of 19-year-old Private Danny Chen, who shot himself on October 3 after what investigators say were weeks of physical abuse, humiliation and racial slurs. A native New Yorker of Chinese descent, Mr Chen had been in Afghanistan only two months when he shot himself in a guardhouse at a remote outpost in Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Scroll down for videos . Death: Private Danny Chen, 19, of New York, was found dead in a guard tower at Combat Outpost Palace on October 3 after apparently committing suicide . Criminal: Specialist Ryan Offutt punched and choked his ex-girlfriend, stripping her, in a sadistic beating in 2001 . Mr Chen's family has said investigators told them that he was subjected to numerous racial slurs and forced to do excessive sit-ups, push-ups, runs and sprints carrying sandbags as punishment for not being as physically fit as the rest of the platoon. On the day that he killed himself, he forgot his helmet and water when he went to report to the guardhouse. His superiors forced him to crawl over 100 meters of gravel with all of his equipment when he returned, all the while having other soldiers throw rocks at him. The investigative hearing recommended . that Offutt, 32, be court-martialed on charges including assault, . negligent homicide, and reckless endangerment, a statement from U.S. military said after the hearing ended Sunday. The most serious charge Offutt now faces is negligent homicide, which carries a prison sentence of up to three years. Sadness: A portrait of U.S. Army Private Danny Chen is displayed during his funeral procession in New York on October 13 after his death in Afghanistan . Grieving: The casket of Private Danny Chen is carried by an honour guard during a funeral procession in New York two months ago . Offutt, from Greenville, who measured more than 6ft is thought to have been among the worst of the alleged bullies. The 32-year-old is one of four soldiers facing the most heinous charges . In October 2001 Offutt was charged with aggravated assault and attempted rape, the Daily News reported. His former girlfriend told police he beat her and ripped off her clothes. 'Offutt tried to have intercourse with her,' a criminal complaint alleged. She 'had to fight Offutt to escape.' The soldier's roommates woke up to the noise of the girl screaming, the complaint states. They found her 'naked and bleeding from the face.' Watch: Private Chen was found dead in October in a guard tower in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province (file picture) In that case, Offutt pleaded guilty . to simple assault and indecent assault and was sentenced to four months . to two years in prison. He was also obliged to attend drug and alcohol . treatment. Offutt joined the army in 2006 and is based at Fort Wainright, Alaska. The regional American military commander will make a final decision on any court-martial based on the hearing's recommendations, the U.S. statement said. Attorneys for Offutt could not immediately be contacted. Offutt, a native of Greenville, Pennsylvania, joined the Army in 2006 and served 14 months in Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan. Seven other members of Mr Chen's unit will face similar hearings to Offutt’s over the next month at Kandahar Air Field, the sprawling base for U.S. and Nato operations in the south. In action: Sergeant Travis F. Carden was one of eight soldiers charged . One of those men- First Lt. Daniel Schwartz, the only officer charged with Chen’s death- also has a record, the Daily News reported. The 25-year-old Maryland man was arrested five years ago for possession of a controlled substance, according to records. The Army has identified the other soldiers charged as Staff Sargent Blaine G. Dugas, 35, of Port Arthur, Texas; Staff Sargent Andrew J. Van Bockel, 26, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Sargent Adam M. Holcomb, 29, of Youngstown, Ohio; Sargent Jeffrey T. Hurst, 26, of Brooklyn, Iowa; Specialist Thomas P. Curtis, 25, of Hendersonville, Tennessee; and Sargent Travis F. Carden, 24, of Fowler, Indiana. All are members of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Conference: The OCA's Elizabeth OuYang speaks in New York on Wednesday while Private Chen's parents, Yan Tao Chen, left, and Su Zhen Chen, right, listen . Remembered: Danny Chen is pictured with his family in an emotional video which features his friends and relatives asking: 'What happened to Danny?' | Private Danny Chen, 19, found dead on duty in October .
Bullied by other soldiers who racially teased him . |
1a328d1ddac528994ae4e96a4d2bbb9eac2172b4 | Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said he will allow Yaya Toure to play through his difficult period rather than take him out of the firing line on compassionate grounds. Pellegrini, who will be without captain Vincent Kompany at QPR on Saturday, has been talking to the troubled midfielder on a daily basis to help Toure rediscover the form that helped City win last season’s Premier League. Toure is mourning the loss of his younger brother Ibrahim to cancer and has had to put up with racial abuse on social media. He lost his head in City’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday and was sent off for shoving Roman Eremenko in the face. VIDEOS Scroll down to watch . Manuel Pellegrini says Yaya Toure will not be sold by Manchester City despite inconsistent displays this year . Pellegrini said Toure is considered a 'very important player' and the club has never thought of selling him . But Pellegrini says neither he nor Toure think a break is needed to recharge the player’s batteries. ‘If I thought Yaya needed to mentally rest from the pressure, he is not the player I think he is,’ said Pellegrini. ‘He has all my support. He made a mistake in the second half against CSKA but not everything that happens at Manchester City is because of one player. ‘Yaya is a very important player. He will continue to (be picked) because that is the best way. ‘I talk to him every day and know he wants to continue playing.’ Toure scored for City against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday . But the Ivorian midfielder later saw red as Man City slumped to a defeat that dents their European hopes . Manchester City are currently six points behind Chelsea in the Premier League title race . The City boss also dismissed reports that Toure will leave the club, despite there being no negotiations planned for a new contract. ‘Never in my mind or anyone at the club have we thought about selling Yaya. Maybe the stories come from teams that want to see us weaker,’ he said. Kompany’s absence with a calf strain picked up against CSKA means Toure could even wear the captain’s armband at Loftus Road if Pablo Zabaleta is given a rest. The injury to Kompany gives a chance to £32million summer signing Eliaquim Mangala, who has had poor reviews since becoming the Premier League’s most expensive defender. ‘He has not played so well in some games but I’m sure he will be an important player for this club,’ said Pellegrini. ‘I remember the criticism (Martin) Demichelis had, now it is the same for Mangala.’ City will be chasing their fifth league win in six games at Loftus Road — a mention of which Pellegrini, who has been criticised for tactical naivety, dropped in to avert any talk of a crisis. They sit third in the table behind Chelsea and Southampton. ‘Every club will drop points and show some weakness at some point over the course of a season,’ the Chilean coach asserted. ‘It was the same last year when we lost a few early away games and when we lost to Liverpool. In the end, finally, the title came here again.’ VIDEO Tueart mystified by Toure's slump in form . | Yaya Toure has struggled to find his best form for Man City this season .
Toure scored but was then sent off in Champions League loss to CSKA .
The midfielder will not be sold by the champions despite his slump .
Boss Manuel Pellegrini has defended the Ivorian ahead of QPR match .
Pellegrini described Toure as a 'very important player' for the club . |
1a32c5017d7aa277060a1c305b97a82df21d9955 | Boris Johnson today waded into the Westminster tax avoidance row – after insisting people had the 'right to minimise' how much they pay. The London Mayor said everyone should pay their 'fair whack' but defended people's right to limit their 'obligations'. His intervention came after Ed Miliband became embroiled in a furious row with the Tory Party after accusing David Cameron of not caring about tax avoidance because he was 'up to his neck' in it. London Mayor Boris Johnson said everyone should pay their 'fair whack' but defended people's right to limit their 'obligations' The Labour leader accused Mr Cameron of being a 'dodgy Prime Minister, surrounded by dodgy donors'. Mr Miliband pointed the finger at Tory peer Lord Fink – accusing him of being involved in 'tax avoidance activities'. In response, Lord Fink threatened to sue Mr Miliband for libel if he repeated the slur. But less than 24 hours later, the former Tory treasurer admitted engaging in 'vanilla' tax avoidance. He added: 'Tax avoidance, everyone does it.' Mr Miliband said Lord Fink's remarks were an 'extraordinary U-turn', adding: 'The thing he objected to was me saying he was engaging in tax-avoiding activities.' He denied ever calling Lord Fink 'dodgy' – but said there were several other 'questionable donors to the Tory Party'. The Labour Party has insisted that any suggestion Ed Miliband avoided tax was a 'straightforward lie' When questioned about the row today, the London Mayor Boris Johnson told the Evening Standard: 'I think people have a legitimate right to minimise their tax obligations if they can but they should pay their fair whack. I do think it's important to be transparent.' Nigel Farage added: 'What I would say is nobody willingly pays more tax than they have to and that is certainly true.' Asked if he had ever taken measures 'to avoid paying tax', he said: 'I have never avoided any tax. I don't think I've ever avoided any tax myself through any complicated measures or in. No I haven't. I haven't. I haven't.' Lord Stanley Fink has given £3million to the Tories and held a bank account in Switzerland . The row erupted when a list of political donors had bank accounts with HSBC's private Swiss banking arm was leaked. Mr Miliband jumped on the revelation that many high profile Tories were named on the list and yesterday attacked the culture of tax avoidance. His remarks sparked accusations of hypocrisy over his own family's tax arrangements. Mr Miliband defended his tax affairs yesterday after being accused of benefiting from a controversial tax-avoidance scheme. The Labour leader and his family used a 'deed of variation' to divide the ownership of the family home in North London after the Labour leader's father Ralph died in 1994. These legal documents – which change the terms of someone's will after they have died – are used almost exclusively to reduce death duty bills in a legal form of tax avoidance. Deeds of variation were described as 'tax abuse' by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor. At an event at his old school, Haverstock School in North London, Mr Miliband defended his own complex arrangements. Asked if he thought it was 'dodgy to use what's called in the trade a deed of variation, to leave your house to your children that avoids tax', the Labour leader said: 'The deed of variation issue is something directed at me personally, it's something that my mother did 20 years ago, that was a decision she made. 'Let me just say this: I paid tax as a result of that transaction, I've avoided no tax in that. No doubt the Conservative Party wants to smear mud today but frankly it's not going to work. The story has been written before and I have paid tax on that money.' Labour today insisted any claim he avoided tax was a 'straightforward lie'. HSBC's private Swiss bank faces a Bank of England investigation . The Bank of England could investigate allegations of tax avoidance at UK-based bank giant HSBC, deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe indicated today. Sir Jon said the Bank was 'not yet' at the stage of probing the bank's private Swiss arm, which is at the centre of claims that it helped customers dodge tax. But he admitted the allegations, which have sparked a storm in Westminster, could be 'of relevance' to the Bank's prudential regulation authority which is responsible for enforcing stability in the British financial system. Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Jon said: 'I think the allegations around HSBC raise serious issues around HSBC's conduct. 'We'd expect the management, the leadership of a large group, to be able to ensure that there is a culture and the operations within that group to manage those sorts of risks. 'I wouldn't comment on the case because we are not at that stage yet, but this is certainly something that could be of relevance to us.' It came as the former director of public prosecutions, SIr Keir Starmer criticised Government guidance that British citizens with Swiss bank accounts were unlikely to be prosecuted for tax evasion if they co-operated with the authorities. Sir Keir, now a Labour Party parliamentary candidate, said the guidance issued in January 2013 following the signing of the UK-Swiss tax co-operation agreement, had come just as he was seeking to drive up prosecutions for tax evasion. The guidance states that provided an account holder makes either a one-off payment or a voluntary disclosure in relation to their relevant assets and fully co-operates with HMRC, 'that person is highly unlikely to be subject to a criminal investigation by HMRC for a tax-related offence for past liabilities'. | The London Mayor said everyone should pay their 'fair whack' in tax .
But Mr Johnson defended people's right to limit their tax 'obligations'
Comes after Ed Miliband became embroiled in furious row over tax dodging .
He said David Cameron was a 'dodgy PM surrounded by dodgy donors'
Aides likened Miliband's stance on tax dodging to Millie Dowler scandal . |
1a340165f2c36a574e6e3a2dc79f5b2ba4b04a01 | This distressing last photograph of a dying mother of four crawling on a hospital floor in agony shocked the nation. Margaret Lamberty’s family complained she was ignored by medics and left to die in a side ward. Despite their pleas for an apology, the Royal Stoke University Hospital refused to admit any wrongdoing in the run-up to the 45-year-old’s death. Almost a year on, however, a damning report has confirmed that the family’s complaints were justified – and the hospital has been forced to say sorry. Shocking: Margaret Lamberty, who was pictured crawling on a hospital floor in agony, was overlooked by medics, a report has revealed . Mrs Lamberty, pictured with her eldest daughter Laura in 2012, died after doctors missed a treatable blood clot in her stomach . The independent report revealed that Mrs Lamberty was indeed repeatedly overlooked by medics who were ‘too busy’ to treat her. It found she died as a result of a treatable blood clot in her bowel that was missed due to ‘substandard management’, including a lack of record-taking. The results are vindication for Mrs Lamberty’s family who, following her death on April 30 last year, said: ‘Mum was failed by the doctors and the nurses. We are determined to get justice.’ Mrs Lamberty, who was a divorced grandmother of eight, was taken to casualty by her family with chronic stomach pain on April 27 last year. She was left for two hours with her pain registering a maximum score on a medical scale until she was finally given drugs to ease her distress, the report said. The Royal Stoke University Hospital refused to admit any wrongdoing in the run-up to Mrs Lamberty's death, but have now apologised . Mrs Lamberty is said to have crawled out to reception to plead for painkillers after staff told her daughter she could only have paracetamol . Staff at the hospital failed to check whether the medication was effective in the days up to her death, despite her pleas for a re-examination. At around 6pm, after Mrs Lamberty had been at the hospital for nine hours, her eldest daughter, Laura, 29, pressed an emergency buzzer as her mother screamed in pain. Vindicated: Mrs Lamberty's daughter Laura said the hospital made her family appear as if they were 'liars' She says she waited 30 minutes for assistance, but no one came to help, so she had to go to the reception desk to ask for more painkillers. Staff told her they couldn’t give her anything other than paracetamol. In desperation, her mother is alleged to have crawled on her hands and knees down the corridor to beg them for pain relief. Mrs Lamberty’s family told staff of her history of blood clots but medics failed to carry out a scan that would have detected the clot until it was too late, stated the report drawn up by a senior nurse and doctor. And when nurses sought to have her condition reassessed, she was denied an examination by senior doctors. Instead, Mrs Lamberty was left in a side ward. The report found her intestinal condition was ‘notoriously difficult to diagnose’. The stay-at-home mother left behind three other children: Sarah Lamberty, 27, Tony Hills, 19, and 14-year-old Gemma Riseley. Mark Hackett, the hospital’s chief executive, has issued an ‘unreserved apology’ and promised to learn from the mistakes. The hospital trust said the care given was unacceptable. But speaking on behalf of her family, mother-of-five Laura, from Chell Heath in Staffordshire, said: ‘They have made us out to be liars but these reports back up everything we say. ‘I don’t want to talk to the hospital again and will take these reports straight to our solicitor.’ The case has been referred to the General Medical Council. Mrs Lamberty’s death was the latest scandal at the hospital, built just three years ago at a cost of £400million. Great-grandmother Lillian Baddeley, 81, died eight months after catching four superbugs. And two premature babies died after contracting a bug because staff did not wash their hands. | Margaret Lamberty, 45, was pictured crawling on a hospital floor in agony .
Her family complained that she was ignored by medics and left to die .
But Royal Stoke University Hospital refused to admit any wrongdoing .
A year on, a damning report confirms the family's complaints were justified .
Medics were 'too busy' to treat the grandmother, who died of a blood clot .
Finally the hospital has been forced to say sorry to her distraught family . |
1a34f00e97c4814fe127431d6d15ee81a0efaeec | By . Laura Cox . A young mother and her two infant children were strangled to death by her ex-con friend, police revealed on Friday, as the friend was charged with their murder. 23-year-old Heather Jackson's body was found brutally slain at her home in Ohio on Saturday, alongside her three-year-old daughter Celina and son, Wayne, aged 18 months. All three died of strangulation, a coroner found, and police are investigating the identity of a murder weapon. Tragic: The smiling mother and daughter, Heather Jackson (right) and three-year-old Celina . Curtis Clinton is accused of strangling to death Heather Jackson and her two young children . The man allegedly behind the killings, 41-year-old Curtis Clinton, was charged with three counts of aggravated murder, seven months after being released from a 13-year term for assault and involuntary manslaughter. Police say he was invited into Jackson's home, where the bodies were later found. Concerned friends had asked officers to check on the young mother, having not heard from her all day, and at around 8pm police made the grisly discovery. Jackson's lifeless body had been shoved between a mattress and a bed frame, with her children's hidden inside a closet, NorwalkRegister.com reported. She and her children had lived in the property for around a month, police said, and she had known Clinton for about five months. 23-year-old Heather Jackson's body was found brutally slain at her home in Ohio on Saturday, alongside her three-year-old daughter Celina (right) and son, Wayne, aged 18 months (left) It is not yet known what his motive was but police say he has a lengthy criminal history including the assault and manslaughter conviction, over the death of 18-year-old Misty Keckler in 1997. She was found dead from strangulation in a Fostoria mobile home and Clinton pleaded guilty two years later. At this stage officers say they believe Clinton acted without an accomplice, though they are continuing to investigate and conduct interviews. He was arrested on Monday from the Bellevue Hospital, where he was receiving unspecified treatment. Already facing charges of raping a 13-year-old girl, the registered sex offender is being held on $3million bond. He is being held in the Erie County Jail, where he will stay until another court appearance next Tuesday. | 23-year-old Heather Jackson found strangled to death at her Ohio home .
Her body was wedged down side of bed, her two children's in a closet .
Curtis Clinton, 41, has been charged with their deaths .
He had become friends with Jackson shortly after being released from a 13-year jail term on a previous manslaughter charge .
Also facing separate charge of raping a 13-year-old girl . |
1a356118bd024a4ed45f958258c8fb6f8603cc00 | Mohamed Salah, dubbed 'the Egyptian Messi', was seen at Anfield . Barcelona have joined United and Madrid in chase for Ilkay Gundogan . Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has refused to rule out PSG move . West Ham consider Wayne Hennesey to replace Jussi Jaaskelainen . Luuk De Jong could be the answer to Stoke's striker problems . By . SIMON JONES . PUBLISHED: . 10:03 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:04 EST, 10 December 2013 . This is . the Transfer Column, where Sportsmail delivers the very latest news, . gossip and rumours from around the football world three times a week. In . today's column: In-demand Basle winger Mohamed Salah could be on his way to Liverpool after being spotted at Anfield, Barcelona have joined Manchester United and Real Madrid in the chase for Ilkay Gundogen and Yohan Cabaye still has eyes for PSG. Liverpool's pursuit of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah seems to be reaching its climactic point after his European representative was spotted at Anfield on Saturday. In-demand: Basle's Mohamed Salah has attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United . Salah has been grabbing headlines with Swiss side Basle for the past 12 months and his performances in the Champions League against Chelsea, in particular, this season have made him one of the hottest properties of the January window. Basle are willing to sell the 21-year-old who has been dubbed 'the Egyptian Messi' for around £15million. He can play anywhere across the front line, is technically good and has blistering pace. He has scored six goals in 22 games for Basle this season and 17 in 26 internationals for his country. Sportsmail revealed Liverpool's interest in September and it follows interest from Tottenham who have maintained a watching brief. Also interested: Tottenham . Also interested: United . Also interested: Chelsea . Tottenham sporting director Franco Baldini watched Salah against Chelsea in November but they may hold off bidding for him with a central striker more their priority for January. Chelsea and Manchester United have also shown interest in Salah but they will also face competition from the likes of Inter Milan and Monaco. United's concern has been who actually represents him with various agents claiming to have the mandate to represent him. However, it is German-based SPOCS agency, with directors Aylmer Woods and Sascha Empacher, who are understood to be the contracted representatives in Europe. Classy: Basle are expected to listen to offers of £10m for defender Fabian Schar . Similar questions have been raised about Salah's club-mate Fabian Schar. The classy centre-back has attracted attention from Tottenham, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and others. Basle were unwilling to sell the 21-year-old in January initially but they sense the interest is that strong they will relent if anyone offers around £10million. Schar does not have an agent as such but uses a lawyer for negotiations. However, he is no intellectual slouch himself having qualified as a Swiss banker with Raiffeisen. Dundee United's Tannadice Park has seen attendances boosted by the arrival of scouts from far and wide of late. Ryan Gauld has been the name on most people's lips while defender John Souttar and left-back Andy Robertson are also coming under close scrutiny. Teenage kicks: 17-year-old Ryan Gauld has been attracting scouts to Dundee United . The 17-year-old Gauld voiced a desire to sample life abroad at the weekend and he could get his wish. Roma and Juventus were among those represented in the stands during Saturday's 4-1 defeat of Hearts. Gauld had a quite game by his standards but they will be back while Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal, Sunderland and Manchester United have been regular visitors. Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is being watched by West Ham United. The 26-year-old is fully fit again after a cruciate injury last year and a knee injury in August. He had a loan spell at Yeovil and returned to action for Wales in November. Sam Allardyce is looking for back-up for Jussi Jaaskelainen and Wolves are open to offers. One in, one out? Wayne Hennesey has been lined up as a replacement for Jussi Jaaskelainen at West Ham, . Hennessey was a keeper with great potential at one stage and is keen to get his career back on track after a couple of setbacks. Liverpool, who have been scouting the likes of Lee Nicholls at Wigan, are also interested in Hennessey. Manager Brendan Rodgers wants to increase competition with Brad Jones and Simon Mignolet. Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is poised to move on permanently following his loan spell at Napoli. The Italians, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Arsenal are all maintaining interest in the Spain international with a deal likely for around £4.5million. Barcelona are the latest side to make contact with the father of Ilkay Gundogan. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is in demand with Real Madrid and Manchester United both keen to take him away from Germany. German engineering: Ilkay Gundogan is a target for Manchester United, Real Madrid and now Barcelona . Irfan, Ilkay's father, insists a deal has yet to be agreed with Real despite strong suspicions one is in place and Dortmund acknowledging the player could go. That has prompted clubs to make more discreet enquiries with Irfan in the hope of gaining a footing in a deal that would cost around £24million. Real Madrid are awaiting a decision imminently from Xabi Alonso on his future which could affect their next target and they are keeping a keen eye on the ongoing chatter that Paul Pogba's is unsettled at Juventus. QPR are keeping a keen interest in Bradford City striker Nakhi Wells. Bradford are resigned to losing the 23-year-old who has 18 months left on contract. Hot shot: Bradford are resigned to losing Nakhi Wells who has scored 14 goals this season . Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are also interested but Bradford want around £3million for the Bermuda international who has 14 goals this season. Bradford chairman Julian Rhodes admitted: 'He can probably earn a lot more elsewhere, so if that’s the case and Nahki is not going to be here beyond this contract, we have to look at any offers if they come in, whether that’s in the next transfer window or the one after that.' Yohan Cabaye has failed to dampen the speculation surrounding a pending move to Paris St Germain. French fancy: Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has not ruled out a move to big spending PSG . Speaking on French TV beIN SPORT, the Newcastle midfielder said: 'As far as I know, there has been no contact with Paris Saint-Germain. Who wouldn't want to join PSG today?' Newcastle want Cabaye to stay until the summer but an offer of around £16million would be difficult to resist. Which international Premier League striker asked a girl on a date and when she refused promised to turn up at her shop every day until she relented. Four days later he sent in a friend to say 'Don't you know who he is?' The girl nodded before replying 'Yes and my boyfriend thinks he's rubbish too.' The agent of Balazs Dzsudzsak, Jozsef Vorosbaranyi has played down talk that Fulham are close to signing the £12m-rated Hungarian winger from Dinamo Moscow. 'Fulham haven't contacted us, we haven't had talks,' Vorosbaranyi told SportKlub Television. 'When Martin Jol was their coach we had been in touch as he wanted to sign Balazs several times. But seeing the budget of Fulham I don't think they could've been able to make an agreement. Feeling Hungary? Fulham are reported to be close to the £12m rated Balazs Dzsudzsak . 'The fee Dinamo would have asked for the player might not be suitable for the English club. Now they have a new Dutch coach, I'm sure he knows Balazs well but we haven't had talks with them.' Luuk De Jong has been discussed by Stoke City as their search for a striker continues. The 23-year-old surprised many suitors last year when he opted to join Borussia Monchengladbach from FC Twente in a £12m deal. He has struggled to live up to his price tag in Germany and that has alerted the likes of Stoke to ask about a deal although the Germans would like to recoup their money. Going Potty: Luuk De Jong (left) could escape his Bundesliga struggles with a move to Stoke . Everton have added Alfred Finnbogasson to their list of striker targets, as reported in today's Daily Mirror, but Heerenveen want close to £8million for the Iceland international who has also interested West Ham, Newcastle and Celtic. Cardiff are another Premier League side considering strikers in January. Manchester City's John Guidetti remains on the lists of many with clubs as diverse as Liverpool and Real Betis understood to be mulling over offers. Saints alive! Southampton are the latest club interested in Rennes' Jonathan Pitroipa (left) Southampton are among clubs watching Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa at Rennes. Monaco will challenge Chelsea for St Etienne bad boy Kurt Zouma. The 19-year-old defender is in demand although his 10 game suspension for his horrendous challenge on Sochaux's Thomas Guerbert has made it difficult for scouts to update reports ahead of January. Manchester City, United, Arsenal and Swansea have all checked on him this season. More... FOOTBALL 9-5: Follow all the news with Sportsmail's live rolling service... United and Arsenal dealt Gundogan blow as Barca enter race for Dortmund midfielder . Messi v Ronaldo v Ribery: Three-man shortlist for Ballon d'Or as Barca star chases fifth straight prize with competition from Real and Bayern aces . | Mohamed Salah, dubbed 'the Egyptian Messi', was seen at Anfield .
Barcelona have joined United and Madrid in chase for Ilkay Gundogan .
Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has refused to rule out PSG move .
West Ham consider Wayne Hennesey to replace Jussi Jaaskelainen .
Luuk De Jong could be the answer to Stoke's striker problems . |
1a372ca9edaa3c7963ca1f0c7dbbf9103e696610 | Retail giant Big W has come under fire for selling novelty Christmas shirts with inappropriate slogans that activists claim sexualises young girls. A festive shirt with the slogan 'nice baubles' has targeted the attention of one outraged shopper, who has started a campaign to have the shirt removed after spotting it in a Big W store. Collective Shout spokesperson Coralie Alison spoken out against the sale of the shirts and said that the product could be harmful to young girls. A festive shirt with the slogan 'nice baubles' has targeted the attention of one outraged shopper, who has started a campaign to have the shirt removed after spotting it in a Big W store . 'These Tshirts can often have a double meaning and young girls can be innocently wearing them without realising the sexual connotation,' said Ms Alison. 'I expect more from a family department store like Big W. There should be checks and balances in place to ensure products that could be harmful to young girls are not ordered and approved for sale on the retail floor,' she said. Outraged shopper Rebecca Holloway created a Change.org petition to have the shirt removed, and said that for 'a supposed family store to sexualise Christmas is just so offensive,' 'There is so much over-sexualised material in marketing. What is this teaching our children, particularly our young girls? Women are sick of being objectified for our body parts,' Ms Holloway wrote on the petition description. Collective Shout spokesperson Coralie Alison spoken out against the sale of the shirts and said that the product could be harmful to young girls . Big W drew attention earlier in the year for introducing the controversial 'Scratch and Sniff' underwear range, which drew outrage from parents and shoppers alike . One supporter wrote, 'I am so tired of Big W using the sexualisation of women in its advertising and now this. I no longer even look through their sales magazines.' Another supporter pointed to what they saw as double standards, writing 'So what is Big W trying to say here, they will, without protest remove nativity scenes, because it MIGHT offend someone but happily sexualise Christmas, what an embarrassment.' Ms Alison said that 'street harassment and violence against women [is] such a big problem in our culture, and this Tshirt draws unnecessary attention to women and girl's chests and can encourage passers by to comment.' Big W drew attention earlier in the year for introducing the controversial 'Scratch and Sniff' underwear range, which drew outrage from parents and shoppers alike. The range, which was removed by the chain after a torrent of complaints were lodged, featured scratch 'panels' in the clothing which released a sweet scent when activated. The range, which was removed by the chain after a torrent of complaints were lodged, featured scratch 'panels' in the clothing which released a sweet scent when activated . Parents launched a tirade of shocked protests on the company's Facebook page, demanding that the products be taken off the shelves . Ms Alison said that Big W were 'repeat offenders' in selling products which sexualised young children and that she would like to see the retail giant withdraw the bauble shirt from their shelves . Parents launched a tirade of shocked protests on the company's Facebook page, demanding that the products be taken off the shelves, labelling the concept underwear as 'inappropriate', 'unecessary', and 'disgusting'. 'Sell what you want to adults but that age... It disgusting somebody even thought up that idea,' wrote one Facebook user. Another said, 'we should be taking a stand against this rubbish! Kids can't protect themselves, it's an adults job to make sure they are safe and not exposed to inappropriate behavior.' Ms Alison said that Big W were 'repeat offenders' in selling products which sexualised young children and that she would like to see the retail giant withdraw the bauble shirt from their shelves. 'I would like to see Big W...enter into discussions with Collective Shout about signing their 'Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge' to ensure no future products objectify women or sexualise children,' Ms Alison said. 'Women deserve to get through at least one Christmas without being objectified and degraded,' said one supporter of the petition. | Big W is selling a novelty girls Christmas shirt with the slogan 'nice baubles' across the front .
An outraged shopper has created a petition to have it removed from stores .
Activists say that the shirt sexualises girls and could be harmful .
Big W removed girls 'Scratch and Sniff' underwear range earlier in the year after their Facebook page was filled with shocked shoppers . |
1a37c5577c8cc55b49157a09e79702d0450b5a36 | Most landlords prepare themselves for some less-than-appealing personal remnants when a tenant leaves, so when this man found more than £600,000 hidden under a bed, it was this shock of his life. Ma Guangdi was cleaning up after one of his former tenants in an apartment in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China when he made the surprising discovery. Underneath one of the beds, he found 6.33million Chinese Yuan in cash, stacked in carton boxes and left behind. Cashflow: The money, a total of 6.33million Yuan (£616,000), was taken to a bank where it has been frozen pending investigation . Shock discovery: Landlord Ma Guangdi was cleaning up after a tenant who had just disappeared into thin air when he found the money . Some deposit: The money being counted at a bank in Dongguan, Guangdong Province . The tenant had been out of reach for several months and after he stopped paying rent, Mr Ma went round to clear out the flat. The former tenant had rented this apartment for several years, but after his contract ran out in may he has been out of reach and didn't continue paying the rent,’ Ma Guangdi said. However it was not until recently that Mr Ma had time to go and clean out the apartment, where he and his friends discovered the huge stack of cash. Hidden away: The cash was neatly stacked inside several cardboard boxes which Mr Ma found when he lifted the mattress . Treasure hunt: The door to the apartment owned by Mr Ma and the building in Dongguan, Guangdong Province . High numbers: The fortune has now been placed in a safety bank account and remains frozen while police investigate the former tenant . ‘When we moved away the bed mattress, we saw that there were four carton boxes under the bed. Each box was fully stuffed and sealed up.’ When Mr Ma tore one corner of the box he was shocked to find that it was filled with bundles of cash. Mr Ma called police who took the money away to be counted, with the local bank valuing the cash to 6.33million Yuan (£616,000) The fortune has now been placed in a safety bank account and remains frozen while police investigate the former tenant. | Chinese man finds £616,000 hidden under former tenant's bed .
Ma Guangdi found the money several months after occupant left . |
1a37d8f2b22da0ea00fffa69d86f2ce3eed13abe | David Moyes was escorted into Borussia Monchengladbach's stadium by Toni Kroos' agent on Friday night after being alerted to a contract stand-off between the Germany midfielder and his Bayern Munich bosses. Bayern striker Mario Mandzukic and Monchengladbach midfielder Patrick Herrmann were believed to be the two main points of interest for the Manchester United manager when he booked his seat at Borussia Park for the Bundesliga fixture, which the visitors won 2-0. But while both are under review at Old Trafford, Kroos has dramatically emerged as a viable target after his representative Sascha Breese, from the Sports Total agency, met Moyes and coaches Phil Neville and Steve Round and sat with them at the game. Hard worker: Manchester United manager David Moyes with Toni Kroos' agent (right) in Germany . Toni Kroos is just 24 but already has 41 appearances for Germany under his belt. Joining as a youngster from Hansa Rostock in 2006, Kroos has flourished into a pass master in Bayern Munich's star-studded midfield. Alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martinez, Thiago or any of Bayern's other superstars, Kroos can pull the strings, drifting into the space behind the forward-thinking Thomas Muller, Mario Mandzukic, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. Fans of Manchester City won't remember Kroos's last visit to England too fondly, when he played all 90 minuted of the humbling 3-1 Champions League win at the Etihad earlier this season. Kroos was also instrumental when Bayern performed a similar feat against Arsenal last campaign. He bagged the first goal in the 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium. At 24 and with a stack of Germany caps to his name, Kroos is a perfect fit for the area of United's team in most urgent need of improvement, and the Germany midfielder could be prised away after stalling over a new deal at the Allianz Arena. His current deal runs out at the end of next season, and Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted: 'It is always about money in every agreement, and talks have so far failed to lead to a new contract for Toni. We are interested in prolonging his stay with us.' Bayern would doubtless ask at least £25million for Kroos, but United have illustrated their willingness to spend big by agreeing a £37m fee for Chelsea's Juan Mata. Bayern are also hoping to open contract talks with Mandzukic, but United will be heartened by news of a fall-out between the free-scoring striker and coach Pep Guardiola. Mandzukic, whose contract runs until 2016, was evidently accused of lacking enthusiasm in training and axed from the squad for Friday night's game. ‘Mandzukic could pack his bags,' said club legend Franz . Beckenbauer. 'I see Lewandowski in . the attack, his playing style is suited for (Pep) Guardiola's ideas . than that of Manduzkic. ‘There . are even more reasons why he could leave - even without him, Guardiola . could still count on Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze in attack.’ Raconteur? David Moyes (left) shares a joke with former Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes (centre) Deep in discussion? David Moyes knows he needs to strengthen his squad before the end of January . Incoming? Monchengladbach striker Max Kruse (left) is interesting United but Bayern's Dante (right) isn't . Significant lead: Bayern Munich's victory took them 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga . The goalscorers: Thomas Muller (right) and Mario Gotze (second left) were again key for Bayern . As for the match itself, Muller set up . one goal and scored a penalty to help the Bundesliga leaders go 10 points clear as the league . resumed after the winter break. Despite . the absence of key players, including the injured Franck Ribery and . Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern picked up where they left . off in December to stretch their unbeaten run to 42 consecutive league . games. After a nervous . opening spell in which third-placed Gladbach squandered a . golden chance, Bayern, who have now won their last nine league games, . settled and came close when Gotze's shot scraped the post. Gotze started in a lone striker role after Mario Mandzukic was dropped . from the squad for not having trained well, according to sports . director Matthias Sammer. He . soon had better luck when Muller raced down the right wing and cut the . ball back for his Germany team mate to drill into the net for the lead . after seven minutes. Gladbach . were constantly on the backfoot against a Bayern side who never hit top . speed but controlled possession, using defender Philipp Lahm as a . holding midfielder while Spaniard Thiago orchestrated the game. The . hosts did come close twice on the stroke of half-time with Bayern . goalkeeper Manuel Neuer palming a Kruse shot on to the post and denying . Juan Arango from close range. Muller . got on the scoresheet eight minutes after the restart, converting a . penalty to condemn Gladbach to their first home defeat of the campaign . before the hosts hit the woodwork again through Herrmann. On . Saturday, second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, on 37 points, are in action . at lowly Freiburg while Borussia Dortmund, fourth with 32, host . mid-table Augsburg. Gladbach are third on 33. Hitting the target? Max Kruse (centre) could strengthen United's attacking options . Looking to impress? Patrick Herrmann hit the post during his side's defeat by Bayern Munich . Left out: Mario Mandzukic (left) could leave Bayern Munich when Robert Lewandowski arrives . Ball winner: Javi Martinez (left) would provide United's defence with a much-needed midfield anchor . | David Moyes in Germany for Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayern Munich .
Interested in Mario Mandzukic and Monchengladbach's Patrick Herrmann .
But Toni Kroos has emerged as target due to contract stand-off .
Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stresses desire to keep Germany star . |
1a387e31630102aa549771b0a7413d6b000d5695 | By . Josh Gardner . Snowfall expected in Detroit tonight could help push Michigan over the all-time record despite spring-like temperatures that neared 70F as late as 11pm Sunday. If more than 1.9 inches drifts down over the Wolverine State before winter finally releases its icy grip, snowfall will exceed the 93.6 inch record set in 1880. Some forecasts predicted up to three inches Monday night. While much of the East Coast reveled in summer-like temperatures Monday, even those were expected to fade into renewed wintery chills by Tuesday. Say it ain't so: Deeply winter-weary Michigan will again see temperatures plummet Monday and the state's even poised to break an over 130-year-old yearlong snowfall record . Record-breaking: A January photo show's Detroit blanketed in the white stuff, a site that became all too familiar to Michiganders this year. If Detroit sees over 1.9 inches Monday, the state will beat record of 93.6 inches set way back in 1880 . The dramatic step back into winter was prefaced by a barrage of soaking rains sweeping towards the east where the incoming cold front clashed with the outgoing warmth. According to Accuweather.com, the chances of Michigan breaking its 130-year-old snowfall record are low but not out of the question. On Sunday, the same storm system dumped six inches of snow onto Nebraska. As the cold air pushes onward, the East Coasters who enjoyed temperatures in the 70s on Monday mercury could dip below freezing overnight Tuesday across the Ohio River Valley, the Appalachians and into the northeast just to the cusp of the I-95 corridor. Only southern Florida can expect to be spared from what is hopefully one of this record-shattering winter's last stands. WHY? The dramatic shift back into winter has already dumped 6 inches of snow on Nebraska and was poised to chill nearly all the East save for South Florida after a barrage of showers and severe thunderstorms . | The Motor City saw temperatures in the high 60s on Sunday but expects flooding rains followed by snow tonight .
A snowfall over 1.9 would put Michigan over the 93.6 inches record set in 1880 .
Meanwhile, the East Coast is experiencing summer-like temperatures, but only until Tuesday when the mercury will dip below freezing in some places . |
1a398d4322fcd5c29067b43fe657cb3ed360bd8e | (CNN) -- The million-dollar questions have been answered. What are the Powerball numbers, and have any winning tickets been sold? Lottery officials released the winning numbers for the largest multistate Powerball jackpot: 22, 10,13,14, 52, and the Powerball number is 11. One winning ticket was sold at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, Florida, according to David Bishop, deputy secretary of the Florida lottery. Saturday's jackpot is a record $590.5 million. It marks the largest in Powerball history, surpassing a $587.6 million jackpot split by winners in Arizona and Missouri in November. The jackpot has a cash value of $376.9 million. "I buy mine here all the time. Yesterday, I was in Naples. I bought it in Naples, That's just my luck," Butch Gonzalez, a regular lottery player, told CNN affiliate Bay News 9 outside the Publix in Zephyrhills. "I just hope whoever won really needs the money, and I hope they do right by it," he said. The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was $656 million in the Mega Millions game in March 2012. That was split among three tickets sold in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. If there had been no winner in Saturday's Powerball, the jackpot would have shot up to $925 million for Wednesday's drawing, according to Kelly Cripe, spokeswoman for the Texas Lottery, which is part of the Powerball game. Powerball is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A single ticket costs $2, and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175,223,510. Why you keep playing the lottery . Hate to break it to you, but you stand a better chance of walking onto the golf course and hitting two consecutive holes in one than winning the jackpot. But that didn't stop hundreds from driving to the Trex Mart in Dearborn, Missouri, where one of two winning tickets was sold in last year's $587 million Powerball drawing. About 100 people an hour were buying tickets at the store. At a convenience store in Riverside, Missouri, Jim Mansell said he was buying only one ticket. "I figure if the good Lord intends you to win, you only need one ticket," he told CNN affiliate KCTV5. "But I don't know if the good Lord believes in gambling or not." In Florida, winners must claim prizes at a state lottery retailer or lottery district office on or before the 180th day after the drawing. Any Powerball retailer in the state can validate a winning ticket. CNN's Scott Thompson and Jake Carpenter contributed to the report. | Saturday's jackpot is a record $590.5 million .
Powerball is played in 43 states and the District of Columbia .
Largest jackpot was $656 million in Mega Millions game in 2012 . |
1a3a14942a17bc9b29964e3384a940838c0cd47c | Paris may be at risk of losing its reputation as the city of love after installing glass and wooden panels on a historic bridge where tourists from around the world have famously attached tens of thousands of ‘love locks’. Glass panels have replaced the traditional railings and wire fencing on part of Pont des Arts to prevent amorous couples from attaching padlocks inscribed with their names, initials or messages of affection. There are plans to add a third see-through panel and expand the experiment to other bridges as the French capital cracks down on ‘visual pollution’ and attempts to make the blighted bridges safer following a dangerous incident earlier this year. Scroll down for video . Love lockdown: Paris has installed glass and wooden panels to prevent visitors from attaching 'love locks' Killing the romance: Glass panels have replaced traditional railings and wire fencing on part of Pont des Arts . Tradition: Tourists attach padlocks inscribed with names, initials or messages and toss the keys into the Seine . Pont des Arts, a little footbridge over the River Seine, is one of the city’s best-known symbols of romance thanks to the ‘love locks’, but it is at risk of losing its identity if its metal fencing is replaced with glass panels. That would satisfy Paris officials and residents, who have long bemoaned the tradition of attaching a padlock as a symbol of undying love and tossing the key in the river. Paris Deputy Mayor Bruno Julliard told Le Parisien: ‘Paris is the capital of love, we are all very proud of that, but there are more beautiful ways of showing that love than by putting padlocks on a bridge.’ He said the locks are a costly hazard because they are damaging the city’s bridges and jeopardising visitors’ safety due to the added weight. Hazard: Paris officials say the locks' added weight is damaging the bridges and putting safety at risk . Part of the footbridge's railing collapsed under the weight of the locks in June . Losing its identity? Pont des Arts is a symbol of romance in Paris thanks to the 'love locks' In June, part of Pont des Arts’ railing collapsed under the weight of the locks, forcing police to close the iconic structure while repairs were made. Earlier this year, two American students who live in Paris launched a ‘No Love Locks’ campaign . The metal bridge was originally completed in 1804 but it had to be rebuilt in the 1980s due to damage caused by aerial bombings during the First and Second World Wars. | Two glass panels have been installed as part of a pilot project .
Paris officials plan to expand the experiment to other bridges .
A railing collapsed under the weight of the locks in June . |
1a3aa5e5f40f0d8dab27b739a5ba6bae7ec32cef | Floyd Mayweather Jnr has named May 2 as the date for his shotgun wedding with Manny Pacquiao. Speculation that the richest fight in boxing history is close to being made has been rife since the Pacman put on an impressive performance to defeat Chris Algieri in Macau two weeks ago. Now Mayweather, put under pressure by one of his promotion companies' events, said: 'Will I fight Pacquiao? Absolutely.' Floyd Mayweather's has confirmed that he will fight with Manny Pacquiao in 2015 . Pacquiao (right) called out Mayweather to fight him after beating Chris Algieri in November . Mayweather says Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has been preventing the fight from happening . When asked if it would be his next fight he replied: 'absolutely.' Pressed as to when that would be he confirmed the expected date for his next appearance, saying: 'May 2, absolutely'. The undefeated holder of the mythical title of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world went on: 'The public want this fight. I want it. the only stumbling block has been Bob Arum (Pacquiao's promoter) but I think both fighters want it. So it's time to get it on.' Mayweather admitted for the first time that negotiations are underway 'behind the scenes', adding: 'I'm not ducking anyone, so let's get this on. 'Years ago we had problems with random blood and urine testing. I just want to have an even playing field. 'Now he's in a very, very tight situation with his loss to (Juan Manuel) Marquez and his loss to (Timothy) Bradley. His pay-per-view numbers are extremely low, so he's desperate. I wanted that fight a long time ago.' The news comes as a blow for Amir Khan (left) who takes on Devon Alexander in Las Vegas on Saturday . For the man who calls himself Money, most of the discussions centre around the split of the biggest purse of all time. It is estimated that the fight will gross a minimum $300million. Pacquiao has agreed to take the thin end of the 60-40 split, although there are suggestions that Mayweather may demand an even higher percentage if an agreement is to be finalised. If Arum can pioneer pay-per-view in his new market, China, the revenue could rise to so far as to make this a billion dollar fight. It is probable that Mayweather will insist on fighting in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas as usual. But Arum has been proposing the erection of a pop-up stadium in the famous Strip with a 50,000 capacity, more than double that of any existing arena in Sin City. If Mayweather is indeed signalling the advent of the biggest fight of all time it will come as a disappointment for our own Amir Khan, who is hoping that an outstanding performance as well as victory here in Vegas this very Saturday night over Devon Alexander would seal his own long-awaited super-fight with Mayweather. December 5, 2009: ESPN report Pacquiao has signed a contract to fight Mayweather which the Filipino later denies. December 11: Yahoo report an eight-page contract was sent to Pacquiao with a proposed date of March 13, 2010. December 22: Golden Boy claim Pacquiao is unwilling to agree to Olympic-style drug testing. December 30: Pacquiao sues Mayweather, alleging him of making defamatory statements regarding performance-enhancing drugs. July 13, 2010: Arum gives Mayweather a week to sign the contract for the fight. July 19: Mayweather's adviser Al Haymon denies negotiations have ever taken place. January 20, 2012: EPSN reports that Mayweather spoke to Pacquiao on the phone and offered him $40m but Pacquiao demanded a 55/45 split in Mayweather's favour. September 25: Mayweather and Pacquiao reach a settlement in their defamation case. December 20, 2013: Mayweather says the fight will never happen while Pacquiao is promoted by Bob Arum. January, 2014: Pacquiao challenges Mayweather to fight him but to donate all proceeds to charity. November 22: Pacquiao beats Algieri and tells Mayweather: 'The fans deserve the fight, I think it's time to make it happen'. | Floyd Mayweather looks set to finally fight Manny Pacquiao .
The Money Man said it would 'absolutely' happen on May 2 .
Talks behind the scenes over Mayweather and Pacquiao's purse split .
Amir Khan looks set to miss out on a mega fight with Mayweather . |
1a3ab8f2ed55ac9329983887bff36983f3154233 | By . Ryan Gorman . and Michael Zennie . A friend of the 26-year-old gunman who opened fire on a Seattle university says the shooter is a' sweet kid' but is haunted by his struggle with addiction. One student died and three others were wounded after Aaron Ybarra stormed the campus of Seattle Pacific University Thursday night with a shotgun - and a friend who had dinner with the suspect the night before the rampage says he is 'shocked' the recovering alcoholic is involved. Nate Flesch told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that he and Ybarra attend the same Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and that the troubled man has been sober for about one year. He spoke with the paper only hours before the suspected shooter was led into court in shackles. Scroll down for video . First court appearance: Shooting suspect Aaron Ybarra, left, is led in chains to a court hearing at a King County Jail courtroom Friday, June 6, 2014, in Seattle . Mourning: Students comfort one another during a prayer service at First Free Methodist Church on the Seattle Pacific University campus in Seattle, Washington June 6, 2014 . 'For the past year and a half or so he's been trying to turn his life around,' Flesch said. 'He attends the same (Alcoholics Anonymous) classes as I do in the Lynnwood area. He's a kid that I think has been sober now for a little bit over a year.' Flesch called Ybarra 'socially awkward,' but 'sweet.' 'He's a sweet kid, he's a nice kid, very thankful, very appreciative, and I'm just kind of shocked to hear it was Aaron who was involved in this.' Ybarra would often go to the bar where Flesch works as a bartender and order a soda or juice - never alcohol. The suspected shooter also just started a new job, Flesch told the paper. 'He was . proud that they were starting to like him at his job. They were giving . him more hours, and he was excited that he would have more money. Flesch insists he has no idea 'what set [Ybarra] off,' and that he is 'flabbergasted by the sequence of events. Shell shocked: Two women embrace Friday near a prayer circle on the campus of Seattle Pacific University . Solemn: Students and other supporters form a prayer circle Friday on the campus of Seattle Pacific University . This is Aaron Ybarra, 26, who allegedly opened fire at Seattle Pacific University, killing one and wounding three . 'He was trying to turn his life around, that he was trying to be a better person, and he was kind of working on his social skills, too,' Flesch continued, adding he had lunch with Ybarra the night before the assault. 'It's a little eerie, a little scary,' said Flesch. 'To be honest with you, I'm a little heartbroken. It breaks my heart to see a kid like this, who was turning himself around, kind of just go off the deep end. I don't know what triggered it. 'For this to happen is mind-boggling, and I don't know what else to say.' The friend spoke not long after the identity of the hero who brought the onslaught to an end with a can of pepper spray was identified by police. Hero: Friends have identified Jon Meis, a 26-year-old engineering student, as the hero who stopped the gunman . Students at Seattle Pacific University say Jon Meis saved countless lives when he sprang into action as the shooter stopped to reload his weapon Thursday afternoon. The heroic engineering student reportedly hit Ybarra with the pepper spray as he ran at and tackled him, saving countless lives. Meis, 26, is engaged to be married and has 'everything to live for' friends said. But he risked his life and ended the murderous rampage. 'I'm proud of the selfless actions that my roommate, Jon Meis, showed today taking down the shooter. He is a hero,' tweeted Matt Garcia. Classmate Briana Clarke told the Seattle Times that Meis, who was on duty as a hall monitor, sprayed the attacker in the face, grabbed him around the neck and then wrestled him to the ground. 'There were a lot of shells on the ground..it looked like he was planning to go the distance and Jon stopped him,' another student told KOMO-TV. Several other students then piled on the attacker and held him until police arrived. 'But . for the great response for the people at Seattle Pacific this incident . would have been much more tragic,' assistant police chief Paul McDonagh . said Thursday night. Scroll down for video . This is the scene of the deadly shooting inside a science building at Seattle Pacific University on Thursday. Shotgun shells can be seen littering the ground . Tragedy: A victim is loaded into an ambulance on the campus of Seattle Pacific University after a shooting Thursday afternoon . A . 19-year-old male student was shot in the head and died at a nearby . hospital. A 20-year-old female student was shot in the neck and remains . in critical condition. Two other students, both males in their 20s, were wounded but are in good condition after sustaining minor injuries. The gunman has been identified as Aaron Ybarra, 26, according to KIRO-TV. Authorities say he is not a student and has no connection to Seattle Pacific University or to any of his victims. Detectives are still trying to determine why he targeted the college. Police say he is not a student, but reports indicate he had visited campus in recent weeks to scope it out. KING-TV reports that Ybarra lives with his parents in the Seattle area. He has reportedly confessed to the . shootings and even bragged about the carnage he inflicted on the campus. Authorities say he did not expect to survive the rampage. His Facebook page says he is a former janitor at LA Fitness and attended Edmonds Community College. In the panic, police believed there was a . second shooter and searched for up to an hour, possibly delaying . medical attention for the wounded, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. 'Hero': Jon Meis, 26, is being credited with stopping the would-be murderous rampage by tackling the gunman as he stopped to re-load. Meis is seen here with his fiancee Kaylie Sparks, whom he will marry June 21 . Ybarra, 26, says he is a former janitor at LA Fitness. According to reports, he still lives with his parents in a Seattle suburb . Students who fled Otto Miller Hall were patted down and scanned by officers to ensure they were not armed . Hunt: Police officers and detectives search a home believed to be tied to shooting suspect Aaron Ybarra . Guard: Officers were parked up outside the home as detectives roamed inside searching for evidence . Search: Police outside the home believed to be connected to Ybarra. He reportedly bragged of the carnage . Armed: Police entered the house with their guns drawn last night. Authorities say the suspect is not a student . Witnesses . said the gunman barged into Otto Miller Hall - the science and . engineering building for the university - about 3.30pm on Thursday. One . witness told KIRO-TV that the gunman held his weapon on three students . and told them not to move, when they did, he shot and wounded two and shot another student in the face. The victim who was shot in the face was rushed to the hospital, where he died. 'The shooter began to reload his shotgun and a student that is the building monitor inside the hall confronted the shooter, was able to subdued the individual, and once on the ground, other students jumped on top of him and were able to pin the shooter to the ground until police arrived,' Seattle Police Captain Chris Fowler said in a press conference. Seattle Pacific is a small Christian college associated with the Free Methodist Church with a student body just of about 4,370. Medics work on one of the victims from the deadly Seattle Pacific University shooting before taking the subject to the hospital for treatment . Students were evacuated from Otto Miller Hall, where the shooting took place, and led single-file out of the building by armed officers . Students comforted each other as they frantically tried to get in touch with loved ones following the chaos of the shooting . This is believed to be the truck that belongs to the suspect, who is currently being interviewed by police. It is parked on campus near the building where he opened fire . The university was placed on lockdown and . the administrators advised students to stay inside and lock their . windows and doors and close their blinds. Students were sent an email . blast that warned: 'THIS IS NOT A DRILL.' It's unknown whether the gunman is a student at the university or whether the victims were random strangers or targeted. Some students told KCPQ-TV that they recognized the shooter, indicating that they might have recognized the gunman. Video from KIRO-TV showed a young man who appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s being led away in handcuffs. Seattle Pacific students gathered to pray after the the horrific violence on their small campus Thursday afternoon . A grieving student covers his face as he mourns the loss of a classmate at the small Methodist university . Following the lift of a lockdown in the wake of a school shooting, Seattle Pacific University faculty members Caenisha Warren, left, and Tanisha Hanson, right, embrace each other . | Friend Nate Flesch had dinner with shooting suspect Aaron Ybarra the night before the rampage .
The two attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings together .
Ybarra wasn't a student and had no connection to Seattle Pacific or his victims .
A 19-year-old man was killed and a 20-year-old woman remains in critical condition .
The other two students are in stable condition .
Engineering student Jon Meis has been identified by classmates as the hero who stopped the gunman . |
1a3b13257d7c7ddc61454b8ddc2be4c35f8eedce | By . Sam Adams and Thomas Durante . UPDATED: . 02:57 EST, 19 February 2013 . Death: New images of Osama bin Laden's corpse have been discovered, but won't be released to the public if the Justice Department has its way . Additional images of Osama bin Laden taken shortly after his death in a daring Navy SEAL raid have been found by the CIA - but all of the photos will remain unseen by the public. The discovery was announced on Friday in a letter from the Justice Department. The new pictures would add to about 52 grusesome shots of the terror leader's body after he was killed in May 2011 by members of SEAL Team Six as they raided his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Those photos were requested in a Freedom of Information filing by Michael Bekesha of Judicial Watch after the federal government ruled they must be kept classified for national security purposes. In a letter to Mr Bekesha obtained by The Huffington Post, the Justice Department said that 'the CIA recently located seven additional images of Osama Bin Laden's body from the May 1, 2011 operation that resulted in his death.' The letter went on: 'These additional images were not located during the CIA's search for responsive records in this case. However, these images of Bin Laden's corpse are of the same nature as thematerials the CIA previously identified [as classified].' A lower court has already upheld the . government's argument that the photos should remain secret in the . interest of national security, according to WestWingReports.com. But a federal appeals court is now considering whether the 52 pictures should be released to Judicial Watch, a conservative-leaning legal watchdog. The group says it is not seeking any information about equipment or techniques used in the raid. Viewing the raid: President Obama and his key staffers watch the Navy SEAL mission at Osama bin Laden's compound in this White House photo . But President Obama has maintained that the photos' release could endanger American citizens. During a recent '60 Minutes' interview, Obama said it was important to ensure that 'very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool.' After bin Laden was killed, the Obama administration said his body was buried at sea off the USS Carl Vinson - in accordance with Islamic tradition. The raid itself was completed shortly after 1am local time when bin Laden was shot once in the chest and once in the head by a U.S Navy Seal who announced: 'For God and country Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo.' Geronimo was the code-name given to the al-Qaeda leader. As Obama himself said in the White House Situation Room watching events unfold: 'We got him.' On TV: Bin Laden is shown watching himself on television in this video frame grab released by the U.S. Pentagon May 7, 2011, six days after his death . Safe house destroyed: Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound is pictured in May 2011 (left). It was demolished months later (seen at right) Before . the U.S Navy SEALs left the compound, they destroyed one of the two top-secret stealth helicopters that had brought them to the house after it . encountered difficulties on landing and therefore could not take off . again. Intelligence . recovered from the home made public in the aftermath of his death showed . Osama bin Laden wrapped in a blanket and watching news coverage of . himself. And it was later . reported from Pakistan that one of bin Laden's wives told the Pakistani . authorities that they had lived there for five years without detection. In . February 2012, Pakistani security agencies demolished the building to . stop it becoming a shrine to the al-Qaeda boss. | Images discovered in Freedom of Information request filed by Judicial Watch, a right-leaning legal watchdog .
Photos taken following killing of Bin Laden by Navy Seals in May 2011 raid on his compound in Pakistan .
President Obama has said that releasing photos could incite violence against the U.S. |
1a3c1f1fc90abfd23340000fef33572770c6ec7f | A Conservative school board made the controversial decision to remove information about contraception from a biology book because it flouts state law. Members of the Gilbert Public Schools board, in Arizona voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to take out two pages from ‘Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections’ which dealt with contraception. The school board argued that the information in the book went against a law which states that students should be given 'facts about childbirth or adoption over abortion.' Controversial: Members of the Gilbert Public Schools board, voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to take out two pages from ‘Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections’ book, pictured here, . The board covers at least 38 schools and 39,000 students mostly in Chandler and Mesa, in Arizona. Board member Julie Smith told 12 News in Phoenix: ‘By redacting, we are not censoring.’ ‘This school district does offer sexual education classes. If we were censoring, we would not offer anything on this topic whatsoever.’ The biology textbook describes, among other topics, contraception techniques, including explanations of how the morning-after pill works. And it was this mention of the morning-after pill being able to induce an abortion that led Scottsdale-based legal group, Alliance Defending Freedom, to write to the Gilbert Public Schools superintendent in August. It said that a parent had raised concerns that the text was not compliant with state legislation. The textbook was also criticized for going against the beliefs of some conservative Christians who believe that life begins at the moment of conception. However, the book also points out that abstinence is the only fail-safe birth control method. School board: Ron Bellus, left, and Dawn Brimhall were among members from the Gilbert Public Schools governing board who weighed in on this week's decision to edit a biology textbook . J. Charles Santa Cruz, left, and Jill Humphreys, right, were among members who voted 3-2 that the high school textbook does not align with state law on how abortion is to be presented to public-school students . Reed Carr, another board member voted to remove the pages that did not comply with the law . In 2012, Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed the law which states ‘the state has a strong interest in promoting childbirth and adoption over elective abortion,’ in school programs. But the alliance said the materials, which have been used in the district since 2006, present elective abortions as a viable option for students while making no mention of childbirth or adoption. However, an official from the state’s Department of Education said in an email to Gilbert Public Schools last month that the book did not appear on its face to violate the law. Yet they agreed that it was important for locally elected school boards to choose texts they prefer when it comes to a topic such as sex education, ‘where the values of parents are heavily involved.’ There have been a series of debates recently over the best way to teach U.S. teens about sexual health and reproduction in public schools. Last month in Colorado a fight over the content of an advanced history course took center stage as the school curriculum came under scrutiny. | Members of the Gilbert Public Schools board, voted 3-2 to take out two pages from ‘Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections’
The board covers at least 38 schools and 39,000 students in Arizona .
There were complaints the book described the use of the morning-after pill .
This challenged a law that states students should have facts about childbirth over abortion . |
1a3d698f1c57c321dada8ed7a9918e56109ed617 | The Christmas presents stolen from Great Ormond Street Hospital have been replaced by a 'long-term supporter,' hospital staff confirmed last night. The 20 gifts, worth £2,000 and bought . with donations from well-wishers, were destined for patients on the . intensive respiratory care ward, too ill to go home for Christmas. The theft was described as a 'disgusting crime beyond belief', and prompted an avalanche of offers of help and last night gifts came pouring in from well-wishers, including the Duchess of York. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Wishing well: Employees from a London recruitment company deliver Christmas presents to Great Ormond Street children's hospital last night . Donations: All the stolen gifts have been replaced by an anonymous supporter, yet further gifts, such as these from last night, have been donated to Great Ormond Street . London Police are combing . through CCTV footage to identify the culprit, . feared to be a member of staff at the Central London hospital. The gifts were in a room secured with a key-code lock which the thieves ransacked, even taking the giftbags the presents were to be given to the children in. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said he found it hard to imagine a worse crime. 'It's pretty disgusting really, isn't it? You can't imagine anything worse in a way: children who are very ill and at Christmas,' he told radio station LBC 97.3 yesterday. 'Somebody's taken the time to buy them something to cheer them up and somebody's stolen them. So it's pretty awful.' Lord Sugar, Currys, Blockbuster and PC . World offered to pay for new presents, with The Apprentice guru . tweeting: 'Disgusting that xmas presents were stolen from . @greatormondstreet kids. Replace them and send me the bill to . @stylfile.' Team support: England assistant Coach Ray Lewington and England Manager Roy Hodgson were pictured having a chat with Rebecca Mawbey, 13, from Watford during a visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital yesterday . England Coach Gary Neville, England assistant Coach Ray Lewington and . England Manager Roy Hodgson speaking to Kevshi Shah, aged 10 from . Ilford, at Great Ormond Street Hospital . Scottish football club Celtic FC also pledged to replace the gifts which included portable DVD players, Nintendo DS games and DVDs. after hearing what happened. A club spokesperson said the club was 'are only too happy to help where we can in replacing these presents for the children.' It's really shocking that this has . happened,' goalkeeper Fraser Forster told The Guardian, adding: 'The club is . delighted to step in and replace the presents.' Stunned detectives suspect the gifts may have already been sold for as little as a few hundred pounds to buy drugs. Detective Chief Inspector Les Newman said he and his colleagues were ‘utterly disgusted’. Mr Newman said some of the intended recipients may not see another Christmas. ‘This is a despicable crime committed by heartless individuals,’ he said. ‘I urge the thief to think about their actions and do the decent thing and return them. I would like to think they had a heart, especially around this time of year.' Helping hand: Employees from a London business deliver Christmas presents to the children's hospital . Toy service: London crewing company Pinnacle were among many businesses and members of the public who offered help in replacing the stolen presents . ‘For some of these kids, it could be their last Christmas. Anyone with kids will feel for this crime and if they have got a suspicion, I suspect they will contact us. ‘There is no honour among thieves and I think we are going to get a phone call telling us who it is. ‘Frankly, I am willing to launch a national manhunt to catch the person responsible. If it means putting their face on lorries and driving them around London, that is what we will do.’ Mr Newman said the crime is the ‘No 1 priority’ for his team, which specialises in thefts. Police believe the thief was caught on camera but face a substantial task because the presents went missing during a three-day window before the discovery on Monday afternoon. Well-wishers flooded the hospital with offers of cash and replacement gifts as news of the theft spread. Staff said they had been ‘overwhelmed’ with generous offers, with one adding: ‘There are some bad people out there but there are a lot more good ones.’ Heartbreaking: The presents, which were bought by the hospital's charity and were meant for children in intensive care, were stolen over the weekend . One nurse who has worked at the hospital for two years said: ‘It’s despicable. We could hardly believe it when we heard. Even if the thief didn’t realise the presents were for the children, they were clearly Christmas presents. ‘It must either have been someone who didn’t understand the significance of Christmas, or someone who just didn’t care. It’s heartless beyond belief.’ Relatives of patients said the theft was the ‘lowest of the low’. Jessica Barnard, 29, told how her . three-year-old daughter Rosie, who suffers from cerebral palsy, spent . her first Christmas in hospital. She . said: ‘The staff really make an effort and the children have pillow . cases of toys on Christmas morning. It’s so good what they do and to . think someone could do this, it’s disgusting.’ Det Chief Inspector Les Newman speaks about the Great Ormond Street Hospital Christmas present robbery . Revered care: The work of Great Ormond Street Hospital was honoured during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games . Pamela . Clark, 71, added: ‘My granddaughter has been in and out the hospital . for eight years so she’s spent many Christmases here. To take the . kiddies’ presents, you can’t get much lower than that.’ A hospital spokesman said: ‘We can confirm there has been a theft and are fully co-operating with the police. We have been overwhelmed by generous offers from individuals and companies to replace the missing items. ‘These items have now been replaced by a long-term supporter. Thank you to everyone who has contacted us for their concern and kindness.’ Great Ormond Street Hospital was set up in 1852 and is celebrating its 160th anniversary. It treats 300,000 children every year, including many with rare and life-threatening illnesses. Its work was honoured during Danny Boyle’s Opening Ceremony at the London Olympics. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and ask for the CID office at Holborn. If you wish to remain anonymous then please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 . VIDEO: Police desperate to find stolen presents before Christmas . | Theft from intensive care ward at Great Ormond Street cause outrage .
Gifts were meant for children too ill to go home for Christmas .
A 'long-term supporter' replaced presents, hospital staff confirmed last night .
About 20 wrapped items were taken between Friday and Monday from a cupboard in a part of the hospital not open to the public . |
1a3eafbdef46d0f18c5e25bcaac9862581afcc76 | (CNN) -- Afghanistan's president is speeding up the transfer of the U.S.-run prison at Bagram to Afghan control within a month after hearing a report citing problems at the facility, including human rights issues. President Hamid Karzai on Thursday assigned a commission to conduct the move. He made the decision after a briefing about the facility and the condition of its prisoners from the head of the country's Constitutional Oversight Commission, Gul Rahman Qazi. The commission is made up of top Afghan officials, including the defense, justice and interior ministers. "The report details many cases of violations of the Afghan Constitution and other applicable laws of the country, the relevant international conventions and human rights," the president's office said. A transfer has been planned for a while, and this effort is being made as the United States pledges to hand over more authority to the Afghans in the coming months and years. The original detention facility had been the Bagram Theater Internment Facility at Bagram Air Base. It has been replaced by a nearby prison built in late 2009 called the Detention Facility in Parwan, named for the province. Both facilities have been called Bagram prison. "The United States has repeatedly made clear we are committed to working with the Afghan government to complete a joint plan for transition of detention operations in Afghanistan," said Gavin Sundwall, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. "We will continue to work with the Afghan government to meet this objective." Sundwall said he believed the announcement referred to Parwan but added that the embassy only had the palace statement to refer to and had not been given a copy of the commission's report mentioned in the presidential news release. "We take seriously and investigate all allegations of detainee abuse. The United States respects the human rights of detainees at the Detention Facility in Parwan. Any specific allegations of detainee abuse should be addressed to ISAF," NATO's International Security Assistance Force. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States has been working with the Afghan government "on appropriate timing and pace for transfer of the detention facilities." "We're going to continue to work with the Afghan government to implement the transition -- that we have both agreed needs to happen -- of detention operations in Afghanistan. We need to do this in a manner that is maximally responsible," she said. Karzai's decision also comes amid tensions between the United States and Afghanistan over the announcement of a Taliban office in Qatar. Karzai withdrew his ambassador from Qatar last month, apparently unhappy that his Western allies -- and principally the United States -- were forging a channel for talks with the Taliban without his approval. The United States invaded Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban after the al Qaeda terror network attacked the United States on September 11, 2001. The Taliban had ruled Afghanistan since 1996. Human rights activists have criticized detention practices at the Bagram facilities over the years. Last year, Human Rights First said the detainees "are, in fact, afforded far fewer rights than are those at Guantanamo, who have the right to challenge their detention in a U.S. court and to representation by a lawyer." "Some detainees at Bagram have been imprisoned for eight years or more without charge or trial, based largely on evidence they have never seen and with no meaningful opportunity to defend themselves," a report from the group said in May. A U.S. Forces in Afghanistan fact sheet issued in October said the Detention Facility in Parwan "enables security, transparency and rule of law in Afghanistan both now and when the facility is transferred to the Afghan government. The design of the DFIP allows for safe, humane and effective management of the detainee population." CNN's Nick Paton-Walsh contributed to this report. | Detention facility in Parwan, Afghanistan, was built in late 2009 .
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul says it takes abuse allegations seriously .
Human rights groups have criticized abuses at Bagram in the past . |
1a403f2be92a82223a88151b2b1fe688ae3713b3 | Steven Gerrard will leave Anfield at the end of the season. Click here to read Dominic King and Neil Ashton's story . Liverpool's American owners have told Steven Gerrard he is welcome to return to Liverpool at any time, following the announcement of his departure at the end of the season. Gerrard made his Liverpool debut in 1998, and has made just shy of 700 appearances for the Reds to date. Prinicipal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner said in a statement: 'This news stirs many strong emotions for all of us connected with the club. Steven Gerrard (pictured right, with Jamie Carragher) holds the Champions League trophy in Istanbul, 2005 . This season, Gerrard has found himself on the bench on a number of occasions, and will move on in May . Liverpool's Twitter page confirms the Gerrard news . 'There is sadness that such a great player and person is leaving and won't be playing for Liverpool beyond this season. 'But there is also a sense of celebration and gratitude, that we've all been privileged to watch and work with one of the true greats, not just of this club, but the game in general. 'We will all have our own personal memories of breathtaking Steven Gerrard moments; there are far too many to list.' Of those memories, many will point to the 2005 Champions League final as an overriding high point in Gerrard's career. Three down to AC Milan at half-time in Istanbul, Liverpool looked to be heading for defeat, before their captain inspired a miraculous second-half comeback to take the game to extra time. On penalties, Liverpool were victorious and Gerrard lifted the most memorable trophy of his Anfield career. Henry and Werner's statement continues: 'His contribution to the club is almost beyond measure and it's testimony to his influence, that despite Liverpool having such a long and distinguished list of legendary figures, the name Steven Gerrard will always be at the summit. John Henry (left) and Tom Werner have said that Gerrard is welcome back at the club at any time in the future . Gerrard celebrates in front of the Anfield crowd after scoring a goal in the Champions League against Porto . Liverpool beat AC Milan on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final - Gerrard is lifting the trophy . 'Another emotion that resonates today is respect; a respect not just for his achievements but also the decision he and his family have reached. 'Steven will always have a part to play for this club, as and when the time comes that he wishes to return. 'I hope we all respect that Steven and his family want to pursue something new and different for the final years of his playing career. 'We all wish him well in this endeavour and look forward to welcoming him back to Anfield in the future, when the time is appropriate.' | Steven Gerrard will leave Liverpool at the end of the current season .
He has said he will not join a direct rival of the Anfield club .
Liverpool's American owners have said he is welcome back at any time .
They say the news has stirred strong emotions for everyone at the club . |
1a405be1459179c2940eb26c018d79363828fbc1 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:37 EST, 23 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:42 EST, 24 April 2012 . Former Democratic presidential contender John Edwards was today described as a 'master manipulator' at the start of a trial that could see him handed a lengthy prison sentence. Prosecutors are trying to prove that the ex-Senator knew that $1m in donations to his 2008 presidential campaign was intended to prevent his family finding out about his mistress. He faces six charges including conspiring to solicit funds and taking illegal campaign contributions- each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. But his defence argues that the donations handled by his staffer Andrew Young were gifts from friends who wanted to hide the affair. They claim most of most of the money was siphoned of by Mr Young's to renovate his home. Mr Young has struck a plea deal with prosecutors and is due to take the stand against his former boss. 'Master manipulator': John Edwards arrives outside federal court with his daughter Cate in Greensboro . Possible defence witness: Rielle Hunter, the former mistress of John Edwards, enters the federal courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, Thursday, August 6, 2009 with the pair's child Frances Quinn Hunter . But the defence today tried to undermine him by revealing that he had a one night stand with another witness in 2007. U.S District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles said that former Edwards aide Andrew Young slept with a young . campaign employee and also contacted three other witnesses in the past . two weeks to consult with them about their planned testimony. Calling . into question the credibility of the key prosecution witness, Young had . agreed to testify against his former boss in the hope that he will . avoid prosecution himself in the fallout from the trial of almost $1 . million of misappropriated campaign funds by Edwards. The judge ruled that lawyers for Edwards . could mention the improper contact to . jurors in opening arguments Monday, but barred them from using the term . 'witness tampering' or telling the jury that Young had a one-night . stand with one of the other witnesses in 2007. The former aide is . potentially the government's most important witness as prosecutors seek to . prove the then-married Democratic candidate masterminded a scheme to use nearly . $1 million provided by two wealthy campaign donors to help hide his pregnant mistress . as he sought the White House in 2008. Young once falsely claimed paternity of . the child Edwards fathered with his then-mistress Rielle Hunter in 2007. Edwards, 58, has pleaded not guilty to . six criminal counts related to alleged violations of federal campaign finance . laws. Violation of federal law: Andrew Young pictured with his wife Cheri contacted three witnesses in the John Edwards criminal trial to ask about their possible testimony said the judge in the trial today . The former candidate sat silently in the . courtroom Monday morning as the lead federal prosecutor called him a man who . would say or do anything to get elected president, including violating the law . to hide his affair and keep his campaign viable. 'It wasn't just a marriage on the . line,' said prosecutor David Harbach. 'If the affair went public it . would destroy his chance of becoming president, and he knew it. ...He made a . choice to break the law.' The judge seated 12 jurors and four alternates Monday morning. The panel is . made up of nine men and seven women drawn from central North Carolina, the . state that elected Edwards to serve one term in the U.S. Senate. Former U.S. Sen. and presidential candidate John Edwards arrives at federal court. Prosecutors and defense lawyers will begin making their case to jurors on whether the former presidential candidate violated federal campaign finance laws . A defense lawyer for Edwards told the . jury that most of the money at issue in the case went not to support Hunter, . but was siphoned off by Young and his wife to build a $1.5 million 'dream home' near Chapel Hill. Former candidate Edwards' lawyers contend the payments were gifts from friends . intent on keeping the candidate's wife from finding out about the affair. Tragically, Elizabeth Edwards . died in December 2010 after battling cancer. A key issue will be whether Edwards knew about the payments made on his . behalf by his national campaign finance chairman, the late Texas lawyer Fred . Baron, and campaign donor Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, a now-101-year-old . heiress and socialite. Andrew Young, former campaign aide to former U.S. Sen. John Edwards enters the Federal Courthouse for opening day of Edwards' criminal trial on April 23, 2012 in Greensboro . Each had already given Edwards' campaign the maximum . $2,300 individual contribution allowed by federal law. Edwards denies having known about the . money, which paid for private jets, luxury hotels and Hunter's medical care. Prosecutors will seek to prove he sought and directed the payments to cover up . his affair, protect his public image as a 'family man' and keep his . presidential hopes viable. It is alleged as part of this, Young and his wife invited the pregnant . Hunter to live in their home near Chapel Hill and later embarked with her on a . cross-country odyssey as they sought to elude tabloid reporters trying to . expose the candidate's extramarital affair. Former aide Young later fell out with Edwards and . wrote an unflattering tell-all book, 'The Politician.' Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards enters the Federal Courthouse for opening day of his criminal trial. The once Democratic presidential candidate, Edwards is expected to plead not guilty to six counts of campaign finance violations . And just recently, Young and Hunter ended a two-year legal battle over ownership of a sex tape the . mistress recorded with Edwards during the campaign, agreeing to a settlement . that dictates that copies of the video will be destroyed. While Young is expected to be a witness for . the prosecution, the defense is likely to call Hunter to testify. Two of . the lawyers who represented Hunter in her civil suit against the former aide . joined Edwards' legal team last month. After years of adamant public denials, . Edwards acknowledged paternity of Hunter's daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, in 2010. The girl, now 4, . lives with her mother in Charlotte and is visited frequently by Edwards. And despite rumours Edwards and Hunter were looking to get married, a recent sighting reported to the New York Post claims the one-time secret romance is no more. The old flames were seen eating together at . Rooster's Wood Fire Kitchen in Charlotte where they often take their . daughter Frances Quinn, four, and apparently looked far from a couple in . love. A staff member at the restaurant said: 'They . didn't seem romantic. You would think that they were a married couple . if you didn’t know them. He sat across from her in a booth.' Hunter's publicist Rosemarie Terenzio confirmed the couple see each other often but not romantically. She . told the Post: 'No, she wasn’t ever engaged to him. They see each other . often. They raise Quinn together and they do so extremely amicably.' | Former Democratic presidential contender called a 'master manipulator'
He faces a lenghty prison sentence if convicted over $1m donations 'to hide his affair from family'
Defence argues that money was 'private donation' and reveals one-night stand of star witness . |
1a40b63bbd88ee9b7de6d1a06c5a7107344765fd | By . Sadie Whitelocks . 19 Kids and Counting star Michelle Duggar has revealed that she sticks to a $5 per person daily food budget in her bustling 20-person household. The 47-year-old, who has nine daughters and ten sons ranging from three to 26 years old with her husband Jim Bob, 48, writes in her blog for TLC that she spends an average of $3,000 a month on groceries. On her family's website she details some of the money-saving meals she likes to rustle up including Broccoli Casserole, Poor Man's Pizza and Three Bean Chilli. Keeping it cheap: 19 Kids and Counting star Michelle Duggar has revealed that she sticks to a $5 per person daily food budget in her bustling household . To save on shopping, Mrs Duggar says she shops for ingredients at discount stores, warehouse clubs and co-ops. She mainly buys in bulk, stocking up once a month on staples including butter, cereal and oats. She will return every three to four days to purchase fresh produce. 'You can save thousands of dollars by doing just that,' the devout Christian matriarch notes. Although she maintains a close rein on the purse strings, Mrs Duggar says she used to be much stricter. Inside the Duggar's pantry: To save on shopping, the family shop for ingredients in bulk at discount stores, warehouse clubs and co-ops . Form an orderly queue! Due to the large size of their family, the Duggars have a deli counter in their kitchen . Just a year ago she was spending around $2,000 every month on food. However, higher food prices meant she had to up her spending. Growing children were another factor. She humorously writes: 'Our boys have grown a lot and they have hollow legs. Josiah, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, and Jason are all tall and lanky. 'I jokingly say every two hours we have to fill up those hollow legs to make them grow a few more inches.' When there are family get-togethers there are even more mouths to feed as Mr and Mrs Duggar also have three grandchildren, from their eldest son, Joshua, 26, who married Anna in September 2008 and moved out of home. Getting in on the act: The Duggars' second eldest daughter Jill with her younger sister Joy . POOR MAN'S PIZZAS . Spread spaghetti sauce on each slice of bread. Sprinkle with cheese bake at 425° for 5 - 10 minutes depending on preference. BROCCOLI CASSEROLE . Saute onions in butter. Cook broccoli as package directs, drain. Cook rice, combine all ingredients; pour into 9x13 in. dish. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until brown. See more Duggar recipes at duggarfamily.com/recipes . Thanks to keeping a close eye on their finances the Duggars - who will mark their 30th wedding anniversary this July - pride themselves on living debt free. Along with watching what they eat, the couple shop for clothes at thrift stores, scour Craigslist for furniture, and have never brought a new car. Mrs Duggar concludes: 'I'm willing to wait for a little bit to buy things we need. We've already decided we won't go into debt to buy things. 'If our couch wears out, I know I've got $65 to spend on a couch and we’ll look around. Smile for the camera: Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have nine daughters and ten sons ranging from three to 26 years old, they also have three grandchildren from their eldest son . Home by the range: Where the Duggar family meals are cooked up . 'In the meantime, if our couch falls apart, we'll take it out and just sit on the carpet for a while. It's no big deal. I don’t feel like I need to meet the status quo.' The Duggars first entered the spotlight in 2008 on TLC's show 17 and Counting - a series which followed the life of Michelle and Jim Bob and their then 17 - now 19 - children. The family is conservative Christian and has strong beliefs about issues such as contraception, home-schooling, and spending very little time on the internet or watching TV. They are considered representative of the Quiverfull movement which 'teaches that children are God’s blessing and that husbands and wives should happily welcome every child they are given.' Addressing their critics, Mr Duggar once said: 'People think we are overpopulating the world [but] we are following our convictions.' He and his wife announced last year that they were actively trying for another child before their 50th birthdays. | The devout Christian spends an average of $3,000 a month on groceries .
Broccoli Casserole, Poor Man's Pizza and Three Bean Chilli are among the family's favorite money-saving meals . |
1a40c7f1cbe9bc59e5cb55d214440d58f6e05beb | When it comes to the gender pay gap, the cynics have used smoke and mirrors to deny the truth while Congress continues to come up short on critical legislation. So now, the President is not waiting another minute to make real progress. He is taking action. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama continued his "year of action" by signing two new executive orders to strengthen enforcement of equal pay laws where Congress has so far failed to act. He also challenged the Senate to "start making this right" by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act when it comes up for a vote on Wednesday. The Senate has tried twice, but the act was blocked by a handful of stubborn Republicans. But even before the ink was dry on his executive orders, wage-gap deniers were trotting out the same old tired arguments we've heard for years. Rationalizing or outright denying that pay inequity exists, and dismissing the equal pay push as a political ploy designed to distract from other, "real" issues. Yet for millions of women struggling on the brink of poverty, the wage gap is all too real. Despite increasing education and greater professional success, women in the aggregate still make less than men: on average, 77 cents on the dollar, and even less if you are black or Latina. This persistent pay gap has real implications for women and their families, especially when 40% of our nation's households with children rely on women as a primary or sole source of income. That 23-cent disparity means a yearly wage gap for women of more than $11,000. And what does that translate into? On average, working women in the United States can afford 91 fewer weeks of food for their families, 13 fewer months of rent, and more than 3,000 fewer gallons of gas per year as compared to men. It's not surprising then that polls rank equal pay for equal work as a top issue for women across the country. More people prefer a male boss, but gender gap is narrowing . But like a bad magician, the naysayers are trying to use smoke and mirrors to fool us into believing the problem is just an illusion. They say the wage gap is a myth, based on anecdotes, not data. They say there's no need for new laws, because it's already illegal to discriminate. Any differences that remain, they say, can be explained away by personal choices. While it's true the wage gap is due to a combination of factors, study after study has shown the wage gap — as much as 40% of it — holds true even when we control for factors such as education level, profession or position. It cannot be fully explained by personal choices, and can be attributed in some measure to overt or unintentional gender-based discrimination. The gap manifests out of the gate and only widens over time. A 2012 report from the American Association of University Women, "Graduating to a Pay Gap," made an "apples-to-apples" comparison of college-educated women and men working full time one year out of school. After controlling for college major, occupation, hours worked per week, economic sector, and other factors, women still made 7% less than what their male counterparts made. And in an earlier report, the association found that 10 years after graduation, the unexplained pay gap widened to 12%. Indeed, women's wages are lower in nearly all occupations -- doctors, lawyers, even low-wage workers. And this is true regardless of whether the job is one performed predominantly by men, predominantly women, or an even mix of both. What millennial women want now . That's why we still need Congress to act, to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure that all employers are held to the standards embodied in Tuesday's executive actions. This week Congress has an opportunity to go from its standing ovation for equal pay at the State of the Union to really standing up for women. When the rubber meets the road, let's hope we move beyond the rhetoric to acting on real solutions. Don't make the President take out his pen again, unless it is to sign the new law. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. | Maya Harris: President Obama had no option but to sign orders on Equal Pay .
Congress, she says, now must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act .
Wage-gap deniers, she says, are trotting out the same old tired arguments . |
1a413ac9d0bbb5e1ae178f6c8df0588a5c75c961 | Thousands of patients are dying in hospital each year because of bad handwriting, errors in maths and poor monitoring by nursing, according to a study. The death rate at two hospitals fell by 15 per cent after nurses were given electronic devices in place of handwritten paper notes to record patients’ heart rates and breathing. Researchers calculated that 750 deaths were prevented in a year at the two hospitals, Queen Alexandria in Portsmouth and University Hospital in Coventry. At present, nurses are meant to measure patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and take certain other readings and note them down on a board at the end of the bed: There is no suggestion that these nurses have illegible handwriting (File photo) Across the NHS, this means 37,000 deaths could be avoided if nurses were given the devices rather than relying on traditional handwritten notes from nurses. At present, nurses are meant to measure patients’ heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and take certain other readings and note them down on a board at the end of the bed. Often these readings aren’t taken regularly enough and in some patients there are gaps of between eight and 12 hours between measures. In other cases, nurses handwriting is illegible or they don’t note down all the figures meaning it is not clear for their colleagues to monitor patients. To address the problem of poor handwriting, hand-held devices were given to nurses at Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth (above) To address the problem, hand-held devices were given to nurses at Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth in 2005 and at University Hospitals in Coventry in 2007. They were handed either iPhones or iPads – small computers – installed with an app that takes patients readings and reminds nurses when they are next needed. An alert flashes up on the screen if patients are deteriorating and in some cases they will urge nurses to summon a doctor. Researchers compared the death rates for every year from 2004 – before the devices were used – to 2010. They annual death rates fell by 397 at Portsmouth and by 372 deaths at University Hospitals Coventry in 2010 compared to 2004. Dr Paul Schmidt of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the leaders of the project, said: ‘Observing patients and making accurate records provides a safety net to guard against their deterioration. ‘We believed traditional paper charts were not doing the job well enough so we designed an electronic system to support staff. This study shows its introduction was followed by a significant drop in deaths.” Dr Duncan Watson of University Hospital Coventry, who also worked on the project, said: ‘This technology improves the performance of routine but important tasks and frees up clinical staff to do what only human beings can do – care for patients.” Many of the deaths avoided would have occurred in the elderly who had developed pneumonia or infections which would otherwise have been spotted too late. Typically they cost around £500,000 to roll out across a medium-sized hospital trust and about 40 are now using them in at leat one department. | Researchers calculated 750 deaths prevented in a year at the hospitals .
Nurses are meant to measure patients’ heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels .
Often these readings aren’t taken regularly enough, sometimes an 8hr gap .
To address the problem, hand-held devices were given to nurses at Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth in 2005 and University Hospitals in Coventry in 2007 .
They were handed either iPhones or iPads installed with an app that takes patients readings and reminds nurses when they are next needed . |
1a41969c4bd387f2849540a6a429907db3f589cc | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 05:55 EST, 17 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:00 EST, 17 September 2013 . A police officer disturbed the scene of Whitney Houston's death by moving a sheet which covered the dead singer's naked body to comment on how good she still looked, it has been claimed. Beverly Hill police sergeant Terry Nutall 'knelt beside and . leaned over' the singer, and removed the sheet from her body to an area below her pubic region before making inappropriate comments, it is alleged. The accusations are detailed in a claim filed by former Beverly Hills SWAT . supervisor Brian Weir. A police officer disturbed the scene of Whitney Houston's death by moving a sheet which covered the dead singer's naked body to comment on how good she still looked, it has been claimed . A Los Angeles County Coroner's van exits the Beverly Hilton Hotel with the body of Whitney Houston, inside. It has been claimed that Beverly Hill police sergeant Terry Nutall 'knelt beside and leaned over' the singer while saying 'Damn, still looking good huh?' NBC News reports that Weir was the senior patrol sergeant on . duty at the time and had 'attempted to secure and . preserve the scene of the death.' He claims that after a sheet was placed over Ms Houston's body, Nutall arrived on the scene . and with 'no legitimate law enforcement inquiry, investigative, or other proper and legal purpose' removed the sheet. Weir states that Nutall was nearly touching the singer’s body, and then commented that she looked attractive for her age and state, adding: 'Damn, she’s still looking good, huh?’ Weir said he reported the alleged misconduct and as a result was removed from his position as head of the SWAT team. A makeshift memorial of flowers, candles and notes for US singer Whitney Houston is placed outside the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The police department has denied the claims . The headstone at the grave of the singer, at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey . The claim has been filed with the city of Beverly Hills and other California state agencies. A civil lawsuit is expected to be filed within 30 days. Beverly Hills Police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino told NBC he disputed the claim and was unaware of any lawsuit by Weir. He said Nutall was the detective division sergeant on duty and that because he was near the scene it was correct for him to respond. He added that he was not aware of any inappropriate behaviour or comments, saying that the department stood behind the investigation 100 per cent. Houston was found dead on 11 February last year in a Beverly Hills hotel bath. She was 48. She had reportedly been preparing to attend a pre-Grammy party thrown by her mentor Clive Davis, when her personal assistant returned to her hotel room and found her in the bath, unresponsive. Authorities said her death was an accidental drowning due to cocaine use and heart disease. Paramedics battled to revive the singer but she was pronounced dead hours before she had been due to perform at the pre-Grammys party. | Beverly Hill police sergeant Terry Nutall allegedly made the comments .
Detailed in claim filed by former Beverly Hills SWAT .
supervisor Brian Weir .
'Nutall was nearly touching the singer’s body' as he pulled back sheet .
Claimed he examined body and said 'Damn, she’s still looking good, huh?’ |
1a41a7088f487471d8c237d703db5dcc5eba6600 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Chinese couples are in a race against time to have a child in the Year of the Horse instead of 2015’s ‘dreaded’ Year of the Sheep. Some Chinese believe sheep are meek and babies born in that year will grow up to be followers rather than leaders. According to superstition, the children are destined for heartbreak and failed marriages. Chinese couples are in a race against time to have a child in the Year of the Horse instead of 2015's 'dreaded' Year of the Sheep. The Lunear New Year this year, which was celebrated in January, above, marks the Year of the Horse . Like all animals in the Chinese zodiac, the horse sign comes imbued with characteristics, such as vitality, loyalty and adventure. The year of the horse is generally considered an auspicious time. Health professionals say many patients have inquired about early delivery via Caesarean section to ensure a horse-year birth. It has also been noted that fertility consultations have spiked in recent months. The Year of the Sheep begins on February 19, 2015, so the window for conception closes around the end of this month. Some people in China believe sheep are meek and babies born in that year will grow up to be followers rather than leaders. Many couples are desperate to conceive in 2014 - the Year of the Horse - and thousands around the world celebrated the Chinese New Year earlier this year, above . | Many couples believe Year of the Horse brings luck to those born during it .
According to superstition, those born in 2015's Year of the Sheep are meek . |
1a42c402dade7eaf3502484c47763375ff50ea0e | Big collection: Bill Cosby and his wife Camille will open up their collection of African-American art to the public as part of the Smithsonian exhibit . Bill Cosby and his wife Camille plan to showcase their private collection of African-American art that they have amassed over a period of four decades for the first time in an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art in Washington DC announced on Monday that the entire Cosby collection will go on view in November in a unique exhibit juxtaposing African-American art with African art. The collection, which will be loaned to the museum, includes works by leading African-American artists such as Beauford Delaney, Faith Ringgold, Jacob Lawrence, Augusta Savage and Henry Ossawa Tanner. The Cosby collection of more than 300 African-American paintings, prints, sculptures and drawings has never been loaned or seen publicly, except for one work of art. 'It's so important to show art by African-American artists in this exhibition,' Cosby said in a written statement. 'To me, it's a way for people to see what exists and to give voice to many of these artists who were silenced for so long, some of whom will speak no more.' Cosby, 77, a comedian, actor and author is best known for the smash hit TV show he crafted, 'The Cosby Show,' which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992. The show broke ground by featuring the Huxtables, a successful black family. He later starred in a CBS sitcom and is now in talks with NBC for a new extended-family sitcom with Cosby as the patriarch. The new project could air as early as next year. The exhibit 'Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue' will open on Nov. 9 and will be on view through early 2016 in Washington. It will be organized by themes, placing pieces from African artists in the Smithsonian collection near similar works from African-American artists in Cosby's collection. Curators said it will explore ideas about history, creativity, power, identity and artistry. Highlight: This is an oil on canvas work by Henry Ossawa Tanner, titled The Thankful Poor. The entire collection will go on public view in November . Artistry: This oil on canvas work by Gerard Sekoto, titled Boy and the Candle, is part of the Cosby collection and the public will be able to see it in the flesh in November . Some highlights include rare 18th and early 19th-century portraits by Baltimore-based artist Joshua Johnston, explorations of black spirituality in the 1894 piece "The Thankful Poor" by Henry Ossawa Tanner and Cosby family quilts. 'The exhibition will encourage all of us to draw from the creativity that is Africa, to recognize the shared history that inextricably links Africa and the African diaspora and to seek the common threads that weave our stories together,' said Museum Director Johnnetta Betsch Cole, in announcing the exhibit. The exhibition of Cosby's collection is part of the African art museum's 50th anniversary. Groundbreaking: Cosby, 77, pictured last month during an interview with Jimmy Fallon, is best known for the Cosby Show, which ran from 1984-92, which featured a successful black family on TV . | Entire Cosby collection will go on view in November .
Collection will include works by leading artists such as Gerard Sekoto .
Cosby, 77, best known for smash hit show 'The Cosby Show' |
1a42e73d0d76e788679208d51870a028d83f40a8 | By . Ted Thornhill . PUBLISHED: . 05:47 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:00 EST, 24 January 2014 . Getting the sack is never pleasant – unless the sack contains a £200,000 cash bonus and you’ve not actually been fired. In scenes reminiscent of Wolf Of Wall Street, one firm in China – a nation that’s still officially communist – dished out massive cash bonuses to its managers during a bonus payday party. It showed the vast gulf that is starting to exist between the country's rich and poor. In the money: Workers in communist China are handed sackfuls of bonus money, some containing what would be several years' worth of salary for westerners . Wolf of Wall Street China-style: Workers dance next to a huge pile of cash . This bizarre bonus payday included uniformed hostesses to hand out the armfuls of cash to the managers at the land development firm, and the staff themselves were dancing across the stage as their names were called, and they were handed their bonus. The event at the county of Zhecheng in Henan province in central China was against a backdrop of allegations that in many cases people are forced off their land to make way for new developments often without proper compensation. Examples of nail households - people that remain in their homes as the construction goes on around them - are omnipresent not just in China but worldwide. The event in Henan province in central China was against a backdrop of allegations that in many cases people are forced off their land to make way for new developments . Rich pickings: The managers line up to be photographed with their bonuses . One, Lu Hin, who refused to budge from his flat in a five-story housing block in the city of Xian in Shaanxi province in the west of China had the property demolished over his head. He said he would not move until he was paid enough to get a new place and added: ‘This shows the sort of thing these people are up to, lining their own pockets at our expense.’ The land developing company in Zhecheng county in central China’s Henan province paid out a total of £1.1million in bonuses, with the biggest earner getting £200,000 alone, and needing to take it away in a sack. | Workers at a land development firm in Henan province got big cash bonuses .
They were paid out at a party in scenes reminiscent of Wolf Of Wall Street . |
1a4354b16f0aec8360897d37df55baa7a6c1c5c8 | By . Louise Boyle . A multimillionaire mother-of-five who gave up her Chinese daughter for re-adoption and attempted to cut her out of the $250million family estate is now suing a gardening company whom she claims ripped her off to the tune of $3million. Christine Svenningsen, 56, who inherited millions from her late husband, is suing a groundskeeping firm owned by her second husband whom she claimed charged an extra $3million for work on her property empire. The alleged fraud claim to light in March, according to the New York Daily News, after Ms Svenningsen, of Westchester, had divorced 61-year-old John Chiarella. Christine Svenningsen, of Westchester, pictured with her five biological children, gave up two Chinese children she adopted. She then tried to keep her former adopted daughter out of her late husband's will. She is now suing her ex-husband's gardening firm as she claims she was overcharged by $3million . She had employed her ex-husband and his brother, using their firm Ultimate Services to take care of her multiple luxury island homes, cars and boats. According to the Daily News, Ms Svenningsen claimed that the company had done a shoddy job by failing to landscape the grounds correctly at her homes or prepare boats and property for the winter months. Ms Svenningsen said that the company was paid $5million but that she believes that cost was inflated by at least $3million. She claimed in the suit that her ex's company is refusing to return boats and cars that belong to her. The property magnate is suing her second husband John Chiarella's landscaping company. The pair divorced in March . Last year, the Daily News reported that Ms Svenningsen first adopted a girl from China, named Emily in 1996. She already had five biological children with her husband John Svenningsen, 27 years her senior. Before the adoption was finalized, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. According to court documents, on May 6, 1996, the Svenningsens signed an adoption agreement stating they would not abandon Emily or 'transfer or have [her] re-adopted', and that she would be deemed 'a biological child'. The agreement also stated that Emily had the right to inherit the estate of her adopted parents, who had established a pair of trusts for their children, as well as one meant solely for Emily, according to ABC. In December 2004, seven years after her party goods magnate husband died from cancer, Mrs Svenningsen put Emily up for adoption. She surrendered the girl to an adoption agency in New York claimg that Emily, then eight years old, was a difficult child and unable to bond with the family. The Daily News cited separate court documents where it was claimed she treated her adopted daughter, who reportedly has special needs, different from her other children. The child was allegedly kept apart at meal times and at one point forced to sleep outside as a punishment. It was later suggested that the wealthy widow may have wanted to terminate Emily's interest in her husband's estate,according to court documents. The little girl was readopted by a married couple. The Daily News reported last year that Ms Svenningsen then tried to cut Emily out of the family's vast fortune, a bid which was denied last year. The couple had no idea about the money legally owed to their newly adopted daughter from the trust, but eventually learned that the late John Svenningsen had arranged to provide for Emily’s educational and medical needs. One of the Thimble Islands in Long Island Sound owned by Christine Svenningsen as part of her property empire . Ms Svenningsen, pictured here with four of five of her biological children, adopted a girl and then a boy from China before giving them up for adoption . It was also revealed that the property millionaire adopted a boy from China after her husband had died. But court papers show that after his arrival to suburban Westchester County in New York, the boy named Eric was given up for adoption, according to the Daily News. He was readopted by a family living in New Jersey because the mother said that another baby was more than she could handle. Ms Svenningsen said in court documents she 'couldn't handle' that many children. Christine Svenningsen, remarried to John Chiarella, a landscaping entrepreneur who managed her islands in July 2010. Their divorce was finalized in January 2014. Mr Chiarella started Ultimate Services Professional Ground Management in 1971 and has built the company into a firm with 100 employees. MailOnline had reached out for comment to Ultimate Services' lawyer, Richard Corde. The lawyer told the Daily News that Ms Svenningsen's claims were 'meritless'. The homes on the exclusive Thimble Islands off the Long Island Sound are popular vacation spots with the super-wealthy and the famous . According to the real estate website curbed.com, Svenningsen, 'spent $36M amassing a collection of nine Thimble Islands'. The property developer has reportedly rented Belden Island - which she paid $2.77million for in 2006 - to TV network A&E to filme a new reality show Love Prison, beginning in August. One-acre Belden Island, which has its own beach, dock and putting green, is also on the market for $3.95million. According to property websites, Svenningsen has also placed Jepson Island on the market for close to $2million. | Christine Svenningsen, 56, who has a $250million estate from her late first husband, is suing a groundskeeping firm owned by her second husband .
The alleged fraud only claim to light in March when after Ms Svenningsen, of Westchester, had divorced John Chiarella after three years of marriage .
Svenningsen, who has five biological children, adopted a girl with special needs from China in 1996 .
The little girl, named Emily, was given up for adoption when she was eight years old before Svenningsen tried to cut her out of the family fortune .
Emily has since been readopted and a court blocked Svenningsen's bid .
Svenningsen also adopted a boy from China and later gave the child up for re-adoption . |
1a437f83a314bb8ab7d3653cd11120afa69fa327 | (CNN) -- Facebook and its photo-sharing subsidiary Instagram Wednesday announced new policies aimed at stemming online sales of illegal guns. The social media platforms have agreed to remove reported posts that evade gun laws, restrict minors under the age of 18 from viewing posts about firearm sales and provide education to better inform law-abiding sellers of guns. "By taking these unprecedented educational and enforcement efforts, we've been able to strike an important balance in helping people express themselves, while promoting a safe and responsible community," Monika Bickert, Facebook's head of global policy management, said at a news conference. The new rules come after campaigns by gun safety organizations nationwide have pushed for stricter controls on the sale of firearms. Moms Demand Action, an organization devoted to gun-control reforms, started on a Facebook page in December 2012, shortly after a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The organization lobbies for more restrictive gun policies that protect the safety of children and families. Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts said more than 230,000 Americans signed the group's petition, tweeted or used other social media to ask Facebook and Instagram to crack down on online sales. The organization last year campaigned for Starbucks to ban guns in stores, resulting in an open letter by CEO Howard Schultz telling customers to leave guns at home. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the largest gun violence prevention group, which was founded by former Mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York and Thomas Menino of Boston, discussed the issue with Facebook officials. "People are logging onto the Internet and signing into what has become, unfortunately, a virtual gun show," John Feinblatt, chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, said in a conference call Wednesday. In November, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined efforts to persuade Facebook and Instagram to issue new gun rules. "Responsible social media sites know that it is in no one's interest for their sites to become a 21st century black market in dangerous and illegal goods that place our families and communities at risk," Schneiderman said in a statement. Facebook already prohibits ads for the sale of guns or ammunition, said Bickert, adding that the new rules will strengthen that policy. Neither Facebook nor Instagram are e-commerce sites, but both facilitate conversation and provide an open marketplace that makes it possible to exchange information promoting weapons sales. Gun sales listed by site users talked about "no background check required" or said "will cross state lines," Feinblatt said. Law enforcement officers and advocacy groups will have a direct connection to Facebook to flag posts that may promote this illegal activity, officials said. | Facebook and Instagram to regulate posts about illegal gun sales .
Social networks to remove posts that evade gun laws, restrict minors from gun-related content .
Gun-control reform groups lobbied the social media company to change rules . |
1a44a92d2d4d77233229788e17524d02e94aeb15 | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 08:10 EST, 20 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:10 EST, 20 February 2013 . Flick through the TV channels on a Saturday morning, and it seems almost every one is showing a cooking show of some kind. However, finally there is one with a difference - it's hosted in space. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield today posted the first episode of his new show, called 'Chris Hadfield's Space Kitchen' - although the first recipe, a tortilla filled with honey and peanut butter, may not be to everyone's taste. Scroll down for video . First, get your ingredients: Chris Hadfield's latest video from the International space station reveals how astronauts create snacks in orbit. Here, he collects everything for a honey and peanut butter tortilla . Keep your eye on the prize: At one point Hadfield's torilla spins off screen and has to be retrieved, showing the issues of preparing food in zero gravity . 'In the early days of space exploration, food was mostly squeezed out of tubes,' said Hadfield in the video. 'But now, we have all kinds of things we eat on Earth.' However, he reveals there are some banned foods - including sandwiches. 'For sandwiches, we substituted bread for tortillas - here, crumbs just float away,' he explained. 'Our tortillas are packaged and last for 18 months.' Hadfield shows viewers how to make a tortilla filled with peanut butter and honey. He reveals that some items, such as honey jars, can be attached to surfaces using velcro to stop them floating away. However, others can also cause problems - as he demonstrates when a rogue tortilla floats away from him during the demonstration. Honey jars are attached using velcro to stop them floating away when not in use . Keeping utensils in check is accomplished using clips and velcro. Here, Hadfield reaches for his 'space scissors' to cut open a pack of peanut butter . During the demonstration he also reveals an interesting fact about honey on board. 'The bubbles stay in the middle of the bottle, as there's no gravity', he explains. He also reveals that when eating food such as peanut butter and honey, astronauts can easily get messy. However, as there is no running water on board, they have to use disposable wipes to clean themselves up after each meal. The video is the latest in a long line of online picture, messages and videos from Hadfield, who has been taking advantage of the station's internet connection to share his mission via Facebook and Twitter pages. He is expected to post more episodes of his fledgling space cookery show. Bread is banned on board because of the risk of wayward crumbs - so astronauts use tortillas instead . Instead of washing their hands, astronauts instead use specially packaged wipes on board, which are then thrown away . NASA recently revealed what astronauts have eaten throughout its space programme. They showed the transition from the meat paste Yuri Gagarin, the first man in . space, sucked from a toothpaste tube to the gourmet meals astronauts . currently enjoy. The . pictures were posted on the space agency's website by NASA's Space Food . Systems Laboratory, where the agency researches, tests, and produces . food fit for consumption outside of the Earth's atmosphere. Stellar cuisine: NASA have released photos chronicling the evolution of the food eaten in space. Pictured is a tray of food eaten on the Skylab, America's first space station, from 1973 - 1974 . Appetizing: Food from the Apollo missions from 1968-1972 was carefully vacuum-packed and balanced for nutrition but was not exactly gourmet . | Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield demonstrates how to make a peanut butter and honey tortilla in space on YouTube clip .
Astronaut reveals bread is banned because of crumbs causing problems .
Velcro and string are used to attach utensils to station walls . |
1a45724d502cbb0cdc30b4854010c0f0149d2abc | Addison Cresswell died of a heart attack after taking cocaine at a Christmas party, an inquest heard . A top showbiz agent who represented Jonathan Ross and Michael Macintyre died of a heart attack after snorting cocaine at a Christmas party, an inquest heard. Addison Cresswell, 53, who helped launch the careers of many of Britain's top comedians, died on December 23 last year - just 72 hours after he had taken the drug. His wife Shelley, who did not attend the party, woke in the middle of the night to find her husband gasping for breath beside her, a coroner was told. He was taken to hospital where he later died. Today St Pancras Coroner, Jacqueline Devonish, ruled he had died a 'drug related' death. Miss Devonish added that pathologist . Professor Marco Novelli, who carried out the post mortem, confirmed 'cocaine had been taken three days prior to death, but there was no use . within the last 72 hours. 'The . pathology report showed he had suffered from an acute myocardiac . infarction along with a coronary artery atherosclerosis triggered by . cocaine usage. 'On the balance of probabilities the death was drug related.' She added: 'His work was clearly very stressful in working with the media. 'It . is clear he did engage in occasion use of cocaine but this did not . occur with family or at home but seemed to occur only at social events. 'His . wife said at the Christmas party he attended 72 hours before his death . he took cocaine, the toxicology report confirms this. 'He . was not a drug abuser in so far as he was not dependent on drugs. He . took drugs occasionally and I am satisfied this was the cause of death.' She recorded a verdict of drug related death. Cresswell's management company 'Off the Kerb' has represented Alan Carr, Jo Brand, Jack Dee and Lee Evans. Through the firm 'Open Mike' he also produced Live at the Apollo. Cresswell represented Jonathan Ross, left, and Michael McIntyre among many other comedy talents. Creswell died in hospital a few days before Christmas last year, and inquest was told . The inquest heard that Cresswell, who had been hospitalised in 2007 with cocaine psychosis, had a history of heart problems as well as drug and alcohol abuse. In a statement read Mrs Cresswell, who was too distressed to attend the inquest, said: 'He sometimes took cocaine on the odd occasion after a long period of work as a way of letting go and releasing stress. 'I never witnessed his drug use first hand. He never took cocaine at home and we never discussed it.' Referring to his time in hospital she said: 'After a long party he was hospitalised with a diagnosis of stress and cocaine. The comedy agent also represented Jo Brand, pictured. His family said they were still in 'shock' following his sudden death . 'The incident scared Addison and he stopped attending late night social engagements. In the last eight years he attended the odd social occasion after a media event but these were few and far between.' Mrs Cresswell described her husband as a very 'private' man. 'His life was sometimes hectic and stressful, but he was very happy, he had achieved a happy medium between work and his personal life. His brother, William Luke Cresswell, said: I believe he took cocaine socially but not with family. It was such a shock.' Paramedic Sean Leatham, who treated Cresswell at his home in Thornhill Crescent, Islington, said: 'We were called at about 2.51 to reports of a 53 year old man in cardiac arrest. 'We arrived at 2.56pm. We saw a woman upstairs performing ineffective CPR on a man on the floor. We told her to step away. 'There was no pulse and no breathing efforts so we performed CPR. We then cleared a space so we could perform advanced life support.' He added: 'As we maintained life support we took a medical history from his wife, which established stress and a previous case of pneumonia. 'He had taken cocaine at a party 72 hours ago and had been complaining of chest pains for 24 to 48 hours before.' Cresswell was rushed to University College Hospital where doctors carried out eight cycles of CPR and administered adrenaline but without success. He was pronounced dead at 5am. Comedian James Cordon tweeted his condolences shortly after the manager's death . TV host Dermot O'Leary also paid tribute to Cresswell - describing him as a 'Titan of the industry' | Comedy agent Addison Cresswell, 53, died on December 23 last year .
Woke up in the night gasping for breath and later died in hospital .
Had taken cocaine at a Christmas party 72 hours before, inquest heard .
Mr Cresswell also represented Alan Carr, Jo Brand and Jack Dee . |
1a475ef40c31a01cf45c8c702e9472884b41b5f1 | By . Rachel Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 07:25 EST, 26 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:44 EST, 26 July 2013 . The heart has long been a symbol of love, devotion and sensuality but advanced medical techniques are now turning the organ into a thing of beauty. These stunning images show this year’s winners of the British Heart Foundation’s Reflections of Research science image competition. Using medical devices such as MRI scans and microscopes, medical experts have captured the heart in a totally new light, highlighting its complexity and mystery. The overall winners of the british Heart Foundation competition were Dr Gillian Gray, Megan Swim and Harris Morrison of the University of Edinburgh, whose 'The Broken Heart' won Image of the Year. The image reveals the remarkable 3D structure of an adult mouse heart . The overall winners were Dr Gillian Gray, Megan Swim and Harris Morrison of the University of Edinburgh, whose 'The Broken Heart' won Image of the Year. Their image reveals the remarkable 3D structure of an adult mouse heart. The picture was taken using a new technique called optical projection tomography (OPT) which is being developed to enable experts to better measure the extent of injury after a heart attack and to assess repair. Dr Jana Koth of the University of Oxford won the Mending Broken Hearts Award with her image entitled 'Caught in the Net'. The picture depicts the front view of a developing two-day-old zebrafish heart. Scientists study the creatures because of their remarkable ability to repair their own hearts after damage - an ability which we currently lack. The green cells are heart muscle cells, and the red and blue staining shows components that make up the muscle. The early heart tube has started to loop. 'Caught in the Net' (left) shows the front view of a two-day-old zebrafish heart. The green cells are heart muscle cells, and the red and blue staining shows components that make up the muscle. 'What Sets Your heart on Fire' (right) shows an MRI of the heart of a healthy kidney donor . 'At the Heart of It', by Emma Kay from Queen Mary, University of London, shows white blood cells in the heart sensing invading microbes and kick starting the immune response . It consists of two sections – the large, thin atrium (where blood flows in) and the smaller, thicker ventricle (where blood leaves the heart). Dr Andrew Cobb of King’s College London was highly commended for 'At the Heart of a Cell'. It shows a heart-shaped image of a nucleus from a single vascular smooth muscle cell. Vascular smooth muscle helps give blood vessels their shape. The green specks show multiple regions of DNA damage, which could explain the unusual shape. Dragonfly, by Arianna Fornili and Franca Fraternali at King¿s College London, illustrates the simulated motion of a two-headed fragment of myosin, an essential molecule found in heart muscle . Dr William Moody from the University of Birmingham was also commended for his image 'What Sets your Heart on Fire?' It shows an MRI of the heart of a healthy kidney donor. The MRI technique is sensitive enough to detect early scar formation and a scan can pick up if there are any changes in the heart after donating a kidney, which could potentially be treated with medication. Dr Yichuan Wen and Dr David Leake from the University of Reading took 'Killer Cholesterol' which was also highly commended. It shows immune cells – called foam cells – which are present in the arteries of people with atherosclerosis (stiffening and hardening of the arteries). 'Rough Road to Regeneration' by Andrea Caporali at the University of Bristol uses a scanning-electron microscope to capture an image that shows the stress response of a blood vessel cell under conditions like diabetes . Dr Yichuan Wen and Dr David Leake from the University of Reading took 'Killer Cholesterol' which shows immune cells ¿ called foam cells ¿ which are present in arteries of people with atherosclerosis (stiffening and hardening of the arteries) The white specks show cholesterol is captured within the foam cells. This cholesterol can be altered by the cells to produce damaging effects which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Other entrants in the competition included 'Spaghetti Junction' by Graeme Birdsey and Dr Anna Randi from Imperial College London. This microscope image shows cells which line blood vessels and reveals the proteins that provide support and shape to the cell. These are elongated actin stress fibres (shown in green) and the tangled web of microtubules (shown in red). 'The Forgotten Majority' by Katja Gehmlich and Sina Lenski, of the University of Oxford highlights how the heart is not exclusively made up of beating cells. In fact, the majority of cells are cardiac fibroblasts which do not initiate movement at all . 'At the Heart of It', by Emma Kay from Queen Mary, University of London, shows white blood cells in the heart sensing invading microbes and kick starting the immune response. This image shows white blood cells with receptors (pink) migrating from a small vein (turquoise) in response to bacteria. 'Rough Road to Regeneration' by Andrea Caporali at the University of Bristol uses a scanning-electron microscope to capture an image that shows the stress response of a blood vessel cell under conditions like diabetes. Understanding the stresses that diabetes places on the cardiovascular system, and the changes in cellular structure and behaviour, may help researchers cure the complications of diabetes. 'Spaghetti Junction' is a microscope image that shows cells which line blood vessels and reveals the proteins that provide support and shape to the cell. These are elongated actin stress fibres (shown in green) and the tangled web of microtubules (shown in red) 'At the Heart of a Cell' shows a heart-shaped image of a nucleus from a single vascular smooth muscle cell. Vascular smooth muscle helps give blood vessels their shape. The green specks show multiple regions of DNA damage, which could explain the unusual shape . 'The Forgotten Majority' by Katja Gehmlich and Sina Lenski, of the University of Oxford, highlights how the heart is not exclusively made up of beating cells. In fact, the majority of cells are cardiac fibroblasts which do not initiuate movement at all. Finally Dragonfly, by Arianna Fornili and Franca Fraternali at King’s College London, illustrates the simulated motion of a two-headed fragment of myosin, an essential molecule found in heart muscle. Different time frames of this dragonfly-shaped molecule are simultaneously shown, with red spikes indicating the direction of motion. | Winners of the British Heart Foundation’s Reflections of Research science image competition have been announced .
Winning image was 'The Broken Heart' which reveals the remarkable structure of an adult mouse's heart .
Other images include image a developing baby zebrafish heart, a scan of the inner compartments of a human heart and a microscope photograph of a heart-shaped nucleus within a single heart muscle cell . |
1a4a7ea0df9599c4ab12d85efd50df3b3e5025fb | Rory Clegg booted 15 points as Newcastle claimed a 20-10 Aviva Premiership victory over Gloucester at a wet and windy Kingston Park. Clegg overcame a difficult start, when he gifted the visitors a try in the opening minute, to find the target with five penalties while Sinoti Sinoti crossed the whitewash for the Falcons. John Afoa scored Gloucester's try, which was converted by Bill Burns, but they struggled in the miserable conditions thereafter. Rory Clegg (above) kicked five penalties for Newcastle as they recorded a comfortable win against Gloucester . Clegg offloads the pass before Gloucester try-scorer John Afoa makes the tackle . Gonzalo Tiesi (right) and Juan Pablo Socino (left) of Newcastle Falcons challenge Gloucester's Billy Meakes . Clegg contributed to a dream Gloucester start when skipper Matt Kvesic charged down his attempted clearance kick after just 38 seconds and prop Afoa followed up to score, with Burns' conversion making it 7-0. There was a long delay early on when Charlie Sharples took a heavy blow to the head and fortunately he was able to walk off and was replaced by Tom Isaacs. Clegg clipped the post with a 45-metre penalty in the eighth minute but did find his range almost immediately afterwards when Gloucester went off their feet again. And when the visitors dropped the scrum in the 16th minute, he slotted in between the sticks again. Mike Blair's darting run drew yet another penalty for offside and Clegg edged the Falcons ahead 9-7 at half-time but Gloucester must have fancied their chances with the wind and rain at their backs in the second half. Clegg prepares to kick a penalty as Newcastle beat Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership . Newcastle's Mike Blair (centre) kicks the ball during the match with Gloucester on Friday . Andy Saull (bottom) of Newcastle Falcons hauls Gloucester's Ross Moriarty down . But it was Clegg again kicking over a 42nd-minute penalty from 35 metres into that wind and rain to make it 12-7 after Gloucester conceded yet another penalty at the breakdown. And Newcastle then took a real grip on the game when Juan Pablo Socino cut through, Ally Hogg rumbled on and then Clegg and Alex Tait set up Sinoti for a try in the 45th minute . Burns was short with a 50-metre shot but gave Gloucester a boost with a 56th-minute penalty for offside to make it 17-10. But when former Falcons skipper James Hudson was sin-binned for an off the ball tackle, Clegg kicked his fifth penalty in the 63rd minute. Burns hit the post with a penalty shortly afterwards and then Gloucester declined two kickable penalties in there last six minutes to go for the corner. It proved the wrong option in the face of some determined Newcastle resistance. | John Afoa scored a Gloucester try after just one minute .
Before Bill Burns made it 7-0 from the conversion at Kingston Park .
But Rory Clegg kicked Newcastle to victory with five penalties .
And Sinoti Sinoti scored the Falcons only try of the match . |
1a4a9999ab5adb223b99ad743d0330da2cfb9452 | West Bromwich Albion have made an improved bid for Callum McManaman with Tony Pulis determined to land the Wigan winger. An offer understood to be £3.5m was rejected by the Championship strugglers, but Albion have returned with a revised deal of around £4m. Wigan are thought to want as much as £6m for the 23-year-old, but may agree to a smaller fee as manager Malky Mackay is eager to reshape his squad. Callum McManaman has emerged as a £4million target for West Bromwich Albion having spent the last two seasons in the Championship with Wigan . McManaman (left) was a star for Wigan in helping them win the 2013 FA Cup. Here he stands with the trophy at Wembley alongside Latics team-mate Shaun Maloney . New West Brom boss Tony Pulis is keen to bolster his attack with two more signings in the transfer window . It is believed the transfer will eventually go through with both clubs working to that outcome. Pulis has already spoken of his desire to sign two players before the end of the January transfer window, with the Baggies having also been linked with a £5m swoop for Leicetser forward Jamie Vardy. | Wigan had already rejected £3.5m bid from WBA for Callum McManaman .
Championship side value winger at £6m but could settle on lower fee .
Tony Pulis keen to bolster West Brom team with two new signings . |
1a4add50c06023ce469f8afc4aee35bb22f56649 | By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 06:50 EST, 15 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:43 EST, 15 January 2013 . An amateur footballer was gunned down by a gangland hitman in front of 150 spectators as he was warming up for a match with teammates. Alan Jopson, 27, was doing stretch exercises just before kick-off at a playing field in Liverpool when the masked gunman calmly jogged on to the pitch and shot him in the legs. The victim was hit three times in both legs and lay reeling in agony as the would-be assassin fled in a silver getaway car. Crowd in shock: Alan Jopson was gunned down when a hitman jogged calmly on to a pitch at Simpson Playing Fields, Liverpool, on Saturday afternoon . Jopson, who plays for West Derby side Alder, was treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries and is believed to have given a statement to police. Liverpool is currently in the grip of a string of tit-for-tat shootings. The gunman struck shortly before 2pm on Saturday as the match between amateur league clubs Allerton FC and Alder, in Division 1 of the Liverpool County Premier League, was about to kick off. As the teams ventured out on to a pitch at the busy Simpson Playing Fields in Woolton, the gunman pulled into the car park at the grounds in a silver vehicle, got out and ran on to the grass after them. Peter Woods, Allerton secretary, said: 'I was in the changing room and the next thing I knew, when I went outside to watch the game, everyone was running away as fast as they could. 'There must have been 100 people there, maybe 150, all milling around. Everyone just fled. 'I couldn't believe it when I found out that the lad had been shot. The city is gun crazy - shootings outside schools, on football pitches. It is ridiculous.' Liverpool County Premier league . secretary Iain Munro said: 'It's a busy ground and a number of games . were about to start. It's shocking. 'We know it's not a football-related incident. The victim was targeted as the person knew where they were playing football. The gunman came on the field while the teams were warming up, identified a player, and shot him three times.' The game was immediately abandoned and the car park, the playing fields and surrounding area were cordoned off for forensic investigations to take place. A spokesman for Alder FC also said the incident was 'not football-related'. He added: 'We have got absolutely nothing to do with what happened.' Merseyside Police confirmed the shooting was a targeted attack, but the motive was not yet known. Ch Supt Ngaire Waine said: 'It's a very rare thing to happen anywhere - let alone a football pitch. 'It was brazen reckless attack in full daylight which showed a total disregard for the safety of other people. We've identified over 80 people who witnessed it. ' | Hitman jogged on to the pitch just before kick-off and shot Alan Jopson, 27 .
He then fled in silver getaway car as crowd ran for their lives .
Liverpool is currently in the grip of a string of tit-for-tat shootings . |
1a4bd61f2150eef512c999c0ba9ec8f056764808 | Pauline Cafferkey has made a full recovery after battling ebola for almost a month . A British nurse struck down by ebola said last night she had come so close to death fighting the killer virus that she had told herself: ‘That’s it.’ Pauline Cafferkey, 39, was speaking after making a full recovery and being discharged from the Royal Free Hospital in London. She spent almost a month in an isolation tent, and for nine days during that time she was in a critical condition. She caught ebola in Sierra Leone, and as the virus took hold, Ms Cafferkey began to wonder if she would survive. She said: ‘There was a point when I remember saying “That’s it, I’ve had enough.” I was frightened but ebola is so unpredictable. When I was told I had it I just said, “Well, I’ve got a battle on my hands”, which I did.’ Ms Cafferkey, from South Lanarkshire, was treated with experimental antiviral drug called ZMAb. She also received blood plasma from an ebola survivor containing antibodies which are thought to have helped her battle the virus. Dr Michael Jacobs, who led the medical team at the Royal Free, said they had ‘delved into the world of experimental treatments’ to save her. He said Mrs Cafferkey had now recovered completely and was ‘not infectious in any way’. The nurse added to the antivirals and antibodies with her own regime, saying: ‘I had lots of Irn-Bru to help me!’ She said: ‘I am just happy to be alive. I feel weak, but I’m looking forward to going home.’ She caught ebola in December while volunteering with Save The Children. She is the second Briton to have beaten the virus after catching it in Sierra Leone. Nurse William Pooley, 29, was flown back to the Royal Free for treatment in August. The 39-year-old contracted the disease while volunteering at a Save the Children treatment centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone . Ms Cafferkey spent more than three weeks in an isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London (above) | Pauline Cafferkey was discharged from the Royal Free Hospital in London .
The NHS health worker contracted ebola while volunteering in west Africa .
She was put into hospital's isolation unit after returning to UK last month .
The 39-year-old credits hospital's staff and 'lots of Irn Bru' with recovery . |
1a4cf9e66cf130d5fcf19b37d245a1d4b029324b | By . Chris Waugh . Follow @@ChrisDHWaugh . India's Ravindra Jadeja has been fined 50 per cent of his first Test match fee after his involvement in an incident with England bowler James Anderson at Trent Bridge. The all-rounder was found guilty of 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game' at an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing on Friday. Jadeja and Anderson clashed following the second day of the first Test in the five-match series on July 10. Guilty: India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been fined 50 per cent of his first Test match fee . Clash: Jadeja (left) and England's Jame Anderson (right) were involved in an incident at Trent Bridge on July 10 . Incident: Jadeja (right) was found guilty of 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game' by the ICC at his hearing . Verbals: Anderson and Jadeja have a frank exchange of views out in the middle on day two of the first Test . And Jadeja, 25, was found to have been complicit in the incident. Anderson will find out if he too will be punished for the incident during his personal ICC hearing which takes place on Friday, August 1. India lead the series 1-0 following a 95-run victory at Lord's in the second Test. The third Test begins at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire on Sunday. Wait: England paceman Anderson will find out if he too will be punished at an ICC hearing on Friday, August 1 . Lead: Jadeja scored a half-century as India went 1-0 in the five-match series with a 95-run victory at Lord's . VIDEO Ballance targets key battles . | Jadeja was involved in an incident with Anderson at Trent Bridge on July 10 .
Jadeja found guilty of 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game' by ICC .
Anderson will learn if he too will be punished at ICC hearing on August 1 .
India lead five-match series 1-0 following 95-run victory at Lord's .
Third Test begins at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire on Sunday . |
1a4d568ab1af12b0d84daa907ebac52e90d6f76f | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 15:21 EST, 25 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:28 EST, 26 June 2012 . A mother has been arrested after allegedly throwing her two young sons to their deaths from a 15th-floor balcony because she was 'fed up' with them. Galina Ryabkova, 30, was seen looking emotionless on surveillance video taken from the block of flats in Moscow, Russia, in the moments following the incident. Neighbours in the complex were alerted after hearing the bodies of the boys, aged 4 and 7, hitting the ground. Scroll down to see the CCTV . Tragic: Galina Ryabkova, pictured, has been arrested after allegedly throwing her two young sons to their deaths from a 15th-floor balcony because she was 'fed up' with them . Heartbreaking: Galina Ryabkova, 30, calmly walks into the foyer of her apartment block just moments after the incident . Shocking: A resident in the complex attempts to talk to Mrs Ryabkova after the incident in an attempt to prevent her from escaping . Despite the efforts of neighbours, the youngsters died before the emergency services arrived. According to RT, the woman said she was 'fed up with children,' and 'decided to get rid of them'. The woman - whose husband was away on a business trip - lived on the 8th floor of the building and it is believed she took the children to the 15th floor before throwing them off on Sunday. One neighbour in the same apartment block described the horrific scenes following the incident to Life News. The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said his wife woke him up to say that children were falling out of the building. Awful: The mother is calm as two other concerned neighbours arrive to detain her. It has been reported that the woman was 'fed up with children,' and 'decided to get rid of them' Horrific: The woman is believed to have told a neighbour that she 'threw' her children away . The couple ran out to see the two children lying on the ground in front of the main entrance to the complex. The man added: 'Just at that time their mother was leaving the building. We asked her if these were her children and she replied, emotionlessly, "Yes, I threw them away.”' CCTV from the apartment block - as reported by New York Daily News - shows one of the children landing just out of frame at the front of the building. It then shows Mrs Ryabkova coming downstairs wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. Investigation: Police officers are pictured arriving at the complex of flats shortly after the incident . As she calmly sits in the lobby of the building, shocked neighbours surround her in an attempt to prevent her from escaping. The video ends by showing police officers arrive at the building to discover the grim scene and arrest the mother. It has been reported that Mrs Ryabkova has attempted to kill herself in the past and that her husband may have been cheating on her. Mrs Ryabkova will be sent to a psychiatric hospital for tests while the investigation into what happened continues. | Galina Ryabkova, 30, was seen looking .
emotionless on surveillance video from the block of flats following the incident .
Neighbours in the complex were alerted after hearing the bodies of the boys hitting the ground .
The mother said she was 'fed up with children,' and 'decided to get rid of them' |
1a4e537bf222f007cd92ef3a8fcce12ff631894a | By . Andy Dolan . PUBLISHED: . 13:56 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:02 EST, 19 July 2013 . Phil Dawn, 34, was found with his headphones hooked up to his mobile phone after the collision . A cyclist was killed on a level crossing while seemingly oblivious to the approaching train because he was listening to music on his earphones. Phil Dawn, a father-of-three, failed to hear the passenger train’s horn as it thundered towards him, or the shouts of horrified bystanders who tried to stop the cyclist from moving on to the crossing. An inquest heard Mr Dawn, 34, ‘did not flinch’ despite the desperate attempts of two walkers to alert him to the oncoming danger. Giving evidence at Nottingham Coroner’s Court Thomas Butler said he and his friend Grant Pinhold heard the train twice sound its horn moments after seeing the cyclist ride on to the tracks - but he didn’t seem to hear them or the approaching train. Mr Dawn had been cycling home from his job as a precision engineer when he was hit by the train on the King’s Mill crossing near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. His earphones were hooked up to his mobile phone but were found to be dangling loose of his ears following the collision, meaning the coroner could not be certain he had been listening to them at the point of impact. But she recorded a verdict of accidental death after concluding Mr Dawn may have been distracted by listening to music in the build-up to the fatal incident. Jane Gillespie, the assistant deputy coroner for Nottinghamshire, said: ‘I conclude for reasons we will never know with absolute certainty, Mr Dawn rode on to the track with no regard for his safety. ‘I find in balance that Mr Dawn didn’t hear the shouts or the horn. Despite the sounding of the horn, he didn’t react, flinch, or divert from the path, let along look at the direction of the train. ‘Sadly I’m driven to the view that the single most important aspect in this case was the behaviour of Mr Dawn himself.’ At the time of the tragedy in May last year, Network Rail said Mr Dawn was thought to have been listening to music. Witnesses had reported seeing the cyclist, wearing headphones under his hood, approached the lowered barriers and manoeuvre his bike around them. The divorced father-of-three was cycling home from work when he was killed at the crossing near Mansfield. A 'stop, look, listen' sign was in place. Plans to install a red and green warning light two months before Mr Dawn's death had been delayed . The footpath crossing had ‘wicket gates’ and a ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ sign. The train which struck Mr Dawn had been travelling from Nottingham to Mansfield Woodhouse. The three-day inquest at Nottingham heard a risk assessment of the crossing in 2007 found that installing red and green warning lights at the location could improve safety. Network Rail had also drawn up plans to put a bridge over the train line at the crossing two months before Mr Dawn’s death. But the scale of the project meant it hadn’t been implemented. Rail bosses also said a number of changes had been made to the crossing since Mr Dawn’s death, including a redesigned approach to the crossing, vegetation management, and a temporary reduction in speed. A Network Rail spokesman said: ‘A very early feasibility study was completed at this site, as with many others in the East Midlands, to establish if it is physically possible to construct a bridge at this site.' Mr Dawn’s sister, Tracy Hart, 40, said . her brother, who was divorced, was not known to regularly wear earphones . while cycling, although he regularly commuted by bicycle to ‘keep up . his fitness’. Following the inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court, Mr Dawn's sister Tracy Hart said 'human beings get distracted and make poor decisions' Mrs Hart, also of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, ‘We have always known that Phillip was not under the influence of any substances, was not breaking the law in any way, and only acted within human nature. ‘Phil wasn’t acting the fool, he was just cycling his way home after a hard day at work. ‘Human beings get distracted, make poor decisions and experience inattention blindness. Human beings in the 21st century wear earphones. ‘We hold the belief that Network Rail has a responsibility for user safety. All that was there was a basic black and white warning sign. ‘We feel it should have been in conspicuous bright colours that caught the eye. ‘The verdict of accidental death was expected but the family are disappointed that following the acceptance of Network Rail of a need for a bridge prior to the accident, that it failed to implement any interim safety measures such as a reduction in speed. ‘Since Philip only needed a fraction of a second more to get off the crossing, we believe that this would have saved his life.’ | Phil Dawn 'did not flinch' when the train's horn sounded twice .
Two walkers shouted to get his attention but he seemed oblivious to them .
Father-of-three was found with headphones hooked up to his phone . |
1a4e549fb3d12ae36875ec73fc1737755c6e54e0 | By . Richard Arrowsmith for MailOnline . Not only did Petr Cech get dropped for Chelsea's opening Premier League game against Burnley but, to add insult to exclusion, the keeper's name was misspelt as a substitute on the official team sheet. Jose Mourinho has chosen to start with the returning Thibaut Courtois for Monday evening's game at Turf Moor, casting doubt over the 32-year-old's future at Stamford Bridge. Having collected three Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time in west London,you might think the Czech Republic keeper would be a recognisable name to most. Scroll down for video... Oops! Petr Cech had his name spelt wrongly on the Burnley team sheet ahead of Chelsea's opening game . Lost in translation: The Blues goalkeeper was one of several players to have his name misspelt . However, some confusion at the Clarets home saw the team sheet delivered bearing the name 'PETR CHECH'. At least the Blues legend can rest assured that the slight was nothing personal as new signing Felipe Luis' name was also misspelt to 'PHILIPE LUIS' and Cesar Azpilicueta was as wrongly transcribed as 'AZPILCUETA' - while the 'h' was omitted from John Obi Mikel's first name. Paris Saint Germain are monitoring Cech's situation at Chelsea with reports they are interested in taking him to Ligue 1, despite Mourinho insisting he can keep both stoppers happy this season. New kid on the block: Jose Mourinho has chosen to start with Thibaut Courtois in goal . Mourinho said: ‘We are Chelsea. We can have two of three best goalkeepers in the world at the club. We can. We are economically stable. 'We can have Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres, so we can have Courtois and Cech. I can have Ramires, Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and Oscar, yet I cannot have two top goalkeepers? 'I can. Chelsea can as a club, and I can as a manager.' CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | Petr Cech was dropped for Chelsea's opening game against Burnley .
Jose Mourinho has chosen Thibaut Courtois to start at Turf Moor .
Cech, Felipe Luis and John Obi-Mikel all had their names mispelt on the official team sheet .
PSG are interested in taking 32-year-old Cech to Ligue 1 . |
1a4f40cb291ac5e9e75cf88edcd3e44ff257dc46 | BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- A panda once believed to be male and sent to Japan to breed with a female without success gave birth to twin cubs this week, state media reported on Thursday. An estimated 1,600 wild pandas live in nature reserves in China's Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. The panda, "Jinzhu", gave birth to two female cubs on Monday at the Wolong Nature Reserve in the mountainous southwestern province of Sichuan, 11 years after being declared male at birth in 1996, Xinhua news agency said. "Jinzhu was believed to be male owing to her inconspicuous secondary sex characteristic and behavior," the agency quoted Wei Rongping, assistant director of the reserve's research center, as saying. Jinzhu was sent to Japan in 2000 to mate with a female, the report said. "When the pandas showed complete disinterest, experts decided to turn to artificial insemination, leading to the discovery that Jinzhu had no penis," it added. Jinzhu was sent back to China in 2002, with experts arguing the panda was either a hermaphrodite or had "undeveloped" sexual organs. "The penis of an adult panda is only about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long," Xinhua quoted Li Deshen, a panda expert, as saying, as a possible reason for the mix-up. It was not until 2005 that scientists discovered nine-year-old Jinzhu's ovaries were positioned in the wrong place, and gave her a two-hour operation to make her a "normal girl", Xinhua said. Jinzhu subsequently mated with a male in March 2007 and gave birth 142 days later, Xinhua said. The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China. An estimated 1,600 wild pandas live in nature reserves in China's Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | A panda once believed to be male gave birth to twin cubs this week .
The panda was sent to Japan in 2000 to mate with a female... that didn't work out .
The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species . |
1a515ca3258658fca4226dd254cf755a443fece0 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Adam West became a pop icon with his original portrayal of Batman 45 years ago, but the actor is now offering a different portrait of the caped crusader. West will drive the original Batmobile to a Beverly Hills, California, art gallery for the opening of the first exhibit of his paintings and drawings depicting his vision of Batman and his crime-fighting world Friday evening. "The pictures are pretty raw and untamed, just like me," West said as he prepared for the exhibit, which will run for a month at the David W. Streets Beverly Hills Art Gallery. West is a "cultural pop art expressionist," said gallery owner Streets. "This is a huge genre coming out of pop culture, American television history and culture," Streets said. "It's really a tremendous art form and really fun." The energetic 82-year-old West said it was time "to open up a new phase" of his career. "After 45 years of doing all this nonsense, who better to bring it to life in paintings or drawings than the guy who created the character for film," West said. "People seem to like it and respond to it." One painting titled "The Birth of Batman," is a surrealist depiction of the pain and agony of a young Bruce Wayne's transformation from an orphan to a superhero, he said. "Batman saw his parents murdered in front of him as a little boy and, of course, he had to train for many years to create the kind of avenger crime fighter that he is," West said. "So, this represents a really tough birth." Another frame holds what West said is his "sense in some kind of dream of Bruce Wayne." West has kept busy in recent years attending fan conventions, but he still is in demand as an actor. He is a regular on "Family Guy," playing Mayor West on the animated Fox series. "In a very real sense, I represent pop culture in an iconic way," West said. "It's been very good to me, so anything I can do to help the fans to tumble along -- it's good." West began painting "without anyone knowing, except the folks in my household, about 40 years ago," he said. Few people have seen his art work until now. "I'm flattered that they want to pay money for my pictures," he said. "It's terrific." The gallery opening Friday night promises to be a reunion for the original Batman cast with the first Catwoman, Julie Newmar, and sidekick Robin,played by Burt Ward, also expected. | Adam West began painting privately 40 years ago .
His art is "cultural pop art expressionist"
West says he's opening "a new phase" of his career . |
1a542077a516fd7bf9f4ea49be6fa0afba719c28 | Mystery: Archaeologist Dr Jacqui Wood has found dozens of witch pits including one believed to be from the 1970s . A secret coven of Cornish witches first formed in the 1640s has been digging pits lined with animal skins, bird carcasses and feathers as recently as the 1970s as part of a fertility ritual, it was revealed today. Archaeologist Jacqui Wood has discovered dozens of shallow rectangular holes near the hamlet of Saveock near Truro since 2003. Locals believe that two spinsters from the village, who died in the 1980s, were members of a coven of local witches who may have links to the pits and passed on their secrets. The freshest hole contains animal bones wrapped in a synthetic twine only used in Cornwall since the 1970s, which means the witch or witches who dug it are very likely to be alive, she says. Dr Wood's theory is that generations of local women have slaughtered and skinned animals and birds to help them fall pregnant. The earliest witch pit dates back to the 1640s and is lined with a slaughtered swan turned inside-out, claws from other birds and a small pile of stones. In ancient folklore the swan is a symbol of fertility and new life. Others were lined with the skins of animals like cats and dogs, and many have large numbers of birds eggs buried as the chicks were about to hatch. Remarkably the pits often contain a pile of pebbles only found at Swanpool beach near Falmouth, which is 15 miles away from Saveock. Dr Wood believes that the pits may be an offering to St Brigid of Kildare in Ireland, the patron saint of newborn babies, dug by women who were struggling to get pregnant. Other theories involve witches who wanted to marry and have children. She told MailOnline: 'It is a faith system dating back at least 350 years and I believe it is linked to witchcraft. It is all still a secret, probably passed down from mother to daughter. Grim: The pits contain animal carcasses or in this case the wing of a swan and a set of egg. Swans are linked to folklore as symbols of rejuvenation and fertility . Symbols: Many of the holes contain eggs from a variety of birds all with chicks that were about the hatch while others contain the skins of animals and birds feathers, right . 'We know that one pit must have been dug in the 1970s. It contained orange baler twine invented in the 1960s and we know this was not used in Cornwall until the 1970s. Carbon dating of another pit shows that it was dug after the 1950s. 'There is an unbroken line from the 1640s to today. I think the people doing it now must still be alive. 'What's amazing is that these people must believe it works otherwise they would not still be doing it. And it is still being kept a secret after all these years. 'My own theory is that maybe if you got married and did not get pregnant in the first year, you might make an offering to St Bride of a feather pit. If you finally got pregnant you had to go back to the pit and take out the contents and burn them and set the spirit of the swan free. If you never got pregnant then the pit remained untouched'. The 40-or-so pits have been found by Dr Wood and her students in areas where there were reeds. The first one was found by accident in 2003 during the excavation of a neolithic platform. Theory: The tiny hamlet of Saveock, pictured, is near Truro and locals claim two spinsters who died in the 1980s were witches who may have links to the holes and passed the secrets on . At first they believed the hole was a failed attempt to plant a tree but then more digging found several more all roughly measuring 42cm long by 35cm wide and 17cm deep. Dr Wood believes because the land used is often wet it has helped people dig the holes quickly and hide the reeds allowed them to hide the pits easily. 'Every pit is very different but also remarkably similar. It is always involving fur and feather and often birds eggs where the chicks were ready to be born. There is also a small pile of stones, taken from by the sea 15 miles away', she said. Some have contained bones and the heads of goats or pigs. One had a scrap of newspaper containing the word Mussolini, who rose to power in the 1920s and was executed in 1945. The people who dug the pits would also have known they were breaking the law. The killing of swans has been illegal since the 11th century and witchcraft laws were only scrapped in 1951. Dr Wood said: 'We finally got a radio carbon date for one of the pits which was around 1640’s. That was the time of the Civil War and a dangerous thing to be doing when Cromwell’s army came to Cornwall as any sort of pagan worship was classed as witchcraft and punishable by death'. For centuries paganism and witchcraft was part of everyday life in Cornwall and peaked in the 19th century. The majority of communities had their own white witch who was seen as a form of public servant. These witches, also known as pellars, would protect families, get rid of curses and also cure illnesses. Commonly they would also bury offerings on behalf of people, like the pits found in Saveock. The most famous of these was Tamsin Blight, right, who lived from 1798 to 1856 in West Cornwall, and was known to have extraordinary powers to heal sick humans and animals. It was said that she once went to a graveyard and raised the spirit of a recently deceased woman for a male relative who wanted to know about his inheritance. The folk tale known as the 'The Ghost of Stythians' says she used a charmed ring and chanted incantations for some time before people heard a great crashing noise, screams of pain and felt a gust of wind before the woman's spirit rose from the grave and was questioned. One of Cornwall's main tourist attractions is the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, which contains tales of witchcraft and artefacts. Its website sets out various spells and rituals that were used in the county and explained in stories and poems. One called the 'the hand of a suicide' explains how some believed the sick could be cured if they put their hands on the body of a man who had killed themselves. Others believed that touching the body of a person who was recently hanged had the same effect. Another ritual commonly used would involve someone who was ill walking over burning wood from a fire to cure terminal illnesses. One tradition involved the burning of ivy leaves or rushes to find out the future. A couple who wanted to know if they would marry would throw rushes on the fire. If the rushes burned together they would have a happy marriage, but if they split then that would be their fate, . Others used two ivy leaves, burying then in ashes, and used the number of cracks that appeared in woman's leaf to predict how many children they would have. The one that burned the longest would live the longest. | Dr Jacqui Wood has found dozens of witch pits in village of Saveock .
Rectangular holes linked to bizarre fertility ritual dating back to 1640s .
Contain animal or bird carcasses, unhatched eggs and pile of pebbles .
The pits may be an offering to saint of newborn babies to aid fertility .
Latest hole contains bones wrapped in twine only used since 1970s .
Dr Wood believes that generations of local women have carried out ritual .
She said: 'There is an unbroken line from the 1640s to today. I think the people doing it now must still be alive' |
1a553c1ee15c3a16cb3329b2a0306729c39b232f | DNA testing has lead the investigators to D'Marcus Tucker, 15, who was charged with first-degree murder on Monday . A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a young woman who was found stabbed to death at her Florida home five months ago. Nicole Franco, 19, who worked as a pastry chef at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, was murdered in her own bed on June 3. DNA testing has lead the investigation to D'Marcus Tucker, 15, a neighbor at the gated Bridgewater Place apartments in Oakland Park. Tucker was charged on Monday with one count of first-degree murder. According to the sheriff's department, Tucker entered Franco's ground-floor apartment through a sliding door and grabbed a knife from her kitchen. He then went into Franco’s bedroom and took her wallet from her purse. As he turned to leave, Tucker accidentally stepped on the purse, which awoke Franco. Police said a startled Tucker then stabbed Franco multiple times in the chest. Tucker allegedly told police he watched Franco dial 911 before fleeing and throwing the wallet into a lake behind the apartments. During the 911 call, Franco told the call-taker someone had broken into her house and beat her. However, she fell unconscious before she could provide more details. Deputies arriving to the apartment building had to go door-to-door at 4:11 a.m. to find Franco’s apartment. They eventually noticed the open sliding glass door and discovered her body. Tucker had entered the Fort Myers Youth Academy, a juvenile facility in Lee County, on September 17 on another matter. Nicole Franco, 19, who worked as a pastry chef at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, was murdered in her own bed on June 3 . A DNA sample was obtained from him and entered into a state database. On Thursday, Tucker's DNA was found to match DNA evidence taken from Franco's bed. He was arrested the next day on suspicion of murder. Detectives searching Tucker's family's apartment have also found a knife with blood on it in the building's stairwell. Tucker has been moved to the Lee County Sheriff's jail and is awaiting transfer to Broward County Jail. Franco, originally from Park Ridge, New Jersey, moving to Florida in August of 2013 to attend The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Franco is survived by four siblings and her parents Teri and Steven. Franco was able to call 911 after she was stabbed. She told the call-taker someone had broken into her house and beat her, but fell unconscious before she could provide more details . Both Franco and Tucker lived at the gated Bridgewater Place apartments in Oakland Park, Florida . | Nicole Franco, 19, was found stabbed to death in her own bed on June 3 .
Five months later police have charged D'Marcus Tucker, 15, after DNA testing linked him to the crime scene .
Tucker has since confessed to the murder and cops found a knife with blood on it at the apartment block where he lived in Oakland Park, Florida . |
1a554ba4ffd5383a5fb61f52902c0f87111ad1d2 | By . Elliott Bretland for MailOnline . Follow @@EllBretland . Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has played down the injury suffered by star man Cristiano Ronaldo against rivals Atletico in Tuesday night's Super Cup first leg. The Portugal international was replaced at half-time after he was seen to hold his back as the two sides walked off the field for the interval. Madrid boss Ancelotti confirmed after the game that Ronaldo will go for tests on Wednesday. Worry: Cristiano Ronaldo holds his back while grimacing before being substituted at half-time against Atletico . Nothing to fear: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed the Portugal international will go for tests . The Italian said: ‘Cristiano had strain and was not comfortable. Tests tomorrow. At first it does not seem so serious.’ Madrid's new £60million signing James Rodriguez was the man to come on for Ronaldo and scored his first goal for Real to put the European champions ahead before Raul Garcia equalised for Diego Simeone's men. Ronaldo's World Cup in Brazil was hampered by a knee injury as Portugal crashed out at the Group stage in Brazil this summer. Bittersweet: Substitute James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring his first goal for Real Madrid at the Bernabeu . VIDEO Real better than before - Ancelotti . | Cristiano Ronaldo was replaced as half-time in Real Madrid's Super Cup clash with Atletico .
Carlo Ancelotti has said that Ronaldo will go for tests on Wednesday .
Real Madrid boss claims that the injury does not seem serious however . |
1a55ac0b88868cc93356a0a41bfb90418194c47e | Charlton are closing on a deal to sign Tony Watt from Standard Liege. The 20-year-old, who shot to prominence when he scored Celtic’s winner in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona in November 2012, may join the Championship side on an initial loan with a view to a permanent deal. Watt began his career at Airdrie United but was snapped up by Celtic after impressing during the 2010-11 season. Scotland under 21 international Tony Watt (right) joined Standard Liege from Celtic last summer for £1.2m . He spent two years at the Scottish giants with mixed success before they loaned him out to Belgian side Lierse last season. And his eight goals in 17 appearances for the club caught the eye of Standard Liege who bought him last summer. The 20-year-old has been capped at Under 19, 20 and 21 level for Scotland but is yet to play for the senior side. But now Charlton are hoping to bring the young forward back to the UK, on loan initially . Watt celebrates with team-mates after scoring the winner against Barcelona in November 2012 . | Celtic sold Tony Watt to Standard Liege for £1.2million last summer .
But now Charlton want to bring the striker back to the UK .
The Championship side may opt for a loan deal initially . |
1a5629350b348e35b411bf8175f018f344663124 | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 12:55 EST, 17 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:46 EST, 19 December 2012 . A former Beaver leader appeared in court today accused of sexually assaulting a child during after-school activities. Jason Asthana, 32, appeared at a Crown Court hearing held at Brighton Magistrates' Court accused of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sex assault on a child under 13. He denies the charges which allegedly took place on one boy between August 2009 and August 2010. Beaver leader Jason Asthana, 32, is accused of sexual offences against a child. He denies the charges . At the time the alleged offences took place, Asthana was working as a leader of the Beaver Scouts youth club and as a helper at a tennis club in Sussex. Prosecutor Henrietta Pager told the court Asthana was the local Beaver leader and said: 'This is a case about the sexual abuse of a little boy.' She added: 'The first incident was at Beavers when everyone else had gone home. 'He told the child to take his pants down then took a photo of his private parts and told him not to tell anyone. 'The next time was at tennis club when the same thing happened again, although this time Mr Asthana took the boy's pants down.' Miss Pager told the court that at Beavers he also put his hands down the child's underwear and touched him. The court in Brighton where the trial of Jason Asthana is being held . The child did not tell anyone about what had happened for two years until one day his mother noticed he was distressed and asked what was bothering him, the court heard. The mother told the court she had taken her son out for a 'rare treat' of a McDonalds meal when he told her what had happened when he was in the Beavers the previous year. Holding back the tears, she said: 'I got into the car and he was crying. 'I said "What's the matter?" and he dropped a bombshell. 'He said "Jason Asthana put his hands down my pants and took a photograph of me". 'He just came out with it. We hadn't seen Jason for a while. 'I didn't know how to deal with it at the time. He was upset and agitated. 'I wanted it to be untrue, I was trying to find a reason why he said it.' She said her son told her: 'I hate Jason and I hate this world.' She told the court she couldn't tell her husband what had happened for a few days as she didn't feel he would be able to cope. The boy's mother told the court she eventually telephoned the school for help before reporting the crime to the police. A video recording showing a police interview with the child was also shown to jurors in the court. In it the little boy said he felt 'weird', 'angry' and 'upset' after what had happened. He said he did not go back to Beavers after the incident as he told his mother it was 'boring'. The court heard Asthana did not answer questions in police interviews and denied the allegations. The trial, being heard by Judge Paul Tain, is expected to last three to four days. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Jason Asthana denies abusing the young boy in after-school activities . |
1a56a0de4fe19f4f457d3e7e5eb3031f4624042a | (CNN) -- As we approach the Christmas and Hanukkah season, we should remember that the American commercial republic, too often criticized for greed and excess, is unparalleled in generosity. Canadian radio commentator Gordon Sinclair said in the 1970s, at the height of American criticism abroad, that the United States is the "most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the Earth." We are still the most generous people in the world today. Often the benefactors of American generosity capture it best. "There is a reason the world always looks to America," Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in an address to Congress this year. "Your city on a hill cannot be hidden. Your brave and free people have made you the masters of recovery and reinvention." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a separate address to Congress this year, echoed the sentiments, "Providence entrusted the United States to be the guardian of liberty. All people who cherish freedom owe a profound debt of gratitude to your great nation." The critics of the American capitalist system are many, but when disaster strikes, the world still turns to America. One thinks most recently of Japan and Haiti. Not only did the United States send hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, but it also sent troops, food, water and medical supplies. We remember the moving picture of "Thank you USA" etched in the mud next to a rescue helicopter landing circle in Japan. In surveys taken around the world, the United States is most popular in Africa, a continent we've given billions of dollars to help fight AIDS, starvation and other diseases. But we also donate more than money (and the U.S. foreign aid budget is the topic of much debate, and rightfully so). Generations of Americans have sacrificed their lives to fight and die for freedom around the world. At home, with budget cuts affecting families, corporations and the government, Americans are still remarkably charitable. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which tracks the corporate giving of America's largest companies, recently reported that in 2010, a very tough financial year, total cash donations by this group rose 13%, to $4.9 billion. In 2010, Kroger, the Cincinnati supermarket operator, gave away an astounding 10.9% of its $589 million in 2009 pre-tax profits, totaling $64 million. Wal-Mart Stores donated the most cash last year, $319 million. As for individuals, a new American Red Cross poll suggests that while Americans had to tighten their budgets in 2011, they are still as committed to giving to charity as ever. American generosity is not dependent on the government or public policy. It should be pointed out that conservatives, criticized by liberals as health care and welfare slashers and greedy capitalists, give far more to charity than liberals. Arthur Brooks wrote in his now-famous book, "Who Really Cares," that households headed by conservatives give 30% more to charity than households headed by liberals. Conservatives also give more blood and donate more of their time to volunteer work, according to Brooks. Generosity is in no way demanded or required by our Constitution or laws, yet it is an inherent part of America's cultural fabric. Compared to the rest of the world, American benevolence is unmatched. China, which boasts the second largest economy in the world, is one of the least generous nations on Earth when it comes to charitable contributions. In the annals of human history, there has never been a country as compassionate and generous as the United States. When Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the great Russian novelist who defied communism, visited America, he said, "The United States has long shown itself to be the most magnanimous, the most generous country in the world. Wherever there is a flood, an earthquake, a fire, a natural disaster, an epidemic, who is the first to help? The United States. Who helps the most and unselfishly? The United States." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of William J. Bennett. | The U.S. is unparalleled in generosity, says William J. Bennett .
Capitalism has its critics, but when disaster strikes, the world still turns to America, he says .
America's largest companies made $4.9 billion in donations last year, Bennett says .
Bennett: American generosity is not dependent on the government or public policy . |
1a56b9c8a127cd4ce1426a5aca7894130fe8b4b6 | By . Martin Keown . Follow @@martinkeown5 . After the trophy had been presented and the players had finished spraying Arsene Wenger with champagne, I went down on to the Wembley pitch to say my congratulations. The last time Arsenal won a trophy — in 2005 — I hadn’t even been that bothered about going to the game and I certainly didn’t feel emotional. After all, Arsenal were used to winning trophies all the time. On Saturday, I did feel emotional and I wouldn’t have missed being there for the world. I was with Mo Farah, who is a huge Arsenal fan, and we spotted Wenger so went over to say hello. He looked a bit dishevelled as he’d just been given the bumps by his players and had to change out of his suit and into a tracksuit. I said to him that he looked like he’d just run a marathon. Marathon: Martin Keown watched the cup final with huge Arsenal fan Mo Farah . Emotional: Arsenal ended nine years without a trophy by beating Hull at Wembley . He wore a huge grin. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him happier. I think he was just delighted to be answering questions about winning a trophy — he probably wondered if it would ever happen again. At 2-0, I was worried for him, concerned that his reputation wouldn’t recover from losing such a game. Instead, the team found a way to win and now Wenger is a winner again. That’s what trophies do. People were doubting whether he still had it in him but here was proof that he did. I also spoke to Aaron Ramsey, who has without doubt become Arsenal’s No 1 player, the first name on the team-sheet. Last season he was trying too hard at times but the improvement has been vast. He refused to accept that Arsenal would lose and kept taking the game to Hull, making runs in behind them again and again. The winning goal was down to his persistence and was a fantastic finish. First step: But the Gunners must continue to win . Delighted: Arsene Wenger answered a lot of critics with the FA Cup win . I told him that the game will forever be remembered as the ‘Ramsey Final’ and that he’s gone down in history. He’s scored 16 goals this season and, amazingly, came back from injury playing at the same high standard as earlier in the season. Yet he could have been in goal facing penalties in a shootout too if Lukasz Fabianski had made contact with Sone Aluko, 40 yards out, in those crazy closing moments. Thomas Vermaelen is worthy of a mention too. He was once again left out of the team but you wouldn’t have known it from his celebrations. He showed true dignity and class as club captain — there was not a hint of bitterness in his behaviour. The players will be desperate to win more trophies now. I didn’t win my first until 1998 — I was injured for the 1994 Cup-winners’ Cup final — and the waiting weighs heavily. But then you just become hungry for a repeat and try even harder. No 1: Aaron Ramsey has grown to become Arsenal's most important player . Agonising: Sone Aluko saw a late, late chance cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs . To do that, Arsenal will have to add to their squad. Yes, they are a maturing group of players but fans spend their hard-earned cash each week on tickets and merchandise and they want to see it invested in the transfer market. Signing Mesut Ozil in some way reunited the fans and the club, and they will expect the same again. Football is not just about being competitive on the pitch, but being competitive off it. Bacary Sagna looks likely to leave and Vermaelen and Johan Djourou could follow. Wenger must decide whether to make Carl Jenkinson his right back or buy a replacement. That could mean buying three defenders when they would surely rather spend money improving things at the other end. Dignified: Club captain Thomas Vermaelen acted in a brilliant manner despite being left out . Potential: Mesut Ozil needs to play with a striker who has the pace and willingness to latch onto his passes . Olivier Giroud has done very well, netting 22 times, but his place needs to be under more pressure. Arsenal need a world-class centre forward who can offer something different from Giroud — someone with real pace who can run in behind defences. Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka used to fill that role. With the right target, Ozil and Santi Cazorla will cause havoc, picking him out time after time. At the moment, especially with Theo Walcott injured, Arsenal are too reliant on Ramsey’s runs from deep. Added to that should be a tough-tackling midfielder. Yes, half the Premier League is looking for the next Yaya Toure or Nemanja Matic, but Arsenal need to find him. | After winning the FA Cup against Hull City, Arsenal must carry on their success .
I was watching with Olympic champion Mo Farah .
Aaron Ramsey has grown hugely this season, he is Arsenal's No 1 player .
As good as Olivier Giroud has been, Arsenal need a striker in the Thierry Henry or Nicolas Anelka mould - that will make Mesut Ozil better . |
1a5881c6cfbfcf220ce1a12d6436991a9248d079 | Mini toiletries bottles and free teabags may be considered fair game. But some hotel guests have a hard time resisting the urge to pilfer anything they can get their hands on, with robes, coat hangers, slippers and sheets being common temptations. So an intuitive hotel in Australia has employed the art of reverse psychology, listing the most coveted items on a menu, complete with prices. Scroll down for video . Warning: Before you run off with that robe, remember it will end up on your bill - at a cost of over £90 . The QT hotel group came up with a menu of 14 items, which included coffee mugs, shoe horns, coat hangers, eye masks, a cocktail shaker and bathroom glasses. The menu, entitled DESIRE, was placed in all of their suites, to remind guests that any stolen items would be appearing on their bill. Prices range from nine Australian Dollars (almost £5) for an eye mask to 175 Australian Dollars (around £96). A spokesman for the group said the menus are becoming 'increasingly becoming more and more popular'. Naughty, naughty: Bathrobes and coat hangers are some of the most common items pinched by hotel guests . A Grand piano . The hefty instrument was stolen from the Starwood Hotel Group by three people dressed in overalls, who walked into the reception and quietly rolled it out. A stuffed boar . At the Hotel du Vin in Birmingham, a guest was caught trying to pilfer a mounted boar's head from the hotel's billiard room. Sex toys . The Residence in Bath offers kinky accessories to its guests - some of whom have been caught red-handed, and red-faced . The mini-bar . For some people, one drink is never enough. Some naughty guests at the The Parkroyal in Kuala Lumpur wanted the entire mini-bar, including the fridge . A marble fireplace . A guest at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel is alleged to have taken the entire marble fireplace. A survey by Novotel Hotels revealed the most common items stolen from hotel suites included bathrobes, towels, cushions, TV remote controls and coffee sachets. But stranger things have also been taken. The Best Western chain in the US reported that linen, light bulbs and furnishings are sometimes swiped. And the Starwood Hotel Group, also American, claimed a Grand piano had been stolen from the reception of one of their hotels. Meanwhile, a guest staying at the famous Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel - is alleged to have taken the entire marble fireplace. 1. Towels . 2. Cushions . 3. Bathrobes . 4. TV remote controls . 5. Light bulbs . 6. Mini-bar contents . 7. Clothes hangers . 8. Bathroom display trays . 9. Coffee sachets . 10. Plastic tissue boxes . According to a survey by Novotel Hotels . A recent survey by Just the Flight found that nearly half (43 per cent) of British holidaymakers admit to thieving from their rooms, with 60 per cent of those people not considering it to be stealing, according to a survey. Twelve per cent said they took items because they felt that the hotel wasn't offering them value for money. And 15 per cent admitted to pinching things because they didn't think they'd get caught. Guests who confessed to stealing items from hotel rooms most frequently said they did so because they believed it was expected of them, the survey of 1,000 people revealed. But the largest group prepared to admit their pilfering ways were young people, with 47 per cent of 18-34-year-olds saying they stole from hotels, compared to 45 per cent of 35-54-year-olds and 37 per cent of those aged over 55. | The QT hotel group listed coveted items and placed a menu in each suite .
List of 14 objects includes coffee mugs, coat hangers and a cocktail shaker .
Prices range from £5 for an eye mask to £96 for a bath robe . |
1a5c637648a5cec6f83ecefde0cb6f42a9e823c9 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 07:32 EST, 28 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:06 EST, 28 January 2013 . Fined: Laura Howells, 24, was given a £75 on-the-spot fine when she dropped a packet of salt in a car park in Llanelli, west Wales . A young woman has been fined £400 for dropping a packet of salt on the ground in a car park. Office worker Laura Howells, 24, dropped the tiny sachet - measuring just 2.5cm by 5cm - as she ate her lunch from a KFC takeaway. But she was spotted eating in her car by a litter enforcement officer from the local council who handed her a £75-on-the-spot fine. Miss Howells said she picked up the salt packet - claiming it was just an accident. She said: 'I couldn't believe it - it was only a salt sachet. 'I had been to KFC with friends and we were sitting in the car having food and I must have dropped it by accident.' But when she failed to pay the fine, she was hauled up in front of Carmarthen Magistrates Court. She pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990m and was told that as well as the original fine she would have to pay £316.85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. She added: 'I felt sick when I found out how much the fine was - it is definitely over the top. 'If I had been caught a couple of times then it is fair enough, but that's not the case at all. I am not the type of person who ever litters.'Miss Howells, from Kidwelly, West Wales, was caught by Carmarthenshire Council's environmental enforcement officers in the B&Q car park in Trostre, Llanelli. Fast food: Miss Howells bought her lunch at this KFC in Llanelli and was eating it in her car when she was approached by a council litter enforcement officer . Jim Jones, the council's executive board member for environmental and public protection, said: 'I hope this acts as a warning to others. 'Cleaning our streets of litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping costs the council £2.2 million a year. 'Dropping litter is against the law, whether it is discarding rubbish from a vehicle, throwing cigarette ends or spitting out chewing gum. 'We do not want to fine people but we are determined to clean up Carmarthenshire and we will not hesitate to prosecute those that break the law in this way.' The salt packet: Laura Howells, 24, picked up the KFC salt sachet - measuring 2.5cm by 5cm - but was still fined for littering . In court: Miss Howells failed to pay the £75 on-the-spot fine and was ordered to attend Carmarthen Magistrates Court, pictured, where she was ordered to also pay £316 in court costs and a £15 victim surcharge fee . | Laura Howells, 24, dropped the KFC salt sachet - measuring 2.5cm by 5cm .
She was spotted by a council litter enforcement officer and given a £75 fine .
Miss Howells was taken to court when she failed to pay the fine and charged a further £316 in court costs and a £15 victim surcharge fee . |
1a5d3f2738d10ffd3a44ffcd28149449f819efcd | (CNN) -- Babylon was one of the glories of the ancient world, its walls and mythic hanging gardens listed among the Seven Wonders. Founded about 4,000 years ago, the ancient city was the capital of 10 dynasties in Mesopotamia, considered one of the earliest cradles of civilization and the birthplace of writing and literature. But following years of plunder, neglect and conflict, the Babylon of today scarcely conjures that illustrious history. In recent years, the Iraqi authorities have reopened Babylon to tourists, hoping that one day the site will draw visitors from all over the globe. But despite the site's remarkable archaeological value and impressive views, it is drawing only a smattering of tourists, drawn by a curious mix of ancient and more recent history. The city -- just 85km (52 miles) south of Baghdad, about a two hour drive, dependent on checkpoints -- still bears the marks of ham-fisted attempts at restoration by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and a subsequent occupation by U.S. forces in 2003. "They occupied Babylon. They wouldn't let anyone in," says Hussein Saheb, a guard at the historical sites at Babylon, recalling the day U.S. tanks rolled into view, before forces set up camp. Read more: Is a man-made desert lake an ecological paradise or disaster? Following excavations in the early 20th century, European archaeologists claimed key features such as the remains of the famous Ishtar Gate -- the glazed brick gate decorated with images of dragons and aurochs, built in about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II as the eighth gate to the inner city. The original now stands as part of a reconstruction of the gate in Berlin's Pergamon Museum, whereas in Babylon itself, visitors enter through a replica. Yet remnants of Babylon's former glory remain, with sections of the city's walls still intact. Later excavations and conservation work carried out under Saddam's rule greatly despoiled the site, say archaeologists. Iraqi archaeologist Hai Katth Moussa said that during a massive reconstruction project in the early 1980s, Saddam began building a replica of the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II on top of the ruins of the ancient palace. Like Nebuchadnezzar, he wrote his name on many of the bricks, with inscriptions such as: "This was built by Saddam, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq." After the Gulf War, Saddam began building a modern palace for himself on top of ruins in the style of a Sumerian ziggurat. When U.S. forces arrived in 2003, they occupied the palace, which lies adjacent to Nebuchadnezzar's palace and overlooks the Euphrates River, and left their own mark. Today, a basketball hoop remains in Babylon, while concertina wire left behind by the military is used to prevent visitors from climbing over a 2,500-year-old lion statue -- an ancient symbol of the city. Read more: A camel beauty pageant in the UAE . Even in the new Iraq, Babylon faces ongoing threats. Only 2% of the ancient city has been excavated, but those buried historical treasures are threatened by encroaching development. Tour guide Hussein Al-Ammari says an oil pipeline runs through the eastern part of the ancient city. "It goes through the outer wall of Babylon," he says. Yet despite the shortcomings in its preservation, Babylon holds a draw for small numbers of Iraqi visitors -- even if only to enter Saddam's marble-lined palaces, still a novelty 10 years after the dictator's downfall. Zained Mohammed, visiting with her family for the first time from Karbala, told CNN: "We were just looking for a change of atmosphere, to have the kids see something different." Babylon is certainly that. | In recent years, the Iraqi authorities have reopened Babylon to tourists .
Despite the site's remarkable archaeological value and impressive views, there are few tourists .
The city still bears the marks of poor attempts at restoration by Saddam Hussein .
Babylon faces ongoing threats of development encroaching on its buried ruins . |
1a5d4c9faf65215997f3f23f6c18849b4992f3b9 | Cristiano Ronaldo moved to within one goal of Raul's Champions League scoring record with his opening strike against Liverpool on Wednesday night. The Portugal star had failed to score at Anfield in all of his previous five visits, but made no mistake with a neat half-volley in the 23rd minute. It took Ronaldo's European tally to 70 goals, one off that of Madrid favourite Raul but just one ahead of Barcelona rival Lionel Messi. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Barcelona next on Ronaldo's hit-list . Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid scores the first goal past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet . Ronaldo evaded the attention of Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel to score his first goal at Anfield . The strike moved Ronaldo to within one goal of Raul's Champions League scoring record . Ronaldo has been in unrelenting goal scoring form and is destined to break Raul's record . The Portugal star pulls off his trademark celebration after his superb finish on Wednesday evening . VIDEO Barcelona next on Ronaldo's hit-list . 1. Raul (Real Madrid, Schalke) 71 goals . 2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Real Madrid) 70 . 3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 69 . 4. Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Real Madrid) 56 . 5. Thierry Henry (Monaco, Arsenal, Barca) 50 . 'I’m going to beat his record, whether now or another night,' said Ronaldo. 'Messi is very close too. It’s a team win, we have nine points so 75 per cent of the qualification is done.' Real's 3-0 Group B victory was the Spanish side's eighth win on the spin, with Ronaldo scoring in every game since La Liga kicked off in late August. The 29-year-old was applauded by some sections of the home support when he was substituted in the 75th minute; with even the Anfield faithful prepared to recognise his remarkable feats. 'It was special,' said Ronaldo. 'It was my first goal at Anfield and I feel very happy. Very proud. We knew before the game that Anfield is a difficult place, but we played fantastic football – especially in the first half, and we deserved it.’ Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Liverpool continue to stumble post-Luis Suarez. They have dropped 11 points already this season and recent victories over West Brom and QPR were not without their scares. Some supporters were pointing to Ronaldo’s record against them as reason for optimism, following his previous scoring drought at Anfield. But now his sights are trained on a different record. Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid have won their last seven matches on the spin in Spain and in Europe . Cristiano Ronaldo had never scored at Anfield - he is pictured here celebrating John O'Shea's winner in 2007 . Ronaldo is just one behind Raul's Champions League goalscoring record . | Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-0 in Champions League tie at Anfield .
Cristano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his 23rd-minute strike .
The Portugal star is now just one shy of Raul's scoring record .
It also marked Ronaldo's first goal at Anfield in six attempts .
Some Liverpool fans applauded Ronaldo when he was substituted . |
1a5e3c59108b30c01afc0f91dbf82b0a1421215a | By . Helen Pow . Toronto mayor Rob Ford has declared 'rehab is amazing' and that it reminds him of 'football camp' as he vows to return fighting fit to 'kick butt' in October's election. The embattled mayor, who is on a leave of absence to tackle his drug and alcohol use, said he feels 'great' and is benefiting from the self-imposed exile. There are meetings with 'eight people in a group,' he told the Toronto Sun from his mystery treatment center Tuesday. And later 'there is a meal before we have some one-on-one sessions.' 'It reminds me of football camp. Kind of like the Washington Redskins camp I went to as a kid,' he said, adding 'I am working out every day and I am learning about myself, my past and things like that.' Where are you? Rob Ford is pictured above on May 1, a day after he announced his leave of absence. He has now spoken out about rehab, calling it the best thing he ever did . There's no timeline for his return to office, but Ford has assured his supporters he'll be back in time to gain re-election later this year. 'Of course, I am coming back and I am going to kick butt,' he told the newspaper. 'I will be on the ballot for mayor in October, guaranteed, and I will do well.' He joked 'on October 28 there will be no need to change the locks. There will be no need to clean out my office because I am coming back.' Ford said the rehab center treats 'addictions to alcohol and other things' and is 'worth every penny.' After a week of being clean and sober, the mayor said he's starting to come to terms with what has happened over the past year but he said he is hopeful he can right his wrongs. 'At first, I was mad. I was mad at myself and saying, "Why me?"' he told the Sun. 'But then I realized it could have been a whole lot worse.' He said the very public fall from grace was possibly what he needed to shake him into action. 'I do feel bad about what happened, but it might have been the best thing that happened because I am working on getting better.' Getting help: The mayor is seeking treatment for alcohol addition. Pictured above arriving at his home early Thursday morning after announcing his leave of absence . Ford refused to reveal the name of the treatment center he's checked into, out of respect for the other patients, and he wouldn't even confirm it was in Canada. He said the decision to check himself into rehab came on April 29 - the morning after he was taped in an apparent intoxicated state at a city pub. He said he woke up and 'I told Dougie, "I am going away" and then started looking up rehab and treatment centres.' Ford told the Sun his family knows where he is and he's been speaking to his children regularly, though they don't know why he's getting help. He said the past week has been tough but he described going into rehab as the 'best decision' he has ever made and said he wishes he'd done it sooner. 'I said to myself, "Am I going to try to cover it up for the rest of your life or deal with it and go to professional help?"' Ford recalled. 'I decided to get help.' The media has been speculating as to the crack-smoking mayor's whereabouts since he announced his leave of absence last Wednesday. He reportedly got on a private plane bound for Chicago but he was turned away at the border, the Globe and Mail reported. Neither . Ford's brother Doug Ford or his lawyer Dennis Morris will say where exactly the mayor is, but insisted Tuesday he is seeking treatment as . promised. Ford was last seen leaving his house the morning of May 1 to board a private plane at Buttonville Municipal Airport. He landed in Chicago but never formally entered the U.S. Back to drugs: Ford's announcement follows the emergence of yet another video showing him smoking what appears to be crack. A still from the new video released by the Globe and Mail, above . 'He . voluntarily withdrew his application to enter the USA,' Ray Norton, . Canada's Consul General in Chicago, told the Globe and Mail. Norton . added that Ford 'was not declined entry, per se'. Norton didn't learn about the incident until after the fact, when he was notified by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. CBP . spokesman Kris Grogan wouldn't comment on Ford's application, because . of the privacy act, but pointed out that foreigners attempting to enter . the U.S. can be barred on the grounds of 'criminality, security reasons . and documentations, among dozens of others'. Morris wouldn't comment on where the plane went after Chicago, since he wasn't on board. He maintains that Ford is in rehab, but when asked where, Morris said: 'I think it is close to Timbuktu.' 'The . bottom line is he's in rehab, he's getting rehab and he'll be there for . a number of weeks - and that's the answer. It's not like he's at a . baseball game in Los Angeles or something,' Morris said. Doug Ford wouldn't even say which country he was in. He previously announced that Ford was seeking treatment at one of the best facilities in North America. 'The most important thing, everyone who is concerned if he's in rehab, the answer is yes. As for his whereabouts that's personal and that should stay with Rob,' Doug Ford said. But that's not enough for politicians in Toronto, who are demanding answers for Ford's whereabouts. Infamous: Since the original crack video scandal, Ford has been the center of scandal after scandal. Pictured at a news conference with wife Renata (left) on November 14 . 'The mayor should explain where he's . going to be and how long he anticipates being there,' Councillor Giorgio . Mammoliti told the National Post. 'I think everybody will leave him alone if he does that.' 'Right . now nobody in this city believes him and trusts him on any of this. If a . plane landed and he didn't get off, he better tell this city where he . is going for treatment.' While the U.S. has barred foreigners from entering the U.S. before for noted drug use, such as when celebrity chef Nigella Lawson wasn't allowed to enter from the UK because she admitted to taking cocaine in a court case, Ford was allowed into the country as recently as March for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. But that was before news broke of yet another tape in which the mayor appears to be smoking crack-cocaine. The same day Ford announced his leave of absence, the Globe and Mail published screen grabs of a new video which shows Ford smoking the illegal drug at his sister's house on April 26. Ford made headlines last year when another group in Toronto was trying to sell a different video of Ford smoking crack, and he refused to step down. The new video also corresponded to reports that Ford got drunk at a Toronto bar Sullie Gorman's on April 28, making lewd comments about mayoral competition Karen Stintz. Public display: Ford also reportedly got drunk on April 28 at Toronto bar Sullie Gorman's where he made lewd statements about mayoral competition Karen Stintz . | The controversial Toronto mayor announced he was taking a leave of absence and pausing his re-election campaign to enter rehab last Wednesday .
He said he feels 'great' and is benefiting from the self-imposed exile .
Ford wouldn't reveal which treatment center he was at or whether it was even in Canada .
It was earlier reported that he was turned away from entering the U.S. |
1a5fa2350faa5627f951266c5ac9f559abc38fcb | (CNN) -- While the likes of Roger Federer and Serena Williams strut their stuff at Wimbledon, spare a thought for the grass under their feet -- which will take a double pounding in the next two months. Just 20 days after the men's final at the All England Club, the tennis competition at the 2012 London Olympics will begin -- and the team working on the famous courts are keeping their fingers crossed that this week's inclement weather does not cause any further delays. Andy Newell from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) gives Wimbledon head groundsman Eddie Seaward and his staff expert scientific advice on that preparation and admits that any delay into a third week would be a serious problem. "They don't want to lose time because they are already on such a fine edge and even a day would mean you lose 5% of your preparation, and that could be crucial," he told CNN. Ten of Wimbledon's courts will be used for the Olympics and it's going to prove Seaward's biggest challenge -- coming in his final year in the job, after more than two decades of involvement. Preparation is the key, and the London Olympic Organizing Committee (LOCOG) insisted on a trial run at Wimbledon after the Games were awarded to the UK capital. Trial run . "We worked on them just a couple of years ago to prove to LOCOG that we could do that within a short period of time, get the courts back in pristine condition," Seaward told CNN. But trial run or not, it's still a daunting prospect with little room for error. The grass must be cut to an exact 8 millimeters for optimum performance, and Seaward and his team have to keep a wary eye on that unpredictable British weather -- ground temperature and humidity levels are constantly measured. For this reason, the expertise of scientists and agronomists is so important. STRI has been advising Wimbledon for over a decade. At its main testing center in a little corner of West Yorkshire, in northern England, its staff have recreated their own versions of Centre Court -- trialing different varieties of grass to provide the best and most resilient surface. "We can test the grasses that they may use in the future here, " said Newell, STRI's head of turf grass biology. "We can whittle them down, we can get rid of the chaff, hopefully keep the wheat for them." Best grass . Over the years, Newell and his colleagues have come to the conclusion that perennial ryegrass provides the best surface, both in terms of wear and playing characteristics. "In essence we've moved from one grass species which was inappropriate for Wimbledon, to one which was the best for Wimbledon," says STRI chief executive Gordon McKillop. The company has grown to employ up to 85 people, and Wimbledon forms just part of their work. The cricket pitches at Lord's, the fairways and greens of St. Andrews, the home of golf, and the football turf for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine have all had their grass tried and tested at STRI's research center in Bingley. When the pitch at the Euro 2012 game between France and the Ukraine dramatically flooded, experts from STRI were on hand to monitor its drying out. They had advised using a vacuum pump system when the Donbass Arena in Donetsk was constructed, and it paid off. Weather gods . The team working on Wimbledon and the Olympics had been keeping their fingers crossed for the perfect growing conditions at SW19 in July and August. "Two weeks of wall-to-wall sunshine, not unbearably hot, with the odd contrast in conditions, perhaps a bit of rain, would make our job much easier," said Newell. But true to form the British weather has misbehaved during the championships and the inevitable rain delays have left organizers with more than a few headaches. For Newell the effect of such a varied climate on growing conditions is the bread and butter of his work. He has installed micro weather stations at Wimbledon to aid his research, as well as digging a small hole on Centre Court to measure moisture levels. "It's quite an important hole because it allows me to measure how much moisture there is at different depths," Newell said. "Moisture is needed for the grass to grow, but it's also needed in the sense that we've got to dry it out to get the ball to bounce." Surprise tactic . The playing characteristics of the courts at Wimbledon have been the subject of debate and no little controversy over the years, with claims it now favors baseline play rather than classic serve and volley. Newell said the trend was more to do with the strength of the players, their rackets and the balls that are being used, rather than the surfaces being prepared. "Players now use serve and volley as a surprise tactic rather than the norm," he said. During Seaward's time at the All England Club, he has seen that change of tactics reflected on the worn parts of his courts. "When I first started here, the players used to serve and run in to return the ball, they used to check and stop and wear the grass out and there's a patch in the middle there. That slowly but surely moved further back every year, until it's completely disappeared," he said. Without the likes of Boris Becker and Pete Sampras charging forward to scuff up the grass in the middle of the court, the task of the groundsman has become rather easier, particularly with the tight Olympic deadline in mind. Seaward and his team will begin their Olympic work even while play is still taking place on the show courts. "We know the baseline is more worn than the rest of it, but by the time you get a bit of water on it, it starts to green up a bit," he said. Nature's way . The secret is using pre-germinated, or pre-grown seed, which is sowed into the worn patches. "We've got to try to get some grass back in there, in a very short space of time," Seaward said. "Within a few days it will be up, hopefully, and we'll be preparing the courts." And bearing this in mind, there is a plus side to the constant drizzle that is coming out of the cloudy skies of London in what has proved a pretty miserable summer. "For growing grass, rain is a bonus," said Newell, adding that water from the sky falls more evenly than that supplied by artificial sprinklers. Newell believes that the soil texture underneath the grass is just as important in determining the playing characteristics, but knows that when hosting the biggest sports show on earth, aesthetics are important. "The idea is that we get the court to look the way it's going to look on the opening Monday of Wimbledon." But he warned: "It all comes back to nature, and nature can't be rushed." If the joint efforts of all those involved are ultimately successful, perhaps the International Olympic Committee could award a special gold medal to Seaward and his extended team -- because working around the clock, they may well have deserved it. | Wimbledon is also hosting the 2012 Olympic Games tennis tournament .
Olympic competition starts just 20 days after the championships finish .
Groundsman Eddie Seaward is in charge of preparations for his final year .
Courts are tested at a special turf research facility in northern England . |
1a60b999988ac21126722ddc7bdb31966b2a4bbd | Washington (CNN) -- A Marine who used his Facebook page to criticize President Barack Obama has been discharged, a Marine Corps spokesman said Wednesday. Sgt. Gary Stein was given an "other-than-honorable" discharge, said Capt. Brian Block, a spokesman for the Marines. Among other comments posted to his Facebook page, Stein called Obama a liar and suggested he would not follow some orders issued by the president. An other-than-honorable discharge is given to a Marine who commits a "serious offense" that significantly differs from conduct expected of a Marine, the Corps said. A statement from the Marines said it approved the findings of a military board, which in March recommended the discharge. The board found Stein violated rules limiting political conduct by service members. The Facebook page for Stein's Armed Forces Tea Party had a post Wednesday saying the discharge will be postponed until the results of a medical condition, with which he was diagnosed Monday, are returned and treatment is discussed. "I have spent the last 9 years honorably serving this great nation and the Corps," Stein wrote on his personal Facebook page. "Even though I will be discharged no one can take the title of Marine away from me. I thank my family and friends for their support and love. Today is just the start of the rest of my life. Semper Fi." Stein said earlier this month that the case against him was weak, based on personal opinion and not on legal aspects. Stein, who is based at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, California, called Obama a liar in a January 26 post to the Armed Forces Tea Party Facebook page. Two days later, he said the president is "the 'Domestic Enemy' our oath speaks about." Opinion: Marine's Facebook posts on Obama go too far . In a March 4 posting, Stein questioned Obama's birth certificate. Another discussion on the site in March said Stein would refuse to obey orders given by Obama. He later clarified to say he meant illegal orders, which he has explained as orders such as sending the military to Syria without congressional approval. "The allegations drummed up against me are no more than an agenda by the Marine Corps to use me as an example," Stein previously said in a statement posted to his page. "If I am guilty of anything it would be that I am American, a freedom loving Conservative, hell bent on defending the constitution and preserving Americas greatness." While the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the free speech rights of ordinary citizens, a Defense Department rule prohibits service members from engaging in some forms of political activity. Among the prohibited activities are publishing partisan political articles or serving in an official capacity with a partisan political club. Stein has said that he carefully followed the Defense Department directive. The Facebook page notes that it does not represent and is not affiliated with the military or government. Nearly 30,000 people "like" Stein's Armed Forces Tea Party page. Facebook members responding to news of Stein's discharge Wednesday were largely supportive. "You've got to be kidding me. OTH's (other-than-honorable discharges) are given to Marines who grossly violate the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice), as in drug use, excessive DUI's, adultery, etc. This is a joke," one wrote. "So disappointed in the Corps. This is a poor decision," wrote another. Another Facebook member, however, said Stein's punishment was expected. "For any of you that thought that he was going to get anything but 'Other than honorable' ... you really dont know jack about the military," he wrote. CNN's Adam Levine contributed to this report. | Sgt. Gary Stein was given an "other-than-honorable" discharge, official says .
On Facebook, Stein had called president a liar, suggested he would not follow some orders .
Military board found Stein broke rules limiting political conduct, recommended discharge . |
1a6111ebc1e719bb2ca643ead7fbfdd16beb7257 | By . Associated Press and Daily Mail . PUBLISHED: . 00:18 EST, 20 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:59 EST, 20 October 2013 . A man has been arrested at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport after authorities discovered a trench knife and several other blades in his carry-on bag. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police spokesman Joe Pentangelo says Timothy Schiavo Jr. was charged Saturday with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Weapons: This picture shows the lighters, matches and assorted knives and scissors Timothy Schiavo Jr attempted to carry on board a plane . Police photo: Police say this man attempted to carry weapons onto a plane at JFK airport . They say the 29-year-old man from Patchogue (PACH'-awg) in upstate New York was also carrying several scissors, a number of lighters and matches. A trench knife has metal knuckles on the handle of the blade.According to Cliffview Pilot, Schiavo was stopped at a Terminal 5 screening point at around 2:30pm. According to Cliffview Pilot, Schiavo was stopped at a Terminal 5 screening point at around 2:30pm. The items taken from Schiavo fill a tabletop. The items were sized after an airport baggage screener noticed the items in Schiavo’s carry-on bag. It is unclear what Schiavo's intentions for the items were. No phone number could be found for Schiavo. He was in custody Saturday and unavailable for comment. | Timothy Schiavo, Jr, 29, was stopped at Terminal 5 when security personnel detected weapons in his carry-on luggage .
Authorities discovered various knives, lighters and scissors in Schiavo's baggage .
He has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon . |
1a6171b00e96cb4215d8ff9db5d94320f81605aa | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 05:02 EST, 30 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:08 EST, 30 May 2013 . It's a global brand that is enjoying billions of pounds worth of profits. And it appears that Apple's phenomenal success is down to one Irish woman - an accountant called Cathy Kearney. One of the heads of Apple's Europe operation, the 49-year-old is believed to be a driving force behind the company's staggering financial success. The U.S Senate said the company paid little or nothing on tens of billions of dollars in profits stashed in Irish subsidiaries . A Cork-based Apple satellite company that she is director of reportedly earned $22 billion in 2011 – but paid just $10 million in taxes. It is this wealth of profits which has come under close scrutiny by U.S. officials eager to discover how the company has made so much money. Apple CEO Tim Cook answered probing question's about the company's tax strategy . Apple uses five companies located in Ireland to carry out its tax strategy, says a 40-page report issued by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The probe, which saw Apple chief Tim Cook defending the brand before a Senate panel last week, discovered that Apple employs a group of affiliate companies outside America to allegedly avoid paying tax. The companies are located at the same address in Cork and they share members of their boards of directors - including media-shy Cathy Kearney, who has refused in the past to have her photo published. While all five companies were incorporated in Ireland, only two of them also have tax residency in that country. That means the other three aren't legally required to pay taxes in Ireland because they aren't managed or controlled in that country, in Apple's view. The company can legally shift profits to its different operations, which results in it paying less tax, the Guardian reported. Apple's arrangement has allowed it to . pay just 1.9 per cent tax on its $37 billion in overseas profits in . 2012, despite the fact that the average tax rate for countries in its . main markets was 24 per cent last year, says the report. The subcommittee's report estimates . that Apple avoided at least $3.5 billion in US taxes in 2011 and $9 . billion in 2012 by using the tactic. Cathy Kearney, a director of one of the subsidiary companies in Hollyhill, Cork, is said to be a 'driving force' behind the brand's success . Apple's tax strategy has allegedly meant that the Cork-born accountant has had to answer U.S officials' questions about Apple's tax payments. In a poll two years ago, the executive's 'shrewd direction' was hailed as one of the main reason's the company has enjoyed so much profit. At the panel meeting which saw Apple boss Tim Cook denied the company was a 'tax dodger', subcommittee member Senator Carl Levi said: 'Apple wasn't satisfied with shifting its profits to a low-tax offshore tax haven. 'Apple sought the Holy Grail of tax avoidance. It has created offshore entities holding tens of billions of dollars, while claiming to be tax resident nowhere.' Former presidential candidate John McCain said that while Apple claims to be the biggest U.S. corporate taxpayer, it is also 'among America's largest tax avoiders.' Apple says it complies with the law and pays 'an extraordinary amount' of tax. In an earlier statement the company said: 'Apple does not use tax gimmicks. 'And Apple pays all its required taxes, both in this country and abroad.' It declined to make any further comment to the MailOnline when asked to respond about Cathy Kearney. | Accountant Cathy Kearney is director of Apple satellite company that earned the brand $22billion in 2011 .
Her 'shrewd direction' believed to be driving force behind success .
Apple's tax strategy under scrutiny by U.S officials .
Legally able to shift profits from around the world to pay less tax . |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.